BUSI

NES

SMAG

• IS

SUE

JAN

UARY

201

5

1

www.gaming-awards.com | ISSUE JANUARY 2015

FEATURE AIL CAESARS - Special article

InfinityGamingLadbrokes - c’mon you Reds!

ICE Organiser Sold for £200M

Florida warning for casino resorts

Infin

ityG

amin

g •

ISSU

E JA

NUA

RY 2

015

202

EDITOR’S LETTERcontentsInfinityGaming

Ladbrokes – C’mon You Reds ...........................06-09Christina Thakor-Rankin latest excelletn article

Clarion Events sold for £200 million ..............10-11ICE Expo organiser sold to invest firm

Ail Caesars..................................................................16-17Andrew Tottenham looks at what went wrong for Caesars

Florida warning for casino resorts ...................18-19Could there be similarities with Atlantic City?

Washington sees ne online bill .........................22-23Could the most opposed state to online gambling be next?

Customer Service Training Hell .........................26-29Marty Baird latest excellent article

South Vietnam .........................................................30-31The new gambling destination to rival Macau?

South Africa squashes online gambling .......32-33Hope gone for South Africans playing online

IGA8 All Sold Out ....................................................34-35 Biggest ever attendance recorded

AC Mayor predicts bad year...............................36-37 Another casino closure predicts Mayor

Willaim Hill ................................................................38-39Latest annual results and Aussie news

Computer poker player ........................................42-43Can it really beat a poker pro?

Infinity Gaming .......................................................How and where can you read the magazine?

AIL CAESARS16

C’MON YOU REDS

AC TOUGH TIMES

FLORIDA WARNING

06

18

36

BUSI

NES

SMAG

• IS

SUE

JAN

UARY

201

5

3

Welcome to the Janu-ary edition of the Infinity Gaming Magazine.

wow here we are in 2015 how time has flown by indeed the magazine is now almost 5 years old since we launched in March 2010 and what fun we have had.

On behalf of all the team at Infinity Gaming Magazine we want to thank all our readers and advertisers for their truly wonderful support and as we near the actual month we will be doing some special articles to remember.

But onwards we go and how amaz-ing that the 8th International Gam-ing Awards on the 2nd February is already a sell out weeks before the actual evening. We would like to thank each and everyone of our sponsors for their wonderful sup-port, it would not be possible with-out them. It is going to be a very special ceremony and we going to have some great fun there but also with a gold bar on auction to raise funds for Care International, we want to thank Mr Green for their

charity Sponsorship of the auction.

In the magazine we have the superb Tina Thakor-Rankin article looking at Ladbrokes and Andrew Tottenham reviewing how the giant casino operator Caesars has got into so much trouble. Not forget-ting the master himself Marty Baird on customer focussed training.

Hope you enjoy the magazine and see you all on the 2nd February at the Savoy Hotel.

Enjoy!

Lana x

InfinityGamingEDITORS NOTES

EDITOR’S LETTER

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Christina Thakor-RankinMartin R. BairdAndrew TottenhamJJ Woods CONTACT USClever Duck MediaNewmarket 20 Centrix@KeysKeys Park RoadStaffordshireWS12 2HA UKTel: +44(0)1543 478 889 claire@cleverduckmedia.com PRODUCTIONClever Duck MediaNewmarket 20 Centrix@KeysKeys Park RoadStaffordshireWS12 2HA UK

PUBLISHINGInfinity Gaming Magazineis operated by© Clever Duck Media Ltd ® Company Reg. No. 687 1018(Registered in England)

ADVERTISING:Sponsorship OpportunitiesColin@cleverduckmedia.com

Business PartnershipsSvetlana@gaming-awards.com

JOIN US

byLana Thompson - Chief Editor

Opinion Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in all external articles are those of the authors and

do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Infinity Gaming Maga-

zine Any content provided by our feature writers or authors are of their opinion, and

are not intended to malign any religion, ethic group, club, organization, company,

individual or anyone or anything.

