Jeff V. Martinez

Romanello Takes Bratislava WPT

Apr 042011

Roberto Romanello

Roberto Romanello made himself €140,685 richer, and gave himself a great opportunity to earn a poker triple crown, as he emerged victorious from the WPT Title event in Bratislava on Sunday.

Indeed, Romanello won December’s EPT Prague event in December of year. Consequently, with this recent WPT victory in the Slovakian capital under his belt, a World Series Poker victory is now all that is required for the Welshman to achieve a rare triple crown.

The €2,500+€220 WPT Bratislava main event was hosted at the Golden Vegas Casino and saw a 211-strong player field create a €493,155 prize pool.

Alongside Roberto Romanello at the main event’s final table were two German players who had qualified for the event via a PartyPoker online qualifier event — Alexander Jager and Frank Dollinger — and Bodo Sbrzesny, A Team PartyPoker Pro.

Mayu Roca finished runner up to Romanello, taking home €71,000.

The World Poker Tour’s next stop will be the Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where the Hollywood Poker Open will be contested on April 9-13 at the Hollywood Casino.

Titan Sports in France Receive Second ARJEL License

Gambling Law, Gaming, Sports No Responses »

Mar 302011

The Autorite De Regulation Des Jeuz En Ligne (ARJEL), the gaming authority of France, has recently awarded a ARJEL license to Titan Sports, a sports betting company based in Paris.

Specifically, however, this second license belongs to The Nation Traffic SAS: the company who own the Titan.fr domain name. ARJEL awarded The Nation Traffic SAS with its first license back in the latter end of 2010, when the Titan.fr website was added to the iPoker Network: the world’s largest poker network created by the world’s leading gambling software developer, Playtech.

The Nation Traffic SAS is the first company to receive a second ARJEL license, and the ARJEL’s decision to award a second license should be accredited to the recent establishment of a Consultative Committee for the Implementation of the Monitoring Policy of Responsible Games and Gambling (Cojer). Indeed, formed by Jean-François Copé (the French Minister of Budget) with the aim of ensuring the safety, reliability, accountability, and integrity of all French online gaming, Cojer has thus far played a considerable part in the steady growth of the French online gambling industry.

Indeed, since the establishment of Cojer, the French gaming market has started to blossom. For example, legislation outlining the regulation of France’s online gambling marker has been drafted by Eric Woerth (the French Budget Minister). Furthermore, France has declared it willingness to, in accordance with European Union requirements, open up its market to competition.

Altogether, the Autorite De Regulation Des Jeuz En Ligne (ARJEL) has granted 17 licenses during 2010. These licenses were awarded to 11 separate gaming operators. The vast majority of these license holders are French; however, ARJEL have also awarded licenses to companies who are not originally based in France. Indeed, Austria’s bwin, Malta’s BetClic, and the Canadian company Everest Poker have each received licenses permitting them to take bets on ports betting, horse racing and online poker gaming.

Bucky And BOGOF Bingo Purchased by Betfred

Bingo, Sports No Responses »

Mar 172011

Recently, the sale of the Buckingham Bingo brand (purchased by Club3000 and Castle bingo) had left a great many members of the bingo industry a little confused. Certainly, many considered the land-based Buckingham Bingo halls to constitute a more than sound investment; however, many also had reservations regarding the economic potential of the online Bingo websites — namely, Bucky and BOGOF — owned by the Buckingham Bingo franchise.

Today, then, may perhaps stir even more bemusement; the aforementioned Buckingham Bingo Online Bingo sites Bucky and BOGOF have been purchased by Betfred.com

Betfred.com is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in the sports betting industry. Indeed, Betfred.com has always boasted an extremely assured marketing and development team. However, in this case, Betfred.com appears to be acting against the grain of most analysts’ view of Bucky and BOGOF: indeed, many analysts have previously suggested that the two websites do not represent economically viable companies.

Those who visit Bucky and BOGOF will still be able to do so, for both sites will be kept running. Moreover, both sites may be expected to soon see more visitors as Betfred — a franchise who can count the hugely popular World Snooker Championships among its roster of sponsored events — are set to aim invest time and money in investing in the websites in an attempt to boost their online profile and increase their visibility in the highly competitive online bingo market.

Ali Registers WSOPC Atlantic City Win

Poker, WSOP No Responses »

Mar 142011

WSOP

The World Series Poker Circuit main even, held this weekend at Caesars, Atlantic City, was won by Brian Ali.

Ali, who hails from Brooklyn, New York, came out on top from a 442 player field in the $1,500 event, earning himself $139,284 in the process.

