Best of PRO This Week: Euro Markets, NJ Regs and Winning Big Pots

Key Takeaways

Keep An Eye Out For New Players Who Win Big Pots.
The Fast Way to Lose Money Gambling: Operate in Europe’s Regulated Markets.

Lead Features

Keep An Eye Out For New Players Who Win Big Pots

In this exclusive guest post, Dave Thornton, founder of online data vendor Skill in Games, looks at the data behind new player retention following their first big win. We’ve all seen it happen—after dragging a big pot, a player often relaxes, and starts getting involved in more hands. The data is clear: from an operator’s perspective, this is not a good reaction.

The Fast Way to Lose Money Gambling: Operate in Europe’s Regulated Markets

A report on Spain’s gambling market by JDigital and Deloitte uses international comparisons to argue for a gaming tax reduction to 10%. A new report by Deloitte and the Spanish Association of Online Gaming (JDigital) points out that online gambling in Europe’s regulated markets is a losing proposition for the operator. The report focuses on Spain where operators made net losses of €72.5m last year.

Exclusive News Articles

Public Comments Prompt Changes to New Jersey iGaming Regulations

The New Jersey Division of Gambling Enforcement has issued notice that it will be adopting a revised version of its Internet gaming regulations effective October 21. Changes to the regulations are a result of feedback provided during a 60-day public comment period.

Over Intelligence: Subscription iGaming Mags in Branding Spat

iGaming subscription site Gaming Intelligence fired a thinly-veiled shot at its competitor eGaming Review (EGR) Thursday over an apparent similarity in the “intelligence” branding.

US Virgin Islands Legislature Votes for Internet Gambling

The 15-strong single chamber legislature has approved amendments to existing laws that will allow internet gambling licenses to be issued. The Legislature on the US Virgin Islands has voted to amend internet gambling legislation. The legislation received ten votes in favor and four against with one absentee.

Early Q3 Statement Reports Lower Profits at Will Hill as the Punters Got lucky

Poor football results and a weak digital performance took profits £20m below expectations. William Hill plc has put out an early third quarter Interim Management Statement to report that bad football results have hurt revenues.

UKGC Shares With Singapore

The new Chief Executive of Singapore’s Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chief Executive of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).

Partouche Seeks Legal Protection from Creditors

Debts of €233m held by US financial fund threaten to overwhelm the French casino operator. A Paris court has granted an application by Groupe Partouche to be placed in a “safeguard” legal process. The company has outstanding debts of €233.7m.

Netherlands Ends Consultation Period on Gambling Law Amendments

Over 50 responses have been published on the government website; others have been kept private. The consultation period for amendments to the Netherlands Betting and Gaming Act 1964 has now closed. Following a period of review, the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice will produce a final text—the new law is expected to come into force early in 2015.

WPN, Revolution, Merge Neck and Neck in US Offshore Market

For the first time, WPN nudges ahead of both its competitors to take the #2 spot in the dot-com US-facing market, while Revolution slips to #4. Three of the four top online poker networks that continue to accept players in the US are practically tied in online poker traffic, the latest data reveals.

Amaya Gaming Moves to the Main Canadian Stock Market

After several years on the Venture market Amaya has qualified for a listing on the biggest stock market in Canada. Amaya Gaming is making the big leap from the Canadian TSX Venture Exchange to the main Canadian market, the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

Rational Group Recruits Betfair Exec to Lead Full Tilt Casino

Sam Hobcraft becomes the new Director of Gaming for the Rational Group. Betfair’s ex-director of gaming Sam Hobcraft will take charge of adding casino games to Full Tilt Poker. The Rational Group announced the new product strategy for Full Tilt in July and Hobcraft was appointed in August.

GeoBet Moves to Fast-Fold Instadeal Network

Online operator Geobet.com has moved its online poker room from the Merge Gaming Network to Instadeal.

Traffic Report: Nevada Online Poker Market Still Below Ultimate Poker’s Early Peak

Technical difficulties and cashier restrictions contributed to an early market plateau. Despite the launch of WSOP.com and the seasonal growth that poker markets traditionally expect at the end of the Summer, the Nevada market has failed to maintain an upwards momentum.

Guatemala Considers New Gambling Control Board

Proposals for a gambling commission dropped from a 2010 bill have resurfaced as politicians seek efficient tax collection. The Guatemalan Economic Committee of Congress is considering the establishment of a new Gaming Control Board to oversee the introduction of new gambling laws.

Bulgaria Blacklists Winamax

Ten more additions to the Bulgarian blacklist highlight dysfunctional EU laws. The latest ten additions to the Bulgarian State Gambling Commission (SGC) blacklist include Winamax, which is regulated by ARJEL in France.

Austrian Study Finds Few Risks of Money Laundering in Online Poker

TÜV Trust IT GmbH has published the findings of its economic study into money laundering risks which concludes with a plan to eradicate the risk. The Austrian company TÜV Trust IT has published an economic study “Online Poker: Possible Money Laundering and its Prevention” which suggests that policymakers have exaggerated the risks of money laundering in online poker.