The FirstWorld Seriesof Poker in theMiddle East.

The most explicit public statement on the economic impact of a WSOP festival for its host resort came from Tom Reeg, CEO of Caesars Entertainment, during the Q2 2024 investor earnings call — days before the announcement of the $500 million sale of the WSOP brand.

This statement carries particular strategic weight. It came immediately before a $500 million transaction in which Caesars nonetheless insisted on retaining the right to host the festival at its Las Vegas properties for the next 20 years. That contractual clause can only be explained by the overall economic value the event generates for the resort, well beyond tournament revenue alone.

The summer of 2025 provided a revealing case study. Data from the LVCVA and STR show a significant deterioration in the broader hotel market during June and July 2025:

• ◆June 2025: hotel occupancy fell 14.9%, with RevPAR declining 28.7% during the week ending July 5
• ◆Key factors: international arrivals down 13.2%, temperatures exceeding 50°C, and a lighter convention calendar compared to 2024
• ◆Macro signal: according to STR, Las Vegas alone was responsible for the decline in US hotel metrics that summer. Without Las Vegas, national RevPAR would have been flat

In this challenging summer context, the WSOP acted as an explicit stabilizer, a role Caesars publicly acknowledged. The festival generates a captive and predictable flow of international players across eight consecutive weeks, with above-average length of stay and significant on-property spending.

The WSOP Paradise model differs from Las Vegas in one critical respect: the host resort is the only available infrastructure on site. Atlantis Paradise Island (and Baha Mar from 2026 onwards) captures virtually all player, sponsor and media accommodation within its own facilities.

• ◆Atlantis Paradise Island (3,100+ rooms): the resort invested $250 million in renovations between 2023 and 2025, a trajectory directly tied to its positioning as an international premium poker destination. Joe Brunini, Chief Gaming and Customer Development Officer at Atlantis, described WSOP Paradise as the event that turns the resort into poker's ultimate winter playground.
• ◆December timing: the 2025 edition ran from December 4 to 18, traditionally a slower period for a Caribbean resort. The WSOP drives exceptional occupancy and premium room rates during that window.
• ◆Concentrated economic flow: with 2,891 entries in the $25,000 Super Main Event and a 15-event programme running over 15 days, the resort hosts a clientele with very high spending capacity. Hotel, dining, casino floor and leisure revenue are all captured entirely on-property.
• ◆GGPoker packages: the operator committed to sending more than 1,000 qualified international players to each edition through all-inclusive packages that include accommodation at the host resort, providing a guaranteed baseline of room-nights.

Bahamas hotel performance data confirm that Atlantis regularly sustains occupancy rates above 90% during peak event periods, at a time when the broader Bahamian market typically runs between 60 and 75%.

The relocation of WSOP Europe from Rozvadov to Prague in 2026 offers a striking illustration of a WSOP festival's ability to transform a destination. King's Casino Prague, based inside the Hilton Prague, welcomed 15,779 entries across 13 days in March and April 2026, compared to fewer than 3,000 in previous editions held in Rozvadov.

• ◆Direct hotel impact: the Hilton Prague and surrounding properties were at full capacity throughout the festival. Prague's strong connectivity from across Europe attracted players who would never have travelled to a border town.
• ◆Media and social media reach: the festival generated substantial international exposure for Prague as a premium poker destination, with content published from the King's Casino Hilton tables and reaching poker audiences across Europe and Asia.
• ◆Destination discovery effect: several thousand players from 83 countries experienced Prague for the first time through the WSOP. That kind of ambassador-driven destination awareness cannot be replicated by any conventional marketing campaign at comparable cost.

The opening of the Wynn Al Marjan Island marks a historic milestone for the United Arab Emirates, as it will be home to the country's first licensed commercial gaming operation. By bringing the WSOP to Ras Al Khaimah, the Emirate would immediately establish itself as:

• ◆The premier poker destination in the Middle East.
• ◆A new international stop on the global poker circuit.
• ◆A flagship destination for luxury gaming tourism.
• ◆A symbol of the UAE's evolution into a diversified entertainment economy.

The event would become a cornerstone of Ras Al Khaimah's international branding strategy.

Unlike Las Vegas, Europe, or Macau — where multiple casinos compete for major poker events — Ras Al Khaimah offers a completely new market. The WSOP would benefit from:

• ◆The first official WSOP event in the Middle East.
• ◆Exclusive regional positioning.
• ◆No direct competition.
• ◆Exceptional international media attention.
• ◆Historic significance for the global poker industry.

A compelling marketing message would be: “The First World Series of Poker in the Middle East.” This “first mover” advantage carries enormous commercial and branding value.