I worked on this project last year with Matt Savage. The series was filmed in Costa Rica and made for a great televised poker show. Here are the times it will air this week on the ION network (formerly PAX). There is a 3 hour finale on Saturday. Check your local listings.
| Calvin Ayre Wildcard Poker | Thursday, May 31st, 10pm | ION |
| Calvin Ayre Wildcard Poker | Friday, June 1st, 10pm | ION |
| Calvin Ayre Wildcard Poker | Saturday June 2nd, 8pm | ION |
Links:
I'll be joining Matt in Aruba for the UltimateBet Aruba Classsic
May 30, 2007 – Nobody says “shuffle up and deal” quite like Matt Savage. And this fall, those words will be echoed from under a palm tree. UltimateBet.com today announced that the world’s leading tournament director is on board to oversee their signature 2007 Aruba Poker Classic tournament.
“We’re injecting the hottest poker tourney of the year with even more energy and excitement,” stated UltimateBet spokesperson George MacLean. “With the top tournament director signed on to help us give away an estimated $2.5 Million in prize money, online poker players have an unprecedented number of reasons to drop their jaws.”
To date, Savage has directed countless million-dollar tournaments including the WSOP and various WPT events. He has appeared on more than 300 televised poker shows on ESPN, GSN, Fox Sports, Travel Channel and other popular networks.
However, Savage’s credentials stretch far beyond just calling the shots on the poker room floor. In an effort to standardize tournament rules throughout the world, Savage founded the Tournament Directors Association. In 2003, he was inducted into the Poker Room Manager’s Hall of Fame as its very first member.
In order to secure Savage and return the tournament to its home at the Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino, the date of the weeklong tournament has been pushed back by one week. The 2007 Aruba Poker Classic will now be held from September 29th to October 6th.
The weeklong tournament gives online poker players the opportunity to celebrate their successes at the tables with their fellow poker players and with the industry’s best professionals. Past Aruba Poker Classic attendees have included Phil Hellmuth, Jennifer Tilly, Phil “The Unabomber” Laak, and Annie Duke. This year’s tournament is also attracting celebrities from the entertainment industry. Scott Ian from Anthrax has already secured a seat in this year’s event after winning VH1’s Rock Stars of Poker.
Online poker players can enter a series of freerolls or satellites to win an $8,500 Aruba prize package at UltimateBet.com. The prize package includes the $5,500 main event seat and $3,000 for travel and accommodations.
In 2006, Devon Miller captured the title, taking home $774,960 in cash. This year, with an estimated 750 players in the tournament, the first place prize is expected to be significantly bigger.
For more information on the 2007 UltimateBet Aruba Poker Classic, visit UltimateBet.com.
About UltimateBet
Designed with the assistance of the best poker players in the world - Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke – UltimateBet provides the best poker games available on the Net. Players can download the free poker software, play in free ring games and tournaments and get tips from these pros to learn the sport or to enhance their playing strategy. UltimateBet currently has over 2 million registered players.
Source: Ultimate Bet Poker News
Related Articles: 2007 UltimateBet Aruba Poker Classic
Site will have many new interactive features
LAS VEGAS, May 30, 2007 – As of June 1st the www.worldseriesofpoker.com website will have lots of new features.
Live streaming video of 17 final tables will be offerred. This will be on a pay per view basis and will come with a years subscription to Bluff Magazine. Bluff Media is the "Official" Digital Media partner of the WSOP. All the information will be up by June 1st.
The site will offer the following:
1. Live audio broadcasts of 13 final tables. You can now listen to the final table direct from your computer or via Sirius Satellite Radio.
2. WSOP TV. This consists of numerous web based TV shows, including:
Morning WSOP Update Desk “Title TBD” (LA) – 14 minute desk based update show covering yesterdays events and looking forward to the current day.
DAILY, 12PM – 12:14PM
Afternoon Update Desk “Title TBD” (LA) – 5 Minute desk based update show covering up to the minute chip counts and breaking news. DAILY, 7PM – 7:05
The Road to the Final Table (LA) – Hourly sesk based update show replacing Afternoon Desk during the Main Event. 1 HOST
FREQ – HOURLY JULY 6 – JULY 17th LIVE
WSOP Call-In “90 minute call in show hosted by pro players. 2 HOSTS. LIVE, FREQ – MON – SUN 10-11:30 LIVE
Daily Floor Interviews (LV) – Daily topical interviews from the tournament floor. Interview length 1-3 minutes. 1 REPORTER. FREQ - DAILY
Restaurant Reviews (LV )- Restaurant review show of popular restaurants at Harrah’s properties in Las Vegas.
FREQ – WEEKLY
Bad Beat Booth – Designated “confessional” area set up for pro’s and Joe’s to come in and tell their WSOP bad beat story. The booth will be open from 2pm to 8pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the prelim events, and each day during the Main Event. Potential donations to the booth can be made with proceeds going to a charitable organization, FREQ – MON, WED, FRI
Pro Video Blogs (vlogs) – Regularly updated vlogs by David Williams, Michael “the Grinder” Mizrachi and other pro’s ,discussing their WSOP experience.
FREQ - DAILY
In the Know – Special editions of RawVegas.tv’s In the Know show starring Antonio Esfandiari pointing out the hottest places for WSOP players to enjoy themselves between breaks and after-hours.
FREQ – AS COMPLETED, TOTAL SHOWS 4-5
On the Button – A weekly series where WSOP tournament dealers tell their best table stories from the tournament.
