Poker News

UIGEA delayed six months

A joint press release from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board announced Friday that the date for implementing regulations in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) has been delayed by six months, from Dec. 1 to June 1, 2010.

The regulations were to force financial institutions in the U.S. to stop processing any transactions related to Internet gambling.

However, the delay will now give the U.S. House Financial Services Committee the chance to hold hearings on two bills designed to regulate and tax online gambling and futher delay UIGEA enforcement.

Those hearings are schedule for Dec. 3.

Committee Chairman Barney Frank applauded Friday's announcement.

"This will give us a chance to act in an unhurried manner on my legislation to undo this regulatory excess by the Bush administration and to undo this ill-advised law," he said.

A poker advocacy group lobbying to legalize online poker in the United States, the Poker Players Alliance believes the delay is also the first step towards legal and regulated online poker in America.

"This is a great victory for poker, but an even greater victory for advocates of good and fair public policy," said PPA Chairman Alfonse D'Amato.

"These additional months are critical to provide legislators time to clarify UIGEA and pass legislation to licence and regulate poker early next year."

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UIGEA Regulations Officially Delayed Six Months

Online poker players in the United States have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. On Friday, CNBC and the Associated Press confirmed that U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke had granted requests to delay the mandatory compliance date of the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) by six months to June 1st, 2010.

Word of a potential delay first broke on Wednesday from Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) Executive Director Joe Brennan. However, no official comment had been handed down from Geithner, Bernanke, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), or the office of Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA). Around 12:15pm ET on Friday, cable station CNBC ran a segment touting the successful six-month delay and an Associated Press article had hit cyberspace 15 minutes earlier.

The six-month delay will take the internet gambling industry to June 1st, 2010. In the interim, the theory goes that sensible legislation governing the industry in the United States will be passed. Frank introduced HR 2267 back in May. The bill, which has attracted 63 co-sponsors, establishes a full licensing and regulatory framework for online gaming outfits to solicit U.S. customers.

An Associated Press article sourced both the Treasury and Federal Reserve as saying that the UIGEA’s regulations would indeed be pushed off until mid-2010. The news service explained, “The delayed rules would curb online gambling by prohibiting financial institutions from accepting payments from credit cards, checks or electronic fund transfers to settle online wagers. The financial industry complained that the new rules would be difficult to enforce because they did not offer a clear definition of what constitutes internet gambling.” Since the UIGEA was approved in 2006, a Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruling stated that the legality of internet gambling may depend on state law, similar to the way that the brick-and-mortar version is governed.

Next Thursday, December 3rd, the House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing discussing the merits of HR 2266 and HR 2267. The former bill delays mandatory industry compliance with the UIGEA regulations by one year to December 1st, 2010. Its relevance given Friday’s confirmation that the regulations would be pushed back six months is up in the air. The hearing kicks off at 10:00am ET in Room 2128 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Witnesses for the informational hearing have not yet been announced and the proceedings can be followed via a live webcast accessible from the Committee’s website.

Potential overblocking by credit card companies like Visa and MasterCard led the PPA, two horse racing organizations, and members of Kentucky’s Congressional delegation to petition Geithner and Bernanke, urging that the regulations of the UIGEA be shuttled back to December 1st of next year. PPA Executive Director John Pappas told Poker News Daily, “Many believe what you’ll see is overblocking of legitimate transactions. It’s not a good thing for players. It won’t just affect poker; it’ll affect horse racing, lotteries, and other online entities.”

Around 1:00pm ET, the PPA confirmed the news. The organization’s Chairman, Alfonse D’Amato, commented in a press release, “The PPA is extremely pleased with the decision by the Federal Reserve and Treasury to grant the six month extension. This is a great victory for poker, but an even greater victory for advocates of good and fair public policy.”

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest news and events from Capitol Hill.

Poker Pros Rally Behind Former WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack

Late last week, World Series of Poker (WSOP) Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack stepped down from his post and removed himself from Harrah’s entirely. The move caught much of the poker world off-guard and Poker News Daily solicited the reaction from a few of the game’s top names.

“Celebrity Apprentice” runner-up and marquee female pro Annie Duke told Poker News Daily that Pollack’s ascension to the role of WSOP Commissioner in 2006 marked a player-friendly movement for the tournament series. She explained, “The first thing he did was meet with top players and I was fortunate enough to be among them. He really listened to us. There was only so much he could do because in the end he didn’t own it, but he was committed to working with the players and making sure they had a strong voice.” Pollack formed the Players Advisory Council, of which Duke was a member.

On the future of the tournament series without Pollack’s involvement, Duke admitted, “I know that Jeffrey stood as a partner with the players and fought with management over some of the issues. I feel like he was the players’ protector and it does concern me that he’s gone. I hope people at the WSOP take a lesson from what he did and partner with the players because that’s how you grow the brand.” Two years prior to Pollack’s Commissioner nod, Duke won the WSOP Tournament of Champions event for $2 million.

Among those lamenting Pollack’s departure was PokerRoad’s Joe Sebok, who made a deep run in the 2009 WSOP Main Event and finished in 56th place. Sebok told Poker News Daily, “I think it’s a bummer. The biggest thing is that the players are losing out. Jeffrey did a good job and people don’t understand how much he fought for different things. He really was an advocate for us, so it’s a sad day. He was a great Commissioner and I think he did a great job of fighting for the WSOP and fighting for the players.” PokerRoad will take to the television airwaves this Wednesday with the debut of “Poker 2Nite,” a poker news show that airs on Fox Sports Net.

Two Poker News Daily Guest Columnists also weighed in on Pollack’s resignation from the WSOP and Harrah’s. Linda Johnson, co-owner of Card Player Cruises, explained, “This is not necessarily the best thing for poker players. He was a great communicator. If you sent him an e-mail, he responded immediately and he listened to us.” ESPN “Inside Deal” host and noted poker author Bernard Lee added, “I’m surprised. I think he did a great job of bringing the WSOP to another level with not only the commercial success, but also the growth in the number entrants. I thought he was doing a great job.”

Last night, the CBS reality series “Amazing Race” aired, one of the first episodes since the elimination of poker pros Tiffany Michelle and Maria Ho, who were sent packing in the Netherlands. Michelle gave her take on Pollack’s exit from the WSOP: “I’m very sad to see Jeffrey Pollack resigning. He has been so instrumental in the excellent changes and adaptations we’ve seen over the last four years. Jeffrey was professional, yet personal, which is why I think he held the respect of the entire poker community.” Michelle was the last woman standing in the 2008 WSOP Main Event, while Ho held that honor one year earlier. In 2009, the designation went to Leo Margets, who finished in 27th place.

According to WSOP officials, there are no immediate plans to fill the Commissioner’s role, leading many to wonder who will become the next face of the annual festivities in Las Vegas. Pollack was slated to become the President of Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment, the casino giant’s Canadian-based online arm. Former Party Gaming CEO Mitch Garber remains the head of the new outfit.

Joe Cada Praised by National Media for WSOP Main Event Win

Following his victory in the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, which aired on ESPN on Tuesday night, Joe Cada received an overwhelming amount of praise from U.S. media outlets.

The Detroit Free Press, Cada’s hometown paper, reported on their hero’s run through the 2009 WSOP Main Event, which ended with a heads-up showdown against Darvin Moon. The newspaper cautioned against other Michigan natives looking to strike it rich in the world of poker: “Cada wants anyone thinking about making a living at playing cards to be warned: For every high, he has experienced the lowest of lows.” Cada told the media outlet, “It definitely can be a living, but it’s one of those things: You have to be very careful when you decide to make it a living. More people lose than win.” Cada became the youngest WSOP Main Event winner ever late Monday night and earned $8.5 million.

The Detroit News was also on-hand in Las Vegas to cover the local participant. The youngster told the paper, which noted that Cada was a severe underdog in chips at the final table, “It helped being down before and having no chips earlier at the final table. I thought about that and I continued to stay focused and tried not to make any mistakes. I just remained calm and it worked out well.” After doubling up CardPlayer Magazine Editor Jeff Shulman with A-J against A-K, Cada’s stack sank to 2.3 million, or less than five big blinds.

TIME Magazine candidly explained, “This time last year, Joseph Cada couldn’t legally order a cocktail. But today, the Shelby Township, Mich., native sits on top of the poker world as the champion of the World Series of Poker’s Main Event.” Playing online, as well as trips to Canada and Costa Rica, helped fund the underage Cada’s bankroll before he turned 21.

Even the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) chimed in on Cada’s win, noting that the PokerStars-sponsored player wore the lobbying organization’s patch throughout the Main Event final table. A press release distributed by the PPA on Tuesday featured Chairman Alfonse D’Amato praising the Michigan native: “On behalf of PPA members, I congratulate Joe on his historic WSOP win and thank him for being such a strong advocate for the game, especially online poker.” Cada added, “Poker is not gambling. There is decision-making, there’s logic, there’s math, and I think that taking away online poker takes away peoples’ rights. I am very supportive of the Poker Players Alliance.”

On the PocketFives.com online poker forum, poster “illinicubs23” weighed in on a debate as to whether Cada’s victory will improve or deride poker’s reputation as a skill game given his improbable run: “cada will at least continue to be seen around the tournament circuit – something moon wouldnt have done – and help promote pokerstars. hopefully he will inspire a lot more young 20 somethings to take up the game and help feed the poker economy for years.”

