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Several published sources are claiming that the Massachusetts land-based casino bill championed by Governor Deval Patrick may soon re-emerge. This time, however, the bill being worked on reportedly does not include the controversial online poker prohibition that turned a signficant poker-playing faction against what could otherwise have been described as a pro-gambling force in the state.

Many Boston-area reports cite the recent political struggles of Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi as the reason for Gov. Patrick’s renewed optimism for his casino plans. DiMasi, a strident gambling oppponent, was narrowly successful in his efforts to kill Patrick’s previous casino plan, which would
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have created three Massachusetts casinos. However, DiMasi has become embroiled in ethical controversies of late.

Patrick did not cite DiMasi’s troubles as a reason for his own optimism, despite saying that his plans for legalized casino gambling “may yet come back in the Legislature.” Patrick cited a continuing need for property-tax relief despite studies that called into the question the budget Patrick’s office had prepared in support of its initial casino plan. The Wampanoag tribe is among those likely to receive authorization to operate a casino in the event Patrick’s casino plan is revived and becomes law. Currently, the Connecticut-based Foxwoods, run by the Mashantucket Pequot tribe, draws heavily from Massachusetts and the metro Boston area.

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As the case brought by Renton, WA attorney Lee Rousso against the state of Washington’s felony ban against online gambling comes up for an important legal hearing, the Poker Players Alliance has announced a rally in support of Rousso’s cause. The next hearing in Rousso’s case comes up on May 15th.

Rousso, an outspoken opponent of the law who recently abandoned his single-issue candidacy for governor against incumbent Christine Gregoire, who signed the bill into law, has refocused his attention on his suit against the state in attempting to have the law declared unconstitutional. One of Rousso’s arguments is that the law is a protectionist measure benefiting Washington’s land-based casinos, and
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that the current ban against online gambling therefore violates the US Constitution’s Commerce Clause. Attempts by the state of Washington to have Rousso’s case dismissed have, to date, been unsuccessful.

Noted pro players Barry Greenstein and Andy Bloch have already committed to attending the PPA rally, which will be held at King County’s Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent on the morning of the 15th. The address and times for the rally:

Maleng Regional Justice Center
401 – 4th Ave. North
Kent, WA 98032
Thursday, May, 15, 2008
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

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With the World Series of Poker fast approaching, players are getting ready to make their annual trek to Las Vegas. However, for many players (myself included), the World Series of Poker is not about the tournaments, but the side action that surrounds them and the players that they bring in.

Many players agree that there are no better cash games during the year than at the WSOP. While the WSOP tournaments are held daily at the Rio Convention Center, there are a variety of places to suit just about any game that one wants to play.

The Rio
The Rio’s poker room normally is on the small side, with less than a dozen tables spreading low- to mid-limit games. However,
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during the WSOP, there is no bigger room in town. The minimum game they spread is $4/8 limit or $2/5 no-limit, however they also regularly have mid- to high-limit games as well. One great thing about the Rio’s side games are the variety that they offer. With badugi, triple draw, Chinese poker, and the more traditional forms of poker, the Rio arguably has the widest selection during the series and easily the most tables. If mixed games are your specialty, than the Rio or Bellagio are the places to play.

Bellagio
Another popular locale to play at is the Bellagio. Located about a mile from the Rio, their second-chance tournaments during the series are a popular alternative when players get busted out early from their events. In addition to being a good place to play tournaments, the Bellagio also regularly spreads some of the best cash games in town. Like the Rio, its limits also start at $4/8 limit or $2/5 no-limit with medium- and high-stakes games peppered in between. The Rio and Bellagio are probably the most popular destinations for medium- to high-stakes players during the series.

Venetian
The Venetian sports a big, well-known poker room that is always bustling during the year. They also offer a popular series of tournaments in their Deep Stack Extravaganza series that will run concurrently with the WSOP. The Venetian is not known for offering quite the scope of games as the Rio or Bellagio, but they will open up new games upon request. Unlike either locale, the Venetian spreads $1/2 no limit hold’em games, which are a popular choice for recreational players just looking for some fun. The Venetian’s tournament series should bring some new players into its room, and if last year’s WSOP action is any indicator, it should have a wider selection of games than it normally does during the year and be a good spot for hold’em players.

The Wynn
The Wynn offers a relatively new and spacious room. It also gives players a chance at a different type of game – uncapped no-limit. While other rooms oftentimes have no cap on their bigger games, the Wynn and Caesars Palace are the only two rooms in town that do not cap any of their games, regardless of stakes. The Wynn usually spreads games from $1/3 no-limit to $5/10 no-limit hold’em and $4/8 to $15/30 limit hold’em. Although they occasionally have bigger games and will probably host some higher-stakes games during the series, finding high-stakes action or games other than holdem is oftentimes hit or miss. The Wynn is always a great place for medium-stakes players and players who like to play deep stacked, though.

Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace also offers uncapped games for all of its players. It is a popular destination for players looking for smaller tournaments and it will also be spreading its own series, the Mega Stack Series for $235-$340 buyins, which should induce some good side action. Caesars has a nice, roomy place to play and during the year you can usually find $1/3 to $2/5 no-limit hold’em games as well as some low-stakes limit hold’em games. It should be a good destination for more skilled low- to medium-stakes players.

