PartyGaming Buys WPT for a Comeback

November 15th, 2009 by Stephanie

PartyGaming has officially announced that they will be acquiring the World Poker Tour WPT. Now one of the biggest online gaming companies in the world, PartyGaming, has gotten a little bigger, as they’ve bought one of poker’s most familiar and sought after brands. PartyGaming recently acquired WPT Enterprises, the gaming company controlling the World Poker Tour.

Party gaming paid out a whopping $12.3 million down payment plus $3million each year for the next 3 years. The World Poker Tour package included the WPT brand along with all company interests as well as intellectual property in the WPT tour events that were staged in Europe and the United States. One crucial part of this deal is the worldwide broadcasting rights that were assured to the new owners with the ownership of the WPT club.

The WPT was clever at getting around online gambling laws in the US, while PartyGaming had backed out all together. When players subscribe to club WPT, they provide their registrants with benefits such as commercial discounts and a chance to play for prizes in poker tournaments. The tournament system is based on points that are purchased by players from their subscription, not actual cash money, so it doesn’t fall under the illegal sector. They offer a wide range of tournaments and cash games available in exchange for the tournament points players acquire by playing on the site. The gaming website operates under state sweepstakes laws, which are permitted in most states. In fact, the 16,500+ customers within club WPT reside in a total of 37 US states.

The combination of WPT and Party Gaming will create a massive database with over 12 million US players that will now be back under the supervision of PartyGaming. These players will be the focus to promote club WPT, as the plan is to get PartyGaming back into the US online gambling industry and to introduce a WPT casino site and a WPT poker site in Europe, where PartyGaming rules the roost.

This puts PartyGaming back into a very powerful position, close to that of which they walked away from three years ago following the enactment of the UIGEA. Even if the US government fails to regulate online gambling, PartyGaming is back in the US, even if covertly.

WagerWorks Launches New Loot Line Slot

November 13th, 2009 by Stephanie

Do you hear the hooting for loot as Kerching Casino launches their brand new “Super Hoot Loot” slot game sensation? Launching this 5-reel slot game offers a fantastic 40 payline structure set among a wilderness of action, complete with backwoods wild foxes, owls, and eagles inhabiting your play screen, all of which come together to create massive combination payouts among within the forest. In addition, two bonus events include the Free Games bonus round and the Loot Line Bonus Round.

The Free Games feature awards you with 7 free spins during which you will accumulate chips in your Loot Line. Just match up the Super Loot mascot, Hoo the Owl, to win up to 200 X your winnings. The Loot Line feature is unique to WagerWorks games and takes the bonus round to the next level, complicating and enhancing the payout structure and possibilities.

This new slot is brought to you by WagerWorks, which is also credited for “Rainbow Riches Win Big Shindig and the “Cleopatra” series, which is now available in mobile casino format. WagerWorks is also known for the “Transformers” slot series, which are the official Transformers slots—(beware of imitation slots!).

“Super Hoot Loot” is a fun-filled and filled with features, but still an effortless slot game to play, enhanced with the mystifying ambiguity of the wilderness displayed in a fun-loving format with big-eyed and smiling cartoon characters that are somewhat reminiscent of the Yogi Bear cartoons of years ago.

Kerching Casino is based out of the UK and opened back in 2006. They also offer a full gaming suite of casino classics and innovative gaming, alike. Find classic Roulette and Blackjack right alongside Roulette and Blackjack with a Hot Streak Bonus.

Golden Casino Progressive Jackpot Action

November 9th, 2009 by Sam

The Golden Casino Progressive Blackjack was hit recently for the first time, which happens to be a remarkable stroke of luck by a winning player on the Vegas Technologies network of online gambling.

“I play the Progressive Blackjack game a couple of times a week,” responded Mickey Brantley, active online gambling gamer. He further commented, “I like blackjack, and the chance to hit a big jackpot while playing has always been exciting for me.”

Imagine awakening on a Sunday morning, and the first thing to happen to you is a massive jackpot win worth $259,342 and then discovering that this jackpot had never been hit before!

