Borgata Poker Scam Artists Plead Not Guilty

Maybe they think they did nothing wrong or perhaps they can get away with scamming people out of lots of money. Maybe it's a good thing that they try to get out of this mess. Personally, I find it stupid that anyone would leave the safer confines of a regulated poker room and go up to someone's room.

Here's the latest article from The Press of Atlantic City regarding the idiots who went up to this room and how the defendants have pled not guilty. Good for them.

MAYSLANDING — The last of four defendants indicted earlier this month for allegedly organizing a high-tech gambling scheme at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa pleaded not guilty to the charges at an arraignment hearing Thursday.

James Harrison, 42, of Duluth, Minn., is accused of renting a room at the Borgata to host private, high-stakes games of Chinese poker, backgammon and chess along with Joseph Ingargiola, 51, of Las Vegas; Stephen Phillips, 53, of Las Vegas; and Steven Forte, 52, of Las Vegas , authorities say.

They rigged a nearby room with surveillance equipment and computers to cheat a high-roller out of tens of thousands of dollars, according to the indictment.

But shortly before the victim was to arrive, State Police searched the two hotel rooms, arrested the four men and seized the equipment.

The men were indicted by an Atlantic County grand jury Oct. 2 on charges of second-degree attempted theft by deception, state Attorney General Anne Milgram said.

Harrison’s attorney, James Leonard Jr., waived a reading of the indictment Thursday and entered a not guilty plea on his behalf before Superior Court Judge Michael Connor.

Ingargiola, Phillips and Forte all pleaded not guilty to the charges at an arraignment hearing on Monday. Ingargiola is represented by Jerry Elashmawi. Phillips is represented by Joseph Levin. Forte is represented by Stephen Funk.

Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a $150,000 fine. Each of the defendants was released on bail after the June 7, 2007, arrests.

The indictment alleges the four men plotted to cheat a man, identified only as "J.H.," who was invited to participate in a tournament involving the high-stakes games in a Borgata hotel room. The four men allegedly rigged a second room with hidden surveillance cameras, audio equipment, computers and other high-tech devices that would be used to cheat the victim out of more than $75,000, according to the indictment.

The defendants allegedly intended to use the equipment to secretly monitor the games from the second room. The victim was to play an opponent who was part of the alleged scheme. The defendants allegedly planned to use marked playing cards for the Chinese poker so they could identify the victim's cards and transmit instructions to the opposing player, who would be wearing a concealed earpiece.

They also intended to use the equipment to monitor the games of backgammon and chess so computer programs could be used to calculate the countermoves that offered the best odds of winning, authorities said.

Deputy Attorney General Kerry DiJoseph of the Division of Criminal Justice Major Crimes Bureau - Casino Prosecution Unit, is handling the case for the state.

The attorneys are scheduled to appear in court Nov. 17 without their clients for a management conference, Connor said. The defendants and their attorneys will all appear in court together Dec. 1, he said.

More Casino News: MGM Plans on Hold

There is more news coming out of atlantic City today about its potentional casinos. Now, MGM has decided to be its plans on hold because of sagging economy. Can't say I blame them because reports from a few people I know in the business have said the last couple of week have been horrendous.

Poker rooms have had few tables going and ones that are going, are short. Not fun times.

Here is the article from The Press of Atlantic City.

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI, Staff Writer, 609-272-7258
Published: Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Gaming giant MGM Mirage Resorts Inc. said today it is halting plans for a $5 billion casino complex in Atlantic City until the sagging economy picks up.

The announcement comes as no surprise and reiterates what the company told The Press of Atlantic City in August. At that time, MGM said it would postpone the start of construction at least until 2009.

MGM did not state how long it would delay the project in today’s announcement, which was made as part of the company’s report on third quarter earnings.

“We continue to believe Atlantic City represents an important market for further development,” Terry Lanni, MGM’s chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement. “We intend to resume development at such time as economic conditions and capital markets are sufficiently improved to enable us to go forward on a reasonable basis.”

MGM planned to build an estimated $4.5 billion to $5 billion megaresort in the Marina District next to Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, which it co-owns with Boyd Gaming Corp.

Economy hard on Trump too

The economy has been rough on all of us. Donold Trump feels the weight of it too, agreeing to lower the sale price of the Trump Marina by almost $50 million. That's like a jet or two Trump won't be able to buy now.

Maybe that means there will be no poker room if Margaritaville ever comes into existence. Here's the story from the AP:

AP - ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. Sometimes the art of the deal calls for it to be redone.

That's what has happened to an agreement between Donald Trump and a former protege of his who's buying the Trump Marina Hotel Casino in Atlantic City.

Due to the worsening economy, both sides agreed to reduce the purchase price for the casino-hotel to $270 million, down from the $316 million they set as the price back in May.

Trump's company, Trump Entertainment Resorts, can also scrap the whole deal if it doesn't go through by the end of May.

Developer Richard Fields is teaming with singer Jimmy Buffett's business arm to re-brand the casino as "Margaritaville."

Tropicana hosting holiday free roll

The Tropicana is hosting a $25,000 Holiday Free Roll Tournament on December 22.

To gain entry players must accumulate 120 hours of live poker play starting October 1, 2008 to December 13, 2008. Bonus Hours will be given Sunday thru Thursday from midnight to 8 a.m.

First place is a guaranteed $10,000.

With 1 to 299 players, winners will be awarded for 1st through 10th place and for 299 or more players, 20 places will be awarded. Players will receive $10,000 in tournament chips to start, with 30-minute rounds.

For more information contact the Tropicana Poker Room at 609-340-4000.

Commerce Trip Report

I’ve only been playing poker for three years. In this day, the learning curve is a lot quicker than it used to be with the amount of books and access to online poker. Me, I’m not one that’s big on theory. It may sound strange to someone who is an avid player, but I rely more on instincts and reads.

I do the whole pot odds things and calculate. I make certain knowing I am going to get paid off in the end, but I’ve always been more interested in the history of the game. Poker evolved from a back room, hustler’s game to a mainstream pop culture reference, which I am now a statistic.

While in Los Angeles, I had to take the opportunity to play poker. There are hundreds of card rooms in this great state and hearing the stories and history behind these places, I had no choice.

The tiny poker player in me was calling, tugging me toward the Commerce.

It was dingy, musty and probably moldy from the looks from it.

It was perfect.

Poker came alive in that room. There was history there although many of the players on the lower limit side weren’t thinking about that. They were flinging their chips into pots with greater than I have ever witnessed.

Now, revealing I’ve only played for the last few years, I’m not a bankroll where I play in big games. I’m still at the kiddie table, playing $1-$2 NL in Atlantic City. I didn’t know what that translated into in the structure in California.

I chose the $200 buy-in game because I always buy in for $200 in A.C. Apparently, these games aren’t on the same level. Their $1-$2 NL was a $40 fixed buy-in. Even if I had known that, I probably wouldn’t have jumped into that game anyway. A $40 buy-in doesn’t give you much room to work with.

$3-$5 blinds. That was the game I was in. A little over my head and lots of loose player, who apparently don’t care about theory either. Pot odds? To hell with that too. These guys were just interested in getting as much money into the middle of the pot and stacking chips.

Normally, in this type of situation theorist say the looser the game, the tighter. I ended up beating these guys at their own game while following my basic rules. I didn’t get my chips into the pot with a bad starting hand just because that was their move. I started with a decent holdings, I just made my requirements a little lower.

I was stuck in the game for $400 and down to my last $50 before I got the hang of it. A lesson learned quickly, but expensively.

Good thing Bluffmaster Deuce (he was sitting in the two seat) sat down. This guy was the easiest read on the game. When he had a hand, he bet roughly ¾ of the pot. When he bluffed, he doubled the size of the pot. If there was $40 in the pot, then he bet $80.

I got back to even on his bluffs alone. My pair of deuces? Way good when he bet $40 into a $20 pot. My open-ended straight draw when he bet $80 into a $40? Money.

Finally, after four hours of play, I got back to even. I planned to leave when the blinds hit me. However, while under the gun, I looked down to black Kings. I raised $25 (standard) and four people called me.

FOUR!

The flop comes 4-K-5, rainbow. But being in early position and lots of people behind me, 6-7 and 3-4 are definitely hands I see these people calling with. I bet $60, I get one caller. The turn is an ace. I bet $150, he mucks. Missed his open-ender he says. Awesome.

I went home up $150 after being stuck $350. I felt like I won $1,000.

Little things make me happy

Revel is building. The construction cranes are on site and, despite all the attempts from the local union to mess with it, Revel just keeps on going.

Now, I know for a fact that it is going to have a poker room. That makes me even happier. I'll enjoy having new places to play. Here are the paragraphs from The Press of Atlantic City article that put a a little smile on face this morning (I'm in Cali., it's still morning).

ATLANTIC CITY - Kevin DeSanctis stood in the middle of a vast, hectic construction site and began talking about things as though they already existed.
"We're actually standing in the middle of the poker room," he said, gesturing to an empty space on the lower floors of a hotel tower that eventually will rise to a breathtaking 700 feet. "Over there is the theater. And that's the casino."

It's still years away, but it will finally be finished, you can go from Revel to the Showboat to the Taj. There should be a poker room to your liking in the mix.

My mission: The Commerce

I will be in Los Angeles until Thursday morning, so the plan is to get to the Commerce before I have to go home. There was time yesterday, but since I only slept for two hours before I had to catch my flight and I didn't stop working until I finally got to my room at 9 p.m. (ET), I passed out three hours, forcing myself to stay up that long.

Playing poker while tired is never a good idea. The plan is to head to the Commerce on Tuesday. Phillies and I have plenty of extra time. If we have to play a Game 5, Tuesday is still an off day and I will have plenty of time to get to the felt.

I haven't decided if I am going to NL Hold 'Em or Stud. Maybe, I will make a whole day of it and try a little of both.

The vote is in

Atlantic City Council votes to delay full smoking ban
Published: Wednesday, October 08, 2008

6:45 p.m. Update - ATLANTIC CITY -- An ordinance that would delay the implementation of a complete smoking ban on Atlantic City's casino floors passed on first reading by a 5-4 vote Wednesday. It must still pass on second reading, or the smoking ban goes into effect Oct. 15.
The casinos have been lobbying City Council to delay the full ban, arguing that it would further harm their bottom lines in a market already hurting from the state of the national economy. They say a full ban would send more customers to other casinos where smoking is allowed.
Public safety officials were limiting access to the council meeting earlier Wednesday after hundreds jammed council chambers to weigh in on the vote.

-------------------------------

Wow, that's really disappointing. I hoped that the council would understand the need for workers in the casino industry and patrons to be able to breathe easy. This weekend, while in Milwaukee, I thought about playing a table game. Considered for a short moment when I couldn't get a seat in the poker room.

Besides hearing my boyfriend's voice telling me how stupid I would be if I played, the woman chain smoking next to the empty seat kept me away.

They think banning smoking is going to limit customers, but I know many who are going to come back to casinos because the smoking is gone.

I never even got on the felt

The Phillies altered my plan by losing on Saturday. With the sweep, I was going to spend my Sunday taking on the best player players Potawatomi Casino had to offer.

I got to the casino on Monday instead about six hours before my flight was supposed to head back to the East Coast. At noon, the lists were already at least 20 deep. The shortest was $4-8 limit, which was actually what I wanted to play anyway. I get my name on, I’m about 15 names down the list, and there is only one game. I ask one of the check-in people how long is the wait.

When she scrunched her face and gave the half shoulder shrug, I knew I was in trouble. Her answer: “it’s probably going to be a while.”

I don’t play other table games. At least I try not to because I want to keep my money. So, I walked around the casino for quite a while and reminded myself why I shouldn’t ever play table games. I watched people get snapped off left and right in three-card poker and blackjack. It’s a good lesson in saving your money.

After an hour, which I spent chatting with a friend on the phone, I went back to the room. My name was eighth on the list. There were several empty tables and no new ones had popped up since I was last up there. However, there were plenty more names on the board.

I am not going to argue how this poker room is run, but if someone can tell me why there are six or seven empty tables? Do they not have enough poker dealers? I didn’t understand it, and still don’t as I sit at Gate E-67 in the Milwaukee airport.

Another hour goes by of my aimless wandering. Now, I’m second on the list with four hours until my flight leaves.

One of the floor guys sees me staring at the board and asks if I want to go on the list. Well, I’ve been on the list for two hours and have seemingly gotten nowhere. To his credit, he was definitely nice and asked if there was another game he could get me on or if I wanted to play over someone on the $4-$8 game if they went to lunch.

While it was nice that he asked me if I wanted to play on another game, he was full of it. It was an empty gesture because every game had at least 20 names on the list. He wasn’t just going to jump me over everyone.

Instead of playing, I came the airport. That’s where I am now. No playing cards.

Hopefully, next week will be better. I’m headed to Los Angeles and the Commerce or another card room is in my sights.

Maybe the Phillies could do their job this time and take of the Dodgers in four. (Or Dodgers win in four)

Doubtful.

Casino smoking ban may be delayed (Atlantic City Press)

Casino smoking ban may be delayed
By DONALD WITTKOWSKI Staff Writer, 609-272-7258
Published: Friday, October 03, 2008

ATLANTIC CITY - Plans to make Atlantic City the first major casino market in the country completely smoke-free may be delayed amid warnings by Donald Trump and other gaming executives that it could devastate business.
City Council, at its meeting Wednesday, is expected to debate and possibly vote on whether to hold off having the smoking ban take effect Oct. 15. Mayor Scott Evans said he would be open to delaying the ban, but will leave the decision to council.
Evans noted that by postponing the ban, Atlantic City may be able to preserve jobs and protect the casinos from the nation's unfolding economic crisis. But he added that casino employees would continue to be exposed to the dangers of secondhand smoke.
Councilman Marty Small, whose ward includes five of the city's 11 casinos, said he has had discussions with gaming representatives about possibly suspending the smoking ban until the economy gets stronger.
"I have an open mind," Small said. "We have to do what is in the best interests of Atlantic City as a whole. Casinos pay 80 percent of our taxes and provide thousands of jobs for city residents.

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"It is a sensitive issue on both sides," he continued. "We have to worry about the workers' health, but we also have an economic crisis in the country that has trickled down to this city."
Casinos are predicting the smoking ban will cause an additional 5 percent drop in gaming revenue on top of the 5.2 percent decline so far this year. The fear is smokers will flee from Atlantic City to Pennsylvania, Connecticut and other competing casino markets that allow gamblers to light up.
"The smoking ban will have a huge, negative impact on Atlantic City - beyond any competition, beyond anything," Trump said. "All we can do is to ask the council to reconsider."
Trump warned a decline in gaming business will translate into the loss of millions of dollars in state casino-tax revenue for social programs benefiting New Jersey's senior citizens and disabled residents.
"I just hope for the best. But the smoking ban itself will take tens of millions of dollars of taxes away and will take tens of millions of dollars of aid away from senior citizens and all of the things that we're doing," Trump told reporters Thursday after a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of a $255 million hotel tower at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort.
Trump said he has already received about 15 calls from friends who complained they will no longer take gambling trips to Atlantic City because of the smoking ban.
"If you're a smoker, you have a problem," he said. "I hope the City Council is able to reconsider. This isn't for Donald Trump. This has nothing to do with me. But senior citizens and all of the big beneficiaries of Atlantic City are going to suffer greatly because of this ban. It's the only place in the United States with a full smoking ban, and it's going to be a disaster."
Evans, who headed a delegation of city officials attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony, seemed to agree with Trump.
"I believe that Donald Trump has a legitimate concern," the mayor said.
Although the ban prohibits smoking on the gaming floor, casino customers would be able to light up in lounges that contain no slot machines or gaming tables. Most of the casinos plan to build indoor lounges, but Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has said its customers will have to go outside to smoke in weather-protected enclosures.
Mark Juliano, chief executive officer of Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc., the company that operates the three Trump casinos, said the gaming industry is unified in its belief that the smoking ban should be delayed.
"I think the most devastating thing is, if they are still allowed to smoke at casinos in Pennsylvania, it puts us at a very competitive disadvantage," Juliano said.
Smoking is allowed on 25 percent of the casino floor under a local law that took effect April 15, 2007. Last April, City Council voted to completely outlaw casino smoking starting Oct. 15. The historic vote followed intense lobbying by anti-smoking groups and warnings from casino unions that gaming employees are constantly at risk of secondhand smoke.
Milton Rosado, who oversees political issues for the United Auto Workers union, which represents casino dealers, said the labor group will vigorously oppose any attempt to delay the smoking ban.
"It's about the health, welfare and safety of the workers. The right thing to do is to stay with the smoking ban," Rosado said.
Dennis M. Farrell Jr., a gaming analyst for Wachovia Capital Markets, said City Council may have to delay the smoking ban to allow casinos to adjust their business models to the economic slowdown. Otherwise, some casinos may go out of business, he predicted.
"We believe there is a high probability that the Atlantic City marketplace could see more than one casino close its doors in the next two years, unless the full smoking ban is delayed or state relief is provided to these properties," Farrell wrote in a note to investors.
E-mail Donald Wittkowski:
DWittkowski@pressofac.com

A night of grinding

God, I wish that meant something different. However, I spent roughly three hours playing at Harrah's on Saturday to grind out a decent win playing $1-$2. I don't like to talk about how much I actually won. I equate it with asking someone about their salary. It's just not call.

It took me an hour and a half before I won my first pot, but I don't really think about that as a problem. I spent that time watching and reading. When I finally entered a pot, at least two people mentioned how I haven't played many hands.

There's the first thing I knew I could exploit. If people are announcing that I'm playing tight, well I'll use it to my advantage. I just had to wait for the right moment.

It happened a little while later when I had A-4s in the cut off. Three people limp in before me and I eyed to the woman to my left who had chips in her hand. Seeing, I am going to get odds, I throw my money in.

The small blind raises it $12. Everyone who called before, calls now and the woman has $10 in her hand again. She was helpful all night. I knew if I was going to get odds on my money. I knew when she did and did not have a hand. It was because of her that I ended winning this hand.

The board comes out 8-3-4 rainbow. I have a silly pair and no spades come out, it's time to run away from the hand because of the big field. The initial bettor leads out for $15. It folds to me and I don't make a move right away, but the woman next to me folds out of turn.

The dealer mentions I still have cards.

The initial bettor looks at his hand and places it back down. I announce raise and pick up a stack of chips and just cut down to $35. There were few possible outcomes here and this was all the money I planned to put into the pot.

1.       He folds and I win.

2.       He calls and I know where I stand.

3.       He raises and I get the Hell out.

He picked option one and I picked up a small pot. The dealer gave me a funny looking because he knew that I had nothing. However, my nothing was still better than the SB's nothing. That was my whole night. I picked up small pots here and there and decided around midnight it was time to go home.

Work has taken over my life and today was my first day off in a week. I had a little bit of time on Saturday to play some cards, so I took advantage of it.

I have to travel for work and I was hoping for Los Angeles. I was going to check out a card room or two if I was sent out there. Instead, I am going to Milwaukee. If anyone knows anywhere to play poker in Milwaukee, give me a shout.

