The local metrologists are making the odds of the multi-million dollar fireworks show going off as planned at midnight no better than fifty-fifty. The show requires the wind be below 10 miles per hour before the pyrotechnics are launched from the roof tops of ten strip hotels (not fourteen as previously stated). The weather guys are saying the wind will certainly be a factor as the same weather front that came ashore in California moves across Las Vegas. The fire department will be keeping a close eye on conditions and standing by since the last Vegas firework's show for the grand opening of the new South Coast Casino set the joint's roof on fire.

Living in a city that parties every day of the year can make it difficult to know when a holiday like New Year's is here. I've prepared a list of the ways to know when its new Year's in Las Vegas. This weeks Nines...

9. Entire Hilton family in town to host endless strip parties.
8. Room rates require signing a second mortgage.
7. Fremont Street Experience holding first ever combined bottle throwing & throw-up contest.
6. Texas frat boys playing sng's during Vegas stop-over of Rose Bowl trip.
5. Caesars Palace fountains filled with cheap Champaign.
4. Fireworks show is a giant salute to gambling and other vices.
3. Entire town goes dark while a bunch of cool movie dudes rob all the casinos.
2. Steve Wynn's careless handling of fireworks sets neighboring Aladdin joint on fire.
1. At the stroke of midnight, Vegas Metro cops firing their guns into the air!

Posted by flipchipro at 3:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Time for my end of the year summations of the poker business, the players, the tournaments and the great moments, along with some personal milestones and waxing poetically. 2005 was a year of walking, waiting, watching, listening; but, mostly watching. Watching the thousands of poker players during the thousands of hours of play in poker tournaments offering the top finishers hundreds of millions of dollars in prize pools. I was there when poker created its latest millionaires and I was close, so close I could smell the cash piled on the table. Of course, I was seeing all of this through the viewfinder of the Nikon.

During the 45 days of the 2005 WSOP I pressed the shutter over twelve thousand times. I've taken photos of poker legends, poker chips, poker cards, poker fans, poker stars, stars playing poker and anything else remotely related to poker. many of the images are available in our Photo Gallery. 2005 was a good year for my photographs. I have done numerous cover shots for our print affiliate, Poker Player. I did the magazine cover shot of Cyndy Violette. More of my photos Woman Poker Playerwere used in Tricycle the Buddhist Review magazine. Others have been supplied to newspapers and organizations. Many are given to players and fans.

Needless to say, photographing people playing poker is my life. I'm very fortunate to do something I find so entertaining. What better life for a poker playing adrenalin junky?...but, it's a tough job requiring the stamina of a stone statue and the eye of an eagle. The photos I'm offering today are some of my '05 favorites of poker players and they are good examples of how tough the life of the poker photographer has become. Additional photos are in the continue reading section below.

Posted by flipchipro at 4:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Boulder Station Hotel and Casino on the Boulder Strip was the place where bad beat jackpot history was made early Wednesday morning. The $418,870 Jumbo Hold'em Bad Beat Progressive Jackpot winning/losing hands were dealt at 4:15 AM to a couple of local Las Vegas poker players sitting at table #6 in the Boulder Station Casino's poker room. The jackpot is certainly the largest to be offered in Nevada and possibly the all-time record for live poker hold'em games.

The jackpot hand came down to two diamond straight flushes. The losing hand and winner of the largest share of the bad beat jackpot held the 7-8 of diamonds. The winning hand and winner of the second largest share held the Queen-King of diamonds. The board brought the three needed cards, the 9-10-Jack of diamonds and the word went out to all the other Station Casino's poker rooms that the jackpot had been hit. Considering the early morning hour the crowd of 265 hold'em poker players at all of the Station poker rooms demonstrates the attraction power of a big pile of money.

The bad beat jackpot winner's share (losing hand) of the money was $35,000 plus a table share of $1,370 for a total of $36,370. The second place (winning) player, holding the King high straight flush, went home with $21,370 including a table share plus whatever was in the table pot he won. The huge jackpot took approximately nine weeks to build to a record level after starting at $200,000. The payouts of table shares to the other 263 players, receiving $1,370 each, took approximately four hours. The jackpot reset at $200,000 and had grown to a little over $208K during the first twenty hours, an indication that the crowds of poker players are playing on.

