Bitcoin Casino News

Virtual Reality Poker Product on the Horizon

Posted on September 27, 2018October 1, 2018 by Kelley N.

Bitcoin isn’t the only new technology to take the poker world by storm. Virtual reality has also made quite the impression on poker operators – so much so that PokerStars is currently developing a new product that allows players to take part in poker games using a VR headset.

PokerStars VR

The new VR poker software provides players with the chance to play online poker games using virtual reality technology. By donning a headset, players will be able to transport themselves to unique locations and compete in cash games and tournaments with other virtual players.

Severin Rasset, Director of Poker Innovation and Operations at PokerStars, says:

“PokerStars VR is a chance for us to take this amazing technology and bring something totally unique to poker players. Poker is about interaction. It’s been bringing people together for well over a century. We’re really excited to invest in the next generation of the game and to give players the opportunity to meet in a brand new virtual reality dimension.”

There will be some unique modifications that players can make to their gaming experience. For example, they can customise the look of their 3D avatar, and they can choose to play in all sorts of interesting locations, like a yacht in Monte Carlo or an Old West saloon. They can also engage in other activities like order drinks or even throwing food at their competitors.

Currently, the technology is being tested by over 100 players around the world. It is able to use on Steam with either Oculus Rift or HTC Vive headsets. At the moment, there is no word on when PokerVR will be made available to the public.

Virtual Reality in the Wider Gaming Market

Virtual reality has been gaining ground in the wider gaming market for a couple of years now. We have seen large gaming development companies experimenting with this technology to create a wide range of immersive video games. There are puzzle games, shooters, arcade game and all sorts of different titles that use virtual reality to engage players in a brand new way.

Even the slots market has embraced virtual reality. NetEnt is one online slots developer that has been working hard to bring VR slots to life. Several of the company’s most popular games, including Gonzo’s Quest and Jack & the Beanstalk, have been given the virtual reality treatment, immersing players in the characters’ worlds while vying for the chance to win generous prizes.

While virtual reality is becoming a big hit in the larger, video game market, there is no telling how it will fare in online poker rooms and at online casinos. It will be very interesting to see how players respond to being able to play poker games and tournaments while wearing VR headsets.

UK Treasury Committee Says It’s Time to Regulate Bitcoin

Posted on September 20, 2018September 20, 2018 by Kelley N.

Lawmakers in the United Kingdom feel that it’s about time that bitcoin is regulated. They have highlighted the potential risks of trading and spending cryptocurrencies, and believe that the next step is to develop a framework that would protect users.

Protecting Consumers

A committee of MPs have come forward to urge London’s Financial Conduct Authority to supervise “crypto-assets”. They are concerned about the number of risks involved for investors. For example, the price of cryptocurrencies is incredibly volatility and there are few consumer protection protocols in place. There is also the potential for cryptocurrencies to be hacked and there is also the danger of it being used to launder money.

There are major concerns that individuals who choose to invest in cryptocurrencies are putting themselves in danger. While it is becoming more widely used around the world, there is still plenty of work that needs to be done in order to protect investors and ensure that bitcoin and other crypto-assets are safe to trade.

Nicky Morgan, Chair of the Treasury Committee says:

“It’s unsustainable for the government and regulators to bumble along issuing feeble warnings to potential investors, yet refrain from acting. At a minimum, regulation should address consumer protection and anti-money-laundering.”

The Right Decision

There are varying opinions in the debate of cryptocurrency regulation. Some experts state that regulation could help cryptocurrencies grow while other believe that it would stifle their growth. There are many different sides to the debate, and it is time for regulators to weigh the pros and cons of each option.

Some experts argue that cryptocurrencies won’t be able to grow without regulation. This is because many potential investors are wary of putting their money into bitcoin without knowing that they are protected.

There are others, however, that are concerned regulation could stop further development of cryptocurrencies. If regulators try to apply traditional rules to bitcoin, then there is the chance that it may limit the ways in which cryptocurrencies could branch out and innovate.

It will be interesting to see how the UK government plans to go about regulating bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, if they decide to go that route. There are plenty of opportunities to help protect consumers using regulation but, at the same time, it would have to be done in such a way that cryptocurrencies can continue to grow and develop.

Plenty of work needs to be done before a working regulatory model is introduced. Lawmakers will need the input of developers, investors and bankers in order to create a framework that benefits all parties involved.

