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32Red and Baysound Battle it Out

This week the online casino brand 32Red was successful in winning a trademark dispute with Baysound, LLC - a company based out of California. The two companies battled it out over the use of the 32x.com domain. The 32Red brand is well known in the casino games online industry and has been the recipient of various awards for being a top rated online casino.

The details of the trademark issue related to Baysound LLC’s operation of an e-gaming affiliate portal that lead some players and visitors to the website to look negatively on the 32Red brand. This dispute was similar to one with the top online casino brand, William Hill, over the 32 Vegas and 32V domain names that infringed upon the company’s European Community Registered Trade Marks.

The dispute was taken to the World Intellectual Property Organization. An official there commented, “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 official continued, “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.”

The World Intellectual Property Organization ruled in favor of 32Red and instructed Baysound LLC to transfer the 32x.com domain to 32Red subsidiary, Trafalgar Media Ltd.

Micrograming software powers the 32Red casino and it has been awarded Casinomeister’s “Casino of the Decade” title. The company is an eCogra Safe & Fair online casino operator and has its license from the Government of Gibraltar.

MGM Eyes Social Gaming with New Media Game

Many top brands have ventured into the social gaming genre in the last few years, including MGM, which announced last year its intention to use social gaming to bring new players and fans to its casinos. This past week, Jim Murren, MGM CEO, stated that MGM Resorts will be launching a new social media game, similar to Zynga’s popular online game FarmVille.

The social gaming industry has grown significantly in the past few years, and brick and mortar casinos as well as no deposit casinos have been anxious to get in the game.

The social gaming market has doubled since 2009, with a growth of about 116.4 percent to $1.4 billion. Insiders believe 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 continued, “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 Continue Fight Over Online Gambling

At a World Trade Organization meeting last week, Antigua and the United States reignited their casino games online dispute. The government of Antigua is upset by the United States’ pursuit and prosecution of online casino game operators on its territory and is accusing its neighbor of violating international trade agreements. Antigua is pressing for sanction against the United States on the issue.

Throughout the dispute, both governments have blamed the other for failing to move forward and reach an amicable solution.

At the meeting, the government of Antigua and Barbuda presented a letter to the WTO Dispute Settlement Body expressing 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 alleged that they have lost significant revenue from the lack of top online casinos and the US action against them has cost $3.4 billion a year. The WTO has already awarded $21 million in damages against the United States

In the meantime, the United States has continued to go after companies that provide casino games online and no deposit bonus codes in Antigua and other jurisdictions.

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

He 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.”

Gambling Licenses to Continue as Planned in Spain

The Home Affairs and Administration Ministry of the Spanish government reconfirmed earlier in the week that national gambling regulator Enrique Alejo is committed to meeting the scheduled date of June 1, 2012 to issue casino games online licenses to selected applicants. The announcement also clarified that once the licenses are issued, top rated online casino providers can begin working immediately, although as it stands, in-play betting will not be allowed.

The announcement came as a reaction to rumors in the gambling community that the Spanish government would not be able to meet the deadline that it had set for itself because of numerous personnel changes in the regulation department, as well as a large number of applications, and ongoing litigation in the courts.

It has been said that more than fifty-nine of the best online casinos have applied for licenses in Spain.

Brian Mattingley, CEO of 888 Holdings, caused some doubt in the industry at a recent conference when he stated that he visited Madrid with a colleague and assessed the situation in the country. They felt that the Spanish regulator would need additional time to process all the applications beyond the deadline of June 1. Mattingley went on to say that he was impressed by the openness of the regulatory authority's team to the suggestions and ideas presented.

Many of Europe's top rated online casino providers have applied for licensure in Spain and are hopeful that the market will be kind to them there. Companies are keeping close watch on the situation as they will face a financial loss if the deadline is postponed once more.

Lock Poker Acquires Cake Poker

Numerous online casino games forums and blogs reported this week that Lock Poker intends to leave the Merge Network and buy the Cake Poker Network. Lock Poker has confirmed the rumors and acknowledges that it will now join a new top rated online casino games network that offers no deposit bonus codes.

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

Representatives 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 continued, “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 Continues its Success in 2012

Playtech, the top rated online casino games software provider, has released its figures from the first quarter of 2012. The company continues to perform significantly well and has outdone its record in 2011.

The business’ gross income increased by by thirteen percent to €88.4 million and total revenue also saw an increase by eight percent to €75.1 million. Comparatively to the statistics from Q1 of 2011, Playtech has seen significant success. The company also announced that performance in the first thirty-one days of Q2 of 2012 is marginally better compared to the first quarter.

Playtech also shared additional information about projects that it is partaking in. Over the last year, Playtech acquired a variety of smaller casino games online 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 online casinos that have licenses from Playtech, including Bet365, Betsson, Sportingbet, and Unibet, have also launched into the newly relaxed Danish market. In addition, several licensees are preparing to enter the Spanish market, when new regulations in the country are likely to take effect in the later part of the year.

Playtech is looking toward the future and has also shared that it has signed a deal with Freemantle to debut branded online slot games with no deposit bonus codes based on reality shows like Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor.

Bwin.party Partners with Native American Tribe

In an effort to set the stage for the possibility that online casino games will become legal in the United States, Bwin.party digital, the biggest registered online gaming company in the world, has announced a partnership with a Native American tribe which operates gambling in California.

Bwin.party acknowledged that they signed a ten-year agreement with the United Auburn Indian Community, which runs the Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Sacramento, California. If online casino games legislation moves ahead in the United States, the deal will give the Native American tribe the responsibility of running online poker services at a top online casino offering online casino bonuses.

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 the past few months, there have been increased signs throughout the United States that the federal government and state governments are moving toward a relaxing of online casino games laws. In anticipation, several European gaming operators have been positioning themselves to enter the market.

Commenting on the process, Bwin.party said that the tribe would acquire the necessary licenses to operate online casino games services in California while the London-based company would be responsible for providing technology and operational expertise.

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

Players in Europe Now Required to Accept Cookies

The European casino games online industry is dealing with new policies that will mandate players on online casino games sites to provide permission for the website to leave cookies on their computer. This is scheduled to take place within the next couple of months.

When most people visit websites, they are unaware that small text files, called cookies, are stored within their computer. Cookies help websites remember logins and passwords as well as shopping cart purchases. Cookies are also controversial because they monitor people’s internet activity, which makes some uncomfortable.

Many top rated online casinos are in the process of putting the necessary steps into action, but gaming insiders approximate that nearly 95% of the websites are not currently following the determination.

Some people who are against enforcing the cookie policy say that placing this information in the operator’s terms and conditions or privacy policy is enough. This may be ideal, but online casino games operators that do not comply with the regulations can be fined up to £500,000.

The European Information Commissioner’s Office has made its position very clear to online casino operators, letting them know that they want users of top online casino games sites to knowingly indicate their acceptance of cookies.

The new policies will force providers of casino games online to be more open and direct about their terms of usage allow users to choose whether they want to accept cookies before playing. The ruling makes it no longer 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.”

Betfair Secures Licensing in Germany

The northern German state of Schleswig Holsteinhas given its first three gaming licenses to online casino games companies.The British provider, Betfair, has acquired one of the three licenses, with the other two awarded to Germany's Jaxx AG and the state lottery.

Schleswig Holstein recently relaxed their online casino games legislation, while the other fifteen German states have gone in the opposite direction. They have chosenmore limited casino games online laws and have received criticism from top rated online casinos that accuse them of backing state monopolies. The European Commission has also weighed in on the issue.

Schleswig Holstein’s laws require a twenty percent tax on gross profits rather than favoring a more punitive tax on turnover. Taxes will amount to approximatelythree million pounds, or about three percent of real Betfairprofits.

An analyst commented, "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.”

Schleswig Holstein's interior ministry weighed in and stated that it anticipates awardinglicenses for poker and other casino-style games in the coming weeks. Betfair has applied for these licenses as well, in addition to what they have already secured.

As a result of Betfair’s license acquisition, shares in Bwin.party, the parent company, rose three percent.

PokerStars Debuts Real Money Poker App for French Market

PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker room, has just announced the debut of a real money poker app for the French market. The new mobile product will give French-speaking poker players that already have a PokerStars account the opportunity to try their hand at the best mobile online casino with a quick download of the company’s mobile application.

A PokerStars representative commented, “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!”

The application will enable players to enjoy 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 top rated online casino from anywhere.

The PokerStars application is compatible with the Apple iPad one and two, iPhone 4.0, iPhone 3G, and fourth generation iPod Touch.

PokerStars’European geared website launched the mobile interface earlier in April, giving players from Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Finland and Romania the opportunity to play the best online casino games. The debut comes after the applications successful debut in Italy and the United Kingdom.

Jeffrey Haas, Director of New Platforms for PokerStars recently commented that a multi-phase release plan for the application is planned for more countries.

Maxymiser and Wagerlogic Join to Improve User Experience

The online casino games specialist, WagerLogic Limited, a subsidiary of CryptoLogic Limited, responsible for licensure of online casino games software and services, has announced a significant partnership with Mazymiser. The companies are joining forces with the goal of increasing registrations and deposits for the InterCasino and VIP Casino top online casino brands and to expand the lifetime value of players.

Nick Getley, Head of Acquisition for WagerLogic, stated, “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 beginning of the partnership, WagerLogic will utilize Maxymiser’s MaxTEST™ with the intention of serving multiple variants of content and format to site visitors at the same time, while also monitoring and measuring the effects on the rates of conversion and returns.

Maxymiser is located in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and the Ukraine. Wayne Morris, General Manager of the UK branch of the company commented, “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.”

New Games Unveiled at Mr Green Casino

Top rated online casino, Mr Green, has launched a selection of new games for players. Additionally, they are offering online casino games players extravagant prizes including a chance to win a trip to the F1 Grand Prix Race in Monaco.

The top online casino has added a number of new games from a cross selection of online casino games platforms for its players, including Net Entertainment, Microgaming, Betsoft and IGT.

Coyote Moon is the first release from IGT. The fast-paced game includes Stacked Wilds on all five reels, which gives players the chance to win on forty paylines. Coyote Moon is based on the well-loved land-based game found in casinos in many countries. Coyote Moon offers additional wild symbols in the free spins bonus.

Mr Green’s second new game is provided through Microgaming software and is a five reel, non-progressive, nine payline online slot called Spring Break. The slot makes you really feel like you are on vacation and is the ideal online casino game to play at Mr Green’s mobile online casino.

Betsoft Gaming debuts two new slot games at Mr Green as well. Their slots give players a real live 3D gaming experience that feels luxurious and fresh. Betsoft is known throughout the industry for their cutting edge 3D graphics, crisp audio features and ease of use that is use to keep novice and pro players coming back for more.

PokerStars Deliberated Buying Full Tilt Poker

Reports have circulated that PokerStars is currently in negotiations to purchase rival online casino games company, Full Tilt Poker. The deal would put an end to both companies’ ongoing legal battles with the United States Department of Justice.

The Department of Justice closed the US facing Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars wesbites last year in a crackdown on top rated online casino games sites. 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 Department of Justice did not comment. A company spokesman for PokerStars wrote that the company would not currently comment on any confidential negotiations with the Department of Justice.

Last November, Full Tilt and French investment company, Groupe Bernard Tapie, came to an agreement in which the investment company would purchase Full Tilt to resolve the legal issues against it. However, a lawyer for Groupe Bernard Tapie reported a few days ago that the eighty million dollar deal between the two companies failed to progress as there were differences related to the terms in which poker players would be paid back.

A statement from Groupe Bernard Tapie read partially, “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 deal between PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker moves forward, it would include precise terms for which poker players are able to recuperate money deposited with Full Tilt Poker prior to its closure.

NetPlay Partners with ITV

NetplayTV, the largest interactive casino games TV company in the UK has announced the signing of a two year contract with ITV to broadcast Jackpot247.com. The program will run four nights a week in a two-hour window. ITV is the largest commercial television network in the United Kingdom.

The agreement between the two companies is an extension of Netplay’s strategy to focus on live TV roulette broadcasts on TV, a guaranteed way to acquire new viewers and customers. Netplay is set on the idea that player interaction and loyalty will expand through Jackpot 247's iPhone and iPad applications and the ability to play at mobile online casinos.

Charles Butler, CEO of NetPlayTV, stated“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.”

Butler went on to say, “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.”

Director of Commerce & Ventures at ITV, also commented, “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 Sets its Sights on Social Gaming Amid Some Controversy

Playtech, the largest publically traded online casino games software company, has announced that it has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with its controlling shareholder and founder, Teddy Sagi. As a result, Playtech will acquire ninety-five million euros worth of assets and businesses for social gaming.

In recent months, the company has made it known that it is interested in making its mark on the social gaming market and has mapped out plan for investment in various opportunities. The memorandum of understanding was signed by the top online casino games provider Playtech to buy assets including social gaming products that allow people who play online casino games at the best online casinos and mobile casinos to buy virtual currency, such as Facebook credits, to use in their playing.

Playtech issued a statement, “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.”

The decision to move ahead comes with some controversy as it has also been said that Playtech signed an additional agreement that would allow it to purchase a ten million euro office space from Gaming Technology Solutions Ltd. Sagi is a shareholder in that company as well.

Simon McGrotty, analyst at Davy Research, wrote a note to clients in which he shared his concerns, “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.”

Continued Changes and Restructuring at Bodog Brand

Bodog Brand, the international licensing company tied to the online casino games industry, music and various entertainment projects has seen its fair share of changes and challenges in recent months, including the indictment of founder Calvin Ayre. Sources have reported that the top rated online casino games company has let go of seventy employees from its London office. Those close to the decision have deemed it a general restructuring of the company and brand.

A Bodog spokesperson said, “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 news comes shortly after reports last month that a business process outsourcing company out of Costa Rica that worked closely with the Bodog brand shut down its operation.

A source from Bodog 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.”

Nevada Gaming License Delayed for William Hill

Well-known UK online casino games giant, William Hill, is facing delays in acquiring a casino games license in the state of Nevada. The top rated online casino company had hoped that the legislature would vote on this issue in May. William Hill is looking to establish a presence in the state after acquiring three sports betting companies in Las Vegas.

Sources in the online casino games industry believed that May would mark the entry for William Hill but reports have circulated that the Nevada Gaming Control Board wants to research more about the company before it gives it a license to do business. Specifically, they would like to learn more about Robin Chhabra, William Hill's head of strategy and corporate development, as well as the company's ties to Playtech in Israel.

The UK paper, 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.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board is also interested in William Hill’s connection with the online casino games company, Playtech. The company’s founder, Teddy Sagi, still holds a forty percent ownership stake, despite a conviction of fraud and bribery in 1996.

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 Announces Social Gaming Launch

This past week, Boyd Gaming Corporation launched an online casino games program called B Connected Social and are calling it the first comprehensive social gaming platform in connection with a casino industry loyalty program.

B Connected Social will allow players to be rewarded for using B Connected Online, B Connected Mobile, or sharing promotions and events via a player’s personal social networking sites. Through the network, online casino games players will be able to get B Connected Social points, unlock badges, and play against other B Connected Social members for prizes. There will be the opportunity for chat in which players can discuss varied topics such as the newest no deposit bonus codes.

The site will feature mystery bonuses and promotions that will appear at random to entice online casino games players to log in and play frequently. Scores will be highlighted on the site for bragging rights. The social gaming network will be available 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.”

As additional features to the website and to make it even more interactive, the company has included a “my alerts” section which will send players instant messages related to interesting and important developments including new offers, promotions, ticket sales, and the debut of new slot games on favorite sites.

Betfair and Geo Networks Team Up

It has been announced that top rated online casino games company, Betfair is the latest company to join Geo Network’s expanding customer base. Geo Networks received its big break into the online casino games industry last year by entering into a national network contract with bet365.

Geo will supply Betfair with a fiber network linking two data centers in London with the goal of improving the top online casino company’s IP transit connectivity and link its data centers in Ireland to UK points of presence. The companies have entered into a three year deal.

Betfair’s Head of Global Infrastructure Services 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.”

Andy Tipping, Geo’s Online Sales Director, weighed in 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.”

Judge Accepts Guilty Plea for Black Friday Banker

The guilty plea entered by former banker John Campos was accepted by US District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan this week in New York City. Campos was indicted on charges of illegally processing payments for online casino games companies when he was a banker at SunFirst Bank in Utah. Campos was arrested in April 2011 after an indictment was filed against him, Chad Elie and other poker company owners in 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 plea was accepted after a long process during which the prosecution stated that among other things, Campos’ role in the case was relatively minor and that sentencing for the misdemeanor charge would be similar to the felony he faced initially.

Campos was accused of making an arrangement with Elie and other top rated online casino owners to use SunFirst Bank to illegally process funds from online casino games players in exchange for a ten million dollar investment in the bank and a $20,000 bonus for him. Campos stated that Elie and the others approached him in 2009. During this time, SunFirst Bank processed about $200 million in online casino games payments until ordered by the FDIC to stop.

Earlier in April, Chad Elie also pled guilty to reduced charges in the case.

As part of the agreement, Campos agreed to a lifetime ban from the banking industry. He will face a June 27th sentencing hearing at which he could receive up to six months in prison.

Online Casinos in Canada to Expand

The province of Manitoba is the latest in Canada to give the go ahead to state-run online gaming. It has been announced that government officials have teamed up with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation with the goal of unveiling an online casino games website by 2013. They hope to make it one of the best online casinos in the market.After surveying the market, The Manitoba Lotteries decided to launch its own top rated online casino games website as it saw millions of dollars in revenue being diverted to illegal gambling sites. The province could potentially earn about $37 million annually from operating its own casino. They also went ahead with the plans because they want to ensure that the population is spending its money in a legal and protected environment.

Based upon the agreement made with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, BCLC and GTECH G2 will do the website design, development and testing services. Manitoba Lotteries will be in charge of the daily operation of the casino. Representatives hope that the new online casino games site will begin operation in the beginning of 2013. They also intend for the website to become one of the best no deposit casinos online that offers players a variety of casino and poker games.

The Manitoba Lotteries has approximated a revenue increase of about $1.5 million in net income in the first year. By their calculations they should see that figure increase to $17 million by 2018. Authorities have determined that five percent of the revenue generated will be allocated to gambling and anti-addiction programs.

Real Live Casino Launched in Italy

One of the biggest online casino games providers, William Hill, announced this week its newest addition – a Live Casino for the Italian market. The latest casino will provide Italian players with an improved way to enjoy online casino games in a state-of-the-art and exciting atmosphere.

William Hill will be adding a few new games and features to the Live Casino, including live Roulette and Live Blackjack. This is in addition to the twenty games that already can be found on the platform. Some of the best features to debut at this top rated online casino also include real live dealers that will act as moderators and allow players to communicate with each other via chat 24/7.

The William Hill casino offers the biggest number of live tables in the business, assuring all online casino games players a seat at the tables without waiting in lines. The company has said that every move made during a session will be streamed live in high resolution.

William Hill provided a statement that said, “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.”

Speaking on behalf of the William Hill Italian team, Roby Salvadori, the Italy Manager stated, “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.”

Online Casino Games Legislation in NJ Will Happen Very Soon

It has just been confirmed that on May 31, the New Jersey State Senate will be voting on online casino games legislation. The bill’s sponsor, Raymond Lesniak had hoped that it would happen sooner, but is anxiously awaiting the results. Casino games online supporters in the State were looking to open the market to online poker by September 1, but now believe that it will occur at some point later in the fall.

Lesniak was quoted as saying in early March that he anticipated the bill to go through both houses in mid-April. The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved the online casino games legislation on April 3. Lesniak believes that the delay to advance the legislation occurred because many of his colleagues in the legislature will be on vacation in April.

Lesniak commented, "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."

Moving online casino games legislation forward and developing top rated online casinos in New Jersey has been a lengthily process. Republican Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a similar online gambling bill last year, however it has since been amended to address the Governor’s concerns, mainly that commercial establishments outside Atlantic City could become centers for online gambling.

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."

EU Casino Launches Campaign to Win Over Players in Denmark

Denmark recently regulated their online casino games industry, which means that business is in full swing in the European country. One casino is looking to stay ahead of the competition by launching a three-tiered campaign across various mediums. EU Casino, a top rated online casino, will attempt to attract to business by beginning a three-month advertising campaign on TV, radio and print.

EU Casino will invest about 500,000 Euros into the campaign. Additionally, the casino will release a variety of exclusive 3D games, live dealers and unique player experiences through its software provider, SkillOnNet. The casino will attempt to become one of the best online casinos in the country.

The company will target the Danish male population, the most significant group in the casino games online business, by airing their campaign on Danish channel TV3 as well as the popular radio station, NRG.

On January 1, 2012, authorities opened the casino games online market in Denmark. The Danish Gambling Authority issued thirty-eight operators a total of fifty-five licenses giving them permission to do business in the country. The companies that received 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.

Unibet Acquires Online Casino Games Website Bet24

Unibet Group, one of the premier operators of online casino games, online poker, and sports betting sites has acquired Bet24 from one of its competitor, the Modern Times Group. The Malta-based company has increased its activities in the last year in an effort to grow and expand its assets, recently purchasing EurosportBet France in a deal with Solfive.

Bet24 is a top online casino games website in Northern Europe, well regarded for its selection of sports betting and other online casino games, including poker, which is hosted on the OnGame Network. According to insiders, when the deal takes full effect, Unibet will profit about €13.5 million for the entire Bet24 operation. Through this latest venture, Unibet is also attempting to penetrate the newly regulated Danish market.

Upon completion of the deal, Unibet will rebrand Bet24’s online casino games and online casino bonuses under its own name. Any players on the Bet24 platform will be moved within the next couple of months. Despite the upheaval, Unibet has promised to continue to employ about forty-five Bet24 employees by transferring them to the offices in Malta.

Bet24 President and CEO Hans-Holger Albrecht commented, “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.”

Albrecht went on to say, "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."

Utah Outlaws Future Federal Gambling Legislation

Various states throughout the US as well as the federal government are currently reviewing online casino games legislation and it looks like many are moving toward possible legalization. The state of Utah has elected to go in the other direction.

Governor Gary Herbert signed a bill earlier this week, HB108, which deems online poker illegal in the state of Utah. The legislation was presented in the Utah House and Senate earlier in the month and passed unanimously. By signing this piece of legislation into law, Utah is the ninth state to make online poker and online casino games illegal. In debating the severity of punishment one would receive from breaking the law, it was previously considered to deem it a felony, however this has been reduced to a misdemeanor crime.

There is language within the bill that will also determine Utah’s stance on gaming in the future. According to the legislation, residents of Utah will be prohibited from participating in any federally legislated online casino games ruling.

The legislation reads, “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.”

This language will make it nearly impossible for any future House, Senate or Governor to allow Utah residents to participate in a federally regulated online poker market and the best no deposit casinos. In order for citizens of Utah to play, HB108 would have to be overturned by the state’s government, an unlikely proposition as the state has never allowed any form of gaming, including lotteries.

Ryanair Makes Historic Casino Games Deal with 888

The well-known budget airline Ryanair has signed an online casino deal that will give visitors to its website the ability to play online casino games. The airline, which operates throughout Europe, has struck a deal with the online casino games software provider 888 to offer online casino games to people on its website and ultimately in-flight.

As part of the new system, those who visit the Ryanair website will be able to play one of 888's online slots, poker and sports betting games directly on their computers. The opportunity to play will be offered to all visitors of the site, whether they are booking a ticket with the airline or scouring the website for deals.

The airline is giving customers the chance to win a variety prizes through games and tournaments as if they were playing through 888 Casino. In addition, Ryanair is providing some extra bonuses and promotions related to travel, like tickets.

Ryanair had entertained the idea of providing online casino games to passengers in while in flight in 2007, however nothing came to fruition. This deal with 888 makes the airline one step closer to making this a reality. Currently, the airline gives passengers the option of in-flight mobile phone service, allowing travelers to play on top mobile online casinos.

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

Donald Trump to Enter Online Casino Market

Donald Trump, real estate mogul, has expressed his desire to venture into the online casino games market. As legalization of online gaming looms in the US, Trump is positioning himself to enter into the industry as it becomes closer to being legalized in the United States.

Reports have circulated that Trump Entertainment Resorts is in talks with 888 Holdings about the possibility of entering the industry and what that might entail for the company.

888 does not have operations in the top USA online casino business currently, however, they are a leading company in the world marketplace. A few weeks ago, 888 made a partnership deal with Caesars Interaction Entertainment.

In 2011, Trump hinted at his interest in entering the online casino games industry. If online casino games are legalized in the US on the federal level, Trump 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 Trump does not have experience online casino business, he has substantial experience managing profitable brick and mortar casinos and will be able to position his brand successfully once legalization occurs.

Rock Gaming Enters into Deal with Caesars Interactive

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission released data indicating that Caesars Entertainment sold a share of its casino games online subsidiary to its partner, Rock Gaming for the sum of $60.8 million. The part of the business now owned by Rock includes a department that organizes the World Series of Poker and recently launched Caesars Casino for Facebook. Caesars is aspiring to be the number one mobile online casino provider of casino games online and no deposit online casinos.

In the agreement, Caesars Entertainment allowed for the possibility that Rock Gaming can increase its shares in the company by twenty-five percent, $19.2 million, in the future. Rock and Caesars already work together in various projects, including the management of two casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati. The companies are also in negotiations over the acquisition of a license that will enable the development and operation of a video lottery terminal facility in downtown Baltimore with joint venture partners CVPR Gaming Holdings, LLC, and The Stronach Group.

Rock Gaming released a statement that read, “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 Entertainment is focused on the future expansion of social gaming and top mobile online casinos and bonuses, with the belief that there is the possibility of growing the company’s bottom line.

Bigpoint and Mazooma Sign Major Deal

Bigpoint, one of the world’s most successful providers of casino games online and top online casinos, boasting over 261 million users, has just signed a deal with the distinguished Canadian payment processing company, Mazooma. The partnership will allow Bigpoint users who play within the United States to access to Mazooma’s instant online bank transfer service in order to purchase virtual credits.

The deal was made as casino games legalization in the US becomes increasingly possible in various states throughout the country. If online casino games legislation moves forward, Mazooma will benefit significantly from this partnership.

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 went on to say, “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 currently counts fifteen of the biggest banks in the United States as its clients. It has the bandwidth to reach over 55 million American households that actively use online banking.

Players 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 online casinos.

Australia Sees Significant Rise in Online Gaming

Australia has proven to be a hotbed for online casino games players. IBIS and Gaming Club have provided research that shows that online gambling and top online casinos in the country are set to grow by 3.3% in 2012. Concurrently it has been estimated that the online casino games industry will see an increase of $22.5 billion in revenue, with an average spend of $1,265 per person.

On closer look at the statistics presented, poker players have increased in number in the country. Poker still remains the frontrunner in the online casino games industry, projected to make up 60.2% of total player spending.

Gaming Club official, Terry Maverick, commented, “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.”

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.”

888 and Caesars Sign Deal for US Market

888 Games has partnered with Caesars Interactive Entertainment with the intention of expanding their UK online casino games software licensing agreement to the United States. This is another strategic move made by 888 to position itself should online gaming and top online casinos become legalized in the U.S.

The company has made it clear that if pending online casino games legislation passes in either individual states across the US or by the federal government, 888's independent B2B company, Dragonfish will immediately launch real money poker for American players. Dragonfish is ready to support a few of Caesars' already-established poker brands for the online market.

In another effort to move ahead, 888 submitted its application to the Nevada Gaming Control Board for an online casino games license. In 2010, the Nevada Gaming Commission approved the 888 and Caesars business relationship. The partnership between the two businesses began in 2009 and has continued to grow.

Brian Mattingley, 888 Deputy Chairman, commented that 888 has looked at the passage of legislation in the US from a very practical position and this partnership reflects that. It makes Dragonfish a player in 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 cited 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.

Partnership Announced between Microgaming and Mr Green

Mr Green Online Casino has revealed that it has signed a partnership deal with Microgaming for use of its QuickFire software platform. The platform will enable Mr Green to run new flash based online casino games on its top rated online casino site.

Mr Green and its online casino games offerings have grown in popularity, making the deal particularly relevant for Microgaming. Mr Green was deemed the best online casino in 2008 through 2011 by Internetworld Magazine and it was also featured on the 2011 EGR Power50 list of the most influential and important online casino games companies in the world.

Microgaming is one the best and well-known online casino games software providers in the world. It has more than 600 unique games in its library, including that massive jackpot slots. Its Mega Moolah game has made the single largest payout in the casino business, amounting to over 6 million Euro.

Mikael Pawlo, CEO of Mr Green online casino commented "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 other online casino games platforms used at Mr Green.

Pawlo stated that his team was blown away by what QuickFire can do and that he is confident that Mr Green online casino gamers will love the additions and changes.

Illegal Gaming Ring Raided by Bulgarian Officials

Over the weekend, a well-organized illegal sports betting operation using offshore sports books to enable illegal wagering on domestic and international soccer matches was raided by more than 120 Bulgarian officials from the Computer Crimes, Intellectual Property and Gambling section of the Organized Crime Directorate General.

The illegal operation provided about $3,000 per day in revenue for the ring and may have been directly connected to some Bulgarian soccer clubs. In the bust, authorities discovered and confiscated an undisclosed amount of cash, 20 computers, 37 cell phones and a small amount of cocaine.

The swoop made it clear the Bulgaria is serious about enforcing new online casino games legislation. Laws were passed recently making it mandatory for Internet Service Providers to block unlicensed online casino games sites. These sites are determined by a government blacklist.

The new legislation has proved controversial, as free speech advocates believe that any type of governmental blacklist is cause for concern in a former Communist country. Advocates have requested that the president of Bulgaria veto the online casino games legislation for this reason.

Online casino games and top rated online casinos became legal in Bulgaria in 2008. Government officials believe that new online casino games legislation will create about $67 million in annual revenue. The goal is to put about half of that money into a variety of youth sports programs.

Guilty Plea for Chad Elie in Black Friday Case

This past week, Chad Elie, 32, entered a plea of guilty on fraud charges filed against him in the “Black Friday” case.

As part of his plea agreement with prosecutors, Elie admitted that he had deceived one bank into processing online casino games revenue by pretending that the money in the account was acquired through legitimate business means. He confessed that when the bank later questioned him about the revenue, he denied that the account was being used for online casino game profits.

In the deal he made with New York City prosecutors, Elie faces up to a year in prison. At the hearing he had the opportunity to speak and said, “I knew that my conduct was wrong.” Elie pled 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.

Elie was meant to go to trial on April 9^th, along with former bank executive John Campos. Campos has continued to assert his innocence and the prosecution is still unsure whether the Campos trial will move ahead.

As part of the “Black Friday” case, prosecutors are seeking seeking $3 billion in money laundering penalties and forfeiture from PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker. Elie stated that he acted on behalf of all three companies as a payment processor between 2008 and 2011.

Charges were filed under the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Act, which makes it illegal for banks and other organizations to knowingly accept funds related to illegal online casino gaming.

Gaming Legislation Vetoed in New Hampshire

Lawmakers in New Hampshire have vetoed casino games legislation that would have legalized video slots and four top rated casinos that had already received licensure to install up to 14,000 video slot machines and 420 table games in the state.

The bill was turned over with a vote of 236-108. Commentators believed that the legislation was doomed from the beginning as Gov. John Lynch said he would veto it if it had reached his desk. Additionally, the record has shown that members of the New Hampshire House have never supported expanded online casino games laws.

Representative Neal Kurk commented, "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 income that the state would make was too low.

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

Supporters of the bill in New Hampshire have cited the recent passage of a casino games bill in Massachusetts as another reason to legalize. They believe that if New Hampshire does not act quickly, the state could lose between $40 million and $50 million annually in lottery revenue and taxes to its neighbor.

Representative David Campbell stated, "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 attempted to convince legislators by recommending that some of the profits be allocated to defraying New Hampshire's high business taxes, which the Republican-controlled chamber has tried to do. Supporters have also stated that cutting business taxes will stimulate the economy in the state.

PokerStars Zoom Moves Ahead After Finding Success in Initial Launch

After successfully launching their newest game last month, Zoom Poker, PokerStars has just debuted higher stakes and additional options for the game. Zoom Poker is the company’s newest way to play high-speed poker online.

Zoom Poker is now available for real money play. Since early reports indicated that the trial phase of the game went off with only minor issues during launch, the company also 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 competitors in what they label 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 competitors from the cloud. Zoom poker gives players the opportunity to see many more hands than at regular ring games, approximately 200 hands an hour or more.

PokerStars has been updating their website consistently with information and details related to Zoom Poker and other top online casinos

In the latest round of updates, PokerStars made it possible for online casino game players in Belgium and Estonia to play Zoom Poker.

In the past week, an employee 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 posted on any updates related to PokerStars Zoom and online casino games as continue to unfold.

Apple iPad Poker Application Released by Bwin

Bwin.party, the parent company of Party Poker and sports betting brand Bwin, has debuted la real money poker application designed specifically for the iPad, allowing players to play for mobile casino bonuses. The latest offering is like other 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 stated, “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.”

Players can download the application from the iTunes Store and have it be accessible on both the iPhone and iPad. The application is available as a free download from either www.bwin.com/ipadpoker or iTunes.

Kao continued, “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.”

Various brands are continually expanding their mobile online casino offerings as the technological and consumer demands of the market change. The company’s offering for iPad features crisp imagery and an easy to use sleek design. Players are also able to replay hands and hand histories in current table sessions.

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

Bodog Makes Exit from Spanish Market

There have been recent reports that Bodog Europe has notified its online casino games players in Spain that it is pulling out of the country and as a result, they are no longer allowed to use their real money services and funds must be withdrawn by the end of the month.

Bodog’s move to leave comes ahead of new online casino game and poker regulations that are expected to be implemented within the next three months in Spain. Currently, there are reportedly over fifty operators of top online casino games sites are up for license within the country and the regulations would ban any unlicensed company immediately.

Many companies have experienced significant delays since applying for an online casino games license in Spain and have become increasingly frustrated. In February, Microgaming pulled skins out of the Spanish market after the passage of the Spanish Gambling Act 2011. They notified Spanish customers that they could no longer play on the network.

Others have speculated that Bodog’s decision to leave Spain also has to do with the recent indictment of its founder, Calvin Ayre.

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

Spanish players are not the only ones to have issues on Bodog sites. It was reported that Bovada, Bodog’s US company, denied players from Maryland last week and denied permission to new players from New York, Utah and Washington State.

Legalization of Online Gaming in Hawaii Fails to Pass

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

The bill would have established an online lottery and gaming corporation to manage online casino games and top online casinos in the state. The intention was for the corporation to “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 called for establishing the legal online casino gaming age at 18, as opposed to 21. Online casino game players would have had to play within the jurisdiction of the state, but there was language in the bill that may have allowed for citizens of other states to play in Hawaii as well.

The bill’s sponsors intended for revenue from online casino games and top online casino game sites to have been used for improvements in projects across Hawaii, including in 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, among other projects.

The reintroduction of an online casino games bill in Hawaii was influenced by the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent clarification of the details of the Wire Act of 1961.

Two other bills were up for passage along with H.B. 2422, including House Bill 2316, which would have established a lottery commission and legalized lotteries and House Bill 2379, which would have legalized casino gambling.

Betting Giant Betfair Makes Five-Year Deal with California Horse Racing Track

In a historic move in the gambling industry, Betfair, the world’s largest betting community and one of the world’s best online casino operators, has closed a five year deal with the Californian horse racing track, Hollywood Park, for naming rights to the track. The track will now be known as Betfair Hollywood Park.

Based on Betfair’s recent success as a sponsor for the Betfair Lounge at Ascot Racecourse in the United Kingdom, Hollywood Park executives felt confident that the move would be a good one. During negotiations, they received confirmation on 2013 racing dates, infrastructure investments and improvements at the Hollywood Park track and ultimately decided to create the “Betfair Club.”

