South Africa Considers Online Casino Legalisation

South Africa Considers Online Casino Legalisation By Andrew For OnlineCasinoNews.com The legalisation of online gambling in South Africa looks increasingly likely after the National Gambling Board advised Trade and Industry Minister, Mandisi Mpahlwa, of their recommendation for Internet gambling to be given the legislative green light. In what would appear to be a perplexing decision considering that in South Africa only one in ten households has a fixed telephone line, let alone an internet connection, experts still believe that there is opportunity for significant growth ? and local operators are purportedly salivating at the chance to become involved. National Gambling Board CEO, Thibedi Majake, admitted that his Board had little option other than to recommend the legalisation of online gambling. "The board's report says that legalising online gambling will address several issues: local gamblers will have legal protection; it will prevent 'criminal influence and exploitation' in the industry; and it will promote the development of an interactive gambling industry in SA," said Majake.

Chips in Chips

The Inside Scoop: Chips in Chips By Barry Shulman For CardPlayer.com

RFID (radio frequency identification) is the hot new chip-tracking technology that is taking the casino industry by storm. RFID (the patents to which have been obtained by ShuffleMaster Inc. for use in casino applications) works by way of microchips that are placed inside objects and communicate via radio waves with special readers.

Anyone with an AVID chip in their family dog or cat is already using this technology. For our purposes, however, we’re concentrating on the chips that will soon be put inside of our chips (poker, not potato).

Some people might argue that this is simply another “Big Brother” conspiracy straight out of an Orwellian nightmare; but anyone using a member card at his local grocery store or her neighborhood slot club has already made these privacy issues moot. And when it comes to poker tournaments, the benefits certainly outweigh any concerns one might have about privacy; unless one is cheating, of course – in which case it’s safe to assume that one would be prone to being very anti-RFID.

For instance, by eliminating the human-error factor, chip counts would become instant and accurate. Instant chip counts make for better reporting, allowing news-sources to immediately and precisely pass-along the data to you via television, Internet web-cast, what-have-you. Vexed by the time it takes waiting for the player rankings at a break? Well fret no more!

Other benefits include a stop to the passing of chips between players, and a safeguard against any foreign chips being put into tournament play. Also, chips can be immediately verified and tracked at the end of a tournament should they go missing or be stolen.

None of this even gets into the aspects of casino security or live play. Imagine how much time can be saved at the casino cage when cashing in at the end of an all-nighter at the tables when you’re tired and not double-checking the cashier’s counting. The house will now be able to know which cocktail servers are really hustling, and who the big tippers are. Comping as a means by which one’s play is rewarded will become an even more exact science; while the old-school hustler’s move of palming chips will become all but obsolete (be it on the part of the cheater or the dishonest dealer).

Still having doubts? Well, look at it this way: in true Las Vegas fashion, now even our poker chips will have silicon implants!

Online Casino Reports - Online Casino Banking Strategies

Online Casino Banking Strategies The cardinal rule as far as playing at the online casino goes is to always be prepared. As in life, the level of your preparedness will essentially determine the level of success you will experience at online casinos. With this in mind, let�s go over one of the most important aspect to playing at online gambling site, which is online casino banking. Approach playing at the online casino as you would any normal business transaction, meaning that you should strive for the highest return for your initial investment. What do I mean by investment? Well, when you sign up to get your online casino account, to start gambling you will be required to make an initial deposit of the amount of your choice. Many rookies make the mistake of not probing a bit further and looking over the fine print. On the homepage of every online casino you�ll find a section detailing the online casino bonus policy. This section details the amount of money that will be deposited into your account in accordance to sum of your deposit. Think of it as a gesture of good faith from the online casino, welcoming you aboard. In the game of casino gambling, your bankroll represents your lifeline! This means that the higher your bankroll is the longer you�ll be able to stretch you playing session at the online casino. Accumulating bonuses is the best way to enlarge your bankroll, other than winning of course.

Underwater Poker - What's Next?

Underwater Poker - What's Next? By Michael Friedman For PokerNews.com In what may be the most interesting poker tournament of the year, Juha Helppi became the first-ever underwater poker champion in the Interpoker.com Extreme Poker event. Created with the idea of testing top player's abilities in extreme situations, this event certainly gave the players as much as they could handle. While on his way to victory, Helppi had to deal with water in his mask and a dangerous stingray, all while sitting on the reef floor and playing the likes of Phil 'the Unabomber" Laak, Kenna 'Cowboy' James and Louise H., an online qualifier. For some photos of the event and the rest of the article - click here

Poker News: Southern California Poker Tour Producer Files for Bankruptcy

Southern California Poker Tour Producer Files for Bankruptcy By Oliver Tse For PokerNews.com Southern California Poker Tour (SCPT) Executive Producer Barry Dodd has filed for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. According to a clerk of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California in San Diego, Dodd's bankruptcy filing was his second in the past 7 years. Dodd listed over 100 creditors in his latest bankruptcy filing, which was primarily caused by financial problems encountered by the SCPT during its short existence. Barry Dodd and his son Matthew founded the SCPT in 2004 as a "minor league" televised poker series, featuring tournaments with buy-ins in the $200-$300 range, designed to attract journeymen professional and recreational poker players in Southern California. Click here to finish reading the article at PokerNews.com

World Poker Tour For Sale

World Poker Tour For Sale By Bronson For PokerTourInfo.com Lakes Entertainment, which holds a two-thirds stake in the World Poker Tour (WPT), may be considering a sell-off in order to raise substantial amounts of cash. The US-based company has issued an intriguing 'forward looking statement' that suggests it may be considering the sale of its share in the WPT. Lakes Entertainment recently settled a clash with the Securities and Exchange Commission over late financial reportage, and in earlier statements the group indicated that it was seeking substantial capital - million by the end of 2005 and an additional million by March 1st, 2006 the sale of the successful WPT brand could well be the answer to raise this capital.

The Chips are Stacked at Monte-Carlo Millions Poker Tournament

The Chips are Stacked at Monte-Carlo Millions Poker Tournament Source: Prima Poker Ltd. (Monte Carlo Millions) The world's best poker players have landed in Monaco for Monte-Carlo Millions, the world's most exclusive poker tournament. Phil Ivey, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Patrick Bruel, Jennifer Tilly and The Hendon Mob are just a few of the big names vying for a share of the largest prize pool in European poker tournament history. The Prima Network guaranteed $3 million, with a $1 million first prize. The tournament will broadcast to a worldwide television audience on FSN and its broadcast partners beginning in February 2006. There is nothing comparable to playing poker in Monte-Carlo," said Tournament Director Matt Savage. "It's everything you ever dreamed poker could be, and more." Play commences at noon today in The Sporting D'Hiver, located in the heart of Monte-Carlo's Place du Casino. The limited playing field of 120 will begin with stacks of 50,000 tournament chips. Higher starting chip counts require an absolute mastery of No-Limit Hold'em. As the blinds increase, only those who consistently parlay sound poker decisions with timely, aggressive play will survive, making Monte-Carlo Millions a poker connoisseur's dream: a tournament where skill gets a headstart on luck. On Nov. 23, when only six players remain, the excitement will move to the legendary Casino de Monte-Carlo for the final table. In this world-famous venue, where no poker tournament has ever been played before, the 2005 champion will be crowned. To follow the big moves, big busts, heartbreaks and joys of Monte-Carlo Millions, visit www.montecarlomillions.com. A list of registered players can be found on the site, and live blogs will appear throughout the tournament with chip totals, key hands and photographs. The 2004 Monte-Carlo Millions is now airing on FSN -- catch the action through January. About The Prima Network The Prima Network is the world's largest online poker network. Powered by Microgaming software, the leading developer of Internet gaming systems, Prima licenses to more than 30 operators worldwide to form a global poker network. The Prima Network ensures that a critical mass of online poker players and a wide variety of games and tournaments are available at all times. Sought by online poker players and operators, the Prima Network symbolizes quality, representing the highest standards in online poker play, fairness, and credibility. For more information, please visit www.primapoker.net

Industry News In Brief

Industry News In Brief Source E-Gaming Review News in brief this week sees eCOGRA launch a new safety campaign, Prima Network add more members to its network, Boylesports select Chartwell and Citadel launch its new SecureSwipe product. eCOGRA, the independent regulatory body for the egaming industry, plans to promote its educational and awareness programme, ?Play it safe?, to online casino and poker players worldwide. Lotus PR in New York and Chameleon PR in London will implement the global campaign, which is designed to educate players on the value of the eCOGRA ?Play it safe? seal through player surveys, media outreach, editorial briefings and authored articles. Microgaming-powered Prima Network reported continued growth this week with the addition of six poker rooms. This past year has seen the company add 17 new card rooms to its existing network, bringing the total number of members to 40. John Docherty, chief operating officer of Prima Network, said: ?What makes us different is our top-of-the-line software and critical mass of players. We have created unique opportunities for our operators to attract players.? Chartwell Technology?s Flash-based casino and soft games technology has been selected by independent Irish bookmaker Boylesports for its online offering. ?We are delighted to have been chosen by such a well-known Irish brand to strengthen its online gaming profile,? said Darold Parken, president and chief executive of Chartwell. ?With this new relationship we have extended our reach in a new geographic market, and we have gained a strong industry partner for future growth.? Citadel Commerce has launched SecureSwipe, a handheld device that enables PIN debit and swiped credit card purchases to be made from home. The device transmits fully encrypted PIN blocks to Citadel?s data centre, with customers purchasing myCitadel Wallet e-money using a bank-issued ATM PIN debit card. Michael Meeks, president of Citadel, said: ?We feel confident our customers will find SecureSwipe a viable and secure alternative to card-not-present credit card transactions.? Skill games provider Greentube is developing an updated edition of its Ski Challenge game. The 2006 version of Ski Challenge will include new tracks and expanded features. Eberhard Duerrschmid, chief executive of Greentube, said he was looking forward to implementing his company?s games through TV, mobile and web formats. The UK Gambling Commission will relocate to the UK?s second-largest city Birmingham from January 2006. Formally launched on 1 October 2005, the Gambling Commission is currently based in central London. All functions and staff will have moved to Birmingham by June 2006.

