PKR Website Updated

The PKR.com website has been updated. Players and affiliates alike are delighted with the updates thus far.

Website

PKR.com

Websites of reference:

PKR.com

Casino News Media

Media Man Australia

Poker News Media

Casino News Media - Media Man Australia News Update

PartyGaming's PartyCasino.com, PartyPoker.com continues momentum in Australia, Asia Pacific

Crown Casino advised to beef up security for upcoming Poker Cup, following incident

Live Dealer function at PartyCasino.com received well

PKR reassures affiliates over funds after log in problems

Titan Poker offers huge bonuses and satellites to Poker Cup Australia

PartyGaming's PartyPoker and Noble Poker offers satellites to Poker Cup Australia

Virgin Casino releases Rainbow Riches new slot game

William Hill Online releases COO from employment contract

FremantleMedia pushes forward with branded theme games, confirms Jim Ryan's comments

Gambling911.com monitoring casino affiliate program offerings

EGaming Review acts on Media Man's PKR.com news item

888.com most visible UK igaming brand says EGR Magazine

LadyLuck's to release fantastic mobile gaming, mobile casino product suite

American gaming, online poker debate continues... Delaware sports betting progress

Play4Property.com makes international news, pitches to Australia's papers and NRL team

Microgaming company remains strong, despite some casinos going under, Captain Cooks Casino a favorite of Aussies

Scratchcards to follow popularity of online bingo

Australian gambling... some land based casino, pub and club pokies unfair, says Greens

Hollywood themed online slot games remain favorites

Cleopatra still world's # online slot game, to be available via Apple

Egyptian themed slots popular with Aussies - Cleo, Tomb Raider, King Tuts Fortune

The Expendables boosts popularity of Stallone's Rambo slot, Arnie's The Terminator

James Packer remains positive on Macau's City of Dreams, despite balance sheet

Dubai, The World regions big on land based casino, open to igaming developments

Gold Mega Jackpot yet to be broken, PartyCasino.com pot approaches 4 million

World Poker Tour - PartyGaming business deal draws more players, spikes web traffic

Sports betting - Australian online sports betting war heats up

UFC open to building upon sports betting, igaming ventures

Calvin Ayre, Bodog King, remains keen on South American gaming and coffee connection

WWE wrestling legend online slot game rumors persist, Andre The Giant - NextGen Gaming, Hulk Hogan, Piper, Snuka, Roberts next?

Global Gaming Directory already being compared to World Casino Directory, industry buzz

Classic Slots Online, Classic Casino Games takes off in Asia Pacific region

Media Man Australia News

Casino News

Online Casino News

Poker News

Global Gaming News

Websites of Reference:

PartyCasino.com

Captain Cooks Casino

Virgin Games

PKR.com

Media Man Australia

Classic Slots Online

Classic Casino Games

Poker News Media

Australian Casino News

Global Gaming Directory

Casino News Media

Casino Attacks Continue in Australia - Gambling911

Unfortunately more serious casino news out of Australia.

News Limited and wires report the latest in a string of attacks and bashings in and around Australia's land based casinos and gambling dens.

FORMER AFL star Jonathan Hay was attacked and kicked in the face in an apparently random attack at Crown casino.

Hay was celebrating his 30th birthday with friends when a gang of seven thugs forced him to the ground just after 2am Sunday.

The former All-Australian fullback suffered bruising and a cut to the head in the latest episode of mindless CBD violence.

It would appear on the surface that online casinos, online casino portals and the like, are gaining another advantage from their land based cousins by default. Of course online casino don't have actual muggers, however one still needs to watch out for online casino stings and low acts, like they type that were documented on the United States version of 60 Minutes last year.

I would like to see Crown Casino offer an online casino portfolio, perhaps showcased by a Kerry Packer themed game. PartyGaming of course has a Frank Sinatra and The Godfather slot, so why not a Packer game?

PartyGaming's PartyPoker, Noble Poker, and Euro Partners Titan Poker, and a few other brands, are offering satellites to the Poker Cup at Crown Casino later this year beginning in September. Let's just hope the live events are incident free. Insiders are looking to confirm if Mike Sexton, Chris Moneymaker, Daniel "Kid Poker" Negreanu, Annie Duke, Phil Hellmuth, and Tony G are likely to attend. Those individuals may or may not add to aggressive play et al on location. Folks are extremely interested to see if poker Doyle Brunson will turn up, as Mr Brunson has been in a war of words with some of the folks at Party over the past few years, and the word on the street is that Party is interested to talk serious shop with the powers that be at Crown (and Star City). It's got all the makings of a real life battle royal, and a serious mix of personalities. You can bet that Crown's James Packer will have security at an all time high, comparative to when Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes stayed at Crown a few months ago.

It's in Crown's best interest to beef up security to protect its customers, visitors and reputation.

Greg Tingle, Special Contributor to Gambling911.com (be sure to check Greg's commentary out regularly at Media Man Australia Here) (Credit: Gambling911)

Websites Of Reference

Media Man Australia

Casino News Media

Poker News Media

Australian Casino News

Gambling911

News.com.au

Crown Casino

PartyPoker.com

Noble Poker

Titan Poker

Media Man Australia News

Casino News

Online Casino News

Poker News

Global Gaming News

World Poker Tour to sell after 'superior offer' from PartyGaming - BizJournals - 25th August 2009

World Poker Tour - WPT Enterprises Inc is to be purchased by igaming and gaming powerhouse, PartyGaming. The story has attracted significant national and international media and gaming media interest. BizJournals report:

WPT Enterprises Inc., parent company of the World Poker Tour, is moving forward with a deal to sell its assets, but, will instead sell to Peerless Media Ltd., a division of PartyGaming plc.

Peerless Media will pay Long Angeles-based WPTE $12.3 million and will pay WPTE an ongoing 5 percent participation in gaming and other revenue generated by the assets, which include WPTE's television library, intellectual property rights, brand names, trade names, certain assumed contracts and tangible personal property.

WPTE will retain its cash and cash equivalents, investments in debt securities and put rights, certain other investment and litigation assets, and future license revenues from certain existing sponsorship deals for season seven of the World Poker Tour.

The World Poker Tour will have its first televised tournament from the Dayton/Cincinnati region next spring when it has a $10,000 buy-in tournament from Hollywood Casino in just across the state line in Lawrenceburg, Ind.

The acquisition deal, announced Tuesday, kills off a previously announced bid of $9.075 million from Gamynia Ltd.

"The Board of Directors has determined that PartyGaming's acquisition proposal is financially superior and we look forward to working with one of the pioneers and leaders in the poker and online gaming markets to provide a strong vehicle for the WPT brand to continue its global expansion and return to online gaming," Steve Lipscomb, president and chief executive officer of WPTE, said in a statement.

Both the PartyGaming and Gamynia bids are far cries from Doyle Brunson's $700 million bid for the company in 2005. Brunson's bid was eventually investigated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (Credit: BizJournals)

Media Man Australia Profiles

PartyGaming

PartyPoker.com

PartyCasino.com

World Poker Tour

Media Man Australia Website Network

Media Man Australia

Casino News Media

Poker News Media

Australian Casino News

PARTYGAMING MOVES FOR WORLD POKER TOUR ASSETS WITH SUPERIOR OFFER

Los Angeles, CA, August 24, 2009 — WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WPTE) (“WPTE” or the “Company”) today announced that a subsidiary of PartyGaming Plc, Peerless Media Ltd. (“Peerless Media”), has agreed to purchase substantially all of WPTE’s operating assets other than cash, investments and certain excluded assets. WPTE’s Board of Directors received the offer after privately held investment group, Gamynia Limited, and WPTE announced an asset acquisition agreement, which was terminated after further consideration of the Peerless Media’s financial proposal.

