Online Gambling Press

Jenny Woo Does Dan Michalski of Pokerati.com

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Even though it’s all about football right now, nobody can forget that the WSOP was just a couple months ago and the final table will be here before we know it.  I had the opportunity to sit down with a Dream Team Poker player who gave me his take on team poker events.  Dan Michalski from my favorite website after Gambling911.com and Swingular.com, Pokerati.com, was on the winning team, Team Tao, along with Paul McGuire and Lana Maier.  

JENNY:  How was it playing in the first WSOP Dream Team Poker event? 

DAN:  Good times.  Seriously, it was a well-run tournament (by the WSOP staff), and I’m a big fan of the team-poker concept.

JENNY:  Have you played in any team poker other than the DTP recent events?

DAN:  Actually, yeah.  The WSOP tourney was my third Dream Team event, and a couple years ago I played in some preliminaries for the (now defunct) US Poker Bowl.  The rules there were a bit different, but I was no stranger to the concept.  Pauly (Paul McGuire) and I played together in the Caesar’s Dream Team event, and he also played (with different teammates) in the WSOP media event a few days earlier — and made the final table there. Lana (Maier), our third teammate, also played in the media event — her first time — and actually won the team competition there too.  Like any tournament, Dream Team events have their own unique feel, and some slight alterations in strategy and game plan come into play.  So I dunno, maybe experience counts for something? Either that or we just got lucky.

JENNY:  Will you be playing in more DTP events?  And if so, will you be staying as a team?

DAN:  Definitely.  I am sure Pauly and I will continue to play together on various incarnations of Team Tao of Pokerati, but I also don’t see this being the only team I ever play on.  

JENNY:  How do you like the overall concept of team poker?  And do you think this will be the new craze of poker?

DAN:  Like I said, I’m a big fan.  These events are always a good time, and appropriately challenging with desirable prize pools. New "craze"?  Definitely not.  But I do see it becoming a more standard tournament variety — not unlike heads-up events.  I also think it could make for some great televised poker, but who knows, maybe the Dream Team folks are already working on that.

JENNY:  You seem to be getting a lot of praise for looking out for the team versus yourself when you folded pocket K’s.  Did you see members of other teams not grasping onto the DTP concept by looking out for themselves versus the team?

DAN:  Well it was just one hand, and what they don’t tell you is that I stupidly limped with pocket 6s a few hands earlier only to be forced off of them when Kenna James raised me off of them with a laugh — knowing that I could know he was raising with any two cards, and yet would probably have to lay down Aces there. I got greedy hoping to flop a cheap set with the 6s — and put me in contention for some big individual money, too — and that left me in a position where I had to think about the team prize and essentially be blinded down into first place.

I won’t say that I saw other teams not grasping the team concept, but there are definitely spots in the middle of the tourney where you technically might have the odds to gamble, but if your team is still doing well, you stand to win more money by staying alive no matter what to improve the teams overall finish.

JENNY:  Do you have any pointers when playing in a team event?

DAN:  Haha.  Yes, get lucky on the river.  In general, play for the team prize early, and worry about the individual prize later.  I’d say everyone should play tight so your whole team finishes in the top half of the field or better, but I think there are also situations where, say, one player has a monster stack, and another player is hurt early … and in those situations it probably pays for the smaller-stack player to gamble it up, and the big stack to see how that works out before shifting into a certain gear of aggression.

JENNY:  Did you guys celebrate?  And if so, what did you do?

DAN:  Actually not too much, because we were all still working the Series and they were getting to the final days of the main event. We bought our media friends a few rounds of drinks then the next night at the Gold Coast bowling alley bar.  Lana still owes Pauly and me a nice dinner!

JENNY:  Did any of you play in any other WSOP events?

DAN:  Lana cashed in the 2007 Ladies event, and finished 10th in the 2009 $1,500 HORSE event.  She was supposed to be our ringer!  But she went out early … and yet still banked $11k.  Not bad for finishing three hundred and twenty somethingth.  (Haha)

JENNY:  What’s been the most memorable moment for you at this year’s WSOP?

