Poker Pro Phil Ivey Misses World number of Poker to own His Day in UK Court

Poker legend Phil Ivey would normally have been ensconced in Las Vegas this week, fighting it out at 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 later last week.
Instead of playing for the $8.15 million top prize in this year’s World Series of Poker Main Event, poker pro Phil Ivey (seen right here after winning the 2008 L.A. Poker Classic) is in London during the Supreme Court, fighting for $10 million that he claims is due him from Crockford’s. (Image: WPT)
The top-ranked player’s absence from the WSOP, while notable, is no longer the huge news it as soon as would have been. In fact, since he won his last World Series bracelet in 2014, he’s only registered for three WSOP activities.
But as yet, 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 his accomplice Kelly Sun ‘won’ the contested sum in 2012 making use of a training known as edge-sorting. This is a technique in which a skilled player is able to spot tiny discrepancies in the patterns on the backs of playing cards. Ivey and Sun requested a certain type of Gemaco cards to aid them in this, knowing historically that there were manufacturing that is hard-to-spot on them.
While at no point did they tamper because of the cards, they did ask the dealer to turn certain cards 180 degrees during play, which they explained away at the time as being a quirk that is superstitious.
In truth, they were instructing an unwitting dealer to sort the deck into two groups of favorable and unfavorable cards, which could then be identified by the backs, moving the odds into the players’ favor. Crockfords later studied surveillance video, decided they had been cheating, and withheld the money, which they had 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 is this type of plain thing as an ‘honest cheat.’
Ivey’s lawyer, Richard Spearman QC, dubbed the case ‘the Battle of this Dictionaries’ on Thursday.
That’s because the Ivey camp uses the Oxford English Dictionary (1989) concept of ‘to cheat’ (»to deal fraudulently, practice deceit’), while Crockfords’ depends on the newer Concise Oxford English Dictionary definition (‘to act dishonestly or unfairly so that you can gain a benefit’).
‘We say we have won that because we’ve the better dictionary,’ quipped Spearman at the hearing. ‘There is no finding at all that Mr. Ivey had been dishonest in virtually any sense,’ he added. ‘He was found to be a witness that is honest didn’t believe what he was doing was dishonest. He contends he’s entitled to be compensated his winnings because edge-sorting is a legitimate advantage play technique.’
The case continues.
Ivey’s Poker Acumen
Rated as the fourth-highest live tournament moneymaker of all of the time by record-tracker Hendon Mob, Ivey’s winnings in that arena total simply upwards of $23,800,000 in lifetime cashes. However in present years, he’s largely abandoned tournament play and only super high-roller money games, mostly in Macau as well as the nosebleed private Bobby’s Room into the Bellagio poker room in Las Vegas.
His biggest recent tournament silver 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 Still in Limbo as Factions Battle Antitrust Measures
Philadelphia’s Live! Hotel & Casino project remains in legal limbo, as a lawsuit continues to block the venue from license finalization and moving forward to break ground.
State Rep. Scott Petri wants Pennsylvania to quickly approve a downtown that is second casino hoping of delivering much-needed tax revenue to federal government coffers. But state gaming measures that are antitrust keeping construction from moving forward on Live! (Image: Larry Roberts/Post-Gazette)
The issue that is main trying to find out whether businessman Watche ‘Bob’ Manoukian, who owns a controlling 86 percent stake in the nearby Parx Casino, is allowed to furthermore hold an interest in Live! The state’s gaming act forbids investors and financial groups from exceeding a 33.3 per cent stake in numerous gaming ventures.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) recently announced that a public hearing on the matter are 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 financial interest that is greater than 33.3 percent of another regional machine licensee.’
That presents a problem for the Philadelphia casino project, which is a partnership that is joint Cordish Companies and Green Racing, the latter owned by Manoukian. The businessman is the president of HCBS Bank Armenia, and he holds investments in real estate, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and hospitality.
The $450 million Live! resort is scheduled to be built on a nine-acre block of land adjacent towards the Philadelphia Sports Complex. The plans necessitate a 325,000-square-foot casino flooring, plus a 18-story hotel.
SugarHouse Casino is currently the only gambling property 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 endeavor between Cordish and Greenwood, received a Category 2 video gaming license in of 2014 november. It still calls for final approval from the PGCB.
That’s being blocked by a challenge that is legal forth by a bidder who destroyed away on winning the Philadelphia license. Market East Associates, the entity that unsuccessfully applied for the permit, is behind the lawsuit. SugarHouse Gaming has joined the litigation as well.
The plaintiffs are challenging Manoukian’s ownership, with the target being that the PGCB will revoke Stadium Casino’s permit. Therefore far, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has sided on the challengers’ side, 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’ that he wouldn’t get a handle on or be able to touch. Instead, the investment vehicle would be earmarked for a beneficiary, and he would be considered a hands-off owner.
The complicated structure that is financial why the legal challenge has lagged on for almost three years. On 31, the two sides will once again make their cases to the gaming board july.
Bill Introduced
Throwing yet more gas on the fire, State Representative Scott Petri (R-Bucks) believes the one-third ownership clause in the video gaming act has to be repealed. The chairman associated with Pennsylvania House Gaming Oversight Committee, Petri has introduced legislation to abolish the regulation and enable investors to have stakes that are controlling multiple gambling venues.
‘It’s important to finally end litigation on this Philly license,’ Petri explained early in the day this month. He added that the state is losing out on tens of vast amounts in unseen tax revenue from the as-yet-unbuilt Live! casino project.
A Category 2 license costs a one-time $50 million upfront fee. The lawsuit has held up finalizing it, including that payment although that license has been approved by the PGCB.
