CR83-p22-Poker:SJC-Casino Review 23/8/09 01:56 Page 1
internationalcasinoreview
WPC aligns itself with EiG
The World Poker Congress, which has become a key
Poker
date in the industry diary, will this year move to take
place at the same time and location as EiG. The
conference will run on Thursday September 17 in
Copenhagen, Denmark. Organisers Clarion Gaming
have announced a full line-up of speakers which
MARKET PERSPECTIVES include operators, manufacturers and suppliers of
poker equipment.
Live poker
therealthing lished players know all jargon [about E2] but it may go even adding five or six hands per
SWOT ANALYSIS and the form and new ones can lower. hour, and over a lot of tables
find it hard to break in. That means we have to look that soon adds up.
“In Sweden I can still see some For the casinos there are at the structure of the rake and Tournaments are a very
is still
movement from the internet other pressures: we have to at the speed of the game in useful tool for us: we have daily
to the real poker tables. There offer low-stakes games as order to make it viable. We have events at Gothenburg - they
are a lot of people playing people who come in to play to find economies wherever are a main part of our poker
poker online and for a lot of are not willing to play with as we can, shortening the time to offering. The international
a huge
people they are very happy to much money as those who play open a table for example, or events like WPT and EPT are
carry on with play money just for a living. The downward whether to have a chip float or changing the landscape of the
for a small diversion. But there pressure has continued, as a central chip cashier and game. They are big and expen-
draw for
are lots of others who want to casinos are obliged to make runners. Speed of the game is sive and have created a coterie
try their skills at real tables changes to meet the client essential, which means that of successful players, usually
face to face. demand. So, for example, in shufflers are important as are sponsored by websites, who
There has been steady Sweden, we used to have well-trained dealers. Managing go around like football stars.
players
growth of poker in the last four games with a minimum low to speed up the game by a few We have to separate that side
to five years and here at least stake limit of Kr20/Kr20 seconds a hand, could mean of things from the low stakes
that growth is continuing, even events we run on a Friday. We
when the number of people
STRENGTHS
need a diverse offering to
playing other casino games has allow players of all levels to
stopped. I don’t think the main
a74 Growth in poker is continuing as players migrate from
take part. A very low stakes
Jaak Murro,
reason people come and play
the internet to the real tables
general
game doesn’t appeal to an
manager of
poker is in order to win but in experienced player but it
a74 It offers a genuine entertainment alternative for a
Casino
order to have fun.
wide age demographic
gives the newcomer a chance
Cosmopol We see guests coming in reg- to ask questions, get to know
Göteborg
ularly to play poker, mostly at
the weekends or in the early
WEAKNESSES
the game without always
losing all their money. All
evenings. It’s largely a male a74 The whole poker scene can be intimidating to the new players at whatever level,
demographic but it is by no player in the casino however, are good casino
means just youngsters. We see guests: they are often here a
a74 Downward pressure on stakes and therefore rakes
a lot of family men and come
means the operator has to find big economies in the
long time and will use the bars
in, older guys too, people with
structure of the offering
and restaurants.
good jobs who want a good We are currently having a
night out but have grown out discussion in Sweden about
of nightclubs.
OPPORTUNITIES
whether poker should be
There are some inherent dif- allowed also in clubs rather
a74 There is still a deep well of potential new casino
ficulties in the poker offering
players out there
than only in casinos, as is the
both from the player’s and the law at present. It is a discussion
The Scandinavian and Baltic countries casino’s point of view. New-
a74 Tournaments are a means of progressing players in
that is going on in other parts
produce some of the world’s best poker
comers to the live game can be
confidence and ability
of Europe at the moment, too.
players. The game is huge in the region and
quite intimidated by the expe- There are two strands to the
rienced poker players: if you THREATS
it is in the casinos where the live action
argument: firstly, should tour-
make a mistake on the inter- naments be permitted in local
experience is gained. Jaak Murro, general
a74 Competition from non-casino poker clubs can impair
net, there’s no need to be
the range of poker options a casino is able to offer
clubs, and secondly, should
manager of Casino Cosmopol Göteborg, told
embarrassed - no-one can see cash games also be permitted.
them. But at the tables you are
a74 Casinos may not be able to absorb further downward
Hugh Sorrill about the issues surrounding
It is a discussion that is ongoing
much more exposed, every-
pressure on stakes and rakes
and which we are following
the game both in Sweden and abroad. one can tell who you are. Estab-
very closely at the moment.”
‘The industry has room to grow’
marketsurety been re-interpreted, allowing What has been the generally also want to play in a because it doesn’t slow down
POKERTEK electronic products like Poker- main talking point casino environment from time the game and provides them
Pro. South America is another over the past few to time. When they do, Poker- with incremental revenue. As
How has PokerTek’s region with lots of opportunity months? Pro has a very familiar feel, we look forward, we plan to
poker business fared for us that we are just now PokerPro is the proven leader combining many of the best continue using our technology
over the last year? investigating. Atlantic Lottery in automated poker technol- aspects of online play with a advantages to make the game
Our year so far has been in Canada also marks our first ogy. We are licensed in key bricks and mortar environment. more fun and profitable for
marked by several key mile- installation in a market where jurisdictions worldwide, and players, and to make poker
stones. PokerPro gained our tables have been placed in have more tables installed and What are the key ele- easier to manage and more
approval in the state of Nevada bar environments under the have operators who are ments when it comes profitable for operators.
and we completed our field trial direction of the Lottery, so that earning more with PokerPro to remaining com-
NASDAQ-listed there. We also entered several is a model that we think has than with any other automated petitive in the global What do you feel will
PokerTek made its
new markets, including opportunity for expansion. poker product. We know what poker industry? happen to the shape
mark in the gaming
Arkansas, North Carolina and it takes to run a successful Continuous product improve- of the poker industry
Indiana, and recently installed To what can you poker room, and we work with ment and evolution. PokerPro in the short- to
industry through the
our first tables at non-traditional attribute the growth our customers closely to for- currently plays all of the most medium-term future?
development of two
gaming venues through the of poker over recent mulate a specific and targeted popular poker variations, offers We believe that the industry
landmark poker
Atlantic Lottery in Canada. We years? strategy. Our extensive finan- any limit and buy-in, and eases has room to grow. The number
currently have 272 PokerPro The World Series of Poker is cial, operational and player the burden of multi-table tour- of poker tables has doubled in
products: PokerPro
tables sold or leased worldwide. definitely the catalyst for data give operators more infor- naments, single table tourna- the past five years, with much
and Heads-Up poker’s growth over the past mation than they ever imag- ments and cash games. But as of that growth occurring in the
Challenge. Mark
Which new markets several years, and of course tel- ined possible in a poker room. we move forward, there are so US. Looking forward, we see
Roberson, acting
are you planning to evision has played as important many other features that we can new markets opening up and
move into? a role as the WSOP. Then, Do you feel online offer to poker players that are expect growth in international
CEO and CFO, We’re currently conducting online poker gave players gaming is a threat to simply not possible on a manual markets to increase as new
explains how the
trials in France and Spain, everywhere a taste of the game, the land-based poker table. Rabbit hunting is a great jurisdictions legalise poker and
electronic poker
which are both going very well, even if they couldn’t get to a industry? example, as it allows players to electronic gaming. In addition,
and players there are really casino to play. Players seem to No, actually to the contrary - pay a small fee to view unshown there are several states in the
giant is currently enjoying the benefits of the be expanding their portfolio of we view online gaming as community cards after the US that are actively looking to
performing and what
product. Our most recent games from just Texas Hold’em, simply another means of hand. Players love this, since it expand gaming as a revenue
the future holds for
focus internationally is our to more strategic games like expanding the population of satisfies their curiosity and pro- source to alleviate increasing
expansion into Mexico, where Pot Limit Omaha and Seven poker players. As more and vides some entertainment while budget pressures. Poker is
the industry. gaming laws have recently Card Stud. more people play online, they they play. Operators love it definitely not going away.
22 September 2009 • pokerreport
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