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IOWA CONSIDERS DRAFT ONLINE POKER BILL
2011-02-25
US state may permit intrastate online poker soon
The US state of Iowa has joined California, New Jersey and Florida in considering legislation that proposes the intrastate legalisation of online poker.
The Des Moines Register reports that the draft bill will almost certainly attract controversy from anti-gambling elements in the Legislature, but the indications at present are that the concept has support and could help resolve both political and financial problems.
State Senator Jeff Danielson told the newspaper that the bill could create a "win-win" for both gambling and non-gambling Iowans, presenting as it does a mix of gambling policies.
The bill proposes that state-licensed land casinos may open online poker operations for Iowans aged 21 years or older. Pre-approved players would put cash into special accounts, set maximum limits for bets and length of play, then log on to a password-protected website to play cards at virtual poker tables.
Proponents of the new bill are already lobbying in the state Legislature, pointing out that internet poker on offshore websites is already rampant, and that by legalising the pastime the lawmakers will ensure that Iowans are properly protected and get fair games...and the state can generate additional tax revenues.
"What is driving this is the recognition that you have an existing activity that's already taking place in an unregulated environment, and the revenue is all flowing overseas," said Kirk Uhler, vice president of government affairs for U.S. Digital Gaming, a California company that would seek to be the operator of the state's online poker network if it were approved.
Uhler estimates that some 150,000 Iowans are already illegally playing online poker, with operators outside the state effectively depriving Iowa of $30 million to $35 million in gaming taxes.
This is not the first time that Iowa lawmakers have been presented with internet gambling proposals. Last year, such a proposal was strongly debated and fell by the wayside before the bill was even introduced (see previous InfoPowa reports).
The new bill requires strict safeguards to block players under age 21, prevent fraud, money laundering or cheating, and keep the activity within state borders. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission would be charged with regulating the state online poker network, and a single operator would run a website hub that would serve licensed land casinos that participate in the scheme.
Responsible gambling provisions would be required, and a state tax would be imposed on the adjusted gross receipts.
Iowans would have to register for an account in person at a participating state-regulated casino, or by carefully vetted mail, telephone or by electronic means, and a player complaints channel would be available.
Advance deposits wagering would also be permitted on horseracing, enabling bets by telephone, website or other electronic channels.
Several Iowa casinos have expressed an interest in the concept, but haven't yet seen the bill, Wes Ehrecke, president of the Iowa Gaming Association, which represents all 17 state-regulated casinos, told the Des Moines Register. The Association is currently fighting against proposed increases in taxation on land casinos.
WINNERS BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR ESFANDIARI
2010-12-09
"The Magician" wins 2010 WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic
Victory Poker pro, Antonio Esfandiari (32) clinched his second WPT title when he took down the 2010 WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic this week. Esfandiari took home a substantial paycheck of $ 870 124 bringing his total live tournament winnings to $4,300,000.
Leading the tournament from Day Two down to the final 15 players, Esfandiari lost the lead to Vanessa Rousso - Team PokerStars Pro on the penultimate day but finished up busting Rousso and entering heads-up play against online poker pro, Andrew "Good2cu" Robl.
"It doesn't feel good not to make a final table for seven years, but to make it and come back and win after the rollercoaster ride I had to go through tonight, feels pretty damn good," Esfandiari said.
438 players entered the event held at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino creating a $4 248 600 prize pool.
The final table cashed out as follows:
1 Antonio Esfandiari $ 870,124
2 Andrew Robl $ 549,003
3 Vanessa Rousso $ 358,964
4 John Racener $ 232,271
5 Kirk Morrison $ 168,924
6 Ted Lawson $ 126,693
GOOD TURNOUT FOR IRISH POKER
2010-10-04
Prize pool guarantee overtaken by large field
Ladbrokes Poker.com reports that the 633 player entry field for its 2010 Irish Poker Festival this weekend pushed the prize pool well beyond the guarantee and now stands at Euro 316 000.
When InfoPowa went to press the field had been reduced by half to 281 in the first day's action, which featured many international poker players as well as a host of internet aces.
The 2010 Festival, held in Killarney, Ireland, is in its third consecutive year and carries a buy-in of Euro 500. The first prize in the event, which has grown steadily in stature and popularity, is a useful Euro 75 000.
FIRST MULTI-BRACELET WIN THIS YEAR AT WSOP (Update)
2010-06-25
Frank Kassela expands his WSOP jewellery collection
Frank Kassela is enjoying a great World Series of Poker, this week becoming the first player in the current series to win two bracelets…and there are still plenty more events to be played.
Plagued by a power outage, event 40, the $2,500 Seven-Card Razz competition, started its third hard day Wednesday afternoon with just 15 players from an initial field of 365 and Kassela lying third in chip counts, a disadvantage he was to skillfully address to eventually claim the bracelet in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The Memphis, Tennessee player made a memorable comeback after finishing the first day of the contest with a short stack and facing a remaining field of 205, many of them aces. Yet he managed to not only survive but build his stack, entering the final table of the event third in chips, one spot behind eventual runner-up Maxwell Troy.
It took12 grueling hours on Day 3 to reach the heads up, where Kassela faced Troy in an epic if grinding heads up that lasted until 5am, when Kassela claimed his second bracelet and the top $214,085 payday, and Troy had the consolation of the $132 229 runner-up’s prize.
21-year-old (just) Steven Kelly bested some of the biggest names in the game to win his first WSOP bracelet in event 39 – the $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em Shootout, emerging top dog in two ten-handed tables, and two seven-handed tables that were consolidated into one as players were eliminated.
