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The Brazilian Series of Poker, popularly known as the Brazilian Poker Championship, has marked a remarkable milestone in 2026. During the opening ceremony of the BSOP São Paulo, it was announced that the total prize money paid out in all tournaments since the beginning has surpassed the R$1 billion mark.
This translates to an average of over R$7 million in prize money paid out in each tournament over the 141 stages. However, recent figures have shown a tremendous growth rate in the BSOP tournaments. It is evident from the fact that it took 10 years, until the middle of 2023, to reach the R$500 million milestone in total paid out, but the next R$500 million has been achieved in only 14 tournaments, taking the average to over R$35.7 million in each tournament.
Rapid Growth and Future Projections
This tremendous growth has led the BSOP management to make some remarkable projections. Rafael Moraes, the CEO, has made a statement saying, “I think we can reach R$2 billion by 2028. It sounds a bit exaggerated, but I believe we are in a very strong moment. Numbers are numbers, and they show how much we have grown.”
One of the most notable examples of the tremendous growth rate has been shown in the BSOP Millions 2025, which is the biggest tournament and traditionally the final event of the year. This year, the event, which was held over 16 days, featured the first-ever R$500,000 buy-in tournament in Brazilian history, where the winner walked away with R$6 million, and the total prize money paid out in the tournament was over R$17 million.
Moreover, the total prize money paid out in the BSOP Millions has also increased by 40.5%. It has risen from R$96 million in 2024 to R$134.94 million in 2025.
From Uncertainty to Consolidation
Today, the size of the BSOP is very different from what it was in the early days. In an interview, the founder, now the CFO, Devanir Campos, spoke about the early days of the tournament, which faced a lot of uncertainty to exist in the first place. He said, “In the beginning, poker had so many challenges just to exist that we couldn’t even think about long-term longevity.”
He further added, “We believed in it, we had the desire to make it happen, and most importantly, we had a passion for poker. We wanted a place to play and believed we weren’t doing anything wrong; that was the key.”
Recognition and Legitimacy of Poker
Poker, in Brazil, is a game that has seen a major transformation over the last two decades. It is now recognized as a mind sport by the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA). It is now being accepted by society, thanks to the efforts put in by the organizers of the tournament.
According to the founder, “A major turning point was when the Minister of Sports, Aldo Rebelo, attended a BSOP event and publicly recognized poker as a legitimate activity.” He further added, “That moment marked the beginning of a new era. We started seeing more celebrities involved, and people were associating themselves with poker without any hesitation.”
Celebrity Influence and Global Reach
Poker, in Brazil, is gaining popularity, which is also evident through the influence of celebrities on the game. Stars such as Ronaldo Nazário, Neymar Jr., Maurren Maggi, Rodrigão, and a host of other football players are a part of the tournament.
Today, BSOP stands as the largest poker circuit in Latin America, with players from around the world participating in the events. With its global recognition, including the Global Poker Awards, the series continues to place Brazil as a vital part of the global poker world.
As the figures show, the BSOP curve indicates that the next milestones will be achieved sooner than expected.
Source: iGaming Brasil
