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Maryann Guberman has been a writer and editor with many gaming publications, including Sports Form, Card Player, Poker World, Player's Panorama and Systems and Methods. She also has written and edited numerous books on gambling.

Nov. 8, 2008

The New Face of the World Poker Tour

Now that the dust has settled and poker has slipped somewhat into an everyday topic instead of the flash-in-the-pan fad many thought it would be, now that it's an accepted way of life for men and women, young and old, now that the hype has died down and the game is ingrained in our society, and even though the Travel Channel didn't want another season, of it, the World Poker Tour is alive an well.

Okay, so maybe not entirely well, but then again, there's not much on the Dow Jones that is well at this given moment.

However, the WPT is accepting itself as it is and redefining itself as it becomes more than a one-hit wonder -- and I, for one, am cheering on its success.

The most current press release from the company indicates that FSN (Fox Sports Network) will carry 26 new episodes featuring helping mark the seventh year anniversary of the tour. That's nice. (Quite frankly, I believe the Travel Channel got the best of the entire WPT deal financially.) But what's nicer is that there's more to the company now. They've put a bit more meat on their bones and as a result, might just be beefed up enough to last for another seven years (or more).

What interests me most about the new focus for the group is ClubWPT.com, the subscription-based game site that, in conjunction of the FSN, provides online poker (free trials offered) that's not gambling exactly. It's a membership site, much like Card Player's member site. The difference is huge, though. If you play on the WPT site and win, you get to appear on TV to play for big money (and prestige).

The press release states the company hopes to gain 16,000 to 20,000 paying subscribers for ClubWPT.com within the next few months, a number that will help offset some of the losses that have been reflected by the recent decrease in domestic television license fees and lower domestic sponsorship fees. I know I'll tell my friends about the site. Some of them (the cheap ones) will play for free; others (the smart ones) will sign up.

I don't think the World Poker Tour gets enough credit for its accomplishments. While the World Series of Poker reaps tons of publicity and that Moneymaker Miracle will never go away (Chris Moneymaker won the title and both the World Series and Chris himself capitalized on that unusual and fitting name), the WPT brought people to their TV sets to watch poker for real! And they did it well so it wasn't like watching paint dry. (I think they overdo it now with the flashing lights and the overdramatized wait before the river card appears, but that's TV for you.)

The appearance of the WPT combined with online poker venues started the fire. Now it looks as if they are poised to keep it burning. Maybe it never will be the roaring flame it once was but neither will it be smoldering embers.

Now, let's go take a look at ClubWPT.com. Who knows, you might get to be on TV too.