My opinion, and others', on the Black Friday charges

Online poker: the charges and argumentsLet's say that you and I decide to flip coins. Every time it lands on heads, you pay me $1. Every time it lands on tails, I pay you $1.25. While we are both gambling, you should expect to make a profit in the long run. Now let's say for integrity's sake, we hire a third person to do the flipping, at 5 cents a throw. This third person has no interest in the outcome. He's just there to make sure nobody cheats, that the game is played by the rules, the results are judged accurately, and that the victor is paid his winnings. Is this third person gambling? Is this third person operating an illegal gambling business? Well, that's the question the courts will ultimately have to answer...

Speculation on the future of online poker

The future of online poker in the USLast night I visited the Hard Rock poker room in Catoosa. When I arrived, there were two tables of $1/$2 NLHE running, and I was first on the wait list (tip: always call ahead and put yourself on the list). The evening tournament still had two tables going, and players busting out were added to the list. As it worked out, before a seat could open up, they spread a new table. This turned out to be the liveliest table I'd been a part of since high school, when eight cards were wild and five aces won every pot. In this case, the first eight hands saw five all-ins called. As a Limit Hold'em specialist, I am rarely witness to that much action when a game has just started and players have full stacks...

Interesting video on PPA's YouTube channel