ClubWPT VIP Tournaments: How to Win Real Prizes Legally

If you live somewhere real-money online poker isn’t legal, ClubWPT is one of the few ways to play tournaments for real prizes without breaking the rules. It’s the official online poker club of the World Poker Tour. You never pay a buy-in, never deposit money and never risk a bankroll, yet members compete for more than $100,000 in cash and prizes every month, including seats at live WPT events.

That sounds too good to be true, so this guide explains exactly how ClubWPT works, what it costs, who can play, how prizes are paid and whether a VIP membership is worth it in 2026.

ClubWPT at a glance (October 2026)

Detail	Information
Owner	World Poker Tour
Model	Subscription poker club run under sweepstakes laws
Buy-ins or deposits	None
Monthly prizes	More than $100,000 in cash and prizes
VIP price	$33.95/month, $89.95/quarter or $299.95/year
Diamond price	$149.95/month (includes VIP)
Free trial	14 days of VIP for new members
Free entry option	Mail-in entry for 30-day access
Minimum age	18, or higher if local law requires
Average winner prize (2025)	$216.24
Games	No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha
Platforms	Desktop download, browser, iOS and Android

What is ClubWPT?

ClubWPT is a members’ poker club run by the World Poker Tour. Free basic members can play social poker and casino games with Play Chips, which have no cash value. Paying VIP and Diamond members get access to tournaments with real cash and prize payouts.

The key difference from a normal poker site is that you never pay to enter a tournament. Instead, each VIP account gets 500 Tournament Points (TPs) a day. TPs work like chips for tournament entries, but they have no cash value, can’t be bought or transferred, and top back up to 500 once a day.

Why ClubWPT is legal

This is the question most players ask first. ClubWPT runs under sweepstakes laws, the same legal framework behind promotional contests from big consumer brands. Three features make that possible:

1. No purchase necessary. ClubWPT’s terms state that buying a membership doesn’t improve your chances of winning, and there’s a free way to enter, explained below.
2. No wagering. There are no buy-ins, no deposits and no way to bet real money. The tournaments are described as skill-based contests.
3. Prizes depend on where you live. You can only compete for prizes if your state or country allows sweepstakes contests.

In plain terms, your membership pays for the club’s benefits (unlimited play, WPT TV episodes and discounts), not for a bet on a tournament. That’s why it works in many places where real-money poker doesn’t.

Note: This is a general explanation, not legal advice. Laws change, so always check the rules where you live.

Who can play ClubWPT for prizes?

Eligibility depends on where you live. According to ClubWPT’s official terms (October 2026), these territories are eligible:

• Countries: Australia, Canada, France and the United Kingdom
• United States: Washington, D.C., plus Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

Not on the list: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee and Washington state. Players there can’t compete for sweepstakes prizes.

You must be at least 18, or older if your local law requires it. U.S. players must be citizens or resident aliens with a U.S. address and be physically in an eligible state.

Tip: Check the official eligibility list before you subscribe. Sweepstakes laws have been changing in several U.S. states, and an older review may show outdated information.

ClubWPT membership plans and prices (2026)

Plan	Price	What you get
Basic	Free	Play-money poker and casino games only; no prizes
VIP Monthly	$33.95/month	Prize tournaments, WPT TV episodes, discounts
VIP Quarterly	$89.95 every 3 months (about $29.98/month)	Same as monthly
VIP Yearly	$299.95/year (about $25/month)	Same as monthly; best value
Diamond	$149.95/month	All VIP benefits, plus daily Diamond tournaments and poker training

What VIP includes

• Unlimited poker play
• Eligibility for more than $100,000 in monthly cash and prizes, plus the ClubWPT $1,000,000 Bonus in eligible territories
• Full access to past WPT TV episodes
• 10% off official WPT gear at ShopWPT
• Ticket discounts through ScoreBig and the Entertainment Savers Guide

What Diamond adds

Diamond costs more than four times as much as VIP, so it’s aimed at serious players. You get:

• Daily Diamond tournaments with bigger prizes and no Tournament Points required
• Smaller fields, so you’re up against fewer players
• More chances to qualify for live WPT Championship seats
• Access to Upswing Poker Lab 1.0 training (listed at a $99/month value) and the Elite Cash Game Exploits course (listed at a $999 value)

Free trial

New members get 14 days of VIP free. A credit card is required, and you’re only charged when the trial ends. You can cancel during the trial at no cost, and there’s one trial per person. You can also upgrade to Diamond during the trial.