Posted by flipchipro at 4:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm taking this week of in-between holidays as a time to catch up on reading, eating, sleeping and re-visiting Las Vegas. The city expands on a daily schedule so having time to leisurely cruise around town and see all the new stuff keeps the adrenalin rush going, the same high I've enjoyed since settling in Las Vegas way more than two decades ago. Driving about the city makes me feel like a tourist with a good sense of direction.

I read an article today that stated, Las Vegas is the number #1 New Year's Eve party destination. This really didn't come as much of a surprise. This city will let you walk down the boulevard sidewalk while carrying and consuming your drink of choice. Celebrate as loudly as you please with no fear here. Gamble non-stop at almost any game you can name. Play slots till you drop. Shop till you're broke. Just sit and watch the thousands of people crowding into Las Vegas this holiday week, all here to do the same crazy stuff that brought you to Vegas. Sleep all day, play all night or for the hard core Vegas visitor, don't sleep at all. Am I surprised that Las Vegas is the number one destination to welcome in the New Year? Absolutely not, only if it wasn't number one would it be a surprise. Where else do they give away the booze, the food and insist you have as good a time as is possible? The New Year celebration is a special time in Las Vegas, it's our biggest holiday. Las Vegas goes totally insane for a few days...and don't forget this year's special Las Vegas Centennial fireworks show coordinated from the rooftops of fourteen of the major hotels along the strip at midnight on New Year's Eve.

I stopped by Palace Station for the steamed clams and noticed the huge poker room bad beat jackpot. All Station Casino poker rooms share a single progressive bad beat jackpot which is now at an all-time record high of $418,000 and going up. Tuesday at Noon the qualifying 'beat hand' was lowered from four deuces to Aces full of Kings. The holder of the losing hand will receive $35,000 form the jackpot while the winning hand takes $20,000. The remainder of the jackpot is then distributed evenly among everyone playing hold'em in a Station property poker room. If the jackpot had hit on Tuesday that would be approximately $365,000 being divided up, making a player's share a nice chunk of cash. The poker room at Palace Station was filled to capacity with long waiting lists.

I read another article that investigates the decline in the popularity of poker or at least the decline in sales of poker chip sets at Walgreens. I'm not sure I believe the game is nothing more than flash in the pan and will retreat into obscurity in the near future. I don't believe poker will have another year of such spectacular overall growth, but it won't crash. I do believe the WSOP will set records in 2006 and I do believe poker is a fad and has been for more than a century.

Posted by flipchipro at 6:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Wynn Poker Room

The Wynn Resort is the latest addition to the Las Vegas skyline from master resort designer, Steve Wynn. The tallest building in Nevada provides guest with 2,716 luxurious rooms and suites to satisfy the most discerning visitor. Located on the north end of the fabled Vegas Strip tucked away behind the only alpine mountain range in the city the great curved copper mirrored monolith rises above it all. The Wynn Resort represents the state-of-the-art in accommodations, entertainment, food, service and shopping. Steve Wynn brought all of the best from his previous projects and combined these elements to create this imposing property. Typical of Wynn designs, he provides guest with a visual overload of colors, views and art. Plush gardens fill the public spaces and extensive use of live trees and exotic plants throughout the resort provides guests with an experience of unmatched splendor. Steve Wynn's attention to even the smallest of details is quite apparent in his latest Las Vegas project. The accommodations are not only high-end but they offer cutting edge digital technology from the flat panel digital large screen displays to super high speed Internet access, its all here now in your room.

