Further, some online casinos and bookies have claimed they are already paying out to bettors who wagered on Obama this year.

In Britain and Ireland, where political gambling is legal, bookmakers are so sure Barack Obama will win the United States Presidency, they have installed an early line for 2012. Further, some online casinos and bookies have claimed they are already paying out to bettors who wagered on Obama this year.

The odds between Obama and John McCain had grown fairly close in mid-September, but the sudden developments in the economic crisis gave Obama gamblers a boost, and polls now show Obama having a sizable lead.

Now the most the bookmakers will offer is a bet on whether Obama will capture more than 370 electoral votes, 100 more than is needed for victory. And even then, the odds are 7-4 in favor.

Obama is listed as a 2-3 favorite by Paddy Power, better than even money, to win the election in 2012. Mitt Romney is considered the most likely challenger, and is given a 7-1 chance of being chosen President in 2012. Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and John McCain are the next three selections.

William Hill also sees Obama as the favorite, albeit at even money. They list Clinton, Romney, McCain, Evan Bayh, and Palin in that order.

While McCain continues to fight in states considered borderline between parties, polls show an erosion of support for the Republican Senator in states that normally go for the GOP candidate. Further, Obama has used a huge financial advantage to deluge swing voters with ads and calls in recent days.

Online casino patrons and gambling enthusiasts have been left to guess which way they should hope the election goes. The Democratic Party is generally far more supportive of a legal and regulated online gambling industry, but John McCain personally seems committed to the pro-gambling side.

Published on November 1, 2008 by PrestonLewis

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Records set as players return on the hunt for the biggest prize in ANZPT history.

A cool quarter of a million for the one who reaches the top of the podium this week. First place prize is set at $261,200 and it's serious business here as the action gets back underway.

Yesterday we saw records broken as a total of 520 players pulled up seats to set the prize pool at $1,066,000 for the last-ever ANZPT event. With an all-time high for field size and money up for grabs we're certainly ending the ANZPT's seven-year legacy in fine form.

It's been a frantic start as players found their newly allocated seats for the 12:30pm start. The plan is to play down to the money tonight, with at least seven levels of poker guaranteed. That means the 241 Day 2 qualifiers will be whittled down to 63, with those lucky enough to make it locking up at least a $3,200 payday.

Leading the way as play began was South Korea's Hyeong Wook Choi who started with an impressive 131,100 in chips. Choi emerged as the chip boss into Day 1b yesterday and continued scooping pots to cement that lead before play concluded.

Choi already has four live cashes on Australia soil but his biggest score to date came last year with an APT Manila Main Event appearance. Ultimately finishing fourth Choi pocketed $35,300 and looks well on his way to potentially besting that here at ANZPT Melbourne.

Following the chip leader is fellow South Korean and Day 1A end-of-day chip leader Min Jae Park. Currently second in chips Park began with 118,500. Just behind him is Danny Boxell with a stack of 107,100. Son of Australian Poker Hall of Famer Leo Boxell, he'll be looking to follow in his father's footsteps and find a deep run.

Others still in contention include Team PokerStars Pro Chen-an Lin (60,900), James Obst (22,100), Tristan Bain (85,200), Billy 'The Croc' Argyros (33,500), James Rann (40,100), Raiden Kan (17,300), Anthony Legg (21,300), Luke Brabin (94,200), Sam Razavi (11,700) Michael Kanaan (25,800), Stevan Chew (58,700), Jackie Glazier (10,100), Manny Stavropoulos (59,800), Dean Blatt (43,800) and Tony Hachem (30,100).

Team PokerStars Pro Chen-an Lin is still in the running

We'll see who can survive here as we approach the bubble this afternoon. We're expecting another great day of action at Crown Melbourne and we'll be following every minute of it.

You can find all the stories from the day right here on the PokerStars Blog while the team at PokerNews have all your live reporting needs!

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PartyPoker, the online poker brand of bwin.party, has announced that players withdrawing funds via most banking options will no longer face processing fees.

Customers withdrawing funds via popular banking methods such as Mastercard, Visa and PayPal were previously faced with processing fees.

However, writing on the PartyPoker blog, director of games Golan Shaked said that after listening to feedback from players, the operator will halt these fees.

“When we started our ‘Poker for the People’ campaign, withdrawal fees and our loyalty store were the two hottest topics raised at our live player forums,” Shaked said.

“Our poker team has been working hard and we’re really pleased to have addressed these two issues, but there’s still work to be done.

“We want to be the online poker site that champions what players want and we’re up for the challenge of making our players’ experience the best it can be.

“We are now looking at ways to eliminate withdrawal fees from the small number of payment processors who currently charge a premium for their services.”

