February 17 2011, Elaine Chaivarlis

If you’re looking for the top poker news stories of the day, you’ve come to the right place. In tonight’s Nightly Turbo, we’ve got the schedule for the Federated Sports + Gaming’s Poker League, and we’ll tell you who’s playing on Full Tilt again after being banned. Read on for more.

In Case You Missed It

The PokerNews Live Reporting Team was in Tunica, Mississippi, for the World Series of Poker Circuit earlier this week. We’re sure you followed the Main Event coverage, but here’s a look at results from the preliminary events.

The European Poker Tour Copenhagen is just around the corner. Headed to Denmark’s capital for the event, but don’t know what to do when you get there (besides play poker)? Lynn Gilmartin is here to help with the latest edition of Around the World with Lynn.

The end is near for the 19th installment of the Full Tilt Online Poker Series. Check out the results from this week’s events.

Ashton Griffin’s latest prop bet has sparked a little debate at PokerNews HQ. Is Prop Betting Good for Poker?

Federated Sports + Gaming’s Poker League Schedule Released

The schedule for the first season of the professional poker league that was announced in January by Federated Sports + Gaming has just been released. Every event will take place at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Four events are on the schedule, along with a championship event. Each “event week” includes three tournaments: a Pro-Am event, a charity tournament, and the Main Event which is a $20,000 buy-in. The four Main Events will feature different variants of no-limit Texas hold’em.

“We decided to vary the format of our events to showcase and challenge the skill of the best live tournament players in the world,” Annie Duke, Commissioner of the new Federated League, said. “Our Pro-Am events will create opportunities for break-out stars to shine.”

Players who don’t qualify for a league card will be able to qualify for a seat in the Main Event. Each event week will begin with a $1,500 Pro-Am event that will be open to all players 21 years of age or older. The top nine players from that event will awarded a temporary league card.

“Because the Main Events have four or more days to play down to a winner from a start of approximately 200 players, we believe it will offer the best, most friendly structures for the skilled player out there,” Duke said. “Great structures, no rake and generous overlays are integral to our celebration of the best live tournament players in the world.”

2011-2012 Federated Sports and Gaming Season 1 Tournament Schedule

For more, read the press release at FederatedInc.com.

Back on Tilt

Sorel Mizzi was permanently banned from Full Tilt Poker in late 2007. If you don’t know the story, it was revealed that he had taken over the account of Chris Vaughn late in the Full Tilt $1 Million Guarantee and then went on to win it. Soon after, both Vaughn and Mizzi were banned from Full Tilt Poker.

It seems as though Mizzi’s ban has been lifted and he is back at the Full Tilt Poker tables, playing under his screen name, “Imper1um.” Wednesday night, Mizzi tweeted, “19/25 in FTOPS #33 $300Rebuy- already won a ton in prop bets seeing if I can close big on first day back on FTP.” Imper1um ended up finishing in 24th place.

PokerKingBlog.com has more.

LAPT Announces Chile National Poker Championship

The PokerStars.net Latin American Poker Tour has announced its return Viña del Mar for the fourth season of the LAPT. The LAPT did not make it to Chile in season three due to the devastating earthquake that struck the country. The $1,100 buy-in LAPT Chile National Poker Championship will take place March 17 through 20 at the Enjoy Viña del Mar Hotel & Casino.

“It feels great to be returning to Chile. Poker has grown since we were last here and we look forward to helping it grow even more. Our partnership with the Enjoy Group, the leading live poker operator in Chile, is very strong, and we are looking forward to an exceptional tournament,” President of the LAPT, David Carrion said.

There are five events on the LAPT Chile docket with a wide range of buy-ins including a $4,000 High Roller event.

“This will be the second LAPT to take place in Viña del Mar, and we are very proud to bring this type of event to Chile. We believe this is a great opportunity to give our players a chance to take place in a tournament of high calibre and worldwide recognition, providing a significant push to the development of tourism within the region,” Juan Pablo Covacevich, gaming marketing manager of the Enjoy Group said.

Sign up for a PokerStars account and qualify for your seat at one of the LAPT events!

On the Big Screen

Beth Raymer’s memoir Lay the Favorite is being adapted to film and some well-known stars are attaching their names to the project. The best-seller is the personal story of Raymer about her rise from a Las Vegas cocktail waitress to a top sports gambling bookmaker.

Bruce Willis has already signed on to play the role of Dink, an ex-New York bookmaker who becomes Raymer’s mentor. Raymer will be played by Rebecca Hall. You may recognize her from 2010′s The Town. Rumor has it that Justin Timberlake and Catherine Zeta-Jones have also accepted roles — Timeberlake as Rosie, a Long Island bookmaker, and Zeta-Jones as Tulip, Dink’s wife.

MovieWeb.com has more.

Welcome to Sao Paulo!

The PokerNews Live Reporting Team is in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for the first stop on season four of the Latin American Poker Tour. While we’re here sitting in our offices, Lynn Gilmartin got to tour the city that she and a number of poker players and poker media will be calling home for the next few days. Maybe we’re a little jealous, but at least we didn’t get rained on.

Get your PokerNews Live Reporting fix by following all the action from Sao Paulo.

Are you following us on Twitter? Go follow us now. While you’re at it, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t like us on Facebook.

We have just announced three more $15,000 Sunday Million Freerolls with PokerStars, with $1,000 to the winner and 260 tournament tickets, including 45 Sunday Million Tickets on offer.