Reflecting on his victory as he spoke to WSOPC staff, Ali said: “This is so exciting for me to win this. I was just thinking about this last night that: I could win the same amount of money buying a lottery ticket or something like that. But it would not mean the same at all. This victory is something I really had to earn. I had to beat some really, really tough poker players, not just here but over the past three days. So, I’m flying high right now.”

At the final table, the initial chip leader was Patrick Houchins. Roland Israelashvili, the reigning WSOP Circuit Main Event champion, was also present, thus creating a chance for himself to become the first ever player in the tours seven-year history to win back-to back WSOP Main Event titles.

Israelashvili, however, eventually finished fifth, while victor Ali got off to an excellent start. Indeed, after just few hands, the Brooklyn native had doubled up after he rivered the nut flush while Houchins was held triple jacks.

Ali went on to register his victory in no time at all. The final table lasted only 3 hours and 55 minutes: the quickest final table played on the WSOP Circuit thus far this season.

As a result of his victory, Ali — a 51 year old telephone company retiree — earned himself a seat at the WSOPC $1 million National Championship.

The event will be held in Las Vegas this May. Ali will be joined at the event by Mun Nguyen: a Pittsburgh native whose first and second place finish in the two prelims of the WSOPC series earned him the tournament’s Best All-Around player title.

The WSOPC will stop next at Harrah’s Rincon, just outside of San Diego, California on March 27-30. Here, $10,000 will be up for grabs as the third WSOP Circuit Regional Championship is contested.

In Atlantic City, the final table finished thus:

Brian Ali $139,284
John Andress $86,071
Patrick Houchins $62,893
Ellis Frazier $46,698
Roland Israelashvili $35,213
Jeff Rowland $26,951
Jerry Van Strydonck $20,930
Albert Winchester $16,486
Joe Caffrey $13,168

Ladbrokes and Playtech Set To Merge?

Casino Industry, Land Base Casinos, Online Casinos No Responses »

Feb 142011

According to reports published in British broadsheet newspaper the Daily Telegraph, Ladbrokes (LSE: LAD) — the renown UK online gambling company and bookmaker who are currently in negotiations with online gambling company 888 Holding (LSE: 888) regarding a possible £240 million takeover — is currently holding merger talks with the successful online gaming software company Playtech (AIM: PTEC).

The merger could potentially be worth approximately £2.2 billion ($3.5 billion). Moreover, it would see Ladbrokes mutate from a business which primarily operates via direct contact with its customers and users of its land based and online-betting services to a business who simultaneously supplies online casinos, poker rooms and sportsbooks with software.

The merger, however, could also potentially complicate an agreement and deal arranged in 2008 between Playtech and William Hill: a key rival of Ladbrokes.

Merger talks have been commonplace in the gambling industry of late. Indeed, PartyGaming Plc and bwin Interactive Entertainment AG are also said to be in merger talks which were first initiated back in 2009. Should the two decide to merge, both companies would form the largest public listed online gaming group in the world.

Yet the gambling industry has learned from past experience that merger can often become prolonged and may even ultimately yield very little. For example, 2006 saw talks between Ladbrokes and 888 grind to a standstill.

Live Bingo Available on the iPad

Bingo No Responses »

Feb 032011

The iPad is the latest great invention from Apple, the company which brought us the revolutionary iPod music player and the iPhone. Those familiar with Apple will be aware of the download App Store, and those iPad owners who love to play bingo will most probably be aware that a Live Bingo app has recently been launched for their iPad.

Live Bingo is certainly highly entertaining; however, there are no prizes to be won. Indeed, Live Bingo on the iPad is played purely for fun and entertainment.

In fact, iPad owners are unable to play for money since the iPad cannot properly access the vast majority of UK online bingo sites. This is because the iPad does not support flash software — the software which the majority of online bingo sites utilize.

The inability to run flash constitutes a major downside of the iPad for online bingo players. However, looking on the bright side, the arrival of the Live Bingo iPad App does reveal that the iPad can support Live Bingo. Now all that is required is for Apple to develop software similar to that used on sites like Sun Bingo and players will be able to play competitive bingo on the iPad.

However, although this software is easy to develop, the fact that Apple, and American company, is restricted by US legislation which prohibits the playing of bingo for cash, means that iPad owners wishing to play pay bingo may have to wait for such legislation to be changed before they can do so.

Consequently, it appears that the purely-for-entertainment Live Bingo iPad app will have to do for now.

Man pepper sprayed and robbed in Ohio‏ for Bingo winnings

Bingo No Responses »

Sep 252010

Bingo

A thief stole about $2000 from a 66 year old man who was volunteering in a church. The stolen money was generated from Bingo and was snatched from the man when pepper spray was used to attack him by the thief.

