Marcel Luske And Michelle Lau Unite Poker IndustryProfessional Players Luske And Lau Introduce New International Poker Rules |
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Dutchman Marcel Luske and Hawaiian Michelle Lau have collaborated with leading industry professionals and authorities from around the world to create “The International Poker Rules”. The IP Rules are intended to provide uniformity to all card rooms and tournaments, and to unite the entire poker industry.
Luske said, “As poker has exploded, the beauty of having one set of rules that everyone can learn and follow is such a big step for the game... New players and professional players finally have a resource from which to learn and play. Poker is a game that requires skill and knowledge and should be played with fairness and integrity.”
In 2002, Luske and Lau founded and developed the International Poker Federation (IPF) as the governing body for the European poker world. They did this with the intention of raising standards and increasing participation in the game. With the explosion of poker internationally, they decided to expand the organisation worldwide, renaming it “The Federation Internationale de Poker Association” (FIDPA).
The first step on their mission is the implementation of their new “IP Rules”. Going forward, the industry and its players will operate by a standardised set of 80 technical rules, policies, and procedures for tournament play. Lau said, “We still have a lot of ground to cover but the fact of the matter is that there really is no reason why a card room or tournament should not use the IP Rules as a base. A standardised set of rules are desperately needed, as a professional poker player traveling around the world to play in tournaments, there is absolutely no way to know the different rules in every country or even from venue to venue.”
The FIDPA will promote the rules by endorsing card rooms and poker tournaments worldwide. Recognition by the FIDPA represents a commitment to professionalism and excellence, and an effort to strengthen the poker industry. Bellagio has been made the first FIDPA endorsed card room in the world, and will set the benchmark for the entire poker industry.