By the end of next week, the popular clubs Prive and Living Room at the Planet Hollywood casino will be forced to shut down, as their temporary liquor licenses will be revoked and permanent licenses denied. Both clubs had been operating with temporary liquor licenses (acting as business licenses) while being investigated by Metro. Under complaints of drug use, underage drinking, excessive drunkenness, assault, lewd activity, and prostitution, the Nevada Gaming Commission has fined Planet Hollywood $750,000. The casino doesn't operate the clubs (which are run by The Opium Group) but has the gaming license and is responsible for what occurs inside. Also claimed was security for the clubs prevented gaming agents from performing a full, uninterrupted inspection. Complaints went back as far as 2006.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Star Trek Convention takes place In Las Vegas
Trekkies get ready: the annual Star Trek Convention takes place this weekend at the Las Vegas Hilton.
The Creation Entertainment show is back again, this time without a Star Trek Experience to play with (a new Experience show is still being planned for Neonopolis).
Expected to appear are William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, George Takei, Zachary Quinto (Sylar in "Heroes" and also "Spock" in the recent Star Trek reboot), Christopher Lloyd, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Colm Meaney, Tony Todd, Michael Dorn, Rene Auberjonois, and dozens of others.
Nimoy will be signing autographs for $75 a pop. Bet for that amount he'll answer a few questions too.
Expect daily parties, conferences, photo opportunities, and lots of stuff to buy.
PokerListings Founder Shot Dead
The founder of online poker website PokerListings was found shot dead at the age of 36. Andreas Oscarsson was found in his native Sweden in his own bed the morning of August 3rd, and at this point no further information has been disclosed. The report was broken by Oscarsson’s own website, PokerListings, for which he had relegated himself to an advisory role two years ago. The man’s family was at home when the body was found, but none of them are suspect in the killing. Oscarsson was on holiday when he was shot.
ESPN Inside Deal
Chris Moneymaker stops by the Inside Deal and reveals a secret about his last name, Varkonyi's pocket 5's are scooped off the cutting room floor and who would you put on Poker's Mount Rushmore?
WSOP Ratings Down 8% on ESPN
ESPN’s coverage of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) has experienced an 8% dip in television ratings through two weeks to 0.72. Last year, the mark was 0.78.
In addition to ratings seeing an 8% slide, household impressions also fell, albeit a modest 5%. The total number of household impressions through two weeks of the 2009 WSOP was 714,904, compared with last year’s tally of 750,315. Four one-hour episodes have aired so far, with 26 more comprising coverage of the Ante Up for Africa charity tournament and the prestigious $10,000 buy-in Main Event.
ESPN media contact George McNeilly told Poker News Daily that, despite the ratings slip, he remained optimistic: “These are very small declines and we’re just four telecasts into the season. We have almost 30 more episodes to go, so it’s way too early to start drawing any conclusions. One interesting trend we are watching is how ratings are flat among men 25 to 54, which bodes well for the rest of the season.”
Figures released after the July 28th kickoff telecast revealed that viewers were up 2% among men age 18 to 34. The number of viewers age 25 to 54 was up a commanding 16% after the first episode of the 2009 WSOP debuted on ESPN and the number of viewers age 18 to 49 was on par with the 2008 broadcast. The first telecast of the 2009 WSOP on ESPN featured the $40,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournament commemorating the 40th running of the WSOP. In the end, Vitaly Lunkin dominated the 201 player field en route to a $1.9 million first place prize. He defeated Isaac Haxton heads-up in a star-studded final table that also included Greg Raymer, Ted Forrest, Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo, and Alec “traheho” Torelli.
On August 4th, the weekly Tuesday timeslot saw the WSOP Champions Invitational come to life. In one of the first non-bracelet events ever broadcast by ESPN, the Champions Invitational featured 20 former Main Event winners take to the felts. The unconventional 10-handed final table saw 1983 champ Tom McEvoy come out on top, taking home a vintage red 1970 Corvette Stingray and the Binion Cup. McEvoy defeated 2002 Main Event winner Robert Vakonyi heads-up in a final table that also included Peter Eastgate, Carlos Mortensen, Doyle Brunson, Huck Seed, and Dan Harrington.
Next week, the Ante Up for Africa charity poker tournament will headline ESPN coverage and begins at 8:00pm ET. The gala featured a veritable “who’s who” of the celebrity world, including “Rounders” star Matt Damon, “Pearl Harbor” actor Ben Affleck, “Celebrity Apprentice” candidate Herschel Walker, “Seinfeld’ star Jason Alexander, “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Brad Garrett, rapper Nelly, and legendary boxer Mike Tyson. The latter has developed a cult following stemming from his cameo in the blockbuster hit “The Hangover.” Tyson did not bring his tiger to the red carpet.
Poker stars who turned out to the charity event included Ante Up for Africa co-founder Annie Duke, Greg Raymer, Erik Seidel, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Jennifer Harman, Joe Hachem, Jason Mercier, and Andy Bloch. ESPN Coordinating Producer Jamie Horowitz told Poker News Daily what makes airing the charity gala unique: “We are excited to present a different type of poker tournament. In the Ante Up For Africa event, the story is more about the journey (the celebrities, the stars, and the pros) than the destination.”
Twenty-four hours of coverage of the 2009 WSOP Main Event will air on ESPN beginning on August 18th. The Main Event final table is scheduled to air on November 10th beginning at 9:00pm ET. Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest WSOP news.
Poker in the Park Features Jamie Gold Charity Tournament
At 7:30pm local time on Thursday, 2006 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event Champion Jamie Gold and 2008 winner Peter Eastgate will host a 50 player charity poker tournament benefiting the Jamie Gold Foundation. The event is one of many that will take place as part of London’s Poker in the Park.
