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After a three-month online poker battle with Daniel Negreanu at WSOP.com, Doug Polk is getting back in the action. The heads-up poker specialist and three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner comes to High Stakes Poker in March.

Polk highlights the last few episodes of the eighth season after PokerGO resurrected the iconic poker show. USPoker has learned that he’ll be featured along with some of the biggest names in poker.

Polk returns to live poker after huge win against Negreanu

High Stakes Poker features Polk getting back to live play for the first time since the initial session against Negreanu. That took place in November and was also on PokerGO.

The streaming service brought back the iconic poker show in 2020. The eight season features some of the biggest names in poker at the PokerGO Studio at Aria in Las Vegas.

Along with three World Series of Poker titles, Polk is also no stranger to online poker success as well. His poker career began by turning a $20 deposit on PokerStars into a $10,000 bankroll. He went on to become one of the best online cash game players in the game.

After some post-match analysis, Polk believes Negreanu was fortunate not to lose more than $1.2 million.

“Going through all my stats from this challenge,” Polk recently posted on Twitter. “My frequencies in so many of these spots were just phenomenal. It was weird playing an entire challenge with no data but I’m just so proud of the level of poker I played at for this thing.”

With the win against Negreanu now in the past, Polk looks to parlay some of that momentum. Polk should make for some interesting viewing and isn’t afraid to mix in some banter.

A dream to play on ‘High Stakes’

Along with Polk, the lineup for the last few episodes of High Stakes Poker features Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, Tom Dwan, Bryn Kenney, Brandon Steven, James Bord, and Jake Daniels. The players will be battling it out in $200-$400 No Limit Hold’em. 

For Polk, appearing on High Stakes Poker always seemed out of the realm of possibility. Before winning millions in the game, like many he was a fan who enjoyed televised poker.

“I’m extremely excited,” Polk told PokerGO of playing. “This is an iconic show. I grew up watching it. In fact, I grew up watching it as a kid and thinking how awesome it is just to see these players play, never had any idea or thought that I would one day get to play. It just seemed too unreal just to even possibly happen.

“So to get to go from that to actually playing in those games, it’s cool. It’s cool to know that I went on that journey and here we are today.”

Recently, Polk said he’s become bored again with poker and looked to step back from the game. High Stakes Poker appears to be an exception to that.

Can Polk book yet another nice win after so many months of high stakes action online? Viewers will find out soon. Polk has recently been considering what he might have won had the matchup with Negreanu been in a different currency.

Also I cannot confirm nor deny that bitcoin was sold for this purpose ffs why did this happen to me

— Doug Polk (@DougPolkVids) February 16, 2021

Dan Bilzerian among other big names in ‘High Stakes Poker’ current lineup

Fans of High Stakes Poker can also check out several other interesting names in the current lineup. Hellmuth, Ivey, and Dwan are among those currently in episodes 9-11. Dan Bilzerian is also currently featured on the show.

The social media icon and so-called “King of Instagram” recently signed a deal to become a GGPoker ambassador. Bilzerian claims to have won millions in private poker games. Poker fans will now get a chance to witness his skills at the table.

A few other names on the show include Jake Daniels, Brandon Adams, and Jason Koon. Daniels hails from Texas and has $1.3 million in live tournament winnings. He’s become a regular on the Las Vegas high roller scene at Aria and Wynn.

Adams returns to the show after appearing 13 years ago. His career highlights include a 2019 WSOP bracelet and more than $5 million in lifetime tournament winnings.

“This is incredible,” Adams told PokerGO about returning to the show. “I was fired up to play with Phil [Ivey] and Tom [Dwan] because I haven’t played with them in so long. In particular Tom, because I’ve played so much with him and hung out so much with him, but less so the past few years because he’s been based in Asia. I’m looking forward to playing with him again.”

One of the most successful players in poker, Koon has $31 million in live tournament winnings. He’s also currently a member of Team partypoker and has scored in some of the biggest events around the world.

The episode also features businessmen James Bord, Lazaro Hernandez, and Chamath Palihapitiya.

