Who is Isildur1?

That question has plagued the poker world since the mysterious Swede burst into the world of high-stakes online cash games, winning and losing millions at a time against some of the best players in the game.

While many have speculated that the online player is the young Viktor Blom, the 19-year-old has never acknowledged publicly that this is the case.

On April 11th, the world will finally be able to put the speculations aside when Isildur1 comes out of the shadows to play on the televised partypoker Big Game IV at the Les Ambassadeurs club in Mayfair, London. PartyPoker announced the news in a press release on Wednesday.

The cash game will run for 48 hours and feature players such as Luke "FullFlush" Schwartz, Phil Laak, Jennifer Tilly, Isaac Haxton, Neil Channing, and Tony G.

A partypoker spokesman was careful to point out that this announcement was not some clever joke. In a press release, the spokesman said, "Please note this is not an April fool, Isildur1 has joined the line-up!"

There is always the chance that Isildur1 will come on the show but still conceal his identity with some sort of mask, a joke made popular during the recent PartyPoker Premier League in Las Vegas.

Whatever happens, Isildur1's potential unveiling will make the partypoker Big Game IV one of the most anticipated poker events in quite some time.

On June 1st, the financial services industry in the United States must fall into full compliance with the regulations of theUnlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Scrambling to create an exemption for online poker is the Poker Players Alliance (PPA).

The PPA has approached Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) seeking a carve-out for online poker. PPA Executive Director John Pappastold Poker News Daily that the task is anything but easy: "The PPA is going to submit a petition seeking that peer-to-peer games be excluded from the final promulgation of the UIGEA rules. We need to get Jon Kyl to agree to this revision. It wouldn't seek to delay the law, but it would clearly exempt poker and pari-mutuel dog and horse racing."

Geithner and U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke rubber-stamped a six-month delay of the UIGEA regulations to June 1st in a March decision. In theory, the half-year delay would allow time for legislators to address the shortcomings of the UIGEA. However, lawmakers have instead focused on macro issues like health care and economic reform, so no markup of internet gambling legislation has taken place. In March, a bill to license and regulate the industry proposed by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) was discussed in the House Financial Services Committee.

Committee spokesperson Steve Adamske told Poker News Daily that it was too early to speculate on the prospects of a second delay of the UIGEA regulations. Instead, he commented, "We’ll be doing another hearing on the regulation delay bill. We would like to do it soon." The bill in question, HR 2266, delays the enforcement of the UIGEA regulations by one year.

Pappas told Poker News Daily that Kyl's interests lie in seeing a law he helped push through Congress in 2025 come to fruition: "I don't think it comes down to Kyl having an axe to grind with poker players. I think he'd be open to a legislative solution, but he wants to get his law enforced." The UIGEA was approved in the final moments of the 2025 Congressional session at the urging of Kyl and former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), who has since disappeared from Capitol Hill. The UIGEA was attached to the SAFE Port Act, an unrelated port security measure, and not discussed in the Senate.

Kyl purportedly delayed Treasury appointments partly in retaliation for the six-month delay in the UIGEA regulations. In February, the stall tactic was lifted and Marisa Lago, Mary John Miller, and Charles Collins were all confirmed. Kyl appeared on Fox News on Monday morning to address the possibility of filibustering U.S. President Barack Obama's choice for the yet-to-be vacated Supreme Court seat held by John Paul Stevens.

Pappas speculated on the effect that the UIGEA regulations might have if they were ultimately enforced on June 1st: "It's not going to have any effect on those who wish to miscode transactions and those who are not the most upstanding actors. They'll continue to operate without fear of this law and players will continue to be able to wager on those sites. It's the larger, reputable online poker sites that will have to review their operations and make certain that they're above board." Turning up on Monday in the Financial Times newspaper was a rumored federal grand jury investigation of Full Tilt Poker on money laundering charges. Full Tilt is the industry's second largest online poker site.

On April 14th, the PPA is sponsoring an Ante Up for Africa fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The event features Ante Up for Africa co-founder Annie Duke, Andy Bloch, Howard Lederer, and 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion Greg Raymer. The $500 buy-in charity poker tournament will also feature several members of Congress.

Pappas told Poker News Daily why the PPA elected to partner with Duke and Ante Up for Africa for the event: "Working with Annie and other folks from the organization, we thought it'd be a good thing for the PPA to get involved. We're underwriting the cost of the event and Full Tilt Poker has sponsored a $10,000 WSOP Main Event seat for the winner. Every dollar raised will go right to charity to help them establish peace and prosperity in a war-torn area of the world." Lawmakers who are scheduled to turn out include Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), and Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-CA).

