Italy’s poker industry is another in a crisis with the regulator’s annual report showing a decline in revenues of 43 percent. The AAMS report shows that after hitting the heights of €41million in January it is now just above €23million and shows no signs of slowing. Tournament revenue has suffered an even worse fate with a drop of 75 percent from €35.5m in January 2011 to August 2012’s frighteningly low figure of €9.1m. The problems come from the fact that a combination of high taxes and low liquidity are dissuading companies from getting involved and unless the player pool is opened up beyond Italian players, it’s likely to continue.
Microgaming has signed up to provide an online casino for the Hippodrome Casino’s yet-to-be-launched website. Hippodromecasino.com will be constructed using Microgaming’s renowned casino platform and the company will work alongside Betway, who will look after the back office support for the site. It follows a report yesterday that PokerStars had taken a stake in the Hippodrome and that will see them construct a poker room, which will open next year.