Based on the success of the network's blackjack casino programming, GSN, the network for games, is now expanding into the poker business with POKER ROYALE: THE WPPA CHAMPIONSHIP, an exclusive six-episode series sponsored by Pizza Hut featuring America's best players.

GSN's foray into poker includes three World Series of Poker champions -- Chris Moneymaker, Carlos Mortensen and Kathy Liebert. The show also includes other highly skilled players, and will feature an added bonus - the chance for the tournament champ and a GSN viewer to split an additional $10 million grand prize in the final episode. 

During the telecast of the final episode on January 11, the winner will be dealt five cards, if it's a full house or better, the player and the sweepstakes winner will split $10 million dollars.

The series debuts Tuesday, December 7 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, and covers the first tournament organized by the World Poker Players Association (WPPA), headed by Louis J. Asmo, recently held at Las Vegas' Orleans Hotel and Casino.

The series follows the classic No Limit Hold'em rules established by the WPPA which reward skill over luck.

In making the announcement, GSN's Senior Vice President of Programming Ian Valentine said: "We know that poker fans across the country will enjoy watching this brand of poker and appreciate the additional skill required to come out at the top.  It's fantastic that we are adding competitive poker to our programming schedule with some of the game's top professionals and
amateurs."

The over 50 million poker players in the country will enjoy the action of this event which features No Limit Texas Hold'em with buy-ins and blinds (a bet put in play before any cards are dealt) designed to emphasize skill over luck.

The tournament will showcase the true skill of the players, both professional and amateur, as they climb up the tournament ladder.

POKER ROYALE will include a unique graphic enhancement, giving insight to each of the player's hands and the strategy behind them. GSN's coverage will also center upon the skill and expertise of the player, highlighting player strategy, including bluffs and tells as well as the player tournament background.

With 22 cameras covering the action at the featured table, viewers will have a bird's eye view of how each expert plays his/her hand.

POKER ROYALE: THE WPPA CHAMPIONSHIP is being sponsored by Pizza Hut(R), which recently introduced the "Full House XL Pizza(TM)."  As the show's main sponsor, Pizza Hut will be the title sponsor of the "Full House" poker tip of the day which will be included in each episode.

As previously mentioned, GSN will have a sweepstakes with the winner getting a chance to split
$10,000,000 with the winner of the poker tournament.  In each of the six episodes, a password will be given out and viewers will be asked to log onto poker.gsn.com and enter the password, qualifying them into the final drawing on January 11.

During the final episode, one last password will be given, and viewers will have 30 minutes to log on and enter it. In a random drawing GSN will pick the winner's name and announce it on air.  At the end of the episode, live from the Orleans Hotel, the tournament winner will be dealt five cards. If they draw a full house or better they split $10,000,000; if they don't draw a full house or better each will walk away with $10,000 and a year supply of Pizza Hut pizza.

POKER ROYALE joins other GSN casino series including the network's popular returning blackjack series, CELEBRITY BLACKJACK, and the soon-to-be-filmed second season of WORLD SERIES OF BLACKJACK, featuring the top blackjack tournament players in the world.

Jeff Mirkin ("Greed," "Card Sharks"), Jim Coane ("Dragon Tales," "Card Sharks"), and John Faratzis (Olympic Diving Competition, "The American Poker Championship") serve as the executive producers of the series.  Scott Winters, Vladmir Perlovich and Ed Mattioni serve as co-executive producers for Last Word Productions.