Daily Poker News Review: Monday, June 02, 2014 Daily Poker News Review: Monday, June 02, 2014

Main Headlines

PokerNews Flagged for Distribution of Malware

Google Safe Browsing: 10% of tested pages resulted in malicious software installation.

  • The Google Chrome web browser began blocking access to parts of the site and warned users that visiting the site would “very likely” result in their computer becoming infected with malware.
  • “Of the 1352 pages we tested on the site over the past 90 days, 135 page(s) resulted in malicious software being downloaded and installed without user consent,” according to the Google diagnostic page.
  • A PokerNews rep stated “we’re still working on identifying what the malware does. Last night 01:00 AM GMT the malware was removed and work was started to fix parts of the system which allowed the injection.”

New Online Poker Bill to be Introduced in Pennsylvania

Late last week, Republican Pennsylvania State Senator Edwin Erickson (R-Chester) announced plans to introduce new legislation that would legalize online poker exclusively.

  • Late last week, Republican Pennsylvania State Senator Edwin Erickson announced plans to introduce new legislation that would legalize online poker exclusively.
  • Erickson’s pending Senate Bill 1386 would tax all gross internet gaming revenue at 14%, allow only licensed operators to conduct online poker games and include a bad actor provision.

Pennsylvania Online Gambling Hearing Set for Tuesday, June 3

Hearing could reveal probability of legalized online gaming in PA.

  • A hearing to discuss online gaming in the state of Pennsylvania will be held Tuesday, June 3, by the Pennsylvania Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee (CERD).
  • The main topic of discussion during the hearing will be a recent study published by the state’s Legislative Budget and Finance Committee that outlines how igaming could benefit Pennsylvania.

WSOP New Jersey Changes VIP Benefits

Lower level benefits have been reduced, but the highest possible level sees a small increase.

  • WSOP New Jersey has made changes to its VIP benefits which marginally increase them at the highest level, but reduce rakeback equivalents at the lower levels.
  • The online VIP scheme integrates with the live casino—WSOP is owned by Caesars—total rewards program which has just four levels. Players can win points and VIP statuses online and qualify for TotalRewards benefits at live casinos.

Win Cake Players Report Partial Processing of Cashouts

Threats of legal action appear to be prompting limited reimbursement to some players.

  • A few Win Cake players who post on the TwoPlusTwo.com forums have reported a slight improvement in the site’s cashout process recently.
  • In spite of the very limited good news, other players have yet to receive any portion of cashout requests that were submitted over one year ago.

First Stop on MPN’s “Fun, Friendly and Affordable” Poker Tour Concludes

Low buy ins, fun events and attractive locations contribute to the recreational focus of MPN’s new poker festival.

  • The MPN Poker Tour (MPNPT) will hold its first events from May 29 in London. The tour was announced in February and marks MPN’s return to sponsoring live poker tournament series after a break of several years.
  • MPN head of Poker Alex Scott believes the tour will be clearly differentiated by its “Fun, Friendly and Affordable” ethos.
  • Comparably low buy ins are an important feature of a tournament series designed to appeal to recreational players.

Picks from F5 Poker:

Conversation With Jennifer Tilly Pt.1 – Vanessa Selbst, Poker Collectibles and Making Her Mark on the Game

“I want to be a great poker player.” Just before she took her seat in the 2nd flight of the Millionaire Maker this past weekend at the 2014 WSOP, movie star turned poker pro, the one and only Jennifer Tilly (an F5 fav) took the time to sit down with us to, simply, have a conversation. About all sorts of things. With no agenda we just turned on the recorder and enjoyed some time talking poker, music and more.


Jeff Lisandro Blasts Brandon Cantu For Not Paying Debts

Lisando feels sorry for Cantu and his loss of self respect. Gambling is not for everyone. Or so says 5-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Jeffrey Lisandro who apparently engaged former Bay 101 Shooting Star winner and World Poker Tour Champion Brandon Cantu in a hallway shouting match over some unpaid debts.


Viktor “Isildur1” Blom Hits Rock Bottom In May, Starts Anew In June

May showers for Blom as he loses another $1.1M If winning a million dollars is cause to celebrate, then what does one do when one loses over a million dollars?


Conversation With Phil Laak – Poker, X-Men, The Universe and The Zen of Wake Surfing


David Williams or Ryan Gosling – Who Wore It Better?

David wears Ryan wearing David. This is pretty sick.


Shark Week – Humberto Brenes goes 4 for 4 (So Far) at the 2014 WSOP

There’s blood in the water at the World Series. There’s no shortage of amazing stories to come out of Week 1 of the World Series of Poker: Vanessa Selbst’s crossover into poker legend. Phil Hellmuth’s 101st WSOP cash (and 14th bracelet denied by Ted Forrest). Tuan Le’s trip to the winner’s circle.

Exclusive Articles on pokerfuse PRO:

WSOP Nevada Traffic Hits 90-Day High

Start of the summer series drives traffic at Nevada’s largest online poker room. Cash game traffic at the World Series of Poker’s online poker room in Nevada is up over 15% in the last two weeks, hitting a three-month high of 115 average concurrent players.


Regulars Lament Introduction of partypoker’s Casual Cash Games

Rep states concept “is being constantly reviewed” as players report “dead” games. While many industry observers commended the innovation of partypoker’s new “Casual Cash Games” (CCG) concept, multi-tabling regulars have been vocal in their criticism.


Malta Regulator Made €50m in 2013

The Maltese Lotteries and Gaming Authority made €400k more than in 2013 against a hostile backdrop of national regulation. The Maltese Lotteries & Gaming Authority (LGA) has produced accounts for 2013 which show it generated a surplus of €49.9m, €400k more than in 2012.


Ultimate Poker Wants Players to “Chase the Dream”

New promotion from Ultimate Poker Nevada tempts players with the offer of a $5000 blackjack bet. Another promotion from Ultimate Poker Nevada seeks to exploit the opportunity to merge live and online gaming.

Poker Podcasts and Training Vids:

Podcast: Strategy With Kristy: The Final Episode feat. Andrew Seidman PokerNews Podcast

Andrew “BalugaWhale” Seidman is crushing the $1,500 buy-in Millionaire Maker, and he joins his former student on the final episode of Strategy With Kristy. 


Podcast: Rabbit Hunt: 192 Rabbit Hunt

Chris and Mark take a look at the latest online poker-related bill draft to hit Washington DC and what that will mean for poker players across the US. Then, after discussing the WSOP and some predictions for how the series will go, the two look at the Amaya/Pokerstars rumors that are floating around.


Podcast: Thinking Poker Podcast Episode #81: WSOP Preparation PokerNews Podcast

Palmyra is back!

On Episode 81 of the Thinking Poker Podcast, Nate and Andrew discuss strategies for the World Series of Poker that will assist you both on and off of the felt, and they also break down a hand from Nitcast favorite Gareth Chantler and another from the PokerStars Sunday Million.


Training Video: T-Rex Chop Hand History Review with DannyN13 Tournament Poker Edge

DannyN13 is back with a hand history review of his recent chop in the T-Rex. He chops three handed with the chiplead for a huge score. This final table features Danny battling against other elite pros. This is a 4 part series.


Training Video: Opp. that Tilt You: Tight Passives Part 1 Drag The Bar

It becomes clear quickly that I’m playing a tight-passive player. I introduce this type of player, why he can be tilting to play against, and what sort of adjustments need to be made. I get coolered a couple times and he gets off to an early lead.