FREQ – WEEKLY, TOTAL SHOWS 5-6
3. Live Chip counts and updates for all bracelet events
4. WSOP Fantasy Poker Game - Pick a team of your favorite pros and win prizes
5. Featured Bloggs
6. Editorial write ups and much more!
A FREE seat to this years Main Event will also be given away. Simply go to the http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/winaseat.asp and enter your name.
Link: worldseriesofpoker.com
Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
LAS VEGAS, May 26, 2007 – I am glad that my schedule allowed me to be in Las Vegas for this fight. I met Chuck Liddell for the first time last March, in Costa Rica, when we worked on Calvin Ayre Wildcard Poker together. Chuck is a very likeable guy as well as possibly being one of the baddest men on the planet. Chuck has won seven straight fights in the UFC. His last lost was in 2003 to Jackson. I know Chuck has been waiting for this fight for a long time and he is pumped to finally get a chance to avenge his previous loss.
Links:
Related Articles:
Event At WSOP To Raise Awareness For Darfur Survivors
The $5,000 buy-in tournament, which is open to anyone, is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. July 5 in the WSOP tournament area in the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.
Among those who've expressed their intent to play, subject to availability, are Hollywood stars Cheadle, Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt, Jason Alexander, Jennifer Tilley, Hank Azaria, George Clooney, Matt Damon, George Lopez, Danny Masterson, Mekhi Phifer, Ray Romano, Adam Sandler and James Woods.
Basketball great Charles Barkley and poker notables Duke, Erik Seidel, Howard Lederer, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Gordon, Joe Hachem, Andy Bloch, Chris Ferguson, Barry Greenstein, Robert Williamson III, Phil Laak, Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Ted Forrest, Mike Matusow and Clonie Gowan have also expressed plans to compete.
"While a donation is not required to enter, we are respectfully asking players who win prize money to donate half of their winnings to the ENOUGH Project and the International Rescue Committee – organizations whose goals include raising public awareness and providing aid to the survivors of Darfur," Duke said.
"Four years ago, the specter of genocide reared its ugly head in an area of the Sudan called Darfur," said Cheadle, whose role as a hotel manager in the true-life film "Hotel Rwanda" earned him an Academy Award nomination. The movie told the story of the government-sanctioned slaughter of more than a million innocents in Rwanda in 1994.
To keep the action moving, the tournament will feature a fast-paced blind structure that should see the event wrap within five hours. Seating is open to anyone, but is limited, so players are encouraged to pre-register at www.worldseriesofpoker.com/anteup.
Following the tournament there will be a private party at the Vodoo Lounge in the RIO starting at 10pm for those played in the charity event.
Related Posts:
DG Holdings, Ltd. (DGH) has announced that Robert Daily, former World Series of Poker Tournament and Events Director has agreed to become a member of the DG Holdings board, leading the company’s online gaming platform division.
DGH is a privately-held, international investment group with offices in Europe, Asia Pacific and South East Asia. The DGH gaming division was formed more than four years ago to develop a state-of-the-art gaming platform that enables fully-integrated, on-line gaming operations.
Mr. Daily leaves Harrah’s after 11 years in various capacities. During his tenure, he served as the 2005 WSOP Event Manager and 2006 WSOP Tournament Director. Bob received the prestigious 2007 Chairman’s Award for his efforts.
“I have greatly enjoyed my years with Harrah’s, and especially the World Series of Poker,” said Daily, who was again appointed as the upcoming 2007 WSOP Event Director before announcing his departure. “I have every confidence this year’s WSOP will run smoothly and efficiently and if I did not feel strongly that the tournament was ready, I would not have left at this time.
“After my resignation, DGH approached me to join their group as a board member to provide leadership to their online gaming platform – especially poker – and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. I have made many great friends within the poker industry and I look forward to working with them in the future from a different perspective.”
“We’ve had our eye on the industry’s ‘Poker Czar’ for some time. Bob is the perfect person to provide our board with the needed gaming insight and to lead our online gaming initiative into the future,” said a company spokesperson. “With the launch of our first licensed poker site next month, we feel the timing of his appointment and this announcement could not be more perfect.”
Source: Gambling911.com
As most of you already know I will be working with Jack Effel and Harrahs for the upcoming WSOP. The WSOP will be held June 1st - July 17th at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Here is a link to the Tournament Rules for the 2007 WSOP.
Related: Other posts with WSOP tag/label
SECTION I – TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION AND ENTRY
1. As used herein, “Harrah’s” means Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc. and its parent, affiliates and subsidiaries including, but not limited to, Rio Properties, Inc, dba Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Harrah’s reserves the right to refuse anyone entry into the tournament, in its sole and absolute discretion.
2. Entry into the World Series of Poker (herein “WSOP” refers to all events from June 1, 2007 through July 17, 2007) is limited to persons 21 years of age and older, with proof of age, that Harrah’s, acting in its sole and absolute discretion, deems appropriate. Only one entry is allowed per person, per event as set forth in event descriptions.
3. Participants may register for any 2007 WSOP tournament event in person at the WSOP
Registration Area in the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, 3700 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89103, beginning June 1, 2007, for scheduled events in the 2007 WSOP. Cash, cashier’s checks drawn from accredited banks and made out to registrants or the Rio, and Rio gaming chips may be used to pay for entry into a WSOP event.
