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AGA Drops Support for Online Gambling

 The fight to regulate online poker and gambling in the U.S. lost a major player as the American Gaming Association (AGA) has announced that it will no longer be supporting the cause.

Citing divisiveness among the casinos it represents, AGA CEO Geoff Freeman stated that the organization will cease lobbying efforts regarding online gambling, referring to the matter as "an issue that the association cannot lead on," the Wall Street Journal reported.
Just a few months ago, Freeman was seemingly leading the way in efforts to legalize Internet gambling. The AGA honcho came across as very well-spoken and knowledgeable in testifying before federal lawmakers in December at a hearing centered around a bill proposed by Rep. Joe Barton.
But it appears that Freeman's hands are now tied by AGA members who cannot find common ground as to the benefits of online gambling. One of those members, Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson, is leading the charge against regulated online gambling. Adelson established the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling in the same month that Freeman testified before a House committee.
Despite a number of AGA member casinos throwing their support behind online gambling, it appears that Adelson's influence has won them over. At least to the point that the AGA will not actively promote and lobby for online gambling legislation.
Freeman expressed regret that the AGA has hung up its gloves on the matter and put forth his own observation of gaming insiders. "One of the things I've learned in this industry is we are extraordinarily competent at shooting at one another… The snipers in this industry are of the highest quality and, if you let that be the focus, we'll kill each other."
The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) will continue the fight for online poker and gambling legislation in the U.S. As will the Coalition for Consumer and Online Protection (C4COP), which was created to thwart the efforts of Adelson and his coalition.
Online poker and gambling regulation has been making progress as of late. Although no new states have enacted Internet gambling laws and launched since Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey did last year, a number of states, particularly California, have been moving a bit closer to doing so.
The AGA dropping out of the picture can certainly be viewed as a setback. However, the fight will go on with the PPA and C4COP at the helm.
Author: Ekaterina
22 . 05 . 2014 y.
Poker Player Newspaper Ends Print Edition After 30 Years

 For over 30 years, the Poker Player Newspaper has been distributed in card rooms around the United States but, as of this month, the print edition has been discontinued.

The end of the newspaper comes as the result of financial pressures which print media have been under as the age of the internet has taken over.
Owner Stan Sludikoff explained that costs to provide this service “have escalated past a point of feasibility in our current business model.”
“Accordingly, effective immediately, we will be publishing Poker Player Newspaper exclusively on the Internet at pokerplayernewspaper.com,” he writes.
Having reached the age of 78, he has outlasted many participants in the industry and shown an outstanding level of commitment to promoting poker. He has now decided that it may be time to exit gracefully.
“At this point in my life, given my desire to pass the mantle as well as to work through the economic pressures as expeditiously as possible, I am looking for a working partner/investor or alternatively for a full buyout of my family-based Poker Player business which has operated since 1982,” said Stan in announcing that the business was open to offers.
Author: Ekaterina
22 . 05 . 2014 y.
New Jersey Regulator Demands Removal of Affiliate Links to Unlicensed Online Poker Rooms

 A letter issued by New Jersey Assistant Attorney General to six online poker affiliate websites demands the “immediate removal” of links associated with unlicensed online poker sites currently operating in the state.

The action could force many affiliates to change their policy toward promotion of unlicensed poker sites in the US alongside regulated operators.
A copy of the letter, obtained and published by OnlinePokerReport.com, accuses certain affiliate websites of violating State of New Jersey criminal laws through engaging “in conduct, which materially aids any form of [illegal] gambling activity.”
According to New Jersey DGE spokeswoman Kerry Langan, the “cease and desist” letter was issued to six affiliates, including PokerSource.com, RaketheRake.com, CardsChat.com, Pokersites.com and RakeBrain.com.
The letter, dated April 17, 2014, states that the affiliates in question are publishing links to unlicensed online gaming sites such as Bovada, Merge Gaming, and WPN skins America’s Cardroom and Black Chip Poker.
Langan told OnlinePokerReport.com that the publication of links associated with online poker sites operating illegally in the US could “taint legitimate sites by associating them with the illegal ones, and conversely may lend the appearance that these illegal sites are affiliated with authorized sites.”
The New Jersey DGE representative added that “our licensing requirements ensure that only carefully vetted companies can provide Internet gaming services. These illegal sites do not offer the same protections to players and we do not want these unregulated sites being promoted with our legal, regulated sites.”
According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, those in violation of the law could face criminal charges of a fourth degree crime, punishable by a fine of up to $100,000.
Author: Ekaterina
21 . 05 . 2014 y.
Milestone Hands Return to PokerStars

