In an opinion piece that appeared in the Wall Street Journal newspaper on Tuesday, Dale Buss authored “Will Gambling Continue to Grow? All Bets Are Off.” In it, he described the apparent downfall of gambling and quoted Annenberg Public Policy Center Director Dan Romer, who labeled poker as a “fad.”
April 23, 2012 - Nevada's slot machine industry preparing for Internet gaming
International Game
Technology(IGT) is poised to premiere "American Idol" on Facebook, and wants
players to one day wager on the interactive version of its slot machine on the
Internet.
While state and federal lawmakers inch along toward legalization of online
gaming, IGT and the casino industry's other large slot machine makers are
already lining up for a piece of the potential action.
Read entire article
here.
April 10, 2012 - New Jersey senate committee passes online gambling legislation
The Jersey State Senate passed th
bill in committee, with Chairman Sarlo abstaining and not one person voting
“no.” A full Senate and Assembly vote whenever the state budget issues starts to
settle but that won’t be until early April, mid-May at the latest sometime in
June.
Online poker fans and the rest of us gamblers must wait and see how the battle
goes between Republican Governor Christie and the Democratically controlled
Legislature in Trenton.
Read entire article here.
April 9, 2012 - Antigua Considers Case Against US Again..
In 2003, when Antigua first asked
the WTO to examine America’s online gambling stance,
America’s defense centered on its proclaimed necessity to protect its citizens
from the perils of online gambling. In 2005, a WTO Appellate Body concluded that
America had the right to insist on such protection, but it couldn’t claim to be
protecting its citizens from foreign firms while simultaneously permitting its
domestic horse racing industry to offer interstate online wagering.
Read entire article here.
April 2, 2012 - Sands Owner Has Hopes Of Building Casino In Manhattan
In a conversation with HotelNews.com, Las Vegas Sands Corp. President Mike Leven said that the company is intrigued at the possibility of putting their own complex in Manhattan, particularly at the Javits Center. “There’s a little noise in New York now, and we’re going to take a look and see if we can put something . . . maybe in Manhattan and be able to maybe do something with [the Jacob K. Javits Center] . . . and put our complex there,” Leven said.
Read entire article here.
March 24, 2012 - Illinois will be the first state to sell individual lottery tickets online
At least 21 states and the District of
Columbia are considering online lottery sales or other wagering such as poker,
says Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, which
represents commercial casinos.
A Justice Department opinion issued last year cleared the way. It said the Wire
Act of 1961, which bars wagering over telecommunication systems across state or
national boundaries, applies only to sports betting.
Fahrenkopf hopes Congress will set standards to protect online customers from
fraud and ensure they are adults.
Read entire article here.
March 24, 2012 - Nevada Big News Technology Testing For Online Poker & Gaming Is Approved
Big news out of Nevada this week was the GC’s approval of regulations to permit
independent labs to test casino gaming devices and online
gaming technology.
By a unanimous vote, the GC authorized the outsourcing of 100% of Nevada’s
testing responsibilities, meaning 10 state employees are now out of work (and
this in a state whose unemployment rate is the highest in the country – just
sayin’). Nevada Gaming Control Board (GCB) chairman Mark Lipparelli defended the
move, pointing out that most states outsourced their testing long ago. “This is
a very successful, tried and true model.” State regulators will still be
required to sign off on the labs’ results. The new rules take effect on May 1.
Read entire article
here.
March 6, 2012 - New Jersey online gambling bills get mixed results
Efforts to legalise online gambling
in New Jersey remain somewhat confused after the eastern state’s five-member
Senate Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee passed
a proposed measure yesterday despite opposition from the horseracing industry.
The state’s General Assembly’s Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee
however, delayed a decision on a similar measure due to concerns over whether a
state-wide referendum would be needed.
The New Jersey Legislature passed similar bills last year that would have
legalised online gaming but Governor Chris Christie subsequently vetoed the
measures in March citing ‘legal and constitutional concerns’.
Read entire article here.
March 6, 2012 - Federal online gaming legislation opposed by NCSL
In America, the National Conference
of State Legislatures (NCSL) bi-partisan non-governmental organisation has
penned a letter in opposition to ongoing federal efforts to legalise online
poker.
Established in 1975 to serve state legislature members and staff, the NCSL
provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to
exchange ideas on issues and advocate for states’ rights in the American federal
system.
Hawaii State Senator Carol Fukunaga and Alabama Representative Greg Wren,
Co-Chairpersons for the NCSL’s Communications, Financial Services and Interstate
Commerce Committee, authored an open letter calling for the legalisation of
online poker to be handled at a state level and addressed it to Democratic and
Republican members of both the House of Representatives and Senate.
Read entire article here.
February 20, 2012 - Federal online poker not looking good in 2012
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- A Wall Street
gaming analyst told investors Friday that debate over federal legislation that
would legalize Internet poker has most likely been pushed into 2013 after
lawmakers didn't attach an online gaming bill to the payroll tax cut extension.
However, Macquarie Securities gaming analyst Chad Beynon said in a research
report that Nevada stands to benefit from the inaction because it may be the
only state that allows Americans to gamble online this year.
Read entire article here.
February 20, 2012 - Live Casinos Will Continue To Shake Up The Gaming Industry in 2012
ESSEX, England, Feb 20, 2012
(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Gaming experts LiveCasino.co.uk are predicting that 2012 will
see the continuing growth of a phenomenon that has taken the world of online
gaming by storm in recent times -- the live casino.
The trend, which merges the clear advantages of the online casino experience
with an authentic taste of a real life bricks and mortar casino, has gone from
strength to strength since it first began to emerge four years ago. As
advancements in technology continue to bring with them greater potential for a
more atmospheric online casino experience it seems the live phenomenon is set to
become far more than a passing fad.
Read entire article here.
February 18, 2012 - Internet Poker Amendment Omitted From Nevada Gaming Tax Bill
Earlier this week it was reported
that “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to propose an online gaming
amendment to the Senate’s unemployment payroll tax bill this month.” However
later on in the day, @GlobalGamingBiz on twitter reported that “Source: NV Gov.
Sandoval calls top casino execs and tells them of agreement between Reid & Kyl,
adding internet poker to payroll tax bill.”
On Thursday, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., ended speculation that online poker
legislation would be attached to a bill that renewed the payroll tax cut through
the end of the year. Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, did not give a reason
Internet poker legalization was omitted from the bill. Because of the debate
over federal legislation that would legalize Internet poker, it has most likely
been pushed into 2013.
Read entire article here.
February 10, 2012 - Golden Nugget Announces Online Gaming Partnership with Chiligaming
Golden Nugget and Chiligaming are proud to announce that they are entering into an online gaming partnership, with a free-play website due to launch within the next Quarter. Golden Nugget has selected Chiligaming as its exclusive online gaming partner in anticipation of the legalization of online gaming in the United States. Chiligaming's proprietary iGaming platform, which enables it to connect to any poker platform or gaming content provider, is a central feature of its US proposition and is designed to both facilitate swift entry into the market and maximize options for the Golden Nugget as the US regulatory and vendor landscape takes shape.
Read entire article here.
February 10, 2012 - Senate Has Hearing On Online Poker and Gambling
The United States Senate
Committee on Indian Affairs held its second hearing on internet gambling in
slightly less than three months, this time focusing on the U.S. Department of
Justice (DoJ) opinion released in December that interpreted the 1961 Wire Act as
applying only to sports wagering and how that would effect Indian tribes and
their gambling interests.
The Senate debate, entitled “Oversight Hearing on the U.S. Department of Justice
Opinion on Internet Gaming: What’s at Stake for Tribes,” started 30 minutes
later than its scheduled time and ran for about one and 1/2 hours. Perhaps the
most noteworthy testimony was delivered by well-known gambling expert and Senior
Professor at Whittier Law School, I. Nelson Rose, who made it clear that the
DoJ’s clarification of the Wire Act allows internet gambling to proceed on an
intrastate and interstate basis.
Read entire article here.
February 6, 2012 - Microgaming Launches Diamond Edition Live Dealer Games
Online gaming software provider
Microgaming has announced the launch of the new Diamond Edition of its existing
Live Dealer games offering with RoyalVegas.eu one of the first to go live with
the new facility.
Isle of Man-based Microgaming stated that the Diamond Edition will offer gamers
‘a new and improved casino experience’ via the use of ‘redefined graphics that
give the player a heightened sense of being in a casino while providing more
statistics than ever before to aid their chances of winning big money’.
Read entire article here.
February 1, 2012 - Utah is the newest regulated i Gaming party pooper
Federally regulated online
poker’s latest party pooper has re-entered the fold as Utah sees a new plan for
online poker prohibition. Stephen Sandstrom, a member of the state’s House of
Representatives,
has introduced a bill to ban online poker in the state if federal legislation
makes it way to a becoming a reality. The representative from the city of Orem
made his position abundantly clear, stating: “We want to keep Utah free from the
negative impacts of legalised gambling.
Read entire article here.
January 30, 2012 - Gambling participation rises as Health Lottery gets new criticism
Figures released by the Gambling Commission are showing the percentage of adults having a flutter has reached a new high. Gaming Intelligence report that over the four weeks to December 2011, 57.3% of the 4,000 adults surveyed said they’d taken part in at least one form of gambling. Of that number over half were playing the National Lottery. That’s a jump from 55.5% in 2010 and 55.2% in 2009. The figure shows that people are starting to consider difference sectors of the entertainment industry as the economy continues to be in an uncertain position.
Read entire article here.
January 26, 2012 - Playtech Applies for eGaming Licence in Jersey
The company employs almost 2,000
people around the world and produces games for companies including Sky, Betfair
and Paddy Power. Jersey's Economic Development Minister Senator Alan Maclean
said he had been working with the company for a number of months. He said
attracting a big company was a "huge stamp of approval for the eGaming
strategy".
Playtech is one of the world's largest eGaming software developers, and the
first to apply for a Jersey gaming licence. Mor Weizer, Playtech's chief
executive, said it met Jersey's authorities after an island delegation visited
Israel in May 2011.
Read entire article here.
January 22, 2012 - Sen. Harry Reid dreams of federal poker legislation
As US states frantically formulate plans to legislate intrastate online poker, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) is doubling down on his dream of federal poker legislation. Despite most observers believing that the Department of Justice’s pre-Christmas reversal on the scope of the Wire Act has shifted legislative momentum to the states, Reid sees the federal glass as half-full, telling Gambling Compliance’s Tony Batt that Congress now had “an incentive to get something done.” Reid confirmed that he was “making progress” with Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) on cobbling together a poker plan that could gain bipartisan support in Congress.
Read entire article here.
January 13, 2012 - IGT set for Facebook move
Seattle-based Double Down
Interactive has operated the popular DoubleDown Casino on Facebook since April
2004 and IGT revealed that it is ready to spend $500 million in order to
purchase the business.
“As technological innovations increasingly influence consumer behavior, social
dynamics are quickly transforming entertainment and gaming experiences
everywhere,' said Patti Hart, Chief Executive Officer for Las Vegas based IGT.
Read entire article here.
January 5, 2012 - Senator Raymond Lesniak will work with governor to legalise iGaming in NJ
New Jersey Senator Raymond
Lesniak, Chairman of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, has announced today
that he will work with Governor Chris Christie to bring iGaming to the state of
New Jersey.
In his statement he referenced the status of his bill, S3019, which if made into
law would authorise Internet gambling in New Jersey.
After a panel in the chamber didn’t hear the bill today (the final committee
meeting day of the session), Lesniak said: ”Speaking with Governor Christie,
I’ve agreed to reintroduce Internet gaming in the next legislative session, and
I expect that we can get it through the Legislature and signed by the Governor
within the first few weeks of the new session.”
Read entire article here.
January 1, 2012 - What does the reversal on the Wire Act & the Barton Bill Mean
The DOJ’s goal is too shut down
all offshore gambling and poker websites operating in the U.S. If the Barton
Bill becomes law, the DOJ doesn’t need the Wire Act or the UIGEA as currently
written. The Barton Bill makes these two existing laws obsolete and gives the
DOJ the law it needs to shut down all the remaining offshore poker websites that
still accept U.S. players.
The Barton Bill strengthens the UIGEA with a much broader definition of unlawful
online gambling than the Wire Act or the current UIGEA. It defines “internet
poker” as a form of “unlawful internet gambling” and would make internet poker
illegal without a U.S. license. Unlike the vaguely worded UIGEA, this is fairly
clear and enforceable.
Read entire article here.
December 28, 2011 - States Are Scrambling To Make Online Gambling Plans
Illinois and New York are the two states that brought the initial query to get law changed via the Doj. Illinois Lottery superintendent Michael Jones told the Daily Herald that he hoped his state could start selling tickets online within the next three to four months. New York lottery director Gordon Medenica told the Wall Street Journal that his outfit would also start selling tickets online in 2012. “We’ve built the system and had it on a shelf waiting for more legal certainty.”
Read entire article here.
December 23, 2011 - DOJ Flip-Flops On Internet Gambling Law
On the Friday before the Christmas weekend, the Department of Justice revealed that it has changed one of its most important and long-held positions on Internet gambling, stating that the federal Wire Act of 1961 only applies to sports betting. The new position on the Wire Act marks a huge shift for the Justice Department, which has long relied on the law when asserting that all forms of Internet gambling, especially online poker, is illegal.
Read entire article here.
December 21, 2011 - Co-founder of AbsolutePoker.com pleads guilty
One of the men indicted in April
as part of the federal case against online poker sites PokerStars.com,
AbsolutePoker.com and FullTiltPoker.com has pleaded guilty in a New York
courtroom to charges of conspiracy.
Brent Buckley was the co-founder of Costa Rica-based AbsolutePoker.com and
entered his plea in US District Court in Manhattan on Tuesday after admitting
that he was aware that he was breaking the law by arranging for American banks
to process gambling proceeds.
Read entire article here.
December 20, 2011 - Shortlist for iGB Affiliate Awards released
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The iGB Affiliate award votes have been counted and the organisers are happy to say that over 4,000 industry affiliates and executives made their choice. A fantastic response, ensuring a truly representative vote, the shortlist includes those who received the most or equal votes in any of the following categories: Best Affiliate (all verticals), Best Affiliate Program (all verticals), Best New Comer (Affiliate & Program), Best Affiliate manager (all verticals), Best iGaming Affiliate Network, The Louis Fabiano Award for the Best iGaming Community and Best Payment System for Affiliates.
Read entire article here.
December 16, 2011 -2012 Don't look so good for Poker Regulation
Maybe you’re an American online poker player, maybe you made your money playing against Yankee fish, maybe you just enjoy following arcane topics – chances are you’ve been eagerly gobbling up all the news you can get about a number of bills pending in the U.S. Congress to legalize and regulate online poker. You know, then, that it’s frustratingly difficult to figure out exactly what’s going on, much less to construct any kind of timeline for when Americans will be able to get back to the virtual felt.
Read entire article here.
December 15, 2011 - Mr. Green Casino gives 35yr old man in Norway 100k X-Mas Gift!
A thirty-five year old man in
Norway won 100 000 Euros when playing freespins on the slot machine Dead or
Alive at the online casino Mr Green. – “I am euphoric over my winnings. This
year there will be some really nice presents under the Christmas tree”, said the
35-year-old Norwegian.
Last month Swedish Eva won the jackpot on the slot machine Arabian Nights and Mr
Green paid out the biggest amount so far, almost 2 Million Euros. This time,
just a few weeks later, the Norwegian takes home the second biggest winning
since Mr Green’s start in 2007.
Read entire article here.
December 7, 2011 - UIGEA guilty verdict hits America
The brother-in-law of a United
States Congressman has been convicted on multiple counts of illegal gambling and
racketeering after being charged in federal court under the controversial
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006.
Daniel Eremian was found guilty in US District Court in Boston on Monday of
multiple charges including racketeering tied to a gambling operation he ran
under the auspices of an Internet betting site based on the Caribbean island of
Antigua.
Read entire article here.
December 2, 2011 - Nevada online poker applicants identified
Nevada has identified five companies that have applied for licenses to operate when the state’s online poker market opens. CardPlayer received public records from the Nevada Gaming Control Board that identified 888 Holdings, International Game Technology (IGT), Bally Technologies, Cantor Gaming and South Point Poker as firms that have applied. All five are aiming to crack the state’s market with the vast majority applying in a similar way.
Read entire article here.
November 30, 2011- Facebook In Talks To Open Platform For Real-Money Gambling In The UK
Facebook is supposedly engaged in
talks with a number of UK operators to open its platform to real-money online
gambling, maybe even as soon as in the first quarter of 2012. Citing sources
familiar with the discussions, eGR reports that the social networking leader is
considering offering an initial eight ‘licences’ to as many UK operators looking
to roll out such gambling apps on the Facebook platform.
According to eGR’s sources, Facebook has begun staffing up for the launch and
support of real-money gambling ventures in the UK, where online gambling is
properly regulated, after initially aggressively promoting the use of Credits to
UK online gambling service operators.
Read entire article here.
November 23, 2011 - Juju Jack, Battle for Olympus, and Horns and Halos Released At Intercasino!
Christmas comes early at Intercasino with the addition of three new slots from
software developers Cryptologic.
Juju Jack, Battle for Olympus, and Horns and Halos are all available exclusively
at InterCasino only
at this time. The new video slot games are themed by voodoo magic, Greek
mythology, and the eternal conflict between Heaven and Hell can't get any better
then that!
All three of these games offer arcade style bonus rounds, voodoo themed slots,
and games where the Gods battle – sounds like fun entertainment to me Streakers
so be sure to give them a try today at Intercasino!!
November 1, 2011 - Italians will need to be extra vigilant when gaming online
Italian regulation board, the
Independent Administration of State Monopolies, or if you’d prefer the more
authentic Italiano version – L’Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS)
– has declared that by a new law, all financial institutions in Italy need to
report every transaction made by players on blacklisted online casino websites.
The news comes after the AAMS reopened it’s market for new licensees and its
Chief, Francesco Rodano, said recently that it wanted to put in place measures
backed by a new law to make all financial records available to the government.
Looks like it got its way – as all financial institutions, including banks will
now be required to turn in the contact information of online gamers.
Read entire article here.
October 31, 2011 - Donald Trump wants to get into the online gambling business
Billionaire real estate
mogul Donald Trump wants to get into the online gambling business, and his
daughter Ivanka Trump, executive vice president of development and acquisitions
for the Trump Organization, suggests it would be a revenue generator for
governments.
Critics argue, however, that an online gambling bill sponsored by Texas
Republican Rep. Joe Barton would actually divert critical revenue away from the
states, and to the federal government.
Read entire article
here.
October 31, 2011 -Proposal to liquidate assets to pay back UB.com and Absolute Poker players
Online poker players with
funds stuck on CEREUS Network sites Absolute Poker and UB.com could be a step
closer to getting their money back after details of a possible repayment plan
were revealed late last week. A statement released by the Kahnawake Gaming
Commission on Thursday announced that Blanca Games (which took over CEREUS in
August 2010) has been in serious discussions with the Southern District of New
York (SDNY) about a possible proposal to “facilitate the reimbursement of both
US and non-US players”.
Read entire article
here.
October 31, 2011 - Billionaires Are Betting Big On Internet Gambling
Two years ago Richard Bronson, a
former Mirage Resorts executive, came to the conclusion that the Internet would
be the next big thing in the casino industry. He co-founded U.S. Digital Gaming
to provide software and advertising services to gaming operators and government
agencies in the belief that regulated online gambling, especially poker, would
eventually be introduced by cash-strapped states seeking revenue.
When it came to raising money for his venture, Bronson found that some of the
richest people in America were keen to invest in his Internet gambling business.
Bronson secured investments from billionaires like real estate mogul Steven
Roth, chairman of Vornado Realty Trust, and shopping mall magnate Herbert Simon,
the owner of the Indiana Pacers. “They are all in it for the long haul,” says
Bronson, who also signed up Robert and William Taubman, sons of billionaire
Alfred Taubman. “Not one of them thinks this will be a sprint, they think it
will be a marathon.”
Read entire article here.
October 25, 2011 - AGA says online poker is "safe bet"
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Below is a
statement from Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the American
Gaming Association regarding today’s Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
Subcommittee hearing entitled “Internet Gaming: Is There a Safe Bet?”
“Today’s hearing on Internet gambling made it abundantly clear that the “safe
bet” is to allow states, following federal guidelines, to license and regulate
online poker. Such action would protect U.S. consumers, keep children from
gambling on the Internet, and provide the tools law enforcement needs to shut
down illegal Internet gambling operators. It would also create new jobs and tax
revenue at a time when our country sorely needs both.
Read entire article here.
October 20, 2011 - Trump Prepping To Enter The Online Poker Environment Once It's Legal
While progress on the US legislative front may be glacially slow, that doesn’t mean would-be online poker operators aren’t positioning themselves for the end of this current ice age. The latest out of the blocks is none other than Donald Trump, who has teamed with New York hedge-fund manager Marc Lasry on a proposal to offer online poker at the state or federal level, whichever comes first. (Our money’s squarely on a state-by-state roll out.) Lasry is reportedly a big fan of high-stakes poker games involving his hedge fund brethren, while Donald is a big fan of suing supermarket tabloids.
Read entire article here.
October 19, 2011 - Man hits record $5.2 million slot jackpot
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Online casino
group CasinoRewards has announced their biggest ever million dollar jackpot
winner. Novice gambler A.D. has been turned into an overnight multi-millionaire
with his incredible $5.2 million jackpot win from a 50 cent bet on the
progressive online slot Mega Moolah.
The life-changing $5.2 million will go down in history as the biggest jackpot
win in the 11 years of CasinoRewards, topping K.E. and his $5.5 million win in
2008 on the very same online slot game.
Read entire article here.
October 18, 2011 - 180 Employees Walk Out Of William Hill!
Chief Marketing Officer Eyal
Sanoff walked out last week with mumorings that the whole episode may have
amounted to constructive dismissal and that Hills want Playtech out of the WHO
joint venture.
180 of the staff in WHO’s outpost in the Middle East walked with around 20
people turning up for work yesterday. This was a reaction to Sanoff’s departure,
a man that, according to an anonymous source on the ground, “Always had their
best interests at heart and the fact he’s gone means they’re unsure where their
future lies.”
Read entire article here.
October 5, 2011 - Casinos will be ready when (legalized) Internet gaming hits the U.S
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- The fear that
players will eventually only gamble at home due to changes to technology and
possible legalization of online gaming in the U.S. are overblown, according to
gaming industry experts.
"Casinos will be ready when (legalized) Internet gaming hits the U.S.," said Tom
Doyle, vice president, product management at Bally Technologies Inc. in Las
Vegas. "It's going to be part of the overall experience."
Read entire article here.
October 5, 2011 - Nominees for Poker Hall of Fame have been announced
After a public nomination process on WSOP.com,
and a vetting of all nominations by the Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council,
the finalists list eligible for induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2011
has been determined.
It will now be up to the current Hall of Famers and a panel of media members to
determine who actually does join this exclusive club.
Read entire article here.
October 5, 2011 - Bally plans to expand to mobile and online gaming
Online casino
games and solutions supplier Bally Technologies Incorporated has announced that
it has formed a new business division to encompass its mobile, Internet and
social initiatives and complement its more traditional lines.
Las Vegas-based Bally is a developer of slot, video machine, casino management
and server-based solutions for the global gaming industry and revealed that its
new Bally Interactive branch will offer operators the ability to augment their
land-based operations with mobile and online play-for-free and wager-based
games.
Read entire article here.
October 4, 2011 - Germany, Spain and Greece close to regulating online gaming
Spain, Germany and Greece are three countries on the verge of some form of
regulated online
gambling regimes.
There have been some developments in the last week in each of these three
countries.
The Spanish National Gambling Commission has released a list of companies
officially accredited to provide approval and certification to applicants for
online gambling licenses. The list includes NMI Metrology & Gaming Limited and
Spain 2 TestLabs BMM. This follows the Spanish Parliament approving the
Ministerial Order establishing the technical requirements for the provision of
online gambling activities, prior to applying for licenses. Applications from
potential online gambling operators will be accepted from November 14. The
applicants will have to undergo preliminary testing on Internal Control Systems
to ensure accurate transaction data transmission to the National Gambling
Commission. This will be followed by a more broad based information and gaming
system certification within the next four months.
Read entire article here.
Sept 22, 2011 - Frank, Berkley both took contributions from Full Tilt
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Rep. Shelley
Berkley, D-Nev., a longtime advocate for federal legalization of Internet poker,
accepted an estimated $20,000 in contributions from Full Tilt Poker, the Boston
Globe reported Wednesday.
Jessica Mackler, a spokeswoman for Berkley’s U.S. Senate campaign, said in an
email statement the money would not be kept. It was unclear, however, how the
funds would be disposed.
Read entire article here.
Sept 21, 2011 - Full Tilt didn't violate license by commingling funds
MILAN, Italy -- Full Tilt Poker
may have commingled player funds and operations money in bank accounts, but that
didn't violate its license with the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC).
Alderney licensees are required to disclose to players whether they mix player
deposits and operations money in bank accounts or keep them in separate
accounts, an AGCC official familiar with the situation told Casino City today.
But they are not required to keep the two separate.
Read entire article here.
Sept 19, 2011 - U.S. Digital Gaming to host event in L.A.
LOS ANGELES, California -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- U.S. Digital Gaming, a leading U.S.-based online gaming company and the Los Angeles Business Journal today announced that they will partner together to present a roundtable discussion on the impact of legalized online gaming in California and beyond. In an unprecedented collaboration to bring gaming industry, business, entertainment and civic leadership together at the same table, the roundtable event will provide stakeholders and business leaders with deeper insight into the issues pertaining to the impact of legally-compliant online gaming in the local, regional and national business community.
Read entire article here.
Sept 19, 2011 - Austria to ban foreign gaming
The European Union’s highest court ruled that Austria could ban foreign gaming firms from operating within its borders. This was a hard hit by online gambling companies trying to release the stronghold of national gambling monopolies.
A few online gambling companies have brought this up legally by bringing some of the EU member countries to court. With revenue of €80bn last year, there is much money at stake and so far they have had little success in court against EU members.
Read entire article here.
Sept 19, 2011 - Massachusetts House approves poker clause
Massachusetts lawmakers will now seriously consider introducing intrastate poker legislation, after the Massachusetts House last Wednesday approved the inclusion of Representative Dan Winslow's amendment in an expanded gambling bill. Winslow's proposal would require a state gambling commission to produce regulations by 31 July 2012 for the issue of five online poker licences. Winslow said the proposal would create high tech jobs and generate additional revenue for the state. To pass into law, the proposal must still pass the Senate and a possible conference committee. State Governor Deval Patrick also retains the power of veto over any potential legislation.
Read entire article here.
Sept 15, 2011-
Ecuador begins country wide land casino shutdown
Ecuador’s casinos have received a
six-month notice to get out of the country. The President’s office announced on
Friday that the owners of premises conducting casino business across the country
would have to shut within six months.
Owners had hoped that it would be as long as five years until the controversial
new laws were enforced. Even the least optimistic casino business owners
speculated that they would be given between one and two years to close their
premises down. President Rafael Correa confirmed that in August when he told
them they would have one to two years. He has now reneged on.
Read entire article here.
Sept 12, 2022- Online poker amendment sparks sharp rebuke
Boston —A Republican lawmaker’s
plan to explore the introduction of Internet poker in Massachusetts provoked a
fierce rejection Friday from Treasurer Steven Grossman, who called the plan
“reckless and irresponsible,” as well as a violation of federal law.
“I did not want to let it go even one news cycle without expressing how strongly
I feel about the recklessness and irresponsibility,” Grossman told the News
Service in a phone interview just hours after the proposal was unveiled.
The plan, an amendment to expanded gambling legislation filed just before a 3
p.m. deadline by Rep. Daniel Winslow, R-Norfolk, would charge a gambling
commission with developing legislation to sanction up to five Internet poker
operations. The commission would be charged with drafting regulations to oversee
the online poker industry, including provisions to restrict players from
jurisdictions where online poker is banned and to ensure that online operations
comport with federal law.
Read entire article here.
Sept 11, 2011- Massachusetts Files Online Gambling Amendment
Massachusetts is already
discussing a bill that, if passed, will allow the state to expand its land
gambling projects. On Friday September 9, State Representative Dan Winslow has
filed an amendment to the bill to allow for online gambling in the form of
Internet poker.
Winslow is a Republican from Norfolk. He said that his proposal fits into the
window allowed in the gambling bill and has support from experts in the field.
It could provide a significant revenue source, create high tech jobs in the
software and regulatory arenas and cater to the demand for online gambling in
Massachusetts. The Winslow amendment is likely to come for discussion next
Wednesday according to reports in the Boston media. Winslow added, "This one, I
think, is a great opportunity for Massachusetts to take the lead. No state in
the country has yet enacted legislation to authorize and regulate Internet
poker." Online gambling proposals have been moved in New Jersey, Hawaii,
Florida, California and Nevada but have not yet been implemented.
Read entire article here.
Sept 11, 2011 - 5000 Signatures to Legalize Internet Poker Reachable in a Week
The Obama Administration
has created an online petition initiative. Get 5000 signatures in 30 days and
that petition is guaranteed to be reviewed and considered as part of a job and
revenue creation plan to help boost the US economy.
Internet poker is part of a multi-billion dollar industry so it should be no
surprise that the industry is planning its own petition drive.
Read entire article
here.
Sept 9, 2011 -Neteller offers new product
Neteller is a leading payment
solutions option that is accepted at practically all online casinos. Neteller
not only regularly keeps improving its services but also keeps its members
informed of the improvements through e-mails. The latest e-mail from Neteller
concerns a new product Neosurf.
Neosurf is a prepaid card that can be used to deposit funds instantly into
Neteller electronic wallet accounts. Then players can transfer the funds to
their favorite online casinos or use them for making other online payments. At
the moment Neosurf is available only to Neteller users from France, Italy, Spain
and Belgium, but the domain will be extended in the future.
Read entire article here.
Sept 9, 2011 - Slotland Releases New Slot - Pearls of Atlantis
A brand new release has
been announced this week by Slotland online casino - "Pearls of Atlantis,"
played on five reels and nine paylines, and working on the theme of the
well-known lost continent.
The game features symbols like sea monsters, seahorses, mermaids, mermen, as
well as special features that include an interesting and engaging Treasure Chest
bonus round, multipliers, and is tied to a progressive jackpot.
Read entire article
here.
Sept 7, 2011 - Commission eyes EU regulation of online gambling
Policymakers and
operators alike are broadly in favour of introducing EU-wide legislation to
govern the online gambling market. But common rules should not prevent member
states from regulating online gambling as tightly as they want, participants in
a European Economic and Social Committee conference heard yesterday (6
September).
The European Commission is currently considering whether to regulate online
gambling in the EU following the closure on 31 July of a consultation with
stakeholders on the issue.
Read entire article here.
August 26, 2011 - Facebook relaxes rules for egaming
Facebook has relaxed its
policies on egaming advertising in regulated markets outside of the US, as the
social network looks to take a larger slice of advertising revenues from the
sector.
According to new guidelines, both online and offline gambling companies can now
advertise on Facebook as long as they comply with local laws and obtain prior
consent from the social network.
Read entire article
here.
