Posts Tagged ‘analysis’
Tournament Poker Therapy, part 2: Identifying poker pain
Last month, I discussed the concept of using psychoanalysis to deal with the psychic pain that tournament poker can bring. I ended by listing what are termed in Cognitive Analytical Therapy as “Core Pain Statements”. These statements are supposed to be a candid appraisal of exactly how you feel at points of heightened psychic pain – the most obvious in tournament poker being on busting out.
An Analysis of Harry Reid’s Internet Poker Legislation in Retrospective
Tags: analysis
Internet Poker Legislation Analysis: Why Poker Players are Better Off if Reid Bill Passes
Vote on New Jersey Internet Gambling Bill Coming Next Week
The internet gambling industry will start next week off on the right foot if all goes as planned. On Thursday, the New Jersey Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee sent a bill legalizing internet versions of brick-and-mortar games to the full Assembly. On Monday, the legislative body will likely vote on the measure, which is sponsored by State Senator Raymond Lesniak.
Hard at work in the East Coast state pushing Lesniak’s legislation along is the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA), whose Chairman, Joe Brennan, told Poker News Daily just moments after the committee vote that other states could potentially follow New Jersey’s lead. “That’s been our intention from the beginning,” Brennan revealed. “We focused on New Jersey because of the interest of the legislature. We did not cold call New Jersey, either; we were invited to work with them on this.”
As to whether the expansion of internet gambling in New Jersey could violate Federal law in any way, an article that appeared on NorthJersey.com quoted Lesniak as saying that “by allowing online gaming only for New Jersey residents within New Jersey state lines, the state would not run afoul of federal restrictions on such gambling. He also said that an economic analysis showed that internet gambling would produce $210 million to $250 million in annual gross revenues.”
Lesniak’s bill would create the first intrastate internet gambling model in the United States, which could then be mirrored around the North American country. With legislation on a Federal level introduced by Barney Frank (D-MA) and Harry Reid (D-NV) still in limbo and the movement potentially stunted in 2011 with a Republican-controlled House of Representatives, state-by-state legalization of internet gambling may be in the cards.
Brennan told PocketFives.com that he expects Lesniak’s internet gambling measure to pass with flying colors next week: “We expect it to pass. We expect it to have pretty strong support, if not overwhelming support.” The NorthJersey.com article added that up to $30 million in annual tax revenue could be generated by legalizing web versions of land-based games. These funds would be used in part to fuel horse racing purses in the northern part of the state.
It was not clear whether debate on Lesniak’s bill would take place on Monday prior to a vote. If approved, according to Brennan, the legislation could also serve as a way to grow the technological sector of New Jersey’s economy: “This is a good way to segue into the investments that South Jersey needs to make to enjoy some of the high-tech industries that the rest of the state is home to.”
New Jersey features horse racing tracks spread across the northern part of the state and Atlantic City casinos entrenched in the south. Expansion of gambling in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and other neighboring states has been slowly eating into revenues, leading to Lesniak’s bill.
Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest developments from the Garden State.
Lock Poker Integrates Sharkscope
Lock Poker announced this week the launch of its new Player Dashboard with stats from Sharkscope integrated directly into its client. The site will now allow players to view their own stats, search for opponents’ stats, and shop at the Lock Poker store all while playing poker in real-time.
“One of our mandates as a company is to provide a superior online poker experience,” said Jennifer Larson, CEO of Lock Poker. “We are determined to take this industry by storm and innovate in every possible way we can. The player comes first at Lock and that will always drive our business development.”
Lock’s new Dashboard has never been seen before in online poker. While some rooms like PartyPoker and Ladbrokes recently introduced anonymous heads-up tables to allow a player’s identity and statistics to remain secret, Lock has taken a different approach in making opponents’ stats available right at a person’s fingertips. Other sites, such as PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, have prohibited Sharkscope while their client is in use.
Online poker legend Eric “Rizen” Lynch, who was hired by Lock Poker as its VP of Product Development in 2009, posted the official Lock/Sharkscope press release on his blog, saying, “I’m really excited about this partnership and what we can do with it going forward.”
Lock Poker has prided itself on being innovative in this ever-changing industry ever since opening its doors in 2008. The site made a name for itself in March 2009 by introducing the Bluff Online Poker Challenge, which pitted several of online poker’s top tournament players in a one-month bankroll-building challenge. Lynch, Kevin “BeL0WaB0Ve” Saul, Jeff “yellowsub” Williams, Ari “Bodog Ari” Engel, Jon “apestyles” Van Fleet, Brett “gank” Jungblut, Brandon Cantu, and Maria Ho were among the participants, but the competition was ultimately won by Brian “SNo0oWMAN” Hawkins in a landslide.
Sharkscope, meanwhile, has become a mainstay in online poker since it began tracking and analyzing online tournaments in 2004. The site has nearly half a billion tournaments in its database and estimates that well over 20% of all online poker players use its services. Despite constant resistance from some of the major poker sites, Sharkscope remains one of the most popular software tools in online poker today and even recently started tracking live poker results.
“SharkScope is delighted to be working with Lock Poker in a groundbreaking partnership that brings our years of expertise in the display and analysis of poker statistics directly to Lock Poker players,” SharkScope’s CEO said. “Players will be able to track their tournaments results, examine their statistics in great detail, and find new ways of increasing their profits, all directly on the Lock Poker site.”
Lock Poker is part of the Merge Gaming Network, which currently ranks 23rd in the world in cash game traffic according to PokerScout.com. The Australia-based site averaged 830 ring game players over the past seven days with a peak of 1,422. Other sites on the Merge Gaming Network include RPM Poker, Aced, and Carbon Poker, which signed actress and poker player Shannon Elizabeth to be the face of its site in June. The Merge Gaming Network accepts players from all over the world, including the United States.
Tags: 2008, 2009, aced, analysis, Australia, bodog, Online Poker, poker player, pokerstars, tournament
ShortSystem coach: I have won over $1.000.000 by shortstacking
Many poker players think that you can’t make real profits by shortstacking, but ShortSystem coach “Raoh_” is proving that it can be really profitable.
Now as a HighStakesnews.com reader you have the opportunity to be ShortSystem member by signing in before 29.10.2010, just follow the instructions below.
With the strategies ”Raoh_” has developed for ShortSystem.com the online-pro made tons of enemies on various online poker discussion forums. Many pokersites have also reacted to shortstacking - but “Raoh_” has developed also answers to the new rules.
Now “Raoh_” is developing his system more on beating the shallow tables which offer a great value for good shortstackers. He offers his students the tools to beat the games at sites such as Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and PartyPoker.
Raoh explains that his system should be unexploitable, easy to learn and should turn break-even players into winning player – as long as they are willing to put up time and effort into learning the system.
From Sit-n-Go’s to Short Stacking Poker
In the beginning of his poker carreer he developed a system for sit-n-go tournaments and took down the PartyPoker leaderboard and won $30.000 in a month just by playing $10+1 buy-in sit-n-go tournaments.
After creating his system he started from the NL200 tables and quickly moved up to the NL1000 tables and won hundreds of thousands of dollars within the next three months. He was also seen at the NL2000 and NL5000 tables challenging the toughest opponents in the world.
“I have never had a losing month and only a couple of unprofitable weeks. But those have been quite rare. I have always treated my bankroll very carefully and I practically never tilt. I use pure mathematics and analysis combined with the data from my opponents to make my decisions and every move I make has to have positive expected value.”, he points out the strength of his system and his personal strengths in poker.
How does it work?
ShortSystem provides their students pre-made charts for each possible game situation, teaching articles and videos, data about your opponents and a direct contact to the coaches through their private forum.
ShortSystem is a closed learning group that takes in new students only rarely.
