Man Falls to His Death After Losing Poker Game
June 30, 2008
A British man on holiday died after falling 40 feet from a hotel during a forfeit for losing a game of poker. The man was according to news reports, Mark Day, age 20. Day reportedly plunged to his death in a freak accident on Sunday evening during a holiday with friends from University. The group was staying at the three star Majorca Beach Hotel in the resort of Magalluf.
The police have revealed that after he lost the game of cards he was dared to strip down and run almost naked along a hotel corridor in just his underwear and socks. But he lost his balance at the end of the hallway and smashed through a fifth story window.
Mark Day reportedly fell to the concrete below and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics shortly after 8pm. Day’s friends, Marc Smart and Steve Kimberley, both 21 years old studied with him at the University of Essex and they are currently helping the police try to piece together the events that led up to the incident.
A source said: “We’re not clear yet whether he slipped because he lost his balance as he ran with just his socks on or whether he was running too fast and couldn’t stop in time.
“But he crashed through the window and fell more than 40 feet from the corridor which was on the fifth-floor. “We believe the victim had been drinking and that may also have impaired his judgment.”
The Hotel is refusing to officially comment at this time but a hotel receptionist said, “The dead man was with two friends who are talking to the police at the moment. We don’t expect them to return to the hotel.”
Mark Day and his friends were all sharing room 519 but his two friends have now been moved to another hotel. Police have ruled out anything suspicious related to the death and an investigating judge has now taken charge of the routine investigation.
German Speaking Max Poker Bonus Site Open
June 29, 2008
The new German speaking poker portal Max Poker Bonus was launched this month and the founders of the new site want to refrain from the common practice of promoting a myriad of poker rooms and just focus on a few. Right now they have two poker sites to promote but the intend to promote up to 10 poker rooms at any given time.
Their policy is going to be to provide the best value for their visitors and to offer them the highest quality possible at all times.
“While we are aware that there are already a lot of successful affiliates out there, we are confident that we can offer something unique to poker players. We want it to be a win-win situation for all involved – that’s the only way that you can do business. We want long term relations with our members as well as with the poker rooms we promote.” says co-founder Giorgio Marrale.
They are still working on some additional features that they are working on but visitors are already impressed by what they are finding. There is the Max Poker Bonus Rechner (Calculator) that will you to see the actual bonus in any rooms so you can easily see how much of a bonus you would get with a potential deposit.
There is also another great feature called the Turnier Liste (Tournament Listing) which is updated regularly using XML fees from their poker room partners and then is stored locally so they are in dependent from possible short term cuts of the XML feeds.
The filter option allows you to search for tournaments that are to your liking and playing style. There is also a Poker Blog where the site owners and guest bloggers will be giving their opinions and views on various topics.
Max Poker Bonus is definitely a site to be watched over the next few months. “There are a lot of new features waiting and we are currently negotiating with various undisclosed poker rooms in order to offer even more to our visitors. This includes more Payment Methods that will be evaluated and explained in detail as well as a membership system including a forum.” according to Kurt Jonke, the other co-founder of the brand.
John Bonetti 3x WSOP Bracelet Winner Passes On
June 29, 2008
Three time World Series of Poker bracelet winner John Bonetti has died of cancer on Saturday, June 28th in Houston, Texas. Bonetti got his first WSOP bracelet in 1990 at the No Limit Deuce to Seven Lowball event, he then went on to win his second bracelet in 1993 at the $1,500 Pot Limit Hold’em Event.
He would have appeared more but he didn’t begin playing poker until he was 57 unlike a lot of new players that are starting to play the moment they turn the legal age. Bonetti got his first World Series of Poker cash in 1987 and in 2001 he was introduced into the Seniors Hall of Fame.
At that time he was reported to have played in the WSOP Championship event 16 times and he finished in the money seven times, twice coming in with a third place win. In his acceptance speech Bonetti said poker was “the greatest game in the world,” and stressed that no one is too old to ever learn the game or get better at it.
