The 2006 World Series of Poker even at Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas is right around the corner.  Scheduled from June 25 to August 10, 2006, the poker tournament that brings together professional players, online tournament winners and casino poker room hoppers, marks the beginning of a bright future for the WSOP.

Now, thanks to the marketing strategies of Harrah's Entertainment and Milwaukee's Best Light Beer, the notion that WSOP can become a high profile event on par with the most popular televised sports in America, is even more of a reality.  Harrah's, which owns several of the world's most prestigious and played at land-based casinos, just announced the making of several major relating to the World Series of Poker.

Harrahs' commitment to the WSOP has now been extended through the year 2010, during which time, the casino operator has agreed to extend televised coverage to ESPN, which will now be offering a live pay-per-view broadcast of the No-Limit Hold'em championship table.  The tournament itself has a $10,000 buy-in, which will amount to some very serious stakes and prize pool that Harrah's is foreseeing to capitalize on.

In addition to the extended television coverage, Harrah's has also made a commitment of intent to leading poker magazine publisher, Bluff Media, who also produces Bluff Poker Radio. Harrah's has expressed serious intent to produce live broadcasts from the WSOP tournament floor, which would be aired on Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 125.

Other coverage for the WSOP will be coming from the likes of Card Player Magazine, which has been given the official magazine sponsorship role of the poker tournament, and has agreed to provide detailed coverage of the events, as well as publish the official program for the tournament and ceremonies.

As for Milwaukee's Best Light Beer, casino goers and players alike will be sure to find it flowing at the tournament.  As the presenting sponsor and official beer of the games (through 2008), Milwaukee's Best will be extensively promoting the WSOP through several marketing mediums that include a joint logo branding campaign, the "Milwaukee's Best Light Pocket Cam" - which is a special camera that lets television viewers see each player's hole cards - as well as the "Milwaukee's Best Light Beer Garden", which will serve as a hospitable retreat adjacent to the tournament casino floor (with flowing beer?) where spectators and poker players can mix and relax.