P.S. If anyone is looking for results of the U.S. Poker Championships. Head over to Card Player. The results for most of the tournament are updated. Sometimes it takes a while for them to show up, but at least the results are being posted now.

Cordish named lead bidder for Tropicana (Press of AC)

Cordish named lead bidder for Atlantic City's Tropicana casino
Press Staff Reports
Published: Tuesday, September 23, 2008

10:32 a.m. Update - ATLANTIC CITY - The Casino Control Commission today announced that the state-appointed trustee and conservator of the Tropicana Atlantic City Casino & Resort has entered into negotiations with The Cordish Company concerning its proposal to purchase the Tropicana for cash and securities totalling $700 million.

After conducting a thorough auction process, conservator Gary S. Stein and his investment banker, Moelis & Company, identified Cordish as a leading bidder for a number of reasons, including the price and consideration offered, as well as Cordish’s capabilities and track record of success in gaming, real estate development, and management. Cordish has indicated to Stein that it is prepared to move forward.

Under the terms of the proposed transaction, Cordish would acquire substantially all of the assets of Adamar, which consist primarily of the Tropicana Casino & Resort. Stein expects to ask the commission for approval to designate Cordish as the lead bidder, or stalking horse, in a Section 363 proceeding. The transaction is also subject to completion of a definitive asset purchase agreement, approval of the commission, and various other conditions.

The commission voted on Dec. 12, 2007 not to renew the Tropicana’s casino license, formerly held by Adamar of New Jersey. That vote triggered a trust through which Stein, a retired justice of the New Jersey State Supreme Court, controls the stock of Adamar. The commission subsequently named Stein as conservator. Title to all of Adamar’s assets was automatically transferred to the conservator and he was charged with selling the casino hotel complex while keeping it open and operating.

The Cordish Company is one of the largest real estate developers in the world with extensive expertise in gaming and lodging, entertainment and mixed-use projects, sports anchored developments, and retail, office and residential construction. Many of Cordish’s developments involve public/private partnerships, including The Walk in Atlantic City.

The Tropicana is one of the largest casino hotels in Atlantic City with 2,129 rooms and almost 140,000 square feet of gaming space. The complex is situated on approximately 14 acres of land with 220 yards of ocean frontage.

Vivek Rajkumar Wins Borgata Poker Tour

On the 48th hand of the night, Rajkumar won the Borgata Poker Open. It was in much better time than Wednesday's tournament day.

Here is the hand synopsis from the Borgata Poker Blog:

Vivek Rajkumar has the button. He raises to 550,000. Sang Kim re-raises to 1,050,000. Vivek re-re-raises to 2,500,000. Sang goes all in. Vivek calls. Vivek has Ad-Js and Sang has As-Qh. The flop is Jd-10s-7s and the crowd erupts! The turn is the Ah. The river is the 8s! Sang Kim finishes in second.

We're heads up!

The Borgata Poker Open is already heads up after close to three hours of play.

It took a full day to get from 27 to six and people are now dropping fairly quickly. You can catch all the live action at the Borgata Poker Blog. The faithful bloggers over there are giving updates hand by hand.

Here are the current heads up chip counts:

Vivek Rajkumar - 16,805,000
Sang Kim - 3,910,000

--
Have that poker itch?
Check out www.PokerInAtlanticCity.com

2008 United States Poker Championships Results - Event #4

Event #4 - Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or better

Buy-in: $500+$50

Entries: 104

Prize pool: $52,000

Results

1. Daniel Spear - $20,800

2. Gloria Lorusso - $11,960

3. Luigi Grilla - $6,240

4. Lawrence D. Samuelson - $3,640

5. Mark Rosenberg - $2,860

6. Glenn J. Engelbert - $2,340

7. Ferenc Molnar - $1,820

8. Michael B. Gabarick - $1,300

9. Allen K. Kessler - $1,040

Those are all the results I picked up today. If the Taj Mahal doesn't post the results on Card Player or anywhere else, I will make another trip there on Monday to pick up more results. 

2008 United States Poker Championships Results - Event #3

Event #3 - Seven-card stud Hi/Lo

Buy-in: $500+$50

Entries: 89

Prize pool: $44,500

Results

1. Brent D. Keller - $17,8000

2. Frank Atney - $10,235

3. Terry Wells - $5,340

4. Jo Jo Curti - $3,115

5. Laurence Goldsmith - $2,670

6. Joseph Millman - $2,225

7. John E. Womack - $1,780

8. George E. Poore - $1,335

One more set of results coming ...  

Borgata Poker Open update

Day 4 finally ended at 1:30 a.m. this morning, giving the remaining six players just 15 hours to recharge and come back for the televised portion of the main event of the Borgata Poker Open, a World Poker Tour event.

Here are the final six with chip counts.

Seat 1: Vivek Rajkumar (Seattle, WA) - 6,400,000
Seat 2: Dan Heimiller (Henderson, NV) - 3,360,000
Seat 3: Andrew Knee (Mount Sinai, NY) - 1,475,000
Seat 4: Mark Seif (Henderson, NV) - 4,665,000
Seat 5: Jason Strochak (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) - 1,650,000
Seat 6: Sang Kim (Leesburg, VA) - 3,085,000

2008 United States Poker Championships Results - Event #2

Event #2 - Seven-card stud

Buy in: $500+$50

Entries: 51

Prize pool: $25,500

Results

1. John Demeo - $10,200

2. Daniel R. Nicewander - $5,865

3. Danny F. Hofer - $3,060 

4. Pheldavone Peaseuth - $1,785

5. Marianne Preveti - $1,530

6. Gilbert M. Sacks - $1,275

7. Sidney Miller - $1,020

8. Charles P. Townsend III - $765

More results to come ... 

2008 United States Poker Championships Results - Event #1

Event #1 - Limit Hold 'Em

Buyin: $300+$40

Entries :103

Prize pool: $30,900

 

Results

1. Wasyl Zaliwciw - $12,360

2. Kayid Shawish - $7,107

3. John E. Womack - $3,708

4. Lisa Treffinger - $2,163

5. Terry L. English - $1,699

6. Demetrios L. Georgous - $1,390

7. James Denino - $1,081

8. Phillip Yoo - $773

9. Kerry Small - $619

 

More results to come ...

--
Have that poker itch?
Check out www.PokerInAtlanticCity.com

Day 4 still going strong

Just went over to check out the Borgata Poker blog for an update and learned that it's still going on tonight. They are playing down to six players for tomorrow's final table that is going to be taped to be aired later on FSN.

It is down to seven people.

JUST ONE MORE!!!!

I imagine that is what everyone is screaming in their minds. When they finally do get to six people, they will break until tomorrow. But there is no morning wake-up call. The remaining players don't have to return until 4 p.m.

In seat order, this is who is left:

1. Vivek "psyduck" Rajkumar
2. Dan Heimiller
4. Andrew Knee
5. Mark Seif
6. Jason Strochak
7. Sang Kim
8. John Myung

END IT!!

Financial crisis could hurt the Tropicana

With the financial markets hurting recently, especially over the last week, gaming regulators fear that the Tropicana won't be able to find an owner, according to a report in The Press of Atlantic City on Wednesday.

The deadline to sell the Tropicana is looming. There is just one month left on the deadline, which has already been pushed back three other times. If that time comes without a hint of a buyer, the Trop could be sold in a bankruptcy auction.

The Trop isn't the only casino effected by the slow market. Pinnacle, which owns the former Sands property, razed the casino over a year ago and has yet to do anything more with the property. Pinnacle officials have said the shaky credit market has forced them to push back time lines for building the casino. Although, recently they have said they are committed to building the casino. All the billboards around town say so.

During tough financial times, casinos are going to be the companies that lose money. If people don't have money to lose, they aren't going to play (although that hasn't stopped some people in the past).

Poker tournaments have been a great way for casinos to get players. Take a $300 buy-in tournament. A person can win over $100K by taking home first place. That's a huge boost in the wallet and a massive upside based on the amount of money one puts into a tournament.

Winnings like that don't happen while playing craps or blackjack unless you're putting up the money first.

More problems are going to arise throughout Atlantic City has the economy struggles. Less gamblers means casinos will need less people to run the place. When layoffs and cutbacks begin to happen, then the Resort is really in trouble.

Upshall Raises Money for Charity in Borgata Poker Open (Press of Atlantic City)

Flyers' Upshall checks way to raise money for charity at poker tournament in A.C.

By SUSAN LULGJURAJ Staff Writer, 609-272-7187

ATLANTIC CITY - Scottie Upshall was in intense competition this week.

He had to figure out the right moves, what his opponents were going to do and then be in the right place at the right time.

The difference was the Flyers' right wing was competing in the main event of the Borgata Poker Open, a World Poker Tour event.

The Texas Hold 'em event had a $5 million guaranteed payout, the largest guaranteed prize pool of any land-based casino. The winner will receive $1.4 million on Thursday, the last day of the tournament.

The Borgata Resort Casino and Spa fell slightly short of the mark with the buy-ins and put in a little less than $50,000 into the pool.

"I really didn't know what to expect. I walked into the room here and saw all the tables," said Upshall, who borrowed poker player Lacey Jones' gold headphones to listen to music off his iPhone. "I am here for a great cause. If I can get in and win a little money for them, it makes the last few days more special. I felt nerves this week that I have never felt while playing hockey."

The Borgata paid Upshall's $10,000 buy-in ($9,600 goes to the prize pool and with $400 going to the house). Philadelphia contacted Scottie Hartnell first, but he was going to be away with his wife.

