Former poker blogger Jay Newnum is stepping away from poker after receiving probation for stealing from a dealer’s tip jar (Image: betraisefoldmovie.com)
If you are a poker blogger/reporter hired to cover a good-sized tournament at a major land casino, probably building a move ahead the dealer’s tip box is not your decision that is best ever. Apparently, not everybody grasps that reality, now from the ‚what were you thinking‘ files comes news that 41-year-old probably-not-anymore poker blogger Jay Newnum has received probation for stealing almost $700 while covering a Foxwoods casino poker tourney on December 16 of last year.
One from Column A
The Fishers, Indiana writer apparently returned the stolen funds taken from the end box apparently snatched up using chopsticks, a visual we find pretty amusing throughout a Mega Stack Challenge $600 No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournament held at the Mashantucket that is popular casino.
Newnum will likely be allowed to take part in something called ‚accelerated rehabilitation,‘ a state court program which will wipe his record clean if he makes it through the probation period without using chopsticks on anything but chow mein and moo goo gai pan. Newnum dodged a bullet with this specific sentencing, as a maximum could have been brought by this class B misdemeanor of six months in jail as well as up to $1,000 in punitive fines.
Despite the event occurring back in mid-December, there is nothing official released about the case from Connecticut authorities until belated week that is last.
Keeping Quiet
Newnum himself has been pretty mum about the whole situation; perhaps not that that should surprise anyone. a blog that is somewhat cryptic on his whojedi page refers to dealer’s union president Billy Shea, who reportedly ended up being the object of personal attacks after discussing the theft in his or her own internet site articles. The culprit seems to be under some kind of gag order whether self-inflicted or on advice of counsel, who understands but posted on his blog that he will ’step far from the poker world indefinitely.‘
Probably a wise move, since we doubt he’s going to land much work from now on; he’s already been prohibited indefinitely from setting foot in Foxwoods again.
Newnum’s obscure comments in regards to the incident shed no light on how someone who obviously has spent plenty of time in casinos wouldn’t understand that the theft that is petty be caught on eye-in-the-sky cameras, making it pretty hard to deny his wrongdoing.
In his final weblog feedback regarding the matter, he expressed ongoing help for the poker community he will no much longer be a part of:
‚Yesterday, I called Billy [Shea, dealer’s union president] really. We spoke at length, not by what he had posted, but rather about the responses from town. We hold no ill will as he simply did what he felt he needed to do as union president against him. It was a conversation that is great Billy and I also do appreciate him taking the time to speak with me. I’ve spent a ten years as part of the poker community, and have truly come to comprehend this game and the category of individuals in it.
‚That being said, it seems for the greatest that I step away from the poker world indefinitely. I do wish to give you thanks to my family and my friends, both inside and outside of poker, whom have actually been extremely supportive during this period. Finally, even that we understand it can. though i will not become a part of the poker world for now, I’ll nevertheless be rooting for the industry to continue to grow, expand, and enhance, in most of the ways‘
Newnum was one of approximately 21 poker professionals featured as an interviewee in the movie Bet Raise Fold, a poker documentary billed as ‚the story of online poker‘ that debuted in mid-2013. Friday it follows the rise and fall of online poker pros, from the industry’s inception to the crash of Black. Besides Newnum, many industry heavy hitters luminaries such as Daniel Negreanu, Greg Raymer, Tom Dwan and Tony Dunst are featured, with extra commentary from poker insiders, researchers and article writers like Newnum.
US Casino Expansion Continues to power up in 2014
US casino expansion will continue unabated in 2014, despite exactly what some experts say is market over-saturation.
It may be difficult to believe, but it wasn’t that long ago when casino gambling within the united states of america was confined to Las Vegas, Atlantic City and a few outposts in the south such as Biloxi. Now it may appear like there is hardly place throughout the country where you are greater than a few hours from the casino. You may still find some holdouts, but 30 states now have one or more casino, with plenty more coming soon. Here’s a look at where things stand and where they might continue to go in the usa video gaming industry as we head into 2014.
Northeast Has Most Growth
By far, the absolute most expansion has been in the northeastern United States, which is becoming competitive to the point of saturation. Late last 12 months, New York voters authorized an amendment to your state constitution that may allow for as many as seven Las Vegas-style resort casinos to go into operation over the decade that is next. That could ultimately include one or more gambling enterprises positioned appropriate in New York City, but will start with casinos in a number of upstate zones. Bids are currently being taken from operators, and the champions will be determined later this year.
