Latest Online Gambling News

 

 

Nov 19, 2008 - Lucky 18 Casino welcomes U.S. players

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Lucky 18 Casino welcomes all U.S. blackjack, roulette and slots players affected by Microgaming's closure of its online casinos to U.S. citizens. Lucky 18 Casino features the latest revolution in Real Time Gaming's award winning software, offering gamers a smooth and captivating online experience and setting the standard for other online casinos to follow.

Read entire article here.

 

Nov 19, 2008 - Online Casino Player Wins £2,000,000

Acclaimed British bookmaker, Coral, have paid out over £2m to one lucky player via their MegaJackpots game provided by iGaming software designers WagerWorks.

The winner was a 48-year-old man from Portsmouth, south England. The player won £2,086,585 by getting five MegaJackpots symbols on the centre pay-line with a maximum bet – it has been confirmed that this is the largest ever single win by a British bookmaker customer.

Read entire article here.

 

Nov 18, 2008 - Jackpot Factory crowns winners of $200,000 Grand Final Tournament

KAHNAWAKE, Quebec -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Jackpot Factory , an acclaimed online casino group, and leader in multiplayer slots tournaments, proudly presents the top winners of the $200,000 Grand Final Tournament, which took place November 7th-10th as part of the group's $500,000 World Series of Slots.

Read entire article here.

 

Nov 17, 2008 - Judges grant stay in Kentucky gambling case

FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- As reported by the Louisville Courier-Journal: "The Court of Appeals yesterday blocked Franklin Circuit Court from proceeding with Gov. Steve Beshear's lawsuit against 141 gambling Web sites until appellate judges hear oral arguments and rule on the matter.

"Internet gambling and domain name trade groups asked the Court of Appeals to intervene after Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate ruled last month that he has the right to decide whether control of the Web sites must be forfeited to Kentucky.

Read entire article here.

 

Nov 12, 2008 - Banks given until Dec. 1, 2009 to comply with UIGEA

Breaking news: The U.S. Department of Treasury and Federal Reserve announced a joint rule Wednesday to implement and enforce the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The rule relies on financial institutions performing due diligence on corporate customers to ensure they're not processing online gambling transactions.

Read entire article here.

 

Nov 12, 2008 -Rome Casino intends to stay in US market

LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- While Microgaming online casinos have been forced to shut their doors to American players this week, RomeCasino.com confirms that it will continue to serve US players and is increasing its support staff to accommodate a flood of new players that have been blocked by their former favourite casinos. Rome Partners, the popular online casino's affiliate program, has been extremely busy with inquiries from webmasters that are scrambling to reroute their US traffic now blocked by their previous partners.

Read entire article here.

 

Nov 11, 2008 - Barney Frank urges delay on Internet gambling rules

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As reported by Reuters: "A senior congressional Democrat on Monday accused the Bush administration of rushing to implement Internet gambling rules that have raised concerns among banks before it leaves office on January 20.

"'I am deeply disappointed to hear that your agency is proceeding with what I consider to be unseemly haste in issuing regulations implementing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act,' House Financial Committee Chairman Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, said in a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.
 

Read entire article here.

 

Nov 10, 2008 - Pressmybet offers more online casinos that accept US players

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Microgaming online casinos used to make up a large portion of the content, for USA players, at PressMyBet, however that now has to change. PressMyBet really tries to take care of all of it's USA players, in addition to all international gamblers. To do so, PressMyBet has organized all of it's information so that players can quickly find the information they're looking for. In reality, any player should be able to find what they're looking for in under 5 minutes. They have recently updated their list of casinos that accept USA players to include more RTG casinos and more Rival casinos to help them find a replacement for the Microgaming casinos that they were playing at.

Read entire article here.

 

Nov 10, 2008 - Obama Promises To Protect The Internet

President-Elect Obama and his newly-chosen team of advisors have established a website at change.gov highlighting the changes they wish to bring about to the USA and the world.

These ideas and campaigns will come into effect after his inauguration in January and one of the promises listed is to protect the Internet from censorship and government interference – surely a good sign for those affected by the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

Read entire article here.

 

Nov 5, 2008 - Antigua Set To Attract Britons With Online Casinos

Recently, Online Casino News reported that Antigua could well be the next online gaming capital of the world following their recent success in the industry.

Now our predictions are coming true as the British government has officially recognized that the online casino industry in Antigua and Barbuda is sufficiently regulated and safe.