Infin

ityG

amin

g •

ISSU

E JA

NUA

RY 2

015

4SOLD OUT

BUSI

NES

SMAG

• IS

SUE

JAN

UARY

201

5

5SOLD OUT

Infin

ityG

amin

g •

ISSU

E JA

NUA

RY 2

015

6

With just a few days to go before the ICE Gaming Expo it has been an-

nounced that Clarion the organisers of the show along with some 200 events they organise annually have been sold for £200 million to global asset management firm Providence Equity. The deal was announced to Clarion staff on the 9th January, It is under-stood that Providence, who are a leading global investor specialising in media, communications, educa-tion and information industries, fought off a number of other com-peting parties to win the bidding war including, ITE Group, Penton Media, Charterhouse Capital Part-ners and finally Carlyle Group LP. Providence is understood to want to invest heavily in Clarion as the

organiser looks to start expand-ing aggressively again, with the company already said to be looking at international acquisitions both large and small. It is unlikely that exhibi-tors and attendees will see any difference from the sale this year, but sources say that senior management changes within Clarion will hap-pen over the coming months. Clarion was owned by private-equity firm Veronis Suhler Steven-son, which bought the company from HgCapital for 120.5 million pounds in 2008, which sees the firm make some £80

million on their investment in just 6 years of owning the exhibitor that traces its roots back to 1947 accord-ing to the companies media files.

Feature Writer - Andrew Tottenham

GAMING NEWS

ICE organiser sold for £200 million

BUSI

NES

SMAG

• IS

SUE

JAN

UARY

201

5

7

Feature Writer - Andrew Tottenham

2015

FREE TO ENTERNOMINATIONS OPENING SOON

GAMING-AWARDS.COM

Infin

ityG

amin

g •

ISSU

E JA

NUA

RY 2

015

8

Following months of discus-sions with its creditors Caesars Entertainment has placed its

subsidiary Caesars Entertainment Operating Company into voluntary bankruptcy which carries debts of $18.4 billion. The company filed papers in Chica-go this week in an attempt to stop three smaller creditors owed $41 million pushing the casino operator into involuntary bankruptcy, saying that the deal Caesars has drawn up is totally unfair to the smaller investors. However the casino giant said that all their casinos, hotels and properties at present will operate

as normal and stay open during the bankruptcy hearings. Caesar employs some 36,000 people over there 38 casino properties around the World including the London Clubs casino chain in the UK. “I am very confident in the future prospects of our enterprise, which will combine an improved capital structure with a network of profit-able properties,” Gary Loveman CEO of Caesars Entertainment said in a statement. The casino operator which has lost

money each year for the last five years, cut its global workforce by 1% last year and closed properties in cities including London. Rumours have been swirling around the industry that the UK casino division will be closed or sold off in a fire sale to recoup some of the lost investment that Caesars made in the UK. At present it looks like court hear-ings will drag on for many months between Caesars and its smaller creditors leaving the workforce wor-ried for their futures.

W ith the release of the latest set of gambling

figures from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforce-ment for the previous year, the numbers show that Atlantic City has now lost almost half its revenues over the last eight years. In 2014 the casinos in the state took $2.74 billion in total revenues, in 2006 revenues for Atlantic City stood at an all time high of $5.2 billion, that is a drop of 48% even in 1988 revenues for the casino industry were at $2.7 billion and those figures for 2014 could have been worse if it were not for the introduction of online gambling bringing in $122 million. It is tough times for Atlantic City

with over 8,000 workers losing their jobs in the industry in 2014, four ca-sinos closing and uncertainty over other casinos closing. In 2006 the casino industry there employed just over 42,000 people, in 2014 only 24,817 now work within the gaming sector in New Jersey. With competition in other states

eating into Atlantic City’s profits it is difficult to know when the decline will stop and flatten out as last year saw a decline of 4.5% in revenues from that of 2013, many working there now hope that the falling revenues and closures will cease in 2015 and bring some relief to a struggling industry there.

