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Tiffany Michelle Talks Politics on Fox Business Network

If someone would have asked you who you thought would be a good person to appear on a national news program to discuss politics, we're guessing that UB.com's Tiffany Michelle would have been way down your list.  Sure enough, however, Michelle was Neil Cavuto's guest Tuesday on his Fox Business Network show, "Cavuto," comparing President Barack Obama's persistence with his health care plan to a poker player playing bad cards.

In the five-minute conversation, titled "Obama Making a Bad Bet?" on the Fox Business website, there was no debate on whether the proposed health care reform plan was good; it was simply assumed it was bad and that the majority of Americans are against it.  Cavuto's interview consisted of repeatedly asking Michelle to compare the President's health care efforts to playing poor hands.  For her part, Michelle came off fairly well, indulging Cavuto by using poker metaphor after poker metaphor to describe Obama's health care reform strategy.

Some tidbits:

Neil Cavuto: Taking a look at what the President's doing… a good gambler, I understand, or someone who bets a lot, understands, or thinks, that he or she has a good hand.  Am I right?
Tiffany Michelle: Yeah, generally you have a good hand, or you know if you have a bad hand, how to maneuver with that hand and take advantage of your opponent's weaknesses.

Cavuto: Now, the President, fairly or not Tiffany, is viewed to have a bad hand right now because prior cards he's dealt have turned out to be, you know, threes and fours.  They haven't really worked out.  Yet he continues playing the same hand.  What is the strategy behind that?
Michelle: [Preceding portion of answer snipped] What often happens for some players is you continue to push the issues, you continue to play the bad hands, you continue to get in sticky situations, and what really needs to happen is you need to step away from the table, you need to clear your head.

Tiffany Michelle laid it on thick, inserting poker comparisons at every turn.  Some of her best lines included:

"Here we are, let's say we're deep in the World Series, we're coming close to the bubble, you can taste that final table and the money and it's not looking like it's going to happen."

"Not only did Barack Obama in his first year in office decide to tackle one of the toughest issues in U.S. politics… it would be like me approaching Phil Hellmuth on my first day of my poker game and saying, 'Hey, Phil Hellmuth, you have 11 bracelets.  I want to challenge you heads-up.'"

"Talk about Scott Brown, that was a really bad beat for Barack Obama and the Democrats, who really thought they had a good chip lead there.  You know, they thought they had a lock on this tournament."

Members of the poker community universally panned the interview.  The reactions, however, were split between those who detested the fact that Michelle was chosen as the poker representative and those who simply thought that the interview itself was horrible.

He added, "I thought it was evenly presented, the gambling expert knew as much about gambling as the politics expert new abt politics," as well as, "I think it was more shady that TM passed herself off as a gambling expert with a clue abt politics to promote herself."

"Hollywood" Dave Stann, one of Tiffany Michelle's fellow UB.com pros, was more disgusted with Fox Business, Cavuto, and the interview itself, Tweeting, "WTF FoxNews? Generic gambling terms dissing Obama, then using pro gamblers as pawns 2 back it up? I dodged their invite 2day, thank fuck!"

Summing it up for someone who asked what the interview was all about, Stann tweeted, "fucking Fox presenting right-wing editorial talking points as 'news' then interviewing pros as 'evidence' of Obama ineptitude."

Some of the more entertaining comments on the interview came from the Two Plus Two forums.  Forum poster "TheTruthSpeaks" wrote, "While I was watching it I kept waiting to wake up as this certainly must be a dream or something. I mean surely I didn't really just see Tiffany Michelle on a news channel talking about politics while using horrible poker analogies to do it.  This has got to be the first sign of the Apocalypse."

"Randomness28" may have had two of the best quotes on how ridiculous the interview concept was, first saying, "Funny that the Q is 'How is Obama playing his hand?' .... so they decide to bring in a poker player for analysis. Someone should tell the staff of Cavuto's that 'playing his hand' is just a figure of speech.  Next on Cavuto: 'Are Republicans a move ahead of Democrats in setting up for 2012? We bring in chess GM to discuss this.'"

He later added, "Equivalent of this would be for Fox to pose the Q: How is the Obama administration going to kick off its second term in office? And to bring in a third string kicker of a Junior College to answer the Q."

Judge the Tiffany Michelle Fox Business interview for yourself.

Tiffany Michelle got her start in the poker world in 2006, when she served as an on-air host for the World Series of Poker (WSOP) coverage on Sirius Satellite Radio.  In 2007, she appeared on-camera, hosting various segments and conducting interviews for PokerNews.com.  Michelle officially turned heads the following year when she was the last woman remaining in the WSOP Main Event, eventually bowing out in 17th place and earning $334,534.  She was exposed to a nationwide audience in 2009 when she and fellow poker pro, Maria Ho, competed on the hit CBS show, "The Amazing Race."

Tiffany Michelle Comments on New Amazing Race Cast

The pairings for the 16th cycle of the Emmy Award winning reality series “Amazing Race” were released last week and, this time around, no poker players will make the journey. Competing last season was UB.com pro Tiffany Michelle, who hit the “Amazing Race” circuit with Maria Ho. Michelle sat down with Poker News Daily to preview the new season, which kicks off on February 14th on CBS.

Poker News Daily: This cycle’s cast list includes former housemates on CBS’ “Big Brother,” Miss Teen South Carolina 2007, and a Major League Baseball third base coach. Who’s your horse?

Tiffany Michelle: It’s interesting to see that there are three all-female teams this season. Last year, it was a really young, competitive bunch. The producers have to keep it to where everyone’s strengths, weaknesses, and abilities are on par with the others in that season. We thought it was weird that there wasn’t an old couple or a mom and daughter last year. This year, they opened it up again.

I’ve been watching the initial meet the cast videos and I think the cowboys (Jet and Cord) will be a fan favorite. The ones that stood out to me were the detectives (Louie and Michael). That’s an interesting type of person to put on the show.

PND: Were you surprised to see that no poker players will journey out for this season of “Amazing Race”?

Tiffany Michelle: Doing enough in the entertainment business, I have some insight into how casting works. You can’t exhaust one group of people. You want to keep it new and fresh every year and that’s why we were brought on last year. Each season, they’ll reach out to grab people from all walks of life. As hot of a topic as poker is, each of the poker players who have been on reality shows were there for a reason. I don’t think you’ll see a huge influx of poker players on reality shows.

PND: What about poker players gives them a leg up on the competition in a series like “Amazing Race”?

Tiffany Michelle: Your outlook on life, games, and competition is different than the everyday person’s. Poker encompasses psychology, mathematics, aggression, and observation. Poker is very similar to chess in that it requires a lot of mental stamina and gamesmanship. Poker players are used to approaching games from a different point of view.

PND: There has been a trend on the show to include racers who have already appeared in front of television cameras and in the public eye. Does that give anyone an edge?

Tiffany Michelle: After Phil [Keoghan] says go, you are not even aware of the cameras or audio guys. Within the first day, you’re oblivious to having a camera crew. They’re good at not getting in your way too.

PND: This installment’s cast is rumored to travel to places like Chile, Argentina, Singapore, and Seychelles. If you had the chance to run the “Amazing Race” again, where would you go?

Tiffany Michelle: Warm places like Australia, the Caribbean, and some lovely tropical destinations. This season, it’ll be a little bit colder and you won’t hit a lot of hot spots. A lot of our season’s cast wanted to go to Africa because it’d be an incredible experience. That was one place that I thought would be awesome. From a technical standpoint, it’s hard to pull that off, though. We went to Vietnam, which they said for years they had tried to do.

PND: How’d you fare at the L.A. Poker Classic?

Tiffany Michelle: I only played one event. Maria and I both played and it was nice to be back in the saddle. Now, I am off to Panama and I’ll be back at the Commerce Casino after that. I’m trying to decide between doing the North American Poker Tour (NAPT) or L.A. Poker Classic Main Events. In two weeks, I’m going to Las Vegas to do a show with the Harlem Globetrotters. We’re going to suit up and play against them. I’m pretty sporty, but basketball is my worst sport.

PND: We read on Twitter that you were reviewing movies for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. What’s your involvement with them?

Tiffany Michelle: I’m a member of SAG, which is the union for acting, entertainment, film, and television. Every year, whereas the Emmys and Oscars are voting on by academies, actors vote on the SAG Awards. During awards season, they send you movies to watch and you vote. I always get a slew of current nominees.

I thought “Inglorious Basterds” was incredibly phenomenal. I thought it was an amazing movie. “Up in the Air” was cool too. I’m a girl, so of course I loved “It’s Complicated.” For television shows, I love “Glee” and Kevin McHale is a friend of mine.

PND: How have you been faring in the ongoing Ultimate Bet Online Championship (UBOC)?

Tiffany Michelle: Sunday was the $2,500 buy-in $1 million guaranteed. I played it even though I don’t play short-handed poker. I can play six-handed, but I know there are a lot of specific strategies with regards to starting hands.

