Yahoo Poker Folds Already | Rounders 2 Still Alive?

Yahoo will shut down their online poker portal less than two months after launching, and in other news Edward Norton reignited rumors that a "Rounders" sequel could eventually happen.

Yahoo's Fresh Deck Poker - "Incompatible" and "Insecure"

Last month, Yahoo made waves throughout the online poker industry by opening Fresh Deck Poker. Many predicted that they'd be a major player in the game and possibly enter the US real money market later on. However, Yahoo has already announced that they plan on closing their online poker site on December 31st - less than two months after opening.

Yahoo explained the sudden shutdown by writing, "changes in supporting technologies and increased security requirements for our Yahoo web pages (has led to the poker games being) incompatible, insecure, and no longer functioning correctly."

The search engine giant originally created a buzz when they began advertising Fresh Deck Poker in their fantasy football section. The idea was to take advantage of the natural connection between fantasy sports and online poker. Going further, many expected that Yahoo would have no trouble monetizing Fresh Deck - whether through regulated iPoker or advertisements - given that Toyota and State Farm ads are plastered all over their fantasy football homepage.

But it's obvious now that Yahoo wasn't prepared to compete with the likes of Zynga, freemium poker sites, or online poker operations in Delaware, New Jersey and Nevada. Of course, one can't rule out their potential return if they take the time and resources to fix the security problems that plagued Fresh Deck.

Norton optimistic about Rounders 2

It's been a while since we've been teased with news on a potential Rounders sequel. And Edward Norton recently gave poker movie aficionados some hope during an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman.

There to promote his movie "Birdman," Norton was asked by Letterman about Rounders 2. "I just now heard, which I don't believe possible, the possibility of a second Rounders," Letterman said. "I don't know how you make a second Rounders. Is there a possibility of it?"

Norton responded by saying, "I think there is a possibility of it. Yeah, we um, we couldn't have had more fun making that movie. That was one of the best gangs of people ever. We did it right on the cusp of what became kind of the resurgence of the poker phenomenon."

It's been almost 17 years since the original Rounders was released, which many credited with inspiring them to play poker. 2003 WSOP Main Event champion Chris Moneymaker was one of these players, and everybody can agree that his inclusion in the poker world has been good. So perhaps a Rounders sequel could once again inspire millions to take up the game.