The WSOP is the only positive note in an otherwise bleak summer for the casinos in Vegas. Things are rocking at the Rio with a record number of WSOP entrants. And livening up the play are pros such as Phil Ivey, Brock Parker, Jeff Lisandro, and now Greg Mueller each winning more than one of the coveted bracelets and the Main Event action hasn't even begun yet.

Here is a breakdown of 2009 WSOP World Standings, the top five:

COUNTRY BRACELETS CASHES PLAYERS WINNINGS

• USA 32 3,941 19,604 $67,640,296.00
• CANADA 4 265 1,006 $5,438,355.00
• UNITED KINGDOM 3 127 431 $3,663,238.00
• RUSSIA 1 45 75 $3,490,671.00
• GERMANY 1 76 242 $2,027,150.00

David Sklansky, poker pro and well known author of books on poker related subject matter, was the victim of a home invasion in Las Vegas on June 25th. Sklansky was asleep in his bedroom when two men broke into his home shortly after 3 am Thursday morning.

"The guy burst into the bedroom, it was dark but I did see what appeared to be a gun," Sklansky recalls. "This is something I have visualized over the years. I always knew this was a possibility, this would happen. I actually played it over in my mind of what I would do if it happened. I realized the most important thing was to keep him calm.

"During the time he was there, my main focus was to make sure that he didn't think that I was panicking or that I would do something silly," Sklansky explains. "The advice is the same as in a poker game; you try and figure out what the other guy is thinking and then act accordingly. I can imagine if he was doing this same robbery with someone who didn't' behave the way I did it could have turned out terribly."

Thankfully, Sklansky was not hurt.

The US 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals announced today that it will hear oral arguments from lawyers representing the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) and the US Department of Justice, as part of a court challenge by iMEGA against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Arguments will be heard on July 7th at 10:00 am, at the US Courthouse In Philadelphia, PA.

The three-judge panel that will decide the case was also announced: Judge Dolores Korman Sloviter, a Carter appointee; Judge Thomas L. Ambro, a Clinton appointee; and Judge Kent A. Jordan, a George W. Bush appointee.

iMEGA will be represented by Eric M. Bernstein, who first argued to have UIGEA overturned in US District Court, and Stephen A. Saltzburg, professor at the George Washington University school of law and former deputy attorney-general of the United States.

“This law will finally have to stand on it’s own two feet in court, free from politics and all other outside influences,” said iMEGA chairman Joe Brennan Jr. “We feel very confident that when the judges take a look at the law, they will see just how defective it is, and they will overturn it.”

If you are one of the players who are still somewhat confused by the recent grab of bank funds by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, (and hey, who isn't) the PPA has issued a broader response that may shed some light on the matter and interested players can read the full response by clicking here.

Annually, the largest celebrity poker tournament in Las Vegas, the 3rd Ante Up For Africa (AUFA) Celebrity-Charity poker tournament will be taking place during the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino on Thursday, July 2 at 2 PM.

The event is accessible for the public to play with their favorite stars or watch as spectators. A full house of celebrities will join Academy Award Nominee, Don Cheadle and “Celebrity Apprentice Star” and WSOP Bracelet winner Annie Duke for this No-Limit Hold’em poker tournament which has an entry fee of $5,000 and provides entrants the opportunity to walk away with a six-figure payday.

Among those confirmed to participate are Cheadle, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Brad Garrett, Cedric The Entertainer, Charles Barkley, Danny Masterson, Hank Azaria, Herschel Walker, Jason Alexander, Kenny Smith, Marlon Wayans, Montel Williams, Reggie Miller, Tia Carrere, Sarah Silverman, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Cheryl Hines, Mekhi Phifer, Rob Schneider; Poker Professionals Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Tiffany Michelle, Erik Seidel and Phil Hellmuth among others yet to be confirmed.

If you would like more information regarding the organization, click anteupforafrica.

The PPA asks for solidarity among poker players in petitioning President Obama:

Join thousands of poker players across the country who are raising their voices to keep the US' most popular game legal. On July 22, during National Poker Week, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) will present this petition to the President, asking his support to exempt poker from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), and for the legalization and regulation of online poker.

Your voice will be heard. Make it count. Sign the PPA petition here.

There have been recent reports of a new scam operating, in which posts are made on sites such as craigslist, offering high-salaried employment at an unnamed online poker site. The ad announces the site needs employees to fill numerous positions such as in promotions, marketers, props, poker room managers and affiliate managers. When the prospective employees apply for a position, they are sent an e-mail informing them that potential employees are required to signup, make a deposit, and play a minimum of 100 hands so that their online poker expertise can be assessed. This is a scam, pure and simple, and no employment will ever result from a shady offer such as this.

In the present economy, this is a strikingly cruel ploy to get players to signup at unscrupulous poker sites. No legit online poker site would ever make depositing and playing a requirement for employment. Any poker site personnel or affiliate of a poker site engaged in this practice should be immediately burned at the stake, with the process videotaped and made available to all on YouTube.

In the meantime, players spotting these phony ads are asked to please forward a copy of the ad to Help@PokerRoomReview.com

Stryyke Poker will no longer be on the Ongame network and the site will be migrating to the Cake Poker Network. The following is from an e-mail sent to their players:

Dear Player,

Please be advised that starting the 19th of June, Stryyke will be running a new updated Poker Client under the Cake Poker Network. Please make sure to download the new software so once we announce it to be ready for you use. Your login data remains unchanged, merely your poker nickname can now be chosen by yourself freely every 7 days.

We would like to assure all players that their full balance will be transferred to their new poker account in USD. The same applies to your running bonuses and Player points - all will be transferred into the new network.

In addition we will be running a new reward & loyalty program including a shop. Bonuses and frequent tournaments will be offered,too

Our IT team is working very hard at the moment and we will keep everyone updated on the process.

According to numerous sources, part time poker player and Doyle Brunson amigo Leonardo DiCaprio's next film will be an action-thriller set within the realm of Costa Rica's online casino world.

The project is being produced by DiCaprio's own company, Appian Way, and will be distributed by Paramount Pictures, who own rights to the script. It is unknown at this time when production will begin or if any part of the project will be filmed in Costa Rica.

The script written written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, responsible for “Rounders” and “Ocean's Thirteen."