In all seriousness, Scotty might have a bit of a drinking problem, just a tiny little one. But hey which one of us hasn’t been there?
Here’s the formal apology from Scotty Nguyen:
I would like to apologize to all my fans for the disappointment I have caused in the H.O.R.S.E. Event. For that I would like to express my sincerest apology.
I would like to ask for understanding of what really took place. Keep in mind this was a five day event, with an almost fourteen hour final table that was reduced to two hours of air time including all the commercial breaks. With that being said, as you can imagine, more took place than what made the final cut for t.v. Last year’s Main Event I made the mistake of letting someone get under my skin, of which overtook my mental focus of the game, and cost me my tournament along with a lot of disappointment amongst my fans and peers. Since that time, it has haunted me and even now with the mistake that I made. As a professional, you always critique yourself to make yourself better, and in doing so you have to focus on the mistakes you make, in order to improve. This year, I needed redemption of my own 2007 Main Event demons to prove to myself that no one would get to me again.
This tournament was too important for me, the trophy, the fifth bracelet, and history, my head was zoned in for this event, and for that time, I forgot the fans were watching me. I said things I shouldn’t have said that have disappointed you, and I apologize for my actions. All my life, there have been many many tournaments, I put all the fans first, tried to play bad hands and win to give more excitement, and I would blow my tournament, however I have never regretted it, because without all you fans there would never be a Scotty Nguyen, and I appreciate all of you every which way. This tournament I played the players game. They wanted to play a drinking game, and they couldn’t win, they say they can’t even beat a drunk, how can you beat a drunk if I’m not drunk. They can’t beat me in a drinking game, now they play the talking game to try to get under my skin like in 2007, and I gave it right back to them and got underneath their skin, and they couldn’t win. When it came down to playing a poker game, the best will win. Because they can’t beat me in a drinking game, a talking game and then we played poker, of which they can’t beat me, and I am the one who brought the trophy home. This event I had my mind set, I wouldn’t let anything interfere between me and the bracelet and the Chip Reese trophy, and I proved that to the whole world. I can beat them at any game they want to play. And all I have to say, I hope all you fans understand what I’m trying to say. And watch the tape again. I was not the one to start anything, not even drinking or talking, they wanted to start it with me, and they got beat by me fair and square on all levels they wanted to play. All I would ever be sorry, is how the fans feel about me, I would never be sorry to beat those players. If they can’t accept defeat, then stay home, crawl under their loved ones arms, don’t bad mouth because you got beat by the best poker player. Another thing, I always bring joy and excitement to the poker game every time I’m on tv, and all of you know, when Scotty Nguyen is on tv, your eyes are glued on the screen. Why? Because I make it fun so you guys don’t switch the channel. All these years that is all you’ve seen of me, and that is the real me. That proves to you, how great and nice I am, I am the real deal. One cannot be on tv all these years with the same persona if it wasn’t the real deal. Even during this final table, I still took time for all the fans with a smile on my face. You have not even heard of one fan who was there that came up to me and could say that I was rude to them or out of line with them in any way. This was an issue at the table, and one I didn’t take out on the fans even during that time. This was business. How many players do you know that would do that to the fans except one, the Prince of Poker, Scotty Nguyen and once again I apologize to all of you. No excuses for my behavior in that $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. final table. And I have explained to you why and how that happened. Bottom line, I only ask for you to please understand and remember that I, Scotty Nguyen, the Prince of Poker is still a human being, just like all of you. I too have good times, bad times, sad times and angry times, just like everyone else in this world, and I hope you can understand that. I do promise to all the fans that no matter what, from now, I would never disappoint you again any which way. I forgot about the fans, and only focused on me. I am sorry.
Thank you,
Scotty Nguyen
Awwww Scotty, we forgive you!
]]>Looks like Chan Poker is done and done. Here’s the message from their site. Time are looking tough all around.
ChanPoker Closure - August 19, 2008
We are sad to inform you that Chan Poker will be ceasing operation effective this Thursday, August 21, 2008. Effective immediately we will no longer be accepting deposits. On August 21 our poker clients will be disabled.
