PokeroomUSA.com declared “Poker Independence Day” for US online poker players on Monday, July 4th, celebrating its grand opening with a $10,000 freeroll. Steve “VernonDbacks” Daamen, a fortuitously patriotic British Columbia native, eliminated 135 participants, winning the $3,000 first place prize money.
A total of 18 participants were awarded cash prizes, including runner-up Howard “RUSH” Ballard of Las Vegas, Nevada, winning $2,000, and John “highlinerII” Culwell of Riverside, California earning $1,190 for his third place finish. All 135 freeroll qualifiers earned a complimentary one-month 2-Star PokeroomUSA.com subscription.
In conjunction with its official Fourth of July launch, PokeroomUSA.com gave a salute to US service members and their families with the announcement of an immediate and permanent 5% gross contribution for all new subscriptions, with the Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP) and USO (United Service Organizations) sharing the proceeds.
PokeroomUSA’s Marketing Director, David “The Maven” Chicotsky, has won millions of dollars playing online poker, and the 2008 Bluff Magazine “Online Poker Player of the Year” continues to be the industry leader in multi-table tournament play.
“Congratulations to Steve Daamon,” exclaimed Chicotsky. “Steve is living proof that poker players from around the world enjoy competing against other US players, and I look forward to seeing Steve and his fellow Canadians at the PokeroomUSA tables in the near future.”
Operations Director Matthew Kidd and PokeroomUSA.com’s highly-competent group of staff and developers worked around the clock to prepare for the July 4th event. “It's a pleasure to be able to offer PokeroomUSA to the thousands of those looking for a safe alternative to online gambling,” said Kidd. “With so many great minds making PokeroomUSA the most exciting new online poker venture, players can expect this team to roll out even more exciting promotions very soon.”
About PokeroomUSA.com PokeroomUSA.com CMK Interactive Systems, Inc., a US based Wyoming Corporation does not require a buy-in or deposit, thus there is essentially no-risk. Additionally, PokeroomUSA.com members’ monthly fees simply translate into points that can turn into prizes, cash, or even seats to live tournaments. PokeroomUSA.com operates within the sweepstakes rules where they are legal and excludes people from joining who live in states or countries where it is not. For more information visit http://www.PokeroomUSA.com.
PokeroomUSA.com - a subscription-based legal alternative for the online poker players - is declaring “Poker Independence Day” on July 4th, by hosting its Grand Opening $10,000 freeroll at 8PM EDT with registration beginning July 1st.
PokeroomUSA.com does not require a buy-in or deposit, thus there is essentially no-risk. Additionally, PokeroomUSA.com members’ monthly fees simply translate into points that can turn into prizes, cash, or even seats to live tournaments. To qualify for the “Poker Independence Day” $10,000 freeroll, participants merely need to register, and are not required to subscribe.
In conjunction with its official Fourth of July launch, PokeroomUSA.com will appropriately celebrate US service members and their families with an immediate and permanent 5% gross contribution for all new subscriptions to two deserving charities. Those programs chopping the proverbial pot are the Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP) and USO (United Service Organizations).
Bluff Magazine’s 2008 “Online Poker Player of the Year” David Chicotsky recently joined PokerRoomUSA.com and will serve as its Marketing Director. Known as “The Maven” in the poker industry, Chicotsky is one of the highest-volume online poker players famous for stringing together multiple appearances at high-stakes tournament final tables in a single day.
“I’m excited at the opportunity to legally play poker online again,” says Chicotsky. “I also look forward to chatting with fellow online gamers, and welcome all of my friends to join me on PokeroomUSA in multi-table and various single-table competitions.”
Matthew Kidd will serve as President of CMK Interactive Systems, Inc., a US-based Wyoming Corporation. Kidd who will be in charge of PokeroomUSA.com operations had the following comments:
“On April 15th, the FBI declared ‘game over’ for cash-depositing online poker players in America. As Americans continue to pine from the rail, it's a pleasure to be able to offer PokeroomUSA to the thousands of poker players looking for a safe alternative to online gambling. Players can still experience the thrill of competition and winning prizes without risking their money.