AC: Revenues fall 4.5% in last year alone

Caesars subsidiary enters bankruptcy

US GAMING NEWS

BUSI

NES

SMAG

• IS

SUE

JAN

UARY

201

5

9

Infin

ityG

amin

g •

ISSU

E JA

NUA

RY 2

015

10

W ith the opening of the Studio City in Macau by Melco Crown Entertain-

ment in mid 2015 the advert for the new casino resort has been released, well a trailer for the advert has been. Not surprising it is a trailer for the whole advert as legendary actors Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt all feature under the direction of famed Director Martin Scorsese. It is rumoured that the film has cost $70 million to get all the actors to-gether along with Scorsese to make the trailers and short movie which will be shown in its entirety on the opening of Studio City.

Multiple teasers have been released this week showing a sneak peek of the film called The Audition, to be released mid-2015 at the launch of Studio City. It has been directed by Scorsese and written by Boardwalk Empire creator Terence Winter. Brad Pitt is scheduled to appear in the final film, but the plot centers around the actors vying for the same part in a Scorsese film and flying to Macau to audition with the famed director. “This short film is a historic event because it is the first film ever to star such legendary actors as Robert De Niro, Leonardo Dicaprio and Brad Pitt in one film together,”

Brett Ratner, who part-owns RatPac Entertainment and produced the film, said in the statement. “Our hope is that the trailer for “The Audition” gives audiences an early look into what will surely be an important cinematic experience di-rected by one of the most culturally influential directors in the history of Hollywood films,” Ratner added. “It will take the entertainment-inspired leisure destination concept to new levels, in a cinematic setting developed in partnership with the world’s leading entertainment brands, supported and endorsed by many of the legends of Hollywood,” Ho said in a statement.

MACAU GAMING NEWS

De Niro, DiCaprio & Scorsese feature in

Studio City advert

De Niro & DiCaprio in scene from advert

GREAT PLACE TO PLAYGREAT PLACE TO WORK

Rational Services Ltd, Douglas Bay Complex, King Edward Road, Onchan, IM3 1DZ

NO AGENCIES – DIRECT APPLICATIONS ONLYFor full details of our vacancies and details on how to apply, please visit www.rationalgroup.com/about-us/careers

If you have a passion for excellence, there could well be a place for you on The Rational Group team. The Rational Group employs industry-leading practices in customer service, product development, payment security, game integrity and player fund protection, and also holds more online poker licenses than any other e-gaming company. We apply the same high standards to looking after our people: The Rational Group is currently ranked the 14th best large company to work at in the UK by the Great Place to Work Institute.

The Rational Group operates gaming and related businesses and brands including PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and the European Poker Tour. These brands collectively form the largest poker business in the world comprising online poker games and tournaments, live poker competitions and poker programming created for television and online audiences.

2014_2372 HR iGaming SP - Newsletters EN.indd 1 17/10/2014 17:38

BUSI

NES

SMAG

• IS

SUE

JAN

UARY

201

5

11

GREAT PLACE TO PLAYGREAT PLACE TO WORK

Rational Services Ltd, Douglas Bay Complex, King Edward Road, Onchan, IM3 1DZ

NO AGENCIES – DIRECT APPLICATIONS ONLYFor full details of our vacancies and details on how to apply, please visit www.rationalgroup.com/about-us/careers

If you have a passion for excellence, there could well be a place for you on The Rational Group team. The Rational Group employs industry-leading practices in customer service, product development, payment security, game integrity and player fund protection, and also holds more online poker licenses than any other e-gaming company. We apply the same high standards to looking after our people: The Rational Group is currently ranked the 14th best large company to work at in the UK by the Great Place to Work Institute.

The Rational Group operates gaming and related businesses and brands including PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and the European Poker Tour. These brands collectively form the largest poker business in the world comprising online poker games and tournaments, live poker competitions and poker programming created for television and online audiences.

2014_2372 HR iGaming SP - Newsletters EN.indd 1 17/10/2014 17:38

Infin

ityG

amin

g •

ISSU

E JA

NUA

RY 2

015

12

C asino operators in Nevada had a better year in 2014 with total revenues up to $23.9 billion, which is up over $800 million from the previous

year but still short of the states high in 2007 which saw revenues of $25.3 billion, the Gaming Control Board an-nounced in its annual report last week. Thou gaming revenues still have not caught up with the 2007 high the good news is that, revenues from room rents, food and beverages set all-time records in 2014.

