
Former poker blogger Jay Newnum is stepping far from poker after receiving probation for stealing from a dealer’s tip container (Image: betraisefoldmovie.com)
If you are a poker blogger/reporter hired to cover a good-sized tournament at a major land casino, probably creating a proceed the dealer’s tip package just isn’t your decision that is best ever. Apparently, not everyone grasps that reality, and now from the ‘what were you thinking’ files comes news that 41-year-old probably-not-anymore poker writer 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 within a Mega Stack Challenge $600 No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournament held at the popular Mashantucket, Connecticut casino.
Newnum are allowed to be involved in something called ‘accelerated rehabilitation,’ a us state court program that will wipe his record clean through the probation period without using chopsticks on anything but chow mein and moo goo gai pan if he makes it. 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 along with up to $1,000 in punitive fines.
Despite the incident occurring back in mid-December, there was 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 situation that is whole 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 was the item of personal attacks after discussing the theft in his own website posts. At fault is apparently 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 move that is wise since we doubt he’s going to land much work from now on; he is already been prohibited indefinitely from establishing foot in Foxwoods again.
Newnum’s vague comments in regards to the incident shed no light on how someone who obviously has invested the required time in casinos wouldn’t recognize that the theft that is petty be caught on eye-in-the-sky digital cameras, making it pretty difficult to deny his wrongdoing.
In their last web log reviews on the matter, he expressed ongoing support for the poker community he will no longer be an integral part of:
‘Yesterday, I called Billy [Shea, dealer’s union president] really. We spoke at length, not in what he had posted, but rather concerning the responses from town. We hold no ill will against him, as he merely did exactly what he felt he needed to do as union president. It was a conversation that is great Billy and I also do appreciate him using the time and energy to speak with me. I’ve spent a decade included in the poker community, while having truly come to comprehend this game and the grouped family 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 express gratitude to my family and my friends, both inside and outside of poker, whom have been incredibly 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 still be rooting for the industry to continue to grow, expand, and improve, in most of the ways’
Newnum had been one of approximately 21 poker professionals featured as an interviewee in the film Bet Raise Fold, a poker documentary billed as ‘the story of online poker’ that debuted in mid-2013. It follows the increase and fall of online poker pros, from the industry’s inception to the crash of Black Friday. Besides Newnum, many industry heavy hitters luminaries such as for example 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 increase in 2014
US casino expansion will continue unabated in 2014, despite just what some experts say is market over-saturation.
It may be hard to think, nonetheless it wasn’t that long ago when casino gambling within the united states of america was restricted to vegas, Atlantic City and a few outposts in the south such as for example Biloxi. Now it may appear like there is hardly an accepted place throughout the country where you’re greater than a few hours from a casino. There are still some holdouts, but 30 states now have one or more casino, with plenty more coming soon. Here is a look at where things stand and where they may continue to go in america gaming industry as we head into 2014.
Northeast Has growth that is most
By far, the absolute most expansion has been around the northeastern United States, which is now competitive to the point of saturation. Later last year, New York voters approved an amendment towards the state constitution which will enable as many as seven Las Vegas-style resort casinos to go into operation over the next decade. That could ultimately include one or more gambling enterprises positioned right in New York City, but will start with casinos in many upstate zones. Bids are being taken from operators, therefore the champions is going to be determined later this year.
New York is not the only state in the region that has pushed for casino expansion. In Massachusetts, you may still find three casino licenses up for grabs, with word on who will win each free pokies downloads indian dreaming permit anticipated to come in April. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania which has 12 casinos of a unique already will allow pubs to add gambling machines this year, with significantly more than 2,500 bars apparently expected to apply for licenses to do this. Plus in Maryland, there are already four casinos, with another opening this and a sixth expected by 2016 year.
Most of this competition has come at the cost of the former center of East Coast gambling, Atlantic City ( also to a lesser extent, Pennsylvania, which saw its profits fall slightly in 2012). The gaming revenues from the 12 Atlantic City casinos dropped below $3 billion for the time that is first 22 years in 2013, and the Atlantic Club Casino was forced into bankruptcy and closed in the first month of 2014. On the bright side, on the web gaming was introduced, bringing in a additional $8.4 million into the last five months of the entire year once their Web betting sites went online.
Newbies Join the Fray
Other states are considering incorporating casinos for the first time, or opening up their doors to larger results. For instance, Virginia’s House of Assembly is currently considering a bill that allows for casino gambling at Hampton Roads which would mark the casino that is first of kind in hawaii. Meanwhile, Florida is eyeing a bill that would permit privately-operated casino resorts, though that must be balanced from the $1 billion they currently receive yearly from the Seminole Tribe, which now operates venues that are several pays that amount to maintain the exclusive rights to provide card games in the state.
Ohio is looking at including to its collection of gambling enterprises, too. With gambling revenues slipping slightly, the state is looking forward to the three brand new casinos that are expected to open here by July 2014.
Finally, some states searching for to boost their current facilities instead of 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 recovery with renovations and new 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 start that is rocky this present year’s Borgata Winter Open poker tournament, as suspected fake chips halted the function (Image: NBC40.net)
They say that most you need to win a poker competition is a chip and a chair. Of course, having a few chips that are extra enhance your odds and some players don’t appear 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 fundamentally cancelled on Saturday on instructions from the brand New Jersey Department of Gaming Enforcement, after casino officials confirmed that a ‘significant number of fake chips’ were in play during the competition. The suspension came after suspicions began to mount about the fake chips during the function on Thursday night. Before play was scheduled to resume at noon on Friday, the tournament staff made the decision to suspend the function.
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 just 27 players remaining in contention. The event began with 4,814 players, all of whom paid a buy-in of $560. The prize that is top to be $372,123, with a total prize pool of just over $2.4 million. As soon as the tournament was halted, Allard Broedelet was the chip leader, holding more than 10.3 million chips.
Mention a bad beat.
‘Thus far, detectives have actually found that one or more tournament entrants improperly introduced a significant number of fake chips into the competition, gaining an advantage that is unfair compromising the integrity of play for the event,’ said Borgata president and chief running officer Tom Ballance.
‘It is exceptionally regrettably that the criminal actions of these people can have a detrimental affect a lot 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 denomination that is 5K Fake Chips
While details of the scheme never have yet been released by investigators, conjecture has run wild online, where players who participated in the event have tweeted pictures of what they claim are counterfeit chips. A twoplustwo.com forum thread has showcased conversation suggesting that the fake chips were of the denomination that is 5k and that there may happen significantly 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 towards the event when the investigation is complete. They simply said in an issued statement that ‘that all unpaid prize money [will] be held in trust until more details and resolution are determined.’
Like in any casino that is major security is tight at the Borgata. Despite some stress on casino staff because of the immense size of the event, you can still find multiple cameras on every table, which may provide evidence as to who was behind the fake chips. Neither casino nor state officials have discussed what (if any) evidence they have actually uncovered so far, but. No charges have yet been filed in link with this case.
The termination of the first event did maybe not slow down the Borgata Winter Poker Open as an entire. In accordance with Ballance, the remainder of the tournament show shall go on as scheduled.
‘We thoroughly verified all remaining chips in our inventory, and are confident in dancing with this competition schedule as planned and approved by the nj-new Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement,’ he said.
