Written by :
Published on :
In a sign of the worsening economy, Gambling911.com, one of the top 10 most read poker news sites, has decided to scrap all plans to attend this year's World Series of Poker (WSOP).
"There are simply not enough events taking place outside the tournament to justify attending," explains Payton O'Brien of Gambling911.com.
In the past there would be a few dozen parties taking place across Las Vegas, attended heavily by celebrities.
"It's just not worth our time," says O'Brien. "Other poker news sites will have a better grasp on the daily happenings during actual play at the main event. But with a few thousand entries anticipated, the real excitement won't happen until the field is cut down to a few dozen."
The final table of nine would reconvene in November.
Correspondents Jenny Woo, Anna Lexington and Sparky Collins were initially on tap to mix and mingle with poker players and celebrities during the first few days of the main event. Gambling911.com was provided with carte blanche through its connections to Harrah's.
"Three years ago the Gambling911.com team would network with a few dozen online poker sites spending a million dollars each at the exhibit hall, then head over to a special gathering with Pamela Anderson, then the Doyle Brunson toast. Bluff Magazine would hold a grand celebrity filled party in conjunction with DoylesRoom. Bodog would have something exciting going on as would PartyPoker. There's just not a whole lot of excitement building this year and no doubt much of this has to do with the troubled economy and tightening purse strings."
But events in all industries are feeling the pinch.
"We saw this at the New York Fashion Week two months ago," says Sparky Collins, Gambling911.com's resident Cuban transgender reporter, who was hoping to attend the 2009 WSOP. He even picked out a stunning new black gown just for the WSOP main event. "Parties are the core foundation of Fashion Week and there were practically none."
Gambling911.com is based out of Miami Beach as is three quarters of its staff.
