Elvis, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Poker Gamess

Source: Poker Player Online (Original Article)

The $50,000 buy-in H-O-R-S-E World Championship (Event #45) attracted 148 entries, creating a prize pool totaling $7,104,000. The top 16 finishers collected prize money. H.O.R.S.E. is an acronym for the five most popular poker games played inside most poker rooms. H.O.R.S.E. tournaments include a rotation of the following games — Texas Hold’em, Omaha High-Low Split, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, and Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split (also called Eight-or-Better). Many purists consider H.O.R.S.E. to be the ultimate test of poker skill, since it requires that players play all games well in order to win.

The $50,000 entry fee for this event ranks as the largest buy-in of any annual poker tournament in the world.

The H.O.R.S.E. World Championship was first conceived of by various poker players. The concept was to create poker’s version of an all-star game, only to make it really matter. Three years ago, Daniel Negreanu took the idea of holding an exclusive tournament for superstars to Harrahs Entertainment. The idea was accepted and the tournament was added to the official WSOP schedule in 2006. Negreanu’s role in creating the H.O.R.S.E. event was acknowledged in a pre-tournament announcement by WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack, who also cited the contribution made by Vice President of Specialty Games for Harrahs Entertainment, Howard Greenbaum for his acceptance of the idea.

While the WSOP Main Event remains the undisputed world championship of poker, in some respects the H.O.R.S.E. title is even more prestigious within the poker world. Most highly-successful poker players acknowledge the winner of this event as the year’s best “all around” player.

The 2006 inaugural H.O.R.S.E. World Championship was memorable for many reasons. Since the late 1970s, David “Chip” Reese had been widely regarded by his peers and industry insiders as the best all- around poker player in the world. Frequent Flyer Card Appropriately, he won the very first …continue reading

Source: TheNewsTribune.com (Original Article)

SERIOUS ISSUES

The Cardinal at Tacoma’s Franklin Pierce High School tackled a variety of real-world topics in its May edition. “Tying the Knot Too Soon” by Jamie Gruggett examined teen marriage.

She interviewed a senior who eloped in February, and another senior who plans to marry this week. Both of the female teens believed they were ready for marriage.

Gruggett balanced their perspectives with a junior who said high school students need to date more people before making such a serious commitment.

Meanwhile, a series of articles in “A day in the life of” glimpsed the predicament of an 18-year-old senior who decided to keep her baby, teens obsessed with video games, a substitute teacher who has trouble getting control of talkative students and school custodians on the job.

Custodian Robert Crawford told reporter Chelsie Enderle custodians wish students would stop writing graffiti on the walls because cleaning it up takes time away from other duties. The custodian article ends with a quote from Patricia “Patti” Sweeney: “And for all you kids that are wondering, no, we do not play poker.”

TEACHER’S HELPER

The story lineup in Bellarmine Prep’s The Lion ranged from the serious to frivolous. Reporter Serena Au reported on the Tacoma school’s hosting of the Oregon Province Asian American Summit for Jesuit high school students of Asian descent, attended by 70 participants.

Summit participants discussed how culture figures into their own lives and how Asians are portrayed in the media.

Guest writer Niko Natalizio compared how much tougher it was to be a “teacher assistant” for a journalism teacher than for an instructor in P.E. or most other teachers. Depending on the teacher, an assistant’s duties might include correcting and sorting papers, cleaning out the microwave, Accountants in ACT beginning with I getting coffee, shelving books.

Natalizio concluded: …continue reading

Source: Mirror.co.uk (Original Article)

Bookies make £830 million a year from gambling machines.

Ministers have ordered a probe in to the UK’s highly addictive 24,500 computerised slot machines.

They are dubbed the “crack cocaine of gambling” - after Gambling Commission figures reveal they are now the second biggest cause of problem gambling.

It found one in 10 users had a serious habit.

Punters can play roulette, blackjack, poker and fruit-machine games with a £500 jackpot. The machines have boosted bookies’ profits by 1,217 per cent in the past three years.

William Hill made £200million from its 8,382 terminals last year.

The Department of Culture Media and Sport said: “We have always been clear that should it emerge that fixed-odds betting terminals are causing harm, we Student Credit Card will take action.”

The commission report is expected later this summer.

Source: Casino City Times (Original Article)

Gaming News

 
Around the WSOP: Germany’s Ruthenberg stares down Jesus for first bracelet
20 June 2008

By Gary Trask

All things considered, there really isn’t a better way to win your first World Series of Poker bracelet than the manner in which Germany’s Sebastian Ruthenberg went about it in the $10,000 Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split World Championship.

First and foremost, this was one of the higher profile events of the Series thus far. Thanks to a field of 261 players a record prize pool of more than $1.2 million was created, making the event the most lucrative Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split tournament in poker history.

Secondly, there is the star-studded list of past winners of the event that Ruthenberg is now a part of, a group that includes such luminaries as Johnny Moss, Doyle Brunson, the late Chip Reese Mickey Appleman, Phil Ivey, John Juanda, Max Stern, Men “the Master” Nguyen, Mike Sexton, Artie Cobb, Vince Burgio, Cyndy Violette and Rich Korbin.

