- Phil Ivey Wins Aussie Millions $250k Challenge.
- VPNs from the United States: Top Tournament Player “Sizzlinbetta” Tells All.
- Jason Somerville Celebrates Two Years Out and 100 Episodes.
We wrap up the week with a rundown of the most read news articles and features from the past seven days on pokerfuse. Never miss a story with our special feature every Saturday.
10. Online Poker Industry Holds its Breath as Euro Court to Rule in Austrian Online Gambling Case
Gambler demands €950k of gambling losses be returned because the online operator was in the gray market. The Austrian Supreme Court has handed a hot potato of a legal decision to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), an issue that demands an explicit ruling on whether “gray” market operators in nationally regulated EU markets are acting legally.
9. Caesars New Jersey Online Poker Revenue Spikes 42% in January
The monthly internet gross revenue figures released by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for the month of January show a sizeable increase in online poker revenue for Caesars Interactive Entertainment. Revenues from internet poker rose nearly 20% across the board with the Caesars/888 partnership accounting for the biggest increase at 42%.
8. More Players Invited to Alpha-Test PokerStars 7
Over two years in the making, there’s still progress going on behind the scenes on the long-awaited lobby redesign. Although the PokerStars 7 client has not made headlines much since it was first revealed way back in 2010, progress is still going on behind the scenes, and more players are being invited to test it out for real money.
7. New Jersey Players Switch to Regulated Sites
In an apparent win-win, players from dot-com US sites attracted to New Jersey regulated sites have been instantly replaced. At the ICE Totally Gaming Exhibition in London last week, research company Commercial Intelligence (CI) announced that the introduction of regulation in New Jersey had been successful in attracting players away from “gray” market sites.
6. Players Protest 40bb Minimum at new Zoom-Only Stakes
A surprisingly active petition has been coordinated by the high stakes community over a change in the minimum buyin following a switch to Zoom-only tables.
5. PokerStars Considers Online Sports Betting
In wake of the debut into online casino gaming on Full Tilt, Rational Group is “exploring opportunities” of a sportsbook launch. PokerStars parent company Rational Group confirmed Thursday that it was considering launching an online sports betting product.
4. GCG Tests ACH Process for Full Tilt Payments
The Garden City Group announced on Thursday that petitioners that confirmed their Full Tilt Poker account balance in a timely manner may start to see zero-dollar transactions hit their bank accounts as soon as February 13.
3. Jason Somerville Celebrates Two Years Out and 100 Episodes
Poker pro Jason Somerville talks to pokerfuse about his popular webcast, promoting Ultimate Poker, the UFC and being the first openly gay male poker player. Pro poker player Jason Somerville in burst on the poker scene in 2009 with two six-figure scores at the World Series of Poker. He followed that up at the 2010 WSOP with two larger six-figure scores and won his first WSOP bracelet in 2011.
2. VPNs from the United States: Top Tournament Player “Sizzlinbetta” Tells All
Want to play on dot-com sites from the US? That’ll be $12,000 a year. Stephen Reynolds, best known online as “sizzlinbetta,” and considered one of the best online SNG players pre-Black Friday, has spoken candidly about his involvement with playing on dot-com sites from the United States.
1. Phil Ivey Wins Aussie Millions $250k Challenge
With a buyin as big at $250,000 one would expect plenty of the most recognizable names in poker to both take part and go deep, but the final table of the LK Boutique $250k Aussie Millions Challenge was one of the most star-studded lineups in recent memory.
