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Update Bulletin: PokerStars Faces Red Lights in NJ

After months of investigation by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, the regulators have made their determinations and are  expected to step up to the plate today with announcements of the companies licensed for Internet gambling in NJ, on the opening date of November 26.

The lead up to the announcement has been accompanied by plenty of turmoil among warring parties.  Throughout this period, however, PokerStars and its boosters including various state officials, PS private lobbyists, and high placed friends, have exuded confidence without interruption, only to hear of their failure to secure a license at this time.

Regulators are said to have railed against pressure to turn a blind eye on the outstanding criminal case against PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg, arising from his indictment dating back to 2011. Word has also leaked out through sources close to officials in Atlantic City and in the Statehouse of growing concern as to the role of PokerStars founder in the Company’s current activities.

While Isai Scheinberg is described by the Company as a “Fellow” and not part of management various opponents to PS licensing are continuing to argue that Scheinberg still operates within the Company as if he is in charge, with respect to matters that interest him. If true, this would violate the Company’s settlement agreement with the US Department of Justice in connection with its legal troubles arising from the indictment and companion civil case U.S. v Scheinberg et al.

These cases which have come to be known as the Black Friday prosecution of online gaming in America, have figured heavily during the investigatory period of offshore company applicants.  Bwin, Party Poker is among those who have escaped the snub and will be in the initial mix, giving the Company that had been the largest player before the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, a chance to regain its stature among American bettors. Party Gaming, unlike PokerStars pulled out of America on the day UIGEA was signed by the President — Friday the 13th of October 2006.

Understanding that officials do not like to be preempted in announcements, even if they cannot contain their information securely, readers are cautioned that the scheduled announcements for today,  regarding the full list of companies granted licenses is not guaranteed, but the outcome as to PS absence and bwin-Party inclusion at the starting gate is worth betting the ranch.  This assertion is made based upon confirmation from “multiple protagonists” with direct knowledge.

PokerStars has failed to secure a gaming license this week for opening date of online gaming in New Jersey according to three insiders with direct knowledge – on both sides of the pond.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement is said to have become increasingly concerned about the open criminal case against PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg who has yet to face charges arising from his indictment of April 15, 2011, brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. More details tomorrow.

The World Series of Poker did itself proud, deciding to host a full on celebration of the elected inductees in the 2013 class of the WSOP’s Poker Hall of Fame. Tears of pride and joy trickled down the faces of poker professionals Tom McEvoy and Scotty Nguyen as each accepted the highest honors conferred by a grateful poker world at a dinner in their honor, last night.

A Cool Wine Cellar

 The WSOP executive team chose the sophisticated wine cellar at the Rio All Suites Hotel and Casino for the cocktail reception. Impressive wines were uncorked. The drinks flowed freely and the hors d’oeuvres were elegant. An hour later the doors to an inner sanctum were opened for the sit-down dinner and organized celebration of two good men.

Filet mignon was served, but the sizzle in the steak was the poignant and gracious words that were spoken in the course of the induction ceremony.

WSOP Executive Director Moves the Needle

 Ty Stewart, executive director of the WSOP, welcomed the packed house of invited guests and media in attendance. He set the tone for the evening by suggesting that the speakers throw away their notes and talk from the heart—as if they were engaged in a conversation. Some speakers retained their notes. All spoke from the heart.

Stewart introduced poker historian and WSOP media director extraordinaire, Nolan Dalla, as the evening’s emcee. Dalla enumerated the three R’s that surround the election process to the Poker Hall of Fame: recognition by the public; reverence by the media; and respect by peers.

The Poker Hall of Fame was established by Binion’s Horseshoe and WSOP founder Benny Binion (with his son Jack) in 1979 to pay homage to the highest stakes poker players who demonstrated indisputable staying power in the game.

Dalla explained that under the Caesars umbrella, the WSOP has expanded the criteria applied to election of candidates into the Hall. Non-players as well as players who have given mightily to elevating the stature of the game are eligible contenders.

Dalla Primes the Audience  

 Dalla then shifted his attention to the august guests of honor, jabbing light-heartedly at the similarities (and differences) between Nguyen and McEvoy before turning over the microphone for presentations by five speakers selected by the honorees.

McEvoy Speakers  

 A longtime friend of McEvoy, and part of Nguyen’s legion of fans, I was first up, as a speaker.  I got to tell dear Scotty, “You’ve come a long way, baby,” using his favorite word of endearment for every man, woman, and child on the face of the earth!

Turning to McEvoy, it was time for me to make him the man of the moment, pointedly—not only for the breadth and depth of his poker accomplishments, but as significantly for his parallel commitment to proven integrity, every step of the way.

McEvoy’s daughter was next in line. She regaled the audience with family stories connected to McEvoy’s poker career. She spoke of its beginnings as a five year old, through its progression into full bloom as 1983 WSOP main event champion, and onward to the event at hand.

T.J. Cloutier, a legendary tournament player, who counts more than nine million dollars in tournament career earnings, arrived at the podium to count the myriad ways Tom McEvoy has enhanced the poker world.  He labeled McEvoy an extraordinary tournament competitor, savvy poker strategy author, and successful advocate for poker players in his campaign to promote a smoke-free WSOP environment.

Cloutier acknowledged McEvoy’s unflinching integrity but also gratitude for the personal help McEvoy has given to him in dealing with his own personal “problems.”  No further explanation of his point was needed among the knowing crowd in attendance.  Cloutier, presented to McEvoy the trophy that signified his admission to the Poker Hall of Fame.

McEvoy Acceptance Remarks

 You could hear a pin drop when Tom McEvoy, moved toward the microphone, barely holding his tears of joy in check. He thanked the WSOP, the Hall of Fame voters, and his friends for their support. He was humble from the tip of his toes to the top of his head.

There was no time lag between the emotional moments of McEvoy’s thank yous and Nolan Dalla’s return to the stage to put just the right spin on Scotty Nguyen’s achievements—in advance of the additional speakers.

Scotty Nguyen: A Story of Struggle 

 Nolan Dalla described, dramatically, the struggle that Nguyen faced as a child and as a teenage immigrant in America before he rose to poker stardom and financial fortune. Nguyen’s winding path to fulfillment of an American dream is a riveting story of beating very longshot odds.

Nguyen’s Speakers: O’Connell and Hellmuth

Dalla completed his passionate soliloquy and promptly shifted gears with the introduction of one of Nguyen’s close friends, Seminole Immokalee Casino poker room manager, Rick O’Connell. O’Connell flew to Las Vegas from Florida to participate in the festivities to help honor Nguyen. .

He did exactly as Nguyen asked. He talked one part about Nguyen and his close relationship with him and one part about his pride in the poker room he is growing, quite obviously pleased with the collaboration he has forged with Nguyen as an ambassador of the casino at their tournaments.  O’Connell’s speech was so much a reflection on Nguyen who is known to pump up those he loves as much as himself.

Hellmuth’s  Gracious Remarks 

 By the time WSOP’s 13 time bracelet winner, Phil Hellmuth, Jr. ascended to the stage on Nguyen’s behalf, the proceedings had taken the better part of two hours, but no one was fidgeting, and very few were checking their smartphones. The WSOP champion known as poker’s most successful tournament player and the most effective self-marketer showed pure class in his sentimental and meaningful remarks.

Hellmuth was brief, but powerful in his delivery of verbal applause for the two inductees. He started by shaking the hand of Tom McEvoy and telling him he truly deserved the honor, before launching into his plaudits of  Nguyen’s monumental talent as a player. Like others, Hellmuth noted the respect Nguyen has gained from a huge base of loyal fans. Most touching, however, was Hellmujth’s notably gracious personal tribute to Nguyen, claiming he can never win a hand from him!

Hall of Fame Members Support 2013 Inductees

The presence at the dinner  of numerous Poker Hall of Fame members including Cloutier and Hellmuth as speakers and  Mike Sexton, Barbara Enright (the first woman) and Eric Drache as attendees, elevated the celebration of the two newest inductees.  The evening’s formalities came to a close on a high note with Scotty Nguyen’s acceptance speech—unending thank yous,  punctuated with unabashed tears—even more visible  than the ones we witnessed with McEvoy a half hour earlier.

