March - 23 - 2005

 It is a well-known fact that “Binion’s Horseshoe” is not actually Binion’s anymore. “Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.” has bought the casino and the rights for holding the World Series of Poker. Harrah's owns and manages 27 casinos in the United States. Most of them have either Harrah's or Horseshoe brand names.

 So, no wonder, the recently announced Director of World Series of Poker Tournament Operations and Communications, Gary Thompson, appears to be the former spokesman and Director of External Communications of Harrah’s.

 Nowadays, WSOP is the most popular annual poker event. It draws thousands of players and millions of watchers. But Thompson, who has been studying poker for a long time and even participated in preliminary World Series of Poker rounds, is dead set on making the main poker tournament even more popular though it sometimes seems that’s the limit, and there are no people left, who don’t watch the WSOP.

 "Gary's experience in, and knowledge about, the poker world will be valuable assets as we continue to build on the phenomenal popularity of the World Series of Poker brand," said Ginny Shanks, Harrah's senior vice president of acquisition marketing. "Coupled with his communications background, Gary's skill set is ideal for this position."

 Let’s wish the new director luck and hope he will succeed on the new position. Gary Thompson has to be extremely careful as this position was previously occupied by the WSOP champion Tom McEvoy, famous poker player and writer, Nolan Dalla etc. Gary Thompson should do very well to fit his forerunners.