Facebook, AlertPay to stop selling poker chips

Facebook, the social networking online site and AlertPay, an online payment firm have just agreed to sign an agreement, terminating the numerous online gambling operations which have been selling virtual poker chips for use on Facebook’s “Texas HoldEm Poker” application, says reports on the eCommerce Journal.

This setup was potentially illegal and according to a statement on AlertPay’s official blog, the two firms have now negotiated the basic issue on the following structure: “Facebook does not permit online gambling on its platform and some sellers attempted to convert the Texas HoldEm Poker application into monetized online gambling.”

The blog added, ‘Sites offering for sale virtual poker chips for use with Texas HoldEm Poker are violating AlertPay’s User Agreement and is potentially violating state and US federal law prohibiting unlicensed and/or online gambling, as well as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.

WSOP: Traply Wins USD 5,000 No Limit Hold’em Shootout

No one at the final table of the USD 5000 No Limit Shootout (Event 41) was older than 24. The average age was just 22.

Peter Traply, 22, however, was able beat his younger opponent, 21-year-old Andrew Lichtenberger and some of the biggest names in the poker for his first World Series of Poker bracelet, USD 348,728 and the first championship for Hungary.

Traply bagged the championship when he moved all in with A K and Lichtenberger called with A J . An ace was in the door of the 5 3 A flop and the board paired queens on the next two streets, coming Q ,Q .

“Oh my God, I’m the happiest person in the world,” he said. “Winning a bracelet was one of my poker dreams and it came true.”

Lichtenberger was crippled when he moved all in against his Hungarian opponent with A K and Traply called with 6 6 . An ace hit on the flop with the A 8 9 and Lichtenberger’s freinds applauded, but the crowd at the feature stage erupted on the turn when the 6 peeled off the deck. The 2 came on the meaningless river and Lichtenberger was left with just under 300,000 in chips, while Traply had 7.1 million.

Despite the overwhelming chip deficit, Lichtenberger was able to come back to 3.4 million after doubling up three times. He was unable to complete the comeback, however, finishing second, earning USD 215,403.

“Andrew, of course, is a world-class player,” Traply said. “It was a tough final table, a tough field overall.”

Five players returned for the final day of Event 41 — Lichtenberger, Traply, Max Lykov, 21, Danny Wong, 24, and Nasr El Nasr, 23 — after outlasting superstars like Phil Ivey and David Pham on Monday for what might be the youngest final table in the history of WSOP. It is impossible to know the youngest, and oldest, final tables in history as the ages of the first WSOP contestants were never recorded.

After two hours without any big showdowns, El Nasr took a big hit when his aces were cracked by T 9 . Lichtenberger raised from under the gun with the suited connector before El Nasr re-raised with A A . The two moved all in with El Nasr having the chip and percentage advantage. The flop didn’t give Lichtenberger the best hand, but it made him a slight favorite as the 6 7 9 came off to give him a pair, a flush draw and a straight draw and a 53 per cent chance to win. The T on the turn gave the New York-native the best hand. El Nasr, from Germany, would need an ace, six or seven that wasn’t a diamond for the win or an eight for a chop, but the J came and gave the pot to Lichtenberger.

A few hands later El Nasr moved all in with 3 3 and was called by Traply called with 8 8 . El Nasr was never able to catch a three and was knocked out in the fifth place, earning USD 82,697.
The oldest player at the table, Wong, 24, was the next one eliminated. With the board reading T 2 2 7 , Wong made a push with top pair, holding A T , but Lichtenberger has the one holding aces this time. Lichtenberger slowplayed his two black aces perfectly, smooth calling Wong’s button raise from the small blind and checking on the flop and turn, when Wong eventually moved in. When Lichtenberger showed the A A on the turn, Wong would need to hit another ten on the river, but the 2 came, sending him to the rail. Wong left with USD 105,609 for the fourth-place finish.

Lichtenberger took out Lykov to face Traply heads-up for the championship. Lykov, who was the short stack with about 1 million in chips, moved all in with A T and Lichtenberger had two jacks. The Russian was never able to catch an ace and was eliminated. He took USD 145,063 for the third.

Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Unveils National Poker Week

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) is planning a National Poker Week from July 19 to July 25. The PPA is the industry’s one million member strong lobbying force.

