Internet poker online
02 26th, 2010
The links between football and poker have got even closer with the news that one of Italy’s most famous players will be representing PartyPoker.
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You might be able to find the news on Doyle Brunson filling his roster, Poker2Nite’s second season, and even the LAPC in other places, but we package it so nicely for you in the Nightly Turbo, there’s no need for you to go looking. Enjoy!
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Following the lead of the province of Quebec, the leaders of the province of Ontario are now examining the possibilities of starting their own provincial online gaming and poker outlets.
Facing a deficit of $24.7 billion this fiscal year, the government of Ontario, headed by Premier Dalton McGuinty, is attempting to find ways to make up that shortfall. Premier McGuinty has previously shot down the ideas of increasing taxes on alcohol sales in the province, but he seems to be willing to discuss the idea of the province opening up its own online gaming and poker portals. With the appointment of a new director for Ontario Lottery and Gaming in Paul Godfrey, the discussion of the new online operation is moving forward.
Godfrey, who is currently the president and CEO of the National Post newspaper and has previously held the CEO post at Metro Toronto and a similar position with the Toronto Blue Jays, has stated that he believes that the implementation of a provincial online gaming and poker outlet would benefit Ontario as a whole. It is estimated that Ontario’s citizens are responsible for approximately $1.9 billion a year in action on online gaming sites and Godfrey believes that Ontario is losing out in taxes and other revenue through not having an outlet for its citizens. “Money is going out of this province to other provinces as well as offshore sites,” Mr. Godfrey stated.
The opposition to legalization and regulation of any Ontario-based online gaming outlet is pointing out many issues that concern them. In an interview at TheStar.com, Jeff Derevensky, who heads McGill University’s International Center for Youth Gambling Problems and High Risk Behaviors, weighed the pros and cons of Ontario’s ideas. With more than 2000 online gaming sites available worldwide, Derevensky states that, “If they can recoup a slice of it, then that (money) could be better used in government-run programs.”
The downside of opening up a provincial gaming operation is that Ontario’s youth haven’t been prepared for such activity, Derevensky notes. While the Ontario school system has instruction in other possible problematic areas as alcohol, drug usage and underage sex, there is nothing in place that deals with the potential pitfalls of online gaming. If the Ontario provincial government was to open up a government run online gaming and poker site, “It puts more young people at risk,” Derevensky said in TheStar.com article.
Ontario already has an active lottery and gaming establishment but, according to TheStar.com, the operation has faced several problems. Revenues have been declining because of a loss of previously seen American action: because of stricter border controls, fewer Americans are crossing the border to take part in Ontario’s gaming options. While Ontario Lottery and Gaming pulls in approximately $6.5 billion per year, the company has had several problems that have made the news, including lawsuits from people who say their product made them gambling addicts, according to TheStar.com.
Canadians are free to participate in online gaming and poker, but the different moves by Ontario and Quebec are a grab at getting their share of the money made by these sites as well as being able to enact governmental controls on such activities. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission, located outside of Montreal, is the hub of the online gaming industry, licensing and managing many of the top online sites in the world. Because the KGC operation is a private company under the Mohawk Nation’s control, however, the provincial governments see no revenue from the venture.
Earlier this month, Quebec announced that it would be opening its own state-run online gaming and poker site later this year. Quebec’s Finance Minister Raymond Bachand has predicted that the new operation would generate $50 million in dividends within three years of activity. With its budget shortfall, this could be what Ontario is looking at as a way of cutting into the deficit without raising taxes in other areas.
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Hollywood Dave may have outed himself as a muli-accounter, Jayde Nicole is suing over a photo, and it seems there is some confusion over the hostess for the PokerStars NAPT. Find out all the news in tonight’s Nightly Turbo.
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02 13th, 2010
Recently, casino megalith Harrah’s received the green light from the Nevada Gaming Control Board to acquire the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. The move would boost the number of Harrah’s Las Vegas Strip area properties to nine.
