PA to vote on table games

Pennsylvania lawmakers are expected to vote in the next week or two on the legalization of table games. Currently, PA allows casino slots play, but does not yet permit table games such as craps, or Texas Holdem.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9473239

A push to legalize Internet gambling – Los Angeles Times

A push to legalize Internet gambling – Los Angeles Times

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UIGEA may be overturned

Barney Frank finally brought forth his bill aimed at overturning the unlawful internet gambling enforcement act in the US. Here are some quick highlights of the pro-gambling bill

Minnesota online gambling accounts in jeopardy

Minnesota Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Agency director John Williams is putting residents of the state of Minnesota “on notice” – claiming that “State residents with online escrow accounts should be aware that access to their accounts may be jeopardized and their funds in peril.”

Minnesota AGED recently sent a memo to Minnesota Internet Service Providers requiring them to block access to “illegal online gambling websites,” citing the Federal Wire Act of 1961.

The Poker Players Alliance has responded claiming they will do everything in their power to protect the game of poker in all forms in Minnesota, citing this is an effort to censor the internet in a manner similar to that which we see and expect out of China.

Both the AGED memo and PPA response can be viewed in their entirety via the Online Poker Circuit’s Minnesota Online Gambling Ban pages.

PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP)

PokerStars are preparing to kick off the Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP).  The SCOOP at PokerStars will showcase a total prize pool of $30,000,000 guaranteed!  PokerStars  players will have the chance to win big, with millions of dollars in cash prizes on the line.

The SCOOP will consist of 22 events, two a day running from April 2-12.  Each event will include three tournaments – one for low-stakes players, one for those who play medium-stakes, and finally one for those that play in high-stakes games. The huge prize pool guarantees in each tournament mean that even low-stakes poker players have the chance to win big.

There will also be two High-Roller events, and the series ends with the Main Event on Sunday, April 12 – including a $1,000,000 guarantee for the lowest stake level tournament, and a $5,000,000 guarantee for the high-stakes tournament!

Visit the SCOOP – All Stakes statistics page for facts, figures and money lists from all of the events.  The State of Poker Blog will also be providing regular updates on the SCOOP.

Related Links

Download PokerStars

SCOOP Coverage

PokerStars Blog

Bugsy’s Club Closing

I received word via email that Bugsy’s Club Poker Room is closing.  They assure us that all players will be able to have a seamless transfer of funds from BC to PokerStars.  I’m curious about how it will play out, however, with the year’s worth of affiliate money they’ve failed to pay me…

Their letter reads as follows:

Dear BugsysClub Player,

Firstly, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your
continued support of the Bugsy’s Club Poker Room. Since Bugsy’s Club
was formed, our mission statement has always been that we will offer
you ‘The Best Poker in Town’ and that ‘We will take care of you
Personally’. We are proud to say that these are goals we feel we have
consistently exceeded, providing you with a great place to enjoy
poker.

Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control with regards to
banking facilities, it is with regret that we have to announce it is no
longer viable for the Bugsy’s Club Poker Room to continue our business
operations. However, we are delighted to inform you that Bugsy’s Club
have reached an agreement with the world’s largest online poker site,
PokerStars.com, to allow all Bugsy’s Club players to transfer your
account balance over to their site.

Through the agreement we have reached with PokerStars, your player
balances will be transferred to them. Before this happens, you will
receive an email from PokerStars in the next few days confirming the
full details of how to complete the transfer of your balance on to
their site. Please note that Monthly leagues were all paid out in full
just prior to the close down at 11am EST Tuesday 24th March. The weekly
leagues were not paid out. Regrettably, your Bugsy’s Bonus Points (BBPs)
are not able to be transferred from the Bugsy’s Club Poker Room.

To transfer your real money balance to PokerStars please go to
https://www.pokerstars.com/welcomebugsysclub

While this transitional period occurs, you will be able to contact
PokerStars support with any questions you may have with regard to this
procedure at bugsysclub@pokerstars.com .

Please note: Prior to the close on the 24th March BugsysClub paid out
the full monthly league payouts. It did not pay the weekly leagues that
started on March 22nd. This will be reflected in your final balance that
can be transfered to PokerStars.

Once again, we would like to thank you for supporting the Bugsy’s Club
Poker Room, but we are confident that PokerStars will provide you with
an exceptional level of service so you can continue to enjoy playing
poker.