Now THAT, my friends, is a poker player

Two couples were playing poker one evening. John accidentally dropped some cards on the floor. When he bent down under the table to pick them up, he noticed Bill's wife, Sue, wasn't wearing any underwear under her dress ! Shocked by this, John upon trying to sit back up again, hit his head on the table and emerged red-faced. Later, John went to the kitchen to get some refreshments. Bill's wife followed and asked, "Did you see anything that you liked under there?" Surprised by her boldness, John courageously admitted that, well indeed he did. She said, " Well, you can have it but it will cost you $500." After taking a minute or two to assess the financial and moral costs of this offer, John confirms that he is interested. She tells him that since her husband Bill works Friday afternoons and as John doesn't, he should be at her house around 2 p.m. Friday afternoon. When Friday rolled around, John showed up at Bill's house at 2 p.m. sharp and after paying Sue the agreed sum of $500 they went to the bedroom and closed their transaction, as agreed. John then quickly dressed and left. As usual, Bill came home from work at 6 p.m. and upon entering the house, asked his wife abruptly. "Did John come by the house this afternoon?" With a lump in her throat Sue answered "Why yes, he did stop by for a few minutes this afternoon." Her heart nearly skipped a beat when her husband curtly asked, "And did he give you $500?" In terror she assumed that somehow he had found out and after mustering her best poker face, replied, "Well, yes, in fact he did give me $500". Bill, with a satisfied look on his face, surprised his wife by saying, "Good, I was hoping he did. John came by the office this morning and borrowed $500 from me. He promised me he'd stop by our house this afternoon on his way home and pay me back." Now THAT, my friends, is a poker player !

Chuck Blount on poker: When you're winning big, you never should walk away

Chuck Blount on poker: When you're winning big, you never should walk away By Chuck Blount For MySA.com Ted Forrest, one of the most feared poker players and proposition gamblers in Las Vegas, once sat at the same 7-card stud table for 72 consecutive hours before calling it quits. Hall of Famer Johnny Moss played in a juicy Dallas game for four consecutive days, and legend has it he made multi-day sessions a frequent practice. While those examples are extreme, long playing sessions are commonplace and can mean one of two things: Either a player is sunk and desperately trying to get even, or he is sitting in the perfect game with inferior opponents and winning all the money. I don't have much to say about the losing scenario other than to reiterate that it's a terrible idea with an absurdly low chance of success. The Los Angeles Clippers have a better shot at winning an NBA championship. As for the second scenario, one must learn to love caffeinated beverages because it's almost as unforgivable to leave a game that you are winning easily as it is to stay when you are losing. Traditional casino logic doesn't have a lot of useful application at a poker table, because there is no house advantage built into the game that makes you a loser over the long haul. A slot player who takes $50 to a machine and hits a $10,000 jackpot after a few pulls should take the money and run. Slots run on a computer program, and there's never been one made that's coded to pay out more than it takes in (or even break even). All slots are programmed for you to lose, so if the player let that $10,000 jackpot ride, it eventually would erode down to nothing. In poker, it's all about the game itself and how well you play it in relation to the competition. The past is wiped out with every hand, and the odds remain the same. Any player can sit down at a table with random opponents at their desired limits and discover the conditions of the game (quality of opponents) lend themselves to big profits. These are the games that you want to play, and you want to take advantage of them when you find one because they don't come around every day. Let's assume that you are a pretty well-versed player and you stumble upon a crazy $1-2 no-limit Hold 'Em table at the local casino and you buy in for $200. It's filled to the brim with players that you quickly observe bet large figures with relatively weak hands and love to show off their triumphant bluffs. You take advantage of this and four hours into the session you are up $225, which grows to $400 in seven hours with the table keeping the same dynamic. The table is a bona fide cash machine, and every indication is that it will continue to be so because it's now obvious that you are better than the rest of the players in the game. To cut off your gaming session now because you are showing a 200 percent profit would be foolish. Continue to take advantage of the opportunistic table and continue to maximize your profits with further time at the table. You may take a bad beat and get knocked down a few pegs at some point, but you want to stay involved in any game that you hold an obvious advantage in for as long as possible. You may end up being really, really late for dinner, but it sure beats being too early.

Online gambling to top $10bn

Online gambling to top $10bn Source: Fin24.co.za Washington - Worldwide online gambling revenues will top $10bn in 2005 for operators of virtual casinos and bookmaking, a market research firm said on Tuesday. The report by the firm eMarketer said the $10bn represents only the "vig," or house cut - which means there was likely well over $200bn in play over the year. "Fuelled by a poker craze, the growth of broadband, and television coverage, online gambling is quickly moving to the mainstream," says Ben Macklin, analyst at eMarketer. Online gambling is considered by US authorities to be illegal, but that does not prevent many Americans from visiting internet gaming sites, which are mainly based offshore. The eMarketer report said various research shows 20 million to 30 million US internet users visited gambling or sweepstakes sites in February 2005, representing about 15% to 18% of all US internet users. "US consumer spending on gambling is roughly 20 times the amount they spend on digital music downloads," the report noted. In Europe, the report found 14 million internet users visited gambling or sweepstake sites, with Germany having the largest number of users. As a percentage of internet users, however, France and Sweden top the list. Macklin said TV coverage of poker tournaments, and the $2.5m win of American online player Chris Moneymaker in the 2003 World Series of Poker, gave the sector a lift. Macklin said: "After phenomenal growth during 2003 and 2004, particularly from online poker, the online gambling sector is slowing, but that does not signal the demise of the sector. "For as long as there is gambling, there will be online gambling, and whether it is legal or not is irrelevant."

World Poker Tour Adds One Last Tournament to Season Four

World Poker Tour Adds One Last Tournament to Season Four From CardPlayer Magazine Borgata Poker Classic Brings Number of Tournaments to 17 The World Poker Tour tacked on another event to the already packed schedule for season four of the popular tournament poker show. The Borgata Poker Classic, which takes place at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City from Jan. 29 to Feb. 1, was added to season four?s slate this week. The addition makes season four the most packed yet, with 17 shows. The 2005 Borgata Poker Open, which took place in September, drew a record 515 players and a $4,995,634 prize pool. It will also be aired during season four. The WPT also announced that the Gold Strike Casino Resort has become the exclusive site for the WPT?s annual stop in Tunica. The resort?s World Poker Open is scheduled to take place Jan. 19-23. The first season of the WPT featured 13 events. Season two grew to 14 and season three to 16 events. With 17 events, there?s a chance that the total prize pool for season four will break the $100 million mark.

The Business of Poker - Analyze This, Part One

The Business of Poker - Analyze This, Part One By John Caldwell For PokerNews.com Paul Leyland analyses the gaming sector for Seymour Price, a London based investment firm. Paul was nice enough to sit down with me in on my recent London trip. Only twenty-six, I was impressed how well prepared, and well spoken he was. In part one of my interview with him, Paul discusses the current state of the online poker/gaming industry from his perspective, and gives his thoughts on the state of the union. Some of what Paul says is a little bit in 'economist speak, but I think the information contained here is really interesting, and to say the least a very valuable perspective. Paul & I covered so much ground, that I am going to make this a two-parter. One week from today, I will run part two of this interview, in which Paul discusses the future of the iGaming industry, and his thoughts on who, and what are next. click here for the interview transcript

PartyGaming Outplay Empire In The Biggest Poker Game

PartyGaming Outplay Empire In The Biggest Poker Game The biggest poker game of all is taking place on the London Stock Exchange, and there can be little doubt that PartyGaming, the oldest online poker player has taken Empire Online, their former partner and current rival, to school. In fact, PartyGaming have run rings round them, and are now considering a buy-out of Empire - the coup de grace after hacking away at their share value in the past two months... It all started when Empire Online, which made it's name operating online poker skins that fed players into the PartyPoker network (owned by PartyGaming), got a little too big for their boots. Empire Online allowed themselves to be wooed by Sportingbet, in a deal that would have redirected all those skins to Paradise Poker. At the time, Empire was valued at 270p a share in the prospective deal. PartyGaming quashed that deal in a hurry. They claimed that their contracts with Empire were unbreakable. News that the deal would not be done undermined investor confidence in Empire. That confidence was dashed completely when PartyGaming outflanked Empire, annnouncing that Empire's players would be fenced out from the network. They would no longer mingle with the rest of the network's players. Suddenly, Empire's players found dwindling numbers of tables, and far less juicy games. PartyGaming proved that their skins need them a lot more than they need the skins. Now, Empire Online is valued at 140p and they are wobbling. PartyGaming has graciously offered to buy out their former partner, pending an examination of Empire's books. PartyGaming could potentially cripple Empire. They might report that they have decided not to buy the company, which would imply that those accounts were not up to scratch, and the stock would continue it's freefall. Or they could buy the company for half of what Sportingbet were willing to pay, a victory on several levels for the canny management team at PartyGaming. Time will tell, but if you want to see real big money poker of the online variety you won't find better action that PartyGaming breaking Empire one deal at a time.

