APCW (the Association of Players, Casinos, and Webmasters) is an online advocacy group that has fought for trust, honesty, and integrity in the online gaming industry for years. Every week APCW puts out a “Perspectives Weekly” video which focuses on news and events from the eGaming world throughout the week. Here is last week’s video, which discusses potential online poker legalization in New Jersey and California, as well as a possible shutdown of MasterCard poker deposits:

Enjoy, and make sure to check out APCW.org for future videos.

Bodog.com has announced their Sports Fantasy Package, which is a prize giveaway for all real money poker players at the Bodog poker room. The promotion will award five players with dream trips to major sporting events, including the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the Stanley Cup, and the World Series. To qualify for the prizes, players simply have to play real money sit and go tournaments at Bodog.com. In addition to the sports packages, players can also qualify for two $5,000 freerolls which will be held upon the conclusion of the promotion.

The Poker Sports Fantasy runs from February 15th, 2010 until March 14th. There are weekly prizes, as well as the grand prize and the $5,000 freeroll entries. To qualify for the grand prize (as well as entry to the $5,000 freerolls), players simply have to make the money in three sit and go tournaments during the duration of the promotion. You have an entire month to make the money in three sit and gos, and players can only receive one entry, so everyone has an equal shot at the Grand Prize.

The Grand Prize is:

• Two tickets to the 2011 Super Bowl, one NBA Finals game, one Stanley Cup game, and one World Series game.
• Airfare/accommodations/$500 in spending money for each event.

Besides the Grand Prize, players can also qualify for entry to the weekly prize drawings. To qualify for the weekly prize drawings, players simply have to play five real money sit and gos during the week. Weekly prizes are:

• Feb 15 - Feb 21: Airfare/accommodations to a UFC Event.
• Feb 22 - Feb 28: Airfare/accommodations to a NASCAR Race.
• Mar 1 - Mar 7: Airfare/accommodations to the US Open (Golf).
• Mar 8 - Mar 14: Airfare/accommodations to a NCAA March Madness Game.

Also, all players who qualify for the Grand Prize drawing will be invited to play in two $5,000 freerolls, which will be held on Saturday, March 20th at 1:05 and 2:05 EST. Head over to Bodog.com to start playing sit and gos!

Once the number one online poker room in the world, Party Poker has taken a backseat to now thriving online poker presences in the US such as Full Tilt and PokerStars. After backing out of the US market at the onset of the UIGEA fiasco, they have been forced to sit back and watch as other online poker rooms welcomed their otherwise loyal clientele with open arms. Their decision to leave behind a large sect of their traffic was a moral one, as they wanted to do the right thing in the eyes of the US government, and protect themselves as well, from the unforeseen retribution that they might be forced to bear had they gone against the UIGEA’s conditions. What they did was offend many faithful North American players who logged off their Party Poker accounts after happily playing poker online, only to wake up the next day unable to access their real money accounts. After almost four years, Party Poker is hoping that wounds have had time to heal and the soreness felt towards the brand by US players has somewhat alleviated.

Now moving into a new era that sees the absence of the company’s founder, Anurag Dikshit, who sold his last share recently, Party Poker is taking it slow, but sure enough, seems to be making moves toward re-conquering their US domain, or at least making a new one. Recently the company realigned themselves with one of the most familiar faces of poker, Mike Sexton, who is also the face of the World Poker Tour, also recently purchased by Party Poker. Sexton’s presence is well known in the US market, as he’s been on numerous televised poker events that have aired in the US, and he’s just an all-around nice guy—someone US players do and will relate to.

Also part of Party’s new strategic plan was the signing of two additional poker personalities, Kara Scott, and Tony Guoga, also known as Tony G., and these contracts have not been taken lightly. Deliberately pointed, together these three personalities will become the new face of Party Poker, far reaching in the worldwide reign of poker. Sexton’s worldwide appeal along with Scott’s influential pull in her own country of Canada and throughout Europe along with Tony G., who draws attention in Russia, Lithuania, Australia, and on the Net in general, will be a strong triumvirate for the online poker room’s new prevalence across the globe.

Another unique draw about these three players is that while they will help Party build a more uniform presence, they will also paint a picture of poker as a past time rather than a profession. Part of the branding strategy is to stray away from the serious side of poker that other online poker rooms have honed in on. Party Poker hopes to redefine the game as a hobby and remind players of the good times when players laughed and joked at the tables, not hiding behind masks of sunglasses, hoodies, and ear buds. The plan is to ultimately recreate what was once lost with the UIGEA.