“PartyGaming has been an important partner for a number of years and we are confident that they will be an excellent manager of our brands in the future,” said Steve Lipscomb, President and CEO of WPT Enterprises. “The Board of Directors has determined that PartyGaming’s acquisition proposal is financially superior and we look forward to working with one of the pioneers and leaders in the poker and online gaming markets to provide a strong vehicle for the WPT brand to continue its global expansion and return to online gaming.”

Peerless Media will pay WPTE $12.3 million and will pay WPTE an ongoing 5% participation in gaming and other revenues generated by the assets. Certain payments made by PartyGaming or its affiliates to the Company prior to the close shall be credited on a dollar for dollar basis against the purchase price paid at the close, as more fully described in Section 2.6 of the purchase agreement.

Under the asset purchase agreement, WPTE will sell its television library, including all related intellectual property rights, brand names, trade names, certain assumed contracts and tangible personal property. WPTE will retain its cash and cash equivalents, investments in debt securities and put rights, certain other investment and litigation assets, and future license revenues from certain existing Sponsorship deals for Season Seven of the World Poker Tour.

The net cash proceeds from the asset sale will be retained by WPTE which plans to use the cash to develop or acquire a non-poker related business. WPTE does not currently intend to distribute any proceeds from the asset sale to its stockholders.

Closing Conditions and Stockholder Approval
The asset purchase transaction is subject to specified closing conditions. The obligation of Peerless Media to complete the transaction is subject to the absence of changes or circumstances that are materially adverse to the Company’s financial condition, assets, business or results of operations and other customary closing conditions. The Company’s obligation to complete the asset sale is subject to the approval by the Company’s stockholders of the asset sale transaction and other customary closing conditions. The Company and Peerless Media currently expect to complete the transaction in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The transaction must be approved by a majority of the holders of the Company’s outstanding common stock. To that end, and as described further below, the Company expects to hold a special meeting of stockholders and in connection therewith to mail a proxy statement to its stockholders that will provide additional information concerning the asset sale transaction and the asset purchase agreement. Certain significant Company stockholders, representing approximately 39% of the Company’s common stock, have entered into voting agreements committing to vote in favor of the asset sale transaction to Peerless Media.

Important Additional Information about the Asset Sale will be filed with the SEC
The Company plans to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and mail a proxy statement to its stockholders in connection with the asset sale transaction and the asset purchase agreement. The proxy statement will contain important information about the Company, Peerless Media and the guarantor of Peerless Media’s obligations, ElectraWorks Ltd., and related matters. Investors and security holders are urged to read the proxy statement carefully when it is available.

The Company’s investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, the Company’s investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement by contacting WPT Enterprises, Inc., Attn.: Investor Relations, 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA 90036 or by calling 323-330-9900.

The Company and its directors and executive officers, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the asset sale transaction and the asset purchase agreement. Information regarding the Company’s directors and executive officers is contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2008 and its Proxy Statement dated March 31, 2009, which were filed with the SEC.

About WPT Enterprises, Inc.
WPT Enterprises, Inc. is one of the most recognized names in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online and mobile. WPTE has led innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, when it ignited the global poker boom with the creation of the World Poker Tour television show. Based on a series of high stakes poker tournaments, the World Poker Tour is now broadcast globally and is currently filming its all-new eighth season for broadcast on Fox Sports Net’s national sports network in the United States. WPTE also offers a unique online subscription and sweepstakes-based poker club, ClubWPT.com, which operates in 38 states across the U.S. WPTE also participates in strategic brand license, partnership and sponsorship opportunities. For more information, see www.worldpokertour.com. (WPTEG)

PartyGaming Purchases WPT Enterprises for $12.3 Million, by Dan Cypra - Poker News Daily - 24th August 2009

The long-awaited second bidder in the sale of World Poker Tour Enterprises (WPTE) has finally been revealed. Peerless Media Limited, a subsidiary of Party Gaming, will purchase the rights to the popular poker tour for $12.3 million plus 5% of future gaming revenues.

PartyPoker, the online poker arm of PartyGaming, does not accept customers from the United States. In a form filed to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after trading had closed on Monday in New York City, WPTE officials explained, “Buyer will pay the Company $12.3 million less the amount of certain obligations of PartyGaming or its affiliates accruing or paid to the Company from July 10, 2009 through the close of the Transaction… $1 million of such amount shall be paid by Buyer to the Company upon the execution of the Purchase Agreement and the balance shall be paid to the Company at the Close.”

The $1 million cash advance will be used to back out of a prior purchase agreement with Gamynia Limited, which is associated with Playtech, the parent company of the iPoker Network. Earlier this month, WPTE entered into an agreement to sell the majority of its assets to Gamynia for $9.075 million plus 4% of future gaming revenues. The new agreement not only increases the sale price by more than $3.2 million, but it also affords WPTE an additional 1% of future gaming revenues.

Addressing the new buyer, WPTE Founder, President, and CEO Steve Lipscomb commented in a press release distributed late Monday afternoon, “The Board of Directors has determined that PartyGaming’s acquisition proposal is financially superior and we look forward to working with one of the pioneers and leaders in the poker and online gaming markets to provide a strong vehicle for the WPT brand to continue its global expansion and return to online gaming.” WPTE stock, which is traded on the NASDAQ under the same four-letter acronym, closed at $1.05, down $0.01 on Monday. Upon hearing that a second buyer was waiting in the wings, the stock shot up from $0.93 to $1.09 last week.

In a similar arrangement as the Gamynia sale, WPTE will hand over its television library, intellectual property rights, and brand names, which include the WPT and Professional Poker Tour (PPT). The company will retain its cash on-hand and pocket “future license revenues from certain existing Sponsorship deals for Season Seven of the World Poker Tour.” WPTE will not distribute any of the proceeds of the sale to its stockholders; the Los Angeles-based company will use the proceeds as seed money in a business venture outside of poker. WPTE officials could not comment on any future proceedings, citing SEC regulations.

WPTE shareholders must now approve the sale. The company’s SEC filing notes that investors holding 39% of the company’s stock have agreed to vote in favor of the transaction. A stockholders’ meeting will be coordinated in order to vote on the proposal.

According to the filed document, “The Purchase Agreement may be terminated by either Buyer or the Company if the Closing has not occurred by February 24, 2010.” If WPTE officials were to accept an alternative proposal from another buyer, the company would be subject to a $1 million termination fee and, in some cases, a $1 million reimbursement for PartyGaming’s up-front payment.

PartyPoker boasts WPT Host Mike Sexton as its ambassador after the two parties reached an agreement in late April. Sexton is a 2009 Poker Hall of Fame candidate and is currently on-site for the WPT’s Legends of Poker, which wraps up on Wednesday from the Bicycle Casino in Southern California. Attendance at this year’s event was off 25% from last year. The tournament will air as part of Season VIII of the WPT on Fox Sports Net.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest WPT sale news. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

Profiles

PartyGaming

PartyPoker.com

World Poker Tour

Mike Sexton

News

Poker News

Casino News

Global Gaming News

PartyGaming Plc - Agreement to acquire the World Poker Tour

PartyGaming, the world’s leading listed online gaming company, has agreed to acquire the business and substantially all of the assets of WPT Enterprises Inc. (“WPT”) for a cash consideration of $12.3 million and an ongoing revenue share relating to the purchased assets under which PartyGaming will make a minimum aggregate payment of $3m over the next three years.

