Harrah's Entertainment Announces 2008 Schedule for 39th World Series Of Poker(R) Presented by Milwaukee's Best Light

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: HET) said today the 2008 World Series of Poker Presented by Milwaukee's Best Light and televised exclusively on ESPN will -- for the first time ever -- begin and end with $10,000 buy-in World Championship events and feature a total of eight $10,000 championships.

In addition, the 55-event schedule for 2008 includes a total of eight $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em tournaments, which traditionally draw the largest fields except for the Main Event. The WSOP has also added a second start day for the first of the $1,500 no-limit competitions to accommodate the expected number of entrants.

"This is our most exciting schedule yet," said Jeffrey Pollack, commissioner of the WSOP. "Both amateur and professional poker players will have new opportunities to compete for a WSOP bracelet and can choose from the widest variety of games and buy-ins ever offered in one poker tournament and certainly at the WSOP.

"We're holding steady at 55 events this year," said Pollack. "But, we've mixed it up a bit to keep it interesting for our players and fans."

The 2008 WSOP starts May 30 with the $10,000 buy-in World Championship of Pot-Limit Hold'Em and ends July 16 with the Final Table of the $10,000 buy-in World Championship of No Limit Texas Hold 'Em -- best known as the WSOP Main Event.

The six other $10,000 buy-in events -- all World Championship competitions -- include: Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'Em; Seven-Card Stud; Limit Hold'Em; Omaha Hi-Low Split Eight or Better; Pot-Limit Omaha; and a new Mixed Event. The Mixed Event will feature eight variations of poker: Limit and No-Limit Hold'Em; Omaha Hi-Low and Pot-Limit Omaha; Seven Card Stud; Razz; Seven Card Hi-Low Split; and 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball.

The second event of the 2008 WSOP is a $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em tournament with two starting days -- May 31 and June 1.

Pre-registration for the 2008 WSOP can be made beginning in February on-site at the Main Cage of the Rio(R) All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas or at http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com.

In addition to the largest cash prizes in poker, winners of each of the 55 events will receive an exclusive World Series of Poker gold bracelet crafted by the luxury Swiss watchmaker CORUM. Last year, 54,288 entrants who ranged in age from 21 (bracelet winner Steve Billirakis) to 94 (Main Event contestant Jack Ury) competed for the poker world's largest total prize pool of nearly $160 million.

The 2008 WSOP will be staged inside the Rio Convention Center from May 30 through July 16. WSOP officials plan a "soft opening" of the tournament room on May 28 and 29 for players to register early and play in satellite tournaments and cash games.

"The poker tent is gone," said Pollack. "We heard folks loud and clear last year, and there will be no tents used for tournament play at the 2008 WSOP."

On July 2, and in conjunction with the WSOP, Oscar nominee Don Cheadle and poker professional Annie Duke will host the second annual Ante Up For Africa charity tournament at the Rio.

Last year's AUFA event featured dozens of Hollywood celebrities and poker professionals and raised more than $700,000 for charity. Ante Up For Africa is a non-profit organization founded in 2006 by Cheadle, Duke and Norman Epstein and is dedicated to raising money and awareness for Africans in need.

July 3 is the first of four start days for the 2008 Main Event. Last year, a total of 6,358 entrants competed for a Main Event prize pool of $59.8 million. Players may choose their Main Event start dates as long as seats are available on the selected dates.

More information about the World Series of Poker is available at the Web site http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com.

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, nearly 70 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions, and now owns or manages casinos on four continents. The Company's properties operate primarily under the Harrah's, Caesars and Horseshoe brand names; Harrah's also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. For more information, please visit http://www.harrahs.com.

    The complete schedule of 2008 World Series of Poker events follows:

    Date             Day    Time Event #         2008             Buy-In
    May 28, 2008  Wednesday 9 AM         Registration Opens,
                                            Live Action &
                                           Satellites Begin

    May 29, 2008  Thursday           Registration, Live Action &
                                              Satellites

    May 30, 2008   Friday  12 noon  1     World Championship
                                          Pot-Limit Hold'em
                                            (3 day event)         $10,000

    May 31, 2008  Saturday 12 noon  2A      No-Limit Hold'em
                                         (4 day event) Day 1A      $1,500

    June 1, 2008   Sunday  12 noon  2B  No-Limit Hold'em Day 1B

    June 2, 2008   Monday  12 noon  3      Pot-Limit Hold'em
                                            (3 day event)          $1,500

    June 2, 2008   Monday   5 PM    4        Mixed Hold'em
                                           (Limit/No-Limit)
                                            (3 Day event)          $5,000

    June 3, 2008   Tuesday 12 noon  5      No-Limit Hold'em
                                       w/Re-Buys (3 day event)     $1,000

    June 3, 2008   Tuesday  5 PM    6   Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or
                                         Better (3 day event)      $1,500

    June 4, 2008  Wednesday 12 noon 7      No-Limit Hold'em
                                            (3 day event)          $2,000

