The World Series of Poker has always been a spectacle defined by size: the number of players, the prize pools, and the sheer energy that fills the host venues each summer. But with that scale comes logistical challenges, and for years, one of the most frustrating obstacles players had to face wasn’t the opponents across the felt, but the long, grinding hours spent waiting in registration lines. Enter WSOP+, a new app developed by GGPoker in partnership with Caesars, designed to overhaul how players interact with the world’s biggest poker festival.
In this exclusive behind-the-scenes feature, the GGPoker team shares how the idea for WSOP+ was born, the hurdles they faced in development, and the ways the app has already transformed the player experience. From its first test runs at WSOP Paradise to its large-scale rollout in Las Vegas this past summer, the journey of WSOP+ is a case study in how cutting-edge technology can streamline operations while also enhancing community engagement. What started as a solution to a frustrating problem is now evolving into a platform that is helping to shape the future of poker’s most prestigious brand.
WSOP+ App: Origins and Vision
What inspired the GGPoker team to create the WSOP+ app in the first place?
When the GGPoker tech team visited the WSOP in 2022 to discuss possible online integration, we noticed an extra-long line forming outside the Mini Main Event (we even took a video of it), which resulted in an up to 3.5-hour wait for a player to register for the $1,000 event. By the time some would eventually take a seat at the tables, the blinds were so high compared to their stack that many busted within 30 minutes. As a technology-driven company, we wanted to remove the pain and solve this problem.
Was the app always part of GGPoker’s long-term vision upon acquiring the WSOP brand?
GGPoker believes that technology can positively shape player experience and behavior. By merging cutting-edge technology with the legacy and prestige of the WSOP brand, we want to elevate poker into a richer, more dynamic form of entertainment. This vision was a key driver in our decision to acquire the brand.
Leadership and Product Development
What role did key figures like Daniel Negreanu and other GGPoker ambassadors play in shaping the app’s features?
We showcase all of our products to multiple highly regarded poker players to gauge their feedback, and they have been wonderful in giving us as neutral an opinion as possible. This allows us to revisit certain elements of our product design and tweak features if necessary.
Did you solicit input from external players to your company – whether recreational or professional – via any form of beta testing, advisory panels, or informal feedback loops?
No, as the world’s biggest online poker community we already have strong relationships with many poker players, whom we have worked with on previous product development and launch cycles.
Timeline and Testing
We know WSOP+ was first deployed at 2023 WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas and had a second “test run” at 2024 WSOP Paradise. What would you say were the main milestones you were trying to achieve ahead of finally integrating the WSOP+ app into the WSOP this past summer?
The main goal in 2023 was to remove the long lines seen for event registration. The goal for WSOP Paradise 2024 was to add payment methods and some social media-ish features.
What enhancements or improvements were made between WSOP Paradise and this past summer’s WSOP in Las Vegas?
Our work during the first half of 2025 was fully focused on preparation for WSOP Las Vegas. Complicating factors we needed to stay on top of were the number of players expected in Las Vegas compared to WSOP Paradise, the complex integration with Caesars platforms, integrating US payment methods like PayPal/ACH, and training thousands of dealers to engage with WSOP+.
Moving forward, we will focus on integrating the app with all Super Circuit and Circuit stops. Afterwards, it will eventually become a location-based social media app for all WSOP events and the wider WSOP community.
There’s obviously a major difference between the number of attendees in the Bahamas versus Las Vegas. What kind of “stress testing” did you implement to ensure that the app could handle tens of thousands of users at once?
We used thousands of dummy accounts during our testing phase, but there are so many variables in real life that we simply needed to concentrate on building as robust a platform as possible ahead of the first WSOP event of the summer.
WSOP+ App: Technical Excellence
I couldn’t help but notice how impressively fast the app updated. Whenever a new version was pushed, the refresh was virtually instantaneous. How did your development team manage that level of performance?
Players gave us great feedback through our stories feature and on social media, and we wanted to respond to the feedback and implement any improvements as fast as possible. Caesars was very accommodating, providing us with a working station at Horseshoe/Paris Las Vegas where the developers could work on updates in real time.
Players were also thrilled with the seamless payment integration, no credit card fees, and overall ease of registration. Why were those aspects a priority for your team?
GGPoker does not charge any fees for deposits. We wanted to continue with this philosophy for WSOP+. This was an expensive decision, looking back at how busy this year’s WSOP was!
Operational Rollout
Overall, are you pleased with how the app performed this summer in Las Vegas?
Yes, overall we are quite satisfied. We are now working on more WSOP+ features related to Chip Updates and Stories (a social media feature).
For more senior player demographics (like those playing the Super Seniors event), did you provide additional on-site support or assistance to ease the learning curve?
Yes, we had staff on the tournament floor to support them. As a side note, you can still play WSOP events without installing the app. It was built to consider scenarios where someone may not have a smartphone.
Feedback and the Future of the WSOP+ App
What were the most common positive and constructive comments you received from players?
Players were very pleased at the lack of long lines for registration! That said, they had some constructive words for us as far as bad font, dark mode, and lack of a “follower” feature. We will continue to work hard and work smart when it comes to WSOP+, constantly improving as time goes on, and of course taking into account player feedback.
WSOP Paradise will return to Atlantis in the Bahamas from December 4-18, featuring 15 gold-bracelet events, highlighted by the Super Main Event with a staggering $60 million guaranteed prize pool.