4. Subject to the restrictions described in these rules, pre-registrations can be made online at www.worldseriesofpoker.com beginning February 26, 2007, by completing the on-line pre- registration process. Pre-registration deposits must be in the form of a cashier’s check, wire transfers or credit-card cash advances. Deposits can be mailed or bank transferred to the Rio. The deposit required is for the full amount of the events one pre-registers for and may be applied to the event registration at the Rio or used for whatever other purpose participants may elect. Deposits must arrive at the Rio no later than two weeks prior to the start of the selected event(s). Pre-registration will remain open until two weeks prior to the start of a particular event. Thereafter, participants may register in person at the Rio. Complete instructions can be found at www.worldseriesofpoker.com. Pre-registered participants will need to present proof of identity (passport, driver’s license, state identification card or military identification card) in person at the Rio to complete the registration process and obtain his or her table and seat assignment.
5. Third-party registrations for players are not permitted unless submitted by Official WSOP sponsors; Official WSOP promotions or product licensees, or civic, charitable, business, casino and other land-based entities officially licensed to conduct satellite tournaments for the 2007 WSOP. No third-party registrations will be accepted from online gaming sites conducting business with U.S. residents.
6. Harrah’s may limit the number of entries into any WSOP event and may award entries into any event through any means it deems appropriate. Harrah’s intends to award a limited number of entries through satellite tournaments, third-party marketing arrangements and or other promotional activities in its sole and absolute discretion.
7. Winners are responsible for payment of any and all taxes, licenses, registrations and other fees associated with tournament registration and winnings.
8. Winners must show their valid picture identification (driver’s license, state identification card, or military identification card) acceptable to Harrah’s at registration and in order to collect prizes. If a participant is not a U.S. citizen, a current passport, consular identification or alien registration card is required.
9. Employees of Harrah’s and its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, owned, operated or managed properties, contractors hired for the operation of the WSOP or parent companies and immediate family members of such employees are not eligible to play in any WSOP events, unless approved in advance by Harrah’s. Immediate Family is defined as: spouse, children and any relative or other person residing in the employee’s place of residence.
10. Individuals who are excluded from casino facilities, either through a government program or by their own request, are not eligible.
11. Each participant must certify their own eligibility.
12. No teams, substitutes, transfers or assisted play will be permitted.
13. Cancellations or voids must be completed prior to the start of a particular event. Please contact the WSOP Office for a Cancellation Form by calling 702-777-7617 or by faxing 702-777-6778. The Cancellation Form must be signed, faxed and received prior to the start of a particular event.
14. By submitting a Pre-Registration Form to Harrah’s for registration in and/or participation in the WSOP, such persons and/or entities agree to these rules.
15. The ability to pre-register as described in these rules is void where prohibited or in any way restricted by law.
16. Entries will be retained for record-keeping purposes in accordance with local legal requirements.
SECTION II – TOURNAMENT SCHEDULING
17. WSOP tournament times are approximate. Harrah’s reserves the right to change WSOP tournament times in its sole and absolute discretion.
18. Harrah’s may cancel, modify, relocate or reschedule the WSOP for any reason with prior notification to the appropriate gaming regulators, to the extent such is required.
19. Harrah’s is not responsible for electronic transmission errors or delays resulting in omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, hardware, software, or telephone failures of any kind, lost or unavailable connections, fraud, incomplete, garbled, or delayed computer transmissions, whether caused by Harrah’s, users, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the promotion or by any technical or human error that may occur in the processing of submissions, any of which may limit, restrict, or prevent a participant’s ability to participate in the tournament.
20. Harrah’s is not responsible for injuries or losses arising or resulting from participation in the WSOP and is not liable for any acts or omissions by employees, whether negligent or willful, in the conduct of the WSOP, and is not liable in the event of any equipment or software malfunction. This includes, but is not limited to, any loss of any tournament chips players leave at playing tables during tournament play, except during authorized breaks.
21. If for any reason the Tournament is not capable of running as planned, including
infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes within or beyond the control of Harrah’s that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this tournament, Harrah’s reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Tournament.
SECTION III – PLAYER CONDUCT AND TOURNAMENT INTEGRITY
22. Harrah’s may impose penalties of any kind or nature upon any person who gives, makes, issues, authorizes or endorses any statement or action having, or designed to have, an effect prejudicial or detrimental to the best interest of the Tournament as determined by Harrah’s, acting in its sole and absolute discretion. This may include, but shall not be limited to, expulsion from the event and property, forfeiture of a player’s entry fee(s) and/or loss of the right to participate in this and/or any other tournament conducted by Harrah’s. Additionally, Harrah’s may in its sole and absolute discretion impose penalties of any kind or nature upon any person who, in Harrah’s view engages in inappropriate conduct during tournament play.
23. Harrah’s may disqualify any person for any prize based upon fraud, dishonesty, violation of promotional rules or other misconduct while on the property or otherwise occurring in relation to the World Series of Poker or as otherwise reasonable or necessary for Harrah’s to comply with applicable statutes and regulations, in its sole and absolute discretion. Harrah’s also reserves the right to exclude any individual(s) acting in a disruptive or inappropriate manner.
24. Any attempt by any person to deliberately damage, corrupt or undermine the operation of the WSOP tournament may be a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Harrah’s reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent of the law.
25. All decisions regarding the interpretation of World Series of Poker Rules, player
eligibility, scheduling and staging of the Tournament, and penalties for misconduct lie solely with Harrah’s, whose decisions are final.
