On this page we've listed summaries of the most important news events of January 2007
EU Internal Market Commissioner not happy with DoJ campaign
January 31, 2007 - The Bloombergs business news service expanded on earlier Reuters reports that European Community officials may be unhappy with the manner in which the United States has targeted online gambling for Department of Justice enforcement actions. In an earlier report, EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy told the European Parliament. "In my view it is probably a restrictive practice and we might take it up in another fora,"
Mansion Poker no longer accepts U.S. players
January 30, 2007 - Mansion Poker silently closed it's doors to U.S. customers today. A short statement in the FAQ of the Mansion poker site says U.S. players can no longer wager at the property.
WTO panel finds U.S. not in compliance with earlier ruling
January 28, 2007 - It was Antigua and Barbuda: 1 - USA: 0 this week as news emerged of an important World Trade Organization decision in which the United States has suffered a new setback in a four-year-old legal battle with the Caribbean islanders over U.S. restrictions on Internet gambling.
Heads-up poker championship returns to Caesars Palace
January 24, 2007 - For the third straight year, a field of 64 of the worlds elite poker players will descend upon Las Vegas from March 1-4 as the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship brings a whos who from the poker world to the Caesars Palace Poker Tournament Room.
eCOGRA study profiles poker and casino players
January 24, 2007 - The largest and most comprehensive global study of online gambling and gamblers was unveiled to the press at the International Casino Exhibition in London this week.
WA state legislator aims to correct prohibitive poker legislation
January 23, 2007 - In-home recreational internet gaming shouldnt be a felony, says Strow. 10th District legislator introduces bill to provide an affirmative defense to the Class C Felony created by 2006 internet gambling bill.
No evidence of crisis planning in aftermath of Neteller pull-out
January 20, 2007 - The confusion commenced when Neteller abruptly cut-off US gamblers from using its third party payment processing facilities following the arrests in the United States by the FBI of two of its founders and ex-directors.
Tae Baik of Leonia, NJ, wins 2007 Winter Poker Open
January 20, 2007 - At the Borgata in Las Vegas the atmosphere was reportedly electric this week as the forty remaining players from Event 1 ($500 buy-in) in the 2007 Winter Poker Open returned to battle.
Cryptologic gears up for major move on Asia
January 20, 2007 - Veteran gambling software developer and turnkey provider Cryptologic is about to team up Brilliance Technology Company and 568 Network Inc in a significant project to adapt and license its online casino, poker and other skill-based games for the Chinese market.
Direct Poker will be aired on French Digital TV Network Direct 8
January 20, 2007 - Everest Poker has made a bold move into French territory this week by signing a sponsorship deal with the new poker TV show Direct Poker. The show will be aired weekly on one of France's most popular free digital TV channels, Direct 8.
25 U.S. cities to compete in PokerBowl
January 20, 2007 - What do you get when you combine the NFL with the World Series of Poker? A team style variation of Texas Hold'em, called the PokerBowl.
eWallet updates for US players
January 19, 2007 - US players searching for alternatives to Neteller in order to continue playing online were faced with obstacles and frustration this week, with inefficient e-wallet signup sites, poor communications and a US-availability scenario that seemed to change by the hour.
Seven players left in Aussie Millions (2)
January 19, 2007 - The final table for the 2007 Aussie Millions has been decided after some hectic action on Day 4 to whittle the Final Fourteen down to a magnificent seven, all of whom will earn major pay checks. The winner will collect $1.5 million, and even the first player to be eliminated today will pocket a check for $220 000. Update: Gus Hansen wins the Aussie Millions.
Neteller alternatives
January 18, 2007 - If you have no intention of going anywhere near the United States, the departure from that market by Neteller and Citadel could create opportunities for well-heeled companies with integrity and a flair for risk taking. US players thwarted by their own government's single minded attack on Internet gambling are looking for alternative e-wallets.
Neteller says US ban was planned?
January 18, 2007 - For the players, it was an unexpected shock when notices suddenly went up on the Neteller site abruptly advising that "with immediate effect" all US player transactions with online gambling sites would be banned (see previous InfoPowa report) But Reuters reported today that the Isle of Man-based e-wallet had been planning such a move since November.
Citadel stops serving US players too
January 18, 2007 - One of the most widely known payment processors in online gambling, the Canadian-based Citadel Commerce has backed hurriedly out of the US market in what seems to be a domino-effect reaction to the Neteller departure this week.
US players can't use NETeller anymore to fund poker accounts
January 17, 2007 - Due to recent US legislative changes and events, effective immediately, US members are no longer able to transfer funds to or from any online gambling sites using Neteller.
NETeller founders arrested in US on money laundering charges
January 16, 2007 - Online money transfer firm NETeller said on Tuesday two of its founding shareholders - Stephen Lawrence and John Lefebvre - had been detained by U.S. authorities on Monday, and that at the company's request trading in its shares has been suspended. The official complaint
Aussie Millions update
January 14, 2007 - There's still plenty of action in store at the Aussie Millions, including the Main Event, but the competition at the Crown Casino in Melbourne is already generating serious excitement...and big winners.
