Main Headlines
High Stakes Online Poker Report: Niki Jedlicka Crushes 8-Game Mix
This week’s high stakes online cash games centered on the Deuce to Seven Triple Draw and the 8-Game Mix tables. Continuing on from last week’s high stakes action, profits and losses fluctuated once again with the usual suspects involved in the big money action.
- Niki Jedlicka finishes the week as the highest earner with a $1,048,614 profit.
- Phil Galfond played 27 sessions and 4,780 hands to win $710,676.
- Chinese player “Samrostan” lost the most notching $1,128,571 in losses.
The Global Poker Index Newsmakers: Daniel Negreanu Back On Top
Kid Poker Returns To #1
- A summary of the recent accomplishments of players ranked on the Global Poker Index.
New Jersey Online Poker Revenues Rise in March
Ultimate Poker continues its streak of consecutive monthly increases while Borgata and partypoker hold the lead in market share.
- New Jersey online poker revenue rebounded with a modest 3.26% increase in March according to revenue figures released Monday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
- The partnership of Borgata and partypoker accounted for the nearly all of the internet poker growth recording an additional $85k in revenues from over its February figures
Winamax Partners with WSOP to Run Official Satellites
French online poker room joins 888 in offering official WSOP promos to European players.
- Winamax has announced that it has become an official partner of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2014.
- The Winamax Main Event packages reflect the likelihood that the winners may not speak English
- The packages to be won include a limo from the airport to hotel, where players can check-in in French and a cell phone with $20 of credit comes with a help number should players encounter any problems.
888 Returns to Public Tournament Tracking Site SharkScope
Opt-in / opt-out system allows players to decide whether their results are displayed.
- If a player opts-in, then data on their opponents are revealed—and their results are in turn shown publicly.
- 888 forced the removal of all data from SharkScope in July 2013.
- Two special tournaments in the 888 client—named “Sharkscope Opt-In” and “Opt-Out”, each with free buyin—are used for players to indicate their intentions.
The Borgata Casino Alleges Phil Ivey Cheated, Sues for $9.6m
More “edge sorting” allegations against Phil Ivey.
- The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City has sued Phil Ivey for $9.6m.
- The Borgata alleges that Ivey cheated when he exploited an “edge sorting” technique to secure an odds advantage at Baccarat.
- Edge sorting was the technique Ivey admitted to using at Crockfords Casino in London in 2012.
Sweden’s Regulator Keeps the Pressure on Foreign Operator Advertising
In publishing new figures for TV advertising the Lotteriinspektionen exposes the scale of the issue.
- The Swedish gaming regulator, Lotteriinspektionen, has published data on the amount of gambling advertising on television.
- Advertising by non-Swedish regulated operators accounts for fully 64%.
- Over the last three years the annual amount spent by such “gray” market operators has increased from SEK 521m ($80m) to SEK 1bn ($152m).
- The Lotteries Act prohibits gaming advertising other than by licensed operators, but its provisions only apply to state licensed media outlets. Media licensed by other EU countries are not bound by the act.
This Week in Poker Podcasts: Online Poker Security, GPI Update and Mike Sexton
The latest from the Pokerfuse Poker Podcast Directory.
Poker Training Videos This Week: Evaluating Bluffs, Facing a Check-Raise and Moving Up Stakes
Improve your poker game with our top picks from the pokerfuse poker video directory.
Picks from F5 Poker:
Borgata 2014 Spring Open Day 2 Carnage Leaves 18 To Battle for $209k
A victor will be determined in Event 1, the $1,000,000 Guarantee. Only 18 players from the original 2482 entires remain in Event 1 of the Borgata Spring Poker Open and only one of them will grab the massive $209k first place prize. Poker carnage took place on Day 2 as nearly 500 players found their hopes of overall victory crushed on the felt, but the min-cash bubble of $1,264 burst at the 200 player mark bringing a return on investment for just under half of the field that was in play for the day.
Phil Ivey Sued By Borgata For $9.6 Million
Charges of “edge sorting” stemming from 2012 Baccarat sessions surface. It came to light on Friday that high stakes professional poker player, Phil Ivey, is being sued by The Borgrata Hotel Casino & Spa for $9.6 million that he won playing Baccarat over several sessions in 2012.
Borgata 2014 Spring Open $1 Million Guaranteed Ends In 4-Way 6-FIgure Chop
Carlos Alvarado crowned winner. The final day of Event 1 of the 2014 Borgata Spring Open came to a conclusion last night when the top four players, from a field of 2482 entries, agreed to an “everyone’s happy” equal chop of the remaining prizepool. New Yorkers Adam Pace and Philip Neiman along with Kevin Grabel conceded the technical victory to Oceanside resident Carlos Alvarado, but all four walked away equal winners to the tune of $127,652.
