Amateur Internet Qualifiers Throw World Series Wide Open
Harrah’s opens its doors in preparation for world’s biggest gambling event
Tuesday 30th March 2004
Harrah’s has announced that legendary casino, Binion’s Horseshoe, will be reopening on April 1st three weeks before the 35th annual World Series of Poker kicks off. The casino giant has said that the Horseshoe’s rooms are already filling up with reservations from hopefuls who have paid their entry fee of up to $10,000 or qualified by winning the various online tournaments, which offer entry to the prestigious event as prizes.
This new relationship between online and bricks and mortar casinos has helped to make this years competition the biggest ever, with more competitors and therefore a richer purse which, some speculate, could exceed $25 million. Gary Loveman, Harrah's president and chief executive officer, said, 'This tournament has a long and colorful history, and we look forward to preserving the traditions that have made it the richest spectacle in sports and the world-renowned phenomenon it is today.'
Chris Moneymaker, last year’s triumphant winner, believes the amount of amateurs qualifying on the Internet or through the satellite stations Harrah’s have set up around the world will throw the contest wide open: “So many people are going to be in it this year. The unknowns outnumber the pros. It's highly probable that an unknown will wind up at the final table,' he says.
Harrah’s has announced that legendary casino, Binion’s Horseshoe, will be reopening on April 1st three weeks before the 35th annual World Series of Poker kicks off. The casino giant has said that the Horseshoe’s rooms are already filling up with reservations from hopefuls who have paid their entry fee of up to $10,000 or qualified by winning the various online tournaments, which offer entry to the prestigious event as prizes.