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The 3D craze that has swept cinema in the last couple of years is also taking hold in the world of online slots, with the new three-dimensional puzzle game Cubis, available at CasinoEuro. The game - the first of its kind for online slots - is particularly unique for its lack of reels, instead featuring a 3D board in which winning combinations are created from colored cubes. In Cubis players can play 15 lines and win up to 50,000 coins per round. It includes some cool features including bombs that change the payout when they explode, as well as six different wild symbols that win huge jackpots and big multipliers when combined. Also new at CasinoEuro is the 5-reel, 20-line video slot game Alice's Wonderland, based on the popular book and movie (the latest film version was also 3D). Alice's Wonderland features all the major characters from the story, including Alice as the wild symbol and the Mad Hatter, Rabbit Hall and White Rabbit as scatter symbols. The Mad Hatter Tea Party bonus feature is activated by the appearance of three mad hatter symbols on the reels. Sign up now to play either Cubis or Alice's Wonderland and you can also take advantage of CasinoEuro's 100% bonus on first deposit, good for up to 100 euros.
The Isle of Man and Hamblin Employment Group today launched the island's first ever e-Gaming course, aimed at those wanting to enter the rapidly growing online gambling industry. The e-Gaming sector is one of the biggest areas of growth on the island, with over 600 of its approximately 80,000 inhabitants employed in various roles in the industry. The e-Gaming Foundation Course ran for three days from September 21-23, and included four modules that taught participants about the sector, potential employers and about the risks and social responsibilities of e-Gaming. The Isle of Man's Department for Economic Development has funded 50% of the course fee for each participant, underlying the importance of the industry to the tiny island, situated in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. The island has been a haven for online gambling companies ever since becoming one of the first companies to pass a law protecting player rights way back in 2001. Many major companies, including Microgaming and Playtech, now do business there.
Daniel Negreanu, one of the biggest names in poker, has named his selection for the top five young poker professionals in a blog post on popular poker site Card Player. The four-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner based his selections on several criteria, including potential air-time and popularity, and unique qualities such as their personalities. Negreanu's picked his fifth selection, Annette Oberstad, due to her success prior to the age of 21, the existing online deal she has already secured, and of course her pull as an outspoken female. His fourth selection, Bill Reynolds, is according to Negreanu, "the most unknown player on the list." Just 21 years of age, Negreanu refers to Reynolds as the wittiest young player in the game with an ability to entertain. Victor Blum, who is not yet 21, was Negreanu's third selection. Unlike Oberstad and Reynolds, he seems to have been picked more for his play than for his theatrics, with what Negreanu refers to as a "fearless" approach to his game. The second selection, Jason Mercier, was paid the highest compliment by Negreanu, who wrote: "He reminds me of myself in my early 20s when I was grinding the low buy-in tournament circuit in the late 90s." Finally, at number one, Negreanu selected Tom Dwan. The 24-year-old already has a fairly high-profile in the poker world, so his appearance in the list will come as no surprise to most readers.
Microgaming is busy preparing for the launches of two major new products - a new Flash poker product for novices and new downloadable three-dimensional poker software. The company, one of the worldwide leaders in online gaming software has been active in online poker for some time, and these new initiatives come as it has dealt with the problem of skilled players coming up against beginners. Its flash poker product, which is already available on several poker websites, including Ladbrokes, Maria Poker and Nordicbet, enables beginners a one-click option that cuts out delays and makes navigating the site a lot simpler. The product features both real play and fun options, as well as a range of tournaments, sit n' gos and cash games. Poker for Beginners This adds to the growing market for beginners' poker software on the internet. Cool Hand Poker already has poker software specifically tailored to novices, although their product is not available in flash. In addition, Cool Hand has a poker school that helps out the more unaccustomed before they make the big move to playing online. As for Microgaming move into the world of 3D poker, the company will now challenge existing 3D poker programs with many are predicting will be a faster, smoother program.
Leading British bookmaker William Hill has made a bold prediction that £50 million will be bet on this year's Ryder Cup golf competition between the United States and Europe. But the figure is certainly attainable when one considers the importance of the competition, now 84 years old. European golf is on the rise and its best players will be hoping to wrest the trophy away from the Americans as they compete on home soil at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport in the south of Wales. Europe is William Hill's 4/6 favorite to do exactly that, with the US 6/4 and a tie 10/1. Rory McIlroy is tipped to lead all European points scorers, with odds of 5/1, ahead of world number one Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer, 6/1. Of course, much of the focus is on Tiger Woods, as he continues to resurrect his golf career following scandals in his personal life. William Hill is offering odds of 9/1 on Tiger and Hunter Mahan playing together at some point during the Ryder Cup, while the odds of Woods and current world number two Phil Mickelson playing together are a shorter 6/1. Europe's Scottish non-playing captain Colin Montgomerie is also in the spotlight, with 25/1 odds on his quitting his role before the last shot of the event is struck, and 50/1 odds on him being involved in an altercation with a member of the US team.
International Day of Non Violence promotes the use of non-violent methods to achieve positive outcomes. This UN-initiated day is set aside for governments and the media to raise awareness of the teachings of mahatma Gandhi, who preached peace. The date of celebration, October 2nd, was chosen because it was Gandhi's birthday. Whilst stories abound of violence in illegal backstreet casinos and even in larger establishments in the past, you can rest assured that today's online casino scene is largely a safe, secure environment. eCOGRA Sets Standards But don't take our word for it - eCOGRA is the online gambling industry's standards bearer and has a focus on fair and responsible gambling. Their industry certification has become synonymous with superior operating standards and assures players that online casinos bearing their badge not only meet their quality standards but are continuously monitored and inspected against these. High Quality Customer Care Players visiting eCOGRA-certified sites can rest assured that any complaints they have won't lead to violence but that a responsive customer care team is in place to advise them. Where disputes arise eCOGRA can intervene with mediation. In August eCOGRA released figures demonstrating that certified sites had fewer player disputes, highlighting the correlation between high standards and player satisfaction. We Salute eCOGRA So whilst the UN and governments around the world mark International Non Violence Day, we at OCR raise our glasses to toast eCOGRA, whose work within the online gambling industry has raised both its standards and its status.