A Worthwhile Waiting Game

 Like every serious poker player worth his salt, Tom McEvoy and Scotty Nguyen reached for the stars in their commitment to be the best they could be in their chosen work. They have hit the mark with their induction into the Poker Hall of Fame after being in the running at least four prior years.

The waiting time for both evaporated suddenly and magnificently a few weeks ago when McEvoy and Nguyen received congratulatory emails from Dalla, informing them they had been elected to this most coveted poker fraternity.  And what their guests at the induction dinner heard and saw in both of them last night was authentic humility and an abundance of gratitude for the recognition.

In the spring of 2000 Russ Hamilton coached Wayne Newton to a “tie” in a heads-up No Limit Hold’em duel that became part of GQ reporter Elizabeth Gilbert’s published story, “Chicks with Decks”— later that year. James McManus, the author of the poker classicPositively Fifth Street adopted the title as the heading for his chapter on women in poker. The catchy title fit the gutsy ladies profiled in Positively Fifth Street and Liz, far better than it fit me, as her poker coach  and Hamilton’s opposite in the  heads-up match.

The unrehearsed real money  $1,000 buy-in battle between Liz and Wayne turned hilariously bizarre in their final hand—under the bright lights of the “fabulously fading” Stardust Hotel. A posse of hotel security officers had surrounded the roped off area, separating Wayne from his fans, until a member of his entourage entered the arena to announce “Just one more hand,” Wayne’s show must go on! Russ was not so happy with Liz’ antics in the last deal.

Russ quietly calls out his opponent for compromising results  

The crowd leapt to its collective feet learning that Liz had decided, on her own, to shove all of her chips into the center of the table.  Russ nudged Wayne to call. Wayne then pushed all of his chips to the center of the table, too—co-mingling his bigger stack with Liz’s somewhat smaller one.

Liz and Wayne  turned up their cards; each revealing a  jack-seven off-suit. Almost in unison they jumped up, congratulating each other, both declaring a tie. The casino dutifully returned  to each the original buy-in.  Russ rolled his eyes at me and whispered  disdainfully that Liz  had engaged in foul play. I was still recovering from her all-in move against my advice.

A tie was an unfathomable outcome for any real poker player, and Liz acknowledged its folly in her story. But it was a humorous scene in her tale of our poker exploits across the country and personally hurtful to no one –except apparently the beefy poker champion.

Russ’ eyes reflected an obvious prick of his outside ego-free armor. Yes, Russ seemed genuinely indignant at the possibility he was cheated—if only of credit of coaching Newton to a win. Recalling this prior chain of events, when I heard that  Hamilton had been definitively fingered as a mastermind of the Ultimate Bet cheating scandal, I shuddered at my apparent misread of the man.

The birth of Scott Bell’s documentry

Ultimate Beat, is a documentary created by businessman/poker player Scott Bell, a player and reportedly a victim of cheating in UB’s poker room.   Bell paints a riveting picture of Hamilton as the mastermind, and his confederates as masterful actors in furthering the art of deceit at the UB site.  But the documentary maker shines his laser beam equally on Greg Pierson, depicting him as the Company’s scruple-free senior manager who orchestrated efforts to make minimal player refunds – once the cheating operations were fully cracked.

Bell began his research for the documentary after his own small business went belly up and his poker bankroll had been decimated.  His movie peels part of the onion down to the core and should fascinate any online poker player who knows too little about data –mining which is critical to investigate online cheating, effectivley.   The Ultimate Beat story also serves as proof positive that unregulated gambling is inherently dangerous and that  concrete consumer protection is vital; the poker community and casinos are in general accord  on this point, be it state or federal regulation under discussion. .

Ultimate Beat: Raison d’Etre

The producers of Ultimate Beat  have issued a press statement prior to the release of the film today,  saying, “The story tracks an intersection of old school hustlers and technology during the ‘poker boom’. After successfully launching a popular site, a group of insiders used software access to defraud players over a period of years without detection. When discovered, they went to great lengths to cover-up the crimes in order to repay less than the amount stolen.”

The movie is less overtly focused on portraying Hamilton as a despicable scoundrel than on  the escalating corruption and cover up efforts to avoid accountability of the site. Bell lays out a dizzying number of moving parts that contributed to the Company’s success in taking down rich and poor, pros and unknowns who frequented the UB site–for untold  millions of dollars. Eventually the site coughed up approximately 20 million but the true numbers are rumored to have exceeded more than 50 million dollars stolen from players over the years.

Bell’s Prodigious Effort

Bell has quite obviously put in plenty of blood, sweat and tears in research and development of his project. By his own admission he has already profited from his labor —in a personal catharsis. And his work is a service to the poker industry, to the extent that he gets his facts accurately and completely—and therein lies the rub in this documentary. Bell cannot and does not tell the complete story; indeed he mentions that one of the leading sources in the film suggested, “The whole story will come out, “over the next year.
For the time being, Bell often allows the reader to fill in blanks and assess the implications of some of his less than fully fleshed out topics, sometimes for the better, sometimes for worse. Bell’s apparent frustration with targets who declined to cooperate did not disrupt his efforts to report on data available through others.

Dangers of Imperfect Information  

I was first in touch with Bell a few months ago on behalf of a client, a well-known poker personality and a longtime friend.  Eolis International was consulted concerning Bell’s reported suspicions as to transactions associated with this player’s account.  Our client was concerned that while the suspicions were absolutely unwarranted in fact, Bell might tar him because of a lack of a full understanding of the transactions he was reviewing . Bell seemed perplexed and skeptical even after our client agreed to speak to him.  But  the target was forthcoming in their conversation (I was present)  which ended with Bell also getting satisfaction that he was taken seriously. It showed in the way Bell presented the material concerning our client, suggesting  he was probably a victim.

In contrast, Tom McEvoy, who declined to speak to Bell for the documentary was  implicated in the movie as a  rogue consultant, hired by Hamilton to prepare a whitewashed report supporting obvious cheaters as legitimate players, including Nio Nio who has since been identified as Hamilton.  In the movie it is revealed that McEvoy’s report never saw the day of light  which creates further question as to McEvoy’s role. In our conversation. Bell explained that McEvoy was not a subject of substantial interest to him.

Tom McEvoy is  widely regarded in the poker world as a man of unflinching integrity.  Yesterday In an  exclusive interview Tom discussed his role and his report as the  undisclosed  “third party ” investigator brought in by Hamilton to review hand histories and to offer his view as to the legitimacy of  two player accounts. Notably one of those accounts was in the  name of Nio Nio,   Bell got correctly that McEvoy was paid $50,000 for his assignment. McEvoy is unequivocal in stating that accepted the assignment and payment for it based on a request for an objective review of hand histories and a straight-up report as to his conclusions.

McEvoy Puts Facts in Place

McEvoy sent me  a copy of the written report he provided to Hamilton, noting that he explained to Hamilton his findings  after reviewing thousands of hand histories; the two players he evaluated had to have cheated.  He goes on to explain  that upon hearing  a summary of the report, “Russ offered me a couple hundred thousand dollars of additional work if I could see my way to stating that NioNio and other accounts he was prepared to have me review, “appear to be entirely legitimate players.”

Finally, McEvoy makes clear that he rejected Hamilton’s second proposal flatly. He will be installed in the World Series of Poker Hall of Fame on November 3rd. Congratulations to him are pouring in from around the country. He has asked me to speak about him at a dinner in his honor; I consider it a privilege.

Remembering Russ in Better Days

Hamilton’s picture no longer hangs on the walls alongside  the other WSOP champions, and so it should be.   I prefer to remember Russ as the congenial host of the Russ Hamilton High Stakes Golf Invitational that is referenced in a flash across the screen in Bell’s movie. The tournament took place back in 2000, the same year Russ coached Wayne Newton  in a  heads up match with the now famous Elizabeth Gilbert–the author and screenplay writer of Eat Pray Love. Back then, Hamilton talked the talk about integrity in a poker game and chatted me up about loft plans for the best run online poker site.

The tournament and side festivities were a blast  Russ wined and dined  my guest  Dick Atkins a documentary film maker contemplating a feature starring golf and poker while I hunkered down in the final night’s  No Limit Hold’em Tournament. The poker tournament was more like a party than a  tournament, but I was serious against every final tablist which included Hellmuth, Negreanu, and Flack  among the bold faced-pros in attendance.  It was a winner take all tourney and I became  the proud winner—of a poker cruise—valued at $1800!

Of course the side bets were the real action that got attention. Hamilton and Hellmuth cheerfully made a side  bet on me, and I joined them  in betting on myself. I  made more than a few more dollars on my side bet  In Bell’s film a graphic  duplicates Phil Hellmuth’s story of the Hamilton Invitational  for CardPlayer with a headline  Wendeen Wins.   After seeing the film, I counted my blessings; I was not one of the players cheated. I never won at the site either.  By an accident of fate I never made a bet on UB.
Media gets heads up on Ultimate4 Beat

Last weekend, several players and members of the media were invited to a sneak preview of the film. I accepted the invitaiton but was not able to attend.  A work assignment came ahead of my poker travel plans. The Las Vegas screening came a bit before Bell finalized the piece for its public release. I am grateful to Scott Bell for allowing me a remote private screening yesterday and the opportunity of an interview, after it.

Last month at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, the American Gaming Association (AGA) upped the ante in its bid to promote progressive federal legislation to regulate online poker while pushing for a strengthened crackdown on illegal online poker operators.
AGA Uses Runner Runner to Campaign for Legislative Reform

AGA president, Geoff Freeman (since July 1, 2013) held a media conference during the GGE gathering to let it be known that the AGA intended to capitalize on the new movie, Runner Runner, by highlighting perils of online poker in an unregulated environment.

Freeman demonstrates a savvy understanding of the two-edged sword of this movie, noting, also, the need to mitigate against opponent cries to eliminate online gambling altogether based on the ills of the industry depicted in the movie.

Runner Runner Movie Eludes Box Office Kudos

This past weekend, Runner Runner, was a lackluster number 3 at the box office. The film, populated with superstar power including Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake, went wheels up in a tottering fashion, earning a disappointing $7.6 million.

Perhaps the film got lost because it had to compete for the same audience as “Gravity.” But, movie buffs tell me the film probably suffered more from viewer criticism of a “less than cohesive plot and disruptive antics” interwoven into the crime thriller. The movie centers on a poker cheating scam in cyberspace; a college kid becomes a victim beyond the loss of his school tuition money. The movie received a “C” Cinema Score from American viewers.

Runner Runner: Reminiscent Screenplay

Veteran screenwriters Brian Koppelman and David Levien have turned again as they did fifteen years ago in their classic poker movie, Rounders, to the theme of youngsters stung by poker scams and irresponsible “gambling” exploits. In e Rounders the screen writers were inspired by real characters in underground poker games in New York City.

In Runner Runner, the writers take on cyberspace poker and seem to set their drama on the alleged scam hatched by executives of one of the predominant online poker sites during the golden years of online poker in America; 2006- until April 15, 2011 when the US Department of Justice brought down the hammer on online poker in America.

I saw the film. I was distracted by the excessive hype, but I still thought it was a fun movie night. I saw plenty of truth lodged within the fictional story. Frankly, the unvarnished truth surrounding the Ultimate Bet “super user” scandal lives up to the saying “truth is stranger than fiction.” The uncontrived but complex UB story that is expected to be more faithfully presented in an upcoming documentary by Scott Bell. seems more important against the backdrop of Runner Runner.

Movie Companies Want Blood!

The latest Koppelman/Levien collaboration—especially the over–the top and somewhat disjointed drama reminded me of a conversation I once had with Koppelman about the Rounders writing venture. In the mid- nineties, I ran into Koppelman at the poker tables in New York’s biggest and most serious card room– the “new” Mayfair Club.

Originally a bridge and backgammon club, the Mayfair had moved from its cramped quarters at the old Gramercy Park Hotel into a much larger basement space in the Stanford apartment building—down the street a few yards from a state courthouse.

I did not know Koppelman was writing a screenplay. For poker players who crave movies that present poker realistically, there were many aspects of the Koppelman/Levien Rounders treatment that did so to a tee. I loved that.

However an added scene from the earlier version I had reviewed for a client, before the screenplay was sold seemed unnecessary. Getting whacked for a bad poker debt was not part of the Mayfair poker world culture in the 80’s or 90’s. I was surprised by the disruption of a largely realistic presentation of the underground poker scene.

I got a chance to ask Koppelman about the additional scene in a chance encounter at New York’s “power breakfast” room at the Regency Hotel a few days later. He explained that he had to do it to get the screen play locked in place for the sale.

Runner Runner Could Have Been a Reality Play

Regardless of the contrivances of Runner Runner, the storyline is familiar and reminiscent of the outlandish reality of a scam that succeeded too well, for too long. The real life scam held in its grip famous and infamous protagonists including Affleck along with a who’s who among entirely unknown players. Affleck, with whom I played poker years ago, but never knew as a personal friend, is regarded by friends as an intelligent activist who has brought a unique sensibility to the latest Koppelman/ Levien movie.

Affleck Has Many Friends in the Poker World

Affleck is more or less an insider in the poker world— a very welcome visitor. He understands the subject matter– becoming a humiliated victim of a poker cheat which was a reality for him. And he can feel the pain of poker friends made worse off than he was.

For example, WSOP champion Phil Hellmuth, a former spokesperson for UB was fooled by his UB partners. So was Annie Duke, a WSOP bracelet holder and a former spokesperson for the UB site. She was also one of Affleck’s poker tutors on the finer points of the game.  Neither Hellmuth nor Duke have been implicated in any wrongdoing—only of misplaced confidence and ignorance of the company’s illicit activities.

Affleck’s Personal Poker Journey

Affleck’s poker exploits in public card rooms were first widely noticed in small No Limit poker games at Foxwoods Casino. He quickly migrated down the east coast into the biggest cash games at the Borgata–with one time fiancée Jennifer Lopez in tow. High profile pros swooped into town to get a glimpse of Affleck in the flesh or just get in on his poker action. Affleck took more than an occasional beating at these tables, but with some serious coaching (mostly by the late Amir Vahedi), he improved, markedly.

Affleck was surrounded at real life poker tables by a gorgeous mosaic of players from around the world. They hailed from all walks of life  and included Hollywood colleagues Tobey McGuire, Jimmy Woods, Leo DiCaprio, and occasionally his best friend from childhood– -Matt Damon. But Affleck came on the poker scene before celebrity status mattered; all that mattered was how you played your chips. He stayed to see the day that poker players turned into Q rating fodder.

During one rocky period in Affleck’s relationship with Jennifer Lopez, he put extra effort into his poker game. It paid off with first place honors and a payday $355,000 in the 2004 California State Championship. Soon afterward his engagement to Lopez was history, but Affleck’s fascination with poker continued.

Although the figures were probably exaggerated, by the press, Affleck was undoubtedly among the victims of the alleged cheating scam reportedly masterminded by Russ Hamilton, a WSOP World Champion. Affleck’s status as a victim was recently referenced in tapes believed to have been made by Russ Hamilton. Affleck is known as an activist, so it is no wonder that he became interested in making Runner Runner. He could identify with the perils of gambling and the fast track down the road to addiction issues.

Affleck is Known to Be Introspective

Affleck is no stranger to risky adventures. In 2001, he put himself into alcohol rehab and he later went public about his stint there. At least one of his friends in the poker world believes his introspective nature helped him during losing periods at the poker tables to avoid falling off a poker cliff.

Affleck Matures as a Recreational Poker Player

Since his marriage to movie starlet Jennifer Garner, Affleck’s affection for poker has been less public with far fewer forays into live poker competition, according to one of his Hollywood buddies who spoke off-the record about him for this piece. He noted that Affleck has played at a few WSOP events and at a few poker charity events in recent years, but has stayed closer to home with his wife and three children than to high stakes poker tables.

Unfortunately like millions of other players, Affleck learned more than he wanted to know about the possibilities for shady poker in the cloudy world of cyberspace.

