Poker
Chris Christie Could Sign New Jersey Online Gambling Bill Tuesday
All eyes will be on New Jersey Tuesday as that state’s Governor Chris Christie may sign a bill legalizing online gambling. The Governor has already said he intends to sign the bill within 48 hours of it arriving on his desk.
Zynga Shares May Gain Further Momentum as Christie to Sign Web Gambling Bill
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has said he will sign a bill into law legalizing online gambling once it hits his desk either Wednesday or Thursday of this week, and all eyes will be on the world’s largest free-to-play Internet poker site Zynga.
That company’s shares rose 15 percent to $3.67 Monday morning, representing the single biggest intraday gain since February 8. Zynga’s shares were already up 35 percent on the year.
Why the surge?
Dejan Divkovic Wins 2013 ANZPT Season 5 Perth
Dejan Divkovic of Bosnia has won the PokerStars 2013 ANZPT Season 5 Perth. As a result he goes home with $114,000.
Divkovic enjoyed a 6th place finish at the ANZPT just a few days ago playing in the No Limit Hold’em Event 6.
The Bosnian poker player is enjoying newfound success.
Below are the Season 5 ANZPT Perth results:
Something Fishy: Lock Poker Partitions Players for Improved Ecology
Lock Poker is the latest online site to begin partitioning (or segregating) players. In other words they are separating the so-called “fish” from the high stakes players, also known as “sharks” on the other smaller sharks rooms.
A Lock Poker representative tells Gambling911.com in an exclusive interview that these changes were necessary, and it has absolutely nothing to do with liquidity issues, as some have speculated.
"We segregated because we need to protect our recreational player base," the rep said.
Americas Cardroom MOSS II Wraps Up Sunday With $100k Event
Americas Cardroom's (ACR) $500,000 Guaranteed mini Online Super Series II (MOSS) will wrap up this Sunday with a $100k Guaranteed poker tournament at 7:30 pm ET. The $100+9 buy-in no limit Texas holdem tournament will be the final event of the MOSS II which caters to smaller stakes players while delivering big guarantees.
Nevada Legalizes First Interstate Online Poker
(Reuters) - Nevada has become the first U.S. state to legalize interstate online poker and allow state-to-state gaming agreements, beating New Jersey to the punch and putting in place a potential nationwide framework for Internet wagering.
Rapper Kenny Clutch, Not Howard Lederer, Victim in Vegas Strip Shooting
Rapper Kenny Clutch (real name is Kenneth Cherry Jr.) was the victim of Thursday morning’s shooing in the valet area of the Aria Resort and Casino that left two other individuals dead after Clutch’s out of control Maserati slammed into a taxi.
Nevada Legislature Passes Online Gambling Bill: No Need for Federal Bill
CARSON CITY, Nev. (Associated Press) — The Nevada Legislature unanimously approved an online gambling bill Thursday, sending the bill to Gov. Brian Sandoval on a fast-track effort to retain the state's status as the leader in gambling regulation.
Ladbrokes Gaining Ground in Online Gambling
(Reuters) - Ladbrokes, Britain's second-largest bookmaker, expects to see payback this year from a 50 million pound ($77 million investment in an online business that had failed to keep pace with rivals.
While growing numbers of people are gambling via smartphones and tablet computers, Ladbrokes has been hit by delays upgrading its technology. It has lost ground to market leader William Hill in online and faced competition from smaller rivals.
IGT’s Best Talent Have Been Jumping Ship: Endorse Ader Move
With the turmoil at IGT, some of that company’s best talent have decided to walk away.
PokerStars to Open Macau’s Largest Branded Poker Room at City of Dreams
ONCHAN, ISLE OF MAN –– PokerStars will launch a branded live poker room at City of Dreams, one of Asia’s leading integrated entertainment resorts offering the foremost in premium world-class leisure, gaming and entertainment, establishing Macau’s largest dedicated poker room to meet the growing interest and demand in poker in Asia.
