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Welcome to the BetSage
Online 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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A promise to investigate any credible complaint against the black hats, but a veiled legal warning too
Some months into an increasingly bitter dispute (see earlier InfoPowa reports) with the online gambling affiliate sector over alleged tolerance of "black hat" search engine optimisation tactics involving site scraping and blog spamming, 888.com has struck back.
The giant online casino group has been the target of repeated criticism for allegedly turning a blind eye or profiting from the black hat practices of some of its marketing affiliates. Allegations include site scraping or content theft, inappropriate targeting and the irrelevant spamming of blogs in attempts to push the search engine rankings of 888.com higher. Several prominent affiliate sites have roundly condemned the activities as prejudicial to affiliates and unethical in nature, and have disassociated themselves from 888.
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Poker pro with a heart offers heiress a $100 000 game
Full Tilt Poker's beautiful and skilled poker pro with a heart, Clonie Gowen offered heiress and socialite Paris Hilton the chance to play poker for charity on Fox Sports Network's Best Damn Sports Show Period this week.
Backed by Full Tilt Poker, Gowen challenged Hilton to a $100 000 charity poker tournament. The winner will receive $100 000 to award to the charity of their choice.
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Industrys Highest Standards Body Closes in on 2006 Target of 100 Accredited Online Gambling Sites
The online gambling player protection and private standards body eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) has taken a step closer to its 2006 target of accrediting 100 online casinos and poker rooms with the announcement this week that 12 more operations have successfully passed its independently administered probity and operational inspection regime.
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Playing in the World Series of Poker? Maybe Yosh can help you!
Poker Blue.com has announced the formation of "Team PokerBlue", a first-ever team concept designed to dramatically improve player odds in the $80 million 2006 World Series of Poker, scheduled for July 28-August 10.
High limit poker impresario Yosh Nakano is the brains behind Team Poker Blue and serves as Chief Ambassador for the site. His plan is claimed to improve team-member odds to cash or to share in the $10 million first prize, from 800-1 to 1-3 and 8,000-1 to 308-1, respectively.
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All the faves in new gambling suite
Club World Casinos group has launched a new suite of instant play games from Real Time Gaming that can be accessed directly from its site at Club World Casino.com and also at Club USA Casino.com.
The suite includes Blackjack, Roulette, Video Poker, Poker and Slots games with progressive Jackpots that can be played anywhere and at any time with no need for download. More than 8 new games have been added to the site's range of video slots, video poker and table games.
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Cryptologic's Millionaire's Club progressive just gets bigger.
Cryptologic powered casinos are attracting plenty of action due to the record rise in value of the popular Millionaires Club progressive jackpot, which this week rose to over $3 200 000 mark and continues to grow at an exponential rate, driven by increasing numbers of players logging on to try their luck.
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Getting in the groove for fast and confident poker action
Poker players are constantly trying to improve their skills and their emotional control for those big bluffs, and it was only a matter of time before someone came up with a mind program to help them achieve their goals.
Certified hypnotherapist Michele Burghardt is first to the draw with her Mind Mentor Coaching Program designed to help Texas Hold'em players with their psychological game by retraining their brains to control body language reactions in stressful situations.
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Canadian problem gambling to be researched by Alberta team
2 000 Canadians will be monitored for problem gambling indicators by a group of Alberta, Canada researchers including a team from the University of Calgary in what is claimed to be a worldwide first.
The long-term, follow-up study will focus on both social and problem gambling, looking at why people gamble, how much they gamble and what problems their gambling may cause.
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Robust sports book growth of 25 percent for London listed company
Online betting firm Leisure & Gaming says it expects half year results to be on target after an encouraging start to the year which included outstanding poker growth.
"Our interim results, which will be released in September, are anticipated to be in line with expectations," the group said in a company statement.
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20 months of development work behind new network
European skill games and network provider GamArena, has announced the launch of "the next generation in skill games", with the network offering exclusive games to play online for fun and for cash.
The announcement marks the conclusion of more than 20 months of development work on the network which is supported by Finnish company EGET's proprietary EnterGainment Platform with back-office technology and services.
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Business body pushes on Internetgambling Summit
The UK government's suggestion that a high-level summit to thrash out regulation of the online gaming sector andways to encourage operators to move their businesses onshore caused ripples of excitement in the industry when it was made public early this year, but it seems that so far little has been done to get things moving.
