09.30.2009 | 10:52 am | Casino.co.uk
The World Series of Poker main event draw was whittled down to a mere 36 players on day three, causing a degree of celebration for the survivors who each bag a minimum of £21,142.
While many of us would be happy with this for a week’’s work, the whopping £801,000 prize on offer for the last man standing means nobody will be looking to settle for just a high placing.
Matt Hawrilenko still looks like the favourite for the World Series bracelet, with his 701,500 chip stack somewhat daunting. There is however plenty of time for the rest to turn things around.
Steven Fung, Praz Bansi and Arnaud Mattern lead the chase, but they all have plenty to do to restore parity with the leader.
Online poker enthusiasts dreaming of joining the top pros in London should look to former England footballer Teddy Sheringham for encouragement – he also remains in contention as day four approaches.
Perhaps the ex-Spurs and Manchester United frontman can stump up the £10,000 stage without too much of a second thought, but it just goes to show that the doors to casino land are always open to new talent.
It could be time to get practising for next year, if you fancy it…
09.29.2009 | 9:22 am | Casino.co.uk
Been dreaming of hitting the casinos in the world’’s most glamorous locations? If you have, you”re probably not alone.
InterPoker has given its members the opportunity to do just that, rewarding its loyal members by allowing them to represent the firm on the Platinum Poker Tour.
This month, players have been given chance to qualify for one of its Live Tournament Packages and attend this year’’s edition of the Texas Hold”em Series.
With this set to take place in one of Europe’’s premier venues – the Aviation Club de France in Paris – members have been playing hard all month for the opportunity.
Those on the site’’s Platinum Poker Tour Leaderboard are to be rewarded for their efforts during September, with prize packages available for the top 75.
Winners can even take a friend or partner on a subsidised ticket, meaning a stroll around the sights of the French capital may be as attractive as the play on the tables.
09.28.2009 | 10:29 am | Casino.co.uk
Jani Vilmunen stormed to victory in the third event of the World Series of Poker Europe, the £5,000 Pot Limit Omaha tournament.
The Finnish pro edged out Howard Lederer to claim the winner’’s bracelet, though the runner up will have been pleased to have secured a second money finish of the week.
Despite Vilmunen having a health chip advantage at the head-up stage, it seemed as if there was plenty of time for Lederer to work his way back into contention.
However, the US pro gambled on an all-in move early on, which backfired when his straight was eclipsed by one of Vilmunen’’s own.
Some 18 players took home a share of the pot, and will no doubt be pleased with their visit to the capital.
With the £10,000 main event containing many of the world’’s top stars, competition could not be fiercer for the highest honours and top cash prizes.
09.25.2009 | 10:51 am | Casino.co.uk
Erik Cajelais says his victory in the £2,500 Pot Limit Hold”em/Omaha event at the World Series of Poker Europe was down to a combination of skill and luck rather than his impressive athleticism.
Either way, the imposing Canadian successfully fought off competition from Swedish pro Mats Gavatin at the heads-up stage, battling through to win his first winner’’s bracelet and the tidy sum of £104,677 in prize money.
He said he had played well and benefited from luck with the cards, but dismissed the suggestion that his superior fitness and physique has been a factor in his victory charge.
He stated: "I think once you reach 50, 60 or 70, then maybe fitness is a factor. But if you are young and in decent shape, it should not be hard to play for long periods."
One man whose fitness certainly has enabled success this week is Paul Zimbler - the new world record holder for the longest continuous poker play.
In the time it took the UK pro to complete his marathon 75-hour charity session - during which time he took on around 200 opponents and raised £30,000 for good causes - Cajelais was able to fit in his entire three-day event and have another day off to celebrate!
Unlike the Canadian, Zimbler may not have received a bracelet for his efforts, but he has deserved a huge pat on the back and a well-earned rest.
09.24.2009 | 11:05 am | Casino.co.uk
Good news for UK-based online gambling firms this week – the old enemy France could be set to open its market up to foreign operators from next year.
The monopolies of state lottery provider Groupe Francaise des Jeux and horseracing bookmaker Pari Mutuel Urbain, may end on October 7th when a new bill comes before parliament.
Sports betting and poker gambling will be allowed if it is passed, potentially creating valuable new revenue streams for the likes of William Hill, InterPoker and PartyPoker.com.
Jim Ryan, chief executive officer of PartyGaming, the owner of the PartyPoker.com brand, commented: "The size of the French population and the appetite for gambling, and the group’’s historically cautious approach to France make this a particularly exciting opportunity for us."
The move comes just weeks after the European Court of Justice ruled that state gambling monopolies can be justified under EU laws, as in Portugal where competition is limited in a bid to ensure consumer protection against fraud and crime.
So a number of UK firms are likely to be rubbing their hands together at the prospect of a more open market – along with a few million Frenchmen no doubt.
