Poker Tips

Introduction

Great news for poker fans everywhere is that the World Series of Poker has just signed a four year renewal of its contract with IMG Sports and Entertainment, in conjunction with Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment, for the global representation rights of WSOP – meaning that we can all be assured of continued and uninterrupted access to WSOP events and news via all of the various media that we like to use.

Increased TV poker coverage

Hopefully we'll be seeing even more of her on Poker TV channels.

Perhaps of most significance to this contract renewal is that IMG have now promised to throw their full weight behind activating its global network to provide even more international poker  coverage by sponsorship, management, licensing and, perhaps most significantly of all, television distribution through ESPN as far ahead as to 2017. Although this increased television coverage will mainly apply to expanding the WSOP brand beyond its main/traditional markets of North America/Canada and the UK, it will also bring increased poker coverage to all of the existing markets. However, beyond doubt one area they will be very keen to expand in is the ‘betting mad‘ Asia and Far East countries. So, from 2010 look out for an increased number of WSOP licensed international events, both live poker table and online poker ones; and especially those offering international bracelets.

Entry into online UK gaming?

One slightly puzzling announcement arising from the deal is that through another association with Dragonfish – ” … provide the infrastructure for entry into online gaming in the UK”. Seems an odd way of putting it, when the UK is one of the least regulated countries of all for online poker and gaming in general. However, a bit more research by your eager-beaver researchers at ‘advanced pokertips‘ reveals that Dragonfish is simply a division of 888, parent company to Pacific Poker, who in turn have recently made their own agreement with HIE to provide online poker and gaming facilities. So, it’s really more to do with HIE breaking into the online UK poker market than WSOP per se.