For the lucrative online gambling industry, firmly committed operators are now admitting to Gambling911.com: "If iMega doesn't come through, we might as well just pack it in".
iMEGA is the trade organization that is currently challenging a controversial online gambling ban. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act - passed in October - requires banking institutions to monitor and prevent transactions for the purpose of online gambling activity in the United States. Women poker.
While there is currently a move by several politicians to have the law repealed, that process could take months, assuming it happens at all. The UIGEA ordered banks to have in place an "across the board policy" demonstrating how such transactions would be monitored. The early July deadline has come and gone with little evidence of a policy change, though the banks insisted they needed more than the 270 days allotted to them.
iMEGA's goal is to get the court to declare the UIGEA unconstitutional and unenforceable. The group says the act violates the First Amendment’s rights to freedom of speech and commercial association as well as the Tenth Amendment’s protections of states’ rights to regulate online gambling. Download poker wallpapers.
“We think the law infringes on the First Amendment and Tenth Amendment rights of our members,” Edward Leyden, iMEGA’s president, told Red Herring last month. “And we also believe the government has exceeded its authority in its WTO dispute with Antigua and that too has harmed our clients.”
A Federal Judge in the state of New Jersey has assigned a hearing date of September 4 for its lawsuit.
"iMEGA is our (the online gambling industry) only hope right now and I get the sense that people don't really understand the urgency here," one operator, asking for anonymity, told Gambling911.com Tuesday morning. "We need this thing to work. Once the banks get involved it's all over." Play route 66 poker.
Right now, while many of the top tier payment processors have stopped doing business with US-facing online gambling companies, the banking industry itself had not been required to abide by any ruling until after July 1. Sources close to Gambling911.com have revealed that the banks are quietly supportive of iMEGA though not financially. The organization is now aggressively seeking donations in order to pay for court fees. A few of the online gambling establishments have helped out but not all.
"The big online poker players need to get on board here," said one operator. "We realize that Alfonse D'Amato and the Poker Players Alliance are doing a commendable job but their efforts won't stop the banks in the short term and it is questionable whether they will be able to do so in the long term either."
The consequences of iMEGA losing in its effort? The big name online poker sites still catering to US players will be forced to shut down, at least to the US market. Poker Stars, Full Tilt Poker will not be able to take money in nor will they be able to make payouts.
The writing may already be on the wall.
Antigua's Gaming Director, Ron Maginley noted that the online gambling jurisdiction of the Isle of Man recently gave notice to gaming companies that it intends to close all gaming-related accounts.
“Already, some companies here have been given notice," Maginley said. "Under the law here, gaming companies are required to put ‘gaming’ in their names and in relation to getting accounts, certainly the local banks here are showing reluctance to offer new accounts, even to companies registered here. Play $500 match poker bonus.
Calvin Ayre, CEO of Bodog.com, confessed to Gambling911.com that this will be the first football season his company will not be actively marketing. While Bodog has no intention at this time of leaving the US market, his company is going to be focusing more heavily on Europe and even Asia over the coming months.
"Things have gotten really difficult in the US," Ayre said. Stay tuned to our poker blog for more updates.
Party Poker's inaugural Women's World Open imminent
The first televised Party Poker.com $3 000 buy-in Women's World Open poker tournament is imminent, starting in London on August 7 and running through to August 10, with 36 top women players vying for a prizepool worth $108 000, with a $50 000 main prize.
American competitors flying in from the United States include women poker pros Jennifer Tilly, Liz Lieu and Shannon Elizabeth.
Tilly can probably boast the most impressive tournament track record, with her World Series of Poker Ladies Event win in 2005 and a first in the World Poker Tour Ladies Night Out that same year. Since then the actress and poker player been honing her game and racking up cashes at major WSOP and WPT events.
Liz Lieu has a long list of international tournament cashes, including several WSOP events. Before her foray into the tournament realm, she'd already established herself as a winning cash-game player. Download poker wallpapers.
Shannon Elizabeth brings a lot of star power to the event as well. She will be playing as well as commentating with Jesse May at the event. The actress, best known for her role in American Pie, is making her way up in the poker ranks. Most recently she cashed in a WSOP event and also came in third in the 2007 NBC National Heads-Up Championship, taking out Barry Greenstein and Jeff Madsen along the way. Online poker.
The three will have their work cut out for them as some of Europe's most accomplished women players will be fighting for supremacy and the big money. They include former PartyPoker.com World Open winner Pippa Flanders, Xuyen Pham, European Ladies champion Jackie Meecham, Katharine Hartree, Jackie Vaswami and Deborah Rogers. Play route 66 poker.
"This is the first women's tournament we have held, and we are delighted by the excellent line-up and hugely encouraged by the positive interest we have already received from broadcasters all over the world before a card has been dealt," said a PartyPoker.com spokesman. Stay tuned to our poker blog for latest updates.
