ESPN Clinches 7-Year Deal

Harrah's Interactive Entertainment has finally signed and sealed a deal to continue broadcasting the World Series of Poker for another 7 years.

The famed television sports broadcasting network has aired coverage of the WSOP since 2003. And now a new deal has been struck that will become effective in 2011.

Poker Players and excited fans of this great game of skill and strategy will delight in many more years of this world famous event.

Big name players, up-and-coming talent and a growing fan base will be ready and waiting for more of the same in this – Poker’s most prestigious global annual event.

Besides for the devoted fan base of over 82 million in the United States alone, there are millions more globally keen to share in the action.

These WSOP episodes are being screened throughout the year on the following channels: ESPN, ESPN Classic, ESPN 2, and ESPN International.

Indeed a great deal of coverage has been thrust onto the Poker scene ever since legendary Poker player Chris Moneymaker won the Main Event in 2003 poker.

Things have never quite been the same for Poker ever since. The game is now the most anticipated and enjoyed of all the world’s leading card games.

Plenty hours of exciting coverage

ESPN and the tournament organizers of the WSOP have agreed upon 32 hours of WSOP action being broadcast annually from Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 2009 WSOP comprised a total of 57 poker tournaments. Every one of them was complete with the Main Event being the exception.

Over 6,400 players were involved in the $10,000 buy in for the illustrious Main Event. And considering that the first prize is $8.5 million, Poker is no slouch in the winnings department.

To date the World Series of Poker has paid out over $1 billion in prize money since 1970. Most notable among their many events is the $10,000 No-Limit Texas Hold’em event.

When and where?

2009 will herald in the WSOP later this year. Come November, 9 players will return to the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas on November 7th to compete for a total prize pool estimated at over $61 million.

With the new deal, Poker fans will be able to enjoy coverage of the final table on the same day the tournament is completed.