Poker Bankroll guide for online poker players detailed in new book

Poker Bankroll guide for online poker players detailed in new book Source: ClickPress Learn how to build an online poker bankroll for free in this new book. Online poker is on fire, its popularity fueled by a mixture of television advertisement, technology and for some, the allure of big money. Thanks to sophisticated computer software and high-speed internet connections, some of the biggest poker money is now being generated by online poker sites. According to PokerPulse.com, a Canadian company that tracks the online gaming industry, about $170 million was wagered in more than 100 online poker rooms during a recent 24-hour period. “For those players looking for a successful way to participate in the online poker frenzy without risking any of their own money, Legends Of America is proud to introduce Build An Online Poker Bankroll For Free, our new book provides step by step instructions on how to build your poker bankroll with no investment,” said Bob Braun, President of Legends Of America’s Poker Division, “If you’re a poker player who is looking to play for real money, this step by step guide will provide you with all the information you need to build your confidence.” “The book starts with a brief history of poker, a summary of online poker and fundamental poker concepts. It also details how to start your online poker bankroll with no investment, then provides step by step instructions on which poker sites to play and in what order to maximize your poker profits. This book is simply one of the best resources you’ll find on the internet.” Braun stated. “We’ve developed a proven system that everyone from novice to professional poker players can follow, (www.legendsofamerica.com/poker). If you want to play online poker successfully, you must understand the online gaming world. “Build An Online Poker Bankroll For Free” provides all of this information in one place.” Legends Of America, which is located in Shawnee, Kansas is committed to providing superior information on a wide variety of fields to our customer base. To view our in-depth collection of materials on various topics go to www.legendsofamerica.com. For additional information on “Build An Online Poker Bankroll For Free” book please visit our website at www.legendsofamerica.com/poker.

Slowplaying a big hand is a dangerous ploy

Slowplaying a big hand is a dangerous ploy By Dennis Deitch For Delco Times The nation has gone poker crazy, and Delaware County is no different. You don't have to travel far down one of Delco's main pikes - Chester Pike, Baltimore Pike or West Chester Pike - before finding an establishment that runs a No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em tournament during the week. And many area churches have packed up the Bingo balls and markers and traded them in for felt tables and playing cards for fundraisers. In this column we'll discuss some of the strategies that can make you or break you in no-limit games. The hope is that the topics - which will also include other forms of poker, including 7-card stud and Omaha - will appeal to those who have played tens of thousands of hands, as well as those just getting involved in the new millennium's fastest-growing competitive activity (no e-mails from ballroom dancers, please). While yours truly isn't a pro player by any means, I've seen enough flops to know a thing or three - and I won't be afraid to share examples where I've made the wrong move. After all, you learn the most from the hands that send you packing. Speaking of which ... A couple of weeks ago I participated in one of the events at the U.S. Poker Championships at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. After three hours in the single-day event things were looking good. I had doubled the 5,000 chips with which I started and was one of three players at my table with a healthy stack in front of me. With the blinds having been raised to 75-150 with a 25-chip ante, I was in the big blind with Q-K suited - a strong starting hand, particularly when the only two players to act before me were my fellow large stacks, both of whom only called. I decided I wanted to feign weakness by casually checking when the option to raise came my way. It was the first part of what, in retrospect, I consider a three-part bungle. The flop came out K-Q-5 ... Yahtzee! I was first to act, but I coolly checked the hand, praying one of my fellow players either caught a piece of the flop, or would try to use position to bluff their way to the chips. Instead, both players - a young, solid player, and an older, wily gambling type - checked. The turn card was an Ace. It made me slightly nervous, but my gut told me that if the other two players had a bullet, they were playing it, at best, with a kicker card of 10 or lower. Otherwise they would have raised before the flopv. The young player threw in a bet of 500 chips, which the older player next to him called. I made my move, raising the bet 2,000 chips, or slightly more than what was in the pot. The young player responded with "all-in." Clearly I had slowplayed myself into a mess. However, instead of taking a moment to think things over, I committed the mortal sin of acting out of self-loathing. I called, my opponent turned over 10-J suited, and after counting out the chips I went from great shape to a long walk to the parking garage. And so, to recap: Mistake No. 1: If you have a good hand, play it like one. I had an opportunity to establish my hand by raising the limpers before the flop. While you can slow-play a strong hand before the flop, it either should be a very strong hand (A-A or K-K), or it should only involve you and one other player. With two opponents out there, the chances of a bad beat burning me were doubled. Mistake No. 2: Don't assume your opponents are going to bet into you. My opponents were solid players. The young guy only pushed when he had a hand, the older gentleman liked to play passively - he called bets when he had a piece of them, and check-raised when he had a big hand. A firm bet would have given me either A) a modest victory and added to a strong stack, or B) the knowledge that my opponents either had a piece of the flop, or a legitimate draw. Mistake No. 3: Have the poise to minimize your losses. There was no changing my missteps once the turn card came. I made my bed, and I should have lain in it. Poker isn't played on a hand-by-hand basis; it's a card-by-card test. I had a big lead after the flop, and I knew it. But a big lead can become a big deficit quickly in Hold 'Em. He had eight cards in the deck that could beat me (four Aces, four 9s) and he hit one. A good player makes chips with pocket Aces; a great player can lay down his Aces when he knows they are beat.

Poker All-Stars Square Off for 2005 Tournament of Champions

Poker All-Stars Square Off for 2005 Tournament of Champions Press Release Source: Harrah's Entertainment, Inc Many of the biggest names in poker will descend on Caesars Palace next week to compete for $2 million in total prize money at the 2005 World Series of Poker® Tournament of Champions, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: HET - News) said. The free-roll tournament is expected to feature, among others, the nine millionaires from the 36th annual World Series of Poker's Main Event final table as they go for another seven-figure payday. A free-roll is an event in which none of the participants is required to pay a "buy-in" or entry fee to compete. The Tournament of Champions will be played Nov. 6 through Nov. 8. The winner will receive $1 million. ESPN, the exclusive broadcast partner of the World Series of Poker, will provide comprehensive coverage of the event, which is scheduled to be telecast from 1 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time Dec. 24, 2005. "This is poker's All-Star event," said Jeffrey Pollack, vice president of sports and entertainment marketing for Harrah's Entertainment. "Some of the top names in the game will travel from around the globe to Caesars Palace for a chance at a huge payday and bragging rights." "The Tournament of Champions will be a great culmination of our World Series of Poker coverage this year," said Fred Christenson, director of programming for ESPN Original Entertainment. "With its high-stakes action and some of the best known players in the game, we expect this event to draw very strong ratings." "Caesars Palace has a long history of hosting world-class sporting events, and this one-of-a-kind tournament will continue that legacy," said Gary Selesner, senior vice president and general manager of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. "This promises to be a spectacle no poker fan can afford to miss." In all, nearly 120 players earned invitations to the Tournament of Champions. In addition to the nine players who made the final table at the 36th annual World Series of Poker Main Event, top finishers in five World Series of Poker Circuit events held in the 2004-05 season are also eligible. Among professionals who've committed to play are 10-time World Series of Poker bracelet winners Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan, and nine-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth. The World Series of Poker is owned and operated by Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Harrah's Entertainment. Caesars Palace is a Harrah's-operated casino. Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada 68 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. More information is available at http://www.harrahs.com and http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com.

