December 18 2011, Brett Collson

We’re trying to get you caught up on the week’s top poker news stories. In this edition of the Weekly Turbo, we bring you the latest news from Full Tilt Poker and Groupe Bernard Tapie, the Bodog brand leaving the U.S., and more.

Business News

Full Tilt Poker, Groupe Bernard Tapie Back in the News

Subject:Poker reported Thursday that a deal has been reached to allow for the transfer of assets Full Tilt Poker (FTP) and French investment firm Groupe Bernard Tapie (GBT).

Sources told Subject:Poker that Full Tilt Poker shareholders ratified an agreement that would allow Groupe Bernard Tapie to purchase the forfeited FTP assets from the DOJ for $80 million. GBT would then be responsible for the repayment of non-U.S. players, and the Department of Justice would repay U.S. players.

Attorneys for Full Tilt Poker and Groupe Bernard Tapie declined comment to PokerNews on Thursday.

Additionally, Spanish News site Poker-Red reported Thursday that Groupe Bernard Tapie was among 61 companies to apply for a Spanish online gaming license before the new regulated market opens in early 2012. PokerStars, bwin.party and 888 were among the other operators to submit applications, but Poker-Red reports that GBT would be forced to repay all Spanish customers at Full Tilt Poker before it could reopen for business.

More on both stories can be found at PokerNews.com.

Defendant Files Motion to Dismiss MGM Trademark Infringement Lawsuit

One of the defendants named in a trademark infringement lawsuit by MGM Resorts International has filed a motion to dismiss, according to a report by VegasInc.com. Adam Majewski, who has owned the rights to the domain name excaliburpoker.com since 2005, claims that his site doesn’t infringe on MGM’s Excalibur Hotel Casino trademark.

Earlier this month, MGM Resorts International filed suit against Majewski and five other defendants for trademark infringement. The lawsuit claimed that each of the defendants registered poker-related websites between 2002 and 2005 that used names of MGM properties.

Majewski’s court filing says that the Excalibur mark is not distinctive and thousands of businesses use the name, including Excalibur Bowling, Excalibur Taxi and even Excalibur Condoms. “Recent changes in Nevada law have opened up the prospect for Internet gambling,” Majewski’s response said, according to the report. “Late to the feeding frenzy, MGM wants to leverage the well-known names of its hotels in Las Vegas.”

The other sites listed in the trademark infringement lawsuit are ariapoker.com, bellagioonlinepoker.com, circuscircuspoker.com, luxorpoker.com, mandalaybayonlinepoker.com and mgmpoker.com.

More on this story can be found at PokerNews.com.

Joe Hachem Leaves PokerStars

On Friday, PokerStars announced that it has parted ways with 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event champ Joe Hachem. The Aussie pro joined forces with PokerStars after his historic win in 2005, but the decision to end the relationship came after the expiration of Hachem’s Team PokerStars contract this month.

“It’s been a great run with PokerStars and I’m proud of my association with the people and the company,” Hachem said in a PokerStars press release. “But it’s time for me to pursue other career opportunities and it will be fun to have some down time to spend with my family. I look forward to the future with much excitement and anticipation and will always have fond memories of my time at PokerStars.”

With more than $11 million in live tournament earnings, Hachem ranks ninth on poker’s all-time money list. He joins the likes of Dennis Phillips, Greg Raymer, Tom McEvoy and JP Kelly in parting ways with PokerStars since Black Friday.

Read the full story at PokerNews.com.

Online Poker News

Bodog Rebrands to Bovada

As was planned in July, Bodog has left the U.S. market as of Wednesday, Dec. 14, and its licensee has rebranded the online gambling website under a new name. The new site, Bovada.lv, went live Wednesday morning and will be operated by the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group going forward.

According to a Bodog press release, U.S. residents are no longer able to access Bodog.eu or any other Bodog-branded website. Accounts for existing players were automatically transferred to the new website and players can log in using their existing account details and passwords.

“The Bodog brand is confident MMGG’s customer account information and funds will continue to remain safe and secure, as it has done since MMGG entered its original agreement with the Bodog Brand in 2006 and we would like to wish MMGG the greatest success in its new venture,” Bodog said in a statement.

Read more at PokerNews.com.

Phil Galfond Leaves BlueFire Poker

In a blog posted on Saturday, Dec. 10, high-stakes cash-game specialist Phil Galfond announced he has parted ways with BlueFire Poker, the online training and coaching site he helped build into one of the premier learning tools in the industry.

