It has been a busy two weeks of fantastic freerolls from PokerListings.com, Full Tilt Poker and Titan Poker. Plenty of players were paid out but none had it better than AxisB.
AxisB, a guitar teacher and personal trainer from New York, N.Y., beat 762 players & women poker players to win the Full Tilt and PokerListings.com $12,500 WPT prize package. It was the 34-year-old's biggest win yet and he was obviously thrilled.
"I feel ecstatic about it," he said. "Lucky and proud because I put a fair amount of effort into becoming a better player."
AxisB has only been playing poker for a year and a half (he learned how to play via a cell phone game) but has developed a great appreciation for the game.
"Poker is an amazing combination of thrill, competition, luck, skill, math, camaraderie, frustration, boredom and anger," he said. "I think it's incredibly important to respond to those latter feelings positively and rationally to be successful at poker as with anything else."
AxisB doesn't know what he will do with the money but mentioned a large portion of it will go towards paying bills.
"Using it for a WPT tourney or other big buy-in tourney would be a bit premature at this point," he commented. "I'd like to be able to afford that in the future of course."
In the meantime AxisB will probably continue playing on Full Tilt Poker five days a week. It's likely he will check PokerListings.com for promotions as well. Play $500 match poker bonus.
"I think [PokerListings.com] is great for bonuses, news and reviews," he said. "I signed up on Full Tilt through PokerListings and I think I will check the site more often now."
AxisB was not the only player to benefit from a PokerListings.com referral.
On Aug. 12 Italian Maurizio Sepede won a seat worth $12,500 to the EPT London on Titan Poker. Sepede signed up for Titan through PokerListings.com. In addition, on Aug. 6 German player Oezhan Sen won a plasma TV worth $1,500 at Titan Poker's Monday New Depositor's Freeroll. Oezhan Sen, using a PokerListing's player code, beat out 414 players to claim the TV.
Finally, EMHOB and borgius both won $810 via PokerListings and Full Tilt Poker freerolls. The complete results are as follows:
PokerListings, Full Tilt Poker $3,000 tournament (Aug. 11, 2007)
1. EMHOB $810
2. Gambit2Heart $510
3. RiverVooDoo $382
4. ro_dancegirl $300
5. piratesRcool $225
6. The_Fisherman_9 $165
7. Dirt04 $112
8. The War Eagles $90
9. BabyEthan $67
10. Rivered07 $45
PokerListings, Full Tilt Poker Tournament $3,000 tournament (Aug. 4, 2007)
GPSTS to Teach People How to Use Poker Strategy Every Day
A Harvard law professor with a special interest in Internet law has formed a University-based think tank called the Global Poker Strategic Thinking Society (GPSTS), which he hopes will take root in colleges and universities everywhere and will use poker as a an educational tool to teach everything from basic life skills to war games at military colleges.
"Poker is one of the best metaphors for teaching life skills across a variety of disciplines,” Said Charles Nesson through a press release. He couldn’t be reached for a comment as of press time. Play route 66 poker.
Nesson is officially announcing the formation of the group on Aug. 19, in Singapore, at an international conference called “State of Play.” The society’s website, www.gpsts.com, will go live the same day.
Nesson believes that poker and its strategies could be used for the good of the world. The goal of his society is to offer strategic thinking workshops to secondary schools, colleges and community centers, using poker to teach strategic thinking. Play online poker.
Harvard will have the first GPSTS, and the society eventually hopes to hold NCAA-style championships featuring teams of poker players & women poker players representing everyone from members of graduate programs to professionals from all walks of life.
According to the press release, Nesson believes that poker concepts can “teach basic life skills, strategic thinking, geopolitical analysis, risk assessment, and money management. The goal is to create an open online curriculum centered on poker that will draw the brightest minds together, both within and outside of the conventional university setting, to promote open education and Internet democracy.” Women poker.
T-Mobile today announced the first winner to collect £25,000 on the mobile Video Poker application facilitated by UK mobile gaming provider Cellectivity. The big win comes straight off the back of another lucky £20,000 win on mobile roulette also facilitated by Cellectivity. The flurry of big wins confirms mobile arrival on the gambling scene alongside more established internet devices.
Video Poker and Roulette are both featured on “Cash Casino” T-Mobile’s highly successful gambling portal. The service which has now totalled more than 60,000 visits since its launch less than a year ago is developed and operated by Cellectivity, the UK’s leading mobile betting and gambling provider. Cash Casino is unique in allowing users to download a wide range of exciting gaming applications developed exclusively for mobiles direct to their handset. Play online poker.
