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.
PokerStars Announces New Pricing Structure for Some Games
Responding to the current business environment, the world’s largest online poker company, PokerStars, has announced a series of revised pricing for select games that go into effect March 28, 2016.
Key pricing changes include:
• Spin & Go rake will be increased by one percentage point for buy-ins from $1 to $30 (two percentage points in $3 buy-in). $0.25, $60 and $100 buy-ins will not change.
More Players Flocking to Americas Cardroom Thanks to Elite Benefits Program
San Jose, Costa Rica – The traffic spike at Americas Cardroom over the last few months has been attributed to many things — the Freebuy Super Series, an upgraded welcome package, and other innovations. But it turns out that one of its longest-running incentives is what’s making Americas Cardroom a player-magnet.
Americas Cardroom Begins Offering $50 Tournament Bucks For Free
Upon making your initial deposit of $25 or more, Americas Cardroom will load your account with 25 cards each worth between 1 and 6 Tournament Bucks that you can find in the rewards section of the poker client.
Here’s how it works: Simply login each day between 00:00:00 ET and 23:59:59 ET for the first 25 days to open up your card of the day (each card has a specific date). Rewards > Special Offers > $50 Free Tourney Bucks Make sure you have the latest Internet Explorer installed on your computer.
HPT Returns to Belterra Casino Resort With Vanessa Rousso
The popular television show Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) is returning to Belterra Casino Resort for a 12-day poker series that will culminate with an $1,100 (buy-in) nationally televised Main Event. You can get in on the action for as little as $60.
For a full schedule and more information, visit www.hptpoker.com. This will mark the fourth time Belterra has hosted an HPT series. In the first three visits more than $1.1 million dollars in prize money was awarded to participating poker players.
Daniel Negreanu: ‘Zero Chance Trump Becomes President’
In a new interview with Pokerlistings, Daniel Negreanu shares his thoughts on the 2016 presidential primary election.
Amaya to Launch PokerStars in New Jersey in March
Amaya on Thursday announced that it expects to initially launch its PokerStars brand in New Jersey on Monday, March 21, 2016.
The launch quickly follows the September 2015 authorization by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (the “DGE”) to operate the PokerStars and Full Tilt brands in the State. Amaya currently expects to conduct an interim testing period with the DGE and a beta period for a limited player base beginning in mid-March.
Americas Cardroom Offering 25 Days of Free Tournament Bucks
San Jose, Costa Rica – Whoever said there are no guarantees in life might want to pay attention to Americas Cardroom’s latest Welcome Package boost. The US-facing online poker site today announced an enhancement to its Welcome Package that will see all first time depositors earn between $1 and $6 in Tournament Bucks per day for 25 straight days. Players must log in daily to click on the card to determine their prize.
Bilzerian, Perkins Up Ante on 48 Hour LA to Vegas Bike Trip Bet: Now $1.2 Mil
On February 17 hedge fund manager Bill Perkins entered into a $600,000 wager with Instagram King and poker playboy Dan Bilzerian that he would be unable to bike from Los Angeles, California to Las Vegas, Nevada in under 48 hours.
Perkins initially made this tweet:
Just bet @DanBilzerian he can't bike from his house to the past Vegas sign in 48 hrs her has until March 31st to start
Bilzerian responded with a tweet of his own, saying that the distance was 278 miles and that he hasn't been on a bike in 18 years.
2016 World Series of Poker Schedule Released
The 2016 World Series of Poker Schedule has been released and includes a number of changes that are explored below.
Places Paid: The majority of bracelet (and Deepstack) events will now payout 15 percent of the field, up 50% from what was WSOP standard. The minimum payout is expected to be one-and-a-half times the buy-in.
In the Money Earlier: With payouts increasing, many events are expected to reach the money on Day 1.
PokerStars Former Owners Won’t Release $300 Million in Escrow Monies
Amaya’s fight against a potential $870m payout to the Commonwealth of Kentucky has taken another turn after PokerStars former owner, the Rational Group, refused to allow $300m held in escrow to be retained against the potential fine. The Rational Group was founded by Israeli-Canadian Isai Scheinberg.
Borgata Finds New Online Poker Partner in GAN
Atlantic City’s Borgata Casino has ended its relationship with Bwin.party and joined forces with UK-based GAN, formerly known as GameAccount Network. Through GAN, Borgata will continue to offer online poker and casino games to residents and visitors of New Jersey.
Since its inception, the Borgata online poker site has ranked as the biggest revenue generator in the state.
Eureka Poker Tour Makes Return to Czech Republic March 2016
The Eureka Poker Tour makes a return to Rozvadov, Czech Republic in March 2016, kicking off the sixth season of Central and Eastern European’s premier live poker tour.
EPT12 Dublin Main Event Final
In the past twelve months, Polish pro Dzmitry Urbanovich has amazed the international poker community with a string of extraordinary feats, including winning four events at EPT11 Malta in March, a runner-up finish in the €100k Super High Roller at the EPT11 Grand Final in May and becoming EPT11 Player of the Year aged only 19. He's now celebrating yet another incredible achievement with his first EPT Main Event final table appearance.
The $150k GTD Free-to-Enter Freebuy Super Series is Back!
In case you were wondering, you did read the “free-to-enter” part of the headline correctly. The Freebuy Super Series is back at Americas Cardroom for the third time and set to play from February 26th through March 6th, 2016.
Anna Khait Becomes 4th Poker Player to Compete on ‘Survivor’
When professional poker player Anna Khait, 26, (pictured third from left) made the cast of "Survivor: Kaoh Rong" (which debuted Wed. 8 p.m on WCBS) she told producers she worked as a cocktail waitress in an Atlantic City casino, according to the New York Daily News, which went on to characterize Khait as a “master strategists”.
“I didn’t tell anyone I was a poker player,” said Khait, who cashed out 6th in the Borgata Spring Poker Open 2013.
Poker Pro Phil Galfond Calls Out Samuel Touil as a ‘Scammer’
Who is Samuel Touil? Apparently he’s a scamming poker player. At least that’s what pro Phil Galfond would lead us to believe, and he has a podium at PokerNews.com to shout this from the mountain.
Touil is a French player who has enjoyed nominal success on the live poker circuit, raking in just over $30,000.
‘Mob Controlled’ Dollaro Online Poker Firm Out of Italian Authority’s Control
Despite raids that commenced last month, the online poker network Dollaro continues to operate in Italy.
Italian regulator AAMS says there is little it can do to stop the site from continuing to offer its services.
Authorities there claim the company has ties to Italy’s Mafia.
“The illegal business leaders were captured, but the site is still functioning and accessible: I do not know why but it is a matter beyond our control and that can be repeated,” said head of remote gaming at AAMS Francesco Rodano.
Poker Pro Found Dead in Amsterdam Canal Had Mobile Stolen
An investigation continues into the death of a young British poker player, Richard Cole.
The 30-year-old was found drowned in an Amsterdam canal after being reported missing late last month. Dogs picked up on his scent days later.
This weekend it was reported that Dutch police are in search of the individual(s) who were seen in surveillance video stealing Cole’s mobile phone the night of his drowning. Law enforcement has stopped short of ruling his death foul play, however.
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Justice Scalia Was a Poker Player and Gambler Who Bet on Length of Speeches
Justice Anonin Scalia was a revered man, no matter whether you agreed with his primarily conservative views or not.
Scalia passed away unexpectedly in his sleep Friday night at the age of 79.
What many did not know about the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court is that he had been a poker player.
Oddly enough though, as revealed in a riveting New York Magazine interview with the man, Scalia says he did not even know what a poker tell is.
UK and Ireland Poker Tour Main Event Season 5 Final Table Set
The final table is set for the last UK and Ireland Poker Tour Main Event of Season 5.
It took just under six hours today to eliminate two thirds of the returning Day 3 players at the Royal Dublin Society and set Adalsteinn Karlsson as narrow chip leader.
