Justin Bonomo Leads $40,000 WSOP Tournament Field, by Brett Collson - Poker News Daily - 30th May 2009

With a starting field rivaling the most talented ever assembled in a poker tournament, it was assumed that the final three tables of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) $40,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em event would consist of the game’s biggest names. That promise has now been fulfilled, as players cracked the money bubble late Friday evening and the final 23 will prepare to play down to the final table Saturday.

Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo quietly, but steadily climbed to the top of the leader board to end Day 2, holding a small chip lead over Ted Forrest, David Baker, Greg Raymer, and Lex Veldhuis. Bonomo began Day 2 third in chips with 738,000 and rarely got involved in any big pots, pulling in small pot after small pot to increase his stack gradually. His biggest win of the day came by way of Marco “CrazyMarco” Johnson, who was eliminated in 33rd place after his A-Q was overcome by Bonomo’s K-T. Bonomo also watched as Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond and 2003 WSOP Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker were knocked off his table short of the money bubble. Other notables falling out of the money were Nam Le, Kirill Gerasimov, Sami “LarsLuzak” Kelopuro, and Team PokerStars Pro member Humberto Brenes.

Forrest, who was inexplicably missing for some time after the dinner break, returned to take out Galfond in 29th place and play then went hand-for-hand. Alec Torelli eliminated Neil Chriss in 28th place just after Midnight local time, sealing a payday for everyone at the final three tables. The bursting of the bubble came with less than ten minutes remaining in the final level of the night, so a card was drawn to determine that six more hands would be played before the end of Day 2. Vanessa Rousso (27th place), J.C. Tran (26th place), and Sorel “Imper1um” Mizzi (25th place), all exited just minutes later and David “The Dragon” Pham departed in 24th place on the final hand of the night when he ran into Matthew Marafioti’s pocket kings. Each earned $71,858 for their two days of work.

The remaining 23 runners will resume play at 2:00pm and the last nine standing will return Sunday for one of the most anticipated final tables in memory. The winner will receive $1.9 million. Here’s a look at the chips counts heading into Day 3:

1. Justin Bonomo - 2,678,000
2. Ted Forrest - 2,586,000
3. David Baker - 2,367,000
4. Greg Raymer - 2,287,000
5. Lex “RasZi” Veldhuis - 2,103,000
6. Alec Torelli - 1,725,000
7. Keith Lehr - 1,257,000
8. Vitaly Lunkin - 1,166,000
9. Matt Marafioti - 1,003,000
10. Brian Rast - 912,000
11. Doshi Suresh - 771,000
12. Dani Stern – 762,000
13. Clark Hamagami - 691,000
14. Matt Glantz – 671,000
15. Brian Townsend - 671,000
16. Noah Schwartz - 541,000
17. Isaac Haxton - 539,000
18. Antanas “Tony G” Guaga - 481,000
19. David Chiu - 318,000
20. Neil Channing - 270,000
21. Andrew Black - 210,000
22. Frank Kasella - 167,000
23. Andrew Robl - 112,000

The $1,500 buy-in Omaha High-Low Eight or Better kicked off Friday afternoon and broke the record for the largest Omaha High-Low event in WSOP history. The $1,500 event attracted 918 entrants and generated a prize pool of $1.25 million. Defending champion Thang Luu is currently the chip leader with 73,600 in chips, but with 197 players still alive, the gold bracelet is up for grabs. Eli Elezra won a big pot toward the of the night to increase his stack to 55,000. Others returning on Saturday include Celebrity Apprentice runner-up Annie Duke, Ultimate Bet pro Phil Hellmuth, Todd Brunson, and Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi. Play is scheduled to begin at 2:00pm local time.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest WSOP coverage. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Paris Hilton, Willem Dafoe Attend Jamie Gold Cannes Poker Fundraiser, by Tom Jenkins - Poker News Daily - 30th May 2009

The 2009 Cannes Film Festival recently played out from the luxurious city on the French Riviera. During the event, the Maybach Foundation honored “Rounders” actor Edward Norton and hosted a charity poker tournament led by 2006 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event Champion Jamie Gold.

The former ACED Poker pro served as the emcee for the event, which attracted 250 runners to the felts in Cannes. VIPs hosted by the Maybach Foundation included hotel heiress and television star Paris Hilton, “Lords of Dogtown” personality Emile Hirsch, Swedish model Malin Akerman, “Spiderman” actor Willem Dafoe, Hofit Golan, “Highlander” actor Adrian Paul, “The Hills” reality show star Doug Reinhardt, director Lars von Trier, “Reservoir Dogs” producer Lawrence Bender, and novelist Paulo Coelho. Celebrities from the world of fashion, sports, and business were in attendance, many already at the annual festival in Cannes.

The following day, Norton, whose role in the movie “Rounders” was one of the contributing factors to the modern poker boom, was honored by the Maybach Foundation for his work with charity. Norton joined the ranks of previous award winners like “Speed” actor Dennis Hopper and musician Quincy Jones. The organization’s President, Ulrich Schmid-Maybach, commented in a press release distributed last week, “The extraordinary engagement of Edward Norton is an excellent example of genuine celebrity support for charitable cause.” Norton was shooting a film in Detroit at the time of the Cannes events and was unable to attend. Instead, he appeared via satellite and thanked the gathered crowd.

“Rounders” was released in 1998 and also starred then-up and coming actor Matt Damon, John Turturro, Famke Janssen, Gretchen Mol, John Malkovich, and the legendary Martin Landau. It first turned many of today’s young guns of poker onto Texas Hold’em. The thirst for the game would boil over five years later when a Tennessee accountant with a unique last name dominated the world’s top competition in the 2003 WSOP Main Event. In that tournament, Team PokerStars Pro member Chris Moneymaker trumped Sammy Farha heads-up, leading to a streak of wins by aspiring amateurs in poker’s most prestigious tournament. Since then, Greg Raymer (2004), Joe Hachem (2005), Gold (2006), Jerry Yang (2007), and Peter Eastgate (2008) have all captured WSOP Main Event bracelets.

Gold sits atop the all-time WSOP money list with over $12 million in earnings. He won exactly $12 million for his 2006 title and is comfortably ahead of Eastgate, who owns $9.1 million in lifetime earnings, good for second on the all-time money list. Gold’s Team ACED took down the first open event held by Dream Team Poker, which played out in March from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The trio pocketed nearly $60,000 for their efforts in the team poker tournament, which saw Gold partner with Ashley Nataupsky and Houston Waldie. He will have a chance to defend his title when Dream Team Poker makes its WSOP debut in July at the Rio during the tail end of the 2009 Main Event. Like the Ante Up for Africa charity tournament and Sunday’s WSOP Champions Invitational, the Dream Team Poker event will not award a bracelet.

According to the same press release, the Maybach Foundation “helps particularly gifted young people reach their full potential by providing an innovative mentoring program and financial support.” The organization is headquartered in San Francisco and was founded back in 2006. It has since expanded to include an office in Germany.

Also benefiting from the Cannes event was Sunflower Children, an organization that “provides humanitarian aid to disadvantaged children around the world.” Sunflower Children is active in 16 countries, including Cambodia, Colombia, Cuba, the Czech Republic, Brazil, Guinea, India, Kenya, South Africa, Nepal, Niger, Nicaragua, Peru, Romania, Guatemala, and the Philippines. It was founded nine years ago by model Helena Houdova and is based in New York City. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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PartyPoker Lobbies for Mike Sexton to Join Poker Hall of Fame, by Dan Cypra - Poker News Daily - 27th May 2009

With news that the voting for the Poker Hall of Fame is open until July 2nd, PartyPoker has begun lobbying for its ambassador, World Poker Tour Host Mike Sexton, to be among those considered.

Nominations are open to the general public. Interested poker fans can submit the name of their chosen nominee plus up to 250 words describing why they should be the newest Poker Hall of Fame member. During the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, Harrah’s officials will announce the names of the top 10 nominees, which will in turn be voted on by the 16 living Hall of Fame members. In addition, select media members will receive voting rights. Each person will rank their top nominees, but “only those they deem worthy of admission in 2009,” according to a WSOP press release. In order to be enshrined, a player must accrue 75% of the vote.

Longtime players or those who have contributed to the game are eligible to be considered for the Poker Hall of Fame. Sexton, a Guest Columnist here on Poker News Daily, recently wrapped up the seventh season of the World Poker Tour (WPT). He has been the voice of the WPT ever since Season I. This year, he celebrates the 20th anniversary of his WSOP bracelet win in a $1,500 buy-in Seven Card Stud High-Low tournament in which he defeated Sid “The Kid” Herald heads-up. WPT Founder, President, and CEO Steve Lipscomb told Poker News Daily, “Mike is the consummate face of poker. He was making poker mainstream before it had a prayer of being mainstream. He helped launch the WPT – which changed the poker world forever. Then, he convinced the WPT to include PartyPoker in Season I, which changed the poker world again forever. Let’s get the man into the Poker Hall of Fame!”

