ME Awards nomination recognizes Slotland.com’s pioneering contribution to mobile gambling
The world’s most popular slot machine web site has been selected as one of five finalists in the ME Awards “Best Mobile Gambling” category. Slotland.com began offering their popular online games on mobile phones and PDAs last September and is already recognized as a leader in the new field of mobile gambling.
Mobile Entertainment Magazine, which produces the Mobile Entertainment (ME) Awards to honour excellence among those that provide content for mobile devices, announced this week that Slotland.com has been short listed by a group of industry experts as one of the top five mobile gambling providers in the world. The winner will be announced at a gala reception in London, UK September 19, 2006.
If you’re under thirty-five, and especially if you’re North American and/or female, you might think of that Nokia the kids talked you into buying as merely a phone. But if you’re young, male and European, your mobile has probably become an everyday portable entertainment device replacing everything from your MP3 player to your video games. In 2002, when the first Nokia colour phone with Java entered the market, visionaries at Slotland.com recognized an opportunity to be key players in the birth of a totally new entertainment platform. Already leaders in online entertainment, they were uniquely positioned to bring the experience of the web to phones and PDAs. In many important demographic respects, mobile is a whole new game, requiring the company to adapt. But one thing this company knows after providing online entertainment for eight years is that players have an insatiable appetite for new games and that those games have to be unique. The company has opted to develop its own proprietary games and systems so that they can set priorities based on what they know players want.
“We are excited to be one of the pioneers of mobile gambling and strive to emerge as one of the leaders in mobile games in terms of quality and uniqueness of our games, customer service, security and banking, as opposed to sheer quantity of games and services,” said Martin Smith, Slotland.com’s Mobile Games Manager. “This has always been our goal in the web-based gaming and we are sticking to it in the mobile games arena as well.”
”We don’t want to be the 101st vendor offering the same content as the previous hundred. Our games and related services are world-wide unique, they are simply not available from other operators,” adds Smith. “What we have learned in the past is that customers value our uniqueness.”
The award for Best Gambling Company will be given to a company that has created a downloadable gambling game or set up a server platform for handling billing and player registrations – or both. Other categories, such as Best Adult Services Company, Best Music Label, and Best Video & TV Service Provider show that on the new mobile entertainment platform content is king. However, the list of awards also includes Best Handset Company and Best Payment/Billing Provider.
Slotland.com is being recognized in part for the resources they have devoted to developing games for the mobile platform – a daunting task since each game has to be re-designed for every phone model – but also because Slotland.com is a different kind of company.
“Our players choose to play with us because they know we are constantly designing new and better games for them, because they know they can trust us, and because we give award-winning customer service,” said Hannah Morante of Slotland.com. “But they also know how we support amateur sports around the world, and that we’ve built a wonderful new school in an impoverished African village. We’re a different kind of company in that respect.”
Juniper Research estimates the current mobile gambling market to be worth approximately $315 million worldwide and forecasts that the mobile gambling sector will be worth up to $16.6 billion by 2008. Experts predict that by then more than 450 million wireless subscribers will be playing some form of mobile games and that four out of five mobile users – 200 million people in Western Europe and the U.S. -- will be playing internet games on their phones. The Asia-Pacific region currently hosts 70 million mobile gamers with wireless gaming revenues totalling $1.1 billion.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Friday, August 04, 2006
WSOP = World Series of Parties!
I’m just back from a week in Vegas – the opening weekend of the biggest poker event of the year, the WSOP.
My friends at Aces.com asked me to take the stars of the poker movie they’re sponsoring to a few interviews and a bunch of parties. Tough gig or what!?
I had a great time with Christina Morris, who plays the “bad girl” and Sheena Chou, who plays a spoilt Chinese schoolgirl in ACES the Movie. Rene, the Manager of Aces.com joined us as well – somebody had to pick up the tab wherever we went!
I went down a few days ahead of the Aces crew since I had an invitation to the big Bodog party Tuesday night. I didn’t think there’d be a lot of people there since it was the closing party for their big marketing conference – and the conference had been cancelled. I must admit I was a little nervous about flying into the U.S. on a ticket paid for by an online gambling company, the week after the FBI had arrested some high profile online gambling executives. But since a friend of mine had flown to Las Vegas from London the day before with no hassles, and since he would be a much bigger catch than l’il ole me, I figured I was safe.
No one that I talked to in the gambling business had had any trouble at the airport, by the way. But everyone had black tape over any “dot com” they had on the t-shirts and baseball caps they wore to advertise their sites. And I heard that a couple of gambling site operators were arrested during the big poker expo at the Rio. So legal issues were definitely on people’s minds…
Anyway, the Bodog party was packed. It was at one of the trendiest clubs on the Strip: Tao at The Venetian. There were naked or half naked women everywhere but the coolest spectacle were the Chinese acrobats, I thought.
Before my girls arrived from L.A., I went to a PokerShare.com press conference at The Palms. Did you hear? They entered a trained chimpanzee in the WSOP! They made the rounds of Good Morning America and whatnot but the WSOP would have no part of it. Last I saw of Mikey, he was partying at the Bluff Magazine party I went to at the Hard Rock my last night in Vegas.
I’d scored an invitation to Howard and Suzie Lederer’s private WSOP party for Thursday night. I also wanted to take Christina and Sheena to the Pocket5s.com party at the New York New York Hotel. Both events started at six and the girls’ plane landed at 5:50. I asked them to be dressed to party when they got on the plane but, well, chicks… go figger…
We arrived at the Pocket5s.com party a half hour after it was supposed to have ended. Cool group. Pocket5s is a huge online community of poker players – they all knew each other by their screen names – they’d never met in person but knew each other pretty well. There were a few geeks in the crowd I guess, but mostly a pretty cool bunch of guys. (All guys... the only women there were with me!)
Then we bolted out to the suburbs of Las Vegas to a small Greek restaurant where Howard Lederer and a whole bunch of other poker legends were in the midst of a fiercely competitive karaoke contest. We gorged on an amazing Greek buffet while Phil Gordon belted out “If I can make it there I’ll make it anywhere…” I was chatting with Lisa Mueller (almost as hot as the two hotties I’d arrived with!) when Gordon started peeling off his clothes. Clearly he’d stop at nothing to take this prize! When he started wiggling his bare butt at the judges, Christina couldn’t resist. She ran up on stage and stuffed a ten-dollar bill down Gordon’s underwear.
I assume he won. We actually took off back to the Strip – but not until Christina and Rene threw back a few whiskey shooters. Fortified, we were off to the Venetian where Sheena wanted to play some cards and Rene and Christina wanted to party.
Sheena broke even at Blackjack that night. Rene and Christina met Tara Reid from American Pie. I was asleep in my room before they were up the elevator I’m sure.
Christina made it through a 10 a.m. telephone interview with a magazine writer in the UK – but she spent the next four hours puking, paying for the previous night’s partying. Let’s just say she was a little late for her next interview… Rene was totally unsympathetic of course – we had places to go, people to see! Autographs, interviews, cameras flashing – we eventually retired to the WSOP Kitchen, a sweltering tent in the parking lot behind the convention center where, inside, thousands of wannabe Moneymakers were competing in the main event, the World Series of Poker.
After Christina’s millionth mad dash to the ladies’ room, Rene finally relented and we took the girls back to the Mirage for a quiet night in their room.
Next night we all went to Bluff Rocks at the Hard Rock Hotel. My friend Michael Caselli had organized the event and he asked me to help. I ended up at the front door all night. My job was to spot celebrities, usher them into the club and in front of the row of cameras and reporters, and then escort them up to the VIP lounge. Most of the celebrities were easy to spot – they were NBA stars that towered above the rest of us. Highlights for me were meeting poker legend Doyle Brunson, having a beer with the PokerShare monkey, and congratulating Lance Bass on his recent People Magazine headlines.
Las Vegas is surreal at the best of times, but WSOP is waaaaaay over the top even for Vegas. The energy level around the Rio, where the Championship Tournament and the Poker Life Expo were happening, was sky high. It was both exhilarating and exhausting.
Sheena and Christina have a blog with their own version of the weekend and lots of pics. Have a look: acesmovie.blogspot.com.
There. I did it. I vowed I’d write about taking the stars of Aces.com’s poker movie to the WSOP without mentioning the one thing that absolutely everyone was talking about: the weather. It was HOT! In every sense of the word.
My friends at Aces.com asked me to take the stars of the poker movie they’re sponsoring to a few interviews and a bunch of parties. Tough gig or what!?I had a great time with Christina Morris, who plays the “bad girl” and Sheena Chou, who plays a spoilt Chinese schoolgirl in ACES the Movie. Rene, the Manager of Aces.com joined us as well – somebody had to pick up the tab wherever we went!
I went down a few days ahead of the Aces crew since I had an invitation to the big Bodog party Tuesday night. I didn’t think there’d be a lot of people there since it was the closing party for their big marketing conference – and the conference had been cancelled. I must admit I was a little nervous about flying into the U.S. on a ticket paid for by an online gambling company, the week after the FBI had arrested some high profile online gambling executives. But since a friend of mine had flown to Las Vegas from London the day before with no hassles, and since he would be a much bigger catch than l’il ole me, I figured I was safe.
No one that I talked to in the gambling business had had any trouble at the airport, by the way. But everyone had black tape over any “dot com” they had on the t-shirts and baseball caps they wore to advertise their sites. And I heard that a couple of gambling site operators were arrested during the big poker expo at the Rio. So legal issues were definitely on people’s minds…
Anyway, the Bodog party was packed. It was at one of the trendiest clubs on the Strip: Tao at The Venetian. There were naked or half naked women everywhere but the coolest spectacle were the Chinese acrobats, I thought.
Before my girls arrived from L.A., I went to a PokerShare.com press conference at The Palms. Did you hear? They entered a trained chimpanzee in the WSOP! They made the rounds of Good Morning America and whatnot but the WSOP would have no part of it. Last I saw of Mikey, he was partying at the Bluff Magazine party I went to at the Hard Rock my last night in Vegas.
I’d scored an invitation to Howard and Suzie Lederer’s private WSOP party for Thursday night. I also wanted to take Christina and Sheena to the Pocket5s.com party at the New York New York Hotel. Both events started at six and the girls’ plane landed at 5:50. I asked them to be dressed to party when they got on the plane but, well, chicks… go figger…We arrived at the Pocket5s.com party a half hour after it was supposed to have ended. Cool group. Pocket5s is a huge online community of poker players – they all knew each other by their screen names – they’d never met in person but knew each other pretty well. There were a few geeks in the crowd I guess, but mostly a pretty cool bunch of guys. (All guys... the only women there were with me!)
Then we bolted out to the suburbs of Las Vegas to a small Greek restaurant where Howard Lederer and a whole bunch of other poker legends were in the midst of a fiercely competitive karaoke contest. We gorged on an amazing Greek buffet while Phil Gordon belted out “If I can make it there I’ll make it anywhere…” I was chatting with Lisa Mueller (almost as hot as the two hotties I’d arrived with!) when Gordon started peeling off his clothes. Clearly he’d stop at nothing to take this prize! When he started wiggling his bare butt at the judges, Christina couldn’t resist. She ran up on stage and stuffed a ten-dollar bill down Gordon’s underwear.I assume he won. We actually took off back to the Strip – but not until Christina and Rene threw back a few whiskey shooters. Fortified, we were off to the Venetian where Sheena wanted to play some cards and Rene and Christina wanted to party.
Sheena broke even at Blackjack that night. Rene and Christina met Tara Reid from American Pie. I was asleep in my room before they were up the elevator I’m sure.
Christina made it through a 10 a.m. telephone interview with a magazine writer in the UK – but she spent the next four hours puking, paying for the previous night’s partying. Let’s just say she was a little late for her next interview… Rene was totally unsympathetic of course – we had places to go, people to see! Autographs, interviews, cameras flashing – we eventually retired to the WSOP Kitchen, a sweltering tent in the parking lot behind the convention center where, inside, thousands of wannabe Moneymakers were competing in the main event, the World Series of Poker.
After Christina’s millionth mad dash to the ladies’ room, Rene finally relented and we took the girls back to the Mirage for a quiet night in their room.
Next night we all went to Bluff Rocks at the Hard Rock Hotel. My friend Michael Caselli had organized the event and he asked me to help. I ended up at the front door all night. My job was to spot celebrities, usher them into the club and in front of the row of cameras and reporters, and then escort them up to the VIP lounge. Most of the celebrities were easy to spot – they were NBA stars that towered above the rest of us. Highlights for me were meeting poker legend Doyle Brunson, having a beer with the PokerShare monkey, and congratulating Lance Bass on his recent People Magazine headlines.
Las Vegas is surreal at the best of times, but WSOP is waaaaaay over the top even for Vegas. The energy level around the Rio, where the Championship Tournament and the Poker Life Expo were happening, was sky high. It was both exhilarating and exhausting.
Sheena and Christina have a blog with their own version of the weekend and lots of pics. Have a look: acesmovie.blogspot.com.
There. I did it. I vowed I’d write about taking the stars of Aces.com’s poker movie to the WSOP without mentioning the one thing that absolutely everyone was talking about: the weather. It was HOT! In every sense of the word.
Monday, July 24, 2006
PokerShare.com Sponsors Mikey The Chimp At The WSOP
Yes, the rumors are true. PokerShare.com is sponsoring Mikey the Chimp at the 2006 World Series of Poker. Yours truly will be at the press conference at the Palms Hotel where Mikey and his trainers will tell us about Mikey’s professional poker training for the WSOP and on Chimpanzee’s cognitive abilities.
“Everyone has heard about the intelligence of primates and Mikey is one of the smartest around. PokerShare.com is confident that our purchase of a seat to the World Series of Poker will get put to good use by Mikey,” says, Lucan M. Toh, CEO of PokerShare.com.
HAIRY SITUATION FINDING A POKER-PLAYING MONKEY?
There are very few primates that have the cognitive ability of Mikey. “After a gruelling search across North America,” says Lucan Toh, CEO of PokerShare.com, “we have spent our efforts on one lucky chimp.” Mikey has been professionally trained to recognize the colors and shapes of suits and numbers. His favorite move is going “all in” but don’t tell his competition. His website, WWW.MONKEYSHARE.NET will show video footage of this chimp practicing his “all in” moves with his trainers.
BANANAS OR CHIPS?
With spectators going bananas for this animated chimp, Mikey will be playing for chips! He wants cold hard cash for his retirement, which has become a more serious problem for show business animals. After chimps perform for several years, they must retire, and like humans, live off of their earnings for the rest of their lives. Mikey’s trainers are available to comment on Mikey’s retirement plan and where he hopes to retire, should he win the 2006 WSOP.
MIKEY CHALLENGES MEDIA TO HEAD’S UP MATCH!
After his press conference at the Palms, Mikey will also challenge a journalist to a live poker match. Journalists and producers will receive a banana split and share in cold Bannarama Vodka Blended’s at the press conference.
CHIMP OR CHUMP?
Mikey the chimp will be sending all of his losing opponents BACK to next year’s World
Series of Poker (WSOP), compliments of Pokershare.com. That’s right, Pokershare.com will sponsor his losing victims to get right back up after defeat, and play again for free in the 2007 World Series of Poker!
“Everyone has heard about the intelligence of primates and Mikey is one of the smartest around. PokerShare.com is confident that our purchase of a seat to the World Series of Poker will get put to good use by Mikey,” says, Lucan M. Toh, CEO of PokerShare.com.
HAIRY SITUATION FINDING A POKER-PLAYING MONKEY?
There are very few primates that have the cognitive ability of Mikey. “After a gruelling search across North America,” says Lucan Toh, CEO of PokerShare.com, “we have spent our efforts on one lucky chimp.” Mikey has been professionally trained to recognize the colors and shapes of suits and numbers. His favorite move is going “all in” but don’t tell his competition. His website, WWW.MONKEYSHARE.NET will show video footage of this chimp practicing his “all in” moves with his trainers.
BANANAS OR CHIPS?
With spectators going bananas for this animated chimp, Mikey will be playing for chips! He wants cold hard cash for his retirement, which has become a more serious problem for show business animals. After chimps perform for several years, they must retire, and like humans, live off of their earnings for the rest of their lives. Mikey’s trainers are available to comment on Mikey’s retirement plan and where he hopes to retire, should he win the 2006 WSOP.
MIKEY CHALLENGES MEDIA TO HEAD’S UP MATCH!
After his press conference at the Palms, Mikey will also challenge a journalist to a live poker match. Journalists and producers will receive a banana split and share in cold Bannarama Vodka Blended’s at the press conference.
CHIMP OR CHUMP?
Mikey the chimp will be sending all of his losing opponents BACK to next year’s World
Series of Poker (WSOP), compliments of Pokershare.com. That’s right, Pokershare.com will sponsor his losing victims to get right back up after defeat, and play again for free in the 2007 World Series of Poker!
Pokerzone TV to promote classic Skill Game
GameAccount Launches Televised Backgammon
#1 online skill gaming provider GameAccount and Pokerzone will collaborate to bring viewers live Backgammon via Pokerzone’s global Poker and gaming lifestyle channel (www.pokerzone.tv) available via satellite, cable and broadband television.
The partnership means that Pokerzone will use live in-game footage taken from GameAccount’s WorldGammon brand and destination site (www.worldgammon.com) to educate and stimulate interest in this classic parlour game. Backgammon has a huge worldwide player base and its legal status as a pure game of skill has ensured a dedicated online audience as well. Hundreds of thousands of people enjoy a daily game of virtual Backgammon, from recreational newcomers to the more serious experienced pros.
Pokerzone (Sky Channel 843) will drive the editorial content and draw on GameAccount’s existing expertise to demonstrate the appeal of Backgammon to a targeted gaming audience. Each episode will last 3 hours for an initial run of 12 episodes, as well as additional repeats, every weekend, starting this October.
This unique collaboration marks the first time online players will be used to specifically promote and demonstrate Backgammon. Pokerzone have already achieved a track record in televising Backgammon, debuting the world’s first televised matchplay Backgammon event in addition to a series of lifestyle documentaries surrounding the “Sport of Kings” in 2005.
