Category Archives: Poker

It's an exciting time for US poker, although here at PokerNews we admit we've heard that sentence before.

However, with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) opting not to appeal a recent case involving the Wire Act to the US Supreme Court, it would appear that shared liquidity in US online poker is now a distinct possibility.

That would mean that the seven states that have already legalized online poker (Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan and Connecticut) could all be playing against one another by the end of 2021.

In 2011, the Department of Justice concluded that the Wire Act was only applicable to sports betting.

What is the Wire Act?The Wire Act is a United State federal law that states it is illegal to place bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest using a wire communication facility.

However, in 2018 the new administration issued a new interpretation, stating that "all but one of its prohibitions sweep beyond sports gambling".

As a result of this interpretation, the New Hampshire Lottery Commission brought action against the US Department of Justice in the hope of clarifying the situation. Their stance was that if the Wire Act made all interstate wagering by wire illegal, then cross-state lotteries, like Powerball, would also be illegal.

In 2019, a US District Court judge ruled that the Wire Act only applied to sports betting and not to other forms of online gambling, however this ruling was then appealed.

The case was heard in the United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit in June 2020, and six months later they upheld the ruling.

The Department of Justice then had 150 days to appeal again, something which would see the case head to the US Supreme Court, but after yesterday's deadline passed without an appeal the case is now closed.

So far, seven states of legalized online poker, although you are only able to play in six with West Virginia currently considered by operators as too small to sustain its own player base.

However, with this case and the interpretation of the Wire Act laid to rest, it opens up the chance for them to join an interstate player pool similar to the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) currently operating between Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware.

888 Holdings PLC, who currently operates WSOP.com in those three states, has already announced it intends to bring legalized online poker to Michigan and Pennsylvania, potentially expanding the MSIGA from two states with 10 million residents to four states with 33 million residents.

This would also have knock-on effects for the World Series of Poker, with more Americans able to win online bracelets.

For reference, if all seven states were to be joined into one combined player pool, that would total approximately 41 million players, more than the population of Canada.

One thing poker players will all be asking is whether this ruling means the return of a wider PokerStars US brand, instead of the state-by-state clients that currently exist. Currently, three separate PokerStars clients exist, with each state only allowed to play against their own populations.

This arrangement means that major festivals such as SCOOP are run separately, with PokerNews having live coverage of PASCOOP, MISCOOP and NJSCOOP.

Combined, these three festivals generated $6.35 million in total prize pools with over 117,000 entries and 406 champions crowned.

Were these three states to join together, putting aside any additional states PokerStars may look to expand into, that would still generate a player base of over 31 million people.

SCOOP Series Concludes Largest Combined Tournament Series in PokerStars US History

The next big topic up for discussion among US poker players is whether or not this increased liquidity will lift some of the question marks over certain states legalizing online poker.

One state that has already thrown its hat into the ring is Illinois. In March 2021, Democratic state representatives Robert Rita and Jonathan Carroll introduced HB 3142, which seeks to launch online gaming in the state.

However, last month the state's regular legislative session closed without the bill passing, although Senators did pass a resolution asking for potential online casino revenues to be studied, suggesting there is at least some level of interest in the bill.

Sadly, a similar bill in North Dakota that would have put the legalization of online poker on the 2022 general election ballot failed in the state's upper chamber.

In total, seven states have legalized online poker as of June 2021: Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan and Connecticut).

You can currently play on PokerStars in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey as of June 2021.

You can currently play on WSOP.com in Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware as of June 2021. There are also plans to expand to Pennsylvania and Michigan.

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Is US Poker on the Brink of Shared Liquidity Between States? - PokerNews.com

June 23, 2021Jason Glatzer

A battle of the titans took place on Tuesday evening, with Phil Ivey battling against Patrik Antonius in the 32-player World Poker Tour $25,000 Heads Up Poker Championship. Ivey won the first three heads-up matches against Antonius to sweep the best-of-five format for the $400,000 top prize.

