Poker News: EC Questions German & Swedish Gambling Law
January 31, 2008
Germany and Sweden have officially been notified by a ‘letter of formal notice’ from the European Commission about infringement proceedings over their nation’s legislations that restrict the gambling services offered by them.
Recently both countries have moved towards banning or restricting online gambling companies that operate outside their borders mainly to protect the state run monopolies that have been very profitable to their coffers. EU treaty obligations call for open trade across European borders in the online market sector.
Now the two countries have two months to respond to the letter of notice. If the countries can not show the EU that their current laws are within the boundaries set by the EU treaty, then the cases will be sent to the European Court of Justice.
The notice against Germany came after the 16 German states ratified the Interstate Treaty which prohibits financial institutions from processing and executing online gambling payments as well as banning most all forms of online gambling as well as advertising restrictions.
The European Commission did point out that horse race betting on the internet is not prohibited in Germany that they have greatly expanded slot machines within their country. Also the use of advertising games of chance by radio, mail or through the press is still permitted.
The notice against Sweden is directed at the laws effecting poker games and tournaments. These games and tournaments are run strictly by the national government including online through the state run poker room, Svenska Spel. The letter points out that the country can not promote the game of poker while banning foreign gaming operators from offering their services.
According to the Commission,
“The national legislation prevents online poker games and tournaments offered by operators licensed and regulated in other member states. ‘Also, it provides for restrictions and criminal sanctions on the promotion both of online poker offered by a licensed service provider in another member state, and of poker organized within licensed premises in another member state.”
The European Gambling and Betting Association [EGBA], which represents eight online gambling companies, applauded the actions of the European Commission.
EGBA Secretary General Sigrid Ligné said,
“By commencing these broad proceedings only thirty days after the Treaty entered into force, the Commission shows its determination to fight restrictions and in particular prohibitions, which are not backed by genuine consumer protection or public order interests. What happened in the US proved that prohibition cannot be the answer. Trustworthy and highly transparent online gaming companies abandoned the US market, thus paving the way for a grey market in which no guidelines whatsoever exist in terms of consumer protection, prevention of compulsive gaming and protection of minors.”
World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Classic Day 3
January 31, 2008
Sometimes a major poker tournament will seem to have a life of its own. This year’s World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Classic is no different. After the first two days of the strange and dramatic hands. It seems the field took a break at the beginning of day three with only nine players eliminated in the first level.
After the first break, another shift, and it seemed that the drive to make the money, which was the top 54 players was in swing. It seemed a lot of players where using the all-in strategy to try and build their chip stack and last till the money or beyond.
Unfortunately, this strategy didn’t work for everyone as Cliff Josephy, Erik Cajelais, Fred Goldberg, and Isabelle Mercier were sent to the rail before the money.
Just as it seemed that the bubble was about to burst play again grinded to a halt. Tension was building as the tournament sat at the bubble through almost 2 levels and the next break was put on hold. Finally Rep Porter and his KT off suit did the job, knocking out the bubble player who wanted to remain nameless.
After the bubble was burst the tournament went on break, and unfortunately, the place seemed to stay on break at least for the hour it continued before the dinner break. The slow play produced only four more eliminations before dinner. After the dinner break, it seemed the players were ready to gamble a little and the play started to heat up.
Play was scheduled to end when there was only 27 players left and there were some big names that manage to money, but will not be around to make the final 27 and start Day4. Those players include: Jordan Rich(43), John Juanda(40), Vanessa Rousso(37) and Bill Kontaratos(30).
Day 4 they will continue to play until the final 10 are sat at the final table. The last six players at the final table will be taped and televised.
Poker at the Borgata Winter Open Day 2
January 30, 2008
After a somewhat strange day 1 at the WPT Borgata Poker Winter Classic, 313 poker players started day 2 and with only 54 making the money, there is still a long way to go. Again the slow blinds allowed players to take their time and accumulate chips, which some have done very well.
The strange hands continued in day 2 with Noah Schwartz, “fourUhaters” to his online poker friends, and Bill Kontaratos getting into a big hand. Schwartz raise pre-flop with A K and was re-raised by Kontaratos with J T, Noah just called. The flop came A K Q and both players pushed all-in. Way behind to the nut straight, Noah came back with a turned ace giving him a full house and a double up through Bill Kontaratos. Slowing down and being patient the rest of the day, Noah Schwartz ended the day with 477,000 in chips.
That would have been enough for the chip lead if not for Gavin Griffin. After building his stack to over 300,000, he held A Q and flopped trip queens to add enough to push him past Schwartz and in top of the leader board to end day 2.
Those unfortunate not to make it through the day after having a great run of cards and being on the leader board was Joe Sebok and John “The Razor” Phan. Both had built chip stacks to over 300,000 only to be on the outside looking in by day’s end.