The highly anticipated opening of the property was only eight months ago and already the Wynn has a Five Star Restaurant included among the more than two dozen food offerings, there's always something to please even the most fickle of international paletes. Strolling along the mosaic tiled work-of-art footpaths winding through the gardens circling the casino finds concourses lined with exclusive shops. Clothes from the great designers, jewels to please royalty, priceless art exhibits, trendy restaurants and, yes, you can buy a Ferrari or Maserati. Come to the Wynn for dinner and a show, perhaps some baccarat, and then leave in your very own 200 mph, Italian bauble. A full-service Ferrari-Maserati dealership is located inside the Wynn Resort and it has quickly become a must-see for Las Vegas visitors.

The Wynn Resort is behind the heavily wooded mountain fronting the Las Vegas strip. You have to come into the property to experience its' many features and that is by Steve Wynn's design. Waterfalls cascading down the rocks into an alpine lake bordered by restaurants and bars provides each of the eateries with its own unique setting. The Wynn is the Las Vegas Resort that quickly becomes a world unto itself.

While you are mulling over your decision of colors for your Ferrari walk directly across the corridor to the Wynn's Poker Room. Located a few short steps from a parking garage the Wynn Poker Room has the most convenient access around. Drive into the garage, park and in less than a minute you are in the poker room. The room has 26 tables offering a variety of games and limits. The No-limit Hold'em crowd will find $1-$3 blinds with a $100 minimum buy-in, $2-$5 blinds with a $200 minimum buy-in and $5-$10 blinds with a $500 minimum buy-in. The No-limit Hold'em games have no maximum buy-in cap. Limit Hold'em is offered with all of the popular blind structures: $4-$8, $8-$16, $15-$30 and $30-$60. The poker room usually has a $10-$20 mix game going that is typically a variety of H.O.R.S.E. and will spread any of the poker games that have enough players for a table.

Poker operations for the Wynn are under the expert guidance of Deborah Giardina, Director of poker Room Operations for the Wynn. Deborah has more than fifteen years in the poker industry including nine years with Lyle Berman's enterprises. She follows a simple business plan of providing every poker player with a truly pleasurable playing experience. The spaciousness of the room, digital player red cards, shufflemaster tables, a well trained friendly room staff and a rare Las Vegas poker room commodity...you can order from a menu and have food delivered to directly to your seat at the table. Players can earn food comps by playing in the room. Rake games provide $1 per hour of play and timed games offer $1.50 per hour. No cap is placed on the comp amount.

Players staying in the Wynn Hotel can put their name on the waiting list for any of the active games and watch their progress on the in-house poker channel from the comforts of their room. When you're next up, come down to the poker room without having to stand around waiting for your seat to open. Monitors are conveniently located so waiting players can check their progress. The layout of the poker room provides great views of the action from the rail and there's always a crowd watching the games and players.

Tournament Director David Eglseder brings 13 years of poker tournament management experience to the Wynn's poker room. He constantly monitors the feedback from the players and dealers to provide the best tournament limits and schedules. The Poker Room offers three No-limit Hold'em tournaments each week: on Tuesdays at Noon a $300 +$30 buy-in, Thursday at Noon a $300 + $300 rebuy/add-on and Fridays at 3:00PM a $500 + $30 buy-in event. Single table satellites are available on tournament days beginning at 8:00AM. Phone the room at 702.770.7654 for complete information including any recent changes. The Wynn Poker Room is currently working on plans to offer a major tournament event that will be offered at different times throughout the year. More details will become available after plans are completed.

The Wynn Resort is the latest example of Steve Wynn's ability to create world class destinations. A trip to Las Vegas is not complete until you take the time to visit and experience this magnificent resort.

Wynn Las Vegas
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
702.770.7100 or toll free 877.321.WYNN
Email: roomreservations@wynnlasvegas.com
www.wynnlasvegas.com

Posted by flipchipro at 2:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Christmas Day in Las Vegas was an abbreviated affair for me after sleeping through most of the daylight hours. Having spent the last few days fighting with some derivate virus from parts unknown, today was the first time I've ventured out voluntarily. It was a typical Vegas holiday for us. Instead of being home cooking we prefer to let one of the hotel kitchens do the work. Dinner today included octogenarian FlipChip Sr., the elder family patriarch and full-time Vegas poker player. Typically, everyone orders different dishes which are normally shared, so, I've had King Crab, Steamed Clams, Shrimp Salad, Oysters Rockefeller, chilled asparagus, three kinds of soup and a terrific aged sirloin hamburger. I am quite stuffed and lazy so will share some of the Christmas Day in Vegas observations, conversations and views.

