Poker News

John Caldwell

UK GAMING AD LAWS READY TO TAKE EFFECT

Most people in the poker business have September 1 marked on their calendars as the day new gaming advertising laws take effect in the United Kingdom. The new rules lay out very specific-and critics say, very harsh-restrictions on whatand where gaming companies are allowed to advertise. These new rules, coupled with a proposed 15 percent tax levied on online gaming firms, casts a huge doubt on the viability of the gaming business in the U.K. New Prime Minister Gordon Brown has made his stance on gaming abundantly clear, even suspending a casino license that was expected to clear the way for England’s first “super casino,” plans that now seem a long shot at best.

GOVERNMENT EXTENSION SOUGHT IN IMEGA CASE

The United States Department of Justice has filed for a two-week extension in the case of the lawsuit brought against it by the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA). The iMEGA suit seeks to try to prevent the enforcement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The originally hearing was slated for September 4 in a New Jersey federal court, but will now be rescheduled for a later date.

WORLD’S LARGEST AUTOMATED POKER ROOM OPENS IN INDIANA

Recently, the Four Winds Casino Resort, in New Buffalo, Michigan, about 70 miles from downtown Chicago, opened the world’s largest completely electronic poker room. The room features 15 of the ten-seat electronic tables, and 4 smaller “heads up” tables. The tables have been put into play in casinos all around the world, but the Four Winds is the largest automated room, at least for now.

The electronic tables are starting to make their way into major tournament schedules as well. As part of its tournament schedule, the Aussie Millions at the Crown in Melbourne is holding a $1,000 buy-in hold’em/Omaha event that will be played on PokerPro tables.

D’AMATO ANNOUNCES THREE-STEP “CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMAN” PLAN

Perhaps in response to intensified pro-UIGEA lobbying efforts by one anti-gambling “family” organization, the Poker Players Alliance and its Chairman of the Board, former US Senator Alfonse D’Amato, have issued a release outlining three easy steps for U.S. players to contact their Congressmen to ask for support for the right to play poker. Noting that August is the month when Congressmen frequently return to their home districts for public meetings and discussions, the plan includes a PPA-site link to obtain the phone number for one’s home Congressman, to find where public meetings are being held. Do you like the fact that you can play poker in the room you are reading this in? Go to www.pokerplayersalliance.com, and support this cause-so you can still play in your favorite card room for years to come.

WSOP EUROPE SET TO KICK OFF

This reporter will be doing his next two columns from the road. I am off to Barcelona, for the launch of the European Poker Tour, season four. Then, it’s on to London for the inaugural WSOP Europe. The WSOP Europe boasts some of the biggest names in poker playing in small fields. The first two events will cap at under 200 players, all competing for a WSOP gold bracelet. At press time, Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, and a cast of the biggest stars in the poker universe are slated to play in London from September 6 - 16. The Main Event is a $20,000 buy in that will b-e played simultaneously across three casinos in London. It should be interesting. See you there.

John Caldwell is the Editor-In-Chief of PokerNews.

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