Australian Casino News Archives

NZ Casinos take on facial recognition tech

February 4, 2020 by Admin

Facial recognition technology is becoming a regular feature at land-based casinos across New Zealand. The tech’s intended use centers around the prevention of problem gamblers from entering a casino’s premises. A problem gambler who tries to enter the premises is quickly identified through fast-acting biometric detection systems and authorities can be notified and dispatched, long before the individual can lay their hands on a single gambling machine.

SkyCity Entertainment Group, one of New Zealand’s largest gambling operations, is the latest adopter of facial recognition systems. Their sites in Queenstown, Hamilton and Auckland are all now similarly equipped, with full system integration at each entryway.

The technology, while increasing in popularity, has been criticised for having variable accuracy levels, which has caused no small measure of controversy.

Biometric security in a nutshell

Biometric technology utilises unique genetic traits to single out individuals. Where facial recognition is concerned, a human face is mapped, and recorded for future comparison, without any human intervention. As an add-on to current security systems, this has enhanced the capabilities of security professionals exponentially and heralds an end to physical screening methods, such as fingerprint scanning.

The widespread popularity and adoption of this technology have not dampened the resolve of its critics. The accuracy of the results such systems can produce has continually been called into question. Some have gone as far as characterizing facial recognition as so flawed as to be unworkable, with experts claiming that fooling the algorithms is as easy as donning a simple disguise.

In contrast, SkyCity Entertainment Group has been talking-up the technology, making note of the advances made with such systems and insisting on its suitability for screening at casino entrances.

Below image shows how facial recognition works

Always Improving

New Zealand’s overall faith in biometrics seems to be on the rise, with the police force is reportedly considering its own biometric system. The US-based company, DataWorks, is allegedly in discussions with the local police force to formulate a crime-prevention version of the same equipment featured in casinos. This idea is still in the pipeline stage and it remains o be seen when and if it will become a reality.

Macau was an early adopter of facial recognition security for gambling venues and outstanding results have emerged from its use. It seems that facial recognition will soon be a standard part of gambling venues across the globe, with the spread of the technology showing no signs of stopping.

Aristocrat set to unveil next Gen Concepts at ICE – ICE 2020 Core Games Product Preview

January 14, 2020 by Admin

Aristocrat Technologies is hoping to draw all the right attention at London’s ICE Show on 4th – 6th February, with one of its broadest and most comprehensive ranges of core casino concepts to date. Their offering will comprise of a selection of proven, improved and never-before-seen game mechanics across an expanded range of hardware platforms. The 2020 collection will be on full display at stand S5-150 in ExCeL’s South Hall and shines a light on the future for EMEA casino floors over the next 12 months.

Ian Adams, who is the Product & Marketing Director for EMEA, was on hand to elaborate.

“The diversity of markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa present a tremendous challenge in that the range of content and delivery platforms can often be highly heterogeneous. Aristocrat’s global design & development allocation remains amongst the highest in the industry and we are fortunate to be in a position of selecting the very best games from the global portfolio and tailoring offerings to individual market needs.

“Our D&D teams have built on previous successes with a balance of proven and brand-new maths models and, taking advantage of new hardware technologies, delivering more advanced audio-visual packages to satiate players’ evolving demands for engaging gaming entertainment.”

The new MarsX™ upright cabinet which has already been introduced to a selection of pilot site gaming floors across Europe, makes its debut at ICE, showcasing inventive design and new Gen9 technology, opening the door for a new wave of dual screen casino games.

Accompanying the launch of online slot titles of Buffalo Gold Revolution™ and the Fu Dai Lian Lian™ and Mighty Cash Ultra™ game families, there will be a further selection of MarsX-dedicated game families.

Ka-Ching Ca$h™, with an added twist of the widely popular hold & spin mechanic, where jackpots are allocated to individual reels.
5 Coin Frenzy Jackpots™, sporting a novel ‘Frenzy’ persistence meter, expanding reels, pick bonus and jackpots.
Wonder 4™ Boost Gold, an offshoot of the high octane, multi-reel set game Wonder 4 Boost, including another four popular games; Buffalo™ Gold, Pompeii™ Gold, 5 Dragons™ Gold, and TimberWolf™ Gold – featuring free games, boost feature, and super free games.