“Working with David Chicotsky and raising money for two great organizations to help our troops makes PokeroomUSA a worthwhile and exciting venture.”
About PokeroomUSA.com
PokeroomUSA.com does not require a buy-in or deposit, thus there is essentially no-risk. Additionally, PokeroomUSA.com members’ monthly fees simply translate into points that can turn into prizes, cash, or even seats to live tournaments. PokeroomUSA.com operates within the sweepstakes rules where they are legal and excludes people from joining who live in states or countries where it is not. For more information visit http://www.PokeroomUSA.com.
Las Vegas, NEVADA (19 November, 2010) -- GreasieWheels, the industry leader in poker and gaming event coordination and photography, has recently updated its website by combining two photo houses; www.GWphotos.com and www.GWPhotoStore.com.
GreasieWheels was named the “Official Photographers” by Harrah’s Entertainment for the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) and WSOP Europe. Event, Main Event, final table, and lifestyle photos are available for viewing and purchase exclusively at www.GWphotos.com.
GreasieWheels original photo house, www.GWPhotoStore.com, features special, charity, and gaming events dating back to 2007. To access both galleries, visit www.GreasieWheels.com/images. Each offers visitors viewing, purchasing, Lightroom, and client download capabilities.
“Eventually, we’ll combine all of our galleries onto one website,” stated gaming photo industry and WSOP media veteran Lisa Wheeler. “It’s a pretty big undertaking, but visitors should be able to enjoy a one-stop-shop by summer 2011. Next year we plan to unveil several software upgrades that will further enhance the client, player, and fan experience.”
GreasieWheels is committed to providing consumers with the highest quality imagery. Its elite team includes lead photographer Rob Gracie, executive photographer Jeff Brushie, veteran tournament photo journalist BJ Nemeth, image editor and coordinator Lisa Wheeler, and production coordinator Joy Miller. Josh “Punte” Zerkle of www.withleather.com also contributed at the 2010 WSOP.
About GreasieWheels - Founded November 30, 2007, GreasieWheels is a limited liability company, license number E0840482007-3, with a Certificate of Existence With Status in Good Standing issued 18 October 2010, granted by the Secretary of State, Carson City, Nevada. Founded, owned, and operated by L. Wheeler, GreasieWheels is dedicated to answering photographic production, talent, public relations, and gaming event coordination needs in the poker industry.
Third Annual “Operation All In” fundraiser for Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation
Mixed Martial Arts legend Randy “The Natural” Couture will host the third annual “Operation All In” charity poker tournament and auction fundraiser benefiting the Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 30 starting at 2 p.m in The Grand events center.
This event is open to the public and will include; a celebrity charity poker tournament featuring professional poker players, MMA and Hollywood celebrities; live and silent auctions offering MMA memorabilia, and dinner with Couture and a one-hour personal MMA lesson; autograph sessions with photo opportunities; raffle prizes; and a Halloween after party inside Gold Diggers. Proceeds will benefit injured US soldiers.
Confirmed participants include MMA fighters include Randy Couture, Tyson Griffin, Ryan Couture, Martin Kampmann, Gray Maynard, Jason Ron, Ray Sefo, Mike Pyle and John Alessio, David Zayas of “Dexter” and “The Expendables,” pop artist Michael Godard, and professional poker players Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Layne Flack, Jon Friedberg, Gavin Smith, Perry Friedman, Antonio Esfandiari, James Mordue, Todd Brunson, Nick and Michael Binger, Dutch Boyd, Lacey Jones, Matt Savage, and “Donk Down Radio” personality Bryan Micon and “Raw Vegas’” Dave Farra.
The winner of the “Operation All In” charity poker tournament will take home $10,000 in cash and top finishers will win valuable sponsored product prizes.
The buy-in for “Operation All In” is $225 with $100 multi re-buys. Tournament participants will also receive free entry to the first annual Randy Couture Halloween bash starting at 8 p.m. inside Gold Diggers nightclub overlooking the Fremont Street Experience. For those not wishing to participate in the poker tournament, general admission tickets to the Halloween bash will be available for $25 at the door.
