Bodog Beat

It was announced today the 2007 World Series of Poker events will have a drastically revised payout structure with many of the players getting a higher percentage of the prize pool.

"We are increasing the return to players who, after hours or days of grueling competition, are able to reach the money," said Howard Greenbaum, regional vice president of specialty gaming for Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. "Our goal is to keep more money circulating among more people in the poker community."

While the total prize pool won't be determined until everyone's registered for the WSOP a Harrah's press release provided a comparison to last year's payout structure to give you an idea of how it will go:

"For example, the 2006 Main Event would have paid $22,266 for 873rd through 775th places, up from $14,605 or $15,512. Places 82 through 73 would have paid $126,173, up from $66,010. First place would have paid $10,028,715, down from $12 million, while second place would have been worth $5,442,769, compared with $6,105,900."

But really, what about the first person eliminated? If anyone needs some sort of prize it's that poor chump. We could call it the "Rene Angelil Award" and the prize would be a stack of Celine Dion CDs.