The new momentum stems from the apparent blessing of the country’s main opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP), at the Working Team’s first meeting of 2012. The DPJ’s Issei Koga said speedy passage of the legislation would be vital for the initiative’s success, in part because of competing projects in neighboring countries. Numerous casino giants, including Las Vegas Sands and Caesars Entertainment, have expressed keen interest in being first to open up in Japan.

The Philippines isn’t waiting for Japan to act. Work on its ambitious 100-hectare Bagong Nayong Pilipino-Entertainment City Manila (ECM) project is underway (artistic impression pictured above), but unlike casino zones in other Asian jurisdictions, ECM is making do without the involvement of western casino companies. Among the four projects that have been given the nod to occupy the ECM zone, only one (Manila Bay Resorts from Japan’s Universal Entertainment) is purely foreign. The others are wholly or partly controlled by locals: Henry “retail king” Sy’s Belle Corp. is constructing the Belle Grande; port terminal magnate Enrique Razon’s Bloombury Investments is behind the Solaire Manila; while Resorts World Manila Bayshore is a product of Travelers International Hotel Group, a JV of Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global Group and Malaysian giant Genting.

American casino firms were reportedly sniffing around the Philippines when the ECM project was first announced in 2007, but never followed through on their initial interest. Their change of heart may have arisen from a perceived conflict of interest in the dual regulator/operator role of the state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR). PAGCOR chairman/CEO Cristino Naguiat Jr. told Philippines news outlet ANC that such concerns were overblown, as PAGCOR expects to assume more of a pure regulator role (in the Metro Manila region, at least) in the future. Regardless, Naguiat doesn’t feel the Philippines needs/wants any western partners. “Personally, I have no plans of inviting them to come here, invest here. I’d rather deal with our ASEAN partners.”

With the help of those ASEAN partners, Naguiat expects that in five years time the Philippines will become the third Asian jurisdiction (after Macau and Singapore) to surpass Las Vegas in gaming revenue. Something that may help speed that process is the Philippines tolerance of junket operators. While Singapore and the US have demonized junket operators as enabling “terrorist financing activities,” PAGCOR VP of Licensed Casino Development Francis Hernando says his country has sufficient laws in place to deal with money laundering concerns. Macquarie Securities Group researcher Alex Pomento says this “investor-friendly” approach will help the Philippines “niche itself” from the “rigidity in the rules” of Singapore and Macau (and Vegas).

The ECM project is also burnishing the country’s infrastructure, with a light-rail project to get gamblers from airport to hotel and back again with the least amount of fuss. Naguiat says all four ECM partners are “more than willing to fund the skyway” project. With projected annual gaming revenues of $6b once ECM is fully operational, it’s clear they’ll be able to afford a track or two. Too bad the western casino giants got left at the station.

Business News

Legal News

Pentasia Macau Ltd was first incorporated in November 2011 and provides human resources consultancy to the gaming market in Macau. Its client base consists of gaming technology vendors, casino operators and companies providing support services to the gaming industry.

The business also acts as a representative office of the Pentasia group and in turn relays valuable insight and advice to Pentasia Singapore Pte Ltd, the region’s fully licensed recruitment business founded in Singapore in 2007.

Jonathan Pettemerides, Pentasia’s Managing Director for the Asia Pacific region hailed the office’s opening as a significant step forward. “Pentasia Macau is an important addition to the Pentasia Group. Having a presence in Macau, the largest casino gaming market in the world, was a natural and necessary progression for the business.

“Macau has been a developing market for Pentasia’s HR Consultancy business for some time now and the opening of our new office further enhances the levels of local expertise and face-to-face contact we can provide our Macau based clients.”

Notes for editors:

Pentasia is the undisputed global market leader in gaming & gambling technology staffing supplies. Established in 2001, the company has built an international network of offices that now encompasses seven countries; the UK, Malta, Ireland, Gibraltar, Singapore, Macau and the USA.

Pentasia have been committed to the Asian gaming & gambling technology market since 2007 and are the only fully licensed gaming specialist executive search company in the Asia Pacific region.

Pentasia is a fully accredited member of various industry bodies including the UK’s Recruitment & Employers’ Confederation (REC) and the Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC) and as such, is subject to their Codes of Professional Practice.

For further information about this release please contact Pentasia Singapore at +65 6408 0161 or email: singapore@pentasia.com

Press Releases

Cirque du Soleil continues to be popular in Las Vegas, where Strip casinos derive over 60% of revenue from non-gaming sources. Compare that to Macau, where non-gaming revenues account for a mere 11% of the total haul. Even Singapore, which (a) demanded that the developers of the city-state’s two integrated resorts (IR) devote less than 15k square meters to actual casino space, (b) restricted junket operations and (c) threatened to fine IR operators if their non-gaming revenues didn’t reach 50% of the total, can’t seem to tip the scales. Figures from Marina Bay Sands last quarterly report showed just 24.4% of total revenues coming from non-gaming sources, while Resorts World Sentosa’s non-gaming revenues were only 16.3%.

Much of Macau’s problem can be explained from visitor stats published by the local authorities. While the average Vegas visitor spent 3.6 nights on the town in 2010, his or her Macau counterpart was on the scene less than half that time (1.5 nights) during the first 11 months of 2011. In other words, Macau visitors are there with a purpose. Get in, get lucky (at the tables), get out. It’s almost as if anything not resembling a baccarat table is viewed as an obstacle.

But Melco Crown Entertainment is bucking this trend by drawing actual crowds to its House of Dancing Water show, which opened in September 2010 at the City of Dreams. The Wall Street Journal reported that the company is even considering adding extra shows due to the “enthusiastic support” audiences have demonstrated. Melco Crown co-COO Nicholas Naples told Macau Business that “non-gaming attractions create the premium envelope for the gaming activities to fit into. This is the real differentiator between casino resorts since most of the games within the casinos are similar.” This desire to differentiate convinced Galaxy Entertainment to launch a multi-screen cinema in December. Offering Chinese film fans a chance to see international fare that doesn’t make it to theaters on the mainland hasn’t exactly set Galaxy’s books afire, but then again, getting the cinema up and running cost a hell of a lot less than $150m.

So why has House of Dancing Water succeeded where Zaia failed? Hell if we know. Study the trailers for each below and draw your own conclusion.

Casino News

Ladbrokes

“The smaller unit would be more like a convenience store where people could come in and out quickly, suiting younger people in more of a hurry.”

That means one side would be a glorified chillout zone with next door the world’s first betting shop/night club fusion. We live in hope.

It was down to Hills to remind the borough council’s licencing sub-committee of the Gambling Commission guidelines on gaming machines.

“When Parliament passed the Gambling Act, one of its principal objectives was to limit the number of high-stakes, high-prize gaming machines on the High Street,” said Philip Kolvin, legal representative at William Hill.

“This was partly to limit the potential harm to vulnerable people,” he added.

The act referred to concerns that allowed only four “high-stake” gaming machines per premises. Splitting the shop in two would allow eight and however much the interior of the two premises were changed that would still be the case.

Ladbrokes had planned to spend around £280,000 redesigning the premises and will now have to go back to the drawing board to create their “old and new” gambling premises. As for Hills they can mark one down in the win column for now and be glad they had their eye on the ball. Us… we were hoping both sides would be up next week on Harry Hill’s TV Burp. FIGHT!!!

Business News

Utah is one of the lone stars when it comes to online poker in that they’re vehemently opposed to any gambling having a place. Sandstrom’s bill would do just that and is very likely to make its way through the state’s legislature in the near future. It doesn’t mean that some won’t worry about the state’s web economy and whether the blocking of sites is a necessary cost. There are some that want to better understand the bill itself as well

“We need to have this information prior to voting on this bill,” Rep. Patrice Arent, D-Salt Lake City, said.

Sandstrom was unmoved.

“If we allow Internet gaming in Utah, we will have casinos,” he added.

What he’s referring to is that any federal gambling industry legislation will mean Indian-owned casinos popping up in Utah faster than branches of Subway – something that no lawmaker wants. Sandstrom need not worry. His bill will go through the legislature long before anything peeks through at federal level and no Indian will ever step on Utah land. So Steve there’s no need to build a fence just yet.

Legal News

iGaming Asia Congress 2012 touches down at the Grand Hyatt, City of Dreams, Macau from 6-8 March in what promises to be its most impressive year yet.

The first two months may have been the European iGaming industry’s time to shine. Now Asia steps up to the plate to hit them outta the park. This year’s conference can boast it’s the only forum for online gambling, sports betting, and lotteries to flourish in what is the global gaming industry’s largest location. How does it help those that decide a trip to the Chinese enclave is in order though?

