3D Poker Site's Membership Hits 2.4 Million
40,000 registrations in 11 days ... and a new concurrent players benchmark reached
January 16, 2009 (InfoPowa News) -- The U.K.-based 3D online poker site PKR.com continued to set new company records going into the new year, according to the PKR Nation company forum. Between December 24 2008 and January 4 2009, the poker site recorded 40,000 new registrations, bringing the total player base to 2.4 million.
And on January 4th another record fell -- 15,000 simultaneous users were on the website and taking part in games. According to the independent online poker analyst site Pokerscout.com, recent developments have made PKR one of the fastest growing Internet venues for poker cash game action anywhere.
"We are going from strength to strength and it is encouraging to see us maintaining a healthy growth in this tough market," said marketing manager Simon Prodger. "Our ultra-realistic software, innovative gaming offering, and vibrant community are proving to be a big draw to new and current players alike." (Credit: InfoPowa News)
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Saturday, January 17, 2009
Party Poker Review - Poker News Daily - 23rd June 2008
The Quick Summary
Party Poker is a monster among online poker sites. They are one of the biggest rooms with tremendous player action at any time of the day. They did suffer a costly hit to their player base when they decided to exclude US customers as a response to US legislation towards online gaming. Party Poker’s outstanding marketing efforts have resulted in a rebound of player traffic and they are once again on the rise.
Popularity: 9 of 10 – Excellent
No doubt about it: if you want action, you got it at Party Poker. They have more players than most any other poker site. Party Poker got a popularity boost when they acquired broadcasting rights for the World Poker Tour, an advantage they have taken care not to lose by constantly coming up with promotions that appeal to players around the world. You can expect to find action at any table stakes at all times of the day and night.
Security: 9 of 10 – Excellent
Even with such a massive volume of players, Party Poker has not faced any significant security or financial breaches. They are audited by ItechLabs and – since they are listed on the London Stock Exchange Market – all their financial information and security procedures are available for public inspection.
Player Competition: 8 of 10 – Excellent
The competition at Party Poker is soft. They have instituted a very friendly advertising campaign equating poker with a more light-hearted party approach rather than a hard core grinder mentality. Expect loose play if not a bit unorthodox thanks to the droves of new poker players brought in by Party Poker’s marketing programs. This is mostly true for the lower limit games but you can find soft games even at $2/$4 in No Limit and $5/$10 in Fixed Limit.
Site Software: 9 of 10 – Excellent
Party Poker uses proprietary software, meaning that it is not part of a network, but rather it has been independently developed to have unique features and great functionality.
Tables have a nice design, but the avatars and graphics are not extraordinary. The sound effects are crisp and appropriate but players who prefer it quiet can turn them off completely. Players can also choose from a selection of cartoon avatars which goes with the light-hearted party theme of the poker room. The software is fast and easy to use. The hand history feature is functional and useful, as is the note-taking feature. The lobby provides useful statistics such as average pot size and hands played by hour. On top of this, Party Poker’s software supports the automated import of tournament and ring-game data to Poker Tracker.
At Party Poker you can multi-table up to twelve tables at the same time, confident that the software will run smoothly and free of problems or disconnections. You also have the option to resize all tables save for Omaha and Seven-Card Stud games.
Customer Support: 5 of 10 – Ok
Party Poker has great customer service support through either 24-hr toll free number or e-mail. The phone support is excellent: agents are knowledgeable and friendly, always reminding players of the latest promotions and perks. E-mail support has been known to occasionally take too long to respond, although replies are always accurate. A major letdown with Party Poker is their lack of live chat support, which is very convenient for today’s busy players.
Company Ethics: 9 of 10 – Excellent
Party Poker is committed to ensuring responsible gaming. They comply with all legislations and regulations. Party Poker also provides self-exclusion tools, customer deposit limits, as well as not allowing access to minors. As one of the biggest online poker sites, they are fully committed with GamCare, a foundation that develops policies and practices to target problem gambling in accordance with their Social Responsibility Code of Conduct.
Site Promotions: 8 of 10 – Excellent
Party Poker offers a good variety of promotions and bonuses: given their high player volume they can afford more generous bonuses than smaller sites. Another attractive Party Poker feature is their large number of exclusive tournaments, both online – such as the Sunday 300K Guaranteed – and live events, such as the lavish Party Poker Million tourney played every year on a cruise ship.
Overall Review: 7.86 of 10 – Excellent
Final Result: We give Party Poker a final overall score of 8.14 out of 10. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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The Quick Summary
Party Poker is a monster among online poker sites. They are one of the biggest rooms with tremendous player action at any time of the day. They did suffer a costly hit to their player base when they decided to exclude US customers as a response to US legislation towards online gaming. Party Poker’s outstanding marketing efforts have resulted in a rebound of player traffic and they are once again on the rise.
Popularity: 9 of 10 – Excellent
No doubt about it: if you want action, you got it at Party Poker. They have more players than most any other poker site. Party Poker got a popularity boost when they acquired broadcasting rights for the World Poker Tour, an advantage they have taken care not to lose by constantly coming up with promotions that appeal to players around the world. You can expect to find action at any table stakes at all times of the day and night.
Security: 9 of 10 – Excellent
Even with such a massive volume of players, Party Poker has not faced any significant security or financial breaches. They are audited by ItechLabs and – since they are listed on the London Stock Exchange Market – all their financial information and security procedures are available for public inspection.
Player Competition: 8 of 10 – Excellent
The competition at Party Poker is soft. They have instituted a very friendly advertising campaign equating poker with a more light-hearted party approach rather than a hard core grinder mentality. Expect loose play if not a bit unorthodox thanks to the droves of new poker players brought in by Party Poker’s marketing programs. This is mostly true for the lower limit games but you can find soft games even at $2/$4 in No Limit and $5/$10 in Fixed Limit.
Site Software: 9 of 10 – Excellent
Party Poker uses proprietary software, meaning that it is not part of a network, but rather it has been independently developed to have unique features and great functionality.
Tables have a nice design, but the avatars and graphics are not extraordinary. The sound effects are crisp and appropriate but players who prefer it quiet can turn them off completely. Players can also choose from a selection of cartoon avatars which goes with the light-hearted party theme of the poker room. The software is fast and easy to use. The hand history feature is functional and useful, as is the note-taking feature. The lobby provides useful statistics such as average pot size and hands played by hour. On top of this, Party Poker’s software supports the automated import of tournament and ring-game data to Poker Tracker.
At Party Poker you can multi-table up to twelve tables at the same time, confident that the software will run smoothly and free of problems or disconnections. You also have the option to resize all tables save for Omaha and Seven-Card Stud games.
Customer Support: 5 of 10 – Ok
Party Poker has great customer service support through either 24-hr toll free number or e-mail. The phone support is excellent: agents are knowledgeable and friendly, always reminding players of the latest promotions and perks. E-mail support has been known to occasionally take too long to respond, although replies are always accurate. A major letdown with Party Poker is their lack of live chat support, which is very convenient for today’s busy players.
