Gambling News
Lock Poker Elite Pro Jared Hubbard’s j-HU-b’s CHALLENGE
Online poker phenomenon and Lock Poker Elite Pro Jared ‘Jhub’ Hubbard is inviting his fans to battle with him Heads Up at any stake they wish every day this February. The contest was announced by PokerFacePR (www.pokerfacepr.com) CEO Matthew Spurr.
Should the fan defy the odds and get the better of Jared he is graciously admitting defeat by offering them 30 minutes free coaching in whatever discipline they desire.
Breaking News: Full Tilt Poker Class Action Suit Thrown Out
The Ifrah law firm won a favorable ruling on behalf of Full Tilt companies and the individual poker professionals who were named as defendants in the first class action suit brought by former U.S. Players in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York last summer.
888 Holdings, Caesars Extend Online Gambling Agreement
Online gambling firm 888 Holdings and Caesars Entertainment Corp on Tuesday announced they have extended a licensing agreement that would allow Caesars to utilize 888’s Internet poker software in the United States.
888 said the agreement would see its arm, Dragonfish, power a selection of private poker brands of Caesars, one of the largest casino operators in the United States and owner of the famed Caesars Palace, once online gaming is permitted under the new regulatory regime.
Another Mysterious High Stakes Online Poker Player Surfaces: Nasud 11
A yet-to-be-identified high stakes online poker player is capturing the imagination of other players. He (or she) goes by the name of Nasud 11. The mystery player had Saturday’s biggest payday: $96k.
From HighStakesDB.com:
Player Panel Comes to Terms With PokerStars Over Rake Structure Change
After weeks of planned player boycotts and outrage in the online poker community over PokerStars change in its rake structure, a panel assembled by members of the popular poker forum TwoPlusTwo.com have arrived at a compromise.
Rank £250 Million Offer for Gala Coral
Rank has reportedly offered £250 Million to rival Gala Coral as part of a potential acquisition bid. Should it go through, the combined company would become the biggest casino chain in Great Britain.
Rank currently operates 35 gambling establishments while Gala has a total of 24 casinos.
In a statement, Rank said: “The terms of any such acquisition have not been finalised and there is no certainty a transaction will occur.”
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
New York Judge Rules Mah Jong a Game of Skill: Could Help Internet Poker Cause
Mah Jong, the ancient Chinese tile-based table game, is not gambling at least not according to a New York judge.
On January 19, 2012, Criminal Court Judge John H. Wilson declared in People v. Feng that “the court declines to declare Mah Jong to be a per se ‘contest of chance.’ ”
Defendant in Alabama Gambling Corruption Case Joseph ‘Ray’ Crosby Found Dead
Police are conducting an investigation into the mysterious death of Joseph “Ray” Cosby over the weekend. Cosby is one of seven remaining defendants in a federal corruption case tied to gambling in Alabama and was found dead on Sunday, just one day before the start of a second trial in the case.
Late Alan Meltzer Leaves $1.5m Fortune to Doorman, Driver: Nothing to Wife
The late music mogul and high stakes poker player Alan Meltzer left $1 million to his driver and $500,000 to his doorman, it was reported this weekend.
“I don't know what to do exactly with the money, but one thing I know for sure - every year, I'm going to bring the guy some flowers at his grave," chauffeur Jean Laborde, who received $1 million, or 10 per cent, from boss Alan Meltzer's $10 million estate, said.
"He was always joking. He never looked down on anybody,'' Laborde added. “He left me money, but it's not a good deal for me because it means he's no longer here.''
Entraction Latest Online Poker Network to Rebrand: Now Known as IGT Poker Network
Entraction is the latest online poker room to change its name, following quickly in the footsteps of the Yatahay Network, which announced earlier this month they would be rebranded as the Winning Poker Network.
Entraction’s name change comes as a result of the Swedish company being acquired by gaming manufacturer IGT for $115m last March. It will now be named the IGT Poker Network. It is currently the 14th largest Internet poker network in the world.
Legalized Internet Poker in Washington D.C. Unlikely Any Time Soon
After becoming the first jurisdiction in the United States to legalize Internet poker, Washington, D.C. is looking less likely to allow the activity for its half million residents any time soon.
The District of Columbia’s move to legalize Internet poker was met with accusations of cronyism with contentious hearings taking place this past week.
From The Washington Times:
Online Poker Site Americas Cardroom Embraces Dealt Rake Method
While other online poker sites have begun to abandon the dealt rake method to calculate leaderboard points, Americas Card Room, a US-friendly site, is now actively promoting the method.
2012 Aussie Millions Main Event Winner is Oliver Speidel
The 2010 Aussie Millions Main Event has been won by Olver Speidel of Melbourne, Australia.
Speidel had 11 cashes and just over $229,000 in winnings on the live poker circuit coming into this event. Last year, Speidel won the Aussie Millions No Limit Hold’em and netted just over $105,000. He also won the Manny Pacquiao World Poker Event Main Event last month.
US State by State Internet Poker News: A Breakdown of Each
ADI News this weekend featured a pretty comprehensive look at the potential for Internet poker on a state-by-state basis.
Phil Ivey Wins 2012 Aussie Millions $250,000 Super High Roller: Patrik Antonius, Gus Hansen Cash
Poker phenom Phil Ivey has just won the 2012 Aussie Millions $250,000 Super High Roller event after getting knocked out of the Main event early morning Sunday. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The take home prize - A$2,000,000.
“I got pretty deep in the Main, I got close, luckily I got knocked out in time to play this. It worked out,” said Ivey following his win. “It’s nice to be playing poker again. I took some time off, just came back to Macau, started playing and this is one of my first tournaments back so it’s nice to get back to winning.”
Jon Kyl on Internet Poker Regulation: ‘Quite Possibly Something Will be Done’
Arizona Republican Senator Jon Kyl was the co-author of legislation that would ultimately become the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and now he’s apparently looking for ways to overturn the law, or at least make it more favorable towards Internet poker websites.
Aussie Millions 2012 Final Table Won’t Feature Phil Ivey
Relative unknown poker player Bjorn Li led the Aussie Millions 2012 Main Event Final Table this weekend while big name pro Phil Ivey was knocked out.
Ivey, who had the shortest stack of chips coming into yesterday’s play, was eliminated in 12th place.
Seven people will compete at the final table for their chance to win over a million dollars.
Dougherty Gang Planned Prison Escape After Capture
Three siblings captured after a multistate crime spree, including robbing a Georgia bank and firing at a police officer, planned a brazen escape from a Colorado jail shortly after their detention.
Dylan Dougherty, 26, gout out of his cell in Walsenburg, Colorado, and passed a note to his sister, Lee Grace, advising her he would help break her out of the jail.
New Jersey Politicians Meet With Gov Chris Christie to Discuss Internet Gambling
New Jersey politicians, including State Senator Raymond Lesniak, were taking part in closed door meetings with Governor Chris Christie to discuss a measure that would legalize online poker.
The objective, Gambling911.com has learned exclusively, is to get something passed through the state House and Senate without the need for a voter referendum.
Barry Denson Looking to Beat Phil Laak’s Record for Most Straight Hours of Playing Poker
Barry Denson announced he is readying to beat Phil Laak’s old Guinness record of 115 straight hours playing poker.
Phil Ivey Down But Not Out at 2012 Aussie Millions Main Event
With just 12 players left at the 2012 Aussie Millions Main Event, Saturday afternoon will featured six-handed play until only seven players remain. Those seven will play the official final table on Sunday afternoon.
One of those 7 players could be Phil Ivey, perhaps the most recognized name in the world of poker today. Heading into Saturday, Ivey had the lowest number of chips among the remaining 12 players however.
Leading the pack was relative unknown Canadian players Yann Dion.
Phil Ivey Going Strong at 2012 Aussie Millions Main Event
Poker pro Phil Ivey is among remaining 26 players at the 2012 Aussie Millions Main Event.
Ivey has mostly been out of sight since the online poker room he represented, Full Tilt Poker, went under last summer. He has also been embroiled in a high profile nasty divorce battle.
Zynga Online Gambling Revenue Could be $5 Billion Claims JP Morgan
Zynga, which offers the largest free online poker site in the world, has gone all in with its push to offer “real money play” games. JP Morgan claims that Zynga can potentially generate $5 billion in revenue after the company announced it was in conversations with interested parties to offer the “cash play” platform.
Lem Banker Banking on Patriots to Win 2012 Super Bowl
Once a generation, people gather outside the Vatican in Rome, looking up at the Vatican chimney to see whether the smoke coming out in billows is white or black, signifying yes or no that a new pope has been selected.
Almost as eagerly anticipated is the yearly declaration by the pope of professional sports betting, Lester "Lem" Banker of Las Vegas, as to who he likes to cover the pointspread in the Super Bowl--the favorite or the underdog.
The reason for the anticipation?
Lucky Lem usually gets it right.
Zynga Adds Bingo Game to Facebook
Gaming powerhouse Zynga has just introduced a brand new Bingo game.
The new Zynga bingo game is played like traditional bingo, Where one tries to get five consecutive numbers in a row or all four corners.
Bingo is one of the most successful games in the real cash world of online gambling. Its introduction follows news that Zynga is exploring opportunities to enter the real cash online gambling foray once the industry becomes legalized in the US.
Zynga also employs the social networking aspect of Facebook with features such as real time chat and themed rooms.
Tom Dwan on Full Tilt Poker: “There was Enough Mischievousness That They Did”
The man who promised to pay back players owed by Full Tilt Poker with over a million dollars of his own money if they failed to pay is probably wishing he hadn’t made such a rash promise. After all, Tom Dwan had only signed on with FTP a few months prior to the company’s collapse post April 15 of this past year and the New Jersey-born player has yet to be implicated in any wrongdoing (unlike fellow FTP pros Chris Ferguson and Howard Lederer).
Full Tilt Poker’s Chris Ferguson Allegedly Funneled $45 Million
US Feds allege Full Tilt Poker stakeholder and professional poker player Chris “Jesus” Ferguson was embroiled in an elaborate ponzi scheme. Now it is being reported he funneled $45 million of his $60 million in Full Tilt distribution payments into bank accounts held for him in the name of Pocket Kings Ltd.
PPA: Majority of Those Playing Poker Online Prefer Regulated Environment
Of the Americans still playing online poker, nearly 90 percent would prefer playing on sites licensed and regulated pursuant to U.S. Federal law, according to a recent survey commissioned by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide. The findings also showed that, despite the Department of Justice’s crackdown of online poker on April 15, 2011, nearly half of online poker players are still playing online poker on offshore sites.
Poker Pro Thor Hansen has Terminal Cancer
Norwegian poker pro Thor Harald Hansen has terminal cancer, it was revealed on Wednesday. The 64-year-old player is one of Norway’s best known players, often referred to as “The Godfather of Poker”.
Doctors have told Hansen he has no more than two years to live following the cancer’s spread to the lungs, liver and lymph nodes.
Hearing On Internet Poker With Justice Department Officials Likely
House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Manufacturing Chairwoman Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) advised Tuesday that she is considering holding another hearing on legalized Internet poker that would feature experts from the US Justice Department.
