Possible cheater caught at Full Tilt Poker
November 30, 2007
In yet another online poker world scandal, the winner of one of the bigger monthly tournaments has been stripped of his championship title and winnings. And, it’s rumored, a top online pro has been banned due to his association with the rescinded victory.
Approximately a month ago, “BluffMagCV,” an alias allegedly used by a Bluff Magazine employee named Chris Vaughn, made a rare double win by taking down the Full Tilt Poker $1 Million Guaranteed tournament and, the next weekend, the PokerStars’ Sunday $1 Million Guaranteed event as well.
Nevada Studies Online Poker and Internet Gambling within its Borders
November 30, 2007
To help Nevada legislators become informed about the pros and cons of regulating online gambling, the Nevada Gaming Control Board has commissioned the University of Nevada’s International Gaming Institute is to ‘quantify’ how many of the state’s residents gamble online, and what their attitudes are towards legalizing internet gambling.
“This will be valuable information for policymakers,” Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander was quoted in an article in the Las Vegas Sun.
The study is expected to be released within weeks.
Five-Diamond World Poker Classic Attracting Big Pros
November 30, 2007
The Bellagio poker room is the stomping grounds for many of the industry’s biggest names, so it is not surprising to see a room full of recognizable faces showing up for the annual World Poker Tour Five-Diamond World Poker Classic. Festivities began on Monday as satellites fired up for players wanting to qualify for the preliminary events, and so far, more than $1.25 million in prize-pool money has been generated by 764 entrants in just the first two events.
Event No. 1, a $1,590 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament, attracted 472 players. Steve Sung, James Van Alstyne, and Dutch Boyd were among the big-nam pros who cashed in this event. Michael Binger bubbled the final table and was eliminated in 12th place, but his brother, Nick Binger, made it. Nick entered the final table as chip leader but had Layne Flack nipping at his heels in second chip position. A friendly rivalry began as Nick blamed Flack for his brother’s exit from the tournament.
One Ol’ Rounder Shoots It Out with Two Young Guns in Oklahoma
November 30, 2007
When it got down to three of us, Kaeline Minton, Poker Pages reporter, wrote “So it comes down to two young guns and one old rounder. At 68 years young, TJ is older than both of his opponents put together,” she said. That made me sound pretty ancient, but I’m not about to start resting on my laurels at this late date. I plan to still be playing poker when they catch up to me with their 60th major tournament win! Yes, this was my 60th, and it was a long time comin’. Sure, I’ve placed high a lot of times since I won the $5K no-limit hold’em title at the World Series of Poker in 2005, but there’s nothing like winning. You’ve heard me say it plenty of times before now, I’m sure, but when I get to the final table, I’m very relaxed with only one thing on my mind: Winning. Now here’s my account of how I won the title and the prize money ($240,560) at the $5,000 buy-in Scotty Nguyen Poker Challenge at the Cherokee Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Negreanu Selling Toyota He Won for 2004 WSOP POY
November 30, 2007
Serious collectors of poker memorabilia should note that a unique item is up for grabs on eBay: the Toyota Tundra Daniel Negreanu was given for winning the World Series of Poker Player of the Year award in 2004.
The current bid is $18,600, and the reserve has not yet been met. The auction ends today at 5:30 p.m. ET. Kelley Blue Book lists the price of a good 2004 Toyota Tundra at $20,475.
JK Harris warns poker players and sponsors of new regulations
November 30, 2007
Poker players and tournament sponsors beware. The IRS is implementing a new requirement for reporting poker tournament winnings beginning March 4, 2008.
“In the past, sponsors and players have been confused over whether sponsors who hold the money for players are required to report the winnings and/or withhold taxes on the winnings,” said Mark Walstrom, an Enrolled Agent and Licensed Taxpayer Representative from JK Harris & Company, the nation’s largest tax resolution firm.
PokerRoom.com’s Grand Tournament gets even better
November 29, 2007
How do you make a tournament called the Grand even grander? You guarantee a $500,000 prize pool of course.
The Grand Tournaments over at PokerRoom.com have been some of the most successful tournaments in the room’s history and every day they seem to get bigger. With a buy-in of $1,000+$40 the prize pool tends to be enormous. Amazingly it’s possible to get into these events for as little as $1 in qualifiers held daily.
APPT HIGH ROLLER’S TOURNAMENT DECIDED
November 29, 2007
Aussie Eric Assadourian’s $368 640 payday.
Hard on the heels of the weekend’s PokerStars Asia Pacific Poker Tour in Macau (see previous Online-Casinos.com/InfoPowa report) many of the top players in China for the occasion lingered to contest the additional $15 000 buy-in High Roller event.
Creating a formidable 64 player field were, among other aces Joe Hachem and Liz Lieu, Scotty Nguyen, Emad Tahtouh, John Juanda, Isabelle Mercier, Kirk Morrison, Bo Sehlstedt and Barry Greenstein. But it was budding Australian superstar Eric Assadourian who came from behind at the final table to capture the inaugural High Rollers title and the big pay check that went with it.
By the end of Day 1 the field had been thinned out to eight final table players led in the chip stakes by Team PokerStars pro Emad Tahtouh (343 500) who was well ahead of nearest rival David Paul Steicke (142 000).
