About WSTR

The World Series of Team Roping

When the construction of South Point Hotel and Casino Equestrian Center was completed in the spring of 2006, the dream of a world class equestrian center on the Las Vegas Strip was a reality. But for sure, the cherry of all events would be the one selected to complement the NFR. There were lots of options, and every producer of any type of horse event or rodeo lined up and gave their pitch to the South Point.

The period of family-oriented casinos had passed in Vegas. The Gentrys, founders of WSTR, were contacted by South Point Casino and told that they wanted a world class event, adult-only and wanted customers who fit a gaming demographic. If they could design an event that would live up to those requirements, they would have the full backing of the hotel for a one-year test run. It was understood that they had a mere eight months to make it work.

The offer was accepted, and overnight the plan was developed, with a hybrid entry system concept. A roper can direct enter at a high price entry fee or qualify supported by over 360 low-dollar qualifiers around the country during the year. The Finale entry fee is $2,000 per roper. The qualifiers would be based on a high leverage payoff scheme of 80% payouts that overnight became the buzz in the industry. The strategy of allowing ropers at the lower priced qualifiers to "push" winnings to Vegas immediately for the chance at a bigger pot.

2006 was a fast and furious year but when the first Finale moved into South Point in December, with just a touch over 150 teams in each of two divisions, WSTR would hit a $1.2 million event, second or third richest roping in the country, in its very first out. That was more than any other horse discipline could have ever hoped to accomplish as a start-up in less than one year.

The combo of the NFR rodeo crowd and the team ropers are a perfect mixture to electrify the South Point Casino each night.

The Finale launched the team roping industry higher and higher among performance horse events. By 2020 the team roping industry was easily paying cowboys $70 million in roping purses annually. In Vegas, the Finale payoff jumped from the first year at just over $1 million to over $10 million in 2015. In 2019, prior to the pandemic, that number rose to $13.8 million, and in 2025 the Finale paid over $20 million. The event is now the richest quarter horse event in the world.

The World Series of Team Roping was sold in 2015 to a company that is now called Equine Network which is part of a larger group of companies that cater to equine enthusiasts and industry professionals, with live events, and all types of publishing and digital experiences. Equine Network has made large capital investments to improve the yearly experience of recreational ropers all over the world.

Even though there have been many changes as demonstrated by the many innovations since 2006, WSTR is still the quality standard of the industry. The goal of the WSTR is to ensure that every roper has a fun, fair, and competitive place to rope with the opportunity at life-changing money and prizes in an atmosphere that makes every roper feel special and a part of something great.