Amaya’s PokerStars in New Jersey launched, so Garden State residents are able to play online casino games and poker online at PokerStars’ New Jersey site.

Latest gambling news report that Amaya’s poker operation in New Jersey has fully started. With PokerStars in New Jersey launched, online poker and casino games located in the state got a new online playground eventually.

We are LIVE in New Jersey! pic.twitter.com/j1cpSqtqcj

— PokerStars (@PokerStars) March 21, 2016

After a short test period last week, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement gave the green light for Amaya and PokerStars in New Jersey launched finally. So, the PokerStars services are now fully available in the Garden State.

PokerStars in New Jersey Launched is good news for online casino players too

Online blackjack news report that PokerStars in New Jersey launched with online casino games including blackjack, roulette, baccarat and slots beyond the top-notch online poker tournaments that characterize PokerStars. Online casino games and slots are provided by NYX Gaming and a list of NetEnt games will also arrive after a licence agreement was signed by the parties.

It’s important that PokerStars in New Jersey launched on desktop, mobile and tablet devices.

On behalf of Amaya, chairman and CEO David Baazov commented the news. He said, “We could not be more proud to bring PokerStars to New Jersey; working with our partner, Resorts Casino Hotel, we look forward to providing the most exciting, innovative and secure gaming experience to New Jersey.”

PokerStars returning to New Jersey is a huge milestone for online poker in the US.

Amaya’s PokerStars in New Jersey launched, so Garden State residents are able to play online casino games and poker online at PokerStars’ New Jersey site.

Latest gambling news report that Amaya’s poker operation in New Jersey has fully started. With PokerStars in New Jersey launched, online poker and casino games located in the state got a new online playground eventually.

We are LIVE in New Jersey! pic.twitter.com/j1cpSqtqcj

— PokerStars (@PokerStars) March 21, 2016

After a short test period last week, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement gave the green light for Amaya and PokerStars in New Jersey launched finally. So, the PokerStars services are now fully available in the Garden State.

PokerStars in New Jersey Launched is good news for online casino players too

Online blackjack news report that PokerStars in New Jersey launched with online casino games including blackjack, roulette, baccarat and slots beyond the top-notch online poker tournaments that characterize PokerStars. Online casino games and slots are provided by NYX Gaming and a list of NetEnt games will also arrive after a licence agreement was signed by the parties.

It’s important that PokerStars in New Jersey launched on desktop, mobile and tablet devices.

On behalf of Amaya, chairman and CEO David Baazov commented the news. He said, “We could not be more proud to bring PokerStars to New Jersey; working with our partner, Resorts Casino Hotel, we look forward to providing the most exciting, innovative and secure gaming experience to New Jersey.”

PokerStars returning to New Jersey is a huge milestone for online poker in the US.

In their current form many considers fantasy sports gambling. What is the difference between sports betting and playing fantasy football for money after all?

As the new NFL season started, fantasy sports games appeared and were advertised in a quantity that was unknown before. Is fantasy sports gambling? It is not decided yet, and operators can capitalize on this blurred status for now. However, a congressional hearing will examine the issue after New Jersey representative Frank Pallone called for it on Monday.

He did that on the first working day after the first weekend of the 2015 NFL regular season. Maybe he was shocked by the amount of fantasy football ads during the games, or maybe he was simply pissed that New Jersey legal sportsbooking wasn’t granted for casinos and racetracks located in the state. But that is true that this is a USD 15 billion business and that betting on player’s performance is quite close to bet on live sports results.

Moreover, if he went through the odds of any legal online sportsbook in the US, he might have noticed that sports betting also covers individual performance. You can bet on touchdown passes, interceptions, completions, rushing and receiving yards etc. Considering this, the answer to the question that is fantasy sports gambling seems even closer to a yes than before.

New York Times: An Ad Blitz for Fantasy Sports Games, but Some See Plain Old Gambling

 
Best experts of sports and gambling facts might know that the actual playtime during a three-hour long NFL broadcast is no more than 11 minutes. For most of the time you will see players standing around the field between plays. Though for hardcore fans and experts this is the most interesting part of the game in some aspects.

And still, there is an awful lot of time for advertisements. And in the first weekend of the NFL season, most of the spots were advertising fantasy sports products. The biggest of these are DraftKings and FanDuel, who were even approved by PayPal, the overly popular payment service that is also back in the gambling business after a twelve-year long absence.

Foxboro stadium’s fantasy sports gambling zone lets fans play during games (patriots.com)

DraftKings and FanDuel basically split the field between themselves as now each of them have sponsorship deals with 16 out of 32 teams in the NFL. It is interesting that the National Football League is so favorable towards fantasy sports, while it opposes sports betting so vehemently. Maybe the fact that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft have stakes in DraftKings might help us to understand the picture better.

The league actually distanced itself from daily fantasy sites for long, but the teams agreed with the operators individually. Fantasy sports are legal since 2006 in all but five federal states in the united states. Legislation provided an exemption for them, since they would have been banned according to gambling laws in the US just like online poker.

NFL: Fantasy Football

 
However, fantasy football was a season-long game first, and participators picked their players for the whole regular season. The NFL has been running such leagues long, money is not involved, and usually friends play against each other for fun. This service was implemented to engage viewers for games that would be originally uninteresting for them.

NFL.com helps fantasy players with all the statistics and news they possibly need

But the competition at fantasy football sites goes for large prize pools up to USD 2 million, and participators have to pay an entry fee. There are weekly payouts and the whole concept pretty much resembles to internet gaming. Is fantasy sports gambling then? Some say, yes, definitely, just like Frank Pallone, who initiated the congressional hearing on the matter.

Some see a future with legalized sports betting in the US, with the big daily fantasy sports sites running the show. That is certainly a possibility. However, for the moment, these fantasy operators are driving on the limit. Frankly, they should have an effect on US gambling laws, as some regulations might be needed for this gray area.

They might bring some change in the assessment of online sportsbooks in the US as well. This de facto fantasy sports gambling business, as some say, is not far away from betting on sports at all in its newest form. Actually both kind is in a legislative gray area, and regulations are definitely outdated. It is time to make things clear.

In their current form many considers fantasy sports gambling. What is the difference between sports betting and playing fantasy football for money after all?

As the new NFL season started, fantasy sports games appeared and were advertised in a quantity that was unknown before. Is fantasy sports gambling? It is not decided yet, and operators can capitalize on this blurred status for now. However, a congressional hearing will examine the issue after New Jersey representative Frank Pallone called for it on Monday.

He did that on the first working day after the first weekend of the 2015 NFL regular season. Maybe he was shocked by the amount of fantasy football ads during the games, or maybe he was simply pissed that New Jersey legal sportsbooking wasn’t granted for casinos and racetracks located in the state. But that is true that this is a USD 15 billion business and that betting on player’s performance is quite close to bet on live sports results.

Moreover, if he went through the odds of any legal online sportsbook in the US, he might have noticed that sports betting also covers individual performance. You can bet on touchdown passes, interceptions, completions, rushing and receiving yards etc. Considering this, the answer to the question that is fantasy sports gambling seems even closer to a yes than before.

New York Times: An Ad Blitz for Fantasy Sports Games, but Some See Plain Old Gambling

 
Best experts of sports and gambling facts might know that the actual playtime during a three-hour long NFL broadcast is no more than 11 minutes. For most of the time you will see players standing around the field between plays. Though for hardcore fans and experts this is the most interesting part of the game in some aspects.

