It’s that time of the year again! The 2022 World Series of Poker opened for business yesterday, and thousands of poker players looking to make a name for themselves (and pocket a little cash) have begun to descend on Las Vegas.

The 2022 World Series of Poker is historic for one major reason. You see, in the 53 year history of the event this is the first time it’s being held on The Strip. Recent players will remember the days of the Rio Casino, but old timers know the event really started in downtown, down on Fremont Street, at Binion’s Horseshoe.

And speaking of horseshoes, that’s exactly what Caesars Entertainment has decided to rename their Bally’s Casino! This years event is hosted at Bally’s and another Caesars property, The Paris. However, the name Bally’s was actually sold. And soon (sometime this summer) the old Bally’s branding at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo will be coming down. When that happens, the new Horseshoe Las Vegas brand will be raised.

Here at This Week in Gambling, the hope is that the rebranded casino will become a new poker mecca. Caesars has shut down nearly every other poker room they operate in Las Vegas, so perhaps it makes since to consolidate all of their poker energies into a brand like The Horseshoe. After all, the name is almost synonymous with poker. And this would explain (in part) why Caesars is doing the re-branding and moving the event from The Rio.

Additionally, the new Horseshoe has four times as many dining options and more restrooms. It also comes with enough free space to host 600 more tables than The Rio, so the 2022 World Series of Poker will have a 30% increase in size from last year.

Caesars Executive Director Ty Stewart said “We’re ready to welcome players from all over the world to our housewarming party at Bally’s, soon-to-be Horseshoe, and Paris. The schedule is jam-packed with first-class events and we expect this to be the biggest and most anticipated WSOP yet.”