Sofia Lövgren & Xuan Liu Take Their Talents To 888poker
The pair of charming young pros reinvigorate Team 888. The mystery of where former Team PKR pro Sofia Lövgren is over. It’s 888poker! But not only did 888 drop a bomb by signing the lovely 24-year old Lövgren, they dropped the mic entirely by bringing another young female pro, the formidable Xuan Liu, on board at the same time. The pair of young poker pros will be all patched up and promoting 888poker for the foreseeable future.
Rafa Nadal Gets Served In Heads-Up Match v. Selbst
PokerStars Monte Carlo exhibition match a success. This past weekend tennis superstars, and PokerStars sponsored athlete, Rafa Nadal sat in another “made-for-tv” match against one of the best poker players in the world, Vanessa Selbst. For context, Selbst was repeatedly referred to as the best female poker players in the world, but those in the know get it – she’s a beast on the felt and one of the best of any gender and Rafa would have a monster challenge in front of him.
Joe Hachem Is “Just Another Asshole With An Opinion”
Former champ revisits inflammatory Aussie Millions comments. While having a quick sitdown to talk about the state of poker “down under”, Poker Asia Pacfic asks former World Series of Poker Champion Joe Hachem, once again, about the comments he made during the Aussie Millions about the state of poker ambassadorship.
EPT Sanremo Day 1a Marks The Beginning Of The End for EPT Season 10
New PokerNews presenter Jennifer Robles, girlfriend of Team Ivey poker pro Griffin Benger, kicks off the coverage of the penultimate event of Season 10 of the European Poker Tour. EPT Sanremo, a €4,600 + €300 event, kicks off starts today with live coverage from the EPT Live crew kicking in on Day 2 of the event (Wednesday).
Alec Torelli & Andrew Robl Want You To “Believe In Yourself”
The “tight bros” dish out advice, getaway spots. It’s Part 2 of the “The Bro Diaries” where high-stakes dudes Alec Torelli and Andrew Robl answer some questions and just chill, bro, chill. The pair totes answer preguntas like “What’s your longest losing period, brah?”, “What’s your longest session, dude?” and “What’s, like, your supes fav place to max and relax, bros?”
Borgata To Refund Almost Half The Field In “Chipgate” Scandal
Three-month investigation resolved fake chip tainted tournament. The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has officially been cleared to put Event 1 of it’s Winter Open, aka “Chipgate” to rest. Over 2100 entrants will receive $560 refunds while the 27 remaining players will evenly split the remaining, unpaid prizepool – each receiving $19,323.
Poker Podcasts and Training Vids:
Podcast: Episode 75: Sam Grafton Thinking Poker
Sam Grafton’s post-graduate studies in critical theory make him the first guest capable of schooling Andrew on Foucault. We talk about staking and swapping, the importance of social capital to success in poker, the blurred line between poker and gambling and the extent to which the poker world operates independently of traditional government and economic institutions.
Training Video: DDBeast BF Member Sunday Million Review Bluefire Poker
DDBeast continues with part 3 of his hand history review of a BlueFirePoker member’s Sunday Million.
Training Video: Ben Reasons Premiere Series – Member HH Review Tournament Poker Edge
TPE welcomes a new pro! Ben Reasons is a live circuit grinder and online crusher. Now he brings his analytic approach to TPE. First up for Ben is a review of a TPE member Frenchie155 win in a $5 tourney on stars. This is a 5 part series.
Training Video: Ghost: BalugaWhale – 2014 MSNL Live Play – Part 11 Deuces Cracked
Andrew 'BalugaWhale’ Seidman returns with 3 tables of 6-handed and 1 table of full ring midstakes play at WPT on the PartyPoker network. Featuring a focused discussion on quickly adapting your strategy to different styles of loose play, the importance of considering your range across multiple streets, and how to play well against loose-aggressive but non-crazy opponents.
Exclusive Articles on pokerfuse PRO:
WSOP Rep Responds to Claims of Unfair Reimbursement After Cheaters Spotted
Bill Rini, Head of Poker at WSOP’s online operations, has responded in a public discussion thread regarding allegations that players were not properly reimbursed after cheaters were identified by players in tournaments.
Software Snapshots – PokerStars 7, Part 4: A New Signup Flow
In part four of our five-part in-depth exploration of PokerStars’ new client, Software Snapshots takes a look at the new guest account system and customer account creation. PokerStars 7 introduces changes that aim to enhance the new player experience—from guest accounts, to new account creation and avatar selection—which could greatly reduce the friction in new customer acquisition.
PokerStars Celebrates More Big Numbers with Another Carnival of Tournaments
Another big giveaway for PokerStars as it reaches another mind boggling number—900 million tournaments. The 900 millionth tournament on PokerStars will be played on April 27. A fortnight of promotions—a “Carnival of Tournaments”—will celebrate the event.
Ending Network Split Pays Off for Merge
Cash game traffic rises after the departure of Pokerhost prompts change in network segregation policy. Even though table restrictions have been placed on some high volume grinders, the ending of the network split at Merge Gaming has resulted in an immediate increase in total cash game traffic.