February 11 2011, Elaine Chaivarlis

If you’re anything like us, you’re scrambling for a last-minute Valentine’s Day gift, so we’re not going to dilly-dally today. You came looking for the news, and that’s what you’ll get. On top of remembering that heart-shaped box of chocolates, don’t forget that the World Poker Tour IX begins airing this weekend. Also, you should know that one of online poker legislation’s opponents is retiring. Read on to find out more, and have a great weekend!

In Case You Missed It

The 10th Annual European Poker Awards are being held this weekend in Paris. We’re pretty sure you want a look at the categories and nominees, so here’s a preview and our picks for you.

The World Series of Poker Circuit stop in Tunica, Mississippi, this month will mark the halfway point of the 2010/2011 schedule. Check out who has qualified for the $1 million freeroll that will take place in May.

Mindset coach extraordinaire Sam Chauhan will be working with the Full Tilt Poker Academy to create a mindset training program. In our latest PokerNews Interview, we talked to him about the program, his clients, and his recent signing with Full Tilt Poker.

Because one PokerNews Podcast this week just wasn’t enough, we brought you two. Here’s the latest PokerNews Podcast featuring Ashton Griffin discussing his insane prop bet and the mysterious and newly minted Team PokerStars Online member, Mer “PeachyMer” Brit.

Checking out the high-stakes online poker action is fun, but you could probably do without sifting through all the information. Lucky for you, the Online Railbird Report does it for you.

World Poker Tour Returns to Television Sets

We can’t count how many times we’ve told you about the new and improved World Poker Tour, and quite frankly, we’re too lazy to count. If you don’t know anything about it, here are some key things you should know: Kimberly Lansing is returning and will be the show’s anchor, handling interviews, etc. Tony Dunst has a spot on the show, hosting the Raw Deal segment in which he picks apart the action, and, of course, who could forget the Royal Flush Girls, the new brand ambassadors of the show.

If you haven’t been able to make it to a World Poker Tour stop this season, you’ll be able to catch all the changes on your television sets beginning this Sunday, Feb. 13, at 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. local time on FSN.

The broadcast is taking a new approach, including coverage from Day 1 action, to show you how the final six made it to the final table, a four-color deck will be implemented, as well as new stats on the players, and new theme music from NFL Flims’ Emmy-Award winning Tom Hedden.

“As Season IX rolls out, fans will find all the great poker action they’ve come to expect with a new, faster-paced, edgier tone,” Steve Heller, CEO of World Poker Tour said. “We are introducing new elements, graphics and talent throughout the season. Each week viewers are guaranteed to see something unexpected and uniquely WPT.”

Be sure to check your local listings so you don’t miss out on the new show, and if you want to find out more, head on over to WorldPokerTour.com.

Senator Kyl Talks About the Future

Senator Jon Kyl announced on Thursday that he won’t run for re-election. Kyl is one of the biggest opponents to online poker legislation. He was a big supporter of 2006′s Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and has tried to pass other bills that would outlaw online gambling.

“I’d really like to do something where I still have the ability to be involved in public policy in some way,” Kyl said. “I’m not going to give up politics I’ll still be supporting candidates running for office, helping them raise money and that sort of thing,” Kyl told Arizona’s ABC15.

Read more about Kyl’s future plans on ABC15.com.

Ongame Network to be Sold

After the end of the current quarter, the Bwin and PartyGaming merger will go into effect. According to a Bwin spokesman in an article on the eGaming Review, after the merger, the Ongame Network will likely amount to “surplus assets” and will either be sold or offered to strategic partners to take a stake. The spokesman confirmed that Ongame was part of the assets that were referred to in the merger as “no longer needed,” and could potentially be sold to “generate revenue which can subsquently be reinvested.”

The spokesman said the companies were not in a hurry to sell the network and could possibly wait and see how legislation goes on the U.S. front in hopes that they could maximize value for shareholders.

“We understand that that the American gaming industry wants online poker regulated, as they want access to that revenue stream. Regulatory developments in the US would raise interest in these assets. But we haven’t yet established any firm deadline, and will look at all options,” he said.

EGRMagazine.com has more.

UKIPT Nottingham Kicks Off

The PokerStars UK and Ireland Poker Tour Nottingham kicked off at the Dusk Till Dawn club for the second stop on the second season of the tour. Liv Boeree, Kevin MacPhee, and David Vamplew were among the 491 players who ponied up £500 and entered Day 1a. It’s highly possible that the field for this event breaks the U.K.’s record for largest tournament field, but we’ll have to wait and see how many players turn up Saturday for Day 1b.

If you want to check up on the updates, you can head on over the PokerStars Blog.

Pay for School Through GR88.com

GR88.com is giving students a fun way to make money to pay for their tuition. The GR88 University Poker Championship will host a weekly free online poker tournament in which students from around the world can participate. There will be cash prizes awarded weekly, and players will be able to qualify for the Grand Finale. Those who qualify will have a shot at $9,000 in tuition along with a trip to Los Angeles to celebrate with 2010 Playboy Playmate of the Year, Hope Dworaczyk.

“It’s the fact that it costs absolutely nothing, no catch, no strings attached. Players can come to www.gr88.com/campus, play for free, win a weekly cash prize and qualify for the University Poker Championship finale. Where else can you win $9000 cash toward you tuition, and party with a playmate of the year in one of the coolest cities in the world,” GR88.com poker room manager, Jacob Locutis said.

If you want to find out more, check out GR88.com.

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