Online Poker Bonuses and Bonus Codes, Poker News and Events

Team PokerRoom.com plans on busting Bellagio Las Vegas

2005-11-10T17:31:00.000-08:00

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Wanna play poker with your favorite celebrity? Celeb Poker is growing more and more common!

2005-11-10T16:34:00.000-08:00

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Play Poker with the Stars including Ray Romano, Bill Maher and
Members of Cast of 'The Sopranos'

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The Comedy Festival is offering the
ultimate Las Vegas experience with a Ticketmaster online auction to bid on a
coveted player's seat in the Comedy Cares First Annual Celebrity Poker
Tournament scheduled for Nov. 18 at PURE Nightclub in Caesars Palace. Comedy
and poker fans alike may bid online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/21114 for a
chance to win a "buy-in" to play poker with celebrities including stars of
"The Sopranos" and comedian Ray Romano, along with special event admission for
one guest.

Presented by PURE, Caesars Palace, AEG Live and The Hollywood Reporter,
TCF's Celebrity Poker Tournament will welcome such star players as Bill Maher,
star of the HBO series "Real Time with Bill Maher," and cast members from "The
Sopranos," including Lorraine Bracco, Dominic Chianese, Vincent Curatola,
Michael Imperioli, Steve Schirripa, Tony Sirico, Aida Turturro, and Steven Van
Zandt. Auction bids start at $10,000 and bids will be accepted through Mon.,
Nov. 14 until 3:00 p.m. (Pacific). The online auction winning poker player
and guest must be age 21 or over. The winner of the Comedy Cares First Annual
Celebrity Poker Tournament will receive a five night stay at the Saban Villa
in Acapulco along with first class round trip airfare for two. Proceeds from
the celebrity poker tournament will benefit Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

The auction presents an opportunity to enjoy an invitation-only poker
tournament while also helping to raise funds in support of Childrens Hospital
of Los Angeles, an organization that helps save the lives of America's
children every day.

In addition to the auction, tickets and packages for The Comedy Festival
and other must-see events are on sale now at Ticketmaster retail ticket
centers, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com, and by phone at 877-TCF-FEST.
Tickets are subject to availability and applicable Ticketmaster convenience
fees.

About The Comedy Festival
HBO and AEG Live's inaugural The Comedy Festival, sponsored by TBS, will
be "Everything Comedy," featuring over 50 shows in three days in live stand-
up, sketch comedy, and film, as well as special events and screenings at
Caesars Palace and the Flamingo Las Vegas November 17-19. Previously announced
TCF highlights include performances by Dave Chappelle, Jon Stewart, George
Lopez, Dennis Miller and Bill Maher, as well as a special tribute to Jerry
Seinfeld, who will be honored with the first annual The Comedian award.
Detailed information about The Comedy Festival is available online at
http://www.thecomedyfestival.com.

Evolution in poker since Moneymaker days of poker arise

2005-11-09T15:50:00.000-08:00

Read ’em and weep; poker’s the new cool
No Limit Texas Hold ‘em has erupted in popularity, with amateurs across the globe looking to go all in
By Phillip Osie Blandine

November 09, 2005

There is no denying that Chris Moneymaker is one of the most renowned names in the world of poker. In 2003, poker enthusiasts watched Moneymaker, who paid the $10,000 entry fee by winning a $40 online game, win the World Series of Poker’s Main Event on ESPN2. The cash prize of the No Limit Texas Hold’em tournament: $2.5 million dollars.

“And the guy is such a chump, but he brought a lot of people into the game,” said University student Drew Connor, who runs Willamette Valley Poker Tour (WVPT). Moneymaker, an amateur when he won the Main Event, has yet to prove himself again in a big poker tournament, but his story proved that anybody can play and win big in poker.

“I read an article in The New York Times a couple months ago that said 1 out of 3 people in America play poker,” he said. “It’s crazy how it’s blown up.”

Texas Hold’em tournaments, which now inhabit bars, homes and residence halls across the United States, are easy to find around the campus area.

Club Tsunami, at 2222 Martin Luther King Blvd., hosts tournaments run by Connor’s WVPT. The games are Monday through Thursday at 7 p.m. (sign-up starts at 6 p.m.) and are a $25 buy-in, with $25 re-buys and add-ons.

“It’s been pretty interesting to see how the game has evolved from what it was before Moneymaker just a few years ago,” Connor said. “It’s fun to see all the new people that play now. It brings a lot of different styles to the table.”

Connor, who is sponsored by a local restaurant to play in $250 and $500 tournaments at the Wildhorse Casino in Pendleton next week, was a player in many WVPT tournaments before being asked to help run the business about eight months ago. He said the company also oversees tournaments at the Brew-N-Cue, 2222 Hwy. 99. Friday games are a $100 buy-in, while Saturday and Sunday games are $30 buy-ins.

“With all the poker on TV these days, I thought it would be a good idea to start a business,” said Shawn Cambell, who started setting up tournaments around Eugene about a year ago. Taylor’s Bar, across from the University bookstore, hosts a Sunday night tournament ($35 buy-in), and The Cooler, at 20 Centennial Loop, hosts tournaments on Monday ($50 buy-in) and Tuesday ($25 buy-in).

Cambell, who has played poker for about six years, said the poker games attract 40-50 people each night, and about half of them are students. More information can be found on his Web site, www.eugenepoker.com.

Bars are not the only place to find a game. Weekly Hold’em tournaments are played in dining rooms and dorm lounges. All that’s required is a pack of cards (two packs make the game faster), a set of chips and good company.

“A lot of times, people still want to play after the tournaments, so we’ll go to someone’s house,” Connor said. “The best part of the game is meeting guys and having a good time. It’s usually more of a social event than about winning money.”

Freshman Mike Lindquist also said the best part of poker is getting to play with friends. He was drawn into poker when he watched Moneymaker take the Main Event.

“I was watching poker on TV and found out another friend was watching it too. More and more kids started getting into it, and eventually we were playing all the time,” he said. “People saw how easy it can be for a nobody to win.”

Lindquist and his friends were soon playing every weekend . He said they took to the game quickly because it was easy to learn, but also mentally challenging.

“You have to know how to guess right, how to push people out of the pot and make the right calls,” he said. “At the same time, it depends a lot about getting the right cards.”

Lindquist finished in the middle of the pack at a 64-person tournament at The Break, on the bottom floor of the EMU, earlier this year. The Break holds one tournament for students every quarter.

Titan poker getting great reviews from it's players

2005-11-07T20:09:00.000-08:00

New Titan Poker Gets Rave Review In Categories of Bonus and Graphics

The newest online poker room, Titan Poker, is getting good reviews among Titan poker players. Players review the graphics, bonus, and overall quality.