Poker's popularity grows

Poker's popularity grows By John Majetski For Home News Tribune On a night when other teens are anywhere but home, Kenny Totten is spending his Saturday inside in his socks, pajama pants and a T-shirt. But he isn't alone. The 17-year-old Old Bridge High School student and a crew of close friends are gathered in the basement of his parents' house for poker night. They sip soda and munch on nachos as the cards are dealt on top of a pool table. Several players sport sunglasses as they attempt to bluff their way to victory in an activity that, at one time, brought to mind cigar-smoking older men in the back of a bar. Poker has joined the mainstream the last couple years, sparking interest from those as young as their early teens. Television shows feature poker-playing Hollywood types while radio ads hawk the latest online gambling service and stores everywhere stock a slew of poker-related goods. It seems difficult to determine just how much interest in the card game has increased, but one local retailer called it an explosion, while estimates say there are currently anywhere from 50 million to 80 million players in the United States. "It's the competitiveness of the game," said Totten, who began playing last summer after watching poker on the ESPN network. "It's something you can do anytime you want if you have three, four, five friends." A volleyball and basketball player, Totten said he and his friends — mostly fellow athletes — get together once or twice a month. At $5 a game, they said, it's cheaper than going to the movies. And unlike other competitive activities, poker "doesn't judge anybody," said Totten's girlfriend and fellow Old Bridge High School student, Jaime Chaifetz, 17. But does the betting bother parents? "As long as it's not large amounts, I don't think it will harm anything," said Kenny's mother, Marie Totten. "I don't mind because I know where they are. I know they're here, safe. They're off the streets." The extension of the poker craze into the underage set worries some gambling experts, however. "The more people who play, the more problems there are," said Terry Elman, education coordinator for the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. "It's gotten to epidemic proportions." The nonprofit organization delivers free programs to about 70 schools annually to discuss gambling prevention and awareness. Elman said while the law does not prohibit teens from betting at home — provided the host does not take a financial cut or in some way charge someone to be there — it can be a gateway to an eventual gambling addiction. Elman said teen interest in Texas Hold 'Em — the popular form of poker featured in the World Series of Poker televised on ESPN — started more than two years ago. It is probably the most common thing students bet on these days, he said. "Sports betting is always around, and cards had actually dropped out of the scene," he said. "Then, as ESPN kept pushing it, it has become popular again. Kids even look at the players and revere them like athletes." Due to their still-developing emotional state and penchant for risky activities, teens are second only to senior citizens in terms of vulnerability to a gambling addiction, Elman said. He also said the fact that teens have little disposable income can lead to financial troubles even more quickly. "It's all the things that are exciting about gambling," Elman said of the appeal of poker. "And they gamble right in their basements. Their parents say, "They're OK, they're downstairs.' They don't realize what's being done can lead to addiction." But that doesn't mean every card player will become affected. "Eighty percent of people who play never have a problem, 15-20 percent have a problem and 5 percent become pathological," he said. Gambling addicts, Elman said, will bet on any type of game or sport. The teen who plays poker once or twice a month for a small dollar amount each game is not experiencing a problem, Elman said, provided the interest stops there. "Once you want to move higher than that, you're probably into it too much," he said. Gambling addiction seems to be no problem for the Old Bridge youths. Poker is more about having a good time than earning money. "We're kids," Kenny Totten said, adding betting big would just result in hurt feelings and angry parents. "We don't have money growing out of our ears. We just want to keep it fun and friendly.' Elman said parents should be particularly concerned about online gambling. He said its danger is that it can be done 24 hours a day, while teens are often alone. And because it generally requires a credit card, teens likely are swiping their parents' plastic. Regardless of where one sits on the issue, there's no denying the surge in interest over the card game. There's no evidence of it waning, either, said Eric Morris, publisher of the Atlanta-based poker magazine Bluff. "It's not a Rubik's Cube or Beanie Baby. It's not like that. People are still dreaming they can be the next star. I truly believe it will not end up where it was 10 years ago — at the back of the bar," Morris said. While celebrities and television have glamorized the game, the allure for many is that the average person can hit it big in poker tournaments. "You can be old, young, tall, short, fat, bald," he said. "(Success) isn't dictated by youth or physical ability." Morris said his publication's readership is largely adults ages 21 to 35, although he is aware teens are enamored with the activity. "High school kids, instead of parties, are going to poker tournaments. They're not drinking and doing other activities," he said. Morris said he does not advocate that teens play poker, but he said there are benefits to taking part in this "thinking-man's game." "It's similar to backgammon or chess. It develops your mind, keeps you more alert," he said. "The people who do well are generally more intelligent. There are social skills involved, too." At the Gameroom Store, a specialty shop in Woodbridge Center mall, assistant manager Jay Prusik said teens are responsible for only about 15 percent of sales for poker products. "We see a lot of people in the mid-20s to mid-30s," he said. "Part of the reason is these are the people who can legally go to casinos." Prusik said the poker market is experiencing an "explosion" that began about two years ago. As a result, extravagant chip sets that sold for nearly $600 five years ago now cost customers $100. "Because of the increase in popularity and the price change, it's flying out the door," he said. And that's not likely to change for a while. "So long as the World Series of Poker gets ratings on ESPN . . . as long as that's popular, the poker craze isn't going anywhere," said Prusik. Elman agreed that television and marketing is responsible for the recent boom. He said the activity, by its nature, is no more dangerous to teens than other forms of gambling. "It's more of a problem only because it's promoted more," he said. Some school officials share Elman's concerns about teens who bet. "To me, it's like underage drinking," said Pat Andersen, student assistance counselor at Woodbridge High School. "The funny thing about gambling is it's only bad when you're losing — from a player's perspective. In my personal opinion, it's bad to gamble at all when you're an adolescent." Andersen said she has received a few calls from parents concerned about their children playing poker at home. Woodbridge has a policy against students playing cards at school. "I think it's seen as being exciting," Andersen said of gambling. "There's actually an adrenaline rush that goes along with it. (Teens) like things exciting and risky." Parents who allow teens to gamble at home because they can "keep an eye on them" may be leading their children, or someone else's child, down a dangerous road, Andersen said. "For some kids it's going to be a problem, and for some it's not," she said, adding that representatives of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey will visit her school later this year. "You can know where your kids are, but have better activities." Back in Old Bridge, players said they don't hold poker nights often, and, when they do, they always keep the per-game cost low. Competition remains the main source of motivation, too. "I don't play for the money," said Old Bridge High School senior Nicholas Li, 18, who plays for money about twice a month and more frequently online at nonbetting sites. "I play for the experience. I play for the bragging rights, too." Li, who pipes nature sounds through his headphones during poker games, said he knows when to draw the line on gambling. "I think it's only dangerous if it's not fun anymore," he said. "As long as it's not intruding on my studies and budget, it's all good." Kenny's brother, Michael Totten, 15, said he also plays for the competition. "It's fun to beat some of your friends," he said. His mother said she is aware of what experts are saying about teens and poker, but believes the card game is no more dangerous than most other activities. "Anything can lead to an addiction," Marie Totten said. "The stakes are not high by any means. It all depends on the individual, but these kids are doing it for fun."

Poker room - Veteran Poker Kings and Young Aces Go Head-to-Head Veteran Poker

Veteran Poker Kings and Young Aces Go Head-to-Head
Veteran Poker Kings and Young Aces Go Head-to-Head in GSN'S 'POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE AGES' Series Premieres Friday, November 4 at 10:00 PM ET/PT Featuring Top Six Players Over 60 Against Top Six Players Under 30 Years Old

Royal Vegas Poker Gets the Big Slick - Offers $15,000 Freeroll
October 7, 2005 -- Royal Vegas Poker has re-launched their already popular poker room and the results have been tremendous. The new look website boasts a cleaner, more modern feel and appearance, and the site's navigation has been stepped up to ensure a smooth and easy-to use interface.The website redesign has proved to be very appealing to younger gamers who are enthralled by the many tournaments and charity campaigns that are on offer at Royal Vegas Poker (http://www.royalvegaspoker.com). The

BRAVO LAUNCHES ITS FIRST ONLINE POKER TOURNAMENT ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13
BRAVO LAUNCHES ITS FIRST ONLINE POKER TOURNAMENT ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13 WINNERS OF THE TOURNAMENT WILL WIN A TRIP TO VEGAS AND THE CHANCE TO PLAY IN THE NEXT "CELEBRITY POKER SHOWDOWN" SERIES ON BRAVO

The business of poker
This week I would like to discuss one of the most difficult aspects of poker: reading your opponent.The first part of reading your opponents is knowing who your opponents are, and what tendencies they tend to exhibit. Essentially, there are four major styles of players in the poker world: the Mouse, the Elephant, the Jackal, and the Lion.The Mouse is a very timid player. Someone who folds most of their hands, plays only a few pots, and will occasionally win the big one. Their chip stacks remain

Life is good as a college poker star
Hey Dave, I whispered into my cell. I need you for a second. It was just then that I realized what an interesting turn of events my life had taken after I made an innocent deposit of $50 into a PartyPoker.com account two years earlier, while living in my Blackwell dorm room. I was seated in a mafia-owned card room in downtown New York City. My hands were glossed over with grease from a filthy, worn-down table and poker chips that had probably been in use for fifteen years without being washed

World Poker Tour stops in Las Vegas
1. THE TOURNow in its fourth season, the World Poker Tour consists of 16 tournaments filmed at sites throughout the world and televised on a tape-delay basis at 9 p.m. Wednesdays on the Travel Channel, Cox cable channel 66. The season culminates with the WPT World Championship, scheduled for April 18-24 at the Bellagio. Buy-ins for the tournaments range from $5,000 to $15,000, except for the championship, which carries a $25,000 entry fee. Last year's championship event at the Bellagio was won b

SpikeTV.com | King of Vegas

SpikeTV.com | King of Vegas It's one thing to be a poker champion, but it's another thing to be the King of Vegas... the player who has mastered not only poker, but the entire art of gambling. Blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, keno... no matter what the game, we're looking for the guy or girl who can walk into any casino - and own it. Spike TV presents a spectacle befitting a heavyweight prize fight, a weekly marquis event whose scope will trump the current poker craze. We're putting a one million dollar prize on the line in a cutthroat gambling competition to crown the country's greatest gambler. Each weekly hour will feature gamblers going head-to-head on our primetime set. Players will compete across multiple games in each episode. Every episode engages the players' skill, strategy and sometimes sheer luck throughout the arc of the competition. It will be an epic tournament spanning 10 episodes. The series will culminate in a final showdown during which one person will prove that he or she is the master... the million dollar King of Vegas. ARE YOU THE KING OF VEGAS?

