Betfair clinches WSOP Europe deal

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BETFAIR CHOSEN AS WSOP EUROPE SPONSOR

Vegas spectacular's European version planned for September 6 - 16th

Betfair.com has been selected as the “Presenting Sponsor” of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe through 2011 and has signed a letter of intent on the project with WSOP owners Harrah's Entertainment.

The inaugural WSOP Europe will take place in London between September 6th and 16th. The first World Series event to be held outside Las Vegas, the tournament will be hosted at three casinos operated by London Clubs International – Fifty, in St James’s; The Casino at the Empire, Leicester Square; and The Sportsman, on Marble Arch.

The Letter of Intent, which is subject to execution of a definitive agreement, calls for the largest-ever union of its kind between an offline- and an online gaming company. As part of the agreement, Betfair will be integrated into several facets of WSOP Europe and will promote the event internationally on a year-round basis.

“Betfair is a global leader in gaming innovation” said Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner of the World Series of Poker. “Our two organizations each have a vision, style and brand strength that is complementary and world-class.

“Our alliance with Betfair will launch and build the World Series of Poker Europe with prestige and authenticity. This will likely become the most important poker tournament outside of Las Vegas,” Pollack said.

“This is an historic deal for us,” said David Yu, Chief Executive Officer of Betfair. “To present the WSOP, with its 38-year tradition, on its first venture into Europe is a great honour.

“Betfair is renowned for its ground-breaking moves in the world of fixed-odds sports betting,” Yu said. “This deal puts Betfair alongside the most important brand in offline poker, and bonds us with Harrah’s Entertainment, the largest casino operator in the world.”

The World Series of Poker Europe presented by Betfair.com will consist of three events. The largest of these is the Main Event, a GBP10 000 buy-in, 750-player, six-day tournament spread over three casinos, with a prize pool of roughly GNBP 7.5 million. The winner could take home more than GBP 1.5 million in cash, depending on the number of entrants, and a WSOP gold bracelet, the most coveted prize in poker. It will be the first time a WSOP bracelet can be won outside the US.

WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack will be joined by the Managing Director of Betfair Games, Steve Ives on July 5th at World Series of Poker in Las Vegas to announce formally the World Series of Poker Europe presented by Betfair.com.

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BETFAIR GEARING UP FOR EUROPEAN WSOP

Online gambling group Betfair has been chosen as the presenter for the inaugural European World Series of Poker

The World Series of Poker action in Vegas may have been centre stage in the media last week, but for UK gambling group Betfair the focus was probably on gearing up for the inaugural European version of the poker epic later this year (see previous InfoPowa reports)

Betfair has been selected as the presenter for the first WSOP outside the boundaries of the United States, and the company has already announced that it will be sponsoring at least 125 players to the $10 000 buy-in main event in London in September.

The poker wing of Betfair will be the main driver of the World Series of Poker Europe 2007, providing online satellites and making sure the big event meets the high standards established by the original tournament in the States.

“As presenting sponsor I want Betfair to have a strong presence,” says Head of Poker Ben Fried, “There are a limited number of seats and at Betfair Poker you can be assured that you will have a place at the tables in London.”

Pro player Ben Grundy said: “There are so many issues these days with online qualification, particularly for the World Series. It’s worth going with Betfair Poker just for the value they provide, but also your seat is more secure.”

Internet player Stuart Drysdale alias “CreamBun” was one of Team Betfair’s first online qualifiers. He is used to playing in MTTs from $5 to $20 so the WSOP Europe is a significant step up. “I am only a break-even player at those levels,” he said. “If I can do it, that must mean that plenty of other low-stakes players can as well.”

Betfair Poker has already launched its $250 000 Freeroll Grand Final, where 10 packages worth $23 000 each plus $20 000 will be up for grabs. This takes place in September and is part of a $1.5 million WSOP Europe promotion Betfair Poker will be running right through to the big event. Full details are available on the Betfair site.