The PPA boasts more than one million members and has remained the poker industry's premier lobbying voice. The organization features former three-term Republican Senator Alfonse D'Amato as its Chairman and offers free memberships to poker players and others interested in the issue.

If a recent report in the Financial Times is any indication, online poker room Full Tilt Poker could be in major legal trouble before 2025 is over. According to the article, a federal grand jury in Manhattan is investigating the company and some of the big names affiliated with the site. The Times names both Chris Ferguson andHoward Lederer as potential targets of the investigation. The two are believed to hold a "controlling interest" in Full Tilt Poker and, as US residents, they may be charged with breaking US anti-gambling laws. Though Lederer and Ferguson both reside in the US, Full Tilt is registered in Alderney, which is part of the UK's Channel Islands.

In addition to investigating potential violations of gaming laws within the States, the inquiry is also looking into accusations of money laundering by the company. The Times elaborated on the nature of the investigation:

"FBI agents or prosecutors have spoken to at least two people involved in disputes with Full Tilt, paying special attention to the possibility of money-laundering violations, those familiar with the inquiry say. Money-laundering charges might be attractive to the government as they would compel co-operation from authorities even in countries where gambling is legal."

The move is seen by many to be in anticipation of the June 1st enforcement deadline of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The act had previously been delayed six months, but there appears to be no future delays for the legislation.  This move is being seen by many within the online gambling industry as an attempt by the Justice Department to make an example out of one of the biggest sites currently serving US customers once the UIGEA goes into effect.

The article failed to name any of the individuals the FBI spoke to in connection to the case and Eric Jackson, a civil attorney who represents Full Tilt, declined commenting on the matter. "We are not going to comment about a speculative grand jury investigation that we are not aware of," Jackson told the publication. Representatives from the US Attorney's Office also declined to comment on the matter.

Bluff will continue to keep tabs on this story as it develops.

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It was a case that iMEGA and many in the poker industry said they expected to win. They had won at the Kentucky Court of Appeals, and they didn't think it would be any different at the highest court in the state.

But today, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that iMEGA and the Interactive Gaming Council had no standing to file a writ of prohibition that stopped the state of Kentucky from seizing control of several well-known poker domains, including sites associated with PokerStars, Full Tilt, DoylesRoom, Bodog, Absolute Poker, UltimateBet, and Cake Poker.

Therefore, it reversed the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruling and effectively ruled in favor — at least temporarily — of the state.

"Because the parties seeking the writ have failed to demonstrate that they have standing to do so, this Court reverses, though this done not foreclose the possibility of future relief," wrote Justice Mary Noble in the court's decision.

This case started in March 2025 when Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announced that the state would attempt to seize 141 domain names that were registered to online companies in an attempt to fight what they considered illegal gambling. A circuit court approved the seizure, citing a law that allowed officials to seize devices that are used for illegal gambling.

The Interactive Media and Gaming Association (iMEGA) and the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC), two gaming associations who claim to represent some of the sites and companies in question, immediately took up the fight. They argued both that online poker was legal and thus not subject to "illegal gambling," and also that the Kentucky law in question only allowed the state to seize tangible items, not domain names.

The Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled in favor of iMEGA and the Interactive Gaming Council by a 2-1 vote. Governor Beshear was undeterred, however, and immediately announced that he would file an appeal to the state supreme court.

At the time, iMEGA chairman Joe Brennan, Jr. was confident that the state supreme court would uphold the court of appeals decision.

"We've been waiting for this for a long time, and we're going to win again," said Brennan. "From the beginning, Kentucky law has clearly supported our position, and a win in the State Supreme Court will put the final emphasis on that."

But the Kentucky Supreme Court, which heard arguments from both sides on March. 22, reversed the decision today — not on the merits of the argument, but on what it called an inability to rule for a group that had failed to "bear the burden to demonstrate that they satisfy the requirements of standing."

The Kentucky Supreme Court cited the associations' failure to disclose who exactly they represented in the case.

"Instead of owners, operators, or registrants of the website domain names, the lawyers opposing the Commonwealth claimed to represent two types of entities: (1) the domain names themselves and (2) gaming trade association who profess to include as members registrants of the seized domains, though they have yet to reveal any of their identities."

