The long awaited 60 Minutes feature on the
Anchor Steve Kroft, 62, interviewed Mark Seif (wearing an Absolute Poker jersey), Mike Sexton (not wearing a Party Poker one), Linda Johnson (why? was Shari Flanzer unavailable?), and Greg Raymer (wearing a Poker Stars shirt). The interviews took place in an empty Rio Amazon Room around 11am.
We overheard Raymer discussing the need for the U.S. American government to regulate online poker, and we can surmise because we’re smart-like-that that the rest of the messaging from the group was on point with the PPA’s platform. Raymer, a Libertarian, said he doesn’t see why the government should regulate his actions if they cause no harm to others. Johnson (why her again?) and Sexton both agreed with the need for regulation and taxation.
The wild card in this mix is that 2+2 poster and founder of the AbsolutePokerCheats.com website (here), Michael Josem, was also interviewed. How the stories weaved by Seif and Josem regarding the Absolute scandal will surely be a focal point of the piece and may eventually influence (ever so slightly) how legislators decide to handle the legality of online poker moving forward.
Unfortunately, word from our sources indicate that this 60 Minutes feature will be an outright "hatchet job" on the online poker industry. Although that’s really not much of a shocker. But it’s certainly not good news either.
More photos from the interviews below. The one of Josem with Seif in the background (second from left) is particularly great.
View the full 60 Minutes online poker scandal photo gallery
June 17, 2008 4:01 pm,
Why Linda Johnson? She is the “Queen of Poker” (ha).
I guess Wendeen Eolis and/or Annie Duke were unavailable.
June 17, 2008 11:34 pm,
I know someone who wishes they had someone else’s camera this morning.
June 19, 2008 4:49 am,
You have disrespected a friend of mine. Linda Johnson was there because she has done more for the poker community than the rest of the guests combined. Although she will not admit it, Linda was instrumental in getting the World Poker Tour on television. Where would all you muppets be if that hadn’t happened? If you were as brilliant as you would like to appear to be, you would know that.
From the pictures on your “about us” page, we can tell what kind of really high class people you are. Nice table. Wish you could relate to all those pretty women? Not a chance, they would like men with balls.
June 19, 2008 11:22 am,
I guess Kevin Mathers was unavailable…wait who’s Kelvin Mathers?
August 22, 2008 2:31 pm,
Herb, you’re nuts.
November 4, 2008 4:16 pm,
Linda Johnson is “The First Lady of Poker”. She does more for Poker than you will ever know!!!!