Now as a HighStakesnews.com reader you have the opportunity to be ShortSystem member by signing in before 29.10.2010, just follow these instructions:
- Go to www.ShortSystem.com
- Learn more about the program
- Let them know about your interest in ShortSystem by e-mailing to support@shortsystem.com, remember to add your reference: “Highstakesnews” to receive the 49$ discount
- You will receive more information about the program, prices and info on how to join to your e-mail address
- Join ShortSystem and start winning!
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ShortSystem coach: I have won over $1.000.000 by shortstacking
Gaming Revenue Totaled $80.5 Billion in 2009
A new report from consulting firm Richard K. Miller and Associates (RKMA) revealed that gross gaming revenue in the U.S. totaled $80.5 billion in 2009. The company’s “Casinos, Gaming, and Wagering 2010” report provided in-depth analysis regarding the amount of money retained by casinos, racetracks, lotteries, and other gaming hosts.
According to the report, approximately 70% of U.S. adults placed a wager of some type in 2009, with Americans wagering approximately $900 billion at casinos and racetracks, playing lottery games, and on other forms of legal betting like poker. The total did not include the estimated $100 billion to $300 billion wagered annually in the U.S. on sporting events and the more than $100 billion in estimated online bets.
Of the $80.5 billion in revenue, casinos earned the bulk of it, bringing in a total of $57.5 billion – $30.7 billion from land-based/riverboat casinos and “racinos,” and $26.8 billion from tribal casinos. Lotteries generated $17.9 billion, parimutuel wagering (thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound racing, and jai-alai) totaled $3.0 billion, card rooms (poker) were $1.1 billion, charitable bingo was $826 million, and sports books amounted to $136 million. American Gaming Association, National Indian Gaming Commission, International Gaming & Wagering Business, state gaming commissions, and state lotteries provided detailed information.
All but two states – Hawaii and Utah – allowed some form of wagering in 2009. Forty-one states allowed casinos in the U.S., as Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia do not have any operating casinos. Parimutuel wagering is also legal in 41 states. Meanwhile, 42 states, along with the District of Columbia, operated lotteries last year. Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were the only states to allow every form of gaming mentioned.
Each casino operation was broken down by state in the report with data provided by the Casino City’s Gaming Business Directory (Winter 2010 Edition), the American Gaming Association, state gaming commissions, and casino websites. The RKMA report presented a statistical review of the casino sector covering gaming establishments of all types: casino mega-resorts, casino-hotels, tribal casinos, riverboat casinos, “racinos,” card rooms, and bingo parlors. Emerging areas such as mobile wagering, server-based gaming, and skill-based gaming were also covered, as well as the latest trends in table games, slot machines, and sports betting.
The “Casinos, Gaming & Wagering” report has been published since 1997 and is considered to be the most comprehensive reference for current gaming and wagering statistics and historical data available from any source. According to RKMA, virtually all major casinos, racetracks, and lottery agencies use its annual handbook across the U.S., as well as dozens of libraries and regulatory agencies.
More information can be found by clicking here.
2010 World Series of Poker November Nine: Joseph Cheong
Durrrr Challenge Returns Following WSOP Europe Break
The Million Dollar Challenge between Tom “durrrr” Dwan and Dan “JungleMan12” Cates returned on Saturday following a month-long break for the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe. In the short 582-hand session, the fifth of the second incarnation of the Durrrr Challenge, Dwan cut into Cates’ lead by a scant $1,400. The last action prior to Saturday came on August 30th.
Only one pot during the recent play passed the six-figure mark. In it, Dwan raised to $1,200 before the flop and Cates 3bet to $4,000. Dwan called and the flop came 4-5-6 with two spades. First to act, Cates bet $4,400 and Dwan called behind to bring another six on the turn. Then, Cates fired out another bullet, this time totaling $11,400, and Dwan called to bring the three of hearts on the river. Cates checked, while Dwan promptly shoved for $32,000.
Facing Dwan’s all-in bet, Cates called to create a $103,000 pot. Cates showed 9-7 for a seven-high straight, while Dwan tabled ducks for the sucker straight. Although it totaled over $100,000, the latest rich pot did not rank among the top 10 largest in the challenge’s history. To counter Cates’ $103,000 scoop, Dwan took down four pots of $35,000 or more to cut Cates’ lead slightly to $689,000 after 7,402 hands. Fifty-thousand are required for the challenge to be completed.
Dwan has won 2,821 hands so far, or 38% of the pots played. Contrastingly, Cates has largely taken a commanding lead in the Durrrr Challenge’s second cycle, winning 4,539 hands, or 62%. In five sessions, Dwan and Cates have bet a total of $44.7 million and played for 11-and-a-half hours.
With the 2010 WSOP Europe wrapping up in London last week, we might see increased action in the Million Dollar Challenge. Dwan cautioned via Twitter just before the mini-session kicked off that the latest encounter could be abbreviated: “Just started vs Jungle… Internet sucks and I don’t have too much time tho.” Cates, meanwhile, Tweeted to his followers that he was getting his fix of high-stakes poker by six-tabling $100/$200 online against “Isildur1,” who is presumed to be Swedish pro Viktor Blom.
While in London, Cates seemed to struggle in ring games and tournaments, Tweeting, “Live poker not going so well, blah. Couple solid mistakes made… want to play that 10k 6m turbo [and] maybe some shorthanded live cash.” He added, “Tournies not going well, hopefully will do well in EPT main/high rollers. Also, I seem to have a serious case of ‘dude where’s my tube ticket.’”
Posters on TwoPlusTwo were elated to see play resume, if only for a few hundred hands. One poster, “BigDish,” questioned Dwan’s current mental state: “I wonder how much the last couple months have affected Dwwn. Taking 2nd in the WSOP tourney when Ivey won a bracelet causing him to lose a bunch, not doing great online, and if he’s losing live, it’s really hard to always being happy go lucky towards someone who is doing really well and beating you personally for 1.5 mill.”
Meanwhile, the first installment of the Durrrr Challenge between Dwan and Patrik Antonius appears to be all but dead. There has been no play in exactly three months and Dwan is up by over $2 million. The first challenge, which features Pot Limit Omaha instead of No Limit Hold’em, has stretched for 21 months.
We’ll keep you posted on the latest from the Durrrr Challenge right here on Poker News Daily. You can also visit DurrrrChallenge.com for full recaps and analysis.
How to Detect Collusion Online
As long as poker has existed, there have been players trying to cheat the game. And in today’s age of internet poker, players have more opportunity to attempt different methods of cheating, especially collusion. With the ability to communicate on the phone, via instant message, or Skype, players can easily communicate their hole cards to one another and discuss cheating strategies.
While it is easier to collude online than it is to do it live, most cheaters are not skilled enough to get away with it. Plus, the poker rooms have all the hand histories with which to track the colluders down, and the increasingly sophisticated hand analysis software makes shady play easily evident.
You should still always be on the lookout for the bad guys, though, and to detect them, you need to know what they are doing. So, here are the three most common ways players collude.
Softplaying
In cash games, softplaying could arguably considered the least problematic form of collusion, but it is still cheating and still hurts the game. Softplaying is just what it sounds like – two (or more, but usually two) players do not play aggressively against each other, for whatever reason. Chances are, they are friends, but they could also be two strong players familiar with each other, choosing to pick on the weaker players at the table instead of each other. If you play enough hands with softplayers and remain observant, it’s not the most difficult thing in the world to spot. Softplayers will rarely raise each other when in a heads-up pot and will very frequently just check it down through the river, even if they both have premium hands. It is tough to softplay with any frequency without getting noticed, as it looks fishy when there’s barely any betting in the hand and one player shows Aces and one shows Kings. Like I said, while still bad, it’s not as damaging in cash games as it is in tournaments, although I know I wouldn’t be thrilled if I stacked a player only to realize later that he could have had more chips for me to take had he not softplayed his friend on a prior hand. In tourneys, softplaying is particularly offensive because it potentially delays the elimination of one of the cheaters, making it harder for the honest players to make the money.
