PLAY POKER FOR ONLY $ 1 !! CLICK BELOW TO START PLAYING NOW !!
Bet On All Your UFC / MMA Fights Here !!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
UFCPOKER COMMENTS ! Holidays
Happy New Year to all you poker fans out there ! Dont forget to sign guestbook and leave your comments !
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
What Phil Hellmuth has to say about the online poker scandal
Phil Hellmuth and Cereus- the new software platforms for online Absolute Poker and UltimateBet.com wait in baited breath for 2008 to end quickly.
It's been more than a hard year for the company who gets itself first embroiled in an internal cheating scandal that made it to a segment of 60 minutes. The group had to pay out anyone affected by the cheating, allegedly manufactured by World Series of Poker winner Russ Hamilton.
Then over the past two weeks, the company came under fire once more, this time the controversy involved a spokesperson pro Phil Hellmuth discovered winning a lot of money via a losing hand.
It's been widely accepted that the payout was the result of a software glitch; however it appears that the poker community is shifting their angst away from Cereus and onto Phil Hellmuth following his own statement about the situation.
Phil began by justifying the event stating that in his online career ''there's probably been a hundred pots that have been shipped, maybe 50 the wrong way to them and 50 the wrong way to me.''
It was from this point in that Hellmuth began proclaiming things that were not true to the event, starting with
''What I like about Ultimate Bet is that they realized their mistake immediately''
I the real event in actual fact, the other player noticed the mistake and then contacted Ultimate Bet, demanding a refund.
Hellmuth's opponent was disconnected from the table, yet Hellmuth explains this by
''Apparently, since we were heads up, somehow my opponent left the table, right before the pot-right as the pot was being awarded.''
''And, because he left the table—and it may have been, I don't think it was his fault, it may have been the fault of the investigation, but I don’t thinks so, but he for whatever reason left the table and the pot was awarded to me.''
Hellmuth has been criticized for using a rhetorical device ''apophasis'' suggesting the truth of something by pointedly denying it. In this case, Hellmuth encourages the listener to think that it was the other players fault by saying that he doesn’t think it is.
In his statement Hellmuth goes on to proclaim that it was he who ''prompted'' the other player to check to see what had happened during the KQ hand.
Finally he gets down discussing why he played the hand the way he did.
He tells that ''The river was like a 4'' but in fact it was a 9.
Hellmuth's explanation conveys that he was paying more attention to his connectivity and not to the fact that the pot was awarded to him.
''He bet, I called. And, uh, right then and there, I could see he was having some connectivity problems. He probably connected and re-connected. He just kept popping off and popping back on. It was really weird.''
''And apparently he popped off at that exact millisecond. And the pot was rewarded to me. And then this controversy, but that's just online poker.''
Hellmuth concluded his statement by asking listeners to look on the bright side.
''The great thing was that he was actually- he did say he was very pleased that he was rewarded the pot within minutes.''
In real light of the truth the player contacted UB before 5.12 Am, then he posted that he was ''on hold'' with customer support at 5.27 Am. At 5.41 am he posted that they had given him half the pot, with a promise to give him the rest ''in a few hours.'' Helmuth's comment on this last detail…
'' I guess the CEO of UB had to go hock a few things to get the rest of the money.''
Despite the controversy of his answers Hellmuth contends about himself ''I think it's safe to say I've had a perfect reputation of honor, ethics and integrity in this business.''
It's been more than a hard year for the company who gets itself first embroiled in an internal cheating scandal that made it to a segment of 60 minutes. The group had to pay out anyone affected by the cheating, allegedly manufactured by World Series of Poker winner Russ Hamilton.
Then over the past two weeks, the company came under fire once more, this time the controversy involved a spokesperson pro Phil Hellmuth discovered winning a lot of money via a losing hand.
It's been widely accepted that the payout was the result of a software glitch; however it appears that the poker community is shifting their angst away from Cereus and onto Phil Hellmuth following his own statement about the situation.
Phil began by justifying the event stating that in his online career ''there's probably been a hundred pots that have been shipped, maybe 50 the wrong way to them and 50 the wrong way to me.''
It was from this point in that Hellmuth began proclaiming things that were not true to the event, starting with
''What I like about Ultimate Bet is that they realized their mistake immediately''
I the real event in actual fact, the other player noticed the mistake and then contacted Ultimate Bet, demanding a refund.
Hellmuth's opponent was disconnected from the table, yet Hellmuth explains this by
''Apparently, since we were heads up, somehow my opponent left the table, right before the pot-right as the pot was being awarded.''
''And, because he left the table—and it may have been, I don't think it was his fault, it may have been the fault of the investigation, but I don’t thinks so, but he for whatever reason left the table and the pot was awarded to me.''
Hellmuth has been criticized for using a rhetorical device ''apophasis'' suggesting the truth of something by pointedly denying it. In this case, Hellmuth encourages the listener to think that it was the other players fault by saying that he doesn’t think it is.
In his statement Hellmuth goes on to proclaim that it was he who ''prompted'' the other player to check to see what had happened during the KQ hand.
Finally he gets down discussing why he played the hand the way he did.
He tells that ''The river was like a 4'' but in fact it was a 9.
Hellmuth's explanation conveys that he was paying more attention to his connectivity and not to the fact that the pot was awarded to him.
''He bet, I called. And, uh, right then and there, I could see he was having some connectivity problems. He probably connected and re-connected. He just kept popping off and popping back on. It was really weird.''
''And apparently he popped off at that exact millisecond. And the pot was rewarded to me. And then this controversy, but that's just online poker.''
Hellmuth concluded his statement by asking listeners to look on the bright side.
''The great thing was that he was actually- he did say he was very pleased that he was rewarded the pot within minutes.''
In real light of the truth the player contacted UB before 5.12 Am, then he posted that he was ''on hold'' with customer support at 5.27 Am. At 5.41 am he posted that they had given him half the pot, with a promise to give him the rest ''in a few hours.'' Helmuth's comment on this last detail…
'' I guess the CEO of UB had to go hock a few things to get the rest of the money.''
Despite the controversy of his answers Hellmuth contends about himself ''I think it's safe to say I've had a perfect reputation of honor, ethics and integrity in this business.''
The closure of online poker site Zosoz.com
Today's online poker offers a competitive environment whereby sites have to constantly come up with innovative ways to bring persons into their poker rooms.
Zosoz.com appeared to have an idea that others in the industry failed to produce.
There idea was centered on having a subscription type fee for players to buy into. The players would sign up for $19.99 and would then have the ability to play in some high stakes poker tournaments throughout the year.
On the surface the idea appeared to be innovative and different from all other online poker sites. However in less than two months of opening, Zosoz.com shut down.
The site didn’t offer a reason for the sudden departure from the online casino industry.
Yet Zosoz.com claimed that all persons who signed up for membership where refunded claiming that ''circumstances beyond our control'' is the reason for the shut down , but they gave no further details.
Players were drawn to the site that was going to offer once a year $1 million tournament. That was to go along with monthly $100,000 and weekly $1,000 tournaments.
With such a short shelf life, we are left to wonder if the idea would have worked given some time.
Zosoz.com appeared to have an idea that others in the industry failed to produce.
There idea was centered on having a subscription type fee for players to buy into. The players would sign up for $19.99 and would then have the ability to play in some high stakes poker tournaments throughout the year.
On the surface the idea appeared to be innovative and different from all other online poker sites. However in less than two months of opening, Zosoz.com shut down.
The site didn’t offer a reason for the sudden departure from the online casino industry.
Yet Zosoz.com claimed that all persons who signed up for membership where refunded claiming that ''circumstances beyond our control'' is the reason for the shut down , but they gave no further details.
Players were drawn to the site that was going to offer once a year $1 million tournament. That was to go along with monthly $100,000 and weekly $1,000 tournaments.
With such a short shelf life, we are left to wonder if the idea would have worked given some time.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Doyle Brunson has a hard time accepting online poker PartyGaming's plea !
The man behind one on online poker's fastest growing rooms Doylesroom.com, in his latest blog speaks candidly about Anurag Dikshit, the man who two weeks ago entered a guilty plea for running an Internet poker firm, PartyGaming.
Doyle Brunson is having a tough time accepting the plea. This is the first of its kind for an online poker room.
Dikshit was one of the co-owners of Party Poker becoming a multi-billionaire when Party went public. Doyle Brunson senses that Dikshit should in fact feel obligation to online poker, the industry that made him a rich man. He stated …
''Instead he folded up like an accordion and pleads guilty to some guilty law and is paying a 300 million dollar fine and a possible 2-year jail terms. It certainly created some ill will from the other online poker sites. I personally can't imagine what was going through his mind when he made his decision.''
Time will tell the effect of Dikshit's decision on online poker.
Doyle Brunson is having a tough time accepting the plea. This is the first of its kind for an online poker room.
Dikshit was one of the co-owners of Party Poker becoming a multi-billionaire when Party went public. Doyle Brunson senses that Dikshit should in fact feel obligation to online poker, the industry that made him a rich man. He stated …
''Instead he folded up like an accordion and pleads guilty to some guilty law and is paying a 300 million dollar fine and a possible 2-year jail terms. It certainly created some ill will from the other online poker sites. I personally can't imagine what was going through his mind when he made his decision.''
Time will tell the effect of Dikshit's decision on online poker.
The Rake Race has been extended at online poker Lucky Ace Poker !
Lucky Ace Poker's Rake Race has been extended until January 31t.
The idea is to accumulate as much rake as possible with the winner receiving a $6,000 PokerNews Cup Alpine Package.
The Cup is heading to Europe where we there will be hosted poker tournament in a five star ski resort on the peak of a mountain in Central Europe. As the winner of the Rake Race the package grants you a private helicopter ride from the airport to the resort, ski passes, party entries, spa passes and of course, heaps of time at the tables.
Updates can be found on the Lucky Ace Rake Race Page. There are only three people on the leaderboard so anyone still has a chance to win.
While the Rake Race is running there are more prizes given away. Every Thursday (00:00 GMT) to Wednesday (23:59 GMT), the player who accumulates the most rake within that week will receive free entry to LuckyAce's next $100,000 guaranteed tournament.
The idea is to accumulate as much rake as possible with the winner receiving a $6,000 PokerNews Cup Alpine Package.
The Cup is heading to Europe where we there will be hosted poker tournament in a five star ski resort on the peak of a mountain in Central Europe. As the winner of the Rake Race the package grants you a private helicopter ride from the airport to the resort, ski passes, party entries, spa passes and of course, heaps of time at the tables.
Updates can be found on the Lucky Ace Rake Race Page. There are only three people on the leaderboard so anyone still has a chance to win.
While the Rake Race is running there are more prizes given away. Every Thursday (00:00 GMT) to Wednesday (23:59 GMT), the player who accumulates the most rake within that week will receive free entry to LuckyAce's next $100,000 guaranteed tournament.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
NoIQ Poker and Carlos Poker to be Removed from the iPoker network
iPoker has, following discussions with Tain, decided to remove Carlos Poker and NoIQ Poker from the iPoker Network. The said cardrooms will be removed from the iPoker network liquidity by January 24th 2009.
iPoker has, following discussions with Tain, decided to remove Carlos Poker and NoIQ Poker from the iPoker Network. The said cardrooms will be removed from the iPoker network liquidity by January 24th 2009.
The iPoker Network includes some of the most popular card rooms in Europe, such as Titan Poker, Bet365, Expekt, Paddy Power and others. According to www.pokersitescout.com iPoker is the largest non-U.S. network in the world and is growing faster than any of the other leading poker site.
iPoker has, following discussions with Tain, decided to remove Carlos Poker and NoIQ Poker from the iPoker Network. The said cardrooms will be removed from the iPoker network liquidity by January 24th 2009.
The iPoker Network includes some of the most popular card rooms in Europe, such as Titan Poker, Bet365, Expekt, Paddy Power and others. According to www.pokersitescout.com iPoker is the largest non-U.S. network in the world and is growing faster than any of the other leading poker site.
Poker Show Debuts Take Center Stage on Poker News Daily
Taking center stage on Poker News Daily this week has been the news that High Stakes Poker will debut on March 1st. For poker fans seeking more immediate gratification, the seventh season of the World Poker Tour kicks off on January 4th.
Poker news headlines have been dominated this week by the news that new poker programming is returning to television once again. It will be just a few short days until the seventh season of the World Poker Tour (WPT) kicks off on cable station Fox Sports Net. The show debuts on Sunday, January 4th. Poker players will have a lot to be thankful for, as 26 one-hour installments are scheduled to air. The WPT has come a long way since its launch in 2002 and has become the standard by which many televised poker tournaments are measured.
The seventh WPT season will feature a proliferation of FullTiltPoker.net logos and name-droppings, as the online poker room serves as its official sponsor. PokerNewsDaily.com columnist, World Series of Poker bracelet winner, and ambassador of poker Mike Sexton will call the action along with Vince Van Patten. Each of the recent WPT seasons has featured a different hostess and this time around, Amanda Leatherman will assume those responsibilities. She is one of the world's premier tournament reporters and also serves as the Live Updates Hostess for the WPT website. Southwest Airlines has also returned as a presenting sponsor.
Meanwhile, GSN, The Network for Games, is gearing up for the launch of High Stakes Poker, which is entering its fifth season. Filming just wrapped up at the Golden Nugget in Downtown Las Vegas and featured a variety of poker superstars including Doyle Brunson, Antonio Esfandiari, and Barry Greenstein. Also making their way to the Golden Nugget (which served as the location for filming of the first season of High Stakes Poker) were 2008 WSOP Main Event winner Peter Eastgate and poker sensation Tom "durrrr" Dwan.
A total of three days of filming took place, with the show boasting a $200,000 minimum buy-in. Brunson spoke with Poker News Daily on the phone from Las Vegas and commented, "Everybody is just getting here and we're mulling around. Everyone is ready to play. I think it's definitely a competitive atmosphere. Everybody is excited because it's for high stakes. There are literally millions of dollars on the line."
High Stakes Poker is one of the few televised cash games. The banter among the players adds to the insightfulness of the narration by A.J. Benza and "Welcome Back Kotter" star Gabe Kaplan. Thirteen episodes are slated to air as part of Season V. The show, like the new installment of the WPT, will air on Sunday nights as part of "Poker Night" on GSN. The network also owns the rights to the sixth season of the WPT.
Poker news headlines have been dominated this week by the news that new poker programming is returning to television once again. It will be just a few short days until the seventh season of the World Poker Tour (WPT) kicks off on cable station Fox Sports Net. The show debuts on Sunday, January 4th. Poker players will have a lot to be thankful for, as 26 one-hour installments are scheduled to air. The WPT has come a long way since its launch in 2002 and has become the standard by which many televised poker tournaments are measured.
The seventh WPT season will feature a proliferation of FullTiltPoker.net logos and name-droppings, as the online poker room serves as its official sponsor. PokerNewsDaily.com columnist, World Series of Poker bracelet winner, and ambassador of poker Mike Sexton will call the action along with Vince Van Patten. Each of the recent WPT seasons has featured a different hostess and this time around, Amanda Leatherman will assume those responsibilities. She is one of the world's premier tournament reporters and also serves as the Live Updates Hostess for the WPT website. Southwest Airlines has also returned as a presenting sponsor.
Meanwhile, GSN, The Network for Games, is gearing up for the launch of High Stakes Poker, which is entering its fifth season. Filming just wrapped up at the Golden Nugget in Downtown Las Vegas and featured a variety of poker superstars including Doyle Brunson, Antonio Esfandiari, and Barry Greenstein. Also making their way to the Golden Nugget (which served as the location for filming of the first season of High Stakes Poker) were 2008 WSOP Main Event winner Peter Eastgate and poker sensation Tom "durrrr" Dwan.
A total of three days of filming took place, with the show boasting a $200,000 minimum buy-in. Brunson spoke with Poker News Daily on the phone from Las Vegas and commented, "Everybody is just getting here and we're mulling around. Everyone is ready to play. I think it's definitely a competitive atmosphere. Everybody is excited because it's for high stakes. There are literally millions of dollars on the line."
High Stakes Poker is one of the few televised cash games. The banter among the players adds to the insightfulness of the narration by A.J. Benza and "Welcome Back Kotter" star Gabe Kaplan. Thirteen episodes are slated to air as part of Season V. The show, like the new installment of the WPT, will air on Sunday nights as part of "Poker Night" on GSN. The network also owns the rights to the sixth season of the WPT.
BW Wrapping Up 2008 with Exclusive Poker Bonuses
BonusWhores.com, the premier source for the world's best poker bonuses, is closing out the 2008 calendar year by offering its members exclusive opportunities on the world's largest online poker rooms. It's the season for giving, only at BW.
San Jose, Costa Rica (PRWEB) December 28, 2008 -- BonusWhores.com is always on the lookout for new and exciting poker bonus opportunities for its players. This December, players will have more than just Christmas presents to look forward to with a trio of exclusive sign-up bonuses from 888 Pacific Poker, Chili Poker, and PokerStars, among others.
888 Pacific Poker is part of the 888.com Network, which has been around since 1997, with the 888 Pacific Poker brand launching in 2002. This December, BW announced one of the largest sign-up bonuses in the history of the network. When depositing exactly $888 or $1,500 and using the appropriate poker bonus codes (bw888 or bw1500), players can get a 100% match.
The first $100 of each of the bonuses will be given instantly and can be withdrawn once players have wagered the bonus 20x. For the remaining portion, players will need to earn Bonus Points. For the $1,500 bonus, players will need to earn seven Bonus Points for each $1 in bonus money or eight Bonus Points per $1 of bonus for the $888 bonus.
Two Bonus Points are earned for each $1 in rake that the player contributes to the rake. This means that players will effectively clear the bonus at a 25%-28% contributed raked rate. The standard bonus of 100% up $400 is clearable at a 10 Bonus Points per $1 rate.
Chili Poker is one of BW's players' favorite iPoker hangouts. Its bonuses are among the best on the network and BW has sweetened the deal on its Chili Poker exclusive bonus. Now, players only have to deposit $400 instead of $750 to receive the full bonus, which is 150% up to $600 when using bonus code BW600. To clear, players only need to earn 35 FPPs for each $1 in bonus money. With up to six FPPs earned per each dealt raked hand, this bonus can clear at lightning fast speeds.
Lastly, players can't forget about the PokerStars exclusive 150% up to $75 bonus, only available until December 31st. This is a real prize at $25 more than the standard amount with a clearance rate of 6.67 FPPs for each $1 in bonus money, meaning it clears almost 50% faster than the standard bonus. PokerStars is the world's largest online poker site, so players will not have a problem finding a game to clear this bonus.
These three rooms only represent a fraction of bonuses that BW offers on an ongoing basis. Check out BonusWhores.com for the latest and greatest poker sign-up bonus opportunities on the net.
San Jose, Costa Rica (PRWEB) December 28, 2008 -- BonusWhores.com is always on the lookout for new and exciting poker bonus opportunities for its players. This December, players will have more than just Christmas presents to look forward to with a trio of exclusive sign-up bonuses from 888 Pacific Poker, Chili Poker, and PokerStars, among others.
888 Pacific Poker is part of the 888.com Network, which has been around since 1997, with the 888 Pacific Poker brand launching in 2002. This December, BW announced one of the largest sign-up bonuses in the history of the network. When depositing exactly $888 or $1,500 and using the appropriate poker bonus codes (bw888 or bw1500), players can get a 100% match.
The first $100 of each of the bonuses will be given instantly and can be withdrawn once players have wagered the bonus 20x. For the remaining portion, players will need to earn Bonus Points. For the $1,500 bonus, players will need to earn seven Bonus Points for each $1 in bonus money or eight Bonus Points per $1 of bonus for the $888 bonus.
Two Bonus Points are earned for each $1 in rake that the player contributes to the rake. This means that players will effectively clear the bonus at a 25%-28% contributed raked rate. The standard bonus of 100% up $400 is clearable at a 10 Bonus Points per $1 rate.
