Recession? What Recession Says Online Poker Industry
March 31, 2009
With many of the worlds industries feeling the pinch due to the global recession one online poker room has stepped forward to prove not all industries have been hit.
888, the company that own Pacific Poker have announced that their profits have increased by 6% this financial year, totalling $48.6 million.
The company do admit that the last quater of the financial year has seen a decrease in profits, costing them 4% leaving the total increase at 6% instead of 10%.
With the company 3 months into the new financial year, they have seen a lower profit margin than they saw in the disappointing final quater of last years financial year.
The company still insist that the number of new players is “encouraging” for the new year, with new business plans already in the pipeline to improve their already high rated business.
With this in place Gigi Levy, Chief of 888 moved to tell the world that the company will pass through the recession unscaved:
Whilst remaining cautious in our outlook we are confident our customers will continue to enjoy our services and that the overall strength and resilience of the business will ensure we weather this turbulent period well.
Just as we managed to grow market share after the industry was hit by the closure of the US market, we are confident we will outperform the market in these challenging times and continue to grow our business.
It just goes to show that the recession hasn’t hit every industry in the world, but there are more casualties then there are winners here.
Like this post? Why not sign up to our feed to be kept up to date on all news and promotions.
Students More Likely to Obtain Poker Gambling Debts
March 30, 2009
A study done this week by a financial expert revealed what many already knew.
The study went into detail explaining that the accessibilty to sites such as online poker rooms from the safety of their own rooms offers students more attraction to playing them.
The study showed that 45% of the students that were asked were players at a number of online poker rooms, playing real money stakes.
This isn’t news to everyone, with most having started playing poker during their study years.
University students offered a greater insight into the every growing number of students that have fallen into the online poker craze with many using their spare time to play online poker.
One student told the expert:
I use the money that i would spend going out onto the town and drinking.
This shows the draw factor that online poker has on students, reducing their nights out on the local town to fund their online poker gaming experience.
Students and poker are not a new pairing, with first hand experience of seeing how many students spend their ‘free time’ playing poker in the common rooms of the university halls of residence.
There are a number of students that have lost $100′s placing their money into the easily accessible onling gambling method but there are also a number of players who have converted that $200 deposit well into $1000′s.
I feel that people who address online poker as the reasoning for student debt are offering only a very small insight into the real issue with many of the students i know preferring to bet in other methods such as horse racing and football pools.
What are your thoughts on this study?
Did you start playing poker in your study years?
Are you a student that has made their deposit into much needed funds?
Tell us your success stories and about low points.
Aced Poker Adds Another Title To Their Name
March 30, 2009
Aced Poker this week added another title to its growing reputation.
Aced Poker professionals entered into the Dream Team Poker Tournament which played host to 148 teams, totalling 444 players.
The team walked away with the title and $59,000 in winnings due to the impressive form shown by one of its professional members Ashley Nataupsky who placed 3rd over all in the tournament.
Jamie Gold also placed within the top 10, finishing a respectable 9th overall.
Other large named professional teams also turned out for the tournament with last years champions Team Bluff unable to repeat their winning performance, a suprise to say the least.
Teams were offered the chance to create team names on registration and were asked to wear shirts that represented that name, and there was a number of strange and wonderful names playing at the felts, with a media poll choosing the most original team name as ’6 Hands, 4 Nuts and a Rack’.
The name represented a team consisting of 2 males and 1 female, showing that there is a hint of humour placed into the $1,500 buy in tournament.
Aced Poker will be aiming to build on this success in a bid to raise their global reputation with the only member of their professional team that has won a major tournament been 2006 World Series of Poker champion Jamie Gold.
Fancy putting your poker skills to the test and playing against Jamie Gold in a number of poker games?
This is one of the attractive factors for joining Aced Poker with the site offering its members the opportunity to buy into games featuring the WSOP champion.
Why not check out the Aced Poker Review or go use our Aced Poker Coupon Code?
Pokerstars Latin American Poker Tournament Won By Karl Envoy
March 23, 2009
The recent Pokerstars Latin American Poker tournament has been won in style by Karl Envoy.
Karl Envoy entered the heads up section of the tournament boasting a 6 to 1 chip lead, carrying his aggressive play into the heads up competition.
The Norwegain poker player dominated the tournament, taking only one hand to defeat Alejandro De Arruabarrena who finished second, netting himself $155,420 for his placing.
Envoy enjoyed what seemed to be an easy tournament for him, cashing out with $283,500 in prize money.
At the start of the tournament 327 players bought in, creating a record $1 million prize pool for the 3 day contest with Envoy taking full advantage and making short work of the final table.
We are yet to hear the name Karl Envoy enter into the poker greats alongside players like Phil Ivey and many others, but this tournament will do alot to boost both his name and confidence.
