Titel Largest, Richest and Most Prestigious Live Poker Event Begins Today Autor/Erfasser externe Quelle Firmenportrait World Series of Poker (WSOP)

World Series of Poker Brings Players from Around the World to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & 
Casino in Las Vegas 
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 2006--For 37 years, the World Series of Poker(R) 
has been the game's undisputed championship, drawing record crowds, generating 
unprecedented prize pools and making legends one hand at a time. Public action at this 
year's 45-event series begins today with a three-day No-Limit Hold'em event at the Rio
(R) All-Suite Hotel & Casino and continues until the conclusion of the Main Event on 
August 10, when the new World Series of Poker World Champion is crowned.

The annual casino industry employee event began yesterday. The final table of the World 
Series of Poker Tournament of Champions, the richest live free-roll, also began 
yesterday as remaining participants Daniel Negreanu and Mike Sexton continue to play 
heads-up this morning for the $1 million top prize.
Already the largest, richest and most prestigious live poker tournament played anywhere 
in the world, the 37th annual World Series of Poker is expected to further define the 
role of poker in the sports and entertainment industry. The 2006 WSOP, operated by a 
subsidiary of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET) will reach its broadest audience 
ever by leveraging the largest global television, Internet, mobile gaming, radio and 
print media alliances in the game's history.

This year's World Series of Poker event features the first $50,000 buy-in event in the 
tournament's legendary history, a H.O.R.S.E. event that begins July 12. Other 
enhancements this year include an expedited registration process, improved food and 
beverage offerings, expanded restroom facilities, a new smoking policy, additional 
cashier windows to speed the payment and cash-out process, enhanced taxi service at the 
Rio Pavilion and the addition of valet service at the Pavilion.

"The World Series of Poker is the ultimate expression of excellence in poker," said WSOP 
Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. "We stand head and shoulders above every other tournament, 
but we're not taking our position for granted. Every aspect of the business is getting a 
fresh look and we're establishing alliances and instituting policies that will ensure 
the tournament's continued long-term success. We're committed to creating an outstanding 
experience for every player and every fan."

To ensure the World Series of Poker event's continuing success, Pollack has announced a 
series of key alliances:
<.li> A telecast agreement will keep the World Series of Poker on ESPN through 2010. 
Telecasts in 2006 begin July 18 and continue on Tuesday nights at prime time through 
October 31. On August 10, the final table of the WSOP Main Event will air live for the 
first time on a pay-per-view special; 

- A three-year presenting sponsorship with Milwaukee's Best Light; 
- An agreement with AOL, which will vastly increase the tournament's online reach; 
- A deal with Glu Mobile to create and disseminate World Series of Poker branded content 
to cellular phones; 
- An arrangement with Bluff Media to create a channel dedicated to the World Series of 
Poker events on Sirius Satellite Radio for the duration of the tournament; 
- An agreement with Card Player to serve as the official magazine of the World Series of 
Poker events; 
- A deal with jewelry brand TRITON, a division of Frederick Goldman, to create this 
year's champions bracelets and a retail line of World Series of Poker themed jewelry; 
- An agreement to make luxury Swiss watchmaker CORUM the official timepiece of the World 
Series of Poker.

Prize Money 
Since its inception, the World Series of Poker tournament's annual gross prize pool has 
grown from $30,000 in 1971 to more than $106 million in 2005, a compound annual growth 
rate of 27 percent. In recent years, the prize money has grown exponentially:
- 2003: Total gross prize pool of $21.8 million 
- 2004: Total gross prize pool of $46 million 
- 2005: Total gross prize pool of more than $106 million

The main event has seen similar increases:
- 2003: Gross prize pool of $7.8 million and $2.5 million top prize 
- 2004: Gross prize pool of $24.2 million and a $5 million top prize 
- 2005: Gross prize pool of $56 million and a $7.5 million top prize

Player Participation
The total number of entrants for all events climbed from:
- 7,572 in 2003, to 
- 14,054 in 2004, to 
- 32,341 in 2005.

Participation in the Main Event alone rose from:
- 839 in 2003, to 
- 2,576 in 2004, to 
- 5,519 in 2005.

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the world's largest provider of branded casino 
entertainment through operating subsidiaries. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada 68 
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.

More information about Harrah's is available at its Web site -- www.harrahs.com.
Additional information about the WSOP can be found at www.worldseriesofpoker.com.

CONTACT: TBC Public Relations
Dave Curley, 410-299-2363
dcurley@tbc.us
or
Nicole Khoury, 410-627-0561
nkhoury@tbc.us

SOURCE: Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.