Cops Bust Poker Game After Boy in Blue Invited to Play

A poker game in a small town in Central Ohio got some unwelcome visitors this past week: the local police. The boys in blue raided the auction house where illegal Texas Hold 'em games were allegedly taking place, arresting 17 people while at it. Of the 17 people under arrest, just one is at risk of facing jail time; the game coordinator could see a six-month prison sentence.

Friday, 31 March 2006

Canadian Poker Pro Signs on with Whiskey Brand as Ambassador to Poker Circuit

Professional poker players seem to have found a new fan base in Canadian whiskey brands. One such brand, Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey, has penned an endorsement deal with Canadian poker pro Gavin Smith, making him the company's spokesperson in the world of poker.

Friday, 31 March 2006

New Poker Movie Starts Filming Next Week

Yet another poker film is set to start filming. The latest offering is a Karate Kid-style poker flick by the name of “Deal.” The star power signed onto the project includes the geriatric Burt Reynolds and teeny bopper TV actor Bret
Harrison. Little-known actor/director Gil Cates Jr. co-wrote and will direct “Deal,” which starts filming early next week in New Orleans.

Thursday, 30 March 2006

Online Poker Room Goes for Round Two: Poker Share is Back

(Press Release) After four months analysing new software, Poker Share .com, the online poker room that shares its cash with its players, announces its new site launch on the Tain network. The most generous poker site on the net has amicably settled its disagreement with Excapsa Software and Game Theory and, has launched its new software.

Thursday, 30 March 2006

First Ever Government-Owned Online Poker Site Launches Tomorrow in Sweden

Swedish gaming companies Boss Media and the government-owned Svenska Spel are getting ready to debut their new poker room, which will officially hit the Web tomorrow. Both companies have a long history of working together, but this marks their first joint venture dedicated specifically to poker.

Wednesday, 29 March 2006

THQ Wireless Makes Poker Fans an Offering They Wouldn't Refuse with The Sopranos Poker

What does Tony Soprano and his gang like to do when they're not too busy breaking knees and such? Play poker. At least that's the premise of mobile entertainment provider THQ Wireless' latest game. Fans of HBO's hit show, The Sopranos, can now feel like they're rubbing elbows with the Sopranos without first having to check the TV Guide.

Wednesday, 29 March 2006

Hypnotherapist Puts Poker Players in the Zone

A hypnotherapist from the English city of Leeds has found a windfall in the current poker craze. During her nearly 10 years in practice, 51-year-old Rosemary Owen has focused mainly on helping people kick nasty habits, phobias, etc. Thanks to the increased interest in all things poker, however, Owen is now using hypnosis to help train people to be better poker players as well.

Tuesday, 28 March 2006

Online Poker Room PokerStars Aims for the Heavens with Rumored Float Plans

After over two months of speculation regarding the future of online poker mainstay PokerStars, which was believed to be headed in the direction of either a float or an all-out sale, the company now seems to be favoring the former. When rumors surfaced regarding a potential takeover of the online poker company, major players like Rank Group and William Hill were believed to be among the likely takers.

Monday, 27 March 2006

Revolutionary Poker Arena Doomed? Red Tape Gags Las Vegas Pokerdome

The Pokerdome, possibly the most ambitious poker project to date, may have met its match in the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Fox Sports Network is building the Pokerdome to house its groundbreaking poker game show, a joint project with online poker room MasionPoker.net, but it appears that the project may have hit some crippling red tape.

Monday, 27 March 2006

National Deaf Poker Tour Lets Deaf Poker Players Go All-In with Major Tournament Action

Poker may be the biggest thing on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond, but for many hearing-impaired, getting into the action has proved to be an insurmountable challenge, until now. Six deaf poker fans have taken it upon themselves to try to change this by launching the National Deaf Poker Tour, a specially-tailored poker tournament series catering to the needs of deaf players.

Sunday, 26 March 2006

Carmen Electra Goes from Red Carpet to Green Felt at Foxwoods' WPT Poker Room Grand Opening

Foxwoods Casino's new World Poker Tour-branded poker room was christened on Thursday with a little help from former Baywatch bombshell Carmen Electra, WPT host Mike Sexton, and reality TV celebrity Lisa Gasteneau. It was Ms. Electra who dealt the inaugural first hand, earning for her efforts $3,000 martini.

