WPT Enterprises, Inc. Adds Top Sports Executive Peter Hughes as Chief Operating Officer

WPT Enterprises, Inc. Adds Top Sports Executive Peter Hughes as Chief Operating Officer

The Veteran of the NFL, ISI and SFX/Clear Channel Takes Helm to Oversee Management Responsibilities

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WPTE) has reached into the NFL's and Clear Channel's playbook to secure a leading sports executive as its new COO. Peter Hughes, most recently Executive Vice President for SFX Sports Group, a division of Clear Channel Entertainment, will join the company on January 23 to manage the day-to-day operations and help leverage the company's global growth.

"We are very excited to have a leader of his proven talents in both sports and business join our management team," said Steve Lipscomb, Founder and CEO of WPT Enterprises, Inc. in announcing Hughes' hiring. "Peter's coming on board will inspire our entire company and free me up to focus on fulfilling our strategic vision for WPTE, the WORLD POKER TOUR(R), WPTonline.com(SM), the PROFESSIONAL POKER TOUR(SM) and other future properties. Peter will help guide us, the players and the poker community as we continue evolving poker into a global sport."

Hughes will oversee the production, marketing, licensing, sponsorship, business development and website for WPTE properties domestically and internationally. The WORLD POKER TOUR(R) is now seen in 130 countries and territories.

"WPT Enterprises is one of the most exciting and dynamic ventures in the sports and entertainment business today," said Hughes. "Its explosive growth and worldwide impact is only now beginning to be truly felt. WPTE presents an enormous opportunity for me to help coalesce its various divisions and provide the kind of direction that will lay groundwork for its long-term business expansion, and the global growth of poker as a sport."

As EVP at SFX Sports, a global leader in sports marketing, talent representation, special events and television, Hughes acted in a COO capacity, working with the various divisions of SFX Sports-basketball, baseball, football, soccer, hockey, golf, tennis, events, marketing, media, financial services and Australian operations. He was also involved in numerous international sports programs while at the company. Hughes was tapped for his role after SFX/Clear Channel acquired Integrated Sports International, of East Rutherford, NJ, a highly respected sports marketing company that he helped to establish in 1993.

At ISI, Hughes served as Vice President, Business Development, creating licensing programs for top brands including Cadillac, Notre Dame, Wheaties and the Association of Professional Volleyball Players (AVP). He also led or worked on teams that provided strategic consulting for such clients as AOL, Burger King, FootAction, Disney Attractions, Anaheim Angels, the Cleveland Browns and the San Francisco 49ers. Hughes also created premium merchandise for such companies as Little Caesars, Burger King and Sara Lee. Additionally, he was involved with the career development and marketing strategy for players on the SFX talent roster.

Before joining ISI, Hughes got his start in the sports business with the National Football League. After a two-year stint working for Dell Publishing as financial manager from 1983-5, he was called upon by the National Football League to be financial manager for its publishing division. But Hughes' talents were spotted early and he was soon directed to a position as senior director of the NFL's Retail Licensing Program, responsible for maximizing profits in publishing, collectibles, trading card and player categories. In 1990, he played a key role in the formation of the NFL Quarterback Club, which packaged the game's top quarterbacks as a marketing powerhouse. He helped this startup venture generate significant licensing and endorsement revenue for each player involved. The program he designed lasted a dozen years and attracted marquee sponsors like Domino's, Upper Deck, and DirecTV, under his watch.

WPTE launched the poker phenomenon when it first aired the WORLD POKER TOUR(R) on the Travel Channel, March 30, 2003. It continues to lead the way in developing poker as a major international sport. The highest rated show ever on The Travel Channel, the WPT is now seen in 130 countries and territories worldwide. WORLD POKER TOUR(R) airs every Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the Travel Channel in the U.S.

About WPT Enterprises, Inc.

WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WPTE) is a company engaged in the creation of internationally branded entertainment and consumer products driven by the development, production, and marketing of televised programming based on gaming themes. WPTE is the creator of the World Poker Tour(R), a television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments that airs on the Travel Channel in the United States and more than 130 markets globally. WPT Enterprises currently licenses its brand to companies in the business of poker equipment and instruction, apparel, publishing, electronic and wireless entertainment, DVD/home entertainment, casino games, and giftware. For show information, tools for improving poker play, and other WPT news, fans may log on to www.worldpokertour.com. The company is also engaged in the sale of corporate sponsorships. WPT Enterprises, Inc. is a majority owned subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment, Inc., a publicly held company. Photos and media information can be found online at: www.worldpokertour.com.

(WPTEG)

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by WPT Enterprises, Inc.) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to the expansion of WPTE's brand licensing, the development of new television and film projects, the development of WPTE corporate sponsors and other business development activities, as well as statements regarding other capital spending, financing sources and the effects of competition. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of WPTE. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, WPTE's significant dependence on the Travel Channel as a source of revenue; the potential that our television programming will fail to maintain a sufficient audience; the risk that competitors with greater financial resources or marketplace presence might develop television programming that would directly compete with WPTE's television programming; the risk that WPTE may not be able to protect its entertainment concepts, current and future brands and other intellectual property rights; risks associated with future expansion into new or complementary businesses; the termination or impairment of WPTE's relationships with key licensing and strategic partners; and WPTE's dependence on its senior management team. For more information, review WPTE's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:
Aimee Lirette/ WPT: 323-330-9872
alirette@worldpokertour.com

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050809/LATU100LOGO)

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050809/LATU100LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: WPT Enterprises, Inc.

CONTACT: Jackie Lapin, +1-818-707-1473, jackielapin@cs.com, or Aimee
Lirette, +1-323-330-9872, alirette@worldpokertour.com, both of WPT
Enterprises, Inc.

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

NOTE to EDITORS: There are 300 dpi downloadable images of Peter Hughes available at www.media.worldpokertour.com

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