The World Series of Poker is preparing for a record number of entrants even though the government is cracking down on online gambling sites that have boosted the tournament’s popularity.
Organizers said Wednesday they are planning for 10,000 players, a 14 per cent increase over last year’s record of 8,773 players. Half of the 2006 participants were estimated to have won their seats in online qualifier events.
“It is not either a target, a goal or a prediction,” tournament commissioner Jeffrey Pollack said during a conference call with reporters. “But again, you’ve got to plan for something. We’re planning for a top level of 10,000, but if there are more, we will figure it out.”
The tournament plans to build a structure beside the host Rio casino-hotel in Las Vegas and increase the number of tables to 258, Pollack said. That would be enough to allow more than 3,000 players to play the first three days of the main event.
A higher number of entrants would mean the grand prize for the world’s richest poker game would exceed last year’s US$12 million.
The tournament also said it was distancing itself from online poker sites that accept bets from U.S. players, in line with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The measure was signed by U.S. President George W. Bush as part of a port security bill in October.
Groups associated with dot-com poker sites that take U.S. wagers will no longer be allowed to set up VIP booths and displays, Pollack said.
The tournament, owned by Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., also is warning sites that improperly use trademarked material, such as the tournament name, to stop
Source: SLAM!