Filip Verboven has won the Unibet Open Prague main event in the Czech Republic capital.
The €1,500 + €150 buy in event attracted 254 players creating a prize pool of €377,190. Verboven, from Belgium, took home €100,000 for his victory over Ruggerio Scommegna.
The fainl table payouts were:
1: Filip Verboven — €100,000
2: Ruggerio Scommegna — €56,600
3: Stieven Razab-Sekh — €37,700
4: Jan Grajzel — €30,200
5: Gerret Van Lancker — €24,500
6: Tomasz Kozub — €20,700
7: Hans Sybrandi — €17,000
8: Dan Murariu — €13,200
9: Flavien Guenan — €9,400
Gaming experts LiveCasino.co.uk are predicting that 2012 will see the continuing growth of a phenomenon that has taken the world of online gaming by storm in recent times -- the live casino.
The trend, which merges the clear advantages of the online casino experience with an authentic taste of a real life bricks and mortar casino, has gone from strength to strength since it first began to emerge four years ago. As advancements in technology continue to bring with them greater potential for a more atmospheric online casino experience it seems the live phenomenon is set to become far more than a passing fad.
A spokesperson for LiveCasino.co.uk said: "When live casinos first appeared there was a sense in the industry that this was a neat but superficial idea that would probably pass. In fact, with advanced graphics and video streaming enabling an ever more immersive experience, it's clear that the future of gaming online is live. Why go back to a pale, graphically limited imitation of the real thing when you can have, well, the real thing?!"
The concept of the live casino is straightforward enough: Games use a video link to a real life dealer who oversees the game live. So, whilst a gamer can participate from the comfort of their living room, in every other respect the game proceeds exactly as it would in a real casino. It's a simple but inspired hybrid.
No wonder then that LiveCasino.co.uk estimate the number of live casinos to have risen from 15 in 2008 to 140 in 2012.
The spokesperson for LiveCasino.co.uk does, however, issue a caveat: "This explosion in the number of live casinos means that a little caution is sensible. With so many new live casinos springing up you really must make sure your experience is both entirely safe and as fulfilling as is possible.
Inevitably there will be a number of opportunist sites looking to cash in on the phenomenon with poor and potentially unsafe offerings. At LiveCasino.co.uk we've made it our business to guide you towards trustworthy sites and some of the best offers going. We want everyone to see just how exciting the live casino experience can be."
For all your live casino needs including a wealth of information on live roulette, live blackjack and live baccarat -- as well as some of the best deals going, visit LiveCasino.co.uk
A Wall Street gaming analyst told investors Friday that debate over federal legislation that would legalize Internet poker has most likely been pushed into 2013 after lawmakers didn't attach an online gaming bill to the payroll tax cut extension.
However, Macquarie Securities gaming analyst Chad Beynon said in a research report that Nevada stands to benefit from the inaction because it may be the only state that allows Americans to gamble online this year.
Earlier this week, Nevada gaming regulators finalized the state's minimum internal control standards for interactive gaming, which could become effective in a month.
"We think the standards were written in a way that will allow for small adjustments as the process moves forward," Beynon told investors. "At this point, no firm date has been set, but 13 companies have now submitted for an operating license."
On Thursday, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., ended speculation that online poker legislation would be attached to a bill that renewed the payroll tax cut through the end of the year. Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, did not give a reason Internet poker legalization was omitted from the bill.
The payroll tax cut was approved Friday by Congress and sent to President Barack Obama for his signature.
Beynon said the major gaming operators and suppliers would continue to push for federal legalization of Internet poker because they believe Washington D.C., is better equipped than individual states to regulate online gambling.
He thought gaming companies looking to break into the online wagering field in the United States would look in two directions: Nevada, which has the laws in place, and social gaming on various "play for fun" sites.
"Nevada's Gaming Control Board continues to methodically roll out legalized intrastate gaming and we believe their regulatory board has a great handle on what's to come," Beynon said.
Also, he expects New Jersey, Iowa and California to adopt online gaming legislation this year. He expects other states and "potentially the federal government" to use Nevada's Internet gaming regulations as a template for further legalization.
Three social media gaming site's -- Zynga's Texas HoldEm Poker, Slotomania, which operated by Playtika through an agreement with Caesars Entertainment Corp., and Double Down Casino on Facebook, which is being acquired by International Game Technology -- draw more than 1 million daily users each, Beynon said.
The Double Down website has also been under construction at times because of what Beynon said are additional changes IGT is making.
