Top 10 Most Glamorous Gambling Events

Gambling has become a worldwide phenomenon as the years have passed. This attraction and admiration for high-stakes gambling have given rise to many auspicious events worldwide.

Be it card games or sports betting, various land-based and online casinos and organizations have tried to create events that are celebrated throughout the world and attract the best talent from all walks of life. These platforms also expand on where the industry is leaning and what new things people can look forward to.

As with all things, we all love a bit of healthy competition, so why not do the same with gambling that is enjoyed by millions, be it in-person or online? Let’s check out the 10 most glamorous gambling events that people look forward to!

10. The Cyprus Gaming Show

[source: facebook.com]

Hosted by Eventus International, the Cyprus Gaming Show is Turkey’s biggest platform for gamblers to come together. The event is hosted primarily for professionals like gaming operators and suppliers, regulators, and other industry experts. If you want to know what the experts and suppliers are thinking, this is the event to attend.

There are presentations, panel discussions, and speeches on important topics like the latest trends, best practices, and new regulations that will come into effect. It also features exhibitions where game developers showcase their latest innovations and is a great source for knowing what to expect in the upcoming years in the gambling industry.

9. Main Tour WPT Australia

[source: worldpokertour.com]

Poker tournaments in Australia had not been the phenomenon people hoped for, but this changed with the 2023 iteration of the WPT Australia. This event, featuring 16 events and over $10 million on the line, became one of the biggest gambling events in the southern hemisphere. 

The main event, with its $8,000 prize, garnered unprecedented buzz, especially with the winner receiving the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.

The inclusion of mystery bounties, celebration parties, ladies' events, and a separate prize pool for women marked significant additions, enhancing diversity and action for viewers.

8. Eastern European Gaming Summit

[source: ntradeshows.com] 

This annual gaming conference brings together Eastern European countries to discuss expansions, projects, and new insights into the gambling world as it relates to the East of Europe. With more than 22 countries participating and over 200 representatives, the EEGS covers similar trends and developments in the gambling community.

With high-level executives and game developers flocking to the event, you can expect to establish connections, network, and participate in interactive training throughout the conference.

The EEGS might be taking land-based gambling more seriously this year, as they have been heavily focusing on innovations like AI, cryptocurrency, and cyber security for online betting for the last couple of years.

7. World Championship of Online Poker

[source: pokernews.com]

The World Championship of Online Poker, or WCOOP, is an annual online poker tournament that brings in players from all over the world to compete in the PokerStars arena. First devised in 2002, the WCOOP is the largest of its kind online and brings in hundreds of thousands of players to fight for the title of Online Poker Champion. 

Last year’s WCOOP was the biggest yet, with 104 events and 322 tournaments that lasted for more than three weeks. With main events giving out anywhere from $2.5 million to $6 million in cash to the winner, it's easy to see why the competition has become such an integral part of the online gambling world.

There are almost no excuses for not participating; buy-ins start at $5.50 and go up to the $10,300 Champion’s Freeroll set aside for previous winners to compete in. 2022 also marked the first-ever women’s WCOOP, so it’s safe to say the competition is only going to get stronger!

6. Global Gaming Expo

[source: kioskmarketplace.com] 

The Global Gaming Expo is a trade show that has been going strong for two decades and is one of the best ways to know what’s going on in the heart of gambling, Las Vegas. G2E is hosted by the American Gaming Association and gets more than 27,000 visitors each year. International suppliers, game developers, iGaming regulators, and many more attend the event every year.

Exhibitions are bigger and better here, with technologies and services being dialed up to eleven due to the sheer competition. This is the event where new ideas are shared and new products are unveiled. There are Hollywood actors, CEOs of international casino chains, and experts from all over the industry. If you want to get an accurate representation of the industry and know all the new products and services that will be coming, this event is a must.

5. Dubai World Cup

[source: broadcastnow.co.uk] 

Held at the alluring one-mile-long Meydan Racecourse, the Dubai World Cup is one of the most important horseracing events in the world. The race has served as a congregation for people worldwide to come together and indulge in betting and living in opulence for over two decades now.