AGA Chief on Why No Federal Law Allowing Online Poker: ‘Puritanism’
American Gaming Association’s outgoing head Frank Fahrenkopf suggested Tuesday night that a bill to legalize online poker should emerge in the House over the next couple of weeks, quite possibly authored by Republican Joe Barton of Texas.
But when asked why no bill has passed after several attempts, Fahrenkopf had one word: “Puritanism”.
2013 Chicago Poker Classic Schedule Announced
Hammond, IN — Caesars Entertainment has announced the official schedule for the 4th Annual Chicago Poker Classic (CPC), taking place Wednesday, February 20 through Monday, March 4, 2013, at the $500 million Horseshoe Casino, just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago. Being held in The Venue — Horseshoe Casino’s 90,000 square foot entertainment center and home of the World Series of Poker Circuit event — the 2013 CPC is set to be better and richer than ever before. With a $1 million guaranteed opening event and more than $600,000 being added to prize pools
IGT Urged to Commence 'Dutch Auction' Tender Offer
NEW YORK -- Orange Capital, LLC (“Orange Capital”), a New York-based investment firm, has issued a second open letter (text below) to the Board of Directors of International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) (“IGT” or the “Company”) in response to the Company’s recent share price performance and election contest with the Ader Group:
The full text of the letter follows:
February 20, 2013
Philip G. Satre Chairman of the Board International Game Technology 6355 South Buffalo Drive Las Vegas, Nevada 89113
Dear Mr. Satre:
The Plane Truth: IGT CEO Appeared to Use Company Jet for Private Use
In Grave Turmoil: That’s not what IGT, the world’s largest slots manufacturer, stands for, but it may as well be.
Forbes.com on Wednesday published a scathing report that seems to suggest IGT CEO Patti Hart may have used a company jet for her own personal use.
Hart is currently embroiled in a nasty proxy fight with investor Jason Ader, who is seeking to wrestle away control and plant three of his own executives upon the board.
Federal Bill on Internet Poker Coming Within Few Weeks (Video)
Speaking on the Ralston Reports Tuesday night, outgoing American Gaming Association head Frank Fahrenkopf said that a bill to legalize online poker at the federal level is likely to be introduced in the House within the next few weeks (of February 19, 2013).
Institutional Shareholder Services Backs Ader Group in IGT Proxy Battle
Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) recommends that shareholders of International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) use the GOLD proxy card to vote at the company’s March 5th annual meeting. ISS is one of the nation’s leading independent proxy voting advisory firms, providing voting recommendations to thousands of pension and mutual funds and other institutional investors.
Poker Pro Marcus Bebb-Jones Pleads Guilty to Murder of Wife
UK poker pro Marcus Bebb-Jones has plead guilty of murdering his wife in 1997, thus avoiding a trial that was set to begin April 1. He admitted to dumping her body in a Colorado national park. Her skull was discovered in Douglass Pass in 2004. The body has never been found.
The poker pro had previously denied killing his Vietnamese-American wife Sabrina Bebb-Jones. He would eventually be arrested in 2009.
The 49-year-old entered his plea on Friday and is due to be sentenced on 1 May.
Governor Christie to Sign Internet Gambling Bill Feb 26 or 27
LAVALLETTE, N.J. (Associated Press) — Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday that he will quickly sign an Internet gambling bill if lawmakers make the changes he wants to the legislation.
At an appearance in Lavallette, the governor said he could conceivably sign the bill the same day the Legislature approved those changes, or the next day, "depending on how my day is going."
Assuming the state Assembly and Senate approve an amended bill, "There's no reason not to sign it quickly," Christie said.
Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson Settles With DOJ Over Full Tilt Poker Ponzi Scheme
Poker pro and one time part owner of Full Tilt Poker has settled with US authorities who accused him of participating in an elaborate ponzi scheme.