Meanwhile, PartyPoker has also confirmed that paysafecard is to replace rival Ukash as the online payment provider for the brand.

As reported by iGaming Business, last month it was confirmed that the Ukash brand was to be replaced by paysafecard on a wider scale following its takeover by Skrill.

More at iGaming Business

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We're in the money!

And we're drawing close to crowning an ACOP Main Event champion and awarding the HK$5,885,000 (~$759,000) first place prize.

The ACOP Players Party was over and it was back to business today at PokerStars LIVE Macau. The day started with a charity tournament in the poker room before the Main Event got back into full swing.

Only 23 players now remain after another six levels of play. It was an action-packed day before things almost grinded to a halt as the bubble approached. Those still in the hunt were desperately trying to lock up a HK$193,000 (~$24,900) payday.

The bubble finally burst in a hand that saw Andy Chan make an ill-timed jam. The action folded around to him and he pushed for his last 81,000 in chips. Sergey Lebedev looked down at K♥Q♥ in the big blind and made the call. Chan was clearly frustrated with his Q♦9♠ dominated and the prospect of bubbling likely. The board would come down T♥6♣6♠A♣2♥ and Chan would find the exit one shy of a return on his investment.

We would then see four more eliminations before play concluded. One of those was Team PokerStars Pro Bryan Huang who failed to win a flip against Raymond Wu. Huang's fellow teammate Isaac Haxton also hit the rail earlier in the day, leaving Mikhail Shalamov as the lone survivor for the PokerStars Pros. Shalamov will return tomorrow as the second shortest stack with an even 100,000.

One who isn't struggling in the stack department, however, is our new chip leader Connor Drinan. The American was enjoying a wine or six but that didn't stop him from amassing 861,000 throughout the day. Drinan already has some impressive live results to his name, the biggest of which for $3,225,000 when he finished 3rd in the Super High Roller Ball earlier this year.

Connor Drinan had a great day at the table

Hot on Drinan's heels is the reigning APPT Macau Main Event champion Tony Cheng who bagged up 835,000 in chips. And closing out the podium is the USA's Patrick Mahoney who will take 820,000 into Day 4.

Joining them tomorrow will be Tom Alner (341,000), Yuguang Li (249,000), Christoph Vogelsang (228,000), Thomas Ward (195,000), Steve O'Dwyer (174,000), Raymond Wu (163,000), Russell Thomas (141,000) and Matthew Wakeman (126,000).

ACOP Main Event Day 3 Top Ten

Connor Drinan (Mexico) - 861,000
Tony Yat Wai Cheng (Hong Kong) - 835,000
Patrick Mahoney (USA) - 820,000
Qi Luo (China) - 515,000
Paul Tedeschi (France) - 490,000
Sergey Lebedev (Russia) - 486,000
Shunu Zang (China) - 443,000
Tom Alner (UK) - 341,000
Zhou Zhou (China) - 334,000
Nan Tu (China) - 293,000

Now players will rest up before the penultimate day tomorrow. Then we'll see 23 become six for our official final table. Be sure to join us as we push towards crowning a new champion!

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Published on August 22, 2013 by April Gardner

Wynn Resorts owner and founder Steve Wynn has been one of the most vocal voices in pushing for Internet gambling regulations around the US. Wynn's gaming empire includes top casino resorts not only in the US, but also in gaming mecca Macau.

Now, Wynn Resorts is ready to bring their brand to the Internet, and they are targeting the latest state to regulate online gambling. On Thursday, Wynn announced that they have submitted an application for an Internet gaming license in New Jersey.

The application process in New Jersey has been smooth, with over 25 companies applying for the valuable certificates. Wynn, it would seem, would have the inside track with their track record of operating some of the most well-recognized casinos in the world.

"It comes as no surprise that Wynn Resorts has applied for an Internet license in New Jersey," said analyst Trevor Cambs. "Steve Wynn has been a proponent of Internet gambling, and has been at the forefront of some of the most historic developments within the gaming industry. This is just the next step for the company to continue their dominance within the industry."

The New Jersey application is considered by some to be a reach for Wynn Resorts. Regulators have already said that gaming owners operating casinos in Atlantic City will have the first opportunity to receive Internet gaming licenses. Wynn Resorts does not have any casino facilities in New Jersey.

While Nevada and Delaware have also regulated online gambling in recent years, New Jersey is predicted to be the crown jewel within the industry. Analysts have predicted that New Jersey online casinos could generate up to $1 billion each year. In comparison, the estimated revenue from Nevada online casinos is just shorty of $250 million.

"In Nevada, much of their gaming business comes from travelers visiting Las Vegas," said Cambs. "There is not as big a market for online casinos as there is in New Jersey. The key to how much revenue is generated could lie in how these states work together to share customers."