New York is not the only state in the area that has pressed for casino expansion. In Massachusetts, you may still find three casino licenses up for grabs, with word on who will win each permit expected to come in April. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania which has 12 casinos of its already will allow bars to incorporate gambling machines this with more than 2,500 bars reportedly expected to apply for licenses to do so year. And in Maryland, there are already four casinos, with another opening this year and a sixth expected by 2016.
All of this competition has arrived at the expense of the center that is former of Coast gambling, Atlantic City ( and also to a smaller extent, Pennsylvania, which saw its profits fall somewhat in 2012). The gaming revenues from the 12 Atlantic City casinos fell below $3 billion for the first time in 22 years in 2013, and the Atlantic Club Casino was forced into bankruptcy free indian dreaming slot games and closed within the very first month of 2014. On the bright side, on line gaming was introduced, bringing within an additional $8.4 million within the last five days of the year once their Web betting web sites went online.
Newbies Join the Fray
Other states are considering adding casinos for the first time, or opening up their doors to larger results. For example, Virginia’s House of Assembly happens to be considering a bill that will allow for casino gambling at Hampton roadways which would mark the casino that is first of kind in their state. Meanwhile, Florida is eyeing a bill that would permit privately-operated casino resorts, though that have to be balanced up against the $1 billion they currently receive annually from the Seminole Tribe, which now operates venues that are several pays that quantity to maintain the exclusive rights to provide card games in hawaii.
Ohio is looking at incorporating to its collection of gambling enterprises, too. With gambling revenues slipping slightly, the state is looking forward to the three new casinos that are expected to start there by July 2014.
Finally, some states are searching to improve their current facilities rather than build ones that are new. For instance, Mississippi’s gambling industry is still recovering a years that are few Hurricane Katrina, and hopes to speed that data recovery with renovations and new resort hotels at a number of their state’s 36 casino properties.
Borgata Winter Open Event #1 Cancelled When Fake Chips Detected
It had been a rocky start for this year’s Borgata Winter Open poker competition, as suspected fake chips halted the event (Image: NBC40.net)
They state that most you need to win a poker competition is a chip and a chair. Needless to say, having a few extra potato chips will improve your odds and some players are not appearing to care where those chips come from.
Regulators Cancel Event
The event that is first of Borgata Winter Poker Open at the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City was first suspended on Friday, then sooner or later cancelled on Saturday on sales from the brand New Jersey Department of Gaming Enforcement, after casino officials confirmed that a ’significant number of counterfeit chips‘ had been in play during the competition. The suspension arrived after suspicions began to install about the chips that are fake the function on Thursday night. Before play was scheduled to resume at noon on Friday, the tournament staff made the decision to suspend the big event.
All prize money that had yet to be rewarded had been frozen while the investigation continued on orders from state regulators as of Monday. The competition had been suspended with only 27 players remaining in contention. The event began with 4,814 players, all of who paid a buy-in of $560. The top reward was to be $372,123, with a complete award pool of just over $2.4 million. When the tournament was halted, Allard Broedelet was the chip leader, holding more than 10.3 million chips.
Talk about a beat that is bad.
‚Thus far, detectives have actually found that a number of tournament entrants improperly introduced a significant number of counterfeit potato chips in to the competition, gaining an advantage that is unfair compromising the integrity of play for the function,‘ said Borgata president and chief running officer Tom Ballance.
‚It is excessively unfortuitously that the criminal actions of those people could have a impact that is detrimental more than 4,000 other entrants,‘ he added. ‚The integrity of our games and the confidence of our players is of the importance that is utmost us.‘
Possible 5K Denomination in Fake Chips
While details of the scheme never have yet been released by investigators, conjecture has run wild online, where players who took part in the event have tweeted pictures of what they claim are counterfeit chips. A twoplustwo.com forum thread has featured conversation suggesting that the fake chips were of the 5k denomination, and that there may were a lot more than $1 million in fake potato chips in play when the tournament was suspended.
The casino has not yet determined or at least made publicly clear what might happen with players‘ entry fees to your event after the investigation is complete. They simply said in an issued statement that ‚that all unpaid prize money [will] be held in trust until additional information and quality are determined.‘
As in any major casino, security is tight at the Borgata. Despite some stress on casino staff due to the size that is immense of event, you can still find multiple cameras on every table, which may provide evidence as to who was behind the counterfeit chips. Neither casino nor state officials have discussed exactly what (if any) evidence they have uncovered so far, nevertheless. No charges have yet been filed in link with this case.
The termination of the very first event did perhaps not slow down the Borgata Winter Poker Open as a whole. According to Ballance, the remainder of the competition series shall go on as scheduled.
‚We thoroughly verified all remaining chips in our inventory, and are confident in moving forward with your tournament schedule as planned and approved by the nj-new Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement,‘ he stated.