The Grand Loto-Québec Poker Tournament - With only eight weeks to go, almost half of the seats have been attributed.

Montréal, Thursday, March 29, 2012 – Only eight weeks to go before the Grand Loto-Québec Poker Tournament and almost half of the seats have already been attributed. As of today, 25 finalists have a seat for the most prestigious poker event ever held in Canada. It is scheduled to take place at the Casino du Lac-Leamy, in Gatineau, on May 19 and 20, 2012. The countdown is on.

Indeed, there are only a few activities left for poker fans to qualify for the Grand Loto‑Québec Poker Tournament leading to a seat at the table of the largest poker championship, The BIG ONE for ONE DROP™ in Las Vegas. Satellite tournaments are being held in March, April and May in Loto-Québec’s casinos and gaming halls and on Espacejeux.com. Those interested may also pay a registration fee of $25,000 to participate in the Grand Loto Québec Poker Tournament. The tournament schedule and all other information on these events are available at tournoipokerlotoquebec.com.

Who are the players?
Including the three contestants who won their seats last week at the Casino de Montréal and the Casino du Lac Leamy, twelve poker players won their seat through scheduled satellite tournaments held since September 2011 in Loto Québec’s casinos and gaming halls or on Espacejeux.com. Espacejeux.com and Grand Loto-Québec Poker Tournament spokespersons, Laurence Grondin and Jean-Nicolas Verreault respectively, will also take part in the Grand Loto-Québec Poker Tournament.

Ten more persons will join them at Grand Loto-Québec Poker Tournament tables thanks to two draws that will be conducted on Tuesday, May 1, 2012: one through the Grand Tournoi de poker instantané scratch ticket and the other through the Lotto Poker’s 1st anniversary promotion. The names of the finalists will be announced in May.

In all, between 52 and 64 persons are hoping Lady Luck will smile on them as they play in the charged atmosphere of the Casino du Lac Leamy.

THE Canadian Tournament of 2012
“With its very exciting prize, the Grand Loto-Québec Poker Tournament at the Casino du Lac-Leamy will be THE Canadian tournament of 2012. It’s a unique opportunity to participate in such a major event, and I can’t wait to be there,” proudly said actor Jean-Nicolas Verreault, spokesperson for the event.

On the way to Las Vegas!
The sixteen highest-ranking contestants and ten finalists who win the “Expérience VIP Las Vegas” lottery package will fly off to Las Vegas in July. However, only the top ranking player of the Grand Loto-Québec Poker Tournament will have a seat for the largest charitable tournament in the world, The BIG ONE for ONE DROP™, organized by the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and compete with the best of the best as Loto‑Québec’s representative. Winning that tournament means that he will take home a really big prize and the WSOP’s platinum bracelet.

The BIG ONE for ONE DROP™
The BIG ONE for ONE DROP™ Tournament, organized by the WSOP to be held in Las Vegas on July 1, 2, and 3, 2012, will draw players from all over the world and various professional fields as well as qualified participants. They will spend US$1 million in registration fees. The championship, for which 11.1% of all registration fees will be paid to the ONE DROP® Foundation - an organization created by Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil®, is considered the most prestigious charitable event in the world of poker.

Players who qualify for the Grand Loto-Québec Poker Tournament
at the Casino du Lac-Leamy

Jean-Nicolas Verreault, spokesperson for the Grand Loto-Québec Poker Tournament

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Information: 

Marie-Claude Rivet
Assistant Director
Media and Public Relations
Loto-Québec
514-499-5079

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