& Affliates

A VERY BIG DEAL FOR CROWN

CROWN’S AUSSIE MILLIONS POKER CHAMPIONSHIP, AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST, MOST PRESTIGIOUS POKER TOURNAMENT SET TO RUN FROM 12 - 30 JANUARY 2012.

As the global poker phenomenon continues, Crown Casino officially announces the Tournament Schedule for the 2012 Aussie Millions Poker Championship (a set of poker tournaments open to anyone 18 years of age or older), that will commence on Thursday 12 January 2012 with the first of 26 gold ringed events.

Australia’s largest, most prestigious poker tournament, the Aussie Millions, which dates back to 1998, will be filmed exclusively from the Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne and consist of a comprehensive slate of the game’s most popular variations.

Outside of the World Series of Poker, the Aussie Millions is regarded by many as the best poker series in the world, as it is more than just an international poker tournament. With an expanding range of non-gaming related events including the Australian Open Tennis Championship, Chinese New Year celebrations, exclusive parties, luxury golf days, premium winery and shopping tours and much more, giving participants even more reasons to visit Victoria in January.

The landmark Aussie Millions event comes on the heels of a record year in 2011, when the Aussie Millions generated entries from the most countries ever that competed for the largest prize pool, while awarding over 20 championship gold rings, recognized as one of the sport’s top prizes.

In 2012, more than 1000 international players from the United States, England, Ireland, South Africa, Scandinavia, Canada, Israel, Estonia, Portugal and Russia are expected to attend.

“In January 2011, Crown’s Aussie Millions generated approximately 8,000 room nights across Melbourne, including over 5,000 at Crown alone. The event was filmed and developed into a television series for an international audience of over 100 million. With over 143 members of the media (broadcast, print, radio & internet) accredited (43 international, 100 Australian) coverage of the event was extensive. 2012 will see the television production be expanded throughout the US and see the introduction of the European market that will further increase the audience and exposure of Melbourne and Crown.” said Mr Rowen Craigie, Crown Limited’s Chief Executive Officer.

Making it all happen behind the scenes will be over 6,500 members of staff, including 384 poker dealers, 62 Game Supervisors, 30 pit bosses and 20 operations staff, along with the 15 million hands of poker that have been dealt at Crown over the past ten years.

International poker professionals seen at Crown’s Aussie Millions over the years have included Phil Ivey, 2005 WSOP Champion Joe Hachem, Howard Lederer, Annie Duke, Daniel Negreanu, Scotty Nguyen, John Juanda, Erik Seidel, Chris Ferguson, Patrik Antonius, Tom Dwan, Phil Laak and 2007 Aussie Millions Champion Gus Hansen.     

High-profile guests that have tried their hand in the Crown Poker Room over the years have included Matt Damon, Zac Efron, Justin Timberlake, Michael Schumacher, Jason Alexander, Jennifer Tilly, Serena Williams, Andy Roddick, Martin Short, Michael Vartan, Shannon Elizabeth, members of the Kings of Leon and Shane Warne.

Winning the ‘Main Event’ at the Aussie Millions makes instant stars and often instant millionaires out of those with a dream and the determination to outmanoeuvre and outlast the competition (Day 1 of the ‘Main Event’ will commence on Sunday 22 January 2012).

In January 2011, an incredible field of 721 entrants competed in the Aussie Millions ‘Main Event’ with a prize pool of $7.21 million. The unknown player set to return to defend his title is, David Gorr hailing from Melbourne, Australia, who walked away with a cool AUD$2 million for his efforts, the largest prize ever awarded in a live poker tournament in the Southern Hemisphere.

Legions of locals have been swept up in the Australian poker boom that was ignited when Melbournian and Crown ambassador, Joe Hachem became the 2005 World Series of Poker Champion, scooping up $10 million in prize money for his efforts. However, players and around the world, have been in its grasp online in staggering numbers for years now. The sensation known as Texas Holdem has become a favourite over the past decade. Made-for-television tournaments, where concealed cameras reveal each player’s cards to the viewer, have elevated the game to a spectacular sport and opened up a players-eye-view and its popularity has skyrocketed.