WPTE helps introduce ‘Poker-lite’ into China
While any move aimed at increasing the global appeal of the sport of poker should really be welcomed, many people will no doubt find it hard to get excited about recent developments in China.
World Poker Tour Enterprises (WPTE) has announced that it has reached an agreement with the China Leisure Sports Administrative Centre to help organise the country’s first ever national tournament.
However, any chance of recreating the buzz of the Las Vegas events will be somewhat hampered by the country’s ban on gambling, which the event’s organisers will be forced to stick to.
Poker was only permitted in China in 2002 and the ruling Communist party still impose strict rules on the game.
Under Chinese legislation, no betting will be allowed, with many poker enthusiasts pointing out that this will take away much of the psychological and strategic aspects of the game and lessen its appeal for potential audiences.
Much of the appeal of the World Series of Poker comes from the substantial cash prizes on offer, with the winner of this year’s Main Event Jerry Yang taking home in excess of $8 million.