Category Archives: Poker

Gold Poker (GPKR) gets a neutral rating from InvestorsObserver Sunday. The crypto is down 84.01% to $0.0003835759779 while the broader crypto market is down 3.86%.

The Sentiment Score provides a quick, short-term look at the cryptos recent performance. This can be useful for both short-term investors looking to ride a rally and longer-term investors trying to buy the dip.

Gold Poker price is currently below support. With support set around $0.00180295870778826 and resistance at $0.00270630074338732, Gold Poker is potentially in volatile territory as selling pushes the crypto's price below recent support.

Gold Poker has traded on low volume recently. This means that today's volume is below its average volume over the past seven days.

Due to a lack of data, this crypto may be less suitable for some investors.

Click here to unlock the rest of the report on Gold Poker

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Gold Poker (GPKR) Receives a Neutral Rating Sunday: Is it Time to Jump Ship? - InvestorsObserver

Known for her professional poker face, Jisoo is the oldest member of the K-pop group, BLACKPINK. Some BLINKs think shes book smart, noting her role performing with Jennie, Ros, and Lisa.

However, after knowing her for over six years, BLACKPINKs producer shared his insight into Jisoos street smart personality.

BLACKPINKs in your area. This K-pop group features the four members Jennie, Ros, Jisoo, and Lisa. Together, these artists released chart-topping songs like How You Like That, Kill This Love, and Ice Cream.

They collaborated with Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, and others. BLACKPINK even sold-out concerts across the globe. Additionally, Jisoo became a brand ambassador for Dior and starred in a recently released K-drama.

As the Unnie of this K-pop group, Jisoo often looks after the other members, as she stated during the documentary, BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky. She created tanghulu with Jennie and gave Lisa her scarf. Shes also one of the last BLACKPINK members to cry whenever something emotional happens.

As the unofficial fifth member of BLACKPINK, Teddy Park functions as the music producer for this K-pop group. He collaborated with Jennie, Ros, Jisoo, and Lisa for several years, still creating music with the idols today.

This producer shared BLACKPINKs unique backgrounds, and personalities made them special even before these idols debuted. Thats especially true of Jisoo, as Park stated during Netflixs BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky.

Jisoo, Park began. Straight up Korean girl that grew up in Korea. Shes the Unnie of the group. Shes the oldest. She does have that professional poker face. Ive known Jisoo for, lets say, a good six years. Ive seen her cry once.

Shes super smart, he continued. A lot of people think shes book smart, but I would say shes street smart.

Later in the documentary, Jennie reflected on her experience performing in Thailand, saying that for some reason, the country always makes her emotional. Ros said that BLACKPINKs crying is like a train if she cries, then Jennie cries. If Jennie cries then, Lisa cries. The members turned to Jisoo, who said that she didnt cry. Or she cries last, at least.

Jisoos professional poker face only helped when it came to her starring role in the K-drama, Snowdrop. Jisoo appeared as Eun Young Ro in this production, acting alongside Jung Hae In as Im Soo Ho. Weeks after its release, Snowdrop premiered on Disneys streaming platform, Disney+.

I felt that Jisoo is [the character of] Young Cho herself, Jung said, according to a translation from Soompi. Her character portrayal is amazing, and its surprising to see her understanding and absorbing the directors directions on set.

RELATED: Snowdrop: How the K-Drama Went From Controversial to Jisoo and Jung Hae-ins Most Emotional Displays of Acting

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BLACKPINK's Producer Only Saw Jisoo Cry Once in Six Years 'She Does Have That Professional Poker Face' - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Dallas city leaders first approved a certificate of occupancy for a poker room in North Dallas, now the City wants to shut it down.

DALLAS The Texas Card House owners say they are operating a private club where people can legally play poker if they pay a membership fee.

Absolutely, and were operating in multiple cities throughout the state, said owner Ryan Crow.

Crow said what makes it legal is that members keep the money they win without having to give his business any of their winnings.

Two years ago, when he went before the council, even city attorneys seemed to agree with him.

The house doesnt take a cut of this like a casino where the house takes a cut, thats what makes it gambling. Here, all they are charging is a membership fee and as they say, the people playing put money down and they keep the money. There is no split with the house," said Crow.

Some Dallas councilmembers were hesitant.

"This seems like a gambling operation to me, said Kevin Felder, a former Dallas City Councilmember.

But, eventually, the business was approved and Crow opened Texas Card House a year and a half ago -- employing more than 200 people.

"The average dealer makes over 42 bucks an hour and our lowest paying role makes over 30 bucks an hour, so they are well paying jobs. We provide, health, dental insurance, and I stay awake at nights worrying about their future, said Crow.

In December 2021, the City abruptly sent Crow a letter -- saying the certificate of occupancy was issued in error and said it was a gambling place.

"So, we were very surprised when we got a letter saying, 'Hey, you need to shut down.' You know, we think youre illegal based on the Texas penal code, said Crow.

Crow said hes operating seven other places like this across the state with no problems.

"There was no effort to say, 'Hey, you were doing this wrong and you need to fix something.' It was just you need to shut your doors, said Crow.

Crow said the City should be focused on shutting down backroom and unregulated clubs that are operating illegally and where crimes are occurring, not targeting him. He said hes trying to provide a safe place for people to play poker.

