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A Plea to Poker Players: Why Tournament Reporting Really Matters

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:11:21 +0100

Nothing has really happened until it has been recorded. -- Virginia Woolf

Let's try an experiment: Type your first and last name into any search engine. Then, place quotation marks around your name. This brings up a list of all the Web sites where your name is listed.

If you play tournament poker with any regularity, it's quite likely your name will come up on more poker-related Web sites than any other. What you see on the screen is your life.

The Internet has become the official record. Long after we're gone, our names will remain circulating out there in cyberspace. The New York Times is no longer the paper of record. "All the news that's fit to print" is everywhere, and it's online.

I've written hundreds of tournament narratives. I've probably recorded more than a thousand tournament results dating back over 15 years. Virtually all of these reports are posted online at dozens of gambling Web sites.

These reports contain the names of thousands of poker players all over the world who, were it not for tournaments and poker reporting, would probably have no public identity whatsoever. This leads me to make a plea, targeted to all poker players.

I need your help. First and foremost, I want to get your name right. I want it to be spelled correctly. I want your name to be listed on the record the way you want it to be - with your proper nickname, or whatever you prefer.

But this is sometimes impossible. Later on, you come to me (and to others who write about poker). At times, you are angry. You ask why your name is listed wrong at Web sites. You wonder why a poker hand is not reported correctly. We all lose out because of these errors, which are entirely avoidable.

Those of you who play in tournaments know that at the end of each day, players are asked to complete a slip of paper. You're asked to include your name, hometown and chip count. Seems simple enough.

Unfortunately, you would not believe how difficult many of these slips are to decipher. This leads to problems with how a tournament is covered and reported.

There are also player bio sheets which are used by tournament officials and television networks. These sheets are usually filled out by players who make it to the final table.

I am astounded that some players do not take the time to fill these out properly. When the official report is written later and posted to various online Web sites, the information about you is either woefully inadequate or incorrect. Or worse - it's boring.

Think of it this way. You're not doing me a favor. You are doing yourself a favor.

"Player of the Year" point systems, career records and tournament archives, and many important undertakings depend entirely upon what we report. If your name is illegible or is not listed properly, you will not get points. Your tournament record will be incomplete. No one wants this, especially you.

Here are some helpful hints:

1. Always write clearly. Write out all the information as clearly as possible. Do not assume we know you. Do not assume we know your hometown of "Springfield" is in Missouri. Maybe it's Massachusetts. We want to get it right. But it's tough when so many tournament slips look like a chicken stepped in an inkwell and walked across the page. I'm serious.

2. Always use the exact same name at all tournaments. If you check tournament archives at several online sites, hundreds of names are duplicated. Their results are not recorded properly. Make up your mind, and stick to the same name - be it John Smith, John Q. Smith, J. Smith, J.Q. Smith, Dr. John Smith or John "Doc" Smith.

3. Volunteer information. Always feel free to tell a tournament reporter or poker writer more about you. Are you a military vet? Let us know. Did you win an award in your community? Tell us about it. Were you honored for your charity work? Please tell us. Too many of you have great stories, but we don't know you and therefore can't share them. Poker is an opportunity to tell the world who you are and what you are about. Don't be shy.

4. Tell us a story. We always want to know more about you. What motivated you to play in a tournament? What were you thinking during a big hand? Why did you make the decision you did? Almost everyone has something interesting to say. We are your mouthpiece to the poker world.

5. Read the tournament logs. PokerListings.com and other Web sites provide a wonderful service to the poker community. They often list tournament results hand-for-hand. There are also logs with many interesting hands during the early and middle stages of tournaments. These logs can be a terrific learning resource.

I know that playing poker is much tougher than it seems. But if you think your days are long as a tournament player, try reporting.

Keep in mind that if a tournament lasts 12 hours, the reporters must often arrive before the event starts, and then leave long after the day is done. I've seen many reporters work 16-hour days.

There are many fine writers and reporters in this industry. Many of these fine people could be writing instead for major newspapers and magazines. But they love poker. I think most of them are underappreciated.

Indeed, what we do is important. It's a craft that should be respected - especially by the players who benefit the most from the labor of others.

If you don't think writing and reporting is important now, later on you surely will. And those all around you - your family, your friends, and even your descendants - will appreciate the poker record you leave, which will be your legacy.

Nolan Dalla can be reached at: nolandalla@aol.com

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My Crystal Ball: What 2009 Holds for Poker

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:41:46 +0100

By Nolan Dalla -- I'm usually an optimist. I believe in looking at the bright side of things. However, 2009 looks to be a year of uncertainty in the poker world.

Due mostly to gloomy economic forecasts, poker and all of its ancillary businesses could be in for some tough times ahead. Indeed, no one anywhere is immune from the global economic slump.

Here's a list of some things that might happen in poker over the next 12 months:

There'll be changes on the Las Vegas Strip. At least half a dozen poker rooms could close down. Some of these rooms are likely to be MGM Mirage properties. The gaming giant is heavily invested in the new 66-acre City Center property, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009.

A new 24-table poker room is planned - which seems small given the vast size and scope of the massive City Center development. Seeking just the right balance, MGM-Mirage does not want its nearby sister properties draining players from the new room.

Furthermore, the gaming company does not want City Center to be large enough to threaten its flagship poker property, at Bellagio. Look for closing announcements or cutbacks at New York-New York, Excalibur and possibly the Luxor. Smaller rooms elsewhere could also be in jeopardy.

Electronic poker tables will fail. After the Excalibur poker room in Vegas introduced 12 electronic poker tables in August 2008 as part of a three-month trial period, some insiders predicted that live-dealt poker games would gradually decline, while the quicker-paced, less labor-intensive electronic poker tables manufactured by PokerTek would become the new rage.

It didn't happen. The experiment seems to be failing. After the novelty of electronic poker games fizzled out, many players appear to steadfastly prefer either the online version (at home) or the live version (in a casino).

The future of hybrid electronic poker games is in doubt. However, the smaller heads-up version of electronic poker - tabletop games which can be placed inside bars and restaurants - will probably continue to grow.

Poker rooms will reduce staff. All over the country, we have already begun to see poker executives released or transferred to other departments. In some cases, pit-game managers have been brought in to run poker operations.

This is bad for poker because most of these gambling managers know very little about the special needs of poker players.

However, one of the upsides of a recession is that dealer quality will improve just about everywhere. As jobs become increasingly scarce, weaker dealers will be cut.

Also, some talented people who have done other kinds of work and are currently unemployed will gravitate to poker and bring a strong work ethic to their new profession.

Comps for poker players will decline; special hotel rates for poker players will become more widely available. Due to budget cutbacks, it's becoming increasingly difficult to get a meal comp inside many poker rooms. Also, casino comp programs are not so generous as in the past, which means points-based systems for poker players will result in fewer freebies.

The upside of a recession is that more hotel rooms are becoming vacant. Desperate to fill them, operators will make more special rates and discounts available to poker players.

Oddly enough, poker players were largely shafted during good economic times, when the rooms were full of suckers. But poker players will be a dependable source of revenue for many casinos as other types of gamblers cut back visits and reduce their spending.

Poker in Asia will stagnate. Macau, now the most lucrative gambling destination in the world, recently announced a 5% rate of growth in 2008 over the previous year, which is good news for gamblers in Asia.

But poker - despite some bold initiatives and a vast amount of new spending in the region - remains flat.

Worse, recent Asian-based poker events have not drawn well from target countries. Most of the players at Asia-((Pacific Poker Tour)) (APPT) tournaments held in Macau, Seoul and Manila came from nonhost countries.

One must ask - where are all the poker players from China, India and Japan? There are 2.5 billion people just a short flight away from most APPT events. Why aren't those tournaments completely sold out?

Poker in Latin America will grow. The Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT) is currently in its second season. A solid foundation has already been laid, as poker is expanding in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela and elsewhere.

Most critical to expansion in the region, several LAPT events will be broadcast on television throughout Central and South America. That should fuel greater interest in the game among a rapidly developing middle class.

The one abyss in Latin America will be Mexico, which is unlikely to host any poker event for several years to come. Following a disastrous episode in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico in December, when one of the LAPT events was shut down by local authorities, poker players everywhere should be avoiding this corrupt nation like the plague.

The hottest new poker markets will be in Eastern Europe and Russia. Following the success in recent years of the European Poker Tour (EPT) and several other high-profile events, poker is now expanding eastward. Top poker sites now have play and support in many Eastern European languages.

The biggest poker market is expected to be Russia. The newly formed Russian Poker Tour (RPT) just announced two upcoming dates this winter, to be held in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Furthermore, the phenomenal success of Russian poker superstars including Ivan Demidov, Alex Kravchenko, Kirill Gerasimov and others on the global circuit will motivate more young Russians to take up poker, instead of traditional games like chess.

Non-Hold'em poker games will grow in popularity. As most of the generation that came into poker between 2003 and the present looks for alternatives, expect to see Pot-Limit Omaha, Limit-structured games and even Badugi to become more popular.

Online sites are now regularly spreading new games such as Pot-Limit and No-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo (unheard of just a few years ago). The online companies will continue to be trendsetters, with brick-and-mortar casinos following their lead in response to new markets and a greater interest in a wider variety of poker games.

Online poker will not be legalized; the UIGEA will not be overturned in 2009. The new Obama administration's political capital will not be used to overturn a controversial bill, as it's perceived that there's little mainstream public support for doing so (despite the Poker Players Allliance's noble efforts).

Sadly, there are far too many other major political concerns now - such as the economy and two major wars. There's also serious objection to online gambling from many Democrats, which control both houses of Congress.

The only way to pass a pro-online poker bill in the next session is probably doing a "reverse Bill Frist," which means to tack on a repeal to another bill as an amendment (in the same manner the UIGEA was passed, without debate or the knowledge of many who were voting on the bill).

It's difficult if not impossible to overturn a federal law that has already been implemented, but yet hasn't had time to produce any discernable consequences.

Attendance at some U.S. poker tournaments will decline. We have already seen attendance fall at many events during the latter half of 2008. A weak economy will continue to drain entrants from tournaments, especially the higher buy-in events.

Furthermore, there are fewer sponsored players now than in the past, which means fewer staked players being able to afford entry fees at big-buy-in events.

Tournaments more affordable to the middle class - in the $100 to $1,000 buy-in range - should continue to attract steady attendance in most markets. But there is no longer enough money, especially "dead money," coming into the bigger events to sustain growth.

Poker coverage will be reduced; few poker books will be published. Good, reliable poker coverage is going to be harder to find. The poker market probably can't support the current number of Web sites and magazines. Some are already struggling to pay the bills. Marketing budgets are being cut everywhere.

There are also few start-up businesses in this industry to pump in the advertising dollars necessary to finance multiple poker Web sites and magazines.

Furthermore, with so much online content and over a hundred poker books already on the shelf at most major bookstores, publishers are no longer inclined to accept poker-related manuscripts.

The number of poker players worldwide will increase. Perhaps as many as 10 to 15 million new poker players will be created in 2009.