The Foundation works with a bevy of notable charities, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association/ALS Division, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Montel Williams MS Foundation, Sunflower Children, Covenant House, Fallen Heroes Fund, Fulfillment Fund, and the Abolish Slavery Coalition. Prizes up for grabs include a £5,200 European Poker Tour (EPT) entry, a £3,000 Unibet Open package, a Gresham Blake suit, a £1,000 Gevril Wristwatch, and chipsets and tables that are perfect for home games. Gold to talk about this week’s event.
What can attendees expect at the charity poker tournament on Thursday?
Gold: This has all come together at the last minute, but we have some great support from the people running Poker in the Park. The Empire Casino, where we hold WSOP Europe, donated their space for us. We’re going to have a red carpet and even David “Devilfish” Ulliott is coming. He’s amazing and he’s a really great guitar player. He sings like Elvis.
Talk about Peter Eastgate’s involvement.
Gold: The reason we became friendly is because we are both Main Event champions. He is impossible not to be friends with and, from what I can tell, he really cares. He knew that I had spent years trying to give back as much as I could. One of the things we bonded over is that he wanted to do the same. He wanted to make sure he didn’t just take the money and status for granted. He told me that if I ever needed him for anything, he’d be there.
There’s really one person who made this whole thing happen, Michael Casselli. He’s the head of Lyceum Media and Poker in the Park. He and I have been talking about doing an event together. It’s a little overwhelming because I’m not from Europe and he’s been a tremendous help.
Is the 50 player maximum just a function of limited space?
Gold: The Empire Casino was kind enough to give us their space. We thought we had the whole casino, but they felt that if we had celebrities, we should have a protected area. We invited people like Daniel Craig (of “James Bond” fame). When you have people like that potentially coming, they will only allow you to be in the VIP room.
PND: One of the prizes in the charity poker tournament during Poker in the Park is a week-long poker training session by David “The Maven” Chicotsky. Talk about Chicotsky’s involvement.
Gold: Those guys are amazing, so I’m really excited. I’m in the process of making a partnership with The Maven. The things he doesn’t teach are my skills. I don’t claim to be the best in the world, but I seem to be on par with the best. I’ve only trained with them for a day, but I made two final tables during it. He’s completely changed my game.
Are you considering relocating to Europe or signing with a non-U.S. online poker site?
Gold: Some of it has to do with the legalities, but I can’t deny that, with the economic situation, there’s not a lot of money being thrown around. The most lucrative deal I can make is in Europe. The two sites that take American players don’t need my help. However, my presence would help double most European sites’ numbers.
I have a powerful celebrity marketing base that could help a site do something special. I also believe strongly in my commitment to charity. I haven’t found another site in America that has the same commitment. They all care, but it’s not their number one goal, nor should it be. While I’m young, single, and healthy, now is the time I’d like to travel the world. I feel like I’m in a rare position.
Rounders Sequel In the Works
Ask any poker player to name their favorite poker movie, and an overwhelming amount will respond with Rounders. You might get a few random “Mavericks” or “Cincinnati Kids” thrown in there, but 1998 film starring Matt Damon and Ed Norton is, more or less, the last word in poker movies for casual fans and serious players alike. So what could possibly unseat the flick from its top spot in the hearts of grinders world wide? A sequel. While rumors of a sequel have been floating around since the online poker boom in the early 2000’s, it appears that the talk among the principals of the first film has gotten more serious as of late. Both Matt Damon and writer David Levien confirmed to Pokerlistings.com that they were interested in possibly pursuing the project, with Levien going so far as to say that the project was already in the works. “We’ve been concentrating on Rounders 2 lately; Ideas are percolating,” Levien told PokerListings. “It’s great to know that all of the original players want to come back and do another one.” Levien and writing partner Brian Koppleman, who co-scripted both Rounders and Oceans 13, are currently at work on a project set against the backdrop of online gambling.
Hookers And Drugs At Rio's Sapphire Pool
Eleven people were arrested on Saturday at the pool. The charges range from soliciting prostitution to selling drugs. But in this case, Rio Hotel management asked Metro to do an undercover investigation, and that's exactly the type of action the gaming control board is looking for.
SLIDESHOW: Metro Busts Rio's Sapphire Pool
"You could do cavity searches of people going into these places and still not find an ecstasy pill or some pill that someone takes while they are there. You can't protect against it. What you do is try to ensure that drugs aren't utilized there or if someone is suspected of taking drugs, then you take action," said attorney Frank Schreck.
Schreck represents several casinos in Las Vegas. He says the recent illegal activities at these venues should be a wake-up call to every casino to continually check on the activities taking place inside.
Many of the women arrested at the pool tried to sell their services to undercover police officers. Others helped sell drugs. When the hotel found out what was going on, they immediately shut down the pool indefinitely.
Schreck says there's a good chance Rio will not face fines because they asked for the undercover officers to go in. He say while it's impossible to prevent all illegal activity, it's too expensive for hotels to look the other way. He says many casinos perform these checks to just to be safe.
"There are some that call in Metro on a regular basis. There are some that have Metro detectives come in and train their security and show them to observe. I know of one facility that brings in Metro Vice to service their facility -- to spot prostitution," said Schreck.
Planet Hollywood was not so fortunate after illegal activity was found at Prive nightclub inside their facility. Even though Prive was leasing the space from the hotel, the casino still had to pay a fine.
Under gaming law, the casino is responsible for everything that takes place in their facility. They were fined $500,000.
