Horse racing operators Churchill Downs this weekend surprisingly announced to have taken over all of Bluff Media's assets, the company informed in a press release.

Churchill Downs operates the Churchill Downs horse racetrack in Kentucky, home to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.

The company also owns and runs casino operations in Florida, New Orleans, and Mississippi.

The acquisition of Bluff Media was announced late on Friday night after the markets closed, and includes all of the Atlanta-based media outlet's assists, including Bluff Magazine.

In addition, ThePokerDB online database, a variety of blogs and forums, and several URL's were also handed over, including BluffPoker.com.

Churchill Downs announced that the company intents to "further expand and build upon Bluff Media's current content and business model", but it seems as if a larger strategic consideration may also have influenced the move.

With the acquisition of Bluff Media, Churchill Downs as such reveals to feel equipped with the right tools to pursue an online poker operation, should regulation arrive to the U.S.

"(…) the company believes this acquisition potentially provides it with new business avenues to pursue in the event there is a liberalization of state of federal laws with respect to Internet poker in the United States," the press release reads.

The news comes only days after French operator Chiligaming announced a new partnership with the Golden Nugget casinos in Nevada and New Jersey.

The partners similarly expressed hopes for a favorable position in the face of coming regulation of the U.S. market.

Politically, too, whispers about legalization have intensified over the past weeks, with fresh rumors from Washington hinting that the process may be gaining serious traction already within this year.