Triads dominate the Macau high roller scene
We round-up some stories you may have missed this week, including Mike Matusow talking TV poker and more on the $1.2 million cycling prop bet.
Triads runs the Macau games
The Triads have always been rumoured to have a hand in the casino trade in Macau, just like the Mafia have always been speculated to be involved in Vegas. However, a new study from the University of Hong Kong has suggested it is more than just a whisper.
The three-year study, which interviewed Police, casino staff and Triad members, claims that “The VIP-room operations are still dominated by triads to date, but they have readjusted their traditional intrusive role and reinvented harmonious business strategies to suit the market reality.”
In particular the study suggested that the Triads were particularly involved in running the VIP High Roller rooms and private games, as well as operations on the Chinese mainland. It follows the 'Junket' industry whereby VIP Junket Operators act as VIP room promoters who promise a certain amount of revenue to the casino by facilitating big games and offering the players VIP perks, free luxury rooms and extravagant meals.
Though poker was not explicitly mentioned, Macau is currently home to the biggest private poker games in the world, where players like Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan and Sam Trickett have been known to play for millions.
Abernathy prepares for cycling bet
Lance Armstrong has officially told his new student Dan Bilzerian to lose weight ahead of his $1.2 million cycling prop bet.
Another playing doing the same wager is Samantha Abernathy, who looks decidedly more prepared for the challenge:
Mike Matusow on televised poker
Matt Savage has his own poker show debuting next week in the US and one of his first guests is Mike Matusow.
It's good to see The Mouth after a long absence and here he is talking about how televised poker messes up the flow of the game for the players.
Powerball Bad Beat
James and Bob Stocklas both bought Powerball tickets together in Florida recently, and amazingly both of them won.
Though as you can see, the variance favoured one a little more than the other:
