Another HPT Stop, Hellmuth Apologizes

HPT adds Oklahoma Stop

The Heartland Poker Tour continues to add more stops to its current season. The latest announcement comes to introduce Indigo Sky Casino for an October series of events that will include cash games, qualifying events, and a Main Event. The northeast Oklahoma casino is operated by the Eastern Shawnee Tribe and in its first year of operation.

Players can attend the HPT events from October 10 to October 20 at Indigo Sky Casino. This pushes the current season up to 18 tour stops.

Hellmuth Apologizes for Trusting UB

Through agent Brian Balsbaugh, Phil Hellmuth released a statement regarding his role in UltimateBet as longtime sponsored player and spokesperson. After he heard the recently-released recordings of Russ Hamilton admitting to lying and cheating on a tape submitted by employee Travis Makar, Hellmuth admits that he was lied to and misled about much of the scandal.

“Unfortunately,” he said, “I made a horrible read regarding my relationship with the founders of the now defunct online poker site Ultimate Bet… I allowed them to convince me that they were honest and forthright. I’ve never been more wrong about anything in my life.”

The tape reveals that the UB executives actively tried to keep Hellmuth in the dark about the facts of the cheating and player paybacks, and Hellmuth says he had no idea how misled he really was. “I want to pass along my support to everyone affected negatively through UB and my apologies for my initial support of people who didn’t deserve anyone’s trust in the first place.”