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All eyes in the European gambling industry will be on Budapest this coming month as delegates for iGaming Business's Affiliate Conference converge on the Hungarian capital from September 10-13. The real action will take place on Friday September 11 and Saturday September 12, with Thursday and Sunday reserved for networking and sightseeing. Highlights Some high profile names in the industry will speak on the Friday, including Dave Snyder, the co-founder of social media marketing firm Search & Social and Christopher Cemper, founder of Cemper.com. the traditional SEO panel discussion will also draw a crowd as usual. A second conference room will be the stage for discussions on the market focus in various European countries, with sessions on the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, and of course Hungary. The big names continue on Saturday, with the morning speakers such as John Samso from GameRep and Niall O'Malley from Immediate Future looking at things from a more financial angle, and an exciting panel discussion on sports betting in the afternoon looking at the future of that industry. The panel discussion will include representatives from Bodog Europe, EasyOdds.com, Jacky Betting and Expect. The other conference room will include talks and panel discussion on new alternative products to promote in the industry. The conference also includes four networking events in total across Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, all being held at excusive Budapest venues. Conference Tradition Formerly known as CAP Euro, the affiliate conference has been held in the past in such European cities as Amsterdam and Barcelona.
The relationship between the celebrity label and poker got another boost last week with the announcement that online poker room CelebPoker has been integrated into Playtech's iPoker network. The move means that CelebPoker will now offer customers a variety of tournaments and ring game options, as well as extra promotions and prize pools. The website will also gain a new look, including a 3-D graphic interface and new online poker room. Upgraded software will give it new features that didn't previously exist, such as multi-table options, player notes, player chat facilities and advanced hand history statistics. Poker Promotions Looking to keep the momentum going, CelebPoker is offering a bunch of new promotions, beginning with its new player reward scheme, the VIP club. Under the scheme, CelebPoker is offering a "six-tier structure" that includes cash bonuses, tournament tokens, CelebPoker merchandise and live event qualification. CelebPoker CEO David Donovan was full of praise for the new alliance with Playtech. "The move to Playtech's iPoker Network has provided us with the scope to take CelebPoker to the next level. Our players can now enjoy even more exciting games and a wider range of tournaments as part of the world's biggest poker network," he said. Established in 1999, Playtech is the world's largest publicly traded online gaming software supplier. Among its services, it provides online software for casino and poker and bingo Websites.
There are 9 exciting online casino games being launched and the lucky casinos to receive them include Casino Bellini, Cameo Casino and Vegas Red. Players already gaming at these casinos will stand to benefit from loads of exciting promotional offers being made available. For fans of Craps, the new online casino Craps com is already drawing crowds. Spin to Win From Roulette to Poker and Video Slots, there are plenty big winners on a variety of games. These include Carsten N of Germany who banked a whopping €23,686 playing Global Traveler on 25th Julyat Casino Tropez and Maria L of Spain won €17,809 playing Roulette Pro on 21st July at Casino Bellini. Online Casinos jackpots and more Casino Tropez, Casino Del Rio, Titan Casino, Casino Bellini, Craps.com and Vegas Red have all recently paid out significant jackpots to multiple lucky players. And there are a good many tournaments being held, offering even more ways to win than ever before. Stay connected, the momentum is building up nicely.
