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"I'm Pretty good with the numbers," says Ben Campbell in the new movie '21' now showing at theaters across the UK. Played by Jim Sturgess, Campbell is the leader of a group of MIT students who were good with numbers. So good in fact, that they organized for weekend trips to Las Vegas where they put their skills to breaking the Blackjack code. Hollywood Loves Gambling The movie, from Columbia Pictures and out since April 11 in the UK, was directed by Australian film director Robert Luketic and stars Kevin Spacey, Lawrence Fishburne and Kate Bosworth. Inspired by a true story, 21 takes a twist and becomes a Hollywood thriller, with a touch of violence, and some sex too. It offers terrific views of the Las Vegas skyline and a no less exciting view from around the casino tables. Hitting the Jackpot In its opening weekend, the film grossed over $24 million in the United States and Canada. It has also won an award for best ensemble at ShoWest Convention in the US as well. Not only the MIT Blackjack Team won the jackpot, so did the movie based on their story! In my eyes, the soundtrack too can win an award, with such classic hits as You Can't Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones. Other songs on the soundtrack include contemporary hits by Peter Bjorn and John (Young Folks), LCD Soundsystem (Big Ideas), Amon Tobin and Unkle. In Hollywood, You Become Anyone You Want Kate Bosworth says in the movie the following line: "In Vegas, You Become Anyone You Want." The movie offers an alternative version, that in Hollywood this is no less true. So at online casinos, you can become anyone you want.
Over the past several months, we have followed the court case of poker player Lee Rousso, who has challenged his state's gambling laws. A court appearance, which was scheduled for April 25, was postponed this week yet again, and is now scheduled for May 15. The Seattle lawyer has been waiting, as we have all, for some time now for his opportunity to voice his critique of and challenge the constitutional legality of Washington State's ban on online gambling. Stalling the Process Washington state legal representatives have persistently managed to postpone the court date, mainly by asking for large amounts of personal information, the relevance of which was dubious to begin with. And indeed, Rousso has claimed the information asked of him was personal. Under the Fifth Amendment, he reminded them, he is protected and should not be required to hand it over. Judge Mary E. Roberts has accepted his appeal on the matter this week, following an unfavorable ruling earlier in the process by the King County Superior Court. Moving On The date is currently set for May 15. As the state representative for the Poker Players Association, Rousso is enjoying the backing of PPA members, which is even encouraging members to make an appearance at the court in solidarity. We too support Rousso in his uphill battle in the name of free poker.
Gambling is fun, but it is really about winning. So why would someone celebrate a loss in a game that participation does not really count? The only count in this game is the weight count - the weight loss count. And at this game, no one has fared better than 32 year old Ali Vincent of Mesa, Arizona. Losing is Winning Vincent has won the "Biggest Loser" competition, and became the first woman to ever win it. Throughout the competition Vincent has been the fan favorite. Although she has lost 112 pounds, considerably less than the 164 pounds lost by Roger Shultz, it was all Ali. Weight Loss Service? Ali's "In It to Win It" attitude, in the words of Liberty from Health Bolt, does seem like an absurd to the average online gambler. While we are not going to set up a new Service on the site that will count the weight lost by our community members, along the progressive jackpot meters and most active poker rooms, her win/loss is none the less inspiring.
The Weekly Edition, an OCR Live! production in which Kate brings you the headlines for the past week, which. WSJ Op-Ed Supports Easing Online Gambling Laws The venerable Wall Street Journal has joined the growing ranks of those raising eyebrows at the murky implications of American anti-online gambling laws. South Africa Gambling Bill hits Bump A bump on the road to legalizing online gambling in South Africa, contrary to the trend that was taking shape until now. 21: The Movie Box office success 21, a movie that tells the story of MIT students who took Las Vegas by storm with their brilliant card-counting skills starring Kevin Spacey.
In another development to a rapidly developing story that might be entitled "gambling rights vs. government involvement," Republican libertarian Paul and Democrat Frank, who last year introduced legislation to legalize and regulate online gambling, are now working together to take a stand against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, this time from a different angle. The UIGEA, introduced into a climate of already outlawed US online gambling, sought to ban credit card companies and others from processing cash flow from the US into (and ideally out of) offshore-based Internet gaming sites. Both longtime advocates of Internet freedom, Paul and Frank are taking steps to eliminate what is seen by many as an impractical, lopsided, and potentially disastrous law for the US banking industry, not to mention international relations. The new piece of legislature, written by Frank and co-sponsored by Paul, would block implementation of the UIGEA by forbidding federal officials from putting it into practice. "I believe strongly that the internet should not be regulated by the federal government and believe even more strongly that people should be free to engage in the activities they wish, as long as they are willing to take responsibility for their actions," Ron Paul said in a recent interview.
