World’s First Online Poker Championship is Underway

Press Release

The Online Series of Poker (OSOP) is underway. This is the first time in the history of online gaming that a tournament has been held across multiple online poker rooms. Poker players worldwide now have the opportunity to win a share of $100,000 in free prize money by qualifying through online tournaments at participating internet poker rooms.

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) June 30, 2005 -- The Online Series of Poker (OSOP) is underway. This is the first time in the history of online gaming that a tournament has been held across multiple online poker rooms. Poker players worldwide now have the opportunity to win a share of $100,000 in free prize money by qualifying through online tournaments at participating internet poker rooms.

So far, Greg Langford of Canada and Todd Ivanhoe of the USA have won their respective tournaments at Party Poker and William Hill of the USA and James Campbell of the USA have won their respective tournaments at Ultimate Bet. They will soon be joined by six other tournament winners at the Championship Event in October.

The three other poker rooms, Absolute Poker, PokerRoom and Golden Palace Poker, will each host two tournaments in the coming weeks. One will require a $100 buy-in plus a $9 fee, while the other will have a $250 buy-in and $20 fee.

Also, each poker room is running daily satellites offering entry into an OSOP Main Event. You can earn a seat in an OSOP tournament for as little as $10 via these satellites.

The winner of each tournament will be awarded, in addition to the prize money from the tournament itself, a seat at the Online Series of Poker $100,000 Championship, to be held on October 8, 2005, at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. The prize package will also include roundtrip airfare from anywhere in the world, airport transfers, accommodations at the Trump Taj Mahal hotel, and meal vouchers. The winner of the Championship will take home $30,000, but even tenth place receives $5,000, so everybody will enjoy a healthy payday.

Additionally, all players who register at the OSOP website will be eligible for the OSOP Leader Board, sponsored by online payment solutions provider Citadel Commerce. The top six money leaders across all ten events will receive cash prizes, ranging from $3,000 to $500.

For additional information on the Online Series Of Poker, contact Jay Lakin or visit the OSOP official website http://www.onlineseriesofpoker.com

Contact:

Jay Lakin, VP
Online Series Of Poker
703-627-7666
http://www.onlineseriesofpoker.com

WPT Enterprises, Inc. Introduces Online Gaming Site

Press Release

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq:WPTE) today announced the launch of a WORLD POKER TOUR(TM) (WPT) branded real-money gaming website. WPTonline.com makes participation in the WPT phenomenon possible the world over. Featuring a live multiplayer poker room with head-to-head and tournament play, players can now enjoy the WPT experience from home. The site prohibits bets from players in the U.S. and other jurisdictions where online gaming is prohibited. WPTonline.com is regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission. WagerWorks developed the software being used by WPTonline.com under a licensing agreement with WPTE.

In addition to having a variety of multiplayer poker games, ring table games, Sit & Go and Multi-table Series tournaments, WPTonline.com features a customized version of the WagerWorks Poker Software. Designed with WPT's guidance, the software showcases a completely new graphic package to match the WPT television experience as well as advanced game features catering to the avid poker player.

The WPTonline.com website is a fully integrated Poker room and Casino site, featuring a comprehensive suite of gaming products -- including such popular games as Monopoly(TM), Blackjack, Roulette, Baywatch(TM), Bingo, Wheel of Fortune(TM) and The Price Is Right(TM).

WPTonline.com offers players unique promotions based on the WPT franchise, creating a seamless community between the Internet and television. According to Steve Lipscomb, President and CEO of WPT Enterprises, Inc., "WPT aims to be the 'People's Choice' for poker. We want to give our WPTonline.com players every opportunity to participate in the entire WPT experience, which is why our online players will be afforded premier opportunities to enter WPT land-based tournaments as well as WPT Invitational events." WPTonline.com will offer innovative player incentives and premium online events plus promote loyal players to exclusive membership in the WPT ELITE MEMBERS CLUB where players will earn rewards and other privileges.

Marketed through syndicated TV with licensing rights in over 100 countries and territories, WPTonline.com benefits from the worldwide recognition of the WPT brand, creating synergistic opportunities for growth. WagerWorks is an industry leader in terms of its commitment to legal and regulatory compliance online and WPTonline.com is built upon WagerWorks' proven online gaming platform.

According to market research firm Christiansen Capital Advisors, L.L.C. (CCA), the global online gaming industry will reach the $10 billion mark in 2005, more than double total revenues in 2002. According to CCA, the European market alone is expected to experience triple-digit growth in online poker over the next two years. As consumer access to broadband continues to grow and technical demands are answered across the globe, WPTonline.com will offer increasing numbers of consumers a best-in-class online gaming experience.

At WPTonline.com every night can be poker night.

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 100 countries and territories 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.

About WagerWorks

WagerWorks develops, markets and operates a complete Internet gaming solution that enables established consumer-oriented companies to leverage their operating expertise and brand equity online. As a veteran of the traditional casino industry, WagerWorks adheres to the highest standards imposed by the various regulatory and control authorities. Founded in April of 2000 the company has implemented a broad line of products with unparalleled integrity and unmatched quality. With premier titles such as Monopoly(TM), Wheel of Fortune(R) and a robust Multiplayer poker product, WagerWorks is the industry's leader in creating casino games. For more information, please visit www.wagerworks.com.

Contacts

WPT Enterprises, Inc.
Daniel Paul, 323-330-9866
email: dpaul@worldpokertour.com

Tilly Wins Ladies No-limit Texas Hold'em Event at World Series of Poker

Wednesday, June 29th, 2005

"Jennifer Tilly showed that she's more than just a pretty face. She's got a great poker face too, winning a World Series of Poker event."

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Actress Jennifer Tilly won the Ladies no-limit Texas Hold 'Em event at the World Series of Poker — the first time a celebrity has won an event at the famous tournament.

Tilly's skillful play and admitted good luck earned her $158,625. She beat 600 players to capture first place in a two-day event featuring some of the top female professionals in the world.

Tilly, 46, said she's learned plenty of pointers from her boyfriend, poker player Phil "Unabomber" Laak.

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Debutant PartyGaming to target Europe and Australia

Tuesday, June 28th, 2005

LONDON (Reuters) - Europe and Australia are the initial growth targets for newly-floated online casino PartyGaming, Chief Executive Richard Segal said on Monday.

"Asia is a medium-plus-term objective," Segal added in an interview with Reuters, shortly after the group made the biggest debut on the London stock exchange in five years.

He said the group had focused on poker so far, but would now concentrate on other games as well.

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IPO vaults eight-year-old business to 4.6 billion pounds value.

Monday, June 27th, 2005

June 27 (Bloomberg) -- PartyGaming Plc's owners sold shares in the Gibraltar-based online poker company for 116 pence apiece in London, valuing the eight-year-old business at 4.6 billion pounds ($8.5 billion).

The shares were sold near the middle of the 111 pence to 127 pence range offered to investors, raising 907 million pounds for the company's owners. The stock is scheduled to begin trading at 8 a.m. this morning in London, according to a statement on the U.K.'s Regulatory News Service today.

Investors are betting that online gambling's popularity will outweigh any potential regulatory problems. The operator of the PartyPoker Web site makes 87 percent of its revenue in the U.S., where the Justice Department considers the business illegal. Revenue almost quadrupled last year and the PartyPoker site has gained active players every quarter since 2001.

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