Can someone recommend a secure encrypted email service provider.

Security wise do you use different email addresses for each of your poker accounts and other private online information?

cutting off your fingers would solve a lot of problems imo

You should take your own advice Fatty

Dids must be cranky this morning

http://www.hushmail.com/

To your second question, no. It's not like hacking into a gmail account is that easy anyway unless you're an idiot about your password.

For your online banking/poker accounts, you can choose to use one/many accounts, as long as its different from your primary account. But here's the important part: password strength is only part of the battle. There are a few basic steps to take:
1) treat your password reset question as a password itself (ie. don't put your actual home town or mom's name or whatever, but just use another password).

2) Never log in to it from anyone's computer but your own. If someone else might use your computer that potentially might not be trustworthy, make sure you don't save your password in your browser.

3) Never email anyone but the financial institutions/poker sites themselves from your separate account.

4) Never give out that email to even your friends. I would also not use this email for any place that even might be slightly sketchy or prone to hacks themselves (eg. rakeback affiliate).

Some general tips: don't download sketchy stuff that might contain keyloggers, ESPECIALLY be wary of poker related crackz, because keyloggers and password reset, is really the easiest way for people to get into your account. Nobody is sitting there guessing passwords hoping to get in.

Note that the US government has been given keys to decrypt this sites mails. (Google for source)

I wonder when email providers are going to offer RSA tokens. Would be sweet.

You really don't need to rely on a service provider for encrypted email if you are dealing with people who are moderately tech savvy:

GPG + Thunderbird can do it for you.