PokerFilter.Net

PartyGaming’s Managing Director, John O’Malia, has stepped down from his post only months after being appointed to the position.

Pennsylvania judge Thomas A. James Jr. ruled that poker was a game of skill. At the moment it isn’t much of a win for poker players but it is a small step. Read more on Lou’s blog.

Word is that Disney will be releasing the poker player’s favorite film, Rounders, on Blue-Ray on April 14 just in time for the 10th anniversary of the film (has it been that long?).

Although Christopher Chronis is out in the lead after day 1a of the Aussie Millions, Patrik Antonius is not far behind in second place.

For more details check out Poker News’ coverage of the Aussie Millions

39th Annual World Series of Poker® Establishes New Milestones for
Entrants, Prize Pool & Global Participation

58,720 Entrants, $180,676,248 in Prize Money and 118 Different
Nationalities Combine for Biggest WSOP Ever

LAS VEGAS (July 9, 2008) – It’s official – the 2008 World Series of Poker Presented by Milwaukee’s Best Light is the largest and richest in the event’s 39-year history.

Tournament officials today released final figures for the 55-event, 47-day poker extravaganza held annually each summer at the Rio® All-Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.  Both total player entries and payouts reached all-time highs, as did the number of countries and territories represented by the participants.

“The results this year demonstrate the increasing global appeal of our events and the universal recognition that winning a World Series of Poker gold bracelet is poker’s ultimate achievement,” said World Series of Poker Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack.

The records set at the 39th Annual World Series of Poker are:

• 58,720 player entries (an increase of 4,432 or 8% over last year’s 54,288).
• $180,676,248 prize pool (an increase of $20,880,030 over last year).
• 118 different countries/territories entered into an event (an increase of 31)
• 3,929 entrants in a non-Main Event – largest live tournament field in history
• Event #2 - $1500 buy-in No Limit Texas Hold’em

The total number of countries and territories represented at this year’s WSOP – 118 – constitutes an amazing rise in global participation.  The five-year trend best illustrates the growth, believed to be the largest global increase in any sport:                       

         YEAR             # of COUNTRIES/TERRITORIES PARTICIPATING IN WSOP

• 2008                 118       (36% increase y-o-y)
• 2007                 87         (61% increase y-o-y)
• 2006                 54         (32% increase y-o-y)
• 2005                 41         (32% increase y-o-y)
• 2004                 24

Players from every U.S. state and Canadian province have cashed at the 2008 WSOP, and to date more than 57 countries have cashed, with the Main Event payouts still to be determined.

The Main Event, the $10,000 buy-in World Championship of No Limit Texas Hold’em, the crown jewel of the annual global poker calendar, is now underway and will continue until July 14 when the field is whittled down to nine, with a champion then crowned on November 11.  The Main Event opened with four starting days (July 3-6) to accommodate the second-largest field in history vying for a $9,119,517 first place prize. 

Complete Main Event details are as follows: 

• Net Prize Pool:            $64,333,600                (2007: 59,784,954)
• # of Entries:                 6,844                           (2007: 6,358)
• Players Paid:               666
• 1st Place:                     $9,119,517                  (2007: $8,250,000)
• 2nd Place:                    $5,790,024
• 3rd Place:                     $4,503,352
• 4th Place:                     $3,763,515
• 5th Place:                     $3,088,012
• 6th Place:                     $2,412,510
• 7th Place:                     $1,769,174
• 8th Place:                     $1,286,672
• 9th Place:                     $900,670
• 666th Place:                 $21,230
• Defending Champ:     Jerry Yang
• November Nine will be vying for a prize pool of $32,633,446

The most notable innovation at the 2008 World Series of Poker will be a groundbreaking format change for the Main Event. For the first time 39-year WSOP history, the Final Table of the Main Event will be televised in primetime on ESPN the very same day that the WSOP World Champion receives his/her bracelet.

Once the final nine players of the Main Event are set on July 14, action will be suspended for 117 days. The November NineSM players will have an opportunity during that time to secure sponsors and coaches, study their opponents’ play and devise new playing strategies before reconvening at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino on Nov. 9 to compete for the most coveted prize in poker.

The Main Event winner will be determined in the early morning hours of Nov. 11 and, in a telecast first, ESPN will air its November Nine final table coverage that night beginning at 9:00 PM ET.

