Party Poker Renews WSOP Sponsorship

Party Poker Renews WSOP Sponsorship May 11th, 2007  |  Posted in Industry News

Party Poker has renewed their deal with Harrah’s for the 2007 World Series of Poker, despite the enforcement of the UIGEA, which had everyone assuming there would be no poker room advertising at the WSOP.  However, this year, instead of Partypoker.com advertisements, there will be Partypoker.net ads.  The reason for the difference is that Partypoker.net does not involve real money gambling and skirts any laws that prohibit advertising real money gambling sites. 

When someone downloads software at Partypoker.net, they must enter an email address.  Partypoker then emails them at that address with instructions for depositing and playing with actual money.  It is this “back door” approach that allows Partypoker to gain new real money players.  

Party does not currently accept deposits from US wagerers, a fact that probably facilitated the deal with Harrah’s.  It’s an interesting comment on the international nature of the WSOP that Party would want to continue what is a very expensive sponsorship despite the fact that US audiences (which make up the bulk of the live and television markets for the WSOP) are virtually worthless to Party Gaming at the moment.

Chris is an owner of / writer for several online poker content properties