South Carolina Judge Reverses Poker Decision
September 25, 2009
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Five poker players were busted some time ago. Now the Charleston News has this to say:
It isn’t time to go “all in” just yet, but five poker players busted for gambling in Mount Pleasant three years ago apparently have scored an early appeals win.
The judge overseeing their case wrote this week he is reversing the outcome of their February trial, essentially tossing out their convictions.
In a one-page letter, Circuit Judge R. Markley Dennis Jr. said it was likely that the players’ chosen game of “Texas Hold ‘em” — which relies on bluff, bet and card know-how to be successful — would withstand the legal test of being a game of skill versus an illegal game of chance.
“When faced with the issue, it is my opinion that the S.C. Supreme Court will likely adopt the ‘dominate factor test,’ ” Dennis wrote attorneys from both sides of the case. “Under the dominate factor test, Texas Hold ‘em is not gaming or gambling,” he said.
Additionally, the judge said a section of the state’s anti-gambling laws, as applied to this case, is ambiguous and “unconstitutionally vague and overbroad.” The municipal court decision “must be reversed,” he said.
Greenville attorney Jeff Phillips, who represents the five players, said he wanted to limit his comments until Dennis’ signed order is published. But most observers agree the case is far from over and that Dennis’ ruling would have been appealed up the chain, either way.
The case began in April 2006 when Mount Pleasant police raided a home on Glencoe Street. An estimated two dozen people were cited after authorities discovered two poker tables operating in the home they said was both a for-profit gambling operation and a community nuisance.
About 20 players opted not to fight the charges, pleading guilty. The others chose to confront the charges in court, eventually being convicted of gambling charges in front of Municipal Court Judge Larry Duffy. After the conviction, they paid misdemeanor ticket fines up to $262.
For the full story!
WinADay Has a New 3D Video Poker Game
September 24, 2009
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Ok everyone that loves the 3D games here is a new colorful video poker game for you! It has multi- hand games with bonus rounds that you can double your money!
23 September 2009 (London, UK) – WinADay.com has launched another one-of-a-kind video poker game making nine unique slot machines and video poker games at the three dimensional online casino site operated by Slotland.com. The new Bonus Poker game gives players a chance to double their winnings after any winning hand. Its design is colourful, unique, and fanciful. The strobing plastic colours are reminiscent of toy shops and candy stores but this multi-hand game is anything but child’s play.
A video preview of the new Bonus Poker is on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huAHN1g9e4M
Players can play 1, 3, 5, 10, 25 or even 50 hands at a time on the new Bonus Poker video poker game. Jacks or better returns the bet, two pairs pay double, and three of a kind triples it. Four of a kind payout is disappointing on many Jacks or Better games but in Bonus Poker it pays up to x40.
After every winning hand, players can collect their winnings or choose to play a Bonus Game where they can double the winnings on that hand if they can predict which of 4 hidden cards is greater than the one that’s dealt face up.
“We don’t do comic book characters or super heroes – we let our in-house designers come up with original ideas and sometimes their imaginations really run wild!” said WinADay.com manager Ondrej Tuma. “When they first showed me what they’d come up for Bonus Poker I almost wanted to take a bite of it – I thought it looked almost like candy. Anyway, it feels FUN which is what a game is supposed to be!”
The kitschy retro look of the new Vegas Mania is definitely fun and certainly not traditional game design. And you won’t find anything like the frolicking cherubs and flying pigs that adorn the Heavenly Reels slot machine on any other game anywhere.
WinADay.com has a variety of games to appeal to all levels of players. The simple single payline Slot-O-Matic is a good one for beginners whilst more experienced and strategic slots players enjoy more complex games like the 20-payline Vegas Mania.
WinADay.com now has 6 one-of-a-kind slot machines and 3 unique video poker games. All of the slot machines are tied to the WinADay progressive jackpot which recently went over $83K and could be won at any moment.
Check this all new video poker game at WinAday’s Slotland!
Agreement Made on World Series Online Poker with Harrah’s and 888
September 11, 2009
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What do land based Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc, and online gambling giant 888 Holdings plc, have in common? Harrah’s, owner of the World Series of Poker, and 888 Holdings firm Dragonfish, have signed an agreement to apparently create an online world for the World Series of Poker and Caesars Casino. Dragonfish specializes in creating online gaming platforms.
Mitch Garber, Harrah’s new CEO of Interactive Entertainment, states that the intention is to “offer online gaming in the U.K. and… elsewhere in Europe where it is legal and government licensed”.
888 have been rumored lately to have been in talks with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The company has admitted to being in talks toward reaching large cash settlement. Sound familiar? PartyGaming, Mitch Garber’s old company, reached an agreement to pay $105 million in return for protection from any legal actions. And PartyGaming and 888 Holdings are both advised in these deals by the Freshfields law firm.
Sounds like the World Series of Poker may soon really be a “world” series.
Online Poker Imitative in California Has Been Put on Shelf
September 10, 2009
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So it seems that this will not go to the Legislature till January. We will await the outcome.
SACRAMENTO, California — As reported by The Desert Sun: “The Morongo Band of Mission Indians has just announced the Internet gaming initiative with California card rooms has been taken off the legislative deck.
“Patrick Dorinson, a spokesman for the tribe that operates Morongo Casino Resort Spa near Cabazon, said the decision was made Tuesday.
“‘In our consultations with other tribes, some concerns have been raised, and we want to make sure we address those concerns so this can benefit everyone,’ Dorinson said. ‘We are going to redouble our efforts, and present this in January to the Legislature…’”
This may stall things a few months but I think the outcome will be worth it.
PokerStars Gets Ready for Baltic Festival
September 8, 2009
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Get ready all you poker players for this big poker festival. It is being held by Poker Stars this autumn.
TALLIN, Estonia — (PRESS RELEASE) — The world’s largest online poker site PokerStars.com announced that it will hold the PokerStars Baltic Festival this autumn in Tallinn, capital of Estonia. PokerStars Baltic Festival will be held in the conference centre of the luxurious Swissôtel in Tallinn from October 28 to 31. The buy-in of the four-day main event will be €1,100 and the prize pool is expected to reach hundreds of thousands of Euros. The exact schedule of side events to be held in Tallinn during the festival week will be announced shortly. PokerStars.com will hold a large number of satellites to the event in September and October, including freeroll qualifiers and satellites where the buy-in start from as little as $2.20.
“We have hundreds of thousands of poker players in the Nordic countries, the Baltic States and Russia, but so far there have only been a few attractive live tournaments,” explained Tomas Larsson, PokerStars Country Manager Finland & Baltic’s. “Our ambition with this festival is to create the ultimate live poker experience similar to what players find at the most prestigious events in the world like the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the Bahamas and the European Poker Tour’s Grand Final in Monte Carlo, combining a luxurious venue with the best live poker in the Baltic’s.”
“Tallinn is an excellent location for such an event with its good access, outstanding facilities and previous experience in hosting large international poker tournaments. I am convinced that the PokerStars Baltic Festival will attract players not only from neighbouring countries but from all over Europe, including a number of Team PokerStars Pro members and some of the region’s top sportsmen,” Larsson said.
I am sure all of you that play in this will have a blast and I wish all of you all the luck in the world!
