The Nightly Turbo: Betting Sports Takes More Skill than Poker, Senate Hearing, and More
If you like good fodder for debate, this Nightly Turbo is just for you. Online poker was among the topics discussed during a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing on Thursday, and a gambling legend stated in an interview that sports betting takes more skill than playing poker. Read on to find out more.
In Case You Missed It
The 2012 World Poker Tour Venice Grand Prix reached a final table on Thursday. Andrea Dato made his second straight final table at WPT Venice and is leading the way heading into the final day.
The Global Poker Index didn't see any change in the top 10 this week. Vadzim Kursevich made the biggest jump in the rankings after his victory at the EPT Deauville Main Event.
Need a new book to read at the tables? Check out our review of Crushing the Microstakes by Nathan ��BlackRain79�� Williams.
Plans for a Vegas-style casino complex in Miami, Florida, were put on hold last week. Inside Gaming has the details on why the vote on a required bill was postponed for at least a year.
Quinn Sivage joined the Strategy with Kristy podcast this week. Sivage discussed using statistics for optimal preflop strategy in six-max no-limit hold'em games.
Poker vs. Sports Betting
Which activity involves more skill: poker or sports betting?
We're pretty sure we know your answer. But renowned sports bettor Billy Walters disagrees.
In an interview with Covers.com this week, Walters argued that sports betting should be included with skill games like poker in discussions about legalizing online gaming. Walters, who has allegedly won hundreds of millions wagering on sports contests, says that sports betting is a more skillful form of gambling than poker.
��I used to be a professional poker player,�� Walters said, ��and, they��re right, if you��re a good poker player, it��s a game of skill. Well, betting sports is much more of a game of skill than poker. I��m living proof that betting sports is a game of skill. I��ve won 37 years in a row. If that��s not a skill, then I don��t know what is.��
We're curious to know what poker player and highly regarded NBA bettor Haralabos Voulgaris thinks about this. Paging Haralabob...
What are your thoughts? Be sure to leave them in the comments section below.
Senate Revisits Online Gaming
On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held an oversight hearing entitled, ��The U.S. Department of Justice Opinion on Internet Gaming: What's at Stake for Tribes?�� The hearing focused on the how the DOJ's new interpretation of the 1961 Wire Act will affect the gaming interests of Indian tribes.
Thursday's list of witnesses included Poker Players Alliance Litigation Support Director Patrick Fleming, who was speaking on behalf of poker players. During his testimony, Fleming stated clearly that online poker is very different than online gambling. He also said that Indian tribes are very important to the potential legalization and regulation of online poker, and that Internet poker can help bring patrons to land-based Indian casinos.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for a detailed recap of the oversight hearing.
Shoryuken!
Randy "nanonoko" Lew is a legend �� and a Guinness World Record Holder �� in the realm of online poker. However, Lew first made a name for himself on the video game scene, where he played Marvel vs. Capcom 2 on the national circuit throughout his time at college.
It appears Lew misses his college days. Terribly. The Team PokerStars Pro is auditioning for a new Internet reality show called Cross Assault, where contestants compete against each other in Capcom's new game Street Fighter X Tekken. Take a look at Lew's hilarious audition tape:
Get the Inside Shuffle
If you're looking for another place to get reliable poker news, we recommend checking out the Inside Shuffle over at PokerWorks.com. The Inside Shuffle runs every Monday and Thursday and brings readers up to date on everything from poker politics, to business ventures, to tournament results from around the globe.
We like to think of the Inside Shuffle as the younger sibling of the Nightly Turbo, only without the constant bickering and abuse.
Check it out at PokerWorks.com!
"This is just a Bad Copy of the Venetian in Las Vegas"
You can't ride your bike on the Venetian Lagoon, so Tony G was forced to take a Gondola ride to the Casino Di Venezia for the World Poker Tour Venice Grand Prix.
As you'll see below, he wasn't impressed. And his new personal assistant took the brunt of the blame.
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