Alex Jacob, Mike Matusow, Victor Ramdin, J.C. Tran and Eugene Todd all did not survive day 2 but 105 players did and will return for day 3.
Day 2 2008 Borgata Poker Winter Classic Leader Board:
1. Gavin Griffin – 563,000 in chips
2. Noah Schwartz – 477,000 in chips
3. Rep Porter – 421,500 in chips
4. David Tran – 411,600 in chips
5. Justin Bonomo – 377,400 in chips
Move over Bingo, Vegas Style Slots Debut in Seminole Indian Casinos
January 30, 2008
The Hard Rock hotel and casino in Hollywood Florida has become the third casino in Broward county to introduce Vegas Style slot machines to casino visitors. Per a compact made with Governor Charlie Christ, the Hard Rock was able to convert 800 of their bingo style gambling machines to shiny new Class III Vegas style slots.
“It’s a historic day for the tribe,” – Said James Allen, Seminole Gaming CEO
Hard Rock wasn’t the first gambling establishment to install the new machines, the area’s three racino’s already feature the newly approved Las Vegas style slots. Another exciting addition to the Florida gambling scene will be introduced “sometime in the spring” according to Allen. The casino will feature blackjack and baccarat games, dealers are currently being trained.
A definite point to note for gamblers planning to visit the Florida Casinos, Seminole’s do not have to post or otherwise reveal payout percentages. When casino players played the old bingo machines, that are still prominent throughout the casino, they played against other players, not against the house. Now slots fans will play against the house, without the added benefit of a payout percentage. Casino goers are not sure if this will translate into more wins, or more losses.
PokerStars Sunday Million Winner: SNo0oWMAN
January 29, 2008
This weeks Sunday Million at Pokerstars was their end of the month $500 buy-in event. This special increase buy-in didn’t hamper the turnout though as 3,192 poker players entered the event. Of these players 486 players would cash some of the $1,596,000 prize pool and $278,502 of that prize pool going to the winner.
This event to a remarkable 13 hours to complete to the end and the first plateau busted was the money bubble. Deejey39 was the bubble player at this event unfortunately going out in 487th. The next plateau, the final table was busted in grand style with roosterbill advancing and juice54 just missing the final table.
It was a small blind/big blind confrontation with the blinds 40,000/80,000. Roosterbill was in the small blind with 3,096,882 in chips and as it folded around, he raised it to 240,000. Juice54 was in the big blind with 1,904,432 left after posting the blind, went all-in over the top. Roosterbill called and flipped over Ks Kd, Juice54 showed Ac Kh. No ace fell and juice54 was sent home in 10th.
The final table consisted of:
Seat 1 – Sno0oWMAN with 3,852,448 in chips
Seat 2 – roosterbill with 5,153,314 in chips
Seat 3 – oogee with 2,941,884 in chips
Seat 4 – Suck My Ace with 1,653,349 in chips
Seat 5 – Kenjh with 4,769,215 in chips
Seat 6 – Demonrob with 1,388,896 in chips
Seat 7 – jonop56 with 6,770,084 in chips
Seat 8 – bateolrob with 4,399,840 in chips
Seat 9 – mjh0318 with 926,970 in chips
First off the table was Demonrob when he got all his chips in the middle on a rag flop with pocket queens. Roosterbill called with pocket 7’s. Unfortunately for Demonrob the turn brought a 7 and no help on the river sent him home in 9th.
It was long until mjh0318 made his move with Kd Jc and was called by Sno0oWMAN and AdQh. A queen on the flop was all it took to send mjh0318 home eighth. After a few more rounds it was Sno0oWMAN again but this time it was his Kd Jd eliminating jonop56 with Ah7d. A turned ace gave jonop56 the lead but also put 4 diamonds on the board, the river brought another diamond and jonop56 was eliminated 7th.
Sixth went to oogee as his AK was dominated by batoelrob and pocket aces. Three hands later it was Suck My Ace on the short stack and all in with Ac Th and was called by roosterbill and As Kd. This time AK held up and Suck My Ace finished 5th. Eleven hands later, Kenjh was all in with As 8s and it was AK again but this time batoelrob holding them that held up and left just three remaining.
Interestingly enough, unlike the previous Sunday Millions, no deals could be agreed on. Roosterbill finally got the best of batoelrob and it was heads up play between Sno0oWMAN and roosterbill and again no deal could be agreed on between the two.
The heads up play lasted 64 hands with the final one being a race between roosterbill’s pocket nines and Sno0oWMAN’s AJ off suit. The flop brought an ace and no more help for roosterbill, the first $500 buy-in for the Pokerstars Million in 2008 went to Sno0oWMAN.