"Currently, multiplayer blackjack and roulette, slot machines and video poker are available, but we expect additional slot games as well as community poker games to be added in the near term," Beynon said.
Washington, D.C., insiders speculate Internet poker legislation could resurface during Congress' lame duck session after November's presidential election. Two years ago, Reid and Arizona Republican Sen. John Kyl tried to push Internet poker legalization during the lame duck session.
Whatever shape or form Internet poker legalization takes, Beynon said Nevada gaming companies will benefit.
He said Caesars Entertainment, which owns the World Series of Poker, could be well-positioned if the U.S. were to push through some type of regional pooling or federal legislation.
Beynon said land-based casino operators, such as Caesars, MGM Resorts International and Boyd Gaming Corp., have the best opportunity with state gaming legislation, depending on how the laws are written. Lottery vendors also would benefit because they have existing infrastructure and state contracts.
"In both cases, we believe slot vendors would be able to generate fees from both content licensing and platform design, but we note that, with a piecemeal rollout, initial revenue and profits may be minimal," Beynon said.
A Senate subcommittee on Monday approved a bill designed to legalize online poker in Iowa and bring it under state regulation.
Approval came despite warnings from opponents that computer-based gaming is highly addictive and likely would usher in full-blown online gambling that will be available at Iowans’ finger tips via a myriad of hand-held electronic devices.
“This is just the beginning,” said Danny Carroll, a Family Leader official and former state lawmaker.
He asked the three-member Senate panel to consider Iowa families and the impact more gambling will have before the senators voted to send Senate Study Bill 3164 to the Senate State Government Committee, which could consider it as early as Wednesday.
“The people of Iowa do not want it,” he said, citing Iowa and national polls indicating a plurality of opposition to legalizing online poker.
Carroll said a better message would be to publicly declare online poker as a dangerous game that should not be played and to offer Iowa as a place where families could come with an assurance it would not be offered here.
Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Waterloo, said, however, that prohibition has failed in other areas and the preferred approach is to bring an illegal wagering activity estimated at between $30 million and $100 million annually under state regulation to protect Iowans and attempt to curb underage players.
“Today the policy is do nothing by default,” Danielson said, noting the “wild, wild West” environment of unregulated online poker is further complicated by a vague federal approach to the topic.
The proposed legislation would authorize the creation of an online poker network and provide a regulatory structure for its implementation, operation and taxation. The bill would allow intrastate, interstate and international arrangements, and the expansion would operate under the state’s current gaming fee structure, he said.
Competing hub operators would be able to partner with state-licensed casinos under the control of the state Racing and Gaming Commission to operate affiliated online sites for registered players ages 21 and older who are within Iowa’s borders at the time they are playing. Danielson said out-of-state residents would be able to go to an Iowa casino, establish an account and play during the time they were in Iowa.
“We have it out there. It needs to be controlled,” said Sen. Wally Horn, D-Cedar Rapids.
“I agree something has to be done at this point,” said Sen. Rick Bertrand, R-Sioux City. “I see this as an opportunity for Iowa to get out in front of this.”
Wes Ehrecke of the Iowa Gaming Association, an umbrella group that represents 18 state-regulated casinos, said his members generally are supportive of the concept, especially if there is no exclusivity offered to one hub operator. The group prefers passage of a federal law to address online gaming from a national perspective but, absent that, it generally favors a plan to allow Internet poker on the casinos’ “platform,” regulated by the state commission and with reciprocity to enter into partnerships with Nevada, the District of Columbia and other states that legalize the games.
Tom Chapman of the Iowa Catholic Conference said his group opposed the measure because of concerns that minors will have the creativity to participate in a “particularly dangerous” and addictive form of gambling.
“We do believe it will result in a greater number of people getting addicted to gambling,” he told subcommittee members.
Jonathan Ross is one of England’s best known television presenters and talk show hosts. Now, however, it looks like Ross is considering taking his talents to the poker tables after spending the day at home with a churning stomach.
Apparently, the 51 year-old was laid up in bed when he tweeted the following:
“Good evening. I have been in bed most of the day, sick. If you are a poker player, which is the best online site to play on? I am learning.”
Soon after, Ross got a reply back from his showbiz pal and top UK poker player Victoria Coren, who is currently ranked 12th overall on the ‘Women’s All Time Money List’ with $1,476,666 in winnings. Vicky wrote:
“I am OFFENDED you think only Twitter can help you here..! *tsk* Your first answer is PokerStars. Do email any further questions…x”
To which Ross replied:
“..many thanks will try a few hands then retire when i am the king of poker😡 The crown will be mine, oh yes…”
Not surprisingly, PokerStars themselves didn’t waste any time then trying to court their potential new celebrity recruit, tweeting:
“@wossy we might be bias, but we think you’ll get the best with us! Also, you can download our iPhone app. Do you have a chip set yet?”
