Poker Update – Bwin.party has announced that the long-awaited relaunch of its new online poker offering is set to commence around mid-September. Company CEO Norbert Teufelberger confirmed that the rollout will include modifications that cater to recreational players and should occur in “the next two weeks.” Part of the plan encompasses rating players according to skill level in order to strike a competitive balance on the felt. Also on tap in the new platform will be an emphasis on socialization with fellow players, as well as a gamification strategy that is designed to entice players to climb various ladders of…

iGaming Business – Online poker’s slide in European markets continued as Denmark Gambling Authority (SKAT) published second quarter 2013 figures showing a DK5m drop in gross gaming revenues, to DK50m from DK55m in the first quarter of the year. Overall GGRs including online casino and poker products were up DK10m to DK250m during the quarter on the DK240m recorder the previous quarter. SKAT expects annual GGRs for all online games to reach DK970m in 2013, up from DK870m achieved in 2012. Online poker however is expected to drop to DK205m GGRs, from the DK220m recorded in 2012. The Danish Gambling…

News in English – No other nation can boast as big a pot of poker winnings as Norway on the European Poker Tour (EPT). Newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) followed the tour to Barcelona, where tour officials at an opening party announced that Norwegian players have won more than their counterparts from Spain, Finland, Lebanon and Germany. Norwegian players who had gathered in Barcelona proudly placed their trophy on their table and the champagne flowed, but there were no congratulatory calls from the prime minister. It’s illegal to play poker for money in Norway, where all gaming is regulated through Norsk…

Pokerati – It has certainly been another eventful time in the fight for poker rights. I encourage you to view a terrific video by PPA Executive Director John Pappas. In it, he shares insights from Capitol Hill and the progress being made. This video was sent to 2013 members last week and is a great example of the timely insider information you can get by becoming a 2013 PPA member.   Instructions for Finding Your Full Tilt Poker Balance Full Tilt Poker Claims Administrator Garden City Group will start accepting applications for remission of Full Tilt Poker balances on September 16th. You may wish…

iGaming Business – Online gaming operator 888 Holdings has highlighted the performances of its poker and casino divisions as key factors in a 7% year-on-year rise in revenue for the first half of 2013. The company’s sales increased to $200.1 million (€149.5 million) in the six months until June 30 – a significant rise from the $186.4 million recorded for the same period in the previous year. Poker and casino activity were the main driving forces behind the increase in business-to-consumer revenue, which grew by 8% to $177 million. The casino business contributed $94.1 million, a 13% rise on the…

ABC – Poker site pokerasiapacific.com is reporting that the Coalition plans to ban online poker in Australia. Technically online gambling is illegal already but this is not enforced. However, the main issue appears to be that poker is being equated to pokies and is therefore a game of chance and not skill. However, anyone who has played poker knows that this is far from the case. To the uninitiated It’s easiest to understand the game if we break the elements of playing poker in to three categories. A third of the game is based on blind luck. Anyone can get…