New spin on high-stakes poker, by Clinton Van Der Berg - Business Times - 7th September 2008
Cricket and boxing bad boys Warne and Fenech trade knockout blows across the table
You could never mistake Shane Warne for a fighter.
Tanned, blond and handsome, the cricket pin-up says he wouldn’t have the guts to take a punch anyway.
That he would leave to his mate Jeff Fenech, the hell-raising three-time world champion who would, in turn, never be mistaken for a male model. He has a nose only a boxer’s mum could love and the coarse texture of his face is testament to a life spent eating leather.
You wouldn’t expect them to have much in common, but the two share a reputation for being among the bad boys of Australian sport. Controversy could be Warne’s middle name given his shenanigans over the years.
Fenech’s had his share of nonsense too: he’s been stabbed, shot at and is known to handle himself in bar fights. It’s a habit he shares with good mate Mike Tyson.
Now there’s another bond that connects Warne and Fenech: poker.
It’s an ironic choice for Warne given how he likens the card game to cricket. “You’ve gotta be patient, disciplined ... it’s all about position, how much you bet, how you read people.”
As Freudian slips go, it’s a clanger, but there’s no mistaking Warne’s passion for the game. He was in South Africa this week for the Sun City Million Dollar Poker Tournament — and not just for celebrity value.
He contested the World Series in Las Vegas earlier this year, ending 726th out of 7000 starters.
“I did okay,” he says. “After two 14-hour days, I lasted seven hours into day three, so it was 35 hours at the table. I was really happy.”
Fenech, 44, plays a first-rate hand too. Days before his comeback fight against Azumah Nelson earlier this year, he was up until 4.30am, winning a major poker tournament in Melbourne.
“I needed some sleep for the fight, but I kept doubling up, so it went on until I won. I called people the whole day to tell them. It was more exciting than any fight. I knocked out a lot of guys (in the poker). If that hadn’t happened, I would have used my left hook.”
Warne and Fenech are now in that unfamiliar place all sportsmen occupy: the transitional phase between sport and life largely beyond it. Warne, 39, has quit international cricket, but is clearly energised by the Indian Premier League (his team, the Rajasthan Royals, won the inaugural title), various business interests, his charity foundation and poker.
No more “fat boy” headlines for him either: he’s been exercising for months and, at 87kg, is the picture of good health.
Fenech trains fighters in his own gym and is heavily involved in charity work. He’s obviously enjoying poker, which is as far removed from the blood and guts of the ring as possible. It’s a long way from his days as a rabble-rouser.
“I try and ensure I’m an everyday guy,” says the former three-time world champion who fought with the fury and power of a mini-Tyson.
“But in the late ’80s, early ’90s, I didn’t like myself much. I had too much success, things got to my head. I got a bit carried away, but I quickly changed that. Although I’ve done some great things in boxing, I never thought I was better than anyone else.
“The real heroes are the mums and dads who look after handicapped kids. That’s why I help with the Special Olympics.”
Warne reckons he’s been lucky. He’s pleased how he retired from international cricket — “to walk off with Glenn McGrath was a real honour” — and he can pick and choose how to occupy himself. He has multiple business interests, but it’s poker he can’t get enough of.
He talks animatedly of his approach, with much the same enthusiasm he brought to his leg-spin art. “You’ve just gotta hang in there and maximise when you get a good hand,” says Warne, who was once fined for sending an SMS in the middle of a poker game. “It’s no use having the best hand and everyone folds all the time. You’ve got to find a way to make it work. Also, the beauty of poker is that anyone can play — they can be chairmen, CEOs or car salesmen. The mixture is good fun.”
And the pressure? Warne eats it for breakfast. “A lot of people don’t want the ball to come to them in cricket. I was very lucky: I wanted the ball. That’s in my nature. If there was one run to win, one wicket to get, I wanted the ball in my hand. I’m an aggressive cricketer and I’m an aggressive poker player.”
The other appeal is travel. As the captain of 888.com’s world team, he gets to visit new places and is seldom away from home for more than a week, a welcome change from three month-long cricket tours.
Warne loves the revolution cricket finds itself in, saying the popularity of Twenty20 cricket fits perfectly with our “super-fast culture”. He just wishes the ICC would get its head around IPL cricket and embrace it rather than fight it.
For all that, Warne says international cricket, more particularly Test cricket, must have primacy. “If you ask any top player, what they want is to be regarded as a top Test player. It’s the ultimate test of discipline, fitness, skills, technique and stamina.”
