Independent statistics show G-Tech subsidiary outperforms all non US facing poker networks

G-Tech subsidiary Boss Media made some strong claims for its International Poker Network this week, claiming that the online poker site outperforms all other non-US-facing poker networks. The company cites numbers from the independent poker statistics portal PokersiteScout.com as the basis for its boast.

Since the acquisition by GTECH last year (see previous InfoPowa reports) Boss Media has continued to achieve significant increases in revenue across all products. The International Poker Network (IPN) continued to grow during the last quarter (Q4 2008 v Q3 2008) through strong player acquisition supported by the launch of the grand Euro 1 000 000 guaranteed tournament and recently launched Bad Beat Jackpot, which currently stands at Euro 200 000.

With a 14 percent increase in active daily players, 22 percent increase in maximum concurrent players and a 28 percent growth in daily registrations the IPN was the fastest growing independent European network during 2008.

Commenting on the achievement, Rahul Parekh, CEO of Boss Media says: “I’m delighted with our progress. Following the acquisition of Boss Media by G-Tech in Q2 2008, we recognised that we had some challenges and opportunities to address. Whilst we still have more work ahead of us, we’re heading firmly in the right direction.”

Continuing the success with Svenska Spel and Austrian Lotteries, Boss Media became one of the first to launch an online poker network in Italy in cooperation with Lottomatica Scomesse, one of the world’s leading gaming operators. This makes Boss Media the only European supplier of poker for 4 poker networks with more than 100 000 players using the software each day.

Björn Lundsten, Poker Product Manager, says “With our substantial increase in technical resources and capacity well underway, we expect to surge forward on this positive path. Our licensees and lottery customers can look forward to the benefits of our investments in the coming months”.

Boss can look forward to further growth in player liquidity as it heads into 2009 - late last year the online gambling software company Cryptologic announced that its online poker clients will merge with Boss Media during the first quarter of 2009, leaving Cryptologic to concentrate on its core business of games and software development.

Independent survey will look at how online betting experiences differ across different cultures

The online gambling group Betfair has commissioned another interesting and independent study of factors influencing Internet gambling, hiring cxpartners to look at how online betting experiences differ across different cultures.

The outcomes of the qualitative study will enable Betfair to tailor its gambling products and services to users across the world, making its product portfolio more usable and appropriate to different target audiences, reports Netimperative this week.

The manager responsible for user experience at Betfair, Louise Croft Baker, said: “The way in which people bet online differs, according to a number of factors; language, culture and regulation all affect the online experience. By conducting usability studies in a number of countries we hope to understand further how these habits differ and to use this intelligence to make sure Betfair is providing the most relevant service for such a diverse customer base.”

The cxpartners research will be carried out by a network of agencies across a number of countries over a two week period.

Giles Colborne, Managing Director at cxpartners commented: “Our experience of conducting these kind of studies is the perfect fit for Betfair as we have a proven track record of conducting qualitative usability research for organisations in the leisure industries. This study will help Betfair to further understand its customers’ needs and in doing so create opportunities to make its services more relevant to users across the globe. This is a significant contract for us and we’re very much looking forward to seeing the outcome.”

Online gambling sites are being hit by hackers using botnets that fix the odds to ensure large winnings

According to SC Magazine, scammers using scripts are simulating the actions of legitimate gamblers and gathering information that can be used to increase the odds of winning bets. The claim was made by Guri Geva, regional director UK, Northern Europe and Israel at Radware, a company that develops, manufactures and sells application delivery and network security solutions.

Since the scripts simulate real user behaviour, they are hard to track by regular security tools.

“Online gambling is all based on the web, so hackers can go in and use ‘web scraping’ tactics to take the details,” Geva told the magazine. “They will use bots to grab the odds and use arbitration systems to play the odds at a better level that will mean that they are guaranteed to win.

“They are using the bot to simulate a user: they collect the odds, arbitrate and gamble and it is very hard to track by standard security tools as the way that it works simulates regular user activity.

“The hacker can use the bot to manipulate the odds to improve the winning margin; it can also measure times so it can hit the site when it is at its busiest, going as undetected as possible.”

Geva claims that the problem can be countered by enabling the sites to detect scam attacks as they happen through transparent real time analysis of user behaviours.

“Webscraping is going on all of the time; it can steal information from a website, put the details on to another and redirect people to it. This can lead to fraud and even phishing, you could blacklist IP addresses but that will require a lot of time”, said Geva.

“When the US does open up, we’ll be ready.”