Pokerstars Million final results:
1. SNo0oWMAN – $278,502
2. roosterbill – $140,607.60
3. batoelrob – $101,026.80
4. Kenjh – $79,800
5. Suck My Ace – $62,563.20
6. oogee – $46,2284
7. jonop56 – $33,516
8. mjh0318 – $21,067.20
9. Demonrob – $12,488.80
Long Lines Delay EPT Dortmund Poker Tournament Start
January 29, 2008
The first day of the European Poker Tour was scheduled to kick off today at 3pm however play today was a bit delayed due to heavier than expected player registrations. The larger amount of registrants caused there to be longer lines than were expected by tournament organizers, therefore the game was delayed while players finished getting through registration.
In total 198 players braved the lines and made it into the 2008 European Poker Tour at Dortmund being held at Hohensyburg Casino. Hohensyburg Casino is known as one of the largest casinos in the Federal Reserve of Germany. The casino has hosted not only poker greats, but royalty and politicians such as Arnold Swartzenager.
Some fierce players showed for the event, including team PokerStars pro Katja Thater, Sorel Mizzi known in the online poker world as Imper1um, and Dario Minieri another member of Team PokerStars. Also in attendance was Gino Alacqua who finished second in the 2007 EPT event held in Prague cashing for a little over $500,000.
Mizzi didn’t make it through the first day, he got his money in good against
Minieri was hurt early in the day following a big hand with Swiss Poker player Claudio Rinaldi, he busted out pretty soon after that hand. Mizzi was also left short stacked and hard up by the Swiss poker player. Mizzi woke up to Ah-Qd against Rinaldi’s pocket ‘kowboys’ (KK) Rinaldi raised his monster pair, Mizzi reraised the big ace, Rinaldi three bet the pot. Mizzi didn’t see the power in the re-re-raise and pushed all in. Rinaldi made the call, Mizzi’s hand did not improve.
Mizzi had Rinaldi covered, though not by much, Mizzi busted out shortly thereafter.
Poker at the Borgata Winter Open Day 1
January 28, 2008
You know the saying, “its poker”, most use it to describe a good hand being beat by a good hand. At the start of this year’s Borgata Winter Open it seemed that this phrase would in up being warn out.
This year, 507 players will be competing for the title and a first prize pay out of $1,401,109. The top 54 are the only ones getting paid though so there will be a lot of poker being played to get to that spot.
It was early, before the first level was even over when Nick Schulman was sent to the rail with “its poker” and probably a few more words running through his head. Schulman was dealt pocket fives and flopped quads. With a board of Ks 5s 5d 4s 2s Schulman got all his money in the middle and was called by Stephen Freda.
Schulman had to think that the pot he built and now was almost totally invested in was all his but Freda had other plans. As Schulman turned over his quads, Freda turned over As 3s for the 1,000 to 1 shot runner-runner straight flush. Though not totally out, it wasn’t long before Nick Schulman was sent to the rail before his seat was even warm.
Stephen Freda wasn’t done with just that strange hand though. In another Freda ended up on the short end with David Williams. David double up through Stephan when he flipped over a 10-8 on a Tc 8c 7s 8h 4c board and Stephan flipped up 8-7. This put William’s in good shape though and eventually added more chips to end to the day with 89,600.
This tournament starts each player out with a deep stack and with a slower blind structure should provide a slow paced tournament but with a smattering of 30 or so aggressive online poker players and some aggressive professionals, there were some that managed to accumulate a lot of chips in day 1.
Of course some were not as lucky and like Nick Schulman, went home in Day 1. Among them were John D’Agostino, T.J. Cloutier, Tom Dwan, Barry Greenstein, Phil Ivey, Erick Lindgren, Jonathan Little and Gavin Smith.
Leader Board 2008 Borgata Winter Open:
1. Lenny Cortellino 213,000 chips
2. John Phan 182,825 chips
3. Joe Sebok 149,700 chips
4. Justin Bonomo 148,675 chips
5. Vanessa Rousso 148,350 chips
Gubernatorial Hopeful Plans to Overturn Poker Ban
January 27, 2008
An attorney in the state of Washington and Poker Players Alliance’s director for the state of Washington, Lee Rousso has decided to run against incumbent Governor Christine Gregoire on the August primary and seek the Democratic nomination.
It was in March of 2007 that Governor Gregoire signed into law a ban on online poker that made it a Class C felony to play. This meant playing online poker in Washington was in the same class as people who possess child pornography, threaten the governor, or tortures animals.
It wasn’t long after the law was signed that Rousso took the state head on by filing a law suit claiming that the ban on online gambling failed to comply with the Wire Act passed by the federal government which never has passed on the criminal liabilities to the players themselves. There is also the fact that almost every other possible form of gambling is allowed in the state.
