Amaya Gaming has announced that it is to make a series of changes to the VIP programme for its PokerStars brand. In an email to customers, Amaya said a new rewards programme will be launched at some point next year, with the updated system to cover all PokerStars products, including the BetStars sportsbook. All players will move to the programme, although customers will not be required to play any specific product to build up certain rewards. “You won’t be required to play on any specific product, but your activity on all products will help you progress on your path to…

The latest changes to California’s Internet poker bill call for online gaming companies who facilitated poker games for Americans between 2006 and 2011 to be excluded from the Golden State market for five years, according to a report from The Los Angeles Times. The amendment would prevent PokerStars, which has roughly 70 percent of the worldwide online poker market, from being involved right out of the gate in what is considered the nation’s largest online poker market. PokerStars facilitated games for Americans until 2011, before the federal government indicted its former owners. The company settled without admitting to any wrongdoing,…

The California tribes blocking passage of the state’s latest online poker bill have proposed strict conditions for allowing PokerStars to get a license. In a letter to Assemblyman Adam Gray obtained by Gambling Compliance scribe Chris Krafcik (@CKrafcik), the seven-tribe coalition led by the Pechanga and Agua Caliente bands reiterate their longstanding opposition to Gray’s AB 2863 legislation but offer specific remedies to alleviate their concerns. The coalition has steadfastly objected to PokerStars participating in California’s online poker market due to the site having continued to serve US residents following the 2006 passage of the federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement…

The final days for Full Tilt poker are officially upon us. After announcing back in February that Full Tilt would be “pooled together” with fellow Amaya Gaming online brand PokerStars.com into one product, the company announced last week that May 17 will be the official date. The Full Tilt communications team stated that Full Tilt players would be e-mailed directly regarding personal information on how the merge will affect them specifically, “which depends on a variety of factors, including their jurisdiction and the status of their PokerStars account (if any).” The statement went on to say that, “in many cases,…

To the surprise of no one, the insider trading charges filed by Canadian regulators against former Amaya CEO David Baazov (Baazov has taken a voluntary leave of absence from his position as CEO and Chairman of the Board) are already having a negative impact on efforts to pass an online poker bill in California, and based on some of the comments coming out of the Golden State, it could lead to a major shakeup among the coalitions that have formed between certain stakeholders. The situation PokerStars is now facing has bolstered the company’s detractors, evidenced by tribal lobbyist David Quintana’s…

The CEO of Montreal online gaming company Amaya has been charged after an investigation into insider trading by Quebec’s stock market watchdog. David Baazov faces five charges, including influencing or attempting to influence the market price of the securities of Amaya and communicating privileged information. “These allegations are false and I intend to vigorously contest these accusations,” Baazov said in a statement Wednesday. “While I am deeply disappointed with the (Autorite des marches financiers) decision, I am highly confident I will be found innocent of all charges.” He was charged as part of an investigation by the AMF that resulted…