Best of PRO This Week: Japan, Norway and Full Tilt Traffic Best of PRO This Week: Japan, Norway and Full Tilt Traffic
Key Takeaways
  • Reflection on the 2014 Global Gaming Expo.

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Traffic Watch

Pokerfuse PRO’s exclusive review of the online poker market across international, US and regulated European markets.


The Deal

Promotional highlights of the week, including Borgata Poker, partypoker, Full Tilt, 888poker, Bet365 and William Hill.


Regulation in Review: US

A weekly review of the latest developments in gaming regulation in the US. This week: Nevada, New Jersey and California.


Regulation in Review: Europe and Beyond

A weekly review of the latest developments in gaming regulation outside the US. This week: UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway and Singapore.

Exclusive News Articles

Reflection on the 2014 Global Gaming Expo

iGaming security professional Gus Fritschie provides his thoughts on the 2014 Global Gaming Expo. I just got back from attending the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) last week in Las Vegas. While the show is huge with thousands of exhibitors and sessions covering all topics of gaming, this article will cover the iGaming Congress and the two main keynotes by Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson.

PokerStars Regional Promotions Target Japan

The Japan Autumn Festival offers tickets to freerolls which offer tournament entries as prizes. The marketing benefit of being the largest poker room in the world gives PokerStars the levels of player liquidity necessary to justify regional promotions in markets that are too small for other operators to address directly.


WPN Declares the Cage a Success

The first Cage event attracted a prize pool of $330,000. The Cage is a new format event which launched on the Winning Poker Network (WPN). It provides a $5,100 buy in tournament, which ends after four hours, with the prize fund distributed according to chip count.


Full Flush Poker Celebrates One Year in Business

The Equity Poker Network flagship room plans to enjoy its first birthday. Full Flush Poker (FFP) was the first room to launch on the Equity Poker Network (EPN) on November 8, 2013.


Full Tilt Cash Game Traffic Surges 43%

Full Tilt returns to third place in the global cash game rankings with Easy Bonus promotion. The last two weeks have seen a 43% surge in the seven day moving average of Full Tilt’s cash game traffic. Full Tilt has now displaced iPoker and occupies third place in the global cash game rankings.


HSBC Review Limits Exposure to Online Gambling

A confused policy causes collateral damage. Four months ago the Malta Independent reported that the HSBC bank was blocking gambling transactions as a matter of policy. A bank spokesperson has now confirmed that the policy follows a review in which the decision was taken to reduce the bank’s exposure to gambling transactions.


ARJEL President Asks to Meet With French Players

French regulator risks a meeting with poker players despite his powerlessness to meet their demands. President of ARJEL, Charles Coppolani, has arranged to meet a delegation of French players to discuss their concerns about online poker on October 22.


PKR Teases Major Client Upgrade

Version 3 client coming this month. PKR has teased the new version of its desktop client with a short preview video demonstrating some of its new features.


Norway Politely Asks Offshore Operators Not to Target Norwegian Players

Celebrity ambassadors are warned that direct action could be taken against them. The Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority has followed up on the letter it sent to internet bloggers and affiliates in August, with another directly addressed to operators and celebrities used to promote online gambling.


PKR Says Arrivederci to Italian Market

PKR.it closes on October 7 and asks players to withdraw their funds. A notice has been posted on the PKR Italy website to inform players that the company is leaving the Italian market with effect from October 7.


Bluff Europe and Ranking Hero Partner to Compete with GPI

Established tournament rankings and upstart social media company join forces. Bluff Europe and Ranking Hero have established an official partnership where Bluff European Rankings for tournaments will be powered by Ranking Hero.


partypoker New Jersey Traffic Volatility Risks Giving Lead to WSOP

The 7-day moving average closes to nine seats. For the third time in two months, the gap in recorded cash game traffic between the partypoker New Jersey network and WSOP New Jersey has narrowed to single digits.


Irish Problem Gambling Report Puts Pressure on Govt to Pass Gambling Bill

The Gambling Control Bill is not expected to be in place until late 2015 at the earliest. A report from Aiseiri which runs addiction treatment centres in Ireland shows that 25% of problem gambling is now internet related.


Borgata Poker Adopts Regular Reload Bonus Strategy

The second short window reload bonus in as many weeks suggests that Borgata Poker has found a successful marketing tool. Last week, Borgata Poker offered its New Jersey players a second chance at a reload bonus.


ARJEL Warns that EuroPoker is “Facing Difficulties”

The possible closure of EuroPoker could test ARJEL’s player protection provisions. French regulator ARJEL has issued a warning notice concerning EuroPoker. The notice states that the operator is “currently facing difficulties.”


Ongame Follows Rational in Gray Market Withdrawal

Amaya’s other online poker network exits the same markets. The Ongame online poker network has exited the same grey markets that PokerStars and Full Tilt left last week, pokerfuse has learned.


Facebook Pages of “Illegal” Online Gambling Removed in Norway

Facebook has heeded the requests of the Norweigan gaming regulator in removing Facebook Pages of operators who are illegally marketing to Norwegian customers.


PokerStars Italy Now Has 70% Market Share in Tournaments

Sunday Million Satellites and the introduction of Spin & Gos appear to have driven revenue growth. PokerStars Italy managed to increase its share of tournament revenues in the Italian regulated market to 70% in August.


Europoker France May Close After iPoker Migration Cancelled

The last Ongame France room may have lost its chance of a new home. Europoker’s plans to move from Ongame to the iPoker network in the French regulated market appear to have fallen apart.


Betfair to Stay in New Jersey in Deal with Caesars

The DGE has provided a six month license for Betfair to run its servers from Caesars in Atlantic City. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) has approved an agreement between Betfair and Caesars that will allow Betfair to continue in the New Jersey market.