Company Ethics: 9 of 10 – Excellent
Party Poker is committed to ensuring responsible gaming. They comply with all legislations and regulations. Party Poker also provides self-exclusion tools, customer deposit limits, as well as not allowing access to minors. As one of the biggest online poker sites, they are fully committed with GamCare, a foundation that develops policies and practices to target problem gambling in accordance with their Social Responsibility Code of Conduct.
Site Promotions: 8 of 10 – Excellent
Party Poker offers a good variety of promotions and bonuses: given their high player volume they can afford more generous bonuses than smaller sites. Another attractive Party Poker feature is their large number of exclusive tournaments, both online – such as the Sunday 300K Guaranteed – and live events, such as the lavish Party Poker Million tourney played every year on a cruise ship.
Overall Review: 7.86 of 10 – Excellent
Final Result: We give Party Poker a final overall score of 8.14 out of 10. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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Hitwise Top 10 "Gambling -- Poker" week ending Dec. 27, 2008 (based on visits):
Australia
1. (14.18%) Pacific Poker - www.pacificpoker.com
2. (11.75%) PKR Poker - www.pkr.com
3. (8.16%) PokerRoom.com - www.pokerroom.com
4. (5.44%) UltimateBet.com - www.ultimatebet.com
5. (4.90%) Play APL - www.playapl.com
6. (3.30%) National Poker League - www.npl.com.au
7. (3.10%) PartyPoker.net - www.partypoker.net
8. (2.74%) Poker Network - www.pokernetwork.com
9. (2.66%) PokerStars.com - www.pokerstars.com
10. (2.23%) Official Poker Rankings - www.officialpokerrankings.com
United Kingdom
1. (13.65%) Mansion Poker - www.mansionpoker.com
2. (13.42%) PKR Poker - www.pkr.com
3. (11.38%) Pacific Poker - www.pacificpoker.com
4. (8.78%) Sky Poker - www.skypoker.com
5. (6.56%) LadbrokesPoker.com - www.ladbrokespoker.com
6. (3.04%) Littlewoods Poker - www.littlewoodspoker.com
7. (3.01%) Paddy Power Poker - www.paddypowerpoker.com
8. (2.75%) Betfairpoker.com - www.betfairpoker.com
9. (2.62%) SharkScope - www.sharkscope.com
10. (2.31%) VC Poker UK - www.vcpoker.com
United States
1. (18.36%) Littlewoods Poker - www.littlewoodspoker.com
2. (7.55%) Pitbull Poker - www.pitbullpoker.com
3. (6.83%) PokerStars.com - www.pokerstars.com
4. (5.87%) PokerStars.net - www.pokerstars.net
5. (5.45%) VideoPoker.com - www.videopoker.com
6. (5.29%) Full Tilt Poker - www.fulltiltpoker.com
7. (4.83%) Railbirds - www.railbirds.com
8. (3.09%) Bodog Poker - poker.bodoglife.com
9. (2.87%) PartyPoker.net - www.partypoker.net
10. (2.87%) Absolute Poker - www.absolutepoker.com
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Australia
1. (14.18%) Pacific Poker - www.pacificpoker.com
2. (11.75%) PKR Poker - www.pkr.com
3. (8.16%) PokerRoom.com - www.pokerroom.com
4. (5.44%) UltimateBet.com - www.ultimatebet.com
5. (4.90%) Play APL - www.playapl.com
6. (3.30%) National Poker League - www.npl.com.au
7. (3.10%) PartyPoker.net - www.partypoker.net
8. (2.74%) Poker Network - www.pokernetwork.com
9. (2.66%) PokerStars.com - www.pokerstars.com
10. (2.23%) Official Poker Rankings - www.officialpokerrankings.com
United Kingdom
1. (13.65%) Mansion Poker - www.mansionpoker.com
2. (13.42%) PKR Poker - www.pkr.com
3. (11.38%) Pacific Poker - www.pacificpoker.com
4. (8.78%) Sky Poker - www.skypoker.com
5. (6.56%) LadbrokesPoker.com - www.ladbrokespoker.com
6. (3.04%) Littlewoods Poker - www.littlewoodspoker.com
7. (3.01%) Paddy Power Poker - www.paddypowerpoker.com
8. (2.75%) Betfairpoker.com - www.betfairpoker.com
9. (2.62%) SharkScope - www.sharkscope.com
10. (2.31%) VC Poker UK - www.vcpoker.com
United States
1. (18.36%) Littlewoods Poker - www.littlewoodspoker.com
2. (7.55%) Pitbull Poker - www.pitbullpoker.com
3. (6.83%) PokerStars.com - www.pokerstars.com
4. (5.87%) PokerStars.net - www.pokerstars.net
5. (5.45%) VideoPoker.com - www.videopoker.com
6. (5.29%) Full Tilt Poker - www.fulltiltpoker.com
7. (4.83%) Railbirds - www.railbirds.com
8. (3.09%) Bodog Poker - poker.bodoglife.com
9. (2.87%) PartyPoker.net - www.partypoker.net
10. (2.87%) Absolute Poker - www.absolutepoker.com
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Friday, January 16, 2009
A tournament where you can win millions, by Alex Lavelle - The Age - 16th January 2009
Australian Open organisers raised the winner's prizemoney to $2 million last week, which they said was because of a weaker Australian dollar, but could just as easily have been so that the other big show in town this month, the Aussie Millions poker tournament, didn't boast a greater first prize.
The winner of the main event at Crown casino will also receive $2 million, and endorsements worth plenty more. No wonder Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who complained that tennis players weren't paid enough, ignored Andre Agassi's advice to take his tennis prizemoney and buy some perspective and instead bought a heap of poker chips.
Among the 800 or so players attempting to snare the $2 million next week will be Shane Warne, who incidentally receives around $500,000 just to turn up to a handful of tournaments each year, and poker legends Gus Hansen, Joe Hachem and Phil Ivey.
There will also be plenty of AFL footballers keeping an eye on proceedings.
Brendan Fevola, who made it through to day two of the main event last year, would be there again if Carlton was not heading off to Malaysia for a pre-season training camp.
Texas hold 'em has become a favourite leisure pursuit among many footballers. After a night game, plenty of players will wind down with a few hands in the poker room at Crown or online at home.
"I'll often get online with 888.com after a night game. Obviously the adrenalin's still pumping and it's a good way to wind down," said Fevola, who played in the opening event of the Aussie Millions last Friday and lasted four hours before his ace-high flush was beaten by a full house.
"I love poker. It was a good feeling playing with good players and getting some more experience and I thought I played pretty well."
Many of the Carlton players hold a regular home game, and it may be no coincidence that former World Series of Poker champion Joe Hachem is a Blues fan. "It gets pretty competitive among the boys, but it's a good way to get the players together," said Fevola.
That was a sentiment shared by Hawthorn star Luke Hodge, who also played in the opening event. There are a dozen or so Hawks who play regularly. "Playing poker is a good way to relax and unwind and socialise with the boys," he said.
Hodge, who said he felt mentally drained after playing for six hours in the tournament last Friday, rates skipper Sam Mitchell as one of the handier poker players in the team and Clinton Young as the luckiest. One thing Hodge accepts, though, is that playing a lot of poker is easier when you are single.
"I've had to cut down a little. We've got a six-month-old, Cooper, who needs a bit more attention!"
Alex Lavelle lost almost half his chips in the first hand of the opening event on a bluff. He crashed out three hours later. If he had won any prizemoney, he would have given at least half to charity. Honest. (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
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Australian Open organisers raised the winner's prizemoney to $2 million last week, which they said was because of a weaker Australian dollar, but could just as easily have been so that the other big show in town this month, the Aussie Millions poker tournament, didn't boast a greater first prize.
The winner of the main event at Crown casino will also receive $2 million, and endorsements worth plenty more. No wonder Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who complained that tennis players weren't paid enough, ignored Andre Agassi's advice to take his tennis prizemoney and buy some perspective and instead bought a heap of poker chips.
Among the 800 or so players attempting to snare the $2 million next week will be Shane Warne, who incidentally receives around $500,000 just to turn up to a handful of tournaments each year, and poker legends Gus Hansen, Joe Hachem and Phil Ivey.
There will also be plenty of AFL footballers keeping an eye on proceedings.
Brendan Fevola, who made it through to day two of the main event last year, would be there again if Carlton was not heading off to Malaysia for a pre-season training camp.
Texas hold 'em has become a favourite leisure pursuit among many footballers. After a night game, plenty of players will wind down with a few hands in the poker room at Crown or online at home.
"I'll often get online with 888.com after a night game. Obviously the adrenalin's still pumping and it's a good way to wind down," said Fevola, who played in the opening event of the Aussie Millions last Friday and lasted four hours before his ace-high flush was beaten by a full house.
"I love poker. It was a good feeling playing with good players and getting some more experience and I thought I played pretty well."
Many of the Carlton players hold a regular home game, and it may be no coincidence that former World Series of Poker champion Joe Hachem is a Blues fan. "It gets pretty competitive among the boys, but it's a good way to get the players together," said Fevola.
That was a sentiment shared by Hawthorn star Luke Hodge, who also played in the opening event. There are a dozen or so Hawks who play regularly. "Playing poker is a good way to relax and unwind and socialise with the boys," he said.
Hodge, who said he felt mentally drained after playing for six hours in the tournament last Friday, rates skipper Sam Mitchell as one of the handier poker players in the team and Clinton Young as the luckiest. One thing Hodge accepts, though, is that playing a lot of poker is easier when you are single.
"I've had to cut down a little. We've got a six-month-old, Cooper, who needs a bit more attention!"
Alex Lavelle lost almost half his chips in the first hand of the opening event on a bluff. He crashed out three hours later. If he had won any prizemoney, he would have given at least half to charity. Honest. (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
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Thursday, January 15, 2009
Party Gaming Boss Predicts Industry Consolidation - 9th January 2009
Hard times will see only five major online poker sites on the Net, says Ryan
Party Gaming CEO Jim Ryan opines that in three year's time there will be only five major online poker sites of any consequence due to industry consolidation....and he intends to ensure that Party Poker is one of them.
Speaking to the UK newspaper The Financial Times, Ryan said: “We need to retake the hill and position ourselves to be that leader again.
“Our job, frankly speaking, is to take share back.”
But, he admitted, the increased competition in Europe may make it more expensive for his group to achieve its aims as current industry high-rollers like Poker Stars and Full Tilt up the ante when it comes to media buys and teaming up with marketing affiliates.
The FT reported that Ryan is finding it frustrating that Poker Stars and Full Tilt continue to take the risk of operating in the United States market, something Party Gaming ceased to do following the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006. This created a significant competitive disadvantage for Party Poker, but he was nevertheless preparing the online poker site for the day when it might be able to legally re-enter the US market in the event of a change in the legislative landscape and a successful "clean slate" deal with the US Department of Justice.
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Hard times will see only five major online poker sites on the Net, says Ryan
Party Gaming CEO Jim Ryan opines that in three year's time there will be only five major online poker sites of any consequence due to industry consolidation....and he intends to ensure that Party Poker is one of them.
Speaking to the UK newspaper The Financial Times, Ryan said: “We need to retake the hill and position ourselves to be that leader again.
“Our job, frankly speaking, is to take share back.”
But, he admitted, the increased competition in Europe may make it more expensive for his group to achieve its aims as current industry high-rollers like Poker Stars and Full Tilt up the ante when it comes to media buys and teaming up with marketing affiliates.
The FT reported that Ryan is finding it frustrating that Poker Stars and Full Tilt continue to take the risk of operating in the United States market, something Party Gaming ceased to do following the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006. This created a significant competitive disadvantage for Party Poker, but he was nevertheless preparing the online poker site for the day when it might be able to legally re-enter the US market in the event of a change in the legislative landscape and a successful "clean slate" deal with the US Department of Justice.
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Playboy Gaming to Close Online Poker Site January 29th, by Tom Jenkins - Poker News Daily - 14th January 2009
According to a customer service e-mail received on Wednesday, Playboy Gaming, the parent company of Playboy Poker, will shut its doors on January 29th. The e-mail read, in part, “In response to your email, I can confirm that Playboy Gaming will no longer have a poker site and will not be moving to another network.” Poker News Daily has also confirmed the news with CryptoLogic, the network Playboy Poker belongs to.
No mention of a shut down is given on Playboy Poker’s website at the time of writing. Playboy Poker is a site on the CryptoLogic Network and has no plans to head to another group of sites. Other CryptoLogic rooms include Interpoker, Betsafe, and William Hill. The Network is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange in the United States under the symbol “CRYP.” Midday on Wednesday, it was trading up $0.42 to $3.17. The stock price was buoyed by a report that it had entered into a partnership with Gaming Technology Solutions, which develops casino software. Its current clientele includes Unibet, 888, Expekt, and bwin.
In 2007, Playboy Gaming added a casino to its suite of offerings. Its Rewards Club is one of the major features that separates Playboy Poker from its competition. The site offers a variety of experiences that can be purchased with player points, including lunch with Playboy Playmates and Bunnies, a party at the Playboy Mansion in California, and a trip to the Playboy Club in Las Vegas. Playboy merchandise and poker paraphernalia are also available. The site takes its name from the popular magazine and adult film company founded by Hugh Hefner. It is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “PLA.”
Sun Poker and PokerPlex recently bolted from CryptoLogic to join the iPoker Network, which is owned and operated by software developer Playtech. Littlewoods recently completed a move to 888 from CryptoLogic and Classic Poker is set to follow suit in the near future. In November, CryptoLogic announced that its online poker sites would become a part of the popular Boss Network in the beginning of 2009. However, no formal date has been given for the move. A press release distributed by William Hill stated that January of 2009 was the target date for the transition.
Poker News Daily confirmed the shutdown with a source at CryptoLogic, who stated that the reason for the closure was that the site “just didn’t do as well financially as we had hoped. The response to the Playboy brand wasn’t as great as we hoped.” The brand is well-known in the United States. However, outside of Playboy’s home country, its name takes on a different meaning. CryptoLogic officials described Playboy as a “lifestyle brand” in the U.S. The online poker room will encourage its customers to head to InterPoker and InterCasino.
On Thursday at 8:30am ET, CryptoLogic will be hosting a conference call “to update investors on the progress of its plan to return to growth and profitability in 2009,” according to a statement posted on the company’s website. In the third quarter of 2008, CryptoLogic posted a net loss of $5.9 million.
In 2006, the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in the United States sent many online poker sites packing from the market. Sites like Playboy Gaming, therefore, lost their target audience. PartyPoker, the largest online poker room in the world at the time, also vacated the U.S. For-profit online poker rooms that continue to accept U.S. customers include PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Bodog, Ultimate Bet, and Absolute Poker.
Playboy Gaming officials, based in London, could not be reached for comment at press time. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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According to a customer service e-mail received on Wednesday, Playboy Gaming, the parent company of Playboy Poker, will shut its doors on January 29th. The e-mail read, in part, “In response to your email, I can confirm that Playboy Gaming will no longer have a poker site and will not be moving to another network.” Poker News Daily has also confirmed the news with CryptoLogic, the network Playboy Poker belongs to.
No mention of a shut down is given on Playboy Poker’s website at the time of writing. Playboy Poker is a site on the CryptoLogic Network and has no plans to head to another group of sites. Other CryptoLogic rooms include Interpoker, Betsafe, and William Hill. The Network is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange in the United States under the symbol “CRYP.” Midday on Wednesday, it was trading up $0.42 to $3.17. The stock price was buoyed by a report that it had entered into a partnership with Gaming Technology Solutions, which develops casino software. Its current clientele includes Unibet, 888, Expekt, and bwin.
In 2007, Playboy Gaming added a casino to its suite of offerings. Its Rewards Club is one of the major features that separates Playboy Poker from its competition. The site offers a variety of experiences that can be purchased with player points, including lunch with Playboy Playmates and Bunnies, a party at the Playboy Mansion in California, and a trip to the Playboy Club in Las Vegas. Playboy merchandise and poker paraphernalia are also available. The site takes its name from the popular magazine and adult film company founded by Hugh Hefner. It is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “PLA.”
Sun Poker and PokerPlex recently bolted from CryptoLogic to join the iPoker Network, which is owned and operated by software developer Playtech. Littlewoods recently completed a move to 888 from CryptoLogic and Classic Poker is set to follow suit in the near future. In November, CryptoLogic announced that its online poker sites would become a part of the popular Boss Network in the beginning of 2009. However, no formal date has been given for the move. A press release distributed by William Hill stated that January of 2009 was the target date for the transition.
Poker News Daily confirmed the shutdown with a source at CryptoLogic, who stated that the reason for the closure was that the site “just didn’t do as well financially as we had hoped. The response to the Playboy brand wasn’t as great as we hoped.” The brand is well-known in the United States. However, outside of Playboy’s home country, its name takes on a different meaning. CryptoLogic officials described Playboy as a “lifestyle brand” in the U.S. The online poker room will encourage its customers to head to InterPoker and InterCasino.
On Thursday at 8:30am ET, CryptoLogic will be hosting a conference call “to update investors on the progress of its plan to return to growth and profitability in 2009,” according to a statement posted on the company’s website. In the third quarter of 2008, CryptoLogic posted a net loss of $5.9 million.
In 2006, the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in the United States sent many online poker sites packing from the market. Sites like Playboy Gaming, therefore, lost their target audience. PartyPoker, the largest online poker room in the world at the time, also vacated the U.S. For-profit online poker rooms that continue to accept U.S. customers include PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Bodog, Ultimate Bet, and Absolute Poker.
Playboy Gaming officials, based in London, could not be reached for comment at press time. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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Drop out's a poker ace at just 20, with millions in the bank, by Michael Lallo - The Sydney Morning Herald - 14th January 2009
Among a group of men huddled around a poker table in Crown Casino sits a 20-year-old Norwegian woman named Annette Obrestad.
She is short, confident and stylish; her hot-pink leggings and shiny black boots stand in stark contrast to the T-shirts and beer bellies of her competitors.
And if things go her way during the month-long Aussie Millions Championship, she will leave our shores a couple of million dollars richer.
Obrestad is a poker phenomenon: a high-school drop-out and under-age gambler who has become a record-breaking champion.
"I realised I was talented after I started winning more through poker than my mum was earning in her job," she says during a short break from play. "I've made lots of money. I'm not going to say how much, but it's quite a bit."
According to some reports, she has won at least $US3.3 million, including $US2 million in the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOP) tournament and $US500,000 from various Pokerstars online tournaments.
Obrestad got her start after seeing an advertisement for an online poker website.
"It sounded like fun, so I played a few games and did pretty well," she says. "I was only 15 at the time, so I guess what I did was technically illegal. But I never deposited the money, so I don't feel like I did anything wrong."
At 18, Obrestad became the youngest ever winner of the WSOP Europe tournament, and her $US2 million prize is the biggest single-event payout to a female player. She has since won several other live and online tournaments. Not bad considering she can't even compete in WSOP events in the United States until she turns 21.
"I dropped out of high school when I was 17," she says. "I just didn't see the point of getting a degree. All it would have done is stopped me from doing what I really want to do for another three years."
Not surprisingly, nearly all her competitors are men.
"You're lucky if one in 10 players are girls. The women I've played are much older. They only come to the casino because their husbands drag them along. And to be honest, most of them suck."
Obrestad says she prefers playing online, even though she cannot gauge her competitors' physical reactions.
"I find it easier because I first played online," she says. "You notice other players doing the same things with certain hands. And a lot of them have taught themselves on poker training websites. Often, they all end up using the same tactics, so it's not that hard to beat them."
Given Obrestad scored her first payout of $US9 in a tournament with no entry fee, she claims she has never gambled any cash she hadn't previously won.
"I'm pretty good with money," she said. "I obviously have to risk what I've earned to win more, but I've never lost more than I've won. My only big purchase is the house that I bought for my mum. Apart from that, I got some new clothes and invested the rest."
Obrestad's tournament entry fees are paid by her sponsor, an online betting agency, and she allegedly pays her own travel and accommodation costs. But anti-gambling campaigners warn against others being tempted to emulate her good fortune.
"Most people gamble in the belief they will make a quick buck," says Mark Zirnsak, chair of the Interchurch Gambling Task Force. "But that's a false belief. The odds are always stacked against you."
Zirnsak says anyone who gambles should set a limit and stick to it, gamble only what they can afford to lose, leave their bank cards at home, and always attend gambling venues with a friend. (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
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Among a group of men huddled around a poker table in Crown Casino sits a 20-year-old Norwegian woman named Annette Obrestad.
She is short, confident and stylish; her hot-pink leggings and shiny black boots stand in stark contrast to the T-shirts and beer bellies of her competitors.
And if things go her way during the month-long Aussie Millions Championship, she will leave our shores a couple of million dollars richer.
Obrestad is a poker phenomenon: a high-school drop-out and under-age gambler who has become a record-breaking champion.
"I realised I was talented after I started winning more through poker than my mum was earning in her job," she says during a short break from play. "I've made lots of money. I'm not going to say how much, but it's quite a bit."
According to some reports, she has won at least $US3.3 million, including $US2 million in the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOP) tournament and $US500,000 from various Pokerstars online tournaments.
Obrestad got her start after seeing an advertisement for an online poker website.
"It sounded like fun, so I played a few games and did pretty well," she says. "I was only 15 at the time, so I guess what I did was technically illegal. But I never deposited the money, so I don't feel like I did anything wrong."
At 18, Obrestad became the youngest ever winner of the WSOP Europe tournament, and her $US2 million prize is the biggest single-event payout to a female player. She has since won several other live and online tournaments. Not bad considering she can't even compete in WSOP events in the United States until she turns 21.
"I dropped out of high school when I was 17," she says. "I just didn't see the point of getting a degree. All it would have done is stopped me from doing what I really want to do for another three years."
Not surprisingly, nearly all her competitors are men.
"You're lucky if one in 10 players are girls. The women I've played are much older. They only come to the casino because their husbands drag them along. And to be honest, most of them suck."
Obrestad says she prefers playing online, even though she cannot gauge her competitors' physical reactions.
"I find it easier because I first played online," she says. "You notice other players doing the same things with certain hands. And a lot of them have taught themselves on poker training websites. Often, they all end up using the same tactics, so it's not that hard to beat them."
Given Obrestad scored her first payout of $US9 in a tournament with no entry fee, she claims she has never gambled any cash she hadn't previously won.
"I'm pretty good with money," she said. "I obviously have to risk what I've earned to win more, but I've never lost more than I've won. My only big purchase is the house that I bought for my mum. Apart from that, I got some new clothes and invested the rest."
Obrestad's tournament entry fees are paid by her sponsor, an online betting agency, and she allegedly pays her own travel and accommodation costs. But anti-gambling campaigners warn against others being tempted to emulate her good fortune.
"Most people gamble in the belief they will make a quick buck," says Mark Zirnsak, chair of the Interchurch Gambling Task Force. "But that's a false belief. The odds are always stacked against you."
Zirnsak says anyone who gambles should set a limit and stick to it, gamble only what they can afford to lose, leave their bank cards at home, and always attend gambling venues with a friend. (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
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Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Taiwan Legalizes Casino Gambling, by Dan Cypra - Poker News Daily - 12th January 2009
The outlying islands of Taiwan will now be open to legal land-based gambling, according to Bloomberg. However, its mainland will remain inaccessible to companies such as MGM Grand and the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. Previously, gambling anywhere in Taiwan was not permitted.
Bloomberg notes the number of casinos that will be permitted is undetermined. Taiwanese Nationalist Party spokesperson Justin Chou told the news outlet, “Because Taiwan’s economy is now falling, the belief is that these resort projects can help spur the economy.” Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) Chairman Joe Brennan told Poker News Daily that Asia remains a viable location for new gambling enterprises: “It’s one of the reasons why Las Vegas has done so well. The city is a magnet for high-stakes gamblers from the Far East. That’s part of the reason that Macau took off. Its success has had a cascade effect around the Far East.”
Macau plays host to a variety of high-profile tournaments held as part of the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) and Asian Poker Tour (APT). The latter tournament series invited U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps to its most recent Macau event; Phelps was in nearby Beijing winning a record eight gold medals, but did not turn out for the APT festivities. The Venetian Macau, according to a 2007 USA Today article, is the largest building by area in all of Asia, coming in at 10.5 million square feet. In addition, the casino boasts 3,000 hotel rooms.
With gambling revenues in Nevada dropping nearly 15% in November of 2008 in comparison to the same time period in 2007, the industry has been hit hard by the sagging economy. Nevertheless, Taiwan will look to compete with Macau and Singapore to bring much-needed revenue to its economy. Brennan explained that the usual process of integrating casinos into a country is to permit it in outlying areas first. Macau, for example, is accessible by helicopter or ferry from the more populous Hong Kong. Many states in the U.S. only allow gambling if it the casino is located over water. Extensive land-based casino markets have cropped up only in Nevada, New Jersey, and Mississippi.
The Central News Agency added that residents of the outlying islands must first approve the measure in order for it to be enacted; over 50% of voters must give their endorsement. The casino gambling law also calls for the establishment of an “outlying island development fund” of nearly $1 billion. No timeline for when a vote would take place was given nor was any indication of when the newly-approved casinos may begin to spring up.
The Las Vegas Sands Corporation is looking forward to the opening of its Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The 2,600 room hotel features a “Sky Park” that stretches across the roofs of its three towers. The $2.7 billion property is set to welcome gamblers later this year. Analyst Lawrence Klatzkin told the Associated Press, “We expect the fourth-quarter opening of Singapore will result in the opening of the most profitable casino in the world.” The Marina Bay will also feature an indoor canal and ice skating rink, as well as the ArtScience Museum.
Bloomberg expects an investigation into the possibility of legalized gambling on Taiwan’s mainland “only after two or three years of successful operation on the outlying islands.” Despite the news coming out of Asia, shares of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “LVS,” were down $0.90, or 12.88%, by midday Monday. Shares of MGM Mirage, also found on the NYSE, were down $0.86 to $12.53, a fall of 6.42% on the day. Finally, shares of Trump Entertainment, traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol “TRMP,” were at $0.27, up 3.65% on the day. Over the last 52 weeks, TRMP had traded as high as $4.80.
Edward Sabat took down the most recent APPT Macau Main Event for USD $453,000. The PokerStars sponsored tournament played out at the Grand Waldo Hotel and Casino, drawing 538 players. The 2008 Macau stop on the Asian Poker Tour was won by Yevgeniy Timoshenko, known as “atimos” in the online poker world. Timoshenko grabbed USD $500,000 for his efforts. That tournament series is run by AsianLogic. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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The outlying islands of Taiwan will now be open to legal land-based gambling, according to Bloomberg. However, its mainland will remain inaccessible to companies such as MGM Grand and the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. Previously, gambling anywhere in Taiwan was not permitted.
Bloomberg notes the number of casinos that will be permitted is undetermined. Taiwanese Nationalist Party spokesperson Justin Chou told the news outlet, “Because Taiwan’s economy is now falling, the belief is that these resort projects can help spur the economy.” Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) Chairman Joe Brennan told Poker News Daily that Asia remains a viable location for new gambling enterprises: “It’s one of the reasons why Las Vegas has done so well. The city is a magnet for high-stakes gamblers from the Far East. That’s part of the reason that Macau took off. Its success has had a cascade effect around the Far East.”