Vince Burgio introduced Bonetti at the Seniors Hall of Fame induction ceremony and described Bonetti as being a tough, hard nosed competitor that gave no quarter and asked for no quarter. He also said that Bonetti was someone that displayed generosity and compassion for those who were less fortunate and for those that needed “a stake in a satellite or a few bucks to get home on.”
Bonetti will be remembered for some is numerous accomplishments in poker and for being one of the game’s most abrasive and colorful players. Phil Hellmuth said that Bonetti would have been “a huge star if the cameras had come five years earlier.”
Two time bracelet winner Mark Seif remebers Bonetti and said, “I was always so entertained by John — he always made me laugh. One time in Aruba he was firing at pot after pot after pot. I asked him why and he said, ‘Sometimes my wife likes to eat! Sometimes my wife likes to eat twice a day!” The way Bonetti said it, Seif noted, had the whole table cracking up. Seif also stated that Bonetti “… was fearless. He would play literally any two cards.”
Underground Poker Room Busted in Mission
June 28, 2008
An alleged mini casino, also referred to as an underground casino or underground poker room was being run out of a Mission area home. The allegedly illegal gambling home was shut down by police Saturday not during a raid. Police received an anonymous tip and raided a poker game that was being held at 913 Keystrone Drive on Saturday night.
Mission Police Lt. Martin Garza said that investigators found around 40 to 50 people at the location that were all gambling. All of the gamblers allegedly violated that state gambling law by paying a door fee to get inside and play Texas Hold’em for cash.
“It makes it illegal when the house takes money and receives money at the entrance and makes money at the end of the night,” Garza said.
Many of the said illegal gamblers have decided to become witnesses for the state and told detectives that they paid $20 to $40 dollars and sometimes up to $150 dollars to get into the home and play.
These gamblers turned witnesses will likely not face charges but the homeowners and two others that were involved are not going to be so lucky as Garza said that they will likely face criminal charges.
“Right now, we’re looking at bringing charges to the people that are actually responsible for promoting this type of illegal activity: gambling,” Garza said.
OMG ClayAiken Wins PLO Event in 2008 WSOP
June 28, 2008
Phil Galfond who goes by the screen name OMGClayAiken when playing high stakes poker online has placed his stake in the World Series of Poker. By the time he was done he had taken out some of the biggest names in high stakes poker including Daniel Negreanu, John Juanda, Phill Helmuth, and Johnny Chan. In one of the hardest final tables the World Series of Poker has ever seen a ‘internet player’ walks out with $817,781 and of course the bracelet.
Life is good for Galfond who is apart of a young group of poker players who call themselves ‘Ship it Holla Ballas’, and life is almost surely going to get better from here. In fact, this was the sixth WSOP event Galfond has placed in 2008. And poker players around the world were amazed as he took out ‘the best’ one by one. It came down to the final hand, the flop was A-Q-8, Galfond bet the flop, Hourani shoved sitting on the short stack. Hourani was ahead holding A-K-J-10 in his hand, giving him a pair of Aces with a King kicker. Galfond’s pair of Aces was dominated with only a 7 kicker.
The turn changed everything, Galfond sucked out when a 6 hit the belt, giving Galfond two pairs, 6’s and Aces. The river was no help to Hourani, he hit the rail in second place for $493,748. Congratulations OMGClayAiken on your big win, we cant wait to see more from you.
No International Poker Network for Svenska Spel says Swedish Government
June 28, 2008
Permission has been denied for an international poker network with other state controlled gaming companies. Sweden’s Finance Minister, Anders Borg has denied it permission even though it was recommended in the governments own report on online poker.
Their justification for their initial recommendation was that by combining players state run sites would then be able to increase their liquidity and offer tournaments will much larger prize pools. This would then attract online poker players away from ‘less socially responsible’ private online poker operators.
The decision isn’t completely final since it could be opened for review in 18 months but for now there isn’t going to be a international poker network as the Swedish government has decided to follow the recommendation of the Swedish National Institute of Public Health to not allow poker to expand.
This is all good news for private operator since a state controlled international poker network could become the largest online poker network ever. If it was allowed and it did become the largest network it would take players and revenues away from private operators.