“Operation All In” is sponsored and supported by Deepstacks, Poker Players Alliance, Full Tilt Poker, Xtreme Couture MMA, Lord Griffon, Godard Art, and the Golden Nugget.
Seats are limited. Tournaments seats may be purchased in advance inside the Golden Nugget Poker Room, by calling (702) 386-8383 or (800) 777-4658, ext. 8164, or by email at poker@goldennugget.com. Participants may also register on the day of the event. For more information visit www.xtremecouturegifoundation.org or www.goldennugget.com.
Professional photographer Rob Gracie and industry veterans BJ
Nemethand Lisa Wheeler to provide
WSOPE image coverage at London’s Casino at the Empire.
GreasieWheels, the
industry leader in poker and gaming event coordination and photography, is excited to announce its team for this year’s World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) at
London’s Casino at the Empire. The lineup includes professional
photographer Rob Gracie, industry elite blogger BJ Nemeth, and operations
manager Lisa Wheeler. GreasieWheels will provide fans, players, and media with
the highest quality imagery available for viewing and purchase at http://www.wsopphotos.com.
In addition, Nemeth will provide a daily photo blog throughout the WSOPE
no-limit hold’em Championship main event starting September 23rd.
“We’re
very excited to be working with Harrah’s Entertainment at this year’s WSOP and
WSOPE,” stated GreasieWheels founder and CEO Lisa Wheeler. “We’re always
looking for ways to improve our software and coordination capabilities and have
recently taken on the challenge of providing image coverage in real-time. Fans
and players can look forward to more lifestyle and event photographs from
London.”
BJ
Nemeth has been covering tournaments since the 2004 WSOP and is the longest
standing live-tournament reporter in the industry. In 2005, he introduced
hand-for-hand coverage, and is the lead tournament reporter for the World Poker
Tour (WPT). Last year, he changed the way WSOP fans viewed poker photography
with his innovative PokerRoad.com photo blog. He's also a panelist on the
award-winning "Poker Beat" weekly podcast.
Professional
photographer Rob Gracie has shot thousands of photos for online, advertising,
and print publications for more than 20 years. His credits include; WSOP
2005-10, High Stakes Poker, Poker After Dark, NBC National Heads-Up
Championship and High Stakes Golf; brands Nikon, Budweiser, and Evian; and
Sports Illustrated, Time, USA Today, National Geographic Adventure, TransWorld,
Bluff, Card Player, PokerPro, and All In magazines.
Earlier this month, UB.com and AbsolutePoker.com
of the CEREUS Network hosted an online fundraiser benefiting the Sharon
Osbourne Colon Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai. Both online poker rooms matched
the total donations made by tournament participants, raising awareness and a
total of $3,440 for the charity.
"I am surprised and humbled by the outpouring of support
from UB and AbsolutePoker. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the
online poker community and the hundreds of players who participated. All my love,
Sharon."
All 172 participants automatically qualified for
prizes just for entering. First through fourth place “Second Sundays” finishers
won entries to CEREUS Network’s $200,000 Guaranteed tournament. “AceUVfire” was
the winner, also receiving a Rockwell Time stainless steel sports watch. The
limited edition timepiece was specially designed by Rockwell to help raise
cancer awareness. Players not qualifying for top prizes were automatically
entered into the next day’s second-chance bonus freeroll featuring $1,075 in
additional tournament entries.
“Second Sundays” is a series of online fundraisers
benefiting national charities. The $10 fundraisers take place on the second
Sunday of each month. All participants qualify for prizes just for entering.
The events raise needed funds and awareness around deserving causes. The next
“Second Sundays” event is scheduled for May 9th, at 1PM EST, and will benefit
The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
“Every now and then the poker community has the chance to
rally around something that’s bigger and more important than the game we all
love,” said UB Cardroom Consultant, Annie Duke. “Second Sundays is one of those
opportunities and I can’t think of two charities more deserving than the Sharon
Osbourne Colon Cancer Program, and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.”
