Poker forum archive

Is poker more a game of skill or of chance?

A federal judge in New York concluded this week that skill plays the bigger role in determining who wins a poker game, in a ruling that could strengthen the hand of the companies seeking to get online poker legalized in the U.S.

They range from social-games maker Zynga Inc. to casino giant Caesars Entertainment Corp. to Internet poker giant PokerStars, who all view online poker as a potentially rich source of revenue.

U.S. District Judge Jack Weinstein ruled Tuesday that a New York electronics dealer hadn't violated a key federal gambling law by running Texas Hold 'Em poker games out of his Staten Island warehouse because, unlike roulette or slot machines, poker isn't "predominated by chance," a common legal definition of gambling. The federal law allows federal authorities, under certain circumstances, to prosecute violations of state gambling laws.

The ruling marked the first time a federal court has directly considered poker's status, even though it is generally treated as a game of chance that is covered by gambling laws. State courts have been divided on the issue.

Over the past decade, the question of whether poker is a game of skill or chance has taken on greater significance as Internet poker companies have fueled the game's growth online. High-stakes tournaments, meanwhile, helped transform it into a popular spectator sport with a substantial television audience.

Read More: U.S. Judge Gives Poker a Break - WSJ-com

Nevada’s five-member Gaming Commission has given South Point Casino the first license to operate intrastate web poker in United States gambling history. Unlike many of its soon-to-be competitors, the Silver State casino company isn’t relying on a third-party firm to run its games.

The license comes about 16 months after the U.S. Department of Justice kicked out the major offshore online poker sites operating in the country.

South Point is out in front on the industry thanks to its decision to go with in-house software.

“We built this home-grown in Nevada from scratch, to the regulations,” a technology expert for the company told regulators Thursday. He added that South Point has “pretty cool technology” for Geo-location — one of the key issues for intrastate gambling in cyberspace.

“South Point Poker is grateful for this opportunity,” an attorney for the company said, adding that it hopes to be the first site to open its doors in Nevada, occurring as early as October.

The company fielded a handful of questions from Nevada’s gaming commissioners with regards to player verification and self-exclusion lists, quickly satisfying the inquiries.

South Point said that it has taken precautions to make sure it could handle a huge influx of players at first, since it will be the first site in the market.

“We want to make sure it’s done correctly because what you do might have an impact on what others do later,” Commission Chairman Peter Bernhard said.

The three-member Gaming Control Board approved South Point earlier this month.

Read More: South Point Casino Receives Gaming Commission OK To Begin Intrastate Internet Poker

Online poker sites in Nevada have 30 days after a player registers to collect detailed identifying information about that player. The policy is known as Know Your Customer, or KYC, and it can be especially problematic for gambling sites that lack the verification tools to properly conduct KYC activities. But with Player Verify's recent application for a Nevada online poker service provider license, KYC will soon become simple and accurate for Nevada-based online poker companies.

Of particular concern to site operators is Nevada's legal requirement that all personal information shared with I-gaming sites is encrypted. That level of security is not possible with e-mail, which is how most offshore I-gaming sites currently request personal identification verification. Fortunately for Nevada online poker sites, Player Verify will now be available to bridge the gap.

Launched in 2010, Player Verify (www-playerverify-com/default-aspx) has quickly become the leading player verification and self-exclusion service for I-gaming sites and players. It is the most secure way available for online poker players to share their personal identification information -- including driver's license, passport, and proof of address -- with I-gaming sites. Thanks to an exclusive partnership with tru.ly, verification of U.S. players through Player Verify is even more rigorous.

Read more here: Player Verify Applies for Nevada Online Poker Service Provider License with Nevada Gaming Control Board - PR Newswire - The Sacramento Bee

Nevada gambling regulators have approved three companies' plans to participate in Internet poker sites accessible only within state boundaries, although the sites themselves have a few hurdles to clear.

The Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday approved South Point Poker LLC for the state's first interactive gambling operator's license. Reno-based Monarch Interactive Inc. was also licensed as an operator.

The Las Vegas Sun reports (South Point, others approved for real-money online poker - VEGAS INC ) Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc., was licensed to provide online payment services.

South Point lawyer Steve Harris says the company's technology still needs to pass through several layers of inspection, but says site operators hope to be accepting real-money bets by October.

The South Point launched a free-play online poker site last year that doesn't handle real money.

