Regular Weekly Columns
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 PokerStars, partypoker, Adjarabet, Europe-Bet, iPoker France and PokerStars France.
Regulation in Review: US
A weekly review of the latest developments in gaming regulation in the US. This week: Nevada, Delaware, Washington and more.
Regulation in Review: Europe and Beyond
A weekly review of the latest developments in gaming regulation outside the US. This week: The EU, UK, Sweden, India, Denmark, Hungary, Canada, Gibraltar, Spain & PokerStars.
Checking Around
Industry-focused picks from discussion forums and social media this week.
Exclusive News Articles
partypoker Flip Flop Festival Provides Volume Based Rewards
The promotion is restricted to “casual cash games” and the reward bonuses must also be cleared on the single table format. The latest missions on partypoker form part of a Flip Flop Festival, and are designed to encourage play at the poker room’s “casual cash game” tables.
Italy Plans to Use the Tax Collector to Target Gray Market Financial Transactions
As part of a wider clamp down on tax evasion, players and operators will be targeted by the tax man. Italy looks set to use the tax authorities to crack down on non-nationally licensed online gaming.
Partypoker Trials “Hit or Miss” Tournament Format
Every other finishing place is a “miss” in this new MTT innovation. Partypoker has introduced a new “Hit or Miss” tournament game where, once the money bubble has broken, every other player that busts is a “miss” and receives only a consolation freeroll ticket. The resulting “hits” therefore pay out more than regular tournaments.
William Hill, FullTilt.EU Join Hungarian Blacklist
Full Tilt joins sibling PokerStars on another regulatory blacklist. Every few days there is a new announcement from the Hungarian Department of Gambling Supervision about the latest additions to its black list.
Italian Market Slump Ignores Seasonal Recovery
The market is just 4% above its 2014 low, and has been trending down for two months. The Italian market’s cash game traffic is now just 4% above its 2014 low which it reached on June 30.
Belgian Gaming Commission Wants Jurisdiction Over Play Money Gaming
Playmoney poker and blackjack can lead children to real money sites where they risk developing gambling problems according to the BGC. The Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC) has asked for its powers to be increased so that it can restrict play money gambling “apps.”
Europe-Bet Rockets on Two Kings Promotion
Cash game traffic gains of 65% make Two Kings a promotion to watch. Europe-Bet cash game traffic has seen a staggering increase of 65% since it started its Two Kings promotion.
iPoker France Doubles Events in the Poker Masters Festival
Events double but guarantees are up by 25%. The first Poker Masters Festival ran on the iPoker France network in January with 31 events—the second iteration of the tournament series features 69 guaranteed prize pool tournaments.
Lower Saxony Tries to Block Financial Transactions for German Players
German banks must abide by German laws—at least until they can be challenged in the courts. The German state of Lower Saxony is spearheading attempts to get banks to stop processing financial transactions for unlicensed online gambling.
UKGC Extends Transitional License Application Window
Characteristic British flexibility in the face of chaotic circumstances. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has extended the deadlines for continuation licenses after the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) legal challenge led to a one month delay in the implementation of the new licensing regime.
Bet365 Moves Online Operations from UK to Gibraltar
New UK laws are having the opposite effect from that intended. Bet365 has taken an unexpected decision to move its online gambling operations from its headquarters in the UK to Gibraltar.
Full Tilt Moves Ahead of Partypoker
An Easy Bonus promotion takes Full Tilt into 4th place. Full Tilt looks to have found a promotion which has had a real impact on its cash game traffic. In the last week traffic has increased by 12%.
WCOOP Main Biggest Since Black Friday
2142 entrants pay the $5200 to play in the biggest online poker tournament of the year. The Main Event of PokerStars’ World Championship of Online Poker has seen the highest turnout of the last four years.
The WSOP Effect Wears Off in Nevada—Online Poker Revenues Drop 22.5%
Another revenue increase is expected following the launch of 888 within the next six months. Record online poker revenues in June could not be sustained through July and fell off dramatically in August as Nevada posted a 22.5% monthly decrease in online poker revenues.
Delaware Online Poker Revenues Rise 23% in August, But 2015 Could Bring a Boom
Dover Downs loses 8%, but Harrington and Delaware Park make gains. July’s 22% monthly gain was joined by an 23% revenue increase in August, to take the Delaware online poker market firmly out of the seasonal summer low.
CJEU Determines that Lower Taxes for Internet Gambling are Legal
Denmark’s differential tax system has been ruled lawful and may now be used by the Netherlands. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that differential tax rates may be applied to online and land based gambling in EU countries.
Marco Trucco to Take Over as Head of PokerStars Italy
Barbara Beltrami is replaced after six years at the helm. After over six years in post, PokerStars Country Manager for Italy Barbara Beltrami is leaving, to be replaced by Marco Trucco, current Gaming Director of Eurobet.
