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.