Excerpt from:

A gambling place or a legal poker room? The City of Dallas is trying to shut it down; owner says he's within his rights to operate - WFAA.com

The renowned High Stakes Poker television show is poised to make a comeback next week, along with the infamous stacks of cash that it has become synonymous with over the past decade.

The likes of Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, Tom Dwan and more will be featuring when the hit show returns on February 21, with some questioning when cryptocurrency will play a role in high stakes games of poker.

The use of cryptocurrency has taken the online poker world by storm, with players now being able to fund their respective bankrolls with Bitcoin or Ethereum across a number of online operators.

Live poker tournaments have also started to allow players to buy-in with Bitcoin and stablecoins, but is it finally time for crypto to become a mainstay on shows like High Stakes Poker?

The aesthetic of having large stacks of cash on a table are certainly pleasing to most viewers but as the world shifts to a cashless society it really isnt the most practical of methods.

Hardware cryptocurrency wallets have gone from strength to strength over the past decade, with luxury brands beginning to endorse the technology.

High-end fashion brand Fendi recently collaborated with Ledger to launch an accesory that stored peoples hardware wallets, while earlier this week watchmaker Hublot teamed up with Ledger to release a limited edition Bitcoin watch.

As the world becomes more and more used to seeing the use of hardware wallets, it feels like the right time for poker to embrace it with open arms.

For more poker and cryptocurrency news, click here.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author should not be considered as financial advice. We do not give advice on financial products.

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Will crypto wallets ever replace cash stacks at the poker table? - Coin Rivet

A new chapter in poker history is set to begin in four months. The World Series of Poker (WSOP), which is entering its 53rd year, will move to the Las Vegas Strip for the first time, while the historic Horseshoe brand will return by taking the place of Ballys. As the page turns from the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, WSOP officials have a unique opportunity to revamp one of their antiquated products the Poker Hall of Fame (PHoF).

Below I offer five things I believe the WSOP should implement in 2022 to make the PHoF even more respectable in the eyes of players, industry professionals, and perhaps most importantly, the fans.

Before I do, let me state that Ive long been and remain a fan of the game. I also fancy myself a bit of a poker historian and have an affinity for the PHoF. It honors the best and most influential poker characters weve ever seen. Tradition. Nostalgia. Romanticism. The PHoF has it all.

It started with the Binion family, and after their business was acquired by Caesars Entertainment in 2004, WSOP officials like former commissioner Jeffrey Pollak, current WSOP Vice President Jack Effel, and Executive Director Ty Stewart have been tasked with not only carrying on the tradition but also doing it justice.

I think theyve done an admirable job in that regard up to this point, but some glaring omissions and future hurdles have brought us to the point that something needs to be done. I cant think of a better time to modernize the PHoF than during the WSOPs return to the Horseshoe, and thats because an often-overlooked fact provides the perfect excuse.

For decades, only one or two players were inducted into the PHoF each year. However, did you know that when the PHoF was established back in 1979 the inaugural class was actually comprised of seven inductees Sid Wyman, Red Winn, Johnny Moss, Felton "Corky" McCorquodale, Edmond Hoyle, James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok, and Nick "The Greek" Dandolos.

One of the issues the PHoF faces is a backlog of deserving players, one thats slated to get much worse in the next couple of years as players like Brian Rast, Anthony Zinno, and others turn 40 and become eligible. In another five years or so, many of the original online crushers will come of age and backlog things even further. If the WSOP continues to only induct one individual a year, which they have the past couple of years, there will be a high level of frustration among nominees.

I actually like the PHoF being rather exclusive, so for me personally, limiting inductions to two or three folks each year is the sweet spot (more on that below). However, I recognize the backlog problem and agree a solution must be found. I cant think of a better opportunity for the WSOP to solve this issue than taking a page out of historys playbook.

With the WSOP headed back to the Horseshoe, albeit a new location, they could mark the occasion by honoring the past and saying, Its not only a new chapter for the WSOP, but for the PHoF as well. For that reason, this year were temporarily taking it back to 1979 by once again inducting seven individuals for the Class of 2022.

For me, this offers a perfectly viable and legitimate excuse to clear the backlog and then return to the more traditional one or two inductees in 2023.

See why Brian Rast deserves to be in the PHoF!

Since the inception of the PHoF, the number of players inducted have varied over the years. Heres a look at how many inductees each year had:

For me, I think the WSOP should return to inducting two players each year with a caveat every three years induct a third industry honoree. As it stands, its extremely difficult for a non-player to make their way into the PHoF (just ask Matt Savage). With primarily players voting, its only natural their bias will lay with their peers.

In my opinion theres a long list of industry professionals deserving of the PHoF including but not limited to poker photographer Ulvis Alberts, historian and longtime WSOP media coordinator Nolan Dalla, and authors Al Alvarez (The Biggest Game in Town) and Jim McManus (Positively Fifth Street). There are also dealers, staff, media, and innovators whove devoted their lives to the game, and giving them a legitimate shot at the PHoF seems fair.

Granted, they have a shot in the current format as criteria stipulate "for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results." However, given the way nominations and voting are set up, its more of a long shot.