Two Mad Geniuses Join Bluff Magazine (Poker room) Two Mad Geniuses Join

Two Mad Geniuses Join Bluff Magazine
Two Mad Geniuses Join Bluff Magazine Mike Caro and Phil Laak are Bluff s newest columnists

Cingular Wireless and Summus Reveal Secrets of Hold'em with Howard Lederer
TLANTA and RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless, thenation's largest wireless carrier, and Summus, Inc.(OTC Bulletin Board: SMMU), a leading provider of mobile media applicationsthat optimize the consumer wireless experience, announced today the launch ofa unique Texas Hold'em tutorial poker game, "Secrets of Hold'em with HowardLederer," available first on Cingular Wireless. Known as "The Professor of Poker," Howard Lederer is one of the mostsuccessful and famous poker pla

Hold 'em still on hold in Del.; Licensing delaying legalization of poker tourney
DOVER - You can't know when to hold 'em - or know when to fold 'em - until somebody deals 'em. But for the time being, No Limit Texas Hold 'Em poker tournaments in Delaware are on hold.Three months after the enactment of a law allowing nonprofit groups to raise money by sponsoring high-stakes poker tournaments, poker players in Delaware are still waiting for the chance to ante up.Officials with the state Gaming Control Board blame the holdup on a lack of applications from people seeking the requ

Phil Gordon s poker pointers Phil Gordon s poker pointers World-class poker (Poker)

Phil Gordon s poker pointers
Phil Gordon s poker pointers World-class poker player and Celebrity Poker co-host bets on Little Green Book

Protectors of Poker
As poker continues to entrench itself in mainstream American culture, accompanying organizations are springing up to ensure the game -- whether played online, in casinos or at home -- maintains a steady increase in popularity.The Poker Players Alliance, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit group, is attempting to become an advocate for the growing legion of poker players who lack collective representation. Founded earlier this year, the group is seeking members, has hired a Washington, D.C., lobbyist to

Agency tells groups not to bet on gambling events
SACRAMENTO - At least four Sacramento groups have canceled or curtailed fund-raisers in recent weeks amid a state Department of Justice crackdown on charity-sponsored gambling events.The agency hasn't taken legal action against any of the fund-raisers but has made clear in letters and phone calls that only licensed card rooms or tribal casinos are permitted to host "controlled games," such as poker or Monte Carlo-style gambling.The tougher line comes as card games such as Texas Hold 'Em soar in

Spike TV Antes Up for 'King Of Vegas'
Spike TV Antes Up for 'King Of Vegas'; Weekly Original Series Set to Debut in 2006 $1 Million Prize on the Line in First-Ever 'Decathlon of Gambling' Competition

Why Play Poker Online ?

Why Play Poker Online There are a lot more than five reasons to play online poker, but I thought I'd list the five top reasons that make poker online more profitable than poker in your local card room. Reason #5: There is always a game that is right for you That's actually an understatement. When it comes to online poker there are always hundreds of games that are not only right for you, but there for you right now. There is no wait for a table, and once you sit down at the table there is no reason to ever play in a game that is too tough, not your preferred limit, too quiet, or too aggressive. The beauty of online poker is the instantaneous availability of every kind of poker game at every limit. If you want to play in a quick tournament for $100 it is there for you. If your limit is $1 there is a game at those stakes as well. In addition, you can use the lobby of any online poker room to ascertain which games suit your style of play. Reason #4: You gain invaluable poker experience I'm sick and tired of reading about how playing poker online cannot make you a better poker player, it can only make you a better online poker player. Do people really think that the two are that different? The style of play is far looser and objectively worse online as a rule, but so what? The fact that you get to see thousands and thousands of hands provides you with the experience to win at any card room, online or offline. Furthermore, if you are winning at online poker it means that you have discipline, good hand selection, and have seen every possible scenario. Reason #3: Statistics, Statistics, Statistics In your local card room you might recognize three or four familiar faces at your table when you sit down. You might think to yourself that those guys are very tough, and you probably have no choice but to play against them. But with online poker you have the choice to get up and play at another table immediately, and you also have a lot of information about those players and many more like them. You can keep profiles and notes of your opponents, and you can access information about your own play. You don't play the same every session, and to prove this you should look at your own stats. Online poker provides a wealth of statistics, whereby you can monitor your own play and everyone else's play as well. It will make you money if you use it properly, trust me. Reason #2: The big score is finally within reach You could have played at your local card room's $4/$8 game for the rest of your life and never come close to sitting at a world series of poker table, or beating a poker pro that you secretly idolize. Now, with online poker those dreams are within reach, seriously. Poker rooms online are a populist's wet dream - providing everyone with a chance to win a huge event, or at least qualify. Every day, right now in fact, online poker is sending an amateur poker player to a $1 million event, or even a $20 million event, and it cost that player the price of lunch to qualify. Because of the sheer size of these poker rooms they can hold almost limitless satellite events and other feeder tournaments to send thousands of players to the biggest poker tournaments in the world. This isn't a pipe dream, it's online poker reality. Reason #1: The best reason: Online poker is more profitable Someone has to say this and it might as well be me. If you're a good player and you regularly earn $x an hour playing poker you should expect to make $2x an hour playing online poker. There are more hands, weaker players, and so many opportunities to win that it is staggering. Sure you get unlucky sometimes, and sure you only remember the shocking bad beats. That's poker nature. What you fail to remember is all the times that you caught lucky, because in your mind that was just life evening out. Get beyond the justice and play solid poker and you will show a far greater profit as a small to medium level poker player than you could ever manage in any real-world card room. Online poker will enable an entire generation of poker players to turn pro, and it will allow those good players to take the money of the weak. Who needs any other reason to play besides this one? About The Author Marc Weinberg is a writer for Online Poker Insider

Latest News From The World Poker Tour Event At The Bellagio

News From The World Poker Tour Event At The Bellagio From Online Poker Insider Some big names are out on the first day, which is only to be expected. Among them are Phil Hellmuth, who departed quietly, David Grey, Ted Forrest, and a host of other well known players. The defending champion, Carlos Mortensen is also out. The tournament is down to 250. 417 started in the end, so first prize is a tad over $1 million. There were some monster tables on the first day. Not only the one I mentioned in my previous blog, which was frightening enough, but also: Chip Reese, Ted Forrest, Kenna James (played with him yesterday, what a character), Mark Gregorich (played with him yesterday as well, another very tough customer), Robert Mizrachi. All at one table, and most of them renowned for their super-aggressive play. They`re almost done for the first day. Doyle was playing at the featured table up on a little stage and he suffered a fall, hurting his shoulder. But he is okay, I am assured.

A Search Engine for Only Online Gambling

A Search Engine for Only Online Gambling A new innovative concept in the online gambling industry has emerged. Kahching is an alternative way to search for online gambling. With Kahching, the user doesn’t have to search through thousands of useless sites to find what type of online gambling venue they are looking for. Kahching is simple, just search for the game you are interested in, and the search results will bring up quality relevant sites. Kahching is not only great for the gambler, but it is the best bet to advertise your online gambling site. They have a different philosophy than most of the other search engines. Kahching does not offer pay-per click advertising which can cost hundreds of thousands a month. Sites on Kahching are ranked to the relevancy of their online gaming category and content. Although Kahching is fairly new, the company has gained much attention and support from some of the leading casino operators. And, with a price tag of $49.95 per year it is well worth casino operators and affiliates to sign up. Reviewing the customer base of Kahching, we see it is growing at a rapid pace, and with only relevant search results it does make for easy and effective surfing. Kahching is well worth the time to check out for online gambling. Finally, with the millions of people who gamble online every day, this is a safe and very effective way to search for online gambling. A dedicated search engine is well over due for this huge industry. This is probably the best new concept in online gambling and is the future of internet gambling. Kahching is also looking for your feedback, if you have any questions or comments about this site please email management@kahching.com and we will be happy to get back to you. Make your next online gambling search Kahching. www.kahching.com Source - Professional Free Press Release News Wire

Players Network Coming To Cable Cable television has been a (Poker news)

Players Network Coming To Cable
Cable television has been a distinct part of the rebirth of interest in the game of poker. From the Travel Channel's broadcasts of the World Poker Tour to ESPN's airings of the World Series of Poker...

