Gambling & Entertainment Blog

Today's Macau business news round-up
After over a year of preparation, Macau?s slot machines have been issued the first set of Macau-specific technical standards for electronic gaming machines by The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau. As GamingCompliance reported, the new rules come into effect on Friday and permit that ?any electronic gaming machine [that] plays a game recognisable to be a simulation of a live casino game must have an identical RTP [return to player rate]?. The full rules will become available on the regulator?s website within the next few days.   Showing that Macau is a burgeoning city, a report by MacauBusiness reveals that a total of 3,405 new companies were incorporated in Macau last year ? making a 13.8% year-on-year rise. According to the Statistics and Census Service, the registered capital reached MOP983 million, up by a colossal 94.1%. The report demonstrated that most new incorporations were operating in wholesale and retail sectors (36%), with business services at 17% and real estate 13%.   In other Macau news, the city was recently chosen as one of the top-ten Chinese cities with strongest investment potential at the eighth annual World Famous Brands Assembly (WFBA) in Jakarta, Indonesia. As reported by the Macau Daily Times, the U.S.-China Economic Trade and Investment General Chamber of Commerce, the Europe-America-Asia Cooperation Union for Investment in Industry and Commerce, and the World Cities and World Business Research Association together released a list of the ?2011 Top 50 Chinese Cities with Strongest Investment Potential?. Along with nearby Guangdong cities Foshan, Dongguan and Zhongshan, Macau was crowned a new entry to the list, ranked eight in its potential to attract outside investors. Is there really no end to this city’s growth? Business News

DC council to vote online gambling repeal today; Hawaii gambling opponent wants away with wagering; AC mobile gambling vote passes
The full DC council will be voting on repealing the nation?s first government-sponsored online gambling program during the legislative session today. A report by The Washington Post states several council members have raised concerns that online gambling was legalised last year but the program was never implemented. So far, eight of the 12 council members are up for repealing online gambling, but it?s not all bad. Many of those admit they are open to the concept if it?s introduced again as a standalone bill.   Hawaii?s gambling opponent – university professor John Kindt – has voiced his opinions on anti-wagering in the state, taking his views to the capital. Backed by Honolulu?s police and mayor, HawaiiNewsNow reported he made a statement at the State Capital Rotunda saying how he wants the legalising of online gambling kept out of the state. “Gambling is a lose-lose in particular for Hawaii because it’s an island economy,” he said. “There’s nowhere for the gambling to go except internally in raiding the public coffers and raiding the local populace.” However, Sen. Malama Solomon has her head screwed on, and disagrees with Kindt. She said she supports some gambing as it could generate up to $600 million in annual revenue and help fund Native Hawaiian programs and create jobs. “We can start to really look at increasing our revenues to be able to support the kind of services that are demanded by our residents as well as lower their tax burden,” she said.   As reported yesterday the vote for two bills ? one which would allow Atlantic City punters to bet from remote gambling locations using mobile devices, and the other which would offer multimillion-dollar tax breaks for nongaming development – went ahead last night. As a result of the meeting, both bills cleared the state Senate and will now go to the full Senate for a vote. Attorney Joseph Tyrell, who represents the Casino Association of New Jersey, said: “This is an exciting area we need to address, and New Jersey can be the forefront.” Lawmakers also approved several amendments to the original bills, including one which would give the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority the right to regulate noise in the Tourism District.   Legal News

PPA slams Mitt Romney in internet poker -misperception?
Poker players? lobbying group, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), has lashed out at Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney declaring he?s not properly educated on internet poker legislation. The group?s denouncement came after Romney said in an interview with 8newsnow that he ?doesn?t support legalising online gaming? because of ?the social costs and people?s addictive gambling habits?. PPA?s Executive Director, John Pappas, said in a statement to Poker site PoketFives that ?Governor Romney?s statement seems to be based on a misperception of regulation and the status quo.? With Romney recently winning the Nevada?s vote by a 70% landslide – heading Republican runner Newt Gingrich (23%), who is also opposed to online gambling, and poker player favourite Texas Congressman Ron Paul (19%) - he has now become Republican challenger for President Barack Obama in the November election (much to the dread of gamblers hoping to see the legalising of online wagering). Unfortunately for poker players, the results demonstrate it?s quite unlikely the industry?s champion, Ron Paul, could get the vote ? it would make more sense for voters to stick with poker-neutral Democrat Obama. Nevertheless, PPA Executive Vice President of Player Relations, Rich Muny, further supported the group?s argument that Romney isn?t fit for the job, stating: ?I believe Romney has it wrong here. Licensing and regulation will ensure that age verification measures are implemented, consumer protections are provided, and protections for those with excessive gaming habits are mandated. Current law does not provide any protections for anyone.? As a result, the PPA has now insisted poker players make use of their Twitter and Facebook accounts and make their issues known to U.S. presidential candidates Romney and Santorum. Will you be using social media to make your voice be heard?   Legal News

