World Series Of Poker Final Table Payouts: What The Players At The Final Table Took Home After Taxes This Year

 Horseshoe Las Vegas - Paris Las Vegas

World Series Of Poker

May 27th - July 16th, 2025

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This year's WSOP Main Event kicked off on July 2nd with 9,735 poker players from all over the world hoping to win the championship bracelet, along with 10 million dollars in cold hard cash. 

{Daily Play}

Playing five two-hour levels (10 hours of play) plus 20-minute breaks after each level, and a 75- or 90-minute dinner break, added up to a grueling 13-hour day from the start to finishing play, getting down to the final nine players.

The finish (Final Table) was played on July 15th & 16th.

That adds up to a lot of poker, folks!

So, what is the final pot at the end of the rainbow worth to the final nine?

Here’s a breakdown of how much in taxes each of the nine finalists at the 2025 WSOP Main Event final table actually paid, along with their approximate after‑tax take‑home pay.

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These estimates are based on analysis by tax expert Russ Fox and published tax breakdowns of the final table prizes. Total prize fund at the final table was $31.05 million, with about $10.05 million withheld—an effective overall rate of ~32.37%

Notably, Hallaert (Belgium) and Bojović (Austria) paid no U.S. tax, thanks to favorable tax treaties that exempt their gambling winnings from IRS withholding

Other players, including all U.S. residents and Leo Margets (Spain) and Daehyung Lee (South Korea), were taxed heavily, some losing nearly half their earnings to U.S. federal tax plus local taxes elsewhere

In the end, the 2025 WSOP Main Event final table was as much about endurance and mental toughness as it was about the staggering payouts. With the top finishers walking away with millions, but not all of it stays in their pockets. While the winner (Michael Mizrachi) secured a life-changing 10 million dollars, players from taxable jurisdictions could owe as much as 30% to 50% of their winnings, depending on residency and tax treaties. Whether taxed in the U.S. or abroad, Uncle Sam (and other governments) always gets a piece of the action. 

At the final table, poker dreams come true, and so do some serious tax bills!

Good luck at the tables, and with your taxes!

GE

The Psychology That Casinos Use Against Us Players

 Casinos are masters at influencing behavior. Should I stay or should I go?

Here are some psychological tricks that the casinos use to keep you playing longer and spending more money.

No Clocks or Windows

Why? To disorient you. Without a sense of time, you're more likely to stay longer.

Effect: You lose track of hours—and possibly your budget.

Ambient Lighting & Sound

Bright lights mimic the energy and excitement of daytime.

Slot machine sounds (cha-ching!) reward your brain—even if you’re just nearby.

Upbeat music keeps adrenaline flowing and energy high.

Maze-Like Layout

Casinos are intentionally hard to navigate—you’ll pass more games and temptations on the way to the restroom or exit.

Subtle nudging: They guide you to spend more time “accidentally.”

Chips Instead of Cash

When you bet with chips or a digital balance, it feels less like real money, which reduces the pain of losing.

Effect: People tend to bet more freely.

Near Misses

Especially in slot machines, you’ll often get two of the same symbols and a third matching symbol just off of the payline. Near misses come often!

This triggers dopamine, making you feel like you’re close to winning. So, you keep feeding money into the machines.

Reward Systems (Free Drinks, Comps)

Giving you “freebies” like drinks, meals, or hotel stays keeps you feeling valued. And keeps you playing.

You think, "I'm winning, even if I'm not."

Carpet & Floor Design

Busy carpets and polished floors make it visually uncomfortable to look down or feel at ease just standing around.

The design subtly guides foot traffic toward games, not exits or resting areas.

Alcohol Access

Free or cheap drinks impair judgment and increase risk-taking behavior. Great for the casino, not so much for your wallet.

Low Entry & Micro Wins

Games like penny slots offer low-risk engagement, which hooks players into longer sessions.

You might win small and often, keeping your hopes up, even if you're slowly losing overall.

Variable Reward Schedules

Casinos use intermittent reinforcement; you never know when the win will come.

This is the same psychology behind addictive apps and social media—random rewards = obsessive engagement.

If you want to beat the psychology, the best trick is awareness—and a watch. Don't drink too much, and only bring money to the casino that you can afford to lose. And leave the debt and credit cards at home. 

Good Luck!

GE