Phil Hellmuth vs. Harrah’s and the World Series of Poker

World Series of Poker record bracelet holder Phil Hellmuth is not exactly happy with the tournament these days or the folks who run it, Harrah's.

Hellmuth spoke to French media about how Harrah's new online poker website could damage the WSOP.  The site will not be available to US customers at the onset.  Harrah's announced a partnership agreement with the strong European brand, 888.com earlier last month. 

Pokerati had this to say about the concerns raised by Hellmuth. 

"Beyond his repeated request for more food and cheaper rooms (previously Hellmuth was seeking "free"), he actually raises some good points, which seem to tie in with his November Nine coaching client's WSOP beefs.

"What he states is fact when acknowledging that a Harrah's online poker site potentially puts the WSOP in competition with money that has really supported the World Series since it became a Harrah's property."

Hellmuth will have his work cut out for him if he's serious since the WSOP is already very well entrenched.

"We view the World Series of Poker as being the strongest brand in poker and being a league at par with other sports leagues," Garber told Gambling911.com.  "It was voted the seventh most popular sports league in a leading U.S. survey and we want to maintain and improve on that and at the same time define an interactive strategy that moves with the times and with the regulatory environment as it gets more clearly defined around the world."

Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com