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Basic Facts about the World Poker Tour

Just as the World Series of Poker (WSOP), exposed the world to huge poker tournaments, so did the World Poker Tour transformed the game as viewed on television. The WPT does not only provide entertainment but is also an important source of information for newbies. For example, the "WPT Cam", which is a wonderfully pioneering camera about the size of the lipstick tube. This minute equipment, launched during the 2003 WPT, permits the viewers to have a glimpse of the hole cards of the players, This little device, introduced on the WPT in 2003, allows viewers to see the player's hole cards, inserting more drama to the game by conveying the strategies accompanying the player's high limit bets and bluffs.

In addition, there are the hosts of the World Poker Tour. During audience conversations when particular poker terms are used, a drop-down box appears with a discussion of the terms in order for poker newcomers to have a better grasp of the game. Consequently, this type of programming has without a doubt become successful in enlisting millions of new viewers and players across the world.

WPT personal tournaments are played annually beginning May to the succeeding April, culminating with the World Poker Tour Championship Event which is held at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Sixteen qualifying tournaments are played at different locations around the world which end up to the final championship competition.

Final tables at every qualifying WPT Tournaments are shown on television, and the winners get, aside from the money they won, a paid entry fee amounting to $25,000 to the World Poker Tour Championships at the Bellagio.

These qualifying tournaments are one of the ways to gain a seat at the championships. Direct entry to the games can be done by the players by simply settling the $25,000 upfront fees or by playing in different satellite events - for a minimal buy-in fee- that will serve as advanced payments for the entry fee to the final events for the winner. In reality, the Bellagio Hotel itself conducts a satellite tournament one week before the final event with an advanced-paid entry fee to the championships as prize for the winner.

The championship event at the World Poker tour is shown on television from the Bellagio Hotel by the Travel Channel and seen by an actual audience. Since the beginning of the World Poker Tour the prize money has greatly increased with the prize money for the latest event pegged to surpass $12 million, with the winner pocketing more than $4 million.

The World Series of Poker, made up of Texas Hold-Em No-Limit matches, is now on its fourth season as one of the more famous television shows in cable television. The World Poker Tour is an idea of Stephen Libscomb, a television producer who also serves as the chief executive officer of WPT Enterprises, which is in-charge of the World Poker Tour.