WPTE has created some of the best poker events in the world, and we are excited to participate in them once again

The World Poker Tour Enterprises Inc. (WPTE) and a group of five top professional poker players have finally settled their differences after a dispute lasting nearly two years.

Chris Ferguson, Andrew Bloch, Annie Duke, Phil Gordon, and Howard Lederer had challenged WPT’s standard player’s release and contracts with casinos claiming that they violated federal and state antitrust laws.

World Series of Poker bracelet winners Joe Hachem and Greg Raymer were formerly part of this troupe but broke away to continue to play in WPT events.

In their original lawsuit, the players claimed that the terms of the WPTE player release would force them to violate other endorsement agreements and rights to images that the players and their sponsors had otherwise contracted for, and as a result, the players were forced to forego participating in WPT events.

WPTE vehemently disagreed with this and until now, the two warring parties had been unable to resolve the issue. In settling their dispute, WPTE and the poker players agreed to implement a new standard form release that will be provided to all players at all WPT tournaments and events going forward.

Steve Lipscomb, founder and CEO of WPTE, stated that: “We are glad to put this dispute behind us, and we look forward to working with all players to grow the sport of poker.”

Poker player Chris Ferguson stated that: “We are happy to have come to an agreement that is fair to all players, and to have put in place a new release that clears up ambiguities in how players’ images may be used. We are especially happy that this new release will apply to all poker players who wish to participate in WPT tournaments and events. WPTE has created some of the best poker events in the world, and we are excited to participate in them once again.”

This agreement is great news for the poker world as the WPT can now concentrate on what it is there for; hosting great poker tournaments with the world’s best professional players.