In Event #10, came Deeb’s first win of 2012. He won $44,200 and the second in Event #19. Both games were stud tournaments. Deeb beat out 67 other players, who collectively drove the prize pool up to $136K in the later tourney. Deeb walked with $41,600 for his first place finish. Other registered players included Team PokerStars players Bertrand Grospellier, Ville Wahlbeck, Anders Berg, Martin Staszko, George Lind III, Eugene Katchalov, George Danzer and Nacho Barbero, all of whom Deeb outlasted.

The final table was set after eight hours, with the finalists lining up as – E. Katchalov (86,227), shaundeeb (62,888), GVOZDIKA55 (60,454), Brian “$tinger 88? Hastings (36,449), JohnSmith (29,974), stevie444 (29,292), PerpCzech (27,179) and Spokey (7,537).

Deeb tweeted an update to the event after three players were sent to the rail. He said that 3/5, but less than half avg. @EugeneKatchalov is crushing the table. He is just getting lots of bets in good then losing. $10K locked up already.

Eventually, to three-handed play, Katchalov, UK pro Stephen “stevie444? Chidwick and Deeb made it through. Deeb eliminated Team PokerStars Pro Katchalov in 3rd. With the elimination of Stephen “stevie444? Chidwick in 2nd ($28,560), Shaun Deeb’s unprecedented run continued, with Deeb subsequently becoming only the second player ever to win three SCOOP titles.

The final table payouts were – 1st shaundeeb (Mexico) – $44,200; 2nd stevie444 (United Kingdom) – $28,560; 3rd E. Katchalov (Ukraine) – $20,400; 4th JohnSmith (Russia) – $13,600; 5th PerpCzech (New Zealand) – $10,200; 6th GVOZDIKA55 (Russia) – $7,480; 7th $tinger 88 (Canada) – $6,120; 8th Spokey (Norway) – $5,440.

26-year-old Deeb is originally from New York. He has continued playing online poker out of Mexico and in online tournaments he has earned nearly $5.5 million, as well as more than $745K in live tourneys. Since the age of 16, he has been playing poker. Deeb wisely dropped out of college to pursue a career in professional poker, just like many other pro poker players. he turned $30 into $33,000 during his first week of playing online poker.

In the upcoming weeks as he prepares for the World Series of Poker, this is another great one to watch. He is likely go on to win a bracelet or three and he will undoubtedly make at least a couple final tables.

At the Dusk Till Dawn club, the 60-year-old retired landlord emerged victorious after battling back from a massive chip deficit to defeat Iqbal Ahmed. The latter had started the last day with a very healthy advantage over his seven final-table rivals. with £125,000 for his efforts, in heads-up play that left the runner-up.

While Ahmed, easily beaten his previous best cash when picking up $67,812 for finishing second in the €910 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em main event of the Estrellas Poker Tour Alicante back in May last year, however, he will be disappointed not to have held on to his lead all the way to the end.

The eliminations came in thick and fast. Ian Senior getting his stack in only to run straight into Grant Pirie and it is then where the first elimination came around 90 minutes into play. The cowboys were in front and Senior headed to the cashier’s desk to pick up £22,750.

Iqbal Ahmed was the chip leader (6.7m), with Ian Senior a distant second (3.765m) and Baguley way behind in 7th on a 2.1 million stack, as the final table of eight got underway. Nevertheless, with K-J to Nick Woodward’s K-K, who was then eliminated him in 6th for £45,500; Ian Senior was the first to exit in 8th (£22,750) holding Q-Q to Grant Pirie’s K-K, followed 20 minutes later by James Cummings in 7th (£34,000).

Two hours later, after Hasmukh Khodiyara (K-9) and Barry McMahon (A-6) were all-in, Ahmed scored a double elimination and he surprisingly decided to call with Q-7. However, their fates were sealed by 7-2-6-7-Q board and they departed in 5th (£62,500) and 4th (£79,600) respectively.

The 60 year-old, Baguley was able to chip up after winning several pots including one in which he turned trip sevens, despite Baguley (7.685m) trailing Iqbal Ahmed (16.5m). Eventually, a low stacked Iqbal Ahmed (J-7) then made the call to eliminate his opponent on a 10-4-6-6-K board and pushed over the top of a Baguley (A-10) pre-flop raise.

The total prize pool reached £1,137,500 million and 207 players were paid. The prize surpassed the £1 million guarantee. Except Barry McMahon who was from Ireland, all players at the final table were from the UK.

