World Poker Tour Kicks off Sizzling Season IV At the Mirage Poker Showdown

Thursday, May 27th, 2005

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Keeping the momentum in high gear, the WORLD POKER TOUR(TM) (WPT) launched its sensational Season IV at The Mirage with another record-setting tournament. More than 317 players turned out for the $3,074,900 event, which will boast a first prize of $1,128,278.

Drawing an international field of leading poker luminaries along with talented newcomers, The Mirage Poker Showdown, follows on the heels of the WPT World Championship in April at Bellagio. The event capped the WPT's blockbuster $70 million third season. The WPT has awarded more than $100 million cumulatively through its first three years.

The prize purse and attendance numbers for The Mirage Poker Showdown continue the WPT's tradition of breaking records at each stop on its global tour of thrilling high stakes poker tournaments, filmed for airing on The Travel Channel. The Mirage event is the first of 16 on the 2005-06 calendar which visits exotic locales such as Paris, Aruba and the Bahamas.

Given that "Anyone can play; Anyone can win" on the World Poker Tour, it is expected that Season IV's champions will be a mix of famous names and new faces. Among the popular players who have topped the win column are the venerable Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Erick Lindgren, Gus Hansen, Phil Laak, Michael Mizrachi, Antonio Esfandiari, David Ulliott, Barry Greenstein, Howard Lederer and Layne Flack. To date, the WPT has created 24 new poker millionaires, with many more likely to join the ranks during Season IV.

"The launch of our fourth season is especially gratifying," said Steve Lipscomb, Founder and CEO of WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: WPTE). "We've clearly outlived the skeptics who said that the WPT was just a fad. The game continues to grow in popularity both at the professional and home game level, thanks to our success. As a professional sports league, we are maturing and expanding, providing great entertainment for our fans and a steadily increasing amount of prize money for our players. In Season IV, we look forward to a year of new horizons, robust growth and plenty of exciting surprises at the poker table."

The WPT is the league that launched the poker phenomenon when it first aired on the Travel Channel on March 30, 2003, and it continues to lead the way in developing poker as a major international sport. The WPT is the only major sports league whose goal is to make everyone a better player while also setting the gold standard in entertainment. Viewers and aspiring tour players can log on to www.worldpokertour.com for ways to improve their game. The highest rated show ever on The Travel Channel, the WPT is now seen in 67 countries worldwide. WORLD POKER TOUR(R) airs every Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the Travel Channel.

All WPT tournaments (with the exception of the pro/celebrity WPT Invitational) are open to pros and amateurs alike who ante up each tournament's buy-in or play in satellite tournaments for a chance to win an entry. Players can sign up for satellites offered by the casinos and online poker rooms that host WPT tournaments. Anyone age 21 or older wishing to play in WPT tournaments should contact the participating casino to obtain information on the buy-in fee and registration deadlines. Satellite information can be found at www.worldpokertour.com.

The Season IV Tour dates are as follows:

World Poker Tour Season IV Tournament Schedule

Hosting Casino /
Tournament Name Location Date
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
The Mirage Poker Showdown The Mirage May 23-25, 2005
Final Table May 26,
2005
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
Grand Prix de Paris Aviation Club de July 25 - 29, 2005
France, Paris, France Final Table July 29,
2005
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
Legends of Poker The Bicycle Casino, August 27 - 31, 2005
Los Angeles, CA Final Table August 31,
2005
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
Borgata Poker Open The Borgata, Atlantic September 19 - 22,
City, NJ 2005
Final Table September
22, 2005
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
UltimateBet's Aruba Poker UltimateBet.com, September 26 - October
Classic Aruba 3, 2005
Final Table October 1,
2005
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
Doyle Brunson North Bellagio October 18-21, 2005
American Poker Las Vegas, Nevada Final Table October
Championship 21, 2005
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
World Poker Finals Foxwoods Resort November 13 - 16, 2005
Casino, Final Table November
Mashantucket, CT 18, 2005
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
Bellagio Five Diamond Bellagio December 13 - 16, 2005
World Poker Classic Las Vegas, NV Final Table December
16, 2005
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
PokerStars.com Caribbean PokerStars.com, January 4- 11, 2006
Adventure Atlantis, Paradise Final Table January
Island, Bahamas 10, 2006
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
World Poker Open Gold Strike January 22 - 26, 2006
Casino/Horseshoe Final Table January
Casino, Tunica, MS 26, 2006
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
L.A. Poker Classic Commerce Casino, Los February 17 - 21, 2006
Angeles, CA Final Table February
21, 2006
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
WPT Invitational Commerce Casino, February 22 - 23, 2006
Commerce, CA Final Table February
23, 2006
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
Bay 101 Shooting Star Bay 101, San Jose, CA February 27 - March 3,
2006
Final Table March 3,
2006
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
PartyPoker Million PartyPoker.com, March 12 - 19, 2006
Mexico Cruise Final Table March 17,
2006
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
World Poker Challenge Reno Hilton, Reno, NV March 27 - 31, 2006
Final Table March 31,
2006
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
WPT World Championship Bellagio April 18 - 24, 2006
Las Vegas, NV Final Table April 24,
2006
------------------------- --------------------- ----------------------

For more information, review WPT's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Editors Note: 300 dpi downloadable images available at www.media.worldpokertour.com (WPTEG)

Contacts

WPT Enterprises, Inc.
Daniel Paul, 323-330-9866
dpaul@worldpokertour.com
or
Jackie Lapin, 818-707-1473
jackielapin@cs.com

PokerNewsWeb.com Launches Gaming Investor Forum; Online Casinos and Poker Investment Featured

Wednesday, May 25th, 2005

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 25, 2005--PokerNewsWeb.com, an innovative source of poker and gaming investment articles, announced the launch of its investing webpage and 'StockTalk' forum today at www.gaminginvesting.com.