Party Poker and those that followed them out of the US hoped to gain some sort of respect by honoring the UIGEA so that when regulation did take place, they’d be remembered as those that cooperated. Now the time of regulation still looms in the future, but it seems more in reach every day, and Party Poker is proud of the decisions they’ve made and are hoping to rebrand themselves around the world, so that when they are welcomed back into the US market, there will be a place for them that no other online poker room can fill.

Sexton states, “We’re starting to sign team players from around the globe from all these countries where poker is legal and active, to get branding out there. We’re making online acquisitions… doing all the right things to put ourselves in position to be at or near the top of the market, and I’m very excited about that.”

Thanks for reading my article. If you’d like to play at PartyPoker be sure you head over to my friend’s site, OfficialPartyBonusCodes.com, to get a Party Poker bonus code so you can get the maximum bonus on your first deposit.

As you have probably noticed, our site looks totally different nowadays. We stuck with the same blue design for almost two years, but late last year we decided to switch things up. Although the redesign took forever, we’re glad and proud to finally have it live.

The most exciting aspect of the new site is that the redesign wasn’t just aesthetic. We also added a ton of new pages to the site, and updated a lot of old ones in hopes of making the site more useful for everyone. Here are a few new sections that you probably haven’t seen before:

• Poker Training Site Reviews
• Additional Poker Site Reviews
• Seven Card Stud Strategy Guide
• A new About Us page
• Additional/Updated Poker Game Toplists

Make sure to check out the new pages on the site, and email us with any thoughts on the overall design/layout!

Aced.com only launched a few months ago but has already released their first major software update. This update comes with improvements on existing features as well as the implementation of many all-new features. Also, Aced Poker is rolling out their new VIP program to coincide with the new software release. This article will explain the new software as well as the new VIP program.

Aced Version 4.5

The new software is called version 4.5 and is the first major update that Aced has released since their initial launch. The servers actually went down about 90 minutes ago, and are expected to return in another 90 minues. The major updates and upgrades include poker game personalisation, a mini mode, a grid mode, an updated tournament schedule, a sit and go rematch feature, and a network diagnostic tool.

Poker Game Personalization

Players now have the option to select from various table backgrounds, floors, rails, card backs, and general user interface tinting. This lets players get that custom feel that they expect from a modern poker room.

Mini Mode

Mini mode is a great new feature that lets players view multiple tables at small resolutions while still being legible. When a player enters mini mode the  user interface is simplified so the table can be stripped down and become even smaller. You can also manually resize tables now to custom sizes to meet your individual needs.

Grid Mode

Grid mode allows players to grid their tables on their monitor up to 5×5 tables. This lets you see all of your tables at once, even if you’re playing 25 tables.

Tournament Schedule

Aced has overhauled their tournament schedule to increase guarantees on tournaments, offer bigger buy-ins, and provide more flexibility so players can buy in with either cash, player points, or tournament tickets.

SNG Rematch

If you are a heads up SNG player this is awesome. Aced now allows heads up SNG players to request rematches with the same opponent as soon as their current match ends. This is perfect for settling grudges or taking advantage of a tilting player.

Network Diagnostic Tool

This is a new tool that provides help to players who are disconnected or cannot connect. It suggest problems as well as possible solutions.

Aced Poker VIP Program

Not only did Aced update their software, but they also added a full featured VIP program to their poker room. Players now earn VIP points which can be used to:

• enter guaranteed tournaments
• exchange for cash
• enter real money SNG’s
• enter Live Seat satellites
• purchase items from the NEW store
• enter exclusive VIP level freerolls
• enter VIP point MTT’s and SNG’s
• clear deposit bonuses

There are also four tiers in the new VIP program, and as players scale the tier levels they will earn additional benefits and rewards.

VIP Points are earned at the following rate:

• 1 point = $0.10 rake
• 10 points = $1 rake
• 100 points  = $10 rake

Overall, these new updates should drastically improve the Aced.com poker room. We expect that this software update will bring them to the forefront of the Merge network and even give PokerStars and Full Tilt a run for their money. Head over to Aced.com to check out the new software.

PKR just announced the details on their annual Springfest event, and we were surprised to see that even with a faltering economy PKR has planned a bigger and better Springfest than ever before. PKR has run their Springfest event every Spring since they launched in late 2006, and each time the event grows in popularity as more players want a shot at big money. This years Springfest should be a blast, as PKR has added a bunch of new events and there is more guaranteed money involved than ever before.

