The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is expanding globally once again. Five years after the debut of WSOP Europe, WSOP officials have announced the establishment of a new branch of the WSOP in the Asia-Pacific region. The World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific (WSOP APAC) will kick off April 4th, 2013 at Australia’s Crown Melbourne (pictured) and run through April 15th, featuring five bracelet events.

“Our goal is to establish the worldwide grand slam of poker and use our platform to elevate the game through a series of major championships,” said WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart in a press release. “With WSOP Las Vegas growing annually and WSOP Europe poised for long-term success after five years, the time is right to turn our attention to the dynamic poker scene in Asia and Australia.”

When asked if the mention of a “grand slam of poker” suggests that a fourth World Series of Poker location is in the works, Caesars Interactive Entertainment Vice President of Corporate Communications Seth Palansky told PocketFives that there was “nothing imminent,” but the company is “actively looking at possibilities.”

The Crown Melbourne is no stranger to major poker events, as it is the host of the annual Crown Australian Poker Championship, better known as the Aussie Millions. In existence since 1998, the Aussie Millions is the richest poker tournament in the Southern Hemisphere.

Crown Melbourne’s Chief Executive Officer Greg Hawkins weighed in: “This exciting partnership brings together two industry leaders, and two strong brands, to create a premier poker event in this region. Our agreement firmly aligns with our objective of attracting the very best local and international players, all vying for a coveted WSOP bracelet. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved with the Aussie Millions and look forward to featuring WSOP Asia-Pacific on our poker calendar in April 2013.”

And of course, the WSOP and Australia can’t be discussed without including 2006 Main Event Champion Joe Hachem (pictured), a Melbourne local who calls the Crown Melbourne his poker home.

“It’s thrilling to think the World Series of Poker is coming to Australian soil,” he said. “I know first-hand what a life-changing moment winning the WSOP gold bracelet was and how it served as a catalyst for the growth of poker in Australia and Asia. It will be a dream come true to host a worldwide poker event such as this at Crown. I can’t wait.”

The WSOP first expanded outside the United States in 2007, when the WSOP Europe was held in London, England at the Casino at the Empire in Leicester Square. Thomas Bihl won the first bracelet away from U.S. soil after taking down a £2,500 HORSE event.

The story of the inaugural WSOP Europe, however, was teenage online poker phenom Annette Annette_15 Obrestad (pictured), who in winning the WSOP Europe Main Event became both the first woman and youngest person ever to win a WSOP Main Event, regardless of location. Obrestad was just a day shy of her 19th birthday and it would be two years before she could legally play in the WSOP in the United States.

In 2011, the WSOP Europe was held outside England for the first time at the Majestic Barrière and Le Croisette Casino Barrière in Cannes, France.

The WSOP has also expanded to South Africa, but WSOP Africa is part of the WSOP Circuit and therefore its events do not award bracelets.

The complete schedule and dates for WSOP APAC will likely be released later this year.