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.

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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.

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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 12^th through May 15^th and will be televised on CBS.

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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.

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In a tragic ending to a tumultuous life, Brandi “Rose” Hawbaker committed suicide on April 13^th, 2008. It has been reported by her friend and former boyfriend Brandon Gerson that Hawbaker suffered from a “very serious untreatable mental illness.” Hawbaker had also been trying to seek the help she desperately needed the past year and a half from several doctors. It has been reported that The Los Angeles County Coroner confirmed that her body was found Sunday, April 13^th in a residence in the 8700 block of Pershing Drive in Playa Del Rey, California. The autopsy that was performed ruled her death as a suicide.

Not a lot was truly known about Brandi Hawbaker. There was always much mystery surrounding Brandi and about her veiled past. Supposedly she left home at the age of thirteen because of a troubled childhood and began travelling the world doing odd jobs for food and shelter. According to Hawbaker’s own statements, she returned to the US in 2005 after a summer spent in Guyana. Ending up in Los Angeles, California, she became intrigued with the world of poker.

One of her very first poker tournaments was the Spring Pot of Gold where she placed 9^th and won $655. This first taste of poker winnings led her to a No Limit Hold’em Super Satellite Event for the World Poker Tour Festa al Lago where Hawbaker finished in 17^th place with winnings of $10,000. When Brandi played in the The Main Event for the WPT Festa al Lago and finished 35^th with $20,875, it was thought she may have the right stuff to become the next up and coming darling of poker. She played in her last poker tournament on June 6^th, 2007, the 38^th Annual World Series of Poker Event #10, where she placed 55^th and won $8,359.

Unfortunately, eccentric behavior mixed with much drama had Hawbaker the brunt and target of many internet forums. Hawbaker not only read all of drama surrounding her but also participated in it as well trying to tell her side of the story. Her attempts, however, were futile, as it just perpetuated things even further and led to even more vicious attacks on her character.

Perhaps in hopes of seeking a fresh start and a new life, Brandi Rose filed a name change petition with the courts on January 11, 2008 and changed her name to Naami Dea. There were also reports that she was trying to convert to the religion of Islam.

It’s disheartening that Brandi Hawbaker could not find the help she desperately needed and seeked. What makes it even worse is that although she was obviously trying to reach out for help, certain members in the poker community would never manage to let up on her. Continually slinging negativity at her, to the point of things being publicly written that she should commit suicide is inconceivable. No matter what sort of drama or turmoil she was in or allowed herself to be a part of, it was apparent that Brandi Hawbaker was a troubled young woman. It’s a sad commentary when young women are made to feel that in order to get ahead in a so called man’s world (i.e. – poker), that they need to exploit themselves. What is even sadder is that certain people feel the need to exploit troubled young women in order to further themselves or things they are involved in.

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