Multi-player mobile bingo, YouTube sports channels and the world’s first crowd lottery among 20 businesses to pitch at ICE Totally Gaming 2015

Wednesday, January 21, 2014 (London, UK) – GamCrowd.com and Clarion Events has announced the final line-up of entrants for Pitch ICE, to take place at Stand N7-460.

Presented by GamCrowd.com, Pitch ICE is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas in front of attendees and potential investors at ICE 2015.

The final 20 start-ups will each have a 15 minute slot to sell their business or concept on the show floor over the three days of ICE 2015, at ExCeL London from February 3-5. A wide variety of companies will be present, incorporating social gaming, online casino, online poker and more.

“This is a unique opportunity for start-up gambling businesses to get their idea off the ground in front of key industry decision-makers and potential investors at ICE Totally Gaming,” said GamCrowd CEO, Chris North. “The response to Pitch ICE has been incredible. As delegates will see, the programme is diverse, with concepts that could have an impact on many different areas of the gambling industry. We believe there are numerous stand-out ideas that have the potential to be very successful.”

Asylum Labs is one of the companies shortlisted. The innovative company aims to re-invent classic casino games for the 21st century by making them more social and focusing on online communities. Their key product, Wild Party Bingo, is a multi-player bingo game that allows players to join friends and either co-operate with or compete against them. Unique in-game features and a focus on social interaction could change the way that bingo is played online and on mobile in the future.

Sporting Savvy is a global network of YouTube channels across a variety of sports, including horse racing, Formula 1 and rugby. The channels focuses on reviews, insights and sports betting knowledge from respected experts who bring a dedicated audience with them. YouTube has over 1 billion unique users each month[i] and Sporting Savvy is one of the site’s original premium partners, meaning that the company can also create sponsored and branded content that many other channels cannot do.

Daily fantasy sports site FanDuel has reported its revenue numbers for the fourth quarter of 2014 and as can be expected from a site that has seen its exposure in the US market explode, FanDuel’s revenues in the last quarter of the year has skyrocketed up to $37 million, a significant improvement from its revenue numbers in the same time last year when it posted $7.4 million. For the entire year of 2014, FanDuel reported earning a total net revenue of $54 million.

The popularity of FanDuel’s daily fantasy format has even forced the company to address the challenge of the demand growing too fast, thus the need to expand its own business operations. “[FanDuel] is proving so popular that our main challenge now is meeting customer demand, we have over 125 staff split between offices in New York and Edinburgh and are planning on opening an office in Glasgow soon,” founder and CEO Nigel Eccles said, as quoted by the Herald Scotland.

The growing interest in the daily fantasy sports format in the US – it is legal there – has even given FanDuel the opportunity to leverage that popularity with partnerships with a variety of US pro sports teams, most notably in the NBA where it already has existing deals with the likes of the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, and most recently, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Fan Duel also has a four-year deal with the NBA, which recognizes it as the league’s official daily fantasy sports provider.

FanDuel’s reach in the US is evident based on numbers. According to the company, it accounts for 80 percent of the market and its fan base has exponentially grown from having 190,000 active paying users last year to well over 1 million this year. The company has even launched an iPhone app, which has been downloaded just under 900,000 times.

FanDuel also reported $371 million in player entry fees from October-December, which accounts for 69 percent of the market. That’s more than double than the $166 million in player entry fees its closest rival, DraftKings, earned in the same period.

FanDuel’s status as the clear no.1 daily fantasy sports site in the US is something even rival DraftKings seem to have accepted. The company’s CEO, Jason Robbins, seemed to admit as much, telling the New York Business Journal his “disappointment” over not getting enough gains in shares over its rival site.

All this shows how healthy the daily fantasy sports market is in the US. It’s going to be interesting how the two sites and the rest of the other fringe players can handle losing the NFL season – by far the most popular fantasy sport – but then again, the NBA is still around. That’s good for FanDuel because it can tap into its partnership with the league to continue to drum up interest in its daily fantasy sports offerings.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is taking steps toward ensuring betting integrity for all of its competitions after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Integrity Betting Intelligence System (IBIS).

As part of the deal, the FIH can use the intelligence sharing digital platform and access a network of monitoring and data-sharing information, which could help the federation address issues pertaining to illegal sports betting while creating framework for transparency and confidentiality for all parties involved.

Before the FIH and IOC tie up, there are seven Olympic winter sports federations and a number of Olympic summer sports federations have already partnered with IOC in time for the upcoming 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“We are pleased to sign up to IBIS and to be working together with the IOC in the fight against corruption in sport,” FIH President Leandro Negre said in a statement.

