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Welcome to Bet Sages Gambling News Section, featuring the latest breaking
gambling industry news courtesy of InfoPowa News. This is your one stop source for
all and any of the latest developments concerning leisure based wagering
activities on the internet.
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| 09 FEBRUARY 2007 : HEADLINES |
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Top level roundtable discussion plans ambitious international initiative to better potect problem gamblers
A new global initiative and international code of conduct to address responsible online gambling procedures is under discussion by the industry following a top-level roundtable discussion held at a recent London trade show.
The roundtable, convened by top software developer Microgaming, discussed the need to review what is currently being done by the industry and how a single common code might be created and implemented globally. The resulting draft code of practice is likely to cover individual operating sites as well as software providers.
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Initial confusion over new e-wallet company
In the turmoil caused by Neteller's enforced exit from the US market (see previous InfoPowa reports) U.S. players have seen new alternative e-wallet names popping up amid advisories to be cautious regarding deposits. In past weeks brands like NuCharge (Bodog), InstaPAY (Intertops) and MyWebATM (Full Tilt) have all come to the fore and are being evaluated by many players determined to continue with online gambling.
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But questions are asked about stopping new signups but retaining existing customers with no way to pay
The latest online casino group to reverse out of the US market appears to be Vegas Partners Lounge, according to player and affiliate communications from the group this week.
The Microgaming powered group comprises well established brands including Cinema Casino, Crazy Vegas Casino, Maple Casino, Sun Vegas Casino, 777 Dragon, Arthurian Casino, Casino US, Casino UK and Crazy Online Poker Room.
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New quality and integrity kitemark safeguards users of gambling information portals
The Gambling Portal Webmaster Association (GPWA) has undergone a significant revitalisation with renewed emphasis on professionalism and integrity following its acquisition last year by Casino City's energetic owner Michael Corfman. One of the innovations Corfman has introduced has been a kitemark to identify responsible gambling portals that comply with new standards agreed by members of the GPWA.
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"Instead of raising tax revenue from football betting, the government chooses to prosecute morality."
The Los Angeles Times published a timely op-ed piece on federal interference in online gamling leading up to this weekend's US Superbowl football spectacular, saying that millions of Americans have engaged in criminal behaviour leading up to the big match.
"You know who you are those of you outside Nevada who placed bets on the Indianapolis Colts or Chicago Bears," the author writes with some sarcasm. "It's estimated that about $5 billion will be on the line this afternoon in a nation in which even office pools are technically illegal in some states."
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And new registrations are up, too
It appears that European-facing gambling group Gaming VC has successfully weathered the sudden departure last year of its CEO with the announcement this week of Kenny Alexander (37) as the new chief.
Alexander will take up the position soon, and was formerly managing director of European operations at Sportingbet since 2002.
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Maharajah Club sponsored tourney destined to become one of the biggest in the East
The richest poker tournament in Asia just got richer organisers of the Asian Poker Classic (APC) have guaranteed a minimum add-in of $250 000 to the prize pool, which means more than $1million could be available at the first professional poker tournament ever staged in India. With the addition, the MaharajahClub.com sponsored tourney is set to be one of the biggest events on the Eastern poker calendar.
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Two single player internet mahjong games launched
Kiwi Casino's no download sister, FastWin Casino has introduced Solo Mahjong and Solo Mahjong Pro, two new single player versions of the classic Chinese game of Mahjong. These two games are offered in both the Japanese and World Mahjong Federation Rules.
Solo Mahjong requires no prior knowledge of Mahjong but players will learn some of the basic concepts of traditional Chinese game as they play this exciting variation. At the start of the game they'll be presented with a ready hand (one tile away from a win), where they'll have three chances to complete a winning hand by selecting a tile from a collection of 24 face down tiles.
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Professional protection necessary in many cases
London's Financial Times has reported that online betting on the lucrative Grand National horse race is under threat from hackers who are blackmailing internet bookmakers with demands for money.
If they are not paid, the hackers say they will launch a co-ordinated electronic DDOS attack that could cost the betting industry heavily in lost business in the run-up to Britain's premier betting event in April.
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Cybersecurity vendor notes that during the runup to the Super Bowl, Americans are still visitng gambling sites despite the new law
IDG News Service in the States reported this week that the law prohibiting U.S. financial institutions from processing payments to online gambling sites hasn't stopped U.S. employees from visiting sports betting sites, according to cybersecurity vendor ScanSafe.
Attempted visits to online sports gambling Web sites by employees of ScanSafe's U.S. customers were up 77 percent in the week between January 23 and 31, IDG reported. The Super Bowl, the National Football League's championship game, is this Sunday.