The final table payouts were Robert Baguley – £210,400; Iqbal Ahmed – £125,000; Grant Pirie – £96,700; Barry McMahon – £79,600; Hasmukh Khodiyara – £62,500; Nick Woodward – £45,500; James Cummings – £34,000; Ian Senior – £22,750;

21 Duel Blackjack
In 21 duel blackjack, players and the dealer will be required to make up their hands using at least one of their dealt cards and one of the two community cards in the centre of the table. You will be dealt one face-up and one face-down card and the dealer will be dealt two face-down cards. You must choose one community card to add to your hand. If you then stand, your face-down card will be discarded and if you hit, your face-down card will be revealed and added to your hand. The dealer will take the second community card and play in the same way. There is also a side bet that can be placed in this game.

Blackjack Surrender
Blackjack surrender is similar to classic blackjack except that you have the unique opportunity to surrender your hand for the cost of half your bet. This is an option at the beginning of the game before you make any other play.

Blackjack Switch
Blackjack switch is played with two separate hands and gives you the opportunity, right at the beginning of play, to switch the top two cards of your two hands in the hopes of making two improved hands. Because of this advantage, 22 is not considered bust for the dealer, but pushes against all hands except blackjack. Also, blackjack pays out at 1:1 instead of the regular 3:2.

Progressive Blackjack
In the game of progressive blackjack, players are able to place a side bet which pays out a progressive jackpot. The progressive jackpot is paid out depending on the Aces you hold with the number, color and suite of Aces taken into account. The entire jackpot is paid for four Aces.

Lucky Blackjack
Lucky blackjack is a game in which the player does not play an actual hand. Rather, the player bets on the total hand value that the dealer will achieve in the game.

Myth #1: It’s a game based on your luck

Make yourself clear that Blackjack is not a game of luck. This has been the biggest Blackjack myth of all. Infact, it is the only casino game where the player can get an edge over the house, over the long run.

Myth #2: Blackjack needs photographic memory

This Blackjack myth is not true that a player needs to have a photographic memory in able to play. Just use basic Blackjack strategy is necessary and you do not have to memorize every hand in the Blackjack shoe to play.

Myth #3: Dealers speed things up

This Blackjack myth is pretty popular. As per the myth, the dealers do this to try to disrupt the player’s chance to count cards. People do not think about the scenario where you have the player holding up the dealer.

Myth #4: You are doomed if you share table with bad players

Dealer is the only opponent in blackjack and he is the only person who can affect your game not the people you share the table. It does not matter if your table is filled with bad players, as their presence does not affect you winning chance.

Myth #5: In order to win, get as close to 21 as you can

Those who have only started to play blackjack and are new to the game; this is probably the most common myth. Blackjack is also sometimes called as the game of 21 and therefore this misconception. New players believe that it is crucial to get close to 21 and they assume that this is the main goal of the game.

You will need to learn basic strategy if you want to be a successful blackjack player. By referring to a basic strategy chart most players start learning. Based on the dealers up card the strategy chart shows you how to play your first two cards. You will also need to learn what decisions to make after taking a hit since the basic strategy chart only deals with the first two cards.

Doubling down is the first component of every blackjack strategy. When the first two cards that are dealt allow the players to double their initial bets and draw another card, after which the players will be forced to stand, such a component is available to the players. Splitting is the second component of blackjack strategy. This is where the difference between beginners and expert players become most evident.

Insurance is the third component. Insurance term is set before the actual game starts as it is used to refer to the side bet that matches half the amount of your original bet. Surrender is the last component that you are going to have to learn. In the four components, this component is the least common although this also means that you need to learn when to use it. You lose one half of your bet into the bargain but you would still be able to retrieve the other half of your bet by using such a component of the game.

Blackjack Myth #1:

To presume the dealer’s hole card is a 10 is the strategy of some players. One, just needs to remember that, the house offers you 2-to-1 odds that the 10 card is not in the hole, every time the dealer has an Ace up.

Blackjack Myth #2:

Many blackjack players believe that the likelihood of winning at the table will hurt, if they have bad players at the table. In reality, bad players have no real effect on the result of the game. It is a myth that your prospects can be seriously affected by bad players.

Blackjack Myth #3:

Many blackjack players believe that their chances of winning the next hand are good, as Blackjack is an even game, when the dealer has won five hands in a row. Upon whether you lost, tied or won the last 5 hands, the probability of your winning the next hand are independent.

Blackjack Myth #4:

Many blackjack players believe that single deck Blackjack is always more profitable. Statistically speaking, the single deck game would give the house a smaller edge, if all the rule alterations between single deck blackjack and a multi-deck game were equal.

The above-mentioned myths will drain your blackjack bankroll quickly; therefore make sure to watch out for the same.

With a delivery date of Dec. 1, the legislation asks the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to carry out research on regulating Internet poker. The measure would also permit advance deposit wagering on horse races, amend Iowa’s casino referendum laws and modify purses for horse racing.

The bill, Senate File 526, was endorsed 38-12. With the Iowa House, it now goes to a doubtful future, even though gambling lobbyists are hopeful of their opportunities.