The 39th annual World Series of Poker began May 30 and runs through July 14 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The Main Event, with four start dates to accommodate the large playing field, began on July 3. The Final Table will be determined on July 14. The nine players who advance to the Final Table will return to the Rio on November 9 to play down to just two players. The final two will then go head-to-head late in the evening of November 10 to determine the champion and winner of poker’s ultimate prize.

ABOUT THE WSOP

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Presented by Milwaukee’s Best Light is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker’s longest running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970.  In 2008, the event attracted more than 58,000 entrants from 118 different countries to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and awarded over $180 million in prize money as players competed for game’s most coveted trophy, a WSOP bracelet.  Harrah’s License Company, LLC., an affiliate of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., has owned and operated the WSOP since 2004 and over the last five years, fostered an increase in player participation by nearly 300-percent.  In addition, the WSOP has experienced groundbreaking alliances in broadcasting, digital media and corporate sponsorships, while successfully expanding the brand internationally with the advent in 2007 of the World Series of Poker EuropeSM. For more information on the World Series of Poker, please visit our website at www.worldseriesofpoker.com.

ABOUT HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. is the world’s largest provider of branded casino entertainment. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, more than 70 years ago, Harrah’s has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions, and now owns or manages casinos on four continents. The Company’s properties operate primarily under the Harrah’s®, Caesars® and Horseshoe® brand names; Harrah’s also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos and the World Series of Poker®. Harrah’s Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. For more information, please visit www.harrahs.com.

Season IV of NBC’s Poker After Dark will begin showing on July 14.  This season promises to have a star-studded lineup of poker pros across a variety of cash game and tournament action.

The PPA has given Obama the nod as the preferred candidate for US President.  While neither Obama nor McCain have given any indication on whether or not they will be supportive of responsible online gaming legislation the fingerprints of the Republicans on the UIGEA had turned off many players to Republican candidates.

PokerStars interactive video portal, PokerStars.tv has gone from beta status to full launch.  The site features an impressive inventory of video clips and other interactive media designed to assist players in improving their game.

The new FTOPS tournament series will run August 6-17, 2008, feature 25 events, and will guarantee prize pools of over $15 million. 

# Date/Time Buy-in/Event Guarantee
#1 8-6 21:00 $200+16 NL Hold ‘em $1,000,000
#2 8-7 14:00 $240+16 PL Omaha/8 Knockout $200,000
#3 8-7 21:00 $200 + $16 NL Hold ‘em 4x Shootout 6-Max $250,000
#4 8-8 14:00 $300+22 NL Hold ‘em (1R / 1A) 6-Max $600,000
#5 8-8 21:00 $200+16 Stud $100,000
#6 8-9 14:00 $500+35 PL Omaha 6-Max $300,000
#7 8-9 16:30 $100+9 NL Hold’em Rebuy $500,000
#8 8-10 14:00 $240+16 NL Hold’em 6-Max Knockout $500,000
#9 8-10 16:00 $500+35 NL Hold’em Heads-Up $500,000
#10 8-10 18:00 $300+22 NL Hold’em $1,500,000
#11 8-11 14:00 $200+16 Limit Hold’em $200,000
#12 8-11 21:00 $1,000+60 NL Hold’em 6-Max $1,500,000
#13 8-12 14:00 $200+16 HA (half PL Hold ‘em, half PL Omaha) $200,000
#14 8-12 21:00 $500+35 HORSE $300,000
#15 8-12 21:00 $200+16 NL Hold’em Turbo $500,000
#16 8-13 14:00 $200+16 Omaha-8 $200,000
#17 8-13 21:00 $300+22 NL Hold’em 6-Max Rebuy $1,000,000
#18 8-14 14:00 $500+35 NL Hold’em 3x Shootout $300,000
#19 8-14 21:00 $300+22 Mixed Hold’em 6-Max $300,000
#20 8-15 14:00 $200+16 NL Hold’em 6-Max $400,000
#21 8-15 21:00 $300+22 Razz $150,000
#22 8-16 14:00 $2,500+120 NL Hold’em $2,000,000
#23 8-16 16:30 $100+9 PL Omaha Rebuy $350,000
#24 8-17 14:00 $120+9 NL Hold’em Knockout $400,000
Main Event (#25) 8-17 18:00 $500 + $35 NL Hold’em $2,500,000

Former heavyweight boxing champion and ear nibbler Mike Tyson claims to have inked a deal to go down under and play in the Aussie Millions event in Melbourne, Australia. 

But that may not happen as victim’s rights groups are howling that the Australian government might approve a visa for a convicted rapist. 

