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.
Reno Nevada’s Atlantis Casino Resort Spa Among Those That Get First Online Poker License
Monarch Casino & Resort Inc, owners of Reno Nevada’s Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, received final approval to operate an online poker venture within the Silver State’s borders on Thursday. Las Vegas hotel and casino, South Point, and Global Cash Assets Holdings were also granted a license by the state Gaming Commission.
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.
Scroll Down For Video
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
‘Hangover’ Director to Take Over ‘The Gambler’ From Martin Scorsese
Todd Phillips has been announced as the replacement for Director Martin Scorsese of the upcoming Paramount Studios film “The Gambler”.
Phillips is perhaps best known for directing “The Hangover”.
Thiel Sells 20 million Facebook Shares After IPO Lockup Expired
NEW YORK — (Associated Press) - Peter Thiel, one of Facebook’s earliest investors and a member of its board, was among the insiders selling stock in the social network after a lockup expired last week.
A regulatory filing on Monday said that Thiel, a former CEO at PayPal sold about 20 million shares of Facebook through affiliates such as his Founders Fund and other entities last week. The shares were sold on Thursday and Friday for between $19.27 and $20.69, for a total of about $396 million.
Heritage Sportsbook Joins the Winning Poker Network: First Time to Offer Online Poker
One of the oldest online sportsbooks, the member referral Heritage Sports, has just joined the Winning Poker Network. A number of top sportsbooks utilize the network including Bookmaker.com, BetDSI.com, betCRIS.com and 5Dimes. Americas Cardroom is Winning Poker Network’s marquee brand.
‘Run It Twice’ Could Debut on PokerStars in September: Reduces All-In Variance
PokerStars, the world’s largest real money online poker room, is reportedly set to introduce “Run It Twice”, a popular feature of high stakes poker games.
From PokerFuse.com:
Unshuffled Cards a Costly Headache for Atlantic City
Wayne Parry, Associated Press
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) — At first, it seemed like a coincidence, the kind of thing that happens from time to time at a casino, where the same number or same sequence of cards happens twice in a row.
But when the players at an April game of mini-baccarat at the Golden Nugget Atlantic City kept seeing the same sequence of cards dealt, over and over and over again, their eyes grew wide and their bets grew bigger, zooming from $10 a hand to $5,000.
Professional Poker Player Nancy Todd Wants Control Over Arkansas Casinos
Professional poker player Nancy Todd is looking to control casinos in four Arkansas counties via a ballot proposal, the Associated Press was reporting on Monday.
Todd said that she was required to submit a new proposal after Secretary of State Mark Martin found that the measure improperly omitted a reference to a state gambling law that would be repealed.
The ballot wording was ruled to be “unfit” by Martin’s office last week and will issue a new ruling on the amended ballot wording within the next 15 days.
Playtech, iPoker Internet Poker Network’s Teddy Sagi to Float Energy Company Genesis
Teddy Sagi, the Israeli billionaire who founded online gambling software firm Playtech and its Web poker network iPoker, is set to float his energy company on London’s AIM this week.
Genesis Energy, a Middle East focused gas explorer, is 40 percent owned by Sagi.
It is his intent to raise between $90m-$120m through the Initial Public Offering, valuing the group’s equity at as much as £500m.
If successful, the IPO would be the largest on Aim this year.
9th Ranked Poker Pro Dan Smith Wins 2012 EPT Barcelona €50,000 Super High Roller
American Dan Smith has been declared the winner of the 2012 EPT Barcelona €50,000 Super High Roller event.
Smith takes home over US$1 million for his efforts.
The win means Smith, a Las Vegas resident, has pocketed just shy of $3 million in lifetime tournament earnings offline. He has 6 cashes and this is Smith’s second 1st place victory.
Aku Joentausta Leads After Day 1A of 2012 EPT Barcelona Main Event
A total of 222 players made it through Day 1a of the €5,000 EPT Barcelona Main Event today, from the 403 who started at lunchtime. The chip leader is Finnish PokerStars qualifier Aku Joentausta with 236,200.
Seven members of Team PokerStars Pro are still in: Lex Veldhuis, Juan Manuel Pastor, Pius Heinz, Sebastian Ruthenberg, Henrique Pinho, Marcin Horecki and Matthias De Meulder.
The cap for Day 1b is set at 630.
Lorenzo Sabato Wins 2012 Estrellas Poker Tour Barcelona
After five intense days of poker action, Italian player Lorenzo “bovediroma” Sabato has become the first Estrellas Barcelona Main Event champion. Sabato won the €200,000 first prize after defeating Russian player Andrey Demidov heads-up; Demidov took €122,500 for his runner-up place and Sweden’s Niclas Svensson took home €76,500 for third.
Viktor ‘Isildur1’ Blom on Fire With Another $317k Online Poker Win
The Swedish poker wunderkind is on fire these days, winning yet another $317k.
That’s the take Viktor “Isildur1” Blom walked away with over the weekend playing against Great Britain’s Alex "Kanu7" Millar.
Blom engaged in an eight hour $100/$200 NLHE heads up marathon match with PokerStars leading NLHE money winner for the past two years.
EPT Barcelona 2012 Super High Roller Final Table Sees Eric Seidel, Ilari Sahamies
One of poker’s biggest earners, Eric Seidel, is looking to tack on another $1 million and change as he has made the EPT Barcelona 2012 Super High Roller Final Table.
Also making the cut is online Finnish phenom Ilari Sahamies
American Dan Smith previously won three €5k NL events in a row during last season's EPT Grand Final and is among those who has made the EPT Barcelona 2012 €50,000 Super High Roller.
JC Alvarado of Mexico leads the pack.
Steve O’Dwyer Leads at EPT Barcelona €50,000 Super High Roller 2012
America pro Steve O’Dwyer is leading the EPT Barcelona €50,000 Super High Roller with 36 players remaining from the 54 who started the day. After eight levels of play, O’Dwyer was in good shape with a massive chip stack of 1,249,000, almost double his next rival, fellow American Erik Seidel. O’Dwyer, who hails from Pennsylvania, had a stonking year during last year’s EPT season, including runner-up finishes in the EPT London Main Event and the EPT Campione €10,000 event.
