Main Headlines
New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement “Encouraged” by PokerStars Sale
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has reacted to the news that Amaya Gaming is buying Rational Group—parent company of PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker.
- The DGE is “encouraged by [news of the pending sale of Rational Group to Amaya Gaming] and the expanded opportunities it might provide for New Jersey’s Internet gaming industry.”
- With the Amaya deal in place and Rational Group CEO Mark Scheinberg leaving the company, it would appear that the barrier for PokerStars to enter the New Jersey market has been lifted.
Amaya To Buy PokerStars and Full Tilt for $4.9 Billion
Amaya hopes the deal will “expedite” entry into the US for PokerStars and Full Tilt.
- Amaya Gaming is buying the Rational Group—PokerStars and Full Tilt—for just under $5bn.
- The stunning business coup will make CEO David Baazov the most powerful man in poker.
iPoker to Roll Out Cash Game Changes on June 16
Removal of high stakes games and anonymous tables among major changes.
- Starting June 16, iPoker will incorporate major changes to its cash game structures in an effort to improve liquidity.
- Among the most significant changes are the complete removal of high-stakes cash games and anonymous tables.
- The changes will only affect iPoker.com, not iPoker.FR, iPoker.ES or iPoker.IT.
Garden City Group Issues $14 Million in New Round of Payments
More than 3,200 sent to petitioners, including affiliates
- Garden City Group (GCG) released a statement Thursday communicating that it has issues a new round of payments to over 3,200 Full Tilt Poker petitioners in the amount of roughly $14,000,000.
- Some affiliates who confirmed their account balances also received payments, according to the GCG.
- As a result of Thursday’s payments, approximately $95 million in remission payments have been made to former US Full Tilt Poker players who were adversely affected following Black Friday.
Bracelet Number Two for Brit John Kabbaj
Kabbaj takes gold in the event that saw Mike “The Mouth” Matusow disciplined for an excessive celebration.
- Highlights of the day’s action at the WSOP.
Picks from F5 Poker:
Steve Albini – Mixed Games And The Music Industry
Indie rock legend goes on the record about poker career. Chicago indie rock legend, founding member of Shellac and producer of Nirvana’s “In Utero“ (and Cloud Nothings’ “Attack On Memory“) is also quite an accomplished poker player. He gets picked out from the crowd by Sarah Grant over at Pokernews for a quick run down of how his trip to the World Series of Poker is going and why he’s sitting in a H.O.R.S.E. tournament.
Phil Laak – Not A Myth, Simply Walking The Earth
No one loves Phil Laak more than F5 so when there’s a Phil Laak video or photo, you know that we’re going to bring it to you.
Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth Speak Up For The Mouth
Penalty for Mikey called “atrocious” and “disgusting.” Yesterday we posted about Mike “The Mouth” Matusow’s one round penalty for what was labelled as “outrageous behavior” by one of the tournament directors at the World Series of Poker during the the $2500 Omaha/Seven-Card Stud Hi-Low event.
Cliff’s Notes – Kabbaj’s Bracelet, 6-Max Stalled & Other WSOP Action
Everything you need to know in 60 seconds. Wanna get caught up on the WSOP but don’t need every detail to do so? We got you. Here’s what you need to know in 300 words (or less).
John Kabbaj Gunna Get Drunk After Bracelet Win
PokerNews rookie Caitlyn Howe shuffles though a winner’s interview for Event #25 with 2-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, the UK’s John Kabbaj.
Rookie Report – Debbie Motycka Loves The Bulls, Not The Bullies
“I had Ace-King and I called his All-in” This is what the World Series of Poker is all about.
Even More Poker Profiles From The WSOP
Waste some (more) time getting to know the pros. Poker media junkies rejoice – we’ve compiled even more of the best profiles and interviews from the floor of the Rio at the World Series of Poker. So, if you are a consumer of information and a waster of time (in the best sense possible) here are a few articles and interviews we think you’ll find something worthwhile in.
Exclusive Articles on pokerfuse PRO:
PokerStars Begins “Football Fever” Promotion Alongside 2014 World Cup
$1.7 million in total prizes including $500k in freeroll funds to be awarded. PokerStars announced its own spin of a “World Cup Promotion” Thursday with its “Football Fever” giveaway. There will be $1.7 million total prize pool money up for grabs from now through July 16, including $500,000 in freeroll bonus money.
Traffic Watch
Pokerfuse PRO’s exclusive review of the online poker market across international, US and regulated European markets. A sharp fall of 5% due to the end of PokerStars last milestone hand promotion affected almost all markets this week.
Poker Podcasts and Training Vids:
Training Video: Sunday Funday Live Sweat with bigdogpckt5s Tournament Poker Edge
The bigdog is back as he fires up the recorder for a Sunday Funday live sweat. He plays the majors in a four part series.
Training Video: Pot of Gold: SSPLO Review with DJ Sensei and 2fouroffsuit: Episode 8 Deuces Cracked
In the final (for now!) episode of their SSPLO review series, DJ Sensei and 2fouroffsuit return with a 4-tabling session on Bovada’s anonymous PLO. This episode focuses on tight folds, looking for situations where 2fouroffsuit folded a hand that might have been playable.