Poker News
Poker News

Shana Hiatt back on TV!!!

Sunday, October 15, 2006

NBC has announced that former WPT hostess Shana Hiat has been signed on to host "Poker After Dark, an hour long nightly show that will kick off in January 2007.

The show will air Monday to Saturday and will feature 6 poker professionals vying for a winner-take-all $120,000 first place prize.

Each night will feature an intimate look at one table as it develops over the week, culminating with a winner on Friday night. Saturday night's show will recap the week's events with Hiat and that week's winner offering commentary and insight into their winning strategy.

Set in the back room of various casinos on the Vegas strip, “Poker After Dark” gives viewers an intimate look inside a poker game usually reserved for the eyes of the professional poker players themselves. “Poker After Dark” will feature the world’s top pros, all miked during the weekly battles for the $120,000 pot – including Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Erick Lindgren, Jennifer Harman and Gus Hansen – fighting it out for poker supremacy.

“There’s a vibrant late night audience looking for original programming,” Marc Graboff, President, NBC Universal Television. “We felt this inside look at the professional poker scene is perfect for late night television and those viewers seeking an unique and original broadcast.”

We are just happy to have Shana back on TV!

Shane @ Poker.com



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Meet your Congressmen

Monday, October 09, 2006

This video features J Todd, a US attorney with vast online gambling law experience. (not it's not anyone form Poker.com)


Posted at 11:24 PM Permalink | 5 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum


Congresswoman confirms - bill doesn't prohibit online poker!

In a recent interview with Gambling911 with Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) went on the record to discuss the impact, if any, the recent legislation passed in the U.S. Congress will have on internet gambling.

"This legislation has a loophole big enough to drive a truck through that was designed solely to protect betting on horse racing and lotteries over the Internet. The fact that this bill was included in the GOP’s “Values Agenda” proves it is nothing more than an election-year ploy to satisfy Republicans on the far right who want to outlaw adults from gambling in Nevada or anywhere else,” said Berkley.

Congresswoman Berkley instead wants more research into how to economically regulate the online gambling industry and turn it into a profitable enterprise for both the public and private sector.

Earlier this year Congresswoman Berkley pushed for a federal study on Internet gaming. The study bill was a direct response to efforts in the House to ban all forms of on-line gaming.

"Internet gaming is becoming more popular every day and we need a comprehensive federal study that looks at the question of whether or not it can be effectively regulated and what role technology can play in accomplishing that goal,” said Berkley, who co-chairs the Congressional Gaming Caucus.

Berkley believes Congress should assess how states and gaming entities might use technology and state regulations to ensure the safety and integrity of Internet gaming based in the U.S. With billions of dollars going from the US to foreign Internet gaming operations, Berkley urges Congress to leave the door open for U.S.-based gaming entities to provide safe, regulated and state-taxed Internet gaming options.

"Nevada is the world model for well-regulated gaming and people who come to the Las Vegas strip know they are not going to be ripped-off. As a nation, we should look at whether or not the Nevada model can also be used to regulate gaming on-line. That is just one of the many questions I hope this study will answer,” said Berkley.

Berkley is also unimpressed by the hipocracy of supporters of the push to completely outlaw online gambling which is directly opposed to their stance on government interference on other issues.

“It is not the role of the federal government to tell adults how they should spend their money, and that includes betting on-line. I continue to be amazed by the members of this body who constantly rail against an intrusive federal government, and yet, when it comes to gaming, they are the first to call for more government intrusion,” Berkley said. “A man’s home is his castle unless he chooses to participate in online gaming. Then his home becomes the province of the federal government.”

Shane @ Poker.com


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Mike Sexton to hit the talk show circuit

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Mike SextonThis coming week, the 'Ambassador of Poker', Mike Sexton is going to fight the good fight in a very public way.

Poker.com has learned that Sexton is going to embark on a 'Media Blitz' campaign this coming week in New York City, and possibly Washington D.C. in an effort to call attention to the great injustice that has been done to people's right's everywhere with the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Act.

"The mission is obviously to voice the displeasure with this bill that has been passed by Congress, and to speak up for the rights of poker players, and their right to play online poker." said Sexton.

No shows are confirmed at this time, but some of the shows being bandied about are some of the most watched programs on TV, so the message is sure to get out. Sexton should know much more about his itinerary in the next couple days. Mike will not be alone on the press tour.