Squeezing
This one is wrong no matter which way you slice it. Two players (again, it could be more, but two is the most common number) will cheat by teaming up on an innocent player in an effort not to beat him with the best hand at showdown, but by forcing him to fold and surrender his chips. A typical collusion hand using the squeeze method goes like this:
Colluder A raises pre-flop, Victim three-bets, Colluder B four-bets, Colluder A five-bets, Victim folds, Colluder B calls. At some point after the flop, one of the cheaters will eventually fold, with the other winning the pot, which includes the pre-flop victim’s chips, as well as any blinds or antes. Alternatively, Victim may be the original raiser, with Colluder A and Colluder B both re-raising after him. The latter method guarantees that the cheaters will find a patsy. The former tactic is riskier, but offers the opportunity to bilk the innocent opponent out of more money.
The reason that the colluders won’t often take the hand all the way to showdown is that at least one of them will almost certainly have a junk hand. After all, if they waited to both have great hands, it wouldn’t really be cheating, as it would make sense to raise and re-raise with premium holdings. Remember, the whole point of the squeeze is not to have the best hand, it is to get the victim to raise and then fold. It is an intimidation play.
The squeeze cheat is especially troubling when it is done on the bubble of a single table tournament. With blinds very high relative to the chip stacks, every hand is important. Squeezing an opponent out of a hand after he raises just once can swing the tournament strongly in the cheaters’ favor.
Aside from simply keeping an eye on your opponents and noting if the same two players demonstrate this betting pattern on a somewhat regular basis, there is one way to really sniff them out. Call their raises. If you can get one or both of them to showdown and see that their hands are crap, you will have a nice piece of evidence of their cheating.
Chip Dumping
In cash games, chip dumping is generally a means for two players to transfer funds to one another, and is relatively harmless to the other players. In tournaments, though, it is a means to give one of the colluders the upper hand on the rest of the table. When chip dumping, one cheater will purposely lose his stack to his partner. While the first cheater is eliminated from the tournament, the other has now doubled-up and has a significant advantage the rest of the way. It’s not as easy to detect chip dumping as it might seem, as it is usually just a one-time thing in any given tournament (the dumping could occur in stages, but that’s less likely). The dumper does it, gets eliminated, and that’s it. It could appear to just be a silly donk blowing off steam. Aside from noting the players’ screen names and trying to track them down in other tournaments, my best advice would be to e-mail the poker room if you suspect chip dumping. The poker room will be able to find any other instances of those players sitting at the same table and will be able to determine if this was a one-time deal or a pattern of cheating.
While I just described three methods of collusion so that you have the knowledge necessary to spot this type of cheating, keep in mind that not all strange play is collusion. A single instance of what might seem to be softplay, squeezing, or chip dumping is not necessarily collusion (especially squeezing, since the squeeze play is a legitimate strategic move). But if you see repeated instances of any of these by the same players, it may be worth shooting off a message to the online poker room.
CardRunners Signs Mickey Petersen (mement_mori)
The popular poker training site CardRunners has inked two-time Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS) event winner Mickey “mement_mori” Petersen. The new arrival owns the top spot in the Bluff Online Poker Player of the Year leaderboard and is the fifth ranked player on PocketFives.com.
Petersen is fresh off a win in a $216 No Limit Hold’em Rush tournament held during FTOPS XVII. He banked $37,000 in the process and outlasted a field of 778 entrants. In the previous FTOPS, which played out just before the start of the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP), Petersen took down a $216 No Limit Hold’em Six-Max event for $86,000. Two FTOPS jerseys later, he finds himself in elite company.
In May, Petersen officially placed second after chopping a $2,100 No Limit Hold’em Big Antes tournament during the PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) for $169,000. That tournament drew a talented field of 590 players and those who finished in the money included Ravi “govshark2” Raghavan, Justin “Boosted J” Smith, DoylesRoom Brunson 10 member Steve “gboro780” Gross, and WSOP bracelet winner Corwin “mig.com” Mackey.
Also in May, Petersen final tabled a SCOOP $1,050 Rebuy event for another $72,000. He owns the second largest PLB score on PocketFives.com, but his 10th place in the Pro Poll drags him down to #5 worldwide behind Gross (#1), Chris “Getting Daize” Oliver (#2), Adam “Squee451” Sherman (#3), and Taylor “taypaur” Paur (#4).
Petersen has already submitted a video to CardRunners covering the $100 Rebuy, one of the most challenging online poker tournaments in existence. He starts in eighth place out of nine players at the final table and text found on the training site details the video’s contents: “It’s not every day that one of the world’s top tournament players decides to drop in and upload a video. So it must be the dawn of a new era at CR… mement_mori brings you his full analysis from the final table of a $100 Rebuy. Starting 8/9 at the FT, he shows you how he works his magic and maneuvers his stack.”
Petersen joins a talented team at CardRunners that includes rumored Durrrr Challenge participant “JungleMan12” and John “Jimmy Legs” Wray, who produces the popular “Brian Fail” series. Wray, who authored a popular strategy article for Poker News Daily entitled “Poker and the Endowment Effect,” released the eighth installment of “Brain Fail” on Monday. This week’s edition focuses on why players like Phil Ivey have managed to keep a low profile despite record winnings.
CardRunners also operates TrulyFreePokerTraining.com, which offers free poker training for players on Full Tilt. 5,500 Full Tilt Points, or FTPs, will get you one month of free CardRunners training. In addition, partial memberships are available in 25% increments. The best part is that no FTPs are deducted from a player’s account; instead, they are merely a way to keep track of activity on the virtual felts.
In an interview posted on CardRunners’ website, Petersen explained the significance of winning a pair of FTOPS jerseys: “It’s pretty cool because by now FTOPS has run so many times that a lot of the good players have won one. Two, however, is a way smaller and more exclusive club. Hopefully I can add another one to the collection next time it runs.” Only a handful of players have ever accomplished the feat.
Visit CardRunners today for more information.
Tags: 2010, aced, analysis, interview, Online Poker, Phil Ivey, poker player, pokerstars, tournament, WSOP
August 2nd – Daily Deal
Topics: WPT Announcer Promotion, FTOPS XVII Stars Up and the Durrrr Challenge resumes.
On today’s Daily Deal, the World Poker Tour is searching for a new on-air personality, FTOPS seventeen kicks off, and the Durrrr Challenge returns.
Hello, I’m Sean Gibson and welcome to the Daily Deal by Poker News Daily.
The World Poker Tour is searching for the Simon Cowell of cards. If you’re brash, opinionated, and want to be on TV, then head to WorldPokerTour.com and apply. The Tour is introducing a new “Raw Deal” segment for its Season Nine broadcasts and poker fans age twenty-one and up are eligible to try out to be its host. There are two ways to enter. First, aspiring poker commentators can head to the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles on August nineteenth from 11 am until 8pm. There, WPT producers will conduct interviews.
If going to the Bike isn’t in the cards, make your way online to the WPT’s website and watch a hand between Phil Hellmuth and Andy Seth that took place at the Bay 101 Shooting Star event in March. Provide editorial commentary on the hand, which ends with Hellmuth in the fetal position, and we may be seeing you on WPT broadcasts. Videos will be accepted until August 15th.
On Wednesday, the 17th Full Tilt Online Poker Series, or FTOPS, will kick off on Full Tilt Poker. A total of thirty-four events will be held, culminating in a six-hundred forty dollar buy-in tournament on August 15th. The FTOPS Seventeen Main Event offers up a three-million dollar guaranteed prize pool. The action gets underway with Event one with a two-hundred sixteen dollar No Limit Hold’em event with a seven-hundred fifty thousand dollar guarantee.
By the way, if you’re a fan of Rush Poker, then you’re sure to love the FTOPS Seventeen schedule, which features six Rush tournaments.
Finally, after a three-month hiatus, Tom Dwan and Patrik Antonius returned to the Durrrr Challenge tables on Full Tilt. In a two-hundred eighty hand session that played out in the pre-dawn hours on Sunday August first, Antonius cut into Dwan’s lead by nearly two-hundred fifty thousand dollars. It sounds like a lot but Dwan still leads the Challenge by a one-point-six million dollar margin and the duo has 10,000 hands left to play before a winner is determined.
