A deal that would have given online-gambling giant PokerStars a chance to re-enter the U.S. market turned into a legal battle Monday as a judge agreed to temporarily block investment firm Colony Capital LLC’s attempt to terminate a casino-sale agreement with the company. A New Jersey Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order that prevents Colony from negotiating with other parties to sell its Atlantic Club casino in Atlantic City, N.J., for 10 days. A hearing is set for May 17, when the judge will consider a lengthier restraining order. PokerStars had agreed last fall to purchase the struggling…

The British parent company of the PokerStars website says it still wants to buy an Atlantic City casino, even though a deal to obtain it fell through on Wednesday. The Rational Group said Thursday night it wants to try to save its deal to purchase The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel. The casino said Wednesday the purchase deal was dead, but declined to say why. Eric Hollreiser, a spokesman for the Isle Of Man-based company, said it had expected the closing deadline for the sale to be extended. “Several days ago the Rational Group received a purported notice of termination of…

MGM Resorts International CFO Dan D’Arrigo said the company was still deciding whether or not to launch online poker in Nevada and the state may be too small to provide a lucrative online market on a standalone basis. “We have to make an assessment on the cost to operate that space. We haven’t ruled it out, but we haven’t given it a green light either,” said D’Arrigo in an interview on Thursday. “We’re not going to be the first or a pioneer from the state’s perspective.” Nevada, which legalized online poker in Nevada back in February, became the first state…

A trio of well-established poker pros each announced new sponsorship deals Friday with Nevada based online poker site Ultimate Poker. Jonathan Little, two-time WPT Champion and author of the popular Secrets of Professional Tournament Poker series, announced via Twitter that he “signed with @ultimatepoker and will now be representing them + playing a ton on the site.” At the same time former Full Tilt Red Pro and PokerStars “Big Game” standout William Reynolds wrote that he “Toured @UltimatePoker’s office today..Professional environment with an expert team.. Looking forward to repping UP this WSOP” Finally, bracelet winner Jason Somerville,posted a photo of…