Update on the Kentucky Online Poker Court Decision
October 25, 2009
Posted by NewsBug in : General , add a comment
The battle continues in Kentucky on the seizing of 141 domains of international online gambling. We wait anxiously to hear the outcome of the courts decision. There is a lot riding on this one. So keep watching as it develops.
October 23, 2009 (PAP Newswire) – Yesterday, the Kentucky Supreme Court heard an appeal by that state regarding its goal of seizing 141 international online gambling domains, in an effort to completely eradicate online gaming within its borders.
“The case, which first broke about one year ago, threatens to make the URLs of online poker sites like PokerStars and Ultimate Bet completely inaccessible worldwide,” explains PocketFives.com. That action was stopped by a Kentucky court in January; the current battle represents the appeal of that decision by the Kentucky government.
Arguing the case for Kentucky’s actions was Commonwealth attorney Eric Lycan, who referred to the main opponent of the domain name seizure, the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA), as part of a group of “illegal gambling trade associations.” Lycan went on to state that if the state was successful in seizing the domain names, they “would be put up for public auction.”
The main point of the appeal is whether or not Kentucky has jurisdiction to carry out this action. iMEGA’s lawyers argued that it certainly did not. “It boggles the mind to look at what the Commonwealth has done,” iMEGA attorney Jon Fleischaker said in his summary arguments.
“Six of the seven judges that comprise the Kentucky Supreme Court heard the case during the 90-minute session and the judicial body is expected to rule within the next four months,” adds PocketFives.com. “A ruling from the court could take anywhere from weeks to months,” agrees the Associated Press.
According to the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the hearing went well. The group’s chief executive, John Pappas, said in a statement that they were “very pleased” with the arguments and how they were presented, according to EGR Magazine.
Meanwhile, the domain name registrar for Full Tilt Poker, one of the most renowned sites involved in the Kentucky case, has received support by a UK court that ruled that Kentucky would not be allowed to seize that (or any) British-owned domain name.
“English courts have no jurisdiction to entertain an action (I) for the enforcement either directly or indirectly of a penal, revenue or other public law of a foreign state or (2) founded upon an act of state,” the British court ruled, according to thedomains.com. (Read that story here.)
Informative coverage can also be found at Kentucky.com, here, and the Louisville Journal, here.
WSOP Circuit Breaks Record in Chicago
October 20, 2009
Posted by NewsBug in : General , add a comment
Poker is alive and well and still kicking butt! This tells me that poker offline or online is going to be around a long time. After all it is a game of Skill!
HAMMOND, Indiana — (PRESS RELEASE) — The first event of the 2009-2010 World Series of Poker Circuit season started out with a bang. A record 1,412 players entered the $345 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament, which is being held at the Horseshoe Casino, just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago. Attendance eclipsed last year’s near-record for the same event, which were 1,187 entries. The previous all-time record attendance mark for any WSOP Circuit event had been 1,345 players, at the Tunica Grand Resort and Casino (in Mississippi) on January 7, 2006.
Chicagoland has become one of the WSOP Circuit’s most popular destinations for poker players. The 13-event tournament series at the Horseshoe Casino is being held October 16th through 25th, which kicks off the sixth season of WSOP Circuits, which officially began play in 2005. This year, 11 Harrah’s properties will host WSOP Circuit events. This marks the Horseshoe Casino’s second year as part of the WSOP Circuit.
The Horseshoe Casino, which underwent a $500 million renovation last year, is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. The huge luxury casino offers panoramic views of the downtown Chicago skyline, just 16 miles away. The Horseshoe Casino is actually located in Hammond, Indiana, a few minutes from the Illinois state line. Downtown Chicago can be reached by car or shuttle within just 20 minutes.
The Horseshoe Casino holds the largest poker room in the Midwest, with 34 tables. WSOP Circuit attendance boosted the poker facility to a whopping 112 tables, most of which are located inside “The Venue,” which is a state-of-the-art special events center attracting many of the biggest names in music and entertainment.
Doyle Brunson Inducted in Hall Of Fame
October 15, 2009
Posted by NewsBug in : General , add a comment
I guess with some things it is better late than never. Finally Doyle Brunson gets the credit he deserves!
Las Vegas, Nevada – October 14, 2009 – Doyle Brunson has been recognized as poker’s biggest legend and one of the best professionals to ever play the game. But it’s today’s acknowledgment from his alma mater that has Brunson feeling like a gold medal champion. After more than half a century of waiting patiently, Doyle Brunson has been recognized by Hardin Simmons University for his impressive list of athletic achievements on both the track and the basketball court.