“As the world governing body of hockey, it is our responsibility to ensure the integrity of the sport is upheld and protected from the threats that are match-fixing and corruption. We are confident that this partnership will help safeguard hockey and all other Olympic sports and see it as an excellent step forward.”

Meanwhile, Italy’s Serie B has struck a deal with sports integrity specialist Sportradar, paving the way for Italy’s second division to take full advantage of the latter’s famous sports security services. The agreement between the two sides will cover the rest of the current season, in addition to the next two seasons.

As part of the deal, Sportradar will be tasked to run workshops and supply e-learning packages for the league’s 22 clubs on both the senior and youth levels.

iGaming and sports betting platform and technology supplier EveryMatrix has announced the appointment of Diane Dalli as its new Chief Financial Officer, directly reporting to the company CEO Ebbe Groes.

An experienced iGaming executive, Dalli joins EveryMatrix, having spent more than twelve years in the industry, from gambling technology firm Evolution where she served as Group Finance Manager from 2013 to 2014.

She has held a number of high-profile financial roles before joining Evolution from Nordic Gaming Group, where she began as chief accountant before being promoted to the role of CFO. During her tenure, she restructured the operator’s accounting department and prepared the company for its acquisition by Betsson in June 2012. She also served as chief executive of white label solution provider Melita Gaming Network, financial controller of French-facing operator ZEturf, and assistant financial controller of Betclic Everest’s Expekt brand.

Dalli specializes in implementing cost effective and efficiency led financial strategies which will aid EveryMatrix as the igaming technology supplier looking to expand its services into new burgeoning markets.

“We are thrilled to have a highly experienced finance professional such as Diane join EveryMatrix. Her financial management expertise in the online gaming sector is exactly what our business needs in order to become even more responsive in meeting our customers’ needs and anticipating industry trends,” said Ebbe Groes, CEO of EveryMatrix.

London-listed mobile gaming platform provider Nektan PLC also announces David Gosen as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

As the new CEO, he assumes responsibility for the company’s day-to-day operations and implementing the business’ short- and long-term strategy, with a focus on European expansion and product development.

Casino operator Olympic Entertainment Group (OEG) has signed on to manage the biggest casino in Malta. The 2,700-square-metre Casino Malta project, which is slated to open before the end of the year, will cost €10m – of which €7m will be paid by OEG – and host over 250 slot machines, around 30 gaming tables and a sportsbook. The operation will be run by OEG’s wholly owned subsidiaries OEG Malta Gaming Limited and OEG Malta Holding Limited.

In December, the Maltese government awarded a new casino concession to hotel and entertainment outfit Eden Leisure, which controls the island’s Intercontinental Malta and Holiday Inn Express hotels, as well as a radio station, cinemas, health clubs and the Bay Arena.

After a competitive bid process for the right to manage the casino operations. Eden executive chairman Ian De Cesare said OEG was selected due to its “wealth of experience” and the fact that the two companies share “a similar ethos” with regards to customer service and entertainment.

OEG chairman Armin Karu said his company had been looking for opportunities to expand into “popular holiday destinations” and the Malta project was “a large step forward in making our expansion plans comes true.” OEG is primarily based in the Baltic region but also had operations in Italy, Poland, Slovakia and Belarus.

In its 2014 earnings report card, OEG reported full year revenue up 3.8% to €141m. Latvian operations rose 21.1% to €43.9m, Lithuania was up 3.3% to €20.9m and OEG’s fledgling Italian business nearly doubled to €6.4m. Things weren’t so rosy in Estonia, which fell 2.6% to €31.6m, while Poland fell 16.9% to €22.5m and Slovakia fell 3.4% to €14m.

MALTA LGA REBRANDS

In other Malta gaming news, the Lotteries & Gaming Authority has decided to rebrand under the moniker Malta Gaming Authority. Executive chairman Joseph Cuschieri said the rebrand was intended to provide “a better representation of the Authority’s heritage, pass successes, vision and values within the national agenda and in line with our strategic objectives.” The MGA has a new website at www.mga.org.mt.

Three small stories from the relatively new world of online cryptocurrency online poker sites, as GetLuckyPoker opens in beta mode; Winning Poker starts cashing out in Bitcoin, and Breakout Gaming goes quiet.

The future of online poker?