Many in the poker community felt the clock was turned back more than a decade before the match took place with two poker legends standing the test of time and still on top of their games.

Ivey recently shared his love of poker in an interview with Joey Ingram and expressed how he prefers to play live and look at his opponent. Although the entire event was held online at PokerKing, the entire event mandated players utilize webcams to give the players and fans a more of a live poker feel than one typically sees online.

"I want to travel and play poker [...] I still enjoy playing online poker. When things come up, they're great. But I prefer to play live and look at my opponent. Nowadays, online has gotten a lot tougher.

Related: The Return of Phil Ivey? 10-time Champion Aims to Play 2021 WSOP

Ivey took an early chip lead during the first match. Antonius temporarily took the lead before Ivey stormed ahead to take the lead before extending it to a 3:1 chip advantage.

Antonius had a chance to double his stack to even things up but instead, Ivey won the first match after his nines held against Antonius' ace-eight.

Antonius had an early chip lead in the second match and had double the stack of Ivey. The Finn seemed to be ready to tie things up but his sevens were unable to win a flip against king-queen after Ivey improved to Broadway to double his stack and take the chip lead.

Ivey, who showcased many bluffs of his own, picked off a bluff to win the second match with Antonius betting the turn and jamming the river with king-seven suited despite whiffing the queen-high board and needed a comeback for the ages as he needed to win three matches in a row after Ivey correctly called with jacks.

Antonius held a small chip lead during the third match before fireworks went off. The Finn opened with ace-six suited and was called by Ivey with four-trey.

Ivey flopped the nuts with six-five-deuce initially hitting the board and check-raised Antonius who held top pair. An ace landed on the turn making it difficult for Antonius to get away from the hand as he improved to top two pair.

Antonius called a bet from Ivey and didn't improve to a full house with a second deuce landing on the board on the river. Ivey jammed and Antonius was down to crumbs after he called.

Antonius was down but not quite out as he doubled up twice and a third double would have evened the stacks. Instead, Ivey won the match after his ace-ten held against queen-jack suited to win the WPT Heads Up Poker Championship for $400,000, while Antonius had to settle for the runner-up prize of $200,000.

While the event certainly turned back the clocks for many in the poker community, the poker world is once again likely to witness Ivey in the headlines for years to come and the 10-time WSOP bracelet winner plans to visit the WSOP this autumn for at least a few events.

"But I'm looking to play, I'm looking to play poker on TV. I'm looking to travel and play poker," Ivey said in an interview with Ingram. "I'm looking at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). I'm not sure about a full schedule, but I'm planning on playing a few events."

*Lead image courtesy of the World Poker Tour.

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Battle of the Titans: Ivey Sweeps Antonius to Win WPT HU Poker Championship ($400000) - PokerNews.com

Oops. he did it again.Image: Getty Images

When it comes to poker, Phil Ivey proved hes still the GOAT.

Ivey won the World Poker Tours star-studded 32-player $25,000 heads-up invitational tournament in Cabo on Tuesday, sweeping old-school rival Patrik Antonius in three games. Ivey earned $400,000 for his victory while Antonius took home $200,000.

Ivey had a brutal draw throughout the bracket, as he faced wizards Manig Loeser, Anthony Zinno, Stephen Chidwick and Chris Kruk. He consistently stunned the streams highly knowledgeable and skilled commentators throughout the tournament, somehow managing to find zero-equity bluffs that are definitely not solver-approved. He broke poker Twitter on Monday in his match vs. Kruk with this airball bluff:

Antonius, also one of the GOATs, at age 40 is still probably the most handsome man in poker. The Finnish superstar got a break by drawing Japanese celebrity GACKT in the first round, but the rest of his run was impressive, as he beat favored heads-up boss Doug Polk, online pro Stefan112 and Sam Greenwood.

The match was anticlimactic as Ivey won the first two matches in uber-aggressive fashion. In the third and deciding game, Ivey coolered Antonius early with a flopped straight while Antonius turned two pair, giving Ivey a 25-1 chip advantage. Antonius fought back to make it only 3-1 but Ivey soon prevailed.

