Gambling News

Vanessa Selbst Wins PCA $25k High Roller

Team PokerStars Pro Vanessa Selbst became the highest-earning female poker player of all time today when she won the $25k High Roller tournament at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure for $1,424,420.

Selbst won the three-day event after beating Russian player Vladimir Troyanovskiy heads-up. Afterwards, she said it was the toughest final table she had ever played.

Submitted by Press Release on, Jan/15/2013

Online Gambling Ally New Jersey State Sen. Raymond Lesniak to Run Again

New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak confirmed Monday he will be running again for his Democratic seat. 

Lesniak is among the most ardent supporters of legalized online gambling in the state and has been instrumental in getting a bill passed that would also legalize sports betting in Atlantic City casinos. 

He will continue to make this one of his top priorities moving forward. 

Submitted by C Costigan on, Jan/14/2013

Carbon Poker January 2013 Reload Bonus at 50 Percent Limited Time Only

A new year always brings new goals, fresh perspectives and hope for what will come in the coming 12 months and Carbon Poker would love to get all their poker players off to a good start.

Submitted by Matt Skinner on, Jan/14/2013

Online Poker: Phil ‘OMGClayAiken’ Galfond Takes Isildur1 for $1 Million

Online poker phenom Viktor “Isildur1” Blom’s unprecedented hot streak has come to an abrupt end this past weekend. 

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Submitted by Ace King on, Jan/14/2013

PartyPoker to Reduce Rakeback for Its Top Players

PartPoker, the world’s third largest online poker room, plans to eliminate its Platinum Elite status VIP program offerings effective April 1, 2013.  Currently, the program offers these players up to 50 percent rakeback.  The reduction will result in no more than 30 percent rakeback. 

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Submitted by Ace King on, Jan/14/2013

Mohegan Sun Will Apply for Palmer Casino

BOSTON (Associated Press) - The owners of the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut have found a new financial backer and are expected to apply to the state's gambling commission to build a resort in Palmer.

Mitchell Etess, chief executive of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, tells The Boston Globe the company has struck a partnership with New York investment group, Brigade Capital Management, to bankroll the development and will file its application on Monday.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jan/14/2013

Harry Reid Denies Attempting to Derail Investigation of Online Gambling Figure

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid denied any involvement in an alleged effort to help derail a federal investigation into Jeremy Johnson’s Utah businesses.  Johnson was a central figure at the SunFirst Bank of Utah that helped process funds for online poker firms Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars.  Each of these businesses were later named in an indictment filed April 15, 2011, a day commonly known within the Web poker community as “Black Friday”.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Jan/14/2013

Dimitar Danchev Wins $1,859,000 at 2013 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

EPT Sanremo runner-up Dimitar Danchev has become the first Bulgarian to win a major poker tournament after taking down the 2013 PCA Main Event for $1,859,000.

The 26-year-old, who was already top of the Bulgarian all-time money list, won his seat to the $10,000 event in a $700 qualifier on PokerStars. He has been playing poker professionally for around three years but first came to prominence when he was runner-up at the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Sanremo tournament in 2011, where he earned €600,000.

Submitted by Press Release on, Jan/14/2013

Atlantic City Dismal Showing Could Force Christie’s Hand

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has just over one month to decide whether online gambling will be legalized in the Garden State.  There is certainly no shortage of reasons why it should not be.

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Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Jan/13/2013

PCA 2013: PCA Main Event Final Table Players Profiled

The PCA 2013 Main Event Final Table was now underway Sunday with profiles of each player provided by PokerStars.com below. 

Seat 1: Joao Nogueira, 21, Penefiel Portugal - PokerStars qualifier - 2,890,000

Submitted by Press Release on, Jan/13/2013

Record-Breaking Turnout for PCA10 $25k High Roller

The PCA10 $25,000 High Roller kicked off yesterday with nearly 200 entries (157 players and 41 re-entries) - well above last year’s field of 148. Players have until start of play today (at noon) to enter or re-enter so the number could grow even more. At present, 79 players are coming back for Day 2.

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Submitted by Press Release on, Jan/13/2013

Palms Casino in Vegas Caught Up in Drug, Prostitution Sting

LAS VEGAS -- Gambling regulators are fining the Palms casino in Las Vegas $1 million after nightclub employees provided undercover agents with prostitutes and drugs, including cocaine and prescription painkillers.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jan/12/2013

$1 Million Online Super Series II Kicks Off Tonight at Americas Cardroom

San Jose, Costa Rica – As if dropping $1 million on the table isn't enough, Americas Cardroom today announced a Satellite Madness component to its already lucrative OSS II, the Online Super Series that kicks off on Sunday, January 13th (2013) and runs for two weeks straight. The US-friendly online poker site is guaranteeing $30,000 worth of seats into all Week 1 events through a special Satellite Madness component featuring buy-ins as lows as $0.55.

Submitted by Press Release on, Jan/12/2013

Michigan Governor Vetoes Gambling Expansion Bill

LANSING (Associated Press) -- A bill that would have allowed more gambling at Michigan race tracks has died without Gov. Rick Snyder's signature.

Snyder effectively vetoed House Bill 5546 by taking no action. It would have added slot machine-like games at struggling horse tracks in Hazel Park, Mount Pleasant, Swartz Creek and Northville.

Spokesman Caleb Buhs says the bill wasn't signed because it clashes with the state Constitution and is probably illegal. A 2004 amendment requires voter approval for new gambling.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jan/11/2013

Carbon’s Big Ticket Sunday is Bigger Than Ever

Well the NFL playoffs may have the attention of sports bettors out there this weekend, poker players are looking forward to Carbon Poker’s Big Ticket tournament on Sunday.

Submitted by Matt Skinner on, Jan/11/2013

International Stadiums Poker Tour Day One to be Exclusively Online

A format change was announced for the International Stadiums Poker Tour 2013 (ISPT).

The updated schedule Day 1 events will take place exclusively online and will not occur inside London’s Wembley Stadium as previously announced.  These online events will be held between February 3 and May 19. 

From PokerFuse.com:

Submitted by Ace King on, Jan/11/2013

59 Players Remained Coming Into Friday’s PCA 2013

Another day ends at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA 2013), with Patrick Kelly leading the main event with just 59 players remaining.

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Submitted by Press Release on, Jan/11/2013

College Student Gets 60 Years in Prison for Robbing Poker Game

A Gaithersburg, Maryland man has received a 60 years sentence for robbing a poker game at a College Park apartment. 

24-year-old Sergio Hernandez had earned a scholarship to Georgetown University.  He was convicted of 52 counts out of 53 back in September.  Those charges include robbery with a deadly weapon, first and second-degree assault and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. 

The robbery occurred in August 2011. 

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jan/10/2013

5k Points Race for Micro Stakes Players Kicks Off at Americas Cardroom

"No matter what your bankroll is like, the next two weeks at Americas Cardroom are custom built for you," said Americas Cardroom spokesperson Michael Harris. "Our $1 million Guaranteed OSS II series is built for serious tournament players and our $5k Micro Race is designed to reward even the most casual online poker player who sticks to small stakes. No matter what your game is, we've got you covered with big rewards over the next few weeks."

Submitted by Press Release on, Jan/10/2013

Atlantic City Revenue Expected to See Decline

(Associated Press) - For six years now, Atlantic City's casinos have been taking a beating from gambling halls popping up in neighboring states.

Figures due out Thursday afternoon will show just how far New Jersey's casinos fell in 2012.

Atlantic City's casino revenues have fallen from a high of $5.2 billion in 2006 to $3.3 billion in 2011. The 2012 figures are expected to be lower than that.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jan/10/2013

Nevada Gambling Revenue Way Down in November

CARSON CITY, Nev. (Associated Press) -- Nevada state gambling revenues have dipped, with officials reporting that casinos won 11 percent less in November compared with the same month a year ago.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board reported Thursday that casinos won about $783 million for the month, and the state collected nearly $46 million based on that amount.

The state's share was down more than 20 percent from the previous year.

November's revenue drop came after two months of climbing win numbers in Nevada.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jan/10/2013

Black Chip Poker to Host $1 Mil in Guaranteed Tournaments

Black Chip Poker is giving its players two major reasons to be hitting the tables in this month. Starting Sunday January 13th, Black Chip Poker will be hosting the 'Online Super Series II' (OSS II) tournament series in conjunction with their first ever $5k Points Race for micro stakes players. Both events will run consecutively from January 13th through to the 27th.

Submitted by Press Release on, Jan/10/2013

$10 PokerStars Qualifier Godoy Leads PCA10 Main Event at End of Day 2

$10 PokerStars Qualifier Godoy Leads PCA10 Main Event at End of Day 2.

PokerStars qualifier Nicolas Godoy from Corrientes, Argentina, is leading the PCA10 Main Event with 166 players left. The 19-year-old from Corrientes won his seat in the PCA Tenth Anniversary promotion for just $10. He was fast asleep when a friend rang and said he was coming over to play the satellite but it was Godoy who won the $16,000 package. He is here in the Bahamas with his uncle and aunt. In March he starts college studying Business Administration.

Submitted by Press Release on, Jan/10/2013

B.C. Judge Certifies Class-Action Lawsuit Against Lottery Corporation

VANCOUVER – (Canadian Press) - Two problem gamblers who enrolled in a program that barred them from government-run casinos can go ahead with a class-action lawsuit to try to get their winnings back, says a B.C. Supreme Court judge.

In a ruling released Wednesday, Judge John Savage said the proceedings could resolve common issues raised by Michael Lee and Hamidreza Haghdust who argue the British Columbia Lottery Corp. "wrongfully withheld" approximately $42,000 and $35,000 they won, respectively, while participating in the voluntary self-exclusion program.

Submitted by Canadian Press on, Jan/09/2013

Lance Armstrong Oprah Winfrey Interview Odds: Confess Pays Even Money

Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has granted Oprah Winfrey a no-holds bar exclusive interview to air January 17, 2013 and the British bookmakers are all over this one. 

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Ladbrokes was among the first bookmakers to offer odds.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jan/09/2013

Lottomatica Group and Golden Gaming Receive Nevada Okay for Web Gaming

Two more online gambling firms have received approval to operate in the already saturated Nevada Web gaming sector.

The Lottomatica Group, which runs subsidiaries GTECH and SPIELO, will go before the Nevada Gaming Commission later in the month to obtain their license.  The company operates on the technology side of the industry.

Golden Gaming, a subsidiary of Sartini Synergy Online, was also approved by the Commission Wednesday.

- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jan/09/2013

Cuomo to Expand Gambling in New York State With Three New Casinos

ALBANY, N.Y. — (Associated Press) - Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposes that an expansion of gambling in New York begin with three casinos upstate and none in New York City.

The state Legislature is expected this year to consider final passage of an amendment to the state constitution that would allow up to seven Las Vegas-style casinos beyond Indian land. If approved by lawmakers, voters could make a final decision on the amendment in November.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jan/09/2013

Major in Online Gambling: Jenny Woo Interviews Ray Davies of Isle of Man

I had the chance to sit down with Isle of Man e-Gaming manager, Ray Davies, to talk about the newest e-Gaming program being offered there at the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education starting this month. Read my interview to learn more about this course and who it’s offered to.

Jenny:  How long have you been brainstorming on this idea to offer the accredited qualification in e-Gaming program? And what exactly is the course called when someone signs up?

Submitted by Jenny Woo on, Jan/09/2013

Online Poke Phenom Isildur1 Still on a Sick Roll: Wins $1.33 Mil Tuesday

They don’t get much better than Viktor Blom (AKA Isildur1) in the world of online poker.

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On Tuesday January 9, 2013, Blom won an amazing $1.33 million at Full Tilt Poker against top players Phil Galfond and Ben Sulsky. 

Submitted by Ace King on, Jan/09/2013

Ashton Griffin Leads PCA10 Main Event

NAPT High Roller Bounty Shootout champion Ashton Griffin is leading the PCA10 Main Event with 349 players remaining from the 649 who started the day.

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Submitted by Press Release on, Jan/09/2013

Breaking News

Circa Rumors Escalate

Derek Stevens, owner of the famed Circa Casino and Sportsbook in Las Vegas, had many folks talking Monday morning following a recent post.