• by Val Brickates Kennedy , May 28, 2014

Fantasy sports provider DraftKings has scored a sweet deal with the World Series of Poker.

The Boston-based online platform has signed up to be the the exclusive fantasy sports sponsor of the WSOP, one of the most popular and lucrative gaming events on the planet.

Under the deal, DraftKings will provide WSOP-branded fantasy poker satellites that will award players with entries into the WSOP's coveted $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event in Las Vegas. The satellite prize awards, worth $12,000, will cover the Main Event's $10,000 entry costs plus travel to Vegas.

The WSOP began Tuesday, according to the Las Vegas Sun. This year's competition will consists of 65 tournaments played over six weeks, culminating with the Main Event in early July. The Main Event will then be played down to a table of nine players, who will then compete in a final tournament in November for a guaranteed cash prize of $10 million. 

"We have long understood the crossover potential between poker and fantasy sports, so this sponsorship makes perfect sense for DraftKings, the WSOP, and the gaming community overall," said DraftKing's marketing chief, Anthony Pitts, in a statement. "People are looking for more ways to play, and now we can offer just that with affordable satellites into the WSOP Main Event."

"There is no doubt the demographics of our customers line up perfectly with those of DraftKings," said WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart. "This is the first deal we have made in the fantasy sports space, and we look forward to introducing our avid male audience to the DraftKings brand and product."