First WORLD POKER TOUR(R)-Branded Poker Room to Debut at Foxwoods Resort Casino

First WORLD POKER TOUR(R)-Branded Poker Room to Debut at Foxwoods Resort Casino

Connecticut Casino Takes the Lead in Introducing WPT-Themed Poker Room

WPTE Lays Groundwork for Future Additions

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Now you can not only watch the WORLD POKER TOUR(R) on television, but when you go to the casino you'll be able to play in a WPT-branded poker room. WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WPTE) and Foxwoods Resort Casino, the word's largest casino, announced today that Foxwoods' newly expanded poker room, set to open in late March, will bear the WORLD POKER TOUR name.

"It's a very exciting landmark for the WORLD POKER TOUR," said Steve Lipscomb, Founder and CEO of WPT Enterprises, Inc. "This is the point when our brand truly moves into the casino in a major way. We've licensed our name to slot machines and gaming tables, and this is the next significant step-the evolution of the WPT brand at the casino level. Poker players will experience the WPT excitement first hand in an environment that evokes the cool, classy, charismatic character of our show. We applaud our partners at Foxwoods for continuing to expand the benefits of our mutual relationship."

A charter member of the WORLD POKER TOUR, Foxwoods has staged some of the largest events in WPT history over the Tour's four years. In fact, Foxwoods was the very first casino to sign onto the Tour. Slated to debut in late March, the WPT World Poker Room at Foxwoods will boost the number of poker tables at the resort to 114 from its current total of 76. This is a more than 40% increase in the capacity of the existing poker room. The expansion will allow expanded tournament offerings, which will result in greatly increased prize pool totals. It also solidifies Foxwoods as one of the largest and most prestigious casino poker rooms in the country and the only venue for poker in New England.

"This is a significant step for poker and further proof that the WPT and Foxwoods are a formidable team," said Kathy Raymond, Director of Poker Operations at Foxwoods. "We continually strive to lead the way when it comes to poker, and this new expanded state-of-the-art room will give our players a truly memorable experience."

The new WPT branded poker room at Foxwoods will move to a more expansive space located near its current poker area. New poker technology will also add to the player experience, including use of LED table components, automatic card shufflers and a state-of-the-art seating system. The poker room will be smoke-free and will offer a new 100+ seat restaurant, adjacent to the poker area.

For more information on WORLD POKER TOUR-brand poker rooms, contact Lawrence Kalinsky (323) 330-9850.

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.

About Foxwoods

Foxwoods Resort Casino, owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, is the world's largest casino resort with nearly 5 million square feet of exhilarating entertainment, gaming, dining, shopping, and resort experiences, all under one roof. Honored with 47 "Best Of" Awards by the readers of Casino Player Magazine as well as AAA 4-Diamond Awards for both its Paragon Restaurant and Grand Pequot Tower Hotel, Foxwoods is recognized as an incomparable entertainment destination. With more than 50 restaurants, retail shops and nightclubs throughout its airy glass enclosed concourse, every imaginable amenity is available for leisure and business guests. Foxwoods features 1,400 luxury hotel rooms and suites, 55,000 square feet of superior meeting space as well as world class entertainment in its 1,400 seat Fox Theatre. Six distinctive casinos with over 7,400 slot machines, 380 table games, the largest poker room on the East Coast, High Stakes Bingo and the Ultimate Racebook offer visitors the gaming experiences of a lifetime. Foxwoods is the premier resort destination in the Northeast and recently completed a $300 million expansion adding a visually stunning Hard Rock Cafe, a world-class golf destination, Lake of Isles, featuring two Rees Jones designed courses as well as clubhouse facilities and private villas, and additional gaming, retail, nightlife and dining experiences. An additional $700 million development project was recently announced that will add a new 825 room hotel tower with an expanded spa, 115,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, more restaurants, nightclubs and retail, as well as a new 4,000 seat Performing Arts Theater. The development project will be completed during the summer of 2008. Conveniently located only 8 miles from Long Island Sound and Mystic, Connecticut, Foxwoods is easily accessible from Boston, New York, Hartford, Providence and Newport, R.I. For more information call 1-800-FOXWOODS or visit FOXWOODS.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

Dave Donovan/Foxwoods
212-981-5240
dave_donovan@dkcnews.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.; or Dave Donovan, +1-212-981-5240, dave_donovan@dkcnews.com,
for Foxwoods Resort Casino

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

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