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The number of Americans playing at online casinos is on the rise, according to a recent poll, despite the harsh measures that have been taken to outlaw the practice in the US. The rise has not come without a price though, with land-based casinos suffering a drop in attendance. The survey, which was published by the London-based market research company Mintel, found that 12 percent of adult respondents had visited an online casino or gambling website in the past 12 months, despite laws aimed at cracking down on financial transactions with online gambling companies. The 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) effectively banned Internet gambling in the country by outlawing the transfer of funds from financial institutions to gambling websites. According to Mintel's survey results, men visited online gambling sites around five times in the past year, compared to once for women in the same period. The same survey found that only 30 percent of adults visited a land-based casino in the past year, a sharp drop from the 35 percent that visited a land-based casino in 2001. Of those that did visit a land-based casino, 27 percent did so at an Indian reservation, 24 percent went west to Las Vegas, and 12 percent stayed on the east coast in New Jersey's Atlantic City. Adults in the 25-34 year-old age bracket were most likely to visit a casino, with 56 percent making the visit at some stage in the past year. Mintel concluded that the younger age brackets were yet to feel the burden on financial responsibilities, and therefore were more likely to go to casinos. Interestingly, 55 percent of respondents said they expect to lose when they gamble, and were just doing it for fun, proving that most treat gambling as they would any other form of entertainment. On the other hand, some 20 percent of respondents said that they win more often than lose.
European Court of Justice Advocate General Paolo Mengozzi on Thursday issued his opinion on the legal debate over Germany's sports betting monopoly. Mengozzi acknowledged in the cases Markus Stoss and Carmen Media Group that "online gaming knows no borders," and that complex legal questions have arisen as a result of new technologies, adding that European Union member states are developing contrasting legislation, which makes life difficult for EU judges. He went on to say that monopoly holders cannot go overboard in their promotion of games of chance and that they cannot be used to increase public revenue. Referring specifically to Germany's sports betting monopoly Oddset, Mengozzi said it was for the country's national court to examine whether the monopoly met the aforementioned criteria. The German Federal Constitutional Court ruled in March 2006 that Oddset's advertising campaign was aimed at generating public tax revenue Sigrid Ligné, Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association, said following the AG's comments: "There is a consumer demand for online gaming in Germany. The sports community is losing out as it is not allowed to cooperate with the European gaming industry. Other EU member states are embracing the reality that online gaming is a popular leisure activity and have started regulating the sector. EGBA urges the German authorities to do likewise." A date for the European Court of Justice to deliver a verdict has yet to be set.
With yet more new online bingo sites joining the ranks recently, we decided to take stock and reflect some of the sites that have impressed us over the past year. One site that immediately sprung to mind was All Bingo Club. Using the latest Microgaming software and the simplest of user interfaces, All Bingo Club provides an unforgettable bingo experience enhanced by software, fancy features and barmy bonuses. This slick, well designed online bingo hall is part of the Jackpot Factory Group and last year received the eCOGRA Safe and Fair gambling seal. Bountiful Bonuses All Bingo Club splash about the cash from your first visit onwards, luring you in with a £5 Trial Bonus, which goes a long way when many games have a mere 5p buy-in. Those hooked from their five pound bingo betting frenzy will then benefit from a hot 100% match bonus up to £100 on their first deposit. There are also rewards for regular customers with 25% money back bonuses of up to £25 on every deposit made. All Bingo Club specializes in 90 ball bingo and has weekly promotions, progressive jackpots and a vibrant VIP package. It's a happening hub with new games starting every 6 minutes and a lively chat feature that is well used by the online bingo brigade. Fancy Features We love ‘Auto-Daub' feature at All Bingo Club, which automatically marks off all called numbers to help you keep up with the game and allowing you to pay more attention to the friendly in-game chat. Another great feature is their ‘Advanced Buy' facility that lets you purchase game tickets up to 24 hours in advance. Better still, you don't even have to be online for your game as there is an auto-pilot feature on Advanced Buy tickets that allows your card to be played in your absence. There's always something going on at All Bingo Club, including a respectable range of other popular games such as online casino classics, card games and many sizzling slots. With some excellent features, a dizzying array of bonuses and a great selection of games on offer, All Bonus (oops, Bingo) Club is one brand that should last the test of time, despite the crowded market.
