Harrah's Announce World Series of Poker Improvements

The World Series of Poker is due to start on the 30^th May, and, as usual, is expected to dominate the professional poker scene until mid July.

A poker tournament on the scale of the World Series of Poker is difficult to organise, and last years attempt at holding the venue in a Poker Tent proved to be an unpopular decision. This year, however Harrah's will be holding the tournament in a room at the Harrah's Convention Center, and the outdoor area that the tournament was held in last year will be used for the kitchens.   To reduce crowding, the tournament will be limited to 2,760 players per event.

Harrah's will also be aiming to reduce queues for registration and payouts, opening more kiosks, and having them available 24 hours a day.

There have been some interesting tweaks to the rules for the World Series of Poker, including the removal of the 'Show One, Show Both' rule. Under the new rules, the player who wins the pot in a showdown must show both their cards, but the other players may now show a single card, bringing an extra psychological element to the tournament.

A new rule has been added, which states that “Excessive celebration through extended theatrics, inappropriate behaviour, or physical actions, gestures, or conduct may be subject to penalty.”. While this rule may improve Poker table etiquette at the tournament, it is likely to be unwelcome with many of the more exuberant players, and will certainly reduce some of the entertainment value for many viewers.