With the recent announcement made by the Nevada Gaming Policy Committee that online poker licenses in that state would be available in 30 to 60 days, brick and mortar casino and resort companies realized they needed to be in position for one of those early licenses as soon as possible. Some venerable gaming companies like MGM Resorts International are well ahead of the curve, and have already attempted to ensure a successful entry into what will probably be the first state-run legal online poker experience in the United States. MGM Resorts International is the owner of such notable Las Vegas Strip casino destinations as the Bellagio, the Mirage and the MGM Grand, and they have crawled into bed with an online gaming leader.   Read Full Article

While most of us will make more than $1 million in our lifetime, very few of us will make that much in a single poker tournament. Blair Hinkle is an online poker professional who won more than $1 million a couple of months before last year’s April 15, Black Friday here in the United States changed the face of the online poker world forever. Hinkle finished second in the Main event of FTOPS XIX, taking down a cool $1,162,949.75 in prize money. He had no way of knowing that his hard work and smart online play was all for nothing, and that his second place winnings may as well have been worthless Monopoly money. Read Full Article

A little more than a year ago, conspicuously close to another US Federal bad news day, the online poker landscape in the United States changed forever. On April 15, 2011, just two days before the dreaded annual tax deadline, Federal Department of Justice authorities officially indicted three of the top online poker sites that operated in the United States. Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and UltimateBet/Absolute Poker were all issued immediate cease-and-desist orders, and were told they were in violation of several US banking laws. American online account holders with those three companies were not charged, but were stuck in a Catch-22 situation nonetheless. Read Full Article

While it may be challenging to trot over to Churchill Downs while simultaneously engaging in sizzling hot poker action, online gambling enthusiasts manage to combine both venues seamlessly at some of the hottest gambling sites offering both a high quality poker room and a robust sportsbook all under one convenient account. Poker enthusiasts involved in brick and mortar poker action are also enjoying a variety of Kentucky Derby poker events, some charitable and some for big time payouts. Its definitely in the cards that poker fanatics also know how to enjoy a good race. Read Full Article

April kicked off the WSOP 2012 Main Event qualifiers at both Bovada Poker and Intertops Poker, two of the premium USA friendly online poker sites featured here on The Poker Grind. While there are players who live comfortably enough to easily set funds aside to participate in the extravagant WSOP events, there are many players whose only shot at being a part of the Series is through wining less costly events at online poker sites which provide qualifiers to events such as the WSOP Main Event. If playing in this famous and lucrative tournament is only a dream for you, there are a few ways to make that dream come true. Read Full Article