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.
Ayre Don’t Care: Bovada, Bodog Say Business as Usual
Following an indictment against Bodog founder Calvin Ayre Tuesday after a year’s long investigation into online sports betting, Ayre told his own self-named news website his life won’t be impacted.
Black Friday Defendant Ryan Lang Pleads Guilty
(Associated Press) - NEW YORK — A Canadian citizen pleaded guilty to U.S. conspiracy charges Tuesday in connection with an investigation of Internet poker gambling that shut down the three largest online poker companies in the United States.
Ryan Lang, 37, entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, saying he served as a middleman between poker companies and brokers who tricked banks into processing money for the gambling businesses.
Bodog, Calvin Ayre, et al. Indictment (Full Court Document)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA :
v.
BODOG ENTERTAINMENT GROUP S.A., d/b/a BODOG.com, CALVIN AYRE, JAMES PHILIP,
DAVID FERGUSON, and DERRICK MALONEY,
Defendants.
: : CRIMINAL NO. : (Conducting gambling business, : 18 U.S.C. §1955; Money : laundering conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. : §1956(h); Aiding and : abetting, 18 U.S.C. §2; : Forfeiture, 18 U.S.C. : §§982(a)(1) and 1955(d)). :
...ooo0ooo... INDICTMENT COUNT ONE (Conducting gambling business)
Bodog Founder Calvin Ayre Indicted
Federal prosecutors in Baltimore on Tuesday unsealed an indictment against Calvin Ayre following the seizure of the Bodog.com domain name late Monday night. Ayre was profiled in the cover story of the Forbes Billionaire issue.
A press release was expected by the US Attorney’s Office out of Maryland shortly.
Rod Rosenstein, the U.S. Attorney in Baltimore, indicted Ayre and three other men, James Philip, David Ferguson and Derrick Maloney. The company, Bodog Entertainment Group, is also under indictment and its domain name has been seized by federal prosecutors.
Defendants in Hellinger Case to Reach Plea Agreement Tuesday
Gambling911.com has learned that defendants in an online gambling case dating back to 2005 are set to enter pleas on Tuesday.
The US Attorney’s Office in Eastern Pennsylvania charged Don Hellinger and four other men with illegal distribution of over $40 million in Internet gambling winnings during the years 2005 and 2006 through a money transfer company, Payment Processing, Inc. Hellinger was also alleged to have been involved in mail fraud.
Bodog.com Domain Seizure ‘Dog’ Years in the Making
The sudden seizure of the Bodog.com domain name late Monday night was not so sudden, Gambling911.com can reveal, nor was it exactly easy to achieve.
The US Attorney’s Office in Maryland, which was responsible for a series of online gambling company domain seizures last May, had been probing Bodog and the company’s colorful founder, Calvin Ayre, since 2003.
Poker After Dark Returning March 5
“Poker After Dark” is set to return March 5 with 24 previously unaired episodes.
Four weeks of episodes that were taped primarily in December 2010 will be shown on the new NBC Sports Network (currently Versus).
“Poker After Dark” was previously sponsored by the now defunct Full Tilt Poker.
The shows were produced by Poker PROductions, which sent out the following tweet on Monday:
PokerStars Introduces Zoom Poker to Fill Void Left by Rush Poker
Following Full Tilt Poker’s shut down last year, its Rush Poker product vanished as well. Now PokerStars is stepping up to the plate with its own fast-paced game, Zoom Poker.
Presently, the Zoom Poker product is only available for play money.
Zoom Poker player can see an average of 200 hands per hour with a “fast fold” option.
So far players have been able to join 4 playerpools at once with the average actually recorded at between 200 and 280 hands/hour.
Matt Glantz: ‘Inevitable That Bernard Tapie Will be Backing Out (of Full Tilt Poker Deal)
Poker pro Matt Glantz provided his gloomy assessment of the future of Full Tilt Poker and those supposed white knights out of France, Groupe Bernard Tapie.
“Unfortunately, I feel based on their recent actions, I believe it is inevitable that Tapie will be backing out. It looks to me that for whatever reason, they have no real interest in acquiring FTP. The reasons why they are hanging around giving the illusion that they are still interested are unclear.”