In total there are 18 events this year, and Sprinfest runs from March 14 to April 5th. The biggest tournament is a $100,000 guaranteed tournament with a $250 buy-in, and the cheapest tournament is the $10,000 Threeroll that runs on the last day of the event (there are special requirements to qualify - we’ll go over them later).

Play in Springfest at PKR.com <- $600 deposit bonus via that link

Now we’ll give you a rundown of each tournament that PKR will run during Springfest:

March 14 19:30 GMT - No Limit Hold’em - $12 w/ Rebuys

The first tournament of the event is a $12 rebuy tournament with a $12,500 guaranteed prize pool. We love this tournament because PKR is kicking off Springfest with a small buy-in event, so every player can get in on the action right away. The game is No Limit Hold’em, and the tournament kicks off at 19:30 GMT.

March 15 19:00 GMT - No Limit Hold’em - $65 buy-in

The second tournament of the event is a big one, as there is a $50,000 guaranteed prize pool with a $65 buy-in. This tournament is actually a regular weekly tourney, but PKR hopes that the Springfest boost will provide a record prize pool and player field. If you’re a big time player looking for a big score, you better not miss this one.

March 16 19:30 GMT - No Limit Hold’em - $20 buy-in

The third tournament of Springfest is the first variation of normal No Limit Hold’em, as it is a shorthanded event with 6-max tables. Make sure to stay aggressive to go deep in this one, as the blinds will be hitting you much more often than at a 9-handed table. There are plenty of satellites throughout the day, so you can qualify for less if you wish. This tournament has a $10,000 guaranteed prize pool.

March 17 19:30 GMT - Pot Limit Omaha - $20 buy-in

The fourth event of Springfest really switches things up, as it is a Pot Limit Omaha game as opposed to NL Hold’em. The tournament has a $20 buy-in but only a $5,000 guarantee, probably because Omaha isn’t as popular as Hold’em on PKR.  Just like the other tournaments, there are a bunch of smaller satellites if you’d like to win your way in. To brush up on your Omaha skills, read our Omaha poker strategy.

March 18 19:30 GMT - No Limit Hold’em - $25 buy-in w/ bounties

The fifth event of Springfest is really unique, and should be a thriller. It’s a $25 buy-in NL Hold’em event with a $15,000 guarantee, but it also has a $600 prize pool of six bounties. If you knock out any player who’s name starts with PKR_Bounties, you’ll win $100 automatically. Also, this event is a deep stack turbo, so players will start with deep stacks, but have to get aggressive quickly as blinds raise often.

March 19 19:30 GMT - No Limit Hold’em - $8 w/ rebuys

Event number six is pretty simple - it’s an $8 rebuy tournament with a $7,500 guaranteed prize pool. The game is No Limit Hold’em, and players can rebuy for the first hour of the tournament. Brush up on your rebuy tournament strategy before this one.

March 20 19:30 GMT - No Limit Hold’em - $20 buy-in Terminator event

Event number seven will be another thriller, as it’s the first “Terminator” event of the series. Terminator tournamets have half of your buy-in go to the prize pool, and half of the buy-in go to a bounty on your head. Every time you knock out a player it’s worth $10. Expect fireworks in this one - the prize pool is guaranteed to be $10,000.

March 21 19:30 GMT - No Limit Hold’em - $30 buy-in

This event is a $30 buy-in tournament with a $12,5000 guaranteed prize pool. It’s No Limit Hold’em, but players will be at 6-handed tables, and will start with deep stacks. This should provide plenty of time to feel out your opponents before you are forced to get aggressive.

March 22 19:00 GMT - No Limit Hold’em - $100 buy-in

Event number nine is sure to be one of the premier events of Springfest. The $100 buy-in will ensure a big prize pool, and thanks to a $30,000 guarantee, you can expect a four figure first place score. There are a bunch of satellites here so you can take a shot at the $30,000 without putting up $100 of your own.

March 23 19:30 GMT - Pot Limit Hold’em - $30 buy-in

PKR switched it up a little here, as they went to Pot Limit Hold’em instead of the more popular No Limit variant. Players will have to switch up their game to adapt, and we expect the most versatile players to go deep. This tournament has a $12,500 guarantee, and there are a bunch of satellites throughout the day so you can qualify.

March 24 19:30 - Pot Limit Omaha - $6 buy-in w/ rebuys

The eleventh event of Springfest isn’t the highest profile tournament, but it should be a fun little tournament. The game is Pot Limit Omaha, and the buy-in is $6 with unlimited rebuys during the first hour of the tournament. There is only a $3,000 guarantee, but it should still be a fun event for PLO players.

