It is about ten days from the start of the 2026 World Series of Poker, but officials from the WSOP and GGPoker are already looking to get ahead of some potential issues from last year. By introducing new standards into the rulebook, the WSOP is trying to get ahead of issues like promotions and players who take advantage of late registration. Whether these changes actually affect any of the proceedings around the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas remains to be seen.
Cracking Down on Third-Party Actions
One of the embarrassing moments of the 2025 WSOP was a tournament that did not award a bracelet to its winner. The $1,500 ‘Millionaire Maker,’ one of the tentpole events of the WSOP summertime schedule, played down to two players, James Carroll and Jesse Yaginuma. Yaginuma would come back from a sizeable chip deficit to defeat Carroll for the championship. Further investigation, however, presented some issues with that outcome.
Yaginuma was encouraged by a ClubWPT promotion that would have allowed him to collect a $1 million bonus should he win a tournament during the run of the WSOP schedule. It was alleged that Yaginuma and Carroll schemed to chip-dump – Carroll passing off chips to Yaginuma through game action – to allow him to win the tournament and then split the million-dollar WPT prize. In the end, the WSOP declared the ‘Millionaire Maker’ a vacant championship, Carroll and Yaginuma split the final two places’ prize money (both earned over $1.1 million), and the WSOP absorbed another black eye.
To try to avoid this issue, the 2026 WSOP rulebook has been amended. It now includes a statement, under Rule 40.e, that reads:
“Host Properties will penalize any act that, in the sole and absolute discretion of Host Properties, is inconsistent with these WSOP Official Tournament Rules or the best interests of the WSOP Tournament. Such act includes, but is not limited to, the Participant accepting any payment or prize from a third-party person or entity (e.g., pursuant to a promotion, product or service) based on the outcome or results of any WSOP Event, in which case the Participant shall forfeit all of the WSOP prize money; if the prize money has already been paid to Participant, then the Host Properties shall have the right to the return of all the prize money plus interest.”
Basically, this rule aims to address potential issues ahead of the 2026 WSOP. They are also cracking down on player patching, which must be pre-approved by the WSOP and GGPoker and has resulted in ‘offshore’ (read: unregulated) sites being prohibited from patching their players. Hopefully, the WSOP can avoid having to absorb another embarrassment like 2025.
Stack In, Stays In…and Player is Out Money
The other change that might bring the ire of the players is the rule regarding chips in play. In 2026, if a player registers for a tournament, their stack goes into play immediately and is blinded off. According to Rule 35:
“A random seating draw for an Event will be determined based on expected participation. WSOP Tournament management reserves the right to allow additional table seating beyond expected capacity. In the event tables are added to an Event to accommodate unexpected registrations, those tables will be the first ones to break when consolidating tables. Participants that register before the start of the Event will have their chip stack put in play and blinded off. Once a chip stack goes into play for a Participant that has registered before the start of play, there are no refunds unless WSOP Tournament Management has been notified or determines that there are existing extenuating circumstances which will be determined on a case by case in Host Property’s sole discretion.”
Basically, it will come down to a decision-by-decision assessment by the floor staff. Once a player has entered, their chip stacks will remain in the event, and players WILL NOT receive a refund unless there are extenuating circumstances. This will prevent players from buying into a tournament, then deciding not to play on a whim; the WSOP says they will keep the money unless you can present a reason you should receive a refund.
It is going to be a rollercoaster ride, and it begins in roughly ten days. For a rundown of the schedule of the 2026 WSOP, visit the dedicated website for all the information…are you ready?