Internet Gambling Bill Introduced in New Jersey

Legalized internet gambling and online poker may be coming to New Jersey. State Senator Raymond Lesniak introduced S 3167, which specifically legalizes the internet version of popular brick and mortar games like poker, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, craps, the big six wheel, slot machines, mini baccarat, red dog, pai gow, and sic bo.

Servers and monitoring offices for internet gaming companies created under the bill must be located in Atlantic County, New Jersey. The State is charged with protecting consumers under the bill, which explains that a government division would develop “technical standards for approval of software, computers and other gaming equipment used to conduct internet wagering, including mechanical, electrical or program reliability, security against tampering, the comprehensibility of wagering, and noise and light levels, as it may deem necessary to protect the player from fraud or deception and to insure the integrity of gaming.” Online accounts would only be open to players age 21 or older, mirroring the standards of the brick and mortar casino world.

Online poker is mentioned by name several times, mitigating any doubt that the game may not be legal if Lesniak’s bill were enacted into law. Internet gambling outfits would be subject to a 20% tax paid to the state’s casino revenue fund. An additional tax will see a portion of its proceeds go to the New Jersey Racing Commission “to be used for the benefit of the horse racing, including but not limited to the augmentation of purses.”

The act would take effect immediately upon future Governor Chris Christie signing it into law, setting up a model for intrastate online gaming that other jurisdictions could soon mimic. The New Jersey Casino Control Commission would establish a Division of Internet Wagering to oversee operations and licensing. Permit holders would be required to pay an up-front licensing fee of $200,000, with renewals running $100,000. In addition, operators would be required to fork over a $100,000 non-refundable deposit and $100,000 annual fee that would go towards treating compulsive gambling.

The Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) has been one of the leading forces pushing for legislation in New Jersey. Its Chairman, Joe Brennan, commented in a press release distributed by the trade organization, “We’re happy that New Jersey has taken this issue into their own hands. New Jersey is recognized as having the toughest gaming regulators in the U.S., but as a leading gaming state with a long track record of doing things the right way, internet gambling will have a great home here and the opportunity to begin normalizing the industry.”

Legal online wagering on horse racing is available to New Jersey residents on 4NJBets.com. Those placing wagers must be 18 years of age and have completed a form W9 for tax purposes. An automated phone betting system supplements the website, allowing multiple avenues for New Jersey residents to place wagers on their favorite ponies. Popular New Jersey tracks include Monmouth, Meadowlands, and Freehold.

On a national level, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez has introduced S 1597, the Internet Poker and Game of Skill Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act. As its name implies, the measure legalizes skill games like online poker in a similar fashion to Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA) HR 2267 in the House. S 1597 was introduced in August, but has not yet picked up any co-sponsors. Menendez’s bill defines “skill game” simply as “an Internet-based game in which success is predominantly determined by the skill of the players, including poker, chess, bridge, mah-jong, and backgammon.”

In the meantime, iMEGA anxiously awaits a decision from the Kentucky Supreme Court on the future of 141 internet gambling domain names, including those belonging to PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, that face potential forfeiture. A decision may be handed down as soon as January 21st.

Sports Greats Define Poker at PCA

But does it really belong there? Is poker really a sport?

Webster’s defines sport as an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition.

Under that definition, 1988 Major League Baseball World Series MVP Orel Hershiser, who certainly knows a thing or two about sports and is playing at the PCA as a Friend of PokerStars this year, says poker might just fit.

“I don’t think Monopoly is a sport, but there’s no tells in Monopoly, there’s nothing physical,” he said. “That’s the part about poker that makes me think it’s a sport, because there are some physical attributes to the game, as far as controlling your heart rate, how you move your chips and what you do with your eyes.

“People say that it’s not physical, but there are some physical attributes to the game and that would make me push it closer to the definition of a sport.”

PokerStars SportStar Matt Sundin, a National Hockey League legend, tends to agree.

“In my mind it is a sport,” he told PokerListings on a break at the PCA. “Except for the physical grind of hockey, I see a lot of similarities between hockey and poker. The same anticipation exists, you need to have a good game plan and you need to be physically fit in order to play four or five days in a row.

“I couldn’t believe it the first time I played a live tournament; you get the same pulsing heart rate you do when you are playing hockey.”

However, tennis Legend Boris Becker, another PokerStars SportStar playing at the PCA, sees poker as a totally different animal than the sport that made him a household name all over the world.

“The same question is whether chess is a sport,” he said. “It’s a mental sport, not a physical sport. I would consider poker a sport, but obviously not a physical sport. It’s somewhere in the middle.”

In making the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event final table, Team PokerStars Pro Dennis Phillips had to endure eight 16-hour days on the felt.

He believes anything that requires that kind of endurance has to be considered a sport.

“It’s competition, it does take a skill level and you have to practice to improve, so yeah, I do consider poker a sport,” he said. “If you are at the World Series of Poker, and you are going to play eight days, 16 hours a day, every day, you do have to be physically prepared for it. You have to eat right, sleep right, and get mentally prepared just like any sport.”

But fellow Team PokerStars Pro Hevad Khan, who went through the same grind to book a seat in the 2007 WSOP Main Event, disagrees.

“It’s only a sport because it’s on ESPN so people consider it a sport, other than that, no way,” he said. “You’ve got to sweat to make something a sport. Poker is very high-level professional gambling. They may want to say it’s a sport to get it into new markets, but you can’t lie about it. It’s gambling.”

Sport or not, Phillips believes those who come to poker from a sports background, like Becker, Sundin and Hershiser, bring with them a competitive edge that certainly makes them better poker players.

“They’ve been competitive their whole lives, probably from grade school on,” he said. “These guys have been doing it year after year and they don’t like to lose. I don’t like to lose either, you give me a game of Tiddlywinks and I’m going to try and win the damn game, and that’s where we are similar. But they have an edge because they’ve been doing it day in, day out for years.

“I can’t believe Orel Hershiser is going to lay down for anybody in any game or sport.”

More than 1,500 players descended upon the Bahamas to play poker this week, making the 2010 PCA the largest poker tournament ever held outside the United States, further proving poker isn’t going anywhere and neither is the debate over whether it is a sport or not.

To follow all the action from the event, click through to PokerListings’ Live Updates.

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Martin Kendell Relives PokerStars Million Dollar Challenge Experience

Recently, the finale of the “PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” aired on FOX, with 9/11 first responder Mike Kosowski defeating Daniel Negreanu to pocket $1 million. Playing on the show’s fourth episode, but not appearing on air, was Martin Kendell, who sat down with Poker News Daily to recap his experience.

Poker News Daily: Tell us how you qualified for the “PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge.”

Martin Kendell: I actually got canned from the job I had a few days before and was on the computer looking for a job. I played one of the freerolls, got through, and made a video over Labor Day weekend. They liked it and gave me an audition over the phone. It was just one of those things that fell into my lap.

PND: Tell us about facing off against model Joanna Krupa in the first round.

Martin Kendell: I got unlucky. I had no hands against Krupa. She folded pre-flop three times and, each time, I had an ace. I had about three hands where I played with her with a draw to the river and nothing materialized.

PND: Was it disappointing not advancing to the second round to face off against a member of Team PokerStars Pro?

Martin Kendell: I understood from Day 1 that this isn’t a real poker game. It’s a turbo format and you’re going to have to take a risk or two. I think the format is a great one for playing against pros, though. If you play them even keel, the pro will win the vast majority of the time. A turbo gives you a shot at beating a pro.

PND: You went out to Los Angeles to appear on the show in October, but never made it to the table. Tell us what happened.

Martin Kendell: I was there when Sergeant Denny Luna played and Brian Barboza won $100,000. I was in the crowd for some parts and in the back for the rest. They said I was fifth in line to play. I was ready to go, but at the last second, they bumped me for someone else. They had three people leftover, two girls and a guy, and wanted to give the girl a shot in order to balance the show. I was upset at the time, but I have a broadcasting background, so I understood why they did it.

They told me when they bumped me that I was coming back for sure in December to tape. When you were brought there, you were told you’d be taped for the show for sure or you’d be an alternate. There were people flown out as alternates who didn’t get taped and were told they weren’t coming back.

PND: What celebrity were you hoping to play in the first round of the “PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge”?

Martin Kendell: I was hoping to get Jayde Nicole. She’s a Canadian girl and we would have had something to talk about since I am Canadian. I also didn’t think that she was a good player. I was also hoping for John Salley because I was a big Detroit Pistons fan.

PND: Can you give us some inside details about the “PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” tapings?

Martin Kendell: The audience is brought in through casting companies. They bring in people for a certain amount of money to be in the audience and clap when told to. It’s interesting to see what goes into taping each broadcast. For every 15 minutes of screen time, there’s probably an hour and a half to two hours of taping. Everyone with PokerStars was very kind, courteous, and professional. We had a great time doing it. Even though it was high pressure, they were easy to work with.

PND: How did you get started in poker originally?