Read entire article here.

 

Nov 5, 2008 - Kentucky Implicated In Microgaming Inactivity

Recently, the website of one of the largest online casino software providers on the web was inaccessible, prompting rumours that it had been seized in the current Kentucky online gambling crisis.

The mass domain name seizure of online gaming sites by the Kentucky government has dominated the headlines of online casino sites. Plans to seize 141 domain names later this month as part of Governor Steve Beshear’s drive against online gambling are being contested in court.
 

Rean entire article here.

 

Nov 4, 2008 - Betting firm told to repay cheated

MONTREAL - With a former Ontario premier and a onetime RCMP commissioner on its board, Toronto-based Excapsa Software Inc. tried to put a respectable face on the murky business of online gambling.

But now Excapsa, which sold its assets in 2006 and is undergoing liquidation proceedings in Ontario Superior Court, has been tied to a multi-million- dollar cheating scandal involving a popular poker site, UltimateBet.com.The site is run out of the Mohawk reserve of Kahnawake, on the outskirts of Montreal, and was bought from Excapsa in 2006 by former Kahnawake grand chief Joe Norton.
 

Read entire article here.

 

Oct 31, 2008 - Finalists announced for gaming industry communications awards

WASHINGTON, DC -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The American Gaming Association (AGA) today announced finalists for the 2008 Gaming Voice Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in public relations, marketing, advertising and financial and corporate communications in the gaming industry.

The finalists, which represent 21 gaming companies, properties and organizations from across North America, were named in 15 categories, including best 2007 annual report, best customer publication, best print, outdoor, radio and television advertisements, best direct mail, best Web site, and best public affairs and multi-format advertising campaigns. A panel of judges with expertise in advertising, marketing, public relations, Internet design, graphic arts and financial communications evaluated more than 270 entries, the highest number in the award program's history, to determine the 47 finalists.
 

Read entire article here.

 

Oct 31, 2008 - Poker Hall of Fame announces 2008 inductees

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -– The Poker Hall of Fame has announced its 2008 Class, and what a class it is.

Duane "Dewey" Tomko, a three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, a two-time Main Event runner-up, and the holder of the longest consecutive Main Event participation record (35 years) will become poker's newest Hall of Fame member.

Tomko will enter alongside Henry Orenstein, a Holocaust survivor who won the 1996 World Series of Poker Seven-Card Stud Championship and also cashed twice in the Main Event, including a final table finish at the 1995 World Series of Poker Main Event.
 

Read entire article here.

 

Oct 28, 2008 - Net filters may block gambling sites in Australia

SYDNEY, Australia -- As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald: "Family First Senator Steve Fielding wants hardcore pornography and fetish material blocked under the Government's plans to filter the internet, sparking renewed fears the censorship could be expanded well beyond 'illegal material'.

"The Opposition said it would take 'a lot of convincing' for it to support the controversial mandatory ISP filtering policy, so the Government would need the support of Senator Fielding as well as the Greens and Senator Nick Xenophon to pass the legislation.

Read entire article here.

 

Oct 28, 2008 - Bodog player strikes it rich after switch

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Kelly J. of Calif. made the decision of a lifetime when she opted to switch up her routine, giving Bodog Casino's Caribbean Stud a go instead of her usual game, Let 'Em Ride. Just three hands into her first round of Caribbean Stud she struck gold, and lots of it. Opting to throw an extra dollar into the mix for a shot at the progressive jackpot turned out to be the best investment she has ever made as she watched in total disbelief as she was dealt the mother of all hands, a Royal Flush. Even though the dealer didn't qualify, that extra dollar qualified her for the progressive jackpot, which won her a whopping $141,000!

Read entire article here.

 

Oct 27, 2008 - New Casino News Show episode released online

LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- A new episode of the Casino News Show (www.Casino-News-Show.TV) has just gone online featuring an update on the Mega Moolah jackpot, a report on the World Series of Slots, and a new 3D casino game. The free webcast provides regular updates on progressive jackpots, tournaments and new games. The site includes live jackpot tickers from all the major online casino progressive jackpots including the Mega Moolah, Beach Life, Millionaires Club, Midlife Crisis and Shopping Spree.

Read entire article here.

 

Oct 23, 2008 - iMEGA Files Motion To Block Domain Seizure

With Judge Thomas Wingate refusing to dismiss the state of Kentucky's attempt to claim 141 online gambling domain names, the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) has filed a motion with the Kentucky Court of Appeals to prevent the said seizure.

