U.S. Congressman Frank Announces Legislation to Repeal UIGEA

Barney Frank, the U.S. Congressman (D-MA) who has been outspoken of his criticism of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act [UIEGA] in recent weeks, today introduced legislation designed to overturn the UIGEA, which Frank recently described as "one of the stupidest things I ever saw."

Congressman Frank's new bill will attempt to render the UIGEA unenforceable by establishing a set of rules under which U.S. banking institutions will be able to accept transactions from properly licensed and regulated gambling services. These criteria include proper certification of fair, 'state-of-the-art' software systems, age-verification systems, programs for problems gamblers, privacy and security safeguards, taxable-income reporting, and other, related technological concerns.

Frank, as Chairman of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, exerts extensive control over regulation affecting the banking and financial-services sectors, and his bill can be seen as much as an attempt to rid banks and processors of the legislated need to serve as societal nannies than as any embracing of online poker or gambling itself.
The 26-page bill introduced by Frank is titled the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007, and at this point has not yet received an official House of Representatives (H.R.) bill designation. The bill calls for the creation of an 'Internet Licensing Gambling Program', with oft-cited money-laundering concerns neatly handled by the bill's requirements for applicants.

Those applicants are, essentially, required to provide three things: a) complete corporate financial statements for the applying party; b) documentation showing the complete corporate structure including related businesses and affairs; and c) a willingness to be subject to United States jurisdiction in all gambling matters. Unsurprisingly, the legislation also indemnifies banking institutions and officials for payment-processing activities undertaken with good faith and within the properly regulated constructs of the measure.

Under the proposed law, gambling licenses would be issued for 1-year, continually-rolling periods, with all licensees expected to adhere to ongoing U.S. anti-terrorism efforts. All of these licensing and regulatory efforts would fall under the control of the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, who would in turn report to the Secretary of the Treasury.
The bill also allows 'opt-outs' for Indian tribal lands and professional sports leagues; those leagues may choose to have their sports removed from licensed wagering services, but properly puts the onus on those leagues for doing so, rather than profiteering from the existing of betting lines while officially decrying the practice.

Source: PokerNews.com - U.S. Congressman Frank Announces Legislation to Repeal UIGEA

ESPN Announces Lineup For 2007 World Series Of Poker

11 Bracelet Events To Air; Main Event, HORSE Coverage Expanded

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ESPN announced plans to expand its coverage of the Main Event and the $50,000 buy-in HORSE mixed-game tournament at the 2007 World Series of Poker Presented by Milwaukee's Best Light.

"We're delighted that ESPN is bringing even more depth to its already superb coverage of the WSOP," said Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner of the World Series of Poker. "No one produces poker better than ESPN, and its powerful audience of sports fans will see all of the thrills, drama and excitement that make us so unique."

Although the final schedule is subject to change, ESPN plans to televise 16 hours of coverage of the WSOP Main Event, as well as 10 one-hour programs covering other bracelet events. The $50,000 HORSE Championship will receive six hours of airtime and the format of the final table will include all five games of HORSE.

The schedule of events ESPN plans to cover includes:

June 1, Event No. 1: Mixed Hold 'Em World Championship, $5,000 buy-in.
June 2, Event No. 3: No-Limit Hold 'Em, $1,500 buy-in.
June 3, Event No. 4: Pot-Limit Hold 'Em, $1,500 buy-in.
OR

June 4, Event No. 7: Pot-Limit Omaha, $5,000 buy-in.
June 5, Event No. 8: No-Limit Hold 'Em, $1,000 buy-in with re-buys.
June 8, Event No. 13: Pot-Limit Hold 'Em, $5,000 buy-in.
June 17, Event No. 28: No-Limit Hold 'Em, $3,000 buy-in.
June 18, Event No. 30: No-Limit Hold 'Em Six-Handed, $2,500 buy-in.
June 19, Event No. 31: No-Limit Hold 'Em Heads Up, $5,000 buy-in.
OR

June 20, Event No. 33: Pot-Limit Omaha with Re-buys, $1,500 buy-in.
June 24, Event No. 39: HORSE World Championship, $50,000 buy-in.
July 1, Event No. 50: Pot-Limit Omaha World Championship, $10,000 buy-in.
July 6, Event No. 55: No-Limit Hold 'Em Main Event, $10,000 buy-in.