The enforcement division of the Gaming Control Board says as of right now, Rio will not face fines in the immediate future. The Rio Hotel says they will continue to perform these types of checks
Pitbull Poker Has Superuser Accounts?
What started as a collection of threads making arguments against the legitimacy of play at the small online poker room Pitbull Poker has grown into a firestorm of allegations over illegal activities. On most of the major online poker forums, there are threads spanning dozens of pages accusing Pitbull Poker of a plethora of security issues. Some of the posts are wild speculation, but there also appear to be serious accusations made about the site’s security, superuser accounts, and more.
Pitbull Poker is part of the Flash Poker Network, which is based in Costa Rica with servers hosted in Panama City, according to PokerScout.com. The site is ranked 21st in the world in terms of real money ring game traffic and usually has a 24-hour peak of around 65 players at cash tables. There is no software to download, as the poker room has been built using Adobe Flash web technology.
One of the major allegations goes back to December of 2008 for “stack shaving,” where money in a player’s stack would simply disappear between hands. According to several posts, players reported that the range of money that would vanish was between $0.02 and $25. A posted reply from Network Manager Dave Brenes of Pitbull Gaming appears to admit that this error took place and that players would be reimbursed.
The harshest of the posted allegations came from players claiming they have faced superusers. A superuser is an account that has the ability to see everyone’s cards at the table. The allegations outline instances of opponents making call-downs with perfect accuracy and check-folding whenever the hero in the hand flops well. Dozens of examples have been posted.
Brenes has agreed to an interview with Poker News Daily that will run later this week. He responded in detail on the TwoPlusTwo forums to the main controversial threads. The players’ dissatisfaction comes from their desire to receive hand histories in a useable text format. This would allow the players to convert them into a format that can be imported into Hold’em Manager or PokerTracker 3 so the community at large can analyze the hands. This was the same method used to expose the superuser account controversies at Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker a few years ago.
Unfortunately for the poker community, Pitbull Poker stated that it would not release any hand histories beyond the format currently provided. The hand history system is based on a tab from within the Flash-based poker room software. Once a user clicks on a link to a hand, it loads in a graphical format. Many users have stated that this reporting system for looking over hand histories is slow and even unstable, as many searches time out and are reset.
More allegations came in the form of holes in the software that apparently expose cards during a hand. Although the poster in the forums making the majority of allegations edited his e-mail, he stated that one of his associates was able to see someone else’s cards during a hand.
Many on TwoPlusTwo called for the group that felt cheated to organize and make more rational arguments rather than provide vague examples of their misfortunes. The debate rages on whether those making the allegations have any tangible proof or if the site should produce hand histories in a readable format for the community to analyze.
In the last few days, the staff at Pitbull Poker has continued to field complaints and tried to work towards a mutually beneficial conclusion. During the course of the investigation conducted by the general public in recent days, allegations that hole card data was unencrypted were made.
Brenes has stated that readable hand histories are coming. These hand histories are expected to shed light on potential irregularities and finally settle the rumors. Poker News Daily is following this story closely and will be bringing an exclusive interview with Brenes later this week to discuss the allegations.
"Face the Ace" Ratings Are No Royal Flush
According to a recently released report on "TV by the Numbers" (link below), "Face the Ace" is a "ratings disgrace".
"Face the Ace" is a "poker-themed reality television series" on NBC in which amateur poker players do battle against pros.
Players gain entry to the show by winning qualifying tournaments on Full Tilt Poker.
Once they have qualified for the show, they then have a chance at winning one million dollars, but only if they win three straight heads-up matches against some of the top pros in the world.
The show is hosted by Steve Schirripa and is produced by the company behind "Poker After Dark" and "High Stakes Poker".
The show's pilot episode debuted to tepid ratings last week and was the least-viewed show in its time slot (of the four major TV networks).
1.59 million viewers tuned in for the first half hour of the show. This number dropped to 1.54 million viewers in the second half hour - clearly people weren't enthralled by what they were watching.
Unfortunately the numbers weren't any better this week - actually, they were worse.
Just 1.46 million viewers tuned in this week, meaning that "Face the Ace" was once again the least-watched show in its slot amongst the four major networks.
According to "TV by the Numbers", "America's Most Wanted" performed "almost six times better" than "Face the Ace" in the adult 18-49 demographic.
I'm not exactly sure what the network was anticipating in terms of total viewer numbers, however 1.46 million viewers doesn't seem like a very strong number.
Source: TV By the Numbers - "Face the Ace" a ratings disgrace for NBC
My Software Is Better Than Your Software
Continuing a pattern of one-upmanship between online poker’s two biggest sites, PokerStars rolled out a major software upgrade only a few days after Full Tilt Poker launched theirs. Full Tilt Poker also had a bonus attached to their upgrade, and Stars - you guessed it - is offering a competing bonus. First, the details on the upgrade. Stars has finally come along with FTP on synchronized tournament breaks. That means all tournaments on PokerStars will break at the same time - :55 after the hour - regardless of what time they started. This is a big win for MTTers, as they can now enjoy one synchronized break per hour on both Stars and FTP. Stars also introduced a new game to the lobby - split Pot Limit Holdem / Omaha, available in the cash lobby under ‘other games’ (PLH / PLO), along with some minor tweaks and bug fixes. Next, the bonus. Stars is offering a new redeposit bonus and a first time deposit bonus. If you’re a first time depositor, you can earn a bonus of 100% on your deposit up to $600. If you’re looking to reload your account, Stars is offering you a 50% bonus up to $300. Unlike most deposit bonuses, the Stars bonus allows you to make up to three separate deposits that will all count toward your bonus.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Daniel Negreanu's Top 10 Rookie Mistakes
1 PLAYING TOO MANY HOURS
Your brain just doesn’t function very well after 22 hours sitting at the table. Rather than getting some rest and coming back fresh the next day, most rookies end up playing too many hours trying to chase their money back. In the process, they end up throwing away even more money. Your mind plays tricks on you after too many hours and you’ll often convince yourself that you’re playing really well,when the chances are you’re not!