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Cantor Gaming behind online gambling venture by top men's magazine
Cantor G&W International L.P ("Cantor Gaming"), a consultant and provider of online and mobile gaming services has launched 'FHM Casino' on FHM Gaming.com in partnership with leading media group Emap plc.
The new online casino site offers the most favoured casino games including blackjack and roulette, backed by round-the-clock Support and a fully operating back-end system that includes effective customer age and location verification, online payment processing, customer services and full legal and regulatory approvals.
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Son from hell gambles away GBP 158 000 in 50 minutes at William Hill before attempting suicide
Scots sheriff Kevin Veal called for tighter control over Internet gambling this week after hearing how an addicted 25 year old gambler lost GBP 158 000 belonging to his parents in just 50 minutes.
Richard Mahan (25) pleaded guilty to illegally used his parents' 13 credit cards to run up the colossal debt in a gambling spree at William Hill sites that only came to an end when all the cards were maxed out. Mahan then tried to kill himself.
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Giant information site Google likely to launch major online payment service soon
The rumours have been growing steadily since February this year: giant information site Google is about to enter the online payment services industry with a venture that is likely to rival the likes of PayPal in size and scope.
According to articles in Forbes.com and even he venerable Wall Street Journal, Google is readying such a service. Known as GBuy, the payment service will launch June 28, Forbes says. According to the report, it won't be a direct PayPal competitor; instead, e-shoppers will be taken off the merchant's site - and on to theGoogle site - to complete their payment.
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GSEDcould become a familiar acronym in online gambling
The Financial Times this weekend enlarged on aproject (see previous InfoPowa reports) to launch a website next week to curb online betting by gamblers who fear they may be addicted.
Internet gamblers will be able to sign up to the Global Self Exclusion Database (GSED) website, which will prevent them from opening an account with an online gaming site.
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Forewarned by Online Casinos.com, major network takes on failed Check 'n Raise obligation to players
The major Poker.com network moved with commendable speed over the weekend in addressing the failure of one ofthe OngameNetworkmember sites, Check 'n Raise Poker, to meet it's WSOP sponsorship promises to players.
Late last week InfoPowa reported on the unusual case of poker site Check 'n Raise.com reneging on a promise to 10 winning players to sponsor them to the next World Series Of Poker final.
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Main event dates now available to find the best of the best for that multi-million dollar Final Table
Biggest prizes, most contestants, highest televised coverage are all elements in the annual World Series of Poker tourneys in the United States, and the 2006 event looks likely to smash previous records in providing wealth and respect to the top winning players....and plenty of entertainment and excitement for literally millions who will view the action around the world.
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$350 000 the top prize in international contest
Over the past weekend CBS started broadcasts on the first episode of the Intercontinental Poker Championship, bringing together 21 top global poker players in an intense competition for a $350 000 first place prize and trophy.
In the programs, the players are broken into three groups of 7 who play a single table tournament, with the winner advancing to the semi finals. The remaining three groups of 6 players each then play another set of single table tournaments with each winner moving on, presenting a double elimination style tournament.
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PPA mobilises objections to US political attempt to kill off the industry
The increasingly high profile Poker Players Alliance (PPA) says that the U.S. federal government's efforts to ban online gambling could be taking another step soon.
H.R. 4777, the Internet Gaming Prohibition Act, "could" go up for vote in Congress within the next 10 days, it claims, and the PPA is consequently renewing its call for U.S. poker players to make their voices heard on the issue.
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Washington state law making online gambling a felony
"From my house, I can drive in almost any direction and pass a land casino in less than five minutes. And just try to watch an hour of local television without a land casino inviting you to join the fun! All of this has the full endorsement of our so-called representatives in Olympia. But....if I want to play from the privacy of my own home (online), they are going to put me in jail?"
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Unique features claimed for revamped site
Online poker room CelebPoker.com has launched an improved version of their poker software including many features unavailable anywhere else. Players can now make notes on their competition, see their winning hands highlighted and filter games quickly based on their criteria.
