Three small stories from the relatively new world of online cryptocurrency online poker sites, as GetLuckyPoker opens in beta mode; Winning Poker starts cashing out in Bitcoin, and Breakout Gaming goes quiet.

The future of online poker?

It’s just a shame that it all seems so damn complicated. Or maybe I’m a bit thick? After all, I did just admit to Jonathan Little that I don’t even understand the basic math that any poker player needs just to be ‘competent.’

But there are people out there that get it. And I’m glad. It keeps the grubby hands of the men in power away from our money, and I’m all for that. I better start learning what all the fuss is about. Get over my learned helplessness.

The Winning Poker Network (WPN) believes in the power of Cryptocurrency. The network that houses the likes of America’s Cardroom and BetcoinPoker has broadened their appeal by adding both deposit and withdrawal options in Bitcoin.

If you choose to deposit with Bitcoin the amount is immediately converted to U.S dollars. This removes the headache of managing price fluctuations in line with the market. The same then happens in reverse when it’s time to withdraw your funds back to your Bitcoin wallet.

It’s an obvious move for the American facing network. It keeps them deep in the grey area of legality by allowing them to claim that Bitcoin is not a recognized form of currency in the US, and therefore doesn’t fall foul to the laws that are preventing millions of people from playing online poker.