We could be hearing alot more from Envoy in the near future with a number of tournaments taking his attention.
Like this post? Why not sign up to our feed and be kept up to date on news, reviews and promotions?
Titan Poker Reaches Out To Dutch Poker Player Market
March 23, 2009
Titan Poker, an online poker room based on the third largest online poker network on the internet, i-poker has announced that they have added a new language to its software.
The news will benefit the Dutch player base, offering them the opportunity to view the software in their own language.
The latest addition to their growing software means that Titan offers its software in 12 different languages, adding the Dutch language to target the increasing Dutch market for online poker.
The language packages have been made easier to install too, asking players on sign up which language they would like to progress in.
Although Titan Poker, a french based poker room does not accept U.S. based players, they have been able to make a climb on the ladder of the online poker rooms even without the huge market that is dominated by U.S. based players.
For a site to grow by the size that Titan Poker has, since its creation, the site would need to offer something special to new players as well as keeping existing players loyal to them.
Titan Poker has successfully created a loyal player base, winning customer service awards for the last 3 years running and offering attractive promotions such as tournaments that offer entry into live tournaments such as World Series of Poker.
Like this post, sign up to our feed to be kept up to date on news and promotions
World Series of Poker to Become Casino Owned?
March 23, 2009
With the recession in full force, many companies are feeling the effects losing both assets and employees all over the world.
Harrah’s Entertainment are no acception to the latest downturn, trying to figure out ways to avoid bankruptcy and liquidation.
The company which currently owns the rights to World Series of Poker (WSOP) is exploring avenues to reduce the need to sell off its prize assets to aviod becoming yet another large company that falls in the latest time of need.
Harrah’s Entertainment have owned the rights to the WSOP since buying it from its originators Binions, but with the need to raise funds to prevent the company going into the red, are having to look into the possiblity of selling the rights to one of the most sort after live poker events in the poker community.
Harrah’s Entertainment are exploring the option of releasing the online rights to the tournament to raise much needed funds in their ploit to solidify its foundations .
This news has alerted both online poker rooms and casinos, who will be looking to aquire the rights to the online licence to enhance not only their income but also their company name.
Should the company decide to sell the rights, many online poker rooms will make a move to aquire them, giving the poker room to block any other online poker room from offering seats or WSOP prizes within their rooms. This could pass a massive amount of power to one poker site or casino, owning one of the biggest names in poker tournaments.
Harrah’s Entertainment are currently holding meetings with company officals to explore this option with the company spiralling into more debt, currently estimated at around $4 billion.
What are your thoughts on the possible power shift that this could offer?
Do you think that its more likely to be aquired by a casino or online poker room?
Howard Lederer to Become ‘April Fool’
March 22, 2009
Becoming an April Fool is something which many people fear come April 1st of every year.
This is one trait that professional poker player Howard Lederer and his wife don’t fear, stepping forward to become the hosts of the April Fools Charity Poker Tournament.
The tournament, which is hosted at Hard Rock in Sin City, is a tournament which has been created to benefit Las Vegas Spring Reserve and boasts both amatuer and professional poker player attendance.
The $230 buy in tournament will offer all of its takings to the charity, with the winner taking home a seat into the WPT 2009 main event worth $10,000, a Curtis and Company watch and an exclusive custom made crystal trophy designed in aid of the event.
The professional attendance will offer a huge amount of well known players, with many Full Tilt Poker Pro’s signing up to the tournament, with Andy Bloch, a professional with over $4 million in tournament winnings, has confirmed that he will be placing his chips on the table.
With the male players been represented in strong numbers, Tiffany Michelle has opted to lend her name to the fund raising efforts, a name which is well known to poker fans all over the world for finishing as the last standing female in the World Poker Tour 2008 tournament, finishing a respectable 17th place.
Players from all walks of life are been encouraged to help the charity to raise as much money for the Las Vegas Spring Reserve as possible, opening entry into the tournament accessible by simply emailing info@aprilfoolscpt.com to register their name.
Carbon Poker Join The Twitter Craze and Offer It’s Followers Freerolls!!
March 16, 2009
Carbon Poker have caught the twitter bug! If you’ve never heard of Twitter, it’s a social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users’ updates known as tweets.
On the 14th of March they offered their 310 Twitter followers a chance to play in a $200 freeroll!
If you would like to be kept up to date with their latest on goings and promotions be sure to ‘follow’ them via twitter. Their page can be located at http://www.twitter.com/carbonpoker
Here at ThatsGambling we’re 100% behind Carbon and it’s the small details like this that make a difference. They’re constantly looking after their players and we’ve managed to partner with them to offer you the best Carbon Poker bonuses!