In addition to its flagship property, Harrah’s already owns Caesars Palace, Paris, Flamingo, Imperial Palace, Bally’s, Bill’s Gambling Hall, and the Rio, home of the annual (). Planet Hollywood towers high above the Las Vegas Strip and was formerly dubbed the Aladdin. For poker players, Planet Hollywood offers a 15-table room with cash games that include $2/$4, $4/$8, and $5/$10 Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Pineapple. The poker mill also offers four daily tournaments with buy-ins ranging between $50 and $70. The poker room is located on the main level next to the Miracle Mile mall entrance.
Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander commented in the , “The existing Planet Hollywood was headed for some type of restructuring, perhaps a bankruptcy. We have some 40 properties that are in our bankruptcy group right now. This will offer a smooth transition for employees that are there and operating the business.” Next Thursday, February 18th, the Nevada Gaming Commission will formally approve or deny the Planet Hollywood sale to Harrah’s. If the Commission returns a positive result, ownership could change hands the next day.
According to the Review-Journal, Harrah’s acquired $306 million of Planet Hollywood’s debt for $70 million. In exchange, Planet Hollywood forked over 100% ownership of the Las Vegas Strip casino. The new ownership group will pump $30 million in working capital into the property and the news outlet expects that a $554 million mortgage loan “will remain leveraged against Planet Hollywood Resort after the deal is completed.” Planet Hollywood employs about 2,300 people, a staff that will allegedly be shaved by less than 5% as a result of the acquisition.
On January 16th, Harrah’s assumed the food and beverage operations of Planet Hollywood. Now, Harrah’s will be able to take the Planet Hollywood name and license it to other casinos around the world. Planet Hollywood - the restaurant - was formerly located in a multitude of cities across the United States including Atlanta, Nashville, and Reno. However, a series of bankruptcies and stiff competition led to only a handful of locations remaining in operation, including Honolulu, Myrtle Beach, New York City, and Las Vegas. Planet Hollywood also operates dining establishments in Cancun, Dubai, Jakarta, and Riyadh.
Harrah’s Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Halkyard told the Review-Journal, “We began to [buy the debt] because we felt Planet Hollywood would be a very complementary addition to our portfolio in Las Vegas.” In 2004, Harrah’s purchased the rights to the WSOP, ultimately moving the annual tournament series from the Horseshoe in Downtown Las Vegas to the Rio, just off the Strip. In 2005, the final days of the Main Event were held at the Horseshoe before the annual spectacle played out entirely at the Rio in 2006.
The WSOP Circuit brings the action of a major series to Harrah’s properties around the United States, including Harrah’s Tunica, Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, and Caesars Atlantic City.
Opening across the street from Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas in recent months was CityCenter, which consists of the Aria Casino, Mandalay Oriental, Veer Towers, and Crystals. The latter features upscale restaurants such as Eva Longoria Parker’s Beso, Mastro’s Ocean Club, and Brasserie Puck. Its posh retailers include Tiffany and Company, Prada, and Porsche. A walkway connecting this bustling area to Planet Hollywood may be extended, according to the Review-Journal, which would allow the fledgling casino to capitalize on foot traffic across the street.
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Unconfirmed reports have actress and “Seinfeld” star Jason Alexander playing in the 2010 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, which will air on NBC. Officials from Poker PROductions have not released an official cast list.
Tilly’s better half, Unabomber Poker namesake , commented in a blog entry this week, “Opened my e-mail this morning and couldn’t have been happier. I was cc’ed on an e-mail to Jennifer and she is officially in. This will be her fourth year to play the NBC heads up tournament at Caesar’s this March 4th – 7th.” Laak added that he awoke before Tilly saw the e-mail and chose a creative way to share the news: “I said, ‘Your only hints are that it’s good news and it has to do with an e-mail that I read this morning.’ She thought for about 10 seconds and then said, ‘Am I playing the NBC Poker Heads Up?’ and I said, ‘Wow, 1 question and you nailed it.’”
