TEXAS HOLDEM ONLINE POKER

PokerStars.com's fourth annual World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP), scheduled to begin in September, is the largest online poker tournament in the world. This year the WCOOP is expected to host more than 10,000 participants, with a guaranteed prize pool of more than $8 million, making this Texas Holdem tournament one of the richest sporting events in the world.

"The advantage to playing in the WCOOP is that anyone can enter and play from anywhere in the world," said Nolan Dalla, Director of Communications for PokerStars.com. "Instead of having to take off from work and travel, online poker players can log in from home and compete for a world championship and money that is comparable to any of the top major land-based tournaments."

PokerStars.com also hosts the annual PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, held annually at the Atlantis Casino-Resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas -- one of the most glamorous travel destinations in the world. PokerStars.com also sponsors the prestigious World Cup of Poker, held annually online with the finals in London, England, where international teams vie for cash prizes and bragging rights.

Along with the aforementioned events and tournaments, PokerStars.com runs the world's largest weekly online tournament, a Sunday night No-Limit Hold 'Em tournament event that attracts more than 3,000 players every week and routinely exceeds half a million dollars in prize money.

"We've achieved tremendous success with our ever-growing tournament offerings. And we're really proud of the fact that players who started at PokerStars.com and took advantage of the outstanding training, player tools and online support they get at our site have done so well, not only in our events but at the top tournaments in the world," said Dalla. "Whether a player likes multi-table tournaments, single-table tournaments or freerolls, we have them. And they can play for free, or pay to enter the big money events."

PokerStars.com players routinely win live tournaments. World Series of Poker (WSOP) champions Chris Moneymaker (2003) and Greg Raymer, (2004) qualified online at PokerStars.com and went on to win a combined total of $7.5 million in prize money at the WSOP. In 2005, 20 percent of the 560 money winners at the WSOP qualified online at PokerStars. Two players made it to the final table. Together, PokerStars players walked away with more than $7 million at the recent 2005 world championship event in Las Vegas.

PokerStars.com offers all of the most popular poker games -- including Seven-Card Stud, Omaha and Texas Holdem. The site offers hundreds of free-play tournaments, which routinely attract thousands of players, as well as real money events participants can enter for as little as a few dollars. The site attracts players from all 50 states and more than 100 countries.

"The most compelling thing about playing online poker tournaments is that they are so accessible," said Dalla. "At any time of day or night, players of any skill or level of experience can enter a poker tournament. As we have seen from players like Chris Moneymaker and Greg Raymer, sometimes lives can change from their online poker experience."

About PokerStars

PokerStars.com, the world's largest online poker site, has legitimately earned the trademark, "Where poker players become World Champions." The company offers help and support around the clock from people who know and understand both the game of poker.

PokerStars.com is also one of the most innovative companies in the business. The site was first to introduce advanced multi-table tournaments, integrated game statistics, players' notes, personalized images, time bank for tournaments and ring big bet games, satellite tournaments, multi-table sit and go tournaments, and much more.

The PokerStars.com site is also one of the most secure. PokerStars.com utilizes industry-leading security software to ensure the integrity of the system, including encryption, card shuffle randomness and preventative measures against cheating and collusion. Money covering player's balances is held in segregated accounts managed by the Royal Bank of Scotland, ensuring that PokerStars.com can fulfill its obligations towards players at all times.