photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Poker pro and Las Vegas resident Mike Sexton is now the 38th member of the Poker Hall of Fame.

Sexton, 62, is well known for being ambassador and commentator of the World Poker Tour, but he also has had a 30-year career as poker player, racking up $3.7 million in winnings.

Even as recently as this year, Sexton came in 420 out of 6,500 players in the main event of the World Series of Poker.

He will be honored Nov. 7 at Rio Las Vegas, which happens to coincide with the playing of the WSOP main event final table.

A lawsuit has been filed against Full Tilt Poker, claiming that they use bots to keep games running longer and to employ more luck than skill. And that the bots were created by Chris Ferguson and Andy Bloch.

The suit was filed in California by poker player Lary Kennedy, whose account at Full Tilt was closed a couple years ago because they claimed Kennedy used a bot herself, which is against the terms and conditions for the online poker site.

Kennedy's account was locked along with over $80,000 confiscated.

Kennedy, who goes by the name sillysal in poker forums, had the 2+2 community up in arms over her case, until they found out that she also multi-accounted -- playing under a different name on the same site simultaneously. That's also a Full Tilt no-no. She used the accounts "pokergirl_z" and "greggo777."

The story even made its rounds to TMZ.com, stating in their normal exaggerated way that "poker legends [are] sued for robot fraud."

Kennedy's website shows videos of her playing to prove she isn't a bot, photos of her with poker pros (including those affiliated with Full Tilt), threads from poker forums about the situation, and the complaint.

We're skeptical about how far this lawsuit will go, what with a sample of its 13 pages stating "a skilled player would start on-line jihads against the successful player."

But if it does go to trial, it will be interesting to find out some of the inner workings of Full Tilt.

Pitbull Poker has seemingly closed its doors for business.

Players can visit the website but are unable to login to the poker client, and sources say the owners in Costa Rica were seen moving out computers in the middle of the night.

Pitbull was originally launched under WSOP.com, a domain registered by former Binions employee Federico Schiavio, who wrote poker software entirely in Flash for his website. Pitbull may have used that software.

Recently Pitbull Poker had been accused of having "superuser" accounts, similar to the Absolute Poker scandal, in which one player can see everyone else's hole cards.

Suspicious moves come about when a player calls a bet on the river with a high card to win, checking or folding when beaten, folding a high pocket pair when against a higher, etc. Checking hand histories can bring up other quirks.

Pitbull had also stopped sending hand histories and responding to emails.

Playing online poker without a random number generator?

We stumbled on Real Deal Poker's site (not to be confused with limited-run The Real Deal poker show at The Venetian), which professes to use a brand new shuffled deck for every hand and uses burn cards. Pictured above is the contraption used to shuffle.

The player even has an opportunity to cut the deck if they choose.

While the "rigged" comments would stop, we can't wait to see the vitriol when there's a machine malfunction during a hand.

Signups are being taken at their site, with a $50,000 freeroll when they launch.

We don't know when they plan to shuffle up and deal, but their site has been around since early this year.

If you have an extra $5,200 to spare, PokerStars' WCOOP Main Event takes place this Sunday at 2:30 p.m. (Vegas time).

The two-day tourney is hosted by Steve Paul-Ambrose

The cost is $5,000 plus a $200 tourney fee, with a guaranteed prize pool of $10 million.

As we write this, 540 people have entered, giving you a $7.3 million overlay! Okay, we're sure it won't be that much come tourney time, but it could be significant. Last year's prize pool was $10,925,000 with player ckingusc winning first place for $1,265,432.23.

Satellites are running around the clock, where you can enter for as little as $1 (but must win multiple times to get an entry to the Main Event).

We will be sitting this one out (unless our friends at Stars want to float us a buy-in... hello? hello?), but best of luck to all entrants.

photo courtesy of Nancy Cartwright/Monte Carlo Night

A reminder that Nancy Cartwright will be hosting the 4th Annual Monte Carlo Night to benefit PALS Youth Center at her "home that Bart" built in Northridge, CA. A week from this Saturday, October 3, the doors will open to the grand event beginning at 5 PM for the Poker Boot Camp led by 2007 WSOP champion Mary Jones and a 5:30 PM Blackjack Boot Camp headed by Dorian Harewood. The Charity Poker Tournament gets under way at 6 PM followed by a party and entertainment.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Hollywood stars and Poker Pros will combine to insure players of a fun time while they're doing a great service for the community. 100% of the proceeds go to the Devonshire Police Activities League Supporters for the benefit of the children through the construction and operation of youth centers.

This year's theme is Denims and Diamonds so dress down and bling up. Use this link for complete details and to purchase your tickets now or call 818.882.7336. All donations are tax deductible. Tickets are $125 for dinner and dancing to the Cody Bryant Band or $250 for everything including a Poker Tournament entry. The winner will go home with an entry into a 2010 WSOP satellite tournament.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Taking a page out of Annie Duke on "Celebrity Apprentice," professional poker players (and Best Friends Forever) Maria Ho and Tiffany Michelle team up to compete in the 15th season of "The Amazing Race."

Ho came in 38/6358 in the 2007 World Series of Poker main event, while Michelle came in 17/6844 in 2008's WSOP.

Ho and Michelle will use their poker skills to outwit fellow contestants on the race-around-the-world show to claim the ultimate prize $1 million.

"The Amazing Race" premieres Sept. 27 on CBS.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Make your plans now and get your tickets early for the poker social event of the year. Nancy Cartwright, alter-ego and voice of Bart Simpson, is opening her Northridge home October 3rd to all those poker players out there seeking a great time while contributing to a great charity. The 4th annual Monte Carlo Night hosted by the Devonshire Police Activity League Supporters will feature a Denim & Diamonds theme this year so dust off the jeans and grab the bling for an unforgettable evening that will leave you feeling good about yourself and with any luck a little richer.

Bring your "A" game for the no-limit hold'em poker tournament and maybe you'll walk away with one of the 2010 WSOP Satellite seats going to the top five finishers. Rub shoulders with the stars of the entertainment world and the professional poker circuit. Jamie Gold, 2006 WSOP Main Event Winner, will once again be the Poker Chairman and will be joined by poker pros Jerry Yang (WSOP 2007 Main Event Winner) along with Susie Isaacs, multi-tournament winner Kenna James, and TV star Brad Garrett.

Poker players are invited to take in all the festivities for a donation of $250 and that includes your buy-in into the tournament. Those guests wanting to attend but don't play poker only donate $125 for the dinner and dancing to the Cody Bryant Band. There will also be an auction, other casino style games, entertainment, raffle, and open bar. Use this link for complete details and to purchase your tickets now or call 818.882.7336. As always, your donations are tax deductible.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

A story riddled with rumors surfaced today regarding the death of Andreas Oscarsson.

Oscarsson, who founded the PokerListings online poker site, was found dead at his Trollhattan, Sweden home last week on Aug. 3.

Police report that the 36-year-old was murdered by a gunshot to the head (suicide has been ruled out), but that's as far as they go.

Oscarsson's 2-year-old son was present at the time of the shooting but was unharmed.

Oscarsson lived with his wife, who stayed behind in their SoHo home in New York City.

photo courtesy of hard rock tulsa

Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation's highly successful Casino Resort stands poised to enter the next phase of success when it becomes only the seventh Hard Rock Casino & Hotel and the only Hard Rock in the heartland of America. The grand opening ceremonies begin at 1:00 PM Tulsa Time (CDT) with keynote speeches from the Cherokee Nations Principal Chief Chad Smith and Cherokee Nation Entertainment CEO David Stewart. On-hand will be Hard Rock corporate officials and music superstar Toby Keith will be opening his newest Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill.

Cherokee Nation Entertainment is synonymous with world class entertainment and now moves to the next level with the Hard Rock branding of their casino resort. A new tower adds 200 rooms to the existing hotel bringing the total number of rooms to 350. In the mix are new Hard Rock Suites and the ultra opulent Chief's Suite for those that require the finest in accommodations, impeccable service, and mandatory luxurious amenities.

Five restaurants insures a menu for every taste with the McGill's on 19, a penthouse located fine-dining venue, providing an intimate dining experience of unmatched culinary delights. Five nightclubs offers entertainment options to please everyone. From the Center bar with its 80 foot long frozen bartop to the urban sheik, metro style Friction Lounge.

The resort combines the rich history and unique art of the Cherokee people, the long-established musical heritage of Oklahoma, and the rock n' roll tradition of the Hard Rock to provide an unsurpassed vacation destination in the Mid-South. More than 2,300 modern slots are located in the 125,000 square feet of casino and 70 table games including 36 live-action poker tables are available 24/7.

An award winning 18-hole, par 70, Cherokee Hills Golf Club championship golf course is situated next to the resort on 170 beautifully landscaped acres. A Las Vegas style swimming pool area is set to open this Fall.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa is wholly owned and operated by Cherokee Nation Entertainment and offers employment opportunities to more than 3,400 people including 2,380 Native Americans. Oklahoma and surrounding areas are the recipients of more than a billion dollars annually from the revenues produced by Cherokee Nation Entertainment. Casino profits are divided with 70% going into expansion efforts and 30% going directly into the Cherokee community for government services including, but not limited to, schools, medical centers, social services, modern communications, and improved living conditions.

Additional details are available at Cherokee Nation Entertainment and Cherokee Nation.

photo courtesy of hard rock tulsa

photo courtesy of hard rock tulsa

So you invest $5 into a 50,000-player tournament on Sunday, win 1st place for $45,000, and what do you do?

Go back to grinding a $10 heads-up sit'n'go.

That's what Chicago-based breo40 did, coming down off Full Tilt's largest tournament in their history, which lasted almost 9 hours (the final table alone was 90 minutes).

That's dedication. We don't know if we'd have that much restraint and discipline not to jump into a higher limit game, you know, to parlay.

But the 30-year-old will continue to play his regular low-limit sit-n-go games, though he conceded he'd go as high as $100... non-turbo.

During the marathon session, he never fell below average stack and his Aces held up. He led the final table with a 3:1 chip lead, and his final hand was A9 vs. 34. A9 held up.

He doesn't yet know what he'll do with his newfound windfall, but for now he's content playing the same games he did before.

And trying to get the money out of his account as fast as possible.

Full Tilt informed breo40 that at least a dozen players attempted to hack into his account after his win. His account is currently being monitored for any fraudulent activity.

Asking the instant online poker celebrity what he did as soon as he won, breo40 said: "bout crapped my pants."

And by the way, he lost the heads-up SnG but jumped into a 6max $6 SnG.

The battle of the online poker giants has ended with one victor for the Guinness World Record of most amount of players in a single poker tournament.

Full Tilt achieved their max of 50,000 players, beating Poker Stars' record by 15,000 players. That $5 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed tournament begins today at 12:05 p.m. PT.

Not to be outdone on their own record, moments after Full Tilt announced their intent, Stars whipped up another Guinness-breaker tournament in an effort to retain their title. And it paid off. Originally uncapped, they cut off the tourney at 65,000 players, perhaps with concerns too many players in a single tournament might crash their server. That $1 buy-in, $130,000 guaranteed tournament begins today at 11:10 p.m. PT.

There's still a chance to enter the Stars tourney to be part of history. Because players can unregister, occasionally you'll see the tally drop to 64,999. Have the table open, and as soon as it does, click that Register button as fast as you can.

As for us, we were sucked into registering for both tourneys. Both didn't have any entry fees and have a 100 percent overlay, always a plus. The better overlay is on Full Tilt, as they matched $5 for every $5 buy-in, paying out 7,500 places. That's more than the 6,494 players that entered this year's Main Event at the World Series of Poker. First place in the tournament will receive $45,000.

Not a bad payday for 5 bucks.

We don't know who came first, but on the same day that Full Tilt seeks to break the world record for most players in a single tournament, PokerStars will also be competing.

Stars claimed the record to begin with, at 35,000 players on Dec. 28, 2008.

Both sites already have more than the record amount of players.

Tilt has capped theirs at 50,000 (currently at 41,884 at this posting). Their tourney is a $5 with a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool.

Stars, however, has uncapped theirs and may possibly beat 50,000 (currently at 46,243 at this posting). Stars' tourney #200900719 has a $1 buy-in with a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool. It's set for July 19 at 11:10 p.m. Vegas time... 65 minutes before Tilt's tourney begins.

Who wants to set the over/under for when either site crashes?

If you've had a taste of the WSOP and are craving some of the same action but at little cost, all the while breaking a Guinness World Record, Full Tilt is the place to be.

As part of their 5th anniversary, the online poker site is hoping to break a world record for most players in a single tournament.

At the time of this posting, there are 40,321 players registered at $5 a pop (no entry fee). The tourney is capped at 50,000, and with a $500,000 prize pool, that means Full Tilt is putting up 100 percent of the buy-ins.

The tourney is #99219444 and called The Record Breaker. It takes place beginning 12:05 p.m. (Vegas time) on July 19.

We'll be playing. Where else could we turn $5 into a potential $45,000 first-place win, and if not that, at least break a world record?

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Professional poker player, author, and celebrity David Sklansky had a home invasion early this morning.

Sklansky was asleep in bed at 3 a.m. when at least one robber broke into his house and bedroom. And he seemed to have a gun.

Sklansky is okay now, according to a message he posted on his popular poker site 2+2. "They knew their job and I never saw their faces," he wrote. Then he added, appearing to joke, "One of the PLO [pot-limit Omaha] 8/B players was almost certainly behind it."