Svenska Spel was also advised that they must improve on the information that they give their customers. They will need to include a profit and loss account and other features to help the players better understand their playing history.
The California Gambling Control and Interstate Online Poker Legalization act
June 27, 2008
The California Gambling Control and Interstate Online Poker Legalization act that was proposed by Assemblyman Lloyd Devine was approved on Tuesday, June 24th by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee with a 6 to 1 vote. Now it will move toward drafting regulations and general projections to estimate potential revenues.
Now the Attorney General’s Bureau of Gambling Control, the state Gaming Control Commission and the Legislative Counsel will now make reconditions on a structure for the system, draft regulations and analyze potential revenues so it can be included in the bill’s language as it moves on the Senate Appropriations Committee in August before finally stopping at the Senate floor.
The Poker Voter of America President, Jim Tabilio and his organization serves as the bill’s citizen sponsor. They are all very happy with the favorable Committee vote and said, “It’s a good sign that the legislators are taking this issue seriously, understand the importance of the bill and are asking the right questions,” said Tabilio.
“The plan going forward is to bring together the potential stakeholders to help craft a final version of the bill that protects Californians who play online and maximizes revenue for the state.”
“We said four months ago that the goal of Poker Voters of America was creation of a regulated online intrastate system that conforms to Federal law and protects California players by licensing legal, secure and regulated alternatives to offshore online poker,” said Tabilio. “Tuesday’s vote confirms that we’re on track to accomplish that goal.”
Pro Poker Player – Person of Interest in Murder Case Rumored in WSOP Attendance
June 26, 2008
Detectives in Alameda County, have been investigating a murder case since early March involving the death of two Pleasanton California victims. The male victim Ernest Scherer Jr, 60, in addition to his politcal ties was known in passing around the poker table a part time gambler, dabbling in the sport during his spare time.
The second murder victim was Ernest Scherer’s wife, Charlene Abendroth, 57. The couple was found murdered together in their pajamas in their home on the grounds of the Castlewood Country Club.
The couple after having been brutally beaten police say on March 7th, was found then a week later, when their daughter in Utah asked the authorities to do a welfare check on her parents. She had been previously unable to reach them and was becoming worried.
The detectives that are investing the case said that they are targeting the couple’s son, a professional poker player as a “person of interest” in the case.
Detective Scott Dudek told reproters that his office begins each investigation by ruling out family members and then friends, however in this particular case he has been unable to rule out the couples son, Ernest Scherer III.
The elder Scherer and his wife are said to have been beaten to death but an official cause of death hasn’t been released. The elder couple was married for 31 years.
Adding to suspicions against the pro poker player are reports that the police began a search for a red convertible Camaro directly after finding the victims bodies. Since then a 2001 convertible Camaro owned by the Junior Scherer was impounded by the police.
There is rumor of video footage including the car and perhaps the high profile, though largely in debt poker player.
Police said they obtained a search warrant for Scherer III’s 2001 Camaro convertible and searched the car, we don’t know at this time what, if anything was found but investigators have obtained a video that shows a similar car that resembles Scherer’s Camaro in the area around the time of the murders.
Investigators have also searched his Southern California home. In an effort to obtain information and a possible motive Alameda County Sheriff’s Detective Scott Dudek told reporters that he contacted a gambling website asking for information about any poker or other gambling debts that Ernest Scherer III may have incurred.
Dudek didn’t say why Scherer was a person of interest in the case but did say, “From the very beginning we look at family members and rule them out and unfortunately for Ernest Scherer III, he cannot be ruled out” said Alameda County SGT. Scott Dudek.
“We would hope to have all the family members cleared by now, but that does not appear to be the case.”
Ernest Scherer III’s house in Brea has gone into foreclosure proceedings since the murders and his wife and child have left the house. Ernest Scherer III has left the area, according to authorities. Dudek said that he has been in contact with him but wouldn’t reveal his whereabouts.
“We’re working on this case seven days a week, as many possible hours as you can, and we’re three months into it”, Dudek said.
Rumor has it Scherer is mingling among this years World Series of Poker events, according to our sources with the WSOP. However as of this morning he hadn’t registered to play in any events.
