Showing results for: ""
Now in its fifth year, the European Online Gaming Forum will be held on February 2 in London at the 4-star Crowne Plaza City Hotel on the Thames. The Forum will cover a number of burning issues in the online gaming industry and turnout is supposed to be excellent. After a successful forum last year, the planning committee decided to add a number of new discussion topics and presentations from industry leaders from Europe and the rest of the world. Participants will learn just how the leading operators have created new and innovative business strategies even with the Gambling Act of 2014. There will also be talks, which will focus on new liberalized markets in both Eastern and Western Europe. Marketing is a crucial part of the online gambling business, as is corporate social responsibility, which is why the C5 has added this interesting topic. Multi-jurisdictional license management will also be put under the microscope to shed light on this highly overlooked region. Online Gambling Reaching New Heights in the EU The online gambling industry has grown faster than any other service activity in Europe. Projected revenues for this year are estimated to be around €13 billion and the European market shows that there are 6.8 million online gamblers therein. New legislation and regulations have made online gambling a bit of a bureaucratic nightmare for many operators, which is why forums like the C5 are so important. Speakers will include officials from the Gaming Commission, as-well-as industry leaders and even policy makers. Recommended for CEO's and Presidents, Legal Departments, Government Affairs and many more, the C5 will be an interesting and crucial forum presenting industry insights and valuable, relevant information. If you can make it to London on Monday the 2nd of February, try to register for an exciting day in the world of online gambling and check out the luxurious Crowne Plaza in London for the fifth annual C5.
Russia's fight against unlicensed online gambling continues as the country is working on its online betting framework which is slated for a summer 2015 launch. In an attempt to prevent any fraud in the upcoming framework, Russian authorities are said to be putting into place measures which will block online payment measures. Regulated Payment Processing System In December, a self-regulatory organization (SRO) was formed in Russia, one of its goals aimed at combating illegal gambling. To achieve the goal, gambling operators are required to sign up with the SRO and one of its other functions will include a payment processing system. President of Russia's National Association of Bookmakers, Yuri Fedorov, explained how the system is set to work. Transactions of players' funds will have to be channeled through the system in order for the SRO and Russian authorities to monitor transactions and see who's licensed and who operates without a permit: the transactions will go through an online SRO portal. Fedorov said that once the system will be in place, the Russian government will ask all payment systems in Russia to halt the arrangement of payments with companies that were not signed up with the SRO. Russian iGaming State of Affairs This step joins Russia's general crackdown on illegal gambling. An amendment in Russia's Criminal Code which was signed by President Vladimir Putin in December has given the state more power and tools in order to fight illegal gambling. This includes punishments such as heavy fines, community service hours, jail time and other means of freedom restriction. The Russian Federation has six areas specifically defined as gambling zones; Bill 478806-6 which was signed by Putin in December effectively criminalized online gambling that takes place out of these zones. Russian iGaming also took a hard hit when the Russian ruble crashed back in December. One of the situation's consequences was the departure of major operator Ladbrokes from Russia earlier in January.
Yggdrasil Gaming has just completed the launch of its new HTML5 framework, with the flagship game being a newly released slot entitled ‘The Dark Joker Rizes’, which is a sequel to Jokerizer. Now available on desktop and mobile devices, The Dark Joker Rizes is a five-reel slot designed with 10 paylines. Complimenting the dynamic visuals of the new slot are the potentially rewarding extra features. First up are the Mystery Wins, which can occur when you least expect them. Easier features to identify include bonus re-spins, Super Bets, and the appearance of Guaranteed Jokers. Yggdrasil Gaming CEO Fredrik Elmqvist considers his company’s new game to be ‘a deep, truly feature-rich game and is a sign of things to come’ for the developer. More HTML5 launches are to be expected in the future. HTML5 to Transform Mobile Casinos The emergence of HTML5 software will transform the online casino industry, with developers able to develop for a single platform, as opposed to creating a litany of apps to serve a multitude of purposes. As a result, any user with an HTML5 web browser will be able to access games almost immediately on their mobile device. In the case of Yggdrasil, the developer was able to release The Dark Joker Rizes simultaneously on desktop and mobile devices. Before using HTML5, Yggdrasil had to essentially create different versions of the same games. Now, though, gamers no longer have to wait until a later date for mobile versions to emerge after new releases from Yggdrasil. Fredrik Elmqvist has promised that its partners will be able to ‘launch games simultaneously on desktop and mobile’, which will allow them to ‘streamline their marketing spend with one game launch campaign across all platforms.’ At present, Yggdrasil is working to migrate existing games such as Draglings and Reef Run over to its HTML5 framework. Look for the new slot at trusted Yggdrasil-powered online casinos like Vera and John Casino and EuroSlots Casino.