"I'm planning to take Barry Greenstein, and possibly (Poker Players Alliance leader) Michael Bolcerek with me. It's time for standing up and speaking out on behalf of our freedom of choice, which has been violated"

Check back for more updates on this breaking story, and we will try to keep you up on where to look for Mike on TV as he fights the battle for poker player's rights.


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At least there's one lady with integrity in Congress...

Wednesday, October 04, 2006




And even she had to vote yes!


Posted at 2:33 AM Permalink | 5 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum


Twenty-One-Year-Old Wins More than $1.5 Million

Six players entered the Borgata Event Center, one left a champion. The marquee event of the 2006 Borgata Poker Open lived up to its hype and supplied spectators with some of the most intriguing and exciting poker play on the WPT to date.

North Carolina’s Mark Newhouse captured the title and first-place prize of $1,519,020 beating Chris McCormack in head’s-up action. McCormack took home $802,985 for his second place finish. Newhouse (age 21) and McCormack (age 22) were the youngest players at the final table. Newhouse is the second youngest player to ever win a WPT Championship. The two dominated from the early moments at the final table, and the action only continued to heat up throughout the night.

Newhouse, who won his seat to the final table by winning a $1,000 satellite, spoke of how McCormack forced him to adjust his strategy. “On Monday (the final 27) I used my monster chip stack to push the players around and knock them out; I came to the final table with the same strategy. Chris played so well and matched my aggressive play, so I adjusted. I started to lose some confidence as he took the chip lead in head’s up action, but I played my game and won the championship.”

McCormack entered the tournament focused on winning, and was noticeably disappointed with his second place finish. McCormack said, “I have come close in past WPT tournaments, but this was the first televised final table and I expected to win. I re-built my chip stack during the early rounds at the final table and put myself in the position to win, but this was Mark’s night. It is still great to take home over $800,000 and I will definitely be back at Borgata and other WPT events.”

"Borgata is the perfect fit for the WPT because it's a very classy and elegant casino property, it's the finest property in Atlantic City, and the WPT truly has the greatest venues in the game and it is only fitting that our east coast stop, here in Atlantic City is Borgata." After the production wrapped, Sexton took the crew and many of the players to celebrate at B Bar.

The 2006 Borgata Poker Open broke attendance records and rewarded more money than previous Borgata Poker Open events. The WPT main event, featuring a prize pool of over $5 million, was the biggest tournament in Atlantic City's history.

The World Poker Tour action will return to Borgata in January 2007. The second annual Borgata Winter Open kicks-off on Wednesday, January 17 and ends Tuesday, January 30 with the final table. ($9,700 + $300 WPT Event Friday, January 26 – Wednesday, January 30).

Shane @ Poker.com


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Actor raises Royal Flush with strip poker joke

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

British royal Prince Charles was left red-faced last night when cheeky British actor Stephen Fry joked about enjoying a game of strip poker with him. Fry addressed a packed cinema audience at the London premiere of new movie THE HISTORY BOYS, where the Prince had asked him to introduce a short advertisement for his charity The Prince's Trust. But a reluctant Fry revealed: "There were only two of us who could have spoken tonight. We decided on a game to decide who - the winner got to sit and enjoy the film without a speech. "He (Charles) suggested polo. In the end we settled on strip poker. He saw my low pair and for the first time I understood what a royal flush was." Prince Charles was joined by his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

Shane @ Poker.com


Posted at 8:26 PM Permalink | 0 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum


Open letter from the Poker Players Alliance

Dear Members,

As you may already know, the U.S. Congress approved an online poker prohibition late Friday evening. The ban was snuck into the Port Security Act during a back room deal and following extensive political strong-arming by the Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and the Speaker of the House, J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL). This tactic discouraged debate on the bill and allowed it to pass without any public discussion. Why a poker ban was included in the Port Security Act is beyond me and most poker players and should be of concern to every American. It was a “bad beat” but we are still at the table.

This is no time to panic, but rather we must learn and build from this loss. The Poker Players Alliance is not leaving the fight, although now it is going to take an even greater effort from poker players and our organization to achieve our objectives.

What do we want to do now?

Poker Exemption

We continue to demand that poker receive separate treatment from other forms of gaming. It is a game of skill, where performance is merited, and a community game, where the house is not your competition. These are real and significant differences. Our desire is to achieve the same type of exemption from legislation that other interests have received (Horseracing, Lotteries, and Fantasy Sports). We will continue to push forward to obtain this separate treatment when Congress comes back from the elections and into the next legislative session. Between now and when the new bill becomes effective (3 to 6 months) poker has an opportunity to achieve the same exemption. This is our most immediate short-term goal.