Conference organizers, Beacon Events, have it covered by laying on a heavyweight list of speakers in addition to a number of new features for attendees from all parts of the world. For firms not currently operating in the Asian market they focus on the challenges faced by companies looking to enter the sector and how it’s best to embark on this. Asian companies will get a crash course on how Western providers can help them expand their operations into the EU. In addition, there are panels on a number of different subjects and updates on markets from the relevant regulators.

The round tables are a fixture at this year’s conference and will cover a number of territories in the region. China, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South East Asia, USA, Macau and India will all get coverage. iGaming Asia Congress is like every other in that it has networking drinks on the opening nights before the iGA Party brings the curtain down on proceedings at the Hard Rock Café on the final night.

To register for the event simply visit this link and put yourself down for either a one or two day pass.

Conference News

Caesars Entertainment Corp

It now gives other investors the chance to stick their shares on the block – but only in small amounts. The likes of Paulson & Co. (9.9% owners), Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank can now sell a number of shares with the former allowed to offer 12.4m and the other two able to get rid of 22.3m (worth $201m at the offer price). According to Bloomsberg, Caesars did withdraw a registration filing to sell up to $500m in shares after the IPO. This was confirmed by the amended filing two days ago that contained no mention of the $500m shares.

In terms of market value the IPO has the firm at $1.13billion and an enterprise value of $22.5bn – 11.8 times the EBITDA of $1.92bn. This is something that got some chins wagging with Chris Snow, senior analyst at CreditSights Inc, picking out why the valuation might be a little heady.

“The long-term debate about whether they deserve the multiple is valid because Caesars doesn’t have casino operations in Macau. The valuation is ‘pretty aggressive.’”

However outlandish either of those two valuations is, it doesn’t detract from the well-known fact the firm has quite the mound of debt in its locker. This makes the likelihood of other shareholders selling up very likely and they’ll be left figuring out what they should do next.

Casino News

The RGS product gives punters access to Bally’s library of casino-gaming content via a one-time integration. In a press release Bally said the product “will offer enhanced bonusing, proven play mechanics, progressives, and other outstanding features that only a company with more than 80 years in the gaming industry can provide.”

John Connelly, Bally’s Vice President of Business Development, said: “The Bally Remote Gaming Server allows new and existing customers to seamlessly integrate Bally games into their online portals. When combined with Bally’s systems, the Bally Interactive products will deliver a single-view of the player – on the casino floor, at home, and on the move.”

This technology will also be used as part of Bally’s business-to-business social initiatives in supporting customers when entering the social-gaming space.

While Bally is busy launching mobile products, printer developers for the gaming industry FutureLogic has hired Ted Grevelis as its Business Development Manager for the Midwest.

In a press release today, the company said they hired Grevelis for his background in technical sales, sales management, new business development and account management experience

FutureLogic’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing North America, Nick Micalizzi, said: “With this appointment, FutureLogic has strengthened its sales presence in the very important Midwest region of the U.S. Ted’s expertise will be invaluable for bringing FutureLogic’s world-class printers and intelligent promotional couponing solutions, as well as localized support, to our customers.”

Before joining FutureLogic, Grevelis worked for nearly 10 years at IGT as Systems Sales Executive and Director of Sales.

In other gambling industry appointment news, gaming test labs Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) have hired two new workers to add to its recently created professional services group. Consultants Rodney Arsenault and Murray Lee will join GLI’s Professional Services Team in Moncton, Canada. The group have done much expanding in the past year, with the company moving into the Asian lottery market late 2011 being an example.

GLI Canada CEO, Salim Adatia, said in a statement released by the company today: “Adding Rodney and Murray to our existing talent pool gives us the wider breadth of expertise and knowledge required to optimally service the consultancy demands of our valued clients, both in lottery and in non-gaming areas.”

Business News

The acknowledgement that sports betting constitutes as “a form of commercial exploitation of competitions” and the consequent call to the European Commission and EU Member States to recognise and protect the competition organisers’ property rights, “guaranteeing a significant contribution from betting operators” towards “funding grassroots sports” and “protecting the integrity of competitions”

The problem here will be the European Parliament trying to put it into practice. It’s been pointed out just how difficult it will be to reach a Europe-wide consensus on the sports betting industry and the very same problem would be present here. Thanks to the lack of harmonization in the continent’s different markets and the balkanization that has taken place, it’s very unlikely they can do anything else but call for countries to take action. MEPs later went on to reiterate their policy on anything-untoward going on and stated:

A zero-tolerance policy against match-fixing, illegal betting, money laundering and doping in professional sport by making them criminal offences

As has been shown in the latest high profile fixing cases this is already well and truly underway. Unfortunately it’s the less developed nation that have been admitted into the European Union (EU) that often experience fixing and corruption problems and they’re the ones that need to take the focus of this report.

Legal News

The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers

The results demonstrated stock performances of major gaming equipment manufacturers an how they have continued to trend upward during the first month of 2012. This is thought to be down to a result of business confidence and selected economic indicators improving.

As highlighted by Macau Business, the AGEM Index reached a composite score of 117.50, representing an increase of 1.23 points, or nearly 1.1%from the prior month. The AGEM Index was also up 12.5% from levels reported last year, with 13 of the 16 gaming suppliers reporting gains in their stock valuation during January.

The ongoing legal scuffle between Japanese business man Kazuo Okada and Wynn Resorts in a Las Vegas court continues.

If you’re not up to date with the case, Okada – once a non-executive director of Wynn Resorts – last month filed a lawsuit against the company alleging he was blocked from seeing the company’s financial records after he objected to a $135 million donation to the University of Macau.

Kazuo Okada, who holds a 19.7% stake in Wynn Resorts, had his attorneys file a brief on Friday stating that by failing to open the company books and records to him for inspection, Wynn Resorts was making it impossible for Okada to do his job as director.

“Mr Okada has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the corporation and its stockholders and to act in an informed manner,” Macau Business reported the new filing as saying.

“Without the right to inspect the company’s books and records, he cannot fulfil that duty. Inspection is the director’s primary tool to ensure that the company’s management is acting in the best interests of the corporation and its stockholders,” it added.

A hearing on the case is scheduled to follow this Thursday.

Over in China, the country’s lottery – Wing Hing’s Social Lotteries, or Sociedade de Lotarias Wing Hing – has had its monopoly contract for the Chinese lottery officially extended today until December 31, 2012.

According to Macau Business, the company will have to pay a premium equal to $62,500 to the government in order for the deal to go through. Other than that small detail of 62 smackers – the contract remains the same.

Last year, the Chinese lottery’s gross gaming revenue reached MOP6 million (around $750k) with the annual value remaining stable since 2007.

Business News

Live dealer firm Evolution Gaming has released a new localized version of its popular blackjack table into the regulated Italian market. The Venturo table is the firm’s second offering and features native dealers in the hope that it copies the experience of a land-based venue. Evolution became the first firm to be approved for live casino gaming by Italian regulator AAMS back in May and provides services to a range of customers including 888.it and Microgame. Venturo is on offer to all its clients in the hope it will increase their share in the recently regulated territory.

Spanish gambling industry revenues could mushroom to €800m in two years time when advertising laws are relaxed. JDigital, the country’s online gaming industry association, told La Vanguardia that 2011 revenues rose to €370m with that number likely to treble if advertising appears in new locations. Gambling and casino turnover accounted for €145m with sports taking in €125m and poker over €100m. Around 15 companies currently operate in Spain with 600,000 customers opening accounts – an increase of 60% on 2010. By 2014 it’s expected that revenue will hit €800m after rising to approximately €500m this year. It’s not noted whether the delays in regulation will have any bearing on the figures as the market won’t start issuing licences until as far away as June – a very, very late Christmas.

Business News

A report by The Sun newspaper reveals the commission met with ITV bosses on Friday to complain their uptight little tits off that the success of the show encourages gambling by making it look “easy” to win on roulette. What ever happened to “you can’t control fate”?

A unknown source close to the talks told The Sun: “The Commission has concerns the show is glamorising gambling as so many people won £1million last time and did the best part of nothing to get it.”

This might be because over the seven episodes of the show’s season which aired in September last year, four people each won the top prize of £1million by picking either red or black. However, is their argument, which stems from them thinking the show makes it look “too easy”, flawed? You can in fact just bet on Red or Black on Roulette in a real casino, and most times it can be down to sheer luck.

Nevertheless, the sources said the watchdog wants assurances that contestants will have to “demonstrate some degree of skill” to win the cash for the show’s return.

Rules to block the show have not yet been affirmed by the regulator, that’s if Cowell doesn’t do what he’s told. But a source said: “Put it this way, if the Gambling Commission kicks up a big fuss about your show publicly, it is unlikely that you would go ahead with it.”

Is this regulation gone mad?

Entertainment News

This competitor came in the form of online bookmakers, fuelled by the .com boom and the need for innovation in the industry pureplay operators such as Betfair, Sportingbet and bet365 became overnight successes – although they would undoubtedly say it wasn’t quite that simple.

While the retail division of many bookmakers still remains their largest sector, the gap is narrowing. Figures from H2 Gambling Capital show that while the percentage of the UK sports betting market online was just 9.7% in 2003, it stood at 24.3% for 2011. Furthermore this figure is expected to continue to rise for some time yet.

As the times are changing so are the people, even into the betting shops themselves the scene is changing dramatically. Where old men with roll up cigarettes and the daily newspaper once sat are younger and more technologically savvy punters with touch screen phones and nicotine patches.

Now that most bookmakers have finally taken the hint and embraced the digital age outside of betting shop, the next step is surely to do the same inside.

This is a step that some within the sports betting industry are now looking to take – a step which has been addressed by a number of companies, of whom the Racing Post will be among the most recognized.

Richard Thorp, B2B operations manager at the Racing Post, explains that modernising is certainly something that bookmakers are now looking to do.

He says: “Bookmakers will have to adapt with the times to attract a new audience and quite a few of them already are doing so.

“The spaces are more comfortable and brighter, the screens tend to be in HD and there is a better focus on customer service.”

Digital Screens

Thorp is behind the Racing Post’s attempts to further the adaptation that he speaks about and has done so with the Racing Post Digital Screens. The screens, which were on show at the International Casino Exhibition last month, are touch screen and provide a number of services for horse racing, football and greyhound punters.

Once connected to the wall and the internet they allow the user to view statistics, form and even ritual horse races of future races with the results based on predictions.

So far Thorp says that the response from bookmakers has been very positive. He explains: “There has been a lot of interest and two of the major bookmakers have already put in orders.”

But the Racing Post aren’t the only company trying to modernise the bookmaking world, MRG Systems have also created a digital touch screen product for stores. Theirs is named the Dailyform screen and makes use of content provided by the Press Association and offers users news concerning a wide variety of sports.

Darren MacDonald developed the Dailyform touch screens at MRG and he agrees that the modernization of retail bookmakers is something that needed to happen.

He explains: “Betting shops need to take full advantage of improvements in technology both with added functionality (touchscreens, HD displays etc) and with reduced costs.

“Information currently available online needs to be available in shop. A lot of independent bookmakers use Oddschecker for example to ensure customers get the best available price.”

In-Play in Store

Looking forward, online sports betting may have inadvertently given the retail sector a boost with the development of in-play products.

The line between retail and online betting continues to be blurred with Buzz Sports taking an interesting approach to combining the retail and in-play worlds.

Their zone play betting products, while originally intended for online and tablet use have now been placed in small portable handsets. Handsets that could easily fit into a bookmakers store and provide retail customers with a level of in-play betting that has never been possible before.

Simon Oaten is a director at Deloitte and Betting and Gaming sector leader. He boldly predicts that mobile and retail betting will become ever closer in terms of working together and competing against each other.

He explains: “In five years time operators are going to know exactly where you are so if you walk into a betting shop in the UK and you’ve got some sort of app then it’s going to be beeping in your pocket.

“Then by looking at the sporting events currently taking place it will tell you that you that the bet you could be about to place at whatever odds in the shop could be placed with another operator at a better price on your mobile.”

Situations such as this may actually not be so far off. They will create even more competition for the retail bookmakers who now certainly can’t afford to rest on their laurels. Fortunately, if MRG and the Racing Post are anything to go by then this won’t be the case.

Thorp admits that there’s much to be done: “In-play products will drive customer retention and these plus betting are the features we will be focusing on this year.”

“We believe that the digital age enables bookmakers to provide more information to their customers in a cost-effective manner,” says MacDonald.

For the first time in more than 50 years there are big changes taking place inside bookmakers’ stores. These changes have been forced by the rise of the internet and a need to compete. However, should retail bookmakers embrace the digital age then it may be more about complimenting than competition – a situation that’s bound to benefit many more betting professionals.

Business News

At the moment betting companies pay a 15% tax on their profits, but they can avoid that by basing their online operations in other international locations (like how Betfair moved to Gibraltar), with 18 of the 20 main bookmakers in the country doing just that. Hancock’s bill, which was debated in the commons yesterday, would close this “loophole” by levying the tax where the punter makes the bet as opposed to where the bookmaker is based.

MP Hancock and Ladbrokes‘ Head of PR, Ciaran O’Brien, joined Channel Four News’ TV studio last night to discuss the possibility of such regimes.

When comparing gambling to food and entertainment, and asked “why should betting have extra tax slapped on it”, Hancock said: “There’s a long-standing tradition of having a tax on betting in this country – but there’s also a levy paid on bet’s that go on horseracing, which pays for the product, the race to go on, the prize money, to ensure that we have great racing on which the profits from the bookies are made.

“So it’s part of the economy of bookmaking and racing that in order to have good profits for bookmakers we need to have good racing and that levy is an important part of the mix too.”

O’Brien responded that the gambling industry is already very highly taxed. “British based companies, like Ladbrokes, at the moment are paying £1 billion in tax and are only making about £600 million in profit from it,” he said. “The important thing is this proposal must be done in a sustainable way.”

He continued: “The Last time the government looked at this in 2005, they set the rate online at 15%. That was never going to be sustainable; it encouraged businesses to locate offshore – it meant British based businesses like Ladbrokes couldn’t compete and we were forced to watch our customer relocate to competitors. And that’s not sustainable for levy, for competition or consumer protection.”

When asked whether his proposed bill was in fact killing the UK’s economy and not helping it to grow, Hancock responded: “I respect Ladbrokes argument that they wouldn’t mind being part of a level playing field in the UK. But if your competitors are allowed to move offshore then of course there’s competitive pressure for you to move offshore too. I want to see all UK betting British so the appropriate tax and correct levy is paid.

“The arguments that the 15% tax on profits is too high, I can understand and it should be looked at but it’s hardly good for the UK to have 18 of its 20 biggest betting companies having jobs going offshore  because of the system that’s set up at the moment, so I think it’d be good for growth to bring it all back onshore.”

Hancock argued that there are hundreds of small, independent bookmakers who are based in the UK who are too small to go down the “avoidance route of offshore” and there isn’t a level playing field for them, either, as they need to pay the tax, agreeing with O’Brien that “we need a fair system.”

When posed the question “why didn’t Ladbrokes keep their operations in Britain like Coral and Bet365”, O’Brien argued those companies too have made it clear if things don’t change for the better they’ll need to move their operations to a different location.

“Let’s remember; we’re a big retail operator who pays more taxes in the UK than we’re making profits, so we welcome a review,” O’Brien said. “Let’s get a sustainable level of tax on this industry that enables it continues it to sustain level of employment and the levy economic growth and that means a sensible rate of tax.”

Welcoming the constructive response from O’Brien, Hancock concluded: “We’ve got some great racing in the UK and we need to keep it that way – making sure the industry prospers in the years to come.”

The treasury are consulting on aspects of the bill at the moment and the Budget, due to be held on 21 March this year, will outline the government’s plans in more detail. Will Hancock’s bill succeed in getting UK betting companies’ operations back on British soil? Or is it just another way for the government to make easy money, while making it more difficult for gambling businesses to grow?

Legal News

Two of the games are Reely Roulette and Reely Poker which are part of the “Reely Series” of games. As part of the partnership, Leander Games has promised to create and develop an exclusive version of the games which will incorporate the Sky Vegas brand, being the first time the company has tailored the look and style of a game on behalf of a client.

CEO and Founder of Leander Games, Ramiro Atucha, said, “This is such great news to welcome in the New Year. We have worked very closely with Sky Vegas to ensure that we have recreated the “Reely” games that will enable its casino slot players to really engage with the brand.”

Betfair Poker has announced they will give aid to Norweigan Poker ace, Thor Hansen, who recently was diagnosed with cancer. Because he has given “so much to the poker community”, this Thursday Betfair are holding a charity tournament to raise funds for huge medical bills.

The winner can win an added package to a BF Poker Live event of their choice. $1 dollar will go towards the prize pool whilst the $10 tournament fee will go directly to Hansen’s cancer fund. Then at the end of the tournament, Betfair will double all tournament fees collected up to $2,500.

Betfair Global Poker Marketing Manager, Asko Heiskanen, said: “We are delighted to help out Thor at this time. I hope other operators across the industry join us to raise as much money and awareness as possible for one of pokers most well-loved players”

The Thor Hansen Charity Tournament will take place on 9 February at 9:30pm. The buy-in is $1+$10 and one rebuy of $1+$0 at the anytime during the three first levels gives players 1500. At the end of the level three players have an optional add-on of 3000 chips with $1+$0

Casino transmission, recording and picture processing technology providers, Dallmeier , has announced its new application: PService – allowing for “a comfortable configuration and administration of comprehensive VideoIP systems”.

PService scans the video network for Dallmeier devices, automatically detects those and displays them in an overview. Its functions range from changing IP addresses to updates for camera and recorder software and up to user and rights administration, the company stated in a press release.

Business News

With over a million Philippine Pesos’ worth of casino chips rattling around in what must have been extremely deep pockets; Zheng made it to the final table managing to dodge several eliminations.

It was all touch and go during the heads round where both Zheng and Razavi were all in on the first hand. Zheng held two pairs but Razavi had a king flush. Then a stunning river card had Zheng crush Razavi’s flush with a full house.

It was the very next hand that lead to Zheng’s victory, with his flush kicking Razavi’s butt right back to Blighty.

However, the top 10 leader board finalists all left with something other than fine memories of the Asian Poker Tour. Here’s the final table payouts:

1^st Tan Tai Zheng PHP 3,623,000
2^nd Samad Razavi PHP 1,925,000
3^rd Miika Viholainen PHP 906,000
4^th Bjoern Wiesler PHP 679,000
5^th Tan Gay Peng PHP 566,000
6^th David Evans PHP 453,000
7^th Bernie Ho PHP 340,000
8^th Alistair Duff PHP 226,000
9^th Goh Hanruo PHP 215,000
10^th Bae Han Su PHP 193,400

Congrats to Zheng on his big win. Who’d bet on his return to the APT Asian Series next year?

Poker News

Western casino companies are practically knife fighting with each other for the rights to build in countries across Asia, but Adelson figures Sands has an ace (or a katana) up its sleeve. “We are the only developer in the world that is developing IR [integrated resorts] which is our convention base … our fundamental business model is designed to support exhibitions and conventions.” Adelson maintains that Sands was alone among its Nevada brethren to emphasize the convention and exhibition business in Las Vegas during the 1990s, and he thinks the company can work wonders with the available scenery in Vietnam. “Vietnam … would like to boost tourism. Vietnam has no IR so far and that is a fundamental component of our company. So it’s an extremely comfortable fit.”

Adelson already has a design concept for the Ho Chi Minh City project, based around the sails in a boat. “We design two buildings to look like two sails in one ship. The idea is to build a building that goes with the identification of the city. The water and the river are so much a part of Ho Chi Minh City.” As for how much such a boat/building would cost, Adelson figures a “very rough number” would be “at least $2b [but] we will pay whatever it takes.” As for a time frame, Adelson estimates taking six months to a year to plan, then two more years for construction. “Generally, it will depend on how fast the government will move.”

Adelson likely assumes the government will move mountains to assist his investment. Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn is also a big fan of ‘can do’ Asian governments. Wynn once told CNBC that he preferred the government in Macau to the one in Washington. “Macau has been steady. The shocking, unexpected government is the one in Washington. That’s where we get surprises every day. That’s where taxes are changed every five minutes. That’s where you don’t know what to expect tomorrow. To compare political stability and predictability in China to Washington is like comparing Mount Everest to an anthill. Macau and China is stable, Washington is not!”

