Rumors and Facts

There are many rumors flying around about changes in the poker world. Here are several of the rumors and my best understanding as to their validity:

Rumor – The World Series of Poker will be cancelled this year.

Fact – False

Rumor – World Series of Poker entry fees will be 11 percent.

Fact – False

Rumor – Jack Binion's World Poker Open (in Tunica, Mississippi, March 24-April 13) will be even bigger and better than last year's very successful inaugural event.

Fact – True

Rumor – The Stratosphere closed its poker room.

Fact – True

Rumor – The Regent Las Vegas opened a poker room.

Fact – True

Rumor – Many smaller online poker sites are having financial difficulty.

Fact – I really don't know how their underlying economics work. Card Player is being paid regularly by all of its Internet accounts and knows of no problems of players not getting paid except at Pokerspot.com. See the next rumor.

Rumor – Online poker room Pokerspot.com is out of business.

Fact – True, for now, anyway. They owe us money, as well as many players. They admit it, and say that there is a problem between their bank and the credit card company, and they hope to get things worked out. They state that it may take six months.

Rumor – Linda Johnson is buying the Tournament of Champions.

Fact – False

Rumor – The Tournament of Champions will be cancelled this year.

Fact – I am not sure that anybody knows at this point.

Rumor – Jan Shulman is taking up poker.

Fact – After 33 years of marriage, my wife, Jan, has decided to learn how to play poker, and will write at least a few articles from the point of view of an absolute novice. Watch for her debut during the World Series.