Poker News

Tiffany Michelle Comments on New Amazing Race Cast

The pairings for the 16th cycle of the Emmy Award winning reality series “Amazing Race” were released last week and, this time around, no poker players will make the journey. Competing last season was UB.com pro Tiffany Michelle, who hit the “Amazing Race” circuit with Maria Ho. Michelle sat down with Poker News Daily to preview the new season, which kicks off on February 14th on CBS.

Poker News Daily: This cycle’s cast list includes former housemates on CBS’ “Big Brother,” Miss Teen South Carolina 2007, and a Major League Baseball third base coach. Who’s your horse?

Tiffany Michelle: It’s interesting to see that there are three all-female teams this season. Last year, it was a really young, competitive bunch. The producers have to keep it to where everyone’s strengths, weaknesses, and abilities are on par with the others in that season. We thought it was weird that there wasn’t an old couple or a mom and daughter last year. This year, they opened it up again.

I’ve been watching the initial meet the cast videos and I think the cowboys (Jet and Cord) will be a fan favorite. The ones that stood out to me were the detectives (Louie and Michael). That’s an interesting type of person to put on the show.

PND: Were you surprised to see that no poker players will journey out for this season of “Amazing Race”?

Tiffany Michelle: Doing enough in the entertainment business, I have some insight into how casting works. You can’t exhaust one group of people. You want to keep it new and fresh every year and that’s why we were brought on last year. Each season, they’ll reach out to grab people from all walks of life. As hot of a topic as poker is, each of the poker players who have been on reality shows were there for a reason. I don’t think you’ll see a huge influx of poker players on reality shows.

PND: What about poker players gives them a leg up on the competition in a series like “Amazing Race”?

Tiffany Michelle: Your outlook on life, games, and competition is different than the everyday person’s. Poker encompasses psychology, mathematics, aggression, and observation. Poker is very similar to chess in that it requires a lot of mental stamina and gamesmanship. Poker players are used to approaching games from a different point of view.

PND: There has been a trend on the show to include racers who have already appeared in front of television cameras and in the public eye. Does that give anyone an edge?

Tiffany Michelle: After Phil [Keoghan] says go, you are not even aware of the cameras or audio guys. Within the first day, you’re oblivious to having a camera crew. They’re good at not getting in your way too.

PND: This installment’s cast is rumored to travel to places like Chile, Argentina, Singapore, and Seychelles. If you had the chance to run the “Amazing Race” again, where would you go?

Tiffany Michelle: Warm places like Australia, the Caribbean, and some lovely tropical destinations. This season, it’ll be a little bit colder and you won’t hit a lot of hot spots. A lot of our season’s cast wanted to go to Africa because it’d be an incredible experience. That was one place that I thought would be awesome. From a technical standpoint, it’s hard to pull that off, though. We went to Vietnam, which they said for years they had tried to do.

PND: How’d you fare at the L.A. Poker Classic?

Tiffany Michelle: I only played one event. Maria and I both played and it was nice to be back in the saddle. Now, I am off to Panama and I’ll be back at the Commerce Casino after that. I’m trying to decide between doing the North American Poker Tour (NAPT) or L.A. Poker Classic Main Events. In two weeks, I’m going to Las Vegas to do a show with the Harlem Globetrotters. We’re going to suit up and play against them. I’m pretty sporty, but basketball is my worst sport.

PND: We read on Twitter that you were reviewing movies for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. What’s your involvement with them?

Tiffany Michelle: I’m a member of SAG, which is the union for acting, entertainment, film, and television. Every year, whereas the Emmys and Oscars are voting on by academies, actors vote on the SAG Awards. During awards season, they send you movies to watch and you vote. I always get a slew of current nominees.

I thought “Inglorious Basterds” was incredibly phenomenal. I thought it was an amazing movie. “Up in the Air” was cool too. I’m a girl, so of course I loved “It’s Complicated.” For television shows, I love “Glee” and Kevin McHale is a friend of mine.

PND: How have you been faring in the ongoing Ultimate Bet Online Championship (UBOC)?

Tiffany Michelle: Sunday was the $2,500 buy-in $1 million guaranteed. I played it even though I don’t play short-handed poker. I can play six-handed, but I know there are a lot of specific strategies with regards to starting hands.

Poker News in Brief Jan. 18-24, 2010

The 2010 Aussie Millions main event kicked Sunday with hundreds of players looking to strike Australian gold.

You can read all about the tournament in our news section or live tournaments area, but as part of our ongoing Poker News in Brief feature we’re going to take a look at a few lesser-known poker stories below.

This week we’ll look at Annette Obrestad crushing an Aussie Millions prelim, David Singer falling fourth on the Heartland Poker Tour, Phil Galfond doing some TV work and more.

Obrestad Wins Aussie Millions Pot-Limit Omaha Event

Annette Obrestad wasted no time getting busy at the 2010 Aussie Millions.

The former World Series of Poker Europe Main Event winner won the $1,000(AUD) buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha event for $40,000(AUD) this week.

Obrestad outlasted 159 players including a couple of veteran rounders in Emad Tahtouh and Tony Bloom.

Although Obrestad continues to find success online, the win in the Aussie Millions was actually her first live victory since winning the WSOPE.

Obrestad did, however, finish second at EPT Dublin in 2007 for €297,800.

This year, Obrestad will make her first appearance at the WSOP after finally turning 21 this past September.

Alec Torelli Moves to Victory Poker

Online star Alec “traheho” Torelli has parted ways with Doyles Room to sign a sponsorship deal with the up-and-coming Victory Poker.

Torelli was hand-picked by Doyle Brunson this summer to be a member of the Brunson 10.

The team has never come close to approaching 10 players, however, and currently Chris “Moorman1” Moorman, Zachary Clark, Amit Makhija and Dani “anksy” Stern are its only members.

Victory Poker has yet to be released, but it will be a part of the Everleaf Gaming network, which includes Red Cherry Poker and Poker Royale.

Torelli will join a Victory Poker team that is rumored to include Antonio Esfandiari, Brian Rast and Paul Wasicka.

Rousing Final to HPT Vegas

The blue-collar Heartland Poker Tour ventured into Vegas for the second time this week and the final table did not disappoint.

It included a bona fide pro in Full Tilt’s David Singer, an HPT veteran in Theodore Kearly and an inspirational story in unemployed Cambodian refugee Kimbo Ung.

Ung managed to outlast all five opponents at the final table and take down a first place prize of $125,901.

Singer finished fourth for $29,377, which brings his lifetime tournament winnings up to just over $4.3 million.

The event, which drew 433 players, was an overwhelming success according to organizers.

“We didn’t how the Vegas market would respond to our brand,” said HPT President Todd Anderson. “It turns out we blew the roof off.”

PKR TV Showcases Phil Galfond

Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond does not have a major poker room sponsor, but will be doing some work for PKR TV.

Galfond will be doing commentary on some of the best ring game action on PKR.com and footage from the special “Galfond TV Cash Game,” which saw some of the elite PKR players take him on.

“We are thrilled to have Phil in the studio to become a PKR TV commentator,” said PKR marketing manager Erika Schwartz. “It will be fantastic for our players to get someone of his reputation watching the action and giving some advice on their play.”

PKR TV and the Galfond TV Cash Game will be broadcast on The Poker Channel in 13 countries across Europe. Air dates have yet to be confirmed.

Police Raid South Carolina Poker Game

Police busted yet another poker game in South Carolina last week.

Officers confiscated more than $64,000 in cash, chips and tables from a Greenville County home.

Twenty-seven people were charged for unlawful betting after a citizen’s tip led deputies to the house.

The raid is nothing new for the region. In 2007, a game was busted in neighboring North Carolina that included noted poker pros Mike Gracz and Chris Bell.

Visit PokerListings.com

Amazing Race 16 Cast Does Not Feature Poker Players

The cast for the 16th cycle of the Emmy Award winning CBS reality series “Amazing Race” does not include any poker players. In its last season, the show featured Maria Ho and UB.com pro Tiffany Michelle.

Ho and Michelle represented the last women standing in the 2007 and 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Events, respectively. The duo finished sixth in the around-the-world competition after their journey abruptly ended in the Netherlands, where a series of intense physical challenges proved to be too much for Ho and Michelle. A high striker, a common carnival game, proved fatal on one-half of the leg’s Detour, while windy conditions made a unique game of golf using wooden shoes unbearable on the other half.

A total of 11 teams will set out on the “Amazing Race” course for Season 16. Headlining the group are two “Big Brother” cast members from Season 11, Jordan Lloyd and Jeff Schroeder. The couple is “newly dating” according to CBS and will mark the latest pair to join “Amazing Race” after appearing on another CBS reality franchise. Schroeder is 31 years-old and from Norridge, Illinois, while Lloyd is nine years younger and hails from Charlotte, North Carolina. Lloyd lists her lifetime goals as, “to be a dental hygienist, and to get married and have kids.”

Also appearing on the 16th running of “Amazing Race” is Caitlin Upton, who will travel to the four corners of the Earth with her boyfriend, Brent Home. Upton was Miss Teen South Carolina USA 2007 and famously uttered the following response to a question about people being unable to locate the United States on a map: "I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because some people out there in our nation don't have maps and I believe that our education like such as South Africa and the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and, I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S. or should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future, for our children."

Upton’s phrases “the Iraq,” “U.S. Americans.” and “like such as” have become staples of modern lingo, although the beauty queen is now three years removed from her escapade. In a video posted on CBS.com, Upton commented, “I’m stubborn and I hate losing, probably more than he does, and I have a very short fuse, so if somebody gets in my way, there’s going to be some trouble and I’m going to need somebody there to calm me down.” The couple may soon be engaged; both are models.

