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Sky Poker Redesign Goes into Beta Testing

 Sky Poker has announced that a major redesign of its poker room software is now in beta test. The new design is currently working on Hold’em tables but will be rolled out across the rest of the site next month.

The new design offers substantially upgraded support for multi-tabling. Tables will be fully resizable, action buttons will be larger and graphics will have more clarity.
Players will be able to use preferred seating and set options to auto-top up their stack if it falls below a pre-set size. The note taking facility will include color coding for players who like to categorize their regular opponents.
As a TV broadcasting company, Sky regularly airs online action from its site. This weekend, the Sky UKOPS online tournament series will run over four days, and event highlights will be broadcast on the Sky Poker TV Channel.
Sky blundered badly with a previous software release for mobiles—Sky Go. A full explanation of errors and mistakes was published on their own forum by Alun Webber, Managing Director of Product Design & Development. A refreshingly honest communication which bodes well for both the prospects of this launch being carried off without glitches, and for the level of customer service Sky customers can expect.
Recently Sky Poker was reprimanded by the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) which challenged a bonus advertisement that breached their rules. Other poker operators had to take rapid action as the advertisement followed a form that has become standard across the industry.
In April, Sky replaced their VIP system with one which awards automatic rakeback payments to high volume players.
The new VIP program, and now new software, signal a strong intention to take on their better known competitors. Combined with the emphasis on multi-tabling in the new software, this suggests that Sky has adopted a strategy of increasing player liquidity at the center of its poker room plans.
Author: Ekaterina
27 . 08 . 2013 y.
Ultimate Poker Rolls Out Next Generation Poker Client

 Ultimate Poker, the only regulated online poker site in the US, released version two of its software on Saturday.

In the first update since the site debuted in April, players will find a variety of enhancements, including improved table and tournament features and the introduction of a rewards program.
The new table features include resizable tables, animated avatars, larger cards, a revamped sounds scheme and preset bet buttons and a host of other player-friendly improvements, many of which according to Poker Product Manager Chris Danek are aimed at making it easier for players to multi-table.
Tournaments players will notice the addition of tournament tickets, which provide entry into specific tournaments and tournament dollars called U-dollars (U$) which can be used to register for multi-table tournaments (MTTs) and sit-and-goes (SNGs). In addition, icons have been added to the tournament lobby that will allow players to easily distinguish different types of tournaments (e.g. satellites and 6-max tournaments).
However, there are still many commonly-requested features not in this version, including auto-topup and waitlists for cash games. Omaha games are also still unavailable. All are understood to be in the development pipeline.
Included in this update is the new loyalty program. The new VIP system, “Color Up”, allow players to accumulate points (U-points) based on the amount of poker they play and the level they achieve within the program. The U-points can be spent on merchandise now available in the store accessible through the client.
Ultimate Poker is currently only available to players physically located within the state of Nevada, although Ultimate Gaming is scheduled to make its debut in the state of New Jersey along with several other online gaming operators later this fall. Those within the borders of New Jersey will have access to traditional casino games as well as online poker.
Author: Ekaterina
27 . 08 . 2013 y.
Buzz Poker Adds Instadeal Fast-Fold Poker

 Buzz Poker will become the first room on the Revolution Gaming network to add a fast-fold poker product along side its traditional poker offerings. “Fast Fold’em” starts on August 26 and will also be available on mobile devices.

Stefan Wittmoss, the CEO of Buzz Poker said: “A lot of our players have asked for Fast Poker and we’re really happy to be the first skin offering Fast Poker on Revolution. I know a lot of other rooms will follow.”
Buzz Poker launched around a year ago and has attempted to develop its player base through exploiting social media. It organizes special nights online where the games are recorded and then uploaded for discussion.
Although most Revolution Gaming sites accept US players and have a mounting backlog of withdrawal requests with several months wait, Buzz Poker does not allow players from the US and guarantees cash-outs within 48 hours.
Fast Fold’em was developed by Instadeal and is an HTML5 application that works across most operating platforms. The Swedish company was the first software provider to offer a real-money Rush Poker competitor. It was first available from late 2010 on Terminal Poker, and later on fast-fold only skins such as PokerTube before being added by full service operators such as Vegas365 Poker Portal.
The launch will be accompanied by a two week rake race promotion offering €2k in prizes with the winner receiving €700.
Author: Ekaterina
26 . 08 . 2013 y.
Malta Government Investigating LGA Following Everleaf Failure

 The Maltese government is carrying out an audit of the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) into the way it handled the failure of Everleaf and other licensees.