Revenues from gaming alone accounted for $10.6 bil-lion, which is just 44.5% of total revenues. That is gam-ing’s lowest percentage of total revenue ever and 15% below what it was in 2007. But the bad news is that over the full year of 2014 casi-nos reported a loss of $743.7 million with the reason for the loss attributed to two major expense areas: interest payments and “write downs” in the value of casino as-sets, including depreciation.

Nevada report 2014 revenues rise

GAMING NEWS

New Jersey online operators to share players

With the struggle to get more players on board in New Jersey both WSOP and 888Poker have combined forces to share players to add more liquidity to compe-titions and cash games online. Ever since the state opened up to online poker numbers have been disappointing and this move offers players more competition within tournaments it is hoped. On-line companies were expecting a boom in New Jersey with predicted revenues of $1 billion in the first year of operation, those estimates fell well short of the actual $100 million generated and so online poker compa-nies will look further into sharing players following the move by 888Poker and WSOP. “Shared liquidity will help create a better player experi-ence that we hope will attract a diversity of players and begin to bring poker to a broader audience once again,” said David Licht, CEO of the All American Poker Network, the joint venture between 888 Holdings and Avenue Capital. The sharing of players by both compa-

nies will start on Monday 12th January, however both sites will still maintain their VIP and reward programs separately.

BUSI

NES

SMAG

• IS

SUE

JAN

UARY

201

5

13

Infin

ityG

amin

g •

ISSU

E JA

NUA

RY 2

015

14

W ashington has seen the introduction of an online poker bill supported by Rep. Sherry Appleton, the move to introduce HB1114

is surprising given the fact that Washington state is the most unfriendly and anti-online gambling state in the US. Indeed poker players there are treated as felons even thou the state allows for land based gambling, but all that could change with this new initiative that has been pushed by Curtis Woodward of the Washington Internet Poker Initiative. Sherry Appleton was chosen said Woodward as she has a history going back to 2006 of supporting online poker in the state. The bill currently only covers the legalisation of online poker, has none of the rules covering “bad actor” clauses covered by states like Nevada & leaves the framing of regulations & the amount of taxation & licensing fees to the state Gambling Commission. How successful the bill will be and how far it goes is unclear, but it is a step in the right direction for a state so opposed to online gambling.

US GAMING NEWS

Washington sees new online poker bill

Straub fights against his own ruling for Revel

The long running story of the failed Revel Hotel and Casino continues as the judge in the court case concerning the winning bidder Brookfield Asset Management who pulled out of the bid of £110 million following their failure to agree terms with debts by the power company has now given runner up Glen Straub the winning bid of $95.4 million, however Straub is now appealing his own favour-able ruling! Straub wants a reduction on the $95.4 million he originally bid to $87 million as he says the bidding process was unfair and flawed. However the judge ruled that Straub’s most recent bid is still binding, and that is the price he will have to pay. That led Straub’s attorney, Stuart Moskovitz, to say he will seek a court order halting the sale to his client. He asked Burns to issue a stay to her own order, but she refused. During a break in the hearing, Moskovitz said Straub “is not making any decisions right now.” It leaves the Revel once again in limbo as Straub also refused to answer recent reporter’s questions on the usage of the property for a casino or as he stated before as an academy for the very brightest individuals. The most worryingly comment Straub has said is that he would not be too bothered if the deal fell through, whether this is a ploy on his part or genu-ine is unclear and leave the Revel back at square one in resolving its long term future.

BUSI

NES

SMAG

• IS

SUE

JAN

UARY

201

5

15

Infin

ityG

amin

g •

ISSU

E JA

NUA

RY 2

015

16

The Vietnamese Prime Minister has allowed the development of casino resorts to be built on

the southern island of Phu Quoc to help improve tourism. Nguyen Tan Dung said that inves-tors who want to operate gaming facilities on the island must com-mit capital of at least $4 billion, the Prime Minister has told the Ministry of Planning and Investment to coor-dinate with the provincial authori-

ties and relevant state agencies to work more on the details for the development of casino resorts along with the regulations to accompany the projects going forward. However the Prime Minister will have the final say on all casino resort proposals from international casino developers. In the plans to allow gambling on the island the government and

local authorities have set aside some 30,000m² for casinos space which would accommodate 400 gaming tables and up to 2,000 slot ma-chines. Any plans by casino develop-ers would also need to have hotels and conference centre facilities. Phu Quoc Island is located off the western coast of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang.

