Harrah’s releases 2009-2010 World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) schedule

The WSOP Circuit Events are a series of tournaments at different Harrah’s owned casinos across the country. Each Casino plays host to multiple tournaments -at varying stakes starting at a couple hundred dollars– culminating in a “Championship” Tournament with a higher buy-in of $5,000.

Harrah’s introduced the WSOPC in 2004, and has tinkered with the structure almost every year. The WSOPC was likely created to compete against the World Poker Tour (WPT), and cash in on the poker boom. However, the ESPN broadcasts of the WSOPC never drew the ratings (or attendance) of the WSOP.

The original idea was to have each casino host a scaled down version of the WSOP -with 4-figure buy-ins for preliminary events, and a $10,000 Championship tournament-over the years, the WSOPC has drastically reduced the buy-ins for the preliminary events, and halved the Championship buy-in; in an effort to bring more players out to the events.

The WSOPC gives players a chance to compete in a World Series style event at their home casino. The lower buy-ins give aspiring players a chance to hone their skills without breaking the bank; or having to take 2 months off and fly to Vegas in the middle of the summer.

The 09′/10′ schedule will include 11 stops at various Harrah’s properties, including the newest addition to their roster in St. Louis Missouri. Only Atlantic City, Harrah’s sole foothold in the Northeast, will have multiple stops: The first at Harrah’s in Atlantic City in early December; the second at Caesar’s in Atlantic City in March.

The complete schedule of stops is below -Harrah’s has yet to release a tournament schedule for each venue:

October 16 - October 25, 2009

• Horseshoe Hammond (IN, Chicago area)

October 23 - November 2, 2009

• Horseshoe Southern Indiana (near Louisville, KY)

November 5 - November 15, 2009

• Harvey’s Lake Tahoe (NV)

December 4 - December 20, 2009

• Harrah’s Atlantic City (NJ)

January 20 - February 11, 2010

• Harrah’s Tunica (MS)

February 18 - March 2, 2010

• Horseshoe Council Bluffs (IA)

March 3 - March 14, 2010

• Caesars Atlantic City (NJ)

March 18 - March 31, 2010

• Harrah’s Rincon (southern CA, near San Diego)

April 1 - April 14, 2010

• Harrah’s St. Louis (MO)

April 14 - April 30, 2010

• Caesars Palace, Las Vegas (NV)

May 7 - May 19, 2010

• Harrah’s New Orleans