Bodog Beat

Spain, which is better known for its pro golfers (Sergio Garcia) and hot models (Elsa Pataky and Esther Canadas) than poker players (Carlos Mortensen), will now be hosting an international poker event that will be televised worldwide. (Courtesy Johnny Blood@fickr.com)

The World Poker Tour and Grup Peralada, the largest casino group in Spain, have announced an agreement to bring the first ever WPT stop in Spain to the Casino Barcelona. The event has been added to the line-up for the sixth season of the popular poker television show and will be filmed in October 2007.

The companies have also agreed to discuss the creation of a Spanish tour featuring televised poker tournaments in various casino venues, as well as additional tour stops in Portugal and South America. 

"This is a very important move for us as we continue to expand our business in the European market," said Steve Lipscomb, President, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WPTE.

"This agreement further reinforces our leading position in Poker," stated Oliver Zugel, CEO of Grup Peralada´s Casino Division. "It will create a new standard for premium, televised poker events in Europe and lay the groundwork for an Iberian tour involving other leading casinos in Spain and Portugal."

Bodog.com is now offering "Player's Choice" WSOP qualifiers in which players will have the freedom to use their winner's packages to participate and go for the glory in the WSOP, WPT and other events.