First and foremost, this is a demographic change due to the age of population. Millions of young people, who already know the rules of poker and play regularly with their friends or online, will come of adult age in various jurisdictions and be allowed to play poker for the first time.

Sure, many older citizens who are poker players will pass away over the next 12 months. But there are far more young people coming into the game than are dying out - which makes for a positive long-term forecast for poker.

-- Nolan Dalla

Nolan Dalla can be reached at: nolandalla@aol.com

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Former Party Gaming Official Abandons a Winnable Fight

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:17:12 +0100

By Nolan Dalla -- The recent guilty plea by a top Party Gaming executive is a severe blow to all the activists fighting for the rights of poker players.

In case you missed the astonishing announcement earlier this month, Anurag Dikshit, one of the founders and former executives at Party Poker, agreed to plead guilty and will pay a whopping $300 million fine in a settlement reached with the U.S. Department of Justice. The big question is - why?

According to news reports, Dikshit pleaded guilty to violating one count of the Wire Act. That's right - one count.

Although convincing arguments have been made both in and out of various courts that this obsolete 1961 federal law does not apply to the Internet or skill games such as poker, Dikshit walked away from what would have been a very winnable battle without ever firing a shot. He surrendered to the enemies of personal freedom.

Dikshit was once named the 207th-richest person in the world by Forbes magazine; it's unclear whether paying a huge fine and absorbing millions more in legal fees will ultimately whack Dikshit out of the top 500. But I suspect he'll somehow manage to survive.

What's most disturbing about this gross capitulation is that Dikshit got filthy rich on the backs of millions of poker players like you and me, those who faithfully paid the rake at Party Poker one hand at a time until Dikshit had more cash than he could possibly spend in a lifetime.

And when the time came when he could actually do something for all of us, when the time came when he was in the best possible strategic and financial position to stand up to the DoJ's control freaks and the moral crusaders, Dikshit essentially said "screw the poker players, I'm protecting my own ass." There are words to describe people like Dikshit. Coward comes to mind.

With wealth and power come certain obligations. Noblesse oblige is the term once used to describe the responsibilities of the barons of industry, who earned their great wealth from the toil of others and who enjoyed the advantages a free society gave them to succeed in business.

But instead of hiring the best possible legal team and pursuing what would have been a winnable case for the online poker industry, costing a fraction of what was eventually paid in an obscene settlement, Dikshit instead chose a scorched-earth policy, burning every poker player from Key West to Nome. He gave up a winnable fight and abandoned principle.

To be fair, Party Poker was in a tough position. Motivated by the desire to maintain its good standing on the London Stock Exchange, Party had much to lose by fighting a lengthy legal battle with the feds. It's impossible to know what went on in backroom conversations between Dikshit and company management.

But Party Gaming later announced it had nothing to do with the actual settlement, described as a personal legal issue with Dikshit. So he alone bears full responsibility for folding what very well could have been a winning hand.

The government's case against Dikshit is a terrifying miscarriage of justice. It is a grotesque witch hunt which not only demolishes our individual freedoms, but also sets a frightening precedent which could adversely impact international law and commerce.

Keep in mind that Dikshit is not a U.S. citizen. One must ask why our government is spending critical resources going after foreigners. If Dikshit was a dangerous terrorist, one might understand the government's zeal.

But Party Gaming is and has always been a legal, licensed company that just so happens to be based abroad. Because many American customers (once) found Party Poker to be an attractive place to hang out hardly makes the Web site's founders and operators "criminals."

Indeed, the plea and fine are an admission of guilt - of what, I don't exactly know. Operating a legal and legitimate business in another country that just so happened to attract American customers?

If that's not puzzling enough, consider this. Party Poker actually complied with U.S. law after the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed in 2006. It voluntarily withdrew from the U.S. market. Why then would the federal government go after the management of one of the companies which obeyed the law?

Unfortunately, because Dikshit threw in the towel before the fight even started, these questions will never be answered. Secrecy prevails. The nameless, faceless shakedown artists in the DoJ win. Debate, deliberation and justice never see the light of day.

Of course, online poker sites are largely to blame for their current impasse within the U.S. market. At one time, this multibillion-dollar industry was every bit as wealthy and potentially powerful as any business or trade organization in America. It could have mobilized forces and financed a massive public relations blitz.

Just as the pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries have bombed the airwaves with advocacy spots supporting what they want from lawmakers in Washington, online sites could have spent a few bucks - a tiny fraction of what they earn in profits - and run ads which would have appealed to millions of ordinary Americans who cherish individual freedoms.

A 10-second clip showing former President Ronald Reagan at the presidential pulpit crowing about "getting the government out of our lives" would have sliced political conservatives right down the middle, which probably would have slugged the antigambling zealots a fatal blow.

But it didn't happen. There were no television commercials. There were no ads in major magazines and newspapers. There was no public relations blitz.

By the time the industry finally decided to go on the offensive with initiatives like the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), it was too late. The damage was already done.

And when the time ultimately came that one of our own had a chance to stand up to the evil bastards in court, he chose instead to walk away. Alas, if there's anything more outrageous in this day and age than our own government going after online poker companies and its owners, it's cowards like Anurag Dikshit abandoning the noble fight and surrendering.

Nolan Dalla can be reached at: nolandalla@aol.com

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My Reaction to the 60 Minutes Story Part 3

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 02:07:52 +0100

Poker industry expert Nolan Dalla sheds light on the recent 60 Minutes piece "The Cheaters" in part 3 of this three-part series.

Editor's note: Bring yourself up to speed with part 1 and part 2 of this series.

About halfway into the segment, the story shifted to Canada. Appropriately, 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft and his film crew traveled to the Kahnawake Indian reserve, which is near Montreal, Quebec. According to the report, the Kahnawake nation houses 60% of the world's online gambling computer networks.

After Kroft noted that the Indian tribe has no experience whatsoever in casino operations or enforcing regulations, Kahnawake Chief Mike Delisle appeared on camera and confirmed everyone's worst perceptions that he's little more than a bagman for the industry.

Perhaps the Chief said some interesting things which unfortunately ended up on the cutting room floor. If so, poor him. And, poor us. But the only purpose he really served was reinforcing the notion that the industry doesn't answer to any real authorities. One wishes he would have declined 60 Minutes' request for an interview. Next time, call in sick, Chief.

Next, Kroft showed us the data center which houses most of online poker's operations. It was described as a "nondescript building" that "used to be a mattress factory." The comment about the building's former purpose was intended to further discredit the industry and its methods of operation.

Unsatisfied with leaving it at that, the program showed Kroft driving what appeared to be a rental car on the street out in front of the building. "This takes nondescript to an entirely different level," he joked with his Washington Post colleague.

Perhaps 60 Minutes was going for entertainment value here, but this was a real cheap shot. Visit any data center just about anywhere, and you are going to see a "nondescript building."

For the record, I recently entered a very bland looking building located near downtown Las Vegas. It had no windows. There were no signs or services. There was one lone employee on staff. Among its many highly respected occupants was the entire data operation for The Wynn Casino. Memo to Kroft: Data centers are not sexy places.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission became the subject of the following segment. It's hard to imagine a more negligent governing body than this band of ghosts, who are essentially out of the public eye and are shielded from any oversight or intrusion.

Even the Tribal Chief doesn't have any power over the three nameless souls who constitute the so-called "Commission."

Frank Catania, a former New Jersey's Gaming Enforcement Division official, came on next. He was hired by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission to investigate the online cheating scandal at AP and gradually helped to uncover Russ Hamilton's apparent involvement at Ultimate Bet.

One wishes that 60 Minutes would have used this precious closing minute to cite the issue of legalization inside the U.S. market - which could then provide proper licensing and regulation for this "murky" industry. Instead, sadly, a piling-on effect began, as another scandal was shown, with former poker champ Russ Hamilton being portrayed as a cross between John Dillinger and an Enron executive.

There's an old saying that you can steal more money with a fountain pen than a gun. Perhaps in today's parlance, that should now be a computer mouse. Of course, Hamilton does himself no favors by keeping mysteriously silent. And (whether guilty or not) he deserves our scrutiny for offering what is perhaps the most abominable lack of a self-defense in recent memory. Even wacky Ted Bundy presented a better case for his own defense, and he got the death penalty.

One of the final scenes of the segment showed Kroft sitting comfortably in his New York office trying to reach Russ Hamilton by telephone. This was a wasted opportunity. For decades, 60 Minutes made its name as a torchbearer of great investigative journalism, by directly confronting the guilty bastards - whether hiding out in parking lots, barging into cluttered offices or thrusting microphones in a suspect's bamboozled face - leaving the hopeless unprepared victim to look idiotic and guilty.

I have nothing against Hamilton, but a guilty pleasure would most certainly have been satisfied to have seen the alleged online poker cheater lumbering across the fairway out on a golf course desperately scurrying away from the 60 Minutes news crew in search of a retreat.

It wouldn't have been worth $20 million - the amount Hamilton and his cohorts reportedly have stolen - in entertainment value to the unfortunate victims. But it would have been poetic justice to see the man suffer some embarrassment.

Seeing those at AB squirm might have provided a similar emotive delight. Again, if CBS could take the time fly off to Costa Rica and Canada, it seems the cheaters working at Absolute Poker could have been spotlighted.

If a top-notch news organization is going to complain that most of the cheaters have not yet been exposed or punished, why then not use the gallows of the national stage on prime-time television to dole out some justice?

The segment finally concludes with a devastating swan song, crooned by Todd Witteles, who was interviewed earlier. If anyone thought the program was reasonably accurate and balanced up to that point, or if anyone believed that the story wasn't going to be as bad as originally feared, Witteles' final devastating sonata was about as appealing as the sound of Yoko Ono's voice to rock fans.

Witteles' comments ended up being the most memorable quote of the entire story. Unfortunately, they were what most viewers will have taken away from the segment.

Witteles said:

The people who did this were very greedy and very blatant. But the scary thing is - there may be other accounts out there like this, even on other sites that are not being done with the same sense of recklessness, and maybe this has been going on at more than Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet. Maybe it's going on at several other places and maybe it's still going on at these sites.

Witteles' comments were not only outrageous, they were reprehensible. While anything is certainly possible, to leave millions of viewers hanging now with serious questions about an entire industry, that other sites might possibly be corrupt - without any shred of credible evidence to support this accusation - is beyond ignorant.

No doubt officials at Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and other top online poker sites must have been screaming at their television screens when they heard that comment. The implication that these entirely legitimate businesses are now doing the same things that rogue employees at two other sites have done was not only unfounded - it was slanderous.

It was an insult to the ownership, management and many hardworking employees entrusted with online security at these companies to be thrown into the same dung pile with the creeps who stole millions of dollars at Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet.

Witteles should have known better than to say what he said. And 60 Minutes should have shown greater balance by cutting out those unwarranted and very damaging remarks. He had already made his point once earlier in the show. It was not necessary to leave millions of viewers with the impression that all of the online poker operators are crooks.

Since the program aired, I have read many comments at various poker forums. Those who believe that 60 Minutes is not a mover and shaker of popular opinion, and ultimately of public policy, display an appalling adolescent understanding of how the government can dictate what happens in all of our lives.

While it's true that 275 million Americans did not watch the show, the fact is - the 25 million or so who did watch are in the most powerful elites of our nation. They are the media. They are lawmakers. They are business leaders. They are thousands of critical staff and support people. They are people who dictate what happens on issues like the UIEGA.

No doubt online poker will survive. It will prosper. Most poker sites were reportedly just as busy the day after the 60 Minutes story as the day before. Incredibly, this included activity at both AbsolutePoker and UltimateBet.

Perhaps this is because poker's real growth and future potential is not inside the U.S. It is elsewhere. Eventually, the time may come when the U.S. is no longer the leading market producing online poker players.

But for those of us stuck in the U.S. market, trapped in a senseless time warp of Big Brother dictating to us that we can't fund our online poker accounts, the 60 Minutes story was annoying.

And for those of us working passionately for online poker's legalization, not just because it's something we want in our lives but more importantly because it's a key front in the endless struggle between the forces of free thought and action versus those who wish to impose their sense of moral superiority on millions of fellow citizens, the story was frustrating. An opportunity was lost. Indeed, last Sunday night our noble task just became a bit tougher.

Nolan Dalla can be reached at: nolandalla@aol.com

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My Reaction to the 60 Minutes Story Part 2

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 08:14:39 +0100

The 60 Minutes story that was so anticipated yet at the same time feared finally aired on the East Coast at slightly past 7 p.m. It was the first segment in the customary three-story format which has been a staple of the Sunday night newsmagazine for nearly four decades.

Editor's note: If you haven't already make sure to get up to speed with part 1 of this series.

Correspondent Steve Kroft opened up the segment sitting in the forefront, with "The Cheaters" emblazoned as the segment's title on the rear backdrop. The illustration showed what is supposed to be an online poker site, but with five aces exposed.

Kroft began his remarks with allusions to the Old West. He mentioned that in earlier times, poker cheats were brought to justice instantly at the gaming table, presumably by a fellow player brandishing a loaded revolver. He then said:

But today, if you're caught cheating in the popular and lucrative world of Internet poker, you may get away scot-free. At least that seems to be the case in the biggest scandal in the history of online gambling ... It raises new questions about the integrity and security of the shadowy and highly-profitable business that operates outside U.S. law.

This was the first indication that 60 Minutes would resort to exaggerating evils and propagating outdated fears. How exactly are legitimate online poker companies "shadowy?" Virtually all of them of have been licensed and are perfectly legal in their host countries.

Are all companies based outside the United States to be considered "shadowy?" If an online poker site is operating responsibly under local laws, are other Costa Rican businesses "shadowy" as well?

For instance, are farms and factories based in Costa Rica - none of which conform to U.S. safety standards and labor laws, but which aggressively sell goods and services to the U.S. market - also "shadowy" businesses?

This loaded word revealed an obvious and unmistakable bias which continues to be perpetuated by online poker's critics. 60 Minutes should have known better than to fall into using outdated rhetoric.

During the segment we're shown archival footage of Chris Moneymaker's stunning victory at the 2003 World Series of Poker. It was noted that the poker boom detonated the instant the everyman accountant from Tennessee first rocketed into America's living rooms, demonstrating that just about anyone with an online poker account and a little bit of luck could do the impossible and become a poker champion.

Kroft appeared on camera and properly noted that the WSOP is the "richest sporting event on the planet" - a nice plug to most of us who have been parroting this fact for almost a decade, and news perhaps to others who are still unaware of the game's phenomenal growth and development in recent years.

In a fitting illustration of how big online poker has really become, Kroft said that although the WSOP is huge, it "pales in comparison to what is happening online right now."

He then said that 500,000 people are playing poker online "at this very moment." The comment implied that at any given time, half a million people are logged on, which is generally an accurate statement.

Next came a short tutorial, which happened to be very good. Viewers saw how quick and easy it is to set up an online poker account. Interestingly, the two Web sites shown onscreen were Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet, leading me to ask the obligatory question - is there such a thing as "bad publicity?" I wonder if either of the sites got a spike out of the broadcast.

60 Minutes got really lazy at this point. Kroft naively pointed out that players can open up and fund online poker accounts with a credit card. Not quite true. This has been going off and on in recent years, with the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIEGA) now making it considerably more difficult for Americans to do what Kroft suggested.

This was followed by an outright bit of misinformation:

We should tell you that this $18 billion dollar industry is illegal in the U.S. But the ban is almost impossible to enforce since the Internet sites and the computers that randomly deal the cards and keep track of the bets are located offshore.

It would take at least a column (if not a legal brief) to go over all of the ramifications of this misleading statement. If 60 Minutes meant to say it is illegal for an online poker site to be based inside the U.S., that is correct. No online poker site may operate within U.S. borders.

The implication here is something quite different, however. The statement implies it is illegal to play online poker inside the U.S. That means millions of Americans are, in fact, criminals. Many noted gaming law scholars have taken issue with this idea, and have proven irrefutably that (except in some states, such as Washington) under current federal law it is not a crime to play online poker. Kroft blew this one like Linda Lovelace.

The next shot was the hazy, dirt-filled horizon of downtown San Jose, Costa Rica. I've been there. It's not particularly appealing for visitors.

But it seems 60 Minutes intentionally aired footage of a smoggy, overcrowded city in order to reinforce the previous allegation that online poker companies are "shadowy" operators.

Having visited a few of the offices where online sites are actually based in Costa Rica (yes, I actually stepped inside the offices - something the camera crew might have considered doing), I can say firsthand that these local businesses look very much like what one might expect to see at an insurance agency, a real estate office or any other typical business based in the U.S.

This is where online poker companies actually conduct their daily business. Not in the streets or back alleys.

Of course, the visual outdoor reminder that this is a developing country served to promulgate the myth that America is culturally and morally superior to other nations.

Then, Kroft said:

Unlike land-based casinos, there is almost no official regulation, enforcement or supervision.

This was an absurd statement. Numerous online gambling companies, including poker sites, adhere to strict laws and regulations, especially in Europe. Some online companies such as PartyPoker are actually traded on the stock exchange.

It's probably true that Caribbean and Central American laws and regulations are less strict than in Europe, or elsewhere. But many online industry leaders (BetFair, William Hill, Ladbrokes, PartyPoker, PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and others) operate legally and responsibly in developed nations. To completely ignore this fact and suggest most online sites are unregulated was incorrect.

Next, poker pro Todd Witteles was introduced to us for the first time. Fortunately, Witteles and the other online poker players who appeared on camera were likable and intelligent, and seemed like responsible people. Both in terms of style and substance, the interviewees provided an accurate overview of the industry and the scandals (with a few gut-wrenching exceptions, which will be cited later).

At one point during the exchange with Witteles, though, Kroft made an irreverent comment that should have been corrected immediately. He said cards "tumble out of the computer." This must have been confusing to many viewers. "Tumble?"

I didn't expect to see a technical discussion of randomization agents or to learn exactly how the cards are dealt at an online site.

But cards "tumbling out of the computer" is yet another deceptive, poorly chosen phrase which serves to make online poker seem inferior (and perhaps substandard) to live poker games played at a casino. Anyone who has ever played online poker knows that computerized poker is vastly quicker and more efficient than the game played in a live format (with apologies to the many good dealers and excellent cardrooms out there).

Then, Witteles dropped his first bombshell. Any last hope that the poker industry wouldn't be painted with the broadest, most incriminating brush of guilt was shattered when he said online poker players can never be quite sure the other players at the table "are legitimate." Worse, he said "maybe the whole game isn't [legitimate]."

The implication here was that the games themselves are dishonest. Not just the players. But the games. Wham!

One might have expected to hear this tripe from the likes of Sen. Jon Kyl or Rev. Tom Grey - that online poker can't be trusted. No one expected to hear this rubbish from one of our own loyalists.

Okay, so Witteles was cheated out of his money. He's bitter. He should have trouble trusting online sites in the future given what he has been through.

But his comments were both inflammatory and terribly misleading to far more people than those who were guilty in the cheating scandal. It was like saying that because there's a very real problem with pedophilia inside the Catholic Church, you can't ever really be certain that the priest at your local church isn't screwing your kids.

The story continued with the nuts and bolts of the Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet scandals, followed by two detailed investigations. To 60 Minutes' credit, the poker community was identified as the real sleuths of the scandal - specifically, several players who were cheated, and those who selfishly gave of their time and energy to meticulously research mountains of data unquestionably proving that there were misdeeds.

It wasn't 60 Minutes or its powerful partner on this story, the Washington Post, that first uncovered and then fended off the critics of disbelief. It was average, everyday poker players who were the real heroes. Woodward and Bernstein would be proud.

Perhaps poker player Serge Ravitch came across as one of the most positive faces of the entire segment. The former lawyer has since been interviewed about his segment. From his remarks, he clearly understood that a story of this nature (about cheating) couldn't possibly be any good for the industry.

However, having someone like Ravitch speaking about the scandal, without the hyperbole and apprehension that everything and everyone out there might be corrupt, was indeed refreshing.

The other interviewee who came across well was Michael Josem, an Australian computer expert who was the first person to reveal the near impossibility that the cheaters could have legitimately won so much money.

Although he appeared for only about a minute or so, I came away with the understanding that Josem's role in uncovering statistical probabilities served to finalize the unofficial indictment in the court of public opinion that the AB and UB sites were indeed infested with cheaters working from the inside.

After Witteles appeared on camera again, justifiably outraged by Absolute Poker's lack of a response to the charges (first, it ignored the controversy; then it failed to identify the guilty parties by name), Kroft lobbed another assault:

In the murky world of Internet poker, there was precious little that the players could do about it. The companies were located in Costa Rica. They couldn't really complain to U.S. authorities, because online gambling is illegal.

Once again, we are reminded that online poker is a "murky world." And, online gambling (which I guess includes poker, a skill game) is deemed "illegal."

In Part 3, I look closely at the rest of the 60 Minutes story, with my comments.

Nolan Dalla can be reached at: nolandalla@aol.com

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My Reaction to the 60 Minutes Story "The ...

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:15:13 +0100

Sometimes, no news is good news. That was most certainly the case for online poker during its formative years when the industry converted thousands, then eventually millions of otherwise ordinary people into loyal poker players.

"No news" meant nothing bad would happen to derail the seemingly unstoppable online poker express steamrolling ahead and picking up new passengers each day.

"No news" meant that pesky lawmakers, consumed with other more worldly issues, tended to overlook what had become a globalized multibillion-dollar industry.

But gradually, things changed. Many online poker sites realized that in order to sustain expansion they would need to adapt cutting-edge public relations campaigns and marketing strategies. Online poker companies had to transform themselves into organizations like conventional businesses - with aggressive advertising and promotional activities.

So, they hired top-flight PR firms. They signed up experienced management personnel who knew the poker industry. They started airing television commercials. Pretty soon, some online poker sites were operating with high-octane advertising campaigns that rivaled those of movie studios and beer companies.

