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Ultimate Poker Signs Antonio Esfandiari

 Preparing for a real-money online poker launch in Nevada this year, Ultimate Poker has tabbed Antonio Esfandiari as its brand ambassador.

UltimatePoker.com is owned by Station Casinos, a Las-Vegas based company that already holds an interactive gaming license in the Silver State. The website's software is currently being tested by independent laboratories. Once gaming officials give the site's technology the green light, Esfandiari will bring his magic to promote the brand.
Esfandiari tops the all-time poker tournament winning money list after taking down $18.3 million in the $1 million buy-in Big One for One Drop last year. "The Magician" has won more than $23 million in his career, including two World Poker Tour championships and two WSOP bracelets in addition to the special One Drop platinum bracelet.
"We're thrilled to have Antonio Esfandiari represent our company," said Ultimate Poker Chairman Tom Breitling. “Antonio is the ultimate champion and modern poker player. He brings the gaming lifestyle to the online arena with his work-hard, play-hard attitude.”
Along with his poker-playing prowess, Esfandiari has increased his growing fan base by passing on his knowledge of the game as a commentator during ESPN's WSOP broadcasts. His signing with Ultimate Poker makes him the first pro to represent a licensed U.S. online poker company.
Ultimate Poker is run by Ultimate Gaming, which promotes and operates the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The company plans to fuse ultimate fighting with online poker, merging the two competitive sports in marketing campaigns geared toward fans of the gaming lifestyle.
Author: Ekaterina
04 . 04 . 2013 y.
Zynga Poker Debuts on the Party Poker Network

 Zynga has officially launched its real money online poker site, Zynga Poker Plus, on the Party Gaming Network. Zynga Poker Plus joins a network that is currently battling for the second spot in the Poker Scout rankings.

The online poker site operates on the bwin.party platform and features identical components to the current skins on the Party Gaming Network. Zynga Poker Plus maintains several Party promotions and has a rewards structure that is similar to the Palladium VIP system. The layout of the site provides the familiar design of the free play application that was highly popular on Facebook.
The social gaming giant has also released its first real money gaming casino, Zynga Plus Casino. The gambling site offers basic casino games like Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat as well as FarmVille themed slot games.
The real money gaming launch comes about 6 months after Zynga announced its partnership with the Bwin.party Digital Entertainment Company. Zynga made the necessary business moves to clear the way for this launch, including a renegotiation with longtime partner, Facebook. The company initially launched a real money social gaming product, Bingo & Slots Friendzy, on the UK Facebook platform. Now, the social gaming giant has officially entered the regulated real money gambling market.
"Our long term vision is to offer our players the next generation of real money games on multiple platforms in regulated markets worldwide," Zynga CEO Barry Cottle wrote on the company blog.
This long term vision also includes the possibility of a United States facing poker site in the state of Nevada. The social gaming company has initiated the license application process in the Silver State and plans to expand into other regulated states. The Zynga brand has been highly popular in the United States market and the company hopes that it could take advantage of the brand recognition.  
Author: Ekaterina
04 . 04 . 2013 y.
Interpoker Announces Move to Ongame Network

 Interpoker has announced that the skin will leave the Spielo G2 Poker Network for the established Ongame network.

The movement of Interpoker was inevitable given that the poker site and the Ongame network are both owned by the Amaya Gaming Group. The website is owned by CryptoLogic, which was acquired by Amaya in a $36 million deal in February of 2012.
The online poker website will relaunch on the Ongame network on the 24th of April and will have a mode of facilitation for the movement of player liquidity. Interpoker’s Danish players will remain on the Spielo G2 Poker Network until the website receives approval from the Danish Gaming Authority.
The Ongame Network has added a reputable poker skin to its offering of poker sites. The acquisition will allow the network to remain relevant, especially after losing its flagship skin, Betfair to the Playtech’s iPoker Network. Betfair plans to migrate from the network in July. The Ongame network also plans to launch a Playboy-branded poker website in the upcoming year as well. 
Ongame's parent company, Amaya, is also making plans to enter the United States market. The gaming operator has an agreement with Bally Technologies to provide software and gaming products.
Author: Ekaterina
03 . 04 . 2013 y.
PokerView the Latest Merge Skin to Close

 PokerView, a Merge Gaming skin that allowed players to see each other via webcam while playing, has unexpectedly shut down effective April 1.