Federal law prohibits Internet gambling to cross state lines, but New Jersey and Nevada have included laws in their gaming regulations that leaves the door open for the two states to eventually work together and share customers. Federal lawmakers are also busy working on legislation that would regulate Internet gambling on a national level.

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What a week it's been here for the ANZPT7 Melbourne Main Event!

Records broken, history made and after four days of play at Crown Melbourne a champion has emerged. Ultimately is was Lin Shi who reigned triumphant, overcoming Peter Matusik in a short heads up battle late into Level 29.

Our ANZPT7 Melbourne champion - Lin Shi

Shi started heads up as the overwhelming chip leader and it didn't take him long to seal the deal. The final hand saw Shi limp from the button for 100,000 and Matusik check his option in the big blind. Both players quickly checked on the 9♥J♣T♣ flop before the dealer turned the Q♣.

At that point Matusik lead for 350,000 and Shi pushed all in over the top with enough to cover his opponent. Matusik gave a shrug and called off for his tournament life.

"Do you have a flush?" Shi asked before seeing he had Matusik Drawing dead.

Shi: A♥K♥
Matusik: Q♦8♦

Matusik had flopped a straight but the turn saw Shi overtake him with Broadway. With the bottom end of the straight there was no way Matusik could catch up as the inconsequential 2♠ rolled off. So close to winning himself a second ANZPT title, Matusik would have to settle for a $174,489 payday.

Peter Matusik (left) before his elimination

Before the two heads up players found themselves in the final battle for glory, things got off to a flying start earlier in the day.

The first to find the exit was Mile Krstanoski not long after play began. He got his money in with Q♣Q♦ against the A♣K♦ of Lin Shi but wasn't able to fade the overcards. Shi would flop top two pair and hold to eliminate Krstanoski in ninth place.

9th place - Mile Krstanoski

Next out the door was George Balandinos when he found himself all in and at risk with pocket eights against Peter Matusik's pocket nines. The flop would bring Matusik top set and Balandinos exited eighth for $26,650. Following Balandinos was seventh place finisher Carl Knox who, after being crippled in a flip with Nicolce Trajkovski, got his last two big blinds in three-way with K♥Q♠ but came up short against Shi.

Erich Stadler would finish sixth after a bad beat from Manny Stavropoulos left him heading to the cashier. Stadler got his shortstack all in good with A♠K♦ and Stavropoulos called off from the big blind with A♥6♣. Stavropoulos would ultimately find a six on the river to scoop the pot and send Stadler to the rail.

6th place - Erich Stadler

Joining Stadler was Kenn Langcake who finished fifth after running his A♠K♥ into the K♠K♦ of Matusik. Langcake couldn't improve and received $55,965 for his efforts here this week. It would take about an hour and a half for the next player to fall, but Nikolce Trajkovski was eliminated by a nasty river after calling his shortstack off with ace-high for his tournament life.

It was over an hour into three-handed play when whispers of a deal began. Eventually those remaining would look at the numbers and in the end an agreement was reached. An ICM chop was decided upon with $20,000 and the trophy put aside to play for. The deal saw chip leader at the time Matusik lock up $174,489, Stravropoulos guaranteed himself $171,910, and Shi ensure a $150,641 return.

Of these three it was Stavropoulos who fell by the wayside before heads up play began. He exited in spectacular fashion after a preflop flip with Shi lead to his opponent turning a Royal Flush. It was a fair fight with Stavropoulos holding 3♥3♦ against Shi's A♣Q♣ but he couldn't avoid elimination on the J♣7♥T♣K♣Q♥ run out.

3rd place - Manny Stavropoulos

In the end Shi used those newly accumulated chips to put the pressure on Matusik and finish things off. After the deal with the $20,000 first place bonus Shi earns himself $170,641 and the last-ever ANZPT Main Event title.

ANZPT7 Melbourne Final Table Results
1st: Lin Shi (Australia) - $170,641*
2nd: Peter Matusik (Australia) - $174,489*
3rd: Manny Stavropoulos (Australia) - $171,910*
4th: Nikolce Trajkovski (Australia) - $71,960
5th: Kenn Langcake (Australia) - $55,965
6th: Erich Stadler (New Zealand) - $45,305
7th: Carl Knox (New Zealand) - $34,650
8th: George Balandinos (Australia) - $26,650
9th: Mile Krstanoski (Australia) - $19,120

* indicates a three-handed deal

It was a record 520 player field and $1,066,000 prize pool for the last ANZPT Main Event ever - what a way to end this seven-year legacy! Congratulations to Lin Shi and thank you for joining our coverage of ANZPT7 Melbourne.

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