To which Ross replied:
” no! What is a chip set! If its anything like the Chipping Norton set you can keep it…”
Here Jonathan Ross was referring to a group of affluent, influential people located in and around the Prime Minster’ Oxfordshire constituency, to which PokerStars replied:
“haha! It’s a lovely shiny box, filled with beautiful poker chips & playing cards so that you can play with friends at home!”
Not wanting to miss the opportunity, top UK pro Neil Channing then invited Jonathan Ross to join his site Black Belt Poker, describing it as a “friendly community of players trying to improve.”
As of yet there have been no word as to how Ross got on, but it would be fun one day to see the highly entertaining presenter sitting down to a game with the likes of fellow motormouths Luke Schwartz, Tony G and Mike Matusow.
The final week of Bovada’s Cash PerSuit program is upon us and it’s your final chance to get big prizes just for playing poker like you normally do! Starting February 20th and running through February 26th, players that score a flush during Spades week automatically get entry into an exclusive $5,000 freeroll tournament, even if they don’t win the hand they’re playing. On top of the freerolls, Bovada’s offering cash bonuses and trips to Las Vegas to weekly winners!
Here's how the bonus cash works: if you're playing at Bovada, you're already in one of two player levels. Level 1 player earn 10 Bovada Poker Points on four out of seven days and receive a $15 bonus or earn 10 Bovada Poker Points on seven out of seven days to receive $20 extra. More serious players may find themselves hitting Level 2: earn 25 Bovada Poker Points on four out of seven days and you’ll receive a $25 bonus and earning 25 Bovada Poker Points on seven out of seven days can get you $30 in extra cash for your bankroll.
To make it even sweeter, once you've made it to the first prize level, you're automatically entered into the weekly Cash PerSuit draw where you can win a $3,000 trip to Las Vegas.
So, to recap: a $5,000 freeroll entry just for making a flush; extra money for your bankroll just for playing like you normally would and the possibility of winning a trip for Vegas? All in the same promotion? Of course you want more details, so visit the Bovada Cash PerSuit poker promo page and get started today — time’s running out and you can find yourself in Las Vegas sooner than you think!
The Bovada Black Diamond Poker Open is in full swing and the tournament series that gives online poker players more is waiting for you! Players with any size bankroll can compete for their share of prize pools totaling $750,000 thanks to satellites that start at just $1.
On top of the huge cash prizes up for grabs, Bovada’s offering players a chance to get up to $20 a week in blackjack chips, just for participating! Through March 6th, if you play in one satellite tournament, you earn $10 in chips. Play in two satellites, you get $15 and if you play in three satellite events, you can get $20.
The Black Diamond Poker Open features two levels of play: the Contender Series and the Championship Series. The Contender Series features over $100,000 in guaranteed online poker tournaments that have low to middle-range buy-ins, culminating in a $25,000 Guaranteed Main Event on Sunday, March 18.
Kicking off right after the Contender Series wraps up, the Championship Series is aimed at players with a bit more in their bankroll with mid to high-stakes online poker tournaments kicking off on Monday, March 19. Like the Contender series, the Championship Series is all leading up to a main event, but this one is massive: it's a $250,000 Guaranteed Tournament on Sunday, April 1st where the winner gets at least $50,000 and a Championship Watch worth $5,000.
Satellite tournaments for the Contender Series and the Championship Series are underway as we speak! Satellites start from $1 and players have over 2000 chances to qualify for the Contender and Championship Series with the array of events on the schedule. If you don't quality for the main events using the normal schedule, Bovada's also going to be holding Super Saturday Satellite Days the day before each Main Event. On Saturday, March 17th you can qualify for the Contender Main Event and on Saturday, March 31st, players can win their way into the Championship Main Event.
Want to get started? Visit Bovada's Black Diamond Poker Open page and get more details! In addition to the Black Diamond Poker Open, players can also get a bonus of up to $1,000 with their first deposit while enjoying the best player support in the business!
I want you to ask about online tournaments... Have you ever participated in them😟 did you ever win any thing? in short just want to know if the free price offers a true or not?
If you're up for a game of poker, you'll most likely call up some friends and meet at your house to shuffle up and deal, but in the state of Iowa poker players could soon have an online option.