This is just a smattering of the poker rooms in town, albeit probably the most popular and profitable at which to play. However, for players who are just looking for small-stakes games, there are dozens of places from which to choose and it is very difficult to find a bad game during the series. Good luck, welcome to town, and don’t forget to bring your money!

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The second day of action in the PokerStars.com Latin American Poker Tour debut in Rio de Janeiro featured aggressive early action. Before the first break, of the 103 players who started play, 39 were eliminated.

The day began great for American Alex “Assassinato” Fitzgerald, who doubled up his chips against Brazil’s Leo Burgu?s by hitting a flush on the turn after pushing all in post-flop. Burgu?s, in a different hand, flopped a royal flush. Fitzgerald would eliminate Burgu?s shortly after, becoming the leader of the tournament early in the day.

For the home-country Brazilians, the day was not good at all. Many of the local favorites who reached the second day were eliminated early
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in the day’s action.

After the first break, the lead soon moved to Venezuelan Carlos Lopez, with just over 140,000 chips.

The bubble hand was interesting and time-consuming. Short-stacked Brazilian player Pirajibe limped on the button, and Juan Carlos Burguillos of Venezuela checked the big blind. The flop brought (2-Hearts)(3-Spades)(6-Diamonds), and the two players checked. An (8-Spades) came on the turn and Burguillos opened for 3,000 chips, and Pirajibe snap-called. Before the river was dealt, the Venezuelan announced all in (which would put Pirajibe all in). The river was a (10-Diamonds), and the action went to Pirajibe, who thought for perhaps five minutes, until a clock was call. Pirajibe used his last minute and called, showing (A-Clubs)(8-Clubs). The players went wild when Juan Carlos opened his (8-Diamonds)(2-Diamonds) and took the hand with two pair, and the money bubble was burst.

Here’s how the prize money would be distributed for the surviving players:

Total Prize Pool: $ 785,000.00
1 - $ 222,940
2 - $ 117,750
3 - $ 86,350
4 - $ 62,800
5 - $ 47,100
6 - $ 31,400
7 - $ 23,550
8 - $ 15,700
9 - $ 11,775
10-12 - $ 10,205
13-16 - $ 8,635
17-24 - $ 7,065
25-32 - $ 5,495

Carlos Lopes, of Spain, who plays as “Djalminha” on PokerStars and was the Day One leader, was eliminated in 27th place, followed by Andrew Li who was involved in an exciting hand.

With raises and re-raises pre-flop, Li and Flemish player Julien Niijten ended by going all-in pre-flop in a pot with more than 600,000 chips. Andrew showed pocket kings and Julien pocket queens. The flop brought a queen, and a deuces on the turn and river gave Niijten a full house and a large leader in the tourney.

Victor Randim, the last surviving Team PokerStars player, was eliminated shortly after that hand. He was with short-stacked and psuhed with 6-6, and was called by Switzerland’s Severin Walzer with K-Q, who hit a king and a queen on the flop, eliminating Victor.

The last two eliminated before reaching the final two tables were Brazilians Barba and Eugenio Carmo.

After a re-draw, Brazilian Ricardo Manecop was eliminated after going all-in short-stacked with 6-6 against the K-K of his opponent, but the hand that actually crippleded Manecop happened just before the semifinal, when his pocket kings lost to the (A-Spades)(Q-Hearts) of his opponent when a four-flush of spades hit the board.

15th place went to Micha Hoedemaker, who lost with A-K to the pocket aces of the Brazilian Alex CG. The flop and turn were blanks, and the king on the river did not help Micha.

The next to be eliminated was Andreas Karl, who re-raised all in over an Eduardo bet. After thinking for some time, Eduardo called with A-Q, while Andreas showed (J-Hearts)(5-Hearts). An ace on the flop gave the hand to Eduardo, who eliminated Andreas.

Out next was Farhad, who hit two pairs on the flop at the same time that his opponent, Russia’ Vitaly, hit a set. The chips went in on the turn, and the final table was only three eliminations away. 12th went to Barzil’s Bruno JT, who pushed with a suited J-9 but ran into A-K and didn’t improve.

“Assassinato” Fitzgerald, exited in 11th place when he got into a pre-flop all-in with Alex Brenes, brother of Humberto Brenes. Fitzgerald’s A-Q led Brenes’ A-7, but a seven on the river, meant Fitzgerald’s day was over.

The tension increased at the the bubble, which popped with surprising speed. The Brazilian Alex CG raised pre-flop and was re-raised by chip leader Nuijten. Alex moved all in, and was promptly called. Alex had K-K and A-A. The aces held, and Alex was eliminated in 10th place.

With this, the final table was formed. These nine players will return today at 14:00pm (13:00pm ET) to determine the inaugural champion of the LAPT Rio de Janiero:

Player Country Chips

Julien Nuijten Holland 970,000
Vitaly Kovyazin USA 380,000
Alex Brenes Costa Rica 324,000
Nikolai Senninger Germany 318,000
Juan C. Burguillos Venezuela 297,000
Rafael Pardo Colombia 278,000
Eduardo Henriques Brazil 275,000
Oliver Kugler Germany 176,000
Severin Walser Switzerland 175,000

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