In Las Vegas, the multi-million dollar 41^st annual World Series of Poker began this week at the Rio Casino.

The number of players in attendance increased 31% this year showing the popularity of poker.

The Eureka Casino will present its version of the popular Texas Hold ‘em tournament in the Mesquite Poker Open Tournament from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.

The Mesquite tournament will be capped off on Sunday, Aug. 15 with a No Limit Hold ‘em $25,000 free roll.

“We are pleased to be part of this year’s tournament,” said Linda Johnson, one of the special guest hostesses along with her partner Jan Fisher.

Johnson is known as “The First Lady of Poker” and has been a successful professional poker player, publisher of Card Player Magazine, a 2008 inductee into the “Women of Poker Hall of Fame” and owner of Card Player Cruises.

Jan Fisher was a poker dealer for many years, is a 2009 inductee into the “Women of Poker Hall of Fame,” teaches seminars on poker around the country and is a co-founder of the Tournament Directors Association as well as a partner in Card Player Cruises.

These two ladies are very well known in professional poker.

“The Eureka is fortunate to have Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher as our hostesses for this year’s tournament,” said Rob Reid, Director of Table Games for the Eureka. “These ladies might even give a player some good tips on how to play a hand.”

“We also have satellite tournaments daily at 8 a.m. that will begin as soon as there are 10 players signed up and they will give poker players a chance to win some money for the poker open. The satellite tournaments will have a prize of two $100 poker tournament vouchers and $30 in cash,” he said.

During the weeklong tournament, No Limit Hold ‘em will be played starting at noon each day with an $80+20 buy-in.

On the final tournament day at noon, there will be a $25,000 free roll tournament.

The free roll tournament is a play where the Eureka will put up $25,000 prize money with no entry fee.

A player can qualify for the free roll in one of four ways.

First, by playing a minimum of 25 hours of live poker between July 31 and Aug. 15.

A player may buy in for $500.

One player per 15 entries qualifies in every weekly buy-in tournament starting Monday, Feb. 8.

And, you can qualify if you place first in any of the Eureka open events.

A player can also qualify in a combination of the listed ways which could result in a bump up in one level of bonus chips.

For example, a player could play 25 hours of live poker and win a tournament, they would start with $6,000 chips.

The bonus structure for chips is 25 hours equals $3,000 in tournament chips, 35 hours equals $6,000, 45 hours equals $9,000, 55 hours equals $12,000 and 65 hours receives $15,000 in tournament chips.

Each player will start with a minimum of $3,000 in tournament chips.

On Sunday, Aug. 8 and Friday, Aug. 13, the Eureka will also have a tag team match with half hold ‘em and half Omaha/8 for teams that want to try their hand a tag team playing.

“It is all about having fun and winning some money,” said Johnson. “We hope a lot of people give it a try.”

Johnson will also be available to tell people about poker cruises, which are gaining in popularity.

The cruises travel in Alaska, the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe and have a poker theme.

The Eureka expects as many as 600 players for the week and will set up extra tables near the poker room for the comfort of the players.

To sign up for the tournament, join a satellite game or for more information, stop by the poker room at the Eureka Casino or call 345-4709 or (800)346-4611.