Gambling News
Connecticut Tribes Want Online Poker
Connecticut’s two Tribal casinos are watching carefully for any developments concerning the Department of Justice change of stance as it applies to online poker. The DOJ last month announced that The Wire Act will no longer apply to poker. The decision allows individual states to move forward with their own regulation of the industry.
Senate Hearing on the U.S. DOJ Opinion on Internet Poker to be Held Feb 9
Yet another hearing will take place as it involves legalizing online poker and potentially other forms of Internet gambling.
A Senate hearing on the U.S. Department of Justice opinion on Internet poker will be held February 9. Gambling911.com will provide a link to the live hearing as that date nears.
Low Turnout to Kick Off Aussie Millions 2012 Main Event
Speculation is that the $100k Challenge may have acted as a distraction for a number of the big name pros in attendance at this year’s Aussie Millions. Day 1C was likely to attract a decent number of participants when compared to the lukewarm results of both Day 1a and Day 1b, as PokerListings.com can attest to:
Poker Pro Miikka Anttonen: Many Top Pros are ‘Stoners’
When playing poker, is smoking dope the way to make your opponents look like dopes?
At least one top poker pro thinks so!
And he's not afraid to say so publicly!
Finnish poker pro Miikka Anttonen, writing this past week in his blog, says that many of the top professional poker players in the game today are "stoner types" who "smoke bongs" and that's why they make "millions of dollars.
Another $5 Million Check From Sheldon Adelson to Pro-Newt Gingrich Pact
Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson was reportedly sending yet another $5 million check to a pro-Newt Gingrich pact following the former House Speaker’s big South Carolina primary win.
From the New York Times:
Scientific Games Shares Fall 10 Percent: Relationship With Playtech Turbulent
Scientific Games Corp (Nasdaq: SGMS) witnessed a sharp decline in its share price on Monday following reports it may be ending a joint venture with Playtech, one of online gambling’s leading software providers and poker networks.
eGaming Review claimed the joint venture between the two was reduced to a "strategic partnership" from a full-blown joint venture. More news was forthcoming.
PartyPoker Pulls Away From The Pack
For the first time in a long time, PartyPoker has built a solid lead over closest rival the iPoker Network.
For the past six months, the two rooms have alternated between the number two and number three spots in terms of global traffic.
Kicking off this week, Party now holds a comfortable lead, averaging close to 600 more real cash players than iPoker on average.
New York Times: State Revenue From Online Poker May be Small
The New York Times this weekend published a report questioning whether a state-legalized online poker sector could actually be sustainable especially when one considers the population center for some states and the need for a rather significant player pool to make games more enticing to enter.
Dan Smith Wins Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge
Poker pro Dan Smith beat the likes of WSOP Main Event champ Joe Hachem and Danish pro Gus Hansen to win the Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge and the $1,012,000 that goes with it.
Phil Ivey Knocked Out of 2012 Aussie Millions $100K High Roller Event
Phil Ivey is the latest poker pro to make an appearance down under, taking part in the 2012 Aussie Millions $100K High Roller Event.
The Ron Paul Online Gambling ‘Gaffe’ Good for Industry (Video)
During a post-South Carolina primary speech, Texas Congressman and US GOP Presidential candidate made mention of how US citizens had stood together, forcing politicians to essentially back off unfavorable policy as it relates to online gambling. The speech was widely broadcast on all three major cable networks (scroll down to watch the video of his speech below).
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission 80 Percent Success Rate: No Mention of UB.com
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) this week boasted about their impressive 80 percent success record for complaint resolution. That left many a poker player scratching their respective heads. UB.com and Absolute Poker, which was forced out of the US market last April following a series of US Justice Department indictments ranging from conspiracy to money laundering, has yet to pay any of their US-based customers. Company bank accounts were also froze as a result of the investigation.
Joe Hachem Becomes New Ambassador of the Asian Poker Tour
2005 World Series of Poker Main Event winner, Joe Hachem, will now serve as Ambassador for the Asian Poker Tour. Hachem recently parted ways with the world’s largest online poker room, PokerStars. At the time of his departure, Hachem claimed he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Aussie Millions Event 6 $1,100 NL Rebuy Won by Michael Pedley
Michael Pedley has won the Aussie Millions Event #6 $1,100 NL Rebuy and the $122,670 cash prize. There were a total of 331 rebuys for this event.
One of Pedley’s biggest cashouts to date was at the 39th World Series of Poker 2008 Main Event whereby he walked off with $35,383. He actually finished in 242nd place.
His biggest payday was at the 2008 Crown Aussie Millions Championship Event Number 5 – No Limit Hold’em. Pedley walked away with $177, 011.
Ron Paul South Carolina Speech Mentions Online Gambling
While it appeared likely GOP Presidential hopeful Ron Paul was getting online gambling legislation confused with the Stop Internet Piracy Act (SOPA), it was interesting to see the Texas Congressman mention online gambling and how the US people essentially got the issue off the docket.
Paul was a co-sponsor of a bill to legalize Internet gambling in the US along with Democrat Barney Frank.
Huffington Post: Where the GOP Candidates Stand On Gambling
The Huffington Post’s Ron Dicker published a piece this weekend on the four remaining US GOP candidates and their stance as it relates to gambling.
Gambling911.com founder Chris Costigan was quoted in the piece as it relates to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
"I can't see Romney supporting gambling. I just can't see it," said Costigan.