Subject to formal approval by the shareholders of WPT, the acquisition is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Profiles

PartyGaming

PartyCasino.com

PartyPoker.com

World Poker Tour

News

Casino News

Online Casino News

Poker News

Global Gaming News

Poker News Cup

Win your seat at one of Australia’s biggest poker tournaments

Melbourne’s Crown Casino is the place to be this September when the PokerNews Cup returns for 2009. With a guaranteed first prize of $200,000, you’ll want to join us at the heart of the action.

We’ve got two great ways for you to qualify for this fantastic event. Each PokerNews Cup prize package includes:

The main event buy-in ($1,850)
Six night's accommodation at the Crown Promenade hotel
Spending money ($3,500 Package= $200. $5,000 package= $1,700)
You are free to play in either qualifying structure but you can only win one package through our PokerNews Cup satellites.

Australian-based players


PokerNews Cup Sub Qualifier Speed
$6
Daily at 02:55, 05:05, 06:40

1 in 8 players will gain entry to the next PokerNews Cup Aussie Friendly Satellite Qualifier.


PokerNews Cup Sub Qualifier Speed Rebuy
$2
Daily at 00:55, 01:55, 03:55, 05:55

For every $40 in the prizepool an entry is awarded to the next PokerNews Cup Aussie Friendly Satellite Qualifier


PokerNews Cup Aussie Friendly Satellite Qualifier
$38 + $2
Daily at 04:55 ET
Sundays (Speed) at 01:55 ET
1 in 10 players will gain entry to the next PokerNews Cup Satellite

PokerNews Cup Aussie Friendly Satellite
$350 + $30
Sundays at 04:55 ET
1 in 10 players will win a $3,500 PokerNews Cup Package.


Rest of the world players

PokerNews Cup Sub Qualifier Speed
$8
Daily

1 in 8 players will gain entry to the next PokerNews Cup Satellite Qualifier.


PokerNews Cup Sub Qualifier Speed Rebuy
$2
Daily


For every $58 in the prizepool an entry is awarded to the next PokerNews Cup Satellite Qualifier.


PokerNews Cup Satellite Qualifier
$53.50 + $4.50
Daily at 15:20 ET
Sundays (Speed) at 12:20 ET
1 in 10 players will gain entry to the next PokerNews Cup Satellite

PokerNews Cup Satellite
$500 + $35
Sundays at 15:20 ET
1 in 10 players will win a $5,000 PokerNews Cup Package.


Join us at one of the largest and most dazzling casinos in the southern hemisphere: qualify for the PokerNews Cup today.

Please note:

All amounts stated are in American dollars (USD)
There is no cash alternative for prize packages
Visas and travel arrangements are the sole responsibility of package winners
Players are free to play in either qualifying structure
Players can only win one prize package to the PokerNews Cup
The PokerNews cup takes place between September 27th – October 5th 2009 with the main event starting on 2nd October.

Profiles

PartyPoker.com

PartyGaming

Poker Cup Australia

Crown Casino

News

Poker News

Online Casino News

Casino News

Commerce Casino To Host New Autumn Tournament Series, by Earl Burton - Poker News Daily - 17th August 2009

After moving the extremely popular California State Poker Championship to May earlier this year, the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, CA, was left with a gap in its schedule of poker events in the fall when the CSPC traditionally was held. To cover up that gap and offer some innovations to the poker tournament world, the Commerce announced last Friday that the Commerce Casino Hold’em Series would take place from September 10th to September 25th.

The Commerce Casino Hold’em Series will feature sixteen tournaments that offer buy-ins from as low as $220 up to the $2500 buy-in for the Championship Event. In a departure from most tournaments, nearly each event will have guaranteed prize pool ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 guaranteed for the players. The $335 No Limit Hold’em Shootout tournament and a $1065 Pot Limit Hold’em event will not have guaranteed prize pools and other tournaments that do not have guarantees will offer seats to the $2500 Championship Event to the victors. Along with a wealth of cash, there are other innovations that will be tested during the run of the Commerce Casino Hold’em Series.

One of the best innovations is offered to players in the first tournament on the series, the $220 No Limit Hold’em tournament with a $500,000 guarantee. Slated to have three Day Ones and be a four day tournament, a player who is eliminated on Day 1A has the option to come back and buy in again to play on Day 1B. Any players eliminated on Day 1B will also have the option to buy in again and play Day 1C. The potential exists for a player to take three shots at the $500K prize pool, which should exceed the guaranteed amount.

Other interesting tweaks to tournament poker can be found later in the Commerce Casino Hold’em Series schedule. The Commerce will put a twist to the Heads Up format when they offer the $545 Double Elimination (meaning that a player has to lose twice before they are eliminated) Heads Up Championship on September 22nd, which will feature a seat into the $2500 Championship Event for the eventual winner in addition to the cash prize. Also on the 22nd, the first ever $335 Knockout Bounty Tournament with a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool will play out. For each player that a competitor eliminates in that tournament, the winning player will get $100 on the spot from the Commerce Casino.

On September 23rd, arguably the most original event of the Commerce Casino Hold’em Series will take place with the $1600 Ironman Challenge. The tournament, which will have $10,000 added to the final prize pool, will truly be a test, as it has no scheduled breaks and will test the abilities of the players under extreme and unrelenting pressure. While the tournament does not deny the players the opportunity to leave the felt, the tournament does not stop and the player’s stack continues to be in play and blinded off. The payout of the event is also like no other tournament, as 50% of the prize pool is paid to first place and no deals are allowed at the final table.

Some of the new twists on tournaments are courtesy of the gentleman considered the finest tournament director around today, Commerce Casino’s very own Matt Savage. “The series will feature huge guarantees and unique tournaments that have never been seen before in poker,” Savage commented during the announcement of the Commerce Casino Hold’em Series. “The diversity of events and unusual formats will continue to make Hold’em tournaments at Commerce Casino exciting, stimulating and rewarding for our players.”

With the fall schedule a little slow in the poker community, Commerce Casino’s Hold’em Series should offer different innovations for players and plenty of guaranteed money for the winners. For a full look at the schedule of events or other information, visit the Commerce Casino website to learn more. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

Profiles

Poker

Poker Tournaments

American Gaming

American Casino

News

Poker News

Online Casino News

Casino News

Global Gaming News

One tribe proposing legalization of Internet poker in California, by Jim Miller - The Press Enterprise - 12th August 2009

SACRAMENTO - The Morongo Band of Mission Indians near Banning is at the forefront of an effort to craft legislation legalizing online poker in California.

The influential Inland tribe, which runs a successful casino off Interstate 10, has collaborated with some Southern California card clubs on a proposal to create a "tribal intrastate Internet poker consortium." It aims to make California the first state with online poker that complies with federal law.

"This would be a game for Californians, run by Californians," said Patrick Dorinson, a spokesman for the tribe. Participating tribes, card clubs and the cash-strapped state would share in the revenue, but an exact split hasn't been determined, he said.

There are an estimated 2,300 online poker sites generating $4 billion in revenue. An estimated 1 million Californians play online poker.

The sites avoid 2006 federal restrictions on online poker by operating outside the U.S. Under some legal interpretations, federal law would allow online poker when players are in the same state as computer servers hosting the games.

No bill has emerged and there is no author for the proposal so far. Any measure would be considered during the final four weeks of the legislative year after lawmakers return Monday from their summer recess.

Already, though, the idea has received a cool reception by some other tribes with casinos.

The California Tribal Business Alliance, which includes several wealthy tribes with casinos, this week announced its opposition to the idea.

