ESPN Signs WSOP to Seven Year Deal

19.08.2009, The professional side of the game of poker has gone from a late night cigar smoking marathon to a highly entertaining viewer sport televised on mainstream channels. Americans have embraced the pass time like no other as millions sit in front of their TV sets and idolize their poker heros.

Disney's ESPN network is cashing in on this fantasic growth in popularity, with a long term commitment to the World Series of Poker by signing a new seven-year broadcasting deal beginning in 2011,with Harrah's Entertainment after the current deal expires. Despite the obvious interest in everything poker there are still growing pains emerging for the activity. Jeff Gagne, a vice president with MPG North America, a media buying and planning division of France's Havas SA, said, “Advertisers are looking to find a perfect match between what their brands represent and the people they want to embody that for them. If you get into gambling, it’s a very slippery slope,” adding, “It’s kind of like Jerry Springer…It’s sort of taboo in the world of endorsements.”

ESPN’s coverage of the 2008 World Series Of Poker reached 1.13 million viewers, 15% higher than 2007. These are impressive figures that prove the popularity of poker is on the rise. Gagne, commented, “It’s popular and attracting a very good quality audience, a very male demographic that’s very difficult to reach,”Last year 22-year-old Peter Eastgate took the championship at the WSOP, winning $9.15 million USD.

Amnon Filippi, who has made more than $2 million USD playing poker professionally said he has played cards with billionaire CEOs who love the game but won’t put their companies’ brands in the spotlight. “To Corporate America, poker is like their dirty little secret,” said, Filippi. Unlike motor sports and sports leagues, poker does not need much equipment thus limiting potential advertisers.

Yves Darbouze, an interactive e-marketer,said, “There is growth potential there. It’s just America has to mature a little more. A lot of things that were taboo in the 1960s aren’t taboo any more. Give us another 20 years,”

Über World Series of Poker (WSOP):

Die World Series of Poker, oder kurz WSOP, ist eine Reihe von Pokerturnieren, die jedes Jahr in Las Vegas ausgetragen werden.

Die World Series of Poker finden jährlich im Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas statt.

Die World Series of Poker ist die grösste und prestigeträchtigste Pokerveranstaltung der Welt. Mit einer umfassenden Liste von Turnieren in allen wichtigen Pokervarianten ist die WSOP das am längsten laufende Pokerturnier der Welt und geht auf das Jahr 1970 zurück.

Darüber hinaus hat die WSOP bahnbrechende Allianzen in den Bereichen Rundfunk, digitale Medien und Unternehmenssponsoring gebildet und die Marke mit der Einführung der WSOP Europe im Jahr 2007 und der WSOP Asia-Pacific im Jahr 2013 sowie der WSOP International Circuit Series im Jahr 2015 erfolgreich international ausgebaut.

Ursprünglich wurden die Tourniere in Las Vegas Downtown im Binion's Horseshoe Casino ausgetragen. Im Jahre 2005 kaufte Caesars den Brand WSOP. Seit diesem Datum werden die Pokermeisterschaften im Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino durchgeführt.

Gewinner der letzten Jahre des WSOP-Championship-Mainevent

2020: Damian Salas 2019: Hossein Ensan 2018: John Cynn 2017: Scott Blumstein 2016: Qui Nguyen 2015: Joe McKeehen 2014: Martin Jacobson 2013: Ryan Riess 2012: Greg Merson 2011: Pius Heinz 2010: Jonathan Duhamel 2009: Joe Cada 2008: Peter Eastgate 2007: Jerry Yang 2006: Jamie Gold 2005: Joe Hachem 2004: Greg "Fossil Man" Raymer 2003: Chris Moneymaker 2002: Robert Varkonyi 2001: Carlos Mortensen 2000: Chris "Jesus" Ferguson 1999: J.J. "Noel" Furlong 1998: Scotty Nguyen 1997: Stu Ungar 1996: Huck Seed 1995: Dan Harrington 1994: Russ Hamilton 1993: Jim Bechtel 1992: Hamid Dastmalchi 1991: Brad Daugherty 1990: Mansour Matloubi 1989: Phil Hellmuth Jr. 1988: Johnny Chan 1987: Johnny Chan 1986: Berry Johnston 1985: Bill Smith 1984: Jack Keller 1983: Tom McEvoy 1982: Jack Strauss 1981: Stu Ungar 1980: Stu Ungar 1979: Hal Fowler 1978: Bobby Baldwin 1977: Doyle Brunson 1976: Doyle Brunson 1975: Sailor Roberts 1974: Johnny Moss 1973: Puggy Pearson 1972: Amarillo Slim Preston 1971: Johnny Moss 1970: Johnny Moss

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