Sexton recently re-signed with PartyPoker and will serve as the ambassador for the world’s fourth largest online poker site in Las Vegas during the WSOP. At the Rio, a bevy of rising poker stars will take to the felts. Many were first turned onto the game by watching Sexton and WPT Co-Host Vince Van Patten bring poker to life every week. Party Gaming’s Warren Lush told Poker News Daily that Sexton has wide appeal in the industry: “I intend to approach the media and influential figures in the game and lobby for Mike because he really deserves it – he qualifies on so many levels. It is extremely encouraging that a figure such as Annette Obrestad has already expressed her intent to vote for him because she is a representative of the new generation of players. Mike appeals to players both old and new.” Also lobbying for Sexton is Irish poker pro Padraig Parkinson.

In 2008, poker pro Dewey Tomko and hole card camera inventor Henry Orenstein joined the Poker Hall of Fame in a special ceremony during the WSOP Main Event final table. Orenstein is a producer of GSN’s “High Stakes Poker” and won a WSOP bracelet in 1996 in a $5,000 buy-in Seven Card Stud tournament. Tomko first cashed in a WSOP tournament 30 years ago and holds three bracelets, two of which came in back to back events in 1984. Other Poker Hall of Fame members include Puggy Pearson, T.J. Cloutier, Johnny Chan, Stu Ungar, WPT Founder Lyle Berman, Chip Reese, Doyle Brunson, Bobby Baldwin, Jack Binion, and Johnny Moss. Two industry members have been enshrined every year since 2002; Barbara Enright and Ultimate Bet’s Phil Hellmuth served as the Class of 2007.

Sexton has 44 cashes on the felts of the WSOP, tied with Chris Bjorin for the 11th most all-time. He won the Foxwoods World Poker Finals’ first $10,000 buy-in event in 1992. Eight years later, he became the first American to take down the Euro Finals of Poker. In 2006, the WPT Host battled through the field in the WSOP Tournament of Champions, winning $1 million and defeating Daniel Negreanu heads-up. Sexton has also appeared at poker trials around the United States serving as an expert witness. Most recently, he testified in a case in South Carolina that poker is a game of skill by using hands that played out on the WPT circuit.

Vote for the 2009 Poker Hall of Fame class.

(Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Daniel Tzvetkoff falls back to earth with a thud, by James Mccullough - The Courier-Mail - 25th May 2009

Barely a year up-and-coming entrepreneur Daniel Tzvetkoff was the Gen Y version of author Tom Wolfe's "Master of the Universe".

For, like Sherman McCoy, Wolfe's central character in his masterful 1987 book about financial high-flyers, Bonfire of the Vanities, Tzvetkoff had everything.

Today, however, the company he majority owns owes about $30 million to online US poker houses.

And if the recent disposal of some of his assets is a guide, he's had a harsh reality check.

Mr Tzvetkoff hit the headlines last year after the mysterious 24-year-old internet entrepreneur had shelled out an impressive $29 million to buy tourism entrepreneur Tony Smith's palatial mansion at Hedges Ave on the Gold Coast.

He drove a Lamborghini with the number plate "baller", owned a massive boat, chartered impressive jets, opened his own Fortitude Valley nightclub, Zuri, sponsored a V8 supercar racing team – and was busy amassing property and doing interesting side deals.

In between driving the Lambo he got around in a Ferrari 599, an Audi S6, a Range Rover and a Ford GT40. During regular trips to Las Vegas, where he is rumoured to have a house, he was again spotted in a Lambo.

Mr Tzvetkoff is young and good looking. He loves fine champagne and had a penchant for the very high life, although deep down he is a boy from Ipswich with Bulgarian parents.

In some IT sectors he was and still is described as a genius who created an enviable business through his main Australian company Intabill, based in Brisbane's inner-west suburb Milton, of which he owns a two-third's share and is managing director.

That company is owned by BT Projects Pty Ltd, whose three shareholders are listed as Tzvetkoff, local lawyer Sam Sciacca and an Alberta, Canada-based company called Rendel Investments.

In recent times Mr Tzvetkoff's business has come back to earth with a thud. A few weeks back Intabill sacked 96 staff from its Milton head office. At the time Mr Tzvetkoff blamed the global economic crisis and said he was refocusing his company. Barely a dozen staff remain at Milton.

His prized Lamborghini and other flash European cars have now gone. His Hedges Ave mansion is believed to be back on the market.

The Courier-Mail understands Tzvetkoff has been personally contacting potential buyers of the property.

Ray White's salesman Michael Kollosche, who handled the original sale, said he had not received any instructions to resell the property.

"As far as I understand it, he is hoping to finish the renovations and move into the property in the next few months," Mr Kollosche said.

Mr Tzvetkoff told The Courier-Mail on March 17 that the house would be completed in "about three or four weeks" but work on the property now seems to have slowed.

The house, bought for $29 million, had a $19 million mortgage over it through National Australia Bank but was remortgaged in recent months.

An apartment he also owns on Hedges Ave at Mermaid Beach – the Coast's "Millionaire's Row" – went to auction last week but did not sell.

The boat of about 27m is moored at the Gold Coast and up for sale. The latest leased jet has been left on the tarmac at Las Vegas.

"Basically everything is for sale," one Intabill insider revealed last week.

Mr Tzvetkoff and his business partner Mr Sciacca had signed a contract for more than $20 million to buy their office headquarters on the corner of Coronation Drive and Cribb St, Milton, from the Becton Group. But whether that contract will settle is now not certain.

So how could things have turned for the worse for a young man in a hurry with some great ideas, huge piles of cash and a solid group of talented followers?

In its early days Intabill claimed to be one of the world's top 10 online payment processors, enabling more than a million transactions a month between websites, customers and banks. It originally had more than 5000 clients, mostly in Europe and North America, from online gambling and travel websites to airlines and global banks.

About 50 per cent of Intabill's business relates to online gambling, with the balance a fair spread between online ticketing, travel and the like.

Funds were sent to online poker houses often via a processing company or an intermediary – a Salt Lake-based independent company called Impact. Today Intabill owes four of the largest online poker sites in the world about $30 million.

The figure was higher but asset sales and "arrangements" put in place by Intabill and the sites reduced some of the debt.

About $25 million is owed to the largest online poker site, the Isle of Mann domiciled Poker Stars – which operates out of North America, run by the powerful Isai Scheinberg – and Full Tilt Poker, based in Dublin but also run out of the US.

Mr Scheinberg is believed to be worth more than $US1 billion ($A1.28 billion) and his so called poker stars, include the likes of actor Jason Alexander (Seinfield), author and part time poker player Anthony Holden, Brazilian auto racer and team owner Gualter Salles and Darus Suharto, who made the final table of the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Events.

Another $3 million is owed to Absolute Poker and a further $2 million to Golden Palace, a casino and online poker group.

It's understood Impact became increasingly anxious about funds owed and pulled the plug on Intabill's processing operation.

Other insiders blame the loss of customers on increased "charge backs" – or R10s as they are called in the trade – where consumers complain about their credit card or direct debit charges.

It's understood Intabill's charge backs were very low in some areas and reasonably high in others.

Last month when Intabill slashed its staff numbers, Mr Tzvetkoff blamed challenging market conditions and the increased cost of funding loan products.

Mr Tzvetkoff pointed out that – as experienced already by the likes of GE Money – the cost of funding in wholesale markets has dramatically increased in the present volatile market conditions.

He said this has meant a planned diversification into lending products had been terminated.

"In recent weeks we have come to the realisation that diversifying in these difficult market conditions presents too many risks and challenges," he said.

"Hence we have decided to scale back our operation to focus on our core e-commerce processing platform."

Despite several phone calls and email requests, Mr Tzvetkoff did not respond to The Courier-Mail's request for an interview. (Credit: The Courier-Mail)

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Review of website blacklist in wind, by Dan Harrison - The Age - 27th May 2009

The Federal Government is considering having a secret blacklist of banned websites reviewed by a panel of eminent Australians or a parliamentary committee to try to get more transparency in the controversial internet censorship regime.

The blacklist, which has existed since 2000, is maintained by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, which considers sites for inclusion based on complaints from the public, groups and law enforcement agencies.

The list is supplied to the makers of internet filters, but publication of the list is a criminal offence. This has led to criticisms that websites could be listed without their knowing it and without any opportunity to challenge their inclusion.

