Foxwoods joins poker world series circuit

Mashantucket - Foxwoods Resort Casino, which earlier this year ended a 10-year association with the World Poker Tour, is teaming up with the World Series of Poker.

The WSOP's 2012-13 circuit will include a stop at Foxwoods on March 27-April 8, 2013.

"The Foxwoods Poker Room is the premier poker room in North America, with continuous play and a professionally trained staff," Terry Chiaradio, Foxwoods' director of poker operations, said in a statement released by Foxwoods this week. "Foxwoods is an ideal partner for the World Series of Poker.

"This strategic alliance with the World Series of Poker, the premier global poker tournament brand, will allow us to broaden our exposure while providing exciting opportunities for our loyal players."

The WSOP Circuit stop at Foxwoods will include 12 events held over 12 days, with the "Main Event" winner earning an automatic berth in the WSOP National Championships in New Orleans. Automatic bids will also go to players who accumulate the most points over the course of the 12 events at each circuit venue, including Foxwoods.

The new circuit begins play today at the IP Casino Resort & Spa in Biloxi, Miss.

Foxwoods, a charter member of the World Poker Tour, had severed ties with the WPT as well as with Bernard Lee, the professional player the casino hired in 2010 to serve as official spokesman for its poker room, which used to bear the WPT brand.

The casino's poker room, which boasts nearly 100 tables, is the largest poker room on the East Coast.

Foxwoods hosts No-Limit Hold'em tournaments seven days a week, with weekly payouts exceeding $200,000 and guarantees totaling $55,000.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com