Kem beats Copag

After problems last year with dents en masse and recurring scuffage, the WSOP has switched brands of playing cards … from Copag to Kem. Sure, they cost a little more, but really, when it comes down to it, is Harrah\’s ever one to cut corners, or even bend them?

This year, the U.S. Playing Card Co. has been chosen as an official WSOP sponsor, and with that, they will be bringing (not sure on how many thousands of decks it actually is) the \”revolutionary\” new \”PokerPeek\” variety of Kem cards to the table. Click below to read the full press release:

U.S. Playing Card Named Official World Series Of Poker® Supplier
New “Poker Peek” To Be Official WSOP Playing Card

LAS VEGAS – March 14, 2007 – Harrah’s License Company LLC, an affiliate of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET), has named the United States Playing Card Company and its historic Bicycle® brand an official supplier of the World Series of Poker and to make its revolutionary new Poker Peek™ card the official playing card of the World Series of Poker, subject to regulatory approval.

Under terms of the three year-agreement, USPC will introduce the Poker Peek face style and a special Bicycle-inspired card-back design printed on the company’s KEM® brand card stock – widely considered the world’s finest playing-card material – at the 2007 World Series of Poker Presented by Milwaukee’s Best Light.

“As part of this proposed agreement, every table of every World Series of Poker bracelet event will be supplied – every day – with a fresh setup of premier quality KEM cards from USPC,” said Jeffrey Pollack, commissioner of the WSOP. “Our players deserve the best and this is just one more example of how we are working hard to provide them with nothing less.

“We appreciate USPC’s support of the WSOP and welcome them to our family,” said Pollack.

“We’re excited to join forces with the World Series of Poker to bring this new product to the world’s premier gaming event,” said Kenny Robinson, vice president of global marketing for USPC. “The Poker Peek used during the WSOP will be the inspiration for a new deck that will be offered to the public later this year under our Bicycle brand.”

“This is a fun moment in history to bring the 120-year heritage of the Bicycle brand to the most prestigious poker tournament in the world,” said Rob Clendening, brand manager for the Bicycle brand. “The WSOP participants will appreciate the KEM cards on the table, and our millions of consumers worldwide will recognize and appreciate the Bicycle-inspired card-back design and innovative new Poker Peek face style.”

The United States Playing Card Company is a global leader in the production and marketing of playing cards and related products. The Bicycle brand has been the world’s leading playing-card brand for over 120 years, and other well-known USPC brands include KEM®, BEE®, AVIATOR® and HOYLE®. Founded in 1867 as Russell, Morgan and Co., and based in Cincinnati, Ohio, USPC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jarden Corporation.

For more information on the U.S. Playing card Company, please visit www.usplayingcard.com.

BEE®, BICYCLE®, AVIATOR® and HOYLE® are registered trademarks of The United States Playing Card Company.

Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. is the world’s largest provider of branded casino entertainment through its operating subsidiaries. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, nearly 70 years ago, Harrah’s has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions, and now owns or manages casinos on four continents. The company’s properties operate primarily under the Harrah’s, Caesars and Horseshoe brand names; Harrah’s also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos. Harrah’s Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.

More information about Harrah’s is available at www.harrahs.com. Information about the WSOP is available at www.worldseriesofpoker.com.