The River Rat Poker League based in Verndale, Minnesota has become a hot spot and must-do for northern Minnesota poker players.  The league has grown substantially by word of mouth over the last couple years. 

The home-based league typically goes off once per month and has been drawing good-size fields for some time.  The league plays in sessions – which lasts a few months - where players can buy-in and accumulate points.  They pool the money together and at the end of the session the players play for large buy-ins to big tournaments.  Their starting chip stack for each player is relative to the number of points they’ve earned during that session. 

Several well-known Minnesota players are regulars in the River Rat Poker League.  Former MSPT & HPT Champion Matt Hyland and MSPT Champ StingRay Bendijo play often.  Spring Poker Classic Champion David Mandt plays as well. 

69 players participated this past Sunday.  Jody Wilson had to take 1st to oust Joel Smith for the River Rat Summer Session points championship.  And she did!! 

This upcoming Sunday the River Rat Poker League will be holding their Summer Session Championship where players will take their shot at FOUR - MSPT-Treasure Island Prize Packages.  The Prize Package includes an $1,100 Main Event seat and 2 nights lodging at Treasure Island Casino courtesy of Treasure Island.    Not only will those 4 great packages be available, the RRPL will also be awarding 7 – $250 MSPT Qualifier seats. 

That means 11 of the 76 players who have qualified for the RRPL Championship will walk away with a sweet prize.  The RRPL has become loyal followers of the MSPT and we look forward to seeing a large contingent at TI in a couple weeks!

With the 2011 Twin Cities Poker Open upon us this week, let’s look back at the 2010 Open. 

To view the original post and photo gallery, go to http://www.mnpokermag.com/2010/08/29/twin-cities-poker-open-update-thread/

August 29, 2010:  Abramowicz outlasts Sjolund, Sandness to win 2010 Twin Cities Poker Open

David Abramowicz took down the 2010 Twin Cities Poker Open at Canterbury Park and $40,673, outlasting two of the top tournament players in Minnesota — Andy Sjolund and Mark Sandness.

Ironically, Abramowicz was down to his last two outs with two tables remaining, when he moved all in with 7-7 against the A-A of Sjolund. A 7 spiked in the window, however, giving Abramowicz new life. He used that momentum and massive stack to steamroll his way to victory.

Folks may recall Sandness won a Heartland Poker Tour event at Northern Lights Casino in 2007 for $53,199.

Final results – 122 entrants

With the 2011 Diamond Jo Poker Bash coming up this weekend, let’s take a look back at the 2010 Poker bash.

Below is the article and results from last year.  You can view the original post and photo gallery at http://www.mnpokermag.com/2010/08/21/updates-diamond-jo-50k-poker-bash/

Aug. 21, 2010:  About midnight Saturday evening Trevis Devericks took down the Diamond Jo Poker Bash earning himself $12,469. Devericks outlasted a field of 229 entrants which was the largest ever in the Diamond Jo event center.

You may remember Devericks from the 2009 $70K at Diamond Jo where he finished 3^rd for just over $4K.

The final hand of the night was 3-handed. With the blinds at $40K – $80K and $4K ante, Devericks with roughly $2 million in chips folded on the button, Bennett Wadekamper shoved all-in for $700K from the small blind with Kh8h. Minnesota Poker Magazine’s Bryan Mileski, $650K, called with As6s. The flop brought a K for Bennett eliminating Mileski in 3^rd place.

Devericks and Wadekamper immediately worked a deal to end the 14 hour long tournament.

Wadekamper was excited for the hefty pay day and plans to pay for his entire last year of college with the winnings.

Photos and complete results (24 places paid) will be posted Sunday night.

1 – Trevis Devericks – $12,469

2 – Bennett Wadekamper – $6,298

3 – Bryan Mileski – $3,023

4 – Jim Gebel – $2,771

5 – Michael Myers – $2,519

6 – Brian Vanderwaerdt – $2,393

7 – Jayson Scheffler – $2,267

8 – Bob Cassioppi – $2,015

9 – Tim Flater – $1,889

10 – Bill Romer – $1,763

11 – Charles Anderson – $1,637

12 – Richard Haag – $1,511

13 – Steven Sandeen – $1,385

14 – Alan Ahmann – $1,260

15 – Thomas Rieck – $1,134

16 – Paul Gilbert – $1,008

17 – James Haugerud – $907

18 – Ryan Skadsen – $806

19 – Marty Helle – $731

20 – Matt Rassier – $655

21 – William Carroll – $579

22 – David Rutledge – $504

23 – David Kingsley – $453

24 – Clifford Kiefer – $403

The Northern Lights Casino Poker room opens at Noon Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday and at 10 a.m. Monday, Thursday-Saturday.  Visit Northern Lights to play your favorite games:  Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven Card Stud. 

Call 877-544-4879 for tournament times & hours of operation.

The Poker Room’s current Daily Tournaments & Specials are available for download here.