The Iowa Senate's looking at a bill that would legalize internet poker, but some folks say that move could be a bit of a gamble.
This newest bill the Iowa Senate's looking at will be discussed starting Wednesday.
For the second time in two years, Iowa's looking at legalizing online poker.
Some Iowans are already playing illegally, but Iowa's Racing and Gaming Commission says making the game legal could cause another set of problems.
"Prevention of gambling of underage individuals, controls that would ensure that cheating and collusion didn't take place," says Brian Ohorilko, Director of Gaming for the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission.
The prospect of online gambling raises some questions, like: would legalized online gaming equal more Iowans dealing with addiction?
The folks at Sioux City's Jackson Recovery Center help people with gambling addictions, they say if online poker were legal we probably wouldn't see a spike in addictions, but people who are already addicted could be in trouble.
"Folks who do have a problem have a chance to make their problem bigger quicker, and there aren't as many avenues for that person to have interaction with other folks who can point them in the direction of places like Jackson where they can get some help," says Sarah Deck, Clinical Supervisor of Staff Development for Jackson Recovery Centers.
Another issue: when you're online those consequences, like losing a lot of money, don't feel real.
"There's no one that you actually hand a $20 bill to, you don't even have to touch your credit card every time, you just put a credit card number in and then you play and that can cause people to spend more money or to not really feel like its real money," says Deck.
Just a few questions as Iowa decides whether or not to gamble on online poker.
This next step for the bill is just a discussion, it could die in that committee, but it has to move on by this Friday.
Gambling addiction is no joke.
The folks over at Jackson Recovery say that if you're spending so much time, money and attention on gambling that it interferes with other areas of your life, that's a sign you might have a problem.
Irishman Emmett Mullin has taken the PokerStars UK & Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) €770 buy-in main event title in Galway’s Radisson Hotel.
The 26-year-old from County Tyrone enjoyed a fabulous run after qualifying for the tournament through a €55 satellite at poker website PokerStars, before seeing off 687 other players to take the top prize of €100,000 when defeating fellow Irishman Ronan Gilligan in their heads-up battle.
This huge cash – from his first major triumph – certainly overshadows the Omagh man’s previous biggest prize of €2,050 for taking 20th place at the UKIPT Dublin last September.
The online poker specialist, who is known as ‘mully_85’ at PokerStars, was certainly thrilled by his success, saying: “It’s unbelievable and hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s by far my biggest cash and winning the event is huge for me.”
Champion Enjoys ‘Buzz’ of Victory
Mullin added that, although it had “been a bit of a drain”, he was still enjoying the “buzz” of victory – and emphasised that he and some friends would be enjoying “a few drinks tonight”.
Galway’s Gilligan left with €73,650 for his second-place finish, while Englishman Joe Roberts took home €51,900 for third, Irishman Craig Burke picked up €30,750 in fourth, and Lithuanian Aleksandras Rusinovas cashed for €24,150 in fifth.
Places six to 10 were filled by another Irishman in John Willoughby, for €19,400 in sixth, Canadian two-time UKIPT champion Nick Abou Risk (seventh for €14,700), Englishman Richard Haile (eighth for €10,900), Dutchman Joris Ruijs (ninth for €7,800), and Northern Ireland’s Alan Gilmore (10th for €5,180).
The international field – which included players from 34 nations – produced a prize pool of €473,945 that even saw 81st placed Irishman Eamonn Kilkenny pick up €950 ($1,250) from the five-day event.
Mullin Wins Heads-up Battle of Irishmen
The tournament’s last hand saw 33-year-old Gilligan, on the button, raise to 200,000 and Mullin make the call.
The 6♠ 3♦ 2♣ flop saw Mullin check and Gilligan make a continuation bet of 400,000. However, Mullin then check-raised to 950,000, leading to Gilligan announcing all-in to show 7♠ 7♣ and be faced by his opponent’s 3♠ 3♥.
Mullin had flopped trip threes to be well ahead, leaving Gilligan requiring a seven to stay alive. The 10♦ then arrived on the turn to change nothing, as did the Q♣ on the river – and Mullin was the latest UKIPT champion.
Rematch Could Be On the Cards in Nottingham
These two opponents could well come up against each other again at the next UKIPT stop of the third season at Nottingham’s Dusk Till Dawn, when the five-day event runs from April 12 to 16.
Both have already qualified through PokerStars for the £770 buy-in main event, so maybe Gilligan will manage to exact some revenge for this Galway defeat.
