Casino business news at a glance: May 2016

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Two Men Charged With Laundering in Online Casino Case

The forfeiture case involves the seizure of cash being moved through foreign banks to the us for payments from and to Bodog, a well-liked online gambling site.

The Baltimore City Paper has uncovered documents revealing the filing of federal money laundering charges against two men interested by transactions with regards to funds belonging to Bodog.com online casino. Edward Courdy and Michael Garone were charged by federal authorities in a Maryland court, although nor is in custody.

Federal government proceedings have ended in a forfeiture finding against Bodog related bank accounts within the amount of $24 million. Courdy and ZIP Payments had filed a claim against over $9 million of the suspect funds on September 29th, and the similar day, authorities brought the laundering charges.

Maryland is the house site for the case as it was the state wherein an secret agent gambled at Bodog and other online casinos. The forfeiture case involves the seizure of cash being moved through foreign banks to the us for payments from and to Bodog, a well-liked online gambling site.

The forfeiture was filed in April of 2007, after the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act made financial transactions involving online casinos illegal within the United States.

Although Garone and his company, JBL Services, didn't contest the seizure of over $14 million, the laundering charges against both men seem spurred by Courdy's decision to contest the only forfeiture. Department of Justice policy was to persecute executives of Internet casinos that operated within the U.S., without reference to jurisdiction questions.

Authorities have used the specter of ominous felony charges to extract agreements to pay fines, allow forfeitures, or even accept smaller jail sentences, as accused executives seek to offer protection to threatened members of the family. The actions of federal law enforcement has been morally shameful, if not illegal.

Published on October 30, 2008 by A.J.Maldonado

Read More... [Source: US Casinos in the News]

PCA 2013: "THE REMAINDER OF the tale" from World Cup of Poker history

Readers of a undeniable age may recall an American radio personality of the prior generation named Paul Harvey. He had a syndicated radio "column" called "THE REMAINDER OF the tale". He would lead with some roughly story that was mildly interesting, then have a commercial break. After the commercial, he'd get back and provides you the punch line, twist, or some strange or bizarre aspect of the entire deal. Like he'd speak about some guy who did this thing, that thing, achieved this accomplishment, after which Harvey would come again after the industrial and say "Oh by the way, this guy was blind since birth."

One of the joys things about being on the PCA is running into people who find themselves often capable of provde the "remainder of the tale" about all things poker. For instance, I DISCOVERED myself in a tournament floor chat with Jan Heitmann, a member of Team PokerStars Pro and a stupendously nice guy ("I'm sufficiently famous in Germany that statistically I must be recognized at the subway about once every four years. It hasn't actually happened yet, but I BELIEVE that's my expectation").

Here's the tale that Jan told us...

jan and lee.jpg

Lee Jones and Jan Heitmann

As you'll be aware, the finals of the sector Cup of Poker are run once a year here on the PCA. Jan was present at (and marginally occupied with) not just probably the most famous slowroll in World Cup history, however the most famed slowroll in PCA history, and positively some of the famous slowrolls in poker.

Here's the scenario: on the 2010 World Cup of Poker, Luca Pagano, the team captain for Italy, open-raises in late position with 6-2 offsuit. Now Sascha Cornils, playing for Team Germany, wakes up with pocket aces and, not surprisingly, re-raises. Unfortunately for Canada, their representative, Darus Suharto (a November Nine alum), finds pocket kings within the small blind. After a temporary analysis to ensure he can get everybody's chips in, he shoves all-in.

So far, so good.

Luca, it have to be noted, takes his sweet Mediterranean time to fold his trash, staring both other players down as though seeking to get a read ("Hmmm. Are they beating six-high?"). But he does eventually fold.

This is where things turn interesting.

Cornils, holding aces, snap calls, turns up his hand, and fist-pumps, right?

Well, no. He freezes for a moment, looks confused, after which turns and frantically signals to his teammates (including Hauptmann Heitmann) that he needs a time-out (WCP teams are permitted a undeniable collection of these).