March 25 19:30 - NL Hold’em - $20 Double Chance w/ Bounties

PKR has always been famous for their Double Chance tournaments, and this is the first one of Springfest. Double Chance tournaments let players choose between playing their entire stack, or reserving half of it in case they bust. We recommend playing with the whole stack right from the start. This is also a bounty tournament, with 6 $100 bounties in play on PKR_Bounties players. $15,000 is guaranteed for the $20 buy-in.

March 26 19:30 GMT - Limit Hold’em - $15 buy-in

The thirteenth event is the first Limit Hold’em event, and has a $15 buy-in with a $5,000 guaranteed prize pool. We suspect this tournament might have an overlay because most players prefer NL Hold’em.

March 27 19:30 GMT - NL Hold’em - $20 Terminator Heads Up

This tournament is the second Terminator tournament, but this one puts the entire $20 buy-in on your own head. It’s a heads up tournament, so you play against other players heads up and if you beat them, you receive a portion of their buy-in with the remaining money going onto your own head. The last two players should have huge bounties on their heads.

March 28 20:00 GMT - No Limit Hold’em - $250 deep stack

This is easily the biggest tournament of the entire Springfest. The buy-in is $250, each player receives a deep stack chip stack, and the total guarantee is $100,000! Expect a first place prize of 5 figures, and of course PKR will be running satellites all week long starting at just 52 cents.

March 29 19:00 GMT - No Limit Hold’em - $65

This is another No Limit Hold’em tournament with a $65 buy-in and a $50,000 guarantee. We expect an overlay in this one, so make sure to get in it and win that extra money.

April 5 14:30 GMT - No Limit Hold’em - WSOP Freeroll

This tournament is the “Tournament of Champions”, as only the 16 previous winners of Springfest events plus the 4 tournament leaderboard leaders are allowed to enter. Those 20 players will battle it out for a $12,500 package to the WSOP Main Event!

April 5 17:00 GMT - NLH - $10,000 Threeroll! Variable stack

The final tournament of Springfest is a $10,000 freeroll with a unique set of rules. To enter, you simply need to play three real money Springfest events prevoius to this one. Also, it’s a variable stack tournament, so every Springfest tournament you bought into is worth 250 chips towards you’re starting stack.

Full Tilt Poker has made a huge move to help close the gap between their poker room and the biggest online poker room, PokerStars.com. Late last week Full Tilt announced the launch of their new “Poker Academy”, which is a section on the www.FullTiltPoker.com website that teaches players how to improve their poker game and win more money. The real draw of the Full Tilt Academy is the fact that the poker lessons and tips are delivered by Team Full Tilt, which is comprised of some of the top professionals in the industry, including Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, and Chris Ferguson.

The Full Tilt pros deliver their lessons in a variety of fashions, including video lectures, poker quizzes to test your skills, and even in-game commentary, where you can watch major professionals play online at Full Tilt and hear their thoughts as they make their every move. Also, players can opt into the My Academy features, which is a web-based stats program that tracks your progress in the Full Tilt Academy, and shows areas that need improvement.

One aspect of the Full Tilt Academy that we really love is the Academy Rewards. As you complete challenges in the Academy you’ll earn “Academy credits”. Academy credits can be turned in to redeem cash bonuses, Full Tilt Points, tournament tokens, or even real life gear like poker chips and tables. You can also use your Academy credits to receive a free CardRunners.com membership.

The Full Tilt Academy is free to all existing Full Tilt Poker players. If you’re not a player yet, all you have to do is sign up at Full Tilt Poker, then click Full Tilt Poker Academy at the bottom of the homepage. From there you can access all of the video lectures, quizzes, challenges, My Academy, and in-game videos.

The poker Academy is just the most recent major move that Full Tilt Poker has made to increase their brand awareness and player base. The other major move they’ve made recently was to host the “Durrrr Challenge“. Full Tilt currently has special heads up tables set up for the event, and they even have a webpage on their site that displays the stats and results so far.

This was a genius move, as the Durrrr Challenge has generated enormous attention across the industry, especially from the high volume, high stakes players that are particularly interested in the event. We can’t even imagine how much additional traffic and publicity Full Tilt Poker is getting from the Durrr Challenge, let alone the new poker Academy.

-> Sign up at FullTiltPoker.com to check out the Poker Academy! <-

With all these changes and improvements, we expect Full Tilt to generate a ton of new players and increase their traffic levels, but don’t count on them passing PokerStars just yet. PokerStars is such a stable brand in the industry, and so many players swear by their software and huge tournament offerings. We’ll just have to watch and see - stay tuned for updates!