CYOP Brings Online Poker to Asia Amid Record Market Growth

CYOP Brings Online Poker to Asia Amid Record Market Growth CYOP Systems International, a developer and provider of online skill-games and video games, has announced that it will be targeting Asian portals for integration of its new Poker software. Claiming that Asia is fast reaching the critical mass and interest needed for online poker, CYOP hopes to become the early leader in the field. With its backend licensed CrediPlay financial systems already localized into Traditional and Simplified Chinese, CYOP has begun working on the front end game translations of its poker games. According to a recent report from IDC Online, gaming revenues in the Asia-Pacific region will reach $1.84 billion by 2008. Overall, online gaming subscription revenues in the Asia-Pacific region (excluding Japan) are projected to more than double by 2008 to $1.84 billion from $760 million in 2003. ‘Recent reports have Chinese Internet users spending an average of 12.3 hours per week online with gaming and entertainment being the second most popular online activity,’ said Mitch White, CEO of CYOP ‘Combined with reports that China expects it will have a total of 120 million Internet users by the end of 2005; a 28% increase from the 94 million users in 2004.’ ‘If the numbers bear out, China will have the second largest number of Internet users, after the US. And given the propensity for online games, Poker is a perfect fit.’

MGM opens new poker room

Gamblers played in the new poker room in the MGM Grand after its opening on Monday. The nonsmoking room has 23 tables and a computerized waiting list. The property closed its poker room in 1998, but the recent popularity of poker led to the opening of the new room, said spokesman Scott Ghertner.

Senate Throws out Internet Poker Bill

Senate Throws out Internet Poker Bill North Dakota has been thwarted in its bid to regulate internet poker following a landslide defeat in the Senate. Bill HB1509, spearheaded by Sen. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, received only four votes in support. Sens. Connie Triplett, D-Grand Forks, John Syverson, R-Fargo, and Jack Traynor, R-Devils Lake, backed the measure along with Sen. Kasper, while 44 voted against. Opponents of the Bill cited U.S. Justice Department's position that Internet gambling in general is illegal as the reason for their stand against the measure. 'There are at least three federal laws out there that make this legislation suspect,' said Sen. Carolyn Nelson, D-Fargo. Others simply felt that increased opportunities to gamble were not welcome in the state. 'This is just another vehicle for more gambling in North Dakota, and I'm not sure that we want it,' said Sen. David Nething, R-Jamestown. Had the bill been approved it would have gone to a public vote. 'It strikes me that we should let the people of the state decide if they want this,' Sen. Traynor said, 'The promoters have told us it could amount ... to some significant economic activity in our communities.'

Woman Poker Player Magazine Launches

Woman Poker Player Magazine Launches A new poker magazine is debuting that will cater to the ever-growing number of female poker players. Woman Poker Player magazine is a one-of-a-kind, lifestyle publication covering issues unique to women who enjoy the sport of poker. The magazine’s chief editor is professional poker player Barbara Enright, the only woman ever to make the final table at the World Series of Poker championship event. The editorial merges powerful experiences from poker-playing women and men around the globe, the mathematics and strategies of poker, tournament trip reports, profiles of popular female professional players, and will include lifestyle concerns such as, fashion and wellness. “Women may have a basic advantage over their male counterparts. Psychologists tell us that women possess a sixth sense, and this instinctiveness can be a valuable asset at the poker table.” Says Enright. “They have proven they can hold their own against men, and this was dramatically underscored when three women won gold bracelets at last year’s World Series of Poker, although women represented less than five per cent of the participants.” “Even so, women can be timid when they first enter a casino. This is where Woman Poker Player magazine comes in. We will be offering valuable pointers on general strategy, and strategy especially designed for women.” April’s premiere issue includes profiles on professional women poker players, tips on playing with male players, and a glimpse into what to expect while playing your first live tournament. The first issue of Woman Poker Player will be circulated free of charge. To receive your copy, visit http://www.womanpokerplayer.com

Carmen Media likes the lay of the land

Carmen Media likes the lay of the land Carmen Media, the Gibraltar-based online gaming giant, is planning to move into land-based gaming. Carmen is currently experimenting with small-scale poker tutorials and branded poker equipment, but it is believed to be considering much larger opportunities. “We are looking at land-based opportunities,” Tim Johnson, chief executive of Carmen Media, said. “We haven’t got a specific timeframe in mind but it makes sense to have a wide range of products on offer,” he added. Johnson began his career running a chain of bookmaker shops in the UK, and a move into the bricks and mortar sector would be a logical step for the Gaming Club Sportsbook. Blue Square and Victor Chandler have both made moves into shops on the UK high street, and ukbetting recently bought a chain of bookmaking shops in 2004. And Johnson said he believes there is increasing crossover between the online and land-based sectors. “The land-based business is watching the internet business very closely and vice versa and the two businesses will come together at some point,” Johnson said.