Historic $1 Million Buy-In: Poker’s Richest Tournament at Wynn Las Vegas

By Scott Bowen,
Editor at online-gambling.com

Scott Bowen Editor at online-gambling.com

Scott Bowen is a casino expert and editor with many years of experience in the gambling industry. He is one of the most valuable members of our team at online-gambling.com. Bowen specializes in writing on a variety of subjects, including roulette, blackjack, video poker, sports betting, and more.

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Last updated: June 5, 2023

The World Poker Tour’s World Championship Festival in Wynn Las Vegas will feature the Big One for One Drop tournament, which is renowned as the richest event in the poker world. From December 18 to December 20, a competition including top professionals and affluent amateurs will bring them together in an effort to raise money for a good cause.

Guy Laliberte, the creator of Cirque de Soleil and an enthusiastic high-stakes poker player, came up with the idea for The Big One for One Drop, which was first presented in 2012. Laliberte also founded the One Drop Foundation, a group committed to granting people all over the world sustainable access to clean water, sanitary conditions, and good hygiene. A portion of each buy-in is donated directly to the foundation as part of the tournament’s fundraising efforts.

Charity and High Stakes: Supporting One Drop Foundation’s Water Access Mission

The Big One for One Drop made headlines in its debut year by giving away an extraordinary $18.3 million first prize. The winner, Antonio Esfandiari, tripled his lifetime tournament wins in a single event while taking home the unprecedented payoff. The next year, Daniel Colman defeated Daniel Negreanu in a gripping heads-up match, earning a mind-blowing $15.3 million in prize money.

The tournament changed its venue to Monte Carlo and took on the name Big One for One Drop Extravaganza in later iterations, turning into an elite invitation-only event largely geared toward rich amateurs. A very unknown Chinese-Canadian player named Elton Tsang won a stunning tournament and took home €11,111,111 (about US$12.2 million) in cash.

The event was held in Las Vegas once more in 2018 as a part of the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Outlasting a group of 27 competitors, Justin Bonomo won the coveted title and a $10 million reward. However, the Big One for One Drop has stopped playing poker in Las Vegas ever then.

Unmatched Prestige: Top Pros and Wealthy Amateurs Set to Compete

The Big One for One Drop is now returning to its original venue thanks to a collaboration between Wynn Las Vegas, the World Poker Tour (WPT), and these organizations. A combination of established pros and rich enthusiasts will compete in the $1 million buy-in tournament, and many participants will choose to sell shares of their action to lessen the danger to their finances. The Big One is a genuinely exceptional event because to the draw of the enormous prize pool and the satisfaction of advancing the goals of the One Drop Foundation.

The choice to shift the competition from the WSOP to the World Championship Festival of the WPT is a reflection of the poker industry’s ongoing development. Adam Pliska, CEO of the WPT, shared his delight about hosting this storied competition in association with Wynn Las Vegas and the One Drop Foundation. Pliska further emphasized the significance of the $1 million buy-in as evidence of the industry’s potential.

Pliska’s thoughts were mirrored by Alexandre Meunier, the Chief Marketing and Events Officer of the One Drop Foundation, who emphasized the significance of the occasion. Meunier expressed his gratitude to WPT and Wynn for helping to organize the fifth Big One while also recognizing the uniqueness of the event. The Big One is a poker event unlike any other due to its high stakes, enormous prize pool, and significant contributions to the provision of clean water access.

Poker players anxiously anticipate the showdown between elite pros and wealthy amateurs as the Big One for One Drop returns. This amazing event serves as a reminder of the power of generosity in addition to showcasing the players’ talent and strategy. The athletes’ participation benefits a deserving cause and has a beneficial effect on underserved neighborhoods.