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.
Joe Barton Testifies Before Subcommittee on Legalized Internet Poker (Live Streaming Video)
Texas Republican Joe Barton has drafted legislation that would legalize Internet poker in the US. He testified Friday November 18, 2011 before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade. It was the second hearing on the subject over the past 30 days.
During the testimony, concerns were raised over the vulnerability of Web users who might access an online poker site.
“My experience (with poker players) is they excel in math. Not people who would be taken advantage of or need to be protected,” Barton said.
Internet Poker Hearing November 18 Live Video Streaming
Gambling911.com does have the live streaming video for November 18 hearing to discuss the potential for legalized and regulated Internet poker in the United States.
Witnesses spoke before a House Subcommittee. This is the second hearing held on the subject in just a period of 30 days.
Concerns over under age gambling and the ability for states to opt out were part of the day’s discussion.
This hearing began at 9 am EST.
Watch the video below….
DOJ Spokesperson Denies Full Tilt Poker, Groupe Bernard Tapie Deal for $80m
A DOJ spokesperson, Carly Sullivan responded to a CNN report that was quickly pulled off its site regarding a DOJ deal to allow Groupe Bernard Tapie’s acquisition of Full Tilt Poker: “We have no comment and do not confirm or deny a deal.”
Full Tilt Poker itself later issued a statement that an “agreement between Groupe Bernard Tapie and the Department of Justice have been finalized”, however, FTP has released “misleading” statements in the past.
Tom Dwan Beaten Badly in Macau: Loses $2.6 Million
The big cash games are back in Macau and online poker phenom Tom Dwan was reportedly annihilated to the tune of $2.6 million.
There was a chat log obtained by HighStakesDB.com:
Barney Frank Urges Spencer Bachus: Take Up Bill On Insider Trading (Video)
Massachusetts Democrat Congressman Barney Frank on Thursday sent a letter to Alabama Republican Congressman Spencer Bacchus urging him to take up a bill that would prohibit members of Congress and federal workers from trading on non-public information that they’ve obtained through their jobs.
A “60 Minutes” report suggested that Bachus engaged in “insider trading” during the height of the financial crisis.
Strange Bedfellows: Jon Kyl and Harry Reid New Internet Gambling Bill
The New York Post is reporting that Republican Jon Kyl and Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are working on a new Internet gambling bill. The significance of this cannot be overstated.
PPA Chairman Alfonse D’Amato Testimony Before Senate Committee re: Internet Poker
Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, Chairman of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide, today testified before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee on the future of online gaming and its potential impact on Indian tribes.
Ben Lamb’s New Car
Ben Lamb finished 3rd at this year’s World Series of Poker and is likely to be named “Poker Player of the Year” for 2011.
Lamb took home $4,019,635 and immediately ran out to spend it on the car pictured here.
From Pokerati.com:
Oversight Hearing on the Future of Internet Gaming Witness List: Starts 2:15 Nov 17, 2011
The Oversight Hearing on the Future of Internet Gaming: What’s at Stake for Tribes? Witness list appears below.
This is a critical hearing that will take place in the Senate. The Indian Tribes are among the most powerful lobbying groups in DC and they absolutely require appeasement if legalized Internet poker is going to happen in the US.
Already in California, we have seen the Tribes accept the inevitable and soften their stand to work more closely with parties seeking regulation.
Spencer Bachus: 60 Minutes Segment a Hit Job
Alabama Republican Congressman and strong advocate for online gambling prohibition, Spencer Bachus, denied he engaged in any form of “insider trading”. He called a “60 Minutes” segment that suggested otherwise “a hit job”.
The segment aired on Sunday. The reporting was based on a book by conservative author Peter Schweizer called “Throw Them All Out.” Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL), the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, was alleged to have traded stocks after he was told by Treasury officials in September of 2008 of the impending financial meltdown.
Phil Ivey Broke? Stopped Paying Alimony After Black Friday
Is poker pro Phil Ivey broke? That’s the rumor that surfaced in recent days.
