Lead Features
Exclusive News Articles
PokerStars Drums Up Anniversary Sunday Million with Freerolls, Satellites
PokerStars’ anniversary Sunday Million, scheduled for this Sunday, March 2, is destined to be one of the largest in recent history—and PokerStars is running a series of promotions to get players in seats.
Gioco Digitale Runs Satellites for Playboy VIP Party
Lifestyle prizes provide effective advertisement—none more so than the chance to play a Sit and Go surrounded by Playmates. Italian regulated site Gioco Digitale is jumping on the back of the World Poker Tour WPT Venice VIP Playboy party and running satellites that give players a chance to end up sat next to a Playboy Playmate.
Players Broadly Support PokerStars’ New Buy-in Obligations System
Positive feedback on PokerStars’ ratholing “solution.” Response to PokerStars’ new obligations system that aims to reduce ratholing in its cash games has been broadly supported by players on Two Plus Two.
New Jersey Cash Game Traffic Suggests Growth Unlikely in Feb Revenues
Spring is coming later than planned to the New Jersey market. A flat February indicates that the revenue figures from New Jersey’s regulated online gaming sites are unlikely to show much growth.
Playtech Cooperates with Italian Regulator: Tells Skins Get a License or Get Out
A short section of Playtech’s annual report exposed the network’s new compliance strategy. A piece in Playtech’s 2013 Annual Report highlights the direction the world’s largest online poker network is taking to manage compliance issues—the company is working in cooperation with Italian regulator AAMS to tackle the problem of the “gray” market.
PKR Carves Out a Niche in France
The smallest online poker room in the French regulated market is also the best performing. PKR France is the smallest ARJEL-regulated online poker room in France but, rather than following the declining trend in French online poker, it has managed to improve its position.
Two Plus Two’s New Jersey Tournament Series Attracts 49
“BANJO!” tournament series hosted on 888poker NJ gets underway. The first monthly “BANJO!” tournament ran last Sunday, attracting 49 players to the private New Jersey MTT.
Winamax Billion Hand Promo Propels it into Top 5
Temporary bump pushes partypoker down to sixth. The Winamax billionth hand promotion is having the same impact on its cash game traffic statistics as the equivalent promotion had for PokerStars—measured by 7 day moving average (DMA), Winamax is now ranked number five in the worldwide traffic rankings.
PokerStars Celebrates Portuguese “Carnaval”
Brazilian and Portuguese players get nationally-restricted tournaments to mark the beginning of Spring. In Portuguese speaking countries the end of the winter and beginning of Spring is celebrated by the festival of “Carnaval,” and PokerStars has special promotions in Portugal and Brazil to celebrate.
Borgata Opts for Income Access to Power its Affiliate Program
The decision to use a third party software and marketing service provider implies a commitment to increase affiliate marketing in New Jersey. The Borgata half of the partypoker New Jersey Borgata Poker network has signed a deal to use Income Access affiliate software to manage its affiliate program.
Bulgaria Publishes New, Lower Licensing Fees
PokerStars is likely to be joined by other operators as low taxes and license fees make the Bulgarian licenses a cheaper option. The Bulgarian State Gambling Commission (SGC) has published the gaming license fees to be imposed following newly amended laws. Fees and gaming taxes have been reduced substantially.
Playtech Bullish About Poker’s “Secular Decline”
Playtech’s annual report shows profits up 26%—while poker declined 18%. Playtech described the 17% fall in its half year results as a “secular” decline—over the full year 2013, the annual report shows that poker fell 18%. Despite the fall and repeating the belief of online poker’s malaise, this report was upbeat about poker’s prospects.
PartyPoker Pokerfest Returns With More Realistic Ambitions
Last year’s Pokerfest, with over $4m guaranteed, suffered technical problems, with the first five events being cancelled. Partypoker’s Pokerfest tournament series returns from March 2 to March 16.
Regular Weekly Columns
Checking Around
In our industry-focused picks from the discussion forums this week: A satisfying conclusion to a Skrill account hack, a prominent heads up account closure on PokerStars, dealers choice games online, and more.
Traffic Watch
Pokerfuse PRO’s exclusive review of the online poker market across international, US and regulated European markets.
Regulation in Review: US
A weekly review of the latest developments in gaming regulation in the US. This week: Nevada, Delaware, California and Illinois.
The Deal
Promotional highlights of the week, including PokerStars, Full Tilt, 888poker NJ, partypoker and Borgata.
Regulation in Review: Europe and Beyond
A weekly review of the latest developments in gaming regulation outside the US. This week: France, Italy, Portugal, UK, Bulgaria, Sweden and the Isle of Man.