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Global Smartphone access will need no system changes
Just when consumers are hearing about revolutionary new Smartphones like the Apple iPhone; Motorola ROKR E2, and others, Conet E-commerce Services N.V., a Curacao, Netherlands Antilles technology company has announced it is rolling out a new platform that can make almost any proprietary Internet system accessible by Smartphone subscribers without the need to redevelop their Internet system.
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Evolution takes on new marketing and sales managers
Evolution Gaming, which claims to be the first software provider to develop a live casino studio in Europe, has strengthened its sales and marketing team with the appointment of Fredrik Osterberg as Sales & Marketing Director, Ulf Gronqvist as Sales Manager and Sarah Jones as Marketing & PR Manager.
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Judge Jackson's patience runs out
Failure to comply with a December 28 order to appear in a US Court has landed British directors of the embattled BetonSports company in deeper trouble with a US Court.
Bloombergs business news service reports that the London-listed company, which is allegedly implicated in US accusations of racketeering and violating interstate gambling laws, was found in contempt of court for failing to answer charges when the US lawyer representing the company was unable to persuade the directors to make an appearance in US District Judge Carol Jackson's court.
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Betonsports accruing a $5 000 a day fine for failing to appear in US court
The price for being found in contempt of a US District Court was set at $5 000 a day this week following a judge's finding that the UK company BetonSports was in contempt for not appearing at an arraignment hearing (see previous InfoPowa reports)
At the companys behest attorney Jeffrey Demerath skipped another hearing February 2nd- a hearing that had been scheduled appropriately enough so the company could explain why it should not be held in contempt for skipping a previous hearing, back in January.
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Possibly consequences of Judge Heiman's ruling
Earlier this week InfoPowa reported on an important ruling by an Israeli judge, who found that online gambling sites outside Israel may not hide behind the fact that companies and servers may be located in another country.
It appeared this week that Bellerock may be excluding Israeli gamblers from its sites as a consequence of the ruling. Players from Israel reported receiving emails from the Gibraltar-based online gambling group which said:
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US player funds remain safe and secured, Isle of Man e-processor assures
The sad Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act fall-out for American online gamblers continued this week with Americans attempting to withdraw their funds from the Isle of Man regulated Neteller e-processor, and that company seemingly stymied by US actions that prevent it from paying out US players.
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Confirmation that U.S. Attorney has seized funds, stopping players from accessing their money.
With speculation and rumour running wild that the U.S. authorities have somehow managed to freeze Neteller payments to the e-wallet's former US clients, the British payment processor said on Thursday that the United States Attorney's Office (USAO) had seized funds, stopping customers from accessing their money.
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Legal discussions ongoing between e-wallet and U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
The return of funds to our US customers is a top priority for Neteller says Ron Martin, President and CEO.
Isle of Man based e-wallet Neteller has issued an update on its ongoing problems with getting US players paid following its withdrawal from the US market - and it looks as if the US authorities are primarily responsible for payout delays to US players.
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10 Events and $3.4 Million in Guaranteed Prizes
Poker enthusiasts will be looking forward to the third season of Full Tilt's Online Poker Series (FTOPS) following the announcement this week that the series will commence on February 9.
With $3.4 million in total guaranteed prize pools, spread over 10 events, and $1.5 million assured for the no-limit hold'em main event on February 18, that's a lot of action, excitement and reward to anticipate.
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Alberta gaming authority probing native band's online gambling scheme
If the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission doesn't approve and benefit from it, then online gambling is not likely to happen in the Canadian province seems to be the message from authorities in the Canadian province of Alberta this week.
A northern Alberta First Nation that is offering to host online casinos is under investigation by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, reports the Edmonton Journal newspaper.
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European Commission could "...add support to our case and help encourage us to get the right results," says Mendel
The senior lawyer representing the interests of Antigua and Barbuda in its World Trade Organisation tussle with the United States over online gambling has responded positively to comments last week from EC competition commissioner Charlie McCreevy regarding US protectionism.
Antigua and Barbudas attorney Mark Mendel told ATE Online that he would be seeking to meet with McCreevy to explore how his countrys trade dispute with the US could benefit from expanded European Commission support following a WTO ruling that went against the United States recently.
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Marketing agency hard at work on new venture
British online gambling group William Hill is set to take its first steps into the online bingo arena and has appointed the UK full service marketing agency, Prego, to spearhead the new venture William Hill Bingo.com.
The new site allows customers to play games with a variety of ticket prices, and also enables players to chat live online with friends around the clock.
