A New Release from the WPT

The World Poker Tour has recently opened a new feature called ClubWPT. It is a free poker site that is point-based.

It basically works the same as some of the other free play sites. You are given a "bankroll" of points with which to "buy-in" to games and tournaments where you can win cash, prizes, and additional points to afford you entry into bigger events.

It is subscription-based, and the membership is $19.95/mo. You are not paying for poker. The membership gets you access to special features of the club, such as: a subscription to Allin magazine, a guide on the best deals to be found in Las Vegas, a "coupon book" worth (potentially) hundreds of dollars in discounts, and more.

The cash prizes offered range from $10 all the way to $5000 and more and the merchandise prizes are just as impressive. You can view a list here.

All it takes is going to the WPT site and registering your account. The club offers a free 2 week trial, but does require a credit card number to prevent multiple accounts. You can cancel at any time within the trial and be charged nothing. However, if you're like me you'd rather not take too many chances with your personal information. I checked into the rules and found (as I expected) the section concerning alternative means of entry.

You can get a free membership (a month at a time) by submitting a 3"x5" card. I've included a reprint of the section of the rules below. Free memberships do not include any of the above bonuses. I'm gonna give it a shot. I've sent them an email asking if they are planning to offer "free" satellites to WPT Events anytime in the future. I'll post their reply when it comes in. Here's the section of the rules for free entry:

You Do Not Need to Join the Club to participate in tournaments. Alternative means of tournament entry. OFFLINE, NO-PURCHASE-NECESSARY, METHOD OF ENTRY:

As an alternate means of entry into Club Tournaments, a player must:

Register at ClubWPT.com as a free player and download and install the software; and For each period that you want to participate in Club Tournaments, send a 3 inch x 5 inch card on which the player has legibly handwritten their ClubWPT Username, First and Last Name, Complete Mailing Address (e.g. Street, City, State, ZIP code), Email Address, and Date of Birth. The card must be placed in a envelope, and mailed to: PO Box 30488 Las Vegas Nevada 89173.

No photocopies, reproductions or facsimiles of the 3 inch x 5 inch card are allowed.

The usage of a service to provide the production of the 3 inch x 5 inch card will not be allowed.

For each individual registration, the Player will be given a 30-day period of Membership to Club Tournaments. The period will begin on the Monday following the day the mail-in entry is processed.

Approved mail-in entries will receive Tournament Points in accordance with Section 1.4 above or will have access to any tournament points they have accumulated in the past if greater than 500 Tournament Points. Tournament Points accumulated during previous periods will remain with the players account.

ClubWPT.com will post a listing of all upcoming tournaments in the game lobby. The game lobby is viewed by accessing the game software and clicking on the tournament game links.

ClubWPT.com shall not be responsible for late, lost, illegible, incomplete, stolen, misdirected, mutilated or postage-due mail. ClubWPT.com will advise you of your eligibility dates by email.

The odds of winning any prize will be the same by mail in entry as by online membership in the Club.

The odds of qualifying through a qualifying tournament will be the same by mail in entry as by online membership in the Club, and all participants entering through this means will be accorded equal opportunities to participate and win in events held at ClubWPT.com, and will depend on the number of entrants.