After several people criticise PokerNews for allowing Phil Galfond to use their platform to out Samuel Touil as a cheat, Lee Davy airs his view on whether those allegations are justified?

PokerNews writers are learning that you can’t please everyone. Often criticised for a product that needs to tow the affiliate party line, they are now getting pelters for trying to be more subjective.

The site recently gave Phil Galfond a platform to out Samuel Touil as a thief. The synopsized version: Galfond loaned Touil $250,000 to keep him in a cash game; Touil lost the lot. So far he has only returned $50,000 and insists that’s the only transaction that will happen.

A few things came to mind when I read it. The first was the surprise. It read like a tabloid piece – not PokerNews’ style. The second was a recognition of a job well done. I go to PokerNews for fact based news. Reading an article on a taboo subject was refreshing. The final thought was why did Galfond use PokerNews as a platform when he has his own?

After several people criticise PokerNews for allowing Phil Galfond to use their platform to out Samuel Touil as a cheat, Lee Davy airs his view on whether those allegations are justified?

PokerNews writers are learning that you can’t please everyone. Often criticised for a product that needs to tow the affiliate party line, they are now getting pelters for trying to be more subjective.

The site recently gave Phil Galfond a platform to out Samuel Touil as a thief. The synopsized version: Galfond loaned Touil $250,000 to keep him in a cash game; Touil lost the lot. So far he has only returned $50,000 and insists that’s the only transaction that will happen.

A few things came to mind when I read it. The first was the surprise. It read like a tabloid piece – not PokerNews’ style. The second was a recognition of a job well done. I go to PokerNews for fact based news. Reading an article on a taboo subject was refreshing. The final thought was why did Galfond use PokerNews as a platform when he has his own?

Asian casino operator Donaco International has cut its ties with junket operator Heng Sheng Group less than six months after the companies started working together.

Donaco released its fiscal H1 earnings report on Wednesday, which included the revelation that the company had terminated its agreement with Heng Sheng in January. Donaco said arrangements for the international VIP gaming room at its flagship Star Vegas Resort & Club in Poipet, Cambodia were “currently being restructured.”

Donaco and Heng Sheng struck a deal last August to steer VIPs to Star Vegas and Heng Sheng’s VIP room officially launched last September. Donaco now says that Heng Sheng’s exclusivity for certain countries and territories prevented Donaco from working with other junkets, so the decision was made to restructure.

Donaco says negotiations with international junkets are “well advanced” and “significant numbers of new players” would be visiting Star Vegas in the coming months. Donaco said that its costs associated with the launch of the VIP room have been fully recovered.

Asian casino operator Donaco International has cut its ties with junket operator Heng Sheng Group less than six months after the companies started working together.

Donaco released its fiscal H1 earnings report on Wednesday, which included the revelation that the company had terminated its agreement with Heng Sheng in January. Donaco said arrangements for the international VIP gaming room at its flagship Star Vegas Resort & Club in Poipet, Cambodia were “currently being restructured.”

Donaco and Heng Sheng struck a deal last August to steer VIPs to Star Vegas and Heng Sheng’s VIP room officially launched last September. Donaco now says that Heng Sheng’s exclusivity for certain countries and territories prevented Donaco from working with other junkets, so the decision was made to restructure.

Donaco says negotiations with international junkets are “well advanced” and “significant numbers of new players” would be visiting Star Vegas in the coming months. Donaco said that its costs associated with the launch of the VIP room have been fully recovered.

New Zealand gamblers spent slightly more on pretty much all forms of legal betting last year except for lottery products.

According to data released by the country’s Department of Internal Affairs, Kiwis spent a combined $2.09b on gambling in the 2014-15 fiscal year, 1.2% more than in the previous year. Adjusted for inflation, the numbers have barely budged over the past six years, ranging from $2.06b in 2011 to $2.1b in 2012.

Lottery products were the sole decliners, as sales fell 10% to $894m, while operators’ take fell 9% to $420m. The decline snapped a winning streak that had seen lottery sales rising an average 5% per year since 2010. The reversal was blamed on a lack of mega-jackpots, as only one Powerball prize topped the $20m mark.

Despite its routine bitching about losing money to international betting sites, the NZ Racing Board (TAB) reported turnover up 13% to $2.07b while the operator’s share rose 5% to $325m. This marks the fourth straight year of rising numbers, which the NZRB credited to increased sports betting interest and a new TAB mobile wagering app.