Register now for May’s Second Sunday event by logging
onto UB.com or AbsolutePoker.com and look for the event in the tournament lobby
titled “Intrepid Fallen Heroes.”
Every summer, thousands of visitors, poker players, and fans flock to Las Vegas to participate in the
world’s largest and most prestigious poker series. And though a season highlight, the “Pokerpalooza” will not be included in this year’s calendar of events. Poker Public Relations, founded by a popular group of veteran gaming entrepreneurs, in cooperation with the Fremont Street Experience, will treat participants, residents, and visitors to what promises to be the grandest gaming and lifestyle exposition to date. Over four days, beginning on Thursday, June 24th and running through Sunday, June 27th, downtown Las Vegas will be the site of the “Fremont Street Poker and Gaming Expo” (FSG Expo).
The five-block entertainment complex located in historical downtown Las Vegas attracts millions of visitors every year. With direct pedestrian access to ten casinos, 60 restaurants, specialty retail, and free nightly entertainment, it’s the ideal location for exhibitors and attendees.
The “Fremont Street Poker and Gaming Expo” will boast several merchant friendly features, including poker and gaming related and lifestyle brands. The current non-compete enforcement will no longer be in effect, and the merchant/vendor fair welcomes innovative competing brands, products, and services. The “Fremont Street Poker and Gaming Expo" will include a free-to-the-public scavenger hunt, daily tournaments, four days of festive food and drink, live entertainment, and more.
Exhibitors are encouraged to advertise to create brand awareness, announce new products, and demonstrate for immediate consumer feedback. Merchants and exhibitors will enjoy four days of targeted sales, along with marketing and media opportunities. Buyers can take advantage of free and open enterprise resulting in drastic product and service competitions and price reductions. Visitors will experience historical downtown Las Vegas with its legendary casinos, free entertainment, and old-fashioned gambling hospitality. All combined, the “Fremont Street Poker and Gaming Expo” will be the highlight of lifestyle and gaming and the perfect visitors haven.
About Poker Public Relations Poker Public Relations was created to accommodate the gaming industry - with consulting and marketing expertise, online poker integration, high-profile tournament and fundraiser coordination, endemic and non-endemic sponsor solicitation, talent management, and niche fulfillment.
Second Sundays $10 online tournament a win-win for charity and participants, with all registered players automatically qualifying for cash, swag, tournament entries, a Rockwell Time sports watch, and the next day bonus freeroll.
Last month, UB.com and AbsolutePoker.com of the CEREUS Network introduced “Second Sundays,” a series of online fundraisers benefiting national charities. This month’s $10 buy-in Second Sundays event takes place April 11th at 1PM EST. UB.com and AbsolutePoker.com will match the total funds raised by players with all proceeds benefiting the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai. All participants qualify for prizes just for entering, while raising needed funds and awareness for this important cause.
This weekend’s Second Sundays charity tournament payouts include five entries to the CEREUS Network’s $200,000 Guaranteed tournament, cash and swag. The winner also receives a Rockwell Time limited edition stainless steel “Pink” sports watch designed in support of cancer causes and research. Players not qualifying for Second Sundays top prizes are automatically entered into the next day’s second-chance bonus freeroll featuring $1,075 in additional tournament entries.
Register now for April’s Second Sunday event by logging onto UB.com or AbsolutePoker.com and look for the event in the tournament lobby titled “Sharon Osbourne Cancer F. Holdem.”
The Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program, part of the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai, was established by the straight-shooting entertainment personality Sharon Osbourne following her own battle with colon cancer. The program works to improve the lives of patients and their loved ones by providing at-home help, childcare, transportation, access to support groups, and patient care services offered within the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
“People still want to support worthy causes during tough economic times, though they may only be able to offer a few dollars,” said Second Sundays’ brainchild and UB Cardroom consultant Annie Duke. “With Second Sundays, the outlay is a fixed affordable $10 and players can prove they’ve got heart while enjoying the game they love.”
