Casino Game Updates
By Tina Paterson | 6th February 2012 | Casino Game Updates
Many casinos are hoping to definitely cash in the weekend of the Super Bowl, which pits the New York Giants against the New England Patriots. It is considered to be the biggest single-day sporting event. Many casinos believe that the crowds on Super Bowl day will surpass the crowds they had during New Years Eve. There is also a possibility that the Super Bowl this year will be heading in to sportsbooks’ record history.
Everyone has their own reasons for betting on a different team – they are either from the area or have strong ties to the area where the teams are from, they like a team that did not make it to the Super Bowl so they are rooting for their next favorite, or they do not like one of the teams and are therefore going with the others. Some people are relying on their gut emotions to place bets while others do a lot of hardcore strategizing and scouring over stats before placing their bet.
It does not matter if these men and women place just $20.00 or hundreds of dollars on the win, the biggest winter of the day will be the casinos. These are two of the most popular NFL teams going at it, one sportsbook director said, and therefore, people are making much larger bets than normal.
Everything is being betted on, not just who wins. Bets include the number of passes, who will have the ball first, who will have it last, which player will fumble first, and even who is going to have the first interception in the game.
While most bets that are coming in are favoring the Patriots, bets for the Giants are still coming in, making the point spread much greater.
With $87 million wagered on the Super Bowl last year, it is becoming evident that this will be surpassed this year.
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By Keila Brown | 19th January 2012 | Casino Game Updates
After Black Friday, online poker was put into shambles. Even with news that the United States may be opening up for the legalization of online poker, many online poker sites are feeling wary and are discouraged from making an entrance into the United States market. With the population in the United States still barred in the meantime from playing online poker, these companies are now looking elsewhere for alternative markets. One of the primary strategies that have emerged is to look into the market in developing countries, including India and around Asia.
Media Entertainment Consulting Network recently published a report pointing out that India and a number of Asian countries would be great potential markets for the introduction of online poker. 2UP also recently published a report that there is a potential market, which has been proven by an increase in the number of players from Asia and India looking to want to play online poker and win real money.
Media Entertainment Consulting Network started further that the current potential market in India for online poker is somewhere around $50 million dollars. A number of reports are coming out and saying that India offers the highest growth potential when it comes to online poker. However, it is important to note that gambling is currently illegal in India and the country has yet to publish statements regarding online poker.
South America is another location many online poker companies are starting to look into. While online gambling is often frowned upon, the latest economic crisis that has hampered the entire region over the last few years has pushed some countries to look further into online poker and open up their borders to it. Guyana, Antigua, and Barbados have established themselves to be part of the current online poker circuit.
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By vince.baker | 17th January 2012 | Casino Game Updates
On Saturday, the 17 of December, 2011 in Madison, Wisconsin, Phil Hellmuth held his Second Annual Phil Hellmuth’s Hold’em with Agrace HospiceCare. It is a poker tournament themed charity event, as well as a silent auction and raffle, designed to increase awareness and raise money for Agrace HospiceCare.
The even brought in a fun mix that included over 250 players, as well as supporters and observers. Some of the people playing included Annette Obrestad, the 2007 World Series of Poker Europe Champion, Dewey Weum, fourth place finisher at the 1998 World Series of Poker event, and a few online pros, including Mark “P0ker H0” Kroon (who was the defending champion) and Anthony “D1rtyR1v3r” Nardi. There was also a number of local celebrities, including Mark Johnson, Leigh Mills, Charlie Shortino, Carleen Wild, and Jerry Kelly.
The event was held at the Wisconsin Institute of Discovery, located in the downtown area of Madison.
Those who were there stated it was a fun affair with a laid back atmosphere and lots of laughing.
The winner of the charity poker tournament event was Laura Schultz. At the final table, it was Schultz, Kroon, Nardi, John Green, and Morgan Machina. While Kroon came very close to defending his current title, he finished fourth place. In the end, it was head-to-head between Schultz and Green, and Shultz took him over with a winning hand.
However, Shultz’ trophy as the winner were not the only prizes to be had. Many were waiting around for the raffle to see who would win the seat at the 2012 World Series of Poker event and who would win the two year lease for a 2012 Honda Civic LX. The winner of the seat was Jerry Mistele, and the winner of the car was Tiffany Schreiber.
In the end, $110,000 was raised at the charity event and the wheels are currently in motion for planning next year’s charity poker tournament event. There have even been some big celebrity names tossed around for next year, so who knows!
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By Casinomom | 8th December 2011 | Casino Game Updates
The Remote Gambling Association and the European Gaming and Betting Association have recently filed a formal complaint with the European Commission. This was done in regards to a recent online gaming law created in Greece. The complaints address a variety of non-European Union complaint issues, especially in regards to brand new market entries. Both organizations have pushed the request that the European Commission quickly and efficiently handle this matter.
