Monthly Archives: March 2024

Whats this all about?

Last week, Rep. George Dunbar (R-Jeannette) introduced bill HB 2078, that would authorize the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to request membership in a multi-state gaming compact that helps support online poker. That compact is the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA).

Its a short bill. All it does is articulate that the PGCB request membership in MSIGA, and it is also authorized to enter into an agreement on the states behalf. The regulator would have 30 days to make that request once the bill becomes law.

No, it did not. Currently, only Governor Josh Shapiro can request to join MSIGA and enter into an agreement with the compact.

Thats an excellent question, and weve been wondering that for years. Rep. Dunbar said he thinks Governor Shapiro just isnt aware of the issue, and that his predecessor, Governor Tom Wolf, wasnt interested in it at all. But he thinks that by introducing this bill, he can help force the issue.

It first needs to pass both houses of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Here comes a quick civics lesson.

HB 2078 was introduced in the House on March 5. That same day, it was referred to the House Gaming Oversight Committee. The bill will need a committee hearing Dunbar thinks he can get one and it will need to pass a committee vote before advancing to the House floor for a vote there. If it passes the House, it will advance to the Senate.

The Senate could also assign the bill to a committee for further study. If the bill is unchanged it will be sent to the governor for his signature. But if the Senate makes changes, the House will need to agree to them. Sometimes both houses will convene a joint conference committee to iron out the differences. Once any changes are agreed to, the bill goes to the governor.

Governor Shapiro would have three choices:

End of civics lesson but if youre a nerd like me, its all here .

He hasnt said anything publicly about multi-state poker, but Rep. Dunbar doesnt think the governor would stand in the way of HB 2078 becoming law if it reached his desk. Whether or not it becomes law via his signature or not remains to be seen (obviously).

Rep. Dunbar seems to think so! He said in an exclusive interview with Poker Industry PRO that it seems like such an easy, no-brainer lift to me. I dont know what the opposition would be. I dont see any people against something like this.

And this is from a veteran lawmaker. Rep. Dunbar has served in the House since January 2011 and is chairman of the House GOP caucus.

Well, Rep. Dunbar has already secured bipartisan support for his bill. The gaming committee chairman is a Democrat, but he planned to reach out to him. Gaming legislation does not know a party affiliation, he told PRO. Its always bipartisan, all gaming legislation works like that.

The General Assembly will be in session through at least November.

He also knows his stuff. He plays online poker. Liquidity is a big deal in poker. If you play poker, you know that something like this means more players, larger pots and larger pots mean more players.

He does, and hes been playing awhile. Rep. Dunbar said he remembers playing on partypoker before Black Friday he once won five or six grand in a tournament with a $24 buy-in, something thats harder to do these days.

Yeah, but its nowhere near as big as it once was. You can still play partypoker in New Jersey and Ontario, but recent reports suggest its parent, Entain, is looking to sell the brand and possibly others.

Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800 GAMBLER.

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Your Questions About the Pennsylvania Online Poker Bill, Answered - Pokerfuse

Chapter 2 Ep. 8 Were Back!

This week the Ante Up Poker Podcast returns. Elle and I talk about our trip to Kansas, an email from a listener about poker and relationships and Kevin Martins bankroll challenge. Then Elliott rules on a question about breaking and balancing tables. Patrick breaks down a hand that I played recently and I end the show with a talk about poker encouraging inclusivity.

View the complete archives of Ante Up! Pokercast in the directory

In the 819th episode of the PokerNews Podcast sponsored by sponsored by PokerStars, Chad Holloway welcomes two new co-hosts to the show in poker players Kyna England and Mike Brock Lesnar Holtz. The new PN Pod crew dives into the latest news, gossip, and stories from the poker industry. That includes Chad sharing why Maurice Hawkins, who made headlines after cashing for six figures only to have his past backing situations resurface, is pissed at both him and PokerNews; why poker is being banned in the worlds largest retirement community down in Florida; and who they all like in the cross book bet between Jeremy Becker & Daniel Negreanu and Landon Tice & Matt Berkey.

View the complete archives of PokerNews Podcast in the directory

Clayton Fletcher (@claytoncomic) is joined by two-time GPI award winner and poker pro Caitlin Comeskey, who is currently on a serious heater!