Aiming for a record 16th grand slam victory, Roger Federer continues to lead all comers in the odds as the 2009 US Open enters its second week. The world number one, who started the tournament at 11/10 odds, has firmed to odds-on favoritism at most bookmakers, with Ladbrokes offering 4/5, William Hill Sports, 5/6, and Paddy Power offering evens. Predictably, Brit Andy Murray and Spaniard Rafael Nadal are the two main challengers, as both of them prepared for their third round matches on Sunday. Murray's best odds could be found at Ladbrokes and William Hill, who were both offering 3/1, while those wanting to place a wager on Nadal would be best off doing it at Ladbrokes or Paddy Power, who were both offering 5/1. Following the surprise elimination of local hero Andy Roddick on Saturday, the only two players also in reasonable contention were Argentina's Jan Martin del Potro and Serb Novak Djokovic, both hovering around the 9/1 mark with all major bookmakers. On the women's side of the draw, the surprising form of comeback queen Kim Clijsters has seen her challenge the Williams sisters for favoritism. The unseeded Belgian, who will face off with Venus Williams in a blockbuster match in the Round of 16, was around sixth in the line of betting before the tournament, but has firmed to as high as 9/2 at Paddy Power. Venus has been given updated tournament odds of 7/1 at Ladbrokes and William Hill. Sister Serena remains tournament favorite, ahead of Clijsters and Venus, listed at evens by Ladbrokes and odds-on by William Hill (5/6) and Paddy Power (10/11).
There is one online casino which is doing things a little differently this September - Spin Palace Online Casino (of The Palace Group) - and players are lining up to get a slice of the action. What's the deal? Spin Palace has chosen a group of Microgaming progressive jackpot casino games - none of which are progressive slots - for eager online players. The notable characteristic of all the games is that they are progressive jackpot table games. Here are the games as Spin Palace has selected them: Roulette Royale - an exciting online European roulette game with jackpot odds of 1 in 2 million (which was won in June 2009). Cyberstud Poker - the equivalent of Caribbean Stud Poker, with a Royal Flush you nail the jackpot. Supajax - the video poker game Jacks or Better with a Supajax card; nail 4 jacks with the Supajax card with 5 coins then it's onto the progressive jackpot. Poker Ride - Microgaming's equal to Let ‘Em Ride; score a Royal Flush and the jackpot is yours. Jackpot Deuces - an awesome video poker jackpot game with the diamond Royal Flush clinching the deal. When do we play? The anticipation is running hot and the competition runs from September 7 thru September 27. It's nice to know that $2,000 is up for grabs. Players who place the most bets on these games will win $800 with 2nd place clinching $400. If you're into wagering as much as possible you stand to win $200. The remaining $600 will be shared by 8 randomly chosen players.
In a world dominated by multinational corporations, mergers, joint ventures and the like, it comes as no surprise when big deals are brokered. But online gambling industry pundits were somewhat surprised when news broke of a new multi-billion dollar acquisition of Marvel Entertainment by Disney. How it affects online gaming? CryptoLogic - one of the most successful gaming software providers - has been left a tad bemused by the deal. And here's the reason why: Marvel comics online slot machine games are the backbone of the CryptoLogic enterprise. The new $4 billion deal means that the Disney hold on proceedings may affect the gaming platform. Fans of CryptoLogic and Marvel Entertainment will note that there was recently a deal signed to perpetuate their long-standing relationship as gaming providers to the world of online casinos. The Disney angle Despite Disney acquiring Marvel, there are still contracts in place between CryptoLogic and Marvel for several more years. The impact will not be immediate. The only concern industry insiders have is the family-oriented, clean image that Disney embraces in respect of their brands. As yet there is no concrete definition of how deeply Marvel's operations will be run by the Walt Disney Corporation. CryptoLogic holds its ground The fear that Hulk and Spiderman may be placed alongside Mickey Mouse and Tinkerbell as no R-rated content is unlikely, but always at the forefront of pundits' minds. Online players are expecting CryptoLogic to hold its ground by retaining online casino rights for the superhero characters.
Smart Live Casino boss Arthur Baker has left his position and the online casino has closed down its affiliate program, according to online publication eGaming Review. The reasons for Baker's sudden resignation are not known publicly, but it is believed that he was involved in a disagreement with Smart Live Casino's owner, Kasim Garipogulu. Baker resigned just over a week ago, effective immediately, and had not returned to the London's headquarters since, eGaming Review reported. Smart Live said in an email to affiliates last Tuesday that it would shut down its online casino affiliate program immediately and that all affiliate accounts would be paid up to date with the upcoming accounting period. The company added in the email that the decision to shut down the program had been made "as a result of ongoing technical issues and integration with Income Access which we are unable to resolve fully." However, the email also said that the affiliate program will return soon, presumably after it fixes the problems that caused it to shut down in the first place. Smart Live Casino's online casino will continue to operate as usual. How affiliates will be compensated for players' activity is a mystery.
