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partypoker Moves French Players to New Software

 Players at partypoker’s French brands have finally moved to the new poker client, nine months after it was introduced to its dot-com poker room and six months after it debuted in New Jersey.

partypoker has three brands on the network: ACFPoker.fr, PMU.fr and partypoker.fr. Their players will now have access to the full range of features introduced by the new software, including Missions and Achievements.
The partypoker.fr website has also been updated with the new brand colors, logos and fonts.
Moving Forward
Of more practical importance, players will also be able to enjoy Fast Forward, partypoker’s fast fold poker game. Fast fold poker accounts for more than one hand in four of all cash game hands played, and is particularly popular for players who use mobile devices—the fastest growing area of the market.
The tournament schedule is also being changed, with more satellites and flatter payout structures.
From a corporate perspective, the move will reduce overhead and help fulfill one of bwin.party’s strategic goals of having all its customers playing on the same software platform.
bwin.party also owns the Bwin.fr brand, which still remains on the Ongame France network. The company has announced that it will shortly migrate players to the new software client, so all its players will be in the same liquidity pool.
Impact
The French regulated segment of partypoker’s business has been one of its best performers over the last 12 months. Its market share in France has jumped by 25% and although cash game traffic has been relatively flat partypoker has maintained its numbers better than the market leaders Winamax and PokerStars France.
With a 15% market share, partypoker France lies in third place in the traffic rankings. The new software may not make a big difference to cash game traffic—its impact in the dot-com market was difficult to see because the initial launch was plagued with IT problems—but the introduction of Fast Forward and the additional liquidity when Bwin.fr joins should make the network much more competitive.
Author: Ekaterina
29 . 05 . 2014 y.
888 CEO “Absolutely Shocked” by Poor Online Gaming Performance in New Jersey

 888 Holdings plc CEO Brian Mattingley has said that the company is “absolutely shocked by the slowness of the market” in New Jersey.

In a telephone interview with a Bloomberg reporter, he explained that the company was going to shift its focus from poker to online slots in the state regulated market.
He indicated that the marketing in New Jersey hadn’t worked.
“We’ve got to think again, the way we market,” he said, referring to all New Jersey operators.
As part of a joint venture with Avenue Capital Group, 888 runs the All American Poker Network, and operates the only online poker skin on the network. It is the third largest network in New Jersey, behind partypoker/Borgata and WSOP.
Market Problems
Mattingley also laid blame for low growth on the lack of affiliate marketing, explaining that in Europe over 30% of players sign up through non-direct channels. In his assessment the continued competition from “gray” market operators had also been a factor.
In the same Bloomberg article, Tom Ballance, COO of the Borgata, said that he was going to cut back on marketing expenditure.
Balllance mentioned the rigorous sign up process mandated by the regulator, paucity of game availability on mobile devices and seasonal factors as other reasons for the market’s poor performance to date.
Ultimate Gaming chairman Tom Breitling also laments the slow start in the market, pointing to regulatory burdens, gray-market operators, and low consumer awareness in a series of video blogs that discuss both Nevada and New Jersey. However, Breitling did believe a “breakthrough” in the market could be “right around the corner.”
Collectively, New Jersey operators have lost over a third of their cash game traffic over the last six months, worse than all other online poker markets.
 
Author: Ekaterina
29 . 05 . 2014 y.
Another $15 Million in Full Tilt Payouts Set for June

 An updated notice by claims administrator Garden City Group (GCG) on the official Full Tilt remission website advises that another $15 million has been approved for payment next month by the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section of the DoJ.

