M Resort to Host Hollywood Poker Open Championship, June 27-29

Players From 16 Penn National Gaming Casinos to Join Pros and Amateurs In Spreading Poker Action to the Strip’s South End

Las Vegas, NV (June 2013) – More than 150 professional and amateur poker players representing 16 Penn National Gaming casinos across North America are coming to Las Vegas June 27-29 for a chance at fame and glory to play in the $500,000 Guaranteed Hollywood Poker Open Championship at the M Resort Spa Casino Las Vegas. Up to another 150 players are expected to buy-in at $2,500 a seat for the Championship.

Among the participants are those who won seats at one of five regional HPO tournament events held at Hollywood Casinos over the last eight months. Others won local tournaments and seat giveaways this year at Hollywood and Penn National Gaming properties throughout North America.

Penn, which operates some of the largest and most comfortable live poker rooms at Hollywood Casinos in the Midwest, South and Mid-Atlantic, is looking to grow its poker business and introduce players to the M Resort as a poker destination.

“Our goal was to create a national tournament of our own where poker players – both those we know as well as those new to our casinos – could gain multiple opportunities to participate in regional and qualifying events with the action culminating in a championship in Las Vegas,” said Jay Snowden, Senior Vice President Regional Operations, Penn National Gaming. “We also wanted our players to know that they have a first-class poker home the next time they visit Las Vegas.”

The start time for Day 1 (June 27) is 11:15 a.m. The event is being held in the M Resort’s Milan Ballroom, Lower Level. Approximately 10 percent of the field will finish in the money.

No Limit Hold’em satellites and live action games will also be held throughout the weekend at the M Resort.

Players can pre-register online or register in person at the M Resort Poker Room. The HPO Registration Desk for pre and newly registered players is located on the M Resort’s Spa Level starting June 27 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and beginning at 8 a.m. on June 28.

For More Info Contact:
Brent Burkhardt
On Site Media Contact
410-299-2528
bburkhardt@tbc.us

To learn more and follow the action throughout the weekend:

• hollywoodpokeropen.com
• facebook.com/HollywoodPokerOpen
• @hwpokeropen
• @PkrTrnmtCnsults
• @billbruce
• @PkrTrnmtCnsults
• #HPO2013

About M Resort M Resort Spa Casino is located on over 90 acres at 12300 Las Vegas Blvd. S. on the southeast corner of St. Rose Parkway and Las Vegas Boulevard. Situated higher in elevation than other resort-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, the M Resort provides optimal views of the world-famous Las Vegas skyline from its guest rooms, suites, conference center and restaurants. The resort offers 390 guest rooms and suites, over 92,000 square feet of gaming, seven restaurants and six destination bars, more than 92,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, a Forbes Travel Guide four star rated spa and fitness center and a 100,000 square foot events piazza. For more information, visit www.theMresort.com. Find us on Facebook – M Resort Spa Casino. Follow @MResort Twitter. Read our M Point of View Blog. M Resort is operated by Penn National Gaming, Inc. About Penn National Gaming Penn National Gaming owns, operates or has ownership interests in gaming and racing facilities with a focus on slot machine entertainment. The company presently operates twenty-nine facilities in nineteen jurisdictions, including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Ontario. In aggregate, Penn National's operated facilities currently feature approximately 36,800 gaming machines, approximately 850 table games, 2,900 hotel rooms and approximately 1.6 million square feet of gaming floor space. ###

Choctaw Casino Resort Hosts Second WSOP Circuit Stop

Durant, OK - Jan. 10, 2012

Poker’s top brass will set up shop in Durant, Oklahoma at Choctaw Casino Resort January 5th through 23rd for the WSOP Circuit’s second stop of 2012.

When looking to describe the 2011-2012 Circuit so far, one could start with the phrase, record breaking.

The season began with Mark “Pegasus” Smith winning his record fifth Circuit ring following a stunning performance in Southern Indiana. Two weeks later, Horseshoe Hammond broke a record of its own when 3,001 players registered for Event #1, obliterating the old attendance record by almost 1,400 entrants.

Last week at The Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles, La Sengphet became the first female in Circuit history to record three victories in open ring events.

With the bar set high, great things are sure to come from Choctaw and what is typically one of the Circuit’s largest stops due to its close proximity to the Dallas market.