According to Rousso, “I’m just upset beyond words that a law like that in a country like this could become a law. It’s just flat out wrong.”
“You just can’t even find people who think that this law is a good idea. Even people who are opposed to gambling in general recognize that this law goes way, way, way too far,” Rousso added.
The ultimate goal for Lee Rousso is to get the Washington law removed from the books and plans to do it through the courts or through the political arena by running for Governor. Last week in an update on the Poker Player Alliance website, Rousso reported that States strategy of asking for massive discovery on “information related to internet poker” has been successfully appealed by Rousso and the Court of Appeals returned the case back to lower court for more litigation on the recovery issues. In Rousso’s words,
“For the most part, the Court of Appeals seemed fairly sympathetic to my case, noting that is ‘raises interesting and potentially troubling questions’.”
As far as when a resolution could be decided in this case Rousso wrote,
“This has been, in essence, a four month detour. We have a new judge now and I have renewed optimism about getting my day in court, hopefully by around May.”
As far as his political ambitions, Lee said,
“The reason I announced [my campaign] in January when I did, the first day of the legislative session, is I’m hoping to shake up the legislature and get them to revisit the issue during this legislative session,” Rousso said. “If I could get the law changed, I would pack up my tent and go home, because I would consider mission accomplished.”
$121,369 Caribbean Hold’em Poker Jackpot Hit At Bodog Casino
January 27, 2008
A Bodog casino player hit a major Caribbean poker jackpot at Bodog Casino. The Caribbean Hold’em game is brand new, and has already hit! Mark W. A Colorado resident hit new casino game’s jackpot after making a bet on the games progressive jackpot prize. He took down the jackpot of $121,369 by hitting a Royal Flush. The jackpot is shared among both Bodog’s Caribbean Holdem and Caribbean Stud poker games, therefore Mike W. Took down the combined payout of both machines.
Caribbean Hold’em poker is a derivative of Caribbean Stud Poker and Texas Holdem Poker, in this version, a player plays against the house, not other live players. To start the game off, the online casino dealer deals himself 2 cards face down, and the player two cards face up. Just like in Holdem, there is a three card flop dealt face up in the center of the table.
The player now chooses, without seeing the dealers cards if they think their five card hand (using the three community cards) will beat the dealers hand. If the player believes they have a strong hand, they call, if not, they can fold. If the player makes the call, the ‘turn’ and ‘river’ are both dealt.
At this point the dealer and the player make the best five card hands they are able to create out of the community cards and their own hole cards. The dealer must qualify, but so long as that happens, the player gets paid for beating the dealer, and looses if he is beat by the dealer.
4Flush.Com readers are eligible for a first time deposit bonus of 10% at Bodog Casino.
Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament to Benefit Montel Williams Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Foundation
January 26, 2008
Montel Williams, host of the Emmy Winning Montel Williams talk show has announced a charity poker game to benefit the Montel Williams MS Foundation. The charity poker tournament will be held in New York on the 13th of March. Montel who’s new to the game of poker actually made quite a big entrance at the 2007 World Series of Poker (WSOP) where held onto the tournament chip lead throughout his entire first day of play. Williams has also made several trips to Vegas and Atlantic City often playing poker for as many as 12 hours in a row.
Jamie Gold, 2006 WSOP bracelet winner will be attending the Pro Celebrity Poker Challenge that’s being put on to benefit the Montel Williams MS Foundation. For more information visit www.montelms.org or call (212) 843-1745. to purchase tickets.
Montel Williams went public with his own MS diagnosis in 1999, he has since shared that feeling with his fans:
When the neurologist said those three words – “You have MS” it hit me like a brick.
Montel had heard of MS, but says that he didn’t know what it was. Aside from the possibility that he could lose control of his body, and that he would feel ‘excruciating pain’. Following 2 months of serious depression, Montel made a personal life choice, opting to use his own MS to make a difference for not only himself, but as a call to action, an opportunity make a difference in the lives of millions of people that like Montel suffer from MS.
Every dollar raised goes to research dedicated toward a cure for MS.
The Pro Celebrity Poker challenge will kick with a cocktail reception and dinner which will be followed by entertainment, an awards reception, and finally the celebrity poker tournament.
Tickets to the event begin at $1000.00.
Blackjack Players Cruise Carnival in 2008 – Wild Winners Tournament Pays $25k In Cash Prizes.
January 25, 2008
Carnival Cruise Lines, known as the largest cruise operator worldwide has announced a series of Slots, Blackjack and Poker tournaments set to take place on 10 different cruises.
The blackjack and slot tournament events leading up to the grand final event will each pack a prize pool of $2,500.00, first place winners in these events will win balcony accommodations for themselves and a guest, as well as a seat in the final event, which will be held on the 17th of November.
