SOURCE: Business Wire

(Las Vegas, NV) — Pre-registrations officially opened today for the World Series of Poker Europe Presented by Betfair.com, and all-time WSOP bracelet leader Phil Hellmuth Jr. has made an official commitment to play.

"I’ve played all over the world and particularly enjoy playing in Europe,” said Hellmuth, who this year won his record 11th bracelet before being inducted to the Poker Hall of Fame. “I’m going to London to make history again by winning the first WSOP bracelet ever awarded outside of Las Vegas.”

Reigning World Champion Jamie Gold also announced plans to play in the inaugural WSOP Europe, which debuts in London September 6-16, 2007. The first World Series event to be held outside North America, it will be hosted at three casinos operated by London Clubs International – Fifty, in St James; The Casino at the Empire, in Leicester Square, and The Sportsman, at Marble Arch.

The WSOP Europe will consist of three events. The largest of these is the Main Event, a £10,000 buy-in, 750-player, six-day tournament spread over three casinos with a prize pool of roughly £7.5 million. The winner will take home cash and a WSOP gold bracelet, the most coveted prize in poker.

Players can pre-register for the WSOP Europe at www.worldserieofpoker.com or at the 2007 World Series of Poker tournament currently under way at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Players can fill out membership applications for London Clubs International at a WSOP Europe booth outside the Rio’s Amazon Room and pay entry fees from now until the end of the WSOP at the Rio.

The 2007 World Series of Poker Presented by Milwaukee’s Best Light, the world’s richest sporting event, began June 1 at the Rio® All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. More information on the tournament is available here.

The WSOP is operated by an affiliate of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET), the world's largest operator of casino-entertainment resorts.