Visit our sister site, DurrrrChallenge.com, for recaps and analysis of the ongoing battle between Tom Dwan and Patrik Antonius.
That does it for today’s daily deal and for the latest in poker news be sure to follow us at twitter dot com slash poker news daily and come back to our site to see updates. I’m Sean Gibson wishing your pocket pairs hit sets all day long!
Matusow Takes DeepStacks to So-Cal
Set for Aug. 14-22 at the Pala Casino Spa & Resort in Southern California, the Pala Poker Open includes a full schedule of tournaments and an advanced tournament training course taught by Matusow.
Matusow's DeepStacks Live advanced tournament course will go off from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 20, one day before the Pala Poker Open main event begins.
The $295 entry fee covers one-on-one instruction, table analysis, advanced odds and outs and player perception training.
Daily and weekly Pala tournament winners throughout August will also receive a seat in the course.
DeepStacks Live trainers including World Series of Poker Main Event Champion Tom McEvoy and UB Pro Adam "Roothlus" Levy are also expected to attend, teach and compete in the Pala Poker Open two-day final event.
Beginning Saturday Aug. 21, the No Limit Hold'em DeepStack $300+$40 event will start players with 25,000 in chips plus a $15 optional bonus buy for additional 5,000.
A prize pool of $30,000 is guaranteed.
Visit PokerListings.com
Internet Gambling Industry Evaluates Financial Services Committee Hearing
On Wednesday, the merits of HR 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, were debated in the House Financial Services Committee. Now that the banter has ceased, several industry organizations have had a chance to weigh in, including the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) and Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA).
UB.com pro Annie Duke represented the PPA as a witness at the hearing. Her testimony focused on increasing attendance numbers at the World Series of Poker manifesting the continued growth of online poker and the importance of preserving personal freedoms. PPA Executive Director John Pappas commented in a press release on Wednesday, “Our opponents can’t offer a consistent argument on this issue. Former U.S. Attorney Michael Fagan wants to go as far as banning internet gambling outright and Tom Malkasian of the Commerce Casino supports licensing and regulation – just not a competitive marketplace. It seems that our opponents don’t even agree with each other here.”
About halfway through the hearing, Frank observed, “The opposition to this bill consists of people who think [internet gambling] is terrible and people who think it’s so wonderful that they don’t want anyone to compete with them in it.” Pappas concluded his comments on Wednesday’s Financial Services Committee hearing by noting, “The PPA is ready and eager to work with policymakers to continue moving this legislation through the process.”
Commending Duke’s appearance at the hearing was iMEGA Chairman Joe Brennan, who told Poker News Daily on Thursday morning, “I’m glad to see that Annie Duke spoke up on behalf of the PPA, but the hearing ended with no real commitment to go forward. At this point, as hard as the PPA has worked, they deserve more than just a hearing every three or four months. They deserve a committee vote. Now that financial reform has passed, we’ll see if Barney Frank (D-MA) can get a vote on his own bill.”
Frank, who chairs the Financial Services Committee, may have a new Ranking Member in the next Congress, as a Politico article on Thursday outlined a possible Republican challenge to Spencer Bachus (R-AL). Frank introduced HR 2267 in May 2009 and the measure has picked up 69 co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle. Among its most vocal proponents on Wednesday was John Campbell (R-CA), who expressed a desire to add an amendment to HR 2267 containing an increased use of technology and a loss limit. What the latter’s impact would be on high-stakes cash games and tournaments remains to be seen.
The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative (SSIGI), which was called out by Bachus on Wednesday as “corporate interests protecting the bottom line,” also weighed in on the hearing. SSIGI spokesperson Michael Waxman commented in a press release, “Lawmakers who have not yet taken a position on this issue should realize that their constituents are likely among the millions of Americans who wager online despite attempts to prohibit the activity. Members would best serve their constituents by accurately representing their interests and supporting Chairman Frank’s bill.”
The SSIGI release reminded lawmakers that a licensed internet gambling industry stands to pump as much as $42 billion in revenue into the U.S. economy over 10 years. In addition, up to 32,000 jobs could be created in the first five years according to an analysis by H2 Gambling Capital. The tax companion bill to HR 2267 is HR 4976, introduced by Jim McDermott (D-WA) and discussed in May in the House Ways and Means Committee. In addition to raising funds for states and tribes, HR 4976 institutes a 2% tax on deposits.
Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest poker legislation headlines.
2010 WSOP Set to Debut on ESPN
The preview show, which will be co-hosted hosted by Lon McEachern and Norman Chad, will include a look back at all the notable poker stories in the last year including Barry and Jeff Shulman making two WSOP Main Event final tables.
McEachern will also run a series of round table discussions with elite poker players. Topics include bracelet race analysis with Phil Hellmuth and Doyle Brunson and how the game has changed with past champions Dan Harrington, Scotty Nguyen, Chris Ferguson and Chris Moneymaker.
There will also be interviews with some of poker's young guns including Tom Dwan, Scott Seiver and Isaac Haxton.
Finally the show will preview the 2010 WSOP with predictions by Daniel Negreanu, Jennifer Harman and Erick Lindgren.
The actual episodes of the 2010 WSOP will begin the next week on July 27 with the two-hour $50k Players Championship up first.
A two-hour special on the 2010 Tournament of Champions will also be broadcast on Aug. 3.
The 2010 WSOP Main Event will start to air Aug. 10 and will run all the way until Nov. 9 with a record-setting 28 hours of footage.
Check your local listings for exact air dates.
Visit PokerListings.com
PokerTime Launches MyPokerLab Tracking and Analysis Suite
If you play on the popular Microgaming Network site PokerTime, downloading MyPokerLab, a free poker tracking and analysis suite, is a must. You’ll instantly have access to what the site dubs “a personalized poker tuition service that will help you to play better, plug your leaks, and boost your bankroll. Analyze your game while you play – get real-time information and advice on every aspect of your game.”
A high-octane five-minute introductory video appears on MyPokerLab’s website that reviews the major features of the service.
Central components include quizzes, which present users with questions like, “You hold 7d-8d on a flop of 6h-9h-2s and face multiple opponents. How many clean outs do you have?” In addition, charts ripe with information display stats like the number of hands played, profit or loss, and BB/100.
Plus, you’ll be able to view key metrics like Voluntarily Put Money into the Pot (VPIP), Pre-Flop Raise percentage (PFR), cbet percentages, and turn aggression percentages. All are paramount to understanding how you play and where your weaknesses are.
Throughout your years of schooling, you received report cards showing your performance in easy-to-understand letter grades like A, B, and C. MyPokerLab takes the same concept and applies it to concepts like post-flop aggression, stealing, 3bets, and showdowns. Suggestions for each category are given in order to help you improve and plug any leaks you may have.
Major poker topics are reviewed in case users aren’t familiar with all aspects of the game. One sample topic shown, for example, is bet sizing. Text found on MyPokerLab gives the following advice for players deciding how much of a bet to fire out in a hand: “In No Limit, your bet should be between 50% and 100% of the pot, with the majority around 75%.” The topic also includes a discussion of the commitment threshold and the optimal times to increase or decrease your bet sizes.
The site touts “hundreds of in-depth videos” and features forums to allow you to interact with other users. Recent posts are displayed on the dashboard when you log in. Plus, you’ll be able to share questionable hands with others in the click of a button and view hands posted by fellow users. Many members of forums like PocketFives.com and TwoPlusTwo will attest to the fact that the key to improving your online poker game is debating and discussing hands with others. MyPokerLab allows you to do so quickly and easily.
MyPokerLab also offers articles on a variety of poker-related topics and you can enlist in a linear course that includes basic and advanced concepts. The site has incorporated social networking sites into its fold and is completely free to use. The pricing is a far cry from advanced poker analysis software like PokerTracker and Holdem Manager, which can run nearly $100.