Support for portrait form factors remains consistent, including the Helix XT™ and Arc™ Single cabinets. The new game families heading EMEA’s way include:

Cashman Bingo™, a game family incorporating a unique bingo board matrix that transfers cash values and jackpots from base game reels, creating intense anticipation.
Grand Fu Wheel™, Asian-themed fun focusing on a giant, transforming wheel that hands out credit prizes, boost multipliers, free games, and jackpots;
Rising Jackpots™, a trio of Aristocrat Classics, 5 Dragons™, Pompeii™ and Whales of Cash™, enhanced with changing triggers, player-dependant reel heights and wild multipliers, upgraded symbols at higher wager levels and a pick ‘em jackpot feature.
Reel Climb™, another novel idea, adding growing reels up to seven rows high, free games and expanding wilds;
Firecano™ Glory™, bringing a fresh experience of ‘Eruption’ free games with changing wilds and reels.
Fa FaFa™ Fortune Cash™, new hold & spin with reel growth (up to 3 reel sets) with cash-on-symbols, stacked reels that spread across reel sets and free spins.

Existing Helix(+)™ cabinets also get the windfall of several new game titles, some of which are enjoying multiple form and screen factor releases, with a spread of Aristocrat classic titles being added to the portfolio – Brazil™, TimberWolf™, Wild Panda™ and Golden Pyramids™ being amongst them, including the long-awaited multigame, Player’s Choice™ Opal Edition, with a collection of 10 titles combining a mixture of classics including Queen of the Nile™, 5 Dragons™, Big Red™ with more recent player-favourites, Buffalo™ Gold Collection, Wild Fiesta’Coins™, Cash Bull™, Fortune’s Way™, Miss Kitty™ Gold, Big Red™ Gold, and 5 Dragons™ Gold.

Erik-Jan van den Berg, Vice-President of Sales & Business Development – EMEA, closed off the announcement, stating “No matter which cabinet, Aristocrat has a wealth of exciting new content to help invigorate EMEA gaming floors and we look forward to welcoming visitors at ICE to share our next generation vision for the new decade.”

Digital Key To Aristocrat’s Performance

November 14, 2019 by Admin

It’s been a bumper 2019 for international land-based and online global gaming powerhouse Aristocrat. They have shown that the company is able to evolve with the times and continue to build a strong relationship with its players in various casino markets. The company has praised, in particular, their efforts in the digital sphere as their main reason for doing so well this year.

Aristocrat has worked hard throughout the year to grow their business interests in a range of different markets, especially in the Americas. They have increased their product offering, specifically in the online gambling sphere, and ensured that they offer players high-quality products in terms of the design of their casino games. They have also focused heavily on player acquisition by offering high-end real money gambling entertainment.

Company’s First Role Player Game

One of the biggest developments for Aristocrat was the release of their very first computer role player game. This genre is highly popular, and the release of this game proved the current trend. After launching, the game helped them to boost their operating revenue by 22.7 percent almost immediately. The company’s full-year profit has come in at 752.8 million Australian Dollars, after tax.

This is a big deal considering it was only the first title of many that the company is planning to launch. Aristocrat stated that they very carefully planned and monitored the launch of this first game. They will now take their findings to improve the launch plans of future releases, which are very much on the cards. They also took note of how much the game impacted the particular genre it went into in order to inform their strategies for entering new genres in the future.

Push To Meet Evolving Player Needs

The online gaming industry is getting more and more sophisticated and operators have to ensure that they stay relevant to players and provide engaging experiences. This is why Aristocrat has taken the time to invest in new games for their portfolio and evolve to ensure they meet the needs of their players. In addition, the company has been working hard to attract new segments of the real money gambling market.

The chief executive officer and managing director of Aristocrat, Trevor Croker, commented on the success his company has seen in 2019. He spoke about the way the brand has grown, bringing in new digital acquisitions and new talent to promote this growth, and how they are looking forward to enjoying similar growth in the 2020 fiscal year.

Jungle Jim returns in Microgaming’s latest online slot sequel developed by Stormcraft Studios

November 9, 2019 by Admin

Fans of online casino software developer extraordinaire, Microgaming, will be pleased to hear about its latest release that brings back one of its most popular characters.

Developed exclusively by Stormcraft Studios, Jungle Jim and the Lost Sphinx is the charismatic leader’s second epic quest for lost treasure, this time taking players to the mysterious sands of Egypt.

“We are so excited for the return of this iconic character in Jungle Jim and the Lost Sphinx.”

Much anticipated sequel:

Originally announced back in July, Microgaming showcased the then-upcoming video slot on a specially designed stand at iGB Live!, which took place at RAI Amsterdam.