More than 140 players & women poker pros hit the South Indian coast this year for the inaugural Asian Poker Classic (APC), vying for their share of $1 million - the richest poker prize pool ever offered on the sub-continent.
Pleased with the results from edition one, organizers have announced the APC will return to Goa for a second go at it in March 2008, hoping to draw even more money and more pros to the felt.
"We are extremely excited about coming back in 2008," says Imran Hassan, director of operations for the Asian Poker Classic. "The inaugural APC was a huge success, so of course the planning started right after to produce a bigger, better and even more luxurious poker tournament in India.
"The Asian Poker Classic is no doubt poised to be one of the biggest tournaments in the region."
With the stunning setting on the Indian coast, the first edition managed to draw a few name pros to the event - Willie Tann, Mel Judah and Surinder Sunar among them - but it was relative unknown Carl Hostrup from Denmark who walked away with the title and $320,000. Play $500 match poker bonus.
The total pot is likely to swell further in 2008, with a bigger and better field and a number of top pros expected to attend.
A new venue will be named shortly, and play online poker qualifiers should surface in the near future also.
$14k package for EPT Barcelona at Gnuf Poker Season 4 of the European Poker Tour is set to be its biggest and baddest by far.
Bigger buy-ins, added stops, more and more card players making the jaunt over from the States - all expected to create an all-time high for prize money.
And Gnuf Poker want their players to get a share of it, offering daily and weekly satellites leading to a $14,000 grand final package to the Season 4 kick-off event, the Barcelona Open.
Daily turbo satellites, regular satellites and sit-and-gos are all on the schedule, starting at $10+80¢. Weekly satellites at $140+$10 also run twice a day on Saturdays until Aug. 11, with a last chance satellite running Aug. 12 for a spot in the same-day grand final. Play route 66 poker.
Buy-in for that 7 p.m. (GMT) grand final is $1,400+$100, with one in 10 winning the $14k Barcelona package, including buy-in, travel, accommodation and spending money.
For all the details and a full satellite schedule, visit Gnuf Poker.
Jonathan May, Everest Poker property manager calls it statistically "remarkable."
Japanese players Marisuke and Akemin are likely less astonished, numerically or otherwise, by their success.
Regardless, the rise of female poker players world-wide continues as the the two aforementioned females have taken down the last two Everest Poker Japan Cup qualifying events.
Marisuke took her title - and her spot in the final 30 for the $20,000 live final on Tinian Island - on June 23, winning the live qualifier at Bar Jack in Tokyo,
Akemin kept the pressure on the Japanese men at the next live qualifier in Osaka, taking it down June 30. Play route 66 poker.
"Statistically, this is quite remarkable," May said in a release. "We were aware that the popularity of poker among Japanese women was growing, but having two of the winners so far be female is a testament to their skill."
Marisuke is a video game enthusiast and artist that has been playing poker for 9 years. Akemin works for an advertising firm and has been playing poker for three years.
Japanese players can participate in both the online and live qualifying events at no cost, with two online poker qualifiers held each month through August.
"At the end of August," May says, "things get very interesting. The 30 qualifying players each receive a $1,400 prize package that includes travel and an entry fee to the final live event held on Tinian island.
"The winner from this event walks away with a prize package worth $20,000 and bragging rights!" Stay tuned to our poker blog for more updates.
Kenna James and Humberto Brenes Donate to Troops Overseas
Poker players have been called a lot of nasty things, so it is always a special day when we get to call them philanthropists. For most of the world’s top players, day one of the main event of the World Series of Poker is all about gathering information, but today Kenna James and Humberto Brenes spent their time giving information and raising awareness about the Wounded Warriors Foundation. Laughing and smiling at the Poker Faces booth inside the World Series of Poker Pavilion Center, James and Brenes were signing autographs, and taking photos during the unveiling of the Screaming Eagle card protector. Download poker wallpapers. You might not be familiar with Poker Faces Inc., but if you have ever seen Humberto and his hungry shark, then you’ve caught a small glimpse of their product line. The Screaming Eagle card guard was developed in commemoration of our troops, and modeled after a hardcore group of card-slinging soldiers that play under the name of The Screaming Eagles Poker Association.
What started as a proactive way to pass time on the front lines has now evolved into a highly organized multinational poker tournament league, spanning all branches of the armed forces, both here in the United States and overseas. What’s even more incredible is that there is no money exchanged in The Screaming Eagles Poker Association. These are servicemen and women who compete solely out of their love for the game, and for nothing more than the thrill of victory. It was evident in his voice that Kenna truly believes in the cause of the Wounded Warriors Foundation, and amongst numerous donations, Kenna was so inspired by the Screaming Eagles that he has decided to fly over to Iraq and host one of their tournaments in the near future. Play online poker.
After a brief speech in which he announced that a percentage of all proceeds generated from the sale of the Screaming Eagle card protectors would be donated to the charity, Seth Weinger of Poker Faces Inc. presented James with a $2,500 check made out to the Wounded Warriors Foundation. In addition to the donation, Weinger also gave James a box full of Screaming Eagle card guards to give away as trophies to the real Screaming Eagles when he takes part in their next home-away-from-home game. While these screaming eagles protect our cards here at home, the real Screaming Eagles are busy protecting lives on the front lines, and it is a privilege to honor them. Play route 66 poker.
Founded by Colonel John D. Folsom of The United States Marine Corps, the Wounded Warriors Foundation is a charitable organization responsible for providing vital support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured, or killed during combat operations. All donations collected help ease both the financial and psychological burdens imposed on the soldiers themselves, as well as the families of soldiers who were severely wounded or killed in the line of duty. Stay tuned to our poker blog for more updates.
The mission at PokerListings.com, the world's biggest and best online poker guide, is two-fold.
One: To guarantee the best online poker sign-up bonuses for its players, bar none. So signing up through a PokerListings.com link will always get you the most money to play with at the poker site of your choosing.
Two: Provide the best live poker tournament coverage from around the world.
Of particular note over the last few weeks: Superlative and acclaimed live coverage of the 2007 WSOP from Las Vegas.
The esteemed PokerListings team of reporters, photographers and videographers has been between the ropes and behind the scenes at poker's most iconic event from Day 1, with live updates from every event, provocative interviews, daily video and more. Download poker wallpapers.
The mysterious disappearance of Vinnie Vinh. Phil Hellmuth's record-setting 11th bracelet. A hallway face-off between poker pros Chad Brown, woman poker pro Vanessa Rousso and Aaron Been. Diminutive Freddy Deeb's miraculous comeback to take the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. championship. Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott's salacious lust for affection.
PokerListings.com has been cheek-by-jowl with the movers and shakers, and brought the finest details to light for their readers. And will continue to do so, right up until the final card is dealt and the expected $10 million plus is handed to poker's next world champion July 17.
"The 2007 World Series of Poker," says Camilla Sundell, Press Secretary at PokerListings.com, "has been everything it was expected to be, and then some."
"Great stories, great pictures, great characters," she adds. "Eli Elezra and Scotty Nguyen having a two-fisted showdown for a bracelet in Seven-Card Stud. Opie Taylor look-alike James Mackey steamrolling to a bracelet in No-Limit Hold'em." Play $500 match poker bonus.
"It would be impossible to list them all," she says, "but the PokerListings team has caught the best of it and posted it around-the-clock in our Live Tournaments Section. And they'll be there right up until the dramatic and much anticipated finish." Stay tuned to our poker blog for more updates.
That green expanse of felt is, apparently, fertile ground for romance. Nowhere is this love more prevalent than at the World Series of Poker, where players' toughest competition could be their spouses.
Poker has produced some remarkable duos - Schoenberg and Benyamine, Tilly and Laak, Hawbaker and Newhouse, Hawbaker and Franklin, Hawbaker and Sklansky - and opportunities for pro-couple rivalry are rife at the 2007 WSOP.
But new poker paramours have a long way to go before they catch up to some the of the WSOP's top-cashing husband-and-wife teams.
You won't find the poker tournament's top pro-couple eliciting any gossip on the Neverwin Poker forums, but Harry and Jeri Thomas lead the pack for combined marital cashes at the series.
Harry has seen 31 paydays at the World Series while Jeri has 10; what makes the Thomases all the more impressive, though, is the fact that they hold his-and-hers gold bracelets - one of just two couples who can claim the honor.
Hot on the rhyming couple's heels, however, is top cash-game woman poker player Jennifer Harman, with 20 in-the-money results, and Marco Traniello, her husband and an up-and-coming poker star with 13 cashes.
Bill and Kristy Gazes might have the number three spot among the married set but it is a record that is bound to be broken seeing as, well, they aren't married anymore. The divorced duo has a combined 31 Series cashes, 27 of which belong to Bill and four of which are Kristy's. Download poker wallpapers.
The only other couple to each possess a gold bracelet comes in at number four. Max and Maria Stern both earned their hardware at the 1997 tournament: He won in No-Limit Hold'em while she took down a Seven-Card Stud event. Together they have 30 cashes - five for Maria and 25 for Max. Play route 66 poker.
But with for spaces to make up, Bob and Maureen Feduniak are looking to unseat the Sterns with his 16 WSOP paychecks and her 10.
Though they don't place on the list, it's worth noting that 2002 championship Robert Varkonyi and his wife, Olga, also count - but just barely. While his only cash was the most important one of all, her solo payday was $28,375 for finishing 238th in the 2007 Main Event.
From Ron and Teresa McMillian - the first couple to play together in a Main Event during the 1980s - to forum-fodder online poker couples such as Jennicide and Neverwin, love, it seems, is always in the cards at the World Series of Poker.
For the lucrative online gambling industry, firmly committed operators are now admitting to Gambling911.com: "If iMega doesn't come through, we might as well just pack it in".
