It was a warm, buzzing morning inside Paris Las Vegas. The usual clatter of chips, shuffling of cards, and tension in the air filled the expansive tournament hall. But something felt different. As registration closed for Event #21: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha at the 2025 World Series of Poker, tournament officials blinked at the screen.
A hush turned into a ripple of excitement. For the first time in WSOP history, a $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) event had outdrawn its more famous cousin. In a festival dominated by Texas Hold’em for over five decades, this was a rare and remarkable moment—one that could signal a genuine shift in high-stakes poker preferences.
733 Entries, $3.39 Million Prize Pool: A PLO Breakout
The $5K PLO event wasn’t just another tournament on the WSOP calendar—it was a statement. Drawing 733 players, it created a prize pool of $3,393,600, a staggering sum for a non-Hold’em variant.
By comparison, the $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em event hosted earlier in the series had fewer entries, underlining how PLO is no longer just the “second game” for mixed-game grinders. It’s becoming a main attraction.
While final table results are yet to emerge, the implications of these numbers are already echoing through the poker world.
Why Pot-Limit Omaha Is Gaining Ground
1. Action and Complexity in Equal Measure
PLO’s popularity stems from its beautiful chaos. With four hole cards and the requirement to use exactly two of them in every hand, Pot-Limit Omaha offers a rollercoaster of possibilities—flushes over straights, redraws on every street, and equity swings that keep players on edge.
This complexity appeals to high-stakes professionals. It demands deeper post-flop skill and rewards creativity, making it harder for inexperienced players to “solvers their way” to an edge, as seen in modern Hold’em.
2. Bigger Edges for Skilled Players
Ironically, many pros now believe that PLO offers a bigger long-term edge than No-Limit Hold’em. While variance is higher, so too is the potential for return—especially in a field packed with aggressive, loose action players.
As online training tools for PLO become more advanced, and coaching communities shift focus to the format, players are better prepared than ever to take advantage of its softer, uncharted metagame.
3. Omaha’s Growing International Fanbase
From Europe to Brazil, Pot-Limit Omaha has surged in popularity over the last five years. In many European cash game circles, PLO is already the dominant format. This international influence has spilled into the WSOP, where mixed game and non-Hold’em events are seeing increasing registration numbers—especially among traveling pros and international qualifiers.
PLO’s Rise at the WSOP: A Pattern, Not a Fluke?
While this may be the first time the $5K PLO has eclipsed the $5K NLHE event, it’s not the only sign of Omaha’s rise at the World Series.
Last year, the $1,500 PLO event drew over 1,300 entries. The $10K PLO Championship is now one of the most anticipated events on the schedule, often showcasing some of the highest level play in the series.
There’s also an unmistakable cultural shift within the poker community, where players are actively seeking games with more depth and creativity—both for the challenge and the fun.
What Does This Mean for the Future of Poker?
If Omaha continues its upward trajectory, WSOP schedules may look different in the near future. Could we see a $25K PLO High Roller as a staple? A televised PLO Main Event? Daily Omaha events in the way Hold’em dominates now?
Some say yes—and this year’s $5K turnout only adds fuel to that fire.
But even for those who remain loyal to No-Limit Hold’em, the growth of PLO is good news. It adds diversity, excitement, and prestige to the series. It pushes players to broaden their skill sets and think differently about poker.
In a way, Omaha is helping bring the soul back to high-stakes poker, a format where math, instincts, and bravery collide in every pot.
WSOP 2025 Continues to Deliver
As WSOP 2025 moves through its third week, players and fans alike are already calling it one of the most unpredictable and dynamic series in recent memory. From massive early turnouts to unexpected leaderboard surges, and now the historic PLO milestone, the energy in Las Vegas feels electric.
For those tracking the pulse of poker, this isn’t just another record—it’s a moment of evolution. And Pot-Limit Omaha is right at the center of it.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 WSOP $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event didn’t just attract more players than its No-Limit Hold’em counterpart—it made a statement. As PLO continues to gain traction globally, its place in the spotlight grows stronger with each festival. For high-stakes players looking to test their mettle beyond the usual Hold’em grind, the message is clear:
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Source
Original reporting and data via:
CardPlayer: WSOP $5K Pot-Limit Omaha Outpaces $5K No-Limit Hold’em