POKER/GAMBLING NEWS

Trickett Beaten Up A Few Hours after the Big Tournament

British poker pro tweeted about his disappointment

Only several hours after the completion of the Big One for One Drop tournament where British poker pro Sam Trickett won a $10.11 million second placing prize, he fell victim to a group of six men who beat him and spat on his girlfriend.

In an unprovoked assault which ended up in the player’s bewilderment and disappointment, Trickett was attacked whilst leaving a Las Vegas club after celebrating the big success with his long-time girlfriend Natasha Sandhu.

In an apparently motiveless beating, six men left the young poker pro bruised and bleeding, and treated his distressed girlfriend in the most ungentlemanly manner.

After the unpleasant encounter, Tricket tweeted: 'Was having a great day until 6 guys did this to me. Seriously WTF? Couldn't be more angry #cowards.' He added: 'Is this what happens if ur successful? literally beat the shit out of me and spat in @NatashaSandhu face all over nothing...It wasn't a mugging or anything, just over nothing, sam is fine..gonna spend some quality time together now.'

Trickett’s tweet about the assault immediately got a lot of attention with the story rapidly spreading via internet and mainstream media.

The Daily Mail also reported on Trickett's tweet including also a photograph of the pro's facial injuries and reminding that the assault occurred only a few hours after the completion of the Big One For One Tournament won by Antonio Esfandiari.

Source

I wish I could say I'm shocked but I really can't.There are places in this world where leaving a club...no matter who you are....you are taking the chance of some idiot or six  jumping you!   >:(

It had to be terrifying and so sad this happened in Vegas.It's good to know they were not seriosly hurt!!

That is just sick and hateful. I so wish that it was not like this that our world has ended up.

katt

I was pretty shocked when I read it.  What a "come down" that must have been after coming 2nd in the big tourney.  Very sad indeed.

bkue

Update on the Sam Trickett beating:  Apparently he "disrespected" Hellmuth at the table!  Trickett is not sure what it was that he is supposed to have said.  It will be interesting to hear what Phil Hellmuth has to say about it.

blue

I did watch some of the final table but I guess I missed that.I wish I had recorded it so I could watch it again!!

I'd like to know if that was that the reason.

I just don't get the whole disrespect thing sometimes.To hurt or kill someone because you feel you or someone else has been disrespected...I mean....really...that's a reason??  :(

So blue, are they saying that Hellmuth sent 6 thugs to beat Trickett up? Or do you reckon it was just "fans" of Hellmuth that didn't like seeing him get bested in the tournament? Still just a sad situation. Disrespected him? That is a total gang attitude and mentality. I was riveted on that final table and I only saw everyone getting along and having a very good time.

I wonder if it might have had anything to do with the following?:

Well-known Poker Pro Robs English Player Sam Trickett

By Renee | June 8, 2012

Sam Trickett, the English professional poker player, fully approves of Daniel Negreanu’s suggestion that “shady people” in the poker gaming world must be chucked out. The poker pro recently expressed his frustration by posting a tweet, in which he stated that a well-known poker player had stolen some money from him and that he would expose the player if he fails to repay him.

Trickett has not yet revealed the name of the culprit, but has threatened to expose him completely if the matter is not immediately resolved in his favor. In the meantime, the poker gaming community is doing everything in its power to guess the name of the player who has annoyed Trickett so much.

Yesterday, Trickett tweeted, “I had money stolen from me by a well-known poker pro, that I thought was my friend! If he don’t call me soon, I’m going to expose him 4 what he is.”

Usually, poker players are kind and understanding toward bad debtors as they are in the habit of borrowing and lending from one another. In other words, borrowing and lending funds is part of life in the live poker world, and if anybody is publicly exposed as a bad debtor, it would be very difficult for him/her to conduct his/her daily business.

But poker pro Negreanu had disagreed with this policy. Calling it an “old school philosophy,” he had urged players to change their attitude. He said, “If you have shady people in your community, you should speak up. I don’t like this “don’t snitch” culture.”

