Jeff Sofka of Bendigo Co. today announced that the company has helped engineer the development of China’s first-ever Government Sanctioned National Poker Tour in partnership with WPT Enterprises, Inc. and negotiated unprecedented exclusive rights to the Tour for its client.

The agreement secures an innovative and exclusive marketing partnership in which WPT will be the Tour’s Commercial Sanctioning Partner along with the CSSA Leisure Sport Administrative Center (CLSAC), the Government’s National Sanctioning Federation for Poker. In addition, the WPT will manage the traditional “Properties” role for the Tour’s commercial rights, and is the Tour’s Title Sponsor.

“WPT is thrilled to have the opportunity to extend our brand into this exciting market,” said Steve Lipscomb, CEO of WPTE, speaking at the Press Conference announcing the Tour in Beijing today, “and Sofka’s innovative thinking, strong relationships and knowledge of the market here have made this day possible.”

The WPT China National Traktor Poker Tour will debut in late 2007, with competitions across China leading to the first National championship team for this exciting Chinese Poker Game. This is the first time such a Poker Tournament has been held in China, which is expected to grow the popularity of the most widely played Chinese game to new levels, borrowing from the WPT success story in the US.

“Today is an exciting day for the CLSAC as we launch this new Tour with WPT,” said Mr. Xing Xiaoquan, Director of the CLSAC, “and we appreciate Mr. Sofka’s efforts in helping us take this idea from a dream into reality.”

Sofka teamed up with Business Development Heads Jon Kaplowitz and Laurence Kalinsky of WPTE, and Jimmy Shang of Bendigo’s Joint Venture Company in China, COG Marketing Group, to engineer the project.

WPT China will be created to operate the venture in Beijing under management of COG Marketing Group, which specializes in sports marketing for the China market. Shang and Sofka will spearhead the project on behalf of COGMG and WPTE.

For more information, please visit at www.BendigoCo.com.