WPT and Players Come to an Agreement

The World Poker Tour (WPT) is reporting they’ve settled a nearly two year old lawsuit which had been filed by some of the world’s most recognized poker professionals.

In July 2006, the suit was filed by a large group of celebrity players which included former WSOP Main event champions such as Greg Raymer, Joe Hachem and Chris Ferguson. The group alleged that the World Poker Tour’s player release contacts, which all tournament participants were required to sign, violated state and federal anti-trust laws. More specifically, the players believed the WPT and their host casinos conspired illegally to eliminate competition and were also being allowed without prior consent to use player’s names and images to sell their products.

At the time of this settlement the plaintiffs included Andy Bloch, Annie Duke, Chris Ferguson, Phil Gordon and Howard Lederer. Hachem and Raymer were plaintiffs at the time the suit was filed but had since removed their names from the suit.

Prior to this settlement being reached the only portion of the lawsuit that still appeared to be valid was the use of player’s images. The players 2006 allegations which claimed the WPT had created an environment where there was “no reasonable chance of a competing tour existed” have more or less proved themselves false. Let’s be honest, the last we looked the World Series of Poker’s WSOPC and the PokerStars’ EPT are both doing quite well while the WPT appears to be on the decline.

With the use of images being the primary issue that is exactly the area the WPT budged on in order to settle the suit without litigation. The settlement involves only the World Poker Tour altering its release contacts, and does not pay the treble and punitive damages the players had originally sought.

In speaking on reasons for the settlement the WPT has officially denied any wrong doing and claimed they would rather settle the suit and focus on growth rather than focus on litigation. WPT founder and CEO commented, “We are glad to put this dispute behind us, and we look forward to working with all players to grow the sport of poker.”