While online poker players salivated at the thought of new blood entering the game, the Michigan media continued to caution against those expecting the same success as Cada. Dennis Martell, Coordinator of Health Education at Michigan State University, told the Free Press, “What worries me more is that we’ve got a perfect storm going with this Michigan economy, and a point-and-click generation that wants instant gratification, that thinks they can get lucky and, in many cases, really needs the money.” In September, Michigan’s unemployment rate topped 15%, which the Free Press noted was the highest in the United States.

Prior to play beginning on Monday, Cada told Poker News Daily what it was like seeing his image plastered across Detroit newspapers: “It’s a lot different seeing the newspaper and actually seeing you in it. It’s been fun.”

ESPN.com Poker Editor Andrew Feldman, who spent a week in Las Vegas covering the finale of the 2009 WSOP Main Event, summed up his thoughts on the industry’s new face: “Last week, Cada was just another player from Michigan. On ESPN’s WSOP coverage, he said, ‘I’m just a kid with a dream.’ Now, he is ‘The Kid’ and a poker superstar. Congratulations on your run to WSOP gold, Joe. We’re looking forward to seeing what you have to offer as your poker career truly begins now.”

Should Poker Put the Skill-Game Issue Aside?

Ever since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed by Congress three years ago, poker advocates have been trying to distinguish poker from other forms of gambling as a skill game.

ESPN The Magazine Editor Discusses Poker Players in Body Issue

Hitting newsstands around the United States last Friday was the inaugural Body Issue of “ESPN: The Magazine.“ The periodical profiled athletes and their physiques and included an image of Phil Hellmuth, Scotty Nguyen, Daniel Negreanu, and Jennifer Harman playing poker in the nude.

Besides poker, other sports showcased in the magazine include boxing, bull riding, golf, baseball, Motocross, NASCAR, basketball, hockey, football, soccer, softball, swimming, surfing, tennis, track and field, and mixed martial arts. Poker News Daily sat down with “ESPN: The Magazine” Editor Sarah Turcotte to gauge reaction to the provocative issue.

Poker News Daily: Explain the background to the Body Issue of “ESPN: The Magazine.”

Turcotte: This is the first time we’ve done it and we’ll definitely be doing it again. My boss was trying to come up with a way to profile an athlete’s body. You see them in locker rooms, but you don’t really know what goes into them. Not only do we have poker and soccer players, but we also have sumo wrestlers and triathlon runners. It’s a huge mix. There are over 80 athletes involved and 40 in varying stages of being undressed. Poker is a great sport. The players work hard, make great money, and have good mental toughness. We believe it’s a legit sport.

PND: What has been the reaction so far?

Turcotte: We’ve been shocked by how positive it’s been, but there have been negatives with some of the more conservative sports. For example, LPGA fans heard about it and formed their opinions beforehand. When you realize what a massive undertaking this is and the kind of company these folks are in, it makes sense. It’s not “Playboy Magazine;” it’s about celebrating an athlete’s physique. So far, I’m shocked by how well it’s been received. I don’t think we ever could have conceived how popular it would be.

PND: Talk about the photo involving Harman, Nguyen, Hellmuth, and Negreanu.

Turcotte: That was a really great photo to do. My hats are off to all of them for being included. That was our only coed shoot because in most sports, you don’t compete against different genders. It turned out great.

PND: What can you tell us about the shoot?

Turcotte: The poker shoot was great. We had two hours and shot in Las Vegas. Anyone who has been around Daniel and Scotty would fall in love with them. Their interaction together was great and I found myself calling everyone “baby” for the next few days. Jen is such a sweetheart and I was amazed at how much respect the guys had for her.

PND: What do you want readers to take away from this installment of “ESPN: The Magazine”?

Turcotte: My perspective as the Feature Editor is to be on the shoots and be the advocate for the athlete. We made it a collaborative process and I want the athletes to be proud of it. In terms of readers, I think the biggest thing is that it’s awesome to see someone like Serena Williams looking beautiful, but people are familiar with her. However, not everyone knows Scotty Nguyen and Jennifer Harman, so hopefully this will give them some respect.

PND: Can you name other athletes that readers can expect to see in the issue?

Turcotte: Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, tennis star Serena Williams, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers, Sarah Reinertsen (the only female amputee to compete in the Ironman Triathlon), Andrew Cogliano of the Edmonton Oilers, Christina Kim of the LPGA, and six guys from the DC United soccer team.

Doyle Brunson Advocates WSOP Europe Venue Change

Even though he has more than 50 years in the poker world under his belt, poker legend Doyle Brunson continues to be one of the leaders in the community, advocating suggestions for improvements to the industry.

After making a stirring run during the Main Event of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe - he was in the Top Ten through much of the action before being eliminated in 17th place - the man known as the “Godfather of Poker” opined on his blog about some of the spectacle that surrounded the tournament series. Brunson’s blog is one of the most respected reads in the poker industry and its author is known for pulling no punches when it comes to his thoughts.

On the location of the WSOP Europe, Brunson states that he’d like to see a change and admits that the Casino at the Empire in London “needs to be bigger.” Looking potentially at making WSOP Europe even larger than it is, Brunson suggests that, if the management of Harrah’s could work out the details, moving the location of the three year old event to a new city each year would “draw many more players… London is just too expensive for the beginning pros to play.”

Brunson also spoke up about fellow former World Champion Phil Hellmuth, whose grandiose entrance to the WSOP in Las Vegas was duplicated this year at WSOP Europe. Brunson, who was seemingly dismayed at Hellmuth’s display, writes in his blog, “I’ve always liked Phil Hellmuth and have defended his tantrums because that is ‘Phil being Phil,’ but these grand entrances he makes are too much! He came to my table dressed as Julius Caesar along with trumpets and scantily clad girls. It embarrassed me just being there. I would have liked to have applied for the role of Brutus. I am a poker purist and stuff like that detracts too much from what a great game poker is.”

In addition to his opinions on the recently completed WSOP Europe, Brunson is kicking up his activity on his eponymous poker room. For some time, DoylesRoom has featured a weekly Bounty Tournament where Brunson and many of his friends - including his daughter Pamela and son Todd, longtime friends Mike “The Mad Genius of Poker” Caro and Hoyt Corkins, and celebrities like socialite Nicky Hilton and actress Jamie Lynn Sigler - have sizeable bounties on their heads. Now, Brunson is offering players at the site the opportunity to step to the felts to take him on in an arena that Brunson has dominated for decades, cash games.

Beginning tonight at 7:00pm ET and then taking place every night Monday through Friday thereafter, Brunson will step to the virtual felts on the $5/$10 and $10/$20 No Limit Texas Hold’em tables and take on all comers. While Brunson, whose online moniker is “Tex_Dolly,” will be the centerpiece of the battles, several of the previously mentioned players and members of the Brunson 10, which include online warriors Amit “amak316” Makhija, Zachary Clark, Alec “traheho” Torelli, and Chris “Moorman1” Moorman, will also be on hand. There should be plenty of action and poker discussion between players at these tables.

Andrew Feldman: Reformed and ready

It took less than 24 hours to make it all disappear.

"One night, I was coming home from the casino where'd I'd lost quite a bit of money, £2000 on 3-card poker, so I was a bit steamed up," he said.

"I thought yeah, whatever, I'll go and get it back from poker. So I played out of my bankroll at $25/$50. It took just one bad beat and then I started playing bad and by the end of the night I'd done half the roll.

"I went to bed, woke up, was in a bit of shock after only seeing half my balance there, and within the next few hours all that had been wiped out."

Suddenly broke and dejected, a then 18-year-old Feldman said the worst was yet to come.

"I had to come clean to my parents and tell them that everything had gone, which was very hard because they kept telling me to withdraw the funds and I wouldn't do it because I was a bit superstitious that if I'd taken it out I wouldn't be winning as much," he said.

"So they just said, 'right, no more gambling in the house, we want you to focus on your A-levels and go to university.' I was feeling like I really wanted to play, so they made me go to Gamblers Anonymous just to get it out of my system, but even when I was going, all I could think about was playing again.

"I just wanted to get back to it because I knew I had the potential to make it. I knew I needed another shot."

As luck would have it, Feldman found a few hundred pounds in rakeback money on one of the sites he'd been playing and started grinding again.

"I built it up to £1,000 after one day, £10,000 by the week, £30,000 by the end of the month and then my parents made me take out most of that," he said. "They made me put it away, gave me £5,000 pounds to do with what I like and made me get my exams out of the way, which is exactly what I did.

"I managed to scrape through my A-levels, not really caring to be honest. I got accepted to University, but all I wanted to do was just continue playing poker."

Continue playing poker is exactly what Feldman did, working mid-stakes games online, moving into the live arena on the GUKPT, and eventually stepping into the bright poker spotlight with a $250,000 win in the televised 2007 888.com UK Open.

"Then I got invited to other events like the Poker Den cash game and I was the biggest winner there," he said. "Now I've done a bunch of TV events and just filmed the Full Tilt cash game last week."

A poker prodigy of sorts, Feldman, now 22, was introduced to the game by his older brother, who'd been playing satellites online. But his poker education has come through on-the-job training rather than study.

"I didn't read any books," he said. "It's all sort of been through experience."

Fellow Brit and outspoken high-stakes player Luke "__FullFlush1__" Schwartz has criticized Feldman for dodging the top high-stakes players in the game.

But a now more mature Feldman insists he isn't looking to take on the poker's best at nosebleed stakes just to prove he's one of them.

"For me, playing cash games, I try and be very selective," he said. "I'm not like [Tom Dwan] or Phil Ivey who will play anyone high stakes.