Martin Kendell: I played home games with friends back in the 1990s. In 2003, my mom had died and I was hanging out with my girlfriend. The World Series of Poker with Chris Moneymaker came on and I was hooked. I used to be a huge chess player, so the strategy really appealed to me. In chess, you have a player beat or you don’t. In poker, you don’t have to have the best cards to beat the other player.

Chess Prodigy Checkmates EPT

At eight years old, Canadian Jeff Sarwer won the Under 10 World Youth Chess Championship in Puerto Rico.

By the time he was nine, he was travelling around North America taking on 40 players at a time in a series of simultaneous chess demonstrations, playing the world’s best speed chess hustlers in New York’s Washington Square and earning himself a lifetime membership in the revered Manhattan Chess Club.

He quickly became a darling of the media, was pegged by Grand Masters as a future World Champion and even became the inspiration for a character in the famed poker film Searching For Bobby Fischer.

But it all came to a crashing halt.

His father pulled him out of chess and the alternative lifestyle he had them living, including refusing to enroll Sarwer and his sister in school and having them sleep in the car as they travelled around, came under intense scrutiny.

Canadian authorities soon removed Sarwer and his sister from their father’s care, but they ran away to be reunited with him, spending the better part of the next 20 years in anonymity, traveling around Europe under a cloud of secrecy.

“I had a pretty tough childhood,” Sarwer said. “My father was quite controlling. But he was a really interesting character and there are a lot of good sides to him as well. As an adult I’ve just called it a wash and moved on with my life.”

In 2007 he resurfaced on the chess scene entering a tournament in Poland, where he now lives.

However, the 31-year-old was soon bitten by the poker bug.

“I’ve always loved poker as a game,” he said. “It has gotten so popular over the last couple of years it just finally grabbed me as well. Poker is all over TV, all my friends play. So I just figured let’s get into this, it’s a fun game.”

Sarwer read Harrington on Hold 'em by 1995 WSOP Main Event champion Dan Harrington and headed for Prague to play in the PokerStars European Poker Tour’s annual Czech Republic stop last year.

“I really knew nothing but the basics,” he said. “But I did manage to cash, so that was good for my confidence.”

The €7,000 he earned for a 54th place finish was just the start. By February of this year he had managed to make the final table at the European Masters of Poker event in Tallinn, finishing third for €29,760.

He booked a few small cashes in lower buy-in events across Europe and then this October, things really seemed to click as he absolutely dominated play at EPT Warsaw before busting tenth.

But Sarwer would not have to wait long for a real breakthrough.

Just a few weeks later he made the final table at EPT Vilamoura, finishing third for €156,170.

“I’ve developed and I think I just started to realize exactly what’s going on here,” he explained. “All I needed was a few good conversations with some really good players in order to get my game there.

“My confidence has always been up there. I believe in admitting I’m wrong when I’m wrong, but genuine confidence, I have that from chess and from life.”

When it comes to poker, it appears his chess background has given Sarwer a lot more than confidence. He believes there are several parallels between the two games.

“There are a lot of similarities and a lot of things that are different,” he said. “The things that are similar include having to pay attention, gather information and think a few moves ahead about what types of moves people will do, what your opponent is feeling and what he’s thinking. All that stuff is a little bit like chess.

“Certainly at a Master level, or a decent level of chess, there is a lot of meta game and that transfers over to poker for me.”

And while Sarwer’s poker experience is still quite limited, he has already grasped that the game is infinitely more intricate than it appears on the surface.

“In chess you can see things on the surface, look three or four moves deep, and eventually you are going to lose when someone traps you into something less obvious,” he said. “It’s the same with poker. You can just play ABC and not pay attention to what’s happening at the table and somebody is eventually going to catch you.”

While experience and a willingness to learn from others have played a big role in Sarwer’s recent success, he also attributes it to a newfound aggression.

“I’ve really opened up and become quite an aggressive player,” he said. “A lot of chess players tend to be a bit nittier and more technical. I just don’t happen to play that way right now because it’s not in my character.”

After an up and down day on the EPT Prague felt Thursday, Sarwer eventually busted, ending his string of deep finishes on the EPT.

But despite business commitments in Poland and the fact he claims he’s still just a “poker hobbyist” and not a professional player, it appears his new found love for the game will keep him coming back.

“I’ve made a lot of good friends amongst the online players,” he said. “They have that rare combination of being sharp, analytical and fun. The top poker players all seem to have that and I have a lot in common with that mindset.

“I love hanging around them. I’m nowhere near the top yet and I suppose it’s still too early to tell if I’ll make it there, but we’ll see.”

PokerStars EPT Prague continues with Day 3 Friday. For comprehensive coverage from the Czech Republic, tune into PokerListings’ Live Updates.

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EPT Vilamoura title stays in Portugal

Antonio Matias, who runs a travel agency, became the first player to win an EPT title on home soil since Team PokerStars Pro Sandra Naujoks did so in Dortmund, Germany last season.

"I like to think of myself as a citizen of the world, but it is very satisfying win an EPT in my home country," Matias said. "I wasn't intimidated by the competition because I play a lot of very good players in cash games. I just decided to play the way I play, and hope that luck didn't turn its back on me."

The €5,300 event drew 322 players, including 69 PokerStars qualifiers.

The €1,561,700 prize pool made EPT Vilamoura the richest poker tournament ever held in Portugal.

Matias beat 67-year- old retired Belgian businessman and PokerStars qualifier Pierre Neuville heads up to book the win. Neuville bubbled the final table at EPT San Remo last season.

Former chess prodigy Jeff Sarwer finished third, just a few short weeks after the Canadian's tenth-place finish at EPT Warsaw.

Matias is not a pro player, but said his sights were firmly set on keeping the title in Portugal.

"I play poker just for a hobby, but when I got the chip lead yesterday, at that point, the only thing I had on my mind was winning."

PokerStars appeared pleased with turnout and results on its first trip to Portugal.

"It's always exciting when the European Poker Tour visits a new destination and we have wanted to hold an EPT in Portugal for some time, so we are delighted that so many players took part including 63 players from Portugal," said EPT spokesperson Kirsty Thompson. "It's been a superb week of poker."

Next up for the PokerStars EPT is its annual stop in Prague in the Czech Republic from Dec. 1-6. Satellites are running now on PokerStars.

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Jeff Sarwer leads the way at EPT Vilamoura

A field of 186-players sat down for Day 1B of the latest EPT event in Portugal yesterday and at the close of play there was a familiar face at the top of the leader board. Anyone who followed the action at EPT Warsaw will be aware of Canada’s Jeff Sarwer who was chip leader for much of the final day in Poland. The chess master continued that excellent form in Vilamoura, dominating proceedings on the second opening day, eliminating ElkY and building a stack of 142,000.

European Poker Tour Vilamoura, Day 1b: Chess Prodigy Jeff Sarwer Leads the Way

Perhaps it was the weather that was more gray today compared to yesterday, perhaps it was because of the super-satellite last night. Whatever the reason, today's Day 1b at the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Vilamoura attracted 186 runners, a...

Detroit Media Debates Joe Cada 2009 WSOP Main Event Victory

While many in the industry have been celebrating Michigan native Joe Cada becoming the youngest World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event winner ever, Cada’s local media in Detroit have debated the impact of his feat on society.

Jamie Samuelsen of the Detroit Free Press weighed in on the issue in an editorial piece appropriately titled, “Joe Cada’s poker win won’t corrupt our society.” Addressing readers in a state where the unemployment rate has soared to above 15%, Samuelsen cautioned critics, “I’m not simply encouraging your sons and daughters to follow in his footsteps. I’m just saying that it’s not quite as bad as others will make it out to be. As long as you’re not losing money, there’s nothing wrong with sharpening your mind.” Cada shattered Peter Eastgate’s record as youngest WSOP Main Event winner ever at age 21. In fact, his 22nd birthday is next week.

In a separate Free Press article, Cada gave his disclaimer for area youth looking to turn to poker in order to make a living. He told the paper, “You have to be very careful when you decide to make it a living. More people lose than win.”

Ron Dzwonkowski, also of the Free Press, gave his frank opinion on the impact that Cada may have on the local market: “I hope Cada doesn’t become an inspiration. He’s an exception. Most gamblers lose. If they didn’t, Las Vegas wouldn’t exist and the three casinos in Detroit wouldn’t be holding up as well as they are in the nation’s worst economy.” Many in the poker industry would counter that Cada wasn’t “gambling;” instead, he was excelling at a game of skill like bridge, chess, or mahjong.

Dzwonkowski’s Free Press article cited a study from Michigan State University that surveyed students asking whether internet gaming is affecting their studies. A total of 18.5% answered yes, although the results included computer games in addition to gambling. He concluded, “So congratulations to Joe Cada, whose card-playing acumen — and luck — made him a multimillionaire at 21. I hope he spends most of it in Michigan. But most 21-year-olds — heck, most people — are not going to have the ride that Joe Cada did. He’s a winner all right. But he shouldn’t become an inspiration.”

