Judge Issues New Ruling In Phil Ivey Edge Sorting Case Versus Borgata

The ongoing $9.6 million edge sorting case involving Phil Ivey and the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey has a new wrinkle. A United States District Judge denied a request on Monday for a motion filed by the Borgata for a summary judgment against the card manufacturer Gemaco. The Borgata sought to have Gemaco held responsible for knowingly supplying defective cards to the casino.

Rule Lands in Gemaco’s Favor

Gemaco was the brand of playing cards used by Ivey in 2012 when he won $9.6 million playing Baccarat at the New Jersey property. The ongoing lawsuit between Ivey and the Borgata came from the Borgata in an attempt to reclaim the money won Ivey with the help of an assistant in Cheung Yin Sun. Edge sorting is a process of identifying flaws on the back of playing cards which gives away the value of the card.

The Borgata submitted the motion last summer and alleged that Gemaco supplied the casino with defective cards. According to Borgata, Sun was able to spot the defections on the Gemaco cards and supplied Ivey with this information while he played.

US District Judge Noel L. Hillman denied the Borgata’s motion while partially granting Gemaco’s cross-motion for summary judgment. The judge ruled that Ivey and Sun were responsible for exploiting any defects on the cards and using the gained advantage to win their sum. Judge Hillman deemed Gemaco not “liable for any tort claims” lobbied by the Borgata.

Judge Hillman granted Gemaco cross-motion for summary judgment for the casino’s common law breach of contract claim, of implied warranty claim, and of common law negligence. Gemaco’s filed their request for cross-motion summary judgment in October 2017. The company claimed the Borgata had no proof of the cards being defective.

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The Saga Continues

The Borgata’s case against Ivey stems back to his fateful 2012 visit with Sun. The allegations against Ivey state that he defrauded the casino by winning in Baccarat by use of the method of edge-sorting. A 2016 ruling by Judge Hillman ruled that Ivey was in breach of contract against the Borgata but not liable for fraud. The ruling forced Ivey to repay the $9.6 million he won at the casino plus additional damages. Ivey appealed this decision and the case remains open.

Ivey was embroiled in a similar case in England against the Crockfords Casino in London. Playing Baccarat at the casino in 2012 with Sun as his assistant, Ivey won £7.7 million using a similar method of edge-sorting.

The UK Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that Ivey would not be receiving any of his funds back from the casino in a unanimous decision from five judges.

The casino denied Ivey’s claim to be paid out after the session concluded. The UK High Court allowed Ivey to appeal in October 2014. The Court of Appeal maintained the decision and Ivey was then given permission to appeal to the Supreme Court in February 2017.

What’s Next for Ivey?

The ruling made by Judge Hillman in favor of Gemaco is yet the next step in Ivey’s case to keep the $9.6 million he won at the Borgata. Currently, Ivey and Sun are appealing the October 2016 decision made by Judge Hillman that Ivey was in breach of contract against the Borgata for marking the cards. However, that appeal is on hold until the Borgata is able to prosecute its claims against Gemaco.

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PokerStars NJSCOOP Returns With 80 Tournaments, $1.3 Million In Guarantees

The PokerStars New Jersey Spring Championship of Online Poker (NJSCOOP) is back with more than $1.3 million in guarantees.

Touted as “NJ’s richest tournament series ever,” you’ll want to clear your calendar for April 14-30, 2018. The series will feature 40 events, each split into a high and low buy-in for a total of 80 tournaments on the 17-day schedule.

Platinum Passes and Big Guarantees

The marquee events of the series will take place on the final Sunday, April 29. The $500 No Limit Hold’em Main Event (High) has a $200,000 guarantee. The $50 Main Event (Low) has a $30,000 guarantee.

To sweeten the pot, both the high and low winners of the Main Events will earn a Platinum Pass package worth over $30,000.

The coveted package includes entry into the 2019 $25,000 buy-in Poker Player’s NL Hold’em Championship. In addition to the tournament ticket, winners will receive six nights at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau plus expenses.

What to expect from the 2018 NJSCOOP

Compared to last year’s NJSCOOP, this year’s schedule includes five additional high and low tournaments and an additional $100,000 in guarantees.

