February 09 2012, Brett Collson

If you like good fodder for debate, this Nightly Turbo is just for you. Online poker was among the topics discussed during a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing on Thursday, and a gambling legend stated in an interview that sports betting takes more skill than playing poker. Read on to find out more.

In Case You Missed It

The 2012 World Poker Tour Venice Grand Prix reached a final table on Thursday. Andrea Dato made his second straight final table at WPT Venice and is leading the way heading into the final day.

The Global Poker Index didn’t see any change in the top 10 this week. Vadzim Kursevich made the biggest jump in the rankings after his victory at the EPT Deauville Main Event.

Need a new book to read at the tables? Check out our review of Crushing the Microstakes by Nathan “BlackRain79” Williams.

Plans for a Vegas-style casino complex in Miami, Florida, were put on hold last week. Inside Gaming has the details on why the vote on a required bill was postponed for at least a year.

Quinn Sivage joined the Strategy with Kristy podcast this week. Sivage discussed using statistics for optimal preflop strategy in six-max no-limit hold’em games.

Poker vs. Sports Betting

Which activity involves more skill: poker or sports betting?

We’re pretty sure we know your answer. But renowned sports bettor Billy Walters disagrees.

In an interview with Covers.com this week, Walters argued that sports betting should be included with skill games like poker in discussions about legalizing online gaming. Walters, who has allegedly won hundreds of millions wagering on sports contests, says that sports betting is a more skillful form of gambling than poker.

“I used to be a professional poker player,” Walters said, “and, they’re right, if you’re a good poker player, it’s a game of skill. Well, betting sports is much more of a game of skill than poker. I’m living proof that betting sports is a game of skill. I’ve won 37 years in a row. If that’s not a skill, then I don’t know what is.”

We’re curious to know what poker player and highly regarded NBA bettor Haralabos Voulgaris thinks about this. Paging Haralabob…

What are your thoughts? Be sure to leave them in the comments section below.

Senate Revisits Online Gaming

On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held an oversight hearing entitled, “The U.S. Department of Justice Opinion on Internet Gaming: What’s at Stake for Tribes?” The hearing focused on the how the DOJ’s new interpretation of the 1961 Wire Act will affect the gaming interests of Indian tribes.

Thursday’s list of witnesses included Poker Players Alliance Litigation Support Director Patrick Fleming, who was speaking on behalf of poker players. During his testimony, Fleming stated clearly that online poker is very different than online gambling. He also said that Indian tribes are very important to the potential legalization and regulation of online poker, and that Internet poker can help bring patrons to land-based Indian casinos.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for a detailed recap of the oversight hearing.

Shoryuken!

Randy “nanonoko” Lew is a legend – and a Guinness World Record Holder – in the realm of online poker. However, Lew first made a name for himself on the video game scene, where he played Marvel vs. Capcom 2 on the national circuit throughout his time at college.

It appears Lew misses his college days. Terribly. The Team PokerStars Pro is auditioning for a new Internet reality show called Cross Assault, where contestants compete against each other in Capcom’s new game Street Fighter X Tekken. Take a look at Lew’s hilarious audition tape:

Get the Inside Shuffle

If you’re looking for another place to get reliable poker news, we recommend checking out the Inside Shuffle over at PokerWorks.com. The Inside Shuffle runs every Monday and Thursday and brings readers up to date on everything from poker politics, to business ventures, to tournament results from around the globe.

We like to think of the Inside Shuffle as the younger sibling of the Nightly Turbo, only without the constant bickering and abuse.

Check it out at PokerWorks.com!

“This is just a Bad Copy of the Venetian in Las Vegas”

You can’t ride your bike on the Venetian Lagoon, so Tony G was forced to take a Gondola ride to the Casino Di Venezia for the World Poker Tour Venice Grand Prix.

As you’ll see below, he wasn’t impressed. And his new personal assistant took the brunt of the blame.

Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

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January 25 2012, Brett Collson

While all eyes are on Phil Ivey at the Aussie Millions Main Event, the Nightly Turbo is here to bring you some of the other big stories in the world of poker. In this edition, we’ll cover the upcoming online poker hearing being held on Capitol Hill, the announcement of the World Poker Tour television schedule, and more.

In Case You Missed It

Phil Ivey was second in chips after Day 2 of the 2012 Aussie Millions Main Event. Find out who he’s trailing in our daily Aussie Millions recap.

Is Pennsylvania overtaking New Jersey as the East Coast’s gaming leader? Inside Gaming has the latest on why the country’s second and third largest gaming markets could switch places this year.

What does it feel like to make the final table of your first Aussie Millions Main Event? Randy Dorfman explains his experience in the latest edition of My First.