That $15 million will land in the bank accounts of roughly 3,500 U.S. players "who submitted complete, timely or late Petitions confirming their FTP account balance." Also in line for reimbursement in this wave of payouts are players labeled as affiliates.
An exact date in which this latest round of players can expect their funds has not been specified, as the GCG narrowed it down only to "the middle of June." Further updates will be posted when the actual payout date approaches.
Players are advised to expect dummy deposits of zero ($0.00) dollars in their bank accounts prior to arrival of the true total, as that is the way that testing is done to ensure that each bank account is valid. Bear in mind that not all banks post such zero sum transactions, so players expecting payment should not be alarmed if their statements happen to lack proof of the test deposit.
The GCG also informs that some players set to be paid in mid-June owe the government money in the Treasury Offset Program. Those players can anticipate a deduction of their payment in order to satisfy the outstanding debt. Players in this category must complete and submit a Unified Financial Management System Vendor Request Form to receive any payment at all, notice of which will be sent to debt-laden players in upcoming weeks.
To date, more than $81 million has been repaid to former U.S. Full Tilt players whose funds had been lingering in cyberspace since Black Friday in 2011. Some $76 million was distributed to approximately 27,500 players in the first wave of payments on February 28, 2014, known henceforth as Green Friday. Another $5 million was dispensed to about 2,200 players via ACH on April Fools Day.
Author: Ekaterina
28 . 05 . 2014 y.
Skins on Equity Poker Network Merge

 Equity Poker Network’s flagship site, Full Flush Poker, announced Monday that it has acquired fellow network skin Integer Poker.

The acquisition comes approximately seven months after Integer launched as a skin on the EPN.
The merging of the IntegerPoker and FFP brands “will give IntegerPoker’s largely European player base instant access to the Network’s full range of attractive promotions and growing tournament schedule,” according to a press release Monday.
On Tuesday, Integer Poker player balances were transferred to Full Flush Poker. Affected players will need to download the FFP client and login with their Integer Poker usernames and passwords in order to continue.
An FFP spokesperson said Monday that “the obvious synergy between our two brands” made the decision “no-brainer.”
Beyond the US
“It fits perfectly with our quest to further establish FFP as a global online poker room, with viable and healthy markets outside of the U.S,” the spokesperson is quoted as saying.
“We’re excited to offer IntegerPoker’s players the complete Full Flush Poker experience, and we’re happy to welcome them to the family.”
In fitting with this policy of looking beyond the tumultuous US market, the network decided earlier this month to eliminate its real money offering in the US states of Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey.
New Marquee Tournament
This coming Sunday, Full Flush Poker plans to replace its marquee “Big Ten” tournament with the $25,000 Guaranteed Blitz—which will begin at 3:00pm Eastern Standard Time.
The event can be bought into for $50+5 with satellite qualifiers available for as low as $0.50.
The EPN is currently positioned 34 out of 80 networks worldwide according to PokerScout. It is ranked #5 out of 12 among international networks that have real money offerings in the US.
Author: Ekaterina
28 . 05 . 2014 y.
Rumors of Acquisitions and Sales Surround Amaya Share Price Spike

 A big rise in Amaya Gaming’s share price late last week led to unlikely rumors that the company is considering buying PokerStars.

Preceding the spike, an analyst’s statement made last week asserted that the group was considering selling Ongame and “trading up” to another poker platform.
An article in CalvinAyre.com last Friday, prompted by the unexpected trading activity, publicized rumors of a PokerStars acquisition, which lead to flurry of reporting over the weekend.
 
No Comment
Amaya issued a statement Monday that was seen by analysts as an attempt to quell the rumors.
“Strategic acquisitions have been and are one component of the company’s growth strategy and, as such, Amaya regularly evaluates potential acquisition opportunities,” reads the statement.
“From time to time, this process leads to discussions with potential acquisition targets. There can be no assurance that any such discussions will ultimately lead to a transaction. As a general policy, Amaya does not publicly comment on potential acquisitions unless and until a binding legal agreement has been signed,” it continues.
“The company intends to make no further comment or release regarding current market rumours unless and until such comment is warranted.”
Amaya’s share price has risen by over 50% since mid-May when it released its first quarter results, thanks to a big increase in profit margins.
 