California Pushes Forward With Internet Poker Bill
The state of California, which is the 8th largest economy in the world, will decide if Internet poker for real money play is to be legalized very shortly following the introduction of SB1463.
The bill was introduced by State Senator Roderick Wright this past week.
Phil Ivey ‘Bubble Boy’ at 2012 LA Poker Classic
With the 2012 LA Poker Classic field dwindling down to 54, Phil Ivey found himself exiting as the “Bubble Boy”, failing to make the cash cut.
In total, 549 players entered the tournament in hopes of winning the $1,370,240 first place prize.
Other notables knocked out Sunday included the likes of Phil Hellmuth, Vanessa Rousso, Erick Lindgren, Jennifer Harman, Barry Greenstein and Liv Boeree.
Cake Poker Announces $100,000 Points Race
This March popular online poker site, Cake Poker is rewarding players with a $100,000 Points Race while providing depositors with a 100% Reload Bonus.
US Government Responds to Hellinger Case Motion to Continue
The US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Friday responded to defendant Jami Pearlman’s Motion to Continue and Sever the March 12, 2012 trial whereby he and five other individuals are charged with illegally processing payments for various online gambling companies during a period from January 2005 to February 2006.
Mickey Petersen Wins EPT Copenhagen 2012
PokerStars Team Online’s Mickey Petersen has won EPT Copenhagen for 2,515,000 Danish Kroner (approx. €340,000) after a six-hour heads-up battle against Belgian Team PokerStars Pro Pierre Neuville, his elder by some 47 years.
The young Dane’s victory at Casino Copenhagen – his first major live result - also earned him a stunning bracelet worth more than €10,000 from the Official EPT Season 8 Bracelet Sponsor Shamballa Jewels.
Phil Ivey Returns to US Play With LA Poker Classic: Finishes Day Strong
With the prize pool set at the 2012 LA Poker Classic, Phil Ivey made his debut after more than a year’s absence playing in US tournaments. Ivey has suffered through a tumultuous divorce both from his wife and former employer, the now defunct Full Tilt Poker.
Vanessa Selbst Wins 2012 LAPC $5000 Tournament
One of the premier female poker pros, Vanessa Selbst, has won the 2012 LAPC $5000 Tournament, beating out 97 other players.
The win netted Selbst $140,295. To date, her live tournament winnings exceed $4.7 million. She has had 34 cashes and 7 first place finishes including last April’s $450,000 payday at the PokerStars NAPT Mohegan Sun Season 2 Main Event.
William Hill Eyes US Entry
William Hill on Friday announced its expansion plans, and they include the lucrative US market.
"Nevada is a land-based opportunity and we will see what happens in the US thereafter. But we first of all have to get these licenses and we expect that to happen some time this year," Hill CEO Ralph Topping said.
Bally Technologies to Enter US Online Poker Industry: Acquires Chili Poker Platform
Bally Technologies announced Thursday it had acquired the popular Chili Poker software platform, giving it a major edge as online poker becomes legalized in the US during the next couple of months.
The transaction, however, does not mean Bally wants to launch it own Internet gaming website, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.
US-Facing Online Poker Room Enjoys Accolades for ‘Fastest Payouts’: Sees Massive Growth
You’ve come a long way Baby! Americas Cardroom back in its heyday was considered the red-headed step child in a field of far more advanced online poker rooms like PokerStars and PartyPoker. Today, not only has the software vastly improved, so too have the promotions, the customer service and the all-important payouts. In fact, Americas Cardroom is being praised as offering the “fastest payouts” of any US-facing online poker room today.
i-Gaming North America 2012 Conference to Take Place March 4-6
Everybody with even the slightest interest in the potential for legalized Internet gambling in North America will be in attendance at the first ever i-Gaming North America 2012 Conference, being held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas March 4 thru 6.
i-Gaming North America describes itself as the first networking and educational event designed to introduce the land-based gaming businesses of North America to the global iGaming industry.
