WSOP 2007 Could See More Than 10,000 According to Pollack

The World Series of Poker is going to be 14% bigger that it was last year. Despite the exit of Internet poker site sponsors the tournament commissioner told reporters today that he expects over 10,000 entrants, up from 8,773 entrants for last year's WSOP.

Jeffrey Pollack, the tournament commissioner, admitted that it was not a prediction about the 10,000 entrants, just that he was planning for that level.

"It's not... a target, a goal or a prediction," Pollack said in a conference call with reporters, "But... you've got to plan for something. We're planning for a top level of 10,000... if there are more, we will figure it out."

Last year the tournament gave out a grand prize of over $12 million and that number could be much higher this year if Pollack's plans pan out.

Pollack said an extension would be put on to the Rio casino-hotel, where the tournament is going to be hosted this year, to accomodate more players. His goal is to reach 258 tables which would be enough to allow more than 3,000 players to play on the first three days of the event.

The exit of Internet poker sites as sponsors could cost the tournament millions in advertising dollars, but they have no choice but to distance themselves following the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act passing.

It is unclear what effect the recent comments from Congressman Barney Frank will have on the future of the WSOP. In a busy day of online gambling news, earlier Frank told reporters, and it was confirmed, that the congressman is currently writing a bill to repeal the UIGEA, which Frank considers one of the 'stupidest laws ever passed'.

March 15, 2007
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com    Previous Page | Internet Gambling | Top Online Casinos | Submit News!