Booking Your Trip for the World Series of Poker 2008

If you count yourself among the millions of Americans who have gotten hooked on televised poker tournaments, you've probably fantasized at one time or another about attending a big match yourself, either as a spectator or a participant. And, as any poker fanatic can tell you, there's only one contest at the very top of the professional card gambling pyramid: The 2008 World Series of Poker.

Maybe this year is when that nagging fantasy of yours becomes a reality. Maybe you're not going to make any more excuses, just pull the trigger and do what needs to be done to ensure that you will be there when the last card is turned. If you think you've reached that point of commitment, now is the time to start considering a host of logistical matters that will be key to making your poker pilgrimage a successful one.

First of all, where and when should you go? For the fourth year running, the 2008 WSOPwill be held at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. With a large total of 54 scheduled events running from May 30 to July 16, it promises to be a non-stop barrage of poker excitement. Satellite tournaments will begin at the end of June while the most popular event, the $10,000 No-Limit Texas Hold`em World Championship Event, starts July 3. The Rio is owned by the Harrah's Corporation, which has many years of experience putting together spectacles that draw crowds by the thousands. The WSOP 2008 promises to continue that amazing trend.

Though naturally you'll find no shortage of accommodations in Vegas, it's always a good idea to book early. This will better your chances of finding a place to crash in the hotel of your choice, while still getting a decent nightly rate. During big events like the WSOP 2008, most hotels spike their prices a bit to match the increased demand, but with a bit of patience and detective work you should be able to sniff out a good deal. Allowing plenty of lead time for this project is always a safe bet. (That rule also applies to booking your airfare.)

Once you get your travel arrangements settled, you can shift your focus to the compelling reason for making the journey: high-stakes poker. Harrah's is pulling out all the stops for the Main Event. Thousands of players, each paying $10,000 for a chance to sit at the table, will compete for a huge multimillion dollar prize, and the shiny gold bracelets that go with it. The first round of play will be split over several days with each day handling 2,000 players. At last year's event, the total in gross prize money was a whopping $159,796,918 ($59,784,954 for the Main Event)!

So, as you formulate a plan of attack, at some point you will have to make the most critical decision of all: are you going to attend the 2008 World Series of Poker as a spectator, minimizing your outlay and playing it safe from the bleachers? Or, are you going Òall in,Ó making that investment of ten large and hoping to ride those cards all the way to fame, fortune and glory? This is not a decision to be made lightly, and certainly not under the influence of alcohol. Weigh all the factors, the risks and the potential gains, very carefully. Then place them in a column alongside a realistic evaluation of your own poker skills.

You might want to ask the group of buddies with whom you usually play for a frank assessment. If they unanimously advise you not to waste your money by entering the WSOP 2008 as a competitor, you should probably listen to them. Unless they are the kind of friends who deliberately try to mess with your mind by always telling you the exact opposite of that they really think, in which case you should look for some new friends.