09.23.2009 | 11:18 am | Casino.co.uk
JP Kelly has certainly got things off to a good start for the Brits at the World Series of Poker Europe in London.
The English pro came through a field of 295 to take his first series bracelet on home soil, and second ever after his maiden win in Las Vegas earlier this year.
Phil Hellmuth, Roland de Wolfe and Dave ”Devilfish” Ulliot were among the other stars involved in the £1,000 no-limit hold ”em event, but none could get close to Kelly.
Chip leader at the end of the first day, he kept his cool to triumph on the final table – edging out Frenchman Fabien Dunlop at the heads-up stage.
Kelly started the battle with a 498,000 to 1,365,000 chip defecit, although this was quickly wiped out when both players went all-in preflop.
He eventually ground Dunlop down to take the £136,803 first prize, tipping his career earnings over the half a million mark – not bad at all for a 23-year-old.
With the £2,500 Pot-limit Hold”em/Omaha Event entering its final stage, another bracelet is set to be handed out soon.
09.22.2009 | 9:38 am | Casino.co.uk
Some leading figures are putting their support behind plans for new resort-style casinos in Massachusetts.
Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representative Robert DeLeo and president of the Massachusetts Senate Therese Murray have both given clear indications they would support the casino proposals for the state, reports the Boston Globe.
In two separate speeches, the political leaders made cases for the state to legalise casinos to bring jobs and money into the local economy.
Mr DeLeo, who had previously supported slot marching gambling at racetracks rather than casinos, told a meeting of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, that in addition to his slot backing, "I now support resort casinos".
"Given the importance of economic development, as well as the vital need for revenue, I have expanded my thinking," he said.
He added: "The reality is that hundreds of millions of dollars are going to Connecticut casinos from Massachusetts residents every year. We need to explore ways how we can capture that revenue."
Gaming establishments in Ohio and Michigan are being increasingly challenged by competitors in Indiana, according to the Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne.
09.21.2009 | 9:55 am | Casino.co.uk
Plans for a new floating casino in Barrow have been met with mixed reactions, it has been reported.
Rick Lucas, a nightclub owner, has lodged plans to open a casino on his Princess Selandia pleasure ship which would open four nights a week and offer gambling fans games such as roulette and baccarat, reports the North-West Evening Mail.
The entrepreneur has meetings with Gambling Commission officials and the local council’’s chief licensing officer scheduled for the coming weeks and he claims the feedback from locals has been "pretty good" and has "not been derogatory".
Mr Lucas told the newspaper: "It is not our intention to cause distress to anybody (with a casino).
"It is just a gambling facility, no different really from the likes of putting bets on horses or the dogs and this sort of stuff. I am glad to see there has been no put down on us as long as it is run correctly."
Developer Xscape was recently granted permission to build a new £40 million hotel, shopping development and casino in the car park of its site in Milton Keynes.
09.18.2009 | 10:40 am | Casino.co.uk
He may divide opinions right down the middle, but one thing Derren Brown cannot be accused of is resting on his laurels.
Fresh from claiming to have predicted last week’’s National Lottery draw , the illusionist has now announced plans to hit the casino in a bid to win cash for a member of the public.
For his latest stunt, Brown will bet £5,000 of a willing volunteer’’s savings on a roulette wheel, aiming to win as much as £175,000 for the plucky individual.
Needless to say this latest ”trick” will be televised, again by Channel 4 in Derren Brown: How To Beat A Casino, providing viewers with further (limited) insight into his weird and wonderful world.
Gamblers will be hoping Brown can offer them some genuine tips on how to make a killing, but after seeing his somewhat baffling lottery prediction explanation, they may not be holding their breath.
So will it be a bet on an even red, or an odd black? Perhaps Brown will stick his neck out and bet on a single number? Maybe the ball will have settled before he makes his mind up.
09.18.2009 | 10:40 am | Casino.co.uk
He may divide opinions right down the middle, but one thing Derren Brown cannot be accused of is resting on his laurels.
Fresh from claiming to have predicted last week’’s National Lottery draw , the illusionist has now announced plans to hit the casino in a bid to win cash for a member of the public.
For his latest stunt, Brown will bet £5,000 of a willing volunteer’’s savings on a roulette wheel, aiming to win as much as £175,000 for the plucky individual.
Needless to say this latest ”trick” will be televised, again by Channel 4 in Derren Brown: How To Beat A Casino, providing viewers with further (limited) insight into his weird and wonderful world.
Gamblers will be hoping Brown can offer them some genuine tips on how to make a killing, but after seeing his somewhat baffling lottery prediction explanation, they may not be holding their breath.
So will it be a bet on an even red, or an odd black? Perhaps Brown will stick his neck out and bet on a single number? Maybe the ball will have settled before he makes his mind up.
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