The European Commission, as the ‘guardian’ of free trade and treaties within the European Union, has jurisdiction over trade concerns between the different member countries. While Greece is opting to open the online gambling market, they are being extremely protectionist by not allowing outside online gambling companies into their borders.
This has not gone without criticism from the European Commission, but other than that, not much has been done to solve this dispute. When Greece decided to open up their market to online gambling, they entered in a draft that discussed a law that would place unjustified restrictions, making the industry very anti-competitive. This is extremely unfair as it places a huge burden on brand new operators. Licenses would need to be made permanent with physical buildings in the country and operators could only use banking establishments within the country. Many are arguing real evidence that supports Greece’s imposed restrictions does not exist.
Greece also created a tax regime that brings up numerous concerns for the Remote Gambling Association and the European Gaming and Betting Association. The Greek Organization of Football Prognostics, a public company that exclusively manages and operates all sports betting and numerical lottery in Greece, have been given their licensing rights already, providing them with an opportunity to continue monopolizing the entire gaming industry in the country, or at least until 2030. Furthermore, the Greek Organization of Football Prognostics does not pay any taxes and any new online gaming licenses will have to pay up 30 percent.
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By vince.baker | 31st October 2011 | Casino Game Updates
At the end of September, European Union online gaming regulators approved the new online gambling taxes in Denmark. This approval paves the way for Denmark to further along the liberalization of its burgeoning online gaming industry.
In a previous statement given by the European Commission, it said that after a full in-depth investigation was completed and found a law removing a number of restrictions associated with online gambling in the country of Denmark, which meant lower taxes based by online casinos than any land-based casinos, complied with the rules set forth by the European Union.
The European Union stated that the current gambling laws in Denmark are compatible with their laws because the advantageous effects caused by the liberalization of the gambling market outweighed any of the distortions of competition that were brought about.
Many online gambling interest groups and operators have been praising the initiative taken by Denmark. They believe that this will set an example that the rest of the European nations should follow. Now many online casino and sportsbook companies are looking to start the application process to obtain a Danish license. Many believe that this is what gambling legislation should look like across the entire European continent. The structure offered by the Danish legislation offers Danish customers as well as international operators with a number of clear benefits, including a transparent, competitive, and above all else, safe online gaming market for all.
On the downside, however, European Lotteries, a national lotteries body, does not see the advantages of the new Danish legislation. European Lotteries slammed the European Commission for showing favor toward liberalization of the growing online gambling industry over the possibility of an increased risk of gambling addiction by the masses. European Lotteries believes that both online gambling operations as well as all land-based need to be taxed equally.
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By Casinomom | 27th October 2011 | Casino Game Updates
With the end of October upon us, it can only mean one thing, Halloween, the night of ghosts and ghouls, is quickly approaching. And if you are going to be frightened, it might as well be by a good looking witch offering you the opportunity to win money. Well, this is the point of view of Playtech, who have recently released a new online slots game “Halloween Fortune,” now available at Casino.com.
Halloween Fortune is a five-reel, 20-payline online slots game that features a number of popular-culture Halloween symbols, including black cats, witches, pumpkins, potions, skulls, a crow, and even a cauldron with bubbling green brew inside. Some of these symbols lend themselves to the wild symbol, the scatter symbol, and the bonus symbol.
The wild symbol for this game is the pumpkin. It can be substituted for any symbol on an active payline, aside from the bonus and scatter symbols, in order to make a winning combination. If a player gets two or more of the wild symbol on one active payline, the wild symbol is paid out rather than the regular symbol win.
The scatter symbol is the Halloween Fortune logo. If a minimum of three scatter symbols show up anywhere on the slots’ reels, there is a payout given to the player.
One of the best features of this game is the bonus round. If the bonus symbol, the cauldron, pops up anywhere on the five reels, the Witches’ Brew Bonus is triggered. At the start, players choose between three good looking witches to win a certain number of free games (3, 4, 5, 7, 10, or 20). Then, the player is given the choice of six potions and must pick one to win a multiplier for the free games (2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10).
So if you find yourself looking to pass time between handing out candy, or maybe the evil spirits bring a bit of luck, mark Halloween this year with this all new Halloween-themed online slots game filled with great, colorful graphics, fun sounds, and spooky characters!
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By Keila Brown | 10th October 2011 | Casino Game Updates
While indirect, Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, has had a major influence on the increase in the utilization of mobile gambling. While Jobs passed away this past Wednesday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, his memory lives on as a pure visionary and one of the greatest inventors in history. One area where his presence is felt is the burgeoning mobile gambling industry.
When Apple first introduced the iPhone in the year 2007, it literally changed the entire gaming industry by introducing a new era whereby online casino and gaming participants could access the casino, poker room, or sportsbook right from their mobile device. While iPhone was not the first smart phone to hit the market, it was the first one to gain massive worldwide popularity.
