World Poker Tour Enterprise Inc. has been growing and stretching in the past few months with episodes delivered and new deals made around the world. However, the company still had to report a drop in revenue for the second quarter of 2007 compared to the same quarter last year.
Total revenues for the second quarter were $7.7 million, whereas they were $11 million in the same period of 2006. WPTE attributes the 30% drop to delivering fewer domestic television episodes in the 2007 period. Play route 66 poker.
During the second period, WPTE delivered nine episodes of the World Poker Tour Season 5. The company also signed a broadcast deal with GSN for Season 6 of the WPT as well as a partnership agreement with Grup Peralada, the largest operator of casinos in Spain. Play online poker.
Taking the WPT broadcast even further around the world, WPTE also entered into distribution agreements for Season 4 and 5 of the WPT in the Netherlands and Australia.
Also affecting the bottom line for the company in the second quarter was the re-launch of the company's online poker site.
Because WPTE ceased internal development of the gaming platform, it had to write off $2.3 million in assets related to the online gaming part of the business. Aside from that, the net loss for the second quarter of 2007 was $1.1 million, or 5¢ per share.
There was also a decrease in online gaming revenue for the company due to ceasing operations to switch to CryptoLogic. Player activity was down as a result. Women poker.
During the second quarter, WPTE also entered into an agreement with the China Leisure Sports Administrative Center, that will help take the brand further into the Asian market.
CLSAC is the government sanctioned body that oversees poker and other leisure sports throughout China, and WPTE will now be its exclusive marketing and sponsorship partner for Traktor Poker.
Traktor Poker, or Tuo La Ji, is China's most popular card game according to WPTE.
"The World Poker Tour will be identified with one of the most popular activities in China, build significant brand awareness throughout the country and derive potential future revenues from sponsorship, television and certain online opportunities," said the WPTE in a press release.
WPTE is predicting revenues in the range of $4 to $4.5 million for the third quarter of 2007 with a positive outlook for 2007 in general. Play $500 match poker bonus.
"We set out several initiatives for 2007 and are pleased to report that we've made significant progress on each," said Steve Lipscomb, WPTE president and CEO.
"At the beginning of the second quarter, we announced a multi-year deal with GSN setting the stage for the broadcast and promotion of Season VI of the World Poker Tour television series. In June, we successfully re-launched our online gaming site on the CryptoLogic platform."
Some of the expectations the company has for the third quarter and the rest of the year include delivering the remaining three episodes of Season 5 of the WPT on the Travel Channel as well as beginning broadcast of Season 6 on GSN with the first five episodes in the fourth quarter. Download poker wallpapers.
The company also plans to recognize host fee and sponsorship revenues as WPT episodes are aired in the third quarter, and to increase sales and marketing efforts for its online gambling ventures in September.
"With this positive momentum and our world-class brand, we are enthusiastic about the prospects for 2007 and beyond," Lipscomb said.
With last two WSOP Champions coming from California, Commerce Casino's Cal State Championship Provides Fertile Ground to See if You Have the Right Stuff...
Month-Long Series of Texas Hold’em Poker Tournaments Begins Sept 4 and Culminates in $2,580-Buy-In Championship Event Sept 22-23
Commerce, CA (July 30, 2007)– Maybe it’s something in California’s water or perhaps its just the great calibre of poker played in the state, but the two most recent World Series of Poker Champions were from California... Temecula’s Dr. Jerry Yang in 2007 and Los Angeles’ Jamie Gold in 2006. So there could be no better place to see if you have what it takes to be a champion than Commerce Casino’s California State Championship this September. Online poker.
The 2007 California State Championship at Commerce Casino, the world’s largest poker room, will feature only No Limit and Limit Hold’em tournaments when it begins Tuesday Sept. 4. The 19 events, with buy-ins ranging from $220 to $2,580 for the main event, will draw leading local players and national poker stars. The Cal State Championship is a feather in the cap of any player aspiring to be a World Poker Tour or World Series of Poker champion.
Pasadena’s Lance Allred, a pro who had only been playing tournament poker for two years, took home a $345,470 paycheck in 2006, besting a field of 419 players, who were playing for a total of $1,016,075. El Monte’s Hieu “Tony” Ma surpassed 214 other players to claim a $384,025 paycheck in the 2006 Cal State Championship Main Event. Commerce Casino can also claim to be “The Home of Future Poker Millionaires,” as 2007 WSOP champion Jaime Gold, winner of $12 million, noted Commerce Casino as his home base, as well as Scott Lazar, of Studio City, who finished sixth in the 2005 World Series of Poker, walking away with $1.5 million.