Read more: South Point, 2 others approved for online poker » Ventura County Star
- vcstar-com

Could you be the new Viktor Blom or Phil Ivey?

An online poker site with a difference is seeking the rising stars of poker and offering them the backing they need to reach the next level in the world's most popular card game. Prostaker is looking for players who know their implied odds from their pot odds and their outs from their all-ins, with real-money backing on the table for the select few who make it through.

Prostaker offers a comprehensive package of mentoring and training for players who complete a rigorous selection procedure on the six major poker networks it partners with. Those who are selected receive training and mentoring from leading experts and the thrill of playing online poker at the highest level.

"This is the best staking deal in the business," said Niclas Antonsson, spokesperson for Prostaker. "It's a new concept that offers aspiring poker professionals the training and support they need to truly excel and, when they make the grade, we put our money where our mouth is and stake them online and in major tournaments."

Prostaker has grown rapidly since its launch in 2007 and a new generation of players is now being sought to help it reach new heights in the world of poker. One of the programme's most successful students is Johan Wehle, who has played with Prostaker for two years and was recently staked in the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas.

Read more here: Prostaker Launches Hunt for the Poker's Next Big Thing - PR Newswire - The Sacramento Bee

A start-up company in Tennessee is looking to provide upcoming Nevada intrastate online poker sites with something they could be in desperate need of one day — a centralized list of player information.

Why would competing online sites in the Silver State want to share such data? Per Nevada regulations, players can self-exclude. Also, some players will become, as what Bwin.party Digital Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan has called, “fraudsters.” Protecting the integrity of a platform is a must for the fledgling industry, which will bring all eyes on Nevada. A big scandal could devastate Internet poker efforts at the federal level and in other states.

Ryan, speaking to the Nevada Gaming Policy Committee in May, expressed the need for such a third-party hub of information. MGM Resorts International, Bwin.party’s Nevada partner, wants one too. Here comes Player Verify LLC, led by Managing Member Mark Dalton, who told Card Player Friday that his company has submitted paper work to do business in Nevada.


Read More: Company Seeks To Help Nevada With Web Poker Cheats

Jack B. Weinstein may well be the hero that poker deserves. This week, the Judge presiding over Federal District Court in Brooklyn ruled that poker is a game more of skill than a game of a chance, so the people that are running home games and the like should not be prosecuted under illegal gambling laws.

"The most skillful professionals earn the same celestial salaries as professional ballplayers," Judge Weinstein wrote in the mammoth 120-page ruling that did gave context for his decision with a look at poker's history in the United States along with an analysis of how successful players perform versus random chance. This represents the first time that a Federal court has ever ruled directly on whether or not poker was gambling.

John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Player's Alliance, had filed an amicus brief in the case. After Judge Weinstein's decision was handed down, issued this statement: "As we worked for years defending players against vague gambling laws, we have patiently waited for the right opportunity to raise the issue in federal court. Today’s federal court ruling is a major victory for the game of poker and the millions of Americans who enjoy playing it."

The case in question revolves around Staten Island electronics dealer Lawrence DiCristina and the poker games he ran out of his warehouse. Judge Weinstein's ruling isn't binding outside of his judicial district and is subject to appeal, but it's hard to deny the impact it's likely to have on the poker landscape, particularly in regards to online gaming.

A federal judge's ruling that poker involves more skill than chance could up the ante for legalizing online poker in the United States, observers said.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Jack Weinstein in New York was the first time a federal court took up poker's status directly, even though the game is, by and large, considered as a game of chance covered by gambling laws, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Weinstein ruled Tuesday that a New York electronics dealer didn't break federal gambling laws by operating Texas Hold 'Em poker games from his warehouse because poker isn't "predominated by chance," a common legal definition of gambling, the Journal said.

Companies such as Zynga, Caesars Entertainment Corp. and Internet poker giant PokerStars consider online poker a potentially lucrative revenue stream.

Weinstein's decision won't flood the Internet with poker operations because they may be prohibited by other federal and state laws, the Journal said.

Weinstein's ruling isn't binding outside of his judicial district and is subject to appeal.

Read more: Ruling ups stakes for online poker in U.S. - UPI-com

That's a very nice opportunity

What seemed like a tremendous decision for the gaming industry nine months ago - the re-evaluation of the Federal Wire Act of 1961 - may not be so advantageous for Nevada unless Congress takes steps to enact Internet poker legislation.

