Changes in law lead to WPT televised events, branded poker rooms and more at Seminole Casinos across Florida
LOS ANGELES (August 10, 2010) — World Poker Tour® (WPT) and Seminole Gaming today announced a multi-year alliance, adding a televised stop in Florida to the current WPT Season IX tour schedule, several additional WPT branded events and the development of official WPT Poker Rooms inside select Seminole Casinos. For the first time, players in Florida will be able to participate in a televised $10,000 buy-in WPT tournament. WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood from April 27 – May 3, 2011.
“A WPT tournament at a Seminole Casino in Florida is a perfect addition to our television season,” said Adam Pliska, WPT President. “With the recent changes in its poker laws, this is a momentous time for the evolution of poker in Florida and we are proud to join forces with the Seminole Tribe to finally bring high-stakes poker to Florida.”
Recent changes in state law have removed caps from poker games, including tournaments, and have relaxed rules on hours of play. As a result, Florida, the fourth most populous state in the U.S., appears destined to become one of the hottest poker markets in the nation. In addition, Seminole Casino poker rooms will now be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They offer 1,360 poker seats at six Florida casinos, far surpassing other card rooms in the state.
“World Poker Tour will bring a new level of sophistication and excitement to poker rooms at Seminole Casinos,” said Jeffrey Hook, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Seminole Gaming. “We look forward to combining the WPT partnership with no-limit poker and 24-hour play to maximize the action for our players.”
Visit WPT website often for updates on events in Florida and other stops on the WPT 2010-2011 tour schedule.
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ABOUT WORLD POKER TOUR
World Poker Tour (WPT) is one of the most recognized names in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high stakes poker tournaments. WPT has broadcast globally in over 150 countries, currently airs in the United States on Fox Sports Net and is preparing for its all-new ninth season. WPT also offers a unique online subscription and sweepstakes-based poker club, ClubWPT.com, which is available in 38 states across the U.S. WPT also participates in strategic brand license, partnership and sponsorship opportunities. WPT is a subsidiary of PartyGaming Plc. For more information, the World Poker Tour website.
ABOUT SEMINOLE GAMING
In addition to its two Seminole Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla., the Seminole Tribe owns and operates five more Seminole-branded Florida casinos in Coconut Creek and Hollywood on the South East coast, in Immokalee near Naples, on the Brighton Reservation northwest of Lake Okeechobee and on the Big Cypress Reservation south of Lake Okeechobee. The Seminole Tribe has long been recognized for innovation in its gaming and other businesses. It opened the first high-stakes bingo hall and casino in the United States in 1979. That facility was the forerunner of the Indian Gaming movement throughout North America.
(World Poker Tour Press Release)