2 QUITTING WHEN AHEAD
There is no ‘system’ for when you should get up and leave. The worst system that many rookies use is when they ‘hit and run’ – quitting a game after very small wins, but continuing to play when they’re far behind. If anything, that’s the exact opposite of what you should be doing. When you are winning, you have a powerful table presence that you should look to exploit. When you are losing your table image is tarnished and it can have a negative effect on your confidence.
3 PLAYING IN TOUGH GAMES
Rookie players will often find themselves sitting in games with competition that they just can’t handle. Rather than playing in smaller stakes games with opponents of comparable skill, they prefer to go head to head with the pros – and you can guess how that turns out...
4 PLAYING TOO HIGH
Nothing is more detrimental to your confidence – and your bankroll – than playing for money that you can’t afford to lose. You simply can’t make smart and unbiased decisions when you also have to think about how you’re going to pay the rent if the Qs doesn’t bail you out on the river. It’s absolutely crucial that you play within the limits you feel comfortable with – that way you’ll be able to focus on the game you’re in, without worrying about the financial implications.
5 PLAYING TOO MANY HANDS
Most beginners play more hands than they should and fail to understand the importance of starting off with premium hands in premium situations.
6 WATCH OUT FOR YOUR EGO
You’re not as good as you think you are! The day you realise that you know nothing about poker is the day you might start learning a thing or two. It’s important to be objective about your poker skills and where they might need improvement.
7 LACK OF PATIENCE
To play poker properly you’ll find that you go through long stretches of sheer boredom waiting for good cards. Rookies often don’t have the patience to wait, so they play hands that they know they shouldn’t out of sheer boredom.
8 BLUFFING TOO MUCH
Many rookies have seen too many movies and think that poker is all about bluffing. They think that if they keep betting everyone will get out of their way. The problem is that the habitual bluffer is identified by opponents early and then they are on to him.
9 GOING ON TILT
Playing more hands with less focus, a tilted player will lose all faith in his gameplan and chase inside straight draws, when he knows he shouldn’t.
10 DRINKING WHILE PLAYING
You need to have all your wits about you to make quality decisions at the table. It’s no coincidence that casinos will offer you free alcohol – it clouds your judgement.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Sky Poker UK Tour
The last event of the first season of the Sky Poker UK Tour (SPUKT) wrapped up at the Dusk Till Dawn poker club in Nottingham, with players after their share of the £56,000 prize pool. There were 280 players and the first place prize of £17,322 went to Robbie Fisher-O'Brien. Second place went to heads up competitor Alex Mcwhinnie, who snagged £10,127 for his efforts, with Pete Winter taking £6,076 for third place. Fourth went to Wayne Barber for £4,264, and rounding out the top five was Toby Lewis for £3,198.
The Check Is Good
Online poker rooms like Full Tilt Poker and Poker Stars have been having trouble with payments to members recently, thanks in part to the seizure of more than $30 million in funds from the United States Department of Justice recently. However according to threads opening up on popular online poker forums across the internet, poker players are now having some success in depositing the checks they are receiving form these poker rooms, and having them clear without a problem. This includes checks being processed by the Instant ECheck option, one targeted by the US DOJ.
Heartland Poker Tour in Black Hawk
While the big poker events are running in Las Vegas, like the World Series of Poker, the middle of the country is looking forward to the arrival of a different scene. A poker tournament is coming to Black Hawk, Colorado, and the TV cameras are warming up. The venue will be the Golden Gates Casino and Poker Parlour in Black Hawk, and the event is the Heartland Poker Tour, which will arrive in July. The largest cash payout in five years is what the Heartland Poker Tour officials are predicting, thanks to recent attendance records.
Utah Transit Authority Cracks Down on Internet Gambling
According to a story that appeared on Fox 13 in Salt Lake City, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is cracking down on its riders’ internet usage. Now, viewing pornography or gambling online will result in a $300 fine.
Fox 13’s Arikka Von broke the story, which appeared last week. When asked why UTA management implemented the new rules, Von explained, “UTA says it’s not because they had a bunch of complaints. The old ordinances are just that: old, at least 10 years old, so they have some new policies that include some of the new services like free WiFi.” On a national scale, online poker players have faced the same difficulties interpreting age-old laws like the Wire Act, which was enacted in 1961, nearly 50 years ago. The Wire Act, although passed before the advent of the internet, has been largely extended by the U.S. Department of Justice to include many forms of internet gambling.
Von noted, “A train ticket gets you free internet once you agree to the Terms of Service. That means no online gambling or viewing pornography. The UTA now has a new ordinance that fines passengers for illegal or offensive internet use on the train. The first violation is $300. Do it again and it could cost you $500.” The UTA is one of a growing number of transit systems to include internet onboard. American Airlines recently debuted Gogo Inflight Internet on cross-country trips. The service is available for a fee.
Enforcement of the UTA’s ban on internet gambling and pornography is done by the organization’s police force. Fox 13 noted, “These are real police officers,” and explained, “An officer will always try to educate first and foremost. Riders say they’ve never seen anyone watching porn on the train.” UTA has enacted a full appeals process if riders feel they were targeted unfairly. A representative of the transit system admitted that identifying what is acceptable and what is not can be a complicated process: “The definition can be very difficult to pin down for everyone.”
Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) Executive Director Joe Brennan told Poker News Daily, “I’m surprised that they’re going to waste anyone’s time enforcing internet gambling. I’m also disturbed with the constant association with pornography. Our opponents try to make that linkage constantly between gambling and pornography. All you have to do is look at the acceptance of all things gambling. There is no comparison between the two activities.” The term “internet gambling” is mentioned in the Fox 13 story just once, while references to pornography pervade the rest of the two and a half minute piece.
With regards to enforcement of the UTA’s guidelines through law enforcement personnel roving the trains, Brennan commented, “They’ll have police officers looking over the shoulders of riders. This announcement is someone grandstanding politically. The claim on internet gambling is dubious. The claim on pornography is also misguided.” Brennan added that viewing pornography is typically done in private, not in the middle of a commuter train in a major metropolitan area.
According to text found on the UTA’s website, the internet service provided by the transit system filters content automatically: “UTA’s service providers use content-filtering software that attempts to restrict access to offensive sites; however, no content-filtering software is totally effective. Please use the same precautions you would use accessing any public wireless network.” The service is available for riders age 18 and over.
iMEGA is fresh off filing a lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), which attempted to force the censorship of 200 internet gambling domains by its residents. The DPS served notice to 11 of the world’s largest internet service providers (ISPs) calling for the blockage. However, after iMEGA’s suit, it rescinded its notice.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Bankroll Management
Let’s talk about bankroll management. But let’s talk about it in a different way than most advice-lenders do. Most articles about bankroll management discuss it from the perspective of a professional player, or at the very least, a semi-pro. What I want to do is discuss proper bankroll management for the casual player. The kind of player who plays to have fun first and to make money second. As a casual player, you may have dreams about that big score and winning that huge tournament, but in the end, you are happy if you can enjoy yourself at the poker table and scratch out a small profit in the long-run. Of course, if you are a more serious player, this article isn’t for you. Move along, there’s nothing to see here.
Poker Money is Poker Money
First and foremost, never, ever, ever, ever, never, never, ever, ever mix your poker bankroll with the money you need for everyday expenses. Your poker bankroll is just that – your poker bankroll. For you, the casual player, poker is an entertainment expense (true, you might never lose, but let’s be realistic), just like going to the movies, going to a baseball game, or attending a concert. Just like you wouldn’t skip a mortgage payment to go on a trip to Costa Rica, you shouldn’t skip a mortgage payment to reload your online poker account.
Not only is keeping your poker bankroll segregated from your household accounts the responsible thing to do, but it will also make your poker playing more enjoyable. Poker can be a stressful enough game to play under normal circumstances, even if you are primarily playing for fun, but having your child’s tuition hanging in the balance adds a whole new layer of pressure.
If you hit a bad stretch and have no more discretionary income with which to play poker, just stop playing for a while. It’s just a game. It’s not worth taking food off the table to play another hand.
Play Comfortably
When it comes to choosing table stakes, I recommend playing at a level that will make you comfortable, not one at which you think you “should” play. There are formulas out there that determine what blind levels you should play at based on the size of your bankroll, but I don’t really buy into that. Play at a level where you can handle the competition and where you won’t break into a cold sweat when all pf your chips are on the table because you can’t bear to lose that money.
That doesn’t mean play at stakes so low that they don’t mean anything. The element of risk is one aspect of poker that makes the game fun. You do want to be a little nervous, but you don’t want your stakes to be so high that it would severely damage your poker bankroll if you dropped a buy-in or two.
Many people would look at my poker bankroll compared to the low stakes that I play and consider me crazy. I should move up, they would say. But you know what? I’m not a pro. While I try to make money when I play, profitability isn’t the end all, be all for me. I could probably move up and do okay for myself, but I enjoy playing low-stakes because I feel comfortable there. The tables where I play allow me to make a moderate profit while having fun and not fretting on the occasions when I get stacked (those are rare, right?).
That all said, if you want to “take a shot” once in a while, then go for it. It can be fun to try your hand at a richer, tougher game on occasion, but don’t make it a habit and don’t shoot so high that it will drain your roll if you lose. Tournaments are a great way to take a shot while limiting your downside potential.
Reward Yourself
For the longest time, I would deposit and withdraw over and over and various online poker rooms, just building my poker bankroll. Through winning play or deposit bonuses, I pretty much grew my bankroll with no real goal in sight. But recently, I had part of my house remodeled and decided to pull out some of my poker bankroll and put it towards the construction. However lame it might have been, I finally used some of my winnings to reward myself.
Many players probably do the same thing I had been doing. Their poker winnings went right back into poker. And that’s fine. You want to keep building that roll, but you should treat yourself, too. What good is all of that money sitting in your poker accounts if you can never do anything with it besides play poker? Take some out and buy yourself something. Heck, pay down some debt that you wouldn’t have otherwise paid down if that’s your style. Reward yourself for your success.
After Cashout Issues Traffic For Online Poker Sites Are?
Traffic on PokerStars, the largest online poker site in the world, has slipped 9% in the last two weeks, likely due to potential cashout issues for its players, according to PokerScout.com. PokerStars has recommended bank wires for players seeking cashouts.
On the first Thursday of June (the 4th), PokerStars saw a peak of 37,523 real money ring game players. By June 11th, one week later, that number had dropped to 34,692, a fall of 8%. Yesterday (June 18th), the site hosted a peak of 34,207 cash game players, representing a 1% decline week over week and 9% drop since June 4th. As further evidence of a slowdown, on June 13th, PokerStars recorded a peak player count of 28,455, the first time it had slumped below 30,000 since December 31st, 2008.