In 2004, I became the director of communications for PokerStars.com. My objective was simple - to generate as much positive publicity for my company as possible. That task was made considerably easier by having appealing players such as Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer, and Joe Hachem all winning the World Series of Poker.

In a sense, I was hired to be one the drivers in a Ferrari sports car. All we at PokerStars had to do was steer the wheel, drive forward, and hold on tight.

Unfortunately, the inevitable by-product of success in almost any industry is backlash. It happened to Microsoft, and it was bound to happen to poker companies, too. Online poker's meteoric success was certain to attract the media's attention. With millions of people all connected online, many with active online poker accounts, virtually everyone knew someone who was playing or who had at least tried online poker.

This awareness club includes many journalists and lawmakers. No one is immune anymore to the reality that online poker has become the favorite pastime of a whole new generation, consisting mostly of 18-35 year-old males.

Twentysomethings aren't bowling or joining softball leagues. They're playing online poker.

In March 2006, 60 Minutes II became the first national television organization to ever feature a positive story on poker.

In the past, 60 Minutes had done hatchet jobs on anything that was gambling-related - whether it was exposing bookmakers and their ties to mobsters or questioning the operations of tribal casinos. The most infamous 60 Minutes episode on gambling/poker aired in 1994. Correspondent Ed Bradley ran a ridiculously misleading expose on The Bicycle Club casino in Los Angeles.

So when Dan Rather signed on as the correspondent to do an expose about online poker, the news seemed like a mixed blessing. None of us who were on the inside knew what to expect. And given Rather's roots and reputation as a fiercely combative investigative reporter, the story could have been a disaster.

Instead, 20 million people tuned in to view what was essentially an unabashed endorsement of poker, and by inference - online poker. I remember being consumed with a feeling of euphoria.

For someone involved in public relations, getting a positive piece on 60 Minutes is about as big a catch as there is. Indeed, I had been on location in New York at CBS Studios during most of the filming while the interviews were actually being conducted.

Rather had just retired from anchoring the CBS Evening News. I was somewhat surprised at how amiable Rather was, putting those around him completely at ease. His natural charms certainly won me over and were engaging enough to make a new friend out of Chris Moneymaker.

Rather hit it off so well with the 2003 WSOP champ that he overstayed his interview by 45 minutes, chatting with the poker celebrity. I doubt if Richard Nixon or George Bush ever got the same royal treatment.

(Quick side note: Moneymaker was running late that day. Imagine - making Dan Rather wait. While awaiting our star's arrival, the professional makeup artist working for CBS told me that she was more excited to meet Moneymaker than anyone else she had worked on. Thinking she was perhaps very new to the business, I asked her who else she had made up. After rattling off the names of five or six famous people, I finally stopped her when she said "Bill Clinton.")

Fast-forward to 2008. Someone inside the newsroom had been alerted to a developing online poker cheating scandal (at the time, only the Absolute Poker story had broken).

Indeed, the real heroes of this despicable affair were the players themselves who tenaciously investigated the misdeeds. The Web site www.twoplustwo.com also deserves high praise for its pivotal role as the forum where many of the allegations were initially posted.

Canadian-based poker writer Gary Wise (who pens a regular must-read poker column on ESPN's Web site, in addition to PokerListings.com's Hand of the Day) was involved very early on with producers at 60 Minutes. For his part in researching and writing a thorough expose of the entire ordeal, Wise became a temporary consultant to the 60 Minutes.

Over the next several months I witnessed Wise working tirelessly, doing his best to provide essential industry insider knowledge, based on his obvious awareness that this was a critical junction in history as to how online poker was and would be perceived by the American public. Wise should be properly credited with trying to steer the story toward a balanced view of the industry.

The segment's producer was Ira Rosen, known as a top-flight documentarian. He had previously worked on subjects ranging from war profiteering to prescription drug scandals to global warming, and other hot-button issues.

The correspondent chosen was veteran 60 Minutes newsman Steve Kroft, who had usurped the mantle of the media's toughest-minded interviewer since the retirement of bulldog Mike Wallace.

It was becoming all too clear. This was not going to be a puff piece.

A timeline of the joint CBS News/Washington Post investigation reveals early uncertainty as to what the focus of the piece should be and which direction to take in order to gather facts. It seems that CBS and the Post started out with no hidden agenda.

Sure, the subject was to be an online poker cheating scandal. But beyond that, the canvas was bare.

That brought up the sticky matter of how exactly to tell the story. First and foremost, packaging a highly sophisticated, high-tech poker scandal into only 15 minutes of airtime (or a 1,500-word newspaper article) was going to be challenging.

The most critical decision for the 60 Minutes crew was not deciding who to interview or what to include in the segment. The tougher choices were who and what should be left out.

The investigation began back in March 2008 when a CBS film crew was dispatched to Costa Rica. I'm not sure what the teams expected to find on the bustling streets or inside the offices of chaotic San Jose. Whatever they found didn't materialize into much, as only a few seconds of film gathered there actually aired on the finished program.

Although they weren't quite sure which direction to go, Absolute Poker was clearly the story's central focus. According to anonymous sources, representatives at AbsolutePoker were contacted numerous times to set up an on-camera interview.

The location didn't matter. New York, Costa Rica, Canada, Las Vegas - AbsolutePoker could set the terms, pick a time and place, and Kroft and his cameras would be there, ready to roll.

AP's management was reportedly split as to whether it should give what would be the first and only public response to the internal crisis. An interview could be risky and potentially devastating if the right spokesperson was not chosen, or if the front man appeared flustered.

Should AP representatives go on camera and try to explain what had happened? Could such outrageous acts possibly be explained, let alone justified? Most important, would 60 Minutes be the appropriate forum for an attempt at public rehabilitation of the company's tainted image?

For whatever reason, officials at AP declined on-camera interviews. Perhaps hoping the scandal would simply fade away, they took what can only be construed as a cowardly position, by refusing to step into the public eye, take the heat, and provide an explanation.

Absolute Poker may now correctly point out they have paid back stolen monies to many of the players who were cheated. But purely from a public relations perspective, the company's reaction to this entire episode from start to present has been appalling.

If the AbsolutePoker scandal was an earthquake, the UltimateBet scandal which soon followed (at least as a breaking news story) rocked the online poker industry to its foundation. No longer could anyone, even the industry's most ardent defenders, claim the AbsolutePoker mess was an isolated incident.

For 60 Minutes, the UltimateBet scandal only served to reinforce the perception that online poker operates in the murky world of cyberspace, without proper regulation and oversight.

It was no surprise that 60 Minutes showed up to film part of its story at the 2008 World Series of Poker. The appearance of Steve Kroft stepping onto the tournament floor at the Rio in Las Vegas, strolling among hundreds of poker tables bustling with action just a few feet away, was obligatory, given it is poker's highest-profile event.

The WSOP provided the perfect (although entirely inappropriate) visual backdrop for an otherwise lackluster news story with no photographs of any smoking guns. This story had no dead bodies or crying widows. The victims were poker players. Although completely unconnected to the scandal, the WSOP was referenced at least three times in the final piece and footage was shown throughout the broadcast.

Kroft and Rosen watched one of the final tables taking place that day at the Rio, which was being televised by ESPN. Part out of genuine curiosity and perhaps trying to ambush one of the public faces affiliated with AbsolutePoker or UltimateBet for an impromptu on-camera interview, the film crew stayed just around long enough to be turned down by Phil Hellmuth, and a few others.

(Note: There is no evidence to suggest that Hellmuth is connected to the scandals in any way. However, 60 Minutes was understandably eager to get Hellmuth on camera since he represents UB's brand and is one of the world's most famous poker players).

Over the four months of their so-called "investigation," by my estimate 60 Minutes probably interviewed no fewer than 30 people. The vast majority of these interviews would never be aired, of course. But the crew did due diligence trying to obtain as many different points of view as possible. The crew filmed in New York, Costa Rica, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C. and Kahnawake (in Canada).

A few weeks before the story was scheduled to air, 60 Minutes tried one more time in vain to get representatives from either of the two tainted online sites to appear on camera. No surprise: they declined - as did Russ Hamilton, whose baffling silence on this issue appears to be a symphony of guilt.

And so, on the night of November 30th, I sat down in front of my television to watch the culmination of countless hours, energies and passions from hundreds of people, all manifested in a 15-minute window of opportunity on one of television's highest-rated and most respected shows.

In Parts 2 and 3, I look closely at each segment of the 60 Minutes story, with my comments.

Nolan Dalla can be reached at: nolandalla@aol.com

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Raising the Steaks: A Guide to Good Eating in New Orleans

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:39:59 +0100

Eating and drinking are two of life's greatest pleasures. Sure, many of us need to watch our weight. We should all strive to live healthier lifestyles.

But a great culinary experience is to be savored. If I only live once, I'm determined to order almost everything on life's menu at least one time (sans Merlot). Indeed, every conscious waking nonworking moment is potentially "happy hour."

For restaurant lovers, no American city beats New Orleans. I have family roots in the Crescent City, so I'm biased.

I must admit - the weather is awful. The place smells bad. The streets are filthy. The Saints are going to miss the playoffs (again). And now it's become the nation's crime capital.

But New Orleans' poker action is out of this world, and the food is often even better.

I'm lucky. I get to visit lots of cool places. When I'm covering a poker tournament, I work hard and usually put in long hours. But I also play hard.

At home and on the road, when it comes to eating and drinking, I always treat myself to the best. If I'm going to put in a 14-hour day, it's a sure bet that my dinner break is going to last 90 minutes, consist of five courses, and include several cocktails.

Lancey Howard, the movie character, had his priorities straight. He played "The Man" in The Cincinnati Kid. New Orleans was the scene of the big poker game. Howard, played effortlessly by Edward G. Robinson, had poker prowess that was garnished by exquisite meals and fine wine. Eating fast food in a city like New Orleans should be against the law.

Over the next two weeks, I'm going to be in New Orleans. I'll be attending the 2008 Winter Bayou Poker Challenge. It's the eighth time I've visited New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.

For those who are joining me at Harrah's New Orleans to play poker, I strongly advise you to get out a little. Enjoy the city. Eat, drink and be merry. Visit a few restaurants.

Here are my top New Orleans restaurant choices, (most of them) within walking distance of the Harrah's Casino:

Tommy's Cuisine (746 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-581-1103). A local barber told me about this magnificent place. With lots of small tables often packed to full capacity, owner Tommy Andrade's warehouse district gem combines Italian and Creole cooking. Phenomenal seafood is offered.

I've dined at Tommy's three times. It's one of the few places I've eaten at multiple times where every meal was memorable. One time it was so crowded that my wife and I were invited to join another couple, and we enjoyed our meal with complete strangers. Tommy's is that kind of place.

Antoine's Restaurant (713 Rue Saint Louis, in the French Quarter, 504-581-4422). This is one of my top five restaurants of all time. This French-Creole institution and time capsule has been around for 160 years. Impeccable service and atmosphere. The inside resembles a museum more than a restaurant. Everyone should try this place at least once in their lifetime. For dessert, the Baked Alaska is not to be missed.

