Poker
Everleaf Gaming Skin Luvin Poker: ‘DOJ Did Not Seize Our Funds’
In what has been a hectic and harrowing 48 hours for customers of the Everleaf Gaming Network, finally some clarity came from Jennifer Winters, a spokesperson for what is widely believed to be the network’s second largest room, Luvin Poker.
Winters sent out an email to customers of the online card room essentially denying initial reports that the Department of Justice had seized the company’s funds as previously reported.
Music Execs Streaming Pirated NFL Games as DOJ Seizes Hundreds of Similar Websites
The music industry has been behind a massive push to knock file sharing and download websites offline while engaging in the same practice they condemn last week.
VEVO, a music portal owned by a few major record labels in the US reportedly had a pirated NFL playoff game playing on screens throughout its ‘PowerStation’ venue at last week’s Sundance festival, according to TechCrunch.
2012 LSOP Online Poker Satellites Now Running
The 2012 LSOP online poker satellites were running at Americas Cardroom, one of a handful of online poker room partners that will be sponsoring this summer event in Lima, Peru.
World Poker Exchange Shuts Down
In an ominous sign of things to come at World Sports Exchange, the struggling online poker site’s World Poker Exchange has announced it is closing its doors for good.
WSEX.com has engaged in slow payouts over the past two years and is believed to owe players close to one million dollars.
At last check, the online poker room only had an average of 10 reach cash players at any given time during the week.
The following message was sent out to customers and affiliates on Friday.
Churchill Downs Buys Bluff Media
Churchill Downs Incorporated announced today that it acquired the assets of Bluff Media, an Atlanta-based multimedia poker content, brand and publishing company. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
Bluff Media's assets include:
-- the industry-leading poker periodical, BLUFF Magazine;
-- BLUFF Magazine's online counterpart, BluffMagazine.com;
-- ThePokerDB, a comprehensive online database and resource that tracks and ranks the performance of poker players and tournaments;
Golden Nugget Latest to Launch Free-Play Online Poker Site With ChiliGaming
The Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas will be the second Sin City property to launch a free-to-play online poker site in so many months.
Agreement Made to Add Internet Poker to Payroll Tax Extension Bill
A tweet by the highly reputable gaming news media outfit GlobalGamingBiz reveals that an amendment to legalize Internet poker in the U.S. is heading for attachment to the upcoming Payroll Tax Extension legislation.
The tweet was made during the early AM hours.
Online Gambling Foe Spencer Bachus Subject of Insider-Trading Probe
One of the online gambling industry’s most outspoken opponents, Republican Spencer Bachus of Alabama, is being investigated as part of an insider-trading probe.
From Market Watch:
Jon Kyl on Legal Internet Poker in US: ‘Quite Possibly Something Will be Done’
In an interview with the National Journal conducted recently, Arizona Republican Senator Jon Kyl revealed that he and Senate Majority Leader Democrat Harry Reid are in discussions on how to get Internet poker legalized in the US.
Full Tilt Poker Suitors Now Having Doubts: Postpone Re-Launch Date
French firm Group Bernard Tapie (GBT) is now doubting the viability of Full Tilt Poker, once the second largest online poker room in the world.
The company revealed FTP’s financial woes were much worse than originally believed. Group Bernard Tapie accuses Full Tilt Poker pros of owing approximately $17 million to the firm.
Everleaf Leaves US Market
The Everleaf Poker Network has left the US market and there are questions regarding the solvency of this poker network and whether customers in the rest of the world are safe playing here.
While a representative from Everleaf’s largest online poker skin, MintedPoker, suggested on Thursday that this is due to the current legal environment, others have speculated that the company could be having cash flow issues, perhaps brought on by a payment processor shutdown. It should be noted that Everleaf has been slow paying customers outside the US over the past month.
Oversight Hearing on the U.S. Department of Justice Opinion on Internet Gambling Recap
An Oversight Hearing on the U.S. Department of Justice Opinion on Internet Gambling was held Thursday afternoon.
When it comes to legalized online poker in the US, Chairman Akara said “Tribal casinos concerns must be considered (before legalizing).”
Vegas Stripped: South Point Casino Reality TV Show Debuts on Travel Channel (Video)
Vegas Stripped debuted on the Travel Channel last night (February 8, 2012) at 10 pm PST. It is a reality show that looks behind the scenes of the inner workings of Las Vegas’ South Point Casino.
Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Makes Out Big With Caesars IPO...And Wynn?
Among those who benefitted from Wednesday’s debut of Caesars Entertainment on the Nasdaq trading platform was none other than New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
While Kraft may have suffered a pretty huge loss Sunday, his luck changed with the Caesars IPO and his $1.3 million stake. Shares rose dramatically Wednesday afternoon.
Poker Pro Mike Matusow Denies $700k Full Tilt Poker Debt Accusations
This week, the French suitors who are looking to acquire Full Tilt Poker blame its pros for essentially “holding up the deal”. Those pros include the likes of Mike Matusow.