Commenting on the deal, Jack Liebau, President of Hollywood Park Racing Association said, “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.”

He continued, “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 said, “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.”

Beneficial Holdings Pursues Online Casino Games License in Nevada

In its desire to expand its business to the United States, Beneficial Holdings, announced that it will be applying for a Nevada Intrastate Gaming License. If approved, the company will be able to provide top online casino games to the citizens of Nevada. In order to move ahead, the company will have to partner with a licensed casino operator and subsequently will be able to offer guests of non-gaming hotels the opportunity to access online casino games in hotel rooms.

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

Beneficial is currently in negotiations with several consultants who partner with Nevada licensed casinos to finalize a joint venture agreement. While that is moving forward, they are also putting a network into place that will provide online poker and live dealer games, ultimately expanding to other casino games online. Once they are approved for the online casino games license, the company will be able to acquire facilities within Nevada in which to house their technology and manage their business.

Beneficial Holdings has made it known that they wish to enlarge their client base to other states as legislation of online casino games moves forward across the country. They are also placing an emphasis on US opportunities this year based on the recent ruling by the United States Department of Justice on the Wire Act of 1961.

Amaya Gaming Sees Significant Rise in Revenue

Amaya Gaming, the Canadian company known for selling gaming products to governments in the areas of integrity software, taxation, regulation, lottery, online casino games and top rated online casinos, has reported a substantial growth in revenue over the last year. Amaya’s offerings work to provide security to 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.

Amaya Gaming has recently sought ways in which to increase their customer base. In an effort to do so, they recently acquired Chartwell Technologies, a Canadian company 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 organization 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.”

He 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.”

Owner of Illegal Online Gaming Cafe Arrested for Stealing $3 Million from Residents in Georgia

On Tuesday, authorities in Georgia conducted an operation that led to the arrest of James Kokott, the owner of Big Dawg Calling Cards, a long distance calling card store that was a front for illegal online casino games cafes. Big Dawg managed seven cafes throughout the state including in Doraville, Douglasville, LaGrange, Albany and Conyers, and two in Columbus.

Georgia authorities filed an indictment against Kokott and two of his business partners, stating that they had knowingly violated state laws against online casino game sites. As a result of their illegal operations, the three made approximately more than $3 million in the last year alone.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Spokesman John Bankhead stated, “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. “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,” he said.

Kokott and his associates told big Dawg customers that in order to purchase cards they needed to play the sweepstakes offered. They would put money on the cards to use in gambling machines and would use their winnings by redeeming them for cash.

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

Ontario Hopes that Online Gaming will Generate Much-Needed Revenue

Authorities in Ontario, Canada are looking for ways to increase revenue in the province and have determined that expanding the online casino games industry is part of the answer. The province faces a significant deficit in its budget and believes that gaming could bolster the economy by an additional $1.3 billion annually.

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

It is likely that legislation will be passed by the end of this year so that top rated online casinos can be up and running 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.

In an effort to create and manage online casino games sites that have video poker, video slots, table games as well as lottery tickets, OLG recently sent out requests for proposals to various operators.

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."

Online Gaming Bill Rejected by Committee in Mississippi

This past February, Mississippi Representative Bobby Moak introduced H.R. 1373, the Mississippi Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2012, just two months after the US Department of Justice ruled that online casino games other than sports betting were not affected by the Wire Act of 1961. The bill then went through both the Ways and Means committee and the Gaming committee, where it has now been declared dead, failing to secure a three-fifths majority for passage.

H.R. 1373 would have legalized and regulated online casino games, including poker, within Mississippi state lines, and would have allowed gaming operators that already have licenses in the state to offer online betting. H.R. 1373 encompassed stipulations that would have prevented underage gambling, ensured that the online casino games offered at top online casinos are fair and safe, increased jobs, tax, and fee revenues within the states, pushed out illegal overseas operations, and provided a significant source of taxable revenue.

The bill also had an article that would have required online casino games companies to pay a nonrefundable deposit of at least $100,000 for an Internet wagering permit. Additionally, operators would have had to pay $100,000 a year to the State General Fund and a further $100,000 annual levy to the Mississippi Gaming Commission Fund.

Well-known casinos like Caesars, Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts, which already hold gambling licenses for their land-based casinos would have had the first chance in the online casino games world.

Mississippi became the sixth state to consider intrastate online gambling legislation. Other states that have taken the legalization of online casino games into consideration include New Jersey, Iowa, Nevada, California and Hawaii.

Online Casino Games Operators Likely to See Licenses in Spain in Coming Weeks

Reports circulated at the end of 2010 that Spanish authorities had begun to entertain the idea of opening the country to online casino games regulation and licensure. At the end of 2011, sixteen private European online casino games operators completed the paperwork for licensure with the intention of beginning business in 2012.

Now, according to several Spanish sources within the online casino games industry, it is likely that eighty percent of the applications received will be approved within 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 license 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 license.”

A local source commented on the news and 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, “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 keep up to date on any further news coming from Spain relating to online casino games.

Payzone and PokerStars Strike Deal

Payzone, the UK based leading mobile consumer payments network has announced that they have struck a deal with the world’s largest online poker website, PokerStars. The partnership will enable consumers to purchase top-up vouchers.

The partnership indicates Payzone’s first steps into the online casino games business, with PokerStars top-ups available on the 20,000 terminals in the company’s nationwide network.

Consumers will be able to top up their online casino games PokerStars account instantly by entering the special code from a top-up voucher purchased at a Payzone outlet. This form of payment is a preferred option for players who are weary of paying online for privacy reasons as well as and for players wanting a faster method than paying with a bank related account.

PokerStarsTopUp Cards are available in denominations of £10, £25, £50, £100 and £250. A player 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 casino games company that Payzone has established a partnership with. Payzone’s clients include major retailers and transport companies within the United Kingdom.

Mark Mellor, sales director at Payzone, shared his thoughts on the deal stating that the partnership with its first online casino games client means that there are other opportunities in this sector in the future. He went on to say, “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.”

PokerStars business development manager, Richard Connolly, remarked, “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.”

Shuffle Master Makes Multi-Millionaire Dollar Deal with Ongame Network

Shuffle Master, the worldwide gaming provider, announced a €19.5 million deal with Ongame Network, Ltd., the well-known provider of poker to online casino game operators.

Ongame is a subsidiary of bwin.party Services of Austria. Under its umbrella it has 25 brands and operators, such as bwin, Betfair, and Coral Poker. According to company representatives, Ongame went ahead with the deal because they want to provide European players with the ultimate online poker and best online casino experience.

Shuffle Master made its mark in the industry by providing automatic card shufflers and roulette chip sorters to casinos and top online casinos across the globe. In recent months, Shuffle Master released their iGaming software featuring online versions of their table games as well as social gaming and mobile apps.

Peter Bertilsson, Managing Director of Ongame stated, "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 went on, “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."

According to reports on the deal, if real-money poker becomes legal in the US within five years, Shuffle Master will pay bwin.party €19.5 million for its shares of Ongame, with a €10 million bonus. The deal is likely to be complete at the end of 2012.

Gavin Isaacs, Chief Executive Officer of Shuffle Master, stated, "Our acquisition of Ongame will allow Shuffle Master to offer a scalable, proven and secure solution for online poker.” He continued, "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.”

Legalization of Online Poker in Iowa Close

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 on Tuesday.

The legislation was introduced by Iowa State Senator Jeff Danielson in February 2012. He had previously been the sponsor of similar legislation that failed to make it through the Senate last year. At the time he stated, “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 the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission commissioned a study on online casino games and online poker to determine the potential benefits to the state. The findings were made known in December and estimated that intrastate online poker in Iowa could potentially bring in $3 to $13 million in annual tax revenue. This coupled with the fact that at the end of last year, the US Department of Justice clarified that the Wire Act of 1961 only made online sports betting illegal made it possible for Danielson to reintroduce the online casino games bill. In January, he commented, “We believe that because of the Department of Justice ruling, we can now have a multi-state compact.”

The bill mentions both online poker within state borders and interstate online poker. Section 10, says “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 legislation specifies that potential operators of top online casino games and poker sites would have to create a partnership with state-licensed brick-and-mortar casinos. It goes on to state 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.

Online Casino Games Bill Still Undetermined in New Jersey

Online casino game legislation is still being determined in the state of New Jersey after a Senate committee approved revisions to the bill, but an Assembly committee failed to vote after the hearing. Senator Ray Lesniak is the sponsor of the bill that would allow citizens in the state of New Jersey to access top online casino sites and play online casino games with others in the state.

New Jersey lawmakers approved bills last year that would have legalized online casino games, but Governor Chris Christie vetoed the measures after citing “legal and constitutional concerns.”

Christie’s concerns were later put to rest as the Department of Justice clarified the federal Wire Act of 1961, explaining that it only applied to illegal online sports betting.In regards to online poker, Governor Christie declared in a statement the following week, “New Jersey should be in that business.” Christie expressed his desire to work with Senator Lesniak, to move things forward.

In a statement in follow-up to the Senate committee’s decision, Governor Christie said that that he was waiting to consult his Attorney General’s office on whether NJ citizens would have to vote on the issue in a referendum before he would sign an online casino games bill.

Assemblyman John Burzichelli, vice chairman of the Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee, stated that the committee was split along “two tracks,” depending on the need for a referendum. He went on to say, “We want to establish a clear legislative record to see if we need to go to the voters.” The committee will meet again in the coming days to hear about the state Constitution from a legal expert.

Online Casino Legislation Creates Concerns for American Indian Tribes

Casino operators representing American Indian tribes expressed to lawmakers and companies that they will not lend support to any new legislation involving online casino games unless they know the specifics of how tribes will be affected. With legislation on casino games pending across the US, there are significant concerns related to tribal sovereignty and business.

Speaking at the iGaming North America conference, Chairwoman Leslie Lohse of the California Tribal Business Alliance stated that it is important to examine the cultural and economic implications of casino games online and casino bonuses. She posed the question, "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."

Lohse’s statements underscore the various divisions that exist between advocates of online casino games and their detractors. Indian tribes and others involved in the usa online casino business, including equipment manufacturers and state lotteries, want to be included in any legislation related to gaming.

Casino City, a trade publication, recently put revenue at casinos owned by American Indian tribes at $26.7 billion in 2010. In 2009 it was at $26.4 billion.

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

"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 top rated online casino and land based casino operators have expressed the desire for federal laws that would create one national framework for online gaming. It would be up to states to decide their position.

Discussion Over the Status of Online Gaming in South Africa Continues

In recent months, the South African Parliament's trade and industry committee has held regular meetings on legalizing online casino games and top rated online casino sites. The latest public hearing was held on March 2 to discuss potential problems like money laundering, underage gambling and illegal gambling operations.

In South Africa online gaming on the best online casino and poker web sites as well as betting on any top online casino sites located out of the country is banned. Recognizing that this ban has created many problems, a gambling review commission recently investigated and recommended that online casino games be regulated and taxed. The country’s trade and industry committee has been tasked with determining if this should go into effect.

Joan Fubbs, Committee Chairman and Democratic Alliance MP Geordin Hill-Lewis both stated that the reality of players seeking top online casinos and no deposit bonus codes in South Africa already exists and pretending that it does not, will let the unregulated market grow exponentially. They believe that banning online casino games and no deposit casinos is impossible and the country is better served in extracting revenue from these dealings.

Pieter Smit of the Financial Intelligence Centre argued against legalization because of the risk of money laundering on online casino game sites. He argued that top rated online casinos could be used to transfer money illegally, which would be nearly impossible to prove. He said that if online casino games sites are legalized then the Financial Intelligence Centre should regulate operators. Smit also suggested that South Africa would need to invest in the proper technologies needed to identify customers and ban unlicensed operators.

The committee is set to meet again in the future to continue the debate.

Expansion of Playtech to Mexico and Latin America

Well-known online gaming software company, Playtech, has come to an agreement with Grupo Caliente, Mexico's largest land-based gaming operator, to be the companies sole provider of online casino games software. Currently, Grupo Caliente operates 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 increasingly attempted to expand its place in the online casino games industry. Through the deal, Playtech will be the exclusive provider of Grupo Caliente’s entire online casino product, including table and slot games. Playtech will also make its own Marvel super hero branded online slots available to Grupo Caliente. Playtech's Information Management Solution technology platform will support the games.

Grupo Caliente will manage the casino games online according to Mexican gaming regulations, which also apply to other countries in Latin America. If Grupo Caliente is able to strike deals with other Latin American countries, Playtech will offer its games to them as well as part of the terms.

Mor Weizer, Playtech’s Chief Operating Officer, said that the company is happy to partner with Latin America's largest and most respected gaming operator. He stated that it is promising that Playtech and Grupo Caliente will develop a very strong relationship. Weizer continued, "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."

In response, Eduardo Hernandez, Grupo Caliente’s CEO, said that this venture will provide the company with a state of the art online casino games platform that will deliver the best online 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."

Mississippi Lawmakers Introduce Online Gaming Bill

Lawmakers introduced House Bill 1373 this past week in Mississippi with the goal of creating the Mississippi Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2012. The Act would regulate all forms of online casino gaming at the approval of the Mississippi Gambling Commission.

The bill was proposed by House Minority Leader Bobby Moak who seeks to create a licensing system that grants Internet Wagering Permit holders the authority to provide online casino games to citizens of Mississippi over the age of twenty-one.

The bill stipulates that the cost of an Internet Wagering Permit will be at least $200,000 and come with an annual renewal fee of at least $100,000. Permits would last between one and five years. Upon expiration, they must again go through the process of review and renewal by the Mississippi Gambling Commission.

With concerns over residents playing illegal online casino games, House Bill 1373 includes a portion that addresses the issue in thorough detail. It also addresses the potential consequences if Mississippi does not legalize online casino games. Section one elaborates, “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.”

Various top USA casinos support regulated Internet gambling, including those with casinos in Biloxi. These 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.

Authorities in Singapore Look for Better Ways to Supervise Online Casino Games

Authorities in Singapore are working to assert control over the online casino game industry as well as find ways to control a rise in gambling addiction among the population. In order to achieve this, they are working towards preventing online casino players from accessing top online casino game sites.

Singapore has seen a significant rise in online casino game sites and players in search of no deposit bonus codes. Players are consistently placing bets on their smartphones at mobile online casinos as well as at home and at the office. According to Asia News Network, last year, top online casino sites raked in $357 million from players in Singapore. Previously, 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 casino games as “an emerging concern” to the country.

MP for Chua Chu Kang, GRC Zaqy Mohamad stated, “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?”

Authorities are also concerned about the increase in gambling addiction. Anne Chui, a counselor at the National Addictions Management Service, Institute of Mental Health, believes that one of the hardest things about combating addiction is that online casino games are available and accessible 24/7. Chui recommended, “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.”

German State of Schleswig-Holstein Pushes Gambling Act Ahead

In late 2011, Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, began the deregulation of its current system and the adaptation of new online casino games legislation. The Schleswig-Holstein Gambling Act went into effect on January 1, 2012 and opens the door for licensed companies to begin their operations in March 2012. The Schleswig-Holstein legislation was approved by the European Commission.

The Gambling Act in Schleswig-Holstein passed by just one vote. Supporters of the bill made the case that the new system would not create a gambling free-for-all. The biggest attraction of the new systems is that it will likely pump about sixty million euro into the economy through tax revenue.

An increase in online casino games license applications is expected by Schleswig-Holstein authorities. The Interior Ministry confirmed that they have received seven applications already - six from sports betting operators and the seventh from a casino operator.

Commenting on the gaming systems of other German States, Klaus Schlie, Interior Minister, said that rather than Schleswig-Holstein abandoning its European Commission approved gaming legislation in favor of the more limiting systems adopted by the other fifteen German states, they should prepare to adapt the Schleswig-Holstein system.

He continued, “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”.

Operators will receive gaming licenses in Schleswig-Holstein for up to six years. The European Commission is expected to give its ruling on the systems proposed by the other fifteen German states shortly.

Ryan Lang Enters Guilty Plea in Black Friday Case

On Tuesday, Canadian-born Ryan Lang, entered a guilty plea in a U.S. District Court in Manhattan. Lang confessed that he was a go-between poker companies and brokers who tricked banks into processing money for the gaming industry. Lang admitted that he conducted his illegal behavior between 2007 and mid 2010.

Lang was one of the people accused by authorities in the April 15, 2011 “Black Friday” indictment. The case involves the founders and executives of three of the largest online poker companies, PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker, who were charged with bank fraud, money laundering and operating illegal gaming businesses. Additionally, federal prosecutors filed a civil suite in which they are seeking $3 billion in money-laundering penalties.

Lang operated from Canada, circumventing United States laws meant to prevent banks from processing any gaming proceeds.

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

Lang faces up to thirty years in prison. He will face sentencing on September 24, 2012.

Up until now, five additional people connected to the case have been indicted and have appeared before the U.S. District Court. Three have pled guilty and the others will stand trial in April of 2012.

Billionaire Calvin Ayre, Founder of Bodog, Indicted

This past week, the US Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice seized the domain name, Bodog.com. Shortly after, Bodog founder, Canadian billionaire Calvin Ayre and three of his associates, James Philip, David Ferguson, and Derrick Maloney, were indicted by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Baltimore on charges of money laundering and operation of an illegal sports gambling site.

The US government is alleging that Bodog Entertainment Group, operating as Bodog.com, conspired with payment processors to distribute over $100 million in payments to US gamblers, as well as Bodog’s business promoters.

Commenting on the charges, 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 four defendants face up to twenty-five years in prison if convicted. Currently, the Bodog.com domain name is inoperable. In an effort to save the business, the domain was changed to Bovada.lv in the United States. Morris Mohawk Gaming Group, located on the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake in Quebec, Canada, has taken control of the daily operations of the brand.

In response to the allegations against him, Calvin Ayre commented, “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.”

Online Gaming Bill Proposed in California

Senators Rod Wright and Darrell Steinberg proposed Online Gaming Bill 1463 this past weekend in California. Currently, the Gambling Control Act provides for the regulations of all gaming activity and licensing in the state.

Passage of the bill would mean that online casino games companies would be eligible to apply for a ten year license to operate an intrastate internet gaming website to registered players within California. At this time, the bill is only applicable to the operation of online poker. Companies who make any other games available would be violating the terms of the bill and could face penalties from the state.

Those who wish to procure a license will be required to pay an application fee that would then 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 proceeds of the Internet Gambling Licensing Fund would be applicable towards the actual costs of license oversight, consumer protection, state regulation, problem gambling programs, and other purposes related to this bill.

Additionally, the bill will require each operator to pay a $30,000,000 nonrefundable license fee for deposit in the General Fund. This fee would be credited against monthly fees imposed on the licensee’s gross gaming revenue.

The Bureau of State Audits would be tasked with reviewing activity related to the bill and asked to subsequently report to the Legislature on the implementation of the bill. This would be scheduled to occur two years after the issuance of any license by the state and cannot exceed three years beyond that time.

The Constitution of California requires the state to provide reimbursement to local agencies for certain costs mandated by the state, however, this bill would not fall under that category.

William Hill May Buy Playtech in 2013

Rumors circulated throughout the gambling industry this week that UK-based William Hill, is exploring the possibility of buying Playtech. Playtech, an Israeli company, is one of the world’s largest online casino games software developers.

Currently, Playtech and William Hill already have a partnership in which Playtech owns a twenty-nine percent share of William Hill online. The arrangement between the companies generates about forty percent of the betting operator’s profits. In 2013, the terms of the partnership will come up for review and will give William Hill the legal right to buy out Playtech’s twenty-nine percent share.

In discussing the relationship between the companies, Ralph Topping, CEO at William Hill, stated that he and chairman, Gareth Davis, met on a monthly basis with counterparts at Playtech. He continued, “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.”

Despite the state of the economy in the UK and throughout the world, William Hill continues to grow its online profits by seventeen percent. However, they saw a four percent decline in profits in their land based casinos, 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.”

More details are likely to unfold within the coming weeks on whether the deal will move forward.

Online Casino Games Amendment Fails to Become Part of Nevada Tax Bill

Reports had been circulating earlier in the week that an online casino gaming amendment would be an additional component of the Senate’s unemployment payroll tax bill. However, Nevada’s Democrat Senator Harry Reid put the speculation to rest and stated that online poker legislation would not be attached to the bill.

Reid, a staunch supporter of the legislation, cited opposition to online casino games by Indian tribes and state lotteries. He also stated that the attempt to combine it with the payroll tax bill added to its failure. The ruling has most likely been pushed into 2013 at the earliest as part of the bigger federal conversation.

Chad Beynon, gaming analyst at Macquarie Securities, a global provider of banking, financial, advisory and investment services said, “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 continued. “At this point, no firm date has been set, but 13 companies have now submitted for an operating license.”

Beynon believes that top online casino operators and suppliers would continue to advocate for federal legalization of online casino games because they feel that the federal government is better equipped to handle regulation of online casino games than individual states.

Online casino games companies trying to make their mark in into the games industry in the US market are likely to turn to 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 most recent push for online poker legislation has gone, there are still significant efforts being made on the federal level.

Multi-Year Licensing Agreement Between CryptoLogic and NeoGames

A multi-year licensing deal has been announced between NeoGames, a leading provider of internet scratch card and instant win game software, and CryptoLogic Limited, a developer of online casino games and online casino software.

One of the negotiated points of the deal will allow CryptoLogic to produce two branded games for Neogames initially. They will create additional games in the future. These new games will be circulated through NeoGames’ network, which maintains thirty online gaming operators.

CryptoLogics’s Group Head of Business Development, Ian Price commented on the deal and said, “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.”

Mr. Price, Group Head of Business Development at CryptoLogic, went on to state, “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.”

Instant Click, an element of the deal, will allow for a the fast distribution 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 a result, CryptoLogic’s Instant Click online casino games platform and providers of game content will become available to players shortly.

Tribal Casinos to Host Intranet Gaming

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

Native American casinos Coushatta Indian Casino of Louisiana and Coyote Valley Casino of California have already joined the ATIG network, and it is likely that others will soon follow suit. There is potential for up to twenty-eight Indian Casinos based in the United States to be connected through the network.

The National Indian Gaming Commission allowed the intranet to be created in 2009. Afterwards, ATIG moved quickly to sign contracts with some of the leading global gaming vendors and offer Class III, Class II and online games. The Tribal Gaming Network is a multi-game platform offering table games, slot machines, virtual horse racing, nationwide poker, simulated sports betting and online live dealer games.

Those who want to play on the network must physically be in a land casino that has subscribed to the network. The intranet works on slot machines, kiosks, Android mobile phones and Samsung Tablets within the casino. An increasing amount of games can be played on Apple iPhones. ATIG has hailed the intranet as a product that will change the industry and as a casino within a casino.

President and CEO of ATIG, Donald L. Bailey, stated that the company has been way ahead of the curve and has hosted play-for-fun sites since 2003. Now, the company continues to revolutionize the industry and online casino games with the Tribal Gaming Network. Real money bets can be wagered on all games, with the exception of bingo, and is viewed as entirely legal because it operates on the intranet.

Gaming Companies Face New Challenges in Belgium

After granting an A+ gaming license to PokerStars recently, lawmakers in Belgium have put the pressure on unlicensed online casino games sites in the country. This is the latest in a series of efforts in the process to liberalize gaming in Belgium.

The Belgian government has compiled a list of companies that they have determined are operating illegally. Belgian ISP’s will block these sites in an effort to enforce online gaming laws. Although domain blockage does not fully guarantee security against illegal gaming sites, it is a strong message to send to anyone trying to break the law.

The Belgian government’s black list includes some serious industry players, including 888 and Everest. Many companies on the list had the .be suffix in their URL’s and had been operating illegally in Belgium for a long time.

Companies can be removed from the black list by not allowing Belgian players the opportunity to play on their sites. If this occurs, Belgian authorities will reexamine the evidence and allow them to apply for an official license.

Companies and players operating illegally in Belgium will face heavy fines from the authorities. Anyone heading an illegal gambling site within the country or catering to Belgian players can be penalized up to €100,000 ($132,00 USD).

Belgian citizens can be penalized €25,000 ($33,00 USD) for playing on one of the banned sites and will have to deal with local law enforcement. Players in Belgium are expected to review the list of banned companies before playing to determine if they are legal.

Race to Legalize Online Poker in Iowa

A bill proposed by Senator Jeff Danielson, regulating online poker and legalizing online gambling, is being reviewed by an Iowa legislative sub-committee. The deliberation is based upon the results of a study released by the state of Iowa that made the case that the legalization of online casino games would generate between $13-$60 million in one year. This would infuse the state with a $3-$13 million tax revenue boost. As the economy in the State has experienced challenges in the last few years, the income could be significant for the State.

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

He went on to say, “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.”

Last year Senator Danielson proposed Senate Bill 458, but it failed to gain significant momentum. The new bill, SSB 3164, created with the support of United States Digital Gaming, is positioned to receive much more thorough consideration in the State Government Subcommittee in the coming days.

Online Gambling Tax Debate Continues in the United Kingdom

A proposal that would make it compulsory for offshore online gambling operators to acquire secondary licenses and pay taxes in the UK is being debated by the British authorities. The debate comes after the revelation that the government has been losing about £300 million in revenue a year from gaming.

Gala Coral and Bet365 are the only two top online casino operators to remain onshore. Carl Leaver, CEO of Gala Coral, stated that onshore betting taxes are squandering profits and do not provide a competitive advantage. 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 made the case that high tax rates would eventually bring in unlicensed sites. O'Brien advocated a reasonably low rate of online gambling tax to be collected at the point of consumption.

Recently, Tory MP Matt Hancock, proposed a bill that would tax companies based on the location of the online casino games player and not the location of the online casino. This would remove any issues relating to onshore versus offshore gaming. According to the bill, any company that does not follow the fall will have their advertising suspended in the UK as well as prosecution of operators entering the country. The regulatory body of online casino games in the UK, The Department for Culture Media and Sport, would like the bill to move forward. They may face up to a two-year waiting period based on the other items on the government’s agenda. It has been said that because of the prolonged process, if MP Hancock's bill reaches the committee stage, the ministry will likely support it with minor changes.

Consideration of Liberalization of Online Casino Games in Portugal

In an effort to decrease a €478 million budget deficit, Portuguese officials may be considering opening online gaming markets to foreign competition. Portugal News Online is reporting that government officials are enticed by the idea of increasing revenue through online casino games and may do so in the near future.

Based on a report distributed in mid-December to the highest officials in the Portuguese government, online casino games licenses could generate about €250 million in 2012. This could stimulate the economy in a new way and be the answer to a deepening economic crisis.

No company is likely more elated by this prospect than Bwin. Currently, Santa Casa de Misericordia de Lisboa has a legal gaming monopoly in Portugal and recently won a court case forcing Bwin to remove all advertising from soccer stadiums, despite their already €4 million sponsorship of the Portuguese National Soccer Team. Opening the online casino games market would give Bwin the in it has been waiting for.

The trend in Europe has been to slowly move toward a liberalization model. With increasing economic turmoil throughout the Euro Zone, it is likely that more countries will embrace this model.

Major ISPs Ordered to Block Blacklisted Online Casino Game Sites in Serbia

The Serbian government’s Serbian Gaming Board, which introduced an online gambling licensing regime last year, has ordered major ISPs to block seventy blacklisted or unlicensed online casino games sites in the country.

The list includes some of the best online casino sites, such as Betfair, Bwin, Bet365, Mybet, Skybet, 888, William Hill, Bet-at-home and Ladbrokes. The Serbian Gaming Board says that if illegal operations continue, other regulators would be asked for cooperation.

Upon receiving the news, the ISPs consulted with company lawyers. They have yet to issue a response. Vojislav Rodic, Director of INet and a former president of the Association of Internet Providers, said that such orders are obligatory to obey only if there is approval by the judiciary.

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, and a major supporter of the new bill issued a statement that said that the association had conducted careful research and presented convincing evidence for legalization to the country's politicians. JAKTA had in the past also suggested that new online gambling licenses should be issued for a period of up to ten years.

Everleaf’s USA Online Casino Closed

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has demanded that Everleaf Gaming Network shut down all of their online casino games in the USA. Everleaf decided against fighting the Department’s ruling and shut down all of its US operations. Everleaf Gaming provides poker solutions for online and land-based operators and was one of only a few companies providing real-money online poker to players within the U.S. after Black Friday.

As a result of the shut down, players who now login into Everleaf’s skins receive a new set of terms and conditions that they must agree to. The most notable change includes a section that states “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.”

Players from Malta were not accepted in the past; however, France and the USA are recent additions to the terms and conditions. Players are being banned from accessing any of Everleaf Gaming’s 100-plus poker skin offerings.

The shut down is a result of an investigation completed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in which one of the Everleaf Gaming’s US based payment processors was seized. Funds held by the payment processor were also seized.

There is still uncertainty on whether Everleaf Gaming’s online casino games players based in the USA will be paid or how long the process will take. Despite the troubles the company faces, Everleaf has assured players that their funds are safe and they are working closely with the Department of Justice to ensure that all players are paid money owed to them.

A statement is likely to come from executives at Everleaf Gaming in the next few days regarding player payouts as well as more details on the situation.

Mobile Online Casino with Live Dealer Feature to Be Offered by Amaya Gaming

Amaya Gaming, the Canadian online casino games developer who recently announced its acquisition of Cryptologic for $36 million and a three-year licensing agreement with Aristocrat Leisure, followed-up with an announcement of the launch of its first mobile online casino offering. The mobile casinos will feature the first live dealer option for tablet devices. The mobile casino games will be compatible on all mobile platforms, including smartphones.

In a press release regarding the new mobile online casino, Amaya 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.”

Vice President of business development, Darcy Krogh, 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 has become an important player in the online casino games world. Amaya’s business deals with Cryptologic and Aristocrat enhance its position in the industry as they supplement the company’s already existing online casino games titles. 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.”

The company’s mobile online casino will be available in the latter part of 2012.

New Online Casino Games Titles Announced from Viaden Gaming

Viaden Gaming, Isle of Man-based online casino games software provider, has just announced the launch of four new online slots slated to boost the company’s top online casino games offerings. Each new game received certification by SQS India, a member of SQS Group, which holds the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission’s authorization to conduct independent software testing. Founded in 2001, Viaden Gaming specializes in iGaming software development, including online casino games and poker software used in some of the best online casinos.

Viaden’s new online casino games include Maya Pyramid, a 21-payline variation of the popular Maya Pyramid slot, with a multitude of playing options and designs. Maya Pyramid’s benefits include its scatters, expandable wilds and a bonus round.

Take it to the beach with Cubana Tropicana, an enticing vacation inspired video slot is played on nine paylines with thirteen specially designed symbols, a fun bonus round, free spins and scatters.

Non-Stop Party, which was also introduced into the mix is an alluring video slot that is presented as a disco party on five reels and twenty-one paylines. It includes a variety of features like scatter, wild and bonus, free spins and multipliers.

Finally, for all those romantically inclined, Viaden is now offering Jour de l’Amour, a Parisian themed video slot. Players can win on 25 paylines, and revel in special features such as scatter, wild and three different bonus symbols.

Viaden made sure to highlight that each new game offers a Gamble option, which can be used after each win.

Washington DC Repeals Online Casino Games Law

Debate over online casino games in Washington DC has come to an end. The Washington DC City Council voted to repeal the law which allowed for regulation of online casino games. The initial law, which was passed over a year ago would have allowed Washington DC to become a USA online casinos provider, the first of its kind.

Councilor Michael A. Brown, the sponsor of the bill, attempted to prevent its repeal by offering to present a compromise bill. He was unsuccessful in swaying the other council members.

Councilor Jack Evans, warned that as a result of the repeal of the online casino games law, there would now be a more thorough examination of the lottery contract. Council member Tommy Wells 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." Observers who have watched the debate closely have stated that the real issue was not about the online casino games law but truly about the divisive $38 million lottery contract.

In a report completed by D.C. Inspector General Charles J. Willoughby, it was determined that the city's lottery contract with the company Intralot, changed non-traditional games into online casino games without permission of the council. The report also stated that Intralot's DC partner, businessman Emmanuel S. Bailey, did not represent the true nature of his business during the bid for the lottery contract.

After the repeal, Councilor Brown pointed out that based on community meetings held last year, DC residents had a positive view of online casino games and seemed interested in becoming the first provider of USA online casinos. He went on to say that any concerns that arose about the lottery contract could have been addressed separately. Other councilors who were in favor of online casino games but voted for the repeal of the law, lamented that the process had been corrupted and should begin anew.

New Golden Nugget Chiligaming Online Casino Partnership

The Las Vegas “brick & mortar” casino Golden Nugget has teamed up with international online casino games developer Chiligaming to form a new online casino partnership. Golden Nugget is now owned by Landry’s Restaurants, having been bought from Tom Breitling and Tim Poster (Poster Financial Group) for $295 million. Chiligaming, founded by French entrepreneur Alexandre Dreyfus in 2006, specializes in multi-platform iGaming solutions.

Representatives from Golden Nugget said that they chose to partner with Chiligaming because their platform is the most likely to comply with future U.S. regulations. Although online gambling has yet to be legalized and regulated in America, industry experts believe that when the time comes, among other regulations operators will be required to use software that is standardized to a certain degree. The Chiligaming platform can connect to any content provider or gaming platform.

Alexandre Dreyfus said that his company is thrilled about the new partnership with Golden Nugget because it is such a recognizable brand in the U.S. casino market. Golden Nugget has two casinos in Nevada and one in New Jersey; with all signs pointing to these two states as being the first to allow local online gambling, this certainly positions this new partnership to open top online casinos.

Tilman J. Fertitta, the Golden Nugget owner and chairman, said that it took them nine months to find a suitable partner for the new project. Fertitta added that he was particularly impressed by Dreyfus’s experience in the European market. Golden Nugget representatives added that the site will launch as a free play casino until all stages of legalization and regulation are completed and the proper licensing is acquired.

Seminole Casinos in Florida Threatened by New Bill

casino reviews are reporting that a new bill will soon hit the Florida House of Representatives called the Prohibition of Electronic Gambling Devices bill. The bill has already received the support of Florida governor Rick Scott as well as his cabinet members and is expected to be supported by the house; however, when it hits the Senate afterwards there remains a great degree of uncertainty if it will be able to pass.

The Seminole Indian tribe has been lobbying against the bill. They claim it will break the status quo between the tribe and the state government. Ironically, the target of the bill is not the Seminole casinos – it is the internet cafes around Florida that allow casino games under the guise of “sweepstakes.” And it is precisely these internet cafes that the Seminole want to shut down. However, lawyer Barry Richard explains that the Seminole don’t want a new law that will change the status quo; they want to legally define what is done in these internet cafes as gambling so that it be considered illegal by the authorities automatically.

The internet cafes use a 40 year old sweepstakes law in order to run slot-like casino games. These cafes earn $1 billion annually of which the state has no share. Lawyer Christine Graves, representing the internet cafes, explains that since the outcome of the games is predetermined, it is legally definable as a sweepstakes; therefore, even if the bill passes these internet cafes, in her opinion, will remain open. Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla of Miami, one of the sponsors of the bill, explained that the bill should not impact the status quo with the tribal casinos. Some casino guides claim that the tribes are just afraid of loosing their monopoly.

Mitt Romney against Problem Gamblers and Online Gambling

Republican presidential candidate and former governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney has expressed consistently conservative views on most of the lifestyle issues related to family or faith. In addition to the mainstream issues commonly discussed in political debates, Romney recently gave his two cents on the issue of online gambling. Upon being asked whether he supports recent efforts to legalize online gambling, Romney responded that he does not support legalization.

