"We’ll do whatever it takes to be one of the greatest forces in the region"

GMB - What does the arrival of the WPT in Latin America mean?
Angelica Hael - At the World Poker Tour we are sure to be the international leader in fun games and we want players from around the world to experience all that the WPT has to offer. With the support of our central company, Ourgame International Holdings, which has the desire to see the World Poker Tour expand into new markets and territories, the WPT is more prepared than ever to take our world-class events to new destinations. At the top of the list is South America, with several markets constantly growing and a community of passionate players. We want the entire South American continent to experience the WPT experience, whether by attending the live events, watching the WPT on television or enjoying our social gaming product, Play WPT, we want to be a major player in South American poker.

What is the purpose of the WPT in South America?
At this stage the main goal of the WPT is to enter the South American landscape. We do not just want to show up, offer a tournament and leave. We want to know the culture of different countries, know what people think while playing poker and take the time to understand what WPT products will get better reception in the South American community

Besides Brazil and Uruguay, what other countries could be candidates to receive the circuit?
Argentina is definitely at the top of the list. I went there a year ago and was impressed by the beauty of the country, has an impressive culture and some of the players with more passion for the game. I think a WPT Argentina would be an absolute success.

How do you plan to become the first one of poker in Latin America? What do they need to get it?
The WPT will need the right members, certain casino partners, certain press partners and certain business partners. We had never made so much progress in the region and so we need to create strategic alliances. Just like in other parts of the world, we need to learn about South America and create a long-term focused strategy.

Why did you choose Enjoy Punta del Este for the first stage in Uruguay?
I had the opportunity to meet the staff at Enjoy Punta del Este and was impressed with the place and the facilities of the hotel. The professionalism and high standards at Enjoy Punta del Este prevailed at the time of making the decision and we are very happy about it.

And in Brazil, why did you choose Kings Events?
One of the most important partners we have in the region is the Aconcagua Poker network. They told us that Kings Eventos intended to be part of the WPT Brazil and we listened. Kings Eventos teamed up with Aconcagua at last year's event in Camboriú and thousands of players participated in the festival. The idea of the partnership is to reinforce this loyal base of players that Kings Events already have and bring the WPT experience to August this year.

What does the alliance with CodigoPoker mean to you?
Our alliance with CodigoPoker is very important for the WPT. As I said before, to be successful in South America it is fundamental to know the region and our partners. Working together with CodePoker accelerates both points. Partnering with the region's leading poker content generator gives the WPT a place of privilege.

And with Fox Sports that broadcast the stage in Punta del Este?
One of the main goals of the World Poker Tour in the region is to bring televised content to South American players, as we want them to experience what the rest of the world has known for more than 16 years. The WPT is working to find the right broadcast partners and we are confident that we will all soon be able to enjoy our content.

Do you think the WPT could mean the revival of poker in Latin America?
As CEO of WPT, Adam Pliska always says that, the poker boom is not dead, it just has not moved to other regions. One such region is South America, which is about to experience a huge boom. We hope that with the arrival of the WPT, there will be new players, new events and new interest from the region.

And after that, what? What is the next WPT expansion goal?
In terms of continents, one of WTP's priorities is Australia. In terms of expansion plans, we need to find the right partners, products and services in those territories that we want to enter for sustained growth over time. We are not here to lay our flag and then walk away. Along with our partners, the World Poker Tour aims to build a strong foundation in new regions to enable the growth of new players in these places.

Do you intend to return to Latin America in 2018 or will it depend on the success of these first editions?
Working on the first two stages, first in Brazil and soon in Uruguay, we can already anticipate that there will be more WPT events in Latin America, and soon they will be announced. You can be sure that the World Poker Tour is committed to the development of poker in the region, including several of us since our workshops in North America are already taking Spanish courses. This is a sign of compromise, we have not done this for any other territory. Once we feel comfortable with Spanish, we will also start with Portuguese so we can communicate fluently with the other half of the continent.

How can players qualify online for the steps?
Players will be able to gain their seat to the WPT Latin American events through our Aconcagua Poker partner. The satellites for the WPT Brazil are already happening and we expect hundreds of classified. They will also have the opportunity to qualify for the WPT Uruguay in September.

Source: GMB / Código Poker