Gov. Charlie Crist today signed Senate Bill 622, which eliminates bet and buy-in restrictions and extends operating hours for Florida poker rooms.

The poker changes take effect on July 1, while a gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida will take effect after approval from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs and publication in the Federal Register.

“Today’s bill signing is the last step in a historic effort that benefits both the Seminole Tribe and the entire state of Florida. Following three years of healthy debate and deliberation, the children and families of Florida are now the beneficiaries of much-needed money that will be used to fund critical needs such as education,” Crist said. “With this signing, Florida has the immediate use of $250 million, already on hand, and makes way for even more revenue to meet the needs of our state for decades to come – a total of $1.2 billion during the first five years. I want to thank Senator Dennis Jones and Chairman Bill Galvano for helping secure a favorable compact for the Sunshine State. The compact’s approval is an example of elevating problem-solving over ideology.”

Vanessa Rousso of Hobe Sound, Fla. continues to be one of the hottest poker players in the world, capturing the $1,100 Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure’s Ladies tournament, which was sponsored by the High Heels Poker Tour.

A total of 91 women played, and some of them attended a HHPT boot camp taught by Rousso, who earned $24,725 for her victory.

It was a tough field the navigate as Rousso had to beat some of the best female players in the world, including Katja Thater, J.J. Liu, Annette Obrestad, European Poker Tour and Shirley Rosario, who placed fourth.

Chad Brown, the Margate resident and pro poker player who served as host at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, has had quite a week at the Gulf Coast Poker Championships. First he took down Event 11, a $500 pot-limit Omaha tournament, and then he won the main event, a $5K no-limit hold’em tournament that had 143 starters. The $225K Brown won is his biggest score this year, plus he won a $10K main-event seat in the Beau Rivage’s upcoming Southern Poker Championships in January.

During heads-up play with Tyler Smith of Smithdale, Miss., Brown limped with 4-7 and saw a flop of 6-3-5 rainbow. Brown bet 25K and Smith min-raised to 50K. Brown moved all-in and Smith instacalled with 4-9 of clubs for the straight draw. Brown already had the nut straight and the turn and river were no help to Smith.

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PokerStars.net, the world’s largest poker school, announced its sponsorship of the High Heels Poker Tour, which is based in Ft. Lauderdale.

Founded in 2007, the HHPT was created to empower women who want to become champions in the growing world of poker. Like PokerStars, the HHPT seeks to provide the best competitive environment where women can explore, develop and continue growing and learning top strategies to perfect their “A” game.

The PokerStars sponsorship will include support for HHPT’s growing roster of tournaments. The tour will have three events in Florida (Dania Jai-Alai, Hard Rock Hollywood and Tampa Bay Downs) in the coming weeks and months.

“PokerStars has all of the attributes in a online partner that female players crave: an incredible variety of quick, entertaining games that range from low buy in sit-and-go tournaments and cash games to serious tournament play, all in an environment where women can learn the game, develop their skills and truly become champions,” said Lauren Failla, founder of the High Heels Poker Tour and Ante Up Magazine columnist. “With champions like Vanessa Rousso, Katja Thater and Vicky Coren, our players have a whole new set of role models to emulate and challenge, online and at the tables.”

HHPT will share its grand finale, a $1K buy-in, at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in January. For more information about HHPT’s upcoming schedule click here

The Miami Herald is reporting that Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe have reached an agreement on a new compact, which will be presented to the Seminole’s governing body today for approval by Monday’s deadline.

Legislative leaders joined the final negotiations this week, and what is unclear in the detailsthat the Herald are reporting is what exactly will be in the version that the Seminole Tribe approves. Legislators are hoping for some last-minute additions, and it’s unclear whether they will be added and whether the compact will pass the Legislature if they are not included.

Assuming the Seminoles ratify the deal by Monday, the next step would be for the Legislature to consider it in a special session. It seems likely that a special session will be called for the first week of October, when legislators are in Tallahassee for committee meetings. If the compact passes the Legislature, it will then go to the federal government for final approval and then publication in the Federal Register. After the first compact was passed, the federal step took roughly six weeks, so it’s possible that we’ll have new poker limits in Florida before Thanksgiving. However, there remain concerns in the compact, and especially whether there’s sufficient “exclusivity” for the Tribe to pass federal requirements.

The Isle Casino at Pompano Park has a new high-hand promotion. Starting Aug. 24 until Sept. 25, Monday through Friday, there will be one high hand awarded every two hours. How much gets awarded is based on the limit of the game the winner is playing. Here’s the breakdown:

$5-$10 NLHE =  $400
$2-$5 NLHE = $300
$1-$2 NLHE =   $200
$2-$4 LHE =  $100
Straight $2 Hold’em =  $50
$1-$2 LHE = $25

For rules and more information call (954) 972-2000 x5123.

Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood is hosting an Ante Up Poker Tour event today at 11 a.m. Buy-in is $150.

The Ante Up Poker Tour, which runs through May 31, 2010, is a series of tournaments in Florida poker rooms and charity events. Players who make a final table earn points toward Ante Up’s Player of the Year Award. The champion gets a cover story in Ante Up Magazine, featured interview on the Ante Up PokerCast, a $1,000 custom bracelet from Madison Jewelers and more prizes to be announced.

Josh Hafenbrack of the Sun-Sentinel has written a story that sums up what many of us fear – that the future of the state’s parimutuel industry, not just the future of poker in Florida, hinges on the Seminole Tribe reaching an acceptable compact agreement with Gov. Charlie Crist.

Hafenbrack interviews lobbyists for the industry who admit their in wait-and-see mode, and are ready to go back to the Legislature to get relief next session if the compact deal falls through.

Mardi Gras Gaming is hosting an Ante Up Poker Tour event tonight at 6:30 p.m. Buy-in is $100.

The Ante Up Poker Tour, which runs through May 31, 2010, is a series of tournaments in Florida poker rooms and charity events. Players who make a final table earn points toward Ante Up’s Player of the Year Award. The champion gets a cover story in Ante Up Magazine, featured interview on the Ante Up PokerCast, a $1,000 custom bracelet from Madison Jewelers and more prizes to be announced.

from ANTE UP MAGAZINE

Two rooms are hosting Ante Up Poker Tour events today:

FT. PIERCE JAI-ALAI: 3 p.m., $150

GULFSTREAM PARK: 6:30 p.m., $150

The Ante Up Poker Tour, which runs through May 31, 2010, is a series of tournaments in Florida poker rooms and charity events. Players who make a final table earn points toward Ante Up’s Player of the Year Award. The champion gets a cover story in Ante Up Magazine, featured interview on the Ante Up PokerCast, a $1,000 custom bracelet from Madison Jewelers and more prizes to be announced.