by Hillary LaClair, Senior Editor
Another claim has been made that the investigative television program ’60 Minutes’ will soon screen an episode featuring internet poker. There has been an ongoing rumor that the program will air following an interview with poker personalities at this year’s World Series of Poker. The most recent claim cites “impeccable sources.”
Speculation began with the rumors that the program would discuss the internet poker scam involving UltimateBet and Absolute Poker. The upcoming poker program, if it exists, will feature interviews with player detectives who discovered the ‘insider cheating’ when it first occurred. Former WSOP champion Russell Hamilton has been cited by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission as the brains behind the operation.
Some wonder if the program air date will remain, as November 9th is the first Sunday following the United States Presidential Election.
According to Poker Player Online, reports are circulating that the new date for the poker program in November 9th, mirroring the interest with the 2008 World Series of Poker Final Table. The website claims that this information has come from legal poker consultant Wendeen Eolis, who has said the claim comes from ‘impeccable sources’ that have told her the production staff at ’60 Minutes’ are at this time “wrapping up critical pieces for the blockbuster program” in preparation for the airing on November 9th.
Eolis said, “This week’s game plan for the investigative team includes a visit to Las Vegas to reel in at least on more protagonist for a sizzling interview related to the Absolute Poker story and a full throttle effort to catch up with Russ Hamilton, the 1994 WSOP Main Event Champion who is allegedly at the center of the Ultimate Bet scandal.”
Eolis also suggested that there is a general agreement that the program’s correspondent Steve Kroft “will be very well positioned and hard hitting as he methodically peels the onion on every aspect of the scandals.”
The website continues to report that Kroft is expected to “…applaud the dogged efforts of internet players-turned poker detectives in cracking the sinister cheating schemes and forcing Tokwiro [UltimateBet and Absolute Poker owner] and the regulators to take the matter seriously. It is not yet clear how much time will be allocated to the issue that unites many of the poker participants: support for legalized online gaming in an environment that is appropriately taxed and regulated.”
Industry notables said to be featured in the interview include Mike Sexton, Greg Raymer, Kinda Johnson, Gary Wise, and online poker forum participants Serge Ravitch, Michael Josem and Todd Witteles, who were involved in one way or another in the player investigation.
Similar rumors are spreading that the Washington Post, a major American newspaper, will feature a lengthy article on the same topic. According to Poker Player Newspaper, these rumors appear to be true. “Our sources tell us that the Washington Post will publish a detailed piece on online poker, possibly accompanied by a call for regulation, on that same November 9th date,” says John Caldwell.
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