Progressive Blackjack in an online web game is more famous for interval payouts than progressive jackpots, but online blackjack opens up a realm of possibilities, like 250,000+ possibilities. Progressive Blackjack at Golden Casino is one of the trendier games played at this popular online casino. Now this progressive pot is back up to $237,431 already, just two weeks after the big hit, which means this has become a very trafficked game since its first pay out.

Another card game that has made the progressive online jackpot popular is Island Stud Poker, also available at Golden Casino. This jackpot has also been hit only once, paying out nearly $70,000 just six months ago. Sitting currently at $85,221, this jackpot could make anyone’s day if you happen to be the lucky winner.

Currently, the largest progressive jackpot at Golden Casino and other Vegas Technology casinos is the “Red, White, and Blue” slot game sitting at $1,019,235, followed by “Treasure Trail” with a $399,817 jackpot that has never been hit before. If you’re looking for the hot slot, though, the best game, statistically, is “Mega Money Mine” worth $269,815, which has hit three times in its lifetime, but the last hit was 60 days ago. Someone’s gotta win—Good luck!

Senior Citizen Gets Robbed of Lotto Winnings in Texas

November 6th, 2009 by H Kramer

Sixty-seven-year-old, Mr. Willis, resident of Texas, won a $1 million lottery jackpot recently. One would think that this unemployed senior citizen would be just as deserving as the next guy to win a big prize like this one, which would likely make his life a little easier and perhaps more fulfilling. However, as fortunate as Willis was to win, it was just as unfortunate that the dishonest store clerk who took his ticket to cash him out, took Willlis’s money and skipped town. After taxes it would have been worth about $750,000.

The accused store clerk, Pankaj Joshi, was employed at the convenience store where Willis purchased his winning ticket and multiple other previously purchased lotto tickets. Joshi supposedly told Willis his ticket that was actually worth millions was only worth $2, which Joshi proceeded to pay to Willis. Joshi now faces criminal charges that include lottery fraud. It is presumed that Joshi likely took the stolen money and fled to Nepal, his homeland.

Just like anyone would feel, Willis was enraged and is demanding that his winnings be repaid to him by the Texas Lottery Commission in spite of the fraudulent payout that had already been made.

On a lighter note, just about half of the money Joshi stole has already been reclaimed by banks in the US. In order to reclaim his winnings, though, Willis may face civil trial, as the lottery commission is not responsible or held liable for the clerks who operate the lottery via the licensees.

Willis has hired an attorney and is expressing a desire to avoid trial. He does, however, want his winnings to be paid to him in full, so his daughter will have her college education secured in spite of his failing health. Willis`s attorney has suggested there should be no need for a trial, as the lottery commission should fix this problem in good faith of business practices.

Willis will continue to play the lotto; however, he will not be returning to the same retailer to purchase tickets in the future, and it is likely he will be much more careful about who he trusts with his winning tickets. This should be a lesson to all—always check your numbers, scratch offs, etc. and know what you are owed before you hand your ticket to the cashier saying, “Is this a winner?”

Land-Based Casinos Find Hope in Bankruptcy

November 4th, 2009 by Stephanie

The Centaur Company, which was planning to build a new racetrack and casino just outside of New Castle has filed for bankruptcy protection this Wednesday. The Indiana Company claims this move towards bankruptcy would leave their company and their plans for the
future casino in better shape than it is now.

After Centaur failed to make their interest payments for two other casinos they operate in Colorado and Indiana, the Indianapolis-based Centaur Gaming had to file for Chapter 11 protection in Delaware. Two affiliated companies directly related to the development of casinos and harness racing tracks were also forced to file Chapter 11 protection on Wednesday.

According to Centaur officials, even local firms had to be included in the Chapter 11 filings because they needed to hold on to their harness racing licenses, and the application for a casino license that’s currently on hold. State gaming officials say that Centaur has to have financing for the race track and casino first before they will issue Centaur the license.
Centaur’s chief financial officer, Kurt Wilson, said, “This step in Pennsylvania demonstrates how serious we are in clearing the way to get the Valley View Downs project built and operating. It allows the application process to continue and reflects our deep commitment to the project.”