    June 4, 2008  Wednesday 5 PM    8     World Championship
                                             Mixed Event
                                            (3 day event)
                                      Limit Holdem, Omaha Hi-Low
                                     Split-8 or Better, Seven Card
                                        Razz, Seven Card Stud,
                                        Seven Card Stud Hi-Low
                                     Split-8 or Better, No-Limit
                                       Holdem, Pot-Limit Omaha,
                                       2-7 Triple Draw Lowball    $10,000

    June 5, 2008  Thursday 12 noon  9     No-Limit Hold'em /
                                       Six Handed (3 day event)    $1,500

    June 5, 2008  Thursday  5 PM   10      Omaha/Seven Card
                                       Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better
                                            (3 day event)          $2,500

    June 6, 2008   Friday 12 noon  11      No-Limit Hold'em
                                        Shootout (3 day event)     $5,000

    June 6, 2008   Friday   5 PM   12       Limit Hold'em
                                            (3 day event)          $1,500

    June 7, 2008  Saturday 12 noon  13      No-Limit Hold'em
                                            (3 day event)          $2,500

    June 7, 2008  Saturday  5 PM   14  World Championship Seven
                                       Card Stud (3 day event)    $10,000

    June 8, 2008   Sunday 12 noon  15      Ladies No-Limit
                                      Hold'em World Championship
                                            (3 day event)          $1,000

    June 8, 2008   Sunday   5 PM   16    Omaha Hi-Low Split-8
                                       or Better (3 day event)     $2,000

    June 9, 2008   Monday 12 noon  17 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout
                                            (3 day event)          $1,500

    June 9, 2008   Monday   5 PM   18 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball
                                       w/Re-Buys (3 day event)     $5,000

    June 10, 2008  Tuesday 12 noon  19      Pot-Limit Omaha
                                            (3 day event)          $1,500

    June 10, 2008  Tuesday  5 PM   20       Limit Hold'em
                                            (3 day event)          $2,000

    June 11, 2008 Wednesday 12 noon  21      No-Limit Hold'em
                                             (3 day event)         $5,000

    June 11, 2008 Wednesday 5 PM   22  H.O.R.S.E. (3 day event)
                                      Limit Holdem, Omaha Hi-Low
                                     Split-8 or Better, Seven Card
                                     Razz, Seven Card Stud, Seven
                                           Card Stud Hi-Low
                                          Split-8 or Better        $3,000

    June 12, 2008 Thursday 12 noon  23      No-Limit Hold'em
                                            (3 day event)          $2,000

    June 12, 2008 Thursday  5 PM    24   Pot-Limit Holdem/Omaha
                                            (3 day event)          $2,500

    June 13, 2008  Friday 12 noon   25  World Championship Heads
                                         Up No-Limit Hold'em
                                           (256 player max)
                                            (3 day event)         $10,000

    June 13, 2008  Friday   5 PM    26      Seven Card Razz
                                            (3 day event)          $1,500

    June 14, 2008 Saturday 12 noon  27      No-Limit Hold'em
                                            (3 day event)          $1,500

    June 14, 2008 Saturday  5PM     28  Pot-Limit Omaha W/Rebuys
                                            (3 day event)          $5,000

    June 15, 2008  Sunday 12 noon   29      No-Limit Hold'em
                                            (3 day event)          $3,000

    June 15, 2008  Sunday   5 PM    30  World Championship Limit
                                        Hold'em (3 day event)     $10,000

    June 16, 2008  Monday 12 noon   31     No-Limit Hold'em /
                                              Six Handed
                                            (3 day event)          $2,500

    June 17, 2008  Tuesday 12 noon  32      No-Limit Hold'em
                                            (3 day event)          $1,500

    June 17, 2008  Tuesday  5 PM    33  World Championship Seven
                                       Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8
                                       or Better (3 day event)     $5,000

    June 18, 2008 Wednesday 12 noon  34 Pot-Limit Omaha W/Re-Buys
                                            (3 day event)          $1,500

    June 18, 2008 Wednesday 5 PM     35     Seven Card Stud
                                            (3 day event)          $1,500

    June 19, 2008 Thursday 12 noon   36    No-Limit Hold'em
                                            (3 day event)          $1,500

    June 19, 2008 Thursday  5 PM     37  World Championship Omaha
                                         Hi-Low Split-8 or Better
                                            (3 day event)         $10,000

    June 20, 2008  Friday 12 noon    38    Pot-Limit Hold'em
                                            (3 day event)          $2,000

    June 21, 2008 Saturday 12 noon   39      No-Limit Hold'em
                                            (3 day event)          $1,500

    June 22, 2008  Sunday 12 noon    40     World Championship
                                        H.O.R.S.E. (5 day event)
                                       Limit Holdem, Omaha Hi-Low
                                          Split-8 or Better,
                                           Seven Card Razz,
                                     Seven Card Stud, Seven Card
                                         Stud Hi-Low Split-8
                                              or Better           $50,000

    June 22, 2008  Sunday   5 PM     41       Mixed Hold'em
                                            (limit/no-limit)
                                             (3 Day event)         $1,500

