Harrah's New Orleans poker crazy in early December

28 October 2008

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Harrah's New Orleans Casino and Hotel is set to host yet another major poker tournament series, sure to attract thousands of players and award millions in prize money. This year's Winter Bayou Poker Challenge will include 15 tournaments packed into ten straight days of around-the-clock poker action, making it the largest number of tournaments ever offered in New Orleans. The tournament series takes place December 1-10.

This marks the second year Harrah's New Orleans has offered a year-end poker festival. Last December, the Winter Bayou Poker Challenge included ten events. The four previous New Orleans-based World Series of Poker Circuit events, which have become an annual attraction every May, averaged about a dozen scheduled events. But this time, the South's premier cardroom is going even bigger.

"We know that today's poker player has many options about where to go and play," said Jim Hoskins, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Harrah's New Orleans. "So, this year we decided to pack 15 tournaments into ten straight days of non-stop action. On most days, we are offering two major tournaments. This will allow our players considerably more options, and a greater opportunity to have a good time and hopefully win some prize money."

With more scheduled events comes a broader range of buy-ins, which gives more players an opportunity to participate. Five of the 15 events have buy-ins totaling only $200. The Main Event costs $5,150 to enter. The tournament series will also offer single-table satellites and mega-satellites regularly. In addition, a Seven-Card Stud tournament will be offered in New Orleans for the first time, on December 4th (entry fee $340). Furthermore, the 2008 Winter Bayou Challenge Ladies Championship will be played on December 8th (entry fee $230).

Indeed, Harrah's New Orleans is making a special effort to attract more ladies this year. On Sunday, December 6th, the casino is offering a free poker seminar hosted by three-time WSOP gold bracelet winner and Poker Hall of Fame member Barbara Enright. The seminar will take place from 9:00 to 11:30 am inside The Manor Room.

All tournaments this year will give players more starting chips than in years past, which means more tournament play. "One thing that our players consistently tell us is that they want more chips to start the tournament," said Hoskins. "In some cases, we have doubled the number of starting chips over what was done previously. This will allow players more bang for their tournament buck."

Discount accommodations are available to all players. To book a room at the Intercontinental Hotel and Resort at the special rate of $79 per night, please call 1-800-445-6563. To book a room at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel at the special rate of $89 per night, call 1-877-999-3223. Be sure and request the "World Series of Poker rate." Both hotels are located steps from Harrah's New Orleans.

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.

For more information about the 2008 Winter Bayou Poker Challenge, please call 504-533-6578 or visit www.harrahsneworleans.com.