U.S. Playing Card Named Official WSOP Supplier

Harrah’s Entertainment, through its affiliate, Harrah’s Licensing Company, has named the U.S. Playing Card Company (USPC) the official playing card supplier of the World Series of Poker.

The three year deal will see the introduction of USPC’s new “Poker Peek” face style and custom card back design on KEM stock for the WSOP. Jeffrey Pollack, commissioner of the WSOP, said, “As part of this proposed agreement, every table of every World Series of Poker bracelet event will be supplied – every day – with a fresh setup of premier quality KEM cards from USPC.”

Last year’s cards, supplied by Copag, were generally considered a disaster. Players complained that they were too easy to crease and deface and new setups were constantly being requested. Copag, like KEM, produces high-quality plastic playing cards, but the ones supplied to the WSOP were made from lower quality paper.

USPC owns the popular Bee, Bicycle, Aviator, and Hoyle brands.

Originally published 6:45 PM Wednesday, March 14, 2007