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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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 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)

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.

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

March Madness a Showcase for Future NBA Stars

SportingbetUSA.com Following Future Superstars Leading Duke, the Gators and Connecticut This Weekend

Guys like Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, Shaquille O’Neil, Dwayne Wade and Chris Paul dazzled fans during March Madness and then parlayed their performance into mega bucks. Sports bettors that can spot the future superstars – whether their teams make the Final Four or not – can make some wise bets this month. SportingbetUSA.com is watching several hot young players in key match-ups this weekend during the NCAA First and Second Round and through to the NCAA Finals.

“Right now in the Big Show you have several dominant players who are pulling in millions, even though their teams didn’t capture the grand prize when they played in this tournament,” says SportingbetUSA.com Brand Manager, Tony Delgado. “But they all had their moments leading their college teams. Who will be the players that step up this spring at crunch time and use their great play as a springboard to the NBA?”

Joakim Noah will be talked about more then once this spring if he leads the Billy Donavan Florida Gators to a Final Four appearance. With his athletic body and mind for the game, Noah could be enticed with millions of dollars to leave Florida early, as he is just a freshman. The Gators are listed at 25-1 at SportingbetUSA.com and if Noah continues to shine, this could be a great investment.

J. J. Redick and Sheldon Williams will get showered with attention during The Dance, but Duke’s 6-foot-10 freshman Josh McRoberts could play a starring role. Duke has taken on all comers in 2005-2006 and is currently 9-2 at SportingbetUSA.com.

The analysts will rave about Connecticut’s point guard Marcus Williams or forward Rudy Gay, but keep an eye on their athletic forward Josh Boone,” said Delgado. “Just watch -- this guy will earn millions in the NBA. He’s a holy terror and understands the importance of DEFENSE!”

Every week, SportingbetUSA.com offers players one totally free bet – losing bets are completely refunded, so it’s a win-win situation. This week’s Free March Madness Bet is “Will Adam Morrison (Gonzaga) score more or less than 29 1/2 points Thursday night?” For NBA action, the Free Bet is “Will Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas) score over or under 29 1/2 on Sunday?”

Tomorrow is the last day to enter SportingbetUSA's March Mayhem Brackets Contest for a chance to win an LCD TV. March Madness and NBA odds are continually updated at SportingbetUSA.com – Where America Bets.

Closing Day for Free Vegas-Style March Madness Brackets Contest

Aces.com NCAA Props Rival Hotels on The Strip

Las Vegas is a great place to be for March Madness, but for those that can’t make it to the Strip, retro Vegas-style sportsbook Aces.com captures its essence online with a list of props that would make any Vegas shark’s head spin. Of course, playing at Aces.com does mean not having to get up early to stake out a prime viewing spot in the lounge, and no long lines for last minute bets.

Sports bettors book reservations months in advance to grab a seat in the middle of the action. Particularly during the first week of March, when the games are scheduled fast and furious, Las Vegas casinos are filled to the brim with both professional and casual gamblers. With so many opportunities to wager on the nearly constant stream of basketball games, few can resist the allure of NCAA March Madness in the gambling capital of the country.

At Aces.com, it’s not just the kitschy retro Rat Pack photos and promos designed for serious players that make it feel like Vegas.

“March Madness at the big hotels on the Strip is all about props,” says Aces.com Manager Rene Quesada, “And no one offers more ways to bet on NCAA hoops than Aces.com!”

Aces has lines on the side and total on every tournament game plus hundreds of props including:

· First Half and Half-Time Lines
· Largest Margin of Victory in Any First Round Game
· Will a #14, #15, or #16 Seed win at least 1 Game?
· Will Southern Ever Have the Lead vs. Duke?

Entries close Thursday for Ace.com’s March Mayhem Bracket Contest as the Opening Round concludes and the First and Second Rounds continue over the weekend. There’s no entry fee and the player that scores the most points predicting March Madness winners wins $1000 cash, an Aces.com poker tabletop and chips, and a silk poker shirt.

Aces.com updates odds and posts news, scores, and updates on college hoops daily.

The Return of the Richest Poker Game of All Time

The Inside Story of the $20 Million Poker Game at

Wynn Las Vegas

In what is considered the largest head-to-head poker game of all time, self-made billionaire banker Andy Beal matched $20 million against a rotating cast made up of the best high-stakes poker players in the world, including Phil Ivey, Jennifer Harman, Todd Brunson, and Ted Forrest.

During the month of February, Beal played many of the world’s best poker players in head-to-head games of Texas hold’em, for stakes of $30,000-$60,000 and $50,000-$100,000 at Wynn Las Vegas. Average pot size per hand was over $300,000 with the largest pot at $1.9 million. To play in a game of such astronomical stakes, twenty of the world’s best poker players had to combine bankrolls. They played three series of matches in February where each side started with at least $10 million on the table, with millions more in reserve. Wins and losses ran as high as $10 million in a single day, and one session featured two $8 million swings.

This game is the latest (and largest) installment of the richest poker game of all time, started in 2001 when Beal, the publicity-shy owner of one of the most profitable banks in Texas, whose other hobbies have included theoretical mathematics and astrophysics, became interested in poker. On six occasions between 2001 and 2004, he played “heads up” – one-on-one – against members of the group of high-stakes pros who took turns opposing him. Although the professionals won in most of those matches, Beal developed into a world-class high-stakes heads-up hold‘em player, who once won $5.5 million in five days and on another occasion won $12 million in one day.

The only person allowed table side to document this historic rematch “hand by hand” was Bluff poker columnist Michael Craig, author of The Professor, The Banker and The Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time (Warner Books, June 2005). Craig himself was influential in arranging the multimillion dollar rematch and at Beal’s insistence, agreed to sit at the table to document the 2006 games.

Massive Jackpot Continues Winning Trend at Online Casino

Cathy T. this week cashed in a $280,927.71 jackpot from InterCasino’s Video Casino Progressive Jackpot. The win marks one of the biggest progressive jackpot wins this year, and Cathy was eager to express her gratitude to Intercasino Manager, Ryan Hartley.

“I never thought I would be the one to win a jackpot like this, but not long after I signed up with InterCasino I picked the lucky numbers that changed by life,” said Cathy. “The personal congratulations from Ryan Hartley made the experience all the more special, and I thank him and the rest of the InterCasino staff for the excellent service.”

Intercasino’s online casino software brings Video Keno, the number-guessing game made famous in Las Vegas lounges, to the personal computer of gamers the world over. Even more exciting than the games themselves is the prospect of winning some truly spectacular jackpots at any given moment.

“I’ve been present for each and every jackpot awarded at Intercasino, and I never tire of watching how these awards change the lives of our customers for the better,” said Casino Manager Ryan Hartley. “We look forward to awarding the next lucky individual with a jackpot from Video Keno or any of the other entertaining games that are playable at Intercasino.”