The World's Finest Poker Players Ante Up Including Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer, Paul Wolfe, Kathy Liebert, Jennifer Harman, and Clonie Gowen. Poker Royale Inaugurates GSN's New Casino Night Friday, January 21

Syndicated Radio Personality Tom Leykis and Kennedy Represent Their Respective Sex And Spar As Hosts.

January 7, 2005

SANTA MONICA, California -- Do men have the advantage over women in the game of poker? GSN, the network for games, dares to find out pitting 12 of the world's top professional poker players together in a no-holds barred poker tournament like never before seen. POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES, is a seven episode invitational tournament hosted by syndicated radio personality Tom Leykis, who is known for defense of the male species. This marks Leykis' first hosting duties on television. He is joined as host by Kennedy, the outspoken TV and game show veteran, who proudly represents the female voice. Also joining them as the play-by-play commentator is Robert Williamson III, one of the most respected and skilled poker players around. The announcement was made today by Ian Valentine, Senior Vice President of Programming, GSN.

POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES will break new ground when it premieres on GSN's new Friday Casino Night, January 21 at 9:00 PM ET/PT. Immediately following POKER ROYALE is WORLD SERIES OF BLACKJACK featuring the world's finest blackjack players vying for their chance to win the $250,000 grand prize.

"Based on the success of our first poker series, we wanted to follow with a second installment with a unique twist. POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES is entertaining and engaging for players of every skill level," said Valentine. Valentine continues, "There's a real ongoing debate in the poker world as to whether the women are as good as the men. We sit our viewers right at the table to watch the play and hear the banter."

Leykis, the controversial sharp tongued broadcast radio personality, will undoubtedly root for the men. The "Tom Leykis Show" has been syndicated from Los Angeles since 1994, and has developed its reputation as a forum on male/female issues. In the ladies corner is TV personality Kennedy, who will lend her sassiness to the women's corner. Kennedy began her career as a radio DJ on LA's KROQ-FM, and later became known as a witty MTV VJ. Most recently, she was host of GSN's FRIEND OR FOE? and mediated over WHO WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA?, GSN's game show about California's historic Governor recall election.

POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES includes the world's top players including Chris Moneymaker (2003 World Series of Poker 1st place), Paul Wolfe (2003 World Championship Online Poker final runner up), Greg "Fossilman" Raymer (2004 World Series of Poker 1st place), Amir Vahedi (2001 No Limit Texas Hold'em Player of the Year), Layne Flack (5 Time World Series of Poker Champion) and Antonio Esfandiari (World Poker Tour first place champion). In the women's corner are Kathy Liebert (2002 Party Poker Million champion), Jennifer Harman (World Poker Tour Bellagio 4th place), Evelyn Ng (World Poker Tour Ladies Night 2nd place), Karina Jett, Kristy Gazes (2001 World Series of Poker Shoe 5th place) and Clonie Gowen (World Poker Tour Ladies Night champion).

In each of the first six episodes of POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES three men and three women from the teams of men and women will play a game of No Limit Texas Hold'Em. Every episode champion wins $10,000 and six points. The player who finishes second receives five points, third place receives four points, fourth place receives three points, fifth place receives two points and last place receives one point. In the seventh episode's final match, the top three point leaders for the men and women will face off for the championship. The winner of the tournament takes home $100,000 and wins an extra $30,000 to be split among the remaining team members.

GSN, the Network for Games, is the only U.S. television network dedicated to game-related programming and interactive game playing. The network features game shows, reality series, light sports, documentaries and casino games. GSN is the industry leader in interactivity and as such allows viewers a chance to win prizes by playing along with GSN's televised games via GSN.com. Reaching 56 million Nielsen homes, GSN is distributed in the U.S. through all major cable systems and satellite providers. The network is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation. For further media information, visit GSN's press website at corp.gsn.com.

January 6, 2005

CONCORD - Senate President Tom Eaton said Monday he supports legalizing video poker at New Hampshire's four racetracks to help shore up the state's finances.
Eaton said he also would consider expanding gambling in the future to include the state's grand hotels.

State Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, a Manchester Democrat, is working on a bill to legalize the machines, said Eaton.

Both Eaton and D'Allesandro estimate putting state-operated video poker machines at the four tracks will raise $200 million a year for the state.

D'Allesandro has tried unsuccessfully in the past to pass the bill, but the composition of the House and Senate has changed since his last attempt. Eaton said he doesn't know if gambling will fare better this time, but there are not many other alternatives to raising money to help pay for spending in the next state budget.

Gov.-elect John Lynch estimates the state faces a $300 million budget shortfall if spending on existing programs continues at their same levels. Lynch, Eaton and House Speaker Doug Scamman oppose income and sales taxes. Lynch says the state must resolve the shortfall within existing revenues.

Lynch has taken a cautionary approach to expanding gambling.

"Gov.-elect Lynch would have to see convincing evidence it could be done without harming New Hampshire's quality of life," spokeswoman Pam Walsh said Monday.

With tax hikes ruled out, legalizing video poker could be the state's only option to budget cuts, said Eaton.

"We're still going to be living within our means" if gambling isn't expanded, he said.

As part of the budget preparation, lawmakers also will carefully review proposed changes to the state's Medicaid program, said Eaton.

Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen said the state can't afford to leave things as they are. He wants to shift the emphasis from nursing home care to providing more care at home and in community settings. He also wants to give some clients budgets to spend on care to make them more aware of costs.

Lynch has said he has reservations about the plan and will hold hearings on it this month.

Eaton said efforts to reform the state's ethics laws will share the spotlight with the budget. He said he does not support drastic changes that might discourage people from running for office.

"I would not want the pendulum to go too far one way," he said. "The bottom like is everything should be declared."

Eaton said lawmakers will debate what to do about conflicting laws governing gifts and contributions to public officials. Former House Speaker Gene Chandler withdrew his bid for a third term as speaker after a legislative ethics committee filed charges against him over $64,000 in unreported gifts.

Executive Councilor Ruth Griffin, a Republican from Portsmouth, also is under the spotlight for allegedly using $80,000 in donations for personal expenses, such as clothing, lodging and meals.

Lynch wants to establish an ethics commission with broad authority to investigate members of the executive branch.

Eaton said lawmakers probably "will tweak" a controversial small business insurance law that Lynch wants repealed. The law allows insurers to use demographic data to set rates and work to provide health coverage for every child in the state.