#1 online skill gaming provider GameAccount and Pokerzone will collaborate to bring viewers live Backgammon via Pokerzone’s global Poker and gaming lifestyle channel (www.pokerzone.tv) available via satellite, cable and broadband television.
The partnership means that Pokerzone will use live in-game footage taken from GameAccount’s WorldGammon brand and destination site (www.worldgammon.com) to educate and stimulate interest in this classic parlour game. Backgammon has a huge worldwide player base and its legal status as a pure game of skill has ensured a dedicated online audience as well. Hundreds of thousands of people enjoy a daily game of virtual Backgammon, from recreational newcomers to the more serious experienced pros.
Pokerzone (Sky Channel 843) will drive the editorial content and draw on GameAccount’s existing expertise to demonstrate the appeal of Backgammon to a targeted gaming audience. Each episode will last 3 hours for an initial run of 12 episodes, as well as additional repeats, every weekend, starting this October.
This unique collaboration marks the first time online players will be used to specifically promote and demonstrate Backgammon. Pokerzone have already achieved a track record in televising Backgammon, debuting the world’s first televised matchplay Backgammon event in addition to a series of lifestyle documentaries surrounding the “Sport of Kings” in 2005.
Celebrity Guest Beats Regular at Free Hold’em Tournament
Star of ACES the Movie Wins Wednesday Free Roll at Aces.com
She said she practiced a lot for her role in ACES the Movie and has been playing a lot since then, and it was obvious as she quite tidily won the weekly Free Roll Tournament at Aces.com last week. Much to the surprise of everyone at the final table – including her -- Lacey Toups, star of the sexy new poker movie that Aces.com is sponsoring, wound up triumphant with over 50,000 in chips.
Toups battled it out at the Final Table with an Aces.com regular who frequently places second in the weekly tournament but never manages to win. It was down to the actress, “ZevTTTP1” aka “Brill”, and a skeptic that couldn’t be convinced one of his opponents was in fact the beautiful star of the poker movie. There’s a $100 bounty for anyone that can knock out the celebrity guests at the regular tournaments over the next few weeks.
“I don’t know if the guy didn’t think it was really the girl from the movie playing poker with them,” said Toups, “Or if he just couldn’t believe that a pretty girl could be beating him so badly!”
“coolnike305” ended up head-to-head with Toups and placed second in the free tournament. The manager of Aces.com made him a believer by awarding him the special prize for the evening -- an all expense paid trip to Aces.com’s DVD Release Party in Los Angeles later this summer.
“Lacey told me she wasn’t that great a player, so we honestly didn’t expect her to win.” laughed Aces.com Manager Rene Quesada. “We’re giving the prize to the second place player, so he’ll get to meet Lacey and the rest of the cast at the Party. We’ll be giving away lots more prizes like that, and lots of free DVDs too.”
“It was a really fun tourney. It felt really cool to win. It was funny because I didn't think I would win something that I was involved in for other reasons!” said Toups from her home in Florida the morning after her online victory. “I guess I really am getting better at this game! My boyfriend plays and I have learned a lot from him. Like when to fold and when you just gotta go all in!”
This Wednesday night (11:00 pm EDT), Christina Morris, the cheating trio’s leader in the movie and director Daniel Zirilli will be the special guests at Ace.com’s free Texas Hold’em Tournament. Sheena Chou, who plays the spoilt Chinese schoolgirl in the movie, says Zirilli is good, but she pummeled him one night while on location in Rio de Janeiro. She’ll host the online tournament the following week.
This weekend, Aces.com is bringing the cast to Las Vegas to enjoy a few days of the World Series of Poker.
“Apparently there’s a huge billboard with the three of us up on The Strip, right outside The Stardust” said Morris. “I can’t wait to take a picture of that!”
The cast will report on their adventures in Las Vegas July 27 – 31 in their blog, which will include audio podcasts (Episode 2) from all the parties and events the stars will be attending.
She said she practiced a lot for her role in ACES the Movie and has been playing a lot since then, and it was obvious as she quite tidily won the weekly Free Roll Tournament at Aces.com last week. Much to the surprise of everyone at the final table – including her -- Lacey Toups, star of the sexy new poker movie that Aces.com is sponsoring, wound up triumphant with over 50,000 in chips.
Toups battled it out at the Final Table with an Aces.com regular who frequently places second in the weekly tournament but never manages to win. It was down to the actress, “ZevTTTP1” aka “Brill”, and a skeptic that couldn’t be convinced one of his opponents was in fact the beautiful star of the poker movie. There’s a $100 bounty for anyone that can knock out the celebrity guests at the regular tournaments over the next few weeks.
“I don’t know if the guy didn’t think it was really the girl from the movie playing poker with them,” said Toups, “Or if he just couldn’t believe that a pretty girl could be beating him so badly!”
“coolnike305” ended up head-to-head with Toups and placed second in the free tournament. The manager of Aces.com made him a believer by awarding him the special prize for the evening -- an all expense paid trip to Aces.com’s DVD Release Party in Los Angeles later this summer.
“Lacey told me she wasn’t that great a player, so we honestly didn’t expect her to win.” laughed Aces.com Manager Rene Quesada. “We’re giving the prize to the second place player, so he’ll get to meet Lacey and the rest of the cast at the Party. We’ll be giving away lots more prizes like that, and lots of free DVDs too.”
“It was a really fun tourney. It felt really cool to win. It was funny because I didn't think I would win something that I was involved in for other reasons!” said Toups from her home in Florida the morning after her online victory. “I guess I really am getting better at this game! My boyfriend plays and I have learned a lot from him. Like when to fold and when you just gotta go all in!”
This Wednesday night (11:00 pm EDT), Christina Morris, the cheating trio’s leader in the movie and director Daniel Zirilli will be the special guests at Ace.com’s free Texas Hold’em Tournament. Sheena Chou, who plays the spoilt Chinese schoolgirl in the movie, says Zirilli is good, but she pummeled him one night while on location in Rio de Janeiro. She’ll host the online tournament the following week.
This weekend, Aces.com is bringing the cast to Las Vegas to enjoy a few days of the World Series of Poker.
“Apparently there’s a huge billboard with the three of us up on The Strip, right outside The Stardust” said Morris. “I can’t wait to take a picture of that!”
The cast will report on their adventures in Las Vegas July 27 – 31 in their blog, which will include audio podcasts (Episode 2) from all the parties and events the stars will be attending.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Stars of Aces.com’s Poker Movie Launch Blog & Podcast
Upcoming Episodes Will Feature Live Podcasts from WSOP
The stars of the sexy new poker movie presented by online casino Aces.com have launched a new blog and a premiere podcast episode to share their experiences shooting the film in Las Vegas and Rio de Janeiro. The cast will be in Las Vegas for the Championship weekend of the WSOP, July 27 – 30 and yours truly will be there to help them publish their blog and podcast from The Strip. (Haha... One of the benefits of being buddies with the manager of Aces.com!)
The blog – Three Girls, One Summer, No Limit – is at acesmovie.blogspot.com where there is a link to the movie trailer video and to the girls’ podcast. The free podcast is also available at iTunes.
ACES the Movie is a sexy thriller about three beautiful, smart college girls that take on the underground card room circuit in Las Vegas. They eventually get caught cheating but they’re just as smart as they are beautiful and they end up in Rio de Janeiro beating some very high rollers at their own game. The movie will be released by Warner Brothers and Polychrome Pictures in the fall; Aces.com is doing promotional events throughout the summer and will be hosting a DVD release party in September.
So far in their blog, ACES stars Lacey Toups, Christina Morris and Sheena Chou have written about learning to play Texas Hold’em for their roles, and how much they enjoyed shooting the final beach scene. Their first podcast is an interview with Sheena where she talks about searching the back woods villages of Brazil with director Daniel Zirilli looking for a poker game, and about learning to play poker as a pre-schooler from her elderly Chinese great-uncle.
“We had a lot of fun shooting ACES in Vegas. I can’t wait to go back,” said Christina Morris, whose ACES character acts as the seductive decoy that distracts high rollers while her team cheats them out of their money.
“They’ve got this crazy schedule of interviews and photo sessions and special appearances for us,” said Lacey Toups who plays the brainy ‘mark’ in the movie. “I don’t know where we’ll find time for blogging, but I promise we will! As Christina says in our movie ‘One night in Vegas – we’re asking for trouble!’ If she’s the party girl she was in Rio then we’re going to have some good stories and wild pictures for our blog, that’s for sure!”
“We’re going to be hosting the Wednesday Night Free Roll Tournaments at Aces.com,” said Sheena, the spoilt Chinese schoolgirl in the movie. “I doubt I’ll win but that’s OK. The prize each week is a trip to our DVD Release Party in LA and I already have my invitation to that anyway!”
This Wednesday night (11:00 pm EDT), Lacey Toups hosts the Free Roll at Aces.com where another winner will win a trip to the DVD Release Party. Director Daniel Zirilli will host the online poker tournament the following week and it will be Sheena’s turn the week after. The celebrity host August 2 will be Christina Morris.
Be sure to check out the cast’s blog for live reports from the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas July 27th to 30th.
The stars of the sexy new poker movie presented by online casino Aces.com have launched a new blog and a premiere podcast episode to share their experiences shooting the film in Las Vegas and Rio de Janeiro. The cast will be in Las Vegas for the Championship weekend of the WSOP, July 27 – 30 and yours truly will be there to help them publish their blog and podcast from The Strip. (Haha... One of the benefits of being buddies with the manager of Aces.com!)The blog – Three Girls, One Summer, No Limit – is at acesmovie.blogspot.com where there is a link to the movie trailer video and to the girls’ podcast. The free podcast is also available at iTunes.
ACES the Movie is a sexy thriller about three beautiful, smart college girls that take on the underground card room circuit in Las Vegas. They eventually get caught cheating but they’re just as smart as they are beautiful and they end up in Rio de Janeiro beating some very high rollers at their own game. The movie will be released by Warner Brothers and Polychrome Pictures in the fall; Aces.com is doing promotional events throughout the summer and will be hosting a DVD release party in September.
So far in their blog, ACES stars Lacey Toups, Christina Morris and Sheena Chou have written about learning to play Texas Hold’em for their roles, and how much they enjoyed shooting the final beach scene. Their first podcast is an interview with Sheena where she talks about searching the back woods villages of Brazil with director Daniel Zirilli looking for a poker game, and about learning to play poker as a pre-schooler from her elderly Chinese great-uncle.
“We had a lot of fun shooting ACES in Vegas. I can’t wait to go back,” said Christina Morris, whose ACES character acts as the seductive decoy that distracts high rollers while her team cheats them out of their money.
“They’ve got this crazy schedule of interviews and photo sessions and special appearances for us,” said Lacey Toups who plays the brainy ‘mark’ in the movie. “I don’t know where we’ll find time for blogging, but I promise we will! As Christina says in our movie ‘One night in Vegas – we’re asking for trouble!’ If she’s the party girl she was in Rio then we’re going to have some good stories and wild pictures for our blog, that’s for sure!”
“We’re going to be hosting the Wednesday Night Free Roll Tournaments at Aces.com,” said Sheena, the spoilt Chinese schoolgirl in the movie. “I doubt I’ll win but that’s OK. The prize each week is a trip to our DVD Release Party in LA and I already have my invitation to that anyway!”
This Wednesday night (11:00 pm EDT), Lacey Toups hosts the Free Roll at Aces.com where another winner will win a trip to the DVD Release Party. Director Daniel Zirilli will host the online poker tournament the following week and it will be Sheena’s turn the week after. The celebrity host August 2 will be Christina Morris.
Be sure to check out the cast’s blog for live reports from the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas July 27th to 30th.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Poker Movie Stars to Host Wednesday Night Online Tournaments
Free Tournament Winners Win Trip to LA DVD Release Party
This month, Aces.com poker players could find themselves seated next to one of the sexy stars of ACES the Movie. Lacey Toups, Sheena Chou and director Daniel Zirilli will be hosting Aces.com’s popular Wednesday Night Free Rolls beginning this week.
Winners of the popular weekly online Texas Hold’em tournament will win an all expense paid trip to Aces.com’s ACES the Movie DVD Release Party in Los Angeles later this summer.
ACES the movie is a sexy thriller about three smart, beautiful college girls that take on the underground card circuit in Las Vegas. When they get caught cheating, they use their wits and charms to beat some very high rollers at their own game. Sponsor Aces.com will be hosting a DVD release party and giving away thousands of copies of the DVD.
Players can get to know the cast by reading their blog (acesmovie.blogspot.com) which includes the movie trailer video and their first podcast.
The Wednesday night tournament is a popular event at Aces.com and attracts a loyal group of regulars as well as lots of players new to online poker tournaments. Prizes have included trips to the Super Bowl and to the Radio Music Awards.
Actress Sheena Chou has been playing Texas Hold’em since she was a kid but says director Daniel Zirilli is no slouch either.
“Daniel beat me bad one night in Brazil when we were shooting the movie,” laughs Chou. “It would serve him right if the players at Aces.com take him down!”
“Every one who gets to the final table will receive an Aces.com t-shirt and hat,” said Rene Quesada, Manager of Aces.com. “And anyone that can knock out one of the cast members will get $100 credited to their account!”
Aces.com Wednesday Night Free Roll
With Special Guests from ACES the Movie
Wednesday at 11:00 EDT
Weekly Prize: Trip to ACES the Movie DVD Release Party in LA
July 12- Sheena Chou Screen Name: midnight
July 19- Lacey Toups Screen Name: diamondride
July 26-Daniel Zirilli (Director) Screen Name: Shark
Anyone registered at Aces.com can play in any of the Vegas-style site’s free card tournaments, including the Wednesday Night Free Roll, by clicking on “Poker” at Aces.com.
This month, Aces.com poker players could find themselves seated next to one of the sexy stars of ACES the Movie. Lacey Toups, Sheena Chou and director Daniel Zirilli will be hosting Aces.com’s popular Wednesday Night Free Rolls beginning this week.
Winners of the popular weekly online Texas Hold’em tournament will win an all expense paid trip to Aces.com’s ACES the Movie DVD Release Party in Los Angeles later this summer.
ACES the movie is a sexy thriller about three smart, beautiful college girls that take on the underground card circuit in Las Vegas. When they get caught cheating, they use their wits and charms to beat some very high rollers at their own game. Sponsor Aces.com will be hosting a DVD release party and giving away thousands of copies of the DVD.
Players can get to know the cast by reading their blog (acesmovie.blogspot.com) which includes the movie trailer video and their first podcast.
The Wednesday night tournament is a popular event at Aces.com and attracts a loyal group of regulars as well as lots of players new to online poker tournaments. Prizes have included trips to the Super Bowl and to the Radio Music Awards.
Actress Sheena Chou has been playing Texas Hold’em since she was a kid but says director Daniel Zirilli is no slouch either.
“Daniel beat me bad one night in Brazil when we were shooting the movie,” laughs Chou. “It would serve him right if the players at Aces.com take him down!”
“Every one who gets to the final table will receive an Aces.com t-shirt and hat,” said Rene Quesada, Manager of Aces.com. “And anyone that can knock out one of the cast members will get $100 credited to their account!”
Aces.com Wednesday Night Free Roll
With Special Guests from ACES the Movie
Wednesday at 11:00 EDT
Weekly Prize: Trip to ACES the Movie DVD Release Party in LA
July 12- Sheena Chou Screen Name: midnight
July 19- Lacey Toups Screen Name: diamondride
July 26-Daniel Zirilli (Director) Screen Name: Shark
Anyone registered at Aces.com can play in any of the Vegas-style site’s free card tournaments, including the Wednesday Night Free Roll, by clicking on “Poker” at Aces.com.
Affleck & Maguire Long Shots to Win World Series of Poker
According to odds makers at Sportsbook.com celebrities Ben Affleck and Toby Maguire will not have what it takes to leave the World Series of Poker Championships with a bracelet. The Hollywood hunks are each a 2000-1 bet to rake in all the chips.
The Rio All Suite Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada will host the tournament from July 28th to the final play downs on August 10th. Front runners to take the title are 5 time bracelet winner Phil Ivey at 150-1 and Poker lifer and legend Daniel Negreanu at 225-1. Leading up to the tournament Negreau has had an impressive showing in World Series events including four top ten finished and winnings of almost $500,000. Ivey is also on the upswing, having just placed second in the Omaha High/Low World Series game on July 8th.
“This tournament is the grand daddy of live poker, if the limit of 8000 entries is reached the first prize could pay out $10 million dollars,’ said Alex Czajkowski, sportsbook.com.
