Inside Gaming: GGPoker Exiting Some European Markets, Plans for Return
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GGPoker Leaves a Dozen Countries to Reassess Regulations, Licenses
The GGPoker network was back in the news yesterday after the big announcement on Wednesday that Daniel Negreanu had signed on as an ambassador to represent the site. Poker Industry PRO reports that due to regulatory concerns GGPoker has pulled out of a dozen countries, most of which are in Europe. The network intends to explore returning to those countries once they can ensure getting needed licenses and becoming regulated in each market.
According to Head of GGPoker Jean-Christophe Antoine, the network has chosen to pull out of selected markets "due to regulation and we are looking into either acquiring licenses or [partnering] with locally licensed operators."
Players on Natural8, one of GGPoker's many skins, received notice on November 4 that access would be blocked from 12 countries with players in those countries given withdrawal instructions. Most of the listed countries are in Europe — Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Switzerland — along with Georgia on the Europe-Asia border and Colombia in South America.
Poker Industry PRO cites a Two Plus Two thread suggesting players in those countries are reportedly still able to play on the network, although new sign-ups from those locations are not permitted.
Originally focused primarily on the Asian market, GGPoker has extended its reach over recent years as the network has grown. Most of GGPoker's skins are licensed offshore in the Philippines or Curacao, Poker Industry PRO explains. The network additionally has a gaming license from the UK Gambling Commission and has also partnered with Enlabs, a Swedish online gambling company, in order to offer licensed online poker in Latvia and Estonia as Optibet.
Pennsylvania Regulators Deny Mount Airy Mini-Casino Project
You may recall how back in late 2017, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed a huge gambling expansion bill that among other things included provisions to introduce online gambling and poker in the state. That's how PokerStars earlier this month was able to launch PokerStars PA in the state.
Meanwhile the new law has also paved the way for a host of other types of gambling expansion, including the operation of 10 "satellite" casinos or "mini-casinos" in the state. For those, current casino operators were given the first shot at purchasing licenses for the mini-casinos. So far a couple of these projects have been approved by regulators and are moving forward with construction plans, with a few more awaiting approval.
One of the mini-casino projects that had been awaiting approval was the one submitted by Mount Airy Casino, the brick-and-mortar partner of PokerStars. Alas for Mount Airy, the PGCB denied their application in a decision delivered on Wednesday, citing their inability to obtain adequate funding for the project.
As The Beaver County Times reports, Mount Airy Casino COO and general manager Todd Greenberg referenced "increased competition from new casinos and nearby destination resorts" as factors affecting the company's ability to procure the needed financing.
The application being denied means Mount Airy Casino will receive back 75 percent of the $21.2 million fee they paid for the Category 4 casino license after placing the winning bid in a February 2018 auction.
If it had been realized, the project would have brought a casino and gaming complex to Big Beaver featuring 750 slots, 30 table games, and three restaurants.
Meanwhile projects approved thus far will mean mini-casinos are coming to the Caernarvon Township via Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, operator of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, and to the Hempfield Township via Stadium Casino.
Virginia Lawmaker Pre-Files Gambling Bill for 2020
It's not 2020 yet, but one Virginia lawmaker is nonetheless ready to start setting the agenda for the next legislative session. Earlier this week Barry D. Knight, a Republican Delegate, pre-filed a bill designed "to expand gambling and gaming rights for the Commonwealth," reports WTKR.
The bill requires municipalities to pass a local referendum before the building of a casino or the introduction of sports betting. It follows another bill passed earlier this year commissioning a study of other states' gaming laws as well as fiscal and social impacts of gambling.
The bill includes sports betting as part of casino gaming. Should Knight's bill be passed, that would potentially mean Virginia voters will be able vote on such referendums in November 2020. The bill also would charge the Virginia Lottery Board to regulate casinos and sports betting in the state.
Representatives of several Virginia cities have shown interest already in introducing casinos, among them Portsmouth, Bristol, and Danville.
Some Vegas Casinos Relaxing Rules Restricting Photography
Finally, we've been living in the "Selfie Age" for long enough now, it perhaps isn't surprising to learn some Las Vegas casinos are beginning to relax bans on photography. In fact a few are actively supporting it.
Yesterday The Los Angeles Times shared a feature reporting how some Vegas casinos such as The STRAT (formerly the Stratosphere) and the Four Queens are now encouraging patrons to snap selfies of themselves enjoying table games and slots and to share them over social media.
Not all properties are following those casinos' lead. Caesars properties like Caesars Palace, Harrah's, and the Flamingo still don't permit photography of table games, while MGM properties like MGM Grand, the Bellagio, and the Mirage allow photos but not around gaming areas. None of the properties are keen on videos, however.
According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, there is no "specific regulation or statute that prohibits photos being taken inside a casino," as the NGCB's Michael Lawton related to the L.A. Times. Rather individual casinos are allowed to set their own rules governing photography within the properties.
The article concludes with a helpful list of tips for would-be photo-takers in casinos, with the recommendation to look for posted signs describing casinos' policies the first item.
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