Barney Frank leaving Congess and other federal follies
Barney Frank (D-MA), online gambling’s biggest booster in the US House of Representatives, is voting himself out of a job. Fortunately, he’ll still be around when the Department of Justice testifies at the next House hearing into online poker. Meanwhile, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) thinks 2012 will be the year his poker bill strikes paydirt and Nevada already has early birds gagging for its online poker license applications.
US states have their own online gambling agenda
Iowa released its study into the many splendored benefits of online poker; the District of Columbia will forge ahead without significant alterations to its poker plans; New Jersey’s bid for legal sports betting takes one more step toward reality.
Nobody is satisfied with European gambling laws
Denmark tinkers with its new rules for online gambling license applicants; Sweden isn’t likely to get its regulatory house in order until 2014; William Hill thinks the UK’s proposed legal changes will distort the market; Betfair complains about Germany; the EGBA complains about Greece and Serbia tinkers with laws to combat ‘widespread’ money laundering.
Bodog Poker software update breaks new ground, ruffles old feathers
Bodog was the talk of the online poker world this week following the rollout of its new software update, the key feature of which is the anonymous tables. Bill Beatty covered the potty-mouthed pouting that resulted from sharps who found themselves deprived of their former technological advantages/crutches.
Canada shows America that football and betting aren’t oil and water
Anyone watching the Canadian Football League’s Grey Cup championship game last Sunday couldn’t have missed the ginormous Bodog logos embedded on the field of play and in the end zone. Maybe that’s why provincial lotteries are so keen to get in on the sports betting game.
UIGEA gets first legal test in Sports Offshore case
The first legal test of the UIGEA is currently in the hands of a Massachusetts jury, although one of the defendants in the Sports Offshore case is sweating more than the other one. Meanwhile, the case against Black Friday defendants Chad Elie and John Campos is heading to trial in March.
iPoker Network makes changes; 24Poker makes tracks
Big changes afoot at the iPoker Network, where a new rake distribution model is in and bots are out. Also out is Microgaming skin 24Poker, which had its license suspended by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
Sportingbet sees revenues rise and execs exit
Just days after releasing financial figures showing an increased reliance on Australian punters, Sportingbet lost three non-executive directors, including former CEO Nigel Payne.
Acquisitions
Tatts Group picks up TOTE Tasmania; PokerStars picks up Cara de Poker.
Asia news roundup
Macau’s gaming revenue was up 33% in November; Melco Crown Entertainment intends to list shares in Hong Kong; the Manila Jockey Club is putting OTB stations in Pagcor’s casinos and the Malaysian state of Penang cracks down on “rampant” online gambling operations.
What do women want (in a poker game)?
Jason Kirk cracks open a few female skulls to discover why more of them aren’t playing poker.
VIDEO PICK
What’s your company’s strategy for penetrating the Asian market(s)? Becky Liggero gets some industry notables to weigh in.
