In a just-issued press release, the World Poker Tour declares that (a) THEY'RE the ones responsible for the poker boom, thank you very much and (b)they could give a rat's ass about the passage of the online gambling legislation because they already think American internet poker players are criminals.
Statements to the former:
"WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: WPTE), the company that helped launch the current global poker boom..."
"'It was a wide-spread love of this game and the reinvention of poker as a televised sport that ignited the poker phenomenon,' said Steve Lipscomb, CEO and founder of WPTE. 'And, that is what will continue to drive the future of the sport.'"
"The WORLD POKER TOUR launched the poker phenomenon when it first aired on the Travel Channel on March 30, 2003, and it continues to lead the way in developing poker as a major international sport."
Statements to the latter:
”The Justice Department has been very clear that it believes online gaming to be illegal in the United States and our policies have been always been tailored accordingly,” said Adam Pliska, General Counsel of WPTE. “This law clarifies the rules and makes it possible for everyone to move forward on an even footing.”
So, yeah. Pretty much reiterating what Steve Lipscomb & Co. already said two months ago in their response to the Lederer/Duke/Gordon/Raymer/et. al lawsuit. In laymans terms? "Moneymaker who? And what is this Party Poker? Pshaw!! We created you and we will destroy you!"