    June 23, 2008  Monday 12 noon    42      Seniors No-Limit
                                        Hold'em World Championship
                                             (3 day event)         $1,000

    June 24, 2008  Tuesday 12 noon   43   Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-low
                                          Split-8 or Better
                                            (3 day event)          $1,500

    June 25, 2008 Wednesday 12 noon  44      No-Limit Hold'em
                                        w/Re-Buys (3 day event)    $1,000

    June 25, 2008 Wednesday 5 PM     45  2-7 Triple Draw Lowball
                                        (Limit) (3 day event)      $2,500

    June 26, 2008 Thursday 12 noon   46     No-Limit Hold'em /
                                       Six Handed (3 day event)    $5,000

    June 26, 2008 Thursday  5 PM    47  Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8
                                        or Better (3 day event)    $1,500

    June 27, 2008  Friday 12 noon   48      No-Limit Hold'em
                                             (3 day event)         $2,000

    June 28, 2008 Saturday 12 noon  49      No-Limit Hold'em
                                             (3 day event)         $1,500

    June 29, 2008  Sunday 12 noon   50   World Championship Pot
                                      Limit Omaha (3 day event)   $10,000

    June 29, 2008  Sunday   5 PM    51         H.O.R.S.E.
                                      (3 day event) Limit Holdem,
                                       Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or
                                       Better, Seven Card Razz,
                                     Seven Card Stud, Seven Card
                                         Stud Hi-Low Split-8
                                              or Better            $1,500

    June 30, 2008  Monday 12 noon   52      No-Limit Hold'em
                                            (3 day event)          $1,500

    July 1, 2008   Tuesday 12 noon  53   Limit Hold'em Shootout
                                            (2 day event)          $1,500

    July 2, 2008  Wednesday 10 AM             Media Event

    July 2, 2008  Wednesday                 Satellite Day

    July 2, 2008  Wednesday 2 PM      Ante Up For Africa Charity
                                         Event (1 day event)       $5,000

    July 3, 2008  Thursday 12 noon 54A    World Championship
                                        No-Limit Texas Hold'em
                                         Day 1A     2,500 Players  $10,000

    July 4, 2008   Friday 12 noon 54B    Day 1B     2,500 Players

    July 5, 2008  Saturday 12 noon 54C   Day 1C     2,500 Players

    July 6, 2008   Sunday 12 noon 54D    Day 1D     2,500 Players

    July 7, 2008   Monday                        OFF

    July 7, 2008   Monday 12 noon  55      Casino Employees
                                           No-Limit Hold'em
                                            (2 day event)            $500

    July 8, 2008   Tuesday  12 noon              Day 2A

    July 9, 2008  Wednesday  12 noon             Day 2B

    July 10, 2008 Thursday 12 noon               Day 3

    July 11, 2008  Friday  12 noon               Day 4

    July 12, 2008 Saturday 12 noon               Day 5

    July 13, 2008  Sunday  12 noon               Day 6

    July 14, 2008  Monday  12 noon               Day 7

    July 15, 2008  Tuesday                       OFF

    July 16, 2008 Wednesday  12 noon             Final Table


     General Information:

For events 2 & 54, you may request your first day of play based on seating availability.

For vendor information please call 702-777-2310

Single Table Satellites, Mega Satellites and Live Action begin on May 28, 2008

Mega Satellite Schedule: $330 Mega Satellites Monday - Thursday at 3 PM. $550 Mega Satellites Friday - Sunday at 3 PM. $1060 Mega Satellites Daily at 9 PM. Mega Satellite Days July 2 - 5: $330 Mega Satellites at 6 PM. $550 Buy-In Mega Satellites at 10 AM and 4 PM. $1060 Buy-In Mega Satellites at 1 PM and 9 PM. Turbo Mega Satellite July 6: $1060 Turbo Mega Satellite at 8AM $50k H.O.R.S.E. Mega Satellite Days May 31, June 1, 16, 20, and 21: $2250 Mega Satellites at 5 PM. Nightly Tournaments From May 29 - July 15: $340 Buy-In No-Limit Hold'em tournaments nightly at 7 PM. For Tournament Info: Visit our web site at www.worldseriesofpoker.com or call us at 1-877-FOR-WSOP (1-877-367-9767) For Room Reservation Info: 1-877-746-8342

The Following Take-Out Percentages Will Be Withheld From the Buy-In for House Fees and Dealer/Staff Tokes

    Buy-In               Take-Out
    $500.00                10%
    $1,000.00               9%
    $1,500.00               9%
    $2,000.00               9%
    $2,500.00               8%
    $3,000.00               8%
    $5,000.00               6%
    $10,000.00              6%
    $50,000.00              4%

All winners will be required to provide a valid picture ID.

Tax forms will be completed for those with winnings in excess of $5,000 net of event buy-in.

Players without a Tax Identification Number and Foreign Players from Non-Tax Treaty Countries are subject to up to 30% tax withholding.

Harrah's reserves the right to cancel, change or modify the Tournament or any Tournament Event, in part or in whole, without notice.