According to a release, "iMEGA petitioned the Kentucky Court of Appeals for a writ of mandamus, to block a lower court’s decision allowing Kentucky to seize 141 domain names."

Many believe the ruling sets bad precendent and it has been suggested that the state could go after other sites.

Read entire article here.

 

Oct 23, 2008 - Postmistress sentenced in online gambling scandal 

ENGLAND -- As reported by the BBC: "Janine Powell was found guilty last month of stealing from Cowleymoor Post Office between March 2006 and February 2007.

"Powell, 37, of Newbarn Park Road, Taunton, Somerset, was sentenced to 18 months at Truro Crown Court. At the time of the thefts, she was living above the post office.
 

Read entire article here.

 
 
Oct 21, 2008 -NETELLER Introduces New e-Wallet Option

According to NETELLER's corporate website, the online payment service provider will be offering another pay option.
In association with partner TransSend Payment Services, NETELLER e-Wallet holders now have the option of using two new Net+ Cards by MasterCard.
While the first is a tangible, plastic card with CHIP technology for point-of-sale purchases, the second is a virtual card for online purchases.
Like a gift card, the "Net+ Virtual Prepaid Card" can only be used once and produces an individual number solely for the customer which appears at the online checkout stand—it is only valid at merchants that accept MasterCard.

Read entire article here.

 
Oct 21, 2008 - UK Firms Could Foot Problem Gambling Bill
IWith a large amount of children in the United Kingdom addicted to gambling, the British government says that online gambling companies should foot the bill for social programs to curb problem gambling.

A recent study from the UK's Gambling Commission estimates that one million children in the UK are addicted to gambling with an additional two million people under the age of 18 at risk to become addicted.

While many are blaming lax laws by the government for the dilemma, according to the UK's Daily Mail, the government sees fit to introduce a plan that would force online gambling companies to pay £19 million over the span of three years in order to help finance programs that would aim to educate and treat gambling addicts as well as fund problem gambling research. 

Read entire article here.

 

Oct 16, 2008 -  Kentucky judge gives online gambling sites 30 days to block access  

Judge Thomas Wingate has given 141 online gambling sites 30 days to block access to Kentucky residents. Sites that comply will be freed from Kentucky's domain seizure order. Sites that don't comply will have to appear before Wingate on Nov. 17 to argue their case.

 
Read entire article here.

 

9/22/08 - Hope for online poker advocates

WASHINGTON, D.C -- With the congressional session winding down in Washington, some gamblers and online poker advocates were caught off guard when the House Financial Services Committee recently introduced, then passed, a bill that would overturn much of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

The bill, HR6870, would likely make it easier for Internet poker players to make deposits and cash out winnings online.

The enforcement act, signed into law by President Bush in 2006, severely restricts financial transactions linked to online gambling. After its passage, several major poker sites pulled out of the U.S. market.

Efforts to overturn the law are followed closely in Las Vegas, which has become the de facto home of many major players with online gambling interests.

Jay Lakin, the co-owner and vice president of Poker Source Online, praised the committee chairman, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., for leading the drive against the enforcement act.

Read entire article here.
 

 

9/20/08 - New Technology To Revolutionise Online Casinos

LGS, the world’s first multiple live dealer offering, promises to revolutionise online gaming when it is revealed at the EIG conference in Barcelona on Wednesday.

It is the only online casino product featuring not only live dealers, but from multiple sites. This is sure to increase trust between casino and customer.

Read entire article here.

 

9/18/08 - EU gambling firms see WTO case coming against U.S

WASHINGTON -- As reported by Reuters: "A dispute over U.S. enforcement actions against European Union online gambling companies could be headed to the World Trade Organization soon, an European industry group said on Wednesday.

"'It looks very much as if this matter will ... be sent to the WTO at the end of the commission's investigation,' Lode Van Den Hende, outside counsel for the Remote Gambling Association, told reporters as EU officials were in Washington to probe U.S. Justice Department enforcement actions.

"That would open the door for possible European sanctions on the United States, although it could take years for any case to make its way through the WTO litigation system..."

 

9/16/08 - Vegas Red Casino to give away free beer for a year

PRESS RELEASE -- Vegas Red online casino is running a special promotion coinciding with the popular German holiday Oktoberfest, which starts later this month in Munich and is celebrated by beer lovers worldwide. The unique promotion will run from September 15th to October 8th, and will grant one lucky winner a year's supply of free beer delivered to his or her home.

