WhatUm? Poker News

Many online poker rooms are struggling to maintain their traffic because of increased competition and uncertain regulation in the U.S. and other countries. PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker have been very aggressive in marketing to U.S. players since the UIGEA, and as a result have become the dominant players. Others like Party Poker and the iPoker network have struggled to compete for the European market. Only a few short years ago Party Poker was the top online poker room, now it is number four.

The other smaller networks have had trouble gaining new players and licensees. Poker networks are all about liquidity, so it is very difficult for the small licensees to survive in the current environment. There is hope in the form of new regulation in the U.S. that could clear up the current post-UIGEA mess, and increase the number of U.S. citizens playing poker.

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.

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.

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

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, 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.

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.

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 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!

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.