The new bill HR 2267 is a proposed legislation that seeks to amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for the licensing of Internet gambling activities by the Secretary of the Treasury, to provide for consumer protections on the Internet, to enforce the tax code, and for other purposes. So lets put down the facts and make it quite simple as this industry is being overwhelmed with too many specialists which in reality don’t know the facts but rush to post news articles and comments on sites and blogs which people read in an attempt to be updated; these so called specialists which in reality are propagandists should start thinking before they post news saying that pokerstars.com might be bought from facebook.com.

The facts

Well said and there’s much more that can add up to the list but for the sake of not becoming too peaky lets focus on the basics. PokerStars.com and Fulltiltpoker.com can simply not be forced out of this market as they partially own it; they are the people that made online poker what it is today and no entity, no bill and no Barney Frank can push them out of the market; anyone placing an embargo towards them is realistically shooting himself in the foot. Although we are not directly affiliated or associated with any of the two above mentioned online poker rooms our guess is that #1 they both prefer for the market to remain closed for the rest of the operators and #2 they don’t really care if it does open and their left out as the tax cut Uncle Sam would be enjoying is just too much of a cost for two poker rooms that have remained tax free for more than 8 consecutive years. The truth is yet to come.

Each match hosted will feature a $1,000 prize pool will the overall winning team having the opportunity to collect $25,000; the players challenging the opportunity will be playing for their very own bankroll and the bankroll of their team mates. Money won by the PokerStars Pro’s will be not be collected by themselves as it will be adding up to the pot of the $11 All Stars Week Fan Tournament which will be hosted at the US facing online card room on August 8^th of this year at 16:00 EST.

Players can qualify through freerolls to lead to the tournaments shown below; each player that qualifies will additionally claim a $1,050 WCOOP ticket. Follow the steps below to find out how to become an All Star Challenger. PokerStars is running a total of six tournaments to select who’ll be part of the 30-strong Challengers team, taking place Sunday, July 18, at 16:00 ET, open to invited players and wildcards. Both new and existing members can qualify for the promotion with the various qualifying terms explained thoroughly at the poker lobby under the promotions tab. New players can select to sign up with the PokerStars Bonus Code STARS600 and claim an additional 100% up to $600 in poker sign up bonus after they have coupled the PokerStars Bonus Code with the PokerStars Marketing Code.

Additionally finding a seat is now much more easier as the popular card room has introduced the ring game table finder which prevents you from being put on a waiting list for a specific table but now offers you the opportunity to enter a waiting list for a type of table therefore making it a much more hassle free procedure to find a seat on table; additionally when a seat does open you are automatically enabled with the opportunity to claim the seat and information is directly available in regards to the table itself.

Even more coming with the latest software update fulltiltpoker.com has introduced achievement badges which is a type of accomplishment sign which shows around a players name on the table therefore distinguishing a player seated at a specific fulltiltpoker.com table with either a Rush Poker Poker Badge, a Full Tilt Poker Academy Badge, a True Poker Badge or an Iron Man Badge depending on what the player has accomplished during his poker playing experience at the popular card room. Finally tables with only 1 player seated do not any more show in the lobby in a random order and not in an alphabetical order as before.

Call of Action

Existing players will only have to accept the software upgrade the next time they log in and the system will automatically install the necessary upgrade to the PC they are using to play poker at fulltiltpoker.com. New players that have not downloaded fulltiltpoker.com for free can issue an account today by using Full Tilt Poker Referral Code: LUCKYROOM as shown in the image to the left and claim a super sign up Full Tilt Poker Bonus of 100% for all deposits up to $600; if you may have downloaded the software in the past but have not yet issued an account all you have to do is access the icon on your desktop allow fulltiltpoker.com to install the upgrade and issue an account by using the Full Tilt Poker Referral Code and a working email account in order to be able to verify your account and claim the sign up bonus offered by using the Full Tilt Referral Code. More information in regards to fulltiltpoker.com, the Full Tilt Poker Bonus or the full tilt rakeback section can be found by following the relevant hyperlinks highlighted.