Driving across Las Vegas we noticed that one of the signs at the Stardust had lost part of the logo so the sign read 'dust." Is this a precursor to the future of the property? After all, the Stardust has become long-in-the-tooth and it really shows. Once the Stardust and its colorful sign was the favorite hangout for locals and tourist alike, and the poker room was the most popular place to play in all of the land. Back then the Stardust was located in the center of the Vegas Strip; but, today, the Stardust is too far north to be a part of the 'new' high end real estate. The recently opened Wynn property has certainly helped to upgrade the neighborhood so I expect we are seeing the last days of the 'dust. The center of the Vegas Strip has continued to march south and this past week it took another major lurch toward the California side when the same people that own the Stardust, the Boyd Group, opened the $600 million plus South Coast Resort. The new South Coast was our next Christmas Day stop.

Driving south on the Las Vegas Strip about two miles from the Las Vegas airport, I was amazed with the mass of buildings that have appeared in the last few months. The South Coast resort was busy with holiday and grand opening traffic. Lines everywhere waiting to get into the property, the parking garages, elevators to the casino, the food outlets, the gift shop, cage, movie theaters...everywhere. Flipchip Sr headed to the poker room and finally got a seat in a limit hold'em game. Lady Flip tried the flat panel video poker machines and decided the displays were two dim, being overwhelmed by the brightly lit graphics, she also pointed out the bah-humbug lack of any holiday decorations in the joint. I tried to find a day-old NY Times since I have a photo in the issue, but was unsuccessful. Flip Sr's first hand was big slick and his button raise was called by an Ace,Deuce off suit. Flop was an Ace, and another Ace completed the set on the turn. of course, the river was a deuce, just another bad beat story to go with the million or so he's already experienced.

Back into Vegas on the Strip and into some of the most jammed up traffic I've driven in all year. Guess everyone in LA came over right after the kids opened the Christmas stuff, we counted twenty-two CA plates out of a group of thirty cars. Some week this is going to be. Next stop the Rio. Flip jr. decided the only thing to have for the Christmas meal was eggs benedict on biscuits with sawmill gravy from the All American Bar & Grill at the Rio. As always, the place was operating in the 200 dB range so any conversation is a shouting fool's convention. The place was jammed with holiday revelers enjoying the original Vegas party place. I noticed the WSOP Store at the Rio is having a 70% off sale on 2005 WSOP merchandise including clothing.

Our trip home took us across town accompanied by one on the Metro Police ghetto birds overhead with its large spotlight. Guess the helicopter was tracking some alleged bad guys also driving across town with us. I'm happy to be home although I didn't get my NY Times, the second time this year I've had photos printed and didn't see them. Christmas day was another enjoyable Las Vegas experience, but now I look forward to my favorite day of the year, December 26th although considering the late hour I'll probably sleep through it.

Posted by flipchipro at 7:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Twas the Night Before Christmas in the Poker Room

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the poker room,
Not much was moving, quiet as a tomb,
The chip racks were stacked on the side in a row,
Hoping some good luck would fill them with dough;

The players were sitting hunched in their seats,
Telling their tales of all the bad beats,
The dealer looked at me and ask,
Do you plan to bet or will you pass?

