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A new trend has emerged amongst professional poker players, with several of them putting World Series of Poker bracelets up for auction on eBay. 117 Grams of Gold The latest is the 1999 WSOP bracelet won by Paul "Eskimo" Clark, one of three he has won at the prestigious poker event. The bracelet is simpler than the bracelets given out these days, although at an estimate 117 grams of gold, it is still expected to fetch around $5000. Last week the poker world was stunned when the 2008 WSOP Main Event bracelet won by the now retired Peter Eastgate was sold for the huge sum of $147,500, with the proceeds going to UNICEF. 291 Diamonds Eastgate was reportedly quoted saying the 18 karat white gold bracelet, which was paved with 291 diamonds, was just sitting in a drawer somewhere collecting dust, so it's obviously commendable that he donated it to a higher cause such as charity. But surprisingly, even this was not the first case of a poker bracelet being sold this year. Poker news sites reported back in January that a bracelet won in 2005 by T.J. Cloutier was being sold on eBay by a pawn shop based in Plano, Texas. The 14 karat gold, diamond-encrusted bracelet was bought by Cake Poker for a little over $4,000.
Digital media company DIGDIA has released a new report that predicts the casino industry is at the beginning of a new network-based gaming revolution. The report, which focuses on slot machines, says casinos are currently years behind other industries when it comes to utilizing modern technology, making it fertile ground for big consumer electronic, networking and mobile companies to gain a foothold. The Online Answer Looking at three major developments in the industry - network-based gaming, internet gaming and mobile gaming, the report provides a strategic analysis of the gaming industry in the era of the internet, looking at it from both a technology and market approach. According to DIGDIA, it is targeted at industry outsiders interested in learning what is happening inside the world of gambling, as well as at people inside the gaming industry who want to learn more about the opportunities from outside. Network Gaming Network-based gaming is the area that has the report's authors most excited. According to DIGDIA, slot machines and other casino-based devices still rely on old fashion serial links, but this is slowly starting to change with the introduction of new technology in which a central group of servers control the gaming experience. Leading technology companies such as Intel and Cisco have already recognized the potential of the gaming industry, attending the recent Global Gaming Expo (G2E), a sign that this we haven't heard the last of this exciting subject.
Titan Poker is the latest company to receive a French online gambling license after gaining the approval of the Regulatory Authority of Online Games (Arjel). The site will now begin offering poker on its .Fr domain, which caters specifically to players in the second-largest market on the European continent. Dedicated to Poker Titan Poker said on receiving the license that it would focus on fighting problem gambling in France, including providing players means to regulate their own activity. It will also encourage former Titanpoker.com players to join the French site, with excellent conditions for existing Titan members and generous promotions for potential new customers. French Gaming Market France legalized online gambling earlier in 2010, issuing licenses to several foreign-based operators after opening the market up to them for the first time. While it has been widely praised for this, the system has still come under a lot of criticism for not being enough. Some have called the law "absurd" and accused it of overtaxing. For more on the French online gambling market, visit Online Casino Reports France.
British online gambling giant Betfair has set its sights on the Californian horseracing industry after the state passed a law in September that allows betting on races via the internet. Betfair, which just last week won the eGaming Review award for best innovation, has already opened an office in San Francisco in anticipation of the law's implementation, due to take effect in May 2012. The San Francisco office will likely quadruple its workforce next year to around 100, the company's global director of racing Stephen Burn was quoted saying by Bloomberg. Horse Racing in California California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger backed the horse racing bill as part of legislative efforts to help revive the state's horse racing industry, which has such a long and famous tradition. At present Californians can only wager with pool betting, in the total money wagered is divided up between all the winners, working along the same ways as a stock exchange. Betfair says it is in prime position to work with California law because it already has an online horseracing exchange and can work in tandem with state regulatory bodies to ensure betting is carried out lawfully. Elsewhere in the USA California could be the second state to introduce legalized online gambling, after the New Jersey senate recently approved a bill that would allow state residents and foreigners to bet online via serves located in Atlantic City casinos.
The UEFA Champions League enters the final matchday of the group stage on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with second spot still realistically up for grabs in four of the eight groups, as several teams - including Arsenal - face elimination. Bookmaker Welcomes Your Wagers With all 32 competing teams in action over the two nights, British bookmaker William Hill is offering betting on head-to-head markets, as well as all the usual goalscorer, half time, handicap and other betting options. With three British teams already safely into the round of 16, all eyes will be on Arsenal as it battles to stay above Portugal's S.C. Braga and qualify in second place in Group H. Top Matches Fortunately for the Gunners, who are equal on points with Braga but have a far superior goal difference, they must only beat winless Partizan Belgrade at home to secure their place in the next round. Arsenal is 1/9 to win the fixture, with a draw paying 15/2 and a Partizan win paying 22/1. In the other game, Braga is only considered a 4/1 long shot to win at Shakhtar Donetsk, 8/11. In other notable fixtures this week: Manchester United, 8/11, hosts Valencia 15/4 in a battle between Group C's top two teams. The draw is paying 13/5. Marseille, 13/10, hosts Chelsea, 11/5 in a match between the two Group F heavyweights, who have also secured qualification. The draw is paying 11/5. And finally, Werder Bremen, 11/10, looks to salvage some respect from a disastrous campaign against Inter Milan, 5/4.