Its worth mentioning that rival poker rooms online have recently cut off rakeback players as simply said offering rakeback on top of sign up bonus was just proving to be a non efficient business therefore leading to the decision to cut off players with accounts offering rakeback payments; we would say that pokerstars.com has once again stood on to their position widely with the usual policy which simply clarifies to rivals a strategy saying “once your done with your experiments and left broke; we’ll step in and get the job done”; wise?

Well yes as being the worlds largest online poker room is a title that does not come for free and pokerstars.com has surely played its own cards correctly as It has replayed the same strategy twice when it use to give maximum 100% sign up bonus for deposits up to $50 when other rooms where tossing out 200% up to €1000 plus 30% rakeback on top of that and after everybody else was left breathless and penniless the popular card room stepped in and said as from today we give players 100% up to $600; so how’s that?

Simply said competition attempted to fool themselves by faking the numbers by offering more than they could really afford and forcing skin or white label owners to sustain the losses that resulted from a non efficient and non effective marketing strategy. In poker and generally in online gaming businesses the trick is not getting players in its keeping them in by having something to offer them and in this case it’s mathematically clear that when you pay the player all that money to get him in your realistically left with no liquidity to keep the tables busy by running attractive promotions attractive tournaments or being able to reward the players that will keep your site alive; meaning that sooner or later you’ll be left with a dead network and a lot of expensively paid acquisitions. Wise? Well I wouldn’t really say so.

The bottom line is that with the UIGEA still in act and candidate threat for the position of the world’s largest card room partypoker.com out of the competition zone for now pokerstars.com is still enjoying the luxury of the valuable time to gain liquidity and seal its position as market leader as its only serious rival in the booming US market is Full Tilt Poker and maybe UB.com therefore allowing the card room to make poker promotions as attractive as the Micromania PokerStars Promotion which will be running this July.

All said pokerstars.com is today offering players not only 12 times the old bonus but even more a revised rakeback equivalent program which makes rakeback look meaningless; timing might be a contributing factor but the marketing strategy followed by pokerstars.com can be very much fit for a good practice case study. Important note* The PokerStars VIP Program can be enjoyed by both new and existing players where the new sign up bonus which is applicable with use of the PokerStars Bonus Code and the PokerStars Marketing Code is only available for players that do not have an account at pokerstars.som. New players have the luxury to enjoy both the sign up bonus and the rewards that come with the PokerStars Rakeback equivalent.

The proposal is enjoying vast support from Las Vegas Harrah’s Entertainment Inc, and similar groups, which are lobbying Congress to legalize online gambling. The legalization of Online Gambling under a law frame that insures fairness and security will stop US residences from wagering money to companies taxed outside the USA using offshore companies.

Michael Waxman – a spokesman for the Washington-based Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative – stated that “Online gambling gives Congress “a huge new source of revenue that is just sitting there on the table”. However, this is only one side of the coin as there are many who oppose to any form of legalization to online gambling. One of them is Chad Hills who claimed that “tax gains would be offset by social costs, such as gambling addiction, Online betting is “the most predatory, addictive and invasive form of gambling,” Hills said. “If people are sitting around in their pajamas on their computer in their living room playing on multiple Internet sites, what is this going to do to the United States?”

Despite the financial crisis and the economic instability, the US offshore internet gambling market is expected to climb to $5.7 billion in 2010 from $5.4 on 2009. The U.K based H2 Gambling Capital which supplies the data also claims that if there is legalization of internet gambling the US market can grow up to $24 billion within a five years period. The biggest offshore gambling sites for U.S. players include PokerStars, based in Isle of Man, and Full Tilt Poker, based in Ireland, according to H2.

