
Poker legend Phil Ivey would ordinarily have been ensconced in Las Vegas this week, fighting it out during the World Series of Poker Main Event (WSOP). Instead, Ivey is in London, fighting his battle that is legal to £7.7 million ($10 million) in punto banco winnings from London’s tony Crockfords Casino, which he contests has been illegally withheld. The situation reached London’s Supreme Court week that is late last.
Instead of playing for the $8.15 million top prize in this season’s World Series of Poker Main Event, poker pro Phil Ivey (seen here after winning the 2008 L.A. Poker Classic) is in London during the Supreme Court, fighting for $10 million from Crockford’s that he says is due him. (Image: WPT)
The player that is top-ranked absence from the WSOP, while notable, is no longer the massive news it as soon as could have been. In fact, since he won his last World Series bracelet in 2014, he’s only registered for three WSOP activities.
But until now, he’s never missed the Main Event.
Ivey was fighting the Crockford’s battle for five years, along with a case that is similar Atlantic City’s Borgata.
Edge-Sorting 101
Ivey and their accomplice Kelly Sun ‘won’ the contested sum in 2012 using a practice known as edge-sorting. This might be a technique in which a skilled player is in a position to spot tiny discrepancies in the patterns on the backs of playing cards. Ivey and Sun requested a certain kind of Gemaco cards to assist them in this, knowing historically that there were hard-to-spot manufacturing defects on them.
While at no point did they tamper utilizing the cards, they did ask the dealer to turn particular cards 180 degrees during play, which they explained away during the time as being a superstitious quirk.
In truth, they were instructing a dealer that is unwitting sort the deck into two categories of favorable and unfavorable cards, which could then be identified by the backs, moving the chances into the players’ favor. Crockfords later studied surveillance video, decided they were cheating, and withheld the amount of money, which they’d guaranteed to wire to Ivey.
Ivey and Sun subsequently sued.
Battle of Two Dictionaries
The judge in a lower appellate court, in ruling against Ivey in November last year, described the poker player as an ‘honest’ witness, in the sense that Ivey truly believed he was not breaking the rules. This prompted Ivey to question how there can be such a plain thing as an ‘honest cheat.’
Ivey’s lawyer, Richard Spearman QC, dubbed the case ‘the Battle associated with the Dictionaries’ on Thursday.
That’s because the Ivey camp uses the Oxford English Dictionary (1989) definition of ‘to cheat’ (»to deal fraudulently, practice deceit’), while Crockfords’ hinges on the newer Concise Oxford English Dictionary definition (‘to operate dishonestly or unfairly to be able to gain an advantage’).
‘We say we’ve won that because we have the better dictionary,’ quipped Spearman at the hearing. ‘There is no finding at all that Mr. Ivey was dishonest in just about any sense,’ he added. ‘He had been found to be a honest witness who didn’t believe what he was doing was dishonest. He contends he is entitled to be paid his winnings because edge-sorting is a legitimate advantage play strategy.’
The case continues.
Ivey’s Poker Acumen
Ranked as the fourth-highest live tournament moneymaker of all time by record-tracker Hendon Mob, Ivey’s winnings in that arena total simply upwards of $23,800,000 in lifetime cashes. However in recent years, he’s largely abandoned tournament play in favor of super cash that is high-roller, mostly in Macau and also at the nosebleed private Bobby’s Room in the Bellagio poker room in Las Vegas.
His biggest recent tournament gold was at the 2015 Aussie Millions in Melbourne, Australia, where he took down a prize of US$1,710, 854 within the APPT US$191K + $3,900K LK Boutique Challenge against just 24 other elite players.
Fate of Philadelphia Live! Casino Project in Limbo as still Factions Battle Antitrust Measures
Philadelphia’s Live! Hotel & Casino task remains in legal limbo, as a lawsuit continues to block the venue from license finalization and continue to break ground.
State Rep. Scott Petri wants Pennsylvania to quickly approve a downtown that is second casino in hopes of delivering much-needed tax revenue to federal government coffers. But state gaming measures that are antitrust maintaining construction from moving forward on Live! (Image: Larry Roberts/Post-Gazette)
The primary issue is trying to determine whether businessman Watche ‘Bob’ Manoukian, who has a controlling 86 percent stake within the nearby Parx Casino, is permitted to also hold an interest in Live! The state’s gaming act forbids investors and financial groups from exceeding a 33.3 percent stake in multiple video gaming ventures.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) recently announced that a public hearing on the situation is going to be held on July 31 in Harrisburg.
Per the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, ‘No slot machine licensee, its affiliate, intermediary, subsidiary or holding company may possess an ownership or monetary interest that is greater than 33.3 % of another neighborhood machine licensee.’
That presents a problem for the Philadelphia casino project, that is a partnership that is joint Cordish Companies and Green Racing, the latter owned by Manoukian. The businessman could be the president of HCBS Bank Armenia, and he holds assets in genuine estate, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and hospitality.
