In his latest blog posted on DoylesRoom.com, the online poker room’s namesake lashed out at Party Gaming Co-Founder Anurag Dikshit, who recently struck a $300 million agreement with the United States Federal Government, admitting breaking the law in the process. Doyle’s Room is one of the flagship sites on the Microgaming Network.
Doyle Brunson seldom scolds figures publicly. However, he did just that on his most recent blog. The 10-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet holder and ambassador of poker claimed, “Anurag Dikshit is appropriately named!” On December 16th, Dikshit appeared in the Southern District Court of New York and confessed to violating of the Wire Act of 1961. Even though the Wire Act has typically applied only to online sports betting, the case itself mentions online poker specifically.
The 1976 and 1977 WSOP Main Event Champion continued, “It looks like he would feel a sense of obligation to online poker, the industry that made him a rich man. Instead, he folded up like an accordion and pled guilty to breaking some kind of mystery law and is paying a 300 million dollar fine and possible 2-year jail term.” Sentencing is scheduled for December 16, 2010, which is two years following the date of his U.S. court appearance. In the meantime, his travel is restricted to the European Union, Manhattan (United States), India, and Gibraltar. Brunson notes that Dikshit made billions of dollars from internet gambling.
Party Gaming’s stock, which is traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol “PRTY,” soared as a result of Dikshit’s $300 million agreement. Party Gaming’s online poker site, PartyPoker, withdrew from the U.S. market following the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2001. The case against Dikshit claimed that 85% of Party Gaming’s revenue was derived from U.S. customers in 2005. Dikshit developed the software for the online poker room and continues to hold a 27% stake in the company.
Brunson concluded his rant with an overview of how rival online rooms took the news: “It certainly created some ill will from the other online poker sites. I personally can’t imagine what was going through his mind when he made his decision.” In mid-November, the Microgaming Network, which includes Doyle’s Room, announced that it would no longer be accepting new U.S. customers. The move came about three weeks after an announcement that the Network would no longer be taking new customers from Kentucky as a result of ongoing legal action in the Bluegrass State.
Other sites on the Microgaming Network include BetOnBet, Betway, CanBet, Eurolinx, GNUF, Poker Host, Purple Lounge, and Unibet. Dikshit is slated to pay his $300 settlement in three separate installments. The first $100 million has already been paid to the Federal Government. The second $100 million is due in March and the final $100 million is due by the end of September.
Brunson’s blogs feature “Doylisms of the Day,” which are quotes outlining the central theme of his thoughts. The assessment of the Dikshit situation was summed up by the quote, “The most valuable gift you can give another is a good example.” The blog also discussed Brunson’s Christmas presents, which consisted of the second through fourth seasons of CBS’ “Two and a Half Men,” as well as the latest musings from his dog Casper and his experiences on the fifth season of GSN’s “High Stakes Poker.”
Many major media outlets do not believe that Dikshit will serve any jail time as a result of his cooperation with U.S. officials. The Government’s filing claims that he was “engaged in the business of betting and wagering… and knowingly used a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate and foreign commerce of bets and wagers on any sporting event and contest.” Brunson holds 10 WSOP bracelets and is tied with Johnny Chan for the second most overall. Ultimate Bet personality Phil Hellmuth has 11.
I hope that this action by that screwball does not cause online poker to cease in the US. I live in Kentucky and have had to worry that our crybaby Gov will be able to stop it.