Blockchain Poker Tournament to be Hosted at Aria Casino

Posted on September 13, 2018September 13, 2018 by Kelley N.

Blockchain and cryptocurrencies are quickly becoming ingratiated into the poker world. Providing players with safe and secure gaming, they have been embraced by players and operators across the web. To help strengthen this bond, World Crypto Con will be hosting a Blockchain poker tournament.

Bringing Land-Based Poker and Blockchain Together

The Blockchain Poker tournament will integrate blockchain technology into standard poker tournament play. While few details have been announced so far, we are hoping to see some exciting innovations, for example, wagering using cryptocurrencies.

It is anticipated that many talented poker pros will be in attendance. Daniel Negreanu and Antonio Esfandiari are on the list of rumoured runners, and there is speculation that Phil Hellmuth may register since he is known to have a close relationship with the Aria Casino.

This will be the second time we’ll see blockchain technology integrated into a poker tournament. The first was in July, when Blockparty hosted an event at the Blockchain World Conference. 100 runners competed in the tournament, and the winner walked away with a two tickets to the next Blockchain World Conference and three nights’ accommodation – worth a total of $10 000.

Blockchain in the Online Poker World

The online poker market is quickly embracing blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. There are now dozens of online poker sites that accept bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as deposit methods, and players are pleased with the development. Cryptocurrencies are well-known for the privacy that they award users, as they are completely anonymous. They are also renowned for their quick processing times.

There are also many ways that online poker sites are planning to use blockchain in their overall operation. Smart contracts can make peer-to-peer payments an integral part of tournament registration and payouts. For example, if it costs 1 BTC to enter a tournament, the player’s buy-in is kept in escrow with every other player’s entry fee. Players who win will be paid out from the escrow account, so no money is ever passed through a third party.

Another benefit of blockchain technology is that it is audited by the community itself. All changes and developments can be viewed by members of the community, who are on the lookout for any suspicious activities – so, you can definitely rely on blockchain to make the online poker world a safer place.

Blockchain is already making a significant impact on the online poker world, and it is sure to start having an effect in the land-based poker market. World Crypto Con’s blockchain tournament is just one of the first few steps that needs to be taken in order for poker and blockchain to become completely integrated for a whole new gaming experience.

Bitcoin and Other Crypto Prices Plummet Suddenly

Posted on September 6, 2018September 6, 2018 by Kelley N.

We all know that cryptocurrency is a volatile market, but what just happened is ridiculous. Overnight the value of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Ripple have dropped by about 10%.

A Big Crash

Over the course of the past 24 hours, the value of bitcoin dropped by $1065. Now one bitcoin is one work about $6313, as opposed to yesterday’s value of $7378.

There is no particular reason as to why the coin’s value dropped, but it could be related to Goldman Sachs’ announcement that it would not be opening a cryptocurrencies desk. Executives from the company noted that there was a lot more work to be done before it was ready to begin trading bitcoin, and that there were several factors outside of the firm’s control. It was shortly after that when the decline began.

The value of bitcoin has actually been on the rise for the past few weeks, so this recent decline comes as quite a blow. It is likely that the increase was due to Goldman Sachs’ original intention to begin trading bitcoin, causing investors to snatch up the cryptocurrency. Now that the firm has cancelled its plans for working with bitcoin, investors are likely to have started to sell off their bitcoin.

As a result of bitcoin’s decline, other cryptocurrencies have felt a knock-on effect. As bitcoin’s value continued to drop, so did Ethereum and Ripple. Both saw a fall in their value worth about 10%. Other smaller currencies have also seen a decline, with Litecoin and bitcoin cash falling by 4%. It seems that investors in these cryptocurrencies have taken bitcoin’s decline as a sign that all digital spending methods are not viable for trading on a traditional level.

Advice for Bitcoin Poker Players

If you’re a poker player using bitcoin, then it might be a good idea to keep your coins where they are right now. It might be wise to wait until the price climbs back up before you withdraw any of your winnings. Since cryptocurrencies are known for being quite volatile, it is likely that their value will increase again soon, so be sure to keep an eye on their prices for the time being.

Poker continues to be a popular market for bitcoin, as players appreciate the anonymity and safety awarded by the cryptocurrency. It is easy for players to instantly deposit and withdraw to their accounts, and it makes for a unique way to experience online poker games. We anticipate that the popularity of bitcoin will spread to other areas of the online gaming world, and that the value will bounce back after this recent decline.

