Press Release
World Poker Tour® Launches CLUBWPT™ And A Partnership With STATS LLC
WPT Continues to Innovate the Poker Sport with Subscription Gaming & the Industry’s First Sports-Style Statistics Database
LOS ANGELES (January 22, 2008) – As a category leader driving one of the world’s fastest growing sports and entertainment brands, WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: WPTE) announced today the launch of CLUBWPT.com, an innovative subscription-based online club and gaming platform targeted to the estimated 60 million poker players in the United States who may otherwise be restricted from online wagering. WPTE also announced a partnership with STATS LLC to deliver the poker industry’s first database featuring sports-style breakdowns and analysis. CLUBWPT and STATS are available now through www.worldpokertour.com, which has debuted a new look and robust content offering for broader consumer interaction.
“We are leveraging the World Poker Tour brand and www.worldpokertour.com to create a user experience and poker community in an online space that delivers in ways never done before,” said Ken Graiwer, vice president of WPT interactive. “Now, users can play WPT-style, study the industry’s only poker statistics database, view streaming content and enhanced multimedia, access the latest information and much more—all on one site.”
Conducted under sweepstakes rules in the US, CLUBWPT offers a monthly subscription package for $19.95 per month, as well as discounted quarterly and annual options. In return, members receive points to enter into over 4,000 live poker and elimination black jack tournaments, sit-n-go’s and ring games for a chance to win over $100,000 in cash and prizes each month, which could include a $10,000 seat into a World Poker Tour® (WPT) main event. Other high-end prizes include a flatscreen HD television, shopping sprees, cruises, jewelry and more.
CLUBWPT subscribers will also receive other membership offerings such as a subscription to All-In Magazine, the world’s only magazine dedicated to both poker and blackjack, as well as the Las Vegas Advisor and over 150 coupons from 64 Las Vegas properties covering everything from room rate bargains, free meals, 2-for-1 show tickets, and other VIP treatment.
For more CLUBWPT information or to see if you are located in an eligible state or country, visit www.CLUBWPT.com or www.worldpokertour.com.
Taking another key step to further legitimize poker as a sport, WPT partnered with STATS—the company that provides data collection and analysis for 85 sports leagues, including Major League Baseball, National Football League, and National Basketball Association— to deliver the first ever in-depth analyses and strategic breakdowns for the poker industry. STATS will compile data from every final table hand played in every televised WPT tournament to detail each individual player’s style of play, situational analysis, breakdowns, trends, and more, allowing poker fans and players to study intricacies of the game in ways never available before.
“CLUBWPT and STATS are two very different offerings but are the same in that they are both key to growing the WPT experience for consumers,” said WPTE President and CEO, Steve Lipscomb. “The partnership with STATS is a strategic alliance in our dedication to innovating and legitimizing poker as a sport, while CLUBWPT is the perfect online gaming solution for fans of any skill level—no risk, pure rewards. The STATS database coupled with CLUBWPT gives players and fans the ultimate tools to study, play and enjoy the game.”
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About WPTE
WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WPTE) is a company engaged in the creation of internationally branded entertainment and consumer products driven by the development, production, and marketing of televised programming based on gaming themes. WPTE is the creator of the World Poker Tour®, a television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments that airs on the Travel Channel in the United States and is scheduled to begin broadcasting on GSN in early 2008. WPT is licensed for broadcast globally. WPTE also offers a real-money online gaming website, www.worldpokertour.com, which prohibits wagers from players in the U.S. and other restricted jurisdictions. WPTE currently licenses its brand to companies in the business of poker equipment and instruction, apparel, publishing, electronic and wireless entertainment, DVD/home entertainment, casino games, and giftware. The company is also engaged in the sale of corporate sponsorships. For show information, tools for improving poker play, and other WPT news, fans may log on to www.worldpokertour.com. WPT Enterprises, Inc. is a majority owned subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: LACO). Photos and media information can be found online at: www.worldpokertour.com/media
About STATS LLC
With more than 25 years of experience in sophisticated sports data collection, processing and distribution - STATS is the world's leading sports information, content and statistical analysis company. STATS offers a world-wide portfolio of sports information solutions include the company’s hallmark of real-time scores, historical sports information and turnkey fantasy sports operation along with AP editorial content, breaking sports news and photos. STATS’ innovative sports information solutions are utilized in numerous business segments: professional teams; sports broadcast production, cable and satellite networks; interactive television; broadband, wireless and internet; game developers and fantasy sports providers; print media and wire services. STATS is owned jointly by the Associated Press and News Corporation, with corporate offices in London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Beijing, Bangalore, Mexico City, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. www.stats.com
WPTEG
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by WPT Enterprises, Inc.) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to the expansion of WPTE's brand licensing, the development of new television and film projects, the development of WPTE corporate sponsors and other business development activities, as well as statements regarding other capital spending, financing sources and the effects of competition. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of WPTE. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, WPTE's significant dependence on the Travel Channel as a current source of revenue and GSN as a future source of revenue, and the risk that GSN will not exercise its options to air season of the WPT series beyond Season VI; difficulty of predicting the growth of our online gaming business, which is a relatively new industry with an increasing number of market entrants; reliance on the efforts of CryptoLogic to develop and maintain the online gaming website in compliance with WPTE’s business model and applicable gaming laws; the potential that our television programming will fail to maintain a sufficient audience; the risk that competitors with greater financial resources or marketplace presence might develop television programming that would directly compete with WPTE's television programming; the risk that WPTE may not be able to protect its entertainment concepts, current and future brands and other intellectual property rights; risks associated with future expansion into new or complementary businesses; the termination or impairment of WPTE's relationships with key licensing and strategic partners; and WPTE's dependence on its senior management team. For more information, review WPTE's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Lyndsay LaGree
WPT Enterprises
323 330 9876
llagree@worldpokertour.com