Gambling software provider Playtech has announced a record 37 percent rise in profits in the first half of 2009, aided by an increase in demand for online poker. The company, which recently signed a deal to develop software for William Hill's online gambling services, announced a profit of 32.8 million Euros ($47 million), up significantly from the 24 million Euro profit ($34.4 million) it recorded a year earlier. Shares in Playtech rose recently after it said it had overcome problems in its project with William Hill. "We remain firm believers in William Hill Online and there are already some encouraging signs, including a big increase in the number of players," Playtech chief Mor Weizer said, adding that Playtech planned to introduce gambling software for Apples iPhone and Google's Android devices by the end of 2009.
There are those who lament the exorbitant costs involved in traveling to their preferred holiday gambling destination. The flights, the hotels and the entertainment bills are enough to put one out of pocket even before a dime has been wagered at a slot machine. Luckily all the fuss is hardly necessary nowadays. All the big gaming excitement associated with brick and mortar casinos - much like those in Vegas, Macau or South Africa can be found right on your PC, laptop or internet accessible mobile phone. The magic of online casino action One of the things that land-based casinos failed to take into account was the technology boom which swept through the IT sector. With it came advances in gaming software platforms which were unprecedented. Online casino platforms now utilize some of the most groundbreaking hi-tech software, replete with realistic sounds and animation, hi-color graphics and spellbinding entertainment. In fact the ambience of online casinos easily mimics and indeed surpasses that of the land-based equivalents. The reason why online casinos are so prosperous is because they offer a dramatically reduced cost to players. No need for traveling, booking hotels and paying for restaurant prepped meals. It's as easy as turning on the laptop, pc or mobile gaming device and getting going. What's on offer Comparatively, online casinos are equal partners in their generosity towards players. Whatever is being made available in terms of jackpots and promotions at land-based casinos are also available online. Fantastic overseas vacations, cruise ship expeditions, shopping vouchers, matching bonuses and referral rewards are all pervasive at online casinos. The bonuses are the bright lights to which players naturally gravitate and they are plenty generous. What to look out for? As with all things seemingly too good to be true, players need to bear a few things in mind before they open up their hearts and their wallets to just any old online casino: Decide what games you want to play and learn the rules of it Check the reputation of the online casino Does the online casino customize to your language, currency and local conditions? How is the gaming software platform - is it user-friendly? Read up about your preferred online casino in user forums and chat rooms What are the wagering requirements in respect of matching bonuses? Remember that you don't have to go in knowing all the tricks of the trade in respect of card games. It's easier to bet first time around on games of pure luck. These include Craps, Roulette, Blackjack and Bingo. Another really important point to remember is that casino gaming is all about fun, not about how much has been won. So go in with a fixed budget - be responsible - and enjoy your online gaming experience.
A US appeals court has upheld the nationwide ban on online gambling, following a legal appeal from a New Jersey-based gaming company. The Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Associated sued the Justice Department, Federal Reserve and Federal Trade Commission, based on its claim that anti-gambling laws are too vague, unconstitutional and infringed on individuals' rights to privacy. However, the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected the appeal last Tuesday, upholding the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which effectively banned Internet gambling by outlawing the transfer of funds from financial institutions to gambling websites. Interactive Media chairman Joe Brennan Jr. said the company was "disappointed that the court didn't overturn the law," but added that the verdict gave the company something to look forward to, after indicated that the issue was one of state - rather than federal - jurisdiction. He added that there only six states where online gambling would be in violation of state laws, leaving, in his words, 44 states that present "an opportunity for Internet gaming to become regulated and normalized." Hearings on pro-gambling legislation introduced by US Congressman Barney Frank (D - MA) with the aim of overturning the UIGEA are due to be held Washington, DC, in September.
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