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The death rumors of the Excalibur poker room are greatly exaggerated.

Last August, we posted an RIP sendoff to the Castle because they'd exchanged its regular poker tables with PokerTek e-tables and had laid off all its dealers.

The field trial for the e-tables began March 19 by the Nevada Gaming Commission, and if it lasted longer than 4 months, the casino could terminate its agreement.

Which, on June 19, is exactly what Excalibur did. "MGM Mirage officials said they found that players prefer live dealers to automatic tables."

So... as of July 5, the 12 e-tables will be no more, and on July 10, the Excalibur will return to regular poker tables!

And not only that, but they're in the process of contacting all the dealers they laid off to offer their jobs back!

Now if the 1-3 and 2-6 spread limit games and the Wheel also come back (and maybe even the small free buffet), we will make a triumphant return to the Excal.

As for the e-tables, they will most likely move to another Strip casino.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

It's Sunday. Today is the final installment of the 2009 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. You'll be treated to three hours of poker beginning with the round of four. In the first two hours Sammy Farha battles Huck Seed while Vanessa Rousso takes on Bertrand Grospellier for one of the two seats at the final table.

During the third hour it will be the best of three matches for the championship trophy, the jewelry and the cash, $500,000.

It all begins at 10 AM ET on NBC TV. Check TV listings for air times in your area. This is a great show for players wanting to see inside the mind of a former WSOP Main Event Champion (1996), professional poker player Huck Seed. Watch Huck Seed overpower former law student Vanessa Rousso, as they vie for the year's worth of bragging rights to one of poker's most prestigious events.

Enjoy today's show and take notes for later, less than two weeks later, when we will hear the "Shuffle Up and Deal" command reverberate throughout the Pavilion signaling the start of the 2009 World Series of Poker at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Las Vegas.

A mini-gallery of Flipchip Heads-Up photos after the jump.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

On Sunday, May 17, poker pro Cyndy Violette will host an online charity poker tournament on Full Tilt.

The event will help raise money for three causes equally: The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Special Olympics through Poker Gives.

The tournament costs $10 ($5 to the tournament and $5 to charity -- Full Tilt does not take any juice) and takes place at 3 p.m. ET.

Anyone can enter to play against poker players of all levels, and you may find yourself up against some poker pros you read about (they'll have the name highlighted in red).

To enter, login and go to the Private section. Look for tournament #91058998 (or press CTRL-T to go directly to tournament 91058998) and then enter password CHARITY.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Annie Duke maintained her composure and kept a game face on throughout the constant verbal assaults from eventual winner, Joan Rivers. Before a national TV audience on NBC TV, Annie Duke represented the poker world with her brains, total self control, extreme confidence, and never ending aggression...all are must-have talents for every successful poker player.

Remember, poker is a full mental contact sport that can reduce many of the most strong willed players into a seething cauldron of white-hot emotions. Not Annie Duke, you can call her Hitler and get nothing not even one tic of info. I will always wonder how this Celebrity Apprentice competition would have gone if it had been Joan Rivers facing Puggy Pearson across the celebrity table. The age card would be out of play.

In Sunday evening's Celebrity Apprentice finale the last task for the heads-up between Duke and Rivers was the organization of a money raising event that included a theme based on sponsor Kodak's photo sharing system. Annie Duke called on the professional poker world for donations to her charity, Refugees International, while her heads-up opponent, Joan Rivers, used her Hollywood connections for cash to her charity, God's Love We Deliver. Annie Duke raised almost a half million to Joan Rivers' $150 K and we all know why. Poker players are some of the most generous and caring people on the planet.

But, as is often the case in any major competition the chip leader going in doesn't always win. Even with the almost 3-1 lead in charity bucks the deck was stacked against Annie Duke. When Trump polled various people around the room you knew the script called for Joan Rivers to win. Like judges at a boxing match Trump advisers were giving the better known Rivers a 3-2 decision. Congratulations to Joan Rivers for her ability to hang tough and play a great no-fold'em game. It's a rare day indeed when a 75-year-old female gets to hear, "You're Hired!" Grey power ruled this day.

Congratulations to Annie Duke for playing the money raising game better than every one and giving the winnings to charity. And a big thanks for putting poker's best foot forward.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Today is Sunday, May 10. Do you know what's on the tube at 10 AM ET? It's the Fifth Annual NBC National Heads-up Poker Championship from Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Today's 2 hour installment is number 5 of 6. As expected, the pros with a long track record of big wins are well represented among the final few players remaining from the original 64. This proven, talent rich field typically favors the experienced and the gifted poker players.

Remember the past four champions -2005 Phil Hellmuth 11 bracelets, 2006 Ted Forrest 5 bracelets, 2007 Paul Wasicka 2nd 2006 WSOP ME, 2008 Chris Ferguson 5 bracelets - while considering your chances of winning the elites poker title. Wanna stare down one of these guys? Of course you do. That's one of the great things about live poker. Some days the greatest players of all times can beat everything at the table except the dealer.

This is full mental contact poker played before the unblinking eyes of NBC TV and broadcast to a worldwide audience. Screw up at the Heads-Up and they'll be laughing at you in the Gamma Quadrant. Check today's TV listings for broadcast times in your area for the Fifth Annual NBC Natiuonal Heads-Up Poker Championship on NBC TV. Next week the series will crown the 2009 Heads-Up Champion in a 3 hour finale.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Most of the people we know like to play poker, hang out with poker stars, and rub shoulders with stars playing poker, all while enjoying a tropical locale with an ocean breeze. This weekend they will have all of these conditions in one poker room, Hollywood Park Casino Poker Room, located at the famous horse track where the movie stars from the golden age of moving pictures gathered to socialize and bet the ponies.

This weekend Jason Alexander of Seinfeld fame will lead a group of current stars to Hollywood Park Casino for his 3rd Annual Poker Tournament to benefit 1736 Family Crisis Center. On-site Registration for this charity event begins at 1 PM, May 9th, before the 2 PM start. The fast and easy way to complete details of the event plus an online registration page for the $250 seats is on-line with this link.

Your $250.00 Buy-In includes Lunch Reception, Pre-Game Instructional Play, Celebrity Players, and a Silent and Live Auction. This is a great opportunity to see and be seen with the stars of the game. Click this link for a map of Hollywood Park Casino, 3883 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA.

Some of the people scheduled to attend include include Daniel Baldwin, Montel Williams, Liz Lieu, Jamie Gold, Greg Raymer Linda Johnson, Max Shapiro, Marsha Waggoner, and of course, Jason Alexander. Can we add your name to the list of stars?

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Efforts to legalize online poker may receive an assist from a most unlikely source, namely, the collapse of the economy. With a new administration running the country and a president that is a poker player we finally may have the political atmosphere conducive for the repeal of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). For those living in the dark on current issues UIGEA made it unlawful for credit card companies, banks, and Internet payment processors to handle monetary transfers to online gambling sites.

With the national economy in shambles the $50 billion in potential government revenues from legal online gambling is looking bigger everyday. The scrambling Washington politicos are giving this pile of rejected "soiled money" (soiled according to King George and his band of bible-thumping country wreckers) a second and maybe even a third look. With the current world interest in online gambling and especially online poker growing by the day the lost tax revenues have simply become too big to ignore for the cash starved politicians.

Our elected representatives in Washington are addicted and must have their money fixes on a regular basis so expect some good news soon concerning the return of online poker. And finally, another sign that online gambling will make a legal return is the partially empty Las Vegas resorts. Online revenues will go a long way toward filling those gaping holes in the Vegas gambling joints' bottom lines.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Jennifer Harman, the most feared woman in the world when seated at a poker table, is holding her Third Annual Jennifer Harmon Charity Poker Tournament at the Venetian Poker Room April 17 at 5 PM. Matt Savage will be co-hosting and calling the event. A great opportunity for poker players to rub shoulders with some of poker's most colorful names while vying for a $10K seat in the 2009 WSOP Main Event plus random seat prizes, rake in pot sweetners and all players will leave with a very nice gift bag.

Jennifer Harman's tournament is open to all players 21 years of age and up. Bring along a $330 buy-in and a stack of Franklins for the rebuys. Be prepared to have a great time while doing a really good thing for our furry companions. The event is coordinated by Greasie Wheels so expect to play with celebrities and some of poker's best known names and faces. Registration begins Thursday, April 16, at Noon and closes Friday, April 17, at 6 PM.

The true winners of this charity tournament are the thousands of homeless animals that will receive vet care, freedom from hunger, and comfort as a result of your participation and generosity to support the Nevada SPCA with donations of money and your time. Proceeds from the Jennifer Harmon Charity Poker Tournament go to Nevada SPCA, a nonprofit organization operating a no-kill sanctuary for stray animals in Las Vegas. The Nevada SPCA Organization needs volunteers to accomplish their humane mission so volunteers are welcome. Contact Doug Duke at (702) 873-7722 or email the NevadaSPCA@aol.com and learn about other ways you can help.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Harrah's Las Vegas, always fiddling with their poker promotions, now has one that poker players have been clamoring for.

Although it isn't much to the casual player, for locals it's a great one -- the ability to earn Total Rewards tier points.

Previously, Harrah's poker players were given the shaft when it came to points. Rewards points were added every hour, but no tier points. Tier points are what slot and table players earn in addition to rewards points. Tier points aren't worth anything except for tracking your play. Earn a certain amount of tier points in a calendar year, and you'll achieve the next level up the Total Rewards ladder.

In other words, the new system now allows players who solely play poker the chance to get to Diamond level, which opens up things such as access to the Diamond Lounge, a separate line at the cashier, cutting in line at the buffet and other restaurants, priority access at the taxi stand, and other discounts and privileges.

And not only is Diamond good for any of the Harrah's properties in Las Vegas, it's good at any of Harrah's properties across the country.

With every hour of poker you play at Harrah's Las Vegas, you'll receive your regular 100 rewards points (a $1 comp) but now in addition, you'll earn 28 tier points. (This is the equivalent of $140 playthrough in slots.)

Players who sign up to Total Rewards (it's free) receive Gold status.

Earning 4,000 tier points in a calendar year bumps players up to Platinum.

11,000 tier points goes to Diamond.

100,000 tier points grants Seven Stars.

So to earn Diamond, one would need to play 393 hours in a calendar year, or just 8 hours per week. Definitely doable.

Currently, the promotion is only offered at the Harrah's Las Vegas property, but plans are in store to roll out the program at other Harrah's casinos later this month.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Caesars Palace is setting up to host the World Series of Poker Circuit makes it annual stop in Las Vegas at the luxurious strip resort. This year tournament players will enjoy affordable buy-ins and a variety of games during the run of the WSOPC Caesars Palace meet. With buy-in's ranging from a low of $340 up to the $5,150 for a seat in the final Championship event and satellite buy-in's much lower provides all players an opportunity to compete.

Most events are no-limit hold'em; but, 6-Handed No Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, Double Stack Turbo No Limit Hold'em, Omaha 8 or Better, Heads up NL Hold'em, and a Ladies No Limit Hold'em event are also on the play list. For the complete schedule with conditions and details of all 22 events use this link.

A daily 7 PM $200 NLHE tournament and a 11 PM $120 NLHE is offered April 20 - May 01. Both are mega-stack style tournaments with more starting chips and longer blind levels. Single table satellites for all events run daily from 9 AM - 3 AM. Registration for all events begins April 10. The winner of the championship event will also receive a seat in the 2009 WSOP Main Event.

Make your plans now to play in the last WSOP Circuit Tournament before the start of the 2009 World Series of Poker at the Rio Las Vegas. Take advantage of this opportunity to rack up some WSOP play time while honing your game to a razor edge.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

A few day's back I had dinner at my favorite Japanese restaurant, Sushi Roku, in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. My view of the Strip from the restaurant's windows is the photo above. It's the Strip looking south past a well placed NBC Heads-Up Poker logo on the Caesars Palace sign. The video continued to remind me throughout the meal that we will see 12 hours of Heads-Up TV poker on NBC TV. Follow all of the 65 matches played among the 64 players in the single elimination heads-up no-limit hold'em poker tournament. With a $20,000 buy-in it's high stakes, too.

A half a million in cash, the trophy, and a year of bragging rights to this prestigious event guarantees it's not going to be a walk in the park for anyone. The list of proven, pedigree players invited to compete is well salted with experienced winners.

Now, you can see it all from the comfort of your home. NBC will be broadcasting the tournament every Sunday at Noon beginning April 12, and continuing for five consecutive weeks (check local listings for times and dates in your area). NBC has repackaged the three days of poker into a six week mini-series of poker. Twelve hours of high stakes tournament poker. Watch the pros play for more than a million in cash.

Take a close up look at a few of the characters, celebrities, and pros heading into the poker party. The series of Flipchip photos from the Red Carpet for the Draw Party held at PURE nightclub in Caesars Palace continue after the jump.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

We had a hearty chuckle out of PokerStars' VIP store items for April 1st.

The selections included products such as an exercise belt (with Stars logo), a lawnmower (e-mowing on the intertubes!), genetically modified fish (to easily find them at the poker table), and a heads-up game of 52 card pickup with a PokerStars Pro.

All April Fool's Day jokes, of course, but interestingly each was an affordable 1000 FPPs. And instead of the items, each one you purchased netted you $16 cash, so you could pick up an easy $64 by "buying" all four.

For the daring, Stars also lists a 1981 Delorean for 1 million FPPs. And the same car plus the Back to the Future option for 10 million FPPs.

