Poker
What are some of the hottest headlines in the world of poker? Here you will find all the latest juicy stories along with other important news and tournament results. A must read for the poker enthusiast with articles published throughout the day.
Forbes: Is Zynga’s New 888 Hire a Means to ‘Exploit’ Gambling or Consumers
Inquiring minds want to know, or at least Forbes.com Financial columnist Louis Bedigian: Will Zynga's New Hire Exploit Gambling or Consumers?
The question is being asked after it was revealed that the world’s leading social media company and biggest operator of a “free-to-play” online poker room, Zynga, just hired 888.com’s former VP of Regulated Markets, Maytal Ginzburg. 888.com operates the world’s 4th largest “real money” online poker room and is widely seen as having one of the largest global Web casino businesses.
Michael Phelps Denies $100k Las Vegas Poker Win
Responding to reports that he had won $100k while playing poker at the Wynn Hotel and Casino this past weekend, Olympic multi-gold medal winner Michael Phelps shot down the story, first reported by TMZ.com.
He tweeted: "I wish I won a 100k.... Haha not true tho.”
His friends have told media outlets they were about Phelps squandering his millions playing poker, a game the now retired Olympian swimmer admits to have fallen in love with.
Circumstances Surrounding Tank Explosion at Gulfstream Park Casino Remain Fishy
The Sunday morning explosion of a 13,000-gallon saltwater aquarium at the popular South Florida Gulfstream Park casino remained a mystery Tuesday.
David Gzesh Confirms Sale of Seized Online Gambling Domains
Michael H. Berkens of TheDomains.com has confirmed that attorney David Gzesh purchased and put up for sale online gambling domain names previously seized by US authorities.
Tom Dwan's 'Girlfriend' Phil Galfond, Ben Tollerene August Big High Stakes Poker Winners
And online poker’s biggest winners for the month of August were…. Ben "Ben86” Tollerene and Phil "MrSweets28" Galfond. We’ll explain the “Tom Dwan Girlfriend” comment below. It’s pretty funny really and not meant to be a shot at Galfond as you will soon see.
From HighStakesDB.com:
America’s Cardroom Changes Online Poker Leaderboard Payout Distribution Model
Four of the biggest cash game grinders at Americas Cardroom have some serious competition.
CEO Anthony Tailor Leaves Merge Gaming
Merge Gaming CEO Anthony Tailor has resigned from a position he has held for five years. Details regarding the exit were not immediately known, however, the popular online poker network continues to thrive and, just this week, flagship brand Carbon Poker announced the return of the super popular Poker Maximus promotion (dubbed Poker Maximus II).
Muny Defends Perceived ‘Meekness’ in Poker Players Alliance Response to GOP Platform
Following a scathing report on PokerFuse.com accusing the Poker Players Alliance of not properly reacting to last week’s announced GOP agenda to essentially eradicate online gambling, that grassroots organization’s Director Richard Muny immediately went on the defensive this past weekend.
The GOP platform as it pertains to Internet gambling reads:
Lock Poker Introduces ‘Battle of the Knights’: Prizes Over $2 Million
Never one to lack when it comes to innovation, the uber popular Lock Poker has just rolled out “Battle of the Knights” (September 2012).
Calling out to all the knights; sharpen your swords and get your armour ready. The battle is set, time to throw some cards and slice down your opponents stacks.
This is no Medieval fantasy we are talking about. It’s an actual opportunity to win over 17,000 individual prizes, totaling over $2 million.
Olympic Swimmers Behaving Badly in Vegas: Michael Phelps Wins $100k in Poker Game
First it was US Olympic medal winning swimmer Ryan Lochte romping naked in Vegas with Prince Harry, now comes word that fellow Olympian (now retired) Michael Phelps just won a huge $100k pot in Sin City playing poker.
The win was reported by TMZ.com and occurred at Caesar’s Palace.
9 Seized Online Gambling Domains Put Up For Sale Including DoylesRoom.com
Nine online gambling domain names seized as part of a sting operation by the US Attorney’s Office in Maryland have been put up for sale or license. These include DoylesRoom.com and Bookmaker.com.
Survey Says: PokerStars Could be Preparing to Enter Sports Betting, Casino Sector
Could the world’s largest “real money” online poker company, PokerStars, be looking at entering the sports betting and casino market?
Stanley Choi Wins Macau High Stakes Challenge and $6.5 Million
Stanley Choi has won the Macau High Stakes Challenge along with $6.5 million in cash.
This was Asia’s biggest tournament ever and indeed the biggest cash tournament outside of the World Series of Poker, ranking number 10 of all live tournaments to date. The buy-in was $1 million and featured 73 high rollers.
The Beast Goes Live Today!
Get prepared folks as Americas Cardroom is set to unleash The Beast.
You’ve been reading all about him on the pages of Gambling911.com and now you finally get to meet The Beast face-to-face.
Nevada Governor Not in Agreement With GOP Platform on Internet Gambling (Video)
Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval is in sharp disagreement with his party when it comes to online gambling and their platform adopted over the past week that includes a few lines promising to continue prohibition.
News 3 in Las Vegas sent reporter Sergio to talk to the governor, who has been pushing for legalization of online gambling in the state.
Zynga Hires Former 888 Poker Exec in Sign They Are Moving Towards ‘Real Money’ Play
Zynga, the world’s largest free-to-play online poker social gaming company, has reportedly hired Maytal Ginzburg Olsha, the former Senior Vice President of Corporate and Regulated Markets at 888 Holdings, the parent company of 888 Poker.