Jan, of course, officially requests a time-out from tournament director Neil Johnson, and the team goes backstage to confer.

Now, for those who haven't heard this story, you can also not believe it. Fortunately, it's permanently recorded on the web here.

As you watch the video, you will see the German team go off-stage and feature an animated discussion. Within the meantime, the television announcers, who can see the cards, are flipping out, crying etiquette foul and so on.

When the German team returns, Conils calls and flips up his aces. The gang goes completely berserk. Canadian Suharto, who obviously felt his kings were golden (given Cornils' hesitancy), actually laughs in confusion and semi-disgust.

Despite the crowd's almost unanimous calling for a king at the flop (or maybe better, the river), the aces get up and Germany doubles through Canada.

Now, for the remainder of story.

Jan, who was within the center of the entire action, explained to me what happened. Cornils was a freeroll qualifier to the sector Cup of Poker. He was an especially inexperienced poker player who managed to win his way onto the team; it seems that luck does play an occasional part within the poker world.

Subsequent to winning his seat, he had studied up to he could about tournament poker. Somewhere in there, he had learned that it'd be correct to fold aces preflop. Don't tell me you have not heard the quiz before: "IT IS THE first hand of the WSOP main event, you locate aces at the big blind, and everyone goes all-in before you. Do you call?"

Furthermore, there are occasions when it's clearly mathematically correct to fold aces preflop on or near the bubble of a satellite where finishing (e.g.) 18th is akin to finishing 1st.Poor Sascha Corlis finds himself all in favour of the pot of his life, with TV cameras looking at him, a complete crowd watching every move he makes, and his Team Germany teammates holding their breath to peer what he does.

Can anybody blame him for using a timeout that costs him (and his team) almost nothing?Now, being a poker player, I'm naturally suspicious (up to I trust Jan Heitmann). But two things strongly incline me to believe the "Confused novice" explanation.

1. Have a look at the re-raise that Corlis puts in over Pagano's original raise. It's almost a min-raise which (as Neil Channing points out at the video) might be worse than either a flat call or a considerable three-bet.

2. Return and watch the video at 1:35. Darus Suharto (the Canadian with the kings) asks for a chip count from Corlis - he desires to ensure that if he shoves, Corlis is just about forced to name along with his whole range. Now watch Corlis count his chips. This isn't the counting strategy of a veteran poker player. He's literally counting the chips two at a time (thus explaining the extended period it takes for him to get a count).

I'll let Jan Heitmann pick up the tale here:

"So we get backstage and i am thinking that if he has queens we can have to fold, and we'll probably call if he has kings.Now he tells us he has aces and all of us freak out. All of us say 'You totally must call!' He says, 'Should I delay before calling after I get back?' I say 'No - here's what will happen: you'll return there, immediately call and switch up your hand within the same breath. Then I WILL buy beer for the Canadian team."

In short, it was a honest novice misunderstanding that happened at just about the worst possible moment. Jan Heitmann did, in fact, buy a few pitchers of beer for the Canadian team, which smoothed over diplomacy and everyone had fun (and a dynamite tale to tell).

So there's one more great cause of you to come back to the PCA - where you'll be able to learn...the remainder of the story.

***

Lee Jones first joined PokerStars in 2003 and was inquisitive about the pro poker world for over 25 years.

Lee can be on the PCA presenting a poker seminar, hosting Q&A sessions with PokerStars Team Pros, and answering any questions that our players and guests have. Follow him on Twitter (@leehjones) to get details about what he's doing at PCA and where you'll meet him.

New Wynn Poker site Opens Thursday Night In Las Vegas

After a grand opening ceremony Thursday night, the Wynn Las Vegas will officially open their up to date poker site at Encore with live cash games.

The new space is set 62 percent larger than the former room, with the collection of tables increasing from 25 to twenty-eight. The added square footage allows players to experience elbow room unlike another within the city, with various space to transport between tables.