Its for that reason Id like to see a special industry inductee every three years. This could be separate from the player induction, and wouldnt even have to be subjected to the same voting process. Instead, the honor could be more akin to a PHoF Lifetime Achievement Award with the inductee being selected by either WSOP officials, living members of the PHoF, the poker media, or likely the best option, a combination of all three.

As I stated above, I love the PHoF, but I believe, as many do, that until PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg is inducted the whole institution just doesnt hold water. Outside of maybe Benny and Jack Binion, no one has done more for poker than Scheinberg.

He helped shape the entire industry, and theres no doubt the game wouldnt be what it is today without him. Hes long been eligible, but was seemingly blackballed for years with rumor suggesting officials refused to allow him on the list of nominees with a Black Friday indictment hanging over his head.

He was eventually nominated starting in 2016, and the anti-Scheinberg stance has seemed to have softened since he settled his legal troubles, and the PokerStars founder has actually made the list of nominees once again the past two years. However, hes somehow failed to get enough votes for induction. Again, I think this is rooted in players being more prone to vote for other players, but also maybe a touch of the current PHoF members not being overly familiar with Scheinberg and his contributions.

This could be resolved in one of two ways. First, Scheinberg would be a shoe-in if the inductee an industry person every three years idea were to be implements. Second, if they clear the backlog with a larger class this year Scheinberg would no doubt garner one of the coveted spots.

Why I think Ulvis Alberts deserves to be in the PHoF

For many years PHoF voting was split between living members and a select number or respected and qualified poker media, including yours truly. To give the PHoF the respect and legitimacy it deserves, I believe bringing back the media vote is imperative if for no other reason than we tend to have more knowledge and a better grasp of the big picture than the living PHoF members.

"It should be a limited panel of established veterans, those who not only know the game nowadays but also have a firm grasp on its history."

While inductees like Daniel Negreanu, Eli Elezra, and even Doyle Brunson have their fingers on the pulse of the industry, many of those with votes have been out of the game for decades. Its hard to imagine many of them are familiar with the entire crop of nominees each year, let alone with soon-to-be eligible players like Tom Dwan and Phil Galfond. I mean, how much does Berry Johnston know and appreciate online poker?

On the flip side, members of the media tend to be more tied and up to speed on the game. Now Im not suggesting that every member of the poker media should get a vote. On the contrary, it should be a limited panel of established veterans, those who not only know the game nowadays but also have a firm grasp on its history.

The NFL utilizes a 48-person committee comprised largely of media members, who recently got it right by choosing football-player-turned-poker-player Richard Seymour for the Class of 2022. The PHoF should definitely take a page out of the NFL playbook and get the media involved in the mix.

Ive long been an advocate of the PHoF having a physical location so as not to be something relegated to an online website. A place where players and fans can visit to appreciate poker history. What better place to do such a thing than the brand-new Horseshoe Las Vegas, even if its only temporary during the WSOP (heck, why not make it a traveling exhibit the rest of the year and send it to WSOP Circuit stops across the country).

I envision some sort of exhibit featuring portraits of PHoF members with facts and figures of their accomplishments complimented by a wide arrange of poker memorabilia. Years ago, the WSOP actually displayed such momentos in the rotunda of the Rio, things such as temporarily-donated gold bracelets, trophies, and even one of the gold plates Binions gave away back in the day instead of the bracelets weve come to know. More stuff like that, maybe some old-time photos and a first edition copies of legendary poker books, would just be cool to see.

To execute something like this, WSOP officials could turn to the community for help. Theres a long list of both players and collectors with memorabilia (1983 champ Tom McEvoy is one that comes to mind), who may be willing to loan out pieces for such a PHoF exhibit.

Similarly, a lot of individuals might like the idea of donating their poker memorabilia safe in the knowledge theyre going to a good cause where theyll be respected and cherished. Even in the unfortunate event of someones passing, it might be reassuring to know that their bracelet, trophy, pictures, etc. would be going to the PHoF instead of being trashed or given away to a thrift store.

The WSOP has been around for more than five decades and the game of poker itself a lot longer. Theres definitely enough history to draw upon to bring to life some sort of physical PHoF.

There is simply no better time to revamp the PHoF than to coincide it with the WSOPs new chapter, and I hope that both WSOP officials and living members will take the opportunity to consider some of the ideas presented here, or perhaps to introduce some of their own.

One thing the WSOP did last year, and I hope to see return annually, is holding a PHoF event at the WSOP while hosting the induction ceremony during the same time. Eli Elezra was the first to experience it, and being there to witness it firsthand, I felt it worked well.

Ive heard rumblings that the WSOP does in fact have plans for the PHoF in 2022. What exactly those might be I do not know, but I for one am excited if changes are in store.

Please take a moment to vote in the poll below, and also feel free to share your thoughts with me on Twitter @ChadAHolloway or in the Facebook comments.

Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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PokerNews Op-Ed: Do These Five Things to Fix the Poker Hall of Fame - PokerNews.com

They say you always remember where you were when your life was changed. Losing your virginity. 9/11. Tom Dwan putting Peter Eastgate and Barry Greenstein in his back pocket. I remember seeing the above hand and having zero idea what I just saw (full hand below).

