» Uncategorized

Amaya Gaming Acquires Ongame Poker Network

 Amaya Gaming Group, the popular entertainment solutions provider for the regulated gaming industry, has announced that it recently acquired the Ongame Poker Network, a leading B2B online poker network, from Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment.

The deal is worth up to $32.2 million andMontrealbased Amaya Gaming Group will make an initial payment of $19.3 million to Bwin.Party in cash on completion of the deal.  Payment is expected to be made during the fourth quarter of this year, subject to regulatory approval.  Should online gaming be regulated in theUnited Statesover the next five years then Amaya will be required to pay additional payments of up to $12.9 million.

Chief Executive Officer of Amaya Gaming, David Baazov, said “The acquisition of Ongame bolsters Amaya Gaming’s product portfolio, transforming Amaya into a leading provider of gaming platforms.  Amaya looks forward to unleashing Ongame’s technology to its full potential through the leveraging of our many B2B relationships and delivering new partners and players to the network. The Ongame platform is scalable, proven and secure and is well suited for quick deployment in new regulated markets.  We’re excited about the wide range of opportunities this acquisition makes possible for us as we execute on our vision.”

Ongame is one of the world’s leading B2B poker providers and includes 25 of the e-gaming industry’s strongest brands that are owned by a total of 19 operators in regulated jurisdictions.  These online poker rooms include Betfair, Betsson and Coral.  The group also operates regional networks inItalyandFrance.  Both operators and their players are offered a huge variety of cash games and tournaments to choose from at Ongame.

Jim Ryan and Norbert Teufelberger, the Co-CEO’s of Bwin.party, said that the sale of Ongame conforms to their strategy, especially as they move closer to launching their single, proprietary technology platform in the following few months.  They added that they are certain that Ongame will fit well into Amaya Gaming and has an excellent future ahead.

iGame Malta Joining Microgaming Poker Network

iGameMalta, one of the leading online poker operators, has announced that due to International Game Technology’s recent decision to close it’s Entraction Poker Network, it has decided to join the Microgaming Poker Network.

The online poker operator will be moving all its online properties, which include 24h Poker.com, iGame.com, NoiQ.com, Pokerihuone.com and Casinohuone.com to Microgaming’s Network.  iGaming will also be brining a database of almost 1 million players to the Microgaming Network.

The owners of Entraction, International Gaming Technology (IGT) recently advised all of the current skins to find new networks as they intend closing at the beginning of December, 2012.  Entraction was purchased by International Gaming Technology for an amount of $100 m last year but the group has decided to take the important decision to write off its investment.

According to a statement from Sliema-based iGameMalta, they intend moving from their existing network, International Gaming Technology, to the Microgaming Network towards the end of this year.

iGamingMaltaannounced that players at their sites will also be able to enjoy a variety of over 350 games from Microgaming’s QuickFire Flash-based online casino as well as its soft games suite in the near future.  These include slots and licensed products such as Lara Croft, Hellboy, Thunderstruck 11, Tomb Raider and the Mega Moola progressive jackpot title.

Tommi Maijala, Managing Director for parent firm iGame Holdings Limited said “We are thrilled to be joining the Microgaming Poker Network and securing for our players access to the highest quality poker software, good liquidity and a secure long term future”.  Maijala added “The experience of players is always our utmost priority, so joining the Microgaming Poker Network is a very natural development for us. We have received excellent support from Microgaming and look forward to working with it”.

Lydia Melton, Network Games Head for Microgaming, said that they are thrilled that iGameMaltahas chosen to move to the Microgaming Poker Network and they are confident that iGameMaltaplayers will find the Microgaming Poker Network to be a welcome home.

PKR Launches 3D Mobile Roulette

PKR.com, one of the leading online poker and gaming sites, has announced that it has launched a play for fun version of a new mobile 3D roulette game for the Apple iOS platform.

The new 3D mobile roulette app can be downloaded by players for free and is at the moment, free to play.  PKR has also revealed that a real money version of the 3D mobile roulette will be released by the group before the end of the year.

