Harrah's Rincon to Host World Series of Poker Circuit Event

LAS VEGAS -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: HET) said a World Series of Poker Circuit stop is scheduled for Harrah's Rincon in Valley Center, California, from February 26 to March 7, 2006.

A Circuit event at Harrah's Rincon earlier this year drew a total of 1,834 entrants and awarded more than $2.7 million in prize money.

"The World Series of Poker is the richest and most prestigious gambling event on the planet, and we look forward to bringing all the excitement of tournament poker to our customers at Harrah's Rincon," said Janet Beronio, the resort's senior vice president and general manager. "We are thrilled to be the site of the only World Series of Poker Circuit event in the state of California and on the entire West Coast."

The addition of Harrah's Rincon to the 2005-06 World Series of Poker Circuit schedule brings the total to 12 tournament stops that offer high-stakes poker action and excitement to players in Harrah's casinos around the country. The current season began August 11 at Grand Casino Tunica and includes upcoming events at Harrah's casinos in venues such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Lake Tahoe.

"Harrah's Rincon did a tremendous job hosting a Circuit event earlier this year and is eager to duplicate those efforts with this new addition to the schedule," said Jeffrey Pollack, vice president of sports and entertainment marketing for Harrah's Entertainment. "The World Series of Poker Circuit brings a slice of Las Vegas to local markets around the country, including Southern California."

Each Circuit stop offers several tournaments with buy-ins ranging from a few hundred dollars to $10,000 for the no-limit hold'em Circuit Championship. The winner of the final event of each Circuit stop will qualify for the tour's grand finale, the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions.

The 2006 TOC, a $2 million free-roll event, will be played in Las Vegas next June just before the 2006 World Series of Poker. A free-roll event is one in which there is no "buy in" - players aren't required to put up any of their own money to enter the tournament.