UB and AbsolutePoker’s Second Sunday fundraiser tournaments will be hosted online across the CEREUS Network on the second Sunday every month, with each one benefiting a different worthwhile charity.
Star studded affair at Commerce Casino included “Use Poker to Learn Skills for Life” presentation, cocktail hour sponsored by Stakes Supper Club, silent and live auctions, Ticket Hold’em raffles, and a charity poker tournament sponsored by ClubWPT.com.
LOS ANGELES, CA -- (November 28, 2009) - The Annie Duke Celebrity Poker Night sponsored by ClubWPT.com took place at Commerce Casino on Thursday, November 19th raising nearly $70,000 for the Decision Education Foundation. The action-packed evening started with 90 attendees enjoying an elegant cocktail hour and complimentary hors d'oeuvres at Stakes Supper Club. Ticket Hold’em CEO Don Gardiner conducted a charity raffle and Duke presented “Use Poker to Learn Skills for Life,” featuring guest speakers Howard Lederer, Ali Nejad, Andy Bloch, and Carl Spetzler.
Following the presentation, guests headed upstairs to the Commerce Casino ballroom for a red carpet walk, featuring such celebrities as Broadway actor Andrew Hill Newman, American Internet entrepreneur Jason Calacanis, film and stage actor Joshua Malina, “Desperate Housewives” Kathy Najimy, “Celebrity Apprentice” Brande Roderick with two-time Superbowl champion and husband Glenn E. Cadrez, Olympic Boxing gold medalist Audley Harrison, “Melrose Place” Nicholas Gonzalez, actor/producer Michael Cory Davis, world champion snowboarder Jeff Brushie, Supercross icon Jimmy Button, reality TV’s Trishelle Cannatella, film/TV actor and director Joe Reitman, Who’s Your Daddy CEO Dan Fleyshman, as well as professional poker players Duke, Lederer, Bloch, Nejad, John “Johnny World” Hennigan, Allen Cunningham, Jerry Yang, Adam “Roothlus” Levy, Joe Sebok, Dave “Hollywood” Stann, and author Michael Craig.
Fun and fundraising activities continued with silent auctions by The Autograph Guys and Pokey Charms, a second Ticket Hold’em competition, a DRAFT Zone raffle, and a charity poker tournament with more than 100 participants directed by celebrity tournament director Matt Savage. Bounties sponsored by hostess Duke, Hardcore Elegance and Rockwell Time were placed on more than 20 pros and celebrities. Nearly 100 pot sweeteners provided by Jack Links and Ollipop were consumed by lucky winners. All tournament participants received generous gift bags sponsored by Fashion 101 Las Vegas, 2-Step Images, UltimateBet, Stakes, Who’s Your Daddy, Jack Links, Martini Gold, OlliePop, and DEF. Halfway through the event, Brand Roderick auctioned off a gold, diamond, and pearl necklace donated by Yvel. Howard Lederer won the bid with a generous $5,000 donation.
The top ten finishers shared more than $45,000 in prizes. First place went to Andy Bloch, who won a seat to play in the 2010 World Poker Tour® (WPT) Celebrity Invitational - one of the most exclusive televised tournaments on the poker circuit - a Rockwell Time sports watch, a Hardcore Elegance gold and diamond bracelet, a limited edition autographed bottle of Jose Cuervo, and UB.com swag. Places two through nine shared valuable prizes sponsored by Rockwell Time, the Spa at Commerce Casino, Hardcore Elegance, Life’s A Bluff, Jose Cuervo, UB.com, World Series of Poker Academy, Cartwright Entertainment, “Hollywood” Dave, Jennifer Harman, AMA Supercross Anaheim, Monster Cable, and more.
“Last Woman Standing” Kathy Najimy also took home a UB.com swag package, with additional prizes going to the player “Out on the Bubble” and two players eliminated with “Cracked Aces.”
All proceeds benefited the Decision Education Foundation (DEF). The Annie Duke Celebrity Poker Night was a GreasieWheels production.