Macau plays host to a variety of high-profile tournaments held as part of the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) and Asian Poker Tour (APT). The latter tournament series invited U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps to its most recent Macau event; Phelps was in nearby Beijing winning a record eight gold medals, but did not turn out for the APT festivities. The Venetian Macau, according to a 2007 USA Today article, is the largest building by area in all of Asia, coming in at 10.5 million square feet. In addition, the casino boasts 3,000 hotel rooms.
With gambling revenues in Nevada dropping nearly 15% in November of 2008 in comparison to the same time period in 2007, the industry has been hit hard by the sagging economy. Nevertheless, Taiwan will look to compete with Macau and Singapore to bring much-needed revenue to its economy. Brennan explained that the usual process of integrating casinos into a country is to permit it in outlying areas first. Macau, for example, is accessible by helicopter or ferry from the more populous Hong Kong. Many states in the U.S. only allow gambling if it the casino is located over water. Extensive land-based casino markets have cropped up only in Nevada, New Jersey, and Mississippi.
The Central News Agency added that residents of the outlying islands must first approve the measure in order for it to be enacted; over 50% of voters must give their endorsement. The casino gambling law also calls for the establishment of an “outlying island development fund” of nearly $1 billion. No timeline for when a vote would take place was given nor was any indication of when the newly-approved casinos may begin to spring up.
The Las Vegas Sands Corporation is looking forward to the opening of its Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The 2,600 room hotel features a “Sky Park” that stretches across the roofs of its three towers. The $2.7 billion property is set to welcome gamblers later this year. Analyst Lawrence Klatzkin told the Associated Press, “We expect the fourth-quarter opening of Singapore will result in the opening of the most profitable casino in the world.” The Marina Bay will also feature an indoor canal and ice skating rink, as well as the ArtScience Museum.
Bloomberg expects an investigation into the possibility of legalized gambling on Taiwan’s mainland “only after two or three years of successful operation on the outlying islands.” Despite the news coming out of Asia, shares of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “LVS,” were down $0.90, or 12.88%, by midday Monday. Shares of MGM Mirage, also found on the NYSE, were down $0.86 to $12.53, a fall of 6.42% on the day. Finally, shares of Trump Entertainment, traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol “TRMP,” were at $0.27, up 3.65% on the day. Over the last 52 weeks, TRMP had traded as high as $4.80.
Edward Sabat took down the most recent APPT Macau Main Event for USD $453,000. The PokerStars sponsored tournament played out at the Grand Waldo Hotel and Casino, drawing 538 players. The 2008 Macau stop on the Asian Poker Tour was won by Yevgeniy Timoshenko, known as “atimos” in the online poker world. Timoshenko grabbed USD $500,000 for his efforts. That tournament series is run by AsianLogic. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Aussie Millions Crowns Two Champions - Bluff Europe - 12th January 2009
One of the “big three” tournament series and the first of 2009 has started in Australia. The 2009 Aussie Millions has begun in Melbourne’s Crown Casino with an AU$1,100 No-Limit Hold ‘em event and an AU$1,050 No-Limit Hold ‘em event played on PokerPro electronic tables (guess it was last thing on a Friday afternoon in the “new tournament ideas” office).
The first title went to Germany’s Christian Heich after he bested a record 732-strong field in the $1,100 event. He started off the final table as third-place by chip count but through some lucky cards and skilled moves he reached the heads-up battle with Steve Topakas at a slight chip disadvantage.
Soon he regained the lead and eventually all the money went in – Topakas held nothing but a draw; Heich had trapped him with a flopped set that avoided the dangerous river cards to hold up and win the German $150,000.
The PokerPro event saw a turnout of 83 players including online tournament masters Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad and BluffEurope.com contributor Wesley “tEh_R3aLde4L” Whybrew The PokerPro tables are dealerless and fully electronic, with a touchscreen for player actions. The event was won by Aussie native Mitchell Carle, who received $25,000. (Credit: Bluff Europe)
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One of the “big three” tournament series and the first of 2009 has started in Australia. The 2009 Aussie Millions has begun in Melbourne’s Crown Casino with an AU$1,100 No-Limit Hold ‘em event and an AU$1,050 No-Limit Hold ‘em event played on PokerPro electronic tables (guess it was last thing on a Friday afternoon in the “new tournament ideas” office).
The first title went to Germany’s Christian Heich after he bested a record 732-strong field in the $1,100 event. He started off the final table as third-place by chip count but through some lucky cards and skilled moves he reached the heads-up battle with Steve Topakas at a slight chip disadvantage.
Soon he regained the lead and eventually all the money went in – Topakas held nothing but a draw; Heich had trapped him with a flopped set that avoided the dangerous river cards to hold up and win the German $150,000.
The PokerPro event saw a turnout of 83 players including online tournament masters Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad and BluffEurope.com contributor Wesley “tEh_R3aLde4L” Whybrew The PokerPro tables are dealerless and fully electronic, with a touchscreen for player actions. The event was won by Aussie native Mitchell Carle, who received $25,000. (Credit: Bluff Europe)
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Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
PartyGaming Files Lawsuit - iGaming Business - 7th January 2009
Leading online gaming operator PartyGaming, the firm behind popular online poker domain PartyPoker.com, has filed a lawsuit against Livermore Investments Group Limited.
The action was filed in London on December 23 according to a report from news service Bloomberg.com and surrounds PartyGaming’s 2006 takeover of Livermore’s Internet gambling business at Empire Online.
According to Bloomberg.com, Gibraltar-based PartyGaming alleges that Livermore ‘failed to deliver a certain amount of income under an acquisition made three years ago’.
British Virgin Islands-registered Livermore previously operated as the online gaming firm Empire Online until PartyGaming purchased its gambling business for $38 million. Livermore is run by Chief Executive Officer Noam Lanir and changed its name following the sale before beginning operations as an investment business.
According to John Shepherd, spokesperson for PartyGaming, the value of the claim is ‘six figures’ but he declined to give additional details.
PartyGaming was also in the news late last month after its largest shareholder, India-born Anurag Dikshit, pled guilty to in a New York court to violating sections of the 1961 Wire Act. Thirty-seven-year-old Dikshit helped start PartyGaming in 1997 by creating its software platform and agreed to pay $300 million in fines and assist authorities with their investigations while awaiting sentencing in two years. (Credit: iGaming Business)
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Leading online gaming operator PartyGaming, the firm behind popular online poker domain PartyPoker.com, has filed a lawsuit against Livermore Investments Group Limited.
The action was filed in London on December 23 according to a report from news service Bloomberg.com and surrounds PartyGaming’s 2006 takeover of Livermore’s Internet gambling business at Empire Online.
According to Bloomberg.com, Gibraltar-based PartyGaming alleges that Livermore ‘failed to deliver a certain amount of income under an acquisition made three years ago’.
British Virgin Islands-registered Livermore previously operated as the online gaming firm Empire Online until PartyGaming purchased its gambling business for $38 million. Livermore is run by Chief Executive Officer Noam Lanir and changed its name following the sale before beginning operations as an investment business.
According to John Shepherd, spokesperson for PartyGaming, the value of the claim is ‘six figures’ but he declined to give additional details.