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Hilariously, there was a moment where Antonius asked to take a bathroom break, and instead ended up playing the hand on his iPad in the bathroom.

Ivey was an end-game boss on Full Tilt Poker, with $20 million in earnings, but he has kept a low profile since, even skipping the World Series of Poker for several years. He is tied with Johnny Chan for second most WSOP bracelets, with 10, and has more than $7 million in lifetime WSOP winnings. Ivey, considered by many to be the greatest all-around poker player because of his mastery of all variants and formats, was also the top star of classic televised poker shows such as High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark, battling with Antonius, Tom Dwan, Phil Hellmuth and others in many memorable hands.

The WPT championship signals that the living legend is still relevant as ever. Ivey has always kept his thought process close to the vest. Poker strategy has evolved since the days of Full Tilt Poker, with the advent of top players using solvers and simulation programs to come up with game theory optimal frequencies. Its clear that Iveys done some work, and also, as commentator Nick Schulman, he seems to be able to intuit correct actions. Also, while the games were played online at Poker King, there was a live element as the players were sitting in the same room, receiving a feed of their opponent. While some top online players argue that live tells arent even a thing, Ivey has always been a guy who says he likes to see your face.

However, perhaps Iveys greatest skill was his ability to know when people are playing back at him too light, and understanding situations where his opponents dont want to risk their entire stack. Even against well studied players who know Ivey is over-bluffing spots, he can still win pots with outright savagery.

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Phil Ivey is still the GOAT - Deadspin

Weve made it easy for you to find the best online poker sites in the USA today. Weve researched the sites ourselves and created this bumper guide that details the best online poker sites around right now, basing our criteria on things like bonuses, rakeback, and traffic.

In this article, well be explaining exactly why we chose each poker site and who we think theyd be ideal for. Well also be answering your most popular questions related to playing online poker in the US.

Lets start.

Reputation We checked the licensing and user reviews to make sure that each site in our list is legit, established, and trustworthy

Variety We wanted to find casino sites that offer a good variety of poker games, as well as video poker and other table and card games

Rake Rakeback is something any poker player needs to consider, and we worked hard to find the best poker sites in terms of rake/value for your money

Players and Traffic Understanding that the key to a good poker site is having players of all levels to compete against, we used traffic volume as one of our top indicators

Bonuses Lastly, we looked for poker sites that offer attractive bonuses, regular promotions, and rewarding VIP schemes

Ignition comfortably takes our top award for a number of reasons. Although it was only established in 2016, its risen through the ranks to become one of the USs most reputable and popular online poker casinos.

Its safe to use, offers a variety of payment methods, and the user experience is excellent.

In terms of its poker offerings, Ignition is able to offer a high volume of players to compete against. There are always at least 1,000 players online at any one time, and theyre usually of various skill levels. While most players are soft players there are still the complete newbies, as well as more polished gamblers and even some sharks.

Zone Poker, meanwhile, though not unique to Ignition, helps the site stand out by offering quick fire poker to anyone who hates the slowness of a traditional game of poker.

And while the low welcome bonus is a tad disappointing, the huge weekly tournament prize pools make up for it.

When it comes to Multi-Table tournament strategies (MTT), Bovada is the top dog. Here, you wont find any sharks capitalizing on weaker players. Instead, you have to go into it with the mindset of being at a real casino, which means you have to take your time to read the other players.

We really like that, along with the fact that rake is comparatively low. Its not as low as it used to be, but with $0.01 collected for every $0.20 in the pot, we dont think thats too shabby at all.

Moreover, Bovada is a really soft site for US players, with sensible buy-ins that are coupled with big guarantees.

Were not huge fans of the VIP scheme or the lack of an official license, but overall Bovada is hard to beat when it comes to its all-round online poker experience. Traffic is very good, too.

We were going to give the best for sports betting accolade to Bovada, but decided that BetOnline edges it simply because Bovada does poker a little bit better.

