Poker Shorts - May-26-2006

Here are some poker-related short news snippets, including news and discussions of possible bans on Internet gambling:

(1) The 36th Annual WSOP (World Series of Poker) takes place in Las Vegas near the end of June and runs into early August. [Via PokerNews]
(2) Fayetteville Online posts their view on US House Speaker Jim Black’s suggestion to phase in a video-poker ban. They imply that his view is due to people from the video-poker industry pumping US$167,00 into his campaign coffers.
(3) A 27-year old Russian poker player won what is supposedly the largest poker prize in Russian history. [via OnlineCasinos]
(4) Sports-Stuff Inc. has been signing up a host of poker champs to help promote their wireless poker business. [via PokerNews]
(5) Online and mobile gambling has supposedly contributed to a rise in gambling addiction and debt. [via vnunet]. Regulation will supposedly help reduce this problem.
(6) Despite being a relatively cerebral game, poker has become a mainstream event. According to Associated Press writer Brendan Riley, quoting experts, it’s on par to be “on the level of NBA games and NASCAR races.” This is in part due to all the celebrities participating in televised tournaments. [via Las Vegas Sun]
(7) A US House panel voted to introduce prohibitions on a variety of online gambling activities, which is a $12 bln industry. [via BusinessWeek]
(8) Philadelphia Inquirer writer Frank Catania suggests regulation rather than an outright banning, which would be difficult to enforce. [via Philly.com]