Senior executive at Harrah's Entertainment and, conveniently, the co-chairperson of the National Women's Business Council of the Clinton Campaign, Jan Jones, reflect on Clinton's support for gambling last Friday. "What we have found in every instance," explains Jones, "when you create an economic engine that drives job creation and encourages capital investment, you have an industry that builds community and provides livelihood." Speaking to the online gamblers of America, Jones clarifies Clinton's support for the gambling community as stronger than Obama's. She believed this due to the admiration Obama showed for the Illinois Governor's rejection of casino gambling while a member of the his state's Senate. Obama's Thoughts Since then, Obama defined himself as a supporter of the casino industry. He explains that his comments in the Illinois Senate were directly relevant to the Illinois situation and their lobbying methods. Obama replied to Jones' comments by explaining the importance of allowing voters to decide whether they should gamble or not. Different Party, Different Plan A victory by the Democratic Party will mean major changes in the gambling community of America and its affected neighbors (such as Costa Rica, whose economy has dropped since their online gambling sites have been blocked from American use). In 2006, the Republican Party had created the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, banning online gambling on American soil. It is in the gambling community's interest to have a Democrat in the White House, so that citizens may gamble if they wish to. This election is giving US citizens a chance to decide if online gambling is what the people want. Obviously, an American election is not so black-and-white, but when it comes to gambling, it's either a Blue Donkey or Red Elephant.
The World Poker Tour Championship has arrived and is hosted by the Bellagio in the Fontana Lounge. Although the amount of players this year does not match the amount in 2007, some of the best names in Poker arrived for the event. 210 players felt the rush of the game on the first day at around noon, about the same time the first flop was shown. The more ya risk, the more ya gain Most of the first day lacked the common "all in" raise leaving many players in the game by the end of the day. But one game left Daniel Alaei walking with his tail between his legs: Roy Winston stared at the A spades, Q hearts, 4 hearts, and 7 clubs lying on the table and places a bet of 2,350 in chips. Daniel Alaei replies with 5,000. Winston matches and watches as a 3 hearts falls on the table – making the questioned flush an actual possibility. Alaei makes the first bet of 6,250 which was followed by an all in by Winston. Alaei had to decide if the cards in his hands were worth risking the rest of the competition. Patiently speculating the possibilities, Alaei finally makes the call and follows Winston’s cards as they hit the table revealing an A and Q clubs. The high two pair eliminated Alaei from the table and the competition. Winning this hand made Winston’s 100,000 total in chips possible. The Results are IN! At the end of day the chip leader of 141 remaining players was Billy Baxter with 167,150 in chips followed by Darrell Dicken with 163,675. In third place was Steve Billirakis (156,800) who gained his stack after going all in and defeating Guy Laliberte’s straight with a full house. The competition will continue on April 21 and end with a Final Table of the top six players on Saturday, April 25th. On Saturday, we will find out who the top player in the sport of gambling is.
The Los Angeles County Coroner confirms that female poker player Brandi Hawbaker, also known as Brandi Rose or Naami Dea, committed suicide in Playa Del Rey, California, last week, Sunday, April 13. Brandon Gerson, Hawbaker's former boyfriend, explains that during the last year and a half, Hawbaker visited several doctors in order to treat her "a very serious mental illness." Hawbaker made her first appearance in the 2006 World Poker Tournament finishing 35th and winning $20,000. Her career was targeted by many media sources due to her successful run throughout the period, earning as much as $40,000, as well as her eccentric behavior. Hawbaker's death made quite an impact in the blogging community as many postings have been made as eulogies. Bryan Micon, a known poker player and friend, posted the following comments after hearing the news: "Brandi's family, and friends have asked the poker world to respect their privacy while they grieve. When the time is right we will have Brandon's statement on NWP. This truly is a tragedy, as the whole poker world loved to watch this eccentric young lady on and off the felt. Brandi will be missed and I hope she has found some peace." As tragedies come and go in the world, the death of Brandi Hawbaker has affected many poker players leaving a mark in the Poker community. Brandi was 26.
The Weekly Edition, an OCR Live! production in which Kate brings you the headlines for the past week, including The Democratic Presidential Primaries and what it means to poker players. Obama, Clinton: What about Poker? As Hillary and Barack fight for the votes, many poker players are asking the same question: Where do the Democrats stand when it comes to gambling? Poker Court Case Set for May 15 Overcoming legal challenges on the way, Poker Players Association representative Lee Rousso will finally get a chance to voice his opposition of the ban on gambling. Mohawk Territory Gambling Debate A Liberal MP wants Ottawa to regulate the First Nation's gambling operation, ending the hands-off, hear nothing, see nothing, say nothing policy.
Poland is closer than ever to regulate online gambling. Deputy Minister of Finance, Marek Kapica, said earlier this week that Poland is ready to move on with legalizing and regulating online gambling before the end of the year. Italian Impact Poland's official change of mind comes following the court decision on the Placanica case. The Italian court ruled that Italy cannot use criminal law to ban online gambling companies from elsewhere in Europe from catering to Italian players. The Italian ruling and examples of countries that have successfully stimulated their economy by allowing online gambling, have opened up Poland's government to the idea. Polish Wisdom Kapica expressed this notion when he said: "We cannot control this process anyway and it is better that the budget at least derives some revenues from it."
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