The 2010 World Cup is now just three months away from kicking off in South Africa, and European champions Spain lead the Ladbrokes betting odds, with Brazil and England hot on their tail. The star-studded Spanish team, who breezed through their European qualifying campaign without breaking a sweat, are currently carrying odds of 4/1. Although this is the first time "La Roja" have begun a World Cup as tournament favorites, punters will no doubt be mindful of the team's history of failure under the burden of heavy expectations. One other team to fail under heavy expectations is England, who have now gone 44 years since achieving World Cup success (or playing off in a final). England are 5/1, level with Brazil, who certainly can't be accused of failing at the top level, having won a record five World Cup trophies. Argentina and Germany are next in the betting at 9/1, the latter surprisingly popular given that it almost failed to get through qualifying at all under the tutelage of national hero Diego Maradona. Reigning but aging champions Italy are 10/1, followed by Holland, 11/1, France 16/1, and Portugal 20/1. Ivory Coast, the best bet to make sure the trophy stays on the African continent, are the last of the realistic contenders, at 25/1. However, they are in the group of death with Brazil and Portugal (and North Korea), so at least one big name will be missing out on the Round of 16. The World Cup begins on June 11 and lasts for a month, with the final to be played in Johannesburg on July 11. Sportsbooks are already open for bets.
Betfair is a modern day phenomenon. In just ten years the Betfair brand has become the biggest betting business across the globe and is said to have a turnover of more than £50M a week! Based in the UK and targeting the local and European market, the gaming giant's online casino demonstrates very well how they have proved to be such a hit. Betfair Casino is a rare breed: it offers choice, innovation and is bulging with bonuses. Choice You can play via your browser, with over 60 Instant Play games including card, table and soft games, video poker and slots. There is also the choice of real with earn prizes or free play for fun. Those after an even greater selection can try out the new download casino launched in January 2010. This heavyweight has 150 games on offer all offering pulsating Playtech casino software graphics and features. Innovation Taking their Betfair name quite literally, The ‘Zero Lounge' is one-of-a-kind. Here you can play games such as blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and video poker all with an incredible zero percent house margin. Another unique feature at Betfair is that certain casino games give you a spectator option where you can watch others playing and place bets on which hand you think will win or lose at various stages of the game. Bonuses Betfair offers progressive jackpots that run up to 6 figures as well as no deposit casino games, bonuses and exclusive promotions, some with highly desirable prizes such as plasma TVs and iPods. In addition they have standard bonuses that bear up well against the competition: a £50 cashable sign-up bonus plus a £100 refer a friend cash bonus. Betfair have already won two UK Queen's Awards in their short history, achieving high level recognition for their innovative approach and customer-focused service. With more than 2 million players already registered and high profile marketing campaigns that are sure to bring in yet more business, Betfair can certainly reflect on a successful first ten years in the business. At the same time, gaming fans are rubbing their hands in anticipation of what the next ten years might bring.
There are so many hot topics relating to bingo at the moment. 2010 has already seen small, local, land-based clubs closing down in the UK. The once popular pastime has seen many changes of late but the UK smoking ban, biting recession and competition from online bingo halls have all been final nails in the coffin of small, ailing clubs. As bingo habits change the industry is responding. Large land based bingo halls are riding the tide well and online bingo halls are enjoying a positive boon at the moment. Indeed, new online bingo sites are still being launched, despite the harsh economic climate. Industry Issues Taking stock of all the issues, the 2010 Bullet Bingo Summit, taking place in London in June, will debate the changes within the industry and discuss what lies ahead. The agenda for the summit has now been published and highlights the issues of the day, including: Player saturation, The latest European hotspots, Ideas on innovation and differentiation, and Attracting high spenders The event is not simply a chance for idle debate; it is likely that future strategies will be developed by many online bingo halls subsequent to the summit. These may impact on the range and scale of bonuses, the variety of games on offer, the currencies accepted, the incentives offered to join and more. Industry at a Crossroads This event will take place at the very point that the industry stands at a turning point. With operators keen to ensure the continued success of their brands amid an increasingly crowded marketplace, it is likely focus the hearts and minds of participants and influence the immediate future of the game.
Microgaming, one of the leading online gaming software companies, has added yet another poker room into their family fold: Ladbrokes. They will join Betway, BetOnBet, Eurolinx, GNUF, and Unibet amongst others on the mighty Microgaming Network so says the latest press release. According to PokerScout.com, the Microgaming Network is the 12th largest with a seven day running average of 1,180 cash players. During a seven day cycle, their peak average of players is nearly 2,400. That's no small pocket change to Ladbroke's who already has their own fiercely loyal following but is always seeks out new and innovative ways to keep their brand name protected and bring in new players. Upgrades Even Ladbroke's Poker MD Edward Ihre rushed to reassure current players by stating that "The heart and soul of Ladbrokes Poker will remain - with some necessary enhancements to boost its vitality. As such, players can rest assured that the unrivalled security, reliability and trust that is synonymous with the Ladbrokes brand will continue to be of the utmost priority in our delivery and commitment to our customers." Using their new 1Click Poker client, Ladbrokes aims to solve common problems new players may have when starting out; whether to use real or play money, what type of game to play and how much to buy-in for. By simply using one mouse click (hence the name of the software), the player confirms their choice and is immediately seated. Previously, Ladbroke's with their exclusive promotions, such as the $1 Million Dollar Rake Race and Vegas Dreams with satellite entries starting at $10, has used Microgaming software as a standalone practice. Now with this move to the network itself, Ladbroke's will add their namesake to the extensive selection of poker markets utilizing Microgaming's tools and will be having even more promotions to celebrate. Any browser, OS and interface For the techies out there, Microgaming's 1Click Poker works on multiple web browsers. By including Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari, this means that it will install on both Mac and PC's and uses a flash interface. It provides players with an aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly interface with three simple and straight-forward questions to choose from. Even your Grandma or computer challenged parental figure can use it with ease and start playing immediately. In an outpouring of support stated that "it is so easy to use and start playing, it fits in perfectly with Ladbroke's efforts to bring Poker to the People." That sounds like a company I would put my faith in. Prosperous playing be with you!