Rafael Nadal has had the spotlight in his eyes for much of the Australian Open. He has been modest and almost worrisome regarding his chances to take home his second title down under, but is still playing very well, once he gets in his groove. Tonight, Nadal will face Tomas Berdych, the Czech tennis star in the first of the Australian Open Quarter Finals. Rafael and Berdych have met 21 times throughout their respective careers and the Spaniard has the upper-hand on the Czech 18-3. He has actually won 17 in a row, but Nadal has stated that history means nothing ahead of tonight’s match. 'It doesn't matter what happened in the past. It is a different story this time,' Nadal said. Tomas Berdych sent hometown hopeful, Bernard Tomic packing after his Round 4 win 6-2 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 on Sunday. Berdych played a strong game in the first and last sets showing that he deserves to be in the Quarter Finals and could upset Nadal at Ron Laver Arena. Keys to Australian Open Victory Both players will need to play a very hard first set to set the pace. When Nadal is on his game, he is lightning fast and hits the ball with force and accuracy, which many players simply can’t keep up with. Berdych needs to try and tire the already struggling Nadal out and have him play long sets. First serve is a major key to victory especially on the Aussie hard court. Live In-Play Props Bet365 Sports is providing full live in-play coverage of the Australian Open Quarter Finals tonight and punters have an interactive chance to win lucrative cash throughout the match. Player Props, Next Point Props, Set Winner, Match Winner and much more. Live In-Play betting is an exciting online gambling experience and when matched with live coverage of the game, it makes for a winning combination.
The US East Coast is on standby with blizzard warnings issued as Winter Storm Juno is expected to hit Monday night and linger until Wednesday morning. Sources are reporting that over 5,000 flights were cancelled in anticipation of the snow storm which triggered blizzard warnings from New Jersey to Maine: Warnings and watches are also issued for parts of Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia. Some 28 million people could be affected by storm. Winter Storm Juno Could Go Down History At New York City alone, the potential accumulation of snow is expected to reach as high as 3 feet in one of the heaviest snowstorms the city has known. Mayor Bill de Blasio warned New Yorkers yesterday ahead of Winter Storm Juno, saying: "This could be a storm the likes of which we have never seen before." Similar amounts of snow are predicted in other areas stretching from New Jersey to southern Connecticut. Visibility is going to be low and winds are expected to be up to 60 mph. Forecasters are saying that Wind Storm Juno has a good potential of becoming an historic blizzard with a dangerous crippling effect. People in the affected zones are advised to stay at home and to remain updated with public messages. Weather Forecast Betting and Games Whether you're at home waiting for the storm to pass or you are just a weather freak, online sportsbooks and casinos actually offer weather-related activities. At William Hill Sports, punters enjoy "Temperature Specials" bets where they try to predict whether different "lowest temperature" records will break this winter. Bored at Home? Play Today's Weather Slot Another weather related attraction is Today's Weather, a 5-reel, 25-payline video slot from Microgaming which is themed on televised weather forecasts. It's a really unique game favored by many players and it can be played at Microgaming online casinos such as BETAT Casino. If you are in the expected hit zones, please stay safe and may we all pass Winter Storm Juno unscathed!