"Obviously, the Full Tilt cash game there was no dead money there, but that was kind of to get my name out there, for the experience. I didn't expect to win. I just wanted the experience and to see what it's like.

"I'm not too worried about being the best. That just isn't my game, my game is to try and target the weaker players."

Feldman also has little interest in engaging in a war of words with Schwartz.

"[Schwartz] likes to conduct himself in that way," he said. "He's very opinionated and he doesn't hold back. It's not something that I would advocate, because you've got to have respect for your fellow poker players.

"But he likes to do that, he likes to get players on tilt and that's his strategy. If it works for him and he feels he's happy then, you know, that's up to him to decide."

These days, with a sponsorship from Full Tilt Poker, Feldman is much more interested in big-time live tournaments than proving himself in the high-stakes arena.

"I would like to get a big tournament win," he explained. "I haven't had any big results lately. I feel I'm due a big result and I want to win a big title. So predominantly I'm focusing on live tournaments.

"If cash games come up and I feel there's a bit of dead money in the game, then yeah, I'll go for it. But live, I'm focusing on tournaments. I'm just playing as many tournaments as possible."

To read the full transcript of the interview with Andrew Feldman check out the PokerListings Poker Reporter Blog.

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Morongo Tribe Postpones Online Poker Debate in CA

An effort between some California card rooms and the Morongo band of Mission Indians in Southern California to regulate online poker in the Sunshine State has been put on the backburner. An article by Debra Gruszecki of the Palm Springs Desert Sun reported on the issue earlier this week and cited growing concerns from the tribe and card rooms that the important issue was being rushed through the legislative process was the driving factor behind the decision.

While they are no longer pushing the online poker issue, they are not abandoning it altogether. Patrick Dorinson, a spokesperson for Morongo, spoke to Gruszecki about the decision. “Some concerns have been raised, and we want to make sure we address those concerns so this can benefit everyone,” he explained. “We are going to redouble our efforts and present this in January to the (state) Legislature.”

The crux of the proposed legislation centered on the formation of the California Tribal Intrastate Internet Poker Consortium. That group would retain the ability to license and regulate online poker ventures within the state of California. State Senator Darrell Steinberg spoke out against the bill last month not because he opposes online gambling in the state, but because he believes the state needs more time to review the potential revenue that could stem from such a venture.

The Morongo band and their card room partners have taken Steinberg’s words to heart and now plan on taking time to research and prepare before re-introducing the idea to the state legislators according to Dorinson and card room representative Waltona Manion. Both told the Desert Sun that their current timetable involves returning to the issue in January of 2010.

During the next three months, major issues that will likely be researched and discussed at length is exactly how much money the state stands to profit and whether or not the proposed consortium is in violation of any existing state or federal laws such as 2006’s Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The Morongo tribe will also have to address the concerns of the numerous tribes, such as the Pechanga Band in Temecula, who are currently opposed to such legislation.

According to Gruszecki, many tribes fear opening up the intrastate online gambling issue in California may compromise the current exclusivity enjoyed by tribes to offer gambling within the state. David Quintana, political director of the California Tribal Business Alliance, expressed relief at the postponement of the legislation. In an interview with the Desert Sun, Quintana said he hoped this would allow time for all of the tribes and card rooms in California to have a more in-depth discussion about the issues at hand.

Though most of the reports about the Morongo band’s decision to relent on the online poker push have construed it to be a setback for the online gambling world, Poker Voters of America (PVA) Executive Director Melanie Brenner still believes the situation in California is a step forward for poker advocates. In an interview with Poker News Daily last month, Brenner explained why the Morongo partnering with some California card rooms was so important:

“What I think you’re seeing is a part of the political process. There are so many different parts to the process. One of the biggest challenges in California has been the opposition of the tribes not wanting online poker,” she explained. “One of the tribes now wants to run an online poker site. That’s a huge breakthrough.”

It remains to be seen whether the delay in action will allow the Morongo tribe time to persuade other Native American groups in California to endorse the online poker legislation, but the decision to drop the issue for the moment will certainly allow them more time to formulate a thorough argument to do just that.

National Council on Problem Gambling Comments on Menendez Bill

Earlier this month, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced S 1597, the Internet Poker and Games of Skill Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act. The bill includes provisions to address problem gambling.

Menendez’s measure calls for the licensing and regulation of internet games of skill like online poker in an effort that is narrower than Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA) HR 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act. At the end of Menendez’s legislation, $14.2 million per year over a five-year period is prescribed for problem gambling awareness, treatment, and research. National Council on Problem Gambling Executive Director Keith Whyte told Poker News Daily, “We think, overall, it’s responsible that if you’re going to have a bill that expands gambling, you put in money to address gambling problems.”

The text in Menendez’s bill comes from HR 2906, the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act of 2009. The measure was introduced by a bipartisan contingent of Congressmen Jim Moran (D-VA), Lee Terry (R-NE), and Frank Wolf (R-VA) in mid-June amid support from the Council. Whyte explained, “We’re pleased that there’s a responsibility to mitigate problem gambling and we’re glad it’s the language from HR 2906. However, this would still only be the first ever federal funding for prevention and treatment programs. There is a lot more language in our House bill than what Menendez added. It’s not the entire bill.”

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the 1.2 million member strong lobbying group, was one of the driving forces behind the introduction of S 1597, which debuted shortly after the conclusion of National Poker Week. PPA Chairman and former three-term Senator from New York Alfonse D’Amato called Menendez’s bill “another powerful step towards protecting internet freedom, protecting consumers, and protecting online poker.” S. 1597 allocates $200,000 per year for awareness, $4 million per year for research, and $10 million per year for treatment.

Whyte revealed that the National Council on Problem Gambling plans to introduce a companion bill to HR 2906 in the Senate. In the meantime, Congress is currently on recess until after Labor Day in the United States. He noted, “We met with Menendez’s staff and asked him to introduce a companion bill to HR 2096 in the Senate. We did not specifically request that our language be included in his bill, but this is a good step.” The National Council on Problem Gambling does not support Menendez’s bill, however, because it calls for an expansion of gaming.

Much to the delight of online poker players, Menendez’s bill specifically identifies the game as a legal activity. It defines “internet skill games” to mean “an internet-based game in which success is predominantly determined by the skill of the players, including poker, chess, bridge, mahjong, and backgammon.” Frank’s HR 2267 boasts 54 co-sponsors after being introduced in early May along with HR 2266, which calls for the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) to be delayed by one year. As it currently stands, the financial services industry must come into full compliance with the 2006 law by December 1st. HR 2906 has attracted 10 co-sponsors, including Frank and Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV).

The National Council on Problem Gambling is based in Washington, DC. Text on the organization’s website reveals that it was founded on two mantras, “that the organization would be the advocate for problem gamblers and their families and that it would take no position for or against legalized gambling.” Its annual Awareness Week occurred from March 1st to 7th this year and included the organization reaching out to problem gamblers through popular social mediums like YouTube.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest on Menendez’s bill to regulate online poker in the United States.

Annie Duke Recalls Her Memories Of Late President Of Refugees International

In her most recent blog on her home site Ultimate Bet, poker professional Annie Duke remembers the contributions and life of Ken Bacon, the president of Refugees International, who passed away from an aggressive melanoma that spread into his brain
on August 15th.

As many may remember, Annie – a guest columnist here at Poker News Daily – played for Refugees International during her appearance on “Celebrity Apprentice” earlier this year. Through her efforts on the show, Refugees International, which assists refugee situations around the globe (much like Duke’s main charitable effort, Ante Up For Africa, focuses on refugee relief efforts in Darfur) was the receiver of the $700,000 that Annie raised through “Celebrity Apprentice” and further fundraising following her runner-up finish. In her blog on Ultimate Bet, Duke remembered the man who had a profound effect on her charitable efforts.

“This week is a sad one for me”, Annie admits in the Ultimate Bet blog before telling readers of Bacon’s passing. “I met Ken Bacon in October (2008) during the filming of “Celebrity Apprentice.” Because Ante Up for Africa was in the process of becoming a 501(c)3 while “Apprentice” was filming, I couldn’t play directly for my own charity. So I played for RI, which is aligned in its mission with the mission of AUFA. At my first meeting with Ken, I presented him with a $245K check from winning a task on Celebrity Apprentice… to say his reaction was reserved would be a drastic understatement. I was a little taken aback until I figured out the he was just an incredible sincere individual. We ended up chatting for a very long time about the issues in Sudan and Darfur and I could see the passion and real commitment to the issue that this man had.”

“Ken brought a passion to the cause that I hope to emulate”, Annie finishes in her blog post. “We should all be so lucky to have someone like Ken Bacon fighting for us and the things we believe in. I am truly lucky to have known him, if even for such a brief time. I am certainly a better person for the time I got with him.”

“Ken’s death is an enormous loss to his family, his friends, and Refugees International. All of us here will miss his leadership, his kindness, and his quiet passion”, said Joel Charny, who was named acting president of Refugees International following Bacon’s passing. “He never stopped looking for new ways to bring attention to the millions of people who have been uprooted by violence and conflict. The world’s most vulnerable people have lost one of their most tireless advocates.” Megan Fowler, the director of communications at Refugees International, commented that the members of the organization “were committed to honoring Ken’s legacy through continuing his work around the world.”

Ken Bacon was named president of Refugees International in 2001 and he was a tireless worker in the continuing battle against refugee crises. Under Mr. Bacon’s leadership, Refugees International doubled in size and grew from an organization that largely sounded the alarm on the latest refugee crisis to a program built on sustained advocacy to transform unwieldy and often ineffective international systems. During his tenure, the organization successfully advocated for increased protection and assistance for displaced people in places like Darfur and Iraq, where he focused much of his own work, as well as in Afghanistan, Burma, the DR Congo, Colombia, and Thailand. Mr. Bacon also launched new advocacy programs on peacekeeping and statelessness.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family has designated Refugees International for memorial contributions in honor of Ken Bacon. Refugees International has also created a memorial page, featuring comments and photos of Mr. Bacon’s efforts on behalf of Refugees International, in honor of the work performed by Mr. Bacon during his tenure as president of the organization. Poker News Daily wishes to pass along their condolences to Mr. Bacon’s family, friends and Refugees International at this trying time.

Ante Up For Africa raises $600k

Ante Up For Africa released the official numbers from its WSOP charity tournament Monday and it appears the non-profit organization will be donating $600,000 to three Darfur-related charities.

"The crisis in Darfur is not over and we're grateful to all who participate in Ante Up For Africa to make these donations possible and hope that many more people will join us in the future," said actor Don Cheadle, who founded Ante Up For Africa with poker player Annie Duke and Norman Epstein.

A ton of Hollywood, sports and poker celebrities turned out for the $5k buy-in event including Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Sarah Silverman, Jason Alexander, Mike Tyson, Charles Barkley, and Montel Williams.

In the end it was poker professional Alex Bolotin who outlasted 136 others to take the title.

ESPN will debut its coverage of the event Tuesday night Aug. 11 at 8 p.m.

Of the $600,000 raised, half will be donated to the Darfur Peace & Development Organization, a Darfuri-led non-governmental organization that provides aid to those in need in Darfur and the refugee camps.

The donation will allow the organization to continue the Women's Center in the Kassab refugee camp in North Darfur and provide the money necessary to complete the construction of El Fasher High School for war-affected teens.

A $150,000 donation will also be made to Refugees International, an organization that advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people.

Refugees International has earmarked the money to conduct assessment missions in South Sudan.

And finally, another $150,000 donation will be made to the Enough Project at the Center for American Progress, which is working to build a permanent constituency to prevent genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

"When we started Ante Up, we had no idea that so many people would respond and participate to combat the devastation in Darfur," said Duke.

"It reaffirms our belief in humanity and drives us to do more for people in need."

Hundreds of thousands have been killed and millions driven from their homes in the humanitarian crisis taking place in Darfur, located in Western Sudan.

Ante Up For Africa has raised $2.5 million for the cause since launching in 2007 and contributions have gone to leading aid organizations to relieve suffering as well as fund advocacy on behalf of people affected by the violence.

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Update on Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars Check Processing

As the battle for online poker legality comes to the forefront of the American legal system, players are still in limbo making deposits and withdrawals from their favorite sites.  Some rooms like Cake Poker have had no reported incidents, while larger ones like Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars were directly affected by the U.S. Attorney’s Office seizing funds in bank accounts tied to processors.  As poker rooms have adjusted, popular deposit methods have now been restored on all sites.

The main issue for many players was that checks received in the mail from payment processors bounced as a result of the bank accounts being frozen.  This caused widespread concern that the online poker industry wouldn’t be able to stay afloat if players in the United States were not able to deposit or withdraw.  However, the poker rooms stepped up and refunded players, usually with a bonus for their hassle.  In the meantime, the sites and processors have scrambled to restore confidence in the industry that players can and will receive payments for cashouts when requested.

On Full Tilt Poker, many players turned to wire transfers and are sticking with this payment method despite the extra fees that are tacked onto the transaction.  Many players on online poker forums are reporting their success with traditional wire transfers.  Requests have been typically approved the same day and initiated two weeks later.  Some people are reporting a lag time of only four days, while others who initiated a bank wire around the middle of June received their transfers during the first week of July.  The general rule of thumb is that players should expect anywhere from four to 20 calendar days for a bank transfer to work from approval to receipt.  Fees range from $15 to $35 for this type of transaction.

For players on Full Tilt Poker who are not trying the bank wire method, it seems that order has been restored to paper checks and echecks.  Players who have requested their checks near the end of June have already been receiving them in July with a seven to 10 day turnaround period from request to receipt.  Some of the checks appear to be coming from Canadian banks, well outside the jurisdiction of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Now restored, echecks at PokerStars have been requested regularly in the last couple of weeks from players at the world’s largest poker room.  Players who have requested checks have reported receiving them in about a week.  Once deposited, they are clearing in major banks in 24 hours’ time.

It seems that the U.S. Attorney’s Office merely set the online poker industry back by a few weeks in terms of normal business practice.  Players appear to be sending and receiving funds like they were before the seizure.  Checks from major rooms are clearing without incident and high-volume players are using bank wires to safely receive funds directly into their account, accepting the fact that additional fees might apply.

In the meantime, poker industry advocate organizations such as the Poker Player’s Alliance (PPA) and Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) are gearing up to determine if online poker is indeed legal or illegal and if the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is unconstitutional.  As the legal battles officially start, Poker News Daily will monitor activities as they occur and report on any changes in the payment processing sector.

Barney Frank, Emperor Phil Hellmuth to Highlight WSOP Main Event Day 1C

On Sunday, the third of four starting days in the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event will kick off with Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) issuing the traditional “Shuffle up and deal” command. In addition, “Emperor” Phil Hellmuth will make his entrance.

With Sunday majors expected to keep many of the world’s top online poker players away from Day 1C, Frank and Hellmuth will instead take center stage. Frank, whose Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act (HR 2267) is up to 40 co-sponsors, will also be available to media inside the Pro’s Choice Suite adjacent to the Amazon Room at 1:00pm Pacific Time. All WSOP credentialed media are invited to attend the function, which will take place one hour after Frank authorizes Rio dealers to begin Day 1C. A press release issued by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) on Sunday morning noted, “Chairman Frank has been online poker’s greatest advocate in Congress, sponsoring legislation to license and regulate the game (HR 2267) as well as delay implementation of Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).”

HR 2266, which delays industry compliance with the regulations of the UIGEA by one year, is up to 23 co-sponsors after being introduced on May 6th, nearly two months ago to the day. Both HR 2266 and HR 2267 have been referred to the House Financial Services Committee, of which Frank is the Chair, although neither has been scheduled for markup in Committee. Last September, Frank’s HR 6870, the second installment of the Payments System Protection Act, was approved by the House Financial Services Committee in a 30-19 vote, but failed to reach the House floor due to the then-emerging financial crisis in the United States and around the world.

Those registered for Day 1C will also witness Hellmuth, an Ultimate Bet pro, enter the Rio in grand fashion. This year, the 11-time WSOP bracelet winner will arrive as “Emperor Hellmuth,” according to a press release distributed by the Tokwiro-owned online poker room: “Hellmuth will enter the Rio Convention Center appropriately attired, in keeping with Ultimate Bet’s Romanesque 10th Anniversary theme. Come see Emperor Phil as he leads his legions into the Amazon Room to take his seat at the table and thus begin the ultimate challenge of conquering the 2009 WSOP Main Event.” Play will begin on Sunday at Noon Pacific Time. When Hellmuth will arrive is anyone’s guess.

Twenty years ago, Hellmuth became the youngest WSOP Main Event winner ever at age 24. His record stood for 19 years until 2008, when Danish poker pro Peter Eastgate took down the industry’s most prestigious tournament at age 22. Hellmuth has recorded five in the money finishes during the 2009 WSOP leading up to the Main Event, a tournament he grabbed 45th in last year for $154,000. Ultimate Bet notes that Hellmuth’s entrance will provide for “magnificent photographic and video opportunities.”

Last year, Hellmuth donned UB Army attire when entering the Main Event. In 2007, he famously collided with a light pole in the Rio parking lot while at the wheel of a racecar. Hellmuth leads all players with 11 WSOP bracelets. Hot on his heels are poker legends Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan, who own 10 bracelets apiece. Johnny Moss holds nine bracelets, just ahead of Full Tilt Poker pro Erik Seidel, who owns eight. Phil Ivey’s dual bracelet wins this year propelled the top all-around player to seven overall, tied with Billy Baxter. A total of 57 pieces of hardware were handed out during the 2009 WSOP festivities in Las Vegas. Four more will be awarded as part of WSOP Europe in London.

Monday marks the final starting day of the 2009 WSOP Main Event. The field will play down to the final table on July 15th, when the action will be paused for four months until November 7th. The feature table will be played on the morning of November 10th and air on cable station ESPN that night.

No chance for rebuys at 2009 WSOP

There isn't a single rebuy event at the 2009 WSOP.

The closest thing to a rebuy event this year is the $3k Triple Chance No-Limit Hold'em event, which began Sunday with a field of more than 800 players.

Eliminating the rebuy tournaments has sparked much debate around the 2009 WSOP.

"They should have kept the rebuy events," said Mike "The Mouth" Matusow, who didn't buy in for the Triple Chance event.

The Triple Chance format has been used before for Pot-Limit Omaha events but this event marks the first time it's been used for No-Limit Hold'em.

Players get 9,000 in chips total but can choose to access the chips in increments of 3,000 up until the cutoff point. Entrants are given an initial 3,000 chips and have two special rebuy chips that they can turn in at any time for an additional 3,000 per chip.

This format adds a new dimension of strategy, as players can choose to get all 9,000 chips right at the beginning, or sit at 3,000 and save the Triple Chance chips as protection against bad beats.