Every deposit counts during this fun online competition, and every member is eligible to enter. In addition to the grand prize of a year's supply of beer, there will also be Second and Third prizes worth bundles of "Oktobercash".

Casino Manager Sarah Banks reveled: "This one-of-a-kind giveaway is sure to thrill our members. We asked ourselves what better way to celebrate one of the happiest occasions of the summer. After all - who doesn't like free beer? Fun promotions like these are why our members love to party at Vegas Red!"
 

 

9/16/08 - U.K. online gaming industry expected to grow

LONDON -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Online gaming industry review site OnlineGaming4U.co.uk (www.onlinegaming4u.co.uk) has today predicted strong growth for the UK online gambling industry over the next few years, as a result of more favourable gambling legislation and the continued growth of the Internet.

The casino review site suggested that less stringent restrictions on advertising gambling coupled with the increasing availability of fast, reliable broadband connections will mean an increase in customer numbers for the gaming industry, which will increase competition between casinos whilst providing steady industry-wide growth over the coming years.
 

Read entire article here.

 

8/29/08 - Canadian wins $4 million Joyland jackpot

CANADA -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Joyland Casino announced the online casino's biggest winner who took more than $4 Million at the "Beach Life" Progressive Jackpot.

Canadian player Sylvia P. joined Joyland casino on 5th August 2008 and received the $25 free signup bonus. She enjoyed playing Joyland Casino games so much, she deposited real money into her account. Less than 3 weeks later Sylvia has won $4,188,719.98 playing the Beach Life Progressive Jackpot. Talk about beginners luck.

Sylvia P.'s win was only a partial amount of what we paid out last week, and all these payouts represent some of the largest we've had recently. Now Silvia knows the phrase "Enjoy the winning feeling!" is not just a Joyland Casino slogan, said Mia Collins, Joyland Casino's Client Manager. Silvia said she was attracted to the casino's user friendly look and feel and smooth operation. Added to that, she added the games are fun and easy to learn and play. Silvia knew all the well known casino games and decided to play them from the comfort of her own home.

Read entire article here.

 

8/27/08 - Prepaid Cards From Neteller and Mastercard

NETELLER Plc, global provider of online payments, is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with TransSend Payment Services, a leading provider of prepaid card solutions, to provide Net+ MasterCard Prepaid Cards to its e-wallet customers.

Through its partnership with TransSend Payment Services, NETELLER will shortly begin providing its e-wallet users with the opportunity to add Net+ cards to their account – providing increased value, security, privacy and convenience.

The Net+ prepaid cards will be available by early October 2008 when NETELLER e-wallet consumers can sign up for two new products:

Read entire article here.

 

8/27/08 - New Online Casino To Be Unveiled By CasinoRewards

The CasinoRewards group of online casinos, one of the largest casino Microgaming operators on the internet, has announced they reveal a new online casino in November of this year.

The new casino is set to join BlackjackBallroom.com, CasinoClassic.com, CaptainCooksCasino.com and the 15 online casinos, bringing the total to 19 by the close of 2008.

Read entire article here.

 

8/21/08 - Casino Rewards adds new online casino

(PRESS RELEASE) -- 2008 has seen the Casino Rewards group of online casinos go from strength to strength. Keeping its ever growing player-base happy with numerous 5 figure payouts including the now much-publicized $5.5 million jackpot win by one Klaus E. of Finland in April, and acquiring 6 new online casinos to bring the total to 18, CasinoRewards.com is basking in its glory as one of the largest Microgaming casino operators in the Internet.

Read entire article here.

 

8/9/08 - Online Casino Gives Ultimate Live Experience

Recently-launched online gambling innovation 1LiveCasino aims to bring the real atmosphere of a live casino to your home via the comfort of your PC. The live casino games featured are broadcast from the Fitzwilliam Casino using trademarked Distance Gaming technology and include Roulette, Baccarat, Texas Hold ‘em and Blackjack.

The live tables featuring real dealers give players a more genuine gaming experience but also improves the trust factor between clientele and casino.

Read entire article here.

 

8/8/08 - Lawmakers urge online probe suspended

WASHINGTON, DC -- As reported by Reuters: "Two U.S. lawmakers have urged the U.S. Justice Department to suspend its investigation of European Internet gambling companies for possible criminal violations that occurred before Congress passed a law in 2006 to crack down on online gambling.

