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Bird on the Rail |
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November 2006
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ASIAN MARKET THE FUTURE OF POKER?
With the opening of Wynn Macau, the Far East now has its official gambling Mecca, and more activity seems to be on the horizon. We hear that gaming companies, both online and offline, are drooling at the prospect of opening up the Asian markets, and many of them consider Asia the “last real growth opportunity” for poker and gaming. Two different Asian poker tours are launching in the near future, and we wonder just how big the Asian market can become and which companies are putting themselves in the position to reap the most benefit. The World Poker Tour recently announced it had landed distribution for its shows in several Asian markets, and we think that’s just the beginning.
James Bond plays Poker?
Casino Royale the latest James Bond movie, opens November 17. It's tempting to boycott this one because a blonde 007 just isn't acceptable. But adding to the ever-growing list of poker-themed movies, Bond gets an assignment to play in a high-stakes poker game against the banker of the world's terrorist organizations. Now, a movie where James Bond plays poker; that sounds inviting. Casino Royale is based on the first book in Ian Fleming's James Bond series. However, in the book, Bond plays baccarat, not poker. What is Hollyweird doing? Yes, these days, poker is sexier than baccarat, but nobody wants a blonde James Bond. That is not sexy.
Head Banging Poker Tournament for Charity
Vince Neil, the singer for maturing 80s bad boy metal band Mötley Crüe, is heading back to The Joynt. November 5th marks his second "Off the Strip" poker tournament at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. A limited 150 players will play in a $500 + 50 (plus rebuys) tournament, benefiting the T.J. Martell Foundation, which supports cancer, leukemia, and AIDS research. Vince's daughter, Skylar, died of stomach cancer at a very young age in 1995, and since then Vince has raised more than one million dollars for the T. J. Martell Foundation. Like last year, this will be a sexy, rockin' good time for a great cause. Call 702.693.5000 to see if there are any seats left.
GOLF AND POKER
At live poker tournaments, it's not uncommon to find pros playing a side game of Chinese Poker on breaks or after they bust. But the game that everyone seems to be talking about is golf. Daniel Negreanu blogs about his golf games and even tries tips from his fans. Other pros that are hitting the greens are Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, and Erick Lindgren, and apparently Barry Greenstein plays to a pretty low handicap. Golf and betting go hand in hand, so it's no surprise that these pros will play for staggering amounts on the golf course. Even Phil Gordon, who has a new Expert Insight DVD Short Game Golf with Jim Furyk and Fred Funk ($29.95, ExpertInsight.com), is on YouTube.com losing a bet that Fred Funk couldn't make a shot from the sand at TPC Sawgrass golf course.
Harrah’s hates ‘Cybersquatting’
It seems the World Series of Poker has enough on their hands, but now they have had to file a lawsuit to prevent a former Binion’s employee from profiting off the WSOP brand. According to a lawsuit recently filed, former Binion’s information technology director Federico Schiavio purchased the domain wsop.com personally, and has since used the domain to promote online poker sites and many things decidedly non-Harrah’s-related. Harrah’s suit claims Schiavio is attempting to create an association between the WSOP and his website and is trying to “deceive people into thinking online gambling is acceptable.” In fact, Harrah’s thinks the whole thing is unacceptable, is seeking to get the domain transferred to them, and have Schiavio pay them damages. Stay tuned...
TUNE IN TO HIP HOP HOLD'EM
Poker is in the hizzie, for shizzie. Hip Hop Hold'em will hit flat screen TVs in 170 markets across the nation in October. Hosted by hip-hop icon and VJ Ed Lover (Yo! MTV Raps) with celebrated resident DJ Scratch (EPMD), the show kicked off October 6 with weekly episodes including celebrities like Method Man, Doug E. Fresh, and Angie Martinez, among others. These are two cultures that traditionally have had nothing to do with each other, but this show is proof that poker is penetrating the hip-hop scene. Watch your back, Celebrity Poker Showdown.
ANYONE FOR GAY POKER?
Nobody is shy at ComeOutPoker.com, the new online poker room for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community. Step right up and fill out a profile so others can see if you're single, taken, and who you're interested in meeting. Sure, other online sites claim to have gay players, but at ComeOutPoker, there are no straights. Wouldn't that be cool if you couldn't make a straight to win? It's unclear how they enforce the sexual preferences of their players, but I'm sure they'll let you play if you're confused or still figuring it out.
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