The interactive celebrity poker room has released an upgraded version of their online poker room software. Based on new demands made by players, the poker software looks and feels more like a real card room, and among the features added are ways in which players can keep track of the competition and winning hands in a way that was previously unavailable.
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Second operator in as many weeks joins fast-growing network with 240 000 users
Gamebookers, one of the world's largest betting sites this week announced the launch of its new poker platform live on the Microgaming Poker Network.
With access to non-stop 24-hour action, daily tournaments and satellites to land-based tournaments around the world, Gamebookers players will now be able to hone their skills at the poker tables while taking advantage of Gamebookers' popular online sportsbook.
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Point of sale terminal protects online users at home with "card present" facility.
Citadel Commerce Corp., will pilot its revolutionary SecureSwipe device with Excapsa Software Inc., the company revealed in an announcement this week
SecureSwipe is a point of sale terminal which enables a user to swipe a credit or debit card and enter a PIN to conduct an immediate secure payment from home.
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Latest technology, efficient software tools, and an intuitive site design
With the first event of the 37th-annual World Series of Poker just around the corner, Card Player Media has timed the relaunch of its poker information portal, CardPlayer.com exceptionally well.
CardPlayer.com is set to provide users with state-of-the-art technology, efficient software tools, and an intuitive site design that is both fully functional and pleasing to the eye.
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Energetic Assheton continues on the acquisition trail with GBP 32.06 million BetShop deal
Leisure and Gaming CEO Alistair Assheton was on the acquisition trail again this week, reeling in the BetShop group (BSG) to his growing stable of online gambling companies, which now includes Nine.com, English Harbour and VIP.
In a statement, Assheton said: "Through the acquisition of BSG we substantially strengthen our European offering and further diversify our global revenues, in line with our corporate strategy." He added that the acquisition, which is expected to complete on June 23, will enhance earnings in its first full year.
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FSN to air Full Tilt Poker Pro Showdown live Thursday
Fox Sports Net (FSN) will be airing more live poker tomorrow (Thursday) with the Full Tilt Poker Pro Showdown, during which a Magnificent 7 group of poker pros will be battling for a $1 000 000 prize pool. The winner will receive $600 000, with the second place winning $280 000 and third place winning $120 000.
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Playing on the Microgaming Poker Network, FF is the man with a plan...and thebankroll to make it happen
PRLEAP.com reports that two bold poker players using the handles Fast_Freddie and bad_ip set a new record for the largest hand in a cash game last weekwhilst playing a heads up game of Texas Holdem on the Microgaming Poker Network. According to PRLEAP, this was the biggest cash game in the history of online poker and the largest hand yet recorded.
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"Don't Bet On The House" letter points to the positive in LA Times editorial
Rep. Jon C Porter, a Republican from Nevada who has proposed Bill HR 5474 "The Internet Gaming Study Commission Act" distributed a letter this week to members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging them not to make any "rash decisions" on Internet gambling policy until the full implications of banning vs regulating online gaming in the USA have been studied.
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In a new and aggressive move, Italy slaps an e-ban on Malta gaming authority website
The Italian authorities made the headlines in Maltese media this week with a new aggressive move aimed at blocking Italian players from Internet gaming activities.
For some months now (see previous InfoPowa reports) a war of words has been going on after the Italians arbitrarily enacted a blockade of 684 internet gaming sites back in February. 68 of the sites were licensed by the Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority. In a bid to bypass the blockade, the LGA linked its website to all the Maltese gaming sites using a web anonymiser that disguises the websites IP addresses.
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Independent investigators from an international business services group to carry out onsite enquiry
Players watching for developments on the Jackpot Factory SEO scandal (see previous InfoPowa reports) were rewarded this week by a progress report from the standards and player protection body eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) under whose authority Jackpot Factory operations fall.
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Don't mess with State monopolies!
Sketchy reports from Sweden this week allege that four as yet unnamedmagazines have been advised that they could be in trouble for advertising gambling operations that may be competitive with the State's lottery monopoly.
The magazines could face official sanctions after allegedly violating the country's law regarding by publishing ads other than those for State lottery Svenska Spel. The Gaming Board for Sweden reported the alleged violations to the authorities.