Chili Poker is one of BW's players' favorite iPoker hangouts. Its bonuses are among the best on the network and BW has sweetened the deal on its Chili Poker exclusive bonus. Now, players only have to deposit $400 instead of $750 to receive the full bonus, which is 150% up to $600 when using bonus code BW600. To clear, players only need to earn 35 FPPs for each $1 in bonus money. With up to six FPPs earned per each dealt raked hand, this bonus can clear at lightning fast speeds.
Lastly, players can't forget about the PokerStars exclusive 150% up to $75 bonus, only available until December 31st. This is a real prize at $25 more than the standard amount with a clearance rate of 6.67 FPPs for each $1 in bonus money, meaning it clears almost 50% faster than the standard bonus. PokerStars is the world's largest online poker site, so players will not have a problem finding a game to clear this bonus.
These three rooms only represent a fraction of bonuses that BW offers on an ongoing basis. Check out BonusWhores.com for the latest and greatest poker sign-up bonus opportunities on the net.
Inside Poker !
In the meta-game that poker can become, you are not only trying to get a read on your opponents based on their image -- playing style, betting patterns, that sort of thing -- but you also need to get a read based on the way they play against you.
The case of bluffing maniac Jamie Gold, the World Series of Poker main event champion in 2006, presents an interesting example of moves that his image demands but might require different action by other players. In this hand from the 2008 World Series of Poker $10,000-buy-in main event at Las Vegas' Rio Hotel, with blinds at $50-$100, two players limped ahead of Gold, who also limped with K-3 suited on the button.
The blinds also played, so five players took a flop of K-3-7, two spades. The original limper made an overbet of $600 into a $500 pot. The second limper folded. Gold called with top and bottom pair in position. The blinds folded.
The turn came the five of clubs. The original limper made another overbet of $2,000 into a $1,700 pot.
"There are two spades on the flop and a spade didn't come on the turn, so he thinks I'm on spades," said Gold, celebrity spokesman for ALS, the disease that killed his father. "I called because he didn't know what I had, and I knew that if the next spade doesn't come, he's going to bet again and I'm going to get him.
"No one ever believes me because I'm always bluffing. So, I knew I might get doubled up. He was the chip leader at the table and he had the chips to call my stack."
The river paired the 5. Gold's key second pair was counterfeited by a higher second pair on the board. The original limper checked. Gold checked. The original limper showed K-Q offsuit, giving him the pot with a better kicker.
"If I had raised on the turn, he still would've called me and I still would've gotten counterfeited and lost more money," Gold said. "He wasn't getting off the hand unless I went all in, which is a stupid play. What if he had a set? I wasn't 100 percent willing to go all in and put my tournament life on it.
"I know now that they're calling me, so when I get counterfeited, I can get off the hand. It's the smartest play for me, but any other player should've raised there because they can get people off one pair. No one's getting off K-Q and one pair and nothing else on the board. Not against me. They're just not, especially when there's a draw out there and I could be on the draw. You have to play the way people are playing against you."
TABLE TALK
Button: The last betting position in all betting rounds after the flop; a powerful spot because you get to see every other player act before you.
The case of bluffing maniac Jamie Gold, the World Series of Poker main event champion in 2006, presents an interesting example of moves that his image demands but might require different action by other players. In this hand from the 2008 World Series of Poker $10,000-buy-in main event at Las Vegas' Rio Hotel, with blinds at $50-$100, two players limped ahead of Gold, who also limped with K-3 suited on the button.
The blinds also played, so five players took a flop of K-3-7, two spades. The original limper made an overbet of $600 into a $500 pot. The second limper folded. Gold called with top and bottom pair in position. The blinds folded.
The turn came the five of clubs. The original limper made another overbet of $2,000 into a $1,700 pot.
"There are two spades on the flop and a spade didn't come on the turn, so he thinks I'm on spades," said Gold, celebrity spokesman for ALS, the disease that killed his father. "I called because he didn't know what I had, and I knew that if the next spade doesn't come, he's going to bet again and I'm going to get him.
"No one ever believes me because I'm always bluffing. So, I knew I might get doubled up. He was the chip leader at the table and he had the chips to call my stack."
The river paired the 5. Gold's key second pair was counterfeited by a higher second pair on the board. The original limper checked. Gold checked. The original limper showed K-Q offsuit, giving him the pot with a better kicker.
"If I had raised on the turn, he still would've called me and I still would've gotten counterfeited and lost more money," Gold said. "He wasn't getting off the hand unless I went all in, which is a stupid play. What if he had a set? I wasn't 100 percent willing to go all in and put my tournament life on it.
"I know now that they're calling me, so when I get counterfeited, I can get off the hand. It's the smartest play for me, but any other player should've raised there because they can get people off one pair. No one's getting off K-Q and one pair and nothing else on the board. Not against me. They're just not, especially when there's a draw out there and I could be on the draw. You have to play the way people are playing against you."
TABLE TALK
Button: The last betting position in all betting rounds after the flop; a powerful spot because you get to see every other player act before you.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Agents spend $ 1K in probe of poker club !
Tucson, Arizona
Undercover agents posed as poker players on at least six occasions over a three-month span during their investigation into a North Side card room, spending more than $1,000 on poker in the process, the state's investigative report shows.
Arizona Department of Gaming agents and Tucson police executed a search warrant Tuesday on Club Royale, 2665 N. Campbell Ave., as well as at the residences of club owners Donna and Johnny Ray Rogers.
The searches were conducted five days after Club Royale closed its doors as part of an agreement with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to settle a civil lawsuit filed by the tribe.
The tribe, which operates two of the Tucson area's four casinos, sued Club Royale on Aug. 19, claiming the poker room was violating state gambling laws and that it held a competitive advantage over Indian casinos because it didn't have to abide by a gaming compact.
Indian casinos are regulated by the Arizona-Tribal State Gaming Compact, which was approved in 1993 and renewed by voters in 2003.
The timing of the warrants was not related to the club's closure, said Seena Simon, a spokeswoman for the Department of Gaming.
"That's when we were ready to go," Simon said. "We would have asked for the search warrants even if the club was open."
The investigative report, which the Gaming Department has posted on its Web site along with surveillance video and photos taken during the investigation, says agents began infiltrating Club Royale in late July and returned on several occasions in an attempt to see if the club was violating state laws on gambling.
During their investigation, agents observed the club's evolution into a hot spot for action-seeking poker players, the report states.
"The size of the poker games held in the Club Royale have grown so much that this establishment is now a full-fledged poker room and not a social club," the report stated in an entry related to an Aug. 28 poker game that involved several players placing "bundles of hundred-dollar bills into the pot."
The report says agents sat in on poker games and struck up conversations with players, dealers and other card-room staffers, learning that word was spreading in the Tucson area that Club Royale had more live "action" than poker rooms at Casino del Sol or the Desert Diamond Casino.
Agents used more than $1,000 in "undercover funds" to buy poker chips and memberships to the club. One agent won $155 in a poker game played on Oct. 16.
Agents observed card-room dealers collecting a $3 fee from a different player before each hand, which would then be placed by the dealer into a metal container on the floor next to the dealer's leg, the report states.
This fee resulted in $123 in revenue collected during an hour-long period on July 30, the report states. That amount swelled to an estimated $555 being taken in per hour on Aug. 20, when the report states five active poker games were each dealing 33 to 37 hands per hour.
Charging players a fee to play makes the game illegal because the house receives a direct profit from the games, says a news release issued Tuesday by the Arizona Department of Gaming.
In addition to posing as poker players, gambling agents set up surveillance outside of the club, and also tailed the Rogerses and other card-room staff members in an effort to gather information on where the owners were making financial transactions related to the club.
An account with Wells Fargo, set up for Club Royale, had deposits totaling $44,506 between Aug. 1 and Oct. 9, according to the report.
The report also states that agents routinely collected trash from a Dumpster behind the card room, and also arranged with local Waste Management officials to inspect trash collected from the Rogerses' residences.
The investigation has been turned over to the Pima County Attorney's Office for review, but it could be several months before a decision is made on whether charges will be filed, said David Berkman, the county's chief criminal deputy attorney.
Findings from the search warrants have yet to be returned and forwarded to the county, Berkman said.
Donna Rogers declined to comment on the investigation, and calls made Friday to her and Johnny Ray Rogers' lawyer, Stephen Weiss, were not immediately returned.
Undercover agents posed as poker players on at least six occasions over a three-month span during their investigation into a North Side card room, spending more than $1,000 on poker in the process, the state's investigative report shows.
Arizona Department of Gaming agents and Tucson police executed a search warrant Tuesday on Club Royale, 2665 N. Campbell Ave., as well as at the residences of club owners Donna and Johnny Ray Rogers.
The searches were conducted five days after Club Royale closed its doors as part of an agreement with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to settle a civil lawsuit filed by the tribe.
The tribe, which operates two of the Tucson area's four casinos, sued Club Royale on Aug. 19, claiming the poker room was violating state gambling laws and that it held a competitive advantage over Indian casinos because it didn't have to abide by a gaming compact.
Indian casinos are regulated by the Arizona-Tribal State Gaming Compact, which was approved in 1993 and renewed by voters in 2003.
The timing of the warrants was not related to the club's closure, said Seena Simon, a spokeswoman for the Department of Gaming.
"That's when we were ready to go," Simon said. "We would have asked for the search warrants even if the club was open."
The investigative report, which the Gaming Department has posted on its Web site along with surveillance video and photos taken during the investigation, says agents began infiltrating Club Royale in late July and returned on several occasions in an attempt to see if the club was violating state laws on gambling.
During their investigation, agents observed the club's evolution into a hot spot for action-seeking poker players, the report states.
"The size of the poker games held in the Club Royale have grown so much that this establishment is now a full-fledged poker room and not a social club," the report stated in an entry related to an Aug. 28 poker game that involved several players placing "bundles of hundred-dollar bills into the pot."
The report says agents sat in on poker games and struck up conversations with players, dealers and other card-room staffers, learning that word was spreading in the Tucson area that Club Royale had more live "action" than poker rooms at Casino del Sol or the Desert Diamond Casino.
Agents used more than $1,000 in "undercover funds" to buy poker chips and memberships to the club. One agent won $155 in a poker game played on Oct. 16.
Agents observed card-room dealers collecting a $3 fee from a different player before each hand, which would then be placed by the dealer into a metal container on the floor next to the dealer's leg, the report states.
This fee resulted in $123 in revenue collected during an hour-long period on July 30, the report states. That amount swelled to an estimated $555 being taken in per hour on Aug. 20, when the report states five active poker games were each dealing 33 to 37 hands per hour.
Charging players a fee to play makes the game illegal because the house receives a direct profit from the games, says a news release issued Tuesday by the Arizona Department of Gaming.
In addition to posing as poker players, gambling agents set up surveillance outside of the club, and also tailed the Rogerses and other card-room staff members in an effort to gather information on where the owners were making financial transactions related to the club.
An account with Wells Fargo, set up for Club Royale, had deposits totaling $44,506 between Aug. 1 and Oct. 9, according to the report.
The report also states that agents routinely collected trash from a Dumpster behind the card room, and also arranged with local Waste Management officials to inspect trash collected from the Rogerses' residences.
The investigation has been turned over to the Pima County Attorney's Office for review, but it could be several months before a decision is made on whether charges will be filed, said David Berkman, the county's chief criminal deputy attorney.
Findings from the search warrants have yet to be returned and forwarded to the county, Berkman said.
Donna Rogers declined to comment on the investigation, and calls made Friday to her and Johnny Ray Rogers' lawyer, Stephen Weiss, were not immediately returned.
5 th annual Poker Toutnament raises $ 25,000 for MS !
The 5th Annual Turek Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament was held on Saturday, Nov. 15, at TJ’s Restaurant in Port Chester , N.Y. The event raised $25,000 to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connecticut Chapter and residents throughout the state battling the potentially debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis (MS). The tournament was established in 2004 by Jason D’Aloia in honor of his mother-in-law, Janice Turek, of Enfield, Conn. Turek was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis ten years ago.
“This all began as a Christmas gift,” said D’Aloia, a resident of Stratford , Conn. “I gave my mother-in-law a letter one Christmas informing her that a charity poker tournament was going to be held in her honor to help find a cure for MS. After witnessing her strength in fighting the disease, I knew a fun poker tournament would be a wonderful way to show our support as a family. The tournament has grown tremendously ever since.”
More than 6,000 Connecticut residents, like Turek, live with the effects of multiple sclerosis. The cause is unknown, and, as a result, there currently is no cure. Symptoms can include, among other things, numbness in the limbs, difficulties with vision and speech, stiffness and, in some more severe cases, total paralysis. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot be predicted. Funds raised through events, such as the 5th Annual Turek Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament, ensure ongoing scientific research to find a cure and the continuation of programs and services provide by the chapter to Connecticut residents living with multiple sclerosis.
Since the first tournament was held in May of 2004, the event has raised more than $112,000 to benefit the Connecticut Chapter and those it serves. The tournament has received national recognition and worldwide sponsorship, including Full Tilt Poker, Samuel Adams America ’s World Class Beer, New York Knicks, ESPN, WSOP Academy , FatHead.com, CardPlayer Magazine, Poker VT, Foxwoods, New York Giants, New York Jets, Copaq and sports artists James Fiorentino and Edgar Brown. Professional poker player Andy Bloch has contributed to the event for the past three years. His involvement and that of many other poker professionals, like 2004 WSOP Champ Greg Raymer, Antonio Esfandiari and Matt Matros, has helped to bring recognition to the tournament. New York Knick great John Starks and WKTU DJ Goumba Johnny teamed up this year in the fight against MS.
“I am delighted that we have been able to make this event bigger and better every year,” said D’Aloia. “People now look forward to this annual tournament. I look forward to making it all the more successful in 2009.”
“This all began as a Christmas gift,” said D’Aloia, a resident of Stratford , Conn. “I gave my mother-in-law a letter one Christmas informing her that a charity poker tournament was going to be held in her honor to help find a cure for MS. After witnessing her strength in fighting the disease, I knew a fun poker tournament would be a wonderful way to show our support as a family. The tournament has grown tremendously ever since.”
More than 6,000 Connecticut residents, like Turek, live with the effects of multiple sclerosis. The cause is unknown, and, as a result, there currently is no cure. Symptoms can include, among other things, numbness in the limbs, difficulties with vision and speech, stiffness and, in some more severe cases, total paralysis. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot be predicted. Funds raised through events, such as the 5th Annual Turek Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament, ensure ongoing scientific research to find a cure and the continuation of programs and services provide by the chapter to Connecticut residents living with multiple sclerosis.
Since the first tournament was held in May of 2004, the event has raised more than $112,000 to benefit the Connecticut Chapter and those it serves. The tournament has received national recognition and worldwide sponsorship, including Full Tilt Poker, Samuel Adams America ’s World Class Beer, New York Knicks, ESPN, WSOP Academy , FatHead.com, CardPlayer Magazine, Poker VT, Foxwoods, New York Giants, New York Jets, Copaq and sports artists James Fiorentino and Edgar Brown. Professional poker player Andy Bloch has contributed to the event for the past three years. His involvement and that of many other poker professionals, like 2004 WSOP Champ Greg Raymer, Antonio Esfandiari and Matt Matros, has helped to bring recognition to the tournament. New York Knick great John Starks and WKTU DJ Goumba Johnny teamed up this year in the fight against MS.
“I am delighted that we have been able to make this event bigger and better every year,” said D’Aloia. “People now look forward to this annual tournament. I look forward to making it all the more successful in 2009.”
Man arrested after playing poker !
A man who was kicked out of a poker game, got into a fight, smashed a front room window and then robbed a pharmacy, according to police, has been arrested.
Salt Lake police arrested Matthew Shane Jones, 33, Wednesday. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of felony robbery, felony drug possession and felony fleeing.
Jones was playing poker with others in a Millcreek house on Tuesday when he got into an argument and physical fight with another man. After being kicked out of the house, an angry Jones responded by punching his hand through the front glass window and then throwing a planter box through the window, striking a man inside, according to police.
Less than 15 minutes later, a man described as having fresh facial wounds and blood all over his white shirt, robbed a Walgreens pharmacy near 900 East and 2100 South.
Investigators found Jones Wednesday and booked him into jail about 4 p.m.
Salt Lake police arrested Matthew Shane Jones, 33, Wednesday. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of felony robbery, felony drug possession and felony fleeing.
Jones was playing poker with others in a Millcreek house on Tuesday when he got into an argument and physical fight with another man. After being kicked out of the house, an angry Jones responded by punching his hand through the front glass window and then throwing a planter box through the window, striking a man inside, according to police.
Less than 15 minutes later, a man described as having fresh facial wounds and blood all over his white shirt, robbed a Walgreens pharmacy near 900 East and 2100 South.
Investigators found Jones Wednesday and booked him into jail about 4 p.m.
Playtech launches new network for Italian poker market !
Playtech, a developer and licensor of software for the online, mobile and land-based gaming industry, has launched a 'play for real money poker' network in the expanding Italian poker market.
Following license agreements, announced earlier in the second half of 2008, with Italian operators Snai, Gala Coral's Eurobet Italia, Sisal and Cogetech, all operators are now offering 'play for real money' products on Playtech's Italian poker network.
Playtech has said that the product utilizes its back office system with the appropriate customization for the local market and has been fully integrated with the licensees' systems in order to ensure a better gaming experience for the player.
Mor Weizer, CEO of Playtech, said: "The recent launch with leading Italian operators Snai, Gala Coral's Eurobet Italia, Sisal and Cogetech set our foothold in the Italian market which will lead to a prominent position in that market. The launch of the play for real network in Italy testifies to our extensive experience in penetrating new regulated markets with our best of breed software platform."
Following license agreements, announced earlier in the second half of 2008, with Italian operators Snai, Gala Coral's Eurobet Italia, Sisal and Cogetech, all operators are now offering 'play for real money' products on Playtech's Italian poker network.
Playtech has said that the product utilizes its back office system with the appropriate customization for the local market and has been fully integrated with the licensees' systems in order to ensure a better gaming experience for the player.
Mor Weizer, CEO of Playtech, said: "The recent launch with leading Italian operators Snai, Gala Coral's Eurobet Italia, Sisal and Cogetech set our foothold in the Italian market which will lead to a prominent position in that market. The launch of the play for real network in Italy testifies to our extensive experience in penetrating new regulated markets with our best of breed software platform."
Pokerstars Poker Camp in January !
PokerStars is bringing back its Poker Camp for a second time, taking place at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure this January.
The first Poker Camp took place at the PokerSTars.com EPT stop in Barcelona earlier this season, and the second camp will take place in the Bahamas along with the Caribbean Adventure at the Atlantis Hotel and Casino.
The Poker Camp is scheduled for an extended three-day schedule Jan. 7-9. Poker Camp qualifiers will participate in morning and afternoon modules led by world-class instructors and members of Team PokerStars Pro such as Greg Raymer, Daniel Negreanu, Chris Moneymaker and Vanessa Rousso.
That's two former World Series of Poker Main Event champions plus a four-time bracelet winner and one of the top female players out on the tournament trail teaching PokerStars players the tricks of the trade.
The Poker Camp modules will combine lectures and presentations and include interactive sessions like live hand analysis.
According to PokerStars, the camp's activities have been designed with flexibility in mind. Modules have been set up so participants can mix and match classes from module to suit their interests.
One set of modules will focus on conquering large field, deep stack, live tournaments - like the PCA main event. This includes the structure of the Camp tournament which will allow 60 players to put the daily lessons to the test each evening.
Once the learning sessions are over, the participants will put what they learned into practice in an exclusive tournament open only to the PokerStars Poker Camp participants.
There are also many options at PokerStars for players to get their spot in the Poker Camp. They can buy-in directly using any of the PokerStars currencies such as cash, FPPS and W$, or players can qualify through online poker satellites for as little as $11.
The Poker Camp will also be open to the guests of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure qualifiers. Their family and friends will have the chance to participate in several sessions of the camp that will be open to a wider audience.