Edward Wray, the respected founder of the Betfair online gambling empire, spoke his mind on the American legal situation in an interview with the UK publication Real Business this week, commenting that he was not a fan of prohibition as an alternative to regulation.

That said, Wray does not intend to take any risks and told the publication: ““We’re not interested in going into grey areas. We have 25 people in our legal team and we get professional, detailed opinions on every country that we operate in. As a rule, however, I don’t believe in prohibition; it’s futile. People will find a way to gamble online, regardless of whether you tell them not to do it.”

The interview follows news earlier this week that Betfair has acquired the US-based TV Games Network from Macrovision for $50 million in cash (see previous InfoPowa report). TVG is among the most widely-distributed horseracing networks in the world and is also a leading provider of [legal] advance deposit wagering services in the U.S. TVG covers racing from 70 tracks 16 U.S. states, including the key racing centres of Kentucky, California and New York. It also accepts bets from residents of those states, dividing the profits with the racecourses concerned.

David Yu, CEO of the Betfair Group Ltd, commented then: “We have waited to enter the U.S. market until we had a high quality, and above all, legal product offering, and we believe with this acquisition we have secured those goals.”

Yu also stressed that Betfair has no plans at present to introduce its betting exchange model into the US market, but will use its cutting-edge technology to improve the pari-mutuel betting services offered to TVG clients. “We have waited to enter the US market until we had a high quality, and above all, legal product offering, and we believe with this acquisition we have secured those goals,” said Betfair’s chief executive.

Wray was pragmatic regarding the change in the political leadership in the United States, voicing an opinion on whether President Obama is likely to prove a better bet for online gambling. “I’m delighted that he won but, let’s face it, gambling legislation isn’t going to be on the first or second page of Obama’s to-do list,” Wray opined. “I think the country will move to regulation but it may take five years, it may take ten years.

“We’ve had the luxury of growing at our own pace over the past decade and we’ve spent tens of millions of pounds on technology. Our website won’t fall over.

“When the US does open up, we’ll be ready.”

Nowadays casinos are very widespread. It’s unimaginable not to find one in each city, and even in bigger villages. Now, how do we find a good casino, where people are nice, and they don’t make fun of you, or they don’t scam you? Well, I think there are a few of them, but the most intelligent choice I think is to play online. A good online casino game, doesn’t mean, that everything is flashy and shiny. A decent casino, knows how to attract costumers. For starters, they give you hundreds of possibilities to choose a game, which matches you the most. There are a few thousand online games on the internet. After that, it’s very important for them to give a helping guide, if the person it’s a beginner. Most of them, would like to be helped in a different way, so the programmers, have to make the best casino guide
. From now on, the game can be played. Now it’s up to the person to find a decent online game. It’s possible that the search can take some minutes, maybe hours, but trust me it will worth the lost time. A logical choice would be, to find a game, witch is the most wanted, because it means that people trust it and it”s simply good. Then, check what the website requires, if there is a policy, or something. Not every
online game is the same. That’s way I recommend to check out the web to see a few of them, and after that choose one. Some of them give you more tips and odds, so it’s a good tip to waste your time, after all we are talking about your money. Think about the stress you get because of a bad choice. If you have the possibility ask a few online players, or professionals. The internet is full with online chats, think first and than play. Predictably some people felt in a wrong place, and now they can sign out to play on another site. Before starting a game, insure yourself, that your internet connection is secured, because if the game stops , and you have arrived somewhere on a higher level with money, than you loose everything you earned until then. I think it’s the worst that can happen. Even if they are free, if the game it’s played for real it can cause a bad day. And above all, it can take a hole day, until you reach something, it’s just a waste of time. Now, nothing in the world is for free, just the air. But these internet games are not famous just for that they are played just for money, they can be played for free too. Before playing for real, test yourself. The resources are wide, and a game is more enjoyable when it’s played without pressure. And it gives the possibility to develop your own strategy. It’s more likely an education. Take it this way, and it will be off help in an unimaginable way. If you can’t do this, just read some from the internet, it’s impossible not to find one. It might take a few hours to understand quite good the game, and win but the chances are bigger to win in live games. Your skills can transform you in a professional player. Another tip, for playing online, is that you avoid the though and noisy night life. It depends from the person who plays it. Some of them like the smoke from the casino, the pressure that everybody watches him. For those who like to play without pressure, and don’t like to stay up night over night, is the biggest way to play. Now if you read this, think how is better. It’s easier to play home, or in a casino? Which is more comfortable and which is the most appropriate to your taste. It can be a problem to find a decent casino, and it’s true that is not easy, but the satisfaction is greater.
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Eastgate Reigns at WSOP

Danish player Peter Eastgate reigns triumphant Tuesday supplanting Phil Hellmuth as the youngest World Series of Poker Main Event champion to date in casino.

