Archive for the Poker category
June 18th, 2008
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June 10th, 2008
Century Casinos, Inc. announced today that its Century Casino & Hotel in Edmonton, Canada, will host the 1st Annual Celebrity Poker Tournament in support of the MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Society of Alberta on June 14, 2008.This celebrity poker tournament will feature stars of Canada’s most popular TV show “Corner Gas”, namely Tara Spencer-Nairn and Lorne Cardinal. Other confirmed celebrities include former Edmonton Eskimo Football Great Singor Mobley, as well as Playboy model and WWE Diva Rochelle Loewen.
Local media will also be represented including CISN morning man Sean Burke along with local poker legend Sandra Sperounes from the Edmonton Journal, and Gene Principe from Sportsnet, the commentator of the world-famous hockey team, the Edmonton Oilers.
The tournament is limited to 77 entries and commences at 2:00 p.m. MDT on June 14 in Century Casino’s new 24 hour poker room. On the day of the tournament, a silent auction will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. MDT to raise funds in support of the MS Society. In addition, a portion of the registration fees will be donated directly to the MS Society.
June 8th, 2008
Yesterday’s statement by Tokwiro Enterprises ENRG concerning a cheating scandal at its online poker site UltimateBet.com (see previous InfoPowa report) received almost immediate attention in the Canadian media.
The National Post claimed that confidence in the ability of Mohawk regulators to police lucrative online gambling operations on the Kahnawake reserve has been shaken following the second cheating scandal in less than a year.
UltimateBet’s stablemate in the Tokwiro group, Absolute Poker.com, was involved in a similar debacle last year and was fined half a million dollars by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
The Post’s report detailed the content of the Tokwiro announcement, noting that the company is headed by former Kahnawake grand chief Joe Norton, and that the company had refused to disclose the amount of fraudulent winnings. The report quoted poker observers as saying that the amount runs into the millions and that an analysis of the scandal on the online poker forum twoplustwo.com found that one of the cheaters alone won more than $600 000 in the space of four months last year. The software glitch at the heart of the affair was in place for at least 15 months.
The National Post report quotes industry analyst Bobby Mamudi, who said the new cheating incident is another blow to the reputation of Kahnawake’s gambling industry. “They definitely do seem to be losing credibility and not doing too much about it,” he said. He called the cheating uncovered in Kahnawake “quite unique” in the global online gambling world. Sites taking bets on sporting events have been shut down for failing to have sufficent funds to pay winners. “There’s never been something like this to do with poker and this kind of overt cheating,” he said.
The Post takes a look at the historical background to the Mohawk regulatory jurisdiction, commenting that the Canadian federal government considers the 400 or so poker and sports-betting sites operating from Kahnawake to be illegal, but, fearing a confrontation, both the federal and provincial governments have been reluctant to intervene.
“Last March, however, an aide to Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said the government was studying ways of shutting down the gambling, possibly by targeting financial transactions with illegal Internet operators,” it claims.
Murray Marshall, legal counsel to the gaming commission, told the National Post that Kahnawake’s regulation is among “the tightest in the world” and said similar frauds have occurred in casino gambling and banking. “We would obviously prefer to prevent all possibilities of this kind of thing happening, but no system is infallible,” he said.
Steven Ware, author of an upcoming book on poker strategy is also quoted in the report, having followed the UltimateBet controversy closely since players first voiced their suspicions online in January 2008. In an analysis on twoplustwo.com of cheater NioNio’s winning hands, he wrote that the odds of someone getting that lucky were “about the same as winning the powerball [lottery] jackpot three days in a row.”
In an interview with the newspaper, Ware said stricter oversight is needed of the Kahnawake gambling sites.
“Online poker is a billion-dollar-a-year industry, and it’s unfathomable that companies in this industry would operate with a total lack of transparency, beyond the reach of the law,” he said. “Kahnawake and the online gambling sites that it runs have shown time and time again that they are not willing to keep their games fair or protect the players.”
UltimateBet officials declined an invitation by the National Post to be interviewed. In an e-mailed statement, the company said the “perpetrators” of the fraud left the company “well before the fraudulent activity was uncovered.” Asked whether the matter has been referred to the police, the company said only that it is in the hands of the [Kahnawake] gaming commission.
May 16th, 2008
Titan Poker, the largest poker room on the iPoker Network, presented talented poker player Greg Metzak with a cheque for 40,000 Euros (more than $61,500) this week at the Eurocity Poker Tour (ECPT) in Madrid. Greg, a 23 year-old psychology student from Canada, won his seat to Madrid at an online freeroll tournament staged by Titan Poker exclusively for its top VIP Players.The skilled poker player was one of 66 players sent by Titan Poker to the ECPT Madrid Open, an exclusive tournament sponsored by the popular poker room at the Casino Gran Madrid, about 30 kilometers outside the city center. Poker enthusiasts from across the globe flew to Madrid this week for this exciting event.
