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

High Stakes Poker Re-ups with the Game Show Network
12am Thu Jul 24th, 2008

Just when it looked like the Game Show Network would shift to a pokerless schedule, it has been announced that High Stakes Poker will be back for another season. HSP will begin filming Season Five episodes in September.

SirWatts Electric at World Poker Tour Bellagio Cup
12am Sun Jul 20th, 2008

Just as the World Series of Poker Main Event left on a 117-day break, a new World Poker Tour millionaire was being crowned at the Bellagio. Some 446 entrants ponied up the $15,000 buy-in, creating a prize pool worth $6,489,300. More than $1.6 million will go to Canadian Michael "SirWatts" Watson, winner of Bellagio Cup VI.

World Poker Tour Finds New Home on Fox Sports Net
12am Sat Jul 19th, 2008

It was announced Thursday that World Poker Tour Enterprises has reached an agreement with Fox Sports Network (FSN) to broadcast Season VII of the WPT series. Tournaments are already underway for the new season, which will consist of 26 one-hour episodes.

EGBA Sets New Best Practice Standards for Responsible Gaming
12am Wed Jul 16th, 2008

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), in support of their mission to promote fair competition for European-licensed operators and consumer choice in a regulated European online gaming market. has launched a new set of best practices to ensure consistent standards of player protection, fair gaming and responsible operator behavior in the European online poker, Internet gaming and betting environment.

World Poker Association Changes Membership Terms
12am Wed Jul 16th, 2008

The new leadership under Founder and present Chairman of the World Poker Association (WPA), Jesse Jones, has taken immediate measures to address the needs of the over 1400 members who have joined the WPA to date, through several key membership changes. These changes include:

Stanley Ho's IPO Reveals Setbacks Since Macau Regulation, Competition Arrive
12am Wed Jul 16th, 2008

The delayed listing of Stanley Ho's Sociedade de Jogos de Macau Holdings (SJM) group on Hong Kong's Stock Exchange until today, 16 July, is characteristic of the many challenges the firm has faced since 2002, when foreign operators were allowed to build casinos, and regulations increased. Since then, the 86-year old billionaire's four decade dominance of the Portuguese colony's gaming market, determining where and when you could play poker has waned.

'November Nine' Final Table of the World Series of Poker Is Set
12am Tue Jul 15th, 2008

From 6,844 to nine, the players for the final table of the Main Event of the 39th World Series of Poker have now emerged after nearly two weeks at the tables. The so-called 'November Nine' will return on November 9 after a 117 day hiatus as the most well prepared final table in poker history, as well as being guinea pigs for this first-ever delayed final table experiment.

Poker Tournaments in Bars -- The New Prohibition?
12am Mon Jul 14th, 2008

While the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) has devastated internet poker, separate, quiet battles are being fought, and won, to make poker legal in bars under state laws.

'November Nine' Emerge Today at World Series of Poker, Hellmuth Places 45th
12am Mon Jul 14th, 2008

Today, July 14, is a big day at the World Series of Poker, when the three remaining tables of the Main Event will be trimmed to one, from the 27 players starting play today Day 7. That means that today we will learn the identities of the 'November Nine', the nine finalists who will return November 9 to play out the final table under the television spotlights.

Biggest $250,000 Guaranteed Poker Tournament in Bodog History Coming
12am Mon Jul 14th, 2008

History will be made this summer at Bodog Poker, as the online poker powerhouse hosts its largest guaranteed prize pool tournament ever on Sunday, Aug. 10, at 4 p.m. EST, with a guaranteed $250,000 in total prize money to be awarded-- regardless of the number of registrants.