2,559 players, all that remains of an initial overall main event entry field of 7,319, started the day, with David Assouline in the chip lead and the money bubble still way off in the distance at 747. Once that point is reached every survivor stands to pick up at least $19,263.

The winner this year will collect a first prize of $8,944,138, and the nine who survive as far as the final table will all be assured of million dollar plus paychecks.

Among the better known faces starting Monday afternoon were Jesper Hougaard, Jim Collopy, Cole South, Jon Van Fleet, Juha Helppi, Evelyn Ng, Barny Boatman, Johnny Chan, Vanessa Selbst, Marco Johnson, Dragan Galic, Patrik Antonius, Archie Karas, and Yevgeniy Timoshenko.

By late evening Monday play had reached level 13 when tournament officials halted the action, with the field more than halved and only 1,240 players left to go through to Day 4. James Carroll has the lead on 803,000, with closest rival Imari Love on 741,000. Back at number 9 in the top ten lurks veteran and former champ Johnny Chan aka The Orient Express, who had an excellent day in which he frequently held the chip lead.

Big names aplenty fell during Day 3, among them Scott Seiver, Phil Laak, Jennifer Harman, Chris Moneymaker, David Williams, Erik Seidel, Kara Scott, Bill Chen, Daniel Negreanu, Vanessa Rousso, last years main event champ Joe Cada, Billy Kopp, Eugene Katchalov, John Hennigan, and Archie Karas.

The Mizrachi brothers, Robert, Eric, Danny, and Michael, made Day 3 a family affair by all lasting through the carnage, and willk be watched with interest going into the fourth day.

New Jersey.com reports that the governors legal representative informed the judge handling the case that: “At this time, given the unprecedented economic crisis and other challenges facing the state, the governor has determined that the states limited resources would be better utilized by focusing on other, more immediate issues facing the citizens of New Jersey.”

Sen. Raymond Lesniak, who filed against the federal government last year, said he was “disappointed” in Christies decision but believes with the support of Senate President Stephen Sweeney he still has “a powerful argument” that the ban unconstitutionally restricts states rights under the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

That amendment gives the states, and the people, “powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states.”

“We expect to win,” Lesniak said.

Lesniak and industry representatives argue sports betting could bring the state millions in annual revenue while helping to revitalise Atlantic City, NJ.com reports. The lawsuit argues the 1992 sports betting ban discriminates against New Jersey and 45 other states where such wagering is illegal. Only Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon met the deadline to sign up for it.

The litigation has some background involving Christies predecessor, former Gov. Jon Corzine, who had sought to become a party to the lawsuit, but lost the gubernatorial election to Christie.

Christie, a Republican, had been granted an extension until this week to make up his mind. The governor has said he generally supports sports betting but did not want to decide on the lawsuit until receiving a report from a special commission analysing the states sports, entertainment and gaming scene. The commissions report is due at the end of the month.

Lesniak, who also advocates regulated and taxed online gambling, said this week that despite the governors decision, the state Senate can also assert the rights of the state, but acknowledged “its not as powerful before the court.”

National sports leagues have vehemently opposed the liberalisation of the New Jersey sports betting scene.

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Greeley police say Chacon was arrested Monday night and booked in the Weld County Jail.

The Las Vegas Sun reported Friday that Chacon faces a felony charge in connection with three bad checks written for $50,000 to Caesars Palace in March. The Sun obtained a copy of a criminal complaint last week.

Greeley police spokesman Sgt. Joe Tymkowych said the Clark County District Attorney’s office was seeking about $165,000 bail on the charge.

Chacon, who attended high school in Greeley, played for the Colorado Rockies, and he was an All-Star in 2003. He also played for the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 31-year-old Chacon is a onetime All-Star whose up-and-down career as a big league pitcher ended abruptly last year following a physical confrontation with the general manager of the Houston Astros.

Gary Thompson, a spokesman for Harrah’s Entertainment, which owns Caesars Palace, told the Sun last week the company does not comment on pending litigation.

Gambling debts are prosecuted as bad checks in Nevada.

Financial highlights for the six months ended June 30th included:

* Gross Income up by 29.8 percent to Euro 66.9 million (2008: Euro 51.6 million)

* Total revenues up by 9.8 percent to Euro 56.7 million (2008: Euro 51.6 million)

* Casino revenues up by 2.2 percent to Euro 37.6 million (2008: Euro 36.8 million)

* Poker revenues up by 23.8 percent to Euro 17.3 million (2008: Euro 14.0 million)

* Adjusted EBITDA up by 33.2 percent to Euro 45.3 million (2008: Euro 34.0 million)

* Adjusted EBITDA margin 80 percent (2008: 66 percent) - largely due to the impact of the share of income in William Hill Online

* Adjusted net profit up by 19.0 percent to Euro 43.0 million (2008: Euro 36.2 million)

* Adjusted net profit margin of 76 percent (2008: 70 percent)

* Strong cash position of Euro 48.7million at 30 June 2009

* Interim dividend up 17.1 percent to 8.9 cents per share (2008:7.6 cents per share)

The company reported a long list of operational highlights that included the core royalty business performing strongly, good progress on integration with the William Hill Online business, and new agreements with Betfair and NetPlayTV. Five new license agreements were signed during the second quarter, including well known operators Casino Grand Madrid in Spain and Gamenet in Italy.

Management reported a strong pipeline of new licensees and exciting business opportunities ahead in 2009 including diverse online gaming operators as well as gaming operators in soon-to-be-regulated jurisdictions

A successful launch of a new dedicated Italian online poker network had gone well, with performance exceeding management’s expectations, and a strategic partnership had been inked with the Serbian State Lottery.

Management used the release of its results to announce an agreement with Olympic Entertainment Group, a leading gaming operator in the Baltic states and Eastern Europe.

New live-gaming facilities have proved increasingly attractive to Playtech licensees in the European market sector, who reported that the facility enhanced the experience of players significantly.

Playtech noted the successful launch of Gladiators - its first branded game, and the successful launch of an improved bingo product.

Exclusive multi-year licensing agreements were signed with Marvel Characters B.V., and MGM Interactive Inc to use motion picture brands in Playtech games.

Under its “Corporate” section, the company reported an initiative for its board of directors to become Code Compliant, and searches were commenced for additional new independent non-executive directors and Investor Relations representatives.

The company has still to appoint a permanent CFO.

Playtech CEO Mor Weizer commented: “The first half of 2009 has seen Playtech’s licensees operating in a challenging macro-economic environment, yet total revenues have increased by 9.8 percent. The underlying performance of Playtech’s core royalty business continues to be resilient. I remain confident that our industry leading products and services, diversified licensee base and strong reputation, will mean that Playtech continues to perform strongly.”

In a conference call on the results, Weizer revealed that France represented the company’s major market focus as it neared online gambling regulation status, and that his company was in discussions with possible French partners of the future. He indicated that Baltic states likely to regulate online gambling soon included Estonia and hinted that any liberalisation of the US market would be of interest to his company.

Playtech’s Q3 results thus far - excluding Will Hill Online - were 1.4 percent up in the traditionally quieter northern summer season and can be expected to gather steam going forward.