From out in the casino I heard a shout,
I jumped from the two seat to see what was about,
And what to my surprise did appear,
A fat guy drinking a bottle of beer,

He came into the room all in a bustle,
No one guessed it might be a hustle,
He slid into the six seat and yelled for a rack,
Then looked around and said, "I'll leave when I've filled my sack,"

Through the air the cards did fly,
Lady Luck had blessed this red suited guy,
He played every hand never folding a one,
The outcome was always the same, he won and won,

When he had taken most of our chips,
He said I'm going to give you some poker tips,
I've played them all, the good and the great,
And let me tell you I can relate,

I've sat across from Hellmuth, Luske and Chan,
Brunson, Nguyen, even a guy called Fossilman,
They remind me of a boxer with a glass jaw,
They can't even play me to a draw,

Now please excuse me, I really must go,
I gotta make a stop at the Bellagio,
I left my Mercedes in their valet,
Don't look so surprised, I traded the sleigh.

I hope you all have a very prosperous year,
I'll be back next Christmas to play right here,
Maybe you should read a poker book or two,
The way you play you don't have a clue,

Under you're pillow tomorrow you must look,
That's where I'll leave your copy of Brunson's book.
And with that he turned and walked away,
Have a Very Merry Christmas Day!

I hope you enjoy our effort at a little Holiday humor. The Las Vegas poker scene is a great place to spend some of your holiday time, play poker, relax and make some new friends. Crowds fill the poker tables, even on Christmas eve. The festive atmosphere has taken over the city and will continue to build to a fever pitch for New Year's Eve. Consider giving yourself a special holiday present and come on down to Vegas.

Las Vegas parties everyday of the year; so, we decided it would be a good idea to offer a list of ways to know it's Christmas in Vegas. This week's Nines...

9. Instead of an olive your martini has a sugar plum.
8. All the food at the Circus Circus buffet is red or green. No, wait, that's normal.
7. Big Red sleigh in valet parking.
6. Frosty the Snowman hitting on the cocktail girls.
5. Downtown Vegas decorated as giant lump of coal.
4. Hotel security dressed as nutcrackers.
3. Elves playing the slots.
2. The coffee shop daily special... roasted reindeer.
1. Santa playing No Limit Hold'em in the card room!

Have a Safe & Happy Holiday!

Posted by flipchipro at 12:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions will be broadcast on Saturday, December 24, 2005, beginning at 1:00 PM PST on ESPN. Three hours of some of the best tournament poker played this year. This one has everything including the Mouth, Mike Matusow and the Brat, Phil Hellmuth. The invitations went out to qualified poker players that had already won championships in the WSOP's series of tournaments. The list of entrants is a who's who of professional poker players. The WSOP TOC crowns a champion of champions and is one of poker's most coveted awards.

I've covered many tournaments this past year and this one was the most exciting and well attended. The all-star list of 119 players insured some great poker from the sports great players. The grand ole master of poker, Doyle Brunson, was in the crowd and finished on the final table bubble. The audience really got into the final table and no one left the standing room only final table held at Caesar's Palace over three days with the final table played on November 9th. Our complete final table wrap up is available here. Photos from the event are available in our TOC Photo Gallery. A complete list of money finishers in the 2005 WSOP Tournament of Champions is available at PokerPlayerNewspaper.com.

This tournament will provide a real treat for poker players and fans, a great way to spend Christmas Eve. The final table includes the two bad boys of the sport, Mike Matusow and Phil Hellmuth. Check out the "donkey" Christmas present Matusow and Steve Dannenmann gave to Hellmuth at the start of the play. Mike received a small world globe card protector from Dan and used it as a prop when he would serenade the players and audience with "He's got the whole world in his hands..." Hoyt Corkins, David Levi, Tony Bloom Grant Lang, Keith Sexton and Brandon Adams complete the final table roster. TOC final table participant Steve Dannenmann, the second place finisher in the 2005 WSOP Main Event, was interviewed recently by wickedchopspoker.com.

Set aside the time or set the TiVo so you don't miss any of the show. You'll be entertained throughout the three hours of poker. The show is scheduled for 1:00 PM PST on ESPN, but check local listings for times in your area.

Posted by flipchipro at 3:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

First, some bits of Las Vegas poker news for this Thursday. Station Casino's progressive bad beat jackpot has climbed above $325,000. The jackpot is shared among all of the Station Casinos and everyone playing in a Station Casino poker room when the jackpot is hit will go home with a share. The wait list for all of the poker rooms is usually long with players vying for a chance at a six figure Christmas present. Station Casinos operates fourteen properties around Las Vegas in off-strip areas convenient to local players.

Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas opened its much anticipated poker room on Wednesday to much pomp and fanfare. The facility located next to the sport's book was completed at a cost of $12 million and features eleven LeRoy Neiman original paintings commissioned by Harrah's especially for the poker room. The area is divided into two spaces with the main room at 8,500 square feet and an additional 6,000 square feet of tournament space holding 33 tables.

Major tournaments for the new Caesar's Poker Room will probably begin in March, 2006 when the Heads-Up Poker Championship is played there. Harrah's recently purchased the Heads-up Championship and it will showcase the new tournament facility. The WSOP Circuit series has scheduled a stop at the property in April, 2006. Harrah's management has made no mention of the World Series of Poker event moving from its home at the Rio Resort.

I got a press release form ESPN today announcing the creation of a Fantasy Poker Challenge. ESPN and Bluff Magazine have teamed to offer poker buffs a free opportunity to prove their knowledge of professional poker and win some nice prizes. Participants choose a team of professional players that are charted through thirteen circuit tournaments over a six month period. The participant that accumulates the most points will win an all expense paid trip to Australia to attend the Howard Lederer and Annie Duke's Fantasy Poker Camp. Complete details and sign-up information can be found at ESPN Fantasy Poker Challenge. Sounds like fun and best of all, it is free.

Posted by flipchipro at 5:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by flipchipro at 5:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Plaza Hotel and Casino
Number One Main Street
Las Vegas, Nevada
Toll free 1.800.634.6575 or 702.386.2110
www.plazahotelcasino.com

The Plaza Hotel and Casino opened more than three decades ago to much fanfare and promotion. I was there for the VIP opening preceding the public grand opening as a guest of one of the contractors that had helped in the construction of this new "Queen of Downtown." The Union Plaza was simply elegant and newer than anything on the Las Vegas Strip. The crowd was definitely upscale and the event was one giant free party. Trays of food were everywhere, Champaign was flowing from fountains and everyone was excited about the future of downtown Las Vegas with this new jewel of a resort at Number One Main Street. The original Union Plaza housed the train station for the passenger trains that serviced Las Vegas then, bringing visitors to downtown from all points.

Fast forward to the present and even though the property is into its fourth decade and the trains no longer bring passengers to Las Vegas it remains the anchor of Main Street and the best place to view the Fremont Street Experience show. The 1037 hotel rooms provide guests with great accommodations at rates that are much easier on the budget than many of the strip hotels. All of downtown is within easy walking distance to the Plaza Hotel and Casino. The property has changed ownership over the years and is now owned by the Barrick Group. They have begun a renovation program that has brought the hotel up to modern standards without sacrificing the friendly feel and comfortable atmosphere long associated with the downtown Casino.

The spacious casino provides visitors with a selection of hundreds of the newest slot machines, a full compliment of table games, Keno, Race and Sports book, a fast food court, and restaurants to please every taste and budget. The Center Stage Restaurant located in the mirrored dome covering the entrance to the hotel is one of the most filmed places in all of Las Vegas. Many movies have used the spectacular setting to convey the spirit of Las Vegas. During the Fremont Street Experience Light Show the lights in the restaurant are dimmed and the show's music is piped into the room. Next time you're in Las Vegas make an effort to have dinner at the Center Stage Restaurant for one of the original Las Vegas dining experiences. The second floor of the hotel is the location of the men's barber shop where the master barber still provides a straight razor, steaming towel shave, another unique experience that has become difficult to find. Live lounge entertainment is always happening at the Plaza, and always free. The groups are typically well above average including an Asian Rock group that you won't soon forget.