Odds to win the 2006 WSOP
Phil Ivey 150-1
Daniel Negreanu 225-1
Phil Hellmuth 250-1
Howard (The Professor) Lederer 250-1
Gus Hansen 300-1
Chris (Jesus) Ferguson 300-1
John Juanda 300-1
Layne Flack 400-1
Marcel Luske 400-1
Barry Greenstein 400-1
Carlos Mortenson 400-1
Scotty Nguyen 400-1
Sam Farha 400-1
Greg (Fossilman) Raymer 400-1
Mike (The Mouth) Matusow 400-1
Michael Mizrachi 400-1
Dave (Devilfish) Ulliott 500-1
Phil (Unabomber) Laak 500-1
Erik Seidel 500-1
Huckleberry Seed 500-1
Johnny Chan 500-1
John (World) Hennigan 500-1
Men (The Master) Nguyen 500-1
Paul Phillips 500-1
Ram (Crazy Horse) Vaswani 500-1
TJ Cloutier 500-1
Dan Harrington 500-1
Annie Duke 500-1
Antonio Esfandiari 500-1
Doyle (Texas Dolly) Brunson 500-1
Odds on who to make it to the final table
Phil Ivey 15-1
Daniel Negreanu 22-1
Phil Hellmuth 25-1
Howard (The Professor) Lederer 25-1
Chris (Jesus) Ferguson30-1
John Juanda 30-1
Gus Hansen 30-1
Carlos Mortenson 40-1
Barry Greenstein 40-1
Marcel Luske 40-1
Layne Flack 40-1
Michael Mizrachi 40-1
Mike (The Mouth) Matusow 40-1
Scotty Nguyen 40-1
Sam Farha 40-1
Greg (Fossilman) Raymer 40-1
Huckleberry Seed 50-1
Johnny Chan 50-1
John (World) Hennigan 50-1
Phil (Unabomber) Laak 50-1
Men (The Master) Nguyen 50-1
Paul Phillips 50-1
Ram (Crazy Horse) Vaswani 50-1
TJ Cloutier 50-1
Dan Harrington 50-1
Annie Duke 50-1
Antonio Esfandiari 50-1
Doyle (Texas Dolly) Brunson 50-1
Dave (Devilfish) Ulliott 50-1
Erik Seidel 50-1
The Rio All Suite Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada will host the tournament from July 28th to the final play downs on August 10th. Front runners to take the title are 5 time bracelet winner Phil Ivey at 150-1 and Poker lifer and legend Daniel Negreanu at 225-1. Leading up to the tournament Negreau has had an impressive showing in World Series events including four top ten finished and winnings of almost $500,000. Ivey is also on the upswing, having just placed second in the Omaha High/Low World Series game on July 8th.
“This tournament is the grand daddy of live poker, if the limit of 8000 entries is reached the first prize could pay out $10 million dollars,’ said Alex Czajkowski, sportsbook.com.
Odds to win the 2006 WSOP
Phil Ivey 150-1
Daniel Negreanu 225-1
Phil Hellmuth 250-1
Howard (The Professor) Lederer 250-1
Gus Hansen 300-1
Chris (Jesus) Ferguson 300-1
John Juanda 300-1
Layne Flack 400-1
Marcel Luske 400-1
Barry Greenstein 400-1
Carlos Mortenson 400-1
Scotty Nguyen 400-1
Sam Farha 400-1
Greg (Fossilman) Raymer 400-1
Mike (The Mouth) Matusow 400-1
Michael Mizrachi 400-1
Dave (Devilfish) Ulliott 500-1
Phil (Unabomber) Laak 500-1
Erik Seidel 500-1
Huckleberry Seed 500-1
Johnny Chan 500-1
John (World) Hennigan 500-1
Men (The Master) Nguyen 500-1
Paul Phillips 500-1
Ram (Crazy Horse) Vaswani 500-1
TJ Cloutier 500-1
Dan Harrington 500-1
Annie Duke 500-1
Antonio Esfandiari 500-1
Doyle (Texas Dolly) Brunson 500-1
Odds on who to make it to the final table
Phil Ivey 15-1
Daniel Negreanu 22-1
Phil Hellmuth 25-1
Howard (The Professor) Lederer 25-1
Chris (Jesus) Ferguson30-1
John Juanda 30-1
Gus Hansen 30-1
Carlos Mortenson 40-1
Barry Greenstein 40-1
Marcel Luske 40-1
Layne Flack 40-1
Michael Mizrachi 40-1
Mike (The Mouth) Matusow 40-1
Scotty Nguyen 40-1
Sam Farha 40-1
Greg (Fossilman) Raymer 40-1
Huckleberry Seed 50-1
Johnny Chan 50-1
John (World) Hennigan 50-1
Phil (Unabomber) Laak 50-1
Men (The Master) Nguyen 50-1
Paul Phillips 50-1
Ram (Crazy Horse) Vaswani 50-1
TJ Cloutier 50-1
Dan Harrington 50-1
Annie Duke 50-1
Antonio Esfandiari 50-1
Doyle (Texas Dolly) Brunson 50-1
Dave (Devilfish) Ulliott 50-1
Erik Seidel 50-1
Friday, July 07, 2006
US soccer fans confident Italy will defeat France in World Cup final
Despite an earlier than expected exit by the US men's national soccer team in this year's FIFA World Cup, Americans are still interested in 'the beautiful game'. Bettors at Sportsbook.com, the world's largest online sportsbook and casino are wagering on the outcome of what should be a thrilling finale between Italy and France this Sunday in Berlin, Germany.
Odds makers have listed the Azzuri as a narrow 2.71 favorite to win the final game and bring home the country's fourth World Cup. Italy, who beat Germany earlier this week in an emotional semi-final match-up, is getting enormous support from bettors in the US and has received 71.2 per cent of total wagers placed on the game. Although France's odds sit slightly below the Italians at 2.97, Americans are not confident that Les Bleus will triumph over Italy as they have only received 7.8 per cent of all wagers, despite France's historical dominance of Italy in previous World Cup encounters, including a quarter-final loss in 1998 and a second round defeat in 1986. The rest of the money is resting on a tie should neither team win the Cup in 90 minutes of regulation time.
"Italy and France have given blood sweat and tears just for the opportunity to win a World Cup for their country, and you can guarantee that soccer fans around the US will be watching to see who brings it home." said Alex Czajkowski at Sportsbook.com.
Sportsbook.com's FIFA World Cup Odds (as of July 7):
Who will win the 2006 FIFA World Cup?
Result -- Money -- Wagers Received
France -- 2.97 -- 7.8%
Tie -- 2.91 -- 21.7%
Italy -- 2.71 -- 71.2%
Who will win the 2006 FIFA Consolation Match?
Result -- Money -- Wagers Received
Germany -- 1.86 -- 98.9%
Tie -- 3.10 -- 0.2%
Portugal -- 4.40
Odds makers have listed the Azzuri as a narrow 2.71 favorite to win the final game and bring home the country's fourth World Cup. Italy, who beat Germany earlier this week in an emotional semi-final match-up, is getting enormous support from bettors in the US and has received 71.2 per cent of total wagers placed on the game. Although France's odds sit slightly below the Italians at 2.97, Americans are not confident that Les Bleus will triumph over Italy as they have only received 7.8 per cent of all wagers, despite France's historical dominance of Italy in previous World Cup encounters, including a quarter-final loss in 1998 and a second round defeat in 1986. The rest of the money is resting on a tie should neither team win the Cup in 90 minutes of regulation time.
"Italy and France have given blood sweat and tears just for the opportunity to win a World Cup for their country, and you can guarantee that soccer fans around the US will be watching to see who brings it home." said Alex Czajkowski at Sportsbook.com.
Sportsbook.com's FIFA World Cup Odds (as of July 7):
Who will win the 2006 FIFA World Cup?
Result -- Money -- Wagers Received
France -- 2.97 -- 7.8%
Tie -- 2.91 -- 21.7%
Italy -- 2.71 -- 71.2%
Who will win the 2006 FIFA Consolation Match?
Result -- Money -- Wagers Received
Germany -- 1.86 -- 98.9%
Tie -- 3.10 -- 0.2%
Portugal -- 4.40
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Scottish Smoking Ban Sees Online Bingo Fever Catch Fire
Pubs, restaurants and entertainment premises may all suffering at the hands of the Scottish smoking ban, but there is one industry that is rejoicing at the new law.Online bingo sites have seen a dramatic rise in the number of Scottish players who have joined recently, as they take up the opportunity to play at a venue where they can still smoke…home!
Since the ban came into effect three months ago, five bingo halls have been forced to close in Scotland after operators saw takings drop by over a quarter as players were forced to obey no-smoking rules.
But in that time Scottish bingo has seen online memberships increase by up to 400 per cent according to BingoScotland.com.
Dylan Schlosberg, spokesman for BingoScotland.com, said, 'When the smoking ban started, we didn’t imagine our membership would increase so rapidly.But as players have the freedom to smoke when they play online in the comfort of their own home, it makes sense that bingo websites have become even more popular.'
Jeanette Clunie, 38, from Edinburgh is a smoking bingo player who has just recently converted to playing online, 'I think online bingo is definitely on the up and through time, bingo halls will be a thing of the past. I personally wouldn’t use bingo halls now you can’t smoke in them and haven’t done since the ban.'
Baseball Fan Wins Trip to MLB All Stars Game
Aces.com Winner Gets Free Trip to Midsummer Classic in Pittsburgh
Aces.com is sending one of their favorite customers on an all-expense-paid trip to the MLB All Stars Game in Pittsburgh next week. Brian B. of Minnesota won the trip to the Midsummer Classic June 11th by betting on baseball at Aces.com Sportsbook (www.aces.com/sportsbook) last month.
“I’m in sales, and I travel a lot,” said the road weary winner, “Normally I wouldn’t get excited about a road trip to Pittsburgh, but this is different! I’m taking my buddy Jerry on this over-nighter. This trip’ll be all about fun!”
“I wish I was going to Pittsburgh with our winner!” said Aces.com Brand Manager Rene Quesada. “A summer day at PNC Park… All the best players from both leagues. Man, you can’t beat that!”
“I must’ve been one of Aces.com’s first customers,” said last month’s free contest winner who’s been betting on baseball at Aces.com since 2001. “Things have changed a lot since then. The lines are faster. Payouts back to your account are fast too. And deposits and withdrawals are easier. At Aces anyway.”
Midway through the 2006 MLB season, New York Mets (3-1), Chicago White Sox (4-1) are currently the favorites for the World Series. Like every hotel on the strip, Aces.com has hundreds of baseball odds and props. To qualify for Aces.com’s MLB All Stars Contest, players just had to place a baseball bet sometime in June.
“That’s no problem here,” chuckled Brian. “I sit down once a week and place my bets. I don’t really bet on any particular team. I just love baseball and football! I’m a homer, so I tend to favor the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings.”
The American League is looking for its ninth straight All Star Game win and will be fielding an experienced team familiar with the Midsummer Classic. Mets players dominate the young National League lineup.
“I’ll be rooting for the American League team in Pittsburgh,” said the contest winner. “I’ve been watching Johan Santana and Joe Mauer…”
Each week, Aces.com Sportsbook offers players one free no-loss baseball bet – losing bets are completely refunded.
This week’s MLB $10 Free Bet at Aces.com is:
Albert Pujols Total Runs+Hits+RBIs on Sunday Night (Must Start)
Over 3 1-1 -- Under 3 1-1
Aces.com’s Slaughter Rule, Cycle Hitter Bonus and No-Hitter Payback promos also make it one of the most fun places to bet on major league baseball this summer. The “Slaughter Rule” refunds all losing wagers for those who bet on the UNDER of the Total. Aces also refunds all losing wagers on the Money Line or Run Line of No Hitters. Hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in one game and Aces.com refunds all losing wagers on the Money Line or Run Line.
Aces.com offers online gamblers ALL the gambling options they have in Las Vegas: casino games, poker, sports betting and horses.
Aces.com is sending one of their favorite customers on an all-expense-paid trip to the MLB All Stars Game in Pittsburgh next week. Brian B. of Minnesota won the trip to the Midsummer Classic June 11th by betting on baseball at Aces.com Sportsbook (www.aces.com/sportsbook) last month.
“I’m in sales, and I travel a lot,” said the road weary winner, “Normally I wouldn’t get excited about a road trip to Pittsburgh, but this is different! I’m taking my buddy Jerry on this over-nighter. This trip’ll be all about fun!”
“I wish I was going to Pittsburgh with our winner!” said Aces.com Brand Manager Rene Quesada. “A summer day at PNC Park… All the best players from both leagues. Man, you can’t beat that!”
“I must’ve been one of Aces.com’s first customers,” said last month’s free contest winner who’s been betting on baseball at Aces.com since 2001. “Things have changed a lot since then. The lines are faster. Payouts back to your account are fast too. And deposits and withdrawals are easier. At Aces anyway.”
Midway through the 2006 MLB season, New York Mets (3-1), Chicago White Sox (4-1) are currently the favorites for the World Series. Like every hotel on the strip, Aces.com has hundreds of baseball odds and props. To qualify for Aces.com’s MLB All Stars Contest, players just had to place a baseball bet sometime in June.
“That’s no problem here,” chuckled Brian. “I sit down once a week and place my bets. I don’t really bet on any particular team. I just love baseball and football! I’m a homer, so I tend to favor the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings.”
The American League is looking for its ninth straight All Star Game win and will be fielding an experienced team familiar with the Midsummer Classic. Mets players dominate the young National League lineup.
“I’ll be rooting for the American League team in Pittsburgh,” said the contest winner. “I’ve been watching Johan Santana and Joe Mauer…”
Each week, Aces.com Sportsbook offers players one free no-loss baseball bet – losing bets are completely refunded.
This week’s MLB $10 Free Bet at Aces.com is:
Albert Pujols Total Runs+Hits+RBIs on Sunday Night (Must Start)
Over 3 1-1 -- Under 3 1-1
Aces.com’s Slaughter Rule, Cycle Hitter Bonus and No-Hitter Payback promos also make it one of the most fun places to bet on major league baseball this summer. The “Slaughter Rule” refunds all losing wagers for those who bet on the UNDER of the Total. Aces also refunds all losing wagers on the Money Line or Run Line of No Hitters. Hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in one game and Aces.com refunds all losing wagers on the Money Line or Run Line.
Aces.com offers online gamblers ALL the gambling options they have in Las Vegas: casino games, poker, sports betting and horses.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Poker-Pro Wannabe Gets Chance at a Million
Regular Aces.com Player Wins Place in Million Dollar Free Roll Elimination Round
A young player who’s honed his poker tournament skills in Aces.com’s regular Wednesday Night Free Roll has qualified for the online elimination round in the Vegas-style site’s Million Dollar Free Roll.
The Million Dollar Free Roll online elimination round begins July 22 and will likely continue for two or three days. The top twelve players will be flown to a secret tropical resort for the face-to-face Final Table. One of them will walk away a million dollars richer. The Wednesday night regulars at Aces.com hope it’s their buddy Brill.
“Brill played in our last Million Dollar Free Roll,” said Aces.com Manager Rene Quesada, “He finished about 400th out of about 5000. I can tell you though, he’s played a lot of Texas Hold’em since then – could be a real contender this time ‘round!”
“I’ve had a lot more online tournament experience since then,” says the confident Aces.com player. “Last year was just practice – this year I’m playing to win!”
The confident player is hoping his Brill Strategy can help him win the million.
“I have a strategy that I've formulated over the years that seems to work for me,” says the recent college graduate. “I call it my ‘Brill Strategy’. Without giving too much away, I'll say that I’m a semi-conservative player who has an aggressive streak and I feel I have a good knack of knowing how much to bet at certain times, and how to extract the most chips from an opponent in a given pot. Of course, no matter how good a player you are, you need to get lucky. And sometimes the luckiest thing that can happen, is avoiding being unlucky.”
The Hold’em hopeful is also a fan of the most popular new game in Las Vegas, Three Card Poker.
“Three Card is pretty easy,” he said. “It’s nice for a change after a few intense hands of Hold’em! Would be nice to pick up that $1000 Tournament prize at the end of the month too!”
Aces.com’s June card tournaments include $1000 prizes to the players that win the most at Blackjack, Three Card Poker and Caribbean Stud in the month of June.
There is no direct entry into the $1,000,000 main event -- players must win their seat in one of three free heats held daily until July 21. The tournaments, which are free to enter, are at 4 pm. 9 pm and 1 am (Eastern Time) every day; registration begins two hours prior to each. Anyone can join these games by entering the poker room at Aces.com. The top six, nine and fifteen players respectively advance to the Online Elimination Round that begins July 22.
A young player who’s honed his poker tournament skills in Aces.com’s regular Wednesday Night Free Roll has qualified for the online elimination round in the Vegas-style site’s Million Dollar Free Roll.
The Million Dollar Free Roll online elimination round begins July 22 and will likely continue for two or three days. The top twelve players will be flown to a secret tropical resort for the face-to-face Final Table. One of them will walk away a million dollars richer. The Wednesday night regulars at Aces.com hope it’s their buddy Brill.
“Brill played in our last Million Dollar Free Roll,” said Aces.com Manager Rene Quesada, “He finished about 400th out of about 5000. I can tell you though, he’s played a lot of Texas Hold’em since then – could be a real contender this time ‘round!”
“I’ve had a lot more online tournament experience since then,” says the confident Aces.com player. “Last year was just practice – this year I’m playing to win!”
The confident player is hoping his Brill Strategy can help him win the million.
“I have a strategy that I've formulated over the years that seems to work for me,” says the recent college graduate. “I call it my ‘Brill Strategy’. Without giving too much away, I'll say that I’m a semi-conservative player who has an aggressive streak and I feel I have a good knack of knowing how much to bet at certain times, and how to extract the most chips from an opponent in a given pot. Of course, no matter how good a player you are, you need to get lucky. And sometimes the luckiest thing that can happen, is avoiding being unlucky.”
The Hold’em hopeful is also a fan of the most popular new game in Las Vegas, Three Card Poker.
“Three Card is pretty easy,” he said. “It’s nice for a change after a few intense hands of Hold’em! Would be nice to pick up that $1000 Tournament prize at the end of the month too!”
Aces.com’s June card tournaments include $1000 prizes to the players that win the most at Blackjack, Three Card Poker and Caribbean Stud in the month of June.
There is no direct entry into the $1,000,000 main event -- players must win their seat in one of three free heats held daily until July 21. The tournaments, which are free to enter, are at 4 pm. 9 pm and 1 am (Eastern Time) every day; registration begins two hours prior to each. Anyone can join these games by entering the poker room at Aces.com. The top six, nine and fifteen players respectively advance to the Online Elimination Round that begins July 22.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
African School Built by Slotland.com Brings Community Together
Before it is even open, the school in Malawi built by popular online slots site, Slotland.com, is already an important community centre. The villagers that built the school have been back to harvest the first crop of maize, which will feed pre-school students, and a volunteer committee is being trained to manage the new facility when classes begin in September.I'm personally impressed by Slotland.com. While most online gambling companies are mostly interested in the owners'/stockholders' profits, Slotland.com amazingly philanthropic.