That isnt to say that BetOnline cant offer an accomplished online poker experience it can. Its consistently listed as one of the top 3 online poker rooms available to US players, it uses top notch software, and there is a huge variety of poker variants here.

These include No Limit Holdem, Omaha and Stud.

However, its worth mentioning that if you live in Washington, Nevada, Delaware, Pennsylvania or New Jersey, you wont be able to play poker here.

You can, however, still access the sportsbook, which we think is one of the best around. With ample live betting opportunities, lots of sports variety and bonuses, flipping between the poker rooms and the sportsbook will be a lot of fun for some players.

Americas CardRoom doesnt command quite the same traffic as Ignition and Bovada, but its still a major league poker site thats worth a look especially if you wish to play via Bitcoin and are finding it hard to find a US site that accepts the digital coin.

Indeed, Bitcoin withdrawals are quick and free and there are zero fees involved (unless you want to convert your BTC into another currency). This is a major boon because its not easy for US players to find a Bitcoin casino.

But lets get down to the poker. Americas CardRooms ace in the pack is its Texas Holdem variant, which is its best for traffic. It seems that most players are drawn to this game, and you can play against a variety of skill levels.

Even better, Texas Holdem has a no-limit version available.

There are also multi-table tournaments available, a $215 buy-in tournament each Sunday, and while its a little bit frustrating that players from Nevada arent accepted here, it gets the big thumbs up overall.

Red Dog Casino is another reputable online casino site that accepts US players. A generous welcome bonus is on the table for new players, as are regular promos thereafter.

Bitcoin is accepted, along with a good variety of other payment methods, but its video poker where Red Dog Casino truly excels. Here, youll find a huge selection of video poker games, including Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, and Jacks or Better.

What were not too keen on is the fact that navigation isnt the best, and it can take a while navigating through the site and finding the online poker rooms.

Other than that, there are 350+ games in total, with 300 available on mobile, as well as plenty of live dealer games.

InterTops belongs to the Horizon Poker Network, which helps to establish its credibility. Rakeback is pegged at 36% which is very decent, there are plenty of low-stake tournaments to get stuck into here, and we see InterTops as being very much aimed at the recreational player.

This is largely because this casino site is much softer than many other poker sites. It wont be unusual for you to get to know other players, simply because the same old faces tend to rock up each day.

Fixed prizes go as high as $1,000, which naturally wont suit high-stakes gamblers, but for Americans who just want to have a bit of fun playing the likes of Pot Limit Omaha, InterTops is a solid option.

Black Chip Poker belongs to the Winning Poker Network. Traffic is good, the tournament schedule is excellent but a lack of a mobile client is a mark against it.

Still, we see Black Chip Poker as one of the best poker rooms on the internet right now for US players because of its huge tournament prize pools. Its not unusual for a tournament to offer a pot as big as $1,000,000, and most tournaments (as many as 9 out of 10) accept re-entry.

HUD is supported, the site accepts players from most states, and Bitcoin is accepted as a payment method.

Weve included a few soft sites on this list, but for US players we have to argue that Juicy Stakes is the best soft poker room. This is simply because both the tournaments and the cash games are softer than any other US online poker room.

Indeed, rake back is 36%.

User experience is good, both pro players and recreational players could have a good time here, and theres a generous welcome offer available.

One of the slight drawbacks is that high-stakes games have poor traffic, but since most players who use the site prefer the small buy-in tournaments, its not a major problem.

PokerStars is one of the biggest online poker sites thats been accepting US players for years. Its been around for 20 years, its totally legit and payouts are fast and reliable.

And when we say its best for traffic, we mean it when it comes to US players, no other poker room has more. Each tournament is able to attract a huge amount of players, while even the mobile app has multiple tournaments and cash games.

Somewhat frustratingly, the best players are punished with decreased rewards and there is no rakeback, but there are plenty of payment methods available and lots of fun to be had here for serious players.

Cafe Casino is an all-round casino that offers a poker section. It offers a few variants, including video poker, along with the usual mix of table games and slots.

