Ilari Sahamies €2,000 All Day Massage at EPT Barcelona Gets Him Close to Final (Video)
Finland’s online poker phenom is making a run for the live event at this year’s EPT Barcelona. Ilari Sahamies was one of a lucky 13 still remaining after Thursday’s play.
Sahamies made the best of it, spending €2,000 (plus tip) on an all-day massage.
The high stakes Finn has €29,400 locked up with a solid shot at the €1,007,550 title, so what’s €2,000?
Lynn Gilmartin caught up with the Finn during the break to discuss the EPT Barcelona event and talk a little more about that expensive massage.
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Gambling Expansion Referendums on Ballots in Both Rhode Island and Oregon
Both Rhode Island and Oregon will let voters decide on proposed gambling expansion in their respective states.
In both matters, powerful Tribal casino operators are in staunch opposition.
New Leads in Brutal Murder of Wealthy Gambler’s Wife
A grand jury has revealed that new leads have come out in an investigation of the brutal beating death of Julie Mitchell, 34, the wife of a wealthy Oklahoma City gambler.
Grand jurors reported they are “optimistic that this case will ultimately be solved.”
South Point Poker, Monarch Interactive Given Final Approval to Operate Online Poker in Nevada
LAS VEGAS — (Associated Press) - Nevada gambling regulators have approved three companies' plans to participate in Internet poker sites accessible only within state boundaries, although the sites themselves have a few hurdles to clear.
The Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday approved South Point Poker LLC for the state's first interactive gambling operator's license. Reno-based Monarch Interactive Inc. was also licensed as an operator.
The Las Vegas Sun reports Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc., was licensed to provide online payment services.
Probe Requested Into Revel Casino Financial Troubles: Credit Relief Obtained
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) - Atlantic City's newest casino has some more room to breathe.
Revel signed a new credit deal Wednesday night allowing it to borrow up to $100 million.
That deal came hours before a union president called on state casino regulators to investigate whether Revel is financially stable - a key requirement for running a casino in New Jersey.
Revel CEO Kevin DeSanctis says the credit deal guarantees the business adequate operating funds through 2013.
BetFred Pays Out on Sam Oldham’s Granny Olympic Bet Following Public Outcry
BetFred advised Gambling911.com late Thursday it had decided to pay out on an Olympic bet placed by the grandmother of Olympic gymnast Sam Oldham, ending a brief - albeit ugly - chapter in the company’s history.
The British bookmaker had endured extensive negative press over a 48 hour period after it was learned they had refused to honor a bet placed by Oldham’s grandma, Linda Aldred, that would have paid out £1000.
Swedish Poker Pros Held at Gunpoint in Casino Cosmopol: Others Extorted, Murdered
A number of Sweden’s most prominent poker pros have become victims of extortion plots, armed robbery and even murder.
Twitter Followers Have Beef With BetFred Over ‘Void’ Granny Bet: Firm Responds
Late Thursday, British bookmaker BetFred, run by multi-millionaire Fred Done, refused to budge in regard to paying the grandmother of Olympic swimmer Sam Oldham. Many across the nation – and the world for that matter – have taken to Twitter to voice their outrage and hopefully pressure BetFred into doing what they believe to be the right thing.
Ilari Sahamies, John Juanda Still Going Strong at 2012 EPT Barcelona: Faceless Man Leads
Two of the bigger names in poker today, Ilari Sahamies and John Juanda, were among the top 5 chip leaders at the 2012 EPT Barcelona event with just over 40 players remaining Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile, a relative unknown Spanish player, Marco Fernandez, continued through the afternoon as the EPT Barcelona chip leader.
Fernandez came under fire earlier in the week after one participating player took to Twitter complaining about not liking Fernandez appearance. He’s basically faceless, playing with his hood up with a zipper that covers his eyes.
Player Verify Applies for Nevada Online Gambling License
Online poker sites in Nevada have 30 days after a player registers to collect detailed identifying information about that player. The policy is known as Know Your Customer, or KYC, and it can be especially problematic for gambling sites that lack the verification tools to properly conduct KYC activities. But with Player Verify’s recent application for a Nevada online poker service provider license, KYC will soon become simple and accurate for Nevada-based online poker companies.
Springfield Mass Might be Getting Massive New MGM Casino
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — (Associated Press) - Casino giant MGM Resorts International re-entered the Massachusetts casino sweepstakes on Wednesday with an ambitious $800 million plan for a resort entertainment complex in the heart of downtown Springfield.
Pay Grandma BetFred! Bookie Berated in London Press
The headlines these past 24 hours have been jarring.
From the Daily Express: I’ve Won 200-1 Bet on My Grandson at Olympics….But Bookies Won’t Pay Up
From the San Francisco Chronicle: British Bookmakers Won’t Pay Out Grandmother’s Winning Bet
Prince Harry in Naked Vegas Pool Romp With Olympic Swimmer Ryan Lochte
Michael Holden, Reuters
(Reuters) - Pictures of a naked Prince Harry were published on a U.S. website on Wednesday, showing the grandson of Britain's Queen Elizabeth cavorting with a nude young woman in a hotel room in Las Vegas.
A royal source confirmed to Reuters that the two photos published on the celebrity gossip website TMZ were of Harry, who has a reputation as a partying playboy and is often linked to an array of women in Britain's tabloids.