That's when Upshall jumped at the chance. He found the tournament a great way to combine his interest in poker with a way to raise money. Charities can't always rely on donations but have to come up with ways to draw attention to them.

Upshall finished 52nd out of 516 contestants, taking home $15,000 to split between the Flyers Wives Fight for Lives and the Kids Forever Foundation, which Upshall founded with the Ottawa Senators' Chris Phillips.

The scrappy right winger led the Flyers in penalty minutes (44) during the playoffs last season. Philadelphia made it to the Eastern Conference finals and lost in five games to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Upshall finished the season with 14 goals and 16 assists. He had three goals and four assists in three rounds of the playoffs.

"I am not here gambling. I am here just trying to raise money," Upshall said. "I mentioned it to a couple of players and said it was my first event. When I said it was for charity, they thought, 'Wow that's amazing;' I couldn't sit here for three straight days.' "

The partnership worked well for Borgata because the casino is always looking for ways to break into other markets. Getting a Philadelphia athlete to compete in the high-profile tournament, the Borgata is showing poker is for anyone.

Anyone can enter a tournament and have a chance at a title while taking out some of the best in the world. Poker isn't exclusive to those who have been studying the game for years.

"One of the big reasons is to bring it a little more mainstream," said Borgata's Ray Stefanelli, director of Poker Marketing. "We are very friendly with the New York and Philadelphia markets. One of the things we thought about is why not have someone have a chance to win $1.4 million for charity. What better thing to do with that money."

Upshall isn't a novice to the game, but it was his first live event. The 24-year-old plays with teammates Hartnell and Derian Hatcher on the road. It's a normal past time for the Flyers who spend much of their time on planes and trains.

Upshall rubbed elbows with some of the most popular poker celebrities and even pushed his chips around with 2006 World Series of Poker main event winner Jamie Gold, who offered to give him tips on the game and charity work.

"My dad likes to play. He has a card table back home," Upshall said. "We also get a pretty good game of the guys on the plane. It's nice to get a little competitive game of cards every once in a while. That's kind of when I started playing poker, when I turned pro."

Playing poker and playing hockey require completely different skills. While Upshall isn't being knocked on his backside or taking shots to his face while playing poker, the game requires a different level of concentration.

Upshall made it to Day 3 of the five-day event outlasting a huge amount of people. The days are long-lasting from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. On top of that, Upshall is the only competitor coming from an early-morning workout of skating on lifting weights.

"Poker is a game you have to sit down and take your time," said Upshall, whose friends texted him throughout the three days to find out his status. "I've learned a lot from the players here. You watch some of the players and things they say. I am going to take that back to my game with the boys."

Notes The U.S. Poker Championships, which last though Oct. 8, is going on at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City.

E-mail Susan Lulgjuraj:
slulgjuraj@pressofac.com

Day 3 of the Borgata Poker Open finished

Day 3 mercifully came to an end at the Borgata Poker Open around 7 p.m. This has been the earliest of the three days so far and everyone involved with the tournament is thrilled. The first two days were nearly 12 hours each with several small breaks and only one lengthy break.

The 69 that came back for Day 3 played until there were 27 left and then called it quits. They will come back on Wednesday and play until there are just six left. Those six will then play on Thursday for the television portion of the Borgata Poker Open that will be seen on FSN as part of the World Poker Tour.

Flyers' Scottie Upshall busted out in 52nd place and netted $15,000 for the two charities he is playing for, the Flyers Wives for Life and the Kids Foundation that he helped create along with a fellow hockey player.

Read the Card Player article on Day 3 here and if you need constant updates the guys over at the Borgata Poker Blog are doing a great job.

Here the chip counts heading into Wednesday as per the WPT.

Dan Heimiller - 2,870,000
Vivek Rajkumar - 1,756,000
Thayer Rasmussen - 1,413,000
Steven Levy - 1,317,000
Jason Strochak - 1,266,000
Nicky Frangos - 1,140,000
Andrew Knee - 1,091,000
Mark Seif - 1,087,000
Patrick Carney - 1,050,000
Stephen Vanauken - 1,009,000
John Myung - 946,000
Michael Binger - 718,000
Steve Dannenmann - 627,000
Ted Forrest - 607,000
Bobby Shasta - 606,000
Ralph Villela - 345,000
Christopher Baksh - 344,000
Vinh Nguyen - 336,000
Sang Kim - 316,000
Mikiya Takitani - 301,000
Randy Pfeifer - 288,000
Robert Toft - 269,000
Nam Le - 235,000
Kevin Lang - 209,000
Chris Arvanitis - 177,000
Natale Kuey - 175,000
Chris Bell - 165,000

Day 2 of the WPT Borgata Poker Open comes to a close

There are roughly 70 players remaining in the Borgata Poker Open after two days of action. Many of the more popular poker players got knocked out on the second day, but there are still many notables left in the field such as Ted Forrest, Joe Sebok, Mark Seif and Tiffany Michelle.

Flyers' Scottie Upshall is still in the hunt as well. He is playing for two charities and has made it to the Day 3 in his first live tournament. Upshall is used to playing with his teammates on the road. He doesn't play online nor does he play in the casinos. Not bad for his first time out.

Many of the players have their own views of Atlantic City. Check out the latest radio from PokerRoad.com. They have an interesting view of the resort and, well, it's not the plushy image Atlantic City's old name gives it. These guys don't like to venture to boardwalk side of Atlantic City. However, I can't say that I blame them.

With the Eagles playing the Cowboys on Monday Night Football, many of the players were paying attention to the game. This allowed the Philadelphia haters and their obsessive fans to come out and show their colors. There were many talking about sports from that point, Nicky Frangos was giving his opinion on the New York Yankees, who won't be making the playoffs for the first time since 1995.

Keeping checking in with the Borgata Poker Open's own blog. The men on the scene are giving live updates with all the information you could possibly need.

Here's Card Player's recount of Day 2 with Julio Rodriguez reporting.

Upshall All-In for Charities (Philadelphia Daily News)

NOTHING LIKE PLAYING with house money, right? Flyers forward Scottie Upshall still has his seat after Day 1 of the Borgata Poker Open, which kicked off yesterday at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. Upshall, 24, had his $10,000 entry fee waived by the Borgata. The catch? Upshall's winnings are being split between his two favorite charities: Flyers Wives Fight for Lives and Kids Forever Foundation, which Upshall founded with Chris Phillips from the Ottawa Senators.

"These are two great causes," Upshall said. "It's great to get to play poker with the pros and see what the World Poker Tour is all about."

Each of the tournament's 500 players, who Upshall said were "dropping like flies," began the day with $40,000 in chips. Upshall doubled his stack after the first five sessions. He is hoping that will carry him to the final table on Thursday.

"By no means am I the chip leader," he joked. "But I'm certainly not hanging on for dear life."
The winner's share of the $5 million prize pool is $1.4 million.

The tournament is good practice for the upcoming season for Upshall. Poker is a hit on Flyers' road trips. Bet on this being a little bit tougher than bluffing a pot off Derian Hatcher or Scott Hartnell.

Don't worry, Flyers fans. Even though he played poker for 8-plus hours yesterday, Upshall returned to Voorhees, N.J., for a workout session this morning in preparation for the opening of training camp on Saturday. *

- Frank Seravalli

Perhaps the Borgata does care. It's nice to see the Borgata support local charities and a fun way to do it. It gets to have a Philadelphia Flyer in its tournament while not actually having to donate any money.

It's a $5 million guaranteed and it got a little over that with the buy-ins. So waiving one player isn't going to hurt them. However, I wonder how many of the tournament players got in through satellites. I am not entirely sure how it works. Does the money from the satellites go into the prize pool as well?

Smoke-Free casinos are finally coming

The 100 percent smoking ban of Atlantic City casinos is coming – fast.

For anyone who has taken the Atlantic City Expressway over the last few weeks should have noticed the billboard along the way: “Breathe Easy Atlantic City.”

That’s right. Everyone should be able to breathe easier on Oct. 15 when the casinos become entirely smoke free.

This is a touchy subject for many people. Smokers feel they have a right to smoke. Proponents of the ban say casino workers and other players shouldn’t be tortured by second-hand smoke.

For the record, I fall into the second category. I don’t smoke nor will I ever. I developed asthma because of second-hand smoke. My mother smoked in our home all the time. She still smokes and caused a problem for my niece, who at two years old spent about a month on a nebulizer and in the emergency room because she had difficulty breathing. Her symptoms didn’t go away until my mother stopped smoking in the house.

Now, why would casino workers choose this job if they know the consequences?

Because, they need to work.

Why should casino workers be subjected to poisonous air?

Well, they shouldn’t. And as much as the smokers are going to complain about this one, I can’t wait for Oct. 15. I won’t have to hold my breath anymore as I walk to the poker room.

Day 1 of the WPT Borgata Poker Open Main Event

The economy is lagging, gas is on the rise again (although it never got low) and people are scrounging to find their last dollars. But don’t tell anyone at the Borgata about the economy’s downward swing.

The Borgata has had a great turnout for its Borgata Poker Open and 516 people registered for the main event, which is a World Poker Tour event that started today. The multi-table tournament costs $10,000 to enter, unless you are lucky enough to get in through a satellite.

However, plenty put up the cool 10K themselves, including plenty of notables that casual poker fans would recognize.

John Juanda was in the house. As were Joe Sebok (Barry Greenstein’s son), Mark Seif, Michael Mizrachi, Nicky Frangos and Beth Shak, who my boyfriend is sad he didn’t see her. These were some of the more popular players, although there were many local pros.