The room can even have its own dedicated restrooms, a sports book window, 37 big screen televisions and USB charging ports for each seat. There's also a four-table high-limit area with its own cage and cashier window.

Despite all the shiny, new amenities the room has to provide, Director of Poker Operations Ryan Beauregard says that the players can expect the Wynn to offer the similar professionalism and customer support that has created a devoted following in Las Vegas for the reason that doors opened in 2005.

“My motto is to regard players well,” said Beauregard. “Looking back at when Wynn first opened, it’s always been about building a way of community. We get to grasp our guests, take heed to their feedback and improve once we can. The brand new room will give us the chance to actually show people who Wynn offers an excellent and friendly place to play poker. If you happen to can offer a fair product and treat people well, then you definately can win the players over. Conveying the five-star experience is usually our goal.”

While all cash game action shifts to Encore, the unique Wynn poker site will remain open in the course of the summer to play host to the Wynn Summer Classic . You'll discover the entire schedule hereclassic.cfm, or follow @WynnPoker on Twitter for extra information.

Read More... [Source: CardPlayer Poker News]

Speculation on Casino Gambling Legalization in Japan Continues

^LVS owner Sheldon Adelson continues to create gambling news around the world, this time in Japan as he salivates on the possibility of legalization before the 2020 Olympics.

Read More... [Source: Slots]

'Pokies' Drive Australia's Growing Gambling Market

Australia’s gambling market grew six percent in 2015 to the equivalent of approximately $17.4 billion USD (A$24.1 billion).

Given the country’s population of approximately 23 million, that implies that Australians spend more on gambling than people anywhere else within the world, in line with Bloomberg.

An estimated 80 percent of Australian citizens gamble in some form, also the top rate on the earth. Electronic gaming machines, known in Australia as “pokies,” are driving the growth, although bingo, sports betting and the lottery are popular there. Playing online pokies could also be available, though less widespread than in-person machines because online gambling in Australia remains to be regulated by a patchwork of state and federal laws.

A report from The Guardian said that Internet gambling is the fastest-growing segment of the country’s gambling market, increasing at a 15-percent clip year-over-year. It’s worth about seven percent of all of the gambling market.

According to a report from USA Today, about 1/2 the country’s gambling market belongs to the pokies. As of 2014, there has been a machine for each 108 people in Australia. Gambling represents 1.2 percent of Australia’s GDP.

In the United State it's about 0.8 percent.

The Australian state New South Wales is definitely home to more gambling machines than anywhere else on this planet outside of Nevada. Though, consistent with The Gaming Technologies Association, the Silver State has roughly double the gambling machines of NSW. Nevada’s gambling machines generate about 60 percent of gaming win.

According to a report this month from The Sydney Morning Herald, one of the crucial world’s leading casino games manufacturers is experiencing great growth thanks to, in large part, Australian bettors.

Aristocrat Leisure, that is based out of Sydney, has seen its revenue from Australia and New Zealand increase by greater than 60 percent thus far in 2016. The $213 million in revenue makes up 20 percent of the company’s sales. Its revenue from the Americas accounts for 60 percent of its business, but sales in Australia and New Zealand are growing at nearly triple the rate.

Australian pubs, clubs and casinos with the gambling machines have welcomed new products from Aristocrat recently. Aristocrat is arguably the second one largest company of its kind behind U.S.-based IGT.

Read More... [Source: CardPlayer Poker News]

Canada leads Americas Cup of Poker

It's winter in Barliloche, Argentina, but for 2 days in September PokerStars is popping up the thermostat. Usually the name Americas Cup is reserved for the most important soccer tournament at the continent, but PokerStars is introducing something new this winter: The Americas Cup of Poker.

It started yesterday with the simple stuff. PokerStars Team Pros met their teammates for a drink and a visit up the mountain to ski at one among South Americas best resorts, Cerro Catedral.