Both the Grand Final slot and blackjack tournaments feature $25k prize pools. The poker tournament winner will be set to travel again after winning a seat in the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) held annually in Las Vegas NV and an addition $1,000.00 for travel and expenses incurred during the tournament.
Entry fee’s for slots and blackjack tournaments are $100 player, entry into the Carnival Cruise poker tournaments is $150 per seat.
- 02/03/2007 Carnival Pride – 7 Day Gambling Cruise – Mexican Riviera – Departs from Long Beach/Los Angeles
- 3/08/2007 Carnival Freedom – 7 Day Gambling Cruise – Eastern Caribbean – Departs from Miami Florida
- 4/23/2007 Carnival Miracle – 7 Day Gambling Cruise – Eastern Caribbean – Departs from New York
- 05/10/2007 Carnival Glory – 7 Day Gambling Cruise – Eastern Caribbean – Departs from Canaveral Florida
- 05/15/2007 Carnival Pride – 7 Day Gambling Cruise – Mexican Riviera - Departs from Long Beach/Los Angeles
- 06/19/2007 Carnival Liberty - 7 Day Gambling Cruise – Western Caribbean - Departs from Fort Lauderdale
- 08/17/2007 Carnival Conquest- 7 Day Gambling Cruise – Eastern Caribbean - Departs from Galveston Texas
- 09/13/2007 Carnival Victory – 7 Day Gambling Cruise – Fall Foliage Cruise - Departs from New York
- 10/08/2007 Carnival Spirit - 9 Day Gambling Cruise – Mexican Riviera - Departs from San Diego
- 11/17/2007 Carnival Splendor- 4 Day Gambling Cruise – Eastern Caribbean - Departs from Fort Lauderdale
The last cruise above, on the Carnival Splendor, leaves from Fort Lauderdale and cruises the Eastern Caribbean, this is the blackjack, poker and slots cruise that will host the Grand Final event.
Mansion Poker Players to Recieve Exclusive Prizes, Tournaments and VIP Rewards
January 25, 2008
Mansion Poker has launched a VIP Loyalty Club that the company tells us is designed to reward those who enjoy Mansion Poker as their online poker site of choice.
Mansion Poker’s VIP Loyalty Club is a player points system that offers Mansion Poker players exclusive benefits prizes, exclusive promotions, and special VIP rewards, including regular Freeroll tournament entries for Members who qualify.
“Poker players are the most loyal customers in the gaming business, and what our players put in, we want to give back in return,” says Mansion Poker Ambassador Marc Goodwin.
“It’s our way of thanking ALL our players for choosing MANSION Poker as their preferred online Poker site,” adds Goodwin.
Every cash game and tournament a MANSION Member takes part in will earn them VPP (VIP Poker Points) which are calculated monthly and grade a player in to one of 5 VIP classes – Green, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Black.
All new players at Mansion Poker automatically become VIP Loyalty Club Members from the moment they play their first real money poker hand, entering at the basic Green VIP Level.
The good news is, Green VIP players can upgrade to one of the four higher prestige VIP Levels simply by playing more Real Money Poker at Mansion Poker to earn more VPP.
Weekly statements will confirm current VIP status and show how easy it is to graduate to the next VIP Level. Each player’s VPP total also determines which special ‘Bonus Boost’ applies.
The Bonus Boost is the percentage by which a player’s total VPP will be increased at the end of each month – it’s Mansion Poker’s way of helping Members power up the VIP ranks, and ultimately to reach Black VIP status sooner, for bigger and better rewards.
Players can swap their VPP for purchase power in the upcoming MANSION VIP Loyalty Club Shop, where they will discover a variety of must-have items on offer, including MANSION branded poker paraphernalia, state of the art electronic goods, and entries into world class offline events.
Whether it is better value or more rewards you’re after, the Mansion Poker VIP Loyalty Club delivers in spades.
PlayersOnly’s Million Dollar Online Poker FreeRoll
January 24, 2008
PlayersOnly’s Million Dollar Free Roll Tournament has another final this Sunday night. This freeroll is not your normal tournament, PlayersOnly has already given away $400,000 and there will be another $100,000 for this Sunday’s top ten players at the final table.
“We have a lot of relatively new players at our tables. They can find themselves at a monthly final face-to-face with really experienced players. They’re holding they’re own pretty well I’d say – a lot of the prize money is going to players that have hardly played in tournaments before,” said David Anderson, Manager at PlayersOnly.
Through out the week this popular online poker site gives players a chance to qualify for Sunday’s big poker tournament by having qualifying free rolls scheduled at various times. For the online poker player who manages a first place finish the cash prize will be $75,000 and the next two players will also receive $10,000 a piece.
