"TheV0id" Disqualified as PokerStars WCOOP Main Event Winner --  The largest online poker series on the planet, PokerStars’ World Championship of Online Poker, shattered participation records this year but ended in controversy when accusations were made that the winning account, TheV0id, was involved in multi-accounting, in violation of Stars rules.  The account, registered to someone who had never played a Poker Stars event before but was widely believed to be EPT winner Mark Teltscher’s sister, was reportedly being played by Teltscher throughout the event.  Rumors circulated suggesting that Teltscher had played as many as five accounts in the event, each registered to a different name.  Poker Stars did not release the details of its investigation, citing privacy policy, but will apparently bump all other finishers up one spot, making ka$ino the official winner of the event.

Proposed IRS 25% Withholding Requirement Negotiated Away -- Automatic IRS withholding of 25% of all internet poker-tournament winnings won’t happen after all. The proposal, part of a memo that when released caused something approaching panic last month, was quickly targeted by the casinos as causing undue paperwork; it also threatened players’ liquidity, since they often fund one another into events.  A major casino lobbying organization, the American Gaming Association, helped negotiate a compromise, which will see tourney winners issued a tax form for their winnings whenever the net (less entry fees), reaches $5,000.  It looks like a win-win-win for player, casinos, and the government.

Julian Thew Triumphs in EPT Baden --  British poker pro Julian Thew took control of the final table at the PokerStars European Poker Tour Baden main event, and closed out the win by eliminating runner-up Denes Kalo. Thew had once vowed to his wife that he would pay off their home mortgage by age 40; that vow now seems to have been fulfilled, since Thew, 39, collected €670,800 for the win. Kalo settled for just €375,000 for his second-place finish.

Bodog Gets Split Decision in Domain-Name Case Appeal --  Bodog butted heads again this past week with 1st Technology, LLC, the firm that sprung a surprise default judgment on Bodog for purported patent infringement and succeeded in seizing control of Bodog’s bodog.com and bodog.net domains, since they were serviced by U.S. domain registrars.  In the latest round, Bodog tried but failed to have the summary judgment overturned after submitting evidence that the original summons was improperly delivered, while 1st Technology failed to win in its efforts to have all other Bodog-registered domains perpetually turned over to its control; Bodog has since relocated, in the online sense, first to newbodog.com, and as of now to bodoglife.com.  Bodog CEO Calvin Ayre has vowed to continue the fight against what he describes as the "patent trolls" at 1st Technology.

2008 World Series of Poker Dates Announced --  Once again, it’s okay to circle the month of June and the first two-thirds of July on your calendar.  With the addition of a couple of days in late May, that’s the period in 2008 that Harrah’s has scheduled for the 2008 World Series of Poker.  The festivities will again be held at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, with the exact dates being May 30 – July 17, 2008.