Harrah’s Online Poker Problems Just Got Deeper

Written by Roger S | Monday, June 14th, 2010

Harrah’s Entertainment, owners of the World Series of Poker, has been embroiled in a legal dispute with Everest Poker since April already. As we reported here, Everest Poker’s parent group, Ultra Internet Media, sued Harrah’s in Las Vegas, claiming that the iconic US gambling giant had breached a sponsorship deal which terms stated that Everest was to be promoted during the 2008 and 2009 WSOP as the on-felt tournament sponsor.

Everest Poker refused to come up with a final payment of $8.4 million that was owed to Harrah’s after complaining that ESPN affiliate TV network, RTL9, replaced Everest Poker’s image with that of its arch rival Full Tilt Poker during broadcastings of the tournaments in France.

As such, Everest cancelled the agreement for WSOP 2010, a move that caused Harrah’s to countersue for breach of contract and payment due.

Unfortunately, the case doesn’t end there. Everest Poker is now suing Harrah’s for trademark infringement after the latter was shown to be using Everest’s logo in WSOP 2010 which is currently being held in Las Vegas. Everest filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Harrah’s on Friday in a federal court.

“The felt on the poker tables being used for the 2010 World Series of Poker features at least one of Everest’s Everest Poker logo trademarks,” reads the lawsuit. “The Everest Poker trademarks also are on display at the Rio as large banners or wall posters, on the ‘inner rung’ of certain tables used for the 2010 World Series of Poker and on television monitors in the casino displaying the schedule of events.”

According to Everest, Harrah’s refuses to remove the trademarks “in an effort to force payment by Everest for defendant’s use of such marks, and in order to bolster the legitimacy of the World Series of Poker in the minds of tournament participants, fans and the viewing public.”

Harrah’s Online Poker Problems Just Got Deeper

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