“Our goal is to help to start up this project, to work hand in hand with the local community, to make sure that soon our presence will not be needed and that the project can continue functioning without us or outside funding,” said Hannah Morante of Slotland.com.We are following two guiding principles,” said Tereza, the Project Manager. “The project must directly respond to the needs of the community. And it must be built and managed by the local people in order for them to feel a sense of ownership and responsibility.
The Slotland.com team’s first task in Africa was to understand what the local people needed most. Visiting families, schools, health centres, churches, and other stakeholders confirmed that the biggest problems facing the villagers were the lack of food, lack of money for school, lack of knowledge, sexual inequality, and HIV.
The team learned some startling facts that make providing an education all the more important:
- Half of all twelve-year-old girls are sexually active, usually for money.
- Common misconceptions, like ‘sperm contains vitamin K that women can only get through unprotected sex’ or ‘sex with virgins can cure HIV’ help spread disease.
- Some communities still practice initiation ceremonies that encourage early sex which, being unprotected, result in pregnancies or STDs.
- Schools, churches, and other organizations trying to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic generally advise young people to abstain but as most of them are already sexually active, this advice doesn’t have a chance of changing their behaviour.
“We want to help these people break the cycle of poverty and we think education is the key,” said Morante. “We strongly believe that it is our obligation to share our prosperity like this. We know it makes our players feel good about how they’re spending their entertainment dollars.”
Slotland.com has nine unique online slot machines and now offers three of the most popular games on mobile phones. The site is well known for its progressive jackpots (available both online and on the mobile games) which are hit every six weeks or so for $150,000 or more. It is also well known for its generosity.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Baseball Bettors to Win Trip to MLB All Stars Game
Aces.com Offers Free Chance at Trip to Midsummer Classic in Pittsburgh
One lucky Aces.com baseball bettor will win an all expense paid trip to the MLB All Stars Game in Pittsburgh next month. The winner will be chosen at random by the retro Vegas-style casino and sportsbook from all players betting on baseball throughout June – so everyone that bets on baseball has a chance to win. This baseball lovers dream prize includes hotel, airfare and tickets to the hottest sports betting event of the season.
“Baseball fans want to be in the ball park in Pittsburgh I guess,” mused Aces.com Manager Rene Quesada, “But for gamblers, Vegas hotel sports books -- and online sports betting sites -- are where the real action is.”
Each week, Aces.com Sportsbook offers players one free no-loss baseball bet – losing bets are completely refunded.
This week’s MLB $10 Free Bet at Aces.com is:
Which Player Will Have More Strikeouts on Sunday, June 18?
Curt Schilling -1/2 Ks 1-1 John Smoltz +1/2 Ks 1-1
Aces.com’s Slaughter Rule, Cycle and No-Hitter promos also make it one of the most fun places to bet on major league baseball this summer.
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual contest between players from the National League and the American League. Position players are selected by fan vote and managers select the pitchers. The All-Star Game usually occurs in early to mid-July (this year July 11) and marks the symbolic halfway point in the Major League Baseball (MLB). It is used to determine home field advantage for the upcoming World Series. Intended as a one-time event, the first All-Star Game was held as part of the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago and was the brainchild of Arch Ward, then sports editor for The Chicago Tribune.
One lucky Aces.com baseball bettor will win an all expense paid trip to the MLB All Stars Game in Pittsburgh next month. The winner will be chosen at random by the retro Vegas-style casino and sportsbook from all players betting on baseball throughout June – so everyone that bets on baseball has a chance to win. This baseball lovers dream prize includes hotel, airfare and tickets to the hottest sports betting event of the season.
“Baseball fans want to be in the ball park in Pittsburgh I guess,” mused Aces.com Manager Rene Quesada, “But for gamblers, Vegas hotel sports books -- and online sports betting sites -- are where the real action is.”
Each week, Aces.com Sportsbook offers players one free no-loss baseball bet – losing bets are completely refunded.
This week’s MLB $10 Free Bet at Aces.com is:
Which Player Will Have More Strikeouts on Sunday, June 18?
Curt Schilling -1/2 Ks 1-1 John Smoltz +1/2 Ks 1-1
Aces.com’s Slaughter Rule, Cycle and No-Hitter promos also make it one of the most fun places to bet on major league baseball this summer.
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual contest between players from the National League and the American League. Position players are selected by fan vote and managers select the pitchers. The All-Star Game usually occurs in early to mid-July (this year July 11) and marks the symbolic halfway point in the Major League Baseball (MLB). It is used to determine home field advantage for the upcoming World Series. Intended as a one-time event, the first All-Star Game was held as part of the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago and was the brainchild of Arch Ward, then sports editor for The Chicago Tribune.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Czechs’ have upper hand against USA in World Cup opener
Sportsbook.com odds makers favor Czech’s and bettors back them too
With the World Cup only days away, there is no doubt that the US men’s national team will be looking to earn some international respect as they try to build on their stunning 2002 quarterfinal run in South Korea and Japan. However, the States have their work cut out for them as they face the number two FIFA ranked Czech Republic in their first match this Monday in Dortmund, Germany.
www.sportsbook.com, the world’s largest online sportsbook and casino, has placed odds on the outcome of the stars and stripes World Cup opener, pinning the US as a 3.50 underdog. The States have received only 35 per cent of total wagers, unlike the 2.09 favored Czechs, who have received 61 per, the remainder of the cash rests on a tie match.
The US, ranked fifth by FIFA going into the World Cup, has had a strong showing in qualifying rounds and will look to young striker DeMarcus Beasley and Landon Donovan among other talented midfielders to put pressure on the Czech’s defense. Up to the challenge is 24 year old Chelsea keeper Petr Cech. One of the World’s finest netminders, Cech has allowed the midfield to stay offensive-minded which has let Pavel Nedved do what he does best, score goals.
“The opening game of the World Cup can really set the tone for the rest of the tournament so this is an important one for both teams,” said Alex Czajkowski, Sportsbook.com. “Everybody bets on the World Cup, and although the US has slipped under the radar as a serious threat in Group E, they have played the spoiler before and can certainly do it again.”
The US opened as a 90-1 underdog to win the 2006 World Cup but now sits at 30-1, the 11th best odds in the field. The traditional South American and European powerhouses still line the top of the odds chart with Brazil at 5-2 followed by Argentina (13-2), England (7-1), Germany (8-1), Holland (9-1), Italy (9-1) and France (10-1).
USA opens their World Cup run against the Czech Republic on Monday June 12th at Dortmund’s FIFA World Cup Stadium in Germany.
For a full list of odds and additional information please visit www.sportsbook.com.
Who will win USA’s First Game vs. Czech Republic - June 12, 2006
Result /Money /Wagers Received
USA 3.50 35%
Tie 3.23 5%
Czech Republic 2.09 61%
Who will win the 2006 World Cup?
Team / Odds / Wagers Received
Brazil 5-2 30%
Argentina 13-2 5.5%
England 7-1 11.9%
Germany 8-1 10.6%
Holland 9-1 3.9%
Italy 9-1 7.9%
France 10-1 1.7%
Spain 16-1 2.5%
Portugal 20-1 2.8%
Czech Republic 25-1 4.2%
USA 30-1 9.0%
Mexico 40-1 2.9%
Sweden 40-1 1.2%
Ukraine 50-1 0.7%
Serbia & Montenegro 60-1 0.2%
Croatia 65-1 0.7%
Ivory Coast 80-1 0.3%
Poland 80-1 0.4%
Paraguay 90-1 0.1%
Switzerland 100-1 0.3%
Japan 150-1 0.4%
Australia 200-1 0.5%
Ecuador 200-1 0.2%
Angola 250-1 0.1%
Ghana 250-1 0.3%
South Korea 250-1 1.0%
Togo 300-1 0.1%
Tunisia 350-1 0.0%
Costa Rica 500-1 0.2%
Iran 500-1 0.2%
Saudi Arabia 750-1 0.1%
Trinidad & Tobago 1,000-1 0.2%
With the World Cup only days away, there is no doubt that the US men’s national team will be looking to earn some international respect as they try to build on their stunning 2002 quarterfinal run in South Korea and Japan. However, the States have their work cut out for them as they face the number two FIFA ranked Czech Republic in their first match this Monday in Dortmund, Germany.
www.sportsbook.com, the world’s largest online sportsbook and casino, has placed odds on the outcome of the stars and stripes World Cup opener, pinning the US as a 3.50 underdog. The States have received only 35 per cent of total wagers, unlike the 2.09 favored Czechs, who have received 61 per, the remainder of the cash rests on a tie match.
The US, ranked fifth by FIFA going into the World Cup, has had a strong showing in qualifying rounds and will look to young striker DeMarcus Beasley and Landon Donovan among other talented midfielders to put pressure on the Czech’s defense. Up to the challenge is 24 year old Chelsea keeper Petr Cech. One of the World’s finest netminders, Cech has allowed the midfield to stay offensive-minded which has let Pavel Nedved do what he does best, score goals.
“The opening game of the World Cup can really set the tone for the rest of the tournament so this is an important one for both teams,” said Alex Czajkowski, Sportsbook.com. “Everybody bets on the World Cup, and although the US has slipped under the radar as a serious threat in Group E, they have played the spoiler before and can certainly do it again.”
The US opened as a 90-1 underdog to win the 2006 World Cup but now sits at 30-1, the 11th best odds in the field. The traditional South American and European powerhouses still line the top of the odds chart with Brazil at 5-2 followed by Argentina (13-2), England (7-1), Germany (8-1), Holland (9-1), Italy (9-1) and France (10-1).
USA opens their World Cup run against the Czech Republic on Monday June 12th at Dortmund’s FIFA World Cup Stadium in Germany.
For a full list of odds and additional information please visit www.sportsbook.com.
Who will win USA’s First Game vs. Czech Republic - June 12, 2006
Result /Money /Wagers Received
USA 3.50 35%
Tie 3.23 5%
Czech Republic 2.09 61%
Who will win the 2006 World Cup?
Team / Odds / Wagers Received
Brazil 5-2 30%
Argentina 13-2 5.5%
England 7-1 11.9%
Germany 8-1 10.6%
Holland 9-1 3.9%
Italy 9-1 7.9%
France 10-1 1.7%
Spain 16-1 2.5%
Portugal 20-1 2.8%
Czech Republic 25-1 4.2%
USA 30-1 9.0%
Mexico 40-1 2.9%
Sweden 40-1 1.2%
Ukraine 50-1 0.7%
Serbia & Montenegro 60-1 0.2%
Croatia 65-1 0.7%
Ivory Coast 80-1 0.3%
Poland 80-1 0.4%
Paraguay 90-1 0.1%
Switzerland 100-1 0.3%
Japan 150-1 0.4%
Australia 200-1 0.5%
Ecuador 200-1 0.2%
Angola 250-1 0.1%
Ghana 250-1 0.3%
South Korea 250-1 1.0%
Togo 300-1 0.1%
Tunisia 350-1 0.0%
Costa Rica 500-1 0.2%
Iran 500-1 0.2%
Saudi Arabia 750-1 0.1%
Trinidad & Tobago 1,000-1 0.2%
$10K Cash & Prizes in Aces.com June Card Tournaments
Free Three Card Poker, Blackjack & Caribbean Stud Tournaments Are Easy for Beginners and a Nice Change for Regular Poker Players
As every gambler on The Strip knows, tournaments up the excitement level for players and mean BIG prizes are at stake. True to form, Vegas-style online casino Aces.com presents three June card tournaments with more than $10,000 in cash and prizes to be awarded.
The Three Card Poker, Blackjack and Caribbean Stud players that accumulate the most chips in the month of June will each win $1000. Second and third place players in each category will each get $500 and $250 respectively. Free Plays plus a total of more than $10,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to Aces.com tournament players this month.
Caribbean Stud Tournament players that play the progressive could really win big. Right now, Aces.com’s Progressive Jackpots are at record-high levels. The Caribbean Stud Progressive is at $223,077.22 (as of June 5).
Three Card Poker is the hottest new card game to hit the strip since Texas Hold ‘em, and Aces.com is one of the first online casinos to offer this popular Vegas game. Blackjack and Caribbean Stud (Bermuda Poker) are popular favorites but for many card players Three Card Poker is something new.
“Three Card Poker is an easy game for beginners to start with,” said Rene Quesada, Aces.com Manager. “It’s also a nice change for people that have played a lot of online card games.”
Aces.com offers online gamblers ALL the gambling options they have in Las Vegas: casino games, poker, sports betting and horses. What happens in Vegas, happens at Aces.com.
As every gambler on The Strip knows, tournaments up the excitement level for players and mean BIG prizes are at stake. True to form, Vegas-style online casino Aces.com presents three June card tournaments with more than $10,000 in cash and prizes to be awarded.
The Three Card Poker, Blackjack and Caribbean Stud players that accumulate the most chips in the month of June will each win $1000. Second and third place players in each category will each get $500 and $250 respectively. Free Plays plus a total of more than $10,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to Aces.com tournament players this month.
Caribbean Stud Tournament players that play the progressive could really win big. Right now, Aces.com’s Progressive Jackpots are at record-high levels. The Caribbean Stud Progressive is at $223,077.22 (as of June 5).
Three Card Poker is the hottest new card game to hit the strip since Texas Hold ‘em, and Aces.com is one of the first online casinos to offer this popular Vegas game. Blackjack and Caribbean Stud (Bermuda Poker) are popular favorites but for many card players Three Card Poker is something new.
“Three Card Poker is an easy game for beginners to start with,” said Rene Quesada, Aces.com Manager. “It’s also a nice change for people that have played a lot of online card games.”
Aces.com offers online gamblers ALL the gambling options they have in Las Vegas: casino games, poker, sports betting and horses. What happens in Vegas, happens at Aces.com.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Dog Knows When to Spin and When to Walk Away
Slotland.com Winner Credits Dog for Big Win
If she hadn’t listened to her dog, a recent Slotland.com winner wouldn’t have hit the jackpot like she did when her trusted companion urged her to take one more spin on her favourite slot machine.
Player MAGAMILL was having a lucky streak. Within ten minutes of making a $25 deposit, she’d run her balance up to over $300.
“Players attribute good luck to all sorts of things,” said Slotland.com Manager Hannah Morante. “Horoscopes, lucky charms… but this is the first player I’ve known to take winning advice from her dog!”
“I was playing Jacks or Better and I was only betting fifty cents and a dollar per round. I thought that being this far ahead of the game, I should cash in and run with the money,” said the excited winner.
MAGAMILL’s dog Shelby always sleeps at her feet while she plays the online slot machines at Slotland.com.
“I asked her if she wanted to go for a walk or if she wanted a treat from upstairs, but nothing would get her to move, for me to leave my computer. Now this is a hundred pound dog, so when she doesn't move and is blocking you, you are not going anywhere!” said MAGAMILL.
At her dog’s insistence, the regular Slotland.com player decided to take one more spin, this time on her favourite game, Wild Heart. She bet the full amount, $15, and spun. To her amazement and delight, she hit two straight flushes and a four of a kind and won $350, more than doubling her account balance.
“I figured I was really ahead now and should probably quit with my $650. But I looked down at Shelby and this beast looks at me with those big brown eyes as if to say, ‘Keep playing, stupid!’ So, I did, next bet $15 again. Yep, you got it, two wild hearts fall down with two Jacks, and I've got $120, for sure, but if I discard the last card, I have a better chance of hitting, and yes, you got it, I hit the fifth Jack on the top line! I couldn't believe my eyes, another 375 bucks!”
So far ahead of her original $25 deposit, MAGAMILL was anxious to cash out. This time her dog agreed and the slot playing team logged off for the night.
Slotland.com has nine unique online slot machines and now offers three of the most popular games on mobile phones. The site is well known for its progressive jackpots (available both online and on the mobile games) which are hit every six weeks or so for $150,000 or more.
If she hadn’t listened to her dog, a recent Slotland.com winner wouldn’t have hit the jackpot like she did when her trusted companion urged her to take one more spin on her favourite slot machine.
Player MAGAMILL was having a lucky streak. Within ten minutes of making a $25 deposit, she’d run her balance up to over $300.
“Players attribute good luck to all sorts of things,” said Slotland.com Manager Hannah Morante. “Horoscopes, lucky charms… but this is the first player I’ve known to take winning advice from her dog!”
“I was playing Jacks or Better and I was only betting fifty cents and a dollar per round. I thought that being this far ahead of the game, I should cash in and run with the money,” said the excited winner.
MAGAMILL’s dog Shelby always sleeps at her feet while she plays the online slot machines at Slotland.com.
“I asked her if she wanted to go for a walk or if she wanted a treat from upstairs, but nothing would get her to move, for me to leave my computer. Now this is a hundred pound dog, so when she doesn't move and is blocking you, you are not going anywhere!” said MAGAMILL.
At her dog’s insistence, the regular Slotland.com player decided to take one more spin, this time on her favourite game, Wild Heart. She bet the full amount, $15, and spun. To her amazement and delight, she hit two straight flushes and a four of a kind and won $350, more than doubling her account balance.
“I figured I was really ahead now and should probably quit with my $650. But I looked down at Shelby and this beast looks at me with those big brown eyes as if to say, ‘Keep playing, stupid!’ So, I did, next bet $15 again. Yep, you got it, two wild hearts fall down with two Jacks, and I've got $120, for sure, but if I discard the last card, I have a better chance of hitting, and yes, you got it, I hit the fifth Jack on the top line! I couldn't believe my eyes, another 375 bucks!”
So far ahead of her original $25 deposit, MAGAMILL was anxious to cash out. This time her dog agreed and the slot playing team logged off for the night.
Slotland.com has nine unique online slot machines and now offers three of the most popular games on mobile phones. The site is well known for its progressive jackpots (available both online and on the mobile games) which are hit every six weeks or so for $150,000 or more.
Friday, May 26, 2006
PokerShare.com & CasinoShare.com Add Fuel to Fire as New Yorkers Stand In LIne for Hours
Most Generous Sites on the Net take a bite out of the Big Apple's gas prices
PokerShare.com and their newly launched CasinoShare.com gave away over 8 thousand gallons of gasoline this morning to hundreds of New Yorkers excited to be apart of this generous offer. The line up in what on-site traffic officers called the longest gas line in New York City this decade spanned over ten blocks backing up to the Brooklyn Bridge.