Making the story even more bizarre is that the Crown Casino which hosts the Aussie Millions say they have not done any sort of deal with Mike Tyson.  Gary O’Neil from the Crown said “I don’t know on what basis he is saying that he has some deal with Crown because there is no deal as far as Crown is concerned.”  He went on to say “Crown invites certain people, it doesn’t invite other people. We have not invited Mike Tyson and we have no intention of inviting Mike Tyson.”

PartyBets.com has listed Phil Ivey as a 22/1 favorite to win the WSOP ME.  It’s a pretty good indicator that punters and bookmakers feel feel that Phil Ivey has a chance to make it deep into the main event and come out a winner.  With this year so many pros taking home bracelets this might be one bet that pays off. 

Eric “Rizen” Lynch has announced on his blog that he will no longer be representing Ultimate Bet.  This is but only a month after Rizen signed up to represent UB.

His first blog post on the subject gave no reasons and said that both Annie Duke and management at UB had been understanding and gracious when informed of his decision.  His second post on the subject outlined a little more detail but did not give specifics.

In essence he seems to have had some disagreements with how his signing was promoted and how they planned on promoting him going forward.  He also seemed to have issues with how quickly some things were going to happen as he felt it had been represented to him that those things were all lined up and ready to go. 

In a surprisingly candid interview, Annie Duke discusses the recent Ultimate Bet scandal.  She discusses not only the scandal itself but why she chose to strengthen her relationship with the company even after news had begun to emerge that there was something fishy going on. 

During the month of July Poker Stars will be running a series of 2x promotions.  Although they’ve only announced a partial list they promise other events will follow.  The currently planned promotions are:

1st Week of July

Double Points (VPP and FPP) on ALL cash games and Sit & Go’s (excluding Heads-Up Sit & Go’s).

2nd and 3rd Week of July

Too good to announce (according to Poker Stars).  Check the lobby for more details.

4th Week of July

Double prize money for the Battle of the Planets Triple Shootout on July 27.

Whether you’re Bronze, Silver or Supernova, shortcut your path up the VIP ladder

It appears that the long battle between Harrah’s and former Binion’s employee Federico Schiavio may have finally ended.  At last check the WSOP.com domain points to the official World Series of Poker website rather than the World Standard of Online Poker which Schiavio ran.

The battle which dates back to 2004 began when Harrah’s purchased the Binion’s Horseshoe Hotel & Casino which included the rights to the World Series of Poker.  Schiavio claimed that Binion’s had given him the right to use the WSOP.com domain in 2003 and that the Harrah’s purchase did not include the WSOP.com domain or any rights to the WSOP trademark. 

Lawsuits were filed, both sides threw around accusations, but it appears in the end that Harrah’s has won out.  A WHOIS search for the WSOP domain returns the following information:

Registrant:
Harrah”s License Company, LLC
   One Harrahs Court
   Las Vegas, NV 89119
   US

   Domain Name: WSOP.COM

   Administrative Contact:
      Harrah”s License Company, LLC             harrahsdomains@harrahs.com
      One Harrahs Court
      Las Vegas, NV 89119
      US
      (901) 537-3785 fax: 999 999 9999

   Technical Contact:
      Network Solutions, LLC.           customerservice@networksolutions.com
      13861 Sunrise Valley Drive
      Herndon, VA 20171
      US
      1-888-642-9675 fax: 571-434-4620

   Record expires on 07-May-2015.
   Record created on 04-May-2008.
   Database last updated on 3-Jul-2008 09:18:37 EDT.

   Domain servers in listed order:

   NS69.WORLDNIC.COM            205.178.190.35
   NS70.WORLDNIC.COM            205.178.144.35

Party Gaming has launched a new gaming product, Party Markets.  Party Markets is a financial spread betting platform which they developed with City Index Group. 

Harrah’s Entertainment has announced the schedule for the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE).  The series will be held September 19th to October 2nd, 2008 in London, England at several different London locations (Empire, The Sportsman and Fifty). 

The events are as follows:

Event #1, £1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Day 1A (three-day event / two opening days)
Event #2, £2,500 H.O.R.S.E. (three-day event)
Event #3, £5,000 Pot Limit Omaha (three-day event)
Event #4, £10,000 World Championship No-Limit Hold’em (five-day event / two opening days)

From now until the 26th of July players are being given the opportunity to earn extra cash playing on Party Poker.  The more points you earn the faster you begin to accumulate cash. 

