Microsoft bets on free-to-play with World Series of Poker on Xbox Live

We may only be a few weeks into 2013, but one of our major year-long predictions is already coming true, as Microsoft has released the first details about WSOP: Full House Pro, a free to play poker game that will come to Xbox Live Arcade in the near future. The game already has a listing on the official Xbox website, letting us know that the game will play a lot like Full House Poker, a pay-to-play poker title that released on the platform in 2011. In addition, that also makes the game pretty similar to Zynga's Texas HoldEm Poker, if you're keeping track.

WSOP: Full House Pro, or "World Series of Poker: Full House Pro," if you prefer, has received the official WSOP trademark from Ceasars Interactive, and it will allow up to nine friends or strangers to sit at a table while trying to earn one of the shiny gold bracelets awarded during the World Series of Poker real world event. Ok, so players won't actually win real bracelets, but virtual bragging rights are just as fun... right?

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Developed by Pipeworks Software, WSOP: Full House Pro will support players' avatars as characters as they travel to digital versions of real world casinos (like the Rio and Harrah's), unlocking nifty accessories for their avatars and winning free chips each and every day. While it's likely that chip packages will be available to purchase with real money via players' Xbox Live accounts, it's nice to know that continued access to the game will be available for free, at least until your daily chip allowance runs dry.

There's no set release date for WSOP: Full House Pro as of this writing, but we'll make sure to bring you all of the news you need to know as more details are available.

Are you excited about WSOP: Full House Pro? Will you play a free-to-play poker game on your Xbox 360? Sound off in the comments!