Warne loved his time as captain-coach of the Rajasthan Royals. He took a famously relaxed attitude to the role. Armed with a beer or a cold drink, players typically gathered around the hotel pool to discuss how to construct an over, how to work a batsman or how to read a scenario.
Warne sticks to his belief that coaches are overrated at international level. “Don’t need ’em,” he says. “At that level, it’s all about attitude and the way you think. All that happens in international cricket is your attitude changes. It’s nothing to do with technique. You have b ad days, you have good days — that’s sport. Hopefully if you’ve prepared right and have the right attitude, you’re gonna be okay.”
He’s looking forward to the year-end cricket series between Australia and SA. “I think Australia will do well in the one-day stuff, but the Tests will be very interesting, very exciting.”
If cricket seems in robust health, Fenech paints a dreary picture of boxing. “It’s on the way out,” he says. “It’s all about mixed martial arts in the US. Until someone in boxing makes competitive fights from day one, boxing’s gonna go backwards.”
He cites the example of the upcoming “superfight” between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao, the most exciting fighter in the sport.
“Oscar’s best weight was at light-middle and Manny’s best is featherweight, and they say Manny has a great chance to win. Come on! And they’re paying these guys 20-30-million.
“The last big fight was Oscar against Floyd Mayweather — and neither of them had a mark on their face afterwards. The other day, Australian Billy Dib was carrying on like a fool after beating your guy (Zolani Marali). I felt ashamed for the Aussie — he lost every round. He’s an embarrassment to the sport. Decisions like that turn people off the sport.”
He says he would have loved to fight Brian Mitchell. “I respect him, he was a great fighter. .. but none of them wanted to fight Azumah the way I did.”
Pointing to Warne, he says the reason they’re mates is because “we’re both winners.”
“You reckon?” asks Warne.
“You betcha,” laughs the fighter.
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Saturday, September 13, 2008
Playtech throws dice into the television market, by Alistair Osborne - The Telegraph - 3rd September 2008
Playtech, the designer and licensor of software for the gambling industry, unveiled plans to branch into the television market as it posted a strong rise in half-year profits.
The company, whose clients include Paddy Power, Betfred and PartyGaming, said it would use its $1.75m (£987,000) purchase of the assets of MIXTV to launch roulette games on the Sky and Virgin channels.
"It extends our distribution channel, gives us access to additional licensees and allows us to cross-sell to our existing licensees," said Mor Weizer, chief executive. Playtech currently has 60 casino and poker licensees.
Mr Weizer held out the prospect of a vastly bigger acquisition as he was quizzed by analysts over how the group intended to spend the $222m raised in June in a placing at 520p a share.
Playtech said it was undertaking due diligence on an un-named marketing company, with which it already works. Mr Weizer said any deal would be "significant" and "earnings accretive".
Total revenues jumped 85pc to $81.4m, with casino income up 78pc to $58m and poker rising 109pc to $22m. Pre-tax profits increased from $26.1m to $37.9m.
Mr Weizer said part of Playtech's growth would come from quickly establishing a position in newly regulated markets, such as Italy, where the group has struck licensing deals with the two biggest gambling companies - SNAI and SISAL.
Playtech is closely following regulatory developments in other countries, including Spain, France, Poland and South Africa.
The dividend jumped from 6.1 cents to 12 cents. The shares rose 6½ to 541½p.
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Playtech, the designer and licensor of software for the gambling industry, unveiled plans to branch into the television market as it posted a strong rise in half-year profits.
The company, whose clients include Paddy Power, Betfred and PartyGaming, said it would use its $1.75m (£987,000) purchase of the assets of MIXTV to launch roulette games on the Sky and Virgin channels.
"It extends our distribution channel, gives us access to additional licensees and allows us to cross-sell to our existing licensees," said Mor Weizer, chief executive. Playtech currently has 60 casino and poker licensees.
Mr Weizer held out the prospect of a vastly bigger acquisition as he was quizzed by analysts over how the group intended to spend the $222m raised in June in a placing at 520p a share.
Playtech said it was undertaking due diligence on an un-named marketing company, with which it already works. Mr Weizer said any deal would be "significant" and "earnings accretive".
Total revenues jumped 85pc to $81.4m, with casino income up 78pc to $58m and poker rising 109pc to $22m. Pre-tax profits increased from $26.1m to $37.9m.
