World Poker Tour Continues Dramatic Growth

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota -- (Press Release) -- The PartyPoker Million hosted by PartyPoker.com is the latest event on the World Poker Tour to demonstrate the effects of the television show's popularity. The PartyPoker Million set a new record for the highest number of entries and prize money ever for an event on the World Poker Tour.

546 players signed up for this week's event, which will culminate on March 18, 2004 with the filming of the Final Table for the World Poker Tour series on The Travel Channel. World Poker Tour airs every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the network.

The increase in players catapults the total prize money to $3,847,000, including the $25,000 WPT contributed to the prize pool. With this large prize pool for the tournament, players down to 90th place will go home with a nice payday, and the winner will capture a top prize of $1,000,000, including a seat in the season finale WPT Championship in April at Bellagio, Las Vegas. Last year's champion, Howard Lederer from Las Vegas, NV, walked away with $263,850 when the prize pool totaled $1,013,800. The prize pool is determined by the number of players "buying in" to the tournament - in this case the entry fee is $7,000 per person.

"We at the WPT can't believe the increase in players for the PartyPoker Million. The fact that last year there were 177 players in this tournament is a testament to PartyPoker.com and its dedication to growing the event ," said CEO of the World Poker Tour, Steve Lipscomb.

The World Poker Tour, approximately 80% owned by Lakes Entertainment, is a major television hit. More than five million people tune in each week to watch the high stakes drama of the tense competition where millions of dollars change hands across the table, all chronicled by "WPT Cams," that reveal the players' hidden cards. The show is the highest rated series in the history of The Travel Channel.

The dramatic increase in prize money at the PartyPoker Million is helping drive the WPT's total prize money for Season 2 to an estimated $30 million, triple the prize money in the previous season, which in turn is attracting many newcomers to the game of poker and to WPT tournaments.

The PartyPoker Million concludes Thursday. WPT fans on board the ship are welcome to come watch the action and see who will go home with the millions laid forth on the table before the final hand. The show begins at 8:00 PM Thursday, March 18th in the Vermeer Lounge on board the Holland America's "Ryndam" at sea along the Mexican Riviera. The next stop on the tour will be the World Poker Challenge at the Reno Hilton on March 30, 2004.