Senate to Revisit Online Poker Next Month

A recent decision by the Department of Justice to reverse its position on the Wire Act of 1961 will be one of the topics discussed during a hearing held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Feb. 9, 2012.

The hearing will be the second of its kind in less than three months. On Nov. 17, a Senate hearing titled, “The Future of Internet Gaming: What’s at Stake for Tribes?” focused on testimony from representatives of various tribes and tribal groups. Poker Players Alliance Chairman Al D’Amato was one of the witnesses that testified before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

In regards to the hearing next month, Poker Players Alliance VP of Player Relations Rich Muny made the following statement in an e-mail sent to PPA members on Tuesday: “These continued hearings are hard evidence of the great work the poker community has been doing to ensure our elected representatives hear from us. I thank everyone for taking the steps necessary to ensure our elected representatives understand that we poker enthusiasts will not back down and will not simply go away!”

A list of witnesses for the upcoming hearing has not yet been announced. PokerNews will provide that information to our readers as soon as it is released.

Information on next month’s hearing can be found at indian.senate.gov.

Thor Hansen Diagnosed with Cancer

On Tuesday, the poker world was devastated to learn that Norwegian poker legend Thor Hansen has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Hansen, 64, was told by doctors at a Los Angeles hospital that the cancer is untreatable and he likely has less than two years to live.

Poker player Andreas Høivold broke the news on Twitter Tuesday evening:

Hansen, nicknamed “The Godfather” in Norway, is one of the most respected poker players in the world. He has amassed more than $3 million in live tournament earnings to go along with two World Series of Poker bracelets, one coming from a seven-card stud event in 1998, and the other in deuce-to-seven lowball in 2002. He was named the Norwegian Poker Player of the Year in 2005.

The news hit the poker community hard on Tuesday. Fellow Norwegian poker player Annette Obrestad said the following in a thread at TwoPlusTwo: “I seriously cried when I read [about] this. I don’t know anyone like him. He truly is one of a kind. All the best Thor, ur an inspiration for us all.”

Check out the full thread at TwoPlusTwo.

Watch the World Poker Tour on FSN

Season X of the World Poker Tour is still going strong in the U.S. and across Europe, but the action is already set to hit television screens beginning next month. On Wednesday, the WPT announced that all-new episodes will air on Fox Sports Net beginning on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. local time.

Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten will be back in the booth for the tenth year providing commentary for all 37 episodes of Season X. They will be joined by WPT anchor Kimberly Lansing, Raw Deal analyst Tony Dunst, and the Royal Flush Girls from the sidelines.

“WPT Season IX redefined poker programming and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Season X will see more new elements that we expect the audience will love and will further enhance the timeless appeal of our show,” said WPT CEO Steve Heller. “World Poker Tour’s sustainability is not only a testament to continual innovation, but also to co-hosts Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten, who have been the best in the business for an incredible ten years.”

Read more at PokerNews.com.

More TCOOP Winners

The inaugural PokerStars Turbo Championship of Online Poker passed the halfway point on Tuesday as winners were determined in events 24 through 27. Only 23 tournaments remained going into Wednesday, which featured four more events on the slate.

Here’s a look at the results from Tuesday:

Event #24: Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo($50K Guaranteed)

A large turnout for Event #24 resulted in a prize pool that almost tripled its guarantee. The UK’s “Mongy,” who won TCOOP Event #4 last week, reached another final table on Tuesday. However, the cards did not fall in the Brit’s favor as he hit the rail in eighth place. Switzerland’s “Sir_Don_John,” who final tabled TCOOP Event #14, went on to win this one for $22,127.

Event #25: No Limit Hold’em ($500K Guaranteed)

One of the largest events on the TCOOP schedule attracted more than 3,500 players, leaving $717,800 in prize money up for grabs. A four-way deal at the final table saw all four players walk away with at least $63,600. Mexico’s “wcsquad3″ claimed victory and the top prize of $85,653.

Event #26: Stud ($25K Guaranteed)

Thayer “THAY3R” Rasmussen weaved his way through a field of more than 3,000 players, but the online poker legend fell short of his first TCOOP title, finishing sixth. Canada’s “Poker Own U” claimed victory and a prize of $10,327.

Event #27: No Limit Hold’em 2x Turbo w/ Rebuys ($300K Guaranteed)

Nearly 8,000 players combined to generate a prize pool of $542,780 after the rebuys and add-ons were settled. Brazil’s “Mcolombo” cruised through the final table to collect $82,562 and the commemorative 24k gold-played card protector.

For more details on each event, check out the PokerStars Blog.

A Gift From Tony G.

We reported last week that Shane Warne was having problems with cyclists on the road in Melbourne. As a solution, Tony G. presented a special gift to the legendary cricketer during the Aussie Millions Main Event on Wednesday.

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