Instapoker

Good morning. I\’m not used to being up this early after a full night\’s sleep … so let\’s get to poker:

They\’re down to 18 at the WPT\’s WORLD POKER OPEN @ the Goldstrike in TUNICA. \”The Catfish\” is in the lead, followed by JC TRAN, DANIEL NEGREANU, AMIR VAHEDI and others.

In LONDON, they\’re halfway through the INTERNATIONAL CASINO EXHIBITION, where 25,000 poker-bizzer types are contemplating a not-so-American gambling future.

Here\’s some good discussion from a British STOCK FORUM about the big dip PARTYGAMING\’S stock just took. A lotta mixed reactions. The Motley Fool has more on PRTY.L as well.

Something you may have missed but still worthwhile … the CC Times\’ top 10 people of they year. BILL FRIST takes the crown, while other notables include JEFFREY POLLACK, CRISPIN LEYSER, PAMELA ANDERSON, and gaming CEO\’s MITCH GARBER and DAVID CARRUTHERS.

Prosecutors in ALABAMA are promising a hardcore crackdown on poker rooms and the like after some recent court rulings. Still waiting word from TUSCALOOSA JOHNNY on whether or not he\’s scared.

Speaking of court, WOODY the Pokerati commenter is at trial today, as in right now, in DALLAS for his involvement in the GOOD FELLOW\’S raid. He\’s pled NOT GUILTY, and the TRAFFIC COURT hearing his case isn\’t used to having SWAT TEAMS testify.

Back across the pokery pond, at least one writer has figured out that the new buzz about GAMBLING ADDICTION in the UK has little to do with medicine and more about doctor-types looking to cash in on the \”CRAZE.\”

And hey, it\’s WEDNESDAY, so don\’t forget to tune in to Hold\’em Radio at 7 pm central tonight for \”Beyond the Table,\” where we should have a very interesting discussion with BRIAN BALSBAUGH — the Gonz lover most important guy in poker who doesn\’t know how to play the game.