Sign-ups for the 56 preliminary events in the current 41st World Series of Poker have significantly outstripped those over the past two years, with the registrations of 65,647 entrants this year so far (the Main Event numbers are yet to be added) easily eclipsing last year’s 53,508 at the same point by some 22 percent.
“We’re thrilled that poker enthusiasts from every corner of the globe have reinforced the WSOP’s standing as one of the most popular competitive events anywhere,” Ty Stewart, WSOP vice president said. “This year’s turnout continues to show the players’ passion for poker’s biggest stage.”
The Main Event will be adding significant numbers to the overall total, with WSOP officials revealing that over the first three days of the four-day entry window for the event, registrations are up 34 percent.
The last day for entries in the $10 000 buy-in main event was yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, when a field of 2,391 players started taking their seats at the Rio in Las Vegas.
The huge final entry field for Day 1D, which brings total main event entries to 7,319 players – up 12.7 percent on 2009 – generated a prize pool of some $68.8 million, sufficiently large to give the top ten percent of finishers significant cashes…and the winner a first prize of $8.94 million. That’s well up on last year’s prize pool of $61 million, which gave winner Joe Cada a prize of $8.55 million.
Given the trying times that poker has had to survive with a depressed world economy and legislative and enforcement challenges, the recovery of the game and its continued popularity is remarkable, although the WSOP numbers this year are still no match for the records set back in 2006. That year a field of 8,773 delivered a first prize to Jamie Gold of $12 million.
Tournament director Jack Effel revealed Thursday that 747 players will make money in the tournament.
Thursday’s midday start saw a mixture of celeb, pro and amateur players all raring to go on Day 1d. Seen among the crowds were actors Jason Alexander and Shannon Elizabeth; NFL great Emmitt Smith; who gave the shuffle up and deal call, and former “The Real World” reality star Trishelle Cannatella.
Also reported by famous face spotters were Lyle Berman, George Danzer, Kara Scott, Ross Boatman, Vanessa Selbst, Noah Boeken, Andy Bloch, Hevad Khan, Jason Potter, Josh Arieh, Jonathan Little, Humberto Brenes, Barry Greenstein, Shawn Sheikhan, Ylon Schwartz, 97-years-young veteran Jack Ury, Jason Mercier, Sorel Mizzi, Bruce Buffer, Vanessa Rousso and Phil Ivey.
There were many more high profile names in the game in the sea of faces around the packed tables.
Level 5 was reached Thursday night and the chips bagged, with some 1,700 survivors of a day that had commenced with 2,391 hopeful entrants.
Steve Billirakis holds a comfortable Day 1d chip lead on 187,150, joining the chip leaders from the other Day 1 heats: Corwin Cole (228,200) from Day 1a, James Danielson (201,050) from Day 1b and Mathieu Sauriol (169,900) from Day 1c.
Eliminations on Day 1d included Phil Gordon, Brian Townsend, John Tabatabai, Justin Smith, Michael Craig, Jose Barbero, Steve Dannenmann, Joe Hachem, John Juanda, Allen Kessler, Cliff Josephy, Sorel Mizzi and Wendeen Eolis – the first woman to cash in a WSOP event back in 1986.
Survivors who will make Day 2 that much more interesting included David Benyamine, Bill Chen, Vanessa Rousso, Josh Arieh, Frank Kassela, Phil Ivey and Jason Mercier.
Numbers unaudited as we went to press indicate that around 5,000 players from the four Day 1 heats will be competing in Day 2 action. Friday afternoon will see the survivors of Day 1a and 1c combining in Day 2a, whilst those who made it through Day 1b and Day 1d will combine in Day 2b as the large entry field is progressively reduced towards a final table of 9 players.
SLOTLAND UPGRADES FIVE GAMES
Enhanced sound effects and graphics improve Flash slots
After a decade of operations, online casino Slotland has commenced a program designed to revamp its proprietary Flash-based slots and VP with enhanced sound effects and graphics.
Five of the fifteen games at Slotland.com are now available in the new, enriched Flash format, with more improved versions of the remaining games scheduled for launch in coming months.
The new game graphics look best when the new ‘full screen’ option, which blows the game graphics to fill the whole screen, is selected. The re-designed games also feature improved navigation to other games and site features, and brief video tutorials to get new players started.
The 5 games that have been re-launched so far are: Jacks or Better, Golden 8, Reel Riot, Treasure Box and Wild Heart.
Slotland.com currently features 15 unique slot machines and video poker games. Four of the most popular games are also available on mobile phones and PDAs. All of Slotland’s slot machines give players the option of placing a maximum bet for a chance at the progressive jackpot.
RESPECTED BUSINESS PUBLICATION SUPPORTS REGULATED ONLINE GAMBLING
The Economist opines that bans will not work, and it is better to legalise, tax and regulate a popular pastime
The respected UK business and economics publication ‘The Economist’ criticised attempts in other countries to ban online gambling this week in a leader article pointing out the advantages of properly licensed and regulated internet gambling activity.
Noting that history has shown that prohibition of a popular pastime – the alcohol bans in the United States for example – rarely works, the article goes on to examine the difficulties faced in enforcing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in the United States, and the workarounds that have developed to overcome government attempts to disrupt financial flows to so-called ‘illegal’ internet gambling websites.
“…after a brief dip, Americans are now betting online about as much as they did four years ago. The Justice Department still maintains that online gambling is illegal, yet large numbers of Americans carry on regardless. The reason is simple: anyone who wants to gamble and has an internet connection can do so,” The Economist points out, illustrating its point with some statistical facts.
The piece discusses the motivation of those seeking to kill off this modern evolution of gambling, opining that commercial protectionism and a fear of competition is a real element. It also poses the question of whether punters are better protected by banning the pastime and driving it underground, as is happening in the United States, or properly regulating and taxing it as is done by more enlightened governments such as the United Kingdom and a growing number of European states.
Online poker is particularly singled out as an example of a gambling genre that, thanks to modern media coverage, has grown from ‘a niche game with a rather louche reputation’ to a booming one, rightfully respected for the mental agility and improvisation it requires.”
Read the full article at http://www.economist.com/node/16539402