And still, there is an awful lot of time for advertisements. And in the first weekend of the NFL season, most of the spots were advertising fantasy sports products. The biggest of these are DraftKings and FanDuel, who were even approved by PayPal, the overly popular payment service that is also back in the gambling business after a twelve-year long absence.

Foxboro stadium’s fantasy sports gambling zone lets fans play during games (patriots.com)

DraftKings and FanDuel basically split the field between themselves as now each of them have sponsorship deals with 16 out of 32 teams in the NFL. It is interesting that the National Football League is so favorable towards fantasy sports, while it opposes sports betting so vehemently. Maybe the fact that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft have stakes in DraftKings might help us to understand the picture better.

The league actually distanced itself from daily fantasy sites for long, but the teams agreed with the operators individually. Fantasy sports are legal since 2006 in all but five federal states in the united states. Legislation provided an exemption for them, since they would have been banned according to gambling laws in the US just like online poker.

NFL: Fantasy Football

 
However, fantasy football was a season-long game first, and participators picked their players for the whole regular season. The NFL has been running such leagues long, money is not involved, and usually friends play against each other for fun. This service was implemented to engage viewers for games that would be originally uninteresting for them.

NFL.com helps fantasy players with all the statistics and news they possibly need

But the competition at fantasy football sites goes for large prize pools up to USD 2 million, and participators have to pay an entry fee. There are weekly payouts and the whole concept pretty much resembles to internet gaming. Is fantasy sports gambling then? Some say, yes, definitely, just like Frank Pallone, who initiated the congressional hearing on the matter.

Some see a future with legalized sports betting in the US, with the big daily fantasy sports sites running the show. That is certainly a possibility. However, for the moment, these fantasy operators are driving on the limit. Frankly, they should have an effect on US gambling laws, as some regulations might be needed for this gray area.

They might bring some change in the assessment of online sportsbooks in the US as well. This de facto fantasy sports gambling business, as some say, is not far away from betting on sports at all in its newest form. Actually both kind is in a legislative gray area, and regulations are definitely outdated. It is time to make things clear.

From a financial point of view, South Africa’s casinos are doing very well. As the most popular form of gambling in the country, these businesses are raking in as much as R17 billion every year. But while the land-based casino industry is still the most profitable, competition is getting heated as other forms of gambling are growing at a rapid rate.

This week, accounting firm PwC released a detailed report on how the gambling industry could evolve in the following few years. The document takes a closer look at casinos in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya and speculates on the trends the industry could follow between this year and 2018.

PwC’s predictions are not too optimistic. As the country’s economy is slowing down, its gambling market will face the same slowdown, the accounting firm said.

BusinessDay: Bingo and sports betting make inroads into casinos

In its report, PwC studied the growth prospects for casinos, as well as limited payout machines, bingo, sports betting and lottery games in South Africa. The country has 37 land-based casinos, which made a total of R16.5 billion profits last year. The industry has grown on a year-to-year basis, but only by a modest 0.6%.

Last year turnover increased 4%, a drop from the 7.6% growth in the previous year and the smallest profit made since 2009.

“We expect continued slow growth in SA over the next two years,” the accounting company said. “We then look for a pick-up in growth in each country as economic conditions improve. Some casino operators in certain locations believe that the slowdown in 2013 was due in part to growing competition from electronic bingo terminals, limited payout machines and sports betting shops, which are becoming more prevalent,” said the report.

Meanwhile, bingo operations have generated 67.5% increased revenue last year, while limited payout machines grew 17.8% and sports betting by 9.1%. According to online gambling news, bingo is the smallest category, with revenue of just R732 million, but the industry is constantly growing. Sports betting went up 18.5% and horse racing grew 4.6%, and PwC expects sports wagering to overtake horse racing in the next five years.

Charl Faurie, a spokesperson for SA’s Casino Association, said the association does not see alternative forms of legal gambling as a threat. However, illegal gambling operations are having a negative impact on the industry.

“The rapid increase of illegal online gambling is of particular concern to us as we estimate billions of rands are lost in tax revenue per year which has an obvious negative economic effect on the country. Casa is taking specific actions to address this threat beginning with a mass-media awareness campaign which will launch in the next few months,” Faurie said.

GamingZion: Online Gambling Sites in South Africa Could Be Banned

For years, politicians have been discussing changing the country’s gambling laws, as the industry expected them to regulate the online casino market. But recent news said authorities were considering doing the exact opposite: banning internet gambling in South Africa.

In addition to this, the media said lawmakers are also talking about setting limits on the number of electronic bingo machines and forbidding dog races. While these measures are just in the form of a proposal at the moment, if the draft becomes law all hope of having legal online casinos in the country will be lost.

Of course, not all officials agree with the proposal. Geordin Hill-Lewis, Member of Parliament (DA) and Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry believes it will cost the state more to enforce the law, than to legalize internet gambling. But others note that the number of problem gamblers has increased in recent years, and so has the level of indebtedness.

In addition to forbidding online gambling, South Africa authorities want to introduce licenses for the horse racing industry, in hopes that this measure will make gambling less accessible.

CityPress: Davies tackles gambling board’s mismanagement

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies suspended members of the National Gambling Board (NGB) on allegations of maladministration, wasteful spending and corrupt activities. The agency’s activities will be investigated by authorities, to find out if the accusations are true.

The board is normally responsible for overseeing the gambling industry and regulating South Africa’s multi-billion-rand market. Davies noted that the suspension was a precautionary measure, after an alleged contravention of the Public Finance Management Act through “failing to prevent irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, and making overdraft on the entity’s bank account without the approval of the minister of finance”.

The board is accused of breaking the National Gambling Act by “allowing members whose term of office had expired to continue participating in the board’s activities and representing the NGB”, and there was a mention of “apparent corrupt activities” regarding the National Central Electronic Monitoring System, as well as “unlawful appointments of staff”.

Members of the board were also accused of intimidation, bullying and getting rid of evidence, which is why Davies decided to suspend them until the investigation is over.

From a financial point of view, South Africa’s casinos are doing very well. As the most popular form of gambling in the country, these businesses are raking in as much as R17 billion every year. But while the land-based casino industry is still the most profitable, competition is getting heated as other forms of gambling are growing at a rapid rate.

This week, accounting firm PwC released a detailed report on how the gambling industry could evolve in the following few years. The document takes a closer look at casinos in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya and speculates on the trends the industry could follow between this year and 2018.

PwC’s predictions are not too optimistic. As the country’s economy is slowing down, its gambling market will face the same slowdown, the accounting firm said.

BusinessDay: Bingo and sports betting make inroads into casinos

In its report, PwC studied the growth prospects for casinos, as well as limited payout machines, bingo, sports betting and lottery games in South Africa. The country has 37 land-based casinos, which made a total of R16.5 billion profits last year. The industry has grown on a year-to-year basis, but only by a modest 0.6%.

Last year turnover increased 4%, a drop from the 7.6% growth in the previous year and the smallest profit made since 2009.

“We expect continued slow growth in SA over the next two years,” the accounting company said. “We then look for a pick-up in growth in each country as economic conditions improve. Some casino operators in certain locations believe that the slowdown in 2013 was due in part to growing competition from electronic bingo terminals, limited payout machines and sports betting shops, which are becoming more prevalent,” said the report.

Meanwhile, bingo operations have generated 67.5% increased revenue last year, while limited payout machines grew 17.8% and sports betting by 9.1%. According to online gambling news, bingo is the smallest category, with revenue of just R732 million, but the industry is constantly growing. Sports betting went up 18.5% and horse racing grew 4.6%, and PwC expects sports wagering to overtake horse racing in the next five years.

