Main Headlines

Caesars Continues to Narrow the Gap in New Jersey Online Poker Market

Ultimate Poker posts a 6% increase in internet poker revenues in spite of the short month.

  • Only three percentage points and approximately $98,000 in revenue separate the two market leaders as of the end of February.
  • The total revenues from poker came in at $3.1 million—down approximately 10% from the $3.44 million in January; however, with February having three less days the numbers actually reflect a 2% increase on a per day basis.
  • The only increase in poker revenue from month-to-month was recorded by Ultimate Poker posting greater than a 6% increase on a month-to-month basis and an almost 18% increase on a per day basis.

WSOP Main Event Satellites Get Underway on 888poker

Steps satellites starting from 1c lead to a $15,000 prize package on 888’s dot-com poker network.

  • Steps satellites now available on 888poker.com.
  • The prize package includes six nights’ accommodation at the Palazzo Hotel, $1500 in travel expenses, $500 in spending money and, of course, the $10,000 buyin to the main event.
  • Caesars operates an online poker room in both Nevada and New Jersey, and will be running exclusive satellites in these markets in the build-up to July.

CIE Record Revenues Fueled by Online Gaming

Caesars Interactive Entertainment posted record breaking revenue in 2013 in part due to the launch of real money online gaming in Nevada and New Jersey.

  • Caesars Interactive Entertainment posted record breaking revenue in 2013 in part due to the launch of real money online gaming in Nevada and New Jersey.
  • “We demonstrated solid economic results in the current year while simultaneously investing and positioning our business for future growth in social, mobile and real money online gaming.”

Players Suspicious as Superwins.EU Launches on Lock Poker’s Independent Network

Lock Poker’s failure to process pending withdrawals generates accusations about the new skin on the network.

  • Superwins.eu is a new skin on the Lock Poker Network.
  • Player suspicions reported on 2+2, are that the new skin is not independent of Lock Poker.
  • The branding of the new site is similar to that used by Lock Poker, and poster “dougmanct” dug into the internet details to produce evidence that the two sites appear to be linked.
  • Lock Poker has failed to improve its cash out record despite repeated promises that a solution is just around the corner.

GPI Signs Deals with Aviation Club de France and Casino Barcelona

Yet another deal for GPI as it expands the use of its ranking formula to casinos and clubs around the world.

  • The Global Poker Index (GPI) has expanded relentlessly, and this week it adds two new prestigious partners to its roster—the Aviation Club de France in Paris, and Casino Barcelona in Spain.
  • Both casinos have agreed to use the GPI as their official ranking system.
  • “The goal is for every poker player, wherever they are in the world, to have an opportunity to be ranked on the Global Poker Index,” announced GPI.

Party Announces “New Jersey Online Poker Championship”

Draft schedule boasts $500,000 in guaranteed prizes across ten events, with a $200,000 Main Event.

  • Ten events will run mid-April, including a $200,000 guaranteed main event.
  • The series is slated to kick off with a $50,000 freeroll.
  • According to the draft schedule, the Main Event will replace the normal Sunday $50k,, and the other events will replace the Daily $10ks.
  • The network has in the last responded to player feedback to structure and schedule, so further changes are likely.

Picks from F5 Poker:

Phil Ivey Not Bothered By Bilzerian “Broke” Rumor

Ivey gets candid about early days, craps habit. Who knew Phil Ivey had such a nice smile?! In part two of Ivey’s interview with Bluff Magazine video producer Thomas Keeling, he opens up about the “No Home Jerome” rumors of his early fake ID Atlantic City days, how he got started playing poker and his propensity to shoot high-stakes craps.

Team PokerStars Pro Leo Margets To Compete On Spanish Survivor

Poker pro heads to Honduras to try and out-everything everyone. Spanish Team PokerStars Pro Leo Margets will appear in the upcoming airing of the Spanish version of the popular TV show Survivor (called Supervivientes). Set to air this coming March 17 in Spain, the Barcelona born Margets will be trying to thrive on the beaches and in the wilderness of Honduras against 8 other Spainish TV personalities and psuedo-celebs.

