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World Poker Tour Events Continue Dramatic Growth

LAS VEGAS -- (Press Release) -- The Five Diamond World Poker Classic at Bellagio in Las Vegas, NV, which is currently in progress, is the latest event on the World Poker Tour to demonstrate the domino effect of the television show's huge popularity. Tour records have been set in each of the stops and the Five Diamond World Poker Classic is no exception with a huge increase in players, prize money and first place payout over the previous year's tournament. 314 players signed up for this week's event, which will culminate on December 18, 2003 with the filming of the Final Table for broadcast as part of the World Poker Tour series on The Travel Channel. World Poker Tour airs every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the network. The number marks a tremendous increase over the 146 competitors who played in 2002.

The increase in players catapults the total prize money to $3,070,050, with the winner walking away with $1,101,908. The prize pool is determined by the number of players "buying in" to the tournament - in this case $10,000. Last year's prize pool was $1,416,200. With such an enormous and record-setting prize pool for the tournament, players down to 36th place will go home with a nice payday, and the winner will capture a top prize of $1,101,098. Last year's champion Gus Hansen from Denmark walked away with $556,480.

"We at the World Poker Tour are thrilled with the dramatic increase in tournament players at the Bellagio this year, and hope it will continue to grow," said CEO of the World Poker Tour, Steve Lipscomb.

The World Poker Tour, over 80% owned by Lakes Entertainment, is a major cable television hit this year. Millions of people tune in each week to watch the high stakes drama of the tense competition where millions of dollars change hands across the table, all chronicled by "WPT Cams," that reveal the players hidden cards. The show is the highest rated series in the history of The Travel Channel.

The dramatic increase in prize money at the Five Diamond World Poker Classic is helping drive the WPT's total prize money for the year to an estimated $30 million, triple the prize money in the previous season, which in turn is attracting many newcomers to the game of poker and to WPT tournaments.

The Five Diamond World Poker Classic concludes Thursday. WPT fans are welcome to come watch the action and see who will go home with the millions laid forth on the table before the final hand. The show begins at 3 PM Thursday, December 18 in the Ballroom at Bellagio, Las Vegas. Admission is free and seating is first come, first served. The next stop on the tour will be the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in January 2004. To play in a World Poker Tour event, go to www.worldpokertour.com for the complete 2003-2004 Tournament Schedule and casino contacts. The World Poker Tour airs Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on The Travel Channel.

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