Archive for the ‘Poker’ Category

Online gambling rooms offer to players different kinds of games including video poker. Although some players think that this game was born very recently, connoisseurs that know about its history say that video poker is a game that amaze people for years now. It even appeared in land based casino before slot machines. But it was after the great revolution of gambling that video poker began to have a great success. Video poker is a game very similar to poker. Those who know playing poker understand easily how to practise video poker from the first part of the game until the end. And what about people who have never played the traditional poker ? They will have no problem learning this game because the rules and principles are simple simple and anyone can play it after a few minutes of watching a game. To access to this kind of game, just register on a casino of the web.

We were discussing the fact that there are multitude of grey areas with regard to online poker, UIGEA and the law in the US; well, at least this is according to legal opinion on the matter. As far as the Department of Justice is concerned, there are no grey areas at all – playing online is simply illegal, but it is actually not all that simple. In the last article we mentioned that both Party Poker and Full Tilt had no intention of pulling out of the US market based on the legal opinions they have sought. Doyle Brunson, also has no intention of pulling his site, although his reasons may differ slightly. He is of the opinion that he is already 78 years old so if the Dept. Justice wants to throw down the gauntlet, he is too old to give a damn.

What is notable about the law and online poker in the US; is that PartyPoker pulled out of the country shortly after the promulgation of UIGEA and they did this based on advice from legal counsel. At the time they were one of the largest online gambling brands in the world; and had listed on the London Stock Exchange and the FTSE 100 by 2005. At this point in time they were earning reported revenues of $977 million and profits of $293 million. When they exited the US market PokerStars and FullTilt stepped into the void and has continued to benefit from it since. Obviously not as squeamish as the then CEO of PartyGaming – Mitch Garber!

When this took place, PartyGaming stock collapsed and the company still operates at a 1/7^th of what it once did. When PartyGaming left the US, a number of other large online poker and other gambling concerns followed its lead. Mitch Garber now runs the online gaming unit for Harrah’s Entertainment. PartyGaming also voluntarily cooperated with the Dept. of Justice and paid over $105 million in a non-prosecution agreement for continuing to take wagers after the promulgation of UIGEA. PartyGaming’s ex partner Anurag Dikshit rolled over; plead guilty to violating a 1961 Wire Act and handed $300 million over to the government, he also created a dangerous precedent but co-founders have not been indicted.

PokerStars and FullTilt shareholders are made of much sterner stuff; they have handed over no money to the Government and still continue to operate in the US. Full Tilt did eventually move its operations to Dublin and PokerStars can be found on the Isle of Mann. So far the way both these operations is run, continues to pay off, and both have expanded world-wide.

Last summer federal prosecutors froze $34 million in funds in payment processing companies, owed to as many as 14,000 players. Both PokerStars and FullTilt took the loss and reimbursed their members. The Feds are playing tough, but why have they not cracked down on these sites and their owners? The feeling is that US Justice stands the chance of losing an indictment against these massive moneyed concerns. They are playing a game of poker and bluffing rather than showing their hand to a jury. But they are also bluffing against some of the biggest bluffers in the business.

You would be forgiven for wondering what Full Tilt Poker and George W Bush have in common; the answer to this question is nothing, zip, zilch; other than Phil Hellmuth! Yup – he is the common denominator, but doesn’t get much more complex than that, we are just going to chat about a couple of poker stories in the news. And no, you don’t have to worry; Phil Hellmuth is not the new front-man for GWB and GWB is not seeking another term in office. Although the way things are looking it is possible that talks with Full Tilt may see them with a new big name poker front-man – or maybe not?!

Phil Hellmuth who has recently become the ex-face of UB Poker, could be looking for a new online poker site to call home. We thought that the new WSOP site would be a perfect fit, but have seen no moves in this direction to date. Hellmuth tweeted that he met Full Tilt at the SW Steakhouse bar at Wynn…this was a few weeks back and reactions have been mixed. Full Tilt is only the second largest online poker site and Mr. Hellmuth is known for wanting to be top dog. He certainly may not stand out if he has to take second place to Phil Ivey. According to Annie Duke who was on the billboard with Hellmuth at UB, and resigned from the site at the same time, she will not be signing with another online poker site.

There is also another factor; Full Tilt does not allow its stars to appear on Poker Stars sponsored shows such as Fox’s “Big Game” and GSN’s “High Stakes Poker” and Hellmuth fans as well as Hellmuth himself, may not like this very much. He is popular on these shows and appears to enjoy throwing his money and his weight around in them. Hellmuth has however said that he will also be talking to Pokers Stars, Bodog and whatever sites catches his eye. He believes that Poker Stars would be a good fit, but he will take the deal that makes the most sense; this is not only about money he also has to fit with the brand.

As far as meeting George W Bush is concerned, Phill Hellmuth was recently in Dallas for the Super Bowl XLV. After watching the Green Bay Packers conquer the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25, he stopped by the Southern Methodist University to chat with the ex- U.S. President. He tweeted that after meeting Garth Brooks and running back Reggie Bush earlier in the day he met GW Bush and gave him a signed book and beer at his library at SMU. He also met Condoleezza Rice and found GW to be witty and engaging, particularly when he tucked the signed copy of his book into his inside jacket pocket! Photos were taken which gave rise to a few snappish comments from the big mouth poker pro Tony G, who then initiated a caption contest for the 11 times WSOP bracelet winner and GW Bush pics.

Contrary to popular belief, poker is not a game for card slinging, whiskey drinking red-necks only. It is a head game in which the mind is a terrible thing to waste. Unfortunately after playing hand after hand at a poker table, it is also possible to slip into semi-automatic mode, or what some experts might call semi-coma mode. When this happens to a player, they offer their opponents at the poker table a huge advantage over them, so it is absolutely vital to keep alert while playing and even more important to prepare the mind for poker.

It is for this reason that so many poker experts encourage players to make a study of Zen or other esoteric arts. The mental aspect of playing poker is the single thing which separates the men from the boys, or the great players from the merely good.

Some players call this “focus” but the meaning is exactly the same, if you aren’t prepared to play poker on a mental level, you will be intimidated by the players who are prepared to do so.

This is why poker is such a well suited game for people of all ages and physical capabilities. You can be sitting in a wheel-chair, you can be 70 years old or 20 years old. You can be of any educational level, as long as you can count and, you can play poker competitively your entire life.

In order to flex your mental muscle, like any other muscle, it has to be kept in shape. Every single poker player has their own way of preparing their mind for a game. If you are playing and you notice that you are a million miles away, it is at this juncture that you have to bring yourself back to the game and stay sharp. Drifting away in the middle of a crucial poker game or tournament is expensive. You have to keep thinking to keep on your toes to keep winning!

The best ways to stay alert when you are playing poker or any other games for that matter are just common good sense. Get plenty of rest before a big game, take regular breaks, this doesn’t happen enough during long stretches and you will be stretching your mind thin.

You have to breathe because oxygen feeds the brain, so if you feel yourself drifting away, take some deep breaths. Sitting cramped up at a poker table or behind your computer immersed in a game is the same thing. If you don’t move around and free up your breathing your blood loses oxygen – the end result of this is your concentration suffers. A few deep breaths will make you feel refreshed.

Don’t play hungry and make sure your blood sugar doesn’t drop. Lots of poker players play with a pocket full of energy candies.

Exercise your body and take a serious look at yoga, this is a brilliant poker players’ life-style pursuit. It teaches you to breathe, relax, and focus. Do crossword puzzles, or other mental exercises for concentration, and focus on every single card coming off the deck.