With poker sets, poker video games, and every other conceivable sort of poker paraphernalia available at toys stores across the world, I thought that poker had gone as mainstream as it could. But I was wrong. Thanks to Harrah’s Entertainment, you can go “all in” to the exciting world of consumer debt with the official World Series of Poker Visa Card.
Here’s the email come-on:
Play Your Cards Right
You’ll have the best hand in the house when you carry the
World Series of Poker(R) Visa(R) Credit Card with
WorldPoints(R) rewards.Use your NO ANNUAL FEE card for everyday purchases,
recurring bills, or major expenses, and watch your
WorldPoints grow even faster!Plus, enjoy an introductory 0% Annual Percentage Rate(APR)+
for Balance Transfers and Cash Advance Checks for 15 billing
cycles.Now that’s a great deal.
…
It’s the only card that earns you one point for every
purchase dollar you spend using your card and allows you to
redeem for:
– Exclusive World Series of Poker merchandise: poker chips,
poker table, and more
– Buy-in to World Series of Poker No Limit Texas Hold ’em
World Championship or Circuit Events
– Flights on major U.S. airlines with no blackout dates
– Gift Certificates for shopping, dining, and more
– Quality brand name merchandise
– Unlimited cash backRedemption Option Examples
2,500 points – Two decks of WSOP players cards in a
collectable tin case
5,000 points – $25 check for cash
10,000 points – World Series of Poker Pro 11.5 Gram Poker
Chip Caddy-200 chips
13,00 points – $100 gift card
25,000 points – Fly anywhere in the continental United
States
50,000 points – World Series of Poker $500 Buy-in
999,000 points – World Series of Poker $10,000 Buy-in
So if you spend only $999,000, you can get a “free” buy in for the World Series of Poker. What a bargain!
If you’re interested, check the ONLINE CREDIT CARD APPLICATION.
There was a time when professional gamblers were considered just above Las Vegas snowplow operators on the finance foodchain–no right-minded banker would lend them money. This reluctance even carried over to the gaming industry, where Nevada casinos found it difficult for many years to get start-up capital.
Now, you’re supposed to go into a store and buy things with a poker-chip emblazoned credit card. Times certainly have changed.
If the anti-gambling lobby gets a hold of this, it would be a PR disaster.
On the other hand, how about this for next year’s Cinderella WSOP story: a guy buys $999,000 worth of stuff, redeems his points for a tournament buy-in, then runs the table and wins millions.
Yes, I realize that someone with a credit limit of $999,000 wouldn’t need to win a poker tournament to pay off his debts, but it’s just about the only rags-to-riches story still out there.
It would be really great if storekeepers who accept charges on the WSOP Visa get mailed casino chips instead of a regular check. They then get the option of going to the nearest Harrah’s Entertainment casino and going double-or-nothing.