Speakers include:
Alexandra Berzon, Reporter, Wall Street Journal
Mississippi House Bill 1373 Looks to Legalize Internet Gambling, Poker
Mississippi has become the latest state to introduce a measure that would legalize online gambling including poker within its borders.
Mississippi House Bill 1373, also called the Mississippi Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2012, was filed by Rep. Bobby Moak.
Any company looking to obtain a license must apply with the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Application fees are a minimum of $200,000.
The measure is packed full of provisions that include allowing of deposits by either cash, check, money order or credit cards.
Internet Poker Measure Sails Through Iowa Senate Committee
A measure to bring real money Internet poker to the state of Iowa has sailed through the state’s Senate Committee with a vote of 11-4 approval.
The state Racing and Gaming Commission would be able to establish a structure whereby competing hub operators would partner with state-licensed casinos to provide access to online sites for registered players ages 21 and older who were located within Iowa’s borders at the time they engaged in the Internet-based activity, according to KCRG9, the ABC affiliate in Cedar Rapids.
Massachusetts Mulls Online Poker: Forms Task Force (Video)
Massachusetts is the latest state to consider legalizing online poker for real money.
“I think we’ve got an obligation to the people of the commonwealth to study the whole basket of (Internet gaming options) — including online poker,” state Treasurer Steven Grossman, who oversees the Lottery, said yesterday in a meeting with Herald reporters and editors.
Who’s Number One Among Poker Pros On Twitter? It’s Not Who You Think
Professional poker players have embraced Twitter as much as anyone else--hundreds of poker pros Tweet daily about the highs and lows of their professional and personal lives.
Many love to boast about the big hands they've won at the poker table, while other lament their bad beats.
Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson likes to Tweet jokes, such as ones about Joan Rivers' face.
Phil "Poker Brat" Hellmuth Jr. uses Twitter to drop the names of famous people he knows (a Tweet today informs us he'll be golfing with Wayne Gretzky tomorrow).
Tribal Gaming Network Begins Offering Legalized Real Money Internet Poker in US
Nevada-based Atlantis Internet Group Corp. announced Wednesday it has launched the first form of legal Intranet gaming within the United States. Intranet means “local or restricted communications network”.
MGM CEO: “Very Confident” Online Gambling Laws Would Pass on the Federal Level
Appearing on CNBC Wednesday evening, MGM CEO Jim Murren said he was “very confident” online gambling laws would pass on the federal level soon.
Murren added that, if such legislation fails to pass on the federal level, we will likely see the industry develop on a state-by-state basis.
MGM has teamed up with the largest real money online gambling company, bwin.party. Murren admitted that bwin.party might have to enter the US market at the state level first.
Online Poker Room Adds $162 to Bounties and Wants to Make Player Famous
This Sunday’s $100,000 guaranteed freezout tournament at Americas Cardroom won’t just make its winner rich, it’ll make them famous. Americas Cardroom today announced enhancements to this Sunday’s $100k guaranteed tournament that includes a Public Relations profile on the winner of the tournament plus bounties on the heads of five players.
Wall Street Hedge Fund Manager Bets Against Online Poker Legislation in 2012
Managing member at KIF Capital Management, Ken Frankel, laughed off the idea that so many in the Internet poker community believed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would come through as a white knight last week.
From Business Insider:
EPT Copenhagen 2012 End of Day 1B Update
The EPT Copenhagen 2012 leaderboard after Day 1B had Mads Wissing on top with 127,575 chips.
To date the Dane has $599,082 in live tournament winnings, including his 9th place finish at the Partouche Poker Tour Main Event – No Limit Hold’em that yielded $143,541.
Steve O’Dwyer and Lauri Varonen lead the way when combining both starting days of the European Poker Tour Copenhagen event.
Peter Eastgate Signs on With Betfair Poker
2008 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Peter Eastgate has signed on to represent Team Betfair Poker.
The popular Danish player, who was last seen jumping off a bridge into a frigid canal after losing a $6000 prop bet, hasn’t exactly had the greatest impact on the live poker circuit of late. He only won $14,345 in 2011. In late 2010, Eastgate retired from poker, only to return a few months later (February to be exact).
Eastgate issued this statement at the time of his return:
