In online gaming news, Yahoo.co.uk has launched a real money play poker site in partnership with St. Minver Ltd. and Boss media. Yahoo.co.uk is the first online company if it's size and presence to enter into the growing online poker market.

St. Minver, who already run Yahoo's Bingo site, offers 'white label' gaming solutions to leading online brands. They are Europes largest gaming network operators. Along with Yahoo, St. Minvers clients include, Virgin Games, Woolworths, PokerHeaven.com, etc. 

The software used to power Yahoo Poker was developed and is maintained by Swedish company, Boss Media. Yahoo Poker, along with every other Boss Media poker site is a member of the International Poker Network (IPN), a network of online poker operators managed by St. Minver. 

Yahoo UK has also used the expertise of Endemol Gaming for this new poker venture. Endemol Gaming provided them with useful and creative video tutorial, mini-games and a 'poker buddy' tool to encourage players to learn basic strategy and the rules of the game.

The online poker room, which uses flash based software – designed for quick and easy play, is available to players throughout the World (wherever it's legal that is) but is targeted mainly toward UK players. 

All in all, with the use of the services and expertise from all of a these leaders in the online gaming industry combined with Yahoo's massive online presence and marketability (Yahoo! is ranked the second largest search engine in the World), Yahoo Poker is sure to be a hit in the UK market. 

The potential of the venture may also create quite an impact in the industry, as success could see other large online brands entering the market giving current players a fight for their life.