Police have not mentioned gambling debts as a possible motive for the poker playing specifically, however, with his home allegedly in foreclosure, police are looking into any possible gambling debts, Scherer has won $195,663 dollars since August of 2005 but there are rumors that he has lost a lot as well and could possibly be in debt.
George “Bernie” Devlin who has played poker with Scherer III in Utah in the past told reporters that he would often run into Scherer in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and the Bay Area. He also said that he heard through other players that Scherer had lost a lot of money.
“I always had a strange feeling about him,” said Devlin, who said he no longer socializes with Scherer. “I never felt comfortable around him,” adding that “He’s highly intelligent.”
To clarify Ernest Scherer III is still at this time only a “person of interest” and hasn’t been charged with anything, as a matter of fact no one has been charged in this case. Those who used to play cards with Scherer III in Utah where he lived before moving to Southern California in 2005 say that he is polite and smart with a “few ticks”.
Looking into scherer’s recent poker play, you’ll see that the poker pro played very often over a three year span, and then lapsed, not seen much after the 2008 L.A. Poker Classic, where he cashed for a mere 3k. Could he have been hoping for a big win to clear up debt or was he just enjoying a high profile poker tournament?
HR 5767, Aimed To Halt UIGEA, Defeated By Split Vote
June 26, 2008
It was a sad day for online gambling operators and US players alike as Bill H.R. 5767, proposed by Rep. Barney Frank [Mass] and Rep. Ron Paul [Texas], with a crucial amendment from Rep. Peter King [NY], was smacked down by a split vote of 32-32. HR 5767 would have halted the US Treasury Department and Federal Reserve from “proposing, prescribing or implementing” any regulations under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006, while forcing the government to define “unlawful Internet gambling”, thereby taking the heavy, unsolidified burden off US financial institutions.
H.R. 5767, otherwise known as the Payment Systems Protection Act, would have taken the scrutinizing eyes of the government off the backs of US financial institutions, who are at this time held responsible for the illegal processing of fund between online gambling operations and US residents, even though they have not been told what constitutes legal and illegal online gambling. The bill would have required federal regulators to specifically define what is and is not illegal gambling, thereby giving financial institutions a clear guideline.
As it stands now, these companies are expected to enforce something they cannot comprehend. The UIGEA fails to offer proper regulations or definitions. Therefore, the defeat of H.R. 5767 is not just a blow to the online gambling industry, but a virtual earthquake in the United States, with aftershocks felt round the world.
Allow me to explain…
During the mark-up session of H.R. 5767, an amendment was proposed by Rep. Pete King [NY], and subsequently adopted by the Committee, that would halt implementation of the UIGEA, as well as forcing a uniform definition of “unlawful Internet gambling”.
King emphasized that this “was a banking issues, not a gambling issue” and that it shouldn’t be the banking industry’s responsibility to determine what is and is not unlawful gambling. “This is a banking amendment, not a gambling amendment,” King stressed to the Committee. “I hope this will be considered in a non-partisan way… not whether you are opposed to gambling or not. Let’s take our time and have regulations that mean something.”
Unfortunately, the Republican side of the Committee focused merely on the morality issues of gambling, seeming to disregard the absurdity of the UIGEA as it stands now. No clear definitions, no regulations and no guidelines. In fact, every deadline presented by the government to established guidelines has been missed, time and again.
Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, now an influential component of the 1-million member Poker Players Alliance, had plenty to say about the Committee’s lack of concern, calling the current state of the UIGEA “a completely unworkable and unenforceable bill that would do little to address the main concerns of its sponsors – namely, protecting underage and compulsive gamblers as well as cracking down on money laundering…. Unfortunately, debate over the morality of gambling trumped debate on the fact that UIGEA is completely ineffective and unenforceable.”
H.R. 5767 – Statement by Poker Players Allaince Chairman D’Amato
June 25, 2008
Press Release– Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, chairman of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with over one million members nationwide, today issued the following statement on the House Financial Services Committee’s failure to pass H.R. 5767, the “Payment Systems Protection Act,” by a vote of 32-32.