These sessions will include a Poker 101 teaching the difference between odds and outs. There will also be sessions open for more advanced players as well.
The first Poker Camp took place at the PokerSTars.com EPT stop in Barcelona earlier this season, and the second camp will take place in the Bahamas along with the Caribbean Adventure at the Atlantis Hotel and Casino.
The Poker Camp is scheduled for an extended three-day schedule Jan. 7-9. Poker Camp qualifiers will participate in morning and afternoon modules led by world-class instructors and members of Team PokerStars Pro such as Greg Raymer, Daniel Negreanu, Chris Moneymaker and Vanessa Rousso.
That's two former World Series of Poker Main Event champions plus a four-time bracelet winner and one of the top female players out on the tournament trail teaching PokerStars players the tricks of the trade.
The Poker Camp modules will combine lectures and presentations and include interactive sessions like live hand analysis.
According to PokerStars, the camp's activities have been designed with flexibility in mind. Modules have been set up so participants can mix and match classes from module to suit their interests.
One set of modules will focus on conquering large field, deep stack, live tournaments - like the PCA main event. This includes the structure of the Camp tournament which will allow 60 players to put the daily lessons to the test each evening.
Once the learning sessions are over, the participants will put what they learned into practice in an exclusive tournament open only to the PokerStars Poker Camp participants.
There are also many options at PokerStars for players to get their spot in the Poker Camp. They can buy-in directly using any of the PokerStars currencies such as cash, FPPS and W$, or players can qualify through online poker satellites for as little as $11.
The Poker Camp will also be open to the guests of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure qualifiers. Their family and friends will have the chance to participate in several sessions of the camp that will be open to a wider audience.
These sessions will include a Poker 101 teaching the difference between odds and outs. There will also be sessions open for more advanced players as well.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Poker Stars and Card Player Sending Reader to Bahamas !!
Freeroll Takes Place Friday
On Friday, PokerStars and CardPlayer.com are teaming up to give one of our readers a trip to the Bahamas to attend the three-day PCA Bahamas Poker Camp. The freeroll takes place Friday, Dec. 26, at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Card Player readers can find it under the “Tournaments/Private Area” tab on PokerStars. Use the password “Raymer” to register.
The winner of this event will be given $1,000 for travel to the Atlantis Hotel and Casino, where four free nights await them. The winner also gets a $500 room credit for food, three days of camp instruction, and a $500 ticket for the camp’s final poker tournament.
The camp takes place Jan. 7-9 and features PokerStars pros, such as Greg Raymer, Daniel Negreanu, Chris Moneymaker, and Vanessa Rousso. The European Poker Tour PokerStars Caribbean Adventure takes place Jan. 5-10.
Card Player also secured extra swag from PokerStars for those who go deep in the event but fail to win. The prizes are:
First — Trip to PCA Boot Camp
Second — Chip set and T-shirt
Third — Chip set and hat
Fourth — Chip set
Fifth — T-shirt and hat
Sixth — T-shirt and hat
Seventh — T-shirt and hat
Eighth — T-shirt
Ninth — Hat
On Friday, PokerStars and CardPlayer.com are teaming up to give one of our readers a trip to the Bahamas to attend the three-day PCA Bahamas Poker Camp. The freeroll takes place Friday, Dec. 26, at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Card Player readers can find it under the “Tournaments/Private Area” tab on PokerStars. Use the password “Raymer” to register.
The winner of this event will be given $1,000 for travel to the Atlantis Hotel and Casino, where four free nights await them. The winner also gets a $500 room credit for food, three days of camp instruction, and a $500 ticket for the camp’s final poker tournament.
The camp takes place Jan. 7-9 and features PokerStars pros, such as Greg Raymer, Daniel Negreanu, Chris Moneymaker, and Vanessa Rousso. The European Poker Tour PokerStars Caribbean Adventure takes place Jan. 5-10.
Card Player also secured extra swag from PokerStars for those who go deep in the event but fail to win. The prizes are:
First — Trip to PCA Boot Camp
Second — Chip set and T-shirt
Third — Chip set and hat
Fourth — Chip set
Fifth — T-shirt and hat
Sixth — T-shirt and hat
Seventh — T-shirt and hat
Eighth — T-shirt
Ninth — Hat
Full Tilt gets sued for $ 40 MILLION
Celebrity poker player sues Full Tilt parent
Breach-of-pact lawsuit seeks $40 million
For principals in the online card room Full Tilt Poker -- who include some of the world's top poker players -- luck may not be a lady.
In November, Cycalona "Clonie" Gowen -- a former beauty queen and high school athlete who became a professional poker player -- sued in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas against Tiltware LLC, the Ireland-based software company behind Full Tilt Poker. She is seeking $40 million in damages for breach of contract.
Named in the lawsuit is Howard Lederer, professional poker player and one of the company's founders, and other famous players, described as "Team Full Tilt," including Phil Ivey, Chris Ferguson, Mike Matusow, Allen Cunningham, Gus Hansen and Jennifer Harman-Traniello.
Gowen, 37, alleges in the lawsuit that Full Tilt hired her to be one of their "celebrity players," and that company officials agreed that she would be rewarded with a 1 percent share in Full Tilt -- a company with an estimated value of $4 billion.
The lawsuit has been a hot topic in Internet poker forums, chat rooms and blogs in recent weeks. Full Tilt is one of the largest and fastest-growing card rooms in cyberspace, with a celebrity poker professional roster filled with A List players.
A Hollywood screen writer couldn't come up with a more colorful plaintiff.
Gowen, a native of Florida, was born during a powerful storm, which served as the inspiration of her first name. She grew up in Kiowa, Okla., and was crowned Miss Teen McAlester, Okla., at age 15.
In high school, Gowen was a member of the state championship varsity basketball team and started on her track and field team as a high jumper, where she was ranked seventh in the state.
In 2003, Gowen earned national recognition when she won the World Poker Tour Ladies' Night event in the World Poker Tour Costa Rica Class in 2003. In recent years, Gowen has served as a guest commentator for the Ultimate Poker Challenge and The Gaming Club World Poker Championship. She also appeared several times on the NBC television program, Poker After Dark, and has won three titles.
In July, Gowen won the no-limit Texas hold 'em event at the Bellagio Cup IV, earning $437,775, and launching her into the poker world's upper echelon.
But winning a battle in a Las Vegas courtroom against an online poker room headquartered off shore could represent a daunting challenge.
Tiltware LLC, the marketing and software company for Full Tilt Poker, was founded in Los Angeles in 2004, but moved to Ireland in late 2006, only weeks after Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which effectively made it illegal for Americans to play online casino games.
Gowen's case may face problems because she acknowledges there is an oral, but not written contract between her and Full Tilt, and that most of the alleged promises took place over the phone or in meetings with Tiltware executives in Las Vegas more than four years ago.
But Jim Kohl of the Las Vegas office of law firm Howard & Howard, who is representing Gowen, said: "Assuming everything we've learned so far is true, we feel we have a good case." Kohl also said there are international treaties between Ireland and the United States "that will allow us to enforce our judgments overseas."
Gowen claims that in 2007, all members of "Team Full Tilt Poker" received distribution checks except her. She claims she asked for her "fair share" and was turned down. Not long afterward, according to the lawsuit, Lederer offered Gowen $250,000 for her past work with the company, but she turned him down.
"We are confident the allegations will be proven at trial," Kohl said. "Clonie has been wrongly denied her compensation and, after we go through the process of discovery, we feel the court will find in our favor."
Officials at Tiltware have a different point of view.
"Tiltware, LLC, has been made aware of the recent filing of a meritless lawsuit by a former Full Tilt Poker endorser, Ms. Cycalona Gowen," Tiltware said in a statement. "All claims have no merit and there are many inaccuracies improperly and unlawfully asserted by Ms. Gowen within her frivolous complaint. Tiltware LLC expects that this lawsuit will be dealt with accordingly by a competent court in due course."
Experts in online gaming note the lawsuit, if nothing else, will serve to remind online business owners and employees that whether a business is in cyberspace or in a brick-and-mortar location, elementary principles still apply.
"The situation (at Full Tilt) is no different than in any type of business," said Tony Cabot, practice group leader at the Las Vegas law office of Lewis and Roca. "There will always be lawsuits that allege questions of ownership, promises or rights, and it makes sense for every business to properly document all relationships. That way, it a dispute comes up, then you have the intent of the parties in writing."
To some professional poker players, the lawsuit couldn't have come at a worse time.
"While I really don't know any details about the Clonie Gowen case against Full Tilt, I am disappointed there is a lawsuit," said Susie Isaacs, who has twice won the World Series of Poker women's championship, and is a columnist for several poker and gaming publications.
"This is a very strategic time for poker players who want online poker to be legalized and a very bad time for any red flags in that industry," Isaacs said.
Breach-of-pact lawsuit seeks $40 million
For principals in the online card room Full Tilt Poker -- who include some of the world's top poker players -- luck may not be a lady.
In November, Cycalona "Clonie" Gowen -- a former beauty queen and high school athlete who became a professional poker player -- sued in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas against Tiltware LLC, the Ireland-based software company behind Full Tilt Poker. She is seeking $40 million in damages for breach of contract.
Named in the lawsuit is Howard Lederer, professional poker player and one of the company's founders, and other famous players, described as "Team Full Tilt," including Phil Ivey, Chris Ferguson, Mike Matusow, Allen Cunningham, Gus Hansen and Jennifer Harman-Traniello.
Gowen, 37, alleges in the lawsuit that Full Tilt hired her to be one of their "celebrity players," and that company officials agreed that she would be rewarded with a 1 percent share in Full Tilt -- a company with an estimated value of $4 billion.
The lawsuit has been a hot topic in Internet poker forums, chat rooms and blogs in recent weeks. Full Tilt is one of the largest and fastest-growing card rooms in cyberspace, with a celebrity poker professional roster filled with A List players.
A Hollywood screen writer couldn't come up with a more colorful plaintiff.
Gowen, a native of Florida, was born during a powerful storm, which served as the inspiration of her first name. She grew up in Kiowa, Okla., and was crowned Miss Teen McAlester, Okla., at age 15.
In high school, Gowen was a member of the state championship varsity basketball team and started on her track and field team as a high jumper, where she was ranked seventh in the state.
In 2003, Gowen earned national recognition when she won the World Poker Tour Ladies' Night event in the World Poker Tour Costa Rica Class in 2003. In recent years, Gowen has served as a guest commentator for the Ultimate Poker Challenge and The Gaming Club World Poker Championship. She also appeared several times on the NBC television program, Poker After Dark, and has won three titles.
In July, Gowen won the no-limit Texas hold 'em event at the Bellagio Cup IV, earning $437,775, and launching her into the poker world's upper echelon.
But winning a battle in a Las Vegas courtroom against an online poker room headquartered off shore could represent a daunting challenge.
Tiltware LLC, the marketing and software company for Full Tilt Poker, was founded in Los Angeles in 2004, but moved to Ireland in late 2006, only weeks after Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which effectively made it illegal for Americans to play online casino games.
Gowen's case may face problems because she acknowledges there is an oral, but not written contract between her and Full Tilt, and that most of the alleged promises took place over the phone or in meetings with Tiltware executives in Las Vegas more than four years ago.
But Jim Kohl of the Las Vegas office of law firm Howard & Howard, who is representing Gowen, said: "Assuming everything we've learned so far is true, we feel we have a good case." Kohl also said there are international treaties between Ireland and the United States "that will allow us to enforce our judgments overseas."
Gowen claims that in 2007, all members of "Team Full Tilt Poker" received distribution checks except her. She claims she asked for her "fair share" and was turned down. Not long afterward, according to the lawsuit, Lederer offered Gowen $250,000 for her past work with the company, but she turned him down.
"We are confident the allegations will be proven at trial," Kohl said. "Clonie has been wrongly denied her compensation and, after we go through the process of discovery, we feel the court will find in our favor."
Officials at Tiltware have a different point of view.
"Tiltware, LLC, has been made aware of the recent filing of a meritless lawsuit by a former Full Tilt Poker endorser, Ms. Cycalona Gowen," Tiltware said in a statement. "All claims have no merit and there are many inaccuracies improperly and unlawfully asserted by Ms. Gowen within her frivolous complaint. Tiltware LLC expects that this lawsuit will be dealt with accordingly by a competent court in due course."
Experts in online gaming note the lawsuit, if nothing else, will serve to remind online business owners and employees that whether a business is in cyberspace or in a brick-and-mortar location, elementary principles still apply.
"The situation (at Full Tilt) is no different than in any type of business," said Tony Cabot, practice group leader at the Las Vegas law office of Lewis and Roca. "There will always be lawsuits that allege questions of ownership, promises or rights, and it makes sense for every business to properly document all relationships. That way, it a dispute comes up, then you have the intent of the parties in writing."
To some professional poker players, the lawsuit couldn't have come at a worse time.
"While I really don't know any details about the Clonie Gowen case against Full Tilt, I am disappointed there is a lawsuit," said Susie Isaacs, who has twice won the World Series of Poker women's championship, and is a columnist for several poker and gaming publications.
"This is a very strategic time for poker players who want online poker to be legalized and a very bad time for any red flags in that industry," Isaacs said.
Poker Club Folds !!
Private Arizona Poker Club Folds
A private Tucson, Arizona poker club whose opening served as a challenge to that state's gambling regulations has agreed to close in the face of legal pressure. Club Royale, opened by former judge Harold Lee and Donna and Johnny Ray Rogers, agreed to shutter its doors to resolve a civil suit brought by Arizona's Pascua Yaqui nation. The Pasqui Yaqui operate two of the four state compact-regulated casinos in the Tucson area.
The battle featured the viewpoints of the outspoken and maverick Lee against the state and the tribes, who insisted that they had the exclusive legal right to spread poker in Arizona, which in total offers 22 casinos run by 15 different tribal nations. Among the poker wrinkles at Lee's club was its spreading of no-limit hold'em, forbidden under the 1993 Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact, which governs the tribal casinos.
The Club Royale battle also developed into a rift between the Rogers, who retained their own representation in the matter, and Lee, who vowed to continue his fight to offer poker in Arizona. By closing the club, which ran under the auspices of the International Card and Game Players Association (ICGPA), a group founded by Lee, the Rogers will not have to pay any damages to the Pascua Yaqui nation. Lee accused the Rogers of misusing ICGPA funds while operating one of two private poker clubs that opened in Tucson last year. (The other club closed for separate reasons.) Lee also vowed to reopen the club at a new Tucson location.
A private Tucson, Arizona poker club whose opening served as a challenge to that state's gambling regulations has agreed to close in the face of legal pressure. Club Royale, opened by former judge Harold Lee and Donna and Johnny Ray Rogers, agreed to shutter its doors to resolve a civil suit brought by Arizona's Pascua Yaqui nation. The Pasqui Yaqui operate two of the four state compact-regulated casinos in the Tucson area.
The battle featured the viewpoints of the outspoken and maverick Lee against the state and the tribes, who insisted that they had the exclusive legal right to spread poker in Arizona, which in total offers 22 casinos run by 15 different tribal nations. Among the poker wrinkles at Lee's club was its spreading of no-limit hold'em, forbidden under the 1993 Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact, which governs the tribal casinos.
The Club Royale battle also developed into a rift between the Rogers, who retained their own representation in the matter, and Lee, who vowed to continue his fight to offer poker in Arizona. By closing the club, which ran under the auspices of the International Card and Game Players Association (ICGPA), a group founded by Lee, the Rogers will not have to pay any damages to the Pascua Yaqui nation. Lee accused the Rogers of misusing ICGPA funds while operating one of two private poker clubs that opened in Tucson last year. (The other club closed for separate reasons.) Lee also vowed to reopen the club at a new Tucson location.
Don't get to fancy in big blind !
Don't get too fancy in big blind
Defending your big blind isn't easy. You'll be out of position for the entire hand unless the raise comes from the player in the small blind. It's important to respect that positional disadvantage and not try to outplay your opponent with fancy moves.
Many players in the big blind get in trouble by calling pre-flop raises; they try to do too much. They don't want to get bullied so they attempt a tricky check-raise bluff or overplay their hands in an ill-advised effort to push back.
Folks, that's like trying to swim upstream.
What makes you think you can overcome positional disadvantage by plowing your way through? Trust me, no matter how much better than your opponent you think you are, if he has position, it will be almost impossible for you to outplay him.
But there is a method to neutralize your opponent's advantage in this situation — playing possum.
You see, it is possible to exploit an opponent who has position by letting him think he can run you over. But don't do this with aggressive betting. Rather, if you think you're in the lead, just check and let your opponent do all the betting.
In more marginal situations, though, focus on minimizing the damage when you might be beat and maximizing your profit when you're ahead by letting a bluffing player continue to bet.
Like professional player Layne Flack once said, "Why do the pushing when the donkey will do the pulling?" In other words, when you're out of position, respect that disadvantage. Your options are limited so think about conserving your chips, not betting aggressively.
Let's look at an example.
In a no-limit hold'em game with blinds at 50-100, a player in late position raises to 300. You look down at Kc-10c and call the bet with just the two of you in the pot.
The flop comes Ks-8s-2d. The standard play is to check and see what your opponent does. So you check and he bets out 500.
You only have two legitimate options: check-raise the flop or call. Folding is out of the question because your opponent would probably bet that kind of flop whether or not he had a good hand.
The best option is to call his raise. Here's why.
By just calling, your opponent won't be able to read your hand. Perhaps you're on a flush draw or even have a hand like pocket nines. Your opponent may decide to continue betting as a bluff.
Also, you'll lose less when you're beat. If he does have a hand like A-K, he'll want to get maximum value and will likely bet an amount that is easy for you to call. If you had check-raised the flop instead, you would have made the pot even bigger, meaning your opponent's future bets would have been bigger still.
Finally, if you check-raise, you'll have to guess about what your opponent has in the event he calls, or even worse, reraises. Had you decided to check-call the flop and turn, you'd only have to make a guess on the river. By that time, though, you'd have collected a lot more information with which you can make an informed decision.
There's no doubt that it's important to defend the big blind. If you don't, your opponents will pick on you relentlessly. But having said that, when you do decide to defend your big blind, don't get the idea that you'll be able to consistently outplay your opponent.
Instead, play possum and challenge your opponent to outplay you.
Defending your big blind isn't easy. You'll be out of position for the entire hand unless the raise comes from the player in the small blind. It's important to respect that positional disadvantage and not try to outplay your opponent with fancy moves.
Many players in the big blind get in trouble by calling pre-flop raises; they try to do too much. They don't want to get bullied so they attempt a tricky check-raise bluff or overplay their hands in an ill-advised effort to push back.
Folks, that's like trying to swim upstream.
What makes you think you can overcome positional disadvantage by plowing your way through? Trust me, no matter how much better than your opponent you think you are, if he has position, it will be almost impossible for you to outplay him.
But there is a method to neutralize your opponent's advantage in this situation — playing possum.
You see, it is possible to exploit an opponent who has position by letting him think he can run you over. But don't do this with aggressive betting. Rather, if you think you're in the lead, just check and let your opponent do all the betting.
In more marginal situations, though, focus on minimizing the damage when you might be beat and maximizing your profit when you're ahead by letting a bluffing player continue to bet.
Like professional player Layne Flack once said, "Why do the pushing when the donkey will do the pulling?" In other words, when you're out of position, respect that disadvantage. Your options are limited so think about conserving your chips, not betting aggressively.
Let's look at an example.
In a no-limit hold'em game with blinds at 50-100, a player in late position raises to 300. You look down at Kc-10c and call the bet with just the two of you in the pot.
The flop comes Ks-8s-2d. The standard play is to check and see what your opponent does. So you check and he bets out 500.
You only have two legitimate options: check-raise the flop or call. Folding is out of the question because your opponent would probably bet that kind of flop whether or not he had a good hand.
The best option is to call his raise. Here's why.