Sunday, 26 March 2006

Phil Hellmuth to Get Paid to Mouth Off on Celebrity Poker Showdown

“Philling” the void left by recently-departed Celebrity Poker Showdown host Phil Gordon, the show just announced that Phil #2, i.e., Phil Hellmuth, would be stepping into Gordon's shoes. As previously reported by Poker777, after word surfaced of Gordon's impending departure, Hellmuth entered talks with Bravo, the network that airs Celebrity Poker Showdown.

Saturday, 25 March 2006

Terrible Twins Take Poker Tournament by Storm at the Bike

Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi helped make poker history with the help of his twin brother Eric, when the pair became the first set of twins to play heads-up at a poker tournament's final table. Mizrachi and Mizrachi stunted the competition at a Limit Texas Hold 'em event, part of the roster of the 2006 Winnin' O' the Green poker tournament series.

Friday, 24 March 2006

New Online Poker Room Opens for Business with Real Money Play

(Press Release) CYOP Systems International Inc., a provider of online gaming software and operator of games portals, is pleased to announce that its site, www. redfeltpoker .com, is open for cash play. Red Felt Poker .com is operated through the company's UK subsidiary, Red Felt Software Inc., a fully licensed UK Corporation.

Friday, 24 March 2006

Former World Series of Poker Champ Gets Slap on the Wrist for Meeting Kids in Liquor Store

A liquor company has come under fire from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) for an endorsement event it hosted with World Series of Poker (WSOP) legend Chris Moneymaker. DISCUS, a national trade association representing the producers and marketers of distilled spirits sold in the U.S., this week released its third public report of advertising complaints.

Thursday, 23 March 2006

Borgata Awards $383,000 Worth of Poker Tournament Buy-Ins in Ultimate Supersatellite

The Borgata in Atlantic City hosted its Ultimate Supersatellite Poker Tournament this week, giving away buy-ins to four major poker tournament main events plus $4,500 in spending cash. The Borgata awarded this top prize to, not one, but, six players. Each total grand prize package is valued at $60,000.

Thursday, 23 March 2006

Major Record Label to Release Soundtrack for Your Home Poker Game

EMI, the biggest independent music company in the world, is giving devoted poker fans a way to rock out at their next home poker game. The company's Canadian division is adding a poker-themed offering to its "Best In The World Ever" music compilation series. The latest edition, The Best Beer Drinking Album In The World… Ever! Volume III — Poker Night, comes as a follow-up to the previous two brewski-guzzling-appropriate CDs.

Wednesday, 22 March 2006

World Poker Tour Enterprises Majority Owner Builds its Stack with Return to Nasdaq

Casino developer Lakes Entertainment, the majority stockholder of World Poker Tour (WPT) Enterprises, announced that it will return tomorrow to the Nasdaq National Market. Delisted this past August, Lakes Entertainment was cleared to return to Nasdaq, and will do so tomorrow at the start of trading under the symbol "LACO."

Wednesday, 22 March 2006

PartyGaming Update: Mitch Garber named CEO of online poker giant

Fulfilling media expectations, online poker company PartyGaming announced that Mitch Garber has indeed been appointed as the incoming, effective April 19, 2006. Segal will remain on board for the duration of the transition to oversee that the post is transferred over in an orderly manner. Segal will then leave PartyGaming on May 4, 2006, when the company holds its Annual General Meeting.

Wednesday, 22 March 2006

Blackberry 8700 Series Cellphone Allows for Texas Hold 'em Poker Play Courtesy of MGN Technologies, Inc.

MGN Technologies, Inc., doing business as Mobile Gaming Now (the "Company"), has announced the release of "Gold Mobile -- Texas Holdem," a 10-hand Texas Holdem' mobile game built specifically for the Blackberry 8700 series mobile phone. The BlackBerry 8700c is the first handset available in Research in Motion's (RIM) new range of Intel-based smartphones. The 8700c is available exclusively on the Cingular network in the U.S. and the 8700r is available exclusively on the Rogers network in Canada. The 8700 is a quad-band GSM/GPRS world phone which means it should work in most places on the planet. The QVGA color LCD screen is new and improved at 320x240 pixels. It's described as the fastest Blackberry yet.

Tuesday, 21 March 2006

UK University Students to Duke It Out in Nationwide Poker Championship

Although the popularity of poker across university campuses has generally been highlighted as an American phenomenon, UK students seem to have caught the poker bug as well. Evidence of this is the appeal of the UK Student Poker Championship.

Tuesday, 21 March 2006

Poker the Safe Way with Poker-Themed Condoms

With poker-themed snack food, mouse pads, and sunglasses already on the table, you never know what they'll come up with next. The latest news says that it's poker-themed condoms, that's what. Eric Wason, president of AEM Enterprises, has put the “poke” back in poker.

Monday, 20 March 2006

Student Teaches Pro Poker Player a Lesson with PartyPoker.com Million V Win

Come hell or high waters, 528 poker aficionados took to the open seas for this year's PartyPoker.com Millions tournament aboard the MS Westerdam. The $10,000 buy-in PartyPoker.com Million V paid out winnings to no fewer than 99 of its participants. Nonetheless, isolated major players actually made it to that point, one of them being Kenna James, who finished the tournament in second place.

Sunday, 19 March 2006

PartyGaming Mulls Mitch Garber as Chief Executive Poker Partier

Richard Segal may have until June 1 to leave his post as CEO of PartyGaming, but it seems that the online poker leviathan may have already found a replacement for its head honcho. Last month, Segal announced that he would be abdicating his post at the PartyGaming after he declined to move full-time to the company's Gibraltar headquarters for family reasons.

Sunday, 19 March 2006

UK Poker Star to Launch New Online Poker Site with Excapsa Poker Network

Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott, arguably the UK's best-known and most successful poker player, has reportedly inked a licensing deal with a subsidiary of Excapsa Software Inc. Through his exclusive license agreement with Game Theory Ltd., Ulliott will release his own online poker site, with membership in the Excapsa Poker Network, which is also home to UltimateBet.com.

Saturday, 18 March 2006

Poker Poker Uber Alles: Online poker site pairs up with German players' association

(Press Release) A one-of-a-kind pan-European championship, the Everest Poker European Championship consists of live freeroll satellites throughout Europe and online satellites at Everest Poker .com, all leading up to the final event with a 50,000€ prize pool.

Saturday, 18 March 2006

Poker Pros to Play Dress-Up at WSOP

Proposition bets, or “prop bets” for short, are not uncommon in poker circles. Two professional poker players, however, have recently become engaged in a prop bet that puts more than just a couple of bucks on the line. In this prop bet, Gavin Smith and Joe Sebok are risking no less than their red-blooded male pride.

Friday, 17 March 2006

Online Poker Drives Growth to New Heights for 888 Holdings

Online casino and poker operator 888 Holdings PLC announced a healthy rise in profit for the 2005 fiscal year, driven in part by astounding growth on the company's online poker front. 888 Holdings boasted a 59 percent rise in after-tax profits for the year, with gamers running to the 888-brand Pacific Poker and its online casinos, Casino-On-Net and Reef Club Casino.

Friday, 17 March 2006

Diet Pepsi Bad Beats Hellmuth, Negreanu, and Nguyen in New Poker-Themed Ad

Poker heavyweights Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, and Scotty Nguyen have now officially joined the ranks of actors, singers, and Jedi Masters who have starred in Diet Pepsi commercials. Seeing as you just can't go more mainstream than diet cola, poker celebrities have officially transcended their industry-specific fame to become full-fledged celebrities.

Thursday, 16 March 2006

MADD Celebrity Poker Action Comes to The Bicycle Casino

(Press Release) HollywoodPoker.com, where the stars come to play, will host the second installment of the "Charity Poker Gone MADD Tournament Series." This event continues to support HollywoodPoker.com's quest to set the gold standard for philanthropy through poker to raise at least one million dollars for charities.

