60 Minutes set to Air Internet Poker Cheating Scams

Date: Thu, Oct 30, 2008

photos by the flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Poker Player Newspaper online is reporting an upcoming 60 Minutes on CBS will feature a segment on the cheating scandals in Internet poker rooms. New York based poker industry insider, Wendeen H. Eolis, has published an exposé of the 60 Minutes news show's effort to conduct an in-depth investigation into the apparent scams that have been used to separate unsuspecting Internet poker players from their money.

Eolis believes the show will probably air on Sunday, November 9th. If the date looks familar it's the same day the 2008 WSOP final table will be broadcast on ESPN. Whether this segment will help or hurt efforts to legalize Internet card rooms remains to be seen. Depending on the slant of the 60 Minutes' producers, the piece could make a case for legalizing and regulating Internet poker or it could paint such a black picture it becomes politically untouchable. Much of the material for the segment was collected inside the Amazon Room, the WSOP's poker room, during the 2008 WSOP at the Rio Resort in Las Vegas last summer.

If you have an interest in Internet poker returning to the US in a legal, regulated, and money safe manner then you won't want to miss this edition of 60 Minutes or the latest Eolis' article, Sixty Minutes: The Ultimate Gamble.

Read Wendeen H. Eolis' article now using this direct link to Poker Player Newspaper online.

Read Full Poker Blog Post

World Series of Poker Main Event Tuesday night on ESPN

Date: Tue, Oct 28, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Tonight at 9 PM ET on ESPN2 - two hours of original programming from the 2008 World Series of Poker™. This is the last installments before the final table reconvenes in two weeks following the 117 day break. Twenty-seven players are all that's left from the 6844 that started the event two weeks earlier. Tonight's action will see the number reduced to the final table nine.

Tune in for televised poker at its' best. Watch as the stress of playing for millions of dollars takes a heavy toll on the players. Catch the moment of defeat when the final river card deflates and a player's dreams of poker immotality are gone in an instant. The adrenalin is running high, chips are flying and one wrong decision can cost a player millions in cash.

The action gets under way at 9 PM ET on the ESPN Sports Network; but as always, check local listings for exact times in your area. Next week's two hours of WSOP poker will be a review of the upcoming final table. More Flipchip photos from Day 7 of the Main Event after the jump.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Read Full Poker Blog Post

WSOP Main Event Final Table Details

Date: Mon, Oct 27, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The final two days of the 2008 WSOP are almost here. Soon we will finally know who is the 2008 World Champion of Poker. It all begins on Sunday, November 9th, at 10 AM PST. The November Nine will take their seats at the final table at the Rio All-Suite Resort and commence play. They will continue until only two players remain, then they will adjourn until Monday November 10th.

Heads-up play will begin at 10 PM on Monday and continue until the final all-in and a call that determines the champion. The players are vying for $32 million in cash and one diamond encrusted platinum bracelet, the most coveted prize in all of poker.

The final table is set to take place in the Penn & Teller Theater at the Rio Resort. Even if you can't make it to the live show you'll still be treated to a same day showing of all the action from each day on the ESPN Sports network and you'll see it up close in HD.

Stop by later for this weeks mini-gallery of Flipchip photos from Day 7 of the Main Event. WSOP poker on ESPN will premier another two hours of original programming from Day 7 at 9 PM ET on Tuesday evening. Mark it down because you don't want to miss this weeks WSOP poker action - the players are few, the stacks are huge and the stakes are astronomical.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Caesars Palace Adds Mega Satellites

Date: Thu, Oct 23, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Caesars Palace announced the addition of six Mega Satellites for the 2008 Caesars Palace Classic championship event. Player demand for more opportunities to enter the $10,000 buy-in event was the reason behind the decision to offer the additional satellites. For every $10,000 in the prize pool one seat will be awarded.

The added events are scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (October 24 - 26). A 4 PM $1,060 buy-in satellite and a 7 PM $550 buy-in will be held on the three days. Four previously scheduled satellites for the guaranteed $1 million championship event will be held on Monday, October 27. Two $550 buy-in satellites at 1 PM and 5 PM and two $1060 buy-in events at 3 PM and 7 PM offer players an altenative route to entry in the final Caesars Palace Classic event. Single table satellites for $1,040 run around the clock.

The Championship event begins on Tuesday, October 28, at High Noon. Players start the event with 100,000 in play money and 75 minute blind levels. Additional details are available at the Caesars Palace website or by calling the poker room direct at 702.785.6566.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Read Full Poker Blog Post

2008 WSOP Main Event Tonight on ESPN

Date: Tue, Oct 21, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Seventeen days remain before the final table of the 2008 WSOP Main Event will reconvene on November 9th. Nine players will battle over the course of two days for their share of the more than $32 million that remains in the prize pool. The winner will walk away with a cool $9.1 million in cash and poker's most elusive treasure, the championship Bracelet. Six of the nine players will become instant multi-millionaires. The first player out goes home with $900 thousand in cash.