Romney explained that he believes that casino games have a negative impact on society. Therefore, he does not want to expand the level access that people have to casinos. He said that he feels that people have more than enough access to casinos with the casino establishments that already exist. Many online casino reviews criticized Romney’s statements for representing the same head-in-the-sand attitude exhibited by lawmakers for years that ignore real problems caused by the lack of legalization and regulation. Though Romney is a big supporter of reviving the U.S. economy through removing government intervention, he does not support what he considers addictive habits.

Oddly enough, Donald Trump who publically supports Mitt Romney stated on more than one occasion that he believes that legalization of usa online casinos is an inevitability. He said that just like Europe has legalized it so to should America.

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has stated clearly that he supports the legalization of online gambling in America. True to his libertarian ideology, he believes that it is ridiculous for the U.S. government to be telling U.S. citizens whether or not they can play online casino games.

Churchill Downs Incorporated Buys Online Poker Magazine Bluff

The operating company of the legendary Churchill Downs Racetrack, home of the Kentucky Derby, has recently acquired Atlanta-based Bluff Media. Bluff Media owns and operates BLUFF, a poker print magazine, BluffMagazine.com, their popular online poker magazine, the Bluff blog, the Bluff forum, an associated publishing company, and also a magazine for mixed martial arts fans called Fight! The Bluff website also features a large database of poker players called ThePokerDB. The database contains info regarding the top players from the top five online poker sites PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Ultimate Bet, Bodog, and Absolute Poker. The players are tracked according to their success in tournaments and ranked accordingly. Churchill Downs announced the acquisition at the end of trading week last week.

Churchill Downs’ purchase of Bluff Media is just one small example of the frenzied activity in the U.S. online casino market since the USDOJ excluded online gambling from the Federal Wire Act. With legalization seemingly around the corner, Churchill Downs plans on using the popular poker magazine to position themselves for starting their own top usa online casino.

Bluff Media does not own or operate any real money casinos; however, their websites to direct players towards top online casinos. Owning these websites will allow Churchill Downs to grab all that traffic.

The senior managers at Bluff Media, Eddy Kleid, Eric Morris, and Jeff Markley, will be staying on board even after the purchase. Churchill Downs’ management is hoping that their expertise will help optimize Bluff’s online casino reviews and casino guides to promote Churchill Downs future site.

Bill for Online Poker Could Hurt State Lotteries

Republican Representative Joe Barton from Texas introduced a bill last year called the Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection, and Strengthening UIGEA Act of 2011. State governors from around the country are now expressing their opposition to the bill saying that it will hurt the revenue stream of state lotteries. This would not only hurt the states’ budgets but it would also be a serious blow to the lottery-funded scholarships.

In Tennessee, the HOPE Scholarship is funded by the state lottery. Shirley Raines, the President of the University of Memphis explains that many students from socioeconomic backgrounds that normally could not afford university tuition are able to attend U of M thanks to these lottery funded scholarships. She fears that online gambling will cause a decline in state lottery revenues and dry up the funding for the scholarships.

Steven Cohen, representing Tennessee’s 9^th district in the House, disagrees with Raines’s assumption that online casino games would affect lottery revenues. Having cosponsored the bill with Representative Barton, Cohen explains that lotteries and online casinos cater to different crowds. He said that if online gambling were to be legalized, he hopes that the Tennessee General Assembly use some of the tax revenue toward the scholarship fund.

Barton’s bill is unique in that it does not legalize online gambling on a nationwide level; rather, it enables states to legalize and regulate online gambling locally. It facilitates the creation of usa online casinos on the state level. online casino reviews are excited about Barton’s bill. Some say it is the perfect answer to the 2006 UIGE Act, because it does not contradict or erase the original act – it clarifies, defines, and channels it.

Belgium Gaming Commission Grants License to PokerStars

The Belgian Gaming Act passed last year gives the Belgium Gaming Commission authorization to blacklist unlicensed online casino operators. Blacklisted operators can be blocked at the source by the Belgian telecommunications companies. The Belgium Gaming Commission also creates a white list of casinos that are licensed and authorized to operate in Belgium. The black list recently released by the commission included top online casinos such as Titanpoker.be, Everestpoker.be, 888.com, and Chilipoker.com. The CEO of Chiligaming, an online casino games developer, criticized the Commission for including his company’s site explaining that Chilipoker.com does not operate in Belgium and that the blacklisting of the site was erroneous.

One of the first sites to be “whitelisted” is top online casino PokerStars.be which has received the “Casino de Namur A+ license.” Etienne Marique of the Belgium Gaming Commission stated that the compilation and distribution of the lists constitutes an important step in the process of regulating the online gambling industry in a way that best serves Belgian economic interests and the needs of the Belgian people. The new regulation both enables growth of the local industry while ensuring player protection. Licensed operators will be better equipped to assist players in self-exclusion. The Belgium Gaming Commission has set a goal of having only Belgium Gaming Commission licensed online casinos operating in Belgium in 2012.

Guy Templer who heads Business Development at PokerStars said that PokerStars is very proud to be one of the first Belgian licensees. casino reviews predict that PokerStars will hold a large share of the Belgian market thanks to quickness with which they acquired their licensing.

Microgaming Offers Live Casino Dealers in HD

Online casino software giant Microgaming recently announced their new ‘Diamond Edition’ live dealer games, which will be offered across their network of top online casinos.

Live dealer games are all the rage as players can now enjoy high speed Internet access and clear and fast video streaming. Microgaming is going the extra miles and offering up truly state-of-the-art graphics with their high definition (HD) streaming to give players a totally 21^st century online casino experience.

The ‘Diamond Edition’ Microgaming live dealer games also offer multi-player functions, which offer up a truly unprecedented casino experience for online players. The growing trend in live dealer and multi-player games was what drove Microgaming to improve their live dealer offering. The first game they’ve started with is Roulette but more are sure to follow.

Players can now enjoy watching dealers shuffle and deal in real-time, which truly enhances the traditional online gambling experience. The casinos that have already opted for this new Microgaming feature are already seeing a spike in popularity among their live dealer games.

ICE Exhibition Features New IGT Award Winning Slots

The international gaming exhibition ICE, one of the leading business-to-business gaming exhibitions in the world, featured new slot games by the well known gaming company International Gaming Technology (IGT). At the ICE exhibition, run by Totally Gaming, IGT was awarded Best Slot Manufacturer of the year. IGT was founded back in 1975 by entrepreneur William Redd. Since then, the company has become a very successful publically traded company that designs, develops, sells and distributes online casino games.

Craig Churchill, the senior VP of IGT International, stated that the company is quite excited about winning the award. Churchill added that the IGT team takes pride in the achievement and is most honored by the fact that their product has been acknowledged in this way. The games IGT highlighted at the exhibition were Ghostbusters™ Who Ya Gonna Call, The Twilight Zone® 3D, Elvis the King®, Sex and the City® Fabulous, and The Dark Knight. Churchill commented that these games raise the bar for video slots by combining world-recognized media with thrilling video slot technologies. In order to provide users with a top online casino experience IGT employs cutting edge technology and advanced gaming solutions.

IGT will soon be releasing Elvis The King® Multi-Level Progressive slots in honor of the 55-year anniversary of Elvis’s first #1 album “Elvis Presley.” The game, designed in a jukebox style, features many of Elvis’s greatest hits built right into the game.

The new game releases were featured on massive flat screen televisions on ICE’s center stage. The Dark Knight – Battle for Gotham City was just one of the many exciting new slots games debuted. casino reviews are buzzing with excitement about the new releases.

Judge Dismisses Civil Suit against Full Tilt Poker

Judge L. B. Sand of the U.S. District Court in Manhattan has dismissed claims of alleged Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) violations against account holders at Full Tilt Poker by the Full Tilt Poker operators. According to the RICO act, penalties can be increased for criminal activities carried out as an organization as opposed to an individual. The plaintiff claimed that the operators of Full Tilt Poker together with ten other individuals conspired to withhold $150 million from the accounts of users before the site was shut down by the U.S. Department of Justice last spring. Judge Sand dismissed the claim on the account that it was a week claim; he explained that it was not evident that the operators had engaged in malfeasance and there remains sufficient probability that the freeze was a result of the USDOJ’s actions.

Of the five units against which the account holders are taking legal action, the judge only dismissed the claim against two; even the two that he did dismiss can be resubmitted if and when they are amended. The origin of this suit goes back to April 2011 when the U.S. Department of Justice seized the domain names of three usa online casinos: Absolute Poker, PokerStars, and Full Tilt Poker. The USDOJ closed the sites on the grounds that they violated the Federal Wire Act of 1961. The shut-downs came as a massive shock to the online casino games community. Ironically, less than a year after “Black Friday,” the USDOJ redefined the Wire Act to exclude online gambling, and now Nevada is advancing legalization legislature. This positions first Nevadan licensee to become the top usa online casino.

2 Huge Jackpot Winners on Microgaming Network

If you think that no one actually wins the jackpots at online casinos, think again! Two players playing at Platinum Play casino just walked away with two progressive jackpots from the Microgaming network. Platinum Play casino is one of the many top online casinos powered by Microgaming software which means that their progressive jackpots are linked network wide and whenever a player on a Microgaming casino plays, they contribute to the growing progressive jackpot. This means that 1. the jackpots fill up pretty quickly once they're won and 2. the ones that aren't won just keep growing and growing.

For winner Susan C., it seems that she walked away with a jackpot that hadn't been won in a while because she took home an amazing £1,965,956.46 from progressive video slot game The Lord of the Rings. This Tolkien-themed game is famous for its crisp graphics and CinematicSpins™ technology that shows scenes from the movie. It's really quite cool as far as casino games go.

The second jackpot winner was George K., who made off with a nice sized €278,518 jackpot while playing the new 5-card draw poker game Caribbean Draw Poker Gold Series. This player vs. dealer game uses a standard 52-card desk and is quickly becoming one of the most popular draw poker games on all Microgaming-powered casinos.

These two jackpot winners are just a few of the thousands of huge jackpot winners that have benefited from online casinos. You could be the next one!

PokerStars Get New EU Gambling License

PokerStars finally is really gearing up and getting ready to go full force in Europe as they’ve recently acquired their EU gambling license from Malta. Players all across Europe can now enjoy access to PokerStars huge network and play against poker players from all levels from across the entire world. Plus, the EU gambling license comes with some pretty great perks for EU players.

The best online casinos are now eager to get the EU gambling license.

PokerStars now has a new .eu website where players can access all the same games and tournaments (and players) as players who are playing on the .com website. For EU players who can now enjoy the benefits of the EU gambling license, all they have to do is update their software to the new PokerStars EU software and everything will transfer over automatically.

This news is especially great for players from Finland and Sweden who now can enjoy their winnings tax free! Before, they had to pay a hefty 50% income tax on all winnings that were won from outside the EU – talk about a serious perk!

This new license is a great move for PokerStars as they move swiftly into the European market and understand the importance – and value - of being a regulated and licensed online casino website.

South Korean Casino Developments or Lack Thereof

South Korea has a very close relationship with the United States. It is perhaps because of this relationship that the South Korean government sees fit to mimic America’s ridiculous legal paradox that is the old understanding of the Federal Wire Act. Just like America, it is perfectly OK to own and operate an online casino or for players to enjoy online casino games; however, it is forbidden to make any money. This legal confusion has led to the creation of a massive grey market of online casinos throughout South Korea.

In South Korea, the best online casinos use virtual money that can later be redeemed for real money. Since real money casinos are technically forbidden, the South Korean authorities can’t protect account holders trying to redeem their virtual money from the online casinos. The conversion of the money from virtual to real is precisely where the market turns black and is characterized by extortion, fraud, intimidation, and blackmail. The South Korean authorities have taken sporadic action over the last few years against the illegal gambling organizations but have not made a serious dent.

Furthermore, it doesn’t seem like this weird situation really bothers any lawmakers in Seoul. The government has taken little to no affirmative action to legislate effective regulatory policies that could protect consumers. While other countries are actively working to develop a top online casino market, both for tax revenue and consumer protection motives, the South Koreans are keeping the status quo. Meanwhile, casino reviews are predicting that the Asian market is poised to explode.

New Kahnawake Gaming Commission Policies

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission, the Mohawk Territory based regulatory body in charge of online casino gaming, has changed two policies on behalf of online casino games customers. One of the new revisions regards self-exclusion and one will help resolve disputes between operators and customers.

The new system for self excluding is significantly better than the previous system. The previous system was a simple and disorganized system in which individual casinos provided self exclusion options for their customers; nothing stopped those self excluded customers from signing up at different casinos. With the new Kahnawake Gaming Commission system, players can request self exclusion on the Gaming Commission’s website, receive verification from the compliance officer, and self exclude themselves from all the casinos registered by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. This should block a problem gambler from accessing any site; however, if a self excluded player is allowed access to one of the sites, he or she is requested to contact the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and report.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission also revised their policy regarding dispute resolution between players and online casino operators by appointing a dispute resolution officer. The new officer is charged with receiving complaints from customers or operators, verifying their claims, and resolving the conflict. A party against which a complaint is filed is given seven days to reply. Casino guide and fair-play advocate Casinomeister gave the Kahnawake Gaming Commission their Phoenix Award for their actions taken against problem issues in the world of online gambling. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission said that they seek to provide the citizens of Quebec with the safest and best online casino experience through smart and dynamic regulation.

Top Online Casinos offer New Rival Slots

Rival Gaming software is behind many of the web's top rated casinos. The newest addition to their family of slots games is called Wild Safari and it can be found available on many of the best online casinos.

Top online casinos powered by Rival Gaming will be offering a new slot games from the Rival i-slot line of games. This game is called Wild Safari and it's an action-packed 5-reel, 25-payline game with a African safari theme. The game is unique in the fact that it offers up a dual-theme separated by two sets of reels. While it doesn't affect the game (which still plays like a regular slots game), it offers the player a more interactive and graphically-pleasing experience.

The game is separated into two themes that revolve around the safari experience. The division is by reels and by symbols (each set of reels comes with its own set of symbols). The first set of symbols is related to the things that one might bring along on a safari (jeep, diary, airplane, binoculars, etc.). The second set of symbols is related to things that one might see when on safari (lions, zebras, hippos, leopards, etc.).

For each reel set and accompanying set of symbols there is one wild symbol (two wild symbols in total). The first is the jeep symbol and the second wild symbol is the giraffe. During the bonus feature, when they appear on reels 1 or 5 they will expand to cover the entire reel. There are two parts to the bonus feature. The first is the free spins feature and the second is the bonus game feature.

The free spins feature will trigger automatically when one of two things happen. Either, the airplane symbol has too appear on the first set of reels or the rhino symbol has to appear on the second set. The free spin symbol needs to show up at least three times in order to trigger the free spins and the more times it appears the more free spins the player will receive. If it appears three times, the player will get 10 free spins. If it appears 4 times, the player will get 20 free spins. If it appears 5 times then the player will get 75 free spins.

The second bonus feature is the bonus game feature which similar to the free spins feature can be triggered in one of two ways. First, this feature is triggered when three or more of the camera symbols appear on the first set of reels. The second way the bonus game feature can be triggered is when the lion symbol appears on the second reel set. When playing this bonus round players need to skillfully take pictures of the safari animals and depending upon how many pictures are successfully captured,

Ladbrokes Enters Nevada Casino Scene

Ladbrokes, the English sports betting and online casino games company, has agreed to purchase a majority share of Stadium Technology Group, a Vegas based software company specializing in risk management and bookie technologies. Stadium Technology Group, founded in February 2009, is known for their products PrimeLine and Rapid Bet Live™. The CEO of Stadium Technology is Derek Harmer.

Richard Glynn, the CEO of Ladbrokes, said that his company is now establishing a presence in the U.S. for two reasons: one, the U.S. is a massive market with enormous potential, and two, the current legislative environment is leaning heavily towards legalization in many states. The hope is that Ladbrokes will have a top usa online casino running out of Nevada as soon as the legislation and licensing allow for it. Glynn added that Stadium Technology currently supplies many top Vegas casinos and sees much potential for future expansion.

In the immediate future, Ladbrokes will be purchasing 65% of Stadium Technology Group for three million dollars. The deal is that they have an option of purchasing the remainder of the company if the company’s performance over the coming five years warrants it.

In other Ladbrokes news, AtTheRaces, Ladbrokes Mobile new live streaming coverage of British and Irish horse racing, has been launched. This new feature, coupled with Ladbrokes mobile online casino, reflects their increased efforts in the mobile market. Ladbrokes Mobile reported a much growth in the previous quarters. Online casino reviews praised Ladbrokes mobile platform for its simplicity, quality features, and lack of extraneous garbage.

AliQuantum to Incorporate Microgaming Casino Games

AliQuantum, a major casino games and mobile online casino software company, has partnered with Microgaming, one of the world’s leading casino software companies. With licensing in Malta, AliQuantum will be bringing Microgaming games to their well-known platform. AliQuantum will be able to expand their selection of games both on their mobile platform and on their personal computer platform as well. This will provide their customers with a unique and improved gaming experience. The Microgaming games will join the Plus-Five games in AliQuantum’s wide selection.

Among the new games to be added to AliQuantum’s selection you’ll find table games, poker, bingo, mahjong, and more. Live dealer games will be made available to White-Label partners who can register with just one wallet and one system.

Founded back in 2003, AliQuantum originally focused primarily on mobile casino platform development. In the 9 years since its inception, the company has grown tremendously. Today, AliQuantum is among the industry’s top developers providing online casino gaming solutions for various platforms on behalf of customers in over twenty countries worldwide.

Microgaming has licensed their QuickFire games to AliQuantum. Andy Jones, AliQuantum’s CEO, said that their programmers have completed the integration of the software and that their lawyers have completed the legal integration. He is excited about the potential that this synergetic project has. He concluded that Microgaming’s games coupled with the AliQuantum platform provide customers with a truly unique product that is unrivalled in the market today. Casino reviews predict growth for AliQuantum in the coming quarter thanks to the new deal.

Different US States Respond to Online Gambling Legislation

The recent Department of Justice statement that single states are now able to individually regulate online gambling within their jurisdictions has led to different responses across the United States. Recently, Washington DC, Hawaii and Connecticut have each responded indicating a new trend that is sure to follow as 2012 begins to unfold.

In Washington DC there has been a bit of a commotion regarding online gambling regulation in the past months. A recent regulation was passed almost under the radar and the response from various legislators apposing online gambling has been quite strong. Many felt that the law was passed without proper examination and clarification. For example, instead of making clear that the legislation included online casino games, the phrase "I-gaming" was used which proved to be confusing, almost misleading, among some members of the voting council. As it stands now, the council is trying to repeal the law.

In Hawaii, the mood is a bit more lax with regard to online gambling regulations inside state lines. Currently, lawmakers are trying to convene a state regulations body called the Hawaii Internet Lottery and Gaming Corporation which would offer Hawaii residents the option to play chance and skill games online for real money. This includes poker, casino games and lottery games. This commission would be able to tender for services of different online gambling providers, providing that said providers have never marketed their products in the USA. For Hawaiian gamblers, this open the market for some of the top online casinos to bid.

Connecticut, similar to Hawaii, is also moving in the direction to legalize and regulate online gambling activities within their state. An informal discussion will take place with state representatives, senators and members of various offline gambling industries to discuss the issues surrounding online gambling regulation. Governor D. Malloy seems to be taking a realistic approach to the issue saying, "Online gambling is coming to Connecticut whether we like it or not. " The governors recommendation is to consider the changes that new legislation and the overall market will dictate and to be aware of them.

Playtech Joins Forces with Major Casino Operators

The casino games software giant Playtech has recently partnered with a number of major casino operators in various world markets. In the German market, Playtech has entered into a partnership with Gauselmann, a long-time casino company, for the purpose of working together on the development of new gaming products. The extent to which the two companies will be able to work together in the German market is dependant upon developments in the German government regarding regulatory policies; assuming they hands are not tied by new regulations, the two companies plan on offering sports betting and various casino games. The partnership agreement splits the new venture fifty-fifty with a slight advantage to Gauselmann in order to register the business as being based in Germany.

In the South African market, thanks so the improved probability of legalization, Playtech has partnered with Peermont, a South African operator of casinos and resorts. Peermont, already operating 14 casinos and resorts, teamed up with Playtech for the purposes of developing the sports betting market. Though the gambling legislation has yet to be passed in the South African Parliament, the two companies are nonetheless optimistic about the venture.

In addition to fifty-fifty partnerships, Playtech has also embarked on ventures in which they purchase other companies whole. Last year, Playtech purchased mobile online casino company Mobenga, and now they have purchased sports betting software company Geneity for £11 million. Playtech is combining the products in order to offer regular sports betting platforms and mobile sports betting platforms. Casino reviews are looking forward to the release of the new Playtech sports betting mobile platform.

Schemer Helps Poker Sites Launder Billions

Ira Rubin has pleaded guilty to assisting online poker operators in the illegal transfer of billions of dollars overseas. The money was illegal gambling proceeds earned from American players. Rubin had been charged with money laundering, bank fraud, wire fraud, and offenses related to gambling. He stands to go to jail for up to fifty five years. His sentencing is scheduled for May 17, 2012.

Rubin’s name originally came up last year in what it is known in the online gambling community as “black Friday” (April 15, 2011). The three largest online casino games websites operating in the U.S., Absolute Poker, Full Tilt Poker, and Pokerstars, had their .com domain names seized by the FBI. The U.S. Department of Justice claimed that they violated the 1961 Federal Wire Act and they were shut down. While prosecuting the three companies and other individuals, Rubin was charged as well. Preet Bharara, a U.S. attorney working on the case, said that as part of his plea deal, Rubin admitted to disguising the companies’ financial transactions as transactions for jewelry, clothing, and other merchandise in order to avoid the Wire Act.

The online poker site operators turned to Rubin because the banks were not willing to work with online casino gambling sites. They would not process their payments or assist in other types of transactions. The sites therefore turned to third parties like Rubin in order to smuggle the proceeds overseas.

Prosecutors added that Rubin has an extensive criminal record dating back four decades and including over 24 criminal offences.

Those in favor of USA online casinos say that this case proves the importance of clear legislation that creates a legal framework for regulating online gambling in America.

New UK Committee on Online Gambling Regulations

Various aspects of online gambling regulation and taxation are being examined by a special committee of British Parliament members. Among the proposals being discussed are new regulations for offshore casinos, secondary taxation, secondary licensing, new taxation, new land-based casinos, and betting machines. The committee is still in session and not all the proposals have reached conclusion.

Recently, two former ministers spoke before the committee: Tessa Jowell, the former Culture Secretary, and Caborn, the former Sport and Tourism Minister. They explained to the committee that two proposals, the construction of five super-casinos and the installation of betting machines, have already been shot down. They explained that there is no reason to believe they are going to make it passed parliament as long as the Labour Party’s fears of problem gambling remain unabated. More industry experts are invited to testify before the committee.

William Hill, the popular bookie and online casino game site, hired Deloitte, one of the world’s largest accounting firms, as an independent third party to survey the possible outcomes of the proposed tax hikes. The firm concluded that raising taxes on the legitimate online casino operators gives a leg up to the illegitimate ones. The taxes will inevitably impair the ability of the taxed to compete with the untaxed. Furthermore, while the top online casinos may succeed the unfavorable circumstances, the smaller casinos will surely fail. The negative consequences are not the burden of the online casinos alone; all the industries tied in with the online casinos, like high-tech and sports, would take a hit as well. The Deloitte survey has been given to the Treasury to be reviewed.

Unibet Signs Key Danish Football Sponsorships

Unibet, the Swedish online casino and sports betting site, has just signed a three year sponsorship contract with F.C. København (The Copenhagen Football Club, FCK) and F.C. Midtjylland (FCM). Unibet will now be these two club’s exclusive betting partner. Fans of the clubs can expect to see increased media as a result of the new deal.

This new sponsorship deal between the top online casino site and these football clubs comes as a result of the recent liberalization of the Danish gaming market. Anders Hørsholt, the CEO of the FCK, explained that since the FCK is Scandinavia’s best team and competes regularly in European competitions, it is only natural that Unibet sought us out as a partner. He added that they were approached by other bookie websites, but that Unibet made the most attractive offer. Hørsholt said that Unibet has displayed a great interest in activating this new sponsorship towards FCK fans during and between game days. He concluded that the sponsorship will surely benefit F.C. København, FCK fans, and Unibet.

Kim Olesen, the General Manager for Unibet Denmark, said that Unibet is delighted about the new partnership with two of the best and most ambitious clubs in Denmark. She compared the ambitions of these two clubs to being number one to Unibet’s ambitions to being the number one gaming operator. Olesen continued that this new partnership will help Unibet secure their leading position in the Danish market.

Jens Ørgaard, the sports director at FCM, said that FCM and well-known operator Unibet share a desire to challenge the status quo. He added that Unibet understands FCM’s potential and that they look forward to working together.

Unibet also offers online casino games.

New Mega Spin Video Slot from Microgaming

Microgaming, the popular online casino software developer, has released its first Mega Spin video slot. While in the past Microgaming released regular slots with the Mega Spin feature, this marks the first time that Microgaming is releasing a video slot with the Mega Spin feature. Break Da Bank Again, Microgaming’s rerelease of their popular title Break Da Bank, is an upgraded Mega Spin version of the classic game.

However, aside from the Mega Spin feature, the rerelease is essentially identical to the original. Both the payouts and the symbols are the same. The game’s logo serves as the wild symbol. The wild symbol does not offer payouts; in stead, it multiplies payouts by five. The safe symbol serves as the scatter symbol. Three, four, and five scatter symbols appearing together provide 15, 20, and 25 free spins. During free spin play, all payouts are multiplied by five. The Expert Mode that was available on the original Break Da Bank game is no longer available on the new Break Da Bank Again game.

The main new feature of the game is the Mega Spin feature. The game has a five reel Mega Spin. One five real mega spin has 20 reels spinning simultaneously. Every reel offers the opportunity to wager up to ten coins on nine different paylines. The coin values vary from 0.01 credits for the smallest coin to 0.25 credits for the largest coin. This system allows beginners to wager small amounts to get started and in the same game high rollers can wager big bucks.

Casino reviews were pleased with the Mega Spin feature. They expect that Break Da Bank Again, together with Microgaming’s popular collection of casino games, will keep attracting players to Microgaming’s top online casinos.

Harsh Reality Following Community Euphoria

Only one month has passed since the U.S. Department of Justice’s landmark decision to exclude online gambling from the restrictions imposed by the 1961 Federal Wire Act and industry excitement is already beginning to die down. What began as an earnest hope that the creation of a legal framework for intrastate online gambling was right around the corner has now become a sober understanding that real progress is not so close at hand. Casino reviews and industry specialists explain that the excitement was premature and that more needs to be done before legal American intrastate online gambling becomes a reality.

Deutsche Bank Analyst Andrew Zarnett released a report stating that the U.S. online casino industry overhyped the USDOJ’s decision. On the bright side, Zarnett’s report explains that the USDOJ’s decision does reflect a change in the government’s perception of online casino gambling; an argument about whether or not online gambling should ever be accepted has now become a discussion about when and how it should be legalized. Nonetheless, no solid change to the existing legal reality arose from the USDOJ’s revision. Zarnett suggests that focus be placed on local state online gambling using the precedents of horse racing, state lotteries, and “brick & mortar” casinos; this frees the operators from the dependency on Washington lawmakers.

Vegas lawyer Jennifer Carleton explains that in spite of the good feelings felt among online casino operators following the decision, the lack of permanence should be a cause of serious concern. The bottom line, explains Carleton, is that without federal legislation, nothing can really move forward with legal intrastate gambling. That said, Nevada has already moved forward with their own online gambling legislation that should, assuming the federal government eventually allows USA online casinos, position the Silver State advantageously.

British Territories Split on Online Gambling Regulation Issues

While the UK special parliamentary committee on gambling regulation is meeting to discuss the possibility of new taxation and regulation, representative regulators from the British overseas territories Gibraltar and Alderney are split about the issues. These two territories have a special interest in online gambling. Thanks to the fact that online casinos operating out of these territories are able to operate in the British Isles without having to pay taxes to the Queen, a number of top online casinos have chosen to set up shop in these territories.

Andre Wilsenach, the regulator representing the Alderney Gaming Control Authority, is on the side supporting more regulation. His stance is understandable considering the recent unpleasantness endured by the Alderney authorities as a result of the recent indictment of their licensee, Full Tilt Poker. Wanting to avoid future unpleasantries, Wilsenach suggested increased regulation that would mandate the monitoring of the jurisdictions in which the licensees operate and their arrangements for financial transactions.

On the other side of the fence was Philip Brear, the regulator representing the Gibraltar Gambling Commission. He attacked the UK Gambling Commission saying that they are inexperienced and uncooperative. He said that the regulations that were put in place under the 2005 Gambling Act were more than enough and that he saw no need to increase the regulations at all.

The latest statistics on the issue of overseas operators show that the majority of online casino users in the UK use sites that are based outside of the British Isles. Some casino reviews believe that the large disparity between the success of the exterritorial operators and their lack of taxation will surely tilt the scale towards the implementation of new taxes.

CTXM Releases New Mobile Casino and 4D Slots

CTXM, an online gaming turnkey solutions provider, has released a new mobile online casino platform that avails all of its games to clients’ mobile phones – for free. The new mobile platform is compatible with iOS, the operating system used on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod-touch as well as Android and Blackberry OS. CTXM has also released brand new 4D Slots.

The mobile platform features a Mobile Lobby which serves as a portal that enables customers to access all the different casino games that CTXM offers. Their Chief Operations Officer Victor Stepanov said that since CTMX strives to provide a user experience at the highest level they are releasing their casino games on the most advanced mobile devices available today. Stepanov added that CTXM plans to release a special version customized for the Asian market soon.

The new 4D Slots from CTXM take advantage of the most advanced online casino game technologies. These new slots were developed keeping in mind that the modern player is looking for the complete experience. Once donning 3D glasses, a player can truly enter the game reality and make it his own. The new series of slots contain great bonus features, progressive jackpots, various reel and payline combinations, and other exciting elements.

CTXM is clearly taking advantage of modern trends to the fullest extent. 3D movies and television are slowly becoming standard and smartphones are becoming more and more disseminated in the global market daily. Online casino reviews say that these new releases could position CTXM advantageously in 2012.

Dannel Malloy Predicts Legal Online Gambling in Connecticut

Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy says that legalized online casino gambling is an inevitability. His statement comes as a result of the recent USDOJ legal redefinition of the 1961 Federal Wire Act to exclude and thereby permit online gambling. Malloy said that there exists a certain misunderstanding regarding online gambling in Connecticut.

Malloy looks at online gambling from a very pragmatic perspective. For example, his office is looking into the possibility of having the state lottery operate online casinos. He stressed that as far as he is concerned, it is clear that internet gambling is coming to Connecticut.

Malloy explained that the current land-based casino industry in Connecticut already employs about 20,000 Connecticuters and brings the state coffers about $350,000,000 annually. That said, the economic considerations are pretty clear cut. Furthermore, Malloy adds that there is no such thing as borders when it comes to the internet. He explains that there is an almost total failure in enforcing online gambling prohibitions, so the only logical option is to create a local legal framework for USA online casinos that can be regulated.

The expectation is that as a result of the new understanding of the Wire Act, many states are going to be engaging in legislation towards legalizing and regulating online gambling; therefore, it is important that Connecticut analyze their approach to online gambling in order to best take advantage of the current situation. Malloy elaborated that the question in Connecticut is how to join the national decision while simultaneously protecting the local industry of land-based casinos. Since there are no signs that Congress is going to undo the USDOJ’s decision, casino reviews are optimistic about Connecticut and other states moving forward with legalization.

William Hill and the Football Association Join Forces

William Hill, the world’s largest online sports betting site, and the English Football Association (FA) have signed a 2½ year sponsorship contract. This is the first sponsorship contract ever signed between the FA and a major betting firm. As a result of the deal, William Hill will be able to use the English Team and FA Cup logos, brands, symbols, and all other trademarked goods for advertising purposes. William Hill also has an online casino department operating online casino games, poker, bingo, and video slots.

FA’s head of sponsorship Peter Daire told reporters that the FA is happy to go into contract with William Hill because the betting firm has a very good reputation in sponsorships, as well as a considerable advertising presence that will aid the FA as well. William Hill, on its part, benefits from sponsorship with two of the best football brands in the world. Ralph Topping, the CEO at William Hill, added that his firm has been looking for such symbiotic sponsorships that will engage their customers. Topping also mentioned that William Hill already has a similar agreement with the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Cup that have already proven quite beneficial to both parties. Topping concluded that the next two and a half years will be particularly exciting for William Hill and that he is looking forward to every moment.

Kristof Fahy, William Hill’s CMO, added that this specific partnership will help the firm develop brand prominence and increase its market share. Fahy also added that this partnership, in addition to the direct benefits for sports betting, will have indirect benefits for their top online casinos and draw customers to their games, poker, bingo, and more.

Playtech Announces New Game Releases

The popular online casino game software developer Playtech has announced the release of new games for the new year. The new casino games include Fishing Buddies and Desert Treasure II.

Fishing Buddies is a multiplayer slot game. Up to 5 players can simultaneously play. Players can choose from an array of 3D Bear avatars. Though every player wagers separately, all the players can see each other’s wins and losses. One of the game’s more interesting features is the time factor; the speed at which a player progresses can effect his or her ability to take part in the bonus rounds. The game features a bonus round with two levels. Only three players from the first bonus round make it into the second bonus round in which they can win additional prizes.

Desert Treasure II is also a video slot game. This game is a follow up to Playtech’s popular Desert Treasure title. The new game features the same symbols but with much improved graphic design. There are also differences in game play. The Golden Cobra, one just a wild symbol, is now an expanding wild symbol. The new free spins feature offers 25 spins in stead of ten free spins that were offered in the previous version. The biggest improvement is seen in the bonus game; it features multiple levels.

The first one is an oasis featuring treasure chests. One chest contains the map required to reach the second level. The map can lead to two different places in which the second stage can play out: the Hidden Sanctum or the Secret Tent. At each stage the player has more chances to win cash prizes. Online casino reviews praised the improved version.

Cryptologic Gets Maltese Licensing for InterCasino

Cryptologic, one of the most veteran online casino software companies, has acquired Maltese Lotteries and Gaming Authority online gambling licensing for InterCasino from OIGE Ltd., a Malta based company that has been a Cryptologic customer for years. OIGE is a holding company in charge of a number of online casinos based out of Malta. They were willing to transfer their licensing to Cryptologic for “nominal consideration.” The Maltese Lotteries and Gaming Authority approved the transfer.

This acquisition could be related to future plans for a large purchase. Amaya Gaming Group is currently in talks to purchase Cryptologic. The Canada-based company has offered sums exceeding £34.5 million for the veteran software developer. Some online casino reviews suggest that Cryptologic rushed to seal the deal with OIGE for the Maltese licensing in order to up their purchase value at the last minute and sweeten the deal. An official declaration is expected from Amaya in the coming days.

If Amaya does go through with the purchase it will be a big deal for the international online casino community. Cryptologic, based out of Ireland, has been active in the online casino games industry since 1995. Having released over 300 online casino games, there are very few people in the industry who have not used Cryptologic software. For the Amaya gaming group, this could be a step to gain ground against Playtech. Playtech, another software development giant in the online casino industry, has raised a lot of money in the stock market and set out on an aggressive purchasing campaign.

New Facebook Betting App 2Bet2

Socialitize Ltd. has released a new virtual money betting app for Facebook. Users can wager on a variety of sporting events via the app right on facebook. Capitalizing on the trend of online casino apps on facebook, the app acts as a bookie, giving house odds, and users can bet against the house. Some of the sports include baseball, basketball, American football, hockey, tennis, and golf. However, the 2Bet2 app isn’t limited to American sports; the app also includes rugby (league and union) and 25 European soccer associations.