A window of opportunity that could place Nevada at the center of the potential U.S. Internet gaming market is closing quickly, and some in the gaming industry worry that lack of federal action could cost the state tax revenues and casino customers, while making Nevada subservient to less-regulated states.

"There are different standards for gaming regulation in one state versus another," Station Casinos Vice Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta said. "We know some companies will shop for the lowest common denominator. We could start seeing bets being taken away from Nevada."

The U.S. Department of Justice on Dec. 23 reversed a 50-year-old interpretation of the Wire Act, saying the law covers only sports wagering. Legal experts said the decision frees individual states to let online operators offer poker and traditional casino games such as slot machines and blackjack if the play doesn't cross state lines.

Read More: Online poker's window of opportunity may be closing - Business - ReviewJournal-com

The first real money intrastate online poker license in Nevada has been granted to South Point Poker, LLC, owned and operated by Michael Gaughan. This is the first license of this type in the US.

South Point Poker COO Lawrence Vaughan says, “We are pretty excited to enter the online gaming world. This is an incredible step forward. It’s going to redefine gaming and what the state can do.”

And while there will be undoubtedly more license like these to follow, what makes this first one different is that South Point Poker won’t be using a third party to supply software, as it has its own proprietary platform and has received licensure from Nevada as a gambling service provider as well as an interactive gaming manufacturer.

Vaughan says, “We built this home-grown in Nevada from scratch, to the regulations,” which makes it much more well-received by critics.

South Point hopes to launch sometime in the fall, ideally in October of this year. It will be interesting to see if online poker pros who have relocated out of the country in order to make a living playing real money online poker will return to the states and set up shop in Nevada.

A play money version of South Point Poker has been up and operating for a few months now, but according to Vaughn, the software used for real money will in fact be different.

South Point will require 30 employers to run the new online poker website, update software, and ensure that no one under 21 gets on the site, as is a big requirement under Nevada regulations.

“We have to make sure you are who you say you are,” comments Vaughn. “We’ll know if the person playing is the person who is supposed to be playing.”


First Intrastate Online Poker License Granted in Nevada

Nevada gambling regulators have approved three companies' plans to participate in Internet poker sites accessible only within state boundaries, although the sites themselves have a few hurdles to clear.

The Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday approved South Point Poker LLC for the state's first interactive gambling operator's license. Reno-based Monarch Interactive Inc. was also licensed as an operator, they run the Atlantis Casino.

The Las Vegas Sun reports Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc., was licensed to provide online payment services.

South Point lawyer Steve Harris says the company's technology still needs to pass through several layers of inspection, but says site operators hope to be accepting real-money bets by October.

The South Point launched a free-play online poker site last year that doesn't handle real money.


Information from: Las Vegas Sun, Las Vegas Sun News

Well, I’m a little worse for wear but at least I’m not down and out…finally after two days of no sleep, I slept an amazing 5 hours! Yippeee!

This week seems to have come on and gone by in such a blur not even a time machine could take me back, but alas its Sunday once again and its time for CSR Weekly Recap of online gambling news, reviews and previews with your host Maggie B.

These days it seems like the norm is accepting the failure of a poker room and then accepting that said failed poker room’s take over by another more successful poker room…did we loose you yet?

Titan Poker this week got not one, but two poker rooms absorbed into its clutches as it “staked out” Dracula Poker and B-Listed Celeb Poker before it sank into oblivion.

In other poker related news, South Point Poker made history this week when the Nevada Gaming Commission approved the card room as the state’s first interactive gaming operator, making it the first U.S. casino to be licensed to operate an intrastate, real-money poker website.

Read More: CSR's Weekly Recap, Online Poker Regulations and Approvals | Casino Scam Report

Although busily preparing to launch intrastate online poker in the coming months, Nevada gaming officials would rather see legislation on a federal level.

The Nevada Gaming Commission has approved several applicants for intrastate online poker licenses and the state is moving forward in its plan to be first to have Internet sites up and running. It looks as though South Point Poker may be ready to turn on the virtual switch as early as October following the conclusion of software testing by independent labs and plunking down a $500,000 license fee. As exciting and historic as that sounds, Nevada would still much rather see legislation enacted in a federal scheme instead of the intrastate model that is being readied.

