WPT Enterprises, Inc.'s response to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act

6 Oct 2006

WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WPTE - News), the company that helped launch the current global poker boom, issued a statement today encouraging the U.S. poker community to focus on the bright future ahead in the wake of Congressional passage of the "Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006."

"The Justice Department has been very clear that it believes online gaming to be illegal in the United States and our policies have been always been tailored accordingly," said Adam Pliska, General Counsel of WPTE. "This law clarifies the rules and makes it possible for everyone to move forward on an even footing."

It is estimated that over 50 million Americans play poker on a regular basis, with more than 100 million players world-wide. Whereas casinos were closing their poker rooms in 2001 prior to the launch of the World Poker Tour, today casinos across the country are expanding their rooms or opening new showcase poker rooms like the 111 table room at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Connecticut and the 85 table room at the Borgata in Atlantic City.

"It was a wide-spread love of this game and the reinvention of poker as a televised sport that ignited the poker phenomenon," said Steve Lipscomb, CEO and founder of WPTE. "And, that is what will continue to drive the future of the sport. WPTE remains committed to growing the domestic poker market through traditional franchise opportunities like consumer products, sponsorship and events."

WPTE is the producer of the WORLD POKER TOUR® (WPT) TV television series, which airs in the U.S. on the Travel Channel, as well as 150 countries and territories. WPTE also maintains an online gaming site that explicitly excludes U.S. customers from wagering online.

The WORLD POKER TOUR launched the poker phenomenon when it first aired on the Travel Channel on March 30, 2003, and it continues to lead the way in developing poker as a major international sport. Viewers and aspiring tour players can log on to www.worldpokertour.com for ways to improve their game and to get the latest WPT schedules, information and merchandise. The highest rated show ever on The Travel Channel, the WPT is now seen in more than 150 countries and territories worldwide. Premiere shows of the WPT air on the Travel Channel March to June and WPTE's newest series, the PROFESSIONAL POKER TOUR airs from July to December every Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET/PT.

About WPTE

WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WPTE - News) is a company engaged in the creation of internationally branded entertainment and consumer products driven by the development, production, and marketing of televised programming based on gaming themes. WPTE is the creator of the World Poker Tour®, a television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments that airs on the Travel Channel in the United States and more than 150 markets globally. With the WPT in its fifth season, WPTE has launched a second series on the Travel Channel, the Professional Poker Tour(TM), which focuses on the play of poker's leading stars. WPT also operates a real-money online gaming website, www.wptonline.com, which prohibits wagers from players in the U.S. and other restricted jurisdictions. WPT Enterprises currently licenses its brand to companies in the business of poker equipment and instruction, apparel, publishing, electronic and wireless entertainment, DVD/home entertainment, casino games, and giftware. The company is also engaged in the sale of corporate sponsorships. For show information, tools for improving poker play, and other WPT news, fans may log on to www.worldpokertour.com. WPT Enterprises, Inc. is a majority owned subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: LACO - News). Photos and media information can be found online at: www.worldpokertour.com/media

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	WPT Enterprises, Inc.'s response to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act 6 Oct 2006 <a href='https://ad.casinocity.com/adclick.php?n=a21efcd1'><img src='https://ad.casinocity.com/adview.php?what=-site:vendors/width:250/RON&n=a21efcd1' border='0' alt='' /></a> WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WPTE - News), the company that helped launch the current global poker boom, issued a statement today encouraging the U.S. poker community to focus on the bright future ahead in the wake of Congressional passage of the "Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006." "The Justice Department has been very clear that it believes online gaming to be illegal in the United States and our policies have been always been tailored accordingly," said Adam Pliska, General Counsel of WPTE. "This law clarifies the rules and makes it possible for everyone to move forward on an even footing." It is estimated that over 50 million Americans play poker on a regular basis, with more than 100 million players world-wide. Whereas casinos were closing their poker rooms in 2001 prior to the launch of the World Poker Tour, today casinos across the country are expanding their rooms or opening new showcase poker rooms like the 111 table room at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Connecticut and the 85 table room at the Borgata in Atlantic City. "It was a wide-spread love of this game and the reinvention of poker as a televised sport that ignited the poker phenomenon," said Steve Lipscomb, CEO and founder of WPTE. "And, that is what will continue to drive the future of the sport. WPTE remains committed to growing the domestic poker market through traditional franchise opportunities like consumer products, sponsorship and events." WPTE is the producer of the WORLD POKER TOUR® (WPT) TV television series, which airs in the U.S. on the Travel Channel, as well as 150 countries and territories. WPTE also maintains an online gaming site that explicitly excludes U.S. customers from wagering online. The WORLD POKER TOUR launched the poker phenomenon when it first aired on the Travel Channel on March 30, 2003, and it continues to lead the way in developing poker as a major international sport. Viewers and aspiring tour players can log on to www.worldpokertour.com for ways to improve their game and to get the latest WPT schedules, information and merchandise. The highest rated show ever on The Travel Channel, the WPT is now seen in more than 150 countries and territories worldwide. Premiere shows of the WPT air on the Travel Channel March to June and WPTE's newest series, the PROFESSIONAL POKER TOUR airs from July to December every Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET/PT. About WPTE WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WPTE - News) is a company engaged in the creation of internationally branded entertainment and consumer products driven by the development, production, and marketing of televised programming based on gaming themes. WPTE is the creator of the World Poker Tour®, a television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments that airs on the Travel Channel in the United States and more than 150 markets globally. With the WPT in its fifth season, WPTE has launched a second series on the Travel Channel, the Professional Poker Tour(TM), which focuses on the play of poker's leading stars. WPT also operates a real-money online gaming website, www.wptonline.com, which prohibits wagers from players in the U.S. and other restricted jurisdictions. WPT Enterprises currently licenses its brand to companies in the business of poker equipment and instruction, apparel, publishing, electronic and wireless entertainment, DVD/home entertainment, casino games, and giftware. The company is also engaged in the sale of corporate sponsorships. For show information, tools for improving poker play, and other WPT news, fans may log on to www.worldpokertour.com. WPT Enterprises, Inc. is a majority owned subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: LACO - News). Photos and media information can be found online at: www.worldpokertour.com/media