Monday, November 09, 2009

Viva Elvis, the Cirque du Soleil Tribute to Elvis, Opens in Las Vegas Next Month

Cirque du Soleil will open their tribute to the King of Rock and Roll, Viva Elvis, at the brand new City Center in Las Vegas next month. The much-awaited show is inspired by Presley’s 1965 film Viva Las Vegas.

Viva Elvis will be one of the opening acts in the Las Vegas Casino’s new theatre at the Aria Casino and Resort in MGM Mirage’s CityCenter complex that opens on 16 December.

The show is created in the image of The King of Rock n Roll -- powerful, sexy, whimsical, truly unique and larger than life-the show highlights an American icon who transformed popular music.

Incredible Cirque acrobatics combine in scenes and music in one of the most untraditional tributes to Presley ever made. Rumour on the Strip is that, in one scene, an Elvis impressionist is crushed by a giant blue suede shoe.

Cirque de Soleil sources say the performers traveled to Graceland to “conduct research for the show”.

The Los Angeles Times reported that choreographer Vincent Paterson, who is directing the show, said it is an abstract biography of Elvis Presley that will incorporate some acting moments spoken in English.

Tickets are not yet on sale.

Virgin Poker Renews Contract with GTECH G2’s International Poker Network

British Poker site has been part of IPN since 2005 – signs up for another 3 years

GTECH G2 has renewed its contract with VirginPoker.com to supply the online poker site with its games software and player management system. VirginPoker.com is part of the Virgin Group and has been one of the most popular poker rooms in the International Poker Network (IPN) since it joined 2005.

With well over three million poker players, the International Poker Network is the world’s largest independent poker network. It is operated by GTECH G2 and managed by GTECH G2 St Minver, one of the four igaming companies acquired by lottery industry giant GTECH to form its
interactive gaming division.

One of the world’s most recognized brands, Virgin Poker has been part of the IPN since 2005. Attracting players from around the world, Virgin Poker offers seven different poker games including multi-table and Sit&Go tournaments and is also the host of the annual Virgin Poker Festival.

"Having a blue-chip client like Virgin renew their commitment with us is a terrific endorsement of the investment we have made in our product and, together with our partners, our success in building further liquidity on the IPN," said Atul Bali, CEO, GTECH G2.

Simon Burridge, Chief Executive of Virgin Games, says “Virgin Games is very happy to extend our partnership. Since our launch in 2005 we have seen good growth in the UK poker market and we look forward to continued progress, moving forward with GTECH G2 and the IPN´”

The IPN recently awarded a Bad Beat jackpot of nearly half a million dollars and hosts a €100,000 Guaranteed Freeroll Tournament every Sunday. At any given time there are nearly 10,000 players on the network playing at more than 1500 tables.

“There are many advantages in a large network like ours,” said Tony Ure, Head of IPN, GTECH G2.  “With so many players, there’s a table for every kind of player and they’re always busy.  Our liquidity allows us to provide big jackpots and to host €10,000, €100,000 and even €1,000,000 guaranteed free rolls.”

GTECH G2 IPN Poker Network Player Wins €210,000 Bad Beat Jackpot

Europe’s largest independent poker network takes the sting out of losing with a good hand


The International Poker Network (IPN) Bad Beat Jackpot has hit at an amazing €601,370 (almost $900,000), meaning a fortunate player won over €210,000. The hand in question was Quad 8’s beaten by Quad Queens, on a €0.50/€1 No Limit Table. “Roger2010”, the loser of the hand but winner of the Bad Beat Jackpot, won €210,508.50, whilst “(o1nfl1p”, the winner of the hand, won €105,254.25. The other players at the table each got €15,036.32. With a Jackpot requirement starting at Quad 6's, this is the easiest Progressive BBJ to hit on any poker site. The new Jackpot is already over €120,000.

“We boosted the Jackpot last week so that the next winner would get at least €100,000,” said Per Karlsson, Head of Poker GTECH G2. “As the total Jackpot went over €600K we had a feeling it was about to be hit!”

The IPN Bad Beat Jackpot was last hit in August for $412,000. That winner wasn’t even aware he’d won it until someone else at the table pointed it out to him. He thought he’d just lost the pot despite having a great hand, which is frustrating for any poker player.

To qualify for the Bad Beat at IPN poker rooms, players must be at a designated Bad Beat table and use both pocket cards in their winning or losing hand. The losing hand must be four-of-a-kind sixes or better, the lowest qualifying requirement of any poker network. Four or more players must be dealt into the hand.

GTECH G2 is the igaming division of lottery industry giant, GTECH. It combines the software development and customer management expertise of Boss Media, Finsoft, Dynamite Idea and St Minver and operates the International Poker Network and International Bingo Network.