Attendance up at World Series of Poker despite European fiscal crisis

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The European financial crisis and fears of a double-dip recession in the United States have had little effect on the World Series of Poker, where attendance at the most expensive events has increased this year over last.

‘We did fear coming in that the financial crisis, particularly across Europe, would have a bigger impact on us than it has thus far,’ said Seth Palansky, communications director for the WSOP. ‘You can trace the value of the euro and British pound over the past several years to where it is now, and in some cases it’s down 30% to 40%. We saw that as a red flag that may have an effect on us, but it hasn’t come to fruition.’

The 41st World Series of Poker is a series of 57 tournaments from May 28 to July 17 at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Entry fees to the tournaments range from $500 to $50,000.

So far, the series has held three $10,000 buy-in tournaments: seven-card stud, seven-card stud high-low split and no-limit low ball, attracting 421 players -- a 5% increase from 2009. This week, 792 players entered a $5,000 no-limit hold’em tournament, 21% more than played in the event last year.

‘We’re fortunate. It’s the Olympic effect. It’s the once-a-year celebration of poker where everyone wants to come test themselves against the best in the world,’ Palansky said. ‘The value of a win here carries more meaning than any other tournament.’

Nearly 61,000 players from 115 countries entered last year’s WSOP, which awarded more than $174 million in prize money.

The WSOP is owned by Harrah’s Entertainment, a privately held company that operates more than 50 casinos around the world, including the Rio, Caesars and Paris, among others, in Las Vegas.

-- Stuart Pfeifer