WSOP set to move Online

[lkport]

Harrah's Entertainment, the parent company of the WSOP seems to be set to move into online poker using their powerful WSOP brand to attract customers. Right now it appears that they are looking to wet their feet in the European market but no one is buying that this is just a Europe venture.

Most analysts (me) think that Harrah's and other big gaming companies will lend their support (lobbying money) to getting online poker legalized in the US. No real news on their first move but speculation on the internet is rampant. Harrah's hired a former PartyGaming executive (Mitch Garber) to lead the new Harrah's Interactive Entertainment, so of course everyone assumes they will partner with Party Poker somehow. Maybe, but thats not news, thats wild internet speculation. What is fact is what Harrah's released in their press release.

So read the press release then run off to your blog and create some rumors that we can all read about as news in a couple days. Everyone is doing it, how can it be wrong or irresponsible?

The press realease:

NEW SUBSIDIARY TO MANAGE THE GLOBAL GROWTH OF THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER® (WSOP)

AND EXPLORE EUROPEAN INTERACTIVE EXPANSION STRATEGY

Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (Harrah’s) announced today that it has established a new subsidiary, Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment, Inc. (HIE) to manage the global growth of the World Series of Poker® (WSOP) and explore a European interactive strategy.

“As the world’s largest gaming company, Harrah’s is taking a proactive approach toward international and interactive expansion,” said Harrah’s Entertainment Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Loveman. “It is important we position ourselves to explore new markets as well as new technologies with our best in class brands.”

Mitch Garber, a longtime gaming lawyer and public company senior executive, joins HIE as CEO. Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner of the WSOP, remains in that role and will become President of HIE.

In addition to growing the World Series of Poker, HIE will explore the use of interactive gaming technologies to expand the reach of Harrah's brands globally, starting in Europe. With its renowned Total Rewards customer-loyalty program, HIE will be utilized to develop new opportunities to strengthen and grow Harrah's customer base.

The World Series of Poker, in its 40th year, has experienced record growth in the last five years. Participants from 124 nations competed in last year’s tournament, up from 24 just five years ago and entrants have gone from 13,036 to 58,720 during the same span. The WSOP expanded into Europe in 2007 with the creation of the World Series of Poker Europe® held each fall in London.

[teabagger357]

I don't think the Casino are gonna let the games go. I think the maybe should have a few games online but WSOP has always been live tourneys and always should be. That's my opinion.