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 online gaming regulation in the US. This week: California, New Jersey and Nevada.
The Deal
Promotional and marketing highlights of the week, including PokerStars, bwin France, Adjarabet, Full Tilt, Ultimate Poker and WPN.
Regulation in Review: Europe and Beyond
A weekly review of the latest developments in gaming regulation outside the US. This week: Germany, UK, EU, Malta, Netherlands, Brazil, Italy, Hungary and Belarus.
Checking Around
In our industry-focused picks from the discussion forums this week: Player vs Skrill, iPoker bugs, California discussion and more.
Exclusive News Articles
Full Tilt “Swag” Tournaments – MTTs for Branded Clothing
Domain name switch coincides with unique tournaments for apparel. Full Tilt Poker is currently running five “Swag Tournaments” daily in which players can buy-in to special events to win branded apparel. The tournament entry fees range from $0.55 to $1.10 and award either t-shirts, hoodies or caps.
PokerStars Spin & Go Goes Live on iOS in Spain
Rational continues its mobile rollout of new format. Spin & Go, the new lottery sit and go format that PokerStars has debuted exclusively in the Spanish market, has gone live on iOS devices.
California GCC Commissioner Calls for Harmonization of Online Poker Regulatory Policies
Richard Schuetz believes there is much to be learned from current regulatory complications. California Gambling Control Commission commissioner Richard Schuetz recently expressed his opinions relating to his views on igaming regulation in the US.
Dutch Regulator Repeats Heavy Handed Advertising Advice
Breaching the rules could put license applications at risk, Netherlands gaming regulator Kansspelautoriteit warns. The Dutch regulatort Kansspelautoriteit has repeated a warning which it made before the World Cup—operators who breach advertising rules risk not being awarded gaming licenses when new laws take effect in 2015.
Online Poker Market Nears Seasonal Low
Multiple markets are showing the market has bottomed out a month early. Cash game traffic statistics suggest that the global online poker market may have reached its seasonal low. If so, it has come a month earlier than in previous years.
Kirsty Thompson Named PokerStars Head of Pro and Celebrity Marketing
Thompson will now be responsible for management of Team Pro and celebrity site representatives. PokerStars announced Monday that is has tapped longtime employee Kirsty Thompson as its new Head of Pro and Celebrity Marketing.
Full Tilt Ring Game Ticket Sale Keynote Simplicity
A straight price reduction aims to lift cash game traffic. For two weeks, Full Tilt is offering 25% off the price of ring game tickets bought with Full Tilt Points (FTP) from its online store. The “Ring Game Ticket Sale” runs until July 27.
Spanish Market Ignores Market Bottom, Continues Fall
In the last 6 weeks the global market has stabilized—but Spanish cash game traffic continues decline. The global cash game traffic market has stabilized in the last month, but the Spanish market has yet to find its bottom.
New partypoker “Card Rush” Promo Has Recreational Player Focus
Players can earn up to five scratch cards per day. partypoker has begun a new promotional campaign dubbed “Card Rush” that focuses squarely on recreational players—allowing real money competitors a chance to earn up to five scratch cards per calendar day through their participation.
UKGC Clarifies Network Responsibilities Under New UK Laws
Latest FAQ amendments make poker networks accountable for their skins. The UK Gambling Commission has updated its FAQs on “Implementing the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act,” clarifying the responsibility that poker networks have for the poker skins that use them.
EU Commission Publishes Online Gambling Consumer Protection Recommendations
EU’s failure to overcome political objections to EU-wide measures visible in latest policy document. The EU Commission has published a recommendation “on principles for the protection of consumers and players of online gambling services and for the prevention of minors from gambling online.”
Malta Asks CJEU to Define Illegal Betting
The battle for primacy over gambling regulation leads to another court case in the EU. The “Draft Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions” has provided Malta with an opportunity to force a decision on the EU wide validity of its gambling licenses.
Netherlands Council of Ministers Approves Differential Tax Rates
20% gambling taxes plus 2% of turnover for online operators and 29% gambling tax for land based casinos. The Dutch Council of Ministers has approved the text of proposed new gaming laws even though they have not yet been approved by the EU Commission.
Chico Poker Defies Seasonal Trend to Reach 2014 High
A 35% increase in cash game traffic puts Chico ahead of WPN in the rankings. The Chico Poker Network has had a major upswing in cash game traffic over the last month.
Adjarabet Hand Strength Promo Stimulates Traffic
Cash game activity at Georgian poker room up 19%. Georgia-based Adjarabet has turned its cash game traffic around since the introduction of its Big Hands for Cash promotion which features a unique weekly leaderboard.
bwin France Promotion Offers Tickets to FIBA Basketball World Cup
Package for two gives poker site a unique opportunity to leverage its FIBA partnership. Through its partnership with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), bwin France is currently promoting a series of freerolls and low buy-in poker tournaments to win a package for two to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.
