"World Poker Tour,"

The Championship episode, which will air in June, is attracting poker's most elite and colorful pro players, but under the format created by the World Poker Tour (WPT), anyone with a cool $25,000 can claim a spot at the table. More than 50 players are already signed up and the estimated prize pool at the start of the tourney at Las Vegas' Bellagio is expected to be $2 million to $3 million.

The tournament will feature all of the drama that has hooked viewers across the nation. "We are very excited about the World Poker Tour series on the Travel Channel and the significant increases in viewer ship we've experienced since the series premiere at the end of March," said Travel Channel General Manager Steve Cheskin. "The success of the series shows that poker makes for good television -- and that's a testament to the World Poker Tour's unique and compelling format."

By bringing viewers inside high stakes poker tournaments filmed in exotic casino locations throughout the world and using state-of-the-art technology to reveal the cards held by the world's elite poker players, the World Poker Tour has turned a popular card game into a must-watch spectator sport with millions of dollars on the table. With the record buy-in, the series finale and championship, taping April 18th at the Bellagio, marks a high point in the game. For players who are confident of their skills, the estimated multimillion-dollar pool is well worth the risk.

Meanwhile viewers are also putting their cards on the table. Some of the comments the Travel Channel has received include:

"Who knew televised poker could be so exciting and strategy filled???"

"The format is fantastic! Oh my God! WPT is my new favorite television program."

"I think it's also going to create millions of new poker players."

"There is nothing on TV I would rather watch."

"I'm hooked on it -- can't stop watching. It's amazing how much you can learn watching pros in a couple of hours. I think the hole card cameras put the show over the top!"

"We're thrilled with the early ratings success of the World Poker Tour series," said World Poker Tour CEO Steve Lipscomb. "The series' success further emboldens our feeling that we're on the crest of a wave - with the best yet to come. Poker is a hugely popular pastime with an estimated 40-50 million players nationwide. However, poker as a prime time television series is brand new, and it is clearly resonating with audiences - players and non-players alike. We really feel the World Poker Tour is the next major sports league in this country, and our continued success on the Travel Channel will help make that vision a reality."

Viewers don't have to wait for the dramatic series finale that will air on June 25, from 9-11 p.m. (ET/PT) to see heart- and wallet-wrenching poker action. World Poker Tour tournaments air on Wednesdays on the Travel Channel at 9 (ET/PT), and remaining episodes take audiences to some of the most famous casinos and card rooms in the world, including: Casinos Europa Card Club in San Jose, Costa Rica; Lucky Chances Casino in Colma, CA; Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT; Horseshoe Casino/Gold Strike Casino in Tunica, MS; Aviation Club de France in Paris, France; Commerce Casino in Commerce, CA; PartyPokercom aboard a Caribbean cruise; the Reno Hilton in Reno, NV; and Bellagio in Las Vegas, NV. (Check local listings.)

The World Poker Tour is a global series of 13 poker tournaments united under one banner for television. The WPT will widen the television audience for poker by injecting high concept, cutting-edge television production values into the dramatic world of high-stakes, upscale, tournament poker. By projecting poker's true image -- a stylish and exhilarating sport combining cunning, skill and nerve -- the WPT will revolutionize poker in the same way the "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" revolutionized game shows. 카지노사이트