Contest allows fan to sit in on a ‘Poker After Dark’ episode on PokerGO

Along with High Stakes Poker, PokerGO continues producing episodes of the classic Poker After Dark. The network is now giving viewers a chance to sit in on the show.

Two-time WPT champion and PokerCoaching.com founder Jonathan Little will be playing $25/$50 No-Limit Hold’em on two upcoming episodes.

He’s also hosting a $5,000 sit and go with James Romero, Matt Affleck, Faraz Jaka, and others. Those who visit his site have a chance to earn a free entry into the event.

The winner will play on the episode with a chance to win as much as $30,000. The contest is open until July 31 and to enter, click here.

New episodes of High Stakes Poker debut every Wednesday at 8 pm (ET).

Photo courtesy PokerGO

The post Doug Polk Heads to ‘High Stakes Poker’ With Lineup Complete to Close Season appeared first on .

Online poker players in New Jersey can get in the ring this week and knock someone out. The partypoker US Network’s PKO Series is set for Feb. 21-28  with more than $250,000 guaranteed.

The schedule include eight progressive knockout (PKO) bounty tournaments. Event buy-ins range from $109 to $535. Players can also jump into the action by playing daily satellites that start at just $5.

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What is a PKO tournament? 

PKOs are a special type of bounty tournament. When a player eliminates an opponent, that player cashes in 50% of the opponent’s bounty. Those funds go directly into the winning player’s own account.

The other half of that opponent’s bounty is added to the bounty on the winning player’s head. Every knockout the player wins, the larger the price becomes on his own head.

Players like PKO events because of the extra bonus each time they take a player’s stack later in the tournament.

“My favorite online tournaments are bounty tournaments generally,” New Jersey poker player Richard Waldman says. “I like the idea of taking out a couple players early and knowing I am now freerolling the rest of the tournament.”

Some partypoker PKO Series highlights

Players looking to get in the knockout action have plenty of fun tournaments to check out. The $535 PKO Eight-Max main event caps the series on Feb. 28 with a $100,000 guarantee.

All eight events will feature No Limit Hold’em. The first event in the series is also sponsored by LearnWPT, the official training site of the World Poker Tour. The tournament comes with a little extra incentive.

All participating players in this event earn a three-month complimentary premium subscription to LearnWPT. In New Jersey, the partypoker US Network includes the BetMGM and BorgataPoker.com skins.

Players can participate on any of the three sites. Here’s a look a the complete series:

Plenty of promotions during series including a reward for the knockout king

As an extra incentive to play in the series, partypoker is offering something extra. The player with the most knockouts receives a $1,060 ticket to play in a $100,000 guaranteed event on March 28. Each knockout will be worth 1 point for each player.

Players can find other daily promotions and other tournaments during the series. This includes one of the most popular tournaments daily in New Jersey.

Partypoker’s $10,000 guaranteed tournament generates a consistent nightly field. The event is one of the longest running $10,000 guaranteed in the Garden State. Here’s a quick look at that event:

• Buy-in: $109
• Starting chips: 50,000 
• Late registration: re-entries allowed until end of Level 15
• Start time: 7 pm (ET)

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GGPoker recently announced a new partnership with the Fantastic Ladies In Poker (FLIP). The group’s founder Daiva Byrne will also serve as GGPoker outreach and community advocate as part of the agreement.

The move is part of the company’s goal to reach out to women and grow the pool of online poker players.

“I’m excited to welcome FLIP to the GGPoker community, and am confident FLIP players will enjoy the GGPoker experience both on and off the tables,” GGPoker head of public relations Paul Burke said in a news release.

“It’s also great to have Daiva as part of our team, and I know she’ll turbo-charge our efforts to be genuinely inclusive and make absolutely every kind of player welcome at GGPoker.”

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Growing the online game at GGPoker

GG describes FLIP as “the poker world’s foremost female-focused player community.” The group has a vibrant and active Facebook community of 3,500 female poker players.

Many poker sites and tours have been working to bring more women into the game in recent years.