Starting at 1000 points you will earn a $40 cash back and earn more money at a rate of $1 for every 25 points.

Make it to 5000 points and collect a cool $250 and any play from there on will earn you $1 for every 20 points.

Go berserk and earn 10,000 points and Party will give you $666 and you earn additional awards at a rate of $1 for every 15 points.

And the supreme level of 20,000 points gives you a $1666 and you can continue playing (if you’re mouse has survived) at a rate of $1 for every 12 points. 

Scotty Nguyen won his fifth WSOP bracelet taking down the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E event with $1,989,120 in winnings. Scotty beat a tough final table that included the likes of Erick Lindgren, Lyle Berman, Barry Greenstein, and Huck Seed.   Pretty impressive considering the fact that the final 16 players also included other heavy-hitters like Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negraneau, and Andy Bloch. 

Poker Stars has announced the dates and events for the next WCOOP.  Stars will have a total of over $30 million up for grabs including one event with a whopping $25K buy-in. 

Dates for the WCCOP events are as follows:

Fri, September 5th, 14:30, $215 NL Hold’em (6-Max), $1 million Guaranteed

Fri, September 5th, 16:30, $215 PL 5-Card Draw, $100,000 Guaranteed

Sat, September 6th, 14:30, $215 Limit Hold’em, $300,000 Guaranteed

Sat, September 6th, 16:30, $215 2-7 Triple Draw, $100,000 Guaranteed

Sun, September 7th, 14:30, $10,300 High-Roller NL Hold’em, $2 million Guaranteed

Sun, September 7th, 16:30, $530 NL Hold’em, $3 million Guaranteed (2-Day Event)

Mon, September 8th, 14:30, $215 PL Omaha (6-Max) $300,000 Guaranteed

Mon, September 8th, 16:30, $320 8-Game Mixed Event, $200,000 Guaranteed

Tues, September 9th, 14:30, $215 NL Hold’em (4-Max), $400,000 Guaranteed

Tues, September 9th, 16:30, $215 Razz, $100,000 Guaranteed

Wed, September 10th, 14:30, $320 PL Omaha Hi/Lo, $300,000 Guaranteed

Wed, September 10th, 16:30, $320 Mixed Hold’em (6-Max), $300,000 Guaranteed

Thurs, September 11th, 14:30, $215 NL Hold’em w/ Rebuys, $1 million Guaranteed

Thurs, September 11th, 16:30, $320 7-Card Stud, $100,000 Guaranteed

Fri, September 12th, 14:30, $320 No Limit Hold’em (Heads-Up), $500,000 Guaranteed

Fri, September 12th, 16:30, $215 PL Omaha (1 Rebuy, 1 Add-on), $300,000 Guaranteed

Sat, September 13th, 14:30, $530 PL Hold’em (6-Max), $400,000 Guaranteed

Sat, September 13th, 16:30, $215 HORSE, $300,000 Guaranteed

Sun, September 14th, 14:30, $25,500 High-Roller HU No Limit Hold’em, $1.6 million Guaranteed

Sun, September 14th, 16:30, $1,050 NL Hold’em, $3 million Guaranteed (2-Day Event)

Mon, September 15th, 14:30, $530 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo, $200,000 Guaranteed

Mon, September 15th, 16:30, $530 Mixed Omaha Hi/Lo (6-Max), $200,000 Guaranteed

Tues, September 16th, 14:30, $530 NL Hold’em (1 Rebuy, 1 Add-on), $500,000 Guaranteed

Tues, September 16th, 16:30, $530 NL 2-7 Single Draw, $200,000 Guaranteed

Wed, September 17th, 14:30, $320 PL Omaha w/ Rebuys, $500,000 Guaranteed

Wed, September 17th, 16:30, $320 NL Hold’em (6-Max), $500,000 Guaranteed

Thurs, September 18th, 14:30, $530 NL Hold’em Triple Shootout, $300,000 Guaranteed

Thurs, September 18th, 16:30, $530 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, $400,000 Guaranteed

Fri, September 19th, 14:30, $530 NLHE w/ Rebuys (6-Max), $400,000 Guaranteed

Fri, September 19th, 16:30, $1,050 PL Omaha, $500,000 Guaranteed

Sat, September 20th, 14:30, $1,050 Limit Hold’em (6-Max), $500,000 Guaranteed

Sat, September 20th, 16:30, $10,300 HORSE, $500,000 Guaranteed

Sun, September 21st, 16:30, $5,200 NL Hold’em Main Event, $10 million Guaranteed