Although the official final table was eight-handed, the last day began with nine players seated around the felt – until Ruijs exited in ninth place.
Having seen everyone fold before him, the Dutchman – who was on the button – moved all-in for his near-400,000 stack, to be called by big blind Mullin after then chip leader Gilligan, in the small blind, had folded.
Ruijs showed K♥ 5♠ to be way behind Mullin’s A♠ 10♥. It got even worse for Ruijs, though, when the flop showed 7♠ 2♠ A♣ to give his opponent top pair. The 2♣ turn ended the hand – and the Dutchman’s tournament – even before the 4♠ came on the river.
Richard Haile Hits Rail in Eighth Place
The players enjoyed a short break then, before short stack Haile hit the rail in eighth place when losing out to Burke.
Under the gun, Haile moved all-in with 338,000 chips and K♠ Q♠ – only to be called by Burke, who showed the dominating K♥ K♣. The board ran out 2♦ J♥ 9♥ 5♠ 6♦ to end Haile’s event.
Abou Risk’s hopes of taking down a third UKIPT title after winning last year’s Galway event, as well as the Edinburgh leg from the same season two, ended when he was eliminated by Mullin in seventh place.
Mullin opened for 80,000, prompting the Dublin-based Canadian to go all-in for his last 605,000 chips.
The Irishman snap-called with A♥ J♣, while Abou Risk showed K♠ J♥ to be way behind. The North American found the K♦ on the flop to gain a pair, but Mullin benefited, too, with the A♦ also arriving.
The other flop card was the 5♥, while the turn of 10♣ and 4♠ river did nothing to assist Abou Risk – and he was gone to leave us with six players.
John Willoughby Out in Sixth
Thereafter, Irishman Willoughby was the next to go in sixth place – only two hands after he had lost a huge pot to Gilligan.
In the cut-off seat, PokerStars qualifier Willoughby shoved all-in for his remaining 375,000 chips while holding A♠ Q♦, to be met by the A♦ 7♦ of button Rusinovas.
The 7♣ 4♣ 3♣ gave the Lithuanian PokerStars qualifier top pair, while the K♥ and 8♣ on the turn and river respectively meant only five players were still in the hunt for the top prize.
But Rusinovas was next to bust out in fifth place. Under the gun, he opened for 100,000, before Mullin – on the button – re-raised to 180,000. But then Rusinovas moved all-in for approximately 1.1 million, only for Mullin to call.
The Irishman revealed A♠ Q♦ to hold a lead over the A♣ 10♣ of the Lithuanian, while the flop of 2♦ 3♣ 4♥ provided some split pot possibilities. Incredibly, the 4♣ added even more possible chops – meaning any five, four, three of two would do – only for the A♥ to ensure that Mullin sent Rusinovas to the rail.
Craig Burke Takes Fourth
Fourth place went to Burke when his short stack ran into Mullin’s dominating hol
If you're up for a game of poker, you'll most likely call up some friends and meet at your house to shuffle up and deal, but in the state of Iowa poker players could soon have an online option.
The Iowa Senate's looking at a bill that would legalize internet poker, but some folks say that move could be a bit of a gamble.
This newest bill the Iowa Senate's looking at will be discussed starting Wednesday.
For the second time in two years, Iowa's looking at legalizing online poker.
Some Iowans are already playing illegally, but Iowa's Racing and Gaming Commission says making the game legal could cause another set of problems.
"Prevention of gambling of underage individuals, controls that would ensure that cheating and collusion didn't take place," says Brian Ohorilko, Director of Gaming for the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission.
The prospect of online gambling raises some questions, like: would legalized online gaming equal more Iowans dealing with addiction?
The folks at Sioux City's Jackson Recovery Center help people with gambling addictions, they say if online poker were legal we probably wouldn't see a spike in addictions, but people who are already addicted could be in trouble.
"Folks who do have a problem have a chance to make their problem bigger quicker, and there aren't as many avenues for that person to have interaction with other folks who can point them in the direction of places like Jackson where they can get some help," says Sarah Deck, Clinical Supervisor of Staff Development for Jackson Recovery Centers.
Another issue: when you're online those consequences, like losing a lot of money, don't feel real.
"There's no one that you actually hand a $20 bill to, you don't even have to touch your credit card every time, you just put a credit card number in and then you play and that can cause people to spend more money or to not really feel like its real money," says Deck.
Just a few questions as Iowa decides whether or not to gamble on online poker.
