On Friday, April 15, 2011, the American Government shut down online poker sites over the ambiguity of the legality of poker. They branded its operators criminals. But is this still the case? The answer to the above question is yes and no. One of the main problems with passing new laws is that they often have unintended consequences. The clearest example of that is the Volstead Act of 1919. The ostensible purpose of this – Prohibition – was to save Americans from the demon drink; in practice, it created an era of lawlessness. The current drug prohibition laws – worldwide…

From Pokerati Trust us, they’re not the same! First and foremost, it all boils to down to whom you’re playing. In a traditional game of poker, even online, you’re putting up bets against other players. You’re trying to win for yourself, but you’re also trying to beat them. But with video poker, it’s all about you. Maybe you’ll win and maybe you’ll lose, but you don’t have to focus on anyone else’s hand. Really the only commonality between the two games is the system of ranking cards. A good hand in poker is a good hand in video poker, but…

From North Jersey Resorts Casino Hotel and The Rational Group, operator of PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker site, have reached an agreement to provide online gaming in New Jersey, the companies announced today. The agreement links the first casino to open in Atlantic City with one of the biggest online gaming companies in the world. Meanwhile, Donald Trump wants in on the action, too:   “This is another blue chip partner for Resorts to complete a wonderful series of brands – Mohegan Sun, Margaritaville and now PokerStars,” said Morris Bailey, Resorts’ Company Chairman. “Resorts is a fantastic partner for…

With online poker now legal in Nevada, and UltimatePoker.com currently legally able to offer the game to those within the state’s borders, I predict, in the end, the big winner in the online poker bonanza will be Facebook (FB), but for this to come to pass, poker must spread beyond just Nevada. First of all, casino gambling is legal in many states. Poker is considered a game of skill, and embraced as such even by many who might frown upon games of chance. Poker offers politicians a new way to increase revenues without having to enforce new obligatory taxes (always…

The great ones can’t stay away. And Doyle Brunson, one of the best poker players of all time, showed an old professional-sports rule of thumb also applies to card games: Retirements never stick, not with legends. Doyle vowed he was done playing in the World Series of Poker in May. He had softened the stance by June, stating he “hadn’t ruled it out.” With one day left before July, the 79-year-old smashed the idea all together. Brunson was one of 111 entrants through two levels of play Sunday in the $50,000 buy-in Poker Player’s Championship. “I give him a lot…

From Poker Fuse Ultimate Gaming has entered into an agreement to supply real-money online gaming to Trump Taj Mahal Associates LLC. in New Jersey, it was announced on Monday. “Today we are excited to be entering into an agreement with Trump Taj Mahal Associates to bring online gaming to New Jersey,” said Tom Breitling, Chairman of Ultimate Gaming, in a press release sent to pokerfuse. “This represents a huge step forward in our desire to offer Americans across the nation the opportunity to enjoy safe and regulated online games.” Ultimate Gaming launched the first regulated online poker room in the…

From Online-Casinos.com It was back in 2006 when the US government made banks and money processing firms responsible for prohibiting any transaction that had anything to do with online poker and internet wagering on US soil. It was the money processors and banks that the Department of Justice first went after to enforce the UIGEA enacted in 2006. U.S. players have had many problems making gambling web site deposits with banks and credit card companies considering them illegal. Neteller was one of the firms that kept offering their financial services to American clients and became a popular source for financial…

From Poker News Sheldon Adelson made himself abundantly clear. There is no longer reason to hope the Las Vegas Sands chairman and CEO has or ever will come around on online poker. In an op-ed piece on forbes.com followed by an interview with Bloomberg Television, Adelson (pictured) went much further than to voice his old moral concerns. He called Internet poker fool’s gold economically, a plague and cancer waiting to happen morally, and in an insult to poker players everywhere, not even a game of skill. “It’s a complete slap in the face to every poker player,” said John Pappas,”…