Poker Players Alliance

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Television and the Internet have changed that, giving 21st century poker status in the casino industry. And despite the recent economic downturn taking a bite out of revenue, casinos are expanding their poker amenities.

At least 12 Reno-Sparks properties have poker rooms. The Atlantis Casino Resort Spa just opened a new nine-table room.

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WASHINGTON — If Internet gambling is legalized and taxed, Nevada could receive more than $300 million during the next decade to boost education and job training for foster children in the state, according to advocates of a bill introduced this week in the House.

Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., who offered the bill, described it as a revision of legislation he introduced last year to tax Internet gambling companies if they are licensed and regulated by the Department of Treasury.

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ESPN and Harrah’s are trying to reignite interest in televised poker by changing the format for the Main Event. In years past, the tournament was played and filmed in July, but it reached the airwaves several months later. Those who followed poker knew who won the championship long before it aired.

This year, the Main Event will be whittled down to nine players on Monday. But the finalists will return to the Rio Nov. 9-10 to play for the title, where it will be filmed and broadcast immediately following its conclusion.

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The 2008 World Series of Poker is officially the largest and richest in the event’s 39-year history. Tournament officials just released final figures for the 55-event, 47-day poker extravaganza held annually each summer in Las Vegas. Both total player entries (58,720) and payouts ($180,676,248) reached all-time highs, as did the number of countries and territories represented by the participants (118 different nationalities).

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American flags bobbed in the sea of sunglasses and green felt at the World Series of Poker’s main event Friday. Independence Day brought fans and players sporting their country’s colors, and a few mused on whether poker is a quintessentially American game.

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Celebrities turned out Wednesday to donate to Darfur charities — and to show their fellow stars just who the real card sharks were.

“I’m looking forward to whipping a lot of celebrity rear end,” talk show host Montel Williams said before beginning play in a charity Texas Hold ‘em tournament at the World Series of Poker. “I tweaked my game, and my game is really solid.”

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You would never know there is economic instability in this country if you judged it by participants at this year’s World Series of Poker finals, playing through its 55 events at the Rio All-Suites Hotel in Las Vegas. Every event begun so far has broken registration records.

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The first two events of the 2008 World Series of Poker did not go as well as expected for Greg Raymer.

After describing how he pushed most or all of his chips into the pot as a solid favorite several times, only to watch his opponent outdraw him, Raymer explained why he figures his luck will change as the six-week poker extravaganza progresses at the Rio.

Only Raymer doesn’t use terms like “luck.”

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Las Vegas, NV (May 30, 2008) – Poker players and poker enthusiasts attending this year’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) are now able to express their love of the game to policymakers. The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy organization, today unveiled its new Poker Advocacy Booth as play began at the WSOP.
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