NEW ORLEANS – January 31, 2008 – The high-stakes action of the World Series of Poker, the richest sporting event on the planet, is returning once again to the Crescent City.  The WSOP Circuit will wrap up its fourth successful year with a stop at Harrah’s New Orleans Casino & Hotel.  The final tournament series of the 2007-2008 season will take place from May 9-21*.

This year’s tournament schedule includes 15 events.  Buy-ins range from $175 up to $5,000 for the No-Limit Hold ‘em championship event.  This year’s schedule also includes events in Seven-Card Stud, Pot-Limit Omaha, Limit Hold’em, as well as No-Limit Hold’em.  There will also be a Ladies Championship event, scheduled on May 18.  Satellites for all events will be run regularly starting on May 9.

Single satellites will be held April 1 – 27 in the casino’s Poker Room, giving players the chance to win their way into the May event.  Winners of each single satellite round will compete in a Super Satellite Tournament on April 27.  Super satellite winners will receive a seat in the $5,000 event.  In addition, on April 1, the casino will give away 40 Preliminary Single Satellite Seat Certificates and 21 Preliminary Super Satellite Seat Certificates by random drawing.
 
Last year’s series was the biggest poker tournament series in Louisiana history, and concluded with Lou Esposito from Howard Beach, New York, winning the championship event and collecting the top cash prize totaling $516,801.  Turnout was so high that Harrah’s New Orleans inserted a special “Winter Bayou Poker Challenge” into this year’s schedule, making New Orleans one of the few cities on the WSOP Circuit which hosts two events each year.

Information on the World Series of Poker Circuit Tournament and registration will be available at www.harrahsneworleans.com or by calling 504-533-6578.  For more information about the World Series of Poker, visit www.worldseriesofpoker.com. Harrah’s New Orleans Casino, located in the heart of downtown New Orleans at 8 Canal Street, features around-the-clock poker, slots, and other casino games.  Special hotel rates for poker players will be announced shortly.
Harrah’s New Orleans is operated by a subsidiary of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada nearly 70 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.

Rachel Douglas    
Harrah’s New Orleans    
rdouglas@harrahs.com