Weekly Roundup July 3 2015
Gatto Shelves Online Poker Bill
California Assemblyman Mike Gatto shelved AB9, his bill that would regulate and legalize online poker in the state. Gatto stated that he felt there was a lack of consensus, making it impossible to move forward with California online poker. A committee hearing for the bill was canceled based on this news.
Card clubs, racetracks, and tribes have still been unable to reach a consensus on which entities would be able to spread online poker and whether companies like PokerStars that accepted California players post-UIGEA should be able to participate.
WSOP Online Event Major Success
The World Series of Poker held its first ever online event. It was event #64 and had a $1,000 buy-in. The tournament went off without a hitch. A total of 905 players entered, creating a prize pool of nearly $850,000. The tournament reached six players after about nine hours of play. The six players will meet at Rio on July 4 at noon to compete for the bracelet.
Merge Gaming Cashout Situation Worsens
Safest Poker Sites has been telling players for months that Merge Gaming, which includes Carbon Poker and Sportsbook.ag, has been slow paying players. Unfortunately, the situation appears to be getting worse. Some players report waiting since March for a payout. The best cashout times are running about three months, while some are waiting up to four months. This is a disturbing trend that may only get worse if it is not resolved before football season starts.
We cannot stress enough that Merge Gaming should be avoided at this time. We recommend BetOnline and Americas Cardroom for the fastest U.S. cashouts.