The push was on, courtesy of the Poker Players Alliance, to reverse UIGEA and enact legislation that would officially legalize and regulate online poker in the United States. The PPA held a press conference this past June during the World Series of Poker to announce National Poker Week. This event consisted of several initiatives during the week of July 19-25, 2009 aimed at encouraging the federal government to notice PPA’s efforts.

WORLD SERIES OF POKER, ESPN ANNOUNCE EXTENDED TV PACT

As ESPN goes, so goes the World Series of Poker, and the broadcast giant and Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., the WSOP’s parent, have agreed on a new deal to keep the world’s largest poker series on major network TV through 2018. Terms of the new deal call for at least 32 hours of programming to appear every year, with the broadcasts likely to remain centered on the main event, a perennial ratings winner. ESPN has teamed up with the WSOP since 2003. This year’s broadcast schedule runs through the fall, culminating with the main event final table on November 10th.

Feds Ask Banks to Freeze $33 Mil Owed to Online Poker Players

Federal prosecutors asked four American banks to freeze $33 million owed to 27,000 players at four offshore poker sites, including PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker.

According to John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, prosecutors asked Citibank, Wells Fargo and two smaller banks to freeze funds in accounts belonging to two companies, Allied Systems and Account Services, which process payouts on behalf of the poker sites.

2009 World Series of Poker Event #6 World Championship Seven-Card Stud

Tournament Highlights: The Winner

The 2009 World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Seven-Card Stud champion is Freddie Ellis, from Brooklyn, NY. He is the new Seven-Card Stud World Champion.

Freddie Ellis is a 74-year-old real estate broker. He is originally from Miami, FL.

Online Poker and Bingo: The New Social Networking Sites

Millions of people from all over the world come together online to play poker and bingo on a daily basis. Some make new friends, while others keep in touch with family or friends they already have. Not only do they play online games, they interact with other players to make these sites the new social networking sites of today. The need for the same old social networking sites such as MySpace, FaceBook, Hi5, and Windows Live Space are replaced by Poker and Bingo sites like Full Tilt, PokerStars, UltimateBet, Doyle’s Room, Bodog Poker, Party Bingo, Jackpot Joy, USA Bingo, South Beach Bingo, Virgin Bingo and so many more.

More Chances Now for Sports Fans to Win a Ticket to the Sports Legends Challenge, Exclusively Online at Absolute Poker

The leading online poker site is giving fifteen lucky players a shot at winning the prize package of a lifetime to be part of the inaugural Sports Legends Challenge at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort and casino. Miami, FL, (Marketwire), Wednesday, August 19th, 2009 -From today, Absolute Poker is giving online poker players the chance to cross the line from spectator to competitor to win one of five weekly Sports Legends Challenge prize packages in their Sports Legends Challenge Super Satellite, scheduled nightly Wednesday through Sunday at 22:45 ET.