Buy-ins range from $5 to $1,000 with the majority of buy-ins around the $100 – $200 mark for high events and $10 – $20 for low events.

The majority of events are NLH, but there is a healthy dose of mixed-games including HORSE and 8-game. Even the NLH events include several variations including escalating antes, progressive KO and win the button.

Last year, PokerStars exceeded the $200,000 guarantee for the Main Event (High) for the first time. It is not much of a stretch to expect another record turnout, especially with a Platinum Pass on the line.

Based on the results of recent tournaments and previous history in this series, look for the high events to outperform the low events.

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NJSCOOP allows many players to buy directly into the low buy-in events. But why stop there?

Now is the time to take that shot at higher stakes. PokerStars NJ is already running satellites, and there are several ways to qualify for a seat.

PokerStars wants you to play. They are making it easier than ever by offering more ways to win your way to the biggest and richest tournament series New Jersey has to offer.

Look for these qualifiers in the tournament lobby:

  • Spin & Go tourneys for Main Event (High) seats beginning at $4.
  • Weekly freerolls awarding Main Event seats
  • $8,000 worth of satellite ticket giveaways for the Main Events.

Stay tuned to U.S. Poker for more news about NJSCOOP as the details unfold and for updates once the tournament gets underway.

The Complete 2018 NJSCOOP Schedule

Day, Date Time (ET) Event Buy-In Guarantee
Saturday, April 14 6:30 p.m. Event #1 – High: NLHE [Nightly Stars – NJSCOOP Warm-Up] $100 $18,000
Saturday, April 14 6:30 p.m. Event #1 – Low: NLHE [NJSCOOP Warm-Up] $10 $5,000
Sunday, April 15 2:00 p.m. Event #2 – High: NLHE [Deepstack, 8-Max] $200 $20,000
Sunday, April 15 2:00 p.m. Event #2 – Low: NLHE [Deepstack, 8-Max] $20 $7,500
Sunday, April 15 3:30 p.m. Event #3 – High: NLHE [Progressive KO] $150 $25,000
Sunday, April 15 3:30 p.m. Event #3 – Low: NLHE [Progressive KO] $15 $5,000
Sunday, April 15 5:00 p.m. Event #4 – High: NLHE [Sunday Special SE] $300 $75,000
Sunday, April 15 5:00 p.m. Event #4 – Low: NLHE [Mini Sunday Special] $30 $16,000
Sunday, April 15 7:00 p.m. Event #5 – High: PL Omaha [6-Max] $100 $12,000
Sunday, April 15 7:00 p.m. Event #5 – Low: PL Omaha [6-Max] $10 $2,500
Sunday, April 15 10:00 p.m. Event #6 – High: NLHE [Sunday Supersonic SE, Hyper-Turbo] $150 $16,000
Sunday, April 15 10:00 p.m. Event #6 – Low: NLHE [Mini Supersonic, Hyper-Turbo] $15 $4,000
Monday, April 16 6:30 p.m. Event #7 – High: NLHE [Win The Button] $200 $20,000
Monday, April 16 6:30 p.m. Event #7 – Low: NLHE [Win The Button] $20 $5,000
Monday, April 16 8:00 p.m. Event #8 – High: NLHE [4-Max, Progressive KO] $100 $15,000
Monday, April 16 8:00 p.m. Event #8 – Low: NLHE [4-Max, Progressive KO] $10 $4,000
Tuesday, April 17 6:30 p.m. Event #9 – High: NLHE [Super Tuesday SE] $250 $30,000
Tuesday, April 17 6:30 p.m. Event #9 – Low: NLHE [Mini Super Tuesday] $25 $10,000
Tuesday, April 17 8:00 p.m. Event #10 – High: NLHE [Escalating Antes] $150 $15,000
Tuesday, April 17 8:00 p.m. Event #10 – Low: NLHE [Escalating Antes] $15 $5,000