It scoops our award for the best bonus because its welcome offer for US players is generous, and there are further promos on offer once you become a regular player.

Cafe Casino doesnt specialize in poker as much as many other sites on our list, but if you want a general casino experience and wish to flip flop between different games, it might be a worthy option.

As long as your specific state permits it, you remain within state lines while gambling, and the site you sign up to is legal in the US (and accepts US online poker players), you can play online legally in the US with the best sites for online gambling.

There isnt too much of a difference when it comes to online poker between US and EU online poker sites. Both offer the same variant of poker, such as Texas Holdem and Omaha, along with different buy-ins and prize pools.

When it comes to real-life poker sites, the difference is in the size. American poker rooms are often huge, while EU poker rooms tend to be smaller. But again, it all depends where you go.

For some, when they play poker online, the experience is just as good as live poker. For others, its a poor substitute but a substitute theyre willing to accept all the same. Its usually a similar situation for other online games such as online sports betting.

However, the rules are exactly the same, the games tend to move at the same speed, and you can play for free or for real money playing poker online just as you would when playing live poker.

Perhaps the major difference is that online poker lacks the same atmosphere and buzz as live poker in a proper casino setting.

All fully-licensed US online poker sites are legit and not rigged. They are held to account by online poker regulation, and while a player may feel as though the house is cheating when they experience multiple losses, the reality is that its almost impossible for a gambling site to cheat. Players searching for top slots online and other games also ask this but if a casino is licensed this shouldnt be an issue.

Some of the best poker softwares available right now includes Simple GTO Trainer, which helps you to assess every single conceivable situation in poker games. You can use it to map out strategies and essentially plan for any situation you may come across.

We also like HoldEm Manager, which helps you analyze your opponent and how they play, as well as PIO Solver, which is all about analyzing game theory so that you know what to do whenever specific problems arise.

Put simply, when a poker room has good levels of traffic, it means there will be more poker players for you to compete against all day (and night) long.

Subsequently, when there are more poker players to compete against at poker sites, there are also likely to be weaker players who you can prey upon and eat alive. In other words fish.

The main bonus you can get is the first deposit bonus, which is available to new players and can be as high as $5,000 depending on the site. Sometimes, a site will even offer a no deposit welcome bonus if youre lucky. Sites can offer bonuses on different games including poker

Either way, the welcome bonus is your best chance of getting your poker account up and running because it lets you play a few games without risking your own money. Cafe Casino is our top pick for bonuses, but there are plenty of other top sites that offer attractive welcome bonuses.

Depositing and withdrawing money is simple enough you just need to head over to the banking section of the poker room, select deposit or withdrawal, choose your preferred method and then follow the on-screen instructions.

More and more US poker sites now accept Bitcoin, including Americas CardRoom and Bovada which are among the best casinos with Bitcoin. Not all US sites accept BTC yet, but we fully expect more to add this payment method as the year progresses.

The first thing you should consider is what kind of player you are a newbie, a recreational poker player, or a pro? Then, you should take into account things like player traffic, tournament buy-ins (how low, how high), as well as poker variants (does this site offer your preferred poker variant?).

Aside from poker, other important things to consider include payment methods, reputability (read poker site reviews and check the licensing), payouts, and usability as a US player.

Also, if you want to play casino games other than poker, this is something else to check out. Casino sites offer a variety of other games and specialize in bingo games, slot games, roulette games, online CSGO gambling, and many more.

These are the best poker sites online that are legal in the US. If you want to play online poker at a top site, there is a lot here to consider. However, we always recommend that you do your own research too so that youre 100% comfortable at whichever casino site you sign up to.

Whatever you decided to do, we wish you the best of luck!

If you suffer from a gambling problem or suspect somebody you know does, then we strongly suggest that you call Gamblers Anonymous at 1-626-960-3500 to talk with an advisor for help and to make gambling safer for you or your loved ones.

Underage gambling is an offense, all sites are 18+ ONLY. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly and only bet what you can afford. Casinos listed on our site may not be available in your region. Check your local laws to ensure online gambling is available and legal where you live.

