Monthly Archives: May 2017

French gaming regulator says EU online poker liquidity deal by June

Online gambling regulators in select European Union markets expect to reach a deal on online poker liquidity sharing by June, according to the head of French gaming regulator ARJEL.

ARJEL released its 2016 annual report this week, which included a statement that the regulator expects a formal liquidity sharing arrangement between the governments of France, Italy, Portugal and Spain to be concluded sometime next month.

The prediction will be welcome news to poker players in those markets, who have been watching the glacially slow process unfold for years now. Regulators have offered sporadic hints as to the progress they’re making but the most recent meeting of European gaming regulators in Lisbon earlier this month resulted in a press release that failed to so much as mention the issue of online poker liquidity.

While handshakes and signatures may be exchanged in June, ARJEL said online poker operators wouldn’t be able to submit their software for technical standards testing until September at the earliest. And while ARJEL said it would “make every effort” to ensure liquidity sharing became a reality “as soon as possible,” it offered no concrete timelines for when that magical day might arrive.

500.com buys Maltese parent of Multilotto.com

Struggling online lottery operator 500.com has made another attempt to diversify its business model by acquiring the parent company of Nordic-facing online gambling operator Multilotto.com.

On Friday, the Nasdaq-listed 500.com announced that it had reached a deal to acquire 93% of the outstanding shares of The Multi Group Ltd, the Malta-headquartered parent of Multilotto. The deal, which is worth €49.8m (US $56m), is subject to regulatory approval.

Multilotto offers lottery betting and online casino services via a Curacao eGaming license. Multi Group also holds online licenses issued by Maltese, UK and Irish gaming regulators. In 2015, the company reported revenue of €4m and earnings of €1.2m, while 2016’s revenue rose to €10m and earnings improved to €5.7m.

500.com stressed that Multilotto doesn’t accept customers from China, including Hong Kong and Macau. Until China imposed its ‘temporary’ suspension of online lottery sales in March 2015, the Shenzhen-based 500.com was one of two companies authorized to take part in a ‘pilot program’ of online sports lottery sales in China.

LatAm gaming needs a strong Juegos Miami to really progress, states Zuum Gaming, Director

“A strong Juegos Miami is essential if we are to have a strong and really vibrant industry in the region” argued Igor Cimerman, Director of electronic table games developer, Zuum Gaming.  As the company, which has a strong presence throughout the majority of countries in Latin America, prepares to attend the bespoke business event, he explained: “It’s invaluable for gaming interests in LatAm to have a professional rallying point: to be able to bring the majority of decision makers together under one roof is amazing.  As far as the regulators are concerned, it’s an opportunity for them to understand the issues facing the industry and the best method for them to engage with the industry face-to-face.”

Igor Cimerman, Director of electronic table games developer, Zuum Gaming

In addition to expanding its contacts throughout the region, the company’s aim from attending Juegos Miami is to explore the full extent of the learning and networking programmes, which are key components of the Juegos Miami experience.  “There are many markets in LatAm which are still considered ‘undiscovered’ and we want to use Juegos Miami to discuss and hear the regulatory updates for all of the emerging markets” he said.  “There are some very interesting presentations, not least on the current progress of the new gaming law in Brazil.”

The cultural importance in Latin America of conducting business face-to-face has been identified by Igor Cimerman as a key driver behind the growing importance of the event which has been created to meet the specific needs of the region.  “Every company that’s active in gaming is now, to a greater or lesser degree, an international brand, which means understanding and responding to the cultural differences that exist between continents” he said.  “For example, in Europe it’s acceptable to do business by email or Skype, whereas in LatAm this is not looked upon positively.  Personal contact and the trust that comes from being able to meet people face-to-face and share time at an event such as Juegos Miami are the ways in which relationships are built and business and supply deals are agreed.”

