Ultra Internet Media Files Case Against Harrahs Entertainment

The owner of the Everest Poker brand, Ultra Internet Media (UIM), filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Las Vegas on April 5th, 2010 against Harrah's Entertainment, which owns the WSOP (world series of poker). Ultra Internet Media gave their consent to a three-year, $22.5 million on-felt sponsorship agreement to include the 2008, 2009 and 2010 World Series of Poker.

The logo of Everest Poker was to be displayed prominently on the felt of every poker table, including all TV tables. UIM alleged that as recently as February 14th, 2010, a French TV affiliate RTL9 not only failed to show the Everest Logo but instead it showed the Full Tilt Poker logo, a competitor of the French online poker site, which stated that it does not generate any income in the U.S.

It seems that the issue has been a recurring problem and that ESPN, Harrah's Entertainment and Ultra Internet Media met in February 2009 to discuss the problem. According to the case, "Harrah's Entertainment and ESPN agreed to control and require RTL9 to stop causing violations of the deal during its TV broadcasts in France.

The lawsuit also claims that UIM has paid the full amount of the deal in 2008 ($6.2 illion) and $7.9 million in 2009. UIM has no intention of continuing the deal in 2010 and has informed Harrah's of its decision to pull out of the 2010 World Series of Poker, which according to the original agreement would cost UIM $8.4 million.

Brian Nelson