Unibet quitte le réseau Microgaming

On Tuesday, online gambling company Unibet announced that it will be leaving the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) and launching its own standalone network as early as next month. The company said in a press release that it will be working with software developer Relax Gaming to provide a new social gaming community for online poker players.

"The environment in the online poker industry has changed over the years and we have come to the insight that being part of a poker network is not sustainable for Unibet in the long term," said Daniel Eskola, Head of Gaming at Unibet. "This project has given us the possibility to start from a blank piece of paper and define everything we believe is important for a fun poker experience. In a way, our goal is to bring the fun back to poker by creating software with a clear focus on the casual player."

Unibet Poker's new user-friendly software will include a new lobby, 3D backgrounds, ability to change avatar and screen name, and gameplay features such as achievements and missions. The software will be available for PC and Mac download, browser, and tablet versions for both iOS and Android.

PokerNews Nordic's Per Wolf recently sat down with Eskola to discuss Unibet Poker's move into a new direction. Here's a look at the interview:

Hi, Daniel. Can you please tell me why you are doing this change right now and not earlier?

Eskola: Of course it is a strategic decision. Earlier it has only been focus on the big liquidity and security that comes with it and thus has poker networks were the answer. We want to focus more on casual players today, those that do not grind every day but play because they love the game. That is a lot harder when being part of a big network.

PN: So you want to have more control over the product?

Eskola: Yes, exactly. We need that control and the last seven months of work together with the team at Relax Gaming has given us the faith that they are up to the challenge.

What features do you see in your new product?

Eskola: It is a lot more focus on the social aspect of poker. It will be more rewards and achievements. You will be able to change your avatar and alias at the site whenever you want. We want to make poker more fun, as it was. Less grinding with statistics programs and HUDs.

So I assume such software will not work at your site?

Eskola: No, you are correct. You will not be able to save your hand history for tracking software purposes and in addition the possibility to change aliases will make tracking close to impossible.

You do not think there is a risk that this can be used for collusion and such?

Eskola: No, we have a really good system and team to detect players using bots, colluding or chip-dumping, and it is a priority for us.

So for tournament players a lot will change, right?

Eskola: Yes, we will not be able to compete with the big sites when it comes to have massive starting fields and gigantic guarantees. However, we do not see that as something negative — rather, the opposite. A lot of our players have told us they prefer to play tournaments with under 100 players and with smaller buy-ins. We can now offer this, with an occasional big tournament as a complement.

Will you continue with your live tournament series Unibet Open?

Eskola: Yes we will continue with satellites and to promote this very popular series also with the new software.

Will this mean you will have to hire someone new?

Eskola: No, we can handle this with our team together with the people from Relax Gaming. We have started to work more closely with experts in the field of security though to better be prepared and handle such things as collusion and bots.

Thank you for your time and good luck with your new product! We look forward to test it next year.

Eskola: Thank you!

Unibet has officially announced that it launches its standalone client in mid-January. Users of the room will be able to play in the Microgaming pool until February.

In January 2014, Unibet Poker discontinues its offering through the Microgaming network and will continue to operate as a standalone room. Players of the room will be able to access the pool of the Microgaming network until February.

With the new client, several changes will be implemented. First of all, it will not allow the use of utility software, such as HUDs, and rake will be lowered on lower limits. Unibet is a lead operator in the sports betting and casino gaming markets and they aim to provide easier access to these offerings for poker players and vice versa. Specifics on the technical side of this have not yet been released. The new proprietary software is being developed in cooperation with Estonia-based Relax Gaming.

Reasons for Unibet parting ways with the Microgaming network may include the room’s aforementioned services and its resulting ability to maintain a sufficiently large player pool and a healthy ratio of recreational players on its own.

"This project has given us the possibility to start from a blank piece of paper and define everything we believe is important for a fun poker experience. In a way, our goal is to bring the fun back to poker by creating software with a clear focus on the casual player," Unibet’s Head of Gaming Daniel Eskola stated.

The new client will be released for the PC, Mac, as well as the iOS and Android platforms. Players can alter the 3D visualisation of the background, change their avatars as well as screen names and complete challenges.

The Microgaming network is currently the 7th on the .com market traffic list but the loss of Unibet will most likely be a major blow to its player liquidity.