The bets are placed using “BB$” – the virtual 2Bet2 currency; in this regard it’s much like a free play casino. The currency is issued upon sign-up and non-redeemable. The app runs much like a game with levels. The better a player bets, the more experience points they receive. The experience points allow the players to advance to new leagues and higher-stakes betting.

The app features a live feed were punters can get updates about their competitor’s bets. In the spirit of Facebook’s social aspect, players can add comments. There is even a function for “taunting” or “respecting” other punters, as well an option to post wins and losses. Socialitize’s CEO Adriaan Brink said that players love the social aspect of 2Bet2. He explained that allowing players to display their wins to their friends or to use the “taunting” or “respecting” functions truly adds a unique social aspect to betting that you won’t find anywhere else.

He added that 2Bet2 also has a function called “Challenge-A-Friend.” This function, as its name shows, allows a player to directly challenge a friend on Facebook; this brings a very personal competitiveness to the app. Online casino reviews spoke highly of the social competition aspect.

Ray Lesniak Pushes New Jersey Gambling Legislation

New Jersey State Senator Raymond J. Lesniak has announced that he plans in introducing a bill to the New Jersey Senate for the legalization and regulation of internet gambling in the Garden State. Following the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent reexamination and redefinition of the 1961 Federal Wire Act which led to the exclusion of online casino gambling from the law, Lesniak believes that New Jersey should be at the forefront of legalization.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie had vetoed a similar bill in the past, fearing it would violate the 1961 Federal Wire Act. However, now that the USDOJ’s Legal Committee has removed online gambling from the bill, Lesniak believes he will be able to get the bill passed. Lesniak said he wants New Jersey to be the “Silicon Valley” of online gambling. He believes that it’s only a matter of time before states start legalizing online gambling, and the first ones to do it position themselves in a very advantages position. Lesniak wants New Jersey to house the best USA online casino with the best casino games.

Lesniak is including clauses in the bill to address specific issues that Gov. Christie had raised regarding online gambling. These clauses included penal measures, such as a one thousand dollar fine, per player per day, for operating an unlicensed internet casino, and a ten thousand dollar fine for advertising such an establishment. Another clause is a minimum age of 21, and a requirement to be located within New Jersey state lines while gambling; Lesniak stressed that the technology already exists to enforce those requirements. The bill also has a clause allocating $100,000 annually for a problem gambling fund.

Tribes Not Excited by New USDOJ Decision

Members of the Indian gaming community are not particularly excited about the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent decision. The USDOJ’s Legal Council has recently overturned the Criminal Division’s understanding of the 1961 Federal Wire Act. The Wire Act, which was used for years to outlaw internet gambling, now exclusively prohibits sports betting. Some members of the Indian community are upset; others are apathetic.

The issue for the Indian gaming community is that the Federal Wire Act was never an issue for them. The Indian gaming community has enjoyed special status for years, such that the problems other establishments suffered were never an issue. The issue is, now that online casino gambling may become legal in many states across America, the special status enjoyed by Indian casinos in not so special anymore. Some claim that the USDOJ’s decision essentially violates contracts between the U.S. government and the Indian tribes. Top online casinos could seriously affect the land-based casinos revenue flow.

Some members of the Indian gaming community have been quite apathetic about the recent developments. Some explain that the USDOJ’s decision has no impact until states start legislating; as of now, only Nevada has begun such a process, so the Indian community has no reason to worry. Others explain that the USDOJ’s decision doesn’t really create a new legal reality because the UIGEA had always included a clause allowing for online gambling within states and within tribal territory.

At the end of the day, it does seem that the USDOJ’s change of heart signals a change of heart in Washington regarding the government’s outlook on online gambling. If USA online casinos are only a matter of time, it will be interesting to see what the impact will be on the Indian gaming community.

New Cross-Platform Casino Module by OMI

The gaming software development corporation OMI has recently announced the release of Kazuri Casino Module, an integrated multiplatform gaming module. The new Kazuri OMI platform can be integrated into handheld devices, computers, websites, and kiosks. The concept behind the new development is the idea that customers want to play their favorite casino games on any and all of their electronic devices seamlessly.

The online platform can run off any browser with no need for downloading software or installing extra plug-ins. The module is supported by all the major operating systems, including Linux. All the games available on the module come in two forms: one form is customized for smaller devices such as smartphones and tablets for the mobile online casino experience, and one form is full-size for browsers or kiosks.

Tobias Lindgren of Omni Gaming explained that the Kazuri Casino Module accelerates the game distribution process by enabling simultaneous distribution of a game on all the available platforms. Operators wanting to avail their casino games via various channels will find that OMI’s module is an excellent solution.

Online casino reviews have spoken highly of Kazuri’s great games, easy payment system, international currency and language support, solid security, free play casino, and nice jackpots. The reviews also noted that it offers flexible prizes, prizes that can be paid out as goods or cash, and progressive jackpots. OMI is known for popular casino game titles such as Jungle Fruit and Princess Fortune. The firm plans to release Benny the Panda, Tres Hombres, Mad Circus, and Las Vegas Getaway soon.

Carrot and Stick for Belgium Online Poker

The Belgium Gaming Commission has, on the one hand, authorized real-money wagering for three online poker sites, but on the other hand, has announced that it plans to block access to any unlicensed online casinos. This action on part of the Belgium Gaming Commission is the implementation of the Gambling Act passed last January. The 2011 Gambling Act prohibits online casinos with the exception of specific casinos that receive special licensing. In order to receive licensing, the operator must be a Belgium-based firm with a license to operate “brick & mortar” casinos in Belgium. If a foreign operator wishes to operate an online casino in Belgium, they have to open a land-based casino there first.

Part of implementation of the Gambling Act was the creation of two lists: the white list, casinos with licensing, and the black list, casinos without licensing. The three online poker sites to be put on the white list are Casino777.be, Partouche.be, and PokerStars.be. PokerStars, a top online casino, announced that Beligian players should not expect any significant changes regarding use of the site, though due to increased operation costs their may be less online casino bonuses. The black-listed sites are going to be blocked at the source – internet service providers are required to block access to black-listed websites.

Two unlicensed European operators, iPoker and PartyPoker.com, claim that anybody in Europe will be able to use their site regardless of Belgium’s new regulations. They claim that the regulation can not be effectively enforced.

Belgium joins Denmark and Spain as the European leaders on gambling regulation, however, the European Commission, the EU body charged with creating unilateral regulation for online gambling, has been critical of the countries’ individualized regulations that hamper fair competition and violate EU fair-trade principles.

Calvin Ayre Predictions for 2012

Calvin Ayre, the infamous entrepreneur behind the Bodog Brand, has come out with online gambling predictions for the year 2012. Ayre provided predictions about gambling in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and new gaming platforms.

Regarding legalization and regulation of USA online casinos, Ayre remains skeptical. Though he’s skeptical on the national level, on the state level he does see progress, especially in Nevada, and says that he sees individual states going either way. He added that the companies best suited to take advantage of the U.S. situation are already licensed operators and companies with great technology.

Regarding Europe, Ayre expressed his concern about the fragmentation of the market. He described a scenario where each market is fighting for a legislated local monopoly. This is bad for the European market as a whole, and taking into account the shaky economic situation, Europe 2012 forecast is grim.

Asia, on the other hand, is a young, quickly growing market. He believes that the Asian market will overtake the entire world market in size, though he warns that, considering China’s history of business dealings, some companies may find themselves locked out of the local market entirely. India is also a potential multi-billion dollar market that has yet to be properly tapped.

The Latin America market, though much smaller than the Asian market, nonetheless presents a lot of potential because it is barely touched; the full potential of the market is far from being reached.

Ayre claims that the companies most likely to succeed are those who best take advantage of new technologies such as mobile casinos, casino apps, social networks, twitter, and the like. He adds that the live-dealer platform should be expanded beyond traditional table games and holds great potential for attracting players.

Traders Clicked Ignore on Zynga’s IPO Request

Zynga, the software developer behind the popular facebook apps Farmville, Cityville and Zynga Poker, launched its initial public offering (IPO) this week to a surprisingly tepid response. Generally speaking, IPOs are engineered to automatically garner a jump in the value of the stock. Zynga, on the other hand, managed to loose 5% in one day. On the flip side, the IPO did rake in $1 billion for the company.

Despite the current situation of the U.S. economy, Zynga’s poor showing still needs explanation. Zynga is a growing, profitable company, yet, while looking at other IPOs like Jive Software, Groupon, and Pandora who all had respectable showings, it becomes clear that it’s not an issue with tech stocks. That could be, though, precisely the issue. Some analysts view Zynga not as a tech company, but rather as an entertainment company. The difference being that while with a tech company you can expect a certain degree of product longevity, entertainment material is inherently passing. There is no guarantee that Zynga will continue to pop out games that will fascinate facebook users. Casino reviews spoke lukewarmly of Zynga’s no-money poker. Zynga has a long way to go to become a top online casino.

Another issue with Zynga is their business model. The vast majority of Zynga’s profits come from the virtual products they sell within their games. Industry experts are unsure about how long users will remain loyal to or interested in these virtual products. Furthermore, according to Zynga’s own statistics, a minority of players constitute the majority of the sales. It remains to be seen if Zynga’s casino games will use real money.

Lastly, Zynga is overly dependent on a platform it has no control over. Facebook changes frequently and some of these changes are bad for Zynga games. That level of uncertainty distances investors.

New Regulated Online Gambling in India

A new bill called the Sikkim Online Gambling (Regulation) Bill was passed by the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. The new bill will allow legalized and regulated online casino gambling in India’s northeastern Sikkim province. Though the new bill has already excited members of the gambling industry, the bill can not take effect without overcoming some final hurdles on the federal level.

Earlier last year, the Indian Parliament created Information Technology Rules that, aside from upsetting online free speech activists, may also prohibit online gambling at the federal level. The law obligates websites and other internet related companies to actively prevent the proliferation of practices that the Indian government deems socially unacceptable – including gambling. Some online casino reviews remains skeptical about the ability to act locally in light of the federal situation.

A careful reading of the Sikkim legislation reveals that the Sikkim lawmakers were well aware of the federal government’s power in preventing online gambling. It is with that in mind that they stipulated in government contracts with potential operators that the provincial government is not liable for any interference on part of the federal government. That is essentially saying that they know that their bill doesn’t have the power to actually allow online gambling without significant change in federal legislation; therefore, anyone who enters a contract is doing so at their own risk.

There is precedent, however, for such maneuvering. In America, states have engaged in legislation legalizing online gambling while problems still existed on the federal level. Now that the USDOJ has redefined the Wire Act to exclude internet gambling, those states will be the first to profit from the tax revenue coming from USA online casinos.

Microgaming to Release New Games

The U.S. Department of Justice has recently released a legal clarification of the Federal Wire Act of 1961. Until this new decision, the Wire Act was used to uniformly prohibit gambling via any form of electronic communication. Now, the Office of Legal Council has clarified that the Criminal Division’s prior understanding was erroneous and the proper understanding of the bill limits its provisions to sports betting only. This means that the bill can not be used in regard to casino games.

John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, praised what he called “a much needed clarification” of a bill that was out of date and vaguely worded. His hope is that the new policy will allow Washington lawmakers to advance legislation that will legalize and regulate online gambling. He asked that Congress legislate on the federal level in order to allow proper interstate gaming while avoiding the complications caused by a myriad of different state ordinances and laws.

Professor I. N. Rose, a well known expert on issues of gambling and law, predicted that online casino gambling will receive some sort of legal framework in most of the fifty states within ten years. He described a scenario in which federal law did not prevent states from legislating individualized state-level gambling laws. He said that it is only natural for states to protect their own interests and try to keep gamblers local. Therefore, it stands to reason that states will attempt to open their “borders” to as wide an audience as possible in order to maximize their revenue.

Even though the new decision does already save potential USA online casinos from the Wire Act, the PPA nonetheless stressed that it is necessary for Congress to make clear laws regulating online gaming.

Microgaming to Release New Games

Microgaming, the leading online casino software provider, has announced that it will be releasing a series of new casino games for its various platforms. The new games to be released are 300 Shields, Multi-Player No Worries, Asian Beauty, and Electric Bingo.

300 Shields is a Greek-themed 5-reel, 25-payline slot. Reminiscent of the film “300,” the symbols include Spartan warriors and Persian kings. The Wild Warrior symbol can appear on all five reels. Three or more Scattered Shield symbols activate the free play bonus. The free spin raises the Shield Count which in turn ups the Warrior Win-Multiplier. The game is available on Microgaming’s QuickFire platform.

Multi-Player No Worries is also a video slot game. It has five reels and twenty paylines. However, unlike 300 Shields, No Worries is multiplayer and can allow thirty players to play simultaneously in a virtual room. The game offers chat to the players in the room, as well as a Leaderboard depicting their ranking. During regular play, players can win up to 100,000 coins. The bonus game features Australian animals and awards the top ten players in the room. No Worries will be released on Flash.

Asian Beauty is a 5-reel slot that incorporates the 243-Ways-to-Win system. The combination of the 243-Way-to-Win system with the fact that there are very few symbols in the game offers the player with very good chances of receiving payouts. Asian Beauty will be released on both the Flash and Bingo platforms.

Electric Bingo is a fast-paced, South American style bingo game. The object of the game is to match the prize patterns. If a player is only missing one ball to complete a pattern, the game offers the option of buying the final ball. Electric Bingo will be released on all Microgaming platforms.

Gaming Stocks Go Green after DOJ Announcement

As a result of the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent decision to remove online gambling from the restrictions imposed by the U.S. Wire Act of 1961 online casino stocks have taken a very positive upturn. Traders responded excitedly to the USDOJ’s decision around the world, and many British companies have begun working to strengthen their ties with American firms in the hope that the USA online casinos will come back to life.

Top online casino companies like Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) and 888 Holdings (888.L) have both seen impressive growth in the aftermath of the decision. Ladbrokes and William Hill have likewise responded well. Considering the new legal reality created by the USDOJ’s decision and America’s current financial situation, industry leaders are hoping the Barak Obama will take the steps necessary to allow for a legal framework for an online gambling industry in the U.S.

If a U.S. online gaming industry does become a reality, there is expected to be a flood of new players. Two companies that could profit greatly from massive influx are 888 and PartyGaming. Their technology is expected to be able to cope with the large numbers of new players coming with the emerging industry.

Simon French of Panmure Gordon, a corporate and institutional stockbroking and investment banking group, recommended buying stock in 888 Holdings because of the massive potential of an emergent interstate gambling industry in America. He also mentioned the potential resulting from Nevada’s recent legislation allowing for the licensing of online casinos locally. 888 is the only foreign company to receive local Nevada licensing to operate an online casino.

Betfair Software Glitch Forces Massive Cancelations

Betfair, the well-known online casino and betting website, was forced to cancel all bets placed on the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle a day and a half after the race was won. A technical error that enabled one customer to exceed his exposure limit by millions of pounds caused the mass cancelation. As a result of the error, the customer was able to bet millions of pounds at 28-1 odds on the horse Voler La Vedette, a horse with good chances of winning the race. Though he could have theoretically walked away with about 23 million pounds, in order to do so the customer would have needed to have about 640 million pounds in his account.

The spokesman at Betfair, Tony Calvin, clarified that the deviation was caused by a technical glitch and there is no need to fear that someone intentionally tampered with the account. Betfair employees have already located the flaw and taken care of it. Now they are running tests to ensure that the embarrassing mistake doesn’t repeat itself.

Calvin also said clarified that the issue was local to that account. Furthermore, despite the fact that Betfair’s system erred, the player would not have been able to win anyways because according to the terms and conditions a customer can not bet money without holding enough cash in his account to cover potential losses. In this instance, the player would not have been able to pay up had Voler La Vedette lost. Calvin added that they had to cancel the bets regardless of the results of the race, and that it doesn’t matter who betted on which horse.

In addition to sports betting, Betfair also offers online casino games as well as Betfair Mobile which is a mobile online casino.

Microgaming Keeping Lead on Mobile Platforms

Microgaming, established in 1994, is the world’s largest provider of online and mobile gaming software, providing over 600 casino games to over 160 casinos around the world. In order to solidify their position as global market leader, Microgaming has recently announced that they plan to release eight new games for Android compatible devices. The eight new games, as well as the Microgaming games already on the market, employ what’s known as a “swipe and tap” interface.” This interface is credited with the popularity of Microgaming’s touch-platform games.

The eight games newly customized for the Android platform include very popular Microgaming titles. Some of the popular online slot titles include Avalon, Spring Break, Break da Bank Again, and Agent Jane Blonde. There are also video poker games like Aces & Faces and Deuces Wild.

Neill Whyte, Microgaming’s head of product channels, said that in keeping Microgaming’s long-time tradition of industry leadership, the “swipe and tap” interface is yet another great Microgaming development that will surely please everyone in the gaming community. Though the future remains unknown, Whyte expressed his confidence that Microgaming will remain the industry leader regardless of whatever directions the industry may turn.

Though Microgaming is not limited to the online casino market and provides land-based casino services as well, experts say that the future of gaming technology is in online gaming, and specifically suggest focusing on mobile casinos. To date, the dissemination of smartphone technology has already broadened the online gaming market and produced extremely lucrative growth markets around the world.

Virgin Mobile Games Now Live

Virgin Games, one of the largest online gaming companies, has partnered with mobile marketing agency Somo and released Virgin Mobile, the Virgin mobile online casino. Representatives from the two companies said that the partnership between them has been productive and has resulted in a truly unique mobile experience that separates Virgin’s mobile platform from that of its competitors.

One of their goals was to create a unique mobile platform that would allow players to enjoy all of the games currently available on Virgin Games affiliate websites on their mobile devices. Thus far, casino games from ten major games developers have become available on the mobile platform including Cryptologic, Microgaming, IGT, and more. Virgin representatives wanted to make clear to Virgin customers that anyone who already has a Virgin account can access Virgin Poker, Virgin Bingo, Virgin Casino, and most importantly Virgin Mobile all with their one existing account. New customers will automatically gain access to all the sites upon creating their account via any one of them. Furthermore, the mobile platform allows account holders to access all the account management features available online on a regular computer right on the mobile device.

The popular Microgaming titles are available on the Virgin Mobile platform thanks to a Microgaming development know as QuickFire. Microgaming’s QuickFire platform allows players to enjoy popular games like Tomb Raider, Thunderstruck, Blackjack, Roulette, and more.

Virgin Games CEO Simon Burridge said that considering the smartphone penetration which is quickly climbing to 50% of English mobile consumers, Virgin’s customers expect all the functionality of their home computers on their mobile casinos, and Virgin intends to provide it to them.

Playtech Buys Out Ash Gaming

Gaming software development giant Playtech has announced that it is purchasing leading interactive gambling supplier Ash Gaming. This past July, Playtech signed a deal with Gala Coral to be their sole online casino software provider for ten years. Shorty thereafter, all of Gala Coral’s other suppliers had to cease there services. Ash Gaming is one such company. Now Playtech is buying out Ash for 23 million pounds. Once the acquisition of Ash Gaming is complete, it will be Playtech’s fourth takeover this year alone, bringing their total number of buyouts to ten.

Ash Gaming was established nine years ago by Chris Ash and is headquartered in London. The company grew to a forty-person firm earning 2.6 million pounds a year as of 2011. The deal between Playtech and Ash Gaming is that Playtech will pay 7.5 million pounds up front, and the remainder will be paid out over the course of the following three years depending on results.

Playtech’s CEO Mor Weizer stated that he is very excited about the newest acquisition. He said that Ash Gaming as a great reputation, delivers top online casino products, and has an impressive client base including Virgin Games. Weizer added that Playtech’s development team is familiar with Ash’s and is looking forward to working together. Playtech also plans to bring some of the Ash-developed games to the Playtech affiliate platforms. Popular Ash casino games that one can expect Playtech to adopt include the X-Factor, Midas Millions, and Madness House of Fun. Weizer further commented that he expects the added game content to increase Playtech’s earnings and revenue. According to the London Stock exchange he seems to be right because Playtech’s stock rose 1% on the strength of the announcement alone.

Cryptologic Might be Bought Out by Amaya

It has been confirmed that Amaya Gaming Group, a development agency heavily involved in consulting governments about the casino industry, has offered to purchase the share capital of Cryptologic, a developer who provides software solutions for top online casinos. The provisional offer shows Amaya’s intent only; an actual takeover is likely a good while away. Amaya had already purchased a significant share of Cryptologic last April leading many industry experts to expect this current move on part of Amaya. Amaya CEO David Baazov said that the Cryptologic stock was purchased in order to avail possible strategic interaction with the developer. Cryptologic, who deals more with casino games than finance, is being represented in the negotiations by Deloitte Corporate Finance.

Cryptologic’s Board of Directors has apparently, in principle, agreed to the terms of a possible all-cash offer for all of Cryptologic’s share capital. The offered price was $2.50 per share (USD) which reflects a 52% premium compared to the NASDAQ closing price of $1.64 (as of 14/12/11). From this point forward, the next stage for the Amaya Group will be determine the feasibility and profitability of the takeover based on the aforementioned offering price (the confirmatory due diligence phase).

The final takeover is now dependent on three major factors. The first factor is the completion of the confirmatory due diligence by Amaya which translates to a confirmation of their intent to purchase. The second factor is a unanimous decision by Cryptologic’s Board of Directors which is essentially a confirmation from their side. Lastly, Amaya has to provide the capital in order to execute the purchase. Understandably, failure to produce the capitol will result in the burying of the deal. Amaya has until 1/12/12 to announce their purchase intent or bury the deal.

Federal Wire Act Reexamined

The United States Department of Justice released a surprising statement saying that the Federal Wire Act of 1961 applies only to sports betting. This is quite significant for the online casino industry because the USDOJ has used the 1961 act to outlaw all form of internet gambling and to authorize enforcement. James Cole, the Deputy Attorney General, wrote that the USDOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel reanalyzed the act (18 US Code, Chapter 50) and came to the conclusion that it is only applicable to sports betting.

Alan Feldman of MGM said that the fact that the Justice Department has come to the conclusion that it does not have the legal power to deal with casino online gambling only makes the urgent need for federal legislation that much more clear and apparent. Internet gambling supporters were very happy about the Justice Department’s clarification, though they continued to stress the need for clear government regulations to encourage a safe casino games industry in the US.

When push comes to shove, what the Office of Legal Counsel is saying is that the Criminal Division of the DOJ misunderstood the law and ran with it. The reexamined legal stance of the Office of Legal Counsel says that the Criminal Division has basically made an error, and therefore the premise upon which they were prosecuting was erroneous as well. The Wire Ace only authorizes the Criminal Division to prosecute those who engage in transmissions related to sports betting and wagers.

Ronal Weich, the Assistant Attorney General, sent a letter to Harry Reid (D-NV) explaining that if individual states choose to outlaw various forms of gambling, the USDOJ will still be empowered to prosecute via the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The UIGEA was used in spring to shut down a number of USA online casinos.

Betsson Mega Fortune Breaks World Record

A very lucky player from Norway has recently broken a world record for winning the largest online jackpot ever. The lucky Norwegian, who was playing on Betsson.com, hit the five-reel 25-payline Mega Fortune jackpot and raked in 11.7 million euro. Shortly after the win, Net Entertainment AB (NetEnt), a leading provider of online casino games, announced that the adjudicator of the Guinness World Records officially confirmed that this payout was the largest ever online slot payout.

The lucky player, a twenty year old resident of Hordaland, Norway, received a cash prize of 11,736,228 Euro. Betsson.com representative Huw Thomas said that the company is proud to enter the Guinness World Records, especially for giving away the biggest payout ever. He added that they work tirelessly to provide quality entertainment, the largest payouts, and conveniently quick withdrawal.

Mega Fortune is part of Net Entertainment’s larger slot network. Mega Fortune is a progressive jackpot; it pools from a number of the top online casinos in Europe. Since 2008, the lucrative slot has paid out over twenty six million euro. The last big payout was a 5.3 million euro payout this past February. Online casino reviews spoke highly of the progressive jackpot’s impressive payout record.

Bjorn Krantz, the CEO of Net Entertainment, said that it is great that the renowned Guinness World Records has recognized their efforts to supply quality gaming solutions. He added that they are happy to provide such an efficient and lucrative progressive jackpot that has one of the biggest pooling systems in the market.

New Anna Nicole Themed Online Slot

Golden Palace, a well-known top online casino, does not balk at any means of creating controversy, and in the spirit of eyebrow-raising has recently announced its association with the late Playboy pin-up Anna Nicole Smith. Anna Nicole Smith is known for her modeling, marrying an oil tycoon, and for staring in her own reality TV show. She died from a drug overdose in February, 2007.

Anna Nicole was known to be a fan of Golden Palace’s unique advertising schemes, including their use of the Virgin Mary Toast. She thought Golden Palace was the best online casino and became a spokesperson for the casino; she even concocted the idea of posing naked for Golden Palace advertisements while pretending to be in a developed state of pregnancy. She had her body painted gold and the words “Goldenpalace.com” written on her expanded belly. The photos were taken in 2006, though they weren’t published due to her untimely death. Now, as part of a new promotional campaign, Golden Palace has made the never-before-seen pictures available on their website. Golden Palace says that the pictures are being shared in the spirit of Anna’s “zany sense of humor.”

Beyond the promotional pictures, Anna is also going to be the star of a brand new slot machine. To be precise, the slot machine is not actually new, but after her death the release was pushed off. Now, together with the release of the photos, Golden Palace is now releasing the slot machine that was designed in congress with Anna Nicole. The game features Anna’s interests such as her dog, a pink car, and other glitzy, glamorous, and pink items she loved. Casino guides are abuzz about the release, though the actual release date remains unknown.

Paddy Power Steps Foot in North America

Ireland’s largest sports betting provider, Paddy Power, has recently signed a three year contract with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) which is its first ever deal in North America. Beginning in 2012, the Irish firm will provide services related to risk management, business services, and online software services to the betting arm of the BCLC. Paddy Power’s CEO Patrick Kennedy expressed his excitement at the beginning of their North American operations. The company sees specific importance in the strategic potential of North American operations and is working to increase their business in the region. Their goal is to endorse their products with other local firms as well as engaging other forms of partnerships, such as USA online casinos.

Thanks to the new spirit of regulation and the creation of legal frameworks that allow gambling all around the world, Paddy Power has found itself in an advantageous position to provide services that are in increasing demand. Casino reviews are expecting continued growth in expanding international markets for the Irish firm.

Rhonda Garvey of BCLC also expressed her excitement about the new partnership. She said that the corporation believes the new partnership is very important to the development and operation of their online betting site PlayNow.com. Paddy Power’s systems were the perfect fit, said Garvey. She concluded that their software provides a unique, quality experience.

According to the law in British Columbia, BCLC is the only body authorized to run an online betting site. By association Paddy Power is in a very good position because there is no real competition. It has been reported that they applied for a Nevada gaming license as well in order to further expand their hold in the region. Paddy Power expressed interest in partnerships with a top USA online casino.

Gamcare Suggests Kids Learn About Gambling

Gamcare, a support center for problem gambling, recently said that school children should learn about gambling in order to prevent problem gambling later in life. Their argument held similar reasoning to the argument behind teaching school children about other potentially dangerous activities in school, like smoking and drinking.

The organization further stated in a letter that the highest rate of problem gambling actually exists in adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15. Due to the high rate of advertising, celebrity involvement, easy access to casino games online, and an undeveloped understanding of the downsides, young people are more prone to problem gambling.

The National Center for Irresponsible Gambling (NCIS) commented that children who have no exposure to gambling style games at a young age carry a 75% greater risk of becoming problem gamblers when introduced to casino games in their teenage years. Early exposure allows the youths to develop coping mechanisms for properly dealing with the temptations later on in life. They suggest that parents should create a casino like environment for their kids to learn. Stephen Twigg, the Shadow Secretary of Education in the UK, said that these areas of education can not and should not be abandoned to chance; therefore, children need to be equipped with good advice from a young age.

Gamcare representatives also said that they believed in such classes children should discuss both the positive and negative aspects of gambling and try to examine why people do it. They added that the classes could also touch upon many tangential issues such as healthy life-style decisions, risk management, money management, informed consumption, and other important life skills.

Bovada to Replace Bodog Brand in US

Following the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, the online casino brand Bodog was forced to pull back its US operations. The UIGEA had disastrous effects on the online gaming industry in America a brought down many online casino companies. Nonetheless, Canadian-based Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (MMGG) licensed Calvin Ayre’s brand. MMGG used the Bodog brand in order to promote and market their other online services in North America.

Now, the group has recently released a statement via CEO Alwyn Morris that the company is disassociating from the Bodog brand name and all customers will be transferred to their new site. Ayre also released a statement detailing the cessation of the licensing of the Bodog brand by the MMG Group. Since Bodog has received licensing to operate in the UK, this essentially means that Bodog will operate exclusively in the UK and will have no presence in the US. Consequently Bodog will not be renewing its license with MMGG.

Players operating out of the US will not be able to access bodog.eu or its partner websites anymore. MMGG will be launching a new brand in 2012, Bovada, under license of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. For players, the change is not significant. In stead of logging into bodog.eu, they will be logging into bovada.lv. The casino will still be under the ownership of MMGG and is still operated by MMGG. MMGG’s hope is that the new bovada brand will become a top online casino. Players’ hope is that the new launch will be accompanied by some free play casino bonuses.

New Playtech Branded Online Slots

Fortifying its lead in the branded slot game market, Playtech has recently announced the upcoming release of a new branded online slot game. The new game is to be released in conjunction with Platinum Studios, a major media franchise that owns over 5,600 comic-book characters. The latest game to be released will use the theme from the New York Times best seller and major Hollywood motion picture “Cowboys & Aliens.” The release is expected in the summer of 2012 and will be available at Playtech’s top online casinos worldwide.

“Cowboys & Aliens” is a genre-mixing story about an alien invasion of an isolated Western town in the 1800’s. It was originally written and illustrated as a graphic novel by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg in 2006. Casino reviews say that the Wild West and aliens themes are popular among online gamers. Playtech is smartly capitalizing on the double popularity. The Playtech developers will have a rich breadth of material for designing the game’s animations, backgrounds, and bonus games.

This deal is not the first one struck between Playtech and Platinum. The two companies cooperated on Iron Man themed slots that quickly became very popular. It should be noted, “Cowboys & Aliens” and both Iron Man movies were directed by Jon Favreau. Rosenberg, the “Cowboys & Aliens” creator who now serves as CEO of Platinum Studios, said that he is expecting the success of the game to mirror the success of the film (the film grossed over $170,000,000) and is excited abut the idea of people playing “Cowboys & Aliens” at a casino online in their homes.

Sagi Harari, the head of content at Playtech, says that “Cowboys & Aliens” will be instantly recognizable due to the film’s massive success. He added that the comic-book background complemented Playtech’s existing portfolio.

Virgin to Use Microgaming Platform

Virgin Games reported that their Virgin Casino will now be available on mobile phones thanks to Microgaming’s mobile platform QuickFire. Simon Burridge, Virgin Games’ CEO, said at the launch that the move is a response to a clear and present customer demand for mobile casinos. With the increase of smartphone penetration in the UK, it goes without saying that gamers want their PC functionality on their phones. Mobile gaming has seen impressive growth over the past year.

The QuickFire platform provides mobile access to most of Microgaming’s popular games. These include the progressive slots Major Millions and Mega Moolah, table games like roulette and blackjack, Bingo Bonanza, video poker, and Dragon’s Fortune. The QuickFire platform is compatible with Android devices, iPhones, and iPads alike.

Anyone who already has an account with Virgin Games will not have to register a new account in order to access Virgin Mobile. Anyone who signs up for one automatically gets access to the other. In celebration of the launch, all players will receive a mobile casino bonus the first time they play on Virgin Mobile. Essentially, all the activities one was able to do on the Virgin website can now be preformed from the phone, including account management, deposit, withdrawal, and playing for bonuses.

Microgaming CEO Roger Raatgever said that Virgin and Microgaming share a sturdy partnership. He expressed hope that just as their partnership has brought both companies success in the past, it will continue to do so in the future. Simon Burridge added that though Microgaming is proud of QuickFire’s gaming quality, they eventually plan on availing other games just like they do at Virgin Casino. Players are hoping new releases will translate to a free play bonus.

Serbia Announces New Online Gambling Laws

A new set of laws have recently been signed into legislation in Serbia that will create a legal framework for licensed online casino operators while also empowering government authorities to shut down unlicensed and unregulated black market casinos that have been plaguing the Serbian industry for years in addition to facilitating money laundering.

The Serbian umbrella organization that represents all the local gaming operators, JAKTA, convened with the Serbian Gaming Board (SGB) one day after the signing. JAKTA can be credited with lobbying the Serbian government to pass these laws. They were also the organization put in charge of researching the Serbian market, as well as European gambling markets and their respective regulatory frameworks. At the meeting with the SGB, they conveyed their optimism that the new laws will herald a new era of legal casino online gambling for Serbia.

The director of the Serbian Gaming Board stressed that the new legislation will address three critical issues. The new laws provide for the regularization of taxation, provide for the authorization of electronic casino monitoring, and provides for online gambling supervision. Before the legislation, it was nearly impossible for a legitimate casino operator to compete against the untaxed black-market casinos. The new laws give power to the SGB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Tax Authority to enforce regulation and shut down the clandestine operators. The hope from these laws is double – not just to get rid of the illegal industry and its money laundering, but also to develop a local industry and gain tax revenue.

Politics in the U.S. Preventing Legalization

With the year coming to a close, the window of opportunity for legalizing online gambling may be closing with it. Politicians don’t love to push controversial legislation right before elections, and the legalization of online casino gambling is still not a universally accepted idea.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was signed into law back in 2006; George W. Bush was president then. Barrack Obama has been president now for 3 years and there is no progress in sight. While some congressmen must be given credit for fighting valiantly for the cause of an American casino online industry, it clearly wasn’t enough. Others hoped that the state of the U.S. economy would tip the scales, though that hope was dashed as well. The only legislation one can expect to see coming out of Congress in the next year is legislation that looks nice in a TV commercial for the election campaign.

However, not all politicians are running for reelection and therefore not everyone has to worry about commercials. One such politician, Barney Frank, is still pushing for legalization. He spoke at the congressional subcommittee and argued fiercely on behalf of the legalization of online poker. Nonetheless, no one is naïve enough to believe he can do it alone.

Though politics on the national stage tend to grind any and all progress to a screeching halt, there is hope on the state level. Anticipating the 2-4 delay still expected on Capitol Hill, the Nevada state government erected a legal licensing framework for local online gambling. The gambling state on the other coast, New Jersey, may be next to follow suit.

Is there still hope for use online casinos to become legal? We hope so!

New PricewaterhouseCoopers Gambling Report

The annual PricewaterhouseCoopers gambling report entitled “Global Gaming Outlook: The Casino and Online Gaming Market to 2015” was recently released and quickly drew the attention of the global gaming community. The report depicts the forecasted development and maturation of the global industry over the coming years. The report predicts a global rate of growth for the gambling industry of a compound 9.2% from the current global market valued at 117.6 billion USD to 182.8 by 2015. These numbers have strong implications for the global online casino market.

The global growth rate, however, paints a slightly deceptive picture. There is a significant disparity between the individual growth rates in different parts of the world. While in the U.S., the rate of growth is expected to be no higher than 5%, the forecasted rate of growth in the Asia-Pacific region reaches a whopping 18.3%. The PricewaterhouseCoopers report is full of predictions that all point at the bulk of gambling revenue migrating eastward over the course of the next 5 years.

The report lists France, Germany, and South Africa as the countries with the three largest casino gaming markets, respectively. The current value of the gross revenue of South America’s gambling industry is only about 3.2% of the global gambling market, and though the report predicts an 8.1% rate of growth, by 2015 South America will only constitute 3% of the global market (mostly due to the massive growth rate in Asia).