After that, it was directly to the poker. Here's the way it worked:

The tournament started with six sit and gos of eight randomly seated players. The players accumulated points in step with how they finished. The highest three teams earned an automated bid to the semifinals. The fourth and fifth place teams had a playoff to earn the fourth seat.

In all, the players were fighting for the next prizes.

1. $100,0002. $60,000 .3. $30,0004. $20,0005. $10,0006. $10,0007. $10,0008. $10,000

Dennis Phillips was the primary captain to be eliminated. His A-Q didn't beat his Mexican opponent's A♣5♣. With a club at the river for a flush,"Ratero1" eliminated the yank captain and Mexico was looking strong.

Argentinian Team Pro Leo Fernandez and Costa Rican Team Pro Humberto Brenes took their jobs very seriously. They ended up winning their tournaments, giving Argentina a possibility to compete within the play-off and pushing Costa Rica into second place.

Meanwhile, Canada's Darus Suharto helped his team to a fist place finish within the first round.

At the tip of the primary round of play, here's how the teams stacked up.

Canada - 37Costa Rica - 34Brasil - 31Chile - 27Argentina - 26México - 24Colombia - 18USA - 19

In the playoffs, Argentina managed to overcome Chile after Leo Fernandez and Gaston Catzman won their heads up matches.

Action continues today in Bariloche. Check back tomorrow to peer how the teams fared.

Photo Credit: Carlos Monty and Reinaldo Venegas

MPC24: Wayne Yap conquers record High Roller!

Congratulations to Wayne Jun Wen Yap!

He overcame this star-studded record High Roller field with 114 entries to take home HK$2,292,720 and etch his name in Macau poker history.

It was back to back hands that ultimately decided the winner.

Yap started the heads up battle with Xixiang Luo with a chip deficit and still managed to cast off Luo within 10 minutes. The primary brought an action flop of Q♠5♠2♦ and with Yap holding 5♥5♣ for middle set against Luo's Q♣2♣ for high and bottom pair the cash quickly got within the middle.

Yap's set held and he propelled himself into position of overwhelming chip leader before the general hand followed. All of the money was within the middle preflop this time and Yap had to improve to near out the tournament.

Yap: K♣7♥Luo: 7♠7♣

It gave the impression of the hand would go Luo's way as Yap missed everything as much as the turn with the cards reading 9♦9♣9♥T♣. The river, however, brought the K♥ spurring cheers from around the tournament floor as Yap clenched the title.

13 hours before that the general table of nine began.

Wei Zhao brought a super-short stack with him and lasted not up to an orbit. Zhao moved all in from the small blind after it folded to him for only four big blinds and Quan Zhou called to place him in danger. Zhao did have the most efficient hand with 9♦4♦ but couldn't hold against the 7♥2♠ of Zhou when the cards fell 2♥T♦7♣A♥J♥.

Next out the door was Vikram Nanda. He got the entire money in preflop with J♣T♦ but couldn't outdraw Louis Salter's A♣K♣. The 6♠4♦5♦Q♥Q♠ missed both players and Nanda finished in 8th place for HK$340,000.

8th place - Vikram Nanda

7th place went to Ya Hui Xu. He got the last of his chips in with pocket aces against Zhou's pocket queens but a queen at the turn would see him hurtling out of the poker site. Xu shook the hands of his tablemates and headed to the payout desk to assemble HK$382,000.

Wei Zhang was out in 6th after he ended up at the wrong end of a flip. It was Zhang's A♠K♦ against the T♠T♣ of Zhou however the latter would spike a collection at the T♥J♠3♣ and replenish at the J♦ turn to signal the top for Zhang.

6th place - Wei Zhang

Following him to the rail was Louis Salter. After being crippled by his brother Jack only some hands earlier, Louis was forced all in on his big blind for his last 75,000. His T♥7♦ was no match for Zhou's K♣Q♠ at the 8♦K♦Q♣3♠Q♥ runout and Louis was eliminated.

