A report is circulating that a loophole (intentional?) in the Cereus network, which includes Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet, permits US-based players to continue to play poker despite the federal crackdown.  If I am the Department of Justice and this is true, I am not a happy camper.  Think of getting one-outed on the river in PLO mad.  The last thing the poker world needs right now is a bunch of greedy poker site owners trying to squeeze a few more bucks out of the US market before the market closes, perhaps permanently.  It can serve only to rile the feds and strengthen their resolve.  Good work Cereus.  Way to think of the big picture.   (Of course, like all criminals…Absolute and Ultimate Bet deny the allegations.)

In a tad of good news, which we all need these days, Absolute Poker (and Ultimate Bet) announced that they have reached an agreement with the Department of Justice that will permit them to return funds to players whose accounts have been frozen.  In the words of Absolute Poker itself:  “Absolute Poker has reached an agreement with the United States Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York (“SDNY”).  Under the agreement, the US Attorney’s Office has agreed to provide all necessary assurances that third parties may work with Absolute Poker to facilitate the return of funds, currently held by third party processors, to players located in the US. This provision is an important step to returning US player funds.”

Let’s hope this is a small step in the path to some truly great news in the coming months.

Excellent investigative article about the history of Absolute Poker and how it decided to deal with the changes in poker law landscape the past few years.  I found it a different type of read than the typical poker articles, and obviously timely.  Enjoy.

Remember that World Trade Organization case from not too long ago that Antigua brought against the U.S. (and, by the way, won, though it had no practical effect)?  Well, it is rearing its head again and could be a boon to poker players around the world, and especially in the U.S.  Absolute Poker is based in Antigua, a tiny Caribbean nation that gets a significant portion of its gross national product from online poker/gaming.  It has long alleged that the U.S.’s anti-online poker stance when contrasted with it allowing online horse-betting and live poker is protectionist.  In perhaps one of my favorite quotations of all time, the Antiguan government’s legal advisor said “It’s as if Antigua would put Americans in jail for selling pineapples.”  How can anyone argue with that logic?  Unfortunately, many Americans are not against pineapples for moral reasons.  So here we are.

Anyway, all this is well and good, but the legal system pretty much played itself out with the original case and failure of the international community to stand up to the U.S.  But, just maybe, if Antigua can make enough noise again, and, just maybe, if the U.S.’s current stance ends up having a significant effect on the pocket books of larger countries via reduced rake from decreased play (think Britain), just maybe enough pressure will be exerted on the U.S. that it will alter its stance.  If you asked me whether I would bet on this happening my answer would be that you better be laying me some serious pot odds — more than it takes to draw to a one-outer on the river.  But in the game of life, and with nothing for me to lose at this point, I’ll take those odds cause it’s all I’ve got.  In the immortal words of Jim Carrey — “So you’re telling me there’s a chance… *YEAH!*”