GGPoker is bringing back its holiday online festival, the Winter Giveaway Series (WGS), for the third consecutive year. The series once again features more than $100 million in guaranteed prize money, with an additional 5% prize boost applied to every single tournament.
Running from December 14 to January 27, the festival spans 45 days — the longest edition in WGS history. The schedule includes 45 numbered events alongside hundreds of side tournaments. The series covers the entire Christmas and New Year period, and even overlaps with the final days of WSOP Paradise.
What Makes the Winter Giveaway Series Unique?
GGPoker not only provides massive guaranteed prize pools, but also adds an extra 5% to each event — even in the case of overlays. Practically, this means:
- A $100,000 GTD tournament receives an extra $5,000
- A $1,000,000 GTD tournament receives an extra $50,000
The concept was introduced in 2023, when the series featured $50 million in guarantees plus a 10% boost. Last year marked the first time the festival reached the $100 million guarantee level.
A key note: while GGPoker contributes significant funds to the prize pools, tournament rake remains around 10%. As a result, the operator still profits from events that meet their guarantees, albeit with reduced margins.
History of the WGS – Bigger Guarantees, Longer Schedules
| Year | Dates | Guaranteed Prize Pool | Added Money | Main Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dec 15 – Jan 15 | $50M | $4M | $250 buy-in, $2,024,000 GTD |
| 2024 | Dec 15 – Jan 13 | $100M | $5M | $250 buy-in, $3M GTD |
| 2025 | Dec 14 – Jan 27 | $100M | $5M | $250 buy-in, $5M GTD |
Highlight Events for 2025
The full schedule includes nearly 950 tournaments, with average prize pools hovering around $100,000. The biggest attention will focus on the multi-flight events:
- $50 Winter is Coming – $1M GTD + $50,000 added
- $25 Santa’s Sled Bounty Turbo – $2M GTD + $100,000 added
- $125 Omaholic Mystery Ball – $1M GTD + $50,000 added
- $250 Winter Giveaway Grand Finale – $5M GTD + $250,000 added
Most other events are holiday-themed versions of popular GGPoker formats, such as Winter Tick Tock, Holiday Heater, Merry Monster Stack, and Bounty Snowball.
Why Is There No WSOP Winter Circuit Anymore?
GGPoker previously ran the WSOP Winter Circuit during these months, typically offering guarantees in the $100M–$150M range. However, since the introduction of WSOP Paradise, the operator no longer runs two WSOP-branded festivals simultaneously. As a result, the WGS has permanently taken over this winter slot.
The WSOP Circuit now appears in GGPoker’s schedule in March.
End of Year Giveaway – An Additional $25 Million
Running alongside the WGS is another major promotion:
-
GGPoker is distributing $25 million through various giveaways at the end of the year
(compared to $23M in 2023 and $24M in 2024).
Summary
The 2025/2026 Winter Giveaway Series features:
- December 14 – January 27
- 45 days – the longest WGS to date
- $100 million guaranteed
- $5 million in added money through 5% boosts
- Nearly 1,000 tournaments, with buy-ins from $5 to $525
- Multiple $1M+ GTD multi-flight events
GGPoker is preparing one of the biggest online poker festivals of the year, offering massive prize pools, added value, and a full slate of holiday-themed events.
0 comments