HARRAH'S OWNERSHIP CHANGE WILL NOT IMPACT WSOP

4 January 2008

Business as usual for poker's biggest event, says director


The imminent $17.5 billion sale of Vegas gambling group Harrah's Entertainment to Texas Pacific Group Capital and Apollo Management, L.P.will not result in any significant changes to the World Series of Poker hosted annually by the group in Las Vegas, a director of the company has confirmed.

WSOP Communications Director Gary Thompson told poker media outlets this week that the sale would not affect the WSOP brand and the series will continue to be a showcase feature of the company going forward.

Senior management will remain intact with Jeffrey Pollack the commissioner and Gary Loveman, who is Harrah's chairman and CEO, an important member of the top team.

The WSOP became a Harrah's Entertainment asset when the gambling group purchased Binion's Horseshoe in 2004. Although Harrah's subsequently sold off Binion's to MTR Gaming Group, it retained the rights to the WSOP.

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