August 23, 2011 - California egaming/Poker delayed until 2012
In a letter yesterday to
potential stakeholders including card rooms, tribes and racetracks, also signed
by Senate Governmental Organization Committee chair Rod Wright, Steinberg wrote:
“We believe the concept of bringing intrastate internet gaming to California has
merit and is worth pursuing in a smart, methodical way”.
However, despite many hearings and hours of testimony around the issue, said
Steinberg, “[S]ignificant, unresolved issues remain, including tribal
exclusivity and waiver of sovereignty immunity, the types of games that would be
authorized, and who would be eligible to apply for licenses and potential
federal constitutional questions.”
Read entire article here.
August 18, 2011 - Full Tilt Poker Faces Another Class Action Suit
Another lawsuit has been filed against Full Tilt Poker this time on behalf of all account holders that played on the online poker site. The class-action lawsuit is against persons and companies linked to FTP and was filed last week in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The suit is extremely similar to the class action RICO suit brought back in July by Steve Segal and his band of merry men “on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated” by FTP having frozen their deposits.
Read entire article here.
August 14, 2011 - Some States Toss The Dice On Legalizing Web Gambling
The District of Columbia is not thrilled that its residents are traveling to Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia to gamble in casinos. Starved for cash, like states across the country, the district wants some of the millions in revenue that gambling generates each year.
So district officials want residents to gamble closer to home — inside their
homes, actually. Or in cafes, restaurants and bars. By year’s end the district
hopes to introduce an Internet gambling hub that would allow Washington
residents to play blackjack, poker and other casino-style games.
Read entire article here.
August 8, 2011 - US power players are going to gather at exclusive gaming event
North America’s largest land-based casinos, tribes, lotteries and race wagering businesses will gather at the luxury Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona on 12 to 13 September for an exclusive, invite-only, online gambling event organised by eGaming Review in partnership with Macquarie Capital.
The inaugural eGR Power USA Summit follows on from its highly successful annual sister event in the UK, and will see some of the most powerful US gaming companies, with a combined EBITDA in excess of US$5bn, and around 50 of their senior executives meet with their European counterparts to discuss how they can work in partnership as the US looks to regulate online gambling in the coming years.
Read entire article here.
August 8, 2011 - Overdue Alderney licence fees paid by Full Tilt
Full Tilt Poker has paid £250,000
in overdue licence fees owed to the Alderney Gambling Control Commission,
according to a release on the regulatory authority’s website.
A frequently updated ‘Full Tilt statement’ on the AGCC site now contains the
line: “The recent payment of overdue licence fees by FTP is also in players’
best interests since it allows commercial negotiations to take place that might
result in a successful refinancing deal.
Read entire article here.
August 6, 2011 - Caesars Entertainment spent $821k lobbying Congress on the issue of internet gambling
In a recent interview with
MoneyShow.com, Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman claimed his company was
“pressing very aggressively for the US Congress to legalize online poker, and I
think we have a very good shot.” From where does such confidence spring?
Chris Krafcik (@CKrafcik)crunched the federal lobbying reports for Q2 2011,
which show that Caesars spent $821k lobbying Congress on the issue of internet
gambling during this period. That’s far more than any other single company,
interest group, Indian tribe or state lottery, and represents 23% of the total
lobbying spend on internet gambling.
Read entire article here.
August 5, 2011 - Greece pushed through egaming legislation
An advertising war is set to be
unleashed in Greece as the country's government yesterday pushed through egaming
legislation which would authorise all forms of advertising by applicant
operators ahead of licences being granted.
Under changes introduced into the legislation by the Greek government yesterday
and passed by its parliament, EU-licensed operators entering the licensing
process in Greece will pay 30% GPT and players a 10% tax on winnings during a
six-month transitional period. This will commence once the Control Committee to
be established under the law has been formed, allowing operators to offer
products and advertise freely across all online and offline media, including TV.
A date for the establishment of the Committee has not yet been set.
Read entire article here.
August 4, 2011 - ESPN Going To Far By Calling Rodriguez In Home Poker Game Illegal?
Alex Rodriguez is under
investigation by Major League Baseball for allegedly participating in poker
games held at a record executive's Beverly Hills mansion. ESPN has called these
private affairs "illegal." Does that mean my home poker game is against the law,
too? Probably not!
Gambling laws differ from state to state. California, where Alex Rodriguez
allegedly played, prohibits eleven specific games under Penal Code 330, as well
as any "banking" or "percentage" game. Poker is not on the list, nor does it
qualify as a banking game (in which players bet against the house). In a
percentage game, the organizer makes money beyond his own winnings in exchange
for hosting. It follows that poker played in a private home is legal so long as
the proprietor does not demand special compensation.
Read entire article here.
July 27, 2011 - No decision until September for Full Tilt Poker
Players
hoping for a swift resolution to the Full Tilt Poker saga were left disappointed
as the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) adjourned yesterday's hearing
until September 15 at the latest.
Full Tilt had its licence from the Alderney Gambling Control Commission
suspended in late-June following indictments issued by the US Department of
Justice and the site’s ‘subsequent failure to satisfy’ the jurisdiction that its
‘activities inside and outside of the US were in order’.
Read entire article here.
July 27, 2011 - Bodog to leave US market
The owner and licensor of the popular Bodog online
entertainment and gambling brand, BodogBrand.com, has announced that players
based in the United States will no longer be able to access any of its branded
websites after December 31.
BodogBrand.com recently revealed that its Bodog UK licensee had been granted
remote and non-remote gaming licenses by the UK Gambling Commission with Chief
Executive Officer Patrik Selin stating that this will ‘benefit customers’ by
allowing him to ‘attract the best talent in the industry’.
Read entire article here.
July 25, 2011 - Several States Interested in Legalized Online Gambling
New
Jersey Online gambling is coming to the US. That is the opinion of Massachusetts
Treasurer Steven Grossman. Although the treasurer does not agree with the online
gambling movement, he is prepared to back a push in the Massachusetts
legislature to allow the state lottery to sell tickets online.
Massachusetts does not yet even offer its residents land-based casino gambling,
and at a time when House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Governor Deval Patrick cannot
find common ground on that issue, other legislators are looking to move on to
the Internet gambling issue.
Read entire article here.
July 25, 2011 - NJ state Senator fights to legalize online gambling
In America, an influential New Jersey politician has penned a letter to Attorney
General Eric Holder declaring that current Federal law does indeed permit
individual states to operate intra-state online gambling.
New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak was the man that sought to legalise
intra-state online gambling for residents of the eastern state in 2010 via his
proposed S490 legislation and his letter was sent in response to correspondence
composed last week by United States Senators Jon Kyl and Harry Reid.
Read entire article here.
July 20, 2011 - Paddy Power taking bets on Full Tilt return
DUBLIN, Ireland -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Paddy
Power Sportsbook
today opens a unique betting market on whether Full Tilt Poker players will be
back playing real money poker on July 27 – the day following the public hearing
with its regulator the Alderney Gambling Control Commission in London.
“Whether Full Tilt Poker is opened or closed on the 27th, players will have good
reason to be playing poker on paddypowerpoker.com,” said communications
spokesman PaddyPower. “Either way it’s a no lose situation for our punters and
poker players as they get paid one way or the other regardless of the outcome.”
Read entire article here.
July 20, 2011 - Bay State will be ready for online gambling
Beacon Hill lawmakers are considering expanding the
Lottery to include Internet sales — already a common practice in five states —
and Treasurer Steven Grossman said the Bay State will be ready as the idea gains
national momentum.
“Whether I think it’s a good idea or not, it’s clear Washington is moving toward online
gambling,”
Grossman said. “While I oppose it, I want to make sure we are ahead of the curve
and are one of the winners of the new world of online gaming and not a loser
because we stuck our heads in the sand.”
Read entire article here.
July 19, 2011 - DC Councilmember against legalizing online gambling
WASHINGTON (AP) — A D.C. Councilmember said Tuesday that
he wants to repeal a provision that would make the nation's capital the first
jurisdiction in the country to offer legal online
gambling.
Tommy Wells, a Democrat representing Ward 6, said he plans to introduce
legislation this fall that would stop online gambling before it starts.
Online gambling was authorized outside the usual legislative process.
Councilmember Michael A. Brown, I-At Large, added it to a budget bill late last
year, and it became law in April when Congress did not object. The D.C. Lottery
is preparing to start offering online
poker,
blackjack, slot machines and other games.
Read entire article here.
July 19, 2011 - CEO of the Wynn Resorts casino fears President Obama
The
Obama administration may have bought the cooperation of a lot of big businesses,
but apparently Obama never got Steve Wynn on his side. The CEO of the Wynn
Resorts casino empire is never shy about his opinions and doesn’t mind raising
eyebrows during his speeches. During a recent conference call with investors,
Wynn gave his opinion on how the Obama administration affects the casino
industry and businesses in general.
Wynn thinks that things will improve in Las Vegas. He even says that the best
days of the Vegas casino industry are still ahead. Despite that optimism,
though, he says that things will not improve as long as Obama is in the White
House. If you think that is a partisan attack, remember that Wynn identifies
himself as a Democrat and is a strong supporter of liberal Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid.
Read entire article here.
July 12, 2011 - Full Tilt Poker hearing is confirmed for 26 July
The
Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) has confirmed that the hearing into
the suspension of Full Tilt Poker's licence will take place at 10am on Tuesday
26 July at London's Park Plaza Victoria Hotel.
Executive Director of AGCC, André Wilsenach, said: “AGCC’s choice to hold a
public hearing in to the future of Full Tilt Poker demonstrates our willingness
to act transparently and we will welcome members of the public and the media. As
ever at all times, our primary concern is the protection of the player.”
Read entire article here.
July 10, 2011 - New law in Nevada can possibly help gaming industry
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- With a goal of generating more investment in the state's
gaming industry, Nevada is shortening the process of determining gaming license
suitability.
Under a new state law, companies and individuals are no longer required to run a
gaming company or have an agreement to acquire a casino in Nevada before they
can file for a license.
Prior to the measure recently signed by Gov. Brian Sandoval, in order to apply
for a gaming license or a finding of suitability, applicants already had to be
doing business with a casino or have an agreement that gave them the right to be
involved.
Read entire article here.
July 6, 2011 - American Gaming Association (AGA) will not support Congressman Joe Barton’s internet poker bill
The
American Gaming Association (AGA) will not support Congressman Joe Barton’s
internet poker bill and will instead push new legislation in the autumn which
would favour Nevada and New Jersey as licensing and regulatory authorities in a
future US egaming market.
The AGA-backed poker-only bill would also differ from the Barton draft on how
resulting tax revenues would be split between federal and state level. “Taxes
would be divided between the state where the bettor is, with the state where the
regulator is. The federal government would only receive the income tax on
winnings,” said Frank Fahrenkopf, chief of the powerful US land-based casino
representative organisation.
Read entire article here.
July 4, 2011 - Class action lawsuit against Full Tilt Poker on behalf of “a nation-wide class of Full Tilt account holders residing in the US
Four
plaintiffs - including professional poker player and former lawyer Todd Terry -
have brought a class action lawsuit against Full Tilt Poker on behalf of “a
nation-wide class of Full Tilt account holders residing in the United States.”
The suit names as defendants Raymond Bitar and Nelson Burtnick - co-founders of
the company, who were both named in the Black Friday indictments - as well as
various businesses and corporations tied to the company, such as Vantage Ltd
(named in the Alderney Gambling Control Commission’s statement accompanying its
suspension of Full Tilt Poker’s (FTP) licences last week, as exclusively
revealed by eGaming Review.
June 27, 2011 - D.C.’s Internet gambling program dates announced
The D.C. Lottery announced roll-out dates for its
unprecedented Internet gambling program, kicking it off with two demonstration
games in midsummer before players wager real cash in September.
The lottery will debut Blackjack and Victory at Sea in late July and release
four more games - Bingo,
poker, E-Scratch Offs and random number games - by Aug. 20, so players can get
accustomed to the games before risking the contents of their wallets.
Read entire article here.
June 22, 2011 - New CEO at U.S. Digital Gaming
LOS ANGELES, California -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Today, U.S.
Digital Gaming, Inc. ("USDG") announced the hiring of former FOX and Walt Disney
Senior Executive Jon Richmond as its Chief Executive Officer. Richmond will
guide the company's activities to deploy the most comprehensive, legally
compliant, Internet gambling platform in the US, at a time when numerous states
are clearly moving toward the legalization of online
gambling.
Read entire article here.
June 22, 2011 - Poker instructor wins $488,283, WSOP bracelet
Mark Schmid, a 31-year-old professional poker
player from
Grand Rapids, Mich., won the latest $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em event at the World
Series of Poker, defeating a field of 3,144 players to claim the $488,283
first-place prize.
Schmid’s victory was due in part to his efforts and association as an online pro
and instructor for poker training website Sharkscopers.com. Schmid has posted
about 60 training videos to the site.
Read entire article here.
June 22, 2011 -Win a Day Casino turns three-years-old
LONDON,
England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Three years ago tomorrow,
Win A Day Casino, a casino unlike anything
online slots players had ever seen, took its first cash bet. There were only a
handful of games back then but like today they were all completely unique,
created by WinADay, and not available at any other online casino. Since then a
lot more incredible slot machines and video poker games have been created and
the lobby has been re-designed several times to accommodate the growing
selection. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the company’s dedication to
customer service.
Read entire article
here.
June 21, 2011 - Lucky Winner Hits $100,000 Jackpot at bet365 Casino
Bet365 Casino confirmed
this week that one lucky individual managed to hit the $100,000 progressive
jackpot prize on the five reel and 20 pay line Deal or No Deal slot.
The winner, who only wanted to be named as ‘Julie from Colchester’, is the first player to hit the progressive jackpots at bet365 Casino since February when a ‘Nicola C’ won $236,500 playing Alice’s Wonderland.
Read entire article here.
The winner, who only wanted to be named as ‘Julie from Colchester’, is the first player to hit the progressive jackpots at bet365 Casino since February when a ‘Nicola C’ won $236,500 playing Alice’s Wonderland.
Read entire article here.
June 21, 2011 - Spin3 launches Mega Moolah for Android
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Leading full service
mobile gambling solutions provider Spin3*, powered by Microgaming,
the world's largest online gaming software provider, has announced the
availability of the world's biggest progressive slots game, Mega Moolah slots,
for Android-based smartphones.
Mega Moolah, offering players the opportunity to win the biggest progressive
jackpot available, is now available as a fully native Android app. Mega Moolah
for Android offers immersive gaming with rich graphics, detailed animations and
sound effects to deliver a fun and entertaining mobile
gaming experience.
Read entire article here.
June 20, 2011 - Internet Gambling Legislation Introduced
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Safe
and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative applauds
Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) for Thursday's introduction of the Internet
Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act of 2011 (H.R. 2230), which would
ensure that taxes and fees are collected from wagers placed over the Internet in
order to raise much-needed revenue for federal and state budgets. H2 Gambling
Capital, the leading supplier of data and market intelligence regarding the
global gambling industry, projected in a report released last year that
regulating all forms of Internet gambling except sports wagering in the U.S.,
would generate a gross expenditure of $67 billion over five years and 25,470 new
jobs. Original co-sponsors of Rep. McDermott's bill include Reps. John Campbell
(R-CA) and Barney Frank (D-MA).
Read Entire Article here.
June 7, 2011 - Not Good News for Washington DC Online Gambling Law
The online gambling bills passed by state legislatures in the United States
appear to be jinxed. First the New Jersey bill was turned down by the governor.
Now it is the turn of the Washington DC online gambling bill. When the bill was
passed there was much celebration and hope that the law would be implemented by
the year end. However, an editorial article in the Washington Post this week
reveals the secrecy and machinations that were involved in the passing of the
bill.
The amendment to allow the D.C. Lottery to offer online gambling in a limited
manner in Washington DC was slipped into the supplemental budget enacted in
December 2010. This was done at the initiative of independent councilor Michael
A. Brown. Washington Post reports that the chief financial officer and the
attorney general had both questioned the legality of this measure. The then
mayor Adrian M. Fenty was not consulted. Despite that, there was no public
hearing or public debate or committee review. No one gave any explanation for
the bypassing of the "normal process of enacting legislation".
Read entire article here.
June 3, 2011 - Phil Ivey To Sue Full Tilt Poker and sit out WSOP this year
Phil Ivey, considered by many to be the
best poker player in the world, has announced that he has filed a lawsuit
against Tiltware, the software and marketing company behind Full Tilt Poker,
and that he will not play any events at this year's World Series of Poker.
The news comes as millions of Americans await payment from Full Tilt after the company stopped allowing U.S. players to participate in real-money games in the wake of the indictment of the company's owner, Ray Bitar, and several bank executives who helped the online poker room with payment processing.
The news comes as millions of Americans await payment from Full Tilt after the company stopped allowing U.S. players to participate in real-money games in the wake of the indictment of the company's owner, Ray Bitar, and several bank executives who helped the online poker room with payment processing.
Read entire article here.
June 1, 2011 - Nevada gaming bills advance
On Monday, the Nevada Senate unanimously passed Assembly Bill 294 to permit gambling anywhere on casino property via mobile devices. Some Nevada casinos already offer this mobile option, but limit the range of such devices to the race/sportsbook area or casino floor. AB294, heavily endorsed by Cantor Gaming president/COO Lee Amaitis, would allow patrons to place bets from the comfort of their hotel room, poolside or (conceivably) while pinching a loaf in a washroom stall. (Seriously, who cleans these devices?) The bill now returns to the Assembly for discussion of who gets issued licenses. If all goes well, the bill
Read entire article here.
May 30, 2011 - Illinois House approved a major expansion of legalized gambling
Today, the Illinois House approved a major expansion of legalized gambling when
the House voted 65-50 to approve five new casinos which included a land-based
gambling house in Chicago and slot machines to be installed at horse-racing
tracks.
After passing in the House, the measure will now wait approval by the Senate. As
always, gambling expansion faces harsh opposition. The Associated Press reported
Gov. Pat Quinn as calling the idea “top heavy.” It’s a rallying cry that the
opposition has used consistently in the state to scuttle past attempts at
gambling expansion.
Read entire article here.
May 29, 2011 - U.S. Gamblers are Safe From Federal Investigations
In a highly anticipated statement from the Federal Government, U.S. Attorney Rod
Rosenstein spoke on Baltimore’s AM radio show and made it perfectly clear that
US gamblers will not be subject to any criminal prosecution for gambling online.
Gamblers across the country can breathe a sign of relief with this announcement
and any fears they may have had about gambling online are unfounded as far as
the Federal Government goes.
Read entire article
here.
May 25, 2011 - Popular Online Payment processor halts operations
QuickTender, a popular electronic wallet for online gaming affiliates, announced
Wednesday it is halting operations. QuickTender announced the move on its
website and e-mailed account holders about its decision.
"With regret, the Quicktender service has been discontinued," QuickTender said
on its website. "All account holders will be notified by e-mail."
In a letter e-mailed to account holders, QuickTender blamed the stoppage of
service on bank accounts being frozen by court order.
"Further developments specifically relating to our main bank processing company
have resulted in our accounts being frozen subject to a seizure order giving us
no ability to make payments in any currency," QuickTender said in the letter
e-mailed to account holders.
Read entire article here.
May 23, 2011 - DOJ indicts more online gambling operators
Two businesses and three people were charged with money laundering and operating
an illegal gambling business according to indictments unsealed today by U.S.
Attorney Ron Rosenstein. As part of the indictment, ten domains were seized,
including Doylesroom.com.
A federal grand jury in Maryland returned the indictments on April 26. Other
domains seized by order of the court include: Bookmaker.com, 2Betsdi.com,
Funtimebingo.com, Goldenarchcasino.com, Truepoker.com, Betmaker.com,
Betgrandesports.com, Betehorse.com and Beted.com.
Last month, federal prosecutors in New York charged the founders of PokerStars,
Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker with similar crimes. PokerStars and Full Tilt
regained their domains in return for beginning the process of refunding American
players their money and not accepting real-money U.S. play. Absolute Poker has
agreed to work with the DOJ to return money to American players, but they have
not agreed to stop taking U.S. action.
11 bank accounts located in Charlotte, North Carolina, Guam, Panama, Malta and
Portugal were also seized according to announcement by the Department of
Justice.
Read entire article here.
May 16, 2011 - North Carolina Player Wins Jackpot at Jackpot Capital Casino
A Jackpot
Capital Casino player
is celebrating Christmas early this year after her $10,544.24 jackpot win after
playing Return
Of The Rudolph a
Christmas themed slot game. Incredibly, the North Carolina player known as
“susierom1955” hit the jackpot after placing only a fifty cent bet.
“Oh, it’s going to be just like Christmas around my house this summer, that’s
for sure -- presents for everyone!” said the winner from her home in
Winston-Salem. “Maybe we’ll go all the way – roast a turkey and put up a
Christmas tree; on second thought, maybe not the tree!
Read entire article here.
May 13, 2011 - Doyle Brunson Ends Association & Contract With DoylesRoom.com
The legendary poker pro and dear friend of this website, Doyle Brunson, has left DoylesRoom.com, Gambling911.com can report exclusively. Brunson issued this statement to me Friday afternoon.
“Reluctantly, I have decided to terminate my endorsement contract with
Doylesroom.com. It pains me to leave at this time. I have aspirations of reentering the online poker business when the United States Government passes legislation, that officially legalize online poker sites. Doylesroom management has decided to continue to serve U.S. customers. Although they believe they have the right to market the name Doylesroom and to use my name and likeness for a period of time, I have asked them not to. Good luck-Shuffle up and deal.”Read entire article
here.
May 13, 2011 - Poker Players Get Back $100 Million From Pokerstars
Pokerstars has returned more than
US$100m to US online poker players from its “past US-facing operations” nearly a
month after 'Black Friday', the operator has told eGaming Review.
In a statement released this afternoon Pokerstars said it had returned the money
and that it would continue to “service requests” following the company’s
agreement with the US Department of Justice on April 20 that allowed US
customers to cash out their balances with the Isle of Man licensed operator. It
is unknown if Pokerstars owes any further funds to US players.
Read entire article here.
May 9, 2011 - American poker players struggling after April 15
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- It's a standard recession-era
tale of woe: A company closes and workers lose their income.
But there's little else conventional about what has happened to North Las Vegan Mike Ziethlow.
Ziethlow earns a living through Internet poker, playing for cash on websites such as PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker and selling poker-training software.
But there's little else conventional about what has happened to North Las Vegan Mike Ziethlow.
Ziethlow earns a living through Internet poker, playing for cash on websites such as PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker and selling poker-training software.
It all came crashing down on April 15, when federal prosecutors in New York
indicted those sites' founders for fraud, money laundering and operating
illegal gambling businesses.
The sites ceased U.S. operations immediately. Caught in the legal crossfire
were the bankrolls of thousands of online players. Take Ziethlow, who said
he has roughly $9,000 tied up in the sites. That's 75 percent of the
30-year-old's life savings.
Read entire article here.
May 9, 2011 - It's time to create a safe,regulated online gambling experience
Americans like to gamble online. Millions of Americans bet billions of dollars a
year at offshore foreign websites and have demonstrated that they will do so
even if their government tells them it is illegal.
However, many of the websites offering these activities have been in direct
violation of U.S. law. They have been run by individuals who, according to the
Justice Department, engaged in serious criminal activity, including bank fraud
and money-laundering.
The American Gaming Association supports strong law enforcement oversight and
applauds the Justice Department for bringing charges against those companies
that have shown no respect for the laws of the United States.
Read entire article here.
May 8, 2011 - Online gambling has achieved 18% growth
A new survey by the Indian market research firm AM Mindpower Solutions observes that despite attempts to restrict or even ban the internet gambling industry, there was an 18.21 compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the period 2002 – 2010.
The company specialises in providing industry research, company profiles, merger and acquisition studies, and private equity and venture capital deal directories to clients across a spectrum of global business areas.
In online gambling, Europe is now the global leader, the study reveals, with North America following, probably due to political and government interference in the business
Read entire article here.
May 6, 2011 - Social lives improved through online bingo
The
online bingo offering from Virgin
Games has
released the findings of a survey that it conducted investigating how the game
of online bingo has affected the social lives and friendships of its players.
VirginGames.com revealed that its study found that 44 percent of the 647 players
questioned had made ‘genuine friendships’ through its site with 18 percent
having met up in person.
Read entire article
here
May 4, 2011 - Dragonfish, Playtech and Microgaming share honours at eGR B2B awards
Dragonfish, Playtech and Microgaming shared
the honors at last night’s eGR B2B Awards 2011, each taking home two trophies
from the black-tie ceremony held at Chelsea Football Club in London.
Net Entertainment, IGT and
Evolution Gaming triumphed in the remaining casino categories, picking up the
Innovation in RNG casino software, slot provider and live casino supplier awards
of the year.
It was honors even in the affiliate categories for the second year running,
Income Access taking home the affiliate network trophy, a feat reproduced in the
affiliate software category by Netrefer.
Read entire article here.
May 4, 2011 - Panel says Legal Internet gaming would boost casino business
Panelists addressing an Internet gambling conference in Las Vegas on Tuesday
said online casinos would enhance business at brick-and-mortar properties
instead of cannibalizing them.
The panelists — three of them Las Vegas industry executives — said just as
casino expansion in New Jersey, in riverboat markets and on Indian reservations
led to established Las Vegas casinos growing their market share, the
legalization of Internet gambling would give them the ability to reach out to
new customers.
Read entire article here.
May 2, 2011 - Gaming industry leaders are confident that it’s only a matter of time before Internet gambling is legalized
It’s
time to retire the phrase “if Internet gambling is legalized.” By now, it’s
clear that the approval of online wagering, particularly Internet poker, is not
a matter of if but when.
For online poker enthusiasts, the timetable got pushed back in mid-April when 11
owners and founders of three of the largest online gambling sites, PokerStars,
Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker, were indicted on bank fraud, money
laundering and illegal gambling charges.
Read entire article here.
May 2, 2011 - Top 10 responses to Black Friday
It's been just over two weeks since the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed
indictments accusing the owners of PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute
Poker of bank fraud, money laundering and UIGEA violations.
During that time, people in the poker industry have had time to digest what
happened. And people have been reacting in several ways. Some have reacted with
humor. Others have offered in-depth analysis, and still others have made or
facilitated calls to action.
Read entire article here.
April 26, 2011 - Caesar's Entertainment President and CEO Says to Legalize Online Poker
Gary Loveman the CEO and president of Caesars
Entertainment says
Instead, the question is this: "Should we seize the moment to legalize online
poker,
permit a safe and legitimate industry in the U.S., and bring those jobs and
revenues home?" Unequivocally, the answer is yes.
The current ban on Internet poker has many parallels with the Prohibition of the
1920s. Business is being diverted from legitimate, respected companies that
employ thousands of people to fly-by-night, underground (and in this case,
foreign) operations.
Read entire article here.
April 25, 2011 - IMEGA Says Situation Was Ripe For Legal Action To Occur Against Poker Sites
It’s
been a hectic 10 days for the online poker community. On April 15th, the
founders of PokerStars, Absolute Poker, and Full Tilt Poker were indicted, along
with eight others, on charges that included money laundering, bank fraud,
illegal gambling, and violating the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act UIEGA
Monitoring the situation has been the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming
Association IMEGA,
whose Chairman, Joe Brennan, told Poker News Daily that the situation was ripe
for legal action to occur.
Read
entire article
here.
April 15, 2011 - Full Tilt and PokerStars Respond to Indictments, Pull Out of U.S.
Following the news Friday that the founders of PokerStars, Full Tilt and AbsolutePoker had been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on fraud and conspiracy charges both Full Tilt and PokerStars have decided to no longer offer real money play to players in the United States.
“As you may have heard, we have had to suspend real money poker services to players based in the U.S. due to recent legal developments there,” a statement from PokerStars read.
Read entire article here.
April 15, 2011 - DOJ Charges Three Major Online Poker Sites with Fraud
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged the founders of online poker sites PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker with fraud and conspiracy in an indictment unsealed Friday morning.
The indictment includes Isai Scheinberg and Paul Tate from PokerStars, Ray Bitar and Nelson Burtnick from Full Tilt, Scott Tom and Brent Beckley of AbsolutePoker. Also charged were Ryan Lang, John Campos, Bradley Franzen, Ira Rubin and Chad Elie who are believed to be working for payment processors. Campos and Elie were arrested Friday morning in Las Vegas and Utah. The DOJ is working with Interpol to secure the arrest of the other defendants.Read entire article here.
April 13, 2011 - DC becomes first state in USA to offer legal Internet gambling
WASHINGTON -- The District of Columbia is becoming the
first U.S. jurisdiction to allow Internet gambling, trying to raise millions of
dollars from the habits of online poker buffs and acting ahead of traditional
gambling meccas like New Jersey and Nevada.
Permitting the online games was part of the 2011 budget and a 30-day period for
Congress to object expired last week, said D.C. Council member Michael A. Brown,
who authored the provision. The gaming would be operated by Intralot,
a Greece-based company, and would be available only to gamblers within the
borders of the district.
Read entire article here.
April 11, 2011 - Washington DC may become the first US jurisdiction to license and regulate online poker
Washington DC could become the first US jurisdiction to
license and regulate online
poker after
budget measures allowing lottery provider Intralot to add poker to its offering
came into force on Friday.
The window for US Congress - which has final approval over the District’s laws -
to raise objections expired on Thursday, moving the federal enclave ahead of New
Jersey, Iowa, California and Nevada in the race to license and regulate online
poker within its borders. Nevada passed a law authorising egaming in 2002, but
did not adopt regulations after the US Department of Justice advised at the time
that federal law prohibited the activity.
Read entire article here.
April 8 2011 - Major Slotland jackpot hits again
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Just a month after a $145K jackpot win,
the Slotland progressive
jackpot has already been hit again. Marianne M., a toy company project manager
known as WYNDSTAR on the site, won $83,979 playing the Striking 7s video poker
game last Friday.
“Of course the jackpot can be won anytime but we usually go six to eight weeks
between wins,” said Slotland Manager Michael Hilary. “It didn’t have time to get
up to $100K or $150K this time, like it usually does, but I’m sure the winner is
happy just the same!”
Read entire article here.
April 1, 2011 -
Iowa
will not pass legislation to license & regulate egaming this year
Iowa will not pass legislation to license and regulate egaming this year, with Senate Bill 458 failing to make it through the Hawkeye state’s “funnel stage” fully intact today.
Instead, the state’s Racing and Gaming Commission will now be given a chance to study and report back to the Iowa legislature on its provisions at a later date.
Bill sponsor Sen. Danielson, who introduced the bill in March, insisted to the Quad City Times that he was “not naive” and remained realistic about this latest development, stating that “gaming bills usually fail”.
Read entire article here.
March 30, 2011 - Iowa’s proposed intrastate online poker still has a chance?
While Iowa’s proposed intrastate online poker legislation (Senate File 458) appeared to have suffered a mortal wound last week when the Senate Ways & Means Committee took it off their schedule, supporters aren’t giving up the fight. Fortunately, a legal loophole has ensured that 458 is ‘funnel-proof,’ and thus immune to the self-imposed deadline for policy bills to be approved for consideration before time runs out on the current legislative session.
Read entire article here.
March 25, 2011 - Wynn in partnership with Pokerstars
Casino owner Wynn Resorts Ltd has announced a partnership with Pokerstars in support of federal egaming legislation in the US.
