03:01 min., January 26 2012
Nicki Pickering delivers the week's top news in poker direct from the 2012 Aussie Millions Poker Championship in Melbourne, Australia.View the original article here
December 04 2011, Brett Collson
We're trying to get you caught up on the week's top poker news stories. In this edition of the Weekly Turbo, we bring you Facebook's plans to offer real-money gambling, Barney Frank's retirement announcement, and more.
Facebook Considers Real-Money GamblingAccording to a report by eGamingReview, social media giant Facebook is developing plans to offer real-money gambling in the United Kingdom as early as 2012.
Facebook, which hosts the free-to-play Zynga Poker, has already begun exploratory talks with U.K. operators to launch real-money online gambling and is already in discussions with 888poker and Gamesys. EGR says the plan is for Facebook to offer eight licenses to U.K. operators who want to offer their gambling platform on Facebook.
PokerNews contacted Facebook for a comment and received a response from a company spokesperson: "We're always in discussions with companies about lots of different ideas, but we don't comment on future plans or speculation."
Read more at PokerNews.com.
Barney Frank To Step DownOn Monday, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) announced he will not return to Congress for a 17th term in 2012. Frank, one of the major political advocates for the legalization of online poker, cited changes to the new congressional map as a major factor in his decision to step down.
"I was planning to run again, and then the congressional redistricting came," Frank, 71, said at a press conference in his hometown of Newton, Mass.
During his time with the House Financial Services Committee, Frank has introduced several bills pushing for online poker legislation in the U.S. In his most recent venture, Frank served as a sponsor for Congressman John Campbell's Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act (H.R.1174). The proposed bill was referred to the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security in June, but no action has been taken since.
Frank also recently testified on behalf of Internet poker at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing. He has arguably been the biggest driving force behind the legalization of online poker since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed in 2006.
Read more about Frank's retirement announcement at the Wall Street Journal.
Tobey Maguire Settles Hollywood Poker Lawsuit
Earlier this year, Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire was one of 22 people sued for their winnings in a high-stakes Hollywood poker game organized by a criminal Beverly Hills hedge fund manager. On Nov. 22, Maguire reportedly agreed to an $80,000 settlement with a bankruptcy trustee who is trying to recoup more than $30 million in lost funds, the Associated Press reported on Monday.
Maguire was being sued for more than $300,000 for winnings he earned from the invitation-only games organized by businessman Bradley Ruderman, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence for running a Ponzi scheme to pay off debts. Ruderman operated a wire-fraud and investment-adviser fraud scheme that lost investors $25 million, and then allegedly lost another $5.2 million in the high-stakes cash games trying to win the money back.
According to the Associated Press, 14 of the 22 people sued have agreed to settlements in their cases. Former High Stakes Poker host Gabe Kaplan also agreed to pay $26,900 after he was sued to try to recoup nearly $63,000 in winnings, according to the AP report. All of the money recouped will be used to repay the victims of Ruderman's Ponzi scheme.
Read the full Associated Press story at the Washington Post.
Elie, Campos Face TrialChad Elie and John Campos, two of the 11 men indicted on Black Friday for their involvement in alleged fraud and money laundering associated with online poker sites, were told Thursday by US District Judge Lewis Kaplan that their case is likely to go to trial in March. The two men had filed motions to dismiss the April 15 indictment filed against them by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, but Judge Kaplan listened to arguments from both sides Thursday before telling attorneys to expect a trial on March 12.
“I think it's extraordinarily unlikely the entire indictment will be dismissed,” Kaplan said at the end of the hearing, according to Forbes.
Lawyers for Elie and Campos argued that the U.S. law making it illegal for businesses to make transactions with unlawful online gambling companies doesn't apply to poker because it is a game of skill. Elie, a former payment processor for PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker, and Campos, the vice chairman of a Utah Bank that processed payments for the three sites, filed motions to dismiss the case in October.
According to Forbes, Kaplan seemed unsympathetic to many of the arguments put forward by lawyers representing Campos and Elie, openly disagreeing with some of their points. With a trial on the horizon, Kaplan will now have to decide whether or not a jury will be asked to determine if poker constitutes illegal gambling.
Read more on this story at Forbes.
Martin Staszko Signs with PokerStars
2011 World Series of Poker runner-up Martin Staszko is the newest member of Team PokerStars. Staszko, 35, joins Martin Hruby as the only players from the Czech Republic on the PokerStars roster.
"I'm really happy to sign for PokerStars and join such a talented team of poker players, said Staszko, whose contract will officially begin on Dec. 1. "I’m playing in my home country at EPT Prague as a Team PokerStars Pro and looking forward to playing many big live and online tournaments in 2012 like the PCA and WCOOP. My main focus is to win a mixed-game event at the next WSOP, becoming the first Czech player to win a bracelet."
PokerStars will officially introduce Staszko as part of the team on Dec. 4, 2011, at the Prague Hilton Hotel as part of the 10th Anniversary Guinness World Record celebration. His first tournament as a PokerStars Pro will come the following day, Dec. 5, at the European Poker Tour Prague Main Event.
More on this story can be found right here at PokerNews.com.
Iowa Study Could Open Door for Intrastate Online PokerOn Thursday, a study issued by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) outlined several ways the state could set up and regulate the online poker in the state. The report was requested by the Iowa legislature last session to determine the practicality and potential income Internet poker could generate for the state.
The objective of the report was to give the legislature information to work with if it ultimately decided to set up an online poker infrastructure in the next session. For example, based on the projections of the IRGC, approximately $13 million to $60 million in rake was paid annually by Iowa online poker players before Black Friday. Assuming a tax rate of 22 percent, the projections indicate approximately $3 million to $13 million in potential tax revenue for the state annually, according to the IRGC.
The commission also examined the different systems that could be put in place to offer an intrastate platform. The IRGC consulted with several experts to discuss measures and controls for online poker, including age verification, geo-location and money laundering. It also spoke with Iowa Lottery officials to get a perspective from lottery interests of internet poker regulation.
In March, a state Senate committee approved a bill designed to make online poker legal in Iowa. However, lawmakers weren't in complete agreement over the bill and requested the IRGC produce a report for the bill to be amended.
The full IRGC study can be found at Iowa.gov.
Bodog Unveils Anonymous TablesEarlier this year, Bodog announced plans to "bring the fun back to poker" for the casual player by implementing a Recreational Poker Model. The growing poker room took a major step in that direction this week by introducing new poker software that will, among other things, prevent players from accessing any data on how opponents play.
Bodog's all-site anonymous tables will protect the casual player from opponents picking up information via the use of HUDs and other data mining sites. The software change comes two months after Bodog began removing full tables from the lobby and thus stopping data sites from accessing statistical information on players.
Among the other features included in the new software are a rabbit cam, several new tournament formats, and the ability to play up to 20 tables at the same time.
“We believe that introducing these features makes the Bodog Recreational Poker Model a pioneer in the online poker world and offers all players of all abilities the fairest place to play," said Bodog VP Jonas Ödman. "To my mind the software and Bodog’s Recreational Poker Model is a genuine game changer.”