As part of the new agreement, GGPoker plans unique promotions aimed to grow the FLIP community. Members will have access to exclusive tournaments and other benefits.

“GGPoker is committed to ensuring that all poker players feel welcome at the tables,” the company noted, “and looks forward to welcoming many new players, particularly FLIP members, over the coming weeks.”

Byrne joins the GGPoker team

Along with adding FLIP as a partner, Byrne joins GG in a new role. As GG’s outreach and community advocate, she’ll provide ongoing advice on strategies and initiatives.

The company hopes these ideas can help engage with a wide variety of poker player communities.

“I’m delighted FLIP is partnering with GGPoker, who shares our vision for a more inclusive future in poker,” Byrne said.

“I’m also thrilled to work with a brand dedicated to developing innovations that resonate with the poker community.”

GG has grown tremendously over the last few years. Players enjoy the software experience. That includes some unique options like a staking feature, which allows players to stake each right in the poker client.

GGPoker continues making news

The FLIP agreement is just the latest headline for GG. The company received approval last week for a manufacturer’s license in Pennsylvania.

This offers the company access to the US market for the first time. However, the manufacturer’s license only grants GG the ability to provide technology and software for a partner.

To run and brand its own site, the company would need an operator’s license. The agreement at least allows GG to possibly unveil its online poker software in the state in some form.

The company could also work for an operator’s license at a later date. GGPoker has made its plans clear to continue expanding and that includes in the US.

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The post GGPoker FLIPs Out for Partnership with Women’s Poker Group, Hopes to Reach Out to New Poker Players appeared first on .

The good vibes continue in February and March for US online poker players. Players in Pennsylvania and New Jersey will find $2 million in guaranteed prizes from Feb. 20 to March 8 as part of the third edition of the PokerStars Bounty Builder Series.

Beyond big guarantees, winners in both states also take home some hardware. The series features special championship events with Bounty Builder championship belts also awarded.

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What to expect from PokerStars PA

In Pennsylvania, the series features a $1.5 million guarantee. The progressive knockout (PKO) schedule offers players 75 events with buy-ins starting at $10. 

For those new to a PKO, the variant offers a unique version of a bounty tournament. Like a traditional bounty, a player knocking out another player earns some extra bucks for the elimination.

However in a PKO, a portion of that bounty is also added to the winner’s bounty. This makes players’ bounties increase throughout the tournament with larger bounty amounts on the line later.

The progressive bounty aspect adds some extra twists to a bounty tournament. The events have become popular with players for this extra fun thrown in the tournament mix.

The $200 Main Event is set for March 7 featuring a guaranteed prize pool of $150,000. Players can also look forward to two special editions of the Sunday Special each with $100,000 guaranteed. Those events are set for Feb. 21 and 28.

On Feb. 24, players with bigger bankrolls can check out the $1,000 Super High Roller with $75,000 guaranteed. Here’s a look at the complete schedule.

2021 PokerStars PA Bounty Builder Series

Big bounty action also planned for PokerStars NJ 

In New Jersey, the Bounty Builder schedule includes 58 events with buy-ins starting at $10.

The $300 Main Event runs on March 7 with a  $75,000 guarantee. The $30 Mini Main Event on the same day comes with a $5,000 guarantee.

As in the PA series, there are numerous other options with several poker versions to check out. Here’s a look at the complete schedule.

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Some added promotions for Bounty Builder players

Along with a packed schedule, players have some other opportunities to get in the action and win. In New Jersey, players can qualify for less via special $3 Spin & Go’s. 

In both states, players can look forward to a $16,000 KO Leaderboard. Players who knock out the most Bounty Builder players will win a $4,000 prize.

The launch of the Bounty Builder means three separate tournament series running in all PokerStars markets.

The site launched in Michigan in January and the Michigan Championship of Online Poker (MICOOP) also runs Feb. 20 to March 8 with $1 million guaranteed.

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The launch of legalized online poker in Michigan gives many players some hope of more to come. Several states have seen movement in that direction in recent weeks with varying hopes for success.