Poker Pro Jen Harman to Star in New Reality TV Series on TLC ‘Vegas High Rollers’
A new reality TV show on the American cable network The Learning Channel (TLC) will chronicle the lives of five high-powered women in Las Vegas, including professional poker player Jennifer Harman.
The show, called "Vegas High Rollers," is set to debut later this year, TLC announced.
61 Players Return for Day 5 of 2012 EPT Barcelona
Czech PokerStars qualifier Antonin Duda is chip leader for Day 4 of the €5,000 EPT Barcelona Main Event. Economics student Duda, 25, won his seat in a €22 re-buy satellite on PokerStars.com and bagged up 1,470,000 this evening.
Revel Casino Downgraded by Moody’s
Troubled Revel Casino has been downgraded by Moody’s Wednesday.
The newest Atlantic City casino reported the biggest losses in that New Jersey gambling Mecca during its first several months of operation.
Poker Player Nancy Todd Submits 121,503 More Signatures for Arkansas Casino Measure
By ANDREW DeMILLO, Associated Press
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Associated Press) - A professional poker player who wants to put a casino legalization measure on the ballot has submitted more signatures to state election officials. But it's unclear whether she'll be able to put her proposal before voters this fall.
Isaac Makes Beeline Towards Republican Convention: Odds Inch Towards 10 Percent
Wednesday 11 am EDT track projections have Tropical Storm Isaac heading straight towards Tampa, Florida just in time for next week’s Republican Convention, which will be hosted in that city.
The odds of this happening were around 2 percent Tuesday and Gambling911.com believes we will see that number jump closer to 10 percent. The cone center has Tampa under the gun just as the Convention is set to kick off Monday August 27 (2012). Isaac was expected to be a Category 1 Hurricane come Monday.
PokerStars Founder Isai Scheinberg Could See Charges Dropped in Wake of Poker Ruling
Following a New York federal judge ruling proclaiming poker as a “game of skill” and not “gambling” under current federal legislation, there is talk that charges against PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg could soon be dropped.
Scheinberg founded what is today the world’s largest “real money” online poker room the very day the World Trade Centers were under attack in New York City, September 11, 2011.
Sam Oldham Granny Gets Shafted by BetFred.com: Bookie Refuses to Honor Olympic Bet
British bookmaker BetFred.com has refused to pay out on a 200/1 bet placed by Olympian Sam Oldham’s grandmother that he would win a medal at this year’s London Olympics. Oldham ended up winning a gymnastic team bronze medal representing Great Britain.
John Juanda Leads After Day 2 of EPT Barcelona 2012
There are 207 survivors coming back for Day 3 of the €5,000 EPT Barcelona Main Event from the 600 players who started Day 2.
John Juanda is the chip leader. Juanda, one of the game's established stars, has numerous six-figure scores across the world - one of them coming on the EPT in London, where he finished runner-up to David Vamplew in September 2010
Breaking News: Federal Judge in New York Rules Poker a ‘Game of Skill’
A Federal judge in New York has ruled poker a “game of skill” Tuesday.
For some time the federal government has insisted poker is a “game of chance” and, as such, should be made illegal under the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
Odds of Hurricane Isaac Hitting Tampa During Republican Convention at 2 Percent
Meteorologist Jeff Masters of WeatherUnderground.com is keeping a watchful eye over newly formed Tropical Storm Isaac in the Atlantic Ocean, giving the storm a 2 percent chance of directly affecting the Republican Convention August 27-30 in Tampa, Florida.
Heartland Poker Tour Returns to Lumière Place and River City Casino End of September
When Heartland Poker Tour first stopped at the top two casinos in St.
Punta Cana Poker Classic Revamps Website
Representatives for the Punta Cana Poker Classic (PCPC) announced today the complete overhaul of their website Punta Cana Poker Classic.
Carbon Poker Removes Bad Beat Jackpots: Move is to Improve ‘Healthier Room Ecology’
Carbon Poker, and the entire Merge Gaming Network for that matter, has announced they will no longer be offering Bad Beat Jackpots effective once the final BBJ goes off.
From the Carbon Poker website:
Surgeon Thought he Would be “Mowed Down With a Machine Gun” During Poker Game Raid
A prominent surgeon testified in court on Tuesday that he believed a robbery was about to take place during a high stakes poker game in Chattanooga, Tennessee last April when in fact police had commenced a raid on the property.
Dr. Neil Spitalyn said he feared being “mowed down with a machine gun”.
“It sounded like the front of the building had collapsed," he added.
Spitalyn claims he hid behind a garbage can before police came over and handcuffed him. Another officer shot one of the card players.
New Poll Shows New Jersey Residents Want Legalized Sports Betting in State
A Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll released Tuesday morning reveals that 45 percent of New Jersey residents believe sports betting should be legalized while 38 percent prefer waiting for Congress to repeal a current federal ban. Just under 1000 individuals took part in the survey.
Ailing Revel Casino Seeks Help From Lenders
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- (Associated Press) - Atlantic City's newest casino is seeking some breathing room from its lenders.
Following a slow start out of the gate and a $35 million operating loss, Revel is asking its lenders to increase the amount of credit it can draw on.
The casino, which opened in April, has $30 million worth of credit, but wants to increase that to $100 million.
This Sucks! Dracula Poker The Latest Online Card Room to Abruptly Shut Its Doors
Another one bites the dust and this time it’s none other than the online poker room known as Dracula Poker. Dracula Poker închis.