Thursday, 16 March 2006

Foxwoods Poker Director is Westward Bound, Ends Tenure at World's Biggest Casino

Kathy Raymond, the longtime director of poker operations at the largest casino in the world, is moving from New England's Foxwoods to a similar gig at the Venetian in Las Vegas. Raymond's career at Foxwoods began in 1992, when she was first employed by the casino as a dealer. She impressively moved up the ranks at Foxwoods and was ultimately handed the responsibility of heading everything poker at the casino, which houses one of the biggest poker rooms in the entire country.

Wednesday, 15 March 2006

The World Poker Tour's Televised Poker Revolution- Stolen Goods?

A small-time poker player from Garden Grove, California, is suing the World Poker Tour (WPT) in federal court. Jonathan Waessil has alleged that the WPT's founder and CEO, Steve Lipscomb, robbed him of his idea to televise poker and then transformed it into a multi-million-dollar enterprise of his own.

Wednesday, 15 March 2006

Absolute Poker Introduces Revolutionary Customizable Table Feature, Celebrates 300 Million Dealt Hands

Absolute Poker, a prominent online poker website, recently announced that it passed the 300 million dealt poker hands mark. Currently ranked as the fourth-largest Internet poker destination, Absolute Poker is celebrating the grand event by offering its customers the option to select their favorite table patterns out of a vast range of as many as 100 newly-released ready-to-go Absolute Poker table patterns.

Tuesday, 14 March 2006

Eurobet Poker Offers Three Seats to World Series of Poker Circuit Event at Caesars Palace

Eurobet Poker, a prominent UK online betting and gambling operator, is now providing its customers with an opportunity to win a seat at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit event at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. The WSOP Circuit is a series of 13 prestigious poker events, which leads up to the annual World Series of Poker, a 45-event poker festival that takes place each summer.

Tuesday, 14 March 2006

New Bonus Codes Debut at Online Poker Site Titan Poker

(Press Release) Just in time for the 2006 World Series of Poker, Titan Poker Club has released a special new player deposit bonus code WSOPBONUS. The club is offering this online poker promo deposit bonus to new players joining Titan Poker. All new players using the special bonus code "wsopbonus" will receive a 100% deposit bonus up to $500. Other club highlights include draws for poker prizes and free private online poker tournaments.

Monday, 13 March 2006

Poker Student Becomes the Master at the Canadian Open Poker Championship

A mere poker apprentice was crowned champion last night, closing the first ever Canadian Open Poker Championship with a surprise. James Lopushinsky, 23, bested the likes of Huck Seed as well as his own mentor, local poker celebrity Brad Booth in the heads-up championship tournament. Playing poker for just a year and a half, Lopushinsky took the top prize of C$250,000.

Monday, 13 March 2006

Calvin Ayre's Bodog Compound Gets Busted as Cops Search for Illicit Poker Activity

Bodog CEO Calvin Ayre is used to getting publicity for his trademark celebrity hobnobbing. Now, the Hugh Hefner of online gaming is making headlines for another reason. Amidst on-site taping for Bodog's upcoming televised poker program, filmed on location at Ayre's Costa Rican mansion, police descended on the premises in search of illegal gambling activities.

Sunday, 12 March 2006

Phil Gordon to Leave Celebrity Poker Showdown; Phil Hellmuth Could Take His Place

Phil Gordon, poker player and co-host of GSN's Celebrity Poker Showdown, is reportedly leaving the show after hosting 42 episodes of televised celebrity poker action. Gordon was reported as saying that, as he no longer had contractual commitments to Celebrity Poker Showdown, he would be taking the opportunity to move on to greener pastures.

Sunday, 12 March 2006

$3 Motor Oil Brings Chance of World Series of Poker Qualification

There are certainly a lot of poker fans out there, and, chances are, a good deal of them buy the occasional quart of motor oil. Operating under this assumption, ExxonMobil, one of the global leaders in energy, petroleum, and petrochemicals, is helping one motor oil consumer get to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) for free. And unlike most other WSOP qualifiers, the Exxon promotion requires absolutely no poker play to earn the poker prize.

Saturday, 11 March 2006

PokerTek and Aristocrat Set Out to Bring Dealer-less Poker Table to the World

PokerTek, the North Carolina-based company behind PokerPro, the first ever fully automated and computerized poker table, is now going global. The company recently inked a deal with Aristocrat Leisure, giving the Aussie gaming giant exclusive global distribution privileges for the electronic poker table. That is, for all locations other than the U.S. and parts of Canada, which is PokerTek’s domain.