According to the Times of Malta, a report is expected “within a matter of weeks,” and will include recommendations and “a number of decisions for the strengthening of the LGA’s reputation if the need is so felt.”
In the case of Everleaf, players have been complaining to the LGA for almost 18 months about its inability of its licensee to repay players following its withdrawal from the US market. The regulator launched an investigation and initially claimed that the “great majority” of players had been repaid—and that most complainants were affiliates disguising themselves as players. Ultimately, it suspended Everleaf’s licenses but refused to comment further.
Everleaf is just the latest in a string of failed licensees under the LGA’s watch. Reports of LGA’s failure to aid players date back more than five years. Often these issues result in players losing their deposits—despite the fact that the Maltese regulations explicitly requires licensees to hold player funds in segregated accounts.
If the report is critical of the LGA, the newly-appointed Board of Directors will come under pressure to reform their financial auditing processes and their commitment to the protection of player funds.
Author: Ekaterina
26 . 08 . 2013 y.
The Bahamas Consider Online Gambling

 Near Cuba and not far from the Florida Keys in the U.S. lies the Bahamas, a sun-kissed tropical country that relies on tourist trade to support its more than 350,000 residents.

While those tourists often can be found enjoying the beaches at over 700 islands that make up the commonwealth, many also wander into any one of a handful of casinos that add to the vacation experience. The casinos enjoy considerable action during tourist seasons, but there are several months where the slots and table games resemble that of a ghost town.
The Bahamas is susceptible to experiencing hurricanes during the summer and autumn, which keeps visitors away. This puts a serious dent in the country's economy and has brought up discussions of perhaps permitting online gambling in order to offset casino losses during the slow tourism months.
“During the hurricane season, when nobody wants to travel to the Bahamas, we still have thousands of employees to support, we still have hundreds of local vendors and contractors to pay," said Uri Clinton, a Baha Mar Casino & Hotel representative. Clinton is pushing for online gambling legislation that would allow the country "to continue to generate tax revenue, even as people are not here using the resources,” the Bahamas Weekly reported.
The issue of regulating online gaming in the Bahamas and other jurisdictions will be discussed in the country during a conference next month entitled “Shrinking The Global Divide: Synergy, Service and Sustainability.” Set for September 18th-20th at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, Clinton will be one of the speakers who will provide information on the legalization of online gambling from a global perspective.
The unpredictable weather patterns that sometimes wreak havoc on the Bahamas may keep people away at certain times, but online gambling is seen as a way to provide stability to its revenue stream. It's another example of the benefits that online poker and gambling could bring to any number of jurisdictions looking to add revenue.
Author: Ekaterina
23 . 08 . 2013 y.
William Hill and DeepStacks Poker Tour Agree to Deal to Bring Poker to Panama

 William Hill and DeepStacks have agreed on a deal that will bring another stop to Latin America, this time in Panama.  DeepStacks is the parent company of DeepStacks Poker Tour and this agreement continues to the expansion of poker tournaments into the Caribbean and Latin America.  The series of tournaments called the DeepStacks Poker Tour Veneto Carnivale Series will offer 8 tournaments with a $1.25k main Event with a $5k High Roller and will be slotted just before the events in Punta Cana are slated to begin.  The tournament series will run from November 6-11.

Tristan Wade, Mike Matusow and Michael Mizrachi are all expected to attend as they are ambassadors of DeepStacks and will help to promote the first stop in Panama for the series.  This will help the stop be more of a success, because many times it’s hard to attract notable players to tournaments that have no history, as players are worried that it will cost more than it’s worth to get to some locations. The agreement with William Hill will also help bring Europeans to the event to combine with Americans who might want to play 3 or more Main Events in the region with Punta Cana hosting two major tournament series just after the completion of this event.  All of these factors should help this tournament series be a success, which will only encourage more growth in the region.
Now with PokerStars’ Latin American Poker Tour, the new Caribbean Poker Tour and DeepStacks Poker Tour all hosting events in the region throughout the year Latin America and South America are fastly becoming a hotbed for poker that all tournament grinders need to consider.  Also, with the moderate buy-in levels even more the Main Events it attracts the local citizens who can’t afford 5k Main Events that are seen in a lot of European and North American Tournaments.  It would behoove any tournament grinder to keep their finger on the pulse of the region and PokerUpdate will attempt to help in that endeavor as more stops and new tours are announced.
 
Author: Ekaterina
23 . 08 . 2013 y.
Russian Skin Red Star Poker Leaves the Revolution

 The Revolution Gaming skin Red Star Poker migrated to MPN earlier this week. Red Star was a member of the Cake network and joined Revolution when the network was formed.

Prior to joining Cake, Red Star was an independent poker room with its own software which mainly served the Russian market.
Withdrawal problems which have threatened the business of other Revolution skins such as Lock Poker and Juicy Stakes have not troubled Red Star, which uses its own payment processor.
US players on Red Star Poker will no longer be allowed to play on the site.
Players who decide to stay will experience greater liquidity as MPN enjoys more than double the average cash game traffic than Revolution, according to PokerScout.com.
Red Star players will also find that the terms of their rakeback have changed. Revolution’s standard 36% rakeback will be reduced to MPN’s maximum of 30%.
Along with the Winning Poker Network (WPN)—which serves US players—and a few smaller operators, Revolution continues to use the “dealt” method of assigning VIP points based on rake paid at cash games.
MPN uses the “weighted contributed” method which allocates points to players according to the proportion of the pot they have wagered, rather than awarding an equal number to points to every player dealt into the hand under the “dealt” system.
Promotional benefits such as Gold Cards and Gold Chips will not be transferred or exchanged for equivalents under the new MPN VIP scheme.
Author: Ekaterina
23 . 08 . 2013 y.
Winamax Poker Available in German

 Long known for leading the online poker industry in the French market, Winamax is expanding its reach by announcing the addition of the German language on its software and website.