The Government became the subject of ridicule in March when whistleblower website Wikileaks published a list of websites it claimed was the blacklist. As well as child porn, bestiality, rape and extreme violence sites, the list included seemingly innocuous pages including online poker sites and the website of a dentist.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy told a Senate estimates hearing yesterday that the Government was "considering options for greater transparency and accountability in respect of the blacklist", including a regular review of the list by a panel of eminent persons or parliamentary committee or a review of complaints by the classification board. The ACMA blacklist is being used as the basis for trials to test the technical feasibility of government plans to block banned websites at the internet service provider level.

The proposal has attracted fierce criticism on free speech grounds and from others who suggest it will be ineffective and will slow internet speeds. Senator Conroy said the results of the trials would be considered along with possible transparency measures before the Government makes a final decision on implementation of the policy.

About 30,000 customers have been invited to participate in the trials by the nine internet service providers taking part. Senator Conroy has promised to release a report on the results of the trials, which are expected in July.

The blacklist contains 977 websites. Senator Conroy said the Government hoped to expand the list through co-operation with international agencies.

Communications and Media Authority officials told the hearing of a 90 per cent increase in complaints about websites in the past 18 months. They attributed this to greater public awareness of the list.

Senator Conroy has said the filtering efforts would focus on "refused classification" material, such as child sexual abuse and instruction in crime. (Credit: The Age)

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PKR to Broadcast 24 WSOP Final Tables, by Dan Cypra - Poker News Daily - 25th May 2009

Independent online poker room PKR has announced that it will air the final tables of 24 World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournaments as the “exclusive sole live broadcaster.” The news comes on the heels of an announcement that ESPN360.com and BluffMagazine.com will also stream 24 events.

PKR has set up a free website dedicated to WSOP coverage from the Rio in Las Vegas. Of the 24 events that will make up PKR’s live coverage, the site is looking forward to the $50,000 buy-in HORSE Championship. Last year, it was infamously won by Expekt Poker pro Scotty Nguyen, who was allegedly inebriated during the festivities and visibly hostile to both his tablemates and Rio staff. Nevertheless, Nguyen became the third winner of the prestigious event, which awards the Chip Reese Trophy to the winner. The late Reese took down the inaugural 2006 version, besting Full Tilt Poker pro Andy Bloch heads-up. In 2007, the $50,000 buy-in HORSE Championship was won by Freddy Deeb, who defeated Bruno Fitoussi to earn $2.3 million.

PKR will also carry several final tables of the $10,000 buy-in events. The World Championship of Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em is Event #29 and was won last year by Kenny Tran, who outlasted Alec Torelli in the final match. World Poker Tour (WPT) Founder Lyle Berman took fifth in that contest, with a bevy of world-class pros finishing near the top. The World Championship of Pot Limit Omaha will also air on PKR. In 2008, Boyle Poker pro Marty Smyth captured his first bracelet in it and defeated Peter Jetten. Coming in third place was Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, who earned over $330,000 for his efforts.

PKR Marketing Director Simon Prodger commented in a press release distributed by the online poker site, “The World Series of Poker is without doubt the biggest event of the poker calendar and it fills me with delight that PKR has managed to scoop exclusive rights to be the official broadcaster for these 24 bracelet events.” PKR has also become the official non-U.S. sponsor of the WSOP’s official website. A large PKR ad now dons the top of the site. The gray menu bar, which in the United States is sponsored by Bluff Magazine, is sponsored by PKR outside of the North American nation. The WSOP Countdown is also presented by PKR and the site has information at the bottom of the page about its WSOP satellites and along with a host of ads.

Among those events that will be shown on PKR are:

Event #4: $1,000 No Limit Hold’em Stimulus Special
Event #17: $1,000 Ladies Championship
Event #18: $10,000 World Championship Omaha High-Low Split Eight or Better
Event #29: $10,000 World Championship Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em
Event #33: $10,000 World Championship Limit Hold’em
Event #35: $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha
Event #40: $10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Omaha
Event #41: $5,000 No Limit Hold’em Shootout
Event #45: $10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Hold’em
Event #49: $50,000 World Championship HORSE event

PKR was one of the first online poker sites to popularize the concept of 3D poker. On the last Sunday of every month, the room offers the $100,000 Guaranteed PKR Masters, a $250 buy-in tournament that pays out at least $25,000 to its winner. $27 direct buy-in satellites are available, as are a multitude of options starting as low as $0.52 or 900 PKR Points. PKR regularly offers a $30,000 guaranteed prize pool tournament on other Sundays that comes with a price tag of $88. Every day except Wednesday, the site offers an $18 buy-in $10,000 guaranteed tournament along with a Daily $17K.

According to PokerScout.com, which keeps tabs on online poker room traffic, PKR is the 14th largest network or site worldwide with a seven day running average of 790 cash game players. It does not accept U.S. customers. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Harrah’s launches interactive department for WSOP, by Amanda Finnegan - Las Vegas Sun - 22nd May 2009

Harrah’s Entertainment announced today that it has launched a new subsidiary, Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment, to oversee the global and online growth of its World Series of Poker brand.

Harrah’s has hired Mitch Garber, the former CEO of PartyGaming, the largest online gaming company in the world, as the Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment CEO.

"As the world's largest gaming company, Harrah's is taking a proactive approach toward international and interactive expansion," Harrah's CEO Gary Loveman said in a statement. "It is important we position ourselves to explore new markets as well as new technologies with our best in class brands."

Jeffery Pollack will stay as commissioner of WSOP and will add president of the subsidiary to his title.

The company said in addition to growing the WSOP, Harrah’s Interactive will explore the use of interactive gaming technologies globally, beginning with Europe.

The WSOP expanded to Europe in 2007 with the introduction of WSOP Europe held each fall in London.

The WSOP event starts Tuesday at the Rio. Last year’s tournament attracted 58,720 entrants from 124 different countries. (Credit: Las Vegas Sun)

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PartyPoker Hosts Women’s World Open III, by Tom Jenkins - Poker News Daily - 22nd May 2009

Several of the world’s top female poker pros will take to the felts this Sunday at Three Mills Studios in London, the site of the third PartyPoker Women’s World Open. Three days later, the $3,000 buy-in tournament will crown a champion, who will see her bank account grow by $50,000.

A total of 36 entrants are set to hit the felts, including Betfair pro Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad, the champion of the inaugural World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe Main Event in 2007. The youngster battled through a 362 player field two years ago and defeated fellow Betfair pro John “kunku wap” Tabatabai heads-up. Her first place finish was worth £1 million and a coveted gold bracelet. Online, she has multiple wins in the challenging PokerStars $100 rebuy and allegedly won a $4 buy-in 180-man sit and go on PokerStars while only looking at her cards once.

Obrestad will battle against another bracelet winner in the Women’s World Open field, actress Jennifer Tilly. She stormed through the field in the $1,000 buy-in Ladies Event held during the 2005 WSOP, winning $158,000 for her efforts. In the tournament, Tilly dueled against Anh Le heads-up, who has finished as the runner up in the WSOP Ladies tournament in two of the past four years. Sandra Naujoks, who took down the European Poker Tour’s (EPT) Dortmund stop for $1.2 million, will also take a seat at the Women’s World Open. In the German EPT event, Naujoks bested Holger Kanisch heads-up.

The last running of the Women’s World Open was won by Soraya Homam, who is expected to be in the field this weekend trying to repeat. Stefanie Bergener, May Maceiras, and Eliza Burnett, all of whom reached the final table when the second Women’s World Open played out in October, will return to vie for the title once again. The tournament is played as a six-handed shootout, with each of the winners moving onto the final table. The second place finishers in each heat will then battle for the seventh and final spot at the feature table. Jessie May and Obrestad will provide play-by-play and the tournament can be seen on Five in the United Kingdom later this year. Then, it will be rolled out to a worldwide audience.

The inaugural Women’s World Open took place in August of 2007 in London. In the end, Beverly Pace took home the $50,000 first place prize, defeating Jen Mason heads-up. Also at the final table was Kara Scott, whom ESPN poker commentator Norman Chad ogled over during the broadcast of the 2008 WSOP Main Event. Scott took 104th in that tournament, cashing for $41,000. She finished as the runner up in the Irish Open in Dublin last month, pocketing $413,000 in an event won by 2003 World Poker Tour (WPT) Euro Finals of Poker victor Christer Johansson.

