spcrdplyr

Seems to me this would be a good candidate for an episode of "American Greed". I was hopeful that US players would at least see some of their money back, now I am back to pretty much no chance. Taking these crooks to court isn't going to do much except make the crooked lawyers richer than they are. Maybe we in the US need to take a new look at the old "eye for an eye" concept.

donfisher1971 said: "Keep in mind too that under the current US tax laws you only get 1099d/ w2gd for wins over $5000." Don, I think you are not fully correct. The IRS policy you refer to talks about $5,000 in individual OR CUMULATIVE wins. Furthermore, I believe this applies ONLY to Poker Tournament winnings, not cash game winnings.

Seems like FT took a page from the financial institution model and was operating "on the float". I can think of no other possible explanation for having to arrange "other financing" before being able to pay US players. Player money should be in segregated accounts. There is NO possible explanation, unless accounts holding player funds have been frozen, that FT does not have the money to pay what is due in player money. If accounts holding player funds have NOT been frozen and there isn't enough money available to pay the US players, FT should lose their licenses and each and every person involved in the operation and/or ownership should be permanently banned from EVER being involved in any form of gaming, whether on-line or not. Absconding with player money is nothing but FRAUD. Ask Bernie Madoff he can tell you first hand.

MrFizzbin: U think U are better off playing on line to protect U from collusion or cheating? U think a half dozen guys sitting around on line at Players aren't taking advantage of U? Or how about the picture that was on PokerNews a week or so ago that showed a bunch of guys sitting around a table with laptops playing on line. U don't think they might be taking advantage? At least with the PokerPro tables you can see who U are playing against and watch what they are doing. If you can't spot collusion/cheating after a while, U don't belong there any way.

Are PokerPro tables better than in person, Most like NOT, but they are better than NO POKER!

Just another example of Wisconsin politicians having their heads up their ^&*(. Poker has long been considered a "class II" game as it is not house banked. For the State of Wisconsin graduates of law school to consider it 'class III" is asinine. The should have their law degrees revoked!

While neither were my choice for this years inductees, they are both as deserving as anyone else on the list. CONGRATULATIONS!!

The "Bad Blood" between Daniel and Annie goes back MUCH further than 2002. For whatever reason, Daniel just cannot seem to separate the personal reasons for disliking someone from the professional ones. I don't care whether he thinks Annie is the scum of the earth, but putting those statements into the public forum just demonstrates how little he has grown up over the past 15-20 years.

He definitely needs to learn to keep his mouth shut in the public arena, until he does so, he has not earned any respect from me as far as his personal life in concerned.

Congratulations to Gavin!! Also, kudos to him for his professional appearance. Lookin' good in the jacket and hat!!
Much better than some of these guys in cutoffs and ragged T shirts.

It is imperative that FT Poker take all appropriate measures in this case. Suspending Townsend for a couple of weeks is a joke. At a minimum he should be gone from the site for at least 6 months and his buddy Hastings should be gone as well. I can go for less with South since it doesn't appear he 'profited' from this violation. Furthermore, Hastings should have to return most if not all of the ill gotten winnings, if not to Isildur1, then to some charity. With all the publicity, I wonder if Hastings is going to declare the whole $4M as income?

Hey Horoeschio, somebody make you read the article? If you don't want to know who won, don't read it!!

FANTASTIC!! What a story this will be!!

Congratulations, it is really nice to see that prize go to someone so deserving.

Ross Verba was pretty much as bust as a member of the Green Bay Packers and he is showing that he is also pretty much of a bust away from football as well. He can only be thankful that this isn't 30-40 years ago, he wouldn't be making his case in court, but out in the desert, diggin' a hole for himself.

Well Deserved Mr. Sexton, Well Deserved. Now you need to use your considerable influence to bring back the award named after the late Brian Saltus. Poker needs the type of karma this award stands for.

What time do these 'nose bleed' games get going on FT? I have been there several times, but never see any action as it is usually only 1 player, Durrr or Patrick, waiting.

Thanks in advance

Flintsword: Do you not know that Face the Ace is a Full Tilt show? Do you really expect them to use non-Full Tilt Pros? I totally agree that the show is still lacking. First couple of shows were, at best a "2" on a 1-10 scale. The revised version is MAYBE a "4". The whole premis of the show is to bring 'everyday joes' to FullTilt.net for a chance to get to play one of the Pros. I don't think it is gonna make it.

The question is "Did Tobias ask to see both of Roland's cards?". It is still unclear, even after seeing a video of the hand with German Audio, whether he asked or not. I totally agree with Matt Savage, unfortunately, we don't know ALL of the details, so it is hard to decide if the TD's ruling was the right one or not.

Regarding Hollywood Dave and the allegations of collusion being allowed at the Wynn. My sources give me another whole set of 'facts': "This is not allowed at the Wynn Poker Room. When the floor got to the table all of the cards were mucked and the board along with the burn cards were already in the shufflemaster. There was no way to recreate the hand. The floor person did vouch for the players. He knew them. However, he also warned them that we do not allow chops midway through a hand. The players involved apologized and said that they would not participate in that behavior again. The dealer was repremanded for not calling the floor while the cards were still in place." Furthermore: "I spoke with several of my staff members who were present along with various players that were in the room.(not involved in the hand). They all confirmed that Dave was very angry and loud He refused to listen to any form of reason." Shame on Dave and PokerPages for posting unsubstantiated allegations!!

Can't agree more. Also, I think some of the professional group should think a bit more of their personal appearance. I am thinking of Gavin Smith on Face the Ace, Gus Hanson on this past weeks WSOP and LOTS of others, etc. Many dress like 2nd Class citizens and that is how they are perceived. I don't expect everyone to dress like Marcel Luske, but a shave, a decent shirt and so forth would be a great start. And don't forget Hellmuth's beep, beep, beep rants they certainly shine a poor light as much as whatever Scotty and Layne did.

Personally, it was soooo ssslllooowww that I fell asleep before the Topel/Smith match was over and then again before the next match started. I am afraid that there is not enough 'action' to keep an audience, much less a non-poker audience. This show really needs a different host, someone who will put some drama and action into it. Someone like a Howie Mandel, who is, other than the ladies, the whole of Deal or No Deal.

Several Questions:

1. Is the former Chief of the Mohawk Tribe still the principal owner of Absolute/Ultimate Bet?

2. Have all the perpetrators of the Absolute problems been publicly identified? If not, why?
3. If I remember correctly, Annie Duke (as one of the UB Spokespersons) has had some minimal comments regarding these activities. To me Phil Hellmuth's complete silence (to my knowledge) speaks (maybe SHOUTS) volumes as to where his loyalties lie. Aka $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$