The Florida International University (FIU) Arena in Miami was lit-up with style and grace Sunday night as 88 beauties from all over the world lined up for the Miss Universe 2014 beauty pageant. At the end of a suspenseful evening the 22-year old Miss Colombia Paulina Vega was crowned Miss Universe. Bookmakers' Favorite Wins Those who were active at online sportsbooks were not so surprised to see Paulina Vega take the coveted crown. Miss Colombia was the leading candidate in terms of odds at different bookmakers with 5/1 to win. One of her strongest competitors in terms of winnings odds with around 8/1 was Miss Philippines Mary Jean Lastimosa, who only came out in the top 10 – a shocker. Some of the reasons Miss Philippines was crowned a favorite included the fact that one of the contest's judges was no other than Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino who also happens to be one of the world's best boxers. But the king of the ring did not deliver the goods so to say. However, he did ask Miss USA Nia Sanchez what would she say to a global terrorist if she had 30 seconds to deliver a message, a question to which she replied "spread a message of hope and love and peace". Sanchez came as first runner-up, she was rated at around 7/1 at the bookies. Online Sportsbooks – Not Only Sports Wagers Beauty pageant contests such as Miss Universe are just a part of the events on which online sportsbooks offer betting odds and specials. Nowadays people can place wagers on TV shows, political events, weather forecasts, award ceremonies and the list goes on. For example, currently at William Hill Sports punters can find odds for "Best Picture" at the upcoming Oscars where they will see Boyhood leading at 4/7 with Birdman close-by with 5/4. Like when betting on sports events, people who bet on these kind of events are encouraged to research their picks. Usually the scene is bustling with speculations and odds before a big event takes place, much like Miss Universe. For example, in the Oscars, Boyhood is a big favorite because of its many nominations and the fact that it won three Golden Globes earlier this month, one for Best Motion Picture – Drama. Miss Live Dealer Beauties are not limited only to pageants – ask anyone who's had a round of two in a live dealer online casino. Online casinos the likes of All Slots Casino and Winner Casino offer real-time live dealer games like blackjack, baccarat and roulette with professional beautiful croupiers. Who knows, maybe the next Miss Universe will come from a live dealer casino. What's more, with the beauty found at live dealer casinos, will we ever see a Miss Live Dealer contest?
Amaya proudly announced significant changes to its senior management structure. High Level Changes The first and most prominent is the appointment of former Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Chris D. Lewis as advisor to its board of directors. Further, George Sweny, an experienced gaming industry executive and a member of the Board of Directors of the Responsible Gambling Council of Canada was named Amaya's Vice President of Strategic Ventures. Amaya Chairman and CEO David Baazov spoke for the company of the changes, saying “We’re extremely honoured to benefit from the experience and expertise of Mr. Lewis and Mr. Sweny,” citing security processes and procedures as essential areas in which Sweny will provide support in fortifying the integrity of Amaya to serve customers, government and industry partner stakeholders in both the public and private sectors. Former Ontario Commissioner Lewis to Advise Lewis' appointment will position him alongside two-year advisor Amaya Ben Soave. Soave is a retired Chief Superintendent of the RCMP internationally recognized by Canadian and foreign governments for his innovations and contributions to law enforcement in combating organized crime and terrorism. Amaya's compliance looks unassailable now as it moves forward in the global movement to regulate online gaming in the most protective and secure manner possible. More About Chris Lewis Chris Lewis was appointed Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial police (OPP) on August 1, 2010, becoming the head of one of the largest police forces in North America. His wealth of operation policing experience emphasized front-line service delivery, diversified investigative disciplines and tactical operations. More About George Sweny The former Senior Vice President, Charitable and iGaming for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) began his career at the Ontario Lottery Corporation (OLC) in 1975, and serving in a variety of capacities including Senior Vice President for both the Lottery and Bingo Business units. Lewis also concurrently served as the President of the Interprovincial Lotteries Corporation (ILC) from July 2005 to July 2006 and as a member of the ILC Executive Team which oversees the games of the Canadian national lottery.
Gambling, which looked like a dead issue in California, has gained new life in the state. Taxation and Regulation in California As of Friday, unaffiliated Assemblyman and long-time gambling industry supporter has introduced a new bill offering regulation and taxation of online poker in California. California State Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer introduced the Jones-Sawyer bill, known as AB 167 under the title of “The Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act of 2015,” an adapted version of the bill he introduced in 2014. The updated exclusive language exempting bad actors from consideration for licenses now focuses on individuals, stating that “a person who has contemptuously defied a legislative investigative body, or other official investigative body of a state or of the United States or a foreign jurisdiction” would be banned from seeking a license for online gaming in the state. The language paves the way for gambling corporations such as leading online poker sites PokerStars and Amaya to reapply for and receive licenses without impediment in the post-regulation era, something which was not possible in the previously corporation-centered language of last year's regulation initiative. Decriminalization of Fantasy Leagues in Washington A new bill in Washington state, one of the strictest anti-gambling states in the US, seeks to decriminalize fantasy sports gambling, rendering fantasy sports games legal. The bill represents a significant shift in policy, as because Washington state considers fantasy sports to be a form of gambling, criminalized in the state and punishable as a felony. With 500,000 residents in the state playing fantasy sports games, local leaders such as State Senator Pam Roach (R-31st District) are ready to acknowledge Constitutionally that these contests--into which over 41 million people nationwide pay into contests to draft players onto their teams and compete with other participants for pooled cash prizes, including in nationally sponsored leagues from organizations such as ESPN and Yahoo--should be reclassified as games of skill rather than luck-based gambling. Washingtonians Currently Excluded from National Competition At this juncture, Washington residents are blocked from sports fantasy pools on gambling sites and in national fantasy sites. The current proposed legislation would still prohibit recognized forms of gambling such as sports betting in the state, ostensibly remaining consistent with a softer interpretation of Washington's still strict policy of gambling prohibition.