Now, the online poker media is closely watching Trickett’s Twitter page, hoping that he will reveal a name. However, Trickett appears to have posted that tweet owing to temporary annoyance. Right now, the poker pro appears more interested in his performance in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2012 and is understandably eager to grab his first WSOP bracelet ever. Poker News says that it tried contacting Trickett to find out if he is willing to reveal more information about the poker pro who robbed him, but could not get any information.

Fans of Sam Trickett might remember that someone had tried hacking into his bank account last year not once, but twice. He had even posted an angry tweet about it. The mystery had remained unsolved last year, and this year, the poker community hopes that the name of the scammer will be revealed to the public.

katt

As far as I can tell from the news items I've read, they were, apparently, Hellmuth fans but that isn't to say that this debt thing might not have something to do with it.

It's a very interesting article Katt.  If he "blows the whistle" on the bad debtor, they will be unlikely to get any more loans from other poker players.  It could well have something to do with it - these thugs could have been sent as a warning from the player that owes him money.

I'll definitely be keeping an eye on the news.

blue

Hmmm!

Just done a bit more research and it seems the poker player in question who owes him money could well be Andrew Feldman.  There was a bit of a "tweet" war going on between the two.

This was Trickett's Tweet

"not going 2 go in 2 detail but please nobody trust @Andrewfeldman1 ,the guy is a very deluded untrustworthy person.i found out the hard way" 

Trickett also made reference to him crying like a baby

blue

:`o :`o Is it going to be "what A tangled web we weave" kind of thing ???

:`o :`o Is it going to be "what A tangled web we weave" kind of thing ???

Definitely Rosebud.

blue

Can't wait to find out how this all ends.... intrigue... :'$ and we thought all the excitement was over.

katt

Nice information.This news is very beneficial for poker player

Intrastate Legalization Meeting in Nevada Next Week

New chance for online poker to become legal in the state

On July 25, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval and his 11-strong advisory Gaming Policy Committee will meet to discuss recommendations for the 2013 legislative session on the issue of real-money online poker.

The media reported that part of the discussions will relate to Assembly Bill 258, which legitimizes intrastate online poker in Nevada, subject to the approval of the US Department of Justice and Congress.

In addition, the committee's fourth meeting this year will also cover topics such as the strengthening of post-licensing regulatory standards for online poker companies.

Source

Excellent news blue! The wheels are turning however slowly! They are at least turning!

katt

Excellent news blue! The wheels are turning however slowly! They are at least turning!

 

katt

True Katt.  "Slow" is a bit of an understatement though.

blue

Excellent news blue! The wheels are turning however slowly! They are at least turning!

 

katt

True Katt.  "Slow" is a bit of an understatement though.

 

blue

I know what you mean! While reading it I came to the part that said Intrastate meaning inside of Nevada only for now... then to the year 2013... and my heart sank a bit both times, but it is still very hopeful! I live in California and this state needs money badly. So, I am hoping they will be quick to jump on board once things really get going!

katt

California are in the "process" too so hopefully it will be sometime next year for you too Katt.

blue

New Movements in Nevada

First licenses to be issued within next three months

An announcement came this week that an intrastate online poker meeting of the Nevada Gaming Policy Committee, led by Governor Brian Sandoval, resulted in claims that the first real-money operator licenses can be issued within the next three months.

It has been stated by Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman, Mark Lipparelli, that state officials and lawmakers will still be urged by the committee to expand their vision to state to state partnerships, in order to see liquidity and revenues boost.

Since the Gaming Policy Committee, with its 11 members, voted in favor of recommending language amendments from the 2011 online poker bill, it’s now only left to go through licensing and technology inspections.

Source

PROGRESS!! Can't help but get excited by this news! Thanks blue!

katt

Full Tilt Players To Be Paid Eventually

Rumors say that players might have their money before Christmas this year

News broke on Friday that a long-awaited solution between Pokerstars and the US Justice Department had been hammered out and that it could lead to the acquisition of Full Tilt Poker and the payment of its owed players in the near future.