Winning the award of the world's best online operator of 2013, Winamax has not rested on its laurels. The Paris-based poker site is branching out to other parts of Europe. Its first effort at making European players feel at home is by providing the German language in all facets of its operations. That includes communications with members of the Winamax customer support team.
What online poker players in France have known for several years and what European players are now discovering is that there are plenty of advantages to playing at Winamax. Those benefits include more than €10 million guaranteed every month in MTTs, €90,000 million given away each month in leaderboard races, and award winning poker software available on PCs, Macs, Linux and mobile devices.
In addition, Winamax players can count on an outstanding VIP program, a poker school designed for players to improve their game, customer support that promises efficient answers to any dilemma, and a safe and secure playing environment. To top it off, the Winamax Pro Team that includes Patrick Bruel and Gaelle Baumann can often be found playing online.
Currently tops in player traffic in the French market and ranked ninth worldwide by PokerScout, Winamax is likely to gain additional players considering the flexibility allowed by ARJEL in its licensing requirements. Those who have yet to play at Winamax can avail of a first-time deposit bonus of 100% up to €500.
Author: Ekaterina
22 . 08 . 2013 y.
UK Online Gaming Crackdown Worth £300 Million

 Online gambling companies that cater to British customers but base their operations offshore to avoid higher tax rates will be facing stiffer regulation come December 2014 when a new law goes into effect.

A remote gaming duty of 15% will be levied against the likes of Betfair, William Hill, Ladbrokes and Bwin.party, who are all based in Gibraltar but have a strong presence in the UK. Those companies currently enjoy a tax rate of only 1% with a cap of £425,000 in Gibraltar.
The UK Treasury estimates that £300 million in additional yearly revenue will be gained by cracking down on remote gaming operators. Those who fail to comply with the new law and tax rate are subject to harsh penalties that include heavy fines, loss of gaming licenses in Britain, and prison time for company executives.
"It is unacceptable that gambling companies can avoid UK taxes by moving offshore, and the government is taking decisive action to ensure this can no longer happen in the future," said Sajid Javid, the Treasury's economic secretary. "These reforms will ensure that remote gambling operators who have UK customers make a fair contribution to the public finances."
The Gambling Commission estimates that remote gaming takes in more than £2 billion every year, The Guardian reported. In addition to revenue gains for the Treasury, the rule change that takes effect December 1, 2014 will allow companies that operate in the UK to compete on equal grounds.
"We knew it was coming," said Remote Gambling Association chief executive Clive Hawkswood. "The focus for us now is on trying to get the actual rate of the tax reduced."
In aiming for a reduction, William Hill will likely argue that the new rate of taxation is a breach of European Union laws regarding competition. As Britain's largest operator of remote gambling, the rule change intending to levy taxes according to place of consumption rather than place of supply will put a heavy dent in company profit margins.
 
Author: Ekaterina
22 . 08 . 2013 y.
Allegations of Cheating Surface on Play2B

 A developing thread on 2+2 includes allegations of cheating at sites on the Play2B Network.

Play2B provides a turnkey solution for setting up an online poker site and has partnered with other companies representing over a dozen skins on the Play2B poker network which is operated by Beproga Limited—a class 4 license holder of the Maltese Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA).
It should be noted that the allegations are based on small samples of hand histories and that those samples are not random, but produced by players who feel that they have been cheated.
Play2B has responded with a statement that it is monitoring the 2+2 thread and that the five accounts which have been implicated in the cheating have been suspended:
Please be informed that we have followed the thread at 2+2 and we are taking all observations very seriously and it is currently being investigated. At the moment, the 5 suspicious accounts which are mentioned in the thread are currently suspended for investigation. We will get back to you as soon as this matter has been fully investigated.
The potential cheating was identified by players studying hand histories and seeing that some of the statistics of the alleged cheaters were extremely similar and had unusually high success rates. Poster “DruidFluid” collated hand histories from affected players and saw that the accused players had won:
… 626 of the 676 they raised pf, 90 of the 93 hands they bet turn, 56 out of 56 rivers that they bet, 117/122 hands that they 3b, 12/12 hands 4b
Even with a small sample size such statistics raise fears of so called “superusers” as identified in the UltimateBet cheating scandal that was also outed by players studying statistics.
The demise of PokerinVenice saw players given the opportunity to obtain a bonus equal to their balances on Tempura, a Play2B skin. The option came with a condition that before cashing out, players had to rake at least 75% of the balance transferred.
A similar offer was made to players with accounts at Gutshot Poker.
Author: Ekaterina
22 . 08 . 2013 y.
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