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Shuffle Master Drops Ongame Acquisition

After many months of negotiation, Shuffle Master Inc. has decided not to move forward with plans to acquire Ongame Poker Ltd. from Bwin.party. Shuffle Master, the top rated online casino game maker, cited lower than expected profits from Ongame, causing it to re-evaluate the purchase. Statements on each company’s website acknowledge that the decision was made amicably and mutually.

Shuffle Master is known globally as one of the best online casino suppliers, making automatic card shufflers, roulette chip sorter, video slot machines as well as electronic table game platforms.

Gavin Isaacs, Shuffle Master’s Chief Executive Officer stated, “We remain ardent believers in the growth opportunities for online gaming and continue to focus intensely on the space.”

Representatives from top rated online casino brand Bwin.party Digital have made it known that they plan to begin discussions with other parties that have expressed their desire to acquire Ongame over the last few months.

Shuffle Master’s decision to walk away from the deal stemmed from the worsening of business conditions in the European market as well as uncertainty over the timing of online casino game legislation in the United States. As a result, Ongame was unable to achieve expected financial forecasts. Had Shuffle Master pushed forward, acquiring the company would have called for a more significant financial investment.

Louis Castle, Shuffle Master’s Chief Strategy Officer commented, “We are continuing to invest in our own state-of-the-art content platform, which capitalizes on our industry leading portfolio of Proprietary Table Games, and remain committed to serving our customers’ online needs.”

OMI Gaming Licensed in Alderney

The Swedish top online mobile casino game developer, OMI Gaming, has received licensure from the Alderney Gambling Control Commission in the British Channel Islands. This will enable the company to offer its technology to both Alderney-based online casino games operators and companies around the world that are have licensure in the Alderney jurisdiction.

OMI Gaming is a privately held company based in Stockholm that develops online gaming systems. It is well known for its development of mobile online casino games and its proprietary Kazuri Casino Module.

Alderney spokesperson Robin Le Prevost stated, “Alderney is automatically associated with the leading and largest online operators and platform providers but we have always been enthusiastic about the small quality start-ups and OMI Gaming is just such a start-up.”

André Orefjärd, OMI Gaming Representative commented, “We are delighted to have been approved by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, it is one of the most reputable jurisdictions in the world. We are dedicated to meet with Alderney’s rigid standards to be able provide the highest quality mobile and social service to our clients.”

Robin Le Prevost commented on OMI’s desire for licensure stating, “It is interesting but by no means unique that they wanted their first accreditation to come from Alderney as that demonstrates to all that they aspire to the very highest standards and that will be of enormous help and value to them as they build their business and we wish them every success”.

Delaware Passes Gaming Bill

This past week, Governor Jack Markell of Delaware signed the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012 into law, authorizing online betting in the state. The online casino games legislation passed the state Senate, albeit with some controversy, as a Democratic lawmaker who opposed the bill mistakenly voted in favor, thinking he was voting for an amendment instead.

The lawmaker is Senator Robert Venables of Laurel. He has stated that he may try to withdraw his vote, but the Governor’s quick signing of the legislation into law may make that impossible.

Delaware is now the first state to legally pass legislation for online casino gambling.

There was increased support for the bill over time in Delaware as competition from neighboring Maryland and Pennsylvania casinos became intensified. In his explanation, Markell stated, “We’re talking about a couple thousand jobs. The competitive landscape for this industry has changed dramatically.”

Limitations from federal law will only allow players to make bets within the state borders. In order to ensure compliance and that all betting is done legally, the state will implement geo location software.

Delaware hopes to launch online gambling in top rated online casinos by 2013 and plans to allow players to place bets on digital devices like smart phones and tablets.

Everest Gaming and Cryptologic Expand Deal

Everest Gaming, the subsidiary of BetClic Everest Group, came together this past week to close a multi-year online casino games supply deal with Amaya Gaming’s Cryptologic. The companies have joined forces in an effort to bring their products to top rated online casinos.

Vice President of Operations at CryptoLogic, Ian Price, shared his thoughts on the venture, "This expanded agreement strengthens our existing relationship with BetClic Everest Group, and will enable millions of their players to enjoy an even broader variety of CryptoLogic games. BetClic Everest Group have been a successful licensee with CryptoLogic since December 2009 and their desire to gain access to a wider range of CryptoLogic's games once again illustrates the quality of our content.”

Everest’s Director of Casinos, Etienne Leroy stated, "At Everest, we pride ourselves on the variety of games we have on offer to our customers, and we are therefore delighted to release the additional CryptoLogic games on all our seven Casino brands. By delivering value and entertainment for our online customers, it is no surprise these games have proven popular on our sites thus far, and we are pleased to be building on our relationship with CryptoLogic for the future."

According to insiders close to the deal, the fine print states that over an allotted amount of time, CryptoLogic will deliver eight online casino games to Everest. The first installation in the online casino games series was game online debuted in May. Players will be able choose from these online casino games at Everest’s top online casinos including Everest Casino.com, Imperial Casino.com and Casino Elegance.com.

Online Casino Bill Passes NJ Committee

New Jersey is pushing forward with its online casino games legislation. Senator Ray Lesniak’s bill, which would allow casinos in Atlantic City to provide online gaming to players, passed an Appropriations Committee hearing earlier in the week.

The legislation, known as Bill A2578, will now go the general Assembly for vote.

According to the legislation, Atlantic City online casino games operators will be allowed to accept online bets from gamblers outside the state's borders, with the US federal law compliance requirement.

Supporters believe that the passage of the bill will boost revenue for Atlantic City casinos, as they have suffered as a result of the economical situation in the United States as well the expansion of gambling in neighboring states of Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware and Maryland.

Assemblyman Vincent Prieto, one of the bill’s sponsors, stated, “Most everything has migrated to the internet and taken advantage of the consumer and revenue options it offers and New Jersey’s gaming industry should be no different.”

According to reports earlier in the month, New Jersey plans to move ahead with the legalization of sports betting. Governor Chris Christie is in full support of the intiative but expects that the bill will be blocked from the federal level.

UK Gambling Commission Addresses Reports on Social Gaming

Last week news circulated online that the Gambling Commission in the United Kingdom was exploring the possibility of regulating social gaming. The Gambling Commission has spoken out to address the reports.

John Travers, Corporate Affairs Manager for the Commission stated to the UK newspaper, The Mail on Sunday, “We are monitoring developments and assessing any wider implications for licensing objectives.” He said that social gaming is “at the perimeter” of current legislation.

The Commission put out a statement to follow-up, “We monitor what is going on across a wide range of activities, whether on-line or terrestrial, such as lotteries, gaming machine sales and including social gaming sites, to ensure that unlicensed gambling – as defined by the Act – is not taking place.”

The United Kingdom Gambling Act defines “gambling or games of chance” as a game played with the chance to win a “prize” at top rated online casinos. Those in the industry are looking to define social gaming prizes and the notion of virtual money so that regulation can be more defined.

Ivor Jones of Numis Securities commented on the developments, “Whether social gaming is or isn’t a gambling product doesn’t hinge on whether or not it is a game of chance, it hinges on whether you can win “money” or “money’s worth”. If regulation only stated “money” then casinos would be able to bypass regulation by handing out goods rather than currency as prizes, so legislation needs to say something of monetary value.”

Zynga Poker Releases New Slot Game

Zynga Poker, the well-known online casino games social platform, has just announced the debut of a new product, Zynga Slots.

Zynga Slots will be act as a mobile online casino and can be accessed by iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. The application features a smooth gaming experience, bright and vibrant graphics and new social elements that will enhance the experience for slot fans.

Vice President of the Zynga Mobile division, Justin Cinicolo stated, “As Zynga’s second mobile casino game, Zynga Slots brings the thrill of Las Vegas slot machines to the palm of players’ hands while introducing social elements for players to share the excitement with their friends. We’re continually listening to player feedback on the kinds of games they enjoy playing and we’ll be sure to bring more high-quality iOS games to players based on the genres they enjoy.”

Players can also play slots in offline mode, enabling them to access the online casino games anywhere. The game is available in ten languages.

Features include live data notifications as jackpots rise as well as the ability to level-up to unlock rewards. Players who play Zynga Slots often can receive benefits like increased pay lines and higher betting limits for bigger risk and better rewards.

The game also features basic slot gameplay with vivid animation as well as mini-games and fun characters. Animated characters react and move with each spin, giving players the chance to get closer to the coveted Fever Mode, a thirty second bonus round where players can spin as much as they want.

London Stock Exchange Welcomes Playtech

This past week, Playtech, the well-regarded developer of online casino games software, announced that the brand will be publically traded in the London Stock Exchange's main market at the beginning of July.

The company is in the process of applying for its ordinary shares to be listed on the premium segment of the UK Listing Authority's Official List. After that is complete, they would like to gain approval to trade on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities. In order to do so, Playtech will have to receive the go ahead from the UKLA and LSE.

A spokesperson for Playtech stated the company is confident that joining the London Stock Exchange’s official list is the best way for it to broaden its reach and cement its standing in the industry. The move would assist in the liquidity of the company's shares and also be a way for the company to gain future investors.

Playtech software is a top choice for some of the best online casinos in the industry. Online casinos like William Hill, bet365, Winner, Swiss Casino, and Europe Casino all run on the platform. On the same level as Microgaming, Playtech is the largest online casino games software provider. The brand continues to develop its game selection and broaden its scope. Some of Playtech’s signature services include a live platform for live casinos as well as an online bingo network, the largest in the industry.

Gaming Licenses Could Be Revoked in Germany

Shortly after seven online casino game operators received a license to run their top rated online casinos in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, plans emerging from a new government could mean the dissolution of the regulated gaming market.

Three of Germany’s political parties, the Social Democrats, Green Party and South Schleswig Voter Federation, formed a coalition after a close election victory over Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats on May 6th. The three parties have made their intentions known of rejoining the gambling treaty of Germany’ other states and find a way to revoke the gaming licenses that were issued without being liable for compensating the seven existing license holders.

On May 3^rd, the top online casino companies, Betfair, myBet, and Die NordwestLotto were first to receive a gaming license in Schleswig-Holstein Two weeks later, licenses were issued to bwin.party, bet365, bet-at-home.com and Tipico as well.

The licenses were granted by Klaus Schlie, Interior Minister for Schleswig-Holstein, under an EU-backed law that gave permission for the online casino games operators to offer sports-betting services until license renewal proceedings in May 2018. The plan determined that licenses for poker and other online casino games would be awarded in the coming weeks. More than forty online casino games companies await word on their application. The new political developments can possibly halt any further licensure.

The country’s new ruling coalition will need the support of the state general assembly in order to repeal the gambling law.

If the coalition moves forward, it is likely that the licensed seven operators will take legal action against the state if their licenses are dissolved. The new government could be held liable for potential lost revenues if their reforms prevent license holders from operating in the state.

Nevada Gives Possible Go Head for IGT License

The fate of the legalization of online casino games in the state of Nevada continues to move in a positive direction. This week, the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the first regulatory body in the United States with the ability to award interactive gaming licenses, gave a nod to IGT for possible licensure. This comes after earlier reports that it also gave Bally Technologies a similar nod.

If approved by the board, both IGT and Bally’s will receive the ability to establish a partnership with Nevada casino operators to provide a top rated online casino games site to their players.

IGT has operated successfully in the casino games online industry for over a decade. It is the only supplier in the United States that manages a flourishing business to business poker network.

Reports have circulated that the Nevada Gaming Commission is likely to determine which top rated online casino companies will receive licenses at their meeting at the end of June.

Patti Hart, IGT chief executive officer commented, “We are honored to be one of the first recommended providers by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. This important step will allow IGT to better support our customers as they expand their offerings to their players to include interactive wager based entertainment. We are thrilled to be at the forefront of this exciting and necessary expansion of gaming in the US.”

Delaware Senate to Consider Online Casino Legislation

The legislation that will make it legal for the state of Delaware to operate an online lottery, table games and additional sports betting sites, passed in the state House and is currently waiting debate in the state Senate. Sponsored by Governor Jack Marshall, the bill is known as the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012 and it received a favorable 29-8 vote. Many in the House expressed that the reason they voted in favor of the legislation is that they hope it will stimulate the economy by bringing business to top online casinos and no deposit casinos.

After the vote, Ed Sutor, CEO of Dover Downs Hotel & Casino stated, “What this bill does do is it has the potential to preserve jobs that are currently there. The industry is taking a lick. I would say this is not a jobs generator; this is a jobs preserver.”

Republican Representative Lincoln Willis, who voted favorably weight in, “I have a lot of folks in my district that work at Dover Downs. The reason for my vote is that we’ve got to protect those jobs that we have. Yes, there are way too many moving parts in this bill, and we could have done it cleaner, but it’s necessary.”

If the bill passes, Delaware’s three casinos will be able to provide online casino games on their sites, including blackjack, online slot machines and poker legally. Bars and restaurants throughout the state would also be able to provide players with favorite games like Keno, instant lottery games as well as sell pro-football parlay cards.

Bally and Aristocrat Partner

This past week, Bally and Aristocrat technologies announced that a deal has been struck between the two brands that will enable them to expand their online casino games presence on a global scale and at the same time increase their product offerings to other businesses.

Bally announced that it will work with top rated online casino games supplier Shuffle Master Inc. and the online poker provider Ongame Networks Ltd. in an effort to develop a poker and iGaming platform.

Commenting on the deal, John Connelly, Vice President of Business Development at Bally Techonologies stated, “Bally is pleased to offer Ongame’s proven poker platform, which will provide a unique offering through its integration on Bally’s iGaming platform. Bally Technologies and Aristocrat Technologies have agreed to offer Ongame as one of their preferred poker solutions, thus creating a combined liquidity pool for our customers.”

The deal specifies that Ongame’s poker content interface will be added to Bally’s iGaming platform. By doing so, the company’s goal is to provide a B2B offering while allowing operators to choose world-class technology. At the same time, the brand will maintain control over their operations.

Connelly continued, “Bally’s objective is to place the control in the hands of the operator. We are providing the necessary tools to have a single view of the player by incorporating existing and online gaming systems, while allowing operators to have the ability to cross-promote between traditional land-based and online consumers.”

Aristocrat’s vice president of system sales and marketing, Kelly Shaw, also shared his thoughts on the deal, “Today both Aristocrat and Bally Technologies have agreed to offer Ongame as one of our preferred poker solutions. We have already begun work on integrating the Ongame poker solution into our nLive platform.”

Bodog Poker Sold, CEO Steps Down

Three months following the indictment of Calvin Ayre, founder of Bodog.com, the company’s Poker Network has been bought by Bodog88. With the announcement also came the resignation of Bodog Poker Network CEO Patrik Selin.
The top online casino, Bodog88, was launched in March with a focus on the Asian market. Managing Director Robert Gustafsson will take over Selin’s position.

Selin commented on his leave of the company, “It is obvious that the best fit for the Network is a company that understands the power of the brand – especially in a growth area such as Asia. I also know Bodog88’s Managing Director Robert Gustafsson well and he understands the importance of the recreational poker model, which, again, is particularly strong for Asia, where trust is a much more important factor than concepts like rakeback that hold no meaning in the region.”

Last year, Selin was responsible for launching Bodog’s Recreational Poker Model, which came with a change to anonymous tables. The move was designed to eliminate any advantage players had from using data-mining software to track their opponents.

In March, the company responded to player’s concerns that the anonymous tables were allowed for collusion because it gave players the chance to request hand histories 24 hours after a game ends. The hand history details include the hole cards of all players involved in the hand. Bodog founder Calvin Ayre has stated the anonymous poker games have, “the industry’s leading fraud and bot protection built into it.”

Selin was a major part of triggering an online casino games industry trend towards recreational poker models. Microgaming quickly followed in Bodog’s footsteps by releasing anonymous tables as well.

Robert Gustafsson, the new Bodog Poker Network CEO commented on Selin’s departure,“What Patrik has done for the Bodog brand, and I would argue poker as a whole, since he started the Bodog Poker Network has been phenomenal. His pedigree in the industry has grown further since he unveiled the recreational poker model and the fact that many companies have now adopted a similar focus highlights its success. We wish him well for the future in the knowledge that wherever and whatever he puts his mind to will be a huge success.”

Playtech Eyes Nevada Casino Games License and Social Gaming

The highly regarded online casino games software brand, Playtech, has put in its application for an online casino license in Nevada. Earlier this year, the company identified its goals for 2012 and stated that they are “looking forward to an exciting year ahead with potential new joint venture partnerships and new licensee prospects.”

In the realm of social gaming, CEO of Playtech, Mor Weizner, stated that the top online casino brand has plans to license real money gaming software, social gaming and real-money mobile software from Skywind Holdings. He commented, “Social gaming offers exciting growth opportunities for real money gaming organizations to apply their technological and marketing expertise”

According to people close to the deal, Playtech will pay an annual license fee of six million euros and an additional twenty percent royalty on revenue received through the use of company’s software in social gaming activities.

Weizner continued, “The Skywind software license delivers a cost effective entry into social gaming, allowing the company to offer a comprehensive and innovative solution to online gaming operators wishing to access the social gaming market and strengthen their mobile offering.”

He concluded, “Mobile and social gaming will lead the gaming industry’s growth and present significant opportunities for the company. With access to a sizable and proven development team, Playtech will be able to maintain its position as the leading online gaming software provider. We will offer a comprehensive and innovative solution to online gaming operators wishing to access the social gaming market and strengthen their mobile offering. Similarly we will enable social gaming companies to access a full suite of products in social and real money gaming.”

Groups Want Congress to Ban Online Casinos

In a letter addressed to Congress, advocacy groups in thirteen states across the US are calling on the government to ban states from legalizing online casino games. The groups say that casino games online will negatively affect society and the family dynamic.

Representatives hail from Wisconsin, Kentucky, Louisiana, North and South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Hawaii, Georgia and Tennessee. The letter requests that the government do all in their power to bolster the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act as a means of ensuring "its clear intent that the Internet not become a giant online casino."

Last December, the US Department of Justice determined that in-state online bets that do not involve sports teams are legal. Since then, states looking for a means to increase revenue through taxes have weighed the possibility of legalizing top online casinos.

In their letter, the advocacy groups referenced the Department of Justice’s decision, stating that it "unleashed actions by a growing number of revenue-hungry state governments to turn the Internet into the largest casino ever, and welcoming into homes a greater social cost than any government can handle. This action is undermining Congress’ clear intent when it passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006 that online gambling should be prohibited."

One of the authors of the letter, Kent Ostrander, founder of The Family Foundation of Kentucky commented, "The bottom line is we are The Family Foundation, and expansion of gambling through casinos or online is targeting one group only: moms and dads. It’s an effort to separate a family from its assets. The family is the building block of any society, and yet it is the most vulnerable institution in that society."

Nevada Considers a License for Bally Online Gaming

According to reports, the Nevada Gaming Control Board unanimously recommended that Bally Technologies be approved for the state’s first online casino games license. Though the company did not receive the license, as of yet, the state of Nevada is moving forward.

The hearing held this past week by the Board signifies the first instance of the consideration of a legal online casino games license in the United States.

Bally Technologies executives spoke at the hearing and answered questions posed by the Gaming Control Board members. Many of the questions revolved around the company’s recent acquisition of Chiligaming, a European casino games online platform. Bally Technology’s general counsel Mark Lerner presented regulators with proof that Chiligaming had not taken action from American bettors since 2008.

Since Bally is a manufacturer and operator of online casino gaming systems, the company must partner with an existing Nevada casino in order to operate in the state. It will not be licensed to run a top rated online casino games site independently. Bally already made a partnership agreement with Golden Nugget Casino, brokered just prior to the purchase of Chiligaming.

The next step in the process is securing approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission, which is scheduled at the end of June. Should the Commission pass it, Bally will then have its technology tested to make sure it meets the requirements of gaming officials.

Gambling Commission Explores Social Gaming in the UK

Reports this week indicate that the Gambling Commission in the United Kingdom has begun an examination of social gaming. The announcement has received mixed reviews from top rated online casinos.

The Commission said that it was becoming more aware of the increased popularity of casino games online played on social networking sites like Facebook versus casino games online played at traditional top rated online casino sites.

The casino games offered on social gaming platforms are generally free to play and thus far have escaped the attention of regulators in the United Kingdom and the United States. Players can spend money buying extra points or chips if they play the game enough.

John Travers, Corporate Affairs Manager for the UK Gambling Commission, commented, “The key question is, is it gambling or not? We are monitoring developments and assessing any wider implications for licensing objectives.”

Ivor Jones, an analyst with Numis Securities, spoke about regulation of games on social networking sites. He stated, "If regulators conclude that such games with gambling characteristics should be regulated, it will be difficult for them to continue to be offered to many players, which would financially hurt the games operators and Facebook.”

Advocates for children’s interest groups are concerned about the availability of online casino games to minors and call for regulation. They say that social gaming is easily available to children as young as thirteen who have Facebook accounts and this should be taken into consideration.

William Hill Sports Leaves Australia for Vegas

The United Kingdom based bookmaker, William Hill, has decided to close its Australian online sports betting site and instead launch in Las Vegas.

In an email sent to players the top rated online casino wrote, “Please be advised that we have taken the decision to withdraw our sports betting service for any customer registered in Australia.” The company requested that its Australian players begin account withdrawals from the cashier.

Online casino companies operating in Australia are cognizant of the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001, which regulates interactive gambling services by placing restrictions on certain services and targets the suppliers of interactive gaming services, not their potential or actual customers.

Violators of the law could be penalized with fines up to $1.1 million per day. An online casino games company has never been tried for violating the law in Australia.

Director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, David Schwartz, said the online casino games company’s decision to leave Australia may be connected with the company’s desire to do business in Nevada, where failure to comply with laws elsewhere could jeopardize the possibility of receiving a license.

“Clearly this is a priority for them, Nevada,” Schwartz said.

Since the state of Nevada is the only US state to currently legally permit sports betting, William Hill is hoping that its strategic maneuvers will help in the approval process of their Nevada gaming license at the end of June.

Purple Lounge Responds to Players

This past May, word spread throughout the online casino games community about Purple Lounge’s lack of communication with players about payouts as well as the ongoing acceptance of deposits.

The company did not reach out to players throughout May and concern grew about the possible loss of deposits. This past week, Media Corporation, responsible for the case, put out a statement saying that it will specifically request that the appointed liquidators look into the financial arrangements within the Purple Lounge company and will review the matter.

Currently, Purple Lounge’s website states, “The Board regrets any corporate failings in the past and seeks to assure shareholders that it is exploring routes to try, in some way, to mitigate the expected player losses. We are sorry to inform you that following a strategic and financial review it has become clear that the Purple Lounge business is no longer tenable due to the historic operational failings and trading losses.”

The official statement from Purple Lounge went on, “Accordingly, it is with regret that the board announces that it has made all of the staff within that division redundant and will be instructing lawyers to file the relevant documentation to put the relevant companies into liquidation.”

“The board regrets any corporate failings in the past and seeks to assure shareholders that it is exploring routes to try, in some way, to mitigate the expected player losses, though this is against a background where the group has loaned well over one million pounds to the division since its acquisition in October of 2009.”

Amendments Made to California Gaming Bill

Online casino games legislation continues to evolve in California. The initial bill, SB 1463, was created to establish a framework for the legalization of intrastate Internet gambling. The two sponsors of the bill, Senators Steinberg and Wright, have now amended the bill ahead of an upcoming Senate committee meeting in mid-June.

Previously, the bill proposed that top rated online casinos apply to the California Gaming Commission for a 10-year license to operate an intrastate Internet gambling site with casino games online for registered players within California.

Amendments to the legislation now state that the best online casinos will be able to apply for license for five years instead of ten.

The bill now calls for the Bureau of State Audits, at least 4 years instead of the previously stated 2 years, after the issue date of any license by the state, to issue a report to the California Legislature detailing implementation.

The legislation also included amendments related to Indian tribes within the state, stating, “Nothing in this chapter prohibits any federally recognized Indian tribe within California with a tribal-state gaming compact with the state pursuant to IGRA from participating in intrastate Internet gambling pursuant to these provisions subject to the jurisdiction of the state.”

The bill goes on to specifically state, “that only poker shall be offered for play on an intrastate Internet gambling Web site pursuant to this chapter. Only games approved by the department for play on an intrastate Internet gambling Web site shall be offered for play on an intrastate Internet gambling Web site pursuant to this chapter.”

NJ Governor Signs Sports Betting Legislation

This past week, Republican Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey signed legislation that legalizes sports betting in the state. The bill will make it possible for residents to place bets on the outcome of sporting events.

Christie stated, “We intend to go forward. If someone wants to stop us, then let them try to stop us. We want to work with the casinos and horse racing industry to get it implemented. Am I expecting there may be legal action taken against us to try to prevent it? Yes, but I have every confidence we’re going to be successful.”

In the fall of last year, New Jersey citizens voted in a nonbinding referendum that they want to be able to place bets on sporting events. At the same time, the state legislature passed a bill that Christie had signed, allowing bets to be taken at Atlantic City casinos and the state’s four horse tracks.

Senator Raymond Lesniak, who has worked fervently in support of online casino games legislation commented, “To those with a vested interest in the status quo – the professional sports organizations who take a hypocritical stance that wagering will ‘ruin the purity of the game,’ and the Nevada-based gaming conglomerates that have enjoyed that state’s stranglehold on sports wagering for the last 20 years – I respectfully say, ‘Bring it on.’”

Lesniak continued, “The sooner you make an issue of New Jersey’s noncompliance with an unconstitutional federal ban, the sooner we can defeat that ban in the courts, and put New Jersey on the same competitive footing as the rest of the nation when it comes to sports wagering.”

Christie has stated that he intends to use fifty percent of the revenue generated from top rated online casinos and sports betting to aid in combating compulsive gambling.

Debate and Controversy Over In Play Betting in Australia

Reports coming out of Australia indicate that it is possible that within six months to a year, the country’s gambling industry could offer online casino games players the option of “in-play” betting. The Gillard government sent a briefing to members of the gaming industry acknowledging this as a possible supplement to the country’s existing top rated online casino sites.

Online casino games and no deposit bonuses are already popular among the citizens of Australia. These changes could potentially add about $300 million to the country’s gambling industry.

Currently, there are inconsistencies in the system, which allows for phone betting but not the use of the internet.

Stephen Conroy, Communications Minister stated, “While the State of Origin was on last night, you can pick up a phone and make a bet, but you can’t go online and make a bet. So you’ve got a situation where if you make the phone call it’s legal, if you try and do it online it’s illegal. And that seems an anomaly … this is one of the issues that needs to be looked at so that you’ve got consistent laws.”

Online poker was also addressed. Reports state that the government has plans to allow Australian gambling companies to offer online casino games such as poker and roulette.

Anti casino games advocates have responded to the news, claiming that Conroy was “backflipping on Labor’s opposition to the expansion of online betting.” Their stance is that if allowed, “risk to problem gamblers outweighed the benefits” of allowing the live in-play betting.

Conroy commented, “We are phasing out the copper network and replacing it by fiber so effectively when people move to a VOIP phone service and pick up the exact same physical phone they were using before the copper was turned off they will suddenly be committing an offence by accident. Technology is leaping ahead of the legislation.”

Partnership Announced for Virgin Games Online Casino and Playtech

Virgin Games has just announced that it will partner with Playtech, one of the largest providers of online casino games software in the world, to incorporate its online slot games into its library. Founded in 2004, Virgin Games has over 1,000,000 players and over 350 games on its site.

Virgin Games will launch several of Playtech’s slot games to its players over the next few months. The first game to be released from the top rated online casino is Rocky, a 5-reel, 25-payline slot, based on the MGM film of the same title.

CEO of Virgin Games, Simon Burridge stated, “Our goal is to provide our customers with the widest range of top tier entertainment through online casino games. We believe that it is key to offer both variety and choice so it is crucial to us that we offer a range of games from a number of the best of breed software providers.”

Burridge went on to say, “Since the launch of our custom built platform back in 2008, we have introduced a wide range of new gaming content to our sites and Virgin Games now has one of the widest ranges of casino and slot games available in the UK, hosting over 350 games. The addition of Playtech, a leader in its field, is a big step forward for Virgin Games customers and we look forward to launching its games with a range of promotions over the coming months.”

Bwin Announces $50M Social Gaming Venture

Bwin.party, one of the biggest online casino games companies in the world has announced that they will be venturing into social gaming in the near future. As a brand, Bwin.party already runs top rated online casino games and no deposit casino sites for poker, sports betting, casino and bingo.

The online casino games company intends to invest $50 million to create a new social games studio called ‘Win’.

Bwin has already begun the stages of the plan, which includes establishing ‘Win’ with a top notch team, development and launch of numerous social gaming apps, and the purchase of various assets from Velasco Services Inc. and Orneon Limited to increase the chances of success.

The company is confident that their experience in the industry and their collection of proprietary games content will push them toward achieving a number one slot in the next few years.

Jim Ryan and Norbert Teufelberger, the Co-CEOs of bwin.party stated, “We have chosen a ‘build and partner’ strategy, one that provides us with both the resources and additional management expertise to execute our planned extension into social gaming – an exciting and fast growing area of digital entertainment that is the latest addition to our business strategy. We are focused on building a meaningful stand-alone enterprise that will operate outside our core real money gaming business but which will benefit from the Group’s significant resources and assets.”

The two went on to say, “Our investment will enable us to launch Win, our dedicated social gaming studio with its own development centre that will increase our speed to market both for social as well as mobile games. Intent on securing a meaningful position in the marketplace, we expect a €5-€10m impact to Clean EBITDA in 2012 and 2013. However, we are excited by the potential of this new market and believe we can deliver attractive returns in the medium term through relatively modest investment, funded from operating cashflow over the next 18 months.”

Belgium and Bwin Battle with Lawsuits

Recently, the Belgium government released a list of online casino games operators who were banned from doing business in the country because they were offering casino games online to citizens without a license. The blacklist included various major online casino operators, including bwin.party.

Initially many top rated online casino games operators expressed their concern over the country’s blacklist and legislation. At the time, bwin.party was in the process of applying for a license, but still needed the land-based license approved first.

Now, bwin.party and Belgian authorities are in the midst of battling lawsuits as Belgium has issued a counter suit to bwin.party’s initial lawsuit for their inclusion on the Belgian blacklist.

Bwin.party instated the lawsuit at the beginning of May stating that the blacklist has caused an “enormous” financial, commercial and reputational damage for the company.

Belgian authorities told eGaming Review, “that the counter-claim also calls for the operator to stop circumventing the block by targeting customers through other domains, as well as ordering it to refund stakes from its alleged illegal operations.”

Belgian authorities have stated that they will counter the bwin.party suit for everyday they claim that the online operator continues to use marketing tactics to attract its citizens. “If they continue sending emails to players indicating on which other illegal websites of Bwin they still can gamble,” explaining that “By such mailings they are inciting Belgian citizens to commit crimes.”

888 to Receive Spanish Online Casino Games License

888, a top rated online casino, has concluded its talks with the Spanish government over gaming taxes owed for the company’s operations between January 2009 and May 2011 in order to secure a Spanish online casino games license.

888 representatives stated that the company completed a self-assessment tax return and made a payment of €7.4m in addition to surcharges and interest expected of €1.3m. The company paid in cash.

"Following this payment, 888 believes that it has fulfilled all requirements necessary to receive a Spanish eGaming license, with awards set to begin at the start of June."

UK gaming companies last week accused the Spanish government of an “austerity tax grab” on UK gambling companies hoping to receive licensure in Spain. Spain’s tax authority recently contacted all foreign companies that have had Spanish customers in the past, informing them it would back date two taxes originating from the late 1960s and 1970s.

The announcement came days before gaming authorities in the country are expected to issue the first official licenses to operate top online casino games websites in Spain.

British gaming company Bwin.party digital, said last week that it would pay over €33m to meet the demands of the Spanish authorities to pay taxes under the new laws.

Spain is the most recent European country to regulate online casino games. Sixty companies have applied for official license. Licenses are expected to be issued at the beginning of June.

Delaware Making Moves Toward Legalization

A bill that would legalize online casino games and the expansion of brick and mortar casinos within the state of Delaware is currently on its way to the state Senate for vote.

Delaware Secretary of Finance Tom Cook spoke at a hearing of the House Gaming and Parimutuels Committee and outlined provisions of the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012, House Bill 333. The Committee voted to release the bill for vote, despite facing criticism from anti-gaming advocates and the state’s harness racing industry that it would not receive a fair share of gaming revenue.

The bill proposes to offer online slots and table games at top rated online casinos as well as expanding keno beyond Delaware's current three existing casinos to at least one hundred locations throughout the state, as well as authorizing betting on NFL football in at least twenty more locations.

The presentation to the committee included testimony from industry insiders who spoke about ensuring that online gaming would include the necessary protection to keep minors from placing bets.

Melissa Blau, an online gambling consultant who has worked in the European gaming industry said, "Nobody wants underage gaming activity. Systems can be set up to monitor every computer keystroke made by someone who goes to an online betting site, and that registration and account information, and the monitoring of betting behavior, can help officials determine whether someone is underage.”

However, there is opposition to the legislation. Republican Representative Clifford Lee, told the administration that the speakers had not quashed his concerns about underage gambling.

He said, "If you were trying to sell me a new pickup today, you probably wouldn't have sold that vehicle.” Despite his protests, he did vote to send the bill to the Senate.

Rep. John Viola, chief sponsor of the bill stated, "Online gaming is coming, ... and we need to decide in this building whether we want to be on board with that or not.”

Illinois Moving Toward Online Casino Games Legislation

Senate President John Cullerton, Democrat from Chicago is currently introducing a bill that aims to create a Division of Internet Gaming within the state lottery.

In a letter addressed to Chicago Governor Pat Quinn and fellow colleagues in the legislature, Senate President John Cullerton wrote, “Certain forms of iGaming, especially poker, rely on large pools of potential players, and states that move swiftly to design a system that captures the widest audience of participants will have an advantage in terms of long-range success. The goal is to make the state nimble enough to adjust to new Internet gambling approaches.”

Cullerton believes that Illinois should be a leader in allowing online poker and other online casino games to be played at top online casinos within the state. He stated that the financial payoff of hundreds of millions of dollars is enough incentive.

Although there is support for the online casino games legislation, there is also significant opposition. “If you allow Internet poker to be sanctioned by the state of Illinois, there are a whole lot of questions that need to be answered,” said Patty Schuh, spokeswoman for Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno of Lemont. “Being first isn’t necessarily a good thing.”

Senate President John Cullerton is pushing for the approval of his proposed legislation in the current meeting of the state legislature, ending on May 31. The push is an effort to qualify under a measure pending in the US Senate that would only allow states with a regulatory framework in place to offer online casino games.

Governor Quinn and members of his staff have stated that the focus now for lawmakers in the state is lowering the costs of health care for the poor and public employee pensions.

US Gaming Congress Meets to Discuss Online Gambling

On May 16 – 17, the 16^th annual East Coast Gaming Congress met in Atlantic City to discuss various hot topics in the gambling and online casino games industry. The conference hosts influential within the business and aims to provide a platform for ideas, concerns and visions for the future. At this year’s conference, the issue of casino games online legalization in the United States was a main focus and several speakers took on the topic.

Richard Bronson, chairman of supplier US Digital Gaming, stated that he felt that the United States Congress is currently so divided along party lines that it is unlikely they will be able to pass any legislation on online casino games. He said, "In a Congress that can't agree on what day it is, the thought that they're going to agree to put casino gambling in every living room in America is ridiculous." According to Bronson, the solution is for individual states to tackle the issue of legalizing top rated online casinos and no deposit casinos within their borders.

Ray Lesniak, State Senator from New Jersey and sponsor of online casino games legislation spoke of how his governor's veto of a bill that had been overwhelmingly approved by the full New Jersey Legislature is now proving quite expensive. He stated, "We lost a whole year and hundreds of millions of dollars that could have been coming in to our casinos in Atlantic City." Lesniak is now focusing on another bill that will move online casino games legislation forward, with more cooperation from the governor.

Eugene Johnson, a representative from Spectrum Gaming consultancy, stated that he felt there is significant movement within the industry and everyone is now looking to get in on the online gambling action. He said that European operators, US commercial gaming companies, Native American tribes and state lotteries have approached his company. He supported Bronson's view that within a few years, state regulated online gambling will become a reality in the United States. Johnson called online casino games "the wave of the future" and stated that mobile online casinos would be particularly appealing to young gamblers.

He concluded, "If you don't evolve with the future, you're going to be left behind."

Boyd Gaming Makes Deal with Peninsula Gaming

Boyd Gaming, a well-known casino entertainment brand in the United Stated announced that they have signed a deal to purchase Peninsula Gaming LLC for $1.45 billion. The company hopes that the acquisition will grow its sales and outreach in the gambling industry and in the online casino games market.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd, Keith Smith, stated, “Acquiring Peninsula Gaming is a transformative transaction that fits perfectly into our growth strategy by expanding our company’s scale, diversifying our platform, strengthening our financial profile and generating meaningful value for our shareholders.”

“The Peninsula properties are a strong fit for us as they are well-managed and operate in resilient markets in the Midwest and South. We anticipate this transaction will be immediately accretive to earnings and significantly increase our free cash flow.

“We are paying an attractive multiple for high-quality high-margin assets. The properties operate in locations with limited gaming supply and stable tax and regulatory environments, resulting in attractive earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization margins. Their management teams have considerable knowledge of their markets and have shown they are able to operate efficiently without compromising the guest experience.”

Five casinos will be added to Boyd Gaming’s operations – one in Kansas, two in Iowa and two in Louisiana. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2012.

Based in Las Vegas, Boyd Gaming Corporation is the owner and operator of seventeen top rated online casinos and casinos in Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana and Louisiana.

White House Says that States Can Permit Online Poker

An online petition that received nearly 10,000 electronic signatures calling for the legalization and regulation of online poker has been addressed by the Obama administration. Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council issued a statement on behalf of the White House.

The statement essentially says that it should be the decision of individual states to decide whether or not they want to allow the playing of online poker and online casino games at top rated online casinos within their borders.

The statement read, “The Administration understands that many Americans engage in paid online poker games for entertainment purposes. Online gambling on sporting events or contests violates federal law. The legality of other forms of online gambling is dependent upon the law of the states where the bettor or gambling business is located. It is left to each state to determine whether it wishes to permit such activity between its residents and an online poker business authorized by that state to accept such wagers, but online gambling that is not authorized by state law may also violate federal statutes.”

In the release, the administration also expressed their opinion on the need for restrictions on online casino games sites in an effort to prevent minors from access, fraud, telemarketing scams, and money laundering schemes because of the reach of the internet.

The statement concluded by saying that the Obama administration will continue to monitor the issue and are open to solutions that would help protect against individuals falling prey to any illegal activity regarding online casino games.

New Jersey Makes Progress on Online Casino Legislation

The state of New Jersey continues to move ahead with its decisions on online casino games. Recently, the state Assembly voted in favor of Sentator Lesniak’s e-gaming legislation, A2578, which gives authorization for players to wager online at casinos in Atlantic City under a prescribed set of circumstances. This past week, three assembly members approved the bill, while one voted against. Bill A2578 is a supplement to the Casino Control Act.

This success comes shortly after the passage of the S1565 bill, which grants permission to Atlantic City casinos to take bets from players in other states and countries, as long as federal and state authorities agree that it is legal. Supporters of the bill are hoping to play at top rated online casinos legally within the state.

There are many supporters of the online casino games legislation, including Robert Griffin, CEO of Trump Entertainment Resorts and President of the Casino Association of New Jersey.

Griffin stated, “The state of New Jersey must be in the forefront of legalizing this emerging marketplace. The state should regulate this activity, enforce strict standards to ensure the games are fair, and collect revenue rather than allow profits and jobs to illegally go overseas.”

Senator Lesniak commented, “We want to take the lead. We don’t want Nevada to take the lead. New Jersey has already lost out on about $200m because of Governor Christie’s 2011 veto.”

Nevada Will Now Opt for Independent Testing of Casino Games

The Nevada Gaming Control Board announced their decision this week that the State Gaming Control Board Technology Division will no longer be responsible for the pre-approval testing of online casino games, gaming devices, associated equipment, cashless wagering systems, mobile gaming systems, and interactive gaming systems.

In a statement from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, it was made clear that beginning on July 1st, 2012, the pre-approval testing service of games used at top online casinos is to be completed by independent testing laboratories that have met the registration requirements of the State Gaming Control Board.

Products that are still up for review in the Gaming Control Board Technology Division Lab will be completed by the end of June 2012.

The Nevada Gaming Commission and State Gaming Control Board will continue to the main approving body for air gambling games, gaming devices, associated equipment, cashless wagering systems, mobile gaming systems, and interactive gaming systems operated within the state.

The statement from the Board read, “Once an independent testing laboratory has been registered, manufacturers may begin utilizing their service of pre-approval testing and certification for products to be submitted to the Nevada Gaming Control Board for approval.”

It continued, “Manufacturers will be able to use the independent testing laboratory of their choosing and will not be restricted to the use of a single independent testing laboratory.”

Nevada is currently reviewing its online casino games legislation and many of the best online casino brands are hoping to receive licenses in the state.

Belgium Blacklists Additional Online Casinos

Authorities from the Belgium Gaming Commission announced that they have made updates to their list of online casino companies that are banned from doing business in the country. They have added top rated online casinos Betfair, William Hill and bwin.party as online sites that internet service providers in the country must block. This is an implementation of the Belgian Gambling Act, which was passed last year and states that online gambling can only occur in the country on sites which have been approved and licensed by the Commission.

The country’s four largest interest service providers have been directed to ban traffic to and from sites which have been placed on the list. Online casino games players that play on non-approved sites can face criminal penalties and fines up to €25,000.

