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Poker.co.uk - Poker News Archive
Tuesday 7th August 2007 WPT Now in China
World Poker Tour Enterprises (WPT) has managed to negotiate an impressive deal with the China Leisure Sports Administrative Centre (CLSAC).
Mr. Hu Jianguo, Director General of CLSAC said, “We look forward to a long-term partnership with the WPT, expanding this unique Sport and showcasing the wisdom and teamwork skills of the Chinese people to the world.”
WPT will be televising poker and arranging live tournaments of the local variant Traktor, or Tuo La Ji, rather than Texas Hold’em. Although it is officially classified as a sport, poker is illegal in mainland China. Whatever the legal loophole details of the tournament play, there are roughly 797,609,633 Chinese over nineteen years of age, and that’s a lot of poker players. The Tour will launch in Beijing this month.
Some online providers have already fallen foul of the prohibition of internet gaming, and some fear that this deal may end up causing problems for WPT enterprises. However, the five-year television deal, signed with Macau Cable and Media Corp, is still a huge achievement. The first offering will see the Singapore-based company airing the first two WPT seasons.
The CEO of WPT Enterprises said of the deal:
“WPT is honoured to be the marketing partner chosen by the CLSAC for the China National Traktor Poker Tour. Poker, especially Tuo La Ji Poker, requires a great amount of skill and passion, both key ingredients in creating dynamic and engaging sports television.”
Source: OnlineCasinoNews
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