Read more about Bodog's new software at CalvinAyre.com
Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.
Follow Brett Collson on Twitter — @brettcollsonView the original article here
05:06 min., December 01 2011
Sarah Grant and Kristy Arnett have got all the information from the last weeks live tournaments, online games and general poker news. Turkey comas don't stop PokerNews.View the original article here
December 05 2011, Josh Bell
This week in the PartyPoker Weekly, we'll tell you all about Tony G the pirate, give you all the details on the World Domination promotion, explain how you could be making your way to Melbourne for the Aussie Millions, and more!
It's almost time for one of the biggest tournaments of the year, as 2012 kicks off with a bang this coming January in Melbourne, Australia. Each and every year, the best players from all around the world descend upon Melbourne to take part in the Aussie Millions and PartyPoker is the best place to win an all-inclusive package.
The Main Event costs $10,600 to enter and will take place from Jan. 22 to Jan. 28, 2012. You could win a $16,000 tournament package from as little as $2 or, better yet, you could win a package for absolutely no outlay.
PartyPoker is hosting an Aussie Millions freeroll every day, and these will award the top 25 players with seats in to the $2 Aussie Millions Sub-Qualifier Speed Rebuy events. These tournaments will then award seats into the $68+$2 Satellite Qualifiers and then its as simple as picking up a $640+$40 Aussie Millions Satellite seat where one in 15 players will take home a huge $16,000 Aussie Millions package!
$16,000 Aussie Millions Package
According to Tony G, "pirates are on the rise" and he and Max Pescatori are going to make "the Italians, French and Russians walk the plank" at the upcoming PartyPoker.it WPT Venice Main Event."
Tony G spoke to Pescatori about the event in a humorous video which can be viewed on his most recent blog.
The World Domination promotion is in full gear at PartyPoker and it really is not to be missed, because you could go home with a prize of $100,000.
Players have until Dec. 31 to dominate the world and it's as simple as earning PartyPoints. Each time 10 PartyPoints are earned, players will be awarded a city from around the world. The cities are assigned at random and most cities carry an instant prize of cash or tournament seats. The biggest prizes are awarded for conquering entire countries, and capturing all 72 cities is how you can achieve world domination!
Make sure you take to the felt now and you can start taking over the world!
The Winter Million, and its $1 million guarantee, is set to be one of the biggest online tournaments held in 2012.
The buy-in for the Winter Million is $600+$40 and the action is set for Feb. 5. Don't miss out on taking part in the championship tournament as PartyPoker is already running dozens of qualifiers from as little as $1.
If you would like to start qualifying for events such as the Aussie Millions and the Winter Million, why not kick it all off by claiming a free $50 bankroll!
Getting free money is as easy as signing up for a PartyPoker account through PokerNews!
Once you have signed up, $25 will automatically be credited into your account. To claim a further $25, all you must do is earn 200 PartyPoints. It really is that simple!
To receive your free bankroll, head to our Free $50 No Deposit Page and use the bonus code “PN50Free” as outlined in the walkthrough guide.
If you experience any problems with this or any of our promotions, please contact our Ticketed Promo Support System.
View the original article here
05:32 min., October 27 2011
Kristy and Laura talk about their week in San Remo for the latest European Poker Tour and also discuss the most recent topics in poker news.View the original article here
October 16 2011, Brett Collson
It was a quiet week on the Full Tilt front, which allowed us to delve into some fun stories — like seizures of online poker funds. In this edition of the Weekly Turbo, you'll get a look into the millions of dollars seized in South Carolina and Switzerland, NBC cancelling the National Heads-Up Poker Championship, and more.
$20 Million Seized in Swiss BankOn Wednesday, a daily newspaper in Switzerland learned that the Justice of Geneva has seized more than 18 million Swiss francs (around $20 million) in connection with online poker sites. La Tribune de Geneve reports that the money was seized on Sept. 26, and could possibly be tied to the 10 men indicted by the Department of Justice on Black Friday.
On Sept. 19, the Manhattan United States Attorney's Office amended its April 15 complaint against online poker companies to include charges against the board members of Full Tilt Poker, including Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Ray Bitar, and Rafe Furst.
The Department of Justice then issued a warrant in rem to seize the bank accounts of Ferguson, Lederer and Furst, leaving their property at risk. The FBI was given authorization to take control of any funds discovered a number of accounts, one of which was held at Pictet & Co Bankers in Switzerland.
Wednesday's report in La Tribune de Geneve is written in French, so we’re doing our best to get to the bottom of this. Stay tuned.
Secret Service Seizes $2M from Online Poker Shell CompaniesThe Secret Service and the Greenville County Sheriff's Office have seized more than $2 million tied to online poker operations following an investigation that uncovered two shell companies connected to money-laundering schemes.
U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said Thursday that Prime Investment, LTD and Trading 24/7 LTD were used as fronts to transfer large amounts of money into the country in order to process online poker transactions. The sheriff’s office had five officers work with the Secret Service to contact online poker players in Upstate South Carolina who were receiving payouts. Nettles said the focus of the investigation was not on the players, but to prevent any money laundering from taking place.
"The companies used a scheme of deception to hide the true source of the money, a violation of federal laws including bank fraud, money laundering and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act," Nettles said in a press conference.
Nettles also said in a press release that two foreign companies sent more than $40 million into the United States to make payments to players in South Carolina and elsewhere in the country. The names of the two companies were not mentioned.
For its help in the investigation, more than $700,000 was given to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. Nettles said the money will be used for local law enforcement purposes, such as the K9 program and forensic computer lab, which aren’t funded by taxpayer money.
Get more on this story at FoxCarolina.com.
NBC's National Heads-Up Poker Championship Won't Return in 2012
NBC has cancelled the popular National Heads-Up Poker Championship for 2012, adding another poker show to the list of casualties caused by Black Friday. The 64-player heads-up event posted a respectable 1.5 rating during its seven years on NBC, but the network pulled the plug after PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, two of the show’s biggest advertisers, were removed from the U.S. market.
The National Heads-Up Poker Championship is the third poker show to hit the chopping block in the wake of Black Friday. Earlier this year, NBC dismissed Poker After Dark (NBC), sponsored by Full Tilt, and Fox put an end to the PokerStars Big Game. The Big Game can still be found on PokerStars.tv.
Find out more about NBC Heads-Up being cancelled.
James Bord: "Europeans Are Far Superior To Americans"The World Series of Poker Europe Main Event got underway on Saturday, and defending champion James Bord officially threw down the gauntlet to American players from across the pond.
Bord offered to refund any losing bets on the WSOPE Main Event (up to $500) on the sports betting site Matchbook.com if an American wins the tournament. Bord, who won last year’s event for £830,401 and now plays in some of the biggest cash games in the world, says he believes Europeans have surpassed Americans in terms of talent at the table.
"I don't think an American can win the bracelet; Europeans are now far superior,” Bord said this week. “We used to look up to the U.S. players back in the day, but those days are now long gone. I'm prepared to put my money where my mouth is and refund any losing bets up $500 if an American wins."
