It seems that there is a new poker tour announced in the UK almost every week these days - but that's fine with us, we love live poker.

As 2006 draws to a close, online operators, casinos and promoters are all gearing up for a busy 2007.

The latest series is the Great British Poker Tour in association with Gala Casinos, will feature five televised Festivals across the UK and a £2,500 buy-in Grand Final. The Tour will showcase the cream of the nation’s poker talent and ultimately crown the best poker player in Britain.

The inaugural tournament starts at the Gala Maybury Casino in Edinburgh on 21st February 2007 followed by Festivals in Teesside, Nottingham, Bournemouth and Bradford before culminating in the GBPT Grand Final in late October 2007.

All Festivals will feature 3-days of top quality poker, and a 2-day £500+£50 NLHE main event, each additionally awarding the winners a VIP seat into the GBPT Grand Final.

In addition to the title of Great British Poker Champion 2007, the Grand Final winner will also receive an all-expenses paid trip to the Bellagio Five Diamond World Poker Classic in Las Vegas in December 2007. Runners up prizes also include trips and buy-ins to the Aussie Millions in Melbourne, Australia and European Poker Tour events.

Players of every level will have a chance to get involved in the GBPT thanks to live satellites at a number of Gala Casinos, and a packed weekly schedule of online satellites starting at just $5 + $0.50, plus weekly freerolls.

Online qualification for the Edinburgh GBPT Festival runs from 18th December 2006 until 17th February 2007 on www.galapoker.co.uk (Gala Casinos’ online poker website). Players can also qualify live through many of Gala’s 30 casinos throughout Great Britain.

The Tour is expected to attract some of the best and most famous poker players across Britain and Europe, including seasoned pros such as Iwan Jones who won the £500+£50 event at the 2006 Scottish Poker Championships at the Gala Maybury Casino in Edinburgh.

Iwan said “The GBPT is a real ace of a tour with eye-catching festivals nationwide at Gala Casinos and the Gala Maybury Casino certainly brings back good memories! There’s plenty in the pot to play for with the ultimate accolade of getting crowned the Greatest Poker Player in the land. If you’re into your poker, then you need to get involved now.”

Further GBPT announcements of pro and celebrity players will follow over the next few weeks.

Nick Potter, Gala Casinos Managing Director said, “We are very excited to be staging the Great British Poker Tour. This is a fantastic opportunity for poker players of all levels to show the world how seriously we take our poker here in Great Britain, with the quality of player talent we have. We hope to see some thrilling clashes all the way up to the final. They’ll also get to enjoy some of the best casino and poker venues in the country." 

The GBPT is supported by a comprehensive website, www.gbpokertour.com, containing details on each of the events and how and where to qualify. As the Tour unfolds you will be able to access live updates and event reviews, as well as viewing the league tables where free Grand Final seats can be won.