A major move into online gambling by World
Poker Tour has just been announced - the organization is to open
an online casino and poker site powered by Wagerworks.
The World Poker Tour is joining with WagerWorks to develop a WPT branded
online gaming site. WagerWorks is a strong force in the online gambling
industry, with current clients including Virgin Games, BskyB and Hard
Rock Casinos.
The venture with WPT will develop a real money gaming site accessible
to players in countries where it is legal for US companies to operate
online casinos. Access to US citizens will be blocked, in compliance
with the current prohibited status of US operated online gambling.
Details released so far of the venture include the types of games
that are to be made available. Naturally a whole range of poker games
will feature, including the increasingly popular Texas Hold ‘Em,
as well as Sit and Go, Omaha, 7 Card Stud and 7 Card Hi-Lo.
A casino operation is also planned which will bear the same branding
and host a diverse range of table and slot games. Games exclusive
to WagerWorks- Monopoly, Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right will
be added, too.
WPT Enterprises are on something of a roll at present. The television
series which has played such a strong role in the recent poker boom
has just been expanded in terms of distribution. The series is now
available for viewers in Canada, the UK, Australia, Sweden, the Philippines
and South Korea. Negotiations are currently taking place to further
this distribution of the popular show.
Steve Lipscomb, the founder and president of WPT Enterprises, explained
the move into online gambling thus: "As the World Poker
Tour matures, poker enthusiasts can expect to experience our unique
brand of entertainment on platforms other than television. The expansion
into international online gaming is a natural fit for the WPT brand
and we are pleased to offer our fans in other countries a way to interact
with WPT in a fun and challenging online gaming environment. This
is the perfect way for us to leverage our international television
distribution and international online gaming site."