Jan 18, 2013 The Northern German State of Schleswig-Holstein has handed out three sports betting. The world’s largest poker room picked Full Tilt Poker off the mat and restored respectable liquidity to. May 2011 monthly form guide from Morgan Stanley Research for the Poker Business and to all the online Gaming Industry. Get the latest gambling news from calvin ayre. Amaya subsidiary Ongame acquire new partner MONTREAL, Canada – December 18, 2012 – Amaya Gaming Group Inc. (“Amaya” or the “Corporation”) (TSXV: AYA), an entertainment.
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We're trying to get you caught up on the week's top poker news stories. In this edition of the Weekly Turbo, you'll get a look at Full Tilt Poker's latest statement, the newest member of Team PokerStars Online, and more.
Full Tilt Poker Statement
On Wednesday, Full Tilt Poker released its latest statement to PokerStrategy.com. The statement touches on the the financial issues the company is facing and how it is positioning itself to deal with them. According to the press release, approximately 250 positions at Pocket Kings Ltd. could be affected by the new cost optimization program.
Here is the statement in its entirety:
'On April 15th 2011 the United States Department of Justice unsealed a federal indictment against a number of individuals employed by major online poker operators. After the issuance of that indictment and a related civil case brought by the United States government, Full Tilt Poker withdrew from the US market. Then in a related action, on June 29th, 2011, Full Tilt Poker had its operating licenses suspended by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission.'
'As a result, Pocket Kings Ltd. (provider of marketing and technology services to Full Tilt Poker) has adopted a cost optimization program and estimates that they need to reduce their costs by approximately €12m. This program is intended to streamline the company’s operations in order to better position itself for future growth and profitability in Full Tilt Poker’s markets outside of the U.S.'
'If all of the required cost savings were to be achieved through redundancies, approximately 250 positions could be affected; however the exact number cannot be confirmed until the conclusion of a consultation process with its workforce.'
'Notwithstanding the foregoing, Pocket Kings firmly believes it has a very strong future in Full Tilt Poker’s Non-US Markets, and is fully committed to ensuring Full Tilt Poker restores the site and repay players in full. To this end, Full Tilt Poker has retained Sea Port Group Securities, LLC as its financial advisor with regard to raising capital and/or assisting in securing a strategic partner in order to fund continued operations of Full Tilt Poker's non-U.S. business. The Company is in active discussions with several parties and will provide a further statement in due course.'
Sporting the Red Spade
Even though the Team PokerStars Pro roster may be getting lighter, the Team PokerStars Online roster just added a heavy hitter. Mickey 'mement_mori' Petersen is the newest member of Team PokerStars Online.
Petersen, much like David Williams and Justin Bonomo, got into poker after playing Magic: The Gathering. Can someone get us one of those decks? Maybe we'll get better at poker if we start playing MTG.
'I see signing with world's biggest online site as the next logical step in my career and hopefully I'll be able to build on my resume live as well as online and promote both PokerStars and the game in a positive light,' Petersen said .
It didn't take long to add to his resume. The newly minted member of Team PokerStars Online final tabled WCOOP Event #24 on Monday night, and finished in third place, good for $10,868.25.
The PokerStars Blog has more.
Behind Closed Doors
The Alderney Gambling Control Commission will hold its hearing regarding Full Tilt Poker on Sept. 19 — four days after its 'deadline.' The public may have been allowed at the first hearing in July, but there will be no such luck this time around. The AGCC released a statement today announcing that the hearing will take place 'in camera,' which we guess is a fancy way to say 'behind closed doors.' We're pretty sure the public is a little fired up about this, but there's also someone else who doesn't agree with this decision, executive director of the AGCC, Andre Wilsenach.
“I am pleased that the FTP hearing will continue as scheduled, as was argued on my behalf. However, I am disappointed with the tribunal’s decision that, notwithstanding my arguments to the contrary, the hearing will be held in private. I believe the public has a right to know the reasoning behind the decisions to suspend FTP’s licences and call a hearing, and to hear the evidence that will be put forward on my behalf,' Wilsenach said in the press release.
'It is my understanding that the tribunal conducted a difficult balancing exercise of the interests of the various parties, taking into account the legal arguments for and against further postponing the hearing, and for and against allowing the public to attend the proceedings.”
GamblingControl.org has more.
