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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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.

Orange Park Kennel Club hosts an Ante Up Poker Tour event tonight at 7 p.m. Buy-in is $100.

Ante Up publisher Scott Long will be playing, with a 100-point bounty on his head.

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.

Three players from Florida are among the 64 total remaining in this year’s World Series of Poker Main Event. Day 7 play begins at 3 p.m. ET today.

Kevin Schaffel of Coral Springs continues to lead the Floridian contingent with 3,685,000 in chips (17th place).

Ryan Fair of Ft. Lauderdale is in 31st place with 2,940,000 in chips and James Calderaro of Venice is 47th with1,810,000 in chips.

Six Floridians ended their Main Event run on Monday with money in their pockets. Jose Rosenkrantz of Miami got his second cash of this year’s Series.       [ Read the full post... ]

Nine players from Florida remain in this year’s World Series of Poker Main Event. Day 6 play begins at 3 p.m. ET today.

Kevin Schaffel of Coral Springs continues to lead the Floridian contingent with 2,141,000 in chips (16th place).

Remaining Floridians, with rank, hometown and chip count:   [ Read the full post... ]