Last year, almost 4,700 players turned out for 10 ring events and their chance at a piece of the over $2.6 million in awarded prizes. The Main Event champion, Huy Nguyen, bested 808 entrants and was awarded $233,000 for his victory.

This year, 12 ring events are scheduled to take place over 12 days. Notable tournaments include Event #6, $345 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em to take place January 17th and Event #8, $555 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em tournament to take place January 19th.

The $1,600 No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry tournament will begin Saturday, January 21st.

Both the Main Event champion and the Casino Champion will be awarded seats to the $1,000,000 Circuit National Championship in Las Vegas.

Tournaments will be ran according to standardized WSOP Circuit structures and all play will be overseen by tournament director Jimmy Sommerfeld and the Poker Tournament Consultants team in concert with Ken Lambert, Choctaw’s top poker lieutenant.

A full schedule of events can be seen HERE.

Rooms in Choctaw’s Grand Tower are available for as low as $79 a night. More information can be found HERE.

Follow @WSOP on Twitter for all official tournament updates.

Follow @PkrTrnmtCnsults on Twitter for more info.

Like us on FaceBook HERE.

All final tables will be streamed live on WSOP.com.

For More Information:

Media Contact:
Lukas M. Willems, Media Coordinator, WSOP
E-mail: lukasmwillems@gmail.com

Choctaw Casino Contact:
Ken Lambert, Poker Room Manager, Choctaw Casino Resort
E-mail: ken.lambert@choctawcasinos.com

Poker Tournament Consultants Contact:
Bill Bruce, PTC GM
E-mail: bill@pokertournamentconsultants.com

Eighth Season of WSOP Circuit Events Begins September 8th at Horseshoe Bossier City

WSOPC National Championship, cumulative ranking system and optimized structures return for 2011/2012

BOSSIER CITY, LA – September 2, 2011 – On the heels of a successful 2010/2011 tour, the eighth season of the World Series of Poker Circuit Events gets underway Thursday, September 8th at Horseshoe Bossier City.

This year marks the first time ever that Horseshoe Bossier City will host the WSOP Circuit. The casino and its 25-story luxury hotel are located just outside of Shreveport, LA and a short distance from Texas and Arkansas.

A number of improvements were made to last season’s WSOPC, including optimized, standardized structures, a cumulative ranking system and the addition of a season-culminating National Championship. These enhancements will return for the 2011/2012 season for what promises to be the Circuit Events’ biggest and brightest year yet.

This season’s unofficial motto is “12 Rings in 12 Days.” Beginning with Horseshoe Bossier City, the sixteen stops of the 2011/2012 Circuit Tour will each begin on a Thursday and open the three-day Main Event on the second following Saturday, thereby encompassing a total of 12 official WSOP gold ring events over 12 consecutive days.

As with all stops this year, the Main Event will follow a re-entry format, meaning there will be two starting flights with players eliminated in flight A having the option to re-enter into flight B. The Horseshoe Main Event begins Saturday, September 17th.

In addition to first place prize money and the coveted WSOP Circuit gold ring, the winner of the Main Event will receive an automatic entry into the WSOP Circuit National Championship. A second seat to the national championship will be awarded to the player who earns the most points through the 12 ring events scheduled at Horseshoe Bossier City.

This year, the 12 ring event final tables at each Circuit stop will be streamed live at WSOP.com.

In addition to the 12 ring events scheduled at the Horseshoe, the Seniors No Limit Hold’em event will take place Sunday, September 11th while the Ladies NLH Event kicks off the following Sunday, September 18th.

There will also be nightly 7pm $120 buy-in no-limit hold’em events and satellites held throughout the 12-day series. See the full schedule of events here.

Specially-discounted room rates for WSOPC participants will be available. Click here for more details.

Media Contacts: Nolan Dalla, WSOP Media Director – nolandalla@aol.com

CHOCTAW CASINO RESORT SET TO HOST FIRST-EVER WSOP CIRCUIT

DURANT, OK - (January 5, 2011) – WSOP Circuit action comes to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area when Choctaw Casino Resort hosts the WSOP Circuit’s first stop of 2011 beginning Thursday, January 6th through Monday, January 24th.

The 8th of 15 official tour stops scheduled for the 2010/2011 season, the upcoming WSOP Circuit series will be the first-ever held at Choctaw, which is located in Durant, OK, one hour north of Dallas.

