Update: WSOP to Be Aired on ESPN

Show must go on Despite the announcement that it will stop broadcasting several online poker show thanks to the recent US federal indictments against major online poker companies Pokerstars, Full Tilt and UB.com, ESPN today announced that it will continue to screen the World Series of Poker live championships, owned by Las Vegas land gambling group Caesars Entertainment. According to NBC Sports exec, Andrew Feldman, “I'm relaying a very important message from the poker team at ESPN. Just so that its clear, ESPN will still be covering the WSOP.” This was also confirmed by WSOP spokesman Mike Soltys, who stated: "Plans have not changed." However, the impact of the federal indictments and the withdrawal of the online poker giants from the US is likely to have a bigger impact than anticipated. It was assessed by former WSOP champ Greg Raymer that big money sponsorships, promotions and satellites run by the major internet poker companies through multi-million dollar budgets hold big importance for the event, as this year's main event is highly likely to attract lower number of entries than in 2010, due to the federal busts. He added that the situation as it is at the moment makes it harder for players to compete: "The government shouldn't have anything to do with morality in general. The government should be protecting us here. That's why they should be creating a law to license and regulate online poker, the same way they protect us from bad food. These people are saying, 'Please, pass the law, give us a license and then we'll be happy to pay taxes.' " In an interview given to Forbes magazine, Wynn Resorts owner Steve Wynn, who previously announced that the company's deal with Pokerstars is called off, agreed with Raymer, stating: “This reminds me of the Volstead Act during prohibition. It said you can't drink beer. Well, people drank beer anyway. And poker's about as American as apple pie.... The situation cries for regulation so that states can get money at a time when they need money and the federal government can get some money at a time when it could use the money. It seems like an intelligent thing to sit down and regulate.” Apart from Wynn, an advocate for internet freedom Joe Plummer, issued a rather strict comment on the federal government action, assessing: "No doubt, everyone in America can rest more easily now knowing that the government is “protecting them” from the unspeakable dangers of online gambling. (An "unspeakable danger" that nobody asked to be protected from. In fact, the legislation that made this possible was so unpopular that, after years of failing, Congress rammed it through under a PORT SECURITY bill!) "As a result of the government's actions, these enormously popular multi-billion dollar companies, and the millions of customers they served, are now met with [a] DOJ message when they try to access the former websites. "It's just the government doing what it does. (Using its "regulatory power" to destroy businesses and people engaged in non-violent and voluntary activities while ignoring enormous REAL crimes. …Using its power to benefit the "few" at the expense of the many.) "Not to worry. After they're done destroying all the competition, they'll launch their own profitable "legal" online gambling sites. (Or, they'll dole out licenses to the well-connected for a nice fee and a slice of the action.) Either way, once they're in a position to get their cut, the horrible "dangers of online gambling" will scarcely be heard of again. "Cynical? Yes. But sadly, it's par for the course." Following the federal action, today came statements from two major licensing jurisdictions, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and the Isle of Man. In its statement, the KGC noted: “Our principal concern is that players are not adversely affected by the actions taken by US authorities. The KGC is presently engaged in discussions with its licensee concerning the status of player accounts. Upon completion of its review, the KGC will determine what steps may be required and will issue a further statement at that time.” As for the Pokerstars' basis, Isle of Man, it commented: "Following developments on Friday 15th April, the [Gaming] Commission is aware of documentation issued by authorities in the USA which makes allegations against PokerStars and some of its personnel. While we are discussing the matter on an ongoing basis with PokerStars and watching developments, we can confirm that PokerStars' licensing status in the Isle of Man remains unchanged. "We are aware that PokerStars have (sic) suspended the availability of cash-play games in the USA and we are currently endeavouring to ensure that any player who wishes to withdraw money from their account can do so."