PartyPoker’s VIP club, dubbed the Palladium Lounge, sent four qualifiers to the Women’s World Open this weekend. On some of the highlights from the six preliminary heats, a statement from PartyPoker read, “There are certainly some interesting heats lined-up. The opening heat features Annette and Germany’s Christine Klecz, while the second in the afternoon features both Jennifer Tilly and Jen Mason. Heat Five on Wednesday looks to be one of the toughest on paper, however, as it features May Maceiras, who seriously impressed last year with her hyper-aggressive game, as well as Maria Demetriou and Sandra Naujoks.”

Other top female gamers who will head to London include Lynne Beaumont, Maria Demetriou, Jen Mason, Veronique Gordon, Liv Boeree, Cecilia Nordenstram, Kim Wooka, Lise Vigezzi, Colette Murphy, and Agnieska Rylik. Here is a look at how the $108,000 prize pool is divided, with the top six players finishing in the money:

1st Place: $50,000
2nd Place: $22,000
3rd Place: $14,000
4th Place: $10,000
5th Place: $7,000
6th Place: $5,000
(Credit: Poker News Daily)

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WSOP To Offer Players Ability To Help Charities, by Earl Burton - Poker News Daily - 21st May 2009

Over the past five years, poker players have stepped to the forefront for a variety of charitable causes. Online tournaments have raised funds to assist the victims of the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia, the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other deserving organizations. The Heartland Poker Tour makes contributions to the Disabled American Veterans. There is even an organization – founded by Poker News Daily guest columnist Mike Sexton, tournament directors Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher and philanthropist Lisa Tenner – called Poker Gives, that focuses on using poker to assist in fundraising for charities. Now the World Series of Poker will step up and take poker philanthropy to the next level.

For the first time in its forty year history, the WSOP will offer players who cash during each event on this summer’s schedule the opportunity to donate part of their winnings to an organization that the WSOP has aligned itself with. All that a winning player has to do is to ask the payout clerk to leave one percent of their winnings to the Nevada Cancer Institute and the WSOP will arrange to transfer the funds to the Institute. As with many charitable donations, they are tax-deductible and contributors will receive a letter from NVCI for accounting purposes.

During the run of the tournament schedule, a special VIP lounge will be set up for players who pay a membership fee to be able to use the room. The “Aces Club” will be donating a large portion of each membership taken for access to the room to the Nevada Cancer Institute. As of press time, there are still memberships available and anyone who wishes to access the “Aces Club” should visit the area during the first few days of the WSOP.

One of the most popular fundraisers during the last few years at the World Series has been the “Queens of Heart” that play during the Ladies’ Championship Event. Featuring such players as former WSOP Ladies’ Champion Jennifer Tilly, poker professional Kristy Gazes and actresses Mimi Rogers and Cheryl Hines, the team has raised large amounts of money for women’s causes over the past few years. This year, the WSOP has created a special line of poker clothing for women, available at the Rio and on their website, WSOP Shop. The proceeds from sales of the “Queens of Heart” merchandise will go to the Nevada Cancer Institute, continuing the tradition the team has driven while playing on the felt.

There will be two special charitable tournaments during the run of the WSOP. “Ante Up For Africa” – the cause promoted by actor Don Cheadle and poker professional Annie Duke – will be back for their third annual event. The $5,000 buy in No Limit Hold’em tournament is open to anyone 21 years or older and this year, for the first time, will be a part of the ESPN broadcasts of the WSOP. For the Media Charity Event this year, the players who reach the final table will have donations made in their name to the Nevada Cancer Institute.

Finally, the Championship Event of the World Series will also have a way for players to make their mark in a charitable way. Poker pro Phil Gordon’s charitable cause “Bad Beat On Cancer” and the Nevada Cancer Institute will both benefit from players who donate, much like earlier in the tournament schedule, one percent of their winnings to charity. All contributions are tax deductible and will benefit research into the cure for one of mankind’s worst diseases.

With the WSOP adding in this charitable aspect to their poker schedule, the poker world is once again proving that, while there may be no charity at the poker table, there is a charitable heart inside all who play the game. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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PartyPoker.com Start Asian Poker Tour Macau Qualifiers

18th May 2009 – www.partypoker.com is pleased to announce that online qualifiers are underway for the popular Asian Poker Tour Macau event in August.

The package is worth $7,000 and includes the $4,300 Main Event buy in, seven night’s accommodation from August 17th and $1,600 spending money. The main $700+$50 takes place every Sunday at 15.55 ET (20.55 BST, 21.55 CEST) where one in ten players will secure a package. There are daily $70 + $5 satellites at 15.55 ET (20.55 BST, 21.55 CEST) except Sundays where there is a Turbo at 13.55 ET (18.55 BST, 19.55 CEST). In all cases one in ten will win seats into the main qualifier, but, as ever, PartyPoker.com provides a diverse qualifying structure, with players able to start the quest for qualifcation from as little as $3. More information can be found at: PartyPoker.com

A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “The Asian Poker Tour Macau is one of the most popular events we run satellites for. Those trying to qualify for this year’s event may have their work cut out as every single PartyPoker.com qualifier who has been to an Asian Poker Tour event has their eyes on a repeat visit! Macau is a completely different poker experience and with The Asian Poker Tour’s legendary award winning parties and soft action in the cash games it is now established as a very popular stop on the international circuit.”

Last year’s six day event is being transformed into a record breaking 12 day extravaganza, creating Asia’s first festival of poker. The Asian Poker Tour Macau Festival will run from August 12–23, 2009 at the Galaxy StarWorld Hotel and Casino in Macau. Last year, the event attracted some of the most famous names in the game including Doyle Brunson, Jack Binion, Johnny Chan, John Juanda, Huck Seed, Liz Lieu, Todd Brunson, Kenny Tran and Poker Pack members Nam Le, Quinn Do, JC Tran, Steve Sung, David “Chino” Rheem, and Kwang Soo Lee. The 2008 Asian Poker Tour Macau Main Event was won by 20-year-old US hotshot Yevgeniy Timoshenko, who scooped US$500,000 after emerging triumphant from the star-studded field that featured players from over 40 countries. Since then Timoshenko has gone on to win the WPT Championship, making him one of the most in-form players in the world.

Organizers and leading tournament director Matt Savage, fresh from a successful revamp of the LA Poker Classic, promise a lengthy and varied side event schedule that will appeal to all tastes with high-limit games and sit-n-go tables running throughout the duration of the festival.

The last Asian Poker Tour event was held in the Philippines in January 2009 and was won by Manila rounder Neil Arce, who scooped US$185,000 for first prize. The runner-up was the Republic of Korea’s Steve Yea, who repeated his second place in the Asian Poker Tour Macau 2008.

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Everest Poker European Cup sees a 1-2 for Switzerland - CAP

190 poker players from all corners of Europe flew into Chia Laguna Resort, Sardinia, to contest the third €100,000 Everest Poker European Cup (EPEC) but the weekend belonged to Switzerland.

This was the first major poker tournament where every single knock-out was update live on Twitter.

The winner, Pablo Finini, won with A9 against 88 with a 9 on the river!

With two Swedes on the final table it looked liked being a third consecutive EPEC win for Sweden but the Swiss resistance was too strong.

The final three were; 1st Pablo ‘finini’ Finini (CH), €21,000. 2nd Gael ‘Indian_Air’ Seydoux (CH), €16,000 & 3rd Johan ‘nupassarde’ Carlvik (SV), €12,000.

The main event was directed brilliantly by the ever-cool Thomas Kremser and the Sardinian sunshine was enjoyed by all at the Chia Laguna. Pictures and videos available at: www.everestpoker.com/blog

(Credit: CAP)

Greg Tingle comment...

The European igaming market appears to be just about as hot as Australia.

It would be interesting to know more about the proposed buy out of Everest Poker by PartyGaming and their PartyPoker.

PokerScout have had PartyPoker on the upward trend of a number of months.

As far as I know on an Australian, European and American basis PartyGaming and their PartyPoker brand is significantly stronger than Everest Poker.

One may speculate if next year, or even in the coming months, the Everest Cup will be transformed into the PartyPoker cup. Who might be the faces of a PartyPoker Cup? How about Mike Sexton and Paris Hilton, and how about someone signing up Mickey Rourke and Australia's Bra Boys!

Everest have the right approach with the multi language - multi currency casino, however their brand just hasn't cut through into some markets that matter. If the deal and price was right PartyPoker would swallow up Everest right?

I would like to see a league VS league poker tourney between World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour. In the pro wrestling industry this would have been like a World Wrestling Entertainment (Wrestlemania) Vs World Championship Wrestling (Starrcade). Any takers? Give me a Hell Yeah!
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PartyPoker.com Reissues Paris Hilton Challenge!

One Night In Paris? Here's One Night To Win A Bentley!

