Online News: Connecticut legalizes online poker; Bodog Poker hosts $4.5m PKO series; Natural8 unveils Smart HUD update; Germany players restricted;  PokerStars India runs summer series

In this column, we deliver you the latest and most interesting online poker industry news from across the world and all platforms.

Connecticut joins six other states to offer regulated online gaming

As the month of May ended, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont took the final step in passing the awaited House Bill 6451 into law after successfully securing the necessary support from the Senate just two days prior. The state which houses a population of 3.6 million, will be the sixth US state to legalize online casinos and the seventh to offer regulated online poker, joining the likes of Delaware, West Virginia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan.

Apart from online casino games and poker, the Bill also serves to allow sports betting, keno and online lottery draws as well as other fantasy leagues to flourish throughout the state. Only the two Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes are so far allowed to offer online casino and poker games, and whose details still need to be confirmed by the US Department of Interior (DOI). While the new iGaming Bill is set to take effect on the 1st of July 2021, citizens can expect to wait a bit more until games are actually up and running.

“By signing this bill into law, Connecticut is now on the cusp of providing a modern, technologically advanced gaming experience that will be competitive with our neighboring states and positions us for success into the future,” noted Governor Lamont in a press release.

Bodog Pokern & Ignition Casino host $4.5m PKO series this summer

Progressive knockout tournaments are a hit in today’s leading platforms with many of the modern generation of players enjoying the thrill of the budding format. Running under the PaiWangLuo network, Bodog Poker & Ignition Casino is jumping in on the trend with a generous $4.5 million guaranteed series this summer.

The exciting festival features a total of 104 tournaments across its month-long schedule with events catering mostly to the mid and high stakes player pool. Taking a different route, the series appears to be somewhat different from the usual 50% of the buy-in going to the player’s bounty with Bodog Poker & Ignition Casino allotting only 17% to 50% of the buy-in. While games have already begun, interested players still have until the 30th to try their luck on the virtual arena.

Highlighted Events:

GGPoker unveils Smart HUD update

While modern poker strategy has transformed the use of third party tools to be an essential part of the grind, fast-growing Natural8 has pushed for a more level field by prohibiting these applications entirely. Offering its own tracker display, the Smart HUD feature has since had a major update after over two years and now offers added information and increased functionality for its users.

Added stats include a player’s all-time VPIP (voluntarily put money in pot), steal percentage, PFR (pre-flop raise), continuation bet percentages on multi-streets as well as showdown data. The illustrated icon which shows an opponent’s current run remains to be visible and in use as part of the feature.

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Germany players restricted to one platform at a time; EGBA files complaint over 5.3% German online gaming turnover tax

Effective on July 1st, 2021, Germany’s new toleration policy on online gambling will restrict players in the country to participate under one operator at a time. The restriction on cross provider play comes along with strict compliance on deposit limits for players. Despite the pending limit being an obvious disappointment to grinders in the nation, the looming 5.3% planned turnover tax on the online games may be a bigger concern once it comes into fruition.

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has since filed a formal complaint to the European Commission in relation to the proposed tax. The association highlighted that the proposal would bring a “substantial and unfair” tax advantage to land-based gambling establishments and ultimately push players to unlicensed platforms rather than the regulated market.

EGBA secretary general Maarten Haijer further noted, “We have previously made our concerns about the tax proposal known to the German authorities but to no avail and they will now need to justify the measure under EU law,”

“We call on German politicians to rethink the proposed tax rate and bring it closer in line with the tax rate applied to online casino products in other EU countries.”, he added.

PokerStars India runs 4.80Crore (~$660,000) summer series

The poker market in India is on the rise as it relishes its third online festival this year. The two-week-long summer series hosted by industry giant PokerStars has everyone tuned in on the segregated client as its 129 event line-up runs underway. A total of 4.80Crore (~$660,000) in combined prizes is up for grabs with the majority of the games geared for low stakes players. Nonetheless, the series will also feature more expensive events such as the Super High Roller for INR 27,500 (~$375).

A multi-day Main Event stands to be the highlight of the series with an inviting guarantee of 1 Crore (~$137,000). Buy-in for the tournament is priced at INR 11,000 (~$150) with the champion crowned on its concluding day, June 15th.