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WORLD POKER TOUR Hits $100 Million Milestone
Published: 2005-03-29
 WORLD POKER TOUR Hits $100 Million Milestone; Groundbreaking Tour Tops Century Mark in Prize Money Over Three Seasons
Business Wire, March 29, 2005
LOS ANGELES -- In just under three years, the WORLD POKER TOUR(TM) (WPT) has become one of the most lucrative ventures in sports for its players. Over the weekend, the WPT crossed the $100 million mark in prize money with the awarding of the $7 million plus prize pool on the latest tournament stop of the WPT. Michael Gracz captured first prize, earning $1.5 million, and entered the record books as the WPT's "$100 Million Man."
"What the WPT has accomplished in such a short period of time is truly astonishing," said Steve Lipscomb, President and founder of WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WPTE). "We have lifted poker from a backroom game to a sport that is churning out a whole new generation of respected professional players making their living by competing in our tournaments around the world. $100 million is just a mind-boggling number and it sends a message that the WPT and poker are here to stay. If you look back at the PGA, it took more than 30 years to reach $100 million in prize money."
When considering that many WORLD POKER TOUR events pay as deep as 40th or 50th place means that for the first time many professional poker players are earning their mortgage money on the tour and successful amateurs are enjoying nice Bonuses for their bank accounts.
Airing every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the Travel Channel, the WORLD POKER TOUR(R) is responsible for launching the worldwide poker boom. By turning poker into a televised sports sensation, the WPT has made stars of the poker players who have captured million-dollar purses on the Tour. Since their WPT Final Table appearances, they are frequently spotted in airports and restaurants, and pressed for autographs by fans.
The WPT has created twenty-two millionaires over the last three seasons with ten of those being newly minted this year. Among the players who have placed in the money at WPT tournaments in the past three seasons are Doyle Brunson, T.J. Cloutier, Annie Duke, Chris Ferguson, Howard Lederer, Daniel Negreanu, Jennifer Harman, Gus Hansen, Erick Lindgren, Phil Hellmuth, Antonio Esfandiari, Phil "The Unabomber" Laak, John Juanda, Mel Judah, Carlos Mortenson, Paul Phillips, Erik Seidel, Layne Flack, Phil Ivey, Scotty Nguyen, Paul Darden, Dave "The Devilfish" Ulliott, Alan Goehring, Ron Rose, Martin De Knijff, Hasan Habib and many other up-and-coming players.
"Wow! A hundred million makes a lot of new poker millionaires," said veteran pro Jennifer Harman. "The WPT has changed the lives of poker players forever. The game is no longer what it was where you could play well but still had to hold a second job or live on a tight budget. The WPT deserves all the credit for the success we are all now enjoying. It is so exciting to play for the kind of dollars that can transform your life."
Just as significant as what the WPT has achieved for the players has been its influence on viewers. Viewers have become passionate about learning and improving their game, watching WPT shows multiple times to pick up the nuances of poker. The WPT has stepped up to the plate as the sports league that wants to help all players improve their skills. Today, the WPT aims to educate poker enthusiasts through its new line of books ("WPT: Shuffle Up and Deal" from HarperCollins), a 60-second radio and audio internet feature ("WPT Poker Corner"), a series of weekend instructional clinics around the country (WPT Boot Camp) and the DVD collections of each season's WPT shows that can be viewed for tips and strategy. For more information on the WPT and WPT poker learning tools, go to: www.worldpokertour.com.
"We at the WORLD POKER TOUR are very proud to have achieved this milestone so quickly. With the addition of the PROFESSIONAL POKER TOUR, which WPTE launched in November 2004, we will place even more money into the hands of players. Our faith in poker's future is unlimited and we are excited to be leading its growth in innovation, prize pools and popularity," said Lipscomb.
About WPTE
WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WPTE) is a company engaged in the creation of internationally branded entertainment and consumer products driven by the development, production, and marketing of televised programming based on gaming themes. WPTE is the creator of the World Poker Tour(R), a television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments that airs on the Travel Channel in the United States and more than 60 markets globally. WPT Enterprises currently licenses its brand to companies in the business of poker equipment and instruction, apparel, publishing, electronic and wireless entertainment, DVD/home entertainment, casino games, and giftware. For show information, tools for improving poker play, and other WPT news, fans may log on to www.worldpokertour.com.The company is also engaged in the sale of corporate sponsorships. WPT Enterprises, Inc. is a majority owned subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:LACO). Photos and media information can be found online at: www.worldpokertour.com/media.