By just calling, your opponent won't be able to read your hand. Perhaps you're on a flush draw or even have a hand like pocket nines. Your opponent may decide to continue betting as a bluff.
Also, you'll lose less when you're beat. If he does have a hand like A-K, he'll want to get maximum value and will likely bet an amount that is easy for you to call. If you had check-raised the flop instead, you would have made the pot even bigger, meaning your opponent's future bets would have been bigger still.
Finally, if you check-raise, you'll have to guess about what your opponent has in the event he calls, or even worse, reraises. Had you decided to check-call the flop and turn, you'd only have to make a guess on the river. By that time, though, you'd have collected a lot more information with which you can make an informed decision.
There's no doubt that it's important to defend the big blind. If you don't, your opponents will pick on you relentlessly. But having said that, when you do decide to defend your big blind, don't get the idea that you'll be able to consistently outplay your opponent.
Instead, play possum and challenge your opponent to outplay you.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sahara Hotel Robbed !!
Armed Robbery at the Sahara Hotel
Las Vegas Metro Police are investigating an armed robbery at the poker room inside the Sahara Hotel and Casino.
Police say the robbery happened just before 6:00 p.m. The robbery was to the Sahara, not a player. No word on how much money taken or if a weapon was used.
No one was injured.
Las Vegas Metro Police are investigating an armed robbery at the poker room inside the Sahara Hotel and Casino.
Police say the robbery happened just before 6:00 p.m. The robbery was to the Sahara, not a player. No word on how much money taken or if a weapon was used.
No one was injured.
DANES - Best Poker Players in the World !
$10 Million in One Week and Card Player World Tracker Proves Danes are the Most Successful Tournament Poker Players in the World.
Dubline, Ireland (PRWEB) December 19, 2008 -- In November 2008 three Danish Poker Players won $10 million dollars in the space of seven days, winning the World Series of Poker main event, the Amsterdam Master Classics main event, and the Ladbrokes European Online Championship of Poker IV main event.
Back in July 2008 Card Player Media research proclaimed that Danes were the most successful tournament players, per capita, in the world with "World Tracker" its sophisticated tournament player tracking tool.
The recent string of incredible results by Danes vindicates World Tracker as the world's leading indicator of tournament success.
Firstly online whizz "hahila" won the main event at LEOCOP IV for $229,500, then Peter Eastgate, at 22 years-old, became the youngest ever world champion at the World Series of Poker winning $9,152,416, before veteran World Series of Poker bracelet winner Jan Sorensen won $800,972 at the Amsterdam Master Classics main event.
Much like the Olympics, Card Player uses an extensive list of qualifying tournaments (including WSOP, WPT, and EPT events). World Tracker awards Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals to the countries whose citizens come first, second, and third in major international tournaments.
The top five countries in the poker tournament world are currently:
1. Denmark 2.04 medals per million
2. USA 1.33 medals per million
3. Australia 1.21 medals per million
4. Sweden 0.67 medals per million
5. Canada 0.66 medals per million
Sweden moved into the top 5 of the World Tracker for the first time while Canada dropped to fifth and Norway fell to sixth.
The latest research is published in the January edition of Card Player Poker + Sports and readers can keep up-to-date with the ongoing per capita medal tally each month in the magazine.
About Card Player Media
Card Player Media was recently named as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S., expanding by almost 450 percent since 2003. The company is the publisher of Card Player magazine, the world's largest poker publication celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and Card Player Poker + Sports in Europe. With its global partners, Card Player Media also publishes Card Player Brazil, Card Player Italia, Card Player France, Card Player Finland, Card Player Germany, Card Player Hungary, and Card Player Spain.
Dubline, Ireland (PRWEB) December 19, 2008 -- In November 2008 three Danish Poker Players won $10 million dollars in the space of seven days, winning the World Series of Poker main event, the Amsterdam Master Classics main event, and the Ladbrokes European Online Championship of Poker IV main event.
Back in July 2008 Card Player Media research proclaimed that Danes were the most successful tournament players, per capita, in the world with "World Tracker" its sophisticated tournament player tracking tool.
The recent string of incredible results by Danes vindicates World Tracker as the world's leading indicator of tournament success.
Firstly online whizz "hahila" won the main event at LEOCOP IV for $229,500, then Peter Eastgate, at 22 years-old, became the youngest ever world champion at the World Series of Poker winning $9,152,416, before veteran World Series of Poker bracelet winner Jan Sorensen won $800,972 at the Amsterdam Master Classics main event.
Much like the Olympics, Card Player uses an extensive list of qualifying tournaments (including WSOP, WPT, and EPT events). World Tracker awards Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals to the countries whose citizens come first, second, and third in major international tournaments.
The top five countries in the poker tournament world are currently:
1. Denmark 2.04 medals per million
2. USA 1.33 medals per million
3. Australia 1.21 medals per million
4. Sweden 0.67 medals per million
5. Canada 0.66 medals per million
Sweden moved into the top 5 of the World Tracker for the first time while Canada dropped to fifth and Norway fell to sixth.
The latest research is published in the January edition of Card Player Poker + Sports and readers can keep up-to-date with the ongoing per capita medal tally each month in the magazine.
About Card Player Media
Card Player Media was recently named as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S., expanding by almost 450 percent since 2003. The company is the publisher of Card Player magazine, the world's largest poker publication celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and Card Player Poker + Sports in Europe. With its global partners, Card Player Media also publishes Card Player Brazil, Card Player Italia, Card Player France, Card Player Finland, Card Player Germany, Card Player Hungary, and Card Player Spain.
Poker Stars
Percentage of Payout in Poker Stars
They use the 20% rule on prize pool. The survivor is always benefited regardless of the highs and lows and there are lesser benefits to someone who performs comparatively less.
For instance, a few months before the average payout that was going out was likely amoung 13 to 16% of the number of citizens registered in the poker Stars tournament.
For example, whether 1500 players registered for the tourney next at least 210 to 225 places would be paid; however, of late, the overall average seems to have dropped from 11 to 12% per tournament.
Of late, it appears like the overall average of payout per tourney is getting comparatively decreased than it previously used to be at poker Stars. For instance whether there were 1500 players registered for a tournament, there will be 170 to 175 places that will be paid out.
Though the number of players registering for the tournament is going up, the kind of pay out that is being given out seems to be considerably less.
But when we analyze it in depth, we might be able to see that poker Stars have restructured the number of places they pay to something less, but they pay more money to the winners.
They use the 20% rule on prize pool. The survivor is always benefited regardless of the highs and lows and there are lesser benefits to someone who performs comparatively less.
For instance, a few months before the average payout that was going out was likely amoung 13 to 16% of the number of citizens registered in the poker Stars tournament.
For example, whether 1500 players registered for the tourney next at least 210 to 225 places would be paid; however, of late, the overall average seems to have dropped from 11 to 12% per tournament.
Of late, it appears like the overall average of payout per tourney is getting comparatively decreased than it previously used to be at poker Stars. For instance whether there were 1500 players registered for a tournament, there will be 170 to 175 places that will be paid out.
Though the number of players registering for the tournament is going up, the kind of pay out that is being given out seems to be considerably less.
But when we analyze it in depth, we might be able to see that poker Stars have restructured the number of places they pay to something less, but they pay more money to the winners.
Little Rock, Ark.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A man who operated a poker parlor that he claimed was legal has been sentenced to three years probation for running a prohibited gambling operation.
Logan Wight Dungan operated a National Poker Challenge franchise, which was raided in November 2007 that followed an undercover investigation by police. Five people were arrested after the initial raid but the 38-year-old Dungan was the only person charged.
Dungan entered a no contest plea on Monday to a charge of keeping a gambling house. In addition to probation, prosecutors say the judge fined him $300 and ordered him to forfeit his poker tables and related equipment.
The business operated at the Ashley Square shopping center in Little Rock.
At the time of the raid, company president Michael White said the games were legal and cited a 2005 attorney general's opinion. In a statement on the company Web site, White complained that prosecutors didn't know enough about how his games worked to judge them illegal.
After the raid, Prosecutor Larry Jegley said the state constitution would have to be changed for the poker games to become legal. "You can't just talk circles around the issue and make it legal," Jegley said at the time.
The site said players did not pay to play poker, but could pay a $100 monthly fee to have their statistics tracked.
White's Web site has since been taken down.
Dungan's plea was made three months after three Houston residents accused of participating in an illegal gambling operation on Base Line Road pleaded guilty to gambling charges. The raid on National Poker was conducted within a day of the raid at The Game Room where manager Timmy Le, 28, Francisco Javier "Paco" Moreno, 21, and Ngoc "Nancy" My Pho, 23, were arrested. At that operation, Little Rock police said they seized 70 electronic gambling machines and more than $14,000.
Deputy Prosecutor Troy Braswell says Le pleaded guilty to keeping a gambling house and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a gambling device in exchange for three years on unsupervised probation and the agreement to forfeit the money and games seized by police.
The felony gambling house charges against Moreno and Pho were dropped with their guilty pleas to a misdemeanor count of illegally possessing a gambling device, and each was fined $300.
Braswell said the seized equipment will either be auctioned by police or used for training or undercover work.
Logan Wight Dungan operated a National Poker Challenge franchise, which was raided in November 2007 that followed an undercover investigation by police. Five people were arrested after the initial raid but the 38-year-old Dungan was the only person charged.
Dungan entered a no contest plea on Monday to a charge of keeping a gambling house. In addition to probation, prosecutors say the judge fined him $300 and ordered him to forfeit his poker tables and related equipment.
The business operated at the Ashley Square shopping center in Little Rock.
At the time of the raid, company president Michael White said the games were legal and cited a 2005 attorney general's opinion. In a statement on the company Web site, White complained that prosecutors didn't know enough about how his games worked to judge them illegal.
After the raid, Prosecutor Larry Jegley said the state constitution would have to be changed for the poker games to become legal. "You can't just talk circles around the issue and make it legal," Jegley said at the time.
The site said players did not pay to play poker, but could pay a $100 monthly fee to have their statistics tracked.
White's Web site has since been taken down.
Dungan's plea was made three months after three Houston residents accused of participating in an illegal gambling operation on Base Line Road pleaded guilty to gambling charges. The raid on National Poker was conducted within a day of the raid at The Game Room where manager Timmy Le, 28, Francisco Javier "Paco" Moreno, 21, and Ngoc "Nancy" My Pho, 23, were arrested. At that operation, Little Rock police said they seized 70 electronic gambling machines and more than $14,000.
Deputy Prosecutor Troy Braswell says Le pleaded guilty to keeping a gambling house and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a gambling device in exchange for three years on unsupervised probation and the agreement to forfeit the money and games seized by police.
The felony gambling house charges against Moreno and Pho were dropped with their guilty pleas to a misdemeanor count of illegally possessing a gambling device, and each was fined $300.
Braswell said the seized equipment will either be auctioned by police or used for training or undercover work.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
WSOP Evaluating Merits of Rebuy Touraments !!
Heading into the 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP), the major change handed down by tournament officials was the introduction of a 117 day break prior to the start of the Main Event final table, which occurred in November. The move was considered by many to be a resounding success, as television ratings and interest in poker boomed as a result. Heading into 2009, rebuy tournaments may become a distant memory.
Poker News Daily has confirmed a rumor that WSOP officials are considering doing away with rebuy events for the 2009 tournament series. There were five rebuy contests held during the 2008 schedule:
Event #5: $1,000 No Limit Hold’em with Rebuys
Event #18: $5,000 No Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball with Rebuys
Event #28: $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha with Rebuys
Event #34: $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha with Rebuys
Event #44: $1,000 No Limit Hold’em with Rebuys
World Series of Poker Communications Director Seth Palansky told Poker News Daily, “For rebuys, we are simply in discussions on the benefits and drawbacks of having these events as bracelet events. We like rebuys and think they are a fun and exciting game for poker players, but at the same time, we are questioning their place in the World Series of Poker.”
In many cases, the rebuy period ends after the first two levels of play in a tournament. However, players can often play very loosely during this time and, if their bankroll allows for it, simply rebuy if they are eliminated. However, this has raised eyebrows as to whether a bracelet is warranted for potentially just having the deepest pockets. For example, during Event #5, Suk Song re-bought 23 times. In 2006, PokerStars pro Daniel Negreanu reloaded an amazing 46 times and added on twice during a rebuy tournament.
In Event #18, Todd Brunson invested a whopping $140,000. To put that number in perspective, Brunson would have had to finish fourth in order to break even; he ultimately did not make the money. Negreanu invested $85,000 in Event #28. This time, however, his gamble paid off, as he finished seventh and cashed for $129,000.
In Event #34, the number of rebuys was up a remarkable 53% in 2009 in comparison to 2008, causing the total prize pool to balloon by 43%. Layne Flack invested $33,000 in the tournament, which meant that he needed to place 12th or better out of 320 entrants in order to make his money back. Luckily, Flack ended up winning the entire tournament and taking home $577,000, or 17 times his buy-in, for his sixth WSOP bracelet.
The $1,000 rebuy tournament first became a part of the WSOP in 2004. In 2005, two $1,000 No Limit Hold’em rebuy tournaments were held, a trend that has existed ever since. One player re-bought 17 times in Event #44 in 2008, although WSOP officials declined to name who he or she was. The top 27 players received $18,000 or more.
Palansky elaborated further, “The bracelet and its prestige are of paramount importance to us and we want to ensure that anyone who does win a bracelet does so because they played the best poker throughout an event.” In 2007, there were six rebuy events held as part of the WSOP festivities. In 2006, there were four, which was one fewer than in 2005. The 2008 WSOP featured 54 bracelet events in total, meaning that rebuys accounted for roughly 9% of the tournaments. The Main Event is a $10,000 buy-in freeze out.
WSOP and Harrah’s officials will likely take into account views from its Players Advisory Council when making a decision. The discussion may focus on whether rebuy tournaments favor deep-pocketed poker players and whether the merits of having a portion of the WSOP schedule devoted to rebuys jeopardizes the esteem of a bracelet.
No timeline has been set for an announcement one way or another and the 2009 WSOP schedule has not been released.
Poker News Daily has confirmed a rumor that WSOP officials are considering doing away with rebuy events for the 2009 tournament series. There were five rebuy contests held during the 2008 schedule:
Event #5: $1,000 No Limit Hold’em with Rebuys
Event #18: $5,000 No Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball with Rebuys
Event #28: $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha with Rebuys
Event #34: $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha with Rebuys
Event #44: $1,000 No Limit Hold’em with Rebuys
World Series of Poker Communications Director Seth Palansky told Poker News Daily, “For rebuys, we are simply in discussions on the benefits and drawbacks of having these events as bracelet events. We like rebuys and think they are a fun and exciting game for poker players, but at the same time, we are questioning their place in the World Series of Poker.”
In many cases, the rebuy period ends after the first two levels of play in a tournament. However, players can often play very loosely during this time and, if their bankroll allows for it, simply rebuy if they are eliminated. However, this has raised eyebrows as to whether a bracelet is warranted for potentially just having the deepest pockets. For example, during Event #5, Suk Song re-bought 23 times. In 2006, PokerStars pro Daniel Negreanu reloaded an amazing 46 times and added on twice during a rebuy tournament.
In Event #18, Todd Brunson invested a whopping $140,000. To put that number in perspective, Brunson would have had to finish fourth in order to break even; he ultimately did not make the money. Negreanu invested $85,000 in Event #28. This time, however, his gamble paid off, as he finished seventh and cashed for $129,000.
In Event #34, the number of rebuys was up a remarkable 53% in 2009 in comparison to 2008, causing the total prize pool to balloon by 43%. Layne Flack invested $33,000 in the tournament, which meant that he needed to place 12th or better out of 320 entrants in order to make his money back. Luckily, Flack ended up winning the entire tournament and taking home $577,000, or 17 times his buy-in, for his sixth WSOP bracelet.
The $1,000 rebuy tournament first became a part of the WSOP in 2004. In 2005, two $1,000 No Limit Hold’em rebuy tournaments were held, a trend that has existed ever since. One player re-bought 17 times in Event #44 in 2008, although WSOP officials declined to name who he or she was. The top 27 players received $18,000 or more.
Palansky elaborated further, “The bracelet and its prestige are of paramount importance to us and we want to ensure that anyone who does win a bracelet does so because they played the best poker throughout an event.” In 2007, there were six rebuy events held as part of the WSOP festivities. In 2006, there were four, which was one fewer than in 2005. The 2008 WSOP featured 54 bracelet events in total, meaning that rebuys accounted for roughly 9% of the tournaments. The Main Event is a $10,000 buy-in freeze out.
WSOP and Harrah’s officials will likely take into account views from its Players Advisory Council when making a decision. The discussion may focus on whether rebuy tournaments favor deep-pocketed poker players and whether the merits of having a portion of the WSOP schedule devoted to rebuys jeopardizes the esteem of a bracelet.
No timeline has been set for an announcement one way or another and the 2009 WSOP schedule has not been released.
Party Gaming Founder Dikshit to Plead Guilty to Gambling Charges !!
Anurag Dikshit, co-founder of PartyGaming (the parent company of popular online poker room PartyPoker,) will fork over $300 million to U.S. authorities and plead guilty to a charge “relating to illegal web betting,” according to a report published on the Financial Times website late Monday night. Dikshit will appear in front of the Southern District Court of New York on Tuesday at 2:00pm Eastern Time.
The Financial Times states that, in addition to the nine-figure fine, Dikshit may spend up to two years in prison. He is scheduled to plead guilty to violating the Wire Act of 1961, which has typically been interpreted to apply to online wagering on sporting events. Party Gaming currently offers casino games, Backgammon, Bingo, and sports betting. However, it is best known for its online poker site, which recently revamped the look of its tables and lobby and has grown to become one of the largest rooms that does not accept U.S. players.
PartyPoker was once one of the marquee sites that catered to the U.S. market. However, with the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006, the room left the country entirely. Party Gaming is traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol “PRTY” and, like 888 and Sportingbet, is publicly traded. The decision to leave the U.S. market meant that privately held rooms PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker would grow to become the two largest online poker sites in existence.
The article reveals that Dikshit owns a 27% stake in Party Gaming and is the largest single shareholder. Ruth Parasol and Russ DeLeon each own 14%, but have not yet made any agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice similar to the one Dikshit may have struck. The Times also notes that Party Gaming, 888, and Sportingbet have all been in separate negotiations with the Department of Justice in order to clear the air legally with the United States Government. The ruling has the potential to set the precedent for the internet gambling industry, although whether the case is aimed specifically at online poker is not known.
At the time of writing, Party Gaming’s stock was trading at ₤138.75, up ₤3.75 at the last close. The stock has traded wildly between a range of ₤87.75 and ₤312.00 over the past 52 weeks. In September of 2006, just before the UIGEA was passed, the stock was sitting at ₤107. In a span of three weeks, it dropped precipitously to ₤29 as the UIGEA was passed into law on October 13, 2006. The company went public in 2005.
The Southern District Court of New York is located in White Plains, and Judge Jed S. Rakoff will ultimately decide Dikshit’s fate. It is not known if any jail time will be announced on Tuesday or when the ultimate decision will be handed down. According to the court’s website, Judge Rakoff makes his home in court room 14B.
PartyPoker recently revamped its rewards system and is gearing up for its Irish Poker Championship, a live tournament that will take place in Galway. Last year, Jude Ainsworth pocketed €180,000 for the win in the tournament, which will take run from January 2nd through 4th, 2009. PartyPoker is doling out $5,000 packages that include the $2,800 Main Event buy-in, $1,000 in spending cash, and accommodations that are worth $1,200. The Radisson Hotel Galway will host the tournament, which will feature Irish poker pro Padraig Parkinson, World Poker Tour Host and Poker News Daily contributor Mike Sexton, and David “Devilfish” Ulliott, who is the face behind popular online poker site Devilfish Poker.
Regarding possible prison time, the Financial Times explained, “He hopes the DoJ will recommend to Judge Jed Rakoff that, having gone voluntarily to the DoJ, he should not go to jail.” A statement released by Party Gaming to the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday added, “The Company believes that any such settlement is unlikely to include a criminal plea on the part of the Company or any director.” In addition, PartyGaming officials stated that Dikshit was likely to pay far less than the $300 million reported by the Financial Times.
The Financial Times states that, in addition to the nine-figure fine, Dikshit may spend up to two years in prison. He is scheduled to plead guilty to violating the Wire Act of 1961, which has typically been interpreted to apply to online wagering on sporting events. Party Gaming currently offers casino games, Backgammon, Bingo, and sports betting. However, it is best known for its online poker site, which recently revamped the look of its tables and lobby and has grown to become one of the largest rooms that does not accept U.S. players.
PartyPoker was once one of the marquee sites that catered to the U.S. market. However, with the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006, the room left the country entirely. Party Gaming is traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol “PRTY” and, like 888 and Sportingbet, is publicly traded. The decision to leave the U.S. market meant that privately held rooms PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker would grow to become the two largest online poker sites in existence.
The article reveals that Dikshit owns a 27% stake in Party Gaming and is the largest single shareholder. Ruth Parasol and Russ DeLeon each own 14%, but have not yet made any agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice similar to the one Dikshit may have struck. The Times also notes that Party Gaming, 888, and Sportingbet have all been in separate negotiations with the Department of Justice in order to clear the air legally with the United States Government. The ruling has the potential to set the precedent for the internet gambling industry, although whether the case is aimed specifically at online poker is not known.
At the time of writing, Party Gaming’s stock was trading at ₤138.75, up ₤3.75 at the last close. The stock has traded wildly between a range of ₤87.75 and ₤312.00 over the past 52 weeks. In September of 2006, just before the UIGEA was passed, the stock was sitting at ₤107. In a span of three weeks, it dropped precipitously to ₤29 as the UIGEA was passed into law on October 13, 2006. The company went public in 2005.
The Southern District Court of New York is located in White Plains, and Judge Jed S. Rakoff will ultimately decide Dikshit’s fate. It is not known if any jail time will be announced on Tuesday or when the ultimate decision will be handed down. According to the court’s website, Judge Rakoff makes his home in court room 14B.
PartyPoker recently revamped its rewards system and is gearing up for its Irish Poker Championship, a live tournament that will take place in Galway. Last year, Jude Ainsworth pocketed €180,000 for the win in the tournament, which will take run from January 2nd through 4th, 2009. PartyPoker is doling out $5,000 packages that include the $2,800 Main Event buy-in, $1,000 in spending cash, and accommodations that are worth $1,200. The Radisson Hotel Galway will host the tournament, which will feature Irish poker pro Padraig Parkinson, World Poker Tour Host and Poker News Daily contributor Mike Sexton, and David “Devilfish” Ulliott, who is the face behind popular online poker site Devilfish Poker.
Regarding possible prison time, the Financial Times explained, “He hopes the DoJ will recommend to Judge Jed Rakoff that, having gone voluntarily to the DoJ, he should not go to jail.” A statement released by Party Gaming to the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday added, “The Company believes that any such settlement is unlikely to include a criminal plea on the part of the Company or any director.” In addition, PartyGaming officials stated that Dikshit was likely to pay far less than the $300 million reported by the Financial Times.
Monday, December 15, 2008
POKER - 5 Players Busted !!
5 players busted more than 2 years ago aim to show luck not main factor in poker game
Men argue 'Hold 'em' is game of skill
Defendants and supporters in the gambling case crowd a hallway outside the municipal courtroom in Mount Pleasant in 2006. Five of the players are now trying to show that it was skill, not chance, they were relying on.
Previous story
Poker players' legal saga to go on, published 08/23/08
MOUNT PLEASANT — It's an argument as old as gambling itself: Is "Texas Hold 'em" poker primarily a game of chance or skill?
Five players busted by Mount Pleasant police more than two years ago have secured a court order allowing them, in essence, to argue the game hinges on talented human play — not the luck of the cards.
The distinction is key. If a town municipal judge agrees that "Hold 'em" relies sufficiently on wits, it could be a major boost in the players' quest to legalize a card game many people play privately around their kitchen tables.
But if he determines the game is dominated by chance, the players could be slapped with fines and convictions, setting the stage for long-term appeals.
"To my knowledge, the issue of whether skill or chance is the dominant factor in the game of poker has never been litigated with the presentation of evidence in the U.S.," said Greenville lawyer Jeff Phillips, an avid poker enthusiast and attorney for the five players.
The two-page document, signed last month, features an order from Municipal Court Judge J. Lawrence Duffy Jr. allowing the prosecution and the defense to present whatever evidence they wish in the long-running duel. They can offer testimony, call witnesses and provide other relevant evidence over whether "Texas Hold 'em" should be considered a game of chance under the state's definition of gaming and gambling.
The order covers only "Texas Hold 'em." No other form of cards is included, such as Black Jack, Stud, Omaha or other casual poker table games. It also allows Duffy to decide what weight "if any" to give to anything that's presented.
Phillips' argument is that the game of "Hold 'em" is more than dealing and simple card play.
"While there is no disputing that the element of chance is present in poker — as in everything else in life — there are numerous skills a poker player must rely upon in playing the game of poker that will determine whether that player is successful or not," he said.
Mount Pleasant town prosecutor Ira Grossman declined to comment, citing the ongoing legal issues surrounding the case. A court date hasn't been set, but it likely will be this winter.
The five defendants are the last of about two-dozen people cited during an April 2006 police raid on a private home on Glencoe Street. Authorities discovered that an organized "Texas Hold 'em" tournament was going on inside where the host was pocketing some of the table cash. Players at the house had learned of the game through an Internet invitation and paid a $20 "buy in."
Authorities have justified the raid on several fronts, saying illegal gambling was taking place, that the street was routinely clogged by local and out-of-area vehicles and that a quantity of drugs was seized.
Most of those cited already have pleaded guilty to their ticketed offenses and paid small fines. The five players remaining are the hold-outs in a case that has dragged on for months, arguably much longer than most others filed in Mount Pleasant's municipal court.
During a court hearing in August, Phillips said the charges should be tossed out because South Carolina's 200-year-old anti-card, anti-dice laws are too antiquated and vague for anyone to make sense of today. For example, the law mentions aged games, including roly-poley, rouge et noir and draughts.
He also argued the home that hosted the game wasn't an illegal casino or a public house of gaming, as is mentioned in the state's anti-gambling laws.
Men argue 'Hold 'em' is game of skill
Defendants and supporters in the gambling case crowd a hallway outside the municipal courtroom in Mount Pleasant in 2006. Five of the players are now trying to show that it was skill, not chance, they were relying on.
Previous story
Poker players' legal saga to go on, published 08/23/08
MOUNT PLEASANT — It's an argument as old as gambling itself: Is "Texas Hold 'em" poker primarily a game of chance or skill?
Five players busted by Mount Pleasant police more than two years ago have secured a court order allowing them, in essence, to argue the game hinges on talented human play — not the luck of the cards.
The distinction is key. If a town municipal judge agrees that "Hold 'em" relies sufficiently on wits, it could be a major boost in the players' quest to legalize a card game many people play privately around their kitchen tables.
But if he determines the game is dominated by chance, the players could be slapped with fines and convictions, setting the stage for long-term appeals.
"To my knowledge, the issue of whether skill or chance is the dominant factor in the game of poker has never been litigated with the presentation of evidence in the U.S.," said Greenville lawyer Jeff Phillips, an avid poker enthusiast and attorney for the five players.
The two-page document, signed last month, features an order from Municipal Court Judge J. Lawrence Duffy Jr. allowing the prosecution and the defense to present whatever evidence they wish in the long-running duel. They can offer testimony, call witnesses and provide other relevant evidence over whether "Texas Hold 'em" should be considered a game of chance under the state's definition of gaming and gambling.
The order covers only "Texas Hold 'em." No other form of cards is included, such as Black Jack, Stud, Omaha or other casual poker table games. It also allows Duffy to decide what weight "if any" to give to anything that's presented.
Phillips' argument is that the game of "Hold 'em" is more than dealing and simple card play.
"While there is no disputing that the element of chance is present in poker — as in everything else in life — there are numerous skills a poker player must rely upon in playing the game of poker that will determine whether that player is successful or not," he said.
Mount Pleasant town prosecutor Ira Grossman declined to comment, citing the ongoing legal issues surrounding the case. A court date hasn't been set, but it likely will be this winter.
The five defendants are the last of about two-dozen people cited during an April 2006 police raid on a private home on Glencoe Street. Authorities discovered that an organized "Texas Hold 'em" tournament was going on inside where the host was pocketing some of the table cash. Players at the house had learned of the game through an Internet invitation and paid a $20 "buy in."
Authorities have justified the raid on several fronts, saying illegal gambling was taking place, that the street was routinely clogged by local and out-of-area vehicles and that a quantity of drugs was seized.
Most of those cited already have pleaded guilty to their ticketed offenses and paid small fines. The five players remaining are the hold-outs in a case that has dragged on for months, arguably much longer than most others filed in Mount Pleasant's municipal court.
During a court hearing in August, Phillips said the charges should be tossed out because South Carolina's 200-year-old anti-card, anti-dice laws are too antiquated and vague for anyone to make sense of today. For example, the law mentions aged games, including roly-poley, rouge et noir and draughts.
He also argued the home that hosted the game wasn't an illegal casino or a public house of gaming, as is mentioned in the state's anti-gambling laws.
Poker King hits $ 1 Mill Jackpot !
A professional poker player from Belfast is celebrating after scooping the $1m jackpot at a tournament in London at the weekend.
Marty Smyth has earned more than $3.5m throughout his card playing career but claiming the top spot in the Ladbrokes Poker Million VII is his biggest win so far.
It was an unlikely victory, as he had to claw his way back into the reckoning after making a disastrous start to the championship.
"I got off to a bad start - I played a big hand and thought I was winning but it turns out I wasn't," he said.
"At that stage, bookmakers were offering odds of 66/1."
Four of the six players who reached the televised final were Irish, and Mr Smyth admits the cards fell nicely for him as he saw off their challenge.
"Poker is a mixture of skill and luck - I like to think I played quite well but certainly after that big hand lots of things went my way," he said.
Although Mr Smyth is a professional gambler, he said there was no chance of him squandering his winnings in a hurry.
"I'm fairly sensible - I've enjoyed a lot of success in the last couple of years, but I'm aware that might not be the case forever," he said.
"Any time I get a big win like this, I try to be sensible with it and invest the lion's share of it."
Marty Smyth has earned more than $3.5m throughout his card playing career but claiming the top spot in the Ladbrokes Poker Million VII is his biggest win so far.
It was an unlikely victory, as he had to claw his way back into the reckoning after making a disastrous start to the championship.
"I got off to a bad start - I played a big hand and thought I was winning but it turns out I wasn't," he said.
"At that stage, bookmakers were offering odds of 66/1."
Four of the six players who reached the televised final were Irish, and Mr Smyth admits the cards fell nicely for him as he saw off their challenge.
"Poker is a mixture of skill and luck - I like to think I played quite well but certainly after that big hand lots of things went my way," he said.
Although Mr Smyth is a professional gambler, he said there was no chance of him squandering his winnings in a hurry.
"I'm fairly sensible - I've enjoyed a lot of success in the last couple of years, but I'm aware that might not be the case forever," he said.
"Any time I get a big win like this, I try to be sensible with it and invest the lion's share of it."
Sunday, December 14, 2008
UFC : ULTIMATE FIGHTER 8 FINALE RESULTS !!
ROLI DELGADO VS. JOHN POLAKOWSKI
Round 1 - Small crowd to start the evening. Slow pace to open the fight. Polakowski works the fight briefly to the mat, but it is quickly back up. Working in the clinch, Polakowski eats a shot and drops. Delgado works to side control, but offers little offense. Delgado takes the back and looks to sink in a choke. Polakowski defends and stands, but the round comes to an end. MMAjunkie.com scores it for Delgado, 10-9.
Round 2 - Delgado shoots in unsuccessfully. A second attempt also fails, but Delgado grabs a leg. No submission, but the fight does got to the floor where Polakowski works from guard. Slow pace again from ground. Polakowski looks to get to his feet but is trapped in a guillotine. Polakowski taps. Roli Delgado def. John Polakowski via submission (guillotine choke) -- Round 2, 2:18.
SHANE NELSON VS. GEORGE ROOP
Round 1 - Fast-paced start. Nothing scoring, though. A clinch, and Roop works it to the mat. Nelson works to the back and looks for the choke quickly. Nelson continues to work for the choke, but can't secure it. Slow action, and the crowd voices its displeasure. Roop finally scrambles out and the round ends. MMAjunkie.com scores it for Nelson, 10-9.
Round 2 - Nelson looks to take it to the ground early. Finally gets the takedown and works to side control. Nelson works some ground and pound then switches to mount. Roop taking damage on the bottom. Roop tries to stand and is caught in a guillotine. Roop remains calm and works free. Back on the feet, and Roop lands a few shots but the round closes. MMAjunkie.com sees it again for Nelson, 10-9.
Round 3 - Roop comes out aggressively with punches and kicks, but again nothing scores. Roop pushes Nelson against the cage and scores a takedown. Roop lets Nelson stand. A few punches score from each fighter, and Roop takes it to the mat again. Little offense, and Roop stands again. Nelson scores a takedown as time winds down, but there is not enough time to utilize it. MMAjunkie.com scores it for Roop 10-9, but the fight for Nelson 29-28. Shane Nelson def. George Roop via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
KYLE KINGSBURY VS. TOM LAWLOR
Round 1 - Despite a pro-Kingsbury crowd, Lawlor shoots in early for the takedown. Kingsbury back up, but Lawlor is right back on him with a takedown. Kingsbury pulls guard, and Lawlor works to land punches form the top. Kingsbury working his leg up for a submission attempt, but is unsuccessful. Lawlor lands more shots, but the crowd is unhappy with the action. Tough round to call, but MMAjunkie.com sees it for Lawlor, 10-9.
Round 2 - Lawlor shoots in again. Kingsbury scrambles back to his feet. Lawlor shoots back in again quickly, then moves to side control. Kingsbury scrambles out and back to his feet, but Lawlor again works it to the floor. Kingsbury works from guard, and Lawlor is again scoring from the top. Failed kimura by Kingsbury before the round closes. MMAjunkie.com gives it to Lawlor again, 10-9.
Round 3 - Kingsbury opens aggressively, but Lawlor again shoots in. Kingsbury again scrambles up, but the pattern has been established. Kingsbury is beginning to utilize his hands a lot more frequently. Lawlor continues to shoot in, but Kingsbury is successfully sprawling and brawling. Lawlor continue to push forward, though, and earns the takedown as the round ends. MMAjunkie.com sees the round for Kingsbury, but the fight for Lawlor, 29-29. Tom Lawlor def. Kyle Kingsbury via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
JULES BRUCHEZ VS. ELIOT MARSHALL
Round 1 - Marshall scores with a stiff right early. Marshall pushes forward and slams Bruchez to the mat. Marshal switches quickly to side control, and Bruchez rolls. Marshall sinks in the choke, tightening after a some struggle. Bruchez forced to tap. Eliot Marshall def. Jules Bruchez via submission (rear-naked choke) -- Round 1, 1:27.
SHANE PRIMM VS. KRZYSZTOF SOSZYNSKI
Round 1 - Soszynski opens quickly with punches. Primm looks shaken, but scores a takedown. Soszynski works back to his feet, but has to defend the takedown again. Soszynski scores with punches again, then defends another shot. Soszynski pounces on the prone Primm and works for a kimura. Another flurry from Soszynski to end the round. MMAjunkie.com sees it for Soszynski, 10-9.
Round 2 - Soszynski agains cores with a punch to start. The two trade, but nothing scores. Primm again shoots in. Soszynski defends, but transitions to the floor. Soszynski works a kimura -- unsuccessfully to start, but then tight. Primm must tap. Soszynski appears to be thinking, "I've got jiu-jitsu, too, baby," but MMAjunkie.com can not confirm that possibility. Krzysztof Soszynski def. Shane Primm via submission (kimura) -- Round 2, 3:27.
JUNIE BROWNING VS. DAVE KAPLAN
Round 1 - "The Lunatic" versus "Diamond" Dave is underway. A touch of gloves to start. Kaplan takes the center of the cage. Browning immediately catches Kaplan right on the protective gear, but we get a quick restart. Browning throws a combo of punches and kicks, and both are trading shots. Browning scores with his hands, then lands a solid knee. Browning slips and Kaplan grabs a leg. Browning signals he's OK. Kaplan's left eye bleeding badly. Browning passes and takes the back, but Kaplan rolls out and stands. Browning scores a knee from the clinch, then backs away. Browning peppering Kaplan with punches and kicks at different levels. Kaplan pushes forward behind a solid straight of his own, then drops for a leg a second time. It misses, and Browning is now on top of Kaplan. Action slows momentarily with Browning in side control. Kaplan rolls, but Browning takes his back and sinks in a rear-naked choke. Kaplan defends and reverses out to the top position. Browning stands and Kaplan lands a few knees inside. Browning answers with an elbow, and the round closes in the clinch. MMAjunkie.com sees it for Browning, 10-9.
Round 2 - Kaplan takes the center of the octagon again. Browning shoots in works in Kaplan's half-guard. Kaplan holds Browning close, and little damage is done. Browning passes to side control, then transitions quickly to an arm bar forcing the tap. Junie Browning def. David Kaplan via submission (arm bar) -- Round 2, 1:32.
WILSON GOUVEIA VS. JASON MACDONALD
Round 1 - Gouveia throws a right hand, but MacDonald shoots underneath. Gouveia defends well, but MacDonald persists. Gouveia kicks him off and stands. Working from the clinch, MacDonald throws inside knees until Gouveia pushes away. Fighters trade low kicks, then hands. Gouveia catches MacDonald with a few straight punches. Gouveia pounces on the downed MacDonald and throws a barrage of elbows. MacDonald's forehead is cut open as the onslaught continues. The blows are too much, and the fight is stopped. Wilson Gouveia def. Jason MacDonald via submission (strikes) -- Round 1, 2:18.
KEVIN BURNS VS. ANTHONY JOHNSON
Round 1 - Quick strikes exchanged early. Burns lands a kick to the body, then a jab. Johnson answers with a left hand. Fast pace early, and both are scoring with their hands. Johnson shoots in and Burns pulls guard. Burns works his legs up, but Johnson stands then scores with a big punch as he slides to side control. Burns secures Johnson's right arm with his legs, then a triangle choke. Johnson stays calm and slides out of the hold and back to Burns' guard. Johnson throws a few big punches, but they do not land square. Burns stands the fight after a stalemate. Burns lands a right hand, then Johnson does the same. Burns is dropped, and Johnson scores with leg kicks. Big flurry by both to finish. Close round, but MMAjunkie.com sees it for Johnson, 10-9.
Round 2 - Crisp striking again to start by both. Johnson shoots a single leg, but Burns defends. Johnson twists and earns the takedown. Burns locks in a kimura, but loses it when he looks to crank the arm. Johnson works from Burns' half-guard, then guard. Johnson lands a few elbows, one heavier than the rest. Burns throws a few elbows from the bottom, then works his legs high on Johnson's back. Nothing there, and the two slide away from the cage. Johnson scores more with the ground and pound, but the pace is moderate. The fight continues with Burns in a closed guard and Johnson landing moderate shots from the top. Burns throws up a leg to look for a triangle, but Johnson slides out, Burns regains guard then rolls for an arm. Johnson scores again from the top, and the bout finishes in the position. MMAjunkie.com gives it again to Johnson, 10-9.
Round 3 - Johnson scores a few leg kicks to open, then Burns throws a few hands. A big left kick to the head scores for Johnson, and Burns is out. Anthony Johnson def. Kevin Burns via knockout (kick) -- Round 3, 0:28.
RYAN BADER VS. VINNY MAGALHAES
Round 1 - Bader starts with a low kick, Magalhaes answers to the body. Both trade hands. Magalhaes lands another kick to the body. Bader scores with a punch. A brief clinch, but the two break apart. Bader slips after a kick, but Magalhaes can't capitalize. Moderate, cautious pace by both. Bader works punches from the outside. Big right overhand punch drops Magalhaes, and Magalhaes is down. A few punches follow to leave no doubt. Ryan Bader def. Vinny Magalhaes via KO (punches) -- Round 1, 2:18
EFRAIN ESCUDERO VS. PHILLIPE NOVER
Round 1 - Nover starts with a high kick that is blocked. Nover shoots in behind a right hand, but Escudero ends up in top position. Nover pulls guard, and Escudero stands. Escudero lands a solid right hand and takes Nover's back. Escudero looks to sink in a choke, and controls Nover with both hooks secure. Escudero switches to mount, then lands a few heavy shots. Escudero stands and pounds a few leg kicks. Escudero moves in but gets trapped in a near-triangle position. Nover keeps control, and tries to roll to the back. Slick transitions as Nover misses a standing kimura. Escudero immediately brings the bout back to the mat. Nover moves the leg up and Escudero stands. Escudero again scores a takedown and lands a big right hand, falling into Nover's half-guard. Escudero stands and throws kicks to the legs of a downed Nover. Escudero allows Nover to stand. As time winds down the fighters work from the clinch. MMAjunkie.com sees it for Escudero, 10-9.
Round 2 - Nover swings wildly, but Escudero again brings it to the floor. Escudero is in side control. Escudero stands and again throws kicks to the legs. Nover misses slightly with an upkick. The two stand and clinch. Both trade knees inside. Nover lands a right as the two push away. Escudero lands a few inside leg kicks, then clinches as Nover charges. Nover sinks a guillotine from the standing position, but releases it as the two hit the floor. Escudero on top from Nover's half-guard. Nover holds his opponent close, but Escudero remains active enough with punches to the head and body to avoid a stand-up. Nover tries to grab a leg as Escudero stands, and a spirited exchange ends the round. It's another round for Escudero in MMAjunkie.com's eyes, 10-9.
Round 3 - Nover opens with a few kciks, then scores a nice right hand. Escudero immediately takes the fight to the floor, then stands and throws kicks. Nover quickly stands as well. Nover throws a combination but Escudero ducks out of the way. Nover looks as if he's starting to time Escudero, but the blows are only glancing. Escudero again works to the mat. Nover pulls a closed guard, then looks to utilize the rubber guard. Nover has a near omo plata, but Escudero is keeping his head to the mat. Nover is throwing elbows to Escudero's arm and head while trying to finish the position. Nover has the submission briefly, but rolls out. Nover stands and Escudero looks to keep him away with up kicks. Nover in side control, and the round ends. MMAjunkie.com awards the final round to Nover, but the fight to Escudero, 29-28. Efrain Escudero def. Phillipe Nover via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Round 1 - Small crowd to start the evening. Slow pace to open the fight. Polakowski works the fight briefly to the mat, but it is quickly back up. Working in the clinch, Polakowski eats a shot and drops. Delgado works to side control, but offers little offense. Delgado takes the back and looks to sink in a choke. Polakowski defends and stands, but the round comes to an end. MMAjunkie.com scores it for Delgado, 10-9.
Round 2 - Delgado shoots in unsuccessfully. A second attempt also fails, but Delgado grabs a leg. No submission, but the fight does got to the floor where Polakowski works from guard. Slow pace again from ground. Polakowski looks to get to his feet but is trapped in a guillotine. Polakowski taps. Roli Delgado def. John Polakowski via submission (guillotine choke) -- Round 2, 2:18.
SHANE NELSON VS. GEORGE ROOP
Round 1 - Fast-paced start. Nothing scoring, though. A clinch, and Roop works it to the mat. Nelson works to the back and looks for the choke quickly. Nelson continues to work for the choke, but can't secure it. Slow action, and the crowd voices its displeasure. Roop finally scrambles out and the round ends. MMAjunkie.com scores it for Nelson, 10-9.
Round 2 - Nelson looks to take it to the ground early. Finally gets the takedown and works to side control. Nelson works some ground and pound then switches to mount. Roop taking damage on the bottom. Roop tries to stand and is caught in a guillotine. Roop remains calm and works free. Back on the feet, and Roop lands a few shots but the round closes. MMAjunkie.com sees it again for Nelson, 10-9.
Round 3 - Roop comes out aggressively with punches and kicks, but again nothing scores. Roop pushes Nelson against the cage and scores a takedown. Roop lets Nelson stand. A few punches score from each fighter, and Roop takes it to the mat again. Little offense, and Roop stands again. Nelson scores a takedown as time winds down, but there is not enough time to utilize it. MMAjunkie.com scores it for Roop 10-9, but the fight for Nelson 29-28. Shane Nelson def. George Roop via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
KYLE KINGSBURY VS. TOM LAWLOR
Round 1 - Despite a pro-Kingsbury crowd, Lawlor shoots in early for the takedown. Kingsbury back up, but Lawlor is right back on him with a takedown. Kingsbury pulls guard, and Lawlor works to land punches form the top. Kingsbury working his leg up for a submission attempt, but is unsuccessful. Lawlor lands more shots, but the crowd is unhappy with the action. Tough round to call, but MMAjunkie.com sees it for Lawlor, 10-9.
Round 2 - Lawlor shoots in again. Kingsbury scrambles back to his feet. Lawlor shoots back in again quickly, then moves to side control. Kingsbury scrambles out and back to his feet, but Lawlor again works it to the floor. Kingsbury works from guard, and Lawlor is again scoring from the top. Failed kimura by Kingsbury before the round closes. MMAjunkie.com gives it to Lawlor again, 10-9.
Round 3 - Kingsbury opens aggressively, but Lawlor again shoots in. Kingsbury again scrambles up, but the pattern has been established. Kingsbury is beginning to utilize his hands a lot more frequently. Lawlor continues to shoot in, but Kingsbury is successfully sprawling and brawling. Lawlor continue to push forward, though, and earns the takedown as the round ends. MMAjunkie.com sees the round for Kingsbury, but the fight for Lawlor, 29-29. Tom Lawlor def. Kyle Kingsbury via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
JULES BRUCHEZ VS. ELIOT MARSHALL
Round 1 - Marshall scores with a stiff right early. Marshall pushes forward and slams Bruchez to the mat. Marshal switches quickly to side control, and Bruchez rolls. Marshall sinks in the choke, tightening after a some struggle. Bruchez forced to tap. Eliot Marshall def. Jules Bruchez via submission (rear-naked choke) -- Round 1, 1:27.
SHANE PRIMM VS. KRZYSZTOF SOSZYNSKI
Round 1 - Soszynski opens quickly with punches. Primm looks shaken, but scores a takedown. Soszynski works back to his feet, but has to defend the takedown again. Soszynski scores with punches again, then defends another shot. Soszynski pounces on the prone Primm and works for a kimura. Another flurry from Soszynski to end the round. MMAjunkie.com sees it for Soszynski, 10-9.
Round 2 - Soszynski agains cores with a punch to start. The two trade, but nothing scores. Primm again shoots in. Soszynski defends, but transitions to the floor. Soszynski works a kimura -- unsuccessfully to start, but then tight. Primm must tap. Soszynski appears to be thinking, "I've got jiu-jitsu, too, baby," but MMAjunkie.com can not confirm that possibility. Krzysztof Soszynski def. Shane Primm via submission (kimura) -- Round 2, 3:27.
JUNIE BROWNING VS. DAVE KAPLAN
Round 1 - "The Lunatic" versus "Diamond" Dave is underway. A touch of gloves to start. Kaplan takes the center of the cage. Browning immediately catches Kaplan right on the protective gear, but we get a quick restart. Browning throws a combo of punches and kicks, and both are trading shots. Browning scores with his hands, then lands a solid knee. Browning slips and Kaplan grabs a leg. Browning signals he's OK. Kaplan's left eye bleeding badly. Browning passes and takes the back, but Kaplan rolls out and stands. Browning scores a knee from the clinch, then backs away. Browning peppering Kaplan with punches and kicks at different levels. Kaplan pushes forward behind a solid straight of his own, then drops for a leg a second time. It misses, and Browning is now on top of Kaplan. Action slows momentarily with Browning in side control. Kaplan rolls, but Browning takes his back and sinks in a rear-naked choke. Kaplan defends and reverses out to the top position. Browning stands and Kaplan lands a few knees inside. Browning answers with an elbow, and the round closes in the clinch. MMAjunkie.com sees it for Browning, 10-9.
Round 2 - Kaplan takes the center of the octagon again. Browning shoots in works in Kaplan's half-guard. Kaplan holds Browning close, and little damage is done. Browning passes to side control, then transitions quickly to an arm bar forcing the tap. Junie Browning def. David Kaplan via submission (arm bar) -- Round 2, 1:32.
WILSON GOUVEIA VS. JASON MACDONALD
Round 1 - Gouveia throws a right hand, but MacDonald shoots underneath. Gouveia defends well, but MacDonald persists. Gouveia kicks him off and stands. Working from the clinch, MacDonald throws inside knees until Gouveia pushes away. Fighters trade low kicks, then hands. Gouveia catches MacDonald with a few straight punches. Gouveia pounces on the downed MacDonald and throws a barrage of elbows. MacDonald's forehead is cut open as the onslaught continues. The blows are too much, and the fight is stopped. Wilson Gouveia def. Jason MacDonald via submission (strikes) -- Round 1, 2:18.
KEVIN BURNS VS. ANTHONY JOHNSON
Round 1 - Quick strikes exchanged early. Burns lands a kick to the body, then a jab. Johnson answers with a left hand. Fast pace early, and both are scoring with their hands. Johnson shoots in and Burns pulls guard. Burns works his legs up, but Johnson stands then scores with a big punch as he slides to side control. Burns secures Johnson's right arm with his legs, then a triangle choke. Johnson stays calm and slides out of the hold and back to Burns' guard. Johnson throws a few big punches, but they do not land square. Burns stands the fight after a stalemate. Burns lands a right hand, then Johnson does the same. Burns is dropped, and Johnson scores with leg kicks. Big flurry by both to finish. Close round, but MMAjunkie.com sees it for Johnson, 10-9.
Round 2 - Crisp striking again to start by both. Johnson shoots a single leg, but Burns defends. Johnson twists and earns the takedown. Burns locks in a kimura, but loses it when he looks to crank the arm. Johnson works from Burns' half-guard, then guard. Johnson lands a few elbows, one heavier than the rest. Burns throws a few elbows from the bottom, then works his legs high on Johnson's back. Nothing there, and the two slide away from the cage. Johnson scores more with the ground and pound, but the pace is moderate. The fight continues with Burns in a closed guard and Johnson landing moderate shots from the top. Burns throws up a leg to look for a triangle, but Johnson slides out, Burns regains guard then rolls for an arm. Johnson scores again from the top, and the bout finishes in the position. MMAjunkie.com gives it again to Johnson, 10-9.
Round 3 - Johnson scores a few leg kicks to open, then Burns throws a few hands. A big left kick to the head scores for Johnson, and Burns is out. Anthony Johnson def. Kevin Burns via knockout (kick) -- Round 3, 0:28.
RYAN BADER VS. VINNY MAGALHAES
Round 1 - Bader starts with a low kick, Magalhaes answers to the body. Both trade hands. Magalhaes lands another kick to the body. Bader scores with a punch. A brief clinch, but the two break apart. Bader slips after a kick, but Magalhaes can't capitalize. Moderate, cautious pace by both. Bader works punches from the outside. Big right overhand punch drops Magalhaes, and Magalhaes is down. A few punches follow to leave no doubt. Ryan Bader def. Vinny Magalhaes via KO (punches) -- Round 1, 2:18
EFRAIN ESCUDERO VS. PHILLIPE NOVER
Round 1 - Nover starts with a high kick that is blocked. Nover shoots in behind a right hand, but Escudero ends up in top position. Nover pulls guard, and Escudero stands. Escudero lands a solid right hand and takes Nover's back. Escudero looks to sink in a choke, and controls Nover with both hooks secure. Escudero switches to mount, then lands a few heavy shots. Escudero stands and pounds a few leg kicks. Escudero moves in but gets trapped in a near-triangle position. Nover keeps control, and tries to roll to the back. Slick transitions as Nover misses a standing kimura. Escudero immediately brings the bout back to the mat. Nover moves the leg up and Escudero stands. Escudero again scores a takedown and lands a big right hand, falling into Nover's half-guard. Escudero stands and throws kicks to the legs of a downed Nover. Escudero allows Nover to stand. As time winds down the fighters work from the clinch. MMAjunkie.com sees it for Escudero, 10-9.
Round 2 - Nover swings wildly, but Escudero again brings it to the floor. Escudero is in side control. Escudero stands and again throws kicks to the legs. Nover misses slightly with an upkick. The two stand and clinch. Both trade knees inside. Nover lands a right as the two push away. Escudero lands a few inside leg kicks, then clinches as Nover charges. Nover sinks a guillotine from the standing position, but releases it as the two hit the floor. Escudero on top from Nover's half-guard. Nover holds his opponent close, but Escudero remains active enough with punches to the head and body to avoid a stand-up. Nover tries to grab a leg as Escudero stands, and a spirited exchange ends the round. It's another round for Escudero in MMAjunkie.com's eyes, 10-9.
Round 3 - Nover opens with a few kciks, then scores a nice right hand. Escudero immediately takes the fight to the floor, then stands and throws kicks. Nover quickly stands as well. Nover throws a combination but Escudero ducks out of the way. Nover looks as if he's starting to time Escudero, but the blows are only glancing. Escudero again works to the mat. Nover pulls a closed guard, then looks to utilize the rubber guard. Nover has a near omo plata, but Escudero is keeping his head to the mat. Nover is throwing elbows to Escudero's arm and head while trying to finish the position. Nover has the submission briefly, but rolls out. Nover stands and Escudero looks to keep him away with up kicks. Nover in side control, and the round ends. MMAjunkie.com awards the final round to Nover, but the fight to Escudero, 29-28. Efrain Escudero def. Phillipe Nover via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Saturday, December 13, 2008
TitanPoker Players Cash In
TitanPoker.com Players Cash In at ECOOP III Tournament Series Finale
Titan Poker players claim European Championship of Online Poker bracelets and a share of the $4,717,900 awarded in fourteen exciting tournaments.
(PRWEB) December 12, 2008 -- Avid poker players at online poker room Titan Poker (http://www.titanpoker.com/) won huge cash prizes and presigious jewelled bracelets as the European Championship of Online Poker (ECOOP III) drew to a close after fourteen exciting poker tournaments.
A total of $4,717,900 was awarded to winning poker players during the 14 events, nearly $600,000 more than the $4.15 Million that was guaranteed in prizes at ECOOP III.
The series concluded with a $1,500,000 No Limit Texas Hold'em Main Event, which was won by player Intruder123, who took home a prize of $315,000. Second place at this final tournament was player piccajo with a prize of $165,000, and third place went to player jornxx, who won $120,000.
After the online tournament, which lasted over 15 hours, player jornxx said he was "happy with his winnings" and vowed to continue to play poker at www.titanpoker.com and "win some more."
Players from TitanPoker.com won 4 ECOOP III bracelets during the series. Italian hairdresser Lorenzo Savallo, kick started the winning tide with his $24,518 success at the ECOOP #2 $100,000 GP. Three days later, young Canadian player 'ch0ppy' followed suite with prize winnings of $91,770 after a hard-won triumph at the ECOOP #5 $350,000 GP.
Talented Titan Poker player Jochum Weenik (http://www.titanpoker.com/winners.html ), 22, from the Netherlands, won a $100,000 first prize at the ECOOP III #7 $500,000 GP.
A fourth ECOOP III bracelet was won by player dfabio, who took home $59,400 when he beat out 899 players in ECOOP III Event number 10, a No Limit Texas Hold'em Freezeout event with six-player tables.
Titan Poker's first ECOOP, which was staged last December, saw players competing over ten days for their share of $2,500,000 in cash prizes. ECOOP II followed in May this year with a grand total of $3,600,000 in guaranteed prizes over ten nights of tournament play.
About Titan Poker
Titan Poker is the leading online poker room in Europe and part of the iPoker Network. Titan Poker's software was developed by Playtech, a publicly-traded company and leading gaming software developer. Titan Poker guarantees more than $16,000,000 in monthly prizes, has nearly 30,000 online players at peak hours, and awards winning players with entries to the major poker tournaments worldwide. Titan Poker features special jackpot sit 'n' go tournaments with progressive prizes and jackpots as high as $100,000. Titan Poker is exclusively promoted by Euro Partners (http://www.europartners.com/), the world's largest e-gaming affiliate program.
Titan Poker players claim European Championship of Online Poker bracelets and a share of the $4,717,900 awarded in fourteen exciting tournaments.
(PRWEB) December 12, 2008 -- Avid poker players at online poker room Titan Poker (http://www.titanpoker.com/) won huge cash prizes and presigious jewelled bracelets as the European Championship of Online Poker (ECOOP III) drew to a close after fourteen exciting poker tournaments.
A total of $4,717,900 was awarded to winning poker players during the 14 events, nearly $600,000 more than the $4.15 Million that was guaranteed in prizes at ECOOP III.
The series concluded with a $1,500,000 No Limit Texas Hold'em Main Event, which was won by player Intruder123, who took home a prize of $315,000. Second place at this final tournament was player piccajo with a prize of $165,000, and third place went to player jornxx, who won $120,000.
After the online tournament, which lasted over 15 hours, player jornxx said he was "happy with his winnings" and vowed to continue to play poker at www.titanpoker.com and "win some more."
Players from TitanPoker.com won 4 ECOOP III bracelets during the series. Italian hairdresser Lorenzo Savallo, kick started the winning tide with his $24,518 success at the ECOOP #2 $100,000 GP. Three days later, young Canadian player 'ch0ppy' followed suite with prize winnings of $91,770 after a hard-won triumph at the ECOOP #5 $350,000 GP.
Talented Titan Poker player Jochum Weenik (http://www.titanpoker.com/winners.html ), 22, from the Netherlands, won a $100,000 first prize at the ECOOP III #7 $500,000 GP.
A fourth ECOOP III bracelet was won by player dfabio, who took home $59,400 when he beat out 899 players in ECOOP III Event number 10, a No Limit Texas Hold'em Freezeout event with six-player tables.
Titan Poker's first ECOOP, which was staged last December, saw players competing over ten days for their share of $2,500,000 in cash prizes. ECOOP II followed in May this year with a grand total of $3,600,000 in guaranteed prizes over ten nights of tournament play.
About Titan Poker
Titan Poker is the leading online poker room in Europe and part of the iPoker Network. Titan Poker's software was developed by Playtech, a publicly-traded company and leading gaming software developer. Titan Poker guarantees more than $16,000,000 in monthly prizes, has nearly 30,000 online players at peak hours, and awards winning players with entries to the major poker tournaments worldwide. Titan Poker features special jackpot sit 'n' go tournaments with progressive prizes and jackpots as high as $100,000. Titan Poker is exclusively promoted by Euro Partners (http://www.europartners.com/), the world's largest e-gaming affiliate program.
12 DAYS OF POKER!!
Sing: "On the twelfth day of poker, Bodog gave to me/A package for the Bodog Poker Open 3." With a tournament a day from Dec. 21 to Jan. 1, there's no excuse not to get in on the action.
One tournament a day, and the better you finish, the harder you'll rock the leaderboards. At the end of the 12 days players topping the leaderboards get a free entry into the grand finale tournament.
Those who finish fifth to 100th will duke it out in a semifinal tournament, and the top 18 finishers from there will join the top four leaderboard finishers in the grand finale.
The grand finale, consisting of 27 players (after five seats are awarded via a random draw of all players to have competed in at least five of the daily poker events), awards Bodog Poker Open 3 packages (including buy-in to all of the Bodog Poker Open 3 events) to the top three finishers, while fourth to 10th places will win a seat to a "Bodog Flight Club Semifinal".
The Bodog Flight Club (that's cockpit, not Brad Pitt) is a new Bodog Poker promotion to be launched in early January 2009.
One tournament a day, and the better you finish, the harder you'll rock the leaderboards. At the end of the 12 days players topping the leaderboards get a free entry into the grand finale tournament.
Those who finish fifth to 100th will duke it out in a semifinal tournament, and the top 18 finishers from there will join the top four leaderboard finishers in the grand finale.
The grand finale, consisting of 27 players (after five seats are awarded via a random draw of all players to have competed in at least five of the daily poker events), awards Bodog Poker Open 3 packages (including buy-in to all of the Bodog Poker Open 3 events) to the top three finishers, while fourth to 10th places will win a seat to a "Bodog Flight Club Semifinal".
The Bodog Flight Club (that's cockpit, not Brad Pitt) is a new Bodog Poker promotion to be launched in early January 2009.
POKER AT THE FIVE DIAMOND
The $15,000 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic kicks off today at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. As the last big poker showdown of the year in North America, all the top poker pros should be out in force.
One of those pros will be Brunson's good friend Daniel Negreanu, who says he'll be using the same strategy in this tournament as has brought him plenty of WPT success in the past.
"My strategy going into the first two days is pretty transparent and I could care less," says Negreanu. "I won't be doing any reraising pre-flop, I'll be min-raising until the antes come into play, and I won't be playing a ton of big pots. It's what I do at pretty much every WPT Bellagio event until day three and that strategy has worked extremely well for me so I don't see any reason to change that up at all. I've cashed in three straight Bellagio events."
Brunson and Negreanu seem to enjoy a friendly rivalry born as much on the golf course as the felt.
"Maybe he can't play golf so well but he is really performing well in the poker tournaments," says Brunson.
Negeanu will be just one of the draws to the Bellagio and the Five Diamond Classic, according to organizers.
"Doyle always has been a strong supporter and friend of Bellagio," said Doug Dalton, director of poker operations for Bellagio. "We cherish our partnership not only with him but all of the players. We expect another strong turnout for December's event and look forward to Eugene Katchalov's attempt to defend his title."
Last year produced a prize pool of more than $9.5 million, with 26-year-old New Yorker Katchalov defeating Ted Kearley in heads-up play, taking the whopping first-place winnings of $2,482,605.
"It was a pretty amazing experience," said Katchalov of what was the fastest final table in WPT history. "I caught cards the whole time. Everything went exactly as I hoped for."
One of those pros will be Brunson's good friend Daniel Negreanu, who says he'll be using the same strategy in this tournament as has brought him plenty of WPT success in the past.
"My strategy going into the first two days is pretty transparent and I could care less," says Negreanu. "I won't be doing any reraising pre-flop, I'll be min-raising until the antes come into play, and I won't be playing a ton of big pots. It's what I do at pretty much every WPT Bellagio event until day three and that strategy has worked extremely well for me so I don't see any reason to change that up at all. I've cashed in three straight Bellagio events."
Brunson and Negreanu seem to enjoy a friendly rivalry born as much on the golf course as the felt.
"Maybe he can't play golf so well but he is really performing well in the poker tournaments," says Brunson.
Negeanu will be just one of the draws to the Bellagio and the Five Diamond Classic, according to organizers.
"Doyle always has been a strong supporter and friend of Bellagio," said Doug Dalton, director of poker operations for Bellagio. "We cherish our partnership not only with him but all of the players. We expect another strong turnout for December's event and look forward to Eugene Katchalov's attempt to defend his title."
Last year produced a prize pool of more than $9.5 million, with 26-year-old New Yorker Katchalov defeating Ted Kearley in heads-up play, taking the whopping first-place winnings of $2,482,605.
"It was a pretty amazing experience," said Katchalov of what was the fastest final table in WPT history. "I caught cards the whole time. Everything went exactly as I hoped for."
POKER ROOM AND HORSE TRACK DENIED !!!
DeBary City Council votes against proposal for horse track, poker room
The DeBary City Council shot down a proposal for a horse track and poker room this afternoon, ending months of speculation about whether gambling would come to this small city.
Before a crowd of several hundred, the council voted 3-2 against rezoning for the DeBary Town Center and Equestrian Park. The three who opposed it cited concerns about traffic, crime and whether the city had thoroughly reviewed the proposal.
"I think it's too big of an operation to come in," Mayor George Coleman said after the vote, adding that safety on the nearby roads was a major factor in his decision.
The track was arguably the most controversial issue in DeBary's history as a city, with both sides waging aggressive campaigns for several months. Opponents, including the Daytona Beach Kennel Club and Poker Room, a potential competitor, put up a billboard calling the project a casino, held rallies and launched websites against the project.
The DeBary City Council shot down a proposal for a horse track and poker room this afternoon, ending months of speculation about whether gambling would come to this small city.
Before a crowd of several hundred, the council voted 3-2 against rezoning for the DeBary Town Center and Equestrian Park. The three who opposed it cited concerns about traffic, crime and whether the city had thoroughly reviewed the proposal.
"I think it's too big of an operation to come in," Mayor George Coleman said after the vote, adding that safety on the nearby roads was a major factor in his decision.
The track was arguably the most controversial issue in DeBary's history as a city, with both sides waging aggressive campaigns for several months. Opponents, including the Daytona Beach Kennel Club and Poker Room, a potential competitor, put up a billboard calling the project a casino, held rallies and launched websites against the project.
Friday, December 12, 2008
PPA TARGETS DC OFFICALS WITH GAMBLING ADS !!
The Poker Players Alliance has completed a print advertising campaign that promotes its call for US federal regulation of online poker and targets politicians and federal officials in the Washington D.C. area. The PPA's ad (reproduced below) appeared in The Hill on Tuesday, The Politico Wednesday, and Roll Call yesterday. All three are widely read by policymakers at the federal level.
The PPA's ad was positioned as a response of a sorts to the mainstream coverage of online cheating scandals at UltimateBet and Absolute Poker by "60 Minutes" and The Washington Post over two weeks ago, though the ad itself mentioned only the series of pieces in the Post, due to that newspaper's shared readership with the political outlets targeted by the ad.
The PPA's generalized call for "sensible federal regulation" specifically governing online poker continues to focus on several bills likely to receive consideration when the new Congress adjourns in 2009. Among those are HR 2046, the "Internet Gambling and Regulation Act" introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA); HR 2610, the "Skill Game Protection Act" introduced by Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL); HR 6870, the "Payments System Protection Act" also introduced by Frank that attempts to block or revoke implementation of portions of the 2006 UIGEA; and S 3616, the "Internet Skill Game Licensing and Control Act" introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ). Several other bills concerning internet gambling are also under consideration but are not supported as heavily by the PPA.
The PPA's ad was positioned as a response of a sorts to the mainstream coverage of online cheating scandals at UltimateBet and Absolute Poker by "60 Minutes" and The Washington Post over two weeks ago, though the ad itself mentioned only the series of pieces in the Post, due to that newspaper's shared readership with the political outlets targeted by the ad.
The PPA's generalized call for "sensible federal regulation" specifically governing online poker continues to focus on several bills likely to receive consideration when the new Congress adjourns in 2009. Among those are HR 2046, the "Internet Gambling and Regulation Act" introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA); HR 2610, the "Skill Game Protection Act" introduced by Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL); HR 6870, the "Payments System Protection Act" also introduced by Frank that attempts to block or revoke implementation of portions of the 2006 UIGEA; and S 3616, the "Internet Skill Game Licensing and Control Act" introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ). Several other bills concerning internet gambling are also under consideration but are not supported as heavily by the PPA.
U.S. CONGRESS AND POKER
Poker Players Alliance tries to influence lawmakers on Capitol Hill
After the coverage of the recent cheating scandals in Washington Post and CBS 60 Minutes the Poker Player Alliance tries to influence the U.S. Congress to legalize and regulate online poker.
Full page ads will be ran by the Poker Player Alliance in several Capitol Hill newspapers. The message is that a thoughtful regulation of online poker is the best and only way to protect consumers and regulate a constantly growing industry. And on the bonus side there are billions of tax dollars to collect for the U.S. government.
The Poker Player Alliance keep on fighting for the right of poker players across the globe. And the battle for legalized online poker in the U.S. continues. Hopefully Congress will see reason sooner rather than later.
After the coverage of the recent cheating scandals in Washington Post and CBS 60 Minutes the Poker Player Alliance tries to influence the U.S. Congress to legalize and regulate online poker.
Full page ads will be ran by the Poker Player Alliance in several Capitol Hill newspapers. The message is that a thoughtful regulation of online poker is the best and only way to protect consumers and regulate a constantly growing industry. And on the bonus side there are billions of tax dollars to collect for the U.S. government.
The Poker Player Alliance keep on fighting for the right of poker players across the globe. And the battle for legalized online poker in the U.S. continues. Hopefully Congress will see reason sooner rather than later.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
UFC : LOOK OUT MIKE " QUICK " SWICK IS BACK
Quick" Swick returns, Cantwell dominant in UFC debut
Ever since Mike Swick began his UFC career with four swift first-round victories, many fans have wondered what happened to the lightning-quick striker who earned the fitting nickname "Quick."
Swick, a former top middleweight contender, dropped to the welterweight division earlier this year, and though victorious, he looked far from dominant in decision wins over Josh Burkman and Marcus Davis.
However, healed from recent arm surgery, Swick (13-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) returned to his "Quick" ways and shut down veteran fighter Jonathan Goulet (22-10 MMA, 4-4 UFC) with a remarkable 33-second TKO.
"I knew he was going for broke," Swick said. "I knew he was a talented fighter who was going to come after me, so I had to go after him first."
Swick immediately went on the prowl and dropped Goulet with a quick combination. Goulet secured a leg, but Swick rained down a barrage of punches and hammerfists to knock him out cold.
The victory -- Swick's first via stoppage in more than two years -- put an end to a long-standing feud between the two fighters that began more than a year ago. A series of forum postings and interviews had both welterweights entering the fight high on emotions. Unfortunately for Goulet, who entered the bout with a three-fight win streak, it benefited Swick.
And the rest of the 170-pound division should take notice.
"I'm healthy now," Swick said. "I had an injury. My right arm wasn't where it should have been. I got my right arm back. I'm healthy, and I'm in great shape. I feel really confident right now."
Ever since Mike Swick began his UFC career with four swift first-round victories, many fans have wondered what happened to the lightning-quick striker who earned the fitting nickname "Quick."
Swick, a former top middleweight contender, dropped to the welterweight division earlier this year, and though victorious, he looked far from dominant in decision wins over Josh Burkman and Marcus Davis.
However, healed from recent arm surgery, Swick (13-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) returned to his "Quick" ways and shut down veteran fighter Jonathan Goulet (22-10 MMA, 4-4 UFC) with a remarkable 33-second TKO.
"I knew he was going for broke," Swick said. "I knew he was a talented fighter who was going to come after me, so I had to go after him first."
Swick immediately went on the prowl and dropped Goulet with a quick combination. Goulet secured a leg, but Swick rained down a barrage of punches and hammerfists to knock him out cold.
The victory -- Swick's first via stoppage in more than two years -- put an end to a long-standing feud between the two fighters that began more than a year ago. A series of forum postings and interviews had both welterweights entering the fight high on emotions. Unfortunately for Goulet, who entered the bout with a three-fight win streak, it benefited Swick.
And the rest of the 170-pound division should take notice.
"I'm healthy now," Swick said. "I had an injury. My right arm wasn't where it should have been. I got my right arm back. I'm healthy, and I'm in great shape. I feel really confident right now."
UFC : Koscheck KO's Yoshida
UFC welterweight Josh Koscheck delivered his most impressive knockout victory for one of the UFC's most important events.
The former collegiate wrestling champion continued his stand-up improvement with a stunning first-round knockout of Yoshiyuki Yoshida.
The fight capped off Wednesday's "UFC Fight Night 16: UFC Fights for the Troops" event at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C. The Spike TV-televised event was held in conjunction with the Fort Bragg military institution and served as a fundraiser for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
In the night's featured bout, Koscheck patiently awaited his opening and eventually tagged his opponent with a big right hand. Yoshida was out on his feet, and Koscheck's follow-up, fight-ending blow sent Yoshida to the mat to force the stoppage at the 2:15 mark.
"It was a nice, straight right hand," Koscheck said after the fight. "I knew he was looking for the overhand right a lot, so I just focused on throwing straight punches."
Prior to the victory, Koscheck was just 2-2 in his previous four fights, which included an October unanimous-decision loss to Thiago Alves. It was Koscheck's second failed opportunity to earn a title shot, though this latest victory puts him right back in the championship hunt.
Yoshida (10-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), meanwhile, suffered his first loss in 10 fights and three years.
The former collegiate wrestling champion continued his stand-up improvement with a stunning first-round knockout of Yoshiyuki Yoshida.
The fight capped off Wednesday's "UFC Fight Night 16: UFC Fights for the Troops" event at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C. The Spike TV-televised event was held in conjunction with the Fort Bragg military institution and served as a fundraiser for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
In the night's featured bout, Koscheck patiently awaited his opening and eventually tagged his opponent with a big right hand. Yoshida was out on his feet, and Koscheck's follow-up, fight-ending blow sent Yoshida to the mat to force the stoppage at the 2:15 mark.
"It was a nice, straight right hand," Koscheck said after the fight. "I knew he was looking for the overhand right a lot, so I just focused on throwing straight punches."
Prior to the victory, Koscheck was just 2-2 in his previous four fights, which included an October unanimous-decision loss to Thiago Alves. It was Koscheck's second failed opportunity to earn a title shot, though this latest victory puts him right back in the championship hunt.
Yoshida (10-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), meanwhile, suffered his first loss in 10 fights and three years.
Poker Player : Mindy Trinidad ( 1960 - 2008 )
Every now and then the poker world notices someone who lights up a poker room with personality and a contagious love of the game. Such was the case of Mindy Trinidad, who recently lost her short battle against acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Although she was a fierce competitor, she didn't hesitate to have a good time at the tables. She would constantly chat with her opponents, and often, despite themselves, they would engage with her at the tables.
The former model, wife and mother of two found poker just two years ago but left behind the start of a promising poker career. Her seventh-place finish at the 2007 World Series of Poker Ladies Event caught the eyes of many and won her countless supporters. Her chit-chatty, aggressive style and outgoing personality gave the otherwise slow moving tournament some interesting moments. Though she competed ferociously, she enjoyed talking with the other players and learning more about her opponents. She went on to win the Summer Pot of Gold Ladies No-Limit Hold'em event in July of this year and followed up with a fourth-place finish in Event 14 of the Pot of Gold series. Unfortunately during that same event, Mindy fell ill and could not compete in the Main Event.
The holiday season is a time of reflection, family and honoring beliefs, but it is also a time for giving of the heart. It is in that spirit that Lisa Wheeler stepped in to promote "Poker Jingle," a $200+30 buy in charity tournament in honor of Mindy that will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society/Southern Nevada. The Mindy Trinidad Memorial event will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's new poker lounge in Las Vegas on December 12th at 3pm. The poker "lounge" at the Hard Rock is a bit more than just a poker room. The newly renovated space boasts a full bar, comfortable lounge, private VIP rooms, bottle service, iPod stations and big-screen TVs, and offers free poker lessons for those who are new to poker and looking for instruction.
In true Vegas style, the event, hosted by Tom McEvoy, will not be without its glitz, glamour, surprises and competition. The event will start off with an EFFEN cocktail hour at 2pm, followed by a tribute to Mindy Trinidad presented by friend and professional poker player Kelli Griggs. The tournament is open to the public but attendance is expected by many top players including Phil Hellmuth, JJ Liu, Kristy Gazes and many more. Full Tilt Poker Pro Erick Lindgren added to the prize pool by offering a seat into the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event. Participants can look forward to surprises through out the tournament including bounty prizes such as a "last woman standing" pearl necklace donated by Tower of Jewels.
For more information on Poker Jingle at the Hard Rock, including "Sponsor A Pro," along with the tournament structure and prize pool, visit www.greasiewheels.com. Registration for the poker tournament opens at noon at the Hard Rock Poker Lounge on the day of the event. Seats are limited. To pre-register for the poker tournament visit www.lls.org/pokerjingle or contact Sylvia Wolf at (702) 436-4220.
The season of giving is certainly not reserved for casinos and live events. To honor Mindy's contributions, Full Tilt held a $5+5 buy in tournament on December 3rd, also benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society/Southern Nevada (LLS). Close to 1000 players played in honor of the beautiful up-and-coming poker star and to contribute to a meaningful cause. Participants included Full Tilt pros Leandro Brasa, Mike Matusow and Cyndy Violette. Erick Lindgren played host to the event, which kicked off at 7pm and ended with player "jokernord" taking the title, plus a "World" model Curtis & Co. watch.
The true winner, however, is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), who will benefit from the poker world's generosity and sense of community. LLS is the world's largest voluntary health organization. The organization is committed to finding a cure for blood cancer and to better the lives of patients and their families.
I would like to send my condolences to Mindy's family and friends for their loss. I never had the pleasure of meeting Mindy but she has touched the poker world by providing a role model to all women who play. Her vivacious personality reminds us that we don't have to be the quiet minority at the poker tables any longer.
The former model, wife and mother of two found poker just two years ago but left behind the start of a promising poker career. Her seventh-place finish at the 2007 World Series of Poker Ladies Event caught the eyes of many and won her countless supporters. Her chit-chatty, aggressive style and outgoing personality gave the otherwise slow moving tournament some interesting moments. Though she competed ferociously, she enjoyed talking with the other players and learning more about her opponents. She went on to win the Summer Pot of Gold Ladies No-Limit Hold'em event in July of this year and followed up with a fourth-place finish in Event 14 of the Pot of Gold series. Unfortunately during that same event, Mindy fell ill and could not compete in the Main Event.
The holiday season is a time of reflection, family and honoring beliefs, but it is also a time for giving of the heart. It is in that spirit that Lisa Wheeler stepped in to promote "Poker Jingle," a $200+30 buy in charity tournament in honor of Mindy that will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society/Southern Nevada. The Mindy Trinidad Memorial event will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's new poker lounge in Las Vegas on December 12th at 3pm. The poker "lounge" at the Hard Rock is a bit more than just a poker room. The newly renovated space boasts a full bar, comfortable lounge, private VIP rooms, bottle service, iPod stations and big-screen TVs, and offers free poker lessons for those who are new to poker and looking for instruction.
In true Vegas style, the event, hosted by Tom McEvoy, will not be without its glitz, glamour, surprises and competition. The event will start off with an EFFEN cocktail hour at 2pm, followed by a tribute to Mindy Trinidad presented by friend and professional poker player Kelli Griggs. The tournament is open to the public but attendance is expected by many top players including Phil Hellmuth, JJ Liu, Kristy Gazes and many more. Full Tilt Poker Pro Erick Lindgren added to the prize pool by offering a seat into the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event. Participants can look forward to surprises through out the tournament including bounty prizes such as a "last woman standing" pearl necklace donated by Tower of Jewels.
For more information on Poker Jingle at the Hard Rock, including "Sponsor A Pro," along with the tournament structure and prize pool, visit www.greasiewheels.com. Registration for the poker tournament opens at noon at the Hard Rock Poker Lounge on the day of the event. Seats are limited. To pre-register for the poker tournament visit www.lls.org/pokerjingle or contact Sylvia Wolf at (702) 436-4220.
The season of giving is certainly not reserved for casinos and live events. To honor Mindy's contributions, Full Tilt held a $5+5 buy in tournament on December 3rd, also benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society/Southern Nevada (LLS). Close to 1000 players played in honor of the beautiful up-and-coming poker star and to contribute to a meaningful cause. Participants included Full Tilt pros Leandro Brasa, Mike Matusow and Cyndy Violette. Erick Lindgren played host to the event, which kicked off at 7pm and ended with player "jokernord" taking the title, plus a "World" model Curtis & Co. watch.