"Rep. Robert Wexler, a Florida Democrat, and Rep. Steve Cohen, a Tennessee Democrat, warned U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey in separate letters the issue could lead to a potentially damaging trade spat between the United States and the European Union at the World Trade Organization.

Read entire article here.

 

8/7/08 - RomeCasino.com offers US-friendly software

GIBRALTAR -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- RomeCasino.com's new US-friendly software now gets players directly to the action quicker and easier than any other online casino. New on demand game downloading is the fastest in the industry, and unique tabbed games mean players can play several games at once and switch instantly from one to another. Since RomeCasino.com is one of the only online casinos to accept all three major credit cards, the cashier is also quick and easy for both American and European players.

RomeCasino.com, popular with European online casino players for some time now, has more than a hundred unique games and state-of-the-art 3D graphics and sound effects. The new US-friendly casino software includes revamped versions of classic and new games including a variety of classic slots, video slots, video poker, roulette, multi-hand blackjack, keno and more.
 

Read entire article here.

 

7/29/08 - New Online Bank Has Direct Connections to iGaming

July 29, 2008 (InfoPowa) -- Claiming to be the first independent bank to launch since the dotcom boom in 2001 and the first to be authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA), a new online bank branded Ivobank.com (http://ivobank.com/) launched in London this week.

The bank ownership by the Sampoerna family out of Indonesia will be familiar to online gamblers who frequent the Mansion group, which is also owned by the family.

Ivobank is offering fast and secure online payment and money transfer services under the oversight of the UK Financial Services Authority (registered in England and Wales No. 5486286), and plans to have one million customers within the next five years. The bank allows customers to move money instantly from online accounts to friends and family overseas, making it attractive and practical for international money transfers.

Read entire article here.

 

7/29/08 - Kahnawake Gaming Commission appoints investigation team

KAHNAWAKE, Canada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Effective immediately, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) has appointed an independent monitor, led by former New Jersey State Gaming Regulator, Frank Catania, to investigate the KGC Licensee, Tokwiro Ent., parent company of both Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet. Mr. Catania is a former Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), the regulatory and enforcement agency responsible for maintaining integrity and trust in all Atlantic City gaming operations.

Read entire article here.

 

7/29/08 - Ivobank offers online services

LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -– A new online bank catering for gaming businesses and enthusiasts has launched, offering fast and secure online payment and money transfer services.

Ivobank is believed to be the first independent bank to launch since the dotcom boom in 2001 and the first to be authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

Backed by the Sampoerna family, Ivobank plans to have one million customers within the next five years. Ivobank's Managing Director, Timothy Sawyer, said while the bank is open to anyone, it had been specifically designed with online gamers in mind.

"The online gaming industry has developed rapidly in recent years, but the financial services supporting it have not kept pace," Mr Sawyer said.

"Many online businesses and customers have been ill-served to date, resulting in relatively high costs and relatively low levels of service.
 

Read entire article here.

 

 

7/16/08 - Congress Moves to Dedicate $40 Billion in Internet Gambling Revenue for Job Training and Foster Care Programs

WASHINGTON, July 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) introduced legislation yesterday that directs a potential $40 billion over the next 10 years to be spent on job training for those in the declining sectors of the economy and educational assistance for foster care youth. The legislation, Investing in our Human Resources Act of 2008 (H.R. 6501), would be funded through new revenue generated by regulated Internet gambling activities.

We have an ideal opportunity to invest billions of dollars in American workers and our struggling economy without increasing the federal deficit, said Rep. McDermott in speaking about the Investing in our Human Resources Act (IHRA). IHRA would utilize a funding stream that would become available should Congress decide to legalize and regulate Internet gambling, which would protect consumers and collect tax revenue that is currently offshore.

Read entire article here.

 

7/16/08 - 3D Online Casino Launches Real Money Games

Slotland, the well-regarded online casino company, created an all-new 3-D online casino several months ago. Now, as well as the play money games it hosts, WinADay.com is home to real-money gambling.

In addition, the casino has a new slot machine – the Lucky-Go-Round. WinADay recreates the feel of a real casino, with 3-D visuals and sound effects and a variety of small touches to the overall finish. For example, animated customer service attendants are prevalent in the software.
 

Read entire article here.