If you have a cash balance with us rest assured that all withdrawal requests will be honored and promptly processed. To facilitate timely withdrawals, limits for certain withdrawal methods have been increased. We will make every effort to accept withdrawal requests through our website for as long as necessary however we strongly advise submitting your request as soon as possible. To initiate a withdrawal now please follow this link to go to your account. Please note that once final withdrawals are processed your account will be automatically closed, no further action is necessary.
The final $50 daily freeroll will be held Tuesday, August 19, 2008. We will not be holding any additional weekly Red Orange Freerolls.
We are actively seeking a partner to provide poker software and honor all Chan Poker player point balances for those that wish to continue playing online poker. We will keep you informed of developments on this front.
As always, if you have questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact us at support@chanpoker.com.
Warm regards,
Chan Poker Customer Support
]]>Mohawk Territory of Kahnawá:ke
July 23, 2008Kahnawá:ke Gaming Commission (the “KGC”) has been continuously regulating online gaming for over 9 years – longer than most, if not all, other jurisdictions. During that period of time, the KGC has proven to be a world leader with regulations and methodologies that have established a regulatory environment in which online gaming can be conducted fairly and securely. The KGC’s success as a regulator is evidenced by the fact that a significant percentage of the online gaming industry has chosen to locate and operate within Kahnawá:ke. Given the length of time that it has regulated this new industry and the significant number of licensees under its control, the KGC’s record has been exemplary.
As commentators have correctly noted, even the most well regulated industries are not immune from abuse. Examples can be found in the banking, securities and land-based gaming industries. The fact that the online gaming industry is new and is technologically driven creates additional regulatory challenges. Throughout its history, the KGC has met these challenges and its regulations have been emulated in a number of other jurisdictions around the world.
Over the past several months, it was discovered that individuals within two of the KGC’s licensees – Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet – had created and carried out a scheme to cheat players. In both cases, the improper conduct of these individuals was brought to the attention of the licensees, and the KGC, by affected players. The KGC acknowledges the diligence and sophistication displayed by these players and the role they played in bringing these matters to light.
The first case involved Absolute Poker. After a thorough investigation carried out by the KGC and its agents, Gaming Associates, the KGC rendered its decision in this matter on January 11, 2008. This decision concluded that the cheating that took place was not initiated, nor did it benefit, Absolute Poker as a corporate entity, or its directors or principal ownership. The decision imposed a number of sanctions and conditions on Absolute Poker, including twenty-four specific directions for changes to its management and systems. The KGC was provided evidence that all players affected by the cheating that took place were fully reimbursed for their losses.
Shortly after its decision was rendered in the Absolute Poker matter, the KGC first became aware of similar allegations of cheating involving individuals within Absolute Poker’s sister company: Ultimate Bet.
Over the past several months, the KGC has been closely involved in an in-depth investigation of the Ultimate Bet cheating allegations. Significant efforts have been expended to identify and correct the flaws in Ultimate Bet’s system that permitted the cheating to take place; to identify the individuals that were responsible for the cheating and to ensure that all affected players were fully reimbursed. Unfortunately, the KGC’s actions were not well communicated to the poker industry or public at large, creating an incorrect perception that the KGC was ‘doing nothing’.
The KGC’s investigation into the Ultimate Bet matter has yielded a number of key findings which, within the next several days, will enable the KGC to issue its decision on the appropriate steps to be taken.
It should be stressed that the KGC’s primary concern throughout both matters was to ensure that affected players were fully reimbursed and that corrective measures were implemented to prevent against any further incidents of cheating. Both of these objectives have been accomplished – as evidenced by the fact that the recent concerns that have been raised about the Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet matters are not being driven by affected players.
Murray Marshall
Senior Advisor
Kahnawá:ke Gaming Commissio
n
]]>I invite all businesses involved as a sports book or portal to a “virtual meeting” to be held next Wednesday at or around 8 PM EST…
Please let’s put principles ahead of personalities because there are some very important matters that need to be discussed…
If you plan on attending, shoot me an email for more details and to be included at this important time…
Thanks,
THE SHRINK
]]>“In my view, it is probably a restrictive practice, and we might take it up in another” forum, EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy told the European Parliament.
The United States was protecting its own gambling industry by stopping foreign companies from entering the online betting sector, McCreevy said.