High Stakes Poker was the peak of poker on television. Bricks of cash on the table, the biggest names like Durrr, Ivey, Gus, Barry, Daniel, and all the others, and massive pots and huge bluffs. But the star of the show was always Dwan. Always. He either always had it, or pulled off the biggest bluffs at the right times and made his opponents cry. He jokes now about how great he ran in the old days of HSP, but he was also just miles better than some of the competition he was playing with. He was throwing the forward pass when all the other guys were still running it up the middle. For my money, Dwan is the best TV poker player we will ever see. If he's on, you're watching, and it's going to be explosive, electric, and every other adjective you can think of.

If you're into poker, check out our Cracking Aces podcast, a new episode every Tuesday.

Thanks to everyone who listens and subs to the podcast. And make sure to drink your WhistlePig.

PS: Because PokerGo owns every clip in poker and then refuses to make them easy to find on YouTube, this is the best video of the hand I could find. They are so infuriating, it'd be like going on YouTube and not being able to find a Michael Jordan dunk.

Fast forward to 14:03 if it doesn't automatically:

Helluva fold by Eastgate there. I can't remember what interview it was, but Durrr more or less said he knew Eastgate was scared money and was positive he could get him to fold a deuce. Just a perfect hand.

Excerpt from:

This Tom Dwan Hand Was Peak TV Poker - Barstool Sports

As the poker game over Ukraine has the world on edge, U.S. President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin last week that the United States would act decisively and impose swift and severe costson Russia in the event of an invasion. What might these severe costs be? In late January, the Biden team hinted at one novel sanction: The United States would play poker with real chips, the kind that powers everything from smartphones to military drones and supersonic jets. According to an unnamed senior administration official speaking in a White House press call, cutting Russia off from any semiconductor chips made with U.S. inputs (which include chips made in Taiwan and elsewhere) would have massive consequences that were not considered in 2014the last time Russia invaded Ukraine.

This move pulls from Bidens predecessors playbook. In 2020, then-U.S. President Donald Trump used the Foreign Direct Product Rule to block Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant, from purchasing U.S. products as inputs, causing the companys revenues to fall by 31 percent in 2021 as a result. Might the same strategy work to keep an entire country in line? There are reasons to be doubtful, given the industrys hard realities and the complex geography of its supply chain.

Consider three questions. How much control does the United States have over the worlds chip supplies? How much pain would a chip blockade inflict on Russia and Putin? How credible is the threat?

As the poker game over Ukraine has the world on edge, U.S. President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin last week that the United States would act decisively and impose swift and severe costson Russia in the event of an invasion. What might these severe costs be? In late January, the Biden team hinted at one novel sanction: The United States would play poker with real chips, the kind that powers everything from smartphones to military drones and supersonic jets. According to an unnamed senior administration official speaking in a White House press call, cutting Russia off from any semiconductor chips made with U.S. inputs (which include chips made in Taiwan and elsewhere) would have massive consequences that were not considered in 2014the last time Russia invaded Ukraine.

This move pulls from Bidens predecessors playbook. In 2020, then-U.S. President Donald Trump used the Foreign Direct Product Rule to block Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant, from purchasing U.S. products as inputs, causing the companys revenues to fall by 31 percent in 2021 as a result. Might the same strategy work to keep an entire country in line? There are reasons to be doubtful, given the industrys hard realities and the complex geography of its supply chain.

Consider three questions. How much control does the United States have over the worlds chip supplies? How much pain would a chip blockade inflict on Russia and Putin? How credible is the threat?

U.S. dominance in semiconductors is not what it used to be. Back in the 1990s, the United States produced 37 percent of the worlds semiconductor chips, but that share is down to only 12 percent today. Chip-making has shifted to Asia: The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) alone makes 92 percent of the worlds most sophisticated chips, up to 60 percent of the microcontrollers in cars, and the majority of chips that go into smartphones. But the United States still has a crucial presence. It dominates chip design, research, and development as well as key categories of intellectual property. In terms of value created, the United States contributes a disproportionate 39 percent of the total value of chips. On top of that, U.S. allies and partnersincluding not only Taiwan but also Britain, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and South Koreacollectively contribute 53 percent of value. The remaining 6 percent is created by China.

The United States outsized influence through its dominance of design and innovation is significant in an industry perpetually dependent on pushing the frontiers of processing. And Washington has extensive experience compelling non-U.S. companies using U.S. inputs to adhere to any sanctions. In principle, the stick the Biden administration plans to wield is a big one.

The other side of the threat is the importance of Russia accessing the chip supply chain. Russia is no tech superpower. According to Digital Planets Digital Intelligence Index, Russia ranks only 49th out of 90 countries in terms of countries digital evolution. For example, Russias smartphone penetration at 70.1 percent is well below that of advanced countries in North America, Europe, and East Asia. On the surface, this might suggest that a chip blockade would not do as much damage to Russia as to a highly tech-enabled economy.

Nevertheless, a deeper dive reveals some interesting facets of Russias digital economy and its priorities. One of the most important drivers of Russias digital economy is the government, particularly in the area of national security. Russia has invested in a military version of Silicon Valley with numerous priority fields,including artificial intelligence (AI), small spacecraft, robotics, pattern recognition, information security, energy sufficiency, nanotechnology, and bioengineering. Speaking of artificial intelligence in particular, Putin has said that whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the worldand it is the Kremlin, not the Russian private sector, that has taken the lead in steering Russias AI endeavors. As part of the 2018 May decrees, Putin has followed up with a commitment to a national project focused on the digital economy and advanced technologies. Other technology upgrades include 5G telecommunications networks in the 10 largest Russian cities,scheduledto start working in 2024.