Not surprising, several American pros weren’t thrilled with Bord’s comments.
icekevin Kevin Iacofano GL USA. Serious arrogance and comments from a guy who barring one miracle championship has a very pedestrian record in poker. October 13 2011
Let the games begin.
Two Americans have claimed victory in the first four years of the WSOPE Main Event. Norway’s Annette Obrestad took it down in 2007, and then Americans John Juanda (2008) and Barry Shulman (2009) won bracelets before Bord won it in his home country last year.
Read more at UK.PokerNews.com.
The Grinder And The Breeder's Cup
Former November Niner Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi has joined forces with the Breeder's Cup to host the First Annual Breeders’ Cup Celebrity Invitational.
The event, presented by the The Deepstacks Poker Tour, will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana. Among the notables expected to participate are Mike “The Mouth” Matusow and 2010 WSOP Main Event runner-up John Racener, as well as NBA players Brian Cardinal, Jermaine Taylor and Carl Landry.
Team DeepStacks Pros expected in attendance include Robert Mizrachi, Justin “Boosted J” Smith, Randal “Randallin” Flowers, Karina Jett, Tristan “Cre8ive” Wade and Team Pokerstars Pro David Williams.
The $230 buy-in charity tournament features unlimited $100 rebuys and one $100 optional add-on, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Breeders’ Cup official charity, The V Foundation.
“Poker and horse racing are a natural fit as there’s action, excitement and high stakes in both,” Mizrachi said. “I’m really excited to host this event and to help connect the horse racing and poker communities.”
To register for the event or for more information, visit the Deepstacks website.
Hellmuth Adds Mercier, Lamb to Caesars Cup TeamWhen selecting his “Team Americas” roster for the upcoming Caesars Cup event at the World Series of Poker Europe in Cannes, Phil Hellmuth went with experience. A lot of experience. The team boasted 39 WSOP bracelets and none of the team members were under the age of 35.
However, with the news that 10-time bracelet-winner Doyle Brunson won’t be making the trip to France this month, the Poker Brat took to Twitter Wednesday looking for an alternate.
phil_hellmuth phil_hellmuth Team USA/Canada: @TexDolly couldn't make it to Cannes, big loss, but time to bring in a Young Gun! @jasonmercier @benbalamb or @tom_dwan? October 11 2011
Later in the day, Hellmuth made his decision.
phil_hellmuth phil_hellmuth As Captain of Team USA/Canada I select @JasonMercier as our 5th player. He has earned it w his stellar tournament record the last few yrs October 12 2011
Mercier, 24, has arguably accomplished more in the past four years than anyone in the game. He has two WSOP bracelets, a European Poker Tour title, several High Roller victories, and nearly $6 million in earnings. He’s the No. 1-ranked player in the world in both the Global Poker Index and ESPN’s The Nuts. #whenwillitend.
Minutes after selecting Mercier, it was announced that Huck Seed also wouldn’t be making the trip. In staying with the “young gun” theme, Hellmuth replaced Seed with the player he’s currently chasing for WSOP Player of the Year, 26-year-old November Niner Ben Lamb.
phil_hellmuth phil_hellmuth As Captain of Team USA/Canada I'm picking @BenbaLamb for 3 reasons: tourney record, @RealKidPoker + @JasonMercier voted for him AND... October 12 2011
phil_hellmuth phil_hellmuth Ben Lamb is the only player ahead of me in "Player of the Year" race! Although I plan on passing him in the next few days, bring it!!! October 12 2011
Mercier and Lamb join Hellmuth, Johnny Chan and Daniel Negreanu as part of Team Americas. Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier’s Team Europe squad features Jake Cody, Gus Hanson, Dario Minieri and Maxim Lykov. The two sides will face off in the Ryder Cup-style poker event on Wednesday, Oct. 19 in Cannes.
For more info on the Caesars Cup, visit WSOP.com.
Bet on the November NineThe November Nine will reunite in Las Vegas in less than a month, and poker fans will now have the opportunity to bet on the outcome in the City of Sins. Nevada gaming regulators have allowed sports books to offer six different bets on the World Series of Poker Main Event final table.
In addition to betting on which player will win, bettors can wager on who will be the first to bust, which hand will determine the champ, how many hands will be dealt at the final table, and whether the first dealt flop will contain more black or red cards.
When asked if he ever thought he would be listing betting odds on the WSOP, Caesars regional Vice President of Specialty Gaming Howard Greenbaum said, "Ten years ago, no. But I also didn't imagine the thousands of fans seeking autographs from players or the live television. This shows you how popular the World Series of Poker has become. Our objective was to give people something to bet on."
The Las Vegas Review-Journal has the full story.
Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.
View the original article here
AppId is over the quota
05:05 min., October 06 2011
AppId is over the quota
October 09 2011, Brett Collson, Elaine Chaivarlis
Groupe Bernard Tapie has been all over the news following the acquisition agreement with Full Tilt Poker, but the French investment group made headlines for a different reason this week. In this edition of the Weekly Turbo, you'll get a look into the International Stadiums Poker Tour, a Team PokerStars member being sued by The Wynn, and more.
Shootout at Wembley StadiumIn Monday's edition of the Nightly Turbo, we featured a story about the launch the International Stadiums Poker Tour (ISPT), an organization backed by Groupe Bernard Tapie. There wasn't much info provided except for a tournament with a hefty $30 million guarantee taking place at Wembley Stadium in London.
But it got our attention. And on Tuesday evening, the website was updated with more information. According to the site, ISPT is "a poker tournament organized each year in internationally renowned stadiums." The Wembley event is the first on the schedule and will take place over five days some time between Aug. 15 and Oct. 9, 2012, with the final dates to be released by Wembley after the national soccer team calendar is published next month.
Still a bit vague, but at least we're getting somewhere.
The tournament itself will begin with up to 30,000 players, all of whom will have qualified online, playing a shootout format using electronic pads offered to them from their seats in the stadium. Then, after the first round, the remaining players will move to actual tables laid out on the Wembley lawn. Play will continue until a winner is handed a top prize of $10 million.
This is a very unique idea and we're interested to see how it develops. For more information, visit the ISPT website.
Team PokerStars Pro Sued
Two poker pros from Argentina have been sued by The Wynn Casino in Las Vegas for their illicit methods at the craps table. Team PokerStars member Leo Fernandez and former PokerStars sponsored pro Veronica Dabul were arrested on July 18 for illegally winning close to $700,000, and The Wynn has filed papers to recover its losses.
The duo, which frequently visited the crap tables at The Wynn, has been accused of “dice sliding,” a technique in which a thrower supposedly slides the dice down the table so that the desired number, generally a six, remains face up. They are suspected of working with several unidentified customers, possibly as part of a team, who placed bets or distracted dealers to increase their chances of winning.
According to the suit, Wynn surveillance tapes from July 17 show Dabul and Fernandez playing craps from 10:37 p.m. to midnight, with Fernandez allegedly sliding the dice at least seven times without placing a single bet.
"It's not a common form of cheating because it involves a considerable amount of skill and practice," said Jerry Markling of the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Dabul was released after two days in the Clark County Detention Center. Fernandez spent about a week in custody before being turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service.