Charl Faurie, a spokesperson for SA’s Casino Association, said the association does not see alternative forms of legal gambling as a threat. However, illegal gambling operations are having a negative impact on the industry.

“The rapid increase of illegal online gambling is of particular concern to us as we estimate billions of rands are lost in tax revenue per year which has an obvious negative economic effect on the country. Casa is taking specific actions to address this threat beginning with a mass-media awareness campaign which will launch in the next few months,” Faurie said.

GamingZion: Online Gambling Sites in South Africa Could Be Banned

For years, politicians have been discussing changing the country’s gambling laws, as the industry expected them to regulate the online casino market. But recent news said authorities were considering doing the exact opposite: banning internet gambling in South Africa.

In addition to this, the media said lawmakers are also talking about setting limits on the number of electronic bingo machines and forbidding dog races. While these measures are just in the form of a proposal at the moment, if the draft becomes law all hope of having legal online casinos in the country will be lost.

Of course, not all officials agree with the proposal. Geordin Hill-Lewis, Member of Parliament (DA) and Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry believes it will cost the state more to enforce the law, than to legalize internet gambling. But others note that the number of problem gamblers has increased in recent years, and so has the level of indebtedness.

In addition to forbidding online gambling, South Africa authorities want to introduce licenses for the horse racing industry, in hopes that this measure will make gambling less accessible.

CityPress: Davies tackles gambling board’s mismanagement

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies suspended members of the National Gambling Board (NGB) on allegations of maladministration, wasteful spending and corrupt activities. The agency’s activities will be investigated by authorities, to find out if the accusations are true.

The board is normally responsible for overseeing the gambling industry and regulating South Africa’s multi-billion-rand market. Davies noted that the suspension was a precautionary measure, after an alleged contravention of the Public Finance Management Act through “failing to prevent irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, and making overdraft on the entity’s bank account without the approval of the minister of finance”.

The board is accused of breaking the National Gambling Act by “allowing members whose term of office had expired to continue participating in the board’s activities and representing the NGB”, and there was a mention of “apparent corrupt activities” regarding the National Central Electronic Monitoring System, as well as “unlawful appointments of staff”.

Members of the board were also accused of intimidation, bullying and getting rid of evidence, which is why Davies decided to suspend them until the investigation is over.

In efforts to re-enter the US poker market, PokerStars agrees sale to Canadian gaming supplier Amaya Gaming for $4.9 billion.

Amaya Gaming completes a deal to become the world biggest online poker firm after a $4.9 billion purchase of Pokerstars. Many observers see the acquisition as a way to re-enter the US market as they have previously had differences of opinion with certain government departments, namely with the US Department of Justice.

The DOJ claimed that PokerStars violated the codes of the Wire Act, which prohibits certain gambling activities. PokerStars eventually relocated its headquarters to the Isle of Man, off the coast of UK, but continued the legal battle with the DOJ.

The company enlisted the services of some insightful attorneys and law firms that challenged the decision by the DOJ. They claimed that PokerStars did not violate any US gambling laws.

Subsequently, PokerStars made its mark in the US by taking over the biggest online poker market in the world. Soon after President George W. Bush signed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which spelled the end for PartyGaming in the US. Nevertheless, PokerStars continued to operate in the US, while Full Tilt claimed the whole market.

Forbes: Amaya Gaming in Deal to Buy PokerStars for $4.9 Billion

In 2011, US federal prosecutors challenged PokerStars’ gambling operations in the country. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, charged the founder of PokerStars along with 10 other relevant individuals.

The founder, Isai Scheinberg, was one of the people accused of money laundering, bank fraud and most importantly providing illegal betting services. PokerStars took in bets and staged online poker tournaments on a regular basis.

The US Attorney claimed that Scheinberg and others went against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which makes it illegal for companies to accept bets online where it is not deemed legal.

Following the indictment, PokerStars relented in their legal battle in 2012 and agreed to pay a settlement fine of $731 million to the Department of Justice. Despite paying the hefty fee, the poker firm did not admit any wrongdoing to the charges brought against them.

Bloomberg: PokerStars Sale a Jackpot for New Online Billionaire Scheinberg

Gambling news reports that since the onset of the legal charges Scheinberg has been living on the Isle of Man. His son Mark Scheinberg makes regular visits to the US to keep track of further business and legal developments.

The Department of Justice has labelled Isai Scheinberg as the main “founder, owner and principal decision-maker for Pokerstars.” They also consider the mobile gaming founder as being “at large.”

Amaya Gaming disagrees with the statements made by the DOJ. The company has made an official announcement after the sale, stating that poker site was started and run by the son, Mark Scheinberg, and not the father. Mark also expressed his version by commenting, “I am incredibly proud of the business Isai and I have built over the last 14 years.”

The Guardian: Family behind PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker to sell business for GBP 2.9bn

Amaya Gaming primarily deals with supplying betting equipment and hardware for other gaming firms, however the purchase of PokerStars will potentially see it become the greatest online poker provider. Currently, the industry is estimated to be worth a staggering $4 billion while Amaya seeks to hold a significant portion of that through PokerStars.

To help broker the deal Amaya has hired the financing services of several prominent banking institutions. Deutsche Bank AG (DBK), Barclays Plc (BARC), Macquaire Group Ltd. and Blackstone Group LP were all involved in providing their expertise.

In order to make the purchase, Amaya had to take out huge loans from the aforementioned banks. Billions have been borrowed, however considering the future potential for online poker in some states it appears to be simply a matter of time before they make a substantial return on their investment.

Amaya Chairman and chief exec, David Baazov, indicated the importance of acquiring PokerStars for the US market. “Having this brand and this company in the US is going to be very significant for states.”

Baazov has been credited with transforming the company into what it is today. He joined Amaya in 2006, two years after it was initially founded, and after successful acquisitions of smaller firms he saw Amaya’s growth rise exponentially.

Baazov commented on the company’s effective business model. “Everyone had a very fragmented approach. We built it all on a vision of convergence. It’s a very large industry and it’s going to continue to grow.”

Bloomberg Businessweek: Amaya Soars to record After $4.9 Billion PokerStars Deal

In efforts to re-enter the US poker market, PokerStars agrees sale to Canadian gaming supplier Amaya Gaming for $4.9 billion.

Amaya Gaming completes a deal to become the world biggest online poker firm after a $4.9 billion purchase of Pokerstars. Many observers see the acquisition as a way to re-enter the US market as they have previously had differences of opinion with certain government departments, namely with the US Department of Justice.

The DOJ claimed that PokerStars violated the codes of the Wire Act, which prohibits certain gambling activities. PokerStars eventually relocated its headquarters to the Isle of Man, off the coast of UK, but continued the legal battle with the DOJ.

The company enlisted the services of some insightful attorneys and law firms that challenged the decision by the DOJ. They claimed that PokerStars did not violate any US gambling laws.

Subsequently, PokerStars made its mark in the US by taking over the biggest online poker market in the world. Soon after President George W. Bush signed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which spelled the end for PartyGaming in the US. Nevertheless, PokerStars continued to operate in the US, while Full Tilt claimed the whole market.

Forbes: Amaya Gaming in Deal to Buy PokerStars for $4.9 Billion

In 2011, US federal prosecutors challenged PokerStars’ gambling operations in the country. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, charged the founder of PokerStars along with 10 other relevant individuals.

The founder, Isai Scheinberg, was one of the people accused of money laundering, bank fraud and most importantly providing illegal betting services. PokerStars took in bets and staged online poker tournaments on a regular basis.

