MICROGAMING Focus
to 'chum.' The debate centres around the long-term viability of online poker and the general re-thinking of the poker environment as it exists online.
Several times during the conversations with Microgaming the topic of Europe- wide gaming regulation was discussed and considered from the point of view that, in the long-term at least, harmonisation is the optimal outcome. In terms of poker, the policies adopted by France and Italy to date present obstacles not least as regards separate pools of liquidity that lend themselves to future homogenisation of legislation. "We certainly hope that regulated markets in Europe recognise the need to harmonise liquidity of the networks across national borders. Online poker is entering new territory at a time in which it's already proving harder to make money from poker. Everyone's view is that poker ecology has the answers to the problem, though we have different views on how to achieve the correct ecological balance," comments Lydia.
RULESANDREGULATORS Regulated markets are the next big adventure for online gaming companies. Spread across the boardroom wall of Microgaming's office in Douglas is a projected image of Europe, colour-coded to show the current, near-future and prospective regulated online gaming markets. "We see a wealth of new opportunities in regulated markets in
Europe," explained Microgaming's Andy Clucas, Head of Regulated Markets. "We are seeing new countries embracing online gaming regulation as they recognise the reality that regulation is inevitable. We are witnessing a domino- effect taking place in Europe that is gaining momentum as one country learns from the next - at least that's our interpretation of what's happening right now."
COUNTRY-BY-COUNTY Denmark is rapidly progressing with sports book, casino and poker.
Greece is developing poker and sports- book offer.
Bulgaria is using the Belgian template of tying requirement to a terrestrial licence.
Romania is moving towards a sports- book and casino offer by 2011 and has a draft law with the EC.
In Spain there's a lag due to the 17 autonomous regions being involved in the process, but there's an expectation of draft national legislation connected to a terrestrial licence.
The German treaty comes to an end December 31, 2011, but already there are individual states looking to change their laws to accommodate legislation before that date.
G3i I ISSUE 2 I PAGE 31
Poland and Hungary are both heading down a Sportsbook only route.
Andy Clucas,Head of RegulatedMarkets, Microgaming.
“We see awealth of newopportunities in
regulatedmarkets in Europe.We are
seeing newcountries embracing online
gaming regulation as they recognise the reality that regulation is
inevitable.We are
witnessing a domino- effect taking place in Europe that is
gainingmomentum as one country
learns fromthe next - at least that's our interpretation of
what's happening right now."
“As regards to the newest markets, in Italy we are seeing new laws to provide for cash games and casino games in Q1 and Q4 of 2011," explains Andy. In May of this year Prima Networks Limited (‘PNL’), powered by Microgaming announced a joint venture with 888 Holdings plc. (‘888’) to deliver a French Poker network that will benefit from a shared pool of player liquidity on a single platform, and is available to licensees of PNL, 888’s B2B arm Dragonfish, its operators and 888’s own B2C customers."
This French venture combines Microgaming’s software with 888 technological and marketing capabilities in creating a poker network in the French market. The deal marked a turning point in the industry with big networks collaborating in newly regulated markets to create a shared pool of liquidity, benefiting customers and assisting in rapidly generating large poker networks in emerging markets. The deal is the start of European regulated companies collaborating in the poker field to increase their competitiveness and secure a meaningful market share in France, which is set to become one of the key poker markets in Europe.
FRENCHKNOTS Microgaming has already announced the successful submission of three significant
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