Massachusetts Casino Bill Defeated --  A controversial Massachusetts bill promoted by Gov. Deval Patrick calling for the creation of three land-based casinos in Massachusetts was voted down this past week, and will not resurface for at least a year.  The bill included a clause calling for the felony criminalization of online poker.  However, as debate over the bill intensified prior to an important hearing deciding its fate, no one would take credit for the anti-online insertion.  In any event, the bill was narrowly panned by committee before going on to a more decisive loss on the Massachusetts House floor.

Neil Channing Takes Irish Poker Open --  This year’s Irish Poker Open, sponsored by PaddyPower Poker, attracted plenty of big names, including Doyle Brunson.  Unfortunately, none of the biggest names on hand lasted to the final, from the 667 initial starters.  Neil Channing was the runaway winner here, taking a dominating lead to the final table and successfully closing out the win.  Channing took home $1.2 million (€801,400), with Donal Norton in second for $662,000 (€420,000), and Thomas Dunwoodie, probably the most recognizable player in the final, finishing in third for $433,000 (€275,000).

UNC Charity Poker Event Runs Afoul of State Gambling Codes --  A long-running charity poker event at the University of North Carolina was canceled this week after authorities notified the school that the event was likely in violation of state gambling codes.  Authorities were forced to investigate after receiving a couple of complaints from the usual “concerned citizens” who became aware of the event, then worked to have it halted.  The “Hold 'Em For Hunger” event was expected to raise up to $20,000, and its cancellation left the event’s charitable cause, Nourish International, desperately searching for several thousand dollars it had already committed to near-term relief efforts.  Former WSOP champion Greg Raymer, a North Carolina resident, was one of a handful of people who immediately stepped in to fill the gap, autographing each of the forty cases of chips that were to be used in the event, with the hopes that the Raymer-inked cases could raise some alternate funds through a charity auction.  The event’s organizers hope to obtain a special government pardon and return with the event next year.

Arrests Made in Delaware Poker Holdup --  Five arrests have already been made in an unusual poker-game robbery at a Delaware country club, with more perhaps on the way.  The high-stakes card game included many members of Delaware’s horseracing industry, itself a story sideline that may draw the attention of state gambling regulators.  The game, though, was allegedly fingered to be robbed by one of its recently-invited participants, a Delaware State Patrol officer named HyunJim Kim.  Kim helped orchestrate the robbery, wherein the players’ heads were covered by red pillowcases (bought by Kim at a local WalMart), and $10,000 or more plus other items was stolen.  Three Philadelphia brothers and a New Jersey man, all known associates of Kim, have also been arrested and await felony charges.