Playtech’s iPoker network has attempted to clarify the specific penalties its skins will face if they fail to contribute sufficient quantities of recreational players to the network pool. Rather than being completely banished to the boonies, as was first suggested, skins that fail to meet monthly quotas will be blocked from No Limit Hold ‘Em cash tables under $2/$4 and some (as yet unspecified) sit-and-go tournaments, while multi-table tournaments will remain accessible to all. The monthly audits of skins began July 1 and the first sanctions will be implemented starting Sept. 1.
MyPok and PokerXtrem, two sites on the Microgaming/888 dot.fr network, have announced a merger. PokerXtrem players will be ported over to the MyPok site by the end of the month. PokerXtrem was founded by Prosper Masquelier, former Partouche Interactive exec and current president of the International Stadiums Poker Tour. The merger reduces the number of sites on the Microgaming/888 network to three.
Rounders Row has left its former home on the Everleaf Gaming Network to take up residence on the Costa Rica-based Poker Pros Network (PPN). Everleaf abruptly exited the US market in February after it claimed the US Secret Service had shut down one of its payment processors, and PPN CEO Chuck Kidd has claimed Everleaf’s public statements regarding its efforts to refund US player balances weren’t serious.
PokerStars has hired former Betfair international PR guru Richard Bloch to be the online poker outfit’s new social marketing manager. Bloch, who did stints at 888 and Rank Group before his four-year tenure with the betting exchange, will report to Stars global head of social media Adam Field.