To download MyPokerLab, you’ll first need to download, install, and create an account on PokerTime. Remember that the site is on the Microgaming Network and does not accept players from the United States. You’ll be playing alongside users of other Microgaming Network sites like Gnuf, Ladbrokes, Purple Lounge, and Unibet. According to the poker tracking site PokerScout.com, the Microgaming Network is the eighth largest worldwide, with a seven-day running average of 1,640 real money ring game players. It’s the fifth largest network worldwide that does not accept USA players.
Once you have set up a PokerTime account, download MyPokerLab and log in with your online poker credentials. Then, you’ll be perfecting your game in no time. It’s very rare to see this type of computing power free of charge, so make sure to take advantage of MyPokerLab if you have a PokerTime account.
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May 28th – Daily Deal
On today’s Daily Deal, it is now “easier” to get into the Poker Hall of Fame, the WSOP Academy announces new seminars, Lacey Jones leaves Absolute Poker, and there is a new pair of Brunson Beer Pong champions.
Hello, I’m Sean Gibson and welcome to the Daily Deal by Poker News Daily.
The Poker Hall of Fame released its new induction guidelines. This year, the top two vote-getters will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in November as long as they receive at least fifty percent of the vote. How is this easier? Well, last year, a candidate had to receive seventy-five percent of the vote in order to be enshrined and only Mike Sexton made it. Don’t make room on your mantel top just yet. Although the voting requirements are lower, to enter the Hall of Fame, you still need to “have played poker against acknowledged top competition, played for high stakes, played consistently well, [gained] the respect of peers, [and] stood the test of time.” This probably explains why there are only thirty-eight Poker Hall of Fame members to date.
The WSOP Academy released its schedule last Wednesday. New events to be held during the two-thousand and ten WSOP include a Mind and Body seminar with mindset coach Sam Chauhan and former FBI agent Joe Navarro. At four hundred and ninety-nine dollars, it’s the least expensive session on the schedule. Also new this year is a Ladies Only Live Hand Analysis Academy led by Annie Duke and Ali Nejad. Academy President Brandon Rosen told Poker News Daily, “We’re always looking for unique angles. Sam, for example, is very unique in that poker is between your ears. It’s well documented that Sam has had great success with some of the top pros. To be able to offer people the opportunity to get exposed to Sam for a half-day right before the Main Event is great.” If you haven’t seen our interview with Sam Chauhan, it’s on the front page of Poker News Daily right now.
In a surprising announcement, top female player/model/presenter Lacey Jones announced that she has parted ways with Absolute Poker right before the start of the World Series of Poker. The separation was revealed by Bryan Micon in the Donkdown poker forum. While the reasons for the split were not revealed, the separation seems to have been amicable. A CEREUS Network spokesperson told Poker News Daily on Thursday, “We wish Lacey only the best in her future endeavors and know that she will be successful in whatever she chooses.”
The Third Annual Doyle Brunson Beer Pong Invitational was held on Wednesday. Here’s a quick rundown: Shaun Deeb lost his first round match, but won the “Best Trash Talker” and “Worst Loser” awards. Full Tilt’s newest Red Pro, Andrew “luckychewy” Lichtenberger, was voted the “Biggest Crybaby.” Adam “Roothlus” Levy and Trishelle Cannatella lost their match because Levy inadvertently knocked over the last cup; perhaps he’d had one beer too many? Ultimately, Tony “Bond18” Dunst and partner Leo Murphy claimed the title of Brunson Beer Pong III Champions thanks to their impressive pong skills – meaning they can aim a ball at a cup better after drinking a few beers.
Thanks for joining me on The Daily Deal. Don’t forget to visit PokerNewsDaily.com and be sure to follow us at Twitter.com/PokerNewsDaily for the latest in poker news. This is Sean Gibson, good luck on the flop!
Tags: absolute poker, analysis, Annie Duke, Doyle Brunson, high stakes, interview, ladies, poker player, skill, usa, WSOP
WSOP Academy Releases World Series of Poker Seminar Schedule
We’re one day away from the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP), which kicks off from the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Friday. Headed to the Nevada desert are officials from the WSOP Academy, who released a revised event schedule on Wednesday.
Among the new additions to the WSOP Academy schedule is a Mind and Body seminar with Sam Chauhan and Joe Navarro. At $499, it’s also the least expensive session on the schedule. When asked what class he was most excited about, WSOP Academy President Brandon Rosen told Poker News Daily, “It definitely has to be the Main Event Primer and the Mind and Body. We’re offering two separate packages and if you combined the two, I can’t think of a better way to prepare for the Main Event.”
The Advanced Main Event Primer is a two-day class that runs from July 2nd to 3rd. Instructors include Annie Duke, Greg Raymer, Mark Seif, Shawn Rice, Court Harrington, and Mark “P0ker H0” Kroon. The focus is on topics like advanced post-flop techniques and stack size strategy. Rosen boasted, “Our pros are the best out there. Not only do they have the most credentials as far as tournament wins and longevity, but their instruction is also top-notch. I can’t speak highly enough of them.”
The aforementioned Mind and Body seminar features Navarro, a former FBI agent, reviewing more than 200 nonverbal tells. Rosen explained, “He’s spent a lifetime observing people. Who better to learn about nonverbal communication from than a former FBI agent? All of Joe’s observations have been scientifically tested. All of the nonverbal communication that people emit is true no matter where you are.”
Also new this year is a Ladies Only Live Hand Analysis Academy featuring Duke, the winner of the 2010 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, and poker television host Ali Nejad. Rosen detailed what participants in the seminar can expect: “We’ll be playing a lot of hands throughout the day and Ali and Annie will be giving real-time feedback. For women who are new to poker or going to the WSOP for the first time, it’s a great learning environment. There’s a lot of camaraderie among all of the women involved.”
The pro to student ratio at WSOP Academy classes is typically around 10:1. If more people sign up, then additional instructors are added. Rosen explained what went into the development of the 2010 WSOP Academy schedule: “We’re always looking for unique angles. Sam, for example, is very unique in that poker is between your ears. It’s well documented that Sam has had great success with some of the top pros. To be able to offer people the opportunity to get exposed to Sam for a half-day right before the Main Event is great.”
Every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00am and 4:00pm PT, WSOP Academy instructors will be holding free seminars in the Brasilia Room at the Rio. Phil Hellmuth and Doyle Brunson, who have a combined 21 bracelets, are just two of the players expected to appear. Rosen explained, “We want to give people the opportunity to see what we’re all about. They’re not going to get everything, but there will be some good tips presented over the weekends, so it’s worth checking it out.”
Here are the 2010 WSOP Academy classes at the Rio:
May 28th to 29th – Two-Day Tournament Academy
Instructors: Mark Seif, Shawn Rice, Mark Kroon
Price: $1,599 – 10% discount offered with promotional code RIOTEN
May 30th – Live Hand Analysis Academy
Instructors: Shawn Rice
Price: $999 – 10% discount offered with promotional code RIOTEN
June 10th – Ladies Only Live Hand Analysis Academy
Instructors: Annie Duke
Price: $999
July 2nd to 3rd – Two-Day Advanced Main Event Primer Academy
Instructors: Annie Duke, Greg Raymer, Mark Seif, Shawn Rice, Court Harrington, Mark Kroon
Early Bird Price: $1,599, Regular Price: $1,999
July 4th – Mind and Body Academy
Instructors: Sam Chauhan and Joe Navarro
Price: $499
Visit WSOPAcademy.com for registration information.
Tags: 2010, analysis, Annie Duke, Doyle Brunson, ladies, Phil Hellmuth, tournament, vegas, women, WSOP
WSOP Academy Beefs Up 2010 Schedule
The July 4 Mind & Body Academy, hosted by Sam Chauhan and Joe Navarro, will be part of the pre-2010 WSOP Main Event line-up for the first time, teaching Academy players to develop a winning poker mindset and learn the observational skills critical to WSOP success.