Air times for the ESPN coverage will be released in the coming months.

Link: Press Release (worldseriesofpoker.com)

World Poker Tour Signs New Broadcast Rights Agreement With GSN

WPT Season VI will air on GSN in North America in early 2008

LOS ANGELES, April 5, 2007 – Bringing together the leaders in casino gaming and poker entertainment, WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: WPTE) and GSN, the premier cable network for interactive game programming, announced today an agreement to air Season VI of the World Poker Tour® (WPT). As part of the deal, GSN will broadcast 23 individual WPT Season VI poker events in two-hour episodes filmed in casinos and card rooms around the world. WPT will begin taping its new season in May 2007 which will debut in early 2008 as part of GSN’s Monday night casino lineup where the network has built a substantial following in the casino game genre.

The collaboration delivers an unprecedented platform for the best poker programming, providing poker fans with a dedicated casino gaming network that will air all-new action from Season VI WPT, as well as other exciting gaming programs, including the GSN’s cutting-edge cash game, High Stakes Poker (HSP).

“As we continue to expand the WPT brand and set new limits for poker programming, the move to GSN is the perfect next step for us,” said Steve Lipscomb, Founder, President and CEO of WPTE. “By moving to a network that is already dedicated to delivering innovative gaming and poker entertainment, we will be able to take WPT where we’ve not yet been able to go. After hitting a major television milestone with our fifth anniversary, we look forward to celebrating many more landmarks as we grow our partnership with GSN.”

“We are thrilled to be able to bring the World Poker Tour to GSN,” said Rich Cronin, President and CEO of GSN. “The WPT launched a global poker phenomenon. It not only increased poker rooms and activity in casinos, but it brought the great game of poker to living rooms around the world. In a short period of time, Steve Lipscomb and his team have built the WPT brand into a flagship entertainment entity recognized worldwide. By adding WPT to our existing lineup of compelling gaming entertainment, GSN will be at the head of the poker table.”

The WPT created a global phenomenon by making poker a televised spectator sport. Many poker programs have come and gone since the WPT began five years ago, but WPT remains the leader in poker entertainment. To date, the WPT has awarded over $300 million in cash prizes, crowned 69 WPT Poker-Made Millionaires™ and will tape its 100th episode this month. The WPT will air its fifth anniversary season on the Travel Channel, Wednesday nights at 9pm ET/PT. For more information or for a Season VI WPT schedule, please visit www.worldpokertour.com.

GSN began its foray into casino programming in 2004 with the World Series of Blackjack (WSOB). Still going strong today, WSOB’s fourth season premieres Monday, June 4. And, High Stakes Poker is GSN’s number-one rated original program in all key adult and male 18-49 and 25-54 demos.

For further media information: Visit GSN's corporate website at http://corp.GSN.com

Lyndsay LaGree/WPT PR
323 547 5827
llagree@worldpokertour.com

Cindy Ronzoni/GSN PR
310 255 6933
Cronzoni@gsn.com

About WPTE
WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WPTE) is a company engaged in the creation of internationally branded entertainment and consumer products driven by the development, production, and marketing of televised programming based on gaming themes. WPTE is the creator of the World Poker Tour®, a television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments that airs on the Travel Channel in the United States and in more than 150 markets globally. With the WPT in its fifth season, WPTE has launched a second series on the Travel Channel, the Professional Poker Tour™, which focuses on the play of poker’s leading stars. WPT also operates a real-money online gaming website, www.wptonline.com, which prohibits wagers from players in the U.S. and other restricted jurisdictions. WPTE currently licenses its brand to companies in the business of poker equipment and instruction, apparel, publishing, electronic and wireless entertainment, DVD/home entertainment, casino games, and giftware. The company is also engaged in the sale of corporate sponsorships. For show information, tools for improving poker play, and other WPT news, fans may log on to www.worldpokertour.com. WPTE is a majority owned subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: LACO). Photos and media information can be found online at: www.worldpokertour.com/media

