Euroslot-MAY09-PG24-28:Layout 1 27/04/2009 15:24 Page 26
POKER GAMES FEATURE www.euroslot-online.com
“Tournament play puts forward the idea of a winner and with a winner
one can too easily assume that a prize could be offered. It does not
matter what sort of prize is awarded, if it has a monetary value then it
falls with the 2005 Gaming Act. A seemingly innocent item such as a
Tee-shirt or cap that would render the machine a gaming machine. This
would attract AMLD for each player position as well as permits, which
would lead to undoubted exclusion from a public licensed premises. We
have legal opinion, of which the Gaming Commission have a copy, stating
that PokerKard is not a gaming machine.
A new player can learn the
basics in a few minutes and
without any pressure and without
risking any money gambling.
“In one European country, we are supplying a tournament game
connected to the Government gaming network,” he continues. “This
means people can play poker, for cash, under governmental guidelines
and supervision, Nova has been working in this field for more than 12
months and expects to have a few thousand machines in place and
be added for specific locations, along with Heads Up Challenge LIVE connected together in order to provide large tournament cash prizes. It is
multi game tournaments to establish National Champions and obviously expected that a one million euro first prize, will be offered later this year.”
online tournaments are a possibility when a sufficient installed base has By keeping an amusement status for the machines it means that
been established,” he says.   locations can be wide and varied. CVA has sold its Heads Up Challenge
Tournaments are a tricky area due to the fact that they can change the machines into bowling alleys, universities, bars and cross-channel ferries
status of amusement machines by introducing a prize element. as well as casinos. Bally Wulff is finding that arcades and bars are the
Gamestec, the leading UK operator, has had great success recently with a most popular locations for its Play4Pro tables in Germany and TAB-
national Texas Hold ‘Em Poker tournament held using digital SWP quiz Austria has found the sky is the limit with Fun4Four. “The game is
machines. popular in pubs, bars, casinos, lounges, clubs, bowling and
Anne Kennedy of Gamestec says. “Gaming machines are a vital part of entertainment centres and hotels to name but a few,” says Straubinger.
the pub entertainment mix and by running tournaments like this, it shows “The different licencing
we are keen to move with the times and offer interactive challenges for requirements for each country
players. We offer games that we know will be popular with pub decide on the location we sell to,”
customers. For example, a growing number of pubs are starting to run says Peter Robinson. “The UK for
poker nights, this Texas Hold ‘Em Poker game means customers can be instance is an amusement game is
involved in playing, even if they miss the pub’s traditional poker night.” aimed at the licensed premises.The
The tournament was run through internet connected terminals, which casino model is obviously aimed at
allowed Gamestec to record player scores and run leagues. Additional casinos, not in the UK as the
benefits of internet connected terminals include the ability to frequently machine being four players would
update game content providing players with a continuous choice of need four permits and four AMLD’s
leading games. which account yearly to £8,000
Peter Robinson from Nova is steering away from tournament play in AMLD, so is not really viable. We
the UK. “We do not use tournament play in the UK due to the current have all sorts of venues taking the
legalstatus of Poker and the consequences of giving a prize. The English game in various guises.”
courts have determined that Poker is a game of chance and so falls under
the Gaming Commission if any prize is offered.
Heads Up Challenge: CVA
“Heads Up Challenge is the only game licensed by the ‘World Series of Poker’ ensuring
that it is the best representation of an actual live game available. This ‘Head to Head’
game means that there must be a winner, players cannot just join in and leave an
established game. Aesthetically Heads Up Challenge is the market leader with its radical
stylish cabinet and small footprint. It is suited to locations of all types and sizes. It is a
one or two-player game with an option of an eight-man on-screen, knock-out
tournament to be played.
We have sold over 600 games in the last ten months throughout the UK and Europe.
We have customers in Switzerland, Norway, Germany, France, Denmark – in fact 14
different countries!
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MAY 2009
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