Well, this is just silly. Seriously, if you were going to plan a vacation and had the means, wouldn’t you hop from Sydney to Queenstown and then back over to Melbourne? It’s pretty much the perfect vacation. Now, try this on for size: what if you could play a world class poker tour main event at every stop?

Well, that’s what the Australia New Zealand Poker Tour has planned in its upcoming fourth season.

Beginning in just a few weeks, the ANZPT is setting back out for another season of jumping back and forth from Australia to New Zealand, and the people behind the tour already have some big stops planned.

Here’s what the tour looks like so far:

ANZPT Sydney (The Star Casino) $2,200 main event: March 22-25
ANZPT Queenstown Snowfest (SKYCITY Queenstown) NZD $3,000 main event: July 24-29
ANZPT Melbourne Grand Final (Crown Melbourne) $5,000 main event: August 31-September 3

That photo comes from Queenstown (a dream destination for yours truly). If you’re looking for a ski vacation in the middle of the northern hemisphere’s summer, that’s one that can’t be beat.

For now, however, think on Sydney and the Star Casino. We’re around 40 days out from the $2,200 main event in the third week of march.

For full details on the event and the rest of the upcoming tour, visit ANZPT

By Brad Willis
Sponsored by PokerStars.net 

Mingara will be hosting the inaugural Central Coast Poker Championships this weekend 14 and 15 January 2012. Players on the Coast, from several local leagues, will try to take the various championship events on offer against players fromSydneyandAustraliawide. With some attractive estimated prize pools, theCentralCoastwill be the perfect hit-up prior to the Aussie Millions Main Event inMelbourne.

With six major tournaments, over the two days, including the $10,000 Guaranteed APW Opening Event, theCentralCoastis the place to be in January. On Saturday, in addition to the Main Event, there will be an Unlimited Rebuy and Bounty game. Sunday is the Final table of the APW Main Event as well as a Ladies Event, a Teams Event and 6 Handed Tournament.

Poker Superstar Brendon Rubie is the first big name to confirm he will be attending the major event, at Mingara, on Saturday January 14^th and 15^th. Rubie hails from Glenning Valley and has earned over $2.1 million in his professional career. “The young-gun is so keen to support his hometown event that he will fly up during the Melbourne Aussie Millions, which is one of the largest poker tournaments in the world”, said Texas Holdem Poker Australia Director Rick Williams, “The first live tournament Brendon ever won was at our venue ‘Diggers at the Entrance’, which even makes his appearance even more special for our league and players locally,” said Williams. Brendon will be playing in the APW Opening Event, on Saturday. You can follow Brendon’s every move at www.brendooor.com .

With limited Seats available, pre-register at Mingara in person, by contacting the Welcome Desk on 4349 7799 or at any Texas Holdem Poker Australia weekly event. Pre-registering gets you into the draw where you have the chance to win a 84” Pro Series Suited Black Poker Table, courtesy of pokershop.com.au, which retails for $499.99

Displaying skills that are both versatile and adaptable, Australian Poker Weekly columnist Danielle Adams-Benham has once again ventured into the international music scene. Earlier this year APW reported that Adams-Benham had co-written I’m All In – with country rock artist Jimmie Lee – a song which is now a perennial favourite on the iPods of many poker players. The single sold well throughout the international poker scene.

Known as the Jersey Outlaw, Lee has just launched another extra special poker song, co-written by our own Hot Aussie Chick. Hit the River Running is set to make its mark into the entertainment industry as part of Lee’s soon to be released album Kid Vegas. Danielle has put much of her own persona into the songwriting process, once again in partnership with Jimmie Lee.

The Jersey Outlaw and Danielle were hoping to generate more of the same excitement within the poker community when Hit the River Running was released on iTunes and CD Baby. The pair’s hopes have become reality! The song is merely one week old and has already been publicised globally, and with its sales beginning to skyrocket.

Hit the River Running and I’m All In both appear on Jimmie Lee’s forthcoming album Kid Vegas due for release soon. The album features both these hit songs together with an array of others – also co-written by our very own Hot Topics columnist – which have yet to be released as singles.

Hit the River Running features a driving rock beat complemented by Jimmie’s killer vocals. It perfectly captures the emotions poker players experience as they sweat out the river card turnover that could seal their fate! Jimmie Lee has already received widespread critical acclaim for I’m All In and now Hit the River Running is also being aired on poker and mainstream stations all over the globe.

Lee is set to make a series of select guest appearances at celebrity poker tournaments throughout the year, playing songs from his new Kid Vegas album. These live shows feature live performances from Jimmie and The Bandito Girls, and are always a big hit with the poker players.

Australians can be proud of Danielle Adams-Benham’s songwriting contribution in this new poker and casino gaming album. Listen to Hit the River Running at www.jimmieleesongs.com or download a copy from iTunes or CD Baby. Congratulations to Danielle and Jimmie on this wonderful collaborative songwriting effort.

By John Golledge

It is with regret that we report on the outcome of the sentencing of David Saab and Robert Reemus.

Saab and Reemus are well known by many in the Australian Poker Community, sadly now also known by main stream media after the conclusion of their sentencing for drug offenses on Monday.

The pair and a third person Darren Hughes pleaded guilty to the importation of a large quantity of cocaine with an estimated street value of between $6.5 million and $8.5 million in January this year from Vancouver to Australia. The cocaine was concealed in agriculture machinery parts and replaced by customs before entering their hands for collection.

Saab, the winner of 2007 Australian Heads-up Championship and APT Philippines who allegedly was to profit $100,000.00 has been sentenced to 14 years prison with no chance of an early release for 10 years.

Reemus and Hughes who were set to profit around $10,000.00 each have been sentenced to 8 years of prison with a minimum of 5 years of their life behind bars.

As the poker community is aware, Australian Poker Weekly is, and has always been about positive news about our game, making avoidance of publishing anything negative. APW has had a large number of inquiries about the outcome of the sentencing, so it was decided to post this update.

By Danielle Adams-Benham