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Card Player’s 2018 WSOP coverage is sponsored by BetOnline Poker. Get a 100% bonus, up to $1,000, by joining now. The site offers great cash game action and a chance …

Caesars Entertainment’s three Atlantic City casinos – Bally’s, Harrah’s, and Caesar’s – could open sportsbooks by August, according to reports.

The post Report: Caesars Plans To Enter Legal NJ Sports Betting Market In August appeared first on Play NJ.

People have been trying to figure out if Doyle Brunson is bluffing since before the first ever World Series of Poker in 1970.

This week, at the 49th Annual WSOP in Las Vegas, Nevada, the 84-year-old Poker Hall of Fame member and legendary Texas road gambler could be at it again.

On Monday, Brunson took to Twitter to tell the poker world he was headed to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino to play in the 2018 WSOP $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship. He also suggested it could be the last WSOP tournament he ever plays:

Going to the Rio to play in 2-7 lowball tournament. Probably the last one I’ll ever play.

— Doyle Brunson (@TexDolly) June 11, 2018

Is Brunson really retiring?

Eager poker media types hungry for a scoop took this as a retirement announcement. Some even got quotes from Brunson about his plans to hang it up this year.

Poker Central quoted Brunson saying he is planning on retiring after the summer because his wife Louise Brunson is not in good health. He reportedly said he wants to stay with her for the duration of either her life or his.

In fact, Brunson told Poker Central he’s going to stop playing completely, adding that he might change his mind in the future. But for now, he feels like after 57 years of marriage he owes it to his wife to be with her in what could very well be the last time they have to spend together.

Brunson hasn’t played a regular tournament schedule in years. He has preferred the flexibility high-stakes cash game action inside Bobby’s Room at Bellagio Hotel & Casino up the street from the Rio have long provided for him.

Is he ready to give that up too?

Considering the reason, and his advanced age, this could very well be a legitimate retirement announcement from Brunson.

Brunson has bluffed before

However, this isn’t the first time he’s said he’s giving up the game. Yet he’s still here. Plus, the fact he’s still hedging his bets saying he reserves the right to change his mind makes it hard to accept it all on face value.

I didn’t mean to make such a fuss over my “retirement”. I meant probably no more WSOP tournaments. That isn’t written in stone however. When they start the mixed games on high stakes poker, I’ll be there. Probably not so much cash games but I appreciate all the nice thoughts.

— Doyle Brunson (@TexDolly) June 13, 2018

Brunson first started making noise about retiring from tournament poker back in 2009.

Brunson traveled to London, England that year. Mostly to take part in a promotional event for the now defunct online poker site that bore his name, Doyles Room, and its Brunson 10 team of sponsored pros. He played in the 2009 WSOP Europe Main Event as well. The legend appeared to prove he still had solid tournament poker chops, finishing 17th of 334 entries.

However, speaking privately about his run in the event, Brunson admitted it was all a rather unfortunate mistake. In fact, he’d played just to say he had, and tried to give away his chips early in the tournament, only to get lucky, build a stack and be forced to play it out.

Publicly, he began admitting the travel and long days tournament poker requires were taking a toll on him. He never used the word retire. But at the time, Brunson said he was going to stop playing tournaments for the most part. He also planned to stay home in Las Vegas going forward.

He stuck to his word in 2010, playing only sparingly, and only in Las Vegas events.

Never say never

However, in 2011, he played seven WSOP events in Las Vegas. Then he returned to London in September, playing in his first ever PokerStars European Poker Tour event. Despite removing a tumor from one of his arms in March of that year.

Brunson registered for only four tournaments at the 2012 WSOP. Later that year he revealed he was fighting cancer again, for the fourth time in his life.

As a result, it came as no surprise that as the 2013 WSOP kicked off, Brunson told Twitter he planned on sitting it out:

“Afraid I am finally gonna give in to Father Time and pass on tournament play at WSOP. #toomanyhours” — Doyle Brunson (@TexDolly)

Then he turned up in the 2013 WSOP Main Event, finishing in 409th-place for $28,063.

Clearly, the back-to-back WSOP Main Event Champion and ten-time WSOP bracelet winner has a history of crying wolf.

So, one can be forgiven for thinking it’s another Brunson bluff and poker hasn’t seen the last of Texas Dolly.

One can hope, anyway. Brunson is a true legend who is still sharp enough to compete well into his 80s.

