|
Archive for July, 2008
July 27th 2008
Some time ago, a WTO arbitrator granted $21 million per year that the USA had to pay to Antigua and Barbuda in order to cover their losses due to the UIGEA. But hitherto the Caribbean have to keep waiting when the United States will pay off its online gambling damages. The US have been changing deadlines that is considered to be a failure on the US behalf to negotiate bona fade and take the required initiative over the online casino gambling matter.
The sides have changed the planned deadline for friendly reasons twice before the latest rescheduling. The last time the USA sent a diplomatic team in order to handle the internet gambling issue just three days after the expiration time. John Veroneau, the Deputy US Trade Representative, arrived with a brief visit in Antigua and after the negotiations with Dr. Errol Cort, Minister of Finance and Economy, a new deadline was set on 1, August.
Cort expects the USA to take two to three months more to arrange a way to pay off the gambling damages. Dr. Errol Cort has added that the deadlines aren’t necessary to be kept firmly to put pressure on two countries to keep on meetings and negotiations on casino gambling damages.
The United States were given a chance to excuse their behavior as there’s a network of organizations which are involved in this case. The United States did not give any comments, and Antigua citizens and businessmen aren’t all supporting Cort in his patient position.
July 26th 2008
Rank, a top European gaming business based in the UK, is increasing their interest from the world’s online gambling industry. In spite of rumors that have gradually increased for the last few months that a takeover of Rank plc is inevitable, however now there are still a number of companies with a considerable interest in the Rank land and online gambling group. Now Guoco is the leader of the internet gambling companies that are interested in Rank. Guoco, an Asian-facing investment group, has been seeking a way into the online casino gambling industry of the UK and especially in the UK gambling market.
The online gambling industry of the UK is the most established and advanced worldwide. There are a number of licensing jurisdictions and the online gambling companies that pass very strict procedures in order to protect the online players from exploitation. Though an expansion into the Asian gambling industry is predicted by the majority of analysts in the following years, now the European online gambling market are the safest for foreign investments. It has been announced by Guoco that they are increasing their share holding in Rank to 18%.
There are some other investment groups and internet casinos that are interested in Rank plc. They are Genting Group and Goldman Sachs. These companies also have over a 15% of the shares in Rank. While Rank asserts that they haven’t any plans to sell out, there’s a possibility that one of the above mentioned companies is priming for a takeover, or otherwise.
July 24th 2008
The name of 32Red online gambling group can be a little misleading since the group doesn’t operate in the red. 32Red is one of the favourite online gambling sites that made news last year due to the sale of the group’s betting division. According to performance reports of 32Red, the online gambling group is doing better than ever. In June a lot of companies have released financial reports for the second quarter and half-year of 2008. Half-year results were also released by 32Red that showed the company is doing very well. Other internet casinos states about some problems in the first half-year, but 32Red only saw raises up to the moment.
The majority of the main internet gambling jurisdictions are experiencing a rough patch. Due to the economic recession, the gambling revenues have declined a little. However, 32Red manages to sustain total gambling revenues and see an increase in comparison to the year of 2007. They show a considerable 26% raise over the same period of 2007. The amount of gamblers entering the online casinos has also grown a lot, 13.5% more active players than in 2007.
The half-year report corresponds to the internet casino gambling industry’s expectations and it is also corresponding with what 32Red has expected after it was not responsible any more for the BetDirect business. In fact Stan James bought BetDirect from 32Red and has also contrived to make that division profitable for this year. In general, 2008 is proving to be a positive financial year for 32Red and the online gambling group anticipates the positive performance up to the end of the year.
July 23rd 2008
The parliament of South African has frequently discussed the issue concerning online gambling and at last it passed the bill which will license and regulate the online gambling industry of South Africa. Most of the South African chief politicians voted for the online gambling bill. And now many of the European internet casinos and other jurisdictions are extremely interested in the potential inside the gambling market. But for the moment Thabo Mbeki, the President of South African, has to study the online casinos or to sign the new gambling bill.
The President can veto the bill passed through federal parliament. However, the Mass Media and analysts of online gambling industry state that there isn’t any reason for Mbeki’s delay. Many want to give the benefit of the doubt instead and suppose that Mbeki has not simply dodged it. In reality, the possibility of legal internet gambling in South Africa is a key deal and would bring in a colossal change for country’s citizens because of the current restrictions issued from the federal government towards online casinos that illegally offer online gambling to players in South Africa.
In fact, the bill is quite solid, in general as it should be because of all the negotiations and delays that caused that the bill and all its provisions were fine-tuned. The parliament concerns greatly about underage and problem players. To solve those questions, the bill has strong regulations relating to the protective software level that any licensed internet casino must have before it legally appears on the online gambling market of South African.
July 22nd 2008
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) is a main danger for e-commerce business such as online gambling, the business that relies on connectivity with internet so that they can conduct their business. When websites do not work they suffer losses in revenues, it also impacts player turnover and the company’s reputation in the end. Bayview Technologies, the provider of IT services behind AsianLogic, have negotiated a contract with Webscreen Technology, a company based in the UK. Webscreen Technology worked out anti-distributed denial-of-services software.
The largest and top online gaming operators are using such an advanced technology already so that their sites can be protected from hackers’ attacks. Hackers usually attack websites when there is main traffic on the site because of any major sports competitions or other busy betting sessions, the hackers’ goal is to induce loss of profits.
According to Executive Director and Chief Technology Officer at AsianLogic, Itamar Shamshins the company made a decision to use anti-distributed denial-of-services software provided by Webscreen due to its enviable reputation and tested capabilities. Webscreen offers round-the-clock hardware and software support and that is more important hackers’ attacks are automatically tracked and blocked.
As per reports, the capability of this software is highly impressive. Customers can track every day events and deny access to probable hackers in order to keep their site safe from attacks. AsianLogic is very pleased that Webscreen Technology is going to prevent from attacking and to mitigate if an attack has still taken place. Therefore Webscreen ensures AsianLogic the highest level of protection and provides the online operator with software technicians called away, if anything goes wrong.
July 21st 2008
Recently Eli Lehrer A., the author for the American Spectator publication, has released a work on the possible impact of a main trade dispute with the EU whether the online gambling question can be resolved amicably. At present the EU Delegates are in the United States in order to investigate the US land and online gambling industry and also the North American policies and legislation that are currently determining the actions and decisions of the US government concerning the gambling industry. And whereas the Trade Representatives of the USA are thought to be quite nonchalant in relation to the gambling situation in the country, the European Union seems to be very serious. Thus, Lehrer states that the United States might face some terrible trade consequences in case the federal government continues to carry out restricting gambling policy and to refuse to cooperate with the delegate investigation of the EU.
The policies of the USA in relation to online casino gambling are sure to have a bad record worldwide, and Lehrer writes that the UIGEA is quite absurd taking into account the US position on casino gambling is pro-gambling.
In 1970s, when there were casinos in an only state, federal laws suppressed the public will represented gambling. Nowadays, gambling is legal in almost all the states, and gambling debate has ended in favors of legalization.
The consequences, both positive and negative, of widespread legal gambling have touched everybody. There is a clear risk of a serious trade dispute and this is an additional reason for the USA to undo its federal gambling laws and set up new government regulation on online gambling basing on consumer preferences and needs.
July 20th 2008
Playtech is planning an important acquisition lining up alongside an affiliated company, using the part of the £112 million raised in a placing a month ago. moreover One of the top online software provider in the gaming industry, that has PartyGaming and Paddy Power as its customers, announced the second quarter revenues of $42.4 million, rising 75% for the same period of 2007, and 9% in comparison with the first quarter. Playtech is among the top companies on AIM having a market capitalization of £1.2 billion. The Playtech representatives stated that a future growth material proportion “can be generated organically”, but several acquisitions could quicken development. The company had already started due diligence on an acquisition which will provide services to the part of the licensees of Playtech.
Early in the year Playtech started launching Asian player-to-player games that would be finished over the coming months. Though, Asian market is smaller for Playtech in comparison with European one, Asia revenues show a 93% rise year-on-year and form a fifth of revenues now.
Playtech also cut a four-year exclusive deal with the Paramount Pictures digital arm that allows its licensees to provide their players with games based on the two famous company’s films, Gladiator and Untouchables. Playtech is also rolling out its Flash poker network in the following quarter. Mr Weizer, chief executive, adds that they are going to sign up five new licensees in the third quarter, in addition to the ten licensees that have been signed this year.
The company is also establishing a poker network in Italy.
July 19th 2008
Cantor Gaming following Cryptologic example has closed an exclusive licensing deal with Heavy Metal, a fantasy magazine, to make online games using comic book characters. Heavy Metal is a popular, cult classic, comic book magazine with a thirty year history.
in actual fact Cantor Gaming is acting in the same way as Cryptologic with Marvel Comics when they created highly successful Marvel Superhero Slots (now including the following games: Silver Surfer, The Incredible Hulk, Wolverine and Sub-Mariner), Cantor Gaming has now the exclusive rights to make a whole series of comic book slots that may gain even more popularity.
Cantor Gaming continually expands their suite of internet casino games, that is why most people think that Cantor is taking the right steps to earn the name which will be recognizable in the gambling world. Manu Gambhir, Managing Director of Cantor Gaming, noted that they have been thinking of the prospects of Heavy Metal developing into video slots. At the moment the company’s design team has produced a plan of future games, Gambhir states that these slots will be the most innovative and highly animated ones of their games.
Cantor Gaming has the internet casino CantorCasino.com that in spite of the fact that it isn’t open to American players, has done rather well in Europe. The latest innovations of Cantor Gaming are Cantor Financial Odds and StatJack. StatJack is a “card-counter” that helps players to make the best possible decisions against the dealer. Financial Odds is a mix of online betting and day-trading.
July 18th 2008
Recently the University of Nevada and the University of Western Ontario conducted a research on online gambling. The research shows that the lack of social norms in the online gambling industry causes more essential dangers connected with online casino gambling. June Cotte, a marketing professor from Canada, and Kathryn A. Latour, from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, conducted a research study comparing gambling at land-based casinos and online gambling at internet-based casinos.
And in spite of the fact that the results of their study could be used as an argument against online gambling legalizing and regulating either Canada or the USA, the researchers are sure that only legalization of internet gambling allows federal governments to regulate online casino gambling and decrease the number of problem gamblers. The study results should also make the community create social norms in the online gambling industry. Cotte says, “The unregulated online environment results in a more chaotic environment with no clear social norms and rules.”
The study contrasted 20 regular land casino players and 10 regular online players. Showing the gamblers different pictures and images and the scientists tried to understand the stimulus behind their gambling habits and their feelings associated with gambling. As it turned out, online gamblers play more often and aggressively. Nowadays online casino gambling is fervently debated in both countries, in Canada and the USA. In fact this study benefits both sides though the researchers think that the results indicate a necessity of better licensing and regulating in the industry in order to make the pastime less forbidden.
July 17th 2008
$100,000 Free Slots Tournament at AllSlots.com offers two hundred dash prizes in addition to a top reward of $50,000. It is based on the success of its preceding free slot tournaments. AllSlots.com Casino is one of the largest casinos in the online gambling industry with the Kahnawake gaming license. AllSlots.com is hosting gratis semi-final events where the best fifty daily winning players will receive a free ticket to the $100,000 Main Event which is taking place in August, 2nd and 3rd. The winner will take home a $50,000 prize whereas the second prize winner will get $10,000 and the player who will be the third will be given $5,000.
The Free Slots Tournament is unique thanks to the fact that everyone who has registered can take part in the tournament even without depositing any money at the internet casino. David Brickman, Vice President of AllSlots.com’s Player Affairs says that this unique offer has made a sound “claim for being the number one online slots tournament casino.”
AllSllots.com is going to keep its position as the online casino number one, therefore this year it hosts a $100,000 tournament earlier. AllSllots.com is lifting the wagers by hosting another similar tournament thereby proving that it deserves its status of the online casino number one.
Online gamblers will be able to see their standings in real-time while they take part in the Free Slots Tournament. An additional bonus is that a player should not qualify in the semi-final competitions, but he/she will be able to buy into the $100,000 Main Event at a $50 bargain price.
Next »
|
|
