Bet you don't have this poker scandal in the 2008 WSOP

Everything (or everyone) popular needs a good scandal and poker is certainly no exception.

UltimateBet is still under fire for the cheating that occurred on the vastly popular online poker site and as expected, owners of the site are doing damage control by training their fire extinguishers on a searing blaze trying to extinguish the flames. And all this while the 2008 World Series of Poker is going on.

UltimateBet proprietor Tokwiro Enterprises ENRG has issued an official statement after it turned over to the Kahnawake Gaming Commission its investigative results on the cheating that occurred on the poker site.

It confirmed what we already know, cheaters were able to view other players' hole cards and that the scheme dates back to at least early 2005.

Can you imagine how much hard-earned money the cheaters milked out of the defenseless poker players in that long period of time? Especially since a total of 19 accounts and 88 screen names were reportedly involved in this grand scheme. Evidence accumulated included IP addresses and withdrawal and transfer histories.

Naturally, Tokwiro is ''outraged'' at the cheating that occurred in the online poker room and is determined to get to the bottom of things. The company, however, is quick to stress that the illicit software used to cheat was installed prior to Tokwiro's purchase of the company which happened in 2006.

Tokwiro also vowed to be transparent to the players and that they will continue to release more information to the poker community and general public as the investigation continues.

Will this put a damper on online poker?

With the thousands of poker players all over the world scrambling for a game, that is unlikely. However, you can be rest assured that people will be more wary. Now let's hope they catch those cheats and refund some of that money.

Who will win the 2008 WSOP Main Event Final Table at the Rio in Las Vegas on November 9? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Dennis Phillips 4.00

Craig Marquis 11.00

Ylon Schwartz 9.00

Scott Montgomery 5.00

Darus Suharto 9.50

Chino Rheem 8.50

Ivan Demidov 5.50

Kelly Kim 26.00

Peter Eastgate 6.50

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more poker betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

2008 World Series of Poker UltimateBet