The first ever poker convention, PokerCon, is coming to Las Vegas, hosted by Zynga, the play money poker room made famous on Facebook. The event will take place at the Palms in Las Vegas, March 18-19 and feature a real money poker tournament with a $100K top prize.

Every other industry has an annual convention, why not poker? That’s what the play money poker room on Facebook, Zynga believes, at least. Which is why they’re presenting the world’s first such event with PokerCon, coming to…where else?…Las Vegas, Nevada, March 18 – 19.

You’re hearing of this breaking news ahead of the announcement of this inaugural event, as Zynga has yet to formally announce it, although word of it has already, obviously, been leaked. The event will be held at the Palms Casino Resort and will feature as its headlining event a live poker tournament with a guaranteed first prize of $100,000. There are even rumors being bandied about that, in line with Zynga’s niche as a free money online poker room (or really an app) this event may be a freeroll tournament.

In a country where real money online poker is against the law, Zynga has the biggest poker player base of any play money poker site, including over the play money offerings of the real money online poker giants like Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker. That bodes well for Zynga if real money online poker does become legal in the U.S. and, since everyone doubts Zynga would be making such a big money move as sponsoring PokerCon, bodes well for players in the US interested in playing real money online poker as well.