Today, several thoughts about the World Series of Poker. The main event is still going on at the Rio (this is Day 1-C, of all things), and will be for quite some time. There will be well over 8,000 entrants this year (I would have lost a bet on that big time), and that’s just the final.

Overall, the WSOP transferred over $150,000,000 in prize money from entrants to winners., while boosting the formerly moribund Las Vegas summer poker economy enormously. It used be very quiet here this time of year, and now we are waiting hours for a seat in some of the larger cardrooms. The action has been well worth it.

The logistics are astonishing, with a 200+ table room set up at the Rio, hundreds of dealers (not of very even quality, unfortunately), and new tournaments, second-day tournaments, single table satellites, super-satellites, a final table or two and live cash games going on at the same time.

Harrah’s is doing many things since cashing in on its purchase of the WSOP brand, including selling a title sponsorship to a beer (technically, we are attending “The World Series for Poker presented by Milwaukee’s Best Light”), negotiating exclusive media rights, and I understand broadcasting the final table live on PPV. I have a press pass, but I may still watch it on TV for a better seat than I can ever get there.

There is now a WSOP commissioner, Jeffery Pollack, who comes directly from NASCAR and the NBA. He is trying to bring that sort of marketing and appeal to the WSOP, and is making inroads. A player council has been created that makes suggestions to management and it typically listened to. The $50,000 buy-in HORSE championship, improved break strategies and restrooms better and more accessible (and a bit less unreasonably prices) food available are significant improvements.

I attended a press conference and media tournament. Billy Baxter and T J Cloutier were inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame (Harrah’s is trying to maintain the long traditions of the WSOP in many ways, including this one). A WSOP-set movie opening in September (“Lucky You”) was previewed, and we got to meet the director and Drew Barrymore, who stars (Robert Duvall is featured). Aside from a silly “I bet my mother’s ring against your watch” scene, they attempted authentic poker, and the primary plot (finally!) did not revolve around cheating. Several prominent poker players appear, including Jennifer Harman playing someone else briefly and someone else playing Jennifer Harman (in effect).

In the media event, each table got a celebrity. Near my table were ones with James Garner, Shannon Elizabeth, Cindy Margolis and Jennifer Tilly. In a sort of bad beat, we got an Elvis impersonator. However, it was lot better than porn star Ron Jeremy, IMO.

The structure was a joke, and I lost fast. It was fun, though.