PokerWorks

Autumn brings poker tournaments at various locations throughout the world and an exciting season for the poker circuit. And just as the European Poker Tour rolls into Budapest, Hungary, poker players from around the world will descend upon the city for the love of the game. Thus, the ideal location and dates for the third annual World Poker Congress (WPC) were set for Budapest on October 29th and 30th, 2008.

The WPC will hold its two-day event at the Marriott near the famous Szechenyi Chain Bridge on the Danube River with a host of representatives from all aspects of the online and land-based poker communities.

Names on the docket of speakers include WPT Enterprises CEO and founder Steve Lipscomb, tournament director Matt Savage, Marcel Luske and Michelle Lau from the Federation Internationale de Poker Association, Chris Parker from the Asian Poker Tour, Jim Tabilio of the Poker Voters of America, Lloyd Levine of the California State Legislature, and pro poker player Jon Kalmar.

Lipscomb commented about the opportunity to speak at the WPC again: “The growth of the World Poker Conference is a testament to the essential maturation of our industry. I simply can’t say enough about what those at Clarion Gaming are doing to bring us together. I enjoyed the conference, saw old friends, made new friends and had a fantastic time last year. People should participate in this dialogue - it will help us create the future together.”

The World Poker Congress was established and held its first international event in 2006 in the hopes of bringing together members of the poker industry in an effort to enable a greater understanding of all aspects of said industry. Everyone from business executives to professional poker players are encouraged to attend with the primary goal of examining the relationships between and individual successes and concerns of the land-based poker community and online poker business.

The World Poker Congress is also an opportunity for companies to set up exhibitions to advertise important products for the poker industry, and the meals and parties are chances to meet and network with others in the community. Some of the purposes of the WPC, as outlined on its website, include highlighting ideas to a global audience, maintaining competiveness, meeting potential and current clients, and solidifying companies as important industry leaders.

As the third annual WPC prepares for its Budapest event, with the newly announced support of the European Casino Association, activities planned include breakout live poker sessions and specific tracking of trends and current information in online poker. There will also be a focus on methods of attracting players from different continents to live events and paying players to play in those tournaments, as well as of an examination of a case study involving efforts to merge land-based and online poker products.

Reservations, as well as specific daily schedules for October 29th and 30th, can be made at www.WorldPokerCongress.com .