WSOP Director No Chump For This Chimp

Published: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 Online-Casinos.com

WSOP DIRECTOR IS NO CHUMP FOR THIS CHIMP

Pokershare certainly worked this publicity exercise well

Over the past month, starting with a viral rumour mill campaign, and graduating to editorial publicity the PokerShare marketing folks have skilfully heightened the profile of their company through Mikey the Poker Playing Chimp. This innovative scheme presented a poker playing chimpanzee called Mikey as a World Series of Poker contestant with a buildup on his training and abilities.

Like its US-based free petrol publicity action before it, the PR benefits have been substantial for PokerShare, but the free ride came to an end this week when the poker-faced chimp was denied a seat in the Main Event, which attracted 8 773 other hopefuls.

Gary Thompson, speaking on behalf of the World Series of Poker said Mikey would not be registered, nor would he play. "We are not letting any chimpanzees in. It would be cruel to the chimpanzee and unfair to our players" he said.

PokerShare claim that Mikey was professionally trained to recognise the colours and shapes of suits and numbers after he was 'discovered' in a nationwide search. PokerShare were prepared, apparently, to put up the $10 000 buy-in for the event, which is probably a very small cost compared to the amount of publicity they have developed from the initiative.

Adding to the hype, the poker chimp was staying at the Real World Suite at the Palms, and apparently hosted a VIP party. There was even a contingency plan should the talented ape have finished in the money - it would have been donated to an unspecified chimpanzee retirement home.