January of 2008 was a fair precursor for what the year would bring. Capturing over the first million dollar title of the years Alexander Kostritsyn defeated Erik Seidel at the Aussie Millions. Here are some of the most important stories from the first month of 2008:

Alexander Kostritsyn Captures 2008 Aussie Millions Main Event

Annually the largest poker gathering in the southern hemisphere is the Aussie millions, with the winner of the AUD $10,000+500 main event instantly joining pokers upper echelon of poker pro players. In the year 2008 that honor went to Russia’s Alexander Kostritsyn, who broke into a grin after achieving his victory over American star Erik Seidel for the title.

Harrah’s Sale Completed

Harrah’s, a gargantuan charisma in America’s brick-and-mortar casino and amusement industry. The buy out that was initially going to be negotiated in December of 2006, wasn’t finalized until January 28th, 2008 due to authoritarian requirements. When 2008 brought a financial-markets crisis, the configuration of the buyout became difficult to manage.

Antigua, Costa Rica File for WTO Arbitration

The World Trade Organization had an ongoing heated discussion about the United States and the rest of the world regarding online gambling .The disagreements finally seized after the WTO issued a final declaration in favor of Antigua & Barbuda, giving way an annual $21 million trade judgment in the process.

Kahnawake Releases Final Audit on Absolute Poker Scandal

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission, stationed near Montreal. In 2008 the gaming commission issued its official final evaluation on the Absolute Poker situation. Keeping the name of the principle cheater involved confidential, the existence of the seven different accounts used for the theft was established, and announced a $500,000 penalty placed on Absolute Poker. Thus refunding the online poker players with $1.6 million after the thefts were uncovered.

Bart Tichelman Wins WSOP-Circuit Tunica Ring

From offering several stars to the unknowns the World Series of poker this time has run a different array of tables. With a final that offered reigning WSOP Player of the Year Tom “Donkey Bomber” Schneider including the noted tourney-circuit veterans as Ryan Young, Jordan Rich and Mark Garner .Even thought with all the shimmering champions present it was Atlanta’s Bart Tichelman who overcame an early short stack and surged to the win, worth $482,210

European Union Investigates Germany, Sweden

In regards to online gambling Sweden and Germany are among the dozen or so EU member countries which come under the trading bloc’s guidelines in regards to online gambling. In both cases, the countries had sought to shield lucrative state-run gambling monopolies by efficiently excluding private contests, a practice not allowed under EU trade rules. Continuing with the negotiations the industry awaits to see the future Europe has to offer with regard to online gambling.

Posted by Diana Sterling in Poker Articles, Poker News | No Comments » December 27th, 2008

An American nonprofit Interest group known as The Poker Players Alliance was formed “to speak with one voice to promote poker, and to protect the players’ rights.”The PPA was fashioned to serve as an encouragement group to Washington to establish rights and protections for U.S. poker players.

The Poker Players Alliance intends to get laws such as the Illicit Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 overturned either through political or judicial means. As public support grows for online poker and interest in the game increases through televised celebrity matches and other events, several states and localities are making alterations to laws that trespass on poker players’ abilities to play online poker, at home, in bars or taverns, and even at charity events across the country.

A print advertising campaign has recently been launched by the Poker Player Alliance featuring its appeal to the US federals regulation of online poker and targets politicians and federal officials in the Washington D.C. area. The Poker Players Alliance’s advertisement materialized in three of the most widely distributed print Medias, The Hill on Tuesday, The Politico Wednesday, and Roll Call yesterday, all of which are eagerly read by policy makers at the federal level.

Positioned as a counter response to the mainstream coverage of online cheating scandals at Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker by “60 Minutes” and The Washington Post over two weeks ago, the Poker Players Alliance’s ad itself mentioned only the series of pieces in the Post. Due to being targeted by the ad the newspapers shared readership was highly affected with the political outlets.

The Poker Players Alliance’s widespread call for “sensible federal regulation” particularly prevailing over online pokers hub of attention are several bills which are likely to be accorded with reconsideration when the new congress defers in 2009. Amid those are HR 2046, the “Internet Gambling and Regulation Act” introduced by Rep.

Barney Frank (D-MA); HR 2610, the “Skill Game Protection Act” introduced by Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL); HR 6870, the “Payments System Protection Act” also introduced by Frank whose endeavor is to block or invalidate the implementation of portions of the 2006 UIGEA; and S 3616, the “Internet Skill Game Licensing and Control Act” introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ).  Although several other bills are pending in relation to internet gambling but are not as heavily supported by the Poker Players Alliance.