View the complete archives of The Tournament Poker Edge Podcast in the directory

A-game mindset means youre in the best mental state to play crushing poker. I give you 4 tips to get yourself there every time you play.Show Notes: https://www.smartpokerstudy.com/pod480

View the complete archives of Smart Poker Study Podcast in the directory

In the No. 818 episode of the PokerNews Podcast sponsored by Global Poker, Chad Holloway, Connor Richards, andMatt Hansen dive into the latest news, gossip, and results from the poker industry. That includes talking about the earlier leader in the cross-book bet between Landon Tice & Jeremy Becker, Mori Eskandani and John Hennigan taking down PGT Mixed Game Series titles, Joey Ingram rejoining the poker podcast ranks by interviewing Doug Polk, and Kevin Martin streaming 24/7 in a unique bankroll challenge. Also, Matt talks about his adventures at the recently-completed RGPS Tunica, while Chad shares why Maurice Hawkins, who made headlines last week after cashing for six figures only to have his past backing situations resurface, is pissed at both him and PokerNews! Finally, learn about why Connor and Matt will no longer be regular co-hosts of the PokerNews Podcast, which is set to change in a big way soon! Not only that but there are big plans in the works thatll ensure you havent heard the last from Connor Richards and Matt Hansen!

View the complete archives of PokerNews Podcast in the directory

Alex Fitzgerald, a renowned poker pro from the USA, has earned over $3.9 million across live and online games, including notable wins in the WCOOP and SCOOP. Known as Assassinato online, his expertise shines in major tournaments like the WPT and EPT. Turning pro in 2006, Fitzgerald has adeptly navigated pokers evolution, becoming a leading coach. His passion for teaching poker strategy and game theory has made him a key mentor in the community, emphasizing his dedication to the games intellectual and competitive aspects. Click here to get the full show notes and resources from this weeks episode

View the complete archives of The Mindset Advantage Podcast in the directory

In todays episode of Tactical Tuesday Coach Brad returns to the online poker streets and finds himself bluffing all of his chips on the river with a busted combo draw while trying to max value after he drills a gutshot on the turn in the 3BP.Tune in to see how it goes.

View the complete archives of Chasing Poker Greatness in the directory

The small blind is the second-biggest losing position you have to contend with at the table. But with better defense, better SB stealing, and a better plan preflop, you can minimize these losses.

View the complete archives of Red Chip Poker in the directory

Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800 GAMBLER.

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This Week in Poker Podcasts for March 11, 2024 - Pokerfuse

Happy International Women's Day!

As the world celebrates the achievements and contributions of women, it's essential to shine a light on those within poker and especially those working at PokerNews.

We gathered a group of four female staff members for a round table discussion about their experience in the industry, what it's like working at PokerNews and what can be done to encourage more women to get involved in the world of poker both as players and in industry roles.

Here are the four participants:

PokerNews: Thanks everyone for participating in this celebration of the women who work for PokerNews. How about you each introduce yourself?

Shirley Ang: I'm Shirley and I'm responsible for planning and executing all the PokerNews coverage from events all around the world plus recruiting and training our reporters, budgeting, and on-site management. The list goes on! I moved into a full-time role in 2021 but originally started working as a freelance live reporter.

Galle Jaudon: Me too! I started live reporting for PokerNews just after you in 2018. Time flies when you're passionate about your work and travelling to exciting destinations around Europe even the Bahamas! I'm now responsible for the French subdomain, managing the site and looking after the daily news output.

PN: And from former live reporters to our Lithuanian office. Elena, Viktorija how long have you been at PokerNews and what do you do?

Viktorija Tubalskyte: I just started in November last year as an administrator for our office in Vilnius. I'm blessed to have such a nice team. They motivate me.

Elena Baubke: I've been a product owner since 2021. I get to work on so many projects and collaborate closely with stakeholders all over the business. The evolving nature of the work, and helping to oversee the delivery of our product keeps me engaged and excited.

PN: Live reporting is synonymous with PokerNews, and is so important to our readers all around the world. How do you stay motivated and engaged?

