Online gambling operators in New South Wales (NSW) are bracing for a new tax regime that is expected to inject an additional AUD100 million (US$78.10 million) into the state funds.

On Thursday, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet announced a proposal seeking to impose an online gambling tax of “either 15 percent of bookmakers’ profits or 2 percent of total turnover,” The Australian reported.  Online gambling operators will have a four-week consultation period to comment on the tax proposal, before government officials make the decision whether to introduce it in the NSW budget.

Racing and sports betting taxes in NSW are currently charged at physical points of sale. Perrottet, however, pointed out that this scheme “does not capture most online wagering,” which has been growing in popularity in recent years.

“Other states and territories have changed the way they tax wagering following the rise of online betting, something we are also considering here in NSW,” Perrottet told the Australian news outlet. “We want a better understanding of how such a change would operate and whether it is the right move for NSW, so we want all interested parties to have a say.”

Today, March 8th, is “International Women’s Day” and according to The Telegraph, this day is “a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements – from the political to the social – while calling for gender equality”. International Women’s Day has been observed since the early 1900s and “is not affiliated with any one group, but brings together governments, women’s organizations, corporations and charities”.

In the spirit of International Women’s Day, I wanted to dedicated this week’s column to outstanding women in crypto and highlight how the crypto industry is working together to attract more women into the space.  We already know the online gambling industry, although male dominated, is a wonderful industry for women to work and with all the excitement surrounding crypto currencies and blockchain technology, I can’t see why the crypto space would be any different.

Daria Arefieva, the CEO and Founder of “CryptoFriends”, an organizer of unique blockchain-themed events, comes to crypto from the financial industry and has never looked back.

“My entry into the Crypto ecosystem was in 2016 when I left my previous marketing role in a bank. One of my close friends was working on an exciting project at the time and this was my ‘appetiser’ moment. From this point onward I was addicted to all things crypto and knew very quickly I would not be returning to the traditional world of financial services”, Arefieva shared with CalvinAyre.com.

A key state senator has introduced a new bill on Wednesday, six weeks after the New York State Senate held a hearing on how the state should best pursue a legal sports betting market.

Sen. John Bonacic, chairman of the Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, filed Senate Bill S7900, which seeks to legalize single gaming wagering in New York in the event that the U.S. Supreme Court chooses to overturn the federal sports betting prohibition.

S7900, the contents of which can be seen here, may be the most serious attempt to legalize sports betting in the state yet—but it’s also designed to negotiate a compromise between professional sports leagues and gaming interests in New York.

Who runs the show?

Anyone who has been around for a while should recognize the name Paul Magriel. He was a regular fixture at poker tournaments during the ‘90s and into the early 2000s; a strong opponent with a hearty nature and a love for the game. The 71-year-old has now left us, having passed away Monday in his sleep. He is survived by his wife and a son.

Magriel began playing poker after already proving his strategic capabilities in other sports. He was a successful competitor in chess, and won the New York State junior championship when he was 19. Following his time with the rooks and pawns, he segued into backgammon and in 1978, became the World Backgammon champion. He spent the next several years writing a piece on backgammon for The New York Times and even wrote a book on the subject, succinctly entitled ‘Backgammon.’ The book, which he wrote with his wife Renée, is considered by most to be the backgammon “Bible,” even today. He subsequently wrote an abridgement on the topic called, “An Introduction to Backgammon: A Step-by-Step Guide.”

Looking for a new challenge, the Las Vegas resident turned to poker in the 1980s, and began a career that would go on to cover more than three decades. He cashed in some of the most difficult tournaments, making a final table appearance in 2003 at the WPT Championship Event and reaching money in eight WSOP events. He also made his way to final tables on both the Professional Poker Tour and the Ultimate Poker Challenge, earning a total of $527,364 in live action over the course of his career.

Magriel became known for his signature “quack quack” when making a bet at the tables. He would shout it out when betting an amount beginning with 22, such as 2200 or 22,000. It was derived from his nickname in backgammon, X-22. In that board game, a pair of 2s is known as “double ducks,” and in poker simply as “ducks.” Poker pro Erik Siedel was the first to announce his death to the poker world, tweeting, “Woke up to the sad news that backgammon legend Paul Magriel (X-22) has passed away. He changed the game with his book, was a generous champ and enthusiastic teacher. He changed my life and the lives of many others.”

Anyone who has been around for a while should recognize the name Paul Magriel. He was a regular fixture at poker tournaments during the ‘90s and into the early 2000s; a strong opponent with a hearty nature and a love for the game. The 71-year-old has now left us, having passed away Monday in his sleep. He is survived by his wife and a son.

Magriel began playing poker after already proving his strategic capabilities in other sports. He was a successful competitor in chess, and won the New York State junior championship when he was 19. Following his time with the rooks and pawns, he segued into backgammon and in 1978, became the World Backgammon champion. He spent the next several years writing a piece on backgammon for The New York Times and even wrote a book on the subject, succinctly entitled ‘Backgammon.’ The book, which he wrote with his wife Renée, is considered by most to be the backgammon “Bible,” even today. He subsequently wrote an abridgement on the topic called, “An Introduction to Backgammon: A Step-by-Step Guide.”

