BY TOM SOMACH

WPT Enterprises Inc., parent company of the World Poker Tour and the World Poker Tour Europe, has announced the reopening of its own online poker room.

The site, at www.worldpokertour.com, offers various forms of poker for fun or real money, although real-money play is not allowed for those in the U.S., due to anti-online gambling laws in force there.

WPT Enterprises previously operated an online poker room at www.wptonline.com, but pulled the plug on that operation.

The new operation will use Cryptologic software.

“The launch of worldpokertour.com allows us to strengthen our brand with the unveiling of a comprehensive and robust online gaming platform,” said Steve Lipscomb, president, founder and ceo of World Poker Tour Europe.

“Our strategic partnership with Cryptologic offers our users a stable, secure and proven platform while the flexible infrastructure can meet the demands of our growing business,” he said.

“WPT played a very key role in the global poker boom and remains one of the most visible and respected poker brands today,” Lipscomb continued.

“By moving our online global gaming platform to Cryptologic and securing immediate liquidity, we are poised to make a major impact in the online gaming industry and create a significant financial opportunity for our company,” he added.

The new site offers no-limit Texas hold ‘em, seven-card stud and Omaha, as well as something called hold ‘em blackjack.

In addition, poker players can compete in something the site calls “headhunter tournaments,” where entrants are rewarded for each opponent they knock out of they tourney.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)