Flyers forward Scotty Upshall is playing in the tournament. According to the Borgata poker blog, Upshall doubled up and should at least make it to Day 2 of the tournament. The Flyers have been practicing in the early morning getting ready for camp, which starts on Saturday. Upshall is probably taking a small break before Philadelphia makes a run to get back to the Eastern Division Finals.

Today was the first day of the U.S. Poker Championships over at the Taj Mahal, which is just a quick ride from the marina. It started with a $300+$40 limit event and will continue through Oct. 8. Its main event ($10,000K) is from Oct. 5-8.

It will be interesting to see how well the Taj draws or if the people are just flocking to the Borgata.

Update: Here's Card Player's Julio Rodriguez's account of Day 1 of the WPT event.

Card Player TV of the Borgata Poker Open

Check out Card Player's first video from the Borgata Poker Open.

Borgata Poker Open Still Underway

Just wanted to let readers out there know the Borgata Poker Open is still going on. You can check out the action, which is updated live on the Borgata's Poker blog. There is tournament updates and little tidbits about the tournament in general. A little something for everyone.

For anyone looking for results of the tournaments, you can go to Card Player and check out the information for the tourneys that are completed.

Everyone plays poker, they just don't know it

For anyone who has played live poker in the past year, one thing you have learned is that poker is not cool. There are people who think they embody James Dean or Young Jeezy at the table. However, sitting behind a computer for hours creating a persona doesn’t make a new person when you’re at a table.

Playing poker doesn’t make someone any less and more intriguing (unless, of course, you’re a female. Men love that stuff). However, promoting a game that has been associated with degenerates and criminals isn’t going to help your reputation, especially to people who don’t understand the world of poker. (I was thinking about the recent article that Michael Phelps and Doyle Brunson have been in talks).

Despite poker’s mainstream emergence, there are many who view it as a bad habit or an addiction.

Those who just play poker (not the occasional gamers) and make a living out of it are not addicts. They are supporting families.

People who play poker and ship their money playing craps as soon as they get up from a game are just stupid.

However, countless people give me strange looks when I tell them that I play poker. The first question is always, “Are you good?”

My answer is always: “I get by.”

The next response is different and you can always gauge how they feel about poker.

First, there’s the overwhelming agreement that poker is fun and then you get to trade bad beat stories.

Second there are people who don’t understand the game, but think it’s “cool” because it’s on ESPN. They claim they play, which means lodging grenades into the $2-$4 limit game.

Then, there are those who absolutely hate the game and give you speeches about gambling. I’ve run into more of these people than I have realized. The rebuttal that poker isn’t really gambling and it requires skill falls onto deaf ears. They never want to hear about how you make perfect plays based on percentages and reads. They want to talk about the other 10 percent of the time when you are sucked out on or when your opponent has a two-outer and fills up.

What these people don’t realize is they make the same plays every day. They make choices in their lives based on the percentages (should I take an umbrella with me to work?). They decide whether to smile at the girl across the aisle on the bus based on how they read her (Does she look cranky this morning?).

Poker is life.

In this case, I’m just using money.

Blame Hanna

After doing more research on the impending storm, I realized my little sidequest to Mohegan Sun is not going to happen. Mapquest let me know that it was nearly two hours from my location, which would mean I probably wouldn't get there until 11 p.m. or so.

That would mean leaving at midnight (since I am just checking out the room). I could stop halfway to Atlantic City in New York with no problems. However, getting from NY to AC would be a problem with the terrible weather that is slated for the Eastern seaboard tomorrow.

I really want to check out this and I plan on doing it within the next two months. Now, having said that I am opening it up to the audience. Let me know what you want me to find out about the poker room. What sort of information are you looking for? I promise to get everything you need and will provice a detailed report of the room and everything it has (or doesn't have) to offer.

A Connecticut side trip

The Sr. Marketing VP of Mohegan Sun talked me into it. I was considering checking out the week-old, 43-table poker room and he invited me – along with the rest of the audience – to check out the new Tower of the Wind. That sealed it.

I’m working at the Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend and plan on leaving tonight to avoid Hanna, however, the drive South is going to take me right into the storm’s path.

I’ll only check out the room and rate it based on what I know, the Atlantic City casinos. I don’t on playing (but that could always change) because as far as game play goes, there shouldn’t be much difference. Poker in poker anywhere you go.

In one room you could have every table playing differently. It depends on the players.
Check back later for my take on the room at Mohegan Sun and, maybe, some shots from my camera phone.

Come on in, the water is just right

Poker isn't on the rise, but it's hardly dead, even though tournaments have seen player entries level off. During the huge poker storm, many people got swept up and now find themselves full-fledge card carrying members of the Texas Hold ‘Em Fan Club.

In the first tournament of the Borgata Poker Open ($300 buy-in) there were close to 1,200 eager students of the game hoping to get the top prize of $77,170. But the game of poker doesn’t just lure college kids who would rather bet at 20 simultaneous games than finish their midterm project or the retirees, who don’t want to sit in their house all day.

Celebrities joined the club a long time ago with notables such as Ben Affleck and Shannon Elizabeth popping up in various tournaments. The latest celeb with the poker bug is Michael Phelps, who needs no introduction.

According to AintLuck.com, Phelps’ agent has recent been contacted by the World Series of Poker Europe for a sponsorship deal. The famed Olympian has been spotted playing Texas Hold ‘Em in various casinos, including Caesars Windsor in Ontario, which is close to where he trained at the University of Michigan.

Phelps is home in Baltimore now and doesn’t plan any intense training until next year. Does this mean a three-hour trip to Atlantic City in his future? With eight poker rooms in The Resort, Phelps has plenty of options from the Borgata, where the cool people go, to the Hilton, where the people wouldn’t know who he was if he had a sign around his neck.

If Phelps does become a sponsor for the WSOPE, it could have a negative impact on his other sponsors. While poker has taken off and is seen as part of the mainstream culture, there is still that sense that it’s a backroom game. There is still the gambling aspect involved.

What would the conservative public think of Phelps, the guy who wanted Frosted Flakes instead of Wheaties, if he promoted a gambling tournament?

By taking on this sponsorship, he could lose fans and hurt his bottom line as conservative sponsors would back away. He wouldn’t gain anything out of it (except the money) because poker players are cheap, just ask the waitresses who bring them drinks every night. Showing his face on WSOPE billboards isn’t going to draw more people to the tables. Especially not those who would continue to come back.

It's not poker that people want to beat him in, but as Phelps has shown nothing could crack his aces.

Borgata Poker Open Underway

The Borgata Poker Open, which is enormously popular here in Atlantic City, is underway this morning. You get all the updates that you need at the official Borgata Poker Open blog

Like always, I am sure they are going to bring all the action, and update as much as they can. It's 16 days of non-stop poker. If life were only this fun for all us. (Hint: Boys, if you're reading this, a cute brunette could use a side job).

Borgata Poker Open Starts Tomorrow

The Borgata Poker Open kicks off its next installment starting Wednesday with a $300 + $50 No-Limit Hold 'Em tournament beginning at 11 a.m.

The tournaments will go on through Sept. 18 (I may play a little stud tourney next Monday).

Click here for the schedule of the tournament or check the calendar on the sidebar that has all the information you need.

For updates of the tournament, I will try to post any interesting information, but the Borgata usually has live bloggers on site that will give constant updates throughout the tournament. Once I get that link (I think it's this one), I will post more information. Even though, I won't be there (I am not paying $5 a day for parking), there are plenty of others who willbe on site.

Harrah's Atlantic City new daily tournament schedule

On Labor Day (tomorrow), Harrah's is rolling out a new tournament schedule that should be used until the end of the year, when they will re-evaluate the current format.

Harrah's is implementing more tournaments during the day. There will be four tournaments daily starting 10 a.m. Trying to fulfill everyone's needs, there are cheap tournaments, as well as a $500+$60 deep stack tournament on Saturday afternoon. On Saturday night, there will be a World Series of Poker Circuit satellite ($500+$60).

The players should enjoy the extra tournaments, although, expect to hear dealers grumbling. Every dealer in that room is going to be affected because dealers drop an average of .50 cents a down for tournaments. Yikes!

Included in the daily tournament lineup is a midnight madness tournament, which is so popular in Atlantic City that the Trupm Taj Mahal raised its buy-in and the Borgata got rid of it after a few month experimentation.

The $300 and $500 tournaments will have 30-minute blinds and the others will be 20 minutes.

Here's the schedule breakdown:
Sunday: 10:15 a.m. $40+$10
1:15 p.m. $68+$12
8:15 p.m. $68+$12
12:15 a.m. $40+$10

Monday: 10:15 a.m. $40+$10
1:15 p.m. $68+$12
8:15 p.m. $68+$12
12:15 a.m. $40+$10

Tuesday: 10:15 a.m. $40+$10
1:15 p.m. $68+$12
8:15 p.m. $68+$12
12:15 a.m. $40+$10

Wednesday: 10:15 a.m. $40+$10
1:15 p.m. $68+$12
8:15 p.m. $68+$12
12:15 a.m. $40+$10

Thursday: 10:15 a.m. $40+$10
1:15 p.m. $68+$12
8:15 p.m. $68+$12
12:15 a.m. $40+$10

Friday: 10:15 a.m. $40+$10
1:15 p.m. $68+$12
8:15 p.m. $300+$40
12:15 a.m. $68+$12

Saturday: 10:15 a.m. $40+$10
1:15 p.m. $500+$60 Deep Stack 12K
8:15 p.m. $500+$60 WSOP Circuit Satellite
12:15 a.m. $68+$12

Another casino delays construction (MGM)

Another casino company is delaying construction. I will have more of an opinion on this later, but here is the article from The Press of Atlantic City. (Check out the sidebar for more information on the petition mess with the Revel casino project.)