Runner Runner May Yet Show Great Value

Runner Runner may not be a tour de force for the public, but for Affleck I suspect it is special. And for me it is special, too. I’ll be surprised if it serves much of AGA’s goals to capitalize on the movie, but if it helps to move the needle favorably in legalizing online poker in America then Runner Runner will prove a blockbuster success!

This year the World Series of Poker Europe pays special tribute to women with its first ever Ladies Event. It will also cater to world travelers and romantics alike with a change of venue from the French Riviera to the suburbs of Paris. The accommodations are expected to delight all who love the City of Light and adore its energy in the fall.

The WSOPE Changes

Port of Call for the first four years, the tournament lived in London, centered at Harrahs’ Leicester Square Casino at the Empire. It outgrew its space before the first main event!

In 2011, Mitch Garber, CEO of Caesars Interactive — the Caesars company responsible for the WSOP brand – spearheaded the exploration of a change of venue from England to France. Garber picked up the phone and went straight to the top source for intelligence – Lucy Denos. She is the seasoned poker room director at Casino Barriere de Deauville where the EPT has held Court for years. Talking with Garber from her perch on the French Coast of Normandy, Denos explained the lay of the land.

Garber liked what he heard. His WSOPE team got busy signing up Casino Barriere as a partner for a WSOPE event in a matter of weeks. The WSOP moved with suitable fanfare to Cannes later that year and encored its festivities at Casino Barriere’s posh digs in the South of France again in 2012.

Together with Barriere, this year the WSOPE drove the Tournament northward to the luxuriously appointed Barriere Enghien-les-Bains Casino. It is a few kilometers outside Paris. The new venue gives the 4 WSOPE its first opportunity to showcase its wares in territory that has been the longtime stomping grounds of the World Poker Tour.

Ladies Event Promoted at 2013 WSOPE

Speaking of WSOPE firsts, the most discussed decision of the WSOP organizers may be its brand new WSOPE Ladies Event. The Ladies Event is the most controversy-provoking tournament on the annual stateside WSOP schedule. It has engendered endless debate as to its merit with various pros including several high profile female poker players looking upon it disdainfully. The complainers see such events as diluting the value of WSOP bracelets.

The new tournament will debut as the opening event of the WSOPE festival this year. Not deterred for a moment by criticism for catering to the ladies in this way, the WSOPE’s Ladies Event will be the first bracelet event of the fourteen day WSOPE festivities. The tournament organizers either are determined to make a special welcome for women or are sending a deeper message to card room management and the poker community: they are clearly walking the walk in efforts to attract more women to major live tournaments and accompanying cash games.

Queens among Poker Kings

The limited participation of women (hovering around 4.5 per cent among all major live poker tournaments worldwide) notwithstanding, the WSOPE main event arguably has produced more notoriety and acclaim for a woman than any other event in poker history since Barbara Enright’s accomplishment; she became the first woman to reach the final table of a WSOP Main Event in 1995.

The inaugural WSOPE was won by Norwegian teenager Annette Obrestadt; the plucky young lady picked up her first place prize of one million pounds to become the poker heavyweight champion of the world, hours before turning nineteen years of age.

Most Tournament Combat Will Take Place in One Room

The WSOPE is also showing attention to customer service in yet another first at the WSOPE and it is an important upgrade for pros and other serious players who are there to tend to their “business.”

Under the leadership of Ty Stewart, Executive Director of the WSOP and Senior Vice President of Caesars Interactive, poker players will find the work day easier to navigate and attention on their accomplishments significant.

The 7th annual WSOPE puts all regular tournament proceedings within one room – another first for a WSOP Europe event – the festivities are expected to be streamlined like never before.

Stewart credits Jack Effel as The Man for every player – every step of the way in his current role as VP of Tournament operations. And he looks to Seth Palansky who took over the reins as WSOP’s Communication Director when Thompson moved over to Caesars Entertainment C-Suite to push poker media to make a fuller commitment to coverage of entire tournaments while targeting and cultivating mainstream media for unique feature stories. Palansky steps lively in this role. If history repeats itself for the high spirited Caesars Interactive Entertainment WSOP Team, the Company will prove that progress continues and change is invariably for the better when Garber’s team is on the go.

A Bit More History

Benny Binion, founder of the WSOP, never dreamed about poker tournaments the way Caesars (formerly Harrahs) did when it acquired the WSOP brand at the end of 2004. Benny saw the WSOP as a family-like affair; mostly an array of players who knew him and his sons Jack and Teddy as well as each other – for years.

The comps flowed freely for rooms and food, the buffet was sumptuous – surrounded by ice sculptures and the cash games were big and juicy — especially Jack’s private game which played in the middle of the casino. There was little concern expressed for profits from the tournament back then; poker was acknowledged at Binion’s as a phenomenal marketing tool for a gambling house. It seemed to work perfectly — until a family feud turned the property and therefore it’s WSOP into a tottering entity.

Harrahs Takes Over the WSOP

Harrahs took over the WSOP brand just in the nick of time to save it from unknown potential calamities. The 2005 WSOP began at Binion’s and its final table was held at the Rio All Suites Hotel, Harrahs’ designated property as the new WSOP home.

In August, 2005 Caesars brought Jeffrey Pollack on board as VP of Marketing. The Company endorsed the former NASCAR executive’s desire to take on the title of WSOP Commissioner. Pollack ran with the ball, putting together a stellar branding and marketing team.

By 2006, Harrahs was pinching itself over its acquisition. The branding prowess of the new WSOP team, was becoming obvious – Stewart the unsung mastermind. The 2006 WSOP drew over 8,000 entrants to its main event. First place prize was a staggering $12,000,000.

Harrahs Spreads its Poker Wings

The WSOP team continued to push the envelope. No sooner than Harrah’s announced it had acquired London Clubs International (LCI), in late 2006, the WSOP honchos hit the ground running with a plan to cross the pond with a tournament proposal in hand. In 2007 it was poised to set down stakes for a spectacular poker event to show off the art and drama of the WSOP outside the United States.

Pollack hardly needed to hold the baton. Stewart was hitting his stride. Gary Thompson, communications director for the WSOP, was a natural at whipping up the media. (He now sits in the ivory tower of Caesars Entertainment as the Director of Corporate Communications, and as one of his many accomplishments, Thompson was the Managing Editor of Poker Player in the mid-1980s). Craig Abrahams, the Harvard Business School Graduate who interned for a year and then joined the WSOP, was joined at the hip to the rest of the team in executing the mission of a WSOPE. (He now holds the lofty position of Caesars Interactive Chief Financial Officer).

The Obrestadt Effect

The initial WSOPE was a resounding success. But even the group of creative thinkers that made up the WSOP’s stellar marketing team could not have dreamt up Obrestad’s triple barreled, record-setting performance.

More than 150 reporters from all over the world took notice of her astonishing eight day performance in the final event and embraced her as the new media darling of the European poker world.

In one fell swoop, Obrestad permanently destroyed any vestiges of a felt ceiling over the heads of female players. After a grueling five-day series of battles, she raised her hand as the heavy weight champion of poker in Europe with a million pounds in hand.

The Cyberspace Explosion

While Chris Moneymaker, an unknown accountant from Tennessee, turned winnings from a $40 cyberspace competition into a “lucky” win at the 2003 WSOP main event, Obrestadt’s feat at the 2007 WSOPE reinforced the growing proof that cyberspace card rooms offer an incomparable, fast-track training ground for young poker players.

Obrestadt had reportedly scored hundreds of thousands of dollars of winnings, in online tournaments — against large fields of players that spanned six continents from America to Australia — prior to taking her seat at the WSOPE Main Event. Her win put a brilliant spotlight on the WSOP brand in Europe.

Obrestadt Builds Momentum for WSOP and WSOPE

The story of Obrestadt’s historical WSOPE Championship performance is seen by many as having played a big part in the WSOP’s marketing momentum going forward — especially abroad. The WSOP brand was fast becoming a jewel in the Caeasrs’ crown.

Commissioner Pollack left the Company in 2009 to become an entrepreneur. He left behind a title that is now defunct, but the team assembled, while he was its steward, has gone on to do great things.