Four-handed would last for nearly three hours before Jack Salter would join his brother. He had survived several all in hands leading as much as the person who saw him eliminated but if he got K♣T♣ in preflop versus Xixiang Luo's J♠J♦ he couldn't catch up. Salter scored himself HK$722,000 for fourth place.

And the general elimination before that speedy heads up battle was Quan Zhou's. He got it in good with A♠K♣ to Wayne Yap's J♠4♣ and while he faded danger within the turn, the river saw Zhou pair his jack when the cards fell 3♠5♦7♠9♣J♣ to send Zhou packing.

MPC24 High Roller Final Table Payouts1st: Wayne Yap (Singapore) - $2,292,7202nd: Xixiang Luo (China) -$1,528,0003rd: Quan Zhou (China) - $934,0004th: Jack Salter (UK) -$722,0005th: Louis Salter (UK) - $552,0006th: Wei Zhang (China) - $467,0007th: Ya Hui Xu (China) - $382,0008th: Vikram Nanda (Hong Kong) - $340,0009th: Wei Zhao (China) - $297,000

all amounts in HK$

Congratulations again to Yap and to the team at PokerStars LIVE Macau for hosting another spectacular MPC24 High Roller event.

That concludes our coverage of the Macau Poker Cup. Thanks for joining us!

Hot Hit Rainbow Riches—IGT

IGT’s Hot Hit Rainbow Riches sparks a spectrum of big-win opportunities. Developed for high-volatility play with progressive jackpots and free games bonuses, the recent Hit game theme sizzles with dynamic symbols that adjust colors on a five-reel, 30-payline configuration. Set at the IGT’s S3000 cabinet, this game offers a nine-level standalone progressive that's triggered with seven or more scattered Hot Hit symbols. Conducting reel action, players will experience sirens, horns and more once they hit a progressive level. When players aren’t conducting multi-level progressive gameplay, the bottom game includes a weighted pay-table through which symbols change color on every spin. Different colors can award different payouts, with red awarding the top followed by blue, green, purple and yellow. Elevating gameplay, the free games bonus is triggered when bonus symbols appear on reels one, three and five. Throughout the bonus, solid-colored symbols evolve into rainbow symbols.

Read More... [Source: Slots]

Churchill Downs Starts Adding Employees For Online Gambling

Published on August 30, 2013 by April Gardner

Churchill Downs is already the positioning of probably the most prestigious horse race within the world, the Kentucky Derby. Now the parent company that owns the famed horse track, Churchill Downs Inc., is preparing to go into a market that may be suddenly saturated with participants.

Churchill Downs announced this week that they've gained approval from the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority on $1 million in tax benefits by hiring 50 new employees. The precise job description of those new employees was not revealed, but many believe they know what Churchill Downs is preparing for.

"Online gambling is coming to the united states in a large way," said analyst Steven Ryan. "Whether the government regulates the industry, or whether regulation comes throughout the Kentucky Legislature, Internet gambling can be in Kentucky sooner instead of later, and Churchill Downs desires to be ready when that happens."

The company did announce that the brand new employees can be coping with a technology based job. The figures regarding how much these employees will make were estimated at $165,000 annually. Churchill Downs did acknowledge that they were associated with online gambling.

The move towards providing online poker began for Churchill Downs back in early 2012 when the corporate acquired Bluff Media. Bluff runs a web-based poker site, in addition to one of the vital largest and most successful poker magazines within the US. Bluff has already been approved for a web based gaming license in Nevada, where online gambling have been accepted by lawmakers.

With New Jersey also regulating online casinos earlier this year, analysts now believe the door was opened for the U.S. to become the most important online gambling market on this planet. Dozens of businesses have submitted applications to function online casinos in Nevada. New Jersey and Nevada both hope to have fully operational online casinos by the tip of the year.