Players in Kentucky will at least have to wait another year to see any legislation move forward. State Rep. Adam Koenig (R) introduced a bill in January that would legalize online poker and casino gaming.

However, recent legislative needs regarding the casino industry have put iGaming on the back burner, Koenig told USPoker.

Slot-like games supersede Kentucky online gaming including poker

A recent state supreme court ruling on the state’s historical horse racing (HHR) games have left legislators scrambling. HHR games function like slot machines but results are based on actual horse races from the past.

The court recently ruled that the machines don’t meet the state’s definition of parimutuel wagering. That means thousands of machines in the state are technically illegal.

“Betting on HHR slot machines has grown 463 percent in the last five years, and will total approximately $3.6 billion this year,” the Lexington Herald Leader notes. “That’s three times more than Kentuckians will buy in lottery tickets, and twice what is bet on the lottery and live horse racing combined.”

That makes online poker an afterthought and Koenig says he’s hoping to bring back the issue next year. The legislative session is short and HHR games have taken priority.

“This bill is on hold while we deal with a state supreme court ruling on our historical horse racing machines,” Koenig said. “Until that is settled no action will occur on my bill.

“Although always hopeful, given we have already gone through 11 of our 30 days we can be in session, it will be a heavy lift to get it across the finish line this year.”

After resolving the HHR issue, Koenig feels the iGaming bill will have a better shot at passage. With 4.5 million people, Kentucky could add a decent player pool to the growing US online poker market.

Online gaming gains traction in Connecticut

Indiana isn’t the only state considering online poker as a larger effort at legalized gaming – including sports betting. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) also seems amenable to iGaming expansion.

Any effort would have to navigate gaming stakeholders like the state’s two Indian tribes, the lottery, and off-track betting, according to Online Poker Report.

Lamont previously expressed opposition to online gaming, but state revenue after the pandemic may have changed that.

Lamont recently expressed support and a bill has been introduced to legalize online gaming. That would include sports betting and iGaming, which would probably also include poker.

The bill names the Mashantucket Pequot and the Mohegan tribes as the only online casino and sports betting operators. That would be “subject to new or amended agreements with the tribes.”

The tribes operate the states only casinos in the state – Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. On Wednesday, Lamont included $50 million in iGaming revenue in his 2022-23 budget and expressed his support for legalization.

“Our neighboring states are moving forward with sports betting and iGaming,” Lamont said a budget address to the general assembly, “and Connecticut should not leave these opportunities for other states to benefit from our inaction.”

Connecticut has a population of 3.6 million. That would mean a small pool of players, but a decent addition to interstate compacts. There remains plenty of governmental heavy lifting however.

North Dakota statewide election considered

The Senate Judiciary Committee in North Dakota recently approved a ballot initiative legalizing online poker. The proposal would then need a majority of votes in both halves of the legislature before going to the voters.

Next the proposal would need a majority of voters to approve. Rep. Jim Kasper (R) has been one of those leading the efforts at legalization.

He believes the timing is right to move forward after other states like Michigan and West Virginia have launched online gaming.

“The accusations have been ‘how do you police the legitimacy of the game?’” Kasper told Valley News Live. “And the question has been pretty well-answered over the years. There’s a lot of protection for the players and there [are] audits being done.” 

Kasper led a similar effort in 2005 but that received a bad hand. The Justice Department at the time opined that online poker was illegal.

More recent department opinions have ruled online gaming legal on a state-by-state basis. A federal appeals court recently ruled that the Wire Act applies solely to sports betting.

That would allow smaller population states like North Dakota to join interstate compacts. With 762,000 people, North Dakota seems unlikely to support its own poker market. However, joining other states could produce larger player and prize pools.

Indiana and other states to watch

Efforts continue at online gaming in Indiana. Sen. Jon Ford (R) introduced a bill in January. However, passing a bill is an uphill battle with a legislative session running only through April.

The Hoosier State effort also includes online casino gaming. Indiana has seen nice revenue since online sports betting went live in September 2019.