These efforts paint a more dynamic picture. When it comes to measures of digital momentumin other words, how quickly the economy is digitizingRussia ranks much higher: 10th out of 90 countries. Retaining access to the semiconductor supply chain and the cutting edge of chip technology is therefore key to maintaining this momentum and the governments technological goals. Russia cannot produce the chips and electronics it needs. In other words, a chips blockade could inflict serious damage to the countrys aspirations. If chips are suddenly in short supply, the Kremlin will likely prioritize government and military technologies over consumer needs.

Despite Russias dependence on continued access to chips, Bidens blockade threat has a few credibility issues. Consider five:

First, the semiconductor supply chain is notoriously complex. A single chips components might involve up to 1,200 process steps over a six- to eight-week production cycleand traveled more than25,000 miles. Moreover, chips are rarely sold directly to Russia but mostly integrated into the end products that use their processing power. The route of a chip might include designing in the United States, slicing of silicon ingots into wafers in Japan, and converting into fabrication wafers and cutting into die back in the United States. Further steps might include die assembly, packaging, and testing in Malaysia, shipping by container from Singapore, and integration into end products in China. Other chips take different routes, making it difficult to trace and intercept their sales.

These routes are so complex that in 2021, the Biden administration had to press semiconductor companies to provide greater transparency regarding their supply chains, but responses were voluntary. The bottleneck in chip supplies could make companies even cagier about revealing supply chain details. Taking Russian demand off the market could add further uncertainty, which industry planners would not like. Not only is it hard for the Biden administration to enforce a blockade of a supply chain it cannot quite trace, but the companies involved generally have other priorities than geopolitics.

Second, the U.S. governments punishment for companies that do not comply with the blockade may lack teeth. The administration could blacklist them by placing them on the U.S. Commerce Departments Entity List, preventing them from selling to the U.S. government. This may be an empty threat when theres already a semiconductor shortage.

Third, the world should expect Putin to turn to Russias new ally, China, for chips and end products. Already, China accounts for 70 percent of Russian computer and smartphone imports. Sino-Russian relations have improved recently, a notable development given that China did not support Russias past incursions into Georgia and Ukraine nor the annexation of Crimea.In the meantime, China has been keen to build up its position in semiconductors. Its companies are not among the top global semiconductor companies, and their production is disproportionately concentrated in lower value-added components and less sophisticated chips. Gaining access to Russian technological resources, political support, and engineers could be tempting for Beijing. This could deepen the U.S.-China rift, and monitoring Chinese sales to Russia would be extremely difficult.

Fourth, Russian military semiconductor needs can also be met by other intermediaries, small trading companies,and surreptitious networks eager for the business. U.S.-made components found in Russian military drones have already traveled through such hard-to-trace supply pathways.

Fifth, even if one takes the attitude of lets try the strategy and see what sticks, there are wider risks to keep in mind. If the standoff with Russia, combined with ongoing tensions with China, reach a tipping point, China could be motivated by the semiconductor blockade to make a move on Taiwanhome to TSMC and thus, for Beijing, the ticket to semiconductor glory. An escalation of the cold war between the United States and China could throw the bottlenecked semiconductor supply chain into further chaos and hurt U.S. interests. The crisis caused by the ongoing chip shortage alreadyshaved an estimated 1 percent off U.S. GDP in 2021. Adding more disruption to the chips industry without clear benefits may not be worth it.

Whether the chip blockade idea was a trial balloon or a real threat, the risk is Washington cannot credibly follow through. Given that Putin must be presented with severe costsdesigned, according to a White House statement, to cause widespread human suffering and diminish Russias standingit is best to make threats that Putin believes the United States is actually willing and able to carry out.

It is wise to play poker with plenty of chips on handincluding economic sanctions, military buildups, and diplomatic isolation. But Biden should keep real chips off the table.

Go here to read the rest:

Don't Use Chips to Play Poker With Putin - Foreign Policy

The Global Poker Indexs 3rd Global Poker Awards is gearing up to welcome members of the poker industry to the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas in a celebration of the achievements of the poker community in 2021. Some of the biggest names in the game will sit with industry insiders as 26 awards are handed out in a variety of categories spanning the breadth of poker achievements on and off the felt.

Some of the awards are already determined, specifically the GPIs three Player of the Year awards. Ali Imsirovic earned the title of overall 2021 Player of the Year while Nadya Magnus won the distinction of 2021 Female Player of the Year. A new addition to the GPIs leaderboard competition is the 2021 Mid-Major Player of the Year and David Mzareulov will be the first-ever player to take that down.

After that, its anyones guess as to whos name will be called for any given category. So thats exactly what were going to do take a guess and predict who will take home some of the nights more notable awards.

