Business & Financial
Merge Bad Beat Jackpot Hits at Over $1 Million
Gambling911.com has been paying very close attention to the Merge Bad Beat Jackpot as we have a few sponsor online poker rooms that utilize the network. It finally it on Sunday.
The Merge Bad Beat Jackpot has once again gone off. It had been building for a while and we had finally cracked the $1 million mark again before it was hit. Here is the hand ID for reference - #47082389-318
Merge Poker Moves to the Number 8 Position in Terms of Worldwide Traffic
Merge Poker had been sitting at number 10 in terms of overall worldwide traffic pretty shortly after re-entering the North American market this past fall. Since that time, Merge has been creeping up towards the top 5, landing in the number 8 spot this week.
Double Down Interactive (DDI) Acquired by Video Poker Giant International Game Technology for $500M
An acquisition of Seattle-based Double Down Interactive (DDI) by video poker giant International Game Technology was announced after the markets closed on Thursday. The deal was for $500 million.
From All Things D:
The deal includes $250 million in cash, $85 million in retention payments over the next two years and up to $165 million in cash payable over the next three years subject to Double Down meeting certain targets.
Yatahay Becomes the Winning Poker Network
It’s about time! To this day we at Gambling911.com have trouble remembering the Yatahay Poker Network, but we can certainly remember the Winning Poker Network.
And that’s the name change folks.
Ohio Open to Internet Poker: Nevada Permitted Private Testing of Poker Sites
Ohio has become the latest state exploring its options to allow residents of the Buckeye State the opportunity to play “real money” Internet poker.
“We’re exploring this topic,” Dennis Berg, interim director of the Ohio Lottery Commission, told The Cincinnati Business Journal on Wednesday. “We want to be in the forefront of being able to generate revenue for the lottery commission. But it’s a policy decision that we will not make on our own.”
Epic Poker in Acquisition Talks With Pinnacle Entertainment
The fledgling Epic Poker League is reportedly in talks with Pinnacle Entertainment regarding a potential purchase of the league, sources close to WickedChopsPoker.com reported on Wednesday. The deal could occur within the next 60 days.
A previously scheduled event has been pushed back to a yet-to-be-determined April/May date. While the league claims this move was a result of player feedback, others have speculated Epic may be undergoing financial difficulties.
Americas Cardroom Logs Record Number of Players to Kick Off 2012
Popular US-friendly online poker site Americas Cardroom logged record numbers at the start of 2012, and management is crediting the doubling of all guarantees for the surge in traffic.
Sununu Takes Aim at Sheldon Adelson: “Not So Bright” (Video)
If ever there was a time when US citizens could cry foul over big businesses and campaign donations influencing politicians, that time might be now.
Daniel Negreanu Vows No Drinking, No Sex Before a Tournament: Bad Beat Nears a Million
It’s been a while since we here at Gambling911.com have covered one of our personal favorites in the poker world, Daniel Negreanu. For a while he was among the most trafficked figures here at G911. Alas, Negreanu has revealed a few goals for 2012 that include, of course, winning at least one more bracelet.
World Sports Exchange Slow Paying 123 Players $738,852 to Date
World Sports Exchange (WSEX.com) is like Somalia, a failed state….but they still exist. SportsBookReview.com is reporting that it has documented 123 players currently waiting on payments that total $738,852. Many players have been waiting over a year for payouts, though it should be noted a few are trickling in.
MGM Resorts International Granted Injunction Against Cybersquatters
A federal judge has sided with MGM Resorts International in its complaint against a group of so-called cybersquatters looking to capitalize on the companies name.
The court ordered GoDaddy.com Incorporated, Wild West Domains Incorporated and Melbourne IT Incorporated to place the following domains on hold: bellagioonlinepoker.com, circuscircuspoker.com, excaliburpoker.com, luxorpoker.com, mandalaybayonlinepoker.com, mgmpoker.com and ariapoker.com.
Online Poker Surges With Nearly 10 Percent Increase in Traffic This Week
The poker sector received more great news this week after it was revealed Tuesday morning that traffic for all the world’s networks had jumped an amazing 9.8 percent.
Bail Decision for Bianca Rojas-Latraverse and Accomplices Will Come Tuesday
A Quebec Court judge is weighing a decision to release Bianca Rojas-Latraverse and two other accomplices out on bail after she was charged with orchestrating the forced entry and robbery of her former boyfriend’s home, 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jonathan Duhamel.
Casino Billionaire Sheldon Adelson Behind Super PAC Ad Blasting Mitt Romney
The casino billionaire magnate Sheldon Adelson is reportedly spending $5 million to a Super PAC group supporting Newt Gingrich. Adelson is said to be a huge supporter of the former House Speaker.
Alderney Gaming Commission Tells Full Tilt Poker Customers: Go To Local Police
The Alderney Gaming Control Commission (AGCC) may be wiping its hands of Full Tilt Poker and all responsibilities associated with the now defunct company once and for all.
How Internet Poker in the US Might Look in Next 12 Months: Think Powerball Model
With the US Department of Justice changing its stance on applying The Wire Act to Internet poker, individual states now have the green light to begin offering real money play to their citizens.
The vast majority of states do not have the population necessary to support a viable player pool, however.
Case in point: Nevada has already passed a law that would allow real money intrastate play but its under 4 million residents will only allow for a handful of profitable businesses, and that is being somewhat overly optimistic.
Would You Play at South Point Poker in US for Real Money?
The poker community in the US is excited about the prospects of South Point Poker eventually opening its doors to real money play, quite possibly in early 2012.