However, traffic on the site is up during the first 18 days of June in comparison to the same period in May despite the ongoing World Series of Poker (WSOP). During the first 18 days of May, PokerStars boasted an average peak player count of 34,626 at its virtual cash game felts. In the same period this month, it has seen an average of 34,872, a boost of nearly 1%. Throughout the month of May, PokerStars had an average peak volume of 34,886 players. An article released by PokerScout on June 14th noted that traffic on Stars had fallen 5% in the last week alone to the “lowest level so far this year.” Year over year, however, the world’s most popular online poker site has experienced a 54% growth in activity.
On Full Tilt Poker, the average peak player volume over the first 18 days of May stood at 16,801. In June, that figure has ballooned to 17,736, a growth of nearly 6%. During the same period when traffic on PokerStars fell by 9%, player counts on Full Tilt grew by 2%. The site will bring back its Sit & Go Madness promotion this weekend, offering nearly $200,000 for players competing in the popular single-table tournaments. Between April 19th and May 10th, the peak number of cash game players on Full Tilt Poker exceeded 18,000 just once. During the first 18 days of June, the 18,000 plateau has been breached eight times, including four straight days between June 15th and June 18th. Year over year traffic at Full Tilt Poker is up by 59%.
At the CEREUS Network, which includes Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet, cash game traffic has remained steady. During the first 18 days of May, an average peak of 3,144 real money ring game players could be found on the CEREUS Network. Over the same period in June, that number grew slightly to 3,148. Over the last 30 days, the Network has hosted fewer than 3,000 real money ring game players just five times and has not attracted a peak of fewer than 2,000 since April 30th. According to PokerScout, CEREUS is the fifth largest Network worldwide with a seven day running average of 2,300 real money ring game players.
Finally, traffic on PartyPoker, which does not accept players from the United States, is up significantly. PokerScout.com claims the spike in player volume by the longtime industry staple may be due to the Million Dollar Hand promotion. During the first 18 days of May, the average peak cash game traffic was 7,351 players. During the same period in June, the figure skyrocketed to 9,410, a jump of 28%.
Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) Executive Director Joe Brennan gave Poker News Daily his reaction to the drop in traffic on PokerStars: “Operators know the burden is on them to make sure the players have the money due them. Any operator that would have problems would likely lose share to companies that don’t. But, it’s too early to say any one company is having major problems and no reason to think that all of the operators who have been affected aren’t working overtime to resolve slow pay problems. There is no need to panic.” iMEGA has not yet become involved in the situation legally. So far, it has allowed the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the main lobbying force for the poker industry, to take the lead.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
EPISODE46 - Lesbian Poker Player Killers
Our first theme show! Slade came up with the title and we ran with it. Tonight's show was about lesbian poker players (or that we want to be lesbian) that kill at the game of poker. Remember POKERDONKEYS LOVE LESBIANS! So this show is dedicated to them. We also talk about cleaning up our language for sponsors and have a brief interview with D. Negranau (kinda) on his recent outburst at the WSOP! Enjoy the show degenerates it's our third new show in a row!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Lord of the Dance back to Las Vegas
The Lord of the Dance will return to Las Vegas this summer.
Michael Flatley and his group were a mainstay of Vegas before leaping into a world tour.
And now they'll be back at the Steve Wyrick Theater (at Planet Hollywood) for a limited time, beginning June 25 and running through Aug. 16.
Flatley was the co-creator of the enormously successful Riverdance before branching off on his own with Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and his latest Celtic Tiger.
The show first began in Dublin, Ireland, before settling into Las Vegas for 5 years.
Mike Tyson Gets Married
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, fresh off a hilarious lengthy cameo in the Las Vegas-based movie The Hangover, married Lakiha Spicer at the Las Vegas Hilton over the weekend.
This is Tyson's third marriage, exchanging vows in the Hilton's La Bella Wedding Chapel.
The ceremony was low-key without guests.
Two weeks ago, Tyson's 4-year-old daughter Exodus (from his previous wife) was killed in a freak treadmill accident when the cord wrapped around her neck.
Cheap Trick lands gig at Las Vegas Hilton
Cheap Trick is setting up shop at the Las Vegas Hilton.
In between Barry Manilow's dark times (when he's not performing at the theater, not referring to his mood), Cheap Trick will be onstage for a limited engagement. And if it's a smash? Expect them to return regularly.
We have no doubt it will be a smash, because the show will not just be a Cheap Trick concert but Sgt. Pepper Live -- a live concert of The Beatles' album of the same name.
Not your ordinary concert, the shows will also feature a symphony orchestra and set design.
Tickets begin at $65 and go on sale June 13 at the Las Vegas Hilton box office.
Shows are Sept. 13-15, 17-19, ad 21-23.
Dateline: Vegas Undercover
If you see Chris Hansen in Las Vegas and you aren't a child predator, you should still run.
Famous for his "To Catch a Predator" series, Hansen is back with a new TV special focusing on crime in Las Vegas.
Called "Vegas Undercover," the "Dateline" show delves into year-long undercover operations by Metro involving the purchase of stolen items, posing as prostitutes, counterfeiting money, and arresting car thieves.
In one segment, thieves show police how to counterfeit money and then pass on the bills, with one of the places including a local casino.
The show airs tonight at 10 p.m. on NBC.
Heather Graham Poker Ace
Actress Heather Graham recently let it be known that she is something of a poker ace, although she would be worried about playing in some of the big games organized by fellow Hollywood star Brad Pitt. She likes to go to poker clubs and has hosted home games for years, but to date has managed to avoid losing a lot of money. Other Hollywood stars that have a professed poker prowess include Matt Damon, George Clooney, and Ben Affleck, who won the California State Poker Championship a few years back, thanks in part to the tutelage of Annie Duke.