Results for the Annie Duke Celebrity Poker Night No-Limit Hold’em Event are below.
PlaceNameHome Town
1Andy BlochLas Vegas
2Keith GipsonLas Vegas
3Alex StickrothToledo
4Kathy NajimySan Diego
5David DyrnaesLaguna Beach
6Trishelle Cannatella Los Angeles
7Christopher Tryba Las Vegas
8Don GardinerGilford, Ontario
9Michael LevinStudio City
If you've read this far - Special thanks go to Nicholas Gonzalez and Michael Cory Davis for upping the “hottie” ante, Andy Bloch for breaking the final table three players at time to allow staff to wrap up ahead of schedule, John Phan, Jerry Yang and Audley Harrison for crashing the party and raising the “celebrity” bar, to Steve Hall for donating the use of his inferior camera, to Brande Roderick for pimping Yvel and Howard Lederer for taking DEF to the next non-profit tax bracket, to Marie-Lizette C. Acoba aka “Little Cougar," to Don Gardiner for taking the reigns (twice), to John Griffo and “WPT wife” Lyndsay LaGree, to Rich Egget for donating even more valuable product and still finding himself crashing at L.A. airport, to Draft Zone for "looking" professional, to Dan Fleyshman for late-night consumable jet fuel, to Joe and Joe’s extra exposure, to two of the supposedly five Kelly girls, to Jackie Lapin for following me on Twitter, to Ali Nejad and Kathy Najimy for unwittingly posing with random sponsored brands, to Lupe Soto who settled for a rollaway at 3AM, to Jimmy, Jim and Anita Button for chasing away the voices, to DEF, and to Jack Links and OlliPop for the rare opportunity to witness 100 poker players chewing what appeared to be their own cud.
I hear the event's a shoe-in for a repeat in 2010. :-)
In conjunction with the Annie Duke Celebrity Poker Night sponsored by ClubWPT.com taking place at Commerce Casino on Thursday, November 19th, casino guests will also be treated to “Use Poker to Learn Skills for Life,” a FREE presentation hosted by Duke and sponsored by Stakes Supper Club. Special guest speakers will include Howard Lederer, Ali Nejad, Andy Bloch, and Carl Spetzler.
Starting at 6PM, Stakes Supper Club will host a cocktail hour with complimentary hors d'oeuvres. The free presentation will start at 6:30PM and guest entry is on a first come, first serve basis, for up to 80 attendees.
Following the free “Use Poker to Learn Skills for Life” presentation, Annie Duke’s Celebrity Poker Night sponsored by ClubWPT.com will kick off with a red carpet walk in front of Stakes Supper Club at 7PM. Confirmed celebrities include Anthrax musician Scott Ian, Broadway actor Andrew Hill Newman, American Internet entrepreneur Jason Calacanis, film and stage actor Joshua Malina, “Desperate Housewives” Kathy Najimy, “Celebrity Apprentice” star and model Brande Roderick, comedian Penn Jillette, actor/producer Michael Cory Davis, world champion snowboarder Jeff Brushie, Supercross icon Jimmy Button, reality TV’s Trishelle Cannatella, film/TV actor and director Joe Reitman, along with professional poker players Annie Duke, Dan Harrington, Rafe Furst, Howard “The Professor” Lederer, John “Johnny World” Hennigan, Adam “Roothlus” Levy, Joe Sebok, Greg “FTB” Mueller, MIT legend Andy Bloch, Dave “Hollywood” Stann, WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack, game show personality Ali Nejad, and author Michael Craig.
Fun and fundraising activities will continue upstairs inside the Commerce Casino ballroom, including a silent auction, a Ticket Hold’em competition, a DRAFT Zone raffle, and a $300 + $30 charity poker tournament directed by celebrity tournament director Matt Savage.
For information, confirmed celebrities, tournament structure, a breakdown of more than $50,000 in prizes, schedule of events, sponsors, how to qualify at www.ClubWPT.com, and other Annie Duke CPN exciting activities, visit GreasieWheels.com.