Mr Weizer said part of Playtech's growth would come from quickly establishing a position in newly regulated markets, such as Italy, where the group has struck licensing deals with the two biggest gambling companies - SNAI and SISAL.
Playtech is closely following regulatory developments in other countries, including Spain, France, Poland and South Africa.
The dividend jumped from 6.1 cents to 12 cents. The shares rose 6½ to 541½p.
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Virgin's poker phase, by Mark Tran - The Guardian - 25th November 2005
As news reaches us that Richard Branson is joining the card table, Mark Tran asks Virgin Poker to show its hand
If internet gambling is like the wild west, then Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Poker is the latest cowboy to swagger into the saloon.
Virgin Poker, relaunched this week - complete with a poker party at Sir Richard Branson's home in Holland Park - admits it is a latecomer to internet gaming. But it is banking on the full resources of the Branson business empire to ensure its success.
"Virgin Poker will use the resources of sister companies throughout the Virgin group to add new value to our players' experience," Simon Burridge, the chief executive of Virgin Games, told reporters and poker enthusiasts wedged tightly into a marquee in Sir Richard's garden.
After that pitch, followed by champagne and superior canapes - spoonfuls of risotto, miniature pails of fish and chips, lamb meatballs, salmon on toast and cubes of deep fried camembert - the guests took their allocated seats to play Texas Hold'em.
The last man and woman standing from about 50 players would win a weekend to Sir Richard's new digs in Marrakech. Guardian Unlimited unfortunately made a very early exit, its pair of sevens and kings going down to a flush.
Although a relative tiddler in the online poker world, Virgin Poker believes it will shake things up thanks to benefits available from the company's other business. Players will be able to accumulate Virgin air miles and loyalty points that can be cashed in for Virgin products. There will be also prizes such as Virgin flights and weekend trips to the entrepreneur's Marrakech home.
The site will include blogs by players, poker writers and enthusiasts, and a poker school that includes live online tutorials to take newcomers through the basics of the game. Virgin Poker is particularly keen to attract people who have never played before - poker virgins - by emphasising the light-hearted side of the game.
"We want to make poker accessible," said Joshua Morris, a product marketing manager. "There will be no intimidation factor as we are going after the mass market."
But the site will not be open to US players as Virgin does not want to leave itself open to any legislation that might ban online gambling. The company says its software will block users from the US. Despite staying out of a potentially huge market, Virgin Poker believes there will be plenty of takers in the UK and the rest of Europe.
Virgin Group brushes aside notions that it may have missed the boat on internet poker, currently dominated by PartyGaming, owner of Party Poker, the world's largest poker site. PartyGaming, based in Gibraltar, made its debut on the London Stock Exchange in June, when it was valued at £4.64bn, the biggest UK debut in five years.
But PartyGaming shares dropped by almost a third in September after it warned future market growth could slow. That setback has prompted commentators to say that the internet poker bubble has burst. Even so, revenues at PartyGaming soared in the first six months of 2005. Revenues soared to $437.4m (£237.7m), from $241.5m a year ago, while profits rose to $186.3m from $146.6m.
With those kinds of numbers it is no wonder that Sir Richard, the billionaire with a sideline in ballooning, wants to join the saloon.
Virgin plans to have Virgin Poker on its trains and planes - the discount airline Ryanair also has plans for in-flight gambling - to make the most of a captive audience - although there will be loss limits.
As one Virgin executive said: "We don't want anyone landing in Las Vegas down £25,000. It's not a great way to start a holiday."
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As news reaches us that Richard Branson is joining the card table, Mark Tran asks Virgin Poker to show its hand
If internet gambling is like the wild west, then Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Poker is the latest cowboy to swagger into the saloon.
Virgin Poker, relaunched this week - complete with a poker party at Sir Richard Branson's home in Holland Park - admits it is a latecomer to internet gaming. But it is banking on the full resources of the Branson business empire to ensure its success.
"Virgin Poker will use the resources of sister companies throughout the Virgin group to add new value to our players' experience," Simon Burridge, the chief executive of Virgin Games, told reporters and poker enthusiasts wedged tightly into a marquee in Sir Richard's garden.
After that pitch, followed by champagne and superior canapes - spoonfuls of risotto, miniature pails of fish and chips, lamb meatballs, salmon on toast and cubes of deep fried camembert - the guests took their allocated seats to play Texas Hold'em.
The last man and woman standing from about 50 players would win a weekend to Sir Richard's new digs in Marrakech. Guardian Unlimited unfortunately made a very early exit, its pair of sevens and kings going down to a flush.
