Republican Party Changing Stance On Internet Gambling

The Republican party has been strongly against internet gambling for almost a decade, and it looked like that would continue this year when they introduced their party platform for the 2008 election year. But, in a surprising twist it appears that their opposition to internet gambling will not be included in this year’s party platform.

Could the party that supposedly stands for individual freedom be finally getting back to its roots?

The Poker Players Alliance executive director, John Pappas, said: “This is a small victory in our determined effort to educate both sides of the aisle that there is a true constituency in America that values its Internet freedoms.”

But, there is still the possibility that the ani-internet gambling language might make it back onto the Republican party platform before the Republican National Convention. If the Christian right raises a lot of stink about the Repblican party going soft on internet gambling then look for the language to be added back in. They have a lot more influence than the Poker Players Alliance, and the Republicans are already struggling to satisfy the Evangelicals who are not yet fully onboard with McCain who is seen as more liberal on social issues.

Let your voice be heard on internet poker and gambling by posting on gopplatform2008.com

Chan Poker Shutting Down

Chan Poker, the online poker site of Johnny Chan, announced that they will be ceasing operations beginning August 21st, 2008. They urge any players with cash balances in their account to request a withdrawal immediately. More information on the site closure can be found on Chanpoker.com.

Boss Media vs Poker Trillion

Poker Trillion and Boss Media continue to battle each other in the courts and the press. Poker Trillion issued a press release stating they had won a legal judgment requiring Boss Media to shut down its servers in September, and indicated that player funds might be at risk.

Boss Media responded with their own press release assuring players that their funds are secure and cannot be seized by any courts. Read the full response by Boss Media below:

Boss Media assures player funds and no disruption in services

In relation to the statements made by Poker Trillion August 18 (“Trillion Limited -v- Boss Media Malta Limited and Boss Media AB”), Boss Media has issued the following statement.

Poker Trillion’s recent comments are a reckless attempt to support a legal action that is without merit and initiated as retribution for their dismissal from the Boss Media network. To be clear, player funds are not affected by the current proceedings. All players’ funds are held separately under the control of the Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority and cannot be seized by any court.

Poker Trillion is a former customer of Boss Media who was terminated because of rake back violations. They have since then repeatedly tried to disrupt the Boss Media business through the dissemination of groundless rumors. In April 2008 Poker Trillion alleged in a press release a claim that among other things, Boss Media player funds were frozen. The allegations were false but typical of the type of tactics employed by Poker Trillion.

While there has been no hearing on the merits of the Poker Trillion suit, there have been preliminary hearings on the matter. Boss Media has assured that adequate security is provided in Malta in the event of an award of damages against it which we believe to be unlikely.

Boss Media is currently exploring various legal options regarding our Maltese assets and can assure that Boss Media has the requisite assets in place to ensure that our business will continue to operate with the highest standards. In the extremely unlikely event that any Malta operations would be affected, Boss Media have high-performance back-up systems in place to ensure continued service to all our customers and their players.

Player Wins Two FTOPS In Same Day

On Tuesday night Yuvee04 won two consecutive Full Tilt Online Poker Series tournaments. This was the first time any player has accomplished the feat. He beat 655 entants in the $535 buy-in H.O.R.S.E tournament, and 2,472 players in the $216 turbo No-Limit Holdem tournament.

Poker Declared A Sport In Russia

It appears the Russian are way ahead of the U.S. when it come to understanding poker. Poker has been officially declared a sport in Russia, and is booming in popularity. While the government in the U.S. attempts to drive poker underground, or at least to Las Vegas and gambling halls, the Russians have embraced poker and the game is offered at poker clubs throughout the country.

We may have beat them to the moon, but the Russians are way ahead of us on this issue. Maybe if poker becomes part of the Olympics someday the U.S. will finally wake up to the fact that poker is a sport and should be treated like one.

BetFair $100,000 Promo Won On First Day

BetFair Poker had a great idea for a long-term poker promotion, however it did not turn out to be very long-term; it was won on the first day.

The poker promotion awarded $100,000 to the first player that won the $20k guaranteed and the $5k or $6k guaranteed in the same day. Betfair Poker regular redmist1 accomplished the feat and took home the $100,000 promotion. Congrats!

Congress Attempts To Clarify UIGEA

Ever since the UIGEA was passed there has been confusion all over the online poker/gambling industry ranging from the poker rooms, to the payment processors, to the banks, and yes even the geniuses that come up with these ridiculous pieces of legislation.

One of the main concerns seems to be defining what is considered “unlawful internet gambling’ in the United States. Is poker considered unlawful internet gambling, even though many that play poker consider it a game of skill? Online casinos offering slots, blackjack, and other games of chance are definitely gambling, but are they unlawful?

Well, the very smart people on capitol have attempted to clarify exactly what is considered unlawful internet gambling, and in the process have actually made things more confusing and ridiculous than they were before. A new bill introduced by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) is called the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Clarification and Implementation Act of 2008 (H.R. 6663) tries to offer further insight on what exactly the 2006 UIGEA is supposed to accomplish.

According to H.R. 6663, “No provision of this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall be construed as clarifying or implying that Internet bets or wagers, other than sports bets or wagers, which were accepted subsequent to October 13, 2006, are in violation of Federal law.”

“Federal Internet gambling prosecutions have involved sports betting, creating a lack of authoritative court decisions on the applicability of other federal criminal statutes to Internet poker and casino-style gambling.”

Shortly after the introduction of this bill the Poker Player’s Alliance came out with the following statement: “We are, however, puzzled by the introduction of H.R. 6663 and by the purpose of this legislation. While we agree with several findings in the bill that correctly identify the illegality of sports wagering, the PPA remains concerned with the implication H.R. 6663 asserts in that the [UIGEA] has made Internet poker an unlawful activity that needs special protection from prosecution.

“Previous federal case law (re: Mastercard 2002) made it clear that existing federal criminal law (WIRE Act of 1961) applies only to sports wagering, and not to internet poker. Further, the UIGEA itself states, ‘No provision of this law shall be construed as altering, limiting or extending any Federal or State law.’ Thus, H.R. 6663 only confuses a clear judicial standing on this matter.”

The PPA further comments on the bill by stating that it “does nothing to clarify the UIGEA” and “contradicts its own rule of construction by implying in its findings that the sites on which millions of Americans currently play are offering poker services in defiance of federal law.”

Confused yet? Or did this new bill make everything crystal clear for you?

The poker world may be crazy, but politics mixed in just makes everything insane.