“This is a huge poker market that has clamored for high stakes tournament poker and we’re ecstatic to be hosting a WSOP Circuit in this gorgeous property in Durant,” said WSOP vice president, Ty Stewart.

Ten official WSOP Circuit ring events are among the 51 total events scheduled for the 18-day Circuit stop, which concludes with the $1,600 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Main Event starting Saturday January 22nd.

The schedule, put together by noted tournament director Jimmy Sommerfeld, features a broad selection of poker games that includes variations such as PLO, PLO/2-7 triple draw mixed, H.O.R.S.E., Omaha 8 and Hold’em.

Also scheduled for Choctaw are the $235 buy-in WSOP Circuit Ladies Event, which takes place Sunday, January 9th and the $235 buy-in Seniors Event to be held Sunday, January 16th. Along with first place prize money, the winner of the Ladies Event receives the WSOP Circuit diamond-encrusted gold pendant.

Online registration for any of the 51 events is available through Startickets.com.

Tournament staff and organizers have worked diligently for months in preparation for what will undoubtedly be one of the largest gaming events ever held in the region.

“The vibrant poker markets in Texas and Oklahoma deserve a local to regional WSOP Circuit opportunity and Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant couldn’t be a better choice,” said Choctaw Casino Resort Director of Gaming & Hotel Operations, Steven Loyd.

“The Choctaw Nation is proud to be the newest member of the WSOP Circuit family.”

WSOP Circuit leader board points will be distributed to players based on their performance at Choctaw with the winner of the Main Event earning an automatic entry to the $1 million WSOPC National Championship to be held May 27-29 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

In addition, one more National Championship entry will be awarded to the player earning the most points through Choctaw’s ten ring events.

Special room rates in the resort’s new hotel tower will be available to WSOP participants and start at $69. Players can call 1-800-788-2464 to make reservations or book online. Use promo code WSOP2011.


Media Contacts:
Jay Newnum, WJ Media Marketing,
317.946.5334
jay@wjmedia.net

Alan Fowler, WSOP/Caesars Interactive Entertainment,
702.498.7532
afowler@caesars.com

ABOUT THE WSOPThe World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world awarding millions of dollars in prize money and the prestigious gold bracelet, globally recognized as the sport's top prize. 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 2010, the event attracted 72,966 entrants from 117 different countries to the Rio in Las Vegas and awarded over $187 million in prize money. In addition, the WSOP has formed 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. The WSOP Circuit Tour is entering its seventh season in 2010-11, and will feature 12 stops throughout the U.S., plus for the first ever, a stop in South Africa. For more information on the World Series of Poker, please visit www.WSOP.com.

* World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah's License Company, LLC ("Harrah's"). Harrah's does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with, This and That or its products, services, promotions or tournaments.

Christina Lindley Meet and Greet

Actress, Model, Professional Poker Player / Blogger, and Former Tennessean Christina Lindley to Play in Harrah’s Tunica World Series of Poker Circuit Event

TUNICA, MS - January 23, 2009 – Fresh from filming “Best Damn Poker Show 2” on ESPN actress, model, poker player / blogger, and former Nashville, Tennessee resident is making her way to Tunica, Mississippi to compete in the World Series of Poker Circuit Event at Harrah’s Tunica. Lindley will meet and greet fans and sign autographs Saturday, January 31, 2009 from noon to 2 p.m.

At the early age of fourteen, Christina got her first big break when a photographer discovered her at a mall in Georgia. He entered her in the Seventeen Magazine/JCPenney Cover Model Contest and Christina was one of the finalists. She appeared in her first layout in Seventeen Magazine followed by YM. Since then she appeared in countless national and international magazines including: “Maxim,” “Stuff,” :FHM,” “Celebrity Interview in Playboy,” “Fitness RX,” “Muscle And Fitness,” “TV Direkt,” “Olympian News,” “Ironman Magazine,” Boss,” “Muscular Development,” “MuscleMag,” “In Touch Weekly,” “People,” and “Star Magazine.”

Her national campaigns for print, commercial, and endorsements have included: Penta water, Vizio Flat screen Televisions, Pantene Pro-V, Strut, BSN, Bodybuilding.com, Lasvegasdirect.com, movietickets.com, and several others.

Once she found success in the modeling and fitness industry, naturally, the road led west. Christina packed up and moved to Hollywood intent on pursuing a career as an actress in film and television.