 Less than five months since the Christmas milestone promotion, the popular cash giveaway has returned to PokerStars.

From May 19 and for the next 299 million hands, PokerStars will hand out a total of $600k in bonus cash for players dealt into each millionth hand.
In addition, continuing with the innovation first introduced for the 100 billionth hand, players sat at the same game and stake as the 300 millionth hand will share $100k.
Traffic Spikes
The Milestone hand promotions have proven to be very successful for PokerStars, at least in terms of short-term traffic gains.
The concept was first introduced as PokerStars approached 100 billion hands. Every 5 billion hands on the “road” was celebrated with big cash prizes—driving big spikes in traffic.
On the build-up to the 100 billionth hand, in which $2 million was given away, single-day traffic numbers reached double the usual levels, increasing the 7-day moving average of cash game activity by 35%.
Though the Road to 100 Billion promotion has ended, Milestone Hands were so successful that PokerStars keeps finding reasons to celebrate.
A Christmas milestone, which also gave away $700k, counted down arbitrarily every millionth hand. Traffic increased 20% as the final hand approached.
Author: Ekaterina
21 . 05 . 2014 y.
Ultimate Poker Chairman Believes US Market Breakthrough is “Right Around the Corner”

 A video series recently introduced by Ultimate Poker Chairman Tom Breitling on the company’s official YouTube account is quickly accumulating views following the release of an opinionated monologue offered by the online poker operator’s chief.

Posted under the title of Lessons Learned – Market Size (available below), the clip’s message relays an attitude that the US market’s potential will soon emerge.
“The three states of Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey only represent about 4 percent of the US population,” Breitling said. “Most of us believe that all Americans should be protected and have a chance to play the games they love.”
To reinforce his beliefs, the former Travelscape.com partner argued that “91 percent of US adults now have a mobile phone and 2 out of 3 of them went to a land-based casino last year. These folks will soon be playing online.”
Education and Innovation
Despite a detailed rundown of how regulations negatively affect the US online poker market from a business perspective, Breitling stated that a market breakthrough is “right around the corner.”
Breitling believes that “education and innovation” are the main factors to breaking through in the US market. Unfortunately, no specifics on the company’s plans were given, nor was there any explanation of the executive’s claim that Ultimate Poker has “learned to be more fluid in the running of our business.”
Referring to red tape that US online poker players must cut through in order to compete in real money games, Breitling argued that “this is supposed to be a leisure activity, and it feels like work for many of our players. It can’t feel like work.”
Breitling Makes Comparisons to Amazon, Google
The Ultimate Poker head shrugged off disappointing first-year numbers for online poker operators in the US; comparing the industry’s plight to Amazon and Google.
“You have to see this in the same way you might look at Amazon’s numbers,” Breitling advised. “In the early days, it’s estimated that Amazon did $35,000 in revenue in its first month and $500,000 in its first year – 1995. Last year Amazon did $74.5 billion [in revenue].”
The Ultimate Gaming chairman backed that point up by saying, “Google answered 10,000 search queries a day back in 1998, and today they handle more than 100 billion searches every month. The point is you have to start somewhere.”
New Jersey Market Share Plunge
Ultimate Poker lost a whopping 39% of its New Jersey online poker market share last month according to figures published by the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement.
However, Breitling declined to address any of his company’s plans for competing with fellow operators in the future; instead choosing to pool Ultimate Gaming’s concerns with those of the US industry as a whole.
Author: Ekaterina
20 . 05 . 2014 y.
Full Tilt Add Real Money Slots Games to Online Poker Client

 Full Tilt Poker has expanded its real money casino games offering with the addition of slots content to the online poker client.

