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World Series of Pocker

February 2, 2006

Since the early days of the World Series of Pocker, there has rarely been a clearly defined leadership of the event where people play pocker, at least not without a struggle. In the early years it was easy enough; it was the brainchild of Binion's Horseshoe owner Benny Binion and his influence on the event let everyone know who was in charge at partypocker. After Benny's death, it fell upon the Binion children to take over, with Becky in the end seizing control until the pocker closure of the Horseshoe. Once Harrah's bought the World Series of Pocker, it marked the end of the Binion family running the show. Since then, there hasn't been a designated leader of the free pocker World Series.

On that front, there is a firm date now set for the return of a mixed game event to the World Series. The H.O.R.SE. competition, with its $50,000 pocker buy-in, will be a three day event that will start on July 25th, which is three days before the Championship Event's first of four play pocker starting days will begin on July 28th. As pocker chip stacks are normally around the same as the buy-in, three days should be enough for the partypocker participants to make for some excellent pocker to be seen by those in attendance. Also, with the pocker tournament being a mixed game format and the highest buy-in ever, it should bring some of the finest (and most successful) pocker players around today to the tables.

"We've heard from a number of players who play pocker that a high buy-in event will enhance the World Series of Pocker," stated Commissioner Pollack. "We agree, and this schedule addition is an example of how we are innovating to build on the tradition and heritage of the tournament. This summer, one player will make pocker history and win the first-ever World Series of pocker bracelet for a $50,000 event."

That changed January 12th when Harrah's announced that Jeffrey Pollack, its vice president of sports and entertainment marketing, would become the first ever Commissioner of the World Series of pocker. Pollack has been figuratively in charge of the free pocker event since the end of last year's World Series but, with the designation now of being the man in charge, Pollack can attempt to place his mark on the World Series and take the sport of partypocker even further. The designation will take effect once all appropriate regulatory approvals have been earned.

"The World Series of pocker is a unique event in the gaming and sports industries and, as such, requires special oversight and management," said Ginny Shanks, Harrah's senior vice president of brand management. "Designating Jeffrey as commissioner will further empower him to develop a strong sense of community among our pocker players, tournament organizers, event staff, media partners, sponsors, licensees, and corporate management team."