The World Poker Tour (WPT) The World Poker Tour (WPT) is probably one of the reasons you are looking at this site right now.  Back in 2002 the WPT started showing a series of high stakes poker tournaments on the Travel Channel.

Now there is nothing particularly unusual about poker being on TV, the World Series Of Poker has been on TV for many years.  What set WPT apart was a more stylized look, real time viewing of players cards, exotic locations, and a great commentator and presenter team.  When the World Poker Tour hit TV screens across America it captured the imagination of the viewers and has become a runaway success with copy-cat shows popping up on other channels.  Right now it seems you can watch a poker game on TV 24/7.

The success of the show has allowed for bigger prizes and increasingly more exotic destinations.  The tour now hits The Bellagio in Vegas, The Aviation Club de France in Paris, Cruise Ships, Atlantis and many more for a total of fourteen destinations per season.  The buy in is usually at least $10,000 but the prizes can run to millions.  Each tournament is played down to the final table which is filmed for the TV show.  The winners not only get fame and fortune but a free $25,000 buy in to the season finale and the winner of that can win a fortune.

For non-professional players who cannot afford high stakes entry fees like this there are many online opportunities to win a seat at one of the tournament events.  PokerStars.com has has considerable success sending amateur players to the World Series Of Poker and have been responsible for sending 2003 World Champion Chris Moneymaker and 2004 World Champion Greg Rymer to the event.  But they also offer low cost tournaments online and send the winner on an all expenses paid trip to play at one of the events.  Lucky and skillful amateur players have found themselves in a high stakes World Poker Tour event having won an online competition costing just a few dollars.

Capitalizing on the popularity of televised poker, the WPT has now launched a series of official products including clothing, playing cards and poker chips.  See a selection of official WPT products here or check out their new online store.