On top of all of that, Ruthenberg, a 24-year-old who has been playing professionally for two years, prevailed in come-from-behind fashion in an event where he was a true underdog. He stared down a field that included Phil Hellmuth, Howard Lederer, Chau Giang, Allen Cunningham and Barry Greenstein and a final table that lasted nine hours and had him seated next to the likes of Annie Duke and Chris “Jesus” Ferguson.

Nonetheless, Ruthenberg battled through the marathon 29 levels of play and managed to cash in for $328,762, becoming the second German national to win at the WSOP this year. He also becomes only the fifth German to win a gold bracelet, following in the path of Matthias Rohnacher (1997), Eddy Scharf (2001 and 2003), Katja Thater (2007), and Jen Voertmann (2008).

The highlight of the event was the heads-up match between Ruthenberg and Ferguson. Lawyers in NT beginning with T Page 1 The two players went at it …continue reading

Source: The Capital Times (Original Article)

Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee will
hold a grand opening celebration Thursday to mark the casino’s
expansion.

The casino will hold the largest drawing in
its history: One guest will win $100,000. A hundred other guests
will win $1,000 prizes.

The two-year expansion project has created an
additional 500,000 square feet of entertainment space, a new
six-story parking structure and a vehicular bridge connecting the
parking structures to the James E. Groppi Unity Bridge. Other
changes include two new restaurants, an additional 1,500 slot
machines, an increase of the number of table games by 60, a new
location and additional space for the Poker Room, and the addition
of off-track betting.

The casino, owned and operated by the Forest
County Potawatomi, is located at 1721 SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS dvd W. Canal Street, Milwaukee.
For more information, go to http://paysbig.com/.

Source: Online-Casinos.com (Original Article)

AND THREE NEW ONLINE CASINOS LAUNCHED THIS MONTH, TOO.
 
i-Gaming Software and Microgaming offer a diversity of themes
 
June has been a bumper month for new online casino offerings; two from Microgaming and one from i-Gaming Software.
 
Red Flush Casino.com is a Kahnawake licensed online casino with its own Red Returns affiliate program offering up to 35 percent commissions. The professionally crafted and attractive website carries the full range of player facilities and services, with incentives that include a matchplay SUB maxed at 100 units in any of the 8 currency denominations offered. With a huge gambling inventory of over 300 games in download and Flash formats, there should be something to please everyone on this site.
 
Another recent “big” online casino launch from the MGS studios is Villa Fortuna.com, which joins the Grand Prive group of online casinos and comes in 5 European language variations but excludes US players. Licensed in Malta by Iconic (Malta) Ltd., the website is very well presented in a big, glossy style with a full range of player services. There's an SUB of 100 percent maxed at Euro 100 on offer, together with a special offer of a free Euro 25….but players are urged to carefully read through the T&Cs before moving in. Disappointingly, what seems to be a rogue affiliate has been unashamedly spamming for this operation recently and this individual needs to be reined in quickly by the operator.
 
A Costa Rican registered but apparently Asian owned and targeted new online casino, poker and sportsbook branded Viva Macau.com has also launched this month, powered by i-Gaming Software, with poker software and network facilities from the burgeoning Merge Poker network. Operators Mong Ha Media have taken the precaution of obtaining a Netherlands Antilles licence, too.
 
The website is well executed and carries over 50 games and a full range Visa Credit Card of facilities to suit players around …continue reading

Source: Online-Casinos.com (Original Article)

THE NEXT BIG WAVE IS…..ONLINE SLOTS!
 
Betting group reports a tenfold increase in slot players over the last six months
 
Trends in online gambling have favoured both bingo and poker at different stages, but according to the large UK betting group Vernons, the latest gaming “wave” to hit the UK is online slot machines.  The company backs up its assertion with the statistical information that it has experienced a tenfold increase in slot players over the last six months.
 
The Vernons 'Clover Rollover', is among the most popular online slot jackpots in the world, the company claims, and is at least partly responsible for the “massive boom in people playing online slot machines in the UK” with a current jackpot of GBP 674 260 rolled over for two months and increasing by some GBP 10 000 a day - the last GBP 300 000 in just under a month.
 
Research conducted for Vernons has revealed that 62 percent of online slot machine players are female, with the genre proving particularly popular with web users aged between 35 and 50.
 
Traditionally, slot machines have been a major draw in the large land casinos of Las Vegas, but now its online popularity has swept Britain in the form of instant win games, as jackpots routinely hit record highs of over half a million pounds.
 
Martin Williams, E-Gaming Manager for Vernons.co.uk, said: “We've been overwhelmed by the massive surge in online slot machine players over the last few months and can only see the phenomenon and jackpots growing bigger this summer. It's surprising that our current jackpot of over GBP 600 000 has not been won yet.”
 