 

7/16/08 - Online Poker Tournament Guarantees $15m

Now that the 2008 Main Event at the World Series of Poker is on a 117-day hiatus, poker enthusiasts need other major tournaments to keep their interest – Full Tilt have the perfect solution.

Not only will these tournaments, like the Main Event, feature the games top names and superstars, but at a rather more affordable few hundred dollars anyone can play and win.
 

Read entire article here.

 

 

7/14/08 - Online bet battle will continue

WASHINGTON, DC -- Despite a stunning setback in his effort to roll back a ban on Internet gambling, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., says the issue is not going away.

"At this point, I'm waiting to see what the Republicans, who voted against this, plan to do after getting the heat for killing it," Frank said this week.

Opponents of the ban were oozing confidence on June 25 as the House Financial Services Committee prepared to vote on an amendment to stop federal agencies from drafting regulations to enforce the online gambling ban that Congress passed two years ago.

The question was not whether the amendment by Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., would pass, but how large the margin would be. If it proved large enough, the King amendment could have come up for a vote on the House floor before Congress adjourned this year.
 

Read entire article here.

 

6/23/08 - Lawmakers to vote on suspending the UIGEA

Things are about to get very interesting on the Hill.

Tomorrow, June 24, should see a scheduled vote by the US House Committee on Financial Services regarding H.R. 5767. Specifically, that bill is  Barney Frank's legislation to effectively suspend the UIGEA from ever being enforced.

So, what does this mean?

Well, Democrat Barney Frank sponsored the bill and is also the Chairman of the Committee, so that's a good sign. The bill was co-sponsored by Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, who also sits on the committee - another good sign. As well, the number of Democrats on the committee outnumbers the Republicans.

So, all things considered, one would have to think that this bill has a pretty good chance of passing through this vote.

Read entire article here.

 

6/19/08 - IOC to monitor suspicious gambling

CHINA -- As reported by the Brisbane Times: "The International Olympic Committee has introduced new anti-gambling measures to quash any suspicion about results at the Olympic Games in China - a country that has an annual gambling turnover of $US100 billion.

"But at least one betting agency believes the new rules don't go far enough and described the measures as akin to banning drug-taking, but not testing any athletes.

Read entire article here.

 

6/18/08 - Cort Expects Gaming Resolution This Week

Antiguan and Barbudan officials are hoping that a long-awaited agreement with the United States can be reached as early as this week.

According to Minister of Finance and the Economy Dr. Errol Cort, Antigua and Barbuda and the USA have agreed to extend the hiatus in their World Trade Organization (WTO) internet gambling trade dispute until this Friday.

The last postponement of the dispute at the WTO ran out on 6 June, officially restarting the WTO arbitration process, but Dr. Cort confirmed yesterday that the sides hope to thrash out a bilateral agreement this week.

“We are still working on a possible settlement and we will use this week to see how best we can conclude and effect a settlement in this matter, so we thought that it would be useful to extend the timeframe from 6 June to 20 June, to allow the parties some more time to see whether it is possible to resolve this matter,” Dr. Cort told the Antigua Sun.

Read entire article here.

 

6/16/08 - eCOGRA board welcomes new director

LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The online gambling player protection and standards organisation eCOGRA has announced a change to its 7 person Board of Directors, in which Chris Hobbs, Head of Corporate Affairs at Microgaming replaces Roger Raatgever as one of the Founder Directors of the independent, non-profit body. The other Founder Member seats are held by bwin and 888.com.

Under the eCOGRA charter, the Board currently consists of three Member Directors and four Independent Directors.

The Independent Directors, to whom CEO Andrew Beveridge reports, are solely responsible for the executive control of eCOGRA and the activities of its powerful Seals Compliance and Audit Committees, which test and monitor `Safe and Fair` seal operators and control the award, review and if necessary revocation of the seals.
 

Read entire article here.
 

 

6/2/08 - Native policing of gambling in doubt after online cheating

MONTREAL, Canada – As reported by The National Post: "Confidence in the ability of Mohawk regulators to police lucrative online gambling operations on the Kahnawake reserve has been shaken following the second cheating scandal in less than a year.

"UltimateBet.com, which is owned by a company controlled by former Kahnawake grand chief Joe Norton, acknowledged on Thursday that unnamed insiders had altered its poker software to allow them to see opponents' hidden cards.
 

Read entire article here.