The next chapter in the fan-favorite series takes players to Egypt, where they search for the Lost Sphinx in the 5×4 reel, 35 payline online slot that grows to 5×5 reels and 50 paylines at key junctures of the game. Matching the excitement of El Dorado, this surefire hit is packed with features including the Isle of Man-based developer‘s popular Win Booster mechanics and Rolling Reels with 10x multiplier trail.

Big-win potential:

Against a star-filled desert sky, the action opens in the base game to a 5×4 reel grid and a multiplier trail that gets a boost during free spins up to 10x displayed above the reels. Winning symbols are blasted away by Rolling Reels on each successive win, as fresh symbols drop down, which creates the opportunity for additional wins with increasing multipliers.

Once a player has achieved three back-to-back wins in the base game, the grid will expand to a 5×5 configuration that unlocks 15 extra paylines and awards a 4x multiplier. A bonus respin is additionally awarded to players on a non-winning reveal.

Bonus spins:

The action heats up when three scatter symbols appear on the reels. When that happens, players follow Jim, grappling hook in tow, as he ascends into the 5×5 reel, 50 payline chamber of the Lost Sphinx to be rewarded with the treasure of a dozen bonus spins and a multiplier trail worth up to 20x.

During the feature, players will be aided when golden Sphinx symbols appear on the center reel, helping them in their effort to reach the elusive 20x multiplier as each symbol collected awards another spin and advances the multiplier trail to the next higher level.

The frequency of bonus spins that are triggered can be significantly improved by players with activation of the Win Booster, during which it only takes two scatter symbols to gain access to the highly sought after feature.

“The team at Stormcraft are very excited to launch this long-anticipated sequel, Jungle Jim and the Lost Sphinx.”

Jim’s back!:

Commenting on the return of one of our favorite characters, Director of Global Operations for Microgaming, James Buchanan, said in an official press release…

“We are so excited for the return of this iconic character in Jungle Jim and the Lost Sphinx. Jungle Jim is ready to dig up incredible rewards with a win potential of up to 6,250x. The combination of innovative game mechanics and a graphically rich visual experience makes this latest installment of Jungle Jim a game not to miss!”

Intriguing storyline:

Terrence Igesund, Executive Producer for the South African game studio, added…

“Jungle Jim is back and ready for his next big adventure!

“The team at Stormcraft is very excited to launch this long-anticipated sequel, Jungle Jim and the Lost Sphinx. With decades of industry experience behind us, we set out to create a beautifully crafted and highly engaging gaming experience, loaded with innovative features and great win potential. The intriguing storyline supported by Jim’s entertaining antics should ensure that this game becomes a fan favourite!”

There’s a lot going on in Jungle Jim and the Lost Sphinx, which is now available exclusively to Microgaming casinos.

Stormcraft Studios:

Introduced by Microgaming in June 2018, the independent game studio, Stormcraft Studios, that supplies exclusive content to the online gaming giant is responsible for successful titles such as Dragon Shard, Agent Jane Blonde Returns, and the steampunked-themed, Fortunium, which was the innovative developer’s first official game release and was unveiled on day two of ICE Totally Gaming 2018.

SkyCity Casino emerges from ashes

November 5, 2019 by Admin

The New Zealand International Convention Centre construction site in Auckland was devastated by a fire on Tuesday 22 October. The blaze was severe enough to impact the entire central business district around the new convention centre, resulting in an evacuation. The entire SkyCity enterprise in the area, including head offices, restaurants, casino and hotels were affected.

The convention centre is SkyCity’s exclusive project and the fire is a potentially a huge setback for the company. The cause of the fire has not been revealed to the public, fortunately, the actual flames and fire damage were confined to the construction site, with the casino and surrounding buildings remaining unscathed.

Image: Skycity convention centre on fire.

Safety concerns push union to strike

The SkyCity casino was reopened a mere 2 days after the fire. The Sky Tower opened the following day and the group head offices are expected to reopen this week.

The local union, Unite Union, perturbed by this sequence of events, has instructed their members working in the casino to down tools. The union has expressed that the return to work is dangerously premature. Some casino workers have reported having breathing issues and other respiratory complaints during their shifts on Thursday and Friday. The union wants their 1000 members to stay away from work until the air quality has been formally declared safe, in writing.

SkyCity representatives have stated that emergency officials gave them the all-clear regarding the safety of the air quality, with assurances that it would not harm those in the area.

Setbacks for SkyCity

CEO of SkyCity, Graeme Stephens, announced that he is impressed at the company’s handling of the crisis, with no reported injuries as a result of the fire. A total of 1250 staff members were evacuated without incident and structural damage was limited to the construction site.

