Welcome to a regular Thursday edition of ‘the Poker Poker Report’, OR ‘tPPR’, the only poker blog to promise to NOT be the worst ten minutes of your day. This edition of tPPR brings you a special weekday commentary of all interesting poker-related news stories including: Bookie Betting at the Borgata, Congress Talks Poker, and Hellmuth Teams with Playboy for a Good Cause.

‘the Poker Poker Report – Give us ten minutes and we promise to get you ten minutes closer to the end of your work day.’

Atlantic City Shake Down: Gamblers Busted for Gambling

     Thanks to the fine people over at the Associated Press for the news story, about suspected gangster’s getting busted for running a sports-betting ring. Since 2006, and mainly from the Borgata Poker Room, the suspected ring took in some $22 million in bets related to sports. The gambling ring was discovered after an informant tipped authorities to the activities, apparently using some Borgata employees to assist in the bet making. The article points out that if the charges are proven, this may be the largest case of mob incursion into the Atlantic City casinos since 1978. Thanks to the fine staff here at PokerPages.com for the following summary article.

- tPPR doesn’t understand why the so-called authorities are busting the casino workers. tPPR assumes that they were simply taking part in a long term study in ‘Sports Book Management’ to get a jump on the day A.C. finally (logically) says YES to Sports Betting. Oh wait…. legal sports betting would be a bad idea… then the mob’s would infiltrate the casino and set up a book of their own. Smart N.J.! Real Smart!

- UPDATE: tPPR Makes Trip to Local Vegas Casino: No Arrest Pending. No Shots Fired. Winning Tickets Paid. Free Drinks Abound.

As further proof of tPPR dedication to investigation and research, tPPR immediately jumped into the car to drive to the local sports book to find out: a) Is it safe for tPPR readers to bet sports in Vegas? C) Is the mob involved in Vegas? iiii) Are authorities investigating Vegas area sports’ books? a) What the odds on the Dolphins winning the SuperBowl currently stand at?

a) YES. However the drink tickets can be dangerous if you use them all.

C) NO. tPPR asked all local mobsters, and all of them agreed the corporations have full control.

iiii) NO. (Well…. tPPR didn’t see anybody that looked like a cop. And trust tPPR when tPPR says.. tPPR knows what cops look like.)

a) Let’s just say with Ricky Williams about to rerererererelaunch his career, it was a STEAL. tPPR bet the farm.

Complete Report on Senate Poker Hearings

Thanks to Andrew Leonard’s How the World Works on salon.com for the commentary on the recent hearings in Congress to decide what’s best for online gaming. Including direct quotes from prominent Nevada senators, testimony from Annie Duke, and a general overview of the day’s activities, Leonard gives a great ten minute review of the highlights. Particularly interesting is the summary of testimony from Joseph Weiler, a law professor at NYU who questioned what happens when countries begin to ignore treaty obligations as the U.S. has according to the WTO courts.

- tPPR is extremely pleased that Congress is taking an honest look at what will be best for internet gaming. Assuming they are all rational people (hahahahahaha), perhaps some movement towards fixing the mess referred to as the UIGEA will be seen. tPPR likes to think the US of A is quicker than the French. 

Poker Brat Teams with Playboy Bunnies for Charity Poker at the Palms

 From a Press Release located on PrimeNewsWire.com a promotional announcement about a charity event to raise money for the families of fallen officers. Titled ‘Beauty and the Bet’ and offering a grand prize of two tickets to Super Bowl XLII, the TASER Foundation for Fallen Officers is “thrilled to bring Phil Hellmuth back for our third annual poker fundraiser” hosting two separate events to be played at the Palms. Also in attendance will be a few of the famous Playboy Bunnies including Playmates Sarah Elizabeth, Stephanie Heinrich, Alison Waite, and Stacy Fuson.

- Sometimes even tPPR needs to include a feel good story.

That’s the report for today. Check in again later this week for the next edition of tPPR.

 -Norm

 ‘the Poker Poker Report – Give us ten minutes and we promise to get you ten minutes closer to the end of your work day.’