Poker Puts Atlantic City Back on TV

ATLANTIC CITY – As reported by the Press of Atlantic City: "Just because the Miss America Pageant packed up and left town for parts unknown doesn't mean Atlantic City has lost its place on national television.

"Take the final table of the World Poker Tour championship event held Thursday night at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. Five men - including Ricardo Festejo of Margate and John D'Agostino of Egg Harbor City - and one woman remained of 515 entrants, and they battled it out for a nearly $1.5 million grand prize in a game of no-limit Texas Hold 'Em.

"There were more cameras in the room than could be seen at Boardwalk Hall during the Miss America finals. The 150 seats set up for spectators filled quickly, and dozens more waited in the foyer for a chance to get inside. About a dozen media representatives, mostly from poker magazines and Web sites, filled up the press section.

"The average World Poker Tour contest, seen on the Travel Channel, draws about 1.5 million viewers compared with about 9.8 million who saw the 2004 Miss America finals. But it's still good news for Atlantic City…"

Copyrighted material written for and published by The Press of Atlantic City.