The United States government would like people to stay away from gambling, especially online gambling, so they must be really upset by this news. A recent study showed that online poker has become increasingly popular among college students.

The National Annenberg Survey of Youth found that there has been a surge in popularity for online poker among college-aged people, particularly boys. According to the study, the percent of male college-age students who play at online gambling sites on a monthly basis (or more often) rose from 4.8% in 2008 to 16% in 2010.

Those numbers can probably be explained by the popularity of Texas Hold ‘em, especially the televised events like the World Series of Poker. Those statistics are sure to worry the government and please poker enthusiasts. Of course, the study also turned up a statistic that should worry both groups.

The study interviewed high school and college students with ages ranging from 14 to 22. I’m pretty sure in every U.S. state, you have to be at least 18 to play poker for money or gamble. All online casinos and online poker rooms require you to be 18, 21, or whatever the age is in your jurisdiction. However, the study found that there is a 1% increase in high-school aged teenagers, from 0.5% to 1.5%. The good news is that the percentage and the increase are small, but most people would prefer the number for teenagers to be zero.

Though the study is surprising to some, to me it means a bigger, farther reaching study is needed. This study only polled 600 students, which is a relatively small sample size. If thousands were polled, I wonder if the statistics would be the same.

People like to think of Switzerland as a neutral country whose government will let you do pretty much anything you want. There are no laws – everything is legal – and people are on the honor system to not hurt each other. This isn’t entirely accurate.

It is true that the Swiss Confederation is one of the best examples of free-market capitalism in the world. In fact, it’s ranked number 6 on the Heritage Foundation’s  Index of Economic Freedom (the United States, in comparison, is number 8). As a result, Switzerland has a thriving economy and its per-capita GDP is among the highest in the world. Economically, Switzerland is everything that every other country should want to be.

However, they do still have a government and like all governments, when they do something it’s usually not good. Such is the case with their recent decision regarding poker.

The highest court of the Swiss Confederation ruled that Texas hold’em is not a game of skill. Therefore, by law it can only be played within their casinos. That means no poker tournaments held at bars, resorts (outside the casinos), restaurants and wherever else people like to hold poker tournaments. Friendly games within your home are still okay, but in every other case, the poker game must be confined to the casinos.

The court ruling is a victory for casinos who were worried about losing business but a defeat for poker players and lovers of freedom everywhere. Switzerland, you know I love you, but you got this one wrong.

How did they come to the conclusion that Texas hold’em is a not a game of skill? According to reports, if it could be proven that mathematics, psychology and other mental tactics are more important to the game than chance (which card you are dealt), then it would be a game of skill and you could play it anywhere. After examining the evidence, the court ruled that chance was the most important aspect of Texas hold’em. It makes me wonder if they have ever played.

So the government of the Swiss Confederation has made a bad decision that takes away freedom in favor of helping big business. Welcome to the party, Switzerland. You were a little late, but there’s still room for you.

If you’re like me, you never remember dates and tend to make plans at the last minute because if you make plans earlier, you will just forget anyway. That could be why I’m not married (women expect you to remember their anniversary). It could also explain why I always buy cards from the “belated birthday” section at Hallmark. So if you are like me – and I hope you’re not because one of me is already too much for most people – then you might want to mark this down on your calendar… Okay, first you might want to buy a calendar. Then you should mark this down:

On November 23, Titan Poker is holding their fifth European Championship of Online Poker (ECOOP V). The tournament will have a guaranteed prize pool of $4,550,000. In case all of those zeros confused you, the number is $4.55 million. Not too shabby. The online poker tournament will be held over 14 days and begins on November 23.

You, the lonely procrastinator who angered his girlfriend by not remembering when you met, are probably thinking, It’s October. Why in the world is he telling me about this now? That’s because I want to help you with your problem. Plan in advance. It’s better for everyone. Also, you can’t wait until November 23 for this tournament. To win a seat at the digital table you need to play in the qualifying satellite tournaments that are going on every day.

There are a number of different online poker varieties available in the satellite tournaments, including Texas Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, and 7 Card Stud, among others. Over the 14 days of the Championship tournament, $4.55 million in prizes will be distributed among the top players. On December 6 is the Main Event, where the remaining players compete for a $1.5 prize pool.

To participate in the online poker satellite tournaments, visit Titan Poker today. If not today, please write it down so you don’t forget. Write it on a Post-it, a napkin or something. If you don’t and you forget, you can’t blame me for not trying to help.

The expression “Those who cannot do, teach.” has just been proven dead wrong at the World Series of Poker. Poker VT, an online poker site that trains poker enthusiasts of all levels, showed the world that they can do more than just instruct others how to play…they too can deliver the goods.

Over the course of the WSOP the poker pros at Poker VT cashed for a combined total of $839,257. Poker VT Captain, Daniel Negreanu played for a total of $331,860 in winnings.

“Every year the World Series of Poker comes around and pushes every poker player that enters to the limit of their abilities,” he said. “Many players who throw down the cash to enter fail to even see a return on their investment, let alone a new piece of jewelry on their wrist, so it’s good to see our team proving that the skills we teach at Poker VT translate into real championship play.”

Jason “Jcarver” Somerville put his money where his mouth for Poker VT’s curriculum, making two final tables and three cashes totaling $311,786 in winnings. “It’s simple,” Somerville said. “Our strategies work. Online or at an actual table – when you play true to your strategy you can’t go wrong.”

Negreaunu wasn’t the only big winner representing Poker VT. Mat “Choppy” Kay came out bit with one final table and two cashes for a total of $25,809; Joshua “theNorfman” Norris had two cashes for $18,246 and Bryan “Devo” Devonshire had a pair of cashes for $7,945 while JC “PrtyPsux” Alvarado came away with one final table and two cashes for $143,610.

On July 19 Full Tilt Poker, one of the most popular online poker websites, is setting its sights on breaking the official Guinness World Record for the Largest Online Poker Tournament by bringing more than 35,000 players to the table.

The record attempt is being done as the curtain call to the aptly titled “FIVE,” a week of events and promotions set up to blow out the candles for Full Tilt’s fifth birthday.  Team Full Tilt member Howard Lederer said of the event, “By extending the limits of what is possible in online poker tournaments, Full Tilt Poker will allow players to compete for a big payout without the big buy-in,”

The online poker record attempt will offer players the chance to sit down with some of the biggest names in high stakes and tournament play in the world. Team Full Tilt, WSOP bracelet winners Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson and Phil Ivey (who made it to the WSOP main event final table last night) are all expected to participate.

The current World Record of 35,000 online poker players is held by rival and #1 online poker site, PokerStars. Full Tilt hopes that this will not only establish them as a World Record holder, but as leaders in the online gaming industry.

Such a record would not be possible in a land-based casino. The World Record for Largest “Live” Poker Tournament was set at the 2006 World Series of Poker with 8,772 players taking to the tables. Full Tilt hopes to attract nearly four times that amount to secure their name as Guinness World Record Holders.

The Record Breaker games begin on July 19, 2009 at 15:05 ET. Players can be a part of the world record attempt for $5 or 1000 Full Tilt Points and compete for a share of $250K added prize pool.

If you’re like me, you probably think that the only thing more badass than playing online poker rather than doing something productive with your time, as the people in your life keep nagging you to do, would be to play poker against some of the biggest rock stars in the business. Thanks to UltimateBet.com, you now have that chance.

Scott Ian’s Home Game will be held on August 19 and player will get a chance to play online Texas hold ‘em against Ian (Anthrax), Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains), Vinnie Paul (Pantera), Kirk Hammett (Metallica) and Greg Tribbett (Mudvayne). Players can secure themselves a spot in the tournament by competing in the Daily Satellite competitions at 22:30 ET on UltimateBet.com. Players can enter for as little as 1,000 points and then have a chance to earn placement in the Main Event Qualifier. The Main Event Qualifier is held on August 18 and has a 10,000-point buyin. The top 10 finishers in the Event earn a seat at the Scott Ian Home Game the next day. Not a bad way to play some online poker.

Though you won’t actually be sitting at the table with the rock stars, players will have the ability to chat with the stars through the website’s interactive software. Just do your best when you’re losing money to avoid comments like saying you’re “Down in a Hole” or that one of you’re opponents is “Bleeding Me.” Please keep your “King Nothing” jokes to yourself. So pull up an “Angry Chair” and “Refuse to Be Denied” as you get ready for the Satellite. Play hard until there’s “One Man Standing.” If you miss this opportunity, you will feel like you’re in the “Throes of Rejection.” If so, don’t worry. “Misery Love Company.” Okay, I need to stop.

Welcome to what seems to be Facebook day on GamblingReview.com. If you put enough people in one place, it won’t be long before someone figures out a way to make money legally or otherwise. I say God bless America, others disagree.

Facebook is the most popular social networking site on the internet and has the good sense to offer users Texas Hold’em poker games. While there are no monetary stakes, some players have figured out a way to make them that way.

The players would win chips from the Facebook poker application and then sell the chips to other players wanting to be involved. Facebook picked up on the operation and, along with AlertPay, quickly put a stop to it. AlertPay agreed to put a stop to any operations in which poker chips are being sold for money.

“Facebook does not permit online gambling on its platform and some sellers attempted to convert the Texas Hold’em Poker application into monetized online gambling,” read a statement on AlertPay’s official blog.

AlertPay is concerned that these activities may have resulted in violating US online gambling laws. While online gambling is a bit of a gray area in the United States, it is certainly to do so when the government does not get their take of the pot.

“Site offering for sale virtual poker chips for use with Texas Hold’em Poker are in violation of AlertPay’s User Agreement and in potential violation of state and United States Federal laws prohibiting unlicensed and/or gambling,” read a statement, “as well as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.”