Also new this year are a Ladies Only Live Hand Analysis Academy with Annie Duke June 10 and a two-day Advanced Main Event Primer Academy July 2-3 featuring instructors Duke, Greg Raymer, Mark Seif, Shawn Rice, Court Harrington and Mark Kroon.
The schedule begins with a two-day Tournament Academy May 28-29 and also includes a Live Hand Analysis Academy May 30.
The WSOP Academy will also be running an Educational Stage in the Brasilia Room at the Rio throughout the entire 2010 WSOP.
Every Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. PT and 4 p.m. PT the Academy will host a series of free seminars, poker IQ clinics, book signings and autograph sessions.
Scheduled to appear are Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, Raymer, Duke, Seif, Navarro, Chauhan, Bernard Lee, Ali Nejad, Mark Gregorich, Mike Caro and more.
For more information check the WSOP Academy website or call 800-989-9767.
Visit PokerListings.com
CardRunners Re-Launches Website, Welcomes New Poker Pros
The popular poker training site CardRunners was recently re-launched and now includes a bevy of new features. In addition, the site has welcomed 25 new guest pros to the team specializing in a wide range of poker genres.
Among the new features is a revamped video player. Text found on CardRunners’ all-new website explains the logic behind the video player’s appearance: “The player was designed to be functional for learning, while also aesthetically pleasing.” You can now place a time stamp on a video for easy reference and discussion notes are available in order to facilitate further analysis by coaches and fellow players.
Also available are personal notes, which CardRunners explains as follows: “Personal notes mark spots in videos for notes about concepts or reminders related to the topic. Personal notes cannot be viewed by other members or instructors. Like discussion notes, they can be referred back to at later times.”
The video viewer boasts a widescreen format so that a pair of tables can be housed side by side. Users can watch the educational videos in full screen and pop-out modes. A dozen videos have been added to the CardRunners library since May 1st, including “Million Dollar Bankrolls” by rumored Durrrr Challenge competitor Brian “Sbrugby” Townsend, “Live Sessions: PLO” by mindcirkus, and the latest installment of “Brain Fail” by JimmyLegs.
Also brand new is the “Shoves” area of the site. The most popular pieces of content from CardRunners can be found here and you’re able to filter by category, media type, and date range. Among the most popular items at the time of writing are “Hitler Reacts to Cole South Leaving CardRunners” and “Working on a Book for the Micros.” The former has 16 user comments and links to a video on Vimeo.com.
Users of the new CardRunners website can also create playlists of their favorite videos and show them off to their friends through a special sharing feature. The site’s homepage includes a “Quick Hits” section off to the right that displays the latest news from the training outfit.
Many of the comments from users on the new site seem to center on video viewing. One commenter posted, “Have not been able to watch even one video, either by download or by streaming. Streaming always cuts off and download always gets an error sometime in the video. Just upgraded my WMPlayer and installed a new codec pack and no help. In short, completely unable to watch videos.” Others called for even more features to be added: “The absence of ‘last viewed date’ and ‘stakes’ from the video list is a serious omission. Please add these features and, if possible, retrieve the ‘last viewed’ information from the old website.”
Recently added to CardRunners are hand history tools, which went live on May 2nd. Users can upload hand histories from PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, PartyPoker, and their Holdem Manager database directly into CardRunners. Then, the hands can be replayed on the site and marked with comments. If more analysis is needed, CardRunners allows you to export hands for use on major online poker forums.
New pros have also joined CardRunners, changing the landscape of its video content. Jungleman 12, Rask, JBaller88, NxtWrldChamp, Matthew Janda, D_Zoo, Pokey, Ed Miller, SplitSuit, Matt Matros, and Cottonseed will lend their insight on No Limit Hold’em. LearnedfromTV and mindcirkus will take on the role of new Pot Limit Omaha instructors, while Predator006, Shabamabam, and Campfirewest will provide expertise on Omaha High-Low.
New Limit Hold’em pros include BallzDeepx, Tpirahna, The Bryce, and Doughnutz, while PrimordialAA, pzhon, sippin_criss, and Collin Moshman will break down sit and go strategy. Finally, ChipsAhoya and Doctor Razz will teach Stud and Razz.
The site boasts a membership fee of $30 per month along with a $100 sign-up fee, although purchasing subscriptions for six or 12 months can result in a discount. Truly Free Poker Training is a free way for people to become members of CardRunners without paying the sign-up fee just for playing at Full Tilt Poker. Subscriptions are earned in weekly increments and members receive one week of access for every 1,375 points they earn. The points are not deducted from players’ Full Tilt accounts and don’t impact MGR. Visit CardRunners for more information.
CEREUS Network Clarifies Multi-Accounting Policies
In the continuing battle against multi-accounting, the CEREUS Network has made a major clarification to its player policies that were originally changed earlier in the month. The announcement, which was released on Thursday to affiliates and a copy of which was obtained by Poker News Daily, changes what the CEREUS Network had enacted only ten days earlier.
Back on April 19th, an e-mail to affiliates effectively stated that new players to the CEREUS Network – Absolute Poker and UB.com – would only be able to play on one account that would earn affiliate revenue. The player’s first choice through the appropriate affiliate code would determine which site would house the account.
The CEREUS Network viewed the action as a method to crack down on multi-accounting, which has been part of online poker since its inception. Affiliates, however, were not happy with the move because both rooms are offered as freestanding sites. Instead, affiliates accused the network of attempting to cut down on affiliate revenues. The resulting uproar resulted in the CEREUS Network changing its course.
This week’s e-mail, which negates all of the changes that the CEREUS Network put in place back on April 19th, seems to have been in response to the anger over changes to its policy. The e-mail states, “Due to recent analysis and investigations with our security department, [we] have decided to revert back to allowing a single player to have one account on Absolute Poker and one account on UB, regardless of the affiliate association of the player accounts at either site.”
The e-mail continues, “Multi-accounting will be handled by our Security Department as it always has been… Any fraudulent player account activity or abuse related to affiliates will be managed independently as it always has been. Actions will be taken if evident abuse is detected.” The e-mail finishes with the view that the CEREUS Network is looking for solutions for the issue: “As we continue to address multi-accounting on the CEREUS Network, we will work with [affiliates] to develop a win-win situation for everyone.”
The CEREUS Network was created through the partnership of Absolute Poker and UB.com after major scandals plagued both online poker rooms. The now infamous “superuser” scandals over the last decade affected players on both sites and were conducted by those in a position of ownership or authority, such as former UB.com part owner and former world champion Russ Hamilton. Since a massive ownership change on both sites and their merger into the CEREUS Poker Network, the company has been diligent in making sure that the games are operated fairly. Their aggressive stance against multi-accounting is a part of that due diligence.
Multi-accounting, where a player has multiple operational accounts on one site, has been one of the toughest problems that the online poker industry has faced. Several top poker pros have been found to use more than one account on a site, saying it is done so they can enjoy the anonymity of the online game.
Some believe, however, that multi-accounting is done by well bankrolled players to enable them to enter tournaments more than once, have an unfair advantage at a cash games by having an additional hand, or mask their true identities.
Annette Obrestad to Re-Attempt No-Peeking Tournament Victory
In 2007, Norwegian poker superstar Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad famously won a tournament on PokerStars without looking at her hole cards. Now she plans to attempt the unthinkable feat again at the upcoming Bluff Europe Poker Academy at the Victoria Casino in London.
Obrestad’s shot at history will come during the Poker Academy Boot Camp series of lectures, in conjunction with the online poker room BlackBeltPoker.com. The two-day boot camp kicks off on Saturday, May 8th and includes invaluable one-on one hand analysis with pros like Obrestad, Neil Channing, and Nik Persaud. Areas of discussion during the boot camp will include variance and bankroll management, analyzing flop textures, and visualizing range equity calculations.
