Poker

Another American gambling legal tussle is imminent, this time in New York state where Missouri-based Free Poker Experience LLC has filed suit against the state in an effort to clarify regional laws on gambling with particular reference to bar poker leagues.

World Poker Tour Enterprises could be about to shut down its troubled online poker operations at WPTonline.com following an advisory report to the SEC filed October 17 which announces that the firm's 3 year poker network deal with turnkey provider and network Cryptologic is to be prematurely terminated on November 14 2008.

The Poker Players Alliance has furnished its 1.2 million members with a rating guide on the position of members of the US Congress on the legalisation of poker.

Wide coverage in Dutch newspapers like De Volkskrant, De Telegraaf and Spits on the poker skills vs. luck debate has resulted in renewed publicity for the subject in online poker media this week.

The World Series of Poker Europe 2008 came to a fitting climax this week with John Juanda emerging as the champion in the £10,000 buy-in NLHE Main Event.

Barney Frank's HR6870 Payment Service Protection Act will probably not be voted on this congressional session despite its successful 30 -19 vote in the House Financial Services Committee on September 16.

Senator Robert Menendez's attempt to legalise online poker in the United States advanced to the Senate this week with the introduction of the New Jersey Democrat's bill S. 3616, the Internet Skill Game Licensing and Control Act.

Online poker fans outraged by the Absolute Poker.com and more recent UltimateBet.com hole card scams may be mollified by a report this week from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission following an independent investigation carried out by gaming regulatory expert Frank Catania.

A bland note on the Poker Trillion website this week announces that the company's multi-million dollar litigation against Swedish poker provider Boss Media has been halted and all claims withdrawn.

A London stock trading business is developing a new market in which investors can put up money as stakes for experienced poker players to use in order to generate shared winnings. Although staking friends or business associates is not unheard of in the professional game, most successful players reportedly prefer to pay their own way, but London businessmen still believe there is enough action in Internet poker to make a profitable return on the concept.