Cleveland Indians third base coach Steve Smith, 57 years of age, will run the “Amazing Race” with his daughter, Allie Smith, who is 23 and works in marketing. Smith was a coach on the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team that won it all in 2008 and also worked with the Florida Marlins and Texas Rangers. The elder Smith lists his biggest challenge as “not getting lost because we tend to get lost in our own neighborhood.” “Amazing Race” requires a keen sense of direction, as racers travel to countries where English is not the primary language, so road signs and other markers can often be confusing.

Rumored locations that teams will travel to this season include Bariloche, Argentina; Puerto Varas, Chile; and Singapore. The rumored departure city is Los Angeles. The show premieres on Sunday, February 14th at 8:00pm ET on CBS, the same time slot as it held last season.

Dating couple Meghan and Cheyne took down the 15th installment of “Amazing Race,” whose finish line was ironically in Las Vegas. Besides Ho and Michelle, notable cast members vying for the $1 million top prize last time out included Harlem Globetrotters Flight Time and Big Easy and Miss America 2004 Ericka Dunlap, who ran the race with her husband, Brian.

Poker News in Brief: Dec. 28-Jan. 2, 2010

Essentially it was pretty quiet in the poker world.

Despite the lack of news there were still a few stories that didn’t make the front page and as part of our ongoing Poker News in Brief feature we’ve compiled them below.

This week we’ll take a look at a rising online star, UB.com making a deal with an NHL team, a huge payout on the International Poker Network and more.

UB.net Signs Deal With Calgary Flames

UB.net is getting put on ice.

The company announced this week it has inked a deal with the NHL’s Calgary Flames that will see the UB.net logo displayed on Pengrowth Saddledome’s boards throughout the month of January.

A tilt with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 2, 2010, will mark the debut of the advertisement for the free poker site.

To celebrate the Calgary collaboration, UB.net is giving away four pairs of tickets to the Flames and Ottawa Senators’ game on March 11.

To qualify players can participate in one of the eight daily UB.net online satellite tournaments with the top 100 players from each qualifier winning a seat into the Sunday main event scheduled for 15:00 ET.

Each main event will award two tickets to the Flames and Senators and $1,000 cash for travel expenses.

The promotion is open to Canadian and U.S. players. Check the UB.com website for more information.

XBLINK Closes In On $1 Million

In the spirit of Isildur1 and Martonas, UB.com has its own run-up story in the form of online player XBLINK.

According to PokerListings’ Online Poker Stars section XBLINK has made $741,864 playing No-Limit Hold’em in the past two months and consistently ranks in the top 10 biggest pots on UB.com.

What’s even more impressive is that TwoPlusTwo forum member 89blist outed himself as the aforementioned XBLINK and said it all started with an $11 tournament for the last of his bankroll.

XBLINK said he won the tournament and then went on the mother of all heaters, complete with some questionable bankroll decisions. He's no Martonas or Isildur1 but poker fans are starting to take notice.

SC Attorney General Appeals Poker Case

South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster has launched an appeal against a Judge’s decision to overturn a conviction of five Mount Pleasant poker players.

The incident occurred back in 2006, when the five players were arrested for taking part in a home game.

Circuit Judge R. Markley Dennis threw out the case saying that Hold’em in a private residence does not violate the state’s gambling laws. He went on to say that poker was clearly a skill game.

Now McMaster says that it’s irrelevant whether skill or luck is involved and that it was the legislature’s goal to ban all gaming for any amount of money in designated locations.

No timetable has been set for when the case will be heard.

IPN Awards €507,144 Jackpot

The International Poker Network, which is home to BetClic and PokerHeaven, awarded a €507,144 bad beat jackpot this week.

Online player 72osRocks! Saw his quad kings get cracked by Nogis22’s Royal Flush, which was enough to earn the entire table a huge payday.

72osRocks earned €177,500, Nogis22 picked up €88,750 while the other three players at the table each pocketed €29,583.

Despite the recent payout, the bad beat jackpot on BetClic and IPN is already back up to €146,469 as of mid-week. For more information check the BetClic website.

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South Carolina Attorney General Appeals Poker Skill Game Ruling

The fight for five poker players in South Carolina is far from over. According to the Associated Press, the state’s Attorney General will appeal the October ruling that Texas Hold’em, the world’s premier poker genre, is a skill game.

It’s a familiar debate as the poker industry enters 2010. Is Texas Hold’em a game of skill or is it ultimately determined by chance? South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster filed an appeal with the state’s Supreme Court, the Associated Press explained on Thursday: “McMaster's appeal says he doesn't think whether there is skill or just chance involved has anything to do with lawmakers' attempt to ban gambling. The attorney general skipped the Court of Appeals and filed with the state Supreme Court, saying the question deals with the constitution's wording on gambling.”

Five poker players were charged in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina back in 2006. According to the favorable ruling by Judge Markley Dennis in October, the buy-ins for a weekly home game in the South Carolina town varied between $5 and $20. The small blind was $0.25 and the big blind was $0.50, with pots ranging between $5 and $10. Fifty cents was taken from several pots in order to provide food and drink for players, but the “house” did not profit from the game.

The game got ugly on April 12th, 2006, when police officers raided it and began arresting participants on the grounds that they were playing in a “house used as a place of gambling.” The defendants, under the guidance of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), argued that poker is a game of skill, not chance, and therefore did not constitute illegal gambling. The trial court heard the case in February, which featured World Poker Tour (WPT) host Mike Sexton recap hands played on the roving tournament series to demonstrate poker’s skill component.

Dr. Robert Hannum was also brought in to testify last February. The October ruling explains, “Dr. Hannum also testified that a statistical analysis of professional poker players demonstrated that past performance was a reliable indicator of future success, establishing that the skill of the player was the predominant factor in determining wins and losses.” The lower court ruled that poker was a game of skill. However, because South Carolina’s laws were vague on whether that mattered, the five defendants were found guilty.

An appeal was filed, setting up October’s ruling. Judge Dennis candidly explained, “This Court agrees with Appellants that the South Carolina Supreme Court, if faced with the question, would adopt the dominant factor test for the purpose of defining gambling.” He added, “It should also be noted that the South Carolina Attorney General has consistently applied the dominant factor test when providing opinions about whether certain activities are legal.”

Judge Dennis harped on the overwhelmingly broad nature of South Carolina’s gambling statute, which could be construed to mean that nearly any game played with cards or dice is illegal. Judge Dennis specifically called out Bunco, Go Fish, and Solitaire as possible infractions of state law, saying, “Simply put, [the law], as written, has the potential to make criminals of virtually every man, woman, and child in the state of South Carolina.” Twenty of the original defendants pled guilty to gambling charges, while five fought against the state.

According to the Charleston Post and Courier newspaper, the filing by the Attorney General was 57 pages long and McMaster is a Republican candidate for Governor. The Courier revealed, “No timetable has been set on when the case will be heard, and more rounds of legal filings are expected. The legislature is expected to take up a bill legalizing social card games next year.”

Parishioners React to Priest’s PokerStars Million Dollar Challenge Run

Over the weekend, 9/11 first responder Mike Kosowski took home the top prize on the “PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” after defeating Daniel Negreanu heads-up. Also in the running was Father Andrew Trapp of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Garden City, South Carolina.

An article that appeared on the website of WMBF News on Monday relayed the tremendous amount of support that Trapp had during his run in the poker game show, which aired on five Sundays following FOX’s coverage of the National Football League. The church is preparing for a $6.5 million renovation and Trapp stated that he would have used his $1 million prize money for the makeover. The South Carolina news outlet remarked, “Overcrowding isn't the only pressing issue at the Garden City church. Should a strong hurricane blow through the area, there's a possibility St. Michael's wouldn't be standing in the aftermath.”

About $4 million has been raised so far for the renovations and Trapp’s $1 million win would have resulted in ground being broken. Trapp took home $100,000 on the show’s first episode and a portion of the money will be given to the church. Trapp spoke on the generosity of the congregation’s members, telling WMBF, "The parishioners have all been really generous and digging down deep - especially in a time of recession."

Parishioner Candy Griffith told WMBF in a video interview, “Our church family has grown. We’re sitting at over 3,400 families.” Trapp told the news outlet that his six-figure payday would go a long way: “$100,000 will be a huge help… [The money will go for] a couple of beautiful stained glass windows, antique stained glass windows… It’s going to take some time and a lot more sacrifice. Hopefully sometime in the next couple of years, we’ll finish raising that money.”

According to the news outlet, Trapp mastered poker during his days in the seminary. He caught the industry by storm as a religious figure proficient in the game. He explained, “It’s kind of like if I were to go on ‘Jeopardy’ or ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire,’ but instead of trivia questions to win prize money, they’re playing cards.” Footage of Trapp analyzing other players during their journey to the Challenge of Champions aired. The final four-handed table saw Trapp battle Kosowski, liquor salesman Brian Barboza, and Iraq war veteran Denny Luna for a chance to play Negreanu heads-up for $1 million.

Trapp reached heads-up play against Kosowski and gambled in his final hand. Trapp called pre-flop with 6-7 and Kosowski checked his option holding 9-5. The action flop came 9-8-4, giving Trapp and up and down straight draw and Kosowski top pair. Trapp reached into his bag of tricks and pulled out a “Little Engine that Could” reference before Kosowski put him all-in. Trapp called with his tournament life on the line and, needing to catch a five, seven, or ten by the river, watched as an ace hit. His rosary appeared on multiple occasions throughout his appearance.

Trapp scooped the first pot of the Challenge of Champions after making trip sevens and told WMBF, “I wanted to start off being a little bit cautious, but a little aggressive as well. I was mainly trying to think good poker strategy, play smart, try to look at the other players to see what they’re doing, their faces and everything. I was definitely praying a lot too.” Kosowski went on to defeat Negreanu and earn $1 million. He plans to donate part of it to charity.

“PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” has been renewed for Season 2, although no air dates have been released by the world’s largest online poker site. A representative of the show told Poker News Daily that format changes were being considered and it would likely be “a few months” before any further details were announced.

Allen Kessler Wins 2009 Bayou Poker Challenge Championship

Allen “Chainsaw” Kessler emerged as the champion of the Main Event of the Bayou Poker Challenge at Harrah’s New Orleans. A total of 80 players turned out for the $3,120 buy-in tournament and Kessler earned $71,000 after a four-way chop.

In addition to the prize money, Kessler took home a $10,000 seat into the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in Las Vegas and $1,000 to use for travel expenses. In November of 2008, Kessler made the final table of the WSOP Circuit Championship at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe for $31,00. He claimed his first gold ring one year prior after defeating a field of 522 players in a $500 buy-in No Limit Hold’em event for $73,000. Kessler has shined on the World Poker Tour (WPT), where he’s made two final tables, including a third place showing in the Season 4 WPT Invitational for $20,000. In Season 5, he finished sixth at Foxwoods for $136,000.

Kessler entered the final table in New Orleans at the Bayou Poker Challenge as a 2:1 chip leader over his next closest competitor and never looked back. Taking ninth place in the Crescent City was Phil Hall, a 61 year-old software engineer. Hall hit the rails less than a half-hour into final table play after coming out on the losing end of a race with pocket fives against A-K when a king hit, but earned $8,300.

The next to go was Will “The Monkey” Souther, a pro from nearby Biloxi, Mississippi. In his final hand, Souther pushed all-in with pocket jacks, but ran into pocket kings. The better hand held and Souther was sent packing, $9,400 richer for his wear. Taking seventh place was Ben “The Destroyer” Mintz, who entered the final table as the third largest stack. He ultimately ran Q-J into pocket queens, earning $11,000.

Justin “Lockdowntex” Allen made history by finishing in sixth place at Harrah’s New Orleans. Allen took down last year’s Bayou Poker Challenge Championship to the tune of $158,000 and, when combined with a final table appearance at a WSOP Circuit Event Championship held in May at Harrah’s New Orleans, has made three straight Main Event feature tables at the casino. His sixth place finish this year was worth $13,000.

Fifth place in the 2009 Bayou Poker Challenge Championship went to Michael “Car Wash” Schneider. He was the field’s shortest stack entering the final table, but rebounded to earn $16,000. Four-handed, an undisclosed deal was forged. Officially taking fourth was Jim McBride, who earned $19,000. Third place belonged to Moutray McLaren, a poker pro from South Carolina. The official third place payout was $28,000.

Second place after the deal went to Ed Corrado, a retired player from Florida. He banked $44,000, falling short of only Kessler. The tournament’s ultimate champion told Bayou Poker Challenge officials following his win, “I really like supporting these events. These are great structures. It’s one of the best tournament structures I’ve seen for this buy-in amount.” Kessler then purportedly headed to the high-limit gaming area of Harrah’s New Orleans to celebrate.

Going on concurrently with the Bayou Poker Challenge Championship, and perhaps taking away from some of its luster, was an NFL game between the undefeated New Orleans Saints and the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys upended the Saints to snap the team’s perfect season on Saturday night in one of the biggest upsets of the 2009 NFL schedule. On Sunday, the city played host to the New Orleans Bowl between Southern Mississippi and Middle Tennessee State, with the latter winning the 42-32 shootout. Both games were played inside the Louisiana Superdome.

Harrah’s New Orleans serves as the final stop of the 2009-2010 WSOP Circuit schedule. The festivities begin at the urban casino on May 7th.

Mike Kosowski Wins PokerStars Million Dollar Challenge

Mike Kosowski, a first responder on September 11th, 2001, took down the “PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” final table, defeating Daniel Negreanu heads-up and winning the $1 million grand prize.

The season finale does not air until this Sunday, December 27th, but the final results were leaked to the New York Post and confirmed independently by Poker News Daily. Kosowski, who is 53 years old, was trounced by model Joanna Krupa on the December 13th installment of the poker game show, ultimately falling with 6-9 against Q-J when he was running low on chips. Kosowski won a four-man single-table satellite to the finale after filming of the fourth show was completed.

A representative of the “PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” told Poker News Daily via e-mail, “The biggest winner from every show got a seat. Since everyone on show four got knocked out in the first round, they played a consolation sit and go among the four contestants (two who made air, two who didn’t) to determine who would fill the final seat in the sit and go.” Kosowski emerged as the champion and went on to play against three other show winners for the opportunity to face Negreanu heads-up for $1 million.

According to the Post, Kosowski was an alternate to appear on the show in the first place and competed on his wedding anniversary. His wife was present at the taping, cheering the somewhat timid firefighter on. With his winnings, Kosowski told the Post that he would pay off his mortgage and donate a portion to an unnamed charity. Poker News Daily has arranged an interview with the game show’s winner on Monday afternoon, six days before the “PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” Season 1 finale airs on FOX.

Season 2 of the show has already been green-lighted and any applications submitted after the Season 1 deadline will roll over to the new installment. Text found on PokerStars’ official website triumphantly declares, “Season 2 is on the cards! After the unprecedented success of our TV show, the powers that be have declared we will film a second season of the Million Dollar Challenge. Which means we’ll need more contestants - so more freerolls and more auditions. Stay tuned for further details.” The franchise went head-to-head with NBC’s “Face the Ace,” sponsored by Full Tilt Poker, a series that received lackluster reception and ratings.

The “PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” premiered on October 11th, with Father Andrew Trapp taking home $100,000 and a chance to face the other show’s survivors for a shot heads-up against Negreanu. Trapp, a preacher from South Carolina, made waves as a religious figure competing on a poker game show. Celebrities like Super Bowl champion Jerome Bettis, Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Tito Ortiz, and former Playboy Playmate of the Year Jayde Nicole took to the stage to play contestants in the first round, with Negreanu seated alongside for advice and moral support.

If the challengers could make it past the PokerStars-sponsored celebrities, they’d face off against pros of the site in the second round. Those who appeared included GoDaddy Girl Vanessa Rousso, 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Chris Moneymaker, and PokerRoad’s Barry Greenstein. Beat a pro and contestants moved on to face Negreanu heads-up for $100,000 and a seat at the Table of Champions, which will air on Sunday.

The “PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” will air following NFL on FOX coverage on Sunday, which is football’s next-to-last week of the season. Viewers are advised to check their local listings for station and airtime information.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for an interview with Kosowski and a complete recap of the final episode of the season.

Poker Featured in Season Finale of Amazing Race

Sunday night marked the season finale of the 15th cycle of the CBS Emmy Award winning reality series “Amazing Race.” Eliminated contestants Maria Ho and Tiffany Michelle were featured, as was a crazy game of poker.

After departing from Prague in the Czech Republic, the final three “Amazing Race” teams headed to Las Vegas, Nevada, the Mecca for poker players around the world. After completing tasks at the Mandalay Bay and Mirage resorts, teams were told to find “the most famous casino in Monaco,” which any poker player could tell you is the Monte Carlo. The home of the annual end-of-season European Poker Tour Grand Final, the Monte Carlo’s U.S. version played host to the final challenge in this cycle of the top-tier reality franchise.

Team has to stack $1 million in poker chips from a table of 8,400 assorted denominations. Dating couple Meghan and Cheyne arrived at the Monte Carlo after inadvertently heading to the Venetian and began furiously stacking the table’s red chips, representing the largest denomination on the table at $1,000. The duo stacked groups of 25, while at the same time, married couple Brian and Ericka and brothers Sam and Dan took a similar approach. After tackling the red poker chips, the squads then piled up the black chips, worth $500 each.

Meghan and Cheyne were the first to complete the task and received their next clue, instructing them to head to the MGM Grand High Roller suite, where “Mr. Las Vegas” would great them. Not knowing who that moniker referred to, the couple asked players in the poker room which personality they could expect to meet. The answer: Wayne Newton. There, Newton revealed that the finish line for the “Amazing Race” was at his ranch, Casa de Shenandoah.

At the finish line were none other than Michelle and Ho, who took sixth this season after being eliminated in the Netherlands. The duo were close with Sam and Dan throughout much of the race and their heroes ultimately took second, with Meghan and Cheyne crossing the finish line first and winning the $1 million grand prize. Michelle appeared teary-eyed after watching Sam and Dan cross the finish time and both women came clad in purple. Michelle and Ho represent the runners-up in the 2008 and 2007 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Events, respectively.

Michelle was an active person on Twitter this evening as the “Amazing Race” season finale unfolded. Upon seeing that the final task was to stack poker chips, she commented, “Amazig Race season finale: Vegas… Poker chips… Ugg, I hate my life!” Echoing her emotions at the end of the season, Michelle noted via Twitter, “I don’t want to give anything away about Amazing Race for the West Coast… But I’m sobbing, in tears right now at the end of the episode!” Michelle then added that she was off to the “Amazing Race” after party.

No poker players have been spotted on the 16th season of “Amazing Race,” whose filming is currently underway. Rumored contestants include Jordan Lloyd and Jeff Schroeder from “Big Brother” season 11 and 2007 Miss Teen South Carolina Caitlin Upton and her boyfriend. Upton provided one of the most memorable quotes of 2007 when she referred to “the Iraq” and “U.S. Americans” during the Miss Teen USA pageant. No airdate for the 16th season of “Amazing Race” has been announced.

Michelle is a card-carrying member of Team UB.com, whose stable of pros also includes “Celebrity Apprentice” runner-up Annie Duke, Phil Hellmuth, and “Poker2Nite” Host Joe Sebok. The show airs on CBS and held the 8:00pm ET Sunday night time slot.