Kyle Julius’ 200k “No Drinking” Prop Bet

One year stone cold sober – no buy out. Everyone loves a good prop bet. Also, many of you love a good, stiff drink. Well, poker pro Kyle Julius is well known for loving both and so that’s why he was given such a good price to take a “No Alcohol” bet.

Jonathan Little: Lyons Tamer

Little and Lyons go head-to-head at Shooting Star. Sweet revenge was served for poker author Jonathan Little yesterday during Day 1B of the World Poker Tour Bay 101 Shooting Star. First we need to rewind a couple days to the preliminary event when word broke on Twitter that Jonathan Little had busted the 2k at the hands of F5 pal and bad beat photog Pat Lyons…but in his exit, he called Lyons an angle shooter.

Antonio Esfandiari Chooses Money Over Magic

Antonio hits the strip to dazzle tourists in Strip Magic Part II. Ultimate Poker released another part of the mini documentary about the magical past of their UP brand ambassador Antonio Esfandiari.

Phil Ivey – “You Have To Be Careful With Who You Become Friends With.”

Ivey talks about his inner circle in the world of high stakes. In an obvious effort to get more traction here on the monster website that is F5, Bluff Magazine has released part 3 of their stand-up interview with poker great Phil Ivey. In this clip Bluff video producer Thomas Keeling talks to Ivey about who he considers his real friends in poker and how close to the vest is he with those he plays against.

Poker Podcasts and Training Vids:

Podcast: Druff & Friends – 03/11/2014 – Superwins IV: The Quest for Scams Poker Fraud Alert

Lock Poker attempts to sneak a new poker skin onto the scene, known as “Superwins”. Druff has made some progress toward getting his Full Tilt refund. Phil Ivey speaks to SrslySirius in an interview, and Druff comments on all things Ivey. Accused scammer Kevin Jonna wins LAPC High Roller Event. Editorial: “I Don’t Want Pokerstars to Be in the Legalized US Market”. Did Mt. Gox actually steal all of the bitcoins? Druff’s tells a bizarre story of failing to get a Total Rewards Credit Card. Users ask Druff random questions at the end of the show via chat room and text message.

Podcast: Poker Advocacy Mar 10 2014 show Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny

Guest: Lori Kolstad and Stephen Brogan

Training Video: Mid-Suited-Connectors Drag The Bar

This video discusses some ideas for why/when/how to play mid-suited connectors. These hands can be quite profitable but also quite tricky, because while they can make huge hands, they most often flop only draws or weak top/mid-pairs with marginal kickers. I teach this lesson using hands where I DON’T flop the nuts winning tons and tons of money ;-) but rather focus on the situational decision making that leads to improving your overall winrate using mid-suited connectors. Because the small pots matter!

Exclusive Articles on pokerfuse PRO:

Party, Borgata Seek Feedback on NJCOP Schedule

Posters on 2+2 and PocketFives critique the tentative April plan. Representatives on the two skins on PartyPoker New Jersey are seeking feedback from the poker player community on its draft schedule for the New Jersey Championship of Online Poker, set to run in mid-April.

Traffic at the Company Level: 888 Holdings, Playtech and bwin.party Neck and Neck

The three are within 5% of cash game traffic across all the networks they control. Partypoker’s recovery of its fourth place cash game traffic ranking for its dot-com network is surely something its executives will cheer, but it still lags well behind rivals iPoker and 888poker.

A Trip to Dublin Forms the Incentive for Bovada’s St Patrick’s Day Promotion

Bovada’s latest deal continues the trend of poker rooms offering lottery style promotions. Bovada is celebrating St Patrick’s Day with a promotion that offers a $5k vacation in Dublin. The prize will be awarded in a random draw for which players can earn tickets.

Regulation in Review: Europe and Beyond

A weekly review of the latest developments in gaming regulation outside the US. This week: The EU, UK, Netherlands, Spain, Bulgaria, Malta, Mexico and Bermuda. Bulgaria