World Series of Poker officials say economy shouldn’t impact tournament

Still, Harrah’s Entertainment Vice President Jeffrey Pollack, who serves as commissioner of the World Series Poker, wasn’t ready to guarantee that the 2009 event will eclipse records the tournament set last year for the number of entries and amount of prize money.

“We’re aware of what is happening with the global economy and we’re sensitive to it,” Pollack said during a conference call with poker media. “We have an obligation to create an annual festival and improve every aspect of the tournament that we can. We have to ensure that whoever shows up is given the best possible experience.”

In Nevada, gaming revenues fell almost 10 percent in 2008 and are down more than 16 percent over the first two months of 2009. Visitation to Las Vegas is down 10 percent through February.

Pollack and World Series of Poker Tournament director Jack Effel said several low buy-in games, increased satellite competition and added tables for satellite play and cash games, will attract players. The Rio, host casino for the six-week event, is offering incentives for World Series of Poker participants with room rates as low as $69 night midweek.

“We could have planned to have a recession World Series of Poker and cut back, but we didn’t think that was the right thing to do,” Pollack said. “That wouldn’t best serve our players.”

The World Series of Poker begins its six-week run May 26 at the Rio with two events that will attract attention and increase awareness of the tournament. A $40,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em event is expected to draw poker’s elite players when it starts on May 28. Two days later, the tournament will host a $1,000 buy-in no-limit event that is expected to attract between 5,000 and 6,000 players.

“If you’re a first-time player or a seasoned pro, we have something for you,” Pollack said.

On May 31, a special two-day champions Invitational will take place where the 27 living previous World Series of Poker world champions have been invited to participate in a no-limit hold’em event.

The winner of the “freeroll” event will receive a 1970 red Corvette and the Binion’s Cup, to signify the tournament’s beginnings in downtown Las Vegas. Former Binion’s Horseshoe owner Jack Binion will present the trophy.

World Series of Poker officials also announced a new penalty tracking system that they believe will do a better job of tabulating infractions by players and will assist in a better enforcement policy. Players could be assessed penalties ranging from warnings to one-hand or one-round suspensions.

The move came after the poker community grumbled that superstar Phil Hellmuth, one of the game’s most decorated players, was given special treatment after he verbally berated a player during a late round table at the Main Event.

“After that episode, we said publicly some changes needed to made,” Pollack said.

Last year’s World Series of Poker drew 58,720 entries from 124 countries and awarded a prize pool of more than $180.7 million.

The 2009 World Series of Poker will include 10 World Championship $10,000 buy-in events and seven $1,500 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournaments. The $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. event, which mixes five different poker games, will take place June 26.

For the second straight year, the tournament will end in November. The $10,000 buy-in World Championship No-Limit Hold’em Main Event will begin on July 3 and reach its final table of nine players July 15.

Players will then wait four months before returning to the Rio Nov. 7-10 to play for the championship, which ESPN will televise on a same-day taped delay.

Last November, 22-year-old Peter Eastgate of Denmark became the tournament’s youngest-ever world champion, winning $9.15 million while surviving a four-hour heads-up final table with Russian Ivan Demidov.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871.