Poker Articles

Andy Goetsch came onboard the WPT from CryptoLogic and is the new Vice President of Online Gaming for the WPT. He helped with the launch of the WPT’s online gaming site and brings a seasoned industry perspective. Lipscomb comments, “Andy joins us to help us establish our rightful place in online gaming market. We’ll market where it’s legal and not problematic. At the beginning of next year, we’re going to begin implementing a marketing plan that Andy’s helped us put together.” Lipscomb believes the WPT brand can help the product succeed in the online gambling market: “If we can compete, we’ll be a significant player in a short amount of time.”

Rohin Malhotra used to work with PartyGaming and will help the WPT direct its television programming into new markets in new countries. Lipscomb knows his poker programming helped launch a craze in the United States: “We have best poker television in world. When we take that into international markets and find ways to leverage it, Rohin is an expert. He’s a smart and savvy guy that knows the space well.” In France, the appearance of WPT programming has launched a poker phenomenon across the country. Television ratings in France and elsewhere worldwide are as high as several of the highest rated cable programs here in the United States. In France, two new personalities take the place of Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten, broadcasting the action from the felt. “You’d never even know Mike and Vince existed,” says Lipscomb.

In addition to spreading its programming globally, the WPT is expanding its live tournament offerings in China. The game of choice: Traktor, which is “a traditional folk game,” according to the WPT website. Lipscomb comments, “Traktor is wildly different than poker. What we’re doing in China is going after a game they’re used to playing over there. A third or more of the people in mainland China know how to play.” The WPT signed an agreement with the China Leisure Sports Administrative Center, a government agency that oversees darts, ping pong, and other activities. There are a series of regional tournaments throughout the nation, leading up to a national championship in 2008. However, the similarities with poker in the United States are few and far between. Lipscomb explains, “WPT China is very different by its nature. There’s no gaming. There’s no buy in. It’s a game of skill. We’re taking a home-grown game that those guys love and holding tournaments all across the country that end with a national championship. The nature of a game allows a true champion to emerge.” The response has been overwhelming so far. Many of the tournaments have reached their limits on the number of players.

With the WPT growing leaps and bounds outside of the United States and outside of the “live” arena, one might think that Lipscomb isn’t geared up for Season 6 of the WPT. Not so: “It’s going to blow you away. I wish your readers could hear my voice. It is another level up. It’s our job every year to outdo ourselves. When you watch Season 6 of the WPT, it will blow you away. The open is probably 10 times better than what we’ve done before. It’s totally CG. It shows legitimately where the phenomenon came from.” Season 6 will air on GSN, which Lipscomb believes is a “good home” for his brand.

Stay tuned for more big things coming from the World Poker Tour as it continues international and online expansion. In addition, we look forward to watching online poker’s biggest stars succeed in every WPT tournament on PocketFivesLive.com.