Top 10 preparation tips for your next trip to the World Series of Poker

This year’s WSOP beat all expectations in Las Vegas, and with WSOP Online 2022 underway, it is a great time to discuss how to prepare for the next year's World Series of Poker. The sooner you start, the more time you’ll have to get everything right and make the most out of your time in Las Vegas.

Whether you’re a serious player looking to set up the perfect grind schedule or a recreational looking to have some fun and enjoy all that Sin City has to offer, preparation is key.

In this article, I’ll share the top 10 tips to help you prepare for your next WSOP trip. Whether the next summer will be your first time in Vegas or you’ve been around the block a few times, these are worth checking out.

10. Book your flight as early as possible
Just like with any other trip, the sooner you book your flight tickets, the better deal you’ll get. Of course, this is easier said than done if you don’t know the exact time period you’ll be in Vegas.

The WSOP lasts for several weeks, and most people won’t be there for the entire duration. Instead, you’ll probably pick a few events you’re interested in playing and plan your trip around.

9. Be on the lookout for the WSOP schedule
WSOP organizers will usually release a preliminary schedule for the series well ahead of time. If you’re serious about going, you should be on the lookout for this early release to help you with the plans.

Once you know about at least one or two events you’ll want to play, you can schedule your trip around them. This will allow you to book your flight at least a few months before departure, saving you a few bucks.

8. Seek out hotel deals
There are plenty of different options for those staying in Las Vegas for a week or two. From private housing to dozens of hotels, you can take your pick.

If you’re traveling alone, a hotel is probably your best option. For groups, you might look into renting a house and splitting costs. Whatever you do, you should try to stay as close as possible to the new home of the WSOP, Bally's - Las Vegas, which is rebranding to the Horseshoe, especially if this is your first time in the city and you don’t know your way around.

7. Plan out your non-poker budget
Before even thinking about the bankroll you’ll need for tournaments, you first need how much money you have to spend on everything I’ve just mentioned, plus food and entertainment.

This boils down to what your main reason for going is. If you just want to go and play poker, you probably don’t need as much extra money on top of the travel and accommodation costs.

However, if you’d also like to splurge, try a few restaurants, spin some slots and visit clubs, you should know that Las Vegas isn’t cheap.

You could easily spend a couple of grand during the week on these things, so try to plan ahead.

6. Connect with more experienced players
If you’re going for the first time, and especially if you’re going alone, you should register on some poker forums and get in touch with people who have been there, done that when it comes to the WSOP.

They’ll be able to share some valuable tips and advice you won’t be able to find on your own. This includes the best places to eat on a budget, how to best get around the city, and much more. While not everyone online is super-friendly, you should find a few people willing to help.

5. Plan your poker bankroll
Of course, the main reason you’re going is the World Series of Poker, and you’ll be entering some bracelet events during your stay.

The good thing is that even without the official schedule, you can have a pretty good idea about what events are likely to be there. Some of the tournaments have become standard features, so you can pretty much count on them.

Figure out how much money you’ll be taking to play poker with and devise a good plan to best spread that bankroll. I’d also advise you to keep your poker bankroll separate from everything else, if at all possible.

If your goal is to play as much poker as possible, you should stay away from gambling and instead play on online casinos when you are back home.

4. Keep up with rules and restrictions
Over the last couple of years, things have changed somewhat regarding traveling. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic is not entirely behind us, so stay up to date with any relevant rules for traveling and any local regulations that might apply for the next WSOP.

This is just something to keep track of as time goes on and the dates get closer. The more information you have ahead of time, the less likely you’ll have to deal with any unpleasant surprise during your journey or when you arrive at your destination.

3. Brush up on your poker fundamentals
If you only play poker occasionally and primarily as a hobby, you should probably take some time to brush up on your fundamentals and prepare some strategies.

There are many great resources online, free and paid, so take your pick. After all, you’ll likely be spending a couple thousand or more on buy-ins, so investing some time and money into shaping your game makes sense.

JUST ANNOUNCED ?? WSOP Online 2022 returns to @WSOPcom Sept.10-Oct.18 and @GGPoker Aug.14-Sept. 27. For more info including the comprehensive Online Gold Bracelet Event schedule and live streaming schedule, visit https://t.co/y66FCcpKJp. pic.twitter.com/SCIWpNueki

— WSOP (@WSOP) August 5, 2022

2. Play some live poker
You don’t want your first WSOP tourney to be the first time you sat down to play live in months. This could create unnecessary pressure and distract you from playing your best game.

Instead, find some time ahead of your trip to play some live tournaments or cash games. Stakes don’t matter as long as you are playing some real money poker games. It is important for you to become accustomed to the live environment so you can naturally slip straight back into it during WSOP.

1. Be flexible
One downside of making early WSOP plans is that things can change. Your flight might be delayed or cancelled, or there could be some unexpected changes to the preliminary schedule.

Keep these possibilities in the back of your mind as you make your plans and try to stay flexible.

If possible, have a few extra free days you can use for your trip and leave some budget on the side. If everything goes as planned, even better – you’ll have some extra money and some additional free time to use as you like, in Vegas or back home.