Day 3 of the €1,000 + €100 UKIPT5 Dublin Main Event (1,002 players representing 50 countries, with a total prizepool of €971,940) brought the narrowest of leads for Karlsson, an Icelandic computer programmer and world traveller who has been living on-and-off in Thailand for the last four years.
Sheltered by a Heavy Set Jewish Mum, Sorel Mizzi Insists ‘I’m Not The Person I Was In The Past’
Canadian poker pro Sorel Mizzi has surfaced following accusations that he may have been caught cheating (again). While nothing has been proven, Mizzi’s past improprieties resulted in the popular TwoPlusTwo.com forum lighting up with speculation. Moderators have since locked the thread, while allowing it to remain. The foregone conclusion being there is no smoking gun.
Liv Boeree Gets Dragged Into Alleged Sorel Mizzi Cheating Brouhaha
The allegations that Sorel Mizzi may have been caught cheating again were first posted on 2+2 by a brand new account "StillDoingIt", obviously set up in order to "out" Mizzi once again as a serial cheater. The post(s) contain circumstantial evidence which doesn't exactly offer "proof", but certainly sounds credible or at least plausible, and name-checks other pros being aware of the alleged situation.
What is the Duel By PokerStars App?
One of the bigger headlines this week had to do with PokerStars launching a new app called Duel By PokerStars.
And what exactly is Duel by PokerStars?
The game is based on Heads Up No Limit Texas Hold’em, the world’s most popular poker game. It allows an individual to challenge players anytime and anywhere from either an Android or iOS compatible device.
PornHub.com Enters Online Poker Industry
Porn portal PornHub.com announced last week it had entered the online poker industry. The site will also feature online roulette, blackjack and even strip poker.
From the Huffington Post:
$150,000 Freebuy Super Series Returns for a Third Time on Feb. 26th
San Jose, Costa Rica – The old expression says there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but those people clearly never heard of Americas Cardroom.
The US-facing online poker site today announced that the popular $150,000 Freebuy Super Series will return for a third time from Friday, February 26th through Sunday March 6th. All the tournaments in the 10-day series are free-to-enter with $0 buy-ins, while offering real money prize pools.
Amaya Chairman Offers Board Buyout - Who is David Baazov?
David Baazov, chairman and CEO of Amaya Inc., the Montreal-based parent company of PokerStars, has offered to buy out all other shareholders for $21 per share in cash. That’s 40 per cent above this past Friday’s closing price.
The company’s board has set up a special committee, headed by lead independent director Dave Gadhia, to review any formal proposal brought forward by chairman-CEO David Baazov and any other alternatives.
Americas Cardroom Gives Away Free Bets for Super Bowl Sunday
San Jose, Costa Rica – Before football players take the field in Santa Clara on February 7th, poker players are invited to take down the felt at Americas Cardroom to claim their free sportsbook bet.
Did a Russian Bot Make Out Big at PokerStars TCOOP Event?
The Turbo Championship of Online Poker (TCOOP) Event #8 has everybody in the online poker community talking as one of the players is suspected of being a Russian bot.
Ultimately a real player going by the name LuckboxStami walked off with the $48,042 but many taking part in the tournament have alleged another "player" IvanHaldi is the bot in question, failing to respond to human required commands.
Oh, and did we mention IvanHaldi won a cool $34,802 for “his” second place finish?
(Below is the actual suspect chat screen shot)
Sam Trickett New Brand Ambassador for Indian Online Poker Room StarPoker.In
The nation of India with its more than 1.4 billion people has begun to position itself as a top online poker power house.
India-based online poker room StarPoker.In has just announced the appointment of big name poker pro Sam Trickett as its new ambassador.
Phil Ivey Launches Daily Fantasy Sports Site: PhilIveyDFS.com
One of the most successful professional poker players, Phil Ivey, was set to launch his very own Daily Fantasy Sports site, PhilIveyDFS.com
Ad: Bet Live In-Play, Up to $2500 Free Cash at Bookmaker, Since 1986
The site will be hosted on the iTeam Network, a DFS turnkey platform, next month (February 2016).