Saturday, 11 March 2006

Poker Buddies Help Each Other Out at European Poker Tour Grand Final in Monte Carlo

No, there was no collusion going on at the poker table. Actually, this story is one that's likely to make you feel all warm and cuddly inside. Aaron Pope, of Minnesota, won a seat at the European Poker Tour (EPT) Grand Final in Monte Carlo after emerging victorious in a series of online poker tournament qualifiers at PokerStars.com. Unfortunately, Pope was mugged last month and was robbed of his wallet and passport. Not being able to obtain a replacement in time to travel to Monte Carlo for the EPT poker tournament, Pope found himself in quite a predicament.

Friday, 10 March 2006

Online Poker Player Lands PokerRoom.com $250K Endorsement Deal

(Press Release) Over the course of six hours and forty minutes, ten poker players battled for an endorsement deal worth $250,000 in the inaugural PokerRoom.com Become a Poker Pro tournament on March 5, 2006, which ended in a showdown at sea between Jim Davenport (JDtrojan3) and Billy Pero (BillyBluff13), two of the best up and coming poker players in the game. Ultimately, Davenport prevailed in the final hand of the tournament aboard the Majesty of the Seas cruise ship.

Friday, 10 March 2006

Poker Update: What do you get when you put two poker tables in front of a door?

And the answer is: O'Shea's new poker room. Yes, last month we reported that O'Shea's, a small casino on the Las Vegas strip, was planning to jump on the bandwagon by adding poker to its list of games.

Thursday, 9 March 2006

Online Poker Site Aims for Poker Player with Goal to Attend Champions League Soccer Final

With soccer being the biggest sport in the world, it's more than likely that a good number of poker players are soccer fans as well. Niche online poker site GoalPoker.com is banking on this logic, with its offering of soccer-themed poker action.

Thursday, 9 March 2006

Online Poker Update: BetandWin completes acquisition of Ongame

Online gaming company BetandWin has officially completed its acquisition of online poker software provider Ongame, the company behind PokerRoom.com. With its acquisition, BetandWin becomes one of the biggest Internet gaming companies, second only to online poker giant PartyGaming.

Thursday, 9 March 2006

Oh Poker, I Mean, Oh Canada: 2006 Canadian Open Poker Championship opens for business

With winter on its way out, the poker pros are following suit with the birds and are heading up north. Fresh off from the NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship in Vegas' Caesars Palace, pros like Huck Seed and Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari have headed to a somewhat less glamorous destination, Calgary, Canada.

Wednesday, 8 March 2006

Pregnant Poker Player Abandons Kids for Sake of the Game

A pregnant woman from the Pacific island of Saipan was arrested earlier this week after allegedly leaving her minor children home alone in favor of going to play poker. This comes less than a year after the woman, Lincy C. Santos, was convicted and sentenced for similarly neglecting her children to go play poker.

Wednesday, 8 March 2006

Forrest Crucifies Jesus in Heads-Up Poker Championship

The “close, but no cigar” award goes to Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, who, for the second year in a row, has finished in runner-up position in NBC's Head's-Up Poker Championship. The Heads-Up tournament brought together the crème de la crème of poker for a series of one-on-one matches.

Tuesday, 7 March 2006

Indian Poker Site Brings Eastern Flavor to Online Poker

Indian poker room TeenPatti.com recently released its newly-revamped website in an effort to reach the largely-untapped Indian online poker market. Unique among other online poker sites, TeenPatti.com features the popular Indian variation of poker, Teen Patti, which has been played in India for hundreds of years.

Tuesday, 7 March 2006

Poker Celebrity Jennifer Tilly Leaves Hollywood in the Dust with Oscar Snub

It's official: Jennifer Tilly has completed her metamorphosis from poker-playing actress to poker player, period. For the first time in 15 years, Jennifer Tilly was nowhere to be seen at the Academy Awards or at any of the post-show hoopla.