14th May 2009 -- http://www.partypoker.com has seen the recent news that Paris Hilton has had her beloved blue Bentley vandalized, with reports suggesting eggs were also thrown. It is not the only reported problem the heiress has had with her luxury four wheels as in April 2006 it was suggested that the multimillionaire had lost a Bentley Continental GT in a poker game. That month, PartyPoker.com offered her the chance to win her car back and now, more than three years later, the online poker room is repeating its offer! The rules are simple - she takes on poker legend Mike Sexton in a heads-up poker tournament for the chance to win a Bentley!

A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “Forget one night in Paris, we’re offering her one night to win a replacement for her vandalized Bentley! Fortune may be on her side in many ways but when it comes to Bentleys it certainly doesn’t seem to be the case so we’re confident Mike Sexton would win.”

“We challenge her to take us up on the offer. Three years is a long time in showbusiness and we’re sure she’d jump at it now - it is a simple offer for the former Simple Life star. Following the original offer in 2006 the likes of Clonie Gowen also made public challenges to the heiress but so far Paris has resisted.”

“It is reported that in January this year Paris met Lady Gaga but she didn’t show the pop sensation her poker face. We encourage her to not walk on eggshells and show it to Mike Sexton instead!

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Paris Hilton Versus Mike Sexton on Party Poker, by Tom Jenkins - Poker News Daily - 15th May 2009

PartyPoker, the world’s second largest online poker site or network that does not accept U.S. players, may host a heads-up match between heiress Paris Hilton and World Poker Tour (WPT) Host Mike Sexton. The winner will take home a brand new Bentley.

In 2006, PartyPoker, which is owned and operated by the publicly traded firm Party Gaming, offered Hilton a chance to recoup a Bentley that she allegedly lost in a game of poker. The luxury car in question was a Continental GT, but Hilton failed to take the then-world’s largest online poker room up on its offer. Hilton quickly became the centerpiece of the poker world, albeit for a brief time period. A statement released by PartyPoker this week recalled, “We challenge her to take us up on the offer. Three years is a long time in show business and we’re sure she’d jump at it now - it is a simple offer for the former ‘Simple Life’ star. Following the original offer in 2006, the likes of Clonie Gowen also made public challenges to the heiress, but so far Paris has resisted.”

Apparently, it’s déjà vu all over again for the hotel heiress. She reportedly had her new Bentley vandalized; PartyPoker stated that egg throwing was to blame. Now, the online poker site has quickly jumped back into the spotlight, with the longtime WPT Host challenging the reality star to a heads-up game with a Bentley on the line. We’d like to think that Hilton’s reaction was, “That’s hot.” PartyPoker’s Warren Lush told Poker News Daily what format the heads-up match may take: “The Paris Hilton challenge nearly happened last time and with what happened to her recently, we thought it was right to reiterate our offer. If she decides to accept, the format will be a heads-up tournament, but we are open to discussion about a definitive structure.” The name of the game would be No Limit Texas Hold’em and no deadline has been given for Hilton to respond.

Hilton played in the 2009 WPT Celebrity Invitational at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles. The tournament, which played out in February, raised money for The Vine Group. The beneficiary organization’s ambassador at the event was none other than actor Mekhi Phifer, who welcomed Hollywood’s elite including Vince Vaughn, Jason Alexander, Ben Affleck, Mena Suvari, Don Cheadle, Jon Favreau, Ricki Lake, Ray Romano, and Brad Garrett. The tournament was ultimately won by poker pro Freddy Deeb and raised $77,000 for The Vine Group.

Hilton may be best remembered for her leading role on “The Simple Life,” a reality series that also starred Nicole Richie, daughter of music legend Lionel Richie. The show aired on Fox and E! before vanishing from television airwaves two years ago. Season 1 of the show sent the duo to rural Arkansas, far away from their regular celebrity lifestyles. During Season 2, Hilton and Richie hit the road across the United States and found themselves as interns for Season 3. The fourth season of “The Simple Life” featured the subtitle “Til Death Do Us Part.” The fifth and final season sent the pair to summer camp.

Sexton, the voice of the WPT alongside Vince Van Patten, re-signed with PartyPoker as its ambassador at the end of April. A World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner, Sexton also took down the first $10,000 buy-in poker tournament ever held at Foxwoods (which occurred in 1992) and was the first American to win the Euro Finals of Poker. Sexton will represent the popular online poker site at live tournaments around the world and serve as the host of PartyPoker’s suite at the Rio for the 2009 WSOP, which starts in two weeks. He’ll also be regularly contributing to PartyPoker’s blog. Sexton is a monthly Guest Columnist right here on Poker News Daily. His most recent entry reviews the Season VII WPT Championship. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Ladbrokes: Online Poker in Australia Very Bad - Gambling911

According to the Interactive Gambling Act, online poker sites geared towards Australian citizens is illegal. Don't tell that to companies like Ladbrokes, which are reluctant to enter the U.S. market but seem to have no qualms targeting Aussies.

Ladbrokes could face a hefty fine: Up to $1.1 million per day.

The Sunday Age emailed Ladbrokes this week asking if it was true that Australians were prohibited from playing poker for money through their internet site.

In reply, "Matt", a poker agent for Ladbrokes multi-player poker, said: "We have no legal restrictions for customers playing from Australia and I can confirm that you are able to use any of our online facilities."

Another potential Australian customer was told by "Dean", Ladbrokes' poker manager: "May I be the first to welcome you to Ladbrokes Poker. Good luck at the tables."

Online gambling firms based outside the country are not permitted by law to take bets from those "physically present in Australia" since 2001.

The legislation is under review by the Productivity Commission, and is widely considered to be bad law, because Australian courts cannot enforce penalties against overseas companies.

Ladbrokes' London management confirmed in January that the company was interested in the $750 million TAB wagering licence for Victoria, which is currently run by Tabcorp and is due to go to tender in 2012, according to the report. An Isle of Man registered site, PokerStars also responded to an email, saying it did not condone play in places where it was illegal, but added: "I can tell you that we have quite a few Australian players on our site." (Credit: Gambling911)

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Second high-roller deal for Crown casino, by Michael Warner - Herald Sun - 16th May 2009

EXCLUSIVE: CROWN casino has hit the jackpot for the second time this week.

The state's gambling watchdog revealed it had given preliminary approval for Crown to expand its rich high-roller Mahogany Room.

It comes just days after Premier John Brumby announced the casino would be granted an extra 150 gaming tables in a sweetheart deal with its billionaire owner, James Packer.

The Mahogany Room expansion will see a new VIP facility built above the Crown Towers driveway at the casino's eastern end.

High-stakes roulette, blackjack and baccarat tables will cater for bets of up to $280,000.

And smoking will also be permitted under special international exemptions, despite the vast majority of patrons hailing from Victoria.

"We've told them (Crown) that, based on how they've described it to us, we see no impediment to it proceeding," Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation chief Peter Cohen said.

"They've sought some boundary changes to the room."

Mr Cohen revealed sections of the casino's public gaming floors were also set to increase.

But a spokeswoman for Gaming Minister Tony Robinson said last night the two rulings were unrelated.

"I've just had a few more discussions, and my understanding is that all of this is at very preliminary stages between Crown and the VCGR. And so at this point, the minister has not been formally advised of any expansion of the Mahogany Room," Rebecca Harrison said.

Mr Brumby revealed on Tuesday - just hours before the handing down of the federal Budget - that he had handed Crown 150 new tables in exchange for higher tax on the casino's poker machines.

He defended the timing of the announcement and rejected criticism that he had tried to hide the deal.

But sources suggested the agreement was signed more than 10 days ago, and its announcement delayed until Budget day.

Mr Brumby admitted to private discussions with Mr Packer at a taxpayer-funded suite at the Albert Park Grand Prix six weeks ago.

He initially refused to detail the discussions, claiming they were private, but has since said they talked about Tiger Woods' visit to Melbourne in November and not the lucrative casino deal.

Mr Packer described the talks as "casual" and unrelated to the arrangement. (Credit: Herald Sun)

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PokerPalooza to Debut at 2009 WSOP, by Tom Jenkins - Poker News Daily - 14th May 2009

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Gaming Life Expo is no more. In 2009, the world’s largest poker expo will be re-branded PokerPalooza and debuts at the Rio in Las Vegas on July 2nd, one day before the start of the prestigious $10,000 buy-in Main Event.

Harrah’s officials tout PokerPalooza as being geared towards “everyone from the professional to those who have not yet taken up the game.” Past WSOP bracelet winners and Main Event champions are slated to be on-hand signing autographs and imparting their poker knowledge on PokerPalooza attendees. A special “Bad Beat Bar” will also be set up, in addition to a full food court. The Rio Pavilion, which is around the corner from the Amazon Room at the Las Vegas hotel, will host PokerPalooza.