The closure is not an April Fool's joke, as a visit to PokerView.com reveals the following message:
 
Dear PokerView Customer,
We are writing to inform you that PokerView recently transferred to Merge Gaming Limited certain assets which form part of the PokerView brand. As a result, PokerView will cease to operate PokerView.com as of 6:00 p.m. (EST) on April 1, 2013.
We want to take this moment to assure you that your player funds are secure; and you will have access to your funds and the ability to play on the Merge Gaming Network. All player funds will continue to be managed by Merge Gaming in the usual course.
It has been our pleasure to serve the poker community and we wish you all the best moving forward. For further instructions related to your accounts and support, please login to the PokerView client.
Sincerely,
The PokerView Team
 
 Those who do log in to the client are informed to choose a new skin among Carbon Poker, PlayersOnly or Sportsbook.com. Player balances will be promptly transferred to the chosen skin. Unfortunately, it appears that any uncleared bonuses and accumulated VIP points will not be transferred along with player account balances.
Merge skins have been closing their doors at a rapid pace of late, as Overbet and Iron Duke shut down last month. That followed the demise of Hero Poker and RPM Poker late last year. Black Chip Poker left Merge at roughly the same time as Hero and RPM, but is now accepting wagers at the Winning Poker Network.
Merge is currently ranked third among U.S.-friendly poker networks, trailing Bodog and the Revolution Network in cash game player traffic, according to recent PokerScout tabulations. Merge has long been criticized for excessive delays in payment processing.
PokerView was originally associated with the Everleaf Gaming Network and moved to Merge in the fall of 2011. The move came during a period when Merge had suspended new sign-ups from U.S. players but still allowed Americans with current accounts to log on. A number of U.S. players are believed to have joined PokerView prior to the migration to Merge in order to avoid the new player suspension on Merge.
Author: Ekaterina
03 . 04 . 2013 y.
Betfair Acquires Blue Square Bet

 Betfair has announced the the purchase of Internet sportsbook Blue Square Bet from the Rank Group for a reported £5 million.

The world's largest online betting exchange will add roughly 120,000 punters to its customer base in the deal. Rank Group acquired Blue Square Bet in 2003. An increase in marketing expenditures saw the Rank Group report a loss of £4.8 million for the six-month period ending on Dec. 31, 2012.
Betfair's sports revenue has been heading in the opposite direction, rising 39% to £7.5 million in Q3 tallies announced last month. The acquisition of Blue Square Bet coincides with the London betting exchange's "strategy of growing its sportsbook and gaming operations alongside its core exchange product," a Betfair spokesman told eGR.
Betfair is in the midst of an overhaul in its operational strategy. The company has withdrawn from grey markets such as Greece and Germany in favor of expanding its focus in regulated markets.
Author: Ekaterina
03 . 04 . 2013 y.
Rocco Palumbo Wins WPT Venice

 Today, the last 6 players from the 173 who started in the event played the Final Table to crown a champion at Casino di Venezia, Venice, Italy. Four levels of play were enough for Rocco Palumbo to emerge from the field as the champion, earning $180.097 in the process.

The first player eliminated was Erion Islamay. He shoved his short stack with A6 from the button and ran into the pocket tens of Marcello Montagner, the chip leader at that time.
The next casualty of the day was Xia Lin, who went all in from the big blind after Palumbo raised and Begni called from the small blind. Palumbo decided to go over the top with AJ and forced Begni to fold. The bracelet winner had Lin’s A6s dominated. No surprises on the board, and Lin was out in 5th place.
Afterwards, Begni exited from the final table when he pushed with A6 from the small blind after Montagner open-raised from the button. Montagner decided the odds were good and called with J2o, spiking a deuce on the river to eliminate Begni in 4th place.
The 3rd place finisher was Mike Sexton. He opened in the button and received the calls from both Montagner in the small and Palumbo in the big blind. Both blinds checked on a J76 flop and Sexton made a standard continuation bet which only Montagner called. The turn was an Ace, and after checking, Montagner called Sexton’s all in. J9 for Sexton and A7 for Montagner. There would be no miracles for Mike and his elimination set up the final heads-up.
In the last hand of the tournament, Palumbo opened from the button and Montagner answered with a 3-bet to 170k. Palumbo called, and the flop came JT8 rainbow. Montagner continued with 180k, which Palumbo quickly raised to 480k. Montagner called and moved all in after a 4 hit the turn. Snap-call from Palumbo who had J8 and was in good shape against Montagner’s 99. The river card was a 3, ending the tournament for Montagner in 2nd place and crowning Rocco Palumbo as the new WPT Venice Grand Prix champion!
 
Author: Ekaterina
02 . 04 . 2013 y.
Revolution Gaming Issues Lead to More Problems for Skin and Players

 The Revolution Gaming Network has made headlines for the wrong reasons in its short period of existence. The largest United States facing network and home of Lock Poker has been accused of slow cash out times and non-payment to affiliates. Now, a Revolution skin, Adameve Poker, has decided to suspend withdrawals and segregate player pool over issues regarding the network.