He certainly proved that, finishing sixth in the 2018 WSOP Lowball Championship event he claimed will likely be his last on Tuesday.

So, if this is truly the end for one of the game’s greatest ambassadors, it’s definitely poker’s loss.

The post Is Doyle Brunson Bluffing, Or Has The WSOP Seen The Last Of This Legend? appeared first on .

In early June, YouTube suspended an unknown number of gambling channels and sent an email explaining the suspensions were due to “repeated or severe violations.” The Atlantic broke the story earlier this month after obtaining the email in question.

The email goes on to say:

“YouTube doesn’t allow content that encourages or promotes violent or dangerous acts that have an inherent risk of serious physical harm or death. For example, it’s not okay to post videos showing drug abuse, underage drinking, and smoking, or bomb making.”

YouTube does not explicitly mention gambling as prohibited content and has been somewhat secretive on precisely what its policy is regarding gambling channels.

Online gambling vloggers beware

Some YouTube online gambling channels have hundreds of thousands of active subscribers. A channel’s subscriber count allows the creator to negotiate deals with gambling-related products and services.

The sweeping suspensions of gambling channels came as a shock to many. The good news is some channels are back in business. Even after the reinstatement, there was no explanation for why the suspension occurred in the first place.

Other channels, however, have had features such as livestreaming revoked or their channels remain banned – either temporarily or permanently.

Channel creators are crying foul because of the lack of communication, and there is no clear direction on what the issue is or how to resolve it.

YouTube has a history of changing policy, suspending channels, demonetizing videos without warning, all while leaving creators in the dark.

Knowing many channel creators rely on YouTube’s monetization process for income, should give YouTube pause to consider the effects of such sweeping actions. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. The bottom line is YouTube creators can lose their income overnight with nothing to say about it.

YouTube begins the year with a controversial policy change

At the beginning of 2018, YouTube changed the monetization requirements for channels. The company implemented a minimum subscriber requirement for channels to run ads and earn money from their video content.

The majority of YouTube channel owners did not meet the requirements and lost their income practically overnight. Not only was the policy change controversial but its roll-out was as well. It happened with little warning, and there was no recourse for creators who lost their monetization options.

The appeal process is non-existent for 97 percent of YouTube’s creators. Attempts at contacting the company result in automated responses. Only the top three percent of channel owners have the ability to communicate directly with YouTube regarding issues.

Reactions from poker players

PlayUSA reached out to several poker players reaction to the news. There are many players in Nevada this time of year in the midst of creating World Series of Poker vlogs.

A few players hadn’t heard of the issue and didn’t know what to think. Others asked if they should be worried. A few others didn’t want to comment on the record because they didn’t want their channel to become a target.

In the responses to our inquiry, “concerning” was frequently used.

Andrew Neeme, often credited with changing the face of poker vlogging, had this to say in an email statement:

It’s tough to know what to think about this since there is no clear policy. Based on the email from YouTube which mentions “violence or dangerous acts,” it seems as if some of these channels got caught up in a wider sweep, but were reinstated upon a closer look.

I do think it’s a reminder that you’d prefer to not have all of your eggs in one basket, whether you’re a business or a creator with a personal brand. I think it’s a good idea to utilize all of the bigger social media tools available, both for audience growth reasons and so that you retain more control of your message and content getting out. That way you aren’t relying on something professionally that you don’t have control over and aren’t privy to upcoming changes.

YouTube is an amazing tool, and obviously they need their creators as much as we rely on them, so hopefully, we’ll see some communication that keeps this symbiotic relationship in great standing.

Neeme’s message is an important one for anyone who invests time in building a YouTube channel. Creating content on a platform owned by someone else can come back to haunt you. Creators can literally lose all of their hard work and their income stream overnight. Vlogger beware.

The post Vloggers Beware: YouTube Banning Gambling Channels Without Warning appeared first on Play USA.

In October 2017, Pennsylvania became the fourth US state to legalize online poker. Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware were the first three.

The regulatory and licensing process is still ongoing in PA. The state’s 13 casino license holders have been invited to apply for licenses. The first online poker sites will likely launch sometime in the fourth quarter of 2018 or early next year.

Online poker advocates were hopeful Pennsylvania would help create a cascade of other states passing similar legislation across the country. That hasn’t happened just yet. However, four states have been considering legalizing online poker this year.