License, Regulate and Tax

Regulation is the best public policy solution for both the federal government and the American poker player. Prohibition of on-line poker will only drive the game underground and build distrust and misunderstanding amongst the 70 million Americans who enjoy the great game of poker. I spent the better part of the year engaging members of the House and Senate about the idea of regulating Internet poker. This has raised interest from both Democrats and Republican’s alike. There has even been legislation introduced that seeks to establish a Congressional commission that would examine the best way to regulate this industry. Early this summer the PPA commissioned an economic analysis of the potential tax revenue that could be raised through regulation. Members of Congress have been receptive to this study and the $3.3 Billion that could be raised annually for the federal government. This is our ultimate goal and the PPA will drive this ag! enda.

What should you do know? First, every member of the PPA should be registered to vote in the upcoming state and federal elections. If you are not yet registered there is still time, click here to find out about how to register in your state. https://ssl.capwiz.com/congressorg/e4/nvra/ Second, be sure to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7th. We must put our vote where our voice is and establish a poker voting block. While the Port Security Act which included the prohibition legislation was passed near unanimously in both the House and the Senate, the House did have a clean vote on the poker prohibition in July. A list of how House members voted in July is available on our Web site too, click here. Finally, the PPA needs your help to spread the word about our organization. Please tell at least nine friends who might not know about the Poker Players Alliance to join the fight. We need to be 1 Million strong going into 2007.

Very soon a brief analysis of the Internet Gambling Prohibition Amendment will be posted on our website. Please return to www.pokerplayersalliance.org soon so you can learn how this legislation will affect you.

Again, I want to thank you for your support, and hope that you will continue that support as the Poker Players Alliance enters the next level of commitment. This is not over.

Regards,
Michael Bolcerek
President
Poker Players Alliance


Posted at 1:30 AM Permalink | 3 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum


USA Players - You need to take action.

Monday, October 02, 2006

I just wanted to make a brief statement regarding Poker.com's thoughts on the recent Internet Gambling Prohibition act recently passed by legislators in the United States Congress. The act was deceptively attached to a totally unrelated Safe Port Bill, with no time for discussion or debate on it's merits, forcing the hand of all members of Congress who had no choice but to pass the Safe Port Bill as it was a matter of national security.

The passing of this act through congress will have no immediate affect on operations at Poker.com. We are not currently planning to close the accounts of US players, and all funds within player accounts are perfectly safe and will always be readily accessible. It is worth noting that the act is primarily related to financial transactions between gaming businesses and banks and no penalties have been introduced to to discourage individual citizens who wish to play poker online. We will continually monitor the legislative changes and obtain detailed legal advice on this situation, but for now it is business as usual.

At the moment we encourage all Poker.com members to join the Poker Players Alliance, and to contact your government representatives to voice your opinion on the potential prohibition of online gaming.

Citizens of the USA, do not allow your great country to be run in this way. Force your politicians to act with integrity by making your opinion heard.

Kris @ Poker.com


Posted at 3:54 AM Permalink | 6 comments | Talk on the Poker Forum


WPT puts the Professional Poker Tour on hold.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

World Poker Tour Enterprises has announced the suspension of the second season of its Professional Poker Tour.

According to a WPTE announcement on its website, the company has decided to put off the struggling series until 2007.

The WPT has also run into problems thanks to a lawsuit from several notable players and more recently by legal action taken by former WPT host, Shana Hiatt.

This is not the first stumbling block the show has faced as the WPT previously experienced trouble getting a broadcast deal for the series. Despite featuring limited fields of the game’s best players, the PPT found no suitors for the fan-friendly poker action and has now been forced to put its Foxwoods (November 7-8, 2006) and Bellagio (November 29-30, 2006) dates on hold.

According to the WPTE release, the league was doing what’s necessary to look out for the interests of the players and the show. The release states, “While we continue to negotiate the broadcast of the second season, we have decided to delay these tournaments for the benefit of players who need to make long-term travel arrangements as well as the league itself.”

There's also the PPL (Professional Poker League) set to take place at The Venetian very soon. Daniel Negreanu has revealed that a 64 player weekly league with 8 x 8 player teams will be drafting teams this month and that the captains for each team have already been selected. This will be a major competitor for the PPT, with most players unlikely to play in both events.

Shane @ Poker.com


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