WSOP Cancels Online Poker Event After Tech Glitch Frustrates Players

A Tournament Derailed by Tech Woes

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) pulled the plug on its Online Event #7, a $250 Mystery Bounty tournament, on June 10, after a technical disaster left roughly 60% of players unable to log in on Day 2.

The decision, driven by geolocation failures and connectivity issues, crushed the hopes of 1,100 remaining players chasing a $1.7 million prize pool.

“The disruption severely impacted the integrity of the game,” WSOP stated, per PokerNews. No bracelet will be awarded, and Day 2 play is void.

What Went Wrong

The tournament, a marquee event in WSOP’s 2025 online series, hit a wall when Day 2 restarted. Geolocation software, meant to verify players’ locations in Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, failed en masse, booting hundreds from WSOP.com.

About 60% of the 1,100 players couldn’t reconnect, some for over two hours. Those still logged in scooped blinds from disconnected opponents, skewing the game.

One player snagged a $100,000 bounty, and others claimed $40,000 prizes before WSOP halted play. “They should have paused the tournament,” Reddit user onerivenpony fumed, echoing widespread sentiment.

The Event’s High Stakes

Event #7 drew 7,623 entries across multiple Day 1 flights, smashing its $1 million guarantee with a $1.7 million prize pool, per PokerNews.

The Mystery Bounty format, where knockouts yield random cash prizes, added thrill, with bounties ranging from $100 to $100,000. By Day 2, 1,100 players remained, each guaranteed at least $300.

The event, part of WSOP’s first shared-liquidity series across four states, was a flagship for the platform, recently sold to GGPoker’s parent company for $500 million.

Its collapse stung, especially after a $5,300 High Roller event was canceled in October 2024 for low turnout.

WSOP’s Response and Compensation

Facing a firestorm, WSOP acted swiftly to mitigate fallout. All 1,100 Day 2 players got full refunds for buy-ins, rebuys, and add-ons, totaling $250 per entry.

Players who cashed or drew bounties, including the $100,000 winner, kept their prizes. WSOP also distributed the remaining prize pool “in the fairest way,” though details were vague, per PokerNews.

As a goodwill gesture, WSOP added $550,000 in compensation, giving each affected player a $500 online tournament ticket, valid for events like the June 22 $1 million Mystery Bounty.

“We apologize for the disappointment,” WSOP said, but no bracelet or leaderboard points will count.