Mike Sexton Inducted into Poker Hall of Fame

Doyle Brunson kicked off the Poker Hall of Fame induction ceremony dinner at the Brasilia Room at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. The festivities honoring Mike Sexton occurred during the dinner break of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table at 7:00pm PT.

The guest list read like a “who’s who” of the poker community, including Howard Lederer, Phil Hellmuth, Jack Binion, Ali Nejad, David Singer, and Dewey Tomko. Also in the house was World Poker Tour (WPT) Co-Host Vince Van Patten, who told Poker News Daily, “I couldn’t miss this. Mike is such a great champion and a great friend of mine. What we share together on the WPT is one of the most important parts of my life. So many laughs and Mike is such a great guy. He is the real thing.”

The WPT is currently filming its eighth season. In fact, The Foxwoods World Poker Finals, the November WPT stop, is currently playing out at the Connecticut casino. On Van Patten and Sexton’s chemistry after eight seasons, the Poker Hall of Fame nominee’s co-host told us, “We could go for 25 years. We don’t get bored with it, we love it, and we’re not faking it. We’d probably do it for no money. We love it that much and we enjoy each other’s company. He’s one of a kind, a great family man, and the real thing in poker.”

Those on stage were Brunson, Jack Binion, Poker Hall of Fame Class of 2009 candidate Tom McEvoy, and T.J. Cloutier. The latter told the assembled crowd of about 175, “We both went broke plenty of times… This man would bet on anything… Mike always thought he was the best split pot player of them all. He could always play those eight or better games.” In fact, Sexton’s lone WSOP bracelet came in 1989 in a Seven Card Stud High-Low Split tournament.

McEvoy then took to the podium and admitted, “This man holds a grudge,” referencing a story from the first WSOP Pot Limit tournament ever held. Binion, a Poker Hall of Fame member who helped popularize the WSOP, commented, “Mike was the one who got PartyPoker started, the one who got the software started. He’s the one who really made poker.” Sexton currently serves as the ambassador for PartyPoker, whose parent company, Party Gaming, recently completed the purchase of the WPT for $12.3 million plus a percent of future gaming revenues.

WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack formally presented Sexton’s trophy and his speech was preceded by an emotional speech from Tom Sexton. The new Poker Hall of Fame member’s brother stated, “Mike has the gift of vision, where he can see things that others can’t in the poker world.” Sexton’s brother also referenced the WPT host testifying in a poker court case in South Carolina and serving as the spokesperson for approximately 500 players shut out of Day 1D of the 2009 WSOP Main Event when the contest reached capacity.

One of Tom Sexton’s most memorable quotes came when referencing the “Daddy Hall of Fame,” which he revealed, “If there were a Daddy Hall of Fame, Mike would be in it.” Young Ty Sexton, whose nursery has overrun the Sexton home’s dance floor, is just 15 months; Mike is 62 years-old.

Sexton received a 30 second standing ovation upon being introduced and recognized each of the other eight candidates for the Poker Hall of Fame Class of 2009: Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Erik Seidel, McEvoy, Dan Harrington, Scotty Nguyen, Men “The Master” Nguyen, and Barry Greenstein. Ivey, who was one of seven players remaining in the WSOP Main Event at the time, even stopped by, flanked at the door to the Brasilia Room by Layne Flack, Lacey Jones, and Nejad.

Sexton took the time to recognize a bevy of individuals, including Linda Johnson, Steve Lipscomb, and Brunson. He also recalled a phone call received over Christmas in 2000 from Ruth Parisol, co-founder of Party Gaming, who asked him to fly to India to launch the then-nascent online poker site. After eight months, PartyPoker was born, quickly challenging Paradise Poker for tops in the industry.

JAQK Cellars presented the two-hour affair, which wrapped up at 9:00pm PT. The living Hall of Fame members then took to the stage of the Penn and Teller Theater to resume play in the WSOP Main Event final table, with Sexton issuing the evening session’s “Shuffle Up and Deal” command.

South Carolina Judge rules poker a game of skill

We love it when the judge sides with the good guys - i mean isn't that how the judicial system is supposed to work? In America, a judge in South Carolina has ruled that Texas hold’em is a game of skill and not chance after reversing the convictions of five people convicted of playing the pastime and violating state law.

Father Andrew Trapp Wins $100,000 on PokerStars Million Dollar Challenge

Sunday marked the debut of the FOX poker show “PokerStars Million Dollar Challenge,” a franchise similar to rival site Fill Tilt Poker’s “Face the Ace.” In the end, Father Andrew Trapp of Garden City, South Carolina earned $100,000 and a seat at the Table of Champions.

Hosted by Chris Rose, of “Best Damn Sports Show Period” fame, “Million Dollar Challenge” began with Trapp facing off against former NBA star John Salley. In the first round, Daniel Negreanu sat by the contestant’s side and was not able to see their hole cards, but could give his thoughts on the action as he saw fit. In addition, Trapp could use one time out to consult with Negreanu in a soundproof isolation booth. In the match’s key hand, Trapp held Q-6 of spades and raised to 4,000 pre-flop. Salley re-raised to 7,000 with A-10 and Trapp used his time out. Negreanu told his protégé to push all-in despite his lackluster hand and Trapp obliged. Salley made the call and the flop came 5-K-9 with one spade. However, running spades gave Trapp a flush and doubled him up.

In the deciding hand, Trapp raised to 8,000 pre-flop with A-6 and Salley called with Q-3. The flop came 10-A-8 and Salley led out for 8,000 with “squadoosh.” Trapp called behind to see the turn come another ace, leaving Salley drawing dead. Salley checked and Trapp bet enough to put the “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here” third place finisher all-in. Salley called for his last 4,000 and Trapp earned a trip to the 2010 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in January.

Next up for Trapp was National Heads-Up Poker Championship runner-up Vanessa Rousso. This time around, Negreanu headed to the isolation booth, where he could see Trapp’s hole cards and was able to impart advice through an earpiece Trapp wore. In one hand, Rousso called pre-flop with 4-8 and Trapp checked his option with 8-7. The flop came 5-6-7, giving Rousso a straight, and Trapp bet out 2,000 with top pair and a straight draw. Rousso raised to 4,000, with Negreanu coaching, “Stick it in now. The quicker you do it, the better.” Trapp pushed and Rousso called for her stack. The turn came a four, however, splitting the pot and staving off disaster for the challenger.

In the final hand against Rousso, Trapp called pre-flop with K-7 and Rousso moved all-in for 11,300. Negreanu advised him to go with his gut and Trapp made the call. The board ran out J-J-4-2-7 and Trapp earned $25,000. He was then met with a decision to take the money and run or face Negreanu for $100,000 and a seat at the Table of Champions, whose winner will face the Team PokerStars Pro front man for $1 million.

Trapp elected to play on and, in a key hand against Negreanu, called pre-flop holding J-6. Negreanu, armed with K-9, checked his option. The flop came Q-7-J, giving Trapp middle pair. Negreanu bet out 800 and Trapp raised to 1,600. Negreanu made the call to see the turn fall a 10, giving him a straight. The action went check-check to a three on the river. Negreanu pushed for 7,100 and Trapp made the call, doubling up Negreanu to nearly the starting stack of 20,000.

In the final hand between Trapp and Negreanu, the latter called pre-flop with 5-6 and Trapp checked with J-8. The flop came 8-4-2, giving Trapp top pair and Negreanu a double gutshot straight draw, and Negreanu bet 2,000. Trapp shoved for 19,000 and after much deliberation, Negreanu made the call, exclaiming “Oops” when he saw what he was up against. Needing a three or seven, Negreanu watched as the turn and river came a jack and a deuce, respectively, shipping the $100,000 match to Trapp.

Four more installments of “Million Dollar Challenge” are on tap, airing on Sundays after NFL on FOX action for one hour on October 18th, November 22nd, December 13th, and December 27th.

PokerStars.Net Million Dollar Challenge Airs Sunday as a Priest Tries to Win $1 Million

This weekend will see the first competitor take the stage for the Pokerstars.net Million Dollar Poker Challenge as South Carolina priest Father Andrew Trapp tries his best to win the $1 million first place prize. A 28-year-old priest from South...

Poker News in Brief: Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2009

Plus, by finishing second, Daniel Negreanu became poker's all-time leading money winner.

With all the news out of London, it was easy to forget about the rest of the poker world. Fortunately, as part of our ongoing Poker News in Brief feature, we've broken down some of the lesser-known stories below.

This week we'll take a look at a renowned poker player going cosmic, five poker players getting a big relief and a new WSOP promotion from Milwaukee's Best Light.

Guy Laliberte blasts off

Cirque du Soleil founder and alleged high-stakes fish Guy Laliberte became the first Canadian space-tourist on Wednesday.

Laliberte, along with a Russian cosmonaut and an American astronaut, successfully blasted into space aboard a Soyuz spacecraft headed for the International Space Station.

The French-Canadian billionaire is isn't just along for the ride and on Oct. 9, if all goes according to plan, he will be the master of ceremonies for a global performance involving 14 cities and noted celebrities like Bono, Shakira, David Suzuki and former vice-president Al Gore.

The show is to promote the One Drop Foundation for access to clean water.

Laliberte is scheduled to return to earth on Oct. 11.

Milwaukee's Best Light starts poker promotion

Milwaukee's Best Light, the official beer sponsor of the WSOP, is giving their customers a chance to win a seat in the 2010 WSOP Main Event.

The promotion is part of the brand's two-month "Online Poker Challenge" which will see two seats awarded to the 2010 Main Event.

From now through Nov. 22, those 21 and older can visit www.wsop.com and click the Milwaukee's Best Light banner to register and compete in Texas Hold'em online.

At the end of each week, the 1,000 participants with the highest point totals will be eligible to participate in that week's final tournament, which will determine the top 100 point holders.  Those top 100 qualifiers will advance to the month-ending grand prize tournament.