McDermott’s measure depends on passage of legislation proposed by Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts – chairman of the House Financial Services Committee to end a ban on most Internet gambling actions. As each state is almost independent to draw the line of what is allowed to online gambling and what it is not, people will always find ways to play online poker, online casino, bingo online and place bets online. There is a need of a law framed by the required safeguards which will protect against underage and compulsive gambling as well to prevent people to place bets online on states that prohibit. McDermott’s proposal is clear as the online gaming companies would have to pay a 2% tax to the federal government and a 6% tax to the states. Additionally, the federal treasury will collect additional taxes from the winnings of the players plus the issued gambling licenses.

However, as the Tokwiro (mother company of Cereus Network) Chief Operating Officer Paul Leggett stated, the network has implemented and released an updated version which uses Open SSL encryption. The COO stated also that the update covers all the Client Server communications and in cooperation with a third party auditor and PokerTableRatings.com the company is running tests in order to verify that there are no other possible security flaws.

About Cereus and Participating Poker Brands

Tokwiro Enterprises is a private company solely owned by Joseph Tokwiro Norton and is headquartered in Kahnawake Mohawk Territory. The company owns two online poker cardrooms, Absolute Poker and UltimateBet which has currently rebranded as UB Poker. As of November 2008, they jointly operate under the name CEREUS Poker. The CEREUS network is one of the world’s ten largest online poker cardrooms and is currently as US friendly network. Ub.com is a world recognized online poker website that accepts USA players to play poker with real money. It features some of the most gifted and skillful professional poker players including Annie Duke and the 11 x WSOP bracelet holder Phil Hellmuth. Additionally, the site sponsors other known players such as Joe Sebok, Eric Baldwin, the astonishing Liv Boeree and Tiffany Michelle. All new players are encouraged to try out the offered games at UB.com by using the Ultimate Bet Referral Code and claim up to 111% first deposit bonus. UB.com offers free seats to all new players to tournaments and sub qualifiers for freeroll events with opportunities for seats on the 2010 WSOP.

Cecure Gaming which was founded in 2000 has built poker and casino software for mobile phones in the past as it has come in to cooperation with Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone in operations including game development for proprietor mobile phone models which the above mentioned companies provide to their clientele. Apart from the operation of World Poker Tour Mobile and Ladbrokes Poker Million Mobile, Cecure also maintain their own gambling brand for mobile phones going under the name Aces Royal.

After a very successful kick start after its conception, the company’s revenues dropped significantly in 2009 mainly due to the recent economic crisis which have lead the Board to the decision of selling the company. The price of the acquisition has not yet been made public and it is been rumoured to be staying that way.

Douglas Rennick, citizen of Vancouver has been charged with the accusations of money laundering, bank fraud and illegal gambling by the US Federal prosecutors. The facts as stated are that Rennick during 2007 and 2009 opened a number of bank accounts in the USA were the owners of the accounts were various offshore companies. The usage of the accounts was to transfer funds from a number of gambling companies to the games winners who issued a withdrawal request from online casino and online poker sites. The US prosecutors claimed that over 350 million dollars were transferred in the US and distributed to the winners from a single bank account in Cyprus.

However, Rennick pledged guilty to the accusation that he illegally helped offshore online poker sites to move money (players winnings) into the country and he agreed to forfeit about $17 million held in a number of accounts. The rest charges were dropped and now the Canadian faces up to two years sentence in jail.

Nelson Rose, who is a professor at California’s Whittier Law School and a gambling law specialist, said that this is an intimidation act as every few years they make a big showy arrest to scare people. He also said that despite the fact that laws do not apply on all forms of gambling or on all cases, it does has an effect as many online gambling companies have gone out of business as payment processors are every day less willing to take the risk to transfer money from gambling.

Rennick’s accusations were based on the fact that he didn’t inform the financial institutions (banks) that the money on the accounts will be used to pay gambling winnings. This was the fraud as the banks wouldn’t have processed transactions related to gambling.