Poker Bounty on the Brunsons and Caro
Online poker sites are doing whatever they can to attract new players and keep current users satisfied. Some sites are offering huge prizes while others are offering stock in the poker site itself...

Running a Major Poker Tournament is Hard Work
Without a doubt, playing poker is a tough business. The long hours and mental strain can wreak havoc on the minds of even the best in the game....

The Poker Counselor's Corner (27)
This weekly column gives poker players advice on the psychological issues that can affect them at the table, or away from it...

Poker TV Review - Full Tilt: Learn From the Pros.
As I have mentioned a number of times in my column, or various stories I've written here, despite the sheer amount of poker on U.S. television these days, I believe there is room for a lot more....

Bravo Brings Poker Action to Life
Bravo is making big moves to further captivate this year's Celebrity Poker Showdown audience. For the first time, BravoTV.com will launch the 'Celebrity Poker Showdown Online Tournament,'..

PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $5,000 freeroll
Here at PokerNews.com, as I have said before, we try to bring you the best value on the web. Two months ago, we had two rooms we were doing freerolls with, and now we have five.

New Poker Program Coming To The Air
With all of the success of tournament poker programs on television today, one thing that has been lacking is programming that looks beyond the felt, so to speak.

Cameron Diaz Has Fallen For Poker
Everyone knows that poker is the latest "Hollywood" celebrity fad. What people don't realize is that these star converts to the game are falling in love with the game...

Steve Brecher and John Juanda Trump (Poker news) Competition at US Poker

Steve Brecher and John Juanda Trump Competition at US Poker Championship
Full Tilt Poker's Steve Brecher and John Juanda Trump Competition at United States Poker Championship

9X WSOP Champion Phil Hellmuth to Headline TASER(TM) Foundation Poker Tournament
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty lucky people will have the opportunity to play poker against the best, Phil Hellmuth, at a poker tournament hosted by the TASER Foundation to raise money for the families of fallen law enforcement officers. One hundred other players will get a chance to learn from the nine-time World Series of Poker Champion and participate in the general tournament.The TASER Foundation, a non-profit foundation to honor fallen law enforcement officers, will hold

Online poker - 9X WSOP Champion Phil Hellmuth to Headline TASER(TM) Foundation Poker

9X WSOP Champion Phil Hellmuth to Headline TASER(TM) Foundation Poker Tournament
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty lucky people will have the opportunity to play poker against the best, Phil Hellmuth, at a poker tournament hosted by the TASER Foundation to raise money for the families of fallen law enforcement officers. One hundred other players will get a chance to learn from the nine-time World Series of Poker Champion and participate in the general tournament.The TASER Foundation, a non-profit foundation to honor fallen law enforcement officers, will hold

Online Poker Radio Goes Major League
By David Utter
For WebProNews

Major League Poker marries digital radio with the World Series of Poker to complement the online poker-playing experience.

Poker has moved from the felt portraits of card-playing dogs to the digital streamed radio show called "On the Felt."

As poker has exploded in popularity, with coverage of events on outlets like ESPN, many players have turned to Internet venues like The Gaming Club Online Poker Room to play. The Gaming Club Online Poker Room launched "On the Felt," the first online radio show for poker players. Major League Poker produced the show, with Atlanta radio personality and poker player Mark [more ...]
Bronson - bronson@pokertourinfo.com

Online poker - Fairground London listing success Fairground Holdings, the listed investment company

Fairground London listing success
Fairground Holdings, the listed investment company with links to software firm Microgaming, saw its share price jump over 150% following its listing on the London Stock Exchange this week.

The Isle of Man-based firm raised 3.8m through the listing to fund acquisition of smaller casino, poker, bingo and skill gaming sites.

Fairground has access to a cash pile of 8m, and is expected to target some of the smaller casino and poker sites in the Microgaming portfolio.

And investors clearly backed the plan, sending share prices rocketing from a listing price of 50p to almost 120p a share at the time of [more ...]
Bronson - bronson@pokertourinfo.com

Phantom Fiber powering m-gaming
Mobile technology firm Phantom Fiber has announced the launch of several mobile casinos on a range of US-facing sportsbook sites.

The products are the result of a link-up with sportsbook software firm DGS, and a similar rollout is planned later in the year for a range of RealTime Gaming powered casino sites.

Jeff Halloran, President and CEO for Phantom Fiber said mobile gaming had finally arrived. Mobile gambling is becoming the predominant marketing channel to acquire new customer, Haolloran said.
Bronson - bronson@pokertourinfo.com

Online Poker's First Millionaire crowned in Paradise
NEW YORK, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ - After battling 3,900 opponents online, Lee Biddulph, a 28 year old chef from Blackpool, England has walked away with $1 million dollars, the winner of ParadisePoker.com's first Million Dollar Free online poker tournament. This is the world's largest online poker tournament prize ever, and it was absolutely free to participate!The final table, which was played out in a mystery tropical location, was made up of nine amateurs, eight from the U.S. who beat out almos

Poker shares take another big hit
Empire Online s share price fell by a third today and other egaming stocks fell sharply as edgy investors gave the sector another body blow.

Empire s value fell by over US$ 0.3bn following the announcement PartyGaming has set up a new operating platform solely for PartyPoker.com.

Empire Poker, the poker room owned by Empire Online, will now share a separate player pool with Party s other skins, Coral, Intertops and Multipoker.
Bronson - bronson@pokertourinfo.com

Poker shares take another big hit Empire Online s share price

Poker shares take another big hit
Empire Online s share price fell by a third today and other egaming stocks fell sharply as edgy investors gave the sector another body blow.

Empire s value fell by over US$ 0.3bn following the announcement PartyGaming has set up a new operating platform solely for PartyPoker.com.

Empire Poker, the poker room owned by Empire Online, will now share a separate player pool with Party s other skins, Coral, Intertops and Multipoker.
Bronson - bronson@pokertourinfo.com

Poker guru beating the odds
Finally, someone who has put a Georgia Tech education to work on the big stuff.Like, say, the human dynamics of rock-paper-scissors."I play a lot of high stakes rock-paper-scissors," begins Phil Gordon, 35-year-old Yellow Jacket/poker raconteur. "Played for $10,000 one time [and won]. It's actually a game of skill, much like poker. You think that it's random, but it's not. Human beings are not good randomizers; they always fall into patterns. If I know which way you're going, you can't win."In a

POKERBEAT IN FINAL STAGES OF PRODUCTION
09/25/2005, Minneapolis, Minnesota -- Pokerbeat, an exciting, informative and fresh new television show, is now in the final stages of production in Las Vegas, Nevada. More than two years in development and orchestrated by experts in gaming content, Pokerbeat offers a stylish and unique glimpse into the world of professional poker play. The episodes will showcase top competitors and industry insiders while delivering up-to-the-minute poker news in a fast-paced, magazine-style 30-minue format.

Borgata Adds Women's Poker Event
ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Event Center at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa was a sea of pink as the Ladies Only No Limit Hold 'em event kicked off Sunday and players sported their new pink Borgata Poker Open hats.With 516 competitors playing for the title, the ladies wasted no time taking to the felt like fish to water. Action flowed as the sound of chips being shuffled dominated the early rounds. The ladies action went long into the evening as players fought fatigue and short

Annie Duke to be Featured Crave's World Championship Poker 2
Crave Entertainment, a leading publisher of console videogames, has released images and a profile of poker pro Annie Duke, one of top female poker players in the world and one of thetop poker stars that will be featured in the upcoming release, World Championship Poker 2. World Championship Poker 2, is the follow up to one of the best selling titles for the first half of 2005, is slated to ship this fall for the PlayStationR computer entertainment system, the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system and the Xbox video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

About Annie Duke

Born in Concord, New Hampshire, Annie Duke [more ...]
Bronson - bronson@pokertourinfo.com

For the wonder of it all
The popularity of No Limit Hold 'Em poker has undeniably increased over the past few years, with ESPN's coverage of the World Series of Poker and other televised events. But with the newfound love for professional poker, an increase in gambling has followed suit."Last year, with the popularity of Texas Hold 'Em games on TV, we had some games sprouting - people doing it for fundraisers or even for their own benefit," said Lt. Paul Paradis of University of Maine Public Safety.Even with the No Limi

Card Player Media Brings Poker Content to the Cell Phone Market
Card Player Media Brings Cutting-Edge Poker Content to the Cell Phone Market Company Chosen by Amp'd Mobile as Exclusive Poker Content Provider

Online Poker's First Millionaire crowned in Paradise NEW YORK, Sept.