Be sure to check out the Carbon Poker Coupon Code which allows you to gain 200% bonus up to $600
European Poker Tour Dortmund Won by Home City Girl Sandra ‘Black Mamba’ Naujoks
March 16, 2009
The EPT held in Dortmund started with 667 entries into the tournament, generating a prize pool of over €3 million in winnings for the placing players.
The tournament was eventually taken by Dortmund home girl Sandra Naujoks, a 27 year old German graphics designer, model and Full Tilt Poker professional, winning €917,000.
The German born lady of poker, has now taken her win stats to over €1 million with her previous total standing at $280,622 also adding to her evermore impressive poker record.
Naujoks holds a number of tournament cashes including placing 9th at EPT Budapest in 2008.
Naujoks’ most influence hand of the tournament was that which she held during final table heads up against her opponent Holger Kanisch, Naujoks held pocket Aces with Kanisch thinking he possessed the better hand holding pocket Jacks. The hand placed Naujoks in a great position within the stake counts, placing her into first place.
The deciding hand was yet another that Kanisch thought he was going to win, until a 9 on the turn strengthened Naujoks’ A/9 to make the hand stronger than Kanisch’s A/J.
All but one of the final table finished cashed out at 6 figures, making their competition a profitable one.
Did you see the match?
Was it a case of Kanisch been out played or was the element of luck shining out for Naujoks?
Either way, ThatsGambling would like to congratulate Sandra ‘Black Mamba’ Naujoks on her winning and we wish her all the best in her next tournaments.
Image credited to Poker Stars.
9 Lady Poker Players Most Men Would Love To Have At Their Table
March 10, 2009
We can’t hide the fact that women who are interested in playing poker is vastly increasing…so we at ThatsGambling.com decided we’d take the time to hand pick some of these lovely ladies, who most men would love to have sat at their table!
Images credited to Matt Law.
1. Evelyn Ng
Evelyn is a world class poker player who currently promotes Bodog poker. The Toronto, Canada born poker babe plays under 3 different names when playing at the felt tables Evy, Evybabee, or Evbaby, Evybabee been her Bodog poker screen name.
2. Shannon Elizabeth
Shannon Elizabeth is more famed for her role as Nadia in the American Pie series, was born in Houston, Texas. Her recent poker showings have been positive with a last 4 finish in the National Heads Up Championship, losing out to the winner of the tournament. Shannon has had some strong showings within the World Series of Poker over the last few years so we can see that there is alot more to come from this poker babe.
3. Lily Elviro
Lily was born in Miami, Florida and is known more famously within the poker world as ‘Mrs. Grinder’ due to her currently dating Michael ‘The Grinder’ Mizrachi. Lily left high school, moving into a poker dealing job in a casino. A short while after learning to deal she moved into playing poker and since has shown some strong performances in a number of tournaments that she has entered.
4. Amy Wynn Pastor
Amy, famed for her poker attire of black leather jacket, black baseball cap and glasses is out to prove a point in what is becoming less of a predominately male game. Looks are definately deceiving with this girl, as she regularly causes upsets with her tight approach to the game.
5. Chantel McNulty
Chantel, better known for playing cash limit poker took to the tables with a bang, winning the first few tournaments that she entered, enabling her to build herself a bankroll. With the bankroll behind her, Chantel regularly pays $100 – $200 or $200 – $400 Limit Cash games at the Bellagio Casino, showing that this girl likes to play. The San Jose, Califorina born poker babe was known to be playing $1000 – $2000 Limit Cash games in Las Vegas, but has since stepped down the blinds to ensure that she can play within her bankroll.
6. Jennifer Leigh
Jennifer, 25, is currently ranked the highest female within tournaments to date, playing alot of her games on the online poker market. Her poker face seems to be harder to read for the male players she comes up against within live games… We wonder why…?
7. Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer is best known for her nomination for an Academy Award in ‘Bullets over Broadway’ by Woody Allen in 1994, but has made a stake for stardom in the poker world, winning a WSOP bracelet in 2005 in a womens only tournament. Although winning the bracelet sent her into the poker limelight she is currently better known for been the older girlfriend of professional poker player Phil “Unabomber” Laak.
8. Layla Kayleigh
Layla is better know for been the hostess of World Poker Tour but the two partied company after only one season as their host. Born in South London, England the poker babe is now more known for her appearences in shows related to the poker world then been a player at the infamous felts.
9. Joanna Krupa
Joanna is spokesperson for award winning Titan Poker, with the Polish born model been still a poker baby. Her first real tournament ended in success for the babe, as she won a charity tournament, winning $1 Million for her chosen charity. Making her second appearence in a tournament Joanna wanted to move into the limelight, entering World Series of Poker, advancing through the first round before been eliminated after 11 hours of playing in the second round, out lasting other higher named players Jennifer Tilly, Shannon Elizabeth and professional Greg Raymer.
Like this article?