Players will also have the opportunity to earn bonus points by referring friends, answering trivia and obtaining codes inside specially marked boxes of Milwaukee's Best and Milwaukee's Best Ice.

Pro-online poker bill hits 60 co-sponsors

Rep. Barney Frank's Internet Gambling, Consumer Protection & Enforcement Act of 2009 reached 60 co-sponsors this week. Among the newest to sign on board with the bill are Rep. Lyn Woolsey, William Clay, Adam Schiff and Christopher Murphy.

The bill is currently waiting to be heard before committee, but support is starting to grow in the Republican Party.

Frank originally said the bill would be heard by Easter this year, but it was pushed back to July and then September. It's now likely the bill won't be discussed until the new year.

In the meantime, Frank has introduced a second bill that would postpone the coming enforcement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act Dec. 1, 2009.

Judge dismisses case against Mt. Pleasant poker players

The decision to convict five South Carolinian poker players has been reversed.

Bob Chimento, Jeremy Brestel, Michael Williamson, Scott Richards and John T. Willis were originally found guilty of violating South Carolina's anti-gambling laws for running a private Texas No-Limit Hold'em game in 2006.

The group didn't profit from running the games, but money was raked from the pot to help cover expenses.

Earlier this year, South Carolina Circuit Judge R. Markley Dennis ruled that poker was a game of skill, not chance, but the five were still found guilty of operating a gambling house.

Thursday Dennis released a letter stating he had decided to reverse the convictions of all five players. The municipal court found the evidence "overwhelming" that Texas Hold'em is a game of skill.

Poker advocacy groups like the Poker Player's Alliance are touting it as a victory for poker players in the U.S.

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Feds discuss assets in South Carolina video poker case

In Greer, South Carolina a group of federal prosecutors have been in discussion on how to share the assets seized in a multimillion dollar video poker ring that was busted.

Asian Poker Tour Invites U.S. Swimmer Michael Phelps to 2009 Event

For the second straight year, record-breaking U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps has been invited to play in the Asian Poker Tour’s (APT) Macau event. The festivities run from August 12th to 23rd at the Galaxy StarWorld Hotel and Casino.

Last year, a six-day event played out in the Asian metropolis. This time around, the poker festivities will occur over the course of 12 days. After recording eight gold medals during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, which included seven world records and one Olympic record, Phelps was invited to play in the APT event in nearby Macau. The worldwide race to lure Phelps to a major poker event began after he told his hometown newspaper, the Baltimore Sun, that he wanted to compete in the annual World Series of Poker (WSOP). Phelps was escorted to poker events by the game’s legends like Doyle Brunson and news of the swimmer signing with various online poker sites abounded. However,  entry into a major event did not occur.

WSOP Europe sponsors Betfair invited Phelps to play in the 2008 tournament series. In addition, Phelps was set to become involved with the poker stage show The Real Deal at the Venetian. An open letter sent by APT officials to Phelps this week read, “We heard positive noises, but there was no sign of the human dolphin when they called ‘shuffle up and deal.’ We would like to extend this invite once again to you to come, all expenses paid, and take part in this showpiece poker event. The Main Event is in Macau between the 20th and 23rd of August, but the 12 day festival of poker starts on August 12th, so let us know!”

Phelps’ appearance in a tabloid newspaper holding a bong led to a three-month suspension from competitive swimming.  He also lost several endorsement deals as a result, but has recently appeared in Subway commercials opposite Jared Fogle. The bong in question allegedly belonged to 2008 PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) Main Event Champion Carter “ckingusc” King, a South Carolina native.

The open letter alluded to Phelps’ recent public relations difficulties: “Some media reports even suggest that you may have got in with the wrong crowd in the last 12 months – we promise to keep you out of trouble. We’ll give you access to pools of sharks, fish, and those that you swim in! If you don’t want to bring your goggles, fair enough; bring a pair of sunglasses and your poker face! While you are at it, you could ask a certain poker playing President by the name of Barack Hussein Obama II if he fancies joining you!”

Last year’s APT Macau Main Event was won by Yevgeniy “atimos” Timoshenko, who also took down the World Poker Tour (WPT) Championship in April, the culmination of the WPT’s seventh season. Timoshenko defeated Steve Yea heads-up in Macau, with 40 players finishing in the money. Day 1A of this year’s APT Macau Main Event kicks off on August 20th, with two starting days set to play out. Players will be given 10,000 starting chips, with blinds increasing every 60 minutes and starting at 25-50. Antes kick in at Level 4, when blinds are 100-200.

Among those slated to battle it out in this year’s APT Macau Main Event are 10-time WSOP bracelet winner Johnny Chan, J.C. Tran, Nam Le, Steve Sung, Quinn Do, 2008 WSOP November Nine member David “Chino” Rheem, and Kwang Soo Lee. Each will participate in filming of the new movie “Poker King,” which Chan stated may trump “Rounders.”

I’m Going to Be a Lobbyist in My Next Lifetime

I recently returned from a trip to Washington, DC in which I was privileged to be part of the Poker Players Alliance’s (PPA) National Poker Week Fly-In. Part of this event included a gathering of 33 PPA State Directors, a handful of poker celebrities, and various lobbyists and media members. Our goal was to gain support for favorable online poker legislation and specifically for House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank’s HR 2267, which would establish federal licensing and regulation of online poker.

My first impression of Capitol Hill is that I have never seen so many men and women dressed in business attire, scurrying from one building to another, carrying files and folders, all with an agenda to fulfill. The experience of actually seeing our government at work and being part of the process was incredible.

The Fly-In started out with a working dinner at which the participants got a chance to network with each other and hear brief speeches from Alfonse D’Amato, Congressman Robert Wexler, and John Pappas, Executive Director of the PPA.  Afterwards, we were given our meeting schedules for the next two days. My list of appointments included Senators Charles Schumer and Dianne Feinstein, and Representatives Tim Bishop, Shelley Berkley, Dina Titus, and Lynn Westmoreland. I had been given a list of talking points and became comfortable with them through many role-playing scenarios with Jan Fisher and my brother Rich Plante, who accompanied me on the trip.

At each of our meetings, we were taken into an office or small boardroom and allowed to make a presentation about why we believe that online poker should be completely legal, licensed, and regulated in the United States. Most times, there was a lobbyist with us and two or more PPA representatives present. I actually preferred the meetings without a lobbyist, as this gave us more time to personalize our stories and yet were still able to present the persuasive positive points about our position.

Here are some of the facts we presented in our meetings to encourage support of HR 2267:
1. More than 10 million Americans play online poker.
2. If online poker sites were licensed, American citizens would be protected from scam artists who don’t operate their sites with integrity. In addition, we would have legal recourse in U.S. courts if problems occurred.
3. Studies show that approximately $3.3 billion in tax money would be raised annually if online poker were regulated.
4. HR 2267 would provide effective protection to keep underage children from gambling online.
5. HR 2267 provides help to compulsive gamblers.
6. 75% of Americans oppose a ban on internet poker.
7. Poker is a game of skill. State courts in South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Colorado have recently come to this conclusion.
8. Licensing and regulating online sites would create jobs. I know many people who lost their jobs as marketing directors and party planners when the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passed.

We also made personal pleas to Senators, Congressmen, and staffers. For instance, I brought up how embarrassing it is that in the “Land of the Free,” we don’t have the same right to fund an online poker account and play in our own homes that citizens of most other countries in the world have. I also brought up the fact that my brother, who lives in Utah where there are no casinos, will eventually have to leave his home state if he wants to play poker unless we get the law changed. There are millions of physically-challenged and infirmed citizens who aren’t able to travel to a casino to play poker. Instead, playing online in their homes can bring them happiness in an otherwise depressing, painful life.

I believe that we helped sway opinions in a positive way through our Congressional meetings. Lots of questions were asked and answered that made it obvious that licensing and regulation is the best way to go regarding online poker. Since the Fly-In, three members of Congress (Representatives Linda Sanchez, John Conyers, and Mike Thompson) have signed on to co-sponsor HR 2267, bringing the total to 51. Many more will follow suit… it only makes sense!

The trip wasn’t all business, though; we had some time for fun in between our meetings. A special treat was lunch at the Pentagon in the Army Executive Dining Room hosted by a Brigadier General friend of mine. After lunch, we were given a tour of the 9/11 Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

I also got to play in a charity poker tournament along with 35 patients from Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Celebrities in attendance included Andy Bloch, Annie Duke, Jan Fisher, Howard Lederer, Dennis Phillips, Montel Williams, and members of Congress and their staff. The PPA donated $25,000 to seed the effort and another $10,000 was raised through rebuys, bounties, and donations. My trip to Washington, DC was truly a top-ten event in my life.

***

Linda,
Nice job. Thank you so much for your efforts. You covered all the primary points that legislators need to be aware of.

There is one more factor that may sway some who are still “on the fence;” taking note of the stakes levels that are routinely played.

There may be a misperception about who is playing poker online and the stakes they are playing for. TV, our good friend in promoting poker, may be presenting a distorted picture of who is playing and what kinds of risks they are actually taking. You hear this when various anti-poker politicians talk about how they worry that people would routinely be putting their economic futures at risk if online play were legalized.

As it is, the overwhelming proportion of players only play at the microstakes levels. They enter games with less money than it takes to buy a hot dog at a baseball game. There is precious little financial risk in these games.

It is easy to see this. Just for fun, I scrolled over the NLH games in progress at Poker Stars. Here are the numbers of tables in action at each of the levels.