Looking for a new challenge, the Las Vegas resident turned to poker in the 1980s, and began a career that would go on to cover more than three decades. He cashed in some of the most difficult tournaments, making a final table appearance in 2003 at the WPT Championship Event and reaching money in eight WSOP events. He also made his way to final tables on both the Professional Poker Tour and the Ultimate Poker Challenge, earning a total of $527,364 in live action over the course of his career.

Magriel became known for his signature “quack quack” when making a bet at the tables. He would shout it out when betting an amount beginning with 22, such as 2200 or 22,000. It was derived from his nickname in backgammon, X-22. In that board game, a pair of 2s is known as “double ducks,” and in poker simply as “ducks.” Poker pro Erik Siedel was the first to announce his death to the poker world, tweeting, “Woke up to the sad news that backgammon legend Paul Magriel (X-22) has passed away. He changed the game with his book, was a generous champ and enthusiastic teacher. He changed my life and the lives of many others.”

It’s a match made in heaven. Or, at least in Macau.

Two PokerStars pro players took to Twitter on Tuesday to announce their engagement. Randy Lew and Celina Lin, who have been dating since 2016, decided to tie the knot and are happily exploring venues for the big day.

The two met in Macau during the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Macau tournament in 2010, but didn’t start dating until two years ago when they were attending the DreamHack eSports tournament in Sweden. Lin interviewed the up-and-coming poker pro at the APPT Macau event and admitted that she had no idea at the time who he was, or that he had already pocketed more than $1 million in online action. Lin’s revelation undoubtedly stung Lew’s ego a bit, but he obviously got over it.

Lew, who calls California home, didn’t just get down on one knee and pop the big question—Lin had to work for it. She was given a series of clues the day of the proposal that led her to the couple’s favorite beach in Te Ranga, Papamoa. It was there that the final riddle had Lin digging in the sand.  Once she uncovered the box and opened it, she found a note that read, “Will you marry?” along with a ring. An initial response of, “What the hell? No way!” certainly must have sent Lew reeling. However, Lin realized that he was serious and agreed to marry him. Since getting married by Elvis in Las Vegas would be too cliché, the couple is considering a beach wedding, possibly somewhere around Melbourne, Australia.

It’s a match made in heaven. Or, at least in Macau.

Two PokerStars pro players took to Twitter on Tuesday to announce their engagement. Randy Lew and Celina Lin, who have been dating since 2016, decided to tie the knot and are happily exploring venues for the big day.

The two met in Macau during the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Macau tournament in 2010, but didn’t start dating until two years ago when they were attending the DreamHack eSports tournament in Sweden. Lin interviewed the up-and-coming poker pro at the APPT Macau event and admitted that she had no idea at the time who he was, or that he had already pocketed more than $1 million in online action. Lin’s revelation undoubtedly stung Lew’s ego a bit, but he obviously got over it.

Lew, who calls California home, didn’t just get down on one knee and pop the big question—Lin had to work for it. She was given a series of clues the day of the proposal that led her to the couple’s favorite beach in Te Ranga, Papamoa. It was there that the final riddle had Lin digging in the sand.  Once she uncovered the box and opened it, she found a note that read, “Will you marry?” along with a ring. An initial response of, “What the hell? No way!” certainly must have sent Lew reeling. However, Lin realized that he was serious and agreed to marry him. Since getting married by Elvis in Las Vegas would be too cliché, the couple is considering a beach wedding, possibly somewhere around Melbourne, Australia.

Unibet is backing two of their ambassadors (and one of their buddies) to make a €1m in 1-year playing poker and then trading the profits through cryptocurrency, and Queens rule in a new format to celebrate International Woman’s Day.

You have to wonder if Espen Uhlen Jorstad, Rauno Tahvonen and Rauno Kiviloo have been partaking in too much wacky-baccy?

In the same week that the occupants of the Kanepi municipality in south-east Estonia voted overwhelmingly to have the Cannabis plant sign as their new flag and coat of arms, the trio come up with a creative idea.

The Tallinn based trio intend on creating one of the most exciting vlog experiments of the year. Backed by their equally innovative sponsor, Unibet, the three amigos, plan to film a fly on the wall documentary as they try to make €1m in 1-year playing online and live poker, and then trading profits via cryptocurrency routes.

New York’s poker princess, Molly Bloom, fails to win an Oscar, and the state throws a bottle of champagne at the invisible walls of the largest poker room to open in the land of big fruit. 

Four times I thought I was a goner.

I was 18. I snogged with a Cypriot girl in a Cypriot nightclub. I’m not Cypriot. Her brother and his mates were. I received 23 stitches in a knife wound.

Moving into my late 30s, and I was in Tallinn, Estonia for the European Poker Tour (EPT) Main Event. One night I hopped in a cab with two UK poker players heading to a restaurant. As these two prats talked about how many millions they had won playing a game of cards, I was sure I was about to be kidnapped and buggered, as he pulled into a disused industrial estate only to see the guiding light of our restaurant.

The Poker Gods had some fun at the World Poker Tour Main Event in Thunder Valley as David Larson turns financial despair into joy, and an unbelievable fold prevents a world champion from glory.

You’re headbutting the wall, blood sticking to your lashes. Mother puts the palm of her head in the way and pulls you into her breasts to comfort you like she did when you were a baby. You’re 35.

Divorce.

It sucks balls.