“The PPA is surprised that the Financial Services Committee today failed to clarify what constitutes ‘unlawful Internet gambling’ under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The King Amendment would have required a separate formal rulemaking with an administrative law judge to determine the definition of unlawful Internet gambling.
“The Federal Reserve, Department of Treasury and the banking industry have all testified before Congress that the lack of a definition of ‘unlawful Internet gambling’ makes it extremely difficult if not impossible to enforce this law and would result in a broader review and denial of financial transactions because they could possibly be deemed unlawful under UIGEA.
“It is disappointing to realize that opponents of this legislation still do not truly understand the intent of the bill. It was clear today that those who oppose this bill chose to focus on emotional and non-germane issues, such as the harmful impact of gambling on children, instead of on the merits of the bill itself.
“As it stands, UIGEA is a completely unworkable and unenforceable bill that would do little to address the main concerns of its sponsors – namely, protecting underage and compulsive gamblers as well as cracking down on money laundering. To truly address these issues, the PPA firmly believes that Congress should implement thoughtful and effective regulation of the online gambling industry as opposed to outright prohibitions, which history has shown do not work.
“Unfortunately, debate over the morality of gambling trumped debate on the fact that UIGEA is completely ineffective and unenforceable.”
Bodog Poker Guaranteeing WSOP Qualifiers the Ultimate Adrenaline Rush With Vegas VIP Days
June 24, 2008
Bodog is offering its WSOP ME online qualifiers and poker pros three once in a lifetime experiences guaranteed to get their hearts pounding and palms sweating before hitting the tables at the WSOP Main Event. Details below and 3 chances left for those not already qualified on Bodog to qualify and be part of the excitement, including tonight, this Thursday and this Saturday. Details + links below.
Bodog Poker Guaranteeing WSOP Qualifiers the Ultimate Adrenaline Rush With Vegas VIP Days
If the chance to play for poker stardom and millions of dollars isn’t the ultimate adrenaline rush already, Bodog is offering its WSOP qualifiers three once in a lifetime experiences guaranteed to get their hearts pounding and palms sweating before hitting the tables at the WSOP Main Event.
As a Team Bodog WSOP Main Event qualifier, players will get to pick from one of three high-octane “VIP Days” that include driving a high-performance Corvette full throttle around the Spring Mountain Motorsports racetrack, firing off an arsenal of firepower (including machine guns) at the Las Vegas Gun and Paintball Range and being whisked away to the Grand Canyon on a private helicopter tour. All this on top of the chance to experience Las Vegas in true Bodog style, including having your own personal handler, access to private parties and events and hanging with the beautiful Bodog Girls.
Time to get in on this opportunity of a lifetime is running short as the 2008 WSOP Main Event is only two weeks away. Qualifiers are running daily in the Bodog Poker room for as little as $1.50, and at least six $12,000 WSOP Main Event prize packages are guaranteed
Beloved Comedian George Carlin Dies At 71
June 23, 2008
George Carlin, by far one of the most controversially hysterical and globally beloved comedians of our time, passed away yesterday in a Santa Monica, California hospital. The profound humorist, known so well for his “Seven Words you Can Never Say On Television” routine, was admitted to St. John’s Health Center Sunday morning, complaining of chest pains. Later that evening, at the age of 71, Carlin died.
Though he had a long history of heart problems, George Carlin was never one to disappoint his many fans. He had performed only the weekend before in Las Vegas, at the Orleans Casino and Hotel.
Carlin was not just another comedian, he was a modern marvel; all be it a rather vulgar one to the overly-upstanding, righteous minded sector of humanity. But Carlin’s excessive use of the “Seven Words” were not just a ploy to draw attention to his act, but to draw attention to a hypocritical society that uses mental and emotional blinders to ignore the reality of certain situations – often times religious or political in nature.
Carlin’s “Seven Word” routine got him in more trouble than just censorship. In 1972, George spoke the forbidden airwave texts at a Milwaukee show, only to be arrested and brought up on charges of “disturbing the peace”. $150 bail and a short hearing later, Carlin was exonerated as the judge stated his actions to be indecent, but not beyond the limits of free speech and lacked the complaints to be considered a “disturbance”.