Mitch Garber who became CEO of Caesars Interactive Entertainment, in 2009 moved the WSOP into high gear. The WSOP now counts 62 events, on its annual tournament, the WSOP Tournament Circuit runs almost year round, The WSOP has become truly global with international events having been held in England, France, and Australia. And, coveted sponsors are solidly behind the WSOP brand.

Winners Behind Every Door

By all accounts, this year’s WSOPE has the earmarks of a winner for Caesars, Casino Barriere, and WSOPE players. There will be eight bracelet events in the offing with events commencing on October 12 and ending October 25, 2013.

A nine hour drive from New York City, six and a half hours from Atlantic City, and four hours from Washington D.C., Larry Lindsey welcomed his “Poker Week” guests at his spectacular ocean side house in Virginia Beach. The former associate professor of economics at Harvard University, who served as special assistant to the president in the first Bush administration, has a wide circle of friends—notably including an eclectic group of poker players he wanted to know better.

The Cast

The parade of guests begins with the arrival of Will, a professional dealer from a Charlestown, West Virginia public card room. He worked well for long hours and played well in the sandbox when he was off-duty. Billy, a quiet and intense competitor, showed up with his wife and baby in tow. Then there were John and Sam, friends from college. They work out hard in the gym and diligently at the poker table. Sumit, is a patent lawyer. He paid close attention to details at the game. Brandon brings smarts and wicked wit to the table. Finally Tom makes his entrance with a lovely at his side. He came here more to socialize than in search of big winnings; he takes down more than his fair share of profits from the poker economy, according to his staunchest rivals.

Mother Jean, and Lovely Tammy tenderized the proceedings throughout the week. Larry added yours truly to the guest list, believing we could splice together our respective worlds of politics and poker in early morning chats before the young guns shuttled over to Larrigata in golf carts from their own private group share residence — another of Larry’s houses situated just a mile down the beach road.

The common denominators that bind this spirited group are the playground of the Charlestown poker room and the high limit area of the Borgata poker room up the coast a piece in Atlantic City. Larry’s digs were dubbed Larrigata by his poker guests to honor him and his affection for the consummate poker room for customer service — the Borgata.

The players invited to Larrigata are recognized by peers as solid combatants. Some of them take down healthy six figure poker incomes yearly, and at least one is revered as King Midas with a golden touch.

I knew instantly the Larrigata line up would not provide an example of predictably profitable game selection — unless the cards cooperated. So my game plan was simple: give away as little as possible, play strong hands, avoid post flop activity that requires much guessing, and counteract bullying with trapping when given a chance. Above all, observe — and learn something.

The housing accommodations were actually better than spectacular. The action flowed continuously in the main house, alternating between good food, plenty of beverages with shots of tequila, the favorite, and generous doses of poker as the centerpiece of the festivities, here. The first house is Larry’s residence; the second served as home base for most of the guests. It was also the place to meet for pool, ping pong, and a screening of Rounders on the big TV. The activities were organized by Larry’s executive assistant, Liz, who alternated as concierge extraordinaire and chairman of the daily events, and she never missed a beat in her responsibility to keep Larry focused on vacation.

The boys were not shy about expressing their pleasure in being invited to this week long poker party, but you could see, every one of them was also on full alert aiming to strike the perfect balance of competitor and comrade, and indeed they did — thanks mostly to Larry’s magic.

Our Host

The internationally recognized economist had long since concluded that poker is a game of skill, for those who pursue the math and social science, adeptly. But, for this particular poker week, Larry had a slightly different plan for himself and his hand-picked poker buddies.

He intended to create a seven day immersion into the lives of smart young bucks with poker savvy he has yet to fully cultivate. And, he intended for his guests, a vacation like none other, and one that would offer life lessons as enlightening as a poker odds calculator. Larry scored on both objectives.

Larry Lindsey’s Books Show His Smarts

During one of many interesting life transitions, Larry met up with a psychologist who was an avid recreational poker player. She recommended the game as challenging, entertaining, and “therapeutic” Larry stepped up to the tables and embarked upon his poker education.

He brought sterling credentials to the table – a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University, and a success story in the “publish or perish” world of academia. He counted several complex writings under his belt including the books The Growth Experiment: How the New Tax Policy is Transforming the U.S. Economy, and An Insiders View On How To Succeed In The Oval Office among them. In September 2013, Basic Books will publish his latest book, The Growth Experiment Revisited.

A Sterling Resume

During the Reagan Administration, Larry served three years on the staff of the Council of Economic Advisers. He then served in the White House as Special Assistant to the President during the first Bush administration, which was where we  met, initially – linked by our respective work for the commander-in-chief. Larry’s government experience also included a five-year stint as a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The next phase of his career was as a Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C.

During George W. Bush’s presidential campaign, we met again, I in greater awe of Larry than the candidate — for his insightful peeling of the onion on new world economics. The former Texas governor and second Bush president looked to Larry as his key economic advisor early on.

In government we collaborated on the occasional issue from time to time, but lost touch in recent years until we bumped into each other in the Borgata Poker Room. Neither of us knew the other as a poker player. Larry had become chief executive officer of the Lindsey Group — still eagerly sought after for pearls of wisdom and for peeks into his crystal ball of economic predictions of the moment.

Poker Week: the Perfect Respite

During poker week Larry more fully introduced himself. A sensitized and devoted Dad, Larry occasionally encouraged Emily, his 19 year old independent daughter, who resides nearby (one of his three children), to take part in the festivities. She is cool, and knows she is an interesting handful to behold! Like myself, Larry’s Charlestown/Atlantic City poker buddies were duly impressed as they gazed upon Larry in the sun of Virginia Beach.

During Larrigata festivities, Larry bet, checked, raised, and folded with the best of them in this mind bending game of poker that in his world is only sometimes played with cards. He engineered the environment with seamless precision. The testosterone moved up a notch each day, the competition stayed in the temperate zone, and there were no reversals of fortune — just a good time had by all.

An Exclusive Interview With Congressman Joe Barton By Wendeen H. Eolis

During the past month, Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX) has been on the move in his quest to bring about federal legislation favorable to online poker with an equally favorable revenue component for government.

At the end of June, the Congressman hit the road for his 3rd annual visit to the World Series of Poker — this time, to preview his latest federal legislative bill before introducing it into the U.S. House of Representatives. The official introduction of his newly minted bill H.R. 2666, the Internet Poker Freedom Act of 2013, followed on July 12.

Days later, Barton held a telephone press conference to discuss the new bill which “establishes a program for the licensing of Internet poker by States and federally recognized Indian tribes, and for other purposes.”  The teleconference was attended by media outlets across the country, including this reporter. However, it wasn’t until last week, when I met with the Congressman in his congressional office in Washington, D.C., that I got the complete picture of where he stands on poker and poker legislation. At the end of this day, Barton remains as unclear as anyone on the likely time table for passage of federal legislation to legalize online poker, by the Congress, but he exudes confidence that day will come.

Barton Invokes the President’s Name 

Barton is methodical. He is an engineer by training. He is a seasoned politician. He has held his Congressional seat since 1984. He rates himself as a good amateur poker player. By all accounts from mutual friends, this is an understatement. With a slight twinkle in his eye and a poker player’s understanding of a well-placed semi-bluff, Barton goes further than mere prediction in stating that he expects President Obama to sign his legislative bill to legalize online poker, if it reaches his desk.

Barton talks the talk at poker tables and he walks the walk around the House in gambits to prod progress on the right online poker bill. He seeks a sensible federal law that will allow online poker in states that are so inclined, under the best conditions for all concerned.

He is also a pragmatist who recognizes the road will not be easy. His latest online “poker only” bill, like the others in which he has been intimately involved, previously, is designed to exempt poker from the category of “games of chance” which are subject to anti-gambling statutes. During our hour-long visit in Washington and a subsequent telephone call, Barton resonated as “the genuine article.”

Barton Comprehends Poker as a Skill Game 

A poker player since his days as a boy scout, Barton says he came to appreciate poker as a game of skill decades before dispositive research by erudite academicians and federal Judge Jack Weinstein’s confirming opinion in U.S. v DiCristina last year. And, he praises poker for “the life skills it teaches,” noting their utility “in business and politics as well as poker games.”