The PPA unveiled National Poker Week at a press conference on Monday inside the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino during the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP). The gala featured Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV), whose Internet Gambling Study Bill was introduced during the 110th Congress, but failed to be marked up by the House Judiciary Committee. Also present were PPA Chairman and former three-term Senator from New York Alfonse D’Amato, Poker News Daily Guest Columnist and Tournament Directors Association Co-Founder Linda Johnson, and 2004 WSOP Main Event Champion Greg Raymer.

After the press conference, Berkley issued the “Shuffle Up and Deal” command to start play in the Amazon Room.

“I thought it went very well. Shelley Berkley was magnificent with her command for the issue and stated why it’s important for poker players to get involved in a meaningful way. She explained that the poker community should rally around the initiatives that the PPA is putting forth in order to make sure that legislation like Barney Frank’s bill will get passed,” PPA Executive Director John Pappas said on Monday at press conference.

Frank has two measures in the US Congress. HR 2267 establishes a licensing and regulatory framework for the internet gambling industry in the United States. HR 2266 delays the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) from being implemented for one year to December 1st, 2010.

The PPA will fly in of over 30 of its State Directors to Washington, D.C. as part of the National Poker Week. While in the nation’s capital, the State Directors will meet with their elected officials to pitch support for legislation like HR 2266 and HR 2267. In addition, the crew will deliver a petition to President Obama calling for exemption of poker from the UIGEA. Over 10,000 concerned players have signed the virtual poker petition, which will be delivered on July 22. It opens with a simple statement regarding the rights of poker players: “I am a voter and a fellow poker player asking for your support of my right to play games of skill like poker on the Internet.” In order to sign the petition, a person’s first name, last name, e-mail address, and mailing address are required. As I wrote this paragraph, 20 players have lent their names.

Professional poker players slated to be part of the event include Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Annie Duke, Jan Fisher, Linda Johnson, and 2008 November Nine member Dennis Phillips. On July 21, a charity poker tournament benefiting the United Service Organizations (USO) and the Malone House at Walter Reed Army Medical Center will take place. The PPA is fronting the costs for the event in order to ensure that all the money raised goes directly to beneficiary organizations. The prizes and buy-in for the tournament were not available at the time of writing.

A key element leading up to National Poker Week is the launch of MyPokerStory.com, which invites poker players from around the country to submit a video of why the game is important to them and why the US Government should legalize the Great American Pastime. All videos will be entered into a drawing for a two night Las Vegas package complete with airfare for two people. A total of 16 amateur videos are currently posted, including a clip from Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX). In addition, World Poker Tour Host Mike Sexton, “Cowboy” Kenna James, and Lederer have all submitted recordings. Interested WSOP spectators and players can produce their own videos at the PPA’s booth outside the Amazon Room.

Members of the press present at the 45 minute long event on Monday received a tutorial on the PPA’s new National Poker Week web tools. In addition, it was revealed that a variety of telephone and e-mail campaigns were being planned.

Poker Players Alliance Bares National Poker Week, Other Steps

The Poker Players Alliance has unveiled several new initiatives as part of its build-up for this year’s National Poker Week, set for July 19-25, 2009. The new measures were unveiled at a press conference at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino on Monday. In addition to debuting several new online sites designed to increase poker players’ participation in the political process, the conference also announced plans for this year’s PPA “fly in” to Washington DC, where dozens of high-profile professionals and state PPA representatives are expected to lobby for the game.

The midday conference included participation by several major PPA figures, with PPA Executive Director John Pappas opening the meeting and returning to detail several new PPA programs. In between came brief but energetic speeches from PPA Chairman Alfonse D’Amato and US Representative Shelley Berkley (D-NV), plus short appearances by PPA board members Linda Johnson and Greg Raymer.

D’Amato, who also took part in Monday’s Seniors Event at the 2009 World Series of Poker (his first-ever WSOP appearance), detailed some of the history of the legislative fight over online poker and Internet gaming in his talk. Berkley, who after her appearance gave the traditional “Shuffle Up and Deal!” command to the Seniors players, outlined the manner in which the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was shoved through Congress, attacking the act’s insertion into an unrelated “must pass” port-security measure as a blatant attempt by then-Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) to buttress his own presidential aspirations, which fell apart only weeks after UIGEA’s passage.

The majority of the conference, though, was spent looking forward, with the PPA's Pappas outlining several new initiatives, including hinting at the near-future reintroduction of a “skill games” bill by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ). This possible second go-round for the bill would provide an exemption for games of skill to be played over the Internet, specifically separating them from “house” forms of gambling. Games like poker, backgammon and mahjongg would be included in the proposal.

