Kelley N. | BitcoinPoker.us

Strong Start for 2023 Tournament Poker Season

Posted on January 4, 2023January 2, 2023 by Kelley N.

It may feel like the 2022 poker tournament season just wrapped up a few weeks ago, but those in the poker world are already moving on to other things. We are entering the year 2023 with a new crop of tournaments and some interesting variations on the standard fare.

Borgata’s Offering

The poker tournament schedule for the year 2023 got off to a rousing start at the Borgata in Atlantic City. There are $1,000,000 in guaranteed bounties for the $2000 ($200 juice) Mystery Bounty tournament known as “The Return.” On Monday, January 2, the action began with Day 1A, and later that day, at seven o’clock in the evening, Day 1B began its portion of the tournament.

As exciting as that event was, it was really a warmup for the real thing. A $5,000 buy-in Championship Event with some unusual stipulations will take place on Wednesday at the Borgata. The total prize pool for the tournament is $3 million, and the winner is certain to receive at least $1 million.

WSOP

From January 4-24, 2023, King’s Casino in Rozvadov will play host to twelve tournaments as part of the World Series of Poker International Circuit. Simultaneously, an event on the WSOP Circuit is being held in the United States, with players making the trip to Oklahoma’s Choctaw Casino Resort.

PokerGO

The PokerGO Cup 2023 will begin on January 11 at the PokerGO Studios in Las Vegas. The eight-part “High Roller” tournament series culminates on January 19 with the $50,000 Championship Event, which will be broadcast online.

PokerStars

The Bahamas will host the second annual PokerStars Players’ Championship for the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. The 46-event festival kicks off on January 22 at the Baha Mar Resort and Casino in Nassau. The $25,000 Poker Players’ Championship (PSPC) is only one of several tournaments, including bounty and High Roller events.

What About the EPT and WPT?

The World Poker Tour and the European Poker Tour, two of the biggest tournament poker circuits, will not get off until later in 2023. Out of the two, the EPT is the one that will be making its maiden trip to a new venue first.

Beginning on February 15 at the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile, the European Poker Tour (EPT) will host a series of tournaments with buy-ins of €5,000 for the Main Event, €10,000 for the High Roller, €50,000 for the Super High Roller, and €3,000 for the Mystery Bounty. The final match of the tournament will be held on February 26.

Pokermatch Founder Denys Ustymenko Unveils New Crypto Processing Project

Posted on December 4, 2022December 1, 2022 by Kelley N.

The well-known financial technology entrepreneur Denys Ustymenko, who has amassed a great deal of attention for his work over the years thanks to his extensive knowledge and experience in the IT and fintech industries, has just introduced 1TN, a reliable licensed cryptocurrency payment provider in Portugal.

Denys had already established himself as a business juggernaut after he and his colleagues had founded Pokermatch before he began working on his own initiatives. After launching in 2016, Pokermatch quickly rose to prominence as a premier global online poker destination.

About 1TN

In 2021, a group of blockchain enthusiasts with significant prior expertise in online retailing launched 1TN. Beginning in 2022, it has been actively engaged in crypto-related activities in Portugal.

Due to the introduction of novel security features, the company has quickly become one of the cryptocurrency industry’s most trusted platforms. This means that the payment ecosystem in the crypto world may be expanded, facilitating faster, safer, and more convenient international trade. A simple connection makes their services usable via e-commerce either directly or as a white-label offering to their customers.

“We’ve added Chip and Switch components to our UI. These will greatly improve the UX, and we’ll be storing the new components in our project’s UI library for future integration into the system. We’ve fixed some password issues. Now you can easily get to the back office while copying and pasting your password from an email. We’ve developed some new popup components according to our house design. These are stored in the project’s UI library for future integrations. There’s no doubt this will improve the UX,” 1TN said in a recent statement.

As 1TN is headquartered in Portugal, the National Bank of Portugal must provide its final permission before the license may be utilized elsewhere in the world.

More Expansion Plans

Alliances with industry leaders in information technology including Fireblocks, Chainanalysys, and Finerymarkets attest to 1TN’s safety. Denys has amassed a competent crew of professionals with deep knowledge of the blockchain and financial technology sectors. They will be focusing on both platform improvements and new developments. In addition, three European branches—in Portugal, Latvia, and Bulgaria—have opened, with more on the way.