The US Attorney claimed that Scheinberg and others went against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which makes it illegal for companies to accept bets online where it is not deemed legal.

Following the indictment, PokerStars relented in their legal battle in 2012 and agreed to pay a settlement fine of $731 million to the Department of Justice. Despite paying the hefty fee, the poker firm did not admit any wrongdoing to the charges brought against them.

Bloomberg: PokerStars Sale a Jackpot for New Online Billionaire Scheinberg

Gambling news reports that since the onset of the legal charges Scheinberg has been living on the Isle of Man. His son Mark Scheinberg makes regular visits to the US to keep track of further business and legal developments.

The Department of Justice has labelled Isai Scheinberg as the main “founder, owner and principal decision-maker for Pokerstars.” They also consider the mobile gaming founder as being “at large.”

Amaya Gaming disagrees with the statements made by the DOJ. The company has made an official announcement after the sale, stating that poker site was started and run by the son, Mark Scheinberg, and not the father. Mark also expressed his version by commenting, “I am incredibly proud of the business Isai and I have built over the last 14 years.”

The Guardian: Family behind PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker to sell business for GBP 2.9bn

Amaya Gaming primarily deals with supplying betting equipment and hardware for other gaming firms, however the purchase of PokerStars will potentially see it become the greatest online poker provider. Currently, the industry is estimated to be worth a staggering $4 billion while Amaya seeks to hold a significant portion of that through PokerStars.

To help broker the deal Amaya has hired the financing services of several prominent banking institutions. Deutsche Bank AG (DBK), Barclays Plc (BARC), Macquaire Group Ltd. and Blackstone Group LP were all involved in providing their expertise.

In order to make the purchase, Amaya had to take out huge loans from the aforementioned banks. Billions have been borrowed, however considering the future potential for online poker in some states it appears to be simply a matter of time before they make a substantial return on their investment.

Amaya Chairman and chief exec, David Baazov, indicated the importance of acquiring PokerStars for the US market. “Having this brand and this company in the US is going to be very significant for states.”

Baazov has been credited with transforming the company into what it is today. He joined Amaya in 2006, two years after it was initially founded, and after successful acquisitions of smaller firms he saw Amaya’s growth rise exponentially.

Baazov commented on the company’s effective business model. “Everyone had a very fragmented approach. We built it all on a vision of convergence. It’s a very large industry and it’s going to continue to grow.”

Bloomberg Businessweek: Amaya Soars to record After $4.9 Billion PokerStars Deal

PartyGaming reported an unexpected increase in forth-quarter revenues, marking the first time in the last year and a half that they have seen growth. They attributed the growth to several factors, including the introduction of new games in their bingo and casino sections, and to a better loyalty system in their poker site. A strengthening dollar may also have contributed to the increasing success of the site.

Times Online: Online gaming groups say they are on winning streak

Two of the largest online gaming groups in Britain revealed yesterday that players are returning to the tables. PartyGaming just saw better their best quarter since the second quarter of 2008, while Sportingbet saw a similar increase in revenues.

PartyGaming reported growth across all categories, including internet bingo and online casino. KBC Peel Hunt, a stockbroker and advisory house, projected a 24% rise in revenue compared to the fourth quarter of 2008, making this the first rise in the past year and a half.

The site’s poker tables saw the biggest increases. PartyGaming recently revamped site and has been working hard to introduce better loyalty bonuses. PartyGaming’s chief executive Jim Ryan states, “Returning poker to growth has been a key focus for us. We are pleased to see that the initiatives introduced throughout the year are now feeding through into both operational and financial performance with increased player numbers and average net daily revenues.”

Meanwhile, Sportingbet spread a similar statement yesterday, remarking that the strength of their online sportsbook, which provides nearly 70% of their total revenue, has been thriving.

Financial Times: PartyGaming flush with poker revival

Poker revenue at PartyGaming returned to growth during the last quarter of 2009, showing the first increase in the last six quarters.

In a trading update, the internet gambling group revealed that major European-based poker operators have been facing strong competition from dominant US groups Full Tilt and PokerStars, which are using their liquidity in the unregulated US market to increase their strength in the European market.

Morgan Stanley suggets three reasons to explain PartyGaming’s poker recovery: a more regulated European market; a stronger dollar; and the company’s ever-improving loyalty schemes.

PartyGaming did not mention their early-stage merger discussions with Bwin, its Austrian-based online gambling rival. The company did, however, announce a £35m three-year loan, which it intends to use for mergers and acquisitions.

In a similar announcement, Sportingbet stated that it was confident of a “satisfactory outcome” for the next financial year. Sports betting represents almost 70% of group’s revenues and will be the main force behind their growth.

The New York Times: PartyGaming Sees FY Earnings Up on Poker

Online gambling firm PartyGaming announced that fourth-quarter trading was solid, due to a return to growth in their online poker operations. The company things full-year earnings may beat their own expectations.

PartyGaming’s revenue is in line with forecasts, though clean earnings )before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) are expected to be slightly ahead of projections.

PartyGaming said that both its online casino and internet bingo businesses were both performing well due to the introduction of new games, higher jackpot payouts, and their Cashcade acquisition back in July. In their sports betting operations, the company also benefited from a good run of results.

Analysts expect that PartyGaming will report EBITDA of about USD 132 million (GBP 81.4 million) for the fiscal year 2009, according to a Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S poll of eight brokers.

British media on Sunday revealed that PartyGaming is in discussions with Austria’s bwin Interactive Entertainment AG, but bwin downplayed the report, saying it was not in any advanced talks. PartyGaming did not comment on market speculation.

PartyGaming reported an unexpected increase in forth-quarter revenues, marking the first time in the last year and a half that they have seen growth. They attributed the growth to several factors, including the introduction of new games in their bingo and casino sections, and to a better loyalty system in their poker site. A strengthening dollar may also have contributed to the increasing success of the site.

Times Online: Online gaming groups say they are on winning streak

Two of the largest online gaming groups in Britain revealed yesterday that players are returning to the tables. PartyGaming just saw better their best quarter since the second quarter of 2008, while Sportingbet saw a similar increase in revenues.

PartyGaming reported growth across all categories, including internet bingo and online casino. KBC Peel Hunt, a stockbroker and advisory house, projected a 24% rise in revenue compared to the fourth quarter of 2008, making this the first rise in the past year and a half.

The site’s poker tables saw the biggest increases. PartyGaming recently revamped site and has been working hard to introduce better loyalty bonuses. PartyGaming’s chief executive Jim Ryan states, “Returning poker to growth has been a key focus for us. We are pleased to see that the initiatives introduced throughout the year are now feeding through into both operational and financial performance with increased player numbers and average net daily revenues.”

Meanwhile, Sportingbet spread a similar statement yesterday, remarking that the strength of their online sportsbook, which provides nearly 70% of their total revenue, has been thriving.

Financial Times: PartyGaming flush with poker revival

Poker revenue at PartyGaming returned to growth during the last quarter of 2009, showing the first increase in the last six quarters.

In a trading update, the internet gambling group revealed that major European-based poker operators have been facing strong competition from dominant US groups Full Tilt and PokerStars, which are using their liquidity in the unregulated US market to increase their strength in the European market.

Morgan Stanley suggets three reasons to explain PartyGaming’s poker recovery: a more regulated European market; a stronger dollar; and the company’s ever-improving loyalty schemes.

