LAPT Reschudeled After Mexican Authorities Stop Play
The PokerStars Latin America Poker Tour was halted by Mexican gaming officials in the middle of the tournament. There were 89 players remaining when authorities abruptly shutdown the tourney and everyone was forced to leave.
Poker Stars issued the following statement regarding the event:
The Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT) confirms that it is canceling the poker tournament in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, due to an indefinite suspension served on one of its local partners.
The LAPT states it has cooperated fully and in good faith with the requirements outlined by the Mexican government. The LAPT respects and abides by local regulations in each market.
LAPT’s partner in Mexico obtained a formal ruling from the Mexican Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB) allowing the event to take place. As the LAPT compiled with every rule stipulated by the Code of the Mexican Federal Law of Games and Raffles, the reasons for suspension are being reviewed by lawyers of all parties.
Pokerstars announced they will allow the 89 remaining players to finish the tournament online, and then the final 9 will be sent to Chile to finish the tournament live. An additional $50,000 in prize money will be awarded to the final table.
Kentucky Launches Attack Against Online 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.
Legal Online Poker In Italy Huge Success
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.
Austrian Poker Spygate
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
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
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.
BoDog Denies That Feds Seized Funds
It was reported by Forbes.com that the Feds seized $24 million from accounts that belonged to BoDog. However, BoDog denies the news and came out with the following statement written by Alwyn Morris, the CEO of Morris Mohawk Gaming Group:
An article was recently released on Forbes.com that creates several misimpression’s that the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group feels compelled to clarify for our customers. As most of our customers already know, all operators outsource payment processing functions to third parties and these payment processors are subject to regulatory constraints wherever they operate, and, occasionally in the US, are subject to legal action because of the uncertain legal environment there. However, the seizure of funds from these US payment processors was mischaracterized in this article, which refers to two specific legal cases against US processors. Rightly or wrongly, the article does not make a clear distinction between these cases, which, as a result, paints a misleading picture.
The facts are these: the first of these cases – relating to a seizure of funds from a processor known as JBL Services – happened some time ago and has absolutely nothing to do with the current payment processing challenges being experienced in the US. The constraints being experienced by payment processors in the US are universal in that region and not specific to any particular processor or site. Also, note that not one single player failed to get paid when this processor was disrupted.
The second case refers to a payment processor known as Zippayments.com and seizure of funds from this processor’s bank accounts in Nevada. The article falsely implies – but notably does not go so far as to state – that $9.9M seized from Zippayment’s Nevada bank accounts were funds on account for “Bodog”. This is simply false.
Processing partners with whom the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group does business are sophisticated organizations that are perfectly clear as to the actual facts of these cases and their contexts. They are unfazed by such media hype and Morris Mohawk wishes to ensure that its customers are similarly informed. Customer deposits are safe and every player has and will always be paid.
Ultimate Bet And Absolute Poker Scandal
The depth of the cheating scandal at Ultimate Bet Poker continues to grow. The parent company, Tokwiro Enterprises, is left to clean up the mess left by the fraud. Apparently they are combining the two poker rooms and online casino under one site to be called CEREUS. I guess they think two negatives always equal a positive.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission recently Issued the following statement:
KAHNAWAKE GAMING COMMISSION APPOINTS INDEPENDENT MONITORING-INVESTIGATION TEAM
Effective immediately, the Kahnawa:ke Gaming Commission (KGC) has appointed an independent monitor to investigate the KGC Licensee, Tokwiro Ent., parent company of both Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet, led by former New Jersey State Gaming Regulator, Frank Catania.
Mr. Catania is a former Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), the regulatory and enforcement agency responsible for maintaining integrity and trust in all Atlantic City gaming operations. As division director, he was a driving force in updating the New Jersey Casino Control Act by fine tuning the balance between regulatory necessity and economic stewardship. After leaving the DGE, he served as the vice president in charge of compliance for Players International, Inc. where he was instrumental in resolving compliance issues the company had encountered in the State of Louisiana, prior to his appointment. He is a principal in Catania Gaming Consultants and the Law Offices of Catania & Associates LLC
The Independent Monitoring Team will be given the task of completing a full forensic audit/investigation of the online gaming business of both licensed entities. The main purpose of the investigation is to ensure that the games offered to the public are fair and honest and that all player protections as required by the Kahnawa:ke Gaming Regulations are being complied with, without exception. The monitoring team will also be charged with verification that all those involved in the fraudulent activities in any manner, no matter how slight, have been or are removed from the licensee company and verify that Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker have submitted to full compliance with the directives issued by the KGC and recommended by the independent monitor.
Furthermore, Mr. Catania’s team will be empowered by the KGC to have full access to interview all employees, past or present, review all records, contact and interview all sub contractors and individuals whom the monitoring team believes necessary. Any failure by the licensees could result in immediate revocation of their license privileges with the KGC. In the event that any criminal activity is found to have occurred, such activity will be reported to the appropriate authorities for possible prosecution.
KGC License Holder, Tokwiro Enterprises has agreed to comply fully and submit to this independent monitor.
KGC Chairman, Dean Montour adds, “While the ongoing investigative process has dominated the attention of the KGC in recent months, we are fully confident in the ability of the Independent Monitoring Team to deliver results and assist the Commission in bringing this matter to a decisive conclusion.”
As per the terms of the monitoring agreement, and at the conclusion of the process, the KGC will review the report of the monitoring team and enter the results into their final considerations at the time of ruling in the Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker investigations.
Murray Marshall
Senior Advisor
Kahnawa:ke Gaming Commission
Gus Hansen Loses $796K In One Poker Session
Gus Hansen was playing 2,000/4,000 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo at FullTilt Poker and left the session with a $796,000 loss. I can only wish that someday I am in the position to lose that much playing online poker. To the average poker player that would be crazy, but to Gus Hansen it is probably just another day at the office.