Progress on Congressman Barney Frank’s own ongoing legislative efforts to overturn the UIGEA was also detailed, with the possibility of a hearing by Frank’s Finance committee to be held during the late-July PPA fly-in.

The PPA also announced three separate participatory programs designed to increase poker’s awareness on the federal and state level, continuing the organization’s overriding theme of helping poker players to organize and help themselves. Each of the three programs contains a dedicated web site. The first, at nationalpokerweek.com, includes a summary of planned events surrounding the July Washington D.C. fly-in, and includes methods for players to contact their own elected officials on poker’s behalf.

The second site, at pokerpetition.com, includes an online petition designed to be delivered to President Obama during the National Poker Week. While the existence of the online petition was leaked a couple of days before Monday’s official unveiling, around 7,500 players quickly signed up in the first few hours of the petition’s formal existence, with hundreds of thousands of poker players expected to take part.

The third site, at mypokerstory.com, is an attempt by the PPA to humanize and modernize poker as an everyman’s form of entertainment, and dispense with decades old, false stereotypes of backroom gamblers and con artists. The mypokerstory.com includes a contest for PPA members as well, with each participant invited to share a story about how he got involved in poker and what the game means to him. The contest winner will receive a trip for two to Las Vegas, donated by Harrah’s. Participation can be done either online or at the PPA’s Rio Convention Center booth for the duration of the 2009 WSOP.

Seniors event breaks all records at WSOP

Any WSOP event that draws nearly 3,000 entrants has to be considered a tremendously popular tournament. Other than the Main Event it's usually the USD 1,500 No Limit Hold'em events which draw this kind of fields with internet players entering en masse.

The biggest event at the Rio Convention Center on Monday, however, doesn't have too many internet kids in the field.

The USD 1k Seniors No Limit Hold'em World Championship shattered expectations, drawing a record 2,707 entrants for the three-day event. A record USD 2.4 million prize pool has also been raised for the event with the first place paying out an impressive USD 437,000.

The event drew all kinds of legends from the poker world. "Amarillo Slim" Preston, T.J Cloutier, Tom McEvoy and Humberto Brenes all bought in. Other big names in the event included PPA Chairman Alfonse D'Amato and legendary ring announcer Bruce Buffer.

"It's fantastic," said Cloutier. "This turnout is a lot more than what I expected." "I don't know how many played last year but I know it was a decent turnout. But this is fabulous." Preston shared the same opinion about the event but argued the buy-in should have been larger.

"Why didn't they make it a USD 2,500 entry fee like everything else?" Preston said. "Everyone here would buy in for USD 2,500, why not make it like other tournaments? This is a good event." Preston said he's gearing up to bring back his signature event to Las Vegas soon, perhaps increasing the number of senior events.

"I'm fixing to activate the Super Bowl of Poker next year," Preston said. "We'll play down at Binion's. It'll be homecoming from where all this started."

Cloutier's tough day at the tables came to an end when his pocket nines were cracked by AJ, but he's sweating one of his good friends the rest of the way. "I'll tell you who I'd like to see win - Tom McEvoy," Cloutier said. "He's my best friend, and I'm pushing for him to get into the Hall of Fame this year. There are a lot of us pushing for him, Hall of Famers pushing for him."

The pace has been conservative and relaxed around most of the tournament tables, a change from the usual frantic pace in the early rounds of most WSOP events, when aggressive players are gambling and trying to build a deep stack early.

Utah Transit Authority Cracks Down on Net Gambling, Porn

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is cracking down on passengers’ internet usage, says a story which appeared on Fox 13 in Salt Lake City Now. Viewing porn or gambling online will attract a USD 300 fine.

Fox 13’s Arikka Von broke the story, which appeared last week. When asked why the UTA management implemented the new rules, Von explained, “UTA says it’s not because they had complaints. The old ordinances are just that: old, at least 10 years old, so they have some new policies which include some of the new services like free WiFi.” On a national scale, online poker players have faced the same difficulties interpreting age-old laws like the Wire Act, which was enacted in 1961, nearly 50 years ago. The Wire Act, although passed before the arrival of the internet, has been largely extended by the US Department of Justice to include internet gambling.

“A train ticket gets you free internet once you agree to the Terms of Service. That means no online gambling or porn. The UTA now has a new ordinance that fines passengers for illegal internet use on the train. The first violation will attract a fine of USD 300. Do it again and it could cost you USD 500.” The UTA is one of the growing number of transit systems to include internet onboard. American Airlines recently debuted Gogo Inflight Internet on cross-country trips. The service is available for a fee.

