Poker News

John Carlisle

Absolute Situation Continues to Unfold

It what is becoming the biggest poker story in the post Moneymaker era, the insider cheating scandal at Absolute Poker is continuing to provide the poker world with enough popcorn fodder and internet message board posts to keep even the most interested parties on the verge of overload. PokerNews sent poker tech whiz Nat Arem down to the Costa Rican offices of Absolute Poker-at AP’s invitation-to see what he could find. Arem’s reports are a fascinating read, and from what he could determine, the new management at Absolute Poker is bound and determined to clean this mess up, and get back to running a solid, trustworthy business.

Hello From Australia!

G’Day from the land down under, as we wrap up our very first ever PokerNews Cup series of tournaments. The fabulous Crown Casino here in Melbourne hosted the event, which saw over 425 runners for the main event, and a prize pool well in excess of $1 million dollars. PokerNews package winners from more than 20 countries came played in the tournament. It’s back to the good ol’ USA for me now. But, like a lot of the poker world, I will be back in Australia for the Aussie Millions in January. You might covet my frequent flier miles, but trust me, you don’t want the lack of sleep that goes with it.

Barry Greenstein Sees Better Days Ahead For Online Poker

Barry Greenstein, via his blog on his new site, ThePokerRoad, had a number of interesting things to say about the future of online poker, after meeting with scores of congressmen and senators on a recent trip to Washingon, DC with the Poker Players Alliance. Greenstein said that the congressional meetings left him with the impression that things were going in the right direction for poker players, noting that “We met with politicians and I can tell people that I am very confident that online poker is going to be back strong, [and] legal”

Equal Rights for Poker Game Robbers

According to a report airing on a West Virginia TV station, a private poker game in Teays Valley, WV was recently robbed at gunpoint by two women. Six players in the game at a local storage facility were surprised by the armed robbers, who got away with a sack containing the game’s cash, some $27,000. One of the two robbers, Kimberly Steinbrecher, turned herself in soon after and confessed her role in the deed. The other, named by Putnam County officers as Jacqueline Dennis, remains at large (and - we mean large) at last report.

Massachusetts Governor Tries to be Sneaky-Fails

Did the UIGEA define a methodology for public officials to try to get anti-online gaming bills passed? Recently, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick put forth a piece of proposed legislation that would allow resort style casinos in the state. Sounds great for poker players, right? Wrong. Some energetic PPA staffers read the wholebill, and buried 28 pages deep into the text was a clause that would make it illegal to play online poker in Massachusetts. Apparently, sneaky is the only way these bills can get passed. The buried clause was found out, and is now the topic of great debate all over the state.

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