Although a relative tiddler in the online poker world, Virgin Poker believes it will shake things up thanks to benefits available from the company's other business. Players will be able to accumulate Virgin air miles and loyalty points that can be cashed in for Virgin products. There will be also prizes such as Virgin flights and weekend trips to the entrepreneur's Marrakech home.
The site will include blogs by players, poker writers and enthusiasts, and a poker school that includes live online tutorials to take newcomers through the basics of the game. Virgin Poker is particularly keen to attract people who have never played before - poker virgins - by emphasising the light-hearted side of the game.
"We want to make poker accessible," said Joshua Morris, a product marketing manager. "There will be no intimidation factor as we are going after the mass market."
But the site will not be open to US players as Virgin does not want to leave itself open to any legislation that might ban online gambling. The company says its software will block users from the US. Despite staying out of a potentially huge market, Virgin Poker believes there will be plenty of takers in the UK and the rest of Europe.
Virgin Group brushes aside notions that it may have missed the boat on internet poker, currently dominated by PartyGaming, owner of Party Poker, the world's largest poker site. PartyGaming, based in Gibraltar, made its debut on the London Stock Exchange in June, when it was valued at £4.64bn, the biggest UK debut in five years.
But PartyGaming shares dropped by almost a third in September after it warned future market growth could slow. That setback has prompted commentators to say that the internet poker bubble has burst. Even so, revenues at PartyGaming soared in the first six months of 2005. Revenues soared to $437.4m (£237.7m), from $241.5m a year ago, while profits rose to $186.3m from $146.6m.
With those kinds of numbers it is no wonder that Sir Richard, the billionaire with a sideline in ballooning, wants to join the saloon.
Virgin plans to have Virgin Poker on its trains and planes - the discount airline Ryanair also has plans for in-flight gambling - to make the most of a captive audience - although there will be loss limits.
As one Virgin executive said: "We don't want anyone landing in Las Vegas down £25,000. It's not a great way to start a holiday."
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Virgin Poker launches Facebook poker app, by Darren Davidson Brand Republic - 25th February 2008
LONDON - Virgin Poker has developed a Facebook application which allows users to play Texas Hold'em for free.
The application has been developed by Virgin Poker in partnership with Playzu, the online poker company.
Facebook users can join a table of six and play for points, with every winning hand counting towards a place on a leader board.
The top 25 players every day will be invited to take part in a free weekly tournament via a unique sign-up code. The weekly tournament offers prizes from other Virgin brands such as Virgin Atlantic Air Miles.
Simon Burridge, chief executive of Virgin Games, said: "With social networking now a fundamental part of our players' lives, Facebook's focus on entertainment and community provides the perfect opportunity to bring the fun and social element of Virgin Poker to a new market."
The application gives users the ability to create their own avatar in the games, with accessories ranging from cigars and hats to tattoos and glasses.
There are also comedy video clips integrated into the application, which can be played when users are waiting for a hand to be played, and users can set up a private "invite only" game with other Facebook members.
Darius Ziatabari, Playzu founder, said the company would continue to add features to the application to improve the user experience: "We are poker players at heart and want people to have the most fun possible without having to pay for it."
The moves comes as big advertisers begin to incorporate Facebook, which has 8.5m UK users according to Nielsen Online, into their marketing plans.
Earlier this month, Mars launched a voucher scheme on the social networking site enabling users to collect vouchers for the confectionery brand, and last week Marmite launched a branded group.
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LONDON - Virgin Poker has developed a Facebook application which allows users to play Texas Hold'em for free.
The application has been developed by Virgin Poker in partnership with Playzu, the online poker company.
Facebook users can join a table of six and play for points, with every winning hand counting towards a place on a leader board.
The top 25 players every day will be invited to take part in a free weekly tournament via a unique sign-up code. The weekly tournament offers prizes from other Virgin brands such as Virgin Atlantic Air Miles.
Simon Burridge, chief executive of Virgin Games, said: "With social networking now a fundamental part of our players' lives, Facebook's focus on entertainment and community provides the perfect opportunity to bring the fun and social element of Virgin Poker to a new market."
The application gives users the ability to create their own avatar in the games, with accessories ranging from cigars and hats to tattoos and glasses.
There are also comedy video clips integrated into the application, which can be played when users are waiting for a hand to be played, and users can set up a private "invite only" game with other Facebook members.
