WPT adjusts European schedule

The World Poker Tour, which earlier this week scrapped plans to tape the Grand Prix de Paris, will add a stop in Spain to replace the tournament in its Season VI schedule. The tournament will be held at Casino Barcelona, operated by Grup Peralada, in October, 2007.

Precise dates and a tournament name for the October event were not announced.

"The partnership with Grup Peralada is a ground-breaking deal that will allow both companies to benefit from each other's strengths to create exciting new growth and business opportunities," said Steve Lipscomb, President, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WPT Enterprises. "We are very excited to kick off our relationship with Grup Peralada with the inaugural WPT stop in Spain at the presitgious Casino Barcelona."

Citing an uncertain legal environment in France, the WPT announced earlier this week that the Grand Prix de Paris at the Aviation Club in Paris would not be part of its Season Six lineup.

In the last eight months, France has been rigorous about applying its strict regulations regarding online advertising and marketing. French authorities arrested bwin co-CEOs Manfred Bodner and Norbert Teufelberger in September, 2006, and summoned John Anderson, the former CEO of 888 Holdings for an interview in February.

The EPT was also forced to cancel a tournament in France in January. Both the EPT (PokerStars) and the WPT (wptonline.com) run Internet poker rooms.

"WPT will continue to work with Parisian officials to obtain permission to film at the Aviation Club at a later date," stated a WPT release. "WPT has a great relationship with the Aviation Club and looks forward to resuming its tour stops in France."

The Aviation Club in Paris has been a staple on the WPT since its inaugural season when it hosted the Euro Poker Finals in February, 2003. The Grand Prix de Paris has been on the WPT schedule for four consecutive seasons and was the opening event of the tour's schedule in Seasons II and III.