SA: Some projects are less visible to our readers than others, but I enjoy getting to learn new things and work on more complicated projects. Especially when I'm learning new things or trying new creative initiatives.

PN: And what are some of these newer initiatives that you've been working on?

SA: Too many to mention! But we're putting in lots of work ahead of the 2024 WSOP and making general improvements to our live event product. And of course, there's the work going into the PokerNews DeepStack Championship and the PokerNews Daily Deepstacks.

PN: Elena, as product owner I know you work closely with Shirley and lots of other teams. How important is teamwork across PokerNews?

EB: I always say: never assume you can read anyone's mind. Effective communication and collaboration are super important in what we do. My involvement spans almost all PokerNews projects and every time it reinforces the need to work together as a team...on everything!

GJ: Some of my favourite moments have come from being part of a team, especially at live events. Getting to share laughs with coworkers and experiencing the intense emotions of tournament poker you can never experience the same day twice, and not many workplaces offer you such variety.

VT: It's rare to have such a nice bunch of people in one company. We're all very different people, but I love how united we are as a team.

PN: It's important to celebrate International Women's Day, and I want to ask what you think can be done to encourage more women to participate in the poker world.

SA: I think players need to be kinder towards each other. Poker can be a cutthroat game, and even when you're playing for yourself you still need to work to make the environment as welcoming as possible.

GJ: I agree. Things are moving in the right direction, slowly but surely. I'm optimistic that we'll see more women playing poker in the future. I also think that the industry offers a lot of job opportunities and career paths for women. The industry is constantly evolving and so are the career options within it.

EB: It's important to make sure that the women who are involved in the poker world feel like queens. Everyone is unique, and we need to embrace that. While the number of women in poker is increasing, we should also focus on the women who are playing poker and showcase them to a wider audience, to potentially encourage more women to join them.

SA: It's great to see good examples of women in leadership roles within PokerNews and within Flutter in general. I think the industry could do more to network and support one another. We should champion the successes we've achieved so far, and make sure women in poker feel heard, included, valued and empowered.

PN: I couldn't agree more. Thank you all for your contributions!

Continued here:

Celebrating International Women's Day: Meet the PokerNews Team - PokerNews.com

From Daniel Negreanu to Jeremy Ausmus, the calibre of players on show in this years PGT Mixed Games Series festival has been super high. Eight events into the Championship, no-one has won more than one event and that has made the closest race for the overall title ever in this event series history. Events #5 #8 have seen some of the best poker players in the world climb the rankings but who will win?

As the PGT Mixed Games Series reached its halfway stage, John Racener took the title in the $10,200 Triple Stud Mix event to win his first-ever PokerGO Tour trophy. The American professional, well known for his prowess at the WSOP where he has finished as runner-up in both the Player of the Year race and the WSOP Main Event in separate years, had never won a PGT trophy but can scratch that from his record after taking home $151,200 here.

There were 42 entrants in total in Event #5, with just six making the money. Bubble Boy John Monnette was followed from the felt by min-cashing Dzmitry Urbanovich, who cashed for $25,200. With five left, it was Scott Lake who busted after a long period of trying to ladder. Winning $33,600 in fifth, Lake lost out to Johnny World Hennigan as the WSOP legend could sit back and watch as Max Hoffman made a pair of kings to bust Adam Friedman in fourth a score of $46,200.

At that stage, both Racener and Hoffman looked like they were playing second fiddle to Hennigan but Johnny World was about to plummet to the bottom of the leaderboard, and lost out in Razz, falling to Racener when the latter drew a four to make the lowest hand on the final draw.

Heads-up, Racener had the momentum and used it to devastating effect after a period where the two men traded the lead. After dropping behind for the final time, Racener doubled up in Stud and continued in the same vein in the same game variant, his made hand forcing Hoffman to draw to a flush on seventh street. The draw missed and Racener was the champion, cashing for $151,200 and picking up the first PGT trophy of his long career.

The sixth event of the 2024 PGT Mixed Games Series had 47 entries and saw Jerry Wong take down the $164,500 top prize as he conquered the $10,200 Triple Draw Mix field. The bubble boy in the event was Brian Yoon who went home after a hand of Badugi went against him, Wong capitalizing to take the lead at a crucial time.