More than a year ago the Credit Suisse Bank took back a $995 million line of credit from the Centaur Company. With no money, Centuar officials are hunting for a new finance options and investors.

Susan Kilkenny, a Centaur spokeswoman, thinks the big break for the company could come sooner than we think.
“There is genuine and active interest from multiple parties to fund this project, and market conditions are improving,” Kilkenny said in an e-mail.

Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Vogler said he heard the same thing from company officials on a conference call earlier this week. Vogler said he heard optimism from Centaur, even as they discussed the impending bankruptcy.

Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Vogler said, “Based on what they told us, I feel pretty good about getting Valley View up and running. Their efforts are moving in a positive direction, and I agree with that outlook.”

State Rep. Chris Sainato commented, “You never want to say Chapter 11 is a good thing, but it will give them a little breathing room, and they won’t have to worry about the status of the license and the application while they restructure their business.”

Online Casinos and the Android Phone

November 2nd, 2009 by Stephanie

Mobile online casino players are getting excited as the mobile gaming technology and industry is about to blast off. For the past few years, the mobile gaming market was dominated by only a few products. Now Verizon and Motorola have created the new Droid online gaming mobile phone. According to those who have used the Droid, the quality surpasses the iPhone by lightyears.

The iPhone has been revered as the most powerful cell phone on the planet, yet it has its problems, problems that have now been corrected by the new Android phones. The Android is expected to hit the shelf this month.

The Droid developed in partnership with Google is the first mobile phone to feature the Android platform. The Droid has a crisp 3.7″ color HD display for rapid game play that is ideal for playing online casino games.

The Android phone will be able to run widgets, browse apps, and perform many other things that most online casinos require for mobile casino play via mobile browsers. On the iphone, players can download casino apps and play for fun, but iPhone owners can’t play for real money. The Android will solve this problem allowing players real money gambling on the go, now more than ever before.

Hopefully if everything goes well, the Andriod will be powerful, affordable, and available under many phone providers. If you are considering the cost of an Android phone, think of it as an investment, especially if you are an online casino player. This will be the newest tool for online gamblers and will redefine the industry. Instead of the PC or a laptop, the Andriod will be all you need for all-inclusive online casino action that makes online gambling available anywhere you can receive cell phone reception.

US Governments Targeting Video Bingo

October 30th, 2009 by Sam

Looking over the last few months, the Alabama Bingo issue has been the center of confusion, closure, seizures, and court hearings. The question of whether or not bingo should be legal finally was answered on Monday by Circuit Judge Robert Vance. Vance concluded and ruled that operating bingo machines in Walker County is illegal. Any business operating this bingo machinery will be forced to shut these machines down.

Many bigger questions are now popping up, one of which is whether this ruling will only apply to Walker County. Earlier this month similar rulings in Madison County has many wondering if the recent judicial act is binding throughout the entire state of Alabama.

Another anti-bingo ruling came out of Jefferson County and was identical to Walker County. Apparently digital bingo was not covered in earlier constitutional amendments. These amendments predominantly made bingo legal in a charitable setting; therefore, this kind of bingo is still legal.

Bingo machines still remain legal and regulated in other counties of Alabama, though. Until now, video bingo reportedly generated over $2 billion dollars in revenue from bingo wagering on a yearly basis in Walker County, so other counties will pick up the shafted bingo market.
At least paper bingo is still legal in many areas, thus creating a positive social environment for players and charities, which allows many people to enjoy the game while bringing in some extra cash when possible. The Walker County Sheriff’s office is in compliance with the recent court’s decision and is authorized to close all video bingo operations in Walker County. So if you live in Alabama and you want to play digital bingo, your options are very slim now, and you’ll either have to go to another county or chance your luck at online gambling.

France Votes on Regulating Online Gambling

October 28th, 2009 by Sam

France now may be moving forward towards regulating online gambling within the country. Earlier this month the French National Assembly voted to allow competition between private online gambling businesses and state-owned betting organizations in order to gain from the nation’s Internet gambling market.

However, some are skeptical that it may not be all it’s cracked up to be, as the private sector of the gambling market in France was uncertain of the outcome of such a bill being passed before the French government even brought it up. The Remote Gambling Association (RGA), predicts that France’s online market will become “wholly unattractive and in most cases completely unviable.” Once regulations are put into place and taxes imposed by this new gambling legislation are enacted on private companies, the industry will quickly become unfeasible and unpractical.

The European Gambling and Betting Association (EGBA) supported the RGA’s stance against the new laws, agreeing that they would ultimately be detrimental to the private gambling sector in France. Sigrid Liné, EGBA Secretary General, suggested that a cohesive relationship between government-owned and private gambling firms is “a long way off,” especially in terms of reasonable conditions being offered to private companies.

The assembly vote consisted of 302 votes for private sector gambling (all from the same two political parties) and 206 against it (from most of the remaining six parties). Since the government of France operates within an eight-party system, passing by 96 votes from only two parties raises concern that once the bill reaches the Senate, it won’t be well-received.

PayPal’s Role in the Online Gambling Industry

October 4th, 2009 by Stephanie

Just like other companies, PayPal was scared away by the online gambling industry within the US. Ebay, parent company of the popular payment processor PayPal, ordered PayPal to stop accepting payments from online casinos in the United States in light of the UIGEA.
Now PayPal is back in action in the online gambling industry.

PayPal has recently signed an agreement to now allow merchants of Neovia Financial to provide PayPal as a payment processor option, whose primary merchants are online gambling companies in the UK.

As for US customers, PayPal still can’t process payments from US gamblers to online gambling sites, but PayPal will process payments in jurisdictions that allow Internet gambling where it is regulated. Now after the fact, PayPal may be rethinking their stance on online gambling.

“It was very clear back in the early part of this decade that PayPal made an effort to move away from online gambling altogether,” says Steve Schwartz, Gaming Analyst. “With this deal, however, it may be a signal that PayPal is reconsidering that stance and is preparing to make a full jump back into the online gambling industry.”

Lately it’s become increasingly difficult in the US for payment processors to accept transactions from online gambling industry. The difficulty is mainly coming from the US government, as they have already begun seizing more and more bank accounts related to online gambling lately.

The fact is that in the United States, online gambling is still illegal. Perhaps the proposed legislation by Representative Barney Frank which would overturn the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act will pass. If and when the UIGEA is overturned, those businesses that ignored the ban on online gambling activity in the US will face the possibility of not being allowed to legally be a part of the industry.

Pitbull Poker Owners Arrested

October 3rd, 2009 by Stephanie

When Pitbull Poker came onto the scene in 2005, their free $10 and flash poker software were an instant hit among online poker players, particularly those in the US. Pitbull Poker was one of the first online poker rooms to offer no-deposit poker with real cash winnings. Free tournaments, while they only pay out minimal amounts, like $0.10 or $0.25, they still allow players who have never deposited to win real cash.

Eventually, Pitbull Poker opened a casino. Now what seemed to be a thriving online gambling site has been getting some bad press here lately. Allegations have been recently made against Pitbull that programmed bots were among the players at Pitbull tables that were capable of seeing their opponents’ cards. Following accusations, Pitbull refused to release info on hand histories. But that wasn’t all. The parent company of Pitbull, Dimensus Ltd. suddenly disappeared without a trace, leaving the online gambling site without a definitive owner responsible for base operations. Pitbull had misrepresented their base, saying at one time that they operated out of the UK, when in fact, they were a Costa-Rican-based company. Apparently Pitbull owners had closed their doors with no intention of paying off player accounts.

Recently, these owners apparently got scared and sent a phony maintenance crew to send home the night shift and empty out the building. Employees went straight to the police, who then returned to the building and arrested the owners, who are now considered a flight risk.

While the Pitbull Poker website remains up, the state of its future is unknown. This isn’t the first time that these guys have been accused of foul play. Neither is this the first online poker room that has seen this fate. Back in the summer of 2006, BetonSports ex-CEO David Carruthers was arrested after closing its doors and leaving 1500 employees without a job.

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