World Series of Poker sees bigger prize pool, crowds

Nearing the halfway point of the 2011 World Series of Poker, organizers have silenced the naysayers.

With 28 of the planned 58 events already on the books, attendance is up 9.2 percent from last year. The prize pool has grown 6 percent.

If the trend continues, the 42nd World Series of Poker at the Rio would shatter its all-time records.

"Honestly, from talking with the players, it's more about a feeling that this is where you need to be," said World Series of Poker Executive Director Ty Stewart. "This truly is the center of the poker universe."

The tournament's first 28 events drew 28,989 players competing for more than $51.5 million in prize money. Nine of the events had a record number of entries or a record prize pool.

On Friday, more than 3,700 players had registered for the $1,000 buy-in Seniors No-limit Hold'em Championship. Final entry figures were still being calculated late Friday, but the attendance mark already shattered last year's record of 3,142 players.

Going into the tournament, officials weren't sure what impact the April 15th U.S. Department of Justice crackdown on Internet poker, which put three of the world's largest online gaming sites off-limits to American players, would have on the World Series of Poker.

Two of the sites, FullTilt Poker and Absolute Poker, have not refunded American poker players any of the money they had on account. PokerStars said it has repaid players more than $100 million.

Stewart called the initial concerns, "a nonstory."

The remaining question to be answered surrounds attendance for the $10,000 buy-in No-limit Hold'em World Championship Main Event, which begins play on July 7. Last year's Main Event drew 7,319 players, the second largest field since 2006's 8,773 entries.

"We used to having thousands of players show up and sign in that day," Stewart said. "We've been operating under the 'Field of Dreams' philosophy. If we put out 400 poker tables and have a great event, we would fill every seat and reach capacity. That's what has happened."

Last year's World Series of Poker drew a cumulative record 72,966 players from 117 countries and offered a prize pool of $187.1 million.

This year's list of individual event bracelet winners already has an international feel with champions coming from Canada, Russia, Ukraine, France, and the United Kingdom. Popular poker professional Bertrand Grospellier, who was born in Paris but now lives in London, won his first World Series of Poker bracelet and $331,639 on Sunday in the $10,000 buy-in Seven-Card Stud Championship.

An offshoot to the boost in World Series of Poker attendance has been increased play in the games offered by the Rio's poker room. An adjunct poker facility with 94 tables has been set up inside the Pavilion Ballroom as part of the tournament. The rake collected by the Rio from those games benefits the casino's bottom line.

At one point this week, all poker tables run by the Rio were filled.

"We're not just seeing hold'em games breaking records," Stewart said. "All the poker derivatives are doing well."

The World Series of Poker has also seen a boost in sponsorship opportunities, including nationally recognized brands such as Internet listing service Go Daddy.com, Miller Lite beer, Red Bull energy drinks, Jack Links Beef Jerky and Sheets Energy Strips, which is partly owned by National Basketball Association star LeBron James.

"Having two of the companies that were major advertisers during the NBA Finals shows that the World Series of Poker has transcended other poker tournaments to earn mainstream sponsorships," Stewart said.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871.
Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.