26. Harrah’s employees will use reasonable commercial efforts to consider the best interests of the game and fairness as the top priority in the decision-making process, with the understanding that “best interests of the game and fairness” shall be determined by Harrah’s, acting in its sole and absolute discretion. Unusual circumstances can, on occasion, dictate that the technical interpretation of the rules be balanced against the interest of fairness. Harrah’s decisions are final and can not be appealed and shall not give rise to any claim for monetary damages, as each participant understands that, while poker is primarily and largely a game of skill, the outcome of any particular hand or event is dependent on many factors, including but not limited to the cards dealt, the cards retained and the actions of other participants.
27. Any player who directs any profane and/or abusive language at another player, dealer or tournament staff member or who makes any profane and/or abusive comments about another player, dealer or tournament staff member will be penalized in accordance with Rules No. 22 and/or 46. In particular, the use of the so-called "f-bomb" and "c-bomb" as well as derivatives of those and similarly offensive terms, will subject the offending player to penalties if they are directed at or refer to another player, dealer, staff member, patron or official of Harrah'sor the WSOP. In Harrah’s sole and absolute discretion, it may impose at any time a zero-tolerance policy for profane language whether directed at another person or not.
28. Any player(s) adjudged or determined by Harrah’s to be colluding with other players will immediately be disqualified from the event, and will not be allowed to play in future WSOP events at any Harrah's Entertainment property.
29. Player or staff abuse will not be tolerated. A player may incur a penalty up to and including disqualification for any abuse towards another player or staff member, and player could be asked to leave the property. Repeated etiquette violations such as touching another player’s cards or chips, delay of game and excessive chatter will result in penalties.
30. The WSOP is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including gaming, and all aspects of the WSOP are subject to the approval of appropriate regulatory authorities.
31. Tournament Rules and any and all changes in the rules and event descriptions for the WSOP June 1, 2007, through July 17, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada, will be available at the tournament facilities in the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.
32. Where a situation arises that is not covered by these rules, Harrah’s shall have the sole authority to render a judgment, including the imposition of a penalty, in accordance with the best interests of the Tournament and the maintenance of its integrity and public confidence.
SECTION IV – PLAYER LIKENESS AND IMAGE
33. Prior to entering and playing in the Tournament, each participant must execute a Player Release Form. Failure to do so may, at the option of Harrah’s acting in its sole and absolute discretion, subject the player to immediate disqualification at any point in the Tournament. If the player is disqualified he or she shall forfeit all entry fees and not be entitled to any Tournament prize monies or any other prize consideration that he or she may have qualified for at the point of disqualification.
34. Tournament participants may wear apparel with multiple logos, patches or promotional language. However, no individual logo, patch or block of promotional language is to be larger than 12 square inches. In addition, all logos, patches and promotional language are strictly prohibited if they:
(a) Contain any false, unsubstantiated, or unwarranted claims for any product or
service, or make any testimonials that Harrah’s, in its sole and absolute discretion,
considers unethical;
(b) Advertise any habit-forming drug, tobacco product, handgun or handgun ammunition;
(c) Advertise any malt beverage or any distilled liquor or any non-alcoholic product
containing the name of a liquor product other than Milwaukee’s Best Light or another product of the Miller Brewing Company.
(d) Contain any material constituting or relating to a lottery, a contest of any kind in which the public is unfairly treated or any enterprise, service or product that abets, assists or promotes illegal gambling
(e) Contain any material that is defamatory, obscene, profane, vulgar, repulsive or
offensive, either in theme or in treatment or that describes or depicts repellently any internal bodily functions or symptomatic results of internal conditions, or refers to matters that are not considered socially acceptable topics;
(f) Advertise pornographic products of any kind;
(g) Include any element of intellectual property without the owner'sconsent to such
use or gives rise to any claim of infringement, misappropriation or other form of unfair competition;
(h) Disparage or libel any person or product.
(i) Advertise a dot.com gaming site that conducts business with U.S. residents.
(j) Are or might be injurious or prejudicial to the interests of the World Series of Poker, the Rio, Harrah's or its affiliated companies or are otherwise contrary to honest advertising and reputable business in general. This includes but is not limited to the name or logo of any person or entity that uses or has used the trademarks, trade names or logos of Harrah'sor its affiliated companies without written authorization from an authorized officer of Harrah's.
(k) In addition, all logos, patches, and promotional language for any dot.net website
must contain a clear and visible "dot.net" suffix at least the same size as the site name.
(l) Harrah’s reserves the right at all times to impose a ban on any apparel deemed
objectionable by Harrah’s, in its sole and absolute discretion.
SECTION V – PRIZING AND SEATING
35. Prizes and entries are non-transferable. Prize structures depend on the number of entrants and type of event.
36. Entrants will be assigned to a table and seat through a random computer selection. Alternates will be seated on a first-available basis.
37. If the participant is not present at the start of the tournament, all forced antes and blinds bets will be removed from an absent player’s stack accordingly. If player shows up and still has chips remaining, [s]he may play his or her chips.
38. Non-value chips are used for tournament play.
39. Harrah’s reserves the right to cancel, change or modify the WSOP at any time, for any reason, subject to all applicable regulatory approval, provided that such modification shall not, as of the date of such modification, materially alter or change any participant’s prize already awarded.
40. No-value tournament chips used for the tournament are the exclusive property of
Harrah’s and may not be removed from the tournament area.
