The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has officially confirmed that the era of its single-table satellites (STS) is coming to a close, marking the end of a format that has been integral to the tournament for over 40 years. The announcement was made as part of the 2023 WSOP rules release, signaling that the STS will no longer serve as a major feeder system into official bracelet events, except for a few special instances such as satellites directly feeding into the Main Event or the GGPoker-sponsored “Flip and Go” event.
The Rise and Fall of Single-Table Satellites:
First introduced in 1982 by Eric Drache, the STS format was created to help boost participation in the WSOP Main Event. Initially conceived to address a low number of Main Event entries, Drache proposed that players put up a smaller buy-in, with the winner securing a seat at the Main Event. This innovation caught on, with Tom McEvoy famously winning a Main Event seat through an STS in 1983, which led to his eventual Main Event victory that year.
Over the decades, STS tournaments became a crucial element of the WSOP, providing many players with the chance to buy their way into the prestigious tournament through affordable satellite entries. These single-table sit-and-gos were especially popular during the WSOP’s long summer events, where players could win Main Event entries with minimal investment.
However, in recent years, STS activity had drastically declined, with fewer players participating. By 2022, STS games were relegated to just a few tables, and their significance had diminished.
Misuse and Concerns:
A significant factor in the decline of STS was the misuse of the format. Some players, known as STS specialists, would play dozens of satellites over the summer, accumulating a large number of lammer tokens (used as buy-ins for Main Event entries). These lammers would then be sold or traded to other players. This practice caught the attention of law enforcement agencies like the IRS and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), which monitor for potential money laundering activities at casinos. The inconsistent enforcement of the rules and the underground trading of lammers led to the eventual crackdown on the STS format.
The End of an Era:
In the end, the move to phase out STS likely reflects both the diminished popularity of the format and the regulatory concerns associated with it. The remaining STS events will no longer involve the use of lammers, and the winners will be directly entered into the Main Event or other designated tournaments.
The removal of the single-table satellites marks the end of a chapter in WSOP history, one that saw over 40 years of evolution in how players could enter the world’s most prestigious poker tournament. Although the format is now largely consigned to history, it has left an indelible mark on the poker community, having shaped the careers of many players and provided numerous memorable stories throughout the years.
A Look Back at the Legacy:
The STS legacy includes memorable moments such as James McManus’s 2000 story, where he used a satellite to gain entry into the Main Event and parlayed that into a fifth-place finish, which later became the foundation of his book “Positively Fifth Street: Murderers, Cheetahs, and Binion’s World Series of Poker.”
As the WSOP continues to evolve, the end of the single-table satellites represents a pivotal moment in its history, signaling both change and progress for future events. The WSOP’s focus will now shift toward other ways to facilitate player entry into the Main Event, moving away from the old STS model while continuing to innovate.