South Vietnam island to be new gambling destination

GAMING NEWS

Malta casino operator to be announced soon

An announcement from developer The Eden Leisure Group who are building a

casino project in Malta are soon to announce who will run the development now that the casino license has been granted. “The partner operates in 80 loca-tions in nine countries, offering a substantial loyalty rewards programme. It should be able to bring many of its members here to Malta,” said executive chairman of the Eden Leisure Group Ian De

Cesare.” Because the government an-nounced it would allow for another casino in Malta the group delayed their other developments such as the refurbishment of the Intercon-tinental and the addition of two floors, construction of the Holiday Inn Express, and a total revamp of the Eden Arena. So they could include the development of the casino as well. However delays and the court case appeal by another casino opera-

tor on the island the Dragonara who also wanted to build a ca-sino meant that the development dragged on for nearly two year, but following those appeals in 2013 when the government decided to allow both proposals now means that the Eden Leisure Group can now proceed. Now the casino development which will cost €31 million at the Intercontinental Malta which will reopen in May and the casino to open in the last quarter of this year.

BUSI

NES

SMAG

• IS

SUE

JAN

UARY

201

5

17

Infin

ityG

amin

g •

ISSU

E JA

NUA

RY 2

015

18

Following media reports an-nouncing that the South Afri-can government would again

consider legalising online gambling in the country the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has issued a statement announcing it is not considering legalising online gam-bling and at the same time send-ing a warning to online gambling operators that they will be severally punished if found guilty of offering online gambling to citizens in the country. “Online gambling, or what others refer to as remote gambling, is not allowed in SA, and the National Gambling Board together with other law enforcement agencies will act on this illegal activity with immedi-ate effect.” Said the statement from the DTI. “The DTI has made it publicly clear that there is no intention on the part of government to propose the

legalisation of online gambling in SA. This means this activity remains illegal, and any person offering or operating such a business is com-mitting an offence under the law. “Perpetrators, whether operating an illegal establishment or participat-ing as individuals could be liable to a fine of up to R10 million and/or 10

years in jail.” This new statement from the gov-ernment department which would be responsible for regulating any online gambling seems now certain to have closed any hope of online gambling being legal in South Africa for the foreseeable future.

South African government squashes online gambling hope

GAMING NEWS

Studio City to feature Batman & other superheroes

The new Studio City casino resort costing $3.2 billion being built by Melco Crown

Entertainment will have a Warner Bros. Family Entertainment Center that will see characters such as Bat-man, Wonder Woman, Superman and the Flash feature to entice a more family orientated visitor to the world largest gambling hub. Melco Crown Entertainment which is run by Lawrence Ho and James Packer will offer a Batman rise as the main feature for it new resort scheduled to open in the third

quarter of 2015. It is aimed at the vacationing Chinese family and is inspired by a Hollywood theme and will also feature 400 gaming tables and two hotels containing 1,600 rooms in a move that focuses on the Las Vegas model of bringing more holidaying families to Macau. It also matches what Chinese Presi-dent Xi Jinping said on a recent visit to the gambling hub that operators need to diversify and not rely on gambling only.

BUSI

NES

SMAG

• IS

SUE

JAN

UARY

201

5

19

Infin

ityG

amin

g •

ISSU

E JA

NUA

RY 2

015

20

W illiam Hill announced their full year profits a little earlier than

expected on Monday 19th Janu-ary due to an administrative email error, posting them to analysts 12 hours before they were supposed to go out, however the full year results for 2014 were up 11% to £371 mil-lion. Revenues in online also climbed in 2014 by 18% helped mostly by the British based continuing rise in dominance within the sector. The retail business for William Hill grew only marginally over the 52 week period. However the fourth quarter rev-enues for retail were down 1% com-pared to that of 2013, while online business in that quarter rose 16%. As the company announced its

results it said also that £39 mil-lion would be set aside to rebrand its Australian business under the William Hill banner, with the Uk’s largest bookmaker saying, there was “potential to drive substantial longer-term value from rebranding all of its existing Australian trad-ing operations under the William Hill brand”. It currently operates as Sportingbet, Centrebet and tomwaterhouse.com. It is expected to start the process in Febru-ary of this year and Australians will see the Sportingbet, Centrebet and TomWaterhouse brands disappear. Shares in William Hill slumped as

much as 5.8pc following the news on results with trading update revealed that the bookmaker has endured a “difficult start to the new year” due to “unfavourable football results”.