Assuming the $16 per 1000 points still holds true, those who've saved up their points could conceivably receive $16,000 and $160,000.

Not too shabby for a joke.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

A stop by the Caesars Palace Poker Room Saturday evening during the Earth Hour of darkness found the lights on and the cards flying. Seven tables of players remained as they worked their way down to 27 players to end the day. WSOP Main Event champions Phil Hellmuth, Tom McEvoy, and Jamie Gold remained among the finalist with chips.

Dream Team Poker sold out the tournament with 170 three man teams registering by last Friday. This should be good news to all poker players because it demonstrates the continuing strong interest in poker and poker tournaments.

While other forms of casino gaming are losing their popularity to the hard economic times, poker retains its popularity and draw power. Another important consideration is the number of big name players that signed up for this $550 buy-in tournament. The action continues on Sunday at 12:30 PM in the Tournament Room at Caesars Palace. Stop by to see poker's latest incantation, Dream Team Poker, is so popular.

More photos from Saturday's first day of the Dream Team Poker Tournament at Caesars Palace Las Vegas after the jump.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

For a fourth consecutive year Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson, will host the Happy House Poker Tournament and BBQ at her Northridge, California home on Saturday, April 25,2009, 1 - 6 PM. All of the proceeds will go to Happy House and its Mission to Build Better Families. Entry fee for the poker tournament and all of the amenities is $50 prior to April 10th, after that the price goes to $60. The winner of the event will receive a seat in Brad Garrett's poker tournament to benefit Maximum Hope Foundation and the Dream Foundation.

Poker players for the tournament should arrive by 12:30 PM, thirty minutes before the 1:00 PM command of "Shuffle Up and Deal" begins the eliminations. All poker tournament entrants must be 21 and up.

Be sure to bring the kids as there will be plenty of games for the younger members of the family. If you're coming for the party a $15 contribution to this most worthy cause is appreciated. Kids under 12 are free.

For information and/or to reserve seats or attend the BBQ: RSVP (818) 882-7483 or email: adam@happyhouse.org. Address to be provided upon RSVP.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Schedules for the first four Deep Stack Extravaganza Series (DSE) are now available with the release of the DSE III numbers. Click here for all 2009 DSE Schedules with event conditions, buy-in $, dates, and times. The 2009 DSE Series IV event remains penciled in for November 1 - 25, firm scheduling will come later.

April brings the 2009 Deep Stack Extravaganza II running from April 1 - 25. Just in time for the coming of spring. It's a lessor known secret of Vegas locals that a seat in any of the events of the DSE II will renew the hope for happier, more prosperous times ahead.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

$275 buy-in Super Satellites begin in a couple of weeks on Wednesday, April 1, in the plush Venetian Poker Room. Regular events have buy-ins of $330, $550, $1070, and $2,500 for the Championship event. Most events are No-Limit Hold'em; although, players can enter the Deep Stack H.O.R.S.E. event for $330, instead of the $50,000 charged for the horse event at the other poker place, a savings of almost $50,000!

Registration for each event begins at 9 PM the prior day. Most regular events begin at Noon and play for 2 days. Super Satellite registrations open 2 hours prior to each event. Start times for Super Satellites are 12 PM, 4 PM, and 8 PM. Single table satellites made available everyday from 8 AM - 2 AM.

This is the poker tournament series for all poker players to test their mettle. This is the original poker tournament series with affordable buy-ins that plays like the high-dollar buy-in, world famous poker tournaments. Bigger starting chip stacks and blind levels almost twice as long as many comparable buy-in tournaments make up the secret of the Deep Stack Extravaganza's popularity and success with poker players. Of course, playing poker in the world's largest 5 Diamond resort scores high marks in the comfort category.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

After two and a half hours we now know the two final table players going heads-up for the 2009 NBC National Heads-Up Championship. Vanessa Rousso will take on 1996 WSOP Champion, Huck Seed. Seed is no stranger to the winner's circle. He holds a total of four WSOP bracelets. He's also the only heads-up player to cash in all five National Heads-Up Poker Championships.

Vanesso Rousso is the first woman to make a final table at the National Heads-Up Poker championship. It's a sure bet the lady is making her new sponsor, Go Daddy, very happy.

Final table action will get under shortly with a best of three match finish. Stay tuned.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Sunday's starting eight players have been reduced to the four bracket champions. Representing the Clubs Bracket is Vanesso Rousso, the last surviiving female from the starting field of sixty-four players. She will play the Spades Champion, Bertrand Grospellier, for the opportunity to make NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship (NHUPC) history if she becomes the only woman to make a final NHUPC table.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Hearts Champion, Sam Farha, will go against former WSOP Champion and Diamonds Champ, Huck Seed, for the second seat at this year's final table. Who will it be when the cards settle and the final river card hits the felt? Stay tuned for all the excitement of the finish and crownng of this years NBC National Heads-Up Poker Champion.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Day 2 of the 2009 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship is now history. The field of 64 of poker's elite has been reduced to just 8 players that will return on Sunday at 11 AM PDST for the 4 matches that will determine the bracket winners that will advance to the semi-final and championship rounds.

The Bracket contenders and times of today's quarterfinal matches are listed along with a photo of each player after the jump.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The NBC National Heads-Up Championship got under way at Caesars Palace Poker Room at 1:30 PM on Friday for the Hearts Bracket and eliminations from the 64 player field begin immediately. First out was Allen Cunningham to Sam Farha, then John Phan sent Erik Seidel packing and moments later WSOP 2008 Champion, Peter Eastgate, sent my pre-race favorite, Andy Bloch to the rail. In rapid succession Eric Lindgren defeated Howard Lederer, Eli Elezra eliminated Johnny Chan, Jerry Yang stopped Clonie Gowan's rush, Scott Fischman takes Jamie's Gold, and David Williams breaks JC Tran.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Diamonds bracket began with 16 hopefuls taking a seat. Jonathan Little was the first to leave the party after WSOP Champion Huck Seed took charge and all of Little chips. He was quickly followed by Mr. Poker, Doyle Brunson, being eliminated by Vanessa Russo. Chad Brown left the stage after he couldn't overcome the cards of Glen Chorny and Layne Flack replacement, David Oppenheim, made short work of killing Vanessa Selbst's winning dream. Gus Hansen sent David Benyamine away and Jennifer Harman gave WSOP Champion, Greg "Fossilman" Raymer, the boot. Kenny Tran did hs magic trick and made magician Antonio Esfandiari disappear. Movie Star Brad Garret fired Annie Duke form the heads-up. The final match was decided when Phil "Unabomber" Laak finally overcame the constant chatter and slow play of senior qualifer, Kenny Yeh.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The 16 players making up the Clubs Bracket took the stage and began the elimination round. Jennifer Tilly was the first to go from after losing to Phil Ivey. Poker Godfather, Doyle Brunson, took an early out after Vanessa Russo showed him the door. 2003 WSOP Champion Chris Moneymaker went down under the play of Daniel Negreanu while baseball great, Orel Hershiser, struck out against Ted Forrest. WSOP champion Scotty Nguyen eliminated wildman Hevad "Rain" Khan and Nicolas Joy showed former heads-up champion, Paul Wasicka, the short way home. Movie star Don Cheadle eliminated David Pham and Mike "the Mouth" Matusow lost to Dario Minieri.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The 16 players making up the Spades Bracket took the stage for the final elimination round of the night. 2005 WSOP Champion, Joseph Hachem, was the first spade player to hit the rail after John Juanda prevailed. Poker Brat, Phil Hellmuth, eliminated poker ambassador, Mike Sexton, at the feature table. Barry Greenstein will come back tomorrow after he eliminated Blandino Gines and Caesars Palace satellite winner, Jeffrey Ishbia, shut down Leon Yanovski. Tom "durrrr" Dwan will play tomorrow after giving the heave ho to Gavin Griffin while Gavin Smith will not play tomorrow after Ilari Salamies was victorius in their match.

A complete list of Saturday's match-ups follow after the jump. Actions begins Saturday at 1:15 PM in tournament room at Caesars palace Poker Room.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Well known professional poker player, Layne Flank, was arrested early Friday morning after he was alledged to be speeding and being in a traffic accident with an ambulance. Las Vegas metro police also charged him with DUI and carted him off to jail.

All of this occurred after the Friday night draw party at PURE nightclub for the 2009 Heads-up matches. As a result of the events Layne missed his match scheduled with Vanessa Selbst and was replaced by David Oppenheim. FYI: David won the match eliminating Selbst.

photo courtesy of WSOP

Caesars Atlantic City will be the center of the tournament poker world Beginning Wednesday, March 4, when event #1 of 11 scheduled events shuffles up and deals at High Noon. The opening event is a $300 buy-in No Limit Hold'em tournament. Buy-ins for this very popular series of poker contests range from a very affordable $230 Turbo No Limit Hold'em event up to the $5,150 Championship. The ladies have their own $200 Buy-in No Limit Hold'em event #11 set for March 14 at Noon.

Check out the complete schedule of WSOP Circuit tournaments at the Caesars Atlantic City website. If you're in the area stop by the Poker Room at the Caesars Atlantic City for some of the best tournament action east of Las Vegas.

photo courtesy of WSOP

When the poker event comes from the people that originated poker tournaments, the World Series of Poker, you know it has to be the best. When it's held at Caesars Palace that's just icing on the cake.

Need an additional teaser to get you to the poker room for the WSOP Circuit? How about a seat in the 2009 WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino? The winner of the WSOP Circuit Championship Event at Caesars Atlantic City will receive a main event seat.

Should you make it to the Caesars Atlantic City WSOP Circuit running March 4-14 say hi to Mr. Poker, Nolan Dalla. Tell him Flipchip sent you.

photo courtesy of WSOP

photo courtesy of WSOP

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Last Saturday, Hollie and Perry Vogel moved up their wedding by 7 months after winning a poker tournament.

The tourney was at the Christchurch Casino in New Zealand, with a free wedding offered as the grand prize.

Appropriately called the To Have and To Hold'em tournament, 10 couples pitted themselves at the tables, playing in pairs.

Down to two couples, Hollie built up a stack and then Perry took it down in a quick heads-up punch of Aces that held up.

The lucky couple married a few hours later, then boarded a plane to their honeymoon destination -- Las Vegas, where they plan to stay 7 days for free at the MGM Grand.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

As reported in an earlier post, Dream Team Poker is coming to Caesars Palace Poker Room March 27-29. Last year's invitation only format has been opened to include all players. All you need is the $550 buy-in and you're a part of poker history. The details of Team Poker are best described by Caesars Palace Director of Poker, Jim Pedullah.

From the Dream Team press release:

"The tournament's innovative team concept will bring a new dimension to tournament play," said Jim Pedulla, Director of Poker for Caesars Palace. "This new format will create more camaraderie among the players making this an exciting event. Caesars Palace is proud to host this event in our World Series of Poker Tournament Room, which is also the site of the NBC 'Heads Up' championship and has been the location for a number of top celebrity and charitable tournaments."

Check out special room rates and register online now for the event. Registrants also receive a custom team jersey and an invite to the welcome party and the winner's ceremony. The November Dream Team winners received $39,000 plus a $5,000 gold team ring.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

I can't think of a more ideal time or place than Caesars Palace Mega Stack Poker Tournament to play in a very affordable Las Vegas poker tournament; especially, a Las Vegas poker tournament with a format straight from the really big Vegas tournaments. From the same people that own the World Series of Poker, Harrah's Entertainment, comes a month of tournament poker for those wishing to break into the tournament poker scene without breaking the bank.

For a paltry $225 buy-in poker players receive 10,000 in tournament chips (an additional 2,500 in starting chips are available for a $10 Staff Bonus) and play 50 minute blind levels (60 minutes for the $1060 buy-in Championship event). Another bonus of the Mega Stack Series? The playing conditions - just two words need be said, "Caesars Palace." Play in one of the world's premier poker rooms complete with all the backing and experience gained from the forty year heritage of the WSOP. For a complete schedule and details click here.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

All of the events except the 3 PM start time of the February 15 No-Limit Couples event begin at Noon. Registration for all events opens the day before at 1 PM. All of the Noon events are scheduled for two days. A $30,000 Free Roll is scheduled for February 23 2 PM start. Free Roll players will be vying for one of the 25 seats in the Championship plus $140 in cash. Play 30 hours in the Caesars Palace poker room during the February 1 through February 24 qualification period to claim your seat in the Free Roll.

Satellites go daily though out the run of the Mega Stack Series and all satellites play 25 minute blind levels. And if that's not enough poker tournaments there are additional daily events - $65- 9am / $65- 3pm / $150- 7pm / $120- 9pm / $65- 12am. Don't miss out on gaining big dollar Las Vegas poker tournament experience for a little dollar investment. Consider the Mega Stack one of your pre-WSOP warm-up events and gain valuable experience while sharpening your game. With a little luck you can fatten-up the play bank.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

A post for those poker players in a quandary about how to spend Monday afternoon in Las Vegas. I said it before and I'll say it again, If you play poker and are blessed with a presence in Las Vegas then you should be at the Venetian's posh poker room sitting in a seat for the first Deep Stack Extravaganza tournament of 2009. Cards are in the air at High Noon.

For a low, low price of $330 you will be playing No-Limit Hold'em for thousands in cash while enjoying the luxurious ambiance that is the Venetian Poker Room. The Deep Stack Extravaganza is the affordable buy-in series of poker tournaments that play like one of the really big money events. Start with more chips and play longer blind levels just like any other major poker tournament.

