The Ultimate Valentine's Gift for the Poker Passionate Man or Woman: 'Official World Poker Tour(TM) Luxury Poker Chest'

The Ultimate Valentine's Gift for the Poker Passionate Man or Woman: 'Official World Poker Tour(TM) Luxury Poker Chest'

U.S. Playing Card Company Debuts Elegant 1,000-Clay Chip Set

Diamonds (Plus Spades, Clubs and Hearts) are a Girl's - and Guy's - Best Friend

CINCINNATI, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- If you want to win the heart of your poker playing wife, husband or lover this year, than U.S. Playing Card has just the thing...The "Official World Poker Tour(TM)" (WPT) Luxury Poker Chest" -- a newly released 1,000 chip set in a hand-made fine wood case that is "the nuts" as they say in poker...the ultimate!

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050204/LAFRU1 )

"This 'Official World Poker Tour Luxury Poker Chest' set is every poker player's dream if he or she likes to host as many as eight players at a time for home games," said Scott Kling, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for U.S. Playing Card Company, the world's leader in playing cards for more than 100 years and the manufacturer of the best-selling Bicycle and Bee brand cards. "We've got the perfect give for every poker-playing couple. If your poker night gatherings tend to be smaller, than U.S. Playing Card's 400-chip Official World Poker Tour Poker Set or the 300-chip Official World Poker Tour Tournament Set might be just right."

The World Poker Tour, which airs every Wednesday at 9 p.m. E/PT on the Travel Channel is the television show that has launched the poker boom. With its groundbreaking cameras on the hole cards, fans have been caught up in the drama and many have learned to play the game by watching the pros. Americans passion for poker has spurred the demand for high-end gaming equipment like the "Official World Poker Tour Luxury Poker Chest."

The handsome two-tiered case features 1,000 WPT 11.5 gram heavyweight clay-filled poker chips (400 gray, 300 blue, 200 red and 100 black). The 11.5-gram chip is known as the true poker player's chip. Unlike other poker chips available to fans, USPC WPT chips are made using the same processes as the chips used by the top casinos on the WPT tour. The WPT-sanctioned clay-filled chip features a highly detailed full-color WPT logo in the center, like only the best chips in the world. An exclusive WPT spade design and casino stripes are molded into the chip using two colors. USPC WPT chips are easier to shuffle and manipulate than other poker chips, because they have specially designed rounded edges and a rough clay surface. In research, avid poker players preferred USPC chips to other chips available in the market.

This set also features two tournament-quality Official WPT Logo Decks, and two cut cards. The WPT Logo decks shuffle better, deal easier, and last longer than cards from other manufacturers. USPC creates its top grade cards from a proprietary formulation of paper stock derived from a blend of soft and hard woods. With the distinctive red, blue and black WPT logo on the back, they come with either a primarily white or black background -- a perfect pair to speed game play. The WPT Logo Decks have the true feel and playability of top casino cards, retaining their shape after many hours of play.

The suggested retail price for the Official WPT Luxury Poker Chest is $399.99. It is available at selected retail outlets, as well as online at www.worldpokertour.com.

WPT Luxury Poker Chest joins a complete line up of other poker paraphernalia from US Playing Card. They include the:

* Official World Poker Tour Poker Set (SRP/$199.99) with 400 chips, a
fine wood case, two decks and Official World Poker Tour Rules Book.

* Official World Poker Tour Tournament Set (SRP/$149.99) with 300 chips,
in a metal briefcase lined in padded black velour, with the
embroidered WPT logo inside the lid and on a metal logo plate above
the handle. Two decks of WPT cards along with Texas Hold 'Em
instructions are included.

* Official World Poker Tour Texas Hold 'Em Book Set (SRP/$20.00) with
The Official Poker Rule Book, plus one white and one black WPT logo
deck.

* Official World Poker Tour Plastic Playing Cards (SRP/$35.99) -- A two
deck set for avid players who appreciate the unique feel, smooth
shuffle, and unmatched durability of plastic cards.

* Official World Poker Tour 11.5-Gram Clay Chips (SRP/$35.99.) --
100 chips with specially designed rounded edges and a rough clay
surface that make a robust click, just like the sound heard at
tournaments.

* Official World Poker Tour 8-Gram Clay Chips (SRP/$19.99) -- 100 chips
that bear molded WPT spade logos and authentic casino stripes.

* Official World Poker Tour "Logo" Decks (WPT logo on white or black
background) and Official World Poker Tour Decks (WPT logo combined
with traditional Casino Bee diamond back). (SRP/$3.49 each)

* Official World Poker Tour Table Top (SRP/$75.00) features a reversible
felt with poker on one side and blackjack on the other, has room for
eight players, includes reversible cup holders, and folds for easy
storage.



For more information, go to www.worldpokertour.com or www.usplayingcard.com.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050204/LAFRU1
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: U.S. Playing Card Company

CONTACT: Jackie Lapin, +1-818-707-1473, jackielapin@cs.com, or Jim
Llewellyn, +1-323-810-7685, ajllewell@excite.com, both for U.S. Playing Card
Company

Web site: http://www.worldpokertour.com/

Web site: http://www.usplayingcard.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For 300 dpi downloadable artwork, please go to: www.media.usplayingcard.com.

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