The grueling heads-up match lasted 104 hands and saw both finalists gain an edge by turns. Ivan Demidov, who came into the face-off short-stacked with $56.6 million in chips to Eastgate’s $80.3 million, pursued an aggressive strategy beginning with the very first hand. His loose, from-the-hip style seemed to pay off early on as he clocked Eastgate several successive times to pull out the lead in the first four hours.

Lady Luck turned on the Russian, though, rewarding Eastgate with several sweet-spot deliveries when he called Demidov’s bluff on an ace-high and, then, when he drew the Russian in, meanwhile having pulled out a flush on the turn.

With $100 million in chips stacked against Demidov, Eastgate’s win was only a matter of time. In the final hand, the Dane turned a straight on a board of 2-K-3-4 off his hold-up A-5 and drew Demidov in with expert ease. The Russian, who was sitting on a 4-2, called Eastgate’s $1.2 million bet after the flop, then followed him in on the turn. At the river (another 4), Demidov continued to press his luck going all-in on a lo pair that was sunk by Eastgate’s straight.

Eastgate walks away from the tournament with a hefty $9.15 million check and the WSOP XXXIX bracelet. For his second place finish, Demidov will also receive a sizeable slice of the pie to the tune of $5.8 million.

PokerNews to launch tournament next year

MELBOURNE, Australia — (PRESS RELEASE) — PokerNews Ltd is excited to launch the 2009 PokerNews Cup Alpine running next March 21-28 at The Alpine Palace Resort in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria.

As the 2008 PokerNews Cup Australia came to an end last month, PokerNews was pleased to announce the venue for the next leg of the PokerNews Cup - the Austrian Alps. What is dubbed as one of the most unique venues to ever host a poker tournament, the PokerNews Cup Alpine will be held in a five star luxury ski resort atop the majestic Saalbach-Hinterglemm in Austria.PokerNews Ltd CEO, Damon Rasheed had this to say, “It is our aim to take poker tournaments to the next level by providing qualifiers and guests with more than just a poker tournament. As such, PokerNews is delighted to have the next leg of the PokerNews Cup held at The Alpine Palace, the most exclusive venue to ever host a poker tournament.”

The tournament will run from March 21-28 and will feature eight back to back events including the €1,500 Main Event and a €10,100 High Rollers Event. ‘Destination tournaments’ like this one have grown in popularity with the focus being more than just a player’s time at the tables. The PokerNews Cup Alpine will have an extensive list of extra activities for players to indulge in, including skiing, snowboarding, parties and so much more.

The tournament will receive full coverage from the PokerNews Live Reporting Team, allowing viewers to read about all the action, as well as watch all the exclusive videos on TV.PokerNews. PokerNews is set to give away over €400,000 in packages giving players Main Event Entry, accommodation at the resort, private helicopter transfers from the airport, daily ski and spa passes, parties and cash for travel.

Three rooms that have already gotten on board to host freerolls are:
* Mansion Poker - 14:30 GMT, November 23
* Titan Poker - 18:30 GMT, December 19
* Poker 770 - 13:30 GMT, November 30 & December 13

Visit the Freerolls page for full details on how and when to qualify.

Stay tuned to PokerNews as further information is released in the coming weeks.

Minieri Near Top as Money Reached

One hundred and nine players returned to the Casino Poland Warsawza for the PokerStars.net European Poker Tour Warsaw Main Event today, with 85 of them going home disappointed. With a breakneck pace of play in casino, the field was sliced to 24 in near-record time, and the remaining players all headed off for a rest with a guaranteed cash and a shot at the EPT Polish Open title. Among the chip leaders to kick off the day were Roland de Wolfe, Antony Lellouche, Ludovic Lacay and Dario Minieri. When the day ended, several of those names were still near the top of the leader board, while others were headed to the cash tables to try their luck there.