Stop by the Venetian's poker room anytime during the February 2 - 25 run of the Deep Stack Extravaganza I and take part in the future of casino tournament poker. It's happening today at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas.

A week ago, Pennsylvania became the first state in the nation to deem poker a game of skill.

Judge Thomas A. James ruled that Texas Hold'em holds skill above chance, and is thus not considered unlawful gambling according to the Pennsylvania Code.

James referenced the volumes of books written on how to play poker as proof that learning to play poker could be improved and was therefore a skill.

The ruling came after an undercover police officer raided a rakeless home poker game in Pennsylvania, which then led to the arrest of two people.

The court decision sets a landmark precedent that will test other states.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Last Tuesday, poker legend Amarillo Slim was assaulted and robbed while claiming a gambling debt.

Slim, 80, was in his hometown Amarillo, Tex., to allegedly pick up a four-wheeler as a downpayment on a $3,000 gambling debt, where he then suffered a broken jaw and hand.

He was then robbed of $8,000 that he had on him, plus a diamond ring that was worth $85,000.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The Donald Trump "Celebrity Apprentice 2" show returns for Season 8 on March 1, with professional poker player Annie Duke.

Duke will join 15 other celebrities (including Andrew Dice Clay, Melissa and Joan Rivers, Dennis Rodman, Clint Black, Tom Green, Playboy playmate Brande Roderick, and other pseudo-stars) competing in business-related challenges in New York City, as each raises money for their selected charities.

Media was on a lockdown from revealing any of the celebs, which were announced in a hush-hush meeting back in October, before the show began taping.

Ance since taping has completed, how does Duke do? Tune in March 1 to find out, you may be surprised how well her poker skills are applied to the boardroom.

Poker dealer work these days are slim pickin's, what with the recession, e-tables (Excalibur, which we hear are doing well and will most likely be picked up by other MGM Mirage properties), and the lack of players (Silverton, IP, and Gold Coast barely run one table these days).

But here's Aria to the rescue. Aria is the much-anticipated new casino being built as part of MGM Mirage's $9 billion CityCenter.

Today marks the opening of some 12,000 new job openings for CityCenter at this link.

While we don't yet know anything about what the poker room will be like, search for "poker," and you'll find vacancies for poker room cashiers, attendants, supervisors, coordinators, attendants, shift managers, and dealers. All positions begin September, with hirings running through December.

Just fill out the online application, then schedule an in-person review (if local; by telephone if out-of-state).

Interviews will then take place in April, plenty of time to brush up on your card pitching. In fact, here's a tip right from an MGM Grand poker dealer: when auditioning, if you forget everything else, don't forget to rake the pot. If they like you, they will overlook nervousness, misdealt cards, etc. But if you don't rake correctly, you won't have a chance.

Current MGM Mirage employees get preferential treatment, with interviews in February.

For more information, call (702) 590-2489 or 1-866-909-2489.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Rio Las Vegas is now offering the highest comps for poker players in Las Vegas, at $3 per hour.

The next highest is at Imperial Palace at $2 per hour.

We spoke with Danielle at Rio who was extremely chipper about the promotion, saying that $3 per hour applied to all cash game players between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. every day, then reverts to the regular $1 per hour the rest of the time.

In addition, the rake is capped at $3 between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. That's significant in itself.

Quads of 10s and above receive a guaranteed $300, though this will change next week when Rio switches to a bad beat jackpot.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

High-powered consultant and poker player, Wendeen H. Eolis, defines the state of efforts to repeal UIGEA in her latest article, "Our Washington Insider: Aftermath of Sixty Minutes Expose" headlining PokerPlayerNewspaper.com. Eolis shares her insiders' look at the reaction of incoming political powers to the 60 Minutes episiode "Cheaters" episode broadcast November 30th on CBS TV.

This is a must read for every poker player and Internet gambler. Click this link for the latest information on the probability of online legalization and repeal of UIGEA. Until UIGEA is repealed American citizens are missing some important personal freedoms. Click the above link to read the article and stay informed. Make legalization a good bet.

photo courtesy Greasiewheels.com

On Friday, Dec. 12, the new poker room (er, lounge) at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is holding a Poker Jingle tournament, where the winner receives a $10,000 seat into next year's World Series of Poker.

Buy-in is $200+30, with proceeds benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Southern Nevada.

The tourney is hosted by Tom McEvoy, and goodie bags, hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and other treats will be available.

Poker players expected to attend include:
Kristy Gazes, JJ Liu, Tiffany Michelle, Andy Bloch, Jennifer Harman, Brad "Yukon" Booth, Todd Brunson, Layne Flack, Phil Hellmuth, Barry Greenstein, Marsha Waggoner, Jamie Gold, Marco Traniello, James Van Alstyne, Karina Jett, Lee Watkinson, Mark Newhouse, Roy Winston, Maria Ho, Chad Brown, Jeff Madsen, and more.

The afternoon gets started with a 2 p.m. Effen Vodka media cocktail party, then the celebrity poker tournament begins at 3 p.m.

If you can't play yourself (register at this link until 2:30 p.m. on tourney day), you can also sponsor one of the above poker pros. You can send a personal message directly to your poker pro before the tournament starts (Phil Hellmuth is still available). For more information on sponsoring, email kelli@kelligriggs.com.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

If you have $20,000 to spare, you can enter the televised 2009 NBC National Heads-Up Championship at Caesars Palace,

Or you can try to win one.

Caesars is holding a $50,000 freeroll on Feb. 22, 2009 at 11 a.m. First place wins cash plus a seat into the championship.

All you have to do to qualify for the freeroll is play 50 hours in the poker room in January 2009 (tournaments don't count).

Prize structure:

1st: $10,000 plus seat to championship (worth $20,000)
2nd: $7,500
3rd - 4th: $6,250
5th - 8th: $3,500
9th - 16th: $2,500
17th - 32nd: $1,000

One interesting bit about this freeroll is that it plays regularly until it gets to 64 players. Then everyone draws, gets new chips, and plays heads-up. The final four players then play the best of three matches.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The annual Global Gaming Expo (G2E) comes to town next week at the Convention Center, and new to the show is the World Series of Poker.

Celebrity WSOP poker players include David Williams, Scotty Nguyen, Jean-Robert Bellande, and Antonio Esfandiari, all of whom will be playing 3-table tournaments (9 players per table).

Each tournament will last 90 minutes and although there are no prizes, you'll be able to say you played (and even beat) a poker pro.

Unfortunately, all tickets have already been claimed, but if you're in town for the show anyway, stop by Hall C5 to watch the pros compete with regular folks.

Schedule:

Nov. 18
12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Antonio Esfandiari
3 p.m. - 5 p.m.: David Williams

Nov. 19
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Scotty Nguyen
3 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Jean-Robert Bellande

Nov. 20
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Scotty Nguyen

photos by the flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

This morning's FY Q3 earnings call from Harrah's offered some hope for online poker players.

CEO Gary Loveman spoke of the possibility of seeing online poker legalized.

Not solely because of Tuesday's elections, Loveman said that he sees the possibility of legalized online poker simply because the heads of committees don't seem opposed to the idea.

"We think the world got easier on this one," he said.

As for other online gaming, Loveman still sees a tough battle.

But baby steps.

Sounds like Harrah's could have something up their sleeves that they're privy to. Because they own the World Series of Poker brand, we don't doubt they're planning something to be ready just in case.

To listen to a replay of the call, dial toll-free 1-800-642-1687 and use the passcode 68328144. The replay will be broadcast until Nov. 21.

CardRunners and StoxPoker are offering free poker training online, just for playing poker.

The only catch is you have to play on Full Tilt (not much of a catch if you already play there), and you must earn 4500 Full Tilt points in a month to receive a free month membership to CardRunners (2500 points for StoxPoker). And best yet, you keep your points. All that's required is earning that many base points in a month.

You also need to be a current paying member of CardRunners or StoxPoker, which you can buy with Full Tilt points.

To get Iron Man status, you would need to earn 200 points in 25 days within one month, which would instantly qualify you for the free month of CardRunners. So if you earn Iron Man anyway every month, you'll have a lifetime membership.

If you don't earn the entire amount of 4500 points, you'll still get free weeks. 1125 will get you one free week, 2250 will get you two free weeks, etc.

Rakeback and MGR will be unaffected as well.

If you're already a member, free months will be added to your existing subscription.

If you aren't a member, we recommend purchasing StoxPoker from the Full Tilt store. It's the cheapest at 5000 points. And if you clear 5000 points, you'll immediately get a free month.

To sign up, register at www.trulyfreepokertraining.com.

Thanksgiving blues getting you down?

If you're in Vegas over Thanksgiving -- even Turkey Day itself -- how about a poker tournament?

Golden Nugget runs their Grand Fall Classic Poker Series from Nov. 24 through Nov. 30, with 7 events, only one of which is no-limit! (Fear not, $125 no-limit tournaments run twice daily at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. with 8000 chips and 30-minute levels.)

All events are $230, begin at noon, start with 8000 chips (with 2000 bonus chips), and have 40-minute levels:

Monday, 11/24: Ladies no-limit
Tuesday, 11/25: HORSE
Wednesday, 11/26: Pot-limit Omaha H/L
Thursday, 11/27: Limit Omaha H/L
Friday, 11/28: HORSE
Saturday: 11/29: Mix -- 2-7 Triple Draw, 7 Stud H/L, Crazy Pineapple
Sunday, 11/30: Limit Omaha H/L

For more info, call John Colville at (702) 386-8164 or email jcolville@goldennugget.com.

photos by the flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Poker Player Newspaper online is reporting an upcoming 60 Minutes on CBS will feature a segment on the cheating scandals in Internet poker rooms. New York based poker industry insider, Wendeen H. Eolis, has published an exposé of the 60 Minutes news show's effort to conduct an in-depth investigation into the apparent scams that have been used to separate unsuspecting Internet poker players from their money.

Eolis believes the show will probably air on Sunday, November 9th. If the date looks familar it's the same day the 2008 WSOP final table will be broadcast on ESPN. Whether this segment will help or hurt efforts to legalize Internet card rooms remains to be seen. Depending on the slant of the 60 Minutes' producers, the piece could make a case for legalizing and regulating Internet poker or it could paint such a black picture it becomes politically untouchable. Much of the material for the segment was collected inside the Amazon Room, the WSOP's poker room, during the 2008 WSOP at the Rio Resort in Las Vegas last summer.

If you have an interest in Internet poker returning to the US in a legal, regulated, and money safe manner then you won't want to miss this edition of 60 Minutes or the latest Eolis' article, Sixty Minutes: The Ultimate Gamble.

Read Wendeen H. Eolis' article now using this direct link to Poker Player Newspaper online.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Paris Las Vegas quietly closed their poker room last week.

This time for good.

Bouncing around from gambling pit in the open to its own room next to the sportsbook, Paris' poker room was battered about after having its hours significantly cut and reduced to just tournaments. If you went looking for the poker room, you often couldn't find it, and some employees even thought it was already shuttered.

We could never quite get a fix on Paris and sister casino Bally's operating under the same management (which itself operates under Harrah's). Chips are interchangeable between both casinos, slot tickets can be read and cashed at both, and both properties even shared some of the same managers.

When Bally's Diamond Lounge closed in favor of consolidating into Paris' lounge, we figured more consolidation would be going on. Moving the poker room into its own room from the casino floor just ended up being in a part of the sportsbook.

It was only a matter of time before the room died a slow death. What dealers were left were offered shifts at the Bally's poker room.

R.I.P., Paris poker room. At least you went out without going electronic.

PokerStars is offering a chance to win a piece of the November 9.

The November 9, of course, is the World Series of Poker's final table comprising the nine remaining players that will duke it out on Nov. 9.

Stars has invested in six of the players, and will be hosting a $100,000 freeroll (500 FPP required for entry) for each player every Sunday beginning Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. ET.

In addition, if you make it to the top 100, you'll receive 0.01% of that player's eventual winnings from the final table.

Freeroll schedule (all begin 4 p.m. ET):

Oct. 5: David "Chino" Rheem
Oct. 12: Darus Suharto
Oct. 19: Ylon Schwartz
Oct. 26: Peter Eastgate
Nov. 2: Ivan Demidov
Nov. 9: Dennis Phillips

Let's see... every player is guaranteed to take away $900,670. So if you make the top 100 in any of the six tournaments, you'll receive an extra $90.07.

First place to this year's WSOP winner is $9,119,517, so if you're in the top 100 for that player's tourney, you'll get $919.52 extra.

Awhile back, PokerWorld.com removed their Bad Beat Jackpot from all of their poker tables (even though their website still says "Coming soon!").

A reason was not given, but PokerWorld is no longer contributing a share on the Gold Chip Network.

Where does that money go?

If you're Harrah's Las Vegas (which this month got rid of their property-wide bad beat jackpot that essentially copied Station Casinos'), you put the money back into each property and let that casino hold their own promotions.

Online is still somewhat the Wild Wild West, with not much ramification if the money just ends up evaporating into someone's Swiss bank account.

As for PokerWorld, they're doing the right thing. Because they're able to track the exact jackpot drop players contributed, they will soon be giving refunds.

A nice little unexpected rakeback.

PokerWorld will email players individually once the refund has been deposited.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Caesars Palace is running daily drawings in their poker room, giving away completely free entries to their Caesars Palace Classic poker tournament. Each seat is worth $10,000.