“It’s not my intention to bring forward a harmonized piece of legislation on gambling in the European Union,” McCreevy added.
The United States has introduced rules to stop card companies from dealing with foreigners for online bets, McCreevy said. He has launched legal actions against several EU countries to tackle obstacles to foreign competition.
]]>Effective Immediately…
- After careful consideration, Pinnacle Sports has chosen to voluntarily exit the American market. Accordingly, wagers will no longer be accepted from clients located within the United States as of Thursday 11th January 2007.
We would like to assure all our clients that your balances are available but those clients who are affected will be required to withdraw their balances using the Cashier function on their account. Please note that any pending wagers will be honored by Pinnacle Sports. As your wagers are graded, you may use the Cashier function to request any balance due.
As ever, Pinnacle Sports will continue to provide our Canadian and International clients with the same great value they have come to expect from the World’s leading online sports book and casino.
Another interesting turn of events for anyone watching the ongoing battle between the Department of Justice, FBI and owners of online gambling sites. The question is, when do the big players get move into legislated online gambling. This is absolutely what the landscape is working towards.
This is being reported all over the place at this moment, eventually I’ll add a list of any new reports beyond “Pinnacle Exiting US Market”.
]]>Bad risk?
In the past year all the main banks have complained loudly that they have been racking up more bad loans in their credit card businesses.
Normally a decision by a bank to charge more would signify that it had seen an increased risk of losing money in that particular line of business.
But HSBC denied that customers who gamble using their credit cards are more likely to run up big debts and then default on them.
“We have not seen that as part of our customers’ behaviour,” said the HSBC spokeswoman.
HSBC’s decision will apply to both internet and telephone gambling and thus covers online poker, internet bookies and betting exchanges. However, it is illegal to use a credit card in a casino, while the betting industry has a policy of not accepting them in High Street bookies.
According to the Association of Payment Clearing Services (Apacs), people in the UK spent £1.51bn on gambling via their credit cards in the twelve moths to June 2006. That was just 0.8% of all credit card spending which amounted to £120.2bn.
]]>It’s quite likely more that the banks know that they can jack up prices on the rates and if an online gambling user is processing their bets through a credit card then that user will likely go to a third party payment processor. This reduces the number of people potentially using the HSBC credit card system. It could be interpreted as form of due diligence on the part of the banks (if it in fact needed to be used as such).
From CageSideLive on MySpace
Bodog fights: I’m all for more MMA. I think the world needs as much good MMA as it can get. All of that said, did anyone really think, “I really want to watch that other MMA reality show, you know the one where the guy doesn’t get the UFC contract? That one on the channel I never heard of!” Even the most hardcore MMA fans I talked to didn’t watch the show. This is no criticism of any of the Bodog fighters, but I never knew who they were anyway. For all I know the really are the best up and coming fighters. Maybe they are guys I’ve actually heard of. Maybe. My friends didn’t tell me who was actually fighting. Bodog didn’t bother to tell us who they were either. They didn’t think we needed to know. The company just bought ads and said it was a Mixed Martial Arts reality show, and it was on some network no one had ever heard of. They figured that it since it was Mixed Martial Arts and Reality TV, it was guaranteed. That’s what got people to watch the Ultimate Fighter. Names like Couture, Liddell, Ortiz, Shamrock, Franklin, and Hughes had nothing to do with it. The commercials showed fighters standing on rocks working the Muay Thai pads or shadowboxing. I’m sure the logic was simple. “Everything’s more compelling on rocks. They’ll all watch!” I think they even had a Pay Per View where the guys who won got to fight members of the Russian Red Devil Fight Club, ones not named Emilianenko. I think. Don’t write and tell me. At this point, who cares?
We’ll keep taking the feedback from these unique events. Even if they are luke warm in their reception, I mean the world needs more badly acted infomercials. Doesn’t it?
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I know this is supposed to be a blog about the business and marketing online poker and online gambling but what the hell, if you can’t be entertained once in a while, is life worth living? Noooooo.
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Antigua based BETonSPORTS’ fiasco will be remembered forever as the largest disaster in the online gambling industry.
However what the entire industry is witnessing is a masterpiece of fraud and deceit, ultimately leading to the scandals’ graveyard where the thieves, the stiffs and their accomplices in this sad story will be the ones disposing of BETonSPORTS rotten corpse.
