pokerDialog Blog

CryptoLogic is considered to be the top name in the software development industry, however, it has slipped a little bit in the past year.  Taking this fact into consideration, the company decided to undergo through some changes and challenges.

CryptoLogic’s restructuring plan includes the reduction of operating costs by $13 million by the end of 2009 and cutting some previous offerings. Because of the current situation, the company had to say goodbye to its former CTO, Michael Starzynski, no longer needed at the company. At the same time, Cryptologic partnered with GTECH International Poker Network.

It has become known that due to the ambiguity in the regulations, it will take more time (approximately a year) for the new Spanish regulations to come into effect.

Lots of questions have been raised at the conference for all major gambling brands operating in the country. The questions and regulatory changes will be forwarded to the companies for clarification, and that process is very important.

The process of clarification will deal with the taxation process. At the moment, the majority of the gambling companies pay taxes on Spanish gambling revenues to the UK and some other countries. The new regulations, namely the changes in the taxation process, will let Spain get more money into the state budget.

The idea of making on- and offline gambling in Japan regulated seems to be rather attractive for the gambling industry, as it may boost the online casino market. The Japanese government is planning to bring in this idea as soon as 2010.

The remarkable thing is that there are neither online casinos nor land casinos in Japan. Horse racing and state lottery are the only legal forms of gambling there.

Despite EU regulations and policies, Holland remains the only country in Europe where the online gambling industry operates under a state controlled monopoly and where the government attempts regulations and legisltation blocking illegal domestic and foreign online casinos at the level of financial transactions.

It is known that the Dutch government passed the new anti-gambling legislation. To say more, the Dutch Justice Minister issued a warning to internet gambling sites and banks processing transactions.  However they must admit that blocking online casinos at the financial level does not work for a long time, so the success of their legislation seems to be vague.

The situation is being closely monitored in the EU. Still, there are no clues how far the Dutch government is planning to go.

Gala tour, the most popular poker tour in the UK is reported to have been cancelled by the company. The news is rather surprising, as the tour has always attracted a large number of professional poker players. However, Gala explains this move as the necessity to draw more attention to their online operations caused by the current economic situation in the world.

Gala is going to host a series of Jackpot games with guaranteed almost $14 million in prize money. Besides, the company is planning to launch a number of satellite games for entry into one of Europe’s largest poker tournaments.

According to the results of the survey conducted by the UK Gambling Commission, a number of adults participating in the remote gambling have increased. The numbers show that 9.7% of the 8,000 adults surveyed have gambled using their computer, cell phone or interactive/digital TV (in 2007 the figure came to 8.8%, while in 2006 it came to 7.2%).

It has also been revealed that male aged 18 to 44 use remote gambling more often than female.

The most popular mode to gamble is using a computer – 7.8%. It is followed by gambling via a cell phone at 2.9% and interactive/digital TV at 2.1%.

The rise in the percentage of the UK adults participating in remote gambling is explained by the increased online participation in the National Lottery.

Some management positions changes have taken place in the UK Gambling Commission.

Beryl Brown has left her post as Director of Policy and Communications after serving two years, and she is ready to undertake something else.

Appointment of a new post – Strategy, Research and Analysis Directorate, formely the Deputy Director of Programmes at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Mathew Hill is reported to have taken the new post.

Nick Tofiluk is the new Director of Regulation, formerly the Director of Operations.

Justine Kenny is the new Director of People and Organisational Development, while Julia Mackasack is the new Director of Corporate Affairs.

Despite changes, the Commission will go on working at the regulation of online casinos and internet betting sites.

12  men, all in their 20’s and 30’ were arrested and 8 computers were confiscated after a sequence of anti-online gambling searches conducted by the Police in Kuantan. To say more, internet cafe owners and their customers who gambled online while on the site, were arrested.

The arrests took place after the police had found that the cyber cafes had been utilized as a front for online gambling. As a result, the operating licensees had been abused.

The Wireless Poker Controller, launched in the UK by Poker Controls Limited, lets online poker players solve various problems like mis-clicks, missed moves and inaccurate betting. The unit is loaded with a USB receiver, rechargeable battery pack and cable, software and drivers.

The new wireless device is uniquely designed and features such tools as the Raise-O-Meter, allowing players to reach their desired bet amount with optimum speed and accuracy theorugh the use of a pinpoint accurate dial; easy-to-reach quick-bet buttons allowing players to stake two and three times the bet alongside a key for betting the pot and placing an all-in wager. In addition to that, players can make use of dedicated bet, check/call and fold buttons that reduce chances to click the wrong move, table seating options, automatic blind posting and an instant lobby view button. In case, anything fails, the Wireles Poker Controller enables players to use an emergency shutout switch.

The Wireless Poker Controller offers special switching buttons that let players move between multiple table in-play. The software highlights the table in play and locks out any moves on another table.

The Wireless Poker Controller will be available for purchase all over the world starting from March, 2009.