Business & Financial
Wynn Resorts Applies for Nevada Online Poker License: In Talks With Zynga
Wynn Resorts has applied for an online poker license in the state of Nevada this week, possibly signaling the entry of Zynga into the real money poker arena in the United States.
Wynn had entered into a partnership with PokerStars just weeks before that company was indicted by the US Justice Department last year. It immediately pulled out of that arrangement.
Entraction Poker Network Seeks Nevada Approval Despite Purple Lounge Debacle
Despite its hosting a now failed online poker room, the Entraction Poker Network is moving full steam ahead to try and obtain a license to operate a Web card room within the state of Nevada. Entraction is owned by Swedish gaming firm International Game Technology (IGT).
William Hill Finally Receives Approval to Operate in Nevada
After an excruciating process, the United Kingdom’s largest bookmaker William Hill has finally gained access into the US market after Nevada regulators approved its application to run a handful of sports betting enterprises.
Revolution Gaming Now the Biggest US-Facing Online Poker Network: WSOP Updates
The rebranded Cake Network, now featuring Lock Poker and calling itself Revolution Gaming, has overtaken Merge to become the most trafficked US-facing online poker network.
Its 24 hour peak Saturday morning was 1947 compared to Merge at 1767. Microgaming, meanwhile, managed to inch up a notch to number 9. Revolution was expected to surpass Microgaming in terms of overall traffic by the end of the weekend, however.
Brandon Schaefer Wins Event #14: No-Limit Hold'em Shootout (2,000 player max)
Merge Poker Falls Two Spots: Revolution Gaming Just 60 Players Off
Merge Gaming has fallen from the number 8 spot of most trafficked online poker rooms to number 10 early Thursday morning while Revolution Gaming was now within a mere 60 players average.
Bally Technologies Becomes Nevada’s First Licensed Online Poker Site: Will Hill Still Shut Out
Bally Technologies, which earlier in the year partnered up with France online poker venture Chili Gaming, has been granted the first license to operate a Web poker site by the state of Nevada. For now the fee is $125,000 but could be reduced at a later date.
PokerStars Cancels Macau Poker Cup August Events
No reason was given as to why PokerStars abruptly cancelled its Macau Poker Cup August events on Wednesday.
The world’s largest real money online poker company and sponsor of the European Poker Tour (EPT) only cited “events beyond our reasonable control”.
Future Macau Poker events remain in limbo.
Everleaf Gaming Attempts to Pay Back US Players Not Genuine Claims Processor
A payment processor is claiming that the Everleaf Gaming Network was offered the opportunity to pay back US players but declined to do so.
Chuck Kidd, head of Costa Rica-based PICCLUB, an online payment processor, told PokerFuse.com he offered to facilitate payment to US customers through his company but that they refused.
William Hill Shuts Down Australia Website: May be Trying to Appease Nevada Regulators
England’s largest bookmaker, William Hill, has shut down its Australian website this week as a means of protecting its pending application for a Nevada Gaming license.
Online Poker Rakeback to be Paid Hourly at Revolution Gaming, Lock Poker
The Revolution Gaming Network entered the online poker industry last week with a bang, offering 36 percent rakeback and now comes word rakeback will be paid hourly at rooms such as Lock and Cake.
Revolution debuted following Lock Poker’s acquisition of the Cake Poker Network. Cake itself remains a pivotal skin on the network and still features its own brand of casino games.
Blaze Poker, the Latest Fast Online Poker Variant Comes to BetVictor, Ladbrokes
Following in the footsteps of Rush Poker, Zoom and Fast, BetVictor.com has introduced Blaze Poker, the latest variant that allows players to join a communal pool then reseat seamlessly at a new table once they complete or fold. This is online poker network Microgaming’s entry into the speed poker sector.
Up to 300 hands can be played per hour with Blaze, that is four to five times more than under traditional rules. Initially Blaze Poker is available at six-handed tables.
Revolution Gaming Officially Almost 2nd Largest US-Facing Online Poker Network
It is expected to happen within the next 24 hours (by the end of June 5, 2012) that the Revolution Gaming Network will become the 2nd biggest in the US market.
PokerStars Obtains Spain Gaming License
PokerStars has been awarded a license to operate in Spain and will launch www.PokerStars.es on June 5 to serve the Spanish online poker market, the company announced today.
Illinois Internet Poker Bill Dead for Now
A measure to legalize Internet poker in the state of Illinois has died this past week.
PokerFuse.com reports that the piece of legislation, sponsored by State Senate President John Cullerton (D), was quietly shelved on Tuesday following after failing to receive the required third reading.
Revolution Gaming Could Overtake Merge Within a Month
The newly branded Revolution Gaming Network, featuring the likes of Lock Poker, Cake Poker and Intertops, the world’s first online gambling website, is expected to rank as the most trafficked US-facing online poker network by the end of June based on current trending data, overtaking what is currently the biggest North American-facing Web poker network, Merge Gaming.
Utah Poker Players Locked Out of Lock: Other State Players Now Welcome
The new Revolution Gaming Network appears to be following the new US model for online poker whereby individual states have been given the green light to offer Web gambling at the local level while others can elect to opt out.
Lock Poker Departure Spells Dramatic Loss for Merge
Preliminary numbers are in and it appears the Merge Gaming Network will see a sharp decline in traffic following the exit of marquee brand Lock Poker.
Lock left Merge May 31, 2012, citing “growing pains”. It has since started a brand new online poker network, combining forces with Cake Poker to develop the Revolution Gaming Network.