 

5/30/08 - UltimateBet admits cheating occurred

UltimateBet's owners, Tokwiro Enterprises ENRG, admitted Thursday that UltimateBet security had been breached by former employees and accounts with access to opponent's hole cards were used to cheat in high-stakes games.

"Certain player accounts did in fact have an unfair advantage, and that these accounts targeted the highest limit games on the site," said the company in a statement. "The individuals responsible were found to have worked for the previous ownership of UltimateBet prior to the sale of the business to Tokwiro in October 2006. Tokwiro is taking full responsibility for this situation and will immediately begin refunding UltimateBet customers for any losses that were incurred as a result of unfair play."

Read entire article here.

 

5/22/08-  ALC audit shows security risks

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND -- As reported by the Guardian: "A forensic audit of Atlantic Lottery Corporation's workings has uncovered a host of high-risk security issues with the racino at the Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre.

"But a lottery spokesman said Tuesday concerns have been addressed.

"'We welcome the report (and) we've already implemented close to 90 per cent of the recommendations the report gave us,' said ALC spokesman Robert Bourgeois. KPMG was asked by the four Atlantic provinces that own Atlantic Lottery Corporation to review their operations.

Read entire article here.

 

5/22/08 - UAW plans Atlantic City rally

ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey -- As reported by the Press of Atlantic City: "Dealers from at least four casinos will take to the streets next month for a demonstration calling for fair contract negotiations, the United Auto Workers union announced Tuesday.

"The rally, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. June 21, is expected to include Ron Gettelfinger, president of the Detroit-based UAW, and John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, the nation's largest union coalition. Thousands of union members throughout New Jersey, as well as Detroit, New York, Connecticut and Washington, D.C., are being asked to march in support.

Read entire article here.

 

5/14/08 - US Justice Department Names New Attorney in Suit Filed by iMEGA

The US Department of Justice named a new attorney for their defense in iMEGA v. Gonzales, et al, the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association's challenge of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) which now moves to the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.

Nicholas John Bagley is a fairly new attorney with the US DoJ, joining in late 2007. He graduated from New York University School of Law in 2005, near the top of his class and Order of the Coif. He received his bachelors degree from Yale University. Mr.Bagley, who taught 8th grade English in a NYC public school before matriculating at NYU, clerked for Judge David Tatel of the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and then Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

Read entire article here.

 

5/9/08 - Onex Corp. eyes Tropicana Entertainment

TORONTO, Ontario -- As reported by Globe and Mail: "Onex [OCX-T] Corp. is ready to place a bet on the U.S. gambling industry, with struggling casino icon Tropicana Entertainment LLC a potential target for Gerald Schwartz's buyout firm.

"Onex has top-end help in its hunt for a gambling deal, teaming up with Alex Yemenidjian, the former president of Kirk Kerkorian's MGM Grand casino empire. The firm is employing the same strategy in another beat-up business, building products, where Onex has joined with Masonite International Corp. founder Philip Orsino to seek deals.

"In gambling, the focus isn't just on the neon and flash of the Las Vegas strip, where the Tropicana is a well-known name in lights, but in more out-of-the-way places. Onex made a bid for Gateway Casinos Income Fund, which runs gambling operations in Western Canada, but fell short in that 2007 takeover battle.
 

Read entire article here.

 

 

5/8/08 - UK Gambling Commission Releases Study Results

In the UK, a study from the Gambling Commission has found that the proportion of adults participating in remote forms of gambling has remained static at 8.8 percent for the year despite the lifting of restrictions on advertising.

The Commission is the regulatory body for all forms of gambling in the UK and the findings came following a national representative sample survey of 8,000 people conducted by ICM research.

Excluding remote participation in the National Lottery, the survey found that only 5.1 percent of respondents had gambled online or by using a mobile device or interactive television in the past month compared to 5.2 percent a year ago.

The study found that Internet gaming continues to be the most popular way to participate at 7.1 percent, which compared to 6.9 percent in March of last year and 5.2 percent in 2006.
 

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5/8/08 - Gaming Giants Join Forces In Three-Year Deal

Software developer CryptoLogic Ltd and online casino giants 888 yesterday announced the successful signing of a three-year contract between the two companies.

This agreement means that 888 will be able to integrate games of their choice from CryptoLogic into their ever-expanding online casino. CryptoLogic boasts over 200 games, from popular casino entertainment to other games such as Sudoku or Bejewelled.

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5/8/08