Is “dead money” considered history?

The Harrah’s eNewsletter is always a font of information, some of it quite useful. The latest one, for example, let us know that we can now register for the 2006 World Series of Poker, and suggests that by doing so our names will ring through the halls of history along with those of Alexander the Great, George Washington, Johnny Moss, and Hal Fowler.

Reserve Your Place in History.

Pre-register for the 2006 World Series of Poker.

Who will win the richest prize in Poker history? One of the legends of the game? Or you? The 2006 World Series of Poker features a wide range of games and buy-in amounts, wall to wall ESPN coverage, and every top poker player in the world. Follow this link to reserve your seat at the table.

Pre-register Today! Right here

The “terms and agreement” are interesting, to say the least:

1. The Player or third-party registrant understands that the Player’s ability to participate in the Tournament is conditioned upon compliance with the Tournament General Rules and that the above-described Player must appear in person to complete the registration process. The Rio reserves the right to refuse anyone entry into the Tournament in its sole and absolute discretion.
2. Any person or entity paying a registration fee for himself, herself or on behalf of another player warrants and affirms that he/she/it is not engaged in illegal activity and that no funds derived from such activity will be used to pay the registration fee.
3. Prior to entering and playing in the Tournament, each participant must execute a Player Release Form. Failure to do so may, at the option of Harrah’s subject the player to immediate disqualification at any point in the Tournament.
4. The deposit is non-refundable per Section 4, of the WSOP General Rules or as determined by the Rio, in its sole and absolute discretion.

Item #2 is the one that I find interesting. Harrah’s spokespeople have been mum on the issue of online tournaments sending players, saying basically that they don’t care to know anything about it. This sentence seems to me to be a way to shield the company from charges that it is encouraging online poker play, which, depending on who you ask, might be illegal.