Mr. Matusow has since gone on the defensive, blasting the Groupe Bernard Tapie (GBT) claims that he personally owes $700,000 while the total debt amongst pros sits at a staggering $16.5 million. Groupe Bernard Tapie says it planned to purchase the now shuttered FTP for $80 million.
Rick Santorum Against Online Gambling: ‘Dangerous for Our Country’ (Video)
Last week when it was learned the US Republican Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum came out against legalized online gambling, this appeared to be a nonissue. After all, candidate Mitt Romney already had the nomination “in the bag” with Newt Gingrich “that other guy” who “might be standing in the way with his Southern states stronghold”.
Lobbyist Claims Harry Reid Poised to Attach Online Poker Bill to Upcoming Payroll Tax Extension
An article discussing plans to legalize online poker and the potential for decreased funding for lottery scholarships makes reference to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s plans to attach a measure to the upcoming Unemployment payroll tax bill later this month.
It is widely believed that the Congress is working hard to get something passed prior to the introduction of legislation at the state level.
Oversight Hearing on the U.S. Department of Justice Opinion on Internet Gambling Live Webcast
Those wishing to follow today’s Oversight Hearing on the U.S. Department of Justice Opinion on Internet Gambling will be able to do so at 2:15 pm EST via the Web here. *Note: The hearing has commenced as of 2:47 pm EST. This hearing is taking place February 9 2012.
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing for Internet Gambling in US: Witness List Released
On Thursday February 9, 2012, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold an oversight hearing entitled, “The U.S. Department of Justice Opinion on Internet Gaming: What's at Stake for Tribes?” The hearing is a third in a series that started late last year to study Internet gambling and its potential impact on U.S. consumers and the overall economy. This particular hearing will focus on the impact of Tribal gambling in the States.
888, Everest, Chilipoker and Titan Blacklisted in Belgium
The Belgium government has blacklisted online gambling firms 888, Everest, Chilipoker and Titan as part of its new regulatory policy.
Caesars Begins Trading Wednesday: Goes Public and Floated with 1.4 Million Shares
Casino giant Caesars Entertainment Corp. went public on Wednesday (February 8, 2012), with its stock price surging 71 percent after completing an initial public offering.
The IPO was significantly reduced from its 2010 attempt.
Poker Game Stripper Turned Bank Robber to Enter Plea Deal
Lee Grace Dougherty, one of three siblings charged with robbing a Georgia bank and firing at a police officer, has reached a plea deal agreement with prosecutors on Wednesday.
PokerStars Granted Belgium License
The world’s largest online poker room, PokerStars, will now be able to operate from Belgium.
Sex Offender Michael DeVita Ordered to be Compensated by Palms Casino Resort
The Nevada Gambling Control Board has order the Palms Casino Resort to compensate poker player Michael DeVita $18,500 after he was prevented from playing in the Epic Poker tournament main event.
Organizers learned that DeVita was a registered sex offender. DeVita denied claims made by organizers that he had voluntarily elected to drop out of the main event.
Quadjacks.com, which first broke the story regarding the NGCB ruling, offered DeVita’s side of the story this past September.
Iowa Online Poker Bill to be Introduced Later This Month
The state of Iowa plans to introduce legislation later this month that looks to make online poker legal within its borders.
State Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls, chairman of the Iowa Senate's State Government Committee, said he plans to introduce the bill this month. Iowans, he claims, were spending close to $100 million outside the state on online poker.
"We essentially right now have a do-nothing policy by default," he said.
Video Poker Kingpin Gets Three Years Behind Bars
Video poker magnate Casey Szaflarski was sentenced on Tuesday to more than three years behind bars for running an illegal gambling operation.
Berndsen12 Battles Isildur1: Wins $299k
Online poker player Sander “Berndsen12” Berndsen has been in a heated battle with Swedish sensation Isildur1, whose real name is Viktor Blom.
The Dutch pro Berndsen claimed $299k Monday night.
Here is how it all went down, courtesy of HighStakesDB.com:
PartyPoker has Biggest Cushion Between It and iPoker Network Since Summer
PartyPoker has pulled far ahead of the iPoker Network to take firm control of the number two spot for most trafficked online poker rooms in the world. Since the shut down of Full Tilt Poker last June, Party and iPoker have alternated between the number two and three spot. Until recently, the highest peak difference between the two rooms was around 250 average real cash players.
Federal Judge Won’t Dismiss 'Black Friday' Online Poker Charges
Federal Judge Lewis Kaplan on Tuesday refused requests to dismiss all the government’s counts against John Campos, a former vice-chairman of a St. George, Utah bank that allegedly accepted cash infusions on behalf of three major online poker companies: PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and UB.com/Absolute Poker. Another payment processor, Chad Elie, is also charged and set to go on trial with Campos next month.
Zynga Rigging Poker Games?
The world’s largest online poker room, Zynga Poker, is being accused of rigging poker games.
The free-to-play poker application came under fire on social news website Reddit.com by a former contractor.
From PokerUpdate.com:
