Yesterday, Wall Street Journal published a story about poker in China featuring the WPT National China event that is happening right now at MGM Grand Sanya on Hainan Island. The article talks about the success of poker in Macau – the Chinese special economic zone in which gambling is legal – and the delicateness with which Chinese regulations must be handled.
“One test for the future of poker in China will start Friday, when around 530 players will gather at a hotel in the resort town of Sanya for what is being billed as mainland China’s first major Texas Hold ‘Em tournament.”
Classified as a sport with prize money coming from sponsors, this WPT event is already being billed as a huge success and an inroad into the Chinese market.
“For the World Poker Tour, the tournament is designed with an eye toward the future. “We aren’t pushing online gambling at this point, but we are trying to develop the game,” said its CEO, Steve Heller.”
Read the full article by clicking the article below (paywall) and make sure to stay tuned to the WPT Blog for all of the updates from WPT National China: