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http://kyw.com/specialreports/local_story_362213005.html
Published: 2005-12-28
 (CBS 3) PHILADELPHIA An 18-An 18-year-old high school dropout does not often have a bright future, but one local teenager, featured in this month's Philadelphia Magazine , has left school behind for a lucrative career in on-line gambling.
“I buy a lot of watches, jewelry, clothes, earrings, cars,” said Jordan Berkowitz.
The Marple Township teenager is no actor or rap star, he is an online poker champ.
“I've won probably a dozen tournaments for $50,000 or more,” he said.
Berkowitz’s story is featured in this month's Philadelphia Magazine.
His black and red bedroom in his mom's house is a shrine to the game. He has an $85,000 BMW and a brand new Range Rover.
“What do I want for Christmas? Well, every day is like Christmas for me,” he said.
Berkowitz won a hand worth $300 in front of CBS 3’s cameras in about 20 seconds.
Earlier this year, he won a championship worth $57,000, but he said it online poker was not always fun.
Berkowitz lost thousands when he started a few years ago.
“I wasn't in school, I was playing poker, no money, I regretted not being in school,” he said.
Debt can drive people to desperation. The attorney representing a class president at Lehigh University accused of robbing a bank blames gambling debt as motivation for the crime.
“I'm pretty sure I have a good idea of what was going through his head. I'm sure, actually I do, because it went through mine,” said Berkowitz
“It was bad, but it was all worth it in the end, but I wouldn't recommend it 'cause not everyone's going to win the World Online Championship in poker,” he said. “Not everyone's going to win a million dollars in a few months, you know.”
For now, Berkowitz is stepping away from poker, taking a vacation, and thinking about taking a different gamble.
“I wouldn't mind investing in the stock market,” he said.
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Survey Finds Online Gaming Increases Over Christmas Due to Players Escaping the In-Laws and Family
Published: 2005-12-29
 LONDON, December 29 /PRNewswire/ -- InterCasino, one of the oldest and Europe's largest online casino, noted a 12% increase in activity over Christmas and Boxing Day, compared to any other Sunday and Monday and also compared to last year, primarily due to players escaping the in-laws and family. The UK online casino market has over 1.5 million visitors per month(x).
Carrying out research amongst its customers InterCasino found that there were many different reasons for this growth. Some of the most popular included:
"I was testing a new computer I was given for Christmas"
"The in-laws were staying - this was the my only respite from the chatter and the only time I got to be by myself"
"Christmas? I don't celebrate that - a takeaway and some online gambling is all I need during this time"
"I was hoping to win some money back to cover the costs of Christmas."
Jane Bentley, InterCasino's UK spokesperson commented: "We are delighted that our online casino provided people with enjoyment and a much needed break from the Christmas festivities. We continually strive to provide the games and service that our customers want and the increased popularity of the casino at this traditionally quiet time of year proves that we have the winning formula."
Notes for Editors:
(x) Source: Neilsen//NetRatings NetView home and work data; September 2005
About InterCasino (www.InterCasino.co.uk)
InterCasino is the world's first and best online casino, and has been voted Top Online Casino by readers of Gambling Online Magazine for the past four consecutive years. Established in 1996, the first real money bet was placed in November of that year and now, eight years later, InterCasino is regularly welcoming hundreds of thousands of players.
Since 1996, InterCasino has hosted more than 300 million games and has paid out over US$3 billion! InterCasino's players have taken home jackpots ranging from US$1,000 to US$300,000 in a single game and the combined payouts to clients is over 97.5% (exceeding land-based casino payouts).
InterCasino offers a huge choice of over 70 of the most popular casino and poker games, video games and slot machines, in a 100% secure environment. Users can play alone or with other players, enter tournaments or play for a big money progressive jackpot. Uniquely, players can play in GBPs, US Dollars or EURs, depending on their preference.
InterPoker provides a real time, fully immersive on-line Poker room where people can play for fun against others, or wager real money with real people, secure in the knowledge that InterPoker considers security its top priority.
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