Meanwhile, Cada’s friends and family have rallied behind the champion of the 2009 WSOP Main Event. His uncle told the same Detroit newspaper, “He’s pretty level-headed. He’s a cool-headed kid. He’s always been a wonderful kid – quiet and polite – and just a good person. So he deserves it.”

Cada appeared on the CBS morning franchise “The Early Show” and candidly recalled his mother’s reaction to his poker playing aspirations: “She’d always see people gambling and you know, lose money, so she was always kind of nervous about me playing poker for a living. It brought her to tears when I won the thing. She said she was really proud of me.”

Play concluded at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino late Monday night and saw Cada best Maryland logger Darvin Moon heads-up. Cada entered heads-up play as a 2:1 chip leader before relinquishing his edge to Moon, who took a 3:1 margin of his own. Cada’s win was worth $8.5 million, although a chunk of his funds went to backers who fronted his $10,000 Main Event entry fee. Cada became the fifth PokerStars pro since 2003 to take down the title, joining Chris Moneymaker (2003), Greg Raymer (2004), Joe Hachem (2005), and Peter Eastgate (2008).

Checkmate: Chess master Skripchenko finds the felt

However, international chess champion turned poker pro Almira Skripchenko says appearances can be deceiving.

And after she made a final table appearance in the 2009 World Series of Poker's $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em event this past summer, it's hard to disagree with her.

"I just think that chess players are naturally skilled to become poker players because chess involves a lot of strategic thinking," she said.

"Yes, of course, there is a lot of math in poker, but this is more important than math. Math can be mastered by everyone and all the strategic and analytical skills, you have to develop."

Born in Moldova in the former Soviet Union, Skripchenko began playing chess at just six years old.

By 15 she had won the Under-16 World Youth Chess Championships, at 21 she became the European Ladies Champion and she has achieved both the International Master and Woman Grand Master titles from the FIDE World Chess Federation.

After a chess tournament in 2003, she was convinced by some friends to try her hand in a poker tournament in Paris.

"When you are talking about poker you have this epic vision from literature and movies, but this was a tournament, like a sport, so I wanted to take part," she said.

"In the ten-minute taxi ride over they taught me the game and I was in the final that same night."

Bitten by the poker bug, she began playing sparingly in small tournaments in the famed Aviation Club in Paris, where she now lives.

Skripchenko went on to finish second on a made-for-TV tournament featuring a group of poker players and sports stars and in 2008, Winamax offered her a sponsorship contract.

While she still plays chess at the highest levels, she's now travelling the PokerStars European Poker Tour circuit and playing in some of the biggest poker tournaments in the world.

"It's a different sort of challenge," she said. "In chess I've already accomplished almost everything. I'm just missing the world title and I will still try for it, I will be playing the World Championships next year."

While she sees some unique similarities between the games, Skripchenko says there are also marked differences.

"Poker it's a game where you should absolutely drop everything you know about chess or what formed you to be a very good chess player," she said. "OK, you still have to keep certain skills, but you also have to acquire some new ones and to include some factors in your decision making that you would never think of.

"I had to learn how to bluff and how to act, which is completely contrary to my nature. I have to integrate so many elements and it has also allowed me to know better who I am somehow. It's like psychoanalysis, because I discovered that I like it a lot - I can bluff and I can act."

The biggest difference in the two games, according to Skripchenko, is the risk factor.

"Chess is a silent game and also very rational," she said. "Of course, poker is also rational, but the risk factor in poker is almost never involved in chess. In poker, you have to be willing to take risks."

Those risks paid off with Skripchenko's seventh place at the WSOP this summer and while she obviously would rather have won, she said the experience taught her a valuable poker lesson.

"In some way it proved to me that I had developed a thick skin," she said. "As a chess player, it's almost a philosophical question, because defeat becomes very seldom. Poker teaches you philosophically how to accept it and how to go on.

"I was proud of myself, just because I think I became tougher as a person. I think that's exactly what it showed. I played three days with great players. At one point I was almost the chip leader. But I'm not a magician, I'm still learning.

"In one year, my friend [Manuel Bevand] tells me that he will make me a machine. I'm not sure that it suits me so well, but OK, I'm trying to become a machine, that's my goal."

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International Federation of Poker: Governing Body for the Industry?

Ever since the explosion of poker in the early years of the 21st century, attempts have been made to organize players, either through a governing body for the sport or an organization to impose changes in the game, with varying degrees of success.

In April, a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland attracted seven federations - the Danish Poker Federation (Denmark), the Fédération Française des Joueurs de Poker (France), the Stichting Nederlandse PokerBond (Holland), the United Kingdom Poker Federation (U.K.), the Russian Sport Poker Federation (Russia), the Ukrainian Poker Federation (Ukraine), and the Associacao Brazileira de Poker (Brazil) - to undertake the task of creating a worldwide poker federation that would bring the game into the sporting community. From this meeting was born the International Federation of Poker.

One of the tasks that the International Federation of Poker completed was electing its leadership and, when it comes to its President, its membership couldn’t have chosen a better man. Noted author Anthony Holden, who has written “Big Deal” and “Bigger Deal” and traveled around the globe playing poker, was elected as the first President of the organization. Poker News Daily had the chance to speak with Holden and discuss some of the challenges that face him.

PND: The International Federation of Poker (IFP) is not the first attempt at starting a governing body for poker. What chances for success do you believe the IFP has and how will it make a difference beyond other attempts?

Holden: The chances for success are as promising as they are exciting. The poker industry has grown so fast in the past decade that a governing infrastructure hasn’t been able to grow at the same pace. Poker is now one of the three most participated sports in the world alongside golf and fishing. There is a great need for a properly structured governing body, as there is in all competitive sports, and the IFP is such a body.

There are several features of the IFP that differentiate it from the previous organizations. The IFP is the first governing body in poker to be properly structured as a Sports Federation. The IFP is a not-for-profit organization with its head office in Lausanne, Switzerland, the global headquarters of international sports federations and the International Olympic Committee. It is subject to the Swiss Civil Code and will be arbitrated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, also in Lausanne. This is a major step towards securing recognition of poker’s status as a sport.

The IFP’s goals are broader than those of other poker organizations. Current organizations have very specific interests which the IFP will also be working towards: seeking recognition of poker as a skilled mind-sport and promoting a single unified set of rules to be used in card rooms across the globe. These goals are only part of the broader goal of the IFP, which is to form a comprehensive governing body comprised of national federations from around the world.

Also, the IFP has a well-qualified and dedicated staff working full-time to achieve its goals. Other organizations have been run part-time by very busy people and often fallen by the wayside. The IFP has the resources and manpower to establish itself as a major player on the international poker scene.

PND: The IFP has a strong start with seven national federations already members. Is there a goal in number of national federations to bring onboard or is it more quality-based?

Holden: One of the early missions of the IFP is to build up a strong membership base from around the world. We have identified governing bodies in more than 20 countries outside of our founding members and we are confident that our membership will grow quickly and steadily in the coming months. We hope to have 30 member nations by the end of this year.

When considering an application, the quality of the federation applying is paramount. The IFP has strict criteria for acceptance as a member: the federation in question must be a non-profit organization that truly represents the interest of poker players in that country and whose goals for the promotion of poker are aligned with those of the IFP. Applications from federations are submitted to the Board for approval by vote.

While we are working hard to secure membership of federations in key markets, the IFP is seeking member federations in all nations, no matter how small or remote. We are in advanced discussions about membership with federations from Germany, Italy, and Kyrgyzstan.

PND: What is the strongest component of the IFP, the overall governing body or the individual national federations that comprise it?

Holden: The IFP is a truly democratic body. Every member nation has one representative on the Congress, the supreme authority of the IFP. The IFP operates a “One Country, One Vote” policy, so no matter what the size of a nation, it participates in the governing of the IFP on an equal footing with all other nations.

PND: What are the challenges that the IFP faces?

AH: The greatest challenge that the IFP faces is the stigma that governments and the non-poker playing public attaches to poker. Government decision-makers see poker solely as a gambling activity and think its place is in a casino alongside craps and roulette. The IFP is seeking to educate people that poker is a skilled mind-sport and so to secure it the legal status it deserves all over the world. All the federations we have met are at different stages in the debate with their governments.

The IFP wishes to see a global coordinated approach to the issue and to provide our members with support and advice. We have had promising talks with the International Mind Sports Association in Paris, currently consisting of the international federations of Bridge, Chess, Draughts, and Go. We are optimistic about joining this organization later in the year, and, once we do, we will have official recognition as a mind-sport. Every four years, the IMSA holds the Mind-Sports Games, alongside and in the same city as the Olympics. The IFP looks forward to the chance to bring poker into this event. Once we achieve this, it will be a very useful tool in many debates.

PND: What attracted you to accept a position with the IFP?