WPT Champions who call Commerce home include Phil Laak, Tuan Le and Antonio Esfandiari. Other renowned players who have cashed-in at previous California State Poker Championships have included Chris Ferguson, Men ”The Master” Nguyen, woman poker player Kathy Liebert, Chip Jett and David “The Dragon” Pham.
The 2007 edition of the Cal State Championship will feature:
- A Turbo No Limit Hold’em 6-Handed event, scheduled for Wednesday Sept. 12 - an opportunity for players to practice their Final Table skills. All tables will feature only six players, not the usual ten.
- The Ladies No Limit Hold’em tournament slated for Saturday, Sept. 15. The winner will receive a $1060 buy-in to the Ladies event at the LA Poker Classic. The victor in that event will win a $25,000 buy-in to the WPT World Championship to be held at Bellagio in April 2007. Play online poker.
- A guaranteed $250,000 prize pool for the $330 buy-in No Limit event on Sunday, Sept. 16.
- Two $540 buy-in Super Satellites on Friday, Sept. 21 - one at 11:30 a.m. and one at 6:30 p.m. Approximately 40 players will earn a seat at the California State Poker Championship No Limit Hold’em event beginning the next day.
- The $2,580-buy-in Grand Finale Main Event on Saturday, Sept. 22, giving one player the chance to claim the title of California State Champion. The Final Table will be played the next day, Sunday, Sept. 23, and is expected to offer a $300,000+ payday for the winner.
The events are open to anyone over the age of 21. Competitors do not need to live within the state of California. Estimated total prize pool for the full 20-days is expected to be $7 million. Please note that all starting times prior to Sept. 21 are 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Events with 100 or more entries will be played over two days. Day one will be played until the final table/tables. Play will resume at 9:00 p.m. the following day. Management reserves the right to alter or cancel promotion at any time. Play responsibly. Download poker wallpapers.
“The California State Poker Championship is a great opportunity for a West Coast poker player to establish a name,” said Cheri Dokken, Commerce Casino Tournament Director. “Winning this event says you’ve arrived. The competition is strong and the rewards ample. With the high-quality poker at the California State Championship might even be incubating the next WSOP or WPT champion.”
Event number, start date, type of game and buy-ins (with fees and s/c) are as follows:
1 - 9/4 – No Limit Hold’em, 291+9+35=$335
2 - 9/5 - Limit Hold’em, 291+9+35=$335
3 - 9/6 – No Limit Hold’em, 291+9+35=$335
4 - 9/7 – No Limit Hold’em, 485+15+45=$545
5 - 9/8 - Limit Hold’em, 485+15+45=$545
6 - 9/9 – No Limit Hold’em ($250,000 Guaranteed), 291+9+35=$335
7 - 9/10 – No Limit Hold’em Shootout, 291+9+35=$335
11- 9/14 – No Limit Hold’em Shootout, 485+15+45=$545
12- 9/15 - Ladies No Limit Hold’em, 291+9+35=$335
13- 9/16 – No Limit Hold’em ($250,000 Guaranteed), 291+9+35=$335
14- 9/17 – No Limit Hold’em, 485+15+45=$545
15- 9/18 – No Limit Hold’em ($10,000 Added), 291+9+35=$335
16- 9/19 - Limit Hold’em, 485+15+45=$545
17- 9/20 – No Limit Hold’em Shootout, 485+15+45=$545
- 9/21 - Super Satellite Day (11:30am & 6:30pm), 194+6+20=$220
18- 9/22 – No Limit Hold’em Championship (2pm Start), 2425+75+90=$2,590
- 9/23 - Championship Final (2pm Start)
For more tournament information, go to Commercecasino.com or call (323) 721-2100 and ask for the tournament office.
Commerce Casino, in Commerce, CA, is the largest poker casino in the world. There are more than 200 poker tables featuring just about every form of poker: Texas Hold‘em, 7-Card Stud, Omaha, Lowball, Pot Limit, Mexican Poker, Pineapple, Draw, Low-Ball and many others. Also offered are Pan and California games. Additionally, Commerce Casino will run satellite tournaments for the World Poker Tour events throughout the year, which anyone can enter. Stay tuned to our poker blog for latest updates.
