03 Mar 06
Heads-Up at Caesars
"Friday is here and so is the first day of elimination for the NBC Heads Up Championship at Caesars Palace. This major poker tournament is limited to 64 players including many of the top professionals. The organization of the event and the subsequent elimination rounds are patterned after the college basketball championship.
Last year's winner, Phil "the Brat" Hellmuth, will be defending his title in the second annual installment of this very popular event."
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02 Mar 06
Paddy signs 10,000 players in first year
"PADDY POWER’S entry to the online poker market has paid off, signing up nearly 10,000 gaming customers in just a year.
According to the bookmaker, nearly 10% of its total online customer base use the site solely for casino games and it is making a solid contribution to group profits.
Gross win from Paddy Power’s gaming book increased to €17 million from €6m in 2004. The sports book, which has been up and running for some years has gross win of €26 million."
Full Article
02 Mar 06
Margolis Tries Her Poker Hand
"Within the last several months, Margolis has launched her own online poker room, teamed up with professional poker player Cyndy Violette to pitch a reality TV show, become the face of the World Poker Tour’s official online community, Chipleaders, and opened a Los Angeles night club with her husband, Guy.
Oh, and she just expanded her business team by adding Poker Royalty, a marketing and player representative agency that specializes in poker business. As if she needed any more help.
Margolis must have the energy level of a Kenyan marathon runner and brains that rival those of any marketing guru."
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01 Mar 06
Poker's Biggest Night
Men "The Master" Nguyen was the star of Cardplayer Magazine and Bodog's inaugural "Biggest Night in Poker," capturing the coveted Best Player honors for 2005.
Nguyen had a career-year in 2005; a tough accomplishment considering Nguyen was already a three-time Player of the Year recipient (1997, 2001, 2003) and is one of the most decorated and recognized professionals ever to play.
... Cardplayer Magazine awards the Player of the Year title annually, using a point system that gives players certain values for their placement in major poker tournaments. The higher a participant places in a tournament, the more points they earn.
In 2005, no one earned more points than "The Master."
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01 Mar 06
BetFair Targets Women
"As part of a new "female focused" promotional campaign, Betfair Poker will be sending a male model to host their women's poker nights for five lucky female poker players.
... In their latest promotion, Betfair Poker will allow five lucky ladies to experience a night of Texas Hold 'Em in their own homes with a hunky male host on hand to assist. The five winners will be able to invite nine of their girlfriends over to share in the fun packed night in. Ladies who register at Betfair Poker and play for free between today, March 1st, and March 28th will be eligible for the prize."
Full Article
28 Feb 06
Poker Strategy: Buying the Free Card
"You may have heard about players buying a free card. I know that I didn't understand what this meant for quite a while. But it is not an advanced move, and it's used almost routinely in many games. Here's how it works.
Let's say that on Fourth Street you have an exposed 2-Flush (8c-Jc)7cKc. Your opponent with (x-x) As9d bets $10 in this $10/20 game. Naturally, with a little less than a 50% chance of hitting your flush and almost surely winning the hand, you're going to the River with it unless your opponent catches something extremely scary. So you might normally call.
Instead, you can sometimes raise with that 4-Flush. You've given yourself a few new ways to win, enlarging a pot for yourself if you do catch the Flush, and also won yourself a free card on Fifth Street if you don't hit your suited card."
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28 Feb 06
PartyGaming CEO To Depart
"Online poker company PartyGaming unleashed something of a double-whammy today when, in addition to exceptional full -year figures, it reported that CEO Richard Segal was to leave the company. According to the company's announcement, Segal's impending departure was a matter of geographical location. Since PartyGaming floated last year, Segal has been commuting from London to the company's Gibraltar headquarters on a weekly basis. PartyGaming said that, in light of the company's surging growth, both Segal and the board concurred that 'the CEO now needs to be located in Gibraltar along with all the other executive directors.'"
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27 Feb 06
Poker Fraudster Caught
"Internet poker fraudsters, and the consequences of this dishonest conduct at major internet poker venues was one of the top discussion subjects this week following spectacular detective work and the confiscation of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In one case, the $200 buy-in, $500 000 Guaranteed Poker Tournament held by market leader Partypoker was the target ... the packed tables were finally (apparently) conquered by a hitherto unknown player using the handle 'ABlackCar', who won $140 000. ...
Through some astute detective and technology work, Partypoker exposed the fact that 'ABlackcar' was the fraudulent multiple account of one of the Internet's top Internet poker players who uses the handle 'JJ Prodigy'.
Partypoker's reaction was decisive and immediate, stripping the first prize from ABlackcar and awarding it instead to the next placed player, with a consequent unexpected 'bump up' for all other winners."
Full Article
27 Feb 06
Estimated $60 Billion Wagered
"According to a new online poker report released by Research and Markets, a market research provider, the amount wagered at online poker sites in 2005 topped $60 billion. This is good news for online poker fans, operators, and investors who have been subjected as of late to constant naysaying by various industry 'experts.'
"In addition to offering that attractive little tidbit, 'Online Poker - Driving Gambling to New Heights' surveyed a group of online gaming insiders regarding their predictions for online poker in the coming years. Surveyed participants believed online poker to be more than just a passing fad, with nearly two thirds predicted its continuing to be the principal offering in online gaming over the next two to three years."