From 6AM EST this morning, the Westside Highway Mobil station at the corner of Canal St. & West Side HWY offered up to $40 in free unleaded gasoline compliments of the online poker and casino group. PokerShare’s “deal” was designed to help New Yorkers enjoy their Memorial Day Weekend without having to fret about the high price of gasoline.
Several morning shows and radio personalities interacted and interviewed the drivers who were clearly not only happy with their free gas, but with their 15 seconds of fame. The PokerShare team and gas station management team were all suited up, and supporting the PokerShare Pump Girls, who filled the tanks of eager New Yorkers. With only 6 pumps in service and cars backed up during morning rush hour, NYPD eventually had to shut the party down!
Lucan Toh, CEO of PokerShare.com and CasinoShare.com said, “It's a travesty that with gas prices so high in America, someone like PokerShare who wants to give back and give away free gas gets shut down hours early with thousands of gallons waiting to be given out. But PokerShare is about giving back to the people who support it, so we’ll be back.”
New Yorkers who had heard about the event through flyers, radio and TV promotions, and word of mouth came from as far away as South Jersey. Even off-duty police officers and city officials came to the station to get their share of gas. “I left work to fill up – this is just too good to be true, when is the last time you got gas for FREE,” said one customer.
PokerShare.com and their newly launched CasinoShare.com hope that everyone involved will have a better Memorial Day Weekend because of the event. PokerShare.com hoped that the event could run a full five hours, but are already planning their next “PokerShare City”, where they will once again help relieve the price of the pump. The most generous site on the Web plans to choose their next city via a poll on the PokerShare.com (www.pokershare.com) website.
PokerShare.com and their newly launched CasinoShare.com gave away over 8 thousand gallons of gasoline this morning to hundreds of New Yorkers excited to be apart of this generous offer. The line up in what on-site traffic officers called the longest gas line in New York City this decade spanned over ten blocks backing up to the Brooklyn Bridge. From 6AM EST this morning, the Westside Highway Mobil station at the corner of Canal St. & West Side HWY offered up to $40 in free unleaded gasoline compliments of the online poker and casino group. PokerShare’s “deal” was designed to help New Yorkers enjoy their Memorial Day Weekend without having to fret about the high price of gasoline.
Several morning shows and radio personalities interacted and interviewed the drivers who were clearly not only happy with their free gas, but with their 15 seconds of fame. The PokerShare team and gas station management team were all suited up, and supporting the PokerShare Pump Girls, who filled the tanks of eager New Yorkers. With only 6 pumps in service and cars backed up during morning rush hour, NYPD eventually had to shut the party down!
Lucan Toh, CEO of PokerShare.com and CasinoShare.com said, “It's a travesty that with gas prices so high in America, someone like PokerShare who wants to give back and give away free gas gets shut down hours early with thousands of gallons waiting to be given out. But PokerShare is about giving back to the people who support it, so we’ll be back.”
New Yorkers who had heard about the event through flyers, radio and TV promotions, and word of mouth came from as far away as South Jersey. Even off-duty police officers and city officials came to the station to get their share of gas. “I left work to fill up – this is just too good to be true, when is the last time you got gas for FREE,” said one customer.
PokerShare.com and their newly launched CasinoShare.com hope that everyone involved will have a better Memorial Day Weekend because of the event. PokerShare.com hoped that the event could run a full five hours, but are already planning their next “PokerShare City”, where they will once again help relieve the price of the pump. The most generous site on the Web plans to choose their next city via a poll on the PokerShare.com (www.pokershare.com) website.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Tournament Runner-up Vows to Win Aces.com Free Roll This Week
Regulars become known at their favorite poker sites, and lately everyone at Aces.com is cheering on player “Brill” in the retro-Vegas casino / sportsbook site’s weekly free-roll poker tournaments.“Brill’s been playing in our Wednesday night game for a long time,” said Aces.com Manager Rene Quesada. “The last two weeks, he’s come in second. Maybe next week will be the week he wins the coveted Aces.com shirt and visor!”
“This week, victory is mine!” said the confident Aces.com tournament regular. “I have a strategy that I've formulated over the years that seems to work for me, and I call it my ‘Brill Strategy’. Without giving too much away, I’ll say that I’m a semi-conservative player with an aggressive streak and a good knack for knowing how much to bet at certain times, and how to extract the most chips from an opponent in a given pot. Of course, no matter how good of a player you are, you need to get lucky or at least avoid getting unlucky...”
Aces.com does offer several high stakes poker tournaments, but the weekly Wednesday night Free Roll is one of its most popular events.
“Often the tourney bonus prizes are poker chips, poker shirts, cool stuff like that,” said Quesada. “But in January we surprised everyone by making the prize of the week an all expense paid trip to the Super Bowl. And we sent a bunch of Wednesday night winners to our Radio Music Awards party in Vegas too.”
Brill, a 23-year-old recent Business Computer Systems graduate, has also been playing in the Million Dollar Free Roll Tournament at Aces.com. He has qualified to play in the online elimination round and hopes to make it from there to the million-dollar Final Table. Another weekly tournament at Aces.com awards $10,000 WSOP seats in each of three daily heats.
“Playing in a tournament is a different world from regular games,” said the Aces.com tournament regular. “The thing that makes tournament play so exciting is that every player is given the same amount of chips, and you need to use your skills and mind to try to maneuver your way and somehow obtain all of the chips in play. It’s actually pretty intense if you think about it, especially in a tournament with hundreds of players. It really is a war of the minds, more than anything else, and the feeling you get from knowing you've gotten all the chips from every player.... it’s priceless.”
The WSOP and the Million Dollar Free Roll Final Table are Brill’s goals for this summer. For tonight though, his focus is on winning the regular Wednesday night free roll and wearing that silk shirt.
Any player can join tonight’s tournament at 11:00 p.m. EDT by logging on to Aces.com.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Online Casino Launches “Aces, the Movie”
Aces.com Finalizes Hollywood Deal for Poker Movie Launch
The deal has been inked – Aces.com is sponsoring the sexiest poker movie of the summer. The Vegas-style online casino / poker / sportsbetting site plans special events, on-site promotions and contests to celebrate the release of Aces, the Movie.
Aces.com players will be invited to the Los Angeles premiere of Aces, the Movie on September 26th. Throughout the summer, many will win their all-expense paid trip in weekly tournaments and summer contests.
Aces, the Movie is a sexy thriller exploring the world of poker that has fascinates and thrills millions of Americans. Brooke (Lacey Toups, CSI Miami), Elle (Christina Morris) and Pieti (Sheena Chou, Burned) are all gorgeous … and mathematical geniuses. Looking for a challenge and some fast money, the ladies head for Sin City and high-stakes, competitive poker. Once in Vegas, face to face with the pros, they set their plan into action, relying on high-tech gadgetry, brainpower and unequivocal charm.
After being taken for all he’s worth by the trio, world-renowned poker champion Fang Chow (Garret Sato, Pearl Harbor, Alias) becomes suspicious of the beauties’ gambling tactics and invites them to Rio de Janeiro to join a handful of the world’s leading players (including Platinum-selling rapper Domino) in an intense No-Limit Texas Hold ’Em tournament. After Chow ensures no cheating will be possible, Brooke finds herself trapped in a battle of wits, strategy and skill as she plays for their lives.
Aces, the Movie is being released by Warner Brothers and Polychrome Pictures nationwide on DVD and it will also be available through Time-Warner Video-On-Demand.
Aces.com will be distributing thousands of copies of the DVD, which features poker lessons from the movies sexy cast.
The deal has been inked – Aces.com is sponsoring the sexiest poker movie of the summer. The Vegas-style online casino / poker / sportsbetting site plans special events, on-site promotions and contests to celebrate the release of Aces, the Movie.Aces.com players will be invited to the Los Angeles premiere of Aces, the Movie on September 26th. Throughout the summer, many will win their all-expense paid trip in weekly tournaments and summer contests.
Aces, the Movie is a sexy thriller exploring the world of poker that has fascinates and thrills millions of Americans. Brooke (Lacey Toups, CSI Miami), Elle (Christina Morris) and Pieti (Sheena Chou, Burned) are all gorgeous … and mathematical geniuses. Looking for a challenge and some fast money, the ladies head for Sin City and high-stakes, competitive poker. Once in Vegas, face to face with the pros, they set their plan into action, relying on high-tech gadgetry, brainpower and unequivocal charm.
After being taken for all he’s worth by the trio, world-renowned poker champion Fang Chow (Garret Sato, Pearl Harbor, Alias) becomes suspicious of the beauties’ gambling tactics and invites them to Rio de Janeiro to join a handful of the world’s leading players (including Platinum-selling rapper Domino) in an intense No-Limit Texas Hold ’Em tournament. After Chow ensures no cheating will be possible, Brooke finds herself trapped in a battle of wits, strategy and skill as she plays for their lives.
Aces, the Movie is being released by Warner Brothers and Polychrome Pictures nationwide on DVD and it will also be available through Time-Warner Video-On-Demand.
Aces.com will be distributing thousands of copies of the DVD, which features poker lessons from the movies sexy cast.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Two Huge Progressive Jackpots Overdue for a Hit
Aces.com’s ‘Free Ride’ Progressive Jackpot Approaching $250,000
Two of Aces.com’s three progressive jackpots are sky high – one well over $200K -- and all are statistically due to be hit. On average, Aces’ jackpots are won twice a week, usually for about $50K each time. The Hook Line & Sinker slots jackpot was just hit on Friday and is way over a hundred grand already. This week two progressive jackpots are setting record highs.
Current Progressive Jackpots*:
Caribbean Stud $161,698.84
Free Ride $237,550.68
Hook Line Sinker $124,470.33
* At Aces.com as of May 15 08:43 MDT (Las Vegas)
Progressive jackpots raise the stakes for card and slots players. By adding a dollar to a bet to play the progressive, players become eligible to win huge jackpots.
“We’re part of the biggest online gambling company in the world, so our progressive jackpots are played by literally millions of players,” said Rene Quesada, Aces.com Manager. “That’s why they get so big even though they get hit pretty often.”
Part of the excitement of progressive jackpots is watching the jackpot ticker constantly changing as millions of online players up the ante by adding the progressive to their bet. At Aces.com, an hour can add $10,000 to the pot.
“I never used to play the progressive until my friend won $36,000 that way,” said player “WANNABET” of Kansas. “I’d just spin and hope for the best. Then I realized you can never win the really big money unless you top up your bets. Now I do it all the time – it’s way more exciting with $200,000 on the line I’ll tell ya!”
Aces.com players can add the Progressive Bet playing Caribbean Stud, Bermuda Poker or slot machines.
Current progressive jackpot values are updated in real-time at Aces.com.
Two of Aces.com’s three progressive jackpots are sky high – one well over $200K -- and all are statistically due to be hit. On average, Aces’ jackpots are won twice a week, usually for about $50K each time. The Hook Line & Sinker slots jackpot was just hit on Friday and is way over a hundred grand already. This week two progressive jackpots are setting record highs.
Current Progressive Jackpots*:
Caribbean Stud $161,698.84
Free Ride $237,550.68
Hook Line Sinker $124,470.33
* At Aces.com as of May 15 08:43 MDT (Las Vegas)
Progressive jackpots raise the stakes for card and slots players. By adding a dollar to a bet to play the progressive, players become eligible to win huge jackpots.
“We’re part of the biggest online gambling company in the world, so our progressive jackpots are played by literally millions of players,” said Rene Quesada, Aces.com Manager. “That’s why they get so big even though they get hit pretty often.”
Part of the excitement of progressive jackpots is watching the jackpot ticker constantly changing as millions of online players up the ante by adding the progressive to their bet. At Aces.com, an hour can add $10,000 to the pot.
“I never used to play the progressive until my friend won $36,000 that way,” said player “WANNABET” of Kansas. “I’d just spin and hope for the best. Then I realized you can never win the really big money unless you top up your bets. Now I do it all the time – it’s way more exciting with $200,000 on the line I’ll tell ya!”
Aces.com players can add the Progressive Bet playing Caribbean Stud, Bermuda Poker or slot machines.
Current progressive jackpot values are updated in real-time at Aces.com.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Aces.com to back Hollywood’s next big poker movie
Aces.com has made a sponsorship offer to the producers of the hottest poker movie since Rounders. The retro Vegas-style casino, poker and sportsbetting site plans to launch the movie with special celebrity events in Los Angeles and Las Vegas this summer. Tons of poker tournaments and contest prizes will mean lots of Aces.com players will join the party!
“Online poker has become such a huge cultural phenomenon,” said Aces.com Manager, Rene Quesada. “This movie really explores the lifestyle and excitement that poker players dream about. It has it all… beautiful women, exotic locations, suspense, cheating, and winning.”
Matt Damon may have revived the genre in Rounders (1998), but Hollywood has been fascinated by poker and poker culture since Hopalong Cassidy saved the day by posing as a newbie poker player in Sunset Trail (1939) and Gene Autry starred in the classic poker murder mystery Loaded Pistols (1948). Warren Beatty also played a sly, cheating, debonair poker player in Kaleidoscope (1966) while in Maverick (1994), Mel Gibson and Jody Foster needed $3000 dollars to enter a winner-takes-all poker tournament. Steve McQueen managed to get into the highest stakes game of his life in perhaps the best poker movie of all time, The Cincinnati Kid (1965).
The movie deal is just the first of many great things to come from the new and improved Aces.com. The site is part of Sportingbet Plc – the biggest online gambling company in the world – and has long been popular with Vegas gamblers.
“Most of our players first got into casino games, poker and sports betting at hotels on the Vegas strip,” said Quesada about typical Aces.com players. “Something like 65% tells us that they still make one or more trips to Las Vegas every year, but 100% enjoy having everything that Vegas has to offer right on their home computer.”
Friday, April 28, 2006
Mobile Slots Player Wins $163,114 Jackpot on His Phone
Slotland.com’s first mobile games jackpot winner breaks previous progressive jackpot record
A Texas man became the first Slotland.com player to hit the jackpot on a mobile phone and is the biggest mobile gambling winner to date. The player known as “OlympiaGold” won $163,114 playing Slotland.com’s Lucky Stars slot machine.
“Our jackpot is hit every six weeks or so,” said Hannah Morante of Slotland.com. “Not only is this the first time it’s been won by someone using a mobile phone, it’s also our biggest jackpot ever, breaking our previous record of $162,514.”
“I am a gadget freak!” said the lucky winner when he learned he was the first mobile jackpot winner ever. “I love all sorts of electronic items, and so of course I have a nice mobile phone with all the extras. I wasn't even aware that you could gamble on your mobile phone until a friend of mine introduced me to Slotland's mobile games. “
The Texas jackpot winner began playing Slotland.com’s mobile games last September when their most popular game from the web was launched on the new mobile gambling platform. There are three mobile slots now and a new one is added every couple of months. “OlympiaGold” was enjoying the newest mobile slot, Golden 8, but hit the jackpot when he switched to Lucky Stars.
“I don't know why, but I always feel that new games are looser than the older games,” said the historic winner. “But that Sunday morning, I wasn’t winning much on the Golden 8 so I went back to my old favourite, Lucky Stars. I already had two of my three stars lit up so I figured with a little luck I could light up the third and possibly pull in a nice win to double my $100 deposit.”
It wasn't more than 15 minutes before his third star lit up – and his bonus spin produced three bars across the fourth pay line! His hands were sweating and he was literally shaking all over -- he’d just won $163,114.
“Of course, my wife already has plans for most of my winnings,” grinned the happy winner. “But I told her that $5,000 of that win is all mine to just blow on more gadgets!"
Slotland.com now features three unique games in its mobile suite and eight different slot machines plus video poker on the web site. Both mobile and web games share the same progressive jackpot pool.
A Texas man became the first Slotland.com player to hit the jackpot on a mobile phone and is the biggest mobile gambling winner to date. The player known as “OlympiaGold” won $163,114 playing Slotland.com’s Lucky Stars slot machine.
“Our jackpot is hit every six weeks or so,” said Hannah Morante of Slotland.com. “Not only is this the first time it’s been won by someone using a mobile phone, it’s also our biggest jackpot ever, breaking our previous record of $162,514.”
“I am a gadget freak!” said the lucky winner when he learned he was the first mobile jackpot winner ever. “I love all sorts of electronic items, and so of course I have a nice mobile phone with all the extras. I wasn't even aware that you could gamble on your mobile phone until a friend of mine introduced me to Slotland's mobile games. “
The Texas jackpot winner began playing Slotland.com’s mobile games last September when their most popular game from the web was launched on the new mobile gambling platform. There are three mobile slots now and a new one is added every couple of months. “OlympiaGold” was enjoying the newest mobile slot, Golden 8, but hit the jackpot when he switched to Lucky Stars.
“I don't know why, but I always feel that new games are looser than the older games,” said the historic winner. “But that Sunday morning, I wasn’t winning much on the Golden 8 so I went back to my old favourite, Lucky Stars. I already had two of my three stars lit up so I figured with a little luck I could light up the third and possibly pull in a nice win to double my $100 deposit.”
It wasn't more than 15 minutes before his third star lit up – and his bonus spin produced three bars across the fourth pay line! His hands were sweating and he was literally shaking all over -- he’d just won $163,114.
“Of course, my wife already has plans for most of my winnings,” grinned the happy winner. “But I told her that $5,000 of that win is all mine to just blow on more gadgets!"
Slotland.com now features three unique games in its mobile suite and eight different slot machines plus video poker on the web site. Both mobile and web games share the same progressive jackpot pool.
American Idol is the Hottest Proposition of the Year
As with sports, betting on television heightens excitement for viewers
35 million viewers vote on American Idol contestants each week and betting online has become a hugely popular way to participate in the excitement of America’s favorite reality television show. Aces.com Odds Maker Jeremy Ryan listens to the judges, checks the polls and monitors weekly voting trends when he updates his odds each Thursday.