World Poker Tour Paris High Roller
On Friday, the €15,000 buy-in high roller kicked off at the 2011 World Poker Tour Rendez-Vous à Paris. Among the 36 players who entered was last year's winner, Freddy Deeb, and last year's runner-up, Sorel Mizzi. Would history repeat itself? A €521,100 prize pool was created and €234,495 was reserved for first place.
Mizzi moved into the second day of play as the chip leader, and when five players were left on Sunday, Mizzi tweeted:
Chip leader w/ 740k of 1.8 Million in play in high roller... 5 left! Also big congrats to @matthew_waxman for shipping WPT, kid was due!!!
— Sorel Mizzi (@sorelmizzi)Sure enough, it was déjà vu for Mizzi and Deeb, but this time, there was a twist. On a flop of Deeb shipped his remaining stack in the middle holding . Mizzi snap-called, tabling . The turn and river blanked for Deeb, giving Mizzi the title and the €234,495 first-place prize.
Winner winner chicken dinner ship the 234,495 euros n the trophy! Revenge is sweet! Freddy plyed gr8 http://t.co/DsUSHff
— Sorel Mizzi (@sorelmizzi)WPT Paris High Roller Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sorel Mizzi | €234,495 |
| 2 | Freddy Deeb | €130,275 |
| 3 | Nichlas Matsson | €78,165 |
| 4 | Jerome Zerbib | €52,110 |
| 5 | Christopher Lastiwka | €26,055 |
Read more at FR.PokerNews.com.
South Point Going Online
According to GamingToday.com, South Point Casino owner Michael Gaughan is launching an online poker site in the 'next couple of weeks.' The site will be a free-play poker site on the ZEN Entertainment network.
'This is an experiment for me,' Gaughan told GamingToday. 'I’m just getting my feet wet but I expect that down the line I am going to be applying for an intrastate license.'
Las Vegas-based ZEN Entertainment has also partnered with Jamie Gold for his new online poker site, the UFC's online poker site. If you recall, the UFC is owned by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, who also own Station Casinos. See the connection?
Will these free-for-play online poker sites be popping up more frequently? With land-based casinos attached to them? Only time will tell.
Read more at GamingToday.com.
Saab Gets Booked
In January, we told you that David Saab was busted in Australia for attempting to import 21 kilograms (~46 pounds) of cocaine. Saab, along with Francis Hughes and Robert Reemus tried to smuggle the cocaine in a shipment of steel machine parts that were boated in from Vancouver.
On Tuesday, it was reported that the three men were given a combined 30-year jail sentence after pleading guilty. Reemus and Hughes were given eight-year jail sentences with a minimum of five years. Judge Liz Gaynor sentenced Saab to a 10-year minimum sentence and pointed him out as the 'chief organizer of the operation,' noting that he stood to gain $110,000 for the shipment.
According to the Herald Sun, Gaynor told Saab 'the 'illusory world you have constructed for yourself' had been shattered by his arrest, as had his 'delusions of wealth.'
Find out more about the sentencing at HeraldSun.com.au.
German State Legalizes Online Poker
Germany has 16 states, or Länder. One of them, Schleswig-Holstein, recently passed legislation that will legalize and regulate online poker.
The new legislation allows for betting exchange, sports books, poker and all casino games except roulette, blackjack, and baccarat, according to eGaming Review. The law will go into effect Jan. 1, 2012, and licenses will be valid beginning March 1. The state will also impose a 20 percent tax on gross profits.
After the news, Befair released a statement saying, “Schleswig-Holstein’s new online gambling treaty is a welcome piece of legislation geared towards creating a genuinely open, transparent and responsible online gambling market in Germany. We are pleased that it has today passed through the state parliament and we look forward to applying for a license to operate there.'
'We are now hopeful that the other 15 German states will make the required amendments to their proposed State Treaty, in order to bring it into line with EU law and with the law passed in S-H today,' it continued. “Betfair is committed to participating in the online gambling market in Germany, ready and willing to pay taxes there and offer German consumers competitive, innovative and safe products.'
Read more at EGRMagazine.com.
Let's Get Ready to Ruuummmbbblllleeeee!
Manny Pacquiao and the Asian Poker Tour are joining forces. From Dec. 7 through 12, the APT is holding Manny Pacquiao World Poker Event at the Pan Pacific Hotel's Asia Poker Sports Club in Malate, Philippines. The deal was signed last week, and will become an official APT Accredited Event given the approval from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
“The APT is obviously proud to be ensuring its popular and trusted protocol is followed at the Manny Pacquiao World Poker Event. I’m sure it will be a pleasure working with such a respected personality as Manny and we’re looking forward to seeing a large turnout come December 7,' said APT tournament director Lloyd Fontillas.
