The Nightly Turbo: Hellmuth Talks Legislation, Aussie Millions $250,000 Buy-in, and More
Another Epic Poker League Main Event is on the horizon, and on Tuesday one player was honored with the league's first lifetime membership card. We bring you that story, as well as Phil Hellmuth's thoughts on Internet poker legislation in this edition of the Nightly Turbo.
In Case You Missed It
We all know what poker players do on the felt, but what aboutin "normal" life? In the latest from the Off the Felt series, we talk to Maria Ho about her hidden talents, the ideal dinner date, and more.
Tuan Phan emerged as the winner of the 2011 World Series of Poker Circuit Atlantic City Main Event. Get all the details in our Day 3 recap.
What poker record will Jason Mercier be chasing in 2012? Find out in the first edition of PokerNews Did you Know.
The Patriot Poker Players are using poker to help raise awareness and funds for charitable military causes. Chad Holloway takes a look at what the group is all about.
Jason Mercier won another High Roller event this week. #Whenwillitend? Rich Ryan discusses that and more in the latest Five Thoughts piece.
Phil Hellmuth Talks Online Poker Legislation, Sponsorship
On Friday, Dec. 9,Phil Hellmuth joined host Mark Hoke on Short Stacked Radio and hinted that he may be signing with a new poker site within the next two weeks in preparation for the legalization of online poker.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if online poker were passed in the next five days,” Hellmuth said in the interview. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it passed before Feb. 1 ... I think there’s going to be the biggest explosion in poker history the minute [online poker] is legalized.”
To position himself for the legalization of online poker, Hellmuth said: “I happen to be in a pretty lucky position where we have had more than one discussion recently, you know, there’s some very big companies and some very big people that are starting to get ready for the legalization of online poker. You may find me signing something in the next two weeks. You may find me signing with a company that no one’s ever heard of. Don’t be surprised if that happens.”
The full interview with Hellmuth can be found at USTREAM.
Aussie Millions to Host $250,000 Super High Roller
According to a source at Crown Poker, the Aussie Millions will be hosting another $250,000 buy-in Super High Roller event in January 2012. The source told PokerNews on Tuesday that a handful of top pros have already confirmed their participation in the highly-anticipated event, including defending champion Erik Seidel, who collected $2.5 million by defeating a tough field of 20 earlier this year.
Several others such as Dan "Jungleman" Cates, Tom "durrrr" Dwan and Dan Shak have shown interest but are working on finalizing travel plans, according to the source. Numerous Chinese businessmen also plan to participate.
We expect this to be as big a hit as last year's Super High Roller events in Melbourne. We also expect Seidel to be hoisting the trophy again when it's all said and done — unless Jason Mercier shows up.
Find out more at PokerNews.com.
Bwin.Party Nears Ongame Sale
After months of trying to unload its online poker network Ongame, bwin.Party Digital Entertainment announced Tuesday that a sale is at an "advanced" stage." The group said in a performance update that the Ongame Network has attracted a number of interested parties since July of this year, but a sale is unlikely to be finalized before the end of 2011.
Bwin purchased the Ongame network for €500 million in 2005, but following its merger with Party Gaming earlier this year, the group began the process of recycling surplus assets, Ongame being one of those pieces.
Elsewhere, bwin.Party announced that it submitted online gambling license applications for Spain at the end of last month, and expects to be among the first operators licensed to offer online poker, casino and sports betting in Denmark when the new regulated market opens in January 2012.
Read more about the Ongame sale at Stock Market Wire.
Doyle Brunson Offered EPL Lifetime Membership
On Tuesday, Doyle Brunson was honored with the first lifetime membership card by the Epic Poker League, making him eligible for every future $20,000 Main Event regardless of his recent achievements on the felt.
"He just has this secret sauce of every accomplishment you can imagine, big generosity to the poker community, incredible longevity, amazing ambassadorship," Epic Poker League Commissioner Annie Duke told the Associated Press. "And then on top of that he's just an easy guy to really like."
Brunson, who earned a two-year player card with the Epic Poker League this year, didn't participate in the Epic Poker League's first two $20,000 Main Events this year. The third EPL Main Event kicks off Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. We're not sure whether Doyle intends to play that tournament.
Read more at PokerNews.com.
Watch the WSOPE on ESPN2
This weekend, the World Series of Poker returns to the world's leading sports network, ESPN2, which is slated to air six one-hour episodes of the WSOP Europe on Sunday from 6 p.m. to midnight EST. The first episode will focus on the Caesars Cup team event, with subsequent episodes highlighting the WSOP-E Main Event. Among the players featured in the broadcast will be Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, Ben Lamb, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Patrik Antonius, Chris Moorman, Jake Cody, and Elio Fox.
"We continue to be proud of our deep relationship with ESPN to deliver fresh programming to poker fans,” said Ty Stewart, executive director of the WSOP. "As the only European tournament broadcast in the United States, WSOP Europe has become one of the most prestigious events in the world in just a few years time."
Get the full WSOP-E television schedule here at PokerNews.com.
Randy Lew Eyes Guinness World Record
Coming off his victory at the PokerStars Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Main Event in Macau, Team PokerStars Online Pro Randy "nanonoko" Lew is gearing up for another big feat. On Tuesday, PokerStars posted on TwoPlusTwo that Lew will to attempt to break a Guinness World Record at the 2012 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the Bahamas. But no one knows what the record attempt will be.
What a slowroll.
PokerStars says it will take ideas from the online poker community in deciding what record Lew will take a crack at. “We would like to have TwoPlusTwo's input on what Randy attempts," a PokerStars spokesperson posted on TwoPlusTwo. "The record should be poker authentic (and preferably online poker authentic) while being easily understood by the public.”
Make your own suggestion in the thread at TwoPlusTwo.com.
PlayScreen Unveils Mobile Poker App
Apple removed its only iOS Texas hold'em app from the App Store last month, but a new mobile poker app was recently launched for iPhone users. Last week, PlayScreen LLC opened PlayScreen Poker, a free-to-play iOS app that the company hopes will compete with Zynga's mobile poker app.
With the help of a top-notch development team, PlayScreen has "added the social gaming aspects of achievements, skills and virtual objects to create a fun overall experience for poker players." Players can even manage their careers just as professional poker players do.
“The best way to get better at poker is to play it often and challenge yourself to improve. PlayScreen Poker is going to give you the opportunity to do just that,” said PlayScreen CEO John Byrne.
As part of the social experience, PlayScreen Poker players can log on with their Facebook or Game Center accounts and play against their friends. Versions for the iPad, Web and Android versions are in development and will be introduced shortly.
For more information, visit www.playscreen.com.
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