The real winner of this category is the World Series of Poker itself which held all of the action up for an award. Daniel Cates put on an amazing performance with an incredible comeback in one of the most prestigious events of the year. But Cates notorious non-elimination when he was on the verge of hitting the rail was in the face of a much-debated fold by Ryan Leng, which separates it from the rest of the pack. Koray Aldemirs control of the WSOP Main Event final table was a marvel to behold and his call on the final hand against George Holmes was one of the most memorable finishes to a WSOP Main Event in some years. However, Friedmans three-peat in the $10K Dealers Choice is historic on a different level. He bested a red-hot Phil Hellmuth at the final table one of the series toughest events with nearly every game on the table and completed a back-to-back-to-back defense of a bracelet to take down his fourth career WSOP event. Cates may end up winning, based on pure star power but its unlikely that anyone is going to win a WSOP event three times in a row anytime soon (if ever again), and therefore Friedman should be recognized here.

This is as tough a category as there is with all four players deserving recognition for making headlines in 2021. Vanessa Kade certainly made an impact, a high-profile feud with Dan Bilzerian seemingly powered her to win the biggest PokerStars Sunday Million in history for $1.5 million and she immediately made her presence known on the high roller scene after securing an ambassador deal with Americas Card Room (which she left this week.) Frances Yohan Guilbert also had an incredible 2021, with a barrage of six-figure scores, including a runner-up finish in the WSOP Europe Main Event for $892K. In addition, Guilbert is a noted streamer with a solid social media presence helping him acquire a legion of fans. Chris Brewer seemed to come out of nowhere to smash the high-roller scene, proving to be an aggressive and fearless player in both high-stakes tournaments and livestreamed cash games. Any of the three would be excellent choices, but were guessing the story of Kyna England is going to win out. England, who had sparse live results prior to 2021, truly broke out last year. She was on a consistent grind with scores that included a third-place finish at WPT Venetian for a career-high score of $448,755 and a victory in the $1,110 MSPT Minnesota Winter Poker Classic for more than $186,000 which helped her secure the title of MSPT Player of the Year. She didnt play as high as the other three players in this category, but were thinking the fact that England didnt play high rollers will help her here.

Honestly, all of these guys are among the best in the world. Stephen Chidwick won at the last awards, Ali Imsirovic is the 2021 GPI Player of the Year, and known crusher David Peters is ranked #4 on the All-Time Money List. But, really its a no-brainer that 2021 belonged to Michael Addamo. He was practically unbeatable whenever he was on the felt. His historic high-roller heater is the stuff of legend and should Addamo not win this award, something in the voting went really, really wrong.

This is such a strange almost random category, but #pokertwitter is indeed a thing and this category tries to capture who in the poker world hadthe best Twitter account in 2021? Well, all four of these people have different styles of trying to entertain on social media, and far be it from us to try and determine who delivers what it is you are looking for on the most consistent basis. But when it comes to pure poker knowledge and information, Kevin Mathers has been doing it for more than a decade without fail, so while were happy to be entertained by Will Jaffe, Jamie Kerstetter, and Kitty Kuowhen you need to know a table draw as soon as its available or when the WSOP schedule will drop, Mathers is the guy, making him one of the most valuable accounts to follow in poker. That said, the joy of Kuos account will probably win out.

Another field of nominees where no matter who wins, its a good pick. Lex Veldhuis is still the current king of Twitch Poker and Benjamin Spragg, a fellow PokerStars ambassador, is no longer the new kid on the block but a seasoned streamer with an avid audience. Well-known PocketFiver Jonathan Van Fleet really took off in 2021, but we feel like it will be GGPoker Squad member Kevin Martin who takes home the trophy after dedicating more time to his stream over the past year and stepping into his new role as the host of GGPokers Super MILLION$ broadcast.

This category mirrors Best Streamer in that whoever walks with the trophy, it will feel like the right choice. Brad Owen appears to be the clear favorite with his vlog becoming the most popular in the space, enjoyed by hand-breakdown maximalists who enjoy a dry wit. Ethan Yaus popular vlog is modeled on the Andrew Neeme/Brad Owen blueprint, delivering hand histories, higher stakes, and an engaging host. But we think this year its going to come down to Ryan Depaulos Degenerate Gambler vlog and Jaman Burtons The Drawing Dead. Both have a unique style: Depaulos is filled with humor, honesty, and, sometimes, pure guts while Burtons merges hand histories with creative animated storytelling. Its a tough call, but if voters have been paying attention it feels like will be Burtons year to get his due.

Its difficult not to say that the WSOP Main Event is the best poker tournament on the calendar each and every year. However this year the Wynn challenged that notion by putting up their own all-new, incredibly successful $10K tournament with a massive $10 million guarantee. The result of the Wynn Millions was not only Andrew Moreno taking it down after a three-way chop for $1.46 million but also enough buzz that may be enough to dethrone the WSOP Main Event for this years award. But the outright winner of this category should be a different tournament at the Wynn the Wynn Mystery Bounty. The Wynn Mystery Bounty captured the awe of the poker world as players who earned a bounty would slow sweat the reveal of the amount they won. And there were big-time paydays inside some of those bounties, with six-figure windfalls up for grabs. The Wynn Mystery Bounty is likely to be a roadmap for other series that want to increase the excitement on their schedule and so the Wynn should walk with the trophy this year.