Six years later, the words were aired on a New York radio station, and once again the legal authorities took actions; only this time, it went all the way to the Supreme Court. The government upheld the ruling that television and radio broadcasts must be limited to an extent during hours when children may likely be listening.
Earlier this year, George Carlin spoke to the Associated Press about the 1978 Supreme Court ruling, “So my name is a footnote in American legal history, which I’m perversely kind of proud of.”
George Carlin’s long, provocative career – starting like most comedians in a small, smoke-filled nightclub; teamed up with Jack Burns to spoof television, movies and game shows – consisted of 23 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials, 3 books, 4 Grammy Awards, 5 Emmy nominations, 130 appearances on ‘The Tonight Show’, the host of Saturday Night Live’s debut in 1975, several televisions shows and appearances in a list of hit comedy movies, including “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” in 1989.
Last Tuesday, it was announced that George Carlin would be receiving the 11th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, to be presented November 10th in Washington and aired on PBS.
I personally loved the man. George Carlin was an inspiration throughout my life. I have found the man to be an incredibly wise philosopher, albeit one that required intense censorship at times. George Carlin is one in a million. I thank you George, for every smile you’ve brought to faces of Americans. I will miss you.
I leave you with these, a few of George Carlin’s most memorable lines…
George Carlin on religion:
“I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don’t have as many people who believe it.”
“I would never want to be a member of a group whose symbol was a guy nailed to two pieces of wood.”
“Atheism is a non-prophet organization.”
“If God had intended us not to masturbate he would’ve made our arms shorter.”
“I’m completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death.”
George Carlin on Life:
“If it’s true that our species is alone in the universe, then I’d have to say the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little.”
“Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit.”
“Well, if crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire, what do freedom fighters fight? They never mention that part to us, do they?”
“I’m not concerned about all hell breaking loose, but that a PART of hell will break loose… it’ll be much harder to detect.”
“Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?”
“I think people should be allowed to do anything they want. We haven’t tried that for a while. Maybe this time it’ll work.”
“What does it mean to pre-board? Do you get on before you get on?”
“Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist.”
WSOP Winner Donates 400k Win to Charity
June 22, 2008
Erik Brooks, Winner of the 2008 WSOP Seven Card Stud event, donated his entire $415,856 winnings to the Decision Education Foundation. Brooks had decided before the tournament to donate his winnings to the foundation. The foundation trains educators to teach students how to make intelligent life choices, along with developing classroom materials and working with youth groups.
Brooks has served on the nonprofit foundation’s board of directors since 2004.
“While it may sound fantastic to some,” Brooks explains “I believe in my lifetime children will move from math class to history to decision-making class as part of the normal curriculum in schools around the country.”
Brooks utilizes the same strategies that the foundation hopes to instill in school children, at the poker table.
“Virtually every decision I made was applying the same type of decision-making skills … you are essentially building a decision tree on the potential outcomes each time you decide whether to proceed with a hand,” he said.
Brooks, co-founder of the global financial firm Susquehanna International Group, stated the employees at his firm all take decision making courses that incorporate poker to give them “a common language.” He also adds that his personal poker philosophy underlines a key lesson for students, especially teenagers.
Poker Politics – Poker Players Unite This Election Year
June 21, 2008
Poker players have become the newest lobby group to target Washington, D.C. With poker, both land-based and online, in a partial legal state in the United States, the Poker Players Alliance is circulating an online campaign headlined by a website with the election themed name Poker 2008.
The website features a video with professional poker players such as Annie Duke, Jennifer Harman and Chris Ferguson urging poker players to vote. The video starts with the message “The PPA recognizes political power comes in voters.”
Although there is no federal law prohibiting online poker, some states do have laws making online gambling a criminal act. The PPA states increasing crackdowns from Washington and those states for poker and online gambling, including the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, prompting the need for a united political front.
According to the website, The PPA’s mission is “to establish favorable laws that provide poker players with a secure, safe and regulated place to play. Through education and awareness the PPA will keep this game of skill, one of America’s oldest recreational activities, free from egregious government intervention and misguided laws.”