While Chris Daughtry and Katherine McPhee have been the odds makers’ and voters’ favorites since Week 1, other early favorites have been eliminated, and some unlikely contestants have survived.
“Every contestant had a chance to win,” adds Ryan. “That’s why odds are different; some are just bigger favorites than others.”
“Of course at Aces.com we were pulling for Ace Young,” said Manager Rene Quesada. “He seemed like such a sure thing for awhile there…”
“The action has been pretty predictable, nothing out of the norm for Idol betting. We’re getting great action on all contestants,” said Ryan.”Idol is live so it always gets great action. With other taped reality shows I generally see only one-way action. For example, for Survivor I had action mostly on 2 people and my guess is you'll see those two at the live finale.”
Elliot Yamin opened as a relative long shot but, to the amazement of many, he’s still in the running -- Paula Abdul gushed over him this week and even Simon Cowell loved him.
“He’s been one of the most talented voices from the start, so I’m not surprised he’s still around,” Ryan said about his personal favorite. “Initially, odds were high to generate more action on him. Our customers didn't start betting him ‘till later in the show...Week 4 or so. A month ago we had him at 18-1, but only 5% of the money was on him. Now he’s in the final five at 9-1.”
Current odds* on who will be the next American Idol:
Chris Daughtry 13-10
Katharine McPhee 11-5
Taylor Hicks 12-5
Elliott Yamin 9-1
Paris Bennett 20-1
* As posted at Aces.com as of April 27, 2006.
35 million viewers vote on American Idol contestants each week and betting online has become a hugely popular way to participate in the excitement of America’s favorite reality television show. Aces.com Odds Maker Jeremy Ryan listens to the judges, checks the polls and monitors weekly voting trends when he updates his odds each Thursday.
While Chris Daughtry and Katherine McPhee have been the odds makers’ and voters’ favorites since Week 1, other early favorites have been eliminated, and some unlikely contestants have survived.
“Every contestant had a chance to win,” adds Ryan. “That’s why odds are different; some are just bigger favorites than others.”
“Of course at Aces.com we were pulling for Ace Young,” said Manager Rene Quesada. “He seemed like such a sure thing for awhile there…”
“The action has been pretty predictable, nothing out of the norm for Idol betting. We’re getting great action on all contestants,” said Ryan.”Idol is live so it always gets great action. With other taped reality shows I generally see only one-way action. For example, for Survivor I had action mostly on 2 people and my guess is you'll see those two at the live finale.”
Elliot Yamin opened as a relative long shot but, to the amazement of many, he’s still in the running -- Paula Abdul gushed over him this week and even Simon Cowell loved him.
“He’s been one of the most talented voices from the start, so I’m not surprised he’s still around,” Ryan said about his personal favorite. “Initially, odds were high to generate more action on him. Our customers didn't start betting him ‘till later in the show...Week 4 or so. A month ago we had him at 18-1, but only 5% of the money was on him. Now he’s in the final five at 9-1.”
Current odds* on who will be the next American Idol:
Chris Daughtry 13-10
Katharine McPhee 11-5
Taylor Hicks 12-5
Elliott Yamin 9-1
Paris Bennett 20-1
* As posted at Aces.com as of April 27, 2006.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Where will Rocket Roger Launch in 2006?
The Roger Clemens sweepstakes has kicked into high gear, with several MLB teams hoping to land the all-star pitcher for the 2006 season. Sportsbook.com, the world’s largest online sportsbook and casino, is offering fans a chance to bet on which team Clemens will play his first game for in 2006.
“Everyone bets on baseball and there is no bigger player than the Rocket. He is apt to have a real impact on whatever team he signs with, so fans will be watching closely,” says Alex Czajkowski, Sportsbook.com. “Only a few teams have pockets deep enough to sign him though, which could signal his return to New York or Houston.”
Clemens, 43, is a future Hall of Famer, having racked up 341 career wins and six American League Cy Young awards over twenty-two years in the majors. Despite his age, Clemens has continued to be a productive pitcher. In the 2005 season, the Rocket won 13 games for the Astros with a 1.87 ERA. Should Clemens choose to play this season, he is likely to command a $10-13 million dollar salary. That leaves only a handful of teams in the running who need pitching and have the money to sign him.
At this point, the Astros and Yankees are the most likely destinations for Clemens. They both have the cash and a long history with Rocket Roger. Odds on Clemens playing his first game of 2006 for the Astros are 3-2, while odds on the Yankees are 2-1.
Current odds at www.sportsbook.com:
Roger Clemens - What team will he play his first game for in 2006?
Houston Astros 3-2
NY Yankees 2-1
Boston Red Sox 9-2
Texas Rangers 10-1
Any other team 5-1
Does not play in 2006 7-2
“Everyone bets on baseball and there is no bigger player than the Rocket. He is apt to have a real impact on whatever team he signs with, so fans will be watching closely,” says Alex Czajkowski, Sportsbook.com. “Only a few teams have pockets deep enough to sign him though, which could signal his return to New York or Houston.”
Clemens, 43, is a future Hall of Famer, having racked up 341 career wins and six American League Cy Young awards over twenty-two years in the majors. Despite his age, Clemens has continued to be a productive pitcher. In the 2005 season, the Rocket won 13 games for the Astros with a 1.87 ERA. Should Clemens choose to play this season, he is likely to command a $10-13 million dollar salary. That leaves only a handful of teams in the running who need pitching and have the money to sign him.
At this point, the Astros and Yankees are the most likely destinations for Clemens. They both have the cash and a long history with Rocket Roger. Odds on Clemens playing his first game of 2006 for the Astros are 3-2, while odds on the Yankees are 2-1.
Current odds at www.sportsbook.com:
Roger Clemens - What team will he play his first game for in 2006?
Houston Astros 3-2
NY Yankees 2-1
Boston Red Sox 9-2
Texas Rangers 10-1
Any other team 5-1
Does not play in 2006 7-2
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Slots Player Hits $1,427,369 Progressive Jackpot
When she hit a $1,427,369 progressive while playing the slot King Cashalotbet at RoxyPalace.com, Amanda R from Plymouth, England became one of the UK's biggest ever online gaming Jackpot winners. The day before her historic win, Amanda deposited $240. Next morning, on her 61st spin, she hit the historic Jackpot. Powered by Microgaming, RoxyPalace.com have grown from strength to strength after winning a number of awards and being a players favourite since its launch back in 2002.
RoxyPalace.com spokesperson said, “We are delighted with this huge jackpot win Roxy Palace has always tried to give players exceptional value and entertainment as well as great customer service. We are extremely happy that our players can have the opportunity of winning such huge amounts.”
Microgaming's progressive network, Jackpot Madness, is the largest online progressive jackpot offering on the internet. Roger Raatgever, CEO Microgaming said, "The Microgaming team is delighted to hear that Jackpot Madness has created yet another overnight millionaire our eighth in three years, and I would like to take this opportunity to publicly pass on our congratulations to Amanda. Over the last three years, our progressive has paid out a total of $196m in winnings, which serves as testament to just how popular and successful it has become."
RoxyPalace.com is one of the most popular online casinos, especially amongst slot players. They have over 150 casino games including over 100 slot games which range from Video, Bonus and Jackpot Slots to regular 3 reel and UK Pub ‘fruit machines’. RoxyPalace.com also carries 19 online Progressive Jackpot Games.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu Favorites to Win WSOP
Aces.com hosts 3 weekly qualifying matches with more than $1,000,000 in World Series of Poker Prize Packages
The online casino most like Las Vegas itself is among the first to post odds on the biggest poker tournament in Sin City this season. Aces.com has posted early odds on the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and favors Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu to win the prestigious tournament.
“With odds like 200-1, even the favorites look like long shots, but that will change quickly as the field narrows.” said Aces.com Manager Rene Quesada. “Who knows, maybe there’s another Chris Moneymaker in the crowd!”
The dance. The Big Kahuna. Going to the show. Call it what you want, the 2006 World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event is one of the largest, most prestigious tournaments in the poker world. Its coveted World Champion bracelet is considered to be the ultimate achievement in any poker player’s career. Last year, Joe Hachem beat other 5,618 players to win the title and a record breaking 7.5 million dollars. This year’s prize pool figures to be even bigger.
From now through July, Aces.com is hosting three weekly qualifying tournaments and awarding a $12,000 WSOP prize package -- including a seat at the Main Event July 28th -- to the winner of each.
Phil Ivey, the Tiger Woods of Poker, is the early favorite at 200-1. Last June, Ivey, he won his fifth WSOP bracelet in a $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event. Phil was introduced to poker by his grandfather, who'd deal out hands of penny-ante Five-Card Stud to his eight-year-old grandson. At 18, he scored a fake ID and started frequenting the poker rooms in Atlantic City casinos. Recently, Ivey moved to Las Vegas where he is now a fixture in the high-limit area at the Bellagio, regularly sharing a table with Doyle Brunson, Chip Reese, and Jennifer Harman.
In 1997 Daniel Negreanu (currently 250-1 to take the WSOP bracelet) won two events at the World Poker Finals at Foxwoods, and was named the tournament's best all-around player. He followed this triumph in the 1998 World Series of Poker by becoming the youngest WSOP bracelet winner in history — a record he held until 2004. He became one of the most successful poker tournament players in history, winning two World Poker Tour (WPT) events, another two World Series bracelets, and appearing at 11 final tables. Negreanu is known for his ability to "read" other players by studying their betting patterns and physical expressions. His televised poker appearances include Late Night Poker, High Stakes Poker and Ultimate Poker.
Aces.com's current odds on the WSOP winner:
Phil Ivey 200-1
Daniel Negreanu 250-1
Howard (The Professor) Lederer 300-1
Phil Hellmuth 400-1
Marcel Luske 400-1
Layne Flack 400-1
Gus Hansen 400-1
Paul Phillips 500-1
Men (The Master) Nguyen 500-1
Johnny Chan 500-1
John Juanda 500-1
John (World) Hennigan 500-1
Erik Seidel 500-1
Dave (Devilfish) Ulliott 500-1
Dan Harrington 500-1
Chris (Jesus) Ferguson 500-1
Carlos Mortenson 500-1
Barry Greenstein 500-1
Doyle (Texas Dolly) Brunson 750-1
Aces.com is giving their players a chance to follow in the footsteps of Chris Moneymaker – the previously unknown player who won the 2004 WSOP after winning his seat at the Main Table in an online tournament. Weekly tournament times and winners to date are posted at Aces.com.
The online casino most like Las Vegas itself is among the first to post odds on the biggest poker tournament in Sin City this season. Aces.com has posted early odds on the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and favors Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu to win the prestigious tournament.
“With odds like 200-1, even the favorites look like long shots, but that will change quickly as the field narrows.” said Aces.com Manager Rene Quesada. “Who knows, maybe there’s another Chris Moneymaker in the crowd!”
The dance. The Big Kahuna. Going to the show. Call it what you want, the 2006 World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event is one of the largest, most prestigious tournaments in the poker world. Its coveted World Champion bracelet is considered to be the ultimate achievement in any poker player’s career. Last year, Joe Hachem beat other 5,618 players to win the title and a record breaking 7.5 million dollars. This year’s prize pool figures to be even bigger.
From now through July, Aces.com is hosting three weekly qualifying tournaments and awarding a $12,000 WSOP prize package -- including a seat at the Main Event July 28th -- to the winner of each.
Phil Ivey, the Tiger Woods of Poker, is the early favorite at 200-1. Last June, Ivey, he won his fifth WSOP bracelet in a $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event. Phil was introduced to poker by his grandfather, who'd deal out hands of penny-ante Five-Card Stud to his eight-year-old grandson. At 18, he scored a fake ID and started frequenting the poker rooms in Atlantic City casinos. Recently, Ivey moved to Las Vegas where he is now a fixture in the high-limit area at the Bellagio, regularly sharing a table with Doyle Brunson, Chip Reese, and Jennifer Harman.
In 1997 Daniel Negreanu (currently 250-1 to take the WSOP bracelet) won two events at the World Poker Finals at Foxwoods, and was named the tournament's best all-around player. He followed this triumph in the 1998 World Series of Poker by becoming the youngest WSOP bracelet winner in history — a record he held until 2004. He became one of the most successful poker tournament players in history, winning two World Poker Tour (WPT) events, another two World Series bracelets, and appearing at 11 final tables. Negreanu is known for his ability to "read" other players by studying their betting patterns and physical expressions. His televised poker appearances include Late Night Poker, High Stakes Poker and Ultimate Poker.
Aces.com's current odds on the WSOP winner:
Phil Ivey 200-1
Daniel Negreanu 250-1
Howard (The Professor) Lederer 300-1
Phil Hellmuth 400-1
Marcel Luske 400-1
Layne Flack 400-1
Gus Hansen 400-1
Paul Phillips 500-1
Men (The Master) Nguyen 500-1
Johnny Chan 500-1
John Juanda 500-1
John (World) Hennigan 500-1
Erik Seidel 500-1
Dave (Devilfish) Ulliott 500-1
Dan Harrington 500-1
Chris (Jesus) Ferguson 500-1
Carlos Mortenson 500-1
Barry Greenstein 500-1
Doyle (Texas Dolly) Brunson 750-1
Aces.com is giving their players a chance to follow in the footsteps of Chris Moneymaker – the previously unknown player who won the 2004 WSOP after winning his seat at the Main Table in an online tournament. Weekly tournament times and winners to date are posted at Aces.com.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Aces.com Odds Favor the Yankees to Take World Series
Dozens of Vegas-style Props Include a ‘Home Run Derby’, Division and League Champs, and Individual Players’ Runs, Hits & Errors
The New York Yankees home opener isn’t until next week, but already Aces.com odds makers favor them to win the World Series in October. The Yankees couldn’t manage more than a tie in their pre-season game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but Alex Rodriguez’ Grand Slam in Monday night’s 13-2 win over the Oakland A’s showed the Yanks have excellent pennant potential.
The Yankees are currently at 7-2 to win the October classic with the St. Louis Cardinals coming in close at 7-1. The reigning champs, the White Sox, are at 9-2.
"We're fine," New York Manager Joe Torre told ESPN.com after their disappointing pre-season performance. "We're ready to go. We don't need to work on anything or do anything. I have a sense that when the hitters start the season they will have a different mind-set. Everybody's had enough work."
“I personally like the Yankees,” says Aces.com Manager Rene Quesada. “You either love the pin-stripes club or hate them, and I love them for sure. Not so much because of ‘The Boss’ Steinbrenner but because of Babe Ruth and Joltin' Joe Dimaggio and all the history there is in the team from the Bronx.”
The Yankees home opener is next Tuesday against Kansas City. The Cardinals move in to the new Busch Stadium for their home opener on Monday. Odds on next week’s games will be posted at Aces.com this weekend.
“We’ve got way more future bets and props betting options than any hotel in Las Vegas,” adds Quesada.
· Aces.com has David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers’ Mark Teixeira each at 8-1 to score the most home runs this season.
· Odds on who will win the National and American League Pennants, who will take each division in each league, and which team will win the most regular season games, have also been posted.
· Every week, odds on who will have the most runs, hits and errors are listed.
About the only MLB prop not included in Aces.com’s long list of betting options is whether or not the Florida Marlins will move to Las Vegas.
“Of course everyone at Aces.com would like to have an MLB team in Vegas,” said Quesada, “It sounds like they may be close to a deal in Dade County, but they’ve been close before. When negotiations stalled in 2004, Vegas was only to happy to talk and we’re still all ears.”
The New York Yankees home opener isn’t until next week, but already Aces.com odds makers favor them to win the World Series in October. The Yankees couldn’t manage more than a tie in their pre-season game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but Alex Rodriguez’ Grand Slam in Monday night’s 13-2 win over the Oakland A’s showed the Yanks have excellent pennant potential.
The Yankees are currently at 7-2 to win the October classic with the St. Louis Cardinals coming in close at 7-1. The reigning champs, the White Sox, are at 9-2.
"We're fine," New York Manager Joe Torre told ESPN.com after their disappointing pre-season performance. "We're ready to go. We don't need to work on anything or do anything. I have a sense that when the hitters start the season they will have a different mind-set. Everybody's had enough work."
“I personally like the Yankees,” says Aces.com Manager Rene Quesada. “You either love the pin-stripes club or hate them, and I love them for sure. Not so much because of ‘The Boss’ Steinbrenner but because of Babe Ruth and Joltin' Joe Dimaggio and all the history there is in the team from the Bronx.”
The Yankees home opener is next Tuesday against Kansas City. The Cardinals move in to the new Busch Stadium for their home opener on Monday. Odds on next week’s games will be posted at Aces.com this weekend.
“We’ve got way more future bets and props betting options than any hotel in Las Vegas,” adds Quesada.
· Aces.com has David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers’ Mark Teixeira each at 8-1 to score the most home runs this season.
· Odds on who will win the National and American League Pennants, who will take each division in each league, and which team will win the most regular season games, have also been posted.
· Every week, odds on who will have the most runs, hits and errors are listed.
About the only MLB prop not included in Aces.com’s long list of betting options is whether or not the Florida Marlins will move to Las Vegas.
“Of course everyone at Aces.com would like to have an MLB team in Vegas,” said Quesada, “It sounds like they may be close to a deal in Dade County, but they’ve been close before. When negotiations stalled in 2004, Vegas was only to happy to talk and we’re still all ears.”
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Mobile Gambling Leader Introduces Yet Another Real-Money Mobile Slot Machine
Slotland.com Adds New Golden 8 Slot Machine to Mobile Phone Games Suite
Following on the success of their first two real-money slot machine games for the mobile phone platform, Slotland.com has launched yet another mobile slot machine. The Golden 8 has long been a favourite at the popular slot machine website and now makes its debut on their new WAP gambling site for mobile phones and PDAs.
