Poker News

By Haley Hintze

FEDS CHALLENGE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF KENTUCKY DOMAIN SEIZURES

Department of Justice attorneys working on business matters connected to the “Black Friday” case (United States v. PokerStars, et. al.) recently filed a motion to strike Kentucky’s claim of ownership against several gambling-related internet domains involved in the case. Kentucky sought to seize 141 gambling domains in a notorious 2008 legal maneuver that brought protests from far beyond the gambling sector, including internet-freedom and business groups. The DOJ’s motion offers evidence that Kentucky never actually seized anything (despite the commonwealth’s claims) and that Kentucky’s motions to attach in connection with the “Black Friday” case be denied, because the commonwealth lacks standing to file, cannot claim certain defendants’ rights, and the claim interferes with national sovereignty matters. The DOJ brief also rejected Kentucky’s claims for costs, interest, and attorney’s fees.

By Wendeen H. Eolis

[Update: Deal is now complete and official. (PokerStars Blog)]
 

At the end of last week, Poker Player Newspaper ("PPN") released breaking news that thundered across the online poker globe, announcing in very careful language that the die had been cast, effectively, for a completed deal between PokerStars and the United States Department of Justice to acquire the Full Tilt Poker ("FTP") brand.

 One business day later, the poker natives are at peak restlessness, fuming over the delay in a concrete announcement by any of the parties that would confirm or bury the PPN bulletin.

by Wendeen H. Eolis

 Breaking News: The ups and downs and glitches in negotiations between PokerStars and the United States Department of Justice with respect to Full Tilt Poker have come to an end. 

 Without giving away the identity of a consistently impeccable resource, it is now safe to say announcements for public dissemination are in the works.  At this point I am ready to go out on a limb; FTP customers will see their monies well in time for Christmas shopping.

Poker super-star and winner of the WSOP Big Drop one million dollar buy-in tournament stopped by Reddit for an "Ask Me Anything" social interview.

A sampling from the interview:

Q. Do you think online poker will ever be legal in the US?

A. Yes...Just a matter of time. State by state to start..

Q. Is needling Hellmuth one of your favorite activities while playing poker?

A. YES. He is just so easy to pick on...and in his credit he can take the needling like a champ. Perphaps years of experience.

Q. Any advice for those who can't maintain a good pokerface?

A. PRACTICE doing the same thing EVERY time you bet no matter what you have.

Read the full thread and get a glimpse of the real magician of poker on reddit:

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/x15eo/i_am_antonio_esfandiari_2_time_wsop_bracelet/

By Wendeen H. Eolis

Day seven of the 2012 World Series of Poker (“WSOP”) started with the final 27 players. Among the finalists, the poker gods favored two women but burst their bubble in the 11th and 10th spots. Before the day began, the most adored marquee names had all disappeared. At the close of the WSOP’s summer season, PokerStars’ pros were out of the hunt. And, word was trickling out that PokerStars’  top brass were occupied with more far reaching matters on the WSOP’s last day of summer play.

Is There A Real Deal In The Cards?

There was still no official announcement on the anticipated deal that would turn over to PokerStars the assets of Full Tilt Poker (“FTP”) and no word on the concrete basis on which to believe that  Full Tilt customers were about to see  repayment of their locked up funds.

by Haley Hintze

DELAWARE APPROVES  ONLINE POKER AMID  GAMBLING EXPANSION

 A broad-based expansion of gambling opportunities  was signed into law by Delaware Governor Jack Markell one day after  Delaware’s state Senate passed a House bill authorizing several forms  of online gambling, including online poker. Online casino games and  NFL parlay betting were also included in the bill, which will call for  residents to purchase deposit vouchers from authorized state sales  agents once various online network pieces are up and running.

THREE MONTHS FOR BLACK FRIDAY’S  THREE MONTHS FOR BLACK FRIDAY’S  CAMPOS CAMPOS

The first annual Poker  Player of the Year tournament concluded in the wee  hours of the morning on  July 5, 2012 at the Golden  Nugget casino in Las Vegas  with New Zealander, John Parker, 50, taking the championship and the symbolic  “Golden Nugget” ring. John  is a property developer in the  Auckland region of North  Island.  His home in the  Westmere suburb is about  half an hour’s drive to the  nearest poker room, where  he is often found playing  in a tournament. John is an  avid poker tournament player who takes in about 100  events a year, including most  major events in the Asia/ Pacific region.

by Nolan Dalla

Las Vegas, NV (July 17, 2012 – 2:15 am PST) – What started as the fifth-largest live poker tournament in history is now down to the final nine players at the 2012 World Series of Poker.  Nearly two weeks and more than half a million hands after the $10,000 buy-in Main Event Championship initially began, the famed “October Nine” finalists have been determined.

The day’s decisive moment came when Andras Koroknai (Hungary) eliminated Gaelle Baumann (France) who ended up as the tenth-place finisher.  The final hand was dealt at 1:10 am, eliciting frustration for Baumann’s many supporters, while igniting an outburst of screams and cheers from hundreds of spectators swarming the ESPN broadcast stage, including the family and friends of those who about to step into the brightest spotlight of their lives.

By Haley Hintze

 BALLY TECHNOLOGIES, IGT RECEIVE NEVADA ONLINE-POKER APPROVAL

 Nevada’s first licensees connected to the state’s upcoming intrastate online-poker offerings were issued in late June to in-state slot machine manufacturers, Bally Technologies, and International Game Technology (IGT). Both Bally and IGT have positioned themselves to provide infrastructure for online sites, and will partner with existing brick-and-mortar casinos. Bally has already inked a deal with the Golden Nugget, and ShuffleMaster, while IGT previously acquired the Euro-facing Entraction Network, giving the company a ready-made poker platform.

 PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES HPT IN EPIC POKER BANKRUPTCY AUCTION

By Tom McEvoy

I’m going to give an overview of the World Series of Poker in this column: the good, the bad—and the uncertain. First off, the good: no long lines to sign up for events. The Rio staff has it down pat, and they’ve proven to be very efficient in processing players. The one table satellites are well run and have an experienced staff that can handle any problems that arise. There are tournaments and cash games for every size bankroll. The Rio has daily $235.00 buy-in tournaments at 2:00 pm that are attracting very large crowds and nice payoffs for the winners. Later in the day, $185.00 buy-in and $135.00 buy-in events are also available. These are all deep-stack tournaments with lots of chips to start with. Mega satellites for the main event are also offered daily with $330.00 and $550.00 buy-ins. The Rio has made available a lot of convention space to hold all of their events, so there is plenty of room to take care of all the players. The cash games go from $1 & $3 blind no limit games up to very high limits and pot limit games, including some very big Pot Limit Omaha.