Visit these organizations for free gambling addiction resources:

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Best Poker Sites in USA: 10 Top Poker Rooms That Accept Americans in 2021 - L.A. Weekly

Paddy Power Poker is upping its streaming game by signing three Twitch personalities to host its weekly broadcasts.

Paddy Power is better known to most as an Irish bookmaker thats not afraid to push the boundaries in the name of self-promotion. In addition to being an irreverent betting site, its been in the poker business for more than a decade and is a stablemate of PokerStars under the Flutter Entertainment banner.

Now, with online poker enjoying a renaissance due to COVID-19 restrictions, Paddy Power is raising the stakes with a new team of Twitch streamers.

While Paddy Power has been around for a long time, its fair to say that the iPoker-based site isnt ranked among the biggest in the industry. Thats something the promo team is looking to change.

With other online poker sites showing whats possible on Twitch, Paddy Power has drafted three British pros to host its weekly stream. Conor ODriscoll (ccoonnoorrr), Mark Bennett (MBen10_), and Tom Parsons (PredPoker) will go live on Twitch every Tuesday at 8pm GMT.

The trio primarily play low and mid-stakes MTTs and cash games, which suits the sites general demographics.

It's official, I am a PaddypowerPoker ambassador !

Will be streaming this evening and we have our twitch club game with 20 added prize going to everyone who final tables

this Tuesday evening twitch club game is going to have some exciting prizes in the very near future. https://t.co/vIp6i9T4js

Conor O'Driscoll (@hammemrs) June 22, 2021

Irelands ODriscoll is the most established of the three pros. He has live tournament cashes dating back to 2010 and more than $870,000 in prize money on PokerStars under the screenname ccoonnoorr. Bennett, who hails from Wales, is a rising star on the British poker scene and as much of a personality on the felt as he is away from it.

Rounding out the new recruits is Northern Irelands Parsons. The politics graduate shot to prominence in 2019 at PokerStars Lex Live 2 event in London. As a follower of poker pro and Twitch streamer Lex Veldhuis, Parsons took part in a special scavenger hunt. The Irishman completed his tasks before everyone else and won a $25,000 PokerStars Platinum Pass. That was the boost he needed to focus on his poker career and his Twitch channel.

All three ambassadors will take part in Paddy Power Poker Twitch Club games on Tuesday nights. In addition to broadcasting their exploits in real-time, the pros will chat to viewers, offer tips, and run competitions and giveaways.

A Twitch team is unlikely to make Paddy Power the leading online poker site in the world. However, there is a clear desire for streaming content. PokerStars and Partypoker have been pushing their streaming services for the best part of three years, as have pros such as Veldhuis and Jaime Staples. Twitch has also become a go-to resource for live and online tournament coverage.

With its latest move, Paddy Power will add to the flow of streaming content and, potentially, boost its presence within the poker industry at the same time.

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Daniel Smyth

Dan Smyth is a poker media journeyman who politely reminds CardsChat readers that poker is played all around the world, not just America.

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Paddy Power Poker Makes Twitch Team with Three Rising Stars - CardsChat.com

Germanys controversial 5.3% turnover tax on online slots and poker received the approval of the parliament earlier this week.

Back in March of this year, Germanys new State Treaty on Gambling (GlNeuRStv) was approved by lawmakers. Since then, the new regulation has received the approval of all federal states in Germany. Set to come into effect on July 1, the new State Treaty on Gambling would legalize online casino games, but not everyone is excited.

Although the legalization is long-awaited, the new treaty comes with restrictions as well. Under the treaty, a $1.19 (1) stake limit per spin is introduced for online slots. Furthermore, earlier this week, the Bundestag voted in favor of a stake tax, which already proved to be controversial. The stake tax which is also referred to as turnover tax introduces a 5.3% tax on all online poker and slot stakes. In addition, the tax plans to affect both licensed gambling, as well as unlicensed operators.