Kentucky was on the forefront of a web based gambling controversy when Governor Steve Beshear attempted to grab the domains of 141 online gambling sites. Beshear claimed the sites put Kentucky's youth in danger.

A Department of Justice ruling back in December of 2011, clarified the 1961 Wire Act, signaling that only sports betting was illegal under the law. Soon after, lawmakers from dozens of states, including Kentucky, began lobbying their colleagues to switch state laws, allowing regulation throughout the online gambling industry.

Read More... [Source: Online Casino News]

Tropicana Casino Strikes Handle Net Entertainment

netent net ent NetEnt has announced that launch of an expansion of its online casino games with the Tropicana Casino in New Jersey, US.

In October last year, NetEnt brokered a maintain Gamesys US to start offering its games at the TropicanaCasino.com and VirginCasino.com platforms.

Having secured a transactional waiver from the brand new Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, which enables a developer to launch games with an operator while its full licence application remains to be under review, NetEnt has launched its games on TropicanaCasino.com.

More at iGaming Business

MicroMillions 6: mark_999 rallies to win Sunday Storm Special Edition and Event #97 $11 NL

It was a revolutionary form of day for mark 999. The Canadian advanced to the general table of MicroMillions 6 Event #97, yet he found himself near the back of the pack. mark 999 waited for the easiest moment to peak on the right time. Along the way, he snapped off pocket Queens with a fortuitous flop, and in another hand, his own pocket Kings held up in a decisive pot. However, mark 999 still found himself because the short stack when he took part in a money chop with three players remaining. Despite the fact that he was way behind, mark 999 was not deterred one bit. He somehow got heads-up and aroused from sleep with pocket Aces on the perfect time. He avoided an elimination and collected a timely double up. At the very next hand, mark 999 delivered a surprising knock out blow to successfully complete a come-from-behind victory and win MicroMillions Event #97.

MicroMillions 6 Event #97 $11 NL also doubled because the Sunday Storm Special Edition, which drew in 52,491 runners. They created a prize pool worth $524,910, which was significantly greater than the guaranteed prize pool of 300K. The highest 6,633 places paid out with $38,110.83 put aside to the eventual champion. That could be a juicy dividend on an insignificant $11 investment.

The Sunday Storm progressed at a rapid pace. Three hours passed before the money bubble popped. Over 90% of the sphere was liquidated within the first 3.5 hours.

The frantic pace bogged down throughout the final two tables. Action went hand-for-hand with ten to go, and flaviusff leading the way in which with over 50 million. Slovakia's KovTa bubbled off the overall table in tenth place when A♦J♠ unfortunately lost to mark 999's K♥8♦ after mark 999 flopped two pair. With KovTa's bustout, the general table of nine was set.

MM6 E97 FT.jpg

Event #97 - Final Table Chip Counts:Seat 1: patrik2003 (37,534,946)Seat 2: TheCTrain (25,509,603)Seat 3: Sevathebes46 (16,574,678)Seat 4: mark 999 (22,235,169)Seat 5: flaviusff (56,278,605)Seat 6: seby cacho (12,396,885)Seat 7: TocalaSam (48,524,796)Seat 8: StackYou780 (9,760,692)Seat 9: HAL7000 (33,639,626)

The final table for this Sunday Storm Special commenced during Level 49 with blinds at 325K/650K and a 65K ante. Romania's flaviusff held the lead with 56.2 million, while StackYou780 clung to the quick stack with a shade under 10 million.

StackYou780 eliminated in 9th place

The final table played out almost three full levels before someone busted. And it was one heck of a cooler... seby cacho opened to 2.4 million, StackYou780 bombed it all-in for 14,701,384 with K♦K♠, and seby cacho called with J♥J♦. The board ran out 6♥4♠2♠J♣4♣. seby cacho turned a collection of Jacks and rivered a ship to win the pot. StackYou780 had Kings brutally cracked and have become the primary player to bust on the final table. StackYou780 took home $2,005.15 for a ninth-place finish.

