The Top 5 High Stakes Poker Events That Everyone Wants to Play
Poker’s Biggest Stages and Even Bigger Payouts
Where Legends Go All In
If you’re serious about poker games—or just love watching the highest stakes and biggest bluffs—these tournaments are where the action happens. From record-breaking prize pools to the most intense all-ins in history, these five events are the pinnacle of competitive poker. Whether you’re looking to watch, qualify, or dream big, here’s where poker game enthusiasts cement their legacy.
World Series of Poker (WSOP)
The World Series of Poker is the Super Bowl, World Cup, and Olympics of poker games—rolled into one. Every summer, the world’s best gather in Las Vegas to battle it out across 80+ events, with one goal: win a bracelet and etch their name in poker history. The $10,000 main event is where legends are made, drawing thousands of hopefuls for a shot at eight-figure payouts.
THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER® REVEALS FULL SUMMER 2025 SERIES SCHEDULE🚨
The world’s biggest poker series returns to the Las Vegas Strip from May 27 through July 16 at the @HorseshoeVegas and @ParisVegas. The 56th Annual World Series of Poker features 100 bracelet events,… pic.twitter.com/gplyxShynP
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) February 17, 2025
The tournament has come a long way since its first edition in 1970 when there wasn’t even a structured competition—players simply voted Johnny Moss as the best. If you’re looking to experience the thrill of high-stakes poker, many online casino platforms now offer WSOP-style events where you can play for real money and compete like the pros.
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- When: May-July
- Entries: 1,000+ per event, 7,000+ for the Main Event
- Top Prize: $10+ million
PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC)
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Caribbean, the PSPC is where high-stakes pros and lucky qualifiers collide. With a $25,000 buy-in, this tournament attracts the world’s top players, but thanks to PokerStars’ Platinum Pass promotions, plenty of amateurs get a once-in-a-lifetime shot at poker glory.
Three high like a boss. 💪 pic.twitter.com/XH9zKEDajs
— PokerStars (@PokerStars) February 23, 2025
The event is part of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, held at luxury resorts like Atlantis Bahamas and Baha Mar, making it as much about the experience as it is about the poker game itself.
- Location: Caribbean
- When: January–February
- Entries: 1,000+
- Top Prize: $3+ million
WPT World Championship
The WPT World Championship offers some of the biggest payouts in tournament poker. Wynn Las Vegas hosts the event, and it shattered records in 2022 with a prize pool topping $29 million. The tournament has evolved significantly since its first edition in 2003, when the buy-in was $25,000, and the winner, Alan Goehring, walked away with just $1 million—payouts have since quadrupled.
Less than $40K in cashes and made it to day 4 of the @WPT World Championship pic.twitter.com/vYglKnyo7T
— ClubWPT Gold (@ClubWPTGold) December 19, 2024
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- When: December
- Entries: 2,500+
- Top Prize: $4+ million
Triton Super High Roller Series
Triton is where poker’s elite go to test their skills in nosebleed-stakes tournaments. Buy-ins start at $10,000 and reach up to $1 million and it tends to attract the biggest names in the game like Jason Koon and Isaac Haxton. Plus, they offer some of the largest payouts in poker history.
The cards are ready to fly, and the action is about to heat up.
From February 26 to March 15, Triton Poker SHRS takes over Landing Casino, Jeju for a high-stakes spectacle like no other. The pressure is real, the pots are massive, and every decision counts.
Are you ready for… pic.twitter.com/Z3eQ16Uhbs
— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) February 10, 2025
In 2019, Triton made history by hosting the biggest single tournament payout ever, when runner-up Bryn Kenney took home $20 million in London after a heads-up deal. If you’re following casino news, you know that high-roller tournaments like Triton are setting new records every year, both online and in live casinos.
- Location: Global
- When: Throughout the year
- Entries: 30–200 per event
- Top Prize: Up to $20 million
European Poker Tour (EPT)
The European Poker Tour? That’s where small buy-ins turn into big-time bankrolls. Thanks to PokerStars’ online satellites and freerolls, plenty of players manage to sneak their way into high-stakes action without dropping a fortune. It’s been the ultimate golden ticket for amateurs looking to take a seat next to the pros, proving that sometimes, even the guy who just learned what a big blind is can end up deep in the tournament.
Could you EVER fold KK pre deep into a tournament with 19 players remaining and €1,287,800 up top!?
We’re throwing it back to #EPTParis2024 with this hand 🤔 pic.twitter.com/XLhLF5fmMW
— PokerNews (@PokerNews) February 20, 2025
A lot of these players? They cut their teeth in online casinos, grinding through tournaments, building their skills, and then one day—boom. They’re sitting under the bright lights of an EPT final table, wondering how the hell they got here.
- Location: Across Europe
- When: Throughout the year
- Entries: 1,000+ per event
- Top Prize: $1+ million
Whether it’s the high-stakes drama of the World Series of Poker or the luxury of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, these tournaments prove that poker is more than just a game—it’s a social spectacle more intense than Burning Man (shocking, I know). And the best part is you don’t have to be a pro to play. However, if you want to sharpen your skills before stepping into the real thing, you can always hit up the online casino where you can play for real money. Who knows? The next poker legend could be you.
Comments (0)