With nearly half the field eliminated in the first two levels, the pace on Day 2 was nothing short of frenetic. Johnny Lodden was one victim on Day 2, heading to the rail in the early rounds. Lodden took a huge hit to his stack early when he open-shoved from the button with pocket threes, only to find Gino Alacqua behind him in the small blind calling with (A-Spades)(Q-Diamonds). The big blind got out of the way, and Lodden fell behind on the flop as the board ran out (Q-Spades)(9-Diamonds)(2-Clubs)(A-Hearts)(6-Diamonds). On the very next hand, Lodden moved all in again with (A-Clubs)(J-Diamonds) from the cutoff, and Antony Lellouche called with (10-Clubs)(7-Clubs) and a huge stack. Lellouche hit the (K-Hearts)(10-Spades)(3-Spades) flop, and the (4-Hearts) on the turn was no help to either player. Lodden’s tournament life was extended a little when the (Q-Hearts) came on the river to give him the gutshot straight, but he was still extremely short-stacked.

The next hand saw Lodden all in once more, this time with (Q-Spades)(J-Clubs) to Jerzy Hajdamowicz’ (A-Diamonds)(9-Diamonds). The flop of (K-Spades)(Q-Hearts)(10-Diamonds) was good for Lodden, and the (6-Spades) was no harm, but the (J-Hearts) on the river gave Hajdamowicz the straight and sent Lodden packing. Other notable eliminations on Day 2 included Alex Kravchenko, Richard Gryko, Alan Smurfit and EPT Barcelona champion Sebastian Ruthenberg.

Antony Lellouche rode the biggest chip roller coaster of the day, taking the chip lead to start the day and becoming the first player to cross the 100,000 chip mark, then going card dead in the evening and busting out of the money. First Lellouche called Csaba Toth’s all-in with pocket deuces, and was well behind Toth’s eights. A flop of Q-8-8 gave Toth quads and left Lellouche drawing completely dead. Then he doubled up Nico Behling when his (A-Hearts)(4-Diamonds) couldn’t catch the fourth heart to crack Behling’s (A-Clubs)(J-Clubs).

Lellouche then got his money in extremely good against Arnaud Mattern when he called Mattern’s preflop shove with (8-Hearts)(8-Spades). Mattern tabled (2-Spades)(2-Diamonds), and the flop came down (7-Spades)(4-Clubs)(4-Diamonds) to keep Lellouche in the lead. The (3-Clubs) turn was no help, but the (2-Hearts) river gave Mattern a set and left Lellouche with just a shadow of his former stack. Lellouche’s demise came at the hands of Andrea Benelli when Lellouche moved all in over the top of Benelli’s preflop raise with (4-Clubs)(5-Clubs). Benelli thought for a long moment before making the call with (A-Diamonds)(8-Spades). The flop was good to Lellouche when it came down (6-Diamonds)(4-Spades)(2-Hearts). The (9-Clubs) turn was no help or harm, but the river continued to be unkind to Lellouche when the (8-Diamonds) came to send the former chip leader to the rail.

As the evening wore on, Dario Minieri continued the aggressive style that garnered him one of the biggest stacks to start Day 2. In one big hand he moved all in over the top of both a preflop raise by Ludovic Lacay and a re-raise from Stefan Rotach. Lacay folded quickly, but Rotach thought long and hard before folding, only to have Minieri table (10-Clubs)(8-Clubs). The 10-8 was one of the stronger hands he showed down, as he pushed several players off pots with mediocre holdings throughout the day. His ploy of disguising his hand strength worked well for Minieri, but not so well for Marco Fantini, who busted late in the day when he ran pocket kings into Minieri’s aces.

With the fast pace of Day 2, the decision was made to halt play for the day when the field reached 24 players, just after the money bubble burst. Hans Eskilsson was the victim in the final hand of the evening when he busted on the bubble. Eskilsson moved all in preflop with (A-Diamonds)(9-Diamonds), and found a caller in Moises Parilla Ramos on the button. Arnaud Mattern then moved all in over the top from the big blind, and Ramos quickly got out of the way. Mattern tabled (K-Spades)(K-Hearts), and needed to fade three aces to end Day 2. The board ran out (2-Hearts)(10-Clubs)(5-Spades)(5-Diamonds)(8-Clubs), and Eskilsson was the bubble boy.

Sergey Shcherbatskiy finished the day with the chip lead as Dario Minieri, Roland de Wolfe and Arnaud Mattern all bagged up huge stacks of chips. Other notable survivors included Ludovic Lacay, Marty Smyth and Isabelle Mercier, as the top ten chip stacks looked like this:

Sergey Shcherbatskiy - 265,900
Dario Minieri - 211,400
Roland de Wolfe - 169,900
Arnaud Mattern - 139,200
Uffe Holm - 127,900
Juan Manuel Pastor - 117,100
Nico Behling - 112,700
Kevin MacPhee - 97,200
Ludovic Lacay - 89,100
Joao Barbosa - 85,900