Latest Poker Industry News

Here's a recap of some of the more noteworthy happenings in the poker world from the past few days. Michael Mizrachi and Full Tilt Poker Sued In what seems to be a monthly occurrence now, news came out this week that Full Tilt Poker is being sued along with November Nine finalist Michael Mizrachi. The plantiff, Deliverance Poker, an online poker room apparently organized in Texas, is suing Mizrachi for allegedly breaching a sponsorship contract he has with them by agreeing to wear Full Tilt's logo at the final table of the WSOP Main Event on November 9th. Deliverance Poker alleges Mizrachi signed a written contract with them during July of 2009 that commits him to promoting their brand at the prestigious final table. What made the founders of Deliverance Poker think it was legal for them to establish an online poker room in the state of Texas makes one question what the attorneys they've been talking to are smoking, but nevertheless, it remains unclear if their lawsuit against Mizrachi and Full Tilt holds any merit. Thus far, all Mizrachi has said of the incident was by Tweeting, "In light of this week's news, remember there are two sides to every story. I look forward telling my side and the truth coming out." Barney Frank Appears on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno Online poker's biggest friend in Washington regarding its fight to gain legal and regulated status in the United States is Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank. Over a week ago, Frank got a rare chance to bring the conversation about legalizing online poker into American households when he was invited onto the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In his conversation with Leno, which can be seen here (part two here), Frank said that the U.S. government could generate handsome tax revenue by legalizing and taxing online poker. Leno suggested that the reason Vegas works is because you have to, "go to the desert to get there," and that if you can gamble at home with your credit card, "next thing you know, it's like a mini bar." Frank rebutted by saying, "If you want to hit somebody or you want to burn somebody's house or steal somebody's car, then I want to stop you because you're doing it to somebody else. If you want to be foolish with your own money, if you want to gamble, if you want to drink, if you want to smoke, I will tell you it's a bad idea, but I think it's a mistake for the government to try to stop you." WSOP Circuit Adds First Stop at a Casino Not Owned by Harrah's The WSOP Circuit added an interesting venue to their schedule: Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma, a property that is not owned by Harrah's, the parent company of the World Series of Poker. This will be the first time a WSOP Circuit event has been played on a property not owned by Harrah's. The Choctaw stop makes a total of 13 venues on the WSOP Circuit. Ten events will be held from January 6th through January 25th culminating with a $1,600 buy-in championship event.