Posted by Diana Sterling in Poker Articles, Poker News | No Comments » December 18th, 2008

Online poker can be a way of life for some people, it can help them relax and at the same time provide them with a taste of the risky side of life. Every day new softwares are created to help Poker customers enjoy the luxuries of playing online at ease and at the same time give them a sense of security.

The CEREUS poker network has launched a series of new features and twists that will be available to its clients on an immediate basis. The Players of both Absolute Poker and Ultimate bet will have access to all these new features which were a result of the feedback acquired from the third largest online poker community. These features include:

- Game Speed Increase – A significant increase in the speed of the game, including the dealing of hand and the final hand result will be noticed.
- Buddy Max Limit - The preceding cap of 500 players on both Ultimate Buddy and Absolute Buddy has been increased up to 2000.
-Heads Up Kick Off Limit - A new 5-minute rule has been applied to the ‘Sit Out’ function of heads-up matches (ring games only) to provide a more enjoyable experience for poker fans.
- Disable Enter to Bet - Players can immobilize the ‘Enter to Bet’ function to evade accidental betting while switching between programs.
-Remember Login - If a player successfully logs in but does not use the ‘Remember Password’ feature, the software will shrewdly remember the last successful login name.
- Disable Blackjack on Table - Players will now be able to disable blackjack from specific tables instead of just disabling it globally.
The members of the Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker communities can rest assure about the security, response and flexibility of the online poker gaming arena as after 12 months of development CEREUS assures its clients an enhanced gaming experience. Launching to rave reviews on November 25th CEREUS’s new poker platform is backed by leading technology and 24/7 Security Centre to deliver an impermeable gaming environment. The new twists involve countless new additions to both poker sites such as new table views, ability to create private tournaments, final table deal making, a time bank; avatars, personalization tools and many more.

Visit Absolute Poker and enjoy up to $1100 in Bonuses.

What more can a poker player ask for. You can have entertainment, fun, security and adventure all in one pot. Players seeking to avail this opportunity can acquire the new features through the expanded poker network.

Play now at Absolute Poker and earn up to $500 free cash.

Posted by Diana Sterling in Poker Articles, Poker News | No Comments » December 14th, 2008

On Friday, December 19th The Golden Nugget in Las Vegas will act as a podium for the launch of the highly popularized televised poker cash game High Stake Poker. The show that boasts a $200,000 minimum buy-in will be filmed for three days commemorating the start of its fifth season. Among the attendants are names that will make you think twice before putting your money at stake. Peter Eastgate, 2008 World Series of Poker main Event Champion and eleven time bracelet winner Phil Hullmuth. The show’s price tag makes it the “largest buy-in for an entire run of a television series” states GSN, which airs High Stake Poker.

As the very first fraction of High Stake Poker was also filmed at to storied Las Vegas casino, the show is returning to its pedigree. Before this return the show had mover around to other milieus including the South Point Casino and The Palms. The Hosts that keep us entertained are”Welcome back kotter’s” star Gabe Kaplan as well as A.J. Benza.

Doyle Brunson, the idol of the industry, will be a part of High stake Poker Season five. Brunson owns 10 WSOP bracelets and pinned his most recent piece in 2005 in a $5000 No limit Hold’em shorthanded event and on top of that he was a WSOP Main even Champion for two consecutive years, 1976 and 1977. Play online poker against Doyle Brunson at Doyle’s Room.

Hellmuth being one of the key faces behind Ultimate Bet poker room will make a comeback to High Stake Poker for the new season. Also known as “the Poker brat” Hellmuth won his eleventh WSOP bracelet in a $ 1500 No Limit Hold’em Tournament in the year 2007, pocketing a whopping and unbelievable $ 637,000 in the process. Joining Hellmuth this season will be two other world-famous “Phils” namely, Phil Ivey, a proud owner of five WSOP champion and Phil Laak. Antonio Esfandiari, Laak’s Partner in crime, will also be heading out to Golden Nugget next Friday.

Get ready for a tug-of-war this season as Eastgate; the youngest WSOP Main Event Champion ever at only 22years of age seized a groundbreaking $9.1 million. The Danish Eastgate trampled over Hellmuths standing record by two years. As the saying goes keep your friends close and your enemies even closer, Eastgates Heads-up opponent in the 2008 WSOP Main Event Ian Demidov will also participate.

For the very first time Tom Dwan also known as “durrrr” in the online poker world will be joining Eastgate and Demidov in Las Vegas for this showdown. Successfully transitioning into the live world Dwan has competed on NBC’s “National Heads up Poker Championship” and “Poker after Dark”.

The Co- Creator of the popular animated television series “The Simpson’s” Sam Simon, who finished 329th in the 2007 WSOP Main event, along with Nick Cassavetes will also be heading out to the Golden Nugget. Daniel Negreanu, A crowd favorite, will also be seen at the Golden Nugget with his team Poker Stars Pro Member Barry Greenstein .

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The set at Golden Nugget will be closed to the general public. Only a few selected media correspondents are permitted to attend this event. The show will air on cable network GSN and the stations crew will film the event between 12:30 pm and 9:30 pm Next weekend. Poker programming on GSN presently airs on Sunday Nights.

Posted by Diana Sterling in Poker Articles, Poker News | No Comments » December 11th, 2008

National Lampoon Inc USA, with its unbeaten achievement through National Lampoon Press, National Lampoon comedy radio channel, and National Lampoon.com. It has also announced the launch of online Poker site Nationallampooncasino.com.

It is an excellent addition in the world of online poker and online gaming, as it is providing access to multiple online poker engines. The casino is also featuring internet poker and blackjack tournaments, as well as sports trivia contests and casino promotion for other products under the National Lampoon name. No credit card or any other financial information is required to join. A minimum of $50,000 is guaranteed each month in prizes.

Mark Songer, CEO of Poker Face LLC said, “We wanted to create an atmosphere that could stand up to the test of time and quality of the National Lampoon brand, and the only way to execute on that plan was to partner with the best in gaming, like The World Poker Tour and the National League of Poker, as well as our other respected affiliate partners. Our plan is to offer our visitors the excitement and feel of Vegas, while adding something we all need in this economic time, some fun and games mixed with a splash of humor.”

National Lampoon Casino.com has features like online gaming, Gambling Tools, Player Resource, visual instruction that help online poker players to enjoy full suites of entertainments. It is also offering Texas Hold ‘Em, blackjack and a number of other games and services that include consumer commodities and travel. NLC is also offering access to other games of skills like trivia and financial market competitions. They are also planning to add poker goodies, like premium cigars and poker supplies for the home gamer, to the site in coming weeks.

National Lampoon casino.com has assured players that their operations are one hundred percent legal according to Club WPT concept. It is an advert-gambling casino that means the patrons put up no money; instead profit is generated by advertising, which in turn is paid for jackpots and tournament prizes. It is totally legal under US laws.

In days ahead, National Lampoon Casino.com will become an affiliate of growing online media company, National Lampoon Humor Network, which provides an integrated marketing platform. To get in touch with the consumer the company has to fabricate a number of inlets, including Internet advertising, on-air advertising, and field marketing targeted at the college market, as well as operates various Internet destination sites.

Posted by Diana Sterling in Poker Articles, Poker News | No Comments » December 7th, 2008

A Democratic Senator from New Jersey has introduced a bill into the U.S. Senate designed to license and regulate online poker in an effort to get the game legalized after two years of UIGEA restrictions.
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This is exciting news. Whether or not it succeeds, it shows that more members of U.S. Congress are joining the movement against the UIGEA, perhaps finally realizing that Americans don’t like to be told what they can and can’t do online.

So what’s that mean to us? This bill, also known as “The Payment System Protection Act of 2008,” was created as a revision to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). It seeks to change the details of UIGEA, a 2006 law that  effectively criminalized online poker and online gambling in the U.S. in 2006. (An earlier effort by Frank to introduce a bill that would have a greater effect on UIGEA was shot down over the summer, so this newer bill’s scope is a bit reduced. But it’s still a good start.)

The bill wouldn’t exactly repeal UIGEA. It’s really just an attempt to draw attention to the many flaws in the legislation, in the hopes that a movement will build in Congress to eventually overturn it. And it seems that Frank has had some success building such a movement, but there’s still a long way to go.

source:www.pokeraffiliateprograms.com

Posted by Diana Sterling in Poker News | No Comments » October 3rd, 2008