The main predictions made in the report can be summed up in three main points. First and foremost, the industry is growing and growing at an impressive rate. Secondly, the bulk of the growth will occur in the Asia-Pacific region. Lastly, any gambling business needs to make arrangements to be ready for the massive changes occurring in the global gambling market. It will be interesting to see how this is reflected among the top online casinos.

Microgaming Releasing New Slot Game

Microgaming, the popular online gaming development company, has recently announced the last game release in its series of new game releases for 2011. The new online slot game, Immortal Romance, can be compared to popular titles like Lord of the Rings and Thunderstruck. All the top online casinos powered by Microgaming software will offer these games!

Immortal Romance will be the first game in a series of games that will have a continuous plot. The plot is themed similarly to the successful Twilight books and movies. In the story, there are four main characters whose stories become slowly revealed over the course of the game. While playing, you can access more information about the characters.

Immortal Romance is unique – in stead of having regular paylines, the game offers 243 Ways to Win. 243 Ways to Win is a special set up in which the game takes into consideration all the visible symbols on each reel regardless of their vertical position. You can also accumulate Player Achievements and reach Gold Status. With Wild Desire, you can transform up to 5 reels into wild reels and increase your chances of winning.

There are four main characters in the story and each one offers unique ways of winning. Troy, the charmer, offers a chance to get fifteen free spins and releases bats that turn regular symbols into 6x multipliers. Amber, the sorceress, can get you ten free spins and 5x multipliers that can be retriggered. Sara, the heroin, offers 25 retriggerable spins; the retrigger gives another 4 spins. Michael, the vampire, can get you rolling reels that’ll offer 5x multipliers and twenty free spins. If you want to start playing these games with no deposit bonus codes visit our Microgaming casinos for the best online casino offers.

Gambling with Real Money on Facebook

The possibility that Facebook will open its doors to real money gambling apps has created much buzz in the British market. It has been recently reported that Facebook may license casino operators to develop casino apps for the Facebook platform. It goes without saying that the only eligible operators will be those casinos that have already received the proper licensing from the regulatory bodies in charge of online gambling. Gamesys and 888 are two online casino operators that, according to recent reports, have been tagged by Facebook officials as potential affiliates. This is huge news for online casino operators and also for players! Players might soon be able to enjoy even better online casino bonuses.

Gaming apps like poker have been popular among Facebook users for years. The question is – can these popular games successfully ford the transition from money-free games to real-money games? A game like Zynga Poker, which enjoys much popularity among Facebook users, is currently free, and there is no guarantee that it will succeed in monetizing. One way people are suggesting for the integration of real-money gaming into Facebook is for Facebook to operate a system of Facebook credits where users deposit money to Facebook in exchange for credits that can be used in the games. It’s advantageous for Facebook, who can take a percentage, and the players, who have a safe and secure way of depositing and receiving money. However, in order for Facebook to inaugurate this new service they first need to develop a real age verification system. This will ensure that online casino no deposit bonus offers go to real players only.

One of the more interesting aspects of the new possibility will be the impact of Facebook’s unique social consumption on the success or failure of gambling apps. While one app may go viral, one may go unnoticed; standard SEO doesn’t work on Facebook. Also, multiplayer games will experience interesting interaction within networks of Facebook friends.

European Commission Flexing its Muscles

A new resolution was recently legislated by the EU parliament that aims to strengthen the European Commission in enforcing the European online gaming standards on all member states of the European Union. As a result, action is now being taken against Greece and Germany for violation of the free market standards.

According to the complaint filed against the German regulatory bodies, the German government is violating free market standards by withholding licensing to foreign operators. European Commission standards mandate that every member state provide licensing to any operator that meets EC standards. The German regulatory bodies have been providing licensing exclusively to local operators, thereby creating monopolies in the German provinces. As a result of these violations, the EC could withdraw their authorization of German online casinos. Though many German officials are making light of the issue, representatives of the European gambling community say that the European Commission is expected to enforce the European standards on Germany whether they like it or not. The implications for casino business and online casino business has yet to be seen.

Against Greece, complaints were filed by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) and by the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) regarding standards violations. These standards are in place to ensure the best online casino practices. Like the situation in Germany, Greece is being charged with encouraging local monopolies in violation of EC regulations. According to Greek regulations, licensing will only be provided to an operator that has permanent offices in Greece and performs its financial transactions via Greek banks. Realistically, this prevents any non-Greek operator from acquiring licensing. Furthermore, the Greek government-owned OPAP enjoys a complete tax exemption, which gives them an operational monopoly on the Greek market that no other operator can realistically compete with. The RGA and EGBA are hoping that the EC will force the Greek government to open their market to real competition.

€3.84 Million for Progressive Jackpot Winner

When playing slots, with every pull of the lever or with every push of the button, everyone quickly dreams of that moment where the lights go off and you instantly become a millionaire. Last October, the dream became a reality for a player at an affiliate casino of Microgaming. He hit the jackpot of the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot that had reached a whopping sum of €3.84 Million. Challenge Casino was the online casino the player was using when he got lucky. Challenge Casino is owned by parent company Casino Rewards Group. Casino Rewards Group has a special ritual for indulging jackpot winners. They flew the player to their headquarters in Sydney.

After a fancy meal at the well-known Aria restaurant, they held a photo-op and press conference at the Royal Botanic Gardens where the winner, A.D., was unveiled holding a giant check made out to the sum of €3,841,871.46 to the cent. When asked how he got to playing at Challenge Casino, A.D. recalled that he had received a promotional CD in his mail box, and that after opening and installing the software, he received a gift and got into playing. The rest is history.

Recalling the day that he won the big jackpot, A.D. told reporters that he remembers the moment vividly. He said he was playing the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot when a different screen suddenly appeared. He couldn’t believe his eyes, but it said he had won the jackpot. He was so shocked that he even called technical support to ask if there had been some sort of error.

When describing what he would do with the winnings, A.D. said he would like to give away some of the money for charity, help his friends and family, travel, and save.

Playtech Looking to Raise £100 Million

Leading gaming software development company Playtech Limited has announced that they are looking to raise £100 Million via public stock offering. In a move to attract investors, Playtech is providing very good conditions for the deal. They are placing 46,511,627 placing shares at a price of 215 pence per share which is about a 2.5% discount from the regular share price. Furthermore, the entire IPO has been underwritten by Brickington Trading. The real icing on the cake for investors is the dividend offered – 40% of annual of profits per fiscal year.

In light of the current success in the online gaming market around the world, it is no surprise that Playtech is looking to grow. Financial analysts point out that Playtech needs the extra capitol in order to keep its current status as a world leader in software development for online casinos.

The company underwriting the IPO, Brickington Trading, is Playtech’s biggest shareholder. Brickington, the investment firm of Playtech’s founder Teddy Sagi, currently is in possession of 40.3% of Playtech. At the end of the offering, Sagi will have just under half of Playtech’s stock in his possession.

One of the moves expected of Playtech upon attaining the capitol is acquisitions in the field of gambling software. Just like Playtech’s purchase of Mobenga, the mobile gaming software development, one can expect even more such acquisitions in the future. Some expect the breadth of the acquisitions to reach £40 million. Considering the positive momentum enjoyed by the online gaming industry, Playtech has plenty of room for growth.

US Representatives Discuss Internet Gaming

The Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, a congressional subcommittee made up of House representatives from both parties, recently had a hearing on the topic: “Internet Gaming: Regulating in an Online World.” The topics discussed included the potential outcome of easing restrictions, consumer protection, possibilities of interstate gambling, the success of present legislation, and a number of new bills being proposed by lawmakers.

The first panel speaker was Frank Wolf (R-VA-10). Wolf entered a heated debate with Joe Barton (R-TX-6) who has proposed a bill for legalizing online poker. Wolf claimed that poker is no different than any other form of gambling, and therefore the legalization of online poker provides convenience gambling at a level that will lead to problem gambling. Barton, on the other hand, claimed that poker is a game of skill and should therefore be treated different. Panelists present at the committee strengthened Barton’s argument by pointing out that though millions of Americans have been engaging in online gambling for years, there has been no relative increase in problem gambling in the U.S.

The next two speakers in the panel were John Campbell (R-CA-48) and Barney Frank (D-MA-4), well known supporters of legalizing internet gambling. The two representatives have cosponsored a new bill they hope will finally succeed in creating a legal framework for licensing online casinos. Frank commented that such a framework will increase consumer protection and safety.

American Gaming Association CEO Frank Fahrenkopf also spoke. He made a unique and interesting point; he said that states do not have to fear unilateral legalization of online gambling, because if any particular state is against it for whatever their internal reasons may be, they can always prohibit it via state law.

Cryptologic Releases Four New Games

After a long period of lying dormant, the industry leading software developer Cryptologic announced the release of four new games. Players around the world who use Cryptologic-affiliate casinos are very excited about the news. Cryptologic is releasing three new video slots and one new table game.

The first new video slot game is a Greek mythology themed game called Battle for Olympus. The game offers a surprising fifty paylines and a bonus game. During the bonus game, the player has to choose which Greek god, Zeus or Hades, will win the epic battle for Olympus. Though the maximum payout per payline is 2,000, a player can triple it by receiving a special combo with the wild-card symbol.

Horns & Halos, the second new video slot game, has a heaven and hell theme. (Horns for hell – halos for heaven). While the game has a standard 15 paylines, the reel situation is unique. There are six reels: 3 for hell and 3 for heaven. They are played separately. On each side a player can accumulate gates, and upon achieving ten gates, ten free games are awarded to the player. This game’s per-line max payout is 1,000.

The third new video slot game to be released by Cryptologic is a Louisiana-swamp voodoo themed game called Juju Jack. This game has five reels and twenty five pay lines. The bonus game lets the player torture a voodoo doll for prizes and bonuses. This game’s per-line max payout is 2,000.

The new table game to be offered by Cryptologic is Baccarat Mini. Played using similar rules to American Baccarat, Baccarat Mini is played on a smaller table (that would seat five players if it was a real table). Bets can be placed on the other players or on the banker.

Lipparelli Says Policing Online Gambling Can Be Done

Nevada, the U.S. state probably most identified with gambling, is now the first U.S. state with legal online gambling. The other states will be eyeing Nevada to see if the new move is successful or not. The chairman of Nevada’s Gaming Control Board, Mark Lipparelli, said that policing online gaming is a reality.

Opponents of online gambling in the United States have long claimed that legalization will create an irreversible situation of online casino chaos and problem gambling. The fact that millions of Americans have been gambling online for years doesn’t seem to deter them from saying it. Lipparelli explains that the same possibility for cheating an online system with monetary interactions exists with online casinos as with any other website. Every website has to deal with issues of security, and there is no reason to think that online casinos will fail in this respect. The hackneyed issues brought up at every debate on the issue are not unsolvable problems.

Lipparelli clarified that internet casinos have developed extremely advanced analytics tools to prevent cheating and problem gambling. It is in the casino’s interest to prevent cheaters and problem gamblers. Furthermore, there is a separation between the credit exchange that takes place during game-play, and the actual account transfers of real money. Any real transfer of money requires validation and creates a paper trail.

Lipparelli has also testified recently at a congressional subcommittee that was considering the issue of legalized online poker, though it could be a very long time before any concrete results are visible.

UK Online Gambling News

In anticipation of the UK Treasury’s upcoming survey of Great Britain’s online gambling industry, currently evaluated at about £1.7 billion, a new regulatory measure has been brought to parliament by Matthew Hancock, a Conservative Party MP. His controversial proposal aims to replicate a legal status created by a recent court decision in South Africa. Judge Jonathan Heher of the North Gauteng High Court decided in a case between Piggs Peak Casino in Swaziland and a player in South Africa that the legally defined location of the playing is the location of the player and not the location of the operator. Hancock’s proposal seeks to implement this legal policy in England. In order to push the proposal through quickly, Hancock tried inserting it into the annual finance bill. However, other lawmakers saw no justification for the move and shut it down.

Another measure recently proposed in anticipation of the Treasury survey calls to close up the tax loopholes that many non-British offshore casino operators enjoy with the current tax code. According to the current tax code, offshore casinos that currently control the majority of England’s market share don’t have to pay taxes to the British government. The Department of Culture, Media, and Sport has involved the Treasury Department to solve the problem. This measure has broad support in parliament and is likely to be passed shortly.

William Hill, one of the largest online gambling operators in England is actually based offshore; they stand to be hit hardest by the new bill. In order to prevent the passing of the bill, they hired a third party firm, Deloittes, to prepare a report for lawmakers to reconsider. The Deloittes report stated that if the bill is passed, it will lead to an increased use of unlicensed casinos.

Indian Casinos Weigh in on Online Poker

With all the talk lately about whether or not online poker will be legalized and regulated, last week’s hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee saw a heated debate between tribal leaders about the potential affects of online gambling for the Indian casino industry.

The tribal leaders in favor of the legalization and regulation of online poker were headed by Mohegan Tribe chairman Bruce Bozsum. He stated that casinos have been a very successful venture for the Indian peoples. They have succeeded in modernizing casinos keeping up to date with technological and cultural changes. That said, the prospect of online poker should be looked at as a golden opportunity and not as a threat. However, he did have some specifications regarding the creation of a framework in which Indian casinos could thrive in the online market. One such request was that the online Indian casinos be allowed to proved gaming services for U.S. citizens beyond the borders of their territory, and possibly even overseas. Furthermore, he states that there is no reason that Indian online casinos should not benefit from the same tax status that the Indian land-based casinos currently benefit from.

Glen Gobin was spearheading the argument against online casinos. The Tulalip tribe vice chairman said that online casinos will cut into the existing casinos profits; he sees no reason in risking the current success of the Indian casinos. Al D’Amato, the former U.S. senator currently chairing the Poker Players Alliance, brought statistics that cast doubt on Gobin’s claims. D’Amato showed that only 1% of the Indian Casinos’ total profits are actually from poker, and therefore the concept that the online poker industry would have any significant impact on the Indian casino industry was unfounded.

One principle that all the representatives of the Indian community did agree on was that when congress does decide on the issue of online gambling, they want to be present and they want their voice to be heard.

Bernard Tapie Buys FTP from USDOJ

The French investment firm Groupe Bernard Tapie owned by French business mogul Bernard Tapie has just purchased Fill Tilt Poker, the popular internet poker site shut down by the U.S. Dept. of Justice last April, for a sum of $80 million. The purchase took place directly between the French firm and the USDOJ who had essentially acquired the custody over the assets after seizing FTP’s gambling license.

The deal does not, however, end with a clear cut purchase. When Full Tilt Poker was suddenly closed down, millions of customers became unable to access their accounts overnight. The exact details over who bears the responsibility for returning these funds to their rightful owners have yet to be completely hammered out. One possible deal would be for the USDOJ to return the monies to all the American clients; their assets amount to about $150 million. That would leave the international clientele to GBT who are looking at having to return about $240 million of withheld accounts.

With such a large initial investment, such a large debt, and a revoked gambling license, one might ask what Bernard Tapie is getting himself into. However, those familiar with the French millionaire know that he became rich doing exactly this – buying out business in dire straights and rebuilding them for massive profits – so it’s safe to say he knows what he’s doing.

Once GBT attains full ownership of Full Tilt Poker, they should be able to get relicensing. At that stage, the ball is in Tapie’s court if he wants to relaunch the casino and retain the Full Tilt Poker name or if he wants to use the platform for different ventures.

Unified European Voice on Online Gambling

Members of the European Union Parliament have reached a landmark decision that is likely to change the face of online gambling in Europe. The Parliament past a resolution that obligates all the member states to open their online gambling markets to all the other member states and situates any state that does not comply with the EU regulations in a very actionable position. This resolution was music to the ears of the online casinos.

Though the European Commission has been making standardized regulations for all the EU member states, there has yet to be any significant enforcement by the EU judicial bodies to enforce compliance on part of the EU member states. Until now, certain member states have taken advantage of the situation in order to capitalize on the lack of strict enforcement. They would on the one hand prevent licensing of foreign operators in their own borders, thereby giving their local businesses a monopoly, and on the other hand allow foreign customers to use their local business – they wanted to have their cake and eat it too. Thanks to the new resolution, any EU member state that prevents their citizens from accessing other member states’ casinos or prevents those casinos from receiving licensing can be prosecuted.

Clive Hawkswood, the CEO of the Remote Gambling Association, praised the new resolution. He explained that this is a breath of fresh air for the European online gambling industry. He went on to praise the change that he sees in EU legislation – a change from a policy of prohibition to a policy of legalization and regulation.

The European Court of Justice has already begun enforcing the new EU policy. Italy was recently brought to the ECOJ for refusal to grant licensing to an online casino from the UK.

New Verify Self Exclusion Solution

Though the dimensions of problem gambling have not grown with the increased popularity of online gambling, the attention the new industry has drawn did succeed in increasing the awareness to the problem. Recent years have shown increased pressure on casinos to provide innovative and effective solutions to problem gambling. In this environment, Verify’s new solution is receiving a warm welcome in the online gambling community.

Problem gamblers are those who go beyond the standard limits of good gaming. They don’t know when to stop, and when they loose beyond they limits, they sometimes even borrow money to try and win back their losses. Problem gamblers are sometimes tagged by the casinos; however, they can also engage in self-exclusion, i.e. volunteering to the casino that they are a problem gambler.

The specialty of the Verify system is its cross-casino database. If a problem gambler self-excludes himself from a casino, or gets tagged by that casino, he could still theoretically go and get into trouble at a different casino. Verify has created a unified database that any casino can use. The helps casinos prevent problem gamblers form opening accounts and also helps the problem gamblers themselves from opening accounts.

Verify manager Mark Dalton recently stated that Verify has succeeded in creating a perfect solution at a time when casinos desperately need one. Lawmakers are pressuring casinos for a solution that Verify is essentially providing. The more casinos join the system, the better the database will be and therefore the more effective it will be. It is only a matter of time before the majority of online casinos are participating in Verify’s system.

The Belgian Gaming Commission has Teeth

According to new regulations from the Belgian Gaming Commission, at the beginning of next year (2012) the major internet service providers in Belgium will be given a list of online gambling websites that they will be required to block. The Gaming Commission provided a two-part list on behalf of the companies. The “white list” consists of the licensed online casinos that the ISP’s are authorized to allow access to as usual. The “black list” contains all the unlicensed casinos that they will be henceforth obligated to block.

The usage statistics for Belgian gamblers paint a pretty clear picture showing why the BGC felt the need to go this road. There are just shy of 200,000 online gamblers in Belgium. Among all those gamblers, only about 19% actually use the licensed sites. The vast majority of Belgian gamers use the unlicensed sites. In light of the unflattering statistics, the Belgian Gaming Commissions has signed agreements to work together with Belgian financial institutions as well to help solve the problem of unlicensed gambling.

Regulatory unit head Peter Naessens explained that a report was prepared by the Belgian police department providing the BGC with a list of all the sites that are operating without license. The regulatory unit will then deal with those sites that are used most (illegally) by Belgian citizens.

Even after the passing of the Belgian Gaming Act, online gambling remains illegal for the most part. However, through selective licensing, there exists a framework for operating an online casino legally. The Gaming Commission is in charge of licensing, regulation, inspection, and supervising.

ABA Opposing New Gambling Legislation

The Australian finance industry has come out in opposition of Nick Xenophon’s recent submission to the Australian Parliament’s special committee on gambling. The proposed legislation essentially mimics the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act passed in the United States in 2006. The UIGEA outlaws the execution of monetary transactions by financial bodies on behalf of unlicensed online casinos. Leading Australian banks are claiming that this bill will impair the operative abilities of the entire Australian financial industry.

The fight against the new regulation is being lead by Visa, Australia’s largest provider of credit services, and the Australian Bankers Association (ABA). They claim that the implementation of such regulation could inhibit the operative abilities of Australian financial institutions to such an extent that it could actually lower their competitiveness and discourage online merchants from servicing Australian customers. Furthermore, they claim that there is no proof showing that the prohibition of such transactions actually has the capability of preventing unlicensed internet gambling operations from successfully functioning. The CEO of the ABA Steven Munchenberg that if such legislation is passed, the ability of the banks to perform efficient, timely online transactions will be put in jeopardy, and together with it the entire Australian online business industry.

When looking for the measures of success of such legislation, the precedent from the United States does not look good. The execution of the UIGEA in America caused the unexpected closing of three major U.S. based online poker websites. The result was millions of customers loosing access to monies they already deposited, and thousands of Americans loosing their jobs. Many lawmakers look at the UIGEA as precisely what not to do, and are wondering what exactly Xenophon saw in it that made him submit such a similar proposal to the committee.

New Spanish Regulation Creating Market

The Spanish government approved the creation of a regulatory framework for the operation of online casinos in Spain. As a result of the recent legislation, the new framework is to allow for the full operation of licensed casinos by January of 2012.

Representatives from the online gambling trade association in Spain, AEDAPI, told reporters that they are pleased with the new framework. However, they also had some criticism for the regulatory framework. They pointed out two major problems: one is the tax rate, which at 25% of gross profits is quite high. The second issue is that the legislation does not create a legal framework for all the forms of gaming popular today. These two issues severely reduce the profitability of any operator who would potentially enter the Spanish market. The AEDAPI representatives said that they would continue to work with authorities in order to make the market a more worthwhile place for online gaming operators.

Despite the aforementioned issues, some online gambling companies are already working on acquiring licensing in time for the January 2012 deadline. One such company, Rank plc., is working on the necessary licensing to launch their new online casino site enRacha. The site will offer slots, skill games, Spanish card games, poker, table games, and skill games.

The UK company Ladbrokes that operates various subsidiary online casinos all over the world, is also working to enter the Spanish market. They will use Microgaming software for their new Spanish-language site LBApuestas. The site is expected to launch right after the licensing deadline at the beginning of next year. After recent inroads into the South African market, Ladbrokes next big moves are in the Spanish market, due to the new legislation, and Denmark, due to the new tax incentives.

Massachusetts Senate Buries Online Gambling Bill

About a year ago, Dan Winslow, a State Representative for the Ninth Norfolk district of Massachusetts, added an online gambling clause to a gambling bill that, in its inception, was only supposed to allow for the building of new land-based casinos. What got Massachusetts online gaming hopefuls even more excited was that the bill was subsequently passed in the State House of Representatives. However, to the dismay of those potential gamblers, when the bill reached the Senate, the entire clause allowing for online gambling was removed before the bill was passed.

The protocol for dealing with a discrepancy between two versions of a bill is to create a bipartisan committee that will decide on one version for both houses and resubmit the bill for final voting. The six-member committee chose the Senate’s version of the bill, the version without the articles allowing for online gambling in Massachusetts. The final version was subsequently ratified in both the House and Senate, though it has yet to be signed into law by Governor Deval. Nonetheless, it is safe to say that online gambling clauses are buried, and the only hope for Massachusetts online gamblers is to push for brand new legislation.

As far as the land based casinos are concerned, the bill is a great success. As a result of the bill, three new casinos are going to be built in Massachusetts. This is expected to add 15,000 new positions to the local job market, as well as rake in about 300 million dollars for the state coffers in annual tax revenue. The bill also includes a unique twist – all the legislators who were involved with the bill are not allowed to work for the casinos until after a one year waiting period starting from the completion of their last term in office.

Native American Side of Online Gambling

As congress continues to way the pros and cons of online gambling, representatives of the Native American tribes were brought in to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in order to voice their opinion on the issues. Due to the scope of the involvement of the Native American community in gambling affairs, the issue of online gambling affects them greatly.

Among the various representatives who came to the hearing, there were those who voiced opinions in favor of regulated online gambling and those who were against. Bruce Bozsum, the Tribe Council Chairman of the Mohegan, spoke in favor of the regulation of online gambling. He said that given the opportunity, the Native American casinos will be able to compete and thrive in the online market. He did stress, though, that as opposed to the current laws that limit Native American gambling licenses to Native American territory, the government must allow players from the outside the territories to register and use their online casinos. Additionally, he called for the government to take affirmative action to close down any and all unregulated online casinos.

A voice opposing online gambling was that of Tulalip Tribe Vice Chairman Glen Gobin. He feared that the opening of the online market would significantly hurt the profits of the land-based casinos. Furthermore, given the current success of the land-based casinos that generate over $20 billion annually, he sees no reason to risk their profit margins on behalf of internet gambling that only generates about $4 billion annually. Unlike Bozsum, Gobin does not think the Indian casinos would succeed in competing with the more famous brand name casinos recognized nationwide.

The National Indian Gaming Association’s Chairman Ernie Stevens expressed an optimistic sentiment more in line with Bruce Bozsum. He posited that as long as the government upholds the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act on behalf of online casinos as well, there is no reason to believe that the Native American online casinos will not succeed in competing in the online market.

Gambling Reform Down Under

Issues of gambling reform in general and online gambling reform in particular, have been circulating through the Australian parliament for a while. In order to sort out the issues, a special parliamentary committee has been appointed to create a unified policy to be voted on in Parliament. One of the recent issues brought before the committee was the suggestion of Senator Nick Xenophon to enact a law similar to America’s Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act that aims to prevent illegal internet gambling by targeting the financial institutions that perform the monetary transactions on behalf of the players and websites.

Senator Xenophon’s submission has been met by stiff opposition from all the institutions involved. The Australian Banker’s Association came out with strong opposition. Their CEO, Steven Munchenberg, said to members of the special parliamentary committee that if Xenophon’s suggestion becomes law, not only will it not succeed in stopping clandestine internet gambling operations, but it will also hurt the competitive abilities of other Australian online consumer industries that have nothing to do with online gambling. A representative from Visa, Australia’s largest credit service provider, expressed similar sentiments in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. Andrew Wilkie who is heading the special parliamentary committee on gambling reform told the press that his committee will have a report ready for the government by the end of the month.

Earlier this month, parliament members from the opposition created their own policy document detailing what they think needs to be reformed. They suggested that credit card deposits to online gambling sites be altogether banned, that self exclusion at pokie venues be extended, and that programs for treating problem gamblers receive increased funding. The government is expected to finalize its decisions on the matters towards the beginning of 2012.

Three New Casinos in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts State Government passed the new controversial legislation authorizing the creating of three new casinos and a slot parlor. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor Patrick Deval shortly.

The controversial bill has a long history. In its original form, it included an article authorizing the licensing of online casinos in Massachusetts. With this article included the bill passed in the House. However, when it reached the Senate the online gambling article was erased. A special six member was appointed to reconcile the different versions of the bill. They chose to the version sans the online gambling article and resubmitted for final voting in the House and Senate. It passed the House by a vote of 118 to 33 and passed the Senate by a vote of 23 to 14.

Upon being signed into law, the bill is expected to ignite a bidding war among Massachusetts businessmen interested in capitalizing on the new situation. However, only two of the casinos will be available in an open commercial bid. The casino allocated for one of Massachusetts’ southern districts will be operated by a local Native American tribe on the condition they arrive at a revenue sharing agreement with state officials by July of 2012.

The bill was supported by both Democrats and Republicans who were looking for ways to help the State’s troubled economy both by adding jobs and by increasing tax revenue. However, there were those who were not so happy about the idea of using casinos to achieve those goals. Ruth Balser, a Democratic Representative from Newton, had very strong words about the bill. She said it would have a “devastating impact,” and that the bill is the wrong direction for Massachusetts.

Nevada GCB for Online Gambling

Nevada State’s Gaming Control Board (GCB) is currently in the process of finalizing work on the creation of a regulated framework for local online gambling in Nevada. At a recent U.S. Online Gaming Law Conference held at the Aria Casino in Las Vegas the chairman of the GCB Mark Lipparelli said that the board would be ready to investigate the suggested regulation this month in order to have everything finalized by February 2012.

The current suggested framework, which is similar to the frameworks already in place in many states that allow for online sports betting, is essentially geared only towards online poker. At this stage, there will not be any other types of gaming available, though that is likely to change.

Lipparelli encouraged local casino operators to enter the online market, stating that any current licensee who wishes to receive online licensing only needs to undergo review of their online technology. A company who wishes to enter the market from scratch will be required to undergo all the licensing and registration required of regular casinos in addition to the special authorization for the online gaming software.

Some of the features of the new legislation are similar to that already in place for regular casino gambling while some is unique to online. The minimum age is twenty-one, each person is allowed only one account, and it is forbidden to transfer money from one account to another. The licensees will be required to maintain a $20,000 deposit to pay for compliance investigations and required to keep a five-year history of all transactions and accounts. Furthermore, the software must have the ability to detect and block bots from using the system.

The legalization of online poker in Nevada was received with mixed feelings by the neighboring Californian tribes’ casinos.

German Player Cheats $390,000 in Online Poker

An online poker player is currently under investigation in Germany on charges that he used a Trojan horse virus in order to beat his opposing players. Using the virus, the player was apparently able to view the hands of his opponents, and then bet accordingly. By playing high stakes Pot Limit Omaha at an Austrian casino, he was able win $390,000 from two players.

The cheater successfully beat well-known poker champions such as Ilari Sahamies, Nicki Jedlicka, Juha Helppi, and Patrik Antonius. The rare defeat caused his opponents to get together and seek him out. They found him in a hotel room and forced him to “confess.” Though, when arrested by the police, he did not admit to any cheating or fraud.

The cheater clearly wasn’t smart enough to loose enough to hide his cheating. Generally speaking, if a player is winning at an abnormal pace, the casino will investigate if cheating is involved. However, in this case, the others players themselves were able to pick up on it.

Casinos go through great efforts to prevent cheating. The element of trust is a major element in poker. If players don’t trust that the game is fair they simply won’t play. The basic premise upon which the game stands is that everyone is on equal footing. Episodes like this one often distance potential players from joining online casinos and depositing money. The hope is that this cheating player will be properly prosecuted for his dangerous actions which undermine the basic foundations of gaming.

What is the Verdict on Online Gambling?

There isn’t one, at least not yet. Further study is needed, according to Chairperson Mary Bono Mack. The United States Congressional House Energy and Commerce Committee listened to both sides argue their case on online gambling on October 25^th. No legislative actions could be taken until more study is done on the subject.

Those who support legalized online gambling say it is already a reality for many Americans. They are using offshore accounts that are not regulated and could scam them for their money. Besides that, federal and state governments are missing out on the opportunity for more tax money. Joe Barton, legislator for Texas, spoke up that poker is not a game of chance but a game of skill.

On the side against the legalization of online gambling are the state lotteries. They envision lost tax revenue dollars that has already been promised for education. More people would go for online gambling instead of the lottery. Poker Players Alliance Chairman Alfonso D’Amato replied that they are two separate segments of society and the lotteries would not be affected by those who choose to gamble online.

Another issue presented to the committee was the money spent on gambling addiction. The executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling said he was neutral on the subject but that at least fifty million dollars should be set aside for handling gambling addiction. Another speaker said that by regulating gambling, you can protect families from the harmful effects.

After hearing the speakers on both sides, Mack felt that more study needed to be done on all of the issues raised before further action could be taken.

The European Court of Justice Gives Hope to Online Gambling

A published opinion from the General Advocate for the European Court of Justice (ECJ), Cruz Villalon has given hope to online gambling operators. This is in opposition to the recent trends for operators towards more country-based legislation instead of one legislation for everyone. Fragmenting the gambling industry makes it difficult to stay competitive by marketing their products between countries. The opinion issued on October 27^th, 2011, gives hope that things may change in the operators’ favor.

The opinion by Villalon stated that legislation governing licensing must follow the Treaty, which states that supply of goods and services must be equal across the borders. This came about due to the issues that Stanleybet has had trying to access the market in Italy. Stanleybet is a British gambling operator that had been unable to obtain an Italian license when other companies had been awarded licenses.

Villalon states in his opinion that any country that denies licenses to some companies but not all is in violation with the Treaty. If legislation is created to restrict online gambling licenses, it must be nondiscriminatory towards all companies and suitable. The European Court of Justice will rule on this case but a date has not been announced.

The director of Regulatory Affairs at the European Gaming and Betting Association responded positively to this published opinion. The EGBA is a representative body of online gambling operators. The director sees this as a step in the right direction to creating gambling legislation that follows the rules set by the Treaty. It would allow access to online operators to the markets available in other countries.

Gambling News from the UK

This past week, the English gaming community has been following two recent news stories: an information center has been established for the benefit of problem gamblers and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission has released its quarterly survey.

The Responsible Gambling Fund of the United Kingdom, an independent charity founded to combat problem gambling, hired Electric Putty, an award winning web-design company, to create a virtual hub that will provide information for anybody working to help problem gamblers kick their addiction. In addition to providing information for gamblers themselves, the site will also be geared towards researchers in the field of problem gambling; it will enable them to share articles and other research information. Responsible gambling counselors and other treatment professionals can find proper treatment facilities to refer their patients. Additionally, legislators and other policy makers will be able to find accurate data about problem gambling and relevant gambling statistics to aid them in their decision making. The Fund’s goal is to launch the site this February.

The quarterly survey of the UK’s Gambling Commission on gambling participation was released last week. The survey covers July, August, and September of 2011. The market research company ICM Research performed the survey on behalf of the commission. The survey covered gambling in general and remote gambling separately.

The report stated that total participation in some form of gambling increased by 1.6% compared to the same quarter last year. The National Lottery remains the most popular form of gambling. The survey revealed that the largest group of gambling participants was males over the age of 45; however, among remote gamblers the average age was 18-44.

New Jersey to Vote on Sports Betting

According to the current laws present in the New Jersey state constitution, sports-betting is not legally available at New Jersey race-tracks or Atlantic City casinos. This Tuesday, New Jersey voters will be able to decide to change the laws of the New Jersey state constitution and allow for sports-betting in these places. The election is for the 120 spots in the State Legislature, but this referendum will be on the ballot as well.

This bill is still only a small step of the catching up that New Jersey has to do if it wants to achieve any measure of the success already seen in Nevada. A recent Rutgers-Eagleton poll indicates that a majority of almost 60% of New Jersey voters are in favor of changing the state constitution to allow sports-betting.

The main hope of the bill’s supporters is to revive Atlantic City. New Jersey’s gambling capitol has seen better days, and state legislators are hoping that if sports-betting is allowed, one can expect large crowds in Atlantic City during all the popular sports seasons such as the NCAA playoffs, Super Bowl weekend, and the World Series.

The bill’s opponents state that sports-betting only makes up for about 2% of total gambling revenue in Nevada; therefore it is naïve to think that such a change will save Atlantic City. Another claim against sports-betting is that it is more addictive than other types of gambling and therefore more dangerous.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said that he would support the change is the majority of New Jersey voters support it via the referendum. However, the referendum and gubernatorial support are not enough to pass the legislature. Industry experts point out that the legal paperwork could take months or years before it reaches completion.

To Tax or Not to Tax

Will the pressure placed by gaming lobbyists on Washington lawmakers finally pay off and will plans for pro-online-gambling legislature ever come into fruition? Though government action taken as recently as this past spring still represented a strong anti-online-gambling sentiment in congress, the current economic situation may be enough to open the hearts of legislators to the online gaming cause and its taxation benefits.

Many involved in the debates point out the absurdity created since Black Friday, the day the US Department of Justice shut down three major online poker sites. While American citizens keep gambling, the six billion dollars of revenue that they produce go overseas without ever being taxed or regulated. While the American economy is not in great shape, the idea of giving up on hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue seams absurd. Furthermore, a billion dollar industry in the US would create jobs which would both help the economy and increase income tax revenues.

While American citizens continue playing online games with no regulation or consumer protection, too many congressmen sit by idly, uninterested in internet gambling. Most are unaware of the dangers of offshore gambling and unaware of the potential benefits of a local industry. Some claim that the even those congressmen who do bring gambling bills to the floor aren’t knowledgeable enough on the subject.

The question now is will current legislation ever make it through the bipartisan labyrinth or will it get buried like previous years in the graveyard of bills-that-could-have-been. Time will tell if Black Friday was a sign of what’s to come, or if a new chapter is in store for online gambling in America.