"It's a fun thing," said Daniel Negreanu during a break. "For one thing it adds skill to the event, because it offers people a chance to decide how they want to play their stacks, a little bit more like simulating the cash game in a sense."

"It's kind of a unique structure. We have so many events, 57 bracelet events, so it's kind of fun to throw one in there like that."

Negreanu was one of the biggest names to advocate the elimination of the rebuy events for 2009.

"I was a big proponent of getting rid of the rebuy events," Negreanu said. "For a world championship event, everyone should be on equal footing. Everyone in an event should have an equal chance based not on how rich they are."

The event has drawn an all-star lineup, including Erick Lindgren, who spent the afternoon multi-tabling between Triple Chance and $50k H.O.R.S.E.

Other entrants include John Juanda, Antonio Esfandiari, Ivan Demidov, Mike Sexton, Jeffrey Lisandro, Eli Elezra, Jason Mercier and many others.

Negreanu spoke out against the rebuy events before this year's WSOP, with the philosophy that players shouldn't be able to "buy" a bracelet by pouring big money into a rebuy events.

Matusow is amongst the contingent that disagrees.

"Not having the rebuy ruins some of the events," Matusow said.

The $3k Triple Chance No-Limit Hold'em event will continue for two more days culminating in a final table on Tuesday night that will award a WSOP bracelet.

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Attendance for $50k H.O.R.S.E. drops

The field is by far the smallest in the history of the event, which brought in 143 players in 2006 and 148 in 2007 and 2008.

ESPN dropped the H.O.R.S.E. event from its television taping schedule for the 2009 WSOP after disappointing ratings the last two years.

The 2006 H.O.R.S.E. event had a format that featured No-Limit Hold'em being played exclusively at the final table with the rest of the tournament using the H.O.R.S.E. mix.

Daniel Negreanu was a big advocate of the idea, which gave ESPN the opportunity to feature the event with the viewer-friendly No Limit Hold'em as the main focus.

The format was changed in 2007 and for the third year in a row the H.O.R.S.E. mix will be used all the way through the final table this year.

Negreanu, along with some other pros, is not happy.

"People don't listen to me," said a fired-up Negreanu during a break. "That's the absolute truth and I'm pissed about it."

Negreanu played a big role in formulating the format that was used in 2006, when Chip Reese won the inaugural $50k H.O.R.S.E. event with No-Limit being played exclusively at the final table.

"This event was originally slated to be No-Limit Hold'em the very first year and it worked fine because it satisfied the viewers," Negreanu said.

"ESPN was happy, everyone was happy. Then four stupid people, who don't know half of what I know about how this works, decide we should switch it to H.O.R.S.E. Nobody watches H.O.R.S.E. on TV."

Along with Mike Matusow and Andy Bloch, Negreanu lists the lack of television coverage as the number one factor decimating the field for this year's event.

"Without television, because ESPN isn't going to film the H.O.R.S.E. event anymore, you lose a large majority of the field of players," Negreanu said.

"Players that would have gotten sponsored by online sites are no longer able to play because they're not going to put up the $50,000 themselves."

The event was created in 2006 and the $50k H.O.R.S.E. bracelet has quickly become one of the most prized prizes in poker.

Without a TV deal for the event some pros, like the always outspoken Matusow, saw the drop off as inevitable.

"It wasn't a low turnout," Matusow said. "I thought they'd get 100 and they got 95."

"How could it be low? They rake $17 million from everybody and they had a $40,000 buy-in that took everybody's money in the first event in No Limit."

"They also took TV away. What do they expect? I mean it costs seven bucks for a hot dog in the back room. You can only break so many people."

The 2009 WSOP began with a special $40k No Limit Hold'em event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the WSOP.

The H.O.R.S.E. event, for whatever reason, has suffered in 2009.

"It's not good for the game," Bloch said. "It's not good that we don't have TV for the event."

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Wahlbeck: I’m still quitting

"I'm still planning to quit," Wahlbeck told PokerListings.com.

The 33-year-old Finn has had a WSOP for the ages, picking up a first-place finish in the $10,000 Mixed Game World Championship, a second-place in the $10k 2-7 Draw Lowball World Championship and a third in the $10k Seven-Card Stud World Championship.

He also has a 13th-place finish in the $10k Omaha 8 World Championship and a 12th place finish in the $2,500 Razz event.

"It feels really good to be successful in tournaments," he said.

"I've been grinding for years and I feel like I've taken a lot of bad beats and had a lot of tough spots so everything coming together feels really good."

Wahlbeck has been a poker professional for six years and told himself the 2009 World Series of Poker would be his last.

He has racked up nearly $900k in cashes at the WSOP thus far and finds himself second only to Jeffrey Lisandro in the POY race, but that astounding success hasn't dampened his resolve to leave the game.

"I used to play pretty high stakes and a lot of hours per week and I think I won't do that anymore," he said.

The Finn told PokerListings he doesn't see himself giving up poker entirely, but he'll no longer play professionally.

"Maybe I won't quit tournaments entirely, but I'll definitely cut cash games," he said.

Wahlbeck has said that he started playing poker professionally because he started making more money at the tables than at any of his other jobs.

Prior to the WSOP, he'd logged less than $200,000 in lifetime tournament cashes, but it was in the cash games that the Finn really made his living.

"I haven't made billions or millions of dollars, but I've made a good living out of poker," he said.

His WSOP success is particularly impressive given that his cashes have come in the kinds of nontraditional games that have traditionally been the territory of poker's old guard.

But unlike the mixed-game advocates who populate Bobby's Room and other backroom Big Games, Wahlbeck honed his skills online.

"I play almost entirely online," he said. "Mainly cash games and the bigger online tournaments.

"I play a lot of the mixed games and I feel I'm pretty strong in all of them. A lot of players in these [mixed game] tournaments are good in a few games and have others that they're not great in.

"I try to play solid in Pot Limit Omaha and No Limit Hold'em because I think my edge is smallest there."

He credits fellow Finns Patrik Antonius, Ilari Sahamies and Sami Kelopuro with helping him solidify his game.

"We're all very good friends," said Wahlbeck. "I used to play against Antonius and Ziigmund and LarsLuzak, but those guys are all so tough that I really want to avoid playing them."

So what does he make of the surge in Finnish nosebleed-stakes pros?

"It's probably because we all started really early online, like when online poker began," he said. "Most of the guys who were successful then are successful now."

Wahlbeck also suggested that the popularity of Pot Limit Omaha in his native land might be part of the reason players like Antonius and Sahamies are dominating online.

"PLO is more and more popular in Finland," he said. "Three or four years ago, you couldn't go into a casino in Finland and play anything but PLO."

Antonius, Ziigmund and LarsLuzak are household names in the poker world and Wahlbeck's WSOP success could vault him into the same rarified air as his compatriots.

But he remains adamant he's walking away from the game.

What he'll do instead, however, he hasn't yet figured out.

"I've been playing professionally for six years and it's not the best thing to put on your C.V.," he said.

What he won't be doing is going back to either of his former jobs as a substitute teacher and a freelance journalist.

"Teaching is fun but really rough," he said. "And writing is a grind. It's fun, but it doesn't pay nearly as well as poker."

"Maybe if a good business opportunity comes along, I'll take that."

Regardless of where he ends up, the Finn conceded he's definitely in better shape for a fresh start now than a few months ago.

"Life's a lot more fun now, especially since the WSOP has been so good."

Jeffrey Lisandro's third WSOP bracelet win vaulted the Aussie over Wahlbeck in the Player of the Year race, but the Finn still finds himself in second place overall with 13 events to go.

Keep it locked on PokerListings.com to see if Wahlbeck can regain the lead and pull off a swan song of epic proportions.

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PPA Initiates “National Poker Week”

The PPA tries to take a big leap in its mission to lobby the legalization of online poker.

National Poker Week will take place July 19-25 and PPA will send more than 30 State Directors and at least six professional poker players to meet the members of Congress in Washington D.C.

“Our members - the poker players of America - are our best advocates to protect the future of poker.” said PPA Chairman and former U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato.

The PPA will also send a petition to President Obama asking for his support to make poker exempt from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

You can sign the petition online at www.pokerpetition.com.

Pros who are going to Washington D.C. include Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Annie Duke, Jan Fisher, Linda Johnson and Dennis Phillips.

“Protecting Americans’ right to play poker - whether online or around the poker table - is something everyone should support even if you don’t play,” Lederer said.

“Restricting what we can do online in the privacy of our own home is a slippery slope, which is why I am coming to Washington for National Poker Week - to tell my members of Congress to protect my rights.”

The PPA will also have a charity poker tournament on July 21, benefitting the USO and the Malone House at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Wounded servicemen and women will be playing alongside poker pros, PPA’s State Directors, and members of Congress. All proceeds from the event go directly to the USO.

Source: Pokerlistings.com

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PPA Initiates “National Poker Week”

PPA introduces National Poker Week

The PPA is attempting to take the next step in its ongoing mission to lobby for the legalization of online poker by announcing its newest promotion.

PPA National Poker Week will take place July 19-25, and the grassroots organization is stepping up its efforts by going directly to Washington D.C. and talking to members of Congress.

The group will send more than 30 State Directors and at least six professional poker players to D.C. The PPA representatives will meet with members of congress and lobby for legalization and regulation of online poker.

"Our members - the poker players of America - are our best advocates to protect the future of poker," said PPA Chairman and former U.S. Senator Alfonse D'Amato said.

