Thousands of poker player from around the world pack the tables at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) each summer at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Now players can now get the real Rio experience when the series’ international circuit makes a stop in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 25 to Oct. 2 – at the Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel no less.
by Sean Chaffin
The WSOP Circuit brings the fun of the WSOP to other stops outside of Las Vegas and has been expanding outside the U.S. in recent years.
The events feature several tournaments culminating in the a main event, which is usually a higher buy-in and bigger payout than the preliminary events.
Each year the World Series of Poker awards gold bracelets to winners and has become the biggest trophy in sports while circuit winners have a shot at a championship ring.
WSOP Brazil offers a chance for some caipirinhas with cards – the fun of the city with plenty of poker action.
The series is sponsored by online poker site PartyPoker, and is giving players a shot to qualify online for a $1,500 WSOP Brazil package as little as $2.20 (for players in regulated markets outside the U.S.) Each package includes a $1,000 entry to the main event plus $500 cash!
Looking to get in on the action? This poker trip not only offers a chance at some big bucks, but also a great poker getaway – from Ipanema Beach to the Rio nightlife to history and culture to some of the greatest music in the world.
And the iconic Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, founded in 1923, offers a luxurious stay overlooking the beach and brilliant Atlantic waters.
As its website notes, the hotel is “an art deco masterpiece. The Belmond Copacabana Palace is the crown jewel on the world’s most iconic beach.”
The World Series of Poker Brazil was held the last few years in Sao Paulo, but this is the first year big-time card-playing makes its way to Rio’s sun-kissed beaches. The game certainly appears to be growing in Brazil, and the World Poker Tour also held an event in the country in 2017.
Brazil is no stranger to players finding success on the poker felt. Alexandre Gomes is the country’s all-time leader with $3.6 million in tournament winnings. Gomes, a former lawyer from Curitiba, even won a WSOP bracelet in 2008.
“Poker in Brazil is growing very fast,” Gomes told the PokerStars blog after his win. “And this title that I won, it was like a boom for the market for poker. It was very nice”
An Editor and Senior Writer at Connectbrazil.com, Sean Chaffin is also a freelance writer based in Crandall, Texas. His love of Brazilian music and culture brings his unique insight to these pages and he’s hoping that if he plays his cards right, he could land in Rio someday, too.