The biggest blow to SkyCity has been the damage to the under-construction convention centre. The previously set completion target of the centre to be open and operational by 2021 now seems highly unlikely. The company has yet to complete a full assessment before advising on a new timeline.

NZ Called On To Update Online Gambling Policy

October 25, 2019 by Admin

The International Betting Integrity Association has strongly encouraged the government of New Zealand to adopt a new regulatory system. The recommendation aims to make it easier for both local and international operators able to get permits and to obtain access to an array of services and products.

International markets including, but not limited to Denmark, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have adopted similar licensing models with great success. In addition, the alliance suggested that administration steer clear of arduous tax frameworks that would likely discourage potential entrants into the market.

Fairness of fees in question

The IBIA also insisted on the importance of permit fees being proportionate and entirely rooted in the administrative expenditure of properly regulating the market. Countries utilizing systems similar to those recommended have done away with viewing these payments as a way to raise profit since this approach will simply deter operators from applying for licenses.

Gross Gambling Revenue Tax recommended

The IBIA indicated that taxation systems based on gross gaming revenue have displayed more efficacy than those based on turnover. They additionally recommend that a taxation rate of between 15% and 20% of the gross gambling revenue being imposed.

Diversity is key

The Alliance’s expectations include a menagerie of lawful online sports betting products and services for wagers and the events on which these could be placed. The Alliance’s integrity reports show that 90% of alerts arise from stakes placed on mainstream markets like final results rather than negative ones such as yellow cards.

Beyond satisfactory fiscal and regulatory structures being implemented for sports betting, market viability also depends on licensed operators’ ability to provide a wide range of wagering products, according to the IBIA. They explained that restrictions would drive consumers to seek out the services they are interested in from potentially illegal and unregulated channels.

The UK Gambling Commission is the ideal model as it covers a vast number of burgeoning betting markets. The Commission controls and permits all kinds of wagering various sports without any restrictions. It manages this while retaining close market oversight and working hand-in-hand with the operators it has licensed, supporting an evidence-based policy approach.

Apple & Google join forces to thwart Chameleon Apps

October 15, 2019 by Admin

Apps that lure users with false facades, while hiding hidden intentions have become an online peril, particularly for real money gambling content.

Google and Apple have vowed to clamp down on underhanded developers who use deceptive means to publicize their content. Stricter rules and restrictions have been implemented to stem the tide of fake or “chameleon apps” that have appeared on Google Play as well as Apple’s App Store.

Apps featuring gambling-related content are allowed space in the App stores of both companies. The challenge for the tech monoliths, however, has been eradicating the prevalence of related content in countries where online and mobile sites offering real-money gambling are prohibited due to local laws.

A targeted attack

Content and security specialists Trend Micro, have reported that both tech firms have recently launched a new, aggressive assault on chameleon apps and have managed to wipe out several games and other apps from their respective stores, following a discovery that some developers were attempting to sneak their way into territories where real-money gambling apps are banned.

The apps appear to mask their true intention by hiding money-gambling functions behind benign facades such as weather tracking systems and entertainment booking platforms.

The art of deception

The developers creating the programs in question have worked hard to conceal the true nature of their products by way of a “switch” feature. The “switch” is a function that swaps out certain features at specific points during the development and qualifier stages, in an attempt to circumvent automated screening systems and fool them into approving programs that contain gambling-related material.

While the developers involved in this deceit have caused Google and Apple a significant amount of trouble, their creativity is unquestionable. Their efforts have even landed many of the chameleon apps on Apple’s App Store’s Top 100 best apps list.

Apple is pinning its hopes on its new native content policies, hoping for a swift and decisive victory against a complex and intelligent foe.

New Releases from Microgaming

October 5, 2019 by Admin

Microgaming has unveiled a host of brand new releases to delight their fans:

Banana Odyssey

Microgaming roars through the final frontier of space in Banana Odyssey. This exclusive title comes out of Slingshot Studios, who also created Zombie Hoard and Cash of Kingdoms.

The game follows the journey of Buck and Chip, two astro-chimps on a space adventure for the Banana Planet’s legendary riches. The game is a high energy, five-by-three reel, 10-payline online slot. The features include free spins, expanding wilds and respins.

Bunches of bonus features await the space-traveling enthusiast, when the wild symbol lands on one of the three middle reels and expands to fill the entire reel, triggering the cosmic respin feature. When this feature is activated, the expanded wild remains locked in place as the remaining reels respin. Any additional wild that lands present an opportunity to trigger even further respins, ramping up the chance of rewards.

