It has been really quiet on the US online poker scene, since the indictment of PokerStars Full Tilt and various other sites (10 in total) early in 2011. There was a whole slew of commentary taking place back-and-forth after the event, but nothing much since then. We know that most of the sites did not recover, but that PokerStars has put a good fight and has bounced back strongly into the UK and European marketplace, a marketplace where they had already made sure they had a strong online presence.

The second largest online poker site - Full Tilt is having a torrid time of it. They reopened; could not pay US and other members withdrawals, had their license suspended by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and in France by ARJEL. If reports are correct, they have since been trying to sell the remnants of a non-operational online poker business with several DoJ indictments against it, and a seriously tarnished reputation with its former members. This does not look like a very attractive business proposition, does it?

As for the rest of the seized online gambling domains, they appear to have rapidly faded into obscurity, but one might assume that any information us sub-judicae. Doyles Room, another online poker room fronted by Texas Dolly (Doyle) Brunson, was another indicted entity. Just last year this legend of poker, Brunson himself, indicted to Forbes that he and the rest of the online poker industry was ready to take on the US DoJ and were armed for a fight. Even he appears to be eating his words and has distanced himself from this site. He was not indicted, and it appears that he did not consider himself an owner - merely a shareholder of Doyles Room.

Sweeping crackdowns on online gambling sites have turned into a DoJ assault on this industry. A veritable War on online gambling; there are never any winning sides in a war. The DoJ maintains that poker, like all online gambling is a violation of US law, even though the legal basis for this premise is more than just merely murky, there are some very solid grey areas. Interestingly enough, there is also a $3 Billion civil claim by Government brewing in the matter.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, various states still have very strong proponents in various Senators who wish for online gambling to be regulated and made legal. Following the collapse of New Jersey's largest standard-bred horse farm - Perretti Farms this week; Ray Lesniak wants a re-introduction of his online gambling bill for the state. It was his idea that this bill would pump much needed dollars into the flagging horse racing industry, and provide purse enhancements, as well as a bridge for state-self-sufficiency. Consequently; in another act of sheer stupidity, Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the bill saying that the state would take care of the horse racing industry, and that a referendum was required from voters regarding whether they would like online gambling. Aaah…the famous procrastinations of politicians - they never do any damn good!