The Plaza Poker Room is located in the casino area close to the main cashier's cage. Convenient to valet and self parking makes the spacious room popular with tourist and locals alike. Plaza poker operations are managed by poker industry veteran, Kenn Bennett. The room has 9 pan tables and 19 poker tables spreading all of your favorite games. The Plaza Poker Room is one of the last places anywhere to offer pan. The Plaza Poker Room even offers the occasional pan tournament. The poker room offers $3-$6 Omaha Hi-Low Split, Texas Hold'em with $2-$4, $3-$6 or $4-$8 limit, and $1-$4 Seven Card Stud. A $1-$2 blind No-limit Hold'em game with a $40 min up to $500 max buy-in and a $2-$5 blind No-limit Hold'em with a minimum $100-No max limit buy-in.

Tournaments at the Plaza are numerous with a daily 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Single Table $25 & $50 Sit-n-Go's plus $25 Shoot-Outs. Tuesday through Sunday play in the daily 7 PM $35 buy-in w/rebuys No-limit Hold'em. Monday's at 7 PM the Plaza Poker Room offers a $35 buy-in w/rebuys Omaha Hi/Lo Split tournament. A $55 buy-in No-limit Hold'em w/rebuys tournament is offered at noon and every night at midnight, a great tournament for the late night crowd.

The Plaza hotel is the home of the Ultimate Poker Challenge tournament series now into its third season. The Ultimate Poker Challenge is filmed for broadcast on TV and includes a championship event that always draws all the top name pros. The 2005 UPC is scheduled for November 16th through the 29th at the downtown Plaza Hotel with $500 No-limit Hold'em buy-in events offered daily. The Ultimate Poker Challenge is a great series of tournament to break into major Las Vegas poker tournaments and play your best game for a shot at a nationally syndicated TV show.

The Plaza Poker Room offers players comps at the rate of $5 after 4 hours of play, better than average. Come to the Plaza Hotel and Casino to experience the personal service, hospitality and friendliness of downtown Las Vegas. Enjoy the historic old Vegas spirit of gambling and entertainment at Number One Main Street.

Posted by flipchipro at 6:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday said it is investigating the actions of poker superstar Doyle Brunson concerning the $700 million take over bid for WPT Enterprises Inc. The SEC said the formal investigation is focusing on the legalities of Brunson's offer and the subsequent decision to publicize it. The WPT stock increased more than fifty percent to a high of $26.50 on July 8th after the disclosure of the offer was made public; but, quickly lost the gain once the credibility of the offer was questioned after the WPT said it was unable to reach Brunson or his attorneys. The take over offer then expired with no action from either side. WPT (WPTE on Nasdaq) stock closed Friday at $6.32.

The Travel Channel's most popular shows ever, The World Poker Tour Series, is owned by WPT Entertainment which is a part of Lakes Entertainment Inc. Lakes Entertainment is a casino operator based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The company went public with an IPO in August 2004 at $8 a share.

The Las Vegas law firm of Goodman & Chesnoff represented Brunson and delivered the unsolicited bid to WPT. The firm then withdrew from the proceedings. According to the SEC Brunson has instructed the law firm, using the attorney-client confidentiality privilege, to withhold certain documents including backup materials with details of the offer and not to testify concerning critical details of the offer. Government regulators said on Friday they had filed an action in federal district court in Fort Worth, Texas to enforce the subpoenas issued to attorneys David Chesnoff and Charka Henry for the documents and testimony. Doyle Brunson refused to testify in the investigation and invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, the SEC said.

Doyle Brunson is one of the best known professional poker players in the world and holds a record ten World Series of Poker gold bracelets including two WSOP main event championships. He continues to play in major poker tournaments and on Friday he made the final table of the Fourth Annual Five Diamond World Poker Classic's WPT Championship at the Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas where he finished third to collect $563,485 in winnings. He regularly host the world's highest limit poker players in his 'Doyle's Game' in the private 'Bobby's Room' at the Bellagio Resort.

Brunson's attorney, Alan Isaacman was quoted as saying, "We're confident that after the investigation it will be seen that the offer was a sincere offer and that there were no laws violated."

Additional details of the investigation can be found at MSNBC and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune.

Posted by flipchipro at 7:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)