Nuts and Bolts and Finishing Touches on the Barton Bill

The current Barton “poker only” online gambling bill, like predecessor bills he supported as a co-sponsor with former Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), as well as those for which he has been the lead sponsor, “carves out” poker from federally based anti-gambling statutes.

Barton says he is confident that in time, the necessary consensus will be reached to pass appropriate legislation to allow for online poker bets in America.  And he claims to know that President Barack Obama would give a “thumbs up” on his “poker only” bill.

Barton’s Bill: Update Crib Notes  

Barton has been a vocal proponent of online poker in recent years, believing if adults want to play poker at their computers in pajamas, they should be permitted to do so — within suitable parameters.

In talking about his current legislative effort, he draws my attention to some of the updated language in his current bill. He explains it brings Indian tribes into the tent, puts “bad actors” convicted of a felony into a penalty box, allows for states to “opt out” and permits debit, but not credit cards, for transactions.

Barton says, “We’ve put a lot of effort into creating a bill that makes sense. I think that anybody who looks at the bill I introduced a month ago has to admit that it’s practical, and I think they would admit that it’s fair. We have a piece of legislation now – that regardless of where you are on the issue – you have to say it’s credible and would work… if it becomes law.”

He observes, “I’m not a gaming Congressman, meaning we don’t have casinos in my state. I’m a person who loves the skill and strategy involved in poker. I don’t play online for money, but I think that people should be allowed to. If their states allow them, they ought to be able to go into an online poker room and know they are fair and honest; that their money is protected; and they will win or lose based on the merit – that they won’t be defrauded or scammed.”

An Eye Out for Co-Sponsors

Barton is taking his time in walking the corridors in the House to chat up compatriots about his current bill. He plans to make the pitch, personally. In the interim, he mostly demurs, “Just look at the people who sponsored the bill in the last Congress, if they are still in the House it is a pretty good bet they are going to be on the bill this year. I’ve talked to some members specifically and asked them to co-sponsor the legislation and they’ve all said yes. I hope to come out with the list soon.”

In contrast to Frank’s admonitions to the poker world that it was the job of players to rev up support for his legislative bill, Barton makes clear that he considers it his responsibility to act as a prime mover. Frank’s interest in online poker legislation was tied squarely to his civil libertarian agenda. Barton’s rap is a bit different.

In an obvious effort to differentiate his bill from the pork barrel antics of legislation designed to please special interests or express thanks for fundraising on his behalf. Barton states, “I’m in this for the long haul. This isn’t like trying to name a post office in your district; it’s a serious legislative effort.”

Barton’s Nemesis: I. Nelson Rose

Barton has good reason to make this point. Shortly after introducing his online poker bill in 2011, Whittier law school professor, I. Nelson Rose, the pre-eminent scholastic gambling law expert pointedly questioned Barton‘s motivations and credibility as a friend of online poker. Rose wrote for his well-known website, gamblingandthelaw.com, “The Congressman seems to only have come out in favor of online poker when he discovered that he could use it to get political donations.”

Rose pointed to facts – Barton’s voting record in the U.S. House of Representatives, to make his case against the Congressman. He noted that Barton voted to ban internet gambling by credit card in 2003 and voted for passage of UIGEA in 2006. He pushed the envelope even further in explaining that while Barton was chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in early 2006, he gave up the right to use his committee to modify an earlier version of the UIGEA bill that was enacted.

Rose softened his tone of disdain somewhat thereafter in an interview with Marco Valerio of QuadJacks Radio — after taking harsh criticism from movers and shakers in the poker industry. Both the Poker Players Alliance, the active grassroots poker advocacy group that counts more than a million members, and Mason Malmouth, the owner of the popular Two Plus Two online poker forum, disagreed with Rose’s take on Barton’s increasingly active support of online poker.

Barton Camp Answers Rose

Rose’s questions on Barton’s evolved stance fade in the face of the Congressman’s articulated perspective, say Barton colleagues who admire his science grounded intellect and integrity. Perhaps tongue-in-cheek, one Barton friend quips, “Rose is well-placed as a professor at Whittier Law School.” According to the Daily Caller, a Washington, D.C. – based website which is part of the White House Rotating Press Pool, Whittier is the lowest ranked ABA accredited law school in the nation. The same Tucker Carlson-founded website once called Barton “a lesson in contradictions.”

 

Barton Explains His Evolved Stance

In our interview, I sidestepped the not quite forgotten Rose brouhaha. Instead I looked for answers to explain Barton’s curious voting record, as disclosed by Rose, through non-confrontational questions.

Barton is one of the few legislators around the country that actually is an avid recreational poker player.  He comments, “Poker is an all-American game. Just like millions of other players, I enjoy the strategy and skill involved.” An online poker player, albeit only for play money, since the late nineties, Barton talks like a man who never dreamed that UIGEA would target online poker for lethal prosecution! And, his public posture in recent years seems clear and consistent: “I think adults should have a right to play.”

Barton’s fundamental support for federally based online poker legislation is made similarly clear by his “Opt Out” provision. He tells me, “I decided it’s better to start out – better politically – with everybody in the game and the ‘opt out’ is real easy. It just takes a governor… or an Indian tribe to say we don’t want to do it.”

As to his opposition to credit cards, Barton indicates he drafted his latest bill to allow the use of debit cards, preferring to avoid the use of credit to pay for such “recreation.” He says in a soft Southern drawl, “I hope that is the biggest issue with my bill.”

Barton is Pro Poker Through and Through!

 Barton reflected on his association with poker beginning with a vignette. He spoke of his Dad’s poker experience with the likes of the late Thomas “Amarillo Slim” Preston, touting his enthusiasm and success at the game until his maternal grandfather expressed disapproval of poker as a professional endeavor. Before Barton Senior married the Congressman’s mother, he gave up poker. Barton’s parents never barked at their son’s more casual interest in the great American pastime.

As an adult, Barton stumbled into blackjack. But, his basic strategy skills proved profitable only to the house, leading him back to his longtime affection for poker. He says, “I bought a poker strategy book. I read it and I started playing online for play money. I finally decided to go to a poker room – not in Las Vegas, but in Shreveport.” He muses, “I just decided I’m going to be good at poker” adding, it forces you to learn how to play the hand you are dealt. He notes, “Poker is the only game you can win without the best hand.”

Barton the Pragmatist

The level of support that Barton can muster to pass a “poker only” federal bill this year is uncertain at best. It is a dicey bet in this Congress, by his own admission.

He addresses the basic intellectual and moral resistance within the Congress. He calls the House leadership “risk averse” and recognizes “considerable risk of failure in taking on an issue unless and until there is major consensus.”  He says that consensus has not yet been reached. He acknowledges that a lot of members would rather not deal with gambling issues: “They don’t want to anger constituencies on either side,” unnecessarily.

Barton asserts, “There’s going to come a time – and I don’t know when that balance will be reached – when it makes sense. There will be enough consensus in the country that we need a set of universal rules and regulations that the poker bill will move. I’m absolutely confident of that.”

Early in our conversation, Barton told me that President Obama reached out to him shortly after he was elected – the first time. According to Barton, they discussed online poker, and the president said he would sign a Barton-authored bill to legalize poker on the internet.

The twinkle in Barton’s eye reappeared when I asked if the president’s support back then is meaningful now. Barton gave a thumbs up with one footnote; a companion bill to provide for inherent tax provisions will be part of the package.

Just as the 2013 World Series of Poker was beginning to wind up its engines for the main event at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX-) rolled into town for his third visit to the annual WSOP; this time to rev up support for his updated poker bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Poker Players Alliance hosted a Town Hall Meeting designed to preview Barton’s online gambling bill HR 2666, the “Internet Poker Freedom Act of 2013,” which was subsequently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, July 12.

While the PPA has been beating the drums for Barton’s “poker only” bill it is also applauding the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2013  (HR 2282) introduced by Congressman Peter King (R-NY) last month. The King bill proposes “poker plus” other casino game options excluding, sports bets.

Unity is hard to come by in the business of online gambling and this week, from out of the blue, came a new wrinkle in the debate of online gambling consumer protections. The complexities in bringing online gambling to U.S. players seamlessly across the country grows at every turn, and so does the cast of characters with unique skin in the legislative game—at both the state and federal level.

