World Series of Poker in Full Swing

It’s like Christmas in summer.  The cards at the World Series of Poker will be in the air at noon on Friday, marking the 39th edition of the annual poker festival.  The 2008 WSOP will run May 30-July 14 at the Rio in Las Vegas and will feature 55 bracelet events. 

Several changes have been made to the WSOP, including:

• A new Code of Player Conduct, which restricts excessive celebration, communications devices and headphone usage.
• The cage will not be in the Amazon room, in order to make room for more players in both the tournament room and at the cage itself.
• The payout line will now be at the cage.
• Spectators will enter the tournament room via a different entrance than the players.
• Players will have access to a concierge service
• No more tents.
• Improved food service.
• More restrooms.
• Player information will be stored electronically.

And, of course, the most major change is the rescheduling of the Main Event final table, as it has been moved to November in an attempt to build more public interest.  Additionally, the final table episode that will air on ESPN will be broadcast the same day that the tournament finishes.

Play begins Friday at noon with the $10,000 pot-limit Hold’em World Championship.  The first no-limit Hold’em event, a $1,500 buy-in tournament, will begin Saturday.