It’s just a shame that it all seems so damn complicated. Or maybe I’m a bit thick? After all, I did just admit to Jonathan Little that I don’t even understand the basic math that any poker player needs just to be ‘competent.’

But there are people out there that get it. And I’m glad. It keeps the grubby hands of the men in power away from our money, and I’m all for that. I better start learning what all the fuss is about. Get over my learned helplessness.

The Winning Poker Network (WPN) believes in the power of Cryptocurrency. The network that houses the likes of America’s Cardroom and BetcoinPoker has broadened their appeal by adding both deposit and withdrawal options in Bitcoin.

If you choose to deposit with Bitcoin the amount is immediately converted to U.S dollars. This removes the headache of managing price fluctuations in line with the market. The same then happens in reverse when it’s time to withdraw your funds back to your Bitcoin wallet.

It’s an obvious move for the American facing network. It keeps them deep in the grey area of legality by allowing them to claim that Bitcoin is not a recognized form of currency in the US, and therefore doesn’t fall foul to the laws that are preventing millions of people from playing online poker.

Australian Oliver Gill has taken the third gold ring at the 2015 Aussie Millions after defeating Tony Bloom, in heads-up action, in Event #3: $2,500 8-Game Mixed.

[Image Credit: PokerAsiaPacific]

It was a case of sixth time lucky for Oliver Gill. The Australian finally managing to snag an Aussie Millions gold ring after falling short during his previous five side event final table appearances.

Only 46 players turned up for the event, and at the end of Day 1 there were five players remaining in the contest, with the Brighton FC Chairman, Tony Bloom, leading the way.

It was a cracking final table. Final table chip leader Bloom sat down with over $1.6m in previous cashes in the Aussie Millions, including two runner-up finishes in the $100,000 Challenge (losing to David Steicke in 2009 & Sam Trickett in 2011).

Trying to pull the tail of The Lizard were four players who all had an interesting story to boot. Jonas Mackoff came into the final table in fine form. The Canadian finished fourth in the €1,100 EUREKA Main Event in Prague, and bagged a side event victory at the EPT/UKIPT London Festival in October, but he could only take fifth in this one.

Mikal Blomlie hit the headlines in 2013 when he turned a World Championships of Online Poker (WCOOP) Leaderboard victory into a 10th place finish at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event for £120,000. He also won the first-ever TonyBet Open Face Chinese Pineapple World Championships in Prague at the end of the year. The Norwegian finished fourth.

Macau casino junket operator David Group has publicly clarified its plan to reduce its presence in Macau while boosting its profile in other Asian casino jurisdictions. Last week, several analysts reported that David Group was planning to close some or all of its seven VIP gaming rooms in Macau thanks to a scarcity of high-rollers caused by Beijing’s increased oversight.

On Saturday, David Group announced it would be closing three of its Macau VIP rooms: one room at MGM Macau, one at Sands China’s Four Seasons and one at L’Arc, which operates under an SJM Holdings license. The rooms will all be closed by the end of the month. David Group had already closed rooms at the Venetian Macao and Melco Crown’s City of Dreams in Q3 2014.

Director of corporate communications Frank Ng told Bloomberg the company was “adjusting our business strategy” to cope with the “general trend in the industry.” Figures released by Macau authorities show VIP gambling revenue shrunk to 60.5% of the pie in 2014, down from 73% the previous year, representing $3.25b in lost VIP revenue. Ng insisted David Group was only “hibernating” and that the closed VIP rooms could reopen if/when the VIPs return in droves.

Ng said David Group would refocus its efforts on casino markets in the Philippines, Vietnam and on South Korea’s Jeju Island. David Group also plans to establish a presence in Australia before the end of the year and also in Europe at some undetermined future date. David Group operates a travel company with its own private jets that will assist these international efforts.

VIETNAM PREFERS LOCAL INVESTORS FOR PHU QUOC CASINO

Speaking of Vietnam, the government wants to give the new casino license on Phu Quoc island to a local company. On Sunday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked administrators to cobble together some casino regulations for the island, which lies off the country’s southern tip, close to Cambodia.

Provincial authorities have previously set aside an area of 30k-square-meters for the casino project, which will be allowed up to 400 gaming tables and 2k electronic gaming machines. The government says investors with projects already on the go on Phu Quoc will be eligible for the most incentives, but whoever wins this derby will have to meet the government’s requirement to invest a minimum of $4b bringing it to fruition.

The Linq poker room becomes the latest Las Vegas Strip poker room to shut up shop at the bequest of its owners Caesars Entertainment.

