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.
Man Convicted of Shooting Player Over $5 Poker Hand
A North Carolina man has been convicted and sentenced to serve up to 60 months behind bars for shooting a fellow poker player over a $5 hand.
Prentice Reaves was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury by a Columbus County jury on Tuesday.
The incident began as a friendly poker game and quickly turned violent.
Sam Trickett, Antonio Esfandiari Look to Repeat Their One Drop Success
Heading into Monday of the first day of the $1 million buy-in Big One For One Drop Sam Trickett and Antonio Esfandiari were among the top three chip leaders with Tom Hall leading the pack.
Esfandiari and Trickett finished 1st and 2nd at the inaugural Big One for One Drop two years ago. Both walked away with a huge payday. Esfandiari took home $18,346,673 while Trickett took home $10,112,001 as the loser. This event, which featured 42 entries, will pay less to the winner than the first year’s One Drop, $15,306,668.
Poker Pro Johannes Strassmann Body Found in River
A 29-year-old professional poker player from Germany who went missing June 21 has been found dead.
Slovenian police confirmed that a body found in the Ljublijianica River this past Friday is that of Johannes Strassmann.
The poker pro had been visiting some fellow players. He went missing after a trip to the town of Ljubljana.
Phil Ivey Claims 10th World Series of Poker Bracelet: Tied for Second All-Time
Phil Ivey has claimed his 10th World Series of Poker bracelet and is tied for 10th all-time after Phil Hellmuth with 13. The 38-year-old Las Vegas resident is tied with Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan although one can argue that Ivey’s wins are far more impressive due to the dramatic increase in player fields.
Ivey’s feat was accomplished at the $1,500 buy-in Eight Game Mix tournament in which he also walked away with $167,332. His last three victories have come in mixed game formats.
Luis Suarez Loses Sponsorship Deal With 888 Poker
(Reuters) - Poker brand 888 has cancelled its sponsorship deal with Luis Suarez after the Uruguay striker was banned from all soccer-related activity for four months for biting an opponent during a World Cup match.
Suarez, one of the most talented but controversial players, lit up the English Premier League last season with club side Liverpool and became one of the online gambling company's brand ambassadors only last month.
Ohio Man Gets 7 Years in Poker Chip Robbery
CANTON, Ohio (Associated Press) — A northeast Ohio man has been sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting his role in the January home-invasion robbery of a professional poker player.
Police in Canton said 25-year-old Christopher Lucius and another man broke into the home and stole $150,000 in casino chips and cash at gunpoint from Jerad Klick.
The (Canton) Repository (http://bit.ly/1ixOTuI ) reports Lucius halted his trial Wednesday to take a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to charges including aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and aggravated theft.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Sheldon Adelson: ‘Don’t Pick on Him’
Speaking to MSNBC’s Chuck Todd, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid came to the defense of casino billionaire and GOP mega donor Sheldon Adelson, this after blasting two other Republican mega donors, Charles and David Koch.
"Sheldon Adelson, don't pick on him," he told NBC's Chuck Todd. "He's not in this for money. He's in this because he has certain ideological views."
That comment has raised eyebrows amongst those in the online gambling sector. While Reid has supported legalizing Web gambling at the federal level, Adelson is staunchly opposed.
The Players Championship 2014 Final Table: John Hennigan Wins
The Players Championship 2014 Final got underway on Thursday at 2 pm PST (5 pm EST).
This event featured a $50,000 buy-in. Ultimately it was John Hennigan who walked away the winner.
The man known as Johnny World was final tabling this event for the second time in a row. After taking 12th in the 2012 PPC, Hennigan finished in third place last year, collecting over $685,000. Hennigan was heads-up for what would have been his third bracelet earlier this summer, but he lost to Ted Gillis in a $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event.
Bwin.Party on Verge of Breaking Up?
The party might be over for Bwin.Party. Rumors surfaced this week that the world’s largest publicly traded online gambling firm is on the verge of breaking up.
The company on Thursday denied it was breaking up or looking for a selling but said it was examining ways to increase shareholder value.
New Jersey Starts Review of PokerStars Buyer Amaya Gaming
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) - New Jersey casino regulators have begun their review of a Canadian company that's buying the PokerStars online gambling website and hoping to get it licensed in Atlantic City by this fall.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement says Amaya Gaming Group has begun submitting documents required for a determination on whether PokerStars can be licensed in New Jersey.
Doyle Brunson Near Death…… at 2014 WSOP Players Championship
The Legend of Poker, Doyle Brunson, keeps chugging along and has thus far made a strong showing at this week’s World Series of Poker Players Championship (Event 46) but was on the verge of elimination heading into Day 4.
Brunson, who turns 81 in August, made it through nearly half the field of 102 in the $50,000 buy-in but had the lowest chip count at the start of Day 4.
There was some question as to whether Brunson would actively participate in this year’s World Series of Poker.
Jonathan Duhamel Ex-Girlfriend Wants More Prison Time: Lead Home Invasion
The former girlfriend of 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jonathan Duhamel wants to remain in prison, the Winnipeg Sun reported late last week.
California Tribes Worry PokerStars Might ‘Cut Their Throats’
With Gambling firm Amaya announcing the purchase of the world’s largest online poker room, PokerStars, earlier this month, the firm hopes to enter the California Web gambling market. Not so fast.
Leonardo DiCaprio Used as ‘Bait’ for Poker Games: Toby Maguire ‘Hannibal Lecter’
Indicted poker madam Molly Bloom tells all in her newly published book “Molly’s Game”. Bloom told ABC News “Spiderman” star Toby Maguire used marquee Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio as bait to lure in big fish to play in her games.
Resorts International Inks Deal With Sportech: Could Join Forces With PokerStars
ATLANTIC CITY — (Associated Press) - An Atlantic City casino that was thwarted in its efforts to join the Internet gambling market is preparing to get in the game.
Resorts Casino Hotel announced partnerships late Friday with European firms Sportech and NYX Gaming to offer Internet gambling.
They will join PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker to form an online betting option that could rival New Jersey’s market leaders, Borgata and Caesars Interactive.
PokerStars Commits Its Future to the Isle of Man in Wake of Amaya Takeover
The Department of Economic Development has welcomed the announcement that PokerStars has committed its future to the Isle of Man following its planned takeover by Amaya Gaming Group Inc.
General Counsel to the Rational Group of Companies Paul Telford wrote an open letter to the Chief Minister reiterating the company’s commitment to the Isle of Man.
Leonard Singer MHK, the Department Member with responsibility for e-Business said:
George Danzer Wins WSOP Bracelet on Way to Becoming Player of Year
Team PokerStars Pro George Danzer has just won the WSOP Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Championship for $352,696. Last week, he won the Seven Card Razz Championship for $294,792.
Current WSOP Player of the Year Leader George Danzer Leads at Event 38
The current World Series of Poker Player of the Year leader continues to prove why he should earn that title. George Danzer came into Day 3 of Event #38: $10,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Low Championship as the chip leader with 13 players remaining.
Pennsylvania Introduces Online Gambling Bill in Senate: PokerStars Exclusion
Pennsylvania lawmakers on Wednesday introduced Bill 1386 in the Senate. The bill, drafted by State Sen. Edwin Erickson, would legalize online gambling in the Keystone State.
A newer version of the legislation co-sponsored by Republican Bob Mensch allows for an expanded number of casino games whereas Erickson’s bill focused almost exclusively on poker. Mensch also wants to charge a $5 million licensing fee along with a 14% tax on gross gaming revenues.
PokerStars Buyer Will Begin Talks With New Jersey Casino Regulators to Enter Market
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) - A Canadian company buying the PokerStars website will begin licensing talks with New Jersey casino regulators aimed at letting the world's largest Internet poker site operate legally in the state, the state's top casino regulator said.
41 Players Confirmed for Big One For One Drop: Approaching 56 Cap
The World Series of Poker has confirmed that 41 players are signed up to take part in the upcoming Big One For One Drop, which could ultimately pay out over $20 million.
Dreyfus: Online Poker is Coming to California
In his blog this week, Alexandre Dreyfus of the Global Poker Index writes that California dreaming is about to become a reality with Amaya’s acquisition of PokerStars last week and the ability for the world’s largest online poker room to now re-enter the California market.
A number of the powerful state tribes have offered up resistance when in comes to allowing PokerStars to re-enter the US market. They claim an unfair playing field since Stars operated in the States long after federal prohibition had passed.
PokerStars, Asia Pacific Poker Tour Debuts Beijing Millions
PokerStars and the Asia Pacific Poker Tour will host the inaugural Beijing Millions, scheduled for July 18th to 27th. It is the first foray into the Chinese Mainland market for both PokerStars and the APT.
While rare, a sanctioned poker tournament is not unprecedented in China.
In 2012 and 2013, the World Poker Tour did hold a US$1,500 event in Sanya, on the Chinese island of Hainan.
2009 World Series of Poker Champ Joe Cada Wins Second Bracelet
Team PokerStars Pro Joe Cada has just won the WSOP Six-Handed No Limit Hold'em Championship for $670,041. His previous WSOP Bracelet was the 2009 WSOP Main Event, making him the first Main Event winner since Carlos Mortensen (2001) to subsequently win a WSOP bracelet.
The $670,041 that he won here takes his total live earnings to $10,296,221, which will propel him to 24th on the all-time money listing, just ahead of T.J. Cloutier. It was his second largest live cash (behind the 2009 WSOP Main Event).
Gus Hansen World Series of Poker Debut Interrupted by Pool Party
A Vegas pool party at some unknown location resulted in Danish poker pro Gus Hansen missing the World Series of Poker #35 $5,000 buy-in 8-handed No-Limit Hold'em event.
This was to be his debut at the 2014 WSOP.
“Pool party on Friday nite ruined my debut at the 2014 WSOP. Maybe 5k 8 handed will be my first event” he tweeted.
Or maybe not.
A Bunch of WSOP Main Event Finalists on Verge of Making Final Cut in Event 32
Since winning the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event in 2009, 26-year-old Michigan native Joe Cada has come close to winning his 2nd bracelet. He finished 2nd in Event 31 at the 2012 WSOP and 4th on two occasions at last year’s World Series of Poker.
Palms Casino Closes Poker Room
The Palms Casino in Las Vegas has shut down its poker room on Thursday.
According to Brian Pempus of CardPlayer.com, the room likely had trouble getting enough cash game players to sustain a healthy venue.
From CardPlayer.com:
Amaya Would Become Largest Online Gambling Company, Pave Way for California
With word that publicly traded Amaya Gaming Group has agreed to the $4.9 billion purchase of PokerStars.com, the company will become the world’s largest online gambling business. It will also potentially help to usher in legalized online poker for the state of California.
Amaya Agrees to Acquire PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker for $4.9 Billion
MONTREAL, CANADA & ONCHAN, ISLE OF MAN –Amaya Gaming Group Inc. (TSX: AYA) (“Amaya” or the “Corporation”) and privately held Oldford Group Limited (“Oldford Group”), the parent company of Rational Group Ltd.
New Jersey Sees Sharp Decline in Online Gambling During Month of May
(Associated Press) - Internet gambling has hit a wall in New Jersey just six months after launching.
Figures released today by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement show the casinos' online operations took in $10.4 million in May, a decline of $1 million from April. Internet gambling revenues have now declined for two straight months in New Jersey.
But there was some good news in the numbers: Including Internet gambling revenue, and excluding the Atlantic Club, which closed in January, the casinos' total revenue was up nearly 1.3 percent.