Muny: November 16 Senate Committee Hearing Excellent for Poker Community
Richard Muny, a Regional Director of the Poker Players Alliance, noted that Thursday’s Senate Committee meeting regarding legalization of Internet poker was a giant step in the process, and perhaps one that came unexpected.
He noted on the Pokerati.com website:
Bachus Back Against The Wall: "I'm not Going to Let People Distort What I Do.”
While much of the attention on an “insider trading” scandal in the Congress has focused on Alabama Republican Spencer Bachus (perhaps rightfully so), this ardent supporter of online gambling prohibition wasn’t exactly alone in his craftiness.
Both Speaker John Boehner and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi also have egg on their respective faces right now following the airing of a “60 Minutes” piece this past Sunday.
Matusow Brothers Family Feud Tame Compared to These Rivalries (Video)
This week, the colorful poker playing Matusow brothers, Scott and Mike, went at it in a public forum. Scott accused his brother Mike of being a drug and gambling addict.
Scott had this to offer on his blog:
Full Tilt Poker’s Chris Ferguson Responds to US Justice Dept Complaint
Full Tilt Poker stakeholder and professional player Chris Ferguson filed motions with the US Southern District of New York Court on Tuesday requesting to bring on board an out-of-state attorney, Ian J. Imrich.
Some of those motions filed lay claim to funds seized as part of a massive probe into Full Tilt Poker and two company executives, both of whom were indicted on April 15. Charges included money laundering and bank fraud.
Family Dysfunction: Scott Matusow Calls Out Brother Mike as Gambling, Drug Addict
Two of the more colorful characters in the poker world, Mike and Scott Matusow, are apparently at odds, and it’s all taking place publicly a la Facebook.
TwoPlusTwo.com offered up the lively (and sometimes disturbing) chat between the two men.
Two Hearings on Internet Poker Scheduled for This Week
It’s a busy week for the Internet poker sector as two hearings will be held in Washington regarding the legalization and regulation of the activity in the USA. A previous hearing took place last month.
Thursday November 17 there will be a Senate Committee hearing that will focus exclusively on Indian affairs called “The Future of Internet Gaming, What’s at Stake for Tribes?”
Tax Free Poker: 2011 WSOP Champ Pius Heinz Will Keep Entire $8.7 Million
This year’s World Series of Poker champion Pius Heinz will not have to pay any taxes on his $8.7 million in winnings it was revealed on Tuesday. The German player outlasted 6865 players to win the 2011 WSOP last week.
From DailyFinance.com:
Tower Poker Moves to Cake Poker Network: Still Will Not Accept US Customers
Pro-friendly Tower Poker, owned by TowerGaming, has made the move to the Cake Poker Network from Ongame. While Cake Poker accepts US customers, Tower Poker will not be permitting players from the US.
Tower has a reputation for permitting unlimited reload bonuses and VIP promotions while accommodating more high-end players. In recent months, Ongame has focused more heavily on a recreational player base.
Cake Poker Online Poker Network Allowing HUDs Data
Cake Poker announced last week that it will officially begin permitting HUDS such as Poker Tracker and Hold’em Manager. HUDs stands for Heads-Up-Display, which is a third party software that permits data to be displayed right on the poker table.
HUDS provide better insight into an opponent’s behavior/play, allowing for better decision making and potential increase in profit.
Online Poker Traffic Crashes Nearly 8 Percent
The world’s online poker traffic fell a staggering 8 percent this week following the conclusion of PokerStars 70 billionth hand promotion. That site witnessed a remarkable 22 percent rise in overall traffic last week, which helped boost the industry overall to a 12.5 percent rise.
Calls for Spencer Bachus Resignation Following 60 Minutes Insider Trading Report (Video)
He is the most outspoken critic of legalized online gambling while remaining mostly silent on more serious issues like Wall Street insider trading. Now we might know why he has avoided delving into the later subject.
