Today we at Sports Media Network take a look at poker and offer some words from the wise or wiser than most.  To begin with if you are new to the World of online poker, it is recommended that in the beginning you enter only freeroll games and it is suggested you not deposit to much until you get accustomed with the software and the way of playing poker online.

In poker whether it is online or elsewhere you should carefully select your starting hands.  You do not need to play every hand that you are dealt, and if you should you will more than likely loose money in the long run.  And certainly never bet all your money on the basis if one card.

It is very important that you read as many article on poker and strategy theories as you can without completing confusing your self, and therefore just give yourself time to learn the necessities.  Also, try to reduce the number of mistakes that you make in your games played on a daily basis, and don’t make the mistake that you think poker is not a skill based game.  Know your limits and play by a bankroll management strategy.

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We at Sports Media Network are excited about the news that the International Federation of Poker will be accepted into the International Mind Sports Association in April 2010. This signifies that poker will be joining a list of games that include chess, bridge and go as an official game of skill. Since the International Olympic Committee recognizes the International Mind Sports Association, which means poker will be considered an official game of skill to the IOC. This decision does not necessarily mean that we will be seeing poker in the summer Olympics anytime soon, but it is a first step in the right direction. This acceptance into the IMSA as well as recognition by the IOC gives poker another strong argument in court as to being a game of skill. The nature of online gaming may be in question, but so far the courts have been pretty lenient in a; owing games of skill to be allowed. Will this IOC distention assist in the efforts to legalize online poker in the United States, well that remains to be seen, many poker sites have competitions like the World Cup of Poker which matches players from various countries against each other.

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A Sports Media Network we are hearing a lot of Buzz about PokerHost.com changing their poker software and becoming a member of the Merge Gaming Network.  So let’s take a look at Merge, a company that offers a world class digital gaming platform from the ground up from a professional team with years of experience operating many of the traditional software’s.  Merge’s software has undergone strict testing carried out by external third party auditors which included RNG verification and adheres to all security standards mandated by the major processing networks.  Through the continued partnerships like PokerHost.com, Merge is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing poker networks in the online poker gaming industry. The software is licensed, audited and regulated by the Kahnawake gaming commission and secured by Thawte.

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At Sports Media Network we have heard a lot of rumble about the fact that Florida may be the first state in the United States to legalize online poker.

The bill is being presented by State Representative Joseph Abruzzo and the bill is labeled the “Internet Poker Consumer Protection and Revenue Generation Act of 2010.” The legislation outlines a fully regulated system of online gambling in the State of Florida. If approved, Florida would be the first state to use the rules from the UIGEA act of 2006 to help regulate online gambling.

Representative Abruzzo claims that about 900,000 Floridians already gamble at internet sites that are run by unregulated “offshore operators”. He also claims that the bill he has presented would bring in more than $200 million in revenue in its first year. This bill would require a internet hub operator based in Florida to pay a $500,000 application fee it the State of Florida for a license. In addition those operators would pay the state a 20 percent gross profit tax. This 42-page bill includes provisions aimed at money-laundering and gambling addiction.

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A question that we at Sports Media Network are often asked is is their any advantages to playing online poker versus live card rooms? Well as our information pours in it appears many players are choosing to play online poker over playing poker in a traditional card room or casino. There are a number of advantages to playing online versus playing in a land based casino but both forms of poker have their pluses and minuses. It is said the Professional poker players prefer to play online, but some will play online and in a poker card room. The major difference, and its a big one, between online poker and card room poker is the number of hands actually played. There are many, many more hands played at online poker site as compared to a casino or card room. Many times the difference in the amount of hands played is four or five times as many hands actually played. Also, the ability to play multiple at once is another difference. In online poker you can have many games going on at the same time on your computer, while you can only play one game at a time in a card room. With online poker you can play from anywhere in the world that has internet connections, while a card room or casino poker game requires you got to the location of the card room or casino. In addition you have many more choices as to where you can play on line as there are literally numerous online poker sites and you can find the exact game, limit and table that fit how you care to play, which is by far much more difficult in a local card room.

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We at Sports Media Network have been forwarded information that poker pros of some nature are asking for money on Facebook of all things?

It seems one of the apparent latest scams going on is for people to open a Facebook account, or an account on a similar social Networking site, and in the guise of being a very well known poker pro.  Then the scam begin and when these poker pro players start asking for money transfers between poker sites, or even a small loan, or for you to receive a piece of their winning action.  First of all we are under the impression that no legitimate poker pro would ask for money from other online poker players as these matters are held in private and are usually held within a very small group of trusted associates.  No matter how legitimate the person appears to be, or how enticing offer they might make to you, make sure you always protect yourself and your precious money.  No way should you give anyone person or player instant poker credibility simply because of a name or a picture appears on a social networking site.

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