Featured Articles Archive - Page 335

Running diary of a day on the rail at the WSOP: "It's all luck"

My good friend and regular home game opponent Jas Rai managed to accomplish four of his five goals in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em tournament at the World Series of Poker on Saturday.Normally in life, when you accomplish four out of five goals, you’ve done well...read more

PPA: Lame duck session only hope for U.S. online poker

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The message from today's Poker Players Alliance town hall just outside the World Series of Poker was clear: The best -- and perhaps only -- chance to pass federal legislation regulating online poker this year will come in the lame duck session of Congress after the November elections."The real deal is going to happen in the Senate," said John Pappas, executive director for the PPA...read more

As he wins one WSOP event, Michael Mizrachi has eye on another - 'Big One for One Drop'

How confident is Michael Mizrachi in his poker playing skills?Moments after becoming the first two-time winner of the World Series of Poker's Players Championship event Thursday night, Mizrachi went to the tournament's cashier's cage at the Rio and transferred $1 million from his $1.45 million winnings to pay his entry in Sunday's "Big One for One Drop" No- Limit Hold'em event...read more

WSOP to raise money, interest in One Drop charity

If you missed out on paying $1 million to enter a tournament of no-limit hold'em poker and gaining a shot at an $18 million payday, you may get another chance.The World Series of Poker plans to make "The Big One for One Drop" an annual or semi-annual event, based on the worldwide interest drummed by this year's inaugural three-day tournament, which begins Sunday.The game, limited to 48 entries, benefits the One Drop charity, an organization that promotes water awareness around the world...read more

Gaming stocks swoon in June

Forget June. At least that's how gaming industry investors feel about a month when average daily stock prices collectively tanked. Reaction to the broader economy drove down the values of eight casino operators and four equipment manufacturers followed by Las Vegas-based financial consultant Applied Analysis. Shuffle Master recorded the biggest slide in its average daily stock price, which was down almost 15 percent in June...read more

"Grinder" chews up opponents to win Poker Players title again

Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi of Miami became the first two-time winner of the $50,000 buy-in Poker Players Championship on Thursday night at the Rio in the World Series of Poker, dominating the field to earn $1.45 million.Mizrachi, 31, who won the event in 2010, collected his third career World Series of Poker individual event championship bracelet, and ran his career earnings at the tournament to almost $7 million over 29 in-the-money finishes.The event, considered the tournament's second-most coveted title after the Main Event, drew a field of 108 competitors...read more

States drive poker action

Poker players will receive an update from their top lobbying organization on legislative efforts to license and regulate online poker in the United States during a special town hall-style meeting Saturday at the Rio.When it comes to federal efforts, however, it might be a short conversation.The Poker Players Alliance is using the World Series of Poker, which has attracted thousands of players to Las Vegas, to update the poker community on what's taking place in various states.John Pappas, the alliance's executive director, said he expects to hear from players who have been sidelined from Internet play since the April 15, 2011, crackdown on Internet poker by the U.S...read more

"Sluggish" U.S. gaming worries Moody's Investors Service

Moody's Investors Service expressed a cautious view of the U.S. casino market Wednesday, warning that weak gaming revenues and downward consumer trends could place several companies, including Caesars Entertainment Corp. and CityCenter Holdings, "at great risk." Officials from the companies didn't dispute Moody's assessment that the U.S...read more

Shuffle Master scraps acquisition of European online gaming provider

Shuffle Master, Inc. abruptly dropped a planned $28.5 million acquisition of a European-based online gaming provider Wednesday and expressed concern about the slow pace for legalizing Internet poker in the U.S. Shuffle Master said it was pulling out of a deal to purchase Ongame Network Limited, blaming a decline of business conditions in Europe since February, as well as "uncertainty surrounding the timing of legalization and the rollout of online poker" in the United States. Shuffle Master Chief Executive Officer Gavin Isaacs said the decision came "after careful consideration" and a realization that the company "will not achieve the near-term results we initially expected and will require a larger ongoing investment than anticipated." Analysts, who had praised the purchase when it was announced in March, gave Shuffle Master credit for backing away when it became clear it didn't make financial sense. "The decision not to acquire Ongame is certainly a setback for Shuffle's interactive growth strategy," Roth Capital Partners gaming analyst Todd Eilers told investors...read more

Delaware Senate OKs online gambling

The Delaware Legislature has passed a bill that would allow table games, video lottery games, and traditional lottery games to be offered online. The legislation would also allow bars and convenience stores to sell NFL teaser and parlay cards.Gov...read more