Industry News

Entraction and Potraiser.com in War Of Words
Online poker network Entraction and its former client poker site, Potraiser.com, have parted ways sparking a war of words between the sites over what occurred prior to the split to cause it.
A statement from Entraction appeared first stating, “Entraction Network Ltd has terminated the agreement with the poker site Potraiser.com. The reason for the termination is Potraiser’s repeated breach of Entraction’s network rules.”
Head of key account management at Entraction, Slava Korneychik, said, “The network rules are an important tool to make the Entraction poker network a vivid and attractive network for operators to run a successful business, and for players who want to enjoy a game of online poker.
“If a partner chooses not to comply with the rules, we have no alternative but to terminate the contract for the sake of Entraction, our partners and the players.”
Potraiser.com then responded with its own statement saying it “…terminated the agreement with Entraction on July 21, Potraiser signed a new agreement with another network on August 10 [with a] planned launch date on 28th of October.”
Managing Director, Fredrik Rahnasto gave his take on the split saying, “Entraction reacted badly to the news and did commit a severe and intentional breach of contract when they went ahead and banned our players from playing on their software.
“Naturally we will have our solicitors contacting Entraction to see if this matter has to be resolved in court.”
“Entraction claims that Potraiser have violated the network rules but Potraiser have never got any fines during the 5 years it has been operating on the network.”
Potraiser did not announce which network it has signed a new agreement with.

Real Money Switchpoker Launches On iPhone
In early October Switchpoker.com announced it had launched the world’s first real money online poker site compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
The new site offers a web-based solution to online poker players who crave their favourite games on the move – there is no download required as players simply visit Switchpoker.com using their mobile Apple device, sign up for an account and start playing.
Conor McCarthy, co-founder of Switchpoker.com said, “As online poker players we were greatly frustrated by our inability to play real money poker using our Apple mobile devices. The solution proved deceptively simple – why not develop our own site compatible with Apple devices but not beholden to them.
“After a period of intense development Switchpoker.com is here and it offers the world’s first real money poker games for the iPhone & iPad. We’re thrilled to be setting the pace and look forward to making our site the gold standard of mobile poker.”
The site currently offers no-limit hold’em six-max ring games and plans to add sit ‘n’ go and multi-table tournaments, heads-up and nine-seat ring games, and fixed-limit hold’em, and pot-limit Omaha tournaments in the future.

Tell Gaming and
Diamond Bet Merge Operations
Online poker, casino, and sports book sites TellGaming.com and DiamondBet.com have been acquired and merged into one.
The new site will retain the DiamondBet.com brand and its poker operation is hosted by the Microgaming network.
Chief executive officer of Diamondbet, Alexander Stevendahl said, “We will continue to run DiamondBet in the same spirit as Tell has been run. Our focus will not only be on continuing their appreciated and swift support, but also to make sure that players get the best value when it comes to promotions and campaigns.
“We will stay on the old Tell-path, where our goal is to create winners and create the best possible value for our players.”
PKR Launches in France And Wins Award
PKR.com, recently awarded a licence to operate in the French market, has launched its online poker room there — PKR.fr.
Up and running are real money cash games, sit and go’s, multi-table tournaments, and a play money version, plus the company is offering a first deposit bonus and a variety of freerolls.
Two French poker players, Adrien “zlatan35” Allain and Marc “waswini” Bariller will act as brand ambassadors to the new room.
Elsewhere, leading UK newspaper, The Sunday Times has named PKR.com the UK’s most successful technology company after it recorded revenue growth of 356 percent between 2006/7 and 2009/10.
PKR topped the influential 2010 Sunday Times Tech Track 100 after revenue grew from £347,000 to £33 million in this period — almost double the growth of the second placed company.
The company is based in Camden, London and employs more than 100 people.

Devilfish Gaming Shares Suspended
Devilfish Gaming Plc, the publicly listed parent company of DevilfishPoker.com, has requested its shares be suspended “pending clarification of its financial position”.
In a statement released to the market in late September the company said, “The Board is in discussions with its advisers regarding options for either selling or restructuring the Company and possible sources of new working capital.”
The company was re-launched in March 2008 with a listing on London’s PLUS market before launching bingo and a business-to-business division.
French Casinos Launch
200% Online Poker Brand
Forty French land-based casinos in the form of La Société Française des Jeux sur Internet (SFJI) have launched the latest entrant to the online poker market in the country, 200% Poker.
The site will be hosted by Prima Networks, a joint venture between Microgaming and 888. It will be the fourth site to launch on the network.
SFJI was assisted in securing its licence by Spiral Solutions France and president Christophe Santa Maria said, “France’s online poker gaming market is set to experience massive growth, representing a tremendous opportunity for gaming and casino brands like SFJI.”
SEGA Poker Stops Operations In Europe
SEGA Poker, the online poker site on the iPoker network owned by gaming giant SEGA, appears to be in difficulties with a message on the website telling players to withdraw their money in late September.
It is unclear which jurisdictions are affected but the company posted a message visible to UK/Ireland customers and at least some European players saying, “We are no longer accepting registration/deposits from your jurisdiction. Existing customers, if you are an existing SEGA games customer please… access your account to withdraw funds.
“All remaining funds will automatically be credited back to your deposit method, effective September 15.”
Court Rules Against German And Austrian Gaming Monopolies
The European Court of Justice has issued a landmark ruling on Germany’s protectionist gambling sector saying it was “unjustifiable” and must be dismantled.
“The German rules do not limit games of chance in a consistent and systematic manner,” the Luxembourg court said. “In such circumstances, the preventive objective of that monopoly can no longer be pursued, so that the monopoly ceases to be justifiable.”
Under the current system only the country’s 16 federal states (Lander) can offer gambling services.
Sigrid Ligné, Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association, is delighted with the ruling saying, “This is a landmark ruling which will have a decisive impact on the much needed reform in Germany. Other Member States have opened or are opening their markets and moving away from a monopoly regime to a multi-operator licensing system.
“They show that consumers can be better protected in a market that is both regulated and open to competition. German politicians should face up to these market realities and take their responsibility towards German consumers. It signals the end of the German online gaming ban and will bring legal security to EU online gaming operators and German consumers alike.”
Just a day after the landmark ruling condemning Germany’s gaming regulations the European Court of Justice told Austria its regulation of gaming services is disproportionate and discriminatory.
The court ruled that obliging operators to be physically present in the country in which they operate “constitutes a restriction on freedom of establishment”.
Ligné again commented, “Today’s ruling against the Austrian gambling laws confirms clearly that Member States cannot require EU licensed online operators to be physically present on their territory. In the Digital age there are obviously other and more efficient means available to monitor the activities of the operators.
“The European Commission has been given new legal arguments to pursue infringement procedures against several Member States that have similar provisions. Commissioner Barnier has now a clear mandate to go ahead with the Green paper and to start discussions on EU regulation for the sector.”