PartyGaming was also in the news late last month after its largest shareholder, India-born Anurag Dikshit, pled guilty to in a New York court to violating sections of the 1961 Wire Act. Thirty-seven-year-old Dikshit helped start PartyGaming in 1997 by creating its software platform and agreed to pay $300 million in fines and assist authorities with their investigations while awaiting sentencing in two years. (Credit: iGaming Business)
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Google Allows Poker Affiliates to Bid on Search Terms, by Dan Cypra - Poker News Daily - 10th January 2009
The world of Google AdWords is about to change, as the site recently announced a modification of its policy towards gambling. Affiliates of internet gambling sites can now bid on popular industry terms, such as “online poker,” according to a press release distributed Friday by Income Access. The opportunity, for the moment, is limited to the United Kingdom.
The site, which is a marketing agency for the internet gambling market, has been advising affiliates on how to bid on search terms effectively. Operators in the industry, such as the sites themselves, have been allowed to pursue pay per click (PPC) advertising since November of 2008. Now, affiliates will be able to take part as well, likely bidding up prices of popular search terms related to online poker and online casinos. Several of the world’s largest internet gambling companies, such as William Hill, Sportingbet, 888, and Party Gaming, are all traded on the London Stock Exchange. None of the four caters to the U.S. market.
Income Access’ Daniel Bakerman told Poker News Daily why affiliates are important customers to the mammoth search engine: “Google has a vested interest in making sure affiliates are successful. They are huge spenders and represent a good market for Google.” The Income Access press release notes that affiliates will not be able to bid on the sites they promote, such as the terms “PartyPoker” or “Paradise Poker.” Operators, on the other hand, are able to bid on their competition’s names.
Bakerman added that search engine traffic is an important source of revenue for affiliates not just in online poker, but also in other industries: “Affiliates make a lot of money using PPC advertising in industries such as retail. If it’s done well, it’s a way to attract targeted traffic to your site. You can get your ads displayed right in front of people who are searching for what you’re offering. Another benefit is that you get an instantaneous result for the money you put in.” For example, rather than increasing a site’s ranking in Google organically, which can take months of publishing relevant unique content, AdWords allows sites to be pushed to the top of search returns quickly.
Sponsored links for the search term “poker book” include links to eBay and Amazon as well as a host of private sites. These links appear to the right of the traditional list of search returns. In some cases, Google returns shopping links at the top as well. Income Access, meanwhile, has created a Search Engine Marketing (SEM) branch to help affiliates wade through the sometimes confusing world of AdWords. Bakerman explained, “Income Access also built in a lot of tools for affiliates they can use in conjunction with PPC advertising that will let them calculate their return on investment. We provide tools that operators can use to track players and show reports.”
Google gives advertisers access to click stats and conversion rates. However, because affiliates must use third party online poker sites in order to validate that a player is properly tracked, conversion rates are sometimes difficult to quantify. Income Access, in several cases, also created the software operators use to track affiliate revenue. For example, the company works with Canbet, Ladbrokes, and Unibet in the poker vertical. It also has relationships with Paradise Poker, Sportingbet, Victor Chandler, and Purple Lounge.
According to The Telegraph, in order for an operator to be able to advertise with Google, it must be registered with the Gambling Commission or the European Economic Area “provided they are registered with their national regulator.” The advertisements will not appear in search engine filters that regularly block out inappropriate content. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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The world of Google AdWords is about to change, as the site recently announced a modification of its policy towards gambling. Affiliates of internet gambling sites can now bid on popular industry terms, such as “online poker,” according to a press release distributed Friday by Income Access. The opportunity, for the moment, is limited to the United Kingdom.
The site, which is a marketing agency for the internet gambling market, has been advising affiliates on how to bid on search terms effectively. Operators in the industry, such as the sites themselves, have been allowed to pursue pay per click (PPC) advertising since November of 2008. Now, affiliates will be able to take part as well, likely bidding up prices of popular search terms related to online poker and online casinos. Several of the world’s largest internet gambling companies, such as William Hill, Sportingbet, 888, and Party Gaming, are all traded on the London Stock Exchange. None of the four caters to the U.S. market.
Income Access’ Daniel Bakerman told Poker News Daily why affiliates are important customers to the mammoth search engine: “Google has a vested interest in making sure affiliates are successful. They are huge spenders and represent a good market for Google.” The Income Access press release notes that affiliates will not be able to bid on the sites they promote, such as the terms “PartyPoker” or “Paradise Poker.” Operators, on the other hand, are able to bid on their competition’s names.
Bakerman added that search engine traffic is an important source of revenue for affiliates not just in online poker, but also in other industries: “Affiliates make a lot of money using PPC advertising in industries such as retail. If it’s done well, it’s a way to attract targeted traffic to your site. You can get your ads displayed right in front of people who are searching for what you’re offering. Another benefit is that you get an instantaneous result for the money you put in.” For example, rather than increasing a site’s ranking in Google organically, which can take months of publishing relevant unique content, AdWords allows sites to be pushed to the top of search returns quickly.
Sponsored links for the search term “poker book” include links to eBay and Amazon as well as a host of private sites. These links appear to the right of the traditional list of search returns. In some cases, Google returns shopping links at the top as well. Income Access, meanwhile, has created a Search Engine Marketing (SEM) branch to help affiliates wade through the sometimes confusing world of AdWords. Bakerman explained, “Income Access also built in a lot of tools for affiliates they can use in conjunction with PPC advertising that will let them calculate their return on investment. We provide tools that operators can use to track players and show reports.”
Google gives advertisers access to click stats and conversion rates. However, because affiliates must use third party online poker sites in order to validate that a player is properly tracked, conversion rates are sometimes difficult to quantify. Income Access, in several cases, also created the software operators use to track affiliate revenue. For example, the company works with Canbet, Ladbrokes, and Unibet in the poker vertical. It also has relationships with Paradise Poker, Sportingbet, Victor Chandler, and Purple Lounge.
According to The Telegraph, in order for an operator to be able to advertise with Google, it must be registered with the Gambling Commission or the European Economic Area “provided they are registered with their national regulator.” The advertisements will not appear in search engine filters that regularly block out inappropriate content. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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Aussie Millions Begins Today - Card Player - 10th January 2009
Highlights Include $100,000 Event and $10,000 Main Event
The first event at the 2009 Aussie Millions tournament series began today with the start of $1,100 no-limit hold’em opening event at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia. There will be 18 events featured in all, running from today until Jan. 26 at the fourth edition of this tournament. A collection of professionals are expected to make the trip to the land down under, but numbers are slated to be down without the sponsorship of Full Tilt behind the event. The series will feature a robust collection of tournaments to kick off the year in the following games: limit and no-limit hold’em, limit Omaha eight-or-better, H.O.R.S.E., pot-limit Omaha, heads-up no-limit hold’em, and six-handed no-limit hold’em. Hometown world champion Joe Hachem is sure to make appearances in tournament fields throughout the series and kiwi Lee Nelson has mentioned that he will be playing many events as well. The highlights are sure to be the $100,000 no-limit hold’em challenge (Jan. 17-18), and the $10,500 no-limit hold’em main event (Jan. 18-24). Card Player will feature news stories about these two marquee events.