Zen Entertainment Adds New Suite of MAC and PC Compatible Browser-Based Applications
Zen Entertainment (ZEN) has announced that its brand partners, including South Point Casino’s South Point Poker website, can now offer their customers the opportunity to play through a new suite of MAC and PC-compatible browser-based applications. The network is expected to become iPad compatible in the coming weeks.
Psychiatrist on Why People Get Transfixed to Slot Machines, Video Poker: Draws Similarities to Prayer
Dr. David Forrest, clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, claims that gamblers enter into a “meditative” state or a “trance” when playing casino slot machines and video poker.
Forrest should know. He’s not just a psychiatrist, he’s also an avid slots player himself.
Social Security Payroll Tax Extension Bill Could Carry Online Poker Measure
Harry Reid this past week confirmed he is in talks with Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona to draft legislation that would essentially override the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and make online poker legal at the federal level. Kyl was the architect of UIGEA, which requires banks to halt transactions related to Internet gambling, with some exceptions. Financial institutions have, however, chosen to ignore those exceptions, opting instead to block nearly all gambling-related transactions.
Gus Hansen Prepares for Aussie Millions 2012 Following Huge Macau Winnings
Gus Hansen won big at last week’s Big Macau games and now he has his eyes set on the Aussie Millions 2012.
Hansen participated in a gruelling 24 hour high stakes poker game then immediately departed Macau en route to Melbourne $3.8 million richer.
Poker News: Zynga Shares Up 6.1 Percent on News of ‘Real Money’ Play: Reid i-Poker Insertion Plan
The world’s largest online poker room, Zynga, witnessed a 6.1 percent surge in its share price on Friday following news it was in talks with another party to provide a “real money play” platform. Zynga, which also produces popular games like Farmville, is currently free to play on Facebook.
Zynga already claims to have some 30 million monthly users.
A statement released by the company on Friday read:
PartyPoker.com, Moneybookers Named in MegaUpload Piracy Indictment
For an industry rattled by US Justice Department domain seizures in recent years, it may not have been too much of a shock seeing PartyPoker.com mentioned as part of the much publicized indictment of video and image hosting website, Megaupload.com. The site was taken down by US authorities on Thursday with principles in the company charged with conspiracy.
Poker News: Zynga in Talks to Offer ‘Real Money’ Poker, MSNBC on UB.com Player Plight
Here is a recap of poker news headlines as we head into the Friday afternoon hours January 20, 2012. Among the headlines, the mainstream press is now taking notice of a lawsuit filed against UB.com while Zynga confirmed it is in conversations with other parties to offer “real money” online poker.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Postpones Vote on Antipiracy Bill
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has delayed vote on a controversial antipiracy bill originally set for consideration this coming Tuesday.
A massive protest by hundreds of Internet websites including Wikipedia, Reddit.com and Google resulted in a number of the bill’s co-sponsors bailing on Wednesday.
Reid did not offer an explanation for the delay.
The Senate Majority Leader said he still hopes a compromise can be reached "in the coming weeks."
Poker News: Tom Dwan ‘Australia’ Photo With Girlfriend Emerges
Here is a recap of poker news headlines as we head into Friday January 20, 2012 (This is the overnight/early AM edition). Tom Dwan, who has maintained a low profile of late following the Full Tilt Poker debacle, has been spotted near the Aussie Millions. We’re assuming he’s going to be playing. Let’s get started.
Card Player Magazine Publisher, Poker Pro Barry Shulman Leaves on Half Million Dollar Cruise
Oh, how the other half lives!
Or in this case, the top 1 per cent!
Card Player magazine publisher and poker pro Barry Shulman, who last year dropped $200,000 for a 61-day, Mediterranean Sea cruise on a luxury cruise ship, is at it again.
This time he's on a 94-day, Pacific Ocean cruise on the same ship.
And if, like his cruise last year aboard the Crystal Cruise Lines ship Serenity, he's shelling out big bucks for the ship's priciest stateroom, he's paying a whopping $250,000 for this year's cruise!
Anonymous Takes Down FBI Website
Reacting to news of a US Justice Department indictment against streaming upload site magaupload along with the website’s seizure, the hactivist group Anonymous has taken down none other than the US Justice Department website.
Online Poker VIP Program: Cashback, $10K Freerolls and More
For anyone looking for a fantastic online poker VIP program, look no further than Carbon Poker, which accepts players from across the globe including North America.
Power Struggle at Wynn: Another Ugly Divorce Battle
Have you all been following the power struggle at Wynn Resorts Inc?
It seems their largest shareholder, Japanese pachinko mogul Kazuo Okada, recently nominated up to four people to the board of the U.S. casino company. He is currently suing founder Steve Wynn and accuses the Vegas casino titan of blocking access to records related to his investment in the company as well as objecting to an “inappropriate” $135 million company donation to the University of Macau.
Ladbrokes Buys Stakes in US-Based Stadium Technology Group
One of the United Kingdom’s largest bookmakers has bought a 65 per cent stake in US-based Stadium Technology Group, which specializes in sports betting technology and is used by a number of Las Vegas sportsbooks.
“The size of the US market and potential for positive regulatory change in the coming years make it a sensible place to establish a presence,” said Richard Glynn, Ladbrokes’ chief executive. “Stadium Technology is already one of the key software suppliers to casinos in Nevada and Delaware and it has the potential to expand.”