Darius Ziatabari, Playzu founder, said the company would continue to add features to the application to improve the user experience: "We are poker players at heart and want people to have the most fun possible without having to pay for it."
The moves comes as big advertisers begin to incorporate Facebook, which has 8.5m UK users according to Nielsen Online, into their marketing plans.
Earlier this month, Mars launched a voucher scheme on the social networking site enabling users to collect vouchers for the confectionery brand, and last week Marmite launched a branded group.
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Friday, September 12, 2008
Aristocrat switches its US leadership - Fairfax - 12th September 2008
Poker machine maker Aristocrat Leisure has appointed a new head in North America, replacing its previous boss with its head of European, Middle Eastern and African operations, Nick Khin.
Aristocrat said that Tim Parrott, the incumbent president and chief executive Officer of its American operations, had left the business after two years with Aristocrat's executive team.
The company said Mr Khin had driven Aristocrat's expansion into new markets, particularly Spain where the company will be launching its new casino style arcade games later this month.
"The EMEA region has reported record revenue (up over 50 per cent) and profitability (up 140 per cent) over the past two years, with the company significantly increasing its overall market share and presence in the region," Aristocrat said in a statement.
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Poker machine maker Aristocrat Leisure has appointed a new head in North America, replacing its previous boss with its head of European, Middle Eastern and African operations, Nick Khin.
Aristocrat said that Tim Parrott, the incumbent president and chief executive Officer of its American operations, had left the business after two years with Aristocrat's executive team.
The company said Mr Khin had driven Aristocrat's expansion into new markets, particularly Spain where the company will be launching its new casino style arcade games later this month.
"The EMEA region has reported record revenue (up over 50 per cent) and profitability (up 140 per cent) over the past two years, with the company significantly increasing its overall market share and presence in the region," Aristocrat said in a statement.
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Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Virgin’s Affiliate Programme Short-Listed - 4th September 2008
Online casino VirginGames.com has been short-listed for the Affiliate Programme of the Year distinction at the fourth annual eGaming Review Industry Awards.
The Awards are considered one of the premier online gaming events of the year and are judged by an independent panel consisting of some of the most experienced practitioners from every segment of the sector. This year there are 18 distinctions up for grabs with the final winners announced on September 19 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
The first time it has every been nominated for the Affiliate Programme of the Year award, VirginGames.com is one of only four companies short-listed and nominees are judged on innovation, creativeness, marketing strategy and overall effectiveness.
“We’re delighted to have made it to the final table of the 2008 eGaming Awards,” said Pierrick Leveque, Head of Affiliates for VirginGames.com.
“It is an honour to be short-listed in the Best Affiliate Programme of the Year category alongside Everest, Centrebet and Ladbrokes.
“More importantly, it is a testimony to the quality and commitment of the affiliates who have decided to partner with us since we launched last year. We work hard to ensure our affiliate operations match VirginGames.com’s reputation as an online gaming operator. In that regard, our presence in this year’s shortlist is very uplifting.”
VirginGames.com recently voted the Best Gaming Affiliate Programme prize at the affiliate marketing industry’s a4u Awards 2008, the most prestigious affiliate awards ceremony in the UK.
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Online casino VirginGames.com has been short-listed for the Affiliate Programme of the Year distinction at the fourth annual eGaming Review Industry Awards.
The Awards are considered one of the premier online gaming events of the year and are judged by an independent panel consisting of some of the most experienced practitioners from every segment of the sector. This year there are 18 distinctions up for grabs with the final winners announced on September 19 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
The first time it has every been nominated for the Affiliate Programme of the Year award, VirginGames.com is one of only four companies short-listed and nominees are judged on innovation, creativeness, marketing strategy and overall effectiveness.
“We’re delighted to have made it to the final table of the 2008 eGaming Awards,” said Pierrick Leveque, Head of Affiliates for VirginGames.com.
“It is an honour to be short-listed in the Best Affiliate Programme of the Year category alongside Everest, Centrebet and Ladbrokes.
“More importantly, it is a testimony to the quality and commitment of the affiliates who have decided to partner with us since we launched last year. We work hard to ensure our affiliate operations match VirginGames.com’s reputation as an online gaming operator. In that regard, our presence in this year’s shortlist is very uplifting.”
VirginGames.com recently voted the Best Gaming Affiliate Programme prize at the affiliate marketing industry’s a4u Awards 2008, the most prestigious affiliate awards ceremony in the UK.
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Sunday, September 07, 2008
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