Here is a look at the full schedule of events and the full schedule for the main event:
Note: All dollar amounts are AUD
Event No. 1 ($1,100 no-limit hold’em): Jan. 9-11
Event No. 2 ($1,050 no-limit hold’em event): Jan. 11
Event No. 3 ($1,100 Omaha eight-or-better): Jan. 12
Event No. 4 ($1,100 limit hold’em): Jan. 13
Event No. 5 ($1,100 H.O.R.S.E.): Jan. 14-15
Event No. 6 ($1,150 no-limit hold’em w/rebuys): Jan. 15-16
Event No. 7 ($1,650 bounty event): Jan. 16-17
Event No. 8 ($100,000 no-limit hold’em challenge): Jan. 17-18
Event No. 9 ($10,500 Aussie Millions Main Event)
Day 1A: Jan. 18 (all tournament days begin at 12:30 p.m. local time)
Day 1B: Jan. 19
Day 1C: Jan. 20
Day 2: Jan. 21
Day 3: Jan. 22
Day 4: Jan. 23
Final Table: Jan. 24
Event No. 10 ($5,300 heads-up championship): Jan. 20-22
Event No. 11 ($1,100 pot-limit Omaha): Jan. 21
Event No. 12 ($3,250 pot-limit Omaha w/rebuys): Jan. 22
Event No. 13 ($1,100 mixed hold’em): Jan. 22
Event No. 14 ($2,200 six-handed no-limit hold’em): Jan. 23-24
Event No. 15: ($2,200 no-limit hold’em teams event): Jan. 24
Event No. 16: ($10,200 H.O.R.S.E.): Jan. 24-25
Event No. 17: ($1,100 no-limit hold’em turbo): Jan. 25
Event No. 18: ($1,100 2 card Manila championship w/rebuys): Jan. 26
2008 Aussie Millions:
Main Event
Buy-in: $10,500
Number of Entries: 750
Total Prize Pool: $7,800,000
First-Place Prize: $1,650,000
Places Paid: 81
Final-Table Results:
1: Alexander Kostritsyn -- $1,650,000
2: Erik Seidel -- $1,000,000
3: Michael Chrisanthopoulos -- $700,000
4: Peter Ling -- $500,000
5: Nino Marotta -- $400,000
6: Antonio Casale -- $300,000
7: Peter Mobbs -- $225,000
8: Nico Behling -- $175,000
9: Robert Akery -- $175,000
$100,000 no-limit hold’em challenge
Buy-in: $100,000
Number of Entries: 25
Total Prize Pool: $2,500,000
First-Place Prize: $1,250,000
Places Paid: 5
Final-Table Results:
1: Howard Lederer -- $1,250,000
2: Mark Teltscher -- $650,000
3: Michael Sampoerna -- $350,000
4: Jeffrey Lisandro -- $150,000
5: Nikolaus Jedlicka -- $100,000 (Credit: CardPlayer.com)
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Highlights Include $100,000 Event and $10,000 Main Event
The first event at the 2009 Aussie Millions tournament series began today with the start of $1,100 no-limit hold’em opening event at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia. There will be 18 events featured in all, running from today until Jan. 26 at the fourth edition of this tournament. A collection of professionals are expected to make the trip to the land down under, but numbers are slated to be down without the sponsorship of Full Tilt behind the event. The series will feature a robust collection of tournaments to kick off the year in the following games: limit and no-limit hold’em, limit Omaha eight-or-better, H.O.R.S.E., pot-limit Omaha, heads-up no-limit hold’em, and six-handed no-limit hold’em. Hometown world champion Joe Hachem is sure to make appearances in tournament fields throughout the series and kiwi Lee Nelson has mentioned that he will be playing many events as well. The highlights are sure to be the $100,000 no-limit hold’em challenge (Jan. 17-18), and the $10,500 no-limit hold’em main event (Jan. 18-24). Card Player will feature news stories about these two marquee events.
Here is a look at the full schedule of events and the full schedule for the main event:
Note: All dollar amounts are AUD
Event No. 1 ($1,100 no-limit hold’em): Jan. 9-11
Event No. 2 ($1,050 no-limit hold’em event): Jan. 11
Event No. 3 ($1,100 Omaha eight-or-better): Jan. 12
Event No. 4 ($1,100 limit hold’em): Jan. 13
Event No. 5 ($1,100 H.O.R.S.E.): Jan. 14-15
Event No. 6 ($1,150 no-limit hold’em w/rebuys): Jan. 15-16
Event No. 7 ($1,650 bounty event): Jan. 16-17
Event No. 8 ($100,000 no-limit hold’em challenge): Jan. 17-18
Event No. 9 ($10,500 Aussie Millions Main Event)
Day 1A: Jan. 18 (all tournament days begin at 12:30 p.m. local time)
Day 1B: Jan. 19
Day 1C: Jan. 20
Day 2: Jan. 21
Day 3: Jan. 22
Day 4: Jan. 23
Final Table: Jan. 24
Event No. 10 ($5,300 heads-up championship): Jan. 20-22
Event No. 11 ($1,100 pot-limit Omaha): Jan. 21
Event No. 12 ($3,250 pot-limit Omaha w/rebuys): Jan. 22
Event No. 13 ($1,100 mixed hold’em): Jan. 22
Event No. 14 ($2,200 six-handed no-limit hold’em): Jan. 23-24
Event No. 15: ($2,200 no-limit hold’em teams event): Jan. 24
Event No. 16: ($10,200 H.O.R.S.E.): Jan. 24-25
Event No. 17: ($1,100 no-limit hold’em turbo): Jan. 25
Event No. 18: ($1,100 2 card Manila championship w/rebuys): Jan. 26
2008 Aussie Millions:
Main Event
Buy-in: $10,500
Number of Entries: 750
Total Prize Pool: $7,800,000
First-Place Prize: $1,650,000
Places Paid: 81
Final-Table Results:
1: Alexander Kostritsyn -- $1,650,000
2: Erik Seidel -- $1,000,000
3: Michael Chrisanthopoulos -- $700,000
4: Peter Ling -- $500,000
5: Nino Marotta -- $400,000
6: Antonio Casale -- $300,000
7: Peter Mobbs -- $225,000
8: Nico Behling -- $175,000
9: Robert Akery -- $175,000
$100,000 no-limit hold’em challenge
Buy-in: $100,000
Number of Entries: 25
Total Prize Pool: $2,500,000
First-Place Prize: $1,250,000
Places Paid: 5
Final-Table Results:
1: Howard Lederer -- $1,250,000
2: Mark Teltscher -- $650,000
3: Michael Sampoerna -- $350,000
4: Jeffrey Lisandro -- $150,000
5: Nikolaus Jedlicka -- $100,000 (Credit: CardPlayer.com)
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