August 08 2012, Brett Collson

The South Point Casino’s aim to become the first legalized intrastate online poker room in Nevada took a giant step on Wednesday. In a hearing with the Nevada Gaming Control Board, South Point received preliminary approval to offer real-money online poker as an operator, manufacturer and service provider.

South Point will now seek final license approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission on Aug. 23.

South Point CEO Mark Gaughan told eGaming Review last month that his real-money online poker site would be the first to launch in Nevada. Gaughan predicted his site would be ready to launch as early as September, but an attorney for the company said on Wednesday that the site could be up and running by October.

Once the company receives a license later this month, it will need to complete the inspection process of its technology before it can offer real-money online poker. The developer of South Point’s online poker system said Wednesday that the site’s technology could reach the second level of approval by an independent testing lab this month, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Howard Stutz.

South Point has been running a free-to-play online poker room at SouthPointPoker.com since late last year, but Gaughan says the real-money site will have new software.

Gaming suppliers IGT, Bally Technologies and Shuffle Master were the first companies to receive licenses to act as service providers for Internet poker operators in Nevada. However, because South Point’s poker platform will run internally, it will get the jump on other providers that will have to wait up to six months for their technologies to be tested by the board and the state. The suppliers will also need to line up partnerships with Nevada casino operators to provide online poker within state lines.

Monarch Interactive, another one of the 30-plus companies that applied for online poker licensing in Nevada, also received approval from the gaming board on Wednesday.

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July 26 2012, Brett Collson

It was a busy day in the world of poker. A Black Friday defendant received a prison sentence, and Nevada issued another online gaming license ahead of legalized online poker in the state. We’ll cover those stories and more in this edition of the Nightly Turbo.

In Case You Missed It

Day 1c of the 2012 PokerStars.net Australia New Zealand Poker Tour Queenstown Snowfest Main Event played out on Thursday. Get all the details in our daily ANZPT recap.

Black Friday payment processor Ira Rubin has been sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to forfeit $5 million. Read the latest on the story here at PokerNews.com.

Once again, Jason Mercier occupied the top spot in the Global Poker Index. But is his lead safe for one more week? Mickey Doft breaks down the biggest movers and shakers of the GPI.

Are you planning a trip to Merit Crystal Cove for the upcoming World Poker Tour Cyprus Main Event? Lynn Gilmartin tells you everything you need to know about the all-inclusive resort in the latest PokerNews Jet Set.

Marcel Luske has joined forces with Pierre Neuville to launch a new board game for poker players. Chad Holloway caught up with Luske to find out about the game called PokerChamp.

Shuffle Master Receives Online Gaming License in Nevada

On Thursday, gaming supplier Shuffle Master received a license from the Nevada Gaming Commission to be a manufacturer and provider of interactive gaming systems in Nevada.

Shuffle Master becomes the third company to receive an interactive gaming license in the state. Slot machine suppliers IGT and Bally Technologies were granted licenses last month. More than 30 other companies, including casino giants Caesars and MGM, have submitted similar applications with the state Control Board.

As a business-to-business provider, Shuffle Master will offer online poker and other interactive games to Nevada casinos looking to compete in the market. The next step for the company is to have its technology tested by the board and the state before it is given authorization to provide real-money games.

Irish online bookmaker Paddy Power also met with the state Gaming Commission on Thursday and received a “preliminary finding of suitability.” Paddy Power doesn’t have any current gaming interests in Nevada, but the company has two years to explore opportunities in the state.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal has more.

Lessons From a Poker Brat

Now that he’s earned his record-setting 12th World Series of Poker bracelet, Phil Hellmuth is focusing his efforts on charity work. (Well, and the London Olympics).

Through Charitybuzz.com, Hellmuth is auctioning off a two-hour poker lesson and dinner with him in Las Vegas, plus a two-night stay at the brand new Aria Sky Suites. All proceeds will benefit Peace Through Sports, an organization that brings children of different nationalities and races together while they play side-by-side in sports.

The highest bid for the package as of Thursday was $16,000. The auction ends Tuesday, July 31 at 15:00 ET.

Hellmuth is also gearing up for his annual Hellmuth’s Hold’em with Agrace HospiceCare, a charity tournament held in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. Last year’s event raised $110,000 and attracted poker pros Annette Obrestad, Anthony “D1rtyR1v3r” Nardi and Mark “P0ker H0″ Kroon. Gavin Smith, Jerry Yang, and many others are confirmed for this year’s event on Aug. 18 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.

For more on Hellmuth’s auction, visit Charitybuzz.com. Information about Hellmuth’s Hold’em with Agrace HospiceCare tournament can be found at agracehospicecare.org.

Zynga Confirms Real-Money Ambitions

Social gaming behemoth Zynga is planning to launch real-money gaming in the first half of 2013, CEO Mark Pincus said during the company’s quarterly earnings conference call on Tuesday.

Pincus has said publicly for months that real-money gaming would be a “natural fit” for Zynga but it wasn’t until this week that he announced a prospective launch date. Zynga’s revenue plummeted in the second quarter of 2012, mostly due to a significant drop in customer purchases, and online gambling – including poker – could give a boost to the company’s earnings.

“What we’ve said, and what we have to announce today, is that we have our first products in development and that we intend to release them in markets that are regulated and open, subject to our getting licensing,” Pincus said on Tuesday.

Earlier this week, eGaming Review reported that a number have companies have shown interest in working with Zynga to provide real-money gambling. Zynga is also reportedly the frontrunner to acquire the Ongame Network from bwin.party, a move that would bolster Zynga’s real-money poker platform.

Pincus said that the real-money gaming launch would initially occur outside of the U.S. where laws permit gambling on the internet.

Venture Beat has more.

Changes at the AGCC

In the wake of the debacle at Full Tilt Poker, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) has announced a number of amendments to its Alderney eGambling Regulations of 2009.

The most notable change made by the regulatory body involved the segregation of player funds. Beginning next year, all operators licensed by the AGCC will be forced to hold all customer deposits in a segregated account that is separate from the business’ operating or current account. Licensees will also be required to submit monthly reports to the AGCC detailing the total amount of funds held on behalf of customers and the balance of all bank accounts where the funds are being held.

While licensed with the AGCC, Full Tilt Poker continuously reported funds that were not available because of several problems with payment processors. Full Tilt was fusing player deposits with its marketing and operating funds, all while lining the pockets of board members Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson and Ray Bitar. Full Tilt Poker still owes customers an estimated $330 million.

Read the full AGCC amendment document at gamblingcontrol.org.

Party In Queenstown Video

Poker is serious business on the Australia New Zealand Poker Tour. That is, until the PokerStars player party kicks off. Nicki Pickering hit the bar to scope out the scene.

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