(PRWEB) November 7, 2005 -- Titan poker, which launched only a few months ago, is already winning loyalty from online poker room players. Players are giving good reviews on the graphics, bonus, and the way the site is run. (www.TitanPoker.com)

Titan poker room was built with quality graphics in mind. Players say that Titan Poker has the highest quality state of the art graphics of all the poker rooms.

Players suggest that the bonus at Titan poker was a hefty one, but you had to play a good amount of hands before the bonus was released. Players suggested that there were no bonus codes found for Titan Poker but instead only found a bonus when they signed up.

Titan Poker owners are the previous owners of Noble Poker which was bought out by Empire Poker. Currently Noble Poker has been plagued with low player volume since the buy out and other negotiations between Noble and Party Gaming.

Titan Poker is expected to keep succeeding due to high quality customer service. Titan Poker is known for its first class customer service which includes live customer support that offers new players an instant $10 bonus upon opening account.

The market for online poker gaming and high quality graphics is getting more competitive. New poker rooms are expected to come out in the next month that include 3D quality video game characteristic graphics. Stackspoker.com is going to be one rival to this new Titan Poker room.

Titan Poker will continue to see great success with the showing of the World Series of Poker as new players flock to the online market. (www.TitanPoker.com)

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Lucky man only played poker for 2 years online wins $500,000 in a Pacific Poker online poker tournament

2005-11-06T20:03:00.000-08:00

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Half a million dollar$ win for poker champ Nov 4 2005
By Emily Attwood

A BUILDER from Croydon who started playing poker just two years ago has won $500,000 in a massive competition

Ian Frazer only got into the game after messing around on the internet and picking up a few tips.

And when he took on his mates in friendly tournaments he lost every time.

But now the dad-of-three has seen his dreams come true with a massive payout, equivalent to £280,000, as he scooped first place in the televised 888.com UK Poker Open Championship which saw him pit his wits against Las Vegas pros on Tuesday night.

The 46-year-old said: "My feet are firmly on the ground. This money has dropped out of the sky straight into my bank account - I will be spending it quick as you like. I expect I will have the odd drink tonight.

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"It felt fantastic but I knew I was going to win. In the first televised heat, of 108 people, I was interviewed and I told them I really fancied winning.

"I did not fear the pros at all - even when I was down to the last guy who was an American just flown over from Vegas after winning a world series.

"He was wearing this big diamond studded bracelet he had won - you could not wear it out - and I beat him.

"He was very, very cocky but I knew I was going to win."

Ian, who works for Vidette Limited based at Airport House on the Purley Way, had made it through to a couple of finals thanks to his online efforts but never seemed to get any further.

He explained: "I watched it on TV as well and worked out it was always the top guys getting to the final tables - I realised it couldn't just be luck. I put together a strategy and it came up trumps.

"You have got to be strict with yourself. It is so easy to dislike someone and get carried away putting your money down."

Ian also took part in several low-key games against his mates from work but always ended up doing badly. "They ganged up against me" he said.

"The only time I won was last Friday - it must have been a good omen."

The former pupil of Kingsley School in Thomson Crescent, Croydon, added: "I get a massive buzz playing. When you put your chips down you get a big, big adrenaline rush. It is the uncertainty but also the confidence of thinking you have the best hand.

"My heart goes a thousand miles an hour but I look as cool as a cucumber."

And Ian's wife Chrissie and his daughters Amie, 19, Emily, 15, and Charlotte, nine, are thrilled with his success.

But he is determined not to let it go to his head - despite being invited to play in two high-profile games including representing the rest of the world against America in Vegas.

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2005-11-05T03:08:00.000-08:00

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Hat Trick for PokerStars.com 3 Years, 3 World Series of Poker Champions Endorse Poker Stars!!!

2005-11-01T22:24:00.000-08:00

Press Release Source: PokerStars

2005 World Series of Poker Champion Joe Hachem Signs With PokerStars.com
Tuesday November 1, 3:29 pm ET
Affiliation Gives the World's Top Tournament Poker Site the Triple Crown of World Champions

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Joe Hachem, the 2005 World Series of Poker champion, signed an agreement with PokerStars.com, the world's largest tournament poker site. Hachem, who won the record $7.5 million top prize at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas in July, will represent PokerStars.com as a sponsored player and ambassador.

PokerStars - More Players go to the WSOP from PokerStars than any other online poker room!

The signing of Hachem gives PokerStars.com a triple crown. Currently, 2003 WSOP champion Chris Moneymaker and 2004 WSOP champion Greg Raymer both serve exclusively as PokerStars.com representatives. The addition of Hachem means that PokerStars.com has locked up the last three world poker champions. In addition, Tom McEvoy, 1983 WSOP Champion and renowned poker author, is also a part of Team PokerStars.

Joseph Hachem, age 39, was born in Lebanon. He emigrated to Australia as a child, and now lives in Melbourne with his wife and four children. Hachem worked as a mortgage broker and chiropractor before taking poker seriously, first as a hobby and then as a semi-professional. He has played actively at PokerStars.com since 2001. In the past four years, Hachem has entered hundreds of poker tournaments at PokerStars.com and has played many thousands of hands.

While former champions Moneymaker and Raymer won their way into the WSOP directly through PokerStars.com, Hachem's road to fame and fortune was paved by a close friend. Hachem decided to attend the 2005 WSOP when a fellow Australian won his seat at PokerStars.com. Hachem paid a $1,000 entry into his first event at this year's WSOP and walked away $28,000 richer with a 10th place finish overall. Hachem's wife then encouraged him to enter the world's most prestigious poker tournament, the $10,000 No Limit Texas Hold'em at the Rio Hotel and Casino. Hachem blitzed through an all-time record field of 5,618 players and won the largest prize in poker history.

"Joining Team PokerStars is a natural decision for me," said Hachem at a press conference held recently in New York City's Times Square district. "PokerStars.com is the site where I really picked up on the intricacies of tournament poker. The wide selection of tournaments and games is so great that I become a skilled player within a relatively short time-frame. The truth is -- I never would have even have come to the World Series of Poker if my Aussie friend not qualified online at the site. PokerStars.com is the gateway to making poker dreams come true and becoming a world champion."

Since Hachem's victory, he has become an international celebrity. Hachem appeared as a guest on The Jay Leno show and has been featured in hundreds of media outlets throughout the world. During his year-long reign as the champion, Hachem plans to continue playing in major poker tournaments, making public appearances, and sharing his unique personal story with journalists. At least one thing will not change for Hachem, he says he will continue playing and developing his skills at PokerStars.com.

"This entire experience has been a dream come true for me," said Hachem. "To join Chris Moneymaker and Greg Raymer is a real honor. I hope that my association with PokerStars.com will encourage others out there to pursue their goals in life, whatever they might be. It sure worked out for me."

About PokerStars

PokerStars (www.pokerstars.com) is the world's most innovative online poker site. PokerStars was the first site to introduce features that became industry standard such as sophisticated multi-table tournaments, integrated game statistics, players' notes, personalized images, time bank for tournaments and big bet ring games, satellite tournaments, multi-table sit and go tournaments, and much more.

To date, PokerStars has dealt over three billion hands and run more than 14 million poker tournaments, awarding well over $1 billion in prize money. PokerStars is one of the world's largest poker rooms, with 3.5 million registered player accounts. PokerStars' support team is truly unique, as help and assistance is available around the clock from people who know and understand the game of poker and the importance of impeccable customer service.

The PokerStars.com site is also one of the most secure. PokerStars uses industry-leading security software to ensure the integrity of the system, including encryption, card shuffle randomness and preventative measures against cheating and collusion. Money covering player's balances is held in segregated accounts managed by the Royal Bank of Scotland, ensuring that PokerStars can fulfill its obligations to players at all times.

PokerStars is an official member of the World Poker Tour, and the title sponsor of the European Poker Tour (EPT) and the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. During the last three years, PokerStars.com sent more players to the World Series of Poker than any other source or website. A whopping 1,116 entrants qualified to play this year via PokerStars satellites. PokerStars is the site where the 2003 and 2004 World Series of Poker champions won entries into the World Series of Poker. The reigning world poker champion Joe Hachem, has also been an active player at PokerStars since 2001. He recently joined Moneymaker and Raymer as official representatives of PokerStars.com, thus fortifying the company trademark, "Where Poker Players Become World Champions."

World poker tour and The Travel Channel agree on sponsorship rules

2005-10-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

Noble Poker - Biggest Bonuses - Huge Promotions

The World Poker Tour, and More Odds and Ends - A poker world potpourri
by Linda Johnson

Sponsorship, anyone? Tournament players will be pleased to learn that the World Poker Tour and the Travel Channel have agreed to a sponsorship policy change that will allow players to wear approved logos in both preliminary rounds and at final tables of the televised World Poker Tour series. The new logo policy went into effect recently at the Borgata Open at the Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Speaking of the WPT … We recently filmed three WPT episodes at The Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, California: Battle of Champions, Legends of Poker, and Ladies Night III.

Don’t read this entire section if you don’t want to learn who the winners were prior to watching it on television. The Battle of Champions had a 90-second “shot clock” that didn’t seem to cause a problem for any of the players. Throughout the entire filming, we had to give a 30-second warning only a few times, and never had the clock run out while a player was thinking. In fact, no player ever used his one-time extension to request extra time! By the way, during the filming, I heard a new poker term muttered by Phil Laak at the final table: CDU (courtesy double up).

Congratulations to the WPT Ladies Night winner Jennifer Tilly. Tilly has proven to be quite the player, having captured first place in both the World Series of Poker ladies event and the WPT Ladies Night. I was extremely impressed with her aggressive play, and she deserved the win, in my opinion. Tilly charmed the crowd with her sense of humor and playfulness, and commented that she no longer considers herself to be an “imposter” at the poker table. When I asked her what was the best advice that her boyfriend/poker coach (Phil Laak) had ever given her, she replied that he had instructed her, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

Congratulations to The Bicycle Casino on its record-setting number of entrants for the ladies event during the Legends of Poker. More than 565 women showed up for a scrumptious buffet and a night of poker. The winner, London Gallagher, earned the wild-card seat in the WPT’s Ladies Night III event. It took London until 5:30 a.m. to win the event, but she was back bright-eyed and eager for her television debut. Well done, London!

Will 2007 be a female poker winner?

2005-10-25T23:35:00.000-07:00

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PokerWinner2007.com: Meet the Female Poker Winner 2007; Google, Yahoo! and Poker Players Say She Will Be Poker Winner 2007
Angel is blogging about poker on angelthegambler.blogspot.com. Her goal is to be poker winner 2007 at WSOP or WPT. Google, Yahoo! and poker players say she will make it. For now, she is playing hard to refine her poker skills. Will she make it?

(PRWEB) October 25, 2005 -- Angel has been blogging on http://angelthegambler.blogspot.com/ about poker and online poker for more than one year. Now, she has been rewarded: if you search for "poker winner 2007" and similar poker queries on search engines, you'll end up on her poker blog or related poker news. Also, poker players voted her as likely poker winner 2007 on a poll.

Angel is playing hard to refine her poker skills. And she wants to pay back her supporters. So, she started reviewing free rolls poker tournaments, where players and friends can play poker for free and win real prizes in cash. She announced she'll starts to give free online poker lessons on http://angelthegambler.blogspot.com/ and publish new pictures of her while playing poker. She has just got, as a gift from a supporter, her brand new domain name: http://www.pokerwinner2007.com, pointing to her poker blog.

A poker poll, hosted on http://angelthegambler.blogspot.com, allows players to say their opinion about her chances to be poker winner 2007. Poker players have no doubt about her skills, according to the current result of such poll (question: Will Angel be poker winner 2007?): 57% of the voters said "Of course!", 8.5% said "Maybe", 5% says "Sorry Angel, I'll beat you at the final table", 7% voted "No, but I love you anyway", and the rest sent incomplete votes.

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When asked why she decided to play poker, she says that "poker is a charming game. It's a game of skill, with a component of uncertainty which makes it one of most exciting pleasures of life". She set 2007 as her target year to win big at poker because such deadline is "challenging but also realistic. I can't take a big chance and try to become a pro right now, but I don't wanna keep waiting either. So 2007 is a good deadline for my goal".

She decided to have a live journal about poker because "blogging is a friendly, happy and quick way to share opinions with friends and other poker players. With my poker blog, I can write about poker, select poker stories, review free rolls and other poker tournaments without having to send hundreds of mails around to my friends. I just publish my 2 cents, everyone who want to keep in touch can simply bookmark http://angelthegambler.blogspot.com and check it daily for new tournaments and poker news". She ends her talking with a sweet "So, now that you know a lot about me and my goals, are you with me?".

Angel devoted her blog http://angelthegambler.blogspot.com to her dreams, ideas, goals: she is blogging about poker and her path to become poker winner 2007. To learn from professional poker players, Angel is studying their bios and most important games. The results of her studying will be published on her free poker encyclopedia, with biographies of professional poker players, poker tournament schedule, free rolls poker tournament highlights, poker strategies and other info to be a winner at poker. Of course, she knows that in poker, we improve only playing against more experienced players, so she is happy to receive advices from poker players.

Angel is very convincing in inviting us to join her mission. Quoting from her pictures collection on http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/poker2007winner/ "Share my goal to become 2007 poker winner. Live the my dream, live my emotions as online poker player, on my way to become 2007 poker winner. With poker rules, online poker rules, poker updates, poker bonus, poker reviews, poker lessons, poker news, poker forum and other information about poker and online poker. Play poker with me, play poker with an Angel! Lol..."

Some websites have already started supporting Angel, wishing to see her becoming the 2007 poker champion. Poker players and webmasters willing to coordinate efforts and give maximum exposure to Angel and http://angelthegambler.blogspot.com can contact Alexander Roth, her unofficial fan club coordinator, and work together.

Angel's fans all around the Net. To satisfy their demands, Angel created a group where poker players, casino players and friends can see her when she is playing online poker and casino games, smoking cigars and celebrating her victories. Angel Poker group is available on http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/poker2007winner/ and every poker player and friend can register for this group, receiving updates and new pictures from Angel.

On http://angelthegambler.blogspot.com, Angel likes to blog about poker, online poker, poker online, poker tournaments, poker free rolls, poker bonus, poker strategies, poker systems, poker sites. On her poker blog, Angel publishes articles, comments news and shares pearls of poker humor with the online poker community.

Added bonus from Titan Poker - Become a wealthy tournament player

2005-10-24T22:29:00.000-07:00

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$250,000 Awarded Online at Titan Poker's Jackpot Tournaments
Any player who wins six consecutive Fort Knox tournaments -- Titan Poker's newest Jackpot Sit 'N' Go promotion -- will win a $100,000 Jackpot Prize.

(PRWEB) October 24, 2005 -- $250,000 in Jackpot Prize money has already been awarded to poker players at the Jackpot Sit 'N' Go Tournaments of Titan Poker (http://www.titanpoker.com)-- one of the newest and fastest growing online poker rooms. Winners of consecutive Titan Poker's Jackpot Sit 'N' Go Tournaments, staged in conjunction with the iPoker network, take home huge Jackpot Prizes as large as $100,000.

Since their introduction a few months ago, nearly 60,000 Jackpot Sit 'N' Go Tournaments have been staged on the iPoker network, and 159 unique players have won Jackpot Prizes. A total of $250,000 in prizes have been distributed, with a number of individual players taking home over $30,000 each.

The Fort Knox Jackpot Sit 'N' Go Tournaments are the latest jackpot tournaments to be offered by Titan Poker. Any player who wins six consecutive six-player Fort Knox Jackpot Sit 'N' Go Tournaments will take home a Jackpot Prize of $100,000. Players who finish in first or second place in six consecutive Fort Knox tournaments will be awarded a $750 Jackpot Prize.

Already available at Titan Poker are the popular Rio and Maui Progressive Jackpot Sit 'N' Go Tournaments, which offer starting jackpots of $25,000 and $15,000 respectively. The Rio and Maui jackpots grow progressively each week if no player manages to win enough consecutive tournaments to take the jackpot prize.

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Titan Poker (http://www.titanpoker.com) is the newest, and fastest growing online poker room on the iPoker Network. Titan Poker's software was developed by Playtech, an online gaming software company with vast experience from the "brick and mortar" casino world. Titan Poker stages weekly depositors freerolls and exciting progressive jackpot sit 'n' go tournaments. For more information about Titan Poker please visit http://www.titanpoker.com/.

A poker interview with Phil Helmuth

2005-10-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

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Serious Poker Advice from Phil Hellmuth
LAST UPDATE: 10/23/2005 10:16:39 AM
Posted By: CyberBob
This story is available on your cell phone at mobile.woai.com.
Listen...

By Dale Blasingame
VegasInsider@woai.com

Wow.

Did you catch the show Phil Hellmuth put on at the World Series main event this year? ESPN aired Mount Hellmuth's eruption this past Tuesday. It was the "Poker Brat" at his finest. At one point, he even asked an opponent if he knew how to spell poker.

Not all that unusual if you've followed Hellmuth's career. Fortunately, I got a head's up to watch the episode from the man himself, just four days earlier.

Yes, I partied with Phil Hellmuth last Friday night. It was up in Austin... and I guess I didn't really party WITH Phil. I was AT a party with Phil. It was thrown by Green Tie Poker and featured a seminar by the nine-time world champ.

The funniest part? Hellmuth came dressed as Phil Hellmuth. Black windbreaker (it was 85 degrees outside), headphones (it was inside a loud bar) and sunglasses (yeah, the bar was dark).

In real life, Hellmuth's a cool guy. He was funny, sarcastic and, of course, he knows his poker. After giving the crowd of about 250 some great insight into his victory at the Heads Up Championship (seen on News 4 WOAI), he took a few questions.

First topic: How do you build your bankroll to become a professional player?

Phil's key - don't go crazy.

"I think the way to do it is to start in a very small game. That's the way I did it," Hellmuth said. "I would play a $0.50 ante, no-limit hold 'em game. I could just sit there and wait forever. I was in the position where $20 meant a lot to me. The guys at the table...$20 didn't mean anything to them. So I would just sit there and very patiently build my bankroll. All of a sudden, I'd be up $300 or $400 and I'd have all that in front of me and they'd want it match it because it didn't matter to them. So I'd play a patient game and I'd play in situations where I could afford to wait. I think too many people bust themselves in one day, one month or maybe a two month period. You should never lose all your money in a one month time frame. Yet many people do it in one week or one day. Playing professional poker is not easy. I've been very blessed and very lucky and I have a good constitution for it. When I got low on money, I didn't start doing drugs or drinking or freak out. I always thought 'there's this really bright future coming.' I could really see it. So I could be depressed in the moment or I could be really happy about this wonderful future coming. I kind of like having a little pressure on me, so I have a good temperament to do this. You have to build your money slowly at first. Then you work your way up the limits. If you're a great player, you're going to get to the biggest games, don't worry. Some people try to take shortcuts and never make it there. Work your way up and as you get to each level or limit, make sure you're learning new things."

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Second topic: Ever wonder what kind of cash games the top pros play?

Let's just say they're games I will probably never see in my lifetime.

"In Aruba, we were playing $200-$400 triple draw 2-7. It's a low-ball game that's been all the rage among the high-end players," Hellmuth said. "I also played no-limit hold 'em down there and won like $16,000 an hour. I should have won more but I folded a winner for a lot of money."

Third topic: What's the difference between online and real-life tournaments.

Obviously... there are plenty.

"The ultimate in fast is probably the online, ten-player tournament. The ultimate in slow is the main event of the World Series of Poker," according to Hellmuth. "So you have ten minutes versus ten days. A big difference, right? There's also about 5,500 more people at the World Series. So it changes your strategy. Online you can take a lot more chances. You can be very aggressive and play more big pots. You know, you have to be lucky at some point in an online tournament. You might wait for KQs and put it all in and hope your opponent has KJ or AJ and you can outdraw them...where in the real world you can just sit there and fold forever. Slow tournament...play slow. Fast tournament...play fast. I have fun at both. I wish we had a World Series of Poker every day, especially since Chan and Doyle got #10 and I didn't."

Final topic: How can you tell when someone is bluffing?

Phil's answer - It's all in the body language.

"It does seem like amateurs, when they miss the flop, they lean back in their chair," said Hellmuth. "When they hit the flop, they lean forward. As if, 'I hit it, I'm getting ready to act,' as if, 'I missed, I'm getting ready to fold.' You would think people would be able to crack that, right? We act the same way as monkeys...when they do the tests and the studies. It's really ingrained in us. I talked to an expert with the FBI and he told me it's impossible to bluff and do this (makes steeple formation with his hands in front of his mouth). If you're going to bluff and you're going to do the steeple, it's impossible without your mouth moving. I tried it...and I think I was able to bluff with the steeple. But the day I figured that out, which was two months ago, I went to the Bicycle Club and every time I bluffed like that and they folded even quicker. So there's something there in their mind. I'm giving them a false tell...so that's a really good one."

Listen: Q&A with Phil Hellmuth

After the seminar and Q&A session, Hellmuth stuck around and played in a shootout with some players who qualified online.

My advice? Take the Hellmuth you see on TV with a grain of salt. He himself even admitted this "bad boy of poker" persona has earned him millions and millions of dollars in endorsements. Sure, he's an emotional guy and those outbursts probably aren't planned. But in person, Phil Hellmuth comes across as a good guy... and we all know he's a hell of a poker player.

AOL offering WSOP (World Series of Poker) seats with their free poker service

2005-10-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

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Netco bets on World Series with new service

By JOHN DEMPSEY

AOL signs deal with World Series of Poker (W.S.O.P) for online service for card players.

NEW YORK -- AOL has anted up for poker in a big way, signing an exclusive deal with the World Series of Poker to create an online service for card players.
The free-play poker games will offer 12 winners in the various online AOL private poker rooms and tournaments a free seat (worth $10,000) to play in one of the main events of the 2006 or 2007 World Series of Poker.

In addition, one visitor to the poker room each year will get a free seat at the annual tournament of champions. One requirement: Winners must be at least 21 years old.

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ESPN has exclusive cable rights to the World Series of Poker, which takes place next summer at the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Players who get to the main event will end up sharing more than $52 million in prizes.

The AOL service will provide news and behind-the-scenes reports of the various tournaments as well as "poker tutorials for people who want to learn more about the game," said Jeffrey Pollack, head of programming for Harrah's Entertainment.

"We've never done anything like this before," said Ralph Rivera, VP and general manager of AOL Games. Rivera hopes to draw the masses of people who are hooked on poker into sampling AOL.com, where they'll be bombarded with online advertising, which is a $12-billion-a-year business. People don't have to be monthly AOL subscribers to gain access to the poker rooms, he said.

South Dakota Bar Stops Doing Poker Tournaments in Order to Re-Open

2005-10-12T16:37:00.000-07:00

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A bar in Harrisburg, South Dakota, has officially reopened its doors after having its beer license revoked. The bar closed after the poker tournaments it had been hosting were deemed illegal. Todd's Place reopened after an appeal was filed, and the bar's owner, Todd Erks, conceded not to allow card playing on the bar's premises. According to South Dakota gambling laws, poker is considered a game of chance, and as such, an illegal gambling game in all locations except for casinos and the town of Deadwood.

Erks is reportedly thinking of working to change the legal classification of the Texas hold'em brand of poker to a “game of skill,” the likes of which are legal in the state. Todd's Place used to hold Texas hold'em tournaments, which players could enter for a fee. A percentage of the fee went to the bar, and the rest was designated to prizes. At least for now, Todd's Place can't hold card games of any kind, even if this time, they're free to enter.

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2005-10-08T22:20:00.000-07:00

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2005-10-06T21:58:00.000-07:00

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There's no better way to improve your game than by playing against the best players in the world. For many of us, though, affording buy-ins to the really big games with the world's top players just isn't in the cards. That's why we've introduced the "The Hunt for Red in October".

Throughout October, you can win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, and Phil Gordon in private heads-up matches for up to $50,000. What's more, you can do it for as little as $55. That's right – just win any scheduled multi-table tournament with a buy-in of $50 + $5 or greater by 11:59PM ET on Halloween and you'll be automatically entered into a $5K "Hunt for Red in October" Freeroll on November 5th.

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Online Poker Strategy - Know Your Opponent

2005-09-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

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Know your Opponent
by Paul Wolfe
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I was at my first World Series of Poker in 2002, talking to a player who had made the final table the year before. He told me something I've never forgotten, and it's helped me ever since.

I had raised pre-flop with A-K and he called from the button. The flop came all small cards. I checked and he fired a pot-sized bet. I looked at him and said, "You must have a good hand." His reply caught me off guard; "It doesn't matter what cards I have if I know what cards you have."

At first I thought I might have a tell – maybe I hummed when I missed the flop, or I looked away from my chips. It was later that I realized I did have a tell, but it had nothing to do with my physical demeanor. It was the way I played my cards.

Poker is often not so much about the cards you have, but knowing the way your opponent plays. Keeping track of which hands your opponent raises with - and the position from which he raises with them - is a large part of the game.

In a live game, it is hard to remember exactly what cards your opponent has raised with over the years and, if they're good players, those hands will change from time to time. But many poker players are creatures of habit, playing the style they are most familiar with. Online, there is no excuse not to have this knowledge at your fingertips.

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While playing on Full Tilt Poker, I get to write notes on players and it is a great help. I am always referencing my notes, and they will often tell me which hands an opponent has played in the past. The color-coding makes it even easier for me. I use one color to mark the players who only bet when they have a strong hand, and another color to mark the action players.

When I see a player marked with a certain color, I can safely assume that he's going to overplay his hands. This is a guy I am more willing to call with a hand that might be a little weaker, or a drawing hand after the flop. Why? Because I know that if I hit my hand, he's going to pay me off; I have implied odds to call. With another player, I'll play a little tighter because not getting paid off means my implied odds aren't there. This one bit of information has both increased my winnings and minimized my losses.

Self-awareness is an important part of any endeavor. But in poker, knowing your opponent is just as important as knowing yourself.

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2005-09-21T22:22:00.000-07:00

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Online poker tourney winners reap benefits of low profile
By Liz Benston
LAS VEGAS SUN
One of the world's largest poker tournaments has just concluded, awarding nearly $13 million in prize money to 1,972 people.

Yet the winners of these events may never be known to the public.

The World Championship of Online Poker, an event hosted by the Costa Rica-based Internet site PokerStars.com, is by far the world's largest online poker tournament. The top prize in the final event, a game of no-limit hold 'em with a $2,500 buy-in, was $577,342 and went to Pennsylvania player "Panella86." Second and third, "Vendetta" and "tralala" are from Sweden and won $573,735 and $540,877, respectively.

These aren't real names, of course, but screen names chosen by players to disguise their identities.

In fourth place, Las Vegan "PICKLED EGG" won $242,775. "Buster Love, also from Las Vegas, won $56,025 for ninth place.

A spokesman for PokerStars.com declined to reveal the winners' real names, citing confidentiality agreements with players.

While poker tournament winners in casinos become celebrities and receive extensive press coverage, Internet gambling tournaments are still a relatively underground event.

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2005-09-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

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Do you want to improve your poker game? What is the best book to read about poker strategy?

2005-08-31T16:17:00.000-07:00

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In recent months, many of our players have asked for suggestions on what poker books provide the best insights into the game. Being curious ourselves, we put the question to our pros and the answers we got back included some long-time favorites, along with a few surprises.

While our pros all have poker books that they like, not all of them believe that reading about poker theory is essential to improving their play. In fact, a few of our pros expressed sentiments along these lines:

We're not big fans of poker books. Once you get the basics down, is there something you can read that will drastically change your outlook on poker? Probably not. If there were a secret formula that would guarantee you'd always win, or one certain technique to win the most money, wouldn't everyone be playing that way already? The best teacher is experience. Choose a playing style and game mentality that fits your style, then get out there and actively think about the game. See what works for you and what doesn't. No book will be as effective as your own thought process.

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Still, many of our pros do have some suggestions about which titles you might want to add to your personal library.

Chris Ferguson believes David Sklansky's Hold 'em for the Advanced Player and Theory of Poker are perhaps the two best books out there. Both of Doyle Brunson's Super System books, and Mike Caro's Book of Tells have helped his game, too.

Steve Brecher agrees with "Jesus" about Sklansky's Theory of Poker for its idea of the semi-bluff and its analysis of the concept of odds in poker. Sklansky's Hold 'em for the Advanced Player and the rest of the Advanced Player series are also solid reads.

Brecher also likes Doyle Brunson's chapter on No-Limit Hold 'em in his Super System for its emphasis on the importance of implied odds (although that's Sklansky's phrase, not Brunson's).

Erik Seidel notes that he hasn't read many of the poker books out there, but his all-time favorite is The Biggest Game in Town by Al Alvarez.

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Being friendly with Phil Gordon, Perry Friedman has gotten to read an advance copy of Phil's Little Green Book (due out in October), which he thinks provides the best example of how to teach people to think about the game. He adds that both of Dan Harrington's books are filled with incredible advice for tournament play.

When it comes to "non-strategy" books, the pros' choices are as varied as their playing styles at the table.

Howard Lederer says, "I've recently started reading some books on Zen Buddhism. Zen has always been associated with the fine arts of flower arranging, calligraphy, and tea making. But there is also quite a tradition of Zen in swordsmanship and archery. Through reading these books and, in particular, Zen in the Art of Archery, I have a greater understanding of the process one goes through to master an art form. And poker is most certainly an art form."

Other more poker-related titles on our pros' bookshelves include Positively Fifth Street by James McManus, The Professor, the Banker and the Suicide King byMichael Craig and the recently published Tales from the Tiltboys by the Tiltboys. They're also looking forward to reading Nolan Dalla's biography of Stu Ungar, One of a Kind.

It's safe to say that the books listed above will provide you with an eclectic and comprehensive view of the strategies, techniques, and personality traits that can help you become a winning player. So enjoy these books, and good luck at the table.

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2005-08-30T17:05:00.000-07:00

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Online poker bonus - Crunching the numbers, a no limit hold em poker strategy

2005-08-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

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by Andy Bloch
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I get asked a lot of poker strategy questions, from beginner to advanced. Some are easy, but some involve the kind of math I can't always do off the top of my head. When that happens, I rely on one of a number of free tools to calculate the probability of winning the hand.

Here's an example based on a hand posted on a website I run:

Our hero was playing at a small stakes No-Limit table online, with $.25-$.50 blinds. At the start of the hand, he had $44. He was dealt Ad-Td and raised to $2. Both blinds called. The flop was Kd-Jd-2c, giving our hero a royal flush draw. The big blind bet $2, hero raised $2 more, the next player called, and the big blind (with more chips than our hero) re-raised all-in.

Should our hero call with his last $38? Let's assume the third player will fold. If our hero were to call and win, he'd be up to $94 (the $18 in the pot, plus his $38 and his opponent's $38). If he wins the hand four times out of 10, on the average he'd have $37.60 after the hand ($94 multiplied by four, and divided by 10). In poker, it's the long run that matters, so he should only call if his probability of winning is greater than 40%. Now he needs to figure out the probability he'd win the hand.

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The first step is to put his opponent on a range of hands. Sometimes, you can figure out exactly what your opponent must have by the betting or tells. Most of the time, you're left to guess a little. In this situation, the other player probably has a very strong hand, but there's a chance he's bluffing or even semi-bluffing.

The strongest hand our hero could be facing is three kings. He has 11 outs to win the pot - every diamond but the 2d, and three queens. But even if our hero makes his flush or straight, his opponent could still win by making a full house or quads on the last card. I could calculate the probability by hand, but I don't need to.

Instead, I head to the Internet and one of the many free poker odds calculators, such as the one at twodimes.net. Enter "Kd Jd 2c" in the box labeled "Board" and "Ad Td" and "Ks Kc" under "Hands", and click submit. The result says that Ad-Td wins under 34% of the time - less than the 40+% that would make a call the right play. If our hero knows that his opponent had three kings, he should fold. The probabilities for the other possible three-of-a-kinds are the same.

But what if he's up against two pair - kings and jacks? Using the poker calculator again, his probability of winning would be 44%. That's enough to make calling correct. Our hero might also be against other two pairs, which he'd beat a little less often (42%), or A-K (46%). He might even already be ahead if he's against an aggressive player who would semi-bluff with something like Q-T (81%) or Qd-9d (82%).

Having calculated the probabilities of winning, our hero is now left with the subjective part of the answer, guessing the probabilities of what the other player has. I would guess that it's more than twice as likely that the player has two pair, or A-K, or even some weaker hand than that he has three of a kind. And I would guess that maybe 5% to 10% of the time, Ad-Td is actually ahead. I told our hero that, based on the numbers, I would have called.

Our hero did call, and the other player had K-J, giving our hero a 44% chance of winning the hand. The turn card was the 2d, but the river was a jack and our hero's flush lost to a full house. The river card was a tough break, but playing by the numbers, he still made the right play.

It's good to know the numbers, but it's equally important to know how to get them. And if you use the available tools whenever you aren't sure, you'll start to remember them when they come up at the table. In poker, every tool in your toolbox brings you one step closer to mastery of the game.

Ask the pro's is a free publication to all poker players registered and playing at fulltiltpoker.com Sign up now to get poker tips and strategies from the poker professionals.

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2005-08-23T08:27:00.000-07:00

By Aaron Bartley
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One of the most important poker lessons has nothing to do with how to play Aces in late position or how to adjust for the maniac in seat three. It's how to manage your money in a way that will make it grow as quickly as possible with minimal risk.

Some of the most highly skilled players in the game have gone broke (repeatedly) simply because they played too high, too fast, too often. How can we make sure this problem never happens to us? It isn't a matter of smarts, but rather, one of discipline.

The most important step is to be honest with yourself. You should know your relative skill level at all times. Suppose you're a $1/$2 No-Limit Hold 'em player who's had a great night, and you're toying with taking a shot at the $5/$10 game. Your bankroll is up to $1,500, but you would need to bring at least $500 to the table in order to play comfortably at the higher level.

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Why would you risk putting a third of your bankroll on the table to play in the $5/$10 game? For starters, your bankroll isn't big enough for the stake; more importantly, you also need to consider that the skill level of the $5/$10 players is greater than the competition you're used to. (That's not always true, of course. There are some very skilled $1/$2 players and some weak $5/$10 players, but it's not unreasonable to assume that the higher-level games are filled with better players.)

This is where self-control comes in. One slip-up can spell disaster for a bankroll, and watching six months of hard work disappear in six hours of foolish play is enough to crush anyone's spirits.

The safest course of action is to continue doing what you're doing. You're beating the $1/$2 game for a tidy profit every week - stay right where you are. Continue proving that you can beat the game. While you're doing that, your bankroll should grow accordingly. Beating a game for six days is proof of very little. Beating the same game for six months is better evidence that you are a winning player.

Start tracking your results. You can buy tracking software or easily create a database of your own. Put in all of your information after each time you play - limits, time at the tables, profits/losses. Go over your information every few weeks, both for your recent play and for your entire poker lifetime. Try to spot bad trends before they get out of hand. If you've been playing well at a certain level over a long period of time, only then should you consider moving up to the next highest level.

Above all, know where your money is at all times and how it is being used. Ask yourself, "Is this too much risk for me considering my current bankroll?" If the answer is yes, do the responsible thing and change tables. Months later, you'll be thankful you did.

Online poker bonuses and promotions reel in the college poker player - college kids playing poker is increasing.

2005-08-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

More young adults are making online poker a career choice, but is the risk of addiction too high?
By AMY ELIZABETH OSGOOD, Courier Lee News Service

MADISON, Wis. --- Brett Hartfiel, 22, is his own boss this summer. He wakes up at about 10 a.m. and works sporadically throughout the day.

If his friends go to the beach, he can go with them. If he wants to work in his pajamas, he can. That's because Hartfiel has turned online gambling, a pastime that has recently exploded among college students, into his summer job. In the past six or seven weeks, he has made more than $6,000.

"I told my friends, 'I'm going to be a poker pro for three months and see how it goes,' " he says.

Professional poker has its perks for the recent University of Wisconsin at Madison graduate. Hartfiel job-hunts and fills out applications online while he plays. Plus he can enjoy the college lifestyle for one last summer.

"There's something to say for getting to work in a pair of shorts and a 'Got Brett?' T-shirt," says his roommate, Luke Louison, nodding to Hartfiel's personalized loungewear.

Hartfiel plays no-limit Texas hold'em, the most popular online poker game "because it's the fastest and the riskiest," according to Hartfiel. He mostly plays on Pacific Poker, but he also plays on PartyPoker and PokerStars.

He has won most of his money playing "heads-up" matches against one other person. Each player puts in $100, the Web site takes $5 from each person, so the pot totals $190. Winner takes the pot. He has just started playing $100 buy-in tournaments. He says winners of those events make about $25,000.

Hartfiel says he has made more than $15,000 since he began gambling online last November. He has been playing live poker with friends since high school.

"I was skeptical at first, but a few of my friends started winning a lot of money, and I knew I was better than them," Hartfiel says.

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What about work?

As he began making money gambling, his job as a fitness consultant for the university's recreational facilities became less attractive.

"First semester, I was working like 20 hours a week. Second semester, I went down to working four hours a week," he says. "Now I don't work at all."

Maybe not in the conventional sense of the word, but Hartfiel does take gambling seriously. He gambles for about 50 hours a week, and he plans to pay taxes on his winnings.

He uses an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of his games. Columns list opponents' names, their wins and losses (he has played some more than 20 times) and each opponent's playing style.

A player can be aggressive or "tight," according to Hartfiel.

"I change my style depending on theirs," he says. "If they're aggressive, I like to play tight, only my good hands. I can take advantage by acting like I'm weak when actually I'm strong. When a player is tight, I will be more aggressive. You can take most of the pots when they're really tight."

Hartfiel keeps in mind when players might be most vulnerable, like late at night, when they've probably just come home from a night of drinking.

"I find that when I come back from the bars, that's when they play the worst," he says.

He also keeps track of when easy opponents habitually play.

"There are guys that go on there certain times a day every day who I know where to find," he says.

Hartfiel thinks his system gives him an advantage. "It's always smart if you can get an edge on the game, write stuff down about people," he says.

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Studying the game

The Internet changes the game of poker in many ways. Games go a lot faster than the friendly Sunday afternoon games at Aunt Martha's because things such as shuffling and conversation are eliminated. Players can make more money because they can play more hands per hour, and they can play at high-stakes tables, which most wouldn't otherwise have access to unless they were in Las Vegas.

In addition, players don't have to worry about their poker faces when they're sitting in front of their computers.

More than 1.8 million people play online poker each month, wagering an average of $200 million a day, Sports Illustrated reported in May. Although the U.S. Department of Justice considers online gambling illegal, the government essentially looks the other way. Individuals aren't normally prosecuted, according to the magazine.

Web sites are hosted overseas in "tax havens" such as Gibraltar and Costa Rica to avoid U.S. law, the magazine reported. Many college students have taken advantage of this legal gray area. Online poker's anonymity and high stakes contribute to its popularity among today's Internet-savvy students.

"It's the chance to hit it big," Hartfiel says.

The University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center found the number of 18 to 22-year-old college males who play cards for money doubled in the last year, according to Sports Illustrated.