Poker Seizure a Gamble
Recently the United States Justice Department allegedly seized $34 million belonging to online poker players in various banks and online payment processors, and a senior professor at Whittier Law School says it is a big gamble. Prof. I. Nelson Rose was quoted as saying the Department of Justice and their actions could actually lead to a court ruling that supports online poker, rather than harms it. Online poker rooms affected by the US DOJ actions have been reacting in different ways, with some ignoring the problem and others going out of their way to make good on their payments to clients.
Red Cherry Poker Ads “socially irresponsible”
An online poker room heavily linked to pornography and casual sex recently got upbraided by the Remote Gambling Association and the Advertising Standards Authority for a number of ads that have been called socially irresponsible. The ads, according to complaints, link gambling to getting lucky with sex and seduction. One example of an ad by the poker room, formerly Swank Poker but now Red Cherry Poker, promises serious erotic action and a promise that the poker room girls will make wildest fantasies come true.
BodogLife.com Is Dead, Bodog.com Is Back
In breaking news from the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group, that Bodog.com will once again become the central domain name for the online poker room’s operations in the United States beginning today. The Kahnawake-based company regained control of the domain name in April. On April 21st, Bodog settled a patent infringement lawsuit with Las Vegas-based 1st Technology, LLC and in the process regained control of the domain name Bodog.com. Previously, despite its team of pros including Evelyn Ng, David Williams, Jean-Robert Bellande, and Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo donning gear with “Bodog” on it, the site made its home on the domain name BodogLife.com. Now, players will be able to revisit the USA-friendly online poker room’s original domain starting on Wednesday.
Poker Show to Debut on Playboy TV
Television producer Sam Simon, who is best known for his work on “The Simpsons” animated series, will bring his home game to Playboy TV, according to the Associated Press. The show is uncensored and features some of the entertainment industry’s marquee names.
Simon described his home game to the Associated Press: “The stakes aren’t the biggest, the players aren’t the best, but the game is definitely the funniest.” The show, dubbed “Sam’s Game,” currently airs on Thursday nights on Playboy TV and was filmed at the Palms in Las Vegas. Poker fans will remember that the off-Strip casino played host to the second season of GSN’s “High Stakes Poker.” ESPN followed Simon in paparazzi fashion during his World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event run in 2007, which ended with “The Simpsons” producer hitting the exits in 329th place for $39,000.
Monday, June 8, 2009
A Thriller-themed Casino in Las Vegas
An odd Michael Jackson rumor goes hand in hand with Las Vegas.
While he was living here, there was talk of Jackson staging a comeback, in residency at a casino. That didn't happen, but he did announce a tour in the UK.
Another rumor had Jackson installing a giant replica of his face in the Nevada desert, big enough for landing plans to see.
Now, Jackson wants to open a Las Vegas casino themed around his hit song "Thriller." The horror-branded casino would contain zombies and songs from the multi-platinum album.
Jackson has over $100 million in debt, and along with his tour, he's looking for ways to pay it down.
If it happens, it would come at a time when Las Vegas casinos are moving away from themes.
Guy Laliberte to go into space
Guy Laliberte, the founder of Cirque du Soleil (which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year), plans to go into space.
At a cost of $35 million, Laliberte will take a trip on an international space station aboard the Russian Soyuz TMA-16 to raise awareness for his ONE DROP Foundation, an organization centered around environmentalism and water conservation.
The mission aboard the 3-person spacecraft is expected to last about 2 weeks beginning Sept. 30.
Laliberte will become the seventh private citizen to pay his way to fly to the orbiting station. If you have $35 million to spare, you can be the eighth. Simply write your check to Space Adventures and set up a press conference.
Online Poker Room faces Fraud Charges
The development of an online poker room was the root cause of the charges leveled against a Texas father and son recently, as they face security fraud charges from the Texas State Securities Board. Martin Graham Tyson Sr. and his son, Martin were indicted by a Hidalgo County grand jury for misleading the backers of their online poker business. The claims include that the men to notify investors of an ongoing civil fraud suit against the company. Investors lost around $300,000 in the venture, according to the indictment filed in the case.
Poker Robber gets 66 Years
When a high-stakes poker game at a Delaware country club was robbed six men were involved, and all six recently turned down a plea bargain during their trials. One man, 22 year old Philadelphian Akua Powell, was convicted of 11 counts of first-degree robbery and possession of a firearm during a felony plus other charges, earning him a total of 66 years in prison. A former state trooper, Hyun Jin Kim, was involved and himself sentenced to 6 years in prison. The men robbed a dozen high stakes poker players at the Wild Quail Country Club near Dover.
ECheck Gone From Online Poker Rooms
Some online poker rooms offer their players the ability to use Echeck, an online money transfer system that works like drawing money from a checking account using an electronic check. Two major poker rooms, PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, suddenly lost the ability for US players to use Echeck with no explanation on Thursday. The reason behind this move is unknown but a lot of speculation has been floated on the poker forums that it may the first step towards limiting US players all together. Players can still use their funds at these poker rooms, however.
Pueblo man decided not to testify
The informant in a case against a Pueblo man decided not to testify, resulting in the charges of illegal poker gambling being dropped. The two misdemeanor gambling charges will not be pressed and Larry Lee Wittman, the target after raids by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, will go free. The CBI claims that Wittman was running illegal card rooms for at least five years. Not all defendants have benefit from this stroke of luck, however as William Benjamin Gradishar will still face misdemeanor gambling charges; the result of a raid conducted in 2007. His trial begins in July.