What does it take to join the burial procession accompanying BETonSPORTS to the grave? How did several individuals qualify to join the beleaguered publicly traded company’s funeral services? Let’s then see who qualified and how.
U.S. District Attorney Catherine Hanaway will be there, although with little merit. She will be probably described as the “killer”, the one ultimately responsible for the “death” of the once upon a time sports betting giant.
To her credit Hanaway did nothing but execute her mandate. No one in their sanity would think she hoped BoS would end up this way. However the BETonSPORTS demise well serves the purpose and is perfect support of the political message fueling the anti online gambling campaign of the Bush administration.
The message is simple: the publicly traded online gambling firm BETonSPORTS stiffed all its customers, proving that online gaming providers, even the ones once subject to stock market regulations, are crooks.
The carefully hand-picked Board of Directors will be there, enjoying the deserved award of the front seats. Carefully chosen one by one, all these gentlemen have served their purpose.
Mr. Richard Creed, hired as CFO of BETonSPORTS in 2005. His vibrant resume showing him director and board member of two previously failed companies.
Mr. Clive Archer, formerly manager of Microgaming, last man standing in the BETonSPORTS drama. To his credit, he was the one who proactively negotiated a bailout resolution of BETonSPORTS non U.S. customers before vanishing like others, leaving BoS Costa Rican Attorney Mr. Conejo (rabbit in English) lonely hopping away from irate ex employees and creditors.
The prime real estate of the front seats will be reserved for the deus ex-machina* of this masterpiece, Major Thomas Robin Valerian Dixon, 3rd Baron Glentoran, aka The Lord Glentoran. The deafening silence surrounding the BETonSPORTS scandal in the United Kingdom once again proves that having a peer in a company’s board of director is an investment of paramount importance and priceless value. Hardly anyone in England would ever dare questioning a Lord, let alone call him a stiff.
BETonSPORTS shareholders will probably attend the funeral by proxy. What remains to share is the need to keep the distance from the rotten corpse of their past glorious investment. All but one is keeping a low profile. Gary Kaplan, founder of the sports betting giant, literally vanished. According to speculations of the usual well informed he is believed to prefer the roar of tanks and thunder of rockets that regretfully characterizes Israel’s daily fight for its right to exist over the less than elegant orange jumpsuit the Department of Justice would like him to wear.
Kaye McDonald, Director of the Antigua Directorate of Offshore Gaming, will be the officiator of the BETonSPORTS funeral.
She ably sealed all secrets and granted an escape route to BoS Board of Directors by filing a tardive and useless restraining order of asset-less BoS Antigua Ltd.
With this frivolous restraining order she ensured that BETonSPORTS Plc and its Board of Directors could continue to access all remaining cash at hand to pay those Attorneys that will probably get them discharged from the criminal charges the U.S. Department of Justice filed against them.
McDonald is an expert chess player and a shrewd pr person. After ignoring the situation for months she managed to sell the Media that her useless restraining order is an act of great concern on behalf BoS account holders.
She also managed to silence Antigua’s White Knight, the relentless Jay Cohen who likes to expose the crooks of this industry but becomes a silently obeying puppy when Antigua’s lack of action should be questioned.
Insiders say Kaye granted Cohen permission to attend the funeral right by her side, provided the conceited young man remains impeccably silent.
Participants will soon begin to gather in an orderly manner while the officiator is preparing herself to ensure that BETonSPORTS rotten corpse will be buried at sunset, the perfect landscape to convey BETonSPORTS U.S. customers the proper message.
“Here lays the asset-less corpse of our beloved license holder BETonSPORTS” She will say. ”May this warm Caribbean sunset signify everyone that all hopes are gone and bother no more.”
To share your comment on this article or to share opinion on this situation please visit http://www.towforum.com/online-sports-betting/25235-betonsports-funeral.html
TOW Editorial - Originally Published December 12 2006 – 11.40am EST – TheOnlineWire.com
*Deus ex machina - Latin phrase that is used to describe an unexpected, artificial, or improbable character, device, or event introduced suddenly in a work of fiction or drama to resolve a situation or untangle a plot.
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