Eric Seidel is a name no passionate poker player can be ignorant of. And the veteran poker pro has been proving it consistently that he is not an easy adversary. His last triumph was seen at the LA Poker Classic's $25k where he defeated a huge field of players winning almost $150k. His total poker cash-ins so far have thus amounted to something around $3.5 million. His latest achievements include Aussie Millions High Roller or the Poker Stars Caribbean Adventure. When taking over the trophy that comes along with the winnings at the LA Poker Classic, he had to admit it himself that one has to be damn good to get as far as he did. Along with Seidel, another rising star started proving himself – that is Darren Elias who already claimed several big cash prizes and it seems like he’ll make it into more headlines in 2011 than many may be expecting.

The gaming software platform giant Playtech acquired Intelligent Gaming Solutions, a UK based company that develops casino management systems. Playtech works across land-based and online platforms, a treat of the company’s personality which is found very favourable by all types of casino operators as some brick-and-mortar casinos are planning to launch online operations, too. Playtech has been showing skill and expertise for the past couple of years and seems to be thriving. The brains behind it have obviously been endowed with the knack for combining skill with chance and spotting future opportunities as soon as they emerge. In other words, the company knows how to play the game - a prerequisite of achievement in this highly competitive industry.

Recently, the State Gaming Board of Louisiana was supposed to decide upon whom the last casino licence in the state would be assigned to. Three grand projects were competing, the biggest one involving even a hotel and a recreational resort at the local Harvey Canal expanding the pool of Louisiana’s riverboat casinos. It was this last project that was refused the licence despite the grand projects and a prospect of cleaning up the long neglected area. The last licensed casino will instead be situated at Lake Charles, which is hundreds of miles away from New Orleans. Local gambling industry experts look with concern in the direction towards Texas – if the neighbouring state legalises gambling, Louisiana can expect a huge outflow of players across the border.

Minessota is another US country in the row to report a casino fraud case involving a cheating blackjack dealer. Such reports are not unusual in the industry and sometimes the fraud is even organised and committed repeatedly in a variety of casino all over the country. This time, the cheater was a lone rider and before being caught he managed to give away almost $20k to players who lost at the blackjack table. When the casino got suspicious they called in the police who then started monitoring the dealer’s actions and found out there was a pattern in his generosity towards losers – money was being given unlawfully to the same people repeatedly. The 24-year old dealer pleaded guilty to fraud and theft by swindle and is facing three years of probation and 80 hours of community service, apart from the repayment.

“Why do you think the same five guys make it to the final table of the World Series of Poker every year? What, are they the luckiest guys in Las Vegas?” This is the sentence Matt Damon famously pronounced in the movie called Rounders, well know to anyone who loves poker. It suggests that poker is a game of skill and chance has little space where a skilled player governs the game. Some life stories confirm it, some don’t. Whilst many players made a big victory just to see their fame fade away straight after, some keep winning quite consistently. This year, Jason Mercier is one of those consistent winners. At just 21 years old, he won the 2008 EPT title in San Remo and we hear from him almost regularly since then. Concluding this year with over one million of dollars in live tournament earnings, his name is going to be the one we will hear about next year as well.