Business & Financial

Zynga Distances Itself From Facebook

The popular free online poker and gaming site Zynga has announced it is diversifying its business beyond Facebook with a focus on its own Web platform.

The move makes sense.  Facebook currently takes a 30 percent cut of Zynga’s business.

Zynga chief executive Mark Pincus said of the company’s new direct-to-consumer strategy, called Zynga Direct, that it will allow “a direct relationship with consumers… where we can give you a whole sandbox and create socialness around the games.”

Four new games will debut as part of the new platform, including bingo.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Oct/12/2011

Merge Poker to Begin Accepting New US Players Again Tonight?

PokerUpdate.com is reporting that the Merge Poker Network will once again start accepting new players from the US with the exception of certain states such as New York and Maryland as early as Midnight October 12. 

The site claims to have sources close to the company who confirmed the time while noting that “some details are still unconfirmed”.   Gambling911.com has not independently confirmed these details.

Submitted by Ace King on, Oct/12/2011

UB.com Must Pay Players: Avoid Full Tilt Poker Fate

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Oct/12/2011

Everleaf Poker Peak Traffic Rises in October

With 126 online poker skins associated with the network, the most in online poker today, Everleaf should be among the top 10 networks in terms of overall traffic.  It is not.

Everleaf just happens to be one of the only US-facing Internet poker rooms.

That said, PokerScout.com observed a fairly significant increase in peak traffic during the month of October compared to previous months.

Submitted by Patrick Flanigan on, Oct/11/2011

Alderney Gambling Control Commission‬ Talks Full Tilt Poker With J Todd (Video)

J. Todd of Perspectives Weekly was on hand at the Global Gaming Expo this past week where he managed to grab an interview with Andre Wilsenach, the CEO of Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC).  The AGCC last week revoked Full Tilt Poker’s license.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Oct/10/2011

Ladbrokes Ends Acquisition Talks With Sportingbet

Ladbrokes and Sportingbet announced on Monday the two gambling firms have terminated merger talks as part of a mutual agreement.

A statement from Sportingbet on Monday said: “The boards of Sportingbet and Ladbrokes agreed to end discussions as the parties were unable to agree either a suitable structure or one that delivered sufficient value to shareholders in a meaningful time frame.”

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Oct/10/2011

Daniel Tzvetkoff to be Star Witness in Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars Trial

Australian entrepreneur Daniel Tzvetkoff will act as a star witness in the trial of 10 men charged in connection with the operation of three giants in the online poker sector – Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and Absolute Poker. 

Submitted by C Costigan on, Oct/09/2011

MGM CEO: “Time has Come for Legalized Online Poker”

MGM CEO Jim Murren on Wednesday delivered the key note address at this year’s Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.  As part of his address, Murren urged Congress to legalize Internet poker, predicting it would help, not hurt, the US economy.

“We feel the time for talking is over and that the time for action is right now,” Murren told attendees.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Oct/08/2011

Full Tilt Poker Faces Another Law Suit

Yet another lawsuit has been filed against Full Tilt Poker, this one by Cardroom International. 

A statement was issued by the company: 

Submitted by Patrick Flanigan on, Oct/06/2011

Revealed: Lock Poker Puts Its Pros Up In French Castle

Lock Poker pros from throughout Europe and North America had something to be excited about this week as they were treated to exclusive use of a centuries old French castle just outside of Lyon.

“There are going to be many more of these events upcoming,” Lock CEO Jennifer Larson told the nearly 50 guests in attendance.  “We are all a family and you are all going to get a taste of the Lock treatment.”

The Gambling911.com crew was also invited to stay at the fabulous Chateau de Bagnols castle. 

Submitted by C Costigan on, Oct/06/2011

Michael Gaughan Online Poker Site Approved by Nevada Gaming Board

The highly anticipated debut of the South Point Hotel and Casino online poker site comes with the blessing of the Nevada Gaming Board. 

SouthPointPoker.com, a website developed by our good friends at Level Media, entered the play-for-fun-while-we-wait-for-legislation-in-the-US market on Wednesday.  

Michael Gaughan’s property in the first US-based casino operation to open an Internet poker room in the US.

Submitted by Patrick Flanigan on, Oct/06/2011

Lock Poker Retreat Comes to a Close

The highly anticipated Lock Poker retreat has completed with everyone leaving Thursday morning.  Gambling911.com will not discuss details of this incredible event until after everyone has departed.

Some of us at Gambling911.com closed the party Wednesday night with a little dancing but Wednesday was a fun-filled day, which began with a hot air balloon flight followed by a horse and carriage excursion followed by a wine tasting at two different vineyards (7 taste tests) then an amazing dinner and dancing.  We were all up by 6:30 am and most of us went to bed by 3 am.

Submitted by Payton on, Oct/05/2011

G911 Exclusive: A Sneak Peak at the South Point Casino New Online Poker Room

The very first Las Vegas casino to launch its own online poker room is South Point Casino and that takes place later on Thursday (October 5, 2011).  However, Gambling911.com has been provided with an exclusive look at the new site here.

Level Media was the agency selected by South Point to build the new online poker room.  It is now live.

South Point Poker will offer a play-for-free registration online poker platform in anticipation of legalization within the USA.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Oct/05/2011

Cake Poker Now Reporting More Expedient Payouts

Submitted by C Costigan on, Oct/05/2011

Lock Poker is Full of Hot Air….Literally!

Today, Gambling911.com and the Lock Poker pros woke up at the crack of dawn.  Well actually it wasn’t quite dawn and many of us had not yet fallen asleep.

