2012 April 9th

The WPT Jacksonville BestBet Open, April 27-May 2, is again presenting poker’s most unique trophy. Since 18-year-olds can play poker in Florida, the “Last (under 21) Player Standing” will win a ready-to-ride (or display) custom-made surfboard. The board was produced by Atlantic Beach resident Mike Whisnant, one of the premiere shapers on the East Coast. The event has a guaranteed $1,000,000 prize pool and will be televised and streamed.

Devoted on-line poker players have seen their options steadily diminish with site after site disappearing or being shut down over the last year. But now they may have a good reason to rejoice, as new entrant, Face-Up Gaming (www.faceupgaming.com) gets set to make its debut.

by Barbara Rogers

Living up to the hype hasn’t been easy, but Revel seems to have exceeded all expectations. Unlike anything else on the Boardwalk, the $2.4 billion resort, an ultra-contemporary curved glass and steel oceanfront complex, sets a new standard for Atlantic City.

 The smoke-free resort begins welcoming guests April 2 for an eight-week preview. Revel’s official debut is May 25 - Memorial Day weekend. A progressive schedule of select restaurant openings, gaming, performance spaces, spa, daylife, and nightlife amenities, will complement the preview.

By A.C. Clark

Wow! What a busy weekend. I drove from Eastern Washington, to “the coast,” as we say on our side of the mountains, to Western Washington, to watch an All-State volleyball game—quite the honor for an already-accepted-to-college senior. I was a proud dad, as my daughter played well, and set for the winning team. Moreover, she has a great attitude and doesn’t get caught up in all the drama … most of the time.

by Roger Rodd

In all of their infinite wisdom, the brain trust of professional football scouts chose Jack Thompson, Phil Simms, and Steve Fuller in the first round. To determine this decision, they relied upon a system that rated Thompson an eight on a scale of nine. Thompson’s eventual impact as an NFL QB would place him somewhere between Lady Gaga and Urkel. Fuller should have stuck to selling brushes door to door. In fairness, only Simms more than earned his place as a worthy top choice.

 The 82nd pick in the third round that year in the NFL draft was a little known player named Joe Montana. Despite countless comebacks and numerous triumphs over adversity throughout his high school and college careers, the scouts rated him a six. It’s rumored that those same scouts resigned after that draft, and eventually became the financial managers for M.C. Hammer.

by Barbara Connors
 
It’s an unusual concept in a poker game: money that isn’t wanted. Poker players have a reputation as being ruthless sharks who would sell out their own grandmothers for a little extra profit. But watch any given poker game and inevitably it happens, the bizarre spectacle of a pot surrounded by apathetic players who check, check, check. These unwanted pots—where nobody has flopped much of a hand or shows any real interest in winning—are commonly known as orphan pots.

Pokagon Band Chairman Matthew Wesaw was selected by the Native American Financial Officers Association to receive the Tribal Leader of the Year Award.

 “Out of more than 550 tribes in the United States, Pokagon Band caught the attention of experts for its solid finances and enterprise expansion plans,” said John Warren, Pokagon Band treasurer. “Bankers have told us that some countries should take note on how we manage financial resources.”

By Wendeen H. Eolis

Down the boardwalk from the recent World Series of Poker Circuit event in Atlantic City, a troop of online poker forum contributors—“ARGERS”—were whooping it up at the annual ATLARGE banquet.  The dinner was sponsored by PokerStars. The keynote speaker was John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance.

By Haley Hintze
 
WSOP Europe Announces Seven- Bracelet 2012 Slate

 The 2012 World Series of Poker Europe is slated for September 21 October 4 in Cannes, France. The events include no-limit hold’em and pot-limit hold’em, with a variety of formats: short-handed, shootout, and a special “mixed-max” tourney, debuting this year. The WSOPE’s main event begins on September 29, with returning champion, Elio Fox.

by Debbie Burkhead
 
 Station Casinos $300,000 Poker Plus is Back! Qualifying begins April 15 through June 15. Fifty hours of live poker is required to qualify. First place will receive $40,000, second will take home $15,000, and third place will pocket $10,000. Everyone who qualifies and plays in the tournament will receive $75. The Day One chip leaders will split $6,000. The final event will be held July 7 and 8 at Texas Station. Players will start with $1,400 in tournament chips. For more information, and a complete list of payouts, see their ad in this issue of Poker Player Newspaper.