As ESPN goes, so goes the World Series of Poker, and the broadcast giant and Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., the WSOP’s parent, have agreed on a new deal to keep the world’s largest poker series on major network TV through 2018. Terms of the new deal call for at least 32 hours of programming to appear every year, with the broadcasts likely to remain centered on the main event, a perennial ratings winner. ESPN has teamed up with the WSOP since 2003. This year’s broadcast schedule runs through the fall, culminating with the main event final table on November 10th.

PA COURT RULES POKER A GAME OF CHANCE

The battle of “skill vs. chance” regarding poker saw the game receive a couple of recent setbacks at the state level. In one, a long-running case against Pennsylvania attorney Lawrence Burns was decided in a decision against Burns, who was charged after running a series of small tournaments a couple of years ago in a couple of townships near Pittsburgh. Burns contracted with various fire departments to host his events at their halls, only to see his monies seized by the PA state attorney in conjunction with gambling charges that were brought in 2007. Burns was judged guilty in a jury trial; though no jail time is expected. Burns also plans to appeal the decision.

COLORADO COURT RULES POKER AS GAME OF CHANCE

In a similar battle over the nature of poker, a Colorado court issued a decision declaring the game to be one of chance, and therefore subject to that state’s gambling laws. The ruling comes in the aftermath of a case brought against a Colorado poker tournament operator, who successfully defended himself in a case last year by providing evidence of poker’s skill elements. While Kevin Raley was acquitted, a Weld County district judge recently ruled that poker still contained a small element of chance, and that expert testimony by University of Denver Professor Bob Hannum should be tossed out. The Poker Players Alliance announced its support of an appeal by Raley, even though the gambling charges against Raley and others are not expected to be re-filed.

WPT LOWERS BORGATA BUY-IN

New ownership at the World Poker Tour, which was sold in a recent deal valued at just over $9 million, may believe that less is more. The WPT has announced a lowered buy-in for its upcoming Borgata (NJ) stop, reducing the entry fee from $10,000 to $3,500. The tradeoff envisioned by tournament organizers is a much higher turnout for an event that has seen its attendance falter the last two years. The Borgata Poker Open will retain its $2 million guarantee, and the televised main event runs September 19-24.

‘POLIGRAPH’ WINS FTOPS XIII MAIN EVENT

The 13th and latest edition of the Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS) concluded in mid-August with ‘poligraph’ taking down the online series’ main event. The $500 + 35 tourney drew 5,306 entrants and generated a massive $2,653,000 prize pool, easily topping its pre-tourney $2.5 million guarantee. Poligraph topped ‘Inoriisss’ for the win, collecting $453,663 for the title, with Inoriisss cashing for $315,707 as the runner-up. Overall, FTOPS XIII served up 25 events over a variety of poker disciplines and guaranteed $16 million in prizes.