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Latvian regulator publishes gambling website blacklist

 The Latvia Lotteries and Gambling Supervision Inspection, the IAUI, has published a blacklist of gambling websites.

The websites will not be allowed to operate in the country.
The websites include leading services such as Bwin.com, Pokerstars.eu, Unibet.com, Unibet.net Betway.com, Fulltilt, Poker.eu, Pokerstars.com, 888.com, Bet365.com, Betfair.com and Williamhill.com.
Other websites named on the blacklist include Triobet.com, Betsafe.com, 888games.com, 888play.com, Expekt.com, Spinpalace.com, Casino.com, Betsson.com and Casinoeuro.com.
The blacklist has been published under the basis of the Electronic Communications Law, beginning on August 1.
In May, the regulator signed a co-operation agreement with the gambling authorities in Latvia’s neighbouring Baltic states of Lithuania and Estonia covering the “sharing or exchange of good practices in the field of supervision and control of the organisation of lotteries and gambling”.
Author: Ekaterina
07 . 08 . 2014 y.
Despite Overlays, Equity Network (Full Flush | Pokerhost) Adds To MTT Guarantees and Promotions

 Full Flush Poker and Pokerhost, the two primary online poker rooms on the Equity Network (EPN), have been aggressive with their promotion towards US players. Particularly in the area of tournament guarantees, where they haven't been afraid to lose money in the short term to reach long-term goals.

Since April, when Pokerhost joined the network, Equity has seen steady traffic increases in both cash game and multi-table tournament traffic. The curious part of this trend has been the increase in foot traffic in MTT's through the typically slow summer months. Curious, that is, until you look at how it was accomplished.
5,083 players sat down in $1,000 guaranteed and higher tournaments held Monday through Friday on Equity in April. That number held through May (5,038 players) and increased slightly in June (5,400 estimated, adjusted due to non-tracked week of 6/2-6/6). However, July saw a bump to 7,241 players thanks to increases in their two nightly signature events and the addition of a $2,000 GTD "Beat The Heat" MTT at 3pm EST. The 8pm tournament was moved from $1.5k GTD to $3,000 GTD, while the 10pm turbo event went from $1k GTD to $1,500 GTD (and $2k GTD on Fridays).
Saturday and Sunday traffic in $1k GTD and higher events has nearly doubled from a total of 2,747 players in April to 4,560 players in July. Where once there were $5,000 and $10,000 GTD tournaments, there are now $10,000 and $15,000 GTD events, with a special $25k GTD Blitz tournament held sporadically every month or so. There's also plans for a $50,000 GTD event in September, with a buy-in of just $35+$3.50. At least 1,429 players would have to enter for this MTT to reach its guarantee, which would be the highest amount of players for an event on Equity since its inception.
All of this has happened over the past four months. During what many consider to be the worst time to increase promotions, as the summer usually is the time for players to take a break and enjoy some sun. And while Equity may not be near the levels of other US-facing poker sites in terms of player traffic, they are one of the few seeing increases in this area - and no one is doing it at a faster clip percentage wise.
Equity has proven that overlays can be used as an effective promotional tool and is one of the only online poker entities to consistently raise tournament guarantees despite losing money on their events. EPN featured just over $10,000 in overlays in April, around $26,000 in May, over $27,000 in June (again, where we missed 6 days of tracking), and nearly $46,000 worth of overlays in July. Equity would set a tournament guarantee, watch as player traffic increased to the point of reaching the guarantee, and then increase it again.
Rinse, wash, and repeat across the board.
The network broke even profit-wise on their tournament schedule in April, lost around $14,000 in May, $20,000 in June, and then lost about $42,000 in July. This isn't a large sum of money compared to the network's overall revenue stream, as their casino-side operations more than make up for the loss of funds on poker tournaments. But it speaks more to their desire to give players more of what they want, and with the fall season nearing, you can expect things to continue in this direction.
Equity also gives players unique bonuses for making initial and reload deposits. The newest initial deposit offer includes a ticket into a $5,000 freeroll tournament in September. But players can also earn 20% instant cash back on deposits of $50 or more, up to a total of $200 in cash back that is instantly credited to your account. Players depositing $1,000 or more earn an extra 10% cash back as well, up to $200. These aren't timed bonuses released after playthrough - these are instant credit bonuses just for making a deposit.
Full Flush and Pokerhost both still offer the standard playthrough bonus, however. Initial deposits earn 150% up to $600, while players can get 50% up to $750 for reload deposits.
A new promotion in August also adds leaderboard competitions to the arsenal of EPN's approach to winning over players. Players earn points by finishing high in core MTT's during the week and also by earning Player Option Points (POP) during the month. The player at the end of the year with the most points will earn a $10,000 cash prize, according to the Full Flush Poker website.
It all equals a bold approach for a network looking to enter into a stiff market. US-friendly online poker sites and networks have been manuevering all year long in the hopes of attracting a fresh wave of players. But no one has done it as uniquely as the Equity Poker Network, who hopes their original ideas lead them towards offering up real competition to the likes of Bovada, Carbon Poker | Merge Gaming, and America's Cardroom | Winning Poker Network.
Author: Ekaterina
06 . 08 . 2014 y.
Despite Overlays, Equity Network (Full Flush | Pokerhost) Adds To MTT Guarantees and Promotions

