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banoster

Norbert Bárdos — Editor-in-Chief Norbert has written about poker as banoster since 2009. He came to the game from sports journalism, by way of the television broadcasts that followed the poker boom — which meant he arrived already knowing how to file copy, and learned the poker afterwards. He joined PokerAkademia first as a player and then as an editor, and wrote most of the news archive that turned it into the defining community site of Hungarian poker. In parallel he built a playing career: an NL100 six-max cash regular, several years spent as a backed player, and three years in Team Hero's Hungarian cash game programme, coached by high-stakes regulars including Katz0r and neomorf. He is still an active, winning player at those stakes. What he brings to RakeRace beyond the editing is fifteen years inside the poker industry itself, including the affiliate side of it. He knows how rakeback deals get negotiated, why one room's offer wins on paper and loses at the table, and which parts of this business readers are usually not told about. That is the beat he covers personally: poker news, the industry, and how the money actually moves. He has followed casino games since 2025, and plays blackjack away from the poker tables. The hands-on casino reviewing on this site is done by Patr1ckz, who has six years of play behind it; Norbert's role there is editorial. What he covers Poker news and industry analysis Poker room reviews and rakeback deals How the affiliate business works — including ours NLHE cash game strategy at micro to mid stakes Experience Playing since 2009 Stakes and format NL100, six-max No-Limit Hold'em cash Coaching Three years in the Team Hero Hungarian cash game programme Editorial background Sports journalist, then editor at PokerAkademia Casino games Following since 2025 Role at RakeRace Editor-in-Chief Elsewhere His  A  The  — most of it his Disclosure Norbert spent three years in the Team Hero cash game programme, and RakeRace has a commercial relationship with Team Hero. He does not write our Team Hero coverage, and any article that mentions them carries this disclosure. The rest of the team Norbert edits the work of the writers on our team page — Zenderman on cash game strategy and poker news, Daniboy on solver work and study method, and Patr1ckz on tournaments and casino reviews.

Articles by banoster

Dony Wins $102K Onyx SHRS PLO Invitational, Guerra and Bujtas Shine

‘Dony’ won the Onyx SHRS $102K PLO Invitational after a three-way deal. Bujtas finished 5th for $565K, Guerra took 3rd for $1.28M.

Ossi “Monarch” Ketola: From Teen Entrepreneur to High-Stakes Poker Sensation

Ossi Ketola’s full story: childhood, business scandals and his high-stakes poker clash against Daniel Cates at the Onyx Club.

Poker Player Robbed and Assaulted at Houston Hotel After Big Win

A poker player was robbed and assaulted at a Houston hotel after a big win. Police released surveillance footage and a $5,000 reward is offered.

Daniel "Jungleman" Cates Dominates Onyx Super High Roller Series With $15 Million Profit

Daniel “Jungleman” Cates wins three straight heads-up matches at the Onyx Super High Roller Series, earning $15 million in one of poker’s biggest showdowns.

Just Two Days Until WSOP Online 2025 Kicks Off on GGPoker

The WSOP Online 2025 kicks off August 17 on GGPoker. Discover new structure details, satellite options, and $30K Super Pass rewards in our latest update.

€1,500,000 GTD The Festival Online – Play Across the iPoker Network with RedStar Poker & Champion Poker

Play The Festival Online on RedStar Poker & Champion Poker with €1.5M GTD and Malta 2025 packages. Missions, satellites & freerolls await.

Fraud Cases, YouTube Restrictions, and New Allegations Make Headlines in Poker

WSOPC champ faces fraud plea, YouTube’s 18+ rule hits poker creators, and new allegations emerge against attorney Tom Goldstein.

$909K Hustler Cooler, Three-Card Controversy & Mizrachi Leads GG Million$

A $909K pot at Hustler Casino Live, a three-card mishap at Seminole Hard Rock, and Michael Mizrachi’s chip lead in the $10,400 GG Million$ headline this week’s poker news.

WSOP Online 2025 on GGPoker – Key Dates, Events & $63M Guarantees

GGPoker’s WSOP Online 2025 runs Aug 17–Sep 30 with 33 bracelet events, $63M in guarantees, and the $25M Main Event. Discover the main dates and highlights.

PokerStars Brings Back Boot Camp Ahead of WCOOP 2025

PokerStars brings back Boot Camp ahead of WCOOP 2025, offering $9M GTD, free BBZ coaching, and multiple ways to qualify for the main series.

NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Arrested for Allegedly Hosting Illegal Poker Games: what we know so far

NBA star Gilbert Arenas accused of running illegal poker games in his mansion. Here’s what we know ahead of the September 2025 trial.

The Immortals of Poker: Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, the master of resilience

Explore Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi’s path from teen prodigy through financial setbacks to four Poker Players Championship titles and the 2025 WSOP Main Event crown.

Thailand Recognizes Poker as a Sport, Opening the Door to WPT Prime Thailand

Thailand recognises poker as a sport; WPT Prime Thailand festival runs Jul 30–Aug 5 with a 12 m baht guaranteed main event.

Betfair’s AU$871,660 Spam Fine Puts Gambling Marketers on Notice

Betfair fined AU$871k for sending spam to VIPs. ACMA rules highlight strict compliance standards for gambling marketing.

Willie Nelson’s Wild Card: Country Legend Reveals Drug‑Fueled, High‑Stakes Poker Sessions

Country legend Willie Nelson candidly reflects on drug‑fueled, high‑stakes poker sessions, celebrity home games and his long‑standing advocacy for marijuana.

BetRivers Multi‑State Summer Series: 72‑event debut connects four state player pools

BetRivers’ first Multi‑State Summer Series runs Aug 1‑10 with 72 tournaments across Silver and Gold tiers, $200K+ guaranteed and a $200 Main Event.

PokerStars WCOOP Boot Camp: a $9M warm‑up for the 2025 World Championship of Online Poker

PokerStars’ WCOOP Boot Camp (Aug 3–18) offers 69 events, buy‑ins from $2.20 to $5 200, two Main Events ($600K and $400K GTD), free BBZ coaching and $60K in leaderboard prizes.

CoinPoker World Cup launches a football‑style heads‑up showdown

CoinPoker World Cup: 16 ambassadors battle heads‑up in a football‑style knockout from July 27–Aug 10. Stakes rise each round; the champion wins $4k.

National Heads-Up Poker Championship 2025: The Return of a Legendary Televised Heads-Up Tournament

More than a decade after its last edition, the National Heads-Up Poker Championship returns. The 2025 tournament features new faces but the same high stakes.

Poker Bingo Madness on the iPoker Network: Win Up to €5,000 Daily

New iPoker Promotion: Complete Your Virtual Bingo Card to Win Up to €5,000 a Day at Cash Tables, Tournaments, or Twister Games!

PokerArena Launches: GTO Wizard Introduces a HUSNG App Focused on Heads-Up Training

GTO Wizard’s new PokerArena app offers fast-paced, shallow-stack heads-up Sit & Go games with GTO-based feedback — playable in-browser or on iOS.

Summer 2025 Poker Promotions: €3M, $10M, and $30K in Series Prizes Across Major Rooms

Summer 2025 features €3M GTD at RedStar, $10M Omaha events at GGPoker, and $30K freerolls at KKPoker — major online series for every poker bankroll.

Bad Beat Jackpot on the Chico Poker Network: Rules, Limits & Payout Structure

The Chico Poker Network's Bad Beat Jackpot rewards Hold'em and PLO players with pooled payouts for qualifying hands, based on stake-specific rules.

Mike Matusow Slams High Roller Poker Scene as 'Fake': Real Profits or Financial Illusion?

Mike Matusow calls high roller poker earnings a 'mirage' and questions financial transparency. Are the biggest poker wins really what they seem?

Garrett Adelstein’s Big Comeback – Back at the No Gamble, No Future Table

Garrett Adelstein returns to televised high-stakes poker in No Gamble, No Future’s Season 7 premiere with big pots and a sharp reminder of his old form.

How Taxes Shaped the Real Winners of the 2025 WSOP Main Event

Discover who really won the 2025 WSOP Main Event — after taxes. Some finalists kept it all, while others lost nearly half to the IRS and local taxes.

WSOP 2025: Michael Mizrachi Crowned World Champion

Michael Mizrachi secured the 2025 WSOP Main Event title in just 79 hands, cementing his legacy among the legends of poker.

WSOP 2025 Main Event: Betting Markets Move Heavily Toward Mizrachi Ahead of Final Push

Polymarket odds soar for Mizrachi at 85% as the WSOP Main Event final table nears its conclusion with four players left.

DDoS Attack Disrupts PokerGO’s WSOP Main Event Coverage

PokerGO faced DDoS attacks during the WSOP Main Event final table, forcing them to stream the full broadcast free on YouTube after major outages.

WSOP 2025: Mizrachi with Huge Lead as Four Players Remain

Michael Mizrachi enters Day 2 of the 2025 WSOP Main Event final table with a massive chip lead, as just four players remain in contention for the $10 million top prize.
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