在过去几年里，因为困扰全美数以千计企业的经济衰退的影响，世界扑克系列赛的参赛选手数量一直很低迷，在2012年，经济衰退的影响似乎已经远离世界最受大众欢迎的扑克赛事了。
在经济衰退之前的年份，WSOP每年会在年报中公布参赛选手的数字，这项大众运动一直并没有大的增长，因为在线扑克产业已经成为全世界顶尖行业之一了。
经济衰退的出现更致使参赛人数下降，即便在去年，全速扑克、绝对扑克和扑克之星等在线扑克服务商被美国司法部指控，WSOP的参赛人数同比还是下降的。
而今年仅在上周五和周六，就有将近9000名选手参加了正在进行中的各项比赛，周日的统计数字还没有公布，不过如果周末也保持相同的趋势的话，那就会创造一个连续三天内参赛选手人数的新纪录，根据一些扑克迷所说的这个数字可能会对经济上有所刺激。
“经济状况已经开始好转了，人们能够松口气缓缓劲了”菲利普说，他是从俄勒冈州带着全家一起到拉斯维加斯度周末的扑克选手“人们手头有闲钱了，又有机会在很短的时间里通过参加这里的比赛赢取大额的奖金，这些顺理成章的使得WSOP成为一个夏季度假的好去处”
今年，一些赫赫有名的人物也回到WSOP赛场上，在去年在线扑克公司被指控后表示抵制WSOP 的菲尔。艾维已经回到赛场，并且他也随大流的参加了2012年的几项比赛，艾维曾经和很多专业扑克选手一起在WSOP的各项赛事中各显其能。
今年，WSOP新推出了百万美元买入赛，这一直是整个WSOP的焦点，这一赛事只对36名被邀请的选手开放，粉丝们齐聚希望能够看到过去十年间的顶级高手之间的对决。百万美元买入赛将在7月1日-4日进行。
译文：
Record Number Of Players This Weekend At World Series Of Poker
The World Series of Poker experienced tough attendance numbers over the past few years, succumbing to the economic recession that crippled thousands of businesses across the US. In 2012, the effects of the recession appear to be well behind the most popular poker gathering in the world.
In the years before the economic recession, the WSOP was on its way to setting annual records when it comes to attendance. The popularity of the sport had never been greater, and the momentum was being built through an online poker industry that was becoming one of the top industries in the world.
The economic recession started the downturn in attendance, and last year when Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker, and PokerStars were indicted by the US Department of Justice, the attendance numbers continued to drop. This year, the tide has turned, as this weekend is expected to be a record-setter in terms of player entries.
On Friday and Saturday alone, nearly 9,000 players were involved in tournaments that were ongoing. The Sunday figure has not yet been released, but if the weekend trend continues a new record should be set for amount of players in a three day period. The numbers, according to some poker fans, may have a lot to do with the economy.
”The economy has started to improve, and people have been able to exhale and breath again,” said Phillip Trondle, a poker player who was in Las Vegas for the week with his family from Oregon. “People have a few extra bucks, and the chance to win big money in this many tournaments in a small period of time just makes the WSOP a logical destination for a summer vacation.”
The big names are also back in attendance this year. After boycotting the WSOP last year after the online poker company indictments, Phil Ivey has returned, and he has done so in grand fashion, cashing in several tournaments in 2012. Ivey has been joined by dozens of pro players who have tried their skills in the variety of tournaments the WSOP has to offer.
This year, a new $1 million event has been created, and it has been the buzz of the entire WSOP. The tournament was only open to 36 invited players, and fans have gathered in the hopes of seeing one of the top poker showdowns of the past decade. The $1 million buy-in event begins on July 1st, and is scheduled to conclude on July 4th.