8th Straight Week of Online Poker Traffic Decline: iPoker Network Takes Over Number Two Spot
This week marked the 8th consecutive fall in traffic among the worldwide online poker websites, according to PokerScout.com, a site that monitors “real cash” play for most virtual card rooms.
Traffic overall fell 3.5 Percent. A further drop off can be expected due Easter and Passover occurring this week.
Zynga, Wynn in Talks to Offer ‘Real Money’ Online Poker in US
The world’s biggest free-to-play online poker venture, Zynga, is rumored to be joining forces with one of Las Vegas’ most recognized names, Wynn.
The New York Post first broke the story early Wednesday morning with the caveat that “odds may not favor tie-up”:
Palms Casino Prepares to Open New Sportsbook
The fabulous Palms Casino is preparing to open a brand new state-of-the-art sportsbook.
BetOnline.ag Opens Its Doors
BetOnline is excited to announce that on Wednesday, April 4th, 2012 they will transfer all of their accounts to the website www.BetOnline.ag.
Full Tilt Poker is Hiring: Company Still Owes Millions
Shuttered Full Tilt Poker may be closer to a resurrection.
PokerFuse.com reported on Tuesday that a jobs posting out of FTP’s home base of Dublin, Ireland, sought out “multiple multi-lingual customer service positions need to be filled”.
Man Who Bilked Charity Poker Events Out of $6k Gets 5 Years
A former Warrenville Adelman, Chris Halley, has been sentenced to 5 years for bilking $6000 from charity poker events.
The 28-year-old pleaded guilty last month to two counts of theft. Authorities say he accepted money to help two men run the events in Naperville last year.
New Jersey Plans to Take Online Bets From Across US but Utah Can Fugetaboutit
A signature piece of legislation that would make New Jersey the second state to offer online gambling within its own borders made it through a state Senate subcommittee with ease despite earlier concerns of potential opposition. Nevada became the first late last year but its law hinges heavily on a federal ban on Internet gambling being lifted.
Online Poker $500,000 Series Marks Black Friday With Liberty Weekends
As the poker world gets ready to mark the 1-year anniversary of Black Friday later this month, it appears that online poker has changed for the better—at least at one US-friendly online poker site. Americas Cardoom's Liberty Weekends promotion is proving to be an incredible success, with hundreds of poker players joining the tables for the kickoff weekend of the $500,000 series.
New Jersey Internet Gambling Bill Passes Senate Committee
(Associated Press) - An Internet gambling bill approved by a New Jersey Senate committee Tuesday would let Atlantic City casinos take bets from gamblers in other states and even other countries, as long as federal and state authorities agree it’s legal.
New Jersey has been racing to try to get Internet gambling up and running and stake an early claim to leadership in a potential multi-billion-dollar industry.
But even as the bill edges closer to approval, and supporters try to address legal concerns that led Gov. Chris Christie to veto it last year, its scope is growing.
Poker Nordica Shuts Down
Merge Gaming Network online poker room Poker Nordica has shut its doors, however, it appears as if accounts can be moved over to other rooms on the network such as Lock Poker and Carbon Poker.
Once the second largest virtual card room on the Merge Gaming Network after Carbon, Poker Nordica’s reasons for closing shop were not immediately known.
“We unfortunately need to close down Poker Nordica from April 1th 2012!
Calvin Ayre Hires Slotnick Father Son Team to Take on Baltimore US Attorney
Bodog.com founder Calvin Ayre has hired the father son tandem of Barry and Stuart Slotnick to represent him just one month after being charged with money laundering by the US Attorney’s Office out of Maryland.
New Jersey Online Poker Bill Could Hit Road Block
News that real estate mogul Donald Trump is looking to team up with online gambling powerhouse 888 Holdings to bring regulated “real money” Web card rooms to the US could become muted later Tuesday as a measure to legalize the industry in New Jersey will face a tough challenge in the state Senate.
John Brennan of NorthJersey.com explains:
Trump News Causes 888 Holdings Shares to Surge
Overnight news that real estate and casino mogul Donald Trump is in talks with 888 Holdings to potentially offer “real money” online poker play in the US has sent that company’s shares surging to a 56-week high of 65 pence earlier in the day. New Jersey, which is home to a handful of Trump-branded casino establishments, is looking to become a hub for the regulated online poker industry.
Donald Trump in Talks With 888 Holdings to Offer US Online Poker
News broke late Monday night that Donald Trump and publicly traded Internet gambling firm 888 Holdings are in talks to offer online poker in the US once it becomes regulated.
Trump is the latest in a line of US-based firms looking for potential partnerships in the States as the industry prepares to open up.