Michael Lipton, a Toronto Lawyer said that while US posses a patch work of laws that can be used to fight online gambling, the officials rarely go after the gamblers themselves. Instead, they move against those who operate the businesses. However, he stated that it is almost impossible to stop online gambling outside the country as operators hold licenses from many international locations such as Isle of man, Malta and Gibraltar. People are free to play online poker, casino games, blackjack and place bet online while the government can do nothing to prevent it. Lipton said that instead trying to ban Internet gambling it is much better to regulate it creating the right frame law were the country will be able to receive further taxation money from countries that operate outside US.

It is noteworthy to say that banking institutions which are forced to play by the rules set by authorities have over time blocked transactions related to gaming to avoid trouble and over time have more or less made online credit card processing troublesome as regulated legitimate companies were forced to stop conducting business in the US therefore giving ground to illegal or fraudulent activities or even legal companies forced to run sister companies that were playing a naughty game behind the scenes to avoid losing their share of the market.

This sums up to one thing and only and this is the one and only realistic truth; as the current situation is a hide and seek game between banks, names on issuers of payments, offshore account holders and the government itself operators will continue to seek ways to process payments back and forth to players as it is unrealistic for them to step out of the market; for as long as the law is at its current state it will remain a game of hide and seek which will lead to fiascos of the sort mentioned above. The congress has to finally understand that the current situation does not solve the problem and it will only make news of this sort hit the headlines and supposingly become heroic acts with absolutely no reason.

So what are they trying to say; they managed to become heroes because they caught someone that had managed to set up banking facilities that was able to pay winning players or allow players to make wagers; this gentleman found an opportunity he had the connections to set up banking and he made a living off it; if they don’t like it they should consider thinking about the law in act at this point. The bottom line is that when a player wants to play he will play and keeping the legislation GREY will only give opportunities to fraudsters to process money from legitimate institutions and run away with it due to incapability of the institutions to go to authorities with a winning cased.

These news do not impress us one single bit a change has to be made and it has to be made now as the current situation is just leading to a total chaos.

• Bodog Poker Overview
• Bodog Poker Bonus Code
• Bodog Poker Software
• Bodog Poker Games

Bodog Poker Info Name Bodog Poker Website bodog.com Country Antigua Software Bodog Poker Bonus Code Automatic Bonus $1100 US Players Accepted

Bodog Poker Overview

Bodog Poker is a well established sportsbook and casino site that has been operating since 1995. It launched its poker room in 2004 and it has been growing in size ever since. Bodog can be proud of its excellent promotions and its well delivered advertising campaign. Bodog poker has managed to convert a lot of its sportsbook and casino traffic to poker playing traffic which is the primary reason for its rapid expansion. This is also the reason that at Bodog Poker you will find a lot of easy players to beat if you are looking to build a bankroll. Use the Bodog Poker Bonus Code embedded in our link to get 110% poker bonus for deposits up to $1100 plus unlock for the freeroll events. At Bodog Poker you will find a number of tournaments and freerolls with great value. Traffic volume overall falls in the higher segments of the poker online industry. Overall, Bodog Poker offers relatively loose games and great software that’s fast and plays well. The software is updated frequently to ensure safety and stability, with little downtime as a result.

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Bodog Poker Bonus Code

The Bodog Poker Bonus Code which can be claimed with claimed through all the Bodog Poker promotional links found on this page will unlock maximum 110% sign up bonus for deposits up to $1100 plus they will enhance you with the opportunity to receive 10% of the bonus immediately which can be considered an excellent bonus structure and surely a bankroll booster. In addition to the above referred players will have the opportunity to receive redeposit bonuses by bodog.com which are made available to all loyal players during the year around through personal emails sent out directly to the email address you will use during sign up.

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Bodog Poker Software

The Bodog Poker software is rather fast and reliable and it offers nice graphics there is a number of innovative functions including the three-in-one mode where three tables can be viewed and played in the same window. Bodog Poker can also take pride on building its poker site based upon its players feedback which is clearly one of the reasons that bodog players stick with bodog. Most recent additions include an update software platform pre-seat table actions and centralized heads up display. At Bodog Poker you will find Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo and Five-Card Stud. The game offerings vary between No-Limit, Pot-Limit and Fixed-Limit.

