Weekly Roundup April 21 2017
Ignition Casino Seating Procedures Changed
The Pai Waing Luo Network changed seating rules for cash games this week. The change affects Ignition and Bodog. Cash game players must now choose a game, limit, table size and structure to get a seat on the network. The software will then find the most appropriate seat for the player. The software no longer displays any cash game tables. This is the only way to find a seat on the network today. The change is similar to how Zone Poker works.
Many other US online poker rooms still use cash game lobbies where players may select tables. BetOnline is among the sites that still offers this option.
Delaware Online Gambling Posts Worst Poker Month in History
March was a tough month for Delaware’s regulated online gaming industry, according to statistics released by the state lottery. Poker posted its worst month ever. Delaware poker tables raked just $17,715. That is less than half of the $37,324 Delaware poker sites raked in March 2016. It is only the second time Delaware did not break $20,000 in rake in a month. February 2017 was the only other one. Online poker rake peaked in December 2013 at $106,922.
Online casino games also suffered a major loss over the previous months and March 2017. Table games won just $35,629. That was down 69% from February and 48% from March 2016.
Slots and video poker games won $98,446 in March. That was down 16% against February and 38% against March 2016.
PokerStars Expands Spin & Gos to Omaha
PokerStars expanded its Sit and Go jackpot games to Omaha. Players will find $1, $3, $7 and $17 Pot Limit Omaha games in the lobby. There is also a $5 SCOOP satellite event for the Spring Championship of Online Poker. Spin and Gos have a random number generator that determines the prize pool. These games are already immensely popular for No Limit Texas Hold’em.
Online Gambling Opponent Rep. Chaffetz Will Not Seek Reelection
Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), one of the largest opponents of online gambling in Congress, announced that he will not seek reelection in 2018. Chaffetz is the chairman of the House Oversight Committee. This is where a disastrous hearing for the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA) was held last year where the idea of barring states from regulating online gaming was widely mocked by members of the committee.
RAWA is being pushed by casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. Adelson is a major contributor to the Republican Party.