US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is pushing behind the scenes for new legislation that would legalize online poker but restrict licenses to online casinos and operators that have been in business for at least five years, according to news reports. Last chance, For Now But the Nevada Democrat has come under fire from several House Republicans who say the senate is attaching the measure to legislation that must be passed during the current lame-duck session, which concludes on December 17. If passed, the Internet Poker Act 2010 will regulate online poker and provide federal and state governments with much needed tax revenue from online poker. As a senator in the gambling hub that is Nevada, it is no surprise that this is such a big issue for Reid. He was the beneficiary of generous support from casino companies during his last campaign, namely from MGM Resorts International, which donated some $192,000 to aid him in his re-election. Repeal the Ban The bill follows efforts pushed by other legislators to overturn the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which effectively banned online gambling in the United States. Congressman Barney Frank's Online Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, or HR 2267, still remains to be decided on. Now Reid's legislation could beat Frank's to achieving that goal if it passes through Congress in the coming weeks. Meanwhile Online casino gambling in the USA has plummeted. From atop the online gambling world, US players must look hard to find such casinos as Slotastic and Sun Palace, who aside from being excellent casinos, accept payments via AmEx cards, which enable US players to make deposits. Otherwise, US players are at risk playing on an unregulated market.
The London Affiliate Conference is a large, annual event that first began in January 2007 and is overseen by iGaming Business. Since then it has grown to become the largest iGaming affiliate event in the sector. The event is targeted to affiliates which turn their profit by directing traffic to online casinos. This conference, which is completely free to attend, presents an excellent opportunity to strengthen professional networks and learn about evolving marketing techniques. In 2010, there was a sell-out crowd with more than 2,300 affiliates, operators and vendors thanks to a varied and interesting program of events which included informative sessions, networking opportunities and parties. Examples of topic discussions are legal developments, key challenges met by affiliates and effective marketing strategies. The next conference is due to be held from 27 to 30 January 2011 and its schedule has just been released. There are a number of new inclusions to the program in order to make it as relevant as possible to its audience. Among the additions to look forward is a round table session with affiliates who are invited to discuss current major issues within the industry and a presentation by an affiliate on how they became the UK's largest sportsbook affiliate. The conference organisers are anticipating that more than 2,500 people will attend the upcoming event thanks to a bigger venue. OCR will attend the London event as Premium Marketing Partners. We've already signed up to the conference. Have you?
Leading online gaming software company Playtech is to become even more accessible to customers after announcing the addition of its best casino games to bet365 Games. Premium Casino Games The package of 24 premium casino games, which was previously available only on the company's Playtech Casino Client, includes branded Marvel slot games such as The Hulk, Iron Man, Blade and Fantastic Four, as well as other popular themed slots including Gladiator, Rocky, Pink Panther and Top Trumps Football Legends. In addition to the above, the package also includes several video poker and table games. bet365 Games Bet365's managing director of gaming Steve Ibberson said the deal continues the company's positive relationship with Playtech, adding that the new package "can only enhance the standards of our Games Tab offering." This latest announcement caps off a big couple of weeks for bet365, which topped all challengers at the recent eGaming Review Operator awards, winning the titles for operator of the year, casino operator of the year and best website performance. Bet365 operates an online casino, sportsbook and financial betting sites too. Playtech was also recognized for its strong presence in the field when it was named the International Company of the Year at the 2010 AIM Awards, which were hosted in London in November.
A New Jersey man has made gambling history after striking gold at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City with a huge progressive jackpot that exceeded $7.3 million. "Tom," as he has chosen to be identified, was playing a progressive $5 Wheel of Fortune slot machine in the Diamond Cove slot section early in the morning a couple of weeks ago when he hit the $7,355,381 jackpot, the second biggest ever paid out by the casino. Historic Day What makes the news even more exciting is that Tom said he was present at the grand opening of the casino on November 23, 1980, exactly 30 years to the day before he struck the massive jackpot. Harrah's handed out its biggest ever jackpot prize in April 2006, when an 84-year-old retired great grandmother won over $10 million on a progressive nickel slot. Online Jackpots Meanwhile, online gamblers have also been the recipients of large progressive jackpots this week, with the Moolah Slot Machine going off to the tune of €38,779 for one lucky Red Flush Casino customer. As of publication, the King Cashalot video slot leads all others in the Microgaming progressive jackpot network, with a cash prize now exceeding $1 million.
With hundreds of different payment solutions out there, it can all be a bit confusing. Therefore many players choose to use local payment companies. Postepay, which is issued by Poste Italiane, is a convenient payment solution designed specifically with local players in mind. Coming in the form of a prepaid, rechargeable card, it can be bought at any Italian post office or kiosk. e-Wallet An all-in-one e-wallet solution, Postepay is fast and very secure and allows you to make deposits directly into your online casino account, many of which offer generous deposit and welcome bonuses just for using this specific payment method. Postepay cards can be used at almost all major online casino, poker and gambling sites, and can also be used for purchases and even ATM withdrawals both in Italy and abroad. For more information on Postepay and Italian online casinos, visit Online Casino Reports Italy. Trust and Service As the government-owned and leading operator of postal services in Italy, host Poste Italiane is a name you can trust. And moreover, because it is local it means there are customer service operators who can attend to all your Postepay problems and enquiries during regular hours and in a familiar language.
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