May 20, 2013

Amid online poker turmoil, World Series of Poker deals on

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(PhatzRadio/ USA Today) – While NFL and NBA players are locked out, the World Series of Poker opens its Main Event Thursday in Las Vegas. Online poker in the USA is locked in legal turmoil, but the in-casino Main Event is open to all at a buy-in of $10,000. “Here’s one sport where greed is [...]

Poker: Full Tilt’s offshore gambling license suspended

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Casino regulators on the British Channel Islands on Wednesday suspended the gambling license of Full Tilt Poker, halting the company’s online card games and intensifying its legal problems in the U.S. The Alderney Gambling Control Commission said in a statement it was immediately suspending Full Tilt’s license after an investigation prompted [...]

New House bill would clear way for regulated Internet poker

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(PhatzRadio/ USA Today) – U.S. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) introduced a House bill Friday that would allow for licensing, regulation and taxation of Internet poker. It would permit individual states to opt out if they choose and disallow use of credit cards to deposit funds in online poker accounts. In April, federal prosecutors in New [...]

Phil Hellmuth seeks 12th bracelet at WSOP main event

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(PhatzRadio/ USA Today) – Phil “The Poker Brat” Hellmuth, who has won a record 11 championship bracelets in World Series of Poker events, remains shy of a dozen after two runner-up finishes in this summer’s competition in Las Vegas. This week, Hellmuth finished second in the Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Championship (Event [...]

World Series of Poker attendance on record pace

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(PhatzRadio/ USA Today) – The federal government cracked down in April on online poker. But in Las Vegas Monday, the in-casino World Series of Poker (WSOP) reported its participation so far this summer is at a record-setting pace. The 42nd annual WSOP, which began May 31, is a series of 58 tournaments. Through 30 events, [...]

Online poker advocates demonstrate on Capitol Hill

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(PhatzRadio/ USA Today) – WASHINGTON — In a rare rally asking for taxation, online poker supporters gathered outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. Stirred by a federal crackdown on Internet poker, they want the government to instead regulate and tax it. “Ease the Debt, Let Us Bet,” said a placard carried by one of about [...]

Poker advocate: Estimated $100M-$500M in refunds for online players

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(PhatzRadio/ USA Today) – The head of a poker advocacy group said Tuesday players have had mixed results in getting money refunded from online gaming companies shut down last month in a federal crackdown. His best guess was that $100 million to $500 million might be involved. “It’s difficult to estimate. There are people like [...]

Online poker firms, U.S. government agree on refund plan for players

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(PhatzRadio/ USA Today) – Two of three firms targeted in a federal crackdown on online poker have reached agreements with prosecutors to “facilitate” the return of money from their accounts to U.S. players, a U.S. attorney announced Wednesday. Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced agreements with PokerStars and Full [...]

Online gambling crackdown puts poker world in limbo

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(PhatzRadio/ USA Today) – Greg Raymer, whose $160 entry fee in an online poker tournament led to a $5 million win at the 2004 World Series of Poker, says it’s hard to tell how a federal crackdown on online gaming will affect WSOP entries this year. But he’s a gambler. If he had to bet, [...]

Three online poker companies face fraud, illegal gambling charges

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NEW YORK (AP) — The multi-billion-dollar business of the three biggest Internet poker companies became a target of federal authorities before an indictment was unsealed Friday, charging 11 people with bank fraud and illegal gambling. Prosecutors in Manhattan said they’ve issued restraining orders against more than 75 bank accounts used by the poker companies, interrupting [...]