Best of PRO This Week: Money Laundering, Swedish Poker and India's Game of Skill Ruling

Key Takeaways

German Professor Posts Presentation on Money Laundering in Online Gaming.
Svenska Spel Q3: Growth Continues, But Foreign Operators Still Blamed for Loss of Customers.
Indian High Court Dismisses Charges Against Poker Players, Rules Poker a Game of Skill.

Lead Features

German Professor Posts Presentation on Money Laundering in Online Gaming

Hamburg Professor Ingo Fiedler is one of the foremost academic experts consulted on the issue of money laundering in online gambling. Hamburg University Economics Professor Ingo Fiedler has posted several of his anti-money laundering presentations at the public domain science site academia.edu.

Svenska Spel Q3: Growth Continues, But Foreign Operators Still Blamed for Loss of Customers

4.5% growth in the first three quarters of the year with 3% growth forecast for the longer term. Swedish state-owned online gaming monopoly Svenska Spel’s third quarter report shows its performance indicators moving in the right direction, but it continues to blame the impact of foreign operators that operate unlicensed in Sweden.

Indian High Court Dismisses Charges Against Poker Players, Rules Poker a Game of Skill

Indian Poker Association says criminal cases “humiliated and harassed” aspiring poker players. The Indian Poker Association (IPA) has complained to the High Court in Karnataka, India about police harassment of poker players.

Exclusive News Articles

Gibraltar Chief Minister Says No Legal Challenge to UK POC Tax

Gibraltar Minister will hold talks with UK government about the issue but will not challenge the new tax at the EU level. Gibraltar’s Chief Minister has said that the Government of Gibraltar does not plan to take legal action against the UK’s proposed point of consumption tax.

PokerStars to Deal 1 Billionth Hand in Spain

A 30% traffic spike is expected as the traditional countdown with milestones commences. PokerStars is counting down to the 1 billionth hand on its regulated Spanish site PokerStars.ES.

Betfair Confirms Trump Plaza Partnership, Plans Marketing Push

“Multi-faceted marketing campaign” across TV, billboards and online will follow its current “Lets Play NJ” teaser websites. UK-based online betting exchange Betfair has confirmed its long rumored partnership with the Trump Plaza casino in New Jersey, and has revealed further details on its planned marketing push in the state.

Amaya Gaming to Power Online Poker and Casino for Golden Nugget

Amaya confirms it has struck a revenue share deal with Landry’s which will see Ongame used by Golden Nugget’s online poker. Amaya Gaming has confirmed that it has been chosen by the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino to provide the online poker and casino platform for its New Jersey online operation.

Rational Group Fast-Fold Poker Patent Rejected

The Rush Poker patent application inherited from Full Tilt has failed to impress the US Patent Office. The US Patent Office (USPTO) has issued a final rejection of the fast-fold poker patent action originally filed for Full Tilt’s Rush Poker.

Bulgaria May Reduce Gaming Taxes to Attract Foreign Operators

The current 15% rate is seen as a deterrent to operators who face few consequences remaining in the “gray” market. A month after issuing its first online gambling license, the Bulgarian parliament is considering reducing its 15% gaming taxes to induce more foreign operators to apply for licenses.

Tropicana Receives NJ Online Gaming Permit

Gamesys-partnered Tropicana receives fifth online gaming permit in New Jersey. Tropicana has become the fifth casino in New Jersey to receive a permit to offer online gaming in the state.

UK Gambling Commission Issues FAQ on Implementiation of New Gambling Bill

Question and answer document provides an overview of new online gaming law. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has posted an FAQ document on its website which outlines the impact of the proposed Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill.

Amaya Gaming Plans to Sell WagerLogic, Owner of InterPoker

$70 million is the purchase price for the company Amaya acquired in April last year as part of its Cryptologic acquisition. In a complex transaction which will continue a strategy of selling B2C businesses, Amaya Gaming Group plans to sell WagerLogic, operator of the once-iconic InterPoker online poker room.

Malta, Alderney Commissions Sign MoU

The Maltese Lotteries & Gaming Authority (LGA) and Alderney’s Gambling Control Board (AGCC) have entered into a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further cooperation between the two jurisdictions.

ARJEL Q3 Report: French Cash Game Poker Plunges Another 21%

After last quarter’s 16% fall, French cash game poker may generate over a billion euros less than in 2011. According to the third quarter from French Regulator ARJEL, cash game poker revenues have accelerated their decline, down 21% on the same period last year.

Belgian Sites are the Latest Target For Bulgaria’s Blacklist

Belgian-regulated Win2day and Circus.BE join the big names on Bulgaria’s blacklist. The Bulgarian State Gambling Commission has added another 10 sites to its blacklist. Six of the ten are Belgian dot.BE sites.

Best of PRO This Week: Money Laundering, Swedish Poker and India’s Game of Skill Ruling