As Wendeen Eolis wrote: "Without giving away the identity of a consistently impeccable resource, it is now safe to say announcements for public dissemination are in the works. At this point I am ready to go out on a limb; FTP customers will see their monies well in time for Christmas shopping."

It was added by Chris Costigan he had access to documents and information according to which a solution was in sight.

Following the approval by the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York of a deal for Pokerstars to acquire Full Tilt Poker, "...all players owed monies by Full Tilt Poker will be receiving their funds with an announcement forthcoming directly from the US Attorney’s Office very shortly."

Source

Update: Full Tilt Poker Confirms Takeover Negotiations

US DoJ agrees to PokerStars acquisition

An announcement came this week from Full Tilt Poker that the US Department of Justice agreed to the acquisition of FTP by Pokerstars, in order to facilitate the payouts of players who are owed monies.

It has been specified that the three-way DoJ-Pokerstars-FTP deal will see the company’s civil forfeiture proceedings with the U.S. Department of Justice end, but that criminal charges will remain.

Also, the deal envisages that PokerStars should pay a substantial amount of money to the United States – in the area of $330 million. In return, the government has agreed that all of Full Tilt Poker’s U.S. players will be able to request a compensation for their losses out of those funds.

Things will also look better when PokerStars enables immediate cash withdrawal or play of the account balances for all of Full Tilt Poker’s non-U.S. players, within ninety days. All together, the deal is estimated to be worth over $730 million with elements payable over three years.

On the occasion, FTP apologized to its customers, giving them credit for enduring a long and difficult period "wondering whether this day would ever come." They also expressed gratitude to its loyal employees "whose hard work over the last 15 months preserved the value of the Full Tilt Poker assets so a deal like this could be possible, and to PokerStars and the United States Department of Justice for their efforts in bringing about this resolution."

According to a FTP lawyer who played a very prominent role during the whole period, Jeff Ifrah, "Today, Full Tilt surrendered their assets to the U.S. Department of Justice, who then sold those assets to Poker Stars for $731 million.  Of that payment, $330 million will be administered by the Justice Department’s Asset Forfeiture Section to reimburse Full Tilt’s U.S. players."

At the moment, it is not known if the deal will have any effect on a civil class action against FTP, filed by lead plaintiff Judy Fahrner in Illinois. It is claimed in the class action that, "Upon information and belief, Full Tilt's Board of Directors distributed approximately $443,860,529.89 to themselves and other owners between April, 2007 and April, 2011."

In related news, it has been reported that the DoJ has also achieved a deal with Absolute Poker and Ultimatebet, according to which those entities will forfeit all assets to the Department of Justice, and the government will abandon its massive civil claims against the companies in return.

Source

Update: New Details of PokerStars-FTP Deal

USA doors opening to PokerStars

Certain details of a deal between PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and the US Justice Department, have been released by PokerStars directors on Aug. 1, according to which:

* FTP is to forfeit all assets to the US government. The assets will then be transferred to PokerStars, which will pay $547 million to the US government over the following three years for them.

* FTP players who are owed monies will be able to claim relief from the DoJ Asset Forfeiture Money Laundering Service.

* Another $184 million will be paid by PokerStars directly without restriction to owed FTP customers outside the USA. The timeframe for this is 90 days.

* The deal will enter into force when PokerStars pays the initial tranche of $225 million. This must be done within the next six days.

* On its part, the US government will drop all civil forfeiture and money laundering charges against individuals related to PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, which may clean the slate for the company to take part in any US legalized online poker market that may evolve.

Also, it has been specified in the statement that PokerStars plans to re-open Full Tilt Poker within 90 days of the formal implementation of the deal, and that it will be operated as a separate brand under a "new, independent management team."

Speaking of which, the management will not be allowed to include founder and major stakeholder Isai Scheinberg, one of the Black Friday indictees, or FTP directors like Ray Bitar, Nelson Burtnick, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson and Rafe Furst.