Commerce Casino is located at 6131 East Telegraph Rd., Commerce, CA 90040, just off the Santa Ana (5) Freeway at the Washington Blvd. exit. The phone is (323) 721-2100. For more information, go to Commercecasino.com.
Gala Casinos and Galapoker.co.uk have today announced that The Great British Poker Tour Grand Final - to be held at the Gala Casino Harbourside, in Bristol, UK - is to be moved forward to 5th– 11th November 2007.
The Grand Final, which is expected to conclude the ‘GBPT 2007’ in spectacular style with a week of big money poker tournaments culminating in the £500,000 Main Event, has been specifically timed to integrate well with the very busy Autumn tournament programme, giving poker fans the opportunity to play in the biggest season of poker events the UK has ever seen.
Four GBPT Festival winners have already won £2500 + £50 seats and will be vying for the prestigious title of Great British poker Champion. Play $500 match poker bonus.
The 7-day GBPT Grand Final Festival is planned to play-out as follows:
£300 + £30 NLHE Freeze-Out
Monday 5th November
Number of Players:
120
Start Time:
17:00
Clock:
30 mins
Starting Chips:
7500
Estimated Prize Pool:
£36,000
Bonus Seat Prizes
Winner collects:
Prize Money & seat into £1,000 + £50 event
£1000 + £50 NLHE Freeze-Out
Tuesday 6th - Wednesday 7th November (2 days)
Number of Players:
120
Start Time:
17:00
Clock:
60 mins
Starting Chips:
10,000
Estimated Prize Pool:
£120,000
Bonus Seat Prizes
Winner collects:
Prize Money & seat into £2,500 + £50 Grand Final Main Event
Runner-up collects bonus seat:
Prize Money & £500 + £50 Main Event buy-in to a 2008 GBPT festival of choice
£2500 + £50 NLHE Freeze-Out Grand Final Main Event
Thursday 8th - Sunday 11th November (4 days)
Number of Players:
200
Start Time:
14:00
Clock:
60 mins
Starting Chips:
15,000
Estimated Prize Pool:
£500,000
Grand Final Main Event Prizes
Great British Poker Champion 2007 collects:
Est. £165,000 & Package to Bellagio Five Diamond World Poker Classic (worth $20,000) in Las Vegas in December 2007
Runner-up collects:
Prize Money & Package to Aussie Millions in Melbourne, Australia
3rd placed finisher collects:
Prize Money & Package to EPT 2008 event
4th placed finisher collects:
Prize Money & £500 main event buy-in to a 2008 GBPT festival of choice
5th placed finisher collects:
Prize Money & £500 main event buy-in to a 2008 GBPT festival of choice
Over the course of the first three days, players will also have the chance to compete in 10-seater STT satellites for entry into the £2500 Main Event. These are currently proposed as £350 entry with 2000 starting chips and the winner will pick up a £2500 Main Event seat with 2nd place winning £600 and 3rd spot £350. Over the next few months, players can qualify into the GBPT Grand Final via selected Gala Casinos or online via www.galapoker.co.uk where they can qualify for one of six £3,000 GBPT Main Play route 66 poker.
Event Grand Final Packages – absolutely free.
All satellites will build towards each of the remaining online poker finals currently scheduled, which will play-out on the following remaining dates:
2nd September
30th September
28th October
In other GBPT news, the upcoming Leeds Festival takes place 15th - 19th August at the Gala Casino, Wellington Bridge Street, in Leeds, UK. The Main Event is now fully sold-out with 110 runners, and limited availability remains for the £100 and £200 freeze-out events. Download poker wallpapers.
The British responsible gambling organisation GamCare has announced that it has accredited Gibraltar-based online poker site PokerStars.com.
GamCare is a registered charity in Britain and a leading authority on information, advice and practical help in addressing the social impact of gambling. It acknowledged that PokerStars had ‘achieved high standards in player protection and social responsibility and recognises the need to assist their customers to play responsibly’. Play $500 match poker bonus.
PokerStars said that, in order to achieve GamCare certification, it had to make changes to its site in order to better implement GamCare’s Code of Practice For Remote Gambling in relation to its online poker service. One of these changes involved implementing an age verification system to ensure that UK players & women poker players were of legal age to place bets on the site.
The poker site put into practice a self-exclusion option for players who felt that they may have a problem and wished to suspend play for as little as 24 hours or as long as 180 days or more.
PokerStars also introduced a new deposit limits policy. While there already existed limits for new players, now players may set their own, smaller limits. Download poker wallpapers.