The partnership would see the creation of a new online poker site, PokerstarsWynn.com, if federal legislation such as the billintroduced earlier this month by Congressman John Campbell comes to fruition.
Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn told the Las Vegas Sun that “As a company that has safely conducted gaming in the US for more than 40 years, we believe that the same can be done for poker on the internet.”
Read entire article here.
March 25, 2011 - Nevada okays Caesars-888 link, debates poker bill; Hawaii bill passes committee
History was made Thursday as the Nevada Gaming Commission
unanimously (four ‘yes’ votes and one abstention) approved the relationship
between casino giant Caesars
Entertainment and
UK-based 888 Holdings. This is the first such approval granted to a Nevada
gaming license holder seeking to do business with a foreign firm involved in
online gambling. The approval upholds the decision made by the Nevada Gaming
Control Board two weeks ago.
Read entire article
here.
March 22, 2011 - Cake Poker Network Likely Sold to PokerListings
Poker News Daily can independently confirm the rumors that the
Cake PokerNetwork has been sold to PokerListings. Two anonymous sources inside the poker industry have verified the sale, which Bluff Magazine reported will likely be completed in the next 15 days.One source called the transaction a “conflict of interest” since Poker Listings promotes several different online poker sites, including
PokerStars and UB.com. Cake Poker is PokerListings’ top ranked site and boasts an overall score of 8.2 out of 10. A Cake Poker ad is prominently displayed on the top of PokerListings’ website as “Today’s Best Offer.”Read entire article here.
March 21, 2011 - Iowa Gov. Branstad considering Internet poker bill
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said Monday he has not ruled out the possibility of
backing a measure to legalize Internet poker that is being debated in the
Legislature.
Branstad said he would need to learn more about the proposal if it cleared the
Legislature and reached his desk, and acknowledged that many Iowans already play
poker illegally on the Internet using sites based outside the country.
"Some of the people who are promoting it are saying, 'You've got this illegal
offshore gambling that's going on,'" Branstad said at a news conference. "We
want to prevent that from occurring and this would be a way of having it done
legally instead of it being done illegally without the state getting any benefit
from it."
Read entire article
here.
March 19, 2011 - Dutch government seeks to allow online gambling
(Reuters) - The Dutch government
said on Saturday it wanted to grant licenses for Internet gambling services in
the Netherlands and lift restrictions that hundreds of thousands of Dutch ignore
every year.
The proposal, by a new coalition government that took over last October,
represents a major policy overhaul for the Netherlands, which has defended an
online gambling ban all the way to the European Union's highest court.
"It is a big shift (in policy), but this is a new government with a more liberal
approach," said Jaap Oosterveer, a spokesman for the Dutch ministry of public
safety and justice.
Read entire article here.
March 18, 2011 - The Poker Players Alliance Applauds New Bill
A long-awaited federal online gambling bill was introduced in Washington last night by US congressman John Campbell. HR1174 is the first federal proposal to see the light of day since Harry Reid’s failed bill during the lame duck session in December last year. The news comes just a week after the introduction of William Horne’s intrastate bill in Nevada, and less than 48 hours after Miguel Diaz de la Portilla’s Florida bill passed out of the Senate Regulated Industries Committee.Read entire article here.
March 18, 1011 - Campbell introduces new federal bill
HR1174 is the first federal proposal to see the light of day
since Harry Reid’s failed bill during the lame duck session in December last
year. The news comes just a week after the introduction of William Horne’s
intrastate bill in Nevada, and less than 48 hours after Miguel Diaz de la
Portilla’s Florida bill passed out of the Senate Regulated Industries
Committee.
Campbell’s bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by Barney Frank, Republican Peter T
King and Democrat Ed Perlmutter, will be known as the Internet Gambling
Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act, and is almost identical
to Frank’s HR2267 bill which passed out of committee last July.
Read entire article
here.
March 8, 2011 - JackpotCity creates fund for Australian flood relief
GIBRALTAR -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- JackpotCity
Online Casino,
one of Australia's favourite online
gaming destinations,
has created an Australian Flood Relief Fund to raise money for those
Queenslanders affected by the January 2011 floods.
Staff at JackpotCity Online Casino didn't hesitate to donate from their own
pockets and raised AU$2,170. To applaud their generosity, the casino management
decided to double that amount and added a further AU$2,170 to the fund.
Read Entire Article HERE
March 4, 2011 - NEW U.S ATTEMPT TO LEGALISE ONLINE GAMBLING BY BIG GUNS!
The New
York Post reports
that Thursday's rejection of a New Jersey intrastate legalisation bill (see
previous reports) by Governor Chris Christie may have been influenced by the new
federal proposal, which reportedly embraces gaming at online
casinos and online
poker sites.
Influential politicians like Democrats Barney Frank and Harry Reid have
apparently joined forces with Republican John Campbell in constructing the new
attempt, according to the respected publisher of Global
Gaming Business,
Roger Gros.
Read entire article
here.
March 3, 2011 - Christie Vetoes Online Gambling Bill
Chris
Christie vetoed a bill Thursday that would have allowed casinos in Atlantic City
to offer online gambling to state residents.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would have made his state the
first in the U.S. to re-introduce online gambling.
The bill would have allowed New Jersey residents to place bets through websites
run by casino companies in Atlantic City. State legislatures across the country
have started work on similar bills as states try to generate revenue.
The governor’s counsel’s office told lawmakers he vetoed the bill Thursday
morning.
Read full report
here.
February 22, 1010 - Governor Chris Christie will reveal his decision on intrastate online gambling in New Jersey
Governor Chris Christie will reveal his decision on intrastate online gambling
in New Jersey when the legislature reconvenes next Thursday 3 March sparking
seven days of intense lobbying on both sides of the debate.
The Governor of New Jersey, heavily tipped to run as the presidential candidate
for the Republican party next year, was expected to make a decision this
Thursday, 45 days after Senator Raymond Lesniak’s egaming bill passed on 10
January, however it is thought he will now wait until after the legislative
recess that will commence following his budget address to local politicians
later today. The next scheduled session day is on 3 March.
Read entire article here.
February 16, 2011 - iMEGA releases study on NJ online gambling
LONDON,
England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- An economic development study released by the
Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) on the economic
and fiscal impact of iGaming legislation currently awaiting the signature of New
Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) shows how regulating iGaming could revive the
State's dismal economy. The long-term financial benefits of New Jersey's
Intra-State Internet Gambling Bill (S490) are being heralded as a major catalyst
for the recovery of the state's ailing economy, as well as a launch pad for its
employment sector, as the State seeks to become the capital of regulated iGaming
in the US.
The report, entitled "Potential Economic and Fiscal Impacts of the Proposed New
Jersey Intra-State iGaming Bill," was submitted to iMEGA by Econsult Corporation
a public policy and economics consulting firm. The report assesses the
considerable economic and fiscal impact of the proposed regulation in New
Jersey.
Read entire article here.
February 15, 2011 - Texas Lawmakers Still Split On Gambling Legislation
While the rest of the country has expanded their casino gambling industries at a
record pace over the past couple of years, Texas has remained one of the states
that has kept casino prohibition alive. It had been expected that one of the
country's most conservative states would shy away from casinos.
In recent years, however, lawmakers have at least started to discuss the
possibility of casino gambling. The economy had become so bad that even states
that had traditionally turned their back on casinos, started to look at the
millions in tax revenues from casinos with wide eyes.
Read entire article here.
February 15, 2011 - WSOP.fr awarded licence to play poker
WSOP.fr, the poker site created via the partnership
between Caesars Interactive Entertainment (CIE) and Groupe Lucien Barrière, has
been awarded an online gaming licence by French regulator ARJEL.
The skin of the Barrierepoker.fr platform will offer real-money poker as well as
WSOP-branded tournaments and qualifiers into WSOP events in Europe and the US.
CIE announced the deal last week alongside the news the World Series of Poker
Europe would move from London to Barriere’s Cannes casinos as part of an
online-offline tie with the French casino group.
Read entire article
here.
February 7, 2011 - Las Vegas Sands cuts comps for middle-tier gamblers
LAS
VEGAS, Nevada -- Las Vegas Sands Corp. has eliminated free hotel rooms and other
complimentary offerings for middle-tier customers at its two Strip resorts, a
move one gambling expert called "a terrible thing."
High-end gamblers still receive benefits, such as show tickets and meals.
Company officials said the move was taken to drive the bookings of hotel rooms
through group sales and Las Vegas Sands' alliance with InterContinental Hotels,
which began marketing The Venetian and Palazzo through its 52 million-member
rewards program last fall.
Read entire article here.
February 4, 2011 - Italy legalizes cash poker and casino
Italy’s long-awaited cash games decree passed into law yesterday evening, opening the way for existing operator licensees to offer cash poker and casino games into the Italian market.
The new products will be subject to a gross profits tax of 20%, with the maximum allowable buy-in for skill games, including poker, played online and at public terminals or “totems”, raised from €100 to €250.
A new payback ratio, requiring at least 90% of the amount collected to be paid back to players in prizes, has also been introduced.
Read entire article here.
February 2, 2011 - US House Oversight Committee Urged To Review UIGEA
The
government is attempting to address laws that are stopping the growth of
businesses and jobs in the country. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement
Act is one of those laws that millions of Americans would like to see
eliminated.
Chairman Darrell Issa has asked businesses to submit opinions on laws that are
hindering growth, and already the UIGEA has been submitted. The Safe and Secure
Internet Gambling Initiative has sent a letter to Issa describing how the UIGEA
is costing the US tens of thousands of jobs.
Read entire article
here.
February 2, 2011 - Nevada Board Reaches Online Gambling Agreement
With
New Jersey just a signature away from intrastate online gambling, California has
been trying to get something approved over the last two legislative sessions and
Florida now looking closely again at regulating online gambling, it seems the
states are now doing what the federal government will not…take advantage of the
billions in online gambling revenue that is going to off shore gambling sites.
This week the Nevada Gaming Control Board reached an agreement with the
British-based Alderney Gambling Control Commission which is a regulatory body
for internet gambling in the British Channel Islands. The deal, for now, just
lays the framework for cooperation between the two gaming control bodies. All
that is planned for is a visit between the two and.....
Read entire articlehere.
January 26, 2011 - Greece unveils draft law to allow online gambling
Jan 26 (Reuters) - Greece on Tuesday unveiled a long-awaited draft law to allow
online gambling and lift a ban on amusement and low-stake gaming machines. January 26, 2011 -
Super Bowl Has Gambling Hotlines Gearing Up For Increased
Call
The Super Bowl is the most gambled on sporting event in the US year after year.
In some years, over one hundred million dollars is wagered on the game, and that
is at legal sports books. With less than two weeks left before the big game,
gambling treatment centers and hotlines are preparing for an increase in
business. January 26, 2011 -
Home Casinos May Soon Be Legalized In South Carolina
In South Carolina, it is illegal for residents to play card or dice games of any
kind in their own homes. The 1804 has been viewed as outdated for years, and now
lawmakers are taking steps to have it overturned.
January 25, 2011 -
World Series of Poker releases 2011 schedule
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The 42nd annual World Series of Poker®
(WSOP®) Presented by Jack Link's Beef Jerky -- a set of poker tournaments open
to anyone 21 years of age or older – officially puts cards in the air on
Tuesday, May 31, 2011. January 17, 2010 -
Ten
reasons Christie should sign the N.J. online gambling bill
The New
Jersey legislature sent a bill that would regulate intrastate Internet gambling
to Governor Chris Christie's desk last week, and the only obstacle keeping it
from becoming law is the possibility of the governor's veto.
Read entire article
here. January 17, 2010 -
IGT to showcase slot offerings in London
LAS
VEGAS, Nevada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- International Game Technology, a global
leader in creating the major games that players love and the casino network
systems that improve the player experience, will display the latest
groundbreaking casino games and network systems products, as well as innovative
mobile and online offerings, at stand 3430 at the International Casino
Exhibition (ICE) on Jan. 25-27, 2011. This year IGT will show how "It's a Whole
New Game" by displaying a wide range of games for the casino floor and the
interactive world at London's Earls Court Exhibition Centre.
Read
entire article here.
January
16, 2010 -
CANADIAN PROVINCE STILL CONSIDERING INTERNET GAMBLING
OPTION
Maritime provinces politicians have spoken out against an ALC venture, but one
province is still apparently interested
Read entire article
here. January 15, 2010 -
Internet
gambling companies wishing to advertise in the UK may soon be required to obtain
a Brit licence
The
Daily Mail story earlier this week that the British government is about to take
action on 'white list' advertising in the UK has been followed by a Guardian
article revealing that the moves could come sooner than most think.
Read entire article
here.
January 10, 2010 -
NJ legislature votes to legalize egaming
The New Jersey legislature this evening voted overwhelmingly in favour of
Senator Raymond Lesniak’s bill to allow egaming in the US state.
In an Assembly vote taken at 6:44PM Eastern Time, Lesniak’s S490 bill to allow
Atlantic City casinos to offer online versions of their games to state residents
received 63 votes in favour, 11 against, and three abstentions, comfortably
ahead of the 41 votes required for passage. The bill then passed in the Senate
by a margin of 34-2.
Read entire article
here. January 4, 2011 -
Greece to Legalize Online Gambling in 2011?
Greece is planning to legalize online gambling and low-stake
gaming machines, the government said, in order to comply with European Union
laws and to raise cash under the terms of its 110 billion euro bailout.
January 4, 2-11 -
Egaming sector defies recession to grow in 2010
The egaming sector bucked wider recessionary conditions to
grow by 12.5% in 2010, according to figures released to eGaming Review by
gambling data business H2 Gambling Capital. January 3, 2011 -
The Worst Online Gambling Blunders of 2010
Last week we brought you some of the most outrageous online
gambling news stories of 2010, this week we offer you the “Worst Online Gambling
Blunders of 2010”. Casino’s and player’s throughout the year made some major
blunders which ended up making their way into the news. So we have compiled a
few of the most memorable “screw ups” of 2010 for you to read and reminisce.
Enjoy!
Read entire article
here.
January 2, 2011 -
Gaming stocks rebound in 2010
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Stock prices for publicly traded casino operators and slot
machine manufacturers rebounded in 2010 following a disastrous 2009. December 13, 2010 -
Grandmother Wins $78,112 Slotland Jackpot and
Will Have a Sack Full of Cash to Play Santa with This Year!!
A Slotland player
has two firsts to celebrate this Christmas. She’s expecting her first grand
child in a few weeks – and this is the first year she’ll have nearly a hundred
grand to spend on Christmas presents! December 13, 2010 -
Intentions May Be Wrong, But Reid Online Poker Bill Is
Right
At this point in the game, online gamblers are looking for
anything that will allow them to openly play poker from the comfort of their own
home. That is why many players have gotten behind the efforts of Senator Harry
Reid as he tries to end online gambling prohibition in the US.
Read entire article
here. December 13, 2010 -
New Jersey sees progress on Internet gambling
TRENTON,
New Jersey -- As time is quickly running out for Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid, D-Nev., to find bills to attach his online poker legalization measure to
before the end of the current congressional session, efforts to approve online
gaming in New Jersey are moving forward.
Read entire article
here. December 8, 2010 -
US egaming legislation reaches climax
The US is bracing itself for a series of legal measures in the next few days
that could change its federal and intrastate online gambling landscape forever.
Amendments, bills and movement in Washington DC, New Jersey, California, and a
potential federal poker-only bill are due to be discussed, and could even be
passed before the end of this week, according to numerous media reports across
North America. December 7, 2010 -
iMEGA moves to block Kentucky seizures
Attorneys representing the Interactive
Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) have
filed a motion in the Franklin Circuit Court to prevent the Commonwealth of
Kentucky from seizing the rights to 141 gambling-related domain names. This is
the second time iMEGA has moved to block Kentucky’s efforts to have the rights
to each domain frozen, under threat of seizure by the Commonwealth, with the
purpose of forcing sites that used the domains to pay financial settlements to
reacquire rights of use. iMEGA managed successfully last January to block the
Commonwealth’s first attempt to seize the domain names, when the Court of
Appeals issued a writ prohibiting the Franklin Circuit Court from proceeding
with the seizures. Kentucky has also issued another lawsuit pursuing Full Tilt
owner Pocket Kings, Microgaming and PartyGaming for monies allegedly lost on the
site by state residents. PartyGaming last month issued a motion dismissing the
lawsuit. December 1, 2010 -
Australians will Gamble up to $1 Billion at
Online Gambling Sites
For an
activity that is illegal in Australia, Aussies seem to believe they have the
right to spend their cash wherever and however they wish (who would of
thought?). Its been estimated that Australians will wager up to $1 Billion on
illegal gambling this coming year and its raising concerns by the Gillard
Government that it could become a big or bigger problems than poker machines. December 1, 2010 -
California
Following New Jersey's Online Gambling Legislation Footsteps
Following in the footsteps of the New Jersey Senate
passing Internet gambling legislation, it appears California is ready to make a
strong run at instituting intrastate online poker in 2011. November 16, 2010 -
NY Governor Patterson Set To Approve Casino In Catskills
If the Atlantic City casino industry in New Jersey thought they had problems
when competition grew stronger from Pennsylvania, wait until they have to start
competing for customers with New York. Governor David Patterson is set to sign
off on a deal for full scale casino gambling in the Catskills. November 9, 2010 -
Canadian Jonathan Duhamel won the World Series of Poker main event title and
$8.94M.
The World Series of Poker is over, but how did it all shake out? November 8, 2010 -
New Jersey Senators will meet today to review a bill proposing the establishment
of an intrastate egaming
New Jersey Senators will meet today to review a bill proposing the establishment
of an intrastate egaming system and other gambling-related measures aimed at
propping up the Garden State’s ailing race tracks and casinos, with a vote on
the proposals expected by the end of the year.
Read entire article
here. November 8, 2010 -
Harrah's Entertainment has confirmed it is to change its corporate name to
Caesar’s Entertainment
Harrah's
Entertainment has confirmed it is to change its corporate name to Caesar’s
Entertainment ahead of a US$500m IPO of 9.3% of its stock. Harrah’s originally
announced plans to rebrand under the Caesar’s name following its acquisition of
Caesar’s Entertainment in June 2005 for US9bn. Private equity backers TPG and
Apollo will retain their controlling stake of 81% in the company.
Read entire article
here. November 1, 2010 -
Macau Gambling Revenue Continues To Break Records In
October
Over the past decade, Las Vegas gaming companies have focused more of their
efforts to the Asian gambling market. Their vision is being justified by the
monthly revenue figures that are coming out of Macau and its casinos.
Read entire article
here. November 1, 2010 -
Election Day 2010 Likely To Be Depressing For Online
Gamblers
Election day 2010 finally arrives on Tuesday, and that is bad news for online
gamblers who were hoping that Internet gambling regulations would be passed in
Congress. With control of the House likely to change, online gambling
regulations may be dead for the foreseeable future.
Read entire article
here.
October 31, 2010 -
Ten Years Later, Ground Finally Broken On Aqueduct Casino
The Aqueduct casino project has been dangled in front of New York citizens for
so long that this week's groundbreaking ceremony seemed almost surreal. After
ten years of posturing and missed opportunities, ground was finally broken for
the casino on Thursday.
Read entire article
here. October 19, 2010 -
Harrah’s Owner Supports Harry Reid and Online
Gambling
In an
important show of support for Senator Harry Reid (who for the past couple of
years did not hide the fact that he was against legalizing online gambling in
any shape or form but who has recently changed his stance by supporting
legalizing online poker) Harrah’s Entertainment has contributed $75,000 to the
Patriot Majority PAC. The Patriot Majority PAC is one of the biggest supporters
of Senator Reid’s, which has spent over one million dollars to keep his Senate
seat. With this bold move by Harrah’s Entertainment, many believe that it’s a
first move for backing of legalizing online gaming by Senator Reid. Harrah’s is
in support of Rep. Barney Franks bill to repeal the UIGEA bill and implement his
HR 2267 bill which would allow online gambling to become regulated and licensed
in the US.
Read
entire article here. October 19, 2010 -
Online Gambling Rises Among College Males, High School
Girls
Monthly
use of online gambling sites among college-aged males in the United States
jumped from 4.4 percent in 2008 to 16 percent this year, a rise of nearly 12
percent, according to a new survey. October 18, 2010 -
Sports And Internet Gambling Proposed By Lawmakers In New
Jersey
It appears that lawmakers in Washington have moved too slowly in their quest to
regulate Internet gambling. Individual states are now taking the matter into
their own hands, and New Jersey lawmakers want to be out ahead of the curve.
October 17, 2010 -
November Nine Making Final Preparations For WSOP Main
Event
A good run of cards in the beginning of July has made many World Series of Poker
players main event champions in the past. Now, however, players must not only be
good and lucky in July, but they must also resume their sharp playing and their
fortunate breaks in November.
October 15, 2010 -
Ameristar Casino Worker Contract Shows Progress In US
It used to be that casinos could simply hire employees without offering any type
of overtime, health care, or full-time employment guarantees. That was all
before the current casino boom taking place in the US.
October 15, 2010 -
Yahoo Server Hangup Causes Online Gamblers Confusion
Online gamblers both new and seasoned were confused on Thursday afternoon when
the Yahoo search engine was down for about an hour. The search engine is
frequently used for players to find the top online casinos from around the
world. October 11, 2010 -
Tierney Defends Right To Vote In Favor Of Internet
Gambling Bill
John
Tierney voted against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act back in
2006 because he felt that the law was an unnecessary evil. Now, Tierney is
defending his right to vote on legislation that has been proposed to overturn
the UIGEA.
October 10, 2010 -
Netherlands to regulate egaming
The Dutch government is planning to license and regulate all
forms of egaming on a non-exclusive basis, according to media reports in the
country this morning.
October 10, 2010 -
Lottery A Major Source Of Gambling Addiction In Florida
Opponents of expanded
casino gambling around the country have offered up the premise that casinos will
bring increased problem gambling. In Florida and other states, however, it is
state lotteries that are causing the most calls to gambling addiction hotlines.
October 8, 2010 -
US Government Last In Race To Legalize Online Gambling
The US government prides itself on being out in front of the curve on important
economical and social issues. That is one of the reasons that President Obama
recently called for other countries to keep the Internet free. October 4, 2010 -
November May Provide Groundbreaking Gambling Decision In
Maine
Residents in the state of Maine have had to stand by and watch as their friends
in neighboring states have bragged about their new casinos. In November, these
residents will get to vote on a possible future casino in Oxford County, and a
recent poll suggests the people of Maine are in favor of the measure. October 3, 2010-
US Tracking Online Gambling Transactions May Help
Eliminate UIGEA
When the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was put in place back in
2006, financial institutions almost immediately cried foul. Representatives of
the financial institutions spoke to members of Congress, telling these lawmakers
that it would be nearly impossible to block the online gambling transactions. October 2, 2010 -
One Nation Rally Promotes Jobs; Internet Gambling Can
Provide Them
The One Nation rally was held on Saturday at the same place where Glen Beck held
his Conservative rally just over a month ago. One area that speakers in both
allies agreed is that the US needs to create more jobs and put people back to
work. September 26, 2010 -
Iowa Gambling Industry May Get Another Boost In November
The Iowa casino gambling industry is one of the top in the US, and operators of
casinos in the state are hoping it stays that way after the November election.
Voters will again have to approve the gambling in counties where it already
exists.
September 24, 2010 -
Washington legislature Wins Gambling Ban Case In Supreme
Court
The Washington state Supreme Court issued a ruling on Thursday morning that is
unpopular with poker players in the state. The Supreme Court ruled that the
state's ban on Internet gambling does not violate the U.S. Constitution.
September 24, 2010 -
Online
Gambling Worth 2 Billion in Greece
In an interview with the Agence France Presse, a senior official
in the Greek government has stated that the online gambling market in the
country is worth an estimated €2 billion per year. This figure has not only
shown the strength of the online gambling industry in Greece, but that it can
provide a vital revenue source for the country. The minister indicated that the
government in Greece intends to tax and regulate the industry in the near
future, stating: “The propensity for gaming in Greece is among the highest in
Europe and the world. This has to do with our temperament and culture ... The
only thing one can do is set rules."
September 23, 2010 -
Democrats May Lose Support If Online Gambling Bill Is Not
Passed
Democratic leaders have for four years been championing the cause to overturn
the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Although leaders such as
Representative Barney Frank have appeared as allies to the industry of millions
of Americans, they have done nothing to change the laws. September 16, 2010 -
Online Gambling Funds Forfeiture Could Lead To Changing US
Law
The
longer the US government looks into the world of online gambling, the quicker it
may change the current laws. Goldwater Bank agreed to forfeit $733,804 to settle
a claim by the Justice Department that the money was involved in illegal online
gambling. September 16, 2010 -
Grande Vegas awards Foxwoods Resort Casino trips
US-friendly online casino GrandeVegasCasino.com has
announced that it recently rewarded two lucky players with a free trip to
Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino courtesy of its World At Your Feet prize
draw promotion. September 15, 2010 -
Athletes
may be forbidden to gamble on events
LONDON, England -- Rules are likely to be introduced that prohibit all
professional athletes from gambling on any competition they participate in, The
Guardian reported.
Read entire article
here.
September 15, 2010 -
Paladino And O'Connell May Soon Enter US Online
Gambling Debate
Tea Party candidates are making their presence felt in political arenas around
the US. On Tuesday, a pair of Tea Party candidates won their Republican
primaries, and both may soon be thrust into the middle of an online gambling
debate at the federal and state levels. September 7, 2010 -
Casino operators try to beat the burden
LAS
VEGAS, Nevada -- With the bankruptcy reorganizations of Station Casinos and
Herbst Gaming winding down, analysts and industry observers have turned their
focus toward other casino operators. September 7, 2010 -
Pro-Gambling
Governor Patrick Losing Support In Massachusetts
Governor Duval Patrick came into the gubernatorial race a couple of years ago in
Massachusetts as the fresh face that was preparing to bring Massachusetts into
the twenty-first century when it came to casino gambling. Patrick proposed
casino resorts, and residents of the state bought in and elected him governor. Sept 4, 2010 -
New Gambling Option For Kansas Lottery On 150th Birthday
Gambling promotions have become commonplace for state lottery's looking to take
advantage of holiday's and other special events. That is why it comes as no
surprise that the state of Kansas has unveiled a new lottery gambling game in
time to celebrate the state's 150th birthday. Sept 2,
2010 -
SPIN3 LAUNCHES AWARD-WINNING GAMES AS NATIVE ANDROID APPS
LONDON UK, SEPTEMBER 2 2010 -
Leading full service mobile gambling solutions provider Spin3*,
powered by Microgaming,
the world's largest online gaming software provider, has announced that its
award winning games are available as native Android applications for the first
time.
Read entire article
here. August 30, 2010 -
$4.1 Million Mega Moolah Jackpot Hit at Blackjack Ballroom!
LAS VEGAS, August 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The online slot
dubbed 'millionaire maker' has paid out once again. One lucky player has netted
an incredible $4,170,128 overnight on popular online slot Mega
Moolah Summertime. August 30, 2010 -
iGaming Busness releases U.S. report on gambling
LONDON,
England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Leading online gaming trade publication, iGaming
Business, has announced the release of a unique report into the political forces
driving regulation of Internet-based casino gaming, sportsbetting, poker and
lottery sales in US states: The 2010 United States iGaming Report: State by
State Analysis of Legislative Progression. August 30, 2010 -
North Carolina Agents Raid Illegal Poker Game
Playing poker with a
group of friends for money in a house game is legal in most states. In North
Carolina, authorities made it clear this past week that playing poker for large
amounts of money will not be tolerated. August 23, 2010 -
A Swedish online games player hit an enormous jackpot by
placing a tiny bet
(PRESS RELEASE) -- A Swedish online games player hit an enormous jackpot by
placing a tiny bet with Betway
Games...just
days after her birthday.
The cash-strapped government hopes the law will yield hundreds of millions of
euros in extra budget revenues and help it crack down on unlicensed betting.
Read entire article
here.
All across the US, hotlines have been set up to help problem gamblers find
comfort and treatment for their addiction. In many states, these hotlines have
been created because of gambling expansion, either state lotteries or new
casinos. Lawmakers have used both forms of gambling to help with budget
deficiencies.
Read entire article here here.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted by a 15-6 margin on Tuesday to pass the
bill that would allow cards and dice games to be played in South Carolina homes
on to the full Senate. It is likely that the bill will also pass in the Senate,
but that has some lawmakers concerned.
Read entire article
here.
The annual poker extravaganza, which dates back to 1970, is televised
exclusively on ESPN from the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The
tournament series consists of a comprehensive slate of the game's most popular
poker variations running from May 31 - July 19.
Read entire article here.
Last week, Casino City Managing Editor Vin Narayanan laid out all the reasons
Christie might choose to veto the bill — which passed by veto-proof margins in
both the Assembly and the Senate. Today, we lay out the top-10 reasons he should
sign the bill into law.
"At ICE 2011, we are excited to show ICE attendees what makes IGT a world leader
in gaming," said Craig Churchill, IGT's senior vice president of International
Sales. "From the latest in slot floor technology to cutting-edge mobile and
online products, IGT is dedicated to providing our international customers with
the very best products and end-to-end networked gaming solutions to help them
meet their operating objectives and deliver unparalleled player experiences."
The sudden moves by Canadian provincial governments to get into the online
gambling business (see previous reports) appeared to have passed the Maritime
provinces of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
by late last year as a succession of political figures spoke out against
following the example of British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario.
The territories are all represented in the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, which
presented the idea for consideration.
It now appears that not all of the territories have dismissed the idea outright.
The Daily Gleaner newspaper reports that the New Brunswick government is still
considering the project and is watching developments in other provinces with
interest. In terms of the ALC charter, one or more territories can opt for a
particular venture, even if others do not participate
Earlier this week a government source told The Daily Mail's political editor
that offshore internet gambling companies that did not pay Brit taxes or license
fees and levies but advertised to British punters could become the subject of
new laws requiring them to meet the standards of the UK Gambling Commission and
take out British licenses.
The Guardian story does not specify its source, but claims that an initiative to
insist on offshore internet companies being licensed if they wish to access the
British market could come about within the next two months....around end March
2011.
The country, which is in the middle of a severe debt crisis, has been paying
large fines to the EU since it banned all gambling machines in 2002, aside from
those run by its betting monopoly OPAP.
Online Gambling Included
Under reform plans unveiled by the finance ministry, Greece would allow
low-price slot machines in licensed areas and would allow online betting, which
would also be subject to certain restrictions. A supervision commission would
also be established to monitor the gambling industry.
Read entire article
here.
Gross win generated by the egaming sector reached US$29.95bn in 2010, up 12.5%
on the figure recorded in 2009. Even with the contribution of the football World
Cup removed, the sector still achieved 11.4% growth, representing the resilient
performance of the sector amid tough prevailing economic conditions.
Read entire article here.
Of the 10 gaming companies followed by Las Vegas-based financial consultant
Applied Analysis, only slot machine giant International Game Technology saw its
average daily stock price tumble. Shares of IGT were down 10 percent at the end
of December when compared with the average daily price at the end of December
2009.
Read entire article here.