PokerStars Changes Rake Structure Again
PokerStars has opted to reduce its rake structure during the first part of this year just as the likes of the new Revolution Gaming Network and Merge Gaming increase theirs.
Fixed limit rake at Stars at $1/2 and $2/4 will be reduced, with the caps at 3-4 handed dropping from 80c to 70c and those at 5+ handed also cut, according to a statement released by the company Thursday.
The size of VIP bonuses will also be reduced along with their corresponding FPP cost. The value itself remains unchanged.
Poker Pro Daniel “Jungleman” Cates Joins Matchbook.com
The popular betting exchange, Matchbook.com, has begun maneuvering itself within the online poker arena. They announced the addition of Poker Pro Daniel “Jungleman” Cates to their roster on Thursday just as the 2012 World Series of Poker got underway.
Matchbook.com already features the likes of two-time bracelet winner JP Kelly, European Poker Tour winner Roberto Romanello, Matt Perrins, James Akenhead and last year’s WSOP “Bubble Boy”, John Hewitt.
Revolution Gaming Network Surpasses Merge in Terms of Worldwide Traffic
The Revolution Gaming Network is just barely 24 hours old yet it still managed to bypass the most trafficked US-facing online poker network, Merge, as of Friday morning.
At 9:30 am ET, Revolution had 585 cash players while Merge had 526. The 24-hour peak was showing Merge a few hundred greater than the Revolution Gaming Network at 1826 compared to 1489 for Revolution. The later site has barely been up for more than 24 hours with many customers still coming on board throughout the day.
Purple Lounge Casino, Poker Customers Likely Screwed
Troubled Purple Lounge Casino and Poker is now in liquidation with customers not likely to see any of their funds returned.
Parent company, Media Corp PLC announced the liquidation on Thursday with all staff being laid off. Media Corp Chairman Phil Jackson claims Purple Lounge had “historical operational and financial failings”.
Lock Poker Launches on the Revolution Network: $4000 Bonus Being Offered
Lock Poker has officially begun operating on the newly branded Revolution Gaming Network, completing major updates as of Thursday May 31, 2012 at 9:45 am ET with most updates complete. MAC customers will be able to play very shortly.
Lock joined forces with the Cake Network to oversee rebranding. The popular online poker room had previously existed on the Merge Gaming Network.
Online Poker Promotions June 2012: Cake Announces Massive Tournament Increase
As of June 1, popular online poker site, Cake Poker is increasing the size and frequency of its Guaranteed Poker Tournaments within an entirely new tournament line-up. To mark this occasion, Cake Poker is featuring two special tournaments on June 3rd – a $100,000 Guarantee and a $75,000 Guaranteed Super Stack. Additionally in June, Cake Poker has increased their first deposit bonus and is launching a $30,000 Gold Champs 2012 Tournament Series which mirrors the Euro 2012 football events.
PartyPoker Investing US$50m Over the Next Two Years in Social Media Site
PartyPoker parent company bwin.party has announced plans to invest US$50m over the past two years in a standalone social media website.
The social gaming unit, called Win, will be headed up by former Mytopia and Amuso CEO Barak Rabinowitz, it was revealed on Wednesday.
Assets from social gaming companies Velasco Services and Orneon Limited have already been acquired by Party to “accelerate our market entry”.
Online Poker Auto Top Up and Auto Buy-In Features Unveiled at Americas Cardroom
Americas Cardroom, known for some of the fastest payouts in the online poker world, has just announced new Auto Top Up and Auto Buy-In features. These are sure to grab the attention of players across the globe.
3D Online Gambling: The Next Big Thing
PKR Poker gets credit for launching what is truly one of the best – not to mention ONLY – 3D online poker sites way ahead of its time. 2012 looks like it will be the year of the 3D online gambling site.
A few have followed in PKR’s footsteps: Among them, Ladbrokes Poker and 888 Poker.
Bingo3X sent out a press release Tuesday describing the virtues of their newly developed 3D online gambling platform:
Revolution Gaming Splash Page Preview
The Revolution is here! Well, it gets underway officially on June 1, 2012. That’s when online poker players around the world will get to take advantage of the new Revolution Gaming, a rebranding of the former Cake Poker Network.
Cake Poker itself will still be on the network. That Gambling911.com endorsed online poker room will be joined by Lock Poker, which is overseeing the new Revolution Gaming Network.
Poker rooms on the network, including the first ever established online gambling website Intertops.com, will offer various promotions and tournament schedules.
World Series of Poker to Have its Own Live In-Game Scoreboard
At this year’s World Series of Poker, the game will join the ranks of professional sports by offering fans a live in-game scoreboard.
The company tasked with providing this new technology is PageMail. The new software to be used by dealers is called ChipTic.
Bracelet events will feature dealers handling a Blackberry- tablet inputting various data.
Merge Poker Moves Into Number 7 Place for First Time
Merge Gaming has moved into the number 7 position of the world’s most trafficked online poker networks for the first time ever. Merge has sat in the number 8 position for the past few months. Winamax.fr moves down a notch.
In an ironic twist, Merge will be losing one of its biggest licensees June 1 when Lock Poker forms its own network, which will essentially be a rebranding of the Cake Network. Cake is currently ranked as the 21st most trafficked in the world, according to PokerScout.com.
PokerStars Ranked Among UK Top Employers
PokerStars has been selected as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces by The Great Place to Work® Institute, the world’s largest consultancy specialising in workplace assessment and enhancement. In order to establish the best workplaces, the Institute annually surveys employees and performs a cultural audit of some 5,500 organizations around the world representing 10 million employees. Companies are grouped and ranked in their respective countries on workplace values of credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.