For Greg Metzak, it was not only his first ever experience at a live tournament; it was also his first ever trip to Europe. Despite this, he succeeded in defeating experienced and professional poker players to claim the first prize of 40,000 Euros. He said: “Thanks to Titan Poker, I have had a week in Madrid and now 40,000 Euros - who could ask for more?”
Despite his outstanding victory, Greg plans to initially keep quiet about his success to his friends and relatives in Canada. He added: “I think I am going to wait until I get home and when people ask how it was, say ‘well, you know…poker’s a tough game…anything can happen…’
Titan Poker player Ingo Nassall from Germany finished in second place and took home a prize of 23,000 Euros.
A full report on the Eurocity Poker Tour Madrid Open has been posted on the Titan Poker website.
In addition to the ECPT Madrid Open, Titan Poker regularly awards players with seats to the world’s most well-known poker tournaments, such as the Aussie Millions and Various European Poker Tour events. It will be sending players to the World Series of Poker 2008 in Las Vegas and the Asian Poker Tour in Manila later this year. At the end of the month, it will also host the European Championship of Online Poker II (ECOOP) where skilled poker players will compete for a share of $3,600,000 dollars.
May 7th, 2008
WPT Canada (WPTC) tour kicks off today with its first stop—Coast to Coast Poker Championships, presented by British Columbia Lottery Corporation—at River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, British Columbia. WPTC is the dedicated tour for Canada, a country where some of the world’s greatest poker professionals call home and poker is booming in best-in-class casino properties nationwide.
“Canada is an incredible destination for poker, which we have experienced first-hand during three successful Canadian events on the main WPT tour,” said Steve Lipscomb, WPT Founder, President and CEO. “The sport of poker has long been growing in Canada, fostering poker fans and creating world-class poker professionals. It was only a matter of time before WPT offered a tailored tour unique to Canadian poker fans, and couldn’t be more thrilled to finally launch it today.”
WPT-Canada May 5 – 13, 2008, the event features multiple tournament options including a super satellite, bounty event, and a $3,000 CDN main event where players will face pros like Gavin Smith, WPT Season IV Player of the Year; “Yukon” Brad Booth; and Canadian Poker Tour Player of the Year Jody Trainer. Antonio Esfandiari, face of the WPT Poker-Made Millionaire™ will also play in the bounty and main events, representing Worldpokertour.com. Esfandiari recently placed eighth out of 842 players at the European Poker Tour Grand Finals in Monte Carlo.
The May 11 Coast to Coast Poker Championships final tables will play down on the WPT Canada set and will be filmed for television broadcast in Canada. Poker pro Kenna James will make his WPT Canada debut as TV commentator alongside host and well-known Canadian sports announcer, Jim Van Horne. The WPT Canada Coast to Coast Poker Championships television episodes will debut in Canada late this summer.
April 25th, 2008
Glen Chorny, a 22-year-old business student from Ontario, Canada, won the biggest poker tournament ever held in Europe when he took down the EUR10,000 PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Grand Final for a first prize of over EUR2 million (US$3 million).
After only two hands against Hungarian Denes Kalo, Chorny - who won his seat online with PokerStars - took the EPT Champion title with A5 against KQ when his Ace paired on the flop. For 31-year-old stockbroker Kalo, who won EUR1,179,000, it was the second time this season that he has been an EPT runner-up: he came 2nd at EPT Baden last October.
Chorny’s triumph came only three months after he took 13th place at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure for US$80k. He said: “It was tough out there, like a hard day at the office. Only the rewards are a lot better.”
The EPT Grand Final attracted a record field of 842 players creating a total prize pool of over EUR8.4 million (US$12m): the richest prize pool in the world for a poker tournament this year.
Canadian Max Villemure, 19, from Montreal, finished 3rd. Isaac “westmenloAA” Baron - Cardplayer’s Online Player of the Year in 2007 - came 4th. Italian Luca Pagano, a Team PokerStars Pro, registered record ninth EPT cash after finishing 6th.
Among the other star names in Monte Carlo this week were Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari (who came 8th for EUR168k), Patrick Antonius, Phil Ivey, Erick Lindgren, Freddy Deeb, Roland de Wolfe and Gus Hansen as well as almost all the Team PokerStars Pros including Daniel Negreanu, Joe Hachem (11th for EUR101,000), Greg Raymer, Chris Moneymaker, Vanessa Rousso and Lee Nelson.
