World Series Of Poker Brings Players From Around The World To The Rio All-Suite Hotel And Casino In Las Vegas.

For 37 years, the World Series of Poker has been the game's undisputed championship, drawing record crowds, generating unprecedented prize pools and making legends one hand at a time. Public action at this year's 45-event series begins today with a three-day No-Limit Hold'em event at the Rio(R) All-Suite Hotel & Casino and continues until the conclusion of the Main Event on August 10, when the new World Series of Poker World Champion is crowned (Results of the 2006 WSOP events will be published here).

The annual casino industry employee event began yesterday. The final table of the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions, the richest live free-roll, also began yesterday as remaining participants Daniel Negreanu and Mike Sexton continue to play heads-up this morning for the $1 million top prize.

Already the largest, richest and most prestigious live poker tournament played anywhere in the world, the 37th annual World Series of Poker is expected to further define the role of poker in the sports and entertainment industry. The 2006 WSOP, operated by a subsidiary of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET) will reach its broadest audience ever by leveraging the largest global television, Internet, mobile gaming, radio and print media alliances in the game's history.

This year's World Series of Poker event features the first $50,000 buy-in event in the tournament's legendary history, a H.O.R.S.E. event that begins July 12. Other enhancements this year include an expedited registration process, improved food and beverage offerings, expanded restroom facilities, a new smoking policy, additional cashier windows to speed the payment and cash-out process, enhanced taxi service at the Rio Pavilion and the addition of valet service at the Pavilion.

"The World Series of Poker is the ultimate expression of excellence in poker," said WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. "We stand head and shoulders above every other tournament, but we're not taking our position for granted. Every aspect of the business is getting a fresh look and we're establishing alliances and instituting policies that will ensure the tournament's continued long-term success. We're committed to creating an outstanding experience for every player and every fan."

To ensure the World Series of Poker event's continuing success, Pollack has announced a series of key alliances:

• A telecast agreement will keep the World Series of Poker on ESPN through 2010. Telecasts in 2006 begin July 18 and continue on Tuesday nights at prime time through October 31. On August 10, the final table of the WSOP Main Event will air live for the first time on a pay-per-view special;
• A three-year presenting sponsorship with Milwaukee's Best Light;
• An agreement with AOL, which will vastly increase the tournament's online reach;
• A deal with Glu Mobile to create and disseminate World Series of Poker branded content to cellular phones;
• An arrangement with Bluff Media to create a channel dedicated to the World Series of Poker events on Sirius Satellite Radio for the duration of the tournament;
• An agreement with Card Player to serve as the official magazine of the World Series of Poker events;
• A deal with jewelry brand TRITON, a division of Frederick Goldman, to create this year's champions bracelets and a retail line of World Series of Poker themed jewelry;
• An agreement to make luxury Swiss watchmaker CORUM the official timepiece of the World Series of Poker.

Prize Money

Since its inception, the World Series of Poker tournament's annual gross prize pool has grown from $30,000 in 1971 to more than $106 million in 2005, a compound annual growth rate of 27 percent. In recent years, the prize money has grown exponentially:

2003: Total gross prize pool of $21.8 million
2004: Total gross prize pool of $46 million
2005: Total gross prize pool of more than $106 million

The main event has seen similar increases:

2003: Gross prize pool of $7.8 million and $2.5 million top prize
2004: Gross prize pool of $24.2 million and a $5 million top prize
2005: Gross prize pool of $56 million and a $7.5 million top prize

Player Participation

The total number of entrants for all events climbed from:

7,572 in 2003, to
14,054 in 2004, to
32,341 in 2005.

Participation in the Main Event alone rose from:

839 in 2003, to
2,576 in 2004, to
5,519 in 2005.

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment through operating subsidiaries. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada 68 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.

See official reports and results of the 2006 WSOP here.

Source: www.WorldSeriesOfPoker.com


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