Showing results for: ""
Gamblers Anonymous has constructed a 20 question test to help diagnose problem gambling symptoms. The questions are simple, but the answers tell an important story. So why doesn't every gambler take the test on a regular basis to find out how he or she is doing? The answer is that they don't take the test, neither do they think of going in search of help often until the addiction hits a vital nerve or organ, meaning the bank account or the family structure. By then, of course, the crisis is upon them and help is ineffective. According to a study carried out at the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, problem gamblers were ‘paralyzed by fear of public stigma and shame' and this prevented them from making any sensible moves. Pride and denial are also part of the equation. The two-year study is wide and covers many aspects of gambling addiction. It includes different examples of the outcomes of problem gambling, from broken homes to the selling of assets to raise funds to chase losses. The 300 participants in the study were questioned as to the type and quality of the help that is available, their knowledge about how to look for help and the effectiveness of the assistance when they do finally find it. The main recommendation arising from the study is the encouragement of problem gamblers to seek help before their addiction hit a crisis. Other suggestions are increasing the awareness of problem gambling and spreading the word that help is readily available. To read more about problem gambling and to take the diagnostic test, click here
The case Online gambling faces an uphill battle in Kentucky as Governor Steve Beshear pushes for a statewide seizure of 141 online gambling sites which allow Kentucky IP addresses to access their sites. Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wingate now awaits the testimony of the online gambling companies. Tax revenue With horse racing and bingo revenue at the forefront of his mind, Governor Beshear is eager to lock out illegal gambling sites from taking a sizeable chunk out of legal gambling activities. With no incoming tax revenues from the 141 illegal online gambling sites, the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet references state law banning illegal gambling devices. Union Advocates of online gambling are gathering en masse in an unusual show of unity against the Kentucky seizure efforts. Online operators feel that the state is overstepping its authority and is in violation of constitutional due process rights. They say it's a federal interstate commerce issue. In addition they are claiming that the state is intervening to monopolize the gambling industry, by stopping competition. President of the Kentucky chapter of the PPA (Poker Players Alliance), Rich Muny said, "We're going to fight this one strongly."
It was revealed this week that Madrid province has granted a retail betting license for the European sports betting conglomerate: Betbull Bwin Espana (BBE). The license will apply to the firm's W1nners brand, which has now received the go-ahead to start operating within Madrid. A new logo and branding were unveiled at a gaming exhibition in Madrid last week. Participants also learnt about the products that will be on offer, including in-running betting. The Director of Betbull, Simon Bold stated that the Spanish market holds the most potential out of the whole of Europe. The Madrid license was referred to as just the beginning for his company. Bold revealed that Betbull plans on applying for further licenses across Spain, once the legality of his sports betting operations have been clearly affirmed.
The Advertising Standards Authority in the United Kingdom certainly have their hands full at the moment. They have recently pulled another commercial from British television for it supposedly portrays gambling as a way of dealing with personal problems. In short, the commercial was deemed to be in poor taste. The other commercial pulled by the ASA recently was one by Pokerstars. That ad portrayed gambling as an activity capable of giving confidence to people. Reaction The public has reacted with criticism to the ruling, fearing that too much censorship is as bad as what the ASA is trying to prevent. Eric Cantona, the British footballer, was the star of the failed campaign. Those responsible for the ad, Partouche Betting, supposedly meant no harm. According to them, they were merely trying to create a cheerful commercial following England's miserable 2008 Euro outcome.
The South Korean authorities have hit pay-dirt and they didn't even have to gamble. A massive gambling syndicate run by four men, South Korean citizens, operating out of a casino in Manilla, the Philippines has been shut down. The operation netted the owners some $100 million in just 18 months. The casino employed 30 Filipino dealers and broadcast via web cam their baccarat games. The gambling operation - a web cast effort - used web camming in real time to display the casino to its gamers. The prize for the authorities: one hundred million dollars. Sources in the know claim this to be the single-largest bust in the history of gambling. Only one legal casino is open to South Koreans, with the industry being heavily policed. The casino operation The illegal operation was set up by a mastermind named Lee. According to news reports coming from the investigation, Lee sent live video feeds of the gambling operations to gamblers. They used nine online gambling portals. Gamblers enjoyed real-time gambling activity by depositing cash and buying cyber-chips. Their gambling activity was facilitated through the use of Internet cameras. In total over $100 million accrued to the owners of the casino operation. The owners provided transparency to gamblers by showing a live CNN feed in the corner of their gambling site. Gamblers thus knew it was real-time betting taking place. Gamblers were connected through multiple servers across the globe - an ingenious albeit illegal enterprise. After the bust, two Korean operators were extradited, and authorities are searching for the remaining two who have since disappeared.