Snooker legend Stephen Hendry signs as ambassador for Pokerstars and Betstars

Hendry to take to the poker tables at sun-drenched PokerStars Festival Marbella and take part in his first online freeroll on Sunday

ONCHAN, Isle of Man – May 26, 2017 – Seven-time snooker World Champion Stephen Hendry has teamed up with PokerStars and BetStars, Amaya Inc. (Nasdaq: AYA; TSX: AYA) brands, to rule both the snooker and poker tables.

The snooker great is being supported by PokerStars and online sports betting site BetStars and will make his first official appearance at PokerStars Festival Marbella from June 19-25. He will also take part in his first online freeroll on May 28 at 15:00 ET joining PokerStars Team Pro Jake Cody and Marcin Horecki, and Team PokerStars Online Lex Veldhuis.

Players who knock out the snooker icon or any Team PokerStars member in the PokerStars Festival Marbella Freeroll will receive a Main Event seat and €400 expenses. The overall winner of the freeroll will win a Main Event seat, a seven night hotel stay and €350 expenses. Players who come in second to ninth place will win a €27 online satellite ticket.  Running at the same time is the $215 Marbella Mega Satellite with 15 packages guaranteed. Players should keep an eye on Hendry and the Team Pro social media channels over the weekend for updates and details of how to register for the tournament.

PEZA changes mind on online gambling firm ban

Online gambling firms located in the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) – accredited sites may stay in their premises for as long as they are accredited by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

In April, PEZA announced that it has reached a consensus that the agency will no longer allow online gambling firms to stay in their accredited sites for the reason that gambling is not within their mandate and that it might affect operations of their so-called “legitimate” business process outsourcing companies.

PEZA Director General Charito Plaza, however, told CalvinAyre.com on Friday that the agency will make an exception for PAGCOR licensees to stay in the PEZA-accredited buildings but declined to state the reason for overturning the online gambling ban.

She said PEZA will come out with the implementing rules and regulations when the members of board meet on June 14.

North Jersey casino plan possible in 6 years, says racetrack owner

The owner of a New Jersey racetrack is willing to wait for six year in order to summon the dead North Jersey casino plan initiative back to life.

A proposal to allow two new casinos in northern New Jersey has sustained an overwhelming defeat in last November’s referendum but Meadowlands operator Jeff Gural is no yet giving up his dream of building a casino there.

The Associated Press reported that Gural is planning to revive a casino expansion referendum after six years. By that time, Gural pointed out that the neighboring New York state has already opened three more casinos and that residents of New Jersey will be begging for a casino to compete against them.

“I can last as long as it’s going to take,” Gural said at the East Coast Gaming Congress in Atlantic City. “I’d rather wait six years until New York is either open or ready to open, and then voters will say, ‘Wait a minute.’”

Bitcoin soars past $2,700, only to lose $400 after

And the bitcoin frenzy continues.

The popular digital currency came close to hitting the $2,800 mark on Thursday, only to drop close to $400 in one hour—though it was still up on the day. Bitcoin’s price hit a new all-time high of $2,760.10 on Bitstamp thanks to an uptick in demand out of Asia, but that rally ended shortly after the price fell to $2,263.72 several hours later.

Trade denominated in the Japanese remained solid, accounting for about 31 percent of Thursday’s trade volume, while Chinese yuan and Korean won accounted for 16 and 12 percent, respectively, according to CryptoCompare data.

Japan, if you recall, saw a burst in digital currency trading activity after regulators introduced new rules that treat bitcoin as part of the banking system.

Acquisitions fuel Tsogo Sun core profit

South African hotel and casino operator Tsogo Sun Holdings Ltd.’s full-year profit jumped 11 percent on the back of left and right acquisitions, including a controlling stake in Hospitality Property Fund.

For the full-year ending March 31, Tsogo Sun announced that its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization (EBITDA) grew to R5 billion ($380.81 million) while revenue for the gaming division rose 3% to R9.1 billion (US$704.53 million), with gaming win growth disappointing at 2%.