High Stakes Poker Season III kicks off January 15
January 13, 2007 - Big money and competitive action are the hallmarks of Game Show Network's popular poker series "High Stakes Poker" and fans will be looking forward to January 15 when season three airs at 9 pm Eastern Time.
Bodog doubles prizepool of Jan 28th tournament to $200K
January 13, 2007 - Bodog poker regulars will have a bigger incentive to play in the Sunday online poker tournament prior to the Super Bowl on January 28 - the betting group is doubling its usual $100 000 guaranteed prizepool, providing gamblers with a minimum pool of $200 000.
Mounties investigating Nova Scotia poker tourneys
January 13, 2007 - The Canadian national police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have been active in the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia recently and are reported to be investigating some 60 allegedly illegal poker games in the region.
Math whiz Ryan Daut wins PokerStars.com Caribbean Adventure
January 12, 2007 - Starting at a chip count disadvantage at a final table of six in the Poker Stars.com Caribbean Adventure this week, a 22 year old math graduate student from New Jersey with plenty of guts and audacity trounced the competition to win the $1.5 million first prize.
European Poker Tour cancels 2007 EPT French Open
January 10, 2007 - France has been removed as a venue for the European Poker Tour, the organizers announced this week without giving any reasons. Inevitably, speculation was immediate that the change of plan for the poker spectacle was motivated by the truculent attitude of the French gambling industry to any threat to its monopolistic structure.
World Series of Poker 2007 schedule published
January 10, 2007 - Some welcome tweaks to the 2006 World Series of Poker schedule were apparent when the official program for the 2007 event was released this week by Harrah's Entertainment, along with the anticipated wide selection of games in 55 major events over 7 weeks, and a useful range of buy-ins.
PokerZone revamps website
January 9, 2007 - The British poker television channel Pokerzone has launched its new look website, which a spokesman said has taken over six months to redesign, with the goal of inspiring current players, while attracting new users and players into the game.
Offbeat gambling news
January 9, 2007 - A collection of offbeat gambling news stories including croupiers wearing flea collars, gambling in your second-life and the world's smallest potential offshore tax haven.
Former ballet dancer wins MoneyMaker Millions
January 8, 2007 - The Pokerstars.com Moneymaker Millionaire poker extravaganza culminated in the final table over the weekend, held at the Atlantis Resort and Casino in the Bahamas, where the Chris Moneymaker legend of an unknown player beating formidable opposition was extended by another unfamiliar player who became a major winner.
Turkey targets internet gambling with new penal code
January 8, 2007 - The Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak reported this week that a controversial law, Penal Code Article 301, is to be applied vigorously by Turkish authorities against *Internet crimes* that include online gambling.
WillHill Grand Prix II to air on Sky from Wednesday 17th January
January 5, 2007 - The William Hill Grand Prix II had arguably the greatest ever line up of poker players to gather for a UK tournament and now the viewing public will be able to watch all the action as the exclusive broadcast of the £500,000 event begins on Sky Sports on Wednesday 17th January.
Absolute Poker reveals details of major promotional push
January 5, 2007 - Absolute Poker, fresh from its intriguing tete-a-tete with the Canadian Mounties last year has revealed the details of its major 2007 promotional push, titled "The Absolute Dream Package."
European Poker Tour to visit Warsaw in March
January 5, 2007 - Polish poker players will this year join thousands of their European counterparts in following the European Poker Tour action, as the wide ranging contest adds the Eastern European country to its list of venues.
PokerRoom.com finally decides to pay on overlay tourney
January 3, 2007 - For the past two weeks online poker message boards like Winneronline, 2 + 2 and Poker Room's own message board facility have been clouded by growing condemnation of an online poker tournament that appears to have gone horribly wrong.
Partygaming/Playtech deal benefits expansion into Asian market
January 3, 2007 - The Playtech software licensing deal for online gambling properties recently acquired from Empire Online and IOG by Party Gaming continued to dominate online gambling industry news reports today (Wednesday)
Partygaming bonus plan under scrutiny
January 3, 2007 - The incentive share and cash plan announced recently for Party Gaming top brass was under scrutiny this week by the group's major shareholders in case it breaches UK corporate governance codes, reports The Guardian.
Online poker strong entering 2007
January 2, 2007 - The field may have been smaller than usual due to the old year exiting and the new one arriving, but the online poker action was still brisk and the winnings were spectacular, showing once again that it takes more than political shenanigans to keep a good game down.
Playtech licenses software to PartyGaming for 4 years
January 2, 2007 - The news that Party Gaming is to acquire Empire Online and Intercontinental Online Gaming - subject to shareholder approval - has been followed with a statement from online casino and poker software developer Playtech that it has concluded a long term agreement with Party for the continued use of its software to run the newly acquired gaming websites.
Woman Poker Magazine sponsors Poker Author Challenge
January 2, 2007 - The first annual Poker Author Challenge is happening at Binion's in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, January 21, 2007. Book signing and Registration begins at 10 a.m.