Zynga fouder and CEO Mark Pincus told analysts back in July that the company intended to have “real money” play ready for early 2013.
Zynga has seen its stock price plummet in recent months as a number of high ranking executives have chosen to leave the firm.
DOJ to Full Tilt Poker Head Howard Lederer: ‘Cry Me a River (Card)’
The Department of Justice has rejected a request by Howard Lederer’s attorneys to reconsider their client’s case on the grounds that poker was recently ruled a “game of skill” by a respected New York Supreme Court judge.
Last Man Standing Online Poker Endurance Test Begins September 1, 2012
It is the last day of August and no matter their bankroll size or regular game, players all across the Carbon Poker platform are geared up for the Last Man Standing promotion beginning tomorrow, September 2, 2012.
Four Poker Tells You Can Believe In From Expert Player Mike Caro
The legendary poker pro Mike Caro has published four poker tells he considers critical and almost 100 percent on the money, so to speak.
What are they?
First, those who buy-in with low amounts and are attempting to hide their money will almost always play conservatively. Those who flash their funds will play recklessly.
Second, players who look at their cards and then gaze away from the action are usually intending to bet or raise.
888 Online Poker is Great, Playtech Good Things Might Come to Those Who Wait
It’s a tale of two cities when discussing recent performances of top five leading online poker ventures, 888 and Playtech.
While 888 Poker, the world’s number four online poker company in terms of overall traffic, claimed this week that poker was the primary reason for its 70 percent increase in revenue for the first half of 2012, Playtech, operator of the world’s second biggest Internet poker network, iPoker, reported less-than-stellar results on the poker side of its business.
Not All Republicans on Same Page When It Comes to Legalizing Online Poker
It emerged this week that the Republican platform features wording that would look to quash the multi-billion dollar online gambling sector, and presumably Internet poker.
Millions of Americans suffer from problem or pathological gambling that can destroy families. We support the prohibition of gambling over the Internet and call for reversal of the Justice Department’s decision distorting the formerly accepted meaning of the Wire Act that could open the door to Internet betting.
Josh Hale Wins 2012 WPT Legends of Poker
Josh Hale was declared the winner of the 2012 World Poker Tour Legends of Poker held at the Bicycle Casino outside of Los Angeles. The win yielded $500,000.
Hale, a relative unknown, defeated a field of 622 players over a five day period at the $3500 buy-in event. He also managed to beat out million dollar plus live tournament career winners Max Steinberg and Jeff Madsen, among others.
Saskatchewan Looks to Host Online Gambling Through GEOBet
The GEObet Gambling Network is pleased to announce that it is currently exploring opportunities with Saskatchewan First Nations to develop an online gaming solution that will extend the reach of the Saskatchewan First Nation Gaming network operated in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.
GEObet has made several presentations, including to the recent Special Indian Gaming Assembly in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. All parties are confident that agreements will meet and exceed Saskatchewan First Nations’ expectations of igaming.
2012 Punta Cana Poker Classic Online Qualifiers Now Available at Carbon Poker
The winter may not be here yet in the middle of October but who wouldn’t want to go to the Dominican Republic for a week-plus then and play a little poker anyways?
Full Tilt Poker’s Howard Lederer Uses ‘Skill vs. Chance’ Decision in Latest Defense
[Defense Request for Status Conference in USA v. PokerStars (Lederer, Ferguson, Furst) SDNY civil forfeiture proceedings:]
It’s Alive! Four Lucky Online Poker Players Will Go Up Live Against The Beast
In an online poker event unlike anything the game has seen, a quartet of greats will have their webcams flipped on as they compete against one another at the jackpot tables in an Americas Cardroom challenge known as "The Beast Live".
British Poker Pro Sam Trickett Becomes International Stadiums Poker Tour Ambassador
The International Stadiums Poker Tour has named British poker pro Sam Trickett as its newest ambassador.
The ISPT, conceived by Bernard and Laurent Tapie along with Prosper Masquelier, looks to assemble some 30,000 players at Wembley Stadium next May, all of whom will be competing in the world’s largest poker tournament. The ISPT will kick off on laptops then switch over to a live format once 90 percent of the field is eliminated. There will be a guaranteed prize pool of a guaranteed prize pool of €20,000,000.
WPT Legends of Poker 2012 Final Table Determined
The WPT Legends of Poker 2012 Final Table is ready to go with Josh Hale the chip leader.
Max Steinberg, with 1,020,000 chips, has won $1.1 million in live tournaments to date with his biggest coming at this year’s World Series of Poker Event #33 where he walked away with over $440,000 and his first bracelet.
Jeff Madsen was sitting with 1,030,000 chips. He has won over $3.4 million lifetime and has two bracelets.
Ali Eslami had 2,900,000 chips. He has won $1.1 million in live tournaments to date.
888 Poker in Talks With Facebook Regarding ‘Real Money’ Online Poker
888 Poker has begun talking with Facebook, the social media giant, to bring “real money” online poker to jurisdictions where such activity is permitted, a la Great Britain, according to a report on eGaming Review.
The news comes amidst reports that 888 Holdings second quarter costs have put a strain on margins, though the company is realizing a pretax profit of $18.36 million for the half year ended June 30, compared with loss of $22.10 million a year earlier. Revenue advanced 21% to $186.4 million.
Poker Maximus is Back! Carbon Brings Back Popular Online Poker Tournament
Last March, poker players at Carbon Poker thoroughly enjoyed the month long Poker Maximus tournament series and they have been asking for round two. Well, Carbon has obliged as Poker Maximus II starts on September 6th, 2012.