PartyGaming did not mention their early-stage merger discussions with Bwin, its Austrian-based online gambling rival. The company did, however, announce a £35m three-year loan, which it intends to use for mergers and acquisitions.

In a similar announcement, Sportingbet stated that it was confident of a “satisfactory outcome” for the next financial year. Sports betting represents almost 70% of group’s revenues and will be the main force behind their growth.

The New York Times: PartyGaming Sees FY Earnings Up on Poker

Online gambling firm PartyGaming announced that fourth-quarter trading was solid, due to a return to growth in their online poker operations. The company things full-year earnings may beat their own expectations.

PartyGaming’s revenue is in line with forecasts, though clean earnings )before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) are expected to be slightly ahead of projections.

PartyGaming said that both its online casino and internet bingo businesses were both performing well due to the introduction of new games, higher jackpot payouts, and their Cashcade acquisition back in July. In their sports betting operations, the company also benefited from a good run of results.

Analysts expect that PartyGaming will report EBITDA of about USD 132 million (GBP 81.4 million) for the fiscal year 2009, according to a Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S poll of eight brokers.

British media on Sunday revealed that PartyGaming is in discussions with Austria’s bwin Interactive Entertainment AG, but bwin downplayed the report, saying it was not in any advanced talks. PartyGaming did not comment on market speculation.

A 37 year old Danish poker player, Mr. Gus Hansen, has been on an incredible winning streak playing online poker at the Full Tilt Poker, winning $999,480 this week alone at ‘heads-up’ matches, bringing his five month online total to $5,000,000 won. Just in the first 54 days of 2011, Mr. Hansen, also known as The Great Dane, won $3 million playing Pot Limit Omaha and Draw Poker. He is currently in first place in overall winnings in online poker cash games in 2011, with his closest competitor, Mr. Patrik Antonius far behind, yet still a winner of more than a million dollars since the start of the year.

During the last week, Mr. Hansen played over 2,500 hands of draw poker against some of the most aggressive whales of the online poker rooms, including Mr. Tom Dwan and Mr, Phil Galfond, and still walked away with a cool million.

Not too long ago, things were not so rosy for Mr. Hansen , who almost permanently quit playing poker last year after losing $5.55 million by early fall, and finishing the year with an overall loss of $1.3 million. That was the beginning of the lucky streak which he’s been on for the past five months, eventually leading to this week’s amazing weekly win, playing thousands of pots larger than most people’s yearly income.

Gus Hanses was one of the founding partners of PokerChamps online poker room, which was sold 20 months later to Betfair for $15 million dollars.

Mr. Hansen has been a gambler all his life, first becoming a world ranked backgammon player and then discovering poker to eventually win the European World Series of Poker bracelet in the ‘No Limit Hold’em High Roller Heads-Up’ $15,000 buy-in tournament. Over his lifetime, Mr. Gus Hansen won over 9 million dollars in live tournaments and is a regular player in the biggest poker cash games in Las Vegas and online.

A 37 year old Danish poker player, Mr. Gus Hansen, has been on an incredible winning streak playing online poker at the Full Tilt Poker, winning $999,480 this week alone at ‘heads-up’ matches, bringing his five month online total to $5,000,000 won. Just in the first 54 days of 2011, Mr. Hansen, also known as The Great Dane, won $3 million playing Pot Limit Omaha and Draw Poker. He is currently in first place in overall winnings in online poker cash games in 2011, with his closest competitor, Mr. Patrik Antonius far behind, yet still a winner of more than a million dollars since the start of the year.

During the last week, Mr. Hansen played over 2,500 hands of draw poker against some of the most aggressive whales of the online poker rooms, including Mr. Tom Dwan and Mr, Phil Galfond, and still walked away with a cool million.

Not too long ago, things were not so rosy for Mr. Hansen , who almost permanently quit playing poker last year after losing $5.55 million by early fall, and finishing the year with an overall loss of $1.3 million. That was the beginning of the lucky streak which he’s been on for the past five months, eventually leading to this week’s amazing weekly win, playing thousands of pots larger than most people’s yearly income.

Gus Hanses was one of the founding partners of PokerChamps online poker room, which was sold 20 months later to Betfair for $15 million dollars.

Mr. Hansen has been a gambler all his life, first becoming a world ranked backgammon player and then discovering poker to eventually win the European World Series of Poker bracelet in the ‘No Limit Hold’em High Roller Heads-Up’ $15,000 buy-in tournament. Over his lifetime, Mr. Gus Hansen won over 9 million dollars in live tournaments and is a regular player in the biggest poker cash games in Las Vegas and online.

Jonathan Duhamel is the world’s newest millionaire.

Earlier this week, Jonathan Duhamel, the 26-year-old Canadian defeated 23-year-old American John Racener, winning a WSOP bracelet along with an $8,944,138 prize. Jonathan Duhamel is the first Canadian player to capture the coveted Main Event bracelet.

2010 World Series of Poker was the 41st annual WSOP tour. The tour culminated in the Main Event held at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The event stated back on 03 July, but after reaching the final table of nine players on July 17, the final table was delayed until 06 November.

PokerStars-sponsored Duhamel beat out 7,319 other players to capture the win. Of the nine players who competed at the final table last weekend, only Michael Mizrachi had ever one a WSOP bracelet, but the American only finished 5th this year.

After winning the 2010 WSOP Main Event, Jonathan Duhamel announced that he would be setting aside $100 000 of his winnings to the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation, purportedly the largest donation that the group has ever received from an individual.

“It’s an enormous amount,” said Canadiens spokesman Donald Beauchamp. “It’s quite remarkable, and this was completely his idea. We had nothing to do with it. So to do this for the foundation is truly appreciated by the entire organization.”

Jonathan Duhamel started his poker career just three years ago, with a $100 investment at an online poker site in Canada.

Jonathan Duhamel is the world’s newest millionaire.

Earlier this week, Jonathan Duhamel, the 26-year-old Canadian defeated 23-year-old American John Racener, winning a WSOP bracelet along with an $8,944,138 prize. Jonathan Duhamel is the first Canadian player to capture the coveted Main Event bracelet.

2010 World Series of Poker was the 41st annual WSOP tour. The tour culminated in the Main Event held at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The event stated back on 03 July, but after reaching the final table of nine players on July 17, the final table was delayed until 06 November.

PokerStars-sponsored Duhamel beat out 7,319 other players to capture the win. Of the nine players who competed at the final table last weekend, only Michael Mizrachi had ever one a WSOP bracelet, but the American only finished 5th this year.

After winning the 2010 WSOP Main Event, Jonathan Duhamel announced that he would be setting aside $100 000 of his winnings to the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation, purportedly the largest donation that the group has ever received from an individual.

“It’s an enormous amount,” said Canadiens spokesman Donald Beauchamp. “It’s quite remarkable, and this was completely his idea. We had nothing to do with it. So to do this for the foundation is truly appreciated by the entire organization.”

Jonathan Duhamel started his poker career just three years ago, with a $100 investment at an online poker site in Canada.

It’s shuffle up and deal time: The World Series of Poker has begun in Las Vegas with 7,319 entrants, the second-largest pool ever assembled for the world’s biggest poker event. Yesterday alone, 2,391 players entered, as Thursday marked the last day to buy in for $10,000.

Based on entrants, the total prize pool will be $68.8 million and the top prize is a huge $8.94 million; the top 747 finishers will win prizes. Last year, there were 6,494 total entrants for a prize pool of $61 million and a $8.55 prize for the winner Joe Cada, youngest ever to take this tournament.

