Just before the new season of the WSOP started, the last one concluded with the World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC)’s National Championship $1 Million Freeroll played at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. The main prize of $300,000 went to an American software analyst Sam Barnhart who defeated a field of 99 players. The final table was nine-handed and Barnhard battled it out against James Anderson, Josh, La Sengphet, Jonathan Poche, Charles, Drazen Ilich, Adam Hui, and Matthew Lawrence. This golden bracelet is Barnhard’s first one ever and, in an interview, he described this experience as one of the most exciting moments in his life – and promised everyone to see a lot of him at the 42nd year of the WSOP which just kicked off – with the $25,000 Heads-Up won by Gus Hansen.

Resorts casino in Atlantic City is changing face and returning to the “roaring twenties”. Under the dictate of the trendy demand, the venue has radically changed its theme to turn reminiscent of the past era that is currently the most popular one amongst casino patrons. From staff costumes to the design of the bars, lounges and entertainment venues, everything looks just like from the 20s. The casino has added three new circuses, too, and undoubtedly there will be room for new themed slot machines and other appropriately designed games as well. Also a couple of new clubs will open their doors to welcome lovers of the vintage and let them enjoy the feel of an era which was all about fun and parties.

The indictments U.S. government filed against online poker operators who were offering their services to American players have still more casualties. Just recently, Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson resigned on their positions in the Poker Players Alliance. Both players have a very close relationship with Full Tilt Poker, one of the websites that is involved in the affair, Ferguson having helped design the site and Lederer acting as a consultant to Pocket Kings, which is the parent company of Full Tilt. Since it is the official interest of the Alliance to defend poker against restrictive efforts of the Congress, the organisation did not consider it suitable to have Lederer and Ferguson on its members list any longer, due to conflict of interests of Full Tilt and the PPA.

Koen De Visscher, the latest player in Poker770 team, has achieved some great results winning the Spring Championship of Online Poker tournament in 2008 organized by PokerStar. He started with buy-in of 1000$ and finished with winning 122.000 $! The spring championship of online poker is one of the biggest tournaments in France and can also be called as SCOOP.

Koen De Visscher is the one, who joined the team at Poker770 later then everyone else, yet was representing the team with two other players Coralie Nauder and Jamel Maistriaux. He has achieved great results which are promising us many further surprises.

U.S. players who have been hit the hardest by the shutdown on PokerStars and Full Tilt U.S. websites are considering moving out of the federation since online poker on the above said websites meant a way of making a living and playing on other sites is not quite the same in terms of earnings and in other respects as well. Whilst there are many countries where PokerStars and Full Tilt can operate without any legal issues, there is the language barrier many players find too difficult to surmount, and thus the logical choice for them is Canada. However, it might prove difficult for them to get a residential status, since Canada welcomes immigrants that the country is in need of, that is nurses, doctors, engineers or other persons educated to a university degree level. It remains to be seen how professional poker players will be accepted or not if they decide to relocate.