theonlinepokerleague.com Blog

Regulatory news for Online Poker

The last few days have seen an explosion in news with regards to Online Poker and gaming in the USA. We have seen the following highlighted on Gambling911 - Testimony to Congress Argues Regulated Internet Gambling Can Resolve WTO Issues and also an interview with IME&GA who are looking to get an injunction against the implementation of the UIGEA. The IMEGA who were virtually unknown before this weeks have now upload their website at: http://www.imega.org/ . On June 8 the Safe and Secure Internet Group also published details of the Congress hearing: http://www.safeandsecureig.org/index.html . Part of this included articles saying that the internent gaming can be effectively regulated: http://www.safeandsecureig.org/media/hearingstatement.pdf .

A number of other bills were also put forward this week and 888.com and Party Gaming have opened dialogue with the US authorities. Barney Frank had already issued the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007 in April and there were a couple of follow ups this week. One was from Robert Wexler with his Skill Game Exemption Act and also Jim McDermott who put forward the Safe and Secure Gambling Initiative.

The rate of acceleration for activity in this area is reaching fever pitch and here’s hoping that some positive results come out of it and we can look forward to playing poker against our US based friends again.

Spreadsheet for recording Sit N Go results

One of the best things that you can do to help improve your game is keep records of games that you play and recognise what your limitations are ie at what point you go from a winner to a loser. Now I do this on my own excel spreadsheet but I came across a spreadsheet from the twoplustwo forums which blow my spreado to smithereens. The spreadsheet gives you the ability to set up 5 buy in types ie $5+$1, $5+$0.5 etc and then you run a macro that will launch a recorder and once your game is finished the the macro will ask you for your finishing position and then work out how much you have won. Full stats are kept for each buy in type and overall. These stats even go down to the level of what day is most profitable and also what time of day. In addition you can also add in winnings from cash games, bonusses and rakeback. The spreadsheet is free and you can download it from here: http://www.sngicons.com/software.php

Poker petitions for UK and US Governments

I’ve found a couple of petitions today with regards to trying to put pressure on respective governments with a view to either change the status of Poker or at least make it legal. I would suggest that everyone looks at these and adds their name if they agree with the objectives:

The first petition is to try and Repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The petition is as follows:

Repeal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act
Dear Members of Congress,
As an American, I am outraged to learn that Congress has passed legislation that will severely restrict my ability to have certain freedoms in my own home.Unfair passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is clearly designed to restrict the freedoms of voters who sent you to office to represent them, and prevent us from making mature decisions about how we spend our leisure time and money.

If you would like to sign this petition then please click here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/306149419

The second petition is in the UK and is on the governments petition site. The objective of this is to make Poker a prescribed game under the Gambling Act 2005.

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to to classify Poker as a prescribed game under the 2005 Gambling Act, in line with the games of Bridge and Whist.

Further info: Making Poker a prescribed game would allow regulated Poker to be played outside of a casino environment in private members’ Poker clubs.

This petition has been laid by the UK Poker Club Association (UKPCA). The UKPCA has been set up by 13 of the UK’s leading private members’ Poker clubs to assist Poker players and private members’ clubs who are concerned by aspects of the regulations laid out in the Gambling Act 2005.

If you would like to sign this petition then please click here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Poker-UK/

Pot Limit Holdem result

Ok there may have only been 5 of us in the game tonight but the game was still a tricky one and lasted the best part of 80 minutes. Str8Krzy was actually not seated for the first half an hour and he missed MrStricker66 going out. Whilst I managed to get into a big lead I couldn’t quite make it count and keep losing chips on silly pots that I shouldn’t have been in. Anyway Str8Krzy went out next which left Beardyian, Kedster and myself coming up to the break. Beardy was next to go and then after a number of hands Kedster managed to take 1st place. Well done m8.

Mansion Poker rakeback ends June 30

Yes thats right I’ve just recently heard that Mansion will be ending their rakeback program on 30 June so if you want to ensure that you get your 36% then make sure you sign up before then.

Don’t let this be you!..lol

Practice for Saturday

I thought I’d get in a bit of practice for Saturdays Pot Limit Holdem game that I am hosting on Stars on Saturday. I really don’t remember playing much PLHE before so it was a fairly new experience for me.

I played the game at Iron Duke (on the Merge Network) as I knew that there wouldn’t be that many players and true enough the game was only 14 players in total but it was also short handed so max 6 at a table meant there was a bit more action. I have to say that I did pretty well and knocked the first 3 out and was 1 or 2 all the way to the end and with just 4 left my KK went up against AJ, AJ which held up and we were heads up. At this point I had 75% of the chips and the game lasted but one more hand so I was please with taking the first prize.

Hopefully my good fortune will carry through to Saturday when we have the game at PokerStars. If you would like to play then just look for the game in the private tab and input the password detailed below:

Game details:

Table name: TOPL $5 PL Holdem
Table number: 51431420
When: Saturday 2 June @ 15:00 ET
Game: PL Holdem
Blinds: 15 minutes
Starting chips: 1,500
Places paid - Normal PokerStars payout rules (top 3 up to 27 players etc)
Break: 5 mins after each hour
Buy in: $5.00 + $0.50
Password: topl07

Before that game we have the WAPT Essex/London game on PokerStars on Friday. This game kicks off at 8.00pm and is for members of the World Amateur Poker Association. If you would like to know more before signing up then see Geoff who is near the top of my friends list on MySpace