Season 4 has taken in 11 amazing destinations including new events in Prague in the Czech Republic (555 players) and San Remo in Italy (701 players). The season has seen player numbers and prize pools soar, and also the number of nationalities taking part - 48 in Monte Carlo, more than 70 during the season as a whole.
EPTLive.com providing a live webcast of the action on the final two days - also saw record audience numbers.
The total prize money for season 4 of the EPT was over EUR38m, double the total for Season 3.
source: http://online.casinocity.com
April 14th, 2008
Poker goes coast to coast in the Great White North
A major new big buy-in land poker tournament for Canada is shaping up in the World Poker Tour’s just announced Coast to Coast Poker Championship, which will feature high stakes poker action in an East vs. West competition at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, B.C, on May 5-13.
The British Columbia Lottery Corporation and WPT organisers anticipate that with Canada’s track record for producing top poker players the entry field will feature many top names in the game, ensuring a large entry field.
The Coast to Coast Poker Championship will feature a total of seven events with an anticipated 2 650 players taking part, generating a $2.4 million prize pool that will include a first place prize of $377 300.
Tournament events will include No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Hold’em and Omaha High/Low as well as a special events such as a bounty tournament and a Mother’s Day team tournament.
The Coast to Coast Poker Championships will be the first stop for WPT Canada and will be filmed to produce four one-hour episodes, which will air nationally in Canada.
March 31st, 2008
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Mar 7, 2008 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) — Century Casinos, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNTY; VSE) announced today that its Century Casino & Hotel in Edmonton, Canada, will host the St. Patrick’s Day Poker Tournament from March 10 - 15, 2008.
The format is a six-day Texas Hold’ Em tournament. Play starts daily at 7:30 PM with the top ten of each day advancing to the finals on March 15 at 2:00 PM.
For further information about the tournament schedule and rules, including price structure and levels, as well as for registration for the tournament, please visit: http://www.cnty.com/casinos/edmonton/casino/players-club/.
A live concert by two popular bands, Harlequin and Prism, will also take place at the 400-seat Century Showroom on March 15, the day of the Poker Tournament finals. This will be followed by concerts of April Wine on March 20 and Ian Mitchell’s Bay City Rollers on March 21. Alannah Myles, a true Canadian rock icon, will perform live on April 5.
Century Casinos, Inc. is an international casino entertainment company that owns and operates the Womacks Casino and Hotel in Cripple Creek, Colorado, the Century Casino & Hotel in Central City, Colorado, the Century Casino & Hotel in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and the Century Casino Millennium in the Marriott Hotel in Prague, Czech Republic. The Company also operates casinos aboard the Silver Cloud, The World of ResidenSea, and the vessels of Oceania Cruises. Through its subsidiary Century Casinos Africa (Pty) Limited, it owns and operates The Caledon Hotel, Spa & Casino near Cape Town, South Africa, as well as 60% of, and provides technical casino services to, Century Casino Newcastle, in Newcastle, South Africa. Furthermore, the Company’s Austrian subsidiary, Century Casinos Europe GmbH, holds a 33.3% ownership interest in Casinos Poland Ltd, the owner and operator of seven full casinos and one slot casino in Poland. The Company continues to pursue other international projects in various stages of development.
For more information about Century Casinos, visit our website at http://www.centurycasinos.com. Century Casinos’ common stock trades on The NASDAQ Capital Market(R: 60.56, -0.27, -0.44%) and the Vienna Stock Exchange under the symbol CNTY.
This release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of the management of Century Casinos based on information currently available to management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, among others, the risks described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” under Item 1A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 16, 2007. Century Casinos disclaims any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by it or on its behalf.
SOURCE: Century Casinos, Inc.
March 19th, 2008
Tonight: Mike Caro hosts a special Bounty!
WSOP 2008: DoylesRoom offers more choices in Vegas than any other poker site.
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March 12th, 2008
canadianpokerplayer.com reports that Season III of the Canadian Poker Tour concluded September 2nd and all it took was a last-minute money finish in one of the final events, to crown a winner. Congratulations to Jody Trainer from Abbotsford, BC for earning the honours of the Canadian Poker Tour’s Player of the Year!
After collecting $263,125 during Season III that ran from 2006/2007 he was the fourth largest money winner. Using the International Poker Ranking system that awards points based on prize pools, size of tournaments and buy-ins (check it out at http://www.iprdata.com/cpt/home.html) his consistency and numerous money finishes awarded him 498.11 points.
For many weeks he endured a see-saw battle with Brian Joslin of Hamilton, ON in which the lead changed hands multiple times. It took an 8th place finish at the Pacific Poker Shootout on the very last event of the Season to put him over the top and retain the title.