MGM to delay start of Atlantic City casino project until 2009
By DONALD WITTKOWSKI Staff Writer, 609-272-7258
Published: Saturday, August 30, 2008

ATLANTIC CITY - Tight credit markets will force gaming giant MGM Mirage Inc. to postpone construction until 2009 on an Atlantic City resort that would mimic a multibillion-dollar casino and hotel development in Las Vegas.

Despite a delay in getting started, the company still hopes to complete the estimated $5 billion MGM Grand Atlantic City development by the previously announced 2012 grand opening, spokesman Gordon M. Absher said.

MGM will use the extra time to refine its designs and streamline the construction schedule to contain costs, though there are no plans to downsize the project.

"We're still enthusiastic and confident about the Atlantic City market. The project has not changed or been downscaled," Absher said Friday.

Absher confirmed what gaming analysts have been predicting for weeks - MGM will focus on completing the financing for its massive $9.2 billion CityCenter project in Las Vegas and take another year or two before breaking ground in Atlantic City. CityCenter has served as the inspiration for the Atlantic City project, although the Las Vegas development would be larger.
MGM is getting closer to working out the final financing for CityCenter, but the global credit crisis means the company will have to be patient to secure additional funding for Atlantic City, Absher said.

"The banks just aren't lending money, and these projects obviously require financing," he said. "It is a matter of the financial institutions being tight with money."

Casino companies have been delaying or killing projects outright in Las Vegas and other gaming markets because of the difficulties of borrowing money during the economic downturn. In Atlantic City, Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. previously announced it would hold off on redeveloping the old Sands Casino Hotel site for a megaresort, and the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort has delayed a proposed billion-dollar expansion.

Jeffrey Vasser, executive director of the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, said MGM's delay underscores the nationwide casino construction slowdown rather than exposing any particular problems with the Atlantic City market.

"This is more of a macro situation that we're facing," Vasser said. "When you look at the Las Vegas expansion projects, the Las Vegas properties are stopping in their tracks as well. I don't view it as any reflection on Atlantic City's growth."

MGM announced its project last October, before the credit markets tanked and while casino operators still were going gangbusters to build the industry's newest must-see attraction. At that time, the company said it would start construction in 2008 on a $4.5 billion to $5 billion complex featuring Atlantic City's largest casino and tallest building.

The project would include three hotel towers totaling more than 3,000 rooms, a world-class spa, a convention center and 500,000 square feet of upscale retail shops, restaurants and entertainment. One of the hotels would soar 800 feet high, easily dwarfing any other building in town. MGM's proposal for 280,000 square feet of gaming space would give it bragging rights for Atlantic City's biggest casino floor.

The development is planned on a 72-acre site in the Marina District next to Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, which MGM co-owns with Boyd Gaming Corp. Approximately 60 acres would be used for the casino resort, with the remaining 12 reserved for future development, possibly posh condominiums, the company said.

Absher stressed that while no construction will be done this year, the company is moving ahead with the planning and regulatory approvals for the project. One key piece of the regulatory process is MGM's pending application for a Coastal Area Facilities Review Act construction permit from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

MGM also anxiously awaits the findings of a lengthy New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement investigation into its partnership with the eldest daughter of Asian gaming mogul Stanley Ho for a new casino in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau. Critics claim New Jersey gaming regulators should deny the partnership with Pansy Ho because of her father's reputed ties to Asian organized crime. MGM repeatedly has said it is doing business only with Pansy Ho, not Stanley Ho.

"We're confident that when they complete the investigation that everything will be fine," Absher said of MGM's belief New Jersey will approve the Macau partnership.

It is not known when the DGE will wrap up its investigation and make its recommendation to the New Jersey Casino Control Commission for a vote. The commission must approve the Macau partnership because MGM holds a New Jersey gaming license. If the commission turns it down, MGM likely would have to cut its ties to Atlantic City to concentrate on Macau.

E-mail Donald Wittkowski:
DWittkowski@pressofac.com

Trump Plaza PokerTek Tourneys

Trump Plaza begins PokerTek Tournaments starting tonight!

Really!

I find it odd that Trump Plaza didn’t announce this sooner. Personally, I find it bad marketing that it was announced on the day that they started running it. However, the good news is that Trump Plaza is running free rolls, something you don’t often see in Atlantic City.

Nothing is given away free anymore, just listen to the slot players walking along the Boardwalk complaining about the lack of comps they receive. I read it in the paper, so it’s true.

Anyway, Trump Plaza started tournaments today on its PokerPro machines and will run tournaments through Sept. 5. According to the press release, players are invited to play in twice-daily $1000 free-rolls each day at noon and 8pm. Starting September 6th, a full tournament schedule will be in effect, with daily Hold'em tournaments at 11:30 am ($50+5) and 7:30 pm ($70+7 Friday and Saturday, $50+5 Sunday - Wednesday), and a $50+5 Omaha tournament every Thursday at 7:30pm. (I’ll update my tournament calendar eventually to include this along with the new Harrah’s tournament schedule).

Atlantic City info right on the sidebar

On the sidebar of the page, I post Atlantic City casino articles. The articles range from a number of topics and many of which I am going to write about, eventually.

For my job, this starts one of the busiest times of the year, so sometimes it's a little difficult to get around to writing articles. However, you will find articles about the Revel casino project and the local union's attempt to try and block the deal. Revel has already begun building the casino, unlike other companies who have promised the same and all that is there is an empty space.

You also find information on poker and anything else I can find about Atlantic City that I think people will find of interest.

It only goes five articles deep, although, I could make it longer if people are looking for information that dates further back.

Enjoy. Atlantic City is a fun town especially with all the B.S. that goes on with the government here.

Results from Borgata $500K Deep Stack Poker Tournament

The final results for Borgata’s $500,000 Guaranteed Deep Stack Poker Tournament (August 9 – 12, 2008)

956 entries / $1,921,000 Prize Pool

1. ANTHONY BELLINO (YONKERS, NY) $443,201
2. MICHAEL CROSBY (GAINESVILLE, VA) $272,460
3. ROBERT MCLAUGHLIN (WASHINGTON, DC) $148,180
4. PETER MALKOUN (BROOK HAVEN, PA) $129,060
5. GEHRIG WHITE (CHARLOTTE, NC) $109,940
6. BRIAN O'DONOGHUE (BAYSIDE, NY) $90,820
7. IRVING MCKENZIE (SALISBURY, MD) $71,700
8. SUN CHA (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) $52,580
9. MICAH RASKIN (OLD WESTBURY, NY) $38,240
10. ANTHONY CAMPAGNA (MANORVILLE, NY) $24,856
11. ROBERT SUCHOCKI (NUTLEY, NJ) $24,856
12. ROBERT WISIAK (RIDGEWOOD, NY) $24,856
13. MICHAEL KITREL (VIRGINIA BCH, VA) $18,164
14. VILAILAK SOUVANNARATVONGSEUK (WEST COLUMBIA, SC) $18,164
15. STEVE RYAN (LAKE RONKONKOMA, NY) $18,164
16. PATRICK GELINAS (ODENTON, MD) $11,472
17. RANDY PFEIFER (EAST AMHERST, NY) $11,472
18. GUY LOUIS CICCONI (CHADDS FORD, PA) $11,472
19. EMANUEL FAILLA (COMMACK, NY) $8,604
20. MIRZA OTOVIC (NEW YORK, NY) $8,604
21. ERIC MORRIS (MARIETTA, GA) $8,604
22. RONNIE BARDAH (BROCKTON, MA) $8,604
23. AVDO DJOKOVIC (STATEN ISLAND, NY) $8,604
24. JAMES CALDERARO (VENICE, FL) $8,604
25. MICHAEL SICA JR (N BRUNSWICK, NJ) $8,604
26. DAVID ZEITLIN (NEW YORK, NY) $8,604
27. JOSHUA GOLDSTEIN (NEW YORK, NY) $8,604
28. PHILIP NEIMAN (FLUSHING, NY) $7,266
29. KEVIN LANG (RALEIGH, NC) $7,266
30. JOHN FRANTZ (MENDHAM, NJ) $7,266
31. FARID EBRAHIM (FREDERICKSBURG, VA) $7,266
32. THOMAS SAVITSKY (RANDOLPH, NJ) $7,266
33. ANTHONY BERTUZZI (STATEN ISLAND, NY) $7,266
34. VINCENT VILLAMOR (MAYS LANDING, NJ) $7,265
35. MORAN DAVID (NEW YORK, NY) $7,265
36. CHRIS RAGAVANIS (OLD SAYBROOK, CT ) $7,265
37. RUSLAN DYKSHTEYN (STATEN ISLAND, NY) $6,118
38. ARTHUR PETERS (BRICK, NJ) $6,118
39. VIRGIL PAGE (BAYONNE, NJ) $6,118
40. WILLIAM DOLLAR (RALEIGH, NC) $6,118
41. CHARLES MARIANIK (LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ) $6,118
42. PASQUALE DIGIULIO (PHILADELPHIA, PA) $6,118
43. THOMAS DITROLIO (HAVERTOWN, PA) $6,118
44. MICHAEL NYE (EAST BRIDGEWATER, MA) $6,118
45. CLINT SCHAFER (BATON ROUGE, LA) $6,118
46. ANDREW KNEE (MOUNT SINAI, NY) $5,354
47. TONY SOUTHON (MILLVILLE, NJ) $5,354
48. GERALD ROGERS (YEADON, PA) $5,354
49. MARK SYKES (MIDDLETOWN, CT) $5,354
50. BRIAN HOLLYWOOD (PASADENA, MD) $5,354
51. RYAN JULIUS (NAPERVILLE, IL) $5,354
52. BRYAN BUONOCORE (CANTON, OH) $5,354
53. MITESH SHERE (BROOKLYN, NY) $5,354
54. ANTHONY ABRUZZO (FLORHAM PARK, NJ) $5,354
55. CHARLES HOOK (PHILADELPHIA, PA) $4,780
56. MARK DIKKER (MORGANVILLE, NJ) $4,780
57. MICHAEL STRAUSS (NEW YORK, NY) $4,780
58. SADRIJA VUCETA (NEW YORK, NY) $4,780
59. D HATZIDIMITRIS (WHITESTONE, NY) $4,780
60. JASON EMERSON (WHITE RIVER, VT) $4,780
61. MONTE HOOVER JR (STEUBENVILLE, OH) $4,780
62. ROBERT DEPASQUALE (RANDOLPH, NJ) $4,780
63. WAYNE LEWIS (BRIGANTINE, NJ) $4,780
64. ALEXANDER SHTEYMAN (EDISON, NJ) $4,206
65. DAVID FARAH (FAIRFIELD, NJ) $4,206
66. SCOTT GREENHOLTZ (WESTMINSTER, MD) $4,206
67. STEVEN LEVY (PEABODY, MA) $4,206
68. CHIN NGUYEN (SILVER SPRING, MD) $4,206
69. JOHN LECATO JR (BELLE HAVEN, VA) $4,206
70. ALBERT RICCOBONO (OSSINING, NY) $4,206
71. RICHARD COHEN (HUNTINGDON VALLEY, PA) $4,206
72. DEBORAH RAY (BLACK LICK, PA) $4,206
73. MARTY WONG (NAPA, CA) $3,824
74. JERRY HUMPHREY (GIBSONIA, PA) $3,824
75. ROBERT DICHIARA (BLUE BELL, PA) $3,824
76. JAMES WATKINS (LANDOVER, MD) $3,824
77. JASON FRAZEE (FORKED RIVER, NJ) $3,824
78. MARCUS HOUED (SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ) $3,824
79. TANIOS ABI-YAGHI (TOMS RIVER, NJ) $3,824
80. SERGUEI MITROCHINE (BROOKLYN, NY) $3,824
81. LAWRENCE RAO (FALLSTON, MD) $3,824
82. JOE WAGNER (ZEBULON, NC) $3,442
83. DAVID MERLINO (SMYRNA, GA) $3,442
84. WASYL STEPHEN ZALIWICIW (PHILADELPHIA, PA) $3,442
85. JESSE CHINNI (ELLICOTT CITY, MD) $3,442
86. CRAIG STEIN (MACEDONIA, OH) $3,442
87. ARMAN LATIF (RICHMOND, VA) $3,442
88. RICHARD CHANG (MISSION VIEJO, CA) $3,442
89. WILLIAM BLANDA (GALVESTON, TX) $3,442
90. PATRICK CARNEY (SCRANTON, PA) $3,442