Vernon's was recently acquired by Sportech plc, which boasts a player base across its various betting interests of over 700 000 players. The Liverpool-based group also operates 99 percent of the UK's football pool market, and includes Aussie Credit Cards Littlewoods Football Pools and Zetters Pools.
 …continue reading

Source: CardPlayer.com (Original Article)

German poker professional Jens Voertmann  is no stranger to the world of H.O.R.S.E. Voertmann, a Full Tilt Pro, has been frequenting the mixed games both live and online for years. While he considers his best game to be Stud, Voertmann showed the world that he was a master of all the games as he took down this years first World Series of Poker H.O.R.S.E. tournament.
After taking down the bracelet, Voertmann spoke to Card Player about his victory for both himself and his country.
 
 
Question: This was the first H.O.R.S.E. event of the Series. What did you think about the overall skill level in the field?
Jens Voertmann: I think the average strength was pretty high. We had a couple of weaker players at the beginning who made a lot of mistakes, which you usually have in WSOP tournaments. But on average the field was pretty tough, and most of the superstars were playing in this event, so it was a great event.
Q: You came back to play down from 16 players to a champion. Did the long day affect your play at all?
JV: At the beginning we went pretty fast. We went quickly from 16 down to 8, and I felt pretty comfortable. I thought it might be a quick tournament, but once we got to three-handed with Marcel still in there, it took forever. I think we played four and a half hours three-handed, and it was pretty intense. Everybody was at one point the short stack and then the chip leader again. It changed so often. So it was really an exhausting tournament.
Q: Do you consider yourself to be proficient in all the games, or do you excel in one over the others?
JV: My favorite game is Stud. That’s what I started with and I what I’m most experienced with. But I play a lot of H.O.R.S.E. on the internet at Full Tilt, and it’s my favorite game. So I liked my chances today.
Q: Did your Stud expertise pay off during that long stretch of three-handed play?
JV: I thought so. Of course, Marcel Luske is a famous player and a Drew Carey dvd great player. He’s a great no-limit …continue reading

Source: The Register-Guard (Original Article)

Using the Department of Homeland Security’s color-coded advisory system, the threat represented by free online gambling sites would be blue (guarded) for most teenagers and yellow (elevated) for a few.

But for parents who had no idea their teens were visiting online gambling sites, or who were unaware that there are risks associated with the activity, the threat could enter the orange (high) zone before they knew there was any problem at all.

The odds that their adolescents are gambling on the Internet are greater than many Oregon parents might think. The most recent survey by the state Department of Human Services found that one in three Oregon youths ages 12 to 17 gamble at free online sites.

So what’s the big deal about a little free video poker or blackjack? Depends on the individual teen’s response.

With no money on the line, Internet gambling feels fun and risk-free to teenagers. The odds of winning tend to be higher in free games. All of that combines to make some teens feel particularly skillful or lucky, and ready to switch to games that allow them to win money.

The moment money enters the equation, risks go up for teenage gamblers. In addition to the risk of losing real cash, gullible teenagers are at higher risk for identity theft online. Plus, if they’ve learned to gamble by playing the same games for free, they’ve become used to playing again and again until they win. When money is involved, that behavior quickly can dig players into deep financial holes.

There’s also a correlation between gambling and other risky behaviors. This year’s Oregon Healthy Teens survey found that the percentage of 11th-graders who binge-drank, carried a handgun or had attacked someone in the past 30 days was higher among those who gambled.

For parents, awareness is the best approach. Prevention-minded health educators aren’t advising teenagers against gambling for free on compare credit card the Internet. They simply want parents …continue reading

Source: PokerListings.com (Original Article)

Thursday, June 5, 2008

The Rio offers a little extra luxury for poker players willing to donate to the Nevada Cancer Institute.

By Sarah Polson

Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. has once again declared the Nevada Cancer Institute the official charity for the World Series of Poker.

Players at the 2008 World Series of Poker can pay for access to a special VIP lounge for the duration of the tournament series. Harrah’s will donate funds raised from the cost of admission to the Nevada Cancer Institute. The 2008 WSOP began May 30 and continues until July 14, when the final table is determined for the Main Event. All during that time, participants who ante up for access to the VIP lounge will have access to food, beverages, a masseuse and even a separate game room with all the latest games and gadgets. They’ll be pampered when they’re on break from tournament play and they’ll be helping out a good cause. This is the third consecutive year the charitable organization has been the official charity for the WSOP. “Nevada Cancer Institute is a wonderful community partner for the World Series of Poker,” said Jeffrey Pollack, WSOP commissioner. “The work NVCI’s researchers and physicians are doing at NVCI resonates not only locally, but around the world by expanding the field of knowledge about this disease.” The Nevada Cancer Institute is the official cancer institute of the state of Nevada. It is a nonprofit organization committed to reducing the burden of cancer through its program of cancer research, education, early detection and prevention, and by facilitating high-quality patient care. “The World Series of Poker brings an excitement and buzz that enhances the Las Vegas economy every summer,” said Sandra Murdock, NVCI president and chief executive officer. “We are thrilled to be a community partner with the Harrah’s organization and are thankful for their dedication to the health and future of the community.” For Bank Credit Cards more information about the 2008 WSOP …continue reading