It has been in the news and it is going ahead – Nevada will be the first US state to regulate online poker in the USA. It seems apt that this state, with a largely gambling-driven economy, should be the first. However, the State of New Jersey is home to a similar type of economy (somewhat smaller and newer); and they missed their chance to be the first when Gov. Chris Christie vetoed his states’ attempt at a bill.

Regulations in respect of Nevada will be for intrastate gambling. But could also be the cause of some problems, as the US Department of Justice still considers all forms of online gambling to be illegal. While US states do have a certain degree of autonomy when it comes to the law, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is a Federal Act and could still prove contentious for them.

The decision of the Nevada State legislature to move forward with online poker, sees them ahead of any changes in Federal law. Whether they are putting the cart before the horse, only time will tell? This is a historic moment, and they believe it is indicative of the leadership-role that they play in the gaming industry. Never mind the fact that they are years behind the UK and Europe! The cherry on the cake is that only online poker players resident in Nevada will be able to play these games; but, at least it’s a start.

Federal lawmakers have closed down the biggest and best online poker sites; this took place in April 2011. Banks are still not allowed to accept online transactions from gambling sites. One of the eleven accused from poker site closures in April has even plead guilty to “conspiracy to commit fraud” in terms of indictments, on the basis of UIGEA, which were made against the owners of the websites. This is not going to make things any easier for legislators in Nevada. Brent Beckley, the co-founder of Absolute Poker is the first to plead guilty, and could face as much as 18 months prison-time.

In the meantime Nevada is looking forward to welcoming this new industry to their state. It means more revenue will be generated in terms of taxes and other income. Nevada has been receiving a great deal of attention in the news with this new move, and at a recent Las Vegas Internet gambling conference, were referred to as ‘the gold standard of gaming regulation.’

They are the longest existing commercial casino jurisdiction in the USA, having first legalized casino gambling back in 1931. Since then, 21 other US states have followed their lead. Their gross gaming revenue was $10.4 billion in 2010, and they are home to 256 casinos.

Whether the state’s experience in the casino industry means they have the experience to create a regulatory gold standard in online gambling also remains to be seen. According to Mark Lipparelli of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, he receives weekly telephone calls from other US regulators who say, ‘We’re thinking about doing this. What do you think?’ Perhaps 2012 will change the face of online poker for US players and law-makers alike?!

We have to take our hats of to Barney Frank – the reason for this being, he is one of the few people in US Congress with the power to change online gambling laws, and get this industry regulated. The problem is that he has had enough of Congress and will not be standing for re-election next year. For the past ten years his liberal outlook has made him one of the staunchest political supporters, for what residents in the USA may or may not do, when in the privacy of their own homes. He is also openly gay, and feels very strongly that an American should have the freedom to spend their own money however they choose.

While his retirement may set-back the possible promulgation of US online gambling regulation; he has served his state and country for the past 30 years. He is a patriarch who has opened both the minds and eyes of Capital Hill in more ways than one.

Frank is the Representative from Massachusetts, and has been lobbying since 2006 to get the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) repealed. He has been in favor of a far more liberal approach, and although he has not succeeded as yet, he has consistently alerted the powers that be regarding the problems in the current system. In fact after UIGEA was signed into law by President George W. Bush, Frank immediately commenced work on a bill to license and regulate online gambling.

US online gambling laws are almost completely prohibitive, while some small online concerns still offer online casino and other gambling games to the US public; these are few and far between. The problem is not necessarily with the software or games, but with payment systems and the law. This is what makes it so darn difficult for both players and operators.

All of this is besides the fact that the Department of Justice got the biggest online poker sites operating in the US closed down this year; almost completely destroying Full Tilt Poker in the process. PokerStars picked themselves up, brushed off the dust and went hell for leather into a European market where they had already established a presence. As well as Full Tilt Poker, Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker had also not been properly managed, and were unable to pick up the pieces in an alternative market.

The fact that this DoJ action took place, and the aftermath of the action indicates to free-thinkers that licensing and regulation is vitally important for player protection. It is obvious that Barney Frank still subscribes to the tenet that the Government works for the people, and not the other way around. Frank has been avidly raising awareness regarding the dangers of prohibition, and has been joined by other law makers to try to change prohibitive laws.

His timing for leaving Congress could not be worse as the push for legalizing this industry snowballs. Although, on the brighter side, with no longer the constraints of Congress tell Frank what he can and cannot say or do, he may well be able to lobby the push even harder.

It is possible for every poker player to play like Chris Moneymaker and he deserves the right to go down in history as the first poker player to play online and make it to the WSOP final table. He was a winner too, and what started out as a $39 bankroll, he turned into a $2.5 million win!

There is an optimum steps strategy which needs to be used to play like this world shaker; this is a unique strategy and has to be employed properly. Firstly it is vitally important to get a handle on the Sit ‘n Go tournament – obviously online. This includes tight early play as well as opening up your game on the blinds.

What happens is you get confident in the Sit ‘n Go tournaments and then progress to steps tournaments. If you don’t have confidence with these Sit ‘n Gos, you don’t get a handle on the steps.

If you are a multi-table tournament player, going for the super satellites may also get you playing in the league of Chris Moneymaker, but you have to be the one to assess this possibility.

Playing tight – aggressive poker is absolutely vital for success in Step Tournaments, and at sites such as Full Tilt Poker these series of Sit ‘n Gos can get you into the WSOP. The winner of the final Sit ‘n Go tournament wins a Main Event Prize package, and although the WSOP for 2010 has already started, there is nothing like getting into training now for the next event. Preparation does not happen overnight!

Of course you can also get in by buying your way in, anyone can. But if you can get some really good training along the way and save yourself $12 000, why not?

Winning your way into the WSOP is all about seeking out the right opportunities – opportunities which will allow you to supplement your stack and yield free chips. Opportunities to play the situation and take steps forward from it, ideally you want to feel as though you have coasted to the finish.

Although tight aggressive play is advised, always remember that aggression is a double edged sword and you don’t want to end up in situations where you feel like a fly sliding down a razor blade, using his balls as brakes. Advancing to the next level by knocking out other players in the tournament is the goal.

Aggressive play also needs to be smart and the point is to use the most optimal strategy available. There are a lot of generally accepted strategies on how to be the aggressor without going tilt, so get your hands on as much of this information as you can.

If you don’t believe you are the right candidate for steps tournaments, then there are still many other ways of working your way into the WSOP main event without having to pay thousands of dollars for a buy in. Where there is a will, there is a way and this applies to the WSOP, just as much as any other situation. With online poker, you can!