Ihre Consulting appoints Tomas Eliasson as Marketing Director
Stockholm-based Ihre Consulting AB has announced the appointment of Tomas Eliasson as its Marketing Director. Ihre Consulting AB, primarily offers affiliate marketing expertise, acting as a broker/agent but also traditional consultancy services. Another aspect of the business is to act as introducer to various companies and people within the igaming industry. Existing clients include myBet.com, 138Sungame, Referback, Ladbrokes, 888, 121casino, BannerFlow and ConnectNow. Tomas Eliasson has held Affiliate Manager and Marketing Manager positions with FullTiltPoker, Affiliate Lounge, PokerHost, Stan James and Ladbrokes.  Joining Ihre Consulting, Tomas takes up the position of Marketing Director to build further, and even more close relationships with Ihre Consulting?s existing and potential clients; service providers, operators and affiliates. ?I am very excited to be on board with Ihre Consulting. With their vast experience and knowledge within the igaming sector and excellent track record, I have very happy to be part of the team.? said Tomas Eliasson. ?Ihre Consulting are very pleased to finally have Tomas on board as his reputation and accomplishments in the industry speaks for themselves,? said Edward Ihre, Owner of Ihre Consulting AB. ?With Tomas on the team, we have secured even more important relationships within our industry and someone talented to connect the dots and make deals happen? About Ihre Consulting AB Edward Ihre is the founder of Ihre Consulting AB in Sweden in March 2010. He has been in the gaming industry since 2002, holding positions including Managing Director of Ladbrokes Poker, Director of Partnerships and Affiliations for PokerStars and for Ongame/PokerRoom.com (later BWIN) and Managing Director of Parbet UK. Ihre Consulting?s main fields of expertise (and service provided) are: -        Affiliate Marketing, including affiliate recruitment, program set-up/optimization, organizational structure and processes -        Gaming Product Management, including procurement/optimization -        Brokering/Agent. Help you get in touch with the right companies, people, opportunities and deals. From decision-makers to people on the ground, within all aspects of running a (more) successful gaming business Many years of experience within the above fields and with an extensive network of contacts, Ihre Consulting can create unique, innovative and sustainable solutions for your company. Contact Information: Edward Ihre Owner/ CEO Ihre Consulting AB +46 709119969 edward.ihre@ihreconsulting.com Tomas Eliasson Marketing Director Ihre Consulting AB +46 703507777 tomas.eliasson@ihreconsulting.com Press Releases

Affiliate Awards Accolades For bet365
The year has got off to a fantastic start for bet365, with the company gaining industry-wide recognition at the iGaming Business Affiliate Awards 2012. The fifth annual iGB Affiliate Awards took place on the 26th January at the London Affiliate Conference and once again bet365 enjoyed great success, clinching awards in several categories. The coveted title of Best Overall Affiliate Programme went to bet365 for a third year. bet365 also scooped the awards for Best Sportsbook Affiliate Programme, Best Overall Affiliate Manager and Best Sportsbook Affiliate Manager, following on from similar success at the 2011 ceremony. In total, 230 companies were nominated for this year?s prizes, with each accolade judged by an independent panel of experts, according to a set of strict criteria that included customer services, innovation and strategies. The iGB Affiliate Awards are an annual tribute to honour the ongoing success within the industry. They are the only awards ceremony that celebrates the growth, innovation and achievements within this sector of the gaming industry. The continued success which bet365 has had at these awards is testament to the outstanding Affiliate Programme it provides. About bet365 bet365 is one of the world?s largest online gambling groups with over seven million customers worldwide. bet365 offers a Sports Betting experience that?s unrivalled. The Group employs over 1,700 people and is the UK?s seventh largest private company. In the 2011 eGaming Review Awards, bet365 was named In-Play Sports Operator of the Year and Sports Betting Operator of the Year. In both 2010 and 2011, bet365 came top in eGaming Review?s Annual Power 50. Press Releases

Poker pro: marketing suicide?
Few things in online poker?s short history have remained the same for long including the pecking order on player liquidity which has seen the lead change hands four times in just over 10 years. However, the marketing of ?professional? players as brand ambassadors has been a dominating strategy for some time. Such players were billed as having an extra talent that others didn?t possess and then the marketing people turned them into celebrities in the hope the brand would be swept long in their wake. Previous to the recent revelations, even the ever forthright poker forums would take enormous exception to suggestions that the big name pros were anything other than just that. Sadly, as the smoke clears from the horrendous business failures in the online poker industry of the past year it is increasingly obvious that the biggest poker celebrities were in fact unable to pay debts or cheated to ?win? their tag as a poker professional. The latest examples of Phil Ivey and Erick Lindgren thought to be owing $4,000,000 each paints a very different picture to that of the clever, aspirational characters the marketers sold us. Even the ?pro?s pro?, Barry Greenstein, has admitted that he is unable to pay around $400,000 of debt for many years. The poker pros have also often been vocal about how poker should be run and some have even tried ventures of their own, in almost every case the result has been the same and the list is a long one including; Phil Laak (Unabomber), Dave Ulliot (Devilfishpoker), Doyle Brunson (Doyle?sRoom) and to certain extent FullTilt itself. While we don?t pretend for a second we envisioned this personal implosion of the poker pros when the Bodog Poker Network first started working on the Recreational Poker Model back in 2009 one of the first realisations was that the players we wanted to attract knew they were never going to become ?pros?. Indeed, they did even not aspire to be one. As a result we started looking for people who really represented our brand best. Yup, pretty girls, still work! The most recent addition to the Bodog team, Tatjana Pasalic, is not just a pretty face though. She knows poker and poker people but she is also approachable and friendly unlike most of the recently discredited ?celebrity? names of the past. What is now evident is the gravy train that was the ?sponsored pro? is coming to an end. Many of those that still enjoy a sponsorship are at very reduced amounts and even some of the best players in the world, even those without debt skeletons, like Phil Helmuth, remain unsponsored. Of course, we have seen a dramatic drop in the value of ?pro? players as TV programmes with huge audiences in the US are no longer viable and poker rooms realise they don?t drive the right kind of revenue, if any at all. They simply suck money out of the eco-system. Poker marketing looks to have changed forever and once again we will see a reinvention of how the game is sold to a more mainstream audience. Once again there will be winners and losers and (once again) it will be fascinating to see whose strategy wins out. Poker News