A variety of non-poker activities can also be found at the event formerly known as the Gaming Life Expo. Guests can try their luck on a mechanical bull, put their nerves to the test in the Richard Petty Driving Experience, don oversized sumo wrestling outfits, and take home prizes in a series of carnival games. Appropriately, Ty Stewart, Marketing Director for the WSOP, commented in a press release distributed by Harrah’s this week, “It’s going to be part trade show, part carnival, all fun.”

Last year, the Gaming Life Expo attracted 50,000 visitors to the Rio. A total of 165 booths could be found over the Pavilion’s 50,000 square feet of space. Exhibitors drumming up sales and awareness included New Balance, Bass Pro Shops, McFadden’s, Gamma-O, and All-In Energy Drinks. The Aussie Millions, a high-stakes poker tournament that takes place every January, even set up shop. In January, its Main Event attracted 681 entrants (down from 780 the year before) and was won by Australian native Stewart Scott. ESPN Radio broadcasted from the Expo; its television arm will air the $40,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournament, the Ante Up for Africa charity festivities, the WSOP Champions Invitational, and the $10,000 buy-in Main Event this year. Television coverage begins on July 28th.

All-In and Poker Pro Magazine were two of a handful of industry publications scurrying around last year’s event to boost readership. Signing autographs were a bevy of poker pros including 10-time WSOP bracelet holder Doyle Brunson, Full Tilt Poker pro Gus Hansen, Celebrity Apprentice runner up Annie Duke, 2008 HORSE Championship winner Scotty Nguyen, 2004 WSOP Main Event Champion Greg Raymer, 2005 WSOP Main Event Champion Joe Hachem, 2007 WSOP Main Event Champion Jerry Yang, and Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari. Master Toddy’s Muay Thai Academy dispatched its “Fight Girls” to the Rio to teach martial arts to guests.

One of the highlights from 2008 was a “Man vs. Machine” poker competition. The “Machine” in question was from the University of Alberta; it squared off against several brand name poker pros including Nick “Stoxtrader” Grudzien, the face behind the popular training site StoxPoker. According to the Rio’s website, Full Tilt Poker pro Matt Hawrilenko and StoxPoker instructor Jay Palansky also competed against the computerized poker mind. The crowd watching man and machine battle included belly dancers on loan from the Gaylord India Restaurant, which makes its home at the Rio, and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) stars Josh Burkman and Grey Maynard.

Here are the hours of operation for the inaugural PokerPalooza:

Thursday, July 2nd: 11:00am – 8:30pm
Friday, July 3rd: 11:00am – 8:30pm
Saturday, July 4th: 11:00am – 8:30pm
Sunday, July 5th: 11:00am – 6:00pm

Booths run $2,500 each, with a $200 surcharge for a corner space. Vendors can pay using a major credit card. Interested companies are asked to contact Sharon Wayne, the WSOP’s Expo Manager, at (702) 777-2310 for more information. The event is free and open to anyone age 21 and up. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Virgin's Branson Supports The Prince Of Wales 'Frog' Campaign - Virgin Poker

Today (11th May 2009) Richard Branson pledged his support for the Prince of Wales “Frog” Campaign. Richard stated “As you all know, for many years I have been concerned with climate change and its impact. The plight of the world’s rainforests is a massive influence on this and perhaps the single most important factor in protecting our environment – that is why I have served on the steering group for this project.

“I will use my speeches and contacts to reinforce his message. The Prince is looking for public support across the globe by seeking millions of sign ups for his web based petition.”

Simon Burridge CEO of Virgin Games (poker, casino and bingo games) commented “This is another great initiative by Richard and The Prince of Wales. They are setting the standard when it comes to campaigning on climate change. Virgin Games is thrilled to be a part of helping bring awareness of the devastation that it’s having to rainforests all over the world.”

To find out more and get involved with the The Princes Rainforest Project please go to www.rainforestsos.org and pledge your support to saving the worlds rainforests.

About Virgin Games Virgin Games, a subsidiary of Virgin.com Ltd, launched in June 2004 and has quickly established itself as one of the leading gaming websites in the UK. Virgin Games comprises three distinct entertainment offerings, giving consumers the chance to play their favourite online games the Virgin way:

Virgin Casino, part of the Wagerworks network, provides a taste of Vegas online, with classic casino offerings like blackjack and roulette, as well as popular feature slots like Elvis, Cleopatra and Vegas, Baby!

Virgin Poker, offers a huge array of games and content for beginners through to experienced pros – as well as the most generous loyalty scheme in the industry. The successful Virgin Poker Festivals, which take place in casinos around the UK throughout the year, now allow gamers to experience the fun of Virgin Poker offline too.

Virgin Bingo offers cash prizes worth thousands of pounds in the progressive jackpots, as well as regular promotions and an unrivalled loyalty scheme.

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World Series of Poker And Online Site Offer Chance At Main Event, by Earl Burton - Poker News Daily - 14th May 2009

Since its purchase of the World Series of Poker back in 2005, Harrah’s Entertainment and WSOP officials have been highly aggressive in driving for sponsorship opportunities for the largest poker event in the world. On Thursday, it was announced that the WSOP and the online gaming developer Zynga have joined forces to push the WSOP brand name even further into the worldwide consciousness.

Zynga, who developed a free Texas Hold’em application that is one of Facebook’s top game application and features over twelve million monthly active users, will be offering two seats to the $10,000 Championship Event of the WSOP. Zynga will host several “Shootout” tournaments via their online application with a sizeable prize package for the two winners of the event. The “Shootout” tournaments begin on June 8th and will run through June 22nd.

Eighteen winners from these tournaments will be randomly selected to play in the Final Showdown on June 29th and 30th and the final two will be determined on July 1st, in time for the opening of the Championship Event on July 3rd. The WSOP package will include roundtrip airfare to Las Vegas, three nights’ accommodations at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino, a backstage tour of the WSOP venue and a day pass to the VIP player’s lounge.

“We built our Texas Hold’em poker game into the largest game on Facebook by keeping an eye on what is important to our players”, Mark Pincus, CEO of Zynga, stated during the announcement. “We know that poker is a lifestyle which includes playing online, offline and watching it on television. This partnership is an opportunity to bring those worlds together.”

“Any poker player knows the Holy Grail is to win the Main Event of the World Series of Poker”, echoed Craig Abrahams, World Series of Poker vice president, in the announcement. “Now for the first time, we’re reaching fans in a new way through Zynga’s platform. Players from all over the world can play the free Texas Hold’em game from the convenience of their own living rooms and win a seat to the biggest poker tournament in the world.”

This business move is only the latest in what has been a huge undertaking by Harrah’s and the WSOP to market the game to different corporations and beyond just the poker mainstream. Since 2005, such companies as major sponsors have included Miller Brewing’s Milwaukee’s Best beer brand (which will continue to be the main sponsor of this year’s event), Corum (who crafts the bracelets that winners take home), Pepsi’s SoBe Adrenaline Rush energy drink, the Helene Curtis’ Degree deodorant, the United States Playing Card Company’s Bicycle Pro Cards, Levitra erectile dysfunction medicine, chocolate maker Hershey’s and Planter’s Peanuts. Poker magazines have also invested in sponsorship of the WSOP, usually in return for “exclusive” coverage of the event. It is estimated that these sponsorships and other licensing outlets – such as playing cards, chips, apparel and video games – bring in more than a million dollars to Harrah’s yearly. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Americans to Obama: Legalize Online Poker!

Citizens Briefing Book shows strong demand for full legalization of Internet poker (among many other ideas)

May 14, 2009 (CAP Newswire) -- An online survey released by the U.S. White House this week shows what's really on Americans' minds when it comes to priorities for the new president. Among the most important action items is "Boost American Economy with Legal Online Poker".

The report, called the Citizen’s Briefing Book, compiled the opinions of 125,000 U.S. citizens in an effort to illustrate to the new president what his priorities should be, as defined by the public he serves. The report is officially addressed “to President Barack Obama, from the American people”.

The suggestions are broken down into 10 categories: Economy, Education, Energy & Environment, Foreign Policy, Health Care, Homeland Security, Service, Technology, Veterans, and Additional Issues.

Number one on the list of Technology suggestions: “Boost America’s Economy with Legal Online Poker” (followed closely by “Restore Net Neutrality Protections to the Internet”, an issue that’s also relevant to the iGaming industry given the recent censorious activities in Minnesota).

"Let online poker players in the United States play legally and without fear of prosecution," the report quotes a voter's opinion. "Reform the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act to exempt poker, a game of skill, from the law. Boost the economy by letting American companies and American players make money and pay taxes instead of sending online poker businesses offshore. Protect online poker players by regulating the industry to ensure that no one is ever cheated."