Peter Naessens, in charge of the regulatory unit at the Belgium Gaming Commission stated, “that the reasons for adding operators to the list include the continued acceptance of Belgian players from unlicensed dot.com sites, attracting minors or vulnerable players, or connections with organized crime.”

Authorities claim the blacklist is in place to award opportunities to online casino games operators who already have licenses or are in the process of licensure. They also aim to protecting players from sites which operate without a license in the country, making them illegal.

Betsson, 188Bet, and Betclic Everest brands BetClic, Expekt and bet-at-home were also placed on the Belgium Gambling Commission blacklist. The blacklist now includes approximately thirty top online casino games brands.

Approved sites which have received licenses within Belgium include PokerStars.be, Partouche.be, and GPWin.be.

Playtech Wins Big

Playtech, the well-known developer and licensor of online casino games software continued its success this past week at the 2012 eGaming Review B2B Awards. The company took home the most awards of the evening in four separate categories including Best Poker Network, Best Bingo Network, Best Mobile Provider, and Best Slot Provider. The brand’s partner company, Mobenga, walked away with the award for Best Mobile Provider.

The event was held on Friday evening, May 10th, in the Atrium at London's Wembley Stadium. The ceremony has become an industry special event after three years running. It attracts top online casino brands, including no deposit casinos, and awards the best in the business.

Playtech CEO Mor Weizer stated, "It is a great honor to have been recognized at this prestigious event. Winning four EGR B2B Awards in major product categories is a testament to the strength and capability of Playtech's products across the group, and our continued success in the industry depends on our delivering the best and latest technology to our licensees. EGR's generous acknowledgment of our progress and efforts will strongly propel us forward in the coming year."

Various entrepreneurs in the casino, software engineering and multimedia industries founded Playtech in 1999. Playtech is a leader in online casino games applications that include casino, poker, bingo, sports betting, live gaming, casual and fixed odds games. Currently, the company has 1,900 employees located in development centers across five countries, most of who are involved in the research and development of current and future gaming technologies.

32Red Casino Wins Trademark Fight

Well-known and established online casino brand 32Red won a trademark dispute with California company, Baysound LLC, over the use of the 32x.com domain. 32Red is well regarded throughout the online casino games industry and has won various awards for player satisfaction and excellence.

The dispute related to Baysound LLC’s operation of an e-gaming affiliate portal that lead some players and visitors to the site to look unfavorably on the 32Red brand. This fight was not unlike a past dispute with William Hill casino brand over the 32 Vegas and 32V domain names that infringed upon the company’s European Community Registered Trade Marks.

A representative of World Intellectual Property Organization commented on the situation, “It is unlikely that the Respondent, being involved in the online gaming industry and with casino gaming affiliates, was not aware of www.32red.com as an online gaming website in 2006 and that the choice of ‘32x’ was merely coincidental.”

The representative went on to say, “The Panel’s view is that the Respondent intentionally acquired the Domain Name to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to the Respondent’s website by creating a likelihood of confusion with the Complainant’s trade mark as to the source of the Respondent’s website and the gaming services provided therein.”

As a result of the ruling of the World Intellectual Property Organization, Baysound LLC has been directed to transfer the 32x.com domain to 32Red subsidiary, Trafalgar Media Ltd.

32Red runs on Micrograming software and has in the past been the recipient of Casinomeister’s “Casino of the Decade” award. The company is listed and recognized as an eCogra Safe & Fair online operator and received licensure by the Government of Gibraltar.

MGM Brand Will Expand to Social Gaming

MGM announced last year that it had plans to use social gaming to entice a new player base to its casinos. This week, MGM CEO Jim Murren stated that MGM Resorts will soon be announcing a new social media game, similar to Zynga’s popular online game FarmVille.

The social gaming industry has grown exponentially in the last few years, and both live casinos as well as the best online casinos have been anxious to get in the game.

The social gaming market has more than doubled since 2009, with a growth of about 116.4 percent to $1.4 billion. Experts anticipate that the social gaming market will see a combined annual growth rate of fifteen percent between 2010 and 2015.

James Murren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for MGM Resorts commented, “New growth markets in gaming will likely emerge and we have positioned ourselves internationally to effectively compete there and we’re very excited to say that this quarter, along with our partners, in the second quarter, we’re launching a social gaming site that recreates the Las Vegas Strip experience and exclusively features our brands.

He went on to say, “We believe that this product will be superior to what you currently see in the market and will be a strong customer acquisition and brand extension tool for us. And of course, we continued to remain aggressively focused on pursuing federal legislation for online poker and we’re keenly aware of what’s going on, on a state-by-state basis for those opportunities, which we think will likely emerge.”

Antigua and US Battle Over Online Gambling

Antigua and the United States continued their online casino games dispute last week at a World Trade Organization meeting. Antigua is angered by the United States’ pursuit and prosecution of online casino game operators on its territory and is accusing the US of violating international trade agreements. Antigua is pushing for sanction against the US on the issue.

During this process, both the United States and Antigua have placed blame on the other for failing to reach a solution to the problem in an agreeable way.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda presented a letter to the WTO Dispute Settlement Body in their desire to “negotiate a settlement with the US” and requested that the United States “observe its international obligations in good faith and with due consideration for the rights of Antigua & Barbuda.”

Antigua has claimed that their lost revenue from lack of top rated online casinos and the US action against them has cost them $3.4 billion a year due. The WTO has awarded $21 million in damages against the United States

Meanwhile, the United States has continued to crack down on companies that provide casino games online in Antigua and other jurisdictions.

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer of Antigua and Barbuda has expressed his regret that the US government has not done enough to properly settle the online casino games disagreement with the country.

Prime Minister Spencer commented, “Antigua and Barbuda had put forward several options to settle the case but there has been no fairness in the proposals received from the United States to date. Antigua and Barbuda’s Internet gaming sector has been decimated by the actions of the United States, and we believe that we must be fairly compensated for those losses.”

New Policies in Europe Require Users to Leave Cookies

The online casino games industry in Europe is facing new policies that will require users of top rated online casino games sites to provide permission for the website to leave cookies on their computer. The new policy is scheduled to take effect within the next two months.

When accessing the vast majority of websites, most users do not know that small text files, called cookies, are stored within the memory of their computer. Cookies help websites remember user logins and passwords as well as shopping cart purchases. They also monitor a user’s internet activity, which makes some uncomfortable.

Many of the best online casino operators are working toward putting the necessary steps into action, but gambling industry insiders approximate that nearly 95% of the websites are not compliant.

Some critics arguing against enforcing the cookie policy say that placing this information in the operator’s terms and conditions or privacy policy is enough. However, those operators that ignore the new regulation can face fines up to up to £500,000.

The European Information Commissioner’s Office has made it clear to casino operators that it wants users of top online casino games sites to knowingly indicate their acceptance of cookies.

The new policies mean that providers of casino games online must be more open and direct about their terms of usage and having users opt-in to accept cookies. It is now no longer legally enough to put this information in the terms and conditions section.

Joanne Bone, a partner at Irwin Mitchell’s Business Legal Services in the United Kingdom commented, “The industry has been waiting to see who will ‘blink first’, but time is now running out to achieve compliance before the Information Commissioner’s deadline of May 2012.”

Lock Poker and Cake Poker Partner

Reports circulated this week on various online casino games forums and blogs that lock Poker plans to remove itself from the Merge Network and has been in talks to acquire the Cake Poker Network. Lock Poker has confirmed that this is true and it will be part of a new top rated online casino games network.

Lock Poker released a statement that said, “As of June 1st a whole new world awaits the Lock Nation.”

The company went on to say that the acquisition will see it ‘driving technology, marketing, player rewards and implementing a richer tournament schedule’ while members of its LockPro team of sponsored professionals are to be ‘at the foundation of these changes’.

Jennifer Larson, Chief Executive Officer for Lock Poker commented, “We are very excited at the prospect of driving the product, marketing and overall vision of the network. It is a dream come true. Merge Network was a great stepping stone for us but we have outgrown it. We really need to forge our own path to continued success. The only way to do this is to stay true to our of core philosophy of partnering with our players.”

Larson went on to say, “Lock is in the process of acquiring assets from Cake and will be re-branding the Cake Network to launch Revolution Gaming, will come together and offer recommendations on all levels, truly bringing the player into the boardroom.

“To all existing Lock players this move will be seamless, it will take the form of a simple software update happening on May 31st. You will login to find your real money balance as well as everything else you know and love about Lock. Lock will also continue to manage their own stand-alone cashier so withdrawals will be as fast and easy as they are now. All players’ current player VIP rewards will only increase and all rakeback players will be moved over to the increased percentage on Revolution.”

Playtech Strengthens Position in 2012

Top online casino games software platform, Playtech, has released its Q1 figures for the beginning of 2012 and the company continued to perform considerably well. Playtech has built upon the successes it achieved in 2011.

Gross income for the company went up by thirteen percent, to €88.4 million and total revenue increased by eight percent to €75.1 million. In comparison to the figures from Q1 of 2011, Playtech has advanced significantly. Representatives for the company have also made it known that performance in the first 31 days of Q2 of 2012 is marginally better compared to the first quarter.

Information about the status of Playtech’s various projects was also released. Over the past year, the company acquired some smaller online casino games companies. The integration and results from the Geneity, Mobenga and Ash Gaming acquisitions are ahead of expectations. The Gauselmann partnership, in which Playtech is working with Merkur Interactive GmbH, has moved ahead and the companies will begin providing online casino games geared toward the German market.

Top rated online casinos that have licenses from Playtech, including Bet365, Betsson, Sportingbet, and Unibet, have launched in the newly regulated Danish market. Additionally, several licensees are preparing for a launch in the Spanish market, when new regulations in the country take effect in the later part of 2012.

The company is also looking ahead and has released information that it has signed a deal with Freemantle to debut branded online slot games based on reality shows like Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor.

Bwin.party Enters Online Poker Deal with Native American Tribe

Bwin.party digital, the largest registered online casino games company in the world, has announced that it is setting the groundwork for possible legalization of gambling in the US market by signing a deal with a Native American tribe which operates gambling in the state of California.

The company announced that it has made a ten-year agreement with the United Auburn Indian Community, which manages the Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Sacramento, California. Should online casino games legislation become more relaxed, the deal will enable the tribe to provide the technology to run online poker services at a top rated online casino.

Jim Ryan and Norbert Teufelberger, the co-CEOs of bwin.party commented on the deal, "Combining our own significant assets and resources with those of UAIC will create a strong partnership that is well-placed to seize the opportunities that will arise if appropriate online poker legislation is enacted in the Golden State.

In recent months there have been significant signs that the United States will relax its laws on online casino games, therefore several European companies have been positioning themselves to enter the market when it becomes a possibility

Bwin.party said that the tribe would secure the obligatory licenses to operate online casino games services in California while the London-based company would be the one to provide technology and operational expertise.

UAIC's Tribal Chairman David Keyser stated, "We see the legalization of Internet poker and other Internet gaming as being inevitable.”

Spanish Government Reconfirms License Schedule

In an attempt to put an end to rumors circulating in the online casino games industry, the Home Affairs and Administration Ministry in Spain announced earlier in the week that national gambling regulator Enrique Alejo would meet the scheduled date of June 1, 2012 to issue online casino games licenses to fitting applicants. Additionally, the government clarified that once the licenses are issued, top online casino providers can being providing services immediately. Currently, in-play betting will not be allowed.

There were doubts that the Spanish government would be able to meet the deadline that it had set because there have been various staff changes in the regulation department, a large number of applications, as well as litigation in process.

It has been reported that more than fifty-nine top rated online casinos have applied for license in Spain.

The speculation over the Spanish governement’s ability to meet its deadline was fueled by a statement made by the CEO of 888 Holdings, Brian Mattingley. Speaking at a conference, Mattingley stated that went to Madrid with another company executive in order to assess the situation. Their assessment of the situation was that the Spanish regulator would need more time than the new deadline of June 1. He also stated that he was impressed by the responsiveness of the regulatory authority's staff to the suggestions and ideas presented.

Most of Europe's top online casino providers have applied for licenses in Spain and are hopeful they will receive them. They are monitoring the situation closely as each time the deadline is extended; they are incurring a financial loss.

Betfair Wins German Online Casino Games License

Since recently passing newonline casino games legislation, the northern state of Schleswig Holstein in Germany has awarded its first gaming licenses. Betfair, the British online casino games company has won one of three licenses, with the others going to Germany's Jaxx AG and one to the state lottery.

The other 15 German states have gone in the opposite direction, choosing stricter online casino games laws and have received criticism from top online casinos that accuse them of favoring state monopolies. The European Commission has questioned the restrictions as well.

According to the laws in place in Schleswig Holstein, there is a twenty percent tax on gross profits rather than a more punitive tax on turnover. This means that the taxation would equate to about 3 million pounds, or about 3 percent of core Betfairrevenue.

"We view this as a significant positive for the company, given that it further erodes the bear case on the stock that Betfair would be unable to get licensed outside of the UK," the analysts said.

Commenting on the news, Schleswig Holstein's interior ministry said that it is anticipating awardinglicenses for poker and other casino-style games in the coming weeks. Betfair has applied for these licenses as well, separate from what they have already won.

Analysts have estimated that the illegal sports betting market in Germany is worth at least five billion euros.

As a result of the news of licensure, shares in Bwin.party, which is also eyeing the German betting market, rose three percent.

Launch of PokerStars Real Money Poker App in France

PokerStars has just announced that they have launched a real money poker app for French players. The new mobile product allows French poker players that already have a PokerStars account to play at a mobile online casino by downloading their PokerStars Mobile application.

A company spokesperson wrote on their website, “Now you can play the MTT, the parties in cash games and Sit & Go on your cell phone or tablet. Open up to 4 tables simultaneously on the iPhone and Android, and up to 5 tables iPad!”

PokerStars gives players the opportunity to play Texas Hold’em and Omaha in real or play money as well as participate in multi-table tournaments, Sit & Gos and cash games on the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Android. Players can play at the best casinos online from anywhere.

The new PokerStars application is compatible on the following devices: Apple iPad one and two, iPhone 4.0, iPhone 3G, and fourth generation iPod Touch.

PokerStars' Malta-licenced European-facing website launched the mobile client earlier this month giving players from Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Finland and Romania the opportunity to play top rated online casino games. The launch follows the apps successful debut in Italy and the United Kingdom.

Jeffrey Haas, PokerStars' Director of New Platforms stated in an interview that a multi-phase release plan is planned for more countries.

WagerLogic and Maxymiser Make Deal to Enhance Experience

WagerLogic Limited is an online casino games software specialist and subsidiary of CryptoLogic Limited responsible for the licensing of casino games software and services. They have made a deal with Maxymiser in an effort to increase registrations and deposits for both its InterCasino and VIP Casino top rated online casino brands and to increase the lifetime value of players.

Head of Acquisition for WagerLogic , Nick Getley, commented, “Maxymiser clearly offers the best testing solution on the market and we are confident its approach will give us the insights that we need to optimize our sites for all visitors and international audiences. Testing is not a one-time fix but an evolutionary process and Maxymiser is the right long-term partner to ensure WagerLogic can optimise all its online assets.”

In the initial phase, WagerLogic will make use of Maxymiser’s MaxTEST™ to serve multiple variants of content and format simultaneously to site visitors, while monitoring and measuring the effects on the rates of conversion and profits.

Maxymiser has offices in the US, United Kingdom, Germany and the Ukraine. Wayne Morris, General Manager in the UK stated, “There is no place for guess work when it comes to deciding the best design, content and layout combinations to drive conversions on a website. In such a competitive online landscape, operators like WagerLogic understand that sophisticated testing and personalization are critical to providing in-depth insights that inform a long-term and strategic road map for website optimization.”

Mr Green Debuts New Games

Mr Green online casino is going big, offering players the ultimate in prizes, including recently giving players a chance to win a trip to the F1 Grand Prix Race in Monaco.

Additionally, the top rated online casino has debuted a variety of new games from a large selection of online casino games providers, including Net Entertainment, Microgaming, Betsoft and IGT.

These new games include a release from IGT called Coyote Moon. Coyote Moon features Stacked Wilds on all five reels giving players the opportunity to win on forty paylines. Based on the successful land-based game found in casinos across the world, Coyote Moon has even more wild symbols in the free spins bonus.

The second new release for Mr Green is Microgaming’s five reel, non-progressive, nine payline online slot called Spring Break. This was created in anticipation of summer and is the perfect thing to play on a mobile device.

Betsoft Gaming provides two new slot games for Mr Green as well. These slots offer a cinematic 3D gaming experience this is innovative. Betsoft is known throughout the industry for their state-of-the-art 3D graphics, hard hitting audio and intuitive gameplay that will keep players returning every day for more exciting entertainment.

PokerStars in Talks to Buy Full Tilt Poker

It has been reported that the online poker site PokerStars is currently in discussion to purchase its rival Full Tilt Poker. The deal would conclude both online casino games sites’ ongoing legal battles with the United States Department of Justice.

The Department of Justice shut down both of the US web sites of Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars last year. The purchase of Full Tilt would be considered part of a larger settlement agreement in the civil case against the two top rated online casino games sites.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Department of Justice had no comment. In a statement published on the blog of PokerStars, a company spokesperson wrote that the company could not currently comment on any confidential discussions with the Department of Justice.

In November of last year, Full Tilt and French investment company, Groupe Bernard Tapie, came to an agreement in which the investment company would buy Full Tilt to resolve the issue. However, last week, a lawyer for Groupe Bernard Tapie reported that the eighty million dollar deal is no longer moving forward as there were disagreements related to the terms in which poker players would be paid back.

A statement from Groupe Bernard Tapie read in part, “GBT proposed a plan that would have resulted in immediate reinstatement of all ROW player balances, with a right to withdraw those funds over time, based on the size of the player balance and the extent of the player’s playing activity on the re-launched site. All players would have been permitted complete withdrawal of their balances, regardless of whether they played on the site, by a date certain, and 94.9% of ROW players would have been fully repaid on day 1. DOJ ultimately insisted on full repayment with right of withdrawal within 90 days for all players– a surprise demand made in the 11th hour, after months of good-faith negotiations by GBT.”

If the new agreement between PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker comes to fruition, it would include specific terms for which poker players around the world are able to recover money they had deposited with Full Tilt Poker prior to the shut down.

NetPlay Signs Major Deal with ITV

The United Kingdom’s biggest interactive TV online casino games company, NetplayTV, has announced that it has signed a two year deal with ITV to broadcast Jackpot247.com, a program which will air four nights a week for a two hour time slot. ITV is the largest commercial television network in the United Kingdom.

This deal builds upon Netplay’s strategy to focus on live TV roulette broadcasts on TV, a proven way to acquire new viewers and customers. The company believes that player interaction and loyalty will grow further through Jackpot 247's new and fast growing iPhone and iPad applications and the ability to play at mobile casinos.

The CEO of NetPlayTV, Charles Butler, commented, “We have worked closely with the team at ITV over the last two years to optimize the show, and to sign for a further two years is a significant and exciting development. The format of a dedicated gaming schedule has proved to be a success, and we look forward to working with ITV and seeing the benefits of this renewed relationship going forward.”

He continued, “We are very proud of the significant strategic and commercial progress made over the past year, and the robust results announced today illustrate the strength of the Company’s live TV casino proposition.”

William van Rest, Director of Commerce & Ventures at ITV, weighed in on the deal, “As a key launch partner on ITV’s teleshopping initiative in 2010 we are delighted to renew our relationship with NetPlayTV and their Jackpot 247 product, and we are looking forward to building on the success of our night time output.”

Playtech Makes Controversial Move into Social Gaming

It has been announced that Playtech, the largest publically traded online casino games software provider, has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with its controlling shareholder, Teddy Sagi. The deal will give Playtech ninety-five million euros worth of assets and businesses for social gaming.

Playtech has expressed significant interest in entering into the social gaming market and has made plans to invest in various acquisitions. The memorandum of understanding was signed by Playtech to buy assets including social gaming products that allow people who play online casino games at top online casinos and mobile casinos to buy virtual currency, such as Facebook credits, to use in their playing.

A statement from Playtech read, “Playtech has been monitoring social gaming activity operated by various companies through social networks and mobile platforms and has been analyzing a number of ways to penetrate the social gaming arena. By completing the intended transaction, Playtech would gain access to a broad range of social gaming platforms and products and believes it would be uniquely positioned as a leading B2B provider with the ability to supply cross platform capabilities for a full suite of products including social casino, poker, bingo and rummy.”

However, the move is not without controversy as there have also been reports that the company signed an additional agreement allowing it to buy a new office from Gaming Technology Solutions Ltd, for approximately ten million euros, in which Sagi is a shareholder.

Simon McGrotty, analyst at Davy Research, wrote a note to clients in which he stated,

“Where concerns will be raised is that once again Playtech is acquiring assets from its founder and largest shareholder. Ninety five million euros is a significant investment, especially in an area that is relatively unproven, there is no mention of the current profitability of the assets being acquired in this morning’s announcement.”

Bodog Brand Continues to Restructure Amid Speculation

There have been many changes occurring at top online casino games company, Bodog, in recent months and now there are reports that the company has parted ways with seventy of its employees from its London office. Sources have called this a move made as part of the company’s general restructuring effort. Others have speculated that this is in relation to the recent indictment of Bodog head, Clavin Ayre. Bodog is a large licensing company involved in online casino games, music and other entertainment ventures.

To quell rumors from spreading, a company spokesman stated, “In the UK we have undertaken a long period of market analysis and we are now starting to adapt our product to fall in line with those findings. We feel we now have a better understanding of what the UK customer wants and the focus now is on re-structuring our business to be better placed to put that information into practice.”

This development comes soon after last month’s news that a business process outsourcing company based in Costa Rica that worked with Bodog shut its operations.

A source from the company commented, “A Costa Rican based business process outsourcing company (BPO) providing services to the Bodog Brand has expedited its closure after fears it will be wrongly associated with the Bodog.com Indictments. After the brand licensing agreement with the Bodog Brand and Morris Mohawk Gaming was terminated in December 2011, along with ever increasingly restrictive economic conditions in Costa Rica, the BPO had already started to make plans to wind down its operations.”

William Hill’s Nevada License is Delayed

William Hill’s efforts to secure a casino games license in Nevada have been delayed, in spite of expectations that lawmakers would vote in May on the issue. The British bookmaker has sought licensure after purchasing three sports betting companies in Las Vegas last year.

Top online casino game regulators expected that William Hill’s application would be included in the May agenda but it is not. Reports have circulated that the delay to vote comes from the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s desire to investigate further into two issues - Robin Chhabra, William Hill's head of strategy and corporate development, as well as the company's ties to Playtech in Israel.

The Guardian reported that Chhabra, who was at a time responsible for Nevada acquisitions, was fined approximately $150,000 by the Financial Services Authority after he shared “confidential information” with a friend. Chhabra is not expected to play a management role with the new acquisitions.

Nevada regulators are also looking into William Hill’s link with the Israeli online casino games company, Playtech. Teddy Sagi, the company’s founder has a forty percent ownership stake. What concerns the Nevada regulators is that he was convicted of fraud and bribery in 1996.

Members of the Nevada Gaming Control Board were unavailable for comment.

John English, senior vice president of business development and public affairs for American Wagering, a company affiliated with William Hill stated, "it is not uncommon for licensing delays to happen. This is part of the normal process and proves the Gaming Control Board is taking their time and being thorough. We expect William Hill to be a great asset to Nevada.”

Boyd Launches Social Gaming for Casino Loyalty Program

This past week, Boyd Gaming Corporation announced the launch of a new and updated online casino games program called B Connected Social and have deemed it the first comprehensive social gaming platform in conjunction with a casino industry loyalty program.

B Connected Social gives players the opportunity to reap rewards for utilizing B Connected Online, B Connected Mobile, or sharing promotions and events via a player’s personal social networking sites. Players can earn B Connected Social points, unlock badges, and compete with other B Connected Social members for prizes. Players will also have the opportunity to discuss amongst themselves on topics such as the newest no deposit bonus codes.

Mystery bonuses and promotions also will randomly appear to encourage players to log in and play frequently and players’ scores will be displayed on the web site for bragging rights. The network can be accessed from mobile devices and can be used in addition to mobile online casinos.

Paul Chakmak, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Boyd Gaming stated, “Since its launch three years ago, B Connected Online has become one of the gaming industry’s most visited websites, receiving numerous national awards for its ease of use and highly personalized information. The popularity of online social gaming is exploding, and we are confident the groundbreaking features of B Connected Social will further distinguish B Connected Online as the leading website in the gaming industry.”

In addition to B Connected Social, the new website includes a section called “my alerts,” which uses instant messages to alert to players of specific important occurrences including new offers, promotions, ticket sales, and slot machine debuts.

Betfair Joins Geo Networks Online Customer Base

Geo Networks, a leader in the online casino games world and provider of dedicated fiber networks, signed a second top online casino games company, Betfair, as its newest addition to its growing consumer base. Geo announced its big break into the online casino games industry with a national network contract for bet365 last year.

Geo will be Betfair’s supplier of a fiber network that will link two data centers in London with the goal of improving the best online casino company’s IP transit connectivity and link its data centers in Ireland to UK points of presence. Betfair will manage its own infrastructure with Geo’s help based on a three-year agreement.

Tim Turner, Head of Global Infrastructure Services at Betfair, stated, “Providing our customers with the lowest latency connectivity is critical to the success of our business. Our key goals are ensuring network redundancy, reducing latency and improving reliability, on fiber that we can rely on to process today’s extremely high volumes of transactions, and scale with us tomorrow and beyond. Geo’s fiber means that we can connect with multiple carriers, transiting customers to our website based in Ireland, providing a smooth end-user experience.”

Geo’s Online Sales Director, Andy Tipping, provided his take as well, “Geo epitomizes everything that gaming and other online organizations need from a fiber operator, with our legacy-free, UK-wide network, which will soon provide the lowest latency London to Dublin connection. We are delighted to welcome Betfair to our growing list of high profile online organizations.”

Guilty Plea Accepted for Banker in Black Friday Case

United States District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan accepted a guilty plea from former SunFirst Bank banker John Campos, who was indicted on charges of illegally processing payments for online casino games companies. Campos was arrested in April 2011 after an indictment was filed against him, Chad Elie and other poker company owners in what has been called the Black Friday Case.

Campos pled to a single misdemeanor charge of allowing a bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to process illegal gambling transactions. The judge accepted the plea bargain after a lengthily process in which the prosecution submitted a letter to the judge stating that Campos’ role in the case had been relatively minor. The prosecution argued that sentencing would have been similar for the misdemeanor charge as for the felony he faced earlier.

Campos was accused of striking a deal with Elie and other top rated online casino owners to use the bank in which he worked to process funds from players in exchange for a ten million dollar investment in the bank and a $20,000 bonus to him for consulting services. Elie and the others initially approached the Utah-based banker in 2009. SunFirst Bank ultimately processed about $200 million in payments in less than a year until ordered by the FDIC to stop.

Earlier this month, Elie also pled guilty to reduced charges in the case.

As part of his plea deal, Campos has agreed to a lifetime ban from the banking industry. He is scheduled to face a June 27th sentencing hearing at which he could potentially receive up to six months in prison.

Utah is First State to Outlaw Any Federal Online Poker Legislation

With discussions and legislation pending in several states as well as in the US federal government regarding the legalization of casino games online, the state of Utah has decided to go in the other direction.

Earlier this last week, Governor Gary Herbert signed legislation, HB108, which makes online poker illegal in the state of Utah. The bill passed the Utah House and Senate passed earlier in the month unanimously. By making HB108 the law, Utah has become the ninth state to officially outlaw online poker and online casino games. According to the legislation, it will now be deemed a misdemeanor crime under the statutes, a less severe connotation than felony, which was previously considered.

The bill also includes severe language that will effect Utah’s gambling population in the future. According to the bill, residents of Utah will be prohibited from participating in any federally legislated online casino games ruling.

The bill states, “If any federal law is enacted that authorizes internet gambling in the (country) and that federal law provides that individual states may opt out, this state shall opt out of internet gambling in the manner provided by federal law.”

Essentially, this stipulation will stifle any future House, Senate or Governor from allowing its citizens to be able to participate in a federally regulated online poker market and top online casinos. In order for residents of Utah to play, HB108 would have to be overturned by the state’s government. This is highly improbably as Utah has never allowed any form of gambling, including lotteries.

William Hill Debuts Real Live Casino for Italian Market

William Hill, one of the largest UK-based online casino providers, this week launched its newest feature, a Live Casino in Italy. The casino will give Italian players the opportunity to play online casino games in a real-life and professional atmosphere.

Live Roulette and Live Blackjack will be featured, in addition to the twenty games that exist on the Italian-geared system. Similar to other live online casinos, real live dealers will moderate games and allow players to converse through chat 24/7.

This top online casino offers the largest amount of live tables available in the industry, guaranteeing all players a seat and no waiting in lines that one might find at other online or land-based casinos. Every move is streamed live in high resolution.

A statement from the company read, “One key element of the Live Casino is the dealers; real professionals who will dictate the rules of the game and bring it to life. Players can also interact with them via chat. There are no time limits to play as Roulette Live will be available 24-hours-a-day and Blackjack Live will follow soon. Playing online becomes life-like and you can experience the real emotion of being in a casino without leaving your home.”

Roby Salvadori, William Hill’s Manager in Italy said, “We are excited to present a new offering dedicated to live games. Thanks to Live Casino, everybody can experience the emotion of a real casino simply by connecting from their sofa at any time. It’s fun and easy to use and we believe it will be a big hit with Italian players.”

Unibet Buys Bet24 in Online Casino Games Deal

Unibet Group, the Malta-based company that offers players online casino games, online poker, and sports betting, has announced the acquisition of Bet24 from its competitor, the Modern Times Group. This marks a continuation in Unibet’s expansion as it recently purchased EurosportBet France in a deal with Solfive.

Bet24 is a popular platform in Northern Europe, known as a top online casino for sports betting and other online casino games, including poker, which is hosted on the OnGame Network. According to sources, upon completion of the deal, Unibet stands to pocket about €13.5 million for the entire Bet24 operation. With the acquisition, Unibet hopes to make its mark in the recently regulated Danish market.

Unibet intends to rebrand Bet24’s online casino games and online casino bonuses under its own name and move Bet24’s customers to its platform within the next couple of months. Despite this change, as part of the deal, Unibet has made it clear that it will continue to employ about forty-five Bet24 employees by transferring them to the offices in Malta.

Bet24 President and CEO Hans-Holger Albrecht stated, “The sale of Bet24 is in line with our focus on our core broadcasting operations. We have developed and expanded our online betting and gaming businesses over the past seven years as the industry has become more and more competitive.

He continued on, "Unibet is one of the largest and most established players in the European market and therefore provides an attractive platform for Bet24 customers and for the further development of the business."

EU Casino Launched Massive Campaign in Denmark

New online casino game regulations in Denmark mean that the market is now open for serious business. EU Casino, a top rated online casino, has launched a massive campaign in the country in an attempt to get new customers. They have announced this week that they will begin a three-month advertising campaign on TV and radio as well as in print.

The company plans to spend an estimated 500,000 Euros in the hopes that they will attract new players. EU Casino runs on the well-known software provider SkillOnNet. Through the software, they plan to unveil a variety of exclusive 3D games, live dealers and unique player experiences. Their goal is to also increase the profile of online casino games in the country.

EU Casino has strategically decided to target the Danish male population, the most influential group in the casino games online industry, and therefore will be running most of the campaign on Danish channel TV3. They will also place advertising on the leading radio station in the country, NRG.

Denmark only recently opened its online casino games market, beginning on January 1, 2012. The Danish Gambling Authority issued thirty-eight operators a total of fifty-five licenses giving them the authority to operate in the country. The companies to receive licenses included nine Danish operators as well as a few international no deposit online casinos like 888, PokerStars, Betfair, Betsson, Cryptologic and UniBet.

Other countries within the European Union are taking a cue from Denmark, Spain and Italy and are exploring online casino games regulation and legislation.

Lesniak Believes Casino Games Legislation in NJ Will Happen Soon

It has been announced that on May 31, New Jersey’s online casino games legislation will be up for vote in the New Jersey State Senate, later than the sponsor of the bill, Raymond Lesniak had wanted. Online casino games advocates in NJ hoped that the legislation would enable online poker playing by September 1, but believe it will occur at some point later in the fall.

Lesniak said in March that he expected the legislation to pass through both houses in mid-April. The online casino games bill was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on April 3. Lesniak stated that the delay to move ahead occurred because many of his colleagues in the legislature will be on vacation in April.

Lesniak stated, "We have to make sure we have all the Democratic votes there, so we have to schedule around people's vacations. Things like this happen. A year ago, the governor vetoed the first attempt. This time, it looks like we're going to reach the finish line. It's just taking longer than I hoped for."

The process for online casino games legislation and the development of the best online casinos in New Jersey has been a long process. Republican Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a similar gaming bill last year. The legislation has since been amended to address the Governor’s concerns that commercial establishments outside Atlantic City could become centers for online gambling.

If the legislation passes on May 31 in the Senate, the expectation is that it will be passed by the State Assembly in June and signed by Governor Christie shortly after.

Lesniak commented, "I'm extremely confident. The casinos really need it. They want it. Really, it's the only way some of them will survive."

Canada Opens the Door to More Gambling Opportunities

Another Canadian province, Manitoba, has become the latest to launch state-run online gambling. Representatives have just announced that they have partnered with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation to create an online casino games website that will hit the market in 2013.

The Manitoba Lotteries made the decision to begin its own top rated online casino games website because it saw the loss of millions of dollars in revenue from illegal gaming sites. With this move, the province stands to gain about $37 million annually as well as the knowledge that its citizens are playing in a legal and secure environment.

According to the deal made with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, BCLC and GTECH G2 will be responsible for the website design, development and testing services, while Manitoba Lotteries will manage the daily operation. The online casino games website is set to debut in the first quarter of 2013. The site hopes to become one of the best no deposit casinos online with an array of casino games and poker.

The province is exploring the possibility of including online bingo and sports betting on the casino site as well. The Manitoba Lotteries estimate that they stand to make approximately $1.5 million in net income in the first year of the site’s operation. At that rate, they hope to see the revenue rise to $17 million by 2018. It has already been decided that five percent of the revenue generated will go directly into responsible gambling and anti-addiction programs.

Ryanair Signs Online Casino Games Deal

Ryanair, the leading European budget airline, will now offer visitors to its website the opportunity to have a full online casino games experience. In a cutting-edge move, the airline has teamed up with online casino games software giant 888 to provide games to passengers on its website and ultimately in-flight.

As part of the deal, visitors to the Ryanair website will be able to choose from 888's selection of online slots, poker and sports betting games and play directly on their computers. The possibility to play will be offered to all guests, whether they are booking a ticket or searching the site for deals.

Ryanair is offering its customers the chance to win a variety of big and small prizes through games and tournaments, just as they would if they were playing through 888 Casino. Additionally, the airline is offering some extra bonuses and promotions, including great travel-related offers, like flight vouchers.

After many years of discussion, the partnership between Ryanair and 888 paves the way for airline to move forward with its desire to offer passengers inflight casino games opportunities. The airline had said that it would offer gambling on flights by 2007, but it never came to pass. Ryanair does offer in-flight mobile phone services, allowing travelers to play on top mobile online casinos.

This is the first time that any airline has successfully closed a partnership deal with an online casino games platform provider. The deal will be subject to European Union regulations, but there is a possibility that players will be able to access top rated online casinos, slots, poker and sports betting from the air.

Rock Gaming Makes Deal for Caesars Interactive Online Social Gaming

According to information from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, Caesars Entertainment sold a percentage of its online casino games subsidiary to its partner, Rock Gaming, for $60.8 million. The percentage that Rock Gaming acquired includes part of the business that manages the World Series of Poker and recently launched Caesars Casino for Facebook. Caesars hopes to be the number one mobile online casino provider of online casino games.

In the deal, Caesars left the option open for Rock Gaming to increase its shares in the company by twenty-five percent, $19.2 million. Rock and Caesars already partner in the management of two of Ohio’s four new casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati. The companies are also in talks to acquire a license that will allow them to develop and operate a video lottery terminal facility in downtown Baltimore with joint venture partners CVPR Gaming Holdings, LLC, and The Stronach Group.

In a statement, Rock Gaming stated, “Rock Gaming is pleased to expand our relationship with the Caesars organization through an investment in Caesars Interactive Entertainment. Through our existing joint venture to develop full-service urban casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati… we believe that an investment in CIE is a natural next step to align our interests and talents with Caesars.”

Ceasars is looking at the future development of social gaming and top mobile online casinos and bonuses. They understand that there is significant revenue that can be generated from these avenues.

Online Gambling and Mobile Casinos on the Rise in Australia

The number of online casino games players in Australia is rising. According to statistics provided by IBIS and Gaming Club, online gambling and top online casinos in Australia are set to grow by 3.3% in 2012. It is approximated that in this time, the online casino games industry will gain about $22.5 billion in revenue, with an average of $1,265 per person.

Looking more closely at the data, it is poker players who are on the rise in the country. Australia. Poker still remains at the forefront of the online casino games business, projected to make up 60.2% of total customer spending.

Terry Maverick, an official from Gaming Club stated, “The gambling industry has been very strong in Australia for many years now. This has clearly been helped by the growth of several online gaming websites that offer hundreds of online casino games. At Gaming Club, for example, we provide a great range of video poker, online casino, and table games, as well as free Loyalty Points every time you place a bet.”

Based on studies done during sporting events like the AFL and NRL, sports wagering makes up 1.6% of total online casino games profit and is expanding at a faster rate than horse racing, slot machines and lotteries.

Sally Gainsbury, from the Centre for Gambling, Education and Research at Southern Cross University, stated that the rise in mobile online casinos and bonuses coupled with increased access to technology has made it easier for gamers to place bets and access sites from wherever they are at any time of the day.

Gainsbury went on to say, “There’s been so much marketing it has allowed online gambling companies to really target sporting events and sporting fans. So now on TV when you see someone score a try in the corner of a field, there’s a Centrebet post that they are knocking over.”

Gaming Deal Reached Between 888 and Caesars for US Market

888 has just announced that it has signed a deal with Caesars Interactive Entertainment with the goal of expanding their UK online casino games software licensing agreement to the United States. This move stands as another effort towards positioning the company should online gambling and top online casinos become legalized in the United States.

If proposed legislation on casino games online passes in either individual states across the country or by the federal government, 888's independent B2B company, Dragonfish will be ready to debut real money poker for American players almost immediately. Dragonfish will be able to support a few of Caesars' already-established poker brands for the online market.

888 already submitted an application for licensure to the Nevada Gaming Control Board. In 2010, The Nevada Gaming Commission approved the business relationship between 888 and Caesars. The partnership between the two companies began in 2009 and has expanded ever since.

888 Deputy Chairman Brian Mattingley commented that 888 has taken a prudent approach to regulation and this latest deal puts it and Dragonfish in pole position for the US market. He went on to say that the deal gives the company a strong platform to roll out its cutting edge, turnkey solution to other potential partners once the market opens up.

Caesars CEO Mitch Garber was equally positive, citing 888's success in promoting the World Series of Poker brand in the United Kingdom for the last three years, and predicting that with current momentum toward federal or state-by-state regulation of online casino games, 888 will be ready to move forward.

Donald Trump Ventures into Online Casino Games Market

Donald Trump, multi-millionaire entrepreneur, famous for his real estate investments, hotels, casinos and reality TV show, is setting his sites on a new venture – the online casino games market. Trump has expressed interest in diving into the online gambling industry as it becomes closer to being legalized in the United States.

There have been a number of reports that Trump Entertainment Resorts is in discussion with 888 Holdings about potentially joining the industry and what the next steps would look like for the company.

888 does not currently operate in the top USA online casino business, however, they are a leading company in the world market. Most recently, 888 entered into a partnership with Caesars Interaction Entertainment.

Last year, Trump began to express interest in the online casino games industry. Once legalization occurs in the US on the federal level, he and his companies plan to partner with Marc Lasry of the Avenue Capital Group to form an online casino games company.

In a recent interview, Brian Mattingly, CEO of 888, expressed excitement over the possibility of expansion to the United States. He said, “We have a unique position in the U.S. allowing the launch of a real money offering immediately as either federal or state based regulation is finalized and upon licensing by gaming authorities.”

Although Donald Trump has not entered into the online casino games world before, he has significant experience running profitable brick and mortar casinos and will be able to position his brand successfully once legalization occurs.

Casino Games Giant Bigpoint and Mazooma Close Significant Deal

It has been announced that Bigpoint, one of the world’s biggest providers of online casino games with over 261 million users, has signed a deal with the well-known Canadian payment processing company, Mazooma. The deal means that Bigpoint customers that play from the United States will have access to Mazooma’s instant online bank transfer service in order to purchase virtual credits.

If online casino games become legalized in the United States, Mazooma stands to benefit significantly from the deal.

Linus Menden, speaking on behalf of Bigpoint stated, “The use of online bank transfers is pervasive in Europe, where we are headquartered, so we are pleased with the opportunity to partner with Mazooma to offer a similar option in the U.S. market.”

He continued, “Mazooma is the only vendor in the U.S. that offers real-time bank transfers, which allows us to continue delivering the best online experience to our community.”

Wilson Lee, president of Mazooma, also weighed in, “Our online bank transfer solution was designed to fill a void in the U.S. market for companies like Bigpoint, and is a cost-effective micropayment processing alternative to credit cards.”

Mazooma’s payment network supports fifteen of the biggest banks in the United States provides its clients with the ability to reach over 55 million American households that actively use online banking.

Players who access online casino games through will be able to play top online casino games and receive no deposit bonus codes by choosing Mazooma’s “Pay with Online Banking” option in Bigpoint’s payment section. Access will be granted via smartphones, tablets and laptops allowing players to utilize mobile casinos.