In a letter, the group called the online card game proposal "ill-conceived" and warned that it could lead to "the wholesale expansion of non-Indian, off-reservation gambling in California" by potentially bringing casino-style machines to card rooms.

"It's way too complicated to rush something through at the end of session," said Alison Harvey, the alliance's executive director.

In the Inland area, the Morongo tribe belongs to the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, which includes several tribes with casinos in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

The normally tightknit group has taken no position on the online card game proposal. Two nearby group members with large casinos -- the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians near San Bernardino and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in the Coachella Valley -- also are neutral.

Morongo officials have been briefing tribal leaders from around the state in recent days. No other tribes have endorsed the proposal, Dorinson said.

The two legislators whose districts include the Morongo reservation and casino have not been approached about the tribe's proposal.

State Sen. John J. Benoit, R-Bermuda Dunes, questioned if there would be enough time to consider online poker legislation before lawmakers adjourn their regular session Sept. 11. Prison reform and water are expected to dominate the end-of-session agenda.

"I'm all ears. But it certainly would be an uphill battle to get it done in the time frame they're talking about," Benoit said.

Federal legislation

The online poker proposal has been in the works for several months. Talk of its introduction as a bill comes as the U.S. Senate prepares to consider related legislation.

New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez introduced a measure last week to regulate online poker and other games. In a news release, the senator's office said the legislation could raise up to $3 billion in revenue while protecting players from unscrupulous offshore poker sites.

"Pulling Internet poker out of the shadows and into the light of the law, we have the opportunity to help our economy while protecting our families," Menendez said in a statement.

Dorinson said the California proposal would ensure that revenue from online poker played here would help the state.

At least one online poker group is skeptical about the idea.

John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, said the California proposal would give a monopoly to just a few entities. California, he said, instead should license a variety of online poker sites or host its own games. The players alliance is funded by the Canada-based Interactive Gaming Council, which represents online poker sites.

The Schwarzenegger administration does not have a position on online poker, a spokeswoman said.

Last summer, the Legislature considered a bill that would have legalized online poker. It stalled after major opposition from some tribes and tribal organizations, including the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations.

Political fights

Underlying the latest proposal is the recent acrimony between some of the groups involved.

In 2004, tribal casinos defeated a ballot measure pushed by card clubs and horse tracks that would have ended the tribes' monopoly on slot machines.

In 2007 and 2008, some members of the tribal business alliance spent millions in an unsuccessful campaign to overturn 2006 casino-expansion agreements between the state and the Morongo tribe, along with several others.

Last year, the tribes joined forces to push through legislation to ban devices in some nontribal bingo halls run by various charities. Critics called the devices illegal slot machines. But opponents of the bill said it hurt the charities' fundraising. (Credit: The Press Enterprise)

Profiles

American Gaming

American Casino

Native American Indians

Poker

Online Poker

News

Poker News

Casino News

Global Gaming News

Poker in the Park Today, PKR News - 13th August 2009

An excitement filled two days are about to get underway at Leicester Square in London, as Poker in the Park returns.

Starting at 5.30pm today and then at 12.30pm tomorrow, it will be two days of big names, games and more.

The poker names include Jamie Gold, Peter Eastgate, Liv Boeree, Neil Channing, John Tabatabai, and Ian Frazer.

Other happenings include stalls from all the big brands in poker, including the London Poker Circuit, BlackBelt Poker, Littlewoods and PKR. Pub teams from Britain will also be in attendance playing at the PKR Poker Dome. It's all free!

There's also satellites to the £500 Jamie Gold Charity Tournament as well as Sit-n-Go tournaments that will run at the Casino at the Empire during the festival.

Unibet Lecture Schedule

Thursday, August 13th

17.15 Jamie Gold Welcome speech and Charity tournament
18.00 Peter Eastgate Q&A with current World Champion
18.45 Alex Rousso Know the stats
19.30 Nik Persaud Using the internet to improve your game
20.15 Neil Channing Understanding tells

Friday, August 14th

12.30 Derek Webb New poker games
13.15 Nik Wealthall Luck in Poker
14.00 Derek Kelly Omaha
14.45 Paul Jackson Hand analysis
15.30 Liv Boeree tba
16.15 Tony Cascarino tba
17.00 Michael Greco tba
17.45 Alex Rousso tba
18.30 John Tabatabai tba
19.15 Derek Kelly Book reading
20.00 Ian Frazer Starting out in online poker
20.45 Jamie Gold tba


PKR Poker Dome Schedule

Thursday, August 13th

17.30 Nuts Magazine Tournament
18.30 BLAPO.co.uk Poker Events
19.30 Nuts Poker League Championship
20.30 Bubble Poker League

Friday, August 14th

12.30 Nuts Magazine Tournament
13.30 Get Noticed Poker Open
14.30 The Royal Surrey Tournament
15.30 Pokerinthepub.com
16.30 Masters poker league Tournament
17.30 The Poker tree Open
18.30 Red tooth Poker Open
19.30 Champions league poker Open
20.30 London Poker Meet-up Tournament


PKR Software Upgrade

PKR.com has had another major boost. The key new feature are the 'cards up tables', players can now choose to play on tables that always display their hole cards rather than having to press the 'show cards' button to view their hand. This will prove a must for multitablers.

British players now can instantly fund their accounts via PayPal, which is one of the most popular and safest ewallets around.

Marketing Director Simon Prodger said "We always listen to the needs of our players and try to respond accordingly. Many of the new updates are based on player suggestions and we are already working on the next version to bring even more improvements to our users."

Profiles

PKR

PKR Poker

PKR Casino

Online Poker

British Gaming

British Casino

News

Poker News

Casino News

Global Gaming News

Casino News Media Website Network Updated

Websites

Casino News Media

Australian Casino News

Classic Slots Online

Classic Casino Games

Marvel Slots Online

Marvel Heroes Casino

Casino Travel Media

Poker News Media

Australian Sports Entertainment

Property News Media

Media Man Australia

Win Multiple Summer Jackpot Prizes at Titan Poker

12th August 2009

This summer players can enjoy three incredible jackpot promotions with generous cash prizes at Titan Poker

The $50,000 Summer Jackpot Race (http://www.titanpoker.com/summer_jackpot.html) is based on daily and weekly races where points are accumulated and placed on a leader-board. The top 50 players at the end of the month will share in a jackpot prize of $30,000. The Summer Jackpot takes place on four consecutive days and if a player finishes in the top 10 for four days in a row they will be rewarded a prize of $500. All players have an equal chance of winning their share in the weekly and monthly prizes, as well as the side-pot jackpot.

The Titan Double Tournament (http://www.titanpoker.com/titan_double.html) takes place every night, just five minutes apart. If a Titan Poker player wins two tournaments on the same night they will be rewarded with the Titan Double Progressive Jackpot. This jackpot continuously increases until the pot is won.

Fort Knox - Jackpot Sit 'N' Go Tournament (http://www.titanpoker.com/fortknox.html) will reward players who win six Tournaments in a row with a grand prize starting at $50,000. The Fort Knox is a six-player, $50 + $9 sit 'n' go tournament. As soon as six players sit down at the table, the action begins. The Jackpot is progressive and grows larger each week until claimed.

Titan Poker invites both amateur and skilled poker players to take part in these three superb Summer Jackpots. This promotion is for a limited time -- the earlier players join, the sooner they can start to reap the rewards.