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Bodog Poker Games

The game variety at Bodog Poker can be considered excellent with offerings on all the major variations including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo, and Five-Card Stud. The relatively large player base ensures maximum action at all variations of poker games, therefore making Bodog Poker a great poker destination for most players. All the games vary between No-Limit, Pot-Limit, and Fixed-Limit. You will find full-table games, short-handed games, and heads-up tables; you should consider that the games at Bodog poker are concentrated in No-Limit Hold’em and, in particular, at the small and middle limits.

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Name PokerStars Website pokerstars.com Country Isle of Man Software PokerStars Bonus Code STARS600 Bonus $600 US Players Accepted

Name UB Poker Website ubpoker.com Country Kahnawake Software Cereus Bonus Code LUCKYROOMUB Bonus $1100 US Players Accepted

Name Full Tilt Poker Website fulltiltpoker.com Country Aruba Software Full Tilt Poker Referral Code LUCKYROOM Bonus $600 US Players Accepted

Name Cake Poker Website cakepoker.com Country Curacao Software Cake Poker Bonus Code LUCKYROOM Bonus $600 US Players Accepted

Our US players should be advised not to take in consideration rumors saying that it is illegal for them to play at online poker sites, online casino sites or online gaming sites altogether. The fact is that the majority of online gaming sites are licensed and taxed elsewhere from the United States as Uncle Sam seems to be the greediest of all, which means that wagers, deposits and withdrawals processed at online gaming sites are 100% tax free for US players. The US senate decided to prevent the tax loss by implementing measures saying that online gaming sites are not any more allowed to accept wagers from US tax payers. Although the UIGEA or Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 is as stated above, the media have been influenced to present it to players that they are not allowed to make wagers and that it is illegal for them to play as of the UIGEA implantation.

It is not illegal for a US tax payer to play, but nevertheless his participation might not be welcomed by some sites which have decided to go with the UIGEA. There is still a number of poker sites and casino sites that have decided not to go with the UIGEA and they still accept wagers from the USA. The only difference is that you might have problems using your credit cards to deposit as most reputable US banks have blocked transactions from these operators. The sites that still welcome US players have adopted the use of electronic wallets like Neteller, Ukash or Money Bookers.

The 2 largest poker rooms, Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars continue to accept US players and our players can sign up to fulltiltpoker.com through our exclusive Full Tilt Poker Referral Code. Players that are seeking out for a relatively smaller online poker community can seek out to Cake Poker and Ultimate Bet. We are on the go of managing to acquire competitive bonuses for more US poker rooms so we will be soon able to refer our player to more rooms accepting US players.

The UIGEA was in reality an opportunity for non listed poker rooms to accept the risk and strengthen their position in the online poker industry in contrary to other stock listed companies that were in a way enforced to disrupt the flow of wagers from US players to secure their future as stock listed companies. The UIGEA does not in any situation make the player liable for participating or wagering at an online poker or online gaming site but on the contrary makes the site liable for accepting wagers from you as a player. The UIGEA has not been clearly stated till this day, therefore making operators reluctant to interrupt operations regarding accepting wagers from US players. Nevertheless by participating on online gaming you can be violating state or tribal law so we would recommend that you look at your local laws to determine if online gaming is permitted.

The UIGEA had many online poker players asking themselves if they are not allowed to play any more. The government releases painted the picture in a way that US players are not allowed to play any more. The law says that US banks are the ones that are not allowed to accept transactions between their customers and the online gaming or gambling operators, which basically means that if your bank does allows you to make the transaction its there responsibility. You can also consider using electronic wallets like Neteller, MoneyBookers or UKash at all the site listed above if you feel that you dont want to go in to the hassle of trying to use your credit card. The U.S. poker rooms include Players Only Poker, Carbon Poker, PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Bodog Poker, Doyles Room, UltimateBet Poker and Absolute Poker.