Adameve Poker’s recent decisions have risen from the lack of reconciliation payments from the Revolution Gaming networks. The skin explained that the suspension of withdrawal and player segregation will be in effect until the network pays “all due settlements with AdamevePoker”. Despite the suspension of withdrawal and player segregation, the poker skin operator has assured the safety of all player deposits and the continued operation of the website. The player segregation will begin on 2 April 2013 and the suspension of withdrawal has already taken effect.
The Adameve Poker fallout has been another notch in the ongoing saga of the Revolution Gaming Network. Recently, the network introduced Fair Play Technology to separate recreational players from the highly skilled players. This segregation was intended to create solid poker ecology.
However, the network has continued to come under fire for its lack of communication with withdrawals and payments such as the one owed to Adameve Poker. Players in the TwoPlusTwo forum have continued the barrage of complaints and negative comments. The network has even drawn the ire of non-United States players who have a high balance on the flagship skin, Lock Poker. Given the plethora of issues, many players have decided to move onto other sites, although the site remains popular in the United States.
Author: Ekaterina
02 . 04 . 2013 y.
Interpoker Confirms Late-April Jump from IPN to Ongame

 Online poker site Interpoker has confirmed in emails to its players that the site will complete its announced move from the International Poker Network to the Ongame Network, owned by Amaya Gaming, near the end of this month.

The move completes a plan to reunify the Intercasino and Interpoker sites that was put into place last year, with Interpoker the final software piece to be shifted. The transition coincides with Amaya’s pending launch of its new “Amaya GO” software platform, believed to include elements from both the Cryptologic and Ongame suites, both already owned by Canada-based Amaya.
News of the pending shift was communicated via separate series of emails to both affiliates and players over the past two weeks.
The message to players announced the site’s plans for “new bonuses, a new lobby and games … all available to play on a fantastic new look website.”
Players were also assured that they would be notified prior to their accounts being migrated over to the new platform.
Separately, the Intercasino home site already includes a page briefly describing the change.
Other than the cosmetic changes attributable to the shift in software platforms, most other Interpoker features will remain. However, according to InterPartners —the affiliate arm of the brand—the Danish Tax and Customs Administration (SKAT) has not approved the new platform. As a result no new Danish players will be accepted and no existing Danish players will be migrated.
Current Danes will remain on the old platform where they will be allowed to play until the Danish government approves the new system.
Author: Ekaterina
01 . 04 . 2013 y.
Multimillionaire Guy Laliberté Decides to Take a Break from the Nosebleeds

 In the world of high stakes poker, there seems to be a symbiotic relationship between the "sharks" and the "whales". These "sharks" are dependent on the availability of "whales" in the high stakes world. These "whales", who range from businessmen to celebrities, play poker for the love of the game and laugh at the thousands of dollars at stake in each game. In the online world, the most infamous whale has been Guy Laliberté, founder and CEO of the worldwide known Cirque Du Soleil, who is in the 831st position of the world’s richest individuals according to the Forbes magazine.

Guy has played High Stakes all around the globe against top professionals such as Phil Ivey and Tom Dwan with very little success. In addition to his big losses in the high stakes live games, Laliberté has also lost huge amounts of money playing online at PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. According to assopoker.com, the Cirque Du Soleil founder has lost about 15 million dollars playing poker over his lifetime.
“I have lost a lot in the Online tables, so I decided to take a break from Poker. I started playing about 7 years ago in Las Vegas, when a friend brought me to my first table. I liked the social aspect of this game and it’s competitivity. I also like to be able to read the other players, their approach to the game and strategy. Poker is a game that fits extremely well with my personality” – Laliberté explained.
With his gambling attitude, Guy may start to study the game and use smart bankroll and game management, even though he has lost colossal amounts of money over the years. 
The news of this loss has most likely been disheartening to high stakes regulars, but these "sharks" just plan to await the next big "whale".
Author: Ekaterina
01 . 04 . 2013 y.
Fortune Poker Quits, Puts a Time Limit on Withdrawals

 After nine years, Fortune Poker has called it a day on its poker and gaming operations. The site will continue to operate until the end of the month, and players have until midnight on April 2 to cash out their funds.

There is no indication that players’ funds are at risk, but players who do not cash out in time may experience significant delays in getting access to their money.
Fortune Poker operates on the Speilo G2 owned Boss Media International Poker Network which saw a traffic decline of nearly 50% in 2012. It is now down to a seven day average of only 330 cash game players.
A warning notice on the site’s home page lays out the timetable for the shutdown. Rakeback, VIP Prizes or Rake Race Prizes will be credited to player accounts on April 1st, giving players just 24 hours to cashout their balances.
Affiliates and partners will be paid monies owed by April 10th, and will be able to resolve queries with the Fortune support team until April 15th. Therafter the company is effectively shut down. After that, unresolved withdrawal issues will need to be directed to [email protected] and any gaming related issues should be submitted to [email protected].
Fortune Poker explains its decision with regret: “Over the past 9 years, we have been very grateful to service you and provide you with the most personal and VIP oriented poker room online. With many changes in the online gaming industry, it has been a struggle to continue to support our players and affiliates to the fullest.”
Author: Ekaterina
29 . 03 . 2013 y.
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