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by WPT Enterprises, Inc.) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to the expansion of WPT's brand licensing, the development of new television and film projects, the development of WPT corporate sponsors and other business development activities, as well as statements regarding other capital spending, financing sources and the effects of competition. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of WPT. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, WPT's significant dependence on the Travel Channel as a source of revenue; the potential that our television programming will fail to maintain a sufficient audience; the risk that competitors with greater financial resources or marketplace presence might develop television programming that would directly compete with WPT's television programming; the risk that WPT may not be able to protect its entertainment concepts, current and future brands and other intellectual property rights; risks associated with future expansion into new or complementary businesses; the termination or impairment of WPT's relationships with key licensing and strategic partners; and WPT's dependence on its senior management team. For more information, review WPT's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Editors Note: More information and 300 dpi downloadable images available at www.media.worldpokertour.com.
(WPTEG)
COPYRIGHT 2005 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
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World Poker Exchange Boasts Matt Savage and Exclusive as Part of London Open Tournament
Published: 2005-03-21
 World Poker Exchange Boasts Matt Savage and Exclusive as Part of London Open Tournament
PR Newswire, March 21, 2005
ANTIGUA, England, March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- World Poker Exchange has engaged poker legend Matt Savage as tournament director of the Aug. 3-6 London Open. The gaming and lifestyle event, produced by one of the world's fastest-growing online poker sites, will incorporate an exciting array of lifestyle events framed by the allure of United Kingdom landmarks.
"Destination poker tournaments such as this signature World Poker Exchange competition are the future of this game. Europe is experiencing a huge boom in interest and play, both on-line and off line. My involvement is especially exciting as World Poker Exchange is both bringing poker to the center of this continent and establishing a more sophisticated expectation with players in the global poker arena," says Savage.
The World Poker Exchange is elevating poker tournaments to an entirely new level with this summer's highly anticipated event. Every element of the London Open will convey the organization's distinctive approach from the setting at the Old Billingsgate Market -- a nineteenth century landmark building in a prime position on the River Thames with views across to Tower Bridge, London Bridge and the South Bank -- to the celebrity mix and memorable atmosphere. Designed to be the first lifestyle poker tournament of its kind, The London Open incorporates exclusive outings each night of the tournament and will feature a $2 million prize pool. Among the evening excursions are a Kensington Palace private tour, backstage passes for The Producers, a champagne reception in the Millennium Wheel, a private tour of Saatchi gallery, and a Savile Row custom tailor tour.
Haden Ware, CEO of World Poker Exchange, explains "By including the impressive array of exclusive, non-poker activities for the players and their guests, the World Poker Exchange London Open marks a new era in gaming and truly makes the London Open a lifestyle tournament. Not only do we envision the London Open to become a perennial event that will be part of the professional circuit for years to come, but a unique holiday opportunity for the players' loved ones to also share. The participation of Matt Savage as our tournament director further reflects our commitment to host the most professionally run tournament possible at the heart of the overall event."
The offline poker tournament will be held in conjunction with marketing partner, FHM UK, and The Bravo Channel, the UK's leading men's entertainment network. The event promises to attract both world-renowned poker players and international celebrities. The overall tournament will be filmed as a primetime TV special, World Poker Exchange London Open which documents the highs and lows of 10 FHM qualifying players as they play for the $2 million prize pool. It will be broadcast on Flextech's Bravo and freeview channel Ftn, in addition to multinational syndication.
About World Poker Exchange
The World Poker Exchange (http://www.worldpx.com/) is a licensed and regulated multi-player internet poker room that has served the online community since the outset of online poker play. Based in Antigua and established in spring 2001, World Poker Exchange is one of the world's fastest growing online poker sites.
CONTACT: Leslie Galerne of Rogers & Cowan, +1-310-854-8198, lgalerne@rogersandcowan.com, for World Poker Exchange
Web site: http://www.worldpx.com/
COPYRIGHT 2005 PR Newswire Association LLC
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
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