K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen (416 Chartres St., 504-524-7394). I have to give props to owner Paul Prudhomme, the world-famous chef who is also a regular in the Harrah's New Orleans poker room. He's been the honorary host of the Bayou Poker Challenge a few times and has his own line of cooking products. K-Paul's is known for its blackened redfish. But everything on the menu that I've tasted is fabulous.

Bon Ton Cafe (401 Magazine St., 504 524-3386). This is a great lunch place where you can get in and out in 45 minutes. Lots of simple fare. Reasonable prices. It's just a three-minute walk from Harrah's. The red-brick freestanding building bills itself as the oldest authentic Creole restaurant in the city. Very much a local's hangout.

The Creole Skillet (200 Julia St., 504-304-6318). A new restaurant located about a five-minute walk from the Harrah's Casino, straight down Fulton St. toward the Warehouse District. Very creative menu complete with menu items you won't find anywhere else. Remarkable attention to detail for a restaurant so modestly priced.

Morton's of Chicago (365 Canal Street, 504-566-0221). Although this is an outpost of a popular chain, the New Orleans location is truly special. It has to be in a city with so much competition. Morton's is located directly across the street from Harrah's, up an elevator adjacent to a shopping mall.

There's also a Ruth's Chris on the opposite end of the casino. But I give the nod to the undisputed king of power dinners, where I've shared great meals with Robert Williamson III, Chad Brown, Eric Harkins, Ken Lambert and other poker pals.

Galatoire's (209 Bourbon St., in the French Quarter, 504-525-2021). A smaller version of my favorite Antoine's, with world-class cuisine that's just about as good (Gourmet actually ranks Galatoire's higher). Traditional atmosphere - like dining back in time. Few concessions seem to have been made here in the last 75 years, although the dress code was finally relaxed which means a coat is no longer required (so most poker players will now fit right in). This usually packed restaurant does not accept reservations. It's so good that it doesn't have to. Best trout almandine I've ever tasted.

Palace Cafe (605 Canal St., 504-523-1661). Despite the fact that it's part of the famed Dickie Brennen restaurant family, I wouldn't place this in the top 10. But for a great meal that is sure convenient, affordable and certain to please just about anyone, the Palace Cafe is a perfect stop. It's just a five-minute walk north of Harrah's on Canal St., en route to Bourbon St. and the French Quarter. Large open seating area in an urbanized streetfront atmosphere. Try the pecan-crusted trout - it's fabulous.

Grand Isle Seafood (575 Convention Center Blvd., 504-520-8530). Like my previous recommendation, this is not really a top-tier restaurant. But it's only about three minutes away from the poker tournament room by foot and gets high marks for convenience, affordability and consistency. I've dined here at least a dozen times - always leaving satisfied. Fresh appetizers, salads and seafood. Good bar that serves local brew Abita on tap. I dare you to drink just one.

Cafe du Monde (800 Decatur St.). This place is world-famous for two things - deep-fried beignets and chicory coffee. Not really a restaurant so much as a cafe and great street theater to people-watch. Tiger, my poker comrade, once remarked about Cafe du Monde: "If you were to sit here for the next 50 years, everyone who is anyone is eventually going to come through and visit this place at least once." He's right.

It's a 15-minute walk down the riverfront. However, there is now a much closer location to the Harrah's Casino, located inside the Riverwalk Marketplace (no atmosphere). Try it for breakfast or a snack. Warning: You will end up with powdered sugar all over your clothes.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Try any of these recommended restaurants and it won't matter what happens at the poker table. You're sure to be a winner.

Note: In upcoming blogs, I'll be giving more restaurant and show reviews from various cities with major poker events.

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Rich Korbin: Modern-Day Poker Pioneer

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:34:26 +0100

Of all the people I've met in poker, perhaps no one has achieved more success yet received less recognition than my good friend, Rich Korbin.

High-stakes cash-game player, former head of marketing for the world's largest and most successful poker company, director of the Latin American Poker Tour, and former WSOP gold bracelet winner - these are just a few of the things Korbin has accomplished.

Yet, many poker players have probably never heard of Korbin. And that suits the 59-year-old American expatriate and San Jose, Costa Rica resident just fine.

Korbin grew up in Westchester County, located just north of New York City. Like many kids growing up in the 1950s and '60s, when the game of baseball was king, he spent his boyhood cheering for Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford.

He also enjoyed gambling from an early age, and eventually became a regular in several small-stakes poker games. It was perhaps fitting that a random act of chance thousands of miles away would ultimately change his life and set him on a new path.

After graduating from college in Kansas during the height of the Vietnam War, Korbin decided to continue his way west. Uncertain of what job to pursue or what he wanted in life, he met up with a high school friend, packed his belongings, and moved to California.

There was only one problem along the way. The 22-year-olds ran out of money in Colorado, just shy of hitting the Rocky Mountains.

"We weren't quite sure what we were going to do once we got to California," Korbin explained. "That's just where we wanted to move. But as it turned out - we never got there. Instead, we ended up settling down in Boulder [near Denver].

"What's really interesting is that now, 37 years later, my high school friend still lives in Boulder, and I still own a home there as well. If I had not gone broke and had to take a menial job, my entire life would be different."

Running out of money turned out to be a blessing in disguise. While in Boulder, Korbin met a tall, slim brunette who would eventually become his wife. He married Kaye, and the couple had four daughters over the next decade. It seemed Rich was living the American dream.

But Korbin wanted much more out of life than a conventional nine-to-five routine. In fact, over the next 25 years he never worked a conventional full-time job.

"I owned and operated a few small businesses," he said. "But most of my money during those years came from playing poker. I played in little underground games scattered around Denver. Then, I started to play more and more and played a bit higher in Los Angeles and Las Vegas."

Korbin's poker talent was undeniable. His poker highlights included winning the Seven-Card Stud Eight-or-Better championship at the 2001 World Series of Poker.

He also won events at the California State Poker Championship (Omaha Hi-Lo) and Amarillo Slim's Super Bowl of Poker (Seven-Card Stud).

Unfortunately, Korbin's tournament success came long before the poker boom and he wasn't able to parlay his skills into something bigger. He also concentrated most of his time and energies on beating cash games, which served to pay the bills but which ultimately provided little source of real financial security.

There were tough times along the way, a job hazard faced by virtually all professional poker players.

"It got really bad at one point," Korbin confided. "I was in L.A. and the tires on my car were completely bald and the windshield was cracked. There were days when I did not have $50 in my pocket to buy into a $3/$6 limit game."

By 2002, Korbin knew most of the middle- and high-stakes players living in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He knew upper management in almost every cardroom in the country. He seemed to be the perfect candidate to take a job and sell advertising for Card Player Magazine, then the poker's industry's leading source of news.

Today, Korbin cites his time with Card Player and Barry Shulman as one of the most positive experiences in his life.

A few months prior to the start of the 2003 World Series of Poker, Korbin received a telephone call. On the other end of the line was a representative from an online poker site ranked a distant fourth behind industry giant Party Poker. The name of the site was PokerStars.

After a discussion and a few meetings, Korbin was offered the job as director of marketing. He accepted. If anyone was in the right place at the right time in poker history, it was Korbin. Call it a lightning strike.

It has been widely accepted that Chris Moneymaker's astonishing victory in the WSOP Main Event that year was the perfect storm that blew across the mainland and changed the poker landscape forever.

In a sense, Korbin was one of the early taskmasters who quickly recognized the impact and potential of Moneymaker's unlikely victory.

It didn't hurt matters that Moneymaker had qualified to play in the WSOP at PokerStars.com and wore the company's logo throughout the tournament - later seen by millions of viewers not only in the United States but worldwide.

In some ways, Korbin's job as marketing director was made a lot easier by having the world's suddenly most famous poker player thrust into the spotlight, fully aligned with PokerStars.

But as Korbin quickly learned, new opportunities also created higher expectations and an increased workload. Everything changed for Korbin. He no longer had time to play poker or enter tournaments in his spare time. He had become a full-time industry executive.

"My life suddenly became PokerStars," Korbin remembered. "I noticed that wherever I went and whatever casino I entered, people would look at me and think of the company I represented - PokerStars."

Over the next four years, with Korbin head of marketing, PokerStars increased in size by a factor of 18. This would prove to be brand-new territory. It wasn't an MBA that made Korbin so effective at his job. It was his street-smarts.

Along the way, he crafted deals with boxers and race car drivers. He set up parties and special events with media members and movie stars. He made PokerStars the official sponsor of two NBA teams - the Dallas Mavericks and the New Jersey Nets.

Perhaps it was a golden touch. Perhaps it was luck. Whatever it was - Rich Korbin had it, in spades.

He even produced results given the most unusual circumstances. One afternoon, on a routine flight from Miami to New York, Korbin found himself sitting next to an older gentleman who revealed himself to be a producer for CBS' 60 Minutes. Korbin sensed an opportunity and quietly pitched a story on online poker.

Intrigued by the conversation, the producer returned to New York, spoke with correspondent Dan Rather and eventually ran what was arguably the most-watched and most positive story on online poker ever to air on national television.

Characteristically, given his low-key nature, Korbin never received any credit within the poker industry for what became a glowing exposé broadcast to 25 million viewers.

When the European Poker Tour (EPT) was created in 2004, Korbin observed and attended many of the events. This paved the way for what would become the next phase of his professional life, his association with the Latin American Poker Tour.

Given his success in promoting both PokerStars and the EPT, it was only natural that he be hand-picked to work on a new project in a new arena of poker expansion.

By 2007, Korbin's duties at PokerStars changed and he accepted a new challenge as the director of the Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT). He moved to Costa Rica with his wife Kaye.

"We discovered that Central and South America were (and remain) our fastest-growing markets," Korbin explained. "It was such an important emerging market for us that I wanted to help get it all started.

"PokerStars strives to maintain quality standards from support to software and all operations throughout the world. We truly regard poker as a global game."

To no one's surprise, the LAPT recently ended its first season as a huge success. Attendance at each event exceeded the expectations of organizers.

The LAPT also cut a television deal which will enable the tournament to be broadcast throughout South America. Dozens of trips, business meetings, and the formation of new working relationships paid off for Korbin, yet again.

Today, Korbin is working his way to Canada on another venture that is important to the poker community. He is determined to help create a new poker tour based in Canada, patterned largely after the success of the EPT and LAPT.

But he knows there are unique new challenges ahead in the Great White North.

"Every situation I have been involved in has been completely different," Korbin said. "I was so fortunate to be involved in so many wonderful projects in poker, by working at PokerStars and the LAPT. I have traveled all over the world and met so many interesting people.

"But I'm still a poker player at heart. Every time I make a decision about what I do and who I work for, I try to remember who I am, and what's good for poker players. Many things have changed for me. But one thing will never change - which is that I'm still a poker player above all else."

When poker's history is written and then rewritten to include the latest chapter on the game's expansion around the globe, the name "Rich Korbin" should be listed as a modern-day pioneer. If you had never heard of Korbin before, you certainly should know him by now.

