WPT Enterprises Inc Review: Company Details, Social Poker Platforms and Legality
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WPT Enterprises Inc launched in February 2002 and sits behind televised tournaments like the WPT Championship and Legends of Poker.
Started by executive chairman Lyle Berman, the business transformed from World Poker Tour, LLC into a proper Delaware corporation just before its IPO in August 2004.
In January 2021, Element Partners, LLC acquired WPT Enterprises from Allied Esports Entertainment for over $78 million. Before Element Partners, LLC, WPT Enterprises Inc was owned by different companies such as Lakes Poker Tour, LLC and Ourgame International Holdings Ltd.
Apart from the major poker tournaments you see on TV, WPT Enterprises manages digital platforms like ClubWPT.
The platform gives players a tournament-style experience without needing to spend much upfront.
Sweepsio’s research found out that the company’s dealing with some legal issues in California, mainly around online gambling rules. which we have covered later on.
WPT Enterprises Inc company info
| Company Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Current Owner | Element Partners, LLC (private investment firm, acquired 2021) |
| Headquarters | 1920 Main Street, Suite 1150, Irvine, CA 92614, United States |
| Registration | Stock corporation registered in Nevada; California filing #3269326 (November 2, 2009) |
| Established | 2002 (operations); 2004 (incorporated as WPT Enterprises, Inc.) |
| Key Executive | Adam Pliska (President and CEO) |
| Employee Count | 96 to 100 people |
| Financial Earnings | $40.1 million revenue |
| Social Products | ClubWPT (launched 2008) and ClubWPT Gold (launched September 2024) |
What are the WPT Enterprises Inc poker platforms?
WPT Enterprises Inc runs two social gaming platforms under its brand: ClubWPT Casino and Club WPT Gold.
ClubWPT Casino
ClubWPT launched in 2008 and offers 85 games, including 59 slot titles like Frozen Arctic and Golden Wins. It also hosts live poker tournaments where players can compete for real prizes.
ClubWPT works on a subscription model: you pay a monthly fee (or quarterly/yearly) to get “VIP” or “Diamond” access.
You're playing with Play Chips and Tournament Points here, not actual dollars, which keeps it legal across most states. However, residents of Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina and South Dakota are restricted from playing.
The platform features games from AGS, Spin Games and their own proprietary titles, plus classic table games like European Roulette and Mini Baccarat.
Club WPT Gold
ClubWPT Gold entered the market with a high-profile launch on December 13, 2024, backed by a $5 million freeroll event after its announcement in September 2024.
The platform operated at full capacity in early 2025 and positioned itself as a sweepstakes-poker environment rather than a real-money gambling site, which kept it legal in many U.S. states and Canada.
Unlike its sister platform, ClubWPT Gold gave access to tournaments through coin purchases instead of subscriptions.
You purchased Gold Coins and received Sweeps Coins as bonuses that could be redeemed for cash rewards as in most sweepstakes gaming sites. ClubWPT Gold offered ring games, MTTs and mixed formats.
In 2025, ClubWPT Gold shifted away from its dual-currency system and introduced Hand Analysis Credits for training tools and Chips for gameplay, replacing the original Sweeps Coins model.
The platform continued to push promotional events, including the Gold Rush series with freerolls, bonuses and themed tournaments.
WPT Enterprises Inc lawsuits
Back in 2006, seven top poker pros—Chris Ferguson, Annie Duke, Phil Hellmuth's rivals—took WPT Enterprises Inc to court over those player release forms.
They argued the contracts were way too restrictive, basically giving WPT permanent rights to player images while blocking competing TV deals. The case dragged on until April 2008 when both sides settled, with WPT agreeing to revise their player contracts.
Today the heat's coming from California. Law firm Lieff Cabraser started investigating ClubWPT Gold in 2025, looking into what they're calling "unfair and improper practices" in the Golden State.
According to California legislative updates on sweepstakes gaming, AB 831 (from October 11, 2025) introduces restrictions on sweepstakes-style gaming models. The state sent cease-and-desist letters to 26 sweepstakes operators in June 2025. ClubWPT Gold already pulled out of Louisiana, Connecticut and New Jersey this year.
ClubWPT Gold has adjusted its business model—shifting from Gold Coin sales to Hand Analysis Credits that convert into chips, which is an attempt to comply with or avoid triggering sweepstakes restrictions.
The company has been aggressive in protecting its own turf—they've gone after everyone from Ultimate Poker Challenge TV Show to random websites hosting pirated WPT footage.