Treasure Island’s Poker Room Closes

Posted on August 30, 2018August 31, 2018 by Kelley N.

A Las Vegas poker institution is shutting it’s doors, and the local gaming market just won’t be the same without it. Unable to compete with the big boys, Treasure Island has permanently closed, leaving 17 other poker rooms on the Las Vegas strip.

Too Much Competition

There are only seven tables at the Treasure Island poker room, which certainly pales in comparison to places like Rio and Wynn that have huge venues to host thousands of players and large tournaments. The only games that were run at Treasure Island were $1/$3 no-limit hold’em games, which was limiting for the potential player base.

In recent years, the venue didn’t host a summer poker series. This is likely because bigger venues had more prestigious tournaments on offer. However, there were daily tournaments available, the most recent of which had a $45 buy-in and a $250 guaranteed top prize. Still, these types of tournaments just weren’t enticing for players and Treasure Island was unable to maintain a steady stream of players and runners.

Treasure Island simply couldn’t stay competitive with the rest of the casinos that offer poker on the Las Vegas strip. It’s unfortunate, but a harsh reality that venues in Sin City have to face. There is fierce competition in Las Vegas, and if you can’t keep up, you’ll have to close down. Over a dozen other poker rooms still remain, so players should have no problem finding another venue.

History of Treasure Island

The Treasure Island poker room originally opened in 2006 under the management of MGM. There were eight poker tables available, and it was a destination for players who wanted to experience niche games like badugi and crazy pineapple. Over the years, however, the selection of games became watered down and, as we mentioned above, there only typical Texas Hold’em games were table.

The Treasure Island poker room was known for its quaint interior. However, it also had that gritty feel to it that you would expect from a home game with high rollers. There was definitely something unique about the venue, and players who frequented it will certainly miss its presence on the strip.

Now, there are 17 poker rooms available in downtown Las Vegas. The best known destinations are the Bellagio and ARIA, both of which are world-renowned for their luxurious designs and the prestigious tournaments that they hold.

It is unlikely that another poker room will take the place of Treasure Island’s. With nearly 20 places to play poker on the Las Vegas Strip, there really is too much competition for another venue to open up and experience significant success.

First Three Online Poker Licenses Handed Out in PA

Posted on August 23, 2018August 23, 2018 by Kelley N.

It was only in July that Pennsylvania casinos were required to submit their online gambling applications, and progress is quickly being made. The first three online casino licenses have been handed out, with Parx, Mount Airy and Harrah’s being the first three venues to be given the go-ahead to launch online gaming services.

PA Poker Partners

Parx Casino is home to the biggest and most profitable poker room in Pennsylvania. So, when it comes to offering online poker services, it is likely going to be the first one to see significant success. The players that already visit Parx Casino to play poker in person will likely sign up to its online poker site.

The company that Parx will be partnering with is GAN, a UK-based gaming operator that runs a number of sites in Europe. The two companies will be working together to build an online gaming platform that will engage Pennsylvanian players. The only drawback seems to be that GAN has focused more on betting and casino games rather than poker so, from a software perspective, the other casino licensees in PA may have an advantage.

One such company is Mount Airy, who has partnered with PokerStars. Together, they will launch PokerStars PA – which will be a tough brand to compete with. PokerStars is one of the most recognised online poker brands in the world so, even though Parx is a more popular land-based venue, its online brand may struggle to captivate local players.

Finally, there’s Harrah’s, which is associated with Caesars Entertainment. As such, the company’s online poker site is most likely to operate on World Series of Poker software. Like PokerStars, this is a widely recognized brand name, so there is going to be some steep competition among Harrah’s and Mount Airy. So, Parx will have to work hard to capture a significant portion of Pennsylvania’s online poker market.

Still a Long Way to Go

While three online casino licenses have been granted, there are still six more applications in need of processing. On top of all this, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will also have to vet the online gaming partners of the local casinos. So, while things are moving along quickly, it is still going to take a few months before Pennsylvania players will have the chance to play poker and other casino games online.

Once everything is all ready to go, Pennsylvania will benefit hugely from the introduction of online gambling. Licensees are required to pay $10 million for their licensing see, and they will be tax 16% on all table games and poker activities. A 54% tax will apply for slots and a 36% tax will apply for sports betting. Daily fantasy sports will be permitted, as well, with a tax of 15%.

Is Bitcoin Cash the New Neteller for Poker Players?