Here’s a look at the latest regarding online poker legislation in Michigan, New York, Illinois and Connecticut:

Michigan

In the last day of its legislative session this week, the Michigan House passed the Lawful Internet Gaming Act. It got through by a vote of 68-40. It will now head to the Senate for approval in the Fall session.

Michigan’s Lawful Internet Gaming Act will allow casinos in the state to offer internet gambling. This includes online poker, online casinos and sports betting operations.

If it passes in the Senate, and is signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder, Detroit’s three commercial casino operations could launch operations as early as next year. Each would be asked to pay an application and five-year licensing fee of $800,000.

Michigan’s 23 tribal casinos would also be permitted to launch online gambling websites. However, they would first have to change existing compacts with the state, or create new ones.

The state would charge an eight-percent tax on all online gambling revenue. The law would also include a provision allowing Michigan to sign interstate compacts. This includes the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association agreement. This is the agreement that allows New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware to share online poker player pools.

New York

New York lawmakers are taking another last-minute run at passing online poker legislation.

In the first week of June, an online poker finally passed through the Senate Finance Committee and moved on to the Rules Committee. It’s the same bill that has sat dormant in the state Senate since January.

The New York Senate has passed similar legislation the past two years. However, it died in the Assembly.

New York’s legislative session will end on June 20. Lawmakers have been busy trying to put together sports betting legislation before it wraps up.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says a sports betting bill is not likely to pass before the end of the session. He says there isn’t enough time.

The Senate may very well pass the online poker legislation before the session ends. However, it will likely die in the Assembly for the third year in a row.

The combining of online poker and sports betting legislation could be what online poker needs to change its fate in New York. However, it remains unclear if there are any members of the House or Senate willing to do that.

Illinois

For the second year in a row, Illinois lawmakers tried to tack online gambling, online poker and daily fantasy sports amendments onto a land-based casino expansion bill. Just like last year, they did it heading into the summer recess. However, this year, sports betting was added on as well.

The legislation authorizes the construction of a casino in Chicago. It would also legalize online casinos, online poker, daily fantasy sports, and sports betting.

The 2017 legislative session saw the Illinois Senate pass the bill. However, it died in the House.

At the end of May this year, the bill got through Illinois House Gaming Subcommittee. However, it failed to pass the Illinois House Executive Committee. A majority 5-4 vote in the House Executive Committee was not enough to meet it’s required six-vote threshold.

The online gambling, daily fantasy sports, and sports betting amendments in the bill are nothing more than placeholders at this point, with no regulatory details.

The bill will be back on lawmaker’s agendas after the November elections, giving those behind it time to craft legislation and drum up support. Assuming they are re-elected.

Connecticut

Connecticut lawmakers failed to get online gambling and sports betting bill past the finish line before its legislative session came to an end on May 9.

The bill would have legalized online poker, online casinos and sports betting in a state where gambling is, for the most part, run by two gaming tribes.

Part the reason the bill didn’t pass is the tribes’ argument they have exclusive rights to sports betting under current gaming compacts with the state. Connecticut’s off-track betting facilities and the state lottery also want the right to offer sports betting.

The tribes say authorizing anyone else to open sportsbooks would dissolve the current compacts. Meaning the tribes would stop giving 25 percent of their slots revenue to the state.

In an effort to get the tribes to sign off on widespread sports betting, online casinos and online poker legislation was tacked on to the bill. The tribes consider online gambling the better financial opportunity.

The US Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports betting just days after the Connecticut legislative session ended.

In an effort to keep up with other states legalizing sports betting, Gov. Dannel Malloy is said to be considering calling a special session this summer or fall to negotiate a deal with the tribes and get the legislation passed.

If that doesn’t happen, online gambling, online poker and sports betting in Connecticut will have to wait until after the November elections.

The post US Online Poker Roundup: The Latest In NY, Michigan And Illinois appeared first on .

When the former Trump Taj Mahal closed in 2016 so did two of its most popular attractions, Robert’s Steakhouse and Scores. Now, they are back!

The post Despite Hard Rock Atlantic City’s Qualms, Old Taj Mahal Strip Club Plans Opening appeared first on Play NJ.