From now through Sept. 30, just play in the Caesars poker room. Every time any player gets quads or better, they receive a ticket. One ticket will be drawn the following day at 7 p.m. and awarded a seat. If you don't live in town, no worries -- you don't even have to be present to win!

For the locals, however, there's an extra benefit. If you play every day trying for those tickets, you'll probably have accumulated enough hours to qualify for their freeroll. Play 40 hours of poker (live cash games only, tournaments excluded) between Oct. 1 and Oct. 26, and you'll get entered into a freeroll on Oct. 27 that awards 10 seats to the Caesars Palace Classic.

The total value of all seats being given away is $400,000.

The Caesars Palace Classic begins Oct. 28.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Harrah's is offering an interesting bonus for morning poker players that amounts to much more than rakeback or $1/hour comps.

Daily beginning Monday, Sept. 15, play in the Harrah's poker room for at least an hour between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

You'll then receive a 10 percent buy-in bonus for your next visit to the poker room. A voucher will be given for 10 percent of your buy-in, up to $30, which you can cash in on your next trip.

There's seemingly no limit on the amount of times you can do this, but presumably your next visit needs to be the following day.

We think we might be getting up a bit earlier to play at Harrah's before going to work from now on.

Online poker training site CardRunners is celebrating their merger with StoxPoker by offering free limited passes.

We enjoy CardRunners videos (particularly GreenPlastic's) and have picked up a few tricks here and there that we still use today at the no-limit table.

To pick up your pass which gives you full access to the site for 24 hours, text "cardrunners" on your cell phone to 32075. You'll then receive a text back telling you to go to this link to register as a guest and a special code.

Offer expires Sept. 30.

After over a year of development, Macs can now play online poker on Poker Stars.

The same secure and reliable software found on PCs can now be found on the Mac, without having to run third-party applications to get around running the PC application.

Operating systems X 10.4.10 and later are supported. More than 15 languages are contained in the dedicated Mac version.

To download the software, visit this link.

We thought the latest black skin on Stars looked a little Mac-like. Can it be only a matter of time before a release for the iPhone?

While the future of hockey player Mats Sundin is still up in the air, today he announced he'll become a professional poker player on PokerStars.

That's PokerStars.net, not PokerStars.com.

Stars has recently been signing sports stars not generally known for poker, such as Boris Becker and Orel Hershiser.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs captain will play online and live under the username MatsSundin and will travel Stars' global poker tour circuit, beginning with next week's European Poker Tour in Barcelona.

Any winnings he may earn from poker will be donated entirely to charity.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Human Head has spent the past weeks collecting data and comparing most everything poker to come up with a definitive list of the Top Five Poker Blogs you should be reading. these bloggers are the are the originals, the people that defined poker blogging way back when most poker players couldn't define blogging.

Want to know who made the list? Click this link for the complete article running now on LasVegasVegas.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's long-awaited poker room is now open.

Dubbed a "poker lounge," the room has 18 tables and will be a hybrid of 7,000-square-foot poker room and nightclub with bottle service

Though we suspect it will become like any other poker room in town, you may want to leave the t-shirt and cutoffs at home, at least for the first couple weeks.

Separate tables will be cordoned off and available for rental for private home games.

Regular tournament information can be found at this link, which include prizes such as a $5,000 bar tab with cabana rental by the pool and VIP backstage passes to the current concert.

Pictures can be found at CardPlayer.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Congratulations are in order to World Poker Tour host Mike Sexton, a.k.a. "the ambassador of poker."

Thursday morning, he and his wife Karen gave birth to new baby boy Ty Michael, coming in healthy at 8 lbs., 6 oz.

We're already putting over-unders on Ty's first word being "raise."

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Our favorite power poker dame, Wendeen H. Eolis, is the CEO of New York based Eolis International Group a legal/business consultancy. She can just as easily be found conferring with world leaders or sitting with the boys at a high stakes poker table. The last few years she has generously given many hours of her valuable time to the tournament poker industry and has shared her considerable political expertise in the continuing pursuit of legalizing online poker for US poker players. Now for the good news.

Eolis is a charter member of the World Series of Poker Players Advisory Counsel (PAC). PAC was established by WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack in January 2006 with the goal of providing WSOP participants with a continuously upgraded tournament poker playing experience. Many of the PAC goals were accomplished in part through Pollack's undivided attention and subsequent rapid response to PAC's suggestions and player complaints. He also promised the PAC participants, "No topics will be off limits."

Evidence of the success of Pollack's PAC was easily found at the 2008 WSOP. Most everyone at the 2008 WSOP agreed it was, hands down, the best WSOP to date. Improved food, well thought out physical layout, record crowds but no long lines, separate satellite areas, isolated smoking areas, great fan access and improved event scheduling were just a few of the enhancements.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

And now the bad news. About the same time during 2006 poker professional Jesse Jones decided to establish an organization, World Poker Association (WPA), of poker players that could present a united front and empower players with control of the worldwide tournament poker industry. Unfortunately, Jones insisted that the organization strictly adhere to his personal agenda with long range goals of bringing every poker tournament under the control of his WPA.

The details of the WPA's up and down existence is detailed in the second and concluding installment of Wendeen H. Eolis' article, Inside Scoop on Poker Player Activism Part 2 of 2, now running as the feature on Poker Player Newspaper. If you missed Part 1 it is conveniently included with the article. Everyone with an interest in the behind the scenes of poker politics should give this a read, especially if you're considering contributing to or joining a poker player organization.

FYI: Power Poker Dame is the title of Wendeen H. Eolis' upcoming book.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The late-night NBC show "Poker After Dark" returns for a 5th season at the Golden Nugget.

Shooting will take place Oct. 26 through Nov. 5, with 60 new shows beginning air Dec. 29. The schedule will stay the same and 2:05 a.m. Tuesday through Friday and a one-hour "Director's Cut" wrapup after "Saturday Night Live" on Saturdays.

Staying true to the original format, tables will be six-handed with a $20,000 buy-in with winner-take-all.

Leeann Tweeden will host, with expected players including Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, Chris Ferguson, Jennifer Harman, Phil Hellmuth, Howard Lederer, and Phil Ivey.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Newsflash ... A recent independent study has determined that government (i.e. US Congress) funded studies serve no useful purpose other than to create even more confusion and results are generally ignored. Studies are great tools that allow politician to put off any commitment that could affect re-electability - "We'll study this issue until the elections are over." So, what does Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-NV, want to do? A study, of course. We'll do a one year study of Internet Poker, after all, it starts with a "P" and that rhymes with "T" and that stands for trouble!

Rep. Pete Sessions, R-TX, introduced a bill, H.R. 6663, just before the summer recess that would provide an exemption for on-line poker from the poorly defined Internet Gambling Ban (UIEGA) rammed through by former Senator Frist, R-TN. Now all the poker friends and foes are squaring off against this simple Sessions solution. Even the Poker Player Alliance (PPA) has publicly come out against the Session's bill because it would be the same as admitting that on-line poker was illegal. Right, the "same as" but not exactly the same. The basis of this PPA rejection is the bill would not clear up the confusion about the definition of unlawful Internet gambling. Perhaps we need another study to define "definitions."

The American Gaming Association, Nevada casino lobbyist, stated they are neutral on the Session's bill but would oppose any move to add it to their legislation of choice, the Shelley Berkley study. Please note, the Sessions bill would keep on-line sports betting as an illegal activity and Nevada casinos are really big on sports betting. I can open an account at a Las Vegas sports book then pick up my phone and wager on the sporting events of my choice; but, I can't fire up my computer and do the same thing. Which end of the egg is the right end to crack? Sounds a bit silly doesn't it?

You have to look far and wide to find anyone (other than the millions of US poker players that want to play on-line poker and bet on sporting events around the world without fear of arrest) that would support this legislation; but, one such person does exist. Jay Lakin, owner of Poker Source Online, has come out in favor of the bill. He said, since Nevada is the only state that allows sports betting the impact of the ban under the bill would be minimal.

And finally, why do the learned [sic] D.C. powers insist that poker and sports betting on-line be considered an evil entity. Because the Frist bill defined it as such? The truly simple answer here would be the repeal of the Frist bill and the legalization of online poker and sports wagering. Is there a sane person in the house? Paging Barney Frank, (D-MA), your seat is open in the poker room located right next to the sports book.

Wendeen H. Eolis has posted the first installment of "Inside Scoop on Poker Player Activism, Part 1" For those that don't know Wendeen just consider her to be one of the major poker industry powers and a poker player's best friend. Click on over to Poker Player Newspaper Online and read the real story.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Four Winds casino in New Buffalo, Mich., was the first casino to launch with a WPT poker room sans dealers. All tables are PokerTek electronic tables, with players depositing and withdrawing to cards at an in-room cashier.

Players have a love/hate relationship with the tables. On the one hand, it doesn't feel like a real poker game without the dealer controlling the table (not to mention no chips or cards). On the other hand, less rake and no tip is always good.

Mostly because of a delay in getting approved, Las Vegas hasn't seen the poker e-tables yet, but by the end of this month, one casino will be converting to all dealer-less tables.

Excalibur informed dealers that they will close their poker room on Aug. 18, then reopen Aug. 21 with all e-tables. Floor staff will be kept to a minimum, and obviously -- no dealers.

R.I.P., Excalibur. We remember you fondly when you were in the sportsbook area, we could get a free hotdog buffet in late afternoons, and we could spin the wheel.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Apparently the past rumors of poker chips containing lead are indeed true. Although the results of testing for lead content that was performed for a Phoenix TV station could not be duplicated and the dangerous levels they reported was never confirmed; but, it has been determined that lead is present. How much is too much? How about when it creates health problems?

The public was in an uproar when lead was discovered in children's toys coming from China and the government quickly decided that any lead was too much since "safe" levels have never really been defined and government standards continue to be lowered. Unfortunately, lead monoxide, PbO, is an excellent material to mix into ceramic products, especially ones that are going through a pill press and into a sintering oven or are mixed with an epoxy. They add weight, lubricate the dies, provide color, and react at low temperatures. Sounds like an ideal constituent for a poker chip material mix.

So are the poker chips at your favorite poker room going to kill you? You're more likely to die of clogged arteries from too many potato chips; but, you can practice a bit of lead exposure safety. When handling chips always wash your hands throughly and often, especially before eating or smoking. Never put chips in your mouth and never take them home or let the kids play with them. Adolescents are much more susceptible to lead exposure than adults.

Beginning November 1st, poker rooms in California will have to post signs stating informing customers that casino chips on the premises contain lead, a metal known to cause cancer, birth defects, and other health problems. This is the results of a settlement of a lawsuit filed by the Center for Environmental Health against Gaming Partners International, previously known as Paulson Gaming, the Las Vegas based casino chip manufacturer.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

If you're in Las Vegas and play poker, it pays to sign up to the Station Casino's player's club.

We preferred the old Boarding Pass card to the new My Card, but that's just cosmetic. Either way, we received a flier in the mail for $10 off our next buy-in of $100.

Just two hours of play is necessary before claiming the $10, so it's basically $5 an hour to play a few hands.

The offer is good through Sept. 30.

You may already know about Station's Bad Beat Jumbo Hold'em Progressive, which starts at $150,000 at quad 10s beaten, then the hand requirement reduces every week until someone gets the beat.

And when it happens, everyone playing poker in every Station casino shares in the progressive... with a minimum of $200.

(This is aside from the in-house bad beat jackpot of $10,000 for Aces full of 10s beaten.)

Another offer is $250 for every royal flush.

And, in addition to the regular $1/hour comp for playing live poker, you'll receive $3/hour if you play between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Nothing beats playing poker on the Strip, but sometimes it's worth taking a drive to check out the local casinos (Palace Station is the closest Station to the Strip, but our favorites are Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch).

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

If you didn't make it into the World Series, never fear. The Rio isn't the only place for big tournaments.

The Orleans is offering their annual Orleans Open beginning July 5 and running through July 20.

All 16 events take place one per day beginning at noon in the Mardi Gras room. Buy-ins range from $200 to $2000.

Events are:

#1 July 5 $200 No-Limit Hold'em
#2 July 6 $200 Omaha Hi-Lo
#3 July 7 $200 Limit Hold-em
#4 July 8 $200 7-card Stud
#5 July 9 $300 No-Limit Hold'em
#6 July 10 $300 7-card Stud Hi-Lo
#7 July 11 $300 Omaha Hi-Lo ("Battle of the Sexes")
#8 July 12 $300 No-Limit Hold'em (LIPS tourney)
#9 July 13 $330 No-Limit Hold'em
#10 July 14 $500 No-Limit Hold'em
#11 July 15 $500 "Battle of the Ages"
#12 July 16 $500 Casino Employee Event
#13 July 17 $500 Mixed Limit/No-Limit Hold'em
#14 July 18 $1000 No-Limit Hold'em
#15 July 19 $1000 Omaha Hi-Lo
#16 July 20 $2000 No-Limit Hold'em

The $200, $300, and $500 tournaments are one-day events. The $1000 and $2000 tournaments are two-day events.

All levels are 45 minutes each.

If you play in the tournament, you can get $55 rooms Sunday-Thursday and $100 Friday-Saturday between July 2 and July 23. Use the code 8ORLC07 at this link.

For more information and to print out a registration form to pre-register, click here.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Former NBA player Charles Barkley is $440,000 lighter after repaying his Wynn Las Vegas marker (including attorney fees). And after promising not to gamble for the next couple years, he'll be back in Vegas soon to play poker.