Posted on August 16, 2018August 16, 2018 by Kelley N.

More and more players are using bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to play poker online, and industry experts are beginning to take note of the trend. Jonas Odman, General Manager of Global Poker, is a strong proponent of this development, and has even gone so far as to predict that bitcoin cash will be as big as Neteller in the online poker world.

Bitcoin Benefits Online Poker Players in a Big Way

As a leader in the online poker market, Odman recently spoke at the CoinGeek conference to provide insight about the future of online gaming with relation to cryptocurrency. While there, he extolled the benefits of using bitcoin at online poker sites, stating that the cryptocurrency offers numerous benefits to players and merchants alike.

While only a small percentage of players currently use bitcoin at online poker sites, Odman predicts that bitcoin cash will be the new Neteller for the industry. He notes that bitcoin cash is a very quick option when it comes to cash outs. When player use traditional ewallets and credit cards, they have to wait a few days until the have access to their winnings – but bitcoin cash ensures that withdrawals are processed instantly. This is a huge benefit to online poker players, and it one of the main reasons that the use of cryptocurrency is sure to expand in the industry.

Odman addresses some of the challenges that the industry could face when using bitcoin to play poker, such as fluctuating exchange rates. Bitcoin is still quite a volatility cryptocurrency, and Odman anticipates that players are likely to hold onto their coins when rates increase. He hopes to integrate incentives into the online poker world that will encourage players to continue using bitcoin even when rates are on the rise.

The Expansion of Bitcoin in the Poker World

Bitcoin Cash could certainly change the game when it comes to using cryptocurrencies at poker sites. As the “next Neteller”, bitcoin cash definitely has some big shoes to fill. Neteller brought online poker to the masses by providing players with an easy way to deposit and withdraw cash. Since PayPal was withdrawn from the gaming market, Neteller stood up to takes it place by ensure its banking platform offered easy access – and bitcoin has the potential to follow suit.

You can take a look at his full interview here:

Bitcoin is becoming increasingly important in the online poker world, with more and more players choosing to deposit and play with cryptocurrencies over traditional currencies. So, will bitcoin cash become the next Neteller in the online poker market? Only time will tell, but there is plenty of support for

Nevada Poker Revenue Way Up

Posted on August 9, 2018August 17, 2018 by Kelley N.

Nevada’s poker market has experienced some big wins lately, as the state has raked in record revenue in June. Revenues have been climbing since the start of the year, and now they are the highest that they have been in almost a decade.

Record-Breaking Revenue

Throughout the month of June, poker rooms throughout Nevada accumulate $17.8 million in revenue, according to documents released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The only time that poker profits have exceed $17 million was in 2007, when they reached just over $17.6 million – so, if things keep going this well, poker in Nevada could see it’s highest-ever profits this year.

The World Series of Poker recently visited Nevada, which is the likely reason for this rise in poker earnings. Over 100 000 poker players came from around the world to play in the tournament, and many spent their spare time at cash game tables. Many players who bust out of the tournament early will end up playing cash games for the rest of the tournament at casinos both on the Las Vegas strip and throughout the rest of the state.

Other games across the state have also seen a jump in revenue, with table games earning an extra 15% over the course of the month for total earnings of $339 million. On the other hand, slots haven’t been performing particularly well, as they saw a 3.3% drop in profits.

Good News for Nevada, Bad News for Las Vegas

Las Vegas casinos also enjoyed a good start to 2018, but things have gone downhill quickly. While Nevada’s overall poker revenue has increased, Las Vegas’ gaming profits aren’t doing so well. Both MGM and Caesars have reported soft numbers for the month of June, which has caused casino stocks to fall by over 20%.

Operators have stated that this kind of decline is to be expected during the summer months. Tourists seem to avoid Las Vegas during this time, as the weather can be too hot too handle, and cooler months are when The Strip thrives.

Casino operators in the city are fighting this decline in profits by cutting costs for visitors. For example, MGM has reduced its room rates in hopes of attracting more guests. Some guests have cited paid parking and increased game odds as reasons why revenue has been on the decline, so it will be interesting to see if operators respond by making changes to those aspects.

Regardless of what the numbers say now, Las Vegas is still on track for a great year. With all of the recent developments with sports betting legislation, the city is sure to bring in extra revenue from punters who want to place wagers on their favourite sports teams.

Kardashians Host Charity Poker Tournament, Bitcoin Appears

Posted on August 2, 2018August 15, 2018 by Kelley N.

