World Poker Tour launches Club WPT, real money online poker room open to US players
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The World Poker Tour, a business at the center of the live poker revival in the US, announced plans today to further extend its influence into the online poker arena with the introduction of ClubWPT, a subscription-based poker room that will allow members to compete for real money and prizes in tournaments - including players from most of the United States.
WPT currently operates an online poker room that offers cash games and tournaments, but is not open to players from America.
Club WPT operates on a model that is apparently in compliance with a majority of US State laws regarding gambling. From the Club WPT website:
Gambling means you put something at risk (consideration) to play a game (like poker or blackjack) for a prize (like money). ClubWPT.com is not a gambling site because you join the “club” to get benefits like discounts on goods and services and the opportunity to play in tournaments for prizes. The tournaments are part of the club promotion. ClubWPT.com operates within the “sweepstakes” rules where they are legal and excludes people from joining who live in those states and countries where they are not. To better grasp the concept, think of network television shows or other promotions that offer sweepstakes and you get the idea behind ClubWPT.com.
WPT founder Steve Lipscomb told USA Today that his company feels confident in their compliance with US law. Excerpt from the USA Today article:
Federal laws restricting wire transfers for Internet gaming have not prevented “enormous amounts of money being made in Internet gaming,” Lipscomb said, estimating revenue at $2 billion to $4 billion.
“We have not felt comfortable taking those bets,” Lipscomb said. “With comfort, we can provide something that the Justice Department says is not illegal.”
The WPT also announced a partnership with Stats LLC, provider of major league sports statstics, to create and report tracking statistics for poker play.