Ford hopes to add online gaming to that. He’s working to get the bill before the Senate Public Policy Committee. His proposal would allow the state’s 14 casinos and “racinos” to offer Internet gaming and poker. Properties could partner with up to three online gaming companies.

In Michigan, players seem to be enjoying playing at PokerStars so far. The site remains the only operator and has seen nice numbers in Sunday majors.

Stars has been quick to get the party started in Michigan. The company recently announced the state’s first online poker series.

The Michigan Championship of Online Poker (MICOOP) runs Feb. 20 to March 8 with $1 million guaranteed across 60 events.

In Pennsylvania, PokerStars still remains the online operator. WSOP.com/888poker and partypoker have also been approved but poker players are still awaiting a launch date.

In other PA news, GGPoker was granted a manufacturer’s license in the state. That means it could provide its software for another gaming entity. The company would need an operator’s license to launch its own branded platform

The recent Wire Act ruling could mean additional online poker shared liquidity markets among states. Any efforts in that regard may take some time as they work their way through various regulatory bodies.

There’s been some movement in the US online poker industry not see in years.

The post Online Poker Bill Delayed in Kentucky; Status in Other States Updated appeared first on .

Michigan online poker finally became a reality on Jan. 29 as PokerStars went live a week after online gambling launched – and business has been booming.

What online poker brands are live in Michigan?

Right now PokerStars, which gained access through a partnership with the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, is the only game in town.

Under Michigan law, three commercial casinos in Detroit and 12 tribal casino operators elsewhere are eligible for gambling licenses and will be allowed one online casino brand and one online poker brand per license, up to two total brands apiece.

What online poker brands are coming to Michigan?

BetMGM Poker has been approved for online poker, but has not announced plans to launch. The company has a retail casino in the state, the MGM Grand Detroit.

Partypoker, whose parent company is ROAR Digital, a company partly owned by MGM, is also expected to arrive in the first half of 2021.

Because operators can have up to two brands per license, watch for other popular outlets like WSOP or 888 Poker, which are up and running elsewhere.

What online poker games are available in Michigan?

Online poker is comprised of basically four types of games: cash games, sit-and-gos, spin-and-gos and multi-player tournaments. 

A rundown: 

Cash games

Log in, buy-in and play for the stakes of that game.

For No-Limit Hold’em, the stakes in Michigan range from 1 cent/ 2 cents to $25/$50, with about 30 different game options from Hold’em and Omaha to the more obscure games like Badugi and Triple Draw.

Sit and gos

The option for the time-crunched or impatient.

In essence, you face one table only, and in heads-up versions, you play just one person. There are also six-handed options. PokerStars MI has both Pot-Limit Omaha and No-Limit Hold’em Sit and Gos with buy-ins ranging from $1 to $500.

Spin and Gos

These are similar to Sit and Gos, except the prize pool will vary. The buy-in amount ranges from $1-5. Blinds escalate rapidly in tournaments and players, therefore, go all-in pretty early in games. Games can be over very quickly.

Multi-player Tournaments

These are prestige events that many players dream of when venturing into online poker. These “MTTs” are announced on a schedule like an in-person event and can boast prize pools of varying sizes depending on the amount of buy-in. It’s not unusual to see a $500 guaranteed pool.

Bigger tournaments, some with guarantees in the hundreds of thousands are held quarterly, but weekly tournaments feature guarantees around $35,000.

There’s also the Michigan Championship of Online Poker that will feature 60 events.

How to register and fund online poker accounts in Michigan

Adults 21 years of age or older and with state borders are eligible to register and play. Geolocation technology makes sure players are in-state and age-verification measures are taken by the operators at time of sign-up.

Michigan online poker operators will offer many of the same funding and withdrawal options as sports betting and online casino, including third-party payment processors like PayPal, debit or credit cards, and cash.

