Tag Archives: Poker
2011 World Series of Poker to Start May 31
As preparation is under way days before the start of the 2011 World Series of Poker, the question on everyone’s lips is how Black Friday’s events will affect the WSOP.
American TV Channels Drop Poker Shows
In light of the recent Black Friday crackdown on online poker in the United States, businesses are trying distance themselves from online poker in order to keep a good profile. Casino groups, sporting events and TV channels are making change to make sure they are in danger of associating themselves with online poker companies.
MotoGP Riders Turn Jerez into a casino
The famous MotoGP championship was stopping in Jerez this weekend for the second race of the 2011 season. For many MotoGP riders, the main event was the race and the opportunity to gather points early in the season toward the championship goal. However, a few riders also had casino games on their mind. They were planning to turn the starting grid of the famous Spanish race track into a poker arena. Jerez will now be known as a famous MotoGP race but also the first stop of the bwin MotoGP Poker Series, a new European online poker tournament. The winner of the tournament is set to win a fantastic Ducati Monster 696 bwin Special Edition.
MotoGP riders Loris Capirossi, Randy de Puniet and Hector Barbera, together with motorcycle legends Alex Crivillé, Angel Nieto and Randy Mamola had an opportunity to get together for a game of poker in a very inspiring environment: on the starting grid of the race track. They played Texas Hold’em on a special poker table which had been installed on the track, next to their bikes. The players were not wearing their leathers though but turned up in casual clothing. Just for the record, Loris Capirossi won the game. He later commented on the game of poker and said that he enjoys it very much and plays with his team and online.
The sponsor of the event was Poker and Sports betting giant Bwin who has been a MotoGP partner since 2004. The MotoGP riders were also able to comment on the Gran Premio bwin de España and on playing poker. Many MotoGP riders enjoy online poker as it’s a great way for them to relax before returning on the track and they can get connected and play whenever it suits them.
It’s not unusual to find so many poker players amongst the MotoGP riders. In other sports, we have seen many top athletes perform very well at the poker table. Tennis legend Boris Becker made the move from tennis court to casino tables, initially as a hobby but he gradually caught the interest of PokerStars and is now part of its Team SportsStars. Football star Wayne Rooney is also a big casino games fan and there are many football and rugby stars who have turned to poker when they ended their professional sports careers.
Jerez was the first stop of the MotoGP Poker Series, The next stops will take the winners to other MotoGP races: Mugello and Brno.
Online gambling to be made legal in the United States
In 2006, online gambling was banned in the United States. Many online gamblers, poker players and casino players were shocked by the government’s decision at the time. Some poker players had been playing for years with the same online poker room and they’d built a solid reputation on the virtual poker tables and, suddenly, they were left out of the game.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) specifically targeted online gambling. Casino games in land based casinos from Las Vegas to Atlantic City were still able to welcome visitors and offer slot machines, roulette, blackjack tables and other casino games.
In fact, October 13 2006, the day when President George Bush signed the validation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act became known as Black Friday amongst online players and online gambling operators. The results for operators listed on the London Stock Exchange were terrible, with some shares losing half of their initial value.
The restriction made financial transactions from within the US to an online gambling site illegal. As always, the government claimed to be protected American citizen from gambling addiction (while granting building consent for large land-based casinos in various States).
Everyone wishing to see the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA) of 2006 revoked is scrutinising the latest development in Congress and in Nevada. With a Democratic Party administration now in power, the hope of seeing the end of the UIEGA is getting closer and more real. For many, the time has come to regulate Internet gaming within the US.
Nevada, as well as New Jersey, California and Florida want to allow online poker sites to apply for a state gaming license. Changes to the UIEGA would be made on State by State basis. However, part of the US Congress will argue that the changes in online poker laws should be made at the federal level.
Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) and Congressman John Campbell (R-CA) have been debating for years to obtain the right to regulate online gambling on a Federal level. The process would see a regulation based on a licensing system and include financial checks and monitoring of online operators.
Recently, Nevada gaming officials approved an agreement between Las Vegas-based Caesars Entertainment and online casino site 888.com to offer new online poker sites in the UK. Another Las Vegas-based casino group, Wynn Resorts, is also teaming up with online poker site PokerStars. Providing that they obtain the requested authorisation, they are planning to launch PokerStarsWynn.com as a new gambling joint venture.
The clock is ticking for the US Congress and for US residents waiting to play casino games online again.
