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One of the highpoints of any land-based casino visit has surely been the freebies with which casino owners literally adorn their customers. Free shuttles, hotel rooms, cabaret tickets and more awaited casino clients as they arrived at airports, or parked their cars - also for free. The simple aim was to keep customers happy and keep them coming back. However, as the deepening world recession takes its toll on world economies, land-based casinos have cut their generous free offers by more than 10% in an effort to claw back lost revenue. Generosity as Strategy As revenues fall, by comparison, costs rise, and so land-based casinos are looking at ways of cutting expenses. Rob Stillwell, spokesman for Boyd Gaming, a Las Vegas casino owner claims that you have to be "... more strategic in targeting your customers." In English, this simply means fewer freebies. Casino owners like Boyd Gaming are looking more deeply into how and when they shell out their precious cash. Online Casinos Continue to Pay Out Despite the news coming from the land-based casino world, the picture for online casinos is much rosier. Freebies continue to be offered via Internet gaming portals and casino websites. Welcome bonuses running into the thousands of dollars are not uncommon on the homepages of online casinos. Free games, free chips, and free spins are some of the ways that online casinos continue to share profits with their clients. With lower overheads, and therefore lower costs, online casinos continue to entice new customers to their sites. Using freebies, they continue to encourage existing clients to come back for return visits. The message is clear: go for value, and value is still available at online casinos.
A total of $155,969,770 was placed on the 13-race card at this year's Kentucky Derby, according to horse racing Web site Bloodhorse.com. Not surprisingly given the global financial crisis, those numbers were more than five percent down on the $164,668,175 placed on the previous year's 12-race card. Some $104,563,501 was placed on the Kentucky Derby itself, which was won by Mine That Bird in a stunning upset. Those figures, which include on- and off-track bets, were 8.7 percent down on the 2008 numbers, according to Bloodhorse. The 50-1 outsider beat out a field of 19, most of them more highly rated, by a huge margin of 6 ¾ lengths in front of a crowd of more than 150,000 at the Churchill Downs track in Louisville. Saturday's race was the 135th in the history of what is the most prestigious event in the US horse racing calendar. Churchill Downs returned more than $127 million to betters, amounting to 82% of total wagers, the track reported. The state of Kentucky also benefited from almost $1 million in revenues. Open to thoroughbreds, the Kentucky Derby is known in the US as "the most exciting two minutes in sports." It is the first leg in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, which also includes the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
The situation in Holland, as far as casino gambling is concerned, has the Dutch government operating a monopoly while keeping competition out of the way, whether from foreign companies or on the Internet. The state run monopoly is, however, rather successful. Holland Casino operates 14 casinos across the country. Like the casino we visited, in Amsterdam, they are strategically located, attractive buildings hosting gaming and entertainment halls of the highest standards. Holland Casino in Amsterdam, one of the largest in the country, sees about 1,000,000 visitors a year, tells us Sacha Bouwman, Manager Marketing and Communications at the casino. Holland Casino has in past years suggested operating a similar monopoly on the Internet, identifying the value of online gambling and joining the global trend. The Dutch government has remained opposed to the idea and so Dutch citizens' only opportunity to play casino games - American roulette, blackjack, Punto Banco, poker and slots, to name a few favorites - remains at Holland Casino. Online Casino Reports invites you for a visit by watching the video on this page.
US Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) is expected to unveil his plan this week to overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Frank said he would "be introducing it next week and I plan to move on it" when asked about the expected bill at the Reuters Global Financial Regulation Summit last Tuesday. The UIGEA, which was passed in 2006, effectively banned Internet gambling by outlawing the transfer of funds from a financial institution to Internet gambling sites. Since then, Frank - the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee - has been at the head of a campaign overturn the bill, with pro-gambling campaigners pointing out that the new rules infringe on Americans' civil liberties and cause the US to miss out on billions of dollars of tax revenue it could reap from gambling. However, there are still skeptics, even among those in favor of legalizing gambling. Florida-based online gambling legal expert Pat O'Brien told a conference in the Canadian province of Ontario that state-level attempts to legalize online gambling remain more viable than Frank's attempt at the federal level, gaming Web site Gamblingcompliance.com reported. "I don't see Barney Frank's bill going anywhere," O'Brien was quoted as saying. "I see legalization of online gaming happening state-by-state, with one or two states then getting together and saying let's share poker players and let's share lottery players." This could turn out for the better, however, with O'Brien predicting that legalization in one or two states could produce a domino effect in which some degree of action was pursued at a federal level, as has happened with online betting in the horse racing industry.
Foreign gambling operators advertising in the United Kingdom could be subject to special taxes in an attempt to level the playing field, the British government announced Thursday. Gerry Sutcliffe, the country's minister for sport, said last Thursday that foreign gambling businesses "may face new requirements," although he did not specify what that might include. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has already announced that it will conduct a review with the UK Gambling Commission that will investigate contributions from operations licensed abroad, including Sportingbet - which is based in the British dependency of Alderney in the Channel Islands - and 888, which is headquartered in Gibraltar. It would specifically look into whether those operators could contribute toward regulation costs, problem gambling treatment and the Horseracing Betting Levy. The Financial Times reported this week that some British politicians and British-licensed bookmakers are looking to impose the new levy on companies based in jurisdictions such as Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, Malta and Antigua. UK-based bookmakers last week agreed to a further year of contributions to the levy, which requires them to contribute 10 percent of their gross profits, worth around GBP 100 million. The review is expected to be handed to the British parliament before the end of this year.
