AOL To Launch Online Poker Rooms

America Online (AOL), the leading online service in the US, has decided to join the online gaming mania with the signing of an exclusive deal with the World Series of Poker to create an online poker environment for card players.

AOL's poker action is free and will feature different online private poker rooms and tournaments. AOL will pick 12 winners who will get a seat to play in the 2006 or 2007 WSOP main event valued at $10,000.

If that's not enough to get players interested, one visitor to the poker room each year will get a free seat at the annual tournament of champions. There's only one requirement from the players, they have to be at least 21 years old to play and win the WSOP prize.

Harrah's Entertainment programming head, Jeffery Pollack, describes the new relationship as a perfect fit. The AOL service will provide news and behind-the-scenes reports of the various tournaments as well as "poker tutorials for people who want to learn more about the game."

Ralph Rivera, vice president and general manager of AOL games believes there is another key reason why this venture will pay off. "People don't have to be a monthly AOL subscriber to gain access to the poker rooms."

AOL is hoping this new feature will entice poker fans to populate its new sites.

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