These are the payment methods used by PokerStars in Pennsylvania and therefore can be expected in Michigan.:

• Instant E-checks: ACH payment
• Skrill: A secure online third-party payment option
• Mastercard or Visa: Credit or debit card transactions through approving issuing banks
• Neteller: A secure online third-party payment option
• Stars Transfer: Instant deposits with online banking
• PayNearMe: Make a cash payment at retail locations, including 7-Eleven and CVS
• PokerStars Play+ Card
• Cash Deposit

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Basics of Michigan online poker play

For online poker, you can only play through a phone or computer app or a so-called “poker client” from the PokerStars Michigan website. There is no browser play.

A poker client acts as an intermediary between your computer and the one hosting the game.

Players must download the Michigan version even if they have the PokerStars.net or the New Jersey or Pennsylvania version of the client. The client has baked-in geolocation software. Sometimes downloading with an incognito browser or clearing the cache solves downloading errors.

There are restrictions unique to using the mobile app

Players are limited to how much they can play in more than one tournament or cash game at once while on a mobile device. PokerStars’ app limits users to up to five tables. Only four of those can be cash games.

Does it matter that Michigan isn’t in the multi-state compact?

A technicality involved with the writing of gaming legislation prevents Michigan from joining the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association, which allows Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey to share player pools. Pools allow for financial stability for all through greater liquidity. Pennsylvania, which launched legal online in 2019, has not joined and Richard Kalm, executive director of the Michigan Gaming Control Board, said not to expect his state to enter into any alliances until later in 2021.

A clause that would have facilitated an interstate compact was removed before the legislation was passed, lawmakers have said. The removal was intended to address multi-state progressive slot jackpots. 

The post A Basic FAQ To Playing Online Poker in Michigan appeared first on Play USA.

Bikes, bros, ‘80s music, and epic dance scenes – screenwriter Sam Bernard just knew he had something. His film Rad debuted in 1986 and while it may not have been an Oscar winner, the film brought plenty of joy to teenagers enthralled by all things BMX racing and freestyle.

While he may be involved in other Hollywood projects, Rad remains a beloved film for many children of the ‘80s. Bernard looks back fondly at the film, but in recent years his focus has turned from pedals to poker.

The writer and producer is a regular player at the sweepstakes poker site Global Poker. His interest in the site even led to producing the Talking Global Poker podcast specifically geared toward the site’s players.

Bernad recently spoke with USPoker about Rad, a possible sequel, screenwriting, poker, podcasting, and more.

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From bikes to bluffs

While Bernard spends much of his life writing and working on film and TV, poker is also a passion. After Rad, Bernard went on to write and produce other films but frequented California poker rooms in between projects.

That included multiple daily tournaments at Hollywood Park and Hustler Casino to fill the void of movie downtime. He’s been playing cards as long as he can remember.

“My parents were card players,” he says.

Bernard first began playing Seven Card Stud in the local card rooms. He now enjoys tournaments more and enjoys playing small casino events.

In 2017, Bernard began trying his hand at online poker via the sweepstakes site Global Poker under the screen name “Gyropilot313.” That moniker came from a unique experience on a film.

“The name Gyropilot came from working on a movie in the Philippines and I got to pilot a Gyrocopter,” he says. 

Since joining Global Bernard has scored several nice tournament victories. One of his early wins came in a $5 rebuy tournament that carries a $5,000 guarantee.

“I remember that tournament because I limped Aces under the gun,” Bernard says.

The hand and the tournament certainly had a happy ending.

Growing up Hollywood

Bernard grew up in the Hollywood area but was anything but a rich kid despite the 90210 area code. His father was an actor, but Bernard didn’t drive a Mercedes or BMW like most students in his high school.

As a teen, Bernard began working  in the film industry, moving his way up from production assistant. He absorbed as much information as possible and wanted to get into screenwriting. An important early lesson? Focus on the market. That tiny bit of advice has stuck with him. 

“If you want to write to express yourself, write a poem or a song,” he says. “If you want to write for movies, you have to write what sells.”

At age 25, Bernard got his shot. While driving through Venice Beach one day in the early 1980s, a BMX crew piqued his interest.

“I saw these kids on half pipes and had no idea what they were doing,” Bernard says. “I was looking for my next project, and went and talked to them and they basically told me to fuck off.”