As always, some celebrities were on hand to try their hand at a few poker hands, including Jason Alexander, Emmitt Smith, and Shannon Elizabeth, just to name a very few.

Though the peak number of participants set in 2006 was not reached, the numbers are up 12% on last year. Alexander was enthusiastic to an Associated Press reporter, to whom he said “I’m glad people are feeling like the economy’s back enough that they can do [play in the World Series of Poker]. It wasn’t because the interest in poker went away, so I have to assume people weren’t willing to speculate.”

Most observers also factor in an overall drop in attendance since 2006, as after the tournament the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed, thereby discouraging many online poker rooms from accepted U.S. players – and getting them into the World Series of Poker.

It’s shuffle up and deal time: The World Series of Poker has begun in Las Vegas with 7,319 entrants, the second-largest pool ever assembled for the world’s biggest poker event. Yesterday alone, 2,391 players entered, as Thursday marked the last day to buy in for $10,000.

Based on entrants, the total prize pool will be $68.8 million and the top prize is a huge $8.94 million; the top 747 finishers will win prizes. Last year, there were 6,494 total entrants for a prize pool of $61 million and a $8.55 prize for the winner Joe Cada, youngest ever to take this tournament.

As always, some celebrities were on hand to try their hand at a few poker hands, including Jason Alexander, Emmitt Smith, and Shannon Elizabeth, just to name a very few.

Though the peak number of participants set in 2006 was not reached, the numbers are up 12% on last year. Alexander was enthusiastic to an Associated Press reporter, to whom he said “I’m glad people are feeling like the economy’s back enough that they can do [play in the World Series of Poker]. It wasn’t because the interest in poker went away, so I have to assume people weren’t willing to speculate.”

Most observers also factor in an overall drop in attendance since 2006, as after the tournament the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed, thereby discouraging many online poker rooms from accepted U.S. players – and getting them into the World Series of Poker.

An idea first proposed last year in California will take the next step toward realization on Tuesday, when State Senator Rod Wright issues his bill proposing the creation of an intranet poker network. Naturally this proposal has provoked much discussion in local media. The proposal seeks to limit the number of online casinos offering legal gambling in California and to collect a minimum of 20% of revenue from these websites to fill the state budget deficit. Some estimates say that Californians spent $300 million on poker websites alone in 2009.

The (Sacramento) Press-Enterprise: Online poker bill to emerge

A bill from state senator Rod Wright is expected within a few days that would provide players in California the opportunity to legally choose between multiple online poker websites, in hopes of generating billions of dollars in tax revenue for the treasury.

Competing with Wright’s proposal is a plan put forth by the Morongo Ban of Mission Indians, a group that would create a “tribal intrastate Internet poker consortium” to act as a monopoly over a California-wide poker network, but Wright seeks to introduce a system of natural competition with his bill.

Expected to be put out on Tuesday, Wright’s bill seems to be based on the standard European model. Wright proposes that the California Department of Justice award five-year contracts to between one and three online poker websites based within the state. A minimum of 20% of revenue generated would be paid to the state in taxes.

Wright estimates that after passage of the bill, it might take another three years to have such an online poker system running. Californians spent an estimated $300 million on Internet poker last year. The state of California will have a $19.1 billion deficit as of June 2011.

NBC Bay Area: Can Online Gambling Save California?

The taxation of online gambling may be a way to solve part of the state’s budget problems – even more so than marijuana legalization. Supporters of decriminalisation of Internet gambling have claimed that regulating and taxing Internet gaming could earn up to $42 billion in federal taxes.

In California, some politicians who are pro-online gambling push such taxation as potentially bringing money and jobs to the state. This includes firms in Silicon Valley such as CyberArts, which produces Internet casino architectural software known as Foundation.

Though online gambling remains controversial even in California, the time to make it legal may have come. One consult was quoted as saying “it’s generally easier to pass something like (online gambling regulations) in a recession.”

Tech Jackal: California close to being the first state to legalize online poker

California may be on the way to becoming the first U.S. state to legalize online poker, because of state senator Rod Wright’s proposed new bill. Wright heads up the California Senate committee which overseeing gambling among other areas.

The addition of further taxes and revenues created from state-based gambling websites would go to directly addressing the state budget deficit, though Wright emphasized he sought to avoid a single-company monopoly.

Wright said that online gambling taxation “is an asset that is underperforming and it belongs to the state. It should be nondiscriminatory in terms of the people who participate. It’ll go to the people who want it and show up and bid.”

In order to take advantage of any opportunity to establish online poker or casino gaming for California citizens, website operators will have to meet certain specified legal, technical and financial conditions.

An idea first proposed last year in California will take the next step toward realization on Tuesday, when State Senator Rod Wright issues his bill proposing the creation of an intranet poker network. Naturally this proposal has provoked much discussion in local media. The proposal seeks to limit the number of online casinos offering legal gambling in California and to collect a minimum of 20% of revenue from these websites to fill the state budget deficit. Some estimates say that Californians spent $300 million on poker websites alone in 2009.

The (Sacramento) Press-Enterprise: Online poker bill to emerge

A bill from state senator Rod Wright is expected within a few days that would provide players in California the opportunity to legally choose between multiple online poker websites, in hopes of generating billions of dollars in tax revenue for the treasury.

Competing with Wright’s proposal is a plan put forth by the Morongo Ban of Mission Indians, a group that would create a “tribal intrastate Internet poker consortium” to act as a monopoly over a California-wide poker network, but Wright seeks to introduce a system of natural competition with his bill.

Expected to be put out on Tuesday, Wright’s bill seems to be based on the standard European model. Wright proposes that the California Department of Justice award five-year contracts to between one and three online poker websites based within the state. A minimum of 20% of revenue generated would be paid to the state in taxes.

Wright estimates that after passage of the bill, it might take another three years to have such an online poker system running. Californians spent an estimated $300 million on Internet poker last year. The state of California will have a $19.1 billion deficit as of June 2011.

NBC Bay Area: Can Online Gambling Save California?

The taxation of online gambling may be a way to solve part of the state’s budget problems – even more so than marijuana legalization. Supporters of decriminalisation of Internet gambling have claimed that regulating and taxing Internet gaming could earn up to $42 billion in federal taxes.

In California, some politicians who are pro-online gambling push such taxation as potentially bringing money and jobs to the state. This includes firms in Silicon Valley such as CyberArts, which produces Internet casino architectural software known as Foundation.

Though online gambling remains controversial even in California, the time to make it legal may have come. One consult was quoted as saying “it’s generally easier to pass something like (online gambling regulations) in a recession.”

Tech Jackal: California close to being the first state to legalize online poker

California may be on the way to becoming the first U.S. state to legalize online poker, because of state senator Rod Wright’s proposed new bill. Wright heads up the California Senate committee which overseeing gambling among other areas.

The addition of further taxes and revenues created from state-based gambling websites would go to directly addressing the state budget deficit, though Wright emphasized he sought to avoid a single-company monopoly.

Wright said that online gambling taxation “is an asset that is underperforming and it belongs to the state. It should be nondiscriminatory in terms of the people who participate. It’ll go to the people who want it and show up and bid.”

In order to take advantage of any opportunity to establish online poker or casino gaming for California citizens, website operators will have to meet certain specified legal, technical and financial conditions.

Poker master Doyle Brunson, sometimes known as “Texas Dolly”, is one of the most fearsome players the game has ever seen. Brunson has played poker professionally for more than 50 years, and he is very, very good at what he does. He’s netted over $5.8 million in tournament wins during his career, and is the proud owner of 10 WSOP bracelets. These are things that every poker fan knows – but who is the man behind the cards?