It seems a shame that there has to be a single winner here. With Nick Schulman out of the running for 2021, these four voices elevated some of the best poker content of the year. Ali Nejad and Joe Stapleton are the veteran pair, with both having roots all the way back to the PokerRoad days, and both have only gotten better with time. Jamie Kerstetter really became an essential part of a legendary broadcast team this year, bringing her insights and wit to the WSOP Main Event. However, we feel like, overall, it was the year of Jeff Platt when it came to broadcasting. From sideline reporting at the WSOP to being in the booth at PokerGO to firing up a stream to follow the WSOP.com bracelet events, Platt was in the middle of the action wherever it was and was a consummate pro whenever he was called into action. The award may go to one of the vets as recognition for their career contributions, but if were looking at last year alone, Platt who serves as one of the hosts for the ceremony should be calling his own name to the podium.

We cant really be objective here: Lance Bradleys exclusive profile on PokerStars founder Isai Schienberg was published here on PocketFives and therefore, were picking this piece. However, all of the nominated stories are solid reads including Alex OBriens How A 10K Poker Win Changed How I Think and Darcy Maines While Battling Brain Cancer, Michael Graydon Lives World Serries of Poker Dream.

There were plenty of great poker photos, but the one that seemed to capture the excitement that people coming back to the game of poker. Enrique Malfavons photo for PokerGO as the bubble burst in the WSOP Main Event is a standout of the year and the one, we think, will earn him the award.

Watch and see who wins on Friday, February 18 live on PokerGO at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

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Predicting The Winners of the 3rd Global Poker Awards - PocketFives

Online poker in the US may soon receive a big boost as it looks like shared liquidity is just around the corner.

That is because a pending lawsuit against the United States Department of Justice over a previous administrations interpretation of the Wire Act, coupled with recent developments in Michigans rollout of online poker, signals a shift in legal tides that could significantly increase the number of players in online poker pools.

Heres a look at the states in the United States that currently offer legalized online gaming in some capacity:

Nearly every poker player the US is familiar with the Interstate Wire Act of 1961, a federal law prohibiting interstate wagering. While there have been various rulings and opinions as to whether the law applies to online poker and other forms of gambling, a 2011 ruling by the Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Barack Obama determined that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting.

However, in 2018, the DOJ under President Donald Trump reversed its position by issuing an opinion stating that the Wire Act does indeed apply to all forms of gambling, including casino games, lotteries, and, you guessed it, poker.

The reversed opinion, which has been tied to the late Sheldon Adelson, a Republican megadonor primary opponent of online gaming, created headache and confusion in the gaming industry and left states looking to or in the process of legalizing online gambling in murky waters.

New Hampshire took the DOJ to court over the issue and, in June 2019, the Federal District Court ruled against the 2018 DOJ interpretation of the Wire Act, meaning that online lottery and poker do not violate U.S. law.

The 2019 ruling was later upheld by the US District Court after the DOJ unsuccessfully appealed the case, as PokerNews reported in January 2021. Then, the justice department let a June 2021 deadline to appeal the decision with the Supreme Court pass and stated that the government is not planning to seek Supreme Court review of the First Circuits decision.

While the District Court's upholding of the narrow interpretation of the Wire Act was widely viewed as a big victory for the online poker and gaming industries, the DOJs refusal to formally abrogate its 2018 opinion has left plenty of room for worry and uncertainty among stakeholders and players.

Learn more about Michigan Online Poker here

International Game Technology, or IGT, sued the DOJ under Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2021 in an attempt to get the DOJ to formally take a stance on the 2018 opinion and clarify the scope of the 2019 New Hampshire ruling.

In the lawsuit, which was filed in Rhode Island District Court, the Rhode Island-based lottery company asked for a declaratory judgment that the Wire Act does not apply to IGTs non-sports gaming operations.

Because virtually all modern lottery and gaming relies on interstate wires, and because the lottery and regulated gaming industries were built around the understanding that the Wire Act poses no impediment to those state-regulated activities, the New Hampshire State Lottery Commission and its lottery provider, NeoPollard, challenged the 2018 OLC Opinion in federal court, the lawsuit reads. Because relief was limited to the plaintiffs in that case, however, the 2018 OLC Opinion remains DOJs binding policy today.

The lawsuit continues, As a result, IGTs entire non-lottery gaming business is subject to prosecution and DOJ has offered only the promise of a 90-day heads up before it can subject IGTs lottery business to the Wire Act as well.

"It is possible DOJ is kicking the can down the road a bit because it has not yet formulated a policy position.

Last month, the DOJ told the court that it needed more time to respond to IGTs complaint. The court granted a 30-day time extension, giving the DOJ until Feb. 23 to address the complaint.

A handful of gaming attorneys and experts told US Gaming Review earlier this week that time extension requests are fairly typical and dont necessarily signal developments in the case. However, Jermy Kleiman of Saiber LLC told the same outlet that it is possible DOJ is kicking the can down the road a bit because it has not yet formulated a policy position.

Whether the DOJ formally abrogates the 2018 interpretation of the Wire Act, gaming experts widely believe IGT will prevail in its lawsuit.

One such expert is Anthony Cabot of the Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, who told US Gaming Review that if this went to court decision, IGT would press for a decision that had broader implications than the impact of the 2018 opinion on its Rhode Island operations.

