UB.net (formerly UltimateBet) is sponsoring Season 7 of the Heartland Poker Tour (HPT). The HPT is one of the US’s most successful annual tournaments, seeing growth in its popularity every year. HPT will have 52 weeks of TV programming and be seen by an estimated 100 million American viewers, and UB is betting that this kind of coverage will give their brand a serious boost.
Joe Sebok, UB’s representative, commented, “What HPT has been able to do is fantastic. The best kept secret in poker with their homegrown events and national television exposure, they simply get bigger and better every year. For us to come in and back their product, we know we’ll help to shine a spotlight on HPT like never before. So, expect more players having some fun at the HPT tables and overall richer prize pools across the tour.”
Although Sebok has yet to cash in an HPT event, he plans to make a run on the league this year.
All qualifiers for Season 7 HPT will be hosted by UB, and will include tournament entry fees, and money for travel and housing. Team UB plans on making appearances at the table, including Sebok, Adam Levy, Maria Ho, and Eric Baldwin. In addition to playing the game, Team UB will provide some commentary for television broadcasts.
The broadcasts will air in high def. Executive Producer Greg Lane promised, “Viewers will notice an improvement in the sound and image quality, emphasizing the drama at each final table. The audience at home will feel more like they are right there sweating the tough calls at the table.”
The HPT will make its way through Iowa, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, and Oklahoma.