PKR is one of the best online poker sites in the world, winning lots of awards for innovation and creativity and allowing players to create their own avatars.  The site uses proprietary software, making it a unique poker destination for players and enhancing their gaming experience,

The new free-play roulette app offers fantastic graphics that are powered by Unity Engine software. 

Players may approach mobile 3D roulette in the same way as they approach the poker platform, creating an avatar, customizing it in order to suit their own personal requirements, building up their virtual currency bankroll and then commence playing.

Included in the features of the new PKR 3D mobile roulette app is a full tutorial that explains how to play roulette like a pro, as well as an opportunity for players to earn PKR points while playing which they can use to unlock content such as new avatar skins, casinos and high roller tables.

A spokesperson for PKR said, “It’s a lot of fun just to have a quick spin of the wheel while you ride the train, zone out in a lecture or wait around for your next hand at the poker table. This app is awesome and we are so excited to launch the real money version”.

Players can earn up to 50 Apple Game Centre achievements by playing the new roulette application.

Another sign that this online poker giant is moving in exciting new directions is the fact that it is also planning to launch a mobile version of its blackjack game.

Matchbook.com and Sam Trickett End Poker Sponsorship Deal

Sam Trickett and Matchbook.com have announced that they have ended their sponsorship deal.

The online betting exchange revealed that the arrangement to end the deal had been mutually concluded.

Trickett has headlined several elite poker players at poker events around the world who were sponsored by Matchbook.

Tricket took second place in the $1 million buy-in Big One for One Drop tournament that took place inLas Vegasthis year while wearing the Matchbook brand and becameEurope’s all-time money winner in poker with his win of over $10 million.

According to a spokesman for Matchbook.com, they have long believed that Sam is one of the best poker players in the world and that he well deserves the success that he has had over the last two years.  He added that it has been an honor to have Sam as the face for the Matchbook Poker team as he is a huge asset for any brand and they expect him to secure a sponsorship deal with one of the biggest dedicated poker sites around.

Trickett said that he is very grateful to have been given the opportunity to compete in the biggest tournament in the history of poker and that it was an experience that will live with him forever.

Matchbook.com has also confirmed that it has been involved in producing a documentary on Sam Trickett which focuses on his involvement in the One Drop tournament.  Sam said that it had been a lot of fun filming the documentary and that he is looking forward to seeing the outcome thereof.

The betting exchange which has been in operation since 2004 revealed that their sponsorship strategy with Sam has always been targeted towards the Big One for One Drop event and that while they do expect to maintain an interest in poker moving forward through a variety of poker markets for popular European and worldwide events, Matchbook will in future be focusing on its principal business as a sports betting exchange.

Bet Victor Offering Many Prizes in September

Bet Victor, the popular online poker room, is offering players a series of special promotions that will see players being rewarded with some lucrative cash as well as top technology prizes and trips.

The online poker room will be running a EURO 25 buy-in $10,000 Tournament event every Sunday during this month from 6.25 pmLondontime with each winner being awarded an Apple MacBook Air as well as a cash prize.  Runners up and third placed players in this tournament will each be awarded with an iPad.

All players that participate in all five Tournamania games during this month will also be receiving a free entry valued at Euro 25 into the Sunday Special Euro 10,000 guaranteed tournament that is scheduled to take place on Sunday, October, 7, 2012.

Bet Victor has also announced that it will be holding Iron Man free-rolls that will commence at 7.15 pm Londontime.  The first free-roll took place on Sunday, September 1, 2012 with the following free-rolls taking place on 9^th, 19^th, 23^rd and 27^th September when each winner will receive a main event seat at the upcoming European Masters of Poker (EMOP) tournament due to take place inDublin.  Each package is valued at Euro 2,000 and includes the Euro 1,100 buy-in as well as a four night stay at the Clontarf Castle Hotl and an amount of Euro 350 for travel and expenses.   Every player who wins a trip will also qualify to take part in the online poker site’s Team VC Leader Board competition that will see ten European Masters of Poker Season V packages being awarded.

Bet Victor has also reminded players that its Four The Win sit-and-go challenge will continue throughout this month offering competitors succeeding in taking down four consecutive Euro 2.20 marked games a bonus prize to the value of Euro 300.  Any player able to win four successive Euro 11 Four The Win sit-and-go games will be awarded with an Apple MacBook Air.