Other elements that were introduced on the PokerStars site included the inclusion of information about responsible gambling and sources of advice and support and training for customer service representatives in problem gambling and social responsibility. The site will also consult with GamCare when developing new technologies and products while supporting the charity’s work in addressing the social impact of gambling. Play route 66 poker.
Poker has been around for years and years, and for as long as I can remember, the thought was that it was the game itself that draws players & women poker players worldwide to the tables.
After doing some investigation into this matter, I have changed my opinion on the matter, and now come to realize, the bad beat is what makes players come back.
Recently while sitting at a local casino playing Texas Hold'em poker tournaments I came across several different types of players. Now granted, part of poker's appeal is the wide range of personalities sitting at any given table at any given time.
For purposes of this article, let's forget individual personalities and speak of the personalities that take over a person in a bad beat situation.
The first personality is the "it figures" player. This player goes into a race with the best hand, and fully expects that their opponent will catch a card and beat them. When the aforementioned does happen, the player comes out with the line, "it figures".
The next player is the "percentages" player. This player gets into an all in situation when the percentages are in their favor, and when they lose, they assure everybody at the table that the percentages were in their favor.
Only problem here is those percentages are based over what should happen over time, not taking into account individual hands.
The last player is probably the most annoying, we'll just call him the "you're a moron" player. This player believes they are the best player to ever play the game of poker, and that they should win hands both when leading or trailing into the flop.
Here's an example, player A holds A-A, goes all in and gets called by player B with 8-8. An 8 comes on the river, and player B wins, player A's response, "you're a moron for calling with pocket 8's".
Example two has player A raising large with A-5, and player B calling with A-J. Ace comes out and player B wins, player A's response, "you're a moron, you shouldn't have called a big raise with that hand".
So this player just believes they are the best player in the universe, and everyone else should just pay them without playing the game. Download poker wallpapers.
So the bad beat has evolved into a creature of its own within the game of poker, and more and more players are realizing the luck involved in poker.
If this is truly the case, then more and more people should gravitate towards the slot machines, where the big payout possibility exists, and away from the poker tables.
This will not happen , however, as in finishing my study, I came to a realization. People would have nobody to blame but themselves for losing at the slot machines, and that would go against the growing trend in the world of people not having accountability for themselves. Play online poker.
So as long as there is someone else to blame for our failures, poker tables will remain filled with potential bad beat candidates.
State boasts home to last two World Series of Poker champions
Maybe it’s something in California’s water or perhaps its just the great calibre of poker played in the state, but the two most recent World Series of Poker Champions were from California... Temecula’s Dr. Jerry Yang in 2007 and Los Angeles’ Jamie Gold in 2006. So there could be no better place to see if you have what it takes to be a champion than Commerce Casino’s California State Championship this September.
The 2007 California State Championship at Commerce Casino, the world’s largest poker room, will feature only No Limit and Limit Hold’em poker tournaments when it begins Tuesday Sept. 4. The 19 events, with buy-ins ranging from $220 to $2,580 for the main event, will draw leading local players and national poker stars. The Cal State Championship is a feather in the cap of any player aspiring to be a World Poker Tour or World Series of Poker champion.
Pasadena’s Lance Allred, a pro who had only been playing tournament poker for two years, took home a $345,470 paycheck in 2006, besting a field of 419 players & women poker players, who were playing for a total of $1,016,075. El Monte’s Hieu “Tony” Ma surpassed 214 other players to claim a $384,025 paycheck in the 2006 Cal State Championship Main Event. Commerce Casino can also claim to be “The Home of Future Poker Millionaires,” as 2007 WSOP champion Jaime Gold, winner of $12 million, noted Commerce Casino as his home base, as well as Scott Lazar, of Studio City, who finished sixth in the 2005 World Series of Poker, walking away with $1.5 million.
WPT Champions who call Commerce home include Phil Laak, Tuan Le and Antonio Esfandiari. Other renowned players who have cashed-in at previous California State Poker Championships have included Chris Ferguson, Men ”The Master” Nguyen, Kathy Liebert, Chip Jett and David “The Dragon” Pham. Download poker wallpapers.
