Main Headlines
Democratic Governors: Anti-Online Gaming Law Would Cut $20 Billion in Existing State Revenue
Governors oppose bill that seeks to ban all forms of internet gaming.
- The Democratic Governors Association asserted that if legislation to ban online gaming were enacted it would cost state budgets some $20 billion in lottery revenue alone.
- Under the “Internet Gambling Control Act of 2014,” expected to be formally introduced by Graham this week, all forms of regulated internet gaming and internet lottery, including Mega Millions and Powerball which are currently available in 44 US states and other territories, would be prohibited.
Bucking the Trend: 888 Boasts Real Growth in Online Poker
21% more active players and 7% more revenues provide the testimony for 888poker’s successful strategy.
- 888 reports a 21% increase in active players over the year and online poker revenues have increased 7% on 2012’s results.
- CEO Brian Mattingly explains that it is “a result of the continued and relentless execution of our stated poker strategy of focusing on recreational players and providing them with a safe and enjoyable ecosystem.”
Poland Opens Up to Payment Processors, But Poker Remains a Gray Area
Skrill and Neteller should now be able to work with licensed Polish online gambling companies.
- The Polish Gambling Act was amended last October to expand the range of financial service operators permitted to process gambling transactions—the new amendments have now come into force.
- Prior to the amendment online gambling transactions were effectively limited to Polish banks and financial providers. Post the amendment other EU licensed firms can offer services.
- Licensed operators will now be able to offer their customers cashier options from payment processors such as Skrill and Neteller.
Merge Anonymizes Sit and Go Registration
Screen names hidden in lobby as tournaments fill.
- Screen names are now hidden during the registration process across all SNG types, including heads up tables.
- The change could have a substantial impact on the registration process, as it removes all table selection skills, preventing professional players from judging the profitability of games.
Picks from F5 Poker:
Ultimate Poker Shares The Secrets of Geolocation
Or “Why Can’t I Log On?!” Perhaps they are just tired of answering questions about geolocation, but Ultimate Poker’s parent company, Ultimate Gaming, pushed out an info-graphic on how they know if you are in a “free state.”
Hall of Famer Dewey Tomko Takes A Public Relations Beating
Op-ed gets rebuffed by poker media.
Bilzerian Bashing — Dan Is “What’s Wrong With America”
New article cites poker pro’s Instagram as “conspicuous consumption.” The media attention to the Instagram account of high stakes poker pro Dan Bilzerian is at a fever pitch. Some might say he’s on his 14th minute. But when popular internet destination Buzzfeed names you the most interesting thing on Instagram, it’s going to draw the attention of the opposition and that’s what happened in this latest article from PolicyMic.
Marc-Andre Ladouceur Schools The Fish
Team PokerStars Online Pro talks strategy with Kristy. Sometimes, no matter how big the buy-in and what’s on the line, there’s a player or two that’s just begging to give their chips away. During Day 2 of EPT Vienna newly minted Team PokerStars Online Pro Marc-Andre Ladouceur encountered such a player and he was looking to pick those chips up as best he could.
Liv Boeree Does A Lot Of Weird Shit
Boeree faces her social media past. Poker player. Model. TV host. Team PokerStars Pro Liv Boeree is a lot of things. In this latest video from PokerNews you’ll also see that she is sometimes just bizarre. She collects animal masks, creates odd selfie videos (as we have demonstrated in the past) and lets fellow poker pro Daniel Negreanu straight up make out with her mum.
Gaelle Baumann Switching Up Her WSOP Strategy
Team Winamax Pro talks about her WSOP summer plans. Team Winamax’s own superhero, Gaelle Baumann, catches up with PokerNews on Day 2 of EPT Vienna to talk about her day on the felt but also her future plans for the upcoming summer in Las Vegas.