About Titanpoker.com:
TitanPoker.com is Europe's number one online poker room and part of the iPoker Network. Titan Poker's software is developed and maintained by Playtech, a public company and leading gaming software developer. With nearly 30,000 online players at peak hours, Titan Poker guarantees $16,000,000 in monthly prizes, features special sit 'n' go tournaments with progressive jackpots as high as $100,000, and awards players with entries to major worldwide poker tournaments. Titan Poker VIP players enjoy the highest online poker rewards. The Titan Poker brand is promoted exclusively by Euro Partners (http://www.europartners.com).

Media Man Australia Profiles

Titan Poker

Titan Casino

iPoker Network

Playtech

Poker

Online Poker

Online Casino

European Gaming

European Casino

News

Poker News

Online Casino News

Global Gaming News

Playtech News

Poker In The Park Hits London

For the third year running London’s Leicester Square will play host to Europe’s largest Poker festival.

Poker in the Park will take place on Thursday 13th of August and continue until Friday 14th.

Join poker enthusiasts from across Europe as they descend on Leicester Square for free poker lessons and tutorials as well as hourly free poker tournaments. With stalls selling discounted poker gear and books and with the UK’s biggest poker leagues in attendance you won’t want to miss out on this spectacular poker event.

Come along and you’ll also get a chance to meet some of the UK’s biggest celebrity players. If that’s not enough former WSOP Main Event Winner Jamie Gold will be hosting a charity tournament and current WSOP Champion will also be there giving lectures on improving your game. This years Poker in the Park promises to be a fantastic event so be sure to get down there and take part.

Thursday 13th of August – (17:00 - 21:30)

Friday 14th of August – (12:00 - 21:30)


PKR Headline Sponsor At Poker In The Park!

PKR are, for a second year in a row, lead sponsors of Poker in the Park, Europe’s largest poker festival. Held on the 13th & 14 of August in Leicester Square, PKR will be hosting one of the festival’s main attractions, The Poker Dome.

PKR will be welcoming an array of Pub Poker Leagues into the Poker Dome to host their respective tournaments during the festival. Each league will run an hour-long No Limit Hold’em Tournament with a maximum of 80 runners. These tournaments are free to play and open to anyone who registers at the PKR Poker Dome.

PKR will also be teaming up with glamorous massage company Xhilarate, who will have their own space within the Poker Dome and will offer an exclusive massage therapy service to attendees of the festival.

Also present at the Poker Dome will be members of Team PKR Pro, recently back from the WSOP and happy to join in on the festivities at Poker in the Park.

Profiles

PKR Poker

News

Poker News

Online Casino News

Casino News

Casino News Media Website Network Updated

Websites

Casino News Media

Australian Casino News

Classic Slots Online

Classic Casino Games

Poker News Media

Casino Travel Media

Australian Sports Entertainment

Media Man Australia

Aussie gambling gossip from the Media Man - 8th August 2009

What a week its been. Australian self confessed pathological gambler, Harry Kakavas "unlucky" streak continues. If anyone could vouch its a casino economy, it would be him. Thus far unsuccessful in his bit to sue Melbourne's Crown Casino. Kakavas company based on the Gold Coast has been giving the corporate doctor. Challenger Managed Investments have appointed John Park and Mark Korda of KordaMentha as receiver managers. Incidental, Part is also looking after the matters for former gaming and IT whiz kid cum tsar, Daniel Tzvetkoff. Yes folks, the higher they climb, the further they fall, especially in the casino circles if these latest turn of events are anything to judge by. In the meantime north of Australia's Gold Coast, up Las Vegas and Atlantic City way Donald Trump is looking to rescue, and no doubt, resurrect, his Trump Casino empire. Trump's peers such as Steve Wynn are said to not want a bar of igaming involvement (bit of a threat to the bricks and mortar Stevo?), while Harrah's Entertainment boss (formally PartyGaming chief), Mitch Garber, is very confident and excited about rolling out at least some of what he knows works for his Harrah's hotel-casino-resort chain. We here at Media Man like this Mitch fella. Sound like he might be open to some b2b and World Casino Directory and multi currency casino listing proposals. Rumours are circulating that some of the Vegas top brass has been observing one Aussie companies b2b dealings with James Packer's long time UK connection - Aspers, including Aspers online ventures. Aspers Damian Aspinall, is finding it impossible to live down his series of high profile dates with Australia's "Body" Elle MacPherson. Speaking of rumoured power couples, or at least, "power pairings" (not to implicate the potentially innocent.. doubt it), Bodog founder Calvin Ayre has been spotted with igaming pr and communications queen, Rebecca Liggero. Ms Liggero is said to have some positive and spicy history with Ayre, and last week our miss was officially placed in a role to help along the Bodog empire rebuild, or global expansion, depending of the sources you care to believe. PartyGaming remains in the party hard - happy days mode at the moment with their CEO Jim Ryan reporting that their PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com brands are performing well, and that their recent purchase of Cashcade (including the famed Foxy Bingo) are on track. Party keep teasing rising poker and casino babe, Paris Hilton with public press releases, however our precious Paris is yet to sign the bottom line. Maybe she's waiting on Sexy Poker (banned in Australia) to call. Not to be outdone, Nicki Hilton has been hanging out considerable with our main man, WSOP legend, Doyle Brunson. Hilton's said to have injected some new life into "the father of poker". The Bondi Beach igaming crew are wondering when Holly Branson, daughter of business tycoon, Sir Richard Branson, will one again grace their shows. Sir Richard who also heads up Virgin Games might take a liking to Berg's Gaming on location at the Bondi Icebergs, said to be previous visited by the power pairing, and Paris Hilton of course! Whatever the case, its sure been a hot and eventful few weeks in the casino sector, from court cases, to buyouts, casino babes, not to mention the new poker bill happenings in Washington. CAP, PAP and PPA took no time to publish their spin on things and subsequent press releases, and these developments are strongly rumoured to be on the radar of Australia's Parliament House, including the office of gaming and racing (who have plenty of their own in house problems to contend with). Stay tuned to Gambling911.com for the latest and hottest news from the gambling world, as we scour the universe for the news you need to know.


Gambling man in more strife, by Shannon Willoughby - The Gold Coast Bullentin - 8th August 2009

The man who is suing Melbourne's Crown Casino for $30 million is facing his own financial setback on the Gold Coast.

A company directed by self-confessed pathological gambler Harry Kakavas has moved into the hands of the corporate doctor after it failed to meet its financial commitments.

Elite Property Investments Group Pty Ltd, which owns and runs a commercial property in Broadbeach, is understood to owe its mortgagee millions.

The appointment comes as Mr Kakavas awaits a judge's decision over a legal stoush involving him and Melbourne's Crown Casino.

Mr Kakavas is suing Crown for $30 million plus damages over claims it lured him to the tables, despite knowing he was a banned gambler.

Elite Property Investment's mortgagee, Challenger Managed Investments, appointed John Park and Mark Korda of KordaMentha as receiver managers.

Mr Park said the debt remained confidential but The Bulletin understands it is in the millions.

Mr Kakavas's company paid $9.35 million for the mid-rise on Queensland Avenue in 2005.

Mr Park, who is also the liquidator for a company controlled by embattled IT tycoon Daniel Tzvetkoff, said there was a possibility they could sell the property.

"We are assessing the tenancy mix at the moment and looking at the best strategy for realisation of the property," he said. "We are assessing the quality of the product (before we decide if its going to go to the market)."

The former king of Hedges Avenue -- a name Mr Kakavas was crowned after his prolific buying and selling along 'millionaires row' -- declined to comment.

The judgment over his court case is expected to be handed down within months, with final submissions being heard on August 17.