This next step for the bill is just a discussion, it could die in that committee, but it has to move on by this Friday.
Gambling addiction is no joke.
The folks over at Jackson Recovery say that if you're spending so much time, money and attention on gambling that it interferes with other areas of your life, that's a sign you might have a problem.
Iowa casinos could expand into the Internet poker arena under a bill that unanimously passed a three-person Senate subcommittee today.
People would be able to establish an account and deposit money to use for online wagering, under Senate Study Bill 3164. Internet gambling would be limited to poker and would be conducted through a single Internet site under the bill.
A study released last December projected that operators could make up to $60 million on internet gaming, generating perhaps $13 million in tax revenues for the state.
Multiple Iowa casinos, including Prairie Meadows and Riverside Casino, have registered in favor of the bill. The Family Leader and the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition are among the groups that oppose.
Senators Jeff Danielson of Cedar Falls, and Wally Horn of Cedar Rapids, both Democrats, as well as Rick Bertrand, R-Sioux City, each voted in favor of the measure today in Senate State Government subcommittee meeting.
The bill now heads to the full committee for further review.
A measure aimed at bringing illegal online poker under state regulation rolled through a Senate committee Wednesday evening.
Members of the Senate State Government Committee voted 11-4 to allow the state Racing and Gaming Commission to establish a structure whereby competing hub operators would partner with state-licensed casinos to provide access to online sites for registered players ages 21 and older who were located within Iowa’s borders at the time they engaged in the Internet-based activity.
Out-of-state residents would be able to come to an Iowa casino, establish an account and play during the time they were residing in Iowa under the bill that authorizes both interstate and intrastate agreements.
“I don’t see this as an expansion of gambling,” said Sen. Rick Bertrand, R-Sioux City. “I see this as an expansion of freedom.”
Proponents said illegal offshore gambling operations already are conducting online poker websites that conduct up to $100 million in estimated gambling activity in Iowa.
“We have a situation in Iowa where Iowa citizens are not being protected. This will do that,” said Sen. Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock.
He said bringing the activity under state regulation would halt unscrupulous operations from “preying on Iowans.”
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said online poker had a 50-50 chance of winning approval by the full Senate — odds that he speculated were better than the prospects that the issue may receive in the Republican-controlled House.
Wednesday’s committee action meant the online poker issue would survive a Friday “funnel” deadline and be eligible for further work.
The PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker (WBCOOP) kicks off tomorrow for 11 days of poker at the eighth staging of the event that will see many thousands of bucks paid out in prizes.
That’s not all, though, as PokerStars will also be giving away live tournament packages as well as online event tickets for successful entrants, with the world’s biggest poker room emphasising that “the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker (WBCOOP) is back, and this time it’s bigger than ever before”.
Additionally, “by submitting your blog or video”, the Best Bloggers can take their share of the prizes on offer, while there are also bonus prizes available for Best Live Tweeter, as well as for players who finish high up the WBCOOP’s Leader Board.
While the Best Blogger event submissions are now closed, it will be interesting to see who emerges with the top prize of $5,000 for presenting a post of no less then 500 words – or a short video – that tells what a particular entrant would do with the money if selected as the winner.
Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) Tickets Up For Grabs
All submitters, who also had to share their entry with followers and friends, were supplied with tickets for 10 of the 30 events making up this year’s WBCOOP – excluding the main event – while every one of the tournaments also has PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) tournament series tickets on offer.
Significantly, PokerStars are also providing all casher finishers in the WBCOOP with a direct entry to the $5,000 prize pool main event, which begins, as the final tournament, at 10:00 ET (Eastern Time Zone) on Sunday, March 4.
Remember, if you are not already a PokerStars customer, why not visit this fantastic poker room to take full advantage of their 100% first-deposit bonus for as much as $600 or £400. Click here to visit PokerStars.
Now, if you weren’t able to enter this year’s WBCOOP, you most certainly will after signing up for an account with PokerStars. So, maybe this time next year, when PokerStars announce details of their ninth annual staging of the event, you’ll be in line for one of the big prizes.
MGM Resorts International Chief Executive Officer Jim Murren said he expected legalization of online poker at a federal level sometime this year, echoing the hopes of many casino executives hoping to grab a slice of a thriving global market.
"It's not easy, not because it's a complicated issue," Murren told analysts on a conference call. "It's becoming a clearer issue. It's because Washington is becoming more complicated.
"We'll be one of the first horses out of the gate when it's approved."
Slot machine giant Bally Technologies said Thursday it acquired an Internet gaming platform from a European company that it plans to use to help its casino customers enter the online gaming world.