As the final table was reached, Wong had a huge lead, with British player Philip Sternheimer busting in seventh for $18,800 when he lost to Scott Lake. Hal Rotholz went next for $28,200 in sixth after being beaten in Ace-to-5 Triple Draw by John Hennigan, a.k.a. Johnny World thanks to his WSOP legend and mixed game prowess.

After Brazilian poker legend Felipe Ramos crashed out in fifth for $37,600, Wong took out Hennigan in a crucial pot that eliminated his most dangerous opponent at the perfect time, although the point Hennigan grabbed out him top of the overall leaderboard despite Wong winning the event

Scott Lake left in third place for $68,150 before Wong used his heads-up lead to reduce Hoffman to shrapnel in Badugi then blow up his chances in Ace-to-5. Wongs A-8-6-3-2 was good enough to beat Hoffman who drew one with A-6-5-3 but turned over a queen and departed with $103,400 as runner-up.

The $10,200 Dealers Choice event plenty of drama, not least at the turn of the final day when, with five left at the tail-end of Day 1, Phil Hellmuth refused to play out the level, asking to end play at the designated time with just half a big bet. To some, it looked petty but Hellmuth has utilized a good nights sleep and a comeback mentality to perform miracles in the past and had every right to call time where he did.

As it happened, Hellmuth couldnt last any longer, busting in fifth, The Poker Brat seeing his tournament end in Stud when his two pair lost to Maxx Colemans superior double. That hand sent Hellmuth to the rail with $37,600 and although it helped Coleman in the moment, not long later, he was watching on from the outside too. Coleman moved all-in for 135,000 chips in Omaha Hi-Lo and was called by Adam Friedman and Daniel Negreanu as the two men looked to take out their opponent.

A ten-high straight for Kid Poker was the superior hand and Coleman took his leave for $49,350 in fourth. Friedman had lost out in that hand and would soon lose all of his chips in third place, all-in in Limit holdem with ace-queen, called by Sternheimer with ace-king. The board of 7-4-2-6-J was enough to end Freidmans hopes of another mixed game title and play moved heads-up.

The final duel saw Negreanu take over the lead in the opening stages, a turned two pair also in Limit Holdem good enough to beat Sternheimers pocket aces. Two big hands that didnt go to showdown went the Brits way, however, and the lead switched again. Kid Poker was playing catch-up now but unlike Sternheimer, he couldnt recover. In Stud Hi-Lo, Sternheimer could afford to stand pat on seventh street and when Negreanu didnt improve, the Canadian was forced to settle for $103,400 in second place.

Just 37 entrants took to the felt in the $10,200-entry Big Bet Mix Event #8 and Dan Shak topped them all, winning his first-ever trophy on the PokerGO Tour. With seven reaching the final table, but only six players paid, Event #7 winner Philip Sternheimer bubbled Event #8 for nothing at all a damaging blow to his overall leaderboard hopes.

WSOP legend John Racener lost to Walter Chambers in Big O before Jerry Wongs elimination was followed by that of Chambers himself busted in the same discipline, with Racener leaving in sixth place for $22,200, Wong departing in fifth for $29,600 and Chambers denied in fourth for $40,700. Chambers lost to the Devils set, as Jeremy Ausmus hit three sixes, and the American then took out Negreanu for $55,500 in a hand of 2-7 Pot Limit Triple Draw.

Heads-up, Ausmus led from Shak but the latter doubled up almost immediately. Soon, Shak had the title. Winning in Pot Limit Omaha 8, Ausmus two pair was no good when Shak overtook him to a superior two pair on the river, sealing his first PokerGO Tour title and the top prize of $133,200.

Eight of the 10 titles are in the bag and just two tournaments remain. Max Hoffman leads the way with four cashes from eight events yielding him 264 points. Three players arent even a dozen points short of Hoffman, however, Jerry Wong (261 points), John Hennigan (257 points) and Daniel Negreanu (253 points) all in the chasing pack.