Mr Kakavas alleges the casino giant seduced him on to the tables knowing he was a self-confessed problem gambler. He is alleging negligence, unconscionable conduct and breaches of the Casino Control Act by Crown Casino.

He claims he banned himself from the casino but said he was lured back with VIP treatment.

The former property developer claims to have turned over more than $1.4 billion during a 14-month gambling binge across Australia from June 2005.

He is also suing the casino's chief operating officer John Williams. Mr Kakavas claims Mr Williams lured him back with VIP treatment.

Mr Kakavas also alleges he was flown about 30 times on Crown's VIP jet in 2007, was regularly handed bags and boxes of cash and given a promise of a 20 per cent rebate on all losses.

Crown Casino boss Rowen Craigie, who also owns property in Hedges Avenue, is also being sued.

Mr Craigie had his Hedges Avenue mansion on the market but it has since been withdrawn. (Credit: News Limited)

Media Man Australia News

Casino News

Casino News Media

Online Casino News

Australian Casino News

Gambling News

Poker News

Global Gaming News

Financial News

Property News

PartyPoker's Satellite Series Announced

We've teamed up with the world's best poker rooms to bring you some unbelievable satellites to the PokerNews Cup Australia. Packages will contain some great offerings including Main Event Entry, cash for travel, luxurious accommodation at the fabulous host venue hotel, cash for travel, party invites and exclusive excursions.

Stay tuned to Media Man Australia as we continue to bring you more rooms to qualify on!

PartyPoker

PartyPoker.com is yet another room to bring you an incredible Satellite Series to the 2009 PokerNews Cup Australia. The series awards two different types of packages - $3,500 and $5,000. Qualify through daily sub satellites starting from as low as $2. Alternatively, you can buy-in direct to the Super Satellite for $380 (1 in 10 players win a $3,500 package) or $535 (1 in 10 players win a $5,000 package) running on Sundays.

The $5,000 package includes:

Entry to the Main Event
Accommodation at the host venue hotel
$1,500 cash for travel

The $3,500 package includes:

Entry to the Main Event
Accommodation at the host venue hotel


Media Man Australia Profiles

PartyPoker.com

Poker Satellites

Crown Casino

Casino Travel

Casino Travel Media

News

PartyPoker.com News

Poker News

Online Casino News

Casino News

Poker News Media

Playtech’s Gross Income Grows by 23% in Second Quarter of 2009, by Tom Jenkins - Poker News Daily - 31st July 2009

In recent news released by Playtech, which operates the popular iPoker Network, it was revealed that the company’s Gross Income for the second quarter of 2009 rose by 23.3% year over year to €33.1 million. That figure was slightly below the €33.8 million recorded during the first quarter of 2009.

For the first half of the 2009 calendar year, Playtech recorded Gross Income of €66.9 million, up 29.8% from the €51.6 million recorded during the first half of 2008. A statement released by the company explains, “The Board is confident the Company will deliver strong growth for the full year to December 2009 compared to 2008. However, owing to the slower than anticipated start to WHO and the general challenging economic environment impacting some of our licensees, the Board believes that full year trading will be below current market expectations.” The acronym WHO refers to William Hill Online, which partnered with Playtech to open the 2009 calendar year.

Total Group Revenues for Playtech were €27.0 million, a jump of 0.4% compared to the second quarter of 2008 and a drop of 4.2% from the €28.2 million recorded during the first quarter of this year. Poker revenues rose by 17.8% year over year to €8.2 million; that figure represented a 6.4% drop in comparison to the €8.8 million recorded in the opening quarter of 2009.

Playtech derived 62% of its revenue from the European continent, down from the 72% that this region provided during the second quarter of last year. Contrastingly, its portion of revenue from Asia Pacific grew from 21% during the second quarter of 2008 to 32% during the recently completed quarter. A partnership with Betfair to provide casino and Bingo software to the independent site is expected to add increased revenue during the fourth quarter. In addition, Playtech will provide its full spectrum of products, including casino, poker, and mobile games, to NetPlay TV.

With regards to its Italian market, Playtech notes, “The Italian poker network is exceeding management’s expectations and is now Italy’s third largest poker network by revenues generated by the network licensees, while further positive progress in regulations will bring new opportunities in Italy from this strong base.” In the wake of new internet gambling laws in Italy, PokerStars recently transferred players from its dot-com site to PokerStars.it. Playtech has also forged a partnership with the iPoker Network site Chili Poker “in anticipation of the introduction of new regulations liberalizing the French market for online gaming.”

The company also spent the second quarter hard at work on a strategic partnership with the Serbian State Lottery. Playtech will provide casino and poker products in the Serbian language in its first agreement with a country’s lottery. New Serbian players will join the world’s third largest online poker network behind PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. The iPoker Network is largest that does not accept players from the United States, boasting a seven-day running average of 5,500 real money ring game players. At its peak, expect to see over 10,000 poker hopefuls heading to the felts of the massive network to compete in cash games.

iPoker Network sites include BetFred, Boyle Poker, CD Poker, Expekt, Mansion Poker, Noble Poker, Paddy Power Poker, Poker Ocean, Titan Poker, and VC Poker. Playtech is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol “PTEC.” The stock closed trading on Friday at ₤291.75, down ₤11.00 on the day (3.63%). Last September, prior to the worldwide economic meltdown, Playtech’s stock had been trading as high as ₤528.

The company was founded in 1999 and forged its first deal, with Swiss Casino, two years later. The iPoker Network came to life in 2004, one year removed from Chris Moneymaker defeating poker pro Sammy Farha in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

Media Man Australia Profiles

Playtech

iPoker Network

Noble Poker

Titan Poker

William Hill

Paddy Power

PokerStars

European Gaming

European Casino

British Casino

British Gaming

News

Playtech News

Poker News

Online Casino News

Casino News

Global Gaming News

Noble Poker Relaunches

As Noble Poker is on the iPoker network players will be getting the best tournaments and variety around with massive prizepools including:

$250k Guaranteed Super Sunday
$1000 Weekly Freerolls
$2k, $15k, $25k, Consecutive Win Jackpots
WPT Satellites
APT Satellites
and many more...

Plus of course a $500 Welcome Bonus!

Profiles

Noble Poker

iPoker Network

Poker Satellites

Online Poker

Poker

Poker News Media

News

Poker News

Casino News

Online Casino News

Global Gaming News

Breaking News! Online Poker Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate

New Bill Is Separate from Barney Frank's Similar Online Gambling Bill, with a Higher-Profile Position in the Senate

August 6, 2009 (CAP Newswire) -- New Jersey Democrat Robert Menendez has just introduced into the U.S. Senate a brand new piece of legislation designed to legalize and regulate Internet poker.

"To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for the licensing by the Secretary of the Treasury of Internet poker and other games that are predominantly of skill, to provide for consumer protections on the Internet, to enforce the tax code, and for other purposes," the bill begins.

The bill would establish a new legal regulatory framework for Internet poker in the United States, and also put in place certain consumer protections such as age restrictions. Officially entitled S.8309, the Internet Poker and Games of Skill Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, it was introduced today.

No matter what success this bill meets with, it represents another huge milestone in the nationwide struggle to reclassify poker from gambling to a game of skill. This movement seeks to enable online poker to be not only legalized but also change the way it is regarded in popular culture.

That movement has gained a lot of transaction over the past year, with smaller court victories in states such as Colorado, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, and with Representative Barney Frank’s recent efforts to legalize and regulate certain sectors of online gambling with his own legislation (which is separate from this bill).