PokerStars are a highly reputable poker site that is fully equipped to
meet the original mission statement set out by Bugsy’s Club Poker Room.
They are trustworthy, quick to handle cashouts and offer an outstanding
level of customer support. In short, they fully deserve their
reputation as the best online poker site around. We are delighted to
have been able to make these arrangements with them as we know we are
leaving you in the best possible hands.

The management and staff of BugsysClub

All Star Week at PokerStars

PokerStars are having a series of 35 heads-up matches pitting the Team PokerStars Pros vs. the All Star Challengers.

Additionally, they’re offering everyone the opportunity to vote for who they believe will win. Your vote costs 100 FPP, and it allows you entry to one of two “All Star Week Supporters Tournaments” freerolls, which will be played on April 5 at 4pm.

The way it works is as follows: You register for the team’s tournament who you think will win (i.e. – the All Star Challengers). For every heads up match they win during this All Star Week, PokerStars will add $1000 to the corresponding freeroll event. Simply put, they’re spreading $35,000 between the two tourneys!

Again, all it costs is 100 Frequent Player Points. You have until midnight on March 26th to “vote” in this event. If you don’t yet have the 100 FPP or are not yet a member of PokerStars, I suggest you get started by downloading and playing PokerStars here.

High Stakes Omaha Action

Full Tilt Pot-Limit Omaha, $1000.00 BB (5 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop | saw showdown

Phil Ivey – BB ($182746.50)
ahtata ($128875)
trex313 ($391121)
HarrisMP – button ($31491)
Durrrr – SB ($70945)

Preflop:
ahtata calls $1000, trex313 bets $4500, HarrisMP raises to $16000, 2 folds, ahtata calls $15000, trex313 calls $11500

Flop: ($49500) J, 7, 6 (3 players)
ahtata checks, trex313 checks, HarrisMP bets $15491 (All-In), ahtata calls $15491, trex313 calls $15491

Turn: ($95973) 2 (3 players, 1 all-in)
ahtata checks, trex313 bets $95973, ahtata calls $95973

River: ($287919) 6 (3 players, 1 all-in)
ahtata bets $1411 (All-In), trex313 calls $1411

Total pot: $290741 | Rake: $3
Main pot: $95973 between ahtata, trex313 and HarrisMP, won by trex313
Side pot 1: $194768 between ahtata and trex313, won by trex313

Results:
HarrisMP didn’t show
ahtata had K, 4, K, 8 (flush, King high).
trex313 had K, 2, 6, 9 (full house, sixes over twos).
Outcome: trex313 won $290738

Big call on the flop results in a payday on the river with the six-duece… WOW!

Party Gaming Returning to the US?

Rumors are circulating in the online community that Party Gaming, PLC – parent company of Party Poker might be returning to the US Marketplace some time in the near future.  Party voluntarily exited the US Market after the midnight passing of UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) back in 2007.

This rumor coincides with Barney Frank’s promise to introduce legislation this month designed to overturn UIGEA.  UIGEA has been criticized by our trade partners of the WTO (World Trade Organization) for unfair trade practices.

When Party Poker left the US, they were by far the largest online poker room in the business.

Here’s to the rumors being true!!!

Source

Freeroll talk

Well, the St Paddy’s Day Freeroll is now behind us.  45 players went down, and ipaparazzi was left standing when the smoke cleared.  Congratulations for winning the State of Poker St. Paddy’s Day Freeroll.  Also, congratulations are in order to BxymenaB, tv2idol, tfal987, and jenosz1000 — all of which finished “in the money.”  And thanks to everyone who turned out for the event.

Speaking of events, expect more freeroll tournaments, and buy-ins with money added in the very near future.  They will be State of Poker – Online Poker Circuit Events.  Be sure to  join the Online Poker Circuit, as most of the passwords will be released on the forum.

Thanks once again to Big Bet Poker for “putting us up.”  Also, not sure if anyone else noticed, but Big Bet slipped me $4 for the 4 leaf clover promotion – it was a nice touch!  I can see The State of Poker & The OPC continuing a relationship with Big Bet Poker for a long time to come.

Speaking of Big Bet Poker – keep in mind the following:

1.  They support the State of Poker and the OPC.

2.  They have a 100% first time deposit bonus (up to $500 free)

3.  Their Bad Beat Jackpot has now topped $363,000!