According to Online Poker Reportand founder Eric Morris on Twitter, Bluff is “winding down” operations in the next month. Morris Tweeted midday on Thursday, “@BLUFFMedia has let go of entire staff. Looks like operations will cease as of Aug 15th. Sad day for company I founded in 2004.”

Online Poker Report’s Chris Grove said he had “heard conflicting reports on the August 15 date cited by Morris,” but nevertheless verified that current staff members would be let go and the current “structure will be eliminated.”

Grove added that Bluff’s website will continue to operate “in some yet-to-be-determined form.” Morris, who now works at All-In Magazine, added that he had “confirmation” that the story was true and said it was “sad news.” PocketFives was able to verify the news independently.

In 2012, Louisville-based Churchill Downs acquired Bluff as well as ThePokerDB. According to a Street article at the time, Churchill Downs believed the acquisition “potentially provided it with new business avenues to pursue in the event there is a liberalization of state or Federal laws with respect to internet poker in the United States.”

Three years later, just three states have regulated online poker: New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware. Pennsylvaniaappears to be the next state to come online, while California, which represents the mother-load in the US, could be a ways off given its stakeholders’ constant bickering.

Earlier this year, Bluff ditched its print magazine in favor of an internet-only approach. Its President is Eddy Kleid. Lance Bradley is Bluff’s Editor-in-Chief. The company has offices in Atlanta.

Churchill Downs Incorporated, which is publicly traded, operates the eponymous racetrack in Kentucky along with Arlington Park in Illinois, Calder Casino in Florida, and the horse racing site TwinSpires.com.

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