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Welcome to Bet Sage's
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
all aspects of the
Online Gambling
Industry. InfoPowa News
headed up by senior
partner Brian Cullingworth
are recognised as one of
the leading and most
respected independent
gambling news services
in the online gambling
industry.
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SEPTEMBER 2007 : HEADLINES |
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More aggressive campaign for poker to be classified as a game of skill
Under the new leadership of Washington-based John Pappas, the 760 000 member poker advocacy group Poker Players' Alliance is stepping up the pressure on US politicians to classify poker as a game of skill, moving it out of the range of anti-gambling moves by the US government.
The PPA has arguably become the main lobbying group for the online poker industry in the United States, and it's next major project is a policy conference, scheduled for Washington DC between October 22-24. In an email to members, the PPA says that this will be the most aggressive initiative yet by the organisation, and urges poker players everywhere to get involved in the action.
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Thanks....but no thanks the response to first US offers
The horsetrading over the compensation that the United States should pay for withdrawing from it's World Trade Organisation obligations (see previous InfoPowa reports) has begun....and the first offers from the Americans are being rejected, according to a report in the UK's Financial Times this morning (Monday)
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European companies compensation dwarfs that of Antigua, which fought the US to a standstill on Internet gambling
The difficulties in which the United States finds itself over the unilateral withdrawal of its online gambling obligations in terms of World Trade Organisation treaties continues to grab headlines around the world, focusing attention on the dispute in which the small island government of Antigua and Barbuda fought the US to a standstill after more than 3 years of dispute proceedings.
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Massachusetts Democrat comes on board attempt to legalis online gambling in the USA
Another politician has signed up to Congressman Barney Frank's Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, which seeks to regulate online gambling in the United States, effectively countering the UIGEA.
The latest political support comes from Massachusetts Representative William Delahunt, who signed up as a cosponsor on Monday.
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If the judge approves, it looks as if this issue is headed for a court hearing
In previous InfoPowa reports we have detailed the back-and-forth legal arguments between the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association [iMEGA] and the US government following the launch of a legal action by the former challenging the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and requesting a temporary restraining order on its implementation.
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Judge will make a ruling on UIGEA within next 30 days
The legal attempt by the Internet Media Entertainment & Gaming Association to stop the implementation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in its tracks with a temporary restraining order based on legal and Constitutional arguments made mainstream media headlines Wednesday as government and iMEGA legal representatives presented oral arguments after weeks of written submissions and counter submissions.
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Trade body explains its motivation for taking on the US government
The President of the Internet Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA), Edward J. Leyden issued the following statement following the iMEGA vs. US Government hearing in a New Jersey court Wednesday:
"Based on the decision of the U.S. District Court earlier today, iMEGA eagerly awaits the action of the Honorable Mary L. Cooper and the Court.
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But 1st Technologies have hired some serious legal firepower
There could be fireworks in Nevada on October 11 when Bodog, presumably in the form of its new Morris Mohawk brand licensee, confronts 1st Technologies in the first face-to-face clash of a $48 million patent dispute that has thus far cost Bodog its brands (see previous InfoPowa reports)
According to Bodog boss Calvin Ayre's blog, the two sides will argue the validity of the default judgment handed down to the gaming company by Nevada judiciary and a judge in the Superior Court of King's County in Seattle, Washington.
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Zany television and rock star's family featured in new slot
The much anticipated new video slot 'The Osbournes' from games developer Microgaming has been launched. The cutting-edge game, starring Ozzy, Sharon, Jack, Kelly and even Minnie the dog, is the latest high profile offering from the online gambling development firm's stable and follows in the footsteps of another blockbuster release earlier in the year branded Hitman.
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Legalise poker in the commonwealth, urges poker pressure group
The Poker Players Alliance is stepping into a Kentucky state political wrangle over poker to help raise support for the game after Governor Ernie Fletcher took up an anti-gambling and anti-poker stance during his re-election campaign.
In a press release, the Washington-based PPA announces its initiative thus: "In response to Governor Ernie Fletcher's election-year change of heart with regard to allowing Kentuckians to vote on gaming in the commonwealth, the Kentucky members of the 760 000-member Poker Players Alliance have kicked off an advocacy campaign in support of poker."
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Players refunded as bot cheats exposed
According to player posts on several message boards and a story on the Poker-King portal, an "unauthorised software" bust - widely interpreted as a bot incident - has been made by the Full Tilt Poker website security experts.
Players reported receiving emails from Full Tilt Poker advising that refunds will be forthcoming following the discovery by management of numerous accounts that had been caught using "unauthorized" software. Reliable information on the total amount of cash involved was not available at press time.
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M.I.A. Jamie St. John of Atlantic Lounge Casino.com
Where is "Jamie St. John", the alleged owner of the RealTime Gaming-powered Atlantic Lounge Casino.com?
That's the question a growing number of frustrated and unpaid online gamblers are asking, and the portents are not good.
First came the typical online-casino-in-negative-cash-flow-situation excuses:
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Atlantic Lounge situation deteriorates
Last week we reported on the apparently serious decline in the fortunes of RTG powered Atlantic Lounge Casino, evidenced by the growing number of player complaints regarding slow and no pays, ridiculous excuses, unresponsiveness, affiliate payment problems and a management that is to say the least elusive.
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Grimacing for gambling....
The ancient and quirky art of gurning - grimacing to best (or worst) effect - is alive and well and being sponsored by Golden Palace Casino in a welcome and fun change from its usual guerilla marketing tactics of disrupting sports events and buying weird things off e-Bay.
Celebrating the 'sport,' which dates back to the 13th century in England, traditionally takes place at the World Gurning Championships at the Egremont Crab Apple Fair in the UK. Competitors for the title of Great Gurner put their heads through a horse's collar, the better to frame their facial contortions; the audience applauds, and whoever receives the biggest hand wins.
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GCTV Games goes after Leisure and Gaming plc
The Vancouver and Dublin based online gambling software developer GCTV Games is apparently going after Leisure and Gaming plc, having acquired the non-US business of Gambling Federation in March of this year (see previous InfoPowa report).
In its six month interim results published this week, L&G confirmed that it has received an indicative offer from CGTV Games Limited, which it described as "a global provider of casino software and slots located in Dublin, Ireland."
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Portal has over 50 000 clients
Swedish online gambling software developer and turnkey provider Net Entertainment has signed up one of Scandinavia's fastest growing gaming portals, Betsafe.com, for its popular online casino gambling product CasinoModule. Operational launch is scheduled for later this year.
Betsafe boasts over 50 000 registered customers and is soon to apply for a gaming license in Malta. Andre Lavold, CEO of Betsafe says: "The fact that Net Entertainment has a license in Malta and that their product supports 21 languages means that we now have a casino product that aids our continued expansion in Europe."
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Historically an Aztec game, "liar's dice" is widely played
Backgammonmasters.com has delivered on its prediction that it would launch a proprietary Perudo game this year (see previous InfoPowa report) with the arrival of an online, real money version of the popular "liar's dice" game.
Perudo's roots lie in an ancient Aztec and Spanish game commonly played in Latin American countries and gaining widespread favour in other parts of the world. The game achieved prominent contemporary publicity when the monstrous animated pirates in the film "Pirates of the Caribbean" hilariously played the game with Johnny Depp, starring as Captain Jack Sparrow.
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11 detained and 24 computers seized
The Malaysian National News Agency reports that Malaysian police have detained 11 people and seized 24 personal computers being used in illegal gambling activities during a raid in Permas Jaya this week.
Johor Deputy CID chief ACP Che Yussof Che Ngah said 10 of those held were men and one a woman. Cash was also seized in the raid, he added, revealing that the police had to climb over the adjacent premises and break into the gambling den on the ground floor. The 11 people, 10 men and one woman, were found on the fourth floor, he added.
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Achievement in mobile gambling recognised
Mobile gambling specialist provider and Microgaming associate Spin3.com has been named the 'Best Mobile Gambling Systems Company' for the second year running at Mobile Entertainment magazine's ME Awards.
The awards took place on September 18th at the Brewery in Central London, and celebrate outstanding achievement in the creation and delivery of mobile content.
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EiG delegates will get a hands-on preview
Online gambling software developer Cyberarts will be showcasing its new Blackjack and Chinese Poker/13-Cards during the the European I-Gaming Expo and Congress, which runs October 2-4 in Barcelona, Spain.