With the November 4th Presidential election date fast approaching, the efforts of both the pro- and anti-gambling campaigns will intensify.
A Stop To The UIGEA? Amendment Set For Thursday
June 20, 2008
Back in April, Congressmen Barney Frank (Mass.) and Ron Paul (Texas) co-sponsored a bill aimed at halting the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006. The United States bill, HR 5767, in its current form, would essentially do just that.
According to IGN, a source in Washington D.C. who is well acquainted with legislation told them back in April, “If enacted, the bill would strip the UIGEA of any practical effect.”
HR 5767 was created with the intention of prohibiting the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve from “proposing, prescribing or implementing” any of the regulations laid out in the UIGEA.
It is not yet clear how the bill will be amended, but all eyes from the online gambling industry have surely been aimed at Washington, awaiting the latest news from the amendment of HR 5767. The amendment was scheduled for Thursday, June 19.
The only updates coming out of Washington at this time are that the bill is now in the “mark-up” phase at the House Financial Services Committee. The next step for the HR 5767 bill –nearly two-years down a long and pot-hole ridden road that began in October of 2006, when the UIGEA was unscrupulously attached to an unrelated port security bill and passed in the wee hours of the night – is to be delivered to the House of Representatives.
Charles Barkley Scheduled to Play Charity Poker Tournament
June 20, 2008
Just a month ago Charles Barkley vowed not to gamble again, yet he is again headed to the poker tables. Barkley, a former NBA league MVP, Had Pledged not to gamble for the next couple of years, after being sued for not repaying $400,000 in gambling markers to Wynn Las Vegas casino.
Jason Kidd, point guard for the Dallas Mavericks, told reporters that Barkley is keeping to his word. “We were at a casino and he said he was on the wagon” Kidd said “He’s strong. He didn’t gamble.” This time however it is for charity.
On July 2nd, during the 2008 World Series of Poker, Charles Barkley will be joining other celebrities in the “Ante Up for Africa” event.
The event will raise money and awareness for the Darfur region of Sudan. Since the beginning of ethnic warfare in 2003 more than 2.5 million people have been displaced and 300,000 people have died.
The buy-in for this tournament $5000 and players donate at least half their winnings to one of the two designated charities.
Last year the tournament raised more than $500,000. The top two winners agreed to pool their $350,000 winnings and donate it to the cause. Barkley has promised to donate all his winnings this year.
Online Poker Players Opinions:
- Is it really gambling if you don’t win? Or is it at this point just a donation to charity?
- Should the organization allow Barkley to play after having just made such a public declaration?
Online poker room sets its sights on Asia’s capital of gaming
June 19, 2008
PKR.com is sending even more players to one of the richest poker events in the world – the Asian Poker Tour. Qualifiers are running on the next gen site right now for the second leg of the APT in Macau. Hosted in the exclusive StarWorld Hotel and Casino, the event guarantees the biggest prize pool in Asian poker history – a massive $1,500,000!
Macau – dubbed the ‘Monte Carlo of the Orient’ – is the gambling capital of Asia. Now the APT is bringing the biggest ever poker festival to the region along with over 400 of the most seasoned pros in the game. The event promises to deliver another fantastic opportunity for PKR.com players to compete with the best in one of the world’s most lavish locations. The APT Macau kicks off Tuesday August 26th and rolls until Sunday August 31st.
PKR.com is offering at least eight packages to this prestigious event. Each is worth a total of $7,700 and includes the buy-in for the main event – with $1,500,000 guaranteed in prizes, as well as luxury accommodation and $2,400 spending money. Players get their hands on one of these fantastic packages by winning the APT Macau Weekly Final – running every Friday at 20:00 GMT on PKR.com until Friday 8th August.
There are numerous ways to qualify for the APT Macau Weekly Final. Players can buy in direct for $150 or win their way in through a huge range of satellite qualifiers rolling daily and starting at just $4.25. Lottery tourneys and ‘Last chance’ speed qualifiers will also be on offer. Players with PKR Points to spend can also qualify for free in special Premium Freerolls.
