Best Online Poker

WYNN EXPLAINS CHANGE OF HEART IN POKERSTARS DEAL (Update)
2011-04-07

"I had only misconceptions...." says erstwhile online poker opponent.
Steve Wynn, the owner of Wynn Resorts and a central figure in that company’s recently announced partnership deal with online gambling giant Pokerstars (see previous InfoPowa reports), has expanded on his change of heart from being an opponent of online poker to a supporter of the industry.
Speaking to Nathan Vardi of Forbes Magazine this week, Wynn said that he previously had only misconceptions about online poker.
"I thought it would be difficult to regulate, and if the Internet people got in trouble it would bring the wrath of the government down on us in the live gaming community out here in Las Vegas. I didn't see the business opportunity, I just saw problems, he said."
Then he was approached by the Democratic Party Nevada Senator Harry Reid, Wynn recalls.
"Harry Reid called me and said, 'Steve, there are millions of people playing poker, and it's as American as apple pie. I want my office to look into this and see if we can regulate it.'
"Harry and I have been friends for 40-odd years, we ran marathons together. . . . And I got contacted by the people at PokerStars, who asked, 'Why are you not interested in this? Take a minute and learn the truth about this.'
"That began my exposure to that company and that business and what they do, and I have to tell you I was shocked."
Wynn explained that he had had no idea on a number of aspects of online poker, such as Pokerstars being highly regulated in Europe, employing 1 300 highly skilled people with an average salary is $110,000.
"One of my concerns was about young people playing," said Wynn. "It turns out they have more control about young people playing than we do."
Wynn went on to rationalise the Pokerstars argument regarding the legality of online poker in the United States, namely that the Justice Department opinion is untested in the courts, and that at state level there have been rulings that poker is a game more of skill than of chance.
"I say there is a bit of sophistry here clearly," Wynn told the Forbes writer. "What difference does it make what PokerStars or the Justice Department says? The point is millions of people are playing poker, and they are going to continue to play poker legally or illegally."
Wynn makes the surprising admission that he is not a technophobe, preferring to rely on his staff when it comes to computer and internet issues.
The land gambling mogul gives an interesting insight into his dealings with Pokerstars founder and owner Isai Scheinberg, who explained his motivation for a partnership by saying that Pokerstars had a multitude of American customers, and the company therefore wanted to "do it right".
Scheinberg apparently told Wynn: "I don't want to look over my shoulder at this point of my life."
Wynn responded by emphasising that he would only take his company into a putative online gambling venture if it was legalised at federal level, and if it was a 50-50 deal.
"I know that as a nonbeliever I was convinced by the logic of the argument," Wynn said. "And when I learn something and change my mind I may have the naive notion that other people might be enlightened by the facts themselves."
But he ended on a cautionary note, warning that his conversion "...doesn't mean I am right, especially in Washington."

NEW ONLINE POKER ROOM FOR FRANCE
2010-09-14

French land gambling heavyweights partner with Spiral on Prima's dedicated French network
Spiral Solutions France, a joint venture between Spiral Solutions and the Santa Maria Group, has launched its first ARJEL licensed client in the dedicated French online poker market.
In a deal with La Société Française des Jeux sur Internet (SFJI), Spiral Solutions France has introduced the new '200% Poker' branded poker room, which joins Prima Networks Limited's dedicated French network - a joint venture between Prima, powered by Microgaming and 888 Holdings plc., which already has three other ARJEL approved operators.
SFJI is a leading association of 40 French independent land-based casinos which collectively host more than 40 million customers each year. Led by Luc Le Borgne, directeur general of Vikings-Casinos, the group will own and manage the 200% Poker brand enabling the group to extend its land-based casino businesses online and achieve new revenue streams.
Spiral Solutions France created a bespoke business plan and provided consultancy and support to SFJI from the early stages of the project, through to securing the essential ARJEL license, developing the brand and implementing the platform, a company spokesman revealed this week.
The company offers a professional B2B service to France’s emerging e-gaming market, with a full turnkey solution that empowers customers with the services and support needed to successfully operate an interactive poker offering. Services include developing a custom-made business plan, a complete back-office system, payment processing, training, web design and development, customer retention services and a dedicated French-language customer service and support centre.
Christophe Santa Maria, president of Spiral Solutions France says, “France’s online poker gaming market is set to experience massive growth, representing a tremendous opportunity for gaming and casino brands like SFJI. We’re perfectly placed to help any organisation launch an online poker offering in France. Our experience and expertise was crucial in securing the ARJEL licence and launching 200% Poker. It is without doubt one of the most exciting players in the French market.”
Luc Le Borgne, directeur general of Vikings-Casinos of SFJI said, “Our customers are keen to experience the thrill of online poker. 200% Poker extends the trust and loyalty of our group’s brand into the online world. With world-class platform and the private service we get from Spiral Solutions France, we’re confident that 200% Poker will be a great success.”
Matti Zinder, managing partner and CEO of Spiral Solutions said, “Gaining entry into newly regulated markets is not without its challenges. Our clients in France and in other newly regulated markets such as Italy, Denmark and others can capitalise on Spiral Solutions’ bespoke, private and professional interactive gaming solutions that enhance their brand and maximise their revenues.”
The new 200% Poker branded poker room will be officially unveiled at a launch event and press conference in Paris today (September 14). Hosted by SFJI and attended by leading figures from the gaming and interactive gaming worlds, dignitaries and the media, the event will signal a new interactive era for France’s leading association of independent casinos.

