Why online poker pros are sitting idle in Sin City

When online poker sites were shut down by the US Department of Justice in April 2011 the accounts of many US-based poker players were frozen.

Some opted to cross the border to Canada or Mexico so they could continue playing online and keep on winning - and losing - money.

Robert Fellner, 28, had to wait several weeks for the online poker company Pokerstars to reimburse him the almost $150,000 (£94,480) he had won.

Even though he lives in Las Vegas, Mr Fellner prefers the online experience and does not want to gamble in the city's famous casinos. He has spent the last year honing his skills on poker websites that use imaginary money rather than real cash payouts.

The US casinos that dominate the lucrative gambling business are also lobbying for a change in the laws regulating the industry. They hope online poker could be made legal by the end of the year and want a slice of a business worth an estimated $6bn.

The BBC's Franz Strasser caught up with Mr Fellner in Las Vegas and spoke to experts about the most recent developments in the online poker world.