The $450 million Live! resort is planned to be built on a plot that is nine-acre of adjacent to the Philadelphia Sports Complex. The plans call for a 325,000-square-foot casino floor, plus a hotel that is 18-story.
SugarHouse Casino is currently the gambling that is only with a Philadelphia address, but Parx is less than 20 miles northeast in Bensalem, and Harrah’s Philadelphia is just 15 miles southwest in Chester.
Dissecting Ownership
Stadium Casino, LLC, the venture between Cordish and Greenwood, received a Category 2 video gaming license in of 2014 november. It still requires approval that is final the PGCB.
That’s being blocked by a legal challenge brought forth by a bidder who destroyed down on winning the Philadelphia license. Market East Associates, the entity that unsuccessfully used for the permit, is behind the lawsuit. SugarHouse Gaming has accompanied the litigation as well.
The plaintiffs are challenging Manoukian’s ownership, with the goal being that the PGCB will revoke Stadium Casino’s permit. Therefore far, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has sided regarding the challengers’ part, mandating that the PGCB continue steadily to seek additional information regarding Manoukian’s stake.
Stadium Casino says Manoukian’s ownership is through an ‘irrevocable trust’ he wouldn’t get a grip on or manage to touch. Rather, planet 7 oz bonus codes 2017 the investment vehicle would be earmarked for a beneficiary, and he’d be described as a hands-off owner.
The complicated financial structure is why the legal challenge has lagged on for almost three years. On July 31, the 2 sides will once again make their cases to your gaming board.
Bill Introduced
Throwing yet more gas on the fire, State Representative Scott Petri (R-Bucks) thinks the one-third ownership clause in the video gaming work has to be repealed. The chairman of the Pennsylvania House Gaming Oversight Committee, Petri has introduced legislation to abolish the regulation and allow investors to have stakes that are controlling multiple gambling venues.
‘It’s crucial that you finally end litigation on this Philly license,’ Petri explained earlier in the day this month. He added that their state is losing out on tens of vast amounts in unseen tax revenue from the live that is as-yet-unbuilt casino project.
A Category 2 license costs a one-time $50 million upfront fee. Although that license is approved by the PGCB, the lawsuit has organized finalizing it, including that payment.
Uk Open Odds Favor Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth, Lefty Left Out of Top 10
The Uk Open tees off on Thursday at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, also it’s a cast that is familiar’s receiving top payment at Las Vegas sportsbooks.
Dustin Johnson’s (right) game has cooled down this summer, allowing challengers like Jordan Spieth to get up towards the frontrunner heading into the British Open. (Image: AFP)
The world’s top ranked player, comes with the shortest odds for the third consecutive major, Dustin Johnson. But at 12-1, he’s somewhat long in comparison to his lines at the Masters and US Open.
A summer that is disappointing led oddsmakers to lengthen DJ’s line, and that is likely an attractive development to many bettors in Nevada. Jordan Spieth, who won at the Travelers earlier last month, is additionally at 12-1, per the Westgate SuperBook.
Masters champ Sergio Garcia, fan favorite Ricky Fowler, and star that is budding Rahm round out the very best five with their odds at 15-1.
The final Open Championship at Royal Birkdale returned in 2008 whenever Padraig Harrington won his 2nd consecutive Claret Jug. The feat that is back-to-back a 12 months after Paddy became a major champion at Carnoustie. This Harrington is at 125-1 week.
The Open, the oldest of the four majors, goes back to 1860.
Mickelson-Stenson Rematch? Odds Say No
The 2016 Open had been one of the best duels in the tournament’s storied history. Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson entered Sunday separated by just one shot, making use of their nearest competitor five back.
It quickly became obvious that the day will be a two-horse race. By the full time they reached the tee that is fifth they were tied at -14 and nine shots away from third. Stenson would carry on to shoot 63 to Mickelson’s 65, and win at -20, a record score.
Fast forward to today, and bettors apparently do not have faith that is much of back-to-back winner at Birkdale. The SuperBook has Stenson at 25-1.
Mickelson has played some golf that is good the last few years, but he hasn’t won since 2013. The success came only at that week’s major championship, when Lefty took the title at Muirfield. Ironically, Stenson came in second destination that week, losing by three shots, the margin that is same would win by in 2016.
For 2017, Mickelson is at 30-1 to win their Claret that is second Jug. It will likely be their very first major with brother Tim regarding the bag, after ending his long relationship with Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay final month.
Bettors Licking Chops
The British Open chances present many opportunities for bettors willing to take some risk.
One enticing line comes from Rory McIlroy. Once a perennial favorite at majors, the 2014 Open winner is at 20-1. Now rated no. 4 into the globe, McIlroy is winless in 2017. Hideki Matsuyama, golf’s second ranked player and the runner up at last month’s US Open, is also at 20-1.
US Open champ Brooks Koepka’s effective game might perhaps not lend itself to links golf, as he’s at 30-1 to win his 2nd major in as much tries.
