Poker Blog

Full Tilt Poker Offers Mini Version of the WSOP – The Online Mini-Series of Poker

Filed under: Poker News — at 6:32 pm on Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Do want a taste of what the action of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas
will feel like? You now have your chance with Full Tilt Poker’s very own
Mini-Series of Poker. The best part of it is you don’t have drive or fly to become
a part of it. Full Tilt is hosting 54 events and each of these events will have a
guaranteed prize pool. In all, the Mini Series of Poker will be offering $700k+ in
guaranteed prize money.

Starting on May 30th and running through July 5th, 2008, online poker players
participating in the Mini-Series of Poker will have the chance to play alongside the
same tournaments that will be running at the Las Vegas World Series of Poker – with
cheaper buy-ins ranging from just $10 all the way up to $500. Satellites will also
be offered from $2+$.20 or by utilizing 50 of your Full Tilt Points.

One of the buy-in events will be a $100+9 No Limit Hold Em tournament, as well as a
June 22nd H.O.R.S.E. tournament with a prize pool guarantee of $50,000. That
particular $500+$35 H.O.R.S.E event will closely resemble the famed WSOP H.O.R.S.E.
event, which has a buy-in of $50k.

How cool is that – Full Tilt’s online poker players will pay just 1/100th of the fee
it would cost in the WSOP and be able to experience all the excitement and challenge
from their own home!

The Mini-WSOP Main Event will take place on July 5th, with players being able to buy
in for just $109.

In addition to Full Tilt’s first place prize money, a handsome Full Tilt Poker
Champion’s Watch will be awarded the winners of each event. Go as far as you can in
the final tournaments and climb the MSOP Leaderboard for the chance to actually win
a $10,000 seat at the 2009 WSOP Main Event in Vegas.

This amazing online poker series hosted by Full Tilt is in no way associated or
endorsed by the WSOP or its owners.

New Washington Law Makes Online Gambling A Felony

Filed under: Poker News — at 12:44 pm on Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The state of Washington has placed into effect a new law that was signed by Governor Chris Gregorie making online gambling a felony; this is on top of the federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The previous state law, the 1973 Washington Gambling Law had a 2006 statute stating a ban only on the receipt or transmission of gambling information via radio, phone or telegraph; this newest amendment to the law now includes the internet as well.

Attorney Lee Rousso who is also the Washington State Director of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) had brought the case in front of State Court Judge Mary Roberts on May 16th, 2008 in hopes of having the law overturned. Several PPA supporters rallied outside the courtroom wearing t-shirts that said “Poker is not a crime”. Poker Professionals Andy Block and Barry Greenstein were at hand to show their support as well. Greenstein was quoted as saying, “the politicians are dictating what you can do in the privacy of your own home. Makes it look like a pretty backward place.”

Rousso argued that the law is unconstitutional. He stated the law infringes upon the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution; State Legislatures are not allowed to regulate interstate commerce, only Congress has the authority. Rousso held steadfast to his claim that the law was only in place to profit Washington’s land based casinos and card rooms to the detriment of online gambling companies. Apparently Senator Margarita Prentice whose district includes said land based casinos and card rooms had sponsored the initial bill that put the ball rolling for this new law. State Assistant Attorney General Bruce Marvin told the judge the states were given the right and power to govern their criminal laws individually and the Washington law bans online gambling whether the internet company is managed in or out of state.

Lee Rousso’s efforts fell upon deaf ears on Judge Roberts as she dismissed the case citing it had not successfully proven that Washington State is unfair in the protection of the gambling industry in regards to land based casinos versus online casinos. The King County judge further went on to say that the state’s long and strict prohibition on gambling was a basis in her decision. Rousso told the judge that the law was discriminative and filled with hypocrisy.

FullTiltPoker.com World Series Of Golf

Filed under: Poker News — at 6:20 pm on Tuesday, May 6, 2008

The World Series of Golf has a very interesting sponsor at this year’s event. Are you wondering what a story about the WSOG is doing on a poker news site? Well, online poker room Full Tilt is the head sponsor in the golf tournament.

In a very interesting twist to the game of golf, the players will have the ability to raise, call check and fold on their shots. Each hole will have a pot and the winner of the hole wins the pot. Every shot will count in the action filled competition and just as skill is crucial to the game and different strategies can be played on the tee, fairway, and green or in wagering. Just like playing the game of poker, when a player is out of chips, that player is out of the game. The winner of each foursome will move to the next round and this will continue until the final foursome produces the top golfer of the tournament who will be declared the champion.

Basically, the strategy will come down to each hole that is played as well as each shot and each bet. Another interesting concept in the WSG is that you will be able to enlist the expertise of your caddie/financial. For instance, for the poker players they can get advice on how to determine their shot. Likewise, the golfer can get assistance on how to wager. To do well in the tournament, being aware of your bankroll as well as your betting order and playing smart is the key.

The 2008 World Series of Golf will have Team Full Tilt pros Phil Ivey, Brandon Adams, David Grey, Andy Block, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Erick Lindgren, Allen Cunningham, David Oppenheim and David Benyamine teeing up. The Paiute Golf Resort in Las Vegas is hosting the series from May 12th through May 15th and will be televised on CBS.

WSOP Final Table To Be Delayed

Filed under: Poker News — at 11:50 am on Thursday, May 1, 2008

In past years the 20th of May has seen the start of the WSOP’s 55 events. Although this year is no different the WSOP’s Main Event is set for a huge change. The idea of having a “delayed” final table has been debated over the past few months but now we can officially confirm the WSOP Main Event final table will be delayed and the date is set for the 9th of November.

What does this mean?

This delay means poker enthusiasts will be able to place bets on who they think will win the Main Events. Poker Sites will cash in on the extra  poker buzz generated, typically this “buzz” is only seen once a year with the start of the WSOP now they can cash in on the buzz generated when the final table kicks off.

Players also believe that the delay may favour the more observant players as they will be able to track down recordings of proceedings during the event and check if players give away any tells when they are bluffing.

Daniel Negreanu stated, “They’re going to watch the ESPN broadcasts and go, ‘Oh, did you notice that? When he does this, he’s bluffing,’

Qualify for the WSOP with; PokerStars , Bodog Or Cake Poker.