The Imperial Palace in Las Vegas – those were the days. It was a right dump, but a popular dump. I remember being stuck in a queue a mile long waiting to go through reception. I had to switch my data roaming on to check my hotel confirmation e-mail and it cost me a fiver.

I didn’t worry about that lost fiver though. I was there to play live cash games. I was going to win big. A fiver? Don’t make me laugh. I had been told, that for a small time grinder like myself, The Imperial Palace was the perfect place to play poker. It was full of drunks handing out money with the speed at which Sheldon Adelson hands it out to presidential candidates.

It wasn’t full of drunks. It was full of small time grinders, like me. Nobody played a hand. Everybody was searching for the nuts. There were more folds than a Post Office. It’s not full of drunks today. It’s full of nobody. It’s deader than Roy Orbison.

A very large ball hit the Imperial Palace. I guess it wasn’t only me that thought it was a dump. In its place rose The Quad. That also looked like a dump – from the outside at least. I always though The Quad was a lackluster name for a Las Vegas Strip hotel. Caesars Entertainment eventually came to my way of thinking.

In Oct 2014, that battered old building became The Linq. A new casino/resorts complex that was accompanied by the world’s largest observation wheel. It twinkles in the night and reminds me of Blackpool. On Sunday afternoon, The Linq became the latest in a long list of Vegas casinos to close its poker room. Caesars may be making ground online – but they couldn’t find the bums to fill the seats in the 8-table poker room.

It is with great sorrow that we announce the closure of the Linq Poker Room. We want to thank you all for the years of patronage and support

A federal court in Nevada has awarded casino operator Las Vegas Sands a $2m default judgment against online gambling operators caught infringing on Sands’ trademarks. Last June, Sands filed trademark infringement suits in Nevada against the unknown operators of 35 online domains that were making liberal and unauthorized use of the Sands logo, Chinese characters that translate to ‘golden sands’ and images of the Marina Bay Sands casino in Singapore.

In his Jan. 14 ruling, US District Judge James Mahan awarded Sands $2m in damages and issued a permanent injunction barring the online operators from using the trademarks. All well and good but until the operators are identified, collecting the damages and enforcing the injunction will be akin to capturing a rainbow in a jar.

Sands is far from alone in having its intellectual property used without its permission. Last August, Macau casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Group warned the public about “bogus lookalike” online gambling sites utilizing its trademarks. A couple years prior, Caesars Entertainment lost a domain squabble with a Bangkok massage parlor that had the foresight to register the domains before Caesars did. But the Sands infringement was particularly ironic, given the anti-online gambling jihad currently being waged by Sands chairman Sheldon Adelson.

In other Sands news, the company announced that Sands China president and CEO Ed Tracy (pictured) will step down from his post effective March 6. Tracy, who ranked ninth on the most recent Inside Asian Gaming chart of the industry’s biggest movers and shakers, is said to be ‘retiring’ but will continue to work with Sands as a consultant and will assist management during the transition to new leadership.

Tracy assumed Sands China’s reins following the 2010 dismissal of Steve Jacobs, who has been waging a legal battle over his ouster ever since. An unidentified gaming analyst told Gambling Compliance that Tracy was invaluable at restoring frayed relations between Sands, Macau and Beijing. Tracy’s exit follows Sands COO Mike Leven, who left the company at the end of 2014. The two execs timed their exits to coincide with Macau’s worst revenue slump since the 2008 global economic meltdown. Well played, sirs.

Animal lovers around the world were transfixed by the recent story of Kai, a Shar Pei dog found abandoned at a train station in Ayr, Scotland. Like a real-life canine version of the beloved children’s book character Paddington the bear, Kai was discovered alone at the station on Jan. 2, tied to a railing next to a suitcase full of his belongings (toy, bowl, food and a pillow).

Kai had been abandoned by a woman who’d traveled to the station with the intent of purchasing a dog she’d previewed online. But the woman claimed the dog didn’t resemble the picture she’d seen and that the dog’s owner beat a hasty exit before she could finish protesting the switcheroo. The woman claimed she’d left Kai behind because she had to catch a train back to Aberdeen.

Kai eventually found his way to the Scottish SPCA, who discovered Kai suffering from eyelashes curling inside his eyelids, a condition common to his breed. Donations from well-wishers captivated by Kai’s story helped pay for operations on both eyes to alleviate the dog’s suffering.