New Hampshire Lawmakers Veto Gaming Legislation

New Hampshire lawmakers have killed legislation that would have legalized video slots and four top rated casinos that received licensure to install up to 14,000 video slot machines and 420 table games.

The House rejected the bill with a vote of 236-108. Commentators believed that the legislation faced opposition from the start as Gov. John Lynch said he would veto it if it had reached his desk. The New Hampshire House has also never shown support for expanded casino games bills.

Representative Neal Kurk said, "This bill gives away to gambling and casino interests a valuable asset that belongs to New Hampshire taxpayers. Under this bill, New Hampshire taxpayers are the losers." He argued that the revenue that the state would receive was too low.

The bill outlined that the state would receive a forty percent profit from slots and eight percent from table games.

Supporters of legalization in New Hampshire have looked to recent passage of a casino games bill in Massachusetts as reason to move ahead. They believe that if New Hampshire stands still on the issue, the state could lose between $40 million and $50 million annually in lottery revenue and taxes to its neighbor.

Representative David Campbell said, "Since Massachusetts passed its gaming bill, doing nothing is no longer an option.”

New Hampshire's House has never supported top rated online casinos, but bill sponsors made the deal more alluring by recommending that some of the revenue to be allocated to defraying New Hampshire's high business taxes, which the Republican-controlled chamber has tried to do. Supporters said that cutting business taxes will create economic growth in the state.

Microgaming and Mr Green Sign Deal

In one of the biggest partnership deals, Mr Green Online Casino has announced that it has signed an agreement with Microgaming for use of its QuickFire software platform which will provide a variety of new flash based Microgaming online casino games.

Mr Green is a top rated online casino that continues to grow in popularity, making the deal particularly important for Microgaming. Internetworld Magazine voted Mr Green as the best online casino in 2008 through 2011 and it was also featured on the 2011 EGR Power50 list of the most influential and important online casino games companies in the world.

Players from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom are able to play at Mr Green.

Microgaming is one of the leading online casino games software providers in the world with over 600 unique games that include huge jackpot slots. Its Mega Moolah has made the single largest payout in the industry amounting to over 6 million Euro.

Mikael Pawlo, CEO of Mr Green online casino, said, "At Mr Green one should be able to expect to find the best casino games available and we were one of the first online casinos in the world to offer a seamless solution of different casino vendors. By adding Microgaming to our portfolio we now offer games from five different vendors."Nyx Interactive, WagerWorks, Net Entertainment and Betsoft Gaming are the four other platforms used at Mr Green.

Pawlo went on to say that he and his colleagues were impressed with QuickFire and that he is sure Mr Green online casino players will enjoy playing on Microgaming software.

Chad Elie Pleads Guilty to Fraud in Black Friday Case

Chad Elie, 32, one of eleven defendants named in last year’s “Black Friday” indictment has pled guilty to fraud charges in New York City.

As part of his plea, Elie acknowledged that he had misled one bank into processing online casino games revenue by pretending that the money being added to the account came from businesses unrelated to gaming. He admitted that when the bank later inquired about the cash he denied the account was being used for online casino game revenue.

Elie faces up to a year in prison based on the arrangement made with Manhattan prosecutors. He stated at the hearing, “I knew that my conduct was wrong.” Elie pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and to operating an illegal online casino games business. He also agreed to pay $500,000 as part of the agreement.

The plea came as Elie was scheduled to go to trial on April 9^th along with former bank executive John Campos. Campos has continued to assert that he is innocent of all charges brought against him. A prosecutor stated that they will likely know within a few days whether Campos decides to move ahead with the trial.

The prosecution is seeking $3 billion in money laundering penalties and forfeiture from PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker. Elie admitted to acting on behalf of all three organizations as a payment processor between 2008 through early 2011.

Prosecutors filed charges under the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Act, which makes it a crime for banks and other companies to knowingly accept payments related to illegal online casino gaming.

Bwin Releases iPad Poker App

Bwin.party, the umbrella company of Party Poker and sports betting brand Bwin, just launched a real money poker app specifically for the Apple iPad, allowing players to play for mobile casino bonuses. The addition to the brand is based on similar mobile online casino games introduced by Bwin for iPhone and Android in previous months.

Berthold Kao, director of the company’s Mobile, Touch and Video department said, “The Bwin iPad poker app gives Bwin.com customers unrestricted access to the Bwin poker account, now with the full iPad resolution of 1,024 by 768 pixels.”

In order to use either or both the iPad and iPhone app, players only need to download the app once from the iTunes Store for access on both devices. The app can be downloaded for free from either www.bwin.com/ipadpoker or iTunes.

Kao went on to say, “The Bwin iPad poker app extends our lead in mobile entertainment on tablet devices and builds on our hugely successful iPhone poker app that Bwin.party designs with its own mobile development teams.”

Companies continue to advance their mobile online casino offerings as the technological demands of the market change. Bwin’s offering for iPad includes vivid imagery and quality design that is user friendly. Players are also able to replay hands and hand histories in current table sessions.

Bwin.party is the largest online casino games company with a listing on the stock market. Besides poker, Bwin offers players the option of online sports betting services and other online casino games.

Bulgarian Authorities Bust Illegal Gaming Ring

This past weekend, more than 120 Bulgarian officials from the Computer Crimes, Intellectual Property and Gambling section of the Organized Crime Directorate General busted a large-scale illegal sports betting operation that was using offshore sports books to enable illegal wagering on domestic and international soccer matches.

The illegal gaming ring was making a profit of about $3,000 per day and may have been connected to some Bulgarian soccer clubs. Police confiscated an undisclosed amount of cash, 20 computers, 37 cell phones and a small amount of cocaine in the raid as well.

The police raid was proof that the country is committed to enforcing its new online casino games laws. The new legislation makes it obligatory for Internet Service Providers to block unlicensed online casino games sites, determined by a government blacklist.

The laws have been quite controversial in that free speech advocates fear that a government blacklist is a sign of regression in civil rights in the former Communist country. There have been calls for the Bulgarian president to override the online casino games legislation for this reason.

Online casino games and top rated online casinos were made legal in Bulgaria in 2008. The Bulgarian government has hopes that new online casino games legislation will generate a profit of about $67 million annually, which about half of which they intend to put towards a variety of youth sports programs.

United Kingdom to Tax Offshore Online Casino Game Operators

In his budget speech earlier this month, British Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne determined that the United Kingdom would now define online gaming as taking place at the point of consumption and that offshore online casino games operators marketing to UK residents will face secondary licensing and taxation.

The determinations is a result of a year-long review by the British Department for Culture, Media and Sport of the existing online casino games laws in the country. During the year, there has been significant debate and discussion; however, the mention in the Chancellor’s speech has made it clear that the issue is moving forward.

In a recent speech in the House of Commons, Chancellor Osborne stated, "Ninety per cent of online gambling consumed by our citizens is now supplied from outside the UK. And the remaining UK operations are under pressure to leave. This is clearly not fair and not a sensible way to support jobs in Britain." Therefore the Chancellor will introduce double taxation relief for remote gambling so that taxes paid in offshore jurisdictions can be set off against British taxes.

It has been estimated by the Treasury department that these new initiatives will generate significant revenue for the country. An additional £ 55 million will be made available in 2014-15, £ 240 million in 2015-16 and £ 270 million in 2016-17. These numbers indicate that the total implementation of the new regime is likely to take upwards of two years.

It is expected that the government will tax top online casinos fifteen percent beginning in December 2014. The online casino games industry is now awaiting additional details from the government.

PokerStars Zoom Makes Updates after Successful Launch

After the successful initial launch of PokerStars Zoom, the company has just rolled out higher stakes and more games for the newest addition to its brand. The game is a new fast-paced way to play poker online.

PokerStars launched its online casino game for real money play over the weekend. Reports have indicated that testing went smoothly and there were only a few minor issues during launch. Because of this, PokerStars has decided to expand their offerings for the game. There are now games for $0.10/$0.25 no-limit hold’em, for both 6-handed and 9-handed play, as well as $0.10/$0.25 pot-limit Omaha for six-handed play.

In PokerStars Zoom, online casino games players sit at a table with other players in what they deem as a “cloud.” Players can choose to play the hand, or instantly fold out of turn and be moved to a new table consisting of other players from the cloud. Zoom poker gives you the opportunity to see many more hands than at regular ring games, approximately 200 hands an hour or more.

The section of the PokerStars website in which Zoom Poker is featured has been updated continuously to share more details about the game.

On Monday, PokerStars also issued updates that now make it possible for players in Belgium and Estonia to play Zoom Poker.

Earlier in the week a representative from PokerStars wrote on a community forum, “We will monitor performance today and if everything is going well we’ll add additional stakes tomorrow.”

We will keep you abreast of any updates related to PokerStars Zoom and online casino games as they occur.

Bill to Legalize Online Gaming in Hawaii Fails to Pass

House Bill 2422, which was introduced on January 25^th, has failed to pass in the Hawaii state legislature. The bill, sponsored by Representatives Joseph Souki, Faye Hanohano and Angus McKelvey would have legalized online casino games, including online poker, in the state.

House Bill 2422 would have established a Hawaii internet lottery and gaming corporation to manage internet gaming and top online casinos in the state. The corporation would “provide consumer protections and capture additional revenues for the benefit of the State that are currently flowing offshore to unregulated internet gambling operations.”

H.B. 2422 also called for making the legal online casino gambling age 18, as opposed to 21. Players would have had to play within state borders, but there was language in the bill that may have allowed for residents of other states to play in Hawaii as well.

Revenue generated from online casino games and top online casinos would have been used for improvements in projects across the state, including public schools and the University of Hawaii, scholarships and educational loan repayments for medical students who practice in Hawaii for 10 years, support for the family practice rural residency program, watershed protection, and reduction and prevention of problem gambling.

The move to bring an online casino games bill forward was hastened in part by the U.S. Department of Justice’s clarification on the terms of the Wire Act of 1961, which stated that online online sports betting is illegal, not other games such as poker.

There were two other bills that accompanied H.B. 2422, House Bill 2316, which would have established a lottery commission and legalized lotteries and House Bill 2379, which would have legalized casino gambling.

Beneficial Holdings to Apply for Gaming License in Nevada

In an effort to move its operations to the United States, Beneficial Holdings, announced its intention to apply for a Nevada Intrastate Gaming License, which will allow it to provide top online casino games to the residents of Nevada. The company will have to partner with a licensed casino operator and then they will be able to offer guests of non-gaming hotels access to the online casino in hotel rooms in the state.

Beneficial Holdings, Inc. is an international casino holding company, with a specialty in the acquisition of undervalued gaming assets. They currently operate a bar and casino in Managua, a slot parlor in Masaya, Nicaragua, and a joint venture in Ticuantepe, Nicaragua. They manage www.sportsbook.cr and www.bet.cr online live dealer casinos for non-U.S. residents.

The company is currently in talks with several consultants who work with Nevada licensed casinos to finalize a joint venture agreement. In the meantime, they are working on a system that will offer poker and live dealer games, ultimately expanding to other online casino games. Once they receive the licensure, they will be able to acquire facilities within the state in which to house their technology.

Beneficial Holdings has expressed interest in expanding their client base to other states as licensing of online casino games moves forward across the country. They have also stated that they will be focusing on domestic opportunities this year based on the recent ruling by the US Department of Justice that the Wire Act of 1961 is only applicable to sports gaming.

Betfair Finalizes Five-Year Deal with US Horse Racing Track

In an unprecedented historical deal, Betfair, the world’s biggest betting community and one of the world’s leading online casino games operators, has signed a five year agreement with the American horse racing track, Hollywood Park, for naming rights to the track. The track will now be known as Betfair Hollywood Park.

Hollywood Park managers looked to the success of Betfair’s sponsorship at the Betfair Lounge at Ascot Racecourse in the United Kingdom. After receiving confirmation on 2013 racing dates, infrastructure investments and improvements at the Hollywood Park track, they decided to create the “Betfair Club.”

Jack Liebau, President of Hollywood Park Racing Association stated, “We realize that US racing, and California racing in particular, simply cannot continue on as it has. We need to look at
the way we do everything in presenting our product to the public and not be afraid to embrace change, particularly if we are going to generate a younger fan base.”

Liebau went on, “We believe that partnering with Betfair to modernize the product will benefit California racing. Exchange wagering is another possibly transformative technological change for horse racing. However, it will only be introduced after a thorough consultation with our Horsemen and Horsewomen and, of course, its implementation is ultimately subject to the approval of the Thoroughbred Owners of California.”

Stephen Burn, Chief Executive Officer for Betfair US and Television Games Network commented as well, “We are deeply committed to changing US horse racing for the better and are delighted to find a partner in Hollywood Park Racing Association willing to take the bold step of trying to change every facet of the racing experience to appeal to a broader and younger audience.”

Bodog Leaves Spanish Market

Reports have circulated that Bodog Europe has informed online casino games players in Spain that they can no longer use their real money services and that they must withdraw all their funds by the end of the month as the company is pulling out of the country.

The decision to pull out comes ahead of new online casino game and poker regulations that are expected to take effect within the next three months in Spain. Over fifty operators of top online casino games sites are up for licensure and the regulations would ban any unlicensed company from operating in the country.

Many operators have faced significant delays since applying for an online casino games license in Spain. In February, Microgaming pulled skins out of the Spanish market after the passage of the Spanish Gambling Act 2011 that requires all operators to be licensed and regulated in the country. They informed Spanish players they could no longer play on their network.

There is also speculation that the pull out may have to do with the recent indictment of Bodog founder, Calvin Ayre.

There are over fifty companies that are thought to have applied for licensure in Spain, including PokerStars, PartyPoker, iPoker, Ongame, GTECH G2, and Groupe Bernarde Tapie, among others.

It seems that Spanish players are not the only ones to no longer be welcomed on Bodog sites. Bovada, Bodog’s US-arm, banned players from Maryland last week and apparently the site is also not permitting new players from New York, Utah or Washington State.

Amaya Gaming Reports Significant Revenue Increase

Canada-based company Amaya Gaming, which provides governments with gaming products in the areas of integrity software, taxation, regulation, lottery, online casino games and top rated online casinos, has reported a substantial increase in revenue gains. Amaya’s products aim to ensure the integrity of the gaming network environment on all devices deployed within a given jurisdiction.

Amaya reported net earnings for the fourth quarter as $2.89 million, or 6 cents basic earnings per share, compared to a loss of $0.6 million, or 2 cents, in the previous year during the same period.

The company, which is headquartered in Montreal, has recently made moves to expand its customer base. Amaya recently acquired Chartwell Technologies, another Canadian firm that has already started to pay returns on the investment.

Amaya’s revenue in the fourth quarter of 2011 was $9.49 million. This represented year-over-year growth of 353% from revenue of $2.10 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, and sequential growth of 139% from revenue of $3.97 million in the third quarter of 2011.

David Baazov, President and Chief Executive Officer of the company said, “Amaya capped a breakthrough year with an outstanding fourth quarter. We tripled revenues in 2011 as contract wins turned into active deployments. This was the first year in which we gained real traction in the government solutions vertical and in the hospitality vertical we deployed a significant number of Mosino units, which will strengthen the recurring revenue stream.”

Baazov continued, “Looking ahead, we see additional opportunities in the public sector as more governments including several in North America are considering the expansion of regulated gaming activities in their jurisdictions. Even on the strength of the existing contracts we have already deployed or are in the process of implementing, we are very well positioned for continued rapid growth in 2012.”

Partnership Announced between Payzone and PokerStars

Payzone, a leading mobile consumer payments network from the UK has announced a partnership with the world’s largest online poker website, PokerStars, making top-up vouchers available for consumers to purchase.

The deal signifies Payzone’s expansion into the online casino games industry, with PokerStars top-ups available on the 20,000 terminals in the company’s nationwide network.

The partnership will allow customers to top up their online casino games PokerStars account instantly by entering the unique code from a top-up voucher purchased at a Payzone outlet. This method is ideal for players who are dubious of online transactions or those who are looking for a quick alternative to paying with a bank related account.

PokerStarsTopUp Cards are available in denominations of £10, £25, £50, £100 and £250. A Customer can then cash in these cards in the cashier to fund their poker account. The system is only for depositing. Customers will need to use one of the more traditional methods—like bank transfer, check, wire or through an online wallet—to process cashouts.

PokerStars is the first online gaming company that Payzone has worked with, who list major UK utility retailers and transport companies as their clients.

Mark Mellor, sales director at Payzone, said this signing of its first online casino games client would ensure future opportunities in this sector. “The partnership is testament to our ongoing commitment to ensure new products are regularly added to the Payzone terminal and our retailers will earn commission on every transaction.”

Richard Connolly, PokerStars business development manager, added, “It’s great to be able to offer our existing and new customers an additional convenient payment method. Not all customers have, or want to use, a personal bank account for online transactions, so being able to buy top-ups offline is essential. Payzone’s terminals are easily accessible for our customers across the country and we’re confident it will be a successful partnership.”

Ontario Looks to Gaming to Generate Revenue

Faced with a significant deficit and increased pressure to balance the budget, authorities in Ontario, Canada are looking for ways to generate revenue. They plan to generate an additional $1.3 billion annually from the gaming industry by building a casino in the Toronto area and expanding into the online casino games business.

Speaking at a press conference, Dwight Duncan, Ontario’s Finance Minister, said the changes would bring the province's lottery and gaming corporation up-to-date. "We're bringing OLG into the 21st century and putting it on a strong footing going forward," he stated.

In an effort to modernize land-based casinos, those that are not performing well will either be closed or relocated.

Online casino games opportunities are also planned, with relevant legislation expected to be determined this year with the expectation of establishing top rated online casinos by 2013.

Officials have determined that online casino games generate about $500 million in Ontario, but currently the money is being lost to offshore betting sites.

OLG recently sent out requests for proposals for help in creating and managing online casino game sites for video poker and video slots, as well as lottery ticket sales.

Asked if he is worried about the possibility that those who can least afford to gamble might be the most likely to spend as opportunities to play online casino games increase, Finance Minister Duncan pointed to Ontario’s "aggressive" responsible gaming programs. "Prohibition doesn't work," he continued, reciting a list of areas within the province where casinos are successful already. "We're in this so we want to make sure we're running it well and the return to taxpayers is solid."

License Approval on the Horizon for Online Gaming Operators in Spain

In December of 2010 it was reported that Spanish authorities began the process of opening the country to the online gaming world by regulating and licensing online casino games operators. By the end of 2011, sixteen private European companies completed the paperwork for the application process. It was said that if approved, operators would be able to begin business at the start of 2012.

Now, according to industry sources, 80 percent of the applications filed are likely to be approved in the coming weeks. It has been said that, “Pokerstars, Bet365, Bwin, Ladbrokes, Sportingbet, Paf, 888, William Hill, Bet-at-home, BetVictor, Betfair, Lottomatica, Snai (decision pending), Titanbet, NetBet, Bongiorno have all applied for a general licence worth an initial €2m. Ten others including Paddy Power, StanJames, Interapuestas, (Interwetten), Unibet, Bet3000, 21kbet, Salsabet, Mybet, Bet770 are said to be still undecided as to whether to purchase a general licence.”

A local source commenting on the situation said, “They have been notified that the majority of them have complied with requirements. They have been told that they are in good shape so they can expect license approvals in a matter of weeks.”

The source went on to comment, “International gaming companies are at an advantage at the moment and, as soon as they are told they have a license, they will be able to simply plug out their dot.com operations and plug in their dot.es operations. Others, that have signed agreements with the likes of Playtech and GTECH G2 could be further behind.”

We will continue to monitor the situation in Spain and will report on any other developments in the country.

Online Poker Closer to Being Legalized in Iowa

On Tuesday, Senate File 2275, an “Act authorizing licensees… to operate internet wagering on poker,” passed the Iowa State Senate by a vote of 29 to 20.

Democrat State Senator Jeff Danielson introduced the bill on February 27th, nearly one year after a similar bill he sponsored died in the same Senate through which it just passed. Commenting on the failure at the time, Danielson was quoted as saying, “I just think people need a clearer picture of the evidence and I don’t think they’re ready in this session to legalize it. So we want to give them the best information possible as we go into next year.”

Last year, amendments to the bill called for a study by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission on online casino games and online poker. The results were published this past December and estimated that intrastate online poker in Iowa would generate $3 to $13 million in annual tax revenue. At the same time, the United States Department of Justice clarified its position on online poker, stating that the Wire Act of 1961 only made online sports betting illegal. Danielson took this as an opportunity to reintroduce the online casino games bill in the state. In January, he stated, “We believe that because of the Department of Justice ruling, we can now have a multi-state compact.”

The bill has stipulations for both online poker within state borders and interstate online poker. Section 10, states in part, “An internet wager may be placed from any location within this state or from any other location where authorized by law, subject to any requirements adopted by the commission.”

The bill makes clear that potential operators of top online casino games and poker sites would have to create a partnership with state-licensed brick-and-mortar casinos as they cannot operate as a lone entity. It goes on to stipulate that until a potential multi-state compact is agreed upon, operators of online casino games sites may only serve poker players within Iowa state borders.

Mississippi Online Casino Games Bill Rejected by Committee

In February of 2012, Representative Bobby Moak introduced the Mississippi Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2012 (H.R. 1373) just two months after the United States Department of Justice determined that online casino games other than sports betting fell outside of the Wire Act of 1961. The bill has now officially been declared “dead” as it failed to secure a three-fifths majority in Ways and Means committee and the Gaming committee of the state.

The bill aimed to legalize and regulate online gambling, including poker, within Mississippi state lines, and would have allowed gaming companies that already have licenses in the state to offer online wagering. The bill included stipulations that aimed to prevent underage wagering, ensure that the online casino games offered at top online casinos are fair and safe, increase jobs, tax, and fee revenues within the states, push out illegal overseas operations, and provide a significant source of taxable revenue.

If the application was approved, online casino games operators would have had to pay a nonrefundable deposit of at least $100,000 for an Internet wagering permit. Additionally, they would have had to pay $100,000.00 a year to the State General Fund and a further $100,000 annual levy to the Mississippi Gaming Commission Fund.

Operators such as Caesars, Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts, which already hold gambling licenses in the state in brick-and-mortar businesses, would have had the first stab at an online gaming space.

Mississippi was one of six states to consider an intrastate online gambling bill. Other states that have explored the possibilities of legalizing online casino games include New Jersey, Iowa, Nevada, California and Hawaii.

Illegal Online Gambling Cafe in Georgia Stole $3 Million From GA Residents

On Tuesday, James Kokott, the owner of Big Dawg Calling Cards in Georgia was arrested on racketeering charges when authorities raided seven long distance calling card stores in the state. Big Dawg managed seven cafes, in Doraville, Douglasville, LaGrange, Albany and Conyers, and two in Columbus. The stores were covers for illegal online casino games cafes.

The indictment accuses Kokott and two of his partners of creating the business in an effort to circumvent state laws prohibiting online casino games sites. Authorities stated that the three pocketed more than $3 million in the last year alone.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Spokesman John Bankhead commented, “Gov. Deal directed the GBI to start investigations into Internet cafes to try to get a handle on it before it got out of control. As part of the investigations, they would send an undercover agent into the (seven) locations and play the games.”

Bankhead went on to say that forty-three GBI agents, working with local law enforcement, were involved in the Kokott operation in five different counties throughout Georgia. Bankhead continued, “We have been addressing the Internet cafe problem. Gov. Deal had directed the GBI several months back to start looking into the proliferation of Internet cafes.”

Patrons of the calling card stores were told they had to play the sweepstakes to buy the cards. They would put money on the cards to use in gambling machines and would use their winnings by redeeming them for cash, which is against the laws of the State.

DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James stated, “These perpetrators lined their pockets with the hard-earned dollars of everyday citizens under the false pretense of a legitimate lottery and sweepstakes.”

American Indian Tribes Expressing Concerns Over Online Casinos

On Tuesday, leaders who manage casinos for Indian tribes let regulators and companies know that they will not grant their support to any new laws involving online gaming unless it is made clear how tribes across the United States will be affected. With legislation proposed in various states, issues related to tribal sovereignty and local economies have arisen.

Speaking at the iGaming North America conference, Chairwoman Leslie Lohse of the California Tribal Business Alliance said that the cultural and economic consequences of online gaming should not be ignored. Lohse asked, "What's going to satisfy us? That we really sit down and hammer out the nuts and bolts of this. Really look at the impacts and not rush to the gold."

The comments highlighted the significant issues that separate those who are proponents of online casino games and those who oppose them. Indian tribes and others involved in the casino business, including equipment manufacturers and state lotteries, do not want to be sidelined if America passes any type of online gaming.

According to a report by industry publication Casino City, revenue at casinos owned by American Indian tribes was $26.7 billion in 2010. This was s slight increase over 2009 figures that put revenue at $26.4 billion when businesses across the United States the realities of the recession.

Tribes are still dealing with the losses they faced during the recession and are concerned about anything that might threaten the businesses they have worked hard to grow.

Sheila Morago, executive director of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, said

"When you take one federal bill and sort of overlay it over 29 state compacts, you're kind of wondering how is this going to work. We can all agree that nobody wants to open up those state compacts."

Many leading casino operators have sought and supported federal legislation that would create one national framework for online casino gaming that would allow states to decide if they want to participate or not.

Fate of Online Gambling Bill Still Undetermined in New Jersey

The fate of online casino games in the state of New Jersey is still undetermined after a state Senate committee approved an updated bill, but an Assembly committee failed to vote following the hearing. The bill was proposed by Senator Ray Lesniak and would allow residents of NJ to play online poker from within the state against other residents.

The Legislature passed bills last year that would legalize online casino games but Governor Chris Christie vetoed the measures last March, citing “legal and constitutional concerns.”

However, Christie’s concerns were assuaged by the Department of Justice who clarified the federal Wire Act of 1961, stipulating that it only applied to illegal online sports betting.In reference to online poker, Governor Christie declared a week later, “New Jersey should be in that business.” He said he was looking forward to working with Senator Lesniak, the issue’s leading advocate, to come to an agreement.

In reaction to the recent developments, Governor Christie, stated that that he was waiting for direction from his state Attorney General’s office on whether residents would have to vote on the issue in a November referendum before he would sign an online gaming bill.

Assemblyman John Burzichelli, vice chairman of the Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee, stated that the committee was going along “two tracks,” depending on whether a referendum would be held. He continued, “We want to establish a clear legislative record to see if we need to go to the voters.” The committee will meet again next week to discuss the state Constitution with a legal expert.

Online Gaming Software Company, Playtech Expands to Mexico and Latin America

The online gaming software company, Playtech, has made a deal with Grupo Caliente, Mexico's largest land-based gaming operator, to be its exclusive provider of online casino games software. Grupo Caliente currently runs over ninety land-based gambling arenas, which include casinos, bingo halls, video lottery terminals, sports betting operations, live greyhound racing and simulcast horse racing across Mexico, Central and South America.

Playtech has been expanding its network around the world and is determined to play a leading role in the regulated online casino games market. With this agreement, Playtech will provide Grupo Caliente’s entire online casino product, including table and slot games. The deal also stipulates that Playtech will provide its own branded online slots that are based on Marvel super heroes. Playtech's Information Management Solution technology platform will support the games, giving Playtech clients the ability to maximize their player experience and returns.

The online casino games will be operated by Grupo Caliente in adherence with Mexican gaming regulations, which apply to Mexico and parts of Latin America. As part of the deal, when Grupo Caliente is brings other Latin American countries under its jurisdiction, Playtech will offer its games to them as well.

CEO of Playtech, Mor Weizer, stated that the company is pleased to work with Latin America's largest and most respected operator of top online casinos. He believes that over time Playtech and Grupo Caliente would develop a very strong relationship. Weizer went on to say, "Our work with Caliente is in line with Playtech's strategy of entering new regulated markets and diversifies the company's geographic footprint beyond its European and Asian marketplaces."

Eduardo Hernandez, CEO of Grupo Caliente, expressed his belief that this venture will provide the company with a state of the art online casino platform that will deliver the best casino games experience to their players. He stated, "With our combined expertise and commitment to excellence, we will be able to fully expand into Latin American regulated markets."

Shuffle Master Gaming Acquires Ongame Network

Worldwide gaming provider, Shuffle Master, announced a €19.5 million agreement to acquire Ongame Network, Ltd., one of the largest providers of poker to online casino game operators.

Ongame is a subsidiary of bwin.party Services of Austria. It encompasses over 25 brands and operators, such as bwin, Betfair, and Coral Poker. Ongame representatives believe that the acquisition will provide European players with the best possible online poker experience.

Shuffle Master is best known for providing automatic card shufflers and roulette chip sorters to casinos throughout the world. The company also recently released iGaming to the market, which features online versions of their table games, social gaming, and mobile applications.

In response to the deal, Peter Bertilsson, managing director of Ongame said, "Shuffle Master is renowned for offering its customers a unique and diverse suite of products designed to meet the needs of today's online operators and casinos." He continued, “I am confident that together, our organizations are going to be able to develop the very best in new and innovative solutions for the iGaming market."

The terms of the agreement stipulate that Shuffle Master will pay bwin.party €19.5 million for its shares of Ongame, with a €10 million bonus if online, real-money poker is legalized within five years in the United States.

Gavin Isaacs, Chief Executive Officer of Shuffle Master, said in a statement, "Our acquisition of Ongame will allow Shuffle Master to offer a scalable, proven and secure solution for online poker.” He went on to say that, "I am confident that Ongame will fit seamlessly into our ongoing interactive initiatives of delivering our renowned brands to online gaming operators, partner web sites, social networks and mobile platforms.”

The deal is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Debate on Online Casino Games Continues in South Africa

In an attempt to nail down policy on online casino games, the South African Parliament's trade and industry committee has held regular discussions on the merits and demerits of legalizing online gaming and top rated online casino sites. The latest public hearing was held on March 2 and issues relating to money laundering, underage gambling and illegal gambling operations were discussed.

Currently, online gambling on the best online casino and poker web sites is outlawed as is placing bets on any top online casino sites located out of the country. In examination of the laws, a gambling review commission recently recommended that online gaming be regulated and taxed. Therefore the trade and industry committee has been tasked with determining if the recommendations can be adopted.

Joan Fubbs, Committee Chairman and Democratic Alliance MP Geordin Hill-Lewis both stated that online gaming already exists in South Africa and turning a blind eye to it will continue to allow the unregulated market to grow. Hill-Lewis went on to make the case that eradicating online casino games and no deposit casinos is impossible and as it stands, the country is not receiving any revenue from online casino games activity that is already occurring.

Arguing against legalization, Pieter Smit of the Financial Intelligence Centre discussed the risk of money laundering inherent in online gaming. He argued that online casino games sites could be used to transfer money from one person to another, which would be nearly impossible to monitor. Smit believes that if the law changes on online casino games, than operators should have to face regulation by the Financial Intelligence Centre.

Smit also warned that the country would need to invest in the proper technologies needed to identify customers and to prohibit unlicensed operators.

It is likely that the debate will continue in South Africa in the coming months as the committee plans to meet to flush out the issues more thoroughly.

Singapore Searches for a Way to Monitor Online Gaming

Authorities in Singapore are attempting to exert control over the online casino games industry in the country and combat a rise in online gambling addiction among citizens. In their efforts, they are trying to ban online casino players by blocking top online casino sites and cutting off revenue distribution.

Online gaming has been on a fast rise in Singapore as people are constantly placing bets on their smartphones on mobile casinos, on their home computers and at the office. According to Asia News Network, last year, top online casino sites raked in $357 million from players in Singapore. In contrast, the figure was $312 million in 2010 and $271 million in 2009.

Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports recently labeled online gaming and top rated online casino sites as “an emerging concern” to the country.

MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC Zaqy Mohamad said, “To a certain sense, it will be difficult to police. It’s something we probably have to study in greater detail. It’s the same issue we have with pornography. It’s difficult to monitor every single screen that goes on. Between online gaming and online gambling, there’s sometimes a fine line. If you play a casino online game for example, BlackJack, is that gambling? When do you consider it gambling – when you transact money or when it is just credits?”

Anne Chui, a counselor at the National Addictions Management Service, Institute of Mental Health has seen a rise in gambling addiction. The Institute believes that since online casino games are available and accessible 24/7, there is an increased chance for addiction. In an effort to find solutions, Chui said, “What can be done is the gambler himself can install a software on the computer that actually blocks out online casino games sites. I do see some of my patients doing that.”

Ryan Lang Pleads Guilty in Black Friday Money Laundering Case

On Tuesday, Canadian-born Ryan Lang, pled guilty to U.S. conspiracy charges in a U.S. District Court in Manhattan. He admitted that he acted as a liaison between poker companies and brokers who ultimately fooled banks into handling money for the gambling businesses. Lang said he did this between 2007 and mid 2010.

Lang was accused as one of the payment processors in the April 15, 2011 “Black Friday” indictment which involved the founders and executives of three of the largest online poker companies, PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker. They were charged with bank fraud, money laundering and operating illegal gaming businesses. A civil lawsuit was also filed by federal prosecutors, who are seeking $3 billion in money-laundering penalties from the websites and their operators.

Lang operated from Canada by enabling financial brokers who made inaccurate statements to the banks to trick them into processing the payments. He circumvented United States laws meant to prevent banks from processing any gaming proceeds.

In an address to the court, Lang stated, “I wish to publically apologize to anyone I’ve harmed by my conduct.”

Lang pled guilty to conspiracy to commit tax fraud and violation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, accepting funds in connection with Internet gambling and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The charges carry a potential penalty of up to 30 years in prison. Sentencing will take place on September 24, 2012.

As of now, five additional minor players charged in the indictment have appeared in U.S. District Court. So far, three have pleaded guilty and the other two will stand trial in April.

Schleswig-Holstein Moving Forward with Gambling Act

Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, took its first steps in late 2011 towards the deregulation of its current system and the adoption of its own online casino games legislation. The new Gambling Act came into effect on January 1, 2012 and has allowed for licensed businesses to begin operation in March 2012. The European Commission approved the legislation.

The decision to pass the Gambling Act in Schleswig-Holstein passed by a narrow margin of one vote, with supporters advocating that the new system would not create a gambling free-for-all. Supporters emphasized the fact that as a result of the new system about sixty million euro is expected to be generated in tax revenue.

With Schleswig-Holstein’s recent changes in its online casino games laws, the government is expecting a significant increase in online gaming license applications. The Interior Ministry has already confirmed that they have received seven applications in the last few days - six from sports betting operators and the seventh from a casino operator.

In discussing the status of other states’ gaming legislation, Klaus Schlie, Interior Minister, said that rather than Schleswig-Holstein abandoning its European Commission approved gaming legislation in favor of the more restrictive systems adopted by the other fifteen German states, they should prepare to take on the Schleswig-Holstein system.

He said, “The treaty agreed upon by the latter was not ratified by Brussels,” also stating that he doubts it will move forward as “it cannot justify why, for example, the number of licenses is restricted to twenty”.

Gaming licenses are expected to be valid for six years in Schleswig-Holstein. The European Commission is expected to rule on the gaming systems proposed by the other fifteen German states within the coming weeks.

Possibility that William Hill Will Buy Playtech in 2013

Rumors abound in the gaming community this week that the UK gambling giant, William Hill, is considering buying Playtech, one of the world’s largest online casino games software developers in 2013.

Playtech and William Hill are already partners in a long-term online venture, which generates about forty percent of the betting operator’s profits. Currently, Playtech owns a twenty-nine percent share of William Hill Online. In 2013, William Hill will legally have the right to buy out the 29% share.

Ralph Topping, CEO at William Hill, stated that he and chairman, Gareth Davis, met on a monthly basis with partners at Playtech. He elaborated, “Discussions about the future are positive … despite colorful episodes over the past three years [the joint venture] has been good for their investors and good for our investors. The current arrangement is one that needs to change – both organizations recognize that.”

William Hill initially believed that their profits would suffer because of the state of the economy in the UK. Despite their fears, they have continued to grow their operating profits by seventeen percent online. They saw a four percent decline in profits in their standard shops, of which they have almost 2,400 across the UK. CEO Ralph Topping said, “I think you are seeing the working man saying that some of his pleasures are just not going to be foregone. He’s not spending on a new car and might be cutting back on holidays but he needs a bit of brightness in his life.”

Online Gaming Bill Introduced in Mississippi

This week, lawmakers in the state of Mississippi have introduced legislation, House Bill 1373 that aims to create the Mississippi Lawful Internet Gaming Act 1 of 2012 that would regulate all forms of online gaming as approved by the Mississippi Gambling Commission.

House Minority Leader Bobby Moak proposed the bill with the intention of creating a licensing system that would grant Internet Wagering Permit holders the authorization to offer online casino games to Mississippi residents over the age of twenty-one.

The bill would also determine the cost of an initial Internet Wagering Permit, at least $200,000 with an annual renewal fee of at least $100,000. Internet Wagering Permits would have a validity of one to five years as determined by the Mississippi Gambling Commission and must undergo a process of renewal upon expiration. The bill also addresses technological and internal control issues required for online gaming licensees.

House Bill 1373 includes a portion that addresses the issue of residents playing illegally as well as the potential consequences of the state not legalizing online casino games. Section one states, “The Legislature finds that since the development of the Internet, millions of people have chosen to engage in online gaming through illegal off-shore operators, and such unlawful gambling is conducted without oversight, regulation, or enforcement, all of which raises significant concerns for the protection of our citizens. Without regulation of online gambling, the public’s trust and confidence in legal gaming is impacted.”

The bill stipulates that only those who are twenty-one and older will only be permitted to play online casino games in Mississippi.

Several top USA casino companies have expressed their support of regulated Internet gambling, including those with casinos in Biloxi. Supporters include Caesars Entertainment of Grand Biloxi Casino; MGM Resorts International of Beau Rivage Resort and Casino; and Boyd Gaming, which last year bought IP Casino Resort.

Senators Wright and Steinberg Introduce Online Gaming Bill in California

This past weekend, Online Gaming SB 1463 was introduced in California by Senators Rod Wright and Darrell Steinberg. As it currently stands, the Gambling Control Act regulates gaming activities and licenses in the state.

As part of the proposed bill, online casino games operators will be eligible to apply for a ten year license to operate an intrastate internet gaming website to registered players within California. The caveat is that operators can only offer poker at this time. Operators who offer any other games would be in violation of the Bill and could face misdemeanor charges.

Operators who acquire licenses will be required to pay an application fee that would be deposited into the Internet Gambling Licensing Fund. This fee stands to be “continuously appropriated to the department for the reasonably anticipated costs of investigating the applicant.” The Fund would go towards the actual costs of license oversight, consumer protection, state regulation, problem gambling programs, and other purposes related to this bill.

Additionally, the Bill would make it mandatory for each operator to pay a nonrefundable license fee in the amount of $30,000,000 for deposit in the General Fund. This fee would be credited against monthly fees imposed on the licensee’s gross gaming revenue.

In order to monitor results, the Bill requires the Bureau of State Audits to review the activity and file a report to the Legislature on the implementation of the Bill. This would occur two years after the issue date of any license by the state and cannot exceed three years after that date.

Although the Constitution of California requires the state to provide reimbursement to local agencies for certain costs mandated by the state, the Bill would override it in relation to this issue.

Bodog Founder Accused of Illegal Gambling and Money Laundering

On Monday, news broke that the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice seized the Bodog domain. Following this development, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Baltimore, Maryland, has now announced the indictments of Bodog founder Calvin Ayre, along with three of his company executives, James Philip, David Ferguson, and Derrick Maloney. The three are accused of operating an illegal sports gambling business and money laundering.

The U.S. District attorney for Maryland, Rod J. Rosenstein stated, “Sports betting is illegal in Maryland, and federal law prohibits bookmakers from flouting that law simply because they are located outside the country. Many of the harms that underlie gambling prohibitions are exacerbated when the enterprises operate over the Internet without regulation.”

The indictment alleges that Bodog Entertainment Group, operating as Bodog.com, collaborated with payment processors to direct over $100 million of payments to US gamblers, as well as Bodog’s business promoters.

If the four defendants are found guilty, they could be charged with up to twenty-five years in prison. The Bodog.com domain name has been inoperable for a few months as it was switched to Bovada.lv in the United States. Morris Mohawk Gaming Group, located on the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake in Quebec, Canada, currently operates the brand.

In response to the seizure, Calvin Ayre replied with this statement on his website, “Not sure what to say. BodogBrand.com is a brand-licensing organization based outside the US. The brand left the market last year and the domain in question has been dormant globally for longer than that. We are only currently doing brand licensing deals outside the US so this domain had no place in any of our current plans.”

In response to the allegations against him, Ayre went on to say, “I see this as abuse of the US criminal justice system for the commercial gain of large US corporations. It is clear that the online gaming industry is legal under international law…it will not stop my many business interests globally that are unrelated to anything in the US and it will not stop my many charity projects through my foundation.”

Senator Jeff Danielson of Iowa Races to Legalize Online Poker in the State

An Iowa legislative sub-committee is meeting to consider the bill proposed by Senator Jeff Danielson that would regulate online poker and legalize online gambling for games like poker. The consideration is based upon the findings of a recent study released by the state of Iowa that stated that the legalization of online casino games would generate between $13 to $60 million in one year alone, resulting in a $3-$13 million tax revenue boost for the state. Like all states, Iowa has suffered from the economic downturn of the last few years and this could be a much needed source of income.

The bill proposed by Senator Danielson follows the United States Department of Justice’s change of position on the 1961 Wire Act, which has now been interpreted as applying only to sports betting. Danielson stated that, the Department of Justice’s ruling “took a significant hurdle away from the ability to play poker online.”

He continued, “We believe by the end of this year you will see a handful of states continue to authorize it. “Because of the Department of Justice’s opinion, we believe you’ll see very quickly multi-state compacts.”