Tickets for the event start at £600 and are available at BluffEurope.com/pokeracademy. There will also be a satellite to the event at the Victoria Casino on Tuesday, May 4th where players can win a ticket for as little as £36. One ticket to the event will be available for every £600 in the prize pool, with at least one seat guaranteed.
Obrestad became an instant poker legend at the age of 18 when word about her “no-peeking” victory hit the poker community. There is no actual video of the $4 180-man tournament, but Obrestad, who played the entire tournament with a Post-It note covering her cards, submitted the hand history to the popular training site PokerXFactor.com, where members can view the entire tournament in a replayer. The point of Obrestad’s experiment was to prove that position, betting patterns, and paying attention to opponents are more important than your cards in No Limit Hold’em.
Obrestad admitted that she peeked at her cards once during the tournament when facing an all-in bet from an opponent. For any doubters out there, the hand history reveals that she open-folded pocket kings on the fourth hand of the tournament. Then, in the later stages, a short-stacked Obrestad open-folded pocket aces. Both folds came while she was under-the-gun.
In addition to her famed online success, Obrestad has collected $2.7 million in live tournament earnings in her young career. In September 2007, she became the youngest bracelet winner ever by winning the inaugural World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe Main Event the day before her 19th birthday. The $2.1 million prize edged the record for a single-event payout to a female player, set previously by UB.com’s Annie Duke when she won $2 million at the 2004 WSOP Tournament of Champions.
Obrestad, who turned 21 last September, will finally get her chance to play in the state-side WSOP when the series kicks off on May 28th at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It is unknown how many tournaments the youngster is expecting to play, but the aforementioned Tournament of Champions would likely be on her schedule should she receive enough fan votes. Obrestad is among 50 bracelet winners that have received the most votes thus far, although only the Top 20 vote-getters will win entry into the Poker All-Star event. Voting for the 2010 Tournament of Champions is still open at WSOP.com/TOC.
Poker News in Brief: April 19-25, 2010
Liv Boeree won the European Poker Tour's San Remo title, David Williams took down the 2010 WPT Championship, the EPT Grand Final kicked off and the high stakes action on Full Tilt was running full force.
PokerListings had a beat on it all, but a few of the week's smaller stories managed to slip through the cracks.
Fortunately we've got them all below in our regular poker News in Brief feature.
This week we look at the World Series of Poker revamping its Academy for the summer, an Albanian winning in Australia, the Hard Rock in Vegas hosting a Supercross charity poker event and a whole lot more.
Matt Graham Joins DeepStacks Live
Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Matt Graham has joined the poker training group DeepStacks Live as an instructor.
A member of Team UB, Graham will lead poker seminars around the country, focusing on events in the Southern and Western United States.
"I'm looking forward to joining champions like Mike Matusow and Tom McEvoy, traveling the country helping passionate poker players get better," he said.
Graham's first classes will be at the DeepStacks Live 1-Day Tournament Primer Course at the Pala Hotel Resort and Casino near San Diego April 30.
For more information visit www.DeepStacks.com.
WSOP Beefs Up Academy
The World Series of Poker Academy has announced a new schedule of events at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino to coincide with the 2010 World Series of Poker.
It all starts with a 2-day Tournament Academy May 28-29 with two-time WSOP bracelet winner Mark Seif designed to get you deep in the preliminary events.
There will also be an Alumni Only Hand Analysis Academy, a one-day Ladies Only Academy, and a Mind and Body Academy featuring poker mindset coach Sam Chauhan.
Plus there will be a Cash Game Academy at Caesars Palace and the signature annual Main Event Primer designed by Greg Raymer, Annie Duke and Phil Hellmuth, just before the Main Event begins.
For more information click through to the Academy's website or call 1-800-989-9767.
Four Aces Finds a Winner
The first Poker Pro Canada Classic poker tournament at Four Aces Card Club in Montreal drew 250 players from all over Canada and the U.S. and Europe to compete for a piece of a $369,000 prize pool.
Sponsored by UB and Bodog, it was the largest poker event ever held in Quebec with a buy-in of more than $1,500.
Local player Oliver "O.B." Baksic took home $96,400 for first after defeating 2008 EPT Grand Final third-place finisher Maxime Villemure heads-up.
Team PokerStars, Eh!
PokerStars has added four new additions to its Canadian Team.
Joining Daniel Negreanu and Darus Suharto are Greg DeBora, who has better than $350,000 in career earnings, three-time WSOP final tablist Patrick Pezzin, Marcello Del Grosso, who had deep runs in the WSOP Main Event in 2005 and 2006 and Anh Van Nguyen, a 14-year pro and former dealer.
All four Pros competed at the PokerStars.net North American Poker Tour event at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, Apr. 6-13.
Hard Rock to Host Supercross Charity Event
The Hard Rock Poker Lounge Las Vegas and Feld Motor Sports are hosting the first Monster Energy AMA Supercross Charity Poker Tournament in Las Vegas May 6.
All proceeds from the tournament will go to benefit the Road 2 Recovery Foundation.
The $150 buy-in and $50 rebuy event is expected to draw stars of Monster Energy Supercross, professional poker players, and fans alike.
First pays $2,500 plus a number of sponsored prizes while the top twenty finishers will receive unforgettable products courtesy Hard Rock Poker Lounge, Monster Energy, Feld Motor Sports, Rockwell Time, Skullcandy, Ogio, DVS, Liquid Force, Metal Mulisha, Full Tilt, UB, and more.
For more information check out the Road 2 Recovery website.
Ex-pat wins in Australia
Albanian born Aussie Angelo Hanataj took down the PokerStars ANZPT Sydney main event this week.
He grabbed $219,432 for his efforts and rocketed into the top 5 in the ANZPT Player of the Year race.
After a win in Perth and another deep finish, last year's POY winner and Team PokerStars Australia Pro Tony Hachem holds a commanding lead in the battle for an AUD$100k sponsorship deal.
Europe's Biggest Tournament
The dates have been released for what was Europe's largest live No-Limit Texas Hold'em tournament last year, the International Poker Open.
The €180+ €20 buy-in freezeout is set for Oct. 15-17, 2010 at the Regency Hotel in Dublin, Ireland.
Organizers are estimating the prize pool will reach up to €250,000 including €20,000 added by sponsors Boylepoker.
"Last year we set the record for the largest live tournament field ever assembled in Europe," said Paul Spillane, the site's head of poker.
"We're confident the 2010 event will prove just as popular and we expect another sell out field."
Visit PokerListings.com
Tags: 2008, 2010, analysis, Annie Duke, Australia, bodog, Canada, canadian, charity, charity poker, Daniel Negreanu, deepstack, european, high stakes, ladies, no-limit, Phil Hellmuth, poker player, pokerstars, Sydney, tournament, vegas, WSOP
New Study Indicates U.S. Internet Gaming Regulation Would Add Jobs, Tax Revenue
A new study released on Monday from an English gaming consulting company shows that the effects of regulating internet gambling in the United States would be greater than previously thought.
The study was done by H2 Gambling Capital, which provides marketing information and data regarding the gaming industry, and is getting a great deal of attention from the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, the top advocate for the legalization of internet gaming in the United States. In the study, H2 Gambling Capital indicates that the potential benefits from the regulation of online gaming – including poker and sports betting – would have a tremendous impact on employment and also add tax revenues. The numbers that H2 Gambling Capital has discovered in its study vastly outpace other studies that members of Congress have quoted.
If the United States were to regulate internet gaming, H2 Gambling Capital indicates that close to 32,000 jobs would be created over a five-year time span. Perhaps most surprisingly, expenditures from regulated internet gaming in the United States would top $94 billion over the same period, generating $57.5 billion in tax revenues from wagering. If the United States were to regulate the online gaming industry without allowing sports betting, H2 Gambling Capital’s models indicate that regulation would provide gross expenditures of $67 billion over five years, which would generate $30.8 billion in tax revenue and 25,470 jobs.