Sure, this is a document of opinions, and not one of official policy. But, given President Obama's focus on popular issues, as well as his general popularity in the U.S., it's very likely that he'll heed at least some of the report's suggestions.

In addition to the welcome news that Americans really, really want to get online poker legalized, this story is also significant because the Washington Post chose to highlight online poker as one of the three most important conclusions from the report. Combined with the recent surge of interest from the mainstream news industry on the issue of legalized online gambling (see yesterday’s story in the L.A. Times here), the media coverage of online gambling legal issues is rapidly growing, which is likely to help Barney Frank's drive to repeal the UIGEA bans.

Click here to read the Washington Post’s writeup on the story; click here to read the Citizens Briefing Book directly at the official White House website.

(Credit: CAP)

Greg Tingle comment...

President Barack Obama advises the American people that they listen, and the American people are speaking. Just like down under here in Australia, the people have long enjoyed a game of poker... (a game of skill). Then the internet came along, and the rest is history. Barack Obama and his team might do well to get in the ear and consult with California's Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has shown great listening skills and leadership in going after other important matters such as the environment, support for the average person, and he's embraced technology advancements, even having his office plugged into social networking websites and the like. Barack Obama is also pretty tech savvy so on the surface it appears these two great leaders would share some common ground which is a great place to start these talks from. And... it appears these talks would have potential to do wonders for the American economy. You can bet that the likes of the switched on teams at PartyGaming, BetUS, Virgin Games, Boss Media, Playtech, Microgaming, Harrah's Entertainment, World Poker Tour, World Series of Poker and even Australia's James Packer and co, and a few others, would be watching with great interest.
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Does WSOP Help Affiliates? - CAP Forum

I'm curious -- what kind of benefit do poker affiliates really get from the popularity of the World Series of Poker?

As you probably know, just about every prominent online poker site is offering player satellite tournaments and freerolls, or travel packages to the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas. The theory is that affiliates can use these tournaments as tools to pull in more players. And that theory is based on the assumption that players get really excited for this event, and are scouring the Internet for places to qualify.

So what do you think? Does WSOP bring in the traffic and players, or does it have a limited effect on affiliate marketing? Have you even tried to market the event to players, or do you think it's unnecessary?

Greg Tingle comment...

Good question. We've found that the World Series of Poker helps spike traffic, boost some sales, but largely just adds positive buzz and helps generate both industry and news media stories, which are usually for the greater good of poker and igaming. We're a media, publicity and portal development company (with some involvement in specific affiliate programs) so we might see and experience things a little differently to some traditional affiliates. I'm certain some brand so better out of the WSOP than others. For example, Mike Sexton is signed to PartyPoker and is also associated with a number of poker tournaments such as World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour. Because as I understand it Mike is so respected in the industry it's a great thing for PartyGaming's PartyPoker in addition to other poker brands and tournaments he associates himself with. Another side benefit of the WSOP is that I think it can force the hand of online poker brands to update their creative (banners etc). I think I've noticed Virgin Poker, Party Poker, PKR and Doyle's taking advantage of the WSOP to incorporate into some of their banners. The WSOP might also facilitate more travel and tourism packages into Las Vegas and some affiliates might do well to pro actively promote airline booking, accommodation and the like associated with poker tournaments in Las Vegas and the like. Centrebet had a promo for the Aussie Millions in Melbourne, Australia - Crown Casino which I understand was pretty successful with players based outside Australia. Blogging about these happenings might also have a number of additional benefits for affiliates such as improving search engine rankings and gaining stronger industry reputation. Good on CAP for raising this question as I've sometimes pondered the benefits of WSOP for igaming entrepreneurs and gaming affiliates. Maybe the wisdom of numbers method on the CAP forums may help us get to the bottom of this. I think it can only be a positive however some elements are difficult to measure. (Credit: CAP)
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Crown expansion plan draws fire from critics, by Sarah-Jane Collins and Jason Dowling - The Sydney Morning Herald - 13th May 2009

Crown Casino has been granted its biggest expansion in gambling capacity since opening at its Southbank location more than a decade ago, in a deal attacked yesterday by campaigners for responsible gaming.

The casino, now one of the biggest in the world, will be able to increase its number of gambling tables by more than 40 per cent to 500 tables.

"Clearly the casino is being treated as the primary and first citizen of the state, with privileges that are really a cosy deal without the rest of the community having any say," the Reverend Tim Costello said.

The Victorian Gaming Minister, Tony Robinson, said the Government had agreed with Crown to alter their licence agreement to allow for 150 extra gaming tables and an expansion of the gaming floor. In exchange, Crown will pay about 10.5 per cent extra in poker machine taxes, bringing it into line with other pokie machine operators across Victoria. The increase will be implemented in 1.7 per cent increments over six years.

"This is bringing the tax that they pay on their poker machines up to the level that is paid by other entities across the state, so it's a good deal for taxpayers," Mr Robinson said.

He said allowing the expansion would ensure Crown remained the first choice casino destination in Australia.

"If people ultimately want to have the boiled sweets experience of casinos, let them go to Sydney. If they want the rolled gold dark chocolate experience they're going to keep coming to Melbourne and we're going to ensure that."

Gary O'Neill, from Crown Casino, said the deal meant Crown would be able to keep up with growing rivals in Macau and Singapore. "The new mega complexes are very big. They will be very competitive and they will compete for the tourist dollar in this part of the world."

Mr O'Neill said the gaming floor at Crown would expand but final approval for an expansion rests with the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation.

Mark Zirnsak, from the Interfaith Gambling Taskforce described the expansion as appalling. "This, coming at a time when there's a global financial crisis, it's going to push more Victorians into being in hardship and vulnerable," he said.

Dr Zirnsak said the deal pointed to the "very cosy relationship between the Government and Crown".

"There's been no consultation on this expansion, which we believe there should have been, and the timing is indeed appalling," he said.

He said Crown did not need an expansion to remain competitive. "They've got a monopoly [in Victoria] and most of their patrons aren't millionaires flying in from overseas. They are locals," he said.

But he said he supported the increase in pokies taxes.

The Opposition's gaming spokesman, Michael O'Brien, said Mr Robinson had waited until budget day to announce the deal in an attempt to bury a bad decision. "Labor is clearly embarrassed by this gambling boost and tax grab, as it should be." (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)

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Ambassador of Poker Mike Sexton Renews His Association With Partypoker.Com Site Hosts Biggest Ever Rake Race Throughout May

GIBRALTAR, April 29 -- http://www.partypoker.com, is delighted to announce that it has renewed its association with poker legend Mike Sexton. Mike will act as a host, consultant, ambassador and player for the leading online poker room.

Sexton, who has acted as the host of PartyPoker.com in the past, is unarguably one of the most respected figures in the game. As the face and voice of the World Poker Tour and holder of a WSOP bracelet, Mike is truly one of the games pioneers. Sexton is in the top ten for the most cashes at the World Series of Poker(R) and is instantly recognizable to poker enthusiasts around the world. Regarded as 'The Ambassador of Poker,' for years Mike advocated corporate involvement with poker to take the game he loves into the mainstream. Notably, Sexton also won the first $10k buy-in NL hold'em championship event at Foxwoods World Poker Finals in 1992 and in 2000 was the first American to win the championship event at the Euro Finals of Poker in Paris, which at the time was the biggest event in Europe.

Through his role with the World Poker Tour Mike coined the legendary famous poker phrase "it takes five minutes to learn but a lifetime to master." In 2006 Sexton won the Tournament of Champions at the World Series of Poker(R), a concept he had originally created. He donated $500,000 of his winnings to charity and has since become a co-founder of http://www.pokergives.org, which encourages players to make charitable donations.

"PartyPoker.com has always had a place in my heart and is special to me. I am delighted to pen a new deal, it means so much to me," said Sexton. "I am looking forward to representing them in events around the world and meeting the online package winners at the WSOP. I also relish my role as a consultant advising on poker room matters."

"The site has changed a lot in recent times and I am very impressed by the new software and new VIP and loyalty schemes."

A spokesman for PartyGaming Plc, owners of PartyPoker.com said: "We are truly delighted to renew our association with Mike Sexton. Mike is the 'Ambassador of Poker' and we hope he gets the acknowledgement he deserves and is inducted into the WSOP(R) Hall of Fame this year. Poker wouldn't be as popular as it is today if it wasn't for Mike Sexton."

Sexton will be representing PartyPoker.com at the WSOP(R) and at events worldwide throughout 2009. PartyPoker.com will have a suite at the Rio around the World Series of Poker(R) Main Event, where Mike will act as a host. Mike will also be making contributions to the PartyPoker.com blog http://blog.partypoker.com and nurture new poker talent on behalf of the site.