Undeterred, Bernard saw something in this small group of rebels and investigated further. He headed to a local bike shop and the owner gave him a BMX magazine.

After leafing through the publication, Bernard thought he was on to something. His roommate happened to know Hal Needham and set up a meeting. Needham had worked as a stuntman, actor, director, and producer since the 1950s.

A friend of Burt Reynolds, Needham directed the Smokey and the Bandit and Cannonball Run films. But he wasn’t initially sold on Bernard’s vision. 

“Look – I make movies, I drive cars fast, and blow shit up,” Needham told the young screenwriter. “I don’t know nothing about bicycles.”

Bernard had one final ace left up his sleeve. He invited Needham to check out a BMX freestyle exhibition. Actually seeing riders spin on the handlebars and whip their bike around like gymnasts did the trick.

Just 10 minutes into the show, Needham looked at Bernard and nodded. Bernard had the green light and was off to the races.

One rad plot

It may not have been a box office smash, but Rad remains popular among bike fans for its kitschy appeal. The film is a 1980s underdog story about BMX rider Cru Jones (Bill Allen), who lives in a small town with his mother (Talia Shire).

When a major BMX race comes to his hometown, Cru gets a chance to show off his skills. Along the way, he runs into problems with the event organizer and BMX pro Bart Taylor (Bart Conner). Some devious backdoor dealing also hinders Cru’s chances at success. 

The riders battle it out on “Helltrack,” purported to be the toughest track ever built. One scene even showcases a classic “BMX prom dance” scene featuring Cru’s love interest, played by Lori Laughlin.

Bernard co-wrote the screenplay along with Geoffrey Edwards and the film was originally called Balls Out. The plan was to market to an older crowd with more edginess.

However, that was scrapped and the story was geared toward a younger audience. The new title used some ‘80s slang for radical.

“People loved it because the good guys win and the bad guys walk away with their tails between their legs,” Bernard says. 

The film initially tested well, but didn’t do well at the box office. With the birth of the Internet and growing video sales, Rad eventually became popular among bike enthusiasts. 

“It has since grown into a cult classic,” he says, “and I started getting letters and I was stunned.”

The movie has now been converted to 4K high definition and available on Amazon, AppleTV, Google Play, and other streaming services. The movie is also debuting on Blu Ray in March.

Manning the microphone to talk Global Poker

With much of Hollywood slowed down during the pandemic, Bernard took his love of poker to the next level. The site offers a social gaming site and has featured a tight-knit group of players. 

Bernard eventually connected with site regulars Sean “Seanell” Connell and Ken “WizofAz” Summer. Soon the Talking Global Poker podcast was born.

“The three of us became friends while playing on the online poker site Global Poker,” the show’s description notes, “and started this podcast because we love the unique sense of community it promotes through social media.”

The show debuted in February 2020 and Bernard took on the role as head producer. He’s also the administrator on the show’s Facebook group. 

Talking Global Poker is independent from the poker site, but the company has been receptive to the project. Global has unofficially endorsed the podcast by offering special online freeroll tournaments for listeners. Global has even featured the hosts as bounties in some events. 

“Originally I thought we would get a cease and desist letter from the company but the opposite happened,“ Bernard says. 

Global Poker general manager David Lyons supports the podcast and even appeared as a guest. Other players making an appearance have included Jesse Silva, Jamie Kerstetter, and Sopranos star Robert Iler.

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Looking ahead

The podcast is close to launching the second season and there have been more than 30 episodes so far.  One of the best things from the podcast, Bernard says, has been working with Connell and Summer. He says: “They’ve become friends for life.”

At the moment, Bernard is working for a video game company. He can’t offer many details but is excited about the project. His love of poker may also move into his professional life eventually.

“I have an idea about writing a poker story about a local player down and out on his luck,” he says, “but right now I am working a lot on the video game script.”

Bernard draws inspiration from poker. And just as in any great story, the game is about the people involved. Bernard plays to win, but enjoys the dynamics of the “actors” on the live felt

“I love the game of poker,” Bernard says. “But the characters in the game are what make it great.”