Online statistics are hard to come by, however. Brian Rust, administrative program specialist at the UW-Madison's division of information technology, had no information regarding online gambling on campus. An unscientific trip to the library, though, illustrates online poker's popularity. While studying for exams in a computer lab on the UW-Madison campus, Hartfiel often saw poker games on students' monitors. He also played while he studied.

For some students, however, online poker can become more than a study break. It can become an addictive, expensive habit. Successes like Hartfiel's accompany sadder stories.

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2005-08-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

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Online Poker Bonuses - Ultimate Bet offering a 40% Poker Bonus up to $200

2005-07-31T19:04:00.000-07:00

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Online Poker Bonuses - What is the best online poker room to play at, or what poker room has the loosest players?

2005-07-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

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Paradise poker: tight shark tank, one of the originals

Party poker: loose, busiest site out there, cartoonish interface, best site for
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Pacific poker: very loose and fishy, but aggressive, and because you can only
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Doyle's Room: New site, I've heard a great deal about loose play here,
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Online Poker Bonuses - Paradise Poker offers the worlds first million dollar freeroll tournament

2005-07-25T00:20:00.000-07:00

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Online Poker Bonus, A card trick by the infamous David Copperfield

2005-07-21T23:18:00.000-07:00

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Online Poker Bonuses - World Poker Tour Stock Soars as Doyle Brunson puts in a bid to go for broke

2005-07-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Poker icon Doyle Brunson has launched a $700 million cash bid for WPT Enterprises Inc., which owns the popular World Poker Tour television show, the company said Friday.

News of the unsolicited bid, made by Brunson with a team of financial backers, sent WPT (Research) shares surging over 60 percent to a record high of $27.60 on Nasdaq.

The bid offers a 100 percent premium over WPT's closing price of $17.75 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of about $357 million.

"This was a total surprise," company spokeswoman Jackie Lapin told Reuters. "The board will review this bid."

She did not know when the board planned to meet. The bid was received Thursday.

Brunson, one of the best known U.S. professional poker players, was not immediately available for comment.

West Hollywood, Calif.-based WPT Enterprises, which was founded in March 2002, went public in August last year at $8 a share, raising $32 million. Its shares rose to their previous high of $24.40 last month.

The company develops products based on gaming themes. World Poker Tour airs on the Travel Channel in the United States and more than 60 markets worldwide.

About 70 percent of the company is owned by two stakeholders; Lakes Entertainment Inc. owns about 62 percent of the company and co-founder and Chief Executive Steven Lipscomb owns about 8.2 percent, according to company data from April.

Brunson, 71, has won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) twice -- in 1976 and 1977 -- and this month won his 10th WSOP bracelet which are awarded to winners of tournaments on the World Series of Poker circuit.

About 25 years ago he cowrote "Super/System," which explained his secrets to winning poker.

Online Poker bonuses - Joseph Hachem Winner of the World Series of Poker

2005-07-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

Five remain from the original 5,619

Chip leader Andrew Black had $21.7 million
Tex Barch had $12.5 million
Aaron Kanter $10.3 million
Steven Dannenmann $6.5 million
Joseph Hachem $5.1 million.

Final hand final table of the world series of poker 2005
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Online Poker News - Chris Moneymaker and Playboy join forces

2005-07-13T17:09:00.000-07:00

Chris Moneymaker, winner of the World Championship 2003 World Series of Poker, has turned his winnings into a new, lucrative career. Moneymaker, a former accountant, used his $2.5 million payday to jumpstart a career as a pitchman for PokerStars, known for their television poker tournaments such as "Poker Royale: Battle Of The Sexes".

He started Moneymaker Gaming, which offers gaming collectibles, poker chips and other gambling related accessories. So far, he’s secured exclusive contracts with Death Row Records, FHM model Vida Guerra and several NASCAR drivers such as Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

Now Moneymaker Gaming has added another feather to their cap. It was announced that Playboy Enterprises and Moneymaker Gaming have partnered to create merchandise branded with the special Playboy touch. The collection will include a variety of items from collectible poker chip sets to tables and other such memorabilia.

"Poker is a logical brand extension for Playboy, and Moneymaker Gaming is a natural partner," remarked Sarah Haney, Director of Entertainment Licensing for Playboy Enterprises. "Chris' overnight success reflects the aspirational Playboy lifestyle and Playboy Poker offers both amateurs and professionals an opportunity to partake in the good life."

"Poker and Playboy go hand in hand," said Moneymaker. "It's a match made in Las Vegas heaven, and I am proud to bring the two together. We're committed to making Playboy a dominant player at the poker table."

The new products will be featured at the World Series of Poker lifestyle show, running during the play of the Main Event and at MAGIC Las Vegas in August. Products will also be available at PlayboyStore.com, MoneymakerGaming.com and at the Playboy Concept boutique in Las Vegas.

Online Poker Bonus - FSN hosting live poker tourney

2005-07-13T13:09:00.000-07:00

FSN, the premier network in poker television and the first U.S. network to show poker live; Wynn Las Vegas, the crème-de-la-crème of Vegas class and extravagance; FullTiltPoker.net, one of the foremost online free poker sites. A trio of excellence each playing its part in bringing fans an unrivaled live television event as FSN televises the final table of the FULLTILTPOKER.NET CHAMPIONSHIP AT WYNN LAS VEGAS, airing live at 6:00 pm local on Wed., July 13, 2005. An encore broadcast of the show airs that night at 10:30 PM local.

Held at club La Bete, inside Wynn Las Vegas, the tournament features many of the biggest rounders in the game playing for a $500,000 cash pool and other prizes. Scheduled to appear in the tournament are 2000 World Series of Poker champion Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, WSOP bracelet winners Howard "The Professor" Lederer, Phil Ivey, John Juanda, Erik Seidel, Jennifer Harman, 2003 World Poker Tour Ladies Night winner Clonie Gowen, plus poker pros Phil Gordon, Andy Bloch and Erick Lindgren. Also, 2004 Card Player Magazine Player of the Year Daniel Negreanu joins the fray. FSN veteran announcer Barry Tompkins calls the action.

"This live event is the next generation of poker programming," said George Greenberg, FSN's Vice President of Programming and Production. "Live poker was one of our highest rated shows telecast last year and we look forward to an even bigger ratings winner this year."

Online Poker Bonuses - World Series of Poker Day 1, several superstars are already out

2005-07-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

Phil Hellmuth
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2005 World Series of Poker Payouts WSOP

2005-07-09T19:07:00.000-07:00

Total Entries: 5,619
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Last place pays $12,500.

Online poker bonus - ap100 for Absolute Poker 100% Poker Bonus

2005-07-08T15:46:00.000-07:00

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2005-07-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

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2005-06-30T07:48:00.000-07:00

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