The transaction, however, does not mean Bally wants to launch it own Internet gaming website.
The company, which has an application pending with Nevada gaming regulators under the state's newly enacted Internet poker regulations, plans to use the technology with casino companies seeking both free play and wager-based gaming websites.
Bally agreed to acquire the technology from Chiligaming, which has offices in Malta, France and the United Kingdom. No purchase price was announced. Chiligaming, which announced a deal Feb. 10 to launch a free-play gaming website later this year with Golden Nugget casinos, develops and operates multi-platform social games and gambling products.
Deutsche Bank gaming analyst Carlo Santarelli told investors the cost of the transaction for Bally Technologies is "likely to be modest."
Santarelli said Bally is expanding its interactive gaming division to participate in online gaming.
"The deal provides Bally with a key element towards advancing its mobile and online player tracking and bonusing initiatives while still ultimately benefiting its end user," Santarelli said.
With debate over the federal legalization of Internet poker seemingly stalled in Congress, many gaming companies are focusing on states that may enact online poker regulations that allow wagering in their jurisdiction. Nevada is the only state so far to adopt such regulations, and is accepting licensing applications.
"This acquisition (allows) Bally Technologies to offer an integrated traditional and online casino solution to operators worldwide," Bally Vice President of Business Development John Connelly said in a statement.
Last month, rival slot machine maker International Game Technology acquired social gaming giant Double Down Interactive, developer of Facebook's Double Down Casino. Shuffle Master Gaming has also launched an interactive gaming division.
Janney Montgomery Scott gaming analyst Brian McGill said in a research report that Bally benefits from continued momentum in its systems business and is less reliant on slot machine sales.
McGill told investors that many gaming industry veterans are downplaying the impact of Internet gaming, at least initially.
While online poker could launch in Nevada this year, McGill said revenue expectations are low.
"It will take passage from larger states, or a federal bill, to act as a catalyst to really drive revenues," McGill said. "At this point, neither of these seem imminent."
Iowa – A measure aimed at bringing illegal online poker under state regulation rolled through a Senate committee Wednesday evening.
Members of the Senate State Government Committee voted 11-4 to allow the state Racing and Gaming Commission to establish a structure whereby competing hub operators would partner with state-licensed casinos to provide access to online sites for registered players ages 21 and older who were located within Iowa’s borders at the time they engaged in the Internet-based activity. Out-of-state residents would be able to come to an Iowa casino, establish an account and play during the time they were residing in Iowa under the bill that authorizes both interstate and intrastate agreements.
“I don’t see this as an expansion of gambling,” said Sen. Rick Bertrand, R-Sioux City. “I see this as an expansion of freedom.”
Proponents said illegal offshore gambling operations already are conducting online poker web sites that conduct up to $100 million in estimated gambling activity in Iowa in an unregulated, “wild, wild West” atmosphere.
“We have a situation in Iowa where Iowa citizens are not being protected. This will do that,” said Sen. Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock. He said bringing the activity under state regulation would halt unscrupulous operations from “preying on Iowans.”
Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Waterloo, said Iowa currently has an untenable circumstance where online poker is neither prohibited nor legal. He said the structure envisioned in Senate Study Bill 3164 would bring a thoughtful policy to a problem, enable the state to bar anyone associated with illegal gambling operations from doing business in Iowa, and capture economic activity leaving the state while generating revenue via state fees charged to hub operators and an expected rise in revenue from state-licensed operations.
Three Republican senators and one Democrat voted against the bill, which opponents argue will bring a highly addictive form of gambling directly to Iowans’ computers and hand-held electronic devices. No one spoke against the bill during Wednesday evening’s committee meeting.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said online poker had a 50-50 chance of winning approval by the full Senate – odds that he speculated were better than the prospects that the issue may receive in the Republican-controlled House. Wednesday’s committee action meant the online poker issue would remain eligible for more legislative work having met the criteria necessary to survive a Friday “funnel” deadline for measures to clear a standing committee in either chamber to remain alive this session.
Italian poker players can now experience PKR's unique and award winning online poker software in a fully licensed and regulated environment at PKR.it.
This month heralds the launch of online poker room PKR.it, a site available only to Italian poker players. Hosted by PKR-com, winner of Gambling Online Magazine's recent Best Poker Software award, PKR.it will bring PKR's trademark next-gen gameplay to the Italian market. The site is the product of many months of work at PKR's London base, having earned its Italian licence to offer online poker in the recently regulated country.
