If You Want To Enter The WSOP, Be Ready To Show Proof Of Vaccination

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) earlier this year stated it would resume its traditional in-person poker tournament at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The tournament is scheduled to occur from Sept. 30 to Nov. 23, and is currently still on track.

On the journey to the world’s biggest poker tournament, a humorous incident occurred. However, COVID-19 is still present. To mitigate the potential spread of the virus, the organizers of WSOP are implementing measures while still ensuring players can take part in a large-scale poker event.

All participants in the 2021 WSOP tournament and the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship, also known as “The Main Event”, are required by WSOP to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

WSOP players will need to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination

Participation in this year’s World Series of Poker requires proof of vaccination. A negative COVID-19 test will not be considered adequate.

Once inside the casino, participants in the poker tournament will be required to wear a mask. This same requirement applies to anyone currently visiting a Las Vegas casino.

“We have not made this decision lightly. Our sole aim is to safeguard player eligibility and ensure the smooth running of this unique televised gaming event,” stated Ty Stewart, the Executive Director of WSOP.

He continued with his explanation:

Poker inherently involves being near opponents for long durations, and taking a seat at the World Series of Poker signifies a profound commitment from both our organization and the participants. We aim to create excitement among players for their WSOP comeback, while ensuring maximum safety and minimizing potential issues during the upcoming fall tournament.

Two-step WSOP COVID-19 policy for players

This year, to enjoy the WSOP in person, players, media, spectators, and vendors at the WSOP will need to undertake two steps.

• You are required to present a physical vaccination card or utilize a digital health pass specific to your state or country.
• Face covering is required to be worn.

This appears straightforward. Although, it may not be for everyone. An individual is considered “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19 14 days post their final vaccine dose, prior to the commencement of the tournament.

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is set to start on September 30, providing only a few weeks for unvaccinated participants to get vaccinated against COVID-19. However, with the widespread availability of Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, finding a nearby vaccination site should not be a problem. Those interested can find the closest location at this link.

Guidelines for COVID-19 vaccines

To participate in early WSOP tournaments, the timeline for vaccination is limited. By Thursday, September 16, you must receive either a single dose of Johnson & Johnson, or a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna.

Here are the latest CDC instructions for the dosage of the three vaccines and the start time for participants in the 2021 WSOP adventures.

• Johnson & Johnson: This is a single-shot, thus the deadline for it is Sept. 16.
• Pfizer recommends that the vaccine doses should be administered with a gap of 3 weeks (21 days). If these players receive their first dose of the vaccine today (Sept. 1), they will miss the two-week deadline by six days.
• Moderna advises that their vaccine doses should be administered 28 days (1 month) apart. If these players receive their vaccination today (Sept. 1), they will be 13 days late for the first deadline.

Individuals participating exclusively in the Main Event have a bit more time. Those players who are entering Day 1a of the Main Event on November 4 need to have received their single dose of Johnson & Johnson or their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna by October 21.

Participants from the US can utilize the complimentary Clear Health Pass app. It only takes a few minutes to set up and necessitates photographs of a COVID-19 vaccination card and both sides of a driver’s license. After registration, attendees simply have to select WSOP as the event they’re going to.

COVID-19 protocols in Las Vegas

COVID-19 protocol recommendations are constantly evolving in Las Vegas. As of today, all casino visitors must wear a face mask unless they are eating, drinking, or smoking. There is no need to provide vaccination proof to gamble or lodge in a hotel.

While some venues and events in Las Vegas require vaccination proof for attendance, it is not a universal requirement for all locations or events, which can lead to some confusion.

For instance, to gain entry to a Las Vegas Raiders game at Allegiant Stadium, visitors have to provide vaccination proof. Once inside, those who are vaccinated can opt to go mask-free. However, the rules for other events at Allegiant Stadium vary. As it stands, all individuals, regardless of their vaccination status, can attend other events, but mask-wearing is mandatory for everyone present.

Proof of vaccination will be required for attendees at some conferences this year and next.

• CES
• G2E
• NAB
• AAPEX (Yet to be announced by SEMA)

Venues such as the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay and Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq necessitate vaccination proof for entry. However, most other venues, even those located at Mandalay Bay and The Linq, do not demand vaccination evidence.

The situation with COVID-19 is still unpredictable and regulations can shift without warning. Always verify with a location before finalizing your plans.