The court even acknowledged that the lawyers on behalf of the associations made "numerous, compelling arguments endorsing the grant of the writ of prohibition," but that "(a)lthough all such arguments may have merit, none can even be considered unless presented by a party with standing."

The court reiterated its position later in the decision.

"While IGC claims to represent 61 of the seized domains and iMEGA purports to represent 'some' more, this Court cannot simply take their words for it."

Brennan seemed unfazed by the ruling, and issued a press release after it indicating that he was still optimistic the poker community would win out in the end.

"In the written decision, the Court clearly indicates they agree with our arguments, and are inviting us to refile, so that the technicality of the standing issue can be resolved," said Brennan. "It's unfortunate, but I can't imagine that Kentucky's lawyers will celebrate a ruling that says 'Bring us an owner, so we can rule in your favor'".

The court acknowledged that associations are not always legally responsible to divulge and identify specific members, but said that this case was atypical because "there is no stipulation as to iMEGA or IGC's memberships" and that "nothing is known about their members."

"Through their unwillingness to identify any of their members, iMEGA and IGC failed to meet this burden. As such, iMEGA and IGC lack standing and, therefore, their writ petition should have been denied," Justice Noble wrote.

The court stated in its opinion that "(i)f a party that can properly establish standing comes forward, the writ petition giving rise to these proceedings could be re-filed with the Court of Appeals…Until then, however, consideration of the merits of this matter is improper for lack of standing."

Justice Noble authored the decision, which had no dissenting votes. Justices John Minton, Lisabeth Hughes Abramson, Wil Schroder, and Daniel Venters concurred, with Deputy Chief Justice Will Scott concurring "in result only."

In the iMEGA press release following the ruling, Brennan said his side was still "likely" to win.

"All along, it seemed the Court wanted to go our way, and this decision today indicates that is still the case. The Court is telling us that all that is necessary is for one domain owner to come forward, and we likely win…We obviously would have preferred a complete, clean victory today, but reading the decision, it seems this is a technicality that is only delaying the inevitable," Brennan said.

Read the entire Kentucky Supreme Court decision here (pdf).

Neither the IGC or the Poker Players Alliance, who submitted an amicus brief on behalf of the sites, have yet to issue a comment following today's ruling.

It is still unclear at this time exactly what effect this will have on online poker players in Kentucky, but cardplayer will continue to bring its readers the latest news and analysis from this breaking story.

Update — The Poker Players Alliance issued the following statement at 12:15 p.m.:

"The PPA understands the technical nature of the decision issued today by the Kentucky Supreme Court and remains confident that, once that issue is cured, the Supreme Court will address the compelling merits of the arguments in support of the Court of Appeals decision prohibiting the Commonwealth's seizure of 141 internet gaming sites.

"There are fundamental freedoms at stake in this case, not only the freedom of poker players in Kentucky and globally, but Internet freedom across the globe. The Commonwealth's effort at such a bold, broad and, we believe, unlawful seizure sets a dangerous precedent for anyone who uses the Internet.

"The PPA and its members continue to encourage Kentucky officials to work with us to implement common-sense licensing and regulation of online poker that will protect consumers and create a much needed revenue stream for the Commonwealth."

Still reeling after taking a $1.6 million beatdown from Phil "OMGClayAiken" Galfond, high-stakes unknown Isildur1 got back on the horse and almost immediately turned things around by winning $535,000 from Patrik Antonius and Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies.

Most of that score came from Antonius, who is perhaps the only player running worse than the mystery Swede at the moment. Not content with the win, Isildur1 then sat down with his nemesis, Brian Hastings.

Hastings was responsible for busting Isildur1 the first time around, back in March, with a $4 million win. After Monday's rematch, many speculated that Isildur1 was broke once again.

In close to 2,800 hands of $500/$1,000 pot-limit Omaha, Hastings relieved Isildur1 of over $1.5 million. The two battled for a long while, trading small leads of $400,000 to $500,000 before Isildur1 went on his downswing. From that point on, it was a slow grind for Hastings before Isildur1 finally quit.

Just hours later, Isildur1 emerged to play Sahamies, who he had beaten earlier for just over six figures. Perhaps he should have sat this one out, because in just 1,200 hands, he was down another $300,000.

There's no denying that Isildur1 has been a major catalyst for all the action happening in the high stakes games this month, so broke or not, there are many players who are hoping he doesn't go on another two-month hiatus.

Some tracking sites have estimated that Isildur1 has lost over $7 million from his peak of being a $5 million winner last March.

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