It is also the richest horse race in the world, with $12 million on the line for the winner just last year. Extravagant parties and fashion shows are also a part of the race, and the Dubai Racing Club also attracts celebrities and royalty from the Saudi Royal Family, who also have their own horses or jockeys participating in some cases.

The racecourse also has some of the most luxurious arrangements, especially if you go for the Sky Bubble or a VIP ticket, where you have all the food and drinks with a grand atmosphere, champagne, and a special balcony with great views.

4. Kentucky Derby

[source: kentuckyderby.com]

The most famous and celebrated horseracing event in the world, the Kentucky Derby, is where legends are made. With one and a half centuries worth of history behind it, you better believe this one and a quarter mile run is one of the most glamorous horseracing events in the world.

As part of the prestigious Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby is one of the most important races as it leads to the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. The history and traditions of the race go as far back as its venue, Churchill Downs. High-stakes betting, fashion, and the pageantry of the race make it the most memorable two minutes in equestrian sports.

The race itself isn’t the only attraction; you also get to experience the Kentucky Derby Festival and an airshow with fireworks, which officially mark the beginning of the event. Hollywood stars and media icons are also regulars at the derby, making it a media event for days, if not weeks.

3. Triton Super High Roller Series

[source: triton-series.com] 

The Triton Super High Roller Series only attracts the most elite poker players with the biggest pockets. This year’s Super High Rollers will be participating in North Cyprus and Vietnam for the fabled millions that participants have won throughout the years. Buy-ins start at $20,000 and go all the way up to $200,000, making the tournament one of the highest-stakes tournaments ever created.

The opulence of the venue and the production quality behind the tournament make it one of the most anticipated and celebrated events in the gambling world. Speaking of venues, if exotic European locations fit your fancy, then the Triton Series also has some of the most exotic locations as venues to pick from.

Most years, there are three locations to choose from when you decide to participate, which only adds to its grandeur. Just remember to bring your best suit and a significant bankroll; they aren’t lying when they say it’s a series for high rollers.

2. The Royal Ascot

[source: waterfieldadvisors.com]

In one form or another, Royal Ascot has been around for three centuries, and the sheer extravagance of it is hard to beat. The appearance of English royalty in the royal procession, luxury brands on sale, and much more contribute to its glamor, and the international equestrian talents on display for the full five days make it a must-watch for horseracing fans.

The races are intense too, with the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, King's Stand Stakes, and St James's Palace Stakes all leading up to the prestigious Gold Cup. Steeped in history and tradition, this event is the epitome of gentlemanly equestrian sports.

The Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire hosts this event every year, and millions worldwide flock to it to experience the elegance and decor among the participants and the English gentry. The Royal Enclosure and the Queen Anne Enclosure offer the finest and most formal seating arrangements, whereas the Windsor and other enclosures are more relaxed and comfortable.

1. The World Series of Poker

[source: wsop.com] 

Anyone familiar with gambling has heard of the World Series of Poker. The most prestigious poker tournament in the world is also one of the most glamorous gambling events taking place in Paradise, Nevada. Add to that the $80 million prize pool, and you'll literally feel like you’re in heaven when you win!

Buy-ins range from $300 and reach as high as $250,000 for the Super High Rollers main event. The coveted WSOP bracelet doesn’t come easy either, with over eight thousand participants all gunning for the prestigious win. The atmosphere is rife with excitement and anticipation, and yet the best players throughout the world sit amicably and share their passion for the game.

The series has seen stars rise to stardom within a few short hands and players who have been considered unbeatable lose their winning streaks. The tournament doesn’t just showcase poker royalty; the life-changing prize pool and the allure behind it bring the entire poker community together to experience this glamorous event.

The gambling world is vast, and its events have always had a certain charm and grandeur to them that make them appealing and exclusive. With the advent of the internet, this has only amplified as more and more events are now happening online.

However, the glamor behind these events still continues to shine all these decades later, such is the community and elegance of the sport. People from all walks of life come together to share their passion for the sport with everyone.

What has been your favorite gambling event in recent years? Have you ever been to one of these glamorous events? Maybe it's about time you made some reservations and rubbed shoulders with the gambling industry!