New Horseshoe Hammond to Host First Circuit Event & Chicago’s Biggest Poker Tournament 

LAS VEGAS – July 7, 2008 – The World Series of Poker® (WSOP) today announced its official schedule for the 2008-2009 season of circuit events, played around the United States at Harrah’s owned casinos throughout the year. 

The high-stakes poker tournaments provide poker enthusiasts of all levels the opportunity to compete on a regional basis in a variety of events that include the opportunity to win a seat in the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas. 

“Playing World Series of Poker Circuit events is the best way to hone your live tournament poker skills in a friendly and competitive environment,” said Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner of the World Series of Poker.  “We continue to fine tune the World Series of Poker Circuit schedule and structures to deliver poker players the best tournaments throughout the year.” 

The 2008-2009 World Series of Poker Circuit begins October 2, 2008 at the recently rebranded Horseshoe Southern Indiana and includes stops at Harrah’s properties in Hammond, Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, Tunica, Council Bluffs (Iowa), Rincon (Southern California), Las Vegas and New Orleans. The entire schedule is as follows:

WORLD SERIES OF POKER

2008-09 CIRCUIT SCHEDULE

DATE

LOCATION

October 2 -- October 14, 2008

HORSESHOE SOUTHERN INDIANA

October 24 -- November 2, 2008

HORSESHOE HAMMOND (Chicago area)

November 6 -- November 16, 2008

HARVEYS LAKE TAHOE (Nevada)

December 5 – December 18, 2008

HARRAH’S ATLANTIC CITY

January 20 – February 9, 2009

HARRAH’S TUNICA (Mississippi)

February 12 – February 25, 2009

HORSESHOE COUNCIL BLUFFS (Iowa)

March 4 – March 14, 2009

CAESARS ATLANTIC CITY

March 19 – March 29, 2009

HARRAH’S RINCON (San Diego)

April 12 – April 29, 2009

CAESARS PALACE (Las Vegas)

May 8 – May 20, 2009

HARRAH’S NEW ORLEANS

Circuit schedules are subject to change.  For more information on individual circuit events, including event schedules and structure sheets, can be found at each property website or by visiting www.worldseriesofpoker.com 

ABOUT THE WSOP

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker’s longest running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970.  In 2007, the event attracted more than 54,000 entrants from 87 different countries to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and awarded just under $160 million in prize money as players competed for game’s most coveted trophy, a WSOP bracelet.  Harrah’s License Company, LLC., an affiliate of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. has owned and operated the WSOP since 2004 and over the last four years, fostered an increase in player participation by nearly 300-percent.  In addition, the WSOP has experienced groundbreaking alliances in broadcasting, digital media and corporate sponsorships, while successfully expanding the brand internationally with the advent in 2007 of the World Series of Poker Europe.   WSOP Circuit and tournament events are operated by various subsidiaries and affiliates of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. For more information on the World Series of Poker, please visit our website at www.worldseriesofpoker.com 

ABOUT HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, more than 70 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions, and now owns or manages casinos on four continents. The Company's properties operate primarily under the Harrah's®, Caesars® and Horseshoe® brand names; Harrah's also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos and the World Series of Poker®. 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, please visit www.harrahs.com. 

www.worldseriesofpoker.com