Wednesday, April 18 6:30 p.m. Event #11 – High: 8-Game [6-Max] $500 $15,000
Wednesday, April 18 6:30 p.m. Event #11 – Low: 8-Game [6-Max] $50 $7,500
Wednesday, April 18 8:00 p.m. Event #12 – High: NLHE [Bubble Rush] $200 $12,000
Wednesday, April 18 8:00 p.m. Event #12 – Low: NLHE [Bubble Rush] $20 $4,000
Thursday, April 19 6:30 p.m. Event #13 – High: NLHE [Thursday Thrill SE] $250 $25,000
Thursday, April 19 6:30 p.m. Event #13 – Low: NLHE [Mini Thrill] $25 $10,000
Thursday, April 19 7:00 p.m. Event #14 – High: PL Omaha [8-max, Win The Button] $200 $15,000
Thursday, April 19 7:00 p.m. Event #14 – Low: PL Omaha [8-max, Win The Button] $25 $3,000
Friday, April 20 9:00 p.m. Event #15 – High: NLHE [Deep Hyper-Turbo] $200 $15,000
Friday, April 20 9:00 p.m. Event #15 – Low: NLHE [Deep Hyper-Turbo] $20 $4,000
Saturday, April 21 5:00 p.m. Event #16 – High: NLHE [Deepstack, 6-Max] $100 $18,000
Saturday, April 21 5:00 p.m. Event #16 – Low: NLHE [Deepstack, 6-Max] $10 $5,000
Saturday, April 21 7:00 p.m. Event #17 – High: HORSE $200 $10,000
Saturday, April 21 7:00 p.m. Event #17 – Low: HORSE $20 $2,500
Saturday, April 21 9:00 p.m. Event #18 – High: NLHE [3-Max, Turbo, Zoom, Progressive KO] $100 $12,000
Saturday, April 21 9:00 p.m. Event #18 – Low: NLHE [3-Max, Turbo, Zoom, Progressive KO] $10 $3,000
Sunday, April 22 1:00 p.m. Event #19 – High: NLHE [Marathon] $100 $16,000
Sunday, April 22 1:00 p.m. Event #19 – Low: NLHE [Marathon] $10 $5,000
Sunday, April 22 3:30 p.m. Event #20 – High: NLHE [Progressive KO] $150 $20,000
Sunday, April 22 3:30 p.m. Event #20 – Low: NLHE [Progressive KO] $15 $5,000
Sunday, April 22 5:00 p.m. Event #21 – High: NLHE [Sunday Special SE] $350 $80,000
Sunday, April 22 5:00 p.m. Event #21 – Low: NLHE $50 $14,000
Sunday, April 22 7:30 p.m. Event #22 – High: PL 5-Card Omaha [8-Max] $100 $10,000
Sunday, April 22 7: 30 p.m. Event #22 – Low: PL 5-Card Omaha [8-Max] $10 $3,000
Sunday, April 22 10:00 p.m. Event #23 – High: NLHE [6-Max, Turbo] $300 $25,000
Sunday, April 22 10:00 p.m. Event #23 – Low: NLHE [6-Max, Turbo] $30 $7,500
Monday, April 23 6:30 p.m. Event #24 – High: NLHE [4-Max] $300 $35,000
Monday, April 23 6:30 p.m. Event #24 – Low: NLHE [4-Max] $30 $10,000
Monday, April 23 8:00 p.m. Event #25 – High: NLO8 [Rebuy, 8-Max] $100 $10,000
Monday, April 23 8:00 p.m. Event #25 – Low: NLO8 [Rebuy, 8-Max] $10 $4,000
Tuesday, April 24 6:30 p.m. Event #26 – High: NLHE [Progressive KO, Win The Button] $200 $22,000
Tuesday, April 24 6:30 p.m. Event #26 – Low: NLHE [Progressive KO, Win The Button] $20 $6,000
Tuesday, April 24 7:00 p.m. Event #27 – High: NLHE High Roller [6-Max] $1,000 $65,000
Tuesday, April 24 7:00 p.m. Event #27 – Low: NLHE High Roller [6-Max] $100 $30,000
Wednesday, April 25 6:30 p.m. Event #28 – High: NLHE [6-Max, Progressive KO] $200 $22,000
Wednesday, April 25 6:30 p.m. Event #28 – Low: NLHE [6-Max, Progressive KO] $20 $6,000
Wednesday, April 25 8:00 p.m. Event #29 – High: NLHE [8-Max, Turbo] $100 $10,000
Wednesday, April 25 8:00 p.m. Event #29 – Low: NLHE [8-Max, Turbo] $10 $4,000
Thursday, April 26 6:30 p.m. Event #30 – High: PL Omaha [8-Max, Progressive KO] $150 $10,000
Thursday, April 26 6:30 p.m. Event #30 – Low: PL Omaha [8-Max, Progressive KO] $15 $3,000