Free spins are also the starts of this game. Landing three scatter symbols on reels two, three and four triggers 10 free spins with the potential for locked expanding wilds, setting up great win potential in the space race.

Aurora Wilds

Neon Valley Studios, burst onto the gaming scene with their vividly enchanting debut title, produced exclusively for Microgaming.

Aurora Wilds is a five-reel, ten-payline online slot, themed around the magical Pacific Northwest. The game features expanding wilds, respins, bi-directional paylines, and the Jackpot Wheel. Players are gently immersed in the shimmering visuals of the Northern lights which serve as a backdrop

Totem animals jig wildly along the reels as gleaming wild symbols emerge on reels two, three and four. When the wild symbol lands, it expands to fill the entire reel, locking into place and awarding a free respin. A total of three successive respins can be triggered as additional wilds land during the feature.

A gentle, lilting soundtrack matches the game’s visuals perfectly, only changing when three scatter symbols land to trigger the Jackpot Wheel, which guarantees one of four jackpot prizes, awarding up to 2,000x the player’s bet

Tweet Hearts

This slot is themed around nesting love birds and their lush, tropical jungle home. This finely feathered five-reel, 17-payline slot boasts a variety of features, including the Double Lucky Line, Random Wilds, free spins and three different types of wild symbols.

Players joining the journey of the parrot pair will discover the Double Lucky Line, throughout the game, on the middle row across all five reels. When double symbols land on the Double Lucky Line, they are counted as two symbols for any winning combinations or free spin symbols.

The Random Wild feature, present throughout the base game, triggers two to six symbol positions to turn into wild symbols before the spin stops, transforming the reels into a wild zone.

Free spins are triggered when five or more free spin symbols land, immediately awarding 10 free spins. For each additional free spin symbol, an extra spin is awarded, up to a maximum of 25 spins in total.

During the free spins round, Lucky Wilds unlock extra double positions throughout the reels and award additional free spins. These transform into a double position for the duration of the free spins feature, increasing the potential to hatch amazing rewards.

Players ready to spread their wings and soar to new heights of winnings are bound to fall in love with Tweethearts.

Book of Oz: Lock ‘N Spin

This five-reel, ten-payline, high-volatility online slot opens up a brand new chapter in the acclaimed Book of Oz series. All of the magical wonder of the original breakout game, released in December last year, returns to conjure up brand new ways to win. The spellbinding Hyperspins™ Lock ‘N Spin and 2nd Chance features await to thrill both mobile and desktop players.

The Hyperspins™ Lock ‘N Spin feature within the base game, allows players to lock up to four reels and then respin in an attempt to complete massive wins or trigger the Free Spins feature. Locking reels offer players the chance to achieve near wins or reap the benefits of five Book Scatter symbols, giving rise to potentially spellbinding rewards.

The Book symbol doubles as both a wild and scatter. Finding three, four or five Book symbols triggers the Free Spins feature, rewarding 10, 12 or 25 free spins respectively. The Book of Oz blesses players with a special symbol that will expand on the reels during free spins and unlock astounding win potential.

The new 2nd Chance feature emerges during free spins and gives players a choice between choosing to keep the original symbol or reshuffle for a chance to upgrade their special expanding symbol. As the special symbol expands and illuminates on each reel, win potential grows up to 5,000 times the initial bet. Landing three or more Book symbols within the free spins feature will grant further free spins.

Boom Pirates

Captain Mary and her motley pirate crew feature as brilliantly drawn and animated characters in this seafaring adventure. This slot boasts a treasure-trove of gems for players to discover, including the all-new Wonderways™ and Foxify™ features.

The Wonderways feature, unleashes cannon fire to transform the five-by-four reel grid into an astonishing nine-by-six reels, offering over 10 million ways to win.

When activated, Foxify gives players the chance to increase their chances of triggering the game’s three treasured features; raising the initial wager by 50% and triggering a grid explosion.

Captain Mary periodically swings by during the game, turning non-winning spins into a five-of-a-kind winning combination.

When the captain gets the crew in the mood to sing sea-shanties, YO-HO-HO scatter symbols land on reels one, three and five. Finding all three symbols will activate free spins launching a special treasure hunt. When the Boom Pirates cannon is fired, activated Wonderways remain open for the duration of the free spins. This combined with the fact that any three scatters landing offer an additional five free spins, provides the potential for tantalizing rewards.

Players may also purchase free spins for the pirates’ price of 100x the initial bet. This buy-in feature allows players to access free spins at any point throughout the game.

Yukon gold casino player strikes jackpot on Mega Moolah slot

September 29, 2019 by Admin

Whenever online gambling or any form of gambling is mentioned the thought of life-changing wins occur.

Of course, not every player can be a winner but every now and again one lucky player strikes a massive win that creates hope in every other online gambler.

It doesn’t matter when you play, a massive win can happen at any time when playing progressive jackpot slots.

One very lucky player managed to strike the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot at Yukon Gold Casino.
September Winnings

On the 5th of September 2019 one very lucky Canadian player at Yukon Gold Casino decided to try their luck on the Mega Moolah slot from Microgaming.

While playing this very popular progressive jackpot slot the Canadian player managed to land a life-changing jackpot of CA$4,746,748.54. This win came as a big surprise for everyone as September has been rated one of the slower months for the Mega Moolah jackpot over the years.

This lucky Canadian player not only managed to break the streak of bad luck in September on the progressive slot but also managed to become the first to hit the jackpot on the 5th of the month. In the past, most September wins on the game only occurred on the 6th, 25th, and 28th of the month.

And although it hasn’t been confirmed if the jackpot winner is from Canada the prize paid it Canadian dollars basically tells the story. Lady Luck has been favouring Canadian players when it comes to the Mega Moolah slot. In 2019 alone Canadian players have earned a total of 42,228,633.73 in jackpot prizes on this progressive slot game.

Some might say it’s high time as there were no jackpots on the Mega Moolah slot in Canada up until June 2014.

Mega Moolah and Progressive Winnings

With the latest progressive jackpot win, many players are wondering what will happen and how much jackpot money will be up for the taking. While you might think the Mega Moolah slot would have no jackpot prize to win after such a marvelous win it couldn’t be further from the truth. The Mega Moolah jackpot has just been reset to back to 1.8 million giving players a chance to aim for those big
winnings once more.

About the slot

Mega Moolah is a fun progressive jackpot slot with an African Safari theme that can be played on all devices. The slots comes with four progressive jackpot prizes known as the Mini, Minor, and Major and Mega jackpot.

The most exciting part of playing Mega Moolah is that you can trigger the special Jackpot Bonus Game on any given spin. During this bonus game, you will be presented with a large wheel that will reveal your award once after the spin.

The bigger your bet size, the more likely you are to trigger the jackpot bonus game although you can take a spin from as little as 0.25.

Try the Mega Moolah progressive slot at Yukon Gold Casino and you could be the next big jackpot winner.

Microgaming shuts down MPN which is no longer aligned with Growth Strategy

September 25, 2019 by Admin

Online gaming software provider Microgaming has announced the imminent closure of the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN), one of its oldest flagship operations.

Microgaming has not disclosed an exact date but aim to have the network closed down by 2020.

In a statement issued on its official website, the company advised that MPN was deemed unnecessary after an exhaustive internal review of its online poker product portfolio and strategy.

MPN was launched over 16 years ago and has been instrumental in shaping the world of online poker. Its closure is sure to affect poker players everywhere.

The final curtain

While Microgaming has not settled on a specific date, they are aiming to complete the closure process by the second or third quarter of 2020. MPN has outlived its usefulness and no longer has a role to play in future strategies, according to the firm.

Alex Scott, Microgaming’s poker head, stated that the company wants the poker community to “have fond memories of the network.” Business will continue as normal until the network’s shutdown, previously scheduled online tournaments, live events, cash games, and promotions will not be affected.

This at least means that the ongoing Universal Championship of Poker and MPN Poker Tour will still take place.

Are Players’ Funds Safe?

Scott said that players need not worry about any funds that are currently with MPN poker rooms. Operations will continue as usual for the moment and all existing MPN rooms have informed Microgaming that they would find a new poker supplier. Microgaming has, in turn, assured them of a smooth transition.

Players are free to withdraw any funds that they currently have with MPN. Scott explained that as a condition of operating on the poker network, “each of our poker rooms is required to, at minimum, segregate all player funds from its operating expenses.”

Scott assured fans of online poker games that scenarios like these have already been well planned for. Addressing potentially concerned gamblers, he advised that the closure of the network will have “no impact on the safety of your funds.”

Microgaming’s shutdown of MPN is far from a signal that the company wishes to walk away from poker. On the contrary, it forms part of a larger strategy that the company’s CEO, John Coleman, says will actually help them adopt a new strategic direction for the vertical.