From Cake Poker February 2, 2010

At this point it’s just a rumor, but there’s a lot of talk in Las Vegas that the World Series of Poker may be leaving its home at the Rio Hotel and Casino. It’s new destination? Planet Hollywood, or so the speculation says.

Since 2005, the World Series of Poker has taken place at the Rio, much to the chagrin of many poker players. Really, the main thing going for the Rio is that it has enough floor space to jam in thousands of poker players. But the downside, that it’s an expensive cab-ride away from the Strip, more than outweighed that one advantage. And, Vegas being Vegas, floor space isn’t exactly hard to come by.

The first whisperings that poker’s flagship event might be making a move started back in the summer, when Harrah’s was kicking the tires of Planet Hollywood. Harrah’s owns the Rio, and the WSOP brand, so their potential purchase of Planet Hollywood would pave the way for a move. And, as of a couple days ago, it seems that Harrah’s has indeed purchased Planet Hollywood, or is very close to it, anyway.

That move sent the rumblings of a WSOP address-change into high gear. As usual, the good folks over at Two Plus Two Poker Forums have their ear to the ground and have been discussing the possible venue switch. The conventional wisdom right now is that the 2010 WSOP will be held at the Rio, as usual, with the 2011 event taking place at the new location. The driving force behind the move is thought to be the sluggish sales of some brand new condos at Planet Hollywood, with the idea being that a high-profile event like the WSOP will give a boost to the property.

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