Holden: As a lifelong author and journalist, I’ve been playing poker for 40 years and writing books about it for 20. My first visit to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) was in 1977. In recent years, I have been sponsored by PokerStars at events around Europe as well as the WSOP Main Event. That has now had to stop, alas, as the President of IFP obviously cannot accept sponsorship from any one website. I accepted the job, despite this sacrifice, because I believe the goals of the IFP are so important to the game. It enables me to spend my entire working life around poker, doing something worthwhile. Now that beats writing hands down!

PND: What would you like to see for the IFP before the end of the year?

Holden: We would like to have at least 30 member nations and to hold the first IFP team poker event. We would also like to see our member nations making progress with their national governments in the reclassification of poker from a luck-based gambling activity into a skill-based mind-sport. Finally, the IFP has had promising discussions with the International Mind Sports Association and we would be delighted to join this organization by the end of the year.

Senator Wyden Withdraws Proposal to Use Internet Gambling to Fund Health Care

The debate on Capitol Hill rages on over health care reform, which, according to Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), will likely come with a nearly $1 trillion price tag. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) proposed using internet gambling revenue to defray some of the cost, but withdrew his amendment this week.

In a column that appeared in the Deseret News, Hatch noted, “At a time when we have trillion-dollar-plus deficits and an unemployment rate reaching double digits, [this health care reform] is a colossal mistake I cannot support.” With the massive cost turning many off, Wyden suggested using tax revenue from Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA) Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act (HR 2267). The bill establishes a full licensing and regulatory framework for the internet gambling industry in the United States.

Michael Waxman, spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, commented in a press release shortly after the amendment was introduced, “We applaud Senator Wyden’s proposal to collect and put to good use tens of billions in internet gambling revenue that would otherwise be lost in the underground marketplace. The Senate Finance Committee should approve this resolution, finally putting to an end a failed prohibition on Internet gambling that leaves Americans unprotected and unlicensed offshore operators as the only beneficiary in a thriving marketplace.”

HR 2267 was introduced in May and has attracted 58 cosponsors, the newest of which are William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), and Adam Schiff (D-CA). Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) Chairman Joe Brennan told Poker News Daily, “There are not many places you can go to find ‘free money’ right now. Internet gambling is one of them. You’re not going to have many industries wanting to be taxed.” Also in Congress is HR 2268, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act. The measure, introduced by Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), assesses a tax of 2% of deposits on licensed internet gambling outfits in the United States. HR 2268 was introduced on the same day as HR 2267 and has attracted four cosponsors.

A recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers indicated that over $60 billion could be generated from taxing the internet gambling industry over a 10 year period. However, that figure includes legalized online wagering on sports. On Wednesday, “The Hill” published an article noting that Wyden had withdrawn his proposed amendment. The Senator’s Communications Director told the publication, “The last thing Senator Wyden wants to do is make it more difficult to expand subsidies for working families by introducing a new contentious issue to the debate. So when he offers the amendment, he will do it with other funding mechanisms.”

Wyden’s attempt to demonstrate tangible uses for internet gambling revenue comes on the heels of McDermott’s introduction of HR 6501 in July of 2008. McDermott’s bill, dubbed the Investing in Our Human Resources Act, provided up to $40 billion in assistance for those currently or formerly in foster care and those in declining job markets. HR 6501 was not acted on during the 110th Congress. McDermott’s proposal was not well-received, as Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) labeled it “a classic case of putting the cart before the horse.” Former Congressman Jon Porter (R-NV) piled on, saying that HR 6501 marked “a frivolous attack on the gaming community to pay for services that local governments, states, and the federal government should already be providing.”

Last month, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced S 1597, the Internet Poker and Games of Skill Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act. The bill, as its name implies, focuses on licensing games such as poker, bridge, chess, mahjong, and backgammon “in which success is predominantly determined by the skill of the players.” Menendez’s measure has not attracted any cosponsors.

Congress is targeting October 30th as its adjournment date for the 2009 calendar year.

WSOP on ESPN Ratings Reach Highest Levels of 2009

With Day 3 of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event set to kick off on Tuesday night on ESPN, network officials have announced that ratings for the September 8th broadcast were the highest of the 2009 season.

The preview for next week’s WSOP Main Event on ESPN broadcast features 11-time bracelet winner and 1989 Main Event champion Phil Hellmuth proclaiming, “Turbulence is coming.” However, it’s been smooth sailing so far for ESPN during the 2009 installment of the world’s most prestigious tournament series. The 8:00pm ET hour of last week’s telecast scored a 0.97 rating, while the second hour came in at 1.13. So far, the network is 11% ahead of last year’s resoundingly successful broadcast.

Doug White, ESPN’s Senior Director of Programming and Acquisitions, told Poker News Daily, “We’re all very pleased with the ratings thus far. We try not to get too high or low on ratings, but it’s nice when things are moving in a positive direction, so we’re extremely pleased with it.” White was instrumental in keeping the WSOP on ESPN until at least April of 2018 under an extension inked one month ago.

The September 8th broadcast logged a 0.93 rating during the first hour and 0.73 rating during the second hour among males age 18 to 34. The telecast turned in a 0.88 average rating among males age 18 to 49 and 1.03 for males age 25 to 54. ESPN’s broadcast on September 8th netted 954,000 household impressions during the first hour and 1.11 million during the second hour.

ESPN’s WSOP ratings have trended upwards in recent weeks and the network will broadcast its 15th hour-long installment on Tuesday night at 8:00pm ET. On the rise in the ratings, White speculated, “I’d like to think it’s because the quality of our shows are great. Our talent has been tremendous and the production quality has been excellent.” Lon McEachern and Norman Chad once again provide commentary for two hours each week, with Chad recently falling to Full Tilt Poker pro Howard Lederer in a chess match during the popular segment “The Nuts.”

Next week’s Day 3 coverage teases the presence of Hellmuth, Jeffrey Lisandro, Jennifer Harman, Phil Ivey, Phil Laak, Humberto Brenes, Joe Hachem, Dennis Phillips, and Andy Black. In it, McEachern dramatically narrates, “With the field now united, it means our next Main Event champion is in the building. Amongst the players still in the hunt are some of the biggest names in the game, including one man who is the clear favorite to become Player of the Year.” McEachern alludes to Lisandro, who took home three bracelets in the preliminary tournaments leading up to the $10,000 buy-in Main Event for nearly $750,000 total.

The 2009 WSOP Main Event final table features an assortment of characters, including fan favorite Phil Ivey and CardPlayer Editor Jeff Shulman, who has threatened to throw away the Main Event bracelet should he win. On Shulman and Ivey’s presence at the final table, White commented, “I don’t know if it sways our audience positively or negatively, but it brings about discussion. People are talking about it and that’s a good thing. It means the final table is on people’s minds. It’s a fantastic opportunity for players to showcase their personalities and skills on the biggest stage in poker.”

Here is a look at the remaining first-run episodes of the 2009 WSOP Main Event on ESPN. Replays also hit airwaves throughout the week on ESPN’s family of stations, so check local listings for more information. All times are Eastern:

September 15th to September 29th: 8:00pm to 10:00pm
October 6th to November 3rd: 9:00pm to 11:00pm
November 10th: 9:00pm to 11:30pm: WSOP Main Event Final Table

WSOP Coverage on ESPN Spotlights Hellmuth and Ivey

Last night’s episodes of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) on ESPN spotlighted the two most recognizable Phils in poker: Phil Hellmuth and November Nine member Phil Ivey. Hellmuth was seated at the feature table for the coverage of Day 2B while the secondary feature table boasted a strong line up of Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi and PokerStars Pros Dennis Phillips and Maria “Maridu” Mayrinck. Over the course of the two episodes the show included updates on cancer patient Kent Senter, actor Lou Diamond Phillips and NBA star Jordan Farmar amongst others, but perhaps the most interesting aspect of Tuesday’s show was the unorthodox play of Hellmuth. As co-host Norman Chad aptly put it, it was, “as if Phil’s body and soul has been occupied by some idiot from Northern Europe.”

The episode began by reminding the audience of Hellmuth’s epic entrance in full Roman regalia for Day 1 of play and Chad assured viewers that the 11-time bracelet winner would be full of surprises during Day 2.  Chad got the inside scoop from Hellmuth, who told the poker commentator he was, “going to be more active and not back down from big raises.” While ESPN chose not to air the verbal confrontation between Hellmuth and internet poker pro Todd “Dan Druff” Witteles regarding the Ultimate Bet cheating scandal, Chad did make mention of each player’s role in the scandal and subsequent investigation as part of his commentary.

Hellmuth stuck to his word during the first featured hand of the night when he called a raise from 22-year old Ben Sprengers holding 7c 8c and got it all-in against Sprenger’s two pair when the Jd-6c-5c flop brought him an open-ended straight flush draw. After Hellmuth hit his flush to double up, Sprengers, who would prove to be Hellmuth’s nemesis throughout the day, questioned the Ultimate Bet Pro’s play and Hellmuth responded by saying, “I didn’t come to lay down son. I came to play.”

