Antigua-based World Poker Exchange (a part of the World Sports Exchange bookmaking operation) has begun a pair of marketing campaigns that includes the sponsoring of several tournaments for college-aged players.
guerilla PR, inc., an alternative marketing and media company, has begun using "marketing ambassadors and key-influencers" at 100 universities throughout the United States to distribute posters, t-shirts and a number of other promotional items to students to promote the first annual Intercollegiate Poker Championship. The free-entry championship will begin on Feb. 13 as an online tournament, and the top players will compete during spring break on March 10 in Cancun in a live tournament hosted by Trishelle, star of MTV's "Real World."
The winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship, a laptop computer and a trip to the United Kingdom to compete in the World Poker Exchange London Open, a professional tournament with a £5,000 entry and a minimum prize pot of £1 million. The open will be held in August and televised in the United Kingdom.
World Sports Exchange will also award prizes to the 321 best student poker players, including scholarships, spring break trips to Cancun, music and DVD memberships subscriptions and more
World Poker Exchange's other major marketing push is a partnership with FHM magazine, which will include a series of editorials and advertisements in the publication as well as a new section of the FHM.com Web site that will feature a six-month poker school and several online free-play tournaments. Ten tournament players will be invited to play for £10,000 at a London poker party night filled with the beautiful FHM models. All 10 will additionally receive an automatic seat at the World Poker Exchange London Open.
The site is also offering an FHM-braded version of its poker software.