Video: 39th Annual World Series of Poker® Breaks Several Key Records

New Milestones Set as Main Event Hits Full Stride

LAS VEGAS, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The 39th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) presented by Milwaukee's Best Light, drawing on its unprecedented international appeal, has proved largely impervious to the challenging economic conditions plaguing the broader U.S. economy. When registration for the WSOP's most popular event closed Sunday evening at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, the poker extravaganza had shattered the game's most prominent records:

-- Most total registrants. More than 58,500 players have competed in the 55 events at this year's WSOP, eclipsing the previous record of 54,288 set in 2007.

-- Largest total prize pool. At more than $180 million, the 2008 WSOP prize pool far surpassed the previous record of $159,796,918 set last year.

-- Most countries/territories represented. Not including Main Event participants, players from 104 different countries/territories have competed in 2008 WSOP events -- more than in the 2006 Winter Olympics. The previous record number of countries represented at the WSOP was 87, also set in 2007.

-- Largest non-Main Event field: 3,929 players each put up $1,500 to compete in the 2008 WSOP's first no-limit hold'em tournament that began May 31.

-- First Family: The Hinkle brothers, from Kansas City, Mo., became the first-ever set of brothers to win bracelets in the same year. Grant won Event #2 and $831,432; Blair won Event #23 and $507,563. The Hinkles become only the second set of brothers to win bracelets at the WSOP, joining the Pearsons: Puggy (1973) and J.C. (1994).

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"This has been an incredible season and we're not done yet," said World Series of Poker Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. "So far, players from 56 countries, every state in the U.S. and every Canadian province have cashed at this year's WSOP. When all is said and done, we're going to award more prize money to more players than at any other point in our illustrious 39-year history."

The 39th annual World Series of Poker began May 30 and runs through July 14 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The Main Event, which required four start dates to accommodate the field of 6,844 players, began on July 3 and is the second-largest live poker tournament ever held. The Final Table will be determined on July 14. The nine players who advance to the Final Table will return to the Rio on Nov. 9 to play down to just two players. The final two will then go head-to-head late in the evening of Nov. 10 to determine the champion and winner of poker's ultimate prize. The final eight competitors will each win at least $1 million, with the first-place finisher will receiving a staggering $9.1 million.

ABOUT THE WSOP

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) presented by Milwaukee's Best Light 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. For more information on the World Series of Poker, please visit our website at http://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(R), Caesars(R) and Horseshoe(R) brand names; Harrah's also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos and the World Series of Poker(R). 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 http://www.harrahs.com/.

CONTACT: Seth Palansky, spalansky@harrahs.com, +1-702-408-4497

Web site: http://www.harrahs.com/ http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/

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