 Full Flush Poker and Pokerhost, the two primary online poker rooms on the Equity Network (EPN), have been aggressive with their promotion towards US players. Particularly in the area of tournament guarantees, where they haven't been afraid to lose money in the short term to reach long-term goals.

Since April, when Pokerhost joined the network, Equity has seen steady traffic increases in both cash game and multi-table tournament traffic. The curious part of this trend has been the increase in foot traffic in MTT's through the typically slow summer months. Curious, that is, until you look at how it was accomplished.
5,083 players sat down in $1,000 guaranteed and higher tournaments held Monday through Friday on Equity in April. That number held through May (5,038 players) and increased slightly in June (5,400 estimated, adjusted due to non-tracked week of 6/2-6/6). However, July saw a bump to 7,241 players thanks to increases in their two nightly signature events and the addition of a $2,000 GTD "Beat The Heat" MTT at 3pm EST. The 8pm tournament was moved from $1.5k GTD to $3,000 GTD, while the 10pm turbo event went from $1k GTD to $1,500 GTD (and $2k GTD on Fridays).
Saturday and Sunday traffic in $1k GTD and higher events has nearly doubled from a total of 2,747 players in April to 4,560 players in July. Where once there were $5,000 and $10,000 GTD tournaments, there are now $10,000 and $15,000 GTD events, with a special $25k GTD Blitz tournament held sporadically every month or so. There's also plans for a $50,000 GTD event in September, with a buy-in of just $35+$3.50. At least 1,429 players would have to enter for this MTT to reach its guarantee, which would be the highest amount of players for an event on Equity since its inception.
All of this has happened over the past four months. During what many consider to be the worst time to increase promotions, as the summer usually is the time for players to take a break and enjoy some sun. And while Equity may not be near the levels of other US-facing poker sites in terms of player traffic, they are one of the few seeing increases in this area - and no one is doing it at a faster clip percentage wise.
Equity has proven that overlays can be used as an effective promotional tool and is one of the only online poker entities to consistently raise tournament guarantees despite losing money on their events. EPN featured just over $10,000 in overlays in April, around $26,000 in May, over $27,000 in June (again, where we missed 6 days of tracking), and nearly $46,000 worth of overlays in July. Equity would set a tournament guarantee, watch as player traffic increased to the point of reaching the guarantee, and then increase it again.
Rinse, wash, and repeat across the board.
The network broke even profit-wise on their tournament schedule in April, lost around $14,000 in May, $20,000 in June, and then lost about $42,000 in July. This isn't a large sum of money compared to the network's overall revenue stream, as their casino-side operations more than make up for the loss of funds on poker tournaments. But it speaks more to their desire to give players more of what they want, and with the fall season nearing, you can expect things to continue in this direction.
Equity also gives players unique bonuses for making initial and reload deposits. The newest initial deposit offer includes a ticket into a $5,000 freeroll tournament in September. But players can also earn 20% instant cash back on deposits of $50 or more, up to a total of $200 in cash back that is instantly credited to your account. Players depositing $1,000 or more earn an extra 10% cash back as well, up to $200. These aren't timed bonuses released after playthrough - these are instant credit bonuses just for making a deposit.
Full Flush and Pokerhost both still offer the standard playthrough bonus, however. Initial deposits earn 150% up to $600, while players can get 50% up to $750 for reload deposits.
A new promotion in August also adds leaderboard competitions to the arsenal of EPN's approach to winning over players. Players earn points by finishing high in core MTT's during the week and also by earning Player Option Points (POP) during the month. The player at the end of the year with the most points will earn a $10,000 cash prize, according to the Full Flush Poker website.
It all equals a bold approach for a network looking to enter into a stiff market. US-friendly online poker sites and networks have been manuevering all year long in the hopes of attracting a fresh wave of players. But no one has done it as uniquely as the Equity Poker Network, who hopes their original ideas lead them towards offering up real competition to the likes of Bovada, Carbon Poker | Merge Gaming, and America's Cardroom | Winning Poker Network.
Author: Ekaterina
06 . 08 . 2014 y.
Donald Trump Sues To Have Named Removed From Atlantic City Casinos

 On Tuesday, real estate giant and reality TV star Donald Trump filed a lawsuit demanding that his name be removed from two Atlantic City casinos.

