Under the agreement, Activision is granted the exclusive worldwide rights to publish the WSOP titles for the PC, console and handheld platforms.

"The World Series of Poker is the world's premiere poker event, drawing thousands of entrants and millions of viewers worldwide," said Mark Meadows, Vice President of Marketing, Activision Value Publishing, Inc. "The World Series of Poker will deliver to consumers the same excitement and authenticity of pulling up a chair at the WSOP table and taking home the championship."

For the first time ever, the 2005 WSOP Tournament will be held at Harrah's Rio Suites in Las Vegas. ESPN has aired the WSOP seven times since introducing the sport to the network in 1994, and garnered a 1.2 overall rating with an average of more than one million viewing households during their 2004 presentation of poker's premiere event.

"We are very excited about working with Activision to develop a game that will enable poker enthusiasts to see what sitting at the final table of the main event is really like," said Ginny Shanks, Senior Vice President of Acquisition Marketing for Harrah's Entertainment. "We believe this will be the most realistic poker game ever produced."