One of the players who earned $500 in one of last month’s tournaments said, “Tournaments are fun, you’re not gambling with real money – all you can lose is your entry fee – so in a free roll that means you’ve got absolutely nothing to lose!”
Each monthly Million Dollar Free Roll Final will distribute a $100,000 prize pool as follows:
1st Place $75,000
2nd Place $10,000
3rd Place $10,000
4th Place $2,500
5th Place $1,000
6th – 10th Place $500
11th – 20th Place $300
21st – 30th Place $100
Look Out Girl Scouts, Poker Tournament Gives Cookies Competition
January 24, 2008
There were no Girl Scout cookies being purchased today, in fact no one is selling anything at all. The truth of the matter is you may just go home empty handed, however, win or lose, players participating in the second annual Ice House Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Club of Benton County located in Bentonville Arkansas. The tournament was held last Saturday and included just about 100 poker players from the community.
Poker tournaments are increasing across the United States as an exciting alternative to candies and wrapping paper as a viable fund raising option. Raising monies for children’s hospitals, veterans organizations, and as in this case, the Boys and Girls Club.
The players didn’t win cash as they might in an online poker tournament, or the World Series of Poker, they won prizes. Two of the prizes awarded included a trip to Vegas, to play in the World Series of Poker. Second place, a 42 inch high definition television, also in the charity poker tournaments list of prize pool goodies was a laptop computer, all donated by Best Buy.
There was a cash winner at the end of the game though, according to NWANews.com the Benton County Boys and Girls Club, currently helping as many as 8,000 kids in the county annually took home the ‘real’ first place prize, $15,000.
Best Buy was just one of the events sponsors, World Series of Poker sponsor, Degree underarm deodorant, who coined the phrase ‘degree all in moment’ when they sponsored their first WSOP tournament also held it down for the boys and girls aid club.
“It’s on a much smaller scale here and it’s all for a great organization, but our company didn’t think twice about sponsoring this event,” said Bob Hrin
Other charity poker tournament sponsors included Eureka Pizza, Abuelo’s, Zaxby’s, Eureka Pizza, and Coors.
PKR Set to Hit 1.5 Million Online Poker and Casino Players
January 24, 2008
PKR.com, the world’s most advanced poker room, is set to reach another milestone in February when the number of registered users will hit 1.5million.
PKR.com reached the 1million mark just five months ago in September of 2007, and its continuous strong growth further entrenches PKR.com as a major player in the online poker market.
State-of-the-art 3D graphics combined with an intensely captivating game system allows players to customise characters and interact with opponents. This has proven irresistible to players, with the average number of concurrent peak time players now reaching 10,000.
PKR.com has stayed completely out of the US, meaning the company has never accepted cash bets from American players. This decision has been fully vindicated in the light of the October 2006 passing of the UIGEA that effectively outlawed online gaming in the US. Nevertheless, now in its second year, PKR.com is poised to continue its rapid growth.
A unique marketing strategy, including a groundbreaking national television advertisement campaign, which is currently airing on both mainstream terrestrial and cable channels such as Channel 4, Five, E4, Setanta, MTV and Dave, will ensure a high level of exposure to a new mass audience.
PKR’s Marketing Director Simon Prodger said, “PKR attracts a hugely diverse audience. I am extremely delighted with the success we have so far achieved and hope that PKR continues to expand and grow throughout 2008”.
One Official Proposes Finland State Run Online Poker
January 23, 2008
Last week the news from Finland was there would be a ban on online gambling. Finland’s Ministry of Social Affairs reported that online gamblers could claim back their losses in a new amendment proposal.
Now the Minister of Culture and Sports, Stefan Wallin as made a proposal that could introduce national online poker for Finland. In defense of his proposal Wallin said that the current system in place is, in his words, “unsatisfactory”. He also points to increasing cases of reported problem gambling but his most crucial point is that revenue from current online gambling operations are going to companies operating outside Finland in foreign tax havens.
Stefan Wallin wants to see Veikkaus or the Finnish Slot Machine Association (RAY) to take the control and organize online gaming in Finland. He believes as a nation Finland can take a more active role in preventing underage gambling and take the profits and channel them to “benefit civic society.”
Wallin said, “It is difficult to halt the rise in the popularity of online poker. It would be better to offer players a legal and responsible alternative. Responsibility would mean setting an 18 age limit and requiring players to identify themselves.”
Kari Paaso a high ranking official in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health does not share Wallin’s view. In an interview with gambling intelligence.com, Paaso said,
“If online gambling is harmful to Finnish citizens, we will be clear about it and offer no online gambling opportunities,” he said. “The government will not offer something like the Swedish online poker site. It does not seem right, on the one hand offering online poker to your citizens, and on the other hand blocking others from doing the same.”