DAN:  Oh, I’m gonna need a little scotch in me to tell you that …

JENNY:  Thanks Dan!

—

Jenny Woo, Gambling911.com Senior International Correspondent 

 

Online Slot Pays Out $60000 – Online Casino News

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Costa Rica-licensed online casino RomeCasino.com has revealed that one lucky player has walked away with $60,000 after hitting it big on its Crazy Pizza three-reel slots game.

Online player ‘Ruth K’ revealed that she had taken out a bank loan of the same amount last winter to help pay for a house renovation along with her daughter’s medical bills after the youngster had been involved in a traffic accident over the summer.

“I thought I’d be paying off interest on this loan for the rest of my life and that I may never get around to paying it off completely,” said the grateful winner.

“I never though I would have enough money to pay it all off in less than a year.”

To win on Crazy Pizza, players must spin the trio of reels and get three pizza slices in a row. However, there are nine other winning combinations and the maximum reward will only be paid out if players wager the highest stake.

“I had actually ordered some pizza and decided to play slots while I was waiting,” said ‘Ruth K’.

“I was playing Crazy Pizza because I thought it was a fitting choice while I waited for my pizza to be delivered. By the time it arrived I was too excited to eat.”

RomeCasino.com offers a large array of online video and classic slot titles featuring regular and progressive jackpots. It revealed that popular titles include Bankroll Reload, Berry Flavors, Tropical Punch, Wild Sevens, Red Chili Hunter, Black Diamond, Diablo 13, Bingo Slot, Slotstructor and Ocean Fantasy. Powered by software from Top Game, players can also take part in games of blackjack, roulette, keno and video poker.

“Even if I don’t hit another jackpot, playing the slots is one of my favourite things to do,” said ‘Ruth K’.

“It’s so exciting. I’m sure I’ll keep on playing for years to come.”  

Online Gambling Advocacy Group Launches Major Ad Campaign

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Representative Barney Frank has introduced legislation that would overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Rep. Frank has received growing support for the Bill from lawmakers, and he is also receiving support from outside of Congress.

The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative has launched an advertising campaign aimed at convincing lawmakers to end the prohibition on Internet gambling. The campaign is being used to educate people in the US on the dangers associated with millions of Americans gambling online in an unregulated industry.

“As Congress searches for ways to pay for health care reform and other worthy programs,” said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesman for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, “it should end the unsuccessful prohibition of Internet gambling and start collecting taxes on the billions in revenue currently lost to unlicensed, offshore gambling operators.”

Frank has taken a slightly different approach. While he agrees that offshore companies should not be receiving the benefits of people in the US gambling online, his concern is more with the freedoms of these people.

Rep. Frank and a growing list of lawmakers are in favor of changing the current laws and allowing people to gamble in the comfort of their own homes. A regulated system, according to Frank, would ensure that people in the US were protected against bad business from these online gaming companies.

While Frank has attempted to overturn the UIGEA before, he seems to have growing support amongst his peers. Senator Robert Menendez from New Jersey has introduced separate legislation that would legalize online poker.

The new ad campaign from the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative will appear on such prestigious publications as The Washington Post and The Huffington Post. Ads will also run on Politico.

Shane Warne’s Poker Ashes to screen on Australian TV

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The internationally famous – and now professionally retired – Aussie cricketer Shane Warne will be on Australian television screens in a poker role soon following a 888.com marketing move exploiting the interest in the recent England vs. Australia Ashes test cricket series.

Shane Warne’s Poker Ashes will be the first major poker television show of its type broadcast on network television Downunder, a 888.com spokesman has claimed. The show was filmed in London during the recent Ashes test match confrontations between the two national cricket teams.

The show will have a series of five episodes, first flighting on the Nine Network in Oz. Members of the English and Australian cricket test teams will again face off against each other in a poker team contest with a prize for the winning team’s charity of choice of $50,000.

The teams have nominated the Shane Warne Foundation as the favoured destination for the cash if the Aussies win, whilst the Brits have chosen the Professional Cricketers Association Benevolent Fund.