Card Room Manager Neil Wright added, “The APT is a great series of events set in the most exotic and luxurious locations in Asia. There are huge sums of prize money on offer and the Macau leg looks set to continue the prestige of the tour.”
UltimateBet’s UB Army Recruits Tour Of Duty Challenge
June 17, 2008
The UltimateBet Online Poker Room recently started a new poker campaign deemed the “UB Army”, in which poker players battle it out for various rewards and prizes. The newest recruit in the UB Army has arrived by way of a leader board style competition termed the “Tour of Duty Challenge”.
The Tour of Duty Challenge will run each month, starting on the 15th and ending on the 14th of the following month. There are six medalist divisions in the Tour of Duty Challenge at UltimateBet; 3 in cash games and another 3 in tournaments, including Sit’n’Go and Multi-Table varieties. The 3 divisions for each game type are 5-star, 3-star and 1-star.
Now that we’ve got our basic info outlined – here’s how it works. Members of UltimateBet collect RAI$E Status Points while playing in cash games and/or tournaments. Players must collect a certain number of these points each day, for a specified number of days throughout the month. The more days the player collects enough points, the high division he may qualify for (5-star, 3-star or 1-star).
All players who qualify for a division will be automatically entered into one of six (one for each division)
UltimateBet will hold two 3-seater tournaments for the six finalists, each with a $5,000 winner-takes-all purse up for grabs. Narrowing it down even further, the two winners will then go heads-up against each other for another $5,000 winner-takes-all prize, plus the chance to go one-on-one with UltimateBet Pro Phil Hellmuth, with as much as $50,000 on the line.
Whether you prefer the comfortable atmosphere of cash games, the fast-paced action of a Sit’n’Go, or the tedious opposition of a Multi-Table tournament, the Tour of Duty Challenge sounds like a winner – and it doesn’t hurt that everyone can enter for free 
World Series of Poker #28 Pot Limit Omaha with Rebuys.
June 16, 2008
Brian Rash from Southern California made his way to the rail as the first person eliminated from the WSOP #28 event, the Pot Limit Omaha event, with Rebuys. Rash’s exit made Johnny Chan the tournaments chip leader with about 2 million in tournament chips, or 400k in tournament chips more than the previous chip leader up to that point, Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond, a well known internet poker player for 84,863 in the WSOP event.
The final table is made up of some very popular names in the poker world. Johnny Chan who has won a total of 10 World Series of Poker Bracelets, and $3,869,828 in WSOP cash winnings sits with Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond, well known in the online poker, who has won $73,948 in WSOP cashes to date.
Both Brian Rash and Johnny Chan played Rash’s final hand with diamond flush draws. Rash had the lead on the flop, having flopped a pair of jacks, and a diamond draw. The flush however never came, Chan paired an ace on the river. Chan took down the pot in this Pot Limit Omaha tournament, and sent Rash on his way to the rail, or perhaps to some live cash action poker tables.
Helmuth JR. and Negraneu are currently riding short stacks, check back here within the hour for updates.
Commerce Casino Offers $50 Gas Cards to Poker Players
June 14, 2008
The Commerce Casino is trying to take away some of the pain people feel at the pump in July. Or perhaps they just want to make sure you’ve got enough gas to make your way back to the casino… Either way, the casino floor manager is going to be dropping sixty $50 dollar gas cards into poker pots on random tables around the casino during July.
The casino is aware that it is becoming more expensive for their customers to get to them so to encourage players not to stay at home they are going to help foot the gas bill. The Commerce Casino is located in Los Angeles, California and every day in July they will be surprising 60 customers with $50 dollars in gas.
Every Monday through Thursday at the casino in July the floor manager will come out to drop a $50 dollar gas card at a random poker table. So whoever wins the pot will also get the trips gas paid for with a $50 dollar gas card.
“We just want our customers to know how grateful we are for their continued patronage in an era when gas is nearly $4 a gallon,” said John Griffo, Casino Development Manager. “Their loyalty is truly appreciated and so we are doing something fun as a ‘thank you’ that can offset some of the increase.”
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