“We haven’t had a big jackpot winner on a mobile device yet,” said Hannah Morante of Slotland.com. “But all the mobile games are tied into the same progressive jackpots as our web games, so it’s bound to happen one day. Don’t be surprised if someone in the queue in front of you starts kissing their mobile phone in excitement someday – they may have just won $150,000!”
The Golden 8 mobile features a bonus round triggered by spinning Blue Diamonds. Bonus round bets are taken from the previous spin so a common strategy is to maximize bets when you’ve collected five diamonds and are waiting for the sixth to trigger the free bonus round.
While many of Slotland.com’s regular online players occasionally play their favourite slots on their phone, the pioneering mobile entertainment provider is finding the mobile games appeal to quite a different kind of player.
“Traditional online slots and casino players are older than most mobile entertainment consumers. They may not even have a mobile phone yet, and if they do they probably just use it for phone calls,” says Slotland.com’s Mobile Games Marketing Manager, Martin Smith. “Younger adults, on the other hand, are more apt to look at their phones as a toy – a small portable computer that can be used for a variety of entertainment. They may have never spun a slot machine before, but when it’s on their phone it’s something new to try.”
Slotland.com now features three unique games in its mobile suite and eight different slot machines plus video poker on the web site. Every six weeks or so, a new mobile game is added – about as frequently as Slotland’s famous progressive jackpot is hit for $150,000 or more.
Following on the success of their first two real-money slot machine games for the mobile phone platform, Slotland.com has launched yet another mobile slot machine. The Golden 8 has long been a favourite at the popular slot machine website and now makes its debut on their new WAP gambling site for mobile phones and PDAs.“We haven’t had a big jackpot winner on a mobile device yet,” said Hannah Morante of Slotland.com. “But all the mobile games are tied into the same progressive jackpots as our web games, so it’s bound to happen one day. Don’t be surprised if someone in the queue in front of you starts kissing their mobile phone in excitement someday – they may have just won $150,000!”
The Golden 8 mobile features a bonus round triggered by spinning Blue Diamonds. Bonus round bets are taken from the previous spin so a common strategy is to maximize bets when you’ve collected five diamonds and are waiting for the sixth to trigger the free bonus round.
While many of Slotland.com’s regular online players occasionally play their favourite slots on their phone, the pioneering mobile entertainment provider is finding the mobile games appeal to quite a different kind of player.
“Traditional online slots and casino players are older than most mobile entertainment consumers. They may not even have a mobile phone yet, and if they do they probably just use it for phone calls,” says Slotland.com’s Mobile Games Marketing Manager, Martin Smith. “Younger adults, on the other hand, are more apt to look at their phones as a toy – a small portable computer that can be used for a variety of entertainment. They may have never spun a slot machine before, but when it’s on their phone it’s something new to try.”
Slotland.com now features three unique games in its mobile suite and eight different slot machines plus video poker on the web site. Every six weeks or so, a new mobile game is added – about as frequently as Slotland’s famous progressive jackpot is hit for $150,000 or more.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Mystery Celebrity Wins $32K Casino Jackpot
Aces.com winner could have been Snoop Dogg, Deborah Gibson, Backstreet Boys’ Howie Dorough or Brian Littrell, Lauren Holly, Michael Buble or Vida Guerra
A mystery music celebrity has won a big casino jackpot at Aces.com, but respecting the winner’s privacy, the retro-Vegas gambling site won't say who the winner actually is. Just like Vegas, what happens at Aces.com stays at Aces.com.
Aces.com provided a backstage poker table at the Radio Music Awards in Las Vegas recently. An Aces.com account with $5000 pre-deposited was included in the booty that the performers and award winners received that evening. One of the celebrity account holders has been playing at Aces.com since then and recently won $32K playing online casino games.
“Our players never know if the person next to them at the Blackjack table or Roulette wheel is someone famous!” says Rene Quesada, the Aces.com Manager that handles all celebrity accounts. “Snoop Dogg, Deborah Gibson, the Backstreet Boys’ Howie Dorough and Brian Littrell, Lauren Holly, Michael Buble, Vida Guerra and many more performers and celebrities were all partying with us at the Awards show – it could be any one of them.”
Photos from backstage at the Radio Music Awards
While Aces.com’s casino games and poker rooms are always popular, this week, as March Madness culminates in the Final Four championship, the action is focused on the sportsbook.
“We’re just like Vegas,” said Quesada, “At the hotels on the strip, you don’t just bet on who will win. They offer tons of team and players betting propositions and so do we.”
Whoever the mystery celebrity winner is, they seem to be on a roll. If they’re a sports fan, they might want to put some of that casino jackpot on the Final Four.
A mystery music celebrity has won a big casino jackpot at Aces.com, but respecting the winner’s privacy, the retro-Vegas gambling site won't say who the winner actually is. Just like Vegas, what happens at Aces.com stays at Aces.com.Aces.com provided a backstage poker table at the Radio Music Awards in Las Vegas recently. An Aces.com account with $5000 pre-deposited was included in the booty that the performers and award winners received that evening. One of the celebrity account holders has been playing at Aces.com since then and recently won $32K playing online casino games.
“Our players never know if the person next to them at the Blackjack table or Roulette wheel is someone famous!” says Rene Quesada, the Aces.com Manager that handles all celebrity accounts. “Snoop Dogg, Deborah Gibson, the Backstreet Boys’ Howie Dorough and Brian Littrell, Lauren Holly, Michael Buble, Vida Guerra and many more performers and celebrities were all partying with us at the Awards show – it could be any one of them.”
Photos from backstage at the Radio Music Awards
While Aces.com’s casino games and poker rooms are always popular, this week, as March Madness culminates in the Final Four championship, the action is focused on the sportsbook.
“We’re just like Vegas,” said Quesada, “At the hotels on the strip, you don’t just bet on who will win. They offer tons of team and players betting propositions and so do we.”
Whoever the mystery celebrity winner is, they seem to be on a roll. If they’re a sports fan, they might want to put some of that casino jackpot on the Final Four.
Online Stakes Heat Up As PokerShare Returns
Online poker’s most generous website welcomes back existing players with Tain Network
After four months analysing new software, PokerShare.com, the online poker room that shares its cash with its players, has announced its new site launch on the Tain network.
The most generous poker site on the net has amicably settled its disagreement with Excapsa Software and Game Theory and, has launched its new software. For now, PokerShare is available in Beta mode exclusively for existing players. Poker Room Manager, Max Wright said, “We’re excited to finally return to the market, we have a great new product which I’m sure will be a hit with all of our old players. I want to get as much feedback as possible before we open the doors to new players next month.”
When PokerShare.com launched in 2005, it challenged the status quo in the online poker industry by providing poker players with an unmatched value proposition in what was and still is a crowded market place. PokerShare.com offer players the chance to share their success simply by playing; thus its meteoritic rise as the destination of choice for the savvy poker player.
Now on the Tain Network, with the new and improved software, PokerShare.com remains true to its unique “earn while you play” vision. The company even plans to launch an online casino, CasinoShare.com in May 2006.
“PokerShare was the first poker site in the world to offer its players the opportunity to share in its success,” said Lucan Toh, CEO PokerShare. “We’re extremely proud of this and very excited about welcoming back our loyal customers on the Tain poker network. We’re looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Tain.”
PokerShare chose the Tain network, says Toh, “because of its focus on, and high concentration of, ‘real money’ players, as well as its innovative user interface and corporate ambitions.” Also significant is the fact that the network is the largest in Europe, routinely hosting 6,000 players at peak times.
Roberto Savio, Director of Sales and Marketing for Tain, said: “This is the beginning of a long and exciting relationship. PokerShare is a site that, above everything else, puts the customer first; and that fits in with our overall philosophy. I’m looking forward to a healthy future with PokerShare.”
Poker Share says its goal is to become one of the top ten poker sites within the next twelve months. With such a strong concept, it looks like they are well on their way.
After four months analysing new software, PokerShare.com, the online poker room that shares its cash with its players, has announced its new site launch on the Tain network.
The most generous poker site on the net has amicably settled its disagreement with Excapsa Software and Game Theory and, has launched its new software. For now, PokerShare is available in Beta mode exclusively for existing players. Poker Room Manager, Max Wright said, “We’re excited to finally return to the market, we have a great new product which I’m sure will be a hit with all of our old players. I want to get as much feedback as possible before we open the doors to new players next month.”
When PokerShare.com launched in 2005, it challenged the status quo in the online poker industry by providing poker players with an unmatched value proposition in what was and still is a crowded market place. PokerShare.com offer players the chance to share their success simply by playing; thus its meteoritic rise as the destination of choice for the savvy poker player.
Now on the Tain Network, with the new and improved software, PokerShare.com remains true to its unique “earn while you play” vision. The company even plans to launch an online casino, CasinoShare.com in May 2006.
“PokerShare was the first poker site in the world to offer its players the opportunity to share in its success,” said Lucan Toh, CEO PokerShare. “We’re extremely proud of this and very excited about welcoming back our loyal customers on the Tain poker network. We’re looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Tain.”
PokerShare chose the Tain network, says Toh, “because of its focus on, and high concentration of, ‘real money’ players, as well as its innovative user interface and corporate ambitions.” Also significant is the fact that the network is the largest in Europe, routinely hosting 6,000 players at peak times.
Roberto Savio, Director of Sales and Marketing for Tain, said: “This is the beginning of a long and exciting relationship. PokerShare is a site that, above everything else, puts the customer first; and that fits in with our overall philosophy. I’m looking forward to a healthy future with PokerShare.”
Poker Share says its goal is to become one of the top ten poker sites within the next twelve months. With such a strong concept, it looks like they are well on their way.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Weekend Upset Fuels Final Four Frenzy
UConn Bettors Take a Loss But Millions Wager on NCAA Championship
Online sportsbooks were busy taking bets from confident UConn bettors last week but after the weekend’s surprise Huskies loss to long shots George Mason U., those punters are left wondering where to put their money this weekend. 11th seed George Mason seems an unlikely choice – but then, a couple of days ago, not many expected them to even make the Final Four.
“A lot of guys just assumed UConn would go through to the Final Four,” said SportingbetUSA.com Manager, Tony Delgado, “Odds were 2-1 that they’d go all the way. George Mason?! Where’d they come from all of a sudden? We had them at 100-1 last week and now they’re real contenders at 9-2.”
"We weren't supposed to make the Tournament and we did," said George Mason point guard Tony Skinn in a post-game interview on Sunday. "We weren't supposed to beat Michigan State and we did. We weren't supposed to beat North Carolina and we did. We definitely weren't supposed to beat UConn and we did. We don't mind being a Cinderella."
The Patriots have made it past the Huskies, but they’ve still got Florida to deal with. The Gators trounced Villanova this weekend and are at 8-5 to go all the way.
NCAA Basketball odds were updated immediately following the weekend action and will be updated through the week. Current Final Four odds, as posted March 26 on SportingbetUSA.com:
George Mason 9-2
Florida 8-5
UCLA 3-1
LSU 5-2
Tons of team and game props will be added through the week.
"America loves betting on March Madness. It’s actually bigger than the Super bowl since it's so many teams over so much time,” says Delgado. “But everyone has their local or alumni favorite to back, and as the teams are eliminated, they look to bet against their team's biggest rivals. March is when America bets; SportinbetUSA.com is where America bets."
Online sportsbooks were busy taking bets from confident UConn bettors last week but after the weekend’s surprise Huskies loss to long shots George Mason U., those punters are left wondering where to put their money this weekend. 11th seed George Mason seems an unlikely choice – but then, a couple of days ago, not many expected them to even make the Final Four.
“A lot of guys just assumed UConn would go through to the Final Four,” said SportingbetUSA.com Manager, Tony Delgado, “Odds were 2-1 that they’d go all the way. George Mason?! Where’d they come from all of a sudden? We had them at 100-1 last week and now they’re real contenders at 9-2.”
"We weren't supposed to make the Tournament and we did," said George Mason point guard Tony Skinn in a post-game interview on Sunday. "We weren't supposed to beat Michigan State and we did. We weren't supposed to beat North Carolina and we did. We definitely weren't supposed to beat UConn and we did. We don't mind being a Cinderella."
The Patriots have made it past the Huskies, but they’ve still got Florida to deal with. The Gators trounced Villanova this weekend and are at 8-5 to go all the way.
NCAA Basketball odds were updated immediately following the weekend action and will be updated through the week. Current Final Four odds, as posted March 26 on SportingbetUSA.com:
George Mason 9-2
Florida 8-5
UCLA 3-1
LSU 5-2
Tons of team and game props will be added through the week.
"America loves betting on March Madness. It’s actually bigger than the Super bowl since it's so many teams over so much time,” says Delgado. “But everyone has their local or alumni favorite to back, and as the teams are eliminated, they look to bet against their team's biggest rivals. March is when America bets; SportinbetUSA.com is where America bets."
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Online Sportsbook Brings Vegas-style March Madness to the Internet
Aces.com has as many team and cross sport parlays, if bets and proposition bets as any Las Vegas hotel -- without the crowds
Super Bowl may be the single biggest betting event of the year, but from the Opening Round to the Final Four and on to the NCAA Championship, much more money is bet on March Madness college basketball. Office pools are more popular than ever, but these days millions of bets are placed on the Internet through online sportsbooks like Aces.com.
I talked to Rene Quesada, Manager of Aces.com, about March Madness wagering:
IS IT TRUE THAT MARCH MADNESS IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST TIMES OF THE YEAR FOR AN ONLINE SPORTSBOOK?
Quesada: March Madness is always the second biggest event on our calendar, but this year there’s a lot of extra interest – there’s been some great conference races, a couple of favorites have already been eliminated, and there’s a lot of in some of the lesser-known teams. As always, we ran a $1 Million Dollar Bracket Contest, and a second-chance Sweet 16 Bracket Challenge, and those really draw the crowds. So yes, it’s busy around here right now – we’re getting new players signing up in droves this time of year, people that don’t necessarily bet on other sports.
At Aces.com, we try to re-create the Las Vegas gambling experience. Most of our players go to Vegas regularly and are fairly serious gamblers. March Madness is nuts in Vegas though. Some of our guys are tired of the line-ups and competition for a good spot in the lounge. We offer as many props as any Vegas hotel, so they can bet March Madness at home and hit the strip in the off-season.
A COUPLE OF FAVORITES WERE ELIMINATED IN ROUNDS 1 & 2. WHERE DO YOU THINK TAR HEELS BETTORS WILL PUT THEIR MONEY NOW THAT THEIR TEAM HAS BEEN ELIMINATED?
I suppose now that Duke is the only North Carolina team left, some Tar Heels fans will bet on them, but so much Heels-Blue Devils rivalry I think a lot of Heels fans would bet on just about anybody BUT Duke.
AFTER ROUNDS 1 & 2 AND THE ELIMINATION OF OHIO STATE AND THE TAR HEELS, HOW MANY PLAYERS WERE LEFT IN YOUR MILLION DOLLAR BRACKETS CONTEST?
24,000 players entered the contest but, with all the upsets, no one’s left in the running for the million. Last year though, we had two guys in the game right until the final matches – it was looking like we were going to have to write a pretty big check! So you never know…
We’re also running a “second chance” Sweet Sixteen brackets contest – win $16,000 for picking the winners from here on in the tournament.
HOW DOES NCAA BASKETBALL BETTING COMPARE TO WHAT’S WAGERED ON THE SUPER BOWL?
Quesada: It’s spread over a month or so, but more money is wagered on March Madness than the Super Bowl, and Super bowl is the single biggest betting event any time, anywhere. We give players so many ways to bet - team parlays, cross sport parlays, if bets and tons of proposition bets. And we offer in-game betting.
WHAT DOES THE TYPICAL BETTOR WAGER ON IN THE TOURNAMENT, FAVORITES OR UNDERDOGS?
Who wouldn’t love to cash in on a long shot? Underdogs have their appeal, but then it’s hard to bet against strong favorites like Connecticut, Duke, Villanova and Texas. I’d say we’re pretty evenly split.
WHAT SORT OF ACTION DO YOU SEE ON MONEY LINES AND TOTALS?
Again we’re split evenly.
WHO BETS ON NCAA BASKETBALL?
Quesada: Basically, everybody bets on March Madness. The people who attend or attended the colleges and universities involved in this event bet on March Madness. The people who have a "strong" university in their state bet and the people who live nearby a college or university that is participating bet on the event, too.
AREN’T PEOPLE MORE INTERESTED IN NBA BASKETBALL? DOES EVERYONE JUST SWITCH TO NCAA IN MARCH?!
Quesada: Our NBA action is pretty steady. With the NCAA, there’s more opportunities to bet on the local team though, so a lot of people that don’t usually get into basketball tune-in when it’s the hometown team. After the NCAA Championship, a lot of those players still have an appetite for basketball and start following the NBA playoffs.
HOW MUCH DO PEOPLE TYPICALLY BET ON COLLEGE BASKETBALL?
Quesada: Most people wager about the same amount on a college basketball game as they would on an NFL game or baseball, golf, NASCAR, or whatever or any other sport. At sites geared more toward recreational bettors, the average bets are not high, usually $25 - $50 at a time. The average Aces.com player likes to lay down $50 - $100 at a time.
