News, Reviews And Interviews From Around The Poker World

Florida Introduces Intrastate Online Poker Bill
HB 1441 Would Tax, Regulate Poker

A bill to legalize online poker within the state of Florida was filed in early March as the Florida Legislature became the first state legislature in the country to introduce an online poker bill.

HB 1441, The Internet Poker Consumer Protection and Revenue Generation Act of 2010, would, according to the 42-page bill, “create a framework for the state to regulate Internet poker sites that can ensure consumer protections and additional revenue to the state by authorizing, implementing, and creating a licensing and regulatory structure and system of Internet poker.”

State Rep. Joseph Abruzzo (D-Wellington) filed the bill. He estimates that about 900,000 Florida residents gamble online, and says the bill would generate more than $200 million a year.

Florida is facing a $3.2 billion deficit.

The state would collect revenue by charging a $500,000 fee to one or multiple Internet poker hub operators. The bill also states that each Internet poker hub operator shall pay the state 20 percent of its monthly gross receipts.

Florida’s Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering would supervise intrastate poker.

Poker players would have to be 21 years old and physically present within Florida while playing.

The bill also lays out specific requirements for Internet poker hub operators, licensing requirements, and consumer safeguards.

If passed, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2010.

Tiger Woods Turns Down $75 Million Offer
World’s Richest Athlete Declines New
Sponsorship Opportunity

No matter how many corporate sponsors decide to distance themselves from the embattled Tiger Woods, one thing is perfectly clear — he’s not exactly hurting for money.

That became abundantly clear when Paddy Power, an Irish-based online gaming site, announced in March that the pro golfer had turned down its five-year, $75 million sponsorship offer.

The deal was rejected through Woods’ management company, IMG. Paddy Power has said that it would return with an even better offer.

“Paddy Power remains keen to work with Tiger Woods and will re-engage with IMG,” the company said in a statement. “An enhanced offer will be made, the details of which will remain confidential.”

It is very unlikely that Woods would ever accept such an offer, and a representative for IMG said that it was not seriously considered. PGA rules prohibit players from promoting gambling companies, among other institutions.

Some major corporate sponsors withdrew their support of the global athlete following his recent troubles, when he admitted to “transgressions” after several women claimed to have had affairs with the married athlete. Woods made a public televised apology on Feb. 19.

Iowa Considers
Intrastate Online Poker
Hawkeye State Eyes Another Gaming First

Iowa, like most states across the U.S., is looking for revenue to shore up its state budget.

A bipartisan group of state lawmakers is proposing intrastate poker legislation as a solution.

According to Rep. Doug Struyk (R-Council Bluffs), who is part of a legislative group reviewing statewide gambling issues, 50,000 people in Iowa gamble online.

A proposal being developed by Struyk’s group calls for allowing Iowa residents to deposit money at Iowa’s 17 casinos for use in playing poker online against fellow Iowa residents.

Lawmakers estimate that online poker could bring the state $11.5 million in revenue.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission currently licenses and regulates the 17 commercial casinos in the state.

In the Racing and Gaming Commission’s 2009 annual report, Gregory Seyfer, commission chairman, stated that “the gaming industry once again contributed over $1 billion to the state’s economy, including over $300 million in gaming taxes.”

Iowa was the first state to allow riverboat gaming in the United States.

In 1989, it expanded its Pari-Mutuel Wagering Act — which allowed wagering on horse and dog racing in the state — to include casino riverboat wagering.

In 1991, the first casino opened its doors.

Iowa is currently facing a budget shortfall of more than $400 million.

State projections show that the shortfall could increase to $1 billion next year if statewide revenue — which declined 8.4 percent, or $414.9 million, in 2009 — continues to fall.

Alex Kamberis Becomes
Newest Member of ‘Brunson 10’
Team’s Fifth Member

A former Card Player Online Player of the Year has found a new home with DoylesRoom as the newest member of the “Brunson 10.”

Alex “AJKHoosier1” Kamberis ran away with the Card Player award in 2008, beating runner-up Steve “gboro780” Gross by nearly 1,500 points. In his short career, the 23-year-old has already earned more than $4 million in tournaments, both live and online.

The biggest score of his career came in the 2008 PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) main event; he finished third for $782,542.

Kamberis becomes the fifth member of the Brunson 10, joining Zachary “Crazy Zachary” Clark, Amit “amak316” Makhija, Chris “Moorman1” Moorman, and Dani “ansky” Stern. There are still five male members of the team yet to be determined, and then the site plans on signing two female players in honor of Doyle Brunson’s legendary 10-2 hand that won him two World Series of Poker main-event titles.

For now, though, Texas Dolly is focusing on his newest hire.

“I’m really excited that Alex has decided to come aboard,” Brunson said. “He’s a real class act, just a real nice kid. He’s the type of player that makes us all look forward to the next generation of poker players.”

EPT Berlin Robbed by Gunmen
Armed Men Interrupted Play; No One Injured

Action during day 4 of the PokerStars European Poker Tour Berlin €5,000 no-limit hold’em main event came to an abrupt halt when armed men stormed into the tournament registration area. The robbers were after only cash, and no one was seriously injured at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Berlin.

Players, staff, and media members evacuated the tournament room during the disturbance and returned to a scattered mess of toppled tables and chairs, and chip stacks that were strewn across the tables that were still standing.

Play resumed a few hours later with 20 players remaining in the event.

The cameras of EPT Live were rolling to capture the action at one of the three final tables of the tournament when a commotion and stampede of people were visible in the background. The broadcast was terminated soon thereafter.

No shots were fired, and the suspects quickly fled after a security guard intervened. The police investigation so far has shown that the suspects had a handgun and a machete.

American online pro Kevin MacPhee wound up taking down the tournament and the €1 million first-place prize. In a TV interview after his win, he described the ambush from his perspective: “We heard some screaming and some yelling. We weren’t really sure what was going on. Then, I just saw a wave of people head for the back exit. There was a lot of panic, and the TV stage started to collapse. When that started to happen, all of the players kind of got up to see what was happening. It was definitely one of the craziest days I’ve been a part of.”