And next time you see Mr. Korbin, say a word of thanks from all of us in the game of poker. He's earned it.

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Ten Players I'm Cheering for at 2008 WSOP

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:10:54 +0100

As a poker tournament official I'm supposed to be impartial. And when it comes to dealing with players and reporting events, I'm pretty good at staying neutral. But it's impossible not to cheer for certain people.

I always root for players who I think will best represent the game of poker. I also admit to having a soft spot for poker players who truly appreciate what winning a WSOP gold bracelet means.

Take the first event of this year's WSOP. The last four players at the final table were Mike Sexton, Andy Bloch, Kathy Liebert and Nenad Medic. Nothing against Nenad, whom I didn't know - but I had a tough time picking a personal favorite among Sexton, Bloch and Liebert.

I ended up rooting silently for Bloch, whom I've known for nearly 15 years. I thought he was the most deserving of the group, since he has yet to win a gold bracelet (while Sexton and Liebert had both won previously), despite coming close a few times.

Of course, none of my sentimental horses won, as Nenad ended up winning the tournament.

I have emotional attachments to many poker players. I tend to favor players who have paid their dues over the years, and who have even survived adversity.

Indeed, all of the players on the following list include players who have experienced the peaks and valleys of tournament poker and who, I believe, deserve at least one more grand view from poker's mountaintop.

In alphabetical order, here are 10 poker players I'm cheering for at the 2008 World Series of Poker:

1) Michael Craig. Michael is a supremely talented writer. Michael is now showing us that writing about a subject for a long time can be a terrific means of self-improvement. He's cashed a number of times in major tournaments recently. He's also a very nice guy.

2) Jan Fisher. I can't think of anyone more often overlooked on everyone's list than Jan Fisher. The Las Vegas poker insider has been writing about poker for more than a decade. She used to play Seven-Card Stud for a living and now works on the World Poker Tour.

Jan has paid her dues in this business many times over, initially as a dealer and then as a player. She's always been the perfect example of what all players should aspire to become.

Generous to a fault, encouraging beyond words, selfless beyond measure - Jan is one of my favorite people and I'd love to see her win poker's most coveted prize.

3) Bruno Fitoussi. Before I met Bruno face to face, I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. The operator of The Aviation Club in Paris already has so much going for him that the last thing he seems to need is to make a big score at the WSOP.

Then I met Bruno, and realized what a great ambassador he is. I once called Bruno "The Benny Binion of France." It would be fitting for him to win a gold bracelet and become the most famous Frenchman in the game.

4) Phil Gordon. It's hard to come up with a famous poker player more deserving of a WSOP win than Phil Gordon. Just about everyone around him has already scored a WSOP victory. But Phil has been forced to sit idly by and cheer while others have seized the glory.

Phil has done very well for himself and is to be commended. But what I really admire is that Phil always remains so positive and encouraging to those around him. I know he wants to win badly. He deserves it.

5) Chris Gregorian. "The Armenian Express" is one of poker's kindest people. He gives me and my wife a bottle of Armenian brandy every year.

Anyone who gives me liquor gets an automatic vote. Chris is a sincere and kind-hearted person who could use a big win. I hope he gets it.

6) Mike Laing. Mike was once poker's most successful tournament player. From 1992 through 2000, he won just about everything possible. Then Mike ran bad, made some horrible personal decisions, went broke, and has been waiting for his comeback ever since.

Mike doesn't win poker tournaments anymore. Despite having incredible natural talent and uncanny raw instincts, Mike's confidence has lagged in recent years. Nonetheless, he has remained upbeat and maintains his dignity.

I've heard him appear on several radio and Internet broadcasts. He has a natural ability to analyze and entertain. I sure hope Mike makes a big comeback.

7) Marcel Luske. Marcel is one of poker's most well-liked stars. The Flying Dutchman is classy and always upbeat. Marcel has not yet won at the WSOP, which seems hard to believe since he gets so much attention from the media and his fellow players.

I think that's a testament to his natural appeal and sincerity. If good things happen to good people, then Marcel's time will eventually come.

8) John Phan, a.k.a. "The Razor." I've watched John finish as the runner-up at the WSOP and suffer what must have been extreme disappointment. What I saw was a fierce competitor who was gracious in defeat.

John is always positive about poker and life and I think his attitude is infectious. I like being around people like him because you always feel a sense of positive energy around them.

9) Young Phan. I like the regular guys - players who stay in hotel rooms, fly around the country and pay their dues on the WSOP Circuit. Phan has done this for years. He is always gracious and professional.

I have also seen him encourage other players. He's the consummate professional. Phan is on my short list of players who I hope might win the Main Event someday.

10) Gavin Smith. Gavin is poker's favorite party animal. He's also been a friend of mine since 1994 when I first met him at the Foxwoods Casino. It's hard to believe how far Smith has gone since we used to sit in the same poker games.

I've won $9,812 in my miserable tournament career. Gavin usually blows through that sum in the first hole out on the golf course. Now, he's up over $3 million. Nice going, Gavin. Now, it's time to get a gold bracelet.

Okay, just one more:

Maureen Feduniak. This wonderful lady has been playing poker at the WSOP for about 10 years. She is so sweet and loves the game so much. She has cashed 10 times and even ended up as the runner-up in an event two years ago.

We need more people like Mrs. Feduniak in our game. She makes us so much better as a game and as people with her presence.

One final note: If you were not included on my Top 10 list, it doesn't mean I'm not cheering for you!

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Absolute Must-Read: Ghosts at the Table

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Mon, 26 May 2008 22:59:19 +0100

Run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore. Beg, borrow, or steal - do whatever it takes - and pay the $26 cover price for Des Wilson's new book.

Ghosts at the Table: Riverboat Gamblers, Texas Rounders, Internet Gamers, and the Living Legends Who Made Poker What It Is Today is as magnificent a gambling text as I have ever read.

Ghosts is both entertaining and provocative. But making him far more worthy of critical praise, Wilson actually breaks much new ground here. The book contains an enormous amount of buried treasure. In fact, most poker fans will be surprised and perhaps even shocked by many of Wilson's discoveries.

I think it's fair to say that I am among the most widely read of poker historians. There is rarely a story or tale I encounter that I haven't already read or heard.

Sadly and perhaps inevitably, poker literature has reached a certain end game, and judging by my latest visit to Borders Books - where I counted 86 titles on the shelf - quite possibly a saturation point.

How many times can we rekindle the same old chestnuts of Jack Straus' chip and a chair, Stu Ungar's epic meltdown, or Chris Moneymaker's unlikely upset victory? Sure, these are all great poker stories.

But they're also like old Elvis songs. After you've heard them again and again a hundred times, most of us are ready to hear something else and learn something new.

Enter Des Wilson.

The British author and former political activist and businessman, who previously penned the highly acclaimed if somewhat oblique Swimming with the DevilFish, not only shatters some of poker's most widely propagated myths, he blows them away with a double-barrel shotgun.

There's so much felt-splitting material here that it's tough to know what appetizer to serve up in a book review without killing Wilson's main course of well-done chateaubriand.

At the risk of revealing some of Wilson's masterfully crafted, suspenseful narrative, you will never quite look at some of poker's legends quite the same way after reading this book.

For instance, Wilson makes the definitive case that the final table of the 1972 World Series of Poker was (dare I say it?) - fixed. He reveals that the famous Nick "The Greek" Dandalos versus Johnny Moss heads-up poker match held on Fremont Street a half-century ago was nothing more than a phony public relations stunt (fabricated long after "the game" was alleged to have occurred), and quite possibly never took place.

Wilson charges that the 1979 WSOP Main Event final table was played under the influence of drugs. The author also unveils the dusty reality of poker in the Old West, including the legendary saloon game that supposedly took place in Deadwood, South Dakota.

Perhaps most heartbreaking of all, Wilson uncovers the real tragedy behind one of poker's greatest human mysteries - the true tale of what really happened to poor Hal Fowler after he won the 1979 world championship.

I had a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye when I read the chapter on Fowler, one of Wilson's most haunting "ghosts." My bet is that you will shed a tear for this ghost, too.

In what must certainly qualify as poker's greatest research project since Tony Holden's year-long self-immersion Big Deal was penned nearly 20 years ago, Wilson spent many months traveling throughout the U.S. investigating poker's rich and often misreported history.

That means he camped out for weeks in places like South Dakota, West Texas, and the sprawling industrial parks of urban Los Angeles. These are not garden spots, especially for a writer with the caliber of Wilson's talents. But it was a necessary pilgrimage to get each fact correct and every story right.

In the end, no stone is left unturned - or make that no card remains in the deck. The flop, turn and river are all here for everyone to see, and what the reader gets is a full house of material, with aces up. Wilson explains his intentions in the preface:

The history of poker does not rely just on previous writings and interviews. Whenever possible, I have gone back to the places where it happened, to sniff the air and duck into the dark alleys where the game was played in its more dangerous days. My aim has been to set today's game in the context of the past.

You have to drive for hour after hour after hour "fadin' the white line" in Texas to understand how hard the lives of the road gamblers were... you have to go to Deadwood and Tombstone to fully understand the nature of those who lived and fought and played poker there in the days of the Wild West - and I have done that and much more.

All so true. Reading certain passages, it's evident that Wilson defied believing the tales we've all been told and the lies we've accepted as fact for a far nobler purpose - pursuit of the truth.

The end result is a book containing Wilson's hours of interviews with "Amarillo Slim" Preston, Doyle Brunson, Bobby Hoff and many others, which take on added significance for their unique content and stark candidness.

Since I too was interviewed during his research, I witnessed firsthand that Wilson has a very special talent for getting the most out of his subjects. The reader is rewarded with a narrative that makes you feel you are right there in the same room with each of the legends, listening to them recount the good and bad old days.

This is a book that certainly appeals to a mainstream audience, more than just poker fans. No poker hands are debated or analyzed, nor are there any strategic concepts discussed here - just poker's rich history. Add in Wilson's expert craft for penning narrative, and what you have is one of the best poker chronicles ever written.

This is not to say that Ghosts qualifies as the definitive history of poker. Far from it. In some ways, he has merely scratched the surface of what really happened behind the scenes for over two centuries.

The reader is left to wonder - what else is out there that we don't really know? What other lies have we all been led to believe? If one takes away anything from Wilson's book it is to not believe all that has been recited, retold and rewritten.

If I have a criticism of Ghosts, it's that Wilson wastes precious chapters on contemporary poker "stars."

Perhaps Wilson thought he needed to include some younger names and faces which are cabled and satellited into our living rooms every night in what seems like a ceaseless stream of poker programming.

He should instead have been comfortable enough with his more dated subject matter not to needlessly include players who may have only won a tournament or two, but who wouldn't otherwise be qualified to bring Johnny Moss his cup of morning coffee.

Indeed, Wilson's talent is researching, uncovering and then demystifying poker. A stellar effort is somewhat clouded by Wilson the iconoclast uncovering so many mysteries and then jumping on the sidelines during the final few chapters and playing the role of cheerleader.