____________________________________________________
2006 NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT - ODDS TO WIN
APR 01, 2006 07:00 PM ET
(As posted at Aces.com March 22, 2006)
Boston College 12-1
Bradley 100-1
Connecticut 2-1
Duke 5-1
Florida 11-1
George Mason 100-1
Georgetown 25-1
Gonzaga 15-1
LSU 25-1
Memphis 8-1
Texas 12-1
UCLA 8-1
Villanova 7-1
Washington 35-1
West Virginia 30-1
Wichita St 75-1
_________________________________________________
PROPS FOR MARCH 24 GAMES
(As posted at Aces.com March 22, 2006)
GEORGE MASON VS WICHITA ST
George Mason - Total Points
Over 63 (-115)
Under 63 (-115)
Wichita St - Total Points
Over 61 (-115)
Under 61 (-115)
Total 3 Point FGs Made by BOTH Teams
Over 13 (-125)
Under 13 (-105)
Largest Lead of the Game
Over 11.5 (-135)
Under 11.5 (+105)
Jai Lewis (G Mason) Total Total Points+Rebounds
Over 21.5 (-115)
Under 21.5 (-115)
Kyle Wilson (Wichita St) Total Points (Must Start)
Over 10.5 (-130)
Under 10.5 (Even)
_____
WASHINGTON VS CONNECTICUT
Washington - Total Points
Over 75 (-115)
Under 75 (-115)
Connecticut - Total Points
Over 81 (-115)
Under 81 (-115)
Total 3 Point FGs Made by BOTH Teams
Over 12.5 (-130)
Under 12.5 (Even)
Largest Lead of the Game
Over 15.5 (-115)
Under 15.5 (-115)
Brandon Roy (Wash) Total Points+Rebounds+Assists
Over 30.5 (-115)
Under 30.5 (-115)
Rudy Gay (UCONN) Total Points - Must Start
Over 16.5 (-115)
Under 16.5 (-115)
_____
GEORGETOWN VS FLORIDA
Georgetown - Total Points
Over 62.5 (-115)
Under 62.5 (-115)
Florida - Total Points
Over 65.5 (-115)
Under 65.5 (-115)
3 Point FGs Made by BOTH Teams
Over 13.5 (-115)
Under 13.5 (-115)
Over/Under Largest Lead of the Game
12.5 (-115)
Under 12.5 (-115)
Roy Hibbert (G-Town) Total Points+Rebounds
Over 20.5 (-115)
Under 20.5 (-115)
Taurean Green (Florida) Will he Miss At Least 1 Free Throw
Yes (No Attempt/NO Wins) +130
No (No Attempt/NO Wins) -160
_____
BOSTON COLLEGE VS VILLANOVA GAME
Boston College - Total Points
Over 69 (-115)
Under 69 (-115)
Villanova - Total Points
Over 71.5 (-115)
Under 71.5 (-115)
3 Point FGs Made by BOTH Teams
Over 15 (-115
Under 15 (-115)
Over/Under Largest Lead of the Game
Over 12.5 (-115)
Under 12.5 (-115)
Craig Smith (BC) Total Points - Must Start
Over 19.5 (-115)
Under 19.5 (-115)
Allan Ray (Villanova) Total Points+Assists - Must Start
Over 21.5 (-115)
Under 21.5 (-115)
Super Bowl may be the single biggest betting event of the year, but from the Opening Round to the Final Four and on to the NCAA Championship, much more money is bet on March Madness college basketball. Office pools are more popular than ever, but these days millions of bets are placed on the Internet through online sportsbooks like Aces.com.
I talked to Rene Quesada, Manager of Aces.com, about March Madness wagering:
IS IT TRUE THAT MARCH MADNESS IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST TIMES OF THE YEAR FOR AN ONLINE SPORTSBOOK?
Quesada: March Madness is always the second biggest event on our calendar, but this year there’s a lot of extra interest – there’s been some great conference races, a couple of favorites have already been eliminated, and there’s a lot of in some of the lesser-known teams. As always, we ran a $1 Million Dollar Bracket Contest, and a second-chance Sweet 16 Bracket Challenge, and those really draw the crowds. So yes, it’s busy around here right now – we’re getting new players signing up in droves this time of year, people that don’t necessarily bet on other sports.
At Aces.com, we try to re-create the Las Vegas gambling experience. Most of our players go to Vegas regularly and are fairly serious gamblers. March Madness is nuts in Vegas though. Some of our guys are tired of the line-ups and competition for a good spot in the lounge. We offer as many props as any Vegas hotel, so they can bet March Madness at home and hit the strip in the off-season.
A COUPLE OF FAVORITES WERE ELIMINATED IN ROUNDS 1 & 2. WHERE DO YOU THINK TAR HEELS BETTORS WILL PUT THEIR MONEY NOW THAT THEIR TEAM HAS BEEN ELIMINATED?
I suppose now that Duke is the only North Carolina team left, some Tar Heels fans will bet on them, but so much Heels-Blue Devils rivalry I think a lot of Heels fans would bet on just about anybody BUT Duke.
AFTER ROUNDS 1 & 2 AND THE ELIMINATION OF OHIO STATE AND THE TAR HEELS, HOW MANY PLAYERS WERE LEFT IN YOUR MILLION DOLLAR BRACKETS CONTEST?
24,000 players entered the contest but, with all the upsets, no one’s left in the running for the million. Last year though, we had two guys in the game right until the final matches – it was looking like we were going to have to write a pretty big check! So you never know…
We’re also running a “second chance” Sweet Sixteen brackets contest – win $16,000 for picking the winners from here on in the tournament.
HOW DOES NCAA BASKETBALL BETTING COMPARE TO WHAT’S WAGERED ON THE SUPER BOWL?
Quesada: It’s spread over a month or so, but more money is wagered on March Madness than the Super Bowl, and Super bowl is the single biggest betting event any time, anywhere. We give players so many ways to bet - team parlays, cross sport parlays, if bets and tons of proposition bets. And we offer in-game betting.
WHAT DOES THE TYPICAL BETTOR WAGER ON IN THE TOURNAMENT, FAVORITES OR UNDERDOGS?
Who wouldn’t love to cash in on a long shot? Underdogs have their appeal, but then it’s hard to bet against strong favorites like Connecticut, Duke, Villanova and Texas. I’d say we’re pretty evenly split.
WHAT SORT OF ACTION DO YOU SEE ON MONEY LINES AND TOTALS?
Again we’re split evenly.
WHO BETS ON NCAA BASKETBALL?
Quesada: Basically, everybody bets on March Madness. The people who attend or attended the colleges and universities involved in this event bet on March Madness. The people who have a "strong" university in their state bet and the people who live nearby a college or university that is participating bet on the event, too.
AREN’T PEOPLE MORE INTERESTED IN NBA BASKETBALL? DOES EVERYONE JUST SWITCH TO NCAA IN MARCH?!
Quesada: Our NBA action is pretty steady. With the NCAA, there’s more opportunities to bet on the local team though, so a lot of people that don’t usually get into basketball tune-in when it’s the hometown team. After the NCAA Championship, a lot of those players still have an appetite for basketball and start following the NBA playoffs.
HOW MUCH DO PEOPLE TYPICALLY BET ON COLLEGE BASKETBALL?
Quesada: Most people wager about the same amount on a college basketball game as they would on an NFL game or baseball, golf, NASCAR, or whatever or any other sport. At sites geared more toward recreational bettors, the average bets are not high, usually $25 - $50 at a time. The average Aces.com player likes to lay down $50 - $100 at a time.
____________________________________________________
2006 NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT - ODDS TO WIN
APR 01, 2006 07:00 PM ET
(As posted at Aces.com March 22, 2006)
Boston College 12-1
Bradley 100-1
Connecticut 2-1
Duke 5-1
Florida 11-1
George Mason 100-1
Georgetown 25-1
Gonzaga 15-1
LSU 25-1
Memphis 8-1
Texas 12-1
UCLA 8-1
Villanova 7-1
Washington 35-1
West Virginia 30-1
Wichita St 75-1
_________________________________________________
PROPS FOR MARCH 24 GAMES
(As posted at Aces.com March 22, 2006)
GEORGE MASON VS WICHITA ST
George Mason - Total Points
Over 63 (-115)
Under 63 (-115)
Wichita St - Total Points
Over 61 (-115)
Under 61 (-115)
Total 3 Point FGs Made by BOTH Teams
Over 13 (-125)
Under 13 (-105)
Largest Lead of the Game
Over 11.5 (-135)
Under 11.5 (+105)
Jai Lewis (G Mason) Total Total Points+Rebounds
Over 21.5 (-115)
Under 21.5 (-115)
Kyle Wilson (Wichita St) Total Points (Must Start)
Over 10.5 (-130)
Under 10.5 (Even)
_____
WASHINGTON VS CONNECTICUT
Washington - Total Points
Over 75 (-115)
Under 75 (-115)
Connecticut - Total Points
Over 81 (-115)
Under 81 (-115)
Total 3 Point FGs Made by BOTH Teams
Over 12.5 (-130)
Under 12.5 (Even)
Largest Lead of the Game
Over 15.5 (-115)
Under 15.5 (-115)
Brandon Roy (Wash) Total Points+Rebounds+Assists
Over 30.5 (-115)
Under 30.5 (-115)
Rudy Gay (UCONN) Total Points - Must Start
Over 16.5 (-115)
Under 16.5 (-115)
_____
GEORGETOWN VS FLORIDA
Georgetown - Total Points
Over 62.5 (-115)
Under 62.5 (-115)
Florida - Total Points
Over 65.5 (-115)
Under 65.5 (-115)
3 Point FGs Made by BOTH Teams
Over 13.5 (-115)
Under 13.5 (-115)
Over/Under Largest Lead of the Game
12.5 (-115)
Under 12.5 (-115)
Roy Hibbert (G-Town) Total Points+Rebounds
Over 20.5 (-115)
Under 20.5 (-115)
Taurean Green (Florida) Will he Miss At Least 1 Free Throw
Yes (No Attempt/NO Wins) +130
No (No Attempt/NO Wins) -160
_____
BOSTON COLLEGE VS VILLANOVA GAME
Boston College - Total Points
Over 69 (-115)
Under 69 (-115)
Villanova - Total Points
Over 71.5 (-115)
Under 71.5 (-115)
3 Point FGs Made by BOTH Teams
Over 15 (-115
Under 15 (-115)
Over/Under Largest Lead of the Game
Over 12.5 (-115)
Under 12.5 (-115)
Craig Smith (BC) Total Points - Must Start
Over 19.5 (-115)
Under 19.5 (-115)
Allan Ray (Villanova) Total Points+Assists - Must Start
Over 21.5 (-115)
Under 21.5 (-115)
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Katharine McPhee Closing in, But Chris Daughtry Still the Favorite to Win American Idol
PlayersOnly.com bettors have their eyes – and bets -- on the fairer foe
If PlayersOnly.com bettors have anything to say about it, the next American Idol will look better in a bikini than the current favorite. Players at the world’s sexiest sportsbook and casino are putting their money on the beautiful Katharine McPhee to win no matter how much support leader Chris Daughtry gets from the voting public and even difficult-to-please judge Simon Cowell.
“We took a lot of razzing last week when word got out that our players were putting their money on the most attractive contestants in the Amazing Race, despite the horrible odds,” said Tim Williams of PlayersOnly. “With American Idol, I’d have to say they seem to be listening more to their heads than their hormones.”
As contestants are eliminated each week, odds are adjusted. While Daughtry went from 5-2 to 2-1 after his performance last week, McPhee closed the gap, improving her odds from 4-1 to 7-2. Daughtry is taking 17.8 per cent of wagers and McPhee has 16.1 per cent.
Initial favorite Ace Young still has 11 percent of wagers at PlayersOnly.com, but his odds (5-1 last week) have plummeted to 9-1. As one of the show's early frontrunners, being one of the bottom three vote-getters last week came as a surprise to both the judges and the studio audience.
"I don't get it... I don't get it, not at all," vented judge Paula Abdul "I think America has to remember you have to vote for every single person you like, whether they are #1 or they are #12."
While the largest contestant in the group, Mandisa, is holding her own at odds of 8-1, PlayersOnly.com players aren’t showing much interest. Only 3.2 per cent of bettors are backing the talented but overweight contestant. No surprise there.
In a telephone interview on Howard Stern's Sirius satellite radio show last week, Judge Simon Cowell predicted the final three in this season's finals will be Chris Daughtry, Taylor Hicks and Kellie Pickler. He obviously hadn’t consulted the following odds currently posted at PlayersOnly.com:
American Idol Season 5 (FOX) - Who Will be The Winner
Contestant Odds Betting Trend
Chris Daughtry 2-1 17.8%
Katharine McPhee 7-2 16.1%
Mandisa 5-1 3.2%
Taylor Hicks 5-1 9.5%
Paris Bennett 8-1 10.9%
Ace Young 9-1 11.1%
Elliott Yamin 10-1 6.4%
Kellie Pickler 12-1 6.5%
Lisa Tucker 12-1 13.0%
Kevin Covais 60-1 0.2%
Bucky Covington 80-1 0.6%
Odds on American Idol, the American presidential race, the PGA, NASCAR and March Madness college basketball are all continually updated at PlayersOnly.com, the worlds sexiest sportsbook, casino and poker room.
If PlayersOnly.com bettors have anything to say about it, the next American Idol will look better in a bikini than the current favorite. Players at the world’s sexiest sportsbook and casino are putting their money on the beautiful Katharine McPhee to win no matter how much support leader Chris Daughtry gets from the voting public and even difficult-to-please judge Simon Cowell.
“We took a lot of razzing last week when word got out that our players were putting their money on the most attractive contestants in the Amazing Race, despite the horrible odds,” said Tim Williams of PlayersOnly. “With American Idol, I’d have to say they seem to be listening more to their heads than their hormones.”
As contestants are eliminated each week, odds are adjusted. While Daughtry went from 5-2 to 2-1 after his performance last week, McPhee closed the gap, improving her odds from 4-1 to 7-2. Daughtry is taking 17.8 per cent of wagers and McPhee has 16.1 per cent.
Initial favorite Ace Young still has 11 percent of wagers at PlayersOnly.com, but his odds (5-1 last week) have plummeted to 9-1. As one of the show's early frontrunners, being one of the bottom three vote-getters last week came as a surprise to both the judges and the studio audience.
"I don't get it... I don't get it, not at all," vented judge Paula Abdul "I think America has to remember you have to vote for every single person you like, whether they are #1 or they are #12."
While the largest contestant in the group, Mandisa, is holding her own at odds of 8-1, PlayersOnly.com players aren’t showing much interest. Only 3.2 per cent of bettors are backing the talented but overweight contestant. No surprise there.
In a telephone interview on Howard Stern's Sirius satellite radio show last week, Judge Simon Cowell predicted the final three in this season's finals will be Chris Daughtry, Taylor Hicks and Kellie Pickler. He obviously hadn’t consulted the following odds currently posted at PlayersOnly.com:
American Idol Season 5 (FOX) - Who Will be The Winner
Contestant Odds Betting Trend
Chris Daughtry 2-1 17.8%
Katharine McPhee 7-2 16.1%
Mandisa 5-1 3.2%
Taylor Hicks 5-1 9.5%
Paris Bennett 8-1 10.9%
Ace Young 9-1 11.1%
Elliott Yamin 10-1 6.4%
Kellie Pickler 12-1 6.5%
Lisa Tucker 12-1 13.0%
Kevin Covais 60-1 0.2%
Bucky Covington 80-1 0.6%
Odds on American Idol, the American presidential race, the PGA, NASCAR and March Madness college basketball are all continually updated at PlayersOnly.com, the worlds sexiest sportsbook, casino and poker room.
Top NCAA Contenders Still Favorites Even After Round 2 Upsets
65% of SportingbetUSA.com bettors are still in the game, most still counting on the Huskies
Montana trounced resounding favorite, Nevada, and without experienced seniors, the Tar Heels made a shocking early departure. Albany may have given UCONN a bit of a scare, but the Huskies are still the top contenders for March Madness with odds of 2-1 they’ll take the NCAA Championship.
“Nevada fans are out of it, and North Carolina fans are still in a state of shock, but about 65% of the bettors at SportingbetUSA.com still have a chance of winning their NCAA tournament champions bet,” commented Tony Delgado, Manager of SportingbetUSA.com. “Of those bets, 16.6 per cent are riding on UCONN, 11.1 per cent on Duke, 7.9 per cent on Villanova and 5.6 per cent on Texas.”
Jim Calhoun has a talented squad. If the Huskies get down to business, they’re tough to beat, so odds makers have set their odds at 2-1.
The Duke Blue Devils are exhibiting the confidence and talent that have made them a Sweet Sixteen team for the past nine years. Their dominance over George Washington on Saturday solidified the odds ranking of coach Krzyzewski’s squad as a contender – current odds place them at 5-1.
As March Madness tournament turns into an all out battle, SportingbetUSA.com’s current odds on the Sweet Sixteen are:
Connecticut 2-1
Duke 5-1
Villanova 7-1
Memphis 8-1
UCLA 8-1
Florida 11-1
Texas 12-1
Boston College 12-1
Gonzaga 15-1
LSU 25-1
Georgetown 25-1
West Virginia 30-1
Washington 35-1
Wichita St 75-1
George Mason 100-1
Bradley 100-1
Montana trounced resounding favorite, Nevada, and without experienced seniors, the Tar Heels made a shocking early departure. Albany may have given UCONN a bit of a scare, but the Huskies are still the top contenders for March Madness with odds of 2-1 they’ll take the NCAA Championship.
“Nevada fans are out of it, and North Carolina fans are still in a state of shock, but about 65% of the bettors at SportingbetUSA.com still have a chance of winning their NCAA tournament champions bet,” commented Tony Delgado, Manager of SportingbetUSA.com. “Of those bets, 16.6 per cent are riding on UCONN, 11.1 per cent on Duke, 7.9 per cent on Villanova and 5.6 per cent on Texas.”Jim Calhoun has a talented squad. If the Huskies get down to business, they’re tough to beat, so odds makers have set their odds at 2-1.
The Duke Blue Devils are exhibiting the confidence and talent that have made them a Sweet Sixteen team for the past nine years. Their dominance over George Washington on Saturday solidified the odds ranking of coach Krzyzewski’s squad as a contender – current odds place them at 5-1.
As March Madness tournament turns into an all out battle, SportingbetUSA.com’s current odds on the Sweet Sixteen are:
Connecticut 2-1
Duke 5-1
Villanova 7-1
Memphis 8-1
UCLA 8-1
Florida 11-1
Texas 12-1
Boston College 12-1
Gonzaga 15-1
LSU 25-1
Georgetown 25-1
West Virginia 30-1
Washington 35-1
Wichita St 75-1
George Mason 100-1
Bradley 100-1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)