Although the terms of the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act mean you won't see advertisements for online gambling sites in the US, horse racing betting sites are still getting a free ride if a recent ad on ESPN is any indication. Youbet.com, a US-owned, based and licensed operation, has been running ads recently on the US's most popular sports television channel and Website. Placing ads on the Connecticut-based cable television network exposes the Website to millions of people, including minors, a right seemingly deprived to other online gambling sites. This particular ad tells viewers to "sign up and get your first $25 free!" before jumping to the slogan "Youbet.com! You in?" The advertisement includes a link to the Website as well a phone number to call to place bets. Youbet.com is only open to legal residents of the US living in 13 specific states listen on its Website. The states include Nevada, New Jersey and Arizona. According to its Website, Youbet.com Inc. is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: UBET) that is US based, US licensed and in full compliance with all applicable state and federal laws. It accepts wagers around-the-clock on races from over 150 racetracks in the United States and abroad.
May madness has erupted at Cash Splash online slots. A lucky lady decided to play the progressive slots game and after only 6 spins, she nailed a massive jackpot. The best part of it all was that she only bet £18 before hitting a £40,000 jackpot. Here's one for the history books: she did it all in only 13 seconds! Intertops Casino - whose manager commented on the Cash Splash explosion winnings, was stunned by her good fortune. In fact, he mused that it may well be a world progressive jackpot record. But there's a lot more! Another big winner for the players was from Real Time Gaming. This powerhouse of online gaming hosts a game entitled Let ‘em Ride. A very fortunate player nailed a staggering $29,000 jackpot. Intertops and Microgaming combined have some $7.7 million in jackpots to be won. Intertops has announced that of their 8 progressive jackpots, there is still a healthy $4.5 million waiting to be won. Hovering around the $1.2 million mark are Aztec's Millions and Jackpot Pinatas while others like Midlife Crisis and Shopping Spree have a dollop of almost a $1 million up for grabs. In other news, a player by the name of Jackie has turned her life around forever. She was playing the Vegas Technology slot game Mega Money Mine. This 3 reel progressive jackpot slots machine - a rarity in today's times - takes coins at $1.50 a pop. She managed to snag $228,712 over the Easter break. The game is solely based on the adventurous mining theme, with symbols like the Mega Money Mine, Diamonds, Gold, Shovels and the like. With American players being allowed to access the online slots game, it's become hugely popular. Overall times are ripe for big jackpot pickings this season.
In an effort to enforce the regulated online gaming industry in France, Budget Minister Eric Woerth has made several impassioned pleas to operators. Among them he has called for an immediate cessation to advertising campaigns seeking to cajole gamblers into playing. It's illegal But it's not simply any advertising that the minister wants banned; it's the illegal actions of unlicensed operators that have the French government concerned. BetClic - a major player- has been promoting their trade on air with radio station Europe 1. With dissent from the government BetClic has agreed to cease their advertising. The lion's share of online gambling in France belongs to PMU and Française des Jeux. As it stands these licensed operators are able to maximize their dominant position for the next 7 months, with the government enforcing the protection measures. BetClic has agreed in principle to halt its advertising with Europe 1 provided its competitors don't run their promotional campaigns either. Deadlines adhered to France has a secure system in place for dealing with online gambling activity. Until January 1, 2010 only operators in France are legally allowed to ply their trade. Outside operators have been urged to cease their operations with immediate effect. As such, the deadline for operations must be adhered to and no foreign competition will be permitted. Come January 1, the French parliament will decide how to proceed on the matter with a plebiscite. The matter appears to be soundly managed with the government cracking the whip on outside operators operating without consent in French cyberspace. With an overhaul of European restrictions on online gambling activity in the pipeline operators are eager to get a foot in the door in new markets for the time when restrictions are finally lifted.
In this Weekly Edition, Online Casino Reports joins the concerned voices in the industry, who have warned affiliates from doing business with Grand Prive Affiliates. Stealing affiliate commissions from webmasters and refusing to settle the case should serve as warning to players too, not to play with a rogue operator. Deserving Destinations Why would you play at those casinos? Especially, when you can... Play Free Multiplayer Online Slots at JackpotCity Online Casino, Qualify to the fourth ECOOP (European championship of Online Poker) through one of the ongoing satellite qualifiers at William Hill Poker Club, and Win the record (and growing) jackpot at 888's Millionaire Genie. Industry News Another Affilicon - Affiliate Marketing Conference - will be held in Israel on June 1, 2, following the success of the first event in late 2008. See you there!
What goes up must come down. And Mega Moolah's jackpot was way, way up there. In fact, the progressive jackpot slots prize passed record highs over recent weeks to reach €6,374,434 before the stunning amount was won on Sunday, May 9, 2009. The giant prize was won playing Riverbelle Casino. Mega Moolah Game Mega Moolah is 4-tiered, African themed animal adventure slots game. It features 5 reels and 25 paylines. With a max bet of 5 coins per payline and a total of 125 coins per bet placed, it's the mother of all online gaming adventures from Microgaming. Betting starts as low as 0.01 to 0.05 and a total bet of 6.25 is allowed per spin. Wild and scatter symbols abound in the game as the progressive jackpot feature multiplies winnings exponentially. It's the jackpots that are the main attraction of Mega Moolah. The max bet allows for a 75,000 coin winnings on the Base Game jackpot while a total of 225,000 coins can be won on the Free Spins multiplier jackpot. Alive and Kicking Meanwhile, the new Mega Moolah jackpot has already passed the €1 million mark. In 2008 Klaus E. won $5.5 Million on Blackjack Ballroom and this year's winner is already casting shadows on that achievement. All jackpots, all of the time, are listed with real-time trackers at our Bonus Hunter service.
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