2008 WSOP: Registration Opens; Satellites, Cash-Game Action Begin

With the first bracelet event of the 2008 World Series of Poker just a couple of days away, the Rio opened its doors today to the first wave of event registrations and an early handful of single-table satellite and cash-game players. While demand at the event registration desk was light early on, satellite action began at 10:00 AM with a handful of tables soon underway.

This year's satellites are being held in a special "satellite room" across the concourse from the Amazon Room in the Rio's convention center, where the majority of the tournament action will occur. Also starting up a couple of hours later was the first cash-game action, which will be held in a corner of the redesigned Amazon Room throughout the WSOP as time and space allow.

Today's earliest satellite activity drew demand for the least expensive -- at $125 per entry -- of several available options. Throughout the majority of the '08 Series, the Rio will offer satellites at the following buy-in levels: $125, $175, $225, $275, $325, $525 and $1,030. The event winner or winners, as in previous years, will receive prize winnings in the form of $500 tournament chips, with a cash payout for any leftover amounts. One convenient addition created for this year's series is a cashier's cage in the new satellite room, dedicated to satellite registration and play.

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One of the first single-table satellites at the
2008 WSOP winds into action