Poker News Round-up: 13/04/09

Poker News Round-up: 13/04/09

More of the latest news in poker:

Cigital Inc Report Finds Poker is a Game of Skill
Ireland to Ban Poker?
Denmark Considering a Relaxing of Poker Leglislation

New Study Finds Poker is a Game of Skill
A recent study by Cigital Inc concluded that poker is indeed largely a game of skill.  The results were published last week to high praise from the global poker community especially the Poker Players Alliance (PPA).

Over 100 million online poker hands were recorded.  The results found that 75% of the hands were won with players never seeing more than their own cards and the community cards. 12% went to a shown down, and were won by players with the best hand, while 12% went to a showdown we won by players with the worse hand due to the opponent folding.

Senator Alfonse D’Amato, the Chairman of PPA said, “This study provides the raw data to back up the compelling arguments made by poker players around the world that it’s skill, not pure luck, that determines the outcome of this game.”

Parallel incongruent

American Style Online Poker Ban to Hit Ireland?
As governments around the world make moves to regulate the online poker industry in their respective countries few would’ve expected Ireland, home to several large online poker businesses, to be considering a US style ban on the game.

Irish Minister for Sport, Martin Cullen, has reportedly threatened a US style ban on internet betting in Ireland.  Cullen told the Sunday Independent newspaper; “There are choices to be made, and I am making it clear to the industry that we will make those choices. The ultimate choice would be to ban it. That approach has been taken in America and perhaps it will be taken in other countries as well. However, I do not want to go down that road. I believe there is a means of taking action.”

Denmark considering poker regulation
Finally, in this very poker business related news round up, reports are coming in that Danish authorities are considering allowing live poker events to be played outside of government controlled casinos. 

A 14-man poker committee said that the Danish government is due to decide whether or not to introduce a formal legislative proposal following a public hearing on the poker issue. A decision is expected in the next few weeks.

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