"National Poker Week, with events in Washington, D.C., and across the country, is the PPA's way to make it clear to my former colleagues in the U.S. Congress that poker is important to voters and is here to stay."

The PPA will also send a petition to President Obama asking for his support to make poker exempt from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

Supporters can sign the petition online at www.pokerpetition.com.

Throughout National Poker Week the PPA will organize telephone and email promotions aimed at making the voice of the poker player heard in the halls of Congress. Players can visit www.nationalpokerweek.com to find out how to help out.

Pros scheduled to go to Washington D.C. include Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Annie Duke, Jan Fisher, Linda Johnson and Dennis Phillips.

"Protecting Americans' right to play poker - whether online or around the poker table - is something everyone should support even if you don't play," Lederer said.

"Restricting what we can do online in the privacy of our own home is a slippery slope, which is why I am coming to Washington for National Poker Week - to tell my members of Congress to protect my rights."

The PPA will also host a charity poker tournament on July 21, benefitting the USO and the Malone House at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Wounded servicemen and women will be playing alongside poker pros, PPA's State Directors, and members of Congress. All proceeds from the event go directly to the USO.

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Lee Jones Discusses the Future of Cake Poker

Recently, we reported that Lee Jones, the former Poker Room Manager on PokerStars, signed with Cake Poker. The agreement marks a coup of sorts for the USA-friendly site, the flagship member of a network that also includes Doyle’s Room, Poker Host, and Sportsbook.com, just to name a few. Poker News Daily sat down with Jones for an exclusive look at his role and the future of the site.

Poker News Daily: Congratulations on your new role with Cake Poker. Tell our readers what responsibilities you’ll be assuming.

Jones: My official title is Card Room Manager. One of my most important roles will be acting as a player advocate. You’re going to see me at live events, I’ll be playing on the site, and I’ll be hosting tournaments. I’ll also have an internal role where I’ll be consulting on tournaments and the client software. I’ve spent the last few days working with them. They’re great folks and we’re having a good time together. I’m benefiting from their perspective and they’re benefiting from mine. It’s a great opportunity for me and I hope I’ll be able to contribute a lot to Cake.

PND: You left CardRunners in February after serving as the poker training site’s Chief Operating Officer. How did you find your way to Cake Poker?

Jones: It’s a small business that we’re all in. I was talking to Nat Arem about something completely unrelated and he suggested that Cake Poker might be a good fit. One thing led to another and we got started from there.

PND: What made Cake Poker an appealing online poker site to sign with?

Jones: They were already on my radar because I was really impressed with an enterprise that could develop critical mass under the shade of PokerStars and Full Tilt. I thought they had something because it’s a tough business to break into.

PND: From what we’ve heard from players, Cake Poker could use a new software client. Do you agree?

Jones: We are working on it right now. We consider the client to be our weakest link. That came up in the initial conversation I had with Cake Poker’s senior management. My professional background is in software, so I’m really sensitive to that. We talked early on and agreed that the client is behind the times. I’ve seen what’s under development. There are people actively working very hard on a new client and I think it’s going to be state of the art when it comes out. It’s crucial to get the client up to standing with what PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker offer.

PND: After leaving PokerStars, you worked with the European Poker Tour for one year and then with CardRunners for one year. Are you looking forward to settling down with Cake Poker?

Jones: I am enthusiastic about this. It’s interesting coming from PokerStars, which we grew from a small into a big company. It’s fun being back in a small company and seeing if we can do this again. I spent 25 years in Silicon Valley and you’d see that with guys over and over. The fun part is growing the small company and seeing what you can do differently. You can look back on things that you did right and can do better. The staff here is great and a lot of them have strong industry experience.

PND: What will it take for Cake Poker to be on the same level as PokerStars in the eyes of players?

Jones: We’re coming up with a unique rewards program. We’ve got things like the Gold Cards and Gold Chips programs, but over the next year, you’ll see it expand into something that’s completely different than anything else in the business. Once we roll that out, it will blow people’s minds in how it affects the whole industry.

We are also departing from PokerStars’ path in some ways, but ones we think are good for the players. For example, we permit players to change their screen name every week. I advocated something similar to that in a blog post a couple of years ago. We allow tracking software only for monitoring your own results, not “fish finding,” if you will.

In short, we’re emphasizing poker as entertainment. That’s a very different model than Full Tilt, for example. They have a really strong brand message of playing against the pros. Our message is a different one and we think that’s good for us. Let’s not forget that poker is a game. In some respects, the only reason you play with money is because it’s a component that makes the game interesting. To many of us, it’s not about the money; it’s about the competition, the math, and the psychological battles. Money can quite literally be a way of keeping score.

PND: Talk about the importance of providing top-notch customer service, which you helped instill at PokerStars.

Jones: If you don’t respect what PokerStars did before, during, and after my tenure, you’re not paying attention, but there’s nothing in the world that says they’re the only ones that can do that. I worked at IBM for years and people said no one could surpass them; nothing is guaranteed. PokerStars is number one and Full Tilt is number two, but good ideas, good people, hard work, and executing plans – no one has a corner on that market. The beauty of the honest business world is that if we provide good customer service and a great player experience, we can advance. We are going to do that.

Top 5 least popular WSOP Main Event winners

Most people would cite Chris Moneymaker's win at the 2003 WSOP as the catalyst to the poker boom that occurred shortly thereafter.

Moneymaker's amateur status, passion for the game and fortuitous name all helped turn poker into a multi-billion dollar industry and he has to be considered one of the Main Event's most popular winners as a result.

But there have been some winners, especially recently, that have done little to grow the game and, in fact, may have even kept poker from becoming more mainstream.

With the 40th anniversary of the WSOP just weeks away and plans in place to bring every living Main Event champion back for the 2009 Champions Invitational freeroll, the debate has been opened yet again as to the top five least popular WSOP Main Event winners in history.

The top candidates, by common consensus:

5. Jerry Yang (2007)

There's no question Jerry Yang brought his A-game to the final table of the 2007 WSOP Main Event. The social worker entered the day as the short-stack but quickly went to work knocking out seven of the eight final table players.

He was the most aggressive player and walked away with the biggest prize as a result. Yang also had a fairly inspirational background, including spending four years in a refugee camp in Thailand and winning a $225 satellite into the tournament.

Unfortunately Yang never really embraced his status as an ambassador for poker. And since winning $8.25 million at the 2007 WSOP, Yang has one cash - $1,324 at the Binion's Poker Open.

Yang's religious nature proved difficult to market and even when he took on a poker nickname (The Shadow) it failed to gain him much credibility.

Some poker sites called Yang "a bigger bust then Jamie Gold" and in 2008 Wicked Chops Poker dubbed him "the most anonymous WSOP Main Event winner in recent history."

Yang is an outstanding person and a good citizen, but his contributions to the poker world have been minimal. He will likely go down in history as one of the most forgettable Main Event champions.

4. Amarillo Slim (1972)

Amarillo Slim (born Thomas Austin Preston, Jr.) was one of the most popular WSOP champions when he won back in 1972.

He went on talk shows and was the face of poker for some 30-odd years.

Although he was often branded a hustler and his character was questioned throughout his life, it wasn't until much later things really went bad for Preston.

In August 2004 Slim was indicted on three charges of indecency with a 12-year-old family member. The charges were reduced to a misdemeanor assault in a plea bargain.

"Slim is a great character and was crucial to the growth of poker and the WSOP in the seventies, but darker recent chapters in his life have tarnished his reputation," explained ESPN columnist Gary Wise, who also runs www.wisehandpoker.com.

"There are many poker players who won't associate with him as a result of the charges brought against him in 2004."

Slim is another classic case of a missed opportunity. The outspoken Texan could still be one of the ambassadors for the game, but instead was cast as a villain.

There were even rumors that Nicolas Cage was set to play Slim in an motion picture before the charges were laid and the movie was canned.

Poker players have long debated Slim's level of guilt and he did explain himself in an exclusive interview with PokerListings.

But at this point it would likely take a miracle to completely clear his name.

"With that in mind, Slim did a lot to grow the game while there have been a number of champions who did little in that regard," added Wise.

3. Robert Varkonyi (2002)

Robert Varkonyi outlasted 630 players to take down the 2002 WSOP Main Event and the $2 million that came along with it.

Varkonyi was so new to poker and considered by so many people to be a fish that Phil Hellmuth agreed to have his hair shaved off for charity if the MIT graduate won the Main Event. Varkonyi won and Hellmuth made good on his promise.

That was essentially the peak of Varkonyi's poker stardom.

Possibly due to his uninteresting nature, many in the poker industry have Varkonyi pegged as the worst overall champ.

"Not really sure how anybody could make an argument for anyone other than Robert Varkonyi," said Steve "Chops" Preiss of Wicked Chops Poker. "Varkonyi almost single-handedly made poker uncool."

What makes Varkonyi even more intriguing is the fact the very next year another virtually unknown player won the Main Event and changed the landscape of the poker world forever. His name was Chris Moneymaker.

"Had Chris Moneymaker not come along in 2003 and erased the memory of Varkonyi from the collective consciousness, where would the game be today?" Preiss asked.

"Varkonyi seems like a nice enough guy. But there isn't one cool thing about him. If anything, he probably would've turned away all of the hipsters that flooded the game and made it so big.

"Not to mention Varkonyi is probably recognized as the worst player of any winner. So, this one is really a no brainer."

