DOUGLAS, Isle of Man, Sept. 25, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Inspired by former Tennessee accountant Chris Moneymaker's $2.5 million World Series of Poker (WSOP) victory in 2003, the Moneymaker Millionaire promotion, hosted by PokerStars.com (http://www.pokerstars.com/), is well on its way to becoming the world's largest free-to-enter online poker tournament in history. Already, more than 1 million players from 188 countries have logged on for the chance to experience Chris Moneymaker's unprecedented victory at the 2003 World Series of Poker.
The campaign, which features poker superstar Chris Moneymaker, targets the aspirations of millions of poker players everywhere who watched a normal, everyday working man turn a $39 initial investment into a $2.5 million payday and global celebrity status.
"Chris Moneymaker is a poker icon whose WSOP victory is repeatedly cited as the tipping point of the poker craze," said Stefan Kovach, Director of Brand and Advertising for PokerStars.com. "Through a humorous, 'reality show' style campaign that's part celebrity, part everyman, PokerStars is tapping into that desire to live the Moneymaker dream."
Advertisements use humour to focus on Chris' life before and after his victory, from a hum-drum job as an accountant, to an Aston Martin-driving, free-spending, world champion poker player. The public saw their first glimpse of the Moneymaker Millionaire campaign at the 2006 World Series of Poker, where a PokerStars.net-branded Aston Martin race car was on display outside the tournament arena.
Created by Sell Sell Advertising, the advertisements are running in many major Western markets including the U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain and Australia. The campaign will reach a global audience of new and aspiring poker players through television, cinema, print, online, and outdoor media. Thirty-second television spots are targeting the U.S. and Canada through ESPN and the Travel Channel. Print ads are running in men's lifestyle magazines and on outdoor billboards. The campaign will also air on the DSF (sports channel) in Germany and Challenge TV in the U.K.
The Moneymaker Millionaire offers a $2.5 million prize pool. The final table will culminate at the world-renowned Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas where the nine online finalists will play in front of thousands of fans at the televised final table. The Moneymaker Millionaire champion will take home a prize package worth $1 million that includes a brand new Aston Martin DB9 Volante. To participate in the free tournament, players can register online at http://www.pokerstars.com/, the world's largest poker tournament Web site with more than 6 million registered users.
About PokerStars
PokerStars (http://www.pokerstars.com/) is the world's most innovative online poker site. PokerStars was the first site to introduce features that became industry standard such as sophisticated multi-table tournaments, integrated game statistics, players' notes, personalized images, time bank for tournaments and big bet ring games, satellite tournaments, multi-table sit and go tournaments, and much more.
To date, PokerStars has dealt out nearly 6 billion hands and run more than 30 million poker tournaments, awarding well over $5 billion in prize money. PokerStars is the world's largest poker tournament room, with over 6 million registered player accounts. PokerStars' support team is truly unique, as help and assistance is available around the clock from people who know and understand the game of poker and the importance of impeccable customer service.
The PokerStars.com site is also one of the most secure. PokerStars uses industry-leading security software to ensure the integrity of the system, including encryption, card shuffle randomness and preventative measures against cheating and collusion. Money covering player's balances is held in segregated accounts managed by the Royal Bank of Scotland, ensuring that PokerStars can fulfil its obligations to players at all times.
In February 2006, PokerStars.com became the first poker Web site ever to reach the 100,000 simultaneous player mark. That watershed achievement marked the largest poker event in history. Every week, the PokerStars.com "Sunday Million" is played, which is the largest weekly tournament on the planet with a $1 million guaranteed tournament prize pool.
PokerStars is an official member of the World Poker Tour, and the title sponsor of the European Poker Tour (EPT) and the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. In the fall, PokerStars hosts the world's largest online tournament, the 5th World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP). PokerStars also sponsors major events around the globe, such as the World Cup of Poker and other exciting tournaments.
During the last four years, PokerStars.com sent more players to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) than any other source or Web site. More than 1,600 entrants (20 percent of the field) qualified to play in the 2006 WSOP via PokerStars satellites. PokerStars is the site where the 2003 and 2004 World Series of Poker champions won their entries into the WSOP. The 2005 World Series champion, Joe Hachem, has also been an active player at PokerStars since 2001. He joined Moneymaker and Raymer as official representatives of PokerStars.com, thus fortifying the company trademark, "Where Poker Players Become World Champions."
CONTACT:
Lotus Public Relations
Kerry Johnson
Kerry.johnson@lotus-pr.com
Susan Lindner
susan.lindner@lotus-pr.com
212-922-5885