Poker News

John Caldwell

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA ASK FOR $3.4 BILLION IN U.S. SANCTIONS

The tiny island nation of Antigua and Barbuda have asked the permission of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to authorize $3.4 Billion in commercial sanctions against the United States for its failure to comply with aWTO ruling regarding online poker and gambling. The US did acknowledge the ruling, but still felt it had outs in the form of an appeal, based on a 1994 ruling on a related topic. The US also called the monetary amount of the sanctions sought “patently excessive.” An arbitration panel to rule on the matter has been set up by the WTO, but an exact date for a ruling has not been established.

HUMANS STILL BETTER AT POKER- BUT IT’S CLOSE

Recently, poker players Phil “The Unibomber” Laak and Ali Eslami took to the felt to battle Polaris, a poker playing program developed by researchers at the University of Alberta. Laak and Eslami beat the computer by a narrow 2-1-1 (two wins, one loss and one draw) margin in fixed-limit hold’em. The Laak- Eslami team earned a 570 point win in the last of four matches, prompting cheers from the audience that the “home team”-the humans-won the match. The programmers are already preparing Polaris for its next battle against the humans, and vow that many improvements will be made. Stay Tuned.

DANISH COURT RULES POKER A GAME OF SKILL

In a major victory for fans of poker everywhere, a municipal court in Denmark has ruled that poker tournaments are not aform of chance-based gambling, deciding that competence in the game is vital to success, and as such, poker is a skillbased game. Late in 2006, charges of illegal gambling were filed against Frederik Hostrup, chairman of the Danish Poker Association. Hostrup and his lawyer, Henrik Hoffmann, decided to fight the charges and attempt to prove that poker is a game of skill. The court sided with Hostrup, and acquitted him of all charges. This decision could have some precedent in other countries where the skill versus gambling debate still rages strong.

NETELLER U.S.-CUSTOMER REPAYMENT PERIOD BEGINS

The official 180-day period for U.S. customers to request their long-frozen funds from NETeller began recently with the company sending email invitations to withdraw funds to its US customers. U.S. players with funds remaining on the site must request a withdrawal by January 26, 2008, with the funds able to be sent to a pre-existing bank account or by paper check to the recipient. Although NETeller cautions in its FAQ to be patient, this reporters’ frozen funds hit the bank very quickly. Account holders will also be asked to sign two-way release freeing NETeller from further liability, though signing the release is not necessary to retrieve one’s funds.

ONE SHOT IN VIOLENT INDIANA GAME ROBBERY

Authorities are on the hunt for two young males who robbed a private poker game early this morning in Noblesville, a far northeastern Indianapolis suburb. The two armed robbers forced their way into a home where a private poker game was in progress, ordering the game’s participants to the floor. A scuffle ensued, with one of the game’s players being shot in the abdomen before the robbers fled, though one may have left a black hi-top athletic shoe in his wake. The wounded player was treated and released, in satisfactory condition.

Filed under: Poker News