"Right now, about 10% of business in the United States is conducted on the Internet, and within 7-10 years it's expected to grow to 90%," said Kurt Stine, publisher of the new gaming investing site. "Online gaming will make up a significant percentage of that growth, and our thinking is to keep gaming investors ahead of that wave by building a community where investors and enthusiasts alike are able to discuss the tremendous opportunities in online gaming today. If investors know their prospective investment and its product, they can cash in before it's market-mainstream."

The popularity of online gaming and televised Texas Hold'em Poker Tournaments are a worldwide phenomenon that is adding to the bottom line profits of publicly listed gaming software companies including SportingBet (SBT.L), Chartwell (CWH.TO), Cryptologic (CRYP), Gaming Transactions (GGTS.PK), and World Gaming (WGMGY.OB)

Savvy investors are cashing in on the online gaming industry with global revenues that will reach USD$14.52 billion in 2006, up from USD$3.81 billion last year. According to PokerPulse.com there are now over 1.9 million poker players online, and more than 200 online poker sites collectively are generating about $2 billion a year in revenues; equal to 40% of last year's $5 billion in gambling revenues from the entire "Las Vegas Strip".

In addition to the GamingInvesting.com StockTalk forum with its provocative topics, PokerNewsWeb.com educates the public with timely industry news, poker strategies, and poker commentaries written by winning poker players that are active within the online and land based poker tournament circuit.

For poker information please visit www.pokernewsweb.com.

Contacts

OWPT.com
Kurt Stine, 509-210-0231
info@owpt.com

Poker A Game Of Chance, Durham Judge Rules

Tuesday, May 24th, 2005

Melissa Buscher
WRAL.com

DURHAM, N.C. -- A man who wanted to cash in on the poker craze in the Triangle will have to wait after a judge ruled Monday that the game is one of chance.

Durham County Judge Orlando Hudson ruled poker is not like football or pool where talent is the main reason behind the game's win.

Under North Carolina law, it is illegal to play a game of chance when betting is involved.

Attorneys for Howard Fierman argued poker is not a game of chance at all. They said it takes skill.

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Bodog.Com Ignites Indy 500 With ''Miss 500 Hawaiian Tropic Pageant'' & Pre-Race VIP Party

Monday, May 23rd, 2005

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2005--Leading online gambling site Bodog.com continues to sponsor some of the world's hottest social events, including Indy 500's 2005 "Miss 500 Hawaiian Tropic Pageant" & Pre-Race VIP Party on Saturday May 28th from 8PM - 2AM.

"We make it a priority to have a presence at major sports and entertainment events including the Indy 500," says Calvin Ayre, Bodog.com founder and CEO. "Our customers like knowing that they can meet the people from their favorite online betting site in person."

Bodog.com will be extremely visible race weekend in Indianapolis. The pageant will take place at the exclusive Vizion-Vapour Lounge in Indianapolis. Invitees to this ultra-elite soiree include celebrity race fans, top drivers and glamorous models. There will be performances by local Indianapolis favorites Five Apples, Dave & Rae and national break out rock group The Franchize. Additional sounds will be provided by DJs Slater Hogan, Noah the Arkitech and Unorthodox.

In addition to the Pageant party, Bodog.com will host a Budweiser co-sponsored tent party for 300 VIPs that will take place at the track's infield. Bodog.com calendar girl winner Melina will be on hand during the party to sign the popular Bodog.com Girl calendars for guests. Additionally, Bodog.com is hosting a raging Beach Party highlighted by a volleyball tourney pitting the Hawaiian Tropic girls vs. Bodog.com Girls. The event will be at Bella Vita at the Geist Marina.

Bodog.com released odds today on America's most famous auto racing event. The favorite is pole-sitter Tony Kanaan at 5/1, followed by Dan Wheldon at 8/1, Sam Hornish Jr at 7/1, Helio Castroneves at 8/1, Sebastien Bourdais at 10/1, Bruno Junqueira at 11/1, Dario Franchitti at 11/1, and Vitor Meira at 12/1.

See the rest of the field and up to date odds at http://www.bodog.com/sports-betting/motorsports-futures.jsp

Bodog.com, located in San Jose, Costa Rica, is federally licensed by the Costa Rican and UK governments. One of the pioneers in the field, Bodog.com is the top ranked US facing online gambling brand, with highest site traffic amongst US gaming web sites according to Hitwise. Bodog.com is valued at over US $1 billion and ranked in the Power 25 online companies by eGaming Review. Bodog.com Poker & Sports Marketing Conference, www.bodogconference.com, will take place in Las Vegas July 6 & 7, 2005, attracting the leaders of the online gambling industry. For more information, contact Media Relations at 1-866-892-3371, or pr@bodog.com.

Contacts

Tellem Worldwide
Dan Grody, 310-479-6111 x10
dgrody@tellem.com