Brunson is a Texas native, born in Longsworth on August 10, 1933. He was a runner, a basketball star, and an all-around excellent athlete. In fact, he was nearly drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers until a knee injury put him in a cast for two years, ended his basketball career.

His interest in poker started early on. He began with five card stud, and he the game was easy – Brunson is a born natural, some say. Before long, he was traveling around Texas, then eventually the neighboring states of Oklahoma and Louisiana, playing poker in illegal, underground games. He saved up his wins, and headed to Vegas – where he lost everything.

This didn’t stop him though. Brunson caught the gambling bug, and decided to settle down in Vegas. He played more and more, and was a regular participant in the WSOP, which saw its first game in 1970. By the late 70s, he had made a name for himself in the poker world, netting win after win and accumulating quite a lot of wealth.

Brunson got the nickname “Texas Dolly” when Jimmy Snyder’s tongue slipped one day. Snyder was supposed to introduce Brunson as “Texas Doyle” but somehow it came out “Dolly” instead. The crowed loved it, and the name stuck. Even today when Brunson plays online poker he uses the alias ‘texdolly’.

Brunson is still a poker master. He has published numerous books about his career and about poker strategy, and spends much of his time promoting the famous Doyle’s Room online poker site at events all around the world.

Here are a few interesting facts about the Texas Dolly that not all poker fans know:

• A “Doyle Brunson” is a 10-2 starting hand in Texas Hold Em. It’s called this because Bruson won the WSOP with this hand – twice!
• Brunson has played so much poker, he has seen three men die at the table. One was shot point-blank in the head, and the other two died of heart attacks, one from the shock of losing a huge pot to the Texas Dolly.
• In the early 60s, Brunson was diagnosed with “incurable” cancer after a tumor was found on his neck. Doctors call his recovery a miracle.
• Brunson’s son Tom won a bracelet in Omaha Hi-Lo at the 2005 WSOP, making the Brunsons the first father-son World Series winners.

“I’m a gambler,” says Brunson. “I’ll always be one. I couldn’t be anything else. So, my life will always be full of wins and losses. I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s exciting. There’s never been a dull moment in my life.”

Poker master Doyle Brunson, sometimes known as “Texas Dolly”, is one of the most fearsome players the game has ever seen. Brunson has played poker professionally for more than 50 years, and he is very, very good at what he does. He’s netted over $5.8 million in tournament wins during his career, and is the proud owner of 10 WSOP bracelets. These are things that every poker fan knows – but who is the man behind the cards?

Brunson is a Texas native, born in Longsworth on August 10, 1933. He was a runner, a basketball star, and an all-around excellent athlete. In fact, he was nearly drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers until a knee injury put him in a cast for two years, ended his basketball career.

His interest in poker started early on. He began with five card stud, and he the game was easy – Brunson is a born natural, some say. Before long, he was traveling around Texas, then eventually the neighboring states of Oklahoma and Louisiana, playing poker in illegal, underground games. He saved up his wins, and headed to Vegas – where he lost everything.

This didn’t stop him though. Brunson caught the gambling bug, and decided to settle down in Vegas. He played more and more, and was a regular participant in the WSOP, which saw its first game in 1970. By the late 70s, he had made a name for himself in the poker world, netting win after win and accumulating quite a lot of wealth.

Brunson got the nickname “Texas Dolly” when Jimmy Snyder’s tongue slipped one day. Snyder was supposed to introduce Brunson as “Texas Doyle” but somehow it came out “Dolly” instead. The crowed loved it, and the name stuck. Even today when Brunson plays online poker he uses the alias ‘texdolly’.

Brunson is still a poker master. He has published numerous books about his career and about poker strategy, and spends much of his time promoting the famous Doyle’s Room online poker site at events all around the world.

Here are a few interesting facts about the Texas Dolly that not all poker fans know:

• A “Doyle Brunson” is a 10-2 starting hand in Texas Hold Em. It’s called this because Bruson won the WSOP with this hand – twice!
• Brunson has played so much poker, he has seen three men die at the table. One was shot point-blank in the head, and the other two died of heart attacks, one from the shock of losing a huge pot to the Texas Dolly.
• In the early 60s, Brunson was diagnosed with “incurable” cancer after a tumor was found on his neck. Doctors call his recovery a miracle.
• Brunson’s son Tom won a bracelet in Omaha Hi-Lo at the 2005 WSOP, making the Brunsons the first father-son World Series winners.

“I’m a gambler,” says Brunson. “I’ll always be one. I couldn’t be anything else. So, my life will always be full of wins and losses. I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s exciting. There’s never been a dull moment in my life.”

Playing poker online for real money has become extremely popular in recent years. As more and more people get high-speed internet access in their homes, and learn how easy it is to get online and join an poker site, the popularity of internet poker just continues to grow. These days, anyone can log in and join a tournament or sit in on a quick cash game, and play against real people from all corners of the globe. Some players have had such success that they quit their day jobs and live exclusively off of their online poker winnings!

But therein lies the problem – for anyone who is not quite ready to pull up anchor and give up their working lives, it can be hard putting aside enough time to get started in the world of online poker. Playing at work is obviously not an option, so that leaves playing at home, where the whole family is competing for time online, and where other responsibilities inevitably end up coming first.

The solution is simple: play in between. Pick up an iPhone or a  netbook computer, They are basically mini laptops that are designed for ultimate portability. They are small, light, and have great battery life. But are they well suited to playing online poker?

There is a misconception about mobile phones and netbook computers that says they are not powerful enough for things like games and videos, but this simply is not true. While netbooks do have less computing power than the average desktop computer, they are still miles ahead of what was standard just a few years ago, and they have more than enough power to handle internet poker software.

More importantly, many online poker sites don’t even require players to download or install anything extra in order to play. Their software is designed to run across the internet, right inside the player’s favorite web browser. This is perfect, since iPhones and netbook computers are basically designed to run online programs in this way.

To play real money internet poker on an iPhone or netbook computer, players only need to find an open Wi-Fi connection, get online, and then can log in from wherever they happen to be. Whether it’s lunch at the café on the corner, a three hour airport layover, or a study break between lectures, if you have your iPhone or netbook along, you can spend all your free time winning money by playing poker online, anytime and anywhere.

Playing poker online for real money has become extremely popular in recent years. As more and more people get high-speed internet access in their homes, and learn how easy it is to get online and join an poker site, the popularity of internet poker just continues to grow. These days, anyone can log in and join a tournament or sit in on a quick cash game, and play against real people from all corners of the globe. Some players have had such success that they quit their day jobs and live exclusively off of their online poker winnings!

But therein lies the problem – for anyone who is not quite ready to pull up anchor and give up their working lives, it can be hard putting aside enough time to get started in the world of online poker. Playing at work is obviously not an option, so that leaves playing at home, where the whole family is competing for time online, and where other responsibilities inevitably end up coming first.

The solution is simple: play in between. Pick up an iPhone or a  netbook computer, They are basically mini laptops that are designed for ultimate portability. They are small, light, and have great battery life. But are they well suited to playing online poker?

There is a misconception about mobile phones and netbook computers that says they are not powerful enough for things like games and videos, but this simply is not true. While netbooks do have less computing power than the average desktop computer, they are still miles ahead of what was standard just a few years ago, and they have more than enough power to handle internet poker software.

More importantly, many online poker sites don’t even require players to download or install anything extra in order to play. Their software is designed to run across the internet, right inside the player’s favorite web browser. This is perfect, since iPhones and netbook computers are basically designed to run online programs in this way.

