World Series of Poker (WSOP) Comes to Europe This Fall

Harrah's Entertainment announced earlier this week that it is launching the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe this fall. This represents the first time ever that WSOP bracelets will be awarded at events outside of Las Vegas.

WSOP Europe events will be held at London Club International (LCI) casinos at different locations in the U.K. Three events during one poker series have been scheduled so far, and more are forthcoming.

The first WSOP Europe series will debut in London September 6-16, 2007. The WSOP Europe Main Event will be a six day 10,000 pound (USD $19,650 or 14,870 Euros) No-Limit Texas Hold'Em Championship. It will begin September 10 at LCI's Leicester Square, The Sportsman and Fifty. The playing field will be consolidated beginning September 13 at Leicester Square.

In his announcement, Jeffrey Pollack, World Series of Poker Commissioner said, "The World Series of Poker Europe will have a unique identity, style and flair, but will remain true to the 38-year tradition and heritage of the WSOP."

He added, "This new tournament has been designed with European players in mind, but registrants from every country are welcome. We hope it becomes an annual tradition for poker enthusiasts and a home for WSOP fans after the action concludes in Las Vegas each summer."

Pollack was quoted by CardPlayer as saying that as soon as he heard Harrah's was to buy LCI, he began working on how to bring the WSOP to Europe. He is aware that they are late into the tournament circuit in Europe. But he feels between his outstanding WSOP Europe Team, the brand recognition of the WSOP, and the fact that the WSOP bracelet is the most recognizable poker hardware globally will allow them to quickly catch up.

To make these tournaments uniquely European, Harrah's is debating whether to introduce a dress code, which is standard across many European casinos. For example, male poker players could be asked to wear blazers.

Harrah's shared that they are also debating whether to make the first few WSOP Europe events exclusive to only European players to make a splash in an already crowded European poker tourney scene, in their comments to CardPlayer. No decision been made on either of these proposals.

"We are honored to host this unique extension of the world's richest and oldest poker tournament," said Bill Timmins, chief executive officer of London Clubs International.

He added, "As the exclusive offline satellite host, LCI will enable players to compete in our poker rooms in London, Manchester, Nottingham, Southend and Brighton for a seat in every WSOP Europe event."

Online qualifiers are a slightly different story.

Harrah's is now prevented by the U.S. from directly acknowledging WSOP qualifiers from online poker sites. Many poker analysts feared this will slash 2007 WSOP attendance, since half to two thirds of the 8,773 players who entered the 2006 WSOP main event were online qualifiers (no official percentage has ever been confirmed).

But the U.K. Gambling Act of 2005, which goes into effect September 2007, will legally license and regulate online poker sites. So qualifying online to a WSOP Europe event would be no problem.

Pollack would only say "stay tuned" when asked whether Harrah's has plans to build an online site or to partner with existing online poker sites to provide WSOP satellites.

Beginning May 1, 2007 further details about structures, payout percentages and satellite dates and times for the WSOP Europe tournaments will be available on the World Series of Poker website (click here to visit it).

Since Harrah's reserves the right to cancel, change or modify the tournament or any tournament event, be sure to regularly check back on PokerPages Tournament Schedule page to keep up to date (click here to see WSOP Europe Schedule).

More Poker News Articles

PokerStars Launches New UK and Ireland Poker Tour
12am Wed Nov 4th, 2009

PokerStars.com has announced the start of a new poker tour with stops throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. The UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) will kick off in Galway, Ireland in mid-December, and the first event in the UK will be held in Manchester in February.

Peerless Media Agrees to Purchase World Poker Tour Enterprises
12am Mon Nov 2nd, 2009

According to a Monday press release, WPT Enterprises Inc., mothership of the World Poker Tour, is now the rightful property of Peerless Media, Ltd., subsidiary of online giant PartyGaming.

Tiffany Michelle and Maria Ho Hit the Amazing Race Rail
12am Mon Nov 2nd, 2009

After surviving six legs of the Amazing Race by the skin of their teeth, poker pros Tiffany Michelle and Maria Ho were finally eliminated in the CBS reality show's most recently aired episode. Michelle and Ho, the last women standing in the 2008 and 2007 World Series of Poker Main Events, gave reality television fans another chance to watch poker personalities compete away from the felt. Annie Duke garnered quite a following earlier in the year on another reality show competition, NBC's Celebrity Apprentice.

Isaac Baron Dominates Caesars Classic Main Event
12am Sat Oct 31st, 2009

Isaac "westmenloAA" Baron ran over the final table of the Caesars Palace Classic $5,000 Main Event, amassing a huge chip lead and going home with the $246,928 first prize. It took two long days to narrow the 162-person field to the final ten. A very high percentage of the entrants were recognizable tournament circuit players, and unsurprisingly, the stacked field produced a tough final table lineup.

Tonight- ESPN shows Day Before WSOP Main Event Final Nine are Set- Oct 27
12am Tue Oct 27th, 2009

Tonight (Oct. 27) at 9pm ET, ESPN will broadcast highlights of action on the day before the Final Table of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event was set. Only 27 players remain when this one-hour show begins.

Frenchman Wins PokerStars EPT Warsaw Poker Tourney
12am Mon Oct 26th, 2009

At the PokerStars European Poker Tour Warsaw No Limit Texas Hold'em main event that wrapped up yesterday, French businessman Christophe Benzimra finished first taking home 358,644 Euros in prize money, while Italian poker pro Alfio Battisti finished second in the tournament.

Vedes Conquers WPT Festa al Lago Final Table
12am Mon Oct 26th, 2009

Tommy Vedes is the WPT's newest champion! Vedes outlasted 274 players to win the Festa al Lago title and the $1,218,225 first prize. Freddy Deeb, who began the final table with the chip lead, hoped to win his third WPT title and tie Gus Hansen's record. Instead, Deeb was forced to settle for 4th place, leaving room for a new WPT champ. Click here for in-depth coverage of the action and photos from the final table.

Will Hungarians Get Taxed on Poker Soon?
12am Mon Oct 26th, 2009

Hungarian lawmakers have plans to tax poker winnings and regulate clubs to generate much-needed revenues during the country's worst economic crisis since the end of communism, reports Germany's Deutsche Weele.

Freddy Deeb Leads World Poker Tour Final Table
12am Sun Oct 25th, 2009

The WPT Festa al Lago Main Event is down to the final six after five tough days of play. Two-time WPT champion Freddy Deeb brings the chip lead along with the benefit of his under-the-lights experience into Monday's televised final table. Deeb previously won the WPT Season III Aruba Poker Classic and the Season VII Celebrity Invitational. He also owns two World Series bracelets and has amassed over $6 million in tournament winnings. A win on Monday would add $1,218,225 to that total. Click here for photos from the felt and final table chip counts.

11 Remain in WPT Festa al Lago Main Event
12am Sun Oct 25th, 2009

The fourth day of the Festa al Lago WPT $15,000 Championship began with 37 players, just ten eliminations away from the money. Though action was painfully slow at times, it hit break-neck speed before the end of the night, leaving only 11 players standing heading into Day 5. Click here for Day 4 photos and chip counts.