SECTION VI – POKER RULES
41. Chip race rule: Race-off is defined as removal of a denomination chip no longer in use. When it is time to color-up chips, they will be raced off with a maximum of one chip going to any player. The chip race will always start at the first player left of the dealer. A player cannot be raced out of a tournament. In the event that a player has only one chip remaining, the regular race procedure will take place. If that player loses the race, [s]he will be given one chip of the smallest denomination still in play.
42. Side pots: Each side pot will be split as a separate pot. Pots will not be mixed together before they are split. The odd chip(s) will go to the high hand. In flop games, when there are two (2) or more high hands or two (2) or more low hands, the odd chip(s) will go to the left of the button. In stud-type games, the odd chip will go to the high card by suit. However, when hands have identical value, e.g., a wheel in Omaha 8 or Better, the pot will be split as evenly as possible.
43. Calling-for-clock procedures: Once a reasonable amount of time has passed and a clock is called, a player will be given one (1) minute to act. If action has not been taken by the time the minute has expired, there will be a ten (10) second countdown. If a player has not acted on his hand by the time the countdown is over, the hand will be dead.
44. Dead Button: Tournament play will use the dead button rule. Dead Button is defined as a button that can not be advanced due to elimination of a player or the seating of a new player into a position between the small blind and the button.
45. A player exposing his or her cards with action pending may incur a penalty, but will not have a dead hand. The penalty will begin at the end of the hand. A penalty may also be imposed if a player throws a card off the table, violates the one-player-to-a-hand rule or engages in similar behavior. Penalties will be invoked in cases of soft-play, abuse or disruptive behavior. All penalties will be imposed at Harrah’s sole and absolute discretion, in accordance with Rule No. 46.
46. In its sole and absolute discretion, Harrah’s may impose penalties that include verbal warnings and missed-hand penalties. A missed-hand penalty will be assessed as follows: The offender will miss one hand for each player at the table, including the offender, when the penalty is given, multiplied by the number of rounds specified in the penalty. Tournament staff can assess one-, two-, three- or four-round penalties or disqualification. Repeat infractions are subject to escalating penalties. A player who is disqualified shall have his or her chips removed from play and no refund will be provided to that disqualified player.
47. A player must be at his or her seat by the time all players have been dealt complete initial hands to have a live hand. Players must be at their seats to call time.
48. All cards will be turned face up once a player is all in and all action is complete.
49. If a player puts in a raise of 50 percent or more of the previous bet but less than the minimum raise, he or she will be required to make a full raise. The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed. In no-limit and pot-limit, an all-in bet of less than a full raise does not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted. Putting a single oversized chip into the pot will be considered a call if the player doesn’t announce a raise. If a player puts an oversized chip into the pot and says, “Raise,” but doesn’t state the amount, the raise will be the maximum allowable up to the denomination of that chip. To make a raise with a single oversized chip, a verbal declaration must be made before the chip hits the table surface. After the flop, an initial bet of a single oversized chip without comment will constitute the size of the bet.
50. In no-limit or pot-limit, a raise must be made by a.) placing the full amount in the pot in one motion or b.) verbally declaring the full amount prior to the initial placement of chips into the pot or c.) verbally declaring “raise” prior to the placement of the amount to call into the pot and then completing the action with one additional motion. Less than a full raise in an all-in situation does not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted.
51. All cards will be turned face up once a player is all in and all betting action is complete.
52. Players are obligated to protect the other players in the tournament at all times. Therefore, whether in a hand or not, players may not
a.) disclose contents of live or folded hands,
b.) advise or criticize play before the action is completed or
c.) read a hand that hasn’t been tabled.
The one-player-to-a-hand rule will be enforced. Players who violate this rule are subject to penalty in accordance with Rule 46.
53. Tournament and satellite seats will be randomly assigned.
54. The English-only rule will be enforced at the WSOP during the play of hands.
55. There will be no foreign objects on the table except for a maximum of one card cap. Card caps can be no larger than two (2) inches in diameter and no more than one-half (1/2)inch in depth.
56. Deck changes will be on the dealer push or limit changes or as prescribed by Harrah’s. Players may not ask for deck changes unless a card is damaged.
57. When time has elapsed in a round and a new round is announced, the new limits apply to the next hand. A hand begins with the first riffle.
58. If a player announces the intent to re-buy before the first card is dealt, that player is playing behind and is obligated to make the re-buy. If a player runs out of chips during the re-buy portion of a re-buy event, he must be-buy or declare to re-buy before the start of the next deal.
59. Players must keep their highest denomination chips visible at all times.
60. Verbal declarations as to the content of a player's hand are not binding; however at Harrah’s discretion, any player deliberately miscalling his hand may be penalized.
61. In cases where hands are concluded prior to the last card being dealt, the next card to be dealt will not be exposed under any circumstances. This prohibited practice is commonly referred to as “rabbit hunting.”
62. A player who intentionally dodges his or her blind(s) when moving from a broken table will incur a penalty, in accordance with Rule No. 46.
63. All chips must be visible at all times. Players may not hold or transport tournament chips in any manner that takes them out of view. A player who does so will forfeit the chips and face disqualification. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play.
64. The breaking order for an event will be posted at the beginning of that event. The table to which a player is moved will be specified by a predetermined procedure. Play will halt at any table that is at least three players short. Players going from a broken table to fill in seats assume the rights and responsibilities of the position. They can get the big blind, the small blind or the button. The only place they cannot get a hand is between the small blind and the button. In flop games, players will be moved from the big blind to the worst position (which is never the small blind) at the new table. In stud games, players will be moved by position (the last seat to open up at the short table is the seat to be filled). Harrah’s reserves the right to alter the breaking order due to unusual circumstances.
