Harrah's WSOP, AOL Join Forces for Poker PlayersAOL Will Soon Launch a WSOP-Sponsored Suite of News and Games |
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Fans of the World Series of Poker and members of America Online will soon have access to a multiplicity of play-for-free poker rooms, behind-the-scenes reports from WSOP events, and plenty of other poker content designed to enhance players' experiences and skill levels.
Harrah's License Company, LLC, an affiliate of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., has joined forces with AOL to create a co-branded poker room for AOL users that will be the only free-play Internet poker game in which 12 players can win a $10,000 seat into either 2006 or 2007 WSOP main event.
"We're thrilled to pair the best brand in poker with the best brand in online games and content," said Jeffrey Pollack, vice president of sports and entertainment marketing for Harrah's Entertainment. "AOL's powerful reach will help more people than ever before experience the fun, excitement and energy of the World Series of Poker. This strategic alliance is an important foundation for our growth strategy over the next 24 months."
AOL's poker rooms will be divided according to skill level and will offer tournaments and options to create private rooms. AOL will also give a WSOP seat away to one visitor to its site a year.
AOL partnered with Harrah's after extensive market research. According to a phone survey done by AOL Games and SRBI Public Affairs, almost half of Americans said they play some form of poker.
Of those who said they play, 17 percent say they are playing more than ever before, and about a quarter of those who say they play have taken up the game in just the past year. AOL talked to 1,005 people all across the United States.
About 1-in-10 players said they have played poker online and, when asked why, most players said it was to learn the game and to get in practice before playing in a live-action game.
"The renewed interest in poker has also been reflected on AOL.com, where poker is constantly among the most popular games on our service," said Ralph Rivera, vice president and general manager, AOL Games. "Joining forces with Harrah's to create the most compelling World Series of Poker-branded poker destination online is a great way to satisfy our users' interests in all things poker."
The WSOP is held each summer at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. WSOP Circuit events take place at Harrah's properties all around the country year-round.
Harrah's, which was founded in Reno 67 years ago, took ownership of the "World Series of Poker" brand in 2004 when it bought Binion's Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas. The company sold the casino to another company earlier this year but retained the rights to the popular poker tournament.
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