There are many unknowns and potential problems that lie ahead for a state-by-state online poker format that would not have to be encountered if Congress were able to drum up enough support in order to advance federal legislation. First and foremost is the limited player pool found in the Silver State. Although tourists as well as Nevada residents would be able to participate online, it still looks as though Nevada may not garner enough liquidity to make the effort viable. Of course, if an interstate scheme were eventually implemented, that would solve the problem. But there is no telling how long that might take with other states such as California failing to approve legislation this year due to the inability of the state’s gaming interests to find common ground that satisfies all parties. A federal framework in which all states that chose to participate would be afforded such an opportunity would easily solve the liquidity problem.


Read More: Nevada Still Prefers Federal Online Poker Format

An expert on the American gaming scene, Maurice “Mac” VerStandig is well-versed in areas of casino management from common issues of fraud and theft prevention to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. With a background heavy in bankruptcy work, VerStandig is also skilled in the strategic valuation and monetization of complex assets, and applies that knowledge to all areas of his practice, from fraud recoveries to traditional insolvency proceedings. Here, Verstandig offers his expert opinion on the recent ruling by a federal judge that poker doesn’t constitute “gambling.”

Read more: Attorney Maurice VerStandig on Significance of Ruling That Poker is a Game of Skill | PokerNews

Nevada Poised To Offer Online Poker. This week, "The Silver State" awarded the very first license to operate a "legal" online poker site in the United States. Twelve entities have applied for licenses, and this list includes South Point Poker, Wynn Resorts (Las Vegas), Caesars Entertainment, Boyd Gaming, GNLV (The Golden Nugget), Fertitta Interactive, MGM Resorts Online, Station Casinos, LV Gaming Ventures (the M Resort), Monarch Casino, Golden Gaming Group and ACEP Interactive.

South Point Poker was granted the first license to operate, and will beat its other competitors into the market place by a few months. Expect South Point to launch sometime in October. The big question you may have is, "Will Illinoisans and Missourians be able to play?". Yes, for play money, not for real money, unless you are visiting the State of Nevada. You will actually be offered to the chance to deposit from your home state, but cannot play unless you are playing from an IP address in Nevada.


Read More: Coming Soon: Legal Online Poker

A federal judge in New York ruled last week that poker’s not gambling, reported the Wall Street Journal. Yes, we know. He ruled that running Texas Hold ‘Em poker games in a Staten Island warehouse is hunky dorey because the game takes skill.

This ruling opens the door a crack to the possibility of legalizing online poker. That’s good news for Las Vegas houses like Caesars Entertainment (CZR), which would love to get into the online poker business. But it also presents an unholy hail mary-type opportunity for the tiny farmers at Zynga.


Read More: Is Zynga

California’s online poker bill is likely finished for 2012, as tribes and other gaming interests continue to lack common ground on the issue.

With just a few days left in California’s legislative session, the state’s powerful Indian tribes still cannot agree on what is best for tribal factions as a whole in the online poker debate, causing the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians to withdraw from the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA). Lack of unity among tribes is a key reason why the Golden State’s poker-only bill is languishing in the legislature as time runs out on this year’s session.

The Pechanga tribe is an influential player in California and their resignation was a huge blow to CNIGA and its credibility as a representative of tribes in the state. In a letter to the Pechangan nation, CNIGA Chairman Daniel J. Tucker expressed regret at the tribe’s decision to resign from the association and urges the tribal faction to reconsider for the sake of unity.

Read More: Tribals Continue To Hinder CA's Online Poker Proposal

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Michael Gaughan's South Point Poker made history last week, becoming the first U.S. casino to be licensed to operate an in-state, real-money poker website. Lawrence Vaughan, chief operating officer, predicted an October launch.

It's great news for Nevada. But a checkerboard of up to 50 intrastate poker networks, each with its own regulations, is hardly ideal. The best outcome for Nevada operators - more licensees are on the way - would be federal legislation enabling Internet gaming nationwide. With its long and successful regulatory history, Nevada would be best-positioned to lead that industry.

Review-Journal gaming writer Howard Stutz warned Sunday that this window of opportunity may not last forever.

"What seemed like a tremendous decision for the gaming industry nine months ago - the re-evaluation of the Federal Wire Act of 1961 - may not be so advantageous for Nevada unless Congress takes steps to enact Internet poker legislation" soon, Mr. Stutz wrote.


Read More: Internet poker: Federal standards would benefit Nevada - Opinion - ReviewJournal-com