Laak claims that 2010 will mark Tilly’s fourth appearance in the National Heads-Up Poker Championship. However, it will actually be her fifth, as Tilly has competed in each running of the event since 2006; she has never made it out of the first round. Four years ago, the Academy Award nominee faced off against () titleholder Paul Phillips in the first round, ultimately falling. Phillips, however, did not survive past the second round.
In 2007, it was a clash of the titans in the opening match of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship, as Tilly battled then-reigning () Main Event champion . Tilly once again dropped her first round match and Gold succumbed to Poker’s in the round of 32. In 2008, Tilly battled fellow female pro in the first round, but could not come out on top. Gowen went on to lose to Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi in the second set of matches.
Last year, Tilly drew 2009 WSOP Main Event November Nine member in the first round. The match ended with Ivey taking down the title, but falling to Team Pro member and 2009 National Heads-Up Poker Championship runner-up in the second round. Rousso stormed through opponents that included , Ivey, Victory Poker pro Paul Wasicka, , and Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier to reach the finals against eventual champion .
On the February 3rd installment of the UB.com poker news show “Poker2Nite,” actor Alexander revealed that he’ll return to the National Heads-Up Poker Championship felts in 2010. Alexander relayed to show hosts Joe Sebok and Scott Huff what he tells his pro opponents: “If I lose to you, no big deal. If you lose to me, your career will never be the same.” Alexander has only appeared in the Heads-Up’s 2008 edition and fell to Seed in the first round. Seed owns the best record in National Heads-Up Poker Championship history at 18-4 and is the only player to cash in every season.
Two years ago, National Heads-Up Poker Championship officials established automatic bids to the invite-only tournament. Although not every person who qualifies will make time in their schedule to play, here’s how the bids stack up for the series’ 2010 running:
Previous five National Heads-Up Poker Championship winners: Huck Seed (2009), (2008), Paul Wasicka (2007), (2006), (2005)
Previous two National Heads-Up Poker Championship runners-up: Vanessa Rousso (2009), (2008)
Defending National Heads-Up semifinalists: Sammy Farha, Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier
Any player who has cashed in the past four consecutive years of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship: Huck Seed
Previous three WSOP Main Event Champions: (2009), (2008), Jerry Yang (2007)
Defending WSOP Main Event runner-up:
Multiple WSOP bracelet winners from the previous year: Phil Ivey, , Brock “t soprano” Parker, Greg “FBT” Mueller
Defending WSOP Player of the Year: Jeffrey Lisandro
Defending WSOP Heads-Up Champion: Leo Wolpert
Defending WSOP Europe Main Event Champion: Barry Shulman
Reigning World Poker Tour (WPT) Player of the Year: Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier
Reigning European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo Grand Final Champion: Pieter de Korver
Reigning CardPlayer Magazine Player of the Year: Eric “basebaldy” Baldwin
Reigning Bluff Magazine Player of the Year: Jason Mercier
Reigning All In Magazine Player of the Year: Phil Ivey
Online and NBC qualifiers
Host venue qualifiers
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In tonight’s Nightly Turbo we’re bringing you the news on the Harrah’s and Planet Hollywood deal, an online poker site that is banning good players, and more.
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01 22nd, 2010
Earlier this week we brought you the news that . If the other players in the field thought that getting a word in edgeways would be difficult then they may as well forget it altogether now after the news that Tony G will be joining them.
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01 22nd, 2010
First and foremost is a new sponsor. The Tour will now be run in association with GCasino.com, which will be opening its online poker room next month. Former sponsor will remain involved though and will continue to offer online satellites.
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We’re bringing you all the news from the week including news on a Full Tilt lawsuit, an update on the UB scandal, some changes to the WSOP rulebook, and more.
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