Ongame Clamps Down on Rakebacks

November 3, 2008 (InfoPowa News) — The giant Ongame Internet poker network underlined its aversion to rakebacks this week by announcing the expulsion, effective November 1st, of NextPoker.com.
 
Ongame spokesmen said that the expulsion was "Due to repeated violations of the rakeback policy, Ongame Network will exclude NextPoker from their poker network effectively by the 1st of November 2008. Ongame Network is taking this firm action in order to further clarify its intentions and standpoint regarding a rakeback-free poker network.
 
"Nextpoker has repeatedly violated the terms and conditions of our rakeback policy, and we therefore see no solution other than to exclude them from our poker network. This action is seen as a regrettable but required step towards our vision of operating a rakeback-free network." said Press Officer Kevin O'Neal.
 
When InfoPowa went to press there had been no official comment from NextPoker's Malta licensed operator Abbantina Malta Limited, but the NextPoker website contained no mention of the expulsion. Instead, the site carried a notice directing players to move their accounts to Betfriends.com, a Playtech-powered poker site on the iPoker Network, indicating that NextPoker already has a new home.
 
Ironically, the NextPoker website still carries the following assurance: "Nextpoker does not support or offer rakeback in any form."