The better case scenario is for the DOJ to repudiate its blatantly incorrect and politically motivated 2018 opinion and reaffirm the proper analysis from its 2011 opinion that the Wire Act only applies to sports wagering, Cabot added. This may be the course the DOJ takes as it is correct, expedient and cost efficient.

IGT is not alone in calling on President Joe Bidens DOJ to clarify its stance on the 2018 opinion. In June 2021, a group of 26 Attorneys General wrote to Garland urging him to clarify the departments official position on the previous administrations interpretation, noting that states need finality on this issue before they invest more resources in the development of online lottery platforms.

The (DOJ) can and should put an end to this matter once and for all, wrote the group, which includes attorneys from the seven states with legal online poker, including Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia.

Learn more about Pennsylvania Online Poker here

With both the IGT lawsuit and pressure from attorneys representing over two dozen states, time is running out for the Biden administration to clarify its position on the Wire Act, or to formally abrogate the 2018 opinion.

Doing so would clear the way for more states to legalize online poker without fear of running counter to federal law. More than that, it would enable states with legal online poker but closed-off player pools to join an interstate poker compact.

Two such states are Michigan and Pennsylvania, both of which only allow in-state play on regulated poker sites. As a result, players in these states remain siloed off from the combined pool of players in New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware made possible through the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA).

Just last month, Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) spokesperson Mary Kay Bean told MI Gaming Review that Michigan asked to join the compact last year and submitted some suggested changed based on the requirements of our law, a clear indicator of the states interest in joining the MSIGA.

MI Gaming Review further reported that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state regulators were at odds over who should sign an agreement to enter MSIGA, yet another indicator of the state inching closer to joining the compact.

Should Michigan or Pennsylvania join the compact, it would be a positive for online poker players and operators alike. With the two state's combined population of over 23 million, the pool of potential players would nearly triple in size, creating more action for players, generating more money for site operators, and bringing in more tax revenue for states.

As PokerNews noted last year, if all seven states were joined in one combined player pool, it would total approximately 41 million potential players.

Having more states enter into the existing multi-state compact or legalize online poker would clearly be major positive developments for online poker in the US. As things stand, both seem to be more questions of when than if.

Free to Play Slots in the US

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Shared Liquidity in US Online Poker? It's Closer Than You Think - PokerNews.com

Former football great and current competitive poker player Richard Seymour will soon be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

The three-time Super Bowl champion has channeled his competitive spirit into the game of poker since retiring in 2012. He has more than $645K in live tournaments winnings, including a nearly $60K score at the 2019 WSOP Main Event where he finished 131st out of 8,569. His closest sniff at poker hardware was a third-place finish at the $25K PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in 2018 for $376K.

Just to compare, his bonus for winning his first Super Bowl was $63K. The next two were worth $68K. Hes made $89.5 million playing football, according to spottrac.com.

The 66 former defensive tackle often uses one of his Super Bowl rings as a card protector to intimidate people and also as a conversation starter.

My temperament fits poker well; Im naturally kind of reserved, Im not super emotional one way or another, so if bad things happen, which theyre going to in poker, its about how do you respond?he told Yahoo Sports.

Seymour was a major component of New Englands championship teams from 2001 to 2008 before playing another four seasons with the Oakland Raiders. The sixth-overall pick in 2001, Seymour solidified the center of the Patriots defense and helped begin their dominating run.

He laid the foundation for a defense that helped propel the Patriots to three Super Bowl championships in his first four seasons in the NFL, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement after Seymours Hall of Fame selection was announced. Richard was the consummate professional and leader, always accepting the roles he was assigned, putting team goals ahead of personal ones, and in turn, raising the game of everyone around him.

Rich Eisen talked to Seymour about poker and the WSOP after his deep run in the 2019 Main Event.

Seymour said he started taking poker seriously after retiring from football in 2012. He told Eisen that before his retirement, he would play with his Oakland Raider teammates while watching Monday Night Football. While training as a team in his hometown of Atlanta during the player lockout of 2011, he even hired dealers and spread a tournament for everyone.

floor auto seat change if 2 main event champs are at your table its a rule @RyanRiess1 @Martin_Jacobson @WSOP #1500closer #letscompete pic.twitter.com/DPRI3QgWyr

Richard Seymour (@BigSey93) July 15, 2019

Seymour said he learned poker after watching his father play video poker in convenience stores in Georgia when he was a kid, and that the game served as a competitive outlet following the end of his pro football career.

Once youre done playing football you still have a competitive drive. Poker is an outlet for me where I have a competitive drive, you have to be very cerebral, Seymour told Yahoo! Sports. It requires a lot like it did for me in football I have to be patient, I have to know how to pick my spots, pay attention to guys tendencies. It was just a natural progression after leaving sports at a high level.

Seymour can be found at WSOP Circuit and WPT events around the country. He most recently cashed in a $550 event at the Wynn Fall Classic in November. His Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio, but unfortunately for Seymour, there are no major poker tournaments scheduled in the area that weekend.

Written by

Bob Pajich

Bob Pajich is a poker news reporter, creative writer, and poker player who never met suited connectors he didn't like.

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Poker Fanatic Richard Seymour Elected to NFL Hall of Fame - CardsChat.com