With the 2009 Ashes defeat by England still smarting, the cricket-mad Australians will likely give this show top viewership ratings.

Smart-Live Issues Statement Regarding Affiliate Matter

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In case you missed it on Tuesday, the folks from Smart-Live’s online gambling affiliate program addressed concerns over the recent "suspension" of said program here at Gambling911.com. 

We were among the first to report on this situation and will continue to monitor it.

From Smart-Alive:

"We deeply regret that many of you are so disappointed. Whilst we quite expected this response, some clarifications need to be made on our part to ensure that we are communicating our position as effectively as possible. First of all, we want to reassure everybody that the Smart-live affiliate program has not shut down -as stated from different sources – but is momentarily suspended, in light of some technical issues that need to be 100% sorted out before launching the whole new affiliate program again.

"In fact, previously we have managed to continue running the whole process with a very manual processes, we feel that this cannot be done in future, because of an increased number of affiliates, traffic and the next launch of the poker platform. The new management and affiliate team strongly believe that transparency is the main value in a business relationship with our affiliates and partners. So, instead of hiding behind the trees and claiming that everything is ok – and we bet there are some out there doing just that- we would rather be honest and prefer to pause the program for some weeks, get exclusively focused on what needs to be sorted out, changed and implemented and get back in the arena in the best possible shape.

"Secondly, during the closure period, existing affiliates will continue to be paid for the revenue generated by existing customers referred. Each one of our affiliates will be provided with a specific report showing all the values and the amount of updated commissions as soon as the program is live again. We are honouring our Lifetime revenue commissions and have no intention to renege on this. It is just that whilst we are sorting out the issues affiliates will not be able to view statistics. Finally as a gesture of good will once we are 100% confident that everything is stable with the program, we will be ready to reward all existing affiliates with an increased flat rate of 40% commissions on net revenues for the first 2 months once that we re-launch the program. We hope that this clarifies our situation and looking forward to seeing you all again soon when we have better news! Many thanks Smart Live Affiliates."

 

Ashcroft: Online Gambling Enemy Number One

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There was a time early on in the Bush Administration when Attorney General John Ashcroft was considered among the biggest enemies of online gambling.  Many believe it was he who got the ball rolling to quash the industry.  Investigations were begun on his watch though the resulting prosecutions came much later after he had left office. 

Yael T. Abouhalkah, a Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist described Ashcroft states that: "The cases involving Ashcroft, Missouri’s ex-governor, will get plenty of media attention. Democrats and liberals have been calling for former Bush administration officials to be held accountable for their actions during the war on terror.

"Ashcroft’s actions were "repugnant to the Constitution, and a painful reminder of some of the most ignominious chapters of our national history."

And Abouhalkah’s headline is entitled "Ashcroft’s Abuses Defied the Constitution". 

He points to a federal appeals court criticism of the former Attorney General saying he violated the rights of U.S. citizens after 9/11. It’s an embarrassing development for Ashcroft given his former role as the nation’s top law enforcement officer.

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher 

Internet Poker Question Won’t be on Mass Ballot

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BOSTON (AP) – Internet poker fans won’t be getting a chance to push for a ballot question legalizing the game.

Attorney General Martha Coakley ruled Wednesday that the initiative didn’t meet the legal requirements to secure a place on next year’s ballot.

Also barred were two mortgage modification proposals and a question requiring a certain percentage of the state budget go to local aid.

Dozens of other questions – including a proposal to eliminate tolls, several questions to roll back the state income tax, a question to require whale-safe commercial fishing and a proposal to lift the state cap on charter schools – cleared the hurdle.

Now comes the hard part. Supporters must collect the signatures of at least 66,593 Massachusetts voters by Dec. 2.        

Daniel Tzvetkoff’s V8 Supercar for Sale

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FALLEN information technology tycoon Daniel Tzvetkoff’s V8 Supercar is covered in SuperGP stickers ready for the Gold Coast’s premier four-day racing carnival in October.

