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A deal to guarantee that the European Casino Staff Tournament will continue to be held each year has been agreed between the event founder Bert Mennen and the IPF (International Poker Federation).
The competition has been running since 1996 and will be staged this coming September at Casinos Austria in Baden and Vienna. But the future of the event in 2005 looked in danger when sponsors Mikohn and Holland Casinos (who have been hosting the competition on alternate years) both withdrew their backing. The situation was also complicated by the fact that Bert has moved to Australia and envisaged problems promoting and running the championship from the other side of the world.
Therefore, to rescue the event, the IPF and Bert Mennen have formed a partnership which will jointly promote and run it from 2005 onwards. For casino staff the championship is one of the highlights of the year, as it is as much a social event as a poker competition and for four days the host casino enjoys a party atmosphere.
In terms of attendance it is also one of Europe's biggest events, with over 400 players taking part.
The IPF will seek to retain the social side of the event and will also keep the buy-in on the low side to make it affordable to everyone who wishes to take part. The organisation will also seek a new sponsor and is seeking European casinos with facilities big enough to cope to host it in 2005 and 2006.
Casinos interested in hosting the European Staff Championships are invited to contact IPF chief
executive Thomas Kremser either by email on: Tom.Kremser@aon.at or phone: ++ 43 664 511 8811.
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