To play real money internet poker on an iPhone or netbook computer, players only need to find an open Wi-Fi connection, get online, and then can log in from wherever they happen to be. Whether it’s lunch at the café on the corner, a three hour airport layover, or a study break between lectures, if you have your iPhone or netbook along, you can spend all your free time winning money by playing poker online, anytime and anywhere.

The case between Clonie Gowen and Full Tilt Poker has been officially dismissed. Gowen, a pro poker player, said she was promised 1% of Full Tilt shares a while back. 1% of Full Tilt is estimated at about $40 million! Since there was no contract between the two parties the case was inevitably dismissed. We can still enjoy Clonie’s performance in this video though.

The case between Clonie Gowen and Full Tilt Poker has been officially dismissed. Gowen, a pro poker player, said she was promised 1% of Full Tilt shares a while back. 1% of Full Tilt is estimated at about $40 million! Since there was no contract between the two parties the case was inevitably dismissed. We can still enjoy Clonie’s performance in this video though.

The durrrr Challenge on Full Tilt Poker
Challenger: Tome “durrrr” Dwan
Players: Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, David Benyamine
Pot: $2 Million (durrrr’s $1.5 million to given players $500,000)

The durrrr Challenge on Full Tilt Poker
Challenger: Tome “durrrr” Dwan
Players: Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, David Benyamine
Pot: $2 Million (durrrr’s $1.5 million to given players $500,000)

Trevor Zinck, the Nova Scotia legislature, allegedly used the credit card of a 40 year old man with cerebral palsy to play poker online, racking up a bill of almost $10,000. Scott Marshall had once given Zinck his card to loan him $100 back when Zinck was acting as Marshall’s caregiver. It seems Zinck wrote down the card number to use later.

CBC News Canada: ‘Be a man’ on gambling debt, MLA urged

The mother of a Canadian disabled man is angry and frustrated that Independent MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) Trevor Zinck has not yet responded to recent allegation that he used her son’s credit card to gamble online, still owing him $7,600.

“Own up to it and be a man,” Helena MacLeod said towards Zinck.

“It seems like he has disappeared and that’s it. We kind of thought that he would come across and say that he was going to pay Scott’s credit card, but we haven’t heard a word.”

Scott Marshall, 40, has cerebral palsy. He has known Zinck for 20 years. Zinck acted as Marshall’s caregiver prior to 2006, when he was leected an MLA for Dartmouth North.

Marshall says that in June 2007, he noticed $10,000 in charges on his credit card. Zinck had used the card to play online poker, without Marshall’s permission.

Zinck has paid some of the money back, but MacLeod said the bill is still$7,600, and Marshall cannot afford to pay it.

“He gets in a very, very big panic to think that his credit is going to be down the tubes,” MacLeod said.

Zinck was ousted from the New Democratic Party caucus in March because of problems with his constituency expenses. He also admitted to having problems with drinking and gambling.

The Chronicle Herald: Zinck accused of fraud

A man from Halifax, Canada, is accusing Dartmouth North MLA Trevor Zinck of fraudulently charging $9,000 on his credit card to play online poker.

Scott Marshall says his former caregiver and friend of 20 years hasn’t paid much of it back.

“He said that he’d never leave me hanging . . . but I’ve had to hound him,” Marshall said in a telephone interview.

Marshall suffers from cerebral palsy, and is confined to a wheelchair.

In the spring of 2007, Marshall let Zinck use his credit card when he asked to borrow $100. But when Marshall got his bill, Zinck had charged thousands of dollars to it.

Zinck promised to get a loan to pay his debit to Marshall, but later said that the bank denied his application.

The NDP removed Zinck from his caucus seat last week, citing irregularities with his handling of office expenses.

Toronto Sun: Man: N.S. politician used his credit card to gamble

A disabled man has accused a member of the Nova Scotia legislature of using his credit card to gamble online – without his permission.

Scott Marshall, who is wheelchair-bound because of cerebral palsy, says Trevor Zinck admitted to charging $10,000 from his credit card when Marshall’s caregiver.

Zinck apologized and agreed to pay him back, but the payments stopped after Zinck was no longer his caregiver. The credit card bill stands at $7,600.

According to Helena MacLeod, Marshall’s mother, Zinck always had an excuse not to pay.

When asked if Zinck admitted to online gambling, Marshall said, “Oh yea.”

Zinck was recently suspended from the NDP caucus last week. He had been late in paying constituency office bills for electricity, telephone and internet.

Trevor Zinck, the Nova Scotia legislature, allegedly used the credit card of a 40 year old man with cerebral palsy to play poker online, racking up a bill of almost $10,000. Scott Marshall had once given Zinck his card to loan him $100 back when Zinck was acting as Marshall’s caregiver. It seems Zinck wrote down the card number to use later.

CBC News Canada: ‘Be a man’ on gambling debt, MLA urged

The mother of a Canadian disabled man is angry and frustrated that Independent MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) Trevor Zinck has not yet responded to recent allegation that he used her son’s credit card to gamble online, still owing him $7,600.

“Own up to it and be a man,” Helena MacLeod said towards Zinck.

“It seems like he has disappeared and that’s it. We kind of thought that he would come across and say that he was going to pay Scott’s credit card, but we haven’t heard a word.”

Scott Marshall, 40, has cerebral palsy. He has known Zinck for 20 years. Zinck acted as Marshall’s caregiver prior to 2006, when he was leected an MLA for Dartmouth North.

Marshall says that in June 2007, he noticed $10,000 in charges on his credit card. Zinck had used the card to play online poker, without Marshall’s permission.

Zinck has paid some of the money back, but MacLeod said the bill is still$7,600, and Marshall cannot afford to pay it.

“He gets in a very, very big panic to think that his credit is going to be down the tubes,” MacLeod said.

Zinck was ousted from the New Democratic Party caucus in March because of problems with his constituency expenses. He also admitted to having problems with drinking and gambling.

The Chronicle Herald: Zinck accused of fraud

A man from Halifax, Canada, is accusing Dartmouth North MLA Trevor Zinck of fraudulently charging $9,000 on his credit card to play online poker.

Scott Marshall says his former caregiver and friend of 20 years hasn’t paid much of it back.

“He said that he’d never leave me hanging . . . but I’ve had to hound him,” Marshall said in a telephone interview.

Marshall suffers from cerebral palsy, and is confined to a wheelchair.

In the spring of 2007, Marshall let Zinck use his credit card when he asked to borrow $100. But when Marshall got his bill, Zinck had charged thousands of dollars to it.

Zinck promised to get a loan to pay his debit to Marshall, but later said that the bank denied his application.

The NDP removed Zinck from his caucus seat last week, citing irregularities with his handling of office expenses.

Toronto Sun: Man: N.S. politician used his credit card to gamble

A disabled man has accused a member of the Nova Scotia legislature of using his credit card to gamble online – without his permission.

Scott Marshall, who is wheelchair-bound because of cerebral palsy, says Trevor Zinck admitted to charging $10,000 from his credit card when Marshall’s caregiver.

Zinck apologized and agreed to pay him back, but the payments stopped after Zinck was no longer his caregiver. The credit card bill stands at $7,600.

According to Helena MacLeod, Marshall’s mother, Zinck always had an excuse not to pay.

When asked if Zinck admitted to online gambling, Marshall said, “Oh yea.”

Zinck was recently suspended from the NDP caucus last week. He had been late in paying constituency office bills for electricity, telephone and internet.