World Series of Poker Holds Open Registration

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. said today pre-registration for the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is now open.

Players can pre-register online at www.worldseriesofpoker.com under
The World Series of Poker is the biggest poker event of the year.  the "Event Registration" tab or in person at the main cage of the Rio® All-Suite Hotel & Casino, host property for the 2009 WSOP. Pre-registration instructions and tournament rules are posted on the website.

It is important to note, capacity is limited and entry is on a first come first serve basis. Once an event's maximum attendance is reached or the expected table capacity is filled, the event will be declared a sellout.

"As now customary, no alternates will be seated at the 2009 World Series of Poker," said Jack Effel, WSOP tournament director. "We encourage players to pre-register early to guarantee their seats."

Acceptable forms of payment include cash, cashier's checks, wire transfers and Rio casino chips.

Any foreign entrants who wire transfer monies will receive the exchange rate into U.S. dollars at the time of the wire transfer, thus locking in their exchange rate in advance.

The 40th edition of the WSOP will run from May 26 through July 15, 2009, and will include 57 bracelet tournaments. Buy-ins for open events will range from $1,000 to $50,000. The buy-in for the Main Event – the No-Limit Hold'em World Championship – remains at $10,000. The November Nine, the final nine participants of the Main Event, return November 7-10 to declare a champion. The full event schedule is at www.worldseriesofpoker.com