Trump sued Trump Entertainment Resorts, which operates the Trump Plaza and Trump Taj Mahal, a corporation he once controlled and still has a 10 percent stake in. The 68-year-old billionaire argues that the two slumping casino properties are hurting his brand and image.
“I want it off both of them,” Trump said in an interview. “I’ve been away from Atlantic City for many years. People think we operate [the company], and we don’t. It’s not us. It’s not me.”
The Trump Taj Mahal will continue operations, but the Trump Plaza is already scheduled to close its doors in September.
Trump Entertainment Resorts was initially formed under the named Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts. The company field for corporate bankruptcy three times, in 1991, 2004 and finally in 2009 when Trump was forced to resign his position as Chairman of the Board.
In the past, the company has owned five other properties, including the Trump Castle in Atlantic City that later became the Golden Nugget.
There were 12 casinos in Atlantic City at the beginning of 2014, but its possible the once thriving gambling destination will be down to just eight by the end of the year.
Author: Ekaterina
06 . 08 . 2014 y.
European Online Chief: Shuffle Up And Deal PokerStars In

 The chief executive of European online gaming giant 888 Holdings said Wednesday that rival PokerStars should be allowed to operate in the United States now that the company is being sold for $4.9 billion to a Canadian Internet wagering firm.

The comments by 888 CEO Brian Mattingley differ dramatically from online industry rivals and various state lawmakers, who have moved to ban PokerStars from entering legal U.S. gaming jurisdictions.
PokerStars, which forfeited $731 million to federal prosecutors in 2012 to settle a civil complaint, accepted online wagers from Americans after the activity was ruled illegal in 2006.
Mattingley, whose Gibraltar-based company is partners with Caesars Interactive Entertainment in legal online gaming websites in Nevada and New Jersey, said adding PokerStars into the mix would grow the U.S. Internet market. Actual Internet gaming revenues reported by Nevada — less than $1 million a month — and New Jersey have fallen far below lofty projections.
“We compete with PokerStars throughout Europe,” Mattingley said in a phone interview from London. “They are a formidable competitor. But they would make all of us work much harder and it would expand the market. I would much rather have a small slice of a large pie, than a big piece of a small pie.”
Mattingley said Nevada’s three online poker operations and the six Atlantic City casinos that currently handle New Jersey’s online gaming business, suffer because U.S. customers still access illegal and unregulated online gaming websites.
‘It would be like unleashing an 800-pound gorilla into the market, but having more players on a regulated site would benefit everyone,” Mattingley said.
Websites total 85 million users
Last week, Montreal-based Amaya Gaming Corp. announced it was buying privately held Oldford Group — parent company of PokerStars owner Rational Group — for $4.9 billion. The deal is expected to close in September.
PokerStars and its affiliated Full Tilt Poker control some 54 percent of the global online gaming traffic outside the U.S. Combined, the websites have more than 85 million users.
Millions of Americans wagered on PokerStars before the company pulled the plug on its U.S. business in April 2011 after its founder and two other company officials were indicted in connection with fraud and money-laundering charges.
Nevada has a “bad actor clause” in the state’s interactive gaming regulations that put a five-year ban on companies that accepted wagers from Americans following the 2006 passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
California, which is debating the legalization of online poker, has a similar “bad actor clause” written into its twin bills currently being considered in Sacramento. But the California measure doesn’t have a time element.
PokerStars has a deal to operate online poker for three Southern California card rooms and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. However, 13 other Indian tribes are backing the legislation as written.
Amaya officials believe the company’s acquisition of PokerStars’ parent could facilitate the website’s entry into the U.S.
888’s Mattingley said he didn’t like “bad actor clauses,” but thinks it might be too late to change the language in the regulations. He said 888 has been talking with several Indian casinos about online poker in California, but deals have not been reached.
Caesars Interactive CEO Mitch Garber, which operates WSOP.com in Nevada and New Jersey and additional New Jersey websites under the Caesars brand, declined to comment on Mattingley’s remarks or the Amaya purchase of Oldford Group.
“We don’t yet know all the details of the transaction, but today we wouldn’t comment other than to reiterate our prior position that regulators and lawmakers have become increasingly sophisticated in understanding online businesses, their history and other elements that contribute to the highest standards of suitability and probity,” Garber said in an email. “To the extent that regulators or lawmakers seek our opinion or contribution, we will deal with them confidentially.”
Officials from Ultimate Gaming, which operates Ultimate Poker in Nevada and the online presence for the Trump Taj Mahal in New Jersey, were unavailable for comment.
Deal called a “game changer”
Mattingley said 888 Holdings hopes to launch online gaming operations in Nevada on behalf of Treasure Island this year.
On Monday, Fitch Ratings Service called Amaya’s purchase of PokerStars a potential “game changer” in the legal U.S. online gaming business.
In a statement, Fitch gaming analyst Brian Bertsch said PokerStars would be “a formidable competitor” but could also grow the overall market and facilitate legislation in untapped states, such as California and Pennsylvania.
“PokerStars’ database and brand recognition among poker players could lead to faster ramp-up in these newer markets and may reinvigorate markets where online poker is already legal, if these states reconsider PokerStars’ application,” Bertsch said.
Author: Ekaterina
05 . 08 . 2014 y.
Investors begin talks over restructuring debt in Caesars unit

 Representatives of a group of bondholders that own debt in a division of US operator Caesars Entertainment Corporation have begun talks over restructuring its borrowings, according to the Bloomberg news agency.

The investors own portions of Caesars’ $6.35 billion (€4.74 billion) of first-lien bonds.
Investment bank Miller Buckfire & Co. and law firm Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP have signed confidentiality agreements allowing them to see sensitive information as they seek a deal, the report said.
Caesars could be moving towards a possible restructuring of $19 billion of debt at its operating company.
The unit in question hired law firm Kirkland & Ellis in July to provide advice regarding a possible restructuring, with Blackstone Group working as the parent company’s adviser.
Caesars was taken private by Apollo Global Management and TPG Capital in 2008, since when the company has only had one profitable year. Bloomberg said that the company took on $30.7 billion of debt through the buy-out, with the Caesars now having $21 billion of long-term borrowings.
Author: Ekaterina
05 . 08 . 2014 y.
bwin.party Director of Poker Jeffrey Haas: "We Almost Committed Genericide"

 Back in September of 2013, partypoker launched a completely revamped version of its poker client which was specifically designed as part of a new strategy to revitalize partypoker as a brand centered around the recreational player.

Almost one year later, bwin.party director of poker Jeffrey Haas admitted that the new poker client didn't warm the hearts of all players, even if the group is now "starting to see positive indications."
Speaking to the eGaming Review in an interview that will be published in full in the August edition of eGaming Review North America, Haas explained the company's views on the new client and expanded upon the reasons that motivated partypoker to change its approach to online poker.
"Managing game ecology is fundamental to ensuring a healthy poker ecosystem, particularly in a network environment where there are multiple operators present with their own value propositions and proprietary promotions, CRM, and VIP systems," Haas said. "So we try to keep a holistic view on player experience while optimizing products, creating network promotions for B2B operators as well as our own B2C operations, and agreeing on network rules."
However, things did not work as the group expected, since poker players did not seem to react to the changes implemented by bwin.party with the same enthusiasm that the room had at the moment of the launch of the new client.
"I think we almost committed genericide with the new branding, which launched in September 2013, because it distilled poker to such a base level that it meant very little to people," Haas openly admitted. "It did not have the substance or character required to resonate with players in a meaningful way. So what we have done is taken the product launch and the brand launch and the overall offering and refined it. With our dot-com software changes, we have seen short-term revenue decreases among casual cash-game users, but over the long term as players play more sessions their lifetime values will increase. We are starting to see positive indications that this philosophical approach behind casual cash games and universal sit-out functionality is having a positive effect on player lifecycles and behaviors, and that in turn is having a positive impact on our poker revenues."
Although Haas did not discuss the rumors of the possible sale of a part of the bwin.party Group, which was initially rumored by Bloomberg and then officially denied to PokerNews by the Group's Director of Corporate Communications John Shepherd, the Group’s director of poker expressed his clear thoughts on the importance of innovation for the online poker industry.
"There is room to innovate in poker, despite what many industry pundits say," Haas stated. "We need to create better gaming experiences, not just continually recycle the same ideas."
And in this sense, innovation at partypoker still seems to rhyme with a focus on recreational players, as Haas explained, "We are working with our dot-com product with the intent to provide players a more fun recreational experience that means they play more hands over more sessions with the same bankrolls."
"That’s not the behavior you see on other poker software," Haas continued, "and this differentiation should resonate with consumers if we get the messaging right."
Author: Ekaterina
05 . 08 . 2014 y.
Carbon Poker August Promotions & Weekly Reload Bonuses