65. There is no cap on the number of raises in no-limit games. A raise must be at least the size of the previous raise. In limit events, there will be a limit of one bet and four raises even when heads up until the tournament is down to two players. Once the tournament becomes heads-up, the rule does not apply. There may be unlimited raises at the heads-up level.
66. In stud-type games, if any of the players'two down cards are exposed due to a dealer error, it is a misdeal. In flop games, exposure of one of the first two cards dealt is a misdeal. Players may be dealt two consecutive cards on the button.
67. If a dealer kills an unprotected hand, the player will have no redress and will not be entitled to his or her money back. An exception would be if a player raised and his or her raise had not been called yet, he or she would be entitled to receive his or her raise back.
68. A dealer cannot kill a winning hand that was turned face up and was obviously the
winning hand. Players are encouraged to assist in reading tabled hands if it appears that an error is about to be made.
69. Harrah’s reserves the right to cancel or alter any event at its sole discretion in the best interest of the casino or its players.
70. Poker is an individual game. Soft play will result in penalties that may include forfeiture of chips and/or disqualification. Chip dumping will result in disqualification.
71. Players are entitled to be informed of the pot size in pot-limit games only. Dealers will not count the pot in limit and no-limit games.
72. When heads up in blind games, the small blind is on the button and acts first. When beginning heads-up play, the button may need to be adjusted to ensure no player takes the big blind twice.
73. At the end of the last round of betting, the player who made the last aggressive betting action in that betting round must show first. If there was not bet, the player to the left of the button shows first, and so on in a clockwise direction. In stud games, the player with the high board must show first. In razz, the lowest board shows first.
74. Players must remain at the table if they still have action pending on a hand.
75. Dealers will be responsible for calling string raises.
76. A player must show cards when playing the board to get part of the pot.
77. Any player registering for multiple events and who makes Day Two or the final table of a particular event, may transfer his or her buy-in for the subsequent event to another event, or may also receive a refund, upon request, provided that the transfer or refund is approved and initiated prior to the beginning of the event from which a transfer or refund is being requested.
78. Players are responsible for checking their tournament entry receipts before they leave the registration window. All changes must be made before the start of any event.
79. If an event is sold to capacity when that event begins, all alternates will receive a full chip stack when their seat becomes available.
80. Registration is open until the end of the first level of any event.
81. Late registrants for any event may incur a chip penalty. Players will lose one round of blinds/antes dead money into the pot for every 15 minutes late after a tournament has begun up to a maximum of three (3) rounds of blinds/antes.
82. Cell Phone Rule: A player who wants to use a cellular phone must step away from the table. Any player on the cell phone or texting a messaging when the dealer delivers the first card from the deck will have a dead hand. No cell phones can be placed on a poker table.
83. Approved Electronic Device Rule: Players are allowed to use as approved electronic devices iPods, MP3 and other music players or noise-reduction headsets during tournament play until they have reached the money, so long as the approved electronic devices are not equipped with any type of communication device. Once players are in the money for any tournament, all approved electronic devices must be removed. An announcement will be made to players once they have reached the money to remove all such electronic devices. Failure to do so will results in a penalty up to and including disqualification.
84. At the end of a hand, if a player exposes one hole card, he or she must also show the other hole card if asked to do so by any player.
85. All chips put into the pot in turn stay in the pot. If a player has raised and his or her hand is killed before the raise is called, the player may be entitled to the raise back, but will forfeit the amount of the call. Any chips put into the pot out of turn fall under action "may or may not be binding".
86. Players must act in turn at all times. Action out of turn may or may not be binding. If a player acts out of turn and the action does not change by the time it is that player'sturn to act, that player's action is binding. Action only changes by a player raising before the action gets back to the person that acted out of turn. Action does not change when the player in front of a player acting out of turn calls or folds. If a player acts out of turn and the action changes, the person who acted out of turn may change their action by calling, raising or folding and may have their chips returned. Players will receive a warning for the first occurrence of acting out of turn, and will receive a penalty, in accordance with Rule No. 46, every time after.
87. Rules governing Live Action Play are detailed in the Live Action Poker Manual that will be located at the Poker Podium within the Live Action side of the tournament area.
SECTION VII - TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
88. Dinner Breaks for all events that begin at 12 noon will be at approximately 8 p.m. Play will resume at approximately 9:30 p.m. There will be no staggered Dinner breaks.
89. Dinner Breaks for all events that begin at 5 p.m. will be at approximately 10 p.m. Play will resume at approximately 11 p.m. There will be no staggered Dinner breaks.
90. Play will end at 2 a.m. each night for all events that begin at 12 noon. Play will resume the following day at 2 p.m. The Tournament Direct may modify this schedule for any reason.
91. Play will end at 3 a.m. each night for all events that begin at 5 p.m. Play will resume the following day at 3 p.m. The Tournament Direct may modify this schedule for any reason.
92. Tournament Supervisors are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the priority in the decision making process. Unusual circumstances may, on occasion, dictate that the technical interpretation of the rules be ignored in the interest of fairness. The Tournament Supervisor's decision is final.