Pacquiao, who is a ten-time world boxing title holder, is a supporter of poker in the region. The event will feature a PHP 500,000 High Roller, PHP 11,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event, and PHP 50,000 buy-in Main Event.
If you want to find out more, check out TheAsianPokerTour.com.
LGA on LockPoker.eu
Last month, the Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta announced that LockPoker.eu had 'no connection whatsoever with the Authority' and the LGA logo on LockPoker's website was 'false and misleading.'
The LGA issued another announcement regarding LockPoker on Thursday, clarifying some things.
'Lockpoker.eu is a website which has now been notified to the Authority as an intermediary of Alfard Malta Ltd (holder of a Maltese Remote Gaming Licence LGA/CL3/694/2010) which is to be operated on the Merge Gaming Malta platform (holder of Licence LGA/CL4/693/2010). Although duly licensed in Malta Alfard Gaming Ltd does not yet have the authorization to go live from Malta as currently Merge Malta Limited is in the process of finalising its technical setup in accordance with the Maltese Regulations, a process to be concluded shortly.'
'The Authority, however, denies spins by certain sections of the media. This was a case of having failed to notify the Authority of an intermediary arrangement in a timely fashion. The Authority, ever vigilant in the public interest, took immediate action as it does in all similar cases, irrespective of the nature of the infringement.'
It seems as though it was all a misunderstanding.
Towns In Schleswig Holstein Germany
Read more at LGA.org.mt.
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On top of bringing you the day's top poker news stories, like the sentencing of an EPT Berlin robber and what Gus Hansen thinks about today's high stakes action, we're going to give you a little tidbit of info that will probably make your life a little easier. Saturday is Tony G's birthday, and if you send him a happy birthday tweet, you'll probably be qualified -- for something.
In Case You Missed It
We all know Phil Hellmuth likes to talk, so we had to break up our interview with the Poker Brat into two parts. In Part II, Hellmuth talks about football, Ben Lamb, and more.
Day 2 of the Epic Poker League $20,000 Main Event ended with 25 players still in contention. Noah Schwartz topped the leaderboard, but Faraz Jaka and David Williams were close on his heels.
Congressman Joe Barton is struggling to find co-sponsors for his bill to regulate online poker. PokerNews' Matthew Kredell examines why the interest has stalled.
Who could end up the biggest cash-game winner of the year on PokerStars? Find out in the Online Railbird Report.
Only 40 players survived Day 2 of the World Poker Tour Venice Main Event on Thursday. You can find the key details in our Day 2 recap.
Sunday is almost here and that means football. Check out our picks and fantasy football advice for Week 14 in the latest Pigskin Diaries.
Miss anything this week? Kristy Arnett gets you caught up on the latest news, views and gossip in the PokerNews Weekly.
EPT Berlin Robbery Mastermind Faces Prison Time
The alleged mastermind behind the 2010 robbery at the PokerStars European Poker Tour Berlin Main Event was sentenced to six years and four months in jail on Thursday. The Berlin District Court found that Ibrahim al Moussa planned the attack on the poker tournament and then served as the getaway driver after four gunmen raided the Grand Hyatt Hotel and escaped with €242,000.
Police arrested the six suspects shortly after a robbery took place in March 2010. Four men who executed the attack were each given prison sentences of at least three and a half years. One of the men, 21, received a three-year and nine-month sentence; the others, 19 to 20, were handed three years and six months by a youth court.
Now that al Moussa has been sentenced, the focus shifts to the final suspect, Mohammed Abou-Charka. The 32-year-old played in the poker tournament and purportedly provided information to his associates about when to begin the attack.
Get more on this story at hochgepokert.com (Google Translate is your friend).
Is the Big Game Drying Up?
Five years ago, the 'Big Game' at Bobby's Room in Las Vegas was spreading limit games as big as $8,000/$16,000, attracting many of poker's most high-profile players.
Those days are long gone, according to Gus Hansen. The 'Great Dane' visited Las Vegas this week and blogged that he was shocked at how much the high-stakes limits have shrunk at Bellagio's famous poker room.
'I know about Black Friday and I know that a lot of people lost a lot of money when all the banks [email protected]&#ed up in 2008, but who would have thought that Highstakes Poker limits would have decreased that much,' Hansen wrote. 'Yeap, we are now playing $600/$1200 or $800/$1600 — approximately 20% of what we used to play for. Very sad if you ask me.'
Maybe Hansen could find a better game at the new Jamie Gold Poker Room a little way down the Vegas Strip. Or, maybe not.
Hansen's blog can be found at gushansen.me.
Joe Hachem Leaves PokerStars
On Friday, PokerStars announced that it has parted ways with 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event champ Joe Hachem. The Aussie pro joined forces with PokerStars after his historic win in 2005, but the decision to end the relationship came after the expiration of Hachem's Team PokerStars contract this month.
“It’s been a great run with PokerStars and I’m proud of my association with the people and the company,” Hachem said in a PokerStars press release. “But it’s time for me to pursue other career opportunities and it will be fun to have some down time to spend with my family. I look forward to the future with much excitement and anticipation and will always have fond memories of my time at PokerStars.”
With more than $11 million in live tournament earnings, Hachem ranks ninth on poker's all-time money list. He joins the likes of Dennis Phillips, Greg Raymer, Tom McEvoy and JP Kelly in parting ways with PokerStars since Black Friday.
Read the full story at PokerNews.com.
German States Approve New Online Gambling Law
On Thursday, Germany took one step closer to a regulated online gaming market when 15 of the 16 federal stated approved a new gambling law. The law would allow for up to 20 sports betting licenses and a gambling sales tax of 5 percent to be introduced.
Schleswig Holstein War
Schleswig-Holstein was the only state not to add its signature to the new law. In September, the state parliament in Schleswig-Holstein voted 46 to 45 to allow sports betting and poker sites to operate in the state, as long as they are established in the European Union. As a result, Schleswig-Holstein premier Peter Harry Carstensen told reporters Thursday that the state would need approval from the European Commission before approving the new law.
Reuters has more on the regulation situation in Germany.
PokerStars Protects the Players
Schleswig Holstein Ship
PokerStars is doing everything in its power to make sure the catastrophe at Full Tilt Poker never happens again. On Friday, the world's leading poker room unveiled the PokerStars Player Protection Plan, which will protect player funds by using a third-party, independent trustee to oversee accounts in France.
“The security of player accounts and the integrity of online poker play are fundamental to the ongoing and future success of the industry,” said PokerStars CEO Gabi Campos. “We are pleased to partner with the thought-leaders in European regulation to establish an industry-wide standard for ensuring player funds are protected.”
PokerStars said it is working closely with regulators in additional European markets such as Spain, Italy and Belgium to extend its French Player Protection Plan and establish a Europe-wide standard for the gaming industry to follow.
Find out more at PokerNews.com.
Get Sports Betting Tips at SportMoose
If you've been struggling picking European football winners of late, SportMoose.com recently examined several factors that should be considered when placing a wager.
The online gambling information site advises bettors to spend time researching the players involved in both teams, recent form, past results between two teams and anything at all you think could influence the result. Another thing to consider is whether a team is playing for a place in the postseason.
Says SportMoose, 'If a team simply has to win to either avoid relegation or qualify for a European competition you should tend to bet on the 2.5 or more goal market as they will not only be attacking more during the match but in doing so they will leave their defence open at the back and be more prone to concede goals.
In addition to its European football coverage, the writers at SportMoose provide daily betting tips for the NFL, college football, college basketball, hockey, and even tennis and MMA. You can also find the latest odds on up to 20 sports and reviews for a number of online sports books at SportMoose.com.
Smappsoft Updates Chinese 13 Card Poker App
If you’re a fan of Smappsoft’s Chinese 13 Card Poker App for the iPad/iPhone/iPod, then you’ll be happy to hear that the company has recently released Version 2.1. The latest update adds Twitter functionality that will allow players to match up easier, tweet their GameCenter ID, brag about hand, Tweet scores, and tweet from within the app itself.
The latest version of the app comes just months after the release of 2.0, adding online play technology. The 2.1 update is designed to complement the on-line play experience.
“The addition of Twitter functionality solves these needs and provides the user with an even more enjoyable platform to play Chinese 13 Card Poker,” said Mark Rubin, Smappsoft’s chief engineer.
If you already have the Chinese 13 Card Poker app, the update is available free of charge at the iTunes App Store.
Are you following PokerNews on Twitter? Like us on Facebook while you're at it, and sign up for the newsletter. You know you want to.
History Of Schleswig Holstein
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