Enforcement of the UTA’s ban on internet gambling and pornography is done by the organization’s police force. Fox 13 noted, “These are real police officers,” and explained, “An officer will always try to educate first. Riders say they’ve never seen anyone watching porn on the train.” UTA has enacted a full appeals process if riders feel they were targeted unfairly. A representative of the transit system admitted that identifying what is acceptable and what is not can be a complicated process. “The definition can be very difficult to pin down for everyone.”

Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) Executive Director Joe Brennan said, “I’m surprised that they’re going to waste time enforcing internet gambling. I’m also disturbed with the constant association with pornography. Our opponents try to constantly link gambling and porn. All you have to do is look at the acceptance of all things gambling. There is no comparison between the two activities.” The term “internet gambling” is mentioned in the Fox 13 story just once, while references to pornography pervade the rest of the two and a half minute piece.

Regarding enforcement of UTA’s guidelines through law enforcement personnel on trains, Brennan commented, “They’ll have police looking over the shoulders of riders. This announcement is someone grandstanding politically. The claim on internet gambling is dubious. The claim on pornography is also misguided.” Brennan added that viewing pornography is typically done in private, not in the middle of a commuter train in a major metropolitan area.

According to text found on UTA’s website, the internet service provided by the transit system filters content automatically. “UTA’s service providers use content-filtering software that restrict access to offensive sites; however, no content-filtering software is totally effective. Please use the same precautions you would use accessing any public wireless network.” The service is available for riders aged 18 and over.

iMEGA is fresh off filing a lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), which attempted to force the censorship of 200 internet gambling domains by its residents. The DPS served notice to 11 of the world’s largest internet service providers (ISPs) calling for blockage. However, after iMEGA’s suit, it rescinded its notice.

US Congressmen Introduce Law On Problem Gambling

Last week, Congressmen Jim Moran (D-VA), Lee Terry (R-NE), and Frank Wolf (R-VA) introduced bi-partisan legislation to curb the problem of gambling in the United States. The bill, HR 2906, is dubbed the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act of 2009.

A revolutionary legislation, the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act allocates USD 71 million in the next five years for problem gambling public awareness, research, and treatment. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has been given the responsibility of overseeing the program. The National Council on Problem Gambling has been the major driving force behind the legislation, which is among the first of its kind.

The organization’s Executive Director, Keith Whyte, shared his thoughts on why no serious solution for problem gambling has been approved on a national level: “It’s surprising and frustrating. Part of the blame is on us. We’ve been around for 37 years, but part of that reflects the real stigma people have in seeing problem gambling as a preventable and treatable disorder. In addition, by and large, most people believe that gaming should be regulated and taxed at the state level. They are not as quick to see a Federal role.”

HR 2906 is divided into three parts, allocating funds annually to each. The Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act allocates USD 200,000 per year towards public awareness. Information on problem gambling is directed through television, radio, cable, and print advertising. Funds are authorized to focus on “the business sector of the United States” and “professional sports organizations and associations.” Sporting and gambling events are targeted in the campaign, which is directed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

HR 2906 also directs funds towards research of problem gambling. A total of USD 20 million over five years is allocated towards research, which will be coordinated among several Federal agencies including the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Justice, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Recommendations of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission should also be taken into consideration.

This is not the National Council on Problem Gambling’s first go-around with legislation supporting the organization’s goals. “We’ve had bills introduced in previous Congresses and this is our third go-around. Building support has been incredibly difficult. I think it’s a good example of folks that don’t understand gambling issues in general,” Whyte said. Around 3 to 4 per cent of the American adult population met the criteria for problem gambling, or more than six million people, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling’s press release.

Finally, USD 10 million per year is allocated towards the treatment of problem gambling. The bill notes, “The Secretary may make grants to States, local, and tribal governments, and non-profit agencies to provide comprehensive services for the treatment and prevention of problem gambling and for education about problem gambling.” Grants are permitted for various organizations to target their share of the USD 10 million up for grabs every year.

One of the original co-sponsors of the bill is Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), who introduced a pair of bills on May 6 to alter the landscape of internet gambling in the United States. On Frank’s support for the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act, Whyte said, “It’s appropriate that Frank is a co-sponsor. He was a co-sponsor of our earlier efforts and has been consistent on this. He has been concerned about these issues in the past. We hope to get 25 co-sponsors in total.” Besides Frank, Congressman Howard Berman (D-VA) is one of HR 2906’s four original co-sponsors.

HR 2906 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.