With over 18,000 registered participants on the CPT during Season III there were 1,475 different players with at least 1 money finish. Players were able to compete in over 100 CPT events during the year that stretched from September 2006 to September 2007. A total of $13,333,146 in prize money was awarded, which was plenty of competition from some of the best tournament players in Canada.
Congratulations on winning the title of Canadian Poker Tour Player of the Year!
Thanks very much, Ken.
What’s it feel like knowing you’re one of Canada’s elite tournament players?
It feels great. It feels really good to be on top especially knowing that there a lot of great poker players in Canada. There are just so many great players like Greg Mueller who plays in a lot of events. Shawn Buchanan is always around to play in tournaments. Scott Clements from Washington comes up to play in events in Canada so there are a lot of different top players in this country and a lot of players I can learn from as well.
What kind of year was it for you poker-wise?
It was a really, really good year for me winning over $260,000. I have no complaints and I wish I could do this year all over again for next year! I think I’m always improving my game and there are little things you can work on but I’m very happy. 100 percent satisfied.
What were some of the memorable highlights?
Definitely the pot limit Omaha event I won back in November at the BC Poker Championships last year was a huge highlight and when I placed third at the Johnny Chan Poker Classic this year that was especially memorable making the final TV table.
How does a TV table change your mindset or strategy?
It’s definitely much tougher playing on a TV table. I would actually prefer not to be on a TV table because it definitely affects your game. I think it did for me that time, but maybe not so much the next time. I prefer to play more in the background. I like to play and have fun at the table but I’m not real big on playing in front of the TV cameras. (laughs)
Were you playing poker before it hit the mainstream?
I really started playing poker seriously online. That’s where I started to hone my game, with online poker. Then I expanded it from there and since then, things have been going really well.
Any mentors or other players who have helped your game?
There are a quite a few of us that talk about hands and strategy. There’s me, Dave Matthew, Scott Clement. I even talk to Scott Fischman once in a while. I talk to Dave Matthew a lot on the phone, discussing hand histories and I have several other friends and people that I like to talk hands with, especially when we’re at an event together.
How would you define your tournament strategy?
It’s really tough to just have one strategy. You have to look at every situation when you sit down depending on the table you’re at. You can’t really go in with a set game plan because that’s always changing. You could be at a really fast-paced table where someone raises every second or third hand so you have to adjust to the table you’re on and have a flexible game plan. It’s really important to adjust to different circumstances on the table. You can’t just be a one dimensional player.
Is there a “West Coast” style of play that has made a lot of BC players so successful?
I don’t know. There have been an awful lot of really good players that have come out of BC. We have some pretty stiff competition out here so I think that tends to produce better players.
What types of games do you focus on?
I do a pretty good balance of both cash games and tournaments. When I play cash games I love to play pot limit Omaha high-low as opposed to the no limit games. I have to play those mainly online because you can’t find those games around here all the time. I also play a lot of tournaments online as well. Omaha is my preference but I certainly enjoy playing no limit hold’em as well, whether it’s a tournament or a cash game.
What aspects of your game are the strongest?
It’s really tough to say since I think every skill is relative. I think you have to have all-around skills in poker to be successful.
Any hobbies or things you like to do when you’re not playing poker?
I like to play hockey, golf, go camping. I’m living in the right part of the world to do those things!
Any thoughts on becoming a professional player?
Right now I’m still working in construction but something like that could be in the near future. We’ll have to see how things go.
What do you see as the future of poker in Canada?
I can see poker definitely getting stronger in Canada. I think the online industry is going to come back strong. Online has proved to be a great feeder for players to the live tournaments. Poker in Canada is so strong right now, there are so many tournaments, the WPT event is happening in Canada, River Rock has some incredible events every year, so it’s getting stronger and more popular.
What can you say about the Canadian Poker Tour?
The Canadian Poker Tour is incredible. The events they host are right up there with any others being held anywhere else. There are so many good players in Canada and so many others that travel to these events the calibre of player have matched the events. The CPT is a very, very strong influence in this country.
Did you set any goals for yourself during last year?
I try to set my individual goals for each tournament as to where I want to be at the end of the day as far as chip-wise. I want to remain consistent throughout the tournament but not get too involved early, avoid the coin flips and stay away from the marginal situations.
Any personal projections for Season IV of the CPT?
I usually play all the events at River Rock throughout the year and any that come up at Cascades and Boulevard casinos. I might even try, although I didn’t do this last year, but try to make it outside of the province and play some events in Alberta. You never know, I might even make it into Ontario! I’m going to try to be playing even more events this coming year. I obviously had some success last year so I think I can work on that again this year.
