"Casino Regina is very excited to host a poker tournament of this magnitude - a tournament that offers no-limit, no-holds-barred Texas Hold'em excitement at its best!" said Gerry Fischer, VP of Marketing and Casino Services. "Our Diamond Poker Classic will showcase some of the best poker talent in North America, which will include the top 25 players (money leaders) ranked in the Canadian Poker Tour, with the winner going home with an estimated $250,000." The full purse will be awarded based on maximum entry.

The entry fee for players is only $1,100. A limit of 350 players will compete each day with approximately 10 % of the playing field of each day advancing to the Final on Saturday, July 30. Action begins at 12:00 p.m. daily, including the finals.

Fischer said, "The Diamond Poker Classic is limited to 1050 entrants, so we encourage competitors to mark their calendar, get their entry in early so they don't miss out on becoming the Canadian Poker Tour champion!"

Registration begins after June 1, 2005, at the Casino Regina Gift Shop anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. daily by credit card or cash. Players can also register by telephone with a credit card: 1-866-61 POKER (1-866-617-6537).

"We are also providing a $1000 Diamond Poker Classic certificate to winners of upcoming satellite tournaments at Casino Regina and other participating card rooms across the country that will be used towards the registration fee," said Fischer. A list of satellite tournaments, participating casinos and cardrooms can be found at www.casinoregina.com or www.canadianpokerplayer.com.