If anything, Wilson proves beyond all doubt that poker journalism has largely been negligent with its investigative powers, derelict in its duty of reporting facts, and all that has been written is not necessarily true.

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"Republican to Win" Bet Too Good to Pass Up

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:00:00 +0100

Many of my closest friends are not going to like this. I've wagered on the Republican Party to win the 2008 presidential election.

A few months ago, I discovered this betting proposition listed at one of the most popular offshore betting Web sites. At the time, the moneyline price was "Republicans +185."

This means if I'm right that a Republican is elected president in November, I'll win $185 in profit for every $100 wagered. In other words, I'm getting almost 2-1 odds on my money.

As of last week, the payback on a Republican winning the White House had decreased to +155. That's still about 3-2 odds. I consider that to be a spectacularly attractive wager. Note: Betting on the presidential election is not legal in Nevada, the state where I reside. The proposition is available only at some offshore betting Web sites.

So come November 4, 2008, I plan to sit in front of my home television with a wide mix of emotions and several intoxicating beverages. Just as in past years, I expect to be outraged beyond printable words by the election returns. At the same time, I expect to fatten my gambling bankroll with a bet on the winning candidate.

Okay, an explanation is in order. I do this sort of thing a lot. Call it a specialty or a sickness - take your pick.

I bet on national elections. South American soccer matches. Academy Awards ceremonies. This has nothing to do with being "in action." Forget the NFL or NBA, which are far more popular as far as wagering goes.

I'd much prefer to get my money down on something that doesn't involve a bouncing ball, a grass-eating animal or a shady referee. Of course, given the most recent American presidential contests, election returns coming out of Florida and Ohio make last year's NBA scandal look like a choir practice.

I know what you're thinking. I'm wrong. I'm crazy. How can the Republicans possibly retain the presidency in 2008? The economy is a mess. Both wars are a ceaseless sinkhole of lives and national treasure with no exit strategy. Gas costs over $4 a gallon. People are losing their jobs and even their homes.

The current sitting President, a Republican, has the lowest approval rating since Watergate. And the Republican Party is about to nominate a 71-year-old senator who is essentially running on a platform of "more of the same."

How can I possibly recommend betting on the Republicans? You want a list of reasons? Here you go:

1) Democrats Divided. The Democratic Party is now divided and will remain so for some time. Ignore all the forced smiles and hearty handshakes you'll see at the Democratic National Convention coming in August. The primaries were a bloodbath.

Badly divided parties never win in November (recall the divided Democratic Party losing in 1968, 1972, and 2000, and divided Republicans losing in 1976). Many Hillary Clinton supporters have vowed to withhold support for - and will perhaps even vote against - Barack Obama in the general election.

Some polls have shown up to 25% of Clinton supporters will actually vote for John McCain. Even if half of them follow through, that's disastrous for Obama in the general election.

2) Trouble in Swing States for Obama. Recent poor showings in Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana and West Virginia Democratic primaries prove Obama has not yet attracted the support of the largest constituency of voters in America - working-class whites.

This is very bad news for a candidate who will desperately need blue-collar voters to win key swing states. Even California, which Democrats took for granted in the last four presidential races, is now in play for the Republicans. Obama lost by nine percentage points to Clinton in the Democratic primary.

3) Seniors. McCain will win America's senior vote by a wide margin. Seniors constitute one of the largest voting blocs in America. Their backing is critical in swing states such as Florida. Obama has struggled to win the support of seniors in most Democratic primaries.

Old attitudes do not change. Obama will surely win support from younger voters. But youth turnout is never anywhere near what's projected by optimists. Old people vote. Young people don't. This is more bad news for Obama.

4) The Race Card. It's an ugly thing to bring up, but don't tell me that race doesn't matter. It does. It's a disgrace that some Americans - far more than will admit it to pollsters - refuse to vote for a person of color.

Let's see... we've had 232 years of old white men running the country. Now, a black man is about to be nominated by a major party. Millions of closet racists with old-fashioned attitudes are not ready for that kind of drastic "change."

5) Slinging Slime. The Republican slime machine will have plenty of ammunition to sling this year. Consider this: If far-right political action groups made Sen. John Kerry, a bona fide war hero who served honorably in Vietnam, out to be a traitor to his country in the previous election, think of what they are going to with Obama's budding negatives.

Don't tell me these gutter tactics don't work. They do. Willie Horton, Swift Boat Veterans and gay marriage scares are all one has to bear in mind to fully comprehend what tips the balance in national elections.

6) The Vetted Candidate. McCain has already been vetted. Obama hasn't. "Vetting" is a term which means the candidate has already passed a certain litmus test.

For all of McCain's personal vulnerabilities (flip-flopping on key issues, deserting his former wife, alleged extramarital affairs, the Keating Five scandal) there are apparently no skeletons left in the McCain closet. They've all already been exposed, in both the 2000 and 2008 national elections.

Unfortunately for Obama, his dirty laundry is now being displayed. It doesn't matter if allegations against Obama are actually true, or not. What does matter is public perception. Obama's vulnerabilities will keep him on the defensive. And Republican strategists are sure to keep Obama off-topic from his message of change and inspiration.

One of political strategists Karl Rove's most memorable quotes, sure to be adapted as a guideline in the upcoming campaign, is, "If your opponent is constantly explaining, he's losing."

7) Independents. McCain appeals to independent voters. Conservatives might still not fully trust McCain. But they will vote for him over a Democrat.

Where McCain polls particularly well is with independent voters, which make up about one-third of the electorate. It doesn't seem to matter that McCain has now abandoned many of the policy positions that made him such an attractive figure to moderates as a U.S. senator.

He's still viewed as a "maverick" by millions. The media continue to buy into the so-called "Straight-Talk Express," which actually derailed eight years ago in his last presidential campaign.

8) Current Polls. Polls currently show McCain and Obama roughly tied in national findings. While I despise polls and pollsters (why does John Zogby have any credibility left after blowing the 2004 election forecast so badly?), I believe the recent numbers showing a split between the presumptive nominees to be an accurate reflection of political attitudes.

I also have some personal thoughts on this. Traveling around the country as I do, I run into many people who say they will never vote for Barack Obama. I don't hear those negative attitudes targeted toward John McCain.

9) The Raw Numbers. The electoral map favors McCain. Democrats desperately need Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and a few other key states to win. Obama currently has problems in all of these states.

Right now, I count Obama safe in states with 145 electoral votes. McCain is safe in states with 143 electoral votes. Even if Obama carries California's 55 electoral votes, he will also need to win at least two of three (Fla., Pa., Ohio) swing states, which is an underdog proposition at the moment.

10) The Disenfranchised Idiot Voter. Voters who are passionate about politics typically cancel each other out in national elections. Republicans, Democrats and Independents who align themselves with one single candidate over the course of the primary season, the general campaign and presidential debates routinely break evenly about 45-45% in their voting.

This leaves about 10% of the electorate - more often than not comprised of apolitical, disenfranchised flocks of morons - to decide the election.

Consider this: Why do both parties so often run the most simple-minded campaign ads late in the campaign? Why do Republicans often run attack ads that prey on fear? Their hope is to win over the last dregs of the ignorant ranks - those who have not yet made up their minds yet despite months of candidate exposure and political coverage.

Sadly, this is a target group that often decides the outcome of many elections. They went for Bill Clinton twice. They went for George W. Bush twice. This time, I predict they will break in McCain's favor.

To summarize: Obama is struggling with working-class whites, seniors and within his own party. He has proven problems in key states he needs to win. He is an inviting target for political attacks. Yet a Democrat is favored to win the White House. What am I missing?

Strictly as a wagering proposition, the most compelling reason to bet on the Republicans now is that you will almost certainly be able to buy back a ticket on the Democrats later, and get what's called "a middle."

After the customary bounce following the Republican National Convention and polls show the race tightening up to a statistical dead heat, proper odds will evolve, which is about even money.

Locking in +155 now with a potential -110 wager on the Democrats later means a 45-cent middle. Of course, I'm holding all my Republican tickets for the reasons listed above.

This is a bet I hope to lose. I would love to be wrong. I've never wanted to lose a bet so badly as this one. John McCain is no friend to poker players or gamblers.

Many have predicted that if Sen. McCain wins the presidency, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) will not only be written into the federal code, a Republican-led Justice Department will continue to persecute the online gambling community and advertisers through threats of fines and prosecution.

With John McCain in the White House, George W. Bush might as well be elected to a third term. It's going to be déjà vu all over again. And I'll be the most miserable gambler in America with a winning wager.

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Just Say No!: Breaking My Addiction to "Loaning" Money

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:00:00 +0100

They're everywhere - the railbirds. You've seen them. You know them. These poor penniless deadbeats infest nearly every poker room. They appear at all major poker events.

Indeed, they are a constant nuisance for poker tournament winners who, right after cashing out, might as well bathe in maple syrup and then wait for the biting flies to swarm.

I've told this story before. A few years ago, when I worked as the public relations director for Binion's Horseshoe, I counted 23 persons to whom I lent money over an 18-month period.

Exactly one person paid me back. One. Then, that same person approached me again to borrow more money later (I gave in, figuring his credit was good).

Okay, I know it. I'm a softie. I'm an enabler. I'm a sucker.

I don't go to church. I'm not religious. But I do tithe the indigent souls of the world in my own special way. Some people give money to the United Way. Others contribute generously to the American Cancer Society.

Me? I give away money for free to broke poker players. If I keep on doing this, pretty soon I'm going to end up on the rail. Keno has a higher payback percentage.

Most of the "loans" I've made were $20 here and $100 there. As they say, add up all the dumb decisions and pretty soon you're talking about big money.

I've even been scammed by Vegas hustlers not once, but twice. One con man took me for 20 grand. Another charlatan rang my bell for $37,000. Ouch. That one really stung. I'll tell these incredible stories some time in the future, if readers here promise not to point and laugh at me next time I enter a poker room.

The latest miserable episode took place while I was working the latest World Series of Poker Circuit events, held at Caesars Palace here in Las Vegas.

A man approached me. His face looked vaguely familiar. He started talking to me in such a friendly way that it made it seem as if we were longtime friends. All I could think to myself was, "Who the @#%&! is this guy?"

Then, the pitch came.

"Nolan, I really want you to know that I remember what you did for me six months ago at the Red Rock (Casino). I haven't forgotten about that $200 you loaned me."

Huh? Two hundred dollars? Suddenly, my interest was piqued. The man now had my full, undivided attention. Was this kindly stranger about to reach deep into his pocket and fork over a couple of Ben Franklins, making good on a long-forgotten loan?

"Yeah, I do seem to remember that $200," I said unconvincingly. Hoping to rekindle my jaded memory of just how in the hell I lent this railbird 200 bucks without even knowing his name (an alcohol-induced stupor perhaps?), the tactic intended to jog my faded memory worked.

"You remember?" he said. "You were sitting there in a cash game playing $2/$5 No-Limit and I asked you for a couple of hundred because you seemed to be a big winner. I ended up losing it all. But I did want you to know that I didn't forget about you."