Jessica Welman | August 19, 2011  – Bluff Magazine

The hope that online poker may be regulated and legalized in the United States some day soon may sound like wishful thinking, but recent whispers from everyone from Harry Reid (pictured) to Gary Loveman suggest that dream might be a reality. Meanwhile, the battle for intrastate gambling heats up in California and Full Tilt Poker adds another law suit to its ever-growing pile of litigation. Find out all the details in this edition of The Fight:

Online Gaming Regulation May Be Closer Than it Seems

The not-so-close call of a bill spearheaded by Harry Reid late last year and the cloud of Black Friday still hanging over US online poker enthusiasts heads may still have people down on the idea that regulation is coming, but several interviews as of late are forecasting a happy ending for online poker pros.

Thursday in the AM Scramble, we already reported that the New York Post featured an article discussing the possibility of regulated online gaming. Within the piece, author Josh Kosman spoke with a number of DC sources and reported that Senators Harry Reid and John Kyl were in talks with the Department of Justice to slow down movements for intrastate gambling, indicating a plan to implement national online gaming is on the horizon.

Similar sentiments have been cropping up all over several mainstream outlets. Las Vegas Review Journal reporter Howard Stutz Tweeted via @howardstutz a statement from Reid regarding his continued dedication to the online poker cause:

“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tells R-J staff Internet poker legislation ‘will get done.’ Reid: ‘I-poker will be good for Nevada.’”

The London Financial Times recently conducted a video interview with Caesars CEO Gary Loveman during which he indicated he fully believed that online gaming would be regulated in the near future as well.

California Intrastate Gaming Debate Heats Up

While members of the Federal government forecast online gaming’s future on a national level, the battle for intrastate poker legislation in California is picking up steam. The Sacramento Bee recently reported that a series of radio commercials sponsored by the California Online Poker Association supporting an intrastate online poker bill have begun to air throughout the state.

The ads appeal to the need to address the state’s ballooning debt, stating, “tell the politicians in Sacramento to authorize online poker now. California needs the money and Californians need the jobs.”

The bill, Senate Bill 40, would implement an intrastate system of online poker within California. The numerous California tribes within the state are divided on the issue. The San Manuel and Morongo tribes are the groups backing the California Online Poker Association, while Robert H. Smith, Chairman of the California Tribal Business Alliance, says there are too many policy questions that need to be addressed before pushing the gaming bill into law.

The Bee also reported that the Assembly’ Governmental Organization Committee will conduct a hearing on the subject of Internet gambling in Sacramento on August 24th.

More Litigation for Full Tilt Poker

It is beginning to get difficult to keep track of Full Tilt’s long list of pending law suits, but now they have another one to contend with. EGaming Review Magazine is reporting that two Canadian customers of the site, Zayn Jetha and Donald Whelan, are filing a class action law suit against Howard Lederer, Ray Bitar, and Nelson Burtnick. Both Burtnick and Bitar were named in the Black Friday indictments from the Department of Justice.

Just last month, a group of four US players, including lawyer and poker pro Todd Terry, filed a similar class action suit in the States, though their case names substantially more defendants, including the entirety of Team Full Tilt save for Tom Dwan.

There are a number of explanations for losing money at the poker table.  Typically, you’re either playing shitty or your opponents are getting unreasonably lucky.  There is another less common explanation, however, that is no less frustrating:  The Most Expensive Loss Hands.

I was playing a limit hold’em game recently, and after three limpers, I limped-in in the cut-off with A-9 suited.  The flop was A-7-2.  Three players checked, and the limper to my right fired a bet.  I raised.  Everybody folded, and the bettor called me.  The turn was a 9, and my opponent once again bet into me.  I raised him again.  He called.  The turn was a Jack.  He checked, and I bet.  He check-raised me!  I called, and he turned over A-J for the win.

I don’t think I played the hand poorly.  I could’ve raised pre-flop, I suppose, but I don’t think that would’ve changed the outcome of the hand.  I raised in position on the flop with top-pair, and raised again when I turned top-two-pair.  I had to bet the river when he checked to me, and unfortunately, I also had to call his check-raise.

Did he get unreasonably lucky?  Not really.  I was very fortunate to get the three-outer I needed on the turn, and he was simply retaking the pot on the river with his three-outer.

This is a Most Expensive Loss Hand.  The person to blame on this hand (since I always need somebody to blame) is the dealer.  I can’t be mad that I lost the hand, really.  My opponent had a better hand than I did!  But why did the cards have to fall in the order in which they did?  I turned top-two-pair for two large bets, and then gave another two large bets when he rivered me!  I’m willing to concede the pot; but why did the pot have to be so damned expensive?!?

ALSO, FOR ANY READERS WHO ENJOY MY BLOGS, PLEASE CHECK OUT MY PERSONAL BLOG WEBSITE:

JAYMIND.COM

Our leaders have been quiet the last couple of weeks, very little movement at the top.  Nate Fair (pictured) has been creeping up the list and now sits in the top 9.  3 Putts also got back on the board this week with his 7th POY cash.  Putts now holds down the 11-spot. 