Get the full story at the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Campos and Elie File Motions to DismissTwo of the men indicted by federal prosecutors on Black Friday for their involvement in the online poker industry are fighting their charges in federal court.
Forbes reported Monday that Chad Elie, a former payment processor for PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker, and John Campos, the vice chairman of a Utah Bank that processed payments for the three sites, are arguing that the companies they worked for were not gambling businesses under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and Illegal Gambling Business Act (IGBA).
Campos and Elie were arrested on April 19, four days after being indicted by the Department of Justice. Elie was being charged on all nine counts in the DOJ indictment, which included violation of the UIGEA, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and money laundering. However, Elie’s attorney now claims that the UIGEA does not apply to poker, a game of skill rather than chance. One of the court filings reads, “Online poker is a game in which the outcome depends to at least some degree on skill.”
Elie’s attorney also claims that his client should fall under the exemption for financial transaction providers as a payment processor. Campos filed a separate motion to dismiss all counts filed against him, but his lawyers are arguing his claims in a very similar manner to Elie’s team.
Read more about their case at Forbes.
WSOP Announces 2011 Hall of Fame Finalists
Following Erik Seidel into the Poker Hall of Fame isn’t ideal, but someone has to do it. The 10 finalists for the 2011 Poker Hall of Fame were announced Tuesday, and as many as two legends of the game will be enshrined as part of the World Series of Poker Main Event Final Table festivities in November.
Eighteen living Hall of Fame members, including Seidel (voted in last year), and a 17-person media panel will cast votes for the 2011 class. The finalists will be voted on by a set of criteria, such as their consistency at high-stakes games against acknowledged top competition, and standing the test of time. Or, for nonplayers, the person must have contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker.
Here’s a look at the finalists:
Annie Duke
Barry Greenstein
Jennifer Harman-Traniello
Linda Johnson
John Juanda
Marcel Luske
Jack McLelland
Tom McEvoy
Scotty Nguyen
Huckleberry Seed
The 2011 class will be announced at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino on Nov. 8. Be sure to follow PokerNews for the live coverage from Las Vegas!
Visit WSOP.com for more information.
AGCC Softening Its StanceOn Thursday, the Alderney Gaming Control Commission (AGCC) released a statement regarding Full Tilt Poker and complaints it has been receiving from players. The statement reads: "At the request of the police, AGCC will continue to log incoming player complaints: these records will be made available to the police."
The statement came three days after the AGCC's initial announcement stating that it would no longer mitigate disputes between Full Tilt Poker and customers. In an effort to distance itself from the embattled online poker room, the AGCC originally directed players to report complaints to local authorities.
Read the statement at the AGCC's website.
Round 1: Fight!
Team PokerStars Pros Lex Veldhuis and Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier have been training for a kickboxing match for nearly two years, and it appears the prop bet has an official date. Veldhuis said in his blog Monday that the two will fight on Nov. 22, 2011, in front of television cameras.
Veldhuis and Grospellier will step into the ring for an “official” three-round kickboxing match with judges and no protective gear. Veldhuis mentioned that he’s suffered several injuries leading up to the fight, but he still considers himself a favorite over the less-experienced Grospellier.
“I have been getting injured a lot, and it sends me on the darkest tilt possible,” he wrote. “I think cause it also shows me how much my body deteriorated, while I was in awesome shape when I was younger.”
Read more about the fight at Lex Veldhuis’ blog.
The Buffoons, the Arrogant IdiotsDaniel Negreanu has never been known to shy away from controversy; you can always count on him to speak his mind — no matter what.
PokerAkademia.com caught up with Negreanu while he was in Hungary and asked him his thoughts on having to move to Canada to continue to play online poker and what he thought about the Full Tilt Poker saga.
Are you following PokerNews on Twitter? Like us on Facebook while you're at it, and sign up for the newsletter. You know you want to.
Follow Elaine Chaivarlis on Twitter — @LaneyLV
AppId is over the quota
October 03 2011, Josh Bell
PartyPoker is the best place to lock up a package to the 2011 WPT Amnéville which kicks off on Nov. 1. There are only a couple of weeks of satellite opportunities remaining, so get to it!
WPT Amnéville satellites are running daily to ensure players have the opportunity to win an $8,000 prize package which includes:
Every Sunday at 1520 EDT (2020 BST) one $8,000 package will be guaranteed for the $400+$25 buy-in satellite, however, every additional one in 25 entries will ensure even more seats are given away. The tournament often manages to give more than one seat away and with only two more Sundays remaining before the satellite period is completed, there is sure to be a flurry of players scrambling to win a last minute package.
If the weekly satellite is a little steep for your bankroll then why not play in the plethora of qualifiers on offer throughout the week, including the daily feeder freeroll.
Win your WPT seat for free
The daily WPT Amnéville freeroll awards the top 50 players with a seat into the daily $2 sub-qualifier which awards winners a seat into the $42.50+$3.50 satellite qualifier. All you have to do then is win one of the one in 10 package satellite seats on offer to turn a freeroll into a chance for a massive six-figure score in the beautiful northern French location. Of course, direct buy-in is available for any of the satellites if you want to eliminate any of these steps and win a seat as quickly as possible.
Last year, 543 players flocked to Amnéville and create the monster €1,640,000 prize pool with almost €500,000 going to eventual winner Sam El Sayed from Switzerland. Join El Sayad as a WPT Champion and take you share of the huge prize pool.
While you’re busy taking down a seat and making your way to France why not head over to PartyPoker just a little before the satellites kick off and play for your share of the PartyPoker Bankroll Booster.
Each Sunday at 1430 EDT (1930 BST) the Bankroll Booster features a free $5,000 tournament to help boost your bankroll so you can start playing in bigger tournaments and even winning satellites, so before you know it you will be at the felt in Amnéville playing for a WPT title and a six-figure score.
PartyPoker has made it easier than ever to win your seat in the freeroll with a total of four ways to qualify.
If you haven’t got a PartyPoker account yet then the third qualifying option above is definitely the ideal way to make your way to the $5,000 Bankroll Booster freeroll.
If you are a new customer be sure to utilize the special relationship between PokerNews and PartyPoker with the best no deposit bonus in the business.
All you have to do to get a free $50 bankroll is sign up for a PartyPoker account via PokerNews and when you sign-up you will get an immediate $25 bonus for free and then a second free $25 when you earn just 200 PartyPoints. Not only will you have a free $50 bankroll but will also have earned entry into the $5,000 Bankroll Booster freeroll. That’s double the bankroll boosting thanks to PartyPoker and PokerNews.
Don’t forget to head over to our Free $50 No Deposit Page and make sure to use the bonus code “PN50Free” as outlined in the walkthrough guide.
Thanks to our Free $50 No Deposit Bonus and the weekly PartyPoker Bankroll Booster you have enough of a bankroll to start satelliting your way into the inaugural PartyPoker PokerFest
The PokerFest kicks off on Oct. 23 and with satellites from as little as $1 in full action right now there is no excuse as to why you aren’t already winning your way into the 47 championship events on offer throughout the two week period and claiming your share of the $3,000,000 guaranteed prize pool.