Monday, 6 March 2006

Baseball Coach Accused of Playing Strip Poker with Minors Cleared of Charges

A kids baseball coach in New London, New Hampshire, accused of forcing one of his players to enter a game of strip poker, was let go after jurors reportedly found that there was not sufficient evidence to convict him. Late last week, Brian Jensen was acquitted of child endangerment charges in connection with accusations that he forced one of his players into a game of strip poker as well as a subsequent ride on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) while naked.

Monday, 6 March 2006

Doyle Brunson Online Poker Room Courts PartyGaming CEO

Soon-departing PartyGaming CEO Richard Segal is a hot commodity. Instrumental in taking the online poker giant through its highly-publicized IPO and a number of additional revenue-boosting changes, Segal has been widely recognized as a powerful force in the online poker industry.

Sunday, 5 March 2006

New World Poker Tour Hostess Decked Out in Her Skivvies for Maxim Video

Less than a month after becoming the new face and rack of the World Poker Tour (WPT), Courtney Friel is showing off both in a new video on Maxim's website. The former small-time newscaster is now benefiting from some international syndication with her Maxim Online video shoot.

Sunday, 5 March 2006

Online Poker Site Sends Hottie Host to Ladies Poker Nights

Betfair's online poker site is workin' it for the ladies. In an effort to inject a little more estrogen into the world of online poker, Betfair launched its “Ladies Night” initiative earlier this week. Throughout the month of March, Betfair is giving women a risk-free opportunity to sharpen their poker skills and overall knowledge of the game, while also vying for cash and other prizes.

Saturday, 4 March 2006

Western Outfitter to the Stars Billy Martin's Launches Poker Apparel Line

Billy Martin's, an upscale western-style all-American brand of apparel with a significant celebrity following, has announced that the company is preparing to launch a new line of poker-inspired apparel. In honor of launching the poker duds, Billy Martin's has enlisted poker player Victor Goulding, who, at 92 years of age, makes Doyle Brunson look like a regular whippersnapper.

Saturday, 4 March 2006

Online Poker Lovebirds Plan for a Full House of Wee Little Poker Players

With still a week left before they tie the proverbial knot, online poker pair Gary Suffir and Jackie Johnson already have babies on the brain. And not just any babies - poker-inspired babies. The two met while playing at online poker room Party Poker, a meeting that will culminate next week in holy matrimony. The two are getting a head start, putting their heads together to think of baby names for their future offspring.

Friday, 3 March 2006

Hollywood Poker Rolls Out Red Carpet for Loyal Online Poker Players

(Press Release) Hollywood Poker, where the stars come to play, is proud to roll out the red carpet to its members with the introduction of ClubHOLLYWOODPoker. ClubHOLLYWOODPoker is a special rewards program that provides rich and diverse rewards for player loyalty.

Friday, 3 March 2006

21-Year-Old Online Qualifier to Fill Final Seat in NBC Poker Championship

Josh Lochner, a 21-year-old student at the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, has his work cut out for him. He is the single layperson to be found among a field of poker royalty competing in the upcoming Heads-Up Poker Championship, to be aired for the second year in a row on NBC.

Thursday, 2 March 2006

Annie Duke Horses Around for Poker-Playing Namesake

Poker pros certainly have their names on everything these days, from poker cards to bobbleheads to sunglasses. Now, one poker player has her name on a racehorse, well, sort of. Racehorse owner Jim Switlyk, of New Jersey, decided to name one of his latest acquisitions after the most famous female poker player on the tournament circuit, Annie Duke.

Thursday, 2 March 2006

Poker Run With a Twist: California snowmobile riders go out in search of best poker hand

The northern California county of Plumas decided to take advantage of a recent snowstorm by hosting a poker game that was anything but ordinary. The area's Lake Almanor Snowmobile Club hosted a less traditional type of poker run, whereby poker-loving snowmobilers went on a hunt for the best poker hand.

Wednesday, 1 March 2006

Online Poker Site Adds Cash to Irish Open Prize Pool

(Press Release) €10,000 is being added to the three additional poker tournaments played at the Irish Open Festival 2006 over Easter weekend at Jurys Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin. With €50,000 already added to the showpiece Irish Open, taking place on Saturday 15th April, this takes the total cash added by sponsor paddypowerpoker.com to €60,000.

Wednesday, 1 March 2006