The Poker Lab Rat

Attention all poker-playing UK Rugby League Fans!

The Rugby Super League Grand Final takes place on the 14th October and Betfred is running this fantastic poker tournament to celebrate. The top three players will each recieve quadrant seating packages with hospitality for two people at Old Trafford!

The tournament starts on Thursday, 12 October, 20:00 BST ($5+$0.50)

Any Rugby fan would be mad to miss out!

Despite being a relative newcomer to online poker, Betfred has partnered with Playtech for its poker software platform. Betfred Poker is based on iPoker from Playtech and is part of the Playtech Poker Network.

BetFred Poker offers a good balance of poker newcomers, confident risk takers & old hands. The BetFred bookmaker (sports book) side of the business ensures an ongoing stream of fish… The mid-stakes tables are where to go for the money. Freerolls? 8 per day at least.

Here’s what we like about BetFred Poker:
1. They are safe - these guys are serious about the industry and are not “fly-by-night” operators.
2. BetFred has great software for a smooth all round playing experience
      - Full screen option for more real estate
      - Player notes (to record opposition habits for future reference)
      - Buddy List (find & check the status of players you want to play)
      - Real time game and transcation history
      - On-line support - mid game if you need it!
3. You can play in 16 currencies (not just EURO, Pounds or USD)
4. Good, plain english play rules and information plus a useful quick-start poker house tour
5. Friendlier players play at BetFred… (strange but true!)

Here some links:
>>GO TO BetFred Poker to find out more
>>READ our PokerLatRat.com review on BetFred Poker

Shares in online gaming companies crashed this morning after the shock weekend move by the US authorities to outlaw internet gambling prompted a massive sell off of their shares.

PartyGaming and 888 both said they will suspend their US operations once the new law comes into effect. President Bush is expected to sign the legislation within the next two weeks, after which it will be illegal for American banks and credit card companies to process payments to online gaming companies.

Shares in PartyGaming more than halved, plummeting by 61.75p to 45.5p in early morning trading. Sportingbet, which also said it has abandoned its planned merger with World Gaming, saw its shares collapse by more than 60%, from 118.25p to 66p. Shares in 888 tumbled by 45% to 80p.

The internet betting firms are continuing to comb through the proposed legislation with their legal teams. But PartyGaming, which relies on the US for 85% of its revenues, said the new law will make it “practically impossible” to operate in the US.

Link to source article …
http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,1885577,00.html