But that is just another broken dream.

Instead of being stored in a luxury garage, it is sitting in an auction shed waiting to be sold at a bargain price.

Tzvetkoff’s entire multi-million-dollar IntaRacing empire, including the V8 Supercar, two prime movers, three huge transporter trailers and all the car parts and tools, arrived at Lloyds Auctions at Carrara on Tuesday.

Forget the repossessed $200,000 sleek black Maserati that drew widespread attention at the auction house last month; this latest Lloyds coup is the ultimate in the dramatic fall of the rich boys.

The administrator, Vincent’s Accountants, has seized all the equipment, tools and parts required to put a race team on the track today — except one vital component — the engine.

Lloyds director Bill Freeman said the engine — said to be worth about $100,000 from the $500,000 race car — could not be found.

Mr Freeman, a confessed motorsport fan, said the administrators called him on Tuesday, asking him to clear everything out of IntaRacing’s headquarters at Southport.

Having a V8 Supercar on his auction floor was by the far the coolest of the repossessed goods he has received, he said.

"I would say I was more elated than surprised," he said. "every car in the series should be bought and scrapped. the whole concept of racing large, environmentally hostile cars is going to go the way of the Tassie Tiger. the sooner the better."

"Forget the Maserati — this is the ultimate of the rich boys’ toys that have gone."

He now has the task of valuing the rare goods that he planned to auction in the next few weeks, ideally as a package to an existing racing team or a newcomer.

However, it may be hard to get a good return given the tight economic climate and the news that V8 Supercars have not put Mr Tzvetkoff’s licence back on the market.

The team, owned by debt-laden Mr Tzvetkoff and partner Sam Sciacca, surrendered its $1.5 million licence to V8 Supercars this month, leaving Gold Coast driver Marcus Marshall without a drive at the upcoming SuperGP.

—

Source:  Gold Coast News

Online Poker Funds Will Remain Seized: Judge Throws Out Case

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U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller in San Diego denied a bid Thursday by lawyers for the company, Account Services Inc., and the Poker Players Alliance to return the money.

On June 2, the US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan seized approximately $40 million in funds belonging to Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars, the two largest online poker rooms.  Some of that money was being transferred through Account Services, Inc.

After filing a motion asking for return of the funds, the US Attorney’s Office issued an indictment against Account Services owner Douglas Rennick.

Lawyers for the players contend prosecutors in the case have used questionable tactics to hold on to the money, and have avoided arguing the legality question.

Now, after Miller ruled against them, it could be years before they see any of the money, according to Greg Moran of the Union Tribune.

Account Services is one of a handful of online poker payment processors who work with Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars and had funds froze.

Costigan Media, which owns the Gambling911.com website, won a landmark decision to have seizure warrants related to the case unsealed as part of its Motion to Intervene in a New York Circuit Court.  The Honorable Judge Laura Taylor Swain agreed to redact some information contained within the seizure warrants due to an ongoing investigation, however, the US Attorney’s Office is required to notify the Court in advance of any upcoming indictments that would allow for further information within those warrants to be unsealed. 

Further unsealing of court documents revealed that both Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars are mentioned as part of the ongoing investigation. 

Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com         

Party Casino unleashes the Rambo slot machine

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Party Casino's negotiations with major movie companies for the rights to make online slots from famous movie themes continues to deliver dividends, with a Rambo video slot release this week. Rewards can be achieved in a number of ways, and there’s a half-million-dollar jackpot in the game as a big incentive.

The new game has all the hallmarks of the famous action man played repeatedly by Sylvester Stallone in a series of violent movies past, and is a 5 reel, 20 pay-line blockbuster of a game that includes a bonus round based on a typical Col. Trautman mission for the military-minded daredevil.

Party Casino seems to have upped the ante in competitive terms, releasing twice as many games in the past six months as it did previously, and offering improved sign up bonuses. Against the apparently expensive backdrop of the recently failed Linx Media group, Party is offering another attractive inducement – player deposits are guaranteed to a cap of a thousand dollars.

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