As for the longshots, Long John Daly discovered the champion’s circle for the time that is first the Champions Tour earlier this present year. But don’t search for him to be victorious this week. The 1995 Open winner is at 1000-1.
The longest odds (3000-1) take 59-year-old Sandy Lyle, the 1985 Open winner that is using his second to year that is last of (previous champions aged 60 and under immediately qualify).
No Goa? Asia’s Newest Floating Casino Incurs Sand Bank, Crew Members Rescued
Goa, India’s controversial new floating casino, MV Lucky 7, failed to reside up to its name on Sunday night when it ran aground for a sandbank off Miramar Beach during rough weather.
Beached whale: Gopal Kanda’s MV Lucky 7 hits a snag on its way to Panaji City. (Image: NDTV.com)
Based on Indian news, the local coast guard ended up being forced to save four team members, one of whom ended up being injured, while the other three had been experiencing severe sea nausea. Fifteen other crew members did perhaps not require assistance and stayed on board.
The ship was on its method to the Mandovi River, where it planned to anchor and start for business as ‘Big Daddy Casino,’ Goa’s sixth gambling operation that is floating.
However the incident has caused a monsoon that is political Asia.
Controversial Owner
There had been a backlash against MV Lucky 7. Opposition events and local anti-gambling groups highly opposed the Goan government’s licensing of this casino, especially following the revelation that it ended up being owned by businessman and minister that is former the state of Haryana, Gopal Kanda.
Kanda was arrested in 2012 following the suicide Geetika Sharma, an air-hostess at Kanda’s MDLR airlines. Sharma named Kanda in her suicide note, claiming harassment.
Kanda resigned from their ministerial post and was subsequently arrested on fees of aiding and suicide that is abetting sexual exploitation, although the situation was later dropped.
Criminal Negligence?
Now, MV Lucky 7 is accused of negligence and of putting revenue before safety by attempting to sail to the Mandovi River at a time when the sandbar area is closed to navigation until September, due to the monsoon season.
‘The casino (ship) is stuck. Its owner should be arrested immediately,’ said Girish Chodankar associated with the Indian that is local National opposition party. ‘An attempt was made to make the casino up the river illegally by pressuring the Captain of Ports.
‘then it would affect the environment adversely if that diesel (265 gallons) is spilled. Who should really be held responsible?’
Most of Goa’s floating casinos are based on the Mandovi River where it moves through Panaji City, their state’s money. But also if MV Lucky 7 had made it there on this trip that is fateful it mightn’t be sticking around for long.
Las vegas Sportsbooks Spruce Up in Anticipation of Upcoming NFL Season
With the very first NFL preseason game less than three days away, Las Vegas sportsbooks are scrambling to spruce up and obtain ready for throngs of football bettors. In 2016, the facilities took in $4.6 billion, making for a market that is increasingly competitive and an ambiance geared towards luring as numerous customers as possible is clearly key.
The Westgate LV SuperBook has set a bar that is high other Las Vegas sportsbooks, with several other resorts updating to attract more bettors. (Image: EDGeVegas)
Wynn Bets Big
You have to spend cash to make cash, as the old saying goes, and the biggest splash this season in improvements was made by Wynn Las Vegas, which is overhauling its own recreations wagering area, and adding one in the neighboring Encore because well. The Wynn will be getting seating that is new and an updated video screen system, which will be likely to open August 1.
Bettors remaining at Encore previously had to walk up to the Wynn to place bets, but you can forget. The Encore that is new sportsbookn’t be as impressive as its sibling property, but are easier, plus it opens up August 8.
The Cromwell is also getting a new sportsbook. The boutique resort converted a 1,500-square-foot space that formally housed high-limit slot machines and is making it right into a wagering area. It shall be small, but about 50 seats will be available.
Keeping Up With The Joneses
The two-year renovation associated with the Westgate’s Las Vegas Superbook, completed in January 2016, set a standard that is new these establishments. The off-strip home spent $13 million to completely transform its area.
New leather seats had been installed and a meals court ended up being placed in close proximity. A VIP area was also added. The change that is biggest were the all-important event-viewing medium: televisions. Light-emitting Diode displays measuring 220 feet wide by 18 feet tall and spaning the sports that are entire venue were installed.
The screens are 60 feet wider than the video board hanging from the ceiling at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys, and bigger than the movie displays in ny City’s Times Square.
Strip gambling enterprises took notice and began to make their very own changes, starting this past year. Caesars Palace replaced its video screens with new state-of-the-art monitors and Harrah’s also place in new televisions and seats.
It’s high time
This is the perfect time associated with 12 months for renovations, with the sole major professional sport in the summer time being baseball. Additionally, there are a few of special activities, such as the just-wrapped-up Wimbledon, the usa Open, therefore the occasional UFC or match that is boxing.
That will all change on 3, when the Dallas Cowboys face the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame game august. The competition, played in Canton, Ohio, kicks off the three-week preseason schedule, and despite having starting players only utilized sparingly, should generate action at the betting windows.
As well as the crowds will only get heavier when the season that is regular college football get underway.