Tune into ESPN tonight for the latest 2 hour installment of the WSOP Main Event Day 6 from the Rio Resort in Las Vegas. Check out the mega stacks of chips in front of the lucky dogs. Watch for the moment of anguish when players realize their quest for immortality ended at the river. Follow Tiffany Michelle as she becomes the last woman with chips and a chair while many of the male hopefuls flameout and fall back to reality. Oh well, maybe the 2009 WSOP will be their time to win all of their all-ins.

The two hours of WSOP poker tonight begin at 9 PM/ET. As always, be sure to check out local listing for exact times in your area. More Flipchip photos after the jump. All of today's photos were taken during Day 6 of the 2008 WSOP Main Event and include the final table nine.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Read Full Poker Blog Post

More WSOP Final Table Prop Bets Released

Date: Mon, Oct 20, 2008

photo courtesy BodogLife.com

If you're even remotely interested in poker you probably plan on watching the WSOP Final Table in November. And with Bodog's WSOP Final Table prop bets you've got some great ways to spice up the action.

On top of their WSOP props that ask who you think will win the Final Table, they've recently added a couple new ones. The first of which lets you bet on the what you think the nationality of the winning player will be. The odds are broken down like this:

USA (Phillips, Schwartz, Rheem, Marquis and Kim) at 5-7

49,335,000 combined chips

Canada (Montgomery and Suharto) at 2-1

32,129,000 combined chips

Russia (Demidov) at 7-2

20,400,000 in chips

Denmark (Easgate) at 9-2

18,375,000 in chips

The second recently added prop asks bettors to pick which player will be the first to be eliminated. Get the odds and take care of your WSOP Final Table betting in the Bodog Sportsbook.

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Johnathan Westra Beats Evelyn Ng Heads-Up

Date: Sat, Oct 18, 2008

photo courtesy BodogLife.com

Those who top Bodog's weekly tournament leaderboard are given a chance to take on the Bodog poker pro of their choice for cash. The prize starts at $1,000 and each week that a pro wins the money from last week rolls over to the next. So with the pros having gone 5 weeks without losing the prize was up to $6,000 when Bodog regular Johnathan Westra (UFPokerStar) took on the lovely and talented Evelyn Ng.

It proved to be a hard fought battle as it went 80 hands with Westra crippled at one point and down to 295 chips. But Westra rallied, doubled up and ground away at Ng until he managed to grab the chip lead when both players went all-in with Ng holding Q-7 and Westra Q-9 with a flop of 9-7-Q. Westra's bigger two-pair held up.

Ng never recovered from that hit and was finally called down after pushing with A-4 with Westra holding K-J. Westra made a straight and the $6,000 that came with the win.

Find out more about Bodog's tournament leaderboard weekly, monthly and yearly prizes and grind your way to the top for glory and dough.

Read Full Poker Blog Post

The Real Deal! Poker Show Opens at The Venetian Las Vegas

Date: Fri, Oct 17, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The Venetian Showroom will be filled with poker's elite next Tuesday evening, October 21, at 7 PM for the premier of the The Real Deal! interactive poker-themed stage show. Hosts for the event are funnyman Paul Rodriquez and insult-style comedian Vinny Favorito. They will be joined by The Real Deal! poker pros -- Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Jennifer Harmon, Phil Hellmuth Jr., Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Gavin Smith, Eli Elezra, Scotty Nguyen, and Todd Brunson.

According to the press release, "...a completely original live show format combines fast-paced action and humor with the latest in wireless technology and abundant prizes, including a chance to win $1,000,000."

That's right, $1 million in cash. The entire audience can interact with the players on stage through the magic of wireless technology so you may be one of the lucky winners just by being in the audience. The show was created Merv Adelson and Emmy™ Award-Winning producer Gary Smith.

Times for the show are 5 PM Tuesday through Sunday with 8 PM primetime shows added on Tuesday and Wednesday. Ticket prices for the shows at 5 PM are $75 and $85 for the 8 PM primetime performance. VIP packages are available and include an opportunity to meet the poker stars afterwards. Of course, you must be 21 years of age for stage participation. A special section without wireless interaction is available at $45 for underage guest. Call The Venetian Box Office at 1.866.641.SHOW or 702.414.9000 for ticket purchase information. You can also visit the website for tickets.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Read Full Poker Blog Post

More 2008 WSOP Main Event Poker Faces

Date: Wed, Oct 15, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

More Flipchip photos from Day 5 of the 2008 WSOP Main Event. Personal favorites, well known faces, pretty faces, group shots, and the cavernous WSOP poker room at the Rio, almost empty at the close of Day 5.