No stranger to hard work, she hit the ground running immediately engrossing herself in training with the best acting coaches in Hollywood including: Howard Fine, Larry Moss, and Eric Morris. She also began honing her comedic chops at the world famous Groundlings in Los Angeles. The Groundlings is the famous launching pad for the likes of Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, and countless other SNL Alum.

In the short time since her arrival in LA, she has extensive film and television credits to her name. She just wrapped on three projects that will be released in 2008: A guest starring role on the all improv non-scripted "Head Case" on STARZ! Network starring Alexandra Wentworth, and she costars alongside the likes of Tom Cavanaugh in the first ever Lifetime miniseries produced by Emmy award Winning producer Stanley Brooks called "The Capture of the Green River Killer", as well as cameo in the feature film "Playboys" starring Trever Moore and Zach Creggor.

Her past film and television credits include: a costarring role in the 20th Century Fox film "The Marine" starring John Cena and Kelly Carlson, a national promo for the NFL and NBC promoting the FLEX SCHEDULE, "Campus Ladies" for Oxygen and famed “Curb your Enthusiasm” director Robert B. Weide, HBO's “Entourage,” appearing in the second season on MTV's popular tv show "Wild N'Out" with Nick Cannon as a "Wild N'Out" girl, GRB Entertainment's "Princes of Malibu". A guest star on Bravo's “Blowout,” Spike TV's “Video Game Awards” assisting Snoop Dogg in giving geeks there cheat codes, SPIKE TV's guide to dating for men called "The Playbook.” “Undiscovered” starring Ashley Simpson (The Hot Chick), Carrie Fischer (Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle) and Kip Perdue (Thirteen), as well as a Nick Cassavettes film (he directed “John Q and The Notebook”) called “Alpha Dogs,” featuring Bruce Willis (The Whole Ten Yards), Justin Timberlake (Longshot), and Sharon Stone (Catwoman).

A native of the South, Christina grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and attended high school in Nashville, Tennessee.

Christina currently resides in Los Angeles, and is a contributing writer to several national fitness magazines.

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment through operating subsidiaries. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada over 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, Caesars and Horseshoe brand names; Harrah’s also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos. 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. More information about Harrah's is available at www.harrahs.com

* World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah's License Company, LLC ("Harrah's"). Harrah's does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with, This and That or its products, services, promotions or tournaments.

Mid-South Poker Classic begins at Cherokee Casino Resort

Tournament Director Jimmy Sommerfeld of Poker Tournament Consultants

TULSA, Oklahoma - (May 13, 2008) PRESS RELEASE - Starting Thursday, May 15, Cherokee Casino Resort kicks off its first Mid-South Poker Classic, the second of three major tournaments this year, further establishing the poker room's reputation as the place to play serious poker amongst a field of skilled regional and national players, one of whom is the casino's resident poker pro, the legendary Scotty Nguyen.

Although this is the casino's first Mid-South Poker Classic, the poker room is a veteran of regional and national tournaments, drawing nearly 800 competitors for its last outing, the Oklahoma State Championship of Poker, in February. This mid-South Mecca of poker also turns out more than 7,000 entries and a $2 million prize pool for its annual Scotty Nguyen Poker Challenge, which is back this November.

The Mid-South Poker Classic begins with the popular Jack & Jill event and ends with an added tournament feature, a final table player's tournament on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.

The tournament features 20 events over 12 days. Daily tournaments include No Limit Hold 'em, Limit Hold 'em, Omaha High/Low Split, a Senior and Ladies No Limit Hold 'em, No Limit Hold 'em 6-Handed and Pot Limit Omaha. Buy-ins range from $100 - $1,000.

The Budweiser Celebrity Poker Classic, where sports celebrities and poker professionals play to benefit Tulsa Sports Charities, is on May 18 at 7 p.m. The event will feature sports celebrities Pat Jones, OSU; Dale "Apollo" Cook, former World Champion Kick Boxer; Lee Mayberry, Arkansas Razorbacks and Milwaukee Bucks; and many more. Buy-in is $120.

The Championship No Limit Hold 'em Main Event is on Sunday, May 25, at 1 p.m., with play continuing on Monday, May 26, at 1 p.m.

Participants can register for the Mid-South Poker Classic online at CherokeeCasino.com or in person at the Cherokee Casino Resort main cage.