Both sides are pointing to Svenska Spel as anpoint in their argument. Wallin saying that the Sweden’s state run gambling site has proven to be effective and a great success, Passo, though says they have done little to reduce the problem gambling within Sweden.
Stefan Wallin’s Ministry of Culture and Sports controls the state-gaming monopoly which lead Paaso to comment,
“At the moment the idea of a national poker site is just one persons opinion but as Minister for Culture and Sports, his opinion is an important one.”
Tomgus456 Beats Out Eric “Rizen” Lynch in $100k Bodog Poker Tournament
January 23, 2008
At an all star final table last Sunday, Tomgus456 beat out a opponents that included professional poker player Eric Lynch, known at online poker rooms as “Rizen”. For his efforts, TomGus456 hit poker pay dirt to the tune of $25k.For second place, Rizen, a time and time again proven online poker shark took down $14k.
This tournament marked the second $100k guaranteed cash for Tomgus456, a new up and comer perhaps? He made the money in last weeks game when he went out in 65th place. Other notable players at this weeks final table were online poker pro Andrew “Fergwrx” Ferguson, and previous Bodog 100k guarantee champ GibinMauler.
Online poker pro Eric “Rizen” Lynch was one of the final table players that “Tomgus456? had to beat to take home the $25,000 first-place prize.
Bodog Poker’s Sunday $100,000 Guaranteed continues to draw the best the online poker world while still offering regular poker players the chance for a huge payday as evidenced by last night’s competition.
Hell, just look at the final heads-up match that came down to Bodog newcomer “Tomgus456? and well-known online poker pro Eric “Rizen” Lynch, a veritable David vs. Goliath match. And, much like David overcame the giant, so did “Tomgus456? overcome the famed internet gun to take down the $25,000 first-place prize. “Rizen” will just have to “settle” for the $14,000 second-place prize.
- Tomgus456 — $25,000
- Eric Lynch “Rizen” — $14,000
- michaelahci — $9,000
- Trick320 — $6,500
- GibinMauler — $5,400
- ranch111 — $4,400
- Mr_Mojorisin — $3,400
- Andrew Ferguson “fergwrx” — $2,400
- thecure19 — $1,550
The Bodog Poker 100k is played out every week in addition to more than 80 other online poker tournaments offered by Bodog daily. In fact, BodogLife guarantees about $5 Million in guaranteed poker tournament prize money monthly, that’s no small chunk of poker prize money.
Irish Poker Open 2008 Schedule Released
January 23, 2008
Online poker and betting group Paddy Power Poker has released the schedule for the 2008 Irish Poker Open. The first event is a super satellite tournament event that is set to be held at 6pm Wednesday the 19th of March at the City West Hotel located in Dublin Ireland.
Two Irish Poker Open Day One Flights
The Irish Poker Open main event is set to include two first flights, meaning that the starting players will be split into to halves. Both groups will then be given one of two scheduled days to play their first day in the tournament.
The first flight will begin a month from now, Thursday March 20th. The second flight begins the next day, on a day many might find to be lucky, Good Friday, March 21st.
Play begins everyday of the tournament at 2pm. The 3million dollar guarenteed main event will conclude on Easter Monday in Ireland.
The tournament is a 4,500EUR buy-in event that will pay it’s first place winner a minimum of 800,000.00EUR, however to qualify for the tournament without paying the larger buyin, many online poker players are opting into smaller satelite poker tournametns.
Irish Poker Open – New Blind Structure
New blind levels have been injected into this years game, this will effectively draw the tournament out a bit longer, as well as giving tournament players more time to execute poker strategies. Each player in the tournament begins with 10k in tournament chips. The blinds are set to be raised every 60 minutes.
Irish Open Ladies Poker Event
The first ever Irish Poker Open Ladies event consists of 1500EUR buy-in poker tournament held no limit holdem freezeout style, a pot limit Omaha Poker rebuy, and the final event, also to be held on Easter Monday, the Double Chance Scalp tournament.
- 03/19/07 No Limit Hold’em Main Event 4,200 EURO+300 EURO
- 03/19/07 No Limit Hold’em Super Satellite Rebuys Unlimited 75 mins, Addon 300 EURO+30 EURO
- 03/21/07 No Limit Hold’em Ladies Event 300EUR +30EUR (3000 added)
- 03/22/07 No Limit Hold’em Freezeout 1,500EUR +150EUR
- 03/23/07 Pot Limit Omaha Unlimited Rebuys, 400EUR +30EUR
- 03/24/07 No Limit Holdem Scalp Tournament -1 Rebuy within 60 Mins 270EUR +30EUR
The 2008 Irish Poker Open schedule has been released by Paddy Poker among major changes in this years event players will find a more strategy orientated blind schedule. Paddy Poker announced that new blind levels will be included in the 60 minute interval schedule in effort to elongate playtime and allow for more use of poker tournament stratagizing.