During the vote of the controversial tax, lawmakers from Die Linke refrained from placing a vote. On the other hand, representatives from the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Alternative fr Deutschland (AfD) voted against the stake tax. In the end, the tax received the approval of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Green Party. As a result, the controversial tax was approved.

Although the new turnover tax received the approval of the German parliament, a recent online survey discovered that the proposed level of stake tax may push a lot of players to offshore operators. The study conducted by Goldmedia on behalf of Entain, Flutter Entertainment and Greentube in April interviewed 619 online slot players. Of that total, 49% admitted that they would choose an alternative option via an unregulated website. Furthermore, 54% of the players that participated in the survey responded that the payout percentage is the most important factor when choosing a gambling website.

Besides the worrying results of the survey, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has also spotted an issue with the tax. EGBA filed a complaint with the EU back in May, saying that the turnover tax is illegal. Furthermore, the Association suggested that the controversial tax may be favoring brick-and-mortar casinos over online gambling.

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Germany Approves Controversial Turnover Tax on Online Slots and Poker - GamblingNews.com

08:1524 Jun

Billy Joe Taylor, a 42-year-old poker player from Arkansas, has been indicted for defrauding the US healthcare system of an eye-watering $88 million. The guy once described as a special kind of fish is one of the suspects in a $143 million case.

The man nicknamed Bildo was well-known in poker circles for his starring role in a $5,000 NL cash game that was streamed on TCH Live. He was seen as an action player who didnt appear to have much in the way of skill, to put it mildly. But if he was making so much from his healthcare testing exploits then it probably didnt bother him too much! Damn shame hes going to have to pay it all back now.

Dating back as far as November 2017, names and social security numbers were acquired of people who were eligible for government-funded tests and then fraudulent invoices were billed to Medicare. Many of these people had already died when the alleged tests were supposed to have taken place, and names of doctors were used for tests that were never even requested.

The US Department of Justice claims that of the $88 million sum, $42 million was for COVID-19 tests that took advantage of government incentives. These tests likely did not take place, as one of the labs didnt even have the equipment necessary to perform the tasks.

Acting US Attorney David Clay Fowlkes said:

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Poker Player Accused of $88 Million Healthcare Scam - PokerTube

June 23, 2021Jason Glatzer

Off the heels of Phil Ivey defeating Patrik Antonius for an exciting conclusion of the WPT $25K Heads Up Poker Championship, the poker world is geared up for yet another exciting heads-up battle Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu for a $400,000 prize pool in Round 3 of High Stakes Duel II on June 23-24 at the PokerGO Studio at the ARIA Resort and Casino.

Poker fans will be able to follow long on this epic battle between two players that have withstood the test of time at the subscription-based PokerGO at 8 p.m. EDT.

Remember, an annual subscription to PokerGO costs $99.99, but you can save $10 off by using promo code PokerNews at checkout. Once you're signed up, the entire saga of Negreanu vs. Hellmuth can be viewed on PokerGO.

The critics are always after Phil Hellmuth due to his unorthodox style of play but there is no denying the 15-time WSOP bracelet winner has gotten it done time and time against for more than three decades.

Before facing off against Negreanu, Hellmuth was pitting against another poker legend in Antonio Esfandiari in the inaugural High Stakes Duel. Esfandiari was the betting favorite with the poker community once again underestimating the formidable Hellmuth.

Hellmuth went on to win the first $50,000 heads-up match against Esfandiari and won against when the stakes doubled when each player ponied up $100,000. Esfandiari threw in the towel after Hellmuth won the third match featuring a $200,000 to win $350,000 in the three matches.

Meanwhile, Negreanu was just off an expensive crash course in advanced heads-up play after imfamously facing off against Doug Polk. Polk was dominate throughout and eventually won $1.2 million in the challenge against Negreanu.

Negreanu was looking for new challengers after that goading several players on social media into a high-profile battle. Hellmuth took the bait and was once again an underdog.

The first match featuring a $50,000 buy-in in April between Hellmuth and Negreanu was a story for the ages. Negreanu had Hellmuth on the ropes with 97,000 chips to his opponent's 3,000 chips. If there were live lines on the match, they would have been likely pulled off at this point as it seemed that Negreanu would easily seal the deal.