Among those contributing to the SPCA’s kitty was online gambling operator Bodog, who have served as shirt sponsor for the Ayr United football team over the past four years. Bodog brand founder Calvin Ayre called Kai’s story “one we couldn’t ignore and we wish him all the best in finding a great home.”

However, Ayre acknowledged that “we do have a slight agenda as well; we are desperately hoping Kai’s fighting spirit will rub off on his local team as the Honest Men really need a boost right now.” The team has undergone a prolonged winless streak that has left the team languishing near the bottom of the Scottish League One standings.

Ayr United recently appointed Ian McCall (pictured, with Kai) to replace former manager Mark Roberts. McCall, who previously managed Dundee United and Glasgow’s Partick Thistle FC, took the opportunity to rub Kai for luck during a visit to the Scottish SPCA’s Glasgow Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre.

SPCA Senior Animal Care Assistant Alan Grant thanked Bodog for its “very kind donation” and said the SPCA staff had been “touched by the generosity and good wishes of animal lovers all over the world who have followed Kai’s story.”

Caesars (CZR) almost got away with it. But as of yesterday, it looks like they were caught just as they were about to get in their getaway car. They tried to sneak all their assets into an untouchable shell, away from the justifiably grabby arms of second lien creditors, to which Caesars owes $5.24B. On January 19, Judge Shira Scheindlin (not to be confused with Judge Judith Sheindlin of “Judge Judy” TV fame, though it would be awesome if it were Judge Judy who issued the ruling) issued a rather logical ruling as rulings go, saying that Caesars cannot sneak all its assets into a steel shell out of the hands of second lien creditors without their consent.

Scheindlin cited the “Trust Indenture Act of 1939,” which, while it probably contains a bunch of needless regulations and other legislative and bureaucratic gauntlets with some goodies and kickbacks for FDR’s cronies, does at least say one thing that makes sense – no out-of-court restructuring of debt agreements without 100% consent of noteholders.

Says Bloomberg:

The judge found that the company’s alleged elimination of the guarantees was “an impermissible out-of-court restructuring” that is “exactly” what a provision of the 1939 law “is designed to prevent,” according to her ruling.

Here’s how it went down. Caesars was trying to move all of its goodies into Caesars Entertainment Corporation, the tradable entity, which would not go bankrupt. If you’re wondering why CZR was only a little bit down on Friday despite the “Caesars Declares Bankruptcy” headlines, that’s why. It would cover first lien creditors to the tune of 92% and be thus placated, or in other words an 8% haircut. The second lien creditors, however, would only get $549M out of $5.24B, for an insulting 90% haircut on their bonds, 10 cents on the dollar, peanuts really.

The second lien creditors, understandably, were livid. They filed suit, and Caesars attempted to defend itself by saying that since there has been no technical default yet, and all debt payments have been remitted so far, that the second lien creditors have no right to complain about what Caesars is doing under the table. Judge Scheindlin didn’t buy it.

The only problem left was that the bankruptcy was still in process, freezing all other rulings in the meantime, including Scheindlin’s. She got around that by saying that while her ruling does not apply to the bankrupt Caesars Entertainment Operating Company – the entity where Caesers Entertainment Corporation stuck all its bad debt – her ruling does apply to Caesars Entertainment Corporation, the tradable CZR, because it is not bankrupt according to the restructuring.

Irish independent bookmaker, Boylesports, has expanded its land-based network in the country to over 200 sites after it acquired six outlets from Tully Bookmakers for a reported €2 million.

The bookmaker agreed to purchase half of Tully Bookmakers’ retail betting inventory. Boylesports will redesign and redevelop the purchased bookmaker stores in-line with the company’s retail layout.

Boylesports spokesperson said that staff working in the six sites are not in any danger of losing their jobs and that the bookmaker plans to take on additional employees to support the expansion.

“The acquisition brings us to 205 stores which brings us over 200 stores for the first time. We are going to invest significantly in the new shops, invest in new tech and bring them up to a modern standard,” said a Boylesports spokesman.

“We are delighted with this acquisition which allows us to significantly grow in the South East. We look forward to extending Boylesports’ industry-leading suite of products to existing Tully customers in the region,” said CEO and Founder of Boylesports John Boyle.

Boyle also said in a recent interview with the Irish Independent that the company was close to the limits of its expansion in Ireland and a UK move “would be one of the next steps.”

Paddy Power had also been linked with a potential acquisition of the six sites but a spokesperson for the bookmaker declined to comment in the deal.