There is a public outcry for the resignation of Alabama Republican Congressman Spencer Bachus following a 60 Minutes report that aired this past Sunday linking him to the receipt of nonpublic information as a means of gaining an edge in the stock market (a la “insider trading”).
Meet Demo Kiriopoulos: The New $136K Winner of the Punta Cana Poker Classic (Video)
Demo Kiriopoulosis the new champion Punta Cana Poker Classic champion in the event’s sophomore year. He is the second Canadian to be crowned. Demo went head to head with Bodog Poker qualifier Evan Mauer.
The event’s sideline blogger, CrazyJulius, noted: “After 5 hours and 45 minutes of heads-up play he got all of his chips in holding A 10 and the poker gods were kind enough to give him a 10-K-10 board to take down the last pot of the Punta Cana Poker Classic.
Demo played like a champ and the former champ Peter Cross, came to the rail to congratulate him.
Performa 11 Performance Art Festival to Feature 7 Days Straight Strip Poker Show (Video)
Forget the argument as to whether poker is a game of chance or skill, now it’s becoming an art form.
Participants in the Performa 11 performance art festival in the Tribeca section of New York City are taking part in the voyeuristic “I’ll Raise You One...,” a continuous strip poker session that Kicked off on November 12 and goes on for 7 days.
California and Tribal Casinos Gearing up for Legalized Internet Poker
Two bills have been drafted that would legalize Internet poker in the state of California. Many believe that a regulated Web poker industry in the world’s 8th largest economy could serve as the perfect cure for California’s financial woes.
From VegasInc.com:
Nevada to Begin Granting Internet Poker Licenses
Nevada’s state Gaming Control Board will begin issuing licenses for operation of Internet poker sites beginning in February. The licenses would be granted much faster for those casino firms already holding a gaming license in the state.
Once granted a license, companies would only be permitted to offer online poker within the state’s boundaries in specified settings such as in the casinos and racetracks themselves.
Demo Kirlopoulos Wins 2011 Punta Cana Classic: Canada Takes Crown Again
It was Evan Mauer vs. Demo Kirlopoulos or USA vs. Canada at this year’s Punta Cana Poker Classic following the eliminations of Greg Bastin in 3rd place (from the USA).
The final was decided at almost exactly 1 AM EST.
This matchup lasted for a number of hours after the third elimination was determined.
Demo Kirlopoulos: 5,100,000
Evan Mauer: 3,300,000
Kirlopoulos is one happy camper, having ultimately won the tournament, leaving with $136,949 and surviving a field of 415.
Four Remain at 2011 Punta Cana Poker Classic
Just prior to 7:30 pm local time, the 2011 Punta Cana Poker Classic bid farewell to two more players, leaving three to battle it out after the extended 1.5 hour dinner break.
The 4th place prize pays $33,615. The third place prize will pay $54,779, 2nd pays $82,791 and 1st place pays an amazing $136,949. That is close to three times as much as last year’s 1st place prize.
Gone are Jose Barria (6) and Engelberth Varela (5).
CrazyJulius called both:
Jose De La Guardia, Bill Wellman Out of Punta Cana Poker Classic (Video)
Two successful poker players have been eliminated from the 2011 Punta Cana Poker Classic final table with the field down to 7 by 6:30 pm local time Sunday.
Jose De La Guardia and William Wellmen were both eliminated.
Wellman took 1st place back in January at the Tunica World Series of Poker Circuit Event No Limit Hold’em.
Punta Cana Poker Classic Final Table Kicks Off Late: Jessica Bedoya Out (Video)
The 2011 Punta Cana Poker Classic Final got under way just before 4 pm local time (one hour before Eastern), almost an hour behind schedule.
The Second Chance Tournament, which attracted more than last year’s main event with 215 participants, got under way a little earlier.
Jessica Bedoya busted at 4 pm EST. She was the first to go, thus eliminating the chance of a female winning this year’s event. Nevertheless, congratulations go out to Ms. Bedova, who recently finished 3rd at this year’s LAPT Columbia.