If you aren’t already following us on Twitter, you should be and why not like us on Facebook while you’re at it.
AppId is over the quota
October 02 2011, Brett Collson, Elaine Chaivarlis
Full Tilt Poker completely dominated the headlines this week and you can find all of the major developments by browsing our main page. In this edition of the Weekly Turbo, you'll get a look at Trishelle Cannatella's new sponsorship deal, Betfair revealing a data hack, and more.
Betfair Reveals Data Hack After 18 Months of SilenceOnline gambling giant Betfair admitted Friday that it failed to notify customers that their personal details had been stolen by cyber hackers 18 months ago.
The criminals, believed to be from Cambodia, reportedly stole 3.15 million account usernames with encrypted security questions, 2.9 million usernames with one or more addresses and 89,744 account usernames with bank account details, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Betfair said it was able to recover the information without harm to customers and that its security measures made the information unusable for fraud. The Daily Telegraph reports that the theft wasn’t detected until a computer server malfunctioned in May 2010, leading to the discovery that "at least nine servers [had] been compromised in the UK and two in Malta.”
Read more about the Betfair scandal at the Daily Telegraph.
She's a Sure Bet
Sure Bet Poker launched internationally (for obvious reasons) this week — Oct. 1 to be exact. On Monday, Trishelle Cannatella announced that she was part of Team Sure Bet.
TrishelleC Trishelle So excited to announce I have officially signed with @surebetpoker ! Site launches October 1st so go register to play with me :) September 26 2011
She joins Mike Wolf and Jason Sallman on Team Sure Bet. In an interview with Ante Up Magazine, Cannatella said, "I am so excited to join team Sure Bet Poker, and I cannot wait to represent Sure Bet at tournaments both live and online."
Read the entire interview at AnteUpMagazine.com.
For the Sports FansOn Tuesday, DraftDay.com was launched. DraftDay, a daily fantasy sports website, is the brainchild of poker pros Taylor Caby and Andrew Wiggins.
"Taylor and I started tossing around the idea of a fantasy sports website years ago, but the timing was never right," Wiggins said. "After I won my MLB league last season, I took it as a sign that we needed to push the idea toward reality. DraftDay is a unique fantasy sports experience that you won't find anywhere else. There's no season long commitment and there's always a draft available."
DraftDay allows sports fans to test their fantasy sports skills and offers daily games for fantasy football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. Buy-ins range from freerolls to $500.
"There is a social aspect to fantasy sports that you also find in poker. It's competitive, stats driven and an adrenaline rush. It's also a great way to make a hobby into something really profitable," Wiggins said.
"There's nothing better than sweating out a ballgame knowing one or two key plays can earn you money and bragging rights," Caby said.
Read the press release for more.
Team ElkY vs. Team Hellmuth
The rosters have been drawn for the upcoming Caesars Cup at the World Series of Poker Europe in Cannes, France. The Ryder Cup-style poker event pits teams of the best players from both sides of the Atlantic against each other for bragging rights and the coveted Caesars Cup.
The event was last played in 2009 and won by Team Europe, which was captained by former WSOPE Main Event champion Annette Obrestad. That team easily defeated the Team Americas squad captained by Daniel Negreanu.
This year, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier leads Team Europe against Phil Hellmuth's Team Americas crew. Grospellier decided to go with youth as he selected five players with a combined five WSOP bracelets, including recent Triple Crown winner Jake Cody. Gus Hansen, Dario Minieri and Maxim Lykov were also included on the squad.
“I am very confident in my team,” said Grospellier. “We will show the Americas that 2009 was not an upset!”
Hellmuth, on the other hand, will have experience on his side. Including Hellmuth, Team Americas will boast 39 WSOP bracelets won by Doyle Brunson (10), Johnny Chan (10), Daniel Negreanu (four), and Huck Seed (four) round out the team.
"These idiot Northern Europeans think they know everything about the game of poker," Hellmuth joked. "Well, we plan to show them that decades of experience are much more valuable than clicking a mouse while sitting in your pajamas. In all seriousness, we look forward to the challenge and the opportunity to return the Caesars Cup to American soil."
Read the press release at WSOP.com.
Chiligaming to Enter U.S. MarketFrench online gaming operator Chiligaming is set to enter the U.S. poker market with the launch of a free-to-play social-gaming poker network.
The new legal, nongambling poker network includes a wide range of social gaming features including virtual currency, multiple language options, and availability on multiple devices including PCs, MACs, iPhone, Android, tablets and social networks.
The company will also open offices in San Francisco, Calif., as part of its expansion into new markets. Chiligaming plans to use the free-play platform as a launch pad into real-money play when legislation occurs in the States. It remains one of a small number of international online gaming operators never to have taken a bet in the U.S.
“The gaming market is evolving and Chiligaming is evolving with it by expanding its operation to become an active social gaming player in addition to an established online gaming operator,” said founder Alexandre Dreyfus. “Chiliplay.com will be the first brand to launch on the network and we will be welcoming more partners now that all the devices for access are ready.”
Read the press release for more.
Dennis Phillips Brings High Stakes Poker to the Midwest
Next month, former WSOP November Niner Dennis Phillips will take part in the largest cash games ever played in St. Louis. Phillips and St. Louis radio man Paul Harris, hosts of KFNS' Final Table Poker Radio Show, are set to participate in the Harrah's St. Louis Big Game from Oct. 28 through 30.
The nine-handed cash game will feature $25/$50 blinds with a $10 ante and a minimum buy-in of $15,000. A combined estimated minimum of $270,000 will be on the table at any given time, and, depending on who shows, there's the potential for much more.
“As a player, there really is no better place in St. Louis to play poker," said Phillips, who won $4.5 million for his third-place finish at the 2008 Main Event. "I’m excited to be a part of bringing a game of this size to my hometown.”
The public is welcome to watch all the action when the cards go in the air at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28.
Interested players can contact the Harrah's WSOP Poker Room at (314) 770-7600.
PokerStars Announces 2012 PCA ScheduleThe official tournament schedule for the 2012 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure was released on Thursday. The flagship series of the PokerStars live circuit is set to take place in the Bahamas from Jan. 5 through 14, with the Main Event running from Jan. 7 through 13.
As usual, PokerStars has put together a schedule that offers something for every type of player. Forty-one events are scheduled during the 10-day festival, including a $5,000 8-Game Championship, a $2,100 Battleship event, and even a Dealer Button Choice tournament. The $100,000 Super Higher Roller and $25,000 Higher Roller events will be back, too, to the delight of top pros in the game.
“I’ve never missed the PCA and never will,” said Team PokerStars member Daniel Negreanu, who finished second in last year’s $100,000 Super High Roller Event to fellow PokerStars pro Eugene Katchalov. “It’s grown each year and has become a must-play poker festival for every serious poker player. It’s not just about the Main Event, because there is a full schedule of events for both high- and low-rollers. There isn’t a better way to start off your 2012 than heading out to the PCA.”