The extensive choice of games and services available include Blackjack, Slots, Bingo, Roulette, Nudge 7, HiLo as well as some of the most recognisable big name brands such as Party Gaming, Casino Tropez, 777 Mobile, Lady Luck’s Mobile Casino, Wild Jack Mobile Casino and Bet2Go. The Portal offers users both ‘real’ and ‘play’ money options, allowing users to practise their skills, pit their wits or just play for fun.
Quick, easy and free to download the service offers T-Mobile customers access to all the fun of online gaming direct to their mobile handset anytime, anywhere, be it on the daily commute, in the pub or in the comfort of their own home. Download poker wallpapers.
Marcel Puyk, Cellectivity CEO, said “We are delighted with the success of the portal. These big 20K+ wins prove mobile gaming now easily ranks alongside its more established internet rivals. This year represents a great step forward in terms of enhanced customer choice – by offering ‘Cash Casino’ alongside our hugely popular ‘Bet2Go’ sports betting service, T-Mobile have provided users with an exciting fun service, throughout the year users have been able to access a complete range of gambling services. Our experience to-date makes us confident that the service will continue to prove extremely successful and will add considerable momentum to the already popular mobile gambling industry in this country”.
As well as being the UK’s leading mobile betting and gambling provider, Cellectivity strives to develop strategies that will improve the understanding of the social impact of gambling; promote a responsible approach to gambling; and address the needs of those adversely affected by a gambling dependency. All of Cellectivity partners are members/ supporters of GamCare or eCOGRA. Play $500 match poker bonus.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
• Best Gambling Company Finalist in the ME Awards 2007, Cellectivity is the UK’s leading mobile entertainment and service provider.
• Cellectivity’s technological expertise has seen them quickly position ‘Bet2Go’ as the UK’s leading mobile odds comparison and sports betting application. Available to all UK mobile users Bet2Go provides a free, simple, fast, secure service across six of the UK’s best known bookmakers, Ladbrokes, Sporting Odds, Paddy Power, Victor Chandler and Blue Square. Play route 66 poker.
• Cellectivity allows premium online brands to distribute services and applications onto a mobile platform.
• Since its launch in 2001 Cellectivity has quickly risen to establish itself as the market leader in an industry with seemingly unlimited exponential growth.
• While initial developments in mobile products have represented an additional channel for existing users, research indicates that improvements in technology, rising disposable incomes and changes in attitude will help to attract large numbers of new users. Women poker.
Marcel Puyk – CEO, Cellectivity Puyk who has worked extensively with a number of fast-growing enterprises, particularly in the area of technology and media, has a passion for providing a great user experience, believing that mobile will be the next frontier to conquer for online operators.
Marcel previously held Board level roles at Vizuri, a fast-growing UK IT risk management services provider, at the IP commercialisation subsidiary of the BBC and at GorillaPark, one of the early leaders in the European incubator market.
But this time, really - it's got to be one of your last chances to see the Rolling Stones.
Rock and roll's miracles of attrition apparently have enough gas in the tank for one more big show for the home crowd, and 888.com's Pacific Poker will be putting a few of its cherished members right in the middle of it.
Four pairs of VIP hospitality tickets will be up for grabs for four lucky players and their guests to see the Rolling Stones Biggest Bang concert on August 26 at the O2 arena in London. Online poker.
Two ways to get in the running:
Option one is to accrue 25 comp points at Pacific Poker cash games between August 1-6, then play for free in any or all of poker tournaments below:
The "Ruby Tuesday" tourney, on Wednesday, August 8 at 8 p.m. (GMT).
The "Jumpin' Jack Flash" tourney, on Thursday, August 9 at 8 p.m. (GMT).
The "Sympathy for the Devil" tourney, on Friday, August 10 at 8 p.m. (GMT).
The top 10 from each tournament win a seat to the "Satisfaction" final tourney, set for Saturday, August 18, also at 8 p.m. (GMT).
The top four players from the Satisfaction final then win a pair of VIP tickets to the Biggest Bang show.
Option two is to skip the tournaments above by accruing a minimum of 75 comp points in cash games between August 10 and 16. Play route 66 poker.
Do that, and you'll automatically qualify for a seat in the Satisfaction Final on the 18th.
Register under the Multi-Table tab at Pacific Poker for all the tournaments.
The day after the qualification period ends an email will be sent to all those qualified for either the tournaments or the Satisfaction Final. You'll then be able to register for the specific tournament from that point on. Women poker players.