About GSN
GSN is the entertainment industry leader in multi-platform interactive game programs. As the premier television network for games, GSN features challenging word games, high intensity casino programs, live participation shows, reality series and documentaries. GSN’s programming includes original series such as “Chain Reaction,” “Lingo” and “High Stakes Poker,” as well as the classics “Jeopardy” and “Pyramid,” among others. The network also introduced participation TV to America and its “PlayMania” block airs in late-night six nights per week. Complementing the network, GSN.com features all types of game play: innovative Flash games for fun, skill cash game tournaments and downloadable games. The website also features GSN’s two-screen interactive play-along for prime time shows. Now reaching more than 63 million homes, GSN is distributed in the U.S. through all major cable systems and satellite providers. The network is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation. For further media information, visit GSN’s press website at corp.gsn.com.

Source: GSN Press Release

World Poker Tour Has New Home On GSN

According to information obtained from an SEC filing today, Aptil 5th, 2007, The Travel Channel did not exercise it's option for the sixth season of the World Poker Tour television series. This allowed GSN to step in and obtain the license for the twenty-three (23) episodes of season six, with exclusive options for the seventh and eight seasons of the show.

The agreement provides for a $300,000, per episode, licensing fee by GSN to World Poker Tour Enterprises, INC (WPTE).

The Travel Channel had been the home of The World Poker Tour since it first aired in 2003.

GSN, for thier part, continues thier committment to poker. Other poker related programming by the network includes the Poker Royale series and High Stakes Poker.

Public Hearing On Poker Bill Tommorrow

Bill Would Allow Live Poker to Be Played in Texas

A bill that would allow poker to be played publicly in Texas will have a public hearing in Austin tomorrow. The bill is currently in the Texas House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee, which will decide whether to move it forward or kill it.

The bill, sponsored by Democrat Representative Jose Menendez of San Antonio, would allow poker to be spread by licensed public establishments, would regulate the game to ensure public safety and fairness, and would officially recognize poker as a game of skill in Texas.

If the bill makes it through committee and eventually receives enough votes to make it a law, two types of poker licenses would be made available: charitable and commercial. Also, an operation license assigned to the building would be needed to legally hold both commercial and charity poker games.

A commercial operator would be allowed to have only four tables at a time. Pari-mutuel establishments would be allowed to have more, but the exact number hasn’t been decided yet. The bill would also allow electronic poker tables, such as the PokerPro touch-screen table, to be set up.

The bill would allow tournaments up to $100 (with a $30 fee). Table stakes will be established by each individual operator.

The game would of course be taxed in Texas, with 50 percent of the tax dollars going directly to municipalities, counties, and nonprofit organizations that provide benefits to the homeless population. This includes sheltering services, medical care, and renovating existing shelters.

The public hearing takes place sometime after noon tomorrow (April 3), in the Licensing and Administrative Procedures room E2.156. Depending on the public witnesses and how the hearing goes, the committee could move the bill forward, kill it, or do nothing tomorrow.

www.pokernewsblog.billbruce.info

UPDATE

2007-05-14: Legislative Technicality Kills Texas Poker Bill (Haley Hintze, PokerWire)

Lucky You

Some of my close friends are in this movie. Check it out, it will be opening nationwide May 4th.



Link: Lucky You Official Website

Updates:

• 2007-05-03: Lucky You Premiere (savagetournaments.com)
• 2007-05-07: Lucky You? Lucky Me! (JenLeoLive)
• 2007-05-08: Bana, Barrymore shine in 'Lucky You' (Spartan Daily - San Jose, CA)