Every Saturday and Wednesday, Americans have a chance at winning the country’s favorite lottery: the Powerball. Winning numbers are drawn twice a week, and prizes range anywhere from $4 to over hundreds of millions! In fact, this week’s Wednesday draw (January 28, 2015) has a grand prize of $261 million, and the easiest way to get a piece of this pie is to buy online lottery tickets. While every state has its own vendors that sell tickets for the Powerball lottery, buying online lottery tickets is an easier option for those who don’t have time to go to their local store in between work and running errands. Anyone over 18 years old (or 21, in some states) can buy online lottery tickets at sites such as The Lotter and Lottery Master How Powerball Works Powerball is a combined jackpot game in which five white balls are drawn out of a drum that contains 59 white balls, and one red ball is drawn out of a drum that contains 35 red balls. The numbers are drawn every Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:59 Eastern Time. Prizes The first prize of the Powerball is obviously the big payday - hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on the day and the week. Second prize is nothing to laugh at either - a neat $1 million, paid out in cash, and players can win this any time they match the red Powerball. Other prizes include $10,000, $100, and then, the meager $7 and $4 prizes (which at least cover the cost of the ticket!). Online Lottery Tickets The Lotter and Lottery Master are just two examples of agents that sell online lottery tickets. When you go to these sites, you can actually pick your numbers on the spot, either on PC or mobile. The sites also tell you how much time is left until the next Powerball draw, so you can keep track of when it will take place. And just remember, when buying online lottery tickets, your chances are as good as anyone else’s for winning the jackpot!
With Super Bowl Weekend on the horizon, New Jersey Congressmen have reintroduced their bills to legalize sports betting. Congressmen Frank Pallone, Jr. and Frank A. LoBiondo claim that legalizing sports betting can only benefit New Jersey; it will provide a boost to the economy and crack down on illegal operators within the state. Congressman LoBiondo stated, “Increasing competition from neighboring states and the proliferation of off-the-books betting has left Atlantic City’s gaming operations at a disadvantage. Sports-betting can help give our famed resort town a hand up, providing yet another unique option for patrons in addition to the quality entertainment, dining, shopping and beaches." Congressman Pallone said, “New Jersey voters have spoken loud and clear: they want to be able to place wagers on sporting events legally.” He added, "It is time to bring this activity out of the shadows and allow states to regulate it." Federal Ban on Sports Betting Stalls New Jersey A federal ban on sports betting was enacted in 1992, and it still serves as the main prohibitor from allowing states to enact any new form of sports betting. The two new bills that the New Jersey congressmen are proposing would exempt New Jersey from this federal law. The Congressmen are acting with the majority of New Jersey residents behind them, who in 2011 voted to approve a ballot to allow sports betting in New Jersey. The legalization ran into its own legal difficulties, in the form of lawsuits filed against the State of New Jersey by the NCAA and four professional sports leagues. New Jersey's appeal was denied, but perhaps there is more of a chance now since NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced his support for legalized sports betting in November 2014. New Jersey Online Gambling As of now, New Jersey is one of the three states that offers legal online gaming; Governor Chris Christie pushed through the legislation in 2013. The New Jersey Department of Gaming Enforcement stipulates that only people over the age of 21 who are found within the borders of New Jersey can play at the state's online casinos.
Blackjack
Slots
Roulette
Baccarat
Craps
Poker