Betfair's Exchange Games will capture the imagination and attention of any player looking to break out of their routine or just their old, favorite games. With a 'no loss bonus' up for grabs, there has never been a better, risk-free time to try these unique games which break the mold. Exchange Games, brought to us by the leading UK gaming operator Betfair, gives you the opportunity to place bets on the outcome of a number of computer generated games. Let's say that it is as if you are standing behind the players to a game of poker, baccarat or blackjack in a casino in Las Vegas, peeping over their shoulders' to see their hands and then making side bets as to which player you think will win or lose. In other words, you are not actually participating directly in the card game itself. Rather, you are wagering on the result of the game (after you have had the advantage of seeing their cards of course!). See the Cards Taking a closer look at Exchange Hold'em will give you a better idea of the principles behind Exchange Gaming. From the beginning, you see all four hands on the table and can wager a bet on any of them to win or lose at any point during the game - pre-deal, after the deal, after the flop and after the turn. If you have ever been too intimidated to play poker because of the tactic of bluffing or bullying, then Exchange Hold'em is a convenient solution because you are not actually one of the players at the table. You are simply using your own skill and judgment to determine the best hand and placing your bet accordingly. In addition to Exchange Hold'em there are five other exchange games from which to choose: Exchange Blackjack, Exchange Hi Lo, Exchange Baccarat, Exchange Omaha Hi and Card Racing Derby. No Loss Bonus As an added incentive to try these innovative games, there is currently a No Loss Bonus. To be eligible, you must be a new player to Betfair Exchange Gaming, opt in suing the promotional code and wager £50 or more on your first day. If you happen to place wagers on a losing player, Betfair will return 100% of your losses up to £25. The rules of each game are clearly set out and there are even demos with explanations to walk you through the steps of each of the games.
Mingle with industry affiliates and learn the tricks of the trade at this year's Budapest Affiliate Conference from 7 - 10 October 2010. Network with over 1,000 industry delegates and personalize your event schedule, including the option to attend the much lauded workshop - Social Media Secrets for Your Business. Here you can get to grips with social media marketing and pick up 3 free e-books, including one of the use of Twitter. Something for Everyone This event is all about the iGaming affiliate market and is a great way to meet useful contacts, find out what your competitors are up to and learn from the good practice of others. Whether you want to improve your SEO, increase your conversions or learn new ways to promote your partners, the Budapest Affiliate Conference has something to whet your appetite. Event of the Year The best thing about the Budapest Affiliate Conference is that it is fun - these guys know how to put on a party and ensure that all delegates enjoy the sector event of the year. The event is organized by iGaming Business who have over 8 years experience in the iGaming sector and publish a number of leading magazines including iGaming Business. See you there!
Instigated by the International Union of Architects, World Architecture Day on 4th October celebrates architectural delights around the globe. We've scanned their publicity material and web site and unfortunately have to report back that there are no casinos lauded as architectural delights. A Style of Their Own Land-based casinos are not known for their classy design, understatement or minimalist look. They have a reputation for bright lights, bling, 'in your face' design, flashing lights in every direction, garish designs and contrived themes. Whilst some online casinos try to mirror these design traits others have definitely gone for a more refined look that is tasteful and attractive. Three Favorite Designs OCR picks out three well designed online casinos. Casino King scores points with us because, not only does it have a chic feel to it but the layout is clear and well-ordered making it one of the easiest online casinos to navigate around. Eurocity Casino greets players with flash graphics, bringing the excitement of a classy European casino to your screen. It may look snazzy but it also has full functionality and is particularly user friendly too. MEcasino has just been redesigned. Once full of primary colors, its new slick black design is now cool and sophisticated. This online casino scores points for the best design improvement. Red Carpet Treatment World Architecture Day may not promote the architecture of any casino buildings around the world but here at OCR we think that the design of online casinos is improving. There is certainly a veer away from brash, loud designs towards more chic, stylish looks that provide an air of elegance. Classy design makes players feel welcomed and pampered as soon as they enter. So three cheers for OCR's top three 'designer casinos'.
US sports fans are betting on fantasy sports in growing numbers - and it's all legal thanks to loopholes in online gambling laws. The average sports fan would already be familiar with fantasy sports in its non-betting form - participants select a team from real players in the relevant sport and score points based on the real-life performance of those players. While fantasy competitions are usually run over a whole season, websites that offer quick payouts are springing up everywhere, meaning that each game becomes important. The popularity of betting on fantasy sports has become so popular that the industry is now worth some $800 million in the United States, according to a recent Associated Press report. More than a dozen websites now manage daily betting on fantasy sports, the president of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association was quoted as saying in the report, adding that nearly 7 million American and Canadians were already playing fantasy sports by 2008. And in another form of fantasy sports, British online gaming company William Hill is once again running its Fantasy League during the 2010/11 English Premier League season, with lots of great prizes on offer. The principle is basically the same as in other fantasy sports competitions. Simply pick a team of players from the 20 Premier League teams, and have them score points based on their on-field performances. Players score points for goals, assists and clean sheets, and of course each comes at a different price which makes team management all important.