Previous Mixed Games Series champion Dan Zack (195 points), PokerGO favorite Jeremy Ausmus (215 points). mixed game legend Adam Friedman (193 points), U.S. poker star John Racener (173 points), and British frontrunner Philip Sternheimer (184 points) will all be hoping they can book big results in the final two events to bag the $25,000 championship bonus.

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PGT Mixed Games Series Closest Ever with Two Events Remaining - Tight Poker

Poker players in The Villages are complaining they have been given a raw deal.

Fans of Texas Holdem and other games lined up at the podium at Wednesdays Amenity Authority Committee meeting at Savannah Center. They claimed that their card games were abruptly canceled after disruptive behavior of a renter in connection with a card game at Laurel Manor Recreation Center.

Poker players defended the social aspects of their card games, but were outraged that their games were shut down by Recreation Director John Rohan.

The decision to end these games is uncalled for, said Villager Bill Johnson. I am calling for a review of Mr. Rohans employment. I think he needs to resign. Hes been here long enough.

Sandra Jones of the Village of St. Catherine, who previously lived in The Villages, but moved away before moving back, was also after Rohans scalp.

I think its time Mr. Rohan retire. We need some new blood in here, Jones said.

However, AAC Chair Donna Kempa was forceful in her defense of Rohan, the longtime director of recreation in The Villages. She said residents anger was misdirected.

John did not make the rule. He was enforcing the rule. He is unfairly bearing the brunt of this, Kempa said.

Kempa allowed the poker players complaining to go on for nearly an hour, later explaining that she thought it was important for the residents to be allowed to air their grievances.

However, golfers, who were at the meeting for an entirely different reason and wanted to object to course conditions, finally complained about the poker players and said it was time for them to sit down.

District Counsel Kevin Stone explained that state statute prohibits gambling, regardless of the amount, at District-owned recreation facilities.

His explanation only prompted more questions.

What about bunco? What about 50/50 drawings?

Officials said that playing cards is allowed at recreation centers, although gambling is not.

Residents were told they could reapply for the rooms they have previously used but must pledge that no gambling will take place.

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Poker players in The Villages complain they've gotten a raw deal - Villages-News

The increasing buy-ins are no stopping the High Rollers and for the second time in a week the Triton attendance record has been smashed.

The Triton Series really has gone mainstream. Days after the opening event in Jeju attracted a record-field, the record has been broken again.

The $25,000 GG MILLION$ Live event has just concluded with Mario Mosbck taking it down for $1,191,196. His heads-up opponent Sergio Aido actually pocketed more after a heads-up deal, taking home $1,237,804.

This was Mosbck's second victory on the tour having won an event in Monte Carlo last year.

This event attracted a whopping 305 entries, blowing last week's record out of the water and for a much bigger buy-in. All of the events have attracted at least 185 entries so far and the increase of the buy-ins as the week progresses has not been slowing down the attendances. We no doubt will see a Triton record for the biggest field in a six-figure buy-in event this week.

These are the winners so far in Jeju:

Will we see bigger fields this week? Let us know in the comments:

Barry Carter is the editor of PokerStrategy.com and the co-author of The Mental Game of Poker 1 & 2, Poker Satellite Strategy, PKO Poker Strategy, Endgame Poker Strategy, GTO Poker Simplified, Mystery Bounty Poker Strategy and Beyond GTO.

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News: More records broken at Triton Jeju - pokerstrategy.com

March 22 - April 1 event is the launchpad for year-long experiences designed to get Canadians closer to the action

TORONTO, March 7, 2024 /CNW/ - GGPoker, the largest online poker room in the world and Canada - announces that it is bringing The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit to Toronto for the first time ever. The WSOP Circuit stop in Toronto from March 22 April 1 at Great Canadian Casino Resort in Toronto, launches a series of GGPoker experiences for Canadians to get closer to the game and participate in first-class live poker events. Qualifiers for the WSOP Toronto Circuit are now open. Interested participants can find out more by visiting here for Ontario residents or here for the rest of Canada.

Raising the Stakes in Canada

Conceived by poker players, for poker players, GG (Good Game) Poker has become the biggest online poker room in the world. With more than $3 billion in total prizes and 3.8 billion hands played in 2023 alone, the company is also a market-leader in Canada, with goals to continue engaging players from coast-to-coast in dynamic ways.