Card Player’s 2018 WSOP coverage is sponsored by BetOnline Poker. Get a 100% bonus, up to $1,000, by joining now. The site offers great cash game action and a chance …

Card Player’s 2018 WSOP coverage is sponsored by BetOnline Poker. Get a 100% bonus, up to $1,000, by joining now. The site offers great cash game action and a chance …

Earlier this week in Las Vegas, Nevada, Daniel Negreanu was in contention to win his seventh bracelet in the World Series of Poker $1,500 Eight-Game Mix event.

In the end, Negreanu had to settle for third place, but he most certainly learned something from the experience.

You are going to make a lot of mistakes. Learning nothing from those mistakes is the mistake.

The above quote comes from Negreanu’s new MasterClass on poker trailer.

The Poker Hall of Famer announced this week the launch of a new poker class. The poker MasterClass is designed to help players with a solid understanding of the game get better at the game.

Negreanu joins a star-studded cast of instructors online at MasterClass. MasterClass is an educational platform offering online courses taught by the greatest masters in the world including:

• Christina Aguilera
• Martin Scorsese
• Wolfgang Puck
• Bob Woodward
• Shonda Rhimes

Learn how to play poker from Daniel Negreanu

Negreanu has never shied away from sharing his opinion and advice, especially as it relates to the game of poker. In the MasterClass, Negreanu commits to sharing new strategies and tactics that he has never shared before.

Poker players with a fundamental knowledge of the game may want to pay close attention. It’s rare that an old-school player breaks out new tricks, but that is precisely what Negreanu has done.

Negreanu stays relevant in an ever-evolving game because he continually seeks to improve and learn. He admitted to himself last fall that he was getting outplayed.

Negreanu hired a couple of coaches and worked on his game for three months towards the end of 2017. He was putting about 20-25 hours per week into learning new concepts and advanced game theory. He basically took his game to a new level.

The results of his learning are paying off – big time. In his first tournament following his coaching sessions, Negreanu finished second in a $100,000 buy-in poker tournament at the Bellagio for $936,000.

He has made a combined six final tables at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure and US Poker Open to start the year.  Just before the beginning of the World Series of Poker, he placed second in the Super High Roller Bowl for $3 million.

What poker players can expect to learn in the masterclass

“The course itself is not exactly a beginners course, but what they’ve found works is not offering something ABC,” Negreanu said. “It’s more effective to give people a little bit more. I’m discussing stuff I’ve never shared publicly before. A little bit on physical tells and we’re going to get into body language, which is not something I’ve typically done before. Plus we’re going to talk a little bit about ranges — how to break those down — and think about the game from a more game-theory approach.”

The course costs $90, or customers can choose an all-access pass for $180 per year to all of the MasterClass courses. Inside the Negreanu’s MasterClass, players will find:

• Over 33 video lessons
• A downloadable class workbook
• Office hours where Negreanu answers student’s questions

“I’ve never been involved with a more high-end production in my life. The Masterclass team is world class. My Masterclass isn’t for rank beginners, it’s for those looking to understand the new age approach to the game,” Negreanu said to PlayUSA.

Students should plan on spending a minimum of 15 minutes a day over a minimum of a 30-day period to properly instill the intermediate and advanced concepts into their game. The curriculum covers:

• Tournament strategy
• Betting tactics
• Bluffing
• Hand ranges
• Theory and math

Why should a poker player want to learn from Negreanu?

Negreanu’s list of accomplishments is the stuff poker player’s dreams are made of. Negreanu isn’t resting on his laurels, though. Teaching is just one more way Negreanu is working to stay at the top of the game.

In an interview with ESPN, Negreanu said:

I’ve always loved watching the light bulb go off for people. You’re explaining a concept, and they’re looking at you like, ‘What in the world are they talking about?’ And then when they get it, and you see the aha moment, that’s really, really fun. And it’s fun for me to think of ways that I can communicate it, in such a way that the person understands.

When I started, you had to do the hard work on your own; there was no easy road map to teach you exactly what to do in every situation. Today, that software is available. … It escalated the complexity of the game to another level. That’s where MasterClass is different. For people who watched the poker boom in 2004, not even the top players understood these concepts. Introducing a new way, similar to what these kids are learning on computers, and explaining it and teaching it in a way that is more easily understood, and I believe I’m uniquely qualified to do that.

There is a famous saying by George Bernard Shaw, “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” In Negreanu’s case, he is able to both “do” and “teach.” That is indeed a rarity in the industry.

The post Daniel Negreanu Joins Star-Studded MasterClass Online Classroom appeared first on Play USA.