March 22 2012, Brett Collson

On Wednesday, Groupe Bernard Tapie Lawyer Behnam Dayanim told us there was no update regarding the company’s purchase of Full Tilt Poker. We did, however, discover some news involving FTP on Thursday. We’ll bring you that story and more in this edition of the Nightly Turbo.

In Case You Missed It

The 2012 PokerStars.net ANZPT Sydney Main Event got under way on Thursday. Find out which players survived Day 1a in our ANZPT recap.

Reid Young is the author of The Blue Book: An Advanced Strategy Guide for No-Limit Hold’em Cash Games. This week, Young joined the Strategy with Kristy podcast to discuss advanced strategy involving showdown value, among other topics.

Last year, Stuart McDonald collected $87,129 at the Latin American Poker Tour event in Medellin, Colombia. PokerNews recently caught up with the Australian pro in Vina del Mar, Chile, to find out what he’s been up to since his big score.

Why are protesters fighting to keep “Eurovegas” out of Madrid? Find out in the latest Inside Gaming.

Andrew Lichtenberger cracked the Top 10 of the Global Poker Index this week. Mickey Doft takes a look at the biggest movers and shakers on the GPI.

Season 5 of the PokerStars.net Latin American Poker Tour kicked off in Chile on Wednesday. Get the details from Vina del Mar in our LAPT recap.

FTP, PokerStars and AP Given More Time to Respond

While the world continued waiting for the pending deal between Groupe Bernard Tapie and Full Tilt Poker to be completed this week, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York granted another extension to FTP and other respondents of an amended civil complaint regarding last April’s Black Friday indictments.

After the previous deadline of March 19 passed, PokerStars, Absolute Poker, Howard Lederer, Ray Bitar, Rafe Furst and payment processor Chad Elie were given until May 14, 2012 file a response. The extension is another on a growing list since the respondents’ original response date of the indictment passed on Nov. 30, 2011.

Read more at PokerNews.com.

Adios, Bodog

Bodog was back in the news this week after announcing that it is exiting the Spanish market ahead of the country’s new gambling market. The company released a statement to players in Spain about the decision:

“We would like to inform you that due to recent regulatory changes, we are no longer able to offer our betting or wagering services to residents of Spain or Spanish territories. Your account will be disabled on the 31st of March 2012 and as of today; you are no longer able to make any further deposits to your account.”

The new gambling regulations in Spain are expected to go into effect later this year. More than 60 companies have applies for operating licenses. Among the online poker rooms interested in the space include PokerStars, bwin.party, 888 and Ladbrokes. Groupe Bernard Tapie also reportedly submitted an application before the Dec. 14, 2011 deadline.

Bwin.Party Launches iPad App

This week, bwin.party digital entertainment became the latest online gaming operator to launch a real money poker app for the iPad. The release comes more than a year after the company unveiled a real money platform for iPhone and Android devices. The iPad software is based on those models.

“The bwin iPad Poker app gives bwin.com customers unrestricted access to the bwin poker account – now with the full iPad resolution of 1,024 by 768 pixels,” said Berthold Kao, head of bwin.party’s mobile, touch and video department.

“The bwin iPad Poker app extends our lead in mobile entertainment on tablet devices and builds on our hugely successful iPhone Poker app that bwin.party designs with its own mobile development teams. Together with the bwin Sports App for pre-event and live betting enthusiasts and several Casino games for Android and iPhone as well as Java based phones, we now offer our customers an exciting portfolio of games.”

The app can be downloaded from the iTunes Store or the Bwin website, with one download covering both the iPhone and iPad versions of the game.

Visit bwinparty.com for more information.

WSOP Circuit Heads to California

On Thursday, the World Series of Poker announced (albeit in bizarre, satirical way) that poker pro Gavin Smith will participate in the three-day $1,600 buy-in World Series of Poker Circuit Event at Harrah’s Rincon starting this Saturday, March 25. Smith, who has more than $4 million in live tournament earnings, is known for his easygoing personality and propensity for side bets at the table. He’s also been known to have a drink or two.

WSOP Media Director Nolan Dalla had some fun at Smith’s expense in a press release, saying “No matter what happens in the Main Event, Smith is certain to make a major impact at Harrah’s Rincon. Two extra bartenders and three additional cocktail waitresses have been hired for the occasion. The credit manager has also been put on alert.”

Last year, Seneca Easley took down the $1,600 Main Event at Harrah’s Rincon, besting a field of 188 players that included Dwyte Pilgrim, Jerry Yang, Allen Kessler, Phil Hellmuth, Dennis Phillips, Adam Levy, and Poker News’ Kristy Arnett. Easley won $70,384 and a seat into the WSOP Circuit National Championship freeroll, a prize that will go to this year’s winner, as well.

PokerNews will be providing live coverage of the WSOP Circuit event in Rincon, so check our Live Reporting page when the action kicks off on Saturday!

Welcome to Sydney!

The PokerStars.net ANZPT is in Sydney, Australia, this week. PokerNews’ Lynn Gilmartin toured the city to show off her favorite spots.

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March 22 2012, Josh Bell

The fourth season of the PokerStars.net Australia New Zealand Poker Tour kicked off with Day 1a of the ANZPT Sydney Main Event. There were 214 players who began the day on Thursday evening, making it a huge field and setting the event on target to easily surpass the 393 players who took part in last year’s ANZPT Sydney. Of those players, approximately 98 will return on Day 2.

The player who finished up in the best shape at the end of Day 1a was Tobin Ryall. Throughout the day, Ryall accumulated chips and ended with a stack of 138,500. His largest pot came when he held on a board showing . That hand was enough to send his opponent’s cards into the muck and so began Ryall’s late domination.

Joining Ryall at the top of the counts will be Nabil Edgtton (125,100), Gordon Huntly (121,500) and Rhys Gould (119,600).

Although those players prospered on Day 1a, it wasn’t the same story for others. Tom Grigg, David Steicke, Aaron Benton, Daniel Neilson, Grant Levy and Andrew Hinrichsen were all eliminated throughout the day.

Also joining the above players on the rail was 2010 APPT Sydney champion, Jonathan Karamalikis.

Karamalikis was one of the early chip leaders on Thursday evening, but that all changed late in the night when nothing seemed to go his way. First Karamalikis lost a massive flip holding against and then he lost all but a few of chips when he missed his double-belly-buster draw holding on a board which showed . On the next hand, Karamalikis was all in for just 250 in chips and found no luck to save him from an exit.

Returning with plenty of chips on Day 2 will be Mishel Anunu (80,600), Oliver Speidel (70,900), Dan Kelly (70,600) and 2011 ANZPT Sydney champion, Michael Kanaan (70,200).

Peter Aristidou (52,400), Tony Hachem (48,100), Jackson Zheng (24,000) and Billy Argyros (22,600) will also return with a fighting chance on Day 2.

ANZPT Sydney End of Day 1a Chip Counts

The play on Day 1b is set to kick off on Friday at 1230 AEST (1930 PST Thursday). Make sure to join the PokerNews Live Reporting Team as they will again be on the floor providing all the action from the 2012 ANZPT Sydney Main Event.

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