Online Poker's First Millionaire crowned in Paradise
NEW YORK, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ - After battling 3,900 opponents online, Lee Biddulph, a 28 year old chef from Blackpool, England has walked away with $1 million dollars, the winner of ParadisePoker.com's first Million Dollar Free online poker tournament. This is the world's largest online poker tournament prize ever, and it was absolutely free to participate!The final table, which was played out in a mystery tropical location, was made up of nine amateurs, eight from the U.S. who beat out almos

Always look both ways before claiming a seat
While this might seem silly to some, there is actually merit to the question, "Where is the best place to sit at a poker table?"I'm not talking about closest to the bathroom or to the fridge; I'm talking about where the best place is for you to sit at the table in relation to certain types of players.If you've played poker, you know that people approach the game in different ways. You have experienced players and novices, aggressive types and conservative competitors. Eventually you'll meet them

Annie Duke to be Featured Crave's World Championship Poker 2
Crave Entertainment, a leading publisher of console videogames, has released images and a profile of poker pro Annie Duke, one of top female poker players in the world and one of thetop poker stars that will be featured in the upcoming release, World Championship Poker 2. World Championship Poker 2, is the follow up to one of the best selling titles for the first half of 2005, is slated to ship this fall for the PlayStationR computer entertainment system, the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system and the Xbox video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

About Annie Duke

Born in Concord, New Hampshire, Annie Duke [more ...]
Bronson - bronson@pokertourinfo.com

Big spill at the Bicycle Club
This year the $5,000 buy-in World Poker Tour (WPT) tournament at the Bicycle Club in Los Angeles brought out more than 800 entrants (with a first place of $1.1 million).This championship finale, capping a one-month-long series of tournaments in August, has some serious history and prestige, and has been on all the top poker players' schedules for 17 years running. And that prize pool has changed over those years!Way back when, in 1988, I won this event and a whopping $145,000, out of a prize poo

Poker news - Charity is in the cards for players at 3G Expo

Charity is in the cards for players at 3G Expo
Charity is in the cards for players at 3G Expo Organizers of the tournament at the "gears, games and gadgets" event hope to draw 2,500 players and break a Guinness record while benefiting a Denver cancer group.

WPT: Network Withdraws "Pro Poker" Offer
WPT: Network Withdraws "Pro Poker" Offer WPT Enterprises: Cable Network Withdraws Offer to Broadcast "Professional Poker" Series

Poker players could be breaking Iowa laws
DES MOINES -- Iowa lawmakers asked regulators Tuesday to help clean up rules governing popular poker games, arguing that Iowans who know when to hold 'em often don't know when they're breaking a confusing patchwork of laws.Members of the Government Oversight Committee said their constituents are uncertain when, where and how it's legally appropriate to play Texas Hold 'em and other poker games. Lawmakers said they want clarification, but, for now, they're not interested in new regulations."I thi

WPTE Plans to Go Global
LOS ANGELES (PRESS RELEASE) -- Can the sensational success of the World Poker Tour be duplicated around the world -- with local nuances, in languages as diverse as Chinese, Russian and Arabic?WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WPTE) is betting that it can. With deals for Canada and the Philippines already inked, WPTE is setting up shop at MIPCOM (Booth Number: R37.13) to formally entertain offers for launching its branded format in markets around the world. In the U.S., that format involves 16 tou

Phil Gordon s poker pointers Phil Gordon s poker pointers World-class poker

Phil Gordon s poker pointers
Phil Gordon s poker pointers World-class poker player and Celebrity Poker co-host bets on Little Green Book

Borgata Poker Open Breaks Records
ATLANTIC CITY -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Energy levels among players and guests at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa rose early Monday morning as the hotel welcomed players of the World Poker Tour (WPT) main event.The highly regarded tournament series recorded the largest turnout of players in the history of Atlantic City casinos with over 500 players ponying up $10,000 for a shot at the biggest pool prize in Borgata Poker Open history.Spectators were treated to some intriguing tables as a number of top pro

Call for Entries for Absolute Poker's Free 'Win Your Tuition'
Call for Entries for Absolute Poker's Free 'Win Your Tuition' Texas Hold'em Tournament Ends October 6

The Bicycle Casino Sponsors the ``Entourage'' Poker Lounge
The Bicycle Casino Sponsors the ``Entourage'' Poker Lounge at Monkeys In Pants Award Suites to Raise One Million Dollars for Hurricane Katrina Victims

GSN Goes A'Hummin' Down the Las Vegas Strip
GSN Goes A'Hummin' Down the Las Vegas Strip Giving Away Cash and Prizes in New Interstitials Oct. 7 as Part of GSN's Friday 'Casino Night'

WPT - On TV This Week
Party Poker Million
Wednesday Oct 5, 2005

This week the WPT hits the Sea of Cortez for the Cruisin Mexico Party Poker Million, a floating festival of cards that will create not one, but two new WPT millionaires. 735 players ponied up $ 10,000 to test their mettle aboard the beautiful cruise ship M.S. Oosterdam, pushing the prize pool to the largest in WPT history - $ 7,207,108. It s a fitting testament to another milestone reached with this tournament, as the WPT crosses the $ 100,000,000 mark in poker payouts. Last year Erick Lindgren edged out Daniel Negreanu for the first million win. [more ...]
Bronson - bronson@pokertourinfo.com

Taking a shot at Gutshot
BEFORE I GET into it, you should know that, from here on in, all the words and phrases in this column surrounded by quotes are the - much beloved by me - local London lingo. For those of you who have already guessed it, "bloody right,'' this piece is about a little UK poker!While in London last weekend shooting three parts of a reality show (the "UltimatePoker.com Showdown''), I thought it would be a treat to make an appearance at a poker club, out of respect and "honour'' for the United Kingdom

Online poker room - Life is good as a college poker star Hey Dave,

Life is good as a college poker star
Hey Dave, I whispered into my cell. I need you for a second. It was just then that I realized what an interesting turn of events my life had taken after I made an innocent deposit of $50 into a PartyPoker.com account two years earlier, while living in my Blackwell dorm room. I was seated in a mafia-owned card room in downtown New York City. My hands were glossed over with grease from a filthy, worn-down table and poker chips that had probably been in use for fifteen years without being washed

Protectors of Poker
As poker continues to entrench itself in mainstream American culture, accompanying organizations are springing up to ensure the game -- whether played online, in casinos or at home -- maintains a steady increase in popularity.The Poker Players Alliance, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit group, is attempting to become an advocate for the growing legion of poker players who lack collective representation. Founded earlier this year, the group is seeking members, has hired a Washington, D.C., lobbyist to

Cool hand Capo s coup
Patchogue poker novice and pal finish on top against the big boys in Atlantic City professional tourney

Online Poker Radio Goes Major League
By David Utter
For WebProNews

Major League Poker marries digital radio with the World Series of Poker to complement the online poker-playing experience.

Poker has moved from the felt portraits of card-playing dogs to the digital streamed radio show called "On the Felt."

As poker has exploded in popularity, with coverage of events on outlets like ESPN, many players have turned to Internet venues like The Gaming Club Online Poker Room to play. The Gaming Club Online Poker Room launched "On the Felt," the first online radio show for poker players. Major League Poker produced the show, with Atlanta radio personality and poker player Mark [more ...]
Bronson - bronson@pokertourinfo.com

Bluff Magazine and Jim Feist Sports Announce Content Partnership
September 29, 2005 (Atlanta, GA) - Bluff Magazine and Jim Feist Sports, America s most respected sports Information Company, announced a season-long strategic content partnership. Every Saturday morning one of Bluff s professional poker player and columnist will be featured on Proline, America s longest running sports handicapping show on Television.Bluff Magazine s The Poker Corner will start by featuring one of the hottest young players, Antonio Esfandiari, whose column Poker Like a RockSta

TV mini-cam makes poker a winner
ATLANTA - Years ago, ESPN tried showing the World Series of Poker, and someone said it was like watching bears hibernate. Tonight, it's World Series of Poker time again, but now it's glitz city, baaaaay-bee: hyped-up announcers, high drama, wacko nicknames, huge prizes, everything but cheerleaders. And you won't have to wait long for them, probably. The difference, introduced a mere two years ago, was the little hidden camera at each player's seat that shows the hidden "hole" cards, the ones the

Poker room - Speed poker is resident's forte Lately, it seems poker is

Speed poker is resident's forte
Lately, it seems poker is everywhere. From how-to books and cable channels to the Internet, odds are if you're hankering to learn, play or just watch poker, you'll be able to do it anywhere - in Arizona or London.Which is exactly what Jason Smith, 28, of Chandler, is banking on while he is in England this week playing in the World Speed Poker Open, where he has the chance to win $90,000."It's really the competition," he said, just before his trip. "Being able to outthink someone else, making a p

