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WSOP Main Event Airs on ESPN Tuesday Night

August 9, 2010

ESPN will begin airing the 2010 Main Event tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. ET. As usual, Lon McEachern and Norman Chad will co-host the event. This week features Mike “The Mouth” Matusow, 2010 Poker Players Champion and 2010 November Nine member Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, 2003 world champion of poker Chris Moneymaker, 2004 world champion of poker Greg Raymer, and many more.

Also expect to see Annette Obrestad, former main event champ Dan Harrington and Erick Lindgren, 2008 Player of the Year, not to mention the 7,000+ additional players who gave it a try at the 2010 WSOP this year.

Each week thereafter on Tuesdays starting at 8:00 p.m. ET until 10:00 p.m. ET, you can catch more 2010 WSOP Main Event action leading up to the November Nine finalists who will reunite at the Rio All-Suites on November 6th to vie it out for the title of world champion of poker and take home $9 million in poker winnings.

2010 World Series Main Event highlights can also be seen in the same time slot on ESPN HD and ESPN Mobile TV channels. Episodes will re-air later that same morning from 1:00 a.m. ET until 4:00 a.m. ET on ESPN 2 and ESPN 2 HD channels.

Episode 1 will feature Day 1A and Day 1B. Episode 2 will air on August 17th and will feature Day 1C and Day 1D. The remainder of the Main Event will air on Tuesdays between August 24th and October 5th from 9:00 p.m. ET until 11:00 p.m. ET. On October 12th, Day 7 of the Main Event will air from 9:30 p.m. ET until 11:30 p.m. ET, and the remainder of the Main Event will air between October 19th and November 9th between 9:00 p.m. ET and 11:00 p.m. ET.

Written by Johnny · Filed Under Poker News 

WSOP and Harrah’s Free Online Poker Platform Up and Running

August 9, 2010

About one month ago WSOP launched its online poker site, free for US residents. To advertise the big event, Harrah’s has introduced a PR campaign that included an advertisement in the USA Today. Americans can also expect to see television commercials on ESPN during WSOP broadcasts advertising the new online poker platform.

So while Harrah’s has officially stepped foot in the online poker market in the US, it’s only “play money” that’s at stake for now. Although the play chips are not worth any value, Communications Director for WSOP, Seth Palansky, says that prizes such as WSOP 2011 seats and exclusive vacations at Harrah’s Las Vegas properties will be introduced sooner than later.

Palansky says, “This was the next logical step for us. We’ve seen a very good response, with a lot of folks downloading the game.”

Harrah’s partner is Dragonfish, real-money online poker company operating in the UK. Rep. Barney Frank’s poker bill stirred up a ruckus recently indicating that regulated US online poker might actually be a possibility again. Harrah’s wants to be on the forefront of the game plan if such regulation does ultimately pass, though Palansky does not imply this has anything to do with their actions, but rather their focus is on brand building.

“We watch these things closely, but it doesn’t affect how we operate on a day-to-day basis,” says Palansky. “We have enough opportunities to seize and deal with currently that we don’t have to worry what may or may not happen.”

The bill still has a long way to go if it is to ever be passed and ultimately implemented.

According to Palansky, WSOP launched a social networking poker app a few weeks ago. “We’ve had video games in the past. We’ve had a very successful WSOP mobile game that’s in the market now, and has done really well. Now, you can play through Facebook. This and [the play-money poker software on wsop.com] both basically have the same intent—a brand-building World Series of Poker official online game.”

Written by Bea · Filed Under Poker News 

PartyGaming to Merge with bwin

August 3, 2010

It’s now official; PartyGaming and bwin have confirmed they plan to merge. I this merger goes as planned, these two companies will form the world’s biggest online gambling conglomerate to be publicly traded. The $1.76 billion deal will break down with 48.4% of shares owned by PartyGaming shareholders, and the remaining 51.6% owned by bwin shareholders.

With bwin’s successful sportsbook and PartyGaming’s thriving casino and poker platforms, the two companies are believed to complement each other well to serve together as a strong brand.

Incorporated in Gibraltar, the new company will be co-run by CEO of bwin, Norbert Teufelberger and CEO of PartyGaming, Jim Ryan. However, the merger must be approved by 75% of both PartyGaming and bwin shareholders during 2011 first quarter shareholders meetings. Once approved, all assets and liabilities of bwin will be transferred to PartyGaming, and the new corporation will be incorporated in Gibraltar. bwin will then be removed from the Vienna Stock Exchange, and shares of the new combined company will be open for trade on London’s FTSE.

Teufelberger announced the merger in a statement that included the following: “The business combination makes great strategic, operational and financial sense.” He went on to explain, “We will be in pole position to capitalize on the wealth of opportunities that will flow from the continued evolution and expansion of the global online gaming industry.”

Ryan also made a statement: “With market-leading positions in poker, sports betting, casino and games (in particular bingo), the enlarged Group will have a winning formula to exploit the growing gaming market, supported by a strong balance sheet, significant cash flow generation and a highly experienced management team.”

This merger would in fact create a power brand that could possibly exert enough force within the industry to redefine online gambling as we know it today—for the better.

Written by Marcus · Filed Under Poker News 

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