2008 August 14 Poker News, Events and Happenings

An employee of the mob’s illegal video poker racket in suburban Chicago was sentenced Thursday to 40 months in federal prison. Joseph Venezia, 65, a bit player in the federal government’s landmark Operation Family Secrets mob murder case, also must serve three years of probation after he finishes his sentence.

Wednesday’s Event #17 of FTOPS IX drew 1,059 entrants, and the $300+22 six-max format produced 2,239 rebuys and 727 add-ons to build a total prize pool of $1,207,500. Several big names fell just short of the final table…

The Cape Coral/Fort Myers Chapter of the Chrome Divas hold a Poker Run for Jerry Aloia and his daughter, Holly Aloia on Sunday.

In the grand scheme of things twenty years is not a very long time, but over the past two decades women have been finding their way and exploring new territory both in society as well as in the poker world…

Online gambling portal Gambling.com is to sponsor two tournaments at this weekends Poker in the Park 2008, in Leicester Square.

Playtech Ltd recently signed a deal with a leading Italian betting shop company to take them online, competing for the flood of Italian poker players looking for more online action. The British software supplier Playtech signed the deal with Snai, the Italian outfit that has a network of some six thousand betting spots in that country. Snai reportedly signed on for the full complement of tournament poker software, which indicates they will be making a strong play for the Italian online gamers…

The next stop on the European Poker Tour is Spain, where players will take their seats at the Casino Barcelona and take a shot at life changing cash prizes and fame. Online poker rooms such as Hollywood Poker are giving their players a shot at winning prize packages to this event. Prize packages to the EPT, include the buy in, travel money, and accommodations in the host city…