Bodog Beat

Poker players can now start signing up for the 2009 WSOP. (Bodog Beat Image)

First, the 2009 WSOP schedule was released, revealing several tweaks and changes to the lineup of events, and now players can start registering for those events, including the $10,000 2009 WSOP Main Event.

Harrah's announced yesterday that they have opened up pre-registration for all 57 events online at WorldSeriesOfPoker.com and in-person at the cage at the Rio Casino & Hotel, the site of the 2009 WSOP. With buy-ins ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, players will have the opportunity to go ahead and pay their entry fees from the privacy of their own homes or at the cage months in advance, avoiding the notoriously long lines that form the days before the most popular events.

As capacity for some of the events is limited, entry is done on a first-come, first-served basis, making this pre-registration period important for those wishing to go ahead and lock up a seat in the event of their choice. Once again, there will be no alternates taken for events this summer, so once an event's capacity is reached, it will be declared to be sold out.

Cash, cashier's checks, wire transfers or Rio casino chips will all be accepted as payment for entry fees and foreign currency will be accepted via wire transfer and converted to USD at the current exchange rate.

If you don't want to fork over your own money for a seat at a 2009 WSOP event, then qualify online for the WSOP through Bodog Poker's Flight Club promotion and see what it's like to live the Bodog lifestyle in Vegas this summer.