World Poker Tour opens in New Jersey

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — After 11 years in Las Vegas, the championship event of the World Poker Tour is under way in Atlantic City.

The weeklong event, sponsored by partypoker, is being held at the Borgata, its partner for online gambling in New Jersey.

Borgata president Tom Balance says moving the championship to Atlantic City shows the growing appeal of poker in New Jersey, particularly since the state began offering Internet gambling last November.

Ten players qualified for the event through Internet play. Thirty others qualified online for events in the Borgata Spring Open, which began earlier this year.

The winner is guaranteed at least $1.3 million from a guaranteed $5 million prize pool.

Televised highlights will be broadcast nationally next month.