93. Upon nearing the “Money” (the first level of the prize pool payout), a “Hand-for-Hand” method of determining player placement within the prize pool and the actual amount of prize pool disbursement within that event will be utilized. This will begin by completing the current hand in progress at all tables. Once all hands are complete, the dealer at each table will deal one hand only, then – once the hand is complete – suspend play. This process will continue until enough players have been eliminated to reach the money. During the Hand-for-Hand process, more than one player may be eliminated during the same hand. If two players are eliminated during the same hand at different tables, both players will “tie” for that place finish. If two players are eliminated during the same hand at the same table, the player who began that hand with the highest chip count will receive the higher place finish.
Source: www.worldseriesofpoker.com
PokerNews.com to Provide Exclusive Live Updates and Chip Counts For The WSOP
PokerNews announced today the signing of an agreement with Bluff Media, LLC, to provide live-update and chip-count services for the World Series of Poker®. The agreement includes the complete WSOP schedule itself, plus future WSOP Circuit and other WSOP-branded events. PokerNews will provide live 'play-by-play' reports from the tables and chip counts for the www.WorldSeriesofPoker.com site, information also to be available at PokerNews.
Said PokerNews CEO Damon Rasheed about the agreement, "We are proud to partner with Bluff to provide what we believe will be the best coverage the World Series of Poker has ever seen. We look forward to covering poker's premier events, and fans of poker can count on seeing all the action as it happens."
The key to the deal is PokerNews' new live-reporting software, a system launched this past January. PokerNews' live coverage has already received broad acclaim, and is sure to reach a wider audience through the WSOP/Bluff pact. PokerNews, already named the official media partner of the Aussie Millions, has implemented the new live-reporting features in several major tournaments this year.
The coverage is designed to complement Bluff Media's own broadband media, streaming and real-time content efforts. "We're thrilled to be working with PokerNews as we bring the best coverage in the industry to poker fans worldwide," said Nick Geber, Vice President of Bluff Media. "PokerNews' industry-leading tournament updates are a perfect compliment to our unprecedented Video, Audio and Web coverage of poker's premier events."
In addition to the live chip counts, table reports and video entries, PokerNews promises to bring to the WSOP a level of near-live, international coverage never seen before. Most of PokerNews' extensive network of 23 non-English sites will each translate the live reports in almost real-time; poker players the world over will be able to keep up to date with the latest happenings at the WSOP.
"The strength in PokerNews is our worldwide network of foreign language sites," said John Caldwell, Editor-In-Chief of PokerNews.com "The job of covering the WSOP in so many languages is a huge one, and we are working nonstop with our editors all over the globe in anticipation of covering the WSOP on an unprecedented level. Poker is a global game, and we look forward to leading the charge by providing live coverage for the first time ever in many of the languages we cover."
Source: PokerNews.com
www.blog.billbruce.info
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:WPTE - News) today announced its official tournament schedule for Season VI of its highly popular TV show, the World Poker Tour® (WPT). The schedule includes 19 regular-season WPT tour stops and the annual ladies-only event, Ladies Night V. Several "WPT specials"--or themed invitation events--will be announced at a later date.
WPT introduced several new stops and venues, including new tournaments in the Caribbean's Turks & Caicos Islands, Casino Barcelona in Spain, and Mississippi's prestigious Beau Rivage, a sister property to the Gold Strike Casino and part of the MGM family. Additionally, WPT created additional tournament stops at several existing WPT member casinos.
"It's important to continue delivering fresh and exciting experiences for our players and fans on both the tournament and television level," said Steve Lipscomb, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of the WPT. "By adding WPT stops in beautiful locations around the world coupled with our move to a gaming-dedicated network like GSN, season six is poised to be the best year yet."
Also filming established WPT tour stops held in the world's most beautiful casinos, WPT will return to Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Commerce Casino, The Bicycle Casino, Gold Strike Casino and Resort, Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, Bay 101, and Niagara Fallsview Resort Casino. The full Season VI tournament schedule is below.
WPT Season Six Schedule
The Mirage Poker Showdown
The Mirage, Las Vegas, NV
May 19 – 23, 2007: Final Table: May 23
Mandalay Bay Poker Championship
Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
May 29 – June 2, 2007: Final Table: June 2
Bellagio Cup III
Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV
July 10 -15, 2007: Final Table: July 15
Legends of Poker
The Bicycle Casino, Los Angeles, CA
August 25 – 30, 2007: Final Table: August 30
WPT Ladies Night V
The Bicycle Casino, Los Angeles, CA
August 18, 2007: Final Table: August 31
Gulf Coast Poker Championship
Beau Rivage, Biloxi, MS
September 6 – 9, 2007: Final Table: September 9
Borgata Poker Open
Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, Atlantic City, NJ
September 16 – 20, 2007: Final Table: September 20
Turks & Caicos Poker Classic
The Players' Club, Club Med, Turks & Caicos
September 25 – 30, 2007: Final Table: September 30
WPT Spanish Championship
Casino Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
October 12 – 16, 2007, Final Table Oct. 16
North American Poker Championship
Niagara Fallsview Resort Casino, Niagara Falls, Canada
October 26 – Nov 2, 2007: Final Table: November 2
World Poker Finals
Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, CT
November 8 – 13, 2007: Final Table: November 13
Bellagio Five Diamond World Poker Classic
Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV
December 13 – 18, 2007: Final Table: December 18
World Poker Open
Gold Strike, Tunica, MS
January 20 - 23, 2008: Final Table: January 23
Borgata Poker Classic
Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, Atlantic City, NJ
January 26 – 30, 2008: Final Table: January 30
L.A. Poker Classic
Commerce Casino, Los Angeles, CA
February 23 – 28, 2008: Final Table: February 28
WPT Celebrity Invitational
Commerce Casino, Los Angeles, CA
March 1 – 3, 2008: Final Table: March 3
Bay 101 Shooting Star
Bay 101, San Jose, CA
March 10 – 14, 2008: Final Table: March 14
World Poker Challenge
Grand Sierra Resort Casino, Reno, NV
March 25 – 28, 2008: Final Table: March 28
Foxwoods Poker Classic
Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, CT
April 4 – 9, 2008: Final Table: April 9
WPT World Championship
Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV
April 19 – 25, 2008: Final Table: April 25
LAS VEGAS – May 8, 2007 – Most players who finish in the money in 2007 World Series of Poker events will receive a higher percentage of the prize pools than last year, WSOP officials said today.