In the long run, they want to roll out a bitcoin payment gateway and expand it to help expand existing companies. Account creation is scheduled to become live after the team has received the license. They are also prepared to assist growing businesses by providing simple ways to store, receive, or transfer digital assets, such as 1TN’s multi-currency crypto wallet.

888poker Bags Two Awards at the Annual EGR Awards on Its 20th Anniversary

Posted on November 4, 2022November 3, 2022 by Kelley N.

This year marks 888poker’s 20th anniversary, and as a special gift, eGaming Review (EGR) has given the company some recognition. For their pioneering work in the online gambling business over the last two decades, EGR has awarded 888poker with two of their most prestigious awards.

In general, a lot has happened for 888poker this year. The company was singled out for the many changes and updates it made to its software throughout the year, including the debut of Mystery Bounty Tournaments and a host of other exciting and novel tournament series that kept players returning to the site all year long (and counting, as there is still one more Knockout Games festival to go).

The site’s outstanding year was crowned by two prizes at the annual EGR ceremony: Poker Operator of the Year and Casino Operator of the Year.

High-Level Recognition

In the online gambling sector, EGR is a trusted authority, and its yearly awards have come to symbolize excellence and longevity. A panel of impartial experts from outside the organization evaluates candidates for these prizes, providing a fair representation of the many perspectives within the sector.

The awards serve to recognize and celebrate the top businesses in their respective fields, honoring their achievements in areas such as software, company culture, customer service, and overall market impact. Awards were given to 888poker in part because of their 20 years of devotion to the industry, but it wasn’t the only factor. A large part of this year’s success may be attributed to the company’s dedication to constant development and progress.

Huge Developments for 888poker

For 888poker to achieve this level of success in recent years, a lot of work was required. In the last year and a half, the operator has improved its software in all its markets, expanded the number of tournament series it provides (both online and offline), developed new game formats, and strengthened its overall position in the market.

The latest overhaul of the 888poker online poker app’s playing interface was perhaps the most significant update in recent times. 888poker’s new Poker 8 platform is now live in the vast majority of its global markets. In 2022, the operator also expanded into several additional markets, including Pennsylvania and Michigan.

All players, not just those in the United States, may now make use of the improved features of the Poker 8 software thanks to its worldwide release. The operator has also boosted its media profile by reshuffling its ambassador and stream teams, which now include Ian Simpson, Cauê Moura, and boxing champion Chris Eubank Jr.

Ape In Poker Launches Gaming Platforms Featuring Web3 and Crypto

Posted on October 4, 2022October 2, 2022 by Kelley N.

Having operated an online casino and sportsbook for more than five years, the creators of Ape In Poker have announced the launch of their Poker Room Cashier, an online platform connecting conventional casino gaming with cryptocurrencies. The company’s goal is to provide gamers with dynamic, immersive experiences, and this is the first step in their transition to Web3 technology to make that a reality.

Though not the first to accept cryptocurrencies, Ape In Poker boasts that its instant cashout mechanism gets players their money “easily, quickly, and efficiently.” Even more, the teller machine will accept a wide variety of blockchain currencies, starting with Solana and moving on to Ethereum and eventually Bitcoin.

Future updates will allow players to interact with one another in a fully immersive environment. Ape In Poker is developing a Mixed Reality casino experience that includes the whole gamut of a traditional visit, from entering the establishment to selecting a table based on visual cues, to putting a wager, to interacting with other players, to collecting winnings and leaving the premises.

Executives have an overwhelming sense of optimism and confidence in the outcome of this endeavor. The introduction of the Genesis Players Card NFT was announced at the end of August to coincide with the launch of the updated Poker Room Cashier. Holders of NFTs will get access to a variety of benefits and features, both virtually and physically. All rakes paid on winning hands for the rest of their lives will be discounted for holders of this card.

Other Partnerships

Ape In Poker is expanding its brand via some fruitful collaborations in addition to the development of groundbreaking new products. It was only recently announced that Kenna James, a professional poker player, will be partnering with Ape In Poker for its offerings. The operator believes that by teaming up with James, the product will be more widely distributed throughout the online poker community.

“Not only is Ape In Poker the next phase of online gambling, but it’s the next stage of my career. With the momentum of this project combined with the incredible technology behind it, there’s no way I was passing up this opportunity. This is a game changer.”