The victim was attacked on his way out of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church after the man tried to exhort money from him. The money was generated from bingo games and was supposed to be taken to the bank at a later date.

Police officers are sure the man had a tipoff about the money before acting on it. A report in the Cincinnati Enquirer stated that the victim received a couple of bruises from the assault as well as minor facial injuries on Sunday night.

Residents are being urged to help the police in their investigations.

Casino Income banned from catholic schools in Edmonton‏

Casino Industry, Gaming, Land Base Casinos No Responses »

Sep 202010

catholic schools

The catholic archbishop of Edmonton, Richard Smith has issued orders to catholic schools and youth organizations to stop relying on income from casinos and the gambling industry in general from next month.

Archbishop Richard Smith said it’s morally not correct for Christian organization to support the promotion of the gambling industry.

A representative of the Catholic school board in the Canadian city, Lori Nagy stated that the board needs about $3 million more generated from casinos to sponsor other activities in their school without which those activities will collapse.

Nagy revealed that the gambling funds are used to sponsor educational excursions, technology as well as meals for other programs that will collapse without the financial backing they are receiving now.

Nagy said the archbishop’s new instructions to the board and school heads were totally unexpected. She revealed that even though they understood his concerns, the orders were too quick and will bring a lot of hardships.

She however stated they will look at other ways to raise income and will have a meeting with the archbishop on October 5 to discuss on other ways to generate revenue and ask for his permission for fund raisers already scheduled in advance.

The archbishop of Calgary gave the same orders three years ago but took two years of planning before they hit off.

Fabian Quoss triumphs at the English Poker Open 2010‏

Poker No Responses »

Sep 152010

English Poker Open 2010

Fabian Quoss, a professional poker player came out on top of Poker Open in England out of a total of 194 players who contested over three days. He was awarded with a cash price of 220,000 Pounds Sterling.

The tournament hosted at the Palm Beach Casino in Mayfair cost £3,500 per participant but the German got a free ticket online. Quoss, 28 had never won a real life event even though he’s made almost $900,000 for his participation in other real life competitions.

The Nuremberg based poker champ stated after his win that he was happy to win a tournament at long last. He also stated that his rivals in the final table were very intelligent and he didn’t have it easy at all.
Famous names such as Phil Laak and Liv Boeree couldn’t make the final table and were rewarded with £6800 and £9500 respectively for placing 18th and 12th.

On the final table, Matthew Frankland had the lead chip and surrounded by other players such as Quoss, Sebastian Crul, Felipe Ramos, Andrew Brennan, Brent Lehring, Mark Norman, Salman Behbehani and Stephen Chimelski.
Frankland seemed to be consistently losing his lead and four of the players already been edged out of the table. There were only two players remaining in three hours after Frankland got edged out by Crul.

Quos won the tournament after holding As-Qd while his rival held Ac-5c. Sebastian Crul, 18 from the Netherlands was second placed and rewarded with a cash price of £129,000 while Fabian Quoss got £ 220,650 in addition to the prestigious title as English Poker Open winner for this year.

Fake suicide bomber apprehended in Charlie’s Hotel and Casino

Gaming, Land Base Casinos No Responses »

Sep 082010

Charlie’s Hotel and Casino

A fake suicide bomber went into the premises of Charlie’s Hotel and Casino and announced that he had a bomb positioned on his chest on Saturday. In the state of desperation, all of the Hotel’s visitors and staff were moved out for about 2 hours and the nearby Boulder Highway was also closed to traffic. The Caucasian man with gray hair was found to be lying and conducting a prank which led to his arrest. The name of the fake suicide bomber remains anonymous.

The account of the event was given by Sergeant John Sheahan. According to him, the fake suicide bomber entered the hotel’s building at approximately 9.40 in the morning and went to the security section of the casino. He opened his shirt to make the security woman believe that he had a real bombed strapped on. He ordered everyone to leave the property in 5 minutes before the bomb detonates and officials pleaded with him to go outside while everyone leaves the building.

Handcuffs were placed on his hand by police officers but they isolated him after they saw the fake bomb and believed it was real. The SWAT team and the Vegas fire Department’s bomb experts went to where the man was standing. The man urged the SWAT team to pull their trigger on him if they didn’t want him to detonate the bomb.

After the team got to know the bomb was unreal, they convinced him to let go at approximately 11.45 am. The hotel’s guests reentered the property after to continue their various activities. Even though his charges have not yet been completed, he obviously wanted to induce a police man to help him die.

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