Poker big Contributor to 888 Profits

Popular UKbased online gambling group, 888 Holdings, has revealed that poker has contributed to its increased profits, according to their half yearly financial report that was released to them on 29^th August, 2012.

888 Holdings’ past reports had reflected disappointing performances from its online poker arm, 888 and the group was, therefore, very happy to announce that thanks to demand for the game, its revenues had increased by 72% compared to the same time period a year ago.  This has resulted in numbers being brought up to $41.3 million.

The company holds a solid position in the newly regulated online gambling and poker markets inSpainwhich has resulted in part of 888’s online poker growth.  The group currently dominates 26% of the online poker market inSpainand is second in size.

Brian Mattingley, Chief Executive at 888, revealed that online poker and other sectors in the company’s portfolio did well due to renewed focus on significant products and less emphasis on its business to business sector.

Mattingley added that the new management team reviewed the overall position of the company and put it back on track by concentrating on their principal competencies, namely casino, poker, bingo and sport.

The Chief Executive, speaking about the success of 888 Holdings’ online poker arm, said “Poker remains the star performer of the product stable… [with] active customer numbers up 63% in Q2 2012, this is in addition to a very strong increase of 90% in active customers in the prior year,” he said. “We continue to be ranked 4th in the top ten of global poker liquidity by PokerScout.com.”

The group has also revealed that it has signed a deal with Caesars Entertainment in theUnited Statesin terms of which it will promote a World Series of Poker branded online poker room outside theUnited States.  It has also signed a deal with WMS Gaming in terms of which it will create an online poker platform

Viktor “Isildur1” Blom No Longer PokerStars pro.

According to recent rumors, Viktor Blom, known in the online poker world as “Isildur1” is believed to have ceased being a PokerStars pro.  Speculation began a few weeks ago when it was discovered that Blom was no longer listed on the pro roster on PokerStars.com

Blom came onto the scene in 2009 on Full Tilt Poker as an unknown under the screen name of “Isidur1”.  Soon he was playing against the likes of Tom “durrr” Dwan, Phil Ivey and Patrik Antonius.  The mystery Swede then experienced wild swings and was up a million, down a million, up a few hundred thousand and down a few hundred thousand.  Blom was later involved in the ten largest pots in online poker history and succeeded in winning four for a combined $3.5 million.

Blom lost in excess of $4 million to CardRunners instructor Brian Hastings in December, 2009.  Later it was discovered that fellow instructor, Brian Townsend, had used certain information to assistHastingsin his battles against Blom that resulted in Full Tilt stripping Townsend of his esteemed “red pro” status for a month.

Despite the fact that Blom continued to keep his identity a secret there were strong rumors that “Isidur1” was, in fact, Viktor Blom.  This fact was only confirmed in January 2011 when PokerStars revealed Isildur1’s true identity at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.

Although no real reason has been given for Blom’s split with PokerStars, it appears that it was a mutual decision between him and the poker room.  According to Blom “I’ve enjoyed my time as a Team Pro and I wish everyone at PokerStars the best. Now I just want to concentrate on playing poker.”

There has been speculation that Blom will be signing with Full Tilt Poker which is due to be re-opened by PokerStars by early November.  Blom was a high profile figure on Full Tilt before Black Friday and it is thought that he will be a natural fit as one of the new Full Tilt pros.

Money Owed to Poker Stars

Following the shut down of Full Tilt Poker by the Department of Justice last year it came to light that besides the fact that the online poker room owed massive amounts of money to over a million players from the US, Full Tilt Poker had allowed several of the industry’s most prominent pros to borrow massive amounts of money from them.  It was later ascertained that Full Tilt Poker had actually lent out a total of $18 million to a couple of players and that some of it came from customer deposits.

Since Poker Stars’ acquisition of Full Tilt Poker, they are endeavoring to recover as much of this money as possible.

Barry Greenstein is the first and only professional to have been responsible enough to pay back a major loan by recently paying Poker Stars his $400k debt.