~ Kenna James

To mark the occasion of James’s hiring, Ape In Poker will hold a tournament on October 7 of that year, with the top two finishers in the event receiving private lessons from the poker pro himself.

Infinity Entertainment Expands Portfolio with New Poker Offering

Posted on September 4, 2022September 1, 2022 by Kelley N.

The team behind the popular and secure online casino infinitybet.ag, Infinity Entertainment, has unveiled a new poker site at www.infinitypoker.io. The introduction of this new service significantly broadens the scope of the operator’s market position inside an industry that is both highly profitable and intensely competitive.

Because of their unscrupulous business tactics and lack of transparency, many online casinos and sportsbooks have closed their doors or come under fire in recent years. One company that has defied the odds and survived is Infinity Entertainment. It has done so by winning the confidence and devotion of gamers all around the world.

InfinityPoker.io was released by the company to satisfy the growing demand for online poker games from the company’s user base.

“Overwhelming player demands for our gaming products is proof-positive of the quality of the games we deliver and the trust our players have in us to provide online gaming experiences they trust.” ~ Infinity Entertainment spokesperson.

The new platform comes with a selection of poker gaming applications, and there are six different impressive poker games available to play across five different online platforms. Texas Hold’Em, Omaha, 7-Card Stud, Omaha Hi-Lo, Badugi, and 2-7 Triple Draw are just some of the games you may play. Additionally, InfinityPoker.io provides new players with the opportunity to participate in free roll events.

Crypto-Focused Future

Games from the industry’s most well-known software developers, such as Evolution Studios, may be found on the gaming website. In addition to this, it provides a casino centered on cryptocurrencies as well as sportsbook options including competitive lines and exclusive live betting on sports markets. It is thus reasonable to assume that the crypto functionalities in question will also be accessible through the recently released poker platform.

Even though it is now a well-known brand in the world of online gaming, Infinitybet.ag comes from somewhat modest roots. When it first opened its doors, InfinityBet.ag had a limited bankroll and operated out of a run-down coffee shop. But in the present day, it has established itself as a heavy-hitter in the business, having a vast player network that is devoted to the brand as well as spectacular monthly payments that total multiple millions of dollars.

Gamblers respect them for the effort, honesty, and tenacity that have helped them succeed in a profession where such qualities are seldom acknowledged. InfinityBet.ag is leading the revolution in online gambling by providing players with a safe and secure environment in which to enjoy a wide variety of exciting games, get prompt payments, and have the chance to win lots of money.

More Poker Operators Warming Up to NFTs

Posted on August 4, 2022August 3, 2022 by Kelley N.

For quite some time, non-fungible tokens have been consistently featured in news reports from various countries throughout the globe. Even if the hype has subsided quite a bit, there is no denying the enormous potential that this technology has. Having said that, it is not unexpected that casino operators, particularly those in the poker sector, are still exploring methods to incorporate it.

PokerAces: The NFT and AI-based Poker Brand

A new NFT-based AI poker brand has been under development by a group of ex-executives from Full Tilt and PokerStars. According to i3soft, the firm that is creating the software, the goal of the project, which has been given the name PokerAces, is to make playing online poker more “exciting” by using new technologies and gameplays.

Every PokerAces event enables participants to avoid the traditional grind of tournament play and find out “whether they’re in the money” instantly. The first stage of the gaming experience in PokerAces makes use of AI to play down to the money much quicker than in traditional tournaments. With the inclusion of NFTs, the project is able to address the problem of RTAs degrading the gaming experience.

In addition, there are plans to add wearable alternatives to the NFTs in the near future. These choices will include things like sunglasses, headphones, hats, and more. Players will be awarded i3X tokens for their participation in tournaments, and they may use these tokens to buy customizations for their NFT accounts or earn them via tournament play.

PokerLook’s Innovative Model

Another online gambling provider that is making progress in incorporating non-traditional features like NFTs into its operations is PokerLook. It has devised a method through which its members may profit financially from their participation in the game. The only thing they need to do is create and stake their own non-fungible tokens.

The NFTs determine a player’s passive income, and the greater they are, the more money they may save. Users also have the option of earning more virtual currency by lending out their NFTs to other gamers.