Full Article
27 Feb 06
Guide to Mac Poker Rooms
NewYork, NY (PRWEB) February 26, 2006 -- For a while Mac poker players have been left in the dust during the online poker boom. The only poker room to offer Mac compatible software was pokerroom. Lately however there has been a wave of poker sites offering new Mac compatible poker rooms.
pokeronamac.com offers a directory of reviews for the best Mac compatible online poker rooms. New sites open up and offer both Mac and PC poker rooms, and existing reputable sites are releasing Mac compatible software. They both have their upsides and this is explained on pokeronamac.com.
The owner of pokeronamac.com, Mike Jonas, is a professional online poker player. For the past three years he has made a living from playing online poker on his 17” G4 Apple PowerBook.
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24 Feb 06
Smart money backs poker
"The potential profits offered by online gambling are phenomenal and, over the past few years, the smart money has turned to poker. ...
According to Ladbrokes, an estimated £36m was staked on online poker sites every day in 2005, up 89 per cent year on year. Those who got in early are getting their share of that money, but for the 'Johnny come lately' it may already be too late."
Full Article
24 Feb 06
Books: 'Fundamentals of Poker'
by Mason Malmuth and Lynne Loomis: "A hard-hitting guide to the best strategies for the most popular casino poker games seven-card study and Texas hold'em - plus insights into winning at Omaha, Omaha eight-or-better, seven-card study, eight-or-better, razz, and lowball."
Full Article
24 Feb 06
Books: 'Poker For Dummies'
It was only a matter of time before the (in)famous 'Dummies' series of teach-yourself books pulled one out of the hat for the novice poker crowd. "[T]his friendly guide shows you step-by-step how to get, bluff, and play your way to the top, from seven-card stud and high-low splits to Omaha and Texas Hold'em." Penned by Lou Krieger (author of 'Hold'Em Excellence') and Richard Harroch, "an attorney and avid poker player".
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24 Feb 06
Books: 'Poker Essays' By Mason Malmuth
"Poker is an extremely complicated game. This is especially true if your form of poker is either Texas hold'em or seven-card stud. In addition, the typical opponent that you will face has gotten tougher as the years have gone by. As a result, those of you who just play right (also known as playing ABC) are unable to win more than just a small amount at the lower limits. ... This text contains many of the author's current ideas on poker and related subjects."
Full Article
22 Feb 06
Revenues up for SportingBet
"A buoyant Sportingbet, Britain's second-biggest online gaming group, reported a 72 percent increase in second quarter pretax profit this week and said poker commission rose 107 percent.
Second quarter pretax profit was GBP 27 million in the three months to January 31, said Sportingbet, which owns the Paradise Poker and Sportsbook websites."
Full Article
22 Feb 06
Pokershare To Relaunch
"Pokershare.com, the innovative poker concept which was controversially abandoned by Excapsa Software Inc last year, looks set for a comeback in March. Playit Ownit Limited, the operators of PokerShare.com, has also announce that its dispute with Excapsa Software has been settled.
Pokershare introduced a new concept to the online poker market, where players would effectively end up owning a share of the poker room. The poker room launched on Excapsa software (which also powers Ultimate Bet). About a month after its launched, Excapsa pulled the plug."
Full Article
22 Feb 06
Bad Luck for Pros and Celebs at L.A. Poker Classic
"After six grueling days, the L.A. Poker Classic has found a champion in relative unknown Alan Goehring. Although the tournament attracted the upper crust of professional poker and Hollywood alike, many of the more famous names busted out during the first two days of competition. In total, close to 700 poker enthusiasts came to Commerce Casino for the $10,000 buy-in No-Limit Texas Hold 'em tournament."
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21 Feb 06
CA Bill To Allow Charity Poker
As reported by the San Jose Business Journal: "The California Assembly has upped the ante on charity poker by approving legislation that would allow a wide variety of nonprofits to hold fundraisers using gambling.
"The bill, introduced by Alberto Torrico, D-Newark, is given a good chance of passage in the Senate where it now awaits action. Attorney General Bill Lockyer is a sponsor.
"The Almaden Business Association ran afoul of the poker ban last October when it planned to hold a Texas Hold 'em poker fundraiser to pay for furniture in a planned children's story room in the new Almaden library branch…"
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21 Feb 06
Free Online Poker for Mac Users
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL (NEWSWIRE) -- Compatiblepoker.com opens up a full Mac(R) poker review and compatibility Website on the best free Mac online poker rooms. Compatiblepoker.com's free online poker for Mac review center is said to have the best information for Mac poker players on the web. The site was launched will full bonuses and free Mac compatible poker rooms at www.CompatiblePoker.com.
The site owner provides valuable information to Mac users on which poker room to choose when using a Mac. In total the site has over 9 Mac compatible poker rooms. The only two downloadable poker rooms listed on the site are Full Tilt and Bugsyclub. Full Tilt was recently added to Compatiblepoker and new users can get $600 and a chance to win an Apple computer by using sign up bonus code "Macintosh." ...
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21 Feb 06
Hannem wins Canada's Women's Poker Classic
RICHMOND, BC, Feb. 20 /CNW/ - Clarissa Hannem of Esquimalt took top honours and won $22,680.00 to become Canada's first ever Women's Poker Classic champion.
Hannem out-maneuvered and out-played 249 other women to nab the top prize after about five hours of play in the $75,000 No Limit Texas Hold'em tournament held at Cascades Casino in Langley Feb 19. ...
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