The Kardashians hosted a charity poker tournament recently, and the event has been making headlines. However, while most blogs are interested in Kim’s weight loss and new haircut, we’re more focused on the inclusion of bitcoin.

Playing Poker for a Good Cause

The event was a lavish one, with sponsors paying up to $50 000 for a table. If you wanted to sit at a table next to a Kardashian, you could have to shell out $5000 to $7500 for a seat. All other players would be able to compete by paying $1000.

It was definitely a star-studded event, with plenty of celebrities making an appearance. January Jones, David Arquette and Meghan Trainor are just a few of the stars that showed up to compete on the felt. There were even some poker pros in attendance, including Phil Hellmuth, Ryan Feldman, and Brandon Cantu.

The event was in support of City of Hope, a leading research and treatment centre for life-threatening illnesses like cancer and diabetes. The organisation is a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and provides care to individuals in need while researching medical breakthroughs that could eliminate these diseases.

All in all, the event was a huge success. Over half a million dollars were raised for charity. The winners walked away with some impressive prizes as well, as first and second place received front row VIP tickets to see The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. Third place received a custom fitted set of golf clubs and fourth place earned a $17 000 diamond bracelet.

An Appearance from Bitcoin

One of the interesting things about this tournament is that bitcoin was in play. In an Instagram story posted by Kim Kardashian, she posted a photo of a bitcoin chip alongside her regular poker chips with a caption that read “We moved onto bitcoin!”.

The physical bitcoin was given to her by Matthew Roszak, the founder of Bloq – a company working on blockchain innovations. The small gift quickly started conversations around the world, as Reddit users suggested that this is a huge move for bitcoin. With Kim Kardashian adopting cryptocurrency, the market could get the mainstream push that it needs.

This isn’t the first time that bitcoin has made an appearance in the poker world. In fact, the Blockchain World Conference recently hosted the world’s first cryptocurrency poker tournament, where players were not only able to wager using digital money but also registered for the event with it.

Poker is emerging as one of the most desirable and viable partners for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Should these two markets continue to develop their relationship, it won’t be long before bitcoin is a major player in the online gaming world. It would be an important entry for cryptocurrency and the first step towards becoming mainstream.

First-Ever Crypto Poker Tournament Held

Posted on July 26, 2018July 26, 2018 by Kelley N.

Cryptocurrencies are touted to be the next big thing in online poker, but there is still a long way to go before they are truly integrated into the market. To give things a little push, the Blockchain World Conference recently hosted the world’s first cryptocurrency poker tournament.

A Ground-breaking Innovation in Poker

The event was held on the last day of the Blockchain World Conference. Only attendees of the conferences were invited to play in the poker tournament, and 100 players in total took part. The winner received two tickets to the next Blockchain World Conference in December along with three nights’ accommodation – a prize worth $10 000.

While there are several online poker sites that run on bitcoin, there has never been a live tournament focused on cryptocurrency. We are beginning to see the two markets merge, which is a great thing for both players and operators. There are many benefits to playing poker using cryptocurrencies, and it is hoped that players currently using traditional currency will begin to see te possibilities and potential.

The entire event was run through cryptocurrency and tickets were sold using Blockparty, a live ticketing platform powered by blockchain. During the tournament, all bets were made using cryptocurrency, and all prizes were awarded using it as well.

This was the first time that Blockparty has hosted a poker tournament, as the platform is usually used for conferences and parties. So, it’s interesting to see many crypto-focused businesses coming to together to bring new experiences to consumers.

Blockchain World Conference – A Big Success

Over 4000 people attended the Blockchain World Conference at Harrah’s in Las Vegas. 100 exhibitors were in attendance, as well as a list of speakers that included blockchain experts, cryptocurrency analysts, scientists and business leaders. The closing keynote speech was given by John McAfee, and there were plenty of fun events for all attendees, including golf outfits and VIP parties.

It is certainly a big deal that the World Blockchain Conference was hosted at a prestigious venue like Harrah’s Las Vegas. This type of event brings cryptocurrency into the mainstream, and it is likely to inspire more industry expert to host similar exhibitions.

In fact, the World Blockchain Summit will be hosting a series in various countries around the world. The event will come to India, UAE, Slovenia, Kuala Lumpur, Riyadh and Taiwan over the course of the next six months. These types of events are sure to help spread the word about cryptocurrency and its benefits.

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