frequently asked questions

What is the World Championship of Online Poker?

Now in its eighth year, the PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker is a series of tournaments that brings players from around the world together to compete for WCOOP bracelets and of course, millions in cash prizes. It is the largest online poker series in the world.

How do I enter the World Championship of Online Poker?

Anyone with a PokerStars account can enter – and if you don’t yet have an account, it’s easy to download the software and set one up. You can buy in directly, win a satellite or even get in the game free through Frequent Player Point satellites. In fact, to give all of our loyal players a chance to get in the game, we're giving away $1.5 million in free entries to our frequent players.

What can I use to buy in?

You can buy into the satellites or the events themselves with cash or T$.

Can I then unregister from an event for which I've won a seat?

Yes. If you win a seat to a WCOOP event and then unregister from it, your account will be credited with T$ equal to the buy-in + fee of that event.

Unregistration will be available from the tournament lobby up until ten minutes before the start of each event.

Note that this registration option applies to event seats won via satellite. Event tickets are not transferrable. Event tickets awarded via promotional tournaments must be used in that event or forfeited, as they have no value outside of the tournament to which they grant admission.

If you have already been awarded a ticket for a particular event, please do not play more promotional events which award the same ticket, since if you win the additional ticket will have no value. If you have won a promotional ticket for an event, you may continue to play cash or FPP satellites, and if you win you will be awarded T$ for the value of the seat.

What can I do with T$?

T$ can be used to register into any PokerStars online tournament. VIPs can also sometimes use T$ to buy directly into live events. See the About Tournaments page to find out more.

To check your T$ balance at anytime, please visit the cashier window through the PokerStars lobby.

What's the deal with the $1.5 million in free entries?

It's actually very simple. We are putting up $1.5 million in free entries in the form of FPP tournaments for our VIP Club members. All you need to do is collect Frequent Player Points by playing for real money at PokerStars. You can then click 'Events' and then 'WCOOP' and finally 'FPP Satellites' to find a complete FPP satellite schedule.

Will there be any special tournaments or deals for VIPs this year?

Absolutely! We will hold multiple satellites throughout the course of qualifying which are open exclusively to PokerStars VIPs. These special events may include added seats or seats at a higher-than-normal ratio, in either case giving our VIPs many great opportunities to qualify.

Also, VIPs will have the option of purchasing entry tickets to WCOOP events via the VIP FPP Store.

Will there be Second Chance events this year?

Yes. Three hours after the start of most events, a Second Chance event for that particular WCOOP event will begin. A Second Chance event will have the same structure as the event for which it is a Second Chance, though the buy-in will be slightly less (except in the case of $215 events - the Second Chance for those will be $215) and the levels will rise a bit faster than in the corresponding WCOOP event. T$ will be accepted for entry to Second Chance events. Bracelets will NOT be awarded to Second Chance event winners.

What does the winner of a WCOOP event receive?

The prize is two-fold. For starters, each event has a minimum guaranteed prize pool. The overall WCOOP guaranteed prize pool is $40,000,000. On top of the cash, you will be competing for a coveted WCOOP bracelet that will be awarded to the winner of each event.

Can we make deals at the final table?

For the WCOOP events themselves, yes, and we will be there to facilitate them. However, please note that any deal will have to leave a portion of the prize pool out of the deal to be awarded to the winner. The minimum amount to be left aside will be specified in the tournament lobby. For more details about deals, please see our tournament rules.

Can we make deals at the final table of the WCOOP satellites?

No. The intent of the satellites is to produce seats into the WCOOP and not just distribute T$ to people. Therefore, we are prohibiting final table deals during the satellites.

What if I win multiple seats into the same event?

For subsequent seats after the first one you win, your account will be credited with T$ equal to the buy-in + fee of the target event.

How old do I have to be to participate?

To play on PokerStars, you must be 18 years of age or of legal age of majority in your jurisdiction, whichever is greater.

What rules govern play in the World Championship of Online Poker?

The standard PokerStars Tournament Rules apply. Please click here to read the rules.

What is meant by [1R1A] in the title of Events 19 and 38?

[1R1A] indicates that players are allowed 1 rebuy and 1 add-on each within the tournament. For example in Event 38, players begin with 7,500 chips each. while their stack is 7,500 chips or less, they may purchase another 7,500 chips for an additional $500. At the time of the first break, all players may make a one-time purchase of 10,000 additional chips for $500.

Events 11, 28, and 45 are marked as 2-day events. What does this mean?

Events 11, 28, and 45 will pause after the completion of Level 22 (approximately 12 hours and 5 minutes after the tournament begins). Play will be suspended until 16:30 ET later the same day (about 12 hours later). Before the tournament resumes, player seats will be re-drawn.