Recently, the websites of Kiwi Poker and Prestige Poker began forwarding to CD Poker. Poker News Daily has confirmed a closure of the two rooms. Instead, the sites’ parent company will focus on marketing and developing CD Poker, William Hill, and PokerRoomSchool. However, existing players are still able to log into Kiwi Poker and Prestige Poker and play as normal.
An e-mail was sent to Kiwi Poker support last weekend asking why the site was forwarding interested customers to CD Poker. The New Zealand-themed online poker room’s response: “Please be informed that Kiwi Poker is related to CD Poker. That’s why whenever you try to download Kiwi Poker, you’re being redirected to CD Poker. This is just temporary, rest assured we are trying our best to work on this problem.” Several days later, it was officially revealed that CD Poker, William Hill, and PokerRoomSchool would become the center of the company’s efforts. In the corner of the existing Kiwi Poker software, existing players will find a mention of CD Poker. However, they are able to sit down at real money tables and not prompted to download new software. Both Kiwi Poker and Prestige Poker, like CD Poker, are part of the iPoker Network.
In October, Playtech, which operates the popular iPoker Network, announced that it had entered into a business relationship with William Hill. The agreement, which was released to the London Stock Exchange, stated that William Hill “acquires affiliates of Playtech Ltd and other assets and enters into online gaming license agreement with Playtech Ltd.” Both companies are publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbols “PTEC” and “WMH,” respectively. William Hill’s poker room is set to make its debut on the iPoker Network during the first quarter of 2008. Currently, the site calls the CryptoLogic Network home. However, its old network is slated to merge its online poker rooms with Boss Media by the end of the first quarter.
According to traffic ranking site PokerScout.com, the iPoker Network is the third largest in terms of the number of cash game players with a seven day running average of 6,200, trailing only PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. At the time of writing, which is mid-afternoon in Europe (where a sizable portion of its player base is located), there are 9,700 ring game players on its virtual felts. According to CD Poker, there are 28,000 players online in total.
This month on CD Poker, the site is holding a $400,000 cash game rake race. The top 300 players on the leader board when the clock strikes March will finish in the money. Points are assigned to each player based on the rake generated during hands, ranging from one point for up to $0.50 to ten points for over $3. First place will pay out $20,000, with the top 300 players guaranteed at least $750.
In addition, CD Poker is awarding cash prizes for members involved in every one-millionth hand. The highest of these so-called “Golden Hands” will take home $30,000, while the lowest will pocket $20,000. Prizes for the hands are based on the table’s stakes, ranging from $65 to $3,000 for micro- and high-stakes, respectively. The iPoker Network is also gearing up for its $2.5 million guaranteed tournament, which is scheduled for March 8th. The amount is the same that PokerStars qualifier Chris Moneymaker won during his magical World Series of Poker (WSOP) run in 2003.
Titan Poker is perhaps the most well-known site on the iPoker Network. Others include Better Poker, Chili Poker, Mansion Poker, Noble Poker, Sun Poker, and VC Poker. In December, Sun Poker officially joined the network after moving over from CryptoLogic. Other recent online poker room moves include Betsafe heading to the Ongame Network and Carlos Poker relocating to Microgaming. Last weekend marked one of the most significant migrations so far, as Doyle’s Room, which is flanked by 10-time WSOP bracelet holder Doyle Brunson, signed on with the Cake Poker Network.
Playtech’s stock closed the week’s trading down ₤2.00 to ₤369.75. Over the past 52 weeks, it has risen and sunk with the rest of the market, trading in a range between ₤292.25 and ₤558.00. The company recently announced that Playtech Live had launched in Latvia and would be focused on European gaming markets.