2. Jamie Gold (2006)

The WSOP Main Event peaked in 2006 with 8,773 players. The halls of the Rio were overflowing with sponsors, online poker rooms and professional poker players. In many ways it was the biggest year in the history of poker.

The final table had some compelling stories with Michael Binger, Paul Wasicka and Full Tilt Pro Allen Cunningham all gunning for title.

Instead it was monster chip leader and former Hollywood agent Jamie Gold who took home championship honors and the whopping $12 million that came along with it.

Gold wasn't exactly known as the most honorable player during the tournament as many accused him of angle-shooting and taunting other players. But it was what happened less than a month later that seriously damaged his reputation and his bankroll.

In mid-August, Crispin Leyser, who had allegedly partnered with Gold for half the winnings, sued Gold for not paying up.

Gold eventually settled out of court with Leyser, but the damage to his reputation was already done.

There are a lot of shady moves in the poker world, but the cardinal sin in many players' eyes is welching on a debt.

To make matters worse, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement act was passed in the fall of 2006 and the start of Gold's reign as champion seemed to usher in a dark time for poker.

He wasn't exactly the type of character poker players wanted on late night TV and ESPN promoting the game. Gold was almost universally trashed in the poker world with people calling him a "donk," a "chump" and worse.

In September, an article written by Stanley R. Sludikoff for www.pokerplayernewspaper.com seemed to encompass what most poker players were feeling at the time.

"Now we have a new champion, Jamie Gold, who is leaving a bad taste in our collective mouths, by showing us a side of his character that appears to be despicable," wrote Sludikoff.

It didn't help Gold's case that he came directly after Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer and Joe Hachem, considered by most industry insiders to be huge advocates for the game.

Gold won the biggest tournament in poker history and yet most people in the poker industry seem to prefer to forget about him completely, speaking volumes about his marketability.

1. Russ Hamilton (1994)

So you've heard it all. Some of the worst WSOP champions in history. In all their boring, controversial and distasteful glory.

But there's one name that rises above the rest.

Only one of those Main Event winners would go on to help run one of the most popular poker rooms on the Internet and allegedly cheat players out of their money.

Russ Hamilton won the 1994 WSOP Main Event and the $1 million that came with the title. Strangely, Hamilton also won his body weight in silver thanks to a promotion run by the World Series.

At the time, many considered Hamilton a great champion as he was a popular Las Vegas insider with plenty of poker experience.

Everything changed in the fall of 2008 when the Kahnawake Gaming Commission claimed it had found evidence that Hamilton was the main person behind the multiple cheating incidents that had occurred at ((Ultimate Bet)).

The reaction from the poker world was both predictable and passionate.

"I gotta think that Russ Hamilton is clearly the worst for poker," said Dan Michalski, founder of the popular Pokerati.com blog.

"Who would have thought when he won in 1994 and received a hefty overlay in silver - a celebration of his gluttony - that he would later become the poster boy for just how bad poker can be sometimes."

Hamilton was slagged by almost every media source in the poker world and some players were even less kind.

2006 WSOP Player of the Year Tom Schneider was particularly incensed by Hamilton's bad behavior.

"He has done more to hurt poker than the next 100 worst [players] combined," said Schneider.

"He has tainted poker nearly beyond repair and has ruined and hurt more poker player's lives than anybody else."

According to Schneider the damage went deeper than simply taking a few bucks.

"He made winning players question their abilities, had people borrow money to pay him off and had people questioning their whole existence," he said. "No one is even close."

Hamilton's fall from grace proves that when large amounts of money are being traded back and forth, there's always the risk of corruption.

On the plus side, the situation has reminded poker players around the world to be ever-vigilant and always aware of what's going on in their poker game.

That's the list. Glaring omissions, bad picks and new suggestions are all welcome in the comments below.

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Dispute Numbers Declining at eCOGRA Certified Casinos

Independent player protection and standards group eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) has released the organization’s first quarter 2009 player disputes report. Tex Rees, the Fair Gaming Advocate with eCOGRA, investigated and mediated a total of 145 disputes in the first quarter of 2009, down from the 171 complaints made by customers in the first quarter of 2008.

Rees received a total of 197 complaints through eCOGRA’s online channel in Quarter 1 of 2009, rejecting 25 as involving non-eCOGRA accredited operations over which the protection body has no authority. Twenty seven more of those complaints were either abusive or non-specific in nature, rendering same incapable of enquiry.

Of the remaining 145 disputes, more than half (73) involved cash-ins. Locked accounts made up 21 percent of the disputes (30), while 19 percent were complaints about bonus issues (27). There were 15 grievances regarding miscellaneous issues.

Rees ruled 59 of the 145 cases in favor of the player.

“It is interesting to note that the incidence of locked account complaints has increased by four percent and is greater than bonus queries for the first time”, said Rees. “The indications are that this is due to a growing number of cases where linked accounts were proved (a tactic used by players trying to abuse bonus promotions) and a greater number of fraudulent accounts were discovered.”

The tactic Rees is referring to is very common when involving free bonus money. What some players attempt to do is open multiple accounts under different names, using different credit cards or payment information, to work their way around a specific site’s terms and conditions. This will often invoke a red flag, causing the online casino to freeze the player’s account(s). Many then claim that they’ve done nothing wrong or didn’t read the terms and conditions of the bonus in the first place.

Rees reported that the total number of disputes handled in 2008 (743) were down from the total number in 2007 (783). At the current pace that number would dip to 580 in 2009.

The primary objective of eCOGRA, according to its website, is to provide player protection by ensuring that games are fair, players will be paid timely and treated fairly, and that the operators will behave responsibly. Players will be assured of this when they transact with online gaming sites displaying the eCOGRA Safe and Fair seal. Some of the organization’s approved poker rooms include Party Poker, Pacific Poker, bwin, Empire Poker and Royal Vegas Poker.

Mike Sexton rejoins PartyPoker

"PartyPoker.com has always had a place in my heart and is special to me. I am delighted to pen a new deal; it means so much to me," said Mike Sexton.

"I am looking forward to representing them in events around the world and meeting the online package winners at the WSOP. I also relish my role as a consultant advising on poker room matters."

Sexton has been a part of PartyPoker in the past, acting as host and bringing his reputation as one of the most respected figures in the game to the poker site.

Sexton is the face and voice of the World Poker Tour as well where he provides commentary along with Vince Van Patten on its televised events. He is also a World Series of Poker bracelet holder and was the 2006 WSOP Tournament of Champions winner.

Sexton's accomplishments expand beyond just playing the game and commentating on events. He also advocated corporate involvement with poker to take the game into the mainstream, and he is the cofounder of PokerGives.org, which encourages players to make charitable donations.

"We are truly delighted to renew our association with Mike Sexton. Mike is the 'Ambassador of Poker' and we hope he gets the acknowledgement he deserves and is inducted into the WSOP® Hall of Fame this year," said a spokesman for PartyGaming Plc, owners of PartyPoker.

"Poker wouldn't be as popular as it is today if it wasn't for Mike Sexton."

Part of Sexton's duties with Party Poker will be to represent the online poker site at the 2009 WSOP where he will also act as host in the PartyPoker suite at the Rio during the Main Event.

Sexton will also travel to other live poker events around the world throughout 2009 to represent the site. He'll also have a presence on the poker site nurturing new talent and contributing to the PartyPoker blog.

"The site has changed a lot in recent times, and I am very impressed by the new software and new VIP and loyalty schemes," Sexton said.

For more information about the poker site, visit Party Poker.

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Poker Players Alliance to Spend $3 Million for Lobbying Efforts

In a recent article by the Associated Press, it was revealed that the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the major lobbying force for the poker industry, plans to spend $3 million for lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill during the current Congressional session.

The online poker industry is on the cusp of seeing new internet gambling legislation introduced by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA). It will need to sway a Congress that is engulfed with a struggling economy and ongoing war in Iraq to address the need for internet gambling or online poker legislation. The PPA’s method will be to lay out $3 million during the 111th Congress, which began in January and runs through the end of 2010. According to the Associated Press, The group gets its money from the “Interactive Gaming Council (IGC), a Vancouver, British Columbia-based trade association for online casinos, as well as from its poker player members.”

The PPA has over one million members worldwide, a number that it reached last year, and offers premium versions for a one-time fee of $20. Many of its constituents, however, are of the free variety. Benefits of upgrading to a premium membership include access to the PPA’s extensive Litigation Network, which puts poker players in need of legal counsel in touch with local pre-screened lawyers, as well as a discount program that touts potential savings of over $2,000 per year. Other benefits of the $20 membership include a PPA card protector and window decal, discounts on PPA merchandise, and the ability to donate to the organization’s Poker Political Action Committee (PAC).

The National Football League (NFL) has been among the advocates of continuing the enforcement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which was passed into law during the final minutes of the 2006 Congressional session. Last month, it was revealed that the NFL had hired lobbyist Jeff Miller, who will serve as its first in-house counsel and keep the pulse of Capitol Hill. In an interview with the Associated Press, when asked whether he would continue to support upholding the UIGEA and Wire Act, Miller responded, "We want to maintain the integrity of the game, and gambling threatens that."

The UIGEA does not clarify what is legal and illegal under it. Instead, the doctrine defers to existing federal, state, and tribal laws and charges the financial services industry with its enforcement. The Associated Press article notes that half of the $16 billion internet gambling industry is “fueled by bettors in the United States.” The entire industry underwent a makeover as a result of the 2006 law, which sent the largest online poker site at the time, PartyPoker, packing from the market. In addition, payment processors such as Neteller and Citadel Commerce fled. A subsidiary of a publicly traded company, PartyPoker is now the fourth largest site or network worldwide according to PokerScout.com. It has also rebounded to become the second largest that does not accept players from the United States.

NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told the Associated Press, “We understand that illegal gambling currently occurs, but there is little we can do about that. However, we can exercise our right to oppose Internet betting on our games. Gambling on our games – online or offline – threatens the integrity of our games and all the values they represent.” A recent study by U.S.-based PricewaterhouseCoopers noted that up to $52 billion could be raised by taxing and regulating the internet gambling industry over a ten year period. However, that figure relied heavily on professional sports leagues opening up betting on their games, a concept the NFL appears to be ardently opposed to.

Frank told the Associated Press in a previous interview that he plans to introduce internet gambling legislation before the end of April. Congress was on a recess for the Easter holiday last week. The Chairman of the powerful House Financial Services Committee had originally intended to submit a bill in March, but it was ultimately postponed due to the ongoing economic meltdown. What form the legislation will take is also not yet known.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest from Capitol Hill.

South Carolina Holds Hearings on Legalizing Poker

Senate Bill 535 is making waves in South Carolina. Fresh off the trial of five poker players in Mount Pleasant in which the defendants were found guilty due to a lack of direction by South Carolina state law, S 535 would legalize “social gambling.”

In addition, during tough economic times, S 535 would pave the way for the introduction of “casino night events conducted as a fundraising activity of limited duration by a non-profit organization.” The bill specifically legalizes home games provided that no rake is taken. S 535 reads, “Gambling in a private home where no house player, house bank, or house odds exist and where there is no house income from the operation of the game is social gambling and is” acceptable should it be passed.

State Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) is the brains behind S 535, which was introduced on March 5th and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. According to the Post and Courier newspaper, bills that are introduced in South Carolina carry a life span of two years, “which means that if the bill does not pass by the end of the 2009 session in late May or early June, there's always time in 2010, which is an election year.”

A public hearing on S 535 was held on Monday in Greenville. A separate bill introduced by McConnell, S 560, was also discussed. That bill, although not related to poker, would legalize certain forms of raffles for churches and other non-profits. According to the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the main lobbying organization for the poker industry, about 150 people showed up for Monday's hearing, with the audience split evenly between opponents and advocates of the bills. Among those calling for their passage were the American Legion and former Appeals Court Judge Billy Wilkins, who spoke on behalf of the PPA. On the other side of the aisle were parties such as the South Carolina Baptist Convention.

John Pappas, Executive Director of the PPA, told Poker News Daily that about 40 of its members were in attendance supporting the bill. He explained, “The folks from our side represented a variety of people from lawyers to Average Joes.” In addition to legalizing traditional poker home games with no rake, S 535 also allows dice games, billiards, backgammon, and chess where no betting takes place and no cash or other prizes are awarded to its winners. The law in question was passed in the early 19th Century.

At a hearing in front of a South Carolina Senate panel, Bob Chimento, one of the players arrested as part of the Mount Pleasant poker case, recalled the scene when his home game was abruptly broken up in 2006: “Guns were drawn and pointed at us. They weren't pointed at the ground; they were pointed at us over a $100 fine. Someone could have been seriously injured that night or someone could have been killed.” Chimento was among five defendants (along with Jeremy Bristel, Michael Williamson, Scott Richards, and John Willis) who were found guilty in February of illegal gambling. The poker players were allegedly playing in a benign home game and, if S 535 had been on the books, they would be in no hot water legally.

Although Judge Larry Duffy found overwhelming evidence that poker was a game of skill, he deferred to an appellate court to determine whether the “Dominant Test” should apply. In other words, under current state law, it is unclear whether a game dominated by skill is legal in South Carolina. The game took place in Nathaniel Stallings' home in Mount Pleasant in April of 2006. The PPA sent World Poker Tour Host Mike Sexton to testify that poker was a game of skill using video evidence from past tournaments. Dr. Robert Hannum, a statistics professor at the University of Denver, presented results from a recent study showing that out of 103 million hands of Texas Hold'em on PokerStars, three-quarters did not go to showdown. Instead, they were won by the betting of players. Of the 24.3% of hands that went to showdown, the player holding the best hand won just 50.3% of the time. In the other 49.7% of cases, the player who had the best hand folded by the time the cards were flipped over.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest legislative news from South Carolina and around the world.

Mike Sexton on Skill Versus Chance in Poker

Recently, I went to Charleston, South Carolina to testify as an "expert witness" in a poker trial. The case was the Town of Mount Pleasant versus five poker players who pled not guilty when they were busted for playing in a $20 tournament in someone's house a couple of years ago. South Carolina law is similar to about 20 other states' laws which say that it's illegal to bet on any games of chance (in South Carolina, any game of dice or cards is considered to be a game of chance). Our mission was to prove that No Limit Hold'em poker was predominantly (more than 51%) a game of skill rather than chance. Fortunately for everyone in the poker world, Judge Larry Duffy agreed to hear testimony on this.

To poker players, whether poker is a game of skill or chance is a "no-brainer." In my research for this case, I learned that several previous cases failed to prove this in court (even though two recent rulings in Pennsylvania and Colorado ruled that skill was the predominant factor in Hold'em). Proving that skill predominates over chance in a court of law is quite different than discussing it among poker players. Even if someone was a big favorite to win a pot, people who really don't play poker see that any card can come up in the end and, therefore, many would think that Hold'em poker is primarily a game of chance.

Twenty states have laws similar to South Carolina's, which says that it's illegal to bet on any games of dice or cards. They claim it's illegal to gamble on games of chance. If we were able to prove to the judge that poker was predominantly (51% or more) a game of skill, then perhaps the law could be changed to allow poker players to play in their homes without fear of criminalization. Obviously, the more court rulings that agree with this, the better the chance we have to change the laws nationwide.

Prior to going to South Carolina, I was forwarded a paper written by Howard Lederer on the predominant factor of skill versus chance in poker (specifically in No Limit Hold'em, as this was the game these guys were playing when they were busted). I thought Howard's paper was brilliant. It was well thought out and very well written. Howard understood why previous cases had failed to prove that skill predominated over chance in poker. For the most part, they basically rested their testimony on the fact that that better players have an edge and the same people win year after year. He felt this thought process was doomed to fail in court.

The crux of Howard's paper focused on the "predominant factor" and the skill elements of the game - things that are in total control of the player such as betting, calling, and folding. Everyone agrees on what the chance elements are in poker - the randomness of the cards and how they are dealt. The skill elements are what need to be defined. If there was no betting or folding in poker, it would be showdown poker and the luckiest player would win. It would simply be a game of chance. But that's not how poker is played. One key point (verified by over 100 million hands played) is that over 70% of the hands dealt in No Limit Hold'em do not go to showdown (regardless of who may or may not have had the best hand). These pots are won by the skill applied by the player betting and getting everyone out of the pot.

In my testimony, I listed ten points that I felt were vital to becoming a successful poker player and stressed that there is so much more to playing poker than just the cards you get. I brought footage of actual hands that were played on the World Poker Tour to use for demonstration. They showed bluffing (where the guy won the pot, not because of his cards, but because of his skill), amateurs making mistakes, tells that were read properly by an opponent, someone making a tough call, and someone making a good laydown. These visual aids were very impressive in demonstrating that skill predominates over chance in No Limit Hold'em.

After hearing the testimony of myself and Dr. Bob Hannum (an expert in gaming mathematics who also testified as an expert witness), it seemed pretty obvious to all, especially the judge, that skill was the predominant factor in poker. Although the prosecutor asked us a few questions, he didn't really make an effort to produce any contradictory evidence to the facts we testified on. He said his case didn't matter whether poker was a game of skill or chance, but simply that these players were playing in a "house of gaming" and were guilty as charged.

The decision by the Judge Duffy resoundingly held poker to be a game of skill. However, he ruled against the five defendants. Judge Duffy is leaving it up to the appellate courts in South Carolina to decide if that fact is determinative of whether playing in a home game with a rake is legal under South Carolina law. He noted the absence of authority from the South Carolina Supreme Court as to whether the predominance test is the law in the state.

To quote Judge Duffy in his decision, "This Court, based on the above stated facts, finds that Texas Hold'em is a game of skill. The evidence and studies are overwhelming that this is so."

This was my first testimonial as an expert witness and it was a unique experience for me. It was also a positive result for poker. The case will be appealed to a higher court and we hope that it goes by the "predominance" part of the state statute. If so, look for the law to change where people can play poker in the privacy of their homes (whether online or live) without fear of criminal prosecution.

A special thanks to the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) for their support in this case. They helped fund the attorneys and expert witnesses in an effort to stand up for the rights of poker players. I also want to thank Bob Ciaffone (advocate for poker players' rights) and Chuck Humphrey (expert on gaming law) for their efforts in coordinating the lawyers and expert witnesses for the case. The brief of amicus curiae put together by Tom Goldstein was fantastic. Everyone who enjoys poker owes them a tip of the hat, as they are all fighting for your right to play poker.

It was a fun four days in Charleston for me. Someone said, "Sexton's a rock star!" I wouldn't go that far, but I was appreciated by the defendants and the supporters of the case for being there. I was in the local papers and on television every day. One blogger from the courtroom wrote, "Everyone in that courtroom should have paid to hear Sexton's testimony!" I must say, that was pretty cool. To that blogger and to Howard Lederer (for writing that paper), let me say, "Thank you!"