The new games join blackjack and roulette, which went live in January 2014. The real money gambling games are still being tested in only select markets, including the UK, pokerfuse understands.
Eight slots games have launched, accessible under a new “Casino” tab in the client. Blackjack and Roulette remain accessible from both the poker and casino tabs.
The games are the result of a partnership with software developer Leander Games. Its introduction marks the first time third party content has been added to a Rational Group product.
“This partnership will change Leander’s position within the marketplace from 'new kid on the block’ to a serious contender,” Leander CEO Steven Matsell stated at the time.
Further expansion into real money gambling is expected. A recently announced partnership with Net Entertainment AB will bring further gaming content, with a focus on mobile.
Rational Group is also considering the global sportsbetting market. Full Tilt hired former Betfair exec Sam Hobcraft to head Full Tilt’s casino side last October and, according to a report earlier in the month, is advertising for a “Head of Sportsbook Customer Experience” role.
Author: Ekaterina
20 . 05 . 2014 y.
Ultimate Poker Boss: Red Tape Responsible for Disappointing Online Poker Numbers

 A video released by Ultimate Gaming co-founder Tom Breitling last week entitled Year One: Lessons Learned – Market Size (shown below) provides a somewhat scathing opinion of regulations in the legalized US online poker market.

In the four minute clip—which coincided with the New Jersey DGE’s online poker revenue report for April—Breitling blames online poker’s disappointing revenue numbers on a variety of factors; centering the majority of the blame on bureaucratic red tape.
Regulations Create “Friction”
“When regulations enter the picture, there are complications that cut into the size of the market,” the former Travelscape.com executive noted.
“Each computer click you ask someone to make during the e-commerce process turns away about 10-20% of those customers. Looking at it another way, you lose 1 in 10 customers with every click.”
Breitling went on to say that “people who’d played online poker in the past never had to go through this new, detailed process filled with extra clicks. No company ever before had asked for a Social Security Number or for geolocation information. It was like asking people to take their shoes off and step through a metal detector at the airport after years of walking straight to the gate. This [government created] friction impacts the user experience and affects revenues.”
The Ultimate Gaming Chairman compared online poker sign-up requirements in the US to mortgage requests, stating that “it doesn’t seem logical to require the same amount of information to play a hand of online poker as you need to get a mortgage. The average deposit for real money online gaming? A hundred bucks. [The] average mortgage in America? About $175,000.”
Market Breakthrough Right around the Corner?
After explaining that Ultimate Poker was “pushed off balance” by unrealistic Y1 revenue projections for legalized online poker in the US, Breitling opined that a market breakthrough is right around the corner.
“Most of us believe that all Americans should be protected and have a chance to play the games they love… there are 300 million-plus people in the US, of which 91% of US adults now have a mobile phone and 2 out of 3 of them went to a land-based casino last year. These folks will soon be playing online if they’re not already,” said Breitling.
The benefits of online gaming regulations—such as their ability to thwart fraud—were notably absent from the publicly released video, as were any references to Ultimate Poker’s dismal April performance in the New Jersey market.
Ultimate Poker lost approximately 39% of its online poker market share in New Jersey during the month of April, and its revenues sharply declined from $100,289 in March to $49,252 last month.
Although the entire NJ online poker market suffered setbacks due to seasonal traffic trends last month, none of the company’s competitors experienced percentage-based dips to the same extent.
Author: Ekaterina
19 . 05 . 2014 y.
888 Closes Accounts of Relocated US Players

 888poker closed the accounts of multiple US players who relocated outside the country to play, according to reports from players last week.