PokerLook aims to reinvigorate people’s interest in the crypto industry by providing an experience that is both challenging and entertaining. While working toward being the greatest player they can be, players may improve their skills by looking over their statistics, racking up accomplishments, and competing in weekly tournaments.

Poker Operators Tightening Integrity Controls

Posted on July 4, 2022July 4, 2022 by Kelley N.

Online poker is more popular than ever. As the game continues to gain more popularity, operators are hard at work trying to find new and interesting ways of ensuring that their customers get the best experiences. One of the areas that they have been improving on is integrity controls. This not only ensures fairness but also makes the platforms more trustworthy.

GGPoker Introduces Poker Integrity Council

The Poker Integrity Council was established by GGPoker as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to defend the integrity of the game via a variety of internal and external investigations. It will be up to the council, which will comprise Jason Koon and Andrew Lichtenberger, Fedor Holz, Seth Davies, and Nick Petrangelo, to examine complaints of cheating and carry out impartial evaluations. They will also be tasked with implementing punishments for suspicious behavior detected at GGPoker tables.

To determine if disciplinary action should be taken in every given matter presented before the council, members will vote. This will, of course, come after investigations into signs of suspicious behavior and analyzing relevant hand histories. Only then will they provide a verdict.

In each matter that is presented before the council, the steps of the procedure will include identifying suspicious behavior, evaluating relevant hand records, and ruling, which will include council members voting on whether disciplinary action is warranted.

If disciplinary action is required, the player may get a warning regarding their conduct. In some cases, GGPoker will temporarily suspend or permanently ban their account, or a player could receive a permanent ban in addition to having their funds confiscated.

PokerStars Implements Ban on Cheaters

In light of the multiple claims of cheating that have been floating around the poker world, PokerStars has decided to take a bold step in protecting the integrity of the game. Players who have been banned for cheating on PokerStars, the biggest online poker site in the world, will also be prohibited from playing in live tournaments that PokerStars organizes in the future.

When deciding whether or not to ban a player from live tournaments, PokerStars follows a “no questions asked” approach. For whatever reason, any player who is evicted from a PokerStars online tournament will not be allowed to participate in any of the company’s live tournaments.

Numerous allegations have been leveled against well-known live and online poker players in the last several months. In light of PokerStars’ new policy, other poker sites may follow suit and take similar measures against players that commit cheating acts such as using prohibited tools, ghosting, and collusion.

Michigan Board Greenlights Online Poker Shared Liquidity

Posted on June 4, 2022June 1, 2022 by Kelley N.

The state of Michigan has just become a party to a multijurisdictional poker agreement. This paves the way for residents of the state who play poker online to compete against players from other states. Poker fans in the state will compete against players in Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey.

One of Michigan’s top gaming regulators, Henry Williams, was on hand to sign the document granting his state permission to take part in the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement. The announcement of the state’s participation was initially made public a month ago, but it had to be completed before Michigan could join.

All of this started back in December 2020, when the Michigan Legislature approved a measure that would enable the MGCB to become a member of a multijurisdictional poker compact. Sen. Curtis Hertel, a Democrat who represents East Lansing, was the primary sponsor of bill PA 327, and on December 29, 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer gave her signature on the legislation.

“I am happy to announce Michigan has joined the multistate poker compact, and much of the increased tax revenue from multistate poker will go to support K-12 education in Michigan. By joining, Michigan will almost double the potential pool of participants in multistate poker games.”

Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director Henry Williams

The initial online gambling law (PA 152) that went into force in December 2019 lacked wording that would have enabled players to participate in several jurisdictions. Now, just one game has been exempted from the restriction, and that is poker.

New Requirements for Operators

The Michigan Gaming Control Board notes that licensed operators and related platform providers must fulfill several processes to obtain MGCB clearance to start multistate poker. Guidance on participation criteria for interested parties was published by the organization in April.

The multijurisdictional agreement stipulates that the operators must fulfill all criteria and regulations before starting multistate poker operations, including the need that only states included in the agreement participate. Additionally, they must get clearance for new platforms or platform updates, new remote gaming systems, and new game software.

Multistate poker providers must also seek internet gaming supplier licenses for any new suppliers utilized in conjunction with the poker game, as well as the MGCB registration for any new vendors. The Gaming Control Board may also issue occupational licenses to new multistate poker operators and platform providers.

