Paddy Power Launches WSOP Betting

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Paddy Power, Ireland's largest bookmaker, today launched betting on the World Series of Poker World Championship Event held in the Rio Hotel and Casino Las Vegas from 28 July to 10 August 2006.

This historic event is the jewel in the crown of world poker. It is expected that the 2006 event will attract upwards of 10,000 players vying for an estimated first prize of $10 million.

Special

If a chosen player finishes in the top 60 in this event but fails to make the final 9 Paddy Power will refund the bet.

Prices

Current prices for some of the world's biggest poker stars to make the final table of 9 players (non-runner, no bet) include:

Phil Ivey 50/1

Daniel Negreanu 66/1

Johnny Chan 80/1

Dave 'Devilfish' Ulliott 100/1

Barney Boatman 100/1

Andy Black 125/1

Ram 'Crazyhorse' Vaswami 150/1

Donnacha O'Dea 150/1

Doyle Brunson 150/1

David Sklansky 250/1

Celebrity

Many players at the main event will be famous for activities other than poker but will be throwing their hats into the ring along with hundreds of pro's and thousands of online amateurs.

Ben Affleck 200/1

Matt Damon 400/1

Teddy Sheringham 400/1

Toby Maguire 400/1

Paddy Power, spokesman for the company said, 'The sharks usually get their fish in these big poker games but with thousands and thousands of online qualifiers and 9 days of play to get through it really could be anybody's game this year so we're upping the ante and making things a little more interesting for the punter.'

Many more markets will be added in the run-up to the event including top European player, top Irish player, online qualifiers finishing in the money, group 'last longest' betting and a woman to reach the final table.