Crown Casino Aussie Millions Update, by Greg Tingle - 20th January 2011

G'day punters, journos, high rollers - casino whales, poker sharks, entertainment news junkies, politicians, insiders, outsiders, legal eagles... one and all. Today its the the Crown Casino Aussie Millions special. Media Man and Gambling911 with another fair dinkum Aussie style report maties...

Aussie Millions Plays Celeb Card...

Celeb poker is still popular, especially down under in Australia, despite the market becoming somewhat flooded (no pun re Queensland floods) in recent years. Crown Casino celeb poker was a red carpet was affair. Enter the Aussie Millions "Celebrity Poker Challenge". Perhaps with a tie in to the world famous Studio 54, Crown's 'Studio 3' at James Packer's prime Australian casino became party time. The showgirls were impossible to miss, there was a press pack with paps - mainly friendly ones, and a DJ to keep people pumped up on cool music. We're pleased to report that last years Main Event champion, PartyGaming's PartyPoker sponsored Tyron Krost was there, and we think it was a sighting of the Germany Shepherd dog loving Tony G. Howard "The Professor" Lederer and Barney Boatman were also in attendance. Insiders saw a few glimpses of Shane 'Warnie' Warne also, but we missed Jeff 'Marrickville Mauler' Fenech. Annette '15' (once upon a time) Obrestad and alleged partner of some description, Scott Montgomery showed their faces. The brother of ex WSOP champion, Tony Hachem was seen getting around on a crutch, apparently carrying an injury (no, not to the groin, and no, Annie Duke didn't do it to him, before you ask). Then, our of the shadows a lovely lady understood to be Ann Peakcock emerged, who soon passed the stage to Shane Warne, who appears to be the main face of Crown Casino poker these days, the other face being Joe Hachem. James Packer still stays in the background most of the time, but is still good for a media quote and photo every now and again. Money raised from the night went to charity, with some connection to The Shane Warne Foundation and Variety, and somehow the cash will get to the victims of the Australian floods, where Queensland is the worst effected, and unfortunately it appears the death count is just a touch less than 20, but we will keep you updated as more news come to hand of the tragedy. In a nice gesture, Blue ribbons were worn by all in recognition of the floods that have hit much of Australia. Before you could say 'Flush' or 'River' things were transformed into a 4 table team showdown. It was a top night and we publicly congratulate James Packer and his world class team and associates for showing the world how its done.

Aussie Millions 'Celebrity Poker Challenge' Media Blurb...

Melbourne, Australia. Tuesday 18 January 2011. Crown will deal another royal flush TOMORROW with the annual Aussie Millions ‘Celebrity Poker Challenge' that will see the likes of tennis ace Andy Roddick and Brooklyn Decker, poker champion Joe Hachem, Shane Warne, Dannii Minogue, Gary Ablett Jnr, Glenn Archer, Grant Smile, Kris Smith, Nathan Brown, Nicholas Bolton, Paris Wells, Paul and Barbara Licuria, Pete Evans, Shane Delia, Stephen Curry and Zoe Badwi join with world poker pros Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen, Howard Lederer, Patrik Antonius and defending Aussie Millions Champion Tyron Krost to put their best poker faces on for charity.

Aussie Millions Updates...

Crown Casino - Event 4: $1,100 No Limit Hold'em Shootout! The famous poker tournament is already 5 days in punters. An Aussie and a South African gent have got their gold rings.

The shootout format is the talk of the poker world, at least as far as Aussie Millions goes. To progress through to the next stage, a player must best all punters at their poker table in a shootout fashion. This is the virgin time a shootout tournament has been run at the Aussie Millions The jet setter pros have been arriving at James Packers' Crown Casino and world class poker room.

Names who appear to be lock ins include Annette '16' Obrestad, James Akenhead, Scott Montgomery and Jonathan Karamalikis.

A 4th Aussie Millions gold ring is up for grabs, and more likely than not, within the next 48 hours we can report on who snatches it.

Aussie Millions Overview...

