Jennifer Newell

There has been much talk of bots in the online poker industry over the years, as the technology to create computerized programs that can beat the odds is technically possible. And it is a reality too, as artificial intelligence programs at various universities have developed poker-playing bots and pitted them against human players for experimental purposes, as well as for entertainment.

They continue to do it, somehow believing that they will not be caught using more than one account on an online poker website. But players who blatantly ignore the rules of the sites, not to mention the very public reports of others caught and punished for doing so, almost always get caught. This time it was Nick Grudzien, the founder and head coach of StoxPoker, an online poker training website.

As discussed in the previous column, the chance of passing pro-online gaming legislation prior to the June 1 deadline, which is when UIGEA's regulations take effect, is slim. Even Rep. Barney Frank, one of the champions of a UIGEA repeal, said as much. But that hasn't stopped two bills from being introduced to Congress in February and March. Both will allow for online poker to be legalized and regulated on the federal level. In essence, passage of these bills would overturn the entirety of UIGEA.

Online poker legislation has proven to be a tricky and unpredictable spectacle. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed by Congress in the middle of the night in the sneakiest of ways. Since that time, the online gaming industry discovered many friends in the halls of Congress, some of whom are willing to fight for our cause and denounce UIGEA at every opportunity. But despite the support for repealing UIGEA and the heavy push by several lobbying organizations for legislation to license and regulate online gaming, it seems no closer to reality than it was in 2006.

No matter how it is served, humble pie is never delicious or enjoyable, but it is necessary in some cases. Despite the fact that this is a column and often reflects my opinions, I sometimes try to report news in this limited space. Recently, one attempt to do that fell flat when I neglected to check the facts sufficiently and perform the due diligence essential to accurate reporting. In essence and in web-speak, the column was an epic fail. Thus, I willingly take this opportunity to issue corrections and apologies.

No matter how it is served, humble pie is never delicious or enjoyable, but it is necessary in some cases. Despite the fact that this is a column and often reflects my opinions, I sometimes try to report news in this limited space. Recently, one attempt to do that fell flat when I neglected to check the facts sufficiently and perform the due diligence essential to accurate reporting. In essence and in web-speak, the column was an epic fail. Thus, I willingly take this opportunity to issue corrections and apologies.

By the time this issue is published, it will have been six months since poker pro Joe Sebok accepted a sponsorship deal with UltimateBet.com, as well as a position as the Media & Operations Consultant for UB. It has not been an easy road for Sebok, as the backlash from some in the poker community has been harsh and included accusations of Sebok jumping at easy sponsorship money and naïvely accepting anything UB tells him. On the other side of the coin, he has received some support, as well as many who have opted for the wait-and-see, time-will-tell attitude.

Online poker is exciting in itself, from the tournaments with million dollar guarantees to series like FTOPS and WCOOP, and from high stakes games involving players like Daniel Negreanu to the challenge matches taking place between Tom Dwan and Patrik Antonius. There is always action, even when it's made by the players themselves. But when Isildur1 made his way to the high stakes tables of Full Tilt Poker in November 2009, railbirds came from far and wide to watch these cash games that involved the biggest pots in the history of online poker.

The deadline loomed over the poker community, and the ominous cloud seemed to darken as the days of November passed. The pieces of legislation introduced in Congress by Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Robert Menendez to overturn UIGEA and legalize online gaming had been shelved indefinitely due to pressing issues in Congress like health care. No action meant that UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006) was to require enforcement by financial institutions on December 1, 2009.

It's been many months since the last word from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission regarding the UltimateBet scandal. As it turns out, the KGC was in the process of refunding more money to cheated players, identifying culprits, and discussing the case with law enforcement officials. And on September 11, 2009, the "final decision" was written and released to the public.