At the moment, there are three licensed operators and providers that offer online poker in the state of Michigan. These include the MGM Grand Detroit with its partner site BetMGM, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians with its partner site World Series of Poker, and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians with its partner site PokerStars.

GGPoker Unveils New Ask Fedor Feature

Posted on May 4, 2022May 2, 2022 by Kelley N.

Want to get better at your poker game? How about getting a chance to learn from a poker pro? That is exactly what GGPoker is offering with its new, powerful, and innovative Ask Fedor feature. This is essentially a unique tailor-made deep learning system that was built in consultation with Fedor Holz, one of the best poker players alive.

The German poker pro has built up quite a reputation in the poker sector. Over the course of his career, he has earned over $32.5 million in live poker events and millions more from online poker gaming. That said, it is very exciting to get the opportunity to pick his brain.

How It Works

Ask Fedor is powered by Prometheus AI which not only analyzes your hand history but also gives detailed feedback on how you play a specific hand. To begin, you will be given feedback in the form of a one- to five-star rating. Five stars indicate that you played the hand in the same way or manner as Ask Fedor would.

“The perfect poker player doesn’t exist, and every one of us is curious about the best way to play a hand. This is why we have created Ask Fedor. Your hand is analyzed in real-time and the advice provided will help bring your game to the next level. It helps bridge the gap between casual players and professionals…”

Fedor Holz, GGPoker Ambassador

After the rating is then, the players then get recommendations on how to play the hand differently. In the long term, making the changes suggested by Ask Fedor should yield better outcomes for all the players that choose to participate.

The Ask Fedor feature currently only works in No-Limit Hold’em cash games and tournaments. However, there are plans in the works to introduce more varieties, so stay tuned.

Is It Free?

Well, it is possible to try out the feature without paying anything extra. Every player at GGPoker has been awarded five free asks. They may use these the next time they log into their account. You may choose from three membership tiers if you want additional requests to assist you in your game.

To make it more enticing, if you sign up for any of the subscription packages, GGPoker will give you a 50% discount on your first month. It is worth noting that VIP games can only be analyzed with the Ask Fedor Premium package. Cash games with stakes of $25/$50 or above, as well as tournaments with buy-ins of $5,000 or more, are classified as VIP games.

Online Poker Finally Arrives in Ontario

Posted on April 4, 2022April 3, 2022 by Kelley N.

Ontario’s online gambling market is finally a reality and this represents a lot of renewed optimism about Canada’s gambling sector. Being the very first jurisdiction in the country to take bets within the context of a legal and private online gaming market, it sets the pace for what we can expect in the future.

Going forward, residents of Ontario will be able to wager on casino games as well as sporting events. Other forms of gambling products and services will also be offered online on both mobile apps and web-based platforms. These will, of course, have to be from licensed and regulated operators.

So far, iGaming Ontario has registered an impressive 25 operators. More are expected to be added in the long run but this is certainly a great start. Thankfully, there is a decent number of online poker options. Poker enthusiasts in the jurisdiction now have another amazing option when it comes to enjoying their favorite online poker titles.

Offshore Operations

Now, even though online gaming is now available in Ontario, some of the online poker options will still be offered from offshore sites. Players will not need to worry about the lack of localized content though as the poker operators are taking the new market very seriously.

PokerStars, for instance, will strive to ensure that its customers in Ontario have access to the global poker market as well as its massive player pool. 888poker and GGPoker who are always big brands in the online poker sector also have their sights set on the newly-launched market. There is talk of even more operators coming in.

Two-Tiered System

The launch of online gambling today (Monday, April 4, 2022) came with the creation of a de-factor two-tiered system. As it stands, there are no long-term plans for the system but it is expected to have some far-reaching impacts, especially on poker players.

Commissioned by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), the two-tiered system is intended to help with avoiding a blackout period. This means that licensed online poker operators will be operating alongside rivals that have just started the licensing process.

On the bright side, this could help eliminate the possibility of black market operators stepping in where the players have no viable options. The main disadvantage of this is that it might lead to the market having some arguably inferior products and services. Still, this is all work in progress and we will have to wait and see how it all pans out over the coming months.

BitcoinPoker.us

Author: Kelley N.