March 01, 2007
by: Haley Hintze
Pre-registration began on February 26th
for the 38th World Series of Poker®,
to be held at the Rio All-Suites Hotel &
Casino® in Las Vegas.
The 2007 WSOP begins on June 1st and
runs through July 17, with rules and
registration information now available
One notable change for this year's WSOP is
the introduction of a newly-created $10,000
'WSOP' casino chip, which will be accepted for
registration and will likely see common use
as the payout 'lammer' for satellite-qualifier
winners. The new chip joins smaller Rio chip
denominations, wire transfers, cashier's checks,
credit-card cash advances and cash itself as
acceptable payment methods for event
registration, accompanying payment forms
registration, accompanying payment forms
that can now be found at the World Series of
Poker online site. Pre-registration remains
open until two weeks prior to the start of
any given event.
The updated rules also clarify third-party
registrations as well, reading as follows:
"Third-party registrations for players are
not permitted unless submitted by Official
WSOP Sponsors; Official WSOP promotions
or product licensee, or civic, charitable,
business, casino and other land-based entities
officially licensed to conduct satellite
tournaments for the 2007 WSOP.
No third-party registrations will be
accepted from online gaming sites conducting
business with U.S. residents."
Harrah's has also extensively revamped
its apparel policy, complete with an explanation
of exactly what types of '.com' advertising
will remain off-limits. The comprehensive
rules changes clearly represent a sweeping
move to bring players' appearances more
in line with corporate expectations. The start
of the relevant section, Rule #34, offers this:
"Tournament participants may wear apparel
with multiple logos, patches or promotional
language. However, no individual logo, patch
or block of promotional language is to be larger
than 12 square inches." The rule then provides
a lengthy list of prohibited forms of logos,
advertising, and general apparel.
The two key prohibitions relating to online
gambling sites are these:
"(i) Advertise a dot.com gaming site
that conducts business with U.S. residents."
[such advertising is prohibited]
"(k) In addition, all logos, patches, and
promotional language for any dot.net website
must contain a clear and visible 'dot.net' suffix
at least the same size as the site name."
Additional clauses place a ban on any beer
or liquor advertising excepting title sponsor
Milwaukee's Best Light or other Miller
Brewing products; place a general ban on
apparel referencing drugs, tobacco, firearms,
pornography, other forms of gambling;
ban certain types of 'commentary' clothing
that could be considered injurious to other
parties, and, of course, give the final say-so
to Harrah's in any matter of dispute.
The "twelve square inches" rule, allowing
for such things as a 3" x 4" rectangular patch
bearing a logo, effectively eliminates the
jersey-style advertising so prevalent on
the floor of the Amazon Room last year.
However, the new clarifications pave the way
for poker apparel to enter the modern world
of corporate and business endorsements.
The World Series of Poker's commissioner,
Jeffery Pollack, served up this comment
on the topic: "In recognition of the endorsement
agreements that provide income to many
poker players, we've liberalized our policy
to allow tournament entrants to wear apparel
with multiple logos and patches. There are
some reasonable restrictions on what is
permissible, but this is definitely a far more
liberal, accommodating and player-friendly policy."