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Jupiter Research commissioned by Everest Poker studied poker player attitudes in six European nations
The Everest Poker commissioned Jupiter Research project to conduct a Pan-European survey identifying the demographic and behavioural characteristics of the poker playing community in Europe has produced some interesting results. Nearly 2 000 consumers in France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and Italy completed the survey online which is the first poker-specific survey on European players to be published.
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Unique rewards and plenty of action promised as Cryptologic-powered site debuts
PlayboyGaming.com has launched its new online gaming site, offering online players the opportunity to win not only money, but also money-can't-buy Playboy experiences. Players will earn Bunny Money via their game play, which can be traded in at the PlayboyGaming.com Rewards Club for exclusive VIP trips to the Playboy Club in Las Vegas, lunch with Playmates and exclusive invites to Hugh Hefner's famous Playboy Mansion parties.
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Is online gambling a terrorist front? To some, government's tactics smack of Prohibition, religious mania
The Las Vegas Business Press this week published an article by writer Bob Shemeligan on the current US situation which claims that US federal officials, already incensed over billions in gambling revenues leaving the U.S.A, are trying to link Web gambling to terrorism.
Quoting Saverio Scheri of WhiteSand Consulting, the article postulates that the reason why a lot of American land-based casinos have so far backed away from the Internet and offshore enterprises is because of the Patriot Act. "Investigators believe some of that money is being laundered and is ending up in the hands of terrorist groups," says Scheri.
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700 cops will launch three-month campaign against online defamation, campaign violations, porn and gambling
Rein in the flaming and look over your shoulder if you'e in Korea - the Asia Media reports this week that Korean officials are apparently intent on tightening control of the Internet for their citizens with a series of raids and other enforcement actions planned.
People committing illegal acts online, including defaming someone or campaigning before government's designated campaign periods begin, will be subject to punishment, police said Monday.
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Fortune Lounge's PokerTime gets eCOGRA "Play It Safe" seal
Poker players across the globe will now find the familiar eCOGRA "Play It Safe" seal on Fortune Lounge's premier poker room, PokerTime.com.
The independent, non-profit standards authority and player protection body requires that Poker seal holders such as PokerTime, are financially stable and have adequate reserves. The probity of the poker room's management is scrutinised, together with player protection measures, payout times and financial facilities, games fairness, responsive support and general operational efficiency.
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Worldwide eCOGRA survey used as information base for article
The leading poker magazine Bluff was among the first major publications to study the recently released Global Player Survey from online gambling standards body eCOGRA this month, focusing on findings in the study relating to women poker players.
Bluff zeros in on the fact that more women are playing online poker than ever. "Nearly 30 percent of all participants in this extensive study examining player behaviour are female, up from 15 percent in 2004," the article reveals going on to explain that an international gaming company confirms the trend is picking up on the corporate side, where more and more women are entering the gaming industry in leading positions.
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Poker winner to settle jackpot dispute
Associated Press reports that World Series of Poker main event winner Jamie Gold has agreed to settle a dispute over half of the tournament's $12 million grand prize.
In a joint, signed statement released Tuesday to the AP, Gold and Los Angeles-based TV producer Bruce Crispin Leyser agreed the matter should be resolved "without litigation."
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Online gambling: a "vice that in this country has to rank up there with eating a second slice of Mom's apple pie while listening to "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Writer Jacob Sullum produced another sharp article on the US government's attitude to selected aspects of online gambling this week in a piece titled 'Neteller's Open and Honest Conspiracy' carried by the Washington publication "Human Events."
Referring to the recent arrests of Neteller founders Stephen Lawrence and John Lefebvre, charged with money laundering, Sullum writes that there was nothing sneaky about their "conspiracy." In 1999 the two Canadians co-founded Neteller, an online payment processing company, now based in the Isle of Man, which openly specialised in serving online gamblers.
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ePassporte can't keep up with demand
ePassporte, one of the few remaining e-wallets available to U.S. online gamblers deprived by the UIEGA, is apparently having some difficulty keeping up with demand judging by player communications with the company.
The result is that new clients could be waiting up to three weeks for their accounts to become active, several players have been told by harrassed customer service reps, who released the following statement recently:
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New deal clinched with leading snooker chain
The Gibraltar based online casino and poker room group 888.com has announced a 3-year joint partnership with Georgica, the parent company of Rileys, one of the UK's leading snooker and pool room chains.
By Easter 2007, Riley's, which owns 168 clubs throughout the UK, is aiming to host live poker tournaments running in around 100 of its clubs nationwide. The partnership between the two companies will see 888.com providing consultancy and support services for the Rileys Poker brand.
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Editorial comment that will resonate with many online gamblers.
Hartley Henderson, the respected and outspoken Canadian owner of the information site Major Wager.com has a way with words that puts issues affecting the industry in perspective for many, and this week he sounded off against the absurdities of the American situation regarding the industry.
Editorialising, Henderson said other nations need to support the Antiguans in their World Trade Organisation attack on the hypocrisy of the United States government in singling out only certain aspects on Internet gambling for outlawing and prosecution :
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But unfortunately not all for US players
The past few weeks have seen several major poker site launches, underlining yet again the confidence in this sector by large and well backed companies.
Probably the highest profile launch was that of Playboy Gaming, although the bash put on in London by Playtech's Tila Tequila Poker was mighty impressive, we're told.
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Now why didn't the Americans do this?
Legislators in the scenic Canadian province of Alberta, heart of the Rocky Mountains have taken what to many is a logical approach to online gambling: studying the industry before deciding on any legislation that might impact it.
A spokesman for the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission this week said the organisation has commissioned a poll to determine Albertans' feelings about online gambling.
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Media overplayed my comments says spokeswoman
An Alberta Gaming spokesman has corrected earlier statements from the organisation and says the province is not considering the introduction of Internet gambling as suggested in recent media reports.
Spokeswoman Marilyn Carlyle-Helms says the media has overplayed her comments by suggesting that Alberta is now making a decision on whether to allow online gaming. She said that online gambling is "a huge phenomenon" in the world right now, but Alberta is not considering moving forward on Internet gaming at this point.
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Look out for those "Sweet Seats" this year
Famous US candy company Hershey and WSOP organiser Harrah's Entertainment have just clinched a sponsorship deal for the 2007 World Series of Poker that will give US poker players an opportunity to win 2 'Sweet Seats' to the Main Event. In return Hershey gets publicity and the title "Hershey the Official Chocolate of the 2007 World Series of Poker."
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GBP63 000 boost for UK chemist's bankroll
Northampton, UK pharmacist Rajesh Modha saw his bankroll skyrocket this week after a 12 599-1 payout on Betfair Casinos Cash Inferno online slot machine.
The 44-year-old was punting on the Super Bowl when he made a GBP5 spin on the five-reel-slot. It paid him GBP63 000.
I was just sitting there watching the game. I never thought that I would win this much, Im thrilled to bits, said Modha, who has put in an order for a new BMW.
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Jackpot Factory cuts the ribbon on new interactive casino lobby
The Jackpot Factory online casino group powered by Microgaming has become the first to launch a brand new, futuristic Viper casino lobby on its All Slots Casino.com site.
The new interactive Viper casino lobby was developed by Microgaming with the aid of substantial research and extensive player interviews and focus groups. The new lobby transforms the traditional online casino lobby into a vibrantly visual display of games, giving the online experience for the gambler a major boost.
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New study seeks to evaluate problem gambling implications of growing gambling activity
Norway's top research group will try to determine what percentage of the population have a gambling problem as the amount of money spent in general on games of chance spirals upward in the Nordic nation, and Norwegian authorities try to increase their regulatory control over gambling.
The Lottery Board finances studies of gambling addiction and now SINTEF (The Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research at the Norwegian Institute of Technology) Health will do a follow-up investigation of Norwegian betting habits, science web site Forskning.no reports.
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PartyGammon.com launches another marketing initiative
Hard on the heels of its recent international Million Dollar Backgammon Championship in the Bahamas, PartyGammon.com has launched what it claims is the richest weekly tournament in online backgammon.
The US$10 000 guaranteed tournament every Sunday is already proving popular, says a PartyGammon.com spokesman: "Last Sunday's online tournament exceeded the guarantee by over US$2 500 and was won by a German who scooped over US$5 000 after investing just US$27 in a satellite.
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Debate swirls around latest newspaper reports of FBI offshore activities against Neteller
The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom started a round of speculation this week by reporting that the FBI has frozen accounts held by U.S. customers at the Isle of Man reistered e-wallet Neteller. The company had already stopped allowing U.S. customers to make transactions with online gambling companies, and now the accounts are apparently frozen as evidence.
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Blackjack Institute launches 2007 BJ education session
Two former members of the notorious MIT blackjack team that won millions from Las Vegas casinos will share their wisdom for a fee according to press releases from the Blackjack Institute this week.
The Institute has booked a venue in Las Vegas for a one day Blackjack Tutorial planned for February 24th.
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Mexico chosen for IGCE 2007
The International Gaming Conference & Expo, (IGCE Europe), following very positive results from their two conferences of 2006, in San Jose, Costa Rica and Dublin, Ireland, has now scheduled its first gathering for May 7-9, 2007, in Cancun, Mexico, at the Fiesta Americana Condesa, possibly Cancun's finest resort.
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