Tuesday evening’s sunset hot air balloon flights were postponed until the early AM on Wednesday due to high winds in the region.  So basically, the late Tuesday night dinner, drinking and poker-for-fun event ran right into the hot air balloon flights.  Hence, there were a few drunkards taking flight in the early AM hours. 

Submitted by Payton on, Oct/05/2011

PartyPoker Builds Strong Margin Between It and iPoker Network

The battle over number two has been won by PartyPoker for the time being as it builds a solid 500 player lead over its closest competitor iPoker.  The two online poker sites have been battling to be the second largest ever since Full Tilt Poker was shut down on June 29. 

Throughout much of last month, iPoker had occupied the number two spot.  In recent weeks, Party has taken over and it now has since build the largest margin between it and the iPoker Network since the FTP closure. 

Submitted by Patrick Flanigan on, Oct/05/2011

Situation Looking Bleak Again for Those Owed by Full Tilt Poker

Hopes appear to be dashed that French investors Bernard and Laurent Tapie can save shuttered online poker room Full Tilt Poker, at least where payment to customers is concerned.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Oct/04/2011

Betfair Scandal: Critical Credit Card Hacking Data Withheld From Players

The world’s largest betting exchange, Betfair, has found itself in the middle of a major scandal that resulted in the firm’s Head of Security stepping down.

More than three million customers were affected by a massive credit card hacking scheme.  The company made the situation worse by failing to advise customers.  The hacking incident in question occurred over 18 months ago.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Oct/03/2011

Full Tilt Poker’s Raymond Bitar Challenges US Justice Department

It seems a little late but Full Tilt Poker founder Raymond Bitar has now filed a claim against forfeiture allegations by the US Justice Department.  Bitar and another executive of the company were both charged with money laundering and bank fraud on April 15.  Bank accounts and homes belonging to Bitar were seized by US Feds. 

From PokerWorks.com

Submitted by Patrick Flanigan on, Oct/02/2011

Full Tilt Poker Acquisition Right Now Just a Prelude Stresses Attorney

An attorney for the embattled online poker company Full Tilt Poker stressed to the New York Times Friday afternoon that a potential sale of the company was still in the initial stages.

It was “merely a prelude to a formal acquisition, pending resolution of the civil suit”.  Players waiting since April 15 to see their funds will likely still have to endure a long wait and there are no guarantees this deal will not ultimately fall through.

Still, affected customers have more to grasp onto than they did yesterday.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Sep/30/2011

French Business Tycoon Bernard Tapie Agrees to Buy Full Tilt Poker on Condition

French business tycoon Bernard Tapie has agreed to buy Full Tilt Poker on condition that it settles legal concerns in the US.  Executives of what was once the world’s second largest online poker room were indicted on April 15, charged with money laundering and bank fraud. 

Full Tilt has also said there is a plan in place to repay deposits of players worldwide, which suggests that any winnings will not be paid. 

Submitted by C Costigan on, Sep/30/2011

Chili Poker Moves Into US Market

Chili Poker is the latest European-based online poker site to delve into the US market.

No, they won’t be offering real cash poker.  Chili will be opening a free to play social networking online poker venture.

Players will be able to utilize a virtual currency system.

Obviously, Chili Poker is positioning itself to gain a solid foothold in the US market should the activity become legal at the federal level as it applies to real cash play.

Submitted by Patrick Flanigan on, Sep/29/2011

Alderney Revokes Full Tilt Poker License

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission as expected as revoked the license for Full Tilt Poker.

The AGCC had yanked the license on June 29 after Full Tilt Poker failed to pay its US customers following indictments against two executives by the US Justice Department.  They were charged with money laundering and bank fraud.

Since that time Full Tilt Poker has failed to pay players across the world including Europe. 

Submitted by C Costigan on, Sep/29/2011

San Francisco Chronicle: Full Tilt Poker a Game Changer…We Say Not Really

The San Francisco Chronicle featured an interesting piece on the current crisis surrounding Full Tilt Poker and its impact on the Internet gambling sector as a whole.

Last week, US Feds accused Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson and Rafael Furst of defrauding thousands of poker players out of more than $300 million. 

Submitted by C Costigan on, Sep/28/2011

Betclic Poker Joins The Everest Poker Network

The Boss Media/IPN Poker Network has yet another defection as Betclic Poker announced it has moved to the Everest Poker Network.

Tarquin Henderson ,head of poker and casino at the group said, “We are thrilled that BetClic Poker joins the Everest Poker network. The growing Everest Poker Network is a popular and trusted place to learn and experience the fun of playing poker online.

“BetClic Poker will bring poker knowledge, passion and liquidity to our network and this will ensure the best experience for all players involved.”

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Sep/28/2011

Full Tilt Poker French Investors Look to be Out $800M Should They Go All In

News that mysterious (or not so mysterious) “French investors” are looking to acquire Full Tilt Poker had the folks from WickedChopsPoker.com doing the math, mostly subtraction…and folks, it doesn’t look good by any stretch of the imagination, even using Mickey Mouse calculations. 

•   As of March 31st, Tilt owed players around the world approximately $390M…but only had approximately $60M in bank accounts, leaving a short-fall of about $330M.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Sep/27/2011

Gambling911.com to Visit BetOnline, Lock Poker

Gambling911.com has announced its October 2011 schedule, which includes visits to Panama City, Panama (home of BetOnline.com) and a meeting with Lock Poker executives and poker pros in London next week. 

“We are very excited to be visiting with two of the industry’s fastest growing brands,” noted Payton O’Brien, Senior Editor of the Gambling911.com website. 

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Sep/27/2011

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