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Poker News: EC Questions German & Swedish Gambling Law

January 31, 2008

online poker Laws” alt=”EU Challenges online poker Laws” align=”left” border=”0″ height=”184″ hspace=”5″ vspace=”2″ width=”250″ />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.”

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    Written by Steve Vaughan · Filed Under Poker News 

    World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Classic Day 3

    January 31, 2008

    WPT Borgata Winter OpenSometimes 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.

      Written by Steve Vaughan · Filed Under Poker News, Poker Tournament Results 

      Poker at the Borgata Winter Open Day 2

      January 30, 2008

      WPT Borgata Winter OpenAfter 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

        Written by Steve Vaughan · Filed Under Poker News, Poker Tournament Results 

        Move over Bingo, Vegas Style Slots Debut in Seminole Indian Casinos

        January 30, 2008

        Hard Rock Casino 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.

          Written by Lady4Flush · Filed Under Casino News, Poker News, United States Gambling Law 

          PokerStars Sunday Million Winner: SNo0oWMAN

          January 29, 2008

          PokerStars Sunday MillionThis 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

            Written by Steve Vaughan · Filed Under Online Gambling News, Poker Tournament Results, PokerStars 

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