Weekly Roundup November 8 2013
Delaware Launches Online Poker
Delaware launched online poker this week. The state is using 888 software that is nearly identical to the one used by WSOP.com in Nevada. The state’s three racinos offer online poker and casino games directly through their websites. At 8pm ET today there were three games running. The games were $.25/$.50, $.50/$1 and $1/$2. The state’s small population figures to be an issue in generating action. This will change if Delaware is able to compact with other states.
Delaware players may choose between No Limit Texas Hold’em, Fixed Limit Texas Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Pot Limit Omaha High/Low, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud High/Low.
Delaware is the first state to regulate online casino games. Players may choose between blackjack, roulette, video poker and slots. The casino games are offered directly in the poker client.
Players must be 21 years of age or older to participate. A cell phone is required as its location is part of the verification process.
Former Cereus COO Out at Amaya
Paul Leggett has left Amaya Gaming, according to a report by USPoker. He was the former COO of Cereus, the network that consisted of scandal plagued Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet. He managed the poker operations for Amaya Gaming. This included the Ongame Network. His hire drew the ire of poker players that were stiffed an estimated $45 million when Cereus imploded after Black Friday.
PokerStars Not Approved in First Round of New Jersey Licensing
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement published its first list of transactional waivers that allow sites to operate later this month. These waivers will act as temporary licenses until the full process is complete. One name noticeably absent from this list was PokerStars. Poker Player Newspaper reported that there may be an issue with the ongoing legal issues of Isai Scheinberg. PokerStars insists that the process is not over and that they are still working towards licensing in New Jersey.
Pala Interactive Among Eight Companies Approved but Without Partners
Eight companies were declared eligible to apply for a transactional waiver if and when a brick and mortar partner is found. Pala Interactive was among those companies. Pala Interactive’s CEO is Jim Ryan. He was CEO of Ultimate Bet during its cheating scandal. It appears that the company will use software that is related to the old Ultimate Bet software, which is the same one used by subscription site ClubWPT at this time. This drew a response from Scott Bell, producer of Ultimate Beat, a documentary about the UB cheating scandal.
Revolution Gaming Rolls Out Fast Fold Poker
The Revolution Gaming Network has rolled out a fast fold poker product. This is similar to Bovada’s Zone Poker where players are moved to a different table after folding. It is available in low and micro limits of No Limit Texas Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha. It is not yet available on U.S. facing skins. Intertops told Pokerfuse that it is looking into introducing it in the future.