Top of the Hour Online Gambling News

Pokerstars’ home games have been suspended by French regulatory authority ARJEL. It will assess whether the format introduced in January complies with French law.

According to a release on the Pokerstars.fr website, the duration of the “system analysis” is unspecified, while the decision to delay the games “is to safeguard player safety.” Other games of Pokerstars’ remain unchanged and will continue as normal.

Betsson in the meantime has decided to test the waters in China and concluded a business deal with a local company which is already in a joint venture with a state-owned business in the Asian republic. The joint venture will mainly concentrate on the sports lottery industry and will also investigate the Indian and Italian markets respectively.

La Francaise des Jeux and internet casino Lucien Barrière just concluded a business venture with Caesars Interactive Entertainment to promote the WSOP brand in French casinos and on the BarrierePoker.fr website. It’s more or less the same agreement between Caesars and Microgame to advertise the brand in Italy.

888 also concluded a deal to support Premier League darts subsequent a six-year break. The group backed the televised event in its opening season in 2005. Edict eGaming introduced its Stake7.com internet casino, enabling players to wager at a number of casino and slots games in high definition. Presently this platform is only available on a non-registration test-basis in markets like Germany, Austria and Slovakia, while UK-based players may register and play real-money games. “As a result of the regulatory situation in Germany the introduction is merely a showcase ,” said a spokesman for Edict.

Cashcade’s new commercial director is Michael Brady effectively replacing Simon Collins. Cassaon-casino wishes to congratulate Michael on his recent appointment. Hang in there buddy you’re in the pound seats now. Brady was previously the overseas marketing and business development manager for bingo at the UK-based company.

Poker Scout is to be scraped by Bodog, Poker DB and SharkScope, as the internet casino aims to target more laid back players. The company believes such sites mainly serve professional players, and by blocking them – as well as trying to introduce a new user-friendly interface on its own site – Bodog hopes to prove attract new poker players. “These poker information portals are sterling examples of how internet poker is busy ruining itself… I mean who would visit these sites even if they play for fun, maybe know one knows they exist,” said Partick Selin, Bodog Europe chief executive.

The company stopped taking French bets in May 2010. Bingo Hollywood recently introduced various celebrity themed competitions to take place in February. The top prizes are…manicures and makeover sessions! Ideally suited just for Hollywood’s elite…hang on to your bloomers Paris, Bingo Hollywood is in town.