It's that time of year...World Series of Poker!

This item on Gaming Today:

World Series of Poker kicks off in Las Vegas
(May 27, 2009 10:31 AM)

by David Stratton

The World Series of Poker landed in Las Vegas on Tuesday as registration opened and satellites and cash games began.

The actual action begins today with the $500 buy-in Casino Employees No Limit Hold’em Event.

On Thursday, well-heeled players can enter a special event commemorating 40 years of World Series events, the $40,000 buy-in 40th Annual No Limit Hold’em event.

Overall, players will be able to compete in 57 bracelet events, up from 55 last year. Buy-ins will range from $1,000 up to $50,000.

Besides the thrill of competing against the best poker players in the world, entrants this year will have a few rule changes to contend with.

One of them, which many thought was a long time coming, involves a player’s behavior at the table.

After losing a large pot in last year’s televised main event, Phil Hellmuth railed against his opponent as an idiot and "the worst player in history," but officials issued only a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct. Under the new rules, anyone doing the same could be forced to sit out part of the tournament.

"We saw some things last year we weren’t very proud of, but we’re talking about a limited number of incidents and a handful of players over a tournament that will run 50 days," WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack said. "So this is about a very select and limited number of players.

"That said, our intention is to make sure the behavior of a few doesn’t impact the experience of the many. We want the tournament conducted in a civil, courteous manner."

It’s about respecting the game, he added. The penalties will be enforced for taunting other players and intentionally playing hands out of turn, which can provide an advantage for others at the table.

Oh, there’s another new rule that goes into effect: Players can’t use Twitter at the table. Exactly what that means is a mystery onto itself, but people who live their so-called lives on the Internet will understand.

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