In a new advisory role for Virtue Poker, Phil Ivey could help shape the future of online poker.
On Thursday, the new online poker startup announced that Ivey would be joining Brian Rast and Dan Coleman as a brand representative and professional advisor to the site.
Crypto Revolution
By joining Virtue Poker, Ivey has become the latest pro to embrace the virtual currency, or cryptocurrency trend that’s making its way into the industry. Just days before Virtue Poker announced its latest signing, Tony G was singing the praises of another cryptocurrency poker site called CoinPoker.
Set to go live for real money gaming in January but launching a pre-initial coin offering (ICO) on Nov. 16, CoinPoker is based on the same technology as Virtue Poker. Using Ethereum smart contract, these new sites can verify payments and random number generator results using blockchain technology.
At its core, blockchain technology makes data processing safer and more transparent. Because blocks of data are processed by computers decrypting information, the system is decentralized, and therefore less susceptible to fraud.
Developers behind sites such as CoinPoker and Virtue Poker insist that this technology will only enhance the security and fairness of online poker.
Ivey’s New Bet
Although some financial and tech experts are skeptical about cryptocurrencies and their place in the gaming world, Ivey said that he believes their peer-to-peer nature could add “significant value” to a player’s poker experience.
The debate over cryptocurrency poker sites is one that will play out over the coming years. For now, it will serve as a welcome distraction for Ivey, who recently lost a £7.7 million ($10.1 million) lawsuit in the UK.
After battling with London’s Crockfords Casino for four years, Ivey lost his appeal to collect his winnings when the UK Supreme Court ruled that his “edge sorting” technique in punto bunco (a variant of baccarat) invalidated nearly $10 million that he won at that casino.
Ivey also lost a similar case for a similar amount in a US court in New Jersey, but he held on to his winnings there and has not had to pay back the casino yet while he still has appeals pending.
In the meantime, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other forms of virtual cash have continued to skyrocket in value, which could explain why Ivey wants in on that action.