But this time it's for charity.

The annual celebrity poker tournament "Ante Up for Africa" takes place July 2 at Rio amidst the World Series of Poker. Half a player's winnings on a $5,000 buy-in is requested to be donated to the cause that will help Darfur.

Barkley plans to play, and if he cashes, he will give all his winnings to the charity.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

At 6 p.m., "Keep Flopping Aces" airs on Rounder's Radio.

The subject of tonight's program involves whether you should turn to the life of a poker pro.

Stepping in for regular host Lou Krieger is psychologist and author of The Psychology of Poker, Dr. Alan Schoonmaker.

Poker pros guesting on the show include Roy Cooke, Barry Tanenbaum, Mark Gregorich, and Don Olney, who will all be onhand to discuss what led up to them turning pro and if they have any regrets. They'll also chat about the best and worst things about turning pro.

Other topics include cash vs. tourney pros, bankroll required, how relationships have been affected, and more.

Attorney Tom Walter will then talk about health and life insurance, mortgages, retirement, and other financial planning issues.

It promises to be an enlightening evening.

If you miss tonight's broadcast, it'll be archived a few days later at roundersradio.com.

Binion's celebrates the Las Vegas Helldorado and Memorial Day weekend with a $110,000 poker tournament at Binion's.

The tournament takes place next weekend from May 24-25.

Entry fee is $225 plus the $10 registration fee.

Assuming at least 1,000 players, only the top 25 will pay out, making top-heavy awards with $35,310 for first place, $18,700 for second, and $11,000 for third.

A chunk of the proceeds will benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada and the Elks Lodge Scholarship Fund.

To register, fill out this form and bring it with you the day of the tournament.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

If you happen to be in downtown Las Vegas right now, Montel Williams has taken over the Golden Nugget poker room.

And not the Montel Williams for charity events, this is his own money, your own money, and money won won't go to any outside company.

Williams will be in the poker room all day today, May 10, playing nonstop $1080 sit-n-gos.

Levels are 20 minutes per round, blinds begin at 50/100, and players start with 10,000 in chips.

First place wins $700, second place wins $300.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

For the first time in World Series of Poker history, those reaching the final table this year will have their table delayed four months.

In true reality show fashion, between July 16 and Nov. 9, we will now know the stories of all final table players, as well as be able to follow how they do in other tournaments in between.

In addition, the very players at the final table will have time to research and strategize their opponents during the intermission.

Nov. 9-10 will be the final table, with quick editing to air on ESPN on Nov. 11.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

According to our friends at NeverWinPoker, Brandi Hawbaker committed suicide on Sunday. Here's the statement from Micon:

"Brandi Hawbaker to some, Naami Dea to others, took her own life on Sunday. This news has been confirmed through Brandon and Brandi's family. Brandon, Brandi's family, and friends have asked the poker world to respect their privacy while they grieve. When the time is right we will have Brandon's statement on NWP..."

Stay tuned for more information as this story develops.

To bring you up to speed, Brandi Hawbaker took the poker world like a category five hurricane when she was involved in the "Capt. Tom's Penis" debacle. Most recently, her former boyfriend posted a thread on 2+2 detailing their sordid relationship. Since then, rumors floated around that Brandi had left Las Vegas and relocated to Southern California where she converted to Islam and changed her name. She was reportedly seen playing cash games in L.A. based casinos.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The Orleans has $5 bounties, but $50?

TI (Treasure Island) in Las Vegas has a Head Hunters bounty tournament that runs every Wednesday at 11 a.m. and every Sunday at 7 p.m.

The tournament attracts about 30-40 players and 1st place averages $600.

Buy-in is $125 with a $50 bounty on each player (so technically a $75 tourney). If you bust someone out, you not only get their chips, you also get $50. If you win the tournament, you get your own $50 bounty.

Starting chipstack is 5,000 and levels are 30 minutes.

For more information, call (702) 894-7291.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Golden Nugget's upcoming Grand Poker Series in downtown Las Vegas will host a celebrity poker tournament on the first night of the series, June 6.

Buy-in is $1,080 with half going into the prize pool and half going to the Montel Williams MS foundation.

Golden Nugget will host a pre-tourney cocktail reception at 4 p.m., including live music and showgirls and plenty of photo and autograph opportunities.

Later that night will be a tourney after-party upstairs in Golden Nugget's new indoor/outdoor nightclub Gold Diggers.

Satellites into the charity event will also be available, and total players are capped at about 400.

To register, call (702) 386-8164.

This month marks the one year anniversary of Rep. Barney Frank's Internet Gaming Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007. This time last year I was paying homage to this campaign for removal of the Port Security Bill's ban of Americans' rights to play poker in the world's great Internet poker rooms. Now, a year later, I realize the deck is stacked heavily against us. When a professional politician as powerful as Rep. Barney Frank, D-MA, doesn't have the horsepower to nudge his Internet poker relief bill out of the starting blocks what's our chance of success? How long are the odds for any of us ordinary poker players doing anything - solo, collectively or otherwise - to return this freedom to the US poker players? Slim to none.

How come a collection of rich, powerful, and well connected professional politicians can't undo, given a whole year, what just one of their unscrupulous brethren accomplished in minutes? If it was so easy for then Senate Majority Leader Frist to attach his Internet poker torpedo to the Port Security Bill; then what's preventing the equally powerful Frist successor from returning this missing freedom using the same proven technique of eleventh hour must-pass bill riders? Two Words...Harry Reid (D-NV). Nuff said?

A whole year has passed and there's not even been an agreement to start a "year long study" of Internet poker before proceeding to pass any legislation overturning the Frist Internet poker death warrant. Next April will I be posting the same old Internet Poker story of "no demonstrated progress" for the second straight year? The smart money is saying I will do exactly that.

Flipchip has posted a gallery of Las Vegas HDR photos on the Las Vegas News Blog.

Science Daily brings us news of a study that confirms what every poker player (give or take a few IQ points) already knew--

Poker is a game of skill.

What will we see next from The Experts? Hard to say. There are just so many bedeviling questions out there about things that should be obvious but apparently aren't. I'd like to see a study confirming that if I press down on the accelerator, the likelihood of the vehicle going faster does indeed increase. Say, how about a study to confirm whether or not we should be paying attention to studies?

(h/t Dispatches from the Culture Wars)

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

While the Silverton extension is still being finished, one of our coziest poker rooms in town has been displaced to the keno and slots area right in front of where the poker room was.

Taking a hit in traffic, Silverton offers a variety of promotions to reward their loyal locals.

We liked their no-limit game when the room first opened, but every time we return there's just one 3/6 limit running with the same faces (of course, where else can you find a packed 3/6 game running in Las Vegas?).

Now Silverton wants to lure the no-limit crowd back, and they'll pay you for the privilege. Just like a prop player, only there's 10 of 'em.

Every Monday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., be one of the first 10 players to sit down at a NL hold'em table. Put at least $175 in play, play for at least 2 hours, then when you cash out you'll receive $25.

Now what happens if you bust? Well, you can always leave without collecting your $25. But you can only pick up your $25 after 2 hours. Be sure to bring enough buy-ins just in case.

The promotion will run every Monday for the foreseeable future, and you can participate as often as you'd like.

The Venetian Deep Stack event in February was so popular, they're doing it again!

While not as big as the first Deep Stack Extravaganza, this sequel will still provide lots of play to practice for the WSOP (or the next DSE, which is May 29-July 16).

The event runs from April 4-25 in the poker room at The Venetian, with daily registration at 4 p.m. for the 6 p.m. tournament. Note that this will substitute for the regularly scheduled evening tournament.

Cost is $330 and players start with 4500 chips (plus $10 to the dealers for 1500 more chips). A food credit will also be given.

Satellites into the tournament will run every day, with winners receiving tokens that can be used to buy into not only the DSE but any poker tournament at The Venetian.

The Venetian's website does not yet list the DSE, but you can email poker@venetian.com for more information.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

An April 10 premier opens the second of season of I Bet You on MOJO HD TV, an exclusive channel to High Def cable TV subscribers (satellite viewers are SOL). Tune in at 9:30 pm ET/PT for the first of fourteen original shows starring poker pros, Antonio "Magician" Esfandiari and Phill "Unabomber " Laak, two poker guys proving once again that traveling around the country doing nothing more than hanging out with celebrities and betting on anything and everything in sigh is a lot of fun; and, I'm talking about the stuff you don't see, the side wagers that happens when the cameras are off. You'll see the production set-ups of "I'm bigger, faster, better, longer, smarter, harder and can be slickly packaged up for a TV time slot... and best of all, I've got xxx $'s that sez so."

This season the shows will include an invited celebrity or a poker professional to join in and take part of the action. Scheduled to appear are Elizabeth Shannon, Jennifer Tilly, Lance Burton, George Segal, Frank Stallone, Richard Carn and more.

Season II episodes synopsis after the jump...

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

A reminder that the Montel Williams MS Foundation Pro-Celebrity Poker Challenge happens this Thursday, March 13, in New York City. Cipriani on 42nd Street in the City is the place and the arrivals start at 5:30 PM. I've photographed Montel Williams at various poker tournaments including the WSOP and can report he plays poker quite well so be advised to bring your A-game. Did you know Montel Williams is a retired US Navy Lieutenant Commander and he graduated from Annapolis?

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Join him in his dedicated fight to slay the MS enemy of health. Even if you can't play the tournament you can still be part of the fight by bidding on some great stuff at the online auction, Thursday March 13, beginning at 11:00 AM ET. Use this handy link to pre-register as a bidder, then follow this link to the auctions at the appropriate hour Thursday. You'll find a 2000 Plymouth Prowler in mint condition, a New York Jets Ultimate VIP package for four fans includes field passes, and a really big Playboy Poker outing that includes all the amenities for your trip to the Playboy Mansion and a paid $1,500 seat in the Third Annual Celebrity Poker Tournament held at Hef's house.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Monday the BBC reported the EU has agreed to assess European online gaming firm's complaints of discrimination imposed against them as a results of the 2006 US Internet gaming ban. The complaints claim the US allows US companies to provide Internet gambling services to its citizens while excluding any US rivals from doing business. The EU firm's complaints continue with claims that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutes foreign gambling operators even though US gambling firms continue to do business as usual.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

World Poker Tour® (WPT) has released the schedule for the 14 tournaments making up the 2008/2009 Season VII. With more than 84 WPT Poker-Made Millionaires™ the new season promises to be bigger and better than ever.

The Season VII inaugural event is the Bellagio Cup at the Bellagio resort in Las Vegas July 11-17, 2008. The tour then moves on to hop-scotch around the country from coast-to-coast, stopping twice more at the Las Vegas Bellagio, before returning to Las Vegas and the Bellagio for the season finale, the WPT $25,000 World Championship, slated for April 18-25, 2009. This final event usually creates two or more millionaires.

A list of the Season 7 Schedule with links after the jump...

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The arrest of Paul "Cigar" McKinney in Kingsport, Tennessee last November for the grievous crime of playing poker has yet another installment. McKinney was arrested along with 15 poker players and the group was charged with a variety of crimes including gambling, possession of moonshine, going armed (someone had a pistol in their pocket), and aggravated gambling promotion (sports bet booking).

Last Thursday 12 of the original 16 poker players pleaded guilty to their charges before Kingsport General Sessions Judge Duane Snodgrass and each of the defendants received a 30-day suspended jail sentence and a $50 fine including the gun toter and the moonshine man. One defendant failed to show and a warrant was issued to bring the card playing scoundrel in to face the music.

Paul McKinney, oldest player to win a WSOP bracelet, and the owner of the establishment where they were arrested while playing poker are scheduled to appear in Sullivan County General Sessions Court on March 20th to answer the various felony charges brought by Kingsport Police Chief Gale Osborne.

Checking the arithmetic reveals a collection of $600 going into the city coffers to date. If the judge in the March 20th hearing doesn't go for a large piece of the $202,725 McKinney won in the 2005 WSOP it would appear that the citizens of Kingsport got short changed on the cost of keeping them safe from these dangerous men. Could someone book Chief Osborne into a cost-effective law enforcement class?

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

You already know him as the host of his namesake talk show, you've seen him in the TV drug commercials handing out free prescription meds to the Katrina flood victims, and many will remember him as one of the first day chip leaders at the 2008 WSOP Main Event, so it should come as no surprise that Montel Williams spends so much of his time doing humanitarian work.

Montel is a victim of MS and he is the founder of the Montel Williams MS Foundation, dedicated to furthering the scientific study of multiple sclerosis. Now, you can be a part of this continuing effort to isolate and eradicate this currently incurable disease.

Sign up now to take part and play in the Montel Williams MS Foundation Gala & Pro-Celebrity Poker Challenge charity event slated for March 13th at 6:00 PM in New York at Cipriani 42nd Street, 110 East 42nd Street. Purchase your ticket for this event online at montelms@hgnyc.com or call 212.843.1745 to lock up your seat in this tournament. Tickets start at $1,000 and proceeds go to the foundation to fund this much needed research. Do your part by signing up today or if you can't attend make a donation and you'll feel really good about yourself; after all, poker players are the most generous people in sports.

Montel Williams bio after the jump...