Site Update: The Sidebar 2.0

I trying to make the site a little more user friendly and give the people what they want. I added a calendar to the sidebar for all the major tournaments coming in Atlantic City. It's a tedious process and will take some time to get all the tournaments up.

It just has basic information such as date, time, type and buy-in. I've added the Borgata Poker Open and the U.S. Poker Championship to the calendar so far.

You can access the calendar here. But it's also at the very top of the sidebar.

2008 United States Poker Championships

This is the information that everyone has been waiting for: the 2008 United States Poker Championships will be held at the Taj Mahal from Sept. 14-Oct. 8.

Here's the poster for it.

Here is the schedule:

DATE, TIME, EVENT, BUY-IN
Sept. 14, 11:15am, Limit Hold'em, $300 + $40
Sept. 15, 11:15am, Seven Card Stud, $500 + $50
Sept. 16, 11:15am, Seven Card Stud Hi/Low 8 or better, $500 + $50
Sept. 17, 11:15am, Omaha Hi/Low 8 or better, $500 + $50
Sept. 18, 11:15am, 2-Way P/L Hold'em & P/L Omaha, $500 + $50
Sept. 19, 11:15am, H-O-S-E (Hold'em-Omaha H/L-Stud-Stud H/L), $500 + $50
Sept. 20, 11:15am, No Limit Hold'em, $500 + $50
Sept. 21, 11:15am, No Limit Hold'em, $300 + $40
Sept. 22, 11:15am, Seven Card Stud, $300 + $40
Sept. 23, 11:15am, No Limit Hold'em (6 max.), $300 + $40
Sept. 24, 11:15am, P/L Omaha Hi/Low 8 or better, $300 + $40
Sept. 25, 11:15am, No Limit Hold'em, $300 + $40
Sept. 26, 11:15am, No Limit Hold'em (6 max.), $500 + $50
Sept. 27, 11:15am, No Limit Hold'em, $1,000 + $80
Sept. 28, 11:15am, No Limit Hold'em Seniors Only (50 yrs.), $300 + $40
1:15pm, No Limit Hold'em Ladies Only, $300 + $40
Sept. 29, 11:15am, No Limit Hold'em, $300 + $40
Sept. 30, 11:15am, No Limit Hold'em (6 max.), $300 + $40
Oct. 1, 11:15am, Omaha Hi/Low 8 or better, $300 + $40
Oct. 2, 11:15am, Pot Limit Hold'em , $500 + $50
Oct. 5, 3:15pm, No Limit Hold'em Main Event (Day 1), $9,700 + $300
Oct. 6, 11:15am, Seven Card Stud, $300 + $40
1:15pm, Day 2 - No Limit Hold'em Main Event
Oct. 7, 11:15am, No Limit Hold'em, $300 + $40
1:15pm, Day 3 - No Limit Hold'em Main Event
Oct. 8, 11:15am, P/L Omaha Hi/Low 8 or better, $300 + $40
11:00am, Final Table - No Limit Hold'em Main Event

BUY-IN -- CHIPS -- TIME PER LEVEL
$300+$40 -- $5,000 -- 45 MINUTES
$500+$50 -- $5,000 -- 50 MINUTES
$1,000+$80 -- $8,000 -- 55 MINUTES
$9,700+$300 -- $30,000 -- 90 MINUTES

Harrah's and Trop Update

Harrah's has a couple of changes I found out about last night.

The first thing is they are having a different tournament schedule. Harrah's is going to run four tournaments throughout the day: 10:15, 1:15, 7:15 (I think, it might be 8:15, though) and 12:15 a.m.

They are starting a midnight tournament and I don't know how popular it's going to be. Taj is the only place that has seemingly been able to run a tournament well. Borgata tried it for a while and then decided it wasn't worth it.

The other change at Harrah's only myself and people over the age of 65. Starting today, they are going to have a .50 cent ante on the $1-$5 stud game. Previously, this was an anteless game and everyone pretty much played here because Bally's has an ante, Taj is timed and raked and Tropicana dropped their game for a $3-$6. People aren't going to be thrilled with this, and Harrah's is only doing it to make more money.

In a regular game, there tends to be a lot of chops and a dealer can go seven or eight hands before they actually pitch out a real hand. This is going to help the dealers. However, I think some of the regulars aren't going to be able to change up their game enough to deal with an ante.

My intent is just to go in there and try to start a $5-$10 game because if I am playing with a .50 cent ante, it's not going to be on a $1-$5 game.

The Tropicana has started a bad beat jackpot as well, and not just for tournaments. It's going to be for all live Texas Hold 'Em games beating Aces full of Jacks or better.

Site Update: The Sidebar

I've added a news link on the right side of the page. This will include any casino news stories about Atlantic City that I have not included in the blog. Some of them are interesting, just not interesting enough to me to write about. Hopefully, I will update this every day, even multiple times a day. So, keep checking back because there is always something to talk about in Atlantic City.

A Social Experiment

Last night, I finally decided to check out the PokerPro machines at Trump Plaza. With all the talk, I knew I eventually had to five in. And wouldn’t you know it?

The room was bustling. There was one game going with two seats open.

I have made my opinion clear before about the machines. I don't care for them, however, there are things to like about PokerPro. I decided I was going to give it a fair chance. I don’t enjoy playing online, but this was half live, and half computer.

Pros:
- No tipping dealers (this seems to be everyone’s favorite part)
- $3 rake
- The machine keeps track of the amount of money in the pot
- Bets are announced (not audibly) without having to take time to count chips
- The game runs quickly and efficiently
- Mistakes are nearly non-existent.

Cons:
- No type of order. Chaos seems to be prevalent even with floor people standing around.
- No one tells the players not to talk about a hand while it’s in progress. So, a lot of poker ethics are gone out of the window.
- Team poker.
- Floor people who don’t understand the rules of poker. Just how to work a machine and push some buttons.
- No protection for players from verbal abuse.
- Less tells you can notice people.
- Getting your money and your account in order is too long of a process.

I am sure there are more, but these are the ones that stick out. Last night, there was a player berating the fish at the table. It was disgusting to the point where I finally said something. After winning a huge pot, he was dancing and singing in his seat.

I asked him if he his behavior was necessary. His response: "Yes, it was."

I said, "Good job. That man has not said a word to you all night and he is dumping money on the game at a ridiculous rate and all you want to do is make fun of him."

I wanted this kid to get snapped off so badly. But, frankly, I didn’t have the patience to sit around that game any longer than I did because the people playing this machine were unbearable. I think it’s a problem with poker in general, but that’s for another day in another post.

In the end, I didn’t really like the machine. The players have to police each other if they want the integrity of the game to hold up. When that happens, you start looking like a douche or a bitch. No one wants to be that guy on the game because it’s not profitable.