The software will be available for licensing to online gaming operators worldwide who want to develop online Blackjack or Chinese Poker/13-Cards businesses for cash play, or free play supported by advertising or subscription revenue.
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Isle of Man hosting centre the eighth most reliable on the planet
The Isle of Man based hosting firm Netcetera cracked the bigtime this week with the news that it has made the "World's Uptime Top Ten" list in monitoring group Netcraft's assessment of its uptime, a measure of a host's stability and reliability.
A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Netcetera has been listed eighth most reliable web host in the world and the second most reliable in the United Kingdom by Netcraft.
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Another acronym to remember....
Brit gambling group VC Poker plans to make an addition to the lexicon of poker tournament acronyms with a new competition come November. WSOP, WSOPE, WCOOP, WPT and GUKPT will soon be joined by ECOOP - the European Championship of Online Poker, sponsored by the company.
VC Poker is currently putting the finishing touches to the new, ten event internet poker tournament, which it plans to run for ten days this November. Top players from around the planet are expected to be interested in the inaugural event which carries a tempting $2.5 million dollar guaranteed prize pool.
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Major online poker site cites player privacy as main reason for crackdown
The rise in the number of online poker ranking sites, which often give detailed information on the performance, status and profitability of top earning online players has alarmed many interested parties and resulted in a move to protect privacy by the Internet's biggest online poker site, Poker Stars.com.
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Five new ways to opportunity and entertainment
IGT's online gambling games developer Wagerworks has been busy lately, with five new games either launched or in the pipeline over the past month, adding to an impressive company inventory of licensed and popular household gaming titles.
The company correctly claims that when a great brand license combines with a sound game mechanic, magic can happen. Players are drawn to the product, entertained and rewarded, and that seems to be the case with offerings from this company.
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Intralot to partner South African company Gidani in new management
Making the media headlines this week was the imminent return of the South African national lottery after an almost six month hiatus caused by legal wrangling over the government's disputed appointment of a new operating company.
With that straightened out, the internationally experienced Interlot firm made a bullish announcement this week that it has partnered with new license holder Gidani (Pty) Limited to recommence operations on the lottery, which was popular with a wide cross-section of South Africa's 43 million population.
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Euro 3 million or more prize-pool in prospect
The sponsor of the annual Irish Open poker tournament, Paddy Power Poker.com has reserved the facilities of Dublin's Citywest hotel as the venue for the next Euro 3 Million Guaranteed Irish Open. The weeklong festival of poker will take place over Easter Weekend from 19th to 24th March 2008.
Europe's longest running annual poker tournament has relocated to accommodate an increased capacity of 1 000 players.
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Swedish poker software provider restructures
Starting the new week off on a negative note comes news from Swedish poker software provider 24hPoker that it is restructuring to cut costs....and that will mean job losses.
The company, which has been the focus of some unwelcome attention from the Swedish Gaming Board in recent weeks (see previous InfoPowa reports) hopes to cut costs by up to Kronor 6 million a year through its reorganisation. Ominously, the company says that it will be making provision of SEK 1.5 million in the third quarter for personnel retrenchments.
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Java-based mobile versions of Barcrest slot games the goal
Million 2-1, the Manchester based mobile gambling firm founded by Chris Sheffield and Scott Davies has inked a deal with UK slot machine builder Barcrest to bring the company's games to mobile gamblers.
Million 2-1 will develop Java-based mobile versions of the popular slot games, opening the way for Barcrest to enter the mobile gaming market.
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Astonishing confiscations but no explanations by Mississippi gaming authorities
Mississippi Gaming Commission authorities have reportedly been active in raiding Internet cafes in the state, confiscating large numbers of computers - thus directly damaging business - astonishingly without having to inform the owners why!
Reporting on the activity, the regional newspaper Commercial Despatch is as puzzled as we are and can only guess that the raids have something to do with Internet gambling, although officials aren't saying.
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Hearts signs up as official gaming partner
The UK land and online gambling group Gala Coral has signed a 2 year partnership agreement with Scotland's Hearts of Midlothian Football Club that will see the firm providing a range of online gaming services including betting, poker, casino and bingo games to the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League outfit, nicknamed
"Hearts".
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Land gambling profit sharing deal signed with unidentified operator
The Asia-facing mobile and land gambling technology group PacificNet, Inc., has announced a new recurring revenue sharing deal between subsidiary PacificNet Games and an unidentified major land casino operator in Cambodia.
The deal calls for 150 betting stations to be deployed in 2007 with an additional 500-2000 machines in 2008, to be placed on a participation basis, and will include the full range of PactGames products including Abaco and Evona Roulette, CyberCash Slot Machines, EGT Slot Machines, Virgin and eTable Baccarat, AutoTable roulette and the Advansys Casino Management System.
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Improving the crucial customer-company interface and building careers
Improving performance in the critical customer-company interface area continues to be the focus of Betfair training programmes, according to an executive interview in Computer Weekly.
The online betting company intends to grow opportunities for employees to communicate and build relationships with senior people in the firm, as well as extend staff participation in innovative projects and initiatives, Chief Technical Officer Rory Devine told the publication.
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Chairman to take over role of CEO until a replacement is found
Despite reports earlier this year that he would be departing the William Hill hotseat at the end of the year, CEO David Harding is to leave three months earlier - at the end of September - according to an announcement from the company. Chairman Charles Scott will become an executive director until Harding's replacement is found, the London-based company said, adding that the search for a successor is "well underway."
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Benefits of a more open-border Union are substantial for gambling industry
State gambling monopolies among European Union member nations came under the media microscope this week in an interesting article published by the Bloombergs business news organisation.
The article underlines the determination of the European Commission - headed by former Irish finance minister Charlie McCreevy (58) - to open up markets in the 27 nation EU, if necessary resorting to European Court of Justice actions to enforce compliance with the Union's requirement for the free movement of trade and services. Thus far, the Commission has taken action against 10 of the 27 member nations in an initiative to clear away traditional state monopolies.
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German facing online gambling group is coming right....
It's been a tough haul, but switching from direct mail to online marketing has enabled German-focused online casino and poker group Gaming VC lift profits sharply in the first half of the year, the firm has claimed in its latest company reportage.
Profits rose by 28 percent to Euro 8.54 million in the six months to June, with revenues 4 percent higher at Euro 22 million. Pre-share option costs, the profit was 20 percent up at Euro 8.9 million. And trading volumes and margins in the third quarter to date have been in line with the same period in 2006.
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Annual results show improvement
The publicly listed UK online betting group Betinternet.com plc has published its preliminary results for the year ended 27 May 2007, showing encouraging improvements
Highlights are:
* EBITDA profit for the year of GBP 162 000 (2006: loss of GBP 1 055 000)
* Gross profit increased by 30 percent to GBP 3.0 million (2006: GBP 2.3 million)
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Research experts predict a $12 billion sub-industry by 2010
According to a new study by market research specialists Juniper Research the burgeoning international mobile gambling market could be worth $12 billion by 2010.
The growth will be mainly pushed by the growing availability of mobile payment processors and liberalisation of gambling laws in key markets, such as the UK, Juniper opines.
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Eight new companies join anti-fraud network
Online gambling operators are increasingly using next generation device-based fraud management programs to shut down fraudsters, and one company that appears to be benefiting from the trend is Portland, Oregan-based Iovation.
The online fraud management and authentication specialist announced this week that eight new clients were recently signed up for its Reputation Manager service and supporting anti-fraud network. The new customers, representing a broad range of international online gaming companies, software developers and transaction processors, have taken the step to stop collusion, chargeback fraud, account takeover and deposit fraud.
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Hammering small island nations is one thing....taking on major trading partners like the EU is another
With World Trade Organisation members likely to be submitting compensation claims in the billions to the United States over its stance on Internet gambling, the international mainstream media is now taking serious notice of a dispute which hitherto appeared to involve only the tiny island nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
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Another US state looks at the tax potential of online gambling carve-outs for horse racing
Reports from Springfield, Illinois indicate that political momentum may be building to take advantage of one of the great inequalities in American online gambling - the legislative carve-outs created for betting on horse races, lotteries and fantasy sports.
Apparently the Illinois gambling industry is in favour of introducing state horse race betting over the Internet on grounds that it is already being exploited in other states and has the potential to generate substantial tax revenues.
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