The DOJ accused Ferguson and three other directors of draining approximately $444 million of customer funds into their own personal bank accounts over a period of several months.
Fahrenkopf on Christie’s Obama ‘French Kiss’, House Web Poker Bill in 2 Weeks
Appearing on the Ralston Report Tuesday evening, outgoing American Gaming Association chief Frank Fahrenkopf blasted New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for what he called an “overboard” reaction to US President Barack Obama’s visit to the Garden State following Super Storm Sandy’s massive destruction.
“He kissed him. He didn’t have to French-kiss him. I think he went overboard.”
New Reality Show Seeks Vegas-Based Poker Pros With Big Houses
A new reality series called “Four Houses” is looking for a few poker pros who own mansions in and around the Las Vegas area.
Associate Casting Producer Russell Berman described the basic premise for the TLC program.
PokerRoom.com Shuts Down Again
A year after it reopened. Ongame skin PokerRoom.com has shut its doors once again.
Customers can move their funds to parent company party.bwin, which has assured them that their funds are safe.
A forum community associated with PokerRoom.com, Pokah, has also been shuttered.
No advance warning was apparently provided.
PokerRoom.com initially launched in 1999 and was one of the very first online poker rooms. It was purchased by Bwin in 2005 prior to that company’s merger with PartyGaming.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
IGT Employee: ‘I Feel Like a Battered Wife Who Can’t Leave My Husband’
CEO forces staff to drink liquid concentrate forms of coffee while she insists on having her's freshly ground. Does not talk to employees face-to-face.
As if the situation weren’t complicated enough with a proxy battle underway at IGT, the world’s largest slots manufacturer employees have begun reaching out to Gambling911.com offering their own personal horror stories as to what it is like working for the beleaguered gaming firm.
World Series of Poker May Name Event After Lakers Owner Jerry Buss
With Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss passing away on Monday from cancer, it was announced the avid poker player will be honored by the World Series of Poker. One WSOP event may even be named after him, according to a statement issued to TMZ.com.
Americas Cardroom’s MOSS II Series ‘Wildly Successful’
Just in time for President's Day, Americas Cardroom is handing out more Benjamins than everyone expected. The online poker site confirmed that the first weekend of its MOSS II series was wildly successful, with almost $21,000 more paid out than what had been guaranteed. The Mini Online Super Series II resumed Monday at 10am, events running until 10pm ET.
Poker Maximus IV – Final Day Recap
Poker Maximus IV at Carbon Poker concluded on Sunday with four great Main Events that had over $300K in guaranteed money up for grabs. All four events were marathons that went well into the early hours of the morning and for those that were lucky enough to last that long, they were rewarded quite handsomely for their great play. Here’s how each event broke down:
Hart Attacked! Forbes Stops Short of Calling IGT CEO ‘Incompetent’
A Forbes.com piece published online Monday questions whether Patti Hart can maintain her post as CEO of the world’s largest slot manufacturer IGT.
Hart is currently embroiled in a nasty proxy battle with Jason Ader, whose group is attempting to place three of its own handpicked individuals on the IGT board and, presumably, remove Ms. Hart.
Playing With Fire: Dozens of Credit Cards Compromised at ICE Gambling Event
Dozens of attendees at this month’s ICE online gambling event in London, England have reported that their credit cards had been compromised.
ICE, or International Casino Exhibition, is one of the largest and most comprehensive b2b gaming exhibitions held during the year. The 2013 event took place February 5 thru 7.
The cards were reportedly compromised via smartphone usage at the event itself.
Attendees reported suspicious charges they themselves did not attempt.
PokerStars Now Refers Poker Players to Morningside Recovery After G911 Story
Following Gambling911.com’s Senior International Correspondent Jenny Woo’s interview with Morningside Recovery’s gambling addiction specialist Dr. Elizabeth Waterman, Psy.D, the world’s largest online poker site, PokerStars, has begun referring their own pros to this prestigious organization.