Other professionals have stated that they are quite prepared and happy to pay back the money owed by them in cash but that they have been waiting for the right opportunity in order to do so.

Phil Levy, Erick Lindgren, Layne Flack, David Benyamine and Mike Matusow are also players who owe large amounts of money to Full Tilt Poker.

Phil Ivey is possibly the worlds’ best all around player at present and also has value as a sponsored player.  There is, therefore, a good chance of Ivey paying back the $4 million that he owes.

It would appear as though Lindgren will find it more difficult to pay off the $4 million that he allegedly owes as his reputation has taken a big hit over the past year.    Benyamine and Flack have also taken a huge hit and will find it quite difficult to take care of the $2 million debt that each of them owe.

Owing to the latter three pros’ financial situation it will not be easy for Poker Stars to get them to pay back what they owe, even if they go after these players.

New RedKing Android App

RedKings, a member of the Ongame network, has announced that it is the latest online poker company to join the Android app race.  Poker players are now given a chance to play online at RedKings.com by using an Android Device, a Tablet or a mobile smartphone.

The app, which has been dubbed “Portable Poker” on Android, gives poker players an opportunity to play in either Real Money or by using play money in order to practice playing for free.  Players logging into RedKings from their Tablet or Android smartphone are able to connect to thousands of players who are already playing and will get the same dynamic poker features all modified for their Android device.

RedKings has made sure that players will enjoy a supreme mobile experience with “dernier cri” software, distinct graphics and very easy to use navigation.  Tablet devices enable players to get big screen enhancement and longer battery life for players who spend long sessions at the cash tables.

RedKings European VIP Manager, Jack Simons, reported that their new RedKings Android App gives players an opportunity to enjoy the same functions as their PC or Laptop.  Players are able to open a RedKings poker account through their Android device, make withdrawals or deposits and also look out for any promotions or daily offers while they are on the move.  He added that for some, the long journey home by train will not seem so bad anymore.

Players are also able to play pot limit, fixed limit or no limit Holdem with the RedKings app at stakes starting from $0.05/$0.10 up to $3/$6.   There is also heads-up 6-max or full ring tables.  Players connect by way of a 3G mobile Service or by Wi-Fi.

Simons also said that Portable Poker or Poker on the move is becoming the most convenient way to play online poker with many players using their smartphone and in particular their Tablet device for more flexibility at home.

A mobile app for iPhone and iPad is due to be released by RedKings within the next few weeks.

Poker Stars Acquires Full Tilt Poker

Following many unfulfilled rumors during the past few months regarding players of Full Tilt Poker being paid it would appear as though the latest rumor, namely that Poker Stars has acquired Full Tilt Poker, will finally see players being paid what is due to them.

Poker Stars, Full Tilt Poker and the U.S. Department of Justice have at long last, after months of speculation, managed to reach an agreement that will result in Full Tilt players being paid back in full.

In terms of the deal between the parties, Full Tilt Poker will forfeit all its assets voluntarily to theU.S.government.

Poker Stars issued a press release wherein it stated that after Full Tilt’s forfeiture, theU.S.government will transfer all those assets to them and Poker Stars will then pay out $547 million to theU.S.government over a period of three years.

Poker Stars will be directly reimbursing an amount of $184 million that it owed to non-U.S. customers within 80 days while Full Tilt players from theU.S.will have a chance to file a petition for remission with the DOJ Asset Forfeiture Money Laundering Service.

A $225 million payment will thereafter be made from Poker Stars to theUSgovernment within six days after the settlement.

All civil forfeiture as well as money laundering charges against all individuals related to Full Tilt Poker and Poker Stars will be dropped in terms of the deal.

As soon as State or Federal governments legalize online poker, Poker Stars as well as Full Tilt Poker will be permitted to offer real money online poker in terms of agreement.

Mark Scheinberg, Chairman of the Board of Poker Stars said “We are delighted we have been able to put this matter behind us, and also secured our ability to operate in the United States of America whenever the regulations allow,” said Mark Scheinberg,

Manhattan U.S. Attorney, Preet Bharara, said “We are pleased to announce these settlements by Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars, which allow us to get significant compensation speedily into the victim players’ hands.”