- Zynga Launches Real Money Poker on Facebook.
- PokerStars Software Update Displays Mobile Device Icon.
- Proposed Revisions to the Wire Act Threaten Online Poker in the US.
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. Gavin Smith, Christian Harder Become Free Agents
A pair of high profile poker professionals announced, via twitter, an end to their respective sponsored affiliations as both Gavin Smith and Christian Harder let it be known that they both will not be patched up for their respective sites.
9. iPoker Introduces Twister Poker, Jackpot Format Single Table Tournaments
New three-handed winner take all format tournaments include a randomly allocated prize pool. January 20 sees the introduction of Twister, a new jackpot format sit and go on iPoker. Each Twister Sit and Go (SNG) is a three player single table tournament where the winner takes all the prize money. Buyins range from $1 to $10.
8. Michigan Charity Poker Compromise Reached
Charity poker venues will be limited to a maximum of 4 events a week and 208 days a year. New rules for charity poker rooms were due to come into force in September last year, but heated debate stalled the process until last Thursday when the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) announced a compromise agreement.
7. PokerStars France “Supernova Blast” Plans to Poach the Grinders
Supernova-in-a-month promo aims to coax Winamax’s high volume players. In France, PokerStars is the number two site in cash game traffic rankings behind Winamax. But a big promotion this month—the January “Supernova Blast” promo—looks like a deliberate effort to reach the number one spot.
6. PartyPoker/Borgata Take 45% of New Jersey’s First Online Gaming Revenues
Caesars/888 takes the number two spot, but revenues are lower than early optimistic expectations. The New Jersey PartyPoker/Borgata partnership has managed to secure 45% of the revenues from newly regulated online gaming, according to Tuesday’s report from the Division of Gaming Enforcement.
5. Greg “Fossilman” Raymer Seeks Investors for Entire 2014 Poker Campaign
Professional poker player and former 2004 World Series of Poker Champion, Greg “Fossilman” Raymer has taken to the Two Plus Two Forums this week looking for investors to stake him for his entire 2014 schedule. It has been ten years since Raymer’s career defining victory and, according to the post, this is the first time since that victory that he is opting to play a full slate of tournaments while “accepting investments.”
4. Jay “WhoJedi” Newnum Issues Statement, Steps Away From Poker
On Tuesday, well-known poker tournament photographer and videographer, Jay “WhoJedi” Newnum broke his nearly week long silence regarding allegations of his participation of the theft of dealer tip money from the Foxwoods Poker Room. In his statement posted on his own blog, Newnum states that while he is unable to talk about the incident, he plans to “step away from the poker world indefinitely.”
3. Proposed Revisions to the Wire Act Threaten Online Poker in the US
A bill proposed to stop internet gambling has no congressional status, but would make internet gambling illegal across the USA. A draft of a bill to counteract the US Department of Justices’ opinion on the Wire Act and prohibit online poker has been leaked. The proposed bill received widespread attention when online gaming insider Marco Valerio posted it on his blog over the weekend.
2. PokerStars Software Update Displays Mobile Device Icon
Regular players are using the indicator as a means of identifying recreational players. The latest update of the PokerStars software client quietly included the introduction of a mobile device indicator displayed along with a player’s avatar at the table. A discussion on reddit suggests that this is “a gift” to grinders to identify weaker players.
1. Zynga Launches Real Money Poker on Facebook
Residents of UK can now play Zynga Plus Poker for real money right from Facebook. The social game giant quietly launched its long awaited real money gaming app on the world’s largest social network and began promoting it this past Friday.