Barton and King—Different Visions

The King bill follows in the footsteps of Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA) online poker bills and the expanded online poker bill prepared but never introduced by Sen. Harry Reid  (D-NV) with now retired Sen. John Kyl’ (R-AZ). It was their plan to move federal online gambling legislation to the finish line last year. The Reid bill included broad consumer protections and was quietly endorsed by the AGA.

The Barton bill is most appealing to the “poker only” crowd. It effectively carves out poker from other gambling games and recognizes it as a game of skill as per Federal Judge Jack Weinstein’s opinion in U.S. v Di Cristina. That case has been appealed by the Government and has been heard. It is likely several months will pass before a further ruling. The Barton bill is narrow in scope and not generally regarded as sophisticated in addressing relevant issues to more conservative lawmakers. For them the Barton bill does not have have enough teeth in it. The bill is plainly designed to extricate poker from the grip of anti-gambling legislation such as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act that was enacted in 2006. In both federal legislative proposals now on deck, the authors provide opt out provisions. They also respect the rights of states that have invested in intra state online gambling statutes.

Senate Hearings Pop Up Suddenly

The latest potential complication in aggregating support for either bill is the hearings scheduled by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Sub Committee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance “to examine the expansion of internet gambling, focusing on assessing consumer protection concerns.”

Sub-Committee Chairwoman Claire McCaskill will begin the process of testimony at 10 AM Wednesday, July 17. The witnesses include:

Mr. Chuck Canterbury – National President, the National Fraternal Order of Police

Mr. Matt Smith – President, Catholic Advocate Mr. Tom Grissen – Chief Executive Officer, Daon, Inc. (a biometrics software firm)

Mr. Jack Blum – Attorney (specializing in money laundering compliance)

In a seven page Republican staff memo obtained as we were going to press, the subject matter is introduced thusly:

“This will be the Commerce Committee’s first hearing on the proliferation of Internet gaming and its implications for consumers in the 113th Congress, although the Committee has examined gaming issues in previous Congresses. The Commerce Committee has broad jurisdiction over both internet communications and consumer protection matters, generally.

The memo, sets up  and then sets forth its central purpose for the hearings. “This hearing will focus on potential consumer harms related to online gaming in the absence of a clear legal landscape or consistent oversight.” It provides opponents to expansion of online gambling a chance to regurgitate  consumer protection issues – real and imagined. These issues have been widely debated for years in political and philosophical discourse. The sudden appetite for hearings occurs in a time frame apparently designed to thwart near-term consideration of either the Barton bill or the King bill.

Congressman Dean Heller (R-NV), a supporter of online poker, is the ranking Republican on the sub-committee. One particularly interesting acknowledgement in the memo was the statement, “although UIGEA neither legalized nor made unlawful Internet gambling, per se, it added enforcement tools to thwart unlawful Internet gambling payment transactions.”

At the end of the staff missive, the urgency to the hearings is duly noted with a reference to Rep. Joe Barton’s bill which “would, among other things, establish a program for the licensing of Internet poker by the states and (Indian) tribes.”

2012 Federal Legislative Effort Fell Apart

Last year, after a rocky start in the collaboration, Heller worked with Senate majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator John Kyl (R-AZ) who had finally come around to support online poker. They made seemingly prodigious, albeit relatively quiet efforts to bring forward a “poker only” gambling bill acceptable to both online interests and the American Gaming Association. The legislation was to have called for licensing, regulating (and taxing) online poker activities, and was to provide  provide substantial consumer protections. Toward the end of the year it gained momentum. But, the project took second fiddle to other Congressional business, leaving Congressmen King and Barton, longtime proponents of online gambling legislation, to don follow up pitcher mitts, this year.

Washington Insiders Are Skeptics Now

The mood inside the Washington Beltway, among proponents of regulated internet-based poker, was hardly ebullient before this round of Senate hearings came about.

The PPA which is championing the Barton bill (a media conference call is scheduled for tomorrow) has a long row to hoe, but this grassroots advocacy group that counts more than a million members is proving slowly but surely, poker players can be change agents. The PPA is building a solid community that is on track to transform the image of poker as a gambling game to one of skill for those who are dedicated and as a respectable pastime to rest of the poker universe.

Hail Caesar!

While the PPA is pressing its members to become activists in support of favorable legislation, up in the ivory tower of Caesars Palace Gary Loveman, Chairman of Caesars Entertainment Inc. (the biggest gaming company in the world), is holding his cards close to the vest as to the Company’s exact position in the dicey game of politics and poker.

For years, Caesars (formerly Harrahs) promoted “poker only” as the means by which to persuade lawmakers to take their first leap of faith into online gambling, having assured itself online poker could be made safe, fair, and easily restricted to adults and properly insulated against ties to organized crime, money laundering, and the like.

Likewise, the AGA, which Loveman also chairs until year end, is pondering its position and options in support of federal legislation. Nevada is already on the road with passage of the first online intrastate gambling legislation in the country’s history.

Sheldon Adelson Reflects an Evolved Position

The history of online poker advocacy is rich and the characters are colorful. Most of the casino moguls have weighed in, often altering their positions as their views have evolved. These days, Caesars, MGM, and Boyd are clear supporters, but the terms they seek are still murky. In contrast, Sheldon Adelson, who obtained a license for online gaming with European off shore regulators in 2003 has changed his tune on the merits of online gambling.

Adelson’s company, Sands Corporation, teamed up with PokerStars to produce the PokerStars.net North American Poker Tour Venetian at Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, just 2½ years ago. Now Adelson says he “is morally opposed to online betting”.

Stars and Wynn Fall In and Out of Love Quickly

Special mention is also warranted in the matter of the ill-fated conditional partnership between Wynn and Poker Stars. Steve Wynn fell in and out of love with PokerStars as fast as you could shake a stick. Confident momentarily that his anticipated partner knew more than anyone as to how badly misinformed the U.S. Department of Justice was in its promise to bring online poker to its knees in America — Wynn quickly reverted, showing his would be partner the exit door no sooner than the DOJ accomplished its mission — in a single day.

Summing Up

One gaming industry expert summarized what was said by many queried for this article. He asserted, “The poker industry has made concrete progress this year — no matter what happens — thanks to Congressmen King and Barton in their respective bills. They have moved the needle and are propelling online gaming legislation in the right direction.” He adds, “The poker community can take comfort in the introduction of both the King bill and the Barton bill as instruments used to keep the concept of federal regulation, consumer protection and taxation alive, and part of the debate.”

Either or both bills would reinvigorate the poker community in terms of participation in the game say several online players who yearn for the return of online poker in their living rooms.

According to the consensus of lawyers consulted for this article, the King bill, besides being all inclusive, (poker plus) is the more sophisticated and better drafted bill. It solves the constitutional issues not addressed in the now dead “Reid/Kyl” bill and as the Kyl bill succeeded so now does the King bill in also steering away from playing favorites, while addressing the concerns of the states, the lotteries, the Native American community, current brick and mortar casinos in Nevada, New Jersey, and elsewhere, horse racing and all of the other special interest groups.

The King bill according to the same gaming industry expert quoted earlier, “offers a true level playing field.”

Regardless, neither the King nor the Barton bill will reach victory beyond preliminary debate in the House without a companion bill in the Senate and the support of leadership in both parties. We should expect to face a continuing wait.

Last weekend, Kristen Bicknell, a twenty six year old cash games grinder from Canada, turned up at the 2013 World Series of Poker Ladies Championship as an unknown player. She proved not only ample survival skills but also the power of discipline, desire, and determination. A self-taught poker player, Bicknell took down first place prize money of $173,922 and the coveted white gold WSOP Ladies Championship bracelet for her effort.

Ladies Championship Leaves Men by the Wayside

The field was 954 starters—all women. Last year an estimated 15 players in the pool were males — mostly pros — apparently enticed to exercise their legal right to rain on the Ladies Day Parade by visions of a higher return on investment (ROI) than in an open event. They may have had their last chance.

The  ladies only field reflected an amusing and controversial legal twist on the buy-in rules for the 2013 WSOP Ladies World Championship. WSOP brass outfoxed male would be party poopers. They stopped such potential impostors in their tracks with a gambit that proved 100% effective in maintaining the Ladies Day as a singularly female “do.”