“We are increasing the return to players who, after hours or days of grueling competition, are able to reach the money,” said Howard Greenbaum, regional vice president of specialty gaming for Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: HET). “Our goal is to keep more money circulating among more people in the poker community.”
While the final payout schedule for each event depends on the final number of entrants, a comparison of the actual payouts for the 2006 Main Event with what they would have been under the new payout schedule illustrates the differences. Overall, 846 players last year would have won substantially more money – in some case, more than double – what they collected in 2006. The top 27 players would have received less, however.
For example, the 2006 Main Event would have paid $22,266 for 873rd through 775th places, up from $14,605 or $15,512. Places 82 through 73 would have paid $126,173, up from $66,010. First place would have paid $10,028,715, down from $12 million, while second place would have been worth $5,442,769, compared with $6,105,900.
“We discussed this concept with our poker operations team and with members of the WSOP Players Advisory Council and the consensus was that spreading the wealth is the right thing to do,” said Greenbaum. “The new schedules are designed to increase the rewards to players who finish in the money but don’t reach the final table.”
The new payout schedules are posted at worlderiesofpoker.com and indicate the percentage payouts for different numbers of players for different games.
Link: Press Release
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Losing a block of your largest exhibitors might spell doom for most trade shows.
Officials with the Gaming Life Expo, operated in conjunction with Harrah's Entertainment-owned World Series of Poker, believe otherwise.
With most of the major Internet poker gambling sites not welcome at the upcoming World Series of Poker, Rio executives switched the theme of the four-day show, scheduled for July 5-8 at the Rio Pavilion, from gambling to men's lifestyle.
"To be frank, it was a transition we were planning," said David Koloski, the Rio's marketing director who oversees the expo. The show is free and open to the public, but guests must be at least 21 to enter.
"We saw in the past two years that roughly 80 percent of our audience was male," Koloski said. "We began to make the push to switch the event to exhibitors that cater toward a men's lifestyle."
Expansive booths operated by Internet poker sites such as PokerStars, Bodog, Full Tilt, Paradise Poker, and Ultimate Bet, were the highlights of the expo and main drivers of an estimated 100,000 people visiting the show each of the past two years.
Some of the more well-known professional poker players and past World Poker champions helped bring fans into the booths. But provocatively dressed female models were the other draw. Last year, Bodog offered poker fans a chance to pose in bed with lingerie-clad models who were participating in pillow fights.
Harrah's is not allowing affiliates associated with Internet poker Web sites that still accept wagers from Americans to participate in this year's World Series of Poker. Instead, the booth space inside the 55,000-square-foot Rio Pavilion will be filled by golfing exhibits, race car simulators, alcoholic beverage firms, a working tattoo parlor and an indoor beach volleyball court that will include an all-female tournament.
Koloski said ancillary gambling products will still have a place at the expo, but the show is heading more toward the area of men's lifestyle.
"We had several inquiries from major businesses and products, which allowed us to move away from the gaming stuff somewhat," Koloski said. "If someone wants to promote a poker book or a player training academy, they can still lease booth space. Obviously, the show will be a little different and won't be as crazy as it was. We think it will be a little more high-end."
The Rio has room for 200 booths and Koloski expects the exhibit space to sell out. A 10-foot-by-10-foot booth two years ago leased for $2,000. This year's show has the same space leasing for $2,500, Koloski said.
While the expo operates in conjunction with the 38th World Series of Poker, scheduled to run June 1 through July 17 with 55 events, it is not affiliated with the tournament. The expo will take place during the media-celebrity event and the first three days of the World Series of Poker's main event, the $10,000 buy-in no limit Texas hold'em World Championship. The four days are expected to have the tournament's highest attendance.
Because of the ban on Internet gambling that was approved by Congress and signed by President Bush last year, Harrah's decided to limit the presence of poker dot-coms at the World Series.
"It's pretty simple. We can not be in business with Internet sites that accept wagering business from U.S. residents," World Series of Poker Communications Director Gary Thompson said. "Whatever the expo wants to do is their business, but you're probably not going to see the (Internet poker) presence like you have in the past."
Most on the Internet poker sites also leased out convention area breakout rooms for elaborate player lounges and hospitality suites. Thompson said that aspect will also be missing.
Internet poker gambling sites that don't accept wagers from American customers, such as Ladbrokes, may still lease a hospitality suite.
"They will want to do something for their customers, but it will probably be pretty small," Thompson said.
By Howard Stutz
Source: The Poker Gazette
