Casino Blog

Given the high-stakes gamble of being president, it’s no surprise that several of our 20th century presidents have played the game of poker:

The first president who we are sure played poker was Grover Cleveland. He was an especially hard-working president and took time off on many a Sunday afternoon to play the game. “My father used to say that it was wicked to go fishing on Sunday,” he once explained, “but he never said anything about draw-poker.”

Warren G. Harding’s advisers were known as the Poker Cabinet because they frequently played poker together. Harding played at least twice a week and gambled away a priceless set of White House china dating back to the administration of Rutherford B. Hayes. (more…)

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PartyGaming, parent company of Party Poker, announced today that it had appointed Jim Ryan as Chief Executive Officer and that it had promoted John O’Malia to the newly created executive board position of Managing Director. O’Malia will assume his new position on May 16, 2008 and will have day- to-day responsibility for the management of the company in addition to his seat on the board. Ryan will succeed Mitch Garber and will take over his new duties following a handover of his current responsibilities. Garber will remain available during this transition until July 31, 2008.

Jim Ryan, 46, has 22 years of experience in the Internet gaming and technology fields. Previously, he was CEO of St. Minver Limited, the largest operator of European gaming networks. Ryan was also President and CEO of Excapsa Software, a leading internet gaming software developer whose licensees included UltimateBet, and CFO of CryptoLogic, Inc., an internet gaming software developer. John O’Malia, 38, joined PartyGaming in August 2006 as its Chief Games Officer, following its acquisition of Gamebookers, an online sports betting business, which he served as CEO. (more…)

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As federal and state funds dwindle, lawmakers are eyeing a potentially lucrative source of income: Internet poker. According to a 2006 U.S. law, it’s illegal to pay for most online wagers with a credit card—which basically prohibits Americans from betting money on online poker or other such games. (Some people get around this by using foreign credit cards and bank accounts.) A bill sponsored by Rep. Robert Wexler (D., Fla.) seeks to exempt online poker and other games of skill from the law. If the legislation passes, it could lead to more than $3 billion a year in taxes.

“Regulating online poker could be a new revenue stream,” says Josh Rogin, a representative for Wexler, “and there aren’t many these days.” But critics fear that making it legal to bet money on Internet poker could harm people’s bank accounts—and lives. “The proposed legislation does not include funding for programs to prevent and treat gambling problems,” says Executive Director Keith Whyte of the National Council on Problem Gambling. Tell us: Should online poker be legalized? Vote. (more…)

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A former head linesmaker for the online gambling website Nine.com was nabbed in Panama while attempting to obtain a new passport. MajorWager.com first broke the story Sunday morning.

The linesmaker, whose first name is “Rick”, was well respected within the offshore sportsbook world. He had recently lost over 400 pounds.

Rick also worked in the same operation as high profile poker cheat and scammer Allan “AJ Green” Grimard. You might recall that Grimard worked as a consultant for the online poker room Absolute Poker, where he used a “super user” account to cheat players out of thousands of dollars in specified tournaments. Absolute later had to refund all individuals who participated in the tournaments.

Some former Nine.com employees have been named as operating a “scam” business, LazerWager.com. Rick has no involvement in any of the later scams or the culprits involved in them.

Rick had previously worked at a sports betting operation whose owners were indicted over a decade ago for tax evasion. It is unclear why the US government had taken in the former Nine.com bookmaker.

source: www.gambling911.com

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Poker-playing in Florida card rooms would be allowed around-the-clock on the weekend and 18 hours a day during the week under a measure that has made its way through the state Senate but is so far at a standstill in the House.

The measure would also allow poker rooms to host two high-stakes, televised poker tournaments a year, similar to the popular “World Poker Tour” show, along with celebrity charity tournaments six times a year.

But anti-gambling groups say it’s another step toward unbridled, Las Vegas-style gaming, bringing with it the promise of more crime and bankruptcy.

The expanded hours were approved as part of a larger pari-mutuel measure in the Senate last week but the tournament provision has yet to hit the Senate floor.

Senate sponsor and Senate Minority Leader Steve Geller, a Democrat from Hallandale Beach, pointed to the expanded hours on Indian reservations and in slot rooms in Broward County.

“It doesn’t make sense - the slot machines are open longer than the poker rooms,” Geller said. “You’re packed and then you’re closed.” (more…)

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Video poker first made its entry in the casinos during the 1970s; today it’s one of the most popular forms of gambling both online and down the Vegas strip. For the player who like a game of skill, a low house edge, the possibility of large wins, and the anonymity of playing alone there is nothing else that can compare to video poker. In addition, you can also switch your bet from $0.25 to $5 a game without changing to another machine!

There are many variations of the game each with its own particular strategy but in general, the rules of video poker are simple; you play with 1 to 5 coins, the machine give you five cards, you choose which to hold and which to discard, the machine replaces your discards and pays you off according to the value of your hand. (more…)

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Although Lee won millions of dollars at the WSOP, News 4 WOAI is reporting that the famous San Antonio resident is now facing serious charges related to gambling.

Police confirmed to the TV station that the district attorney filed charges against Lee for promoting gambling. (more…)

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The largest online pot so far this month was played last weekend, Sept. 15-16. Ingrid_Swede clashed with I_Knockout_U, and took home over $330k in one hand.

According to the High Stakes Poker Database, the two were playing heads-up at a $200/$400 No-Limit Hold’em table at the Microgaming Network.

The heads-up battle had been going on for while, and a couple of big pots had already been played, when Ingrid_Swede raised to $1,400 from the button. I_Knockout_U re-raised to $4,400 and Ingrid_Swede called.

On the 6d-7d-8c flop, I_Knockout_U bet out $8,200. Ingrid_Swede raised to $28,000, and I_Knockout_U responded by moving all-in for a total of $160,967. Ingrid_Swede called immediately.

Qs-3s finished out the board, and it was time for a showdown. I_Knockout_U showed 9h-8h for a pair of nines and a busted straight-draw. Ingrid_Swede had, however, flopped the nuts holding Tc-9c, and took home the $330,732.64 pot.

The High Stakes Poker Database has this pot listed as the biggest one so far in September, and the fifth biggest of all time. It remains to be seen if it will be topped in the weeks to come.

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Recently a new Foreign Trade Agreement on the Work resulting in Poker software development has been signed between Dathal srl, Italy and Viaden Media, Belarus.

Under this Agreement Viaden Media undertakes to develop a Poker Software “FANTATEXAS” in both English and Italian versions. Inspired by “Wild-Wild West” American ideas this poker is to excite secret feelings of courage and bravery, fortitude and recklessness. The spirit of liberty and a taste of risk should add some spicy sauce to regular Texas Holdem dish.

The distinguishing features of this online poker will be:
• not real but virtual money games;
• paid on a monthly basis membership;
• special system of players ranking;
• web site and poker client program available in both English and Italian;
• French version added lately.

For the moment, 3 mock ups for Dathal srl to revise and choose the best to continue working on it have been already designed by Viaden Media team. The poker is scheduled for release in September. In October FANTATEXAS website will be open for Public.

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Regulating Internet poker could potentially bring the US government some $3.3 billion in annual taxes, according to a study to be released in summer 2006, ahead of an anticipated debate over legislation to ban online gambling.

Income taxes on winnings from Internet poker alone — which is estimated to have attracted $60 billion in wagers worldwide in 2005 — could amount to $2.5 billion each year, according to the study commissioned by the Poker Players Alliance, a group calling for the regulation of online gambling. (more…)

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