Adjusted headline earnings per share for the full-year ended March 31 rose 6% to 207.6 cents against 196.5 cents in the prior year, according to Africa’s biggest hotels and gambling operator

“This performance was largely due to the group’s M&A activity,” Tsogo Sun said in a statement, according to MoneyWeb.

Czech regulators, Jiřina Jůzlová and Tereza Cejpová announced as speakers at Prague Gaming Summit

May 2017 – Prague – The organizers of Prague Gaming Summit are honored to announce that Czech regulators, Jiřina Jůzlová and Tereza Cejpová will join the “Focus on the Czech Republic” panel. The panel is set to start at 2:00 PM (Prague Local Time) and is set to be among the highlight panels of the inaugural Prague Gaming Summit. The event will be held on the 8th of June at Andel’s by Vienna House Prague.

Tereza Cejpová

Head of the Legal and Methodology Unit: Supervision of Gambling Department; Ministry of Finance, Czech Republic

The panel is designed to point out correctness, positive points and challenges of the new regulatory framework which came into force starting with the 1st of January 2017.

Visit the Gaming in Holland Expo… it’s free!

Amsterdam, May 2017 – For the first time ever, a free-to-attend exhibition for the gaming industry will be held in the Netherlands. It is almost like ICE came to Amsterdam!

Can you afford to miss it?

Our expo

In addition to the main conference event, the sixth edition of the annual Gaming in Holland Conference & Expo will also feature an industry exhibition where game developers, software suppliers, and service providers to the international gaming industry can showcase their products and services.

Game changing Lotto Hero targets LatAm operators at Juegos Miami

Fresh from launching its mobile friendly game at ICE in London, Lotto Hero will be at the forthcoming Juegos Miami to introduce the revolutionary game, which offers players an opportunity to become a Euro millionaire every hour of every day, to a LatAm audience.  Designed to appeal to millennials and players across multiple verticals, Lotto Hero is set up to boost acquisition, retention and conversion, as well as increasing the life-time value of those players and strengthening cross-sell.

CEO Angelo Dalli believes that Juegos Miami provides an important rallying point for the industry in LatAm and for innovative and progressive suppliers wishing to enter it.  He explained: “The industry benefits greatly from major industry events such as ICE and iGSS.  We wish to see Juegos Miami prosper to the same level and bring all the interested B2B and B2C companies together to an event where business can be initiated in a comfortable and pleasant environment.  It’s also extremely valuable for politicians and decision makers to be able to engage with the industry in a professional environment and see it for what it is, a progressive and socially responsible arm of the entertainment business.”

Described as the ‘first truly interactive lottery on the market’, players purchase a two Euro Lotto Hero coupon, ahead of each draw, which is held on the hour, every hour.  Any that pick seven numbers and the correct card suit, which is drawn at random, are guaranteed at least one million Euros in prize money.  If the first attempt at winning does not succeed, Lotto Hero offers a second chance draw for players, significantly increasing the chances of a win.

The simplicity of the game and ease of play makes Lotto Hero exportable throughout the world, not least in LatAm, where there is a proven appetite for lottery products.  “Lotto Hero is highly gamified and interactive with a universal appeal and an intuitive user experience” stated Angelo Dalli.  “Whilst we already have exposure to the LatAm lottery industry, it is important for us to test the waters and get exposure for Lotto Hero in the LatAm region.  Its ability to appeal to every type of player anywhere in the world at any time of the day will give operators who sign up to it a genuine competitive edge.”

Michael Mizrachi on 888Poker; fatherhood and hustling

Lee Davy takes a seat with Michael ‘The Grinder’ Mizrachi at 888Live Barcelona to talk about his relationship with the online poker room, fatherhood and hustling.

When I arrive at the Casino Barcelona for 888Live, Michael Mizrachi is one of the first people I see. The Grinder has been around for a very long time, and only 18 other people in the world have won more money than him playing live tournament poker.

I would pitch him in the old-school bracket.

“GTO?”