$25/$50(and higher)…. 2 tables
$10/$20….. 6 tables
$5/$10……28 tables
$3/$6…….26 tables
$2/$4…….72 tables
$1/$2…..201 tables
$.50/$1…..496 tables
$.25/$.50…..456 tables
$.10/$.25…..696 tables
$.05/$.10…..516 tables
$.02/$.05…..288 tables
$.01/$.02…..576 tables

The game is played, as you noted, mainly for recreation and amusement by people who prefer this kind of competitive interaction and find it to be more stimulating, intellectually challenging and engaging than watching reruns on cable TV.

Best,

Arthur

PPA Files Amicus Brief Motion in Online Poker Funds Seizure

Just before heading to the nation’s capital for National Poker Week, representatives of the 1.2 million member strong Poker Players Alliance (PPA) were hard at work drafting a motion to file an amicus brief for the lawsuit by Account Services to recoup $13 million in online poker player funds.

The money was seized at the beginning of June under direction of the Southern District of New York. As the primary representative of players, the PPA filed a motion to submit an amicus brief in the case in order to prove that poker is a game of skill and, therefore, should be treated separately under the law. PPA Executive Director John Pappas, who served as the master of ceremonies at a charity poker tournament benefiting the USO of Metropolitan Washington on Tuesday night, commented in a press release, “As the voice of online poker players, PPA should be granted the opportunity to provide evidence and legal briefings on why online poker is a game of predominant skill and not considered illegal gambling under the law.”

The PPA’s motion to file an amicus brief reads, “If the Government is successful in seizing the funds at issue here… PPA members’ ability to continue to play online poker without fear that the funds they use to play poker will be unlawfully seized will be greatly impacted.” The document asserts that Account Services, which allegedly processed funds destined for online poker players, “is not in the best position to present arguments and evidence as to why poker is a game of skill and thus not prohibited under federal or state law.”

The motion for return of property by Account Services was filed on July 10th. It declares that “the majority” of funds seized belonged to law-abiding online poker players, that online poker is not illegal gambling, that the company will suffer “irreparable harm” if the $13 million is not returned, and that its Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights were violated. The funds in question were held in a Wells Fargo branch in Escondido, California and a Union Bank branch in San Diego. The Union Bank funds were seized without a warrant, which was ultimately filed 12 days later.

The PPA has been involved in several court cases at the state level arguing that poker is a game of skill. Rulings in Pennsylvania, Colorado, and South Carolina have overwhelmingly declared that poker is predominated by skill, a sentiment that PPA State Directors from around the country took to Capitol Hill as part of National Poker Week. Their efforts were effective, as Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) told online poker forum PocketFives.com in an exclusive interview, “Poker is a sport of skill. If you don’t believe that, you need to watch some of the tournaments on television and understand that these are very talented people. They can win a hand with a lot worse cards than anybody else. It is a game of skill and not just what cards fall.”

Among those who participated in poker trials around the United States was World Poker Tour (WPT) Host and Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Mike Sexton. In South Carolina, Sexton came armed with video footage from WPT tournaments showing how the process of betting and bluffing took down pots. University of Denver Statistics Professor Robert Hannum presented the results of a joint study by Cigital and PokerStars revealing that 75% of 103 million hands did not go to showdown. Of the remaining 25% of pots, the player who held the best five card hand only won 50% of the time.

The PPA’s motion was filed in the Southern District Court of California. Its submission notes, “The Department of Justice has informed the PPA that it takes no position on the PPA’s application at this time.” We’ll have updates as they become available right here on Poker News Daily.

Account Services Files Motion in Online Poker Funds Seizure

Payment processor Account Services has filed a motion for the return of property after funds were seized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The company requests the “release and return of funds” totaling $13 million.

The funds in question were held in account 7986104185 at a Wells Fargo branch in Escondido, California. Account Services also seeks the return of $1 million held in accounts 353000248 and 353000256 at a Union Bank branch in San Diego. The suit notes, “The Wells Fargo funds were seized pursuant to a warrant, whereas the Union Bank funds were seized without a warrant in the Southern District of California.” The Southern District of New York seized the money back in early June as part of a larger effort that affected over 24,000 online poker players.

Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) Chairman Joe Brennan told Poker News Daily what the result of the motion may be: “It’s going to force the Government to come forward and justify why they seized funds destined for players. There’s no underlying crime here on the part of the players. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) didn’t make it illegal to bet online. I would want to know why the Justice Department would target the funds since the players don’t seem to be at fault.” The financial services industry in the United States has until December 1st to fall in line with the regulations of the UIGEA, which were approved as midnight rules in November by the outgoing Bush Administration.

The warrant for seizure of the Union Bank funds was filed on June 24th. It called for the “seizure of the contents… and to refuse the withdrawal of any amount from said accounts by anyone other that duly authorized law enforcement agents.” According to Account Services, the warrant was issued a full 12 days after the seizure actually took place and its affidavit remains sealed. Industry news site Gambling911 recently filed suit to open the warrant and affidavit. The money seized from Account Services by the Southern District belonged to 13,800 online poker players with the same number of checks outstanding. Brennan noted that the payment processor likely only handled online poker transactions.

Account Services asserts that violations of the Illegal Gambling Business Act are to blame. In an update issued by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) last month, the organization noted that the Wire Act was also potentially cited as justification for the seizure. Account Services’ motion explains, “The government acted with callous disregard for the movant’s constitutional rights when it unreasonably and unlawfully seized the funds from ASC’s Wells Fargo and Union Bank accounts.” It cites violations of the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution and notes that it is not in breach of the Illegal Gambling Business Act because it is not conducting a gambling operation. Even if it is, “online poker is not an illegal gambling business.”

The PPA has successfully proven that poker is a game predominated by skill in courtrooms around the country. Judges from Colorado to South Carolina have come to the same conclusion, in part due to a study by Cigital and PokerStars which concluded that three-quarters of 100 million cash game hands on the world’s largest online poker site did not go to showdown. In essence, a player’s skill of betting and bluffing earned them a pot prior to showdown. Similarly, Account Services’ motion concludes, “Poker is not gambling under the [Illegal Gambling Business Act’s] definition of the term because poker is a game of skill.” The motion quotes the Cigital study, which was authored by Paco Hope.

Account Services also claims that it will suffer “irreparable injury” if the funds are not returned. It adds that the company has “an interest in and a need for return of the money,” has “adequate remedy at law,” and the “retention of funds” by the U.S. Government is unreasonable. Attorneys Michael Pancer and L. Barrett Boss sign the document. Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest from the online poker funds seizure.

Final-Table Takedown — Carter King

South Carolina native Carter “ckingusc” King, 23, has cashed for more than $2 million in online tournaments. In 2008, he chopped and then won the PokerStars World Championship of Online …

South Carolina Poker Bills Pass Senate Judiciary Committee

Live and online poker players in South Carolina have been jumping for joy at the news that Senate Bills 535 and 628 have cleared the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee. Both bills explicitly legalize social games of poker.

Senators McConnell, Mulvaney, Ford, Land, Knotts, and Davis introduced senate Bill 535. It outlines what forms of gambling are legal in the state, noting, “Gambling in a private home where no house player, house bank, or house odds exist and where the house receives no part of any of the money or other thing of value that is risked or wagered in the gambling in the private home is social gambling and is not unlawful.” Senate Bill 535 also outlines the process for a non-profit organization to obtain a gaming license, although 90% of the money raised in an event must go directly to the charity. The measure was approved in Committee by a 12-8 vote after being introduced back in March.

Senate Bill 628 and Senate Bill 535 were both amended to include what the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the major lobbying force for the poker industry, calls a “predominance test.” The move follows a decision by Judge Larry Duffy in February that five poker players caught during a raid of a home game were guilty despite “overwhelming” evidence that poker is a game of skill. Judge Duffy noted that no clear direction existed from the South Carolina Legislature as to whether games predominantly determined by skill were considered gambling. The amendment, which was implemented with the help of the PPA, may clarify South Carolina’s position.

On Wednesday of last week, the Associated Press noted that the two bills had “virtually no chance of passing this year” because the legislative session had just five days remaining. PPA Executive Director John Pappas alluded to the time crunch at hand, noting in a press release distributed by the one million member strong organization, “We urge the South Carolina Senate to quickly bring these pieces of legislation to the floor for a vote before the end of the session.” Senate Bill 628 allows players to utilize a defense of social gambling against a charge of “unlawful gambling.” More importantly, it notes that games deemed predominated by skill are “not unlawful.”

The PPA has 10,000 members in South Carolina. In 2006, Bob Chimento, Jeremy Brestel, Scott Richards, Michael Williamson, and John T. Willis were arrested as part of an allegedly friendly home game in Mount Pleasant. Appearing at the trial of the five defendants was World Poker Tour (WPT) Host and Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Mike Sexton, who came armed with videos showing how hands were won via a player’s skill. Also appearing was University of Denver Statistics Professor Robert Hannum, who outlined the results of a study conducted by Cigital and PokerStars which found that, out of 103 million cash game hands on the popular online poker site, three-quarters did not go to showdown. Instead, a player’s skill in betting earned them a win in the hand.

PPA South Carolina State Director John Ridgeway commented, “The thousands of poker players in the state are now one step closer to being allowed to enjoy a game of poker online or with their friends around the kitchen table without the fear of being accused of a crime under outdated state laws.” The gambling law currently on the books is over 200 years old. The PPA notes that the effect of the two bills extends well beyond just poker. Games like Bunko and Bridge would also become explicitly legal.

The two bills’ approval by the South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee comes the same week as Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced comprehensive legislation to legalize and regulate the internet gambling industry in the United States. A separate measure introduced by Frank calls for the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) to be delayed for one year.

South Carolina closer to legalizing poker, other card games

An outdated and two century old law has prevented South Carolina residents from playing any type of dice or card game legally, even in their own homes.

PPA Director John Pappas Appears on Bloomberg

This week, Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Executive Director John Pappas appeared on Bloomberg television to break down Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA) Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act.