Home to the original U.S. gaming resort destination, Atlantic City, New Jersey has long had its own internal struggles regarding the legality of gaming, and has recently clashed with the federal government on this basis. So it makes sense that the author of this new legislation is is from New Jersey — and a Democrat, the party that is apparently more open to the idea of fully legalized online gambling. (Although it technically has bipartisan support, the vast majority of supporters of Barney Frank’s recent pro-Internet gambling efforts have been Democrats.)

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) not only supports the new bill, but has provided a copy of it at its website. Check it out here. (Credit: CAP)

Greg Tingle comment...

This online poker bill is most welcome news, and has been a long time coming.

Down under in Australia poker and I dare say, online poker, is already a strong part of our popular culture, just as are kangaroos, meat pies and Holden cars, and having a punt on the (horse) races and a bit of a spin on the pokies. By the way, Sportingbet is introducing V8Bet, so punters can be on the V8 Supercar racing, (Holden and Ford).

Some may not like this, and some will, but there's strong rumblings that sports betting might try to significantly ride off the back of this poker bill, as there could be legal arguments that there certainly are elements of skill (knowledge etc) in picking sports bet winners. A similar scenario of sorts with the game known as "Spot The Ball", which has long been a part of British culture, with numerous British newspapers running Spot The Ball competitions. Property listing companies such as Play4Property.com are taking the Spot The Ball game internationally, which isn't that hard to do with the internet as an medium of media, backed up by traditional media, journalism, marketing et al.

Friends, the rules have changed, and will continue to, in regards to online poker, online games of skill, online gambling, and the way business is conducted between people, corporations, media companies et al.

A few apt quotes from some gentlemen with some good ideas and track record of success, getting things done, and changing the world, and the rules of play!

James Packer - "Internet is like electricity"

Rupert Murdoch - "Big will not beat small anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow"

Charles Darwin - "In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed"

My tip, look to California to plug into online poker, online sports betting, and quite likely, online gambling as a whole. They have been pro active and early adopters on other social issues such as the environment, poverty and health.

You can bet that Harrah's Entertainment and their chain of hotel - casino - resorts will be watching this space, as will Macau's Cotai Strip, and even Parliament House down under in Canberra, Australia.

In this space, I'm sure glad to be a journalist, media agent and website portal developer, rather than an owner of a casino or online casino. The online poker and online casino happenings are most certainly extremely newsworthy items to cover. It's of course part of the larger civil liberties and freedom of speech - censorship debate. We should have the right to do what we like in our homes, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. Also remember, sometimes the law is an ass, so just because something is legal or illegal, doesn't mean it is necessarily right or wrong. It just means its (current) law, some of which get changed for the better, some not.

As always, know your limits, bet with your head, not over it. If the gambling, or poker playing stops being enjoyable, its likely time to stop. Have fun, whether poker, pokies, spot the ball, or some other game tickles your fancy.

Media Man Australia Profiles

News

Casino News

Online Casino News

Poker News

Global Gaming News

Poker News Media

Media Man Australia

News

Casino News

Online Casino News

Poker News

Global Gaming News

World Poker Tour Reports Second Successive Profitable Quarter, by Earl Burton - Poker News Daily - 3rd August 2009

It was announced last Wednesday that World Poker Tour Enterprises (WPTE), which owns the popular World Poker Tour (WPT) and the up-and-coming subscription online poker site ClubWPT.com, enjoyed its second consecutive profitable quarter with the close of Q2 2009.

While the revenues for the second quarter of 2009 were behind those during the same period in 2008 - from $5.1 million to $4.6 million - WPTE was able to make a profit due to the lower production costs of Season VII of the WPT broadcasts compared to the costs had been previously. In addition, international distribution of WPT broadcasts and the continued growth of ClubWPT.com has been able to push the organization into the black. Overall, income from continuing operations was $370,000 in the second quarter of 2009, compared to a $3.3 million loss in the second quarter of 2008

WPT Enterprises has been able to work itself into profitability from recognizing parts of the company that were under-performing. In the first quarter of 2009, WPT Enterprises cut away WPT China, which had been a drain on its bottom line. For example, the discontinuation of WPT China in the first quarter of 2009 helped WPTE only take a $95,000 loss on the venture in the second quarter versus the $581,000 WPT China lost during the second quarter of 2008.

Operating its own online poker room, wptonline.com, also was one of the appendages cut from the company. WPT Enterprises paid a $1 million charge for the discontinuation of wptonline.com and has seen profits soar with the subscription-based ClubWPT.com. The increase was driven by the Fox Sports Network broadcasts of ClubWPT, which offered online players a chance to win their way into a televised tournament with a $10,000 prize. In fact, the television offerings of WPTE had gross profit margins of 53% in the first two quarters of 2009, compared to just 39% during the same period in 2008.

“We have completed our second successful quarter, demonstrating the significant progress we have made in our turnaround efforts to position the company for future profitability,” Steve Lipscomb, President and CEO of WPTE, stated during the Second Quarter report. “Fox Sports Net completed the initial airing of 26 all-new episodes of Season Seven of the World Poker Tour television series across the U.S. in July as a part of FSN’s Sunday sports block. We also filmed our first Season Eight tour stop in high definition and FSN will air Season Eight of the World Poker Tour television series beginning in late 2009 or early 2010.”

The expectations for the third quarter of 2009 are for continued profitability, albeit on the lower end of the spectrum. WPT Enterprises revenues are expected to be in the range of $3.2 to $3.4 million and, with the lower production and administrative costs, expect to turn a small profit from continuing operations. If Season VII episodes are delivered to foreign markets ahead of schedule, then revenues and profits from the fourth quarter will be shifted into the third quarter of 2009 and could increase profitability further.

The recent success has shown elsewhere on the WPTE scoreboard. The company was able to avoid having its stock offerings de-listed by bringing the price above $1 in June. Currently the WPTE’s stock is trading on the NASDAQ at $1.36, nearly double what it was only three months ago. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

Media Man Australia Profiles

World Poker Tour

Fox Sports

Poker

News

Poker News

Online Casino News

Casino News

ECPokerTour.com Selects Destination City for its Upcoming Tournament

TitanPoker.com players will compete for seats at the prestigious Euro City Poker Tour, to be held this November at the Casino di Venezia in Vittoriosa, Malta.

July 30, 2009 (CAP PR Wire) -- Titan Poker, the leading online poker room in Europe, will send a large delegation of talented poker players to the ECPokerTour (Euro City Poker Tour, http://ecpokertour.com) event in Malta this November.

TitanPoker.com (www.titanpoker.com) has just launched its ECPokerTour Malta tournament series. Winning players at the weekly Super Satellite tournaments will be awarded a $5,000 prize package, including €1,500 buy-in to the ECPokerTour Main Event tournament, which will be staged at the Casino di Venezia in Vittoriosa, Malta, starting November 13, 2009.

Qualifying players will be treated royally with four nights of luxurious accommodation at the Excelsior Grand Hotel in Malta, and will receive up to €700 for flights and spending money.

The ECPokerTour Malta tournament is the latest event in the Euro City Poker Tour, Europe’s most prestigious poker tournament series. Previous ECPokerTour events were staged in May in Salzburg, and in Madrid last year.

Member players at www.titanpoker.com are regularly awarded seats to major poker events around the world, including the World Series of Poker, the Asian Poker Tour, the Aussie Millions and the Irish Open. Titan Poker invites both amateur and skilled poker players to enjoy the benefits of the improved Club Titan, the most rewarding VIP Poker Club online.

