May 21 2012, Brett Collson

We’re only six days away from the exciting start of the 2012 World Series of Poker, but there’s still plenty going on around the world of poker. In this edition of the Nightly Turbo, we’re bringing you another record for PokerStars, bwin.party settling a back tax issue with Spain, and more.

In Case You Missed It

The $25,000 World Poker Tour World Championship kicked off on Saturday. After two days of play, Michael Mizrachi led the way.

How did the Sunday Majors play out on PokerStars? Who took down the biggest score? Find out in the Sunday Briefing.

Which rookies should you be keeping an eye on at this summer’s WSOP? We’re here to tell you. In the latest edition of the 2012 WSOP Rookie Roundup, we take a look at Dominik Nitsche.

The PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker Main Event kicked off on Sunday. For a close look at the action, check out our Day 15 SCOOP recap.

Looking for photos to use during the the entire World Series of Poker? PokerNews is the Official Photographer of the WSOP for the second straight year.

How has Terrence Chan’s life changed since he started fighting professionally? Find out that and more in the latest edition of Seat Open.

Did you miss Sunday’s World Poker Tour coverage on FSN? Read our WPT recap to get caught up.

Bwin.Party Pays Off Back Taxes in Spain

Online gaming giant bwin.party has announced that it will comply with Spain’s demand for back taxes in order to receive an online gambling license in the new regulated market set to open next month.

The company released a report on Monday stating that it has agreed to pay up to “33.6 million to the Spanish tax authority to settle up for two laws that previously were not applied to offshore online gaming. After completing a tax self-assessment, bwin.party determined it was liable for “25.6m in tax payments and “8 million in interest and surcharges.

As reported by PokerNews last week, the Spanish tax ministry is seeking retroactive taxes from license applicants that offered online betting to Spanish customers since 2008. Bwin.party was one of around 60 companies that reportedly applied for a Spanish license and was facing one of the largest back tax figures among the applicants.

“Together with a number of other operators we have today completed a tax self-assessment in accordance with the Spanish Tax Authority’s requirements and as a result are making a payment of “25.6m plus surcharges and interest of up to “8m,” the company said in Monday’s report. “Having taken these steps, we believe we have now fulfilled all requirements and look forward to receiving our license and entering the Spanish market.”

The first Spanish gaming licenses are expected to be issued early next month. PokerStars, 888, William Hill, Betfair and Ladbrokes are among the operators interested in the new market. PokerStars is rumored to owe as much as “200 million in back taxes.

Once approved for a license, operators can begin offering online gambling services under a “dot-es” domain.

Read the full report at bwinparty.com.

PokerStars Breaks More Records

Once again, PokerStars has bested its own record for awesomeness.

The world’s leading online poker site announced Monday that the 2012 Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) has set a new milestone as the richest online poker tournament series ever. When the final two SCOOP events reach their conclusion on Monday, more than $65 million will have been paid out across 40 events (120 tournaments). The previous record of $64,230,010 was set during the 2010 SCOOP.

The 2012 SCOOP also bested the previous record for highest participation ever in a PokerStars ‘Championship of Online Poker’ series with a total of 526,154 entries, easily exceeding the previous record of 461,936 in the 2010 SCOOP. The all-time record holder for highest participation is the PokerStars MicroMillions series, which brought in 1,294,883 entries during its inaugural festival in March.

The 2012 SCOOP marks are astonishing considering PokerStars lost its biggest market when it was forced to exit the U.S. in April 2011. Read more about the SCOOP statistics at PokerStars.com.

Judge Delays Black Friday Defendant Sentence

According to Pokerati.com, the sentencing for Black Friday principal Brent Buckley has hit a snag because of a court order filed by District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.

Buckley, the co-founder of Absolute Poker who was indicted by the Department of Justice on April 15, 2011, pleaded guilty last December to violation of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and bank fraud. Under the plea agreement, Buckley was expected to spend up to 18 months behind bars, well below the maximum prison sentence of 30 years he faced for the original charges.

Kaplan, however, has indicated that the court will consider taking harsher action against Beckley on the ground of “aggravating circumstance.” Kaplan’s order states that Buckley “deliberately and unlawfully conspired to circumvent, and circumvented, governing laws of the United States in order to conduct or facilitate an unlawful business or businesses involving billions of dollars from which those businesses gained many millions of dollars.”

Buckley’s sentencing hearing was scheduled for Monday but has been pushed back to June 28. Read Pokerati.com for more.

Richard Evans WIns UKIPT Dublin

A winner has been determined at the “700+”70 PokerStars UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) Dublin Main Event. After five days of work, Richard Evans outlasted a field of 597 players at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin to win his first UKIPT crown and a top prize of “75,500.

Graeme Crozier entered the final table with the chip lead, but the U.K. amateur was unable to parlay his big stack into a title. Crozier busted in sixth place when his finished second best to the of Stephen McGrath after the chips went in on a flop.

Padraig O’Neill and Vincent Buis were the next to hit the rail, respectively, leaving Seamus Birt, McGrath and Evans three-handed. The men decided on a three-way chop, with each getting “60,000 and the winner receiving an additional “15,500. Evans disposed of Birt a short while later, leaving him heads up against McGrath for the title.

On the final hand of the match, McGrath limped from the small blind and Evans checked to see a flop of . Evans check-called a 300,000 bet and the hit the turn. Evan checked again, and McGrath moved all-in for 1,350,000. Evans called instantly with for top paid and an open-ender, which was ahead of McGrath’s for a second pair, a flush draw and a gutshot. The landed on the river, giving Evans the title and the top prize of “75,500.

For detailed updates from UKIPT Dublin Main Event final table, visit the PokerStars Blog.

Mad Marvin Joins PartyPoker

Well, it didn’t take Marvin Rettenmaier long to find a new home. Just weeks after parting ways with Titan Poker, the man known as “Mad Marvin” became the newest member of Team PartyPoker during the World Poker Tour World Championship at Bellagio in Las Vegas over the weekend.

Rettenmaier has emerged into one of Europe’s biggest poker stars after cashing for nearly $1.7 million in live tournaments since 2009. The 25-year-old joins Tony G, Mike Sexton, Kara Scott and fellow German Bodo Sbrzesny on PartyPoker’s short roster of sponsored pros.

“It is great to have Marvin on board. I have always said he is a player of true character,” Tony G said about his new teammate. “He has the Germanic mathematical game and he has “heart, he is winning, he gets drunk, he loses his passport –he is also running good.”

For more, read our story at PokerNews.com.

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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