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Saturday afternoon at the Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino a select group of UFC and poker pros along with a collection of celebrities and Vegas fun seekers gathered for a charity poker tournament. Hosted by Randy Couture, Ultimate Fighting Challenge champion and US Army veteran, the event was staged to raise money for the Extreme Couture G.I. Foundation, a non-profit group dedicated to providing assistance to returning disabled war veterans. The event was a great success and all the 150 seats were filled with an alternate list, rebuy runners were constantly on the run, and the silent auction was picking up bids. All photos with the post from the charity tournament.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Legalization of Internet poker for US citizens has taken another hit from the 'elected politician turned morality police' crowd. In the last couple of weeks a letter was drafted, signed and delivered to both houses of the US Legislature by 45 state attorneys general. The top lawyer collective expressed "grave concerns" about Rep Barney Frank (D - MA) Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, H.R. 2046.

They noted the glowing success of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) "...which has effectively driven many illicit gambling operators from the American marketplace.," and according to their learned judgment the Barney Frank bill proposes to do the opposite, "...by replacing state regulations with a federal licensing program that would permit Internet gambling companies to do business with U.S. customers." Isn't that exactly how the Feds handle the legality of land based casinos?

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

We just got word that the legendary Chip Reese has passed away.Chip Reese was considered by many old school poker pros to be one of the best all around players in the history of poker. Doyle Brunson called Chip Reese "the best seven-card stud player I had ever seen."

Reese won the inaugural $50K HORSE event at the 2006 World Series of Poker, in a marathon heads up session against Andy Bloch, proving to the entire world that he was indeed one of the best mixed game players of all time.

More after the jump....

Part 3 in the politics of online poker continuing series from Gene Bromberg. Online US poker players are 30 million plus strong and over 21. Politicians can hear large voting blocks very clearly. Gene Bromberg is writing for everyone that wants online poker legalized, so read it, talk about it, pass it around...let them hear you!

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The push to legalize online gaming took center stage in Washington back on November 14th as the House Judiciary Committee convened a hearing entitled "Establishing Consistent Enforcement Policies in the Context of Online Wagers." Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) invited both proponents and opponents of online gambling to give testimony, and among the panelists was Tom McClusky, who is the Vice-President of Government Affairs for the Family Research Council. The FRC is a Christian, right-wing lobbying organization that, according to its website, "champions marriage and family as the foundation of civilization, the seedbed of virtue, and the wellspring of society".

This is the the second of a multi-part examination of the issues on-line poker faces in the US. LasVegasVegas investigative journalist Gene Bromberg has spent countless hours researching the problems and uncovering the truths, half-truths, and outright lies employed by the opposition to the legalization of on-line poker.--Editor

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

One of the difficulties in discussing problem gamblers is deciding who, exactly, is a "problem" gambler. If you visit the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling homepage you'll learn that those who have a casino between 10 and 50 miles from home are twice as likely to become gambling addicts. That this statistic is somewhat misleading should not come as a surprise, considering the source, but examining the study conducted by the Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) that NCALG links to leads to some interesting conclusions.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Kingsport, Tennessee Police Chief Gale Osborne has the dubious distinctions of having arrested the World Record Holder for 'oldest player to win a World Series of Poker event'. Paul "Cigar" McKinney was 80 years young when he won the No-Limit Hold'em Seniors event at the Rio Resort in Las Vegas during the 2005 WSOP. McKinney outlasted a field of 825 players in the $1,000 buy-in tournament to take down the $202,725 winner's purse and the coveted WSOP gold bracelet. He played mistake free poker during the 2 day event then survived a 3 hour heads-up dual with runner up Bob Hume. Quite a feat of poker for any player, an extraordinay performance for an octogenarian.

Unfortunately, William Paul McKinney's luck ran out Friday when the Kingsport police acted on a "concerned" citizen's tip and raided a poker game in progress where they found 16 poker players playing poker. "Cigar" McKinney, now 82, could be facing felony charges as one of the organizers and promoters of the game.

Chief Wiggins Osborne was apparently quite proud of cuffing the 16 poker players and making Kingsport a safe community once again. He used the opportunity to solicit more "tips" from concerned residents by stating the importance of the public to spy and report on their neighbors with the following quote, "It takes all of us, it's not just (police). It's vital that we have the eyes and the ears of the community to partnership with us." Of particular interest is another quote from the Chief, "Whether it's drug activity or gambling or domestic abuse..." In Kingsport poker players are grouped with drug dealers, wife beaters and child molesters.

I wonder if the Chief's neighbor spy ideas came from reading Mien Kauf?

Sample the public-at-large comments for this bust at PocketFives.com.

[Flipchip sent a comment to "Kingsport Times News" for the article, Hog Wild co-owner, World Series of Poker winner, among 16 people arrested in Kingsport gambling raid. Flipchip's musings apparently didn't meet editorial standards and were rejected so read them here in their entirety after the jump...

Continue reading "Paul "Cigar" McKinney World's Oldest WSOP Winner Arrested in Kingsport, Tennessee" »

Posted by flipchipro at 8:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is the first of a multi-part examination of the issues on-line poker faces in the US. LasVegasVegas investigative journalist Gene Bromberg has spent countless hours researching the problems and uncovering the truths, half-truths, and outright lies employed by the opposition to the legalization of on-line poker.--Editor

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

This past week the Poker Players Alliance engaged in a major lobbying campaign on Capitol Hill. Over 100 members of the PPA, including such well-known players as Chris Moneymaker, Howard Lederer and Annie Duke, spoke to lawmakers in the hopes that Congress will take steps to legalize and regulate online gaming. But even though the Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act was passed thanks to some parliamentary sleight-of-hand by former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, reversing that law will be a tall order. As Lederer said in answer to a question about getting a new law passed, "I think it's very difficult to unring a bell."

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

This is the week the Poker Players Alliance sends about a hundred known poker players into the nation's capitol to lobby for the return of online poker as a legal past time. An estimated 25-30 million online poker players in the US have been denied the right to play their favorite game since the passage of the Frist bill that made it a crime to process payments to online poker rooms. This group of hand picked card carrying gamblers will make the rounds of Congress in a united front intent on convincing lawmakers to support a bill that will return legal online poker to America.

photos by flipchip / lasvegasvegas.com - Las Vegas, NV

Jean-Robert Bellande continues to roll on the CBS Survivor China series. He's still there going into Week 3. Professional poker player Bellande can be an intimidating presence with size alone; he stands 6'6". He spends hundreds of hours competing with people that have "intimidating presence" down to a science. Combining size and poker table experience should result in the stuff needed to win the Survivor game.

I'm favoring Jean-Robert because he is the poker player. I believe the attributes shared by winning poker pros are ideally suited for success in the Survivor domination and deceit game. Of course, if the scripting of the show is to such a degree as to alter the outcome, then all bets are off. If the Survivor honchos have a choice they won't choose the poker player. Poker players are no longer politically correct, poker is no longer the media darling and the "mighty right" is determined to push the card players right back into the dark arenas from whence they came.

The third installment of Survivor China fills the CBS TV airways Thursday evening 8PM ET / PT.

photos by flipchip / lasvegasvegas.com - Las Vegas, NV

photos by flipchip / lasvegasvegas.com - Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas is blessed with the highest cocentration of poker rooms on the planet. Practically every casino in town has a poker room spreading poker games for any bankroll and stress level. Every day, around the clock, players have their choice of hundreds of poker games in dozens of casinos playing everything from Stud to HORSE with limits from 'pocket change' up to six figures and beyond.

photos by flipchip / lasvegasvegas.com - Las Vegas, NV

Renowned poker pro Andy Bloch has the following up on his site:

Title: AIM account hacked Author: AndyBloch Date: Tuesday, September 25 2007 @ 12:52 PM EDT

Someone got control over my AOL AIM account last night and went through my buddy list asking people for money. (I'm not sure whether he cracked the password or convinced AOL support that he was me and that he forgot his password.) If you got an AIM from me in the last day or two, or get one from me soon, it's not me. I'm not sure if I will create a new AIM account since it seems that they are easily hackable.

Read the full article and post replies at http://www.andybloch.com/gl/pub/article.php?story=20070925125259599

photos by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

This comes on the heels of the bizarre happenings with Richard 'Quite Lion' Brodie. Both are well noted outside the poker world, with Brodie being the author of MS Word and Andy Bloch being a member of the MIT blackjack team.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Poker heats up in Las Vegas this week with two tournaments scheduled. Binion's in downtown Las Vegas is hosting the 2007 World Poker Dealer Championship while the Venetian on the Las Vegas strip welcomes the Oklahoma Johnny Hale's 80th Birthday Celebration.

Don't forget the charity poker event for the Devonshire Police Activities League Supporters (PALS). The Second Annual Monte Carlo Night hosted by Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson, is scheduled for Saturday, September 29 at 5:30 PM. This year the money will be used to build a much needed Youth Center for at-risk children. Complete details of the event are available here.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I'm not one to disagree. Recently bitten by the camera bug, I've been pestering my friends by sticking a lens in their faces every chance I get. My photos aren't all that good, but I'm keen to learn. I know how big an impression a striking photograph can have on the viewer. Sometimes a picture can convey more thought, emotion and poetry than the most beautifully crafted sentence.

The Prof's Poker Blog welcome's Gene "Mean Gene" Bromberg to the LasVegasVegas.com family. Gene discusses current issues facing the millions of players pursuing poker's many rewards. Gene is one of the defining class of Internet journalist. He produces well researched, well written, source linked, in-depth analysis of what's affecting the poker industry and why. Today's inaugural post from Mean Gene--Prof

More Damned Lies

It was Mark Twain who said, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." Well, no--actually it was the British author and politician Benjamin Disraeli who came up with the line, which Twain quoted in his autobiography. Still, most people attribute it to Twain, because they can't be bothered to check the facts.

No matter who was first with the quip, it's still certainly relevant today. Every day we're bombarded with statistics that are carefully constructed to obscure the truth and confuse those who try to parse them. Not that many folks do much parsing--they blindly accept whatever numbers are splashed before them without considering the fact that those numbers might be misleading or even bogus.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Want to play poker with Bart Simpson? Want to help a worthy cause while hanging out with some Hollywood movers and shakers? Want to sit next to a well known poker star? If you answered yes to any of the above questions then read on because I have exactly the deal for you; but, poker tournament seating is limited. For Tickets, registration, and information call 1.818.882.7336, or click to the website for details and an online registration form.

The Second Annual Monte Carlo Night hosted by Nancy Cartwright, mouthpiece of Bart Simpson, is scheduled for Saturday, September 29 at 5:30 PM. FYI Nancy is not Bart's lawyer, she is his voice. This yearly charity event raises money for the Devonshire Police Activities League Supporters (PALS) and this year the money will be used to build a Youth Center for at-risk children. There will be games, a live auction, drawings, and a No-Limit Hold'em Poker Tournament.

All photos with this post were shot at the 2007 WSOP and are of players that have expressed an intererst in playing in the PALS poker tournament. More pics and details after the jump...

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Byron Liggett passed away last Monday at his home in Reno. Byron was best noted for his incredible store of gambling history knowledge which he readily shared with the world. He was a perpetual writing machine having been published in many magazines, books and newspapers over the years. He was a popular writer for Poker Player Newspaper where he shared his love of the game in his regular column, North By Northwest.

A long time resident of Reno, Nevada, Byron was usually found on the road covering major poker events, most recently for the Heartland Poker Tour. All of us at LasVegasVegas.com will surely miss his big smile, quick wit, great stories and friendship.

Complete 2007 WSOP stats at the Poker Prof's World Series of Poker 2007 Information Page. Poker as its meant to be from Dr Pauly of Tao of Poker.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

The Orleans Open Poker Tournament is now one day away from being history with the final table for the Championship event to be played today. The Orleans Open enjoyed a good turn out for the events and stands as another example of the popularity of the game. Shuffle Up and they will come. The next major poker tournament scheduled for Las Vegas is the Caesars Palace Classic on the docket for October 12-24.

I've included some of Flipchip's favorite 2007 WSOP Photos to spice up the Monday post.

Complete 2007 WSOP stats at the Poker Prof's World Series of Poker 2007 Information Page. Poker from behind the WSOP Curtain from Dr Pauly of Tao of Poker.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Phil "Unabomber" Laak and Eli Eslami have been involved in a 4 session heads up poker match against the best poker playing bot to date. Polaris is the Artificial Intelligence poker playing masterpiece from the minds at the University of Alberta. It is currently in Vancouver Canada as one of the feature events of the annual global conference of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Greg "Fossilman" Raymer is best known for wearing holographic sunglasses en route to his victory at the 2004 World Series of Poker where the mild-mannered patent attorney from Connecticut won $5 million.

These days, he's being considered the Vice-Presidential candidate for the Libertarian party. Third Party Watch, a blog dedicated to minor political parties, recently had a post titled Poker Player for Vice-President?

"I think a Libertarian candidate would do a better job of running the country than any of the Republicans or Democrats we've seen," the Fossilman said. "It's inherently better when a candidate believes in the philosophy of being able to do what you deem is right, as long as you don't hurt anyone else in the process."

That quote originally appeared in an article called Fossilman Eyes Libertarian VP Run in Casino City Times.

Raymer will not decide about his political future until the Libertarian National Convention take place in the spring of 2008.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Barney Frank (D-MA), the powerful Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, introduced his Internet Gaming Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007 designed to provide relief from the Frist Bill that killed Internet poker in the US. The Internet Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007 will create an exemption to the UIGEA for properly licensed online gaming operators.

What does this really mean? It means Internet poker will be played by the millions of poker players in the US without fear of becoming a criminal, having accounts frozen and money seized. Once again, executives of the Internet poker rooms can travel freely to the US without fear of arrest and detainment.

