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Atlantic City, NJ (March 5, 2007) -- Anyone who thinks the poker boom may be slowing down would be strongly advised to look at the numbers from the latest World Series of Poker Circuit event.  A whopping 1,106 players entered the $300 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament held at Caesars Atlantic City.  The thousand-plus field ranks as the second-largest tournament in the three-year history of the WSOP Circuit.  Only the recent Circuit event held at the Grand Tunica Casino-Resort in Mississippi in January 2007 attracted more entries (with 1,345).  

"We are absolutely thrilled to see so many poker players come from all over and join with us," said Paul A. Natello, Director of Table Games at Caesars Atlantic City.  "I look around this room and I see many players who are relatively new to poker as well as some top players who have won major tournaments.  The beauty of the World Series of Poker and this year's Circuit event is they can all compete here equally at Caesars Atlantic City and have a chance to win."

Although casino gambling has been legal in Atlantic City since 1978, poker was not a part of the gaming menu until 1993.  Caesars Atlantic City was one of the first casinos to open a poker room.  Since that time, the poker room has been renovated and moved a number of times.  Now, it is a plush and lively 24-table room adjacent to the main casino floor.

The WSOP Circuit Series which runs March 5-14 is being played inside the Palladium Ballroom at Caesars.  The 70-table facility (in addition to the 24 tables already in the main poker room) guarantees that players will still be able to register and get seats in any of the remaining events or satellite qualifiers at this Circuit series.  Of the 1,106 players who entered the first event, 81 will receive prize money.  The tournament winner will receive $86,268 plus an engraved gold ring presented to each and every WSOP Circuit event champion.  
 
Fields are expected to be just as large, if not larger for upcoming Circuit events – particularly the no-limit tournaments taking place on Wednesday and Saturday at Caesars Atlantic City.  After all, Event #1 took place on a Monday -- normally a slower day than weekends.  This Saturday's $300 buy-in no-limit hold'em event (March 10th) could break the record as the largest WSOP Circuit event in history and will most certainly be one of Atlantic City's largest poker tournaments ever.

All material may be freely quoted and/or reprinted by media

by Nolan Dalla – World Series of Poker Media Director
Send inquiries to nolandalla@aol.com or call (702) 358-4642

Executive Staff, World Series of Poker Circuit – Caesars Atlantic City

Vice President of Table Games – Fred Niceta
Director of Table Games – Paul A. Natello
Table Games Manager (Poker) – Thomas McDonough III
Poker Pit Manager – Jake Devries