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Frenzy for Official WPT Merchandise Reaches Mania Status

World Poker Tour Merchandise No. 1 for Christmas

Wednesday 15th December 2004

Every Christmas, there is one thing that everyone wants, and this year it is the World Poker Tour Merchandise that shoppers are going mad for.

Internet search engine Lycos lists poker items as its No. 1 researched topic on its annual list of 'Top 10 Most-Researched Toys of 2004,' upending video games from 2003. In issuing the list, Lycos cited, 'The popularity of poker gifts has been fuelled by the global phenomenon of the World Poker Tour, which continues to average a 'millionaire a month' in its 16-tournament season.'

Scott Kling, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for U.S. Playing Card Company which makes the merchandise said 'The minute the stores put it out, it's gone.'

The 'Official World Poker Tour(TM)' (WPT) Poker Set

in a handmade wood case with a suggested retail price of $199.99. It features 400 11.5-gram heavyweight, professional quality clay-filled poker chips (125 blue, 100 red and 75 black). The 11.5-gram chip, known as the 'true' poker player's chip, is similar to those used by the top casinos on the WPT tour. An exclusive WPT spade design and casino stripes are moulded into the chip using two colours. USPC WPT chips are easier to shuffle and manipulate than other poker chips in the market because they have specially designed rounded edges and a rough clay surface. Two colourful decks of casino quality WPT cards are included, along with Texas Hold 'Em instructions.

In a Honolulu Advertiser article, Hawaii Costco store manager Robert Loomis said of the poker sets with heavy clay chips, 'If we could have the quantities, it would easily be our No. 1-selling non-food item in the store. No one expected them to be selling the way they are.'

The frenzy shows that poker is fast becoming the most popular gamble you can make.




Source: OnlineCasinoNews