Photos continue after the jump.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Read Full Poker Blog Post

2008 WSOP Main Event Tonight at New Time

Date: Tue, Oct 14, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

ESPN continues the countdown to the November final table of the 2008 WSOP Main Event. With more than $9 million going to the winner what are the November Nine doing to improve their chances of taking home the prize? What would you do? Hire a playing coach? Read everything on the subject of playing major tournament poker? Study game films? Play major tournament poker? All of the above?

The wait is almost over with only three more Tuesday night WSOP shows remaining before we know which players spent their time wisely and came prepared to win. While we're waiting for the big finale make it a point to tune into ESPN's original WSOP poker programming tonight.

The two hours of WSOP poker tonight begin at a new time, 9 PM/ET. As always, be sure to check out local listing for exact times in your area. More Flipchip photos after the jump. All of today's photos were taken during day 5 of the Main Event.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Paris Las Vegas closes poker room

Date: Mon, Oct 13, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Paris Las Vegas quietly closed their poker room last week.

This time for good.

Bouncing around from gambling pit in the open to its own room next to the sportsbook, Paris' poker room was battered about after having its hours significantly cut and reduced to just tournaments. If you went looking for the poker room, you often couldn't find it, and some employees even thought it was already shuttered.

We could never quite get a fix on Paris and sister casino Bally's operating under the same management (which itself operates under Harrah's). Chips are interchangeable between both casinos, slot tickets can be read and cashed at both, and both properties even shared some of the same managers.

When Bally's Diamond Lounge closed in favor of consolidating into Paris' lounge, we figured more consolidation would be going on. Moving the poker room into its own room from the casino floor just ended up being in a part of the sportsbook.

It was only a matter of time before the room died a slow death. What dealers were left were offered shifts at the Bally's poker room.

R.I.P., Paris poker room. At least you went out without going electronic.

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Poker Prof's Tournament Directory

Date: Mon, Oct 13, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Planning a trip to Las Vegas or perhaps you're already in town and trying to find a poker tournament that meets all of your requirements. Look no further than the Poker Prof's Tournament Directory. Its the most user friendly poker tournament guide on the planet and that includes Internet and print listings. A simple to use search function that finds events based on your input allows players to quickly see a list of all the tournaments available within the prescribed parameters.

Search by date, time, type, buy-in, card room and more. Rest assured the information is current. We have a dedicated team continuously updating the information to insure our readers get the most current tournament details possible. Take a few minutes to check out the ease of finding exactly the Las Vegas poker tournament to play.

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Las Vegas Poker Tournaments

Date: Fri, Oct 10, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

October 1 marked the start of almost full time tournament poker in Las Vegas that will continue through the holidays. Bellagio's Festa al Lago, Binion's Poker Open, 2nd Annual Caesars Palace Classic, The Venetian's Deep Stack Extravaganza, and the Poker Employees Championship at the Sahara fill the calendar from October through December.

We begin with the biggest tournament, the Bellagio's Festa al Lago. On the calendar from October 1- 26, the Festa al Lago is capped by a World Poker Tour sanctioned $15,000 buy-in final event guaranteed to create another WPT millionaire.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Moving on to Binion's Poker Open scheduled for October 15 thru November 3. Take a nostalgic trip to the place where poker tournaments originated, Binion's Casino located in historic downtown Las Vegas. Binion's is currently building a new poker room centrally located in the recently remodeled downtown landmark.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

In 2007 the Caesars Palace Poker Classic set records for numbers of players and prize pools. Caesars has always been a favorite poker room among cash game and tournament players looking for a spacious, comfortable poker room with all the amenities expected from the world renowned casino. You too can enjoy playing major tournament poker at Caesars Palace during the October 16 - 30 Poker Classic.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Next stop in the Venetian's Deep Stack Extravaganza. These very popular poker events are the results from the Venetian Poker Room asking poker players what they wanted in a tournament - bigger starting stacks, longer play levels, moderate buy-ins, and smooth blind increases - and then designing the Deep Stack series to provide exactly that. Stop by the Venetian during the November 1 - 25 run of final Deep Stack Extravaganza scheduled for 2008 and find out first hand why players prefer the Venetian.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Finally, we have the Poker Employees Championship at the Sahara Resort in Las Vegas. Four days and four events December 1 - 4. Complete details are available at Poker Player Newspaper and you can register online to ensure you'll have a seat in this year's poker employee tournament. If you've ever been a part of the poker industry then you probably meet the prerequisites for entry.

Read Full Poker Blog Post

2008 WSOP Main Event Tonight on ESPN

Date: Tue, Oct 7, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Another Tuesday night means two hours of 2008 WSOP Main Event poker on ESPN Sports TV. Tune in tonight at 8:00 PM ET for the start of the big poker show on ESPN2. Be sure to check listings for exact times in your viewing area. As we count off the weeks leading to the November 9 final table of the Main Event check out a new group of Flipchip photos taken last summer on the tournament floor at the Rio Resort in Las Vegas.

All photos were taken on Day #4 of the 2008 Main Event. More after the jump.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Read Full Poker Blog Post