A member of last year’s November Nine, Phillips, also came to play and did not take long to clash in a pot with his tablemate Mizrachi. It would be Mayrinck, not Mizrachi who would be featured in the most pots with Phillips, as Mizrachi hit the rail midway through Day 2B play. Phillips picked up pocket aces against the Brazilian pro twice and managed to get her to pay him off both times.

Phillips was not the only November Niner profiled. The show also featured a segment discussing year’s winner Peter Eastgate besting Hellmuth’s record of youngest Main Event Champion. Hellmuth won his Main Event title at age 23 while Eastgate was just 22-years old when he won the Main Event last year. The 2008 Player of the Year Erick Lindgren also made the coverage, as the cameras caught his pocket queens getting cracked by Craig Ivey’s pocket jacks to eliminate the Full Tilt Pro early on Day 2B.

Some of the other players featured last night included Robert Williamson III, Scotty Nguyen, Tom “durrrr” Dwan, Ville Wahlbeck, 2009 WSOP Player of the Year Jeffrey Lisandro, Hevad “Rain” Khan, Howard Lederer and Frankie Gay, who was playing in the Main Event to honor his late son who was a soldier killed in action overseas. While Gay did not survive to Day 3, he and his family felt the trip was an appropriate tribute to their beloved son.

Senter, whose dying wish was to play in the WSOP Main Event, fared better than Gay did on the felt and survived to Day 3 despite doubling up Billy Gazes late in the day. Some of the other players to survive Day 2B included Hachem, Phillips, Mayrinck, JC Tran, Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, Eastgate and Phil Ivey.

Ivey did more than just survive Day 2B. He ended the day as one of the big stacks in the room thanks in part to a huge hand in which he got it all-in preflop holding pocket kings to Jonas Molander’s A-K. The kings held to give Ivey the 223,700 chip pot and vault him to the top of the chip counts.

This week’s “The Nuts” segment featured a chess game between Chad and Lederer. Chad didn’t have much time to interview Lederer, as his opponent made quick worth of the TV personality on the chess board. The PokerStars’ Straight From the Pros segment highlighted a hand Khan played against Jon Kalmar in the 2007 Main Event and the Full Tilt Poker-sponsored piece Deal Me In had Jennifer Harman offering insight on a hand she played in a WSOP Circuit event against Jean-Robert Bellande.

Next week’s episodes will feature coverage of Day 3, the first day the entire field will converge on the Rio at the same time.

Live Poker Webcasting at The International Club

The International Private Members’ Club in London, which regularly hosts poker tournaments and cash games as well as pool, chess and other events, has announced the latest addition to the newly renovated club in the heart of London.

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.

Senator Robert Menendez Introduces S 1597 Legalizing Online Poker

On Thursday, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) officially unveiled S 1597, the Internet Poker and Games of Skill Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act. Congress remains on recess until after Labor Day in the United States.

As its name implies, Menendez’s legislation explicitly legalizes and regulates games of skill like online poker, which should come as a welcome sign to players in the United States who question the legality of the game. The bill notes that poker, bridge, mahjong, backgammon, and chess are examples of games in which a player’s skill dominates the outcome: “While each of these games contains an element of chance, over any substantial interval, a player’s ultimate success is determined by that player’s relative level of skill.” Menendez’s measure weighs in at a hefty 89 pages.

The bill focuses heavily on online poker, noting, “Poker is part of the cultural and recreational fabric of the United States and has been since the founding days of the United States. United States poker aficionados have included presidents, judges, and statesmen.” S 1597 calls for the continuance of laws against sports betting online in a similar fashion to Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA) HR 2267, which establishes a complete licensing and regulatory framework for the internet gambling industry in the United States. HR 2267 was introduced exactly three months ago and is up to 54 co-sponsors.

The Secretary of the Treasury is responsible for overseeing the licensing process for skill game operators and prescribing regulations. Each applicant for a license must submit a comprehensive financial background, an outline of the company’s structure and that of its affiliates, criminal and credit histories of executives, and how each licensee plans to combat underage gambling and compulsive gambling. In addition, they must convey how the games offered will be fair. All gamblers must be at least 21 years-old.

Licenses run for five years and can be renewed at the end of each term. Like other recent internet gambling legislation, Menendez’s S 1597 calls for a list of “persons self-excluded from gaming activities at all licensee sites.” States have a period of 90 days to opt out of the legislation after it becomes law; Indian tribes can also exempt themselves from the bill. S 1597 addresses problem gambling, allocating $14.2 million per year between 2010 and 2014 for awareness, treatment, and research.

S 1597 clearly states, “Nothing… shall be construed to repeal or amend any provision of State or Federal law prohibiting, restricting, or otherwise addressing bets or wagers on sporting events.” Professional sports leagues like the NFL have expressed a desire for Frank’s HR 2267 to contain clearer language outlawing sports betting. During a working dinner as part of National Poker Week, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) claimed it was part of a “broad coalition” that included the NFL.

The Federal Government and State Governments will each reap 5% of a licensee’s deposits during each calendar month in taxes. Unauthorized gambling is subject to a 50% fee. Menendez’s S 1597 is similar in scope to last session’s S 3616, the Internet Skill Game Licensing and Control Act. However, Thursday’s version focuses on consumer protections. The PPA reviewed a draft of the bill in mid-July with what the organization called a “commitment” from Menendez to introduce it. The online poker measure was scheduled to be released before August 1st. However, it was ultimately revealed to the world on Thursday.

The 1.2 million member strong PPA will likely push its members to call their Senators and urge support of Menendez’s S 1597. As of the time of writing, no companion bill exists in the House of Representatives. Frank’s HR 2267 encompasses all forms of internet gambling except sports betting, whereas Menendez’s only legalizes games of skill. Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) introduced the Skill Game Protection Act (HR 2610) during the last Congressional session. It exempted player versus player games from internet gambling law, including the Wire Act of 1961 and Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

The PPA had not released an official statement on S 1597 as of press time. We’ll have full industry reaction to Menendez’s online poker legislation on Poker News Daily.

EPT Founder John Duthie Discusses Season 6 Schedule

The sixth season of the PokerStars-sponsored European Poker Tour (EPT) kicks off on August 18th with a brand new stop in Moscow, Russia. The tournament series will also make its first sojourn to Portugal. Poker News Daily sat down with EPT Founder and Team PokerStars Pro member John Duthie to get his take.

Poker News Daily: Talk about the planning that went into the EPT Season 6 schedule.

Duthie: This is now the sixth season of the tour and the majority of our events are held in well-established venues with people we are used to dealing with, which makes the planning stage much easier. Scheduling itself becomes more of an issue as more and more events need to be accounted for.

PND: Talk about the additions of stops in Portugal and Russia. What makes them appealing for poker players?

Duthie: Both new venues have their own unique appeal to players and to us as emerging markets. Russia has enormous potential, where many people have been brought up playing games like chess. It is a natural transition to poker, evident by the phenomenal success of Russian players on the worldwide stage. There are already some exciting new events in Russia, namely the PokerStars-sponsored Russian Poker Tour, and we hope to add to this with the new EPT event in Moscow in August.

Portugal has always been one of my favorite destinations in Europe and I am delighted that we are finally going to be holding an event there. This will be a wonderful opportunity for players to take in the sights of Vilamoura and maybe get a few rounds of golf in. Poker in Portugal is growing day by day. Hopefully, the EPT will act as a catalyst and we will see poker booming there in the years to come.

PND: What has made the EPT such a phenomenal success, breaking records for prize pools and fields across Europe?

Duthie: The support of the players is the simple answer to this. The EPT offers so much more than simply a major poker tournament circuit. We offer venues in some of the most beautiful and inspiring cities in the world, which is where we differ from the U.S. tours. Combine this with the fact that you can play in European casinos at the age of 18 and this represents the perfect opportunity for younger players to see the world for nothing if they qualify on PokerStars.

PND: Tell us how the EPT began.

Duthie: I simply put the existing individual tournaments in Europe into an organized tour and then negotiated the filming of them for broadcast. The partnership with PokerStars has always been crucial, as they provided the critical mass of players the tour needed from the outset to make it such a success. It grew exponentially from there.

PND: Are there any visa requirements or other legal obstacles for players wanting to compete in the Moscow stop?

Duthie: Yes. Visas are required for traveling to Moscow. These can easily be obtained from your local Russian consulate or by using one of the many “Visa Express” services available for a small fee. It’s a good stamp to have in your passport too!

PND: Talk about your runner-up performance to Leo Wolpert in the No Limit Hold’em Heads-Up Championship at the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Duthie: It was a great moment in my poker career and, while I was disappointed not to win, I felt I played my best poker and was unlucky not to take it down. Leo was a formidable opponent and played some great poker.

PND: How did you get started in poker?

Duthie: I saw some guys playing Seven Card Stud at the Victoria Casino about 15 years ago. I started chatting with them and the rest is history.