May is going to be a big month at PartyPoker.com, with two highlights at the end of this week! The Million Dollar Race is PartyPoker.com's biggest ever rake race and gets underway on Friday 1 May and the fourth running of the Monthly Million is on Sunday 3 May.

The Million Dollar Race is an exciting leaderboard promotion where 3000 players will share over $1,000,000! Depending on rank, players will receive a cash amount AND a WSOP(R) prize (package or freeroll entry into an online qualifier). The leaderboard winner will receive $20,000 and an elite WSOP(R) package worth $20,000! All you have to do to get involved is play real money games at PartyPoker.com - if you are in the top 5000 it will be noted in your Party Account and it will be updated at least once an hour. If you finish in the top ten you are guaranteed cash and a trip to Vegas! Please note that throughout the duration of the promotion players earn Race Points as well as PartyPoints - only Race Points count for this promotion. The full mechanics of the promotion can be found at: http://www.partypoker.com/news/items/mdr.html

The fourth running of the PartyPoker.com Monthly Million takes place on Sunday 3 May at 12.45 EST (17.45 BST, 18.45 CEST). The buy-in to the $1,000,000 guaranteed championship blind structure event is $600+$40 but the diverse qualifying paths mean players can join the qualifiers from as little as $1. The wide range of qualifiers for the Main Event include $64+$4 daily satellites with 19 seats guaranteed - a Mega Friday $50+$5 satellite that guarantees 20 seats and Super Satellite Saturday qualifiers with a $32+$3 buy-in and 15 seats guaranteed. For more information see: http://www.partypoker.com/news/items/monthly_million.html

World Series of Poker"(R), "WSOP(R)" and "WSOPE"(R) are registered trade marks of Harrah's License Company LLC. No license, affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement is claimed, or should be inferred from the use of these trademarks here. PartyGaming is not licensed by or otherwise affiliated with Harrah's License Company LLC or the World Series of Poker(R), in any way.

Low resolution image of Mike Sexton at the 2006 Tournament of Champions is courtesy of Image Masters, official World Series of Poker(R) photographers.

PartyPoker.com is a popular member of PartyGaming Plc's suite of online games that also includes PartyCasino.com, PartyBingo.com, PartyMarkets.com, PartyBets.com, PartyGammon.com, Gamebookers.com and EmpirePoker.com.

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Casino win on gaming tables - ABC News - 12th May 2009

The Victorian Government has proposed a broad package of changes to Crown Casino's gaming licence conditions.

Under the proposal, Crown will be allowed to install another 150 game tables, including 50 poker tables.

However, the tax paid on gaming machines would rise from 22.25 per cent to 32.57 per cent in 2014-2015.

Originally Crown was given a lower tax rate than pubs and clubs so it could establish itself in the market.

Gaming Minister Tony Robinson said the changes reflect the fact that Crown has become very successful.

The Minister says with the extra poker tables, Crown will be able to hold and bid for world class international poker tournaments, competing with Las Vegas and Macau.

"Around the world, more and more people are interested in playing and watching poker," he said.

He says the tax hike will be a good deal for taxpayers.

"The forward estimates in the budget last week estimated that in the 4 year period ahead, we estimate around $60 million additional to taxpayers."

Cash grab

The Opposition's Gaming spokesman Michael O'Brien claims the changes are a simple cash-grab.

"In the context of the Government going to take in over $1.64 billion in gambling taxes this year, it shows the Government is just obsessed by gambling revenue, and doing nothing about problem gamblers," he said.

The anti-gambling campaigner Tim Costello is appalled by the decision calling it an insidious cosy deal.

"Crown seem to be the first and prime citizen in the state who get cosy deals so there was no consultation, there were no responsible gambling measures, I deplore this decision," he said.

The Government has also promised not to make any other tax changes until the end of 2022.

The changes still need approval from the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation and would take effect in 2014. (Credit: ABC News)

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Mike Sexton Reviews the WPT Championship, by Mike Sexton - Poker News Daily - 9th May 2009

We just completed Season VII of the World Poker Tour (WPT) with the $25,000 buy-in Championship event at Bellagio. Due to the economic slowdown, the number of entries was down substantially from a year ago (545 to 347). However, most of the big names in the poker world were there and the event was incredible. What most players really liked was that they were given $100,000 in starting chips and only played five levels (90 minutes each) per day. You didn’t have to play those 12 to 14 hour days like you do at many big-time poker tournaments.

Kudos to Tournament Director Jack McClelland and the staff at Bellagio for the structure and hours they set up for play. I have yet to hear one player complain about this setup - starting at noon, playing five levels, and then stopping for the day at 8:30 pm (with no dinner break necessary). If there was a complaint, it was that we started the blinds too low ($50-$100). It’s not often you hear players wanting to kick up the blinds!

My co-commentator Vince Van Patten and I were not allowed to enter any WPT events during the first six seasons, but the WPT now encourages us to play some if we want to. So, I decided to play and unfortunately ended up contributing $25,000 to the WPT Championship prize pool. I lasted two and half days and went out around 100th place (which paid zip, as only the top 50 made the money). I must say that I really did enjoy playing even though I got knocked out. To compete against top players (old and the new) is challenging and fun. And like nearly all who get eliminated from any tournament, I’ll join them and say, “I just didn’t catch enough cards or have any luck.”

OK, OK. I know you’re dying to know how I went out. After two folds, Nick Binger (who was probably the chip leader at our table with about $550,000) was playing well and aggressive and made it $12,000 to go. I had an A-K offsuit and about $150,000 in front of me. I contemplated calling (because I hate A-K) and moving all-in, but I decided to re-raise it to $36,000 so I could still get away from this hand if someone behind me came over the top. Everyone folded and Nick took a long time before deciding to call. The flop came A-10-6, all diamonds. He checked. Now what would you do with nearly $85,000 in the pot? I moved all-in. He had the Q-J of diamonds, flopped a flush, and quickly called. Bye-bye Mike. Back to the booth. I don’t really fault my play here, but in hindsight, I wish I had moved all-in pre-flop with the A-K.

There’s always a lot of pain dished out during any tournament, but Jennifer Harman’s tale of woe, considering when it came, would be tough for anyone to take. She played for five days, got down to 11 players, picked up two Aces, re-raised with them, and then got all of her money (over $800,000) in pre-flop. He held the 10-2 of hearts (and no, she wasn’t up against Doyle Brunson). A deuce on the flop and a ten on the turn shattered Jennifer’s dream of taking this title.

When the smoke cleared, the final table (six players) was pretty incredible. It consisted of two WPT champions (Scotty Nguyen and Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier) and three others under the age of 24, including the two chip leaders, who were both 21: Yevgeniy Timoshenko and Christian Harder. In addition, Shannon Shorr had over $3 million in career earnings.

What can you say about Scotty Nguyen when it comes to performing, but “wow”? The guy has five World Series of Poker bracelets (including the Main Event in 1998 and the $50,000 HORSE tournament last year), a WPT title, and eight WPT final table appearances. “Elky” is the hottest guy on the circuit right now. He already has both WPT and EPT titles on his resume and if he would finish fourth or better in this tournament, he would attain the coveted “WPT Player of the Year” award. He did just that with his third place finish! Nice going, Elky!

Folks, now let me introduce you to the next superstar of the poker world: Yevgeniy Timoshenko. He’s 21 years, two months old (and looks like he’s 13). He’s originally from the Ukraine, but grew up in Washington. Let me tell you, the kid is amazing and fearless on the green felt. Prior to this event, he had already earned nearly $1 million in non-U.S. tournaments. He won the Asian Poker Tour championship event in Macau, won an event at the Irish Open, and made a final table at last year’s WSOP Europe. He came to this final table as the big chip leader and rolled over the competition, going wire to wire for the victory. Think about it, the guy just turned 21 and already has over $3 million in career earnings!

Besides his poker skills, here are some things that really impress me about the kid: He’s well-mannered, well-spoken, and has a lot of class. As soon as he made this final table, he went out and bought himself a suit and got a haircut. I hope others follow his example: You look good, you feel good, you play good. Congratulations, Yevgeniy!

Final Results of the WPT Championship:

1st place - Yevgeniy Timoshenko ($2,149,960)
2nd place - Ran Azor ($1,446,265)
3rd place - Betrand “Elky” Grospellier ($776,245)
4th place - Christian Harder ($571,965)
5th place - Shannon Shorr ($408,550)
6th place - Scotty Ngyuen ($285,985)(Credit: Poker News Daily)

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