 Carbon Poker, the leading online poker room on the Merge Gaming Network, has announced new promotions for the month of August that will see increased freeroll tournaments, a new deposit bonus offer, and a brand new $2 million guaranteed Carbon OPS tournament series slated for next month.

First up, Carbon's new August deposit bonus is worth 100% up to $500. Use the promo code AUGPK when depositing (minimum $35), good now through August 31st. Players can use this reload bonus once, and the code must be entered at the time of the deposit. The clearance rate of the bonus is 150 points per $1 of rake paid, and bonus cash is released to your account in $10 increments. You have 60 days to clear this bonus, and active bonuses are terminated upon making a withdrawal.
Next, Carbon will run a special Shark Week promotion with daily freerolls during this increasingly popular period of time. Starting on Sunday, August 10th and running through Friday, August 15th, Carbon will host a $500 freeroll tournament starting at 8pm EST each night. The winner of each freeroll will gain entry into the $2,000 GTD Shark Week Championship event on Saturday, August 16th at 8pm EST. The winner of the championship will also receive an accolade to display on their table ID. You can register for the $500 freerolls now via your Carbon Poker client.
Finally, a brand new Carbon Online Poker Series will begin on Sunday, September 14th and run through Sunday, September 28th. The guaranteed prize pool will be $2,000,000, with over 79 events scheduled including no limit Holdem, Omaha, Stud, HORSE, Razz, and even Badugi tournaments! Highlights include two $150,000 GTD Sunday MTT's, a $250,000 guaranteed Main Event, two mega deep-stacked events, several knockout (or bounty) tournaments, and even rebuy/add-on and hyper turbo MTT's.
ProfRB.com will have extensive coverage of the Carbon OPS in the coming days, with schedules, satellite qualifier information, specific tournament details, player traffic, results, and more.
Carbon Poker offers players one of the industry's leading initial deposit bonus offers! Sign up through Professional Rakeback today and enjoy superior player advocacy and a 200% up to $5,000 first-time deposit bonus! For more information, check out our detailed promotion page here, and if you have any questionsm, do not hesitate to contact us via the link in the above navigation bar.
http://www.professionalrakeback.com/javascript:void(0);/*1408496458691*/
Author: Ekaterina
04 . 08 . 2014 y.
Half-year revenues down at GTECH

 Revenues were down at GTECH in the first half of the year, the Italian-based gaming giant revealed.

For the first six months of 2014, revenues were €1.53bn, compared with €1.56bn in the same period last year. EBITDA was €563m, down from €573m in the previous year.
Operating income, meanwhile, was €337m, compared with €353m.
Last month, GTECH announced that it was to acquire gaming equipment manufacturer IGT in a multi-billion dollar deal.
 
Author: Ekaterina
04 . 08 . 2014 y.
Churchill Downs says Saratoga Harness deal has potential Internet gambling perk

 Churchill Downs executives said Thursday that the pending deal to acquire a 25 percent stake in Saratoga Harness Racing Inc. also gives the Louisville-based casino and racetrack company potential online gambling perks.

In a conference call with stock analysts to discuss the company's second-quarter earnings, Churchill chief financial officer Bill Mudd said the deal with Saratoga Harness, which includes a management contract for casinos in New York and Colorado, is "strategically important because it provides CDI with an option in Internet gaming in two states, should it be legalized."
Churchill Downs has ramped up its Internet gambling division, spending millions on an as-yet-unlaunched platform and attempting to buy into an Atlantic City casino to gain access to the online gambling market. Churchill also has invested in an online poker presence, although it does not offer online poker.
Churchill has launched a bingo-type online game, called Luckity, that offers players real money rewards.
Bill Carstanjen, Churchill Downs' president and chief operating officer, said Churchill officials think the deal with Saratoga Harness could improve chances to win a joint bid to build another New York casino.
He said the potential for Internet gambling is "a plus. It wasn't the driver but is always something we look for in the mix."
Author: Ekaterina
01 . 08 . 2014 y.
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