All the hottest sportsbetting action is just a click away at Victor Chandler Sportsbook. If it's simplicity and ease-of-use you're after then VC is the sportsbook to pay a visit to. Victor Chandler inherited a sportsbetting enterprise dating as far back as 1925. Through the ages VC has evolved into the most trusted name in sportsbetting on a global scale. With over half a million registered players in 160 countries and over £1 billion in turnover; it's an unparalleled virtual gambling juggernaut. As can be seen from this video clip, it's certainly a hot site with lots of action. At VC, players and punters can enjoy sports, casino, poker and games. Their innovative platform with its signature black, white and blue is instantly recognizable. VC is all about the individual, and to this end the online sportsbook caters to your every need. Safe and secure online betting VC provides 100% player security with safe deposit options. With Gamble Aware, GamCare and IBAS membership, it's good to go. Cross Platform Account The Victor Chandler group of websites includes everything under one roof. So now you can enjoy casino, poker, games, financials and sports betting. It's all included in one sign-up. VC promotions Sign up for your £100 free bet and £25 casino bonus. At Victor Chandler the player is always going to get a sweeter deal. This and other sports betting bonuses are listed on Sports Lines - the OCR sports betting service. Sports games on offer The site provides the full spectrum of sports to players. Players and punters can enjoy everything from football and horse racing to greyhound racing, rugby, cricket, NFL, NBA, NHL, baseball, college football and beyond.
Noble Casino is a brand new online casino that was launched last year in 2009. As a newcomer to the online gaming scene, Noble Casino is working hard to firmly establish itself as a casino to be reckoned with. It is already well ahead of its competitors in terms of the lucrative and thrilling promotions that it is currently offering, particularly to new players. For instance, right now Noble Casino is offering an industry leading sign-up bonus which can accumulate to up to $4,000! You will be hard pushed to find a better deal elsewhere and there is no doubt that this bonus will add to the excitement of your game experience. The bonus is spread over several deposits and accrues over four-steps. When you make the first deposit, you will receive a 100% bonus up to $1,000. This means that if you can deposit this full amount, you get to play with $2,000! Noble Casino will then continue to match your following three deposits by 100%. There are, however, conditions attached to the bonus and you must be a new player to Noble Casino. There is a wagering requirement of 20 times your deposit plus play bonus before you can cash out any amount higher than your initial deposit. We suggest that you thoroughly read the T&Cs before you begin. Even after you have depleted the sign up bonus, the rewards from Noble Casino will continue to flow. You should check out the Monthly Promotions Calendar after you have become a registered player. Every couple of days the promotion is changing to keep you entertained and coming back for more.
It's that time of year again when basketball fans across the United States and around the world are gripped by one thing - March Madness fever. The 2010 NCAA men's college basketball champion will be determined at the end of the 65-team elimination tournament, which begins on Tuesday and ends April 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana. March Madness also happens to be one of the biggest sports betting events in US sports, and this year will be no different, as all the bookmakers - including Titan Bet, which specializes in American events - offer odds on the outcome and on individual matches. The Kansas Jayhawks go into the tournament as the top-ranked team, on the back of a stellar 32-2 regular season record. Their main competition in the Midwest will come from Ohio State and Georgetown. Kentucky are the second-ranked team overall and the main challenger to the Jayhawks, while West Virginia, Ohio State, Villanova and Kansas State are also considered major contenders, following successful lead-up form. Surprisingly, last year's champions North Carolina did not qualify at all for the final tournament. March Madness History The tournament has come a long way since the term March Madness was first coined back in 1939 basketball Hall of Famer H.V. Porter. Back then just eight teams competed, but the tourney has expanded gradually since, and in 2001 moved to its current format. If the rumors are true and the NCAA eventually expands to 128 teams, officials might have to find another name for the "madness" associated with the tournament.
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