In 2010, the global public saw the launch of the iPad tablet by Jobs. In just a few months time, some of the most prominent sports betting and online casino companies launched betting applications specifically designed for the iPad tablet. With the eventual launch of the iPad2, more online casino companies created their own gaming applications. Today, people everywhere no longer need their computer to access their favorite online casino games; they can easily access them from their iPhone and iPad.
There has been a lot of speculation concerning the new direction of Apple since Jobs stepped down months ago and gave the CEO position to Tim Cook. One of the theories floating around is that Apple will now be looking to revamp current television devices.
Well, no matter what may happen concerning future Apple developments, current innovations have allowed the online casino industry to easily make the profitable move to mobile devices. It is good to take a minute and remember Jobs and how he helped the advancement of the online gaming industry.
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By admin | 4th October 2011 | Casino Game Updates
Playtech, an internationally-known gaming software development business recognized for its premier software for online numerous poker rooms, online casinos, online sports betting, online bingo games, mobile gaming, among others, and the supplier of online games to some of the leading operators in the online casino business around the world, announced in June large numbers hitting into their second quarter. Playtech topped this off with recent acquisition of Gala Coral, a casino and bingo operator located in the United Kingdom,
When looking at the financial facts, revenues for Playtech were up at an annualized seven percent in the business’ second quarter. Playtech recorded increases in all its areas aside from the online poker division. In total, revenues for Playtech casinos increased by €27.3 million.
Other major news in July was that Playtech signed a new long-term software contract allowing Playtech to supply its online gaming products as well as its technology platform to Gala Coral Group, which, aside from the United Kingdom, also operates in Italy.
In the last week of July Playtech made the announcement that it was going to launch a number of important licenses in the very recently regulated online casino market in Italy. These licenses include TNT, WHO, Buongiorno, SNAI and Sisa, and all have them have launched new casinos that are powered by Playtech for all Italian online gamblers over the last few days of the month.
But there is more! Playtech also recently purchased Mobenga, a mobile sportbook out of Sweden. The deal was made for €23.8 million, with Playtech providing €8 million of the payment upfront. This will provide Playtech with an additional foothold in the arena of mobile betting, which has been increasing in popularity over the last year or so.
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By Keila Brown | 7th September 2011 | Casino Game Updates
The New Zealand Lotteries Commission made a new plan in regards to the current expansion of the gambling business through the internet. The Lotteries Commission has opted to start selling Instant Kiwi lottery tickets through the online casino. However, this plan has been opposed by New Zealand-based Problem Gambling Foundation. The Problem Gambling Foundation stated accusations that by selling lottery tickets through online casinos, it would increase the overall occurrence of gambling problems amid consumers. The Lotteries Commission’s Chief Executive, Todd Mcleay, responded to these accusations by saying that products associated with gambling, such as lottery tickets, do not actually contribute to gambling addiction.
However, contrary to the response provided by Mcleay, a number of other countries have provided evidence that lottery is one of the main causes of a gambling addiction. Countries that have strict laws regarding the issue of selling lottery tickets through online casinos have lower rates of gambling addictions via online casinos. However, Mcleay retorts by says that numerous businesses cannot survive without the internet, and this includes the gambling industry. Mcleay points out that as online casinos expand, more people will see them in the future and it will be where a majority of business transactions occur as the internet is where many people buy things online.
Currently, the government in New Zealand has yet to approve the plan on the table to advertise Instant Kiwi lottery tickets at online casinos. There is still a lot left to be discussed prior to pursuing this form of online gambling expansion. The Lotteries Commission has set up a two year plan in which to provide New Zealand lottery consumers with a number of new online venues in which they can purchase their lottery tickets to make it much easier and more accessible.
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By Casinomom | 18th July 2011 | Casino Game Updates
These days it is hard to find someone walking around that does not have a smart phone with them that they are constantly using, not just for phone calls but also for mobile applications, or mobile apps. As the online casino sector has noted, mobile gambling is starting to become huge in the industry as smart phones and tablets become more accessible to the public and more popular. The call for for mobile based entertainment is continuing to grow and online casinos are meeting with website development companies to create mobile online gambling apps or creating a mobile based online gambling websites.
According to Rank Group, Europe’s leading gaming and leisure business, the year 2011 has seen a significant increase in the growth of the mobile gambling sector. Rank Group noted that in the first six months of 2011, more than 70,000 mobile customers downloaded Rank Group’s mobile betting application to their smart phone or tablet. Throughout the remainder of the year, the company is highly anticipating the continued growth of mobile users interested in gambling via their smart phone.
In 2011 alone, mobile gambling revenues increased by more than 25 percent. Currently, there are approximately 300,000 present members of the online gaming communities provided by Rank Group. Rank Group continues to expect a number of online players will make the change to mobile gambling soon.
Aside from Rank Group, a number of other online casino development companies are looking into the increased benefit of creating mobile platforms for their casino games. Currently both iPhone and Android smart phone devices have a few titles available. However, those in both the mobile website and mobile application development industry and the online casino gambling industry say that this will change as the need for entertainment via mobile phones and tablets continue to rise.
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