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GameColony.com partners with American Cribbage Congress on Internet Cribbage Games and Tournaments
This week saw an old game take on a new Internet face when online skill gaming provider Game Colony.com and The American Cribbage Congress agreed to an exclusive alliance aimed at providing a fun and fair place to play Cribbage online and to compete in online tournaments.
Under the terms of the deal, GameColony.com will provide co-branded online gaming content to ACC, and the two firms will share the revenues generated from hosting online matches and tournaments.
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Topical monthly polls and player newsletters a new feature
While more than 30 million people around the world love to gamble online, many don't know where to seek out reliable information on trustworthy poker and casino sites, says a press release from the online player protection and standards body eCOGRA.
The London-based organisation is improving players' chances of accessing reliable and safe sites with a website revamp just completed to support the "Play It Safe" seal offered as a guide to players seeking the best Internet gambling experiences.
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It looks as if the UK authorities are closing in on an October date
According to a report in the Financial Times, October could be the date for the UK government's much anticipated summit on UK gambling reform.
Quoting Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, the British politician who oversees this portfolio the FT says that she aims to host a summit in October to try to get international agreement on a new code of practice.
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More capital and greater commitment needed for cyber-security in a world where identity theft is costing the public $100 billion a year
FCW.com reported on an important security discussion this week, with experts warning that attacks on computer systems will continue to escalate and become a public trust issue until governments, industry and other organizations implement and enforce better security policies and invest more money and employees in cybersecurity.
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Credits cards don't work for online gamblers
The Hungarian HATC news reported this week that Hungarian banks are blocking payments to online betting sites in order to protect themselves in a legal climate that seems to have declared online gambling on foreign sites against the law for Hungarian citizens.
Quoting the Sportingbet website, HATC reports that payments cannot be made from Hungary on cards issued by IEB, Citibank, K&H Bank, MKB, Takarkbank and savings co-operatives. The experience of the Vienna-listed public company BetandWin is alleged to be the same.
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All you ever wanted to know about online gambling public listings, and then some...
River City Group has completed a comprehensive report about publicly traded companies in the online gambling space and is now making this available to the public.
Titled "I-gaming Public Offerings," the report spans 296 pages and has been specifically designed to meet the informational need of investors as well as company owners and shareholders.
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Global revenue from gambling is expected to climb 8.8 percent annually from $82.2 billion last year to $125 billion by 2010.
The internationally respected profession business services group PricewaterhouseCoopers has released a new study of global gambling which shows that worldwide revenues are expected to climb by 8.8 percent annually, eventually reaching a stunning $125 billion a year by 2010 - only four years away.
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MySpace.com plans new restrictions to protect younger users
MySpace.com, the increasingly popular online site widely used for social networking has been attracting the attention of advertisers due to its significant readership, and new restrictions currently being planned are therefore of interest to many online marketers.
Driven largely by word of mouth, MySpace has grown astronomically since its launch in January 2004 and is now second in the United States among all Web sites by total page views, behind only Yahoo Inc., according to comScore Media Metrix. The site currently has some 87 million users, about a quarter registered as minors, according to the company. It was bought last year by News Corp for $580 million and offers a mix of features such as message boards, games, Web journals - all designed to keep its youth-oriented visitors clicking on its advertising-supported pages.
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Bodog Marketing Conference speakers and sponsorsannounced
Bodog.com has unveiled its roster of blue-chip sponsors for the upcoming Bodog.com Marketing Conference in Las Vegas next month. The 20 sponsors include FutureBet, Chalk, Sports Direct and The Online Wire as Gold Sponsors for the event.
Taking place July 23-35, 2006, at the Wynn Las Vegas, the third annual Bodog.com Marketing Conference is focused on providing attendees - advertisers, affiliates, investors and suppliers - with the tools necessary to "Ignite Your Online Gaming Business." The event is fast becoming the premier trade show for the $13-billion online gaming industry, with major names Pro Cappers, Gateway, Pentasia, VSL Innovations, CardPlayer.com and Nine.com also sponsoring the conference.
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Now's your chance to suggest speakers and topics
River City and ATE are moving on the organisation of the next European Interactive Gaming & Expo (EiG)conference, a key event on the online gambling calendar for European operators, marketers and providers.
The conference program is currently being assembledand the producers would like your input on topics and speakers.
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| PREVIOUS NEWS ARTICLES... |
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| 17th June 2006
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