EUROPEAN GAMING NEWS

William Hill full year results & Australia business changes

BUSI

NES

SMAG

• IS

SUE

JAN

UARY

201

5

21

Infin

ityG

amin

g •

ISSU

E JA

NUA

RY 2

015

22

INFORMATION

The iGaming Post News site

Social Media

The App Store iOS & Android

The iGaming Post is an online, interna-tional, daily newspaper for the gaming industry. It strives to cover all the latest headlines, delivering them seamlessly through smartphones, laptops and tablets all day, every day. The iGam-ing Post prides itself in reaching out to global readers, from online poker play-ers to the industry executives.

To find out how your company can advertise contact our sales team

Between The Infinity Gaming Maga-zine, The iGaming Post and the Inter-national Gaming Awards our network of followers on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin account for over 10,000 industry professionals and customers interested in the gambling industry.

To find out how your company can advertise contact our sales team

Subscribe to the iGaming Post & The Infinity Gaming Magazine for FREE reaching more than 10,000 global industry readers. Advertising in the magazine and news site can help your business get seen by the decision makers that count. With the iOS and Android App our publications reach a potential 500 million readership.

To find out more about advertising contact: media@cleverduckmedia.com

Just search for us in the App stores “infinity gaming magazine”

BUSI

NES

SMAG

• IS

SUE

JAN

UARY

201

5

23

Infin

ityG

amin

g •

ISSU

E JA

NUA

RY 2

015

24

GAMING NEWS

The poker playing computer that can beat humans

D oesthis mean the end of live poker players as research team led by

Michael Bowling, a professor of computer science at the University of Alberta in Canada, developed a computer program that can outplay humans at a two-player poker game — specifically, heads-up limit hold ‘em. Unlike chess or checkers, in poker, one player doesn’t always know the past moves of the other players. Plus, a player can win a hand when the other players fold. Therefore, in mathematical terms, the game has imperfect information. In the version of hold ‘em poker that the computer played, the bets between two players are fixed and the number of raises is limited. The dealer gives each player two cards, called hole cards. A round of betting follows, known as the “pre-flop.” After that, three more cards

are laid out on the table, called a “flop.” The flop is a set of community cards, dealt face up, so both players know what they are. Another round of betting follows, and then a fourth card is put on the table, called the “turn.” After a third round of betting, the last community card is dealt (this is known as the “river”), and at that point, the players have to show their hole cards, assuming that one player hasn’t folded yet. The computer doesn’t calculate every possible hand as it plays. Instead, it builds a table of results before the game starts. Using some 4,000 central processing units for two months — equal to about 1,000 years of computing time — it simu-lates billions of hands of poker. The table of results alone took up some 15 terabytes of computer storage, Bowling said. For comparison, a typical backup drive for a desktop is one terabyte. [10 Technologies That Will Transform Your Life].

The algorithm goes through all of the possible hands an opposing player could have, and then tallies up the results for each tactic — for example, raising, folding or calling the bet (i.e., matching the oppo-nent). To get an idea of how big the task is, there are 13.8 trillion different situations that can come up in the game. To get there, every human being on Earth would have to play nearly 4,000 hands of poker, that is a lot of poker for anyone. As billions of hands are played, the program comes up with an optimal strategy — that is, it converges on what the best move is for a given hand. “The way this works … it’s al-ready played a billion billion hands of poker,” Bowling said. (Extracts courtesy of livescience.com) www.betsoft.com

BUSI

NES

SMAG

• IS

SUE

JAN

UARY

201

5

25www.betsoft.com