Welcome to the BLUFF Daily Buzz, where we scour the entire internet for all the latest news in and around the world of poker. If it involves chips and cards, or people known to associate with chips and cards, we’re there.

God runs like Andy Beal…

Well, at least when it comes to making money away from the poker table. Beal might have dumped eight figures to Phil Ivey and the Corporation without batting an eye, but he’s been one of the biggest winners in the entire country during the current recession.

According to Forbes Magazine’s latest list of the 400 richest Americans, Beal has made the biggest gain of anyone on the list during the economic downturn, boosting his net worth from $1.5 billion to $4.5 billion. He tripled his net worth by taking on so-called “toxic assets” at prices far below their previous market value. In other words, Andy Beal is the financial equivalent of a blind stealer in poker.

No word yet on whether Beal plans to dump any more of that newly-found wealth on a heads-up table at the Bellagio anytime soon.

(Plano banker is now Dallas area’s richest in Forbes ranking - Dallas Morning News)

Feds seize more bank accounts tied to online gaming

The United States government continues to find ways to screw over poker players looking to move money to and from online rooms. This time, according to documents filed in the U.S. District Court in Maryland, the feds have stepped in and seized another six bank accounts that they say are linked to money laundering and online gambling.

An article in the Baltimore City Paper speculates that the accounts are tied to online poker and gambling firm Bodog. The six accounts at Wachovia Bank are all owned by Forshay Enterprises, Inc., a company which in turn owns TransactSvc.com, whose “network of product and service affiliates provide TransactSvc.com with a worldwide presence encompassing business services, internet consulting services and consumer product lines allowing us to compete in the global e-commerce world.” In plain English, TransactSvc.com was a payment processor like UIGEA scapegoat Neteller.

This is the third such seizure since this summer. Court documents in the case currently remain under seal. Meanwhile, the TransactSvc.com website was down and replaced by a generic placeholder page as of this afternoon.

(Feds in Maryland Seize Six More Bank Accounts Tied to Laundering Gambling Proceeds - Baltimore City Paper)

Venetian sues Hall of Fame World Poker Championship

According to the Las Vegas Sun, the organizers of the Sports Legends Challenge are facing another lawsuit.

This time the complaint comes from the Venetian casino in Las Vegas.  The Sun says that last year Hall of Fame World Poker Championship LLC, organizer of the Sports Legends Challenge, booked hotel rooms, food and beverage service, and conference space at the Venetian for the dates of July 11th, 2009, through July 18th, 2009 but then failed to pay a $25,808 deposit and cancelled its planned event. That cancellation set off a clause in the contract between the two parties that allowed Venetian to charge 18% interest, leading to claim for damages of $173,550.

The Sports Legends Challenge was originally advertised to take place in the Bahamas last month rather than this summer at the Venetian in Las Vegas. Then that date and location were scrapped, with a new date and location still to be determined. Its organizers are currently still involved in a lawsuit with Sludikoff Gaming Tournaments Inc. of Las Vegas regarding a previous tournament venture.

(Venetian: Company owes $173,550 after poker tourney canceled - Las Vegas Sun)

Bob Supak dead at 67

Bob Stupak, the mastermind behind the Stratosphere and a WSOP bracelet winner, died this past weekend at the age of 67 after a long battle with leukemia.

Even in a town full of unique personalities, Stupak stood out from the crowd. A resident of Las Vegas since 1971, he fought constant battles with Nevada gaming regulators over his promotions, built the tallest structure in Las Vegas (the Stratosphere), made headline-generating sports bets, survived a near-fatal motorcycle wreck that had left him in a coma for five weeks, and ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of the state of Nevada.

Among Stupak’s other accomplishments was a single World Series of Poker bracelet, won in the $5,000 Deuce-to-Seven Draw event at the 1989 WSOP. Stupak finished ahead of Billy Baxter, making him one of the only people ever to best Baxter in heads-up play in the event that won him five of his seven bracelets. Stupak made four other WSOP final tables in his poker career and also cashed in a string of WPT tournaments near the end of his life.

“Las Vegas has seen many visionary people come and go throughout the years, but few personified the town like Bob did,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said upon Stupak’s passing. “He was a genuine Las Vegas character.”

By his request, Stupak was cremated and no funeral will be held.

(Bob Stupak, builder of Stratosphere and Vegas World, dies at 67 - Las Vegas Sun)

RIP PokerPages

And finally, one of the oldest poker portals on the internet is calling it quits. An announcement on PokerPages today said that the website and all its services will cease business operations on October 31st of this year.

PokerPages provided tournament coverage online long before it was standard in the poker industry. It also featured the writing of a number of talented scribes, including the legendary Andy Glazer.

“We thank you for the many great years you allowed us to provide you with the best poker content on the Internet and wish you all the best in your future poker endeavors,” the announcement from PokerPages management said. “It has been a pleasure and a privilege serving you over the years!”

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