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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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| 25 AUGUST 2006 : HEADLINES |
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Putting the Party Gaming harvest to work
Party Gaming co-founder Vikrant Bhargava, who resigned from the board of directors and cashed in a truckload of shares is intent on growing an already substantial personal fortune, it appears.
The thirty-something marketing whizz who founded Party Gaming with Anurag Dikshit and Ruth Parasol in 2000 has chosen another high rolling industry for his next venture - the financial services business, specifically a new hedge fund of funds firm to be launched next month.
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First time lucky Joanne hits the Major Millions jackpot...but at first thought she had lost her Internet connection!
August 15 was a red letter day for online player JoanneS, an historial and ancient books archivist from Georgia; on her first and only bet on the Major Millions progressive slot at King Neptune's Casino (www.kingneptunescasino.com) she hit a life-changing $362 745.20 jackpot on a total wager of only $18!
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Caribbean Stud Poker delivers the goods for new player
Just minutes after signing up, Intercasino newbie Ryan P. collected a massive $148 594.39 win from InterCasino.coms award-winning Caribbean Stud Poker.
The player opened an account and during his first round of play on the popular casino-style Caribbean Stud Poker he hit a major jackpot. The win comes on the heels of a long string of 2006 InterCasino jackpots, many of which were claimed by first-time players.
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$6 million law suit filed in Las Vegas on online poker deal
The current 2006 World Series of Poker main event winner, Jamie Gold will not be enjoying his $12 million first prize just yet; a law suit claiming half of the giant bonanza has been filed in Las Vegas, and WSOP host Harrahs Entertainment has been restrained by court order from paying out until the case is heard on September 1.
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Two major hits at Pinnacle and Slotland online casinos
Almost $545 000 was scored in two big wins at online casinos as the week started. The online casinos Pinnacle and Slotland each announced major wins by their players.
Slotland.com recorded its sixth big jackpot win this year when newbie player Iringion won $116 828 playing the popular Wild Heart slot machine.
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Danny Kass takes the Big Throwdown Championship
Party Poker's blend of poker excitement and major action sports stars (see previous InfoPowa reports) in the Party Poker Big Throwdown Championship has a winner.
Danny Kass, a 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics silver medalist, defeated five other action sports stars to win the inaugural event at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, beating out surfer Pat O'Connell, BMX competitor Dennis McCoy, skateboarder Sergie Ventura, wakeboarder Josh Sanders, and FMX competitor Jeff Tilton.
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One Club Entertainment has big ambitions for UK business
One Club Entertainment is the latest Realtime Gaming licensee to launch in the UK, going live with its first venture, One Club Casino.com this week.
The new operator has big ambitions in a competitive market - it claims that British online casino gambling is dominated by casinos running on software platforms such as Cryptologic (William Hill, Littlewoods, and Intercasino UK) Microgaming (32 Red and others) and Playtech (Stanley Casino) but that it aims to carve out a major share of the market for itself.
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Dealers and physical chips unnecessary in new Californian venture
Poker players at the Hollywood Park land casino in California will soon be able to try out a cutting edge way to play their fave game at the new ePoker Room now under construction.
The up-to-the-minute facility uses small touch screen computer monitors on a poker table rather than using dealers and real chips. ePoker players load a personal card with credits, bought with cash they can deposit at the table. The poker software then deals cards on the players' screens, which can be shielded as desired.
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Online casino and poker room provider enjoys a successful first half 2006 performance - casino income up 129 percent and poker 851 percent.
The online casino and poker room software developer and provider Playtech Limited has followed a profitable 2nd quarter (see previous InfoPowa reports) with very creditable half year results which have seen a 139 percent overall increase in revenues in the six months ended June 30 2006.
The London listed and Cyprus registered company reported financial highlights of a 129 percent increase in online casino revenues to $40.4 million, with poker revenues up a stunning 851 percent to $4.8 million. Total revenue increased 139 percent to $46.2 million, compared to the 2005 numbers for the same period of GBP 19.3 million ($36.35 million), and an adjusted net profit increase of 172 percent to $37.3 million.
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Plenty of poker action on 30 international tourneys
The Amateur Poker Association and Tour (APAT), in association with PokerStars.com and PokerPlayer Magazine, announced the launch of the APAT Online Series this week, promising loads of poker action on one of the Internet's top online gambling sites.
APAT Online is a series of 30 International tournaments hosted exclusively at PokerStars.com. The inaugural APAT Online Series event was the English Amateur Poker Open held on August 19.
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New game features a progressive jackpot
Harrods Casino Online, the Kismet International-owned and powered Internet gaming site associated with the world famous Knightsbridge department store, has announced the launch of its new Jackpot Solitaire offering, the first version of the game to feature a progressive jackpot that mathematically speaking, could tip the scales in favour of the player.