Galfond was one of the founders of BlueFirePoker.com and provided more than 150 training videos during his three years as an instructor. Galfond also played a key role in the site’s content management and the hiring of the BlueFire instructors. His reasons for leaving weren’t disclosed in his final blog, leaving users to speculate about the site’s future.

“As of today, Bluefirepoker.com and I are parting ways,” Galfond wrote. “It’s very hard to walk away from something I helped build from the ground up, but the most difficult aspect of this is the fact that I’ll miss the community … the members and my fellow coaches. Please know that it was a very difficult decision that I struggled with for a long, long time. I’m sorry that I can’t elaborate further.”

Galfond’s full blog can be found at BlueFirePoker.com.

Micro Players Win Big at PokerStars

PokerStars handed out more than $100,000 to players dealt into the 72 Billionth Mega Milestone hand on Sunday, Dec. 11, with “Kozlicek_x” from the Czech Republic taking home nearly $25,000.

Traditionally, PokerStars only runs the milestone hands promotion for every 5 billion hands, but more than 1,000 players earned cash prizes leading up to hand No. 72 billion this month as part of PokerStars’ 10th Anniversary celebration. “Kozlicek_x” was one of six players at a $.02/.05 ring game dealt into hand No. 72 billion. The Czech player flopped a set of sevens to win a $27 pot plus another $24,300 in prize money, while each other the other five players received a minimum of $12,100.

Read more about the 72 Billionth Hand winners here at PokerNews.com.

Tournament News

Aussie Millions to Host $250,000 Super High Roller

According to a source at Crown Poker, the Aussie Millions will be hosting another $250,000 buy-in Super High Roller event in January 2012. The source told PokerNews on Tuesday that a handful of top pros have already confirmed their participation in the highly anticipated event, including defending champion Erik Seidel, who collected $2.5 million by defeating a tough field of 20 earlier this year.

Several others, such as Dan “Jungleman” Cates, Tom “durrrr” Dwan and Dan Shak, have shown interest but are working on finalizing travel plans, according to the source. Numerous Chinese businessmen also plan to participate.

We expect this to be as big a hit as last year’s Super High Roller events in Melbourne. We also expect Seidel to be hoisting the trophy again when it’s all said and done - unless Jason Mercier shows up.

Find out more at PokerNews.com.

EPT Berlin Robbery Mastermind Faces Prison Time

The alleged mastermind behind the 2010 robbery at the PokerStars European Poker Tour Berlin Main Event was sentenced to six years and four months in jail on Thursday. The Berlin District Court found that Ibrahim al Moussa planned the attack on the poker tournament and then served as the getaway driver after four gunmen raided the Grand Hyatt Hotel and escaped with “242,000.

Police arrested the six suspects shortly after a robbery took place in March 2010. Four men who executed the attack were each given prison sentences of at least three and a half years. A 21-year-old received a three-year and nine-month sentence; the others, ages 19 to 20, were handed three years and six months by a youth court.

Now that al Moussa has been sentenced, the focus shifts to the final suspect, Mohammed Abou-Charka. The 32-year-old played in the poker tournament and purportedly provided information to his associates about when to begin the attack.

Get more on this story at hochgepokert.com (Google Translate is your friend).

Doyle Brunson Offered EPL Lifetime Membership

On Tuesday, Doyle Brunson was honored with the first lifetime membership card by the Epic Poker League, making him eligible for every future $20,000 Main Event regardless of his recent achievements on the felt.

“He just has this secret sauce of every accomplishment you can imagine, big generosity to the poker community, incredible longevity, amazing ambassadorship,” Epic Poker League Commissioner Annie Duke told the Associated Press. “And then on top of that he’s just an easy guy to really like.”

Brunson, who earned a two-year player card with the Epic Poker League this year, didn’t participate in the Epic Poker League’s first two $20,000 Main Events this year. The third EPL Main Event kicks off Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. We’re not sure whether Doyle intends to play that tournament.

Read more at PokerNews.com.

LAPT Heads Back to Brazil in Season 4

On Wednesday, PokerStars announced the destination for the Season 4 Latin American Poker Tour Grand Final. The final stop on the tour will take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from Feb. 17 through 20, 2012, at the Sheraton World Trade Center Sao Paulo. Coincidentally The dates conveniently coincide with Carnival. We’re sure that has nothing to do with the fact that PokerStars loves throwing parties.

