Poker Fuse – The million Kroner challenge match between Norwegian politician Erlan Wiborg and PLO pro Ola “Odd Oddsen” Amundsrud has started badly for the pro-poker politico. After the first 1,000 hands at $0.5/$1 PLO, the pro is up $2,666. There is 1m Kr ($170k) of Amundsrud’s money at stake should he lose the match he proposed in order to prove that poker is a game of skill. Currently, Norway bans online poker. The Norwegian gambling regulator, Lottstift, states on its site: ”Poker is considered a lottery in Norway and is therefore not legal. This means that it is not…

Card Player – It has been awhile since online poker has been discussed in a hearing on Capitol Hill, but that is just what will happen on Tuesday. The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a hearing on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, at 12:30 p.m. entitled “The State of Online Gaming.” According to the Subcommittee’s website, it will “examine the current regulatory landscape for online gaming after the Department of Justice’s reinterpretation of the Wire Act.” The Subcommittee will also discuss Rep. Joe Barton’s H.R. 2666, the “Internet Poker Freedom Act.” The Congressman from Texas has been…

Card Player – Lawmakers in the Pennsylvania Senate yesterday passed a resolution that calls for studying the possibility of an online gambling industry in the state. There was an Internet gambling bill in the legislature earlier this year, but the measure didn’t advance. Many preferred to focus on bar gambling this year. The resolution stipulates that lawmakers “analyze the potential impact of online gaming on the gaming industry, including the impact online gaming may have on the Commonwealth’s tax revenues and employment at the Commonwealth’s casinos…[and] issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later…

Poker Fuse – Online gaming group Unibet has announced that it will be launching new standalone poker software in early 2014. The new software, developed in partnership with Estonian based Relax Gaming, was crafted to support Unibet’s strategy of catering to recreational players. “In a way, our goal is to bring the fun back to poker by creating software with a clear focus on the casual player,” Daniel Eskola, Head of Gaming at Unibet, stated in a press release. Being involved closely in the design gave Unibet “the possibility to start from a blank piece of paper,” and define “everything…

Poker Fuse – Full Tilt Poker has entered a deal with YouTube to launch a sponsored poker channel. The channel hosts a selection of poker content from shows such as High Stakes Poker, the Million Dollar Cash Game, and Poker After Dark. Most videos are full length episodes, and there are plans to add content from live events to create a comprehensive source of entertainment for poker fans. The page includes live streaming tweets from Full Tilt and banner advertising for Full Tilt Poker. To access the channel, users must input their date of birth to confirm they are legally…

WPT Mag – Following an intensive period of soft play (play money) testing, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement have finally provided receipt of approval for Bwin Party digital entertainment to launch real money online poker and casino games in the state. As of yesterday, anyone within the state of New Jersey above the age of 21 that owns a computer can log onto www.nj.partypoker.com and experience the 24 hour cash games, great range of guaranteed prize pool tournaments and Party’s very own fast folding poker format “FastForward”. Despite the high risk that not many will be taking part…