Poker
SOPA is the End of Us Say Bloggers: TwoPlusTwo.com Could be Wiped Off the Web
Politico had an interesting read Wednesday morning on how bloggers believe SOPA will ultimately kill their business, not to mention those around them. As Gambling911.com has been reporting, there is something truly ominous about this particular ACT and its far reaching consequences.
TheHill.com Talks DOJ New Stance on Internet Poker
Over the past couple of days, industry experts have been attempting to determine the possible impact of the Department of Justice new stance on Internet poker.
The Friday before Christmas, the DOJ decided to play Santa for poker players. A ruling issued in September but only made public last week clarifies that the Wire Act's ban on interstate transmissions related to gambling applies only to sports betting. As such, there now appears to be an opening for intrastate poker, and quite possibly the pooling of players from multiple states.
Zynga Named Among Worst Performing US IPOs of the Year by Forbes
Zynga, which operates the largest online poker room in the world, was named among the worst performing IPOs of the year 2011 by Forbes.com.
There may be good reason for the Forbes rating. Zynga broke below its offering price on its first day out and remains underwater.
To be fair, Zynga has hardly had a chance to perform after the IPO came into being just prior to the Christmas holiday season.
From Forbes.com:
Online Poker Traffic Drops 4 Percent for Holidays: Merge Moves to Number 8
Worldwide online poker traffic dropped 4 percent this past week. This is typically the slowest time of the year for online play.
All ten of the top sites lost some traffic, with PokerStars losing 4.3 percent. iPoker managed to hold onto the number 2 spot, but is in a virtual dead heat with PartyPoker.
Randy “Nanonoko” Lew to Set New Poker Hands Record
PokerStars pro Randy “Nanonoko” Lew was looking to set a new world record for the number of poker hands played. The event was slated for The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in January and will be held live.
From PokerFuse.com:
Optimism Grows Over DOJ Position Change Regarding Internet Poker
Individual states are the most likely beneficiaries of a new stance taken by the US Justice Department, which essentially concluded that online poker will not be deemed as illegal on the federal level should state law mandate otherwise. Nevada is one such state that has already approved a regulatory framework. Those in the poker community hope that smaller states will ultimately follow Nevada’s lead and pool their player base with the Silver State.
Carbon Poker Bad Beat Jackpot Now Over $500,000
At press time, the Carbon Poker Bad Beat Jackpot was sitting at $531,835. This money can also be won at Aced.com (for those outside the US) and PDC Poker.
These bad beat jackpots have become huge in recent years.
GoDaddy.com Gets Crushed by Supporting Domain Seizure Policy
GoDaddy.com, one of the largest registrars, has bowed to pressure from consumers and changed its support of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).
Has Online Poker Become Legal in the United States: DOJ Plays Santa
Following a shock announcement that has the online poker community wondering if the floodgates may soon be opening, experts and the media alike were attempting to interpret the US Department of Justice new stance on Internet poker’s legality. It appears the activity may no longer be viewed as “illegal”.
From the Wall Street Journal:
Early Christmas Gift: Department of Justice Changes Position on Internet Gambling
The DOJ was playing Santa Claus for the Internet poker industry coming into this Christmas weekend.
The Department of Justice on Friday announced it has changed its long held stance related to Internet gambling. The federal Wire Act of 1961 will now only apply to sports betting and not to online poker.
“The Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (“OLC”) has analyzed the scope of the Wire Act, 18 U.S.c § 1084, and concluded that it is limited only to sports betting,” U.S. Deputy Attorney General James Cole wrote in a letter on Friday.
Are WSOP Main Event Winners Jinxed?
2010 Champ Duhamel Latest to Court Lady Luck Then Madam Misfortunate
Is the World Series of Poker Main Event jinxed?
Or more precisely, is the winner of that prestigious annual tournament jinxed?
Looks like.
Jonathan Duhamel, winner of the 2010 WSOP Main Event, this week became just the latest WSOP Main Event champ to be struck by a stroke of major bad luck not long after winning the title.
Jonathan Duhamel WSOP Bracelet Stolen in Home Invasion
Jonathan Duhamel, last year’s World Series of Poker Main Event winner, became the victim of a brutal home invasion Wednesday. Two masked men forced their way into his home in a suburb of Montreal, beating up Duhamel and getting away with his diamond encrusted WSOP bracelet.
World Series of Poker Champ Jonathan Duhamel Hospitalized After Brutal Home Invasion
The 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event winner, Jonathan Duhamel, was released from a hospital after being attacked during a home invasion Wednesday.
The crime occurred at his home outside Montreal in the Boucherville borough, which is known to have a relatively low crime rate.
Quadjacks Thursday 5 PM EST: PPA Director to Discuss I. Nelson Rose Joe Bartton Flap
The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Richard Muny is slated to appear on the popular Quadjacks.com Live Internet Radio Stream Thursday afternoon to offer his opinion on the controversy swirling around noted industry attorney I. Nelson Rose and his disparaging comments about Republican Texas Congressman Joe Barton.
Rep. Barton has sponsored a bill that would allow online poker at the federal level.
Wall Street Journal: Nevada Sets Stage for Online Poker
The Wall Street Journal released an article on Wednesday focusing on what will soon become Nevada’s intrastate online poker industry. The Silver State hopes to ultimately serve as the hub for a national industry once federal legislation is passed.