Qualifier tournaments are on offer at Paddy Poker
American Poker Player Robbed Following Aussie Millions
January 22, 2008
A poker player from the United States was robbed after leaving the Crown Casino in Australia,. James Potter had just busted out of the Aussie Millions poker tournament in Melbourne Australia when an attacker, who appeared to have followed Potter from Crown Casino stopped him on his walk back to his hotel room.
Potter left the week long, nationally televised poker tournament and headed for America’s favorite fast food local, Mickey D’s. Perhaps a poor choice when you’re carrying 30 grand in your wallet.
Potter finished up his late night meal at McDonald’s at around 4:30 in the morning, he already been to his hotel once, but apparently didn’t opt to leave the cash in a safe. He was accosted by a man with a knife, the cash was in a mixture of AUD and USD100’s.
<blockquote>”I heard someone running resolutely behind me. As I turned around I just got knocked on the back of the head. I fell down and this guy reached immediately into my hooded pocket,” </blockquote>
Potter is a well known professional up and coming poker player who began his career at the age of 18, and used his largest payday to buy into the Aussie Millions event. he commented after the attack that he’d wished he’d picked up his winnings via check rather than in cash.
Potter told the police that he the thief may have been watching the tournament earlier, and known in advance that Potter might have a large amount of cash with him.
Alexander Kostritsyn 2008 Aussie Million Champion
January 22, 2008
With seven players left chasing the 2008 Aussie Millions title and the $1.65 million first place prize money, all eyes early were on Michael Chrisanthopoulos who had a commanding chip leader.
The spot light though went to Alexander Kostritsyn who got started early on when Peter Mobbs raised with AJ suited and was re-raised by Kostritsyn with AK off suit. Eventually Peter got all his chips in pre-flop and hitting a jack on the flop looked good for an early double up. A king on the turn foiled that plan though and Mobbs was sent home in seventh place earning AU $225,000.
Antonio Casale, who was the local fan favorite was next to fall and again it was Kostritsyn. This time it was Kostritsyn who raised first and Casale re-raised, Kostritsyn re-raised back and so did Casale. Kostritsyn went all in and was called by Casale. Casale flipped over pocket jacks but soon found out how dominated he was when Kostritsyn flipped over pocket aces. Casale could not hit a jack and was sent railing in sixth place earning AU $300,000. Kostritsyn was now the new chip leader.
Kostritsyn wasn’t finished yet as just a few hands later Nino Marotta raised pre-flop with QT off suit and was re-raised by Kostritsyn who held AJ off suit. Marotta just called and when the flop came J T 3 rainbow, Marotta went all in and was called by Kostritsyn. The turn brought the ace and no help for Nino Marotta on the river as he went home in fifth place earning AU $400,000.
After all this action the remaining four players settled in for about 2 hours before another big hand surfaced. This time Kostritsyn was not involved as Peter Ling and Michael Chrisanthopoulos ended up with all their chips in the middle after a Ac Kc Th flop. Ling had his tournament life on the line with As 5s but was unfortunate to see Chrisanthopoulos flip over Ad Kh, the turn and river where blanks and Peter Ling left the final table in fourth place getting AU $500,000 for his efforts.
With now just three remaining it was Kostritsyn turn again. It was Eric Seidel who raised this time pre-flop and Chrisanthopoulos called the small blind and Kostritsyn re-raised from the big blind. Seidel got out of the way and Chrisanthopoulos moved all-in and Kostritsyn called. Kostritsyn was holding pocket tens and Chrisanthopoulos held Ac 6c and the pocket tens held sending the early chip leader home in third place with AU $700,000 and making it one more year that an Australian would not win the Aussie Millions Main Event.
Just like last year’s event with Gus Hansen the well known pro and Jimmy Fricke the relative new name battling heads up with the pro winning the title, this year featured the well known name of Erik Seidel versus Alexander Kostritsyn. That would be the only comparison though as this year the relative unknown would walk away with the title. It was not easy though as Kostritsyn went into heads up play with nearly a 2 to 1 chip lead, but took close to two hours to eliminate Eric Seidel.
The young Russian Alexander Kostritsyn did eventual win and is the 2008 Aussie Million champion and taking home the title and AU $1,650,000 in first place prize. Eric Seidel finished runner up earning AU $1,000,000.
The 2008 Aussie Millions final-table results: (from pokernews.com)
1. Alexander Kostritsyn – AU $1,650,000
2. Erik Seidel – AU $1,000,000
3. Michael Chrisanthopoulos – AU $700,000
4. Peter Ling – AU $500,000
5.Nino Marotta – AU $400,000
6. Antonio Casale – AU $300,000
7. Peter Mobbs – AU $225,000
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