Should you for some reason not receive the email but have qualified, you will still be able to register
Members are responsible for their own travel arrangements and expenses to and from the event, but a night's accommodation can be arranged on your behalf should it be required. Download poker wallpapers.
Lee Rousso reported in the Poker Players Alliance forums that he has a Sept. 21 hearing date set for his lawsuit against the state of Washington in regards to its online gambling laws.
He was initially aiming for an Aug. 31 court date, but Sept. 21 was the earliest date available on the judge's calendar, according to Rousso. He will be submitting his brief on or before Aug. 24 for the hearing.
Rousso, a lawyer in Washington and the PPA representative for the state, filed the lawsuit against Washington on the first day of the World Series of Poker Main Event this year. His suit claims the state's ban on online poker is in direct violation of the U.S. Constitution. Play route 66 poker.
As such he is seeking a declaratory judgment that the Internet Gambling Ban (IGB) is unconstitutional.
His first ground for the action is that the IGB violates the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, because it is a protectionist measure designed to discriminate against otherwise legal out-of-state businesses and in favor of in-state businesses.
"Gambling, Internet gambling and poker are all legal in Washington. Therefore, the obvious purpose of the IGB as it applies to Internet poker is to force Online poker players to patronize in-state, brick-and-mortar casinos rather than Internet poker rooms, which are legal where domiciled and not illegal under federal law, or to switch their Internet gambling from poker to horse racing," says the lawsuit.
This makes it a discriminatory law and unacceptable under the Commerce Clause.
The gambling ban violates the Commerce Clause in two other ways as well according to Rousso's lawsuit. It places a burden on interstate commerce and on international commerce that isn't offset by a compelling state interest.
Where international commerce is involved, there is an even higher degree of Commerce Clause scrutiny, especially because of Internet poker's international nature, says Rousso in the lawsuit.
The law also violates the Commerce Clause because the federal government has already dealt with Internet gambling, and the law conflicts with the statutory scheme already set up and/or with the federal obligations set under international treaties.
According to Rousso's lawsuit, Congress has repeatedly refused efforts to amend the Wire Act to include Internet poker. It has also refused to extend criminal liability for Internet gambling to mere players & women poker players.
Also, Congress has carved out an exemption to the Wire Act for fantasy sports, which remain a felony under Washington law when conducted on the Internet.
The law also violates federal obligations under the General Agreement on Trade & Tariffs that the United States agreed to as administered by the World Trade Organization because it allows some online betting, such as horse-race betting, but disallows other forms.
Rousso's fifth reason for judging the online gambling ban as unconstitutional is that it violates Amendment 8 of the Constitution prohibiting cruel and unusual punishments. His example is that online poker play is being treated differently than if someone was playing in an illegal land-based card room.
Playing in an unlicensed cardroom is a misdemeanor in Washington, but the online gambling ban makes online poker playing a Class C felony, equivalent to punishment for child pornography or threatening the Governor.
His final argument is that the ban violates Amendment 14 of the Constitution, guaranteeing citizens of the United States due process of law. Rousso's point is that the law is so vague that the typical citizen can't determine which acts are permitted and which are prohibited.
Part of his request is to also have the court issue a preliminary injunction to prohibit any enforcement of the gambling ban while the matter is pending as well as applying that injunction to all criminal proceedings and investigations based on alleged violations of the gambling ban.
That wouldn't come too soon for one Washington resident who ran an "honor-based betting platform" that was shut down in early July.
According to The Daily News in Longview, Wash., computers related to the Betcha.com business created and run by Nick Jenkins were seized. He is now seeking a restraining order against the state.
His business is being attacked by the online gambling ban, which Jenkins doesn't believe should affect his business. Download poker wallpapers.
His site provides a forum for people who want to make bets against each other on almost any topic. It works on an honor system similar to eBay, where people are personally responsible for their own commitments, and people receive negative or positive feedback for their actions.
The site doesn't take bets itself or back bets, the only money it deals with is the listings fee it charges for people to list their bet the site, usually between .5% and 1.5% depending on the odds and amounts.
Betcha.com isn't the first casualty from the online gambling ban either. In 2006, after the online gambling ban was passed in Washington, an online gambling guide that also didn't personally accept bets but advised viewers of the best online casinos was told to shut down. Stay tuned to our poker blog for latest updates.
As uncertainty still lingers in the future of online gambling, PokerStars.com has voluntarily stepped up its game and reliability by getting GamCare certification in the United Kingdom. Play $500 match poker bonus.