Furthermore, PokerStars management will not enter the French, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Belgian or Estonian markets with the FTP brand, while Full Tilt will remain present in Ireland, with legal compliance and regulatory supervision transferred to PokerStars' Isle of Man offices.

In addition, the company revealed plans to enable financial transactions between accounts in both brands.

It has been stated by Mark Scheinberg, chairman of the Pokerstars board: “We are delighted we have been able to put this matter behind us, and also secured our ability to operate in the United States of America whenever the regulations allow.”

A confirmation of the deal also arrived from Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who stated that the deal has allowed the US government to "quickly get significant compensation into the victim players’ hands."

Source

Update: US Punters to Get Their FTP Monies with Help from Poker Players Alliance

Action group claims players will be fully paid, according to terms of the settlement deal

After the announcement of the Pokerstars’ acquisition deal on Full Tilt Poker, the Poker Players Alliance issued a statement that it is ready to provide assistance in the long awaited pay-outs to players through US government agencies.

In its statement, the Alliance stressed:

“The government has not yet released the precise details on how reimbursements will occur. It is the PPA's position that the government must take all steps necessary to ensure the process for the players to recover their full funds is not unduly burdensome. PPA's legal team will remain fully involved as the ‘voice of the player’ to ensure our members are heard throughout this process."

In addition, in light of the uncertainty on how the restitution scheme is to be implemented, the PPA sent a note to the Department of Justice's Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, noting that sufficient money is involved in the terms of the FTP-Pokerstars settlement to enable all owed US players to get their money through the government's pay-out system.

In the note, it also called on the government to make use of the PPA's experience, knowledge and resources in order to facilitate a fast introduction of a player-friendly and efficient "process for remission," adding its own view on the fair way of calculating the amounts owed to FTP players.

Source

FTP Payment Plan Outlined and Revealed by PokerStars

This week, PokerStars revealed its payment plan for Full Tilt Poker customers following the re-launch of the site on November 6.

Namely, former FTP players from Estonia, France, Spain, Denmark and Belgium are to be paid through the locally-licensed PokerStars platform, by pairing a PokerStars account with their Full Tilt account, thus being able to either withdraw the funds or use their balances on the local Pokerstars site.

The negotiations regarding the payout of Italian punters are still ongoing with the Italian regulator AAMS, with further details expected in near future.

Regarding players in regions such as Ireland and the UK, they will gain access to their accounts at Full Tilt once the site re-launches.

The company assured all players that it has been working with regulators "...in all relevant jurisdictions to ensure that repayment is conducted in strict compliance with local regulatory requirements that ensure the security of player accounts and confirmation of the rightful ownership of those accounts.”

In the meantime, US players are still waiting for their government to finalize its payout scheme, which will be funded from the $547 million paid by Pokerstars as part of its settlement and acquisition deal. Apparently, the US government is still considering applicants from independent third parties that have the expertise to make such substantial payments.

source

Thanks for the info blue!! And BTW

LOL

You're welcome....and welcome back.  Missed ya.

blue

You're welcome....and welcome back.  Missed ya.

 

blue

FeltStars Shuts Its Doors

From this week, the US-friendly Merge Poker Network skin FeltStars is no longer accepting any action, for reasons undisclosed.

As the site advised its players, “The entire FeltStars Team would like to thank all of our loyal players for all the years you have played poker on FeltStars.

“We are saddened to announce that we will be leaving online poker and [will] no longer offer these services on our website.”

The operator, which has been around since 2008 assured players that their account balances are secure, being held by the network, which will help them transfer positive balances to other Merge skins, where they will have to open a new account and then ask Merge Gaming to move their balance across.

