Amaya-owned online gaming brand PokerStars has launched its new internet sports betting service in the UK market. Powered by the PokerStars 7 software, the new operation was open in time for customers to place bets on Saturday’s English FA Cup final between Arsenal and Aston Villa. The service is currently only accepting bets on football, tennis, basketball, ice hockey, rugby union, volleyball and handball, but adverts on the site suggest that this will be expanded to other sports in the near future. Customers are able to access the sports betting service through the PokerStars 7 client on desktop as well…

Malaysian authorities have revealed that they have blocked more than 530 illegal gambling websites this year under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953. According to Malaysian news agency Bernama, authorities shut down a total of 536 websites as of April this year as part of a wider effort to clamp down on illegal gambling activities in the country. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, said that the blocks had been made in response to written requests from the Royal Malaysian Police. More at iGaming Business

A California online poker bill will clear the Assembly Appropriations Committee Thursday but be held on the Assembly floor until after upcoming hearings on web poker are complete, according to sources. The one-page shell bill, AB431, is sponsored by Democrat Adam Gray. It states in part that any future Internet poker measure adopted by the legislature must protect consumers and comply with applicable state and federal law. The Assembly Governmental Organization Committee, which handles gaming issues, unanimously approved the bill last month. Its next stop is the Assembly Appropriations Committee, which has jurisdiction over fiscal matters. Sources said the Appropriations…

Metro Play has moved to allay fears over its repayment process to customers by confirming to the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) it plans to make additional funds available in order to continue distributing money to players. As reported by iGaming Business, the Metro Play and 666Bet brands in March had their licence suspended by the UKGC in a move that left customers unable to access their accounts and withdraw funds. Despite 666Bet having appointed payment processor Skrill to aid the withdrawal process, many customers continued to report problems regarding their accounts while others hit out at the lack of correspondence…

This week marks the final full week in the life of WPTPoker.com, whose impending closure was announced last week. The World Poker Tour-branded site is one of seven member rooms on partypoker’s network. The death of WPTPoker marks what can only be described as a failed opportunity. It would almost seem a given that an online poker room connected to one of the most recognizable and valuable brands in poker would succeed, but that simply was not the case. Rather than push the site to the forefront, owner bwin.party did almost nothing to promote it. ClubWPT.com, the World Poker Tour’s…

US fantasy sports company FanDuel has recruited 40 developers who previously worked for Zynga as part of a move to strengthen its operations in the country. FanDuel’s new offices in Orlando have been opened to support its established bases in New York and Los Angeles, as well as in the Scottish cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. As part of this US expansion strategy, the company has brought in a team of 40 developers who made up the Zynga Sports 365 division of social gaming outfit. Zynga opted to close the Orlando-based division earlier this month as part of a strategy…