About Titanpoker.com:
TitanPoker.com is Europe's number one online poker room and part of the iPoker Network. Titan Poker's software is developed and maintained by Playtech, a public company and leading gaming software developer. With nearly 30,000 online players at peak hours, Titan Poker guarantees $16,000,000 in monthly prizes, features special sit 'n' go tournaments with progressive jackpots as high as $100,000, and awards players with entries to major worldwide poker tournaments. The Titan Poker brand is promoted exclusively by Euro Partners.

About Euro Partners:
Euro Partners is an affiliate marketing company that is an industry leader for a variety of reasons. We offer the highest converting gaming products on the internet (casino, poker and bingo). Our affiliate program earns you maximum commissions, provides timely payouts and personal account management.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Titan Poker

Titan Casino

iPoker Network

Euro Partners

European Gaming

European Casino

Poker Tournaments

Malta

World Gaming Directory

World Casino Directory

Global Gaming Directory

News

Poker News

Casino News

Global Gaming News

Senator Menendez to Introduce Online Poker Legislation on Thursday, by Dan Cypra - Poker News Daily - 5th August 2009

In breaking news from Capitol Hill, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) will introduce legislation to license and regulate online poker in the United States on Thursday, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

During National Poker Week, which occurred from July 19th to 25th, it was revealed that Menendez would likely drop legislation during the festivities or the following week. Then, Poker News Daily learned that a bill similar to last Congressional session’s S 3616 would likely be introduced this week. Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Executive Director John Pappas stated during a working dinner to open National Poker Week, “Pushing poker will be an immediate lift and will be easier than [legalizing] other things.” He also reminded over 30 of the PPA’s State Directors, a handful of poker pros, and media in attendance, “Poker has always been played in people’s homes. We are the Poker Players Alliance. We aren’t the Roulette Alliance. We love the Menendez bill because it focuses on our core beliefs.”

The PPA had a draft of the bill in mid-July. Menendez’s S 3616 was introduced last September and dubbed the Internet Skill Game Licensing and Control Act. The bill’s definitions specifically included online poker, explicitly legalizing the game in the United States: “The term ‘Internet skill game’ means an Internet-based game that uses simulated cards, dice, or tiles in which success is predominantly determined by the skill of the players, including poker, bridge, and mahjong.” The bill called for the legalization of skill games not backed by the house, meaning that the action was primarily player versus player. Online poker rooms like PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker raise revenue by taking a percent of each pot or tournament buy-in, dubbed the “juice” or “rake.”

In order to apply for a license to operate a skill game online and solicit customers from the United States, complete financial information was required. Also required were an outline of an organization’s corporate structure and the “names of all persons directly or indirectly interested in the business of the applicant and the nature of such interest.” Background checks of individuals and directors associated with each licensee would have been conducted and betting on sports was specifically prohibited. S 3616 vanished from the record after the 110th Congress adjourned.

According to the PPA, the legislation to be introduced by Menendez on Thursday will be similar to S 3616. The Dow Jones report notes, “It would establish a regulatory framework that would allow online poker companies to register in the U.S.” A 10% tax on deposits would be added, 5% to State Governments and 5% to the Federal Government. During the last Congressional session, Congressman Robert Wexler introduced a similar measure in HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, which exempted poker and other skill games from existing internet gambling legislation.

At the beginning of May, Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced HR 2266, which would delay industry compliance with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) by one year to December 1st, 2010. In addition, the Massachusetts lawmaker unveiled HR 2267, which establishes a comprehensive licensing and regulatory framework for the internet gambling industry in the United States. HR 2267 currently boasts 54 co-sponsors, while HR 2266 has 35.

We’ll have full details on Menendez’s new Senate bill as soon as it’s released right here on Poker News Daily. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

Media Man Australia Profiles

Poker

Online Poker

News

Poker News

Online Casino News

Casino News

Online casino and poker players prefer strong, established brand names

Findings conducted by Media Man Australia and Casino News Media indicate that online casino and online poker players much prefer strong, established brands, especially in times of economic instability as is currently the case in the worlds financial markets.

The following is a summary report of the findings by geographical region, listing the overall top 5 gaming / casino / betting brands in each region. Hitwise, Online Casino City, PokerScout.com, InfoPowa News, Gambling911, Poker News Daily, Alexa, Google and Yahoo! results formed part of the findings. The Media Man Australia and Casino News Media brand is not being included in this report.

Australia

Crown Casino and Crown Poker

PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com

Pacific Poker and 888

Centrebet

Sportingbet


Britain

Virgin Games

Aspinalls Online Casino, Aspinalls Online Poker and Aspers

PKR

Paddy Poker

Betfair


Canada

Loto Quebec

PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com

Canadian Poker Tour

*other brand findings for Canadian region were not conclusive


Fast movers on a global scale ranging from most well known to least well known are:

JackpotCity.com and JackpotCity.co.uk

PKR Poker and PKR Casino

Asia Pacific Poker Tour

Aspinalls Online Poker

Latin American Poker Tour



*the top 5 gaming and casino entities on a global scale ranging from most well known to least well known are:

Donald Trump

James Packer

Steve Wynn

Stanley Ho

Damian Aspinall / Calvin Ayre (tie)


United States

BetUs.com

New York Lottery

Bodog

PokerStars.net

Daily Racing Form


China (Macau)

City Of Dreams

Asian Poker Tour

World Series of Poker

PartyPoker.com

PKR


* Microsoft, Sony and Wikipedia are making significant movements into the gaming and igaming industry, however are not classified as gambling brands in these findings.


News

Casino News

Online Casino News

Global Gaming News

Poker News

Betting News

Gambling News

Sports News

Poker News Media

Casino News Media

Final Chance To Win Your Macau Seat

Players hoping to win their seat into the main event of next month's Asian Poker Tour (APT) Macau Festival are being given one last chance this weekend through a series of satellites at PartyPoker.com and the iPoker Network.

This year's APT Macau Festival will run from August 12 to 23 at the Galaxy StarWorld Hotel And Casino in the former Portuguese colony with its main event featuring a buy-in set at $4,438.

However, those short of the cash for this buy-in can win their seat for next month's tournament courtesy of leading online poker site PartyPoker.com and the iPoker Network.

Last year's six-day event has been transformed into a record-breaking twelve-day extravaganza creating Asia's first festival of poker. The APT Macau Festival will also feature the largest range of side events ever seen in Asia with high-limit games and sit-and-go tables running throughout.

The APT Macau Festival will also serve as the backdrop for the first Chinese-language poker film, provisionally entitled Poker King, which is due to star A-list Chinese actors and pop stars.

"Next month's APT Macau Festival will be bigger and better with twelve days of non-stop poker action and fun," said Chris Parker, Chief Executive Officer for the APT.

"The APT Macau Festival will feature a side events schedule never seen in Asia before including several new formats that will stir the curiosity of poker enthusiasts at all levels. For those that have not yet reserved their seat to what is sure to be a very memorable event, this weekend marks the last chance for players to qualify through PartyPoker.com and the iPoker Network. Make sure you don't miss out on your APT Macau experience and the chance to win some life-changing prizes."

In 2008, the event attracted some of the most famous names in the game including Doyle Brunson, Jack Binion, Johnny Chan, John Juanda, Huck Seed, Liz Lieu, Todd Brunson, Kenny Tran and Poker Pack members Nam Le, Quinn Do, JC Tran, Steve Sung, David ‘Chino' Rheem and Kwang Soo Lee.

Full details on the upcoming APT Macau Festival can be found at AsianPT.com.

Profiles

Asian Poker Tour

PartyPoker.com

iPoker Network

News

Poker News

Casino News

Poker News Media