Danielson had tried something similar in the past, with Senate Bill 458. It failed to make it past this stage last year, however a new bill, SSB 3164, created with the support of United States Digital Gaming, is poised to receive quick consideration in the State Government Subcommittee in the coming days. There is a good chance that there will be success on this occasion.

Online Casino Games Face New Obstacles in Belgium

Shortly after awarding an A+ gaming license to PokerStars, authorities in Belgium have made moves to crack down on unlicensed online casino games sites. This is the latest in a series of attempts that have paved the way towards gaming liberalization in Belgium.

The Belgian government maintains a black list of companies whose domains will be blocked by Belgian ISP’s in an effort to enforce online gaming laws. Even though, blocking a domain name is not a one hundred percent secure method to hinder illegal gambling, it does send a powerful message to those who may try to circumvent it.

Those on the list included some of the major companies in the industry, like 888 and Everest. Many of the banned addresses had .be suffix in their URL and had been operating openly and illegally in Belgium for a significant period of time.

Banned sites that agree not to afford Belgian players the opportunity to play can be taken off the list. Once this happens, Belgian authorities will allow them to begin the process of applying for an official license.

In an effort to make the laws as strong as possible, Belgian authorities have attached significant fines for site operators and players operating illegally. Anyone heading an illegal gambling site within the country or catering to Belgian players faces fines of up to €100,000 ($132,00 USD).

Belgian citizens can face up to a substantial €25,000 ($33,00 USD) fine for playing on one of the blacklisted sites as well as a guaranteed visit from local law enforcement. Belgian players are expected to check the list of banned companies to ensure that the sites they are playing on are legal.

Intranet Gaming Announcement Within Tribal Casinos

Atlantis Internet Group Corp (ATIG) of Nevada announced the launch of Intranet gaming within some tribal casinos, the first instance of legal intranet gambling within the US.

Two Native American Tribal Casinos, Coushatta Indian Casino in Louisiana and Coyote Valley Casino in California, have already joined the ATIG network. Up to twenty-eight Indian Casinos from within the US can be connected through the network.

The intranet was established in 2009 after receiving sanction from the National Indian Gaming Commission. Shortly after, ATIG developed contracts with some of the leading global gaming vendors to offer Class III, Class II and online games. The Tribal Gaming Network is a multi-game platform offering a variety of products like table games, slot machines, virtual horse racing, nationwide poker, simulated sports betting and online live dealer games. It also offers a Powerball type of Lotto product, the second of its kind.

In order to connect to the Tribal Gaming Network, players have to physically be in the land casino that has subscribed to the network. ATIG's gaming platform will work on slot machines, kiosks, Android mobile phones and Samsung Tablets within the casino. Some games can be played on iPhones. ATIG has hailed the intranet a next generation product and has marketed it as a casino within a casino.

ATIG has been at the forefront of play-for-fun or play-for-free sites. President and CEO Donald L. Bailey stated that they have been in the business of play-for-fun sites since 2003. Now, with the Tribal Gaming Network, they are leading the way toward the legalization of online casino games. The Tribal Gaming Network allows real money wagering on all games except bingo and is regarded as completely legal because it is based on the intranet.

Internet Poker Amendment Fails to Pass as Part of Nevada Gaming Tax Bill

Earlier this week, there were reports that an online gaming amendment would be added to the Senate’s unemployment payroll tax bill later in the month. However, on Thursday, Democrat Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, ended speculation that online poker legislation would be attached to the bill.

Reid, a proponent of the legislation, cited opposition to online poker by Indian tribes, state lotteries and the attempt to attach it to the payroll legislation as reasons for its failure. Because of the debate over federal legislation that would legalize online casino games, it has most likely been pushed into 2013 at the earliest.

Chad Beynon, gaming analyst at Macquarie Securities, a global provider of banking, financial, advisory and investment services stated that, “Nevada stands to benefit from the inaction because it may be the only state that allows Americans to gamble online this year.”

“We think the standards were written in a way that will allow for small adjustments as the process moves forward,” Beynon told investors. “At this point, no firm date has been set, but 13 companies have now submitted for an operating license.”

Beynon said the top online casino operators and suppliers would continue to push for federal legalization of online casino games because they believe Washington D.C., can better handle the regulation of online gambling than individual states.

He thought gaming companies looking to break into the online casino games industry in the USA would look at both Nevada, which has the laws in place, and social gaming on various ‘play for fun’ sites.

“Nevada’s Gaming Control Board continues to methodically roll out legalized intrastate gaming and we believe their regulatory board has a great handle on what’s to come,” Beynon said.

Although this latest attempt to pass online poker legislation has seemingly come and gone, there are still several advocates pushing for federal legislation.

Continued Debate on Online Gambling Tax in the United Kingdom

The British government has been compiling a proposal that would make it mandatory for offshore online gambling operators to acquire secondary licenses and pay taxes in the country. It has been estimated that the government is losing out on about £300 million in revenue a year.

The two top online casino games operators that have yet to move offshore are Gala Coral and Bet365. Carl Leaver, CEO of Gala Coral, stated that onshore betting taxes are stifling profits and do not provide any competitive advantage. Therefore the company is constantly determining whether they should move offshore. Leaver hopes for equalization of onshore and offshore taxation.

Ciaran O'Brien, corporate affairs director for Ladbrokes, an online casino games operator that has moved offshore stated, "We are working harder for the government than we are for ourselves." He pointed out that high tax rates would eventually bring in unlicensed sites. O'Brien advocated a reasonably low rate of online gambling tax to be applied at the point of consumption.

Matt Hancock, a Tory MP, has proposed a bill that would tax companies based on location of the online casino games player and not the location of the operator. This would take away the issue of onshore versus offshore. Penalizations for companies who do not follow the law include halting advertising in the UK and prosecution of operators if they enter the British market. The Department for Culture Media and Sport, which regulates online casino games in the United Kingdom, has expressed its eagerness for a Government sponsored bill as soon as Parliamentary time allows. Despite the desire for a quick resolution, it may be two years before online gambling is addressed on the Government's agenda. Because of the long wait period, if Hancock's bill reaches the committee stage, the ministry will support it with a few technical amendments.

Announcement of Multi-Year Licensing Agreement Between CryptoLogic and NeoGames

NeoGames, a major provider of software related to internet scratch cards and instant win games, and CryptoLogic Limited, a developer of online casino games and online casino software, announced a multi-year licensing agreement.

As part of the deal, CryptoLogic will produce two branded games for Neogames, and additional games will be developed in the future.

New games will be disseminated through NeoGames’ network, which includes thirty online gaming operators.

Ian Price, CryptoLogics’s Group Head of Business Development stated, “This agreement opens the door for CryptoLogic’s games to over thirty new online gaming operators and we are confident it will generate value for both companies.”

One of the most important pieces of the deal involves Instant Click, which will allow for a quick rollout of a variety of games from CryptoLogic’s collection of more than 300 online casino games by online operators and providers on their own e-gaming infrastructure and electronic cashier systems. As an outcome, CryptoLogic’s Instant Click online casino games platform and offerings of game content will be incorporated and made available to players likely within a few weeks.

Mr. Price, Group Head of Business Development at CryptoLogic, continued, “We are pleased to welcome a company with the reputation and reach of NeoGames to our list of blue-chip licensees. This agreement opens the door for CryptoLogic’s games to over 30 new online gaming operators and we are confident it will generate value for both companies.”

Possible Liberalization of Online Casino Games in Portugal

Economic turmoil in Portugal may influence lawmakers toward online casino gaming liberalization in the near future. Portugal News Online reports that the possibility of pumping a few hundred million Euros into the economy from online gaming tax revenues is motivating decision makers to open gaming markets to foreign competition.

A recent report circulated throughout the Portugese government suggested that online casino games revenue could be the answer to a €478 million budget deficit. Online casino games licenses could produce as much as €250 million in revenue in 2012 alone.

Companies like Bwin, who have tried unsuccessfully to crack Portugal’s online casino games legal gaming monopoly by Santa Casa de Misericordia de Lisboa, are especially excited by the news. Santa Casa recently won a court battle that forced Bwin to remove all advertising from Portuguese soccer stadiums, programs and merchandise. Bwin had already invested over €4 million sponsoring the Portuguese National Soccer Team and as a result of the ruling now face up to €27 million in damages.

As a result of the deepening economic challenges in Portugal and in Europe in general, it is likely that many government officials will realize the advantages of an open gaming market.

Serbian Gaming Board Orders a Block on Blacklisted Operators

The Serbian Gaming Board, a department of the government, which introduced an online gambling licensing regime last year, has this week sent a directive to major ISPs that demands them to block seventy blacklisted or unlicensed online casino games sites.

The list includes some of the top online casino sites, such as Betfair, Bwin, Bet365, Mybet, Skybet, 888, William Hill, Bet-at-home and Ladbrokes. The Gaming Board threatened that if it finds a continuation in illegal operations, it would seek cooperation from other regulators.

The ISPs, which are still in talks with their lawyers have yet to respond. Director of INet and a former president of the Association of Internet Providers, Vojislav Rodic, stated that he believed that such orders are obligatory to follow only if approved by the judiciary.

The ISPs situation is made even more complicated by new licensing measures that were introduced in November and received significant push back as they seem to need some refinement. They currently allow only the national lottery to operate an online casino games site and issue licenses.

Aleksandar Vulović, a director of the Serbian Gaming Board, explained the move, "We had to prevent access to illegal gambling in order to have a regulated market. Players who operate within the law and from within the state can reap benefits.” He continued, “Currently the provision of games of chance via the internet is one of the most profitable industries and it is estimated that the revenue will double by 2013. It is simply wrong and no longer legal, that the state does not collect a penny of the millions circulating within this industry".

JAKTA, a trade association representing Serbian online casino games operators, land based casinos, slot machine and gambling equipment manufacturers, announced in a statement that the association had conducted careful research and presented convincing evidence for legalization to the country's politicians. JAKTA also had suggested that new online gambling licenses should be issued for a period up to ten years.

Everleaf Shuts Down USA Online Casino

After receiving word from The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Everleaf Gaming Network, has shut down all online casino games in the USA. Everleaf elected not to fight the government’s ruling and shut down all US operations effective immediately. Everleaf Gaming offers poker solutions for online and land-based operators. Everleaf was one of only a few networks providing real-money online poker to players within the U.S. after Black Friday.

Players who now login into Everleaf will receive a new set of terms and conditions, one of which stipulates that, “No person who is resident in Malta, France and USA may open an account, play, or in any other way participate in the ELG offerings and/or services.”

Everleaf had never accepted players from Malta in the past, however, the inclusion of France and the USA are recent additions to the terms and conditions. Players are being banned from accessing any of its 100-plus poker skins.

After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, one of the company’s US based payment processors was seized. Funds held by the payment processor were also seized.

It is still left to be determined when Everleaf’s online casino games players based in the USA will be paid or how long the process will take. Despite this, the company has assured players that their funds are safe and they are working with the Department of Justice to make all players receive their money.

Everleaf is expected to release a statement in the next few days regarding player payouts and will elaborate more on the ongoing situation.

Viaden Launches New Online Casino Games Titles

The online casino games software provider Viaden Gaming, based in the Isle of Man, has launched four new online slots which will enhance the company’s top online casino games offerings. Each are certified by SQS India, a member of SQS Group, which holds the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission’s authorization to conduct independent software testing. Viaden Gaming offers an extensive suit of unique games rich in graphics and functionality and is used in some of the best online casinos.

Viaden is introducing a variety of new themes to the mix, including Maya Pyramid, a 21-payline variation of the popular Maya Pyramid slot, with a multitude of playing options and designs. The game’s benefits include its scatters, expandable wilds and a bonus round.

There is Cubana Tropicana, a vacation inspired video slot played on nine paylines with thirteen specially designed symbols, a fun bonus round, free spins and scatters.

Viaden also created Non-Stop Party, an exciting video slot that is presented as a disco party on five reels and twenty-one paylines. It has many special features, including scatter, wild and bonus, free spins and multipliers.

Finally, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day in the month of February, Viaden presents Jour de l’Amour, a Parisian themed video slot which is intended to inspire romance in players. The game allows participants to win on 25 paylines, and offers special features such as scatter, wild and three different bonus symbols.

One of the prominent characteristics in all four new online casino games is that they all offer a Gamble option, which can be used after each win.

Washington DC Online Casino Games Law Repealed

Earlier this week, uncertainty over the status of online casinos in Washington, DC ended when the city council voted to repeal the law which provided for the regulation of online casino games. Although the original law was passed over a year ago, its implementation met continuous setbacks. Similar to New Jersey, DC came close to being the first provider of USA online casinos, but was unable to follow through.

Councilor Michael A. Brown, the sponsor of the bill, tried his best to circumvent its repeal, offering to submit a compromise bill. Mayor Vincent C. Gray, who had supported the initial bill, stated that he would support a re-bid of the entire contract if the council did not repeal the bill.

Councilor Jack Evans, chairman of the city's Revenue and Finance Committee, cautioned that as a consequence of the repeal, there would be greater scrutiny of the lottery contract. Council member Tommy Wells, a co-sponsor of the repeal with Evans, said, "I certainly have a lot of questions about the process of selecting the partner in the lottery contract, and that's a conversation I will be having with Mr. Evans." Those who are close to the issue have stated that the problem is not as much about the online casino games law as it about the contentious lottery contract for about $38 million.

Concerns about the lottery stemmed from a report by D.C. Inspector General Charles J. Willoughby, who determined that as part of city's lottery contract with Intralot, non-traditional games were altered to online casino games without permission of the Council. Willoughby also stated that Intralot's local partner, businessman Emmanuel S. Bailey, failed to disclose the true nature of his business dealings during the bid for the lottery contract.

In discussions after the vote, Councilor Brown made note of the fact that DC community members had responded positively to online casino games in meetings held by the DC Lottery last year. Therefore, he pointed out, the concerns about lottery contract could have been handled as a separate issue.

Amaya Gaming Launches Mobile Online Casino with Live Dealer Product

Amaya Gaming, a Canadian company at the forefront of developing online casino games recently announced its acquisition of Cryptologic for $36 million and a three-year licensing agreement with Aristocrat Leisure. In a follow-up to this big news, Amaya has just announced the launch of its first mobile online casino offering, featuring the first live dealer product for tablet devices. The mobile casino games are compatible on all mobile platforms, including smartphones.

Amaya issued a news release that stated, “Amaya’s first mobile casino games offerings will include a selection of its proven slots: the classically designed, Bars & Bells™ which features the ground-breaking Streak Breaker™ feature, the perennial favorite Dragon 8’s™ and the very popular 1024 ways Lost Temple™. In addition to the exciting slot action, Blackjack and an assortment of lottery games will round out Amaya’s comprehensive mobile offering.”

Darcy Krogh, Amaya’s Vice President of business development added, “We are excited to be the first provider delivering a mobile live dealer product which will complement our comprehensive selection of mobile slots, table games and lottery games. Combined with our monthly release of quality online casino games, this demonstrates our continued commitment to provide our customers with the best casino games and platform on the market.”

Amaya Gaming is working toward becoming a major force in the online casino games world. The deals with Cryptologic and Aristocrat strengthen Amaya’s position in the industry as they supplement the company’s already existing online casino games titles with more that are known worldwide. Amaya president and chief executive David Baazov said, “We look forward to completing the acquisition of CryptoLogic as another important step in our international expansion strategy to deliver leading edge gaming solutions to our expanding global client base of regulated gaming operators and governments.”

Amaya will make its mobile online casino games available later in the year, with additional launches throughout 2012.

Golden Nugget and Chiligaming Partner on New Online Casino

Veteran Vegas casino Golden Nugget has entered into a partnership with online casino games company Chiligaming to open a new online casino site. Golden Nugget, originally founded in 1946, is currently owned by Landry’s Incorporated, a Houston-based dining, hospitality, entertainment, and gaming company. Chiligaming, founded in 2006 by Alexandre Dreyfus, is an international software company specializing in multiplatform casino gaming solutions.

In light of the potential legalization and regulation of online gambling in the U.S., Chiligaming is a particularly suitable partner for Golden Nugget’s online casino project. Industry experts predict that future regulations may require software standardization that Chiligaming’s unique platform is already suited for. Their iGaming platform can work with any casino gaming platform or casino content provider.

Dreyfus said that Chiligaming is quite thrilled to partner with the veteran Vegas casino because its brand is so recognizable in the U.S. market. Golden Nugget, in addition to its original Vegas casino, also has a casino in Laughlin, Nevada and Atlantic City, New Jersey. This is particularly important considering the fact that Nevada and New Jersey are likely to be the first states to legalize local online casinos; this puts the new partnership in the position to be at the top of usa online casinos.

Chairman and owner of Landry’s Tilman J. Fertitta said that after nine months of searching, he his happy that he found Chiligaming. He commented that Dreyfus’s extensive European experience will be an asset to the project. Upon launching, the new site will be a free play casino until all the stages of legalization, regulation, and licensing are completed.

Mitt Romney does not Support the Legalization of Online Gambling

Former Massachusetts governor and current candidate for the Republican presidential nomination Mitt Romney is well known as a religious conservative republican. He has expressed views that are mostly consistent with the Republican mainstream. Beyond the classic debate issues like abortion and taxes, Romney was recently asked whether or not he supports the legalization of online casinos in the U.S. Romney answered that he does not support online gambling legalization.

He went on to explain that he feels like casino games are not something that should be supported claiming that their impact on society can be characterized as negative. He added that he believes that the current access people have to casino games suffices and he sees no reason to increase the level of access that people have to gambling by availing online casino games. Romney’s comments received harsh criticism from online casino reviews who chastised the former governor for saying hackneyed remarks that have long been proven irrelevant. Furthermore, they added, there is a certain level of contradiction between Romney’s remarks on rebuilding the damaged U.S. economy by withdrawing the hand of the government from the market and his objection to legalization. Ron Paul, the Libertarian candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, is more consistent in his support of liaise faire economics and legalizing usa online casinos.

Entrepreneur Donald Trump who has voiced open support for Mitt Romney said himself that the legalization of online gambling in the U.S. is only a matter of time. Just like online gambling has been legalized in Europe, says Trump, it will be legalized in America.

Opposition to Barton Online Poker Bill from State Lotteries

Joe Barton, the Republican Representative from Texas’s 6^th congressional district, sponsored a bill last summer called the 2011 Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection, and Strengthening UIGEA Act. A number of state-level politicians are now opposing the bill on the grounds that it will interfere with the income states receive from their local lotteries. Additional opposition is also voiced from academic institutions that fear that the loss of lottery income will dry up the funding of the scholarship programs.

In states like Georgia and Tennessee, the HOPE Scholarship receives funding from the state lottery. University of Memphis President Shirley Raines explained that this scholarship is the only opportunity for students from underprivileged backgrounds to attend university. She expressed her fear that if online gambling were to become legal in Tennessee, the lottery may see a reduction of revenue and the HOPE Scholarship with it.

Tennessee 9^th District Representative Steven Cohen opined that, in contrast to Raines’s fears, online casino games will have no impact on lottery revenues. Cohen cosponsored the bill with Barton; based on his familiarity with the issues he says that the two attract different segments of the population. He further added that when usa online casinos do become legal, he hopes that states will use some of the tax revenue to further assist the scholarship programs.

This bill, however, is not the final word regarding legalization. Some online casino reviews have reserved optimism, for on the one hand it is a step towards legalization, but it still requires individual legislation efforts for each and every state.

Belgium Gaming Commission White-Lists PokerStars

According to the Belgian Gaming Act, the Belgium Gaming Commission is authorized to create two lists: a while list and a black list. The white list is the list of online gaming websites that have received proper licensing from the Belgium Gaming Commission. The black list is the list of unlicensed online casino that the Belgian telecommunication companies are required to block access to. The Commission recently released the new lists. top online casinos like Everestpoker.be, Titanpoker.be, 888.com, and Chilipoker.com are all blacklisted. Alexandre Dreyfus, the CEO of online casino games developer Chiligaming (which owns Chilipoker), released a statement saying that the addition of his site to the Belgium Gaming Commission’s blacklist was erroneous because his site doesn’t operate in Belgium.

One of the sites to be added to the white list is PokerStars.be having received a Casino de Namur A+ license; it is one of the first to be added. Commission Chairman Etienne Marique commented that the release of the lists is an important move forward for the Belgian online gambling community. He added that the new regulation really allows for the local gaming industry in Belgium to grow while simultaneously protecting players from illegal websites. Furthermore, the regulation allows for increased player-exclusion abilities on part of the operators.

The Gaming Commission said that only properly licensed online casinos will be operating in Belgium in 2012. Head of Business Development at PokerStars Guy Templer said that his company is proud to be counted among the first sites to receive full licensing from the Belgium Gaming Commission. online casino reviews expect PokerStars and other quick licensees to grab the lion’s share of the Belgian market.

Churchill Downs Entering the Race for Online Casinos

Churchill Downs, the operating company of the legendary Kentucky Derby Racetrack of the same name, has officially entered the online casino games business with its purchase of Bluff Media. Bluff Media is a poker content company run by Eddy Kleid, Eric Morris, and Jeff Markley. Bluff Media publishes BLUFF, a print magazine, and BluffMagazine.com, the online version. A number of associated websites were included in the purchase which was announced at the closing of the trading day. Bluff magazine has an associated publishing company as well as a comprehensive poker player database called ThePokerDB. ThePokerDB tracks poker players’ progress in games and tournaments and ranks them. Other associated websites include the Bluff blog, Bluff forum, and a mixed martial arts magazine called Fight!

The purchase joins the bustle of activity in the American internet casino market as legalization creeps closer and closer to becoming a reality. Churchill Downs is hopeful that the purchase of the popular online poker magazine will help them get on the right track towards operating a top usa online casino.

Although Bluff magazine does not have gambling with real money on its website, it does forward players to some of the best online casinos that do. For Churchill Downs, though the purchase of Bluff Media is not an immediate entrance into the online casino world, it will certainly provide quite the marketing tool when they do launch their site.

Representatives of the two companies have reported that even though Bluff Media is now owned by Churchill Downs, the three senior managers Kleid, Morris, and Markley, will continue to work for the magazine.

Argument over Online Gambling Bill in Florida House

The Florida House of Representatives is set to vote on the Prohibition of Electronic Gambling Devices bill soon. Though the bill, supported by Governor Rick Scott and his cabinet, is expected to clear the house, there remains serious doubt it will be able to pass the senate. On one side of the debate is the argument that Florida internet cafes are raking in over one billion dollars annually in online gambling revenue without any kickbacks for the state. On the other side of the debate are the Seminole Indians who claim that the bill will undue the existing agreement between their tribal casinos and the State of Florida.

Currently, Florida internet cafes are using an outdated sweepstakes law from 1971 in order to engage in what can essentially be defined as electronic casino games. Barry Richard, the lawyer representing the Seminole tribe on this matter, explained that just because these internet cafes call what they are doing a sweepstakes does not mean it really is a sweepstakes. He is seeking to outlaw what the internet cafes are doing without disrupting the tribal casinos’ status quo.

Miami Republican Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla is one of the bill’s sponsors; he said that the new bill will have no impact on the Seminole Tribe casinos. He explained that the internet cafes existed before the casino deal was struck with the Seminole. Some casino reviews claim that the only reason the Seminole are against the bill is because they fear that as a result of the legislation they may lose their monopoly. One casino guide pointed out that the sweepstakes loophole in not only used in Florida but is used in many states across the U.S.

RICO Suit against Full Tilt Poker Dismissed

Leonard Burke Sand, the federal judge from the U.S. District Court of New York’s Southern District, dismissed the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) civil suit against Full Tilt Poker. The RICO act expands the penalties for criminal offences committed as an organization. According to the alleged claim, Full Tilt Poker and ten other individuals colluded to obtain $150 million in user account funds; the civil claim says that the online poker site knowingly froze their accounts prior to the U.S. Department of Justice shut-down on April 15, 2011. Sand ruled that the claim of the plaintiff representing the account holders, Steve Segal, was too attenuated.

Judge Sand further elaborated that whether the freezing of the accounts was a result of malfeasance on part of the operators or a result of the U.S. Attorney’s Office decision remained unclear. There are five units against which players are taking action; the dismissal applies to two of the units and the players can continue to move forward against three. If the plaintiff amends the claims they will be entitled to resubmit their suit against the first two units.

top usa online casino Full Tilt Poker was originally shut down by the U.S. Department of Justice along with usa online casinos PokerStars and Absolute Poker. The three were shut down for violating the 1961 Federal Wire Act which at the time was understood to prohibit any and all electronic transmission of funds in the context of online gambling or sports betting. Ironically, just eight months later the Legal Council of the USDOJ reexamined the Wire Act and decided that the Criminal Division’s inclusion of online casino games was erroneous.

Microgaming Gears Up with New Live Casino Dealer Game

Live casino dealers are extremely popular at the best online casinos and software provider Microgaming has just raised the industry bar with the release of their latest ‘Diamond Edition’ live dealer Roulette game. The HD streaming live dealer game is currently being offered in Roulette and the series will expand to other games in the coming months.

Already 16 top online casinos powered by Microgaming have opted for the new ‘Diamond Edition’ game, which offers not only live, super high quality video but also the option for players to play against each other in real-time using the multi-player function that the game offers. The cutting-edge graphics really set this game apart from the competition and it’s no wonder that players are raving and rating Microgaming the best online casino software provider.

Unfortunately, Microgaming software doesn’t allow US players at this time but hopefully some of the other US-friendly top online casino software providers will follow suit and up the ante on their live dealer games. The trend among live dealer games is growing as players like to interact with dealers and other players in real-time, an experience that certainly adds an extra element of “real-life” casino gambling.

Platinum Play Pays Out to 2 Big Jackpot Winners

We all want to win the jackpot, who says it can't happen? Since the beginning of the month two lucky players have walked away big winners at Platinum Play online casino. Platinum Play is powered by Microgaming software which means that the two progressive jackpots won were network-wide. This means that players on all Microgaming powered top online casinos contribute to the progressive jackpots and players across the network can win. In this case, two won on Platinum Play's site!

The two lucky winners are Susan C. and George K. Susan C. won a whopping £1,965,956.46 playing the progressive video slot game The Lord of the Rings. This game is known for its great graphics, familiar theme and Cinematic Spins™ feature that plays cinematic clips from the movie. The second winner, George K., won €278,518 on the poker game Caribbean Draw Poker Gold Series. This is a new 5-card draw poker game that uses a standard 52-card deck and is a player vs. dealer game.

Players are walking away with big money as playing at online casinos gets more and more popular. The good news is that the millions of players across the Microgaming network will fill up those two progressive jackpots in no time - especially when they're enticed with a free play bonus.

So, could you be the next big winner?

IGT Wins Best Slot Manufacturer at ICE Exhibition

At the gaming exhibition ICE, International Gaming Technology (IGT) won the award for Best Slot Manufacturer for this year. International Gaming Technology is a public company founded in 1975 by William Redd that specializes in the development, design, and manufacturing of online casino games as well as sales and distribution. The ICE exhibition, run annually by Totally Gaming, is one of the largest business-to-business casino gaming exhibitions in the world.

The senior vice president of IGT International Craig Churchill said that his firm is very excited about the win. He added that the IGT takes great pride in this achievement and is deeply honored by the acknowledgement. IGT took advantage of the exhibition to showcase its new series of slot games: The Twilight Zone® 3D, Ghostbusters™ Who Ya Gonna Call, Sex and the City® Fabulous, Elvis the King®, and The Dark Knight. Churchill further added that IGT is raising the standard for slot games by combining IGT’s thrilling slot software with internationally known pop-culture themes. Committed to providing a top online casino experience, IGT uses cutting edge slot technology and innovative development solutions. Fans of IGT’s games are located all around the world.

IGT is soon to release its new Elvis The King® Multi-Level Progressive slots in honor of the 55 year anniversary of Elvis’s first #1 record release. The game is designed like a jukebox; various stages of the gameplay introduce players to different Elvis hits.

The ICE exhibition featured massive high-def flat-screens and had players lining up to get good seats. The exhibition featured the debut of The Dark Knight – Battle for Gotham City. online casino reviews reported that fans are already getting in line for the new releases.

South Korean Online Casino News Latest Updates

The current legal situation in regarding online gambling in South Korea is complicated. On the one hand, it is not illegal to play or operate online casino games. On the other hand, it is illegal to collect revenue from such online casino websites. To those familiar with the former understanding of the 1961 Federal Wire Act, this situation may sound like déjà vu. This odd situation led to the creation of a weird hybrid online grey market. Considering the fact that South Korea has one of the largest online gaming markets on the planet, its situation is particularly unique.

The South Korean iGaming market works on virtual money. Though the virtual money can be redeemed for real money, since the official stance of the Korean government is that online gambling for money is illegal, there is no protection. When a player wants to redeem his or her virtual winnings for real cash, the “grey” market quickly becomes a “black” market – and like any other black market – it has fraud, blackmail, intimidation, and theft. There is no one to turn to because the connection between the virtual gambling and the real money is frowned upon by the authorities. The authorities have gone through the trouble of taking action against illegal gambling rings here and there, but the results are not much.

To make matters worse, the current situation doesn’t seem to be bothering anyone in Korean government. No legislative action has been taken to regulate online gambling. While countries around the world are promoting the creations of top online casino markets for reasons of consumer protection and tax revenues, South Korea is letting the status quo remain.

online casino reviews predict that the Asian market is poised to double itself multiple times over in the coming years.

PokerStars Acquires EU Casino Gambling License

Recently, since acquiring a Malta license, PokerStars has gone live for Swedish and Finish players. Players can now play against players from across the globe but they’re able to reap the benefits of all that the Malta license has to offer – including tax free winnings! Top online casino brands are quickly seeing the added value of the Malta gambling licence.

The EU license that PokerStars now has is features on their new .eu site and players can access all the same games and tournaments and play with all other PokerStars players (also from the PokerStars.com website)!

The transfer process is simple and automatic – players just need to update their software and all their information will be transferred to the PokerStars.eu system. These benefits specifically affect players from Finland and Sweden. This is a huge difference compared to the 50% that Finish and Swedish players were taxed on winnings acquired outside the EU.

This new license clearly benefits both players and PokerStarsalike as they’re now able to complete against other best online casino poker rooms with the EU license.

Playtech Forms New Casino Partnerships

Playtech, the online casino games developer, has entered into a number of new partnerships with various casino operators around the world. In Germany, Playtech partnered with Gauselmann, a veteran casino operator, in order to develop gaming products for the German market. The extent of their joint activity is still dependent on German regulatory developments, but assuming all goes according to plan, they will offer sports betting in addition to other games. The joint venture is essentially fifty-fifty between the two companies, though Gauselmann has a fraction of a percent more for legal reasons.

Playtech has also entered, in light of the increasing likelihood of legalization, into a partnership with South African casino resort operator Peermont. Peermont, who operates 14 resorts and casinos with an annual revenue exceeding €260 million, is joining forces with Playtech for the purposes of offering online sports betting. This gamble is dependent on the passing of legislation currently moving through the South African Parliament. Playtech will supply the technical backend and software for the venture which is expected to draw direct revenue for the companies.

If you can’t beat them, join them; and if you can’t join them, you can always buy them out. Playtech purchased rival sports betting software developer Geneity for 11 million pounds. Geneity, established in 2006, provided software for major clients like Ladbrokes and Betfair. The Geneity software will replace Playtech’s current sports betting software. The newest acquisition will be joined together with another Playtech acquisition, Mobenga, the mobile online casino developer, in order to offer mobile sports betting. Online casino reviews expect the new acquisition to strengthen Playtech’s position in the international sports betting market.

New Casino Game from Rival Gaming

Software provider Rival Gaming has recently announced the launch of a new online slot game, part of their i-slot series.The new game, Wild Safari, is an African safari themed slot that is designed to take players on a true safari adventure.This game is a 25-payline slots game with 5 reels. There are two sets of reels, each one has its own set of symbols which makes for a unique gaming experience for casino players.

The first set of reels features symbols related to what a safari adventurer might bring on their trip including a jeep, airplane, journal, binoculars, camera and more. The second set of symbols is related to what the safari adventurer might see on their trip and includes a lion, zebra, hippo, giraffe and more. The two sets of reels don’t change the nature of the game however they add to the visual effect of the game.

There are two wild symbols in this game (one for each reel set). The first is the jeep symbol and the second is the giraffe symbol. They appear on reels one or five and expand to fit the whole reel when the bonus feature is triggered. The free spin bonus feature is triggered when the airplane symbol appears in the first set of reels or when the rhino symbol appears on the second set of reels. When the player sees at least three of the free spin symbols then they will get the free spins. Three free spin symbols will earn the player 10 free spins, 4 will earn the player 20 free spins and 5 will earn the playing 75 free spins.

In addition to the free spins feature there is also a bonus game feature which is triggered when the player gets three or more camera symbols on the first set of reels or three or more lion symbols on the second set of reels. During this bonus round players use the camera to take pictures of the different safari animals and are rewarded based on the number of picture they take.

Rival Gaming power some of the top rated casinos and their i-slot series are really interactive and offer casino player a very visual slot game with lots of great chances to win big. Enjoy Wild Safari and some of the best online casinos!

Microgaming and AliQuantum New Casino Partnership

Major online casino games developer Microgaming has entered into a new partnership with mobile online casino and casino games developer AliQuantum. AliQuantum, licensed in Malta, is known for creating a very impressive gaming platform. The new partnership enables AliQuantum to significantly expand their game selection and provide a better and more unique experience for their customers. They will be offering more games for their regular PC platform and for their mobile platform as well. These new games will be added to their existing Plus-Five Gaming selection.

The new games to be made available on the AliQuantum platform include mahjong, poker, bingo, and casino games. There will be games with a live dealer as well. The live dealer is available to players with the White-Label partnership.

AliQuantum Gaming was founded in 2003. At its inception, the company focused entirely on mobile gaming platforms. Since then, the firm has expanded greatly. Currently, AliQuantum Gaming is an industry leader involved in many levels of online gaming development in over twenty countries around the world.

The games being added to the AliQuantum platform are games that Microgaming offers on their QuickFire platform. AliQuantum CEO Andy Jones said that the integration of the software is complete, both on the technical and legal levels. He expressed his excitement about having the QuickFire games available on their platform and expected that the synergy will bring new customers. He said that the partnership with Microgaming provides their customers with a uniquely quality product that differentiates them from other software providers. Online casino reviews predict that this new partnership could act as a catapult for AliQuantum to grow in the coming quarters.

Ladbrokes Invests in U.S. Casino Market

The popular British sports betting and online casino games website Ladbrokes has made its first major investment into the U.S. casino market by acquiring a majority share of the Nevadan software company Stadium Technology Group. Established in 2009, Stadium Technology Group develops sports betting related software and risk management technologies. Currently headed by CEO Derek Harmer, they are known for products such as Rapid Bet Live™ and PrimeLine.

Ladbrokes CEO Richard Glynn stated that the company is seeking to establish a foothold in the American market for two main reasons. One reason is the sheer size of the American market and its massive potential, and the second reason is the developing legislation in many states that could lead the way to legalized online gambling in the near future. Ladbrokes hopes to be able to have a top online casino based in Nevada as soon as possible.

The first stage of the acquisition deal between Ladbrokes and Stadium Technology Group will be the purchase of 65% of the latter by the former. The current estimated value of that share is $3 million. For the next five years Ladbrokes retains the rights to complete the purchase of Stadium Technology Group.

Ladbrokes has also seen growth in its mobile division. This past December, they launched AtTheRaces, a live streaming mobile race app for Irish and British horse racing. The new app and Ladbrokes’ mobile online casino have brought impressive growth to Ladbrokes Mobile during the last quarter. Casino reviews commented that the mobile platform succeeds in combining simplicity with unique functionality.

Kahnawake Gaming Commission Revises Regulations

In the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Quebec, Canada, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission has made two major revisions to the online casino gaming regulations. These revisions will impact players’ ability to self-exclude themselves from online casinos and will impact the ability of players to resolve disputes with online casinos.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission has established a new self exclusion system. Previously, a problem gambler was able to request self-exclusion from a specific site; however, that site did not prevent him or her from signing up for other sites. With the new system, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission is establishing a centralized database for problem gamblers. With the new database, a player can request to be excluded from all of the casinos licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. All a player has to do is fill out a simple request form on the commission’s website; then a compliance officer contacts the applicant for verification purposes. Self-excluded players who succeed in gaining access to Kahnawake licensed sites are requested to notify the Commission immediately.

The second revision deals with conflict resolution between operators and customers. The Commission appointed a dispute resolution officer; the newly appointed officer will be in charge of addressing complaints and establishing their validity. Online casinos will be obligated to respond to requests from the resolution officer within seven days. This will force expedient handling of the complaint. Customers playing online casino games at any one of the top online casinos licensed by the Commission who enter into a dispute with the operator simply need to contact the resolution officer via the Commission’s website and their dispute will be dealt with quickly. Casinomeister, the fair play advocate and casino guide, awarded the Kahnawake Gaming Commission with the Phoenix Award for taking strong action to fix problematic issues in online gambling.

DC, Connecticut and Hawaii Propose Local Gambling Laws

Now that the US DoJ (Department of Justice) has announced that individual states can legally regulate online gambling, states have begun responding and announcing their intentions. Since the beginning of the month, a few states have made interesting statements that could very well start some new trends on the online gambling front.

First was Washington DC which many people felt came as a surprise. A council has been set up to repeal the city's quite controversial gambling law which many feel was passed without proper inspection and due discussion. It's understood that the city stands to gain from legalizing online gambling and it was not-surprisingly added to its lottery contract and many of the Mayor's opponents who are against legalizing online casino games to used this as leverage to try and repeal the ruling.

Next up was the state of Connecticut (a very wealthy state) which is scheduled to hold an informational forum to discuss the issue of legalizing online gambling in the state. State representatives and senators will be in attendance in addition to representatives from the offline gambling industries. The approach seems to be liberal and realistic. Governor D. Malloy was quoted as saying "Online gambling is coming to Connecticut whether we like it or not. The playing field with respect to gaming is about to change, and we have to consider those changes and be aware of them."

Hawaii is also heating up when it comes to the legalizing online gambling debate. A bill has been submitted to state legislators pushing for a Hawaii Internet Lottery and Gaming Corporation that will have the power to offer games of chance and skills online (including poker, casino games and lotto). The bill proposes both real money and play money options for Hawaii state residents. This governing body would be able to tender for services of online gambling providers under the condition that they have not offered their services to Americans in the past. This leaves the door open for some of the world's best online casinos to put in their bid.

55 Years for Laundering Billions in Illegal Casino Revenue

Ira Rubin, a known criminal who has been charged over 24 times in the last 40 years, has pleaded guilty to charges of bank fraud, money laundering, wire fraud, and other offences connected to illegal online gambling. Rubin, who could sit in the big house for up to 55 years, set up straw companies on behalf of major online casino operators in the U.S. in order to cover up illegal earnings from U.S. banks that refused to conduct financial reactions on behalf of the online casinos.

Rubin’s name hit the news last April when the USDOJ and the FBI shut down America’s three biggest online poker sites, Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker, and Poker Stars. Prosecutor Preet Bharara explained that Rubin, as part of his plea deal, admitted to disguising the illegal revenue of the online casinos by misleading the banks to believe that the transfers were taking place on behalf of regular merchandisers such as jewelers and clothing stores.

The online casino games operators were forces to turn to a third party in the first place because the banks were unwilling to facilitate transactions of behalf of online casinos for fear of violating the 1961 Federal Wire Act. It’s ironic that less than one year after “black Friday” the USDOJ revised their understanding of the Wire Act to exclude online gambling. If this revision had happened earlier, perhaps the operators would not have had to turn to shady third party money launderers in the first place.

Proponents of legalizing USA online casinos claim that this instance further stresses the importance of legalization and regulation of online gambling in order to prevent such unpleasantries.

Microgaming Launches New Mega Spin Video Slot

Online casino software giant Microgaming has announced the release of its first ever Mega Spin video slot. Microgaming had released Mega Spin regular slots in the past, like Major Millions, High Five, Fantastic Sevens, and Double Magic. Microgaming’s new release, Break Da Bank Again, is their first ever Mega Spin video slot.

The Break Da Bank Again Mega Spin video slot is nearly identical to Break Da Bank. The symbols are the same and the payouts are the same. In Break Da Bank Again, the game’s logo acts as the wild symbol. The wild symbol, in stead of offering payouts, multiplies payouts (x5). The scatter symbol is the safe. If you get 3, 4, or 5 scatter symbols you receive 15, 20, or 25 free spins respectively. During the free spins, any payout is multiplied by five. One of the features from the original Break Da Bank, the Expert Mode, is not featured in the new version.

Break Da Bank again is a five reel Mega Spin. That means that there are 20 spinning reels. There are 4 different sets of reels. Each reel has nine paylines – for each payline a player can wager ten coins or less. Therefore, the max wager is 360 coins. The coins themselves range in value. There are coins worth 0.01 credits and coins worth 0.25 credits. This gives beginning players the possibility of wagering very small amounts while also letting higher rollers bet large amounts.

Online casino reviews praised the Mega Spin upgrade. They predicted that Break Da Bank Again, along with Microgaming’s other popular online casino games, will continue drawing players to their top online casinos.

Two New Major Football Sponsorships for Unibet

The popular sports betting and online casino site Unibet has entered a three year contract of sponsorship with F.C. Midtjylland (The Midtjylland Football Club, FCM) and F.C. København (The Copenhagen Football Club, FCK). As a result of the contract Unibet acquires exclusive betting partner rights with these two clubs.