CPays were located at the entrance to one of the exhibition halls at CAP Euro Barcelona 2008. They could not be avoided, really, particularly with a team of eight representing the affiliate program. Our CAP Euro reporting team met with CPays representative Ishai Amit. In this interview, Ishai tells us about what sets CPays apart, both in the brands they own and the marketing strategies they employ. Watch this interview in which CPays introduces its brands, including 32 Vegas, Euro Grand and Joyland Casino, discusses the effect of the US abn on online gambling on the industry's global expansion, and what they offer in the way of high player values.
Online bingo has long played second fiddle to online poker as the game of choice for Internet gamblers. However times they are a changing and bingo has fast established itself as the game of choice in the UK. In excess of 3 million players per annum are drawn to online bingo and that number is set to rise further. No longer an underdog The UK boasts a healthy and growing bingo-playing sector, but the 300 site-owning operators are looking to expand their markets by aggressively pursuing territory outside the UK. The favored destination is Spain. What does Spain has to offer? The Spanish love bingo and of course they have the lottery - a favored pastime of many. A particular online bingo site - Feria Bingo - is excited about the Spanish venture. Their Marketing Manager, Mercedes Osorio, is well pleased with the expansion into Spanish domain. If bingo can get to a point where it is able to compete with poker - among internet users - it will generate massive income and have tremendous appeal. Online bingo The online version of bingo is much more dynamic than the bingo of old. Exciting online user-interfaces, healthy jackpots and real-time interactive plays from the comforts of home are more appealing. People are increasingly drawn to gambling from home than venturing out to halls and related venues for such activity. For now the bingo market looks set to take off in an unprecedented fashion and operators in the UK and beyond are excited at the prospects.
Jamie Gold, 2006 WSOP Champion, who has won an astounding $12 million, has proven to be a friendly and interesting person who cares about poker, the state of online poker, and other important issues. Such as the MDA-ALS Division, a charity he has helped raise some $100 million by organizing and sponsoring poker tournaments around the wold. In this interview with Online Casino Reports, held at CAP Euro Barcelona, where Jamie Gold delivered the keynote lecture in front of a crowd of industry insiders and fans alike, he talks about these issues and more.
Affilicon arrives Israel is set to host the brightest minds in the fields of online casino affiliate marketing from experts in Media, SEO (Search Engine Optimizing), Social Networking and leading Internet technologies. A group of highly respected affiliates will share their knowledge of affiliate marketing with operators and vendors. The Affilicon conference allows for all vested parties to meet with their current partners in a mutually beneficial and instructive manner. OCR will be there Online Casino Reports will be at the auspicious event, interviewing industry leaders and media partnering to bring the world of online gambling right to your doorstep. The keynote speakers will be Noam Lanir - CEO of Livermore Investments - and Gigi Levy of 888 Holdings. Media personalities Several leading corporate executives will be in attendance, including Mark Levy of Matan Media, Sam Michelson of Five Blocks Incorporated and Ofir Cohen of Compucali, to name a few. Everyone counting on online marketing to power their businesses will be there.
Google, the world's largest search engine, has opened up another lucrative market - online gambling advertising. The new move comes as liberalization through regulation of the gambling industry is taking place. Previously Google banned online gambling advertising, but now the stage is set for a new wave of gambling promotions and marketing. The primary beneficiaries of this policy change are registered UK and EEA casinos. It's no mean feat being afforded this opportunity - the casinos in question have to be regulated and Gambling Commission compliant. The ads will be classified as non-family safe, meaning they will not display on safe-search filtered sites. The gambling companies making use of this new opportunity must be able to provide valid operating license numbers too. Not outside the UK The advertisements will only be available to British online users and Google will retain the ban in all other countries. The ads will mainly be text-based and countries such as Scotland, Wales and England will be able to view them. All other licensed gambling companies in the EEA will be able to tap into the British market provided they are allowed to advertise legally in their home countries. The verdict Now licensed gambling operators are able to purchase search ads and Google has given its express consent to advertisers meeting requirements to target the UK. Those companies transgressing the legal requirements will face account terminations. There will no longer be a need for devious manipulations of word spellings and search terms as was previously done by gambling companies. 888 and PartyGaming are eager to use the new rules to tap into the lucrative British market.
Blackjack
Slots
Roulette
Baccarat
Craps
Poker
