World Poker Tour Enterprises and U.S. Playing Card Honored for Licensing Accomplishments

WPT Enterprises (WPTE) announced that it and licensing partner U.S. Playing Card (USPC) have been named Sports/Special Brands Licensee of the Year for 2004 by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA) at its International Licensing Excellence Awards.

Thursday, 30 June 2005

ESPN Releases 2004 WSOP DVD Set

ESPN Original Entertainment and DVD Marketing Inc. has released a DVD set of the 2004 World Series of Poker's Main Event, currently available for online purchase at www.espnshop.com. Additional vendors remain to be announced. The three-disk DVD set includes a total of 11 hours of footage from the WSOP's Main Event, spanning six days. Footage is displayed in full-screen digital video.

Wednesday, 29 June 2005

Online Poker Company PartyGaming Shows Promise during First Day of Trading

Yesterday marked the first day of trading, and a good one at that, for online poker company PartyGaming. Although starting out at $2.12, stock prices rose 11 percent to $2.35 by the end of the first day. Additionally, PartyGaming announced that in light of it's promising first day on the London Stock Exchange, it would opt for overallotment for 115.3 million shares.

Tuesday, 28 June 2005

Todd and Doyle Brunson Become First Father/Son Pair to Each Win WSOP Bracelets

This past Thursday marked WSOP history, with Doyle and Todd Brunson becoming the first father/son duo each to have captured WSOP bracelets. Todd Brunson took his first Gold bracelet while playing in last week's $2,500 buy-in Omaha High-Low event.

Monday, 27 June 2005

PartyGaming Shares Reported to be Oversubscribed

Despite rumors that investor interest had waned for online poker company PartyGaming's upcoming float, according to recent reports, PartyGaming shares have actually been oversubscribed. This is good news for PartyGaming and its float, which is expected to go through tomorrow, particularly following suspicions that PartyGaming would not succeed in floating.

Sunday, 26 June 2005

WSOP Turnout Breaks World Records Less than Halfway into Series

With more than half the events still waiting to be played, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) has already hosted a record number of contenders. Last year, 14,054 players registered for the WSOP throughout the tournament series. This year, 14,439 registrations were filed by the end of the first 21 events.

Saturday, 25 June 2005

New Poker Column to be Featured by the New York Times

Starting this Saturday, the New York Times will begin running a weekly poker column, written by author and writing instructor James McManus. The column, plainly titled "Poker," will appear in the Times' sports section each Saturday. "Poker" will cover a range of the game's aspects, including the strategy and psychology involved in home poker games, online poker, as well as major land-based tournaments.

Friday, 24 June 2005

MacPoker Pro Online Poker Software for Mac Users Ready to Go

The release of MacPoker Pro 1.0 for Mac OS X was announced last Monday by Open End Software LLC. The online poker software MacPoker Pro tracks and analyzes players' actions, and provides information regarding the different players' performance while playing online poker, identifies weaknesses and suggests solutions for Texas Hold'em poker.

Thursday, 23 June 2005

Las Vegas Private Poker Tournaments are Next Big Thing

Thanks to Nevada state law, which permits private poker tournaments, the small intimate poker party has caught on as the next big thing in Vegas for businesspeople, investors and even some celebrities. Private poker tournaments are permitted, so long as the casino does not take a commission on bets wagered.

Wednesday, 22 June 2005

World Series of Poker (WSOP) Prize Pool Expected to Hot $100m Mark

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) announced yesterday that the total prize pool for the poker championship series is predicted to far exceed initial expectations. Before this year's WSOP kicked off earlier this month, predictions hovered around the $60 million mark. WSOP organizers are now estimating that the total prize pool will likely be closer to $100,000,000.

Tuesday, 21 June 2005

Elderly Poker Player to Vie for WSOP Gold Despite Disabling Illness

Seventy-three year old Ed Taylor isn't letting a wheel chair stand between him and the world's most prestigious and lucrative poker tournament, the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Taylor plans to play in the WSOP's No Limit Texas Hold 'Em World Championship, which kicks off on July 7.

Monday, 20 June 2005

PartyPoker to Move Server Center from Canada to Gibraltar

If potential legal confrontation in the U.S., a reduced IPO price, and investor ambivalence weren't enough, it seems that online poker company PartyGaming are encountering problems in their server base of Canada, as well. PartyGaming's operations are partially run out of Canada, thanks to a gaming license given by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

Sunday, 19 June 2005

G-Tech to Provide Poker Machine Technology, Louisiana Confirms

The Louisiana state Office of State Purchasing stood by its decision to allow G-tech Corporation to provide an $11.4m computer platform for poker machine monitoring. The contract allows the system to be installed at the state's 14,000 plus poker machines.

Saturday, 18 June 2005

New Online Poker Room is Latest Offering from CyberSportsBook

Online gambling site CyberSportsBook recently announced that it has launched its own online poker room, going by the name BetHold’em Poker. The new online poker site gives players the option to player either for free or for cash. Players can also choose from a number of poker variations, including Texas hold'em, 7 card stud and Omaha.

Friday, 17 June 2005

eCOGRA Awards Online Poker Site PokerRoom.com 'Play it Safe' Seal

Only two weeks after online gaming regulatory body eCOGRA accepted online poker software provider Ongame into its member ranks, eCOGRA gave a nod to yet another online poker venture, PokerRoom. The online poker room, which is incidentally owned by Ongame, will now bear eCOGRA's "Play It Safe" seal.

Thursday, 16 June 2005

PartyGaming Slashes IPO Price Amidst Legal Uncertainties Facing Internet Poker

Online poker company PartyGaming, whose flagship site Party Poker is at the top of the online poker industry, has slashed its IPO price amidst investor ambivalence. The legal quagmire surrounding online poker has many wary, and the reduced price is a further bid to tempt investors, despite the ambiguous legal status of internet poker in the U.S.

Wednesday, 15 June 2005

Online Poker Retail Site Launched by Souvenir Direct

An online poker retail site has recently launched from China Direct Trading Corp.'s subsidiary, Souvenir Direct Inc. (SDI). The new poker retail site deals in Poker Card Keepers. Poker Card Keepers, also known as card guards, are to be placed on top of player's poker hands, notifying the dealer that he or she intends to play the hand.

Tuesday, 14 June 2005

Poker Pro Daniel Negreanu Kicks off Poker Column for Seattle Times

This weekend marked poker pro Daniel Negreanu's first appearance as a weekly columnist for the Seattle Times. Each and every Saturday, Negreanu will share tips with readers on how to improve their skills at the poker table. Negreanu was quoted as saying that his tips will be applicable for players wanting to play face to face, as well as for fans of online poker.

Monday, 13 June 2005

Online Poker Room InterPoker Inks Deal to Advertise during Montreal Grand Prix

Online poker room InterPoker has reached a deal to advertise during the televised broadcast of the Montreal Grand Prix, as well as during other major sports events this year. InterPoker and its sister site, online casino InterCasino, will both air 30-second advertisements, in a move that is likely to dramatically increase the sites' visibility.

Sunday, 12 June 2005

Mac Users Get Their Own Online Poker Room

A new online poker room recently launched, catering specifically to Mac users. A good number of online poker rooms are not compatible for use with Macintosh computers. Therefore, macpokeronline.com decided to go after this largely neglected sector of online gamers, offering them a Mac compatible outlet for online poker play.

Saturday, 11 June 2005

Washington State Poker Club Defends Policy of Barring Women

Popular wisdom has long said that poker is a man's game. But with poker pros like Annie Duke and Kathy Liebert ranking in at major tournaments, this notion is becoming increasingly difficult to defend. The Washington State Poker Tour, however, seems to be sticking to its guns in the matter.

Friday, 10 June 2005

Chad Flood Named Best College Poker Player at Online Poker Championship

Emerging as the World's Best College Poker Player, University of Minnesota Junior Chad Flood took first place at the 2nd Annual College Poker Championship. The College Poker Championship is an online poker tournament series for college students around the world. This year's tournament drew 25,000 students from 55 countries all over the world.

Thursday, 9 June 2005

Eric Froehlich Becomes Youngest WSOP Player to Win Bracelet

At a mere 21 years of age, LA's Eric Froehlich replaced previous title holder Gavin Griffin as the youngest World Series of Poker (WSOP) contender to come away with a much-coveted bracelet. Froehlich beat out the other 1049 players vying for the bracelet at the $1500 buy-in Limit Hold'em WSOP event at the Rio Pavilion Convention Center.

Wednesday, 8 June 2005

Real Money Online Poker Software from CYOP Gets Final Touches

Internet gaming software provider CYOP systems announced that the front end aspects of its real money online poker software are ready, and other features of the software will be completed shortly. While back end monetary transaction features are ready, ecommerce integration is still in the final stages of development.

Tuesday, 7 June 2005

Players Run Participants Speed in Search of Poker Cards

In the third annual 2005 Players Run, currently underway, over 50 drivers are competing to collect poker cards in a poker-themed fast and furious five-day treasure hunt. The objective of the Players Run is to gather poker cards until making a hand.

Monday, 6 June 2005

Online Poker Company PartyGaming's Anticipated Float Draws Cheers and Jeers

Excitement is mounting for this month's expected PartyGaming Float, which could peg the online poker company at anywhere between $8 bil-$10 bil. PartyGaming shareholders are predicted to sell as much as 23 percent of company shares, which will make this the most substantial IPO on the London Stock Exchange since 2001.

Sunday, 5 June 2005

World Poker Tour Enterprises (WPTE) Brand Name to Appear on Car Accessories, Candy and Clocks

The World Poker Tour (WPT), being partially responsible for the worldwide poker boom, has become a sought after brand name for products ranging from collectibles to confections. World Poker Tour Enterprises (WPTE), which licenses the WPT name for the purpose of creating an extensive line of branded merchandise, recently added six companies to its list of licensees.

Saturday, 4 June 2005

Swedish Online Poker Network Takes on 11 New Sites

Swedish online poker company 24hPoker announced that its network, 24hNetwork, recently added eleven new sites, aimed at online poker players and gamers in Russia, Asia, Southern Europe, Great Britain and Scandinavia.

Friday, 3 June 2005

Online Poker Company Ongame Qualifies for eCOGRA Membership

Online poker company Ongame recently gained membership to eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance), the online gaming industry's leading regulatory body. Ongame develops and licenses a turnkey online poker software platform, which powers the Poker Network group of online poker rooms.

Thursday, 2 June 2005

World Series of Poker (WSOP) Kicks off This Week in New Home

2005 is a milestone year for the World Series of Poker (WSOP), which is moving casinos for the first time since the championship's inception. Since the first WSOP convened in 1970, the competition has been held at Las Vegas's historic Binion's Horseshoe Casino, which since being bought out last year, has been trimmed down to just "Binion's."

Wednesday, 1 June 2005