PLAYTECH AND DANSKE SPIL IN ONLINE POKER DISPUTE
2010-06-09

Danish state company’s deal with Party Gaming triggers complaint
The agreement between Denmark’s state gambling company Danske Spil and online gambling giant PartyGaming signed in January this (2010) year (see previous InfoPowa reports) may have been temporarily derailed by a ruling from the Danish Complaints Board for Public Procurement following a complaint by rival industry company Playtech.
Announcing the deal back in mid-January, Party Gaming revealed that it had signed a five-year deal with Danske Spil.The agreement involved PartyGaming providing the Danish gambling firm with an online gaming platform for poker and casino games in Denmark, although the full terms had still to be finalised.
Jim Ryan, CEO of PartyGaming, said at the time, “This is a landmark B2B deal for PartyGaming and validates our strategy to become a leading provider of B2B services to both corporates and governments around the world. Danske Spil is widely recognised as one of Europe’s leading gambling businesses, one that is pre-eminent in the Danish market.”
The first public intimation that the deal was in trouble came in the Danish publication Business.dk in late February, when it was revealed that Playtech had lodged a complaint regarding tender procedures with the Klagenævnet for udbud (Complaints Board for Public Procurement).
Few details on the complaint were available, and both PartyGaming and Playtech remained silent on the issue, a policy that extended to InfoPowa this month when comment was requested. The silence was possibly because the Complaints Board was studying the issue before making a ruling.
That ruling was released this week, prompting a press release from Danske Spil. The release reports that the Complaints Board ruling appears to favour the complainant (Playtech), in that it directs that the contract between Danske Spil and PartyGaming should have been put up for tender by Danske Spil, and will have to be annulled.
Commenting on the finding, H.C. Madsen, the chief executive of Danske Spil said: “We have not in any way tried to bypass the rules.
“Since the contract was supposed to be entered by a newly formed subsidiary, which was supposed to compete on a partially liberalised gambling market, we assumed that we were not obliged to perform a tender process as such, but chose a quicker and more flexible tender-like process instead.
“In the tender material forwarded to four participating companies, including Playtech Limited, it was specifically stated that the contract party would be a subsidiary of Danske Spil, and that the contract would be entered provided that the market for online casino and poker was liberalised and that Danske Spil was allowed to establish a subsidiary.
“The incorporation of these terms in the tender material should make it clear for the tenderers that Danske Spil acted on behalf of the future subsidiary and that the contract with the subsidiary could only be entered provided that the draft legislation was adopted.”
The Complaints Board for Public Procurement said in its judgment that when Danske Spil initiated the procedure in the fall of 2009, the draft legislation regarding liberalisation of the gambling market had not yet been adopted or even introduced.
Furthermore, the subsidiary was not even formed or established at that time. Based on this, The Complaints Board for Public Procurement found that there were insufficient facts to assume that the subsidiary when established would not be subject to the Public Procurement Directive.
Consequently, the contract should have been put up for tender.

STOXPOKER FOUNDER RESIGNS ON MULTI ACCOUNTING ACCUSATIONS
2010-03-25

Nick Grudzien the centre of attention on leading online poker forum

Nick "Stoxtrader" Grudzien, a founder of the poker coaching company Stox Poker, is leaving the company in the wake of a major row on the twoplustwo forum regarding allegations that he was multi-accounting.

His departure amid the new controversy follows accusations leveled against Stox Poker coach Jason Ho earlier this year relating to a fabricated online poker resume and claims that he cheated unsuspecting players and clients. Ho also left the company.

With the twoplustwo thread gaining momentum, Grudzien denied the accusations, but soon thereafter announced his resignation from StoxPoker, explaining that he had put the company in a difficult position as a result of the uproar. His explanation for his conduct revolved around the production of training videos using one name, while playing for personal use with another.

MICROGAMING POKER NETWORK CONFIRMS RAKE POLICY CHANGE
2010-01-05

New method of rake calculation will encourage operators to attract "looser, fishy" players

The Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) has confirmed that it is to adopt the Weighted Contribution method of rake calculation.

The current method of rake calculation, which the network describes as the 'contributed method', allocates rake between operators in proportion to the number of players they had in the hand, regardless of the relative contributions to the pot.

"This approach had a tendency to confer greater benefit for operators with a higher proportion of rakeback players and consequently did little to discourage the negative consequences associated with that practice," a MPN spokesman explained this week.

"The new Weighted Contribution method is similar to the contributed method, except that the rake is allocated proportionally based on the amount contributed to the raked pot, enabling a fairer rake distribution and encouraging operators to bring in players at a lower skill level, typically referred to as ‘fish’, whilst simultaneously discouraging the practice of rakeback.

Andrew Clucas of the Microgaming Poker Network said: “The introduction of the new Weighted Contribution will reward operators with a greater proportion of looser, 'fishy' type players, encouraging them to target these players proactively whilst making rakeback as a practice less attractive within the Network.

"It is believed this initiative will encourage the right sort of contributing players into the Network whilst discouraging the grinding type of behaviours which can be so negative to the health of the Network.”