According to public posts, players of US citizenship, who report to have moved to Mexico and Canada, were informed via email that their accounts were closed, with instructions on how to receive their balances.
No reason for the closures has been given, and 888 did not respond to pokerfuse inquiries from late last week.
“This email is to inform you that we have taken a decision to discontinue your membership with us,” reads one email sent to a player based in Canada.
“We ask that you refrain from opening new accounts owned or operated by us, as these too will be closed and no monies refunded.”
The only formal statement issued is from an official 888 representative on the Two Plus Two poker forums, but it did little to clarify the issue.
“We continuously monitor all 888poker accounts and activities and take steps accordingly,” reads the post. “In the event you have received an email that you feel is an error, then please contact the support team and you will be answered in due course.”
It is not clear how widespread the issue is among US “expats.”
888 has not exited the Mexican nor Canadian markets, pokerfuse understands. Citizens continue to play from both counties without issue, although at least one report suggests some citizens have been affected.
Certain regions may have been targeted, including the Mexican cities of Playa Del Carmen and Cancun, according to a report late last week.
Relocation service Poker Refugees recommends these areas to players, among others. It offered a special two-week vacation for US players to play in Playa Del Carmen during PokerStars’ SCOOP, which concluded this weekend.
888 conducts business in two regulated states in US—Delaware and New Jersey.
Author: Ekaterina
19 . 05 . 2014 y.
Ladbrokes Focuses on Responsible Gambling in its Television Advertising

 Today, Ladbrokes has launched the first dedicated TV advertisement that promotes responsible gambling.

The advert builds on a publicity campaign which highlights a group of typical Ladbrokes customers.
Each is given a name and a gambling characteristic—“the professor” is a “calculator with a beard,” who knows all the odds and statistics and the “Gut Truster” is someone who cares nothing about the odds, but adopts a spiritualistic approach to choosing bets by instinct.
Mr Brightside is a manic, full of energy and it is this character whom Ladbrokes have used for their responsible gaming message.
Mr Brightside is shown celebrating a huge win as he predicts the first goal scorer in a soccer match. His joy quickly turns sour as a linesman disallows the goal.
Rather than be miserable at losing his bet, Mr Brightside—as in “look on the Brightside”—spends the evening enjoying himself dancing, manically, in a club.
The responsible gaming message is to bet with money you can afford to lose, and don’t let a losing bet affect your life. The advert closes with the message “Please Bet Responsibly.”
“Most betting customers will recognise the message in the advertisement as something they already practice but we believe it is important to continue to promote responsible gambling to ensure people stay within their limits and don’t take unnecessary risks,” explains Ladbrokes CEO Richard Glynn.
Six months ago, UK Gambling Commission Chairman criticized the gambling industry for not taking responsibility for its own poor public image. He argued that the industry has “yet to convince the public that they recognise that the entertainment they provide has real risks.”
Ladbrokes latest advert looks like a big step in the direction indicated by Philip Graf.
Ladbrokes has taken an even more significant step in “establishing a committee of the plc board to set responsible business benchmarks and for elements of executive pay to be linked to responsible gambling measures.”
Author: Ekaterina
16 . 05 . 2014 y.
UKGC Updates FAQ After UK Gambling Bill Receives Royal Assent

 The Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill has now received Royal Assent, the final stage in the UK’s legislative process that indicates that the Queen has no objections to the new law.

In immediate response the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has updated its FAQ on all issues that players and operators may want to ask about the new laws.
The update includes changes related to the issue of the final consolidated License Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). There are no new answers in the FAQ that have not already been addressed in the LCCP.
Barring provisions for ensuring that all gambling software must be provided by a licensed entity, the LCCP comes into force in August. The new laws themselves take effect from December 1, and from then, all operators wanting to offer online poker to UK customers must have a UKGC license to do so.
Also to be introduced from December 1 will be the new Treasury taxation rules which firstly impose a 15% gaming duty on revenues from UK customers for all licensed operators, but secondly exempts UK based operators from paying the duty on any customers outside the UK.
 
Author: Ekaterina
16 . 05 . 2014 y.
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