PND: The first seven events of EPT Season 6 have been released. Are there any details you can share about the final six stops?

Duthie: They will almost definitely be the same as last season, with one special surprise event, but until the dates and venues are secured, I would prefer not to shed too much light.

WPT, Slovak Poker Sport Federation Create WPT Slovakia

Continuing in its expansion and promotion of poker around the globe, it was announced yesterday that the World Poker Tour has joined forces with the Slovak Poker Sport Federation to create the WPT Slovakia, a tournament that will be held in August in the nation’s capital of Bratislava.

The first ever WPT tournament to be held in Central Europe, the WPT Slovakia will be a €4,000+€400 Deep Stack Main Event and will be played out from August 31st through September 4th at the Herna Golden VEGAS Casino in Bratislava. The tournament will be a part of the Central European Summer Poker Championship, which begins on August 26th and will play through the WPT Slovakia. Buy ins for the Central European Summer Poker Championship will range from €50 to €1500 and Steve Frezer – a well-known and respected Tournament Director from the United States – will bring his top notch team of dealers from around the world to provide a quality tournament staff.

“The Slovak Poker Sport Federation is delighted to be associated with a top brand like the World Poker Tour in the creation of this unique and attractive event in the territory of Central and Eastern Europe. With the creation of WPT Slovakia we intend to emphasize Bratislava’s attributes as a highly desirable destination for all poker players”, Dag Palovic, the President of the Slovak Poker Sport Federation, stated during the announcement. “The casino partner was also important to us, and Golden VEGAS is truly a location worthy of the players, the poker media and the WPT event.”

“WPT Slovakia is a unique and exciting addition to the World Poker Tour‘s expanding international tournament offering”, added Steve Lipscomb, the WPT Founder and CEO. “We have found a great partner in Slovak Poker Sport Federation, who are truly dedicated to growing the sport of poker in the Central and Eastern European territory.”

The Slovak Poker Sport Federation is an organization that supervises poker as a sport throughout the nation. The organization joins together the interests of poker players, poker clubs and poker fans in the Slovak Republic to promote the game in much the same way as other sports, such as soccer and chess, have organized federations. The Slovak Poker Sport Federation is also a founding member of the International Federation of Poker, which was formed on April 29th of this year as a global governing body for the sport and features noted poker writer Anthony Holden as its president.

The WPT has been very active in establishing national poker tournaments around the world. With the addition of the WPT Slovakia, five foreign locales now play host to tournaments under the WPT banner. The original tournament, the WPT Spain, was first played in 2008 and will once again feature a tournament on the International WPT schedule that starts tomorrow at the Casino Barcelona. Back in May, the WPT Venice played out at the Casino Di Venezia, with Sweden’s Ragnar Astrom taking the championship over a 397 player field. Other international events, along with the WPT Slovakia, include the WPT Cyprus (scheduled for play from September 6th through the 12th) at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino and the WPT Marrakech (October 12th through 19th) at the Casino De Marrakech.

Jordan Smith wins WSOP Event #36 $2,000 No Limit Hold ‘Em

Women have been something of an endangered species at the 2009 WSOP with only Annie Duke making a final table in the first 35 events. The numbers were swelled in event 36 though with both Laurence Grondin and chess Grandmaster and former European champion Almira Skripchenko making the final nine.

Jordan Smith (scarface_79) Wins $2,000 No Limit Holdem Event at 2009 WSOP

Jordan “scarface_79″ Smith added his name to a long list of online poker pros to achieve success at this year’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) by winning the $2,000 No Limit Hold’em Event (#36) late Saturday evening. Smith weaved his way through a field of 1,695 players to capture his first bracelet and a prize of $586,212.

Smith joined internet stars Brock “t_soprano” Parker, Eric “basebaldy” Baldwin, Leo “Pechorin” Wolpert, Rami “arbianight” Boukai, Keven “stamdogg” Stammen, and others to make an impressive transition to live poker by winning their first bracelets.

After a seven hour final table, Smith finally put away Ken Lennaard to claim victory. On the last hand, Lennard raised to 300,000 on the button and Smith called to see an all-diamond flop of 8-4-3. Lennard bet 350,000, Smith moved all-in (having his opponent covered), and Lennard called:

Smith:
Lennard:

Smith flopped a flush and was able to avoid another diamond hitting the board to win the pot and the tournament. The 27 year-old from Texas admittedly said afterward that he had endured some financial pitfalls during his poker career and while the $586,212 payday was nice, receiving a bracelet as a WSOP champion was his biggest objective: “It’s the World Series of Poker… I play for living and I play for money, but so far as prestigious things go, winning the gold bracelet is the only goal to have.”

For the first time in the year’s WSOP, two women made the final table of an open event. Laurence Grondin, from Montreal, and Almira Skripchenko, from Paris, were each members of the final table of Event #36. Only one female (Annie Duke) had made a final table in the first 35 events this year.

Skripchenko exited in seventh place and it was Smith who did the dirty work. Grondin raised from late position and Smith made the call. Skripchenko then moved all-in from the small blind, Grondin got rid of her hand, and Smith called. Skripchenko’s pocket kings were well in front of the pocket fives of Smith, but a five on the flop spelled disaster for Skripchenko, who failed to catch a king on the turn or river to seal her elimination. The former European chess champion earned $78,664.

Pat Atchinson had the chip lead to begin the final day, but took one of the most painful beats of this year’s WSOP to Joe “Dyzalot” Morneau that assisted in his sixth place finish. The two players got involved in a raising war that ended with all of the chips eventually getting in pre-flop. Atchinson held pocket queens and Morneau had pocket jacks. Each player made a set on the flop, which was a fantastic sight for Atchinson, but Morneau hit his remaining out on the river to make quads and cripple Atchinson’s stack. He was knocked out a few hands later and took $95,631 back to his home in Fort Worth.

After Anthony Roux and Morneau were eliminated in fifth and fourth place, respectively, Grondin’s hopes at becoming the first female player to win a bracelet this year then came to an end. Grondin moved all-in with Q-8 on an 8-5-3 flop, but found herself against Ken Lennard’s 5-3. The turn and river were no help to her and she collected $237,537. Grondin will certainly be expressing thanks to her friends, who convinced her to play in this event at the last minute.

Here are the final results from Event #36 of the 2009 WSOP:

1. Jordan Smith - $586,212
2. Ken Lennaard - $360,439
3. Laurence Grondin - $237,537
4. Joe Morneau - $166,584
5. Anthony Roux - $120,311
6. Pat Atchinson - $95,631
7. Almira Skripchenko - $78,664
8. Andrew Sedon - $67,867
9. Jonathan Plens - $61,081

We’ll have our 38th champion of this year’s WSOP crowned on Sunday, as the $2,000 Limit Hold’em event will play down to winner. Marc Naalden takes 755,000 chips to the final table as the chip leader with bracelet winners Ian Johns and Rep Porter each in contention. Phil Hellmuth fell just short of the final table, as he exited in 17th place.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for updates on all of today’s events at the WSOP.

Brunson, Lisandro lead WSOP Stud 8 Championship

With 525,000, Brunson is third in chips heading into the tournament's final day and is in great shape to make a run at his eleventh bracelet.

Texas Dolly is joined by Lisandro, Perry Friedman, Scotty Nguyen, Lyle Berman, Justin "BoostedJ" Smith and Mike Wattel, among others.

Poker pros Yuval Bronshtein and Dan Heimiller were among those to cash on Day 2, which saw a starting contingent of 111 players reduced by 99 by the time play was called at 3 a.m. Saturday morning.

Joe Tehan finished in 17th and was the tournament's bubble boy, falling to Yan Chen when he bricked out on a low draw and couldn't beat Chen's queens-up.

Play will resume at 1 p.m. Saturday and play down to a champion.

Elsewhere at the Rio on Friday:

Event 35 - $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha

Kentucky native Richard Austin won the $5k PLO event in spectacular fashion, defeating Sorel Mizzi and Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy on the same hand to win his first WSOP bracelet.

Austin cracked Mizzi's aces and Josephy's top set, kings, with Q J 8 6 when he rivered a club flush, clinching the tournament and winning $409,484 in prize money.

Check out Ed Sevillano's recap here.

Event 36 - $2,000 No Limit Hold'em

Seventeen players survived the second day of the latest $2k NLHE event and will return to play down to a champion on Saturday.

Winamax pro and chess prodigy Almira Skripchenko is the most notable name left in contention. Steven Tabb leads the field.

Chino Rheem, Shaun Deeb and Michael Martin were among those eliminated on Day 2.

Action will resume at 1 p.m. Saturday and play down to a champion.

Event 38 -$2,000 Limit Hold'em

A total of 446 players bought-in to the $2k LHE tournament and by day's end 107 of that number remained in contention.

David Baker leads the field with 72,100 while Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth and Maria Ho also remain in contention.