Once passed, the bill will provide Internet gaming sites a legal pass to do business in the US, a first. The bill will allow the continuous scrutiny of Internet poker rooms thus insuring poker players of poker game integrity. This will be accomplished thru the regulation and enforcement of the industry with strict controls over the virtual poker rooms.

Thank you Barney Frank for standing up for American citizens and restoring the freedom to choose what we do in our leisure time with our discretionary money.

This is from a Scientific American poker model article humbly titled "Physicist Unlocks Secrets of Texas Hold 'Em"

Here's what I got on the first read-through:

Clement Sire believes there is an optimal value for a player's tendency to go all-in which varies depending on the relative size of the chip stacks in play.

According to Sire's math the pattern of chip distribution is a Gumbel distribution and like other natural (e.g. weather systems) systems the distribution described is a system with extreme values... in other words this theory will do nothing to help you play pocket Jacks in the small blind; or, as SA put it, "the frequency with which chip leaders accrue fortunes of any given size is, in a way, a natural phenomenon that arises as much from the characteristics of the game being played as from the dispositions and abilities of those playing it."

First, for anyone un-sure of who Rep. Barney Frank, this was his speech at the passage of the UIGEA...

Read the article Special Bulletin: Targeted Attack on UIGEA to be launched in April by Wendeen H. Eolis over at Poker Player Newspaper - Poker News.

The gist:
• Rep. Barney Frank (D) is seeking a carve-out similar to the existing lottery and pony exceptions in the UIGEA.
• Nevada Rep. Shelley Berkley (D) will play second fiddle to Rep. Frank.
• The new PPA Chair D'Amato (R) is, for now, in the background.
• Look for action in April

See also this Barney Frank UIGEA thread that started from Bill Rini's Barney Frank poker article.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

The buzz on D'Amato and the PPA started with Bill's online poker post finding the original and earlist known Internet reference to D'Amato on Feb. 10 at PokerHelper.com. This was followed by Wendeen's article on Poker Player and a Newsday article. Since then Poker Player has published:

Can D'Amato save online poker?--Wendeen Eolis [This mentions Shelley Berkley].

D'Amato to Chair the PPA--Wendeen Eolis

Now that Main Stream Media[NYT: D'Amato Never Folds] is on top of the situation some of the pundit's have been less then kind:

Take this odious orfal from Kreidleron on ESPN...may the flea's of a thousand camels infest his armpits.

Fuck Mark Kreidler--Menegene via Bill
In Response to Mark Kreidler--Daniel Negreanu via Bill

Download the PDF (Way to big a file!) Here's a GIF taken from the PDF or click the extended text for the plain text list.

Check out Flipchip's Friday photos from the Las Vegas Strip during this triple event three day holiday weekend here on the Las Vegas Vegas News Blog--Ed.

Online Poker now has a real chance for getting an exemption. Al D'Amato is the new chairman for the PPA. [PPNP]

A couple of choice bits from his Wikifile -

Senator D'Amato also holds the record for the second and seventh longest filibusters ever recorded in the United States Senate.

D'Amato is also known for his public controversies and brash style. After a series of investigations in 1991, the Senate Ethics Committee reprimanded D'Amato for allowing his brother Armand, a lobbyist, to use office stationery to help solicit million-dollar Navy contracts for Unisys. Armand D'Amato was convicted on 7 of the 24 counts of mail fraud in May 1993. A federal appeals court reversed Armand D'Amato's mail fraud conviction, finding insufficient evidence against him. Al D'Amato attributes William Weld, at the time a federal prosecutor, for an overzealous prosecution against Armand.

In 1994, he insulted Betsy McCaughey Ross, the Republican candidate for New York Lieutenant Governor; he joked that in order to get an endorsement for her running mate, George Pataki, she should have sex with New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had endorsed Mario Cuomo.

This is the right man for the job in my humble opinion. Go with godspeed sir.

Neteller issued a press release where they admit that $55 million in funds from American customers were seized by the US Attorney's Office. Here's the press release:

On 19 January 2007, at the request of the Group, the Group's legal advisers met with representatives of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York ("USAO") to clarify the Group's position with respect to the complaints brought on 16 January 2007 against two of the Group's founders, Mr. Stephen Lawrence and Mr. John Lefebvre. Neither are current employees or directors of NETELLER. In that meeting, the Group pledged to cooperate with the USAO, indicated it was prepared to begin document production promptly and discussed a potential mechanism for arranging an orderly repayment of funds to US customers.

The discussions between the Group's legal advisers and the USAO are ongoing. The Group is, under advice of its legal advisers, commencing production of documents and intends to cooperate with the USAO in its investigation.

The past two weeks in bloggerdom have featured some of the best writing in the poker genre in the last year or so. Otis cranked out two gems, Bill Rini set the myths apart from the realities of the UIGEA, and Haley Hintze had an indepth investigation into the WSOP.com domain debacle. Here are some highlights that you should check out:

The Last Poker Game (Otis)
The Angle Shooter (Otis)
Top 10 Myths About the UIGEA (Bill Rini)
Anatomy of a Cybersquatter --- Introduction: Binion's Horseshoe on the Ropes (Haley Hintze)
Anatomy of a Cybersquatter, Part I: Bad Blood Runs Deep (Haley Hintze)
Anatomy of a Cybersquatter, Part II: Cybersquatting 101 (Haley Hintze)
Anatomy of a Cybersquatter, Part III: From "World Series of Poker" to "WSOP" (Haley Hintze)
Anatomy of a Cybersquatter, Part IV: The Lawyers Always Get Theirs (Haley Hintze)
Anatomy of a Cybersquatter, Part V: One for All and All for One (Haley Hintze)

And congrats to our favorite travel writer, Jen Leo. She was recently engaged to John Caldwell, CEO of [link removed].com.

According to an AP release (via a [link removed].com article by John Caldwell), we are finding out that the lawsuit involving 2006 WSOP Champion Jamie Gold and a TV producer Crispin Leyser is being settled out of court. There are no specifics as of now, but it appears that Gold will be sharing his $12 million first place prize with Leyser.

The gang at Wicked Chops Poker is setting the line at $4.2 million as exact amount that Leyser gets from Gold.

Stay tuned for more details.

If the 2007 World Series of Poker is anything like last year's record-breaking event, then poker aficionados who qualify through Bodog Poker this year can expect to be offered more than just a seat at a table; just like last year, every member of Team Bodog headed off to the 2007 WSOP will also receive exclusive VIP treatment.

"From the iPod to the fine array of clothing, everything was first class!" said Joe Orso, who won his seat and the rights to play for Team Bodog at the 2006 WSOP. "Each and every member of the Bodog staff was very polite and they bended over backwards to assist me during my play. The Bodog Lounge was second to none!"

Located right outside the Rio's Amazon Room, the luxurious Bodog Lounge was one of the most popular places for players to unwind. Complete with a well-serviced bar and mouth-watering tapas, flatscreen TVs hooked up to follow the action on the tournament floor, wireless laptops and a bevy of beautiful Bodog Girls, the Bodog Lounge was a much-welcomed oasis for anyone looking to get away from it all. Team Bodog poker pro David Williams saw the Bodog Lounge as the perfect place to show off his hardware, the gold bracelet for winning the 2006 WSOP 7-Card Stud event.

In 2006, Bodog Poker qualified 500 players to participate in the various WSOP tournaments, with one member of Team Bodog going on to become the 2006 WSOP champion and picking up the $12 million top prize--the largest prize ever won at the WSOP.

The 2007 WSOP takes place on June 1, 2007 and daily qualifying tournaments are taking place now at Bodog Poker.

For a chance to win a seat at the 2007 WSOP and VIP treatment as a member of Team Bodog (a prize package worth over $12,000!), check out the Bodog Tournament Schedule.

Flipchip has made another very early prediciton of a winner. Remember he picked Allen Cunningham to win the WSOP main event 2 weeks before it started (Allen finished 4th, best for any poker pro). Flipchip has declared the winner of the 2008 Presidential election to be...check it out on the Las Vegas Political Blog

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

The Poker Prof's Poker Blog is proud to announce our sponsorship with Bodog Poker. Bodog is the premier online poker site known for providing the highest standards of customer service and satisfaction. Following the passage of the Frisk attachment to the Port Security Bill Bodog has seen tremendous growth with displaced poker players looking for a place to get their poker fix. Bodog is exactly that place as the many who have switched already know.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

The world of poker continues to garner its share of attention from within the courts of law around the world. Great Britain on Tuesday determined that poker is a game of chance, not skill, in convicting Derek Kelly of breaking Britain's gaming laws. Kelly is the manager of a 23,000 member private card club (Gutshot) and was accused of taking a cut of the profits from poker games without a license after he determined the United Kingdom's Gaming Act of 1968 only covers games of chance, not skill based games such as poker and chess. Unfortunately the judge and jury disagreed with the skill part after the prosecutor followed the line of reasoning that poker is a game of chance as a result of the random shuffling and distribution of the playing cards. (Does this mean that card cheats are exempt since the shuffle and dealing of cards in crocked games is not random?)

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

The American poker player's number one goal for 2007 must be the return of the personal freedom to choose if you will play or not play Internet poker and without fear of becoming a criminal. After the entire poker industry enjoyed a spectacular rise in popularity fueled by the millions of new players joining the world wide ranks after learning and playing in Internet poker rooms. Brick and mortar poker rooms have enjoyed record interest and demand for poker seats in live games.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

The time has come to take action for the train wreck created by outgoing Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn), champion of the Internet Poker Morality Movement. Like a boogeyman in the middle of the night, Frist attached his bomb to a must-pass security bill thus creating an instant loss of billions of dollars on the London Stock Exchange plus the very real probability of the loss of thousands of US casino jobs. FYI, loss of casino jobs in Las Vegas is taken as very serious business.

In the last 24 hours, I discovered that Card Player Magazine and the World Poker Tour axed several employees, a trend that's been too common in the poker industry over the last few weeks. Many jobs in the once thriving poker industry have been lost due to the UIGEA and it seems that the two big giants in the poker world were not exempt from the fallout.

This has been happening a lot recently. Personally, in the last few weeks, I had to take a pay cut for my monthly column in one major poker publication, while I was let go by three different clients who told me that my services were no longer needed because they do not have any revenue coming in to pay me.

The majority of companies, sites, and publications rely heavily on advertising dollars to cover operating and distribution costs along with payrolls. Without the mega-dollars pumped in by online poker sites, the ad dollars are drying up in some areas causing devastating affects on several smaller outlets. I was not surprised to see smaller shill sites fold operations after the UIGEA went into effect.

However, I was shocked to hear that the big dogs... Card Player and the WPT... had to fire employees only four weeks before Christmas. Ouch.

Party Poker's dominance in the market vanished over night when they announced their intentions to pull out of the American Market in mid-October. Their advertising dollars, along with the other companies that pulled out such as Pacific Poker, were among the biggest in the industry and without their thick pocket paying everyone's bills, the industry is experiencing a ripple effect.

Party Poker's side project at PokerBlog.com had to let go the majority of their writers last month as they faced severe cutbacks. But not all publications are cutting back. Some are still thriving despite the UIGEA. According to Stan Sludikoff, editor and owner of Poker Player Newspaper, business is carrying on as usual. In fact he's added several writers to Poker Player in the last few weeks and expanded the size of the paper by a few pages.

But not everyone is doing as well as Poker Player. I expect more bad news to slowly trickle through the poker industry as more jobs will be cut in the upcoming weeks.

Ironically, in the last 24 hours, Senator Bill Frist (R-Tenn) accepted the fact that his bid for the White House in 2008 was an utter failure. He announced that after his term is up, he will return to his home state and pursue medicine. His political career is nearly over, but not before he rammed the UIGEA down poker players throats. I don't know what's worse... the UIGEA itself or the fact that most of the politicians who orchestrated the UIGEA will no longer be in office, yet the law still sits on the books.

This matter has been resolved to Pauly's satisfaction, e-mail contact has been removed

Dr. Pauly at the World Series of Poker

Absolute Poker has yet to respond to Pauly's requests for information.

Here is what Pauly is asking for from Absolute:

1. I am asking you to suspend their account immediately and cease any revenue generated on Nov. 9th and Nov 10th. (ID as 'a_77a_21497b_3321')

2. I am requesting that you forward me their specific contact information of your affiliate so my attorney can contact them directly and pursue any legal action.

For background on this be sure to read the Wicked Chops Poker 404 not found and Tao Redirect articles.

Dr. Pauly is in town for the big annual Vegoose thing. He'll be here for a few days then its off to Amsterdam to cover poker tournaments in Europe. I had dinner with Pauly and can report he is a changed man. I'm worried about him after he ordered a salad for his main course and then he actually ate it. Now, I'm wondering if sending him to Amsterdam could be a big mistake and encourage him to go back to his old lifestyle of real food and other treats? I'm taking a wait and see on this one.

Rumors flying on the Vegas Strip are pointing the finger at young poker pro Abraham Gray after Nevada Gaming enforcement officers apparently came into the Wynn's poker room to arrest and remove him. He is alledged to have been cheating by marking the cards in the game he was playing, a felony offense in Nevada. Nevada treats cheating as a very serious crime and is quite unforgiving if the charges are proven to be true. Depending on how this one plays out I would suggest he try to get Mike Matusow's old cell. It is rumored that Mike left the rough draft of his first poker book, Cheating is for Dummies, penciled on the cell wall.