Online Poker Tournaments
POKERSTARS RAMPING UP U.S. ACTIVITY
2011-03-16
The world's biggest online poker operator is becoming more noticeable in Nevada
With US online poker legalisation initiatives very much in the news through both state and federal initiatives recently (see previous InfoPowa reports), it is perhaps understandable that the world's biggest online poker provider, Pokerstars, is ramping up its involvement in the United States.
Recent media reports indicate that the Isle of Man-based company has an interest in three new intrastate proposals shaping up in the Silver State - one legalising online poker, and the others creating the foundations for such an activity.
The legalisation initiative is of especial interest to Pokerstars, because it contains provisions that specifically forbid the regulator from excluding licensing applications from companies (like the internet poker giant) that have previously been active in the US market. And it leaves room for 'legal' players from outside the state to participate by agreement.
Earlier this year Pokerstars hired former Nevada Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins to head its lobbying efforts in the Nevada Legislature, and more recently it has been revealed that the Isle of Man company has brought onboard as a consultant a former regulatory heavyweight in Randall Sayre, an outspoken and highly experienced official who was previously a member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board in a distinguished career in the business lasting over 26 years.
Sayre could prove to be a powerful advocate for the industry; he is widely respected in regulatory circles internationally and was voted Regulator of the Year back in 2009. He has been forthright in opining that the legal advent of online gambling in the United States is simply a matter of time, with Nevada in an ideal position to benefit, thanks to the state's deep experience and facilities in the regulatory field.
Referring to online gambling, Sayre is on record as saying: "We can stand on the beach and let it wash over us, or we can recognize the potential economic opportunity for the state."
LOCAL POKER PRO WINS MELBOURNE LEG OF A.N.Z.P.T.2010-10-12A$195,700 payday for Kozlov
Melbourne poker pro Martin Kozlov (23) turned a short starting stack into a A$195,700 victory in the A$2,700 buy-in main event of the Melbourne leg of the Pokerstars Australia and New Zealand Poker Tour this week.
The local man bested a field of 310 entrants that generated a prize pool of A$775 000, ensuring that 36 survivors cashed.
Kozlov was the short stack going into the final table, where he faced James Obst, David Chilcott, Amanda De Cesare, Benjamin Savage, Kristina Jeney, Ted Nguyen and Rajkumar Ramakrishnan.
The young Melbourne pro survived at least two clashes where his departure appeared imminent but played a disciplined game of controlled aggression to stay the course and ultimately reach a heads up against James Obst, who held an intimidating 5 to 1 chip advantage. Unfazed, Kozlov relied on his style of play…and good fortune…to whittle away his opponent’s lead and finally defeat Obst, who went home surprised to find himself in second place with a paycheck for A$124,000.
The ANZPT’s final stop – at Darwin – is now in sight and will take place October 25-30.
POKER FOR THE TROOPS2010-03-03Veteran warriors badly hurt in the service of their country to benefit from celebrity poker tournament
Celebrities, professional poker pros and politicians will gather in Washington DC tonight (Wednesday) to play in a poker tournament designed to raise funds for the Paralyzed Veterans of America - an organisation devoted to the care of US warriors seriously injured in the service of their country.
The event will be hosted by World Series of Poker bracelet winner Mike Sexton and Linda Johnson, and takes place at the Grand Hyatt, starting at 7pm Washington time.
The aim of the event is to raise awareness and funds for paralyzed veterans, and a $10 000 seat in the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event is up for grabs by the best player.
Spectators can expect to see Andy Bloch, Lee Childs, Kenna "Cowboy" James and film star Ben Affleck in action, along with a host of other pros, politicians and celebrities.
The Poker Players Alliance is sponsoring the event, along with Walmart, Reynolds America, Orchestrate Technology, Merkle, Data Management Inc. and Midwest Direct Mailers.
The PPA says that funds raised by the event, and by a silent auction that is planned, will benefit Paralyzed Veterans of America, founded 63 years ago by a band of spinal cord injured service members returning home from World War II.
BERLIN TO FEATURE IN POKERSTARS E.P.T. 2009-12-23A thousand players expected for main event
The famous German city of Berlin joins the schedule of stops in the Pokerstars European Poker Tour for the first time next year, and it's likely to be the biggest professional poker tourney ever held in the country.
March 2nd to 7th 2010 is the date for the Berlin bash, a spokesman said this week: "We are excited to be making our first stop in the beautiful city of Berlin. We have experienced great success throughout the first half of EPT Season 6, with thousands of players competing in the initial six events."
He went on to reveal that a two story glass palace will be built especially for the PokerStars EPT in partnership with Spielbank Berlin and Pokerfloor. Located in the centre of Berlin, on the prestigious Marlene-Dietrich-Platz at Potsdamer Platz, the venue will have an area of 2 000 m˛, allowing an entry field of a thousand players.
The space will be fully utilised; Pokerstars is expecting a full one thousand player entry field for the main event that will include numerous international and national top players.
Among those set to play are tennis legend and Team PokerStars SportStar Boris Becker; all of Team PokerStars Germany - including the Season 5 Germany winner Sandra Naujoks, who comes from Berlin, and Jan Heitmann from Munich who is Boris Becker's poker coach, as well as all the other guests from "TV Total PokerStars.de Nacht".
Pokerstars has guaranteed a million Euro first prize.