The bill, numbered HR 2267, was introduced on Wednesday and calls for a complete licensing and regulatory framework for the internet gambling industry in the United States. Although similar to a bill that Frank introduced during the last Congressional session, HR 2267 focuses on how proper regulation can mitigate the perceived social ills of gambling. Pappas told Bloomberg’s television outlet, “We want to make sure that the Federal Government puts the standards in place so that there is safety for minors, that there are services for problem gamblers, and that adult consumers can enjoy the game without fear of fraud or abuse. A prohibition never stopped a child from getting online. A prohibition never stopped a problem gambler. Regulation is the only way to do it.”

Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) and others have argued that a computer with the ability to gamble online may provide the outlet for children in the United States to begin playing at a young age. Bachus even quoted a non-existent McGill University study during a House Financial Services Committee meeting last July, claiming that one-third of college students who gambled online attempted suicide. Pappas explained that online poker sites currently employ safeguards to combat underage gambling: “Most of the online sites today already are using very high-tech, sophisticated age verification technologies. They have no interest in having children on their websites playing against adults. They want adult consumers playing on their sites. The only way to ensure that all sites have that is to pass a bill like Barney Frank’s.”

Pappas’ appearance on Bloomberg also included a discussion of whether playing online poker is illegal in the United States. Poker players can vividly recall the CBS News program “60 Minutes” stating that the game was against the law on multiple occasions after show producers allegedly contacted the Justice Department. However, Pappas revealed what the legal status of the game in the United States is: “For the U.S. player, it’s not illegal for them to go online and play internet poker. What the law in 2006 attempted to do was to make illegal the transactions. It puts the burden on the financial institutions, not the actual player.” The law in question is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which was ushered through Congress in the waning moments of the 2006 Congressional session by then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN). The UIGEA’s text gave no indication of what was legal or illegal under it. Instead, it deferred to existing State and Federal laws.

Some would cite the Wire Act of 1961 as grounds that playing online poker is not allowed in the United States. However, the 48 year-old measure traditionally applies to online sports wagering. Pappas told Bloomberg, “The Wire Act states that illegal gambling is being in the business of betting or wagering. An internet poker site isn’t in the business of betting or wagering. They’re simply allowing a venue in which people can compete in games of skill like poker against each other.”

In recent months, the PPA has seen judges in Pennsylvania, Colorado, and South Carolina conclude that poker is a game of skill and therefore should be treated separately from online casinos, Bingo parlors, and sports betting outfits. During the last Congressional session, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) introduced HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, which would have exempted poker, bridge, chess, mahjong, and other player versus player games from the UIGEA and Wire Act.

At the time of writing, HR 2267 has 16 co-sponsors, including Wexler, Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Peter King (R-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Ron Paul (R-TX), and Melvin Watt (D-NC).

Mike Sexton Re-Signs with PartyPoker

World Poker Tour (WPT) Host Mike Sexton has renewed his agreement with PartyPoker, according to a statement released by the popular online poker site on Wednesday. He will act as its host, consultant, and ambassador.

For many of today’s poker superstars, Sexton was one of the first voices to bring the game to life. Alongside Vince Van Patten, Sexton has brought the WPT into millions of households around the world for seven seasons. A spokesperson for Party Gaming, which is the publicly traded parent company of the independent online poker site, commented in a press release, “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 World Series of Poker Hall of Fame this year. Poker wouldn’t be as popular as it is today if it wasn’t for Mike Sexton.”

On his role with PartyPoker, Sexton explained, “PartyPoker 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. 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.” According to traffic ranking site PokerScout.com, PartyPoker is the fourth largest worldwide with a seven day running average of 4,400 real money ring game players and sees a high of just over 7,000. It is the second largest site or network that does not allow players from the United States.

At the upcoming World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, Sexton will serve as the host of PartyPoker’s suite. The WPT personality will also blog about his experiences on the site throughout the two month-long spectacle. Twenty years ago, Sexton took down a bracelet in a $1,500 buy-in Limit Seven Card Stud High-Low tournament for $104,000. More importantly, he claimed his first (and so far only) WSOP bracelet. Sexton finished fourth in the $10,000 buy-in World Championship of Pot Limit Hold’em last year for $248,000. The tournament kicked off ESPN’s coverage of the 2008 WSOP and was ultimately won by Full Tilt Poker pro Nenad Medic.

Sexton told Poker News Daily, “PartyPoker.com recently revamped its software, VIP and loyalty programs, and is the best platform on the market. Three-quarters of players have chosen to take the new table, but there is also the option of keeping the classic table design.”

Sexton claimed victory in the 1992 running of the Foxwoods Poker Finals. Eight years later, he took down the Euro Finals of Poker Main Event in Paris, the first American to do so. In 2006, he won the WSOP Tournament of Champions, besting one of the toughest final tables ever assembled. He defeated Team PokerStars Pro member Daniel Negreanu heads-up. Mike Matusow, Andy Bloch, Darrell “Gigabet” Dicken, Chris Ferguson, and Kido Pham also were among those in contention. Until Season VII, Sexton was not able to compete in WPT events. He sits in the top 15 in number of cashes on WSOP felts at 44.

Sexton is a Guest Columnist right here on Poker News Daily and has shared his thoughts on the National Heads-Up Poker Championship and the 2009 WSOP schedule with the site’s readers. He has also relived serving as an expert witness in a case in South Carolina to prove poker is a game of skill. He came armed with a video library of hands that have played out during WPT tournaments to show how a player’s skill in betting and bluffing won pots. In addition, Dr. Robert Hannum from the University of Denver spoke on the results of a study that examined 103 million hands on PokerStars. It was revealed that three-quarters of them did not go to showdown, meaning a player’s skill won the pot 75% of the time.

PartyPoker will hold the third installment of its Monthly Million tournament on Sunday. The event comes with a $640 price tag and runs on the first Sunday of every month. The month of May will also see PartyPoker hold a $1 million rake race that awards a combination of cash and WSOP prize packages and satellite buy-ins to its winners. The top 3,000 players will finish in the money when the final leader board is determined on May 31st.

PPA Helps Virginia Poker Player Prepare for Trial

Another SWAT team-esque raid. Another group of poker players arrested. The Poker Players Alliance has been active in courtrooms around the country, fighting for positive rulings for the poker community in Pennsylvania, Colorado, South Carolina, and Kentucky. Now, the organization is turning its...

South Carolina Holds Hearings on Legalizing Poker

Senate Bill 535 is making waves in South Carolina. Fresh off the trial of five poker players in Mount Pleasant in which the defendants were found guilty due to a lack of direction by South Carolina state law, S 535 would legalize “social gambling.”

In addition, during tough economic times, S 535 would pave the way for the introduction of “casino night events conducted as a fundraising activity of limited duration by a non-profit organization.” The bill specifically legalizes home games provided that no rake is taken. S 535 reads, “Gambling in a private home where no house player, house bank, or house odds exist and where there is no house income from the operation of the game is social gambling and is” acceptable should it be passed.

State Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) is the brains behind S 535, which was introduced on March 5th and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. According to the Post and Courier newspaper, bills that are introduced in South Carolina carry a life span of two years, “which means that if the bill does not pass by the end of the 2009 session in late May or early June, there's always time in 2010, which is an election year.”

A public hearing on S 535 was held on Monday in Greenville. A separate bill introduced by McConnell, S 560, was also discussed. That bill, although not related to poker, would legalize certain forms of raffles for churches and other non-profits. According to the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the main lobbying organization for the poker industry, about 150 people showed up for Monday's hearing, with the audience split evenly between opponents and advocates of the bills. Among those calling for their passage were the American Legion and former Appeals Court Judge Billy Wilkins, who spoke on behalf of the PPA. On the other side of the aisle were parties such as the South Carolina Baptist Convention.

John Pappas, Executive Director of the PPA, told Poker News Daily that about 40 of its members were in attendance supporting the bill. He explained, “The folks from our side represented a variety of people from lawyers to Average Joes.” In addition to legalizing traditional poker home games with no rake, S 535 also allows dice games, billiards, backgammon, and chess where no betting takes place and no cash or other prizes are awarded to its winners. The law in question was passed in the early 19th Century.

At a hearing in front of a South Carolina Senate panel, Bob Chimento, one of the players arrested as part of the Mount Pleasant poker case, recalled the scene when his home game was abruptly broken up in 2006: “Guns were drawn and pointed at us. They weren't pointed at the ground; they were pointed at us over a $100 fine. Someone could have been seriously injured that night or someone could have been killed.” Chimento was among five defendants (along with Jeremy Bristel, Michael Williamson, Scott Richards, and John Willis) who were found guilty in February of illegal gambling. The poker players were allegedly playing in a benign home game and, if S 535 had been on the books, they would be in no hot water legally.

Although Judge Larry Duffy found overwhelming evidence that poker was a game of skill, he deferred to an appellate court to determine whether the “Dominant Test” should apply. In other words, under current state law, it is unclear whether a game dominated by skill is legal in South Carolina. The game took place in Nathaniel Stallings' home in Mount Pleasant in April of 2006. The PPA sent World Poker Tour Host Mike Sexton to testify that poker was a game of skill using video evidence from past tournaments. Dr. Robert Hannum, a statistics professor at the University of Denver, presented results from a recent study showing that out of 103 million hands of Texas Hold'em on PokerStars, three-quarters did not go to showdown. Instead, they were won by the betting of players. Of the 24.3% of hands that went to showdown, the player holding the best hand won just 50.3% of the time. In the other 49.7% of cases, the player who had the best hand folded by the time the cards were flipped over.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest legislative news from South Carolina and around the world.