A full complement of satellite qualifiers to the series are now running at PokerStars.com.
Visit the PCA website for an extensive look at the schedule.
Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.
Follow Elaine Chaivarlis on Twitter — @LaneyLV
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September 30 2011, Sarah Grant
Every week, the PokerNews Weekly brings you the latest happenings from the international tournament circuit, player news, and even gossip.
In this edition Sarah Grant and Laura Cornelius come to you live from the PokerStars European Poker Tour in London with all the details on Full Tilt Poker, the winners at both the World Poker Tour Malta and World Poker Tour Borgata, the ANZPT Melbourne and the 2011 PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker.
Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.
Follow Sarah Grant on Twitter — @SarahGrantPoker
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September 26 2011, Josh Bell
PartyPoker really has everything to offer when it comes to a great online poker experience, including some of the best weekly tournaments around, fantastic ring games in several disciplines of poker, unrivaled customer service and software and some of the best bonus offers around. However, there has always been something missing from the PartyPoker experience and that is a championship tournament series. That is all about to change this coming October.
PartyPoker is set to become the new home of a "must-play" tournament series, with the inaugural PartyPoker Pokerfest 2011 kicking off in October.
The 47 championship events on offer throughout the two week period will make for a huge $3,000,000 guaranteed prizepool and will be sure to get the grinders and the casual players alike behind their screens and frantically clicking their mouses in the hopes of finding poker glory.
Satellites have already begun with players able to qualify for many of the events from as little as $1. The opening event, and the first ever PartyPoker Pokerfest tournament, will take place on October 23rd and will feature a $300,000 guarantee for the $215 buy-in.
Pokerfest 2011: A summary
$3,000,000 guaranteed prizepoolA total of 47 eventsWhen: 23rd of October – 6th Novemeber$1,000,000 guaranteed Main Event on the 6th of NovemberQualify for as little as $1 from nowWhile the chance at becoming an online poker champion at the PartyPoker Pokerfest is an enticing prospect, if the live felt is more your style how about becoming a World Poker Tour champion?
Don’t forget that satellites to the WPT Amneville are now running at PartyPoker.
The event will be held in the beautiful northern France location from November 1st and there is no better place than PartyPoker to win a package worth $8,000 which includes the $5,000 buy-in to the WPT Amneville Main Event, $1,100 spending money, hotel accommodation and the famous PartyPoker hospitality.
Last year a massive 542 players crammed into the field of the WPT Amneville and at the end of the event it was Switzerland’s Sam El Sayed who took home the victory and the largest share of the €1,640,096 prizepool.
With so much on offer at PartyPoker, including the new PartyPoker Pokerfest and offering the best way to win a seat at WPT Amneville you would be excused of thinking that there is already reason enough to download PartyPoker. Think again.
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September 25 2011, Elaine Chaivarlis
It's been a week full of Full Tilt Poker news. And if you missed any of it, we're going to catch you up on all of it in the Weekly Turbo. You'll get a peek at Rafe Furst's open letter, find out what the Epic Poker League did with Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson's member cards, and more.
Furst's Open LetterOn Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced it was amending the original Black Friday indictments to include Ray Bitar, Chris Ferguson, Howard Lederer, and Rafe Furst.
We're used to silence regarding the Full Tilt Poker drama, so we weren't planning on hearing from Lederer, Ferguson, or Furst, so color us surprised when Furst tweeted the link to an open letter on his blog.
Rather than post the entire letter, here's an excerpt:
"What I would like to express here is concern for my family, friends, colleagues and supporters who believe in me and who feel my pain as if it were their own. It sucks to have to endure the character assassination and potshots being taken at me in the media and social networks without being able to defend myself. Privately though I have received incredible support from many of you, and I can’t tell you how much it means to me. May you never have to endure something like this, but if you do, I hope you have friends as good as mine."
"To the skeptics, please consider that not everything you read is true, and our society is built on a presumption of innocence until proven otherwise. It’s difficult to take back hurtful things that you might later regret, when the damage has already been done."
You can make your own conclusions, and if you'd like to read the entire letter, you can, at EmergentFool.com.
Suspended Indefinitely
We can't say we didn't see this coming. On Wednesday, the Epic Poker League announced that the Standards and Conduct Committee suspended Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson indefinitely.
“The Committee voted to suspend Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson indefinitely, pending the outcome of the Department of Justice’s action," said EPL's Standard and Conduct Committee's chairman Stephen Martin.
Even though the complaint filed against Lederer and Ferguson is civil and not criminal, the committee deemed that "the specificity of the allegations and the fact they came from the United States government made this the right course of action in the best interests of the players in the League."
The committee also said that it would continue to monitor the actions of the DOJ and should any other League members be named, "the Committee will consider additional disciplinary action."
According to the committee, Lederer has signed his League documents granting him a 5-year card, however, Ferguson has not yet signed the League documents. Regardless, Ferguson's card has been suspended.
It should also be noted that Andy Bloch, who is on the Standards and Conduct Committee refused to take part in the consideration of the issue and commissioner Annie Duke does not take part in any committee discussions.
Read more at EpicPoker.com.
Dealing with The MobNo, not this mob. A few days after announcing it ended its exclusive relationship with Full Tilt Poker, The Hendon Mob has snatched up another sponsor — Genting Poker. Weirdly enough, the first sentence of the announcement painted a mob-like picture in our head, so maybe it's not far from the mob linked above. Kidding!
"In a deal struck over a meal at Soho’s Little Italy The Hendon Mob shook hands with the godfathers of Genting, securing the future of the Hendon Mob website and guaranteeing the boys all the pasta they can eat."
According to the announcement, the partnership crosses over both live and online.
If you'd like to find out more, read the announcement on TheHendonMob.com.
Epic Poker Broadcast ScheduleThe Epic Poker League recently announced its broadcast schedule for its inaugural season. According to the press release, 20 hours of programming are planned, seven of them airing on CBS and the rest on the Velocity Network.
The premiere episode will air on Oct. 7 at 10 p.m. EDT on Velocity; the first CBS episode will run on Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. EDT.
“Players and fans have been asking when they can tune-in to watch the Epic Poker League, so we’re pleased to share our national telecast schedule for CBS and Velocity,” said Jeffrey Pollack, executive chairman of the Epic Poker League and its parent company, Federated Sports + Gaming. “Epic Poker offers an innovative take on America’s favorite card game and our telecasts put an entirely new spotlight on many of the world’s finest players.”
The broadcasts will be hosted by Pat O'Brien along with co-host Ali Nejad.
“The broadcasts of Epic Poker on CBS and Velocity will offer viewers a new and innovative experience that will take poker programming to the next level,” said David Neal, executive producer of Epic Poker League. “Epic Poker productions take a page from the best professional sports programming.”
You can check out the rest of the television broadcast schedule on the press release, and watch a teaser video below.
5,000 in 30A petition was created on Sept. 22 to bring online poker regulation to the Obama administration's attention. We the People, is a way to get the public's voice heard in the government. At the moment, the minimum number of signatures needed on a petition to be reviewed is 5,000 signatures in 30 days.