The R$4,000 buy-in LAPT Grand Final will attempt to break yet another attendance record on the LAPT in Season 4. The season began in Sao Paulo in February and has since made stops in Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Colombia. The first stop in Sao Paulo attracted the largest LAPT field, 536 players, but that record was broken in Chile and then again in Colombia in October when 681 players participated in the Main Event in Medellin.

In addition to the 2012 LAPT Grand Final Main Event, there will be a variety of side events to take part in. Take a look at the schedule at PokerNews.com.

Marianela Pereyra joins the World Poker Tour

The World Poker Tour announced Thursday that anchor Kimberly Lansing is taking maternity leave, which means former Poker After Dark hostess Marianela Pereyra will take over Lansing’s duties beginning with the WPT Venice event in February 2012.

In addition to her hosting role for the now-defunct Poker After Dark, Pereyra has also covered events for ESPN, CBS Sports and Fox Sports. She also served as a sideline reporter for the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event final table.

“I’m thrilled to be given such an incredible opportunity,” Pereyra said of joining the WPT. “It’s an honor to be filling in for Kimberly Lansing and I’m really looking forward to being part of the World Poker Tour.”

Read more at PokerNews.com.

Legislation News

Adelson Has Many Concerns Regarding Online Poker

Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson became poker’s latest villain after saying he is “morally opposed” to the legalization of online poker in the United States. An excerpt from Adelson’s interview for the January issue of Global Gaming Business (GGB) leaked to Las Vegas Sun columnist Jon Ralston, who blogged about Adelson’s stance last week.

Adelson told GGB that his chief concern is that it will be too easy for underage children to gamble for real money on an Internet poker site. However, he’s also confused by the urge of many casino execs to grab a share in the space.

“PokerStars is the biggest and most successful online gaming entity in the world and the most they made in a year was $440 million,” Adelson said. “Now, how is $440 million divided up amongst several other players going to make a difference? It ain’t going far.”

Adelson says he’s also concerned that online poker could lead to gambling problems for young adults, especially if the operators expand to other gambling avenues. “Poker will absolutely lead to full casinos,” Adelson told GGB.

Read more about Adelson’s opposition to online poker at the Global Gaming Business website.

Operators Granted Online Gambling Licenses in Denmark

On Thursday, PokerStars, 888, bwin.party, PKR and Unibet were among 38 operators to be granted licensed by the Danish Gambling Authority. Each gambling company will be permitted to offer online gambling services to residents of Denmark when the new regulatory framework goes into effect on January 1, 2012.

“From January the gambling market will be orderly and we will ensure that holders of a betting and online casino license to operate on the Danish market also contribute to the society,” said Thor Möger Pedersen, Denmark’s Minister of Taxation. “Danes as well as the many associations supported by the gambling market can be joyful.”

Read more about Denmark’s online gambling licenses at PokerNews.com.

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Follow Brett Collson on Twitter – @brettcollson

December 18 2011, Donnie Peters, Chad Holloway

Last week, the World Poker Tour drew the ire of many poker pros when the 2011 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic drew 413 players. Although that wasn’t a problem in and of itself, the fact that the tournament was slated to payout 25 percent of the field if 400 players entered, a standard practice for the Bellagio for a few years now, was the real problem.

Had the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic gotten just 399 entrants, fewer players would have gotten paid and first place would have earned $986,926, if it reached 400, the plan was to pay 100 spots with first earning $794,624. This year, many poker pros took to their social media outlets to express their displeasure with so many players being paid, a sharp contrast to the industry standard of paying out 10 percent of the field; for instance, Kevin MacPhee was one player who was none too happy:

The issue of paying out more or fewer players in a tournament seems to be a hot-button issue these days, with some players advocating the payout structure, while others prefer earning more for their buck when they go deep in a tournament. PokerNews’ Live Reporting Manager, Donnie Peters, and Senior Writer, Chad Holloway, have different perspectives on the topic and square off in our latest debate.

Donnie Peters believes it’s better to pay out fewer players in a tournament field.

Poker tournaments provide players with a great opportunity for competition. This isn’t your third-grade talent show where everyone gets a ribbon for competing, this is poker. All players are adults (at least by age) and don’t need to be coddled by awarding them a greater chance of cashing in a poker tournament.