GamCare, a registered charity organization in the U.K., is a leading authority on information, advice and practical help in addressing the social impact of gambling. In order to achieve that, the organization develops strategies that will:
* Improve the understanding of the social impact of gambling * Promote a responsible approach to gambling * Address the needs of those adversely affected by a gambling dependency
In order to achieve GamCare certification, PokerStars.com had to make changes to its site in order to implement the GamCare Code of Practice for Remote Gambling in relation to its online poker service.
"PokerStars has achieved high standards in player protection and social responsibility and recognizes the need to assist their customers to play responsibly," says the GamCare certificate on the poker site.
To achieve certification, PokerStars.com implemented several practices, one of which was an age verification system to ensure that all U.K. players were of legal age to place bets on the site.
The poker site also implemented a self-exclusion option for players so if they feel they are becoming problem gamblers they can choose to suspend their play. They have the option of suspending play for as little as 24 hours or as long as 180 days or more.
The poker site has also put in place a new deposit limits policy. While there were already limits for new players, now players can set their own, smaller limits if they want to. Play route 66 poker.
Some other things the poker site implemented include:
* Providing information about responsible gambling and sources of advice and support * Training for customer service in problem gambling and social responsibility * Consultation with GamCare when developing new technologies and products * Support for the work GamCare carries out in addressing the social impact of gambling
"GamCare does not wish to restrict the choices or opportunities for anyone to operate, or engage in, gambling activities that are legally available. However, GamCare is concerned about the damage that is being done to some people's lives," says the organization on its Web site.
"It therefore has a commitment to reduce further damage by promoting responsible attitudes to gambling and to work for the provision of proper care for those who have been harmed by a gambling dependency." Download poker wallpapers.
GamCare provides several options for problem gamblers to receive counseling and advice through its National Helpline, counseling service, or email service. It also offers group counseling and NetLine, an online hotline offered to U.K. residents.
PokerStars.com now provides information for people to access those services through its GamCare information. All players have to do is click on the GamCare certification, and the information is right there for them. Stay tuned to our poker blog for more updates.
It may be the busiest traffic day ever for the NETeller Web site.
But beleaguered American customers will happily bear with the expected bottlenecks and slow response times tomorrow, as they will finally be able to log in to their frozen NETeller accounts and make a request to withdraw their funds. Download poker wallpapers.
In accordance with their agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, NETeller begins the long and arduous payout of more than $94 million owed to their American members in just a few hours, when the page turns to July 30, 2007.
And it's not expected to be easy.
Here's the deal: The agreed-upon distribution plan provides for a 180-day period for U.S. members to make an online poker request for the return of funds using NETeller's Web site.
This period ends precisely at 11:59 p.m. (GMT) on January 26, 2008, when accounts will be permanently closed and U.S. members will no longer be able to sign in.
Funds will then be delivered by electronic transfer to the bank account on record with NETeller or by check to the member's mailing address as quickly as possible. U.S. members must request an electronic transfer if they already have a bank account registered, and confirm that bank account remains valid. Play route 66 poker.
Members who do not qualify for an electronic transfer will be able to request payment by check. All members will only receive the entire balance of the funds in their account, and partial requests for funds aren't possible. NETeller also won't charge withdrawal fees.
Things in particular NETeller wants you to note: Even if you've already made a withdrawal request, you'll still need to perform another request under the distribution plan. Play $500 match poker bonus.
No interest on account balances will be paid either, and U.S. members can't use their accounts for any type of transaction other than to request funds.
Also of note: since $94 million is being returned to hundreds of thousands of U.S. customers, NETeller is asking for a bit of patience as it will take some time for all payments to be processed. Women poker players.
Members are also being told to be wary of phishing scams, and should only log in to the NETeller.com Web site to request the return of funds. It must have NETeller.com as the top level domain using the https security protocol - nothing else.
Due to increased call volumes, NETeller will be unable to answer calls from members in the United States and recommend sending any questions via the contact page web-form, where agents will respond to e-mailed questions as quickly as possible. Stay tuned to our poker blog for latest updates.
If you can't log in to the site tomorrow because of heavy traffic backlogs, they suggest trying again a few hours later. If you still require further assistance, you should contact NETeller Customer Service at usmembers@neteller.com.
It has been a busy two weeks of fantastic freerolls from PokerListings.com, Full Tilt Poker and Titan Poker. Plenty of players were paid out but none had it better than AxisB. 