The 2007 edition of the Cal State Championship will feature: - A Turbo No Limit Hold’em 6-Handed event, scheduled for Wednesday Sept. 12 - an opportunity for players to practice their Final Table skills. All tables will feature only six players, not the usual ten. - The Ladies No Limit Hold’em tournament slated for Saturday, Sept. 15. The winner will receive a $1060 buy-in to the Ladies event at the LA Poker Classic. The victor in that event will win a $25,000 buy-in to the WPT World Championship to be held at Bellagio in April 2007. - A guaranteed $250,000 prize pool for the $330 buy-in No Limit event on Sunday, Sept. 16. - Two $540 buy-in Super Satellites on Friday, Sept. 21 - one at 11:30 a.m. and one at 6:30 p.m. Approximately 40 players will earn a seat at the California State Poker Championship No Limit Hold’em event beginning the next day. Online poker. - The $2,580-buy-in Grand Finale Main Event on Saturday, Sept. 22, giving one player the chance to claim the title of California State Champion. The Final Table will be played the next day, Sunday, Sept. 23, and is expected to offer a $300,000+ payday for the winner.
The events are open to anyone over the age of 21. Competitors do not need to live within the state of California. Estimated total prize pool for the full 20-days is expected to be $7 million. Please note that all starting times prior to Sept. 21 are 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Events with 100 or more entries will be played over two days. Day one will be played until the final table/tables. Play will resume at 9:00 p.m. the following day. Management reserves the right to alter or cancel promotion at any time. Play responsibly. Play route 66 poker.
“The California State Poker Championship is a great opportunity for a West Coast poker player to establish a name,” said Cheri Dokken, Commerce Casino Tournament Director. “Winning this event says you’ve arrived. The competition is strong and the rewards ample. With the high-quality poker at the California State Championship might even be incubating the next WSOP or WPT champion.” Stay tuned to our poker blog for latest updates.
Event number, start date, type of game and buy-ins (with fees and s/c) are as follows: 1 - 9/4 – No Limit Hold’em, 291+9+35=$335 2 - 9/5 - Limit Hold’em, 291+9+35=$335 3 - 9/6 – No Limit Hold’em, 291+9+35=$335 4 - 9/7 – No Limit Hold’em, 485+15+45=$545 5 - 9/8 - Limit Hold’em, 485+15+45=$545 6 - 9/9 – No Limit Hold’em ($250,000 Guaranteed), 291+9+35=$335 7 - 9/10 – No Limit Hold’em Shootout, 291+9+35=$335 8 - 9/11 – No Limit Hold’em, 485+15+45=$545 9 - 9/12 - Turbo No Limit Hold’em (6 Handed), 291+9+35=$335 10- 9/13 – No Limit Hold’em, 291+9+35=$335 11- 9/14 – No Limit Hold’em Shootout, 485+15+45=$545 12- 9/15 - Ladies No Limit Hold’em, 291+9+35=$335 13- 9/16 – No Limit Hold’em ($250,000 Guaranteed), 291+9+35=$335 14- 9/17 – No Limit Hold’em, 485+15+45=$545 15- 9/18 – No Limit Hold’em ($10,000 Added), 291+9+35=$335 16- 9/19 - Limit Hold’em, 485+15+45=$545 17- 9/20 – No Limit Hold’em Shootout, 485+15+45=$545 - 9/21 - Super Satellite Day (11:30am & 6:30pm), 194+6+20=$220 18- 9/22 – No Limit Hold’em Championship (2pm Start), 2425+75+90=$2,590 9/23 - Championship Final (2pm Start)
Bodog's online poker players, including Jose "head2782? Severino, have now won three heads-up matches in a row against the Bodog pros.
As we mentioned yesterday, the TLB heads-up matches got a little behind because of the 2007 World Series of Poker. However, after playing a couple on Monday and two last night, the matches are now almost caught up. Play route 66 poker.
Beginning with Jose "head2782? Severino's win over Josh Arieh on Monday, the Bodog online players have now won three heads-up matches in a row. Both Eddie "EddieOB" O'Brien and Smith "nevertilt22? Collins took down their respective matches against woman poker player Evelyn Ng, taking home $1,000 each.
If you want your chance to take on a Bodog poker pro face to face, head over to Bodog.com and start playing in any of the weekly tournaments including the Bodog Sunday $100k Guaranteed online poker tournament. Accumulate more points than anyone else during any given week and you could be going heads-up against a Bodog poker pro.
World Poker Tour Enterprise Inc. has been growing and stretching in the past few months with episodes delivered and new deals made around the world. However, the company still had to report a drop in revenue for the second quarter of 2007 compared to the same quarter last year.
