CR78-p10-EuropeCE&CIS2:SJC-Casino Review 22/3/09 01:08 Page 1
internationalcasinoreview
Romanian wins out in Bregenz poker tour
Romanian Toni Judet took first place in the final of Bregenz leg of
News
the Casinos Austria Poker Tour at the start of March taking with
him a cheque for E110,160. With 687 players from 31 nations it
was the best CAPT tournament week of all time. The complete
tournament prize pool totalled E1m. In Bregenz 223 players
started and played for a prize pool of over E400,000. Judet is
EUROPE CENTRAL, EAST, CIS pictured flanked by Casinos Austria poker manager Edgar Stuchly
and Bregenz poker manager Joe Fuchshofer.
Whilst poker remains
one of the least
Swedish
profitable of casino
operator
games, tournament
poker provides a promotes
steady income
revenue and helps
poker
boost spend in other
areas. Speaking at
pacing tool
the International
Casino Conference applyingthebrakes
held in London in
SWEDEN
January, Thomas
Having been named as the
Kellner managing world’s most responsible
director Casino
gambling company in 2008
Copenhagen, Casino
by the World Lottery Associa-
tion, Swedish operator
Odense, and Svenska Spel is introducing a
chairman of the
tool for online poker players
Danish Casino
which will help them pace
themselves when playing on
Association, outlines
the group’s internet site.
the example of poker
It has launched Spelstatus
in Denmark.
to show players the amount
they have won or lost since
they first began to play the on
the company’s website as
well as the number of minutes
they have played for. A
responsible gaming informa-
tion will be displayed in a pop-
Copenhagen riding the
up window once a month
when players log in.
Mikael Franzén, business
area manager at Svenska
Texas Hold’em wave
Spel, explained: “There’s one
common misconception, par-
ticularly among younger
players. They overestimate
their own skill and think they
control the game themselves.
makingitsmark numerous smaller tourna- Casino Copenhagen in direct news spots broadcast hagen is able to operate A lot of players reckon them-
DENMARK ments and Sit & Go’s with 2005 with only 150 players on the 24 hour news tournaments profitably at selves to be pretty talented -
between 10 and 30 and a buy-in of 19,000 dkk channel TV 2 News. all, is only due to the fact they’ve broken even, or
To call the poker phenome- players. We also run larger (E2,550), the fourth suc- In Denmark, where that most gaming staff maybe even made a bit of a
non of recent years a wave tournaments four times a cessive year of the Scandi- Casino Copenhagen has salaries are covered by the profit. But now just a single
is an understatement; it has year. Of these, the most navian Open, the Danish offered cash poker for more tips, and, as such, our actual click will show you, in black
been a Tsunami transform- important are the Danish leg of the EPT had in 2008 than ten years, the game has staff costs are only and white, exactly how much
ing a game that was once as Championship in Texas grown to one of the 10 produced a steady, albeit minimal. We do, however, you’ve won or lost.”
unfashionable as one can Hold’em and the Euro- biggest tournaments in small, income, the latter derive a minor income Thomas Nilsson, chairman
imagine, was only played at pean Poker Tour. Europe. mainly due to the 75 per from the entrance fee of 90 of the Swedish Gaming Insti-
the very back of a casino or, The Danish Champi- The tournament cent gross gaming tax dkk (approx. E12) attached tute, added: “This kind of
more likely, in rented apart- onship in Texas Hold’em attracted 460 players, creat- imposed on our table rake. to each tournament. information is absolutely vital
ments in the less attractive was last held in October ing a record Scandinavian Before poker tourna- Nevertheless, it would be as it provides players with
parts of our cities, into an 2008 for the fifth consecu- prize pool of 21,086,400 ments were introduced at a futile exercise to offer hard facts. We’ve been
unparalleled cult phenome- tive time, as a co-operation dkk, more than E2.8 the end of 2003, the whole tournaments if they did not wanting to implement this
non. And the poker players between the three Casinos million, but in spite the concept underwent serious have any financial impact option for a while, and the fact
themselves, who were once Austria International oper- hefty buy-in the tourna- considerations, as the gross on the profitability of our that it’s now up and running is
looked upon as rather ated casinos in Denmark, ment was sold out in less gaming tax imposed upon operation, and the upside to be applauded.”
shady figures, as people to and a fourth independent than a week. cash games would also be for the casino are the Franzén added: “Spelsta-
avoid, have now reached a casino. Once again, the During the poker festival imposed on the rake of a incomes derived from the tus is yet another tool which
celebrity status on a par tournament attracted more and especially during the four per cent deducted cash games and the other we’re providing to help
with film or sports stars. than 1,200 players all trying two days of the final, the from the prize pool of all gaming tables and slots. players to keep tabs on how
From a marketing point to qualify for one of places tournament attracted tournaments. As with all aspects of a much they play. Showing
of view, the rise of poker at the 150-seat final at record numbers of guests In general and isolation, gaming operation, it is them profits or losses accu-
has been an unprecedented Casino Copenhagen, with a to the casino, creating a tournaments do not essential to constantly mulated and the total time
chance to reach a much prize pool of more than truly fantastic background. produce sizeable revenues monitor the financial they spend on poker on our
wider audience than ever 4.3m dkk (approx. The Press also arrived in due to the impact of the impact of the tournaments site will create transparency
before, boosting the image E578,000) and a first prize record numbers with more gaming tax, as this example on the profitability of the and hopefully lead to more
of the live game which had of nearly 1.3m dkk (approx. than 150 press cards given will clearly illustrate: operation, and even when people reflecting on how
for so long been left behind E170,000). out, to both national and A tournament with a buy- a tournament creates much they play.”
by the rapid developments The European Poker international press. That is in of 2,500 dkk (E350) for unprecedented PR for the Roger Levy, head of sales
in the slot area. Tour, created by John more press than seen at any 100 players with an casino, it should be the for Svenska Spel poker,
The added bonus for the Duthie in 2004, is one of international football match expected first prize of absolute exception for added: “This information
casinos has been that most the top multi country tele- in Denmark. 60,000 dkk (approx. such a tournament to be a relates mainly to the unique
of the PR work has been vised poker series in the Casino Copenhagen was E8,000), a prize pool of loss leader. tools we offer for poker and
done by the internet world. Players travel all thus again given press cov- 240.000 dkk (approx. Thomas Kellner: The rise for gambling in general. We
gaming sites and the media across the European land- erage normally unseen for a E32,000), and a structure of poker has boosted the want people to have fun
,who very quickly adopted scape competing in the Danish casino, with both lasting up to ten hours, will image of the live game, when they use our website,
this new poker trend biggest events Europe has nationwide TV channels only produce a net income which had for so long been and for that they need clear
among young men. to offer, with tournaments reporting from the tourna- after gaming tax of 2,500 left behind by the rapid information and functions
On a weekly basis, in ten countries. ment area in their prime dkk (E350). developments in the slot that make them feel secure
Casino Copenhagen runs From a modest start at time news and several That Casino Copen- area. when they play.”
10 April 2009 • europecentraleast&cisnews
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