South Point Poker, a proud sponsor of the Gambling911.com website, is the first Las Vegas based casino to offer an online poker site, albeit for free play only at the present time (note: this could change if you happen to be reading this article post-January 2012).
Action Poker Network Now Chico Poker Network: Players Still May Be Leery
Following an announcement that PlaySafe had sold its Action Poker Network to Seychelles-based Julian International Holdings Limited, players were hopeful they may start to see their payouts in a more expedient fashion.
For the past several months, the Action Poker Network has taken weeks – if not months – to pay players despite not allowing US customers. Poker players in the US have come to expect intermittent longer delays due to the lack of payment processing ventures available.
More Stars Defections: Online Poker Traffic Up 0.1 Percent
British star John Duthie decided against extending his contract with the world’s biggest online poker room, PokerStars. He is the latest in a series of pros who have either decided not to stick around with Stars or have otherwise been cut.
PokerStars, while being named in an infamous April 15 indictment by the US Government, has managed to continue running without a hitch. All US players were paid in a timely fashion after the company was forced to flee that market.
Duthie was the European Poker Tour (EPT) 2004 winner.
Chico Poker Network Enters US Market?
The Action Poker Network has been sold and rebranded as Chico Poker. The Seychelles-based Julian International Holdings Limited took over the Action brands, which included TigerGaming.com, PokerInCanada.com and PayNoRake.com
Nothing New With Groupe Tappie Full Tilt Poker Talks With US Government
PokerNews.com spoke this week to the US-based attorney representing Groupe Tappie’s interest in Full Tilt Poker, stating that there was nothing new in regard to any attempts at reaching a settlement with the US Justice Department. The DOJ seized millions of dollars from Full Tilt Poker on April 15, indicted two of the company’s executives and FTP has failed to pay US players since.
Attorney Behnam Dayanim told PokerNews.com:
Bookmaker Denise Coates Receives Queen’s New Year’s Honors for Good Deeds
Bookies can be good people too. Denise Coates, founder of Bet365 in Great Britain, has been awarded the prestigious Queen’s New Year’s Honors for 2012.
Ms. Coates was honored for her community service work.
Her father, Peter, had this to say about Denise and what she has meant to the Bet365 firm, which is currently the biggest private sector employer in Stoke-on-Trent:
"We are all delighted and all proud of her.
"She has done an absolutely amazing job for bet365, building it up from scratch.
888 Holdings Among Biggest Surging Stocks on London Exchange Thursday
888 Holdings ranked among the biggest moving shocks on Thursday in the wake of a US Justice Department decision whereby the Wire Act will no longer be applied to online poker. The new stance opens the door for individual US states to begin legalizing Web card rooms. 888 Holdings currently operates the world’s 4th largest online poker site and has entered into a partnership agreement with Caesars Entertainment. The state of Nevada has already approved intrastate Web poker.
888 saw its shares rise 4.15 percent by 4 pm Thursday and was now listed at 40.88.
Utah Wants to Prohibit Online Poker: Would be Second State to do so
Utah has little interest in jumping on the state legalization of online poker bandwagon in the wake of a decision by the US Justice Department that essentially allows intrastate Web poker.
Utah is one of two states that does not have a lottery and there is not a single casino based there.
Washington is the only state thus far that specifically prohibits online poker by its residents, making the activity a Class C felony.
Utah Rep. Stephen Sandstrom (R-Orem) is in the process of drafting an anti-Internet gambling bill.
Caesars IPO in 2012 Includes Provision for Legalized Internet Poker in US
Caesars is preparing an IPO for the upcoming year 2012 and, in it, there is a provision for legalized Internet poker in the United States, which the casino giant obviously believes will be bountiful to its future business.
From Pokerati.com:
Commission Must Act on NADEX Political Betting Request by January 4
The North American Derivatives Exchange (NADEX) has filed with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to permit offering of betting on the upcoming political elections. The deadline for a decision is January 4 and should the Commission fail to act, NADEX could begin offering such bets (or trades) within the next couple of weeks.
Three of those on the Commission must vote against the proposal for it to be discarded. So far, only one Commissioner has come forward to oppose the NADEX request.
South Point Poker Expecting to Move to Real Money Play Soon
The South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa could find itself the biggest name in online poker by the end of 2012 if they play their cards right (pun intended).
Already offering a free-to-play online poker website, prominently featured throughout Gambling911.com, South Point Poker is expecting to offer real cash play as soon as their license is granted by the state of Nevada, quite possibly as early as February.
Zynga Named Among Worst Performing US IPOs of the Year by Forbes
Zynga, which operates the largest online poker room in the world, was named among the worst performing IPOs of the year 2011 by Forbes.com.
There may be good reason for the Forbes rating. Zynga broke below its offering price on its first day out and remains underwater.
To be fair, Zynga has hardly had a chance to perform after the IPO came into being just prior to the Christmas holiday season.
From Forbes.com:
Online Poker Traffic Drops 4 Percent for Holidays: Merge Moves to Number 8
Worldwide online poker traffic dropped 4 percent this past week. This is typically the slowest time of the year for online play.
All ten of the top sites lost some traffic, with PokerStars losing 4.3 percent. iPoker managed to hold onto the number 2 spot, but is in a virtual dead heat with PartyPoker.
GoDaddy.com Gets Crushed by Supporting Domain Seizure Policy
GoDaddy.com, one of the largest registrars, has bowed to pressure from consumers and changed its support of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).