Facebook Poker Game Organizer Narrowly Avoids Jail Time
Australian looking for a home game faced charges. An Australian man, David Desmond Bowen, who was looking to start a home game tournament by going on Facebook and rounding up the troops, narrowly avoided prison this week. Bowen tried to scratch up a no-rake home game MTT where his pals would put up $150 but all the gambling chatter on Facebook caught the attention of the fun police (we mean the actual police in this case) and Bowen was hauled into court.
Antonio Esfandiari Does One-Armed Push-ups for the People
Check out “Strip Magic” Episode 4. It’s no secret that Antonio Esfandiari is good with people. Both on and off the felt, “The Magician” charms all of those he comes in contact with. Now he uses that charm to get a read on both those he plays poker against and those who he performs for. Check out the latest version of Ultimate Poker’s online series Strip Magic which follows Antonio as he talks about his first love, magic, and how it helped him become poker’s All-Time Money Leader.
Was GPI’s Alex Dreyfus (and all of Europe) Snubbed In Bluff Poker Power Poll
Poker pundit Lee Davy trashes Bluff Power 20, America Sometimes, rants come out of nowhere.
Poker Podcasts and Training Vids:
Podcast: Druff & Friends – 03/25/2014 – This Show Tries Harder Poker Fraud Alert
Co-hosts are “LEVEL ACCOUNT” and “garrett”. A former Lock Poker pro opens up to poker reporter Steve Ruddock, but are this pro’s intentions all pure? Lock is attempting to entice unsuspecting victims with an even bigger deposit bonus. We attempt to call disgraced Toronto mayor Rob Ford. Druff gives important tips for the WSOP, including some posted by PFA user “Jayjami”. Birthday tribute to Ken Scalir. Dewey Tomko and Bill Byers press for further security testing of legalized poker rooms… for selfish reasons. Sheldon Adelson puppet Andy Abboud, debating Caesar’s Interactive CEO Mitch Garber about online poker, falls apart & lashes out. Editorial: When you’re online poker’s #2, you have to try harder. Druff takes questions via text and chat at the end of the show.
Podcast: PokerNews Podcast Episode #208: EPT Vienna feat. Gus Hansen PokerNews Podcast
Kristy Arnett is in Austria for EPT Vienna, where she is joined by 2013 World Series of Poker bracelet winner Chad Holloway and PokerNews live reporter Remko Rinkema. The trio breaks down all of the latest news, and then Remko chats with Gus Hansen about Vienna and getting back to his winning ways.
Training Video: Party Poker New Jersey: Member Session Review Part 2 Drag The Bar
It’s fully regulated poker in America! Stosh reviews a NL50 6-max session by Drag The Bar member 'mateo94’ from Party Poker New Jersey. We get a solid look at the poker network with the most traffic in this new market. Not surprisingly, the games are quite soft.
Training Video: Full Ring Review: threads13 with dioguerra – Part 1 Deuces Cracked
threads13 reviews a 4-tabling $100NL full ring video from DeucesCracked member dioguerra, discussing strategies relevant to 9-handed play, including how to choose hands for your different ranges and adjustments vs. different players at the table.
Exclusive Articles on pokerfuse PRO:
Regulation in Review: US
A review of the latest developments in gaming regulation in the US. This week: California, Texas, New Jersey and proposed federal legislation. Anti-Online Gambling Bills Expected This Week
French Market Down 20% in a Month
Winamax promotions may have postponed the seasonal fall—which appears more severe as a result. The French market is down almost 20% over the last 30 days. Even though the fall is from the peak created by the Winamax billion hand promotion, the size of the fall in cash game traffic is remarkable.
PokerStars Promotes in Latin American with Regional Happy Hours
50% more VPPs for Central and South American players twice a day. Between March 24 and April 6 PokerStars is offering its players from Central and South America their own “Happy Hours” during which they will earn extra VIP Player Points (VPPs).
Regulation in Review: Europe and Beyond
A weekly review of the latest developments in gaming regulation outside the US. This week: UK, Belgium, Russia, Bulgaria, Poland, and William Hill. UK