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Pennsylvania may eventually have another online poker option after GGPoker was approved in the state on Wednesday. NSUS, the site’s parent company, was approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).

NSUS has received an interactive gaming manufacturer license for the state. This would allow NSUS/GG to provide the technology for an online casino or poker product in the market.

“NSUS provides software and technology for interactive gaming activities,” the proposal notes about NSUS’s petition for the license.

There was no discussion in the meeting and the PGCB approved NSUS unanimously. If the company wants to operate a co-branded website, such as PokerStars and Mount Airy, it would have to obtain an operator license.

What does this mean for online poker in PA?

For GGPoker, receiving approval has long been a goal. Pennsylvania would become the first state it could legally operate in the US in some form.

The interactive gaming manufacturer license would allow NSUS to provide GGPoker software to a partner in the state. As a manufacturer, however, the company wouldn’t be able to brand the platform as its own.

An operator license is needed to run the brand, manage customer accounts, and generally operate the poker site as its own. With the manufacturer’s license, it would simply be a technology provider in essence.

Either way, the state’s players may eventually have some form of GGPoker to play real money online poker. On the other hand, NSUS also owns other forms online gambling-related brands and the approval could include those.

Expansion has been part of the company’s plans in recent years. GG was founded in 2014 and initially the company focused primarily on the Asian market.

After China cracked down on poker in 2019, the company began expanding even further into other markets. The US market is now part of that goal.

“The GGPoker team has been preparing for eventual entry into the US market,” the company said in a statement to USPoker on Tuesday. “It’s been a great process thus far working with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Obtaining a license to operate in Pennsylvania would be an important step toward reaching our US goals.”

Looking to the future in PA and beyond

Where GGPoker goes from here remains to be seen. It’s not known if the company is negotiating with a partner in the state yet to provide its software.

GG has become popular for massive prize pools and major events. In 2020, that expanded to include the World Series of Poker.

That included WSOP Super Circuit Online events as well as the WSOP Online. The latter series became the first online series outside the US to award championship bracelets.

What could be in the works for Pennsylvania online poker? Initially, the state would be a “ringed-in” market – meaning players would only play others within the state.

PokerStars remains the only operator that has gone live in the state at the moment. Caesars/WSOP.com and its gaming partner 888poker have also been approved but not yet gone live.

Partypoker/BetMGM, as part of the Roar Digital company (a partnership in the US between partypoker owner Entain and MGM), has also been approved but not launched yet either.

In 2018, GGPoker made news for signing one of the biggest names in poker as a brand ambassador. Daniel Negreanu reps the company and often boasts of its software experience. He hopes the new approval in PA is the first state of many for GG.

“Pennsylvania players can expect the best software and online poker platform in the world,” Negreanu told USPoker. “The software is engaging and just makes everything more fun. I hope to see GGPoker available across all the legal states, including my home here in Nevada.”

A busy few years for GGPoker

Since launching into expansion mode, GGPoker has grown at lightning speed. The international site ranks third on the PokerScout online poker traffic report.

In December, the site hosted one half of the WSOP $10,000 Main Event. Damian Salas. won the GG half and also went on to win the title for $2.4 million.

The software has numerous bells and whistles, but one of the most interesting may be the staking feature. This allows players to stake others on the site right through the software.

Also in December the site made some news, including some negative press, by signing social media star Dan Bilzerian. Critics argued the company signed someone seen as misogynistic.

Others have criticized the site for lax enforcement of VPN usage at times. However, NSUS/GG apparently met all requirements to provide its service in the Keystone State.

In the last few years, GGPoker has made major efforts at launching its streaming mediums on Twitch and YouTube. That included daily live streams of Negreanu’s heads-up battle with Doug Polk. 

In 2020, the site reached deals expanding further into Europe. The company also signed poker superstar Fedor Holz as well as his training site Pokercode. GG players received access to Pokercode as part of the deal, providing a training vehicle for the site.

Many questions remain on what to expect in Pennsylvania. But as of Wednesday, the site has at least appears to have gained a foothold of some sort into the US market.

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