Steve might want to add Nevada to his shit list. Nevada’s casino taxes are the lowest in the country (and a mere fraction of what Steve’s Macau operations pay), but on Tuesday, a ballot advocacy group backed by conservative businessman Monte Miller filed an initiative that would raise the Nevada gambling tax rate from 6.75% to 9%. Nevadans for a Fair 9 Percent Gambling Revenue Tax is hoping to collect 70k signatures by November, after which the list will be handed to the state legislature in 2013. If the legislature rejects turning the proposal into law, the initiative would go on the state ballot for 2014 and the electorate will decide the casinos’ fate. While it’s odd to think of a conservative American businessman seeking to raise taxes on anything, Miller claims the boosted casino tax would allow legislators to lower taxes on other, smaller businesses. The Nevada Resort Association called the initiative “reckless and irresponsible” and plans to “oppose it vigorously.” Cue epic Steve Wynn rant in 5…4…3…2…1…

Casino News

Neither Elie nor Campos, both of whom were involved in processing payments for online poker companies, were charged with violations of the Wire Act on Black Friday, but their attorneys suggested that the DoJ’s new stance on the Wire Act should similarly negate the relevant aspects of the Illegal Gambling Businesses Act (IGBA), which Elie and Campos were most definitely charged with violating. Specifically, the defendants feel that if the DoJ now believes “bets and wagers” unrelated to sports betting don’t violate the Wire Act, then “bets and wagers” on games that aren’t “house backed” (i.e. poker) shouldn’t fall afoul of the IGBA. Forbes’ Nathan Vardi reported that Kaplan wasn’t convinced, “at least at this stage,” leaving all eight counts intact as the men prepare for their trial, currently scheduled for April 9.

Still more drama unfolding from Groupe Bernard Tapie’s attempts to acquire the assets of Black Friday ‘star’ Full Tilt Poker (FTP). Following news that a group of pro poker players owed millions to FTP, Laurent Tapie gave an interview to iGaming France in which he clarified that 19 poker pros had outstanding debts to FTP totaling $16.5m. Poker Player Newspaper’s Wendeen H. Eolis claims to have uncovered more detail on what GBT lawyer Behnam Dayanim called the “greater liabilities” weighing down FTP’s ledgers. Eolis quoted “FTP insiders” as saying GBT was shocked – shocked! – to discover that the money left in FTP’s corporate accounts was $15-20m less than anticipated. In addition, passive FTP shareholders, apparently not convinced that the long-suffering poker-playing public will welcome the poker brand with open arms anytime soon, are allegedly balking at taking stock in the ‘new’ FTP. Finally, unanticipated liabilities in the form of debts to FTP vendors and service providers, for which GBT would be on the hook, may total another $15m. Taken together, in Ms. Eolis’ view, these obstacles suggest “the deal is in grave peril.”

Legal News

I remember when my agent called and said we have sealed the deal – I was jumping up and down, calling my friends and family, and more importantly, thinking how I’m gonna treat myself.

Ever since, I have had nothing but fun with Bodog – playing my first WSOP Main Event – that excitement is hard to describe!

Sitting with some of the best players in the world, talking strategy with my friends every break, becoming a part of the community…then, just as I thought things can’t get better, I got an invite to go to Dominican Republic and meet up with Amanda and Evelyn for a glamorous photo shoot.

Boy, were we treated like royalty! Makeup artist, stylist, photographer…we spent the week being pampered with champagne, massages and I felt like a real supermodel – the only job that week was to be happy.

Unfortunately, I did not make the money in Punta Cana, but our qualifier did and it was so much fun to rail him throughout his final table. Even though he finished second, we celebrated as if he won because that’s what our team does – we support each other in good and bad times.

Of course, you might ask yourself – but where is the playing part? And you would be right after all, I am the Team Pro.

After a few months of coaching, I came back to the tables in Dublin and outlasted over 200 players – one loose call and I lost my coin flip. But, I will win my coin flips one day and you will see me on some final tables before you know it!

So, why am I reviewing my year now? No, I am not leaving – I am inviting a girl to join me. Yes, that’s right; Bodog is looking for another girl to join our fabulous team. We need somebody who is fun, plays poker and lives outside of North America because I need some backup – Amanda and Evy have taken that part of the world!

So, if you think you can handle our poker, party and travel lifestyle, send us and email and join Team Bodog! I cannot wait to get another sister.

Tash xxx (@tattytats)

Editors Note: Bodog Poker is looking for a new Poker Pro to join Tatjana on Team Bodog but they aren’t looking for just anyone. Like a good dating profile, they were pretty specific in the type of person they want to join the Bodog Poker Pro team.

Bodog is looking for an attractive female poker player who is a fresh face in the industry. Bodog is not looking to teach a playboy model how to play poker so poker experience is necessary. 

One last thing, sorry this invitation is not open to Americans.

If you or someone you know wants to apply to be the newest member of team Bodog send an email to Pro@bodogbrand.com to find out all of the details.

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