Mike Sexton on Skill Versus Chance in Poker

Recently, I went to Charleston, South Carolina to testify as an "expert witness" in a poker trial. The case was the Town of Mount Pleasant versus five poker players who pled not guilty when they were busted for playing in a $20 tournament in someone's house a couple of years ago. South Carolina law is similar to about 20 other states' laws which say that it's illegal to bet on any games of chance (in South Carolina, any game of dice or cards is considered to be a game of chance). Our mission was to prove that No Limit Hold'em poker was predominantly (more than 51%) a game of skill rather than chance. Fortunately for everyone in the poker world, Judge Larry Duffy agreed to hear testimony on this.

To poker players, whether poker is a game of skill or chance is a "no-brainer." In my research for this case, I learned that several previous cases failed to prove this in court (even though two recent rulings in Pennsylvania and Colorado ruled that skill was the predominant factor in Hold'em). Proving that skill predominates over chance in a court of law is quite different than discussing it among poker players. Even if someone was a big favorite to win a pot, people who really don't play poker see that any card can come up in the end and, therefore, many would think that Hold'em poker is primarily a game of chance.

Twenty states have laws similar to South Carolina's, which says that it's illegal to bet on any games of dice or cards. They claim it's illegal to gamble on games of chance. If we were able to prove to the judge that poker was predominantly (51% or more) a game of skill, then perhaps the law could be changed to allow poker players to play in their homes without fear of criminalization. Obviously, the more court rulings that agree with this, the better the chance we have to change the laws nationwide.

Prior to going to South Carolina, I was forwarded a paper written by Howard Lederer on the predominant factor of skill versus chance in poker (specifically in No Limit Hold'em, as this was the game these guys were playing when they were busted). I thought Howard's paper was brilliant. It was well thought out and very well written. Howard understood why previous cases had failed to prove that skill predominated over chance in poker. For the most part, they basically rested their testimony on the fact that that better players have an edge and the same people win year after year. He felt this thought process was doomed to fail in court.

The crux of Howard's paper focused on the "predominant factor" and the skill elements of the game - things that are in total control of the player such as betting, calling, and folding. Everyone agrees on what the chance elements are in poker - the randomness of the cards and how they are dealt. The skill elements are what need to be defined. If there was no betting or folding in poker, it would be showdown poker and the luckiest player would win. It would simply be a game of chance. But that's not how poker is played. One key point (verified by over 100 million hands played) is that over 70% of the hands dealt in No Limit Hold'em do not go to showdown (regardless of who may or may not have had the best hand). These pots are won by the skill applied by the player betting and getting everyone out of the pot.

In my testimony, I listed ten points that I felt were vital to becoming a successful poker player and stressed that there is so much more to playing poker than just the cards you get. I brought footage of actual hands that were played on the World Poker Tour to use for demonstration. They showed bluffing (where the guy won the pot, not because of his cards, but because of his skill), amateurs making mistakes, tells that were read properly by an opponent, someone making a tough call, and someone making a good laydown. These visual aids were very impressive in demonstrating that skill predominates over chance in No Limit Hold'em.

After hearing the testimony of myself and Dr. Bob Hannum (an expert in gaming mathematics who also testified as an expert witness), it seemed pretty obvious to all, especially the judge, that skill was the predominant factor in poker. Although the prosecutor asked us a few questions, he didn't really make an effort to produce any contradictory evidence to the facts we testified on. He said his case didn't matter whether poker was a game of skill or chance, but simply that these players were playing in a "house of gaming" and were guilty as charged.

The decision by the Judge Duffy resoundingly held poker to be a game of skill. However, he ruled against the five defendants. Judge Duffy is leaving it up to the appellate courts in South Carolina to decide if that fact is determinative of whether playing in a home game with a rake is legal under South Carolina law. He noted the absence of authority from the South Carolina Supreme Court as to whether the predominance test is the law in the state.

To quote Judge Duffy in his decision, "This Court, based on the above stated facts, finds that Texas Hold'em is a game of skill. The evidence and studies are overwhelming that this is so."

This was my first testimonial as an expert witness and it was a unique experience for me. It was also a positive result for poker. The case will be appealed to a higher court and we hope that it goes by the "predominance" part of the state statute. If so, look for the law to change where people can play poker in the privacy of their homes (whether online or live) without fear of criminal prosecution.

A special thanks to the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) for their support in this case. They helped fund the attorneys and expert witnesses in an effort to stand up for the rights of poker players. I also want to thank Bob Ciaffone (advocate for poker players' rights) and Chuck Humphrey (expert on gaming law) for their efforts in coordinating the lawyers and expert witnesses for the case. The brief of amicus curiae put together by Tom Goldstein was fantastic. Everyone who enjoys poker owes them a tip of the hat, as they are all fighting for your right to play poker.

It was a fun four days in Charleston for me. Someone said, "Sexton's a rock star!" I wouldn't go that far, but I was appreciated by the defendants and the supporters of the case for being there. I was in the local papers and on television every day. One blogger from the courtroom wrote, "Everyone in that courtroom should have paid to hear Sexton's testimony!" I must say, that was pretty cool. To that blogger and to Howard Lederer (for writing that paper), let me say, "Thank you!"

Study Reveals Poker is a Game of Skill

In a study released on Friday, it was revealed that Texas Hold'em, statistically at least, is a game of skill. The research in question investigated 103 million hands and found that three-quarters of them did not go to showdown. In essence, they were won due to betting by players.

A total of 75.7% of the hands examined as part of the study did not go to showdown. In these hands, the victor's skill of betting managed to win the pot for them, regardless of whether they held the best hand. In the remaining 24.3% of hands, the player who held the best five cards only won 50.3% of the time. In the other 49.7% of pots, the player with the best hand folded prior to showdown. Overall, the best hand actually scooped the pot just 12% of the time. Therefore, according to the study, Texas Hold'em can be seen as 88% skill and not predominated by chance.

Former three-term Senator from New York and current Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Chairman Alfonse D'Amato commented, “As a poker player, I can tell you that knowing when to hold or fold is not based solely on the cards that are dealt, but a series of decisions based on skill and the actions taken by other players. This study provides the raw data to back up the compelling arguments made by poker players around the world that it’s skill, not pure luck, that determines the outcome of this game.”

The data in question has been used by the PPA to help prove that poker is a game of skill in several legal battles. Most recently, a judge in South Carolina overwhelmingly agreed that poker was a game of skill, but still found the defendants in the case guilty of illegal gambling due to a lack of direction by the state's legislature and courts. Other judges in Colorado and Pennsylvania concurred with the PPA's assessment that poker is a game of skill, a trait that might help the game receive special recognition on a national level.

The study was performed by Cigital using 103 million hands on PokerStars, the world's most popular online poker site. Heads-up and play money games were excluded, as were many micro-level games with less than $1 blinds. While PokerStars was busy gearing up for World Record Week last December, the hands were being logged. The festivities saw PokerStars set the record for the Largest Online Poker Tournament at 35,000 players and the Most Players to Simultaneously Play Poker Online at 250,500. PokerStars also upped the ante on its marquee Sunday Million, offering a prize pool of $2.5 million. PokerStars worked in conjunction with Cigital on the study.

Wall Street Journal writer Carl Bialik authored a blog on the study, outlining many of the doubts its opponents had. Among them were “players’ decisions are determined by the cards they draw, which is entirely a matter of luck.” In addition, the relationship between Cigital and PokerStars was questioned and individual players were not tracked to see if they experienced success over time. Finally, “the study doesn’t answer the question of how showdowns and best-hand wins would look in a game of pure skill, or of pure chance.”

Despite the pitfalls, PPA Executive Director John Pappas was elated at the public disbursement of the study's results. He commented in a press release on Friday, “The question of whether poker is a game of predominant skill or chance is not about the player’s ego, but the nature and legal protections of the game. In courtrooms across the country, judges and juries are finding that poker is a game of skill – not chance like lotteries or slot machines – and this study confirms that fact.”

Read the full study claiming that poker is a game of skill.

ckingusc reigns supreme in Sunday Million

He defeated a 7,906-player field in the PokerStars Sunday Million to pick up a six-figure cash prize.

The playing field was massive as usual, but players thinned out quickly as they jostled for position to make it into the top 1,170 who would get paid from the $1,581,200 prize pool.

"I got a ton of chips early, and it was pretty much a smooth ride the whole way," King said. "On the bubble, I won a huge coin flip with nines versus A-K to take the chip lead. That was really the key hand of the tournament for me."

When play was finally down to nine, ckingusc was sitting with 14,669,864 in chips - just behind bbs99 who had the chip lead with 16,753,871.

"Nerves can play a part when you start getting close to the final table, but I had a lot of chips on the bubble and going into the final table, so I wasn't really scared of busting out," King said.

"Even going into the final table I had chips the whole time so I could play really strong."

When play was three-handed, King didn't even entertain the idea of a chop, and when it got down to heads-up, he was sitting with 48,778,949 in chips to *xen's 30,281,051.

The two battled back and forth with *xen even taking the chip lead for quite some time. King mounted a comeback, though, and retook the lead.

The tournament came down to *xen finally pushing all-in preflop with pocket nines. As luck would have it, King woke up with pocket jacks. When the board came 2 7 K 8 J, King had the win.

"It feels great. Taking it down unchopped felt really good," King said.

The final-table results were:

Place	Name	Prize
1st	ckingusc	$193,697
2nd	*xen	$130,607.12
3rd	bbs99	$88,547.20
4th	reef2287	$71,944.60
5th	Liqqa	$56,132,60
6th	1GENERAL_TAO	$40,320.60
7th	bigsexyKN	$27,671
8th	Rabbiej	$18,183.80
9th	tpreston	$11,068.40

"I'm just going to take the next couple days off and enjoy it," King said.

From the sounds of it, those days of R&R have already begun, as King talked to PokerListings via phone interview from his pontoon boat out on a lake in South Carolina.

With files from Martin Derbyshire.

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• ckingusc takes down WCOOP 2008 main event

 

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