Trading Up
Neil Linsdell, analyst with Industrial Alliance Securities, wrote on May 20 that he expects Amaya to look to “‘trade up’ to a larger poker platform” and sell the recently acquired Ongame poker network.
Any large network looks like an expensive proposition when compared to Amaya’s market capitalization. After the recent stock price boom, the Canadian company has a value of just under CAD$1bn. Even so, an attempt to buy iPoker from Playtech or partypoker from bwin.party—let alone acquire PokerStars, online poker’s giant—would require an unusual level of corporate finance.
Author: Ekaterina
27 . 05 . 2014 y.
WSOP Nevada and WSOP New Jersey Synchronise Their Online Championship Series

 Despite the difference in size of the two markets, WSOP.com is running the same Online Championship Series in both its Nevada and New Jersey regulated online poker rooms.

The WSOP.com Online Championship Series lasts for 15 days from June 1, and includes 15 events with guarantees totalling over $500k—that is $500k for each site, Nevada and New Jersey.
All of the event formats, guarantees and timings have been replicated in each market. The winners of the first 14 events will all receive a bonus prize of an entry to the $200k guaranteed Main Event on June 15.
Events are limited to the regulated games of Hold’em and Omaha, and are in either standard freezout or rebuy & re-entry formats. The cheapest event is a $55 buy-in rebuy and re-entry event with a $10k guarantee.
The prize distribution for all events, in Nevada and New Jersey, has been set at 20%—the top 20% of finishers will be in the money. This is a much shallower pay out structure than is common. Typically the money bubble bursts with around 10% of players remaining.
The timing of the series will give players who have arrived in Nevada for the live World Series events the opportunity to play a full tournament series online while they are there. New Jersey players who can not get to Las Vegas for the live WSOP can still get their share of tournament action online.
During the live WSOP, a dedicated online poker room is being set up at the Rio hotel, with full power and wifi facilities, and special cages that will be able to accept deposits directly into WSOP.com accounts.
Tournament director Jack Eiffel has also confirmed that players will be allowed to play online poker while they are sat at the table during live events. “While players are not in the hand, they still may continue to use their electronic devices and/or smartphones,” Effel explained.
Author: Ekaterina
27 . 05 . 2014 y.
Rio's VooDoo ZipLine Opens in Time for WSOP

 Poker players who descend upon Las Vegas for the start of the 45th annual World Series of Poker tomorrow will be hoping to fly high in tournament action that leads to a big payday and possibly a WSOP gold bracelet.

Those who need a bit of adventure away from the live tournament felt that involves flying high above the Las Vegas Strip can take a ride on the VooDoo ZipLine that celebrated its grand opening yesterday, LV R-J reported. The zipline operates nearly 500 feet above ground from the 50th floor of the Rio's Masquerade Tower to the 20th floor of the Ipanema Tower.
The Voodoo ZipLine differs a bit from other ziplines in that it's motorized instead of relying on gravity to take thrill seekers on a 1/3 of a mile ride that allows for a stunning aerial view of the Las Vegas Strip. The entire trip lasts only about a minute and 10 seconds, a shorter amount of time than it takes some tanking poker players to make a decision on a poker hand.
It took a bit more than a year to get the VooDoo ZipLine "off the ground" after the Rio announced plans for the attraction in mid-May of 2013. The ride opened just in time for the WSOP that kicks off at the Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino on May 27 and runs through mid-July. A VooDoo ZipLine ride is only $27.50 during daytime hours and $42.50 after 5:30 p.m.
Those interested in checking out the zipline can ride alone or seated next to a friend, provided that the combined weight is less than 450 lbs. Other friends can watch and take photos of your 70-second adventure from the 51st floor VooDoo Rooftop.
Author: Ekaterina
26 . 05 . 2014 y.
Humble Phil Hellmuth Perhaps Needs New Nickname

 Poker players seated at the same table as Phil Hellmuth during the 45th annual World Series of Poker this summer who are expecting the "Poker Brat" persona to emerge may find a kinder, gentler Hellmuth than the one players have come to know in previous years.