British Open Odds Favor Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth, Lefty Left Out of Top 10
The British Open tees off on Thursday at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, plus it’s a cast that is familiar’s receiving top billing at Las Vegas sportsbooks.
Dustin Johnson’s (right) game has cooled down this summer, allowing challengers like Jordan Spieth to catch up towards the frontrunner heading into the Uk Open. (Image: AFP)
For the third consecutive major, Dustin Johnson, the entire world’s top ranked player, comes with the shortest chances. But at 12-1, he’s somewhat long compared 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 appealing development to numerous 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 top five with their odds at 15-1.
The final Open Championship at Royal Birkdale returned https://1xbetwebsite.ru/ in 2008 whenever Padraig Harrington won his second Claret that is consecutive Jug. The feat that is back-to-back a 12 months after Paddy became a major champion at Carnoustie. This week, Harrington reaches 125-1.
The Open, the oldest of the four majors, goes back to 1860.
Mickelson-Stenson Rematch? Odds Say No
The 2016 Open was one of the best duels in the tournament’s storied history. Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson joined Sunday separated by just one single shot, along with their competitor that is nearest five back.
It quickly became apparent that the day could be a two-horse race. By the full time they reached the tee that is fifth they were tied at -14 and nine shots free from third. Stenson would continue to shoot 63 to Mickelson’s 65, and win at -20, an archive score.
Fast forward to today, and bettors apparently don’t possess 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 victory came at this 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 2nd Claret Jug. It is their first major with brother Tim on the bag, after ending their long relationship with Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay final month.
Bettors Licking Chops
The British Open odds 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 ranked no. 4 into the global world, McIlroy is winless in 2017. Hideki Matsuyama, golf’s second player that is ranked the runner up at last month’s United States Open, is also at 20-1.
US Open champ Brooks Koepka’s effective game may perhaps not lend itself to links golf, as he is at 30-1 to win his 2nd major in as numerous tries.
As for the longshots, Long John Daly discovered the winner’s group for the time that is first the Champions Tour earlier this present year. But don’t look for him become 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 last year of eligibility (previous champions aged 60 and under automatically qualify).
No Goa? Asia’s Newest Floating Casino Runs Into Sand Bank, Crew Members Rescued
Goa, India’s controversial new casino that is floating MV Lucky 7, failed to reside as much as its name on Sunday night whenever it ran aground on a sandbank off Miramar Beach during rough weather.
Beached whale: Gopal Kanda’s MV Lucky 7 strikes a snag on its means to Panaji City. (Image: NDTV.com)
In accordance with Indian news, the regional coast guard was forced to rescue four crew members, one of whom was injured, while the other three were experiencing severe sea sickness. Fifteen other crew members did perhaps not require assistance and stayed on board.
The ship was on its solution to the Mandovi River, where it planned to anchor and open 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 parties and local anti-gambling groups strongly opposed the Goan government’s licensing associated with casino, especially following the revelation so it had been owned by businessman and former minister for 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 inside her suicide note, claiming harassment.
Kanda resigned from their ministerial post and was subsequently arrested on charges of aiding and suicide that is abetting sexual exploitation, although the instance was later fallen.
Criminal Negligence?
Now, MV Lucky 7 is accused of negligence and of placing profit before safety by attempting to sail to the Mandovi River at a time when the sandbar area is closed to navigation until due to the monsoon season september.
‘The casino (ship) is stuck. Its owner should be arrested immediately,’ said Girish Chodankar associated with Indian that is local National opposition party. ‘An effort had been made to generate 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. Whom must be held responsible?’
Each of Goa’s floating casinos are in line with the Mandovi River where it flows through Panaji City, their state’s capital. But also if MV Lucky 7 had made it there on this trip that is fateful it couldn’t be sticking around for long.
Vegas Sportsbooks Spruce Up in Anticipation of Upcoming NFL Season
With the first NFL preseason game less than three weeks away, Las Vegas sportsbooks are scrambling to spruce up and get 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 intended for luring as many customers as possible is obviously 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 pay cash to create money, as the old saying goes, and the biggest splash this year in upgrades ended up being made by Wynn Las Vegas, which is overhauling its own activities gambling area, and adding one in the neighboring Encore because well. The Wynn will be getting seating that is new as well as an updated video screen system, which is anticipated to open August 1.
Bettors remaining at Encore formerly had to walk up to the Wynn to place bets, but no further. The Encore that is new sportsbookn’t be as impressive as its sis property, but is going to be easier, also it opens up August 8.
The Cromwell is also finding a sportsbook that is new. The boutique resort converted a space that is 1,500-square-foot formally housed high-limit slot machines and is which makes it as a wagering area. It will be small, but about 50 seats will be available.
Keeping Up Utilizing The Joneses
The two-year renovation for the Westgate’s Las Vegas Superbook, completed in January 2016, set a standard that is new these establishments. The property that is off-strip $13 million to totally transform its room.
New leather seats were installed and a food court had been placed in close proximity. A VIP area ended up being 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 entire recreations book venue were installed.
The displays are 60 legs wider than the video board hanging from the ceiling at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, house of the Dallas Cowboys, and bigger than the video displays in New York City’s Times Square.
Strip gambling enterprises took notice and started to make their own changes, beginning year that is last. Caesars Palace replaced its video screens with new state-of-the-art monitors and Harrah’s also place in new televisions and seats.
The Time is Right
This is the perfect time for the year for renovations, with truly the only major expert sport in the summer baseball that is being. There are also a few of special occasions, such as the just-wrapped-up Wimbledon, the usa Open, and the occasional UFC or boxing match.
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 preseason that is three-week, and despite having starting players only utilized sparingly, should generate action at the gambling windows.
Plus the crowds will only get heavier once the season that is regular college football get underway.