WASHINGTON – A rift between Nevada’s senators widened Monday over a high-stakes bill that would clear the way for Nevada casinos to offer legal online poker to gamblers nationwide.

The split between Sens. Harry Reid and Dean Heller elevates the already steep odds that Congress could pass a lucrative yet controversial gaming bill in the waning days of this year’s session.

Reid, the Democratic Senate majority leader, has readied an online poker bill and has been seeking a way to get it passed, even as Senate officials acknowledge it is 15 votes or so short of the necessary majority.

Reid had set a deadline of Monday to see whether enough votes could be gathered for the bill to move in the less than three weeks remaining before Congress recesses for the November elections. It is expected to return for a lame-duck session after Election Day.

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It’s the question running amok in blogging circles. It plagues readers’ innermost thoughts and causes rampant speculation. What am I having for lunch today? Where is California Jen?

I’ve been here and there, but over the past two weeks, I’ve been relatively consumed with the Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) on PokerStars as part of the event blogging team assigned with recapping the 22 events and 66 tournaments. And today is the grand finale – Day 2 of each of the main events. Readers can follow the events at the tables or via our live blog. On the menu today is:

$10,300 Main Event, hosted by Short-Stacked Shamus and Yours Truly

$1,050 Main Event, hosted by Spaceman and Drizz

$109 Main Event, hosted by F-Train and Tuscaloosa Johnny