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.
French Police Raid Christine Lagarde’s, Bernard Tapie Homes
The Telegraph has reported that International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde’s Paris flat was raided as part of an investigation into a €285 million payment made to Bernard Tapie. His home was also raided.
Tapie heads up the International Stadiums Poker Tour and the purpose of the raid was to determine if Lagarde acted illegally when approving a €285 Million arbitration payout to Tapie.
IRS Comes After 2007 World Series of Poker Winner Jerry Yang: Seize Bracelet
The IRS has several tax liens against 2007 World Series of Poker winner Jerry Yang including one for $571,894.54.
A federal tax lien is the government’s legal claim against your property when you neglect or fail to pay a tax debt. The lien protects the government’s interest in all your property, including real estate, personal property and financial assets."
Poker Pro Daniel Cates Calls Tom Dwan Out on Twitter
Poker pro Daniel Cates is not happy with fellow pro Tom “Durrrr” Dwan and his perceived avoidance.
Cates wants to challenge Dwan to another head’s up poker matchup but Dwan has, to date, been nonresponsive. To make matters worse, Dwan has been seen requesting challenges from other players online.
Online Gambling Payment Processor Neteller Plots US Re-Entry
Optimal Payments anticipates at least 10 states legalizing Internet gambling in the US to legalize the activity over the coming year.
Optimal Payments may not ring a bell for gamblers. But this is the former Neteller, a third party payment solutions company that until January 2007 had operated in the USA and was once considered the “PayPal of Online Gambling”.
A Glimpse Into How Interstate Online Gambling Will Work
The Nevada Gaming Commission this week filed a “Request for Comment” as it relates to how “regulations concerning interstate agreements for interactive gaming” should work as the Silver State looks to begin offering online poker to those beyond its borders.
Last month, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed Assembly Bill 114 into law that would allow his state to form compacts with other states utilizing a model similar to that of the Lottery System’s Powerball game.
Here were the primary focus questions:
Caesars Stock Hits All Time High
Caesars Entertainment is up 17 of the late 18 sessions with its stock hitting an all time high.
The initial high occurred the first day of trading in February of last year. After going public, Caesars fell for nine months, bottoming at 4.52 in mid-November. It turned up then and continues on a roll.
Louisiana Latest US State to Consider Legalized Online Gambling
Louisiana Rep. Mike Huval wants his state to look further into the prospects of offering legalized online gambling.
Ruben Visser Wins 2013 EPT London Main Event for £595,000
Dutch pro Ruben Visser has won the £5,250 PokerStars.com EPT London Main Event today for a £595,000 first prize.
The 24-year-old from Rotterdam won his seat for just £320 in a Deep Hyper-Turbo satellite on PokerStars. He beat Lithuanian Mantas Visockis heads-up to take down the tournament which started last Sunday with 647 players and a £3,137,950 prize pool.
Jenny Woo: Greg Raymer One of the Good Guys of Poker Despite Hooker F-Up
Poker pro Greg Raymer does not have an arrest record of any kind, so Friday's shocking revelation that he was nabbed during a hooker sting operation certainly has many in the poker community scratching their heads.
Poker Pro Greg Raymer Arrested in Prostitution Sting
One of poker’s best known players, Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, has been arrested following a North Carolina prostitution sting operation.
Americas Cardroom Unveils New Website Ahead of $200k Guaranteed Event
With its upcoming $200,000 Guaranteed Event in early April, Americas Cardroom is going all out to make serious poker players feel at home. Today, they've gone all-in once again. The US-friendly online poker room has revamped their website with a design that appeals to serious poker players.
Illinois Internet Gambling Bill ‘Bad Actor’ Clause Softened
Illinois in its quest to legalize Internet gambling has soften its “bad actor” clause that would have prevented companies that have accepted wagers in the US over the past six years from obtaining a license in the state.
Previous wording for Senate Bill 1739 contained the following wording:
“No Internet gaming license shall be granted to any applicant who has accepted wagers via the Internet in contravention of this Section or United States law in the 10 years preceding the application date.”
PokerStars MicroMillions 4 Daily Round-Up – March 15
MicroMillions 4 got under way yesterday with six events and nearly $350,000 in guaranteed prizes up for grabs. In the end the actual prize pools easily exceeded that total, with more than $680,000 awarded to thousands of players.
Steve O’Dwyer Leads for Day 5 of 2013 EPT London Main Event
EPT8 London runner-up Steve O'Dwyer is leading the final 16 going in to Day 5 of this season's £5,250 Main Event. He has 2,124,000. Also still in contention for the £700,000 first prize is EPT Grand Final champ Nic Chouity, Team PokerStars Pro Theo Jorgensen, Chris Moorman and Ruben Visser. There were 647 players from 58 countries competing in the event which started on Sunday, creating a £3,137,950 prize pool. As well as their cash prize, Sunday's winner will receive a stunning watch from Slyde, the Official Watch Sponsor for EPT9 Main Events. 96 players are being paid.
Playtech’s Billionaire Founder Teddy Sagi About to See Huge Payday
With online gambling software provider Playtech entering into deals with Ladbrokes and a yet-to-be-named US casino partner, company founder Teddi Sagi is in for another big payout thanks in part to William Hill.
From the London Evening Standard:
US Former Customers of Full Tilt Poker Closer to Getting Paid
The US Justice Department has finally appointed a claims administrator to begin paying former customers of Full Tilt Poker.
The DOJ froze accounts tied to Full Tilt Poker on April 15, 2011 – a day that would later be referred to as “Black Friday”. FTP eventually shut down. Late last year, the US Government settled with Full Tilt Poker.
$159 million is owed to approximately 1.3 million people.
The DOJ released this statement on Wednesday:
Pasi Sormunen Leads for Day 4 of 2013 EPT London Main Event
Pasi Sormunen from Finland leads final 32 for Day 4 of the £5,250 EPT London Main Event. He has 1,578,000. Team PokerStars Pros Jason Mercier and Theo Jorgensen are also still in contention for the £700,000 first prize. There were 647 players from 58 countries competing in the event which started on Sunday, creating a £3,137,950 prize pool. As well as their cash prize, Sunday's winner will receive a stunning watch from Slyde, the Official Watch Sponsor for EPT9 Main Events. 96 players will get paid.
EPTLive will restart at noon tomorrow (Day 4).
Claire Renaut Wins Bodog Anonymous Poker Series 2013 First Live Event
The first live event of Bodog’s Anonymous Poker Series (APS), held last night in London, was won by the French – other than that it was considered a huge success! Former 888Poker pro, Claire Renaut took the event, the trophy, the champagne and the first seat at the $100,000 Grand Final of the APS in Manila.
Equity Poker Network Launches
Online poker network Equity Poker Network (EPN) launching with a bang, a non-profit poker network promising to bring operators, players and affiliates a fairer future.
San Jose, Costa Rica – Online Poker Operators looking to profit even more from the game can now count on Equity Poker Network, a new cooperative non-profit poker network. EquityPokerNetwork.com, announced that operators can now sign up to a fairer future where profit and cross cage is balanced ensuring even Sports, or other operators, with mostly losing players will be winners.
Mantas Visockis Leads at 2013 EPT London Main Event
Lithuanian Mantas Visockis is chip leader with 113 players going into Day 3 of the £5,250 EPT London Main Event. There were 647 players from 58 countries competing in the event which started on Sunday, creating a £3,137,950 prize pool. The winner on Saturday will receive a massive £700,000, as well as a stunning watch from Slyde, the Official Watch Sponsor for EPT9 Main Events. 96 players will get paid.
Glu Mobile Launches Real Money Gambling, Shares See 27 Percent Jump
(Reuters) - Mobile games maker Glu Mobile Inc launched its first real-money mobile gambling game through UK mobile betting game designer and operator Probability Plc, sending the U.S. company's shares up as much as 27 percent.
Online gambling is growing in popularity in the UK. Zynga Inc and Facebook Inc are also looking to tap the market through partnerships.
Zynga plans to offer real money casino games in Britain, and Facebook has said it will allow users in the UK to wager real money on its site.
Yahoo Acquisition of Zynga Rumors Diffused Somewhat After Monday Surge
Rumors that Yahoo may be looking to purchase the world’s biggest provider of free online poker have Zynga’s shares soaring in recent days.
While down around 4 percent in midday trading Tuesday, the price of Zynga’s shares had risen 10 percent during Monday’s trading.
From the Wall Street Journal:
UKIPT London Main Event Champ Sergio Aido Leads at 2013 EPT London
Spanish player Sergio Aido, 24, is enjoying a phenomenal London Poker Festival! Aido won the UKIPT Main Event on Saturday, beating a field of 1,099. He also chopped a £1,000 side event the night before the UKIPT final - and is now chip leader for Day 2 of the EPT London Main Event. Aido, who also won the World Poker Tour National Series in Barcelona last October, has 215,200 - some way ahead of last night's chip leader Marc-Andre Ladouceur.
PokerStars Retaliates Against AGA
Attorneys for the Rational Group, parent company of PokerStars, sent off a scathing 15-page letter responding to the American Gaming Association’s petition to try and prevent Stars from purchasing an Atlantic City casino.
The letter essentially accuses the AGA of attempting to protect its own economic interests.
PokerStars is looking to buy the troubled Atlantic Club Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City.
Hawaii, Iowa Internet Poker Bills Dead Again
Attempts to pass laws legalizing Internet poker in both Iowa and Hawaii have failed for a second time.
Both states tried passing similar legislation last year.
Hawaii’s bill failed to gain enough attention to be heard in the state’s House Finance Committee.
The State Sen. Jeff Danielson-sponsored online poker measure in Iowa failed to clear a full Senate subcommittee.
PokerStars Atlantic City Bid Still has AGA Up in Arms
(Associated Press) - A bid by the world's largest online poker website to buy an Atlantic City casino is touching off a battle with brick-and-mortar casinos that is getting very nasty, very quickly.
The Rational Group, the parent company of PokerStars, wants to buy The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel. If approved, it would mark the first ownership of an American casino by a solely-online gambling company.
Report: Yahoo Could be Looking to Purchase Zynga
Shares in online poker company Zynga surged over 8 percent Monday on news that Yahoo! was possibly considering buying the company.
Zynga’s shares have risen over 50 percent in recent months as the games developer makes plans to enter the real money online gambling market. So far, New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware have legalized various forms of online gambling.
888 All American Poker Network to Become First Based in US
888 Holdings on Monday unveiled its new subsidiary, the All American Poker Network. It will be the first US-based online poker network following 888 obtaining a license to operate out of Nevada last week.
888 has joined forces with investment firm Avenue Capital Group. In addition to its own portfolio of brands, land-based casino Treasure Island will be among the first to offer real money Internet poker on the network.
Ex-Playtech, Asian Logic Man Greg Fermont Joins Bodog Asia
With Bodog Asia growing as both an operator and B2B provider the long search for a COO to join Managing Director, Robert Gustavsson and his team is finally over.
Greg Fermont’s industry experience speaks for itself with stints at Playtech, Asian Logic and most recently Sun City. Greg brings not just gaming knowledge to Bodog Asia but also years of regional experience so vital to success in the area.
Team PokerStars Defeats Full Tilt Poker Pros
Negreanu: “Team PokerStars SCOOPS all three, winning 8 of 9 games!” LONDON, ENGLAND – Team PokerStars crushed the Full Tilt Poker ‘Professionals’ in the Full Tilt v PokerStars Heads Up contest held today at the London Poker Festival with a clean sweep of all three matches.
Bertrand ‘ElkY’ Grospellier (PokerStars) defeated Victor ‘Isildur1’ Blom (Full Tilt Poker) 3-0.
