Poker in the News

WPT Enterprises, the creators of the Travel Channel's World Poker Tour, and WagerWorks have announced plans to develop an online poker site.

WagerWorks will develop the software to support the site, which is expected to go live inthe second quarter of 2005.

"The site will prohibit bets from players in the United States and other jurisdictions where online gaming is banned."

Is the World Poker Tour broadcast in many countries other than the US? In my opinion, it seems as if the "branding"-advantage that they have will be lost by disallowing American players.

World Poker Tour to develop online gaming - 2005-02-04 - Los Angeles Business from bizjournals

Vice-squad detectives arrested a casino ship operator Thomas O'Donnell Thursday morning near Tallyrand, Florida for "operating a gambling house" and "operating a cardroom".

Authorities looked into complaints of illegal gambling aboard the ship after Coin Castle Casinos, which is affiliated with the Star Dancer IV, began advertising on its Web site and on local radio station that it would be holding a "Texas hold'em" poker tournament with a grand prize of $20,000 during Super Bowl week.

News4Jax.com - News - Gambling Boat Busted For Super Bowl Poker Tournament

North Dakota state representative Jim Kasper wants to define poker played over the internet as a game of skill rather than gambling.

"I submit to you that poker is much different than gambling," Kasper told the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday. "The skill is what you do with what you are given."

Kasper is hoping that if Internet poker is excluded from the definition of gambling, it could entice hundreds of Internet poker businesses to North Dakota, creating hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue for the state.

Kasper wants to allow operations of the sites in North Dakota and fight the federal government in court if the federal officials block state law.

Kasper said the bill does not expand gambling because people can already legally play poker in casinos and on the Internet.

Bismarck Tribune Online - Bismarck, ND

Casino Windsor, a Canadian casino across the river from Detroit, will open a poker room on Feb. 11 in response to demand for the game.

The "Poker Place" will be a 3000 square foot room with 10 poker tables, offering Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and Seven Card Stud.

Other Detroit casinos offering poker are Greektown (16 tables) and Detroit's MotorCity Casino (8 tables).

Casino Windsor to open 10-table poker room - 02/04/05

Two Democratic lawmakers, State Reps. Mike Veon and H. William DeWeese, intend to introduce a bill that would allow poker, blackjack, and table games at Pennsylvania's casinos.

Less than seven months ago, Pennsylvania passed their "casino law" allowing slot machines-- slot-play at casinos is expected to start about a year from now.

Poker, roulette, anyone?