Source

OMG and WTF? Just like that! Poof! No more Feltstars... I wonder what this means? Thanks for the info blue!

katt

I hear you Katt and for me it means one less place to play at!! :(

Yes it's darned frustrating and annoying for sure.  Yet another USA site bite sthe dust....sigh

The really bad part is that I was going to sign up with Feltstars this week because of the info you shared the other day blue. I just missed PokerStars too before it shut the door. Back when blue was coaxing me over the poker threshold! LOL Dang it.

katt

Update: FTP Sends Advisory to US Players, Releases Info about Rewards Program

After sending an informational email to non-US players, the new Full Tilt Poker, now owned by Pokerstars and the Rational Group, addressed US players with a note that was supposed to show that the company cares about them even though it does not serve them at present.

In the message the US players were reminded that based on a deal between Pokerstars, Full Tilt Poker and the US Department of Justice, neither Full Tilt Poker nor Pokerstars will offer real money online poker in the USA "...until it is permissible to do so under relevant law."

In addition, the email reads:

"In relation to your account balance, you will have the opportunity to file petition with the DOJ through a remission process which will be administrated by the DOJ.

"In light of the above, only play chip games will be available to Full Tilt Poker players in the U.S. following re-launch, in the first week of November, 2012. Your Full Tilt Points balance will remain intact in your account.

"Please note that we are unable to answer queries in relation to your funds - all such questions should be directed to the DOJ in accordance with the procedure to be defined by them."

In related news, an announcement came from Full Tilt’s poker room manager Shyam Markus about the company’s reward program which will be launched along with the revamped site, in November.

According to him, the Full Tilt Reward Programme is not a PokerStars initiative but an original Full Tilt idea, which was under development at the time of the Black Friday crackdown.

It now comes in a new and improved form than the initial concept, so it will offer weekly cash payments based on Full Tilt Points (FTP's) earned that week, topping out at $2.50 for every 100 Full Tilt Points awarded.

Markus also said that the program will be available to eveyone and that it includes:

-    “Unlike affiliate-paid rakeback, there are no deductions of fees (store purchases, promotions, etc, therefore, the 25 percent mentioned above will almost always beat the 27 percent that rakeback was giving,” he said.

-    “Because the weekly cash payments are now based on points earned, FTP’s will now be earned using the Weighted Contributed method instead of the Dealt method.

-    “The weekly cash payments don't use up the FTP’s earned, so players can still spend them in the store. Depending on how they are spent, points add an additional 4-5 percent to the program, giving the top level of the new program a giveback of up to 30 percent.

-    “Since there are no fee deductions, all FTP’s are worth more to former rakeback players than previously, which increases the value of promotions like Happy Hour and Take 2.

-    “Full Tilt will have a transition from Iron Man and Black Card to this new program, so long-term players of both promotions will likely get a leg up in the new program from the start.

-    “The top level of this program is significantly easier to achieve than Black Card was.  The Black Card store will be changed so that anyone in the new top level can use it. This means that more players will be eligible to purchase cash bonuses in the store.

-    “If player's qualified for the 2011 Iron Man Mid-Year Bonus, they will still receive it when the site re-launches.

-    “The Black Card program will return (not at re-launch, but eventually) in a brand new way. Expect a little news about that soon."

Finally, he pointed out the following things about the site relaunch: that it will be available for download, install and even log in before November 6th, that the same log-in PIN will be in effect, that it will feature the same lobby, with a multi-currency cashier in the pipeline, that the .eu site is a top priority for the company and is expected to be one of the first updates after the re-launch, and that players will be able to pair Full Tilt and PokerStars accounts by logging in to both sites and using a pairing code to link them, with more info about the procedure coming soon.

[utl=http://www.latrce[/url]estpokerbonuses.com/poker-news/2012-10-12/update-ftp-sends-advisory-to-us-players-releases-info-about-rewards-program/]sou

That is soooo not fair. I was able to deposit only one time at Full Tilt before they would no longer take my credit card. Now I can only play with "Fun money".

They should call it "Anything but Fun, Money".

That is soooo not fair. I was able to deposit only one time at Full Tilt before they would no longer take my credit card. Now I can only play with "Fun money".