Thus far Crown Casino's Aussie Millions is living up to its world class status. It got on the way last Thursday at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia and an impressive 762 players showed up for the opening event, a $1,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournament. The series, which includes a grand total of 20 events, goes thru to Sunday, January 30th and features not only the prestigious AUD $10,000 buy-in Main Event, but also the AUD $100,000 High-Roller tournament that continues to snatch and catch the biggest names in poker across the globe, year after year. Aussie professional Martin Drewe was crowned the winner of the first event at the Crown Casino on Sunday, besting Darren Kramer heads-up for a prize of AUD $200,000.The 2nd event - Jared Solomon earned a nice AUD $10,000 via Poker Pro No Limit Hold’em Shootout. Sean Dunwoodie picked up $1,000 in the Pot Limit Omaha Event #3 for AUD $37,000 and Soren Blanner won in the $1,100 No Limit Hold’em Shootout Event #4 for AUD $38,000. The Aussie Millions main event will commence this Sunday, January 23rd. The AUD $10,000 No Limit Hold’em tournament had 746 entrants last year and is set for another huge field in 2011. Defending champ, Tyron Krost snatched AUD $2 million last year after besting a tough final table that sported Peter Jetten, Annette Obrestad and Sorel Mizzi. Other former Main Event champions included Stewart Scott (2009), Alexander Kostritsyn (2008), Gus Hansen (2007), Lee Nelson (2006), and Tony Bloom (2004). The AUD $100,000 Challenge might just be the most anticipated match at Aussie Million. It's billed as the most expensive tournament buy-in in the world. The event was first held back in 2006, getting a modest 10 players. In 2010, the AUD $100,000 Challenge saw 24 players hit the tables, with Dan Shak finally beating Phil Ivey for the AUD $1.2 million winners purse. In 2009, David Steicke won, coming up best from from a 23 deep pack, snatching a cool $1.2 million payday. In other upcoming action there will be an Aussie Millions high-stakes cash game on 24th January featuring an AUD $200,000 minimum buy-in. Players who took part in last year’s broadcast cash game included Tom "durrrr" Dwan, Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies, Chris Ferguson, Andrew Feldman, Gus Hansen and Rafi Amit.

Aussie Millions Events (buy-ins in Australian Dollars)

Event #5: Wednesday, Jan. 19 – $1,100 Eight-Game Mixed (Two-Day Event)
Event #6: Thursday, Jan. 20 – $1,100 Six-Max No Limit Hold ‘em (Two-Day Event)
Event #7: Friday, Jan. 21 – $1,150 No Limit Hold’em with Rebuys (Two-Day Event)
Event #8: Saturday, Jan. 22 – $100,000 Challenge (Two-Day Event)
Event #9: Sunday, Jan. 23 – $10,600 Main Event (Day 1 Flight 1)
Event #9: Monday, Jan. 24 – $10,600 Main Event (Day 1 Flight 2)
Event #9: Tuesday, Jan. 25 – $10,600 Main Event (Day 1 Flight 3)
Event #10: Sunday, Jan. 23 – $550 Teams Event
Event #11: Tuesday, Jan. 25 – $550 No Limit Hold’em
Event #12: Wednesday, Jan. 26 – $5,300 Pot Limit Omaha
Event #13: Wednesday, Jan. 26 – $10,500 Heads-Up Championship
Event #14: Wednesday, Jan. 26 – $550 No Limit Hold’em
Event #15: Thursday, Jan. 27 – $10,500 Eight-Game Mixed Event
Event #16: Thursday, Jan. 27 – $550 No Limit Hold’em
Event #17: Friday, Jan. 28 – $2,200 Six-Max No Limit Hold’em
Event #18: Friday, Jan. 28 – $550 No Limit Hold’em
Event #19: Saturday, Jan. 29 – $1,650 No Limit Hold’em Bounties
Event #20: Sunday, Jan. 30 – $1,100 Turbo No Limit Hold’em

Australia's PartyGaming Poker Pro Tony G Will Get To Bring Dog To Poker Table...

It's a nice move by Tony, PartyGaming, and maybe, Crown Casino powers that be. The well known and largely feared poker shark with have at least one dog (yep, with 4 legs) accompany him to at least one poker game. Tony had blogged that Zasko the dog was having some visa and security issues and would not be able to make it. But now Tony has hooked up with TJ, another German Shepherd breed to take the place of MIA Zasko. "As you well know by now I am not Phil Hellmuth so there will be no flashy entrance but you have to be impressed that the G has the weight to get a dog brought into the casino. He will just be there playing around – tilting my opponents and making the game a bit of fun," he blogged. Tony is looking to get TJ a meal inside the casino and Wagyu beef comes to mid. Tony and TJ, would you like win with that, and do you pref your meat raw, medium or well done? Well do for adding a bit more colour to the already party-time like event. Security is understood to be at an all time high, with many of the world's top casinos reporting theft, fights and fraud matters over the past few years. Trouble makers, best stay at home, and those who love to party and love to win, who can also behave themselves, you are warmly invited. Oh, if you own a fancy sports car, why not temp fate and park it in the casinos carpark and see if anyone dares try snatch it. Who can forget the red Ferrari thief situation and well as the Crown Casino robbers incidents from a few years back, and then there was the Crown kitchen grease trap man. Will lighting strike twice? If its too hot in the kitchen, best get out. If your prepared to get cooking with the best of them get your ass to Crown. In any event, stay tuned to this website portal for more hot action.

Online Casinos, Online Poker and Sports Betting...

Ok readers, we hear you... you also want to know some of the best places to play online (that accept Aussies) if your in or around the Asia Pacific - Australia (including Tassie) and New Zealand, so here it is...

PartyCasino.com

Captain Cooks Casino

Betfair (sports betting only)

PKR.com (poker, slots including Marvel slot games and sports betting)

PartyPoker.com (online poker at one of the world's most respected poker rooms and gaming brands)

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Take the time to research and learn games before placing down money

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Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us in the forum.

If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited

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