New Microgaming Version Now on Android

In keeping up with the growing trends in the mobile gaming market, Microgaming, a major online casino software development company, has released a new mobile casino product for the Android platform.

Most experts in the remote gambling market agree that the biggest area for potential growth in the foreseeable future is mobile gaming platforms be it mobile websites or specialized apps. Capitalizing on this, Microgaming launched at a press conference their new mobile casino platform Android Air. Using Adobe Air, the new Android Air can be used on any smartphone or tablet running Google’s Android operating system. The mobile platform offers the same games available on Microgaming’s popular web-based platform. The platform will be sold including eight games, and the company is planning to have at least another 12 available by year’s end. As the games are completed, they will automatically become available on the platform (via updates).

Testers spoke highly of the user-friendly interface and the new registration and banking modules. The platform allows for the use of Microgaming’s tools including Virtual Pit Boss (VPB), Player Grouping, and Bonus Balance.

Microgaming’s head of product channels Neill Whyte said that mobile gaming has been an integral part of Microgaming’s strategy over the last few years and that they are satisfied with the success their previous product lines have produced. He further added that the quick expansion of market share experienced over the last year is due in large part to the growing popularity of smartphones in developing markets around the world. Whyte expects that the combination of rapid growth in the number of Android users around the world and the popular status held by Microgaming’s online games will have a significant impact on the mobile gaming market.

The Controversy on German Online Gambling

The Minister Presidents of the German Lander are supporting the adoption of a State Treaty regarding online gambling. In this treaty, online operators would be limited to twenty licenses and a five percent turnover tax would be implemented. It would also place serious restrictions on betting amounts and prohibit online gambling, including poker rooms and casinos.

The European Commission has already rejected the proposal. The Chief Executive of the Remote Gambling Association, Clive Hawkswood, has expressed his opinion of the State Treaty. The RGA is the largest association of online gambling operators. Hawkswood says he is disappointed with the terms of the State Treaty and that it does not compare to other measures adopted by more moderate countries such as Spain and Denmark. They are planning to implement regulations that allow online gambling and impose a gross profits type of taxation.

Hawkswood does not see the connection between regulating the online gambling market and what the Treaty actually says. He doesn’t feel that the Treaty will stop German gamblers from going online in other jurisdictions where online gambling is allowed. Previous policies have had no effect.

The European Commission stated that the State Treaty violated their law, according to Hawkswood. This makes the proposal by the German state Schelswig-Holstein look better. It was an online gambling law that took effect when Schelswig-Holstein could not reach agreements with other states. This proposal has already been accepted by the European Commission and uses the gross profit method of taxation. It is beginning to look more enticing to online operators and gamblers.

Gambling News from the UK

EU Allows Lowered Taxes for Danish Online Casinos

Danish officials recently legislated new tax codes that position Danish casinos at a significant advantage to their non-Danish European counterparts. The big surprise is that the EU commission gave full authorization to the cuts. Since Denmark has been known for having a particularly high tax right, the new tax cuts are a big surprise in the European market. There are those who are quite upset about the decision and those who actually see it as a golden opportunity.

The biggest losers of the new codes are the established “brick & mortar” casinos. They pay a gross tax that is approximately 300% larger than the new online casino tax rate. Considering the massive disparity between the two rates, many in the land-based casino industry consider the new tax codes “state-aid.”

The other EU internet casino operators actually see this as a golden opportunity. Though at the moment they are being undercut by their Danish counterparts, now that the EU commission has green-lighted the low taxation rate, it is only a matter of time before the other casinos can justly request equal treatment. So while in the short run they might loose some business, in the long run they’ll be able to hold on to a larger share of their gross profits.

The question remains – was this really a wise choice for Danish legislators? While they did see it as an opportunity to grab a share of the highly competitive European market, they must have known that it will only be a matter of time before the other EU member states engage in similar measures in order to protect the interests of their local industries.

Will Full Tilt Poker Pay Back the One Million?

People are holding their breaths to see what happens next in the drama with Full Tilt Poker. The US Department of Justice is attempting to recover one billion dollars from the poker site for the damages caused by violating the gambling laws of the United States. The French investment company, Group Bernard Tapie, is hoping to salvage a deal with Full Tilt Poker in order to save the site.

Bankruptcy can be a tricky subject and GBT will have to sit back until there is a resolution with the Department of Justice. That is not the only thing to be concerned with, but any deal will be dependent on the return of the money to Full Tilt’s customers. This will amount to about three hundred million dollars.

People are watching to see if Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker will pay back what they owe before Full Tilt does. There is hope being raised by the Kahwanake Gaming Commission that this will happen. Nothing much has been heard from the sites since their shut down on Black Friday. A recent press release states that Blanca Games, who owns the two sites, is reportedly selling assets to start paying its customers back.

The gaming commission has been involved in discussions with the sites and a resolution was looking more possible. The primary goal of the Kahwanake Gaming Commission is that the online players will receive their money back as quickly as possible. Everyone will have to sit back and watch to see if that happens.

Fortune Magazine Talks About the Legalization of Online Gambling in the US

Many investors see a future in online gambling and believe it will be legalized in the US sometime soon. One of those people is Richard Bronson, who is the founder and owner of US Digital Gaming. His company will provide software and advertising services for online operators. Fortune magazine sat down with Bronson to talk about the interest of billionaires in online gaming.

Bronson talked about his own success in interesting several billionaire businessmen in his own company. He mentioned the names of Steve Roth, a real estate mogul and Herbert Simon, who is known in the shopping mall industry. No one is involved in the gaming industry.

The article talks about the importance in investing at the right time. Those who start early will have an advantage, which is why investors are getting involved even though no laws have been passed yet. There are several initiatives out there, including one with Donald Trump and Marc Lasry, a hedge fund manager.

The article also discussed the agreement between Fertitta Interactive and Cyberarts. The company Fetitta had earlier aligned with Full Tilt Poker but the deal fell through after the Black Friday indictments. Steve Wynn had the same problem with his deal with PokerStars, but he had not found a replacement.

Fortune also mentions Caesar’s Entertainment in the article. They are investing in online operations and supporting a lobbying effort in Washington DC. Caesar’s Entertainment is now owned by Apollo Global Management and TPG.

It is becoming obvious that legalized online gambling is in the future of the United States.

Aristocrat is Changing the Face of US Online Gaming

Aristocrat Technologies Inc. is capitalizing on the view that legalizing online gambling in the United States is a matter of when rather than if it will happen. Many casino owners see the same future and are trying to get a part of the online gambling industry from the beginning. Together, they can create a whole new experience for US players. Aristocrat may just sign the first deal with a US casino for an online casino.

Aristocrat is part of the Australian company, Aristocrat Leisure Limited and they create online gaming platforms. They are set to sign a major contract with Maryland Live! Casino and will create a virtual casino that will host a variety of games such as blackjack and poker. It will be a free to play casino and will introduce a new land based casino and resort in Maryland in June of next year.

Aristocrat is working in other areas, too. They will be partnering with Michigan based Island Resort and Casino, which will be the first Tribal Casino to work with Aristocrat. The system will combine online profiles with the ones from the physical casino so that players can log in and enjoy virtual play to earn free points.

Aristocrat has other projects in the works in other areas of the world. It is working with UK company Game Account Network to create an online casino platform that will be available to players soon. It features slots, poker, and other table games and will be called Aristocrat’s nLive. Aristocrat will be changing the look of online gambling in the US and around the world.

Spanish Gambling Authority Green-Lights eCOGRA

Good tidings from eCOGRA, the London-based e-Commerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance independent body for player protection and standards. Not only has it recently been accredited by AAMS (The Independent Administration of State Monopolies) of Italy, but eCOGRA has now been similarly received by the new Spanish Gambling Authority. eCOGRA has received approval to perform testing and certification for online gambling software and information security systems in Spain.

Professional and broad testing is required to receive a stage-one license before operating an online casino in Spain, said the Director General of Spanish Gambling Regulation. He explained that any applicants who wish to operate on Spanish territory will have to undergo a thorough review process of their platform and their games by an accredited testing agency. The stage one license allows for a four month provisional operation period during which the facilities and operational systems will be thoroughly inspected. Only after such an inspection has been successfully passed can the affiliate receive a full operational license.

Thanks to recent liberalization of online gambling legislation, a large number of operators are expected to apply for licensing in the near future; therefore, the need for accredited testers is quite high. eCOGRA is one such lucky firm. Andrew Beveridge, the CEO of eCOGRA, praised the Spanish regulatory authority for the recent developments of the Spanish gaming market. However, Beveridge also noted that although the recent developments in Spain are positive ones, the general situation developing in the European Union is a troubling one. Though many EU member states are taking liberalized approaches to online gambling, since each and every country is developing its own style of regulation, the work of the testing agencies is becoming increasingly difficult.

New German Gambling Proposals Ignite Controversy

A strong controversy has erupted between online gaming companies and German legislators over a series of new laws proposed that would seriously hamper affiliates’ operative abilities. If passed, they are going to take effect in July.

Furthermore, in light of the EU’s lenient stance on online gambling, these laws could worsen the already tense relationship between Germany and the EU.

The proposed legislation, which includes a limitation of twenty gaming-site operation licenses and a turnover-tax of 5%, would have a significant impact on the German online gaming market. The most grave of the proposals limits licensing to sports betting which leaves table games such as poker illegal.

Despite the sad news for German gamblers, it appears there may be some good news on their horizon. Though 15 out of Germany’s 16 states support the new legislation, the state of Schleswig-Holstein has proposed its own gambling legislation.

The Schleswig-Holstein proposal, to take effect already this January, is more in line with EU standards. It includes table games, including poker, and taxes gross profits (as opposed to turnover). This proposal can potentially leave an opening for casino affiliates to operate in Germany’s large market.

Clive Hawkswood, The Remote Gaming Association’s CEO, strongly criticized the proposed legislation that is against EU agreements while praising the Schleswig-Holstein proposal precisely for its similarity to preexisting laws in EU member states like Denmark and Spain. Hawkswood further criticized the German proposal citing that, though it purports to regulate gambling, it does not include any real means for preventing German citizens from gambling via offshore-based online casinos.

Germany has a long history of hostility towards online gaming sites, and only time will tell what will come of these proposals.

Ladbrokes Goes Live in South Africa

The international sports-betting enterprise Ladbrokes has begun operating an online gambling site in South Africa via a subsidiary by the name of Kairo. This is the third such major international corporation to enter the South African bookmaking market. During the Rugby World Cup this past month, Ladbrokes booked an especially high number of bets, says marketing manager Anli Kotzé. Since the online bookie has entered the South African market this passed August, there has been a 40% increase in sports bets, 25% more turnover, and a 50% rise in the number of new registered clients.

Kotzé suggested that this success is due to the fact that the brand name is a well known brand name, and that the local market had a lot of untapped potential. The sports betting market in South Africa today is estimated at about 660 million rand. Ladbrokes is betting on that increasing to 800 million rand by 2013. The most popular sports in South Africa, and therefore the most highly betted upon, are football (soccer), rugby, cricket, and horse racing. Golf and tennis are popular as well.

Ladbrokes, listed out of London, run their sports betting web software in 24 languages and allow for betting in 17 different currencies. When Ladbrokes first received license to operate in South Africa in September of 2010, many industry experts laughed at them for entering right AFTER the FIFA World Cup – possibly the most popular sporting event in the world. However, after a short time in the market, and many rand later, they clear made a wise choice.

Bloomberg.com Posts Pro-Gaming Article

A recent editorial published on the financial news website Bloomberg.com expressed explicit support for the legalization and regulation of online poker. The article was received warmly among players and affiliates.

The main gist of the article was that poker is not thoughtless gambling, rather it is a game of skill; therefore, it would benefit from being legalized and regulated like any other gaming industry.

One of the more interesting insights of the article is the fact that though the vast majority of businesses spend billions of dollars lobbying congress to remove regulation, the online gaming industry is one of the only industries that is not just openly welcoming, but actually asking for government regulation.

The article adds that the recent closure of Full Tilt Poker exemplifies the need for licensing and regulation. Additionally, the already existing lotteries in most states are a great example of what can be done with legalized and regulated gambling. The revenue from the lotteries is a big help in most states. State lotteries are both monopolistic and offer miniscule chances of winning compared to poker.

The advocacy of Jay Rockefeller, the West Virginian Senator, was brought as further proof of the benefits. He calculates that online gaming could earn approximately 70 billion dollars over the course of the next decade in taxes.

The editorial is important mainly because of where it was published. These arguments are all well known within the world of casino bloggers, but when they are published as a major editorial in one of the most significant financial news outlets in the country, policy makers will take notice.

American Gaming CEO Speaks to Congress

Frank Fakrenkopf, the CEO of the American Gaming Association, recently called online poker a “safe bet.” He spoke at a congressional subcommittee on commerce, manufacturing, and trade during which issues regarding the future of gambling legislation were discussed at length. Though the deliberations are expected to last a good deal of time, some committee members have hinted that the legalization of online gambling in the United States may be close at hand.

Many involved in the issues say that after years of debate, politicians and gambling industry professionals are beginning to see eye to eye on the matter. Representative Mary Bono Mack pointed out that there are only two states left in the entire U.S. that have yet to legislate some form of regulated gambling.

A number of lawmakers brought forth statistics that showed that Americans have been gambling online by the millions for years. However, since there is no system for legal gambling in America, all that revenue ends up going to the foreign operators overseas. Furthermore, there are no laws protecting the players from fraud since the sites are not regulated by U.S. government. The cherry on the cake, though, for most legislators is the immense tax revenue, about $2 billion annually, potentially available if online gaming were to be legalized in the states.

Frank Fakrenkopf also mentioned at the hearing that a regulated industry would create quality jobs for Americans. Poker Players Alliance chairman and former New York Senator Al D’Amato claimed that the American people are for the legalization of online poker. He further stated that the actual illegality of online gambling is not clear cut because of the vagueness of the wording of the relevant legislature.

US Senator Al D’Amato’s Poker Face

Former U.S. Senator Al D’Amato is currently serving as a chairman of the Poker Players Alliance. The mix of these two résumé items makes D’Amato the perfect person to address congress on the issues of online gambling and legislation.

D’Amato recently addressed congress about the current state of online gambling legislation and his ideas for improving upon them.

The former senator expressed his contentment that the congressional committee had taken into consideration steps to protect players, but added his discontent about government action to restrict the personal freedoms of poker players.

One of D’Amato’s main points was the clarification of congressional legislature on the subject of online gambling. He criticized the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 for being vague and not properly defining what constitutes “unlawful internet gambling.”

As a poker player himself, D’Amato was able to express the frustrations of poker players and affiliates over the closure of Full Tilt Poker and other sites after Americans have been enjoying online poker games for about ten years.

He further referenced the over 80,000 e-mails sent to members of congress by American poker players requesting that the government develop of system of licensing and regulation for an American online poker industry.

Finally, D’Amato made the argument that a regulated industry would provide both a safe playing environment and thousands of jobs for Americans. Additionally, the federal and state coffers are more in need of tax revenue than ever – an incentive that could very well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

South Africa Rules that Online Gambling is Illegal

While most of Europe is either legalizing and regulating online gambling or working towards it, South Africa has gone to the other side completely and the South African Supreme Court of Appeals has deemed online gambling illegal. This marks an unhappy day for online gaming enthusiasts in South Africa.

Piggs Peak Online Casino appealed to the South African Supreme Court. The company is located and licensed outside of South African jurisdiction and they challenged the law that prohibited residents of South Africa from gambling online. Despite losing every hearing, they continued to appeal but it seems that even though they did try hard, their efforts were met in vain. The court ruled that until the government finalizes a new series of laws which will include licenses to operate online casinos within the country, all online gambling will be considered illegal. The punishment to players who gambling online from South Africa is as severe as up to 10 years in prison and a R10 million fine.

It seems that this heavy hand is a response to actually trying to work towards legalizing and regulating online gambling. In 2008, the National Gambling Amendment Act was signed into law and outlines a plan for allowing South Africa to issue gambling licenses to South African online casinos. Until the industry is regulated and legal, the government has made it clear that no gambling activities online will be tolerated.

Software Providers Sign on European Operators In Light of New Shift Towards Legalizing Gambling

Now that so many European countries shifting towards legalizing and regulating online gambling activities, many are wondering "What's next"? While this is clearly an ongoing question, the current answer seems to be that European online gambling operators and choosing software providers as they gear up to enter these new markets.

In Spain, the popular and established casino operator CIRSA has recently announced that it has signed up with Microgaming, the world's largest online gambling software provider. This is a nice score for Microgaming as CIRSA is currently the leading name is the Spanish online gambling market. This isn't the first such relationship for Microgaming as it currently is providing online gambling software platforms to operators in France and Italy, countries which have also recently regulated the online gambling market.

Over in Denmark, the group Sportingbet Plc, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Sportingbet Holdings Limited and Interactive Sports Limited, which specializes in both online gambling and sports betting has recently announced that it has set out to acquire SHL, Danbook Limited and Scandic Bookmakers, three large Danish online betting operators. These operators have been active in the unregulated market and most likely will benefit more from forming an alliance with other companies in order to survive in the new market which will be extremely costly to single operators as compared to the unregulated market.

Greece's government-owned gambling monopoly OPAP is already being promised special benefits once Greece's online betting market becomes regulated. It will be able to extend its contract to 2020. The current contract that it has with online betting software operator Intralot ends in the middle of next year and OPAP in an attempt to avoid being singled out for favoring Intralot, has called for tenders on the contract and they are set to announce their pick by the end of 2011. Greece's government-owned gambling monopoly OPAP is already being promised special benefits once Greece's online betting market becomes regulated. It will be able to extend its contract to 2020. The current contract that it has with online betting software operator Intralot ends in the middle of next year and OPAP in an attempt to avoid being singled out for favoring Intralot, has called for tenders on the contract and they are set to announce their pick by the end of 2011.

RTG Launches New Slot Game

"Monster Mayhem" is the newest slot game in the Realtime Gaming arsenal of Real Series Slots. What one would imagine, especially this time of year, is a Halloween style game. However, RTG offers up a pretty unusual twist in the theme of this game and as a results, it's sure to be a fast hit. This game features great graphics that breathe life into a classic city plagued by a monster attack full of humorous symbols. This slot is a 50-payline, 5-reel slot game which offers up two progressive jackpots (major and minor) which can be snatched up at any time.

The two symbols in the game are the scatter symbols "SMASH" and "CRASH" which essentially are two "monsters" - an evil lion-esque monster and an equally evil rabbit-on-steriods-esque monster. SMASH only appears on line 1 while CRASH only appears on like 5. When they both make their respective appearances, the bonus feature is triggered where players can win up to 10 free spins and the scatter symbols are held constant to give the player the winning advantage. These symbols also double as wild card symbols. The max jackpot is worth 2500 coins and is triggered by the monster footprint symbol. The second jackpot is worth 1250 coins and is triggered by the symbol of the scared lady.

Realtime Gaming is known for their fun themes and colorful graphics and this game is no exception!

Playtech Gears Up for Halloween with New Slot Game!

It wouldn't be Halloween without some brand new online slot games... Playtech is making sure players are in the holiday spirit with their new game Halloween Fortune. While the Microgaming Halloween game Lucky Witch offers up one (fairly sexy) witch, Playtech software has upped the ante as their new game features not one, but three sexy witches - who seem all but scary...

In Playtech's Halloween Fortune, the three babelicious witches appear on the reels riding on their signature broomsticks. The interactive graphic features of the game allows for some fun flirty action as the witches zoom in and wink when they're responsible for making a winning combination. Sort of like fairy meets witch(?) It seems that the Playtech witches of Halloween 2011 are definitely lucky witches instead of evil witches.

The game is complete with Halloween themed symbols including a carved pumpkin (the wild symbol). 5 of these bad boys will win you the 10,000 coin jackpot - definitely the "treat" part of "Trick or Treat"! Other symbols include a black cat, a raven, potions, and a skull with a candle that lights up during winning combinations. The scatter symbol is the game's logo and it pays out when 3 or more appear scattered anywhere across the reels, multiplying the triggering bet.

The symbol with the most action is the cauldron which triggers the "Witches' Brew" bonus round when it appears on reels 1 and 5 simultaneously. The player then has to choose from one of the three witches who in turn will reveal the number of free spins won during the bonus round. Bonuses can be up to 20 free spins with up to a 10x multiplier and the bonus round can be retriggered for an unlimited number of times.

Enjoy Halloween 2011 with all the great new video slot games being launched now!

South Carolina, USA Legalizes Recreational Poker

In what many in the online gambling industry are considering an important move, the US state of South Carolina has deemed recreational poker legal. This comes from the state that back in 2006, 5 people were arrested in their own home for playing poker and found guilty. The state has since progressed and now has made clear that gambling in the privacy of one's home is not considered to be illegal. The legislature states that "Gambling in a private home where no house player, house bank, or house odds exist and where the house received no part of any of the money or other thing of value... is not unlawful." This marks the end of a 200 year old anti-gambling law that barred citizens of South Carolina from enjoying recreational gambling in the privacy of their own homes.

Many see it as being one step closer to being allowed to play online poker, which might be a bit far from the truth considering that any form of poker in this state has been illegal for the past 200 years. However, this is another of the many ancient and outdated US laws which is being put to rest. What is most interesting is that before this law was even passed, the sentiment shared by the media was that of serious skepticism. No one thought that it was going to pass. Indeed it passed by just a slim margin of 12-8. Many around the world found this news to be surprising as clearly such an infringement of basic rights to personal freedom in the US is surprising to most.

New Jersey To Allow Online Sports Betting?

The US state of New Jersey hits a lot of "firsts" when it comes to liberal online gambling legislation. It's no surprise that the state offers up a gambling-friendly agenda being that it's city of Atlantic City is the Las Vegas of the East Coast. Currently, the state is holding a referendum concerning whether or not online sports betting should be allowed in New Jersey. As with most every US state, New Jersey is suffering from economic difficulties and sees the revenues which could come from online gambling as a major consideration for the "pro legalization" argument.

The unclear factor in this equation is the wishy-washy governor Chris Christie. While once thought to be a supporter of legalizing gambling inside the state, he has since vetoed every gambling-related bill set forth in front of him. Therefore, regardless of the outcomes of the referendum, Governor Christie still remains a bit of a "wild card". Interestingly enough, many speculate that because he had his eyes on the White House, he had taken the more conservative approach towards the gambling laws. Now that he's made it clear that he's not going after the presidential nomination for 2012, his actions might coincide more with his words with regard to being pro-legalizing gambling.

On November 8th, 2011, New Jersey will again hold a public referendum concerning legalizing online betting in order to get the public's opinion.

Las Vegas Land-Based Casino Offers Players Online Poker

It seems like the winds of change are whistling loudly throughout the United States as more and more companies gear up for impending legalization and regulation of online gambling. Now, it seems that those stretching their money-making muscles aren't only big business groups (like Donald Trump's enterprise), but also land-based casinos. Seeing an option to get a head start, the operators of a Las Vegas casino are now offering free online poker website to their players.

The website is called SouthPointPoker.com and they're offering up free poker, similar to "fun-play" sites that most online poker rooms offer where players can play with fun money to practice their skills and play for fun. South Point Casino, the casino offering this website, is planning head and hopes to have a strong fun-play customer base that they can easily switch over to paying customers once poker is legal and regulated in the United States.

Aside from just offering up free poker play, SouthPointPoker.com is also offering players the chance to win seats to the 2012 WSOP (World Series of Poker). The group offered the website only to the casino's player club members until Monday when the site became open to the public. They are the first such land-based casino to offer a free poker product and it'll be interesting to see if other brands follow suit.

Gearing up for the EGR Awards and IGA Ceremonies - The Academy Awards of Gambling!

The online gambling industry is especially on its toes this time of year as it gears up for the EGR (eGaming Review) awards and the International Gaming Awards. These "academies" of sorts set the bar for all online gambling sites (operators and non-operators) and serves as a great guide for players to know which sites are strong and deserving of recognition. In addition, these award ceremonies always go hand-in-hand with industry-wide charitable events, as is the custom is the online gambling industry.

The award ceremonies for both the EGR and International Gaming Awards will take place this year in London, the city that many consider to be the heart and soul of the online gambling industry. The EGR ceremony will take place on November 30th. 2011, and the International Gaming Awards ceremony is set to take place on January 23rd, 2012. Alongside the ceremonies will be two charitable concerts to benefit Children with Leukemia and CARE International.

Nominations for the EGR awards have already closed and currently William Hill is the leader with nominations for 12 different awards. The award ceremony will take place at the HAC in London and who's who in gaming will be attending. The ceremony will be hosted by top British comedian and TV personality Rufus Hound. Aside from the entertainment this award ceremony is known as one of the top industry networking events. This will mark the 7th year of the EGR awards and the 5th year of the International Gaming Awards.

Casino Operators Gear Up for US Online Gambling?

It seems that based upon recent events in the news, some of the biggest online as well as land-based casino operators are preparing themselves for entry into the US online gambling market. But wait, isn't online gambling in the US still not fully legal? The market isn't regulated or legalized and it seems odd that groups like Trump Entertainment Inc., bwin.party and Bally Technologies are making moves for market share. Do big businesses know something that perhaps we don't?

Trump Entertainment Inc. and the Avenue Capital Group make up what most of the world knows as the Donald Trump empire. Avenue Capital hold 22% of Trump Entertainment and Donald Trump himself has control over 10%. The two organizations have filed statutory documents with the SEC in order to established a joint online gambling venture. This preemptive move is described by Ivanka Trump (Donald's daughter and executive vice preside of development and acquisitions of the Trump Organization) as being "the largest online gaming company if the USA [gambling]industry is legalized."

Trump isn't the only one with his eye on the prize, however. Forbes magazine reports that Jim Ryan, joint chief executive of bwin.party (currently the largest listed global online gambling operator), has been making the rounds of investors in the US with similar motives. Bally Technologies, a US land-gambling supplier has also publically entertained the prospect of a legalized US online gambling market and is making acquisitions in the social and mobile sphere.

Man Walks Away Millionaire After Visit to Atlantic City Casino

So what does it take to become a millionaire? Brains? Years of hard work? Nerves of steel? How about just a little bit of luck… That’s all it took for one man (who wishes to remain anonymous) after he won the million dollar jackpot in Three Card Poker 6 Card Bonus ™ at Harrah’s Resort and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. How much did he bet? A big ol’ $19.00. Not a bad deal!

Naturally, this is great for business over at Harrah’s Resort and Casino (and generally for the global brand as a whole). “On behalf of Harrah’s Resort and Caesars Entertainment, we would like to congratulated 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” was what Frank Ursino, the Director of Table Games for Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City had to say.

Three Card Poker 6 Card Bonus ™ is currently one of the casinos most popular specialty games and the buzz around this big win will certainly do commercial wonders for both the game and for the Harrods brand. It will be interesting to see how the win will affect Atlantic Casino, which recently lost millions of dollars due to this past summer’s hurricane Irene which hit the state (especially the area by the shore) quite badly.

Is Montenegro Next In Line to Offer Gambling Licenses?

The nation of Montenegro, situated in the south of Europe passed an online gambling law earlier in 2011 and now, as 2012 approaches, it is moving ahead with the next logical step to offer licenses, financial services and hosting services for online casino and betting operators. These new offerings are set to start from as early as January 2012.

Montenegro is an attractive stop for many gambling operators as the country is politically stable, is part of the European Union and offers generally liberal gambling regulations while still being EU compliant. Businesses enjoy low corporate and personal taxes (9%) and a license in as little as just one week with a 2-day registration process. There are no limits on remitted profits and interest and they do not require a minimum amount of capital to apply for a license, which is especially appealing to new operators.

Interestingly enough, Montenegro in its own way is making a bold move with this offer. They have only been considered autonomous (from Serbia) since 1996 and have never made a move which would have implied full independence and potentially provoked the Serbs. Now quite established, Montenegro will offer quality banking services as well as price competitive web hosting services to offer casino operators everything in a one-stop-shop style solution.

Daniel Tzvetkoff - Star Witness in US Online Poker Prosecution

As the US government prepares to take down 11 huge online poker executives for fraud, money laundering and a slew of other assorted charges, a man by the name of Daniel Tzvetkoff is going to play a very important role as the prosecution's star witness. Interestingly enough, Mr. Tzvetkoff is "in the know" because he allegedly was right there in the ring and racked in a serious amount of cash with his cronies who he is now seemingly help to put behind bars. Sounds like the beginning of a bad movie...

It seems that turning them over to the authorities, while potentially saving his own hide, might not be the smartest thing that this 28 year old has done. Currently, he's in witness protection in New York waiting the trial. This Australian native is the founder of Intabill which at its prime was one of the largest online billing companies. No huge surprise that he got involved with the online poker industry and the story doesn't end well. Instabill reportedly owed millions to various online poker companies. The company was allegedly engaging in bank and wire fraud and money laundering, the same charges that the online poker giants are charged with. Reportedly, Tzvetkoffw as making as much as $150,000 a day at the peak. Not a small time criminal.

While it's not clear who tipped off the FBI as to where Tzvetkoff was in the first place, now the tables have turned and Tzvetkoff is said to be the star witness in the ensuing prosecution. Seemingly, his cooperation will save him jail time and probably a lot of other serious punishments. Will witness protection be enough to protect this guy? Seems like he's made more than just a few big time enemies.

RGA Outlines Guidelines Online Gambling Regulations

With Denmark getting the green light to offer online gambling licenses and countries like Germany, Belgium and Hungary moving towards legalizing and regulating gambling, the need to set forth guidelines to regulate online gambling activities is becoming more and more pertinent. The Remote Gambling Association (RGA) is the largest and most esteemed trade association for Europe’s online gambling company. Their members include Microgaming, Playtech and Virgin. They have taken the important task of outlining online gambling regulations for Europe into their hands.

They recently published a report entitled “Online Gambling: Key objectives for a successful regulatory and tax framework” which is geared mainly towards governments and other regulatory bodies. In the report, they discuss key issues that need to be addressed. Naturally their interest is to protect its members (some of the biggest companies in the industry) but in turn, they are also working hard to protect players in order to establish long-term success. To document covers issues including taxation, how a regulatory body can achieve fair competition and how to protect minors and problem gamblers.

The report suggests that third party companies should market the products and that issues like social responsibility and how involved the regulating body should be need to be carefully considered. The document also discusses different product verticals and how they should be addressed individually and as a whole. The “punch line” is that regulating online gambling activities should be a long-term effort and that due to fast-advancing technology, regulation and the surrounding discussions will need to be ongoing.

Online Gambling Clean-up in Asia

Malaysia and Philippines have recently cracked down pretty hard on illegal online gambling operations in their respective jurisdictions. In Malaysia, 820 people were arrested and 4,036 computers were seized since the beginning of 2011 which is an increase from the total number of arrests (724) and confiscated computers (2,388) last year.

The government is quite serious about its stance on online gambling so much so that they have identified locations such as internet cafes that offer online gambling activities and have set to shut off their power temporarily while investigations ensue. While the Malaysian police have only been prosecuting the owners and operators of establishments that allow online casinos, they say that they will soon begin to prosecute players as well.

In the Philippines there is a similar stance against online gambling and the police are also busy arresting owners of establishments that allow online gambling. Recent raids also led to the arrest of organized crime members operating illegal online casinos (the premises were specifically for streaming the casino operations to the web where people would bet through a website, similar to “live casino” games at regulated gambling sites).

It will be interesting to see if perhaps Asia will follow in Europe’s footsteps with regard to legalizing online gambling in order to prevent it from being another market operated by gangs and organized crime members. Given the cultural and religious issues, it is unlikely that legalizing gambling will happen in Asia in the near future.

Microgaming Puts Effort Into QuickFire Platform

Microgaming seems to be putting their focus on the QuickFire platform as opposed to its regular Viper platform. The new games that they are developing and announce that they plan to develop in the future are all on the new QuickFire platform. As it stands only one will be available on the old platform.

The new games that will be on the QuickFire platform are online slots games. The games are called Victorian Villains and Hells Grannies (we particularly liked the 2^nd name…). Victorian Villains is themed on a female detective trying to hunt down a murderer. This game is especially noteworthy as it offers new features that are quite innovative for an online video slots game. As an example, players can search for clues and select items which are inside a room – much more interactive than other vide slot games!

The second game available on the new platform is Hells Grannies which is all about the “hardcore world of Granny Bikers”. Playing on the name “Hell’s Angels” this fun game offers an interactive bonus round where you can “spin to win” where the item you spin is a tire that leads you to different free games. The design is great and the theme is extremely entertaining.

Another game, available on the Viper platform as well, is Lucky Witch – a perfect game just in time for Halloween! This game has a great Halloween theme filled with festive symbols and a mystery bonus game.

Leaders in Washington DC are Divided on Online Gambling Bill

The issue of working towards legalizing and regulating online gambling in the United States has been a hot topic for the past few years. Legislators understand the legalization affords the option to regulate, which in turn, allows for better player protection and a more fair and open market. However, many lawmakers are concerned with problem gamblers and gambling advertisements attracting minors. Different trade organizations and leaders are working to address these issues and simultaneously, lawmakers across the country have been fighting to legalize online gambling.

The Washington Times newspaper conducted an online poll in which they asked their readers if they felt online poker should be legalized. 85% of those who responded said that they did approve of legalizing online poker as opposed to the 14% who were opposed (1% responded that they were undecided). Back on “The Hill”, the Committee on Finance and Revenue headed by Jack Evans are set to publish a report on legalizing online gambling. Mr. Evans also happens to be the chief opponent of legalizing online gambling in any form.

Not wasting any time, two Democrat councilors by the names of Tommy Wells and Phil Mendelson have already put forth a bill to repeal part of the law that would authorize online gambling. His goal (which is supported by other council members) aims to allow for an open discourse on the subject, something which has not yet occurred. Other leaders, including Michael A. Brown, an independent council member, is a staunch supported or legalizing online gambling and argues that legalizing gambling would bring in money to the district and that not legalizing online gambling won’t stop gambling from being conducted and offered elsewhere.

Gambling News Update – Europe

A few weeks ago the German state of Schleswig Holstein opened up its own gambling market, with approval from the European Commission. Speculators wondered whether or not other 15 German states (or European counties) would follow suit. Now, rumors are spreading that the German state of Saxony might be the next in line! Saxony is known to be a more progressive German state with a lax approach towards online gambling.

Over in Italy, with estimated online casino revenues to reach up to €1 billion in 2012, the country has been enjoying the fiscal benefits of opening up the online gambling market. Italy has recently instilled new laws to regulate and legalize online gambling. One recent change that showcases how the country is benefiting from regulating online gambling is the high price of gambling-related domains like Blackjack.it (recently sold for €65,000) and others like OnlineCasino.it and for sale in the six figure range.

Also on our radar is Hungary, which has recently disclosed more details on their proposed online gambling regulations. Currently, the Hungarian Parliament is deciding on issues regarding permits, taxation and other economic considerations that must be ironed out. In order to even apply for a Hungarian License, operators will have to be members of the European Economic Area and have at least HUF 200 million ($895,200 USD) in the bank.

Recent University Poll Shows the NY State Residents Support Legalizing Casino Gambling

In a recent poll published by Quinnipiac University (published by the major news agency Reuters), New York state residents who are registered voters are mainly in favor of legalizing casino gambling. The findings don’t come as a major surprise given that the state is suffering from the latest economic downturns. Out of a sample of 1061 voters, 56% support legalizing casino gambling in the state of New York and 34% oppose it.

At this point in time, New York State does allow gambling but only on land that is owned by Native Americans (and is considered to be a separate jurisdiction). On non-Native American owned land, all that is permissible are slot games at horse racing tracks. It would be a bit of a bureaucratic process to get New York State to be a host city for America’s next Las Vegas or Atlantic City.

The poll showed that people were generally (64%) in favor as they felt that creating a casino industry in New York State would be healthy for the state’s economy, benefiting residents. Not surprisingly, Governor Andrew Cuomo (Democrat) is echoing his constituents and has mentioned wanting to push towards opening up the market for specific games like blackjack. He feels that even a small change could bring a lot of money into the state and he’ll make it clear whether or not this is the avenue that he will indeed pursue by January 2012.

Online Poker Amendment Passes in Massachusetts

While it won’t mean any big immediate changes, the fact that Republican Representative Daniel Winslow’s proposed amendment to legalize online poker in the state passed (123 for, 32 against), is a big boost for the worldwide effort to legalize and regulate online gambling.

On September 26^th, the vote will be presented to the state senate and it’s yet to be seen whether this amendment will be addressed (mainly because there are many amendments to the bill that deals with gambling in general and because it was very late-coming). If it does pass then laws will have to be set forth with regard to licensing such online poker operators and taking into account a multitude of federal and state issues including regulating, taxing, etc. If everything passes then the earliest we’d see any legalized online poker in Massachusetts would be towards the end of 2013.

Since the various poker scandals erupted in early 2011 and the ongoing investigations (and drama) that have since ensued (including the recently exposed Full Tilt Ponzi scheme saga), US federal legislation regarding legalizing online poker has been getting the attention that it deserves. The goal has shifted to working to protect players and one of the best ways to do so (as is being seen throughout Europe) is to regulate and legalize gambling.

Europe Online Gambling Update – Romania & Ireland

In the past few weeks there have been some interesting updates in both Eastern and Western Europe regarding gambling legislation and taxation changes. The pattern seems to be that countries are realizing the economic benefits of legalizing and regulating offline and online gambling activities. However, these feats are not easy and pose a lot of obstacles for organizations and governments alike to overcome.

The open and liberal sentiment in some countries has also pushed other countries into reacting in opposite ways. One such example is Romania. The Romanian government has recently declared a new anti online gambling law which is enforced by a regulatory body which will censor internet activity and blacklist online casinos currently accepting Romanian players or websites which are advertising any sort of casino or casino-related product to Romanian online traffic. The government identifies such websites and then notifies the Romanian internet service providers that they need to block the site within 12 hours or face heavy penalties. Interestingly, there is no law in place that states that the internet service providers need to comply with these regulations. However, it’s most likely only a matter of time before the government passes the necessary laws.

On a more democratic note, Ireland has been considering regulating and taxing online gambling activities and recently announced that there is a new gambling law which will be announced in early 2012. This announcement echoes the sentiment of other Western European countries (Italy, Germany, Austria, to name a few) whose governments understand the best way to combat problem, illegal and underage gambling is to regulate the online casino companies. The money from the proposed taxation plan will also include allotting funds to treatment facilities for problem gamblers.

Neteller Offers Neosurf – European Players Can Deposit Using Cash

Neteller, one of the biggest and most established online payment e-wallet solution is now offering a new service where European customers can deposit using cash. The service, called Neosurf, is a pre-paid card that can be purchased (by cash or credit) at selected retailers in France, Italy, Spain and Belgium. Players can use these cards to deposit between €22.50 and €4,372.50. Neteller will be extending this service to more countries in the near future.

Players who use the Neosurf service can fund their accounts with any casino that accepts Neteller (nearly all online casinos). The card can be used to instantly fund a Neteller e-wallet, which allows instant deposits at online casinos and expedited withdrawals.

Players can find easy step-by-step instructions online for how to find a Neosurf retailer nearest them and how to use the card. It’s great to see that Neteller is expanding their services in order to make online purchasing (specifically online casino deposits) easy and convenient! Neteller can be used at thousands of online retailers in addition to online casinos. Neteller and Neosurf account are making online payments easier and safer for millions of people.

Gambling News from Eastern Europe

Throughout Europe there have been many changes regarding legislation in online gambling and gambling in general. Eastern Europe has been changing with the times as much as Western Europe has, despite widespread economic hardships (which have been felt in recent years throughout the world).

In Hungary, the government has been hit hard by the recent recessions and in an attempt to generate some revenue; they’re looking toward increasing federal taxes on gambling operations, both online and land-based. These taxes are set to start as soon as the beginning of 2012. Taxing online operations is a bit trickier than land-based so it’ll be interesting to see how the Hungarian government goes about doing so.

The Ukraine has an interesting relationship with online gambling. In 2009, the government banned it completely. Now, members of the Hungarian parliament are looking to pass laws that will not only lift the ban, but also legalize gambling in the country. Legalizing, regulating and most importantly taxing such operations can bring about a much-needed financial boost for the country of Hungary. By opening up the market to land-based casinos, Hungary also expands up the job market as well as the tourist industry.

In the Eastern European country of Latvia, a recent statement issued by the countries Gaming Business Association made headlines throughout Europe and the world. The country disclosed that in 2010, their online gambling market alone was worth €17.4 million. In at attempt to increase this number, the Latvian government is looking to introduce laws that will regulate and legalize the online gambling industry from as early as 2012.

Denmark to Issue Online Gambling Licenses – Pushing Out Malta?

Nothing benefits a consumer more than a little competition! Now that Denmark is going to start being able to offer online gambling licenses, Malta won’t be the only EU member-state authorized to offer these in-demand (and often time prohibitively expensive) licenses. Online casino operators fork over the (fork-lift) of cash to pay for a Malta license because it is recognized as being one of the most reputable license as Malta must adhere to strict EU standards for responsible and safe gambling.

Now that Denmark will also be offering these licenses (starting in early 2012), the competition is going to become fierce. Currently companies who are licensed in Malta but are non-Malta residents pay 35% tax on income. Currently it’s being said that the Danish government will charge 20% (not clear what the costs will be for residents vs. non-residents).

It will be interesting to see how the market changes now and how online casinos operators will react. An EU license is a serious asset for any online casino and now that Malta must compete with Denmark they’ll have to offer incentives to keep their current licenses as well as entice new licensees. Malta might also have to offer more strict regulations and adhere to more serious player-protection policies in order to compete with Denmark.

Denmark Gets Green Light From EU for Online Gambling

Denmark has recently been given the “go ahead” from the European Commission to establish a market for online gambling. This all started with an investigation into the uneven balance between laws in place for online and offline gambling. Currently in Denmark, there is a 75% tax levied on some land-based casinos. The current proposal by the Danish Gaming Duties Act is that there should only be a 20% tax for online casinos. The European Commissions was asked to investigate after some land-based operators complained that these proposals were equivalent to the state giving financial aid to online casinos.

The European Commission rules that the “positive effects of the liberalization of the market outweigh the distortions of competition brought about by the measure”. The EU deemed the Danish act acceptable and in accordance with EU law. Definitely a slap in the face to the land-based casinos however, they risked a ruling not in their favor once they started to complain and demand an investigation.

Online casino operators are no doubt happy with the ruling and are excited to see how it will affect other European countries with regard to their rulings on online gambling. Online casinos argue that they are up against an international and competitive market and therefore have to compete much harder for market share than land-based casinos.

Chinese Market Impenetrable? Not for Ladbrokes!

The UK-based online gambling mega-player Ladbrokes recently managed to break into the never-before entered Chinese market. How’d they do it? With a good partnership, an excellent reputation and a little game called “Lucky Racing”.

The partnership is Ladbrokes and Hong Kong-based lottery services provider AGTech Holdings. The game was developed by Inspired Gaming Group (talk about getting a lucky break…) and is a game where players can bet on a virtual car race. The odds are fixed in this game that naturally, had to meet approval by various levels of China’s communist government.

The fact that Ladbrokes was able to penetrate the Chinese market has made international headlines. This unprecedented move also places Ladbrokes in a league of their own and has the British government boasting with pride. This is big news not only for the gambling industry (specifically the online gambling industry) but it’s big news for Internet commerce and business in general. China is a hard market to enter and anyone who manages to “make it” is up against virtually no competition.

The world is anxious to see how the Chinese people respond to Lucky Racing and if there is a demand for more games similar to Ladbrokes’, if the Chinese government will show interest and perhaps look for a better deal from other gaming provider.

Never-Claimed Jackpots Make Headline News

Online jackpots are growing day by day and as they are network-wide, those online casino software networks that have a lot of players on it have huge jackpots. Recently, two such network have been making headline news as their jackpots get bigger and bigger. The first is the MegaJackpots network from WagerWorks and the second is the progressive jackpot on the Realtime Gaming network.

The MegaJackpots network from the software company WagerWorks’ network is currently over three million pounds (around 4.7 million US dollars). It’s never been won before and it just keeps getting bigger! There are three video slots games that are connected to this massive jackpot: Monopoly, Cluedo, and Cleopatra. We image that more than ever, these games are receiving quite some attention.

The second progressive jackpot making news headlines is the Realtime Gaming network jackpot (unlike MegaJackpots, this network doesn’t have it’s own name). The numbers however, certainly speak loudly enough! This jackpot has recently broke the 1 million dollar mark (USD) and is quickly growing.

Will these jackpots keep growing or will someone claim them? Who will be the lucky winner? Get in on the action at any WagerWorks or Realtime Gaming powered casino and see if luck is on your side – think what you could do with all that cash!

German State Legalizes Online Gambling

Big news for European online gamblers! Following other examples in Europe, Schleswig-Holstein, one of 16 German states passed a law that will now allow online gambling within its jurisdiction. The law will come into effect on January 1, 2012 and the state will start to issue licenses starting from March 1, 2012. Unlike in other places, there will be a limit on the number of licenses that will be issued. The state government will earn 20% of the gross profits generated on all allowed products related to gambling including betting exchanges, sports books betting, poker and online casino games with the exception of roulette, blackjack and baccarat.

Gambling companies including Betfair, Jaxx and Bwin.party are showing interest in applying to purchase these licenses (which we imagine will be quite expensive as they are limited in number). These companies are hoping that the rest of Germany will slowly follow suit when they see the revenue that such an endeavor will no doubt generate for Schleswig-Holstein.

Similar legislation is becoming increasingly popular across Europe. Such legislation not only allows for an always-welcome boost in a state’s economy, it also provides protection for online players through better gambling regulations.

Full Tilt Poker’s $440 Million Ponzi Scheme?

The poker saga just gets more dramatic as police uncover more and more. Federal prosecutors accused Full Tilt executives of running a Ponzi scheme and taking over $440 million in player’s winnings and putting it into the pockets of the companies board member, owners and various poker celebs including Howard Lederer and Christopher Ferguson.

The problem with Full Tilt was that they while they promised players that their fund were secure in their account and they could withdraw at any time, in reality they simply didn’t have the money to pay out all the players. It seems that what they were doing with this money was padding the pockets of their owners and board members.

They weren’t running a legitimate business and now, the US Attorney’s office is pursuing justice to ensure that the money is given back to pay back all the players who trusted their funds with Full Tilt.

Many feel that the way to fight this kind of bad business in the future is simply to legalize online poker. When you legalize an industry, all the players in the industry have to adhere to certain regulations, which protect the industry as a whole, but most importantly, the players.

Greece, The Netherlands and Italy – Online Gambling Laws Update

Much progress is being made across Europe with regard to online gambling becoming regulated and legal. Three countries currently active in legalizing online casino gaming include Greece, The Netherlands and Italy.

By the end of September, the Greek government will enact a new law that includes the making online gambling legal. The Greek government will be able to generate money from taxing the new legal and regulated online gambling industry and the money they will earn will go to fixing their troubled economy. They will offer licenses which are said to cost around €950 million which according to the agreement will be paid by the Greek gambling monopoly OPAP. The Greek government owns 34% of OPAP, which will help them to regulate the company’s online gambling endeavors.

The Dutch government is looking to make online gambling legal in The Netherlands however there is some opposition from various parliament members. These members are concerned that the current proposed laws don’t protect gamblers from potential problem gambling. The Dutch government seems faced with the task to draft up tight regulations to go with these online gambling legalization laws in order to garner a majority vote in the parliament.

Italy has regulated online gambling and is not enjoying increased revenues from both online and offline gambling. They serve as a much-needed positive example of the economic benefits of regulating and legalizing online gambling. From January to July 2011, total gambling wagers have risen to €41.9 billion (a 21.45% increase).

Could Massachusetts Be On Its Way to Legalizing Online Gambling?

Legislators in the US state of Massachusetts are looking to pass laws that will legalize online gambling (specifically online poker). State Representative Dan Winslow (Republican) put forward an amendment to an existing bill that if passed will allow the state of Massachusetts to expand their land-based gambling projects. The amendment to the bill put forth by the State Representative will try to extend this new bill to allow online gambling.

Winslow explains that legalizing online gambling will provide an influx of revenue for the state as well as much-needed jobs. Should this bill pass including the proposed amendment, it would make Massachusetts the first state to regulate and legalize online poker. Winslow isn’t alone in his vision and pursuit. Other legislators have put forth similar proposals in New Jersey, Hawaii, Florida, California and Nevada.

Winslow’s proposal includes 5 licenses, which would last for 5 years each. The state would profit based on a 10% rake on each pot in which the state government would receive 70%. Unique to this proposal, his amendment also proposes that players from around the globe would be able to play at these regulated and legal poker sites, not just Massachusetts residents.

EGBA Scolds European Commission

After the European Commission (EC) Green Paper initiative called on all the relevant European gambling bodies to submit reports on European online gambling regulation, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), a major body comprising of most of Europe’s online gambling operators, submitted a comprehensive, diverse, and strongly critical 105-page report.

EGBA’s secretary general, Sigrid Ligne, opened the report with a broad survey of the current status of Europe’s online gambling market. He said that Europe is now leading the world in online gambling, and that if it wants to remain the world leader, it will have to forge unilateral EU regulations for all member states. The current lack of uniform continental regulation leads to unnecessary costs, misallocation of resources, and eventually to black market gambling. The harder it is for registered sites to operate, the easier it is for black market casinos to profit.

Without lashing out at the EC initiative’s commissioner, Ligne didn’t withhold his criticism regarding the EC’s utter failure to enforce even the existing Europe-wide laws that have already been agreed upon by EU member states. Individual nations have taken regulatory measures in complete disregard of EU law, and the have seen no repercussions from the EC. The EGBA report stresses the need for the EC to take immediate action on the matter.

Answering more specific questions featured in the EC initiative’s query, the EGBA focused on honest sports betting, prevention of problem gambling, and protection of minors. The report also focused on the issues of consumer protection, licensing, fraud prevention, customer identification, and other important factors. The report also included a study proving that online casinos have not reduced the profits of land-based casinos.

Chili and WagerWorks Working Together

International Game Technology’s (IGT) software development department, otherwise known as WagerWorks, has worked out a deal with Chiligaming network in which the Chili Casino will host a number of WagerWorks’ games. This will broaden horizons for both companies. WagerWorks will benefit from Chili’s exposure thanks to licensing in jurisdictions such as Curacao, Alderney, and France. Chiligaming will benefit from WagerWorks’ brand licensing and experience in game development. This partnership will build upon Chili’s existing online casino site that currently offers sports betting, poker, and casino gaming.

One of the significant advantages of the WagerWorks platform is that it works via remote servers. Chiligaming does not have to completely integrate new software into their existing administrative software; it is enough for them to provide access via the site. This gives WagerWorks clients a lot of freedom in choosing which games they want to provide. The Chili Casino will be offering these games both on a for-money and not-for-money basis.

The first set of WagerWorks online games has already been launched on Chili Casino’s site. The plan is for WagerWorks’ entire gaming portfolio to be available via the Chiligaming platform. It is not long before WagerWorks’ well-known branded games like Cluedo, Jeopardy, Monopoly, and Star Trek become available on the Chili Casino site. The Chili site will also be offering slots tied to the MegaJackpots progressive jackpot – currently worth over three million credits and counting.

Alex Kelly from IGT expressed confidence in Chiligaming. He said that Chili’s got a solid history and solid base of loyal players, and therefore are an obviously choice for partnership. He expects that Chili’s players will be very excited about the new games. Alexandre Dreyfus from Chiligaming shared similar enthusiasm stating that he expects very positive growth in the European market with the addition of the WagerWorks games.

Bwin.party Sees Future in U.S.

Jim Ryan, the CEO of bwin.party, is optimistic about the future of online gambling in the U.S. Despite the recent shutdowns of online poker sites by the United States Department of Justice, Ryan believes that the legalization and regulation of online gambling in the U.S. is just around the corner. While revealing bwin.party’s strategic outlook, Ryan said that the company is already in the process of developing U.S. partnerships.

To be specific, bwin.party is already in the process of final status agreements with various bodies in New Jersey and California. The company is heavily involved with legislators and lobbying groups both on the federal and state levels. Thus far, the identities of the parties involved with bwin’s attempts at U.S. domination remain anonymous.

Bwin.party’s brands, Poker Room, WPT, and PartyPoker, stand to achieve significant gains in light of the fact that their biggest U.S. competitors were shut down by the USDOJ in the spring. Ryan is more than glad to enter into the void that these companies left behind and take advantage of the situation to whatever extent possible. That said, Ryan clarified that neither he nor his company have any intention of purchasing the struggling Full Tilt Poker.

Due to increasing taxation coupled with the regulatory costs incurred alongside the company’s recent expansion efforts, the company registered approximately 22 million Euros less in earnings (BITDA) compared to last year.

Online Casino was bwin.party’s only product that actually grew in earnings over the past year. Even their popular sports betting devalued over the year by about two percent. However, Ryan remains optimistic that despite these specific points of loss, the outlook for bwin.party in the coming years is great.

Aristocrat Slots Going Online

One of America’s top slot manufacturers, Aristocrat Technologies, is taking a gamble on the emerging U.S. online gambling market. This past spring, a collaborative agreement was signed between Aristocrat Technologies and GameAccount Network, a leading gaming software developer. The result of that agreement was a platform for Aristocrat’s U.S. clients that provides free table games, skill games, poker, and slots. The slots that made Aristocrat Technologies famous are going to be the centerpiece of the platform. Since the platform offers free play, there is not expected to be any regulatory involvement by the USDOJ or any other U.S. government body.

GameAccount’s managing director, Dermot F. Smurfit, said that the online free-play games are a good step towards the eventual monetization that will become possible if the U.S. government relaxes its online gambling policies. The expectation is that the free gaming will serve as a precursor to real-money gaming as it did in Europe. Since most of GameAccount’s business is focused in Europe, this is a fairly innovative deal for the U.S. market.

Aristocrat Technologies’ general manager of online gaming, Gillian Findlay, explained that as online gaming develops, the tastes of online gamblers become more sophisticated and their demands increase. He went on to explain that due to Aristocrat Technologies’ rich experience in the field of slot development, they can answer for players’ increasingly demanding requirements in the online market.

International Game Technologies (IGT) will probably be Aristocrat’s biggest competitor; they have years of experience developing very similar technologies through WagerWorks, a gaming technology development subsidiary of IGT. IGT has been converting existing land-based slot platforms into online platforms for quite some time. This will challenge Aristocrat Technologies to bring something new and unique to the playing field.

Italy Online Casino Update

Only a few years have passed since Italy engaged in limited steps to introduce online gambling focusing primarily on poker tournaments. This past July, however, licensed Italian casino operators began running online casino gaming. Starting November, poker cash games are expected to get the green light to go online. The month of operation thus far has been closely monitored by the authorities.

The AAMS (Independent Administration of State Monopolies, or Amministrazione autonoma dei monopoli di Stato in Italian) is the government body that oversees Italian casino gaming. They have accepted the common industry standard of a 20% tax on gross profits. If this taxation does not succeed in producing the desired revenue, they may have to employ a turnover taxation system instead.

Online gaming has quickly become very popular in Italy. Turnover estimates for 2011 are expected to exceed ten billion Euros. The estimates for next year are expected to double that. The introduction of online slots next year is expected to further bulge revenues, as well as the entry of foreign operators to the Italian market.

One of the major contributors to the quick growth of the market has been the large advertising campaigns. The online casinos made sure to get advertising rights even before they received the rights to operate the casinos themselves.

The online casino software giant Playtech has emerged as one of the leading providers in the Italian market thanks to being the first to comply with AAMS standards. Playtech licensees are already offering the complete variety of Playtech games and using Playtech management tools.

Europe Gambling Update

German gambling reform appears to be seeing delays. The province of Schleswig-Holstein submitted a liberal proposal for an online gambling regulatory framework that received wide support from the European Commission, online casino operators, and gambling advocacy groups. However, the other fifteen federated states of Germany did not support the bill. While it had seemed that Schleswig-Holstein would push forward despite the opposition, it now seems that further talks on a new State Gambling Treaty will be postponed to the fall.

The Schleswig-Holstein proposal called for unlimited licensing to casinos and a twenty percent tax on gross profits. The German State Gambling Treaty currently in effect is set to expire on New Years. Legislators therefore must act fast if they want to change the gambling laws.

Spain is leaning heavily towards any and all steps for legalization and taxation of online gambling. It is no secret that Spain’s economic situation is grim. Therefore, the expected 137.5 million Euro tax and license revenues for 2012 are surely needed. Spain has seen a recent hike in the percentage of online gamblers. These factors combined can translate to increased employment in the casino sector.

In England, the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport has announced an amendment proposal to the UK Gambling Act of 2005. The amendment calls for the inclusion of the International Olympic Committee and other sports organizations in the Gambling Act bodies permitted by law to receive information sharing from the Gambling Commission. This is aimed at increasing integrity and combating suspicious betting activity.

Online Gambling Receives Support in House of Representatives

Two bills are currently making their way through the halls of the capitol that show increasing support for online gambling by members of the U.S. government. The two bills are HR 2334, the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Bill of 2011, and HR 2366, the “poker only” bill.

The Comprehensive Problem Gambling bill of 2011 is a bill being pushed by Democrat Jim Moran and cosponsored by Democrats Berkley, Cohen, Hastings, McDermott, and Ryan and Republicans Barton and Wolf. The bill is strongly supported by the U.S. National Council on Problem Gambling. If the bill were to be passed, it would secure federal funding to help deal with problem gambling issues via the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The bill HR 2366 was introduced by Republican Joe Barton from Texas. Its full name is the Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection, and Strengthening UIGEA Act of 2011, though it is commonly referred to as the “poker only” bill. The bill has 25 cosponsors representing both sides of the aisle. The bill’s aim is to legalize and regulate poker and only poker. The bill is currently undergoing the scrutiny of a number of congressional subcommittees.

Aside from the positive developments in government, there has also been some good press as well. The New York Observer recently had an op-ed piece in support of the legalization of online gambling. The crux of the article was that the legalization of online gambling in a regulated matter can provide much needed tax revenues for the state coffers at a time when money is very tight. Furthermore, the article states that trying to combat online gambling is futile, and therefore the only sensible conclusion is to provide a legal licensed platform that can be exploited for a good cause.

New Online Slots @ Virgin

This week, Virgin Casino launched two new online slot games. Even though the new games were not developed by Microgaming, they are nonetheless being offered via the Microgaming QuickFire platform. The two games both feature historical themes: Call of the Colosseum is based on ancient Rome, and Dynasty is based on ancient China.

The Call of the Colosseum video slot offers many winning combinations with its 20 paylines. Among its symbols you’ll find a bag of gold, a gladiator’s helmet, chariots, the Colosseum, a tiger, and a Roman lady. The Roman lady gives a jackpot payout of five thousand coins. The wild symbol in this game is the emperor; it appears on reels 2-4 only. The scatter symbol is a round shield. If you get three or more scatter symbols, you get ten free spins during which the payouts are worth twice as much. During the free spins, if an emperor appears, he will have either thumbs up or thumbs down. Thumbs-up gives three more free spins. After each payout, you have the option of playing an additional game to double or quadruple to payout, though you also risk losing the payout.

The Dynasty video slot game is similar to the Call of the Colosseum. The background, though, is the Great Wall of China. The Dynasty logo is parallel to the emperor in Call of the Colosseum, however, it can be stacked which increases payout potential. The warrior symbol is parallel to the Roman lady. The Chinese emperor is the scatter symbol and similarly awards the free spins when it appears three times. Other symbols that appear include swords, flags, monuments, and warriors.

To promote the new games, Virgin Casino is offering various daily promotions.

Glimmer of Hope for Full Tilt

The past few months have not been easy for Full Tilt Poker, however, it appears there may be a glimmer of hope for the battered poker enterprise. New reports about licensing may signal the beginnings of the reopening of Full Tilt.

Before the good news, though, there is some lingering bad news still coming out of the April shut-down. Rumors are spreading that all of Full Tilt’s U.S. employees have or will be laid off. Since April, the entire staff has been receiving full pay even though the site has been essentially inoperative. Apparently, the financial burden was too big for Full Tilt to handle.

There is, however, one Full Tilt employee still on the payroll – CEO Ray Bitar – though it should be added that he is federally indicted, so his situation is not any better than the laid-off employees.

The good news is coming from the north. In the Quebec province, Kahnawake has provided authorization for Kolyma, a Full Tilt subsidiary, to operate in their territory. This is the Kolyma gambling corporation, not to be confused with the Gulag slave labor camps in Siberia, Russia.

The license renewal is to last two years. During these two years it is expected that the Kahnawake Gaming Commission will be closely watching the Alderney Gambling Control Commission who are investigating Kolyma’s licensing through Full Tilt.

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission confirmed that Full Tilt has thus far paid approximately half a million dollars in fees owed. The payment of the fees is important to customers who are waiting for a settlement in regards to withdrawing their winnings.

Before the USDOJ crack-down last spring, Full Tilt Poker was the second most highly trafficked poker web site in the world.

Australia Considering Gambling Reform

The Australian Parliament has been known for its open opposition to online casinos. Lately, however, politicians have shown signs of change in their stance on online gambling. A government inquiry has been opened in connection with the Interactive Gambling and Broadcasting Amendment (Online Transactions and Other Measures) Bill 2011. A hearing was recently held at which Sportsbet head Cormac Barry acted as a spokesman on behalf of the online gambling community.

Problem gambling is the issue most often discussed as the main concern for politicians and their constituents. In a surprising presentation, Barry brought to light that the online casino websites apparently are better at protecting against problem gambling than even land based casinos. Through advanced analysis technology and third party participation, the casino websites are able to identify problem gamblers even when they use tricks. It is known that problem gamblers will open multiple accounts or use different phone numbers or e-mail addresses; the analysis technology can flag multiple accounts based on usage patterns and alert the fraud team to investigate them.

Another point of concern for politicians was the ninety-day period during which the verification took place. This waiting period does not allow players to withdraw money; however, it does allow players to bet and therefore potentially loose money. Opponents of stricter regulation say that further restrictions will push gamblers to entirely unregulated sites. Opponents of looser regulation say that releasing the reigns will lead to worse problem gambling.

There was agreement between legislators and casino representatives on the need for proper government standards for ensuring the protection of players. The plan to create a national problem gambling fund that would be funded by the licensed online casinos also received broad support. The fund is aimed at providing problem gamblers with the support they need to treat their problem, as well as helping the casinos themselves identify problem gambling.

At his conclusion, Barry presented the committee members with evidence that shows that not only do online casinos not have higher rates of problem gambling than traditional “brick and mortar” casinos, but that with the start of Australian online casino gambling in 2001 there has been no increase in the percent of problem gamblers.

Growing Jackpots Waiting to Be Claimed

After two years of slow winnings, the online casino progressive jackpots are getting huge. Though some players might get frustrated by the thought that nobody’s won the big jackpot in two years, it appears that most players are more than happy to wait and win the extra big jackpot.

Micrograming is currently holding onto the largest progressive jackpot pool - $5,000,000. Though it had temporarily lost its position, mostly due to low results from two of its major networks, they recently rebounded and the Microgaming jackpot finds itself on top. The Major Millions three and five reel video slots are each offering progressive jackpots at just over a million dollars. Each one offers a chance at the big pot for just three dollars. The jackpots have grown so large thanks to the fact that no one won over $500,000 in two years. Mega Moolah contributes the largest share to Microgaming’s jackpot pool; their four-reel video slot has a progressive jackpot of over three million dollars.

Playtech Software has the second highest jackpot pool. Their pool is currently $4.8 million. Thanks to many small games and a good group of networks, their pool has seen serious growth. Their flagship game, Beach Life, has grown 38-fold in just three months. Their Marvel games, which all feed into the Marvel Ultimate Power pool, have a jackpot of $800,000.

In third place is Realtime Gaming with a $4.7 million jackpot. Realtime has a unique asset – four large progressive jackpots that haven’t been tapped in two years. Each individual jackpot is worth over a million dollars. It’s only a matter of time before a lucky player wins big on two years of jackpot growth.

Gambling Advertising Unleashed in Greece

In an attempt to increase both advertising revenue and casino competition, the Greek government has allowed casino gaming websites unrestricted advertising access to any form of media, even TV. The Greek politicians, who are presently trying to deal with a major economic crisis, are looking desperately for any avenue to increase tax revenue. Lately, they passed e-gaming legislation aimed at that goal.

The new legislation allows operators to advertise freely before they have even concluded their online casino licensing. The hope is that this will cause a serious advertising war between the various operators; this will be a boon for the Greek economy. The revenue from the taxes placed on the operators is expected to be quite large. During the waiting period that is to last six months, EU licensed operators who obtain or apply for a Greek license will pay 30% of their gross profits to taxes. Players will have to pay 10% of their winnings to taxes.

The control committee appointed to supervise these matters is not yet active. When the committee becomes active, the advertising war is on. There are voices of discontent about the recent legislation. Sites like betting exchanges do not benefit from the advertising deregulation. One exchange has complained to the EC on the matter. Though the firm said that they were satisfied with the beginning stages of the new law, they wanted to see Greece fall in line with standard EU practice.

The recent moves made by Athens have sent shockwaves around the online casino industry. RGA chairman John Coates said that his organization would continue to work together with the EU and Greece in order to make sure that a proper, fair competitive environment is preserved while partially state owned OPAP enters the European market. “Ensuring an equitable and competitive market place involving private operators and the part stat owned OPAP is also an important factor,” Coates said.

Massachusetts to Green-Light Online Gambling

The state of Massachusetts is currently contemplating the introduction of limited regulated online gambling within state limits. State senator Michael Rush proposed the bill in January. Recently, the bill was brought before the state Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. As a result of the bill, the Massachusetts Lottery Commission will be authorized to conduct a 2-year pilot of the online gambling program.

Proponents of the bill claim that the annual revenue of the program for the state of Massachusetts could reach one billion dollars annually. Senator Rush further stated that it is preferable to have Bay Staters gambling through the local lottery system than via offshore casinos. A prepaid account system is suggested in the bill; it would allow supervision, age verification, and help prevent problem gambling. During the pilot program, the state lottery is expected to research various avenues for providing the gambling service. After 18 months of the two-year pilot, an interim report is supposed to be handed over to the state government.

Rush’s chief of staff, John Regan, said, “Massachusetts has always been at the forefront of innovation in state lottery gaming […] this is a new, interactive way of playing the lottery through new online games of chance.”

Steve Grossman, the Massachusetts state treasurer, had expresses reservations about the ability to collect payment from U.S. banks via credit card in light of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Massachusetts state lottery officials disputed the claim claiming that five states already employ online sale of lottery tickets. Grossman further stated that despite his concerns, since he sees Washington moving towards gambling legalization, he is sure that Massachusetts will push the bill forward in order to stay ahead of the game.

Online Gambling Shaken Up by USDOJ

This past spring, the U.S. Dept. of Justice forcefully closed three large American online gambling sites due to the alleged illegal processing of payments. Since then there has been a string of exits by online casino providers from the U.S. market.

The current exit is that of Rival Gaming, an online gambling software provider, who stated that new American players will not be accepted to its licensee casinos. AffiliateWide, an affiliate of Rival, issued a statement that as of August 7^th, no new U.S. registrations will be accepted.

Due to the large number of American customers at AffiliateWide, they have decided to switch software providers to Top Game; Top Game is still active in the U.S. market. Other sites affected by the exit include Black Diamond Casino, Spartan Slots, and Box24 Casino.

AffiliateWide is expected to complete transfer to Top Game by mid August. From a player’s perspective there is not supposed to be a noticeable gap; Rival games will be fully accessible to existing players throughout the transfer. After the transfer, payers will be using Top Game software and affiliates will be able to take part in the Top Game Affiliate system. Players who would like to continue gambling on Rival Games will have to look for another affiliate.

To prevent further complications, some casinos are switching their domain names from the U.S. controlled .com to the EU’s .eu. Realtime Gaming made the switch last week, and Bodog switched the week before. This enables the casinos to ensure relative legal stability.

Calvin Ayre King of Bling

The UK Guardian featured an article in its business section about the founder of Bodog online casino brand, Calvin Ayre. He was described, as “web gambling’s king of bling.” This title is well deserved. Ayre recently bought Slots.com domain name for a whopping $5.5 million and then threw himself a “seven-deadly-sins” 50^th birthday party. To the party, which took place in Dublin, Ayre invited 50 girls – one for every year.

Ayre was born in Canada. His father was a dope-smuggling pig-farmer. Calvin was involved in a share-trading scandal in the 90’s. As a result of the scandal, he was bared from being director for a public company in BC. He then went on to start Bodog which eventually became one of the most successful online gambling brands on the planet. Ayre reveled in his success and lived large. He served as a judge for lingerie contests and even appeared in Playboy (not naked, though). Ayre owns numerous homes throughout the world: Vancouver, Antigua, Costa Rica, Thailand, and the Philippines. He uses his homes to host lavish parties for VIP gamblers and rappers, and always has armed bodyguards and Bodog-Girls present.

The king of bling seems to be at the top of the online gambling world; however there are three places were Ayre says he can’t go back to. He can’t go back to the states since the passing of the UIGEA; he made most of his money from U.S. gamblers. He won’t go back to his home town of Saskatchewan; after tasting the big life there’s no going back. Lastly, he won’t go back to Poland because of a mugging incident; though the actual amount stolen is insignificant, the personal discomfort was great.

Ayre only sees growth for future business. He believes that the U.S. will backtrack on its regulation in order to increase tax revenue, but in the meantime is focusing on the quickly growing Asian markets. Ayre also is a sponsor for two football clubs, Ayre United and West Bromwich Albion.

Gambling Liberalization to Save Greek Economy

Before the scheduled IMF audit at the end of August, the Greek government was rushing to push through financial reforms that include a new online gambling bill. The Greek finance minister succeeded in passing the bill by one voice vote after days of difficult debating.

Against expectations, the parliament in Athens pulled a one-eighty regarding many of the draft proposal’s controversial components that had already received thumbs down from the European Commission. The legislation does not include the proposed six-month waiting period before general legalization; it also lacks regulation proposed that would have provided some protection for OPAP, the state-owned online casino. The license-limiting clause, apparently, has also been omitted. Clive Hawkswood, chief executive of the RGA, expressed appreciation for the positive changes, though he also stated that their remained certain concerning areas regarding the balance of the market place competition between private operators and OPAP.

Casino operators who are licensed by the European Union will be allowed to operate freely in Greece with no waiting period at all. There will be a six month transition period starting from the establishment of the Control Committee on online gambling; a date has yet to be confirmed. During the six-month transitional period, Greek customers will be allowed to access casinos located on offshore servers. After that period, the casinos will have to relocate their servers to Greek territory. During the transitional period, operators will be taxed 30%, but players will only be taxed 10% on winnings. Online gambling experts expect that a full-scale advertising war will take place while casinos wrestle for their share in the Greek market.

OPAP is partly owned by the Greek government – 34% to be exact. It is not yet clear whether or not the Greek finance minister plans to sell off the country’s shares in the company. The new legislation does include measures to increase the share value of OPAP. One such measure is exclusive rights to operate the 35,000 video lotto machines expected to be spread throughout the country; however, OPAP will not actively operate all the machines and is expected to subcontract about 16,500 of them. This move could be a sign that the Greek finance ministry is trying to increase the share value of OPAP prior to selling it.

Casino Experience Partying Down

In the early days of Vegas, the casino gambling used to be a simple affair. Today, more sophisticated customers demand an evolved casino experience. The new evolution of casino gambling seems to be party pits. A party pit is like a casino within a casino – and sexier. Whether the dealers, waitresses, or dancers, everyone seems to be wearing fewer clothes.

The idea for the party pits stems from a very simple concept – the casino wants to keep the players inside the casino. Furthermore, the casino wants customers to feel like they’ve had a good, fun time at the end of the day. The new customer demands entertainment return in exchange for money lost gambling.

The Flamingo is opening a Margaritaville Casino including a Jimmy Buffet restaurant and bar. Caesars Palace is expected to shell out ten million dollars on the expansion. The target audience is mostly from the baby-boomer generation, but may also include younger people too.

The party pit concept has been used by Caesars Palace with the Pussycat Dolls dancers and by Harrah’s with the Toby Keith restaurant. The Hard Rock casino similarly employed a party pit, though altered to carry a hard-rock theme. Hell’s Belles probably has the skimpiest party pit employees, though at the end of the day a party pit is a party pit and the concept is the same.

There are casino experts who claim that it’s best for the casinos to shift their focus away from entertainment and strictly to gambling, and then to outsource their entertainment needs to a professional entertainment company. However, others reply that it seems like the casinos have actually found a way to keep players happy even if they are loosing money, and if that is the case, then they certainly have done something right.

Millionaire Casino Shuts Their Virtual Doors

Sad news had hit the online gambling world – Millionaire Casino, one of the most popular online gambling casinos, will be shut down on the first of August. Their website reads: “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.”

The shutting down of Millionaire Casino is part of a series of action the US government is taking to terminate what they consider to be “unlawful gambling activity.” The first victims were three of the largest online poker sites, PokerStars, Absolute Poker, and Full Tilt Poker. These domain seizures shocked the entire online gambling community. Some sports sites were also closed down on counts of illegal betting.

Shortly after the closers, many customers claim that the websites disappeared before they were able to withdraw their accounts. These impacted parties are petitioning government officials for reimbursement. The lucky ones withdrew their money in advance.

Online gamblers worldwide have begun gravitating towards websites they deem “legally safe.” The concern over recent events has caused a stir that is prompting more legally stable websites to try and lure the transient players with various bonuses and promotions. It is pretty clear that they are trying to cash in on the recent events.

When Millionaire Casino shuts off the lights on the first of the month, the question remains, who’s next? Will another Casino take Millionaire Casino’s place? No one can know for sure.

Harvard University Study Says Online Gambling Not to Blame for Problem Gambling

Harvard Professors Howard J. Shaffer and Ryan Martin have published a study positing that online gambling does not contribute to problem gambling. Their paper, published in the Clinical Psychology Annual Review under the title “Disordered Gambling: Etiology, Trajectory and Clinical Considerations” points to a notable decrease in the amount of problem gambling in the last decade.

Land gambling has seen considerable growth during the last three and half decades. That being said, the prevalence of problem gambling has actually declined. Shaffer, while speaking with a reporter from the Chicago Tribune, stated that for most of the American gamblers, it is merely a fun and controllable game. He also disproved the view shared by many anti-gambling lobbyists that online gambling increases the risk of problem gambling. On the contrary, via statistical analysis of the habits of online gamblers one might be surprised to find out that most players actually play less and less over the course of time – the opposite of the definition of addictive behavior.

Furthermore, Shaffer’s study shows that a quite small fraction of the gambling population takes part in online gambling at all. To date, no irrefutable evidence has been brought to the table giving credence to the claim that online gambling in fact leads to gambling addiction. The study goes on to explain that of the 3 out of every 500 gamblers who actually are addicted to gambling, 3 our of every 4 are also heavily addicted to something else. Not only does this show that gambling is not the cause of their addictive personality, but the study further showed that on their “addiction priority list,” gambling was typically last.

A number of Harvard professors have been studying problem gambling for quite some time in order to better develop methods of diagnosis and treatment. As a side effect of their studies, they have been able to debunk certain myths about the issue, and shed some light on the heavily debated issue of gambling.

Shaffer and Martin are not the only researchers who arrived at these conclusions. In the field of studying problem gambling, many others researchers have arrived at similar conclusions. Though some of the research may seem dishonest because it was funded by gambling companies themselves, even research teams funded by regulatory associations have reached likewise conclusions, thereby proving the objective accuracy of the findings.

Casino Shooting Near Seattle

Auburn police report that a lone gunman entered the Muckleshoot Casino this Sunday and fired his gun on his wife, her companion, and seven other innocent bystanders. As of the early hours of Monday morning, Seattle Hospital reported that the wife and two of the bystanders were in critical condition. Four other victims are in stable condition in Renton’s Valley Hospital.

Mike Hirman, the Auburn Police commander, said that after sufficing to injure nine persons, casino security personal pounced on him, and an off-duty policeman from Auburn proceeded to take him into custody.

The police handed the suspect over to the detectives who further investigated his motives. The police did not identify the suspect immediately.

Auburn Police Commander Hirman said 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." Hirman went on to say that the suspect was detained at King County Jail and spoke to detectives there. Since the details of the conversations are part of an ongoing investigation, they are still being withheld from release to the press until further notice.

The current charge is that the suspect entered the Club Galaxy lounge at the Muckleshoot Casino with intent to open fire on his wife and her partner.

The wife had two sisters present at the Casino lounge and they too were among the injured. It is not clear yet if the suspect in question intended to maim the sisters too.

The police commander also said that the initial court hearing will likely be held this coming Monday.

Racism and Corruption in Alabama Casino Scandal

In an Alabama courtroom this Monday, racist remarks were heard while the prosecutors played recordings of phone conversations made by a pro-gambling lobbyist accused of bribery. Jarrod Massey, employed by the Country Crossing casino, was speaking with spokesman Jay Walker about refuting the anti-casino remarks being made; Massey suggested that other casinos must speak up, though not Greenetrack of the primarily African-American Greene County for “we don’t need to blacken this thing up any more than possible.”

Massey admitted to bribing politicians, four senators, in exchange for receiving their vote on a casino-friendly constitutional amendment.

Massey further remarked that, although he might have not chosen his words wisely, he does associate gambling problems with the black community, and that his interest was in convincing white republican voters to support the amendment.

The FBI wiretapped and recorded the conversations during a state-wide corruption investigation in 2010. Senator Scott Beason, an unabashedly outspoken legislator against casinos, recorded meetings that he participated in and then gave the tapes to the court. While in court, however, the tapes turned out to be a double-edged sword when Beason was recorded calling the Greenetrack patrons “aborigines.”

Ronnie Gilley, one of the heads at Country Crossing, also pleaded guilty. He and Massey are both testifying on the prosecutions behalf. They gave detailed testimonies explaining how senior casino executives (including themselves) gave significant campaign contributions to various lawmakers in exchange for their support of the amendment. Several casino employees and state lawmakers are still in trial.

With the exposure of such corruption, the casino amendment vanished from Washington without ever being voted upon.

Hats Off at the Rio World Series

As large crowds of excited onlookers and stern-faced poker professionals enter the Rio today, so begins the 42^nd annual World Series of Poker, the greater poker tournament in the world, while poker is becoming increasingly popular in mainstream American culture.

One might notice some subtle differences in this year’s crowd compared to last year’s. The tournament’s owner, Caesars Entertainment, has enacted a series of regulations on logoed attire worn by tournament-comers. At first thought, one might come to the conclusion that this is a direct result of the US Department of Justice indicting three major online poker sites. However, as tournament spokesman Seth Polansky explains, the real reason for the regulations is commercial – due to the growth in popularity of poker in recent years, this year’s tournament will be broadcast in over 50 countries, including live coverage on ESPN. As a result of the broadcasting, therefore, logoed hats are forbidden, and any other article of clothing is limited to one logo of no more than 12 square inches.

The popularity hike in recent years is due in large part to online poker websites. These websites have provided the poker-playing masses with a cheap and easy way to play the game and hone their skills. Caesars Entertainment does not allow poker websites to have booths at the tournament, however, their presence is none-the-less noticed on player’s uniforms – some players are sponsored by the big poker websites (in accordance with regulations). This year’s tournament is expected to draw large crowds here in Vegas and around the world.

WSOP Attendance Remains High in Face of Slowing Economy

At the end of the World Series of Poker’s main event, after days and hours of playing, one of the 6,865 players will walk away with $8,711,956. This is the third largest playing field in WSOP history.

This year’s turnout is particularly impressive in light of the fact that three of the biggest US-based online poker websites, Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, and Absolute Poker, were indicted this spring by the US Department of Justice. These sites served as a breading ground for new poker players and were very much responsible for the growing turnout. That being said, it is pleasantly surprising that in spite of the indictments, and in spite of the recent economic downturns, the attendance at the WSOP has not gone down.

The highest attendance was in 2006 prior to the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The year after that, the WSOP saw a significant drop of about 2,500 attendees; in years following, the number of attendees has hovered steadily between 6,300 and 7,400.

The high attendance at the WSOP, in spite of recent events, is for the most part due to online poker sites that have brought a whole new generation into the world of poker. For these young players, the main event is the ultimate battleground in which they can implement the skills they have been perfecting in online play.

The future of the WSOP will depend on the level of regulation that congress decides to impose on online gambling. Will players still attend the WSOP even if they can’t gamble online? Though one can’t predict the future, it seams as if the new generation of players born during the heyday of American online poker will serve as a solid basis for continual growth for the WSOP.

Chafee Calls for Broad Casino Study

While passing the 2012 state budget, Rhode Island legislatures included a referendum sponsored by local casino Twin River. In order to better understand the impact of the referendum which will expand the assortment of games playable at the casino, Governor Chafee has put out a contract to study the impact of the referendum alongside some alternative scenarios. Seven large consulting firms are competing for the bid including Gaming Market Advisors, Global Gaming and Hospitality, and Gaming Group.

Antoine Walker, Retired NBA Player Pleads to Racking Up Debt in Vegas - To The Tune of $1 Million

So if you're ever wondering what not to do when gambling, take a look at Antoine Walker. Walker the 24 year old former NBA star pleaded guilty to charges failing to pay back $1 million worth of gambling debts that he owed to three separate casinos in Las Vegas: Caesar's Palace, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, and Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa.

He can serve up to four years in prison but the Prosecutor on the case made it clear that Walker wouldn't go to prison if he paid back the remainder of the money he owes ($750,000).

Last year, Walker filed for bankruptcy with a reported $12.7 in liabilities and $4.3 million in assets.

Viaden Gaming To Launch 7 New Casino Games

Viaden Gaming Ltd., a leading online software company has just announced the release of seven new and certified (WPA Audit) online casino games. These games will join the impressive current line-up on Viaden online casino games including video poker, card games, roulette, and more. The new games include five video slot games, Keno and a new video poker game.

The online slot games include: Cherry Go Round, Dragon's Tale, Empire's Glory, Land of Unicorn and Lucky Pirate. The video poker game is Golden Flush. The slots offer fun, new graphics and during each spin where a player wins, they have the chance to increase their win up to 4x with a free spin. The Keno game stays true to its classic roots and is beautifully designed. The video poker game is played with a 57-card deck with 5 joker cards for an added twist.

The games all offer state-of-the-art HD design and functionality. Thanks to WPA Audit and the fact that each of the games are certified, players can ensure the highest standards of fair gaming, quality and fast and smooth performance.

Full Tilt Poker Suspended by Alderney Gambling Control Commissions

This morning, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission issued an order to Full Tilt to suspend all of its operations, effective immediately. The PR issued by the AGCC explains that the suspension was issued in light of the investigation that started as a result of the indictments given by the US Attorney General's Office in New York in April of this year. There will be a hearing for Full Tilt in London on July 26th and most likely until then none of the since-suspended operations will resume.

This is the latest in a series of fallen dominoes that was set in motion in April when the US Department of justice stopped all activity on three of the world's largest online poker rooms that offered their service to players from the US.

A month following the seizure, PokerStars, one of the largest of these sites, paid over 100 million dollars to American players. Full Tilt seemed to be stalling in paying out their winnings. Phil Ivey, the site's spokesperson said that he wouldn't play in any WSOP events (while he endorsed Full Tilt) because of Full Tilt's failure to pay out American players. Apparently they're also not paying out European Players.

This was against the AGCCs regulations.

Will Miami Become The Next Las Vegas?

Despite Florida’s notorious reputation for being full of older retired women who love slot machines, Floridian voters have time and time again been against Las Vegas-style casinos. In response, those in the “pro-gaming” group decided to change the strategy instead to taking small steps towards an overall bigger goal. Slot machines started showing up in horse and dog-racing tracks in S. Florida and poker rooms began popping up throughout the state. Now it seems that Florida’s residents are warming up to the idea of casinos and as a voting populace have become more tolerant of gambling as a whole.

So, could Miami become the new Vegas?

From the looks of it, as international casino giants purchase waterfront properties in Miami and big names like Wynn Resorts are lobbying local lawmakers, it certainly looks like it!

Aside from this news being great for people who want to gamble in the state of Florida, it’s also great news for Florida’s economy. New casinos will pump more money into the economy and it will provide tens of thousands of new jobs. Casino’s of this caliber come with hotels, restaurants, and convention space to name a few amenities! Recent polls show that 50% of voters in South Florida support building casinos in Miami/Miami Beach. And, there’s definitely money to be made!

Currently, the gambling industry in Florida is worth around $2 billion.

eCOGRA Revises Casino Regulations

Ever wonder how safe is your online casino? And how would you know?

With eCOGRA, this information can be revealed to you.

eCOGRA is managed and operated in London where they provide player protection and standards outlining an international structure for the best operational practices. They place high emphasis on fair and responsible gambling pursuits which is enforced through ongoing monitoring of player behavior.

With the changing times, eCOGRA has also made necessary adjustments.

They have announced new revisions to its Generally Accepted Practices (eGAPs) and have featured this on their official website. These safe gaming requirements are used by many online casinos to enforce the highest framework of fair and safe gaming activity.

Nevertheless, eCOGRA’s revised guidelines incorporate nine most crucial factors for Europe casinos to abide by in providing top management of casinos. These new and improved trends are included in the CEN workshop:

- Fair odds

- Quick payouts

- Honest marketing

- Exceeding Customer Expectations

- Safe gaming

- Protecting clients

- Preventing underage gambling

- Eliminating fraud

- Privacy and Confidentiality of clients

The wonderful advantage of CEN is that is assists in overlooking online gambling practices within Europe and eCOGRA is bound to enforce these standards.

It is important to note that these trends where talked upon by owners of casinos, players, casino experts and legal authorities who agreed upon these industry requirements.

And by enforcing these practices, online gambling paves a way for a well respected community where players will feel safe and have a great time!

For almost a decade, eCOGRA has provided general guidelines for operating online casino to follow in order to run a respectable gaming environment. And they will continue to enforce safe gaming with more than 145 online gaming sites working alongside them who have been credited as secure and fair casinos!

Future Owner of SPS Announced

In the French online gaming industry, big news has hit the scene. The French media group, Television Francaise 1 SA has confirmed and announced that it will be selling is online gaming company, SPS, to Solfive.

Television Francaise announced that due to the reason that SPS has been performing poorly over the years, it should be sold. The decision to sell the subsidiary was thought of after earnings reports were released in January for 2010.

Although the company will be sold to Solfive, the Chief Financial Officer of SPS, Olivier Ou Ramdane, will stay on as executive manager. The current CEO is partnered with Solfive and is confident of future success.

The acquisition will take place within the next five weeks and is subject to French regulatory approval. Once the acquisition has taken place, Television Francaise will announce the official takeover.

PokerStars and Full Tilt Speak Up About Legal Charges

In response to the United States federal clean-up of online gaming sites, PokerStars and Full Tilt have released statements. UB.com and Absolute Poker have refused to comment on the crack-down.

The following statement was issued to the visitors and clients of PokerStars via pop-up on its sight revealing suspension of real-money play in the United States:

"As you may have heard, we have had to suspend real money poker services to people based in the U.S. due to legal developments there. The developments are confined to the U.S. and do not have any impact on your ability to continue using our services. Please be assured player balances are safe. There is no cause for concern. For all customers outside the U.S. it is business as usual."

The statement revealed that in order to correlate with new U.S. regulation, the web address of PokerStars has been changed to Pokerstars.eu.

The statement released by Full Tilt was somewhat different to say the least. The company did not mention any information regarding the suspension of real-money play for its U.S. Players. On the contrary, the statement expressed support for its indicted executives.

The statement read: "Full Tilt Poker is saddened by the charges against its CEO Raymond Bitar and offers its full support to Mr. Bitar and Nelson Burtnick."

"Online poker is a game of skill enjoyed by tens of millions of people in the United States & across the world. And, Full Tilt Poker remains as committed as ever to preserving the rights of those players to play the game they love online.

Mr. Bitar and Full Tilt Poker believe online poker is legal, a position also taken by some of the best legal minds in the United States. Full Tilt Poker is, and has always been committed to preserving the integrity of the game and abiding by the law."

Bitar comments: "I am surprised & disappointed by the government's decision to bring these charges. I look forward to Mr. Burtnick's and my exoneration."

Headlining Statements Issued by PokerStars and Full Tilt

PokerStars and Full Tilt have spoken out in an answer to the United States government's raid on their companies. No statements in response have been issued by the gaming companies UB.com and Absolute Poker however.

PokerStars said to its customers when the US government decided to get rid of real money gaming that they had decided to outsource real money gaming services as they were now illegal in the U.S. There would be no need and no actions would be taken to close down the PokerStars website as gambling is still legal in other countries where the domain can be placed. Therefore, no customers outside of the USA had to worry about their favorite online poker site disappearing.

As mentioned, the PokerStars website was moved to a domain outside of the USA and the website address changed to Pokerstars.eu in order to avoid trouble.

Full Tilt did not follow PokerStars' example when making their announcement. Instead, the company's spokespeople decided to stand behind its managers: Raymond Bitar (CEO) and Nelson Burtnick. Therefore, their statement lacked any mention of the situation in the U.S. in which real money games in the casino industry are considered illegal.

Full Tilt Poker continued its statement by clarifying that millions of American and other countries' citizens enjoy playing poker, which is a game both of luck and skill. Full Tilt Poker guaranteed that they would not create problems for those players wishing to use their internet gambling services.

Full Tilt's CEO, Mr. Bitar, made sure to point out that Full Tilt Poker obviously is a law abiding company but still argued that poker online should definitely be legal.

Furthermore, Bitar said that he was upset, to say the least, about the fact that the U.S. state had banned real money games and concluded by stating that Mr. Burtnick was in full agreement with him.

Microgaming Takes Away Big Wins at London’s Annual eGaming Review B2B Awards

Microgaming, which has over a decade of experience developing and providing the industry’s most cutting- edge gaming software, was recently the recipient of two leading awards at the prestigious casino industry’s Annual eGaming Review B2B Awards ceremony held in London. Microgaming was the proud recipient for the Innovation Award and the Best Poker Network Award.

All together, Microgaming had been up for a total of five award nominations. These other honorable considerations that Microgaming was competing for including Poker Software Provider of the Year, Slots Provider of the Year and the Casino Supplier of the Year. Nevertheless they took home two respectable wins.

Microgaming CEO, Roger Raatgever commented on the company’s wins for the evening. Stating that the company was excited to grab hold of these awards nomination’s "especially after facing such a strong competition." Raatgever pointed out that the foundation for the company’s growth came from out-of-the-box, independent thinking and innovative creativity. He stated the two awards were an inspiration for the designers to continue to provide sophisticated software in the industry.

In addition to Microgaming’s big wins, other software providers clenched exceptional awards as well. Playtech took away outstanding awards for Bingo Networking of the Year and RNG Casino Supplier of the Year. Additionally, Income Access was the recipient of the Best Affiliate Network Award and NetRefer took away the Best Affiliate Award. The award for Best Payment Company went to Skrill Holdings and the recipient of the award for Poker Software and Bingo Supplier went to Dragonfish.

Female Gamblers With Gambling Problems Seem to Have a Harder Time Getting Their Gambling Under Control

In the United Kingdom, a Soho-based gambling clinic has been awarded over a 500,000 pound grant.The grant was issued by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission in order to help treat and counsel addictive gamblers for the next 18 months.

The Soho-based organization, National Problem Gambling Clinic, will use the substantial grant in order to provide professional counseling.  The counseling offered is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and targets adults, especially women in breaking the gambling habit.

The National Problem Gambling Clinic offers treatment to anyone in the United Kingdom who suffers from a gambling addiction. The clinic claims that 75% of all its patients get significantly better due to the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

For those not prepared to come into the clinic for the intense therapy or for those unable to come into the clinic, phone and online counseling will be offered over the next twelve months. Mothers with young children will be allowed to get counseling while their kids are watched after the onsite daycare.

With the grant, the clinic is doing everything possible in order to help resolve the addictive gambling problem that faces the country. It is reported that more and more people are taking advantage of the counseling that is being offered in order to take control of lives.

As always - gamble responsibly!

Money Laundering and Bank Fraud

Today, major online gaming companies that offer real-money gambling have been indicted with money laundering and bank fraud, and other illegal charges related to gambling.

PokerStars, one of the largest and most successful online gaming companies in the world has taken the forefront of the charges. New York federal authorities have indicted eleven executives of PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker.

The indictments have not only charged the personnel of the companies but also the companies themselves in order to seize real-money online gaming in the United States. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed suit against the gaming companies and have filed suit over the companies' assets, payment processors, bank accounts, and website domains.

Manhattan U.S. State Attorney, Preet Bhara issued the following statement in response to the indictments:

"As charged, these defendants concocted an elaborate criminal fraud scheme, alternately tricking some U.S. banks & effectively bribing others to assure the continued flow of billions in illegal gambling profits. Moreover, as we allege, in their zeal to circumvent the gambling laws, the defendants also engaged in massive money laundering & bank fraud".

It is safe to say that the upcoming months will be extremely intense time for the defendants, the online gaming companies indicted, the players involves, and the online gaming industry as a whole.

Cryptologic Shares Being Bought by Montreal Gaming Company

Rumors have been surfacing for months regarding the Montreal-based online gaming company, Amaya Gaming. It has been said that the company has been investing large amounts of money in the online gaming software developing company, Crypotologic.

As of now, the rumors have come to an end and have been confirmed. Yesterday, Amaya Gaming, the multi-dimensional gaming company, filed an SC13D notification. This notification determines that five percent of a company has been purchased by one owner. Anaya now owns 652,170 shares of Cryptologic common stock. Amaya Gaming has invested $1,075,816.19 from general working capital and now owns 5.05 percent of Cryptologic.

Amaya Gaming takes part in design, development, manufacturing, sales, and distribution of technology-based gaming solutions for the online gaming industry. The purchase of Cryptologic confirms that the Montreal-Based gaming company is growing to be a top-contender in the gaming world. Also with this purchase, the company is introducing its top executives to the world since their names will soon be popping up all over the gaming scene.

The executive officers & directors of Amaya are David Baazov (CEO), Daniel Sebag (CFO), Wesley Clark Sr., Divyesh Gadhia & Harlan Goodson.

Online Casino Player Wins a 6 Figure Jackpot!

Think you can’t walk away with a 6-figure jackpot at an online casino? That’s probably what Steven M. used to think to himself until he walked away with a massive £101,705 cash prize! Steven M. had been an avid player at bet365 casino since 2005 and really hit it big yesterday when he played the ever-popular video slot game Wall Street Fever. This game is known to be one of the “best paying out” games at bet365 casino. The last player who won a jackpot at Wall Street Fever walked away with $335,000.

This isn’t Steven M.’s first big win but it is his first six-figure jackpot win. Steven M. loves to play slots and know from experience that Wall Street Fever is a smart game to play if you’re looking to win big. This game has a great reputation for paying out well both at bet365 casino and at all online casinos that offer this fun game. How did he know he won? After placing max bets, Steven M. won the free spins, a wild and then a bonus game which activated 5 Wall Street signs (the sign of winning the jackpot in this game)! He was shocked and called bet365 right away to confirm that he had won. Indeed he had. Congratulations Steven M. from all of us here at NoDepositCasinoOnline.com.

Aftermath of Indictments Truly Hits PokerStars

The indictments and domain seizures that were announced yesterday affected some of the biggest names in the online gaming industry. PokerStars has truly taken a major hit. In order to comply with new U.S. regulation, the company has seized real-money play to all U.S. players and has announced its domain change to Pokerstars.eu. In an announcement to the press, in an attempt to appease the newly passed regulation, all U.S. players are not allowed to enter the new domain address at all. Instead, they are redirected to a web page covered in seals and warnings of the U.S. Department of Justice.

In continuation of changes brought on by yesterday's news, Wynn Resorts pulled out of its upcoming deal with Pokerstars. Because Pokerstars was indicted, spokesman for Wynn Resorts, Michael Weaver, announced that his company would not continue its Internet venture deal with Pokerstars.

Although the venture between the two companies was signed less than two weeks ago, it was dependant based on U.S. regulation on the online gaming industry. Because of the indictment the venture was terminated and PokerStars felt the result. The company has been forced to lose its largest market and faces many forthcoming indictment charges.

Sweden: Possible Legalization of Gambling – Exciting News!

Well folks, it appears that Sweden may be the next country to follow suite and legalize online gambling.

The online industry is rapidly booming in Sweden and according to the Research Institute of Industrial Economics; reports indicate that 26% of Sweden's gambling market is present online. With this research at hand, the Swedish government is fully aware that they need to address this online monopoly in order to control and protect against fraud.

Moreover, Svenska Spel has announced a whopping 2.7% year-by-year increase in gaming revenues in 2011 during the first quarter of 2011. This totaled SEK 2.4 billion or rather €269.9 million. Coincidently, these numbers indicate that the price has fallen 9% to SEK 58 million or €6.5 million.

Besides the growing numbers Christian Democrats are also making a U-turn with big supporters pushing to legalize online gambling. They realize the growing trend this market has become throughout Sweden and would like to protect customers by regulating safe gaming and customer satisfaction.

Andreas Carlsson, a spokesman for the Christian Democrat of Cultural Policy commented that Christian Democrats must take “responsibility... for the gamblers” and enforce “social responsibility.” With outside private casino operators, Carlsson suggested that there is no sure sign that Swedish players will be treated fairly and be in a safe, regulated environment, unless they work together.

Furthermore, with approximately 1 million Swedish online gamblers dishing funds to foreign casinos, with legalization, these funds will be able to be used on Swedish websites and bring new taxable income to the Swedish government. As for now, with all of these growing online gambling trends in Sweden, it may push the door for Sweden to join other countries and bring gaming security to their residents and some control to this market.

Talks of Online Gaming Legalized in USA

Despite the US housing the world’s most popular gambling casino destinations in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, online gambling remains illegal for residents despite the growing outpour of players wanted to play over the internet. The government has resisted allowing legalization of online gambling since money is being dished out to casinos overseas instead of keeping funds in house.

Nevertheless, residents from New Jersey are taking a strong stance on allowing online gambling to be permitted. Players have pushed the motion to NJ Governor Christie to sign a new law that passes an online gambling bill. Additionally, residents from Nevada are also trying to legalize this activity. As of now, online betting is not allowed to those living outside the boarders of Nevada. In fact, the state’s jurisdiction required $500K simply for a license fee to allow this an $250K that will go towards Renewal fees. This imposes extremely high prices from the state just to allow this online entertainment.

While Governor Christine opposed the legislation to permit Internet Gambling, the Senate overruled his vote by 32-2 favoring online bets and legalizing poker, blackjack and additional casino games favorites. The House of Assembly also overruled his vote with 63-11.

Other developments of legalizing online gambling within the US have also been reported. Last year in 2010, a company in Nevada created an application for resident to wager over a smart phone. This application works in real time and done at the click of a button. Additionally, Caesars Entertainment Corp. has been partnering with the well known, Gibraltar-based 888 Holdings PLCwhich has established itself as a world leader in the UK online gaming market. If a deal is made between Caesars and 888 Holdings, it would bring Caesars to the top spot of the online gaming industry.

The New Independence of eCOGRA

The on line gaming instrumentalist protective covering and measures body, eCOGRA has modified ownership following a management buy-out.

This industry body will forthwith shift possession from its three founding on line gaming groupings to a new possession bodily structure that does not include any software package or service providers.

The new Board will consist of previous Freelance Directors.

Michael Hirst OBE, Bill Henbrey, Bill Galston OBE, Frank Catania and Andrew Beveridge. This motility gives eCOGRA a genuinely self governing condition.

Already proven as a believable and well thought of industry conductor since its origination in 2003, eCOGRA works with companies and affiliates to ensure high quality and player protective cover are prevailing within the diligence.

The eCOGRA Safe and Fair seal is now unremarkably sought for by companies who reckon its seal at an on line casino as announcing reasonable gambling and reactive client maintenance. To date 150 on line casinos have attested they forgather the criterions commanded and have been granted the eCOGRA Safe and Fair seal.

The remission of eCOGRA is responding to the maturing online gambling mart. Chief Executive, Andrew Beveridge commented, "The style toward national or state regulative regimens around the world is just one of the areas in which our professional services are more and more in demand.".

Major Poker Sites Brought Up On Charges of Money Laundering and Bank Fraud

Today, major online gaming companies that offer real-money gambling have been indicted with money laundering and bank fraud, and other illegal charges related to gambling.

Manhattan U.S. State Attorney, Preet Bhara issued the following statement in response to the indictments:

It is safe to say that the upcoming months will be extremely intense time for the defendants, the online gaming companies indicted, the players involves, and the online gaming industry as a whole.

Vietnamese Gambler Have to Wait Until Morning

It's a strange world out there. Since March 3, 2011 gaming has been banned in Vietnam. The government adjudicated to crack down in a command to take on the country's love affair with cyberspace, in particular the growing number of children absorbed in late-night online play.

Deputy Minister Le Nam Thang commented, "Provincial sections of info and communication will inspect on line games actions countrywide and deal with arrangements that go against regulations by deleting their services."

These drastic measures bear on all ages and intend that online gamblers are right away unable to bet or play between the time of 10pm to 8am. Those eager to take chances online in Vietnam will have to wait till morning to place their wagers or will need to make sure they get their share of the action before the time of 10pm.

The online play and gambling marketplace is growing fast in Vietnam. With a population of more than 89 million, the potency to develop new products to the local marketplace is huge.

It's expected that the new games portal will draw more than 10 million users and formerly plunged it will be extended with a growing variety of on line games.

Nonetheless exciting the games are, poor Vietnamese players will have to cram in all their online gambling sport between 8am and 10pm to abide by with the new regulation.

Excessive Taxation Consequences

AEDAPI, the Spanish Gambling Trade Association, announced warnings and consequences of excessive taxation. AEDAPI explains that although the passing of the gambling reform bill by the Congress of Deputies is an exciting forefront, the excessive taxation on winnings may cause serious consequences.

With the passage of the bill, the AEDAPI explains the while the new regulation reveals opportunities for new business developers and the country as a whole to benefit from, the 25 percent tax rate of net income is too steep.

This tax percentage is said to be one of the highest in Europe and that those looking to profit from the bill will face tremendous obstacles in order to reach their goals because of the tax rate.

The AEDAPI exhibits that its Congress through independent studies that have proven that extreme tax rates will lead to a reduction in tax collectibles. The Association explains that one a tipping point is reached, the tax rate will no longer be beneficial and the current 25 percent rate will lead to that tipping point very quickly.

This new legislation could have a serious impact on online gamblers playing from Spain and it will be interesting to see how online casinos amp up their marketing strategies accordingly. It will also be interesting to see the ripple effects throughout Europe and to see if other countries will adopt a similar taxation on winnings.

We’ll stay tuned to keep you in the loop – even if you’re not from Spain, this type of news is interesting to gamblers worldwide!

888 Acquisition No Longer in Talks

At the end of 2010, talks surrounded online gaming company, 888, of an acquisition. Today, those talks have been terminated. Ladbrokes PLC announced today that a possible takeover of the online gaming company is no more.

Talks of 888 by Ladbrokes came about at the end of last year due to the increasing market share in the online gaming industry by Ladbrokes. Today, talks of the acquisition have been terminated due to a disagreement in price.

Richard Glyn, the CEO of Ladbrokes, and Paul Leyland, an analyst at Investec Securities, announced the termination of acquisition in the following statement:

"At the end of the day I simply decided it was not in the interests of the shareholders. We believe walking away from 888 was the right thing to do in terms of price, regulatory risk, and operational fit."

Along with announcement that Ladbrokes was not taking over 888, Ladbrokes announced the appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer and the Interim Management Statement for the first quarter of the year.

The reports showed an increase in both revenue and profit, which has lead speculators to determine that Ladbrokes is doing great on its own and the acquisition of 888 would take longer, than wanted to reach desired increases in profits.

World Series Poker Tournaments – Watch The Action Live Online!

Get ready! In just a few weeks, the 42nd Annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournament series is preparing to run live from Las Vegas. Poker fans are encouraged to watch these exciting tables live straight from the Internet with just a 5 minute delay.

All you have to do is log onto www.WSOP.com starting the 1^st of June and stream the live footage of this most anticipated tournament from the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino. This coverage will be commentary-free except for the announcer at the final table.

A statement released by WSOP claims that this coverage will provide easy accessibility for everyone, no matter where you may be located, to enjoy the tournaments who otherwise can’t watch in person.

According to WSOP officials, this year’s series will be the first ever to feature all 58 gold bracelets with complete video coverage. On May 31^st, ESPN3 will be streaming live the $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship. Thereafter, on July 2 they will air the $50,000 Poker Players’ Championship and the final tournament event.

The WSOP’s Executive Director, Ty Stewart announced that they were “proud to provide video of the culminating action to a worldwide audience in real-time” since it will complement the series shown on ESPN and bring more coverage to dedicated fans.

Furthermore, the live internet streaming will occur generally around 2:30pm with two tables being covered. No video will run while the breaks are taking place; however the entire event will be covered.

Playtech Close to Acquiring Ash Gaming

Ash Gaming, a London-based online gaming company that specializes in interactive game development has announced that it is extremely close in being acquired by Playtech, Ltd.

The announcement was released today by eGaming Review. The report released the announcement but stated that the takeover would be completed at an undisclosed price. The report also released that the deal was very close to being completed, that it is in its final stages, but that no other statement would be given until the deal has been completed.

Playtech, LTD. has acquired Gaming Technology Solutions (GTS) and already provides many o its clients with many Ash Gaming products.

The acquisition will be extremely beneficial for both companies. It will allow Ash to reach a platform that it could not do on its own and will grow Playtech, LTD. to be a top competitor in the online gaming industry.

Clients of both companies are looking forward to the acquisition so that they can receive even more amazing products and at much lower price. This acquisition has said to be a positive joining with very optimistic outlooks. Once the final stages have been completed, both companies will make the announcement.

Online Gaming Legislation Delayed in Iowa

The Des Moines Register has reported that the issue of online poker in the state of Iowa has not been forgotten but merely delayed. Gamers in the state of Iowa are waiting patiently for the legalization of online, real-money gaming.

The bill proposing to legalize online gaming in Iowa has not reached the floor due to objection from within the Senate. The Senate's Way and Means Committee declared that they were in need of more information before allowing the bill to hit the floor.

The Ways and Means Committee explained that the bill was too controversial to be discussed this year and that it will be postponed until 2012 for passing. The committee explained that in order for the bill to have optimal chance for approval, a full report proposal needs to be submitted to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission by December 1, 2011.

The decision to postpone the bill for decision until next year will allow politicians to have needed time to consider the fact that many citizens of Iowa are already gaming online. Senator William Dotzler also explains that the revenue contribution brought on by the legalization of online poker will be an important factor for politicians to consider and the extra year will definitely attribute to the proposal.

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