TheCTrain eliminated in 8th place

TheCTrain min-raised to two million, mark 999 bumped it as much as 5,454,599, TheCTrain moved all-in for 10,813,911, and mark 999 called. TheCTrain led with Q♠Q♦ against mark 999's A♠Q♣. The board ran out A♦K♠4♥5♣4♣. TheCTrain's Queens were cracked and mark 999 won the pot with two pair -- Aces and fours. For eighth place, TheCTrain collected $3,401.41.

With seven remaining, HAL7000 took over the lead with 50 million, but mark 999 was not far behind with 49 million.

Sevathebes46 eliminated in 7th place

Wrong time to get ambushed by cowboys. patrik2003 min-raised to 2.4 million, Sevathebes46 re-raised to 4.8 million, mark 999 four-bet to 13.2 million, patrik2003 folded, and Sevathebes46 called all-in for 4,549,678. Sevathebes46 made a last stand with A♥8♥, but he bumped into mark 999's K♠K♦. The board ran out K♣Q♥4♣4♦6♠. mark 999 flopped a suite of Kings and turned a ship. Sevathebes46 didn't improve and hit the virtual rail in seventh place, which paid out $4.986.64.

With six to go, mark 999 took over the chip lead with 61 million.

HAL7000 eliminated in 6th place

Short-stacked HAL7000 open-shoved for 15,456,121 with Q♦T♥ and monster-stacked mark 999 called with A♦T♦. The board ran out K♦9♣7♦9♠4♠. HAL7000 flopped a gutshot draw, but neither player improved by the river. mark 999 won the pot with an Ace-high kicker. HAL7000 was taken offline in sixth place, which paid out $7,180.76.

TocalaSam eliminated in 5th place

Action didn't play out five-handed for greater than an orbit before someone bowed out. seby cacho min-raised to 3.2 million, TocalaSam bombed it all-in for 23,615,897 with A♦2♥, and seby cacho called with A♥Q♦. seby cacho was ahead and his hand would delay when the board ran out 7♣5♠4♦T♠T♦. TocalaSam flopped a Wheel gutshot draw, but did not get there. Portugal's TocalaSam was knocked out in fifth place, which paid out $10,755.40.

With four players remaining, mark 999 was the leader with 98.4 million, seby cacho was second with 85.4 million, patrik2003 was third with 48.9 million, and flaviusff cited the rear with 29.6 million.

flaviusff eliminated in 4th place

With four to head... mark 999 min-raised to 4 million, flaviusff re-raised all-in for 28,055,668, patrik2003 called, but mark 999 folded. patrik2003 led with A♥K♥ versus flaviusff's K♦J♥. The board ran out Q♥5♥3♥8♠7♥. patrik2003 flopped an Ace-high flush, which held up. For fourth place, flaviusff earned $14,345.79.

DEAL

With three remaining, action was paused to talk about a deal. At that juncture, patrik2003 held the lead with 98.5 million, seby cacho was second with 83.3 million, and mark 999 was the "shorty' with 80.5 million. They agreed to the next terms with $6,000 left at the table to the eventual champion:

patrik2003 - $26,851.33seby cacho - $25,481.35mark 999 - $25,230.10

With a deal in place, play resumed.

seby cacho eliminated in 3rd place

seby cacho min-raised to five million, patrik2003 re-raised to 42.5 million with A♠3♦, and seby cacho called all-in for 24,701,051 with K♦T♥. The board ran out J♣4♥4♣3♠8♦ and patrik200 won the pot with two pair -- fours and treys. seby cacho didn't improve, and headed to the rail in third place, which paid out $25,481.35.

HEADS-UP: patrik2003 (Hungary) vs. mark 999 (Canada)Seat 1: patrik2003 (126,939,109)Seat 4: mark 999 (135,515,891)

With two remaining, it was a comparatively close race, although mark 999 held a slight lead.

