Barney Frank Introduces Legislation to Legalize Online Gambling --  U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-CT) introduced his overdue bill this week, which received advance promotion as an effort to repeal last year’s heinous UIGEA [Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act].  The bill, however, was different from what many pundits expected, being a fairly comprehensive template for legalizing many forms of online gambling instead of just safeguarding the banking interests so familiar to Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.  Reaction to the bill was decidedly mixed, with the Poker Players Alliance issuing an enthusiastic proclamation of support for the bill, even as UK-based, publicly-traded online gambling companies saw their stock prices drop as the contents of the proposed measure became known.  The bill does little, if anything, to address the issues facing the U.S. in the wake of its World Trade Organization to tiny Antigua.  Despite this, the bill still faces an uphill battle to become law.

Carlos Mortensen Captures 2007 WPT Championship --  The biggest prize pool in World Poker Tour history went to Carlos Mortensen this week, as El Matador came from way-y-y back at the final table to secure the $3.97 million win.  It’s the biggest payday ever for Mortensen, the 2001 WSOP Main Event champion who, with this triumph, cemented his status among poker’s biggest names.

Colorado Amateur Poker Tour Raided --  A VIP program where members paid $199 for entry into special events landed an otherwise-free amateur poker tour in hot water this week.  Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents raided the offices of the Amateur Poker Tour, which holds dozens of several small tourneys each week throughout metro Denver.  Most of the events are free, but exactly what that $199 special-membership fee purchases is what drew the interest of the CBI.  No arrests were made, but the investigation continues at this time.

Yahoo! Poker Raising The Stakes --  It’s available only on the Yahoo! UK site (found within the Yahoo! UK Games section), but the addition of real-money poker to one of the internet’s biggest portals could change the whole idea of what qualifies as a big name in online poker.  Yahoo! is the first true internet portal to enter the cash-poker business, but it might be the last.  Yahoo!’s new poker site is powered by the Boss Media software and is part of St. Minver Ltd.’s International Poker Network.

WPTE Launches Online Poker Site --  Yahoo! wasn’t the only name entering or returning to the online-poker game; World Poker Tour Enterprises, Inc. (WPTE) announced a new real-money site on the CryptoLogic network.  This room won’t go live until June, and let’s take a wild guess on this one... online players just might have a chance on this site to satellite into major, televised WPT events.

Electronic-Table Wars Heating Up --  The two names to watch out for as electronic poker tables expand their toehold in casinos are PokerTek and Lightning Poker.  Both made the news with business deals this week.  Lightning Poker announced a new pact with L.A.’s huge Commerce Casino, while PokerTek snagged a plum, buddying up with Harrah’s Entertainment’s 50 casino properties and landing the rights to produce and market World Series of Poker-branded tables.