This new sponsorship contract between the Swedish top online casino site and the two Danish clubs has materialized following liberalization of Danish gaming regulations. FCK CEO Anders Hørsholt that it goes without saying that the top gaming site, Unibet, would partner with the number one team in Scandinavia, FCK. He commented that his team, which competes widely in Europe-wide competitions, was sought after by other sports betting companies, though Unibet was the only real choice. Hørsholt closed saying that he was happy to see the interest with which Unibet is activating its new deal with FCK fans and is sure the new partnership will mutually benefit Unibet, the Club, and FCK fans alike.

Unibet Denmark General Manager Kim Olesen commented that Unibet is very happy regarding the new contract with Denmark’s two most ambitious football clubs. She said that just like the two clubs are ambitious about being the best in football, so to Unibet is ambitious to be the number one betting site in Denmark. She concluded with the hope that the synergy between the ambitious organizations will certainly position Unibet at the forefront of the market.

FCM Sports Director Jens Ørgaard added that Unibet, which is a celebrated operator, and FCM, a leading football club, share a belief in challenging the system. Ørgaard concluded saying that Unibet correctly identified the club’s high potential and expects productive cooperation.

Unibet has online casino games as well.

US Legalization Hype Dying Down

This past December, the U.S. Department of Justice Legal Commission redefined the 1961 Federal Wire Act to exclude online casino gambling. The decision caused much excitement in the internet gambling community. However, online casino reviews and other industry experts are now saying that the excitement might have been premature; there are more legal hurdles to overcome before intrastate online casinos can become legal in the United States.

Gaming analyst Andrew Zarnett of Deutsche Bank prepared a research report saying that the intrastate online gambling legalization hype was out of place. He explained that the good news is that what was once an issue of whether or not online gambling should be legalized in America has now become an issue of when can online gambling become legalized. The bad news is that there is no clear indication that intrastate online gambling will actually become legal in the near future. He suggested that those interested in promoting USA online casinos should focus on legalizing gambling within individual states. Using the precedent of land-based casinos, state lotteries, and horse racing, Zarnett posited that local online gambling could be obtained in individual states without the difficulties of tackling online gambling on Capitol Hill.

Jennifer Carleton, a Las Vegas lawyer, explained that though the USDOJ’s revision is a positive step forward, nothing is stopping them from reversing the decision in the future. Therefore, as much as the gambling community can rejoice about the recent decision, any celebration is temporary until permanent measures are taken at the federal level. Locally, Nevada has already legislated regulations for online poker locally in the hope that eventually their licensed casinos will be able to operate across state lines as well.

British Tax Regulations for Online Gambling Under Consideration

A UK special parliamentary committee has been set up to study aspects of the online gambling industry and to examine proposals for secondary taxes on offshore internet casinos. The committee will also take into consideration secondary licensing for online casinos.

Two English politicians spoke before the committee: Richard Caborn, the former Sport and Tourism Minister, and Tessa Jowell, the former Culture Secretary. They brought up that a proposal for the construction of five massive “super casinos” had already been shut down in 2005. Furthermore, proposals for the instillation of betting machines have been indefinitely postponed as long as the Labour Party continues to protest on the grounds of problem gambling issues. Other casino industry personalities are expected to appear before the committee soon.

William Hill, one of England’s biggest bookmakers and casino games operators, commissioned Deloitte, the world’s second largest professional service network, to conduct an independent survey. Deloitte’s analysts reached the conclusion that higher taxes on gambling operators would inhibit the ability of England’s legitimate operators to compete with offshore unlicensed casinos. Furthermore, only the top online casinos will survive the discouraging circumstances. The analysts added that the burden on the big casinos would have a domino effect on industries that interface with the casino industry, including sponsored sports clubs. William Hill submitted the survey to the Treasury for review. CEO Ralph Topping told reporters that when it comes to money, people will always find a way to save. If using unlicensed, unregulated, and unprotected casinos will be cheaper and easier, that’s where people will go. He concluded expressing his hope that the British Government will see the benefit in protecting the mutual interests of the consumers, the industry, and the regulatory bodies.

Fighting Over UK Online Gambling Regulation

The goal of the UK special parliamentary committee on gambling set up by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport is to provide an outline for regulation guidelines and principles regarding online casino gambling. The regulators from the British overseas territories of Gibraltar and Alderney deposed before the committee. These territories are particularly sensitive about the new proposals for secondary licensing that could seriously effect the operators in these territories. As of now, the operators in these territories enjoy a most advantageous situation. On the one hand, they are allowed to operate in England, and on the other hand, they don’t have to pay English taxes.

Alderney Gaming Control Authority regulator Andre Wilsenach supported tighter regulations. This comes as a direct result of the recent indictment of Alderney licensee Full Tilt Poker, a top online casino. Wilsenach clearly wants to avoid such unpleasantries in the future. His focus was on monitoring the locations in which the licensees operate, the nuances of the jurisdictions, their financial transaction arrangements, and any other risk factors. The higher the licensee’s risk, the more oversight required on part of the control authority that provides the licensing.

Gibraltar Gambling Commission regulator Philip Brear said that he has been disappointed by the lack of cooperation between the British regulatory authorities and their Gibraltarian counterparts. He mentioned that the UK Gambling Commission has significantly less experience than the Gibraltar Gambling Commission. He concluded that the regulations legislated in 2005 under the Gambling Act would suffice and saw no need to add more.

Recent statistics show that the majority of British players prefer the overseas websites to the online casino sites based in British Isles. Online casino reviews predict that this statistic alone could possibly be enough to tilt the scales on the secondary taxation issue.

New Mobile Platform and 4D Slots from CTXM

The casino software developer CTXM has released their mobile online casino platform giving their customers access to the entire casino games collection right on the customers’ smartphones. The new platform is customized for Apple’s iOS, Google’s Android, and RIM’s Blackberry OS. CTXM has announced the release of their new 4D slots as well.

The platform was designed to be a gateway through which players can access of their online casino games. For this purpose the platform was designed with a Mobile Lobby from which all of CTXM’s titles are accessible. CTXM’s COO Victor Stepanov explained that this new release strives to meet their clients’ high level of demand. The modern clients’ standards are very high and the user experience they demand is at the top level, explained Stepanov. He added that customers demand immediate and remote access to their games, and that to meet increasing demands his firm is planning on releasing a special version of the platform to the Asian market as soon as possible.

CTXM’s new 4D Slots are also being released keeping in mind players’ increasing demands for user experience. The advanced technology takes into account users’ want for the total gaming experience. Once the player puts on the 3D glasses, they can become engrossed in the game experience. Additionally, the new slot games feature bonuses, progressive jackpots, and different reel to payline ratios.

It is clear that CTXM is watching the trending markets and capitalizing on them. The 3D and mobile industries are in rapid growth. Casino reviews expect that CTXM will be a major player in 2012.

William Hill and FA Sign Sponsorship Deal

William Hill, the popular sports betting and online casino company, has entered into a 2½ year sponsorship contract with the Football Association. This will be the FA’s first major sponsorship contract with this type of bookie website. William Hill gains the rights to use all FA and FA Cup branding, logos, and symbols in their advertising and on their website.

Peter Daire, the man in charge of the FA’s sponsorships, explained that the FA is more than happy to enter into such a deal with William Hill. He explained that William Hill has a long history of successful partnership contracts with other organizations as well as excellent advertising presence in various forms of media that will increase the serve the FA’s interests regarding communication and dissemination. William Hill benefits from the use of some of the best sports brands in the world. William Hill’s CEO Ralph Topping explained that his company always looks for symbiotic partnerships that bring added value to the customer. A similar agreement was struck between William Hill and the Scottish Football Association. To conclude, Topping said that he and his firm are excited about the coming 2½ years.

William Hill’s Chief of Marketing Kristof Fahy explained that, from a marketing perspective, the main incentive for William Hill is the development of brand prominence provided by the sponsorship with the FA. Fahy added as well that there is an additional benefit of indirect promotion that will come to William Hill’s other ventures like their top online casinos. Online casino reviews expect the partnership to draw new customers to William Hill’s online casino games websites.

New Games for 2012 from Playtech

Playtech, the leading online casino software developer, has released new games for the year 2012. The two casino games headlining are Desert Treasure II and Fishing Buddies.

After the success of Desert Treasure, many online casino reviews expected Playtech to release a follow to the popular video slot game. The new and improved version, though the symbols featured in the game are the same, the graphic design and background music have been improved greatly. Differences also exist in the actual game play, for example, the Golden Cobra, which in the previous version of the game was just a regular wild symbol, serves as an expanded wild in the new version of the game. As opposed to the mere 10 free spins that were offered in the last game, the new game has a free spin feature that offers 25. The bonus feature begins in an oasis. There, the player will have to choose from different treasure chests offering prize or map. The map allows the player to advance to the second stage. The second stage has two possibilities based on where the player chooses to go. One is called the Secret Tent and the other is the Hidden Sanctum. At every stage of the way the player has more chances to win.

Fishing Buddies is a fun video slot with a great multiplayer twist. While up to five players can play at once, they wager separately, but can see their wins and losses. Speed is also a factor. If a player plays to slow, they might miss an opportunity to play in the bonus round. The bonus round features two levels. Only the top three players from the first level of the bonus round can move on to the second level of the bonus round.

Governor Malloy Pushes Online Gambling in Connecticut

Dannel P. Malloy, the current governor of Connecticut, told reporters recently that he believes legalized online gambling is inevitable and therefore Connecticut should move forward with legislation to legalize and regulate local online gambling. Malloy’s statement follows the U.S. Department of Justice Legal Commission’s recent reexamination of the Federal Wire Act that limits the prohibition to sports betting and excludes online gambling from any problems of legality.

Malloy, looking pragmatically at the issue of online gambling, instructed his office to examine possibilities of legal online gambling in Connecticut, including the possibility of having the Connecticut State Lottery run the online casinos. He said many times that since it is only a matter of time before online gambling is legalized, the approach should be that of taking initiative on the subject.

The casino industry in Connecticut is already quite large and quite profitable. It employs over 20,000 “Nutmeggers” and rakes in $350 million in annual tax revenue. The economic incentives are, therefore, quite clear. However, Malloy stressed another issue that goes beyond money. He explains that the efforts made to enforce online gambling prohibitions have been futile against online casinos operating outside of the United States. Since the internet has no borders, the best and most sensible way to deal with the issue is to create a localized industry that is regulated and taxed.

Now that the USDOJ has freed local lawmakers from the Wire Act, it is only a matter of time before states begin legalizing online gambling. Casino reviews reports that the state of Nevada is already doing so – a move that has drawn top online casinos. Therefore, Malloy concludes, Connecticut must take charge and press forward to legalize online gambling in a way that best benefits the local economy.

Cryptologic Buys OIGE Maltese License for InterCasino

Cryptologic, the veteran casino gaming software company, has purchased Maltese licensing from OIGE Ltd. for InterCasino. InterCasino is a Cryptologic based casino established back in 1996. OIGE is a Malta-based company that owns a number of casinos. They sold the local licensing to Cryptologic in exchange for “nominal consideration.” The Maltese Lotteries and Gaming Authority gave the green light for the licensing transfer.

Some online casino reviews believe that Cryptologic only bought the licensing as a last ditch effort to prop up their value before the potential purchase by Amaya Gaming Group. Amaya, a Canadian gaming firm, is currently in the process of negotiations to possibly purchase the veteran company for as much as £34.5 million. The licensing deal, which comes only days before Amaya is expected to release an official declaration about their intent of purchase, would be otherwise strange if not directly related to the deal in the works.

If the deal comes into fruition, it would certainly be big news in the online gaming world. Cryptologic, which has been making quality online casino games since 1996, has had a major impact on the online casino industry. With over 300 games under their belt, you’d be hard pressed to find someone in the online casino industry who has never played a Cryptologic game. Looking at the industry as a whole, it appears that this major purchase may be Amaya’s efforts to keep up with Playtech. Playtech has recently raised much funding via IPO’s and purchased a number of smaller casino software companies. Amaya’s potential purchase of Cryptologic could position it as a serious competitor to Playtech.

The Grand Journey Now Available from Microgaming

Microgaming, the popular online casino software company, has launched their new title for 2012, The Grand Journey. Just one month after the successful release of Immortal Romance, online casino reviews have high hopes for the new video slot game.

The game’s theme is time travel to a prehistoric time. Among the game’s symbols you’ll find The Explorer, his gear, his female companion, a tyrannosaurus, a saber-tooth tiger, a temple, a forest, and an erupting volcano.

The game has a standard five reels and a slightly above-average number of paylines – 30. The wild symbol, which is the logo of the game, can appear on all of the reels. One of the game’s unique features is that there is another wild symbol. The second wild symbol is the time machine. This symbol can only appear on the third reel. However, it can turn the entire third reel into wild symbols greatly increasing the chances of winning. The earth symbol serves as the scatter symbol and it can get a payout by two appearances on any of the reels.

The multiplier trail is a truly unique feature in the game that provides the player with great and fun chances of winning. When a player gets free spins with the multiplier trail, every spin that is not a winning spin will increase the multiplier. That means, either a player will win or they will get the chance to win even greater winnings. The limit is 6,000,000 coins. Microgaming has released The Grand Journey on all of their top online casinos and the game is already creating much buzz.

Socialitize Releases 2Bet2 Facebook Betting App

App developer Socialitize Ltd. has come out with a new app for Facebook that allows user to bet on sports games in a unique social environment. Players can bet virtual money on American sporting events like American football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, and tennis, and on international sports like soccer (25 European associations) and rugby (union and league). The app, much like a Vegas bookie, provides odds and lets you bet against the house. The odds are generated in the same way that real Vegas bookies generate odds. All bets placed on 2Bet2 use 2Bet2’s virtual money “BB$.” Upon signing up for the app, a player is issued BB$; the money is not redeemable for real money, similar to the free play casino system.

As player bet more they can progress through various levels and gain experience points. As they progress and earn experience points, they can bet on new leagues and can bet at higher wages with higher stakes.

Since the betting app is on Facebook, the social component is central. Punters can watch a live feed where they can see their competition’s bets, they can comment, they can “respect” or “taunt,” and they can even challenge their friends. Adriaan Brink, the CEO at Socialitize Ltd., said that punters love 2Bet2’s social component. The commenting, taunting, respecting and challenging add a totally new element to the betting experience. Some casino reviews say that this social aspect is the future of online casino games. Socialitize have entered a market that is just beginning to trend, and if Facebook decides to allow real-money betting, they could stand to make millions.

Three Online Poker Sites Receive Belgian Licensing

Three online poker operators have received licensing from the Belgium Gaming Commission to operate real-money online poker sites. The new licensing comes as a follow up to the Gambling Act passed in January 2011. The Gambling Act outlawed the operation of online casinos in Belgium without proper licensing. The licensing for online operation is dependant upon receiving license for land-based operation. This requires any non-Belgian operator to open offices in Belgium and apply for license to operate a land-based casino if they want to operate an online casino for Belgian citizens.

Three operators applied for and received said licensing: Partouche.be, Casino777.be, and PokerStars.be. They are now placed on the “white list.” The white list is the list of licensed online casinos that internet service providers are instructed to allow access to. The “black list,” on the other hand, is the list of all the unlicensed online casinos that internet service providers are required to block. Two top online casinos who have not applied for Belgian licensing, PartyPoker.com and iPoker, claim that the Belgium Gaming Commission will be unable to actually prevent Belgian citizens from accessing unlicensed internet casinos. Some online casino reviews say that although it may be difficult to enforce the black list, white-listed operators will surely have a large advantage in the Belgian market.

Though Spain, Denmark, and Belgium are leading Europe in online gambling regulation, the European Commission on online gambling has expressed concerns about their individualized regulations. The EU commission was established to create unilateral regulation in the spirit of EU’s fair-trade policies. They claim that the individual member states’ legislation creates local monopolies and limits competition.

Lesniak Wants New Jersey at Forefront of Online Gambling

Ray Lesniak, a Democratic State Senator in New Jersey, wants to introduce a new bill legalizing and regulating online gambling. His decision to reintroduce a bill after a previous effort was vetoed by Governor Chris Christie comes as a result of the recent decision of the United States Department of Justice to redefine the Federal Wire Act of 1961 to exclude online gambling. The previous bill was vetoed due to Christie’s fear that it violates the Wire Act, and now that that fear has been alleviated, Lesniak feels that New Jersey should move forward with new gambling legislation.

Lesniak, knowing that the USDOJ’s new decision will surely bring about legalization in some states, wants New Jersey to be the first state to take advantage of the new legal reality. He said that New Jersey should be at the forefront of online gambling; he said that he wants to New Jersey to be the “Silicon Valley” of online casino gaming. His hope is that if New Jersey is the first state to take advantage of the USDOJ’s decision, then it will draw top USA online casino operators.

Since Christie had expressed concerns about illegal gambling, Lesniak is including in the bill clauses to address those types of issues. Two penal clauses included hefty fines for operating or using illegal online casino games and an even larger fine for advertising such a casino. The law includes a clause stating that a player must be at least 21 years of age. It also stipulates that the player must be within the borders of the state of New Jersey while playing. Lastly, the bill allocates a large sum of online gambling profits to fund a center for helping people who suffer from gambling addiction.

OMI Releases New Casino Module

The Swedish casino software company OMI has released its new platform called the Kazuri Casino Module. The new module is cross-platform, meaning it can run casino games on all types of devices including computers, websites, smartphones, tablets, and kiosks. Using this new module, customers will be able to access their desired casino games using any media accessible to them.

The web-based platform does not require extraneous downloading or plug-in installation; it can be used from any computer with internet access and works on all the major browsers. Regarding system requirements, the module is runs on all standard operating systems and even runs on Linux. All games that run on the module have two basic formats. One format, the larger format, is for computers and kiosks, and one format, the smaller format, is for tablets and smartphones.

Omni Gaming’s Commercial Director Tobias Lindgren said that the new OMI module will help online casino operators avail their casino games to a larger audience in a shorter period of time. While older software required individual development for each platform, the new module allows for simultaneous release on all standard gaming platforms.

Casino reviews praised OMI for their module’s integrability, fun games, support for various languages and currencies, well-designed payment system, security, free play casino, and progressive jackpots. Some prizes are flexible and can be paid out in the form of goods or cash. Adding to their already popular titles Princess Fortune and Jungle Fruit, OMI will be releasing Mad Circus, Benny the Panda, and Tres Hombres soon.

Indian Gaming Community Not Excited About USDOJ News

The U.S. Department of Justices redefinition of the 1961 Federal Wire Act to exclude online gambling has received mixed responses from the Indian gaming community, none on them positive. Some are upset about the news while some responded apathetically.

The USDOJ Legal Council’s decision to overturn the Criminal Division’s understanding of the Wire Act was great news for most of the top online casinos. However, the Indian gaming community, a special interest group that has been receiving special treatment for years in the realm of gambling legislation was never particularly bothered by the Wire Act. Therefore, the same decision that brought joy to the hearts of so many USA online casinos is bad news for others. For the Indian gaming community it means more competition and less revenue.

Others in the Indian gaming community don’t believe that this new decision is actually going to have a real impact. First of all, nothing will happen until states actually begin legalizing and regulating online gambling; the only state that has begun such a process is Nevada. Furthermore, the novelty of the decision itself could be held in question, for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act includes a clause allowing for internet gambling within individual states and within tribal territories.

Whether or not the USDOJ’s decision has the power to truly change the situation of online gambling in America is still unclear. However, the fact that legal online casino gambling is somewhere around the corner is unquestionable. That said, its eventual impact on Indian casinos will be interesting to see.

Calvin Ayre Predicts the Future of Online Gambling

The Bodog Brand founder and CEO, Calvin Ayre, has released his predictions for the online gambling developments that 2012 will bring. Ayre gave predictions regarding America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and new technologies.

Ayre expressed skepticism regarding the possibility of legalization of online gambling in the US at the federal level. However, on the state level, following the lead of Nevada, he believes there is a 50/50 chance that other states will follow suit. His prediction for the top USA online casino is a casino with existing licensing to operate a land-based casino that successfully applies a symbiotic business model with advanced technologies for their online operation.

Ayre painted a grim picture of the situation in Europe. While the economic situation is far from good, individual EU member states are pushing local legislation that creates monopolies and prevents healthy competition across the continent. Ayre does not see much growth in the European market in 2012.

Regarding Asia, Ayre predicts massive growth. He predicts that Asia will surpass all the world markets combined. However, any operators who don’t already have their foot in the door with the Communist Party of China may find it hard to break into the market that, according to Ayre, will be the biggest in the world.

Regarding Latin America, even though it can not compare to the Asian markets in terms of scale, it is a mostly untouched market; therefore, there is a great potential for new operations and growth.

Lastly, Ayre stressed the importance that new technologies bear for success or failure of online casino operators. New mediums such as casino apps, mobile casinos, and social network gaming have the power to attract and retain new players.

Betfair £600 Million Technical Blunder

As a result of what Betfair employees are calling a technical error, all the bets placed on the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle were canceled retroactively 36 hours after the end of the race. On the popular betting and online casino website Betfair, quite unusual odds, 28-1, were placed accidentally on the Voler La Vedette racehorse that most experts understood stood a very good chance of winning. If the bets were not cancelled, one customer would have walked away with 23 million pounds, though on the other hand that customer would have had to be holding over 600 million pounds in his account.

Betfair’s spokesperson, Tony Calvin, explained that the chances that someone intentionally sabotaged the system are slim to none. He believes that a technical glitch enabled the customer to exceed his betting limit. The company looked into why their software allowed for the deviation, fixed the bug, and is currently running thorough tests to ensure that the situation will not replicate itself in the future.

Calvin further explained that the problem was specific to that player’s account. Even though the problem was a technical error on Betfair’s end, nonetheless the customer violated the Betfair terms and conditions by making a bet that wasn’t backed up by cash in his account.

Calvin assured that the specific error will not be replicated adding that it was embarrassing in the first place that it even happened. He also sought to clarify that the bets would have been voided regardless of whether or not Voler La Vedette won.

Betfair’s website offers top online casino games in addition to all types of sports betting. Betfair Mobile offers mobile online casino games for smartphones and tablets.

Zynga IPO Draws Tepid Response from Investors

The initial public offering of Zynga, the popular game developer of Zynga Poker, Cityville, and Farmville, has performed surprisingly poorly. While most IPOs manage to take advantage of the hype and push the stock price up, Zynga’s stock value went down 5%. That said, the company still managed to bring in one billion dollars of investor money.

Even considering the current economic recession, the poor showing of a growing and profitable company is still peculiar. Looking at other recent IPOs, such as Jive Software, Pandora, or Groupon, we see that tech stocks are still performing well despite the recession. It would seem, therefore, that Zynga is not in that tech category. In fact, many investors look at Zynga as an entertainment provider. In financial terms, that means a riskier, less attractive short-term investment. A game developer is too dependent on a flippant flock of facebook fun-seekers.

A second reason why Zynga’s IPO didn’t perform well is their current profit model. Most of Zynga’s revenue comes from the virtual items sold inside the games, or what is sometimes referred to as the freemium model. Though they are currently doing well, according to their own statistics most of the profits are coming from a minority of players, and many analysts are skeptical about its longevity. Additionally, though Zynga poker is a no deposit casino game, there is also no money to win either. It remains unknown if facebook will ever incorporate real money online casino games. While some casino reviews are optimistic, others remain skeptical.

Possibly the most concerning issue for investors is the uncertainty of a company reliant almost entirely on facebook. Facebook is prone to sudden changes that can severely hamper Zynga’s ability to function or function profitably. The high risk surely scares away potential investors.

USDOJ Announcement Drives up Gaming Stocks

Following the United States Department of Justice reevaluation of the Federal Wire Act of ’61 that limits its restrictions to sports betting the stocks of online casino companies have been on the rise. Traders are anticipating that the exclusion of online gambling from the Wire Act’s restrictions signals the emergence of an online gambling industry in America and have bought accordingly. Many British firms have begun working towards partnerships with their American counterparts in order to best take advantage of the emergent market. Industry leaders are hoping that in the aftermath of the USDOJ’s decision Barak Obama will act to solidify a legal framework that will facilitate a proper local online casino industry.

Many of the leading casino companies have seen very positive movement in the markets. 888 Holdings, Bwin.party Digital Entertainment, William Hill, and Ladbrokes all saw significant growth in the markets following the news.

Assuming that the recent decision is the harbinger of legal USA online casinos then there are two companies that stand to profit from the large flow of new players to the online casinos. PartyGaming and 888 are both equipped to absorb a massive inflow of new players to their systems; this fact gives them a definitive edge over the competition.

At Panmure Gordon, a leading investment banking firm, analyst Simon French gave top online casino company 888 Holdings a “buy” recommendation. He explained that 888 is advantageously positioned to take advantage of the emerging U.S. market. French mentioned as well that 888 is the only foreign firm to take advantage of Nevada’s new online gaming local licensing legislation.

New Possibilities for Indian Online Gambling

The Sikkim Online Gambling (Regulation) Bill, a new bill allowing for regulated online gambling in the Sikkim province of India, was recently passed by the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. The bill is already drawing attention from online casino companies, but it may not actually have the power to truly allow online gambling in the northeastern province.

In early 2011, the federal government of India enacted new Information Technology Rules that, in addition to angering a host of free speech advocates, creates a serious hurdle for online gambling in India. The law mandates all companies that are involved with e-commerce, websites, or any other online venture to thwart all online activities considered socially unacceptable by the powers that be. As of now, that includes online gambling. Casino reviews have reacted pessimistically to the idea that a bill passed in India’s smallest province will have any real impact on the federal reality.

It appears that the Sikkim lawmakers themselves might have been aware that the bill they were passing had no teeth. Included in the contracts with companies seeking to operate online casinos in the province is a stipulation that states that the Sikkim government is not liable for anything that the Indian federal government might do to stop operation of a casino online.

On the other hand, the Sikkim lawmakers may in fact me following the American model. In America, online gambling has been considered illegal since its inception thanks to the 1961 Wire Act. Nonetheless, local legislation was passed to allow local online gambling. At the time, the legislation was powerless; however, now that the USDOJ has redefined the parameters of the Wire Act to exclude online gambling, those states are positioned advantageously.

Reevaluation of Wire Act May Lead to Legal Online Gambling

The Office of Legal Council of the United States Department of Justice has reexamined the Federal Wire Act of 1961 and decided that it only applies to sports betting. The USDOJ’s Criminal Division had, until now, prosecuted online casinos based on an erroneous understanding of the bill, assuming it applied to any and all forms gambling via wire transfer. The new understanding excludes online gambling from the bill by limiting the bill to sports betting and thereby opens the doors for a legal framework for online casino gambling.

The executive director of the Poker Players Alliance John Pappas is excited about the new understanding of the bill. Members of the PPA, such as former U.S. Senator Al D’Amato, have been saying for years that the current legislation on internet gambling is too vague. Thanks to the new understanding, politicians will be free to create legislation that legalizes and regulates online gambling. Pappas stresses that Congress should create said legislation on the federal level allowing top online casinos to operate across state lines.

Professor I. Nelson Rose, an expert of gambling law, is less worried about a lack of federal-level legislation. Predicting that most states will adapt legalization within ten years, Rose explained that the monetary incentives will be enough to ensure that states adapt liberal regulation policies. Any state that opens its market to a wider base stands to earn more tax revenue; therefore, there is no need to fear a lack of legislation on the federal level.

Nonetheless, the PPA policy is that the government should create a uniform legal framework that will remove all vagueness and allow for positive interstate competition between USA online casinos.

Microgaming New Releases

The popular online casino games developer Microgaming has announced a series of new releases. The new games, Asian Beauty, 300 Shields, Multi-Player No Worries, and Electric Bingo will be released on Microgaming’s various platforms.

Asian Beauty is a 243-Ways-to-Win 5-reel video slot. The great thing about this new game is that in addition to the 243-Ways-to-Win system, the game has relatively a very small number of symbols. That means that are very good chances of winning. The Asian Beauty video slot will be released on Microgaming’s Flash and Bingo platforms.

300 Shields is also a video slot. With its Greek theme, 300 Shields is very reminiscent of the popular film “300,” including Persian king and Spartan warrior symbols. The symbol of the Wild Warrior appears on all five reels. If the Scattered Shield symbol appears on 3 or more reels then the free play bonus will be activated. This gives you a chance to raise your Shield Count and get the Warrior win-Multiplier. 300 Shields is on the mobile online casino platform QuickFire.

Multi-Player No Worries is a video slot that incorporates an exciting multiplayer competitive element. Up to thirty players can play together in one virtual room. They can chat during the game and view the Leaderboard where each player’s position is posted. During the bonus rounds, the players who rank in the top ten are rewarded with bonuses. This game is to be released on Microgaming’s Flash platform.

Electric Bingo is an exciting South American style online bingo game. In this style of gameplay the player is rewarded for patching certain prize patterns. If you are just one ball way from matching his desired prize pattern, you have the option of purchasing the final one. This game will be available on all Microgaming platforms.

USDOJ Reexamines 1961 Federal Wire Act

Good news for online casino enthusiasts across America came from a surprising source. The US Dept. of Justice has reversed their stance on internet gambling. The reversal is a result of a reexamination of the Federal Wire Act of 1961 by the USDOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel. The Counsel came to the conclusion that the Wire Act does not apply to any forms of gambling except sports betting. This essentially removes any and all prosecuting power from the USDOJ’s Criminal Division from the Wire Act, which until now was the Division’s primary tool for prosecuting online gambling sites.

MGM’s senior VP of Public Affairs, Mr. Alan Feldman, released a statement urging federal legislative intervention in the void created by the Legal Counsel’s new understanding of the Wire Act. Supporters of internet gaming, though quite pleased with the new understanding, called for government regulation as well to allow for USA online casinos to function without fear of sudden closure.

The Legal Counsel of the USDOJ placed the blame for the misunderstanding on the Criminal Division. The Legal Counsel said that the new understanding of the act corrects the Criminal Division’s erroneous understanding that was used to forbid internet gambling for years. From this point forward the act will only authorize prosecution for sports betting transfers.

However, it should be noted that, as explained in a letter from Assistant Attorney General Weich to Senate Majority Leader Reid, the USDOJ will still be able to prosecute online casinos in states with local legislation according to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The UIGEA is remembered for bringing down three top online casinos this past spring.

Takeover Number Four as Playtech Buys Ash Gaming

Leading casino games development company Playtech has recently publicized the upcoming purchase of gambling and betting game developer Ash Gaming. This summer, Playtech secured a 10-year exclusivity agreement with integrated gaming and betting group Gala Coral. As a result of the agreement Gala Coral ended all new projects with other suppliers including Ash Gaming. Playtech is now acquiring them for £23 million. Racking up the takeovers, Playtech will have carried out four corporate takeovers this year, which brings their sum total to 10.

Chris Ash started Ash Gaming about 9 years ago, and has since turned his London based company into an international brand employing 40 workers and making over two and half million pounds per year providing online casino solutions to tens of clients. However, Ash is being well-paid for his efforts. Playtech will be paying seven and a half million pounds immediately, and will complete the payment over the next 3 years.

Mor Weizer, the CEO at Playtech, expressed his excitement regarding the buyout. He described Ash Gaming as having a fantastic reputation, quality products, and an impressive list of licensees, including top online casinos like Virgin Casino. He also noted that the development team at Playtech is familiar with that of Ash Gaming and big fans of their work. Weizer believes that by bringing popular Ash titles, such as Midas Millions, X-Factor, and Madness House of Fun, to Playtech affiliate casinos, Playtech will be able to increase their revenue stream. It seems Weizer may be right, because after just announcing the purchase LSE:PTEC went up 1%. Players at Playtech affiliate casinos are excited about the prospect of new game titles coming to their casinos.

New Virgin Mobile Platform Launched

Billionaire Richard Branson’s online gaming company Virgin Games has released, together with a mobile marketing agency named Somo, the new Virgin mobile gaming platform. The companies released a joint statement saying that the productive joint venture has produced a unique mobile online casino platform that lifts Virgin Games above the competition.

The goal of the joint venture was to create a mobile platform that could host all the popular titles that Virgin customers already enjoy at home while using Virgin’s top rated online casino. So far they have succeeded in “mobilizing” games from ten popular online game developers such as Microgaming, IGT, and Cryptologic. The mobile platform also facilitates complete account management functionality like a regular computer. It is important for current Virgin Games customers to know that the new mobile platform does not require the creation of a new account. Anyone who already has a Virgin account can use Virgin Bingo, Poker, Casino, or Mobile freely. New customers, likewise, only need to create one account.

All the Microgaming titles available on Virgin’s new mobile platform use a special technology called QuickFire. Thanks to QuickFire, players can enjoy fun casino games like Tomb Rader, Thunderstruck, and many more.

Simon Burridge, the Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Games explained that Virgin’s investments in mobile gaming are a natural, necessary, and expected response to the penetration of smartphones to the cellular market. As more and more people use smartphones, they expect more from their smartphones, and Virgin is ready and willing to provide.

Microgaming Retaining Lead in Mobile Gaming Platforms

With 17 years of experience in the field of gaming development, it’s no surprise that Microgaming holds a firm position as global leader. Though they already provide over 1000 variants of over 600 casino games, Microgaming doesn’t rest on their laurels. In order to further fortify their front-running position they have put out a press release revealing the launch of eight Android-compatible mobile games. Microgaming’s mobile games, including the eight new releases, all employ the “swipe and tap” interface that has been credited with much of the mobile platform’s immense popularity.

Among the new releases one can find Microgaming’s popular online casino games among new ones. Some of the familiar games being released on the Android platform include the slot games Spring Break, Agent Jane Blonde, Avalon, and Break da Bank Again. Microgaming is also releasing Android versions of their popular video poker titles Deuces Wild and Aces & Faces.

Neill Whyte, Microgaming’s current head of product channels, stated that Microgaming’s latest development, the “swipe and tap” interface employed on their mobile games, is yet another great Microgaming development that keeps with their longstanding tradition of industry leadership and pioneering game design. Though on one can predict exactly how the industry will continue to develop, Whyte is confident that Microgaming’s position will remain firm in the future.

Most industry experts expect the mobile online casino market to become the biggest market in the not too distant future, however, in order not to put all their eggs in one basket, Microgaming continues to develop for land-based casinos and regular casino websites as well.

Guinness World Record for Mega Fortune Jackpot

A world record has been broken for the largest ever jackpot payout for an online slot. One lucky guy from Norway was playing slots on a top rated online casino Betsson.com, specifically the Mega Fortune progressive jackpot, and won in one magical instant 11.7 million euro. Net Entertainment, also know as NetEnt, is the supplier of the digital casino games systems used by Betsson.com. A representative from the company announced that the Guinness World Record committee officially accepted that Betsson’s recent payout was in fact the largest ever online slot payout in history.

The lucky winner is a twenty year old from the Hordaland province of Norway. He received a massive cash prize totaling 11,736,228 Euro. A representative of the Betsson company said that his company is very proud to achieve the Guinness World Record for biggest online slot payout. He also said that his company works very hard to provide a great customer experience whether it be big payouts or easy withdrawal.

Mega Fortune is a 5-reel 25-payline online slot created by NetEnt. It offers the chance to win a progressive jackpot that pools from many different online casinos. In just three short years the Mega Fortune pool divvied out over 26 million euro in winnings. Less than a year ago a lucky winner raked in over five million euro.

Net Entertainment’s CEO Bjorn Ktantz was very pleased with the Guinness World Record’s recognition of Mega Fortune’s recent payout as the biggest online slot payout over. He expressed his personal satisfaction at the acknowledgment of NetEnt’s effots to provide the best online casino experience, and concluded that their system has one of the largest pooling networks in the online gaming industry.

Amaya Looking to Buy Cryptologic

The Amaya Gaming Group, a gaming software development and consulting company, has officially submitted an initial offering for the purchase of the capital of online casino software company Cryptologic. Amaya’s provisional offer constitutes a showing of intent and does not represent a final and completed deal; the deal’s completion, if agreed upon, could take quite some time. Last April Amaya acquired 5.05% of Cryptologic’s shares. At the time of the acquisition, David Baazov, the CEO of the Amaya group, stated that the purchase was aimed at providing the possibility for strategic transaction with Cryptologic. That led many online casino reviews to expect Amaya’s current offering.

Reports from within Cryptologic say that the company’s board of directors principally agreed to Amaya’s initial terms – an offering price of $2.50 cash per share, a price 52% higher than the NASDAQ closing price as of December 14. That means that the next phase of the deal will be Amaya’s confirmatory due diligence, or in English, double-checking that it makes sense to buy the company at the offered price.

The completion of the takeover is therefore dependent on three final phases. Phase one is the completion of Amaya’s confirmatory due diligence which constitutes Amaya’s confirmation of intent. The second phase is the decision of the board of directors of Cryptologic which must be unanimous; this constitutes Cryptologic’s confirmation of intent. The third phrase, the purchase phase, is dependent on where or not Amaya can actually come up with the capitol. If Amaya fails to come up with the money, the deal will get buried. Amaya has about three weeks to finalize their intent of purchase. The finalization of this purchase will position Amaya at the forefront of the online casino games industry.

Virgin Mobile Platform on Microgaming QuickFire

Virgin Games has announced that they will be releasing a new Virgin Mobile gaming platform powered by Microgaming’s QuickFire mobile platform. The CEO, Simon Burridge, said that Virgin Games sees the release as a response to a demand voiced by their customers for a mobile online casino. They want the full array of functionality currently available to them on their personal computers to also be available to them on their mobile phones. Smartphone penetration has been increasing exponentially, and with it mobile gaming has seen rapid growth as well.

QuickFire is mobile backend software that enables most of Microgaming’s games to run on smartphones. Many of Microgaming’s most popular titles like Dragon’s Fortune, Best Video Poker, Bingo Bonanza, Major Millions, Mega Moolah, and their table games are available on the QuickFire platform. The platform runs on the most popular devices: Android, iPhone, and iPad.

Any player who currently has an account with Virgin Games won’t have to make a new account for Virgin Mobile. Nonetheless, to promote the new platform, players will receive a free no deposit bonus their first time using the mobile platform. New players will also receive a bonus when they sign up for Virgin Mobile gaming. One Virgin official said that in addition to building the best mobile platform, Virgin offers the best casinos bonuses. With the new mobile platform, all the transactions one was able to do on the computer will now be available on the phone.

Roger Raatgever of Microgaming stated that he is very satisfied with the partnership between his company and Virgin Gaming and hopes that their past success will continue into the future. Virgin’s Burridge said that though Microgaming provides an undeniably quality product, Virgin is still interested in expanding to include other developers’ games.

Golden Palace Resurrects Anna Nicole Slot

The online casino Golden Palace is known for making headlines. Whether engaging in obscure advertising, purchasing obscure memorabilia, or supporting charities, they know how to turn heads. Impressively, when it comes to their partnership with Anna Nicole Smith, they have succeeded in turning heads twice.

Anna Nicole became famous modeling for Playboy, marrying a wealthy tycoon, and having her own reality TV show (“The Anna Nicole Show”). When she saw Golden Palace’s clever use of the bizarre Virgin Mary Toast phenomena for their advertising and other online casino bonuses, she liked their audacity and approached them to cooperate on an advertising scheme. She came up with the idea of posing nude painted entirely in gold with a fake pregnant belly upon which the website’s name is to be displayed. Additionally, she worked with the casino on the design of a unique slot game. Word of the collaboration began drawing attention back in 2006, around the time of the actual photo-shoot. However, due to Anna’s untimely death from a drug overdose in 2007, the photos and the slot game were shelved.

Four years later, Golden Palace has launched a new promotional campaign releasing the photos for the first time and they have also announced that the slot game will be released in the near future as well. Golden Palace released a statement saying that Anna would have wanted them to publicize the photos since she had a “zany sense of humor.” The slot game to be released is styled after Anna’s life. Its major theme is all things pink and includes lots of glitz and glamour. One casino guide expected that Golden Palace will offer an attractive casino bonus when the new game is released.

Gamcare Recommends Gambling Education for Children

Gamcare, an English problem gambling support center, published a letter calling for educating children about gambling at an early stage with the aim of avoiding problem gambling issues later on. With reasoning similar to current education regarding potentially problematic activities such as drinking, the hope is that early education will equip the youth to cope later in life.

Surprisingly, the letter states, the highest rates of problem gambling actually already exist among teenagers ages 12 – 15; according to the report, this is the further proof of the need to educate the youth on the subject. Knowing that underage gamblers have little to no access to online casino games, it’s interesting to know where they do all of this problem gambling.

The National Center for Irresponsible Gambling (NCIS) added an interesting statistic that kids who don’t experience casino style games during their formative years are 75% more likely to develop problematic gambling habits when introduced to gambling later in life. Being exposed early in life provides the developing child with the ability to deal with gambling later in life, for example using a casino online. The UK Shadow Secretary of Education, Stephen Twigg, stressed that such areas of education can not be left to fate; it is the job of the education system to equip children with the tools necessary and to provide them with good advice.

When describing what would actually take place in the classroom, Gamcare suggested that the children discuss both the negative and positive aspects of regular and online casino gambling. They also added that tangential topics such as informed consumption, proper money management, risk managing, health decision making, and other important life skills can be discussed and developed in the classes.

Paddy Power Makes Inroads into Canada

Paddy Power, Ireland’s largest bookie service, has just entered its first ever deal to operate in North America by signing a three year contract with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC). By the summer of 2012, the Irish company will be providing management services and internet services to the BCLC’s sports betting arm. Patrick Kennedy, the chief executive of Paddy Power, said that they are excited to begin operations in North America. He said Paddy Power sees strategic importance in the region and is looking forward to increasing their presence. They plan on achieving that goal via further endorsements of their own products coupled with various partnerships with other top online casinos.

He added that as the global markets accept various forms of legalization and regulation, they find themselves in an advantageous position to provide expert services. Casino reviews are ripe with reports about the positive growth seen in the industry. Paddy Power considers themselves to be in an excellent position for further growth in the international market.

BCLC’s vice president of e-gaming Rhonda Garvey said that her corporation is quite excited about the new partnership with the Irish firm and with the new potential it will bring to their website PlayNow.com. She said that Paddy Power’s system is absolutely essential for the providing of their online betting services and that their software provides an unparalleled betting experience.

According to Canadian law, BCLC is the only licensed sports betting operator in British Columbia. Therefore, Paddy Power is by association the only provider of online sports betting software. In order to further their expansion in the region, Paddy Power has applied for a Nevada gaming license as well. They said they would be glad to work with any top online casino.

Playtech Announces New Branded Slot Release

Solidifying its position as a leader in the online slots market, Playtech has announced that they will be releasing a new slot game in the summer of 2012. The new branded slot game will be released in cooperation with the media company Platinum Studios known for their comic franchises. The theme of the game will be “Cowboys & Aliens,” a 2006 graphic novel recently released as a big-budget Hollywood blockbuster.

“Cowboys & Aliens,” originally written by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg in 2006 as a graphic novel, tells the story of an isolated nineteenth century town in the Wild West fighting to release friends and relatives kidnapped by aliens. Online casino reviews say that the two themes of the film, aliens and Wild West, are both popular among slot players; Playtech is smart for jumping on the mixed-genre bandwagon. The duel-genre film will provide a lot of great material for Playtech’s developers.

Playtech and Platinum Studios have worked on similar deals in the past, most notably with the Iron Man franchise. Both “Iron Man” and “Iron Man 2,” which were incidentally directed by “Cowboys & Aliens “ director Jon Favreau, were converted into successful slot games by Playtech currently available at the best online casinos. The creator of the “Cowboys & Aliens” novel who is now CEO of Platinum expressed his excitement that people will be able to play “Cowboys & Aliens” themed games at home on a top rated online casino, and said that he expects the game to be successful like the movie.

The head of content at Playtech, Sagi Harari, said that he expects the new game to catch on quick due to its recognizability. He further stated that its beginnings as a graphic novel fit in well with Playtech’s current portfolio.

Bodog Exits US and Bovada Enters

Back in 2006, when Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, many online casinos had to cease operations. Those that didn’t got forcefully shut down by the US Department of Justice this past spring. One of the companies forced to exit was Calvin Ayre’s Bodog brand casino. However, upon leaving the US market, he licensed his brand name to the North American Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (MMGG).

MMGG made use of Ayre’s brand in order to market and promote their websites in the region. However, after more than four years of cooperation, MMGG CEO Alwyn Morris has announced that the group is not going to renew their Bodog license. In stead, they are going to launch their own brand. Bodog, on their part, has received renewed license in the UK, and will be concentrating their operation there. Calvin Ayre has also said on behalf of Bodog that they will be discontinuing their licensing deal with the MMG Group at the end of the current license period.

Any US players who are currently signed up with the MMGG licensed Bodog online casino will no longer be able to access bodog.eu once MMGG launches their new brand Bovada. The new website bovada.lv is still owned by MMGG and operated by MMGG, so as far as the players are concerned, there is no significant difference. MMGG is hoping that the launch of the new brand will position them at the forefront of the American gaming industry. Players are hoping that the new launch will provide for good bonuses.

U.S. Politics Delays Gambling Legislation

While the year is reaching its end, many in the online gambling industry are wondering where an entire year went with no real progress legalizing online gambling. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed in 2006, two years before Barrack Obama became president. His term is now entering its final year, and nothing has moved forward. Many in the online casino industry are disappointed as they feel change in the law should have (or could have) happened sooner.

Though the prospect of legal online gambling as a boost for the U.S. economy has been discussed to death, nobody has succeeded in turning the good idea into real legislation. The sad news is, the window of opportunity may have passed. The concept of legalized gambling is too controversial to ever make it through congress in year before elections. The only legislation that could realistically make it through congress in an election year is populist legislation, and unfortunately legalizing online poker doesn’t fall into that category.

While some have placed their hopes in the few politicians who have nonetheless carried the torch of gambler’s rights, there aren’t enough supporters not running for reelection to actually push any effective legislation through both houses by the end of 2012. Barney Frank is a good example of a strong supporter; he spoke at the congressional subcommittee recently in favor of legalized poker. However, if nothing gets done in the next year, his support leaves congress with him. Online casino players are hopeful that others will take his place.

While American politics may delay legalization on the national level for another 2-4 years, states are free to take initiative on their level. Nevada recently did just that by authorizing a legal framework for licensing the operation of online casinos within the state. All eyes are turned to New Jersey to see if they will do the same. It's a shame that to date, some of the best online casinos can't allow US players.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Releases Gambling Report

PricewaterhouseCoopers has released their annual report “Global Gaming Outlook: The Casino and Online Gaming Market to 2015.” The report details the challenges and developments facing the international gambling industry in light of regulatory and technological developments. According to the report, worldwide casino gaming profits will grow at a 9.2% rate over the next five years, growing from 117.6 billion USD to 182.8 billion USD. This report will have serious implications on the casino games online industry.

That average growth rate is a result of disparate growth rates in the West and East. While the growth rate in the U.S. is as low as 5%, the growth rate expected in the Asia-Pacific area is 18.3% – it is expected to overrun the U.S. and become the biggest market globally in five years. PricewaterhouseCoopers expects a significant eastward movement in all aspects of gaming including consumption and production.

According to the report, the countries with the largest casino gaming markets are France, Germany, and South Africa. Thought the market in South America is very small, currently estimated at only 3.8 billion USD, the growth rate there is expected to reach 8.1% bringing the total gambling revenue from that continent to 5.6 billion USD by 2015. Online casino gambling is quickly becoming popular across the globe!

Canada is reflecting the lowest potential growth rate – just 1.8%. Just above Canada in growth stands South Africa with a forecasted growth rate of 1.9%. PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that the biggest legal gambling markets are in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. England holds the first place position as the biggest legal single market.

The report concludes with a general forecast of significant change. They suggest that all parties involve must work to position themselves properly for the inevitable shifts occurring in the international gaming industry.

New Microgaming Slot Game Being Released

Casino onlinesoftware company Microgaming has announced the release of its newest slot game Immortal Romance. This will be the last game to be released as part of Microgaming’s series of new games this year. Immortal Romance has been compared to popular slot games such as Lord of the Rings and Thunderstruck. These games are available on all Microgaming free play casino brands.

This release will be the first in a series of games with a continuous story line. The story’s theme is similar to the theme of the popular Twilight book and movie series. It has a cast of characters and their secrets become revealed throughout the game. During the gameplay, which has impressive graphics and sound, one can access background information about the characters’ stories.

Immortal Romance has a rich selection of game features and payout situations. The game is a 243 Ways to Win style game meaning that there is no need for paylines. All of the symbols on the adjacent reels are part of the game regardless of their position on the reel. The game also tracks Player Achievements in which the player progressively advances to gold status. The Wild Desire feature can turn up to five of the reels into wild reels.

With each of the 4 characters in the game there is an individual Chamber of Spins that can be reached by getting 3 lion’s head door-knockers. Sara, the heroin, can get you 25 free spins and can be retriggered for another four spins. Michael, the vampire, provides rolling reels with an up to 5x multiplier and up to 20 free spins. Troy, the dangerous charmer, can get you 15 free spins, and his flying bats can turn symbols into 6x multipliers. Amber, the beautiful sorceress, can bring you 10 free spins with a retriggering 5x multiplier.

Play all these great new games at your favorite Microgaming online casino!

New Online Gambling Regulation in Serbia

Serbia has adopted a new set of laws to regulate online casino gambling. The purpose of the new laws is to put an end to two problems that have plagued Serbia: illegal online gambling and the money laundering it facilitates. However, this essentially opens the door for creating a legal online gambling market in Serbia.

JAKTA, the Serbian trade organization that acts as an umbrella organization for all the gaming operators in Serbia, met with the Serbian Gaming Board (SGB) after the signing of the new legislation and expressed their optimism as a result of the new laws. Having been the lobbying body that pushed for the passing of the new laws, they certainly had reason to celebrate. They were the body charged with the responsibility of researching the local casino markets ahead of the legislation. They also looked into the regulatory measures taken in other EU states.

The SGB director said that the new laws address three important issues. They supervise online gambling, authorize electronic monitoring of casino operators, and regularize taxation. Before the passing of these new laws, it was quite difficult for a legitimate operator to stand a chance against the black market casinos. The black market casinos have been the uncontested owners of the Serbian casino market for many years. The new laws authorize the SGB to take action against the clandestine operators. In order to enforce the laws, the tax authorities and the Ministry of the Interior will collaborate with the SGB in order to take down the black market operators. The hope is that in addition to shutting down the illegal industry, the new laws will also reward the legitimate operators and increase tax revenues. These laws will help players enjoy a safer online gambling experience with better online casino bonuses.

Europe Quarrels over Gambling Jurisdiction

The EU Parliament recently passed a resolution mandating European Union member states to adhere to European Commission free market standards and authorizing the EC to take legal action against states who fail to do so. Subsequently, action has been taken against Germany and Greece. These resolutions are in place to help protect the online casino gambler and make sure the market is fair and open so that players can get the best online casino bonuses.

Regarding Germany, Betfair, the German online casino operator, has come under scrutiny. According to the complaint filed by the EC, the German regulatory bodies are unfairly providing German gambling operators with monopolies. According to the free market standards, it is forbidden for a German province to withhold licensing from foreign operators as long as they meet EC standards. The allegation is that the German regulatory authorities have been holding back licensing in order to protect the interests of local operators. If Germany does not change the situation, the EC could hold back approval of German casinos. While some German officials are downplaying the severity of the issue, many in the European gambling industry believe that the EC will force Germany to submit to the union-wide standards.

A complaint was filed against the Greek authorities by the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) and the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA). The local online gambling laws in Greece had already received criticism from the EC at the time of their legislation. In Greece, licensing required maintaining a permanent place of operations on Greek soil. Furthermore, they even have to perform their financial transactions via Greek banks. The RGA and EGBA are complaining that this essentially creates a monopoly for Greek operators in the Greek market. RGA head Clive Hawkswood said that though he was happy the Greek government finally decided to open up their market to online gambling, they nonetheless need to comply with Europe’s accepted free market standards.

Real Money Gambling on Facebook

There has been much buzz lately about the possibility that Facebook will allow real money gambling applications to operate in the UK market. According to recent reports, Facebook will provide special licenses for operators who will run online gaming via the Facebook platform. It is reasonable to assume that Facebook will only be authorized to license online casinos that are already authorized by the official regulatory authorities. One recent report claimed that online casinos 888 and Gamesys have already been tagged as potential partners for the new enterprise. This news will have implications for online casino players who can now enjoy another avenue for more free play bonus offers.

Though online gaming has been popular on Facebook apps for quite some time, there has been a debate for as long as the apps have been around whether or not the apps have any real money potential. For example, Zynga Poker, though it has many players, it remains to be seen how players would deposit real money. One suggestion is that players can deposit money directly to Facebook and receive in exchange “Facebook credits.” Players can then use those credits for gambling or for other alternative commercial ventures. Theoretically, Facebook could even take a percentage in the same way credit cards companies collect fees from online casinos. The top online casino brands will certainly take full advantage of this and offer more to their players.

Another issue yet to be solved is age verification. Though Facebook claims to offer its services only to people of a certain age, there is no effective tool employed for accurate age verification.

Possibly the most interesting thing to see if Facebook gambling goes live will be the effect of social consumption. There is the possibility that games or casinos can go viral. Facebook friendships and social network interconnections can have a big impact on the way people play multiplayer games. Time will tell to what degree online gaming will move to Facebook.

Mega Moolah Winner Makes €3.84 Million

This past October one of the players at a Microgaming affiliated casino hit the jackpot of a €3.84 Million Mega Moolah progressive jackpot. One month ago casino officials revealed that the player was playing at the Challenge Casino when he won the jackpot. Casino Rewards Group, Challenge Casino’s parent company, has a ritual for dealing with jackpot winners. They flew the jackpot winner to Sydney, Australia. After a five-star meal at the esteemed Aria restaurant, a photo-op was held at the Royal Botanic Gardens, and winner A.D. was revealed to the public holding a check for €3,841,871.46. Speaking to the press, A.D. explained that he got a promotional CD in the mail, opened it, installed the program, and received a welcome gift to get started. Just like that, A.D. went from being a trial user to a millionaire jackpot winner.

A.D. told reporters about the day he won. He said he remembers it vividly and described it as a beautiful memory. He described playing the Mega Moolah when suddenly a jackpot screen opened. He said he remembers thinking that it couldn’t happen, but lo and behold it did! It took A.D. a very long time to internalize that he had actually won. He even called customer support to ask if there was some sort of technical error.

Like most jackpot winners, the first thing A.D. after realizing that he actually won is deciding what to do with all that money. He said that he plans to give some of the money to charity, to help out his family and friends, and to travel. He added, though, that he doesn’t plan to stop working or to spend all the money right away.

£100 Million IPO from Playtech Ltd

Playtech Limited, the massive gaming software development company, announced last week that they are seeking to raise £100 Million in an initial public offering of stock. In order to attract investors, Playtech is offering a dividend of up to 40% of annual profits. The shares are to be sold at a 2.5% discount of the current share price. Playtech will be placing 46,511,627 shares at 215 pence per share.

Considering the current momentum in the world of online gambling, many financial analysts say that this is a smart move for the veteran gaming software company. Playtech needs the extra cash in order to cement its position as a global leader in online gaming software.

The largest shareholder is Brickington, the investment company headed by Playtech founder Teddy Sagi. They currently hold 40.3% of Playtech’s shares and have underwritten the entire IPO. Sagi has positioned himself to attain ownership of just less than 50% of Playtech’s shares.

Playtech is planning on using the capitol in order to purchase some other companies. Playtech recently bought Mobenga, a company that specializes in mobile platforms for online gaming. Expectations are that Playtech will spend roughly 40 million pounds on acquisitions in order to reinforce their development capabilities and secure their share of the global market.

Playtech’s future moves are all dependent on the success of the IPO. Though Brickington has underwritten it entirely, that doesn’t mean they will be ready to jump at the prospect of taking on all the risk involved with £40 million worth of acquisitions. However, considering the current trends in the online gaming industry, Playtech has no reason to fear that the shares won’t be bought up by eager investors.

Latest Gambling News from the UK

With the upcoming UK Treasury survey of England’s £1.7 billion online gambling industry, specialists predict that the prospect of new licensing measures for allowing offshore operators access to Britain’s local market could arise.

Last week, British Conservative Party politician Matthew Hancock caused much controversy when he brought what many are calling ‘a radical proposal’ before parliament. The proposal aims to redefine the legal location of the online game from the location of the operator to the location of the consumer. The precedent for the change is a recent ruling in South Africa’s North Gauteng High Court where Judge Jonathan Heher ruled that the legal location of where the gambling takes place is the location of the player. Hancock tried to insert his proposal to the yearly finance bill, however many believe there is no real legal justification for inserting individual specific regulatory measures to the Great Britain’s yearly finance bill.

Another proposal, one less radical and less controversial, was a call to seal the loopholes currently available to offshore online casinos regarding taxes. The majority of Britain’s biggest online operators do not pay taxes to the British government. Both the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport have been involved in clearing up the issue. Hancock recently told reporters that since this measure has support across party lines, it’s only a matter of time before it gets passed.

The group expected to suffer the most from the new measure is William Hill, a massively successful offshore operator who currently holds on to about 10% of England’s entire online gambling market. They commissioned a third party review from Deloittes who claimed that increased taxation would lead to a massive increase in the use of unauthorized and unregulated online casinos.

Nevada Says Policing Online Gambling Possible

Nevada is the first U.S. state to green-light online gambling. It is safe to say that the other forty nine states will be looking closely at Nevada to see how things turn out. Mark Lipparelli, the chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board claimed that it is possible to police online gaming.

There are those who fear that if online gambling becomes legalized in the United States, a Pandora’s Box will opened and there will be no way to keep the situation under control. Lipparelli said that though there does theoretically exist the possibility that someone could figure out a way to cheat the system, that situation exists with any online system that involves monetary transactions. There is no reason to think that online casinos will be less secure than other websites that have monetary transactions taking place. He said that any cheating that does somehow take place can be caught quickly and dealt with. He said that the commonly mentioned problems of money laundering, gambling bots, problem gambling, and underage gambling are all solvable problems.

He explained that since the online casinos are just as concerned about these issues as everyone, and especially concerned about cheating, they developed sophisticated analytical software that can indentify any irregularities in someone’s playing. The online software can track players and analyze them, and all this is done without any real money involved. Once a player wants to actually withdraw money, validation is required and a paper trail leads from the casino to the player.

Lipparelli recently testified before a congressional subcommittee on the issues of online gambling. The committee was considering the creation of a legal framework for licensed online poker, though no significant progress has yet to be made on the issue.

New Games from Cryptologic

Excitement is brewing among players at Cryptologic casinos – after years of dormancy the game developer recently announced that four new Cryptologic games will be going live this fall.

One game is called Battle for Olympus. Battle for Olympus is an online slot game with a Greek mythological theme. Its attractive features include 50 paylines and a bonus game. The bonus game entails an epic battle between the Greek gods Hades and Zeus. The player has to decide who he thinks will win the battle for Olympus. The max payout per line is 2,000 coins, though that can be tripled by getting a combo with the wild symbol.

The second Cryptologic game is called Horns & Halos. Horns represent hell, while Halos represent heaven. This game has 15 paylines and six reels, three for heaven and three for hell. Each one (heaven or hell) has a gate that needs to be opened. When a player has reached ten gates (on either side), a bonus of 10 free games is given to the player. The top payout (per line) is 1,000 coins.

Juju Jack, the third game, has 25 paylines and five reels. The theme is Louisiana witch-doctor. The bonus game involves tormenting a voodoo doll for bonuses and prizes. The top payout is 2,000 coins.

The fourth new game is a form of baccarat called Baccarat Mini. Baccarat Mini is generally played using the same rules as American Baccarat. The table is smaller, about the size of a blackjack table, and “seats” five. The player can bet on the banker or the other players.

Subcommittee Hearing on Online Poker

The House of Representatives Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade recently held a hearing entitled “Internet Gaming: Regulating in an Online World.” They discussed the effectiveness of current enforcement, interstate online gambling options, consumer protection, the effects of easing restrictions on consumers and casinos, and a federal bill by Texas Republican Joe Barton.

Frank Wolf was one of the witnesses at the hearing. Wolf and Barton got into a heated argument about the nature of poker. While Barton claimed that poker was a game of skill, Wolf claimed that it was like any other form of gambling. Wolf further stressed the issue of problem gambling. Wolf did, however, distinguish between convenience gambling and destination gambling. He said that convenience gambling, for example online gambling, was much more dangerous and addictive. However, when Barton pressured Wolf to say whether or not poker is a game of skill, Wolf was indecisive. When Wolf claimed that online poker will make college kids across America go broke, panelists pointed out that millions of U.S. citizens already play online poker.

The other two witnesses at the first panel of the hearing were Barney Frank, a longtime supporter of legalized gambling, and John Campbell, a Californian Representative also known for his support; the two are cosponsoring a bill for licensing online gaming. Frank made the point that legalized gambling provides a safe environment for gambling.

Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, said that the AGA has not taken a position on the issue of online gambling, and that states don’t have to see any moves as unilateral. If a state fears that online gambling will hurt the revenue flow of their lotteries or land-based casinos, they could still theoretically keep online gambling illegal in their own state laws.

Tapie Buys Full Tilt Poker for $80 Million

French business man Bernard Tapie’s Groupe Bernard Tapie has purchased Full Tilt Poker, the American online poker giant closed down last spring by the US Department of Justice, for $80,000,000. The deal was negotiated between the USDOJ and the French investment firm. The USDOJ seized FTP’s assets after revoking their gambling license.

The deal is not so simple. By purchasing Full Tilt Poker, Tapie’s firm may have also bought the responsibility of returning the $390 million of player’s deposited accounts that have yet to be returned. It is not clear if the responsibility falls entirely on the shoulders of GBT or if the USDOJ holds fiscal accountability as well. One apparent option being discussed it that while the USDOJ will reimburse the American account holders who constitute approximately 39% of the total account monies owed, the Groupe Bernard Tapie will pay the remaining $240 million to the international account holders.

One may ask what interest Tapie has in purchasing a delicensed casino. Those who know his history know exactly what he has in mind. Tapie made his millions buying and turning around bankrupt companies. Though it is unclear if he plans on relaunching Full Tilt in its existing form, or if he plans on using it as a platform to launch a new casino, his first step will have to be achieving licensing. Those close to the deal report that once GBT is in complete control of Full Tilt Poker, he will be able to acquire relicensing.

There are no guarantees regarding the direction that FTP will go. Since as part of the agreement with the USDOJ none of the original shareholders of FTP are allowed to retain any ownership, Tapie is really free to do with it as he pleases.

EU Reaches Agreement on New Online Gambling Laws

In stark contrast to the endless stalemate on Capitol Hill, the European Union Parliament has reached an agreement on new online gambling regulation. The EU Parliament decided that any member states that prevent their citizens from accessing the online casinos of other member states will be prosecuted. This is great news for online casino operators because it essentially forces European governments to open the market to millions of customers.

There are many EU member states who are interested in protecting their local markets for their own local businesses. These governments adhere to monopolistic strategies that give an edge to their own local industries. This is clearly, however, in contrast to the free market policies obligated by the financial standards of the European Union. If a member state prohibits its own citizens from accessing foreign sites while simultaneously welcoming foreign patronage to their local businesses, they are defeating the whole purpose of an economic union.

The Remote Gambling Association (RGA), the largest umbrella organization for online gaming businesses, praised the EU Parliament’s decision. The resolution, which requires compliance with European Commission standards, will breathe a breath of life into the licensed online casino operators. The RGA’s CEO Clive Hawkswood said that the new resolution represents a very positive change in the legislation of EU Parliament – from prohibition to regulation. Not only has the EU Parliament taken a stance on behalf of regulation, but they are now even actively enforcing compliance across the continent.

The European Commission and the European Court of Justice will be entrusted with the task of enforcing EU regulations on all the member states. Recently, Italy was taken to court for refusing to grant license to an English casino operator.

Belgian Telecom Companies to Block Unlicensed Casinos

Beginning this coming calendar year, Belgium’s leading internet service providers, Belgacom, Base, Mobistar, and Telenet, will block IP access to any online gambling sites blacklisted by the Gaming Commission. The Gaming Commission delivered a list of gambling sites to the major telecom companies. Those sites that are licensed, the “white list,” can operate as usual. Those sites that have yet to receive licensing, the “black list,” will be blocked at the source.

The statistics provide a stark image of the need for such drastic measures. While approximately 30-40 thousand Belgians use the licensed sites, a whopping 150,000 use the unlicensed sites. The Gaming Commission, which operates under the auspices of the Belgian Department of Justice, has signed agreements with members of the Belgian financial community in addition to the internet service providers.

The head of the Belgian Gaming Commission’s regulatory unit Peter Naessens said that the Belgian police department has provided them with a report detailing which sites are not operating in a legal manner; among those sites, the commission will check which have the most Belgian users and deal with them accordingly.

Though the new Belgian Gaming Act kept the illegal status of online gambling, it does offer exceptions via a licensing system. Licensing is provided by the Gaming Commission who is also in charge of regulation, inspection, and supervision. Though the Gaming Commission of the European Union objected to the contents of the Belgian Gaming Act, the Belgian government passed it nonetheless. Belgian lawmakers see the BGA as a way of protecting Belgian citizens from fraud.

New Self Exclusion Option Helps Players

Though most players can safely enjoy online gambling, some players do not know when to call it quits. Typically, they gamble with too much money, loose, and then gamble more to try to win back their losses. Precisely for players like these, Verify has released a new self exclusion technology that will help problem gamblers keep themselves away from table games for a predetermined amount of time.

The uniqueness of the technology lies in its multi-casino operation. It’s no help to a problem gambler if he can’t keep playing roulette at one casino since he can go to the multitudes of other casinos online. The new Verify technology has the capability of blocking a player from any online casino who wishes to take part in the program. Due to the increasing awareness to problem gambling, a lot of pressure has been put on casinos to take action. The new Verify solution provides casinos with an easy way of preventing problem gambling.

The system has a very simple premise. Verify keeps a database of problem gamblers on their servers, and when someone wants to open an account with any of the participating casinos, the casino runs the account information through the Verify system to check if they should be excluded.

Mark Dalton, Verify’s manager, said that this solution is sure to be successful; with the current legislative environment in many parts of the world, pressure on casinos is increasing. The more casinos join Verify’s system, the better it works. The better the system works, the more attractive it becomes as a solution to the worries of lawmakers around the world. This win-win situation is likely to make Verify very successful.

Fighting for Online Poker in Congress

Though there is no specific bill undergoing processes of legislation that officially legalizes online gambling, there has nonetheless been quite a lot of chatter on Capitol Hill on the subject. That being said, it was no surprise that the prospect of legalized online gambling was a major issue at the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that met last week.

Bruce Bozsum, the current chairman of the Mohegan Tribe from Connecticut, represented the tribal leaders who were in favor of legalizing online gaming. He explained that there was no reason to think that online casinos would not be as successful for the Indian population as the current “brick & mortar” casinos. He further specified that if Indian casinos are to successfully operate online platforms, the territorial restrictions need to be lifted. The current agreement that most tribes have with the government allows for the operation of casinos in their territory. Such an agreement would never work for online casinos. He also requested that the Indian online casinos should enjoy the same tax exemptions as their land-based casinos.

There were, however, dissenting voices her from tribal leaders as well. Tulalip tribe vice chairman Glen Gobin claimed that online poker would undercut the profits of the land-based casinos. Poker Players Alliance chairman and former U.S. Senator Al D’Amato refuted that claim, citing that only 1% of total Indian casino profits actually comes from poker. That being said, there is no reason to believe that online poker would cut into their profits.

The one thing all the tribal leaders did agree on was that they want their voice heard regarding any legislation on the future of online gambling.

Australian Financial Institutions Against New Legislation

New proposed legislation has caused outrage among Australian financial institutions. The recent submission of independent senator Nick Xenophon to the special parliamentary committee on online gambling calls for similar legislative action to that of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) already in place in the United States – to prohibit financial institutions from performing transactions on behalf of unlicensed online casinos. Visa, Australia’s largest credit provider, is leading the front against the new regulations.

The claim of the Australian Bankers Association (ABA) is two fold. On the one hand, they say that the execution of the proposed measures would be extremely complicated and could severely inhibit the ability of the banks to operate. To illustrate the severity of the situation they claim that the abilities of the local institutions to compete in the world market could be hindered greatly. Secondly, it has never been proven that this form of enforcement actually has the power to stop clandestine online gambling altogether.

Steven Munchenberg, the CEO of the ABA, was quoted saying that if online service providers and merchants see Australia as a place where online transactions can not be carried out in an efficient matter, then they might choose not to do business or provide services for patrons originating in Australia.

Another point brought up by opponents of the law is what its sibling wrought in the US. When the UIGEA was passed in the US, it brought down three major American online poker sites; millions of customers lost access to their accounts and with them millions of dollars. The shut down put thousands of Americans out of work and caused the bulk of online poker to move overseas and take its potential tax revenue with it.

Massachusetts Says No to Online Gambling

Last year, Representative Dan Winslow added an online gambling amendment to a bill originally drafted to license new “brick & mortar” casinos. The bill actually was passed in the State House in September of 2010. Though the online gambling part of the bill had been somewhat diluted during the preliminary discussions prior to the bill’s passing, it nonetheless gave hope to those Massachusetts residents interested in online gambling. However, when the bill reached the State Senate, the entire online gambling addition was removed before the bill was passed.

This was not the end of the saga. Due to the discrepancy between the two versions of the bill, a special six-person committee composed of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle was appointed to reconcile the difference. Theoretically, at this stage of the process, either of the two versions could have become the final version, i.e. the House version including the online gambling articles could have been confirmed. In a quick decision made right before the state assembly adjourned for the winter, the six-member committee chose the version without the online gambling section, thereby burying the online gambling articles. The final version, that of the Senate lacking the online gambling licenses was then ratified by both the House and Senate. All that remains is for Patrick Deval, the Massachusetts State Governor, to sign the bill into law.

The new land-based casinos are expected to bring about approximately 15,000 new jobs and create at least $300,000,000 in state tax revenue annually. A unique clause in the bill forbids any official involved in the bill’s legislation from working at the casino until one year has passed from the time their term in office.

Spain Advances Online Gambling Regulation

After the Spanish Cabinet’s recent approval of the new laws on online gambling licensing requirements, Spain is expected to establish a full regulatory framework for online gambling by the beginning of 2012.

Spain’s online gambling trade association, known as AEDAPI, is pleased with the recent advancements. Soon enough online casino operators will be able to apply for licensing to operate in Spain. Despite the initial excitement, AEDAPI representatives have expressed disappointment with the high 25% gross income tax rate. Furthermore, the regulatory framework does not allow for all forms of gambling. These conditions significantly reduce the profitability of those interested in operating in the Spanish market. The representatives said that they will continue to work to encourage the authorities to make the Spanish market a worthwhile place for online casino operators.

Some gambling operators are undeterred by the high tax rate and are quickly trying to acquire full licensing by the beginning of the coming calendar year. Rank plc. is one of those eager operators and is planning on launching an online casino called enRacha. The site is to have poker games, table games, skill games, slots, and Spanish card games.

The London-based international online gambling giant Ladbrokes recently announced that the newly available Spanish market is in their sites. They will license Microgaming software for the new sites. With the completion of the Spanish regulatory approval expected by January 2012, Ladbrokes will launch its Spanish online casino LBApuestas. In addition to inroads to the new Spanish market, Ladbrokes is also making inroads in the Danish market who recently took legislative steps to attract online casinos to the local Danish online gambling market.

Massachusetts Passes New Casino Bill

The State of Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate passed a controversial bill licensing the construction of three new casinos and one slot parlor. Governor Patrick Deval is expected to sign the bill into law by the end of the month.

In a previous version, the bill had passed the House including an article licensing online gambling, but the article was removed by the Senate. A six member special committee formulated a compromise form of the bill that did not include the online gambling article. The new version passed in the Senate by a vote of 23 to 14 and passed in the House by a vote of 118 to 33.

Once the bill is signed into law by governor Deval, industry experts expect a bidding war to take place between the potential casino operators. The bill received bipartisan support with the hope that the new casinos would both create thousands of new employment opportunities and much needed tax revenue for the state coffers.

While Republican Representative Paul Frost lauded the bill about its future job creation, Democratic Representative Ruth Balser condemned the bill stating that it would have devastating impacts on the social and economic climate of Massachusetts.

Despite the fact that the bill passed with a very large majority in the House, Governor Deval said he would nonetheless carefully review the bill before signing it into law.

The bill offers first dibs on the rights to open a casino in one of Massachusetts’ southern districts to a local Native American tribe. The tribe will be given a negotiation period to achieve a revenue sharing contract with local authorities. The other two licenses will be available commercially.

Indian Affairs Committee Holds Hearing on Online Gambling

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing recently intended to include the Native American population in any major decision making process regarding the legalization and regulation of online gambling.

Two representatives from the Native American population presented opposing views on the issue of online gambling at the hearing. The Mohegan Tribe Council Chairman Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum favored legalized and regulated online gambling, though he cited that it is important that the Native American tribes be given equal opportunity to attain a competitive share of the market. Bozsum opposed state-wide regulation like that of New Jersey or Nevada and added that Tribal online casinos must be allowed to serve players outside of Tribal property. He also called for the shutting down of unregulated internet gambling sites.

Glen Gobin, the vice chairman of the Washing State Tulalip Tribes, expressed his opposition to online gambling because he feared it would hurt the Native Americans’ brick & mortar casinos. Gobin brought statistical analyses that show that the Native American land-based casinos generate over six times as much income as the online casinos, and therefore there is no reason to risk losing any of that large income for the small potential gains provided by the online alternative. Gobin also expressed fear that the Indian casinos would not be able to compete in an online environment with the more famous casino brand names.

Ernie Stevens, the Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association, sided with Bruce Bozsum. He said that Native American casinos will be able to compete and succeed in a regulated online environment, though it is important that the government uphold the contents of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in relation to online gambling as well.

GCB Proposes Online Gambling Regulations

The State of Nevada is working towards creating a legal framework for regulated online gaming within state borders. The Gaming Control Board of Nevada is planning to have a framework in place by February 2012. At the U.S. Online Gaming Law Conference, which was held over two days this November, Mark Lipparelli, the GCB chairman, informed that his agency would be ready to investigate the legalization and regulation of an online framework this month.

The current framework under discussion is quite limited. At this point, the only game on the table is poker. Essentially, the framework is very similar to the one already in place that allows for sports betting in a number of states across America.

Lipparelli added that companies that are already licensed to operate casinos in the State of Nevada will be able to complete the online licensing process faster; they only need to prove the proper and safe functioning of their new technology. New operators will have to undergo a longer licensing process.

Some of the features of the new regulations were given over to the press. They include a minimum legal age of 21, one account per person maximum, a ban on account transfers between players, and players will be allowed to deposit money via credit card. The licensees have to hold a $20,000 account available at all times for compliance investigation fees and will have to keep a history of accounts and transfers in print for 5 years. Additionally, the technology will only be authorized if it can detect and remove bots.

Some of the casinos of California’s tribes are already looking into entering the new market. Others, however, are less enthusiastic about the legalization of internet gambling. Some are afraid of the effect it can have on brick & mortar casinos.

Australian Online Gambling Latest

Online gambling has been a contentious issue for quite some time. Government officials have been going back on forth about the possibility of reform. Recently, a parliamentary committee was established to debate the issues and formulate a unified government policy on all issues of gambling reform. The most recent issue to be taken up by the committee was a submission by Nick Xenophon, an independent senator, to prohibit financial institutions from performing transactions on behalf of unlicensed online gambling sites (like the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in the US).

The Australian Banker’s Association opposes the idea, stating that this form of enforcement will be unsuccessful. Members of the online gaming industry and related field experts agree with the ABA’s position. Steven Munchenberg, the CEO of the Australian Banker’s Association, told the committee members that attacking the issue via restriction of financial interactions was the most complicated and least effective way of going about it. He added that such measures could negatively affect a number of Australian online businesses and impair their ability to remain competitive in the online market. A representative from Visa, the largest credit service provider in Australia, told the Sydney Morning Herald that Visa also strongly opposes Xenophon’s suggestion. The head of the special parliamentary committee, Andrew Wikie, said that the committee will release a report on the matter by the end of November.

Earlier in November, a group of lawmakers from the opposition put together a policy document on the issue of gambling reform. Among the policy suggestions, the document supports increased treatment for problem gambling, a ban on credit-card deposits to online casinos, and expanding the use of self exclusion at pokie venues across Australia. Government members are expected to finalize their decisions on reform in early 2012.

Washington Legislators Warm Up to Online Gaming?

There are a number of problems that experts believe the legalization and regulation of online gambling can solve – the most obvious one being the problem of illegal gambling. However, it is not just regulation that has lawmakers in Washington beginning to warm up to the idea of legal internet gambling; it is taxation.

The biggest problem that legalizing and regulating online gambling can fix, albeit partially, is economic. The American economy is currently in bad shape. Legal online gambling can be a direct solution in the form of tax revenue on the state and federal levels. It can also be an indirect solution in the form of thousands of potential jobs that could be created by an American internet gambling industry.

Beyond the monetary side of things, illegal internet gambling is itself a problem. Anytime millions of American citizens regularly perform an activity that is against the law, something is very wrong. The offshore gambling is unregulated and unsupervised, which leaves American citizens vulnerable to fraud. A regulated local industry would protect the players and provide a safer playing environment.

Lawmakers are generally hesitant to support liberal gambling legislation because of the issue of problem gambling. However, what many don’t realize is that the problem is greatly exacerbated by the clandestine nature in which online gambling currently takes place. Precisely the legalization of internet gambling will allow people to gamble in a safe environment in which they can openly seek help in case of need.

The big question remains if Washington legislators can look past preexisting stereotypes about gambling and work together on bipartisan legislation for the benefit of their constituents, or are we going to see the same futile arguments being regurgitated again and again.

Sports-Betting Referendum in New Jersey

According to the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, only Delaware, Montana, Oregon, and Nevada have legal sports betting. This coming election day, New Jersey voters will be able to decide, aside from who’s going to sit in the State Legislature, whether or not they want to change the state constitution in order to legalize sports-betting in local race-tracks and at Atlantic City casinos.

Compared to Nevada, New Jersey has a lot of catching up to do if they want to see any real gambling revenue. Though, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton poll conducted about four weeks ago, almost 60% of eligible voters in New Jersey think that legalizing sports-betting is a step in the right direction.

The biggest push for support comes from those who are trying to breathe life into Atlantic City. The situation there is quite grim, and if sports-betting were to become legal, it will hopefully draw large crowds of sports fans to the casinos for all the major national sporting events like the World Series, Super Bowl, or NCAA playoffs.

Opponents of the bill clearly do not share the same enthusiasm. They claim that since sports-betting only constitutes 2% of Nevada’s gross gambling profits, New Jersey can not expect a much greater result. That being the case, the only effect of legalizing sports-betting, according to those opponents, is problems of addictive gambling.

Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, expressed that he would give his support as long as the referendum passes the Tuesday vote. Unfortunately, even if it passes the vote and received gubernatorial support, the actual legislation process of changing the state constitution could theoretically take years.

New Danish Tax Cuts Ignite EU Controversy

In Denmark, lawmakers recently passed new tax cuts for online casino operators that will give local operators an edge over their competition around Europe. To the surprise of many in the industry, the EU commission, the body entrusted with safeguarding fair competition in the Eurozone, authorized the cuts. While some are outraged by the decision, others are waiting patiently to capitalize on its hidden potential.

The casinos hit hardest by the new codes are the “brick and mortar” casinos. With a lack of any new legislation in recent years, they still pay an extremely high tax that is about three times as large as the new tax on internet casinos. With a disparity that large, and considering the high operation costs of a land-based casino, it is no wonder that they are calling the new tax cuts “state subsidies” for online casinos.

On the other hand, internet gambling sites around Europe are sitting tight. While in the immediate future the tax cuts are going to cause customers to migrate to Denmark, in the long run there is no real way of stopping them from demanding the same treatment from their own local governments. In light of the EU commission’s lenient stance on individual state low tax rates, there is really nothing holding back the other states from doing the same thing Denmark did. This will eventually translate to more money in the pockets of online casinos around Europe.

However, one must still ask, was this a wise decision? Taking into account the obvious long-term ramifications of such a decision in an extremely competitive continental market, it remains to be seen if Denmark’s push to advance their local industry might actually backfire in the long run at the detriment of many European governments.

Microgaming Releases Android Air

With the growing popularity of mobile gaming, it’s no surprise that online casino giant Microgaming announced the release of a new gaming platform geared to the Android mobile operating system.

At a press conference, Microgaming announced the release of their new Adobe Air based mobile gaming platform Android Air. This new platform is usable on any smartphone or tablet running the Google operating system Android. The mobile platform, though different than the classic version because it is specialized for touch-screen use, will run the same games popular on the regular online Microgaming platform. At the moment, when purchasing the Android Air, the customer will receive eight Microgaming games with the purchase, but Microgaming plans to complete the conversion of at least twelve more games to the new format by the end of the year. By updating the software via Android market, the players will be able to get the new games as they come out.

Testers were very pleased with Air’s user friendly functionality. The Microgaming tools like Player Grouping, Virtual Pit Boss (VPB), and Bonus Balance will be available on the mobile platform as well.

At the press conference, Neill Whyte, the head of product channels at Microgaming, while they have been involved in mobile gaming for a few years already and happy with the success of they have already seen, Android Air is the largest mobile product they have released. This new release is in line with their expectations that due to the rapid growth in smartphone use around the world. His expectation is that the positive growth in the global Android market coupled with Microgaming’s already successful software development will position Microgaming at the forefront of the mobile gaming market.

Cheater Steals $390,000 in Online Poker

German police recently arrested a German citizen who is being accused of cheating during an online poker game. According to the accusations, he implanted a virus known as a Trojan-horse that infiltrated his opponents’ computers. The virus then proceeded to contact his computer providing him with his opponents’ hands. Seeing their hands, he was able to win $390,000 playing Pot Limit Omaha.

Among the defeated were famous poker champions including Juha Helppi and Nicki Jedlicka. The unusual losses sparked their attention, and together with his other victims they sought out the cheater and found him in a hotel. They eventually got him to “confess,” but he did not repeat the confession to the German police who later arrested him.

Casinos employ very sophisticated systems for preventing theft, fraud, or cheating. If a player is winning at an unusual pace, or if some anonymous nobody is flawlessly beating a group of poker champions, the casino operators will investigate their activities to see if cheating is involved. In this case, though, it was the players themselves who quickly noticed the abnormal activity.

It is extremely important for casinos to prevent stories like this from ever happening. The fact that the guy was caught may be comforting to some, but others may read about cheating happening at all and be deterred from engaging in online gaming at all. If players can’t have the basic trust that they are not being cheated, then there is no game. The expectation is that this cheater will be harshly prosecuted in order to deter future cheaters and ensure safe playing for everyone else.

UK Gaming News Update

Two recent developments are engaging the UK gaming community: the United Kingdom Gambling Commission published its survey for the past quarter and a new online hub has been established to aid in the struggle against problem gambling.

The Gambling Commission of the UK releases a quarterly survey on gambling participation. The survey for July, August, and September was performed on behalf of the commission by the market research firm ICM research. They performed two extensive surveys in one: gambling in general and specifically remote gambling (online, mobile, and interactive TV). According to the survey the total gambling participation had a 1.6% increase compared to the parallel quarter last year. The most popular form of gambling remains the National Lottery. While total gambling participation is most popular among males above the age of 45, mobile gambling participation is more popular among males between the ages of 18 and 44.

