Home / Poker News December 2010 / Poker industry developments – Caesar’s Interactive attacks Italian market
Poker industry developments – Caesar’s Interactive attacks Italian market
Posted by: James Carter. - Thu, 2010-12-23 06:17
Caesar’s Interactive Entertainment (for those of you not entirely up to date with the latest industry developments, it’s Harrah’s we’re talking about here, under a new name), announced the other day that that it has reached an agreement with Italian poker network Microgame, to promote
WSOP brand live poker events in Italy. According to Mitch Garber, CEO of Caesar’s Interactive Entertainment, the move is a logical one and in line with the company’s policy of co-operating with local poker entities to bring the WSOP brand to various European locations.
Microgame does indeed represent an excellent way into the newly regulated Italian online poker market. It is the operator of People’s Poker, a network of over 120 online poker sites which will all turn into WSOP promoters.
The Italian party (People’s Poker) expressed delight over CIE’s decision too, through CEO Fabrizio D’Aloia, who said it was an honor for his outfit to be picked as the WSOP’s Italian partner.
In other news:
PartyPoker’s woes continue. The
online poker site - which at one time was THE top online poker destination - has been struggling ever since the 2006 UIGEA expelled it from the US market. With a legal charade surrounding one of its founders, and with access to the US market seemingly more remote than ever, the company continues to post disappointing numbers.
The usual end-of-the-year rush failed to deliver as expected this time around. While bingo, sports betting and poker revenues all lagged behind, the day was once again saved by the casino revenues which pretty much bailed the company out, allowing it to meet its targets.
The company is also hopeful that its projected merger with bwin, which is planned for the spring of 2011, will put them a position that will allow them to take full advantage of the regulatory changes in Europe as well as in the US.