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Pokerstars organisers are putting the final touches to a championship that should break previous records
The September 16 starting date for the fifth annual World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) is just around the corner, and Pokerstars organisers will be burning the midnight oil getting ready to host players from more than 80 countries competing in 18 tournaments for a guaranteed prize pool of $10 million.
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FunTech continues on the path to success with a 135 percent growth in revenues
Canadian-based Fun Technologies hailed its second quarter results this week as a sign of health in the skill-gaming sector, and announced yet another acquisition - that of UK-based free-play site Teagames.com.
The results showed a 135 percent increase in revenue from Q2 2005 to US$10 million (GBP 5.2 million). James Lanthier, chief operating officer at FunTech, said the companys focus on European expansion and recent acquisitions demonstrated continued growth.
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US and Canadian finalists could take the biggest skill gaming prize around
Two players from the Kiwi Skill.com site have the opportunity to become $1 million richer next month after qualifying to participate in the World Wide Web games organised by FunTech for Saturday, September 9th in Los Angeles.
Players Kelli from Pennsylvania and Derek from British Columbia will both be flown to LA to play for the $1 million grand prize and champion title Worlds Best Casual Gamer at the first-ever World Wide Web Games. They will compete in the live tournament for the grand prize at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood.
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Visa Delta and Electron cards boost Netellers e-wallet
Online e-cash processor Neteller has added Visa Delta and Electron cards to its stable of credit and debit cards supported by its e-wallet, and the Isle of Man based company has introduced new security measures for Visa and Mastercard customers.
The move means that sites using Netellers system will have access to the large Visa debit card market which, according to Neteller accounts for 41 percent of all European debit card transactions.
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Governor Pataki likes the Internet when it comes to horseracing
The hypocrisy of US federal government attempts to stifle or ban online gambling - at least some forms of online gambling - was thrown into sharp focus again this week with the announcement that New Yorkers will soon have two new ways to bet on their favourite horses: Cellphones and on the Internet!
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Fancy a flutter? The well named Millionaire's Club progressive jackpot now stands at over $4 million
Probably sooner rather than later an Internet gambler at one of the Cryptologic-powered online casinos is going to make online gambling history by bagging the biggest progressive jackpot ever. The Millionaire's Club progressive video slot has been building steadily over recent months and it is only a matter of time and good fortune before it delivers over $4 million to some lucky Internet player.
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Claes Tellman to head Svenska Spel casino subsidiary
The Swedish government owned Svenska Spel has appointed Claes Tellman to head its casino subsidiary Casino Cosmopol. Tellman was formerly Vice-President, Communications, at Svenska Spel.
Casino Cosmopol has established four international casinos in Sweden over the last five years. The first was introduced in June 2001 in the city of Sundsvall. The casino in Malm was introduced in December the same year, followed by the Gteborg casino in August 2002 and the Stockholm casino in March 2003.
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Californian sews up the Ladies Poker Party
Fighting her way through a starting field of 419 players, Californian Kelli Griggs took the top money prize at the Bicycle Casino's Ladies Event this week, more familiarly known as the Ladies Poker Party.
Kelli's prize includes being selected for the World Poker Tour's Ladies Night IV, giving her the opportunity to play against women's poker luminaries such as defending Ladies Night III champion Jennifer Tilly, JJ Liu, Vanessa Rousso, Erica Schoenberg and Anahit Galajian at the end of this (August) month.
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Recent research shows increase in available online poker rooms
Moves by US politicians to put an end to online gambling in that country have had little effect on the growth in the number of online poker rooms, according to Poker Site Scout.com. The site reports that there are now 600 online poker rooms and counting, giving players an unprecendented choice for entertainment venues.
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Neteller executive denies that his company is holding up payment to players
The ongoing tragedy of the BetonSports decline (see previous InfoPowa reports) continued this week as assertions and denials went back and forth regarding payouts to players as ordered by a US federal court.
Following Department of Justice prosecutions and a restraining order from a federal court, the embattled online gambling group has had to close its site to all US players, a move that slashed some 80 percent of its business off the books. The order also required the company to pay deposits back to players, something a spokesman said it could not do owing to a suspension in its contracts with e-cash processing outfits like Neteller.
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One online poker site alone provided 19 percent of World Series Of Poker entrants
One of the many record statistics flowing from the recently completed multi-million dollar 2006 World Series of Poker championship is the impact that online players have had on the world's greatest poker tournament.
PokerStars.com in particular sponsored 1623 players at the 2006 WSOP, accounting for just under 19 percent of the total entrants, who between them brought back $21 million from the 46 open events at pokers most prestigious tournament.
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For release this week - poker's most popular game at Xbox Arcade
X-Box fans will be able to get their hands on poker's most popular game - Texas Hold Em - this week as Microsoft releases it on the Xbox Live Arcade on August 23. And for a limited time players will be allowed to download the game for free.
The original intention of Microsoft was to make the game available free of charge, but following delays in launching the game the company last month appeared to reverse that decision. Instead, on August 23 Xbox Live Gold and Silver members will have only 48 hours in which to download the new game for free. After those 48 hours, starting Aug. 25 at 8:01 a.m. (GMT), "Texas Hold'em" will only be available in return for 800 Microsoft Points.
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New study reports that 3 million online gamblers use company time to bet each week
Online odds comparison site BetRescue has released the results of a survey which shows that a significant number of British gamblers use the workplace to indulge their gambling entertainment.
British office workers gamble over GBP 2 billion online while they are at work, according to the study... and almost three million adults admit using their company's computers for internet gambling each week.
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Well established bookie is regarded as a neat fit for Party Gaming sports betting aspirations
The UK newspaper The Observer reported over the weekend that London-listed gambling group Party Gaming is leading the race in a bid to buy the predominently sports betting Victor Chandler group, which also has online casino and poker interests. Both companies are licensed and based in Gibraltar.
The newspaper reports that PartyGaming is one of three bidders for the Chandler business, said to be worth about GBP 300 million. Party Gaming is flush with a GBP 500 million war chest raised after its flotation last year, and apparently sees the Victor Chandler sport betting business as a good fit following its seperate acquisition last month of the GBP 69 million Bulgarian based Gamebookers business.
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IGC ready to assist by recruiting respondents
The Ontario-based Factz Research Institute has partnered with the National Council on Problem Gambling to research problem gambling and other addictions on a global basis, and the Interactive Gaming Council will be assisting by recruiting suitable respondents for the study.
Dr. Jaime Wiebe, president of Ontario-based Factz Research Institute which specialises in research on gambling and other addictions, and Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, conceptualised the survey earlier this year and approached the IGC for advice and help.
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This week's big bucks events continue to draw the players
The regular weekend, big-money tournaments continued to flourish this week with the organising online poker rooms all meeting their participation targets, thus ensuring that the guaranteed prize pools were reached.
In the Poker Stars.com $1 Million Guaranteed weekly event this popular site (it's the second biggest on the Internet) welcomed a little shy of 6 000 hot-to-trot pokerheads, easily overtaking their guaranteed $1 million in prizes. One of the longest running of all the regular big prize tournaments the competition developed plenty of action as the contestants were whittled down to a final table with solid rewards.
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Paddy Power's big event is one of Europe's largest
The Paddy Power.com sponsored 26th Irish Poker Open will have a guaranteed prize pool of Euro 2 million next year, the gambling group announced this week.
One of Europes most respected no limit Texas Hold em poker tournaments, the event has been boosted by a doubling of the guaranteed prize pool to Euro 2 million, making it not only one of Europes richest tournaments but also its largest in terms of players. This years capacity will be 800, with players being split into groups of up to 400 for two 'day one' elimination contests
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In the wake of the BetonSports crisis, many online gambling companies are looking to create business elsewhere reports Business Week
The respected publication Business Week commented on the online gambling industry in the wake of the BetonSports crisis (see previous InfoPowa bulletins) this week, reporting that the BetonSports debacle and the arrest of its ex-CEO David Carruthers has resulted in business moves to reduce exposure to the vagaries of the US online gambling market.
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Irish history and scenic beauty the background for the IGCE conference
The historic Fitzpatrick Castle set in stunningly beautiful grounds at Killiney near Dublin, Ireland is the venue for the International Gaming Conference and Expo scheduled for November 5 - 7 this year.
Organisers The Sports Network promise an extensive and diverse program and roster of speakers, unprecedented networking, and the standards of excellence delegates have come to expect of this key event on the gambling industry calendar. of the IGCE.
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Diarise November 13 - 16 and yes, G2E is still being held in Vegas
The American Gaming Association has announced that this year's Global Gaming Expo (G2E) will be held from Nov. 13-16 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre. The move to November is expected to be permanent and organisers of the event are hopeful it will help its continued growth.
The G2E will start on November 13 with the G2E Training & Development Institute, which provides an opportunity for focused education. This year, the AGA will also be announcing its Communication Award winners at a Training & Development Institute luncheon.
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| PREVIOUS NEWS ARTICLES... |
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| 17th June 2006
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| 24th June 2006
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| 1st July 2006
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| 11th July 2006
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| 23rd July 2006
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| 27th July 2006
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| 6th August 2006
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| 12th August 2006
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| 18th August 2006
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