Players Alliance (PPA) declared victory…?
Poker News Daily has learned that the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division has sent letters to 11 of the world’s largest internet service providers (ISPs) rescinding its notice to block 200 internet gambling websites. The news comes four days after the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) declared victory in the state.
In April, John Willems, Director of the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division, served notice to 11 ISPs, including Charter, Comcast, Qwest, Sprint, and Verizon, calling for the blockage of 200 sites by Minnesota residents. The list, which was initially kept under wraps, included a bevy of online poker, sports book, casino, and Bingo sites and was pulled at random from a larger sample. In addition to USA-friendly online poker rooms like Players Only, Bodog, and Full Tilt Poker, the list also included a handful that do not accept action from the United States. Headlining this group was Everest Poker, which is the official on-felt sponsor of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP). Also appearing was Titan Poker, one of the largest sites on the iPoker Network.
Shortly after the list of 200 sites was made public, the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) filed a lawsuit against Willems. The organization charged that Minnesota did not have jurisdiction to act, that the First Amendment was trampled on, and that the State’s actions represented a breach of the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. iMEGA also authored a letter to the 11 ISPs in question urging non-compliance. The State contended that the Wire Act of 1961 applied to internet gambling, while the law has traditionally applied to online sports betting and “common carriers,” a term used to describe companies that provide home telephone service.
iMEGA and the Minnesota Attorney General’s office then began working towards a conclusion, culminating in today’s proclamation that the censorship order had been rescinded. The letter sent to ISPs, authored by Willems and obtained by Poker News Daily, reads, “I believe it may be more appropriate to resolve this problem by working to create clear and effective governmental policies concerning regulation of gambling.” In addition, iMEGA has agreed to withdraw its civil court case against Willems in his capacity as Director of the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division.
The letter sent from iMEGA to the ISPs explained, “Because website operators are not subscribers of yours, have no contracts with you, and are not provided facilities by you, you should be aware that the Minnesota Department of Public Safety is attempting to mislead you into believing you are bound by federal law.” The casino arm of Party Gaming, the parent company of PartyPoker, was also targeted. However, its parent company recently inked a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Government in a New York courtroom and agreed to shell out $105 million over a three and a half year period. In addition, one of its co-founders, Anurag Dikshit, admitted to violations of the Wire Act in December and faces up to two years behind bars.
Whether the Minnesota legislature elects to develop internet gambling legislation remains to be seen. iMEGA is also a central party in the case that pits the organization and the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC) against the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. In October, Judge Thomas Wingate upheld an order by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear calling for the seizure and potential forfeiture of 141 domain names belonging to some of the world’s largest online poker sites and internet gambling outfits including Full Tilt Poker, Ultimate Bet, PokerStars, Cake Poker, and Doyle’s Room. Several sites have since blocked new Kentucky sign-ups.
In January, the Kentucky Court of Appeals in Louisville overturned Wingate’s decision by a two to one margin, causing the State to appeal to its own Supreme Court. iMEGA filed its brief to Kentucky’s highest court two weeks ago and the State’s attorneys are in the process of filing a response brief. No date has been set for a possible Supreme Court hearing. The organization is also suing to declare both the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) unconstitutional.
Rule Change On Heads up Cash Game At Full Tilt Poker
Full Tilt Poker released a rules change today that has online poker forums buzzing - effective immediately, players are now restricted in the number of heads up tables they can sit at waiting for an opponent. This rule change should, in theory, dramatically reshape the HU Cash portion of the FTP lobby, which is currently populated by a few regulars sitting alone at dozens of tables.
Excerpt from the email sent by FTP announcing the change: “Due to increasing complaints of players occupying many tables alone, Full Tilt Poker will be introducing limitations on the number of heads-up cash games that a player can be sitting at while waiting for an opponent.
Effective immediately, a player is permitted to wait at only one table for each betting level and game type, and at most four tables in total.
For example, you may sit and wait for an opponent at $5-10 NL Hold’em, $5-10 PL Hold’em, $10-20 NL Hold’em, and $10-20 PL Hold’em, but you may not sit and wait at more than one table of any one type, and not more than four tables in total.
The limitations only apply to the practice of occupying many tables while waiting. If you are actively playing at a heads-up table, you may then begin waiting at another table of the same type. There is no restriction on the number of tables you may play (other than the normal limitations on active games).”
The rule seems to be enforced manually at this point, but we’d imagine that future software upgrades will full automate the process.
Full Tilt, perhaps recognizing the potential for this new rule to create a wave of multi-accounting, also offered a reminder of the consequences of multi-accounting and a MA amnesty for any player who would like to combine multiple accounts, no questions asked or penalties applied: “Heads-up cash game players are also reminded of the strict policy against using more than one account. The use of multiple accounts (to hide one’s identity, or circumvent restrictions) is considered to be cheating, and can result in severe penalties, including permanent loss of all playing privileges.
If you have more than one account, and wish to have them merged into a single account without penalty, please contact support@fulltiltpoker.com immediately.”
Monday, June 1, 2009
WSOP Stimulus Special Event
The World Series of Poker event number Four has picked up the nickname of “Stimulus Special”, offering players a chance to play in a WSOP bracelet event for only $1,000 without having to belong to a special group, like casino employees, senior citizens or women, three groups that get special discounted events offered to them. The first part of the event pulled in 2,992 players with only 376 of them surviving to go on to the next round. Players often say winning the bracelet is more important to them than the money – which, even in this discounted event is not inconsiderate.