PKR.it will offer a range of real money cash games, Sit & Go's and multi table tournaments in addition to a variety of free poker practice tables. The multi table tournament offering includes daily freerolls and real money events such as the PKR Open, mirroring some of the most popular tournaments on PKR itself.
On registering for PKR.it, Italian former PKR-com players will be able to retain their previous username, PKR Points balance and Club PKR loyalty level, while also being able to take advantage of a first deposit bonus promotion.
Malcolm Graham, CEO at PKR said, "We're delighted to be able to welcome Italian players to PKR.it. The Italian poker market represents an exciting opportunity for PKR and we hope that players from all over Italy enjoy the unique PKR experience."
For more information, please visit Gioca a poker online in 3D su PKR. Let's play. .
PKR is a revolutionary new concept in online poker that has changed the way the game is played. Featuring stunning real-time 3D graphics and a uniquely engaging and immersive gaming system, PKR brings an unparalleled and previously unseen level of realism to online poker. Developed by some of the brightest stars in the video games and poker industries, PKR continues to be the most innovative poker room in the world.
Mississippi has joined the race to be an early player in statewide online gaming.
The Mississippi Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2012, which says it’s in response to the recent Department of Justice flip-flop, would allow existing licensees to offer Internet wagering. Sites would pay a monthly five-percent fee on gross revenue.
Before an online site could operate, the Mississippi Gaming Commission would adopt rules for the industry.
According to the Commission, the state, which first legalized gambling in 1990, has 30 casino licensees and takes in gross gaming revenue of more than $2 billion annually. The casinos have about 160 poker tables collectively.
Caesars Entertainment, Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts have casino interests in Mississippi. All three entities will likely be involved in Nevada online poker.
While Mississippi is just trying to enter the mix, Nevada is steamrolling ahead with its plans to have the nation’s first intrastate industry. The rules are effectively done, and Silver State regulators just need to license companies.
Other jurisdictions where online gaming interest has surfaced publicly in the past include New Jersey, The District of Columbia, California, Hawaii, Ohio, Connecticut, North Dakota, Florida and Iowa, which appears to be the furthest along after Nevada.
On Wednesday, Iowa lawmakers sent an online poker bill one step deeper into the legislature, according to the Globe Gazette. The state commissioned a study of the industry late last year.
Efforts for a federal online gaming bill have stalled on Capitol Hill, but some gaming attorneys have said that the door has already been cracked open for possible state coalitions, which would help create larger player pools.
Event #2 at this year's World Series of Poker Circuit stop at the Palm Beach Kennel Club may well have made poker history. It wasn't even the biggest event held that day, but it did feature a poker first: women took the top three spots in a non-gender-exclusive World Series Of Poker event. New Yorker poker pro Loni Harwood finished first, followed by Anne Amato and Amanda Musumeci. What's even more unusual is the fact as they were sliding making their way into poker history, the final stages of the $1,000,000 Guaranteed event that kicked off the tournament were going down a few feet away.
Reports say that the evening was a real corker, with an atmosphere that was miles away from the usual casino reserve. Players were buying each other drinks, observers were cheering and everyone was having a great time, proving that even with money on the line, poker players remember that the game is all about fun.
Harwood, who graduated from State University of New York at Albany last year with a degree in finance is 22. The aspiring poker pro was in Florida visiting her father, who lives in Hallandale. She discovered the WSOP Circuit was being played in West Palm Beach and decided to pay a visit. The rest, as the cliché goes, is history. Third-palcer Amanda Musumeci, who hails from Philadelphia is best known for finishing 62nd in least year's WSOP Main Event. Runner-up Anne Amato is also an accomplished tournament chess player.
With the gender imbalance in the game, the odds of this happening again anytime soon are pretty, pretty grim, but who knows? Maybe more women will be inspired to hit the tables when they see they can do just what the guys do.
Gender doesn't matter at Bovada's online poker tables!
The €1,500 + €150 buy in event attracted 254 players creating a prize pool of €377,190. Verboven, from Belgium, took home €100,000 for his victory over Ruggerio Scommegna.
The fainl table payouts were:
1: Filip Verboven — €100,000
2: Ruggerio Scommegna — €56,600
3: Stieven Razab-Sekh — €37,700
4: Jan Grajzel — €30,200
5: Gerret Van Lancker — €24,500
6: Tomasz Kozub — €20,700
7: Hans Sybrandi — €17,000
8: Dan Murariu — €13,200
9: Flavien Guenan — €9,400