Poker players don’t play tournaments to simply make their money back. Paying out more places forces the prize pool to be spread out thinner. In the recent case of the World Poker Tour Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic held at the Bellagio, the top 100 spots were paid from a starting field of 413. James Dempsey was awarded a first-place prize of $821,612, but it could have been a lot more. In fact, if a more normal payout structure was used, all of the places would have added a lot more weight to the money finishers’ pockets.

One argument that often comes from the host when paying more spots than normal is that it actually benefits the venue or site that is holding the event. Take PokerStars for instance. On the European Poker Tour, it makes sense to pay a little bit larger amount of the field than normal because the payouts are often deposited into the player’s online poker account. Prior to cashing that money out, those players have a very high chance of spending some of it on the site in the available games. When it comes to live events, such as at the Bellagio, this doesn’t seem to make much sense.

The players who fight and scratch for a minimum cash aren’t going to be the ones taking their very small profit and shooting off in the pit. It’s just not going to happen. They’re going to take that money and leave the casino, happy to turn their $500 satellite win into a nice, little payday. Going back to Dempsey and his win, I believe it’s much better to be able to have a $1 million first-place prize rather than have an extra 50 players walking away saying they cashed in a Bellagio WPT. Wouldn’t you rather have the headline read James Dempsey wins WPT Five Diamond for $1,000,000?

It also seems to take away from the spirit of competition. It’s not supposed to be easy to make money playing poker tournaments and the good players and professionals want to win the most money possible. This isn’t going to be happening when prize pools are spread very thin when a quarter of the field is being paid out. In the minds of the pros, just making the money isn’t even worth it in this spot.

And in a sick, twisted sort of way, poker players secretly want the money bubble to really hurt. When making the money is worth two times or more the original buy-in, bubbling a tournament can be very painful mentally and emotionally. Deep down, poker players love this feeling.

Chad Holloway believes it’s better to pay out more players in a tournament field.

The Bellagio is one of the most popular destinations for poker players, both for cash games and tournaments. The latter have proven exceptionally popular, and always draw satisfactory fields; in fact, the venue plays host to the World Poker Tour several times a year, including the $25,000 World Championship. I think one of the reasons the Bellagio has proven so popular, at least in terms of tournament poker, is its generous payout structure.

When playing a tournament, the first goal on every player’s mind is to win; however, another goal on most players’ wish list is to make the money, which is easier to do when more spots are paid. I know I’d be more likely to plop down $10K to play in a big tournament if I knew 25 percent of the field was paid. Even earning a min-cash or getting my money back (which is what happened in the WPT Five Diamond as 100th-51st essentially earned the same amount) would alleviate a lot of pressure, allowing me to prep for a deep run in the event from that point forward.

Deep payout structures remind me a lot of PokerStars 50/50 Tournaments, where players earn double their buy-in once half the field has been eliminated. Such tournaments have proven quite popular online and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a similar format adopted at a live event, though this would be the extreme of any generous payout structure. Pros are always looking for that big score, but the average poker player would be thrilled to double their money.

I’ll admit that the standard 10 percent payout is more amenable for poker pros, but I believe the 25 percent payout structure is more appealing to the poker masses, at least in big buy-in tournaments. Let’s face it, there is a direct correlation between the size of a tournament and the buy-in. Usually the higher the price, the fewer players there are. By paying out more spots, more players will be enticed to enter as they’ll no doubt think it easier to be one of four to cash rather than one out of ten. Given the economic hardships faced by many, and the lackluster poker economy, this is not a time to turn a blind eye to any policy that could possibly attract more players.

Playing tournament after tournament and never cashing can be very demoralizing and discouraging. By easing the criteria to cash, some players may be more apt to play. If they do and get their money back, they’re more than likely going to invest it in another tournament down the road. This is good for everyone involved as players get to play more events, the entries will be up, and the venue will get even more entry fees. Also, let’s not forget about those who satellite into tournaments. To them, a min-cash usually feels like a win in itself and I bet the majority of satellite qualifiers would prefer a 25 percent payout structure.

I don’t believe paying out 25 percent of the field should become the new industry standard, but I do think it is an agreeable option and should be utilized at various stops. Times are tough across the board, and a deeper payout structure is a simple tactic to adapt to a downtrodden poker economy.

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Follow Donnie Peters on Twitter – @Donnie_Peters

Follow Chad Holloway on Twitter – @ChadAHolloway