Thursday, April 26 8:00 p.m. Event #31 – High: NLHE [Heads-Up, Progressive Total KO, Zoom] $300 $15,000
Thursday, April 26 8:00 p.m. Event #31 – Low: NLHE [Heads-Up, Progressive Total KO, Zoom] $30 $4,000
Friday, April 27 8:00 p.m. Event #32 – High: NLHE [BigStack Turbo] $150 $15,000
Friday, April 27 8:00 p.m. Event #32 – Low: NLHE [BigStack Turbo] $15 $5,000
Saturday, April 28 6:00 p.m. Event #33 – High: NLHE [Final Weekend Kickoff] $200 $20,000
Saturday, April 28 6:00 p.m. Event #33 – Low: NLHE [Final Weekend Kickoff] $20 $7,500
Saturday, April 28 7:00 p.m. Event #34 – High: Stud Hi/Lo [8-Max] $200 $7,500
Saturday, April 28 7:00 p.m. Event #34 – Low: Stud Hi/Lo [8-Max] $20 $2,500
Saturday, April 28 9:00 p.m. Event #35 – High: NLHE [3-Max, Hyper, Rebuy] $50 $10,000
Saturday, April 28 9:00 p.m. Event #35 – Low: NLHE [3-Max, Hyper, Rebuy] $5 $3,000
Sunday, April 29 2:30 p.m. Event #36 – High: Mixed NLHE/PLO [Progressive KO] $200 $16,000
Sunday, April 29 2:30 p.m. Event #36 – Low: Mixed NLHE/PLO [Progressive KO] $20 $4,000
Sunday, April 29 5:00 p.m. Event #37 – High: NLHE [Main Event, 2-Day Event] $500 $200,000
Sunday, April 29 5:00 p.m. Event #37 – Low: NLHE [Main Event, 2-Day Event] $50 $40,000
Sunday, April 29 8:00 p.m. Event #38 – High: PL Omaha [6-Max] $150 $15,000
Sunday, April 29 8:00 p.m. Event #38 – Low: PL Omaha [6-Max] $15 $3,000
Sunday, April 29 10:00 p.m. Event #39 – High: NLHE [Sunday Supersonic SE, Hyper-Turbo] $100 $15,000
Sunday, April 29 10:00 p.m. Event #39 – Low: NLHE [Hyper-Turbo] $10 $3,000
Monday, April 20 9:00 p.m. Event #40 – High: NLHE [Wrap-up – Deep, Hyper-Turbo] $150 $16,000
Monday, April 20 9:00 p.m. Event #40 – Low: NLHE [Wrap-up – Deep, Hyper-Turbo] $15 $5,000

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Poker Industry PRO: PokerStars’ Segregated, Rupees-Denominated Indian Poker Room to Launch Next Month

On April 17, all Indian players will be required to switch to PokerStars.IN, the company’s latest segregated online poker room under local license.

PokerStars India, the company’s long-awaited localized Indian online poker room, is set to go live on April 17, according to an update on the official launch website.

The Stars Group, parent company of PokerStars, confirmed its plan to launch a PokerStars-branded online poker room under local license in India last month, following at least two years of exploration into the market.

Read the full article on pokerfuse →

Poker Industry PRO: “The Richest Online Festival in Europe”: Winamax Announces €11 Million Schedule for Series XXI

This could be the last time the French online poker operator runs the series before expanding into Spain under new shared liquidity regulations.

French online poker operator Winamax has released its schedule for the upcoming Winamax Series 21—or XXI as it is stylized—with guarantees of €11 million over 159 tournaments.

Series XXI takes place in April and has €2 million less guaranteed than Series XX which took place in January 2018. However, it matches the same guarantees seen last April (over a few more events) and it still holds the crown as the largest guaranteed online poker tournament series in the European markets, exceeding that of PokerStars’ Euro SCOOP which is currently underway.

Read the full article on pokerfuse →