In this week’s Calling the Clock Daniel Negreanu believes it’s easier to win money playing poker today than pre-Internet times; PokerStars Spring Championships of Online Poker sets a new world record, and Soulja Boy was bluffing with his $400m World Poker Fund Holdings claims.

Daniel Negreanu believes it’s easier to win money playing poker today, than before the Internet. I happen to agree with him. I am not alone. There are a lot that doesn’t.

The PokerStars figurehead posted a diatribe of tweets explaining his views on the topic. His views were short and sweet. He believes that the old school pros didn’t have the luxury of the Internet to hone their craft. He also pointed to the advancements in technology surrounding the launch of the Internet. Also, the point that there are so many more professionals playing poker today than before the Internet was also a sure sign that it was easier to win today.

Negreanu then went on to say that the young wizards of the Internet era should give the poker pioneers more respect and that most of them would have been losers in those pre-Internet games.

3-barrels of pure joy including several poker players showing their generous sides, the Mizrachi brothers are all over the World Series of Poker, and Poker Central available through PlayStation Vue.

If you don’t ask, you don’t get. One young lady took that opportunity to the max this week when she sent Mike ‘Timex’ McDonald a message asking for a loan of €3,500.

Rather than get pissed over the intrusion, Timex liked the direct approach made by the stalker and decided to ship her the cash.

Usually they have some long-winded sob story but I gotta respect people who are direct & to the point. Transfer sent pic.twitter.com/VzhZP9GT3B

A research team from Lancaster University and the University of Finland studying online poker players establish that the late 15th Century Italian political advisor Niccolo Machiavelli would have bluffed big and got a tad angry when the victim of slow play.

Niccolo Machiavelli was a late 15th Century political consultant born in Florence, who achieved notoriety and angered the Christian church, over his thoughts on what makes a good leader as waxed lyrical in his two most prominent pieces of literature: The Prince and The Discourses.

And it seems he might also have been an excellent poker player.

Dr Jeff Yan of Lancaster University and post-doc researcher Jussi Palomäki came to that conclusion after research based on the behaviour of online poker players led to the publication of the paper: ‘Machiavelli as a poker mate – a naturalistic behavioural study on strategic deception.’

Lee Davy takes a look at the UEFA Champions League Final and explains why he believes Atletico Madrid will get the revenge they are seeking when they meet Real Madrid in the San Siro on Saturday night.

It’s only happened twice in the past 61 years. Two clubs. One City. Battling it out for the right to be crowned champions of Europe.

Madrid will feel like The Walking Dead on Saturday night as 40,000 fans from Atletico and Real leave the city en route to what they hope will be a glorious night in the San Siro Stadium in Milan.

There is one word on my lips as I traipse across the keyboard looking for wisdom.

Quebec’s controversial legislation to block unauthorized online gambling sites has become law, setting up a looming legal fight between the provincial government, their federal counterparts and local internet service providers (ISP).

On May 17, the Quebec legislature approved Bill 74, the omnibus legislation which includes language authorizing the ministry of finance to order ISPs to IP-block online gambling sites other than EspaceJeux, the site run by provincial gambling monopoly Loto-Quebec.

Bill 74’s provisions took effect on May 18, putting Loto-Quebec on the clock for drawing up the list of offending sites. Should ISPs balk at enforcing this blacklist – at the ISPs’ expense – within 30 days of its receipt, the law allows for fines of up to $100k per incident.

The controversial plans were announced over a year ago and immediately drew fire from internet watchdogs and ISPs, who noted that censorship of this type had no precedent in Canada, while pointing out that telecommunications issues fall under federal jurisdiction, not provincial.

French operator Betclic Everest Group has been awarded the first online sports betting license under Portugal’s new regulated online gambling market.

On Wednesday, Betclic launched its Betclic.pt site after finally receiving the go-ahead from local regulator Serviço Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal (SRIJ).

The launch comes more than one year since the country approved its new online gambling framework, underscoring the frustrations experienced by both local bettors as well as operators – many of whom exited the market in good faith and in anticipation of a speedy return – in seeing the new rules take effect.

On the plus side, Betclic’s launch beat the most recent estimates, which suggested the first regulated sites wouldn’t launch until June. Betclic can now rest easy knowing it will have a few weeks in which to work out any kinks in its new site before the Euro 2016 football frenzy kicks off on June 10.

French operator Betclic Everest Group has been awarded the first online sports betting license under Portugal’s new regulated online gambling market.

On Wednesday, Betclic launched its Betclic.pt site after finally receiving the go-ahead from local regulator Serviço Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal (SRIJ).

The launch comes more than one year since the country approved its new online gambling framework, underscoring the frustrations experienced by both local bettors as well as operators – many of whom exited the market in good faith and in anticipation of a speedy return – in seeing the new rules take effect.

On the plus side, Betclic’s launch beat the most recent estimates, which suggested the first regulated sites wouldn’t launch until June. Betclic can now rest easy knowing it will have a few weeks in which to work out any kinks in its new site before the Euro 2016 football frenzy kicks off on June 10.

Nevada casino revenue fell for the second straight month in April, despite yet another stellar performance by the state’s sportsbooks.

According to figures released Thursday by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, statewide casino gaming revenue fell 2.4% to $876.1m in April. Things were slightly better on the Las Vegas Strip, where gaming revenue was off 1.5% to $491.2m.

Sportsbook revenue totaled $13.5m, a 70% leap from the same month last year. The gains restore the impressive hot streak the books had enjoyed in 2016 until March’s dire hold percentage spoiled the party. The books’ overall handle totaled $292m, $40m more than April 2015 and the best April result on record.

April’s sports gains were driven by basketball bettors, from whom the books collected just under $5m, up more than 136% from April 2015, while basketball betting handle set another record with $130.4m. The first month of Major League Baseball action generated $124.2m in handle, up around $30m year-on-year, while the books kept nearly $8m, 19% higher than the same month last year.