Only One Week Remains for
Bettors to Bet on Bettors, Setting Celebrity and Pro Player Online Odds in
Nation's Most Prestigious
Texas Holdem Poker Tournament.
LAS VEGAS, NV -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/12/2004 -- Which
celebrity is master of the bluff? Not in their acting, but for their poker
playing skills. Or visualized in a character-ranging, testosterone-laden
poker scenario, does the youthful Leonardo DiCaprio, the highly visible
man-about-town Ben Affleck, or old time player Larry Flynt "got the
nuts"(meaning "the best hand" in card lingo) to place at the 35th annual
historic World Series of Poker (WSOP) finals, held at Binion's Horseshoe
Casino, May 22-28, in Las Vegas?
Drawn to the growing
enthusiasm that poker has created as an industry during the past year, more
than two dozen celebrities are expected to play in the prestigious no-limits
Texas Holdem series, where finalists democratically pay $10,000 for their
seat, or opt to play and win a grueling series of low buy-in, preliminary
"satellite" games. This year's purse is anticipated to exceed $25 million in
total prize money, the biggest pot for any one sporting event outside of
boxing.
Online bettors have a
mere 1 week remaining, until 5/21/04,11:59 pm EST, to prognosticate on their
favorite actors' or pro-players' chances at a win -- while vying for their
own spectator purse, as well--in this granddaddy of all card series.
Pokertropolis (www.pokertropolis.com) is the single online website accepting
wagers on the event. The company is supported by Horizon20, the network of
companies that's built a reliable reputation for online security through
eHorse and Las Palmas.
Web gamers placing bets
at Pokertropolis are creating a virtual side-contest along side the poker
tournament by betting for the WSOP's 2004 champ. Players can monitor how
their placings compare with others to shape the day-to-day celebrity and
pro-player tournament online odds. Of course only the actual WSOP winner
will be the payout. The potential 2004 WSOP field (the actual final list of
players is anyone's guess until the first day of play on 5/22) is projected
to have upwards of 2000 probable contenders, which is double last year's
then whopping field of 830, itself leapfrogging ahead of any of the past 30
years of the event.
As of today's date
Leonardo DiCaprio is near the head of the celebrity pack at 425-to-1 odds.
Matt Damon is holding at 450-to-1 besting good friend Affleck, and fellow
actors Lou Diamond Phillips and Ed Norton all with 500-to-1 rankings. James
Woods recently pulled slightly ahead of that trio at 490-to-1. On the other
end of the spectrum, long-time player Larry Flynt, stuck in a 700-to-1 long
shot, is ranking lowest among the entire list of players, while equally
seasoned Gabe Kaplan of the hit 70's show, Welcome Back Kotter, is a leading
contender for all
Texas Holdem
players listed with
250-to-1 odds.
The celebs, and
especially Kaplan, are competing against such professional well-known
contenders as last year's "Rocky Balboa" surprise champion, Chris
Moneymaker, who is slowing moving up from last week's 500-to-1 odds to a
slightly better 480-to-1. A hot question that will be on bettors' minds is
if he'll remain at a lower ranking in the pool than some of the talented
actor players, like close to the top of the actor's draw Tobey Maguire, at
415-to-1. Another question asks if highly regarded pro player Johnny Chan
will keep his current 225-to-1 lead on the entire pack, much ahead of
Moneymaker, or if talented players Gus Hanson, 270-to-1,or Doyle Brunson,
250-to-1, or a new unknown will pull up to the top. But stats will change
with each bet cast, creating an exciting online head-to-head horse race for
the leaders.
The estimated $3 million
grand prize for the champion is a lifetime high payday for most of the
tournament players, but in a priority reversal, the win--smaller than one
movie deal for these celebrities -- is perhaps more treasured by the actors
for bragging rights and the chance to employ thespian-crafted machismo in a
real-world sport that honors mental finesse alongside the cultivated "con".
Wagering on the players
is limited to Pokertropolis members, who may register for free. Bets of
$10-$50 may be placed through Pokertropolis' secure payment site, with a
variety of choices for payment. The World Card Player's Association (WCPA),
a Los Angeles-based, decade-old player support group, determined the
base-line odds for Pokertropolis.
About Pokertropolis
Pokertropolis, is a
premier online
Texas Holdem
gaming website,
presenting users with a visually compelling metropolitan interface providing
the look and feel of a real brick-and-mortar casino, from the convenience of
one's own home computer. The company gears its play to both established and
new players to the game of poker by creating a professional, easy-to-use
site. The site has offered online poker for two years, providing users with
innovations such as low industry rakes and $0.99 tournaments with $200
guaranteed prize pools, among its many options of play. A pioneering private
rooms feature was recently introduced to allow clients an opportunity to
hold closed-session, personal and exclusive games with friends.
The company can be
contacted at Pokertropolis, 50 metros Oeste de la Contraloria, Edificio de
la Colmena, Piso#4, Sabana Sur, Costa Rica. Phone: 800.625.8354
Web:
www.pokertropolis.com
Media access for the
site's WSOP waging information and sample play are available.
http://www.pokertropolis.com/wsop/index.asp#profiled
general information/rules
https://secure.pokertropolis.com/WSOP/Odds.aspx
preview of bettors downloaded page
About Pokertropolis
Pokertropolis is a
premier online
Texas Holdem
gaming website with
headquarters based in Costa Rica. The company can be contacted at
Pokertropolis, 50 metros Oeste de la Contraloria, Edificio de la Colmena,
Piso#4, Sabana Sur, Costa Rica. Phone: 800.625.8354. Web:
www.pokertropolis.com
Media passes for the
site's WSOP waging information access and sample play are available.
general
information/rules: http://www.pokertropolis.com/wsop/index.asp#profiled
a sample page of the
downloaded wagers page: https://secure.pokertropolis.com/WSOP/Odds.aspx
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