Crackdown on online poker could affect tournament entries

The 2011 WSOP, a series of 58 events, starts May 31 in Las Vegas. Its Main Event, which begins July 7, had 7,319 entries last year.

Last Friday, federal authorities in New York targeted three online gaming firms: PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker. Eleven people were charged with bank fraud and illegal gambling.

Restraining orders were issued against about 75 bank accounts allegedly used to process payments in 14 countries.

Some fallout so far:

•Full Tilt has been a major sponsor in mixed martial arts. It was about to return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. But Caren Bell, a spokeswoman for UFC's parent company Zuffa, confirmed in an email to USA TODAY the deal has been shelved.

•ESPN2, which was to begin taped coverage of the North American Poker Tour Monday, said the shows will not air. PokerStars was presenting sponsor.

 "Plans have not changed" for the WSOP, said spokesman Mike Soltys of ESPN, which aired WSOP shows from July 27 through Nov. 9 last year.

The World Series of Poker, not affiliated with PokerStars or the other two firms and operated by Caesars Entertainment, declined comment on possible effects on its 2011 entries because of the crackdown.

The Main Event took a hit after 2006 passage of the federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which prohibits firms from knowingly accepting U.S. payments in connection with unlawful Internet gambling.

There were a record 8,773 entries in the Main Event in 2006. The next year, after the WSOP prohibited third parties such as online firms from directly paying the US$ 10,000 entry fees for participants, entries fell to 6,358.

Entries rebounded steadily in recent years. Last year's total (7,319) was second most all time.

With no third-party entries since 2007, online firms still offered tournaments in which thousands could earn the equal of a Main Event buy-in. It was up to them whether they played.

Now, it's uncertain whether and when U.S. players might get access to money in online accounts. "Some of them had been planning to start a cash-out process here in the next month or so of getting money in hand to go to the World Series of Poker," said Raymer. "Now, they might not be able to get access to that money."

Multiple events at the WSOP have entry fees of US$ 1,000-US$ 1,500. There is one for US$ 25,000. The highest buy-in is US$ 50,000 for an event geared toward to pros.

Through sponsorship deals with online companies, many top pros also had their buy-ins paid.