Nadex Denied Ability to Offer Futures Betting on President Obama
While you can still bet on the US Presidential race and Barack Obama’s odds to be re-elected at online gambling sites the likes of Sportsbook.com, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission shot down a proposal by the North American Derivatives Exchange (NADEX) to offer options contracts on the US Presidential election, claiming such “gaming” was not in the public interest.
Couric vs. Palin Morning News Ratings Odds Give Former Alaska Governor Edge
Gambling911.com has released its own odds of a Couric vs. Palin morning news show showdown with NBC’s “Today” a 1/3 odds favorite to beat out ABC’s “Good Morning America”.
CardPlayer.com: No Online Poker Partnership Between California and Nevada
The state of California with a population similar to that of Canada at 37.7 million will go it alone when it comes to online poker legislation.
PPA Pushing to Have Online Poker Measure Attached to Cyber Security Bill
Poker Players Alliance Vice President of Player Relations Rich Muny sat down with Poker Fusion this week to address the possibility of online poker legislation finding its way onto an upcoming cyber security bill.
Daniel Negreanu: Why Hate on Phil Ivey and Annie Duke is Still a B****
Poker pro Daniel Negreanu defended his friend Phil Ivey on the posting boards this weekend, insisting Ivey had no part in the Full Tilt Poker debacle.
Party Poopers: No More Bad Beat Jackpots at PartyPoker
PartyPoker this past week abandoned its Bad Beat Jackpots, citing the desire to “ensure a healthier poker room, offering you better cash games and more players to play against”.
The last PartyPoker Bad Beat Jackpot hit this past Friday. Party offered little, if any, notice regarding the removal.
Albert Sapiano Declared Winner of Genting Poker Series London 2012
British poker player Albert Sapiano has been named the winner of the 2012 Genting Poker Series London Final Table.
Sapiano adds to his over $161,000 in live tournament winnings to date.
LGA Addresses Everleaf Gaming Network Non-Compliance Issue….Sort Of
The Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta (LGA) is still closely monitoring the “non-compliance” issues involving one of its licensees, Everleaf Gaming.
New York Times: The Neighborhood Bookie Gets High Tech and Goes Pay Per Head
This weekend, the New York Times featured a good article on the local bookies and how they have reinvented themselves by going online.
From The Times:
The basic setup is simple: Instead of taking a phone call from every hopeful bettor, the bookie directs his clients to a Web site, where bets can be recorded, tracked and totaled. The bookie can then log on and see who owes — or is owed — money in the coming week.
Who Wants a Free iPad, Ducati 848 EVO, Poker Gear
Lock Poker is giving away three free items per day including iPads and all types of poker gear during the month of April (2012).
Poker players can now win prizes just for playing. The more you play within a day, the more there is to win.
There are three draws every day, one for each qualifying level. Win the daily draw and you'll have a choice of three prizes. Each day in the month you reach a level you will earn an entry into the daily draw.
Jannick Wrang Wins 2012 EPT Campione
Search on For Winners of $640 Mega Millions Lottery
ATLANTA (Reuters) - The largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history totaling $640 million has at least one winner and officials were waiting early on Saturday to see if there are other winning tickets.
Maryland lottery officials announced that a winning ticket was purchased at a store in Baltimore County, though they had not identified the winner yet.
"This is truly remarkable and historic," said Maryland lottery director Stephen Martino.
Huffington Post: Poker Millionaire Brian Hastings Struggling 12 Months After Black Friday
Ron Dicker of the Huffington Post published a story Saturday morning on the plight of poker millionaire Brian Hastings 12 months after “Black Friday”.
EPT Campione 2012 Final Table Set: Fabrice Soulier Leads
The final table of the EPT Campione 2012 has been set with Fabrice Soulier leading in chips.
Soulier is a successful poker pro who has nearly $4 million in live tournament winnings to date.
The Frenchman has an amazing 82 cashes and 11 first place finishes. He was declared the winner of this past year’s World Series of Poker H.O.R.S.E Championship.
The 2nd biggest chip holder, Olivier Busquet, is no slouch either having won just over $2.6 million in live tournaments to date.
Cake Poker’s $100,000 Points Race Returns
Based on the popularity of March’s $100,000 Points Race, popular online poker site, Cake Poker is running another $100,000 Points Race for April and adding a bonus $10,000 Main Event seat giveaway.
A-Rod Accused of Taking Part in Ponzi Scammer High Stakes Poker Game
A convicted ponzi scammer, Bradley Ruderman, testified in court on Thursday that he witnessed Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) take part in one of his high stakes poker games, something Rodriguez has flatly denied in the past.