A non-profit organization known as The Responsible Gambling Fund of the United Kingdom is currently working on the development of an online information hub to aid in the struggle against problem gambling. They hired Electric Putty, a well-known web development firm, to develop the site. The purpose of the site is to act as a hub to for counselors, treatment professionals, researchers, policy makers, and gamblers themselves to provide and share useful information. While a gambler might use it to get information for himself, a treatment professional can use it to reference a patient to a proper facility, and a legislator can use to get accurate information and gambling statistics. The site is expected to launch this coming February.

The RGA Speaks on German Online Gambling

The proposal that had been rejected by the European Commission was supported by the Minister Presidents of the German Lander. It was urged to adopt the draft State Treaty on online gambling. However, the Remote Gambling Association spoke up against the proposition.

Why has this drawn their attention? The proposal would limit licenses issued to operators to twenty and adds a five percent turnover tax. It limits betting amounts and prohibits online gambling and is expected to take effect in July 2012. The Chief Executive is Clive Hawkswood who was disappointed in the measure. It is not comparable with other European countries that are following more moderate measures. These countries such as Denmark will allow almost all kinds of online gambling. Taxation would be based on gross profits.

Hawkswood states that the treaty will not prevent German gamblers from participating in online casinos in other jurisdictions. Although the Minister Presidents claim they want to encourage sports betting with operators who are regulated, Hawkswood doesn’t see this with online casinos and poker games.

The German state of Schleswig-Holstein has adopted their own online gambling law because it could not gain agreement with other states. It has already been approved by the European Commission and uses the gross income as a basis for taxation. The commission had already indicated that the State Treaty violated their law. Other states may follow the Schleswig-Holstein plan. Hawkswood does not see a connection between providing citizens with a regulated online gambling market and the actual wording of the State Treaty.

Artistocrat Partners with US Casino

Many casino owners see the legalization of online gambling as a definite thing rather than just a possibility. It has caused them to reevaluate their business and look for ways to become successful in the online business. Aristocrat Technologies Inc. may be the first online developer to partner with a US casino. Aristocrat is a subsidiary of Australia based company Aristocrat Leisure Limited.

Aristocrat will be working with Maryland Live! Casino to create a virtual casino that will be free to play. It will contain many of the standard games you expect to see in a live casino, such as blackjack, poker, and slots. At the same time, Maryland Live! Casino is getting ready to open a physical casino in Maryland in the summer of next year. It is hoped that virtual players will want to become live players at the new casino.

Aristocrat is also partnering with Island Resort and Casino in Michigan to create the same profile online as in person so they can log in and win points to use in the real casino. The general manager of the casino believes it will help them to provide better service to their current guests and be inviting to new guests. They will be the first tribal casino to partner with Aristocrat.

Aristocrat is also developing new systems in other markets. They created an online gaming platform for a major gaming company in Europe. It is called Aristocrat’s nLive and will offer poker and other table games online. They are cashing in on the future of online gaming and making it happen now.

The Future of Online Gambling in the US

There are people who believe that online gambling will someday be legalized and regulated in the United States. Richard Bronson is one of those people. He is the founder and owner of US Digital Gaming and he believes the day will come when there will be a market for software for online operators, which his company will provide. Fortune magazine interviewed Bronson on this subject.

The article in Fortune mentions Caesar’s Entertainment, which used to be known as Harrah’s. Since it was bought out by billionaires, it has been investing in online operations. It also backs a lobbying effort in Washington DC, which is headed by Louis Freeh, a former FBI director.

The article also mentions the fact that those who move first will have the advantage in a critical moment. Many billionaires are investing even though no laws have been passed. Initiatives have already gotten out in the public, including a collaboration between the head of Avenue Capital Group and Donald Trump.

Bronson told Fortune that he had several investors interested in his project and none of them are in the gambling industry. One of the names mentioned was Herbert Simon, a major real estate player.

The article also mentions the Fertitta Interactive agreement with Cyberarts. Fertitta Interactive is a company owned by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta. Prior to this, Fertitta had called off a deal it had made with Full Tilt Poker. Steve Wynn had called off his own deal for the same reason, but had not signed a new one yet.

These investors believe that it is only a matter of time until online gambling will be legalized in the United States.

US Congress: 'More Study Needed on Online Gambling'

Several issues relating to online gambling were presented to the US Congressional House Energy and Commerce Committee on October 25^th. It was decided that more study was needed before any conclusions could be made.

Those who support online gambling had strong arguments. They believe that online gambling is happening even without legalization. People are using sites that are not regulated by the US and can result in players being taken advantage of by places that are not being watched. They also mentioned the money that is being lost in tax dollars for the state governments as well as the federal government. One advocate mentioned that poker required skill and was not a luck-based game.

The opposition had strong arguments, too. They came from state lotteries that felt that tax revenue would be lost that had been dedicated to education. An opponent stated that the people who bought lottery tickets were a different segment than those who gambled online and so revenue would not be affected.

Keith Whyte who is the director of National Council on Problem Gambling spoke of the costs involved with gambling addiction. Another spokesperson, Dan Romer of The Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, spoke in favor of regulation of online gambling to protect families.

Chairperson of the committee, Mary Bono Mack felt there was too much information involved to rush into decisions. It would need to be put on the agenda of a bipartisan committee that is designed to find ways to reduce the US debt. November 23^rd is the deadline for submissions, but further study would prevent the online gambling item to make it to the committee by that date.

Full Tilt Poker May Pay One Billion in Damages

It looks like the drama will go on. Full Tilt Poker may end up paying a billion dollars to the US Department of Justice for damages resulting from violations to the US gambling laws. Group Bernard Tapie, a French business, is hoping the online poker room can be saved. They are waiting to see if they can strike a deal with the poker site.

GBT can do nothing until the matter with the Department of Justice is resolved. That is not all it is waiting on. Full Tilt Poker will also be required to pay back three hundred million dollars to their customers. This includes non-US customers as well as the US customers.

There are many people wondering if Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker will be able to pay back their customers. A press release stated that Blanca, the company who owns the two poker sites, will be liquidating some assets in order to start paying back both US and non-US players. All three sites were closed down on Black Friday and it is a waiting game to see who will pay back what is owed first.

The Kahwanake Gaming Commission has been working with all three sites to find a solution. Everything is now in place for the issue to be resolved. The Commission sees paying players back for the money lost as the first priority. It will have to sit back and wait to see what happens. That is also what the players who lost money are doing.

Is the ECJ Opinion a Win for Online Gambling?

It has been bad news for the online gambling industry as Europe moves towards legislation by individual countries rather than one governing legislation for everyone. This affects the ability the online gambling industry has to effectively move their goods and services between countries. A published opinion from the ECJ (European Court of Justice) may change that. The opinion was from Advocate General Cruz Villalon.

The opinion states that licensing systems must be in agreement with the Treaty, which requires the supply of goods and services to be equal across all of the countries. This opinion is in response to the gambling operator Stanleybet from Britain trying to get access to the Italian market. Stanleybet claims that the Italian gambling law favors some companies that were licensed when others had been excluded.

It was stated in the opinion that if a country creates legislation that restricts gambling services between countries, it must be nondiscriminatory. To allow some licenses and refuse others is in direct opposition to the Treaty. The European Court of Justice has not set a date to rule on the case.

A positive reaction was immediate from the EGBA, which is the representative of online gambling operators. He felt that the ECJ needed to create legislation that follows the Treaty because it would be impossible for online operators to go to the ECJ for each individual issue. It is the basis of the Treaty that a licensed operator should be able to offer their products to other countries, according to the director of the EGBA.

Pro-Gaming Editorial on Bloomberg.com

An editorial recently posted on the leading business news website Bloomberg.com gives strong arguments for the legalization and regulation of online poker in the United States. Poker players and affiliates were quite happy to see their cause supported by such a major media outlet.

One of the driving principles behind the article was the recognition that poker is not just a mindless card game of random chance; poker is a game of skill with an element of chance that adds excitement – an unknown variable. That being said, the game deserves to be regulated by the government like any legitimate gaming industry.

A unique point raised in the article was the peculiar fact that in contrast to most industries in America that heavily lobby to reduce government regulation as much as possible, the online gaming advocacy groups are actually lobbying congress to create more government regulation.

The article cites as an example of what the online gaming advocates are precisely trying to avoid the spring shut down of Full Tilt Poker by USDOJ. As an example of what proper regulation can produce, the article brings states lotteries as a positive example. It goes on, however, to explain that while state lotteries are monopolies that offer little chances of winning, online poker has competition and significantly higher chances of winning.

To close, the article brought the pro-gaming comments of Senator Jay Rockefeller that the legalization of online gaming could rake in 70 billion dollars in the next ten years for state and federal government. The importance of the article lies less in its specific arguments, most of which are well-known and discussed, and more in the fact that it was published in such a major media outlet – one that is read daily by many major politicians.

Ladbrokes Swoops into New South African Market

Ladbrokes, a major international sports betting conglomerate, is now operating in the South African market through their affiliate group Kairo. This is the third penetration of the South African bookmaking market by a major international group. Anli Kotzé, the marketing manager at Ladbrokes eGaming, said that during the Rugby World Cup held last month in New Zealand, the South African market produced a higher number of bets than expected. Since their South African operation entered full swing last in August, they have seen a 50% increase in new users, about 25% increase in turnover, and over 40% increase in total sports betting.

Kotzé offered that the success could be ascribed to Ladbrokes well known and trusted name coupled with the large and mostly untapped South African sports betting market. The current status of the sports betting market in South Africa is estimated at 660 million rand; Ladbrokes is trying to make that number 800 million over the course of the next two years. The most profitable sports in the South African betting market are those most popular in South Africa: soccer (football), rugby, horse racing, cricket, tennis, and golf.

Though Ladbrokes is listed in London, their operation is truly international in every sense of the word. Their web software is fully functional in 24 different languages and the bets can be placed in 17 different currencies. Though some industry experts might have looked at Ladbrokes funny for acquiring licensing in South Africa right after it hosted the world’s most popular sporting event, the WorldCup, they none-the-less appear to have found a market with much potential that they are successfully capitalizing on.

eCOGRA Receives Authorization in Spain

The e-Commerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance organization (eCOGRA), an independent standards and testing body based out of London, recently received authorization from the Spanish Gambling Authority to conduct certification and testing of online gaming operators who wish to receive licensing to operate in Spain. This good news comes after eCOGRA received similar accreditation from Italy’s AAMS (The Independent Administration of State Monopolies).

Before an affiliate can begin operating an online casino in Spain, they need to receive stage one licensing. This initial stage entails the thorough inspection of all gaming and platform systems by an accredited testing organization such as eCOGRA. After such an inspection has been passed, a provisional operation license is given that allows for a temporary four-month stint during which the operational systems and facilities can be properly inspected. If the operator passes the second stage of inspection they can then receive full license to operate an online casino in Spain.

In light of the liberalization of Spanish gaming laws, many applicants are expected to seek licensing in the coming months. eCOGRA is lucky to have received accreditation at such a crucial time. At the press conference announcing the recent accreditation, eCOGRA CEO Andrew Beveridge praised the recent steps taken by the Spanish government to liberalize the gaming market. He added, however, that despite the positive developments in Spain, the trend of individual regulatory requirements in so many European Union member states makes it difficult for the certification and testing agencies to efficiently and properly perform their work.

Beveridge did add, however, that despite the challenges heaped upon them by the various governments and their respective regulatory agencies, eCOGRA will continue to do all in their power to provide a reliable and trustworthy service to ensure safe gaming.

Controversy Erupts Over New German Gambling Laws

Recently proposed reforms in Germany’s gambling’s legislation have sparked major controversy and outrage among Europe’s online gambling affiliates. The new legislation, which is supposed to take effect next July, would have a strongly negative impact on any online gambling site seeking to operate in the German market.

The new proposal is also expected to aggravate the already strained relationship between the European Union and Germany.

The legislation includes a number of reforms that are particularly bad for affiliates looking towards the German market. These reforms include a limit of 20 online gaming licenses, a turnover tax (a transaction-based tax) of 5 percent, and a limitation of licensing to sports betting (excluding table games like poker).

Though this proposal does not bode well for gambling affiliates, there remains a glimmer of hope. One of Germany’s 16 states, Schleswig-Holstein, has drafted an alternative proposal that jibes with EU agreements.

The Schleswig-Holstein legislation, which aims to come into effect as of January, more closely resembles the type of legislation already in effect in much of Europe. It contains a clause allowing table games, and taxes only gross profits (at 20%). The Schleswig-Holstein proposal may be the saving grace of the German online gambling market.

The CEO of The Remote Gaming Association, Clive Hawkswood, spoke to the media in order to make the gambling community’s frustration over the new legislation known. He explained how the German proposal goes against explicit EU agreements. On the other hand, he praised the proposal of Schleswig-Holstein stating the later does agree with EU standards. He further added that though the German proposal claims to increase safety via regulation, the proposal actually leaves the market open to unregulated offshore operations.

Since the onset of online gambling, German legislation has never been very favorable, and it remains to be seen what will happen with these reforms.

Congress Listens to Pro-Online Poker Advocates

A recently held congressional hearing of the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade subcommittee heard voices calling for the legalization of online gambling. Though the stance of many lawmakers has been consistently against the legalization of online gambling, often referred to as a vice, experts involved in the debates claim that gambling affiliates and Washington policy-makers are reaching an agreement. Mary Bono Mack, a Californian Representative, noted that only two out of America’s fifty states have yet to allow for some form of legalized gambling.

There are many factors that have caused lawmakers to have a change of heart. Some lawmakers noted the fact that despite online gambling’s illegal status, millions of Americans have been doing it online for years. What’s worse is that since the gambling is clandestine, the players are unprotected, and all the revenue leaves America’s borders and goes overseas.

Frank Fakrenkopf, the CEO of the American Gaming Association, called online poker “a safe bet.” He explained that legalized and regulated online poker creates a safer playing environment, creates American jobs, and creates tax revenue at the state and federal levels. An estimate given at the hearing said that a U.S. online gambling industry could bring in about two billion dollars annually in tax income.

Former Senator and current chairman of the Pokers Players Alliance Al D’Amato addressed the subcommittee and said that Americans are ready for legalized online gambling. He also stressed the need for a general clarification of the legislation, stating that the current laws are too vague. Even though the committee could take quite some time to further deliberate on the issue, some members have hinted that legalization could be right around the corner.

Al D’Amato Addresses Congress on Online Poker

Al D’Amato, who served for 18 years as a senator from New York and currently serves as chairman of the Poker Players Alliance, recently addressed a congressional committee on online gambling and government regulation. Wearing these two hats, D’Amato was the perfect man for the job.

D’Amato began by praising the congressmen for the steps they had taken to protect players from issues of fraud and problem gambling. However, he quickly changed tones and criticized the congressmen for the legislative action taken that limits the freedom of U.S. citizens to play poker online.

Among his criticisms, he centered on the fact that the current legislation already in place is very unclear. He specified that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which prohibits banks from performing transactions on behalf of “unlawful internet gambling,” doesn’t bother to define what “unlawful internet gambling” is.

Since D’Amato is himself an avid poker player, his sentiments accurately represent the frustrations of most poker players. One such issue was the April closing of Full Tilt Poker (in addition to two other large sites) that came as a shock to most American poker players who had been playing online for approximately 10 years.

Another card up D’Amato’s sleeve was the 80,000 e-mails sent by poker players to members of U.S. government asking for proper legislation that creates regulation and licensing for the development of an online poker industry in the United States.

Lastly, D’Amato remarked that if they were to create a regulated industry, it be good in three ways: it would provide a safe playing environment for American citizens, it would create thousands of jobs, and it would create much needed tax revenue for state and federal government at a time of serious economic crisis.

While South Africa Moves to Legalize Gambling They Ban All Online Casino Activity

South Africa has recently ruled that all online gambling activity is illegal. Players who gamble online from South Africa risk a heavy penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a R10 million fine (around 1.2 million USD). While the new legislation seems to be a bit out of nowhere and the penalties somewhat extreme, it seems that this is only temporary as the South African government plans to regulate and legalize online gambling and to offer online gambling licenses to South African online casinos.

In 2008, the country passed The National Gambling Amendment Act which was the first step to legalizing and regulating online casino activity in the country. Until then however, all online gambling activity will be considered illegal and violators of the law will be prosecuted.

Piggs Peak Online Casino company has appealed to the South African Supreme Court, challenging the law that affects South African players. The company is located and regulated outside South Africa. Their appeals were futile and essentially fell on deaf ears, despite their many efforts. The court has ruled that until the government has implemented new legislation which is set to include licenses to operate online casinos in South Africa, all online gambling activity, regardless of jurisdiction, is considered illegal.

"Star Witness" in Black Friday Case is Daniel Tzvetkoff - The IT Whiz Kid who Helped Create the Fraud

Not only did 28 year old Australian IT-whiz Daniel Kim Tzvetkoff help create the fraud that affected the entire online poker industry, he also profited quite a great deal from it. It seems now that as the US federal government prepares to prosecute the 11 online poker executives, Daniel Tzvetkoff is going to play a big role in the prosecution's case. Seemingly in exchange for his own exoneration, Tzvetkoff is ratting out his cronies who he helped to get rich and in the process, got quite rich himself.

Tzvetkoff had a lot going for him before he went down the long, dark road of bank fraud and money laundering. A successful, young entrepreneur, he co-founder of Intabill which at its peak was the largest online billing company in the world. Instead of playing by the rules, he took advantage of an opportunity presented to him and helped to make poker giants like Full Tilt Poker and Poker Stars millions of dollars, taking around $150,000 a day for himself. When he wanted to take a bit more, he was sued by the various companies. Currently, because of his knowledge of how the money was laundered and how the fraud was carried out, he's currently the key that the U.S. Attorney's office is counting on. He can allegedly reverse-engineer transactions in order to determine their original source.

Rumor has it that the feds got him in the first place because Full Tilt and/or Poker Stars tipped him off to the FBI, who then made the arrest. Seems that loyalty doesn't go so far among criminals.

"Monster Mayhem" - New RTG Video Slot Game

Realtime Gaming is known for their series of slot games, mainly for their unique themes and rich, colorful graphics. In true RTG style, they decided to launch a new game just in time for Halloween called "Monster Mayhem". Instead of the traditional spooky theme, RTG offers up a unique twist on the old "monster movie" theme (think King Kong) and features crazy animals attacking a city and the chaos that naturally ensues.

The maximum jackpot is worth 2500 coins on this 50-payline, 5-reel video slots game and there are two jackpots that can be won at any time, a minor and a major jackpot. The monster footprint symbol offer the 2500 coin jackpot and the frightened lady symbol offers the 1250 coin jackpot. The abovementioned crazy animals (a lion and a rabbit) also service as the scatter symbols and wild card symbols. The lion (the SMASH symbol) and the rabbit (the CRASH symbol). SMASH pays out a 2x multiplier every time is shows up and when either of the two symbols appear to make a winning combination they get rather lively and excited and the animation makes the win even more exciting. When they appear on their respective lines (1 and 5), the bonus feature is automatically triggered where players can win up to 10 free spins while the two scatters are held constant. The scatters also double as wild cards and will help to make a winning combination.

Montenegro to Offer EU Gambling Licenses from 2012

The country of Montenegro is in the south of Europe and has been autonomous from Serbia since 1996. While they've since kept a relatively low profile, the country enjoys political stability and EU membership. In a bold move, being that it's the first time they are really signaling full independence from Serbia (and risking possibly angry retaliation), Montenegro has announces that they are going to offer EU-compliant, online gambling licenses starting from January 2012. The move was preceded by the country passing an online gambling law earlier this year.

Montenegro offers an attractive package for online casino operators, especially new operators. The fact that they are a part of the EU is a huge factor but unlike some of the larger European countries, they offer a liberal approach to online gambling regulations and competitive banking and hosting solutions. Most noteworthy, as compared to other EU countries, they offer businesses very low corporate and personal tax rates (only 9%) and they do not limit remitted profits and interest. Also, a factor that greatly affects new brokers, they do not ask for a minimum amount of capital in order to apply for a gambling license.

New online gambling operators, or online gambling operators looking to acquire the Montenegro license will be able to do so within 1 week and the registration period is a mere 2 days.

How Spain, Denmark and Greece Prepare for Newly Regulated and Legalized Online Gambling Markets

As the trend throughout Western Europe shifts towards the regulation and legalization of online gambling, business relationships are being considered and reconsidered alongside the various government decisions involved in opening up the online gambling market.

In Spain, the current largest casino operator, CIRSA, has decided to use Microgaming software to power its new service. As countries regulate and legalize online gambling, the software provider becomes important to casino/betting operators as only a software which can stand up to the stringent regulations can be utilized. Otherwise, the operator simply won't have a chance at getting and maintaining the license. Microgaming, as the world's largest online gambling software provider, clearly sets to benefit from this new trend in legislation and CIRSA in Spain is most likely only one of many operators who will be looking to join forces with this trusted and established gaming software company.

In Greece, OPAP, the gambling monopoly owned partially by the Greek government is already going to be receiving preferential treatment come the anticipated regulation changes. While part of the perks include the option for them to extend their contracts to 2020, they're wary of being called out for favoratism and therefore because their contract with betting software provider Intralot ends in 2012, they've called for tenders on the contract and other software companies have shown interest. OPAP will announce their chosen provider during the next few months.

In Denmark, it seems that online betting operators are joining forces (or being forced to join forces) in order to shift and adapt to the new changes that the market will face after going through the regulation and legalization process. The Danish group Sportingbet Plc has announced that it plans to acquire through its wholly owned subsidiaries (Sportingbet Holdings Limited and Interactive Sports Limited), the following online betting and gambling operators: Scandic Bookmakers, Danbook Limited and SHL, all big players in the previous unregulated Danish online gambling market.

New Halloween Video Slots Game from Playtech Software

Playtech software recently launched a new Halloween themed game called Halloween Fortune. It's become a tradition for casino software companies to launch new games around the holidays and software provider Microgaming recently launched their own Halloween 2011 game called Lucky Witch. The common denominator between these two games (aside from the fact that they're video slot games) is that they both feature some pretty sexy witches. Playtech's Halloween Fortune features three equally gorgeous witches and Micrograming's Lucky Witch features one.

In Playtech's Halloween Fortune the graphics are beautifully designed for cute interactive animation which includes the witches features during a win, complete with a flirty wink! This adds a fun element to every winning combination that the witches contribute to - not to say that winning itself isn't fun enough... These witches are definitely of the "good" variety - a nice Halloween twist!

Halloween Fortunestays true to its name and theme with a slew of themed symbols including a carved pumpkin which we like to call the "Jack-o-pot Lantern" because when you get 5 of these symbols across the reels you'll trigger the 10,000 coin jackpot! A black cat, raven, potions and skull also serve as symbols and definitely will get you into the Halloween 2011 spirit!

The bonus round it called "Witches Brew" and is triggered when the cauldron symbol appears on reels 1 and 5. Players get to choose from the three sexy witches, each of whom comes bearing a prize up to 20 free spins and up to a 10x prize multiplier. When one of the witches is chosen, she will reveal your prize. The bonus feature can be triggered indefinitely.

Try out Halloween Fortune at any Playtech casino - it's a great way to get into the Halloween spirit!

Millionaire in a Minute! One Man Wins $1 million at Atlantic City Casino

What would you do with a newfound million dollars? Ah, the million dollar question… Puns aside – no one was joking when a man (who wishes to remain anonymous) recently (Sunday Oct 23^rd) walked away a million dollars richer after winning in Three Card Poker 6 Card Bonus ™ at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City. All that from just a $19 bet, not too shabby!

Frank Ursino, director of Table Games for Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City was quoted as saying “On behalf of Harrah’s Resort and Caesars Entertainment, we would like to congratulate Atlantic City’s newest millionaire. With Bad Beat Jackpots hitting almost on a monthly basis and now with the latest million dollar Three Card Poker 6 Card Bonus winner, our poker rooms and table games aren’t just alive, they’re flourishing.”

Seems that the games are certainly flourishing for players but taking a million dollar hit post the hit that the casino industry in Atlantic City took after New Jersey got hit by Hurricane Irene, this can’t be exactly what casino management was hoping for. However, a win like this is great for business and great for player morale! Therefore, we do believe that they’re just as excited as Mr. Anonymous when it comes to being able to associate such a big win with their good name. This game is one of the most popular specialty games and will most likely continue to be the most popular game of all times!

Will New Jersey Legalize Online Sports Betting?

New Jersey, home to Atlantic City, the second largest gambling city in the United States after Las Vegas, is once again pushing forward to legalize gambling. This time, the issue on the table is legalizing and regulating online sports betting. New Jersey is one of the single states that pushes fiercely to have this type of legislation passed through. Currently the state is holding a referendum to find out whether or not online sports betting should be legalized and regulated within the state. New Jersey is suffering (as most US states are) from the economic downturn and the state has recently lost millions of dollars due to the recent Hurricane Irene. Many see legalizing online sports betting as a positive way to earn money for the state.

New Jersey State Governor Chris Christie has been cited as being a proponent of online gambling and has done much to support that image. Recently however, whenever some sort of legislation crossed his desk it was quickly vetoed leading many people to wonder if his support was all talk and no walk. Many speculate that the reason for his hot and cold behavior was centered around his bid for presidency. He's since announced that he's no longer interested in running for US President in 2012. Perhaps this will affect his attitude towards online gambling legislation as he turns he focus back to his state. On November 8th there will be a public referendum held in the state of New Jersey to understand public opinion regarding legalizing online betting.

Las Vegas Casino Offer Players Option to Play Online Poker

Most casinos don't offer too much for free as they want their customers to focus on playing games for real money. However, one Las Vegas land-based casino is looking a bit farther down the road and realizes that in order to get a head start on what they feel is the inevitable legalization and regulation of online poker in the United States, they're offering their players the option to play at their online poker site - for free.

Free online poker isn't something new - in fact most online poker sites offer a free version. However, what is new is that a brick and mortar casino would offer a free online poker site to its players. The website, SouthPointPoker.com is what is making people across the industry take notice. The brand, South Point Casino, says that they're getting a head start on what they feel is the inevitable - the US will legalize and regulate online poker. They figure that if their players are playing at a good online poker site, that they'll find it easy to switch to the real money version once it's legal.

The free poker site was first offered just to a select group of the casino's player base but has since been launched to the public. It seems that this is one of many changes that the industry is making in order to gear up for legal online poker/casino in the US. Big business groups, including Donald Trump's organization, are also vying for market space. Will this be a sign of things to come or are people getting excited a bit too early?

Big Businesses Prepare for Legal US Online Gambling Market

It seems like big businesses are preparing to solidify a place in the US online gambling market which is interesting because it doesn't seem like there is any impending breakthroughs when it comes to legalizing and regulating gambling in the USA. Many are wondering if the big business buzz could be coming from impending legislation that perhaps us laymen citizens aren't in the loop about. Perhaps the preparations that big names in casino-related business like Trump Entertainment, bwin.party and Bally Technologies are making are tell-tale signs of big things to come!

The name "Donald Trump" is synonymous with big business and upscale entertainment. Trump Entertainment and Avenue Capital Group (who own 22% of Trump Entertainment) have recently established a joint venture between the two businesses and have filed statutory documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission outlining that their joint venture will be specifically for online gambling. Ivanka Trump, the Trump Organizations Executive VP of Development and Acquisition (she also happens to be Donald's daughter), has been quoted as saying that they are planning to be "the largest online gaming company if the USA industry is legalized".

The Trump dynasty aren't the only ones after this coveted title. It's been reported that the joint CEO of bwin.party, which currently enjoys the reputation of being the largest listed global online gambling operator), has been rounding up US investment for a similar agenda. It seems that bwin.party might have a better stronghold given their experience in the global online gambling space. However, Bally Technologies, another US based company specializing in brick and mortar gambling products has also expressed interest in going after the US market once it's legalized, specifically in the online social and mobile gaming arena.

USA: Land of the Free? Just Barely! South Carolina Finally Legalizes Recreational Poker

Back in 2006, the online gambling industry was shocked when the news story came out that 5 people were arrested in their home for playing a recreational game of poker and found guilty in the trial the ensued. This didn't happen in communist China, it happened in good ol' South Carolina, USA. Many questioned the seemingly ridiculous legislation and whether or not basic human freedom (to practice something recreationally in the privacy of one's home) was being blatantly denied.

Now, a law has been passed that now deems recreational poker legal so poker players in South Carolina can enjoy a game of poker in their home without worrying that the police might burst down the door and arrest them (?!) The law states that "Gambling in a private home where no house player, house bank, or house odds exist and where the house receives no part of any of the money or other thing of value... is not unlawful." This law ends an antiquated 200-year old gambling law and is another step in the direction towards legalizing and regulating gambling activities in the US.

Most thought that this new wouldn't pass and when it did, it was by a slim margin of just 12-8. Therefore, no one is really getting ahead of themselves when it comes to any drastic changes in the state of South Carolina regarding legalizing online gambling. However, those who are optimistic see the fact that these old laws are being changed as a possible step towards legalizing and regulating online poker in the US.

The Biggest Online Gaming Awards are Around the Corner!

The online gambling industry is gearing up for the two biggest award ceremonies of the year - the EGR (eGaming Review) Awards and the International Gaming Awards. This will mark the 7th consecutive year for the EGR awards and the 5th for the International Gaming Awards. AS is customary in the online casino industry, both ceremonies will take place in London and will both include charitable events benefiting organizations like Children with Leukemia and CARE International.

The EGR awards are set to take place on November 30th 2011 at the HAC in London. The host of this year's festivities will be no other than top UK comedienne and TV personality Rufus Hound. All nominations have already been submitted and it seems that online casino William Hill has taken the lead with 12 different award nominations. Similar to the Academy Awards, the panel of judges judging the contestants are part of the industry themselves.

The International Gaming Awards is scheduled for January 23, 2012 and will take place in London's Sheraton Park Lane hotel. Both award ceremonies have now added mobile gambling to their list of awards so it will be interesting to see which brands are industry leaders across all fronts and which brands dominate only single categories. Aside from being an important event which sets the international bar for the industry, these events also serve as important networking events and are attended by operators, software developer and advertisers alike.

Is Malta Threatened by Denmark’s New Online Gambling Regulations?

For years Malta has been enjoying the status of the only EU state to offer online gambling licenses and they have been benefiting from the commerce and revenue that having such a status offers. Their online gambling licenses are also significantly more expensive than other countries, mainly because they are an EU member and such a license comes with an element of prestige and reliability as Malta must adhere to EU law.

With the recent opening of the Danish market (the European Commission ruled that it was acceptable that Danish online casinos be taxed significantly less than Danish land-based casinos, constituting “state aid”), Malta now faces an added competitor. Denmark hasn’t wasted any time and has already started applications for online gambling licenses. The licensees will only have to pay a 20% tax on profits and the new regulation will come into effect in early 2012.

Now that the market has opened up for EU regulated online gambling licenses it will be interesting to see how Malta responds and if they will offer better incentives to new potential licensees and if they will manage to convince their existing licensees to renew. It will also be interesting to see the measure that the Danish government will put into place regarding protecting players and if Malta’s current player protection laws will fall short of Denmark’s new ones. Denmark is a socialist country and Danish parliament members are very concerned with the legislation that gambling operators with Danish licenses will have to adhere to in order to combat problem gambling and protect players.

Reuters: New Yorkers Support Legalizing Casino Gambling

In an article published today by Reuters, the global news agency reported that according to a recent opinion poll, New York residents (based upon a sample of 1,061 eligible voters), support legalized casino gambling by a 56-37 margin. Advocates for legalizing gambling are using this to support their push to bring gambling to New York, especially now, when the state is in dire need of the extra dollars that it would make from such an endeavor.

Currently, New York allows gambling only on Native America land or slot machines at horse racing tracks. In order for New York to be able to build it’s own version of Nevada’s Las Vegas or neighboring New Jersey’s Atlantic City, it US constitution would first have to be amended, not an easy (or fast) feat.

The poll was conducted by Quinnipiac University and among other things, it showed that 64% of respondents felt that creating a casino industry would be good for the state economy and therefore, good for New Yorkers. New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo (Democrat) is trying to push for small changes to the current legislation that include legalizing specific additional games like blackjack and roulette. He feels that even this small change could bring much-needed revenues to the state. He is set to announce whether or not he will go forward and push this agenda by January 2012.

Ladbrokes Breaks into Chinese Market!

Ladbrokes, the UK-based online gambling giant, in an unprecedented move has managed to infiltrate the Chinese market with a new game called “Lucky Racing” a sports-themed “fast draw, fixed odds” type game. Players can choose to bet on a virtual car race. The game is developed by Inspired Gaming Group, who are probably feeling quite “lucky” themselves for being the chosen online casino to pair with Ladbrokes and their partner company Hong Kong-based lottery services provider AGTech Holdings – the major players in this (very big) deal.

China is known for their tight control over internet activity and the fact that an online casino group was able to gain access to the HUGE Chinese market has the rest of the industry green with envy. Ladbrokes is definitely bringing pride to their nation as Chris Wood, the Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Beijing commented that Britain was playing an active role in boosting the Chinese economy. Such pride, indeed!

It will be interesting to see how the Chinese people take to “Lucky Racing” and if the revenues that it brings in are enough to appease the communist leadership who will perhaps agree to open up their market to a bit more than just one game.

Gambling in Eastern Europe: An Update

Even during difficult economic times, people still budget money for entertainment purposes, including gambling. This is a seen across the globe and many countries are seeing the value in legalizing, regulating and taxing gambling operations (both online and offline) in order to benefit their economies. There is a growing trend across Europe of heaver taxation on gambling operators and also legalizing and regulating gambling. This in turn helps the country’s economy and protects consumers. As of late, we are seeing this trend in Eastern Europe.

In Hungary, the government (suffering from economic hardship) is looking to pass laws that will require gambling operations (online and offline) to pay higher federal taxes starting in 2012. It is always more difficult for a country to tax online gambling operations so it will be interesting to see how the Hungarian government goes about doing so. Their economic minister Gyargy Matoicsy mentioned that it would be difficult to levy such a tax.

In the Ukraine, one of the largest countries in Eastern Europe is also leaning towards an increasingly free and open market for the gambling industry. Since 2009, they had banned all forms of gambling but now, parliament members are trying to push laws, which will lift this ban and legalize gambling. At this point, the efforts are to legalize offline gambling and no efforts are being made to legalize online gambling. The government will not have to spend money as private operators will fund these establishments but the government will benefit by taxation and most likely an increase in tourism revenues. They will also earn money should they choose to invest in these private organizations (this is seen in other parts of Europe). The government has seen that banning gambling has not decreased rates of problem gambling but it has just pushed gambling underground, which causes revenue loss and other problems.

In Latvia, a statement recently issued by the Latvian Gaming Business Association disclosed that the Latvian online gambling market in 2010 was worth €17.4 million. At this point, the Latvian Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection and the Latvian Ministry of Finance are now allegedly looking to introduce legislation, which will legalize and regulate online gambling (starting from 2012) in order to capitalize on this growing market.

EU Gives Denmark the Green Light to Open Online Gambling Market

The European Commission has given Denmark the green light to establish their own market for online gambling. The Danish Gaming Duties Act which proposes that casino operators who offer online casino and gaming machines should be taxes 20% on gross revenues (the profit the casino earns after paying out winnings). This is quite low compared to the 75% tax levied on some Danish brick and mortar casinos. The European Commission investigated this ruling after complains from current casino operators who complained that the proposal were equal to these casinos receiving state aid (in the form of tax breaks).

Interestingly enough, the European Commission found that even though it was undeniable that such tax breaks were indeed state aid that because “the positive effects of the liberalization of the market outweigh the distortions of competition brought about by the measure”, they deemed the act as acceptable according to EU law.

Those speaking on behalf of online casino operators are happy with the law and feel that it sets a good example for how other European countries could regulate online gambling. Clive Hawkswood of the Remote Gambling Association (one such organization) argued that online casinos faced a highly-competitive international market whereas land-based casinos only have to compete within certain physical boundaries and therefore felt that this act was justifiable.

Big News! Massachusetts Passes Online Poker Amendment

In a controversial move, Republican Representative Daniel Winslow proposed an amendment to expand land based gambling in his state of Massachusetts. The bill passed with flying colors getting 123 votes for and only 32 votes against. While this is big news, as with any bureaucratic process, this is only the tip of the iceberg and there is a long way to go before any major policy change is made and carried out.

The vote will now be presented to members of the Massachusetts Senate (the date is currently set for September 26^th). The online poker amendment is insignificant (and late-coming) in the bigger scheme of things regarding the different versions of the land based gambling bill that is set to be voted upon. If the law does pass then Massachusetts gaming commissions will have to work towards outlining the laws that will be associated with issuing licenses for online poker operators and factoring in different state and federal tax issues. The committee responsible for taking care of this would be asked to present a report of their suggested models only at the end of July 2012. If the bill (and the amendment) is not dismissed then the earliest that any sort of state-licensed and regulated online poker room would only possibly go live by the end of 2013.

Federal legislation regarding online poker is also being revisited, especially in light of the recent statements made regarding Full Tilt Poker’s owners running a global Ponzi scheme worth over $400 million. In order to promote legal online gambling and to protect players, many lawmakers are calling for better federal regulation of online poker which could allow online gambling operators to have to adhere to certain regulations in order to be licensed by the federal government.

Victor Chandler Chooses Microgaming

Microgaming has recently announces that it will be providing its mobile gaming offering to Gibralter-based Victor Chandler casino. The offering is a Flash platform that they call QuickFire and this is the first time that they are offering a mobile platform and Victor Chandler is the first operator to try it out. Securing a big name like Victor Chandler is a great boost of confidence for the QuickFire platform and a big achievement for Microgaming.

Microgaming and Victor Chandler have a history as Victor Chandler has been using Microgaming’s QuickFire platform for other offerings. Now, Victor Chandler customers will be able to access all their favorite Microgaming games on-the-go! This is in addition to the mobile sports betting products that Victor Chandler already offers their players.

Both parties express their excitement about the new deal and Turlough Lally, the Head of Mobile at Victor Chandler said that Microgaming was the natural choice based on how satisfied the company has been with QuickFire as their mobile supplier.

QuickFire has been a big hit with many different online casinos. It offers casino, poker, bingo, live dealer and mobile and offers seamless integration into any existing system. Unlike other mobile casino providers, Microgaming offers a huge selection of over 250 games via their mobile platform.

Online Gambling Legislation Update: Developments in Europe

It seems that throughout Europe there is significant progress being made when it comes to online gambling laws and updates in regulations. Currently, three countries have made some progress this week in making online gambling legal. They are Greece, The Netherlands and Italy – players from those countries should pay attention to the news to see how these changes will affect them!

In Greece, by the end of the month the Greek government will put into place legislation that includes the legalization of online gambling as one way for their government (currently facing serious economic troubles) to generate revenues. The license fees that they will award (estimated to be valued at around €950 million), will be paid by gambling monopoly OPAP, according to this agreement. It will extend OPAP’s sports betting monopoly past the year 2020. The Greek government currently owns 34% of OPAP and while they had intended to sell their share by the end of 2011, it seems now that they might not as Greek politicians are unwilling to let go of the control they have of this mega moneymaking organization.

In The Netherlands, the government is looking to legalize online gambling but is facing opposition from some members of its parliament. Many members of the Dutch parliament are concerned that the proposed legislation doesn’t do enough to combat online gambling addiction. Therefore, the government will have to appease parties across the political gamete in order to pass the law.

Last but not least has is Italy which is seeing positive results from regulating online gambling. In the first seven months of 2011, the Italian gambling regulator AAMS reports that total gambling wagers has risen by 21.45% to a total of €41.9 billion. Italy has seen a significant rise in gambling revenues, which includes online and offline games.

Neteller Offers NEOSURF – A Great New Payment Option for Online Gamblers

Neteller, one of the world’s leading online payment solutions is offering a new extension to their existing services as part of their ongoing efforts to offer the best payment solutions available.

Their new product, called Neosurf, is a prepaid card that can be used to deposit funds instantly into any Neteller account. This is a great alternative way to fund a Neteller electronic wallet (which can normally be funded with a major credit or debit card or a bank transfer). Once the Neteller account is funded, players can then make instant transfer to their favorite online casino (or any other merchant that accepts Neteller – there are a lot)!

Currently, this service is available to European Neteller users in France, Italy , Spain and Belgium but the company has plans to extend the Neosurf offering in the near future to other countries.

The card can be purchased at any authorized Neteller retailer in the four countries listed above and then the user funds his account as they normally would with any credit or debit card. The player can deposit between €22.50 and €4,372.50.

There are easy step-by-step instructions available for the user to make it easy to deposit. It’s another great way to use cash to deposit at your favorite casino and Neteller is a trusted brand with years of proven experience so you know you are in good hands!

Massachusetts Continues to Try and Legalize Online Gambling

Currently on the table in the state of Massachusetts is a bill that if it is passed, will mean that the state can expand its land-based gambling projects. On Friday, Sept 9^th, State Representative Dan Winslow (Republican) filed an amendment to this bill to try and extend the bill allowing online gambling (specifically online poker) to be included.

He explains that legalize online poker can provide a good source of revenue for the state and could create jobs in the high tech sector (software and service). If this amendment passes, it would mean that Massachusetts would be the first state to authorize and regulate online poker. Similar proposals have been put forth in the states of New Jersey, Hawaii, Florida, California and Nevada, but so far none have actually been implemented. In a sense, there is definitely a “race” going on and these legislators (like Winslow) definitely feel it.

The way that Winslow proposal explains that there would be 5 licenses awarded, each one would expire after 5 years. There would be a 10% rake on every pot and the state (Massachusetts) would receive 70% of that. Winslow proposes that these online poker sites could cater to players from around the globe, not just Massachusetts’s residents – which is different from some of the other similar proposals put forth in other states.

