03.06.07

PPA On the War Path…Are they going the right way?

Posted in Poker News, Us Poker Industry at 7:10 pm by Valentino Viccetzar

Ending a dry spell of interesting news in the build up to the Bridge Nationals in St Louis (starting on Wednesday March 8th), we have some good news to share about the rumblings with the PPA and the general lobbying effort to put an end to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act of 2006, fondly referred to as UIGEA.

We mentioned in February, like most other poker sites, that the former senator, Alfonse D’Amato, was set to be the chief lobbyist for the PPA; a voice for the online poker interests in the United States.

Despite receiving the news with something less than enthusiasm, major newspapers have started to run with the story, giving it yet another touch of truth. The New York Times, for example, commented on D’Amato’s rise to become the major online poker advocate; perhaps the first advocate with power in his punch.

Although the PPA is criticized for being pretty tightlipped about their battle plans, they are expected to organize an exclusive interview with D’Amato, for some poker journalist who’s also a member of the PPA Board.

Despite this anticipated unveiling, the PPA president, Mr. Bolcerek, is “inexplicably tight-lipped about the PPA’s anticipated savior and mum as to its next major steps”.

The only circulating quote from former-Senator D’Amato “John Smith, maybe he doesn’t have the financial means or the ability to travel to a casino…The poor guy at home can’t bet $50 because we pass this law.”

Although the Poker Players’ Alliance reports 160,000 members, there’s still a lot of work to be done before John Smith will be safe to bet his $50 online.

What seems to be going on in Washington is a subtle game of dissembling. While plenty of Congressmen and women are apparently happy to say they have nothing against online poker, they also point out that the so called “brick and mortar operations”, casinos and such like, aren’t all that keen about online poker and gambling efforts. These activities draw punters away, or at least that’s the feeling.

One strategy the PPA might consider: ally with the casinos and make online poker produce income for them. Money talks and it’s money that ultimately runs the country.

And why the cynicism? Take the new details in the already bizarre story about the girl who was apparently ‘lost’ in a poker game. Hmm. The uncle of the girl – the primary culprit named by the girl and her mother – has said that no such poker game ever occurred. Ok, so what else is the guy going to say? But nothing is every as simple as it seems.

If you want to play poker, you have to accept that everyone’s in it for the money.

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03.01.07

Poker Rules!

Posted in Poker News, Us Poker Industry at 7:32 pm by Valentino Viccetzar

In the news over the last couple of days there’s been plenty of talk about the World Series Poker rules announced by Harrah on Wednesday morning (that’s Wednesday, Feb 28th). While it’s pretty dry stuff, it’s worth repeating if only because worth storing away somewhere in the dark recesses and some of the rules have a baring on the current legal battle between the US government and the online poker industry.

Ok, we have detailed logo restriction for players and there has been a specific ban on the use of third-party registrations for gaming sites conducting business with US residents. The World Poker Series will now not allow third-party registrations from Internet poker rooms that have allowed US players to gamble with real money for the last two years.

Another ruling stipulates that third-party registrations will only be accepted from WSOP sponsors or so called, “land-based entities officially licensed to conduct satellite tournaments”. What a blow.

Well, if these rules mean anything to anyone out there, you may be interested to know that the word on the grapevine is also that these rules are going to be “difficult” to enforce. As always, cash is king. Money talks and…um…bullshit walks!

The tournament’s commissioner pointed out the following: “If a player shows up with $10,000 and wants to register for the tournament, we will allow them to play,” WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack said. “It’s nearly impossible for us to tell where the money came from. Just because someone is wearing a dot-net or dot-com shirt doesn’t mean they qualified for the tournament online. People wear poker related clothing for more than one reason. I wear a L.A. Kings jersey all the time. I don’t play for the Kings.”

The World Series Poker tournament will begin on June 1 with two fairly big cash events: the World Championship Mixed Hold’em for $5,000 and the Casino Employees event for $500.

All the events of the tournament will be held in their usual spot, the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino, which will have up to 300 tables available for the tournaments, satellites, and cash games. A testament to the growing popularity, that’s 100 more tables than last year.

Several new events have also made their way onto the schedule: $5,000 World Championship Mixed Hold’em (Limit/No Limit); $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better; $5,000 World Championship Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em; and $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better.

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02.17.07

Turbulent Times For the US Poker Industry

Posted in Us Poker Industry at 11:50 pm by Valentino Viccetzar

Well, if you rank among the world’s best poker players, you could get your hands on the lion’s share. The upcoming PartyPoker tournament, PartyPoker.com Premier League Poker (what a mouthful), will offer $500,000 to the player who comes out on top, after six qualifying rounds and heads up situations after that.

If you’re just an avid poker fan, liking nothing better than to spend your every waking moment glued to the action of televised tournaments, the PartyPoker.com Premier League Poker could well be right up your street. Recognizing the popularity of poker TV, online poker room Party Poker will feature a dozen of the world’s best poker players in Tony G, Andy Black, Phil Hellmuth, Kirill Gerasimov, Liz Lieu, Ian Fraser, will be playing, among others.

And while poker online is hotter than ever, the recent US government legislation is now grinding US money play to a halt. Tony G’s online poker site, Tony G. Poker, recently announced to the “good folks in the USA” its decision to end access to money tables for US players. Tony G’s website announced that the change was in response to the new, very aggressive policies against online poker play, mentioning that the seizure of US-based Neteller accounts means it is no longer possible to transfer money to US-based players.

While Tony G. Poker will no longer permit players with US country code accounts to play at money tables, it will still allow them to play at free money tables. This is more than some sites are doing.

The Tribeca Tables online poker network announced yesterday that it is no longer taking new US players and they will also be locking out all IP addresses from the U.S.

There may be light at the end of the tunnel, however. The destruction of the US online poker industry is far from a foregone conclusion. Many groups and individuals are lobbying for an end to the persecution. The Poker Players Alliance has apparently retained former New York Senator Alfonse D’Amato to join the PPA.

No official deal has yet been announced, but D’Amato’s business and financial connections are formidable, offering poker players hope that he can provide a voice of reason amidst the chaos. D’Amato served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban affairs, and was also an influential member of the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

Another development of note is the reported stabilization of the Sunday poker tournament numbers. The numbers have seemingly stabilized one month after the NETeller arrests and the NFL playoff disruption.

PokerStars and Full Tilt met their guarantees and PokerStars drew its largest crowd since Jan. 14. FTOPS III is shaping up to be the most successful event in Full Tilt history with 3,976 players competing over the weekend. Ultimate Bet and Bodog, two rooms that experienced heavy overlays after the NETeller arrests and during the NFL playoffs, also saw their numbers return to early January figures.

The new e-wallets are also helping to keep U.S. gamblers in the game.

Since NETeller’s departure, ePassporte has experienced an overwhelming number of requests for new accounts. Although this has dramatically slowed their response times, the company is still allowing transactions. The good news is that ePassporte is accepted at Poker Stars, Full Tilt, and Ultimate Bet.

The bottomline: despite the disruption to the industry in recent months, online poker is still relatively strong. The government may win the battle but they look set to lose the war.

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