How to play ClubWPT for free (mail-in entry)

Because ClubWPT runs under sweepstakes rules, there’s a free alternative method of entry:

1. Register as a free basic member and install the software.
2. Handwrite a 3″ × 5″ card with your username, full name, mailing address, email, date of birth and the membership level you want.
3. Mail it in its own envelope to the address listed in the ClubWPT Terms of Service (currently in Irvine, California).
4. Once it’s approved, you get the standard 500 Tournament Points and 5,000 Play Chips for a 30-day period.

Rules to know:

• One mail-in entry per person per 30 days.
• Photocopies and metered mail aren’t accepted.
• Your odds are the same as a paying member’s.
• You’ll need to mail a new card every 30 days.

It takes a little effort, but it’s a completely free way to compete for real prizes.

What can you win?

ClubWPT tournaments award three types of prizes:

1. Cash prizes: the top finishers in cash tournaments win money.
2. Satellite seats: top finishers win entries into bigger online tournaments or live WPT events, sometimes as packages with accommodation.
3. Merchandise: some tournaments award non-transferable WPT prizes.

What realistic winnings look like: ClubWPT says the average winner received $216.24 in 2025. That’s a useful reality check. ClubWPT isn’t a get-rich-quick route; the typical win is a few hundred dollars. The biggest upside is the live WPT seats, which are worth thousands of dollars each.

How prizes are paid

1. Verify your identity once. Send a scan or photo of an accepted ID, such as a driver’s license, state or provincial ID, military ID or passport, with your name and ClubWPT username.
2. Claim your prizes from the “My Prizes” section of your account.
3. Taxes: if your winnings reach $600 or more in a calendar year, you must submit IRS Form W-9, and ClubWPT will send you a Form 1099.
4. Processing: allow about four weeks once all documents are received.

Important: You can lose your prize if you don’t return documents on time or if ClubWPT can’t contact you. Keep your account email up to date.

ClubWPT vs. ClubWPT Gold: what’s the difference?

Many players confuse these two WPT products:

Feature	ClubWPT (VIP)	ClubWPT Gold
Model	Monthly subscription	Social sweepstakes with virtual coins
How you play for prizes	Daily Tournament Points	Sweeps Coins
Cost	$33.95/month VIP (free mail-in option)	Free to play; optional Gold Coin packages
Prizes	Cash, WPT seats, merchandise	Sweeps Coins redeemable for cash
Countries	US (eligible states), Canada, UK, Australia, France	US only (eligible states)
Live events	WPT seat satellites	Big live freerolls, such as the $3M Super Gold Million at the 2026 WPT World Championship

ClubWPT Gold is also adding $1 million to the bounty pool of the 2026 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas in December, which shows how closely both products are tied to WPT’s live events.

How to get the most from ClubWPT VIP: practical tips

1. Start with the free trial. Use the 14 days to check the tournament schedule, field sizes and software before you pay.
2. Choose yearly billing if you’re committed. At $299.95, it works out to about $25 a month, roughly 26% cheaper than paying monthly.
3. Use your Tournament Points every day. They top up to 500 daily but don’t build up above that, so unused points are wasted.
4. Target satellites. Live WPT seats are the most valuable prizes. A good satellite run can be worth more than months of small cash wins.
5. Play your A-game. These are skill-based contests. Standard tournament strategy works: tight early, more aggressive near the bubble, and careful with your short stack.
6. Keep records. Track your winnings for tax purposes, especially if you’re close to the $600 threshold.

Is ClubWPT worth it?

Pros

• A legal way to play for real prizes in many places without real-money poker
• No buy-ins, deposits or bankroll risk
• More than $100,000 in monthly prizes, plus live WPT seat opportunities
• Backed by the World Poker Tour brand
• A free trial and a free mail-in option
• Available in four countries plus most U.S. states

Cons

• The monthly fee adds up: $407.40 a year on monthly billing
• The average win in 2025 was only about $216
• Not available in several big U.S. states, including California, New York and Michigan
• Tournament Points can’t be bought, which limits volume
• Ring games are play money only

Our verdict: ClubWPT VIP is worth it if you enjoy tournament poker, live in an eligible territory and would play anyway. Think of it as paying for entertainment with a real chance at prizes and WPT seats, not as an income source. If you’re unsure, try the 14-day trial or the free mail-in entry before committing.

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