Both my boyfriend and I won, which is great. But it's weird because I didn't reall y enjoy the win. The players were awful and it was pretty obvious what they had most of the time. Frankly, none of these people are poker players and never once thought what you would had in your hand. They just see the two virtual cards in front of them and play with that, which is fine.

I said last night that the only reason I would ever come back is because this seems very profitable. But I really don’t even feel like I am playing poker.

The other big problem was putting money in my account and getting my money out of my account. You go up the cage and give them your money. However, now they have punch buttons into a computer, fill out a piece of paper and finally you’re set up to play. Maybe this doesn’t sound like a long time, but it took about two to three minutes. When it comes to playing with chips, you push your money up and get a rack of chips. This may take all of 30 seconds.

Getting money was even worse. You have to pull out your ID and club card. More computer punching and more filling out paperwork. All this just to get my money out of my account. If you don’t get the money out of your account at the end of the night, you can just keep your bankroll on your card.

But this lends to another question. Are they keeping track of my wins and losses? If I win a certain amount at the end of the year, are they going to report this to the IRS?

I like real poker.

Guess What Happened?

I played poker. Twice even.

I learned a valuable lesson in one of the instances as well. Don't open the girlfriend seat up to anyone. For the sake of the story, I want everyone to know that I am a woman, who has a darling boyfriend that taught how to play poker. Actually, even met the boyfriend while playing poker. Then, I knew nothing. Now, I a little more than nothing.

However, no one ever told me that the girlfriend seat was evil. I never actually sat in the girlfriend seat because whenever my boyfriend played, I just played as well. For those who do not know the girlfriend seat is where the girlfriend/wife/lover sits who has no interest in playing and sits behind the guy while watching. Usually, they are drinking or sighing loudly because plastic cards are getting more attention than their plastic breasts.

Well, I had a friend call me one night while playing -- five times. And the dummy in me decided it was OK for her to come and watch me play. I was already annoyed that she called five times for what was seemingly no reason.

When she got there, she tried telling me dumb stories that I didn't care about and then did the audible sighing when I told her while I have cards in front of me, she is not allowed to talk to me.

After the night was over she had the audacity to complain to my boyfriend that I ignored her while I was playing poker. He pretty much laughed in her face and told her that it was her fault that she came. She should have known better.

However, the kicker came when I decided I had enough. She threw my mind for a loop and I decided it was best that I left. She asked me to sleep over, and being the great person that I am, I told her yes. However, on the way out she asked me if I can take across town to see some guy she wanted to get it on with for about five minutes.

I gave her two options because at this point I was sick of her. 1. I take you there, drop you off and find your own way home because I am leaving. 2. You come to my house and stay there.

I've known this girl for only about two months. I don't see this relationship lasting very long.

Minnesota Crash Associated to Revel Casino Links

Here are links regarding the Minnesota crash that killed eight people associated with the Revel Casino project. It's sad when anything like this happens.

All the plane crash victims are identified in this article.

Investigators analyzing the voice recorder. There is also a picture of the wreckage on the link.

Latest update from the Owatonna People's Press. The plane hit an antenna.

Borgata Poker Open Results

If you are looking for a place to get results from the Summer Poker Open at the Borgata, go to this link. It's a live blog from the event and they are going to do a much better job than I would. I have a not-so-fun job (actually, that's not true) that I have to keep track of and need to take of that.

Borgata Sports Bettors Plead Not Guilty

Here's the latest news on the Borgata Sports Betting Ring. Twenty-four people pled not guilty on the matter, but that's what all these mafia people do, right? I can't wait to see them get away with this.

Defendants in front row listen to court preceedings during Monday their arraignment in the Borgata gambling ring, in Judge Michael Donio's courtroom, Mays Landing.
(The Press of Atlantic City / Ben Fogletto)

MAYS LANDING - The 24 men and women charged with taking part in a multimillion-dollar sports betting ring at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa - including the alleged ringleaders - pleaded not guilty to the charges against them at a crowded arraignment hearing Monday.
The ring, which authorities say operated out of a poker room at Borgata for 20 months, was busted in November when a multi-agency investigation, dubbed Operation High Roller, led to the arrests. State Attorney General Anne Milgram previously said the ring took in $60 million in bets, but the casino itself was not involved.
The indictment handed down in April charges the alleged leaders - Jack Buscemi Jr., 50, of Harrison Township, Gloucester County; Andrew Micali, 32, of Ventnor; and Anthony Nicodemo, 36, of Philadelphia - with racketeering, conspiracy and money laundering, as well as third-degree promotion of gambling.
Micali allegedly controlled the day-to-day operations, while Nicodemo allegedly exercised leadership over the ring. Buscemi was allegedly the boss of the gambling ring.
On Monday afternoon, the defendants were seated in several rows in Superior Court Judge Michael Donio's courtroom as their 24 defense attorneys entered the not-guilty pleas in unison to move the matter along more quickly. A sheriff's officer took attendance before the hearing to ensure everyone was present.

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Thirteen other alleged operators and agents of the ring were indicted on those same four charges, including Vincent Procopio, 42, of Philadelphia, who allegedly acted as Micali's right-hand man, and two casino poker room supervisors alleged to have been agents who brought in gamblers and bets for the ring.
: Joseph Wishnick, 43, of Brigantine, a former Borgata poker room supervisor, and Jeffrey Ebert, 45, of Ventnor, a former Tropicana poker room supervisor. Eight additional defendants are named in certain counts of the indictment.
The ring took in illegal wagers on sporting events using password-protected Web sites and a Philadelphia wire room where bets were taken by phone, authorities said.
The investigation, which began in March 2006, revealed that Micali relied on a network of agents to take in millions of dollars in bets on college and professional football and basketball. Micali and Buscemi allegedly received a percentage of the gambling proceeds collected by the agents.
Deputy Attorney General Kerry DiJoseph represented the Division of Criminal Justice Major Crimes Bureau, Casino Prosecutions Unit.
Donio asked DiJoseph on Monday to prepare a letter for him in three weeks listing the defendants and their charges. He asked the 24 defense attorneys to also prepare individual letters, stating who the attorney represents, what the charges are and what motions the attorney has filed or plans to file.
Defense attorney Carl Poplar, who represents defendant Robert Mackie, 39, of Staten Island, N.Y., expressed concern about drafting such a letter, telling the judge it could be "problematic."
Donio repeated his time frame: Three weeks.
"How am I going to determine who's on first and who's on second?" Donio said, referring to the possible confusion with so many defendants. "(The letter) is for me. I'm not sharing it with anyone else. It's to assist me, in lieu of going through a box (of discovery)."
"I want to resolve these things in an expeditious manner," Donio said.
After entering pleas for their clients, the attorneys met in the empty courtroom next door, where they organized themselves into committees to tackle major motions together. The effort was made to avoid duplicating motions and creating unnecessary extra work.
"I don't want to read 24 motions that say the same thing," Donio said.
Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of as many as 10 years in state prison, while third-degree crimes, such as promoting gambling, carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
On Monday, Donio gave the attorneys and defendants an idea of how he views the offenses.
"These are alleged crimes of greed," Donio said. "I don't equate these (defendants) with people who sexually assault kids."
Third-degree gambling charges don't necessarily warrant jail time, he added - although a second-degree crime, like racketeering, does.
"These charges involve money," Donio said. "So, we'll talk money."
Defense attorneys expressed a similar view.
"Our view of this case is it is a gambling case and nothing more," said attorney James Leonard Jr., who is representing Nicodemo. "People that promote gambling do not belong in jail. I don't think any one of these defendants belongs in jail."
"I think the judge's comments are indicative of what you see," said attorney Lou Barbone, who is representing Micali.
DiJoseph said there is now supplemental discovery available for the attorneys to review, including videotape, transcripts of intercepted recordings and call logs.
The defendants are scheduled to appear in court again at 1:30 p.m. July 7 for a status conference.
Others charged in the indictment are:
Ian Blackman, 28, of Mays Landing: Racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering, promoting gambling and criminal usury
Matthew Zambanini, 28, of Hockessin, Del.: Racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering and promoting gambling
Robert Mackie, 39, of Staten Island, N.Y.: Racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering and promoting gambling
Frank Baldino, 21, of Philadelphia: Racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering and promoting gambling
Nicholas Caltibiano, 25, of Brigantine: Racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering, and promoting gambling
Joseph Baldino Jr., 23, of Philadelphia: Racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering and promoting gambling
John Findaly, 31, of Philadelphia: Racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering and promoting gambling
Bernard Malseed, 64, of Philadelphia: Racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering and promoting gambling
Vincent Borgesi, 40, of Philadelphia: Promoting gambling
Russell Brown, 44, of Egg Harbor Township: Racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering, and promoting gambling
Douglas Rubino, 30, of Philadelphia: Racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering and promoting gambling
Michael Connelly, 59, of Parkville, Md.: Conspiracy, money laundering and promoting gambling
Stephen Cassansanto, 37, of Philadelphia: Conspiracy, money laundering and promoting gambling
William DePena, 40, of Philadelphia: Conspiracy, money laundering and promoting gambling
Dominic Grande, 28, of Philadelphia: Conspiracy, money laundering and promoting gambling
Marianne Micali, 63, of Philadelphia: Conspiracy, money laundering and promoting gambling
Annie Grajales Ospina, 25, of Egg Harbor Township: Conspiracy, money laundering and promoting gambling
Mark Galasso, 24, of Philadelphia: Money laundering
To e-mail Regina Schaffer at The Press:
RSchaffer@pressofac.com