Play will resume at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Check out the PokerListings.com WSOP section for comprehensive coverage of the best of the 2009 World Series of Poker.

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PPA Director John Pappas Appears on Bloomberg

This week, Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Executive Director John Pappas appeared on Bloomberg television to break down Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA) Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act.

The bill, numbered HR 2267, was introduced on Wednesday and calls for a complete licensing and regulatory framework for the internet gambling industry in the United States. Although similar to a bill that Frank introduced during the last Congressional session, HR 2267 focuses on how proper regulation can mitigate the perceived social ills of gambling. Pappas told Bloomberg’s television outlet, “We want to make sure that the Federal Government puts the standards in place so that there is safety for minors, that there are services for problem gamblers, and that adult consumers can enjoy the game without fear of fraud or abuse. A prohibition never stopped a child from getting online. A prohibition never stopped a problem gambler. Regulation is the only way to do it.”

Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) and others have argued that a computer with the ability to gamble online may provide the outlet for children in the United States to begin playing at a young age. Bachus even quoted a non-existent McGill University study during a House Financial Services Committee meeting last July, claiming that one-third of college students who gambled online attempted suicide. Pappas explained that online poker sites currently employ safeguards to combat underage gambling: “Most of the online sites today already are using very high-tech, sophisticated age verification technologies. They have no interest in having children on their websites playing against adults. They want adult consumers playing on their sites. The only way to ensure that all sites have that is to pass a bill like Barney Frank’s.”

Pappas’ appearance on Bloomberg also included a discussion of whether playing online poker is illegal in the United States. Poker players can vividly recall the CBS News program “60 Minutes” stating that the game was against the law on multiple occasions after show producers allegedly contacted the Justice Department. However, Pappas revealed what the legal status of the game in the United States is: “For the U.S. player, it’s not illegal for them to go online and play internet poker. What the law in 2006 attempted to do was to make illegal the transactions. It puts the burden on the financial institutions, not the actual player.” The law in question is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which was ushered through Congress in the waning moments of the 2006 Congressional session by then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN). The UIGEA’s text gave no indication of what was legal or illegal under it. Instead, it deferred to existing State and Federal laws.

Some would cite the Wire Act of 1961 as grounds that playing online poker is not allowed in the United States. However, the 48 year-old measure traditionally applies to online sports wagering. Pappas told Bloomberg, “The Wire Act states that illegal gambling is being in the business of betting or wagering. An internet poker site isn’t in the business of betting or wagering. They’re simply allowing a venue in which people can compete in games of skill like poker against each other.”

In recent months, the PPA has seen judges in Pennsylvania, Colorado, and South Carolina conclude that poker is a game of skill and therefore should be treated separately from online casinos, Bingo parlors, and sports betting outfits. During the last Congressional session, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) introduced HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, which would have exempted poker, bridge, chess, mahjong, and other player versus player games from the UIGEA and Wire Act.

At the time of writing, HR 2267 has 16 co-sponsors, including Wexler, Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Peter King (R-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Ron Paul (R-TX), and Melvin Watt (D-NC).

Barney Frank to Introduce Internet Gambling Legislation after April 20th

In a recent interview with The Hill, Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) stated that he plans to introduce internet gambling legislation after the Easter recess. The Hill noted that the week of April 20th is a likely time frame.

Frank’s bill, which may create a complete licensing and regulatory framework for the internet gambling industry, will not be a rider to critical legislation, according to The Hill, which claimed, “The main proponent of a bill to regulate Internet gambling will introduce his legislation as a standalone bill and will not seek to add it to must-pass legislation.” Frank told the Washington, D.C. publication, “I want to do this with hearings, discussions, and votes.” The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed in the waning moments of the 2006 Congressional session. It was not discussed in the Senate and instead approved by unanimous consent and attached to the SAFE Port Act.

Frank had originally indicated that he would introduce internet gambling legislation in March. However, an ongoing economic meltdown has hindered other bills from being introduced and addressed. Frank is the Chairman of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, whose industry members like banks and credit card companies have been ravaged by the struggles on Wall Street and around the world. Consequently, the timeline for the introduction of a standalone internet gambling bill has been delayed. Frank told The Hill, “After the break, definitely in April.”

Frank has long been a proponent of internet gambling on Capitol Hill. He was the author of HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, which was introduced in April of 2007, but was not acted upon and now must be reintroduced for consideration. The bill attracted 48 co-sponsors. Last September, the House Financial Services Committee approved HR 6870 by a 30-19 vote, the second version of the Payments System Protection Act, which would have clarified what was legal and illegal under the UIGEA. However, the collapse of the global economy occurred shortly thereafter and the bill was placed on the backburner.

Although a final text of Frank’s new legislation has yet to be released, The Hill speculates on what it may entail: “Frank’s bill would remove the ban on Internet gambling, which Republicans fought hard to institute after heavy lobbying from conservative Christian groups when they controlled Capitol Hill. His legislation would regulate the practice as well as tax it, providing new revenues for the federal government.” A recent study released by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that taxing and regulating the internet gambling industry may yield up to $52 billion in revenue for the U.S. Government over a 10 year period. The figure is ultimately contingent on whether professional sports leagues choose to allow betting on games.

Some have argued that a bill that legalizes only online poker would stand a better chance of being passed than would a multi-faceted approach like Frank’s. In July of 2007, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) introduced HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, which would have exempted poker, bridge, chess, mah jong, and other player versus player games from the UIGEA and Wire Act. The bill created an important distinction between online casinos, where the action is primarily player versus the house, and online poker, where contestants battle against each other. Like HR 2046, HR 2610 was not acted upon during the previous Congressional session and must now be reintroduced.

The regulations of the UIGEA went into effect on January 19th as a “midnight rule” by the outgoing Bush Administration. Banks and other financial institutions must come into full compliance with the law by December 1st. In the meantime, over-blocking of transactions by Visa and MasterCard has led to complications for state lotteries in North Dakota and New Hampshire, where customers attempting to purchase tickets online are being declined.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest legislative news from Washington, D.C. and around the world.

Barney Frank to Introduce Internet Gambling Legislation after April 20th

In a recent interview with The Hill, Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) stated that he plans to introduce internet gambling legislation after the Easter recess. The Hill noted that the week of April 20th is a likely time frame.

Frank’s bill, which may create a complete licensing and regulatory framework for the internet gambling industry, will not be a rider to critical legislation, according to The Hill, which claimed, “The main proponent of a bill to regulate Internet gambling will introduce his legislation as a standalone bill and will not seek to add it to must-pass legislation.” Frank told the Washington, D.C. publication, “I want to do this with hearings, discussions, and votes.” The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed in the waning moments of the 2006 Congressional session. It was not discussed in the Senate and instead approved by unanimous consent and attached to the SAFE Port Act.

Frank had originally indicated that he would introduce internet gambling legislation in March. However, an ongoing economic meltdown has hindered other bills from being introduced and addressed. Frank is the Chairman of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, whose industry members like banks and credit card companies have been ravaged by the struggles on Wall Street and around the world. Consequently, the timeline for the introduction of a standalone internet gambling bill has been delayed. Frank told The Hill, “After the break, definitely in April.”

Frank has long been a proponent of internet gambling on Capitol Hill. He was the author of HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, which was introduced in April of 2007, but was not acted upon and now must be reintroduced for consideration. The bill attracted 48 co-sponsors. Last September, the House Financial Services Committee approved HR 6870 by a 30-19 vote, the second version of the Payments System Protection Act, which would have clarified what was legal and illegal under the UIGEA. However, the collapse of the global economy occurred shortly thereafter and the bill was placed on the backburner.

Although a final text of Frank’s new legislation has yet to be released, The Hill speculates on what it may entail: “Frank’s bill would remove the ban on Internet gambling, which Republicans fought hard to institute after heavy lobbying from conservative Christian groups when they controlled Capitol Hill. His legislation would regulate the practice as well as tax it, providing new revenues for the federal government.” A recent study released by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that taxing and regulating the internet gambling industry may yield up to $52 billion in revenue for the U.S. Government over a 10 year period. The figure is ultimately contingent on whether professional sports leagues choose to allow betting on games.

Some have argued that a bill that legalizes only online poker would stand a better chance of being passed than would a multi-faceted approach like Frank’s. In July of 2007, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) introduced HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, which would have exempted poker, bridge, chess, mah jong, and other player versus player games from the UIGEA and Wire Act. The bill created an important distinction between online casinos, where the action is primarily player versus the house, and online poker, where contestants battle against each other. Like HR 2046, HR 2610 was not acted upon during the previous Congressional session and must now be reintroduced.

The regulations of the UIGEA went into effect on January 19th as a “midnight rule” by the outgoing Bush Administration. Banks and other financial institutions must come into full compliance with the law by December 1st. In the meantime, over-blocking of transactions by Visa and MasterCard has led to complications for state lotteries in North Dakota and New Hampshire, where customers attempting to purchase tickets online are being declined.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest legislative news from Washington, D.C. and around the world.

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.