A poker pro from Camarillo, California, Kelly is an experienced and successful online poker player under the handle “PokerMaestros”, with career earnings prior to his first bracelet win of $387,646, now enhanced with event 39’s main prize of $381 922.
In the final 14 survivors of an original field of 1 397, Kelly faced the likes of Annette Obrestad, J.C. Tran, Chau Giang, Robert Mizrachi, Justin Scott and Randy Holland on his way to the last heads up against the highly experienced Jeffrey King, who took home the runner-up prize of $236,819 after the 15 hand heads up.
Speculation that Phil Hellmuth was about to claim extra WSOP jewellery came to naught in event 41, the $1,500 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split 8 or Better competition, when the high profile ace managed only a seventh placing that gave him $30 633.
The final day of the event re-started play Thursday afternoon with15 players left from the initial entry field of 847, and by late that night only four player remained as level 29 started. Leading the field was Steve Jelinek on 2,500,000 and John Gottlieb on 1,511,500 as InfoPowa went to press.
Final table eliminations included:
Anders Taylor in 3rd place ($97,913)
Michael Chappus in 4th place ($71,728)
Ben Lamb in 5th place ($53,319)
Mandy Thomas in 6th place ($40,169)
Phil Hellmuth in 7th place ($30,633) taken out by John Gottlieb
Ryan Karp in 8th place ($23,635)
Joel Ettedgi in 9th place ($18,432)
Late night Thursday there were 28 players left from an original field of 2 521 players after two days of action in event 42, the $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em contest.
High attrition rates saw the large initial field thinned out to 278 by the end of Day 1, with Day 2 starters Thursday afternoon led by Jackson Zheng and Humberto Brenes. Other strong players in the field were Carter Phillips, Shannon Shorr, Nam Le and Arnaud Mattern.
Level 20 leaders as we went to press were Ryan Hemmel (915,000); Andrew Rosskamm (895,000) and Humberto Brenes (750,000).
One of the toughest fields came out to play in event 43, the $10,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. World Championship, where 241 experienced and talented players took their places for some highly competitive poker and big money on Wednesday afternoon, and by the start of Day 2 twenty four hours later there were still 169 players in contention.
Among them were seven WSOP main event champs: Joe Hachem, Greg Raymer, Chris Ferguson, Scotty Nguyen, Huck Seed, Carlos Mortenson, and Doyle Brunson, along with other high recognizable aces like Daniel Negreanu, Freddy Deeb, Jennifer Harman, Erik Seidel and Allen Kessler.
By late night Thursday Vegas time play had reached level 17 and the Day 2 field was down to only 25, with an average chip stack of 289 200 and Brandon Adams holding the lead on 560,000 with Carlos Mortensen (520,000) and Brian Townsend (483,000) treading on his heels.
When InfoPowa went to press the money bubble was imminent, with the last 24 players qualifying for a payday of at least $21 997; unfortunately, players like Annie Duke, James Mackey, Phil Galfond and Scott Seiver will not share in the bonanza, having been eliminated a few spots prior.
Last year’s field of 527 in event 44, the $2 500 buy-in Mixed Hold'em competition was not beaten this year, with registrations at 507 when cards hit the air Thursday afternoon.
In this event, players have to move back and forth between no-limit and fixed-limit hold'em every half hour, with 60 minute levels.
The 2010 field may be smaller, but there was no shortage of star-power, with the following seen taking their seats as Day 1 kicked off Justin Bonomo, Issac Haxton, Kevin Saul, Terrence Chan, Erica Schoenberg, Dwyte Pilgrim, Alexander Gomes, Andy Black, Ylon Schwartz, Antonio Esfandiari, Bertrand Grospellier, Sorel Mizzi, Joe Sebok and Phil Ivey.
By late night Thursday Day 1 has been declared complete at level 10, with 70 players still battling for position and Eli Elezra in the lead on 181,000, chased by Jim Collopy (113,000).
Early casualties included Allen Cunningham, Antonio Esfandiari, David Williams, Joe Sebok, Michael Mizrachi, Sorel Mizzi, Tom Dwan and David Benyamine,
POKERSTARS GEARS UP FOR NEW ONLINE POKER RECORD
2009-12-22
R-day is December 27th
Hold onto your hats, the largest online poker site in the world, Pokerstars, is gearing up for another world-record breaking fest. The target? To break the site's previous two and still existing records for "Largest Online Poker Tournament".
Pokerstars established a record in December 2008 when 35 000 players took to the tables simultaneously, proving the stability and strength of its software platform. Then, only six months later, it almost doubled the record by hosting 65 000 players from 155 different countries at once. That stands today as an official Guiness Book of Records entry.
The next attempt to improve on 65 000 players again has the sanction of the Guiness Book of Records and is scheduled for December 27th at 14h45 Eastern Time. It will take the form of a No-Limit Hold'Em tournament with a buy-in of just $1 and, to the record breaking excitement, PokerStars is guaranteeing a first prize of $50 000 and a total prize pool of $300 000. That means that the top 30 000 players will receive prize money.
Bryan Slick, PokerStars' Tournaments Team Leader said: "Players really enjoy these events, and so do we. There is a real thrill when the tournament begins and everyone realizes just how many people are taking part from all over the world."
Registration is open now under 'Tourney' > 'Special' of the PokerStars client, but stand warned - there is no late registration for this event so players must buy in before 14:45 ET on December 27.