World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour is a major international series of televised poker tournaments and a global poker brand.
Last updated October 30, 2026
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Overview
The World Poker Tour (WPT) is a prominent international poker tournament series and brand, founded in 2002 by Steven Lipscomb. It organizes a schedule of major poker events across the United States and internationally, which are filmed for television broadcast. The tour is known for its Main Tour events, featuring high-stakes No-Limit Texas Hold'em tournaments, and has been instrumental in popularizing poker as a spectator sport. The WPT brand encompasses television production, online gaming partnerships, and live event licensing. The tour has changed ownership over the years, including a period under Allied Esports Entertainment. Today, the World Poker Tour continues to operate live events and maintains a presence in the global poker community.
History
The World Poker Tour was founded in 2002 by Steven Lipscomb, a lawyer and television producer. The first WPT event was held in 2002 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and the tour quickly gained popularity through televised broadcasts on the Travel Channel. The WPT's innovative use of hole-card cameras and commentary helped transform poker into a spectator sport. In 2008, the World Poker Tour was acquired by PartyGaming (later bwin.party) for $12.3 million. In 2015, the WPT was sold to Ourgame International Holdings, a Chinese online gaming company. In 2018, the World Poker Tour was acquired by Allied Esports Entertainment, a subsidiary of Ourgame. In 2021, Allied Esports Entertainment sold the World Poker Tour to Element Partners, a private investment firm. The tour has continued to expand internationally, with events in Europe, Asia, and other regions.
- 2021
Allied Esports Entertainment sells WPT to Element Partners.
- 2018
WPT acquired by Allied Esports Entertainment.
- 2015
WPT sold to Ourgame International Holdings.
- 2008
WPT acquired by PartyGaming for $12.3 million.
- 2002
World Poker Tour founded by Steven Lipscomb; first event held at Bellagio, Las Vegas.
Products and positioning
Premier global poker tournament brand with televised high-stakes events.
WPT Main Tour
Series of major poker tournaments held at casinos worldwide.
WPT World Championship
The flagship championship event of the World Poker Tour.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
WPT Global launches WPT Prime Cyprus satellites from $1.10[3]
WPT Global launched daily $1.10 and $11 feeder satellites that feed into weekly $108 WPT Prime Cyprus satellites, where $2,000 packages to the WPT Prime Cyprus Championship are won.
Reported
World Poker Tour names Steve Aoki brand ambassador[4]
The World Poker Tour added DJ Steve Aoki as a brand ambassador, with the role described as helping raise brand awareness.
Reported
WPT and partypoker US announce New Jersey online poker event[5]
The World Poker Tour and partypoker US announced another partnership to offer a New Jersey online tournament, the $3,500 WPT Online Borgata Poker Open, scheduled to run September 19–21 and featuring a $1 million guarantee.
Reported
WPT and Budweiser partner on celebrity charity poker event[6]
The World Poker Tour partnered with Budweiser on The King’s Celebrity Poker Challenge, a charity poker event on ClubWPT benefiting World Central Kitchen. Budweiser pledged $15,000 for each of six players, with an additional $35,000 donated in the winner’s name.
Sources6 sources
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