Author Jennifer Newell's poker week in review for Aug. 26-Sept. 1.

Our consolidation of the week's news is quick and to the point — seven stories, to be exact — for the week ending Sept. 1. Let's go.

No. 1 — Bitcoin Gains Popularity, Examined by U.S. Government

Last week, the Bitcoin Foundation sent representatives to Washington, D.C., to meet with a number of federal agencies to discuss the future of the virtual currency. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network hosted the meeting at the U.S. Treasury building, and attendees included members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Internal Revenue Service, Federal Reserve, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. With recent concerns stemming from some of these agencies regarding policy and enforcement of Bitcoin, the Foundation hoped to increase understanding of the currency.

Patrick Murck, General Counsel for the Bitcoin Foundation, said the meeting was "productive and frank," as well as a "positive first step for the industry in creating an open and ongoing dialog." Topics of discussion ranged from privacy, law enforcement, and potential government controls as they relate to Bitcoin providers and services, whether based in the United States or offshore.

Meanwhile, new information from the Bitcoin industry shows that massive gambling site SatoshiDice is one of the largest Bitcoin sites, and its transactions accounted for between 25 percent to more than 50 percent of all Bitcoin transactions in June 2013. Players in the United States are included in that number, as they can use VPNs or alternate addresses from which to conduct Bitcoin transactions.

No. 2 — Delaware Launches Free-to-Play Internet Gaming

The state of Delaware took an important step in the launch of Internet gaming for its residents last week when it launched free-play casino games on Facebook. Anyone in the world can play the games at this point, though only players located within the borders of Delaware will be able to continue when real-money games become available. The free-play games are offered through DoubleDown Interactive, though real-money games will be contracted through Scientific Games, 888 Holdings, and Williams Interactive. Delaware has already postponed its real-money games launch to Sept. 30, and analysts say the date could be moved yet again.

Tom Cook, Delaware's Secretary of Finance, hopes to be able to reach an agreement with the state of Nevada to create a compact for real-money online gaming that allows for shared player pools. He is confident that a deal can be reached by early 2014 in order to begin the work of combining the markets later in the year for increased revenue and player satisfaction.

No. 3 — New Jersey Struggles While Companies Clamor to Get In

Results from the second quarter of 2013 were not positive for many of Atlantic City's casinos in New Jersey. Four of them actually saw significant revenue declines, according to the state's Division of Gaming Enforcement. Year-on-year, earnings decreased by nearly 45 percent, as Golden Nugget Atlantic City lost $6.5 million, Resorts Casino Hotel lost $1.3 million, Atlantic Club Casino Hotel decreased $2.3 million, and Revel Casino Hotel lost $40.8 million.

Meanwhile, companies like 2UP Gaming are ready and willing to settle into Atlantic City. The European gaming company and partner MidOilUSA recently secured $330 million in funding to purchase and refurbish a casino in the area, more specifically one of the nine casinos on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Though the company was prepared to build a new property, a final agreement has been completed for the purchase and rebranding of an existing casino. With everything from price and conditions agreed upon, the final deal may be announced within days or weeks.

No. 4 — 888poker Removes Heads-Up Cash Games

According to reports and confirmation from an 888poker representative on a poker forum, 888poker has removed all heads-up cash games of the no-limit hold'em and pot-limit Omaha varieties from its lobby. Those game options are no longer available to players. Per the representative, the goal is to make the poker room "competitive and fun." However, limit hold'em heads-up cash games and all heads-up sit-and-gos remain available.

Speculation points to recently-discussed problems on a number of websites of experienced players taking up seats at all available heads-up tables in order to lure weaker players. 888poker has not confirmed that this predatory practice was the cause of the change, but Pokerfuse reports that sites like Microgaming and iPoker have made similar changes to discourage players from ruining the online-poker experience for recreational players.

No. 5 — PokerStars, PartyPoker Work Toward Improvements

PokerStars has recently increased its practice of requesting feedback from players on many sectors of its business. With its new PokerStars 7 client in preparation for release, some players were e-mailed to participate in an alpha-testing program of the software in the hopes they will report bugs and provide feedback on features and functionality. Those who want to participate can access the application form via the Two Plus Two forum and request to be considered for the test group. The new client reported offers changes in the lobby and on some tables.

PartyPoker has been beta testing its new software client for several months, and it was offline last week to fix bugs. According to Pokerfuse, the new software shows changes to colors and graphics, as well as a new lobby interface that will make seating at available tables much easier for recreational players. In addition, the upgrade will incorporate more social aspects of the game, such as with a new feature that allows players to track achievements and missions. The upgrade was due in August, but a more realistic September launch seems certain.

No. 6 — Winning Poker Network Nixes Bad-Beat Jackpot

The Winning Poker Network is one of the few that still accepts online poker customers from the United States, and many players recognize the most popular skin as Americas Cardroom. That and the other skins will no longer be promoting the bad-beat jackpot. As of Sept. 1, players will no longer pay a fee into the jackpot, though fees collected at "Beast" tables will go toward "The Beast" promotion.

The money current in the bad-beat jackpot, which was reported by Pokerfuse last week of exceeding $175,000, will be accessible to players. Players can compete at the "Jackpot" tables but not contribute a fee, and the same rules apply for winning the jackpot. When it is depleted through player awards, the jackpot will cease to exist.

No. 7 — JC Tran Inks 888poker Sponsorship

It is not common for American-based poker players to obtain sponsorships in the current state of the online poker market, but JC Tran is a different story. The longtime successful pro recently secured a seat at the World Series of Poker Main Event final table for November, and it didn't take long for 888poker to approach him with sponsorship talks. He did sign a deal to represent the site in live events around the world, including the World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker Europe, as well as online when he is outside of the U.S. and can legally play. Though fairly tied to home base in the United States and expecting a baby in the coming months, Tran does plan to travel for poker prior to the November Nine table. He recently wore the 888poker patch when he finished second in the Florida WPT Alpha8 high-roller tournament.