World Series of Poker Online Qualifiers and more fallout from the UIGA

WSOP WILL "MOST LIKELY NOT" BE TAKING ONLINE QUALIFIERS IN 2007

The majority of the players who played in this years World Series of Poker Main Event qualified online for the tournament. Players would win online satellites, and be registered for the tournament by the online poker room, which would pay the players' buy in.

All of that will apparently change in 2007, as Harrah's has told the online poker rooms that they will "most likely not" be accepting third-party registrations from them for the Main Event in 2007. Harrah's indicated they "most likely" would be taking brick & mortar casino satellite winners, and other types of promotional third-party entries, such as contest winners. If this decision sticks, it could severely reduce the number of entrants into the Main Event, unless the online rooms devise another way to let satellite players in.

FALLOUT FALLOUT FROM PASSAGE OF THE UNLAWFUL INTERNET GAMBLING ACT

Over the course of the nearly two weeks since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed by Congress, a lot has happened in the online poker business. Almost immediately, market leader Party Poker announced it would no longer take U.S. players. This was followed by a few other rooms (most notably 888 Holdings, which owns Pacific Poker) also announcing their withdrawal from the U.S.

Almost as quickly online room Full Tilt notified players that they would indeed stick by their U.S. customers, and pretty much said it would be business as usual. The two firms that chose not to announce right away were both very crucial to the online poker landscape. Both PokerStars, and e-wallet provider Neteller took their time, and waited nearly two weeks before announcing that they would both stay in the U.S. market.

Poker players were cheered by these decisions, especially Neteller, as most of the language in the newly passed bill deals with preventing U.S. banks from taking online gaming transactions. E-wallets like Neteller, the largest e-wallet company that takes online gaming transactions, are especially crucial, as they will continue to provide a way for players to transact business with the online poker rooms.

SHANA HIATT GETS TO GO TO WORK

As reported in this column in the last issue, Shana Hiatt had filed suit against the World Poker Tour for preventing her from seeking work with other poker television outlets, specifically NBC, which had offered her a job. Hiatt was seeking an injunction to allow her to take the job as well as punitive damages. The injunction was granted, and NBC has announced that Hiatt will host 'Poker After Dark' a poker show which will run at 2 A.M. six nights a week. The show will debut January 2nd, 2007. Shana is also rumored to be one of the hosts of the highly popular "NBC National Heads Up Championship," which will air later in the spring.

AMARILLO SLIM FOILS ROBBERY ATTEMPT

Former World Series of Poker Champion 'Amarillo Slim' Preston showed he can still make an aggressive decision in an instant when he foiled a robbery attempt recently in Amarillo, Texas.

Slim was driving in the wee hours of the morning, when a yellow car cut him off, and forced his car to the curb. An assailant armed with a pistol jumped out, pointed the gun at Slim, and demanded money. Slim responded by throwing the car into reverse, and trying to escape. The man fired three shots, with two of them hitting Slim's car, then proceeded to jump back in his car, and chase Slim. Slim was able to evade the man, and call police. Amarillo Slim was unharmed.

THE 'EPOKER ROOM' IS HERE

On October 12 Hollywood Park Casino in Los Angeles opened its 'ePoker Room'. An epoker room has automated poker tables that do not require dealers. Players control all their actions at a touch-screen terminal in front of their seat. This makes for faster, error-free play.

The electronic tables are already in use in several casinos around the country and aboard many cruise ships. To start with, the tables at Hollywood Park will mostly host low-limit hold 'em, small buy-in no limit hold 'em, and Sit N Go tournaments. PokerTec, the company that manufactures the tables, says the software to host multi-table tournaments on these tables is near completion and should be introduced in early 2007.