In consultation with company lawyers, WSOP organizers increased the full buy-in price for the event to $10,000, but offered ladies a 90% promotional discount — thus preserving the traditional $1000 buy in for ladies and drastically changing the ROI for men.

WSOP personnel say the Ladies Championship offers novices a more collegial and protected environment in which to ply their poker skills and make their luck. For the most part, the rank amateurs and veterans alike welcome the party-like atmosphere that is fostered for this event. Participants get to live the dream of vying for a bracelet in a gentler environment than most open events.

Pros, who got their start in the ladies event generally agree it provides an ideal arena to increase familiarity with the rules of engagement and to help build the confidence needed to transition seamlessly into coed competitions. WSOP officials insist the discounted buy-in ticket for the ladies is a worthy promotion for women and not an arbitrary ban of men.
Nevada Law Creates New Opportunity for Women

Recently enacted legislation in the state of Nevada seems to put the WSOP in the catbird seat as the law explicitly states:

It is not unlawful and it is not a ground for civil action for any place of public accommodation to offer differential pricing, discounted pricing or special offers based on sex to promote or market the place of public accommodation

The Origins of the WSOP Ladies Event

Poker lore has it that the Ladies Event at the WSOP was originally put in place to entertain the wives and girlfriends of players. For years it was scheduled as the only tournament on Mother’s’ Day and intended as a day of rest for the men preparing to play in the next day’s final $10,000 World Championship.

In 1977 the first ladies event attracted 93 women players. It was only one year later that a woman dared to enter the main event. Since that momentous occasion only a relatively small percentage of women have taken giant steps in the poker world.

While there are a fair share of successful women poker pros who scoff at the notion of a Ladies Day poker championship in any form, the prevailing sentiment as obtained from pros and amateurs in attendance last week was applause to the WSOP for pulling out all the stops to give the ladies their due.

Pseudo moralists, obnoxious disruptors, and even more righteous and conscientious objectors held their fire for another day, allowing an event for ladies that is intended to grow women’s attendance at the WSOP.

What is the Role of Poker’s “First Lady?”

Linda Johnson, dubbed the “first lady of poker” by poker personality Mike Sexton and referred to as such by this reporter possibly as far back as the late 90s, was not in the forefront of support for ladies only tournaments for many years (nor was this reporter). Over time, however, Johnson effectively positioned herself center stage as an advocate for women in poker. And she has often distinguished herself as the quintessential role model.

In 1993 Johnson purchased CardPlayer Magazine. Her network of media connections grew quickly, allowing her to promote many of her activities and causes including recognition of women. An interview with poker reporter Pamela Maldonado, this past May is exemplary. The “First Lady” ticked off an impressive but less than fully inclusive list of very notable women in the poker world. Johnson’s list included most of the women pioneers in high stakes poker tournament competition who preceded her in the annals of poker history as women with special achievements.

More specifically, she named three of the five women for whom WSOP commemorative chips were issued (1996) to honor them and celebrate “women’s milestones.” The recipients she mentioned were: Barbara Freer, the first woman to enter the WSOP main event; Barbara Enright who became the first (and only) woman ever to reach the final table of the WSOP main event (1995); and Marsha Waggoner who cashed for the first time in the main event in 1993 (19th). The late Barbara Gold Samuelson, a noted cash games specialist who reached the highest finish for a woman as of 1994 (10th) was also part of that group as was this reporter, who was the first woman to cash in the main event in 1986 (25th) and the first to do so twice in 1993 (20th).

While Johnson and I are not personal friends, I believe that personal differences should be irrelevant to factual presentations and fair reporting of women’s achievements in poker. I salute Johnson and all the women on her list that reflect special achievements. Johnson’s formidable poker resume is featured in Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Johnson.

Johnson’s “shout outs” in her interview with Maldonado were numerous and gracious to deserving women. For example, she sends her regards to Jennifer Harman, Annie Duke, and Kathy Liebert – women who have shown the longest staying power as poker stars. Annette Obrestadt was noted, too. She made history as the first WSOP-E champion, at the tender age of 18. She also references younger über talents: Vanessa Selbst, Vanessa Rousso, Liv Boeree, Xuan Liu, and Maria Ho – ladies poised to have even more storied poker careers.

In the world of poker celebrations of women, Johnson frequently has been center stage. I recall my first bird’s eye view – the Johnson Roast hosted by Sexton at the Bicycle Club back in 2000 — her favorable views toward women’s poker tournaments had yet to evolve. In that same year, Johnson chatted up Positively Fifth Street author, James McManus at the WSOP with recommendations of women in poker to interview for his upcoming article which became the foundation for the book.

Original “Women (in Poker) Hall of Fame” was Established by PokerPages

Johnson’s wide range of activities and media friends notwithstanding, she has not been an omnipresent force in all things poker. In particular, she was not part of the internal brain trust of PokerPages.com which originated the concept of a woman’s page and established the “Women’s (Poker) Hall of Fame” around the turn of the millennium.

Tina Napolitano (with her husband Mark), the former owner of the innovative and highly referenced poker information portal (now owned by PokerStars), researched and found documented credentials for each of the women honored on the list. In a telephone interview with this reporter last year, she said, “I saw nothing out there; I wanted to pay homage to women who deserved it.” She added, “I avoided inclusions or exclusions based on whims of any individual or clique.” In recent years, many of these women (with a documented place in the history of women in poker) have missed Johnson’s personal tip of the hat and have been overlooked in relevant media coverage that traces its roots to her.

The pokerpages.com Women’s Hall of Fame has survived three generations of owners and is still available to be seen:  http://www.pokerpages.com/women/hallofame/index.htm

WiPHoF Reinvents “Women in Poker Hall of Fame”

A second Women in Poker Hall of Fame, was founded in 2007 by Lupe Soto as part of her burgeoning ladies poker tour business – the Ladies International Poker Series. WiPHof produced its first class of honorees in 2008.

Soto told this reporter last year that she met Johnson and sought her ideas and counsel for her planned venture and suggestions of women to honor. According to one WiPHoF honoree, the idea came to Soto after Barbara Enright was installed as the first woman in the WSOP Hall of Fame.

WiPHoF formalized its plans, deciding to honor an elite group — four most deserving women of accomplishment in poker. Johnson was part of the inaugural class of the reinvented “Women in Poker Hall of Fame.”

June Field who was a poker industry activist, the original owner of CardPlayer, and a WSOP bracelet winner well ahead of Johnson, did not make the cut until the next year. Likewise Cyndy Violette, a trailblazer for women in high stakes competition going to back to the 80s also drew back burner status until the following year. And these are but two notable omissions in the first class of WiPHoF honorees.

Curious selections and omissions from WiPHoF honors over the years have led to questions about the operations and selection process — and increasingly among women who see themselves as unfairly delayed or denied.

In the course of researching WiPHoF’s operations and selections processes, I reached out to members of its board last year and invited Soto and Johnson to interview for this article. Soto took a brief telephone interview.

Author’s Statement: I admire the meaningful contributions of WiPHoF members, notwithstanding my personal decision (and disclosure of it prior to my probing inquiries), to put myself out of consideration as a candidate for a future WiPHoF class.

Who Cares about WiPHoF?

Most women queried for this article agree that induction to WiPHoF has enhanced the profile of its honorees and probably helped Johnson to get on the radar screen of voters for the WSOP Hall of Fame. Be that as it may, women who think of themselves as having been “shafted” by WiPHoF are crying foul on the seemingly tottering organization, calling it more sorority than honor society.

This summer there is no WiPHoF hoopla during the WSOP and no dinner planned to honor or celebrate new nominees this year, according to Soto. She says, “WipHoF has changed its charter.” According to Soto, henceforth the organization will celebrate women every two years. Her website still asserts that WiPHoF inductions are annual affairs.

Meanwhile, if Soto (and her collaborators) can figure out how to assure reasonable transparency, high integrity, and an unfailing commitment to fairness in the nominating and selection process, I vote for her induction ahead of any other future candidate.

Women in poker deserve fair deals. The WSOP proved its commitment to women at this year’s Ladies Event. Will WiPHoF follow suit next year?