The true winner, however, is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), who will benefit from the poker world's generosity and sense of community. LLS is the world's largest voluntary health organization. The organization is committed to finding a cure for blood cancer and to better the lives of patients and their families.
I would like to send my condolences to Mindy's family and friends for their loss. I never had the pleasure of meeting Mindy but she has touched the poker world by providing a role model to all women who play. Her vivacious personality reminds us that we don't have to be the quiet minority at the poker tables any longer.
Shy ready to defend her poker title !!
DEFENDING champion Lisa Shy tries to make it two in a row when the second edition of the Masters Poker Cup begins on December 19 to 20.
Shy, a mother of four children and a surprise winner of the first installment of the tournament, will face tough competition from Filipino multi-titled poker player Rico de la Cruz and First Masters Poker Cup second placer Nick Payaoan.
Eric Kim, president of the Masters Poker Club, said that with Shy winning the championship in September, several Filipinos were inspired to join the tournament where many good foreign players were upset by the locals.
Masters Poker Cup set a Philippine record when 152 players had participated in the tournament beating the old record of 90 participants. It is hoping that this record would be beaten in the Second Masters Poker Cup where several foreign players had already listed up.
Satellite tournaments are held everyday to qualify for the event offering a P1-million prize.
The Second Masters Poker Cup has a buy-in of P10,000 with no entry fee.
Shy, a mother of four children and a surprise winner of the first installment of the tournament, will face tough competition from Filipino multi-titled poker player Rico de la Cruz and First Masters Poker Cup second placer Nick Payaoan.
Eric Kim, president of the Masters Poker Club, said that with Shy winning the championship in September, several Filipinos were inspired to join the tournament where many good foreign players were upset by the locals.
Masters Poker Cup set a Philippine record when 152 players had participated in the tournament beating the old record of 90 participants. It is hoping that this record would be beaten in the Second Masters Poker Cup where several foreign players had already listed up.
Satellite tournaments are held everyday to qualify for the event offering a P1-million prize.
The Second Masters Poker Cup has a buy-in of P10,000 with no entry fee.
HIGH STAKES POKER SEASON 5 LINE UP !!
In Poker News you might be aware High Stakes Poker is returning for its fifth season on the Gameshow Network (GSN). It was uncertain for the most part of 2008 if the highly popular poker show would be returning after a new CEO took over the company and put the show on hiatus. Throughout the four seasons, High Stakes Poker has remained the most entertaining poker show hosted by AJ Benza and Gabe Kaplan, who both will be returning.
The show will begin recording on December 19th to December 21st at the Golden Nugget Casino and will have a required buy-in of $200,000. The Game Show Network announced the following players will be participating in the $300/$600 blind game:
Professional Players
Phil Hellmuth – 11 time World Series of Poker bracelet winner and has appeared on High Stakes Poker twice. Look forward to Hellmuth holding a grudge against Peter Eastgate for beating his WSOP Main Event record of being the youngest poker player to ever win the Main Event.
Doyle Brunson – No introduction needed for the legend Doyle Brunson who has won 10 World Series of Poker bracelets and is known as the God Father of poker. Brunson is no stranger to High Stakes Poker and make look for some restitution after folding a flush against well known bluffer and action player Jamie Gold.
Johnny Chan – A well known high stakes cash game player and widely known for his appearance of Matt Damon’s movie Rounders, will be returning for the fifth season on High Stakes Poker. Chan also has 10 World Series of Poker bracelets.
Phil Ivey – Ivey is no stranger to High Stakes Poker appearing on several episodes throughout the series. He is considered one of the best cash game players live and online as he is one highest earners on Full Tilt Poker.
David Benyamine – Is considered to be one of the best high stakes pot limit Omaha players in the world and is also no stranger to the high stakes games being played online and in Bobby’s Room. He also appeared on season four of High Stakes Poker, where he didn’t run that great.
Peter Eastgate – Winner of the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event will be participating in the fifth season, which has disappointed many poker forum posters saying that he does not have tv charisma and will be boring. Give Eastgate some props though, he is one of the few recent Main Event winners to play in this game besides Jamie Gold.
Ivon Demidov – The Russian poker player who final tabled both the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event and the WSOP Main Event will get another crack to play against Peter Eastgate, however, unfortunately not for a bracelet. Demidov is becoming one of the most popular poker players in the world with his recent tournament success.
Tom Dwan – One of the internets most followed and idolized players is Tom Dwan, who is considered by many to be the best high stakes Texas Hold’em player online. You can expect some verbal jousts with Phil Hellmuth and the high action Tom Dwan as there has been bad blood since the time Dwan two outed Hellmuth during the NBC’s national heads up championships.
Howard Lederer – The professor will also be joining the fifth season of High Stakes Poker, for what reason? We have no idea. Lederer is one of the most boring players to watch and barely gives any action at all. Expect to see the general poker player audience root against Lederer.
Antonio Esfandiari + Phil Laak – We can assume that the Magician will be playing over his bankroll again for this game and one can same the same thing for Phil Laak. They are listed in the title because where one of them goes the other one does. These two are freakishly close and rarely appear in public not together. They also run a prop betting show called ‘I Bet You’ which airs on internet TV station called Mojo.
Barry Greenstein – Is a well regarded high stakes poker player that has been around for years. Barry is apart of Team PokerStars and represents the site at major tournaments all over the world. His specialty is high stakes games and is a stay in at the big game at the Bellagio in Bobby’s room. He is one of the few guys that will be extremely conformable at these stakes.
Dario Minieri – Minieri had a very good year in 2008 at the European Poker Tour, World Series of Poker Europe and the WSOP. The Italian poker player even picked up a sponsorship with PokerStars and is on their official team. It is unknown if Minieri has cash game skills, however, after seeing his tournament results it can only be assumed he is a complete Texas Hold’em player.
Ilari Sahamies – Anyone can find Ilari playing the highest games on Full Tilt Poker under screen name Ziigmund. He is known for his foul language and criticism at the tables and should provide great entertainment throughout his appearance on High Stakes Poker.
Amateurs
Bob Safai – Another amateur player who has appeared previously in season four and held his ground very well. Bob tends to find himself gambling and you’ll find him in some of the largest pots throughout the show.
Nick Cassavetes – Not much is known about Nick’s poker playing ability. He is most known for is directing the popular Rachel McAdams and Ryan Goslings movie, The Notebook in 2004. Other movies he was apart of includes: Alpha Dog, Blow, She’s So Lovely and the list goes on.
Sam Simon – Once again, we don’t know anything about Simon’s poker playing abilities so we assume he is an amateur. However, in 2007’s World Series of Poker Main Event he finished 329th. Simon is a co-creator of popular comedy cartoon show The Simpsons, so he will have lots of money to gamble with.
Giorgio Medici – no information could be found on Medici.
The show will begin recording on December 19th to December 21st at the Golden Nugget Casino and will have a required buy-in of $200,000. The Game Show Network announced the following players will be participating in the $300/$600 blind game:
Professional Players
Phil Hellmuth – 11 time World Series of Poker bracelet winner and has appeared on High Stakes Poker twice. Look forward to Hellmuth holding a grudge against Peter Eastgate for beating his WSOP Main Event record of being the youngest poker player to ever win the Main Event.
Doyle Brunson – No introduction needed for the legend Doyle Brunson who has won 10 World Series of Poker bracelets and is known as the God Father of poker. Brunson is no stranger to High Stakes Poker and make look for some restitution after folding a flush against well known bluffer and action player Jamie Gold.
Johnny Chan – A well known high stakes cash game player and widely known for his appearance of Matt Damon’s movie Rounders, will be returning for the fifth season on High Stakes Poker. Chan also has 10 World Series of Poker bracelets.
Phil Ivey – Ivey is no stranger to High Stakes Poker appearing on several episodes throughout the series. He is considered one of the best cash game players live and online as he is one highest earners on Full Tilt Poker.
David Benyamine – Is considered to be one of the best high stakes pot limit Omaha players in the world and is also no stranger to the high stakes games being played online and in Bobby’s Room. He also appeared on season four of High Stakes Poker, where he didn’t run that great.
Peter Eastgate – Winner of the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event will be participating in the fifth season, which has disappointed many poker forum posters saying that he does not have tv charisma and will be boring. Give Eastgate some props though, he is one of the few recent Main Event winners to play in this game besides Jamie Gold.
Ivon Demidov – The Russian poker player who final tabled both the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event and the WSOP Main Event will get another crack to play against Peter Eastgate, however, unfortunately not for a bracelet. Demidov is becoming one of the most popular poker players in the world with his recent tournament success.
Tom Dwan – One of the internets most followed and idolized players is Tom Dwan, who is considered by many to be the best high stakes Texas Hold’em player online. You can expect some verbal jousts with Phil Hellmuth and the high action Tom Dwan as there has been bad blood since the time Dwan two outed Hellmuth during the NBC’s national heads up championships.
Howard Lederer – The professor will also be joining the fifth season of High Stakes Poker, for what reason? We have no idea. Lederer is one of the most boring players to watch and barely gives any action at all. Expect to see the general poker player audience root against Lederer.
Antonio Esfandiari + Phil Laak – We can assume that the Magician will be playing over his bankroll again for this game and one can same the same thing for Phil Laak. They are listed in the title because where one of them goes the other one does. These two are freakishly close and rarely appear in public not together. They also run a prop betting show called ‘I Bet You’ which airs on internet TV station called Mojo.
Barry Greenstein – Is a well regarded high stakes poker player that has been around for years. Barry is apart of Team PokerStars and represents the site at major tournaments all over the world. His specialty is high stakes games and is a stay in at the big game at the Bellagio in Bobby’s room. He is one of the few guys that will be extremely conformable at these stakes.
Dario Minieri – Minieri had a very good year in 2008 at the European Poker Tour, World Series of Poker Europe and the WSOP. The Italian poker player even picked up a sponsorship with PokerStars and is on their official team. It is unknown if Minieri has cash game skills, however, after seeing his tournament results it can only be assumed he is a complete Texas Hold’em player.
Ilari Sahamies – Anyone can find Ilari playing the highest games on Full Tilt Poker under screen name Ziigmund. He is known for his foul language and criticism at the tables and should provide great entertainment throughout his appearance on High Stakes Poker.
Amateurs
Bob Safai – Another amateur player who has appeared previously in season four and held his ground very well. Bob tends to find himself gambling and you’ll find him in some of the largest pots throughout the show.
Nick Cassavetes – Not much is known about Nick’s poker playing ability. He is most known for is directing the popular Rachel McAdams and Ryan Goslings movie, The Notebook in 2004. Other movies he was apart of includes: Alpha Dog, Blow, She’s So Lovely and the list goes on.
Sam Simon – Once again, we don’t know anything about Simon’s poker playing abilities so we assume he is an amateur. However, in 2007’s World Series of Poker Main Event he finished 329th. Simon is a co-creator of popular comedy cartoon show The Simpsons, so he will have lots of money to gamble with.
Giorgio Medici – no information could be found on Medici.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Phil Hellmuth Gets Some Online Action !! Loses $ 20 K !!
"FYI - because of the $22 million refund, the action at UB is INCREDIBLE right now!!!!"
Phil Hellmuth is primarily known as a live tournament player and not an online high-roller like Phil Ivey or Gus Hansen. He does, however, play at Ultimate Bet regularly, and on his blog he writes about two recent sessions which cost him $10,000 each.
"I guess that I forgot how to book a win online!!! I could have played better both times, and I played $50-$100 blinds, so that $10,000 isn't that much to lose," Hellmuth writes.
He talks about a crazy player who raised/re-raised practically every hand, and finally busted Hellmuth with a flopped set of 8's. According to Hellmuth, this type of player is abundant at Ultimate Bet at the moment.
"I really DID NOT want to quit that game! That $22 million refund has a lot of bad players playing high limit poker at UB right now!! The games are juicy."
Phil Hellmuth is primarily known as a live tournament player and not an online high-roller like Phil Ivey or Gus Hansen. He does, however, play at Ultimate Bet regularly, and on his blog he writes about two recent sessions which cost him $10,000 each.
"I guess that I forgot how to book a win online!!! I could have played better both times, and I played $50-$100 blinds, so that $10,000 isn't that much to lose," Hellmuth writes.
He talks about a crazy player who raised/re-raised practically every hand, and finally busted Hellmuth with a flopped set of 8's. According to Hellmuth, this type of player is abundant at Ultimate Bet at the moment.
"I really DID NOT want to quit that game! That $22 million refund has a lot of bad players playing high limit poker at UB right now!! The games are juicy."
THE HIGH STAKES POKER LINEUP IS SET !!
All fans of the best poker TV-show ever are in for a hell of a season. The lineup for the fifth season of "High Stakes Poker" has just been set and it looks like we can expect lots and lots of action.
Debutants this season are the 2008 WSOP main event winner Peter Eastgate and runner up Ivan Demidov. They will be facing a very interesting lineup, among them several of the players that can be found at the highest stakes online. Patrik Antonius, Phil Ivey, Tom "durrr" Dwan, David Benyamine and Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies are creating some crazy action online these days. And it will be really interesting to see them across the table from experienced players like Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Barry Greenstein and Phil Laak. We sure wouldn't miss it for the world.
To spice things up a bit the minimum buyin has been increased from $100,000 to $200,000. But as you might remember the players were buying in for $500,000 a piece in the end of last season. So maybe, just maybe we'll reach the million dollar mark this time.
The fifth season will be filmed at Golden Nugget casino in Las Vegas Dec 19-21. And yes, the answer is YES - Phil Hellmuth will also be playing.
Debutants this season are the 2008 WSOP main event winner Peter Eastgate and runner up Ivan Demidov. They will be facing a very interesting lineup, among them several of the players that can be found at the highest stakes online. Patrik Antonius, Phil Ivey, Tom "durrr" Dwan, David Benyamine and Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies are creating some crazy action online these days. And it will be really interesting to see them across the table from experienced players like Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Barry Greenstein and Phil Laak. We sure wouldn't miss it for the world.
To spice things up a bit the minimum buyin has been increased from $100,000 to $200,000. But as you might remember the players were buying in for $500,000 a piece in the end of last season. So maybe, just maybe we'll reach the million dollar mark this time.
The fifth season will be filmed at Golden Nugget casino in Las Vegas Dec 19-21. And yes, the answer is YES - Phil Hellmuth will also be playing.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Is Online Poker Legal ??
Is Online Poker Legal?
CBS News program “60 Minutes,” which aired on Sunday night, claimed on multiple occasions that online poker was illegal in the United States. Near the top of the show, correspondent Steve Kroft narrated, “We should tell you that this $18 billion industry is illegal in the U.S.” However, is that really the case? Is online poker really illegal? Poker News Daily sat down with gambling law expert Professor I. Nelson Rose to discuss the legality of online poker.
Interestingly, Rose noted that the producers of the popular Sunday night program called him in order to ask his interpretation of whether online poker is legal. He told Poker News Daily, “I thought I made it clear to them. You can’t say for sure that online poker is illegal. There are too many variables. The show gave the false impression that it’s a crime to play poker when in fact in probably half of the states, you’re not committing any crime at all.”
Certain states such as Washington have laws on the books against playing online poker. In the case of the Pacific Northwest state, taking to the felts of an online poker room is a Class C felony, one of the harshest penalties and the equivalent of rape, according to the Washington Post. In Kentucky, Governor Steve Beshear is in the midst of trying to eradicate internet gambling by seizing 141 industry domain names unless the owners of the sites agree to block Kentucky residents. Recently, Ultimate Bet, Absolute Poker, Cake Poker, and the Merge Gaming Network have done just that. The Microgaming Network originally blocked new Kentucky residents, but has since left the U.S. market entirely.
The idea that online poker is illegal in the United States may have come from the U.S. Department of Justice. Rose stated, “The Justice Department has taken the position that cross-border betting is illegal, which also means that interstate horse racing is illegal. You can’t just talk to a prosecutor who is waging a war of intimidation and then quote them [on 60 Minutes].”
The Wire Act of 1961 states that anyone who “knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers or information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest” is breaking the law. Also illegal under the Act is “the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers.”
Rose commented that court cases involving the Wire Act have historically focused on sports betting, not on online poker: “The most important cases have held that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting. The cases have involved online casinos and online lotteries, which would indicate that it does not apply to internet poker.” In a recent House Financial Services Committee hearing, Chairman Barney Frank stated that the legality of betting on horse racing over the internet, for example, “depended on which department you asked.”
In the Washington Post newspaper article that accompanied the 60 Minutes piece, columnist Gilbert Gaul stated, “At least one federal judge has ruled that the 47-year-old law applies only to sports bets, while several legal scholars have argued that it was never intended to include online poker or other games of skill.” Jay Cohen, who was the founder of the World Sports Exchange, was charged with conspiracy to violate the Wire Act.
Rose sums up his thoughts on the legality of online poker within the borders of the United States: “There is no chance of being prosecuted if you’re a player. If you’re a company, you might be violating the law.” Many industry groups including the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) and the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative (SSIGI) have been actively pushing for the legalization and regulation of the industry, which would clear up any ambiguity that may exist as to whether online poker is permissible.
CBS News program “60 Minutes,” which aired on Sunday night, claimed on multiple occasions that online poker was illegal in the United States. Near the top of the show, correspondent Steve Kroft narrated, “We should tell you that this $18 billion industry is illegal in the U.S.” However, is that really the case? Is online poker really illegal? Poker News Daily sat down with gambling law expert Professor I. Nelson Rose to discuss the legality of online poker.
Interestingly, Rose noted that the producers of the popular Sunday night program called him in order to ask his interpretation of whether online poker is legal. He told Poker News Daily, “I thought I made it clear to them. You can’t say for sure that online poker is illegal. There are too many variables. The show gave the false impression that it’s a crime to play poker when in fact in probably half of the states, you’re not committing any crime at all.”
Certain states such as Washington have laws on the books against playing online poker. In the case of the Pacific Northwest state, taking to the felts of an online poker room is a Class C felony, one of the harshest penalties and the equivalent of rape, according to the Washington Post. In Kentucky, Governor Steve Beshear is in the midst of trying to eradicate internet gambling by seizing 141 industry domain names unless the owners of the sites agree to block Kentucky residents. Recently, Ultimate Bet, Absolute Poker, Cake Poker, and the Merge Gaming Network have done just that. The Microgaming Network originally blocked new Kentucky residents, but has since left the U.S. market entirely.
The idea that online poker is illegal in the United States may have come from the U.S. Department of Justice. Rose stated, “The Justice Department has taken the position that cross-border betting is illegal, which also means that interstate horse racing is illegal. You can’t just talk to a prosecutor who is waging a war of intimidation and then quote them [on 60 Minutes].”
The Wire Act of 1961 states that anyone who “knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers or information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest” is breaking the law. Also illegal under the Act is “the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers.”
Rose commented that court cases involving the Wire Act have historically focused on sports betting, not on online poker: “The most important cases have held that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting. The cases have involved online casinos and online lotteries, which would indicate that it does not apply to internet poker.” In a recent House Financial Services Committee hearing, Chairman Barney Frank stated that the legality of betting on horse racing over the internet, for example, “depended on which department you asked.”
In the Washington Post newspaper article that accompanied the 60 Minutes piece, columnist Gilbert Gaul stated, “At least one federal judge has ruled that the 47-year-old law applies only to sports bets, while several legal scholars have argued that it was never intended to include online poker or other games of skill.” Jay Cohen, who was the founder of the World Sports Exchange, was charged with conspiracy to violate the Wire Act.
Rose sums up his thoughts on the legality of online poker within the borders of the United States: “There is no chance of being prosecuted if you’re a player. If you’re a company, you might be violating the law.” Many industry groups including the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) and the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative (SSIGI) have been actively pushing for the legalization and regulation of the industry, which would clear up any ambiguity that may exist as to whether online poker is permissible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
