Three Main Reasons Why Poker Players Consider Skipping WSOP 2025

#1 Displeasure Toward Recent Political Decisions in the USA

Since Donald Trump won the presidential election and became the 47th President of the United States, several of his administrative policies have left poker players around the world so disappointed that they’ve decided not to invest even one extra penny into the US economy.

Non-US players don’t feel comfortable after Trump and his team tried to force Canada to become the 51st US state with a tariff war, outright stated they wanted to “get” Greenland, and, most alarmingly, updated Alien Registration Requirements that make it harder for foreigners to enter and stay in the US — and began detaining and deporting tourists with valid visas without real legal grounds.

Given these and other recent issues, some players have decided not to play in the US until the situation changes.

Punker: My view is that the President is actively trying to damage the Canadian economy. I don’t believe the impetus for him to stop doing that can come from outside the USA via negotiation or counter measures; it must come from inside the USA. To do that, the USA economy must feel the pain of what he’s doing.
Does my week of hotel and meals damage the US economy? Of course not. But that’s why I’m doing it — with the hopes that if enough other Canadians do so, places like Las Vegas may start to feel a drop in tourism dollars and pressure the President to resolve the tariff battle (which he can do in 1 second by just saying “we will honor the existing trade deal that I negotiated.”). Maybe they won’t and I’m just taking a nonsensical stand with no impact. But I’ll do it anyway.
The WSOP isn’t all that much fun once you’ve been a few times anyways, Vegas is an overpriced tourist trap, and I’m not some high stakes killer who had big bracelet ambitions anyways. It’s not some great sacrifice of a once in a lifetime experience.

PUSATFH: Canadian #’s will be way down this year, I assure you. Out of my group of 20 or so that usually go, I only know of 2 that are still planning to make the trip. Canadians are deeply offended by what Trump/Musk have said about our country.

Amywinehouse: As a Canadian who has gone 6 times I won’t be going this year. The US faces a potential $60+ billion loss in its tourism sector this year and I would gladly be a tiny part of that $60+ billion.

filmbuff: I’ve decided not to go this year. Not because of Trump, I travelled to the US when he was president before, but because the border police are out of control. I’ve seen news reports about Brits, Germans, and Canadians being detained at the border for weeks, even when they have the resources and are willing to just book a flight and leave. Travelling to the US — especially with lots of cash — doesn’t seem like a good idea right now.

billyjex: I could not imagine traveling from outside the US with the plan to visit America for an extended period of time under the guise of professional gambler. There is an abandonment of due process in this country, especially for non-citizens. While the odds of it happening would be low, you cannot rule out being detained at customs due to posts that are considered detrimental to the American support of Israel.

In addition, if you have brown skin and tattoos such as MJ’s “jump man” logo all it takes is one dickhead ICE officer to have you sent to an El Salvador megaprison in a matter of hours and you will never be returned.
Coming to the US with either a bunch of cash or a story about how you’re gonna stay in an Airbnb to play poker tournaments all summer will definitely put you higher on the question list of customs/ICE. Some of them will see you as a degen gambler, and question that, or think you’ve got some bullshit cover story for drugs.
You cannot pretend that this is only happening to the bad ones when there are countless stories of this happening in our country right now. Regardless, if the worst of the worst don’t have due process, the most law-abiding citizen does not have due process either. If I was a euro, I’d be saving my money for EPT Barcelona.

#2 Ridiculously Expensive Food at WSOP 2025

Among the things WSOP players dislike most in 2025, food and drink prices are at the top of the list.

As ProfessionalMalaka sarcastically described in the discussion: “Where else can I get a deal like this?” with a picture (and norwich added: “Wait until you see the price of the egg sandwich”):

Poker players who travel to play are genuinely concerned they simply won’t be able to eat well during the WSOP 2025 because of the prices. And people who live in Vegas or travel there often share this sentiment — because prices just keep going up year after year.

tiger24: I actually wouldn’t mind if tourism in Vegas got wrecked a little, the prices are out of control. Something needs to change. This has been going on for a while now and I’m not just talking about simple inflation… I’m talking about a slice of pizza and a beer for example. The prices are 10x–15x what I pay in my state.

poker_van: I’ve been coming to the WSOP for a decade now and it’s always been bad, but this is a whole new level, that’s all I’m trying to convey.

luigijerk: Vegas in general is out of hand for food prices. At our “cheap” breakfast place at our hotel I split an entree with my wife and got a kids menu 2 pancakes and it cost $50. The 6″ sub sandwiches at the food court were $16. The fries were $12.
Chips for $9 is absurd, but just another step in the progressive gouging. What are you going to do, drive off the Strip?

#3 Personal Issues Outside WSOP 2025

Finally, many players are also choosing their health, quality time with family, or simply playing a game they enjoy more over the long grind of live events with no guaranteed outcome. Some are upset about missing the WSOP 2025 , while others don’t see it as a big sacrifice.

HomeStar: Had kid #2 this year, and wife pressure campaigned me into not going, first time I’m missing since the pandy. Sad times.

borg23: I’ve been there every WSOP since COVID for a couple of weeks and think the 5/5 to 10/25 PLO games I play in are just not that good overall and a lot worse than Vegas other times of the year. Wait lists are also terrible (although last year got better at Aria because they had more tables than prior years), staff is stressed from working so much, it’s hot as hell and it just hasn’t been an enjoyable experience. I’ve also gone to Vegas 3–4 times a year besides WSOP each of those years, had way more fun and on average made more money than my WSOP trips, even with a few losing trips mixed in.
I’m not a tournament person at all but on the small chance I decide to play a few tournaments or fire the Main I might go for a week or so.
If I was a tournament grinder I’d absolutely be going.

George Rice: […] Being a Yank and figuring things are going to get worse before they get better, I’m more inclined to play more because there might be fewer opportunities in the months to follow if fewer people have disposable income. But not at the WSOP because of the reasons Borg stated — I’m not a tournament player and the cash games are worse then (and the damn wait lists).

daytona: I would love it to be there but it’s not in the cards unfortunately for this year.