"AOL is offering amateur poker players the opportunity of a lifetime," said Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner of the World Series of Poker. "If you want to win a seat to our Main Event, AOL is the only officially sanctioned place to play for a chance to win free seats on the Internet."
AOL Games will hold daily freerolls for nine weeks leading up to the Main Event. Players will qualify by playing daily tournaments, leading up to a tournament each Sunday with top prize being a $10,000 entry into the World Series of Poker Main Event. Travel expenses and accommodations for the winners is included in the prize package. This is a winner-take-all freeroll, where second place is just the first loser, because there are no prizes except for the first place WSOP package.
Not everyone is eligible to enter, however. According to the official rules, "The AOL 2007 World Series Of Poker No Limit Texas Hold'em Tournament Contest (the "Contest") is open only to legal residents of the United States and the District of Columbia, 21 years of age and older, except residents of the following states: Oklahoma, Mississippi, Nevada, Illinois, Massachusetts, Iowa, Rhode Island, Vermont, Michigan. Void in OK, MS, NV, IL, MA, IA, RI, VT, MI, Puerto Rico and where prohibited." So if you live in one of the prohibited states, you'll just have to win your way to the Main Event on Pokerstars or Full Tilt Poker.
"Online poker play's popularity has exploded in recent years," said Ralph Rivera, Vice President and General Manager, AOL Games. "Our agreement with Harrah's will provide nine novice poker players with the opportunity of a lifetime to join Poker professionals to possibly win the grand prize purse worth millions."
In addition to the AOL Games® channel's exclusive library of free World Series of Poker games including variations of Texas Hold'em, Omaha and Stud poker, the site also offers poker tips and videos featuring professional poker players.