American web-based predictions platform Kalshi has launched the primary World Collection of Poker (WSOP) predictions market on its platform, permitting customers to commerce on the general variety of gamers within the 2026 WSOP Essential Occasion.
Customers can commerce on whether or not the WSOP Essential Occasion can have greater than 10,000 runners, which appears to be about the correct prediction line given attendance over the past three years.
With simply over $2,000 traded available on the market in the interim, the market appears to be swaying barely in favor of the Essential Occasion getting over 10,000 gamers, however precise public sentiment will develop into clearer within the coming months, as additional trades are made.
The 2026 WSOP has been scheduled to run from Might 26 to July 15, with the precise schedule of occasions anticipated to be introduced within the coming days, and most potential merchants are possible ready to see it earlier than making any predictions.
Will the 2026 WSOP Get 10,000 Runners?
The Essential Occasion attendance quantity has lengthy been thought-about one of many key parameters in measuring the general success of the WSOP.
The Collection first got here near hitting the ten,000 mark again in 2006, when Jamie Gold triumphed over 8,773 runners within the midst of the poker increase. Simply because it appeared poker was solely going to get larger, curiosity in dwell poker fell off, and the Essential Occasion noticed extra modest numbers of entries within the coming years.
The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 was one other turning level for dwell poker, as the sport noticed a large surge of gamers within the following years. In 2023, the Essential Occasion lastly noticed greater than 10,000 entries, as a complete of 10,043 gamers took their shot on the world’s largest poker trophy.
The report was smashed once more the very subsequent 12 months, as 10,112 gamers entered the Essential Occasion, and Jonathan Tamayo triumphed amid the “laptopgate” scandal.
The 2025 version of the WSOP Essential Occasion, which noticed Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi come out on high, as soon as once more didn’t get 10,000 runners, however the quantity got here shut with a complete of 9,735 entries.
Judging by the newest numbers, and the general curiosity in dwell poker nonetheless being fairly important throughout different venues, it’s possible this 12 months’s Essential Occasion will as soon as once more come near 10,000 runners, which leaves the prediction market in an actual coin-toss scenario.
As soon as the complete WSOP 2026 schedule is launched and the Essential Occasion dates develop into clearer, we might even see additional knowledge to assist both facet, together with GGPoker’s predictions for the general variety of on-line qualifiers for the celebrated World Championship occasion.
Daniel Negreanu Will Give Away a WSOP Essential Occasion Seat through Kalshi
GGPoker Ambassador Daniel Negreanu, possible the world’s most well-known poker participant, entered a private partnership with Kalshi in September final 12 months and just lately introduced a WSOP Essential Occasion seat giveaway through the platform.
Since launching the partnership, Child Poker has made related giveaways on Kalshi. Within the winter of 2025, he gave away a $30,000 WSOP Paradise package deal, which included an entry to the $25,000 WSOP Tremendous Essential Occasion.
Now, one fortunate participant will get to play within the 2026 WSOP Essential Occasion in Las Vegas, and all it’s essential to do is be a part of Kalshi utilizing promo code “DNEGS” and make a $10 deposit.
All gamers who qualify will get a single entry into the ultimate draw, the place one $10,000 Essential Occasion seat shall be given away, including one other entry to the possibly 10,000+ discipline of this 12 months’s Championship.
Daniel Negreanu additionally hinted at extra poker-related prediction markets coming to Kalshi within the close to future, as one consumer requested the query and DNegs merely answered: “Engaged on it!”
Kalshi just lately introduced a partnership take care of The Lodge Card Membership in Texas, and is anticipated to launch prediction markets for the favored Poker on the Lodge YouTube dwell stream, just like those provided by Polymarket for the large video games on Hustler On line casino Stay.
Offers with the likes of Daniel Negreanu and The Lodge Card Membership point out Kalshi’s clear curiosity within the poker market and sure additional involvement with the sport, so we anticipate to see loads of poker prediction choices on the platform over the course of 2026 and past.