Originally, the legislation provided a regulatory structure for its accomplishment, operation and taxation and the legislation sanctioned the creation of an intrastate online poker network.

However, to eliminate the language seeking to legalize online poker this year, backers reworked the package.

Under the bill, horse owners’ groups for the promotion and marketing of Iowa-bred horses will be distributed 2 percent of purse money designated for thoroughbred and quarter-horse racing in Iowa. At Casino in Altoona Prairie and Meadows Racetrack, only thoroughbred and quarter horse racing would be permitted. For standardbred harness races at county fairs or other tracks endorsed by state regulators, purse money assigned for standardbred racing could only be used.

In Council Bluffs and Dubuque, no attempt was made on the Senate floor to end live greyhound racing at tracks, even though for those two casinos, the issue remains key. For further discussions, the bill now moves to the Iowa House.

The Deutsche Bank prepared an annual report and it said that the report does not expect doing the same as their opponents. The report said that the study is based on hotel room supply, occupancy rates, on visitation trends, revenue per available room statistics of competitors and overall economic circumstances and indicators.

The report said that management believes that for the company to recuperate its investment in the Cosmopolitan the cash flows from the property are adequate and no harm was indicated.

Nevada Property 1 LLC said in a report filed Wednesday that after concluding 2009 with a $28.6 million profit, the company that owns the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas posted a loss in 2010.

About $4.2 million was the Cosmopolitan’s gross room revenues. The company said in its earnings filing that the Average daily rate and occupancy for that period were $319 and 97.8 percent, respectively.

After Deutsche Bank AG acquired the 8.7-acre property out of foreclosure, Nevada Property 1 was formed in 2008. On the Strip between Bellagio and City Center, the hotel and casino sits and it costs $3.9 billion to build.

With 1,998 hotel rooms, the Cosmopolitan opened on Dec. 15 and in today’s report, it said another 968 rooms would open through August. 1,800-seat showroom is also in the offing, with no specific preparation for when it will be built. Over disputed condominium purchase contracts, the Cosmopolitan noted lawsuits persist against the company.

Christos Christofides, Cyprus deputy government spokesman said that islanders are spending around €2.5 billion a year online and he described online gambling in Cyprus as a social wound.

Now with this new ban operators may leave the Island for friendlier seas, although for a very long time Cyprus has been a part of the world where online gambling casino/operators would go for regulation and licensing. In 2007, the gambling laws of Cyprus were last updated, in an attempt to meet the EU requirements.

To ban certain forms of online gambling, the government of Cyprus has taken concrete steps. A draft bill has been approved to bring in sweeping changes. Christofides believes that legislative approval is still needed for the bill. The will bring a ban on online gambling on poker and casino games but it will allow citizens over the age of 18 years to deal in lotteries and sports betting.

On its territory, the Cyprus government also does not allow land-based casinos, although it does have healthy sports betting industry and strong lottery programs. Over the apparent hypocrisy seen in the government’s moves to ban certain forms of gambling while allowing others, thousands of Cypriots and many participants in the online gaming industry have voiced their displeasure.

State legislators have been asked for assistance by the Empire Resorts Inc. for sponsoring a $400 million upgrade of its existing harness-racing facility. Empire Resorts Inc. owns and operates the Monticello Casino & Raceway about 90 miles from New York. It has been reported that at the track, Empire Resorts has intended for an expansion plan, which includes building of three hotels and a water park with an expense of $400 million. Existing racino upgrade has also been reported, which includes repositioning of the buffet and food court; 900-car closed parking garage; a sports bar and a multipurpose room of 25,000-square foot area.

As per Senator John Bonacic, it is too premature to comment whether the company’s financing proposals will be successful. Senator Bonacic chairs the Senate’s Racing and Wagering committee. In the decades-long saga of Indian tribes, Empire’s move to benefit from the misfortune of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans is the newest twist. Catskills was a prime summer-getaway objective for New Yorkers and it seeks to rebuild its faded reputation. For the alliances and deals, Catskills area has had little to show and in the mean time, more areas like Connecticut, Atlantic City, N.J., and Pennsylvania became gambling choices. Most recently, at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, Malaysia’s Genting Bhd. began construction of the first legal slots in New York City.

After being notified, Empire Resorts Inc. is considering options that its closing bid price on the Nasdaq stock market has plunged below $1 per share. For 30 consecutive business days, the situation has persisted. With the minimum bid requirement, the New York-based company has until Aug. 15 to regain compliance. In an SEC filing, reports suggested that on its listing on the Nasdaq Global Market, the notice has no instantaneous consequences.

According to the filing, in order to regain compliance with the prolonged listing requirements, the company is considering actions that it may take in response to this notification, but no decisions about the response have been made at this time.