The state's gambling regulator will vote Thursday on rules that would allow companies to apply for licenses to operate poker websites in Nevada.
Absolute Poker Founder Brent Buckley No Rat Says Website
The founder of an online poker website, Brent Buckley, plead guilty on Tuesday to violation of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and money laundering/bank fraud. As a result, he is expected to serve up to 18 months in prison. Based on past cases involving similar charges, it is doubtful Mr. Buckley will serve more than a year behind bars. Buckley was among those charged April 15 as part of a multiyear investigation into three online poker ventures including Mr.
PartyPoker to Make Multi-Table Tournaments Rake Free in January (2012)
PartyPoker, which has been alternating with rival iPoker Network, for the coveted second most trafficked online poker room, has announced it will make multi-table tournaments rake free during the month of January.
PartyPoker.com attempted a similar scheme back in the summer following the collapse of then number two Web poker room, Full Tilt Poker.
Poker Pro Peter Eastgate Jumps Into Ice Cold Harbor (Video)
Danish poker pro Peter Eastgate took the plunge into the icy waters of the Copenhagen harbor this week.
Eastgate, the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event winner, accepted a $6000 bet to jump into the freezing cold water then run home 2.6 miles in his soaking wet clothing.
Gavin Cochrane, Viktor Blom, Dimedroll Win Some, Give Some Back
Gavin Cochrane, also known as “gavz101” online, managed to win $130K this week, digging himself out of a $350K hole from last week. His play involved stakes from $25/$50 up to $100/$200 PLO in three bursts of play through the day.
Minted Poker Bug Exposes Mucked Hole Cards Without Showdown
The PokerFuse.com website was reporting on Tuesday that a bug on the Everleaf Network’s biggest online poker room skin, Minted Poker, was exposing mucked hole cards without a showdown.
PokerFuse.com reported:
The hand replayer in the browser client of Minted Poker was revealing the hole cards of all players – even of those that folded before showdown.
Poker Players Alliance Lashes Out at iGaming Attorney I. Nelson Rose’s Attacks on Barton
The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) came out swinging Tuesday, expressing frustration with noted Internet gambling attorney I. Nelson Rose. The attorney has, in recent interviews, attacked Texas Republican Joe Barton, author of a bill to legalize online poker in the US.
Carbon, Merge Poker Traffic Up 74 Percent, Bodog Traffic Stabilizes
Merge Gaming Network climbed to ninth place after spending seven weeks in 10th, according to the popular traffic monitoring website PokerScout.com.
Online Poker Founder Brent Beckley Pleads Guilty in U.S. Fraud Case
By Thom Weidlich - Dec 20, 2011 12:02 PM ET
(Bloomberg) - Brent Beckley, a founder of Absolute Poker of Costa Rica, pleaded guilty in a U.S. illegal-gambling case that seeks at least $3 billion in forfeitures and penalties.
California Online Poker Bill on Back Burner Until the Summer
California wants online poker legalized and they need online poker legalized to help pay the bills.
But for once maybe, the state legislature wants to sit back and “do things right”.
That will happen after they return from a three-month vacation. Yes, this is the state that is dead broke and the state legislators get to take a three month vacation.
Barney Frank Has Joined the Infamous Club of Celebrity Nip Slips (Video)
Yes it’s true, Democratic Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank has joined the infamous club of celebrity nip slips.
Frank, who has been a huge supporter of one’s right to gamble online, appeared in a CSPAN video recently with a wardrobe malfunction.
From PerezHilton.com:
Chris Klodnicki Wins Epic Poker League Main Event Number 3
Chris Kladnicki was crowned the winner of the Epic Poker League Main Event number 3 and the $801,680 that went with it.
888 Strong End to 2011
(Reuters) - British online gaming company 888 Holdings Plc. said it expects core profit for 2011 to be significantly above market expectations, aided by strength in its casino and poker businesses.
Cash-strapped Britons are staying at home more, watching TV and gambling online, updates from consumer-facing companies showed, as fears grow that the UK will slip back into recession.
The company, which operates 888 casino, poker, sport and bingo brands, said on Monday it would invest in several newly-regulated markets across Europe.
Lucietta Ivey Receives $12 Million Purse Collection as Part of Phil Ivey Divorce Settlement
Lucietta Ivey, the ex-wife of poker pro Phil Ivey, has received a purse collection worth more than $1.2 million, jewelry valued at more than $1 million and $180,000 a month in alimony as part of her divorce settlement with the poker star.
Shufflemaster, OpenBet Apply for Nevada Online Poker License
CardPlayer.com is reporting that Shufflemaster, the global supplier of automatic card shufflers, slot machines and, more importantly, wireless gaming solutions, has applied for a license to operate an online poker venture in the state of Nevada.
Nevada is set to begin allowing intrastate online poker as early as February ahead of potential federal legislation.
Zynga Stock Market Debut a Disappointment
Online game-maker Zynga raised an amazing $1 billion in the single biggest Internet IPO since Google in 2004. The company made its stock market debut on Friday with results essentially flat.
After rising 10 percent above the $10 offering price, it fell to as low as $9.50, then recovered to around its original $10.
From Time.com:
