It seems that Australian government takes over the task to establish order in the sphere of online gambling. Recently the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification Board have rejected the title of new game Sexy Poker. The release of the casino game has been planed later this year, it is based on the Wii platform. But from the point of view of the government the customers probably will not be able to find and play this game legally.

In fact there is nothing new in the concept of the game, stripping-incentive concept is used quite frequently in the different games including poker. Why does this game face with the restrictions?

The OFLC has the highest rating of MA15+, the Board has passed the special anti-nudity rule which is the base of the Classification of Films and Computer Games. According to this rule the companies are forbidden to use nudity in the games, that’s why the launching of Sexy Poker is questionable.

In a case you have the experience of playing strip poker, you know that clothes are the betting currency. The same idea is the base of the Sex Poker, playing this game you can see six female opponents and after every round the number of clothes will be reduced. Because of the fact the nudity is the main plot and the key point of the product, the game almost doesn’t have any chance to overcome the MA15+ standard. But in contrast to Australia the game has already passed successfully all the tests in Europe and some other countries.

Gigamedia Limited has a banner 2008 year with full-year revenues reaching a record $190.4 million which is up by an astounding 25%. Net income hit a new high of $44.4 million for 14% growth while earning per share are impressive at $0.82 (basic) and $ 0.74 (fully diluted).

Nasdaq-listed Gigamedia cheered investors with fourth quarter revenues of $44.6 million, a net income of $9.1 million in a difficult economic environment and earnings per share of $0.17 (basic) and $0.15 (when fully diluted). CEO Arthur Wang reported that these solid results indicate the correctness of their business model. He expects 2009 to be a great year also but admits they have to do some cost cutting measures to protect long-term profitability.

Company president Thomas Hui believes they can still deliver strong growth but worries that online poker and online casinos will face new pressures from an increasingly tough global economy. He thinks past investments and a fully implemented cost reduction and increased efficiency plans will help them weather the financial and economic storms besetting the region. He says the on-line gaming and entertainment industries have good fundamentals and will still grow but at a slower pace this year.

GigaMedia Limited, through its subsidiaries, is an online gaming software developer. Its gaming software products comprise Online Gaming Management and Online Gaming Modules that run on Microsoft Windows 2000/ME/XP/VISTA, and features a realistic 3-D environment, selectable background music, and local language interface.. GigaMedia Limited provides online games and services,such as MahJong and various card, chess, and table games. It operates in Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, Canada, and the United States. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan.

Nowadays many countries all over the globe reconsider gambling legislation, in connection with this fact India becomes more attractive for online casinos. This country has the large population and fast developing economy, that’s why the gambling market has the great potential. Indian market is open for online casinos and internet gambling, such processes as massive creation of the workplaces are the great advantages of the country. Online casinos and other companies working at the internet try to lobby the creation of more open and loyal gambling laws. Today the Public Gaming Act is the main document regulating the sphere of gambling, but some experts say it should be updated and renewed.
The position of internet gambling sites in modern India is quite complicated, because in fact the government can’t control the numerous offshore online casinos, the most part of existing laws concerning to the sphere of gambling neither work no enforce restrictions. If you wish to play online you can find a dozen of different payment methods, and the ban just can’t prevent you from doing it.

But what shell the government do in such situation? The world of gambling is full of money and it is certainly extremely attractive for the gamers. The good decision is to establish new gambling legislation and correct taxation, in such a way the general public will get the legal access to online casinos and the government will be able to control the process and collect taxes. The first step in this direction can become the renewal of existing Public Gaming Act.

Just when you thought progressive jackpots at online casinos couldn’t get any larger, another millionaire was made after hitting a multi-million Euro jackpot. In fact, the lucky player becomes the biggest online millionaire to date. The whopping jackpot was to the tune of ?6,374,434, which is the largest jackpot ever won in the history of online gambling.

Not surprisingly, the jackpot was through Microgaming Software’s expansive progressive jackpot network of online casinos. Mainly focused on the UK and Euro online gambling sector, Microgaming casinos are widely considered some of the best destinations to wager online. Even after closing their doors to the U.S. market, Microgaming has been able to procure a large share of the billions gambled online each year. Consequently, the progressive jackpots have managed to stay hefty.

This has never been more evident than the massive jackpots building up at Microgaming’s “Mega Moolah” video slot, which has paid out $286 million to 7,000+ players, and is directly responsible for creating 14 online millionaires. Indeed, it was “Mega Moolah” that dished out this most recent millionaire. And quite frankly, it’s likely to be “Mega Mollah” that will make the next online millionaire.

The online casino lucky enough to host the jackpot (almost as lucky as the winning player) was River Belle Casino. One of the top online casinos in the popular Belle Rock Entertainment Group (managed by Gibraltar-based and licensed, Carmen Media), which includes the OCS reviewed Jackpot City Casino, River Belle is no stranger to large jackpots. Taking a peek at the Recent Winners page of this eCOGRA approved casino’s website and you’ll see what I mean.

Carmen Media’s CEO, Tim Johnson, expressed the excitement felt by all. “It’s always a pleasure to see players win life changing jackpots”, said Johnson. He went on to give a hearty congratulations to the player who happened to be a longtime loyal player at River Belle. Second Johnson’s congratulations was Microgamign CEO, Roger Raatgever. Due to privacy laws, the full identity of the player could not be disclosed. However, it has been confirmed that the player is a small business owner residing in Greece, and who goes by the name Georgios M.

Last week I finally took my pilgrimage to gambling’s Mecca: Las Vegas. I stayed for four days and three nights, and probably couldn’t have lasted any longer. By my last day, running on three hours of sleep had finally caught up.

My group stayed on the Strip at the Luxor, whose two “headline” acts were Carrot Top and Criss Angel. Needless to say, we found better ways to occupy our time.

That being said, I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything. And you can bet that I’ll be making a second appearance in Sin City before long. So, like I did with Atlantic City, and my colleague Gary Trask did with the Gulf Coast, here are my Top-10 first impressions of Las Vegas.

10. Under construction
Everywhere you looked there were construction signs. The CityCenter project looms high over the Strip, and it looks like it will be unbelievable (if it ever gets completed). There were lane closures and detours all over the city. This didn’t help the traffic situation, as it always seemed we were stuck at a red light.

9. There’s plenty of other stuff to do
It’s not all about the casinos. There are a ton of attractions you can enjoy in Las Vegas without sitting down at a blackjack table. The water show in front of the Bellagio (made famous in Ocean’s 11) was incredible. There were more shops than you could shake a stick at. And the roller coaster at New York, New York was running all afternoon and evening — which leads to number eight…

8. Families are everywhere, at all hours
There were people of all ages milling about the Strip. The pool area at Luxor had plenty of twenty-somethings, but also plenty of pre-teens. And it wasn’t just during daylight hours. There were more than a few “Parents of the Year” who were pushing around strollers at 3 am.

7. The sportsbook can get a little crazy, especially during the Preakness
We picked a pretty good time to go to Vegas, especially since everyone in my group is a sports fan. On our first night we headed over to the Mandalay Bay sportsbook to watch our hometown Celtics take on the Magic in an all-important Game 6. Not only did the Celtics blow a double-digit lead to lose the game, but they also could not cover the eight-point spread (driven home by Ray Allen missing a wide-open three at the end that would have done the trick). The packed house was going crazy for that game, not to mention the other NBA playoff game and two NHL Game 7s.

But that was nothing compared to the atmosphere on Saturday for the Preakness. We got there early enough to snag some seats, but after that it was standing room only. The build-up to the race was crazy, especially since half the sportsbook was betting on the smaller races leading up to the big one. The race itself was great because Mandalay Bay used the Pimlico track feed, not the NBC broadcast feed. The sportsbook had an announcer calling the race, and the crowd went nuts after Rachel Alexander took her historic victory. The only negative? I went 0-for-4 on my bets.

6. The club scene is intense
I was in Vegas for only three nights, so I was only able to attend two of the dozens of clubs the city is known for. But the two I went to were intense. LAX in Luxor was free to get into with a room key, which was a huge benefit for me. The venue itself was very cool. And Pure at Caesars was probably the best club I’ve ever been to. It was huge and completely packed. The women were drop-dead gorgeous (well, a few of them anyway). There was a rooftop area overlooking the Strip. Plus, I was able to see a washed-up rap star in person (Ja Rule at Pure) and just missed seeing a washed-up rock group (Everclear at LAX).

5. Food options galore
The only thing in Vegas more abundant than the casinos was the restaurants. At every turn there was a food option, from buffets to filets. In fact, the filet I had at David Burke’s Modern American Cuisine at the Venetian was one of the best steaks I’ve ever had. And the buffet at MGM Grand was well worth the $38 I spent.

4. The heat
You can be warned a hundred times before you go to Vegas about the heat, but you can’t really appreciate it until you actually set foot outside. Of course, it’s a dry heat, and everyone says a dry heat is better than a humid heat. Well, 100 degrees still feels like 100 degrees. Thankfully I loaded up with sunscreen or else there would have been real problems.

The one benefit to the heat? The pool scene is fantastic. Just make sure you lube up.

3. Casinos everywhere you turn
There are slot machines in the airport. There are slot machines on the sidewalk. There are so many casinos I can’t remember how many of them I gambled at, let alone just walked through. From the guy playing $500 craps at Caesars by himself (not me) to the guy playing $5 craps at Bill’s Gambling Hall on a full table (me), there are options for everyone regardless of their tax bracket.

2. No open container laws
This is one impression I didn’t see coming, even though I should have. They don’t call it Sin City for nothing. But I was a big fan of this impression, as was basically every other person over the age of 21 that I came across on the Strip. It certainly made the long walks between casinos much more enjoyable.

1. The Strip at night is the sight to see
Of course the Strip is #1. In fact, it was so good that I walked it two nights in a row. It’s simply something you need to experience at least once in your life. The lights are glaring. Everyone is drinking and having a good time. The street peddlers handing out flyers for women (WHO WANT TO MEET YOU!). The casinos seem to go on for miles. This walk should be on every person’s bucket list.

Now MGM Mirage is under the threat of the bankruptcy, in spite of it can save the City Center development. This is the Wall Street assessment which has been known in a day after MGM Mirage and its partner Dubai World accepted the plan of fully funding City Center. The experts says that MGM Mirage should sell several of 9 casinos or some of the holdings in order to prove its liquidity, because the company has $13.5 billion debt.

The financial covenants of the company has got the second waiver from the lenders concerning of the plans of developing City Centre. In such a way in 15 of May MGM Mirage will face a deadline for restructuring its finances, otherwise the risk of defaults can cause the bankruptcy.

Andrew Zarnett, Deutsche Bank analyst, announces that investors are waiting for sale of hotel-casino, such measures according to his opinion will help to reduce the debt and diminish the risk of bankruptcy. But the official position of the company is another, MGM Mirage says it has enough options to solve the problem without sale the casinos.

The investors were glad to know the plan of the City Center developing and it caused the great success on the New York Stock Exchange. So the company’s stock opened about 60% higher. On Thursdays MGM Mirage traded approximately 72.5 million shares that meant it ended at $8.38, which is equal to 35.6%. But Robert LaFleur, gaming analyst, thought he was quite surprised by the recent increase said it couldn’t play a big role and the fact of avoiding the bankruptcy couldn’t guarantee extension of the stock value.

The World Series of Poker of 2009 is one of the most prestigious tournaments. Bodog.com Poker will help you to take part in this great event, on the 3 of May, Sunday the Main Event Semifinal will be organized. Independently on the number of players Bodog.com offers the prize of $12,000.

The gamers have a wide range of opportunities and can choose Cheap Seat qualifiers, paying just $1 (or 100 Bodog Poker Points) you have a chance to win $12,000 every Sunday. The players who prefer to start the tournament at the upper position can enter either any Main Event Quarterfinals for $27+$2, they begins at 9:00pm EST or 1 of 12 Main Event Last Chance for $27+$2 or $54+$4, on the afternoon. In a case you win the semifinal you will be able to come into the group of people forming Team Bodog. On top of the $10,000 buy-in you will get $2,000 for travel to Las Vegas, access to some VIP events and evenings of the players’ club and many other nice opportunities.