However, Hellmuth stormed back to win the match and Negreanu immediately invoked the option to double the stakes to a $100,000 buy-in. That match took place in May and ended on a bad beat when Hellmuth's ace-four got there against pocket eights.

The High Stakes Duel format starts off with two players by ponying up $50,000 each for a $100,000 initial match.

The event mimics a deep-stacked cash game early in the action with players starting with 200,000 chips and blinds at 50/100 and increasing every 30 minutes. The action will move along quickly as each player has 30 seconds to act with five 60-second time banks available for the tough decisions.

The losing player has the first option to challenge at double stakes. If they decline, a new challenger can post up and take on the double-stake match within 30 days, or the series ends and the winner cashes out.

The winner can also cash out after three consecutive wins, or two consecutive wins if they occur later in the series when the stakes have doubles several times already.

If Hellmuth can pull off another victory, he can cash out even if Negreanu wants to play on for double the stakes. If Negreanu ends his losing streak, Hellmuth will have the option for a rematch which Negreanu will have to accept.

"High Stakes Duel" is available for PokerGO subscribers. If youre not currently subscribed, you can get a monthly subscription for $14.99, a three-month plan for $29.99, and an annual subscription for $99.99. You can also save $10 off an annual subscription by using promo code PokerNews at checkout.

Photos courtesy of PokerGO

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Hellmuth and Negreanu Face Off for $400000 in High Stakes Duel II - PokerNews.com

The 2021 World Series of Poker is coming to CBS Sports, and now we know when cards will fly in Las Vegas. The richest and longest-running poker event in the world gets underway Sept. 30 and runs through Nov. 23.

CBS Sports will be your home for the 2021 World Series of Poker with CBS Sports Network as the official television home of the WSOP. The network will broadcast 15 hours of WSOP Main Event coverage and 36 additional hours of 18 different Gold Bracelet poker events.

"Make no mistake, the 2021 WSOP will be the real deal and we're preparing for a full house. Throughout the storied history of the WSOP, this year will be particularly memorable and we're preparing for a poker reunion all players can celebrate," said WSOP executive director Ty Stewart, who is presiding over his 16th WSOP. "We're beyond thrilled to offer a complete schedule of can't-miss events including all our flagships and the variety players deserve."

All told, there will be 88 bracelet events at this edition of the WSOP, with the first, the Casino Employees $500 No-Limit Hold 'em event, at 11 a.m. PT on Sept. 30. The largest single tournament, the Main Event, will have a staggered two-day start for four different flights on Nov. 4 and Nov. 5, with the Main Event final table scheduled for Nov. 16 and Nov. 17. More than 8,000 entrants participated in the Main Event in 2019, the last time the full WSOP was held in person. The 2020 Main Event started online, and wrapped up with Damian Salas winning a heads up match in January at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

You can see the full schedule for all 88 bracelet events here, and some of the new and noteworthy items for the 2021 World Series of Poker are below:

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2021 World Series of Poker set to start Sept. 30 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas - CBS Sports

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) On Saturday, motorcycle riders from around Kentucky will be lifting their kickstands and cruising for a cause.

The group known as Bikers for Children with Special Needs will host the 1st annual Poker Run.

The special 70 mile ride aims at bringing smiles to special needs kids.

Bikers will start at McLeods Coffee House, a coffee shop that employs special needs people.

Theyll then be taking the backroads and visiting with kids from Steps and Strides Equestrian Services.

Logan dedman, one of the co-organizers say proceeds will go to the horse riding school to help make a difference.

The horse riding school is great because it allows special needs who want to feel accepted as much as everybody else. It gives them that same opportunity to do the same thing as everybody else, says Dedman.

The ride will take place from 11 a-m to 2 p-m saturday, with registration starting at 9:30 am.

For more information, click the link here.

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1st annual Poker Run for special needs kids this weekend - ABC 36 News - WTVQ