On the second one hand of heads up, patrik2003 won a 70 million pot and seized the lead. However, mark 999 got the lead right back after patrik2003 four-bet shoved with A♠T♦ and mark 999 awoke with A♥A♦. Aces held up and mark 999 won a pot worth 240 million. It was in all places at the ensuing hand.

patrik2003 eliminated in 2nd place; mark 999 wins Sunday Storm and MicroMillions Event #97

Trailing 240 million to 22.4 million, patrik2003 got his remaining stack all-in preflop with 6♥3♥ and mark 999 called with A♣4♣. The flop was A♦7♦5♥ and patrik2003 picked up a gutshot draw. The turn was the 8♠ and patrik2003 picked up more outs with an open-ended straight draw. The river was the T♣. patrik2003 did not improve and only held Ace-high, which meant he busted in second place. mark 999 faded a straight and won the pot with a couple of Aces to correctly bink Event #97.

For a sensational runner-up performance, Hungary's patrik2003 took home $26,851.33.

Congrats to Canada's mark 999, won earned $31,230.10 for an excellent first place victory in Event #97. mark 999 won a MicroMillions 6 event, which also doubled because the Sunday Storm Special Edition.

View the general hand via the replayer:

RSS readers must click through to view replayer

MicroMillions-097 $11 NL Hold'em [Sunday Storm Special Edition]Entrants: 52,491Prize pool: $524,910.00Place paid: 6,663

1. mark 999 (Canada) - $31,230.10 **2. patrik2003 (Hungary) - $26,851.33 **3. seby cacho (Argentina) - $25,481.35 **4. flaviusff (Romania) - $14,345.795. TocalaSam (Portugal) - $10,755.406. HAL7000 (Czech Republic) - $7,180.767. Sevathebes46 (Ukraine) - $4,986.648. TheCTrain (Canada) - $3,401.419. StackYou780 (Canada) - $2,005.15

** Denotes a deal some of the final three players

Visit the MicroMillions 6 home page to look who currently sits atop the leader board.

Pauly McGuire is an author and freelance contributor to PokerStars Blog.

Monday, May 30, 2016

Buster Blackjack table game side bet—AGS

AGS (the “Company”), a number one gaming supplier with probably the most industry’s most diversified product portfolios, announced today that its Buster Blackjack side bet has doubled its footprint within the field during Q1 of 2016, gaining greater than 250 additional placements for a complete of greater than 500 placements in approximately 90 casinos around the U.S., establishing the sport as probably the most fastest-growing side bets on this planet. Recent installations include Las Vegas strip properties comparable to Caesar’s Palace, The Venetian, and Excalibur, in addition to Graton Resort & Casino in Northern California and Gila River Casino in Arizona.

“AGS acquired Buster Blackjack in September 2015, and within the first quarter of fiscal year 2016 we’ve already doubled the game’s install base,” said John Hemberger, vp of table products for AGS. “Thanks to its easy-to-understand gameplay, payout simplicity, and the joy it adds to any standard blackjack table, we’ve seen an explosion within the game’s popularity, which has translated into exceptional performance for our casino partners.”

Easily added to existing blackjack games and side bets, Buster Blackjack is an optional post-game side bet that lets players win odds-based payouts when a dealer busts. The volume of cards within the dealer’s busted hand determines the payout the player receives. The more cards within the dealer’s busted hand, the more payout players receive for the Buster bet. Its simple gameplay lets dealers easily explain the bet to players, and it doesn’t interfere with or decelerate the sport since all bets are quickly resolved with all players losing or getting paid equal amounts.

“It’s been lower than two years since we created AGS’ table games division, and we’re thrilled to have already got greater than 1,000 table products within the field,” Hemberger added. “The growth of our table games business, and particularly Buster Blackjack, is a testament to the strength and variety of our growing product catalog and casino operator’s increasing appetite for greater product and vendor variety.”

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

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Monday, May 30, 2016