Thomas Sharp and Peixin Liu continue their consistancy by each picking up another cash this week.  Sharp now has 11 POY cashes this year and Liu has 12.  Kye Longtin still leads the state in that category with 14.

Session 1 of the $10K II series is complete for the Little Poker League.  The $10K II series takes place at Little Poker League participating locations from June to December of 2011 and contains 3 total sessions.

Session 1 saw several players from the East & West qualify for Regionals. 

EAST Qualifiers – Don Mickel, Rickey Sauceda,  Julian Dreher, Eric Anderson, Tom Halland, Brad Lueck, Vern Tangen, Wendy Gotland

WEST Qualifiers – Mike Marek, John Cordts, Doug Brown, Greg Newhouse, Gary Anderson, Dale Neubauer, Bryan Engebretson, Keith Abrahamson

By Dan Katz – Aug 16th, 2011 – Poker News Daily

In a video interview with the Financial Times’ Matt Garrahan over the weekend, Caesars Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Gary Loveman reaffirmed his company’s desire to see online poker completely legalized and regulated in the United States.  Not only does he want to see it happen, he believes it will happen.

After answering some questions about the soured economy’s effect on Las Vegas and Caesars, the discussion turned to online poker.  Loveman started by briefly pointing out that poker is widely considered a game of skill and not just chance, an important distinction that is apparently not lost on many members of Congress.  He then lamented the plight of online poker, saying, “We’ve had in the United States this bizarre situation where it has been legal for Americans over (the age of) 21 to play poker online but illegal for American companies to provide that service.  I can’t think of another example where there is something an American can buy but no American entity can provide.  It’s a very unusual situation and that’s what we’ve been through for some time.”

With the Black Friday indictments of the principals of Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, and Absolute, along with the resulting withdrawals of those and other poker rooms from the U.S. market, Loveman said that there is now an opportunity for companies like Caesars.  Now that the major “illegal” offshore operators are gone, there is a “vacuum,” as he put it, for established American brick and mortar gaming firms to fill.

“I do believe there’s a will in Congress to correct this,” he said.  “There’s a sense of  inevitability that this ought to be something people should do and that we ought to clean up the regulatory and policing environment for it and that ‘s what we’re seeking.”

Aside from the obvious tax revenue windfall, Loveman cited two reasons why it legal online poker makes sense for Congress.  First,it would create the regulatory and policing environment needed for the industry and the online gaming firms that would likely be licensed, such as Caesars, will be “known” to law enforcement authorities.  And second, it would create thousands of jobs.

Loveman said that the feeling he gets is that the attitude in Congress is no longer skepticism regarding online poker, but more of a sense of inevitability.  It is not if it will happen, it is now “when should it happen and under what circumstances.”

Caesars Entertainment, renamed from Harrah’s Entertainment in November 2010, is the largest gaming company in the world.  Its brands include Harrah’s, Horseshoe, Caesars, and Bally’s, as well as Paris Las Vegas, Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, Planet Hollywood Resort (Las Vegas), and the London Clubs Casinos in both Europe and Egypt.  In 2006, the company was purchased by Hamlet Holdings, a joint venture of private equity firms Texas Pacific Group and Apollo Management, and was taken private by Hamlet in 2008.  It had planned to launch an initial public offering in October 2010, but those plans have been put on hold.  In the Financial Times interview, Loveman said that the company will likely go public at some point in the future.

In a recent blog on CardPlayer.com, poker pro Daniel Negreanu voiced his opinions on the new Epic Poker League, and why he believes that the organization will have a hard time maintaining steam in the current state of poker in the United States.

Negreanu chose not to play because “I don’t believe this product will resonate with the public and based on my intimate knowledge of how these types of things work, I don’t think it’s possible to bring in enough revenue to survive. The only legitimate chance the league has to survive is if regulation happened in the U.S. and they were able to create an online poker site.”

He also dives into why he thinks league buy ins are not a good investment for the players, despite there being $400,000 in added money and no rake. Negreanu mentions the current state of sponsorship for poker players and how with online poker gone, the benefits from making a televised final table are not like they once were.

The first $20,000 EPL main event, which drew a field of 137 players, was won by Chino Rheem this past Saturday. Rheem defeated two of the hottest players on the tournament circuit three handed in Jason Mercier and Erik Seidel and was rewarded with a cool $1 million for his efforts. The final table was a good one, as those three were joined by Huck Seed, Gavin Smith, and Hasan Habib.

“We had an incredible pro turnout,” Annie Duke, league commissioner said during the first day of action last Tuesday. Duke said she was thrilled with the early success of the EPL.

“I’ve long believed that the top professional poker players create enormous value for the industry and are skilled in a way that is worthy of star treatment,” said Jeffrey Pollack, who is working with Duke. “Our new league will celebrate poker professionals like never before.”

The EPL is open to the top 253 players in the world, determined by a “ranking system based on an eligibility formula that is driven by mathematics and proven historic achievement.” Eligible players will compete in three more televised tournaments with overlays running from August to December. The championship even will take place in January of 2012