Regular Weekly Columns
Traffic Watch
Pokerfuse PRO’s exclusive review of the online poker market across international, US and regulated European markets.
Regulation in Review: US
A review of the latest developments in gaming regulation in the US. This week: California, New Jersey and the AGA.
The Deal
Promotional highlights of the week, including Ladbrokes, PokerStars, Adjarabet, partypoker, Winamax and Everest Poker France.
Regulation in Review: Europe and Beyond
A weekly review of the latest developments in gaming regulation outside the US. This week: the UK, Malta, Belgium, Mexico and Alderney.
Checking Around
In our industry-focused picks from the discussion forums this week: 888 account closures, cheating reimbursements, Heartbleed, Pure Poker, and how to stop buttoning in online poker.
Exclusive News Articles
Unibet’s New Poker Client Gets a Warm Reception from Players
Despite a heavy recreational focus, transparency in policy and open lines of communication has helped Unibet’s successful launch. Community response to Unibet’s new poker client continues to be broadly positive, four months after the poker site parted ways with Microgaming and released its stand-alone poker client.
Majority Want Auto-Seating Scripts Banned
70% vote that PokerStars “must ban scripts and police it” as representatives head to Isle of Man for PokerStars player meet. In an informal poll conducted on the Two Plus Two Poker forums, respondents voted overwhelming for a ban on auto-seating scripts.
PokerStars Chief Marketing Officer Alex Payne Steps Down
A global reorganization of PokerStars’ marketing department sees Chief Marketing Officer Alex Payne depart.
Can Ultimate Poker Benefit from the WSOP This Summer?
The World Series of Poker is expected to boost Nevada traffic numbers—UP Nevada needs to see gains. Peak cash game traffic in Ultimate Poker Nevada’s short history occurred on June 25 last year—in the middle of the World Series of Poker 2013.
HSBC Extends Block on Gambling Transactions
Reports from Malta suggest that the bank has a global policy to stop its credit and debit cards being used for internet gambling. HSBC has extended its block on gambling transactions according to a report in the Malta Independent.
New Jersey Seeks to License iGaming Payment Processors
Tougher regulation will make for easier deposits, argues New Jersey State Senator Whelan. A New Jersey bill submitted in February this year proposes stricter licensing requirements for online gaming payment processors.
MPN Experiences May Growth
While rest of market suffers a seasonal downward trend, Microgaming’s poker network finds its footing. MPN has taken its share of hits in recent months following the departure of Ladbrokes to iPoker, the loss of some NordicBet customers, and subsequent farewell bid to Unibet, which formed its own network two months ago.
bwin.party CEO Not Guilty
French court brings to an end a seven year legal battle. bwin.party CEO Norbert Teufelberger has been found not guilty of internet gambling charges in France.
AGCC Chairman Deplores The Rise in National Gaming Regulation
Politicians supporting national regulation are simply “parading their concern” rather than considering genuine customer protection, says the departing Alderney Chairman. The outgoing Chairman of the Alderney Gaming Control Commission (AGCC) has been heavily critical of the nationalistic trend in gaming regulations.
Three Years of PokerStars: Dominant and Resilient
PokerStars is one of very few online poker brands to have grown total cash game traffic since Black Friday. Three years and one month after Black Friday and PokerStars remains the dominant brand in the online poker business. Its traffic has proven to be remarkably consistent over the period.
Winamax Summer Shots Starts the Holiday Season Early
$1.5m in guarantees for the second Summer Shots festival, which provides lower buy ins than the Winamax Series. Winamax has announced the schedule for its low buy in “Summer Shots” tournament series which runs from June 1 to June 10.
partypoker’s Low Buy in Pokerfest: Micro Turbo Edition Starts This week
$115k guaranteed for the partypoker tournament series targeted at casual players. The mini version of partypoker’s Pokerfest begins on May 23. The “Pokerfest: Micro Turbo Edition” includes 42 events over the ten days of the series, with buy ins from $1.
Player Receives Cheating Reimbursement at WSOP Nevada
Following a high-profile public discussion and complaints to the regulator, WSOP reimburses player with confiscated funds. A “re-investigation” of a case of collusion on WSOP Nevada, one of three sites regulated in the state of Nevada, has resulted in reimbursement of funds to the victim of the cheating.
PokerStars Spain Tied with Italian Sibling
Growth at Spanish poker room means PokerStars’ cash game traffic in Spain and Italy are matched. As PokerStars Spain and PokerStars Italy converge to almost identical levels of cash game traffic, the Rational Group can cheer the fact that it has two of the top five poker rooms, and five of the top ten.