The Manila Jockey Club, through its property unit, MJC Investment Corporation, has approved the issuance of shares to Hong Kong-based investors, creating more funds to help in the construction of the firm’s resort and entertainment project in Manila.

According to a disclosure to the 450 million shares, MJC Investments’ strategic investors from Hong Kong is set to subscribe an additional 673.791 million shares in the company. Details on the transaction are still being kept under wraps, including the amount of money the Hong Kong investors, represented by Cheah Teik Seng, paid for to subscribe to the new shares.

The new round of investments from Cheah Teik Seng and other Hong Kong investors, which also includes East Bonham Holdings Incorporated, Branford Ridge Holdings Incorporated, Orchardstar Holdings Incorporated, Belltower Lakes Holdings Incorporated, Purple Cassady Holdings Incorporated, and Cherrygrove Holdings Incorporated, is the second infusion of money the Hong Kong investors have put into MJC, following a February 2013 agreement between the two sides that saw investors subscribe to 450 million shares in the company at a subscription price of Php1 per share, amounting to Php450 million.

The new influx of funding could go a long way in MJC’s new resort and entertainment development. The project, which includes a five-star hotel, is located on a 7,500-square meter site inside the San Lazaro Tourism and Business Park. Once its fully developed, the site would complement existing high-end projects in the area, including a high-end residential condominium project between MJC and Ayala Land incorporated.

It’s also part of an ongoing revitalization program for San Lazaro, which MJC is tying to polish up to cater to local visitors and East Asian tourists, offering them a chance to enjoy high-quality accommodations and entertainment and recreational options close to the country’s Chinatown district.

The 160-room hotel project is set to be completed within the year, adding to a growing list of business expansions currently being undertaken by MJC. The company has also established the PAGCOR Club San Lazaro in Carmona, Cavite, which is in the middle of expanding its off-track betting (OTB) network in various parts of Metro Manila and other provinces in the Philippines.

Online poker site WSOP.com has taken over as the largest room in the New Jersey and Nevada in terms of cash game traffic, a week after its decision to share liquidity with 888poker New Jersey.

WSOP.com’s traffic has shot up to 49% while 888poker’s has risen even more sharply, with a 75% increase, putting it in second place.

The partypoker network, which includes partypoker.com NJ and Borgata Poker, has led the competition since the launch of its online poker in New Jersey in November 2013, now languishes in third, despite not losing any traffic. The 30-day moving average of cash game traffic at the partypoker network has remained constant over the last month.

The upsurge in traffic may not be completely down to liquidity sharing. It appears that the market is enjoying a mid-January boom, with the seven day moving average rising to 476 cash game seats compared to 356 a week ago.

Borgata is also in the midst of its tournament festival, the Garden State Super Series, which may be keeping players away from the cash tables.

Marketing efforts such as WSOP.com improving its rewards system, offering a higher level of rakeback for high-volume players and 888 offering a double VIP points throughout January; were also looked at as contributing factors to the change of lead.

The Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) report on regulated gaming revenues showed a good increase of 10% in December. The rise is expected to continue if rumors that PokerStars will be licensed as soon as March, attracting new blood to online poker and help reinvigorate the market.

January 20, 2015, Manila -The Asian Poker Tour (APT) has announced it will open the first APT Poker Room at the Manila Pavilion Casino Filipino in Ermita, Manila, Philippines, before the end of February. The room will consist of eight operating cash tables as well as tournament tables.

“For us it’s very much a strategic business move that we have been exploring for some time now; when suitable space became available at the very busy Casino Filipino at the Manila Pavilion we thought it ideal for what we want to achieve moving forward,” said APT CEO Jeff Mann.

“We have already set the dates for our events there in 2015 and expect to stage at least two events per year at RWM for many years to come. The APT Poker Room will simply fuel more players through satellite tournaments to these events as it will for all APT tournaments being organized in other countries,” added Mann.

About the Asian Poker Tour

The Asian Poker Tour was founded in 2008. Its first tournament was held in May of 2008 in the Philippines. Since then, it has grown to one of the leading poker tournaments in Asia. To date, the APT has staged more than 30 major events and numerous smaller tournaments mainly in the Asia-Pacific Region like the Philippines, Macau, Korea and Cambodia. But the brand has also been brought as far out as India, Australia, London and Mauritius. Through these events, more than USD 10 Million in prize pools have been awarded.

With its vision of providing a world-class poker experience at every stop, the Asian Poker Tour looks to broaden its reach by visiting more countries this year.