Certainly the dream of every player taking part in the World Series Main Event is to transform several dollars into million and you dream can become real. For instance we can remember such famous gamblers as Chris Moneymaker with the prize of $2.5 million in the tournament of 2003, Peter Eastgate with his incredible payout of $9 million. Furthermore last year the Team Bodog members won totally $1.8 million. This year even will keep pace with the previous tournaments, so Bodog.com Poker is probably the easiest way to start gambling for the gold bracelet.

Internet casinos and other companies working in the sphere of online gambling certainly know that casino web sites are highly lucrative; the mobile gambling market is the new sector of the industry, it develops and grows rapidly and offers different facilities and opportunities, it can help to attract the clients and strengthen the positions at the market. Today, many companies providing gaming software focus on the mobile gambling because this is quite a new segment of the online casinos’ market and many people only start to discover it. That’s why there is large number of various web sites offering services and consequently reducing the prices. People wish to seek out the best deals in order to join the mobile casinos’ community, all these facts create a niche market for new companies.

According to Juniper Research mobile gambling industry by 2011 will reach the goal of $16.6 billion. In other words now mobile gambling industry comes to the phase of fast growth and the rate of this growth will constantly increase. The perfect quality of new internet sites is the guarantee of the users’ attention, such sites are able to give the unique gambling experience.

Mobile gambling industry has one very important advantage it offers the access not only to the online casinos, but to the all kinds of games including lotteries, poker, mobile betting, because gaming platforms exist almost for each of the spheres of gambling industry. Software developing companies and online casinos performs new programs and attractive offers every day and try to catch attention of great number of people.

The sphere of gambling is permanently changing in order to attract attention of the new visitors and interest the regular gamers. That’s why online casinos and companies developing the software always search for new technologies and the ways to refresh the image. Popular modern advertising agency M&C Saatchi has performed completely new ad for Ladbrokes. The problem is the watchdogs from Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has been already banned several advertisements made by M&C Saatchi on demand of Ladbrokes. Ladbrokes is one of the top companies united the wide group of online casinos and poker web sites, the aim of new ad is to bring some humor and at the same time do not leave the limits of ASA’s requirements.

But the advertising regulation of the gambling industry is the new field and it is still quite ambiguous. All the previous ads which have been banned are called exaggerating and demonstrate some risky behavior at casinos. A lot of other online casinos have been greatly surprised and even shocked by such decision, the fact of blocking the Ladbrokes ads has filled many people with indignation.

The latest ad uses the picture of the giant lemur in order to smooth the situation, but it still contains the basic idea of two previous advertisements. This ad convinces us that gambling is just a way to spend the free time with fun, you don’t run the risk visiting online or land casinos and other gambling sites. Unfortunately now the official reaction of ASA is unknown.

Free casino games are available for the most part of the internet users. Formally you need to register at the site and indicate your age, but some of the online casinos providing free games don’t even demand to log on. The US representatives are sure that the internet casinos need age restrictions and should carefully check the age of the players. Many people think that the only thing we can do to decrease gambling addiction is to use some restrictions and limit the access of teenagers to online casinos.

The great part of internet casinos has special sections with free games and you can play them just for fun. In such a way the registration is rather simple, because you don’t need to give some personal or monetary information, often you are not asked for indicating your age. This happens because free games are considered to be less risky as the money aspect in not involved.

According to the recent survey the large part of teenagers under 17 regularly visit online casinos playing free games, they also have access to the slot games. In contrast to the rest of the players they only don’t get money for it. The same survey shows that the lottery popularity has came down by 80 percent. Online casinos look after the money games but don’t think much about free games control.

The problem is the following: children are taught to play games, internet casino games is the same thing until they are free. Some rules of online casinos working should be changed in order to appease the parents and influence on opening such web sites in USA.