These numbers are greater than those which Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA) and Jim McDermott (D-WA) have been using in their attempt to change the government’s perspective on online gaming. McDermott, who has introduced the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act (HR 4976), has said that regulation would lead to $42 billion in new federal government revenues and $30 billion in new state revenues over ten years. Frank has pushed for regulation of the online gaming industry in the U.S. with his bill – the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act (HR 2267) – and has been able to garner support for that legislation from 68 fellow Congressmen. As of now, neither bill has been introduced to committee, the first step for a measure to become law.
A spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, Michael Waxman, says that the H2 Gambling Capital study should open the eyes of politicians in Washington. “This analysis further reinforces the fact that a regulated environment will pay dividends throughout the economy,” Waxman said in a press release after the study was released. “With unemployment nearing 10%, this study sends a clear message to policymakers that internet gambling regulation is a common sense way to immediately stimulate the economy, create close to 32,000 jobs, and raise billions in much-needed new government revenues.”
According to London-based stockbroker Daniel Stewart, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has apparently stepped onto the online gaming bandwagon and could introduce legislation that may be passed before the November elections.
Stewart also cites the recent move by the American Gaming Association, the organization that represents the casino gaming industry, which last month changed its stance regarding regulation of the online gaming industry. The AGA now supports government regulation and, if it were to pass, Stewart indicates that land-based casinos such as Harrah’s, MGM Mirage, Wynn, and the Las Vegas Sands would benefit the most.
“We believe the significant job and revenue creation potential provides an immediate incentive for the Obama Administration and Congress to act quickly to regulate internet gambling,” Waxman stated about the H2 Gambling Capital findings. “Leaving in place a failed prohibition should no longer be the government’s misguided policy approach, leaving millions of Americans vulnerable as they continue to find a way to gamble online in a thriving underground marketplace.”
The Weekly Turbo: Full Tilt Poker Gets New Pros, WPT on Facebook, and an Analysis
The Nightly Turbo: Full Tilt Poker Signs Two Aussies, Chris Ferguson in the Movie Biz, and a StoxPoker Collusion Analysis
Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act Analysis
Tags: analysis
Poker News in Brief: Feb. 22-28, 2010
The NAPT held its first exclusive event at the Venetian and more than 800 players paid the $5,000 buy-in.
Meanwhile the stars were indeed shining bright at the WPT Invitational with Tia Carrera, Trishelle Cannatella, and Marlon Wayans coming out to play.
With all the excitement over the competing poker tours there were several poker stories that were almost forgotten.
Fortunately as part of our ongoing Poker News in Brief we’ve compiled a list of the lesser-known stories below.
This week we’ll take a look at PartyPoker running an endurance promo, new schedules for two PokerStars tournaments, a training seminar by Mike “The Mouth” Matusow and more.
Class in Session for Mike “The Mouth” Matusow
When The Mouth talks you’d better listen.
That’s what organizers are hoping participants will take out of the upcoming Mike “The Mouth” Matusow poker training session in California.
Matusow, who is the dean of DeepStacks University, will teach a special five-hour session that covers winning strategies for tournament and cash game poker in addition to giving one-on-one poker analysis at the tables.
The training session will cost $495 to attend and every contestant will receive a copy of the Team Full Tilt Pro's new book Check Raising the Devil.
The event will take place March 12 at the Palo Casino Spa and Resort.
Big Names Headline The Poker Show Live
One of the poker's most popular radio shows is returning with Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Galfond, Tony G, David Benyamine and Luke “FullFlush” Schwartz all coming along for the ride.
The Poker Show Live, sponsored by Boylepoker, will feature all the aforementioned poker players in new episodes for the show’s third season beginning March 2.
Hosted by Jesse May, The Poker Show Live has interviewed almost every well-known poker player over the span of its first two seasons.
Tom Dwan, Vicky Coren, Andrew Feldman, Huck Seed, Neil Channing, Erik Seidel have all taken their turn on The Poker Show Live microphone.
The show is available on ThePokerShowLive.com, BoylePoker.com and iTunes.
Ontario Considers Online Gaming
The Canadian province of Ontario is taking a serious look at running its own official online gambling service that could potentially include poker.
Ontario Lottery and Gambling chairman Paul Godfrey and Premier Dalton McGuinty want the province to provide Internet gambling instead of letting potential revenue go to offshore gambling sites.
In Canada, British Columbia and Atlantic Lottery Corporations already officially allow online gambling. The BC Lottery Corporation offers a limited poker game called Pacific Hold’em Poker, which is played against the house.
Loto-Quebec’s poker site is set to launch this fall and analysts are estimating it could potentially net $50 million in revenue for the government over the next three years.
Gladiator Promo Returns to PartyPoker
One of the most popular promotions on PartyPoker is returning this March.
The Gladiator promo rewards players who generate at least 10 PartyPoints every day for a minimum of five days. There are potentially bigger rewards available for players who earn up to 2,000 PartyPoints.
“The Gladiator is back and the rewards are greater than ever before,” said a PartyPoker spokesman.
“This promotion is about spreading play over a period of time for maximus rewards! It is simple and offers great value and we encourage players to challenge themselves and take a closer look.”
If a player manages to earn 2,000 PartyPoints a day from March 3 to April 1 they will instantly earn a $12,500 package to the 2010 WSOP Main Event.
To learn more about The Gladiator check the PartyPoker website
PokerStars Releases SCOOP, NAPT Mohegan Sun Schedules
PokerStars announced the dates for one of its biggest online series and its burgeoning North American tour this week.
The PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker will take place over 14 days from May 3-16 with 33 events. Like last year, each event will have a low, medium and high buy-in variant.
The series will culminate with the Main Event on May 16, with guarantees of $1 million, $3 million and $5 million for each buy-in level.
Meanwhile the PokerStars.net North American Poker Tour’s next stop, at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, will take place April 7-11. The main event carries a $5,000 buy-in and there will be a $10k High Roller Bounty Shootout.
To see the complete schedules for the upcoming SCOOP or NAPT check the PokerStars website.
Versus Picks Up Season 2 of Poker2Nite
Poker news show Poker2Nite is returning for another season, but leaving Fox Sports Net behind for Versus.
Poker2Nite follows an informal news format with UB Poker pro Joe Sebok and poker personality Scott Huff acting as hosts. Dana Workman also produces the satirical Weekly Misdeal for the program.
All 13 episodes of the first season were shown on Fox Sports Net. The second season will kick off this Wednesday at 11 p.m. ET on Versus, which was formerly OLN.
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Proposed U.S. Tax Legislation Includes Internet Gaming Regulation
Should it become law, the Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010, introduced to Congress by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden and Republican Senator Judd Gregg Tuesday, will regulate Internet gambling and charge Internet gaming operators a licensing fee of 2% on all deposits monthly.
"Internet gambling in the United States should be controlled by a strict Federal licensing and regulatory framework to protect underage and otherwise vulnerable individuals, to ensure the games are fair, to address the concerns of law enforcement and to enforce any limitations on the activity established by the States and Indian tribes," the proposed legislation reads.
Many of the provisions in the act regarding Internet gambling are similar to those included in legislation introduced last year by House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank.
Senator Wyden also introduced an amendment in the Senate Finance Committee to use Internet gambling revenue to offset the costs of health care reform last year.
However, he later pulled the amendment to focus on the health care aspect of the bill.
Internet gaming lobbyists from the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative are applauding Wyden and Gregg's latest bill.
"With so much media focus on the differences between Democrats and Republicans in Congress, this bipartisan initiative highlights the growing support on both ends of Capitol Hill for replacing the failed prohibition on Internet gambling with a system to regulate the industry, protect consumers and generate billions in new revenue," said spokesperson Michael Waxman.
A Joint Committee on Taxation analysis found that regulating Internet gambling would generate nearly $42 billion over 10 years.
The next step for this latest bill is to be debated in a Senate committee.
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