Online poker seems to be heading in two separate directions, anonymous or social.

Poker sites like PartyPoker, Bwin and 888Poker have adapted a social approach to the game while US poker site Bovada have anonymous poker tables only.

The new PartyPoker software has features similar to Zyngapoker where players can unlock achievements and earn rewards while they play poker online.

888Poker were one of the first poker sites to go social with webcam poker tables, private poker tournaments and a social poker site my.888poker.

Bovada is currently the most popular USA poker site, all poker tables are anonymous with players represented by a seat number instead of a screen name.

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PartyPoker new software released, the latest version of Party Poker is a combination of an online poker room crossed with a social network.

Players can make new friends at the tables, unlock achievements, complete missions and post updates to their personal poker profile.

The concept is similar to what Zynga Poker offers but with real money poker games from a poker room with many years experience in online poker.

In this review we’ll look at some of the new features available and understanding how to use the new Party Poker software.

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The new PartyPoker software will launch this August, the long awaited software update will include new features and social integration focused on recreational poker players.

Party Poker will also re-branded their logo to something completely different, with an orange and black theme.

The new PartyPoker will feature something fairly unique to online poker, players will be able to win extra cash by completing missions and poker achievements.

Party Poker will also introduce a new social experience for players, play against your friends or make new friends at the poker tables.

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Zynga Inc, announced on Monday that they will be cutting their workforce down by 18%, trimming 520 jobs and closing their offices in New York, Los Angeles and Dallas.

The reason for the job cuts was to cut costs, the cuts are expected to save $70 million to $80 million in annualized cost.

In a move that the social-gaming site’s founder Mark Pincus described as “necessary to move forward.”

In a memo released to staff, Pincus said the reductions were part of Zynga’s strategy to become more competitive in the gaming market, particularly in the mobile arena.

“Mobile and touch screens are revolutionizing gaming” he said. “Our opportunity is to make mobile gaming truly social by offering people new, fun ways to meet, play and connect. By reducing our cost structure today, we will offer our teams the runway they need to take risks and develop these breakthrough new social experiences.”

Shares for ZNGA dropped down to $2.99 and are currently on offer for around the same price from $3.41 a share prior to the announcement.

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Zynga have joined forces with bwin.party to offer real money poker and casino games to UK players.

Zynga is the largest social gaming platform with millions of players in their database, the strategic move will see Zynga’s UK players added to the bwin.party database.

bwin.party will provide the software and support for Zynga real money poker and casino games. The partnership will begin exclusively with UK players with the hopes to expand into other markets.

Zynga Casino will feature the same real money casino games that can be found on PartyCasino and BwinCasino.

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