What do you possibly say to a man like that? Thanks? Sounds good? Kick me in the ass, next time? Here you go - need some more cash?

"I do appreciate it." (I still had no idea what the man's name was). "Tell you what. If you make a score, I'll be here the next several days. I've been running kind of bad myself, so I could use the money," I said.

"Tell me about it," he replied.

Uh-oh, I thought to myself. Alarm bells were going off. Here it comes. This guy was about to throw me a curveball and he might as well have been Greg Maddux doing warmups.

"Could you spare another hundred?" the man asked with a totally straight face.

"A hundred? You've got to be kidding. You already owe me two bills. How can I give you a hundred?"

"Yeah, but you know I'm good for it."

This is the stage at which any credit bureau would just write off the loan as "bad debt." There was no way I was going to get paid back.

After refusing his bid for a c-note bold in what was turning into a testy discussion, the man asked for less money on his second pitch. Next, I saw his slider. "How about $20?" he asked.

"What are you going to do with $20?" Inquiring minds wanted to know. Seriously.

"I've got to eat."

I reached into my pocket and pulled out $10. I figured ten dollars was well worth the cost of getting rid of the bum. Of course, I later realized my mistake -- that I had just opened myself up for a future approach. It's sort of like feeding pigeons. Once you throw down some bread crumbs, they never go away.

So today, I vow to make a new pledge. I make it in front of many witnesses. My name is Nolan. I am a sucker. I need help. I am now in recovery. From now on, when asked for a loan -- I will just say no.

PS: This goes for all backing arrangements in satellites, tournaments and side action.

-- Nolan Dalla

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From the Old School: Tales From Tony Shelton

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:02:39 +0100

Serious poker players need no introduction to Tony Shelton. The barrel-chested man with the gray handlebar mustache has been a fixture in Las Vegas poker rooms for nearly 40 years.

Affectionately known as "The Walrus," if something happened in Las Vegas poker circles from 1970 onward, Tony was either a part of it or knew about it.

He's one of a privileged few who has actually witnessed poker history firsthand. Many poker players love to exchange great stories. Poker writers often repeat these stories. But Tony Shelton was there.

Tony grew up in Kentucky. He was a world-class chef and maitre'd before turning to poker as a career choice. He had dealt to nearly every famous name in the game before jumping out of the box to become a floorman and later a shift supervisor.

Tony ran the graveyard shift for many years at various cardrooms scattered around Las Vegas. One of my favorite Tony Shelton stories (I have many) was the time I witnessed him take down a loudmouth drunk half his age who tried to punch out a dealer following a bad beat.

The drunk had his arm twisted in a lock behind his head held firmly in place by Tony and was left slobbering on the yummy Binion's Horseshoe carpet. As Horseshoe security officers curtly escorted the drunkard out of the poker room, Tony tugged his tweed jacket, slapped his palms together and announced "another satisfied customer."

Tony has worked on the World Series of Poker for more than 30 years, perhaps as long as any man still alive (I think dealer/floorman ((Joe Bartholdi)) may actually own the record for WSOP longevity). Tony's forte has always been "high-limit" poker.

When the big game at the back of the old Horseshoe was dealt, Tony was usually there patrolling the game. He made rulings that resulted in six-figure swings, yet still commands the respect of everyone who knows him.

Now in his 70s, Tony is semi-retired today. But he recently launched a new poker venture, which is a school for poker dealers. The "Tony Shelton Dealing School" recently opened for business in downtown Las Vegas.

I've asked Tony to share a few of his fondest poker memories on occasion with the readers here at PokerListings.com.

He was gracious enough to accept my offer and will reward us from time to time with some of his most memorable true tales from poker's glorious past:

Don't Touch My Hat!

Back during the mid-1970s, the Golden Nugget poker room used to host some of the biggest games in the world. One night, the regulars were sitting together playing No-Limit Hold'em with $10/$25 blinds. There was at least a million dollars in cash and chips on the table. Remember, this was back in the '70s when a million dollars really meant something.

The big game usually took place in the back on the right-hand side of the poker room. There was a rail around the poker table about three feet high to keep the sweaters and railbirds off the backs of the players.

Those I can remember playing that night were Doyle Brunson, "Sailor" Roberts, "Amarillo Slim" Preston and a few others. Big and tall Slim was sitting in the five seat, with his back against the rail and facing away from the spectators.

A big hand with a huge pot came up and about 25-30 sweaters were positioned all around the rail. Slim had three large stacks of purple, some black chips, some greens, a few reds and a large bundle of cash behind his chips.

During the big hand one of the sweaters - who was unable to see the action - put his hands on the rail and leaned forward on his tiptoes so he could get a better look at the game. When he did that, he accidentally brushed against Slim's cowboy hat, which fell down over Slim's eyes.

Things like that happened a few more times and it was obvious Slim was not happy about it. I was standing right next to the game and saw what happened next. Unbeknownst to just about everyone and certainly way out of view of the sweaters, Slim kept a stack of 20 or so $1 chips which he used for tokes.

After getting his hat tilted yet gain, Slim reached down, picked up the entire stack of $1 chips and flung them high into the air, over his right shoulder, and yelled, "Here you are, boys!"

Well, pandemonium broke out. Two guys butted heads hard enough to knock one of them out. There was a fight and many of the sweaters went scurrying around on the floor on their hands and knees attempting to get at the stray chips.

Doyle saw all this and said to his fellow Texan, "Slim, what in the hell are you trying to do - start a riot?" Slim shot back, "That'll teach 'em to fool with my hat."

It was one of the funniest incidents I've ever seen.

Dead Man's Hand

Another time, I was working the late shift. There was a very lively $10/$20 Limit Hold'em game with lots of red chips piled high around the table. An Asian gentleman was sitting in the one seat.

There was a huge pot in the middle of the table that you could have stuck a flag in. The Asian man called the last bet and then proceeded to fall face down on the table.

Wham!

The man was gone. Seriously. The dealer called our other floorman over to the table and said, "What about this guy? He's dead."

The floorman, without any hesitation whatsoever, picked up the Asian man's cards, tossed them both into the muck and announced, "If the man is dead, his hand is dead."

Thanks Tony. More stories later.

-- Nolan Dalla

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CBS' 60 Minutes to Dig into Online Poker

info@www.Pokerlistings.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:38:05 +0100

There was a time when the sight of a 60 Minutes news crew gathered outside in the parking lot was every business owner's worst nightmare.

The prospect of Mike Wallace and his gang barging into the office with cameras rolling was the ultimate in sheer terror. Many lives, careers and businesses have been torpedoed by a relatively brief 17-minute broadcast that just so happens to appear on national television every Sunday night on CBS.

60 Minutes is no longer the power it once was. But it remains the most watched news show on American television. Its influence on our society and culture is indisputable. Popes, presidents, prime ministers and even Roger Clemens have supposedly "come clean" on the one-hour news show.

Now, word is that 60 Minutes' next subject of investigation will be online poker. That's right - in between the current presidential election, $4-per-gallon gas prices, baseball's steroid scandal and a war in Iraq costing trillions of dollars and thousands of lives, CBS' big boys will be looking into our favorite pastime.

I don't know whether to crow from the rooftops that online poker has now officially arrived on the mainstream media scene (is there any global business that has exploded so quickly, yet gets less attention from the major mainstream news moguls?) or if I should shudder to think this could be a real hatchet job?

Sources tell me longtime correspondent Steve Croft will be the lead investigative reporter on the story. Plans are already under way for Croft to interview several people at CBS' 57th Street studio headquarters in New York in late March. A 60 Minutes film crew is also expected to be dispatched to Costa Rica - command central for many of the world's largest online gambling and poker sites.

At best, 60 Minutes has a spotty record when it comes to focusing on poker. In 1994, the late Ed Bradley roasted The Bicycle Club Casino in a brutal segment that focused on the government's takeover of the Bell Garden's mega-cardroom. Bradley called The Bike "a sleazy second-rate casino on the outskirts of Los Angeles."

In 2005, Dan Rather did a considerably more positive story on the poker boom. A colleague of mine was responsible for initially pitching this story to a CBS producer and I was able to watch the taping of this segment in person at CBS in New York.

I spoke to Dan Rather in depth during the story. Chris Moneymaker and others who were interviewed came across as terrific ambassadors for the game.

This time, there is serious concern the story will be overly negative. My sources inform me 60 Minutes will focus on the recent Absolute Poker scandal.

For those who may not have heard the news, last year an AP insider violated the most sacred unwritten and unspoken law in all of gaming, which is to make damn sure the game is always run on the square. The thief allegedly stole nearly a million dollars from his unsuspecting victims, who were regular online poker players.

In some ways, mass exposure of this creep on 60 Minutes would be absolute justice. A few months spent suffering in Guantanamo would be even more ideal. Trouble is, the casual uninformed viewer of such a segment is not going to differentiate between creeps like him and the millions of honest and decent online poker players worldwide who enjoy playing poker in their own homes.

Indeed, I fear the target is not going to be the creep, or Absolute Poker (which deserves scrutiny) - but rather the entire online poker industry.

If this is indeed the spin 60 Minutes uses, such a story could not come at a worse time. While there is admittedly no chance the federal government will revoke the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act of 2006, nor pass any of the pro-online legislation offered by our good friends in Congress within the current legislative session, public perceptions will be shaped for a long time by what is shown and seen by 20 million viewers on 60 Minutes.

I fear the portrait will be ugly - a slimy, unregulated, corrupt band of outlaws operating way outside the boundaries of the law or justice. Never mind that many online sites are publicly traded companies with top-flight managers and personnel, and are strictly regulated within their host countries. Perception and reality are two completely different things.

I talked to my good friend Mark Seif about this bit of breaking news and it came as a total surprise to him. Seif is perhaps the most visible public "unofficial" spokesman and representative of Absolute Poker.

As a well-known tournament player in the public eye, people often associate him with the poker site, although (to my knowledge) he has no official title there. I remain utterly convinced Seif had nothing to do with the scandal and was personally embarrassed by the course of events.

The fact that Seif was not associated with the scandal was corroborated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission investigation which concluded a few months ago. Nevertheless, Seif, a former trial attorney always with strong personal views, is the perfect spokesman for Absolute Poker and much of the industry, should he decide to go face-to-face with Steve Croft in front of the cameras.

If he's interviewed, Seif says he plans to use the scandal to justify precisely why online poker should be legalized and regulated within the United States. He says a 60 Minutes feature is a "terrific opportunity" to generate massive support for legislation that will eventually make online poker legal.

"This is what happens when there is little or no oversight," Seif told me when asked about the former problems at Absolute Poker. "I think if millions of people see a segment on online poker and come to understand more about the industry, there will be greater support for (legalization). After all, online poker is not going to go away."

Seif's response is admittedly optimistic and perhaps just what the industry needs at a time of crisis. The question is, if 60 Minutes pulls into Mark Seif's driveway and he agrees to an interview, will his words of wisdom make the final cut? And if so, will anyone listen?

-- Nolan Dalla

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