Hellmuth recently revealed to PokerStars that he is not the same person that he was during his younger days, having mellowed a bit as he approaches his 50th birthday. The 13-time WSOP champion let it be known that he doesn't like to "buy-in" to the greatness bestowed on him by the poker media and others who envy his success on the WSOP stage.
I think sometimes you have to just say, 'Hey, I've been blessed, I've been given a lot in life,'" said a grateful Hellmuth. "I feel like .... uhh .... yeah, I think I've changed."
Hellmuth admits that he struggles with ego issues when others constantly remind him of his elevated stature in the game due to being the top all-time WSOP bracelet winner. The wisdom of age has allowed him to keep that ego in check in comparison to his behavior of 15 or 25 years ago.
I have a little more patience now," the Poker Brat said. "You have to be able to play your best poker, recognize all your blessings, without being cocky. It's a natural thing to have your ego flare a little bit."
The WSOP kicks off at the Rio in Las Vegas tomorrow with the first of 65 events. Hellmuth will be vying for gold bracelet no. 14, but has matured enough to realize to savor his past victories without getting caught up in the accolades and admiration of others.
It's important to digest all those wins and just kind of stay on track," said the 49-year-old. "But I don't think many people do that well."
Hellmuth's last WSOP title was won in 2012 at the WSOP Europe in Cannes when he took down the $10,000 Main Event for $1,333,841. He is the only player in history to have won WSOP and WSOPE Main Events.
Author: Ekaterina
26 . 05 . 2014 y.
Full Flush Poker Withdraws From U.S. Regulated Market

 Full Flush Poker (FFP) on the Equity Poker Network (EPN) announced that effective immediately, players in the regulated states of Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey will no longer be allowed to play online poker for real-money.

Players residing in those states will receive emails explaining the new policy. Account balances will have to be withdrawn and Full Flush has assured that players will receive their funds in expedited fashion.
FFP operates with its players foremost in mind, and fair play for all customers is paramount," stated a press release. "With these principles in mind, the recreational online poker site has decided to stop serving players who reside in New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware due to the availability of a regulated poker market in those states."The withdrawal of the EPN flagship skin comes just a little more than a week after the U.S.-friendly Winning Poker Network (WPN) also withdrew from the regulated states in the U.S. Anchored by Americas Cardroom, the press release issued by WPN skins last week looks almost identical to that of FFP.
Poker sites in regulated states such as New Jersey have been complaining that unregulated sites are not held to the same requirements and standards as those that have been approved by state gaming regulators. It is seen as part of the reason why the online poker regimes in regulated states have been losing player traffic as of late.
EPN operates as a cooperative where each skin is permitted a bit more autonomy in making decisions than most other poker networks. There has been no word yet as to whether other EPN skins such as Integer Poker or Action Poker are also withdrawing from the regulated U.S. market, but it is highly likely that such an announcement will follow shortly.
 
Author: Ekaterina
23 . 05 . 2014 y.
Equity Poker Network Exits Regulated States

 As expected, the Equity Poker Network (EPN) announced that all network skins will no longer be permitting players to log on from the regulated states of Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey.

Just yesterday, EPN flagship skin Full Flush Poker issued its own press release stating its immediate withdrawal from the three regulated states. Now the entire network that includes the likes of skins Poker Host, Integer Poker and Action Poker has followed suit.
EPN sent notices to all poker rooms within the network advising that its Networks Central Administration Rules have been modified to reflect that no players from the trio of regulated states can play for real-money.
Our players are our number one priority, but playing fair is also central to our ethos," the EPN press release stated. "We believe this decision is in the best interests of the network and its operators to add and adhere to this rule, given the availability of regulated poker in these U.S. states.”
EPN launched in November as a U.S.-facing network and had been slowly gaining a following of players. However, the network recently lost about 10% from its peak player traffic total after closing the accounts of a number of winning players in favor of a more recreational player base.
Author: Ekaterina
23 . 05 . 2014 y.
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