"Bringing the fun back into poker is at the backbone of everything we do, and our success in the Canadian market shows that our experience-based approach to engaging players is working," says Sarne Lightman, Managing Director, GGPoker. "Whether on our app, or at one of our world-class WSOP events, GGPoker brings Canadians closer to the game, and the action."

With hundreds of tournaments running daily and 20+ headline tournament series throughout the year, GGPoker has upped the ante to become the home of tournament poker. Partnering with WSOP, which runs the most prestigious tournament in the industry, the Toronto WSOP Circuit is just one of a series of WSOP events in 2024, each inviting Canadians to qualify for a chance to join the ranks of Canadian poker pedigree. Following the WSOP Toronto Circuit event, a road will be paved to the WSOP in Vegas (May 28 - July 17) and the international WSOP Online (October 10 17), with multiple opportunities to qualify only possible through GGPoker.

WSOP Circuit Hits Toronto

For the first time ever, Ontario residents and players across Canada will get to experience and play in a local live WSOP Circuit event as the tournament touches down at the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto from March 28 - April 1. The event will bring together Canadian qualifiers and direct buy-in players, who will rub elbows with some of Canada's poker masters and past champions, including generational talent and GGPoker Global Brand Ambassador, Daniel Negreanu, winner of six WSOP bracelets and one WSOP Circuit Ring. He will join fellow GGPoker Ambassadors, Kevin Martin, and Greg "Goes All In" Liow at the tables to vie among thousands for a WSOP Toronto Circuit Ring

"Bringing a hometown crowd into live poker events at this level is long overdue and I am thrilled to be a part of it," says Negreanu. "Whether you want to qualify, or simply watch the action, the WSOP Toronto Circuit will give Canadians an unprecedented view of big-league poker and I invite everyone to come down and check it out."

The full WSOP Toronto Circuit runs from March 22 April 1, with the Main Event taking place March 28 April 1. The public is invited to participate by buying in directly, qualifying on GGPoker, or simply attend for free and watch all games unfold in the Poker Room and get a closer look at the mastery of some of the world's best poker players. For complete information and detailed schedule, please visit: https://greatcanadian.com/promotions/wsop-circuit-event-dates/

About GGPoker

GGPokeris the World's Biggest Poker Room, with a global player base. It offers a range of innovative games and features such as the patented Rush & Cash poker, All-In or Fold, Flip & Go, Spin & Gold, Battle Royale, GGCare & GGCheers, integrated staking platform, SnapCam video messaging, PokerCraft, and Smart HUD, all designed to enhance gaming experiences and make poker more fun than ever.

In 2020, GGPoker hosted the world record-breaking WSOP Online main event and the WSOP 2020 Main Event. In 2021, GGPoker won PokerListing's 'Best Poker Software Overall' award. In 2022, GGPoker became the world's largest online poker room and was awarded the Online Poker Operator of the Year Award at the SiGMA Americas Gaming Awards. In 2023, GGpoker sent more than 750 players to the live WSOP 2023 Main Event via its celebrated Road to Vegas satellite tournaments and over 1,000 to the WSOP Paradise in Bahamas.

About the World Series of Poker

Part of Caesars Entertainment's Caesars Digital operations, the World Series of Poker is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world, having awarded more than $4 billion in prize money and the prestigious gold bracelet, globally recognized as the sport's top prize. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker's longest-running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970. In 2023, the event attracted 214,641 entrants from more than 114 different countries to the Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas and awarded more than $403 million in prize money. In addition, the WSOP has formed groundbreaking alliances in broadcasting, digital media and corporate sponsorships, while successfully expanding the brand internationally with the advent of WSOP Europe in 2007, WSOP Asia-Pacific in 2013, WSOP International Circuit Series in 2015 and WSOP Paradise at Atlantis Paradise Island in 2023. All WSOP events are subject to the then-current and applicable WSOP tournament rules. For more information, please visit http://www.wsop.com.

SOURCE GGPoker

For further information: Jyoti Minhas, Strategic Objectives, [emailprotected]

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World's Biggest Poker Room, GGPoker, Brings World Series of Poker to Toronto - Canada NewsWire