Best of PRO This Week: G2E, Nevada Traffic and Social Gaming Regulation

Key Takeaways

UK Office of Fair Trading Proposes Principles for Social Gaming.
A View from G2E: Day 3 Report.
A View from G2E: Day 2 Report.
WSOP vs Ultimate Poker: Traffic at Nevada’s First Online Poker Rooms.
A View from G2E: Day 1 Report.

Lead Features

UK Office of Fair Trading Proposes Principles for Social Gaming

Eight principles which would form the basis of legal compliance are now out for consultation. The UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has launched a consultation on a set of “Principles for online and app-based games.” The principles are set out in an annex to a report on “Children’s Online Games.”

A View from G2E: Day 3 Report

The last full day of G2E was spent only attending two talks. The first was on “Documenting your online vendors,” and the panel was comprised of gaming consultants, lawyers, and lobbyists. One of the takeaways from the discussion was the struggle of commerce versus compliance: Are you going to choose the most appropriate vendor that meets needs both technically and with the right experience? Or are you going to go with the vendor that can get through the regulatory hurdles in the United States?

A View from G2E: Day 2 Report

The AGA’s new marketing push, troubles with payment processing, and what makes a great online poker site. My second day at G2E started with a session sponsored by the AGA. The new president Jeff Freeman gave the briefing which covered 3 areas:

WSOP vs Ultimate Poker: Traffic at Nevada’s First Online Poker Rooms

Ultimate Poker feels the effect of its first competition. Nevada is home to 2.75 million people, and the only two state regulated online poker sites in the US—UltimatePoker.com (UP) and WSOP.com (WSOP).

A View from G2E: Day 1 Report

This is my first year at G2E and, in addition to having a booth for SeNet International, I am happy to be reporting for pokerfuse from the conference floor.

Exclusive News Articles

Legal Sleight of Hand May be Used to Permit Smoking in Eurovegas

“Cigar clubs” get-out clause proffered as compromise. The Spanish government may have found a way to satisfy Sheldon Adelson’s demands that his customers can smoke in his Eurovegas project. The issue had become a deal breaker, but Spanish politicians were digging their heels in about changing their anti-smoking laws.

Digital Disappointment: Ladbrokes Issues Full Year Results Warning

Problems implementing a deal with Playtech are blamed on an expected 50% fall in expected profits. Ladbrokes has issued a formal profits warning, its second of the year. It now expects its digital business to make between £10 million to £14 million, more than 50% below analysts’ expectations of £27.5m. Ladbrokes’ share price on the London Stock Exchange dropped over 6% on the news.

Skrill Launches New Product to Simplify International Money Transfers

New Skrill iT system allows anyone to send money globally with just an email address of the recipient. Online wallet Skrill, formerly Moneybookers, has launched a new product for easy cross-border money transfers, dubbed Skrill iT.

Georgia-Based Adjarabet Joins Poker Rankings

Adjarabet looks to an international market after leaping into the poker rankings at number 12. New entrant Adjarabet has joined the online cash game rankings, one of two rooms licensed in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia.

Bonus Changes at 888 Suggest Fresh Interest in German, Brazilian Markets

The sign up bonuses available from 888poker vary by country—giving an insight into its marketing priorities. Affiliates were informed this week that Germany and Brazil were added to the list of countries from which players get the 10x signup bonus.

Scottish Health Report Includes Problem Gambling Stats for First Time

Scottish health care survey suggests that there are over 30,000 problems gamblers in the country. The annual Scottish Health Care Survey has included statistics on gambling for the first time. 4,815 adults, and 1,787 children took part in the study which estimated that there are over 30,000 problem gamblers in Scotland.

Wynn Reportedly to Use Caesars License in New Jersey

Online gaming for Wynn Resorts will be stationed within a Caesars owned property in New Jersey, according to a report Tuesday by Bloomberg Business Week.

New in Blue: IGT Rebrands for the Online Era

International Game Technology has unveiled a new logo as part of a rebranding strategy to highlight its new online and social gaming credentials.

GTECH Unveils New Poker Product, Mobile Apps

Native iPad and browser-based mobile app part of complete overhaul of its online poker software. GTECH unveiled at G2E Monday an all-new online poker platform, with redesigned desktop client for PC and Mac, and mobile support through native and browser-based clients.

bwin.party Says Farewell to Two Non-Executive Directors

Tim Bristow and Geoff Baldwin leave the board immediately; further changes are likely. Tim Bristow and Geoff Baldwin have left the bwin.party board of directors. The company said that the departures were “in line with the intention expressed in the Company’s 2012 annual report to reduce the size of the board.”

Swedish Tabloids Face Fines Over Links to Offshore Gambling Sites

The Swedish gaming board Lotteriinspektionen has demanded that two Swedish newspapers remove advertisements to offshore gambling websites.

French Court Rules That bwin.party CEO Must Turn Up in Person

Norbert Teufelberger relied on his lawyers to present his defense to a 2006 case, but the Judge refused to hear his written pleading. Current CEO of bwin.party Norbert Teufelberger and Non-Executive Director Manfred Bodner failed to attend a French trial in Nanterre to answer charges that, while they were executives of Bwin, they had provided gambling services illegally.

Australian Court Rules Gambler Who Lost $15m Can’t Have His Money Back

Norwegian Bjarte Baasland, how lost $15m on Bet365 and Centrebet, claimed that he was a gambling addict playing with borrowed money. Norwegian Bjarte Baasland has lost a case against Centrebet after an Australian court ruled that the Australian law took precedence over Norwegian law.