Tight Poker – While some Asian countries have legalized and regulated poker gaming, a few others are weighing the pros and cons of doing the same. Asia is slowly developing the trend of viewing poker as something more than a “gambling game,” a fact indicated by the rising number of major live poker tournaments being hosted in Asian countries such as South Korea, Philippines, and Macau. Besides, lawmakers in Taiwan and Japan have pointed out the benefits of hosting major live poker tournaments. Things are looking so positive in Asia that one can almost expect an APPT Taipei, a WSOP…

Poker News – Over the weekend, Ultimate Poker released a highly anticipated software upgrade. The upgrade included changes to the site’s virtual tables, the lobby, tournaments, an addition of an online merchandise store, and a player awards program. In terms of the table and lobby changes that have been made, the first thing that will stick out are the updated graphics. From there, you’ll notice that the tables are now resizable, as are the avatars, the cards are larger, and preset betting buttons have been incorporated. The newly resizable tables, preset betting buttons, and upgraded server will each serve the…

888Poker has announces the signing of poker professional, JC Tran, to their Team 888poker. JC Tran was born in Vietnam and now resides with his family in Sacramento, CA. With a long-standing poker career, Tran has accumulated over 8 million in cashes and accomplished numerous achievements, including:  2 World Series of Poker bracelets, 8 WPT final tables, WPT Player of the year, Star in NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship, etc. Most recently, Tran is getting headlines for being the 2013 WSOP November Nine chip leader. Tran will join fellow team players, Jay Farber and Michiel Brummelhius at the final table…

iGaming Business – Online gaming operator 888 Holdings has updated the mobile phone application for its 888 Poker brand to give players access to a full range of multi-table tournaments. According to Pokerfuse.com, the app had previously restricted players to cash games and ‘sit and goes’, but players will now have an expanded selection of poker gaming options. The newly updated app will also be accompanied by a promotional campaign, which will include a television advertisement. Users will also receive a free tournament to ticket to a freeroll with a $50,000 (€38,500) prize pool. Freerolls will run twice per week…

This Week in Gambling – The August 19th, 2013 broadcast of Poker Advocacy with Rich Muny, guests include PPA Executive Director John Pappas. Discussion revolves around the Full Tilt Poker remission, the state and federal legislative efforts, and all that’s going on in the fight for poker. Following Mr Pappas was a  terrific panel discussion featuring Jay Todd of This Week in Gambling, Robin Jones of On Tilt Radio, and poker columnist Shari Geller. Listen to the full podcast HERE or visit On Tilt Radio.

iGaming Business – A bill for the potential legalisation and regulation of online poker in the US state of California will not be considered until next year, according to the Poker Players Alliance lobby group. The alliance posted a message on twitter that said that sources had confirmed that the Correa bill will not be brought up before the end of the current legislative session, which finishes on September 6. Authorised by state senator Lou Correa, Senate Bill 678 is the ‘Authorisation and Regulation of Internet Poker and Consumer Protection Act of 2013’. It would authorise internet poker as a…