Check out The Poker Edge on ESPNRadio.com for an archive of this radio show, hosted by Phil Gordon and Andrew Feldman. My favorites include the shows with Daniel Negreanu (where he provides tips on heads up tournament play) and Annie Duke (where she talks about tournaments with fast blind structures).
Once you pick up some tips from these radio shows, put your learnings to the test at PokerStars.com.
Just wanted to share with everyone my recent experience with PokerStars. I used the client software to request a cashout on April 6. I asked that a check be sent to me, and the check arrived at my Bellevue, WA address on April 14. The name and address of the company that issued the check had nothing on it to associate it with PokerStars (or anything about online poker or online gambling, for that matter). It cleared the bank normally.
PokerStars continues to accept US-based, real-money players. Their current signup offer: Get $50 more when you deposit $50.
In 2.5 years, I have never seen a bingo site that offers new registrants $50 to try out their games. Well, I have now. FreeBeeBingo.com accepts players worldwide, and has bingo, slots, pull tabs, video poker, keno, and some casino games.
I’m going to sign up right now and see how it goes!
Gambling over the internet is big-time illegal in the state of Washington. A few WA legislators (Strow, Kirby, Upthegrove, B. Sullivan, Simpson, Appleton) feel that internet gambling should be OK in the privacy of one’s home, and so introduced House Bill 1243 in January, 2007.
Provides that, in a prosecution for a violation of RCW 9.46.240, it is an affirmative defense, which the defendant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant transmitted or received the gambling information over the internet, or that the defendant installed or
maintained equipment for the transmission or receipt of gambling information over the internet, in his or her primary residence for recreational purposes. For purposes of this provision, “recreational purposes†means for the defendant’s
own enjoyment and not as part of an enterprise that derives income from operating an internet.
At least one post has suggested that this bill passed on April 23 or 24. It did not.Â
I spoke with Jennifer with the WA Legislative Hotline (1.800.562.6000) who informed me that this is a mistake, and that no action has been taken on the bill since it was read for the first time in January, 2007. Apparently, they mixed up and posted that 1243 had passed, when in fact it was 1343 that had passed (according to Jennifer).
You can reach Jennifer at the number above, and ask for Hotline 17 to be connected directly to her.
There is no denying that internet gambling has the potential to be addictive. If you live in the UK and would like to participate in research designed to help assess internet gamblers’ attitudes and behaviors, please read on.
Can you help with Internet gambling research?
Researchers from the Leeds Social Sciences Institute at the University of Leeds are currently carrying out research into Internet gambling and the role of the family. They are looking to interview people who live in the UK twice over 3-months that have had difficulties arising from their Internet gambling. The confidential interviews will last between 1-2 hours and can be arranged for a convenient time and location.
If you would be willing to be interviewed please contact Charlotte Kenten, email: c.kenten@leeds.ac.uk tel: 0113 343 8294 (direct line) or postal: LSSI, Beech Grove House, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT.
There is also an online survey, which anyone who gambles or has gambled via the Internet is invited to complete. This can be completed anonymously or if you would like to be interviewed, there is a space for you to leave your contact details and one of the researchers will contact you. The survey can be found at: www.survey.leeds.ac.uk/gambling/
The research is funded by the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) and the RiGT (Responsibility in Gambling Trust).The gambling industry is not involved in the research and has not influenced the survey or the questions asked in the interviews.
Regardless of where you live, if you suspect that you might have a gambling problem, please contact the good folks at Gambler’s Anonymous — they may be able to help.
Has anyone here ever played PC-based gambling games? If so, you’re probably like me and suspect that these games are tilted toward the player and not the house. When I used to play these games, I won all the time at craps, blackjack, and slots on any number of the casino software that was out there. So unless the owner of this internet cafe, who was allowing players to gamble on casino games on PCs and then paying them off if they won, was using updated software — or software that he built and “modified†to ensure he’d win — I do not know how he could have made any money.
Here is an article signed Bill Ricardi, a self-proclaimed blackjack expert. I do not know if this is a real person or if he is a blackjack expert, but the advise in the article is spot-on.
*** Play online blackjack from the comfort of your home. ***
When to Split Pairs
One of the most common mistakes that I see beginners make in blackjack is when it comes to splitting their paired starting cards. Some, knowing very little about the rules, never split at all. Others, knowing a little too much for their own good, always split a pair and take their chances.
The correct play is somewhere in between. You need to know when to split in order to maximize your profits. More importantly, you need to know when NOT to split, avoiding greed in order to keep your profits. Today, we’ll cover these two subjects.
There are certain hard and fast rules when you consider splitting cards:
[July 2008 Update: Sorry, but this post got lost in The Great Blog Loss of July 2008.]
I mostly think of taxes as getting nothing for something. So, let’s switch that around and get something for nothing with some free cash at casinos that accept players from all 50 of these here United States.
I hope you win with the free cash!
Rep. Barney Frank is my new hero. He’s at least started the conversation to repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.
Let’s do our part by writing to our elected officials expressing our desire to have this law repealed.
1) Find your representative — enter your zip in the top left corner.
2) Send him or her an email — see below.
3) Find your senators — select your state in the top right corner.
4) Send them the email as well.
Here is the email that you can send (credit to Hal Coblentz for the text of this email):
I am writing to express my opinion that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 should be repealed. I strongly believe our government should not prohibit adults from enjoying an American pastime in the comfort of our homes. I am in favor of legalization, regulation and taxation of the internet gaming industry by the U.S. Government.
You can also sign this petition to have the law repealed.
If you’ve not yet joined the PPA (like I asked you to 
), join up today so that you can tune in to tomorrow’s webcast with Senator Al D’Amato. According to their website:
“The Senator will give you an update of the federal government issues facing poker today and what the PPA is doing to fight for your rights. You have the opportunity to send e-mail questions before and during the Webcast which the Senator will answer live.â€
Hopefully, they will record and post the webcast for later viewing, since many of us have real jobs that will prevent us from attending live.