Brunson’s achievements include a third place finish in the Border Conference meet during his freshmen year and a number of other impressive track and field finishes. He was also instrumental in helping HSU to win the basketball Conference championship for a spot in the NCAA Division I playoffs. Brunson scored 412 points and was the only HSU athlete in any sport to be named the MVP of the Division I Border Conference.
Doyle has long been recognized by his peers as one of the university’s best athletes but his involvement in poker prohibited him from being inducted into the Hall of Fame due to the university’s deep religious roots and strong stance against gambling.
However, with poker chips and playing cards becoming as ubiquitous as textbooks and laptops on college campuses across the country, poker has achieved the type of mainstream popularity that no higher learning institution can ignore.
In fact, the acceptance of Texas Hold’em as a social game of skill can be attributed to Doyle. Brunson, a legend who is widely considered the Babe Ruth of poker, is credited with bringing the game from the smoky basements of yesteryear to HD television sets in living rooms across the globe today.
Doyle Brunson will be officially inducted into the Hardin Simmons University Athletics Hall of Fame on October 16. For more information on Doyle Brunson, visit DoylesRoom.com.
We salute you Mr. Brunson!!!!
Shut Down of Pittbull Poker!
October 8, 2009
Posted by NewsBug in : General , add a comment
The online poker world is in a state of shock. Pitbull Poker, on the Flash Poker Network, closed it’s “doors” and shut down last week because of rumors of superusers and suspicious play. Many of its players are threatening court action. A superuser is an account that gives the player the ability to see the cards of the other players.
Exactly what the future holds for the player funds held by Pitbull Poker are unknown. This uncertainty has led some to look for some sort of legal action against the owners and manager of Pitbull Poker. Players are claiming losses of from $250 all the way to $100,000.
David Brenes, Pitbull Poker Network Manager, stated that he was never a partner or an associate and that he was simply an employee hired to do a job. He further stated that any lawsuits started by players would have to be started to Costa Rica where the company was based.
On the night of September 29, Pitbull Poker owners Kevin Baronowski and a person known as “Jordan”, were seen hauling their computers out of the companies headquarters. Employess called the police and the two were taken into custody.
David Brenes stated that though there were rumors that the site was back up and running, those rumors were false. He stated that the site is shut down. Players were still able to log onto the software, but the tables were all closed. He also stated that the players weren’t the only people seeking help against Pitbull Poker. A group of former employees are also looking at legal action to pursue lost wages owed them. Brenes denies responsibility stating that as an employee, once the business closed, he was out of a job just like everyone else.
SC Judge Rules Again Poker a Game of Skill, Not Chance
October 6, 2009
Posted by NewsBug in : General , add a comment
This is another win for the popular game of skill which is poker. The debate of this is everywhere, but it is becoming more and more recognized as a skill game and not a game of chance. This Ruling Confirms Use of Dominance Test!
Washington, DC (October 2, 2009) –The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide (nearly 10,000 in South Carolina), today lauded the ruling of a South Carolina court that confirmed that poker is a game of skill, and thus should not be considered gambling under the law.
“Poker is not a crime in South Carolina or anywhere else, and we are grateful to the court for compiling the overwhelming evidence that proves this case and protects the rights of players,” said John Pappas, executive director of the PPA. “This ruling is fully consistent with the declarations of other judges and juries across the country that Texas Hold’em is clearly a game of predominant skill and adults who play should not be criminalized.”
Five individuals had been convicted of illegal gambling. The trial court found that poker is a game of skill, but left it to a higher court to decide if state gambling laws were overly vague. The higher court agreed and reversed the convictions. In addition to holding that the law was overly broad and vague (as it could be used to convict anyone playing poker in their home), the court embraced the use of the predominance test, citing the “overwhelming” evidence that skill dominates chance.
“All poker players are well aware that the game is based on making the correct, informed decisions, not just mere chance, and games of predominant skill should not be classified in the same league as slot machines or lotteries,” said John Ridgeway, South Carolina State Director of the Poker Players Alliance. “We’re very pleased that the judge considered the overwhelming evidence and came to the same conclusion. This is a well deserved legal victory for the players, the American game of poker, and for common sense under the law.”
PPA’s Litigation Support Network has been involved in a string of legal victories by providing expert witnesses, preparing arguments for trial, and filing amicus briefs with the courts.
Thanks to the PPA soon every state will rule the same. It has been proven a scientific fact that poker is a game of skill! So this is one more victory!!