 

They should call it "Anything but Fun, Money".

I agree.  Fun money is not really much fun at all, although for a new player, it's a fantastic stomping ground to learn the game.

blue

Fun Play Live on Full Tilt Poker!

On Oct. 31, Full Tilt Poker went live with fun play games, as a phase of beta testing a week prior to its official re-launch on November 6.

At the moment, players are able to log-in, view their account balances and FTP points ahead of the launch and for the first time since the site’s shutdown 16 months ago. In addition, they are offered to upgrade their software, select a new password and pair with their PokerStars account, but also to choose a preferred seat and benefit from double and triple chance tournament play.

In its statement on the early pre-launch, the company said this part of beta testing serves to ensure "everything is running smoothly".

From November 6, the site will have cashier services in place, but not for French, Spanish, Italian, Belgian, Danish and Estonian players who will not be allowed to play there until the FTP owner PokerStars clears outstanding balances in cooperation with the countries’ regulators, said Shyam Markus, Full Tilt poker room manager.

Source

hope i'll get my money back than hun

hope i'll get my money back than hun

You will.

I logged in to have a nose around.  Clicked the cashier button and my money is there.  There is also a little "transfer" button on it with the red PokerStars spade sign which means you can transfer cash from FT to PokerStars.

Nice to see you around Jos.

blue

always here hun someone got 2 watch out for u lol

always here hun someone got 2 watch out for u lol

Very nice Jos!!!

We love our Blue!! ;)

always here hun someone got 2 watch out for u lol

And boy does our lovely blue need a lot of watching out for! LOL

katt

Thank you Jos, Rose and Katt.  Nice to know you all got me covered LOL

blue

FTP Players to Be Paid in New Year?

This week’s statement from The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York informed interested parties that the Department of Justice (DoJ) is currently evaluating applicants for the position of Claims Administrator, who will be in charge of managing U.S. Full Tilt Player claims for funds amounting to around $184 million.

This may be light at the end of the tunnel for US players, who were informed that the recruitment process is expected to be finalized and work to begin in January 2013, which should leave room for hope that at least some of them will get their monies back during the year.

Still, the DoJ provided no additional information on timelines or expected processes.

Source

Another Skin Departs Merge Poker Network

An announcement came over the weekend from the management at RPM, an online poker skin on the Merge Poker Network, that the site is closing for business due to an acquisition agreement with an unnamed third party.

It appears that the new owner plans to re-brand and re-launch the new brand on the Merge network.

Current RPM players have been offered to either switch to another Merge network skin where they are already a member, or to transfer their accounts to the one that they would like to join.

Source

That does not make any sense blue. If they were actually being acquired by another company,  then why would they not bring the players with??? I tell you why....

It does not look good at all for Merge to be loosing this many skins at once. In an effort to better manage the situation they came up with a story that sounds much better, but it does not seem like they put much thought into it.

That's rite I call B.S.! (Never mind that I may be running a little far into the outfield with this one).    ;)

I don't think you're running too far in the outfield here orren.  It didn't make any sense to me either.

blue

Exactly!! Anyone have any poker sites I can try?? The screen on my comp is looking kind of empty with all the sites I had to uninstall!! LOL

Exactly!! Anyone have any poker sites I can try?? The screen on my comp is looking kind of empty with all the sites I had to uninstall!! LOL

LOL 

This is so bad Rose. There isn't much left at all and those that are, just don't want to attract players with great promotions.  I hope regulation is sorted soon.

blue

Exactly!! Anyone have any poker sites I can try?? The screen on my comp is looking kind of empty with all the sites I had to uninstall!! LOL

 

LOL 

 

This is so bad Rose. There isn't much left at all and those that are, just don't want to attract players with great promotions.  I hope regulation is sorted soon.

 

blue

And try and deposit if you are from the US.I guess that it's one way to keep my money but sometimes I need that poker fix and if your only option is to try and place in the money in a freeroll,be prepared to play for hours for a few pennies!! ;) LOL