Sep 24

Online poker operators newest threat is now Kentucky. The state is trying to gain control of popular online poker and online casino domains including those of FullTilt Poker and PokerStars. If successful they would block access to all Kentuckians and perhaps all players from the United States.

So, just how big of a threat is online poker to the people living in Kentucky?  The Governor of Kentucky had the following to say: “The owners and operators of these illegal sites prey on Kentucky citizens, including our youth, and deprive the Commonwealth of millions of dollars in revenue. It’s an underworld wrought with scams and schemes.” He described them as “leeches on our communities”.

Pretty harsh words for a state best known for horse racing and the gambling that goes along with it.

Sep 16

The Italians are flocking to legal, licensed online poker sites in their country. It is estimated by Gioco Digitale (Italian online poker operator) that over 500,000 Italians will be playing at the legal online poker site within the next year. A poll also showed that over 70% of the players in the new licensed poker sites were already playing with overseas online poker websites.

The U.S. is way behind when it comes to the regulation of online poker and gambling. Many U.S. players continue to participate at online poker sites like Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, and others while the UIGEA is being sorted out. Within the last few days there was another bill in the House Financial Services Committee introduced by Barney Frank that would limit the UIGEA to online sports betting. The U.S. needs licensed and regulated online poker and gambling now. We are supposed to be the land of the free, but for now the Europeans are leading the way.

Sep 7

Two of the top online gambling and poker operators based in Austria, bwin and Casinos Austria, have been all over the local media for corporate espionage. Online poker operators are in cut-throat competition to grow and increase their liquidity in an industry were being small can mean death to a company. It is no surprise to see these companies doing whatever it takes to remain competitive. It is quite a story and you can read more about it on CasinoMoz