Jackpots In the News!

Two jackpots that have never been hit are in the news and stirring up some serious attention! Players across the world are now making sure that they have a chance at these HUGE progressive jackpots and it’s no wonder why because when we’re talking huge we’re talking millions and millions…

There are two jackpot networks that are currently the focus of attention. The first is the MegaJackpots progressive jackpot network that is the jackpot for casino software provider WagerWorks. A casino jackpot network is linked to a software provider and all the casinos that are run powered by that software provider are part of that network – that means that in a progressive jackpot, the bigger the network (the more casinos use the software), the bigger the jackpot.

The MegaJackpots from WagerWorks has just crossed the THREE MILLION mark. As this is a mainly british network, the ticker is shown using great British pounds so the dollar equivalent is around 4.7 million and the Euro equivalent is around 3.4 million! There are three slot games from WagerWorks that are connected to this jackpot. They are: Monopoly, Cleudo, and Cleopatra.

The second progressive jackpot that is receiving a lot of attention in the press is the jackpot on the Realtime Gaming network. The games attached to this jackpot (which unlike MegaJackpots doesn’t have a specific name), are Shopping Spree and Mid Life Crisis. The jackpot has currently broken the 1 million (US dollar) mark and is growing – fast!

Check these out today – you can be the first to win these “never-won-before” jackpots!

German State Makes Online Gambling Legal

The German state of Schleswig-Holstein has been on the fence vis-à-vis whether or not to pass a law that would allow online gambling in its jurisdiction. The new law passed just by a narrow margin and will come into effect on January 1, 2012. All new licenses will be issued from March 1, 2012 and there is limit on the number of licenses that can be issued. The state is set to earn 20% gross profits from tax on all gambling products.

Betting exchanges, sports books betting, poker and all online casino games with the exception of roulette, blackjack and baccarat will be allowed under the new legislation. Already, gambling companies are interesting in applying for licenses; Betfair and Bwin.party are a few of the names that has already shown interest. They’re hoping that the other 15 German states will follow suit… Bwin.party’s share price rose 14% once the news of Schleswig-Holstein passing their online gambling bill – big news for the company!

Another big name is the German betting company Jaxx has also expressed interest in acquiring a Schleswig-Holstein license for their sports betting, poker and online casino verticals. They were recently granted a similar license in Belgium.

Online casino legislation is slowly picking up across Europe and it provides a much-needed equilibrium between protecting players, general consumer interests and free market practices.

Austrian Online Gambling Case – In Favor of State Monopolies?

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled this week on a court case between the Austrian authorities and Bet-at-home.com, a multinational gaming group founded by two Austrians. The group’s licenses are given by Malta, which the Austrian officials claim does not adequately protect consumers. Therefore, they say that the Bet-at-home.com founders broke the country’s laws against online gambling. According to the ruling, the ECJ found “the obligation on persons holding concessions to operate gaming establishments to have their seat in Austria constitutes a restriction on freedom of establishment.” What is interesting in all this is that both parties seem to feel that the ECJ decision was in their favor.

Malta is member of the EU and therefore the ECJ felt that because of the regulatory system that connects the 27 EU nations (Malta and Austria included), that they could indeed protect Austrian citizens. The issue is also combating an Austrian gambling monopoly, which would naturally be opposed to operators going outside of Austria to purchase gambling licenses.

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) interpreted the ECJ’s ruling a bit differently saying that it called for more stringent rules against state gambling monopolies (insinuating that Malta itself was the problem). The laws in place are to protect online player protection and only allow a “moderate” amount of advertising. The judges pointed out that any advertising is not consistent with protecting players from problem gambling.

The EGBA’s response is that the EU hasn’t been able to guarantee a high level of consumer protection and therefore the need for a monopoly is necessary.

WagerWorks & Chili Strike a Deal

WagerWorks, the software department of International Game Technology (IGT), struck a deal with Chiligaming Network to host their slots on their online Chili Casino. The Chiligaming network, a well-known portal for online gambling, holds licenses in numerous jurisdictions including France, Curacao, and Alderney, and thus will be able to offer WagerWorks software all around the world. Chiligaming currently offers casino gaming, sports betting, and poker on their online gambling platform.

The WagerWorks games work via a remote server. The clients, such as Chiligaming, don’t have to bother integrating WagerWorks’ games into their existing administrative programming; they merely provide access to WagerWorks’ servers. Any client can essentially pick or choose which WagerWorks games they want to integrate. The Chili Casino site will offer the WagerWorks games in two versions: for real money and not for real money.

Chili Casino has already launched its first set of WagerWorks games. Eventually, the entire portfolio of WagerWorks games will be available on the Chili platform. Insiders are anxiously awaiting the arrival of WagerWorks’ branded games such as Monopoly, Jeopardy, Cluedo, and even Star Trek. Chili’s slots players will be able to tap into MegaJackpots’ progressive jackpot which is currently standing at about 3,000,000 credits.

The WagerWorks developers, in addition to slots, have also provided Chili Casino will blackjack and roulette games. All of the WagerWorks games have unique twists that are certainly worth looking into.

IGT’s vice president of Interactive Operations, Alex Kelly, stated that due to Chili’s good history and solid player base, Chili Casino was a clear-cut choice for partnering. He believed that Chili’s players will welcome the new WagerWorks games with open arms. Alexandre Dreyfus, Chiligaming’s chief executive, added that the partnership with IGT will bring forth considerable growth in Europe.

NJ Resurrects Gambling Bill

Ray Lesniak has been pushing for intrastate gambling legislation in New Jersey for quite some time, succeeded in passing his bill in both the state House and the state Senate, but has been vetoed by Governor Chris Christie. Senator Lesniak continues to push the bill despite Christie’s opposition.

Lesniak’s hope is that the potential collapse of one branch of the gaming industry will boost another. A major New Jersey horse breeder is on the verge of collapse and can possible take down the entire state horse racing industry with it. Lesniak suggests that state subsidies are the only way to save the industry. He says that these subsidies can and should come from the revenue earned by allowing for an intrastate online gambling infrastructure to operate in New Jersey.

In his newest attempt to pass the bill, the senator has not altered the bill greatly – the bill already had sweeping support in the state congress. However, there is a specific concern of Governor Christie’s that he does want to address. Christie was specifically concerned that the development of intrastate online gambling would lead to gambling at internet cafes and even internet cafes geared specifically to online gamblers. A safeguard against this has been amended to the bill. Lesniak is pressing to have the bill on the governor’s desk by the end of this year.

There is another issue that Lesniak is citing as a reason to push forward with pro-gambling state legislation. State legislation, he says, will always be better for the state of New Jersey that any federal legislation on the issue of gambling will ever be. If New Jersey waits for federal legislation, they could be left behind. If New Jersey initiates legislation, however, it is difficult for the federal government to override the local legislation.

EGBA Fires Back at EC

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) fired back at the European Commission’s Green Paper initiative. The EC’s initiative was intended to cover all components of online gambling in the European market in order to reconsider methods of regulation. In order to properly analyze the market, the EC requested that all bodies involved provide detailed reports answering a number of questions. The EGBA, Europe’s major online gambling operator’s trade body, shot back a 105 page report with its response.

Sigrid Ligne, the secretary general of the EGBA, headed off the response stating that Europe is currently the world leader in online gambling. If Europe wants to stay on top of the game, there has to be uniform regulation across the board in EU member countries. The national-level chaos of individual regulations creates a costly, wasteful situation for casino operators. Any unnecessary burdens on casino operators immediately translate to higher operational costs, higher consumer prices, and a movement of consumers from the regulated market to the black market.

While keeping a positive tone in relation to EC Commissioner Barnier, Ligne did not hold back criticism on the EC’s failure to upkeep EU treaties on economic issues related to online gambling. He stated that EU members’ regulatory actions have been in total disregard to EU law, yet the EC has remained disturbingly silent. The EGBA’s report implores the EC to take decisive action.

Regarding the more specific treatment by the EGBA of the EC initiative questions, the EGBA stressed the importance of dealing with problem gambling, honest sports, and protecting minors. The EGBA report also proved that online gambling does not effect “brick & mortar” casinos’ profits. The report concludes noting the urgent need for Europe-wide measures for customer identification, prevention of fraud, licensing, consumer protection, and other important measures.

Bwin.party Scoping Out U.S.

While some remain skeptical about the possibilities of online gambling legalization and regulation in the US, bwin.party CEO Jim Ryan remains optimistic. While discussing his company’s strategic plans, Ryan revealed that bwin.party is looking for U.S. partners. He expects that online gambling will be legalized and regulated in the U.S. “in the near term.”

Ryan’s optimism is backed by actions. Bwin.party is currently in the final stages of agreements with partners on the East and West coasts; they are deeply involved with lobbying groups at the state and federal levels. The identity of the partners is remaining, in the meantime, a company secret.

Ryan suggested that the brands that stand to gain the most from U.S. exposure are WPT, Poker Room, and PartyPoker. He hopes that they will be the first to pick up where the major online poker sites who were shut down by the USDOJ last spring had left off. Furthermore, Ryan clarified that his company has no intentions of purchasing Full Tilt Poker.

Bwin.party’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization were lower than last year by about 22 million Euro, though they still registered 21% earnings for this year. The reasons for the lower earnings are mostly due to rising taxation and regulation costs hitting the company.

Among the company’s individual products, Online Casino was their only one that actually grew over the course of the year. The online sports betting dropped in value by 2%. Despite the losses of the past year, Ryan remains optimistic for the outlook of bwin.party for the coming years.

Aristocrat Takes Shot at Online Gambling

Aristocrat Technologies, one of the leading slot manufacturers and land gambling equipment developers, has recently entered the world of online gambling. This past March, Aristocrat signed a collaborative agreement with non-download person-to-person game developer GameAccount Network. The fruits of that agreement are a free-play gaming platform that GameAccount will provide for Aristocrat’s U.S. clients. The gaming platform will provide online slots, poker, skill games, and table games. The centerpiece will be the virtual versions of Aristocrat’s popular “brick & mortar” slots. The lack of financial interaction precludes any regulatory involvement on part of the governmental authorities.

Dermot F. Smurfit, the managing director at GameAccount Network, said that the free online games will be a step in the right direction preceding the eventual legalization and regulation of U.S. online gambling. He expects that, like in Europe, the free games will be a precursor to gaming for real money. The deal between GameAccount and Aristocrat is pretty innovative in the American market because most of GameAccount’s business is actually European.

The general manager of online gaming at Aristocrat, Gillian Findlay, said that the development of online gaming causes gamers to seek a richer gambling experience. Aristocrat Technologies, he says, provides this as their games have been players’ favorites worldwide for quite some time. Their hope is to bring this experience to the online gaming world.

The biggest competitor for Aristocrat Technologies will be International Game Technologies. They have been developing games through their WagerWorks subdivision for years. They also have much experience converting existing land-based slots to an online format. The entrance of Aristocrat to the market will certainly change the playing field.

Virgin Launches New Video Slots

Earlier this week, the Virgin Casino released two brand new video slot games. The two new games are being offered through the Microgaming QuickFire platform even though they were not developed by Microgaming. The two games are both based on ancient history themes: Dynasty is set in ancient China, and Call of the Colosseum is set in ancient Rome.

The Dynasty video slot provides many combinations to win through its 20 payline platform. You find among its symbols swords, monuments, flags, and the warrior. The warrior symbol pays out a fixed jackpot of 5,000 coins. The Dynasty logo, if it appears on reels two, three, or four, is the wild symbol. It can appear stacked; if it appears stacked, the payout will be larger. The emperor is the scatter symbol. If you get three or more emperors, you can receive ten free spins. During the free spins, payouts are doubled. Before receiving payout, you will be given the option of playing an additional game. In this game, if you choose to play, you can double or quadruple your earnings by guessing the color or suit of a card, though you can also loose the payout if you guess wrong.

The Call of the Colosseum is very similar to the Dynasty game. It is also a 20 payline video slot. Its symbols include a Roman lady, a tiger, the Colosseum, a bag of gold, a gladiator’s helmet, and chariots. The Roman lady symbol is parallel to the Chinese warrior. The Roman emperor is the like the Dynasty logo, though it won’t appear stacked. What makes the emperor symbol unique is that during the ten free spins (won by getting three round shields) the emperor will appear with either thumbs up or thumbs down; if he appears with thumbs up you get three more free spins.

Virgin Casino has attractive daily promotions to push the recently launched new games.

The Italian Casino Market Emerges

Despite its humble beginnings in poker tournaments just a few years ago, the Italian online casino market is quickly growing into a multi-billion Euro major European player. In July, Italian online casinos started operating online games. As of November, their will be online poker cash games in play. This past month, though just the beginning, has been enough to make the authorities recalculate their estimations regarding online gambling revenue.

The Italian government body that oversees online gambling, the AAMS (Amministrazione autonoma dei monopoli di Stato), had adopted the European standard of 20% gross profit taxation. If this proves to be ineffective, some say they may switch to a turnover tax system.

Italians have welcomed online gambling with open arms and have joined the online casinos in impressive number. 2011 estimates put turnover at over ten billion Euros, and the estimates for 2012 are expected to exceed twice that amount. Two factors expected to accelerate next year’s growth are the introduction of online slots and foreign operators.

The quick growth of the Italian market is due, in part, to the big advertising campaigns that were introduced together with casino openings. The casino operators were smart enough to make sure that they acquired sweeping advertising rights before they opened their casinos to ensure that as many Italians as possible became immediately aware of the casino openings.

Playtech, one of the largest gambling software providers in the world, has been the first to take advantage of the emerging Italian market; they were the first to pass the AAMS 'Collaudo' test for standards. A number of Playtech licensees are already fully operational in Italy.

House Support for Gambling Legislation

Legislation currently under way in congress could be the beginning of the long awaited legalization of online gambling in the U.S. Two bills, HR 2366 and HR 2334, are gambling related bills with bipartisan support that could possibly herald a change of the guard concerning the U.S. government’s long-time opposition to online gambling.

The first bill, the Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection, and Strengthening UIGEA Act of 2011 (HR 2366), otherwise known as the “poker only” bill, was introduced by Texas Republican Representative Joe Barton and cosponsored (at this point) by twenty five members of the house – both democrats and republicans. The bill’s purpose is to legalize and regulate online poker. The relevant congressional subcommittees are currently scrutinizing the bill.

The second bill, the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Bill of 2011 (HR 2334) by Democratic Representative Jim Moran of Virginia is cosponsored by Democrats Hastings, McDermott, Berkley, Cohen, and Ryan and Republicans Wolf and Barton. The U.S. National Council on Problem Gambling has expressed strong support for the bill. The bill is aimed at securing federal funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for dealing with problem gambling.

In addition to the recent developments on Capitol Hill, online gambling legalization has also received some good press. In an op-ed piece that recently appeared in the New York Observer the author expresses support for legalized and regulated online gambling. The main point of the article revolved around the potential tax revenue that the online gambling could provide. It concluded that the legislative battle against online gambling was futile, and that the only sensible solution was a legal alternative that also had a significant tax benefit for the state.

Europe’s Gambling Latest

The online gambling community’s hope for German gambling reform might be seeing some delays. Recent reports say that the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, who was pushing forward a liberalized proposition for online casino regulatory reform despite opposition from the other fifteen provinces, will be delaying further talks on the new State Gambling Treaty to after August at the very least. This move comes as a surprise in light of the fact that the Schleswig-Holstein’s proposal had received support from gambling advocacy groups, online casino operators, and the European Commission.

The Schleswig-Holstein proposition proposed limitless licensing for online casino operators in exchange for a taxation rate of twenty percent of gross profits. Since the current German State Gambling Treaty is going to expire at the end of the calendar year, German politicians must work quickly if they want to succeed in changing the legislation.

Spain’s gambling future is looking much brighter than Germany’s. Due to Spain’s current economic situation, any and all measures that can increase tax revenue and employment are welcome with open arms. New gambling reform in Spain is expected to rake in 137.5 million Euros for the state coffers, as well as bring about over 100,000 jobs in the coming years.

In Great Britain, the DCMS (Department for Culture, Media, and Sport) recently proposed an amendment to the UK Gambling Act of 2005. The proposed amendment will bring about the inclusion of other sports associations, including the International Olympic Committee, to the list of organizations granted access to information sharing by the Gambling Act. This increased transparency will help combat suspicious betting activity and increase the overall integrity of England’s sports leading up to the Olympics in London.

Rising Online Casino Jackpots

An unlucky string of big hit losers has opened the door for potentially very lucky winners. Many online casinos’ progressive jackpots have gone unclaimed for quite some time; this means that the collective jackpot amount is on the rise.

Currently, the Microgaming jackpot pool is standing in its standard position above five million dollars. It had temporarily relinquished the top position due to the low hits from its two major networks; however, this week they jumped major barriers and are standing still. Major Millions, who has both 5-reel and 3-reel video slots, past the $1 million mark for the first time in two years. The minimum bet for each is three dollars and both offer a chance at the progressive jackpot. In the last two years, the winnings hadn’t past $500,000. Mega Moolah also contributed its share to the Microgaming pool; their 4-reel video slot just past $3 million.

Playtech is next in line with the second largest jackpot - $4.8 million. Their pool is growing thanks to many smaller games and various networks. Beach Life, their flagship game, has grown 3,800% in three months. Marvel Ultimate Power, the pool that collects from all the Marvel games, is now at $800,000.

Close behind Playtech is Realtime Gaming’s jackpot – $4.7 million. They have four progressive jackpots that have not been won in two years. Though this might have created some frustrated players over the last two years, the winner of this two-year mega jackpot is going to be very, very happy.

Latest Full Tilt News

Full Tilt Poker has seen better days, though it appears there may be hope on the horizon. Recent reports suggest what may be the first bit of good news Full Tilt has heard in the last quarter.

However, Full Tilt news of late must have some bad news. Unconfirmed reports are stating that all of Full Tilt’s U.S.-based staff have been laid off or will be laid off shortly. Apparently, paying a full staff of workers who can’t really do anything (since USDOJ and FBI seized their domain name) since April, while simultaneously not being able to collect revenue from US clients, was bad business.

One Full Tilter who appears to still be employed is CEO Ray Bitar. Though, he is federally indicted.

On the bright side of things, Full Tilt’s secondary provider Kolyma company has received authorization to operate in the jurisdiction of Kahnawake in the Québec province of Canada. It should be noted, however, that Kolyma is also the name of the province in Russia where the Gulag slave labor camps were located and over a million Russian political prisoners died.

The renewal of their license is supposed to last for two years during which the Kahnawake Gaming Commission will be keeping a close eye on the Alderney Gambling Control Commission’s findings.

To date, the AGCC has reported that Full Tilt has actually paid about $500,000 in fees. The AGCC further reported that these payments are in the interests of players; the hope is they will eventually lead to a refinancing deal.

Before Full Tilt was shut down in April, it was the second most-trafficked poker site in the world.

Greek Operators Given Free Reign

In order to increase competition and advertising revenue, the Greek government has offered the online casino gaming operators complete access to all forms of media advertising, including television. The Greek government, which is currently dealing with a major economic crisis, has recently passed e-gaming legislation, seemingly to try and boost subsequent tax revenue.

As part of the new legislation, operators will be allowed to advertise even before completing the licensing process. The expectation is that this will cause a large-scale advertising war among all the operators. The tax revenues are likely to be enormous. During the six month transition period, any operator licensed by the European Union and licensed by the Greek government (or has at least applied for a license) will pay a 30% tax on gross profit; players will be charged a 10% tax on their winnings.

A control committee has been appointed to oversee these matters. Once the committee is active, the race between the online operators for market share can begin. Some operators, though, do not benefit from the new legislation. Betting exchanges, for example, can not advertise freely, and one such exchange has already submitted a formal complaint with the EC. The firm expressed satisfaction with the initial stages of the reform, specifically the recognition of EU licensing; however, they expressed concern over what they called “elements of the law,” which do not jibe with current EU practice.

Athens’s recent legislative action has certainly given the online gambling community a proper rocking. John Coates, chairman of the RGA executive committee, stressed the importance of maintaining a fairly competitive environment between the privately owned operators and the partially state owned OPAP of Greece. “We hope to continue to have a constructive dialogue with the Greek authorities on those matters with the aim of ensuring a viable and EU complaint framework is put in operation,” he concluded.

Australian Government Considers Harsh Stance on Gambling

The Australian government is known for its opposition to online gambling. Recently, however, the government has shown interest in reevaluating their position towards online gambling. The Interactive Gambling and Broadcasting Amendment (Online Transactions and Other Measures) Bill 2011 has given rise to federal inquiry. At a recent hearing on the matter, Cormac Barry, the head of Sportsbet, spoke on behalf of the online gambling industry.

The concern most-often brought up is problem gambling. Barry clarified, to the surprise of those present, that online gambling websites actually offer more protection against problem gambling than their “brick & mortar” counterparts by employing advanced identification software and third-party involvement. Problem gamblers use a variety of tactics to try and beat the system by opening multiple accounts simultaneously using different e-mail addresses and phone numbers. The online software can detect similar usage patterns among different accounts, and the fraud team can look into these accounts.

Australian politicians voiced concern about the ninety-day verification period. During this period, though players cannot withdraw money, they can still wager and loose money. The verification period appears to be a double-edged sword; if they reduce restrictions, they open the door to problem gamblers, and if they increase restrictions, they push gamblers to unregulated casinos.

Barry agreed with the apparent need for government standards that would ensure player’s protection. He also expressed support for a national problem gambling fund to be financed by licensed Australian casino operators. The fund can provide support to problem gamblers as well as assist casinos in identifying them.

To conclude the hearing, Barry brought to light evidence that shows that with the advent of online gambling, there was no visible increase in problem gambling. Furthermore, there was no evidence to show that problem gambling was more prevalent in online casinos than land based casinos.

Online Casinos Running from Regulation

It was not long ago that the U.S. Department of Justice clamped down on three major U.S.-based online casinos because of allegedly processing payments in an illegal manor. It seems that was just the opening shot; a number of online casino providers are running for the hills. There have been a series of exits from the U.S. market by online casino providers.

Rival Gaming is the most recent exit. They recently expressed that they will no longer be able to provide their software to new U.S. gamers through their licensee casinos. A Rival Gaming Affiliate, AffiliateWide, notified customers that as of August 7^th no new U.S. players will be able to register accounts with the site.

Due to AffiliateWide’s reliance on American players for a large portion of their business, they have already found a replacement for Rival Gaming. Top Game, a software provider still active in the U.S., will be replacing the exiting provider. Other Rival Gaming affiliates affected are Spartan Slots, Black Diamond Casino, and Box24 Casino.

The transfer from Rival Gaming to Top Game is expected to be completed by August 15^th. Before the completion of the transfer, existing players will still be able to play Rival Gaming games. After the transfer, all the gaming and affiliate gaming will take place via Top Game. For those gamers who want to stay with Rival Gaming, they will have to find another casino.

In order to prevent legal complications before they happen, many online casinos are swapping their domain names from .com, which is under U.S. jurisdiction, to .eu, which is under that of the European Union. This will protect them from the regulatory arm of the U.S. Dept. of Justice. Realtime Gaming switched last week, and online gaming site Bodog swapped the week before that. Their hope is that this will provide them with some sort of legal security and stability.

New Online Gambling Pilot in MA

Massachusetts is currently working on the introduction of a regulated online gambling pilot for the state. Proposed by state senator Michael Rush this past January, the bill was more recently brought into the chambers of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. The Massachusetts state lottery is expected to receive authorization to conduct a two year pilot of the online gambling project.

Supporters of the proposal say that yearly profit from the project for the state of Massachusetts could provide approximately $1 billion for the state coffers. The state senator went on to say that he’d rather see Massachusetts residents gambling via the state lottery and not shipping off money to offshore operators. The prepaid account system proposed in the bill could go a long way for proper supervision, age verification, and problem gambling prevention – three major concerns for anti-gambling activists. The lottery commission is expected to provide an interim report after eighteen months of the pilot, as well as a full report upon its completion.

John Regan, Rush’s chief of staff, said “Massachusetts has always been at the forefront of innovation in state lottery gaming [...] This is more than just allowing the purchase of lottery tickets online this is a new, interactive way of playing the lottery through new online games of chance.”

Massachusetts’ state treasurer, Steve Grossman, did not hide his reservations regarding the collection of payments from U.S. bank accounts and credit cards in light of the UIGEA. However, Massachusetts state lottery officials pointed out that there are already five U.S. states that employ such a practice with online lottery sales. With Washington leaning towards gambling legalization, Grossman expects Massachusetts to push the bill through in spite of his misgivings.

Greece Opens Floodgates for Online Gambling

Prior to the IMF’s audit scheduled for late August, Athens rushed to enact financial reforms including far-reaching gambling liberalization. Evangelos Venizelos, the finance minister of Greece, managed to pass the bill by one voice vote following days of tumultuous debate.

In spite of opposition from the European Commission for some of the draft’s more controversial proposals, the Greek parliament backtracked on previous commitments and went ahead anyways. The proposed six-month delay is not included in the legislation; likewise, protective regulation for government-owned OPAP is also not included. Chief executive of the RGA, Clive Hawkswood, voiced appreciation for the constructive changes, though he remained concerned regarding appropriate levels of marketplace competition between OPAP and privately run operators.

EU-licensed casino operators will be able to operate their online casinos without any waiting period. Due to advertising deregulation included in the legislation, advertising will be permitted in other forms of media including TV. Beginning with the establishment of the Control Committee, there will be a six-month transition period; the date for said establishment has yet to be set. Greeks will be able to access offshore casinos during this 6-month period. Additionally, operators will pay a 30% tax whilst customers will only have to pay a ten percent tax on their winnings. After the six months, the offshore casinos will have to move to Greek territory if they wish to continue to work with Greek customers. Gambling pundits predict that a large-scale advertising battle will ensue in the new developing gambling market.

The 34% government share in OPAP is still up in the air; it is unclear what the Greek ministry of finance plans to do with their share. The new legislation, which provides exclusive rights to OPAP to run and/or subcontract the running of 35,000 video lotto machines, is expected to increases OPAP’s share value. This move is perhaps a sign that Venizelos wants to raise OPAP share value before selling off all the government’s shares.

Bodog CEO Calvin Ayre is Livin’ Large

The Guardian carried a feature article in the business section about Bodog’s founder and CEO Calvin Ayre. In the article, he received the title “web gambling’s king of bling.” Ayre is certainly deserving of this title. He recently dropped five and half million dollars on a domain name, Slots.com, and then threw himself a lavish “seven-deadly-sins” mega-party for his fiftieth birthday in which he invited fifty girls – a girl for every year.

Ayre received a questionable moral upbringing from an early age; his father was a dope-smuggler. He was involved in a scandal already in the nineties, which led to his invalidation from chairing a public company in British Columbia. The invalidation forced him to start his own business, Bodog, which eventually became one of the most successful online gambling brands in history. Ayre certainly let the success get to his head and lived large. He judged lingerie competitions and even appeared in the magazine playboy. He purchased houses all over the world: the Philippines, Thailand, Costa Rica, Antigua, and Vancouver. He hosts lavish parties in these homes for rappers or VIP gamblers and populates them with scantily clad Bodog-girls.

Though the king of bling is a globe trotter, there a certain places he won’t go. Since the passing of the UIGEA he can’t go back to the states, he won’t go back to his home town of Saskatchewan, and he won’t return to Poland since being mugged there.

Ayre has big plans for Bodog’s future. For now, he is sponsoring sports clubs like Ayre United and West Bromwich Albion, and investing in the fast-growing Asian markets. He also hopes to be able get back into the U.S. market assuming that the financial situation will bring deregulation of gambling for tax revenue purposes.

Party Pits

Back in the day, casinos used to be simple. Nowadays, as customers get more sophisticated, the casino experience evolves. The newest evolution of the casino experience is the party pit. The casino party pit is like a miniature casino located inside of a casino – with sexy dealers, sexy waitresses, sexy dancers, and, well, you get the point.

The basic premise of the casino party pit is the goal of any and every casino – to keep you inside. You want customers to walk away from the table with a good feeling no matter what. Customers want an entertainment return on every dollar lost gambling.

At the Flamingo casino in Las Vegas, a Margaritaville Casino will open complete with a Jimmy Buffet bar and restaurant. This expansion is expected to cost ten million dollars to Flamingo owners Caesars Palace. The new build-out is expected to draw a mostly baby-boomer crowd, but also youngsters as well.

Caesars has employed the party pit concept before both with Pussycat Dolls dancers at Caesar’s palace and with Toby Keith’s restaurant at Harrah’s. The Hard Rock casino also uses a similar party pit concept with an appropriate hard-rock twist. While Hell’s Belles might have more female flesh showing in their party pit than Hard Rock’s, none the less, the party pit concept stays the same.

Some casino experts think casinos should focus on what they’re good at, gambling, and outsource their entertainment to external, professional entertainment companies. Others retort that if the casinos have come up with a way in which people enjoy themselves even when they loose, then they must be doing something right.

Casino Online Giant Shut Down

In sad casino news, the popular online casino Millionaire Casino will be closing down on the 1^st of August. The website has posted on its homepage: “We recommend that you play out your balance or request a payout prior to August 1^st. In the event that you have any questions please contact customer support. We would like to thank you for your loyalty through the years.”

This closure comes as a result of the seizure of online casino domain names by the US government. The first giants to fall were Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker, and PokerStars. The closure of three of the largest online poker websites came as a shock to the entire gambling community. Sportbooks sites were also closed down because of the betting.

As a result of the closures, there are many people who claim to have lost money. Parties affected by the government’s actions are petitioning the offices involved to reimburse all the players who suffered loses. Others simply withdrew their money and switched to foreign-based casinos.

Many players around the world have expressed concern about the recent events. In order to avoid dicey situations, a lot of players are now choosing websites based on their level of legal stability. Many such casinos are even taking advantage of the unfolding events in order to steal over as many players as they can. One can find numerous bonuses and promotions aimed at such a goal.

When Millionaire Casino closes its doors, so to speak, on the first of next month, it will be interesting to see who will take its place. Are other casinos safe? Only time will tell.

Harvard Study Shows that Online Casinos Don’t Contribute to Problem Gambling

Two Harvard professors have published a study indicating that online gambling does not foster negative gambling habits. The two professors, Howard J. Shaffer and Ryan Martin, published their paper “Disordered Gambling: Etiology, Trajectory and Clinical Considerations” in the Clinical Psychology Annual Review. The study points at a decrease in the amount of problem gambling.

Over the course of the last four decades, land gambling has seen much growth. Despite that fact, the percentages of problem gambling have gone down. Shaffer spoke with a Chicago Tribune reporter on the subject and explained that for the vast majority of American people, gambling is a fun controlled activity. He also shot down the view of anti-gambling pundits who claim that online gambling poses a greater risk. Statistical analysis of online gambling habits shows that most players actually reduce the amount of time spent gambling over a period of just a few short months in spite of the ready availability of the gambling. This is the opposite behavior pattern of a gambling addict.

Shaffer further showed that a very small percentage of the total gambling population actually engage in online gambling. Thus far, no clear evidence has proven that online gambling in any way leads to scenarios of addictive gambling. His studies further point out that of the 0.6% of American gamblers who are addicted to gambling, 75% suffer from additional addictions. The surprise is that in the vast majority of cases, those other addictions supersede the addiction to gambling.

Harvard professors have been gathering knowledge about problem gambling for a long time. The goal of this research is to aid in diagnosis and treatment of the problem. Additionally, while analyzing the issue, they also wish to dispel false rumors and misconceptions about the issue that can cloud proper debate.

Shaffer and Martin are not alone in their findings. Other researches in this field have reached similar conclusions. Some of the researchers received funding from online gambling companies, while others received funding from regulatory authorities. This attests to the objective accuracy of the results.

Shots Fired at Seattle Area Casino

According to Seattle Police, a gunman entered the local Muckleshoot Casino on Sunday and shot his wife, her partner, and seven bystanders. The suspect’s wife and two of the shooting victims were reported to be in critical condition as of early Monday morning. Another four of the victims were evacuated to Renton’s Valley Hospital in stable condition.

The Auburn Police commander, Mike Hirman, said that shortly after opening fire and shooting nine people, casino security tackled the suspect, and he was taken into custody by an off-duty police officer from Auburn. The officer worked in the casino part time.

The police, who did not immediately identify the suspect, gave him over to the detectives for investigation in order to further understand his motives.

Police commander Hirman states that "We know they were estranged and we know he went up there and fired rounds into his wife and into his wife's companion." He further explained that the suspect was being detained at King County Jail and had spoken to detectives. The details of those conversations, though, are considered part of an ongoing investigation and therefore have not been released to the press.

The accusation is that the suspect knowingly entered the Casino’s Club Galaxy lounge with the intent of discharging his firearm upon his wife together with her male companion.

Two of the wife’s sisters were among the injured. It is not known whether it was part of the gunman’s intentions to shoot the sisters as well.

According to commander Hirman, the initial court hearing is expected to take place on Monday.

New Regulations at Rio World Series

The hordes of excited players and observers filling up the Rio this afternoon herald the beginning of the forty-second annual World Series of Poker, the world’s greatest poker tournament, at a time when poker is starring in popular American culture.

This year’s tournament-goers are a little different than last year’s. You’re not seeing as many caps this year. Caesars Entertainment, the owner of the tournament, has a vested interest in this. The rules this year prohibit the wearing of any sort of logoed head piece – be it poker-related or otherwise. Logos are much regulated; a single article of clothing may not bear more than one commercial logo, and the logo can not exceed a maximum size of 12 square inches. Seth Palansky, the tournament spokesman, explained that the restrictions are largely due to broadcasting regulations implemented on the tournament and not due to the recent Justice Department indictments of three large poker websites. Palanksy further explained that since the tournament is expected to be broadcast in over fifty countries over the next year and a half, there exists specific concern over the inclusion of commercial logos.

The large crowd here is partly due to the poker websites who’ve given players an inexpensive, easy, and discreet way to improve their skills. Despite the fact that Caesars Entertainment has banned them from opening booths, they still sponsor players who don their logos. This year, ESPN will broadcast six days of the World Series of Poker; due to the live coverage, more fans are expected to watch the games.

Corrupt Lobbyist Makes Racist Comment

Racist comments were heard Monday in an Alabama courtroom as the prosecution played wiretapped phone calls during a corruption trial against a pro-gambling lobbyist. The phone conversation was between lobbyist Jarrod Massey, a Country Crossing employee, and Jay Walker, their spokesmen; the two were discussing how to rebut statements made by casino opponents. Massey suggested that other casinos must speak out, however, Greenetrack casino from the mostly black Greene County should not, because “we don’t need to blacken this thing up any more than possible.”

Massey pleaded guilty to bribery and explained before the prosecution that he offered campaign contributions to four senators in exchange for their favorable voting for a pro-casino constitutional amendment.

Massey frankly stated that, though his word choice was poor, gambling problems are often associated with the African-American community, and that his goal was specifically to win over the hearts and minds of white republican voters.

The wiretapped phone calls were recorded during an FBI investigation into state corruption in 2010. One of the opponents of the amendment, Senator Scott Beason, taped meetings about the legislation. When Beason testified, the defense provided evidence in his own tapes in which he calls Greenetrack customers “aborigines.” Beason was recorded saying that the casinos could lure black voters to the polls with free food, casino credit, and bus rides.

Country Crossing casino developer Ronnie Gilley also pleaded guilty. Several others casino developers and state legislators are still in trial. Massey and Gilley are both testifying on behalf of the prosecution; they both gave specific testimonials about senior legislators accepting large campaign contributions in exchange for supporting the amendment.

After the embarrassing incident, the gambling amendment disappeared from Capitol Hill without ever going to vote.

WSOP Remains Popular in Spite of Recent Events

The World Series of Poker’s main event is quite possibly the world’s longest game of poker – with almost 7,000 players and a jackpot of $8,711,956. This year’s field is the 3^rd largest in the history of World Series Poker.

What’s most impressive about this year’s big turnout is the amount of people who still came regardless of the big indictment. This spring, the US Department of Justice indicted three online-poker giants, Absolute Poker, Full Tilt Poker, and PokerStars. These sites’ players had fueled the World Series of Poker, so it is quite the pleasant surprise that so many players turned out. Even the slow of world economies hasn’t slowed down the WSOP.

The largest playing field was in 2006 before congress passed the SAFE Port Act which included the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The following year, the number of attendees dropped by about 2,500, but none-the-less has been relatively high (oscillating between 6,300 and 7,400).

The large number of players at the main event, despite all of the current events of the past few years, is largely due to the impact online poker web sites has had on an entire generation of young poker players. The main event serves as a testing ground for the skills these young players have developed playing online.

The future of the WSOP hangs in the balance. Will online poker become licensed and regulated? Will people keep playing even if they can’t play online? The truth of the mater is that though these predictions are difficult to make, it appears as if the WSOP’s attendance is a leading indicator for the growing popularity of poker thanks to the generation of young players who grew up playing on the online poker web sites.

Casino Referendum to Hit Rhode Island

As Rhode Island state lawmakers approve Twin River’s bid for a casino referendum in 2012, seven consulting firms are vying for the $150,000 state contract to provide Governor Chafee’s office with a comprehensive study of the region’s gabling landscape.

Among the firms competing for the lucrative contract are Spectrum Gaming Group, Global Gaming and Hospitality, and Gaming Market Advisors. The Department of Administration has kept the bids confidential until one of the companies gets the contract. Michael Trainor, Gov. Chafee’s spokesman, refrained from specifying a time frame for awarding the contract.

The administration expects that the study will include the impact of the referendum on the two preexisting gambling institutions, Twin River and Newport Grand. Twin River’s interest in the referendum was the addition of a variety of table games, including blackjack, to their existing compound composed primarily of electronic gambling machines. According to existing terms, the state Lottery receives 61% of all earnings from the machine. The lottery earnings from Twin River exceed $260 million annually. The referendum was included as part of the Rhode Island state budget.

Gov. Chafee has mentioned that the local Narragansett Native Americans may play some role at the privately owned Twin River casino. However, Chafee has stressed that he does not want to make any final decisions about the referendum until the completion of the study. He wants the consultants to study the impact of possible expansion of the Twin River casino into a full-fledge hotel, the impact of other regional casinos, and the level of involvement of the Narragansett. The governor would like an estimate of the potential value a new casino would generate for the Narragansett through the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This would provide a clear picture of what the Narragansett would be losing by not building their own casino.

Ex NBA Player Racks Up $1 Million in Debt in Vegas, Pleads Guilty and Declares Bankruptcy

A classic story with a bad ending - gambling gone bad. Walker, whose NBA career spanned 13 seasons, found himself pleading guilty for unpaid debts that he owed to three separate Las Vegas Casino. He had racked up around $1 million in debts and still has $750,000 more to pay. If he pays then the Prosecutor Sam Bateman stated publically that he will not seek prison time. Walker's sentence, if he doesn't pay, could mean up to 4 years in prison.

The debt was racked up in 2008 and 2009, which makes one wonder - why hasn't he paid up yet? Apparently Walker didn't know that not paying your debts means breaking the law. In order to pay off the debts that he owes, he's filed for bankruptcy for a reported $12.7 million in liabilities and $4.3 million in assets. This includes his championship ring.

The three casinos that Walker owes money to are: Ceasar's Palace, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, and Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa.

Alderney Gambling Control Commission Suspects Operations At Full Tilt Poker

Today, the Alderney Gambling Control Commissions suspended the operations of Full Tilt Poker. This has come in light of the indictments that were set forth by the US Department of Justice in the US in April. So far, while PokerStars, another poker room that was indicted (out of the three biggest in the world, PokerStars, Absolute Poker and Full Tilt), has paid out over $100 million to US players. So far, Full Tilt hasn't followed suit and a lot of players in both the US and outside the US haven't been paid.

As a result, Full Tilt spokespeople and professional poker players Phil Ivey and Tom 'durrr' Dwan have publically spoken out against Full Tilt and have distanced themselves from the brand.

The hearing for the suspension is scheduled for July 26th. Before then none of Full Tilt's operations will resume. It will be interesting to see how this progresses in the coming weeks.

Viaden Gaming Ltd. Unveils Seven New Casino Games

Viaden Gaming, LTD., one of the current leading online software developers has just announced that it will be launching seven brand new casino games, which have been certified by WPA Audit. This certification ensures fair gaming and quality games of the highest level.

The games include five new slot games, including: Cherry Go Round, Dragon's Tale, Empire's Glory, Land of Unicorn and Lucky Pirate. The remaining two new games include Keno and a video slots game called Golden Flush.

The games are all of a superior quality, all full HD. The slot games all offer free spin rounds automatically triggered by a winning spin where players can earn up 4 times their triggering win amount. The video poker game offers a deck with 57 cards and 5 jokers.

These games make a nice addition to Viaden's already great selection of beautifully designed games including video poker, slots, poker games, online roulette and more.

As Florida Legislation Moves Towards Allowing Bigger Casinos, Miami Stands to Gain a Lot

Florida is one of the states in the US that is more tolerant towards gambling. Currently, the gambling industry in Florida is valued at around $2 billion dollars. While voters in past years haven’t been too keep on the state being too welcoming to big casinos, a current poll shows that over 50% of South Florida voters would welcome big name casinos in Miami.

One of the reasons for the switch to a more tolerant and welcoming group of voters is that in recent years, Florida has been taking small steps towards increasing gambling. Slot machines can now be found at horse/dog racing venues and online poker rooms are becoming ever popular all around the state. It seems that as gambling increases, people are becoming more and more tolerant and they’re taking this new tolerance to the polls!

Miami seems to be the target for some big name casinos as brands including Wynn Resorts are looking to buy some serious beachfront property. Big casinos means lots of jobs and lots more money being pumped into Florida’s economy. It will be interesting to see what new laws follow these trends…