Inside Straight -- News

Commerce Tournament Attracts Nearly 4,000 Players
The Largest Outside the WSOP
By Stephen A. Murphy

Commerce Casino needed three starting days to accommodate the masses, but when the dust cleared, it had made history. The casino hosted the largest non-World Series of Poker live tournament ever in September, welcoming 3,967 players to its $220 buy-in event at its new Hold’em Series.

“Commerce was jam-packed,” said Tournament Director Matt Savage. “It shows that a little creativity and an opportunity for a second chance at hundreds of thousands of dollars can reinvigorate poker.

The “second chance” that Savage referred to was Commerce’s decision to allow players who busted out of the tournament on day 1A or day 1B to pay another $220 to be able to play on a subsequent day 1.

The tournament featured a $500,000 guarantee, but that was easily surpassed, as the prize pool ended up being $753,730. Moshe Mashiah won the event, and took home $164,627. With the robust starting field, 369 players made the money.

Even including WSOP events, this event still ranks seventh all-time in terms of number of entrants for a live poker tournament.

Man Wins Ladies Event at Borgata Poker Open
Runner-Up Nicole Rowe Uses Winnings to Battle Breast Cancer
By Julio Rodriguez

Nicole Rowe entered a “ladies-only” event at the Borgata Poker Open, hoping for a leisurely distraction from the hardship of having been diagnosed with breast cancer recently.

During the two-day tournament, she weaved her way through a field of 269 players and found herself at the final table. When all was said and done, she was the last woman standing, but she did not win the event. That distinction went to Abraham Korotki of Ventnor City, New Jersey, who entered the tournament despite very vocal objections from both the players and Borgata management.

“I got tired of going home early,” said Korotki, who had just been knocked out of another event when he decided to register. “I hadn’t had enough poker time.”

Korotki got plenty of “poker time” en route to the ladies final table, where he defeated Rowe heads up for the title. Rowe earned $11,889 for second place, while Korotki won $20,982.

Rowe, who is scheduled to undergo a double mastectomy, was disappointed with the finish, but had no problem keeping it all in perspective. “It doesn’t matter,” she said. “It was 16 hours of being cancer-free, a diversion from my reality.”

The New Windsor, New York, resident has pledged $500 of her winnings to breast cancer research, and will use the rest to help cover her expenses while recovering from surgery.

Objections and dirty looks aside, Korotki was considerate in victory, congratulating his opponents and pledging a portion of his winnings to Rowe’s cause.

Men entering ladies-only events is nothing new. Most states have banned casinos from applying sex-based discrimination to their poker tournaments, but a polite request not to enter is usually honored by male cardroom patrons.

Kahnawake Releases Final Decision Regarding UB Poker Scandal
1994 World Series of Poker Champion Russ Hamilton “Primarily Responsible”
By Stephen A. Murphy

On Sept. 21, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission released its final decision regarding the UltimateBet cheating scandal that surfaced nearly two years ago.

“In total, the Commission’s investigation revealed 23 accounts that had a total of 117 usernames that were used by the responsible individual(s) to facilitate the cheating incidents,” the report stated. “The incidences of cheating began in June 2003 and continued until December 2007.”

As for the individuals involved in the scandal, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission wrote:

“The available evidence shows that Russell Hamilton, an individual previously associated with eWorld Holdings Group, was primarily responsible for and benefited from the multiple cheating incidences. The vast majority of the computer devices and IP addresses used by the cheating accounts were directly associated with Russell Hamilton.”

Hamilton first rose to fame in the poker world after winning the 1994 World Series of Poker main event.

The report listed all of the usernames involved, but none of the actual names of any individuals other than Hamilton. It did state, “The Commission has provided extensive information to law enforcement authorities, including the names of 31 individuals who were associated, to varying degrees, with Russell Hamilton, the cheating accounts and/or transactions related to the cheating accounts.”

The report did not identify which specific law enforcement authorities it notified.

Harrah’s Chooses 888 for Online Poker and Gaming Brands
Popular UK Site’s Stock Soars on Day of Announcement
By Stephen A. Murphy

888 is a number and a company that all online poker players should start getting familiar with, because they will likely be seeing it much more in the years ahead.

Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment announced on Sept. 11 that it had signed a long-term contract with 888 Holdings Plc to provide online gaming services, support services, and payment software to the World Series of Poker and Caesars Casino brands in the UK.

888 is the second-largest online gambling company in the UK.

“This is a ground-breaking deal for 888, and demonstrates our ability to provide real value to globally renowned land-based casinos and their leading brands,” said 888 CEO Gigi Levy. The company’s stock rose 14 percent on the day of the announcement, the biggest jump for 888 since last December.

Mitch Garber, Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment’s CEO, spoke highly of his new partner.

“As we develop and roll out our interactive strategy, we have chosen to work with 888, primarily for their world-class technology, scalability, and a strong commitment to compliance and responsible gaming,” said Garber.

It’s another significant step toward online gaming for the casino giant that owns and operates nearly 50 casinos worldwide. The company has lobbied for Rep. Barney Frank’s recent legislation, which would explicitly legalize and regulate the online poker industry.

While this deal was established initially for the UK, 888 has begun investing in business-to-business services in preparation for a possible return to the United States.

South Carolina Poker Players Win Their Appeal
Judge Says Poker Doesn’t Qualify as Gambling Under State Law
By Stephen A. Murphy

A circuit judge recently reversed the conviction of five poker players who were found guilty of illegal gambling, saying the law was “unconstitutionally vague and overbroad.”

“It’s such a surreal feeling that we won this thing. What makes me really happy about it is now we’re going to be able to play Texas hold’em in our state without the fear of repercussions,” said Bob Chimento, one of the defendants. “This brings poker into the 21st century in our state.”

Circuit Judge R. Markley Dennis Jr. wrote that it was clear to him that poker is “a game of skill,” as opposed to “a game of chance,” and therefore did not constitute gambling under South Carolina law.

“When faced with the issue, it is my opinion that the S.C. Supreme Court will likely adopt the ‘dominate factor test,’” Dennis wrote. “Under the dominate factor test, Texas hold’em is not gaming or gambling.”

That’s why Dennis said the municipal court decision, which found the players guilty, “must be reversed.”

The case is the result of a 2006 raid in which authorities arrested nearly two dozen people who were playing in a $20 Texas hold’em home tournament.
Mount Pleasant prosecutor Ira Grossman has all but guaranteed that the government would appeal the ruling.

An appeal would likely go to the South Carolina Court of Appeals, although the South Carolina Supreme Court could decide to take up the case before the Court of Appeals hears it, since the case deals with a state constitutional issue.