The online poker petition wants the Obama administration to "protect consumers, create jobs, and generate revenue by licensing and regulating online poker."
"Appropriate regulation of online poker will put the U.S. in charge of safeguarding responsible adult players, prevent underage participation and protect those with excessive gaming habits. The current, unregulated U.S. marketplace does not guarantee a single consumer protection," the petition says.
The petition continues, "U.S. regulation of this global industry will also mean the creation of American jobs and billions in new revenue without raising taxes. Licensed U.S.-based horse race wagering sites have proven that online betting sites can be successfully regulated. It is time to allow online poker the same opportunity."
Be heard. Sign the petition.
"Not a So-Called Ponzi Scheme"According to the Wall Street Journal, Full Tilt Poker attorney's slammed the U.S. Department of Justice for its allegation that the company ran a Ponzi scheme.
"A Ponzi scheme requires an investment vehicle in order to receive a certain rate of high return," Jeff Ifrah, one of Full Tilt Poker's attorneys, said. "None of those things happened here." Ifrah says Full Tilt Poker "should be likened to that of a problematic bank, rather than an illegal investment scheme."
The attorney for recently accused Chris Ferguson, Ian Imrich said, "While the government has obviously taken issue with the underlying activities of FTP, under any reasonable interpretation, the world-wide operations of the online cardroom are not a so-called Ponzi scheme."
The Wall Street Journal reports that as of Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department had no comment.
WSJ.com has more.
Barney Frank to Give Back MoneyThe Boston Herald is reporting that even though U.S. Rep. Barney Frank is "very disappointed to hear the allegations" against Full Tilt Poker's, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, and Rafe Furst, they don't change his views on online gambling legislation. "If anything, it strengthens them."
Critics berated Frank, as well as Sen. Harry Reid, for taking money from Full Tilt Poker. "Frank should refund every nickel of the tens of thousands in campaign donations linked to online gambling,” Tim Buckley state GOP spokesman said. “It appears Mr. Frank is another congressman willing to associate with criminals.”
According to the Boston Herald, Frank is willing to put the "donations from Lederer, Furst and Ferguson into a special account and donate it to a fund for victims if the Justice Department sets one up — and if the men are found guilty."
Read more at BostonHerald.com.
Is That...No, It Couldn't BeIn case your week was as busy as ours, we're going to lighten up your Sunday a bit. In the midst of our flurry of work on Friday, we came across our favorite thread of the moment on TwoPlusTwo — Phil Hellmuth Riding a Giant Hotdog on Water. Yes, you read that right, and yes, it's literal — well, almost. We aren't sure if it's Hellmuth on the hotdog, but if it's not, the guy in the photo is a dead ringer for the Poker Brat. The initial image is gold in and of itself, but as you're all aware, there are some Photoshop masters on TwoPlusTwo.
This thread is a must read.
You should follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news. Not only that, like PokerNews on Facebook, and sign up for the Nightly Turbo newsletter below.
Follow Elaine Chaivarlis on Twitter — @LaneyLV
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September 19 2011, Matthew Pitt
This week at PartyPoker, how you can watch WPT Malta live, details on some fantastic live tournament packages to GSOP Greece and WPT Amneville, and more.
Watch WPT Malta Live
The World Poker Tour is currently in sunny Malta for the inaugural WPT Malta Main Event and thanks to PartyPoker you will be able to watch a live stream of the final table on September 24, complete with graphics, a plethora of information and commentary. The €3,300 Main Event is going to be the first-ever WPT re-entry tournament, meaning anyone who busts out on Day 1a can re-enter on Day 1b. Amongst those set to play are Tony G and the 11-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth!
Follow the action from The Casino at Portomaso over on the PartyPoker Blog.
Time Running Out To Qualify for GSOP Greece
GSOP Live Greece gets under way on October 12 and time is running out to qualify for a superb luxury package through PartyPoker. The online satellites will cease to run from September 25 so there is not time to waste if you want to get your hands on a $3,600 package to GSOP Live Greece. Each package awards the $1,650 tournament buy-in, $700 spending money, five nights at the luxurious Porto Carras Grand Resort and Casino and of course, the world-renowned PartyPoker hospitality.
Become a WPT Champion
Satellites are now running in the PartyPoker client for WPT Amneville, which kicks off November 1. Last year a massive 542 strong field created a prizepool of €1,640,096, the lions share of which was won by Sam El Sayed who walked away with €426,425.
Each package is worth $8,000 and includes the $5,000 buy-in to the WPT Amneville Main Event, $1,100 spending money, hotel accommodation and the famous PartyPoker hospitality.
The Best Bonus in Online Poker
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September 18 2011, Elaine Chaivarlis
We're trying to get you caught up on the week's top poker news stories. In this edition of the Weekly Turbo, you'll get a look at Full Tilt Poker's latest statement, the newest member of Team PokerStars Online, and more.
Full Tilt Poker StatementOn Wednesday, Full Tilt Poker released its latest statement to PokerStrategy.com. The statement touches on the the financial issues the company is facing and how it is positioning itself to deal with them. According to the press release, approximately 250 positions at Pocket Kings Ltd. could be affected by the new cost optimization program.
Here is the statement in its entirety:
"On April 15th 2011 the United States Department of Justice unsealed a federal indictment against a number of individuals employed by major online poker operators. After the issuance of that indictment and a related civil case brought by the United States government, Full Tilt Poker withdrew from the US market. Then in a related action, on June 29th, 2011, Full Tilt Poker had its operating licenses suspended by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission."
"As a result, Pocket Kings Ltd. (provider of marketing and technology services to Full Tilt Poker) has adopted a cost optimization program and estimates that they need to reduce their costs by approximately €12m. This program is intended to streamline the company’s operations in order to better position itself for future growth and profitability in Full Tilt Poker’s markets outside of the U.S."
"If all of the required cost savings were to be achieved through redundancies, approximately 250 positions could be affected; however the exact number cannot be confirmed until the conclusion of a consultation process with its workforce."
"Notwithstanding the foregoing, Pocket Kings firmly believes it has a very strong future in Full Tilt Poker’s Non-US Markets, and is fully committed to ensuring Full Tilt Poker restores the site and repay players in full. To this end, Full Tilt Poker has retained Sea Port Group Securities, LLC as its financial advisor with regard to raising capital and/or assisting in securing a strategic partner in order to fund continued operations of Full Tilt Poker's non-U.S. business. The Company is in active discussions with several parties and will provide a further statement in due course."
Sporting the Red Spade
Even though the Team PokerStars Pro roster may be getting lighter, the Team PokerStars Online roster just added a heavy hitter. Mickey "mement_mori" Petersen is the newest member of Team PokerStars Online.
Petersen, much like David Williams and Justin Bonomo, got into poker after playing Magic: The Gathering. Can someone get us one of those decks? Maybe we'll get better at poker if we start playing MTG.
"I see signing with world's biggest online site as the next logical step in my career and hopefully I'll be able to build on my resume live as well as online and promote both PokerStars and the game in a positive light," Petersen said .
It didn't take long to add to his resume. The newly minted member of Team PokerStars Online final tabled WCOOP Event #24 on Monday night, and finished in third place, good for $10,868.25.
The PokerStars Blog has more.
Behind Closed DoorsThe Alderney Gambling Control Commission will hold its hearing regarding Full Tilt Poker on Sept. 19 — four days after its "deadline." The public may have been allowed at the first hearing in July, but there will be no such luck this time around. The AGCC released a statement today announcing that the hearing will take place "in camera," which we guess is a fancy way to say "behind closed doors." We're pretty sure the public is a little fired up about this, but there's also someone else who doesn't agree with this decision, executive director of the AGCC, Andre Wilsenach.
“I am pleased that the FTP hearing will continue as scheduled, as was argued on my behalf. However, I am disappointed with the tribunal’s decision that, notwithstanding my arguments to the contrary, the hearing will be held in private. I believe the public has a right to know the reasoning behind the decisions to suspend FTP’s licences and call a hearing, and to hear the evidence that will be put forward on my behalf," Wilsenach said in the press release.
"It is my understanding that the tribunal conducted a difficult balancing exercise of the interests of the various parties, taking into account the legal arguments for and against further postponing the hearing, and for and against allowing the public to attend the proceedings.”
GamblingControl.org has more.
World Poker Tour Paris High RollerOn Friday, the €15,000 buy-in high roller kicked off at the 2011 World Poker Tour Rendez-Vous à Paris. Among the 36 players who entered was last year's winner, Freddy Deeb, and last year's runner-up, Sorel Mizzi. Would history repeat itself? A €521,100 prize pool was created and €234,495 was reserved for first place.
Mizzi moved into the second day of play as the chip leader, and when five players were left on Sunday, Mizzi tweeted:
sorelmizzi Sorel Mizzi Chip leader w/ 740k of 1.8 Million in play in high roller... 5 left! Also big congrats to @matthew_waxman for shipping WPT, kid was due!!! September 10 2011
Sure enough, it was déjà vu for Mizzi and Deeb, but this time, there was a twist. On a flop of 
Deeb shipped his remaining stack in the middle holding 
. Mizzi snap-called, tabling 
. The turn and river blanked for Deeb, giving Mizzi the title and the €234,495 first-place prize.
sorelmizzi Sorel Mizzi Winner winner chicken dinner ship the 234,495 euros n the trophy! Revenge is sweet! Freddy plyed gr8 http://t.co/DsUSHff September 11 2011
WPT Paris High Roller Results
Read more at FR.PokerNews.com.
South Point Going OnlineAccording to GamingToday.com, South Point Casino owner Michael Gaughan is launching an online poker site in the "next couple of weeks." The site will be a free-play poker site on the ZEN Entertainment network.
"This is an experiment for me," Gaughan told GamingToday. "I’m just getting my feet wet but I expect that down the line I am going to be applying for an intrastate license."
Las Vegas-based ZEN Entertainment has also partnered with Jamie Gold for his new online poker site, the UFC's online poker site. If you recall, the UFC is owned by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, who also own Station Casinos. See the connection?
Will these free-for-play online poker sites be popping up more frequently? With land-based casinos attached to them? Only time will tell.
Read more at GamingToday.com.
Saab Gets Booked
In January, we told you that David Saab was busted in Australia for attempting to import 21 kilograms (~46 pounds) of cocaine. Saab, along with Francis Hughes and Robert Reemus tried to smuggle the cocaine in a shipment of steel machine parts that were boated in from Vancouver.
On Tuesday, it was reported that the three men were given a combined 30-year jail sentence after pleading guilty. Reemus and Hughes were given eight-year jail sentences with a minimum of five years. Judge Liz Gaynor sentenced Saab to a 10-year minimum sentence and pointed him out as the "chief organizer of the operation," noting that he stood to gain $110,000 for the shipment.
According to the Herald Sun, Gaynor told Saab "the 'illusory world you have constructed for yourself' had been shattered by his arrest, as had his 'delusions of wealth.'"
Find out more about the sentencing at HeraldSun.com.au.
German State Legalizes Online PokerGermany has 16 states, or Länder. One of them, Schleswig-Holstein, recently passed legislation that will legalize and regulate online poker.
The new legislation allows for betting exchange, sports books, poker and all casino games except roulette, blackjack, and baccarat, according to eGaming Review. The law will go into effect Jan. 1, 2012, and licenses will be valid beginning March 1. The state will also impose a 20 percent tax on gross profits.
After the news, Befair released a statement saying, “Schleswig-Holstein’s new online gambling treaty is a welcome piece of legislation geared towards creating a genuinely open, transparent and responsible online gambling market in Germany. We are pleased that it has today passed through the state parliament and we look forward to applying for a license to operate there."
"We are now hopeful that the other 15 German states will make the required amendments to their proposed State Treaty, in order to bring it into line with EU law and with the law passed in S-H today," it continued. “Betfair is committed to participating in the online gambling market in Germany, ready and willing to pay taxes there and offer German consumers competitive, innovative and safe products."
Read more at EGRMagazine.com.
Let's Get Ready to Ruuummmbbblllleeeee!
Manny Pacquiao and the Asian Poker Tour are joining forces. From Dec. 7 through 12, the APT is holding Manny Pacquiao World Poker Event at the Pan Pacific Hotel's Asia Poker Sports Club in Malate, Philippines. The deal was signed last week, and will become an official APT Accredited Event given the approval from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
“The APT is obviously proud to be ensuring its popular and trusted protocol is followed at the Manny Pacquiao World Poker Event. I’m sure it will be a pleasure working with such a respected personality as Manny and we’re looking forward to seeing a large turnout come December 7," said APT tournament director Lloyd Fontillas.
Pacquiao, who is a ten-time world boxing title holder, is a supporter of poker in the region. The event will feature a PHP 500,000 High Roller, PHP 11,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event, and PHP 50,000 buy-in Main Event.
If you want to find out more, check out TheAsianPokerTour.com.
Last month, the Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta announced that LockPoker.eu had "no connection whatsoever with the Authority" and the LGA logo on LockPoker's website was "false and misleading."
The LGA issued another announcement regarding LockPoker on Thursday, clarifying some things.
"Lockpoker.eu is a website which has now been notified to the Authority as an intermediary of Alfard Malta Ltd (holder of a Maltese Remote Gaming Licence LGA/CL3/694/2010) which is to be operated on the Merge Gaming Malta platform (holder of Licence LGA/CL4/693/2010). Although duly licensed in Malta Alfard Gaming Ltd does not yet have the authorization to go live from Malta as currently Merge Malta Limited is in the process of finalising its technical setup in accordance with the Maltese Regulations, a process to be concluded shortly."
"The Authority, however, denies spins by certain sections of the media. This was a case of having failed to notify the Authority of an intermediary arrangement in a timely fashion. The Authority, ever vigilant in the public interest, took immediate action as it does in all similar cases, irrespective of the nature of the infringement."
It seems as though it was all a misunderstanding.
Read more at LGA.org.mt.
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06:26 min., September 15 2011