Big spill at the Bicycle Club
This year the $5,000 buy-in World Poker Tour (WPT) tournament at the Bicycle Club in Los Angeles brought out more than 800 entrants (with a first place of $1.1 million).This championship finale, capping a one-month-long series of tournaments in August, has some serious history and prestige, and has been on all the top poker players' schedules for 17 years running. And that prize pool has changed over those years!Way back when, in 1988, I won this event and a whopping $145,000, out of a prize poo

St. Louis Man Dominates Poker Action at Borgata
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--(MARKET WIRE)--Sep 17, 2005 -- Another day down, another champion rises to the challenge at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. Event five of the 2005 Borgata Poker Open came to a conclusion late in the evening on the second day of the $1,000 buy-in tournament with St. Louis, Mo.'s Jess Yawitz capturing his first Borgata bracelet and a first prize of $121,210.Having started playing a little over a year ago, some might be surprised by Yawitz's success, but he proved hi

Online poker room - Player Profile: Chip Jett

Player Profile: Chip Jett
pPlayer.com - Oct 06 9:13 AM
Filed under: Professionals Born in Scottsdale, Arizona on September 22, 1974, Chip Jett now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife, professional poker player Karina Jett, and their daughter. Chip began dealing poker on an Indian reservation in Arizona when he was 18, and began playing in Las Vegas when he turned 21. Instantly recognizable by his slicked-back blond hair Save to My Web

WPT Aruba Final Table Recap
pPlayer.com - Oct 02 6:13 PM
Filed under: Tournaments Freddy Deeb won the World Poker Tours Aruba event this weekend. He entered the final day as the chip leader and eventually took home $1million for the victory. Freddy has made several final tables in the past but has never won a WPT event until yesterday. Go check out BJ Nemeths recap over at Card Player Magazine . During heads up play, Freddy Deeb took Save to My Web

2004 poker champion pens her memoir (Poker)

2004 poker champion pens her memoir
Jackson Hole Star-Tribune, WY - Oct 7, 2005 Both are remarkably interesting, especially if you're a poker amateur (she offers tips on strategy, a list of poker terms and colorful descriptions of some of

NHL is back, but will fans be?
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - Oct 5, 2005 That system is now in place.". In poker terms, the NHL ownership bluffed and won its high-stakes gamble with the players' union.

Fit For Poker Play
PokerMag.com - Sep 20, 2005 In poker terms, Ryan Haneberg and Justin Britt of Kaua'i have gone "all in" with their new venture into the fashion business. The

Poker room - Borgata Final Table

Borgata Final Table
pPlayer.com - Sep 21 11:58 PM
Filed under: Bloggers , Tournaments Day 3 of the Borgata Poker Open is coming to an end. They are currently down to nine players as I write this post. The World Poker Tour has six handed final tables for television airing so action for the night wont be stopped until 3 more people are eliminated. Evelyn Ng fans will be upset to hear this but she got knocked out in 11th place. John Save to My Web

Poker room - Pegasus To Offer Seats To The World Poker Tour Event

Pegasus To Offer Seats To The World Poker Tour Event
Poker Mag - Pegasus Gaming Corp., an I-gaming software and e-commerce services company with exclusive licensing rights for Europe and Africa, is pleased to announce that it will offer the lowest entry fee to the World Poker Tour Event. will offer to its licensees World Poker Tour (WPT) satellite tournaments for

Indie veteran to be WPTE's poker format ace
C21 Media - producer of gaming-themed programming in getting World Poker Tour off the ground internationally ancillary revenue streams. The World Poker Tour format involves 16 tournaments open

Cameron Diaz is hooked on to poker

Cameron Diaz is hooked on to poker Source: New Kerala Newspaper London : Hollywood beauty Cameron Diaz has revealed that she has become a self-confessed poker addict, after being hooked on to the game by comedienne Ellen DeGeneres. The actress, who is dating singer Justin Timberlake, admits she now attends casinos and tournaments on a regular basis. “I’m addicted to it. I do like the casino a bit. I find myself at a casino every once in a while just walking through going: ‘What am I doing here?’ That’s so desperate - I’m in Tunica, Mississippi (at casinos),” she was quoted by the Sun, as saying. “I remember the fateful night (Ellen introduced me to the game) as well. I remember the phone call: ‘Come over and play Texas Hold ‘Em.’ I said: ‘I don’t know how to play Texas Hold ‘Em.’ She was like: ‘None of us do, come on over.’ We sat around a big table. What time did we get done, like four o’clock in the morning? I took everybody’s money that night!” she added.

U.S. Ordered to Clarify Online Casino Rules

U.S. Ordered to Clarify Online Casino Rules By Roy Mark For InternetNews.com The World Trade Organization (WTO) has given the United States until April to clarify its laws permitting Internet betting on horse racing but banning all other types of online gambling. Washington hopes the clarification will end the long-running trade dispute with the tiny Caribbean island nation of Antigua, which is attempting to rebuild its hurricane ravished economy with online casinos. Don't bet on it being resolved anytime soon, experts say. Antigua, the smallest member of the WTO, says the apparent inconsistency serves as a basis for Americans to legally gamble through online, offshore gambling casinos. More than two years ago, it filed a trade complaint with the WTO against the United States. For Washington, it's the trade complaint that won't go away. In April, the WTO issued a ruling that widely agreed with the United States. The decision said Washington has the right to keep gambling services off its list of free trade obligations to other WTO members under the organization's rules permitting countries to refuse to deal in goods and services it bans at home. Antigua, though, gained some measure of satisfaction in the decision when the WTO noted that the United States does permit online wagering when it comes to horse racing. It ordered the U.S. to clarify its current online gambling rules. Factoring in that congressional action might be necessary, the U.S. told the WTO it would have an answer in 15 months. Antigua insisted on a shorter time frame for the U.S. response and the WTO agreed, giving Washington until April 6, 2006. If Antigua is not satisfied with Washington's response, it can continue the trade dispute. In its April ruling supporting the U.S. ban on gambling, the WTO found "the possibility that the [Interstate Horseracing Act] exempts only domestic suppliers of some remote betting services for horse racing from the prohibitions" on remote gambling in pre-existing federal laws. "The one narrow issue we have to resolve is this: When a WTO member invokes a WTO exception, such as public morals, WTO rules say they have to do it without 'arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination,'" Neena Moorjani, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), told internetnews.com. Moorjani added, "We have to clarify is that there is no arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination in the treatment of horse racing." The dispute dates back to 2000, when Congress changed the language in the Interstate Horseracing Act to accommodate national betting through simulcasts at tracks throughout the country. As part of the change, Congress expanded the definition of an interstate off-track bet to include pari-mutuel wagers transmitted between states by way of telephone or other electronic media such as the Internet. According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), 11 states currently allow Internet gambling on horse races. In April, Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the AGA, called the WTO decision "very confusing and very interesting." Monday, Fahrenkopf issued a no comment on the latest WTO decision. In hearings before Congress two years ago, the House Banking Committee was told Americans will gamble more than $2 billion every year through offshore gambling sites. It is estimated that as much as 60 percent of all offshore gambling dollars come from Americans.

Poker bill hurdles House

Poker bill hurdles House By Liberty Dones For Saipan Tribune After months of postponements, the House of Representatives passed on Thursday a bill that allows poker shops only on Beach Road and Middle Road, extending to As Terlaje and As Lito roads. House Bill 14-267 aims to ban poker operations in inner villages such as Koblerville, Dandan, San Vicente, and Kagman, and other villages up north like Tanapag and San Roque. "There would be nothing in the villages. No[thing in] Chalan Kanoa, Koblerville. Nothing inside the villages. It's limited to the main roads," said bill author Rep. Clyde K. Norita. Norita, in an interview yesterday said that, the amendments made to the bill includes changing signages from "poker" to "game room." "The signage won't say poker. It's just game room," he said. The amended bill also provides that no amusement machine shall be operated within 250 feet from the closest boundary of any public or private school, childcare center, nurseries, and churches. It also prohibits operations of these machines adjacent to or within the same facility or complex and under the same roof where commercial Laundromats or grocery stores are located. Earlier, Rep. David Apatang had moved to amend the bill to reduce it from 250 feet to the existing policy of 100 feet, but this motion was defeated. Norita said, though, that House members voted on Rep. Jesus Attao's proposal to allow existing poker shops that would violate the 250 feet guideline to continue operating until they close shop. "Those existing operators can't sell or transfer their license. Say, if they go bankrupt or stop operations, that's the end of the license," he said. Lawmakers said that there are at least two major poker shops that are located near schools. Norita said the bill provides that all existing poker operators would be given 180 days to comply with the law once enacted. Meantime, he said that the amended bill took out the provision to raise the poker fee by $4,000 in view of an earlier passed bill authored by Rep. Arnold I. Palacios, which aims to raise the fee by $4,000 for fuel surcharge payment. The bill, he said, carries a provision now that 25 percent of the raised fee would go to National Honor Society and Junior Statesmen program. Norita said H.B. 14-267 calls for upfront payment of poker license fee. Currently, poker fees are paid on an installment or quarterly basis.