The player known as ROBINSONJ, who's expecting her first grandchild in the new
year, won $78,112 playing her favourite Slotland game,
the Jacks or Better video poker slot game. To win the jackpot she placed a $10
bet and then got a Royal Flush.
Read entire article here.
The bill that Reid has drafted is anything but perfect for the players
themselves. If approved, the players would likely be shut out of all online
poker rooms for a period of at least fifteen months. Despite the layoff,
gamblers are just happy that a lawmaker is finally taking the issue seriously.
The state Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee has passed a dozen
different bills related to the state's gambling and horse racing industries,
including a bill that would legalize online gambling for residents of the state.
The online gambling bill, authored by Democratic state Sen. Raymond Lesniak, was
expected to be voted on by the entire Assembly by the end of the year, after
which it would go to the desk of Gov. Chris Christie for his signature.
Politicians in Washington DC yesterday passed an amendment to its Fiscal Year
2011 Supplemental budget Support Act to allow the capital’s lottery to offer
residents online skill games and games of chance. In New Jersey, following its
Senate overwhelmingly voting in favour of a bill to allow online gambling in the
state, its Assembly committee is due to discuss, and potentially pass, a number
of gambling bills tomorrow including bill S-490, which would allow Atlantic
City’s casinos to offer online versions of their games to state residents as
well as to international customers; in the coming days California is due to
announce a new sponsor– replacing Rod Wright – to reinvigorate its intrastate
egaming bill; while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will attempt to pass a US
federal online poker bill next Monday by attaching it to a package of tax cut
measures President Barack Obama brokered with Republicans, US reports media
reports have suggested.
Read entire article
here.
Read entire article
here.
Deciding to enter the cyberspace police academy, Gillard Government (like the US
government) have decided its their duty to crackdown on online gambling before
it becomes an epidemic. Ironical, a gambling problem conference held at “Jupiter
Casino” (are you kidding me? Lol) by the Federal Families Minister, Jenny
Macklin told attendees that online betting would be tackled this coming year at
a meeting of State and Territory ministers.
Read entire article here.
"We have a bill sponsor who will be announced in the next few weeks," said
Melanie Brenner, executive director of the trade association Poker Voters of
America, which has been focusing its efforts in the Golden State. "The challenge
in California has always been with the tribes, and we have made great strides
there. We are just ironing out a few minor details and then we will be able to
make a public announcement of their support very soon."
Read entire article here.
The state of New York has flirted with casino gambling in the past decade,
allowing several racinos in the state. The latest deal was struck at Aqueduct,
where officials had been seeking to bring video gambling machines for the past
ten years.
Read entire article
here.
Duhamel took the last of Florida pro John Racener's chips in the no-limit Texas
Hold 'em tournament with an ace high after 43 hands where Racener was no better
than a 4-1 underdog in chips.
Duhamel pushed Racener all-in and the Floridian called with a suited king-eight
of diamonds. But Duhamel had an unsuited ace-jack for the lead.
A flop of two fours and a nine helped neither player; and Racener didn't improve
with a six on the turn and a five on the river.
Read entire article
here.
Speaking ahead of the bill’s review by the Senate Government, Wagering, Tourism
and Historic Preservation Committee, lobbyist William Pascrell III told local
paper The Record that the state was experiencing a "perfect storm", a recession
coupled with ailing horse racing and struggling Atlantic City casino industries,
that could be addressed in part by legalising egaming.
In October, Macau casinos had yet another record setting month in terms of
gaming revenue. Revenue from October at the Macau casinos was $2.36 billion.
That figure represented a fifty percent increase over the same period from the
previous year.
Late last year, the Chinese government was concerned about the amount of money
that was leaving the mainland and going to Macau. The government placed visa
restrictions on its residents, and at that time it was thought that Macau would
see revenue declines from the restrictions.
The Democratic-led House has had two years to try and overturn the Unlawful
Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. The ill-advised law was put in place
by a largely Republican Congress, and if Republicans win back control of the
House, it is unlikely they will repeal their own law.
Governor Robert Patterson lead the way in front of hundreds of senior citizens
at Aqueduct. There were several other officials in attendance, but it was the
ones that were not present that caused a stir among New Yorkers.
State Senators Eric Adams, Malcolm Smith, and John Sampson were all missing from
the historic ceremony. The three senators are believed to be a big part of the
group that accepted an earlier bid for the Aqueduct casino from a group of
investors. The earlier approval is thought to have been done unprofessionally,
and the manner in which it was conducted caused the deal to fall through.
There was also a rise in overall online monthly gambling among high school-aged
females, from 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent, according to the latest National
Annenberg Survey of Youth.
Read entire article here.
For the past couple of months, Democratic leaders in New Jersey have held a
series of summits to try and gauge what they can do to help the struggling
gaming industry in their state. On Monday they unveiled a plan that calls for
sports betting at New Jersey casinos, and Internet gambling.
Read entire article here.
The main event of the WSOP no longer plays straight through until there is a
winner. Instead, players compete in July, and when the final table has been
determined, play breaks until November. That gives players an entire summer to
think about how they will approach the final table.
Read entire article here.
Now, casino workers at casinos all across the country have been organized by
unions, and the results are continuing to make the workplace a better
environment for casino workers. The latest victory came in East Chicago late
this past week.
Read entire article
here.
"For a brief period this afternoon, Yahoo.com was inaccessible to some users,"
wrote Yahoo Spokeswoman Kryssa Gunthrum, in response to a query from eWeek. "We
have identified the issue and are working to correct it immediately. We know
that this may have caused some inconvenience and we apologize to our users who
might have been affected."
Read entire article here.
Last week, Tierney was at the center of controversy when it was learned that his
wife had been indicted on charges relating to an online gambling operation that
Tierney's brother-in-law was running. Tierney claims to have had no knowledge of
the operation, and defended his right to vote on future gambling legislation.
Read entire article here.
Newspaper De Telegraaf, crediting “sources in The Hague”, reported on its front
page today that the Dutch government is planning to sell licences or establish a
competitive tender process. “Total revenues of this [plan] are estimated at
€100m, but that could increase up to €270m per year,” said the paper.
Read entire article here.
Gamblers Anonymous is one of the telephone services that allows gamblers to call
in and receive counseling without having to reveal their identity. It is a
program that deals with all forms of gambling addiction, but the most prevalent
is that of citizens that are addicted to the lottery.
Read entire article here.
In the US, however, the government has not backed up the requests of the
president. While President Obama has criticized how other countries restrict
their citizens, the US is dealing with their own prohibitions in regards to
Internet gambling.
Read entire article here.
Black Bear Entertainment has proposed to build a $165 million casino in Oxford
County. In order to do so, the developer must first have their ballot initiative
passed by voters in Maine, something that looks more likely in recent weeks.
Read entire article here.
Now, legislators are working on a law that may help the banks prove their point.
Lawmakers are in the process of creating a law that would call for the tracking
of all International money transfers. This is the preferred method of Internet
gamblers.
Read entire article here.
The rally, which was attended by thousands of liberals, shed more light on the
struggles of the middle class in the US. Speakers took turns describing how
something needed to be done to boost morale and increase job opportunities. The
liberal speakers, however, left out the one area that can guarantee new
employment in a timely manner.
Read entire article here.
Iowa has different laws than in many other states. Voters in Iowa are asked
about continuing casino gambling every eight years. It is mandated that the
questions appear on the ballot, although in most cases, the voters keep the
status quo.
Read entire article here.
Lee Rousso, an avid poker player and an attorney based in Renton filed the
lawsuit that suggested the ban on Internet gambling in Washington was against
the commerce clause in the US constitution. The clause states that interstate
and International commerce is largely beyond the reach of state law.
Read entire article here.
Read entire article
here.
As the new election cycle comes into full swing, Rep. Frank and other Democrats
are up against the wall on overturning the UIGEA. Frank has proposed legislation
that has made it through the House financial services Committee, but he has yet
to advance the bill to the House floor, and he acknowledges that may not happen
before the mid-term election.
Read entire article here.
The Justice Department has been busy this year sending messages to the online
gambling industry. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act went into
effect in June, and the government has already had several cases involving
Internet gambling funds.
Read entire article here.
RealTime Gaming-powered GrandeVegasCasino.com is owned by Jackpot Capital Group,
which is also responsible for sites including JackpotCapital.com, LuckyClubCasino.com and LuckyClubSlots.com,
and stated that competitors were automatically entered into the special contest
for simply playing any one of its 300 games over the summer.
Read entire article here.
In the wake of various match fixing scandals in England, the British government
commissioned a review of sports integrity, establishing The Sports Betting
Group, The Guardian said.
There are currently different rules depending on the sport that are made by the
bodies who govern them, The Guardian report noted.
Carl Paladino won the GOP nomination to become the next governor of New York.
Paladino is a raw talent when it comes to politics, but he will be thrown into
the race for governor against Democratic nominee and current Attorney General
Andrew Cuomo. The AG is considered to be a heavy favorite to win the position.
If Paladino does pull off the upset, he will likely be dealing with a growing
number of people online gambling residents that would like to see the current
laws in the US changed. Individual states have started to discuss possibly
circumventing federal laws and allowing regulated online poker.
Read entire article here.
Speculation abounds on whether companies will follow Station and Herbst into
filing bankruptcy-court-administered plans of reorganization to wipe cumbersome
debt loads off the books and create more manageable businesses.
Read entire article here.
Now, several years later, Patrick is losing the support of several union groups
and thousands of residents in the state. The governor's attempts to bring casino
resorts to Massachusetts have failed now two years in a row.
Last year, former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi led a charge in legislature to
defeat a Patrick proposal that would have authorized four casino resorts. This
year, the damage was much worse for Patrick, who vetoed a bill that was sent to
him from the Senate and House.
Read entire article here.
The game, "Celebrating Our Statehood" will begin as a $1 ticket. Retailers will
receive 600,000 of the tickets this week, and they will be sold to customers
starting in a couple of weeks after that. In January, a $2 ticket will be
available for purchase.
Read entire article here.
Analyst house Gartner predicts Android will increase its market share to 14% of
the global smartphone market in 2012 – surpassing Windows Mobile, Blackberry and
iPhone smartphone devices**. Android is the operating system behind some of the
market’s most popular mobile phones including the Google Nexus One, HTC Desire
and Motorola Droid.
In April 2008, Klaus E from Finland hit the Mega Moolah jackpot at Blackjack
Ballroom,
collecting a cheque for a life-changing $5.5 million! Klaus took advantage of
the generous GBPEUR$500 complimentary BlackjackBallroom.com sign up offer to
test the waters risk free for one hour, then went on to become an overnight
multi-millionaire courtesy of a few spins of the online slot.
Mega Moolah Summertime is the third slot game in the hugely successful Mega
Moolah series. All three games are networked to the same progressive jackpot,
which is guaranteed never to drop below $1,000,000. Due to the nature of the progressive
jackpot,
every bet contributes to the total jackpot kitty, meaning that even after a huge
payout the jackpot rises quickly again. Indeed, the current Mega Moolah jackpot
at BlackjackBallroom.com has already sprung back to an enticing $1.5 million.
Read entire article here.
The report, published by iGaming Business, identifies three specific US states
that offer a plausible chance of early adoption of iGaming legislation. Among
the states analysed, New Jersey is found to be a very likely first state to
authorize iGaming.
Read entire article here.
The North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement on Thursday raided a poker game and
arrested eight people in the process. Authorities are contending that playing
high stakes poker is illegal in the state, thus justifying the raid.
"After receiving multiple complaints from members of the public regarding the
illegal games ALE agents promptly investigated," said John Ledford, Director of
Alcohol Law Enforcement, as reported by WTVD. "High stakes card games like this
one are illegal in the state, and I commend our agents and officers with the Mt.
Olive Police Department for taking action."
Read entire article here.
Read entire article here.
August 19, 2010 - NFL shows support for Barney Frank legislation
In America, the National Football League (NFL) has issued a
statement announcing its support for the Internet Gambling Regulation And
Consumer Protection And Enforcement Act, which was recently passed through the
House Financial Services Committee by a vote of 41 to 22.
Read entire article
here.
August 17, 2010 - Woman thanks her Lucky Stars at Slotland
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- One of the oldest
and most popular slot machines at one of the oldest and most popular online
slots site has produced a $148,711 progressive jackpot winner. A player who only
started spinning the reels at Slotland.com three
years ago hit the massive jackpot playing the Lucky Stars slot machine.
"I'm so excited I can't think straight," said the winner, known as SOUTHBELLE.
"I'm sure not used to having that kind of spending money so I really don't know
what I'll do with it! I'm terrible for spoiling my family. Can't help it! So
I'll have some fun with this that's for sure. First though, my brother has been
going through some tough times lately so I'm going to help him with some of the
bills that have piled up."
Read entire article here.
August 16, 2010 - Chinese Or Russian Groups May Move Into AC Casino Gaming Industry
US gaming companies are cutting their losses when it comes to the Atlantic City
casino gambling industry. The existing casinos have experienced long periods of
revenue decline, and any of the new developers have pulled out of the area after
the economic recession.
Now, one of those developers, Pinnacle Entertainment, is preparing to sell their
land for a dirt cheap price. The former location of the Sands Casino was
purchased by Pinnacle back in 2006 for a whopping $260 million. The plan was to
build a new casino resort that would revive the city.
Instead, the economic recession hit, and Pinnacle was forced to scrap plans for
the new resort. Now all that remains is the land, and Pinnacle is expected to
take a seventy percent loss on the property. The company has not acknowledged
that figure, but there is speculation they want to move quickly.
Read entire article here.
August 15, 2010 - Chesapeake Examining Internet Cafes Offering Online Gambling
Around the US one of the newest forms of online gambling takes place inside of
Internet cafes. The cafes are being used as fronts for owners to run illegal
slot machines and card games on computer screens in the establishments.
Law enforcement officials are not oblivious to the problem. In the past couple
of years, authorities have spent time raiding these Internet cafes for illegal
gambling. In some cases, the court system backed the cafes, while in others the
prosecutors have proven their cases.
Chesapeake, Virginia City Council members had heard the buzz surrounding a
growing number of Internet cafe businesses in the city. Complaints from the
public have caused the Council to take an interest in the goings-on at the
Internet cafes.
Read entire article here.
August 10, 2010 - MICROGAMING LAUNCHES THE LORD OF THE RINGS™: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING ONLINE VIDEO SLOT GAME
First Title to Utilize Proprietary Cinematic Spins™ Technology Allowing Players
to Experience the Film with Every Spin
Isle of Man – Microgaming (www.microgaming.com)
today announced the launch of a new flagship game, The Lord of the Rings: The
Fellowship of the Ring Online Video Slot Game. This slot game is the first to
utilise Microgaming’s new Cinematic Spins™ technology, allowing gamers to see
clips from the films with every spin.
Read all about it here.
August 9, 2010 - Berkley Believes Harry Reid May Support Online Gambling
One of the major steps in passing new online gambling
legislation in the US will ride on the ability to convince Nevada Congressman
and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that it would be beneficial to Nevada.
Reid has opposed online gambling in the past, but some believe that he could be
open to changing his stance.
Senator Reid has opposed Internet gambling in the past because he represents the state of Nevada. Las Vegas is the largest and most lucrative land-based casino area in the US, and for a long time Las Vegas casinos wanted nothing to do with online gambling regulations.
Read entire article here.
Senator Reid has opposed Internet gambling in the past because he represents the state of Nevada. Las Vegas is the largest and most lucrative land-based casino area in the US, and for a long time Las Vegas casinos wanted nothing to do with online gambling regulations.
Read entire article here.
August 9, 2010 - Convicted Scam Artist Permitted To Gamble His Way Out Of Jail
Samuel McMaster Jr. was running the scam of a lifetime. Convincing investors to
put forward money with a guarantee of a large return, McMaster stole almost
$500,000 from investors. After he was finally caught and charged, McMaster
pleaded guilty last week to twenty-six felony charges.
The scam artist was accused by prosecutors of taking a majority of the money he
stole and gambling it away in casinos. McMaster lists his occupation as a
professional poker player and prosecutors have evidence of many ATM withdrawals
that were made at casinos around the country.
Read entire article here.
August 8, 2010 - Ohio Unemployment Rate Will Soon Be Helped By Casino Gambling
Voters in the state of Ohio had turned away casino gambling so many times in the
past that pro-gambling groups had reserved hopes when they brought the issue in
front of Ohio residents last November. The economy, however, proved to be the
needed boost to get gambling approved.
Ohio has been sitting on one of the highest unemployment rates in the country
since the economic recession. Voters expressed their fears of job loss when they
approved four casinos resorts, one each in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and
Toledo.
Read entire article here.
July 28, 2010 - ONLINE GAMBLING REGULATIONS BILL APPROVED BY HOUSE COMMITTEE
In a 41-22-1 vote, the House Financial Services Committee approved a bill
Wednesday that would license and regulate online gambling in the United States.
The decisive vote is a sign of a how far the Democratic Congress has come since
Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) attempted to halt the implementation
of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2008. Frank's first attempt
to halt UIGEA implementation failed to get out of Committee on a 32-32 vote. A
second bill which would have allowed UIGEA regulations for sports betting only
passed Committee on a 30-19 to vote, but was never voted on by the full House of
Representatives.
Read entire article here.
July 23, 2010 - Markup of Barney Frank's bill to take place next Tuesday
The House Committee on Financial Services has announced that a markup of Barney Frank’s bill to license and regulate egaming in the US will take place next Tuesday 27 July.
Michael Waxman, spokesperson for lobby group the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, said: “This mark up demonstrates that Congress is serious about moving Chairman Frank’s bill forward and establishing a strict regulatory framework for Internet gambling activity.”
Markup by the subcommittee, involving changes and amendments to the bill following the hearings, precedes the full committee voting on whether to report the bill to the House of Representatives for consideration. If HR 2267 is not acted on by the end of 2010, it will need to be reintroduced in the new Congress in January next year.
Read entire article here.
July 21, 2010 - Online gambling legislation debated in House
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Today,
the House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing to discuss the Internet
Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2267). The
legislation, introduced by Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA), would regulate Internet
gambling activity in the U.S. and require licensed operators to put in place
safeguards to protect against underage and problem gambling.
"With the recent passage of financial reform legislation, it's great to see the
Financial Services Committee now with the opportunity to focus its attention on
other issues such as Internet gambling regulation", said Michael Waxman,
spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative. "Today's
hearing demonstrates that regulating Internet gambling remains a top priority
for Chairman Frank. We're optimistic that this hearing will give the Committee
the final push it needs to schedule a vote on the bill."
Read entire article here.
July 21, 2010 - Canada breaks the governmental online gambling seal
Well, we knew it would come eventually and it’s hugely satisfying for me that it is the Canadian province of British Columbia that is first out the gate to compete in the lucrative online gaming industry. This is especially satisfying after having to read a certain windbag’s vitriolic anti-online gaming rants in the Vancouver Sun the last few years. This ranter is notably conspicuous by his silence now, though. His employer has it on page one of today’s Vancouver Sun that B.C. is the first government in North America to have a full channel (minus poker for now) online gaming web site up. For you Americans reading this, yes, there is sports betting, too… Why would there not be? This is both good and bad news.
Read entire article here.
July 21, 2010 - Privacy Breach at new online casino PlayNow.com
The head of the B.C. Lottery Corporation is defending a decision
to wait five days before telling the public about a significant privacy breach
involving its new online casino PlayNow.com.
The new casino and sports betting website was launched Thursday morning to great
fanfare, but shortly afterward the site was shut down.
It was later revealed that some gamblers had seen the personal information of
others on the site, including the names, contact information and, in some cases,
credit card and bank information.
Read entire article here.
July 19, 2010 - Israel to Block Overseas eGaming Websites
Israeli police have ordered internet service providers in the country to block
access to overseas egaming websites.
Sites on the banned list of website and IP addresses are understood to include
Victor Chandler’s VCBet-branded casino and sportsbook.
The move follows the arrest of 28 people three weeks ago in connection with
distributing prepaid cards in the country for play on sites belonging to Victor
Chandler and Stan James.
Read entire article here.
July 14, 2010 - Massachusetts Governor Calls For Gambling Compromise Between House And Senate
Governor Duval Patrick began his quest to bring casino resorts to Massachusetts
several years ago, but his vision has never been closer to reality than now. On
Tuesday, Patrick drove that point home and insisted that lawmakers start working
together to finish gambling legislation.
The House and the Senate have both passed different versions of gambling
legislation, but since negotiations have begun, the two chambers have not made
many strides in compromising. The governor scolded House and Senate lawmakers in
his assessment of the negotiations.
Read entire article here.
July 13, 2010 - "Unworkable" Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, Claims Rep. Berkley
Representative Shelley Berkley did not like the idea of the Unlawful Internet
Gambling Enforcement Act from the time even before its inception. Rep. Berkley
opposed the UIGEA, and now is one of the leading legislators looking to have the
law overturned.
Berkley has referred to the law as the "Unworkable" Internet Gambling
Enforcement Act because of the burden it places on financial institutions. The
importance of Berkley to the law changes in the state she is from, Nevada. The
state that has the largest casino gambling industry in the US has had lawmakers
hesitant to endorse online gambling.
Read entire article here.
July 11, 2010 - Canadian Online Gambling Committee To Prove Industry Can Be Regulated
Online gambling has recently been legalized in Quebec, with the province
deciding to regulate and govern the games. The provincial government has created
a committee of five officials to monitor the launch of Loto Quebec’s new
Internet gambling website.
In the upcoming months, Loto Quebec will launch their online gambling site that
will initially offer a regulated and taxed form of online poker, set to
capitalize off of the already burgeoning online poker industry.
Read entire article here.
July 9, 2010 - Flash makeover for five Slotland.com games
Innovative online slots and video poker site Slotland.com has
announced that five of its 15 one-of-a-kind games are now available in an
enriched instant-play Flash-based format featuring enhanced sound effects and
graphics.
Slotland.com revealed that its Jacks Or Better, Reel Riot, Treasure Box,
Golden 8 and Wild Heart online video slot games have undergone a makeover while
new and improved versions of its remaining titles are to be launched over the
coming months.
Read entire article here.
July 9, 2010 - WSOP Main Event Update: Gamblers Come Out In Force
The 2010
World series of Poker has
been building towards the main event, and on Thursday, the final numbers were in
for this year's tourney. Over 7,300 gamblers entered the main event, making it
the second largest tournament ever.
In 2006, the WSOP main
event attracted more players than the 7,319 that entered this week. The prize
pool is also the second largest, with the first place winner taking home
$8,944,138 this year. The total prize pool has $68,798,600.
Read entire article here.
July 1, 2010 - NEW MICROGAMING VIDEO SLOTS COMING IN JULY
July 1, 2010 - New Jersey Gaming Commission Against Implementing Online Casinos
In
total, there are 11 casinos in the United States second-largest gaming industry
in Atlantic City, New Jersey. While the industry in Atlantic City continues to
struggle, the casinos wage another battle against Internet gambling that they
have taken on in the recent weeks.
The Casino Association of New Jersey has recently come out saying that they
would be against the set up of legal online gambling through their casinos,
eluding to the fact that it would violate laws in place on the federal level
disallowing online sports betting and gambling.
Read entire article here.
June 29, 2010 - Vote on California online gambling bill delayed
State Sen. Roderick Wright, who chairs the Governmental Organization Committee in the California Senate, elected not to have his committee vote today on a bill that would create a licensing and regulatory structure for online gambling in California. Instead, Wright updated the Governmental Organization Committee on the progress of his bill, and why California needs to license and regulate online gambling.
Read entire article here.
June 28, 2010 - Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Torn Over Gambling Debate
Over the last year the gambling scene in Alabama has been suffering due to raids against the bingo halls in the state. Governor Bob Riley’s task force on illegal gambling has been operating with him at the helm, but his tenure in office is set to expire. Along with Riley could go the task force, but gambling is set to be one of the hot topics in the debate for the succeeding governor.
According to reports, two candidates of the gubernatorial candidates running on the Republican ballot are toting differing opinions over gambling in the state. Robert Bentley and Bradley Byrne both have their own opinions on how the issue should be handled.
Read entire article here.
June 21, 2010 - North Carolina Aiming To Close Loopholes In Gambling Laws
While some states are exploring gambling expansion, others are attempting to keep the industry to a minimum. One such state that has been attacking one form of gambling or another is that of North Carolina.
In 2006, the North Carolina legislature banned video poker gambling terminals. A judge had, however, made it so two models of Internet sweepstakes machines would remain legal by putting forth an injunction that would block law enforcement officials from seizing said models. The state senate is now considering a new piece of legislation that would ban these gambling machines entirely.
Read entire article here.
June 14, 2010 - Cyprus and Denmark Online Gambling Laws
The online gambling legislation's in Cyprus and Denmark, which were ironically moving in different directions, have been temporarily slowed down.
In Cyprus online gambling has been allowed under the Betting Law since 2007, which was amended to make it compliant with European Union (EU) regulations. However the Cyprus government lawmakers want to amend the law again and delete online gambling from the permissible betting services. Ionas Nicolaou, chairman of the House Legal Affairs Committee, told the Cyprus Mail that the parliamentary discussions on the pros and cons of amending the law had to be stopped when it was pointed out that a full public consultation had not taken place.
Read entire article here.
June 14, 2010 - Clever Duck Media to host "Women in Gaming Conference"
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Clever Duck Media has announced that it will
hold the "Women in Gaming Conference" (WIG) on 24 September 2010 at the
Millennium Hotel in London. The one-day conference includes marketing and social
media discussions and issues relevant to the gaming industry.
The WiG event will give attendees an opportunity to network with other female
professionals in the industry, listen to and share successful stories, business
expertise and ideas.
Read entire article here.
June 11, 2010 - 32Red launches new casino Web site
GIBRALTAR -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- 32Red
Online Casino has
recently launched its new and improved online casino, giving its customers
access to over 450 of the very best casino games in a new and improved format.
The new website has been designed to bring out 32Red's
core values of excellent and personal service along with complete transparency;
the hallmarks of a true connoisseur's casino.
Improvements include a more distinctive and glamorous look, a clutter-free feel,
and more focus on messaging to players and providing information for prospective
players.
Read entire article here.
June 8, 2010 - WSOP to hold playoff for final TOC seat
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The World Series of Poker Academy, the exclusive educational provider for the World Series of Poker, announced today that they were awarded the final sponsor exemption seat for the 2010 WSOP Tournament of Champions. The WSOP Academy will hold a single table "sudden-death playoff" tournament for nine players who were not eligible for the public voting to fill the final seat. Tom "Durr" Dwan, Andy Bloch, Bertrand "ElKy" Grospellier, Gus Hanson, actor Don Cheadle, Sorel Mizzi, Michael Mizrachi, Liv Boeree and Paul Wasicka will battle it out to play poker in the WSOP Tournament of Champions All-Star event and a chance at the $1 million prize pool. The WSOP Academy tournament will be held on June 10th at 12:00 PST.
Read entire article here.
June 4, 2010 - New Jersey Online Bill Clears Senate Committee
In February Joe Brennan, Chairman of iMEGA had predicted that New Jersey will have legalized online gambling by the end of 2010. Now it appears that the prediction may well come true. The New Jersey Senate Wagering and Tourism committee cleared a bill that would allow legalized online poker and casino gambling within the state. This was the first such bill to be passed by any Senate or House committee at either state or federal level. The pace at which New Jersey is moving can be seen from the fact that this bill was introduced in the Senate only in January 2010.
Read entire article here.
June 4, 2010 - Online Gambling Regulations Battle Brewing Between States And Feds
Representative Barney Frank is looking out for millions of online gamblers when
he begins his push for regulated Internet gambling in the US in the coming
months. One group, however, is strongly opposed to Frank's legislative proposal.
Attorney general's around the US, by a large majority, are not in favor of any
regulation on a federal level of online gambling. The reason? If the federal
government licenses companies to offer US residents online gambling options,
individual states may not be able to stop the action.
Read entire article here.
June 1, 2010 - Anti-Online Gambling Law Goes into Effect Today, But Changes to Industry Are Unlikely
June 1, 2010 (CAP News Wire) – After
months of debate and delays, the day has finally arrived: In the United States,
the UIGEA (2006’s Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) officially goes
into effect today.
But does that mean anything to the online gambling and Internet poker industries
— which weren’t previously, and currently still technically aren’t — operating
illegally? Nobody really knows for sure what’ll happen today, but plenty of
people are speculating. “This speculation ranges from no major impact at all to
a complete lockdown of US accounts,” FlopTurnRiver.com explains.
Read entire article here.
June 1, 2010 - California introduces long-awaited internet poker bill
California has introduced its long-awaited bill authorizing the creation of an
intrastate online poker system.
Senator Rod Wright, leader of the Senate Committee with oversight for gambling,
introduced the amended version of SB 1485 late on Friday. The bill proposes the
state's Department of Justice award up to three five-year contracts to
California-based operators to run online poker websites for state residents.
The bill, to be discussed by the US panel at this month's EGR Live event by key
figures behind the intrastate initiatives in California, New Jersey and Florida,
has been designated as an urgency measure. This means it would go into effect
immediately upon legislative passage and signature by the Governor. A
non-urgency measure would not go into effect until 1 January 2011.
Read entire article here.
May 28, 2010 - WSOP offering more low buy-in events
LAS
VEGAS, Nevada -- If attendance at last year's special $1,000 buy-in no limit
hold 'em event was any indication, the folks running the World Series of Poker
may be on to something.
Tournament officials added the event to boost attendance and give low-limit
players a chance to compete for a championship bracelet.
The result was a whopping 6,012 entries packing the Rio that earned 24-year-old
Southern California poker professional Steven Sung a champions' bracelet and a
paycheck of $771,106. The field was the largest non-main event field in the
tournament's 40-year history.
Read entire article here.
May 28, 2010 - UIGEA Deadline On The Horizon, Online Gamblers Skeptical Over Potency
While many of us will be paying our rents and mortgages on June 1st, an event of significant importance is also set to take place in the world of online gambling – the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
In a nut shell, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, or the UIGEA, states that no financial institution, a bank or otherwise, may process the payments of funds into online gambling sites. The UIGEA would enforce punishments against those institutions who would ignore this legislation, while the player would be exempt from any legal action.
Read entire article here.
May 26, 2010 - A Makeover for eCOGRA Website
eCOGRA has been serving the online gaming industry for the last seven years. Its web site has been a focal point in informing players and various service providers to the industry of the latest policies and achievements of eCOGRA. As the industry has grown so has the role of eCOGRA. In order to keep in touch with this growth eCOGRA has released a revamped website. This is the second time in its history that the eCOGRA web site has received a makeover.
Read entire article here.
May 25, 2010 - Phishing Scam Uses Neteller Name
Neteller is one of the oldest and most reputed online payment solutions in the Internet gaming industry. Its credentials are impeccable and its integrity unquestioned. Yet some, as yet unidentified, persons have recently been using the Neteller name in order to extract sensitive financial information. Neteller's reputation remains untarnished, but this episode comes as a warning to online players who may be casual in divulging information they should not.
Read entire article here.
May 19, 2010 - INTERNET GAMBLING DEPOSIT TAX A BONE OF CONTENTION IN WAYS AND MEANS HEARING
This morning, the House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing on the taxation of Internet gambling proposed by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) in the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act of 2010. McDermott introduced the bill as a companion to a bill sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, which would regulate the industry in the United States.
Read entire article here.
May 19, 2010 - Betware to licence Microgaming games to state lotteries
Betware has signed an agreement with online gaming software provider Microgaming under which Betware will be licensed to sell and market Microgaming’s suite of online casino games to state and national lotteries.
Under the agreement, Betware will supplement its suite of lotto, instants, sports betting, bingo, racing, skill and casual and multi-player games with over 85 online casino games from Microgaming.
“We are very proud and excited to be licensed to sell and market Microgaming’s casino games to growing markets,” said Stefán Hrafnkelsson, CEO of Betware. “This agreement significantly expands our product offering, and provides our customers with a great opportunity to leverage on the fantastic success of the Microgaming brand. Ultimately we believe that this venture will not only be beneficial for the state lotteries we service, but for both ourselves and Microgaming too.”
Betware has 14 years experience in providing Internet solutions for state and
national lotteries and currently offers a turnkey solution, gaming platform and
a large portfolio of games to customers including Denmark’s Danske Spil,
Canada’s British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Spain’s Sistemas Tecnicos de
Loterias del Estado, and Iceland’s Islenskar Getraunir and Islensk Getspa.
“We are delighted to be able to license our casino games to Betware, which is
truly a market leader in its field,” said Microgaming CEO Roger Raatgever.
“Betware’s long history in gaming combined with its extensive lottery network
will be beneficial in pushing the Microgaming brand into exciting new
territories and markets. We look forward to a long and successful working
relationship.”
Betware recorded a strong performance in 2009, posting a net profit of ISK181m
(€1.1m) as a result of a 50 per cent increase in revenues to ISK1,230m (€7.6m).
May 16, 2010 - Microgaming USA Pullout
It looks like Microgaming are set to pullout of the USA altogether on the 1st June 2010. Playshare Partners who look after Casinoshare and Grand Mondial online casinos announced this week that they are migrating US casino players to “new” software ahead of the 1st June. This ties in with rumours circulating at the London and Amsterdam industry conferences earlier in 2010 that Microgaming will be pulling out of the USA when the UIGEA enforcement date kicks in. Which is also (un)coincidentally now set to happen on the 1st June, 2010.
Read all about it here.
May 17, 2010 - CasinoShare US, launches on the 17th of May, 2010
May 14, 2010 - BREAKING NEWS! Microgaming Casinos Change Software For USA Players!
As of the 1st of June, 2010, play for US players on CasinoShare and Grand Mondial will be moved off the Microgaming platform and we will begin licensing software from a brand new software provider. The new software will have a similar look and feel, stability and most of the features you have become accustomed to, but with some notable changes. This change has been made in order to ensure that we are able to continue offering safety, service and exciting gaming to all our customers.
Read all about it here.
May 5, 2010 - US Federal I-Gambling Lobbying Spend Exceeds $5M in Q1 2010
Saint Louis, MO (PRWEB) May 5, 2010 -- Thirty-six
different parties spent a combined estimated $5.16 million lobbying Internet
gambling in Washington, D.C. during the first quarter of 2010, according to a
new report from BolaVerde Media Group (BVMG). The leader of the pack, Harrah’s
Entertainment Inc, spent an estimated $1.22 million during this period,
increasing its lobbying spend 73 percent from the fourth quarter of 2009.
The top five was rounded out by the Poker
Players Alliance at
$785,000, UC Group at $717,239, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC) at $664,442
and the Interactive
Gaming Council at
$412,580.
Read entire article here
May 5, 2010 - Paddy Power teams with Unica for analytics
EGHAM, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Unica
Corporation (Nasdaq: UNCA), the recognised leader in marketing software
solutions, today announced that Paddy
Power,
one of the UK's largest gaming companies and the largest in Ireland, has
selected Unica's next-generation web analytics solution, NetInsight OnDemand, to
provide advanced player-level web analytics and optimise its online customer
experience.
Paddy Power encompasses a broad range of online offerings—from sports betting to
online poker, financial spread betting, lotteries, and more. Unica's web
analytics solution will be rolled out across the entire web property, enabling
Paddy Power to measure site performance and tailor the site to better meet the
needs of its customers.
Read entire article here.
April 26, 2010 - Representatives see treasure trove of cash in taxing online gambling services
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, passed in 2006 and going into
effect June 1, will prohibit financial institutions from transferring funds to
any illegal Internet gambling site (this does not include fantasy sports, online
lotteries, and horse/harness racing sites).
A group of House leaders, however, led by representatives Barney Frank (D-Mass.)
and Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), are seeking to repeal the act so as to legalize and
tax the online gaming industry. Besides stating that American adults believe
they should have the right to do what they want with their own money, including
gamble, the representatives argue that state governments could benefit immensely
from taxes generated from the online games.
Read entire article here.
April 21, 2010 - Senator Encourages Support For Online Casinos on Facebook
New Jersey Senator Raymond Lesniak has launched a new campaign aimed at getting
fans of online casinos and gambling to register their support on social
networking website Facebook.
The popular Democrat recently introduced new legislation in the state which
would allow residents to play table games such as poker, blackjack and baccarat
online at 4NJBets.com and also sponsored a separate bill to encourage a vote to
amend the current constitution in a bid to allow sportsbetting in Atlantic City
casinos.
Read entire article here.
April 21, 2010 - Poker Players Lose Lawsuit Against Casinos
Two poker players from Los Angeles have failed in their attempt to sue 5 local
casinos after they claimed the casino’s bad beat jackpot games weren’t being
offered as no-purchase-necessary, something which state law requires them to do.
Casinos in the Los Angeles area typically take a $1 fee from each pot in order
to compensate the bad beat jackpot, which pays out a prize amount if any players
have four of a kind beaten by a royal flush in a hand of Hold’em.
Read entire article here.
April 20, 2010 - Regulated online gambling industry would employ thousands and raise billions in U.S.
Licensing and regulating the online gambling industry in the
United States would create 32,000 jobs and generate $57.5 billion in tax
revenues over the next five years, according to a study released by H2 Gambling
Capital Tuesday.
The study bolsters the case of Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), the Chairman of the
House Financial Services Committee, whose Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer
Protection, and Enforcement Act (HR 2267) looks to establish a regulatory
framework for Internet gambling in the United States.
Read entire article here.
April 15, 2010 - Hearing For Online Gambling Regulation Bill Postponed
Representative Barney Frank has been pushing to overturn the Unlawful Internet
Gambling Enforcement Act since it was created back in 2006. Now, Frank will have
to wait a little longer as his House Financial Committee has postponed a hearing
set for Friday to a later, undetermined date.
At the hearing Friday, the House Committee was set to discuss two pieces of
legislation proposed by Chairman Frank. HR 2266, the Reasonable Prudence in
Regulation Act and HR 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer
Protection, and Enforcement Act both pertain to online gambling.
Read entire article here.
April 13, 2010 - Hearing For Online Gambling Regulation Bill Postponed
Representative Barney Frank has been pushing to overturn the Unlawful Internet
Gambling Enforcement Act since it was created back in 2006. Now, Frank will have
to wait a little longer as his House Financial Committee has postponed a hearing
set for Friday to a later, undetermined date.
At the hearing Friday, the House Committee was set to discuss two pieces of
legislation proposed by Chairman Frank. HR 2266, the Reasonable Prudence in
Regulation Act and HR 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer
Protection, and Enforcement Act both pertain to online gambling.
Read entire article here.
April 12, 2010 - Hearing on Internet gambling to be held Friday
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- On Friday, April 16, the House Committee on Financial Services will discuss the expected challenges from enforcement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) – a law that seeks to prohibit some forms of online gambling activity while permitting others. Previously, representatives of the financial services sector, as well as of the Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve System, expressed concern to Congress that UIGEA is ambiguous, burdensome for banks and financial institutions and unlikely to achieve its main objective, stopping Americans from gambling online. Two pending bills introduced by House Committee on Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA), the Reasonable Prudence in Regulation Act (H.R 2266) and Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2009 (H.R. 2267), seek to delay implementation of UIGEA for one year or replace it with a regulatory and enforcement framework for licensed gambling operators to accept bets and wagers from individuals in the U.S. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 am in Room 2128 of the Rayburn House Office Building
Read entire article here.
April 9, 2010 - Kahnawake Gaming Commission Suspends Grandprive Casino License
4/8/10 - The Grand Prive online casino group's woes seem to keep mounting.
Following a bitter two year war with disgruntled affiliates and an abrupt move
over the holiday weekend to a new software provider the beleaguered casino group
has now had its Kahnawake licence suspended.
In an advisory notice dated April 6th, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission advises:
"The Kahnawake Gaming Commission advises that it has suspended the Client
Provider Authorization ("CPA") held by Maricass International Holdings Inc. ("Maricass").
The suspension is effective immediately and affects the following sites
(sometimes known as the "Grand Prive group"):
Read entire article here.
April 9,2010 - Ladbrokescasino.com, have today doled out a bank breaking £10,000 in free cash to lucky Londoners
Ladbrokescasino.com,
have today doled out a bank breaking £10,000 in free cash to lucky Londoners.
Lady luck shined on three central London locations with the creation of the UK’s
first human cash machine, operated by sexy cashier and lad’s mag favourite, Lucy
Pinder. Those shocked commuters that located the life sized cash machine at
London Eye, London Bridge and Tottenham Court Road during the morning rush hour
bagged themselves the free cash.
Read entire article here.
April 3, 2010 - GRANDPRIVE LEAVES MICROGAMING IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT & DOWNGRADE TO BETONSOFT
News update this group of casinos have abandoned Microgaming in the middle of the night without notice and switch to a new software(speculation is they own this themselves) called BetonSoft, which is a cheesy low class software.
Read all about it here.
Apri 2, 2010 - Player wins $134,385 playing the Genie-themed “Magic” slot machine at Slotland.com
Even when you're no stranger to the Winner's Circle, winning a six-figure online casino jackpot is still quite a thrill. A player known as SURFSIDESID won $134,385 playing the Genie-themed “Magic” slot machine at Slotland.com the other day. Although he's won jackpots of up to $10K in the past, even he was taken aback when he suddenly hit such a massive jackpot.
Read entire article here.
March 24, 2010 - Ladbrokes Casino player celebrates €310,000 win
The award-winning Ladbrokes
Casino is
today celebrating after one of its customers scooped a staggering €310,055.59
(£279,174.05) on the progressive
slot Major
Millions - one of Microgamings progressive games. ‘Artur M’ clinched the massive
jackpot, having staked just €18 – meaning he multiplied his initial stake 17,253
times!
Speaking about his win, Artur M said:
“The jackpot came from heaven. I couldn’t believe it when it appeared. My game
plan was to only go after the big jackpots. I’m so glad I did! I think I’m going
to buy an apartment and a brand new car. “
Read entire article here.
March 23, 2010 - Bodog Casino Launches 20+ New Free Online Casino Games
In the world of online gaming there is one online
casino that
stands out as the best of the best - it just so happens that now it’s getting
even better. Bodog Casino (and online
poker)
is pleased to announce the launching of over 20 new free
online casino games (along
with their great RTG slots)
for you to play, win and love.
Online slots fans will be delighted to hear that there is a tasty new
fruit-flavored online slots game that
is both colorful and captivating. With Freaky Fruits, you can play five reels
with up to 20 lines and you win by combining the same fruit symbols with each
other.
Read entire article here.
March 16, 2010 - Ladbrokes Joins Microgaming Network with 1Click
Microgaming,
one of the leading online gaming software companies, has added yet another poker
room into their family fold: Ladbrokes. They will join Betway,
BetOnBet, Eurolinx, GNUF,
and Unibet amongst others on the mighty Microgaming Network so says the latest
press release.
According to PokerScout.com, the Microgaming Network is the 12th largest with a
seven day running average of 1,180 cash players. During a seven day cycle, their
peak average of players is nearly 2,400. That's no small pocket change to
Ladbroke's who already has their own fiercely loyal following but is always
seeks out new and innovative ways to keep their brand name protected and bring
in new players.
Read entire article here.
March 15, 2010 -Poll Shows Online Gambling Myths Outweigh Truth
A poll conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University shows that two-thirds of the population believes the law shouldn't be changed to allow legal online gambling. This means that at least all those who responded that way think there's already a law in place that makes Internet gaming illegal., while in fact no such law exists.
Read entire article here.
March 15, 2010 - SlotoCash.com focuses on lucky numbers
Rival-powered online casino SlotoCash.com has
announced the launch of a numerology column that will focus on posting potential
lucky numbers for players at the site.
The Curacao-licensed online casino stated that, with this new information,
players will be able to ‘decide on their numbers and maybe use those for their
bet’.
“Many players who are regulars at an online casino have their own strategies and
superstitions that they rely upon to help them win,” read a statement from SlotoCash.com.
Read entire article here.
March 12, 2010 - Nevada Moves to Regulate Land Casino Ties to Online Gambling
Reports are circulating that the Nevada Gaming Control Board is considering rules to impose on casino operators in the state vis-a-vis their relationship to online gambling sites. According to GamingWire, board members want to establish policies for licensees who previously were not restricted in their overseas Internet gaming ventures.
Read entire article here.
March 11, 2010 - Tribal Gaming Groups Lobby Against Frank Online Gambling Bill
While there has been much coverage of the evangelical religious organizations and sports leagues opposing Barney Frank's proposal to regulate online gambling, other special interests working hard to block the opening of the US gaming market have received less coverage. Among the well-heeled foes of Internet casinos are many of the nation's tribal casinos, who are looking to maintain their near-monopoly on gambling in my regions.
Read entire article here.
March 2, 2010 - Florida Bill Proposes Intrastate Online Gambling
A bill
introduced to the Florida legislature Friday would legalize intrastate online
gambling and regulate it through the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering. State
Representative Joseph Abruzzo authored the Internet Poker Consumer Protection
and Revenue Generation Act of 2010.
If the bill passes, it would create a position as Internet hub operator, which
would administer online poker rooms connecting players residing in Florida.
Players would register accounts at affiliated card rooms, which would be
responsible for providing patrons to the Internet gaming operator.
Read entire article here.
February 26, 2010 - Nevada gaming industry says no to higher taxes
CARSON CITY, Nevada -- The Nevada gaming industry refused Thursday to pay higher taxes or fees to help balance the state budget, a just-say-no stance that could derail Democratic plans to raise enough extra revenue to avoid deep cuts to education and social services.
In public, the Senate and Assembly on Day 3 moved ahead in a rush to adjourn the special session this weekend if possible.
Read entire article here.
February 22, 2010 - First-Time NordicBet Player Hits €1,000,000 Jackpot!
NordicBet confirms
that a new customer, playing his first day, has won a €1,008,232.22 jackpot on
the Arabian Nights progressive
slot game,
the largest single win to date in the NordicBet casino.
The winner, Claes from Stockholm, had registered and played several rounds at
the maximum bet on Thursday before hitting the record win at 20:55, according to Net
Entertainment,
the Swedish-based software company that operates the Arabian Nights online slot
game.
Read entire article here.
February 15, 2010 - eCOGRA releases report on Grand Privé investigation
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Following a number of Internet-based allegations concerning the closure of the Grand Privé Affiliate Program ('the Program') on 1 December 2008, eCOGRA's Compliance and Advisory Services department was engaged by the management of the company on 17 November 2009.
Read entire article here.
February 15, 2010- Playtech purchases Virtue Fusion Limited
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Playtech Ltd, the leading software provider to the online, mobile, TV and land based gaming sector, today announces it has acquired the business and assets of Virtue Fusion, the leading developer and licensor of online bingo products.
Read entire article here.
February 15,2010 - Parlay Games launching new games with WagerWorks
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- WagerWorks, the leading provider of online, mobile and iDTV game content, announces the supply of online premium branded content to European content and managed services provider, Parlay Games Limited.
Parlay will leverage premier WagerWorks games via WagerWorks rgs® which allows a seamless integration with Parlay's managed service and remote gaming solution, Parlay Game Services.
Read entire article here.
February 12,2010 - Star Partner receives eCOGRA accrediation
(PRESS RELEASE) -- The latest major affiliate program to achieve the eCOGRA Affiliate Trust seal accreditation is Star Partner, a program that administers the affiliate marketing affairs of fourteen well established, tier one online gambling destinations.
Announcing the accreditation after an extensive inspection and monitoring process, eCOGRA chief executive Andrew Beveridge said that to display the Affiliate Trust seal, affiliate programs must demonstrate that their program establishes, enforces and monitors best practice standards.
Read entire article here.
February 9, 2010 - Online payment processing group establishes U.S. office
WILSON, Connecticut -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Anticipating the passage of federal legislation to regulate online gambling, U.K.-based UC Group Ltd., an advocate for regulating Internet gambling in the U.S. and a leading provider of online payment processing services announced today the launch of its U.S. subsidiary, SecureTrading Inc., to allow licensed companies to serve the U.S. market once the marketplace is regulated. The company is poised to provide a complete suite of services that ensure safe financial transactions and required consumer protections. Leading SecureTrading Inc.'s U.S. operations are three former senior executives from MasterCard Inc. (NYSE:MA): Chris Thom, Ted Friedman and T.J. Sharkey who joined as Chairman, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Customer Sales and Support, respectively.
Read entire article here.
February 3, 2010 - MICROGAMING ANNOUNCES LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH WARNER BROS. DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION FOR THE LORD OF THE RINGS MOVIE TRILOGY
ISLE OF MAN : Microgaminng (
Microgaming - Together we are the game), the world’s largest provider of online gaming software, has announced that it has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, to create a series of cutting-edge, graphic rich video slots, based on the popular The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, for internet gaming to adults in countries where online gaming is permitted. The agreement gives Microgaming permission to develop online video slot games using animation material, themes and characters from the motion pictures The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.Read entire article here.
February 1, 2010 - Hit Or Run with PartyPoker.com
With its popular Cash Machine promotion now at an end, leading
online poker room PartyPoker.com has launched a new offer for February giving
players the chance to take home over $10,000 every day.
The new Hit Or Run promotion from the Gibraltar-licensed site is offering
players another way to use their PartyPoints with a maximum prize of $10,024
available each day until February 28.
Read entire article here.
February 1,2010- Sega signs up for Neteller
Players at new online casinos SegaPoker.com and SegaCasino.com
will now be able to use the Neteller e-wallet from Neovia Financial to safely
and quickly deposit and withdraw funds.
Isle of Man-based Neovia signed a deal with operator Sega Games Limited last
week during the International Gaming Expo (IGE) that will see the two sites now
accept transactions from the Neteller e-wallet.
Read entire article here.
February 1, 2010 - Playtech launches platform for mobile gaming
ISLE OF MAN -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Playtech, the world's largest publicly traded online gaming software supplier, is pleased to announce its new playing platform for Mobile gaming. The new Mobile Web Apps is the latest cross-platform solution from Playtech, allowing players to continue playing their favourite online casino games on the go, dispensing with the need to download first.
Read entire article here.
January 26,2010 - Virgin Games sign partnership agreement with Playtech
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Playtech, the international designer, developer and licensor of software for the online, mobile and land-based gaming industry, today announces that has signed a partnership agreement with Virgin Games, a leading UK gaming operator.
Under the agreement, Playtech's soft gaming solutions developer, Gaming Technology Solutions Limited (GTS), acquired in December 2009, have licensed their software platform EdGE to Virgin and will also deliver a brand new selection of game products, adding further variety to Virgin's established offering.
Read entire article here.
January 26, 2010 - New live online casino launches in Spain and Greece
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Casinos are known for excitement, unpredictability, skill and risk. Filled with smart suits and sparkling cocktail dresses, gathering around the roulette table and praying for that vital ace in blackjack is one of the most vibrant and enjoyable experiences you can have. Not all of us can get to a casino though - especially not a glamorous one like we wish we could. Thanks to Smart Live Casino Online, however, you can now join in with the fun from your own living room live by TV or online!
Read entire article here.
January 21, 2010 - 32Red Plc acquires Nedplay Casino
Award-winning online casino 32
Red is
today very pleased to announce that Nedplay casino becomes part of the 32Red Plc
group of casinos.
32Red has been licensed and regulated by the Government of Gibraltar since 2002
and listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market since 2005. 32Red was
yesterday declared Casinomeister’s Casino of the Decade, so you can be sure that
you are in safe hands!
Read entire article here.
January 21, 2010 - Harrow based Ladbrokes plans over 30,000 live sporting events
British online and land-based betting giant Ladbrokes has
launched a new version of its online sportsbook and announced plans to stream
over 30,000 live sporting events through it over 2010.
Harrow-based Ladbrokes revealed that it has invested over three million pounds
in securing Internet broadcast rights for a range of sports that, with the
exception of horseracing, will be free to view for registered customers at Ladbrokes.com
Read entire article here.
January 20, 2010 - All Star Slots Wins Meisters Best New Casino of 2009
All Star Slots is the Best New Casino of 2009. They entered the scene in the
beginning of this year in a fetal stage, and birthed itself into a full fledged
Accredited Casino at Casinomeister. The operators are responsive to player needs
and suggestions, and they have truly built a casino that is tuned into what
players expect. Professionalism, responsiveness, and fast hassle-free payouts.
Good going Allstarslots -
high fives all around.
January 20, 2010 - Meisters Best And Worst Of 2009
What a year! - Casinomeister trudged forward into its second decade of jungle warfare online casino style. Whacking the overgrowth of spammers, crappy software, freaky players, affiliate meltdowns, and roguish operations with my cyber machete... and then resting under the lush canopy of good casino operations, solid games, and a wild mesh of entertaining and fun players, I am finally able to review the events 2009. This year proved once again that this is one of the most bizarre and engaging businesses to be in. Never a month goes by that we aren't baffled by an idiot spam dweeb, challenged by a player complaint, amused by a newbie operator, or amazed at a really good win...
Read entire article here.
January 18, 2010 - Internet Poker Coming to New Jersey?
New Jersey state Sen. Raymond Lesniak has introduced legislation that would
bring intrastate Internet poker to New Jersey through Atlantic City casinos.
The landmark legislation, identified as New Jersey Senate Bill 490, is the first
intrastate Internet gambling bill to be introduced in the U.S. Proposed
California legislation to be discussed next month does not have a legislative
sponsor.
This could be the beginning of the movement to license and regulate Internet
poker on the state level, especially if the bill succeeds in New Jersey.
Read entire article here.
January 12, 2010 - Casino Rewards rejects Microgaming upgrade
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- A
planned upgrade by game software provider Microgaming has been rejected by
CasinoRewards.com in an effort to maintain the best user experience across its
19 online casino brands.
The Microgaming upgrade aims to enhance game-play by increasing screen
resolution, but instead has led to negative player feedback due to increased
load times and distortion.
Read entire article here.
January 12, 2010 - 32Red Online Casino summons Hellboy
(PRESS RELEASE) -- The
award-winning 32Red Online Casino launches Hellboy - an online slot based on the
acclaimed comic and films of the same name.
32Red online Microgaming casino
is poised to launch a slot that has been dubbed as groundbreaking this January,
in an announcement made by the Gibraltar-based online gaming operator today.
Read entire article here.
January 12, 2010 - Casino Coins holding $100k monthly tournament
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Casino
Coins' partners are kicking off the New Year with another $100k monthly
tournament.
Cool Winnings is running all through January 2010 till 12:01am on Feb 1st with a
guaranteed prize pool of $100,000.
The tournament game is Winter Wonderland, one of Vegas Technology's most popular
5 reel bonus slots every winter season. Entry is $10 with unlimited rebuys. 1st
prize walks away with $50,000! Tournament banners are ready in the Marketing
Tools section.
Read entire article here.
January 12, 2010 - Net Entertainment releases download CasinoModule
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Net
Entertainment is
pleased to reveal the release of a download version of the award winning
CasinoModule™. Nordicbet,
one of Net Entertainment's oldest customers and a successful, well recognized
operator, was first out to deploy the solution just before the Christmas break.
Download CasinoModule™ allows operators to target markets with low bandwidth
connectivity but equally to meet the demands of players that prefer to have the
casino application installed. The download casino is an extension of the well
proven browser-based CasinoModule™ featuring a full suite of casino games.
Read entire article here.
January 12, 2010 - Bet365 Offers Range of Slot Games
(PRESS RELEASE) -- bet365 Casino's
(a popular Playtech Casino)
unbeatable range of Slot Games continues to grow, with the latest additions
being a series of exciting Slots based on popular Marvel characters. Among these
new releases is X-Men, a thrilling 25-line Slot which brings your favourite
mutant superheroes to life with impressive graphics.
Fantastic Four is another of the brand new Marvel-themed Slots offered by
bet365. You'll have a fantastic time playing this 20-line Slot Game, which
features all of the main characters from the popular film and offers some great
Free Game features.
Read entire article here.
January 11, 2010 - Silverstone launches "Slots Jackpot Casino"
NETHERLANDS, Antilles -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- "Slots
Jackpot Casino"
is the new offering from Silverstone Overseas Limited. In the past, they have
brought us many other great game sites that include; Club
Vegas USA, Paradise
8 Casino and
Vegas Sky
Casino.
Now, with the premier of Slots Jackpot Casino, players can take advantage of
their special introductory offers.
Licensed in Netherlands Antilles and supported by Rival
software,
games can be played in downloadable versions or wagers can be made online,
without a download. Visit Slots Jackpot Casino - there you'll have the
opportunity to enjoy unique slots and over 70 available games."
Read entire article here.
January 11, 2010 - Blackjack Ballroom gets eCogra certification
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Blackjack
Ballroom,
one of the Casino
Rewards Casinos,
has long been a favourite for online gamblers and fans of online casino games.
With much more than just online blackjack, Blackjack Ballroom keeps both new and
veteran players entertained with over 350 video slots, poker, roulette and other
table games.
In April 2008, a newcomer to online casinos hit the Mega Moolah jackpot at
Blackjack Ballroom, netting a record breaking $5.5 million after betting only 50
cents! Klaus E from Finland took advantage of the generous GBPEUR$500
complimentary BlackjackBallroom.com sign up offer to test the waters risk free
for one hour, then went on to become an overnight multi-millionaire courtesy of
a popular video slot.
Read entire article here.
January 6, 2010 - WagerWorks releases new slot game
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- WagerWorks,
(one of which is Virgin
Casino)
the leading provider of online, mobile and idTV game content makes an EPIC start
to 2010 with the release of Treasures of Troy™.
Continuing with the premier game development seen in 2009, WagerWorks is proud
to release yet another online translation of a highly successful IGT land-based
title. Offering a base game of 40-paylines with 5-reels of epic Greek themed
action, Treasures of Troy™ is the second title from WagerWorks to utilise IGT's
ground-breaking MultiWay® feature.
Read entire article here.
January 5, 2010 - Swedish City to Block Online Gambling
Swedish gambling laws are a bit fuzzy when it comes to gambling on the internet. All land-based gambling in the country is currently monopolized by the state-run Svenska Spel, and this company’s reach officially extends to include online gambling as well, but their monopoly online is not strongly enforced. Loose attempts have been made by the Swedish government to keep players from accessing foreign internet gambling sites, but in fact no formal rules have been established, and Swedish players find it easy to gamble online using foreign internet gambling sites.
Read entire article here.
December 22, 2009 - Ladbrokes Add's Poker to it's Italian Site
Italian fans of Texas hold’em will soon have a new domain to enjoy after
Ladbrokes revealed that it will be adding poker to its sportsbetting site at Ladbrokes
It in
the New Year.
The British operator has received a license from regulator Amministrazione
Autonoma Dei Monopoli Di Stato and is set to launch a dedicated Italian poker
service early next month.
Ladbrokes stated that the new service would only be available to Italian players
in accordance with local regulations, which also require all competitions to be
tournaments rather than cash games.
Read entire article here.
December 22, 2009 - World Poker Tour returning to France
LOS ANGELES, California -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- World Poker
Tour® (WPT) is returning to France for one of its premier annual European tour
stops, WPT Grand Prix de Paris at Aviation Club de France. Scheduled for May 8 –
13, 2010*, the €10,000 main event will be filmed for worldwide television
broadcast.
"The Aviation Club de France is delighted to welcome back a WPT event in Paris,"
said Bruno Fitoussi,poker consultant
for Aviation Club de France. "The WPT Grand Prix de Paris is guaranteed to be a
high-class tournament in the highlights of the international poker scene and
will, for sure, attract players from all around the world."
Read entire article here.
December 14, 2009 - NGG First to Launch Net Entertainment's Casino Client
This week Nordic Gaming Group
will launch a unique, new, downloadable casino client for Net Entertainment games, becoming the world's first – and for now only – online gaming company to make such a product available.The client, which will be rolled out on NGG's NordicBet brand under the name NordicBet Download Casino, serves as a convenient, one-click gateway to all Net Entertainment slot games, table games, and video poker. It allows users to create tailored lists of their favorite games as well as a take advantage of premium offers available only via this channel.
Read entire article here.
December 9, 2009 - US Congress Discusses Online Gambling
The wheels are now in motion on efforts to overturn anti-online gambling laws in
the United States, with a congressional committee beginning to hear testimony
last week.
The House Financial Services Committee, which is chaired by online casinos’ best
friend in congress – Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank – heard testimonies
last Thursday from several experts in online security and consumer safety.
One of the experts, WiredSafety director Parry Aftab, told the committee that
the regulation of online gambling was the best solution for protection customer
security.
Barney_Frank“There are a number of technologies used in other industries that
are easily adaptable to online gambling sites,” Aftab said.
Read entire article here.
December 3, 2009 - Study says online gambling regulation effective and attainable
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide, today commended the release of a study by Harvard Professor Malcolm Sparrow showing that the best way to address the risks of Internet gambling is through regulation, not a prohibition. The study, commissioned by Wired Safety, a leading Internet safety non-profit, was released during the House Financial Services Committee hearing on H.R. 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act.
Read entire article here.
November 30,2009 - Obama Administration delays UIGEA implementation
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Department of the Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke today announced agreement to delay for six months, until June 1, 2010, required compliance with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA). The move blocks regulations to implement the legislation which requires the financial services sector to comply with ambiguous and burdensome rules in an attempt to prevent unlawful Internet gambling transactions. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) has scheduled a House Financial Services Committee hearing for December 3 to discuss Internet gambling legislation and the opportunity to effectively regulate the industry.
Read entire article here.
Nov 25,2009 - Frank schedules online gambling hearing for Dec. 3
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) has
scheduled a hearing on Dec. 3 before the House Financial Services Committee to
hear testimony on repealing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and
creating a regulated online gaming industry in the U.S. UIGEA regulations go
into effect on Dec. 1.
Frank, who is chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, will lead the
questioning as witnesses testify for and against the Internet Gambling
Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act (IGRCPEA) and the Reasonable
Prudence Regulation Act (RPRA). Both bills were introduced by Frank earlier this
year.
Read entire article here.
Nov 24, 2009 - Poker Voters of America: Florida report 'great first step'
THE FLORIDA ONLINE POKER REPORT to be presented to the state legislature this month is “a great first step” to legalising the online game within the state and has led to a new strategy at Poker Voters of America (PVA), PVA chief Melanie Brenner has said.
Read entire article here.
Nov 24, 2009 - Paddypowerpoker confirms that the Irish Open will return to the Burlington Hotel
paddypowerpoker.com today confirms that the Irish Open will return to the Burlington Hotel, Dublin for a second time. This 4-star hotel first hosted Europe’s longest running tournament in 2007, and was widely praised by players who appreciated the well-appointed tournament hall and superb location in the heart of Ireland’s capital city.
Read entire article here.
Nov 23, 3009 - Royal Vegas offers help to beginner gamblers
For players that may be new to the online casino scene,
RoyalVegas.eu
has launched a Getting Started page that has been designed to open up the world
of jackpot possibilities in only five steps.
The new Getting Started page is available by clicking a tab located at the top
of the welcome screen with all of the information presented in a
simple-to-follow format allowing for quick completion.
Read entire article here.
Nov 18, 2009 - Fortune Lounge Group offering free gambling
STANMORE, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- As
the New Year approaches, the prospect of starting it off on the right note is a
definite possibility with the Fortune
Lounge Group of
Online Casinos' latest promotion, You Play...We Pay!. As the competition heads
into the half way mark, a total of six lucky players have already each won "Free
Gambling for a Year", with more than 1,000 free credits to be paid out every
single month during the course of 2010.
Read entire article here.
Nov 9, 2009 - Online Gambling Ban Has Failed
Even more than most Americans, I’ve benefited from the freedom and growth of the Internet. Before being elected to Congress, I started several Internet-based companies, held several Internet-related patents, and created hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in shareholder value. Based on my extensive experience, it only makes sense that it is time to scrap the ineffective attempt to ban Internet gambling in the U.S. and, instead, replace it with a regulated environment where adult consumers can elect to place a wager online with assurances that they are protected from fraud and abuse. The expansion of the Internet has spurred dramatic growth of Internet-based international commerce. With a few strokes of the keyboard, we can virtually travel the globe to purchase anything from flowers (where I made my fortune) to stocks. And, for those so inclined, there are sites to play poker or even bingo.
Read entire article here.
Nov 9, 2009 - 7 Sultans offering instant play feature
STANMORE, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) --
7 Sultans Casino offers ample opportunities to enjoy a wide selection of high quality casino games enhanced with unmatched jackpot and bonus rewards. Players can choose playing their preferred casino games through Instant Play or Download Casino; with each variation offering action packed entertainment with interactive features for a top class online casino experience. Players can choose a play mode according to their online gambling needs and preferences, which guarantees the best benefits with added excitement and huge wins. Read entire article here.
LAS VEGAS (AP) - A 21-year-old professional poker player from
Michigan hit a lucky king to cap a nearly impossible comeback at the World
Series of Poker Sunday morning, setting up a showdown with a self-employed
logger for $8.55 million.
Joe Cada dodged elimination several times during the longest no-limit Texas Hold
'em main event final table in history. Cada - who at 123 hands into the session
held just 1 percent of the chips in play - could become the youngest series
champion ever in the finale Monday night.
"Luck always helps," Cada said. "I'll take all the luck I can get."
Nov 6, 2009 - JackpotCity Bingo moves to Microgaming
GIBRALTAR -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- On
Wednesday morning, players at Jackpot City Bingo logged on to an improved online
bingo experience including new games, better chances to win, progressive
jackpots and a strengthened community, all because of the site's upgrade to
Microgaming's industry-leading bingo software.
The move, motivated by player consultation and feedback, allows JackpotCity
Bingo to
offer a host of new benefits, including the latest in progressive online bingo
jackpot games, where the number of balls that can be played increases every few
days, along with the jackpot. JackpotCity Bingo is also moving three of its
popular rooms to a smaller network where less players mean better odds.
Nov 2, 2009 - Pocket Kings wins against Kentucky
Online casino operator Pocket Kings Limited has foiled the American state of
Kentucky’s attempt to seize 141 virtual gambling domain names by winning an
action in the UK’s High Court.
Pocket Kings owns popular site FullTiltPoker.com and initiated court proceedings
in October of last year after registrar SafeNames Limited was ordered by the
American state to turn over the domain.
The highest court in the UK ruled late last month that it would not recognise or
enforce current or future orders to turn over the domains because the Kentucky
action was not enforceable in English law due to its penal and governmental
nature.
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Oct 10, 2009 - Software removes need for Federal Ban on Online Gambling
Software has been
developed that allows individual PCs to be set to block online gambling, meaning
a federal ban to protect children makes less sense than ever.
Existing software, such as OpenDNS, will efficiently block online gambling sites
from individual PCs, an advancement in technology that precludes much of the
argument for a federal prohibition of Internet gaming. Internet experts say the
technologies available, which are in extensive use in Europe, allow parents to
prevent access to online casinos sites as well as other adult offerings, making
the move to use US law to ban Internet gambling the equivalent of using a tank
to kill mosquitoes.
Read entire article here.
Oct 7, 2009 - SC Judge Rules Poker A Game of Skill
WASHINGTON, D.C -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the
leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members
nationwide (nearly 10,000 in South Carolina), today lauded the ruling of a South
Carolina court that confirmed that poker is a game of skill, and thus should not
be considered gambling under the law.
"Poker is not a crime in South Carolina or anywhere else, and we are grateful to
the court for compiling the overwhelming evidence that proves this case and
protects the rights of players," said John Pappas, executive director of the PPA.
"This ruling is fully consistent with the declarations of other judges and
juries across the country that Texas Hold'em is clearly a game of predominant
skill and adults who play should not be criminalized."
Read entire article here.
Sept 24, 2009 - All Slots Casino the First to Release Multi-Player Wheel of Wealth
October 1, 2009 – Kahnawake, QC –
All Slots Online Casino (allslotscasino.com),
a proud member of the Jackpot Factory Group and a leading online slots casino,
is the first Microgaming casino to release Multi-Player Wheel of Wealth Special
Edition, an innovative new slot game offering play in a group environment with
chat capability and a shared bonus feature.
Multi-Player Wheel of Wealth Special Edition brings a social element to online
slots. Players joining the game will enter a room in which up to five others are
playing at the same time. While spinning for payouts and bonus multipliers, the
players will be able to interact, chat and share each other’s winning moments as
the payouts climb.
Read all about it here.
Sept 24, 2009 - Co-sponsor list for HR 2267 now numbers 58
The list of
political co-sponsors for Congressman Barney Frank's attempt to legalise and
regulate online gambling in the United States, HR 2267, continues to grow, with
four new names added this week.
Representatives Lynn C. Woolsey of California, Christopher S. Murphy of
Connecticut, William Lacy Clay of Missouri, and Adam B. Schiff of California are
the latest congressional representatives to give their support to the bill,
which is currently on hold due to pressure of economic legislative requirements
but which Frank wants to re-energise in October, and certainly before the end of
the current session of Congress.
Read entire article here.
Sept 22, 2009 - Senator Wyden wants to use Internet Gambling to fund health care
WASHINTON, D.C. -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- An increased focus on the benefits of Internet gambling regulation are expected as the Senate Finance Committee considers a proposal introduced on Saturday to use Internet gambling revenue to offset the costs of health care reform. The amendment offered by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) would dedicate Internet gambling tax revenue generated through implementation of the currently pending Internet Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2267) to increase low-income subsidies provided through the America's Healthy Future Act of 2009. A PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis shows that collecting taxes on regulated Internet gambling would allow the U.S. to capture up to $62.7 billion over the next decade.
Read entire article here.
Sept 22, 2009 - NordicBet goes iPhone
Swedish mobile games developer Mobenga has announced the launch of a mobile
sportsbook for the iPhone for Norwegian online gaming site NordicBet.com.
Mobenga signed an agreement with NordicBet.com’s parent firm, Nordic Gaming
Group, in late-June to develop the iPhone-specific service, which includes a
mobile lobby alongside betting and gaming.
“We are very proud to continue to be in the forefront of innovation and
technology,” said Eric Johagen, Mobile Product Manager for Nordic Gaming Group.
“We have committed ourselves to giving our customers the most convenient access
to our gaming portal and the great experience they are used to as NordicBet.com
members. The iPhone more than satisfies both these requirements.”
Read entire article here.
Sept 21, 2009 - South Carolina poker players win appeal
CHARLESTON, South Carolina -- As reported by The (Charleston) Post and Courier:
"It isn't time to go 'all in' just yet, but five poker players busted for
gambling in Mount Pleasant three years ago apparently have scored an early
appeals win.
"The judge overseeing their case wrote this week he is reversing the outcome of
their February trial, essentially tossing out their convictions.
"In a one-page letter, Circuit Judge R. Markley Dennis Jr. said it was likely
that the players' chosen game of "Texas Hold 'em" - which relies on bluff, bet
and card know-how to be successful - would withstand the legal test of being a
game of skill versus an illegal game of chance.
Sept 15, 2009 - NEOVIA Financial attending EiG Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- NEOVIA Financial Plc (LSE: NEO), the independent global online payments business, will be attending The European iGaming Congress and Expo 2009 (EiG) in Copenhagen, from Tuesday September 15th until Thursday September 17th 2009. NEOVIA will be meeting with partners and merchants to discuss mutual business opportunities and promote the NEOVIA Payment Suite, which is ideally suited for online gaming merchants.
Read entire article here.
Sept 14, 2009 - Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative runs ad campaign
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative launched a new online advertising campaign today in support of the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2009 (H.R. 2267), legislation that would establish a framework to permit licensed gambling operators to accept wagers from individuals in the U.S. The ads advocate regulating Internet gambling to protect the millions of Americans who continue to gamble online despite government attempts to prohibit the activity and to collect up to $62.7 billion in new revenues for the federal government in the first decade.
Read
entire article
here.
August 28, 2009 - Rainbow Riches Just Released At Virgin Online Casino
Pots of golden Irish luck await you in Rainbow Riches®, the most popular casino
game in UK history. Rainbow Riches® Win Big Shindig™ offers all the excitement
and win potential as in your favourite corner shop.
Make the most of 10 paylines of dazzling slot action as you pursue new found
wealth in the land of leprechauns and good luck. Win a super Jackpot, up to
25,000 credits, by getting a screen full of Jackpot symbols. Or get 3 Leprechaun
Hat symbols on reels 1, 3 and 5 to trigger the Pick Me™ Bonus, with a chance to
advance to the Pots of Luck Bonus too. In the Pots of Luck Bonus, watch a
leprechaun dance a jig as pots of gold, silver and bronze spin around him. One
of those loaded pots will be yours, up to 25,000 credits at max bet!
Read entire article here.
August 24, 2009 - Nevada prepared for online gambling
LAS VEGAS, Nevada –- Nevada,
where declining gaming and sales tax collections have ravaged the biennial
budget, could benefit financially if a bill to legalize Internet gambling in the
United States is approved by Congress.
The potential, however, rests on a big IF.
A House of Representatives resolution was introduced in May that would establish
a framework to permit licensed online gambling operators to accept wagers from
inside the United States.
Read entire article here.
August 13, 2009 - PartyGaming upbeat on US licence despite Menendez bill
PARTYGAMING HAS said it will not change its lobbying focus in
America despite increasing fears among European operators that federal licences
will only be granted to US operators such as Harrah’s and MGM if the US repeals
its UIGEA online gambling ban.
The Gibraltar-based poker and casino giant said that it will continue to lobby
at federal level despite concerns from other European operators that they will
not be granted a licence if the US regulates egaming.
Read entire article here.
August 12, 2009 - Poker Mogul Shot to Death
NEW YORK, New York -- As reported by the New York Post: "A SoHo Internet poker
mogul was apparently assassinated while visiting his native Sweden.
"Andreas Oscarsson was shot to death last Monday while sleeping in his father's
house, and there was no evidence that there had been any kind of dispute or that
the home had been robbed, officials said.
Read entire article here.
August 11, 2009 - Mitch Garber now plans to take US casino giant Harrah's to the egaming stratosphere
Although it seems unfair on Garber to keep going on about past events, it would
be remiss of eGaming Review not to ask about his time at the head of
Party-Gaming. What did Garber take out of the experience, is there anything that
he would have done differently?
“Party was ultimately a positive experience. I think it’s a particularly well
run company that mixes technological progress and regulatory compliance with
responsible gaming in a way that forms part of the model for how interactive
gaming should be done,” he says.
Read entire article here.
July 7, 2009 -
Player turns $40 to $500,000 at Casino Action
(PRESS RELEASE) --
There is sure to be celebration in one lucky household in the Netherlands this
week, as an online casino novice nets an incredible $504,934.87! What makes the
feat even more amazing is the nature of the win, with the player having
deposited only $40 of his own money to hit the massive jackpot.
Normally, such an incredible return on a single bet would not be possible via
online roulette, but herein lies the allure of the range of progressive jackpots
at
Casino Action. The progressive jackpot works by
depositing a fraction of each player's bet in a special fund which is constantly
growing. This keeps the total winnable kitty exceptionably large, and ensures
that even after a big win, the jackpot total soars back up again. Indeed, with
the Mega Moolah online slot at Casino Action, the main progressive jackpot is
guaranteed never to drop below $1 million!
Read entire article here.
July 6, 2009 - 32Red to accept PayPal
(PRESS RELEASE) --
32Red Plc - the company behind the multi award-winning 32Red Online Casino based
in Gibraltar - has announced that it will be accepting deposits and withdrawals
using PayPal, adding to the numerous secure banking options currently available
to 32Red players.
PayPal is the UK's favorite online payment service, with 21% share of consumer
internet payments. Offering safe, fast and easy payments to over 73 million
active account holders worldwide in 19 different currencies, it is viewed as the
faster, easier way to pay online. The addition of PayPal to 32Red's banking
options will help current players deposit and claim their winnings more easily
and open up joining the Best Casino winner to thousands of potential new
players.
Read entire article here.
July 6, 2009 - Frank 'optimistic' repeal of UIGEA will pass
LAS VEGAS --
Barney Frank (D-MA) sharpened his rhetoric against UIGEA proponents and promised
to move forward on bills that would suspend and ultimately repeal the UIGEA when
he visited the Main Event at the World Series of Poker Sunday.
Before ushering in play with the traditional "Shuffle up and deal call," Frank
called the UIGEA the "stupidest" bill ever and implored poker players to write
their Congressmen and Senators and ask them to repeal it.
In a press availability following his Main Event appearance, Frank was more
pointed with his criticism of the UIGEA, and offered a timetable on the his next
moves to remove it from the law books.
Read entire article here.
July 1, 2009 - Clubs may be key to Atlantic City
ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey -- As reported by Metro International: "Despite predictions that Atlantic City will never again be the end-all, be-all adult playground for East Coasters, two investors are taking a long shot that the nightlife will still attract young people and their cash.
"With profits down — 11 percent in the last year through June — the $7 million Dusk, opening this weekend at Caesar's Casino, could turn out to be a referendum on the gambling mecca's appeal beyond wagering at the slots and table games.
Read entire article here.
July 1, 2009 - The Monster is Coming to Fortune Lounge
BELIZE CITY, Belize -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- On July 1st, the Fortune Lounge Group of Online Brands will unleash a brand new affiliate promotion, called 'The Monster is Coming'.
This exciting new promotion will allow all affiliates associated with the Fortune Lounge and its brands to enter a lucky draw for a massive prize. The promotion will work on an acquisition basis, with affiliates given the space between the 1st of July and the 2nd of November 2009 to acquire a minimum of 20 New Active Casino Players (NACPs). Any affiliate who is successful in this venture will be eligible for the lucky draw and the chance to win something of epic proportions.
Read entire article here.
July 1,2009 - R.I. Senate approves Twin River all-night gambling bill
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island -- As reported by The Providence Journal: "The Senate has voted and sent to the governor a bill to allow round-the-clock gambling, seven days a week at Twin River, while also forcing the owners of the bankrupt track and slot parlor to drop their plans to suspend live greyhound racing on Aug. 8, and run a full 200-day season.
Read entire article here.
June 16, 2009 - Utah Transit Authority Says Fines Coming For Internet Gambling
The state of Utah is now joining the fight against legalized
Internet gambling. Whether a person is doing so legally or not, the Utah Transit
Authority, has now adopted an ordinance that will allow fines to be handed out
for visiting gambling sites.
The Authority did not stop at gambling. They also will fine anyone who visits
pornography sites while using the Authority's free wireless Internet service. It
is basically putting the burden on the passengers instead of the Authority.
Read entire article here.
June 12, 2009 - EU pressing US on online gambling legalization
Fortunately for the millions of online gambling enthusiasts in the United States, the European Union is not letting the internet gambling issue with the U.S. go and continue to press on a solution. The European Commission urged the United States to drop its ban on online gambling companies this week, maintaining the previous position held by the EU administration that the online gambling ban passed during the Bush administration violates world trade agreements. The EU went a step further this time around, noting that it could seek compensation from the World Trade Organization on the online gambling issue, claiming that banning foreign gambling websites from operating in the U.S. violates international trade laws.
Read entire article here.
June 10, 2009 - Bank Freezes Gambling Accounts Poker
An advocacy group for online
poker said Tuesday that the federal government has frozen more than $30 million
in the accounts of payment processors that handle the winnings of thousands of
online poker players.
The Justice Department has long maintained that Internet gambling is illegal, a
view that the poker group challenges.
The Poker Players Alliance told The Associated Press that the U.S. attorney for
the Southern District of New York instructed three banks to freeze the accounts.
Documents obtained by the AP show that a judge in the district issued a seizure
warrant last week for an account at a Wells Fargo bank in San Francisco, and
that a federal prosecutor told a bank in Arizona to freeze an account.
Read entire article here.
June 10, 2009 - Spin3 Releases Mermaids Millions For Mobile
Fans of slot games can now enjoy
the Mermaids Millions bonus slot game using their mobile telephone courtesy of
leading full service mobile gaming solutions provider Spin3.
Mermaids Millions is the first game from Spin3 to be made available on a Java
platform and as a web-based application, illustrating the firm’s commitment to
providing the most advanced titles to the industry's newest devices alongside
the traditional handset market.
Read entire article here.
June 9,2099 - iPoker to host celebrity bounty tournament at WSOP
DOUGLAS, Isle of Man -- (PRESS RELEASE) --
Players can now go up against the giants of the poker circuit, at this year's
WSOP, and bag the bounty!
During the WSOP Main Event, iPoker will host a celebrity tournament, where each
star will have a $13,000 bounty on his head.
This special star studded event will feature some of the biggest names in poker;
Tony G, Neil Channing, Jamie Gold, Marty Smith, Scotty Nguyen & Montel Williams.
Read entire article
here.
May 28, 2009 - New live dealer casino ready to debut
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Since the relaxation of the UK's gambling laws in 2002 there has been phenomenal growth in the online casino entertainment market. Both well known brands and new start-ups have been quick to develop their online real estate to cater for this growth through providing automated graphic versions of hundreds of popular casino games.
Read entire article here.
May 27, 2009 - Microgaming and Intertops end longtime partnership
Following a partnership that lasted nearly 11 years, Intertops and Microgaming have parted ways.
Microgaming – which made the decision to begin denying U.S. players last November as a result of the Kentucky domain seizure case – made the announcement last week after Intertops decided to reenter the U.S. market by partnering with U.S.-friendly RealTime Gaming (RTG) and opening the new RED Casino.
"Microgaming has powered the well established online casino for over a decade, and has enjoyed a successful relationship with it," the press release said.
Read entire article here.
May 4, 2009 - Casinos Searching For Answers To Beat The Recession
At this point in the global
recession, it is simply about survival. Not many businesses can say that they
are actually turning a profit in the current economic conditions.
The casino industry, in particular, is looking for answers. How do owners sell
people on the idea of gambling, when they do not have the funds to do so? That
is the multi-million dollar question in casino circles these days.
Read entire article
here.
May 1, 2009 - List of online gambling sites banned by Minnesota released
Minnesota's Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division released Friday the list of 200 online gambling sites it wants blocked from Minnesota residents, and it contains quite a few surprises.
On the list are several sites that don't allow American players, including PartyCasino, Everest Poker, Ladbrokes Casino, Intercasino, Virgin Games and William Hill Casino.
Read entire article here.
April 26, 2009 - Chance for Online Gambling in the U.S.
When the U.S. Congress cracked
down on Internet betting in 2006, the big, publicly traded European companies
that had dominated the business closed up shop in the United States. Growth in
the booming industry shifted away from these companies, once the darlings of the
stock market, to private operators in offshore locations like Antigua and the
Isle of Man.
But now, executives of some of the European companies whisper excitedly that
they may soon get a second chance in the United States. Meanwhile, a number of
European countries that have long maintained barriers are moving, under pressure
from regulators, to legalize, and tax, online gambling.
Read entire article here.
April 22, 2009 - California Poker Bill Unveiled
IGamingNews has obtained a copy
of a highly anticipated bill -- the California Online Poker Law Enforcement
Compliance and Consumer Protection Act -- that would see online poker regulated
on an intrastate basis in the Golden State.
The bill was submitted to the California Legislative Analyst earlier this year,
and is likely to be amended should it pass through the Legislature.
In its current form, the bill instructs the California State Gambling
Commission, in conjunction with the state Department of Justice, to draft and
adopt regulations for the implementation of an online intrastate poker network.
Read entire article here.
April 15, 2009 - Amsterdam Affiliate Conference expected to smash records
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Company officials for iGaming Business, the world's leading iGaming publisher, have confirmed that the Amsterdam Affiliate Conference has even taken them by surprise with the amount of sponsors and exhibitors they have on board.
"We always expected the event to be big but after the name change and re-brand we were concerned AAC might be affected, but it has been the complete opposite with more exhibitors than ever before and a huge number of affiliates already registered to attend" said Alex Pratt, lead organiser for the event. "The reason the event is looking so good is down to a number of fundamental rules we follow with our events including: All affiliates go free, quality over quantity with speakers, networking shouldn't end with the expo and just because it's an industry event doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself!"
Read entire article here.
April 13, 2009 - HARRAH’s Las Vegas hires former Party Gaming Exe
HARRAH’s, the Las Vegas gaming
group that owns Caesars Palace is to install Mitch Garber, a former chief
executive of Party Gaming, as the head of a new company formed to house its
internet operations and the popular World Series of Poker.
The gaming giant is spinning these businesses out into a newly-created entity.
The move is likely to fuel speculation over the possibility of Harrah’s making
acquisitions in the online-gaming sector.
Read entire article here.
April 7, 2009 - PARTYGAMING REMOVES U.S. THREAT OF ONLINE GAMBLING PROSECUTION
Shares in the London-listed online gambling group PartyGaming are expected to soar following the group's announcement Tuesday that it has reached a settlement with the US Department of Justice, removing the threat of prosecution for pre-UIGEA activities.
Read entire article here.
April 6, 2009 - Gambling and the Law: Of Course It's A Depression
"Buy when there is blood in the streets, even if the blood is your own." Baron Nathan Rothschild
There is a generally accepted definition of an economic recession – a decline in gross domestic product for two consecutive quarters. But people don't agree on what is a depression until years after the fact.
There is a difference, like the distinction between neurosis and psychosis. A neurotic may have problems, even severe, distressing ones. But a psychotic has at least temporarily lost touch with reality.
The legal gaming industry is facing a psychotic global economy.
Read entire article here.
March 31, 209 - Florida gaming industry holds sway
TALLAHASSEE, Florida --
As reported by The Miami Herald: "No legislator is immune when it comes to the
influence of the gambling industry in Florida.
"All 160 members of the Florida Legislature have either accepted a campaign
check from the industry or benefited from its contributions to their parties. In
the 2006-08 election cycle alone, horse and dog tracks, jai alai frontons and
the Seminole Indian Tribe gave nearly $5 million to legislators and political
parties -- more than double the $2.2 million gambling interests contributed to
lawmakers in the previous election.
Read entire article here.
March 26, 2009 - EU says US online gambling laws breach WTO
BRUSSELS, Belgium --
As reported by Reuters: "A U.S crackdown on European online gambling breaches
World Trade Organisation rules and would justify action at the World Trade
Organisation, the European Commission said on Thursday.
"The European Union executive, which oversees trade policy for the 27-nation
bloc, said its draft report found that such U.S. laws hampered trade and thus
were inconsistent with WTO rules but stressed it would seek a negotiated
solution.
Read entire article here.
March 16, 2009 - US Online Casino Laws Made Obsolete by Tech Advances
The reasons given by red-faced,
shrieking politicians to ban online gambling in the US usually revolve around
protecting children and problem gamblers. Well, those legislators can rejoice
and vote to repeal the UIGEA now, for Internet security companies have developed
software that allows parents to control access to online casinos.
Trend Micro Security Systems had already reported a breakthrough establishing
them as the first in the online security business to capably give computer
owners control of what sites can be accessed at their terminals. Now Dutch
software company Unicaresoft claims to have its own product.
Read entire article here.
March 2, 2009 - New Top Gaming Casino Launched
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA,
February 27, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- February 2009 online casino software
provider Top Gaming added a new brand to its catalogue of online casinos, the
name is
Gold Vegas Casino.
Players from the US can now play the casino despite the havoc that ensued last
year around the Kentucky gambling legislation and its domain name censorship.
Apart from its US player status,
Gold Vegas Casino has
one other major important facet on its side: the enthusiasm of the new kid on
the block. Chad Brooks, manager of the new online casino said that the
excitement within the company is relentless.
Read entire article
here.
Feb 19, 2009 - Judge in SC rules poker a skill
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- (PRESS
RELEASE) -- The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots
advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide (nearly 10,000 in
South Carolina), today expressed cautious optimism with a ruling in the Mount
Pleasant, S.C. poker case and applauded the Court's findings that poker is a
game of skill, not chance. Though disappointed with the Court's initial
conclusion that the defendants had committed a crime, PPA expects to prevail on
further review.
"We are humbled by Judge Duffy's thoughtful decision and applaud the effort put
forth by the legal team defending these poker players," said John Pappas,
executive director of the PPA. "The positive language in this ruling comes on
heels of other key legal victories for the rights of poker players in Kentucky,
Colorado, and Pennsylvania. It's becoming quite clear the legal community agrees
that this great American pastime is a game of predominant skill, not luck, and
should not be considered gambling under the law."
Read entire article here.
Feb 19, 2009 - EC TO RECOMMEND ACTION AGAINST THE UNITED STATES
According to a report from
Reuters, the European Commission could be on the verge of recommending action
against the United States at the World Trade Organization regarding its stance
on online gambling.
The United States has greatly hindered Europe's online gambling industry thanks
to its Unlawful Illegal Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which limits payment
options for online gamblers in America—no credit cards or bank transfers among
other things.
"Many publicly traded European companies, such as PartyGaming and 888.com,
withdrew from the United States after Congress passed the 2006 [UIGEA], but they
face possible criminal prosecution for activities before then," said Reuters.
The report said that while action against the U.S. was recommended, the European
Union is hopeful that it can find an amicable solution with the Obama
administration, which recently took office.
Read entire article here.
Feb 4, 2009 - New moves to legalise online poker in USA.
US Democrat, Barney Frank, has
revealed to a major British newspaper his plans to turn back the clock on
stringent anti-online gambling laws in the US. The UIGEA was hurriedly pushed
through by the leaving Republican government just one day before President Obama
was inaugurated.
Since the law was passed in 2006 the ramifications have been felt across the
industry. The laws against online gambling were severely tightened and even
resulted in arrests of some executives in US airports. The laws have caused
major sites and networks such as PartyGaming, OnGame and Microgaming to cease
accepting US players to their sites.
Read entire article
here.
Feb 3, 2009 - More US online casinos using eCheck payment system
COLLINGWOOD, Ontario -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- With the UIGEA, and the
closure of Microgaming casinos, players from the United States are finding it
incredibly difficult when seeking out US friendly casinos and payment options.
Because of this, a number of online casinos have adopted the eCheck payment
system, which is in itself one of the easiest methods for USA players to deposit
and from their casino player account.
Echeck casinos are not just limited to the American slots player either, as many
of the Canadian banks recognize and process these payments as well. Not all
online casinos support the use of instant checks, however a number of them do.
Below is a quick list of the leading US approved online casinos that are
accepting and processing instant checks from American players. The eCheck
casinos listed below support over 80 slot machines; online table games and
provide a Mac compatible software for their American players.
Read all about it here.
Feb 1, 2009 - CAP Award Winners 2009 Announced
The second annual CasinoAffiliatePrograms Awards were unveiled yesterday in a
black-tie ceremony at London’s award-winning The Brewery. This also launched CAP
Euro London 2009, the industry’s largest conference.
“We want to extend our most enthusiastic congratulations to each and every
winner of this year’s CAP Awards,” stated Lou Fabiano,
CasinoAffiliatePrograms.com’s Founder and President. “These are truly the
brightest stars in the CAP community. But honestly, each of the dozens of
nominated programs and individuals deserve congratulations, as does our stellar
community of more than 8,000 affiliates and webmasters who not only voted for
this year’s winners, but who also make the entire CAP experience possible each
and every day.”
See winners here.
Jan 30, 2009 - Kentucky Appealing Against Ruling
In America, the administration of
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is to contest last week’s ruling by the Court of
Appeals in Louisville that stopped the state seizing 141 domain names associated
with online gambling.
The Secretary of the state’s Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, J. Michael
Brown, released a statement late last week revealing that an appeal would be
lodged against the ruling and that the administration would be taking the matter
to the Kentucky Supreme Court.
'The evidence demonstrated that illegal and unregulated activity is occurring in
Kentucky and that millions of dollars are being lost as a result of that
activity, a fact that wasn't disputed in Tuesday's ruling,' said Brown.
Read entire article here.
Jan 30, 2009 - European bookmaker Interwetten goes live with casino
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Microgaming, the world's largest online gaming software
provider, today announces that top European bookmaker Interwetten, has gone live
with its market leading casino software.
The partnership with industry giant Interwetten further strengthens
Microgaming's elite portfolio of operators and arrives on the back of an
unprecedented series of successful product launches last year.
Interwetten are now live with Microgaming's full complement of over 400
multilingual casino games including the new and incredibly popular multiplayer
BlackJack tournaments and renowned Casino management tools. Interwetten will
also be making use of over 160 exciting flash games launched directly from their
website.
Read entire article here.
Jan 29, 2009 - iMEGA Case To Be Heard In April
The Interactive Media Entertainment
And Gaming Association (iMEGA) has announced that its legal action questioning
the Constitutionality of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA)
could be heard in April.
The Washington, DC-based non-profit lobby group revealed that its legal team was
recently contacted by the US Third Circuit Court Of Appeals and asked to provide
notice of their availability in April in order to provide oral arguments in the
suit.
The Court also provided a list of possible dates to Eric Bernstein, lead counsel
for iMEGA, and to the US Department Of Justice, a defendant in the suit
alongside the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve.
Read entire article here.
Jan 26, 2009 - Bet24 now offering tax-free poker
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Leading online casino and poker room Bet24.com has announced that it has become the latest site to obtain a European Union license after being accredited by the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.
For the last few years, European online poker players have not been required to pay tax on their winnings as long as the site they were competing on was licensed by a nation or territory within the European Union. Now poker players at Bet24.com can compete without having to pay tax on any takings, something they should find very attractive.
Read entire article here.
Jan 26, 2009 - Long-awaited WSOP schedule finally released
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The 40th annual World Series of Poker® (WSOP®) -- a set of poker tournaments open to anyone 21 years of age or older -- will commence Wednesday, May 27 with the first of 57 gold bracelet events, and the next day a special $40,000 buy-in No Limit Hold'em tournament will commemorate the gaming industry's most illustrious event.
The annual poker extravaganza, which dates back to 1970, is televised exclusively on ESPN from the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and consists of a comprehensive slate of the game's most popular variations.
Read entire article here.
Jan 26, 2009 - Advocates want to legalize poker in Texas
DALLAS, Texas -- As reported by the
Dallas Morning News: "Behind a mirrored plate-glass window, a metal security
barricade and several surveillance cameras, an illegal Thursday night Texas Hold
'em group huddles around a felt table in a Northeast Dallas storefront, cradling
cards and tossing chips under blinding fluorescent lights.
"Young men who learned poker watching ESPN tournaments swill Mountain Dew to
stay alert, their business clothes sweaty and wrinkled. Retirees with dip-packed
gums and dark sunglasses talk trash from under low-slung ball caps, reveling in
the freedom of a night out.
Read entire article here.
Jan 22, 2009 - Obama brings hope, but the UIGEA is here to stay for now
In the opening days of the Obama
administration, there has been a flurry of activity, including a halt on all
pending regulations. But one thing that is not likely to be reopened for debate
is the UIGEA regulations.
While President Barack Obama can easily halt all pending regulations from being
implemented, which he did on Tuesday, reversing rules that went into effect
prior to his inauguration -- like the UIGEA -- is much more difficult.
Once a rule (which is essentially a set of regulations) is announced and in the
books for 60 days, it becomes law. And by finalizing and announcing the UIGEA
regulations in early November, the Bush administration easily beat the deadline.
That means the regulations that went into effect January 19 can not be
overturned easily.
Read entire article here.
Jan 20, 2009 - Kentucky appeals court blocks seizure of online gambling domains
In a 2-1 decision, the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled today that the state could not seize 141 online gambling domains because domain names are not gambling devices under Kentucky law.
The ruling overturns an October decision made by Franklin County Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate that asserted online gambling domains could be seized by the state because online gambling domains constituted illegal gambling devices that were prohibited by Kentucky law.
Among the sites targeted by Kentucky were PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker, Bodog and Slotocash.
Read entire article here.
Jan 20, 2009 - PartyGaming director to step down
(PRESS RELEASE) -- The Board of PartyGaming Plc
has been given notice by John O'Malia, Group Managing Director, of his intention
to leave the Company in order to pursue other business interests. Mr O'Malia
will remain with the Group until the end of February 2009 when he will step down
from the Board and his duties as Managing Director will be assumed by Jim Ryan,
Group Chief Executive.
John O'Malia was Chief Executive of Gamebookers, until it was acquired by PartyGaming in August 2006. Having agreed to remain with the Group following the integration of Gamebookers, he became a member of the senior management team and was appointed to the Board of PartyGaming in May 2008.
Read entire article here.
Jan 19, 2009 - Penn. judge: Poker is a skill game
COLUMBIA COUNTY, Pennsylvania -— As reported by Poker News Daily: "In a ruling handed down by Pennsylvania Judge Thomas A. James Jr. in Columbia County on Friday, it was ruled that Texas Hold'em is a game of skill and therefore not gambling under state law. The ruling sets an 'excellent bar' for future poker litigation, according to Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Executive Director John Pappas.
"The basic question, according to Judge James' ruling, is whether poker is dominated by chance or skill. He commented 'Simply, if chance predominates, Texas Hold'em is gambling. If skill predominates, it is not gambling.'
Read entire article here.
Jan 19, 2009 - Bluff Europe And Online Casino To Host $5,000 Freeroll
The website of Europe’s most
popular poker magazine and the multiple award-winning casino 32Red.com have
arranged for an amazing $5,000 poker tournament – completely free!
The tournament is hosted by 32Red, whose online casino has been awarded the
prestigious Best Online Casino award on three consecutive occasions. The
tournament can be accessed by going to http://www.bluffeurope.com/cardgang and
following the instructions.
Read entire article here.
Jan 19, 2009 - Online Casino Produce Brand New Slot Machine
It seems as though new games
are being released every week. However, here’s one you can be sure will be a
winner –
Cherry Red online casino
are a trusted and well-established site; which means that a slot bearing their
own name has to deliver.
The slot is an interesting one with a variety of different logos including
bells, cards, a 1920s-style “flapper” woman and the Cherry Red logo. Five of the
latter will release the bonus jackpot.
Read entire article here.
Jan 19, 2009 - New Attorney-General Is Gunning For Online Gambling
The Obama administration might not
be the Messiah it was hoped for with regards to the online gambling industry.
Despite the President-elect’s lenient stance on the matter, as well as his love
of Texas Hold ‘em, soon-to-be-Attorney-General Derek Holder is a supporter of
the UIGEA.
In a conversation with US Senator Jon Kyl, Holder confirmed his belief in the
controversial anti-gambling laws. Holder agreed with Kyl’s prediction that
“under [Holder’s] leadership the Department of Justice would continue to
aggressively enforce the law against the forms of Internet gambling that DOJ
considers illegal.”
Read entire article here.
Jan 19, 2009 - Titan Poker players race for $1 million
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Titan Poker, the
largest online poker room on the iPoker Network, is giving away $1,000,000 in
cash prizes to poker players competing in the Million Dollar Race. To
participate in the race, all players have to do is play poker at Titan Poker's
cash tables. The more a player plays, the better his chances to win a share of
the million dollars in the prize pool.
The Million Dollar Race launched on January 12 and will run through the end of
April 2009. A series of races, based on game play at TitanPoker.com's cash
tables, is being staged simultaneously, dealing out prizes to top finishers and
to those players who hit specific hot spots in the leaderboard standings.
Read entire article here.
Jan 19, 2009 - UltimateBet ready for $1 Million UBOC Championship
MIAMI, Florida -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The felt is shaping up to be a lot greener at UltimateBet this weekend. The leading online poker site hosts the final $1 million Guaranteed UBOC Championship Main Event and gets ready to give away 10 tickets to this year's Super Bowl as part of its Wild Cards promotion. The two events are expected to attract a record number of online poker players looking to capitalize on two lucrative prize pools.
Read entire article here.
Jan 8, 2009 - Kentucky Online Gambling Domain Name Ruling Will Be Unenforceable
The Kentucky Court of Appeals
Court is expected to rule in the next few weeks on the Internet gambling domain
name seizure case that has been ongoing. Regardless of their ruling, there is a
common opinion that the ruling will not be enforceable.
Governor Steve Beshear has successfully seized the domain names to 141
online
gambling sites. The ruling by a
Kentucky judge has caused quite a stir in the Internet world and it has sent
lawyers scurrying for precedent to form opinions off of.
Read entire article here.
Jan 8, 2009 - Kentucky legislator pushes for expanded gambling
FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- As reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader: "Using his new bully pulpit as speaker of the House, Greg Stumbo immediately began pushing anew for expanded gambling at Kentucky racetracks.
"Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said Wednesday during his first day as the top leader in the House that he will file a bill this week that would allow video slot machines year-round at tracks in hopes of raising $700 million a year for the state's coffers.
"Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, said he opposes any expansion of gambling in the state and sees no sentiment for doing so in the Senate.
Read entire article here.
Jan 8, 2009 - New Online Slot Offers 100x Payout At Slotland.com
One of the major changes to the game is the fact that the whole structure has been re-worked, allowing players to make it through four rounds for each game. In addition to this the maximum payout has been increased – if players can guess the suit and rank of all four cards dealt in the video-poker-style game; they will win 100x their wager.
Read entire article here.
Jan 8, 2009 - Online Casino Boasts Biggest Jackpot Available To US Players
Jackpot Piñatas has not been
won for over a year, since $290,000 was dished out to one lucky player just one
week after the game’s launch. Currently it stands at $1,093,000 and increases
every time someone tries their luck.
“We were excited when Jackpot Piñatas first went over a million dollars a couple
of weeks ago,” said
JackpotCapital.com
manager Oliver Smith. “No one knows when the next spin will show five Bull
Piñata symbols and make someone an instant millionaire, but a lot of players
feel like it could happen any minute!”
Read entire article here.
Jan 8, 2009 - Guinness Record For PokerStars.com
Online poker site PokerStars.com
closed out 2008 with a special tournament that has been recognised by the
Guinness Book of World Records for setting a new mark for the number of players
taking part at the same time.
PokerStars.com revealed that 35,000 players pre-registered to compete in its
special $11 buy-in tournament with a guaranteed prize pool of $500,000. The
event took place over the last weekend of December and broke its previous record
set in July of 2007 by some 15,000 players.
Read entire article here.
Jan 7, 2009 - Ladbrokes hits back over ad ban with spoof 'missing persons' poster
LONDON, England -- As reported by the Guardian: "Ladbrokes has launched a tongue-in-cheek press campaign in the style of a missing persons poster offering a £20 reward to find the one viewer who complained to the advertising regulator and got the betting company's TV ad campaign banned.
Read entire article here.
Jan 7, 2009 - Carlos Poker reaches agreement with Microgaming
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Carlos Poker has from the start been a fast growing Poker room, well established on the iPoker network. Through its close cooperation with customers, attractive offerings and edgy profile, Carlos Poker has managed to create a big name in the Poker community. In order to take the development of Carlos Poker to the next level, an agreement has now been reached with Microgaming as the home for Carlos Poker.
Read entire article here.
Jan 6, 2009 - Vegas casinos warming to idea of online gambling
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- As reported by KLAS-TV: "Strip casinos have been struggling lately to keep up their gaming revenues. Fewer people are visiting Las Vegas and that means even less are gambling. But could the cure for the downturn be reaching out to would-be gamblers in their own homes?
"Online gambling sites offer the same variety of games that most Strip casinos do -- from sports betting, to poker and even bingo. But current laws keep online gambling out of the U.S., something that many casinos supported. But some are now seeing it as an opportunity.
Read entire article here.
Jan 6, 2009 - UK gambling rules relaxed to boost industry and economy
LONDON, England -- As reported by the Digital Journal: "England has just relaxed the gambling laws of the country in order to generate more funds for the government and to boost the local gaming industry.
"In Britain, beer joints, clubs and similar establishments are allowed to install slot machines in their premises for adult customers to place their bets on, and gamble with their money.
Read entire article here.
Jan 6, 2009 - Internet Gaming Fight Among 21 Industry Trends for 2009
Spectrum Gaming Group, which authors the Gaming Industry Observer newsletter, recently identified the Top 21 Industry Trends for 2009. Among them is the continued fight for the legalization and regulation of online poker in the United States. In addition, the continued globalization of the industry is expected to take center stage in the New Year.
Read entire article here.
Jan 6, 2009 - Wall Street Journal Opinion Article Attacks Gambling Industry
Read entire article here.
Jan 5, 2009 - ESPN to broadcast WSOP Europe
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Beginning on Sunday, Feb. 1, ESPN will devote eight original hours of coverage to the World Series of Poker – Europe Main Event from the Casino at the Empire in the heart of downtown London's theater district.
This tournament was among the most grueling and exciting of all of the tournaments played in the WSOP, and attracted an extremely formidable field of 362 top players from Europe, the United States, and around the world. Play took place over a six-day period, with the initial field divided into two starting days, and culminated in a final table which took more than 19 hours to complete. At stake was the first place prize of more than $1.5 million and the highly coveted WSOP – Europe Main Event bracelet.
Read entire article here.
Jan 5, 2009 - Online gambling could be legalized in Czech Republic
CZECH REPUBLIC -- As reported by iGamingBusiness: "The five biggest bookmakers in the Czech Republic could be about to receive permits from the Finance Ministry to offer online gambling following years of lobbying and promises to prevent minors from betting on their sites.
"According to a report from Radio Praha, one of the firms thought to be in contention for a license is Fortuna Group, which operates land-based sportsbetting in the Czech Republic alongside lotteries, games and telephone betting services. It is also active in Poland, Croatia and Slovakia and sponsors the giant Sparta Prague football team.
Read entire article here.
Jan 2, 2009 - Birmingham mayor disagrees with governor on gambling operations
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- As reported
by WBRC: "Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford is openly opposing a plan created by
Governor Bob Riley to crack down on gambling operations stating that the city
could use the revenue that comes from some Bingo Parlors.
"Governor Riley created a task force to investigate gambling operations
throughout the state.
"The governor contends that many electronic bingo machines are actually illegal
slot machines. Riley also says he will oppose any efforts in the upcoming
Legislative session to expand and tax gambling.
Read entire article here.
Jan 2, 2009 - Online bingo site bet365 better with friends
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Bingo is all about having fun with friends - and winning along the way of course! Now Bingo at bet365 are offering the best Team Bingo online.
Recruit and register a team of up to 4 players, and every time a team member calls bingo in any 90 ball room at bet365, your team will earn valuable points in the race to the top of the Team Bingo leaderboard.
The winning team will get an amazing holiday for two worth £2000 for each team member, and for the teams placed second to fifth, there are cash prizes of between £200 and £1000 to be won.
Read entire article here.
Dec 30, 2008 - Obama Specials From Paddy Power
Online bookmaker PaddyPower.com is
offering odds of 2/5 that new American President Barack Obama will fully
withdrawal all troops from Iraq in 2009.
This is just one of a number of Obama specials being offered by the Irish firm,
which also includes odds of 6/1 that the former Illinois Senator will see
legalised online gambling signed into law next year. The capture of Osama Bin
Laden is also given at 6/1 while the Federal recognition of same sex marriages
is slightly longer at 7/1.
Read entire article here.
Dec 29, 2008 - Online Gambling Insider announces award winners
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Online Gambling Insider has established a reputation for honest and reliable online gambling information and access to some of the best online casino deals. The portal has announced their prestigious online gambling awards for 2008. "Despite some setbacks for the industry in the US, the industry is getting stronger with the entry of some new operators and the continued performance of well known brands," says Ryan D, the portal's founder and Editor in Chief. "Choosing our Online Casino Award winners is a daunting task each year, but we take into account player feedback and our own interactions with each gambling site we promote over the course of the year to come up with our list of top performers."
Read entire article here.
Dec 24, 2008 - New online casino 300chips ready for launch
FUNCHAL, Madeira -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- 300Chips.com is proud to launch a new modern technology based online gambling site to cater to the need of online players. The release of this site could not have been better timed considering the rapid influx of online gamers in recent times. The superior graphics design and advanced software technology makes this website stand above all others. With a wide selection of popular online casino games and live online poker games, this new gaming portal is sure to see success.
Read entire article here.
Dec 23, 2008 - Popularity Increasing For Online Bingo
According to figures released this
week by search engine giant Google, playing bingo over the Internet is becoming
increasingly popular across every age group and gender and is the mightiest
rival to online poker.
Although virtual poker has long been thought of as the most popular Internet
gaming pastime, Google revealed that bingo has rapidly caught up and is now
engaged in a race to decide which game is the most dominant.
Read entire article here.
Dec 17, 2008 - Kentucky appeals court hears online gambling case
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky -- As reported the Lexington Herald-Leader: "Lawyers representing online gambling interests told the Kentucky Court of Appeals on Friday that Gov. Steve Beshear's effort to seize domain names is blatantly unconstitutional.
"A three-judge panel is weighing Beshear's unprecedented move to seize the domain names of 141 gambling Web sites.
Read entire article here.
Dec 17, 2008 - Compulsive gambler fails in compensation appeal
TYNE AND WEAR, England -- As reported by the Daily Telegraph: "Graham Calvert, 29, a greyhound trainer from Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, claimed the bookie failed in its 'duty of care' by allowing him to continue telephone betting - and even to open a credit account - after he asked it to stop taking his money under its 'self-exclusion' policy for problem gamblers.
"Mr Calvert used make about £50,000 a year from greyhound bets.
Read entire article here.
Dec 17, 2008 - PartyGaming co-founder pleads guilty to offering illegal Internet gambling services
A co-founder of PartyGaming pled guilty on Tuesday in New York to violating the Wire Act in connection with offering illegal Internet gambling services to U.S. residents.
The guilty plea by Anurag Dikshit, a native of India who was listed at No. 207 on the list of the world's billionaires in Forbes magazine, means the 37-year-old has waived his right to indictment by a grand jury, according to IGaming News.
Read entire article
here.
Dec 12, 2008 - Online Casino Recognized For Huge Bonus
Cherry Red online casino currently have a generous offer available to those players who love online slot games, as many of Cherry Red’s players do. The site is giving any depositor a 400% bonus up to a staggering $600, meaning there is a potential $2400 for every player out there.
Read entire article here.
Dec 11. 1008 - 21-year-old wins Winter Bayou Poker Challenge
NEW ORELANS, Louisiana –- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The 2008 Winter Bayou Poker Challenge ended today with a rousing victory in the championship event by Justin "Lockdown Tex" Allen. He collected first-place prize money totaling $158,290. Allen was presented with a swanky gold ring, awarded to all tournament champions at this year's Bayou poker series. Allen also received a travel package to the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas valued at $11,000. The package includes a seat in next year's world poker championship.
Read entire article here.
Dec 11, 2008 - Norway passes its own version of the UIGEA
The Norwegian parliament passed a proposal this week that mimics the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act that the U.S. adopted in 2006, Poker Pages reported Thursday. The Norwegian measure bans financial transactions between the nation's residents and online gambling operators. It is unlikely the ban will go into effect until mid-2009 at the earliest as regulatory drafting is still required, according to Poker Pages.
Read entire article here.
Dec 9, 2008 - Platinum Play continues website overhaul with new logo
STANMORE, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- After a complete overhaul in early 2008, Platinum Play Online Casino hasn't wasted any time in rebranding their website. The most recent change is the logo, which better suits the slick, polished look and feel that has become a signature feature for Platinum Play.
In addition to the graphical changes, the logo has also been translated into multiple languages, making it more relevant to the non-English customers situated around the globe.
Many trusted aspects of the casino remain the same, such as superior 24-hour support in multiple languages, a variety of exciting games and the attractive, trademark double bonus opening offer of up to $ Euros 400 Free.
Read entire article here.
Dec 9, 2008 - Latin American Poker Tour cancels Mexican event
NUEVO VALLARTA, Mexico -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT) confirms that it is cancelling the poker tournament in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, due to an indefinite suspension served on one of its local partners.
The LAPT states it has cooperated fully and in good faith with the requirements outlined by the Mexican government. The LAPT respects and abides by local regulations in each market.
LAPT's partner in Mexico obtained a formal ruling from the Mexican Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB) allowing the event to take place. As the LAPT compiled with every rule stipulated by the Code of the Mexican Federal Law of Games and Raffles, the reasons for suspension are being reviewed by lawyers of all parties.
Read entire article here.
Dec 9, 2008 - New era begins as DiceArena goes live
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Jadestone Networks, the Nordic based online games owner and operator today announced that the multiplayer dice games network DiceArena is now live and open for players across Europe.
This week marks the beginning of the online multiplayer dice era as the gates are now open for DiceArena players at www.paf.com, the first partner to complete the integration process and go live. Other partner sites are expected to follow over the next few days.
"It's with immense pleasure that we now officially inaugurate the DiceArena Network," said Robert Henrysson, CEO of Jadestone. "This has been a great team effort by the whole company, from development to integration, operations and marketing. We now look forward to working closely with our Network Partners to get this product off to a flying start."
Read entire article here.
Dec 9, 2008 - Website offers balance between free and premium games
(PRESS RELEASE) -- iFunSpace.com is a provider of free, advertising supported games and premium, paid services. iFunSpace.com is unique in that we reward our customers using a loyalty program which allows them to earn merchandise based on their participation on our website. Also, unlike other free sites that only offer static games, we offer premium services that are only available through Credit purchases.
At iFunSpace.com, no money is required and there is no risk to play. You are rewarded for your participation whether you win or lose!
iFunSpace.com is the place to be! A place to sit back and unwind, play some fantastic games, connect with friends old and new, and earn Rewards while having loads of fun!
Read entire article here.
Dec 8, 2008 - UEFA Wants Piece Of Online Sportsbetting Profits
The European Parliament is
currently preparing a report on online gambling – hardly surprising in these
busy times for the industry considering its relationship with governments. The
report will focus on how the online gaming industry affects each member states’
commerce across the others’ borders.
One group that will be watching this report intently is not a political one nor
an industry insider, but the Union of European Football Associations. The soccer
organization wants lawmakers to address the avoidance of corruption and scandal
by making moves to protect the sport's integrity. But the group also asked to
receive '...a fair financial return from sports betting.'
Read entire article here.
Dec 8, 008 - Olympic Gold Medallist Michael Phelps To Join DoylesRoom?
Record-shattering Olympic champion
Michael Phelps has long been known to have a soft spot for the game of poker,
even expressing his desire to enter the prestigious $10,000 No-Limit Hold ‘em
Main Event at the World Series of Poker.
These rumours flew ever-stronger after Phelps and friends had dinner with
professional poker players Todd Brunson, Doyle Brunson, Hoyt Corkins and
Jennifer Harman. This led to strong industry rumour that Phelps would sign for
DoylesRoom, the poker site of poker legend Doyle Brunson.
Read entire article here.
Dec 4, 2008 - Entraction and Income Access establish partnership
MONTREAL, Quebec -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- A partnership has been established between igaming software provider Entraction and affiliate marketing software provider Income Access. Through this deal, igaming operators who choose the Entraction platform to power their online gaming products will also be able to choose to use the Income Access software to launch and power an affiliate program.
Entraction offers secure digital systems for online poker, bingo, sports betting and casino sites. The company also offers a variety of services, including player support, payment solutions, fraud protection, and site production. By integrating with the Income Access affiliate marketing platform, Entraction's partners will be able to seamlessly leverage affiliate marketing to drive traffic to their portals.
Read entire article here.
Dec 4, 2008 - UK, Malta dig in heels over EU gaming initiative
BRUSSELS -- As reported by Reuters:
"Britain and Malta teamed up on Monday in a bid to head off moves by EU
president France to forge a bloc-wide policy for regulating the multi-billion
euro gambling industry.
"France put forward a discussion paper to a meeting of the bloc's 27 industry
ministers that said there were "already grounds for seeking a common approach".
"In the past, gambling could be dealt with nationally, but the rise of
cross-border online betting undermines this.
Read entire article here.
Dec 4, 2008 - Slotland Launches MegaSpin
Online slots and poker site
Slotland.com
has announced the addition of the new instant-play MegaSpin slot title to its
already impressive stable of 15 unique games.
The object of the single-payline slot machine with two sets of three-reels is
much like any other fruit title, to get three characters in a row. Doing this,
players move up to compete on the upper reels where they can multiply their
winnings. Hitting three different fruit symbols sees players rewarded with three
free spins while Wild Stars serve as the ‘wild’ and also substitute for other
characters on the payline.
Read entire article here.
Dec 1, 2008 - Online Casino Abruptly Closes Their Doors
For reasons unknown, thousands of
online gamblers were left puzzled over the weekend as Cantor-powered sites
RedLounge and Cantor Casino were inaccessible, but Cantor Poker was still
happily running.
Players at Cantor Casino and Red Lounge received the following notification,
which was also posted on the websites, via email:
Read entire article here.
Dec 1, 2008 - Trump Entertainment will not make bond interest payment
NEW YORK, New York -- As reported
by Reuters: "Casino operator Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc said on Friday it
will not make a $53.1 million bond interest payment due on December 1 in an
effort to 'maintain sufficient liquidity.'
"Trump said a 30-day grace period will apply to the missed interest payment and
that during this period it will pursue discussions with lenders to restructure
the company's capital structure.
"The Atlantic City-based casino company said there can be no assurance that any
agreement will be reached.
Read entire article
here.
Nov 28, 2008 - Online Casino Deposits Halved Due To Economic Crisis
The incoming economic recession is
the biggest item in the news right now, and it means that people are spending
less money on food, fuel, luxury items and even online gambling.
It was long-believed that the online gambling world would ironically prosper
during the economic downturn as people chose the convenience of gambling from
their home over spending money to travel.
Read entire article here.
Nov 28, 2008 - Polish Gambling Mogul Suggests Online Casino Regulation
Zbigniew Macioszek, a prominent
member of the largest land-based casino operator in Poland, has expressed his
thoughts on government regulation of online casinos in his country. With the
recent explosion in online gambling there, he feels this would be a good step
for Poland.
According to Macioszek, there will always be a need for gambling and with the
strict regulations Malta has in place, if a competitor were to enter the market,
also licensing casinos, it would attract investors almost immediately.
Read entire article here.
Nov 24, 2008 - Three Progressive Jackpots Nearing One Million
Jackpot Pinatas is the next
progressive jackpot looking to tip the $1,000,000 milestone at
Jackpot Capital
this Christmas. Currently the rising total stands at over $975,000.
Also at
Jackpot Capital are the
Midlife Crisis and Shopping Spree video slot games, both boasting progressive
jackpots that are well into the $900,000 area. Jackpot Pinatas is a five-reel,
20-payline slot with a Mexican theme to make every gamble a fiesta. Tacos,
sombreros and sexy senoritas all make up this fun-filled game.
Read entire article here.
Nov 24, 2008 - Online Casino Industry Hopes For Return To US
You’re right to be confused about
the online gambling situation in America – many people don’t know where the
whole thing is headed, however some companies are secretly eyeing a return to
American soil during the Obama administration.
Many online companies pulled out of the U.S. market shortly after the Unlawful
Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was put in place by Republicans in Congress
back in 2006. Now, some of those companies are keeping a close eye on what is
happening in America.
Read entire article
here.
Nov 24, 2008 - Titan Poker players take home big cash wins
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Titan Poker
players have been celebrating Sundays lately, winning huge cash prizes at the
poker tables instead of attending church services. Titan Poker, the largest
online poker room on the iPoker Network, stages a $250,000 Guaranteed Prize
tournament every Sunday evening.
Poker players join together from throughout the globe to enjoy their love of
poker at the internationally renowned poker room to compete for their share of
the prize money.
Read entire article here.
Nov 24, 2008 - New site launches online casino
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- (PRESS
RELEASE) -- A new player in the online casino industry launched today. Thebes
Casino, as the name implies, is a Egyptian styled online casino running on the
innovative Topgame platform.
David Webb casino manager for Thebes stated "We choose to run on the Topgame
platform because their company and software solution allows us to achieve our
goal of setting the new standard in the online gaming industry. For too many
years the industry has been operating in ways that are less than fair to both
players and affiliates alike and we at Thebes together with our partners at
Topgame who share our vision have decided to do something about it" The software
has been designed with only one thing in mind and that is player satisfaction.
Hence the fast loading times, multi-tab feature and a support department that
can be reached instantly using the live chat window.
Read entire article here.
Nov 21, 2008 - Progressive jackpot approaching $1 million
NICOSIA, Cyprus -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Jackpot Pinatas looks likely to be the next progressive jackpot to hit one million dollars at Vegas-style online casino, JackpotCapital.com. It has been some time since this jackpot was cracked and with $975,000 already in the pot, online slots players around the globe are hoping to become Jackpot Pinatas millionaires any day now! And that's not all: The "Midlife Crisis" and "Shopping Spree" progressive jackpots are also currently over $900,000 at JackpotCapital.com online casino.
Read entire article here.
Nov 20, 2008 - Grand jury in Texas indicts 22 in gambling case
FORT WORTH, Texas -- As reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "Twenty-two people were indicted this week in Tarrant County in connection with Aces Wired gaming centers, which authorities allege were illegal gambling operations.
"Company officers and employees were included in the felony indictments filed Tuesday for charges that ranged from engaging in organized crime to tampering with evidence.
Read entire article here.
Nov 20, 2008 - Ladbrokes Poker's "Chase the Chair" promotion wrapping up
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The champion of Ladbrokes Poker Million VII will be decided in less than a month's time on December 12th on Sky Sports 3 and there's still time for you to make it straight to the semi-final! Ladbrokes Poker is running daily 'Chase the Chair' freerolls up until 28th November, the ultimate winner of which will be awarded a $120,000 Poker Million VII semi-final seat, $5,000 in expenses, 5 nights accommodation for 2 at Hilton Metropole London, Green Room passes for their semi-final and a table for ten at the Poker Million VII Live Final party. The winner will play in the second semi-final on the 11th December against Ladbrokes Poker's own Roy Brindley, Devilfish, Asian Poker tour winner Tony G, 2008 WSOP Bracelet winner Marty Smyth, and World Open Champion Anthony Hardy for a $1,000,000 first prize. The eleven runners-up in the Chase the Chair promotion will each win a $2,000 Live Final VIP package.
Read entire article here.
Nov 19, 2008- Hong Kong man given 8-years in jail for running online gambling websites in SW China
KUNMING, China -- As reported by Xinhua: "A Hong
Kong man, found guilty of running a number of gambling Websites, was sentenced
to eight years and fined 20 million yuan (2.9 million U.S. dollars) in southwest
China's Yunnan Province.
"The case, believed to be the country's biggest online gambling case, involved
about 8.68 billion yuan in wagered money and more than 278 million yuan in
illegal profits, a source of the Yunnan High People's Court said on Wednesday.
Read entire article
here
Nov 19, 2008 -
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Lucky 18 Casino welcomes all U.S. blackjack, roulette and slots players affected by Microgaming's closure of its online casinos to U.S. citizens. Lucky 18 Casino features the latest revolution in Real Time Gaming's award winning software, offering gamers a smooth and captivating online experience and setting the standard for other online casinos to follow.
Read entire article here.
Nov 19, 2008 - Online Casino Player Wins £2,000,000
Acclaimed British bookmaker, Coral, have paid out over £2m to one lucky player via their MegaJackpots game provided by iGaming software designers WagerWorks.The winner was a 48-year-old man from Portsmouth, south England. The player won £2,086,585 by getting five MegaJackpots symbols on the centre pay-line with a maximum bet – it has been confirmed that this is the largest ever single win by a British bookmaker customer. Read entire article here.
Nov 18, 2008 - Jackpot Factory crowns winners of $200,000 Grand Final Tournament
KAHNAWAKE, Quebec -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Jackpot Factory , an acclaimed online casino group, and leader in multiplayer slots tournaments, proudly presents the top winners of the $200,000 Grand Final Tournament, which took place November 7th-10th as part of the group's $500,000 World Series of Slots.
Read entire article here.
Nov 17, 2008 - Judges grant stay in Kentucky gambling case
FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- As reported by the
Louisville Courier-Journal: "The Court of Appeals yesterday blocked Franklin
Circuit Court from proceeding with Gov. Steve Beshear's lawsuit against 141
gambling Web sites until appellate judges hear oral arguments and rule on the
matter.
"Internet gambling and domain name trade groups asked the Court of Appeals to
intervene after Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate ruled last month that he
has the right to decide whether control of the Web sites must be forfeited to
Kentucky.
Nov 12, 2008 - Banks given until Dec. 1, 2009 to comply with UIGEA
Breaking news: The U.S. Department of Treasury and Federal Reserve announced a joint rule Wednesday to implement and enforce the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The rule relies on financial institutions performing due diligence on corporate customers to ensure they're not processing online gambling transactions.
Read entire article here.
Nov 12, 2008 -Rome Casino intends to stay in US market
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- While Microgaming online casinos have been forced to shut their doors to American players this week, RomeCasino.com confirms that it will continue to serve US players and is increasing its support staff to accommodate a flood of new players that have been blocked by their former favourite casinos. Rome Partners, the popular online casino's affiliate program, has been extremely busy with inquiries from webmasters that are scrambling to reroute their US traffic now blocked by their previous partners.
Read entire article here.
Nov 11, 2008 - Barney Frank urges delay on Internet gambling rules
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As reported by Reuters: "A
senior congressional Democrat on Monday accused the Bush administration of
rushing to implement Internet gambling rules that have raised concerns among
banks before it leaves office on January 20.
"'I am deeply disappointed to hear that your agency is proceeding with what I
consider to be unseemly haste in issuing regulations implementing the Unlawful
Internet Gambling Enforcement Act,' House Financial Committee Chairman Barney
Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, said in a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary
Henry Paulson.
Read entire article
here.
Nov 10, 2008 - Pressmybet offers more online casinos that accept US players
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Microgaming online casinos used to make up a large portion of the content, for USA players, at PressMyBet, however that now has to change. PressMyBet really tries to take care of all of it's USA players, in addition to all international gamblers. To do so, PressMyBet has organized all of it's information so that players can quickly find the information they're looking for. In reality, any player should be able to find what they're looking for in under 5 minutes. They have recently updated their list of casinos that accept USA players to include more RTG casinos and more Rival casinos to help them find a replacement for the Microgaming casinos that they were playing at.Read entire article
here.
Nov 10, 2008 - Obama Promises To Protect The Internet
President-Elect Obama and his newly-chosen team of
advisors have established a website at change.gov highlighting the changes they
wish to bring about to the USA and the world.
These ideas and campaigns will come into effect after his inauguration in
January and one of the promises listed is to protect the Internet from
censorship and government interference – surely a good sign for those affected
by the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
Read entire article
here.
Nov 5, 2008 - Antigua Set To Attract Britons With Online Casinos
Recently, Online Casino News reported that Antigua
could well be the next online gaming capital of the world following their recent
success in the industry.
Now our predictions are coming true as the British government has officially
recognized that the online casino industry in Antigua and Barbuda is
sufficiently regulated and safe.
Read entire article
here.
Nov 5, 2008 - Kentucky Implicated In Microgaming Inactivity
Recently, the website of one of the largest online casino software providers on the web was inaccessible, prompting rumours that it had been seized in the current Kentucky online gambling crisis.The mass domain name seizure of online gaming sites by the Kentucky government has dominated the headlines of online casino sites. Plans to seize 141 domain names later this month as part of Governor Steve Beshear’s drive against online gambling are being contested in court.
Read entire article
here.
Nov 4, 2008 - Betting firm told to repay cheated
MONTREAL - With a former Ontario premier and
a onetime RCMP commissioner on its board, Toronto-based Excapsa Software Inc.
tried to put a respectable face on the murky business of online gambling.
But now Excapsa, which sold its assets in 2006 and is undergoing liquidation
proceedings in Ontario Superior Court, has been tied to a multi-million- dollar
cheating scandal involving a popular poker site, UltimateBet.com.The site is run
out of the Mohawk reserve of Kahnawake, on the outskirts of Montreal, and was
bought from Excapsa in 2006 by former Kahnawake grand chief Joe Norton.
Read entire article here.
Oct 31, 2008 - Finalists announced for gaming industry communications awards
WASHINGTON, DC -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The
American Gaming Association (AGA) today announced finalists for the 2008 Gaming
Voice Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in public relations,
marketing, advertising and financial and corporate communications in the gaming
industry.
The finalists, which represent 21 gaming companies, properties and organizations
from across North America, were named in 15 categories, including best 2007
annual report, best customer publication, best print, outdoor, radio and
television advertisements, best direct mail, best Web site, and best public
affairs and multi-format advertising campaigns. A panel of judges with expertise
in advertising, marketing, public relations, Internet design, graphic arts and
financial communications evaluated more than 270 entries, the highest number in
the award program's history, to determine the 47 finalists.
Read entire article here.
Oct 31, 2008 - Poker Hall of Fame announces 2008 inductees
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -– The
Poker Hall of Fame has announced its 2008 Class, and what a class it is.
Duane "Dewey" Tomko, a three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, a
two-time Main Event runner-up, and the holder of the longest consecutive Main
Event participation record (35 years) will become poker's newest Hall of Fame
member.
Tomko will enter alongside Henry Orenstein, a Holocaust survivor who won the
1996 World Series of Poker Seven-Card Stud Championship and also cashed twice in
the Main Event, including a final table finish at the 1995 World Series of Poker
Main Event.
Read entire article
here.
Oct 28, 2008 - Net filters may block gambling sites in Australia
SYDNEY, Australia -- As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald:
"Family First Senator Steve Fielding wants hardcore pornography and fetish
material blocked under the Government's plans to filter the internet, sparking
renewed fears the censorship could be expanded well beyond 'illegal material'.
"The Opposition said it would take 'a lot of convincing' for it to support the
controversial mandatory ISP filtering policy, so the Government would need the
support of Senator Fielding as well as the Greens and Senator Nick Xenophon to
pass the legislation.
Read entire article
Oct 28, 2008 - Bodog player strikes it rich after switch
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Kelly J. of Calif. made the decision of a lifetime when she opted to switch up her routine, giving Bodog Casino's Caribbean Stud a go instead of her usual game, Let 'Em Ride. Just three hands into her first round of Caribbean Stud she struck gold, and lots of it. Opting to throw an extra dollar into the mix for a shot at the progressive jackpot turned out to be the best investment she has ever made as she watched in total disbelief as she was dealt the mother of all hands, a Royal Flush. Even though the dealer didn't qualify, that extra dollar qualified her for the progressive jackpot, which won her a whopping $141,000!
Read entire article
here.
Oct 27, 2008 - New Casino News Show episode released online
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- A new episode of the Casino News Show (www.Casino-News-Show.TV) has just gone online featuring an update on the Mega Moolah jackpot, a report on the World Series of Slots, and a new 3D casino game. The free webcast provides regular updates on progressive jackpots, tournaments and new games. The site includes live jackpot tickers from all the major online casino progressive jackpots including the Mega Moolah, Beach Life, Millionaires Club, Midlife Crisis and Shopping Spree.
Read entire article
here.
Oct 23, 2008 - iMEGA Files Motion To Block Domain Seizure
With Judge Thomas Wingate refusing to
dismiss the state of Kentucky's attempt to claim 141 online gambling domain
names, the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) has
filed a motion with the Kentucky Court of Appeals to prevent the said seizure.
According to a release, "iMEGA petitioned the Kentucky Court of Appeals for a
writ of mandamus, to block a lower court’s decision allowing Kentucky to
seize 141 domain names."
Many believe the ruling sets bad precendent and it has been suggested that the
state could go after other sites.
Oct 23, 2008 - Postmistress sentenced in online gambling scandal
ENGLAND -- As reported by the BBC: "Janine Powell was found guilty
last month of stealing from Cowleymoor Post Office between March 2006 and
February 2007.
"Powell, 37, of Newbarn Park Road, Taunton, Somerset, was sentenced to 18 months
at Truro Crown Court. At the time of the thefts, she was living above the post
office.
Read entire article
here.
Oct 21, 2008 -NETELLER Introduces New e-Wallet Option
According to NETELLER's corporate
website, the online payment service provider will be offering another pay
option.
In association with partner TransSend Payment Services, NETELLER e-Wallet
holders now have the option of using two new Net+ Cards by MasterCard.
While the first is a tangible, plastic card with CHIP technology for
point-of-sale purchases, the second is a virtual card for online purchases.
Like a gift card, the "Net+ Virtual Prepaid Card" can only be used once and
produces an individual number solely for the customer which appears at the
online checkout stand—it is only valid at merchants that accept MasterCard.
Read entire article
here
With a large amount of children in the United Kingdom addicted to gambling, the British government says that online gambling companies should foot the bill for social programs to curb problem gambling.
A recent study from the UK's Gambling Commission estimates that one million children in the UK are addicted to gambling with an additional two million people under the age of 18 at risk to become addicted.
While many are blaming lax laws by the government for the dilemma, according to the UK's Daily Mail, the government sees fit to introduce a plan that would force online gambling companies to pay £19 million over the span of three years in order to help finance programs that would aim to educate and treat gambling addicts as well as fund problem gambling research.
Read entire article
here.
Oct 16, 2008 -
Kentucky judge gives online gambling sites 30
days to block access
Judge Thomas Wingate has given 141 online
gambling sites 30 days to block access to Kentucky residents. Sites that comply
will be freed from Kentucky's domain seizure order. Sites that don't comply will
have to appear before Wingate on Nov. 17 to argue their case.
Read entire article here.
9/22/08 - Hope for online poker advocates
WASHINGTON, D.C -- With the
congressional session winding down in Washington, some gamblers and online poker
advocates were caught off guard when the House Financial Services Committee
recently introduced, then passed, a bill that would overturn much of the
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
The bill, HR6870, would likely make it easier for Internet poker players to make
deposits and cash out winnings online.
The enforcement act, signed into law by President Bush in 2006, severely
restricts financial transactions linked to online gambling. After its passage,
several major poker sites pulled out of the U.S. market.
Efforts to overturn the law are followed closely in Las Vegas, which has become
the de facto home of many major players with online gambling interests.
Jay Lakin, the co-owner and vice president of Poker Source Online, praised the
committee chairman, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., for leading the drive against
the enforcement act.
Read entire article
here.
9/20/08 - New Technology To Revolutionise Online Casinos
LGS, the world’s first multiple
live dealer offering, promises to revolutionise online gaming when it is
revealed at the EIG conference in Barcelona on Wednesday.
It is the only online casino product featuring not only live dealers, but from
multiple sites. This is sure to increase trust between casino and customer.
Read entire article
here.
9/18/08 - EU gambling firms see WTO case coming against U.S
WASHINGTON -- As reported by
Reuters: "A dispute over U.S. enforcement actions against European Union online
gambling companies could be headed to the World Trade Organization soon, an
European industry group said on Wednesday.
"'It looks very much as if this matter will ... be sent to the WTO at the end of
the commission's investigation,' Lode Van Den Hende, outside counsel for the
Remote Gambling Association, told reporters as EU officials were in Washington
to probe U.S. Justice Department enforcement actions.
"That would open the door for possible European sanctions on the United States,
although it could take years for any case to make its way through the WTO
litigation system..."
9/16/08 - Vegas Red Casino to give away free beer for a year
PRESS RELEASE -- Vegas Red
online casino is running a special promotion coinciding with the popular German
holiday Oktoberfest, which starts later this month in Munich and is celebrated
by beer lovers worldwide. The unique promotion will run from September 15th to
October 8th, and will grant one lucky winner a year's supply of free beer
delivered to his or her home.
Every deposit counts during this fun online competition, and every member is
eligible to enter. In addition to the grand prize of a year's supply of beer,
there will also be Second and Third prizes worth bundles of "Oktobercash".
Casino Manager Sarah Banks reveled: "This one-of-a-kind giveaway is sure to
thrill our members. We asked ourselves what better way to celebrate one of the
happiest occasions of the summer. After all - who doesn't like free beer? Fun
promotions like these are why our members love to party at Vegas Red!"
9/16/08 - U.K. online gaming industry expected to grow
LONDON -- (PRESS RELEASE) --
Online gaming industry review site OnlineGaming4U.co.uk
(www.onlinegaming4u.co.uk) has today predicted strong growth for the UK online
gambling industry over the next few years, as a result of more favourable
gambling legislation and the continued growth of the Internet.
The casino review site suggested that less stringent restrictions on advertising
gambling coupled with the increasing availability of fast, reliable broadband
connections will mean an increase in customer numbers for the gaming industry,
which will increase competition between casinos whilst providing steady
industry-wide growth over the coming years.
Read entire article
here.
8/29/08 - Canadian wins $4 million Joyland jackpot
CANADA -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Joyland Casino
announced the online casino's biggest winner who took more than $4 Million at
the "Beach Life" Progressive Jackpot.
Canadian player Sylvia P. joined Joyland casino on 5th August 2008 and received
the $25 free signup bonus. She enjoyed playing Joyland Casino games so much, she
deposited real money into her account. Less than 3 weeks later Sylvia has won
$4,188,719.98 playing the Beach Life Progressive Jackpot. Talk about beginners
luck.
Sylvia P.'s win was only a partial amount of what we paid out last week, and all
these payouts represent some of the largest we've had recently. Now Silvia knows
the phrase "Enjoy the winning feeling!" is not just a Joyland Casino slogan,
said Mia Collins, Joyland Casino's Client Manager. Silvia said she was attracted
to the casino's user friendly look and feel and smooth operation. Added to that,
she added the games are fun and easy to learn and play. Silvia knew all the well
known casino games and decided to play them from the comfort of her own home.
Read entire article here.
8/27/08 - Prepaid Cards From Neteller and Mastercard
NETELLER Plc, global
provider of online payments, is pleased to announce that it has signed a
contract with TransSend Payment Services, a leading provider of prepaid card
solutions, to provide Net+ MasterCard Prepaid Cards to its e-wallet customers.
Through its partnership with TransSend Payment Services, NETELLER will shortly
begin providing its e-wallet users with the opportunity to add Net+ cards to
their account – providing increased value, security, privacy and convenience.
The Net+ prepaid cards will be available by early October 2008 when NETELLER
e-wallet consumers can sign up for two new products:
Read entire article here.
8/27/08 -
New Online Casino To Be Unveiled By CasinoRewards
The CasinoRewards group of online casinos, one of the largest casino Microgaming
operators on the internet, has announced they reveal a new online casino in
November of this year.
The new casino is set to join BlackjackBallroom.com, CasinoClassic.com,
CaptainCooksCasino.com and the 15 online casinos, bringing the total to 19 by
the close of 2008.
Read entire article here.
8/27/08 - Casino Rewards adds new online casino
(PRESS RELEASE) -- 2008 has seen the Casino Rewards group of online casinos go from strength to strength. Keeping its ever growing player-base happy with numerous 5 figure payouts including the now much-publicized $5.5 million jackpot win by one Klaus E. of Finland in April, and acquiring 6 new online casinos to bring the total to 18, CasinoRewards.com is basking in its glory as one of the largest Microgaming casino operators in the Internet.
Read entire article here.
8/9/08 - Online Casino Gives Ultimate Live Experience
Recently-launched online gambling innovation
1LiveCasino aims to bring the real atmosphere of a live casino to your home via
the comfort of your PC. The live casino games featured are broadcast from the
Fitzwilliam Casino using trademarked Distance Gaming technology and include
Roulette, Baccarat, Texas Hold ‘em and Blackjack.
The live tables featuring real dealers give players a more genuine gaming
experience but also improves the trust factor between clientele and casino.
Read entire article here.
8/8/08 -
Lawmakers urge online probe suspended
WASHINGTON, DC -- As reported by Reuters: "Two U.S. lawmakers have urged the
U.S. Justice Department to suspend its investigation of European Internet
gambling companies for possible criminal violations that occurred before
Congress passed a law in 2006 to crack down on online gambling.
"Rep. Robert Wexler, a Florida Democrat, and Rep. Steve Cohen, a Tennessee
Democrat, warned U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey in separate letters the
issue could lead to a potentially damaging trade spat between the United States
and the European Union at the World Trade Organization.
Read entire article here.
8/7/08 - RomeCasino.com offers US-friendly software
GIBRALTAR -- (PRESS RELEASE) --
RomeCasino.com's new
US-friendly software now gets players directly to the action quicker and easier
than any other online casino. New on demand game downloading is the fastest in
the industry, and unique tabbed games mean players can play several games at
once and switch instantly from one to another. Since
RomeCasino.com is one of
the only online casinos to accept all three major credit cards, the cashier is
also quick and easy for both American and European players.
RomeCasino.com, popular with European online casino players for some time now,
has more than a hundred unique games and state-of-the-art 3D graphics and sound
effects. The new US-friendly casino software includes revamped versions of
classic and new games including a variety of classic slots, video slots, video
poker, roulette, multi-hand blackjack, keno and more.
Read entire article
here.
7/29/08 - New Online Bank Has Direct Connections to iGaming
July 29, 2008 (InfoPowa) --
Claiming
to be the first independent bank to launch since the dotcom boom in 2001 and the
first to be authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Services Authority
(FSA), a new online bank branded Ivobank.com (http://ivobank.com/)
launched in London this week.
The bank ownership by the Sampoerna family out of Indonesia will be familiar to
online gamblers who frequent the Mansion group, which is also owned by the
family.
Ivobank is offering fast and secure online payment and money transfer services
under the oversight of the UK Financial Services Authority (registered in
England and Wales No. 5486286), and plans to have one million customers within
the next five years. The bank allows customers to move money instantly from
online accounts to friends and family overseas, making it attractive and
practical for international money transfers.
Read entire article here.
7/29/08 - Kahnawake Gaming Commission appoints investigation team
KAHNAWAKE, Canada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Effective immediately, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) has appointed an independent monitor, led by former New Jersey State Gaming Regulator, Frank Catania, to investigate the KGC Licensee, Tokwiro Ent., parent company of both Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet. Mr. Catania is a former Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), the regulatory and enforcement agency responsible for maintaining integrity and trust in all Atlantic City gaming operations.
Read entire article here.
7/29/08 - Ivobank offers online services
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -– A new
online bank catering for gaming businesses and enthusiasts has launched,
offering fast and secure online payment and money transfer services.
Ivobank is believed to be the first independent bank to launch since the dotcom
boom in 2001 and the first to be authorised and regulated by the Financial
Services Authority (FSA).
Backed by the Sampoerna family, Ivobank plans to have one million customers
within the next five years. Ivobank's Managing Director, Timothy Sawyer, said
while the bank is open to anyone, it had been specifically designed with online
gamers in mind.
"The online gaming industry has developed rapidly in recent years, but the
financial services supporting it have not kept pace," Mr Sawyer said.
"Many online businesses and customers have been ill-served to date, resulting in
relatively high costs and relatively low levels of service.
Read entire article
here.
6/23/08 - Lawmakers to vote on suspending the UIGEA
Things are about to get very interesting on the
Hill.
Tomorrow, June 24, should see a scheduled vote by the US House Committee on
Financial Services regarding H.R. 5767. Specifically, that bill is Barney
Frank's legislation to effectively suspend the UIGEA from ever being enforced.
So, what does this mean?
Well, Democrat Barney Frank sponsored the bill and is also the Chairman of the
Committee, so that's a good sign. The bill was co-sponsored by Republican
presidential candidate Ron Paul, who also sits on the committee - another good
sign. As well, the number of Democrats on the committee outnumbers the
Republicans.
So, all things considered, one would have to think that this bill has a pretty
good chance of passing through this vote.
Read entire article
here.
6/19/08 - IOC to monitor suspicious gambling
CHINA -- As reported by the Brisbane Times: "The International Olympic Committee
has introduced new anti-gambling measures to quash any suspicion about results
at the Olympic Games in China - a country that has an annual gambling turnover
of $US100 billion.
"But at least one betting agency believes the new rules don't go far enough and
described the measures as akin to banning drug-taking, but not testing any
athletes.
Read entire article
here.
6/18/08 -
Cort
Expects Gaming Resolution This Week
Antiguan and Barbudan officials are hoping that a long-awaited agreement with
the United States can be reached as early as this week.
According to Minister of Finance and the Economy Dr. Errol Cort, Antigua and
Barbuda and the USA have agreed to extend the hiatus in their World Trade
Organization (WTO) internet gambling trade dispute until this Friday.
The last postponement of the dispute at the WTO ran out on 6 June, officially
restarting the WTO arbitration process, but Dr. Cort confirmed yesterday that
the sides hope to thrash out a bilateral agreement this week.
“We are still working on a possible settlement and we will use this week to see
how best we can conclude and effect a settlement in this matter, so we thought
that it would be useful to extend the timeframe from 6 June to 20 June, to allow
the parties some more time to see whether it is possible to resolve this
matter,” Dr. Cort told the Antigua Sun.
Read entire article
here.
6/16/08 -
eCOGRA
board welcomes new director
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The online gambling player protection and
standards organisation eCOGRA has announced a change to its 7 person Board of
Directors, in which Chris Hobbs, Head of Corporate Affairs at Microgaming
replaces Roger Raatgever as one of the Founder Directors of the independent,
non-profit body. The other Founder Member seats are held by bwin and 888.com.
Under the eCOGRA charter, the Board currently consists of three Member Directors
and four Independent Directors.
The Independent Directors, to whom CEO Andrew Beveridge reports, are solely
responsible for the executive control of eCOGRA and the activities of its
powerful Seals Compliance and Audit Committees, which test and monitor `Safe and
Fair` seal operators and control the award, review and if necessary revocation
of the seals.
Read entire article
here.
6/2/08 - Native policing of gambling in doubt after online cheating
MONTREAL, Canada – As reported by The
National Post: "Confidence in the ability of Mohawk regulators to police
lucrative online gambling operations on the Kahnawake reserve has been shaken
following the second cheating scandal in less than a year.
"UltimateBet.com, which is owned by a company controlled by former Kahnawake
grand chief Joe Norton, acknowledged on Thursday that unnamed insiders had
altered its poker software to allow them to see opponents' hidden cards.
Read entire article
here.
5/30/08 - UltimateBet admits cheating occurred
UltimateBet's owners, Tokwiro Enterprises
ENRG, admitted Thursday that UltimateBet security had been breached by former
employees and accounts with access to opponent's hole cards were used to cheat
in high-stakes games.
"Certain player accounts did in fact have an unfair advantage, and that these
accounts targeted the highest limit games on the site," said the company in a
statement. "The individuals responsible were found to have worked for the
previous ownership of UltimateBet prior to the sale of the business to Tokwiro
in October 2006. Tokwiro is taking full responsibility for this situation and
will immediately begin refunding UltimateBet customers for any losses that were
incurred as a result of unfair play."
Read entire article here.
5/22/08- ALC audit shows security risks
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND -- As reported by the Guardian: "A forensic audit of Atlantic Lottery Corporation's workings has uncovered a host of high-risk security issues with the racino at the Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre.
"But a lottery spokesman said Tuesday concerns have been addressed.
"'We welcome the report (and) we've already implemented close to 90 per cent of the recommendations the report gave us,' said ALC spokesman Robert Bourgeois. KPMG was asked by the four Atlantic provinces that own Atlantic Lottery Corporation to review their operations.
Read entire article here.
5/22/08 - UAW plans Atlantic City rally
ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey -- As reported by the Press of Atlantic
City: "Dealers from at least four casinos will take to the streets next month
for a demonstration calling for fair contract negotiations, the United Auto
Workers union announced Tuesday.
"The rally, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. June 21, is expected to include Ron
Gettelfinger, president of the Detroit-based UAW, and John Sweeney, president of
the AFL-CIO, the nation's largest union coalition. Thousands of union members
throughout New Jersey, as well as Detroit, New York, Connecticut and Washington,
D.C., are being asked to march in support.
Read entire article here.
5/14/08- US Justice Department Names New Attorney in Suit Filed by iMEGA
The US Department of Justice named a new attorney for their
defense in iMEGA v. Gonzales, et al, the Interactive Media Entertainment
and Gaming Association's challenge of the Unlawful Internet Gambling
Enforcement Act (UIGEA) which now moves to the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals
in Philadelphia.
Nicholas John Bagley is a fairly new attorney with the US DoJ, joining in late
2007. He graduated from New York University School of Law in
2005, near the top of his class and Order of the Coif. He received his bachelors
degree from Yale University. Mr.Bagley, who taught 8th grade English in a NYC
public school before matriculating at NYU, clerked for Judge David Tatel of the
Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and then Supreme Court Justice John Paul
Stevens.
Read entire article
here.
5/9/08 - Onex Corp. eyes Tropicana Entertainment
"In gambling, the focus isn't just on the neon and flash of the Las Vegas strip, where the Tropicana is a well-known name in lights, but in more out-of-the-way places. Onex made a bid for Gateway Casinos Income Fund, which runs gambling operations in Western Canada, but fell short in that 2007 takeover battle.
Read entire article
here.
5/8/08 - UK Gambling Commission Releases Study Results
In the UK, a study from the Gambling
Commission has found that the proportion of adults participating in remote forms
of gambling has remained static at 8.8 percent for the year despite the lifting
of restrictions on advertising.
The Commission is the regulatory body for all forms of gambling in the UK and
the findings came following a national representative sample survey of 8,000
people conducted by ICM research.
Excluding remote participation in the National Lottery, the survey found that
only 5.1 percent of respondents had gambled online or by using a mobile device
or interactive television in the past month compared to 5.2 percent a year ago.
The study found that Internet gaming continues to be the most popular way to
participate at 7.1 percent, which compared to 6.9 percent in March of last year
and 5.2 percent in 2006.
5/8/08 - Gaming Giants Join Forces In Three-Year Deal
Software developer CryptoLogic Ltd and online casino giants 888
yesterday announced the successful signing of a three-year contract between the
two companies.
This agreement means that 888 will be able to integrate games of their choice
from CryptoLogic into their ever-expanding online casino. CryptoLogic boasts
over 200 games, from popular casino entertainment to other games such as Sudoku
or Bejewelled.
Read entire article
5/8/08 - Belle Rock Entertainment launches multiplayer slots tournament
GIBRALTAR -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Online slots players are in for hours of free fun when gaming giant, Belle Rock Entertainment, launches its first multiplayer slots tournament at two of its online casinos later this week. Aimed specifically at beginners, the US$30 000 Adventure Slots Tournament will be hosted at JackpotCity.com and River Belle Online Casino and will run from, Friday 9 May until Saturday 31 May 2008.
"Multiplayer Slots Tournaments sounds quite daunting, but our event is specifically designed to cater for inexperienced players," said Tim Johnson, Chairman of Belle Rock Entertainment. "Online slots are popular with beginners and we wanted to share the excitement of a Multiplayer Tournament with them. As this is a free tournament there are no barriers to entry and players are in for hours of fun and good winnings as the ultimate winner could walk away with US$10 000 without having to spend a sent."
Read entire article here.
4/20/08 - American Players Have Easy Access To Legal Sites
A list of online casinos still accepting US players has been published by PressMyBet.com, allowing those Americans frustrated at the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act to seek out their riches legally.
The Act, passed in October 2006, prevents US players from accessing many online gambling sites, most prolifically PartyGaming, whose shares plummeted in the aftermath.
Read entire article here.
4/15/08 - Exec doesn't expect online ban to be lifted soon
WASHINGTON, DC -- Although he supports congressional efforts to roll back the Internet gambling ban, the vice president of a poker Web site on Monday said he is skeptical that will happen in the near future.
"I don't want to be a naysayer, but things move very, very slowly in Congress," said Jay Lakin, vice president of Poker Source Online, which is headquartered near San Jose, Costa Rica.
Lakin said he is taking a "wait and see attitude" about a bill introduced last week by Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Ron Paul, R-Texas, that would prevent the Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve from proposing regulations to enforce the 2006 ban.
Read entire article
here.
4/14/08 - Official moves to block bet regulations
WASHINGTON -- Regulations to enforce an Internet gambling ban would be blocked under a bill introduced this week by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
"These regulations are impossible to implement without placing a significant burden on the payments system and financial institutions," Frank said in a statement on Friday.
Frank's bill, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, was introduced Thursday and would prohibit the Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve from proposing regulations to enforce the Internet gambling ban enacted in 2006.
Read entire article
here.
4/3/08 - News analysis of Wednesday's hearing on UIGEA regulations
Let's be perfectly clear here. Wednesday's congressional hearing on the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act's (UGIEA) regulations exposed the anti-online gambling law as poorly constructed and nearly impossible to enforce. But it did not kill it by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, Congress sent regulators back to the drawing board with the hopes that they could clean up the enforcement mess that the UIGEA has created.
Read entire article
here.
4/3/08 - Experts testify online ban won't work
WASHINGTON, DC -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Expert testimony to Congress today offered further evidence that the ban on Internet gambling won't work. Witnesses unanimously agreed that U.S. financial service companies would face serious regulatory burdens in attempting to enforce the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA), a law that is not likely to stop millions of Americans from gambling online.
Read entire article
here.
4/1/08 - Slots Site Launches Fundraising Site for African Aid Project
Two years ago, Slotland.com told their thousands of regular community members that they'd committed to funding an essential development project in Malawi, Africa. A small group of dedicated aid workers asked them for help and they couldn't say no. The overwhelming support of the Slotland.com online community has inspired Slotland.com to continue funding the project and to expand the scope.
Read all about it here.
3/5/08 - Judge Rules in Favor of iMEGA Online Gambling Challenge
This story is still developing. Gambling911.com is on top of this
story as the news broke at 12:15 pm EST Thursday.
The Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) today applauded
the decision by Judge Mary L. Cooper, of the U.S. District Court for the
District of New Jersey, granting iMEGA the standing to pursue a challenge of the
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). This is a significant
victory for iMEGA in the case of iMEGA v. Gonzales, et al.
“Granting iMEGA standing is a major victory any way you look at it,” said Eric
M. Bernstein, Esq., attorney for iMEGA. “Judge Cooper’s ruling holds that, even
with the passage of UIGEA, online gambling is only illegal in states where a
statute specifically says it is.”
“iMEGA is very pleased that the Court recognized our standing and the weaknesses in UIGEA” said Joe Brennan Jr., the chairman of iMEGA. “Judge Cooper found that banks, credit card companies and other payment system instruments are exempt from criminal sanctions under UIGEA, significantly undercutting UIGEA’s enforcement mechanism. Her ruling echoes the growing consensus of opinion that UIGEA is a fundamentally flawed statute.”
Read entire article here.
2/20/08 - US Congress Failure To Act Proves Expensive
The US Department of Justice has turned a minor legal problem limited to interstate horseracing into a major headache on all aspects of remote wagering including purely intrastate betting on horseracing, dog racing and possibly poker.
This is the opinion of Nelson Rose, Professor of Law at California’s Whittier Law School and founder of GamblingAndTheLaw.com, who stated that a decision against the US by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) treaty was not that bad but had been made worse by the American’s unwillingness to change.
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2/20/08 - World Gaming ready to be launched
TORONTO, Ontario -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- World Gaming today announced the imminent launch of WorldGaming.com, the premier online destination for console gamers from around the world to network and challenge one another in tournaments for REAL money. Currently, gamers can sign up at worldgaming.com for a chance to participate in the site's closed beta, as well as an opportunity to win up to $50,000 in cash and prizes!
WorldGaming.com users will be able to meet and compete on all of today's top consoles (Sony PlayStation® 2, Sony PLAYSTATION® 3, Microsoft Xbox™, and Microsoft Xbox 360™). At launch, WorldGaming.com will offer one-on-one challenges and multiplayer tournaments in a variety of games across multiple genres, from first-person shooters like Halo 3 and Resistance: Fall of Man, to the most popular sports titles, including Madden '08, NBA Live, FIFA Soccer and many more – with new titles added regularly.
Read entire article
here.
2/19/08 - Casino Rewards wins CAP award
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- (PRESS
RELEASE) -- Casino Rewards/Rewards Affiliates is still proving to be the most
trusted and respected casino affiliate program in the industry, walking away
with the CAP Awards' Best Casino Affiliate Program at the prestigious black tie
event at the Olympia Conference Centre in London last month.
Affiliate programmes from all over the world were nominated in 14 categories.
Casino Rewards/Rewards Affiliates was recognized for its efforts in building
long-term, profitable relationships for all affiliates, with competitive
commissions, prompt payouts, excellent reporting/stat information and a team of
helpful staff providing personal levels of support.
