Author Jennifer Newell's poker week in review for July 15-21.

Our consolidation of the week's news is quick and to the point — seven stories, to be exact — for the week ending July 21. Let's go.

No. 1 — Senate Committee Talks Internet Gaming

The United States Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance held a hearing last week on consumer protections with regards to Internet gambling. Several members of the committee felt the need to address the issue, as two bills were recently introduced to Congress to legalize online games, and states like Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware already did so. Despite the detailed regulations that the states have passed and that the federal bills propose, many Senators expressed concerns about criminal activities and citizen dangers that linger in the world of Internet gaming.

Senator Dean Heller was one who specifically pointed out that poker is a game of skill, as opposed to other games. Witnesses pointed out the need for new laws to address any type of Internet gambling, as the Wire Act no longer applies to online gaming. While the president of the Catholic Advocate testified that no expansion of the industry should be allowed at all, others focused on the potential problems, but most seemed to agree that a comprehensive federal law would be the best way to ease their fears.

No. 2 — Full Tilt to Expand Beyond Poker

As Full Tilt Poker continues to struggle for prominence in the online poker industry since its reemergence under the Rational Group umbrella, a solution seems to be in the works. Rational Group announced last week that Full Tilt plans to launch online casino games in addition to its existing poker product. While PokerStars will remain solely focused on poker, Full Tilt will add new games, though no date for the change has been announced.

Full Tilt Gaming will offer a chance for Rational Group to expand its offerings and potentially engage a large part of the online-casino market with a recognizable name and brand. In addition, Full Tilt would then have the option to offer more than just poker should Rational Group find its way into more parts of the United States as it opens up to legal online gaming.

No. 3 — U.S. Full Tilt Players to Wait Longer for Reimbursements

Last week was an interesting one for Garden City Group, the claims administrator hired by the United States Department of Justice to distribute funds from Full Tilt Poker to American players who were defrauded by the former management of the online poker site. The Garden City Group asked its Twitter followers to vote for the company in a poll by the New York Law Journal as best claims administrator, but instead, they were inundated with tweets complaining about nonpayment to former Full Tilt players in the U.S.

Days later, Card Player talked to an unnamed supervisor at GCG, who responded that the process of repayments will "most likely" take more than another year. He told Card Player, "There are no dates set in stone as of yet. We haven't even begun the claims process." This means that the $184 million due to more than one million players remains in a government bank account, and those victims have no recourse other than to wait for GCG to move the process along.

No. 4 — Ultimate Poker Announces New Rake Method

Nevada's Ultimate Poker revealed that it will use a winner-take-all rake method for its VIP player program. As first reported by the US Poker website, this means that the player who wins a hand will collect the rake taken from all players in that pot. The VIP program will be in full effect when the 2.0 version of the site is released, and the 10-level program will credit winning players with 10 points for every $1 paid in rake. This is being done in the hopes of attracting and retaining recreational players.

Ultimate Poker has devised many of its programs and terms through the compilation of input from players, as the company repeatedly offers the chance for players to submit their suggestions. Input from its sponsored players is also used.

No. 5 — Absolute Poker Assets Released to U.S. DOJ

Flushdraw reported this week that Blanca Games, alleged ownership group of Absolute Poker, completed a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice that includes the release of Blanca and other companies from further prosecution with regard to civil money laundering charges. With the relinquishing of ownership claims, the U.S. government can now take control of the Absolute Poker assets and liquidate them.

The companies now released from future prosecution in this particular civil case are Blanca Games, Absolute Poker, UltimateBet, Absolute Entertainment, Lacrosse Holdings, Hoop and Javelin Holdings, Hoop Payment Service Solutions, and Morning Bliss Overseas. Flushdraw reported that these are now described as "forfeited property" and turned over to the Department of Justice. No information has been released by the DOJ with regard to the liquidation or future distribution of assets to poker players who were victims of the sites and lost money through their insolvency.

No. 6 — South Point Poker to Use Real Gaming Brand

Nevada's South Point Hotel, Casino, and Spa was one of the first to announce its intentions to offer real-money online poker to Nevada residents and the first to receive an interactive gaming license. However, updates on the upcoming site have been few and far between. Last week, Pokerfuse revealed that the site will launch under the Real Gaming brand. Players were able to sign up for the online poker room at a Two Plus Two party at the South Point several weeks ago, but they were not able to create actual accounts.

The South Point Poker play-money site that was previously available for Nevada players is no longer available. US Poker reported that that site used Zen Entertainment software, but its bankruptcy nixed the offering. Players with those accounts will need to create new accounts when the real-money site is launched. Reports say that it will happen before the end of 2013.

No. 7 — Ireland to Regulate Internet Gaming

In international online gambling news, Ireland has completed the draft of its Gambling Control Bill 2013, which has been published with all of its licensing and regulation terms for the country going forward. All prior regulations pertaining to online casino games, poker, and bingo will be repealed in favor of the new laws, according to Casino Choice. Included in the plans are the establishment of the Office for Gambling Control and Social Gambling Fund, the latter of which will benefit problem gamblers.

The National Lottery will be exempt from the new law, while other gambling entities will require licenses for betting, gaming, remote, or temporary gaming. There will be 43 subcategories under which operators and licensees will be classified. Taxes, levies, and other fees have yet to be announced.