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.
PokerAce.com Launches as Newest Online Poker Network: Targets Asian Players
A new online poker network emerged this past week, which looks to target the Asian poker playing market. PokerAce.com has launched with a bang, offering up the likes of World Series of Poker Main Event champion Joe Hachem and JC Tran as its spokespersons. The company has developed its own proprietary card room and will license to other “skins” using a model similar to that of Merge Gaming and iPoker.
Everest Poker to Join iPoker Network
Everest Poker is doing away with its own proprietary online poker software to join the world’s second largest network, iPoker.
The move comes at a time of slumping traffic over the past six months that has resulted in a 30 to 40 percent decline in cash game action.
Poker Pro Nancy Todd Attempt to Gain Control Over Arkansas Casinos Fails
Professional poker player Nancy Todd has lost her fight to gain exclusive operating rights to Arkansas casinos on Monday.
Shuttered Moore Games to Resume Payments to Poker Players
Good news is here as Moore Games has announced it will begin paying back customers after the online poker room was forced to shut down.
The former iPoker Network skin claims that it has received funds from the network to begin the payout process.
As reported by PokerFuse.com Monday:
Bid Farewell My Pretty! eBay Bans Gambling Spell Potions
The online auction site eBay on Monday announced it will no longer be permitting the sale of magic potions, one of which claims to help individuals win at gambling.
“Windfall Money Riches Fortune Gambling Good Luck Spell” ($8.99) has been cut along with “magical demon destroyer potion” ($51), “powerful female succubus lover spell” ($24.99) and a number of voodoo dolls.
eBay SPELLed it out in plain English, releasing this statement regarding the policy decision:
84 Players Remain at World Poker Tour Legends of Poker 2012: Jonathan Aguiar Survives
There were 84 players left after Day 2 of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Legends of Poker at the Bicycle, including pro Jonathan Aguiar, who had gotten into a brawl Friday afternoon with fellow pro Matt Marafioti.
Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Allegedly Tied to Organized Crime Figure
Reuters was reporting late Sunday that the Las Vegas Sands had allowed a man identified by the US Senate as an “organized crime figure” to move US$100k in gambling credit from the Sheldon Adelson managed Sands to one of its Macau-based casinos.
Documentation of this alleged incident emerged in the wake of a lawsuit filed by a former Sands employee who previously claimed prostitution was permitted on the Sands Macau property.
From Rueters:
Poker Pro Jonathan Aguiar Seeks Restraining Order Against Matt Marafioti After Bicycle Brawl
Jonathan Aguiar wants a restraining order against Matt Marafioti following Friday night’s brawl during the WPT Legends Tournament at the Bicycle
He tweeted:
Been told that if I got a restraining order against Matt he wouldn't be able to play any tournaments I play, is that a thing?
Multiple Top 10 FINNishes: Poker Phenom Ilari ‘Ilari FIN’ Sahamies Double Dips
As if finishing in 2nd place at the 2012 EPT Barcelona and winning €629,700 weren’t enough, Finnish poker phenom Ilari "Ilari FIN" Sahamies also managed to clean up online over the past week.
Earlier in the week, Sahamies managed a 4th place finish in the EPT Barcelona Super High Roller event to take away €291,900.
Finnish Poker Pro Jens 'Jeans89' Kyllönen Buys In for Virgin Galactic Space Travel
Finnish poker pro Jens 'Jeans89' Kyllönen is looking to become only the third person from that Scandinavian nation to travel into space.
Kyllönen recently offered up a mere $200,000 for his Virgin Galactic space journey.
“Space has always fascinated me. The first opportunity to try out one of the first space flight, I took the opportunity,” Kyllönen said.
Mikalai Pobal Wins 2012 EPT Barcelona Poker Tournament for €1,007,550
Belarus player Mikalai Pobal won Spain’s biggest ever poker tournament today and a massive first prize of €1,007,550. The 28-year-old from Minsk beat Ilari “Ziigmund” Sahamies heads-up with Aces after outlasting a record-breaking field of 1,082 players at EPT Barcelona, the debut event of EPT Season 9. As well as his Champion’s title, cash prize and trophy, Pobal also wins a stunning Slyde watch from luxury Swiss brand HD3, the Official Watch Sponsor for EPT9 Main Events.
Laurent Polito Wins 2012 EPT Barcelona €10,000 High Roller Event
Surprise winners are part and parcel of major poker tournaments, but they tend to be rarer in High Roller events.
Jonathan Aguiar on Matt Marafioti Brawl: ‘How is Anyone Surprised I Didn’t Fight Back’
A brawl between poker pros Matt Marafioti and Jonathan Aguiar at the famed Bicycle Casino Friday afternoon could result in a lifetime ban for Aguiar, according to witness David “Doc” Sands.
The player tweeted:
Poker Pros Matt Marafioti and Jonathan Aguiar Fight at WPT Legends: Security Dispatched
A near fist fight broke out this afternoon at the WPT Legends event between two controversial poker pros, Matt Marafioti and Jonathan “ADZ” Aguiar. Both had to be escorted out of the famed Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, California just as the event was getting underway this August 24.
(Ad: Poker, Sports Betting at BetDSI.com)
2012 EPT Barcelona Final Table has Ilari ‘Ziigmund’ Sahamies Chip Leader
Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies leads EPT Barcelona final. Student Samuel Rodriguez, from Barcelona, is second in chips - he won his seat in a €50 re-buy on PokerStars.
A total of 1,082 players entered the €5,000 tourney, creating a total prize pool of €5,247,700; 160 places are being paid. The winner gets €1,007,550 plus an amazing Slyde watch from HD3.
Disgraced Former Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano Turns to Poker to Pay for $25k Theft
Former Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano wants to repay $25,000 he stole from his department through the sale of wood carved poker chip trays.
Solano, 48, plead guilty last year to five counts of felony fraud in connection with the illegal sale of county property that included bullet proof vests and gun holsters. He served six weeks in jail.
"I'm trying to just do everything right and pay back the restitution that is required of me," Solano told the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper. "I'm trying to go back to some sense of normalcy with my family, life and everything."
Reno Nevada’s Atlantis Casino Resort Spa Among Those That Get First Online Poker License
Monarch Casino & Resort Inc, owners of Reno Nevada’s Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, received final approval to operate an online poker venture within the Silver State’s borders on Thursday. Las Vegas hotel and casino, South Point, and Global Cash Assets Holdings were also granted a license by the state Gaming Commission.
Ilari Sahamies €2,000 All Day Massage at EPT Barcelona Gets Him Close to Final (Video)
Finland’s online poker phenom is making a run for the live event at this year’s EPT Barcelona. Ilari Sahamies was one of a lucky 13 still remaining after Thursday’s play.
Sahamies made the best of it, spending €2,000 (plus tip) on an all-day massage.
The high stakes Finn has €29,400 locked up with a solid shot at the €1,007,550 title, so what’s €2,000?
Lynn Gilmartin caught up with the Finn during the break to discuss the EPT Barcelona event and talk a little more about that expensive massage.
Scroll Down For Video
South Point Poker, Monarch Interactive Given Final Approval to Operate Online Poker in Nevada
LAS VEGAS — (Associated Press) - Nevada gambling regulators have approved three companies' plans to participate in Internet poker sites accessible only within state boundaries, although the sites themselves have a few hurdles to clear.
The Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday approved South Point Poker LLC for the state's first interactive gambling operator's license. Reno-based Monarch Interactive Inc. was also licensed as an operator.
The Las Vegas Sun reports Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc., was licensed to provide online payment services.
Swedish Poker Pros Held at Gunpoint in Casino Cosmopol: Others Extorted, Murdered
A number of Sweden’s most prominent poker pros have become victims of extortion plots, armed robbery and even murder.
Ilari Sahamies, John Juanda Still Going Strong at 2012 EPT Barcelona: Faceless Man Leads
Two of the bigger names in poker today, Ilari Sahamies and John Juanda, were among the top 5 chip leaders at the 2012 EPT Barcelona event with just over 40 players remaining Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile, a relative unknown Spanish player, Marco Fernandez, continued through the afternoon as the EPT Barcelona chip leader.
Fernandez came under fire earlier in the week after one participating player took to Twitter complaining about not liking Fernandez appearance. He’s basically faceless, playing with his hood up with a zipper that covers his eyes.
Player Verify Applies for Nevada Online Gambling License
Online poker sites in Nevada have 30 days after a player registers to collect detailed identifying information about that player. The policy is known as Know Your Customer, or KYC, and it can be especially problematic for gambling sites that lack the verification tools to properly conduct KYC activities. But with Player Verify’s recent application for a Nevada online poker service provider license, KYC will soon become simple and accurate for Nevada-based online poker companies.
Poker Pro Jen Harman to Star in New Reality TV Series on TLC ‘Vegas High Rollers’
A new reality TV show on the American cable network The Learning Channel (TLC) will chronicle the lives of five high-powered women in Las Vegas, including professional poker player Jennifer Harman.
The show, called "Vegas High Rollers," is set to debut later this year, TLC announced.
61 Players Return for Day 5 of 2012 EPT Barcelona
Czech PokerStars qualifier Antonin Duda is chip leader for Day 4 of the €5,000 EPT Barcelona Main Event. Economics student Duda, 25, won his seat in a €22 re-buy satellite on PokerStars.com and bagged up 1,470,000 this evening.
Poker Player Nancy Todd Submits 121,503 More Signatures for Arkansas Casino Measure
By ANDREW DeMILLO, Associated Press
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Associated Press) - A professional poker player who wants to put a casino legalization measure on the ballot has submitted more signatures to state election officials. But it's unclear whether she'll be able to put her proposal before voters this fall.
PokerStars Founder Isai Scheinberg Could See Charges Dropped in Wake of Poker Ruling
Following a New York federal judge ruling proclaiming poker as a “game of skill” and not “gambling” under current federal legislation, there is talk that charges against PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg could soon be dropped.
Scheinberg founded what is today the world’s largest “real money” online poker room the very day the World Trade Centers were under attack in New York City, September 11, 2011.
John Juanda Leads After Day 2 of EPT Barcelona 2012
There are 207 survivors coming back for Day 3 of the €5,000 EPT Barcelona Main Event from the 600 players who started Day 2.
John Juanda is the chip leader. Juanda, one of the game's established stars, has numerous six-figure scores across the world - one of them coming on the EPT in London, where he finished runner-up to David Vamplew in September 2010
Breaking News: Federal Judge in New York Rules Poker a ‘Game of Skill’
A Federal judge in New York has ruled poker a “game of skill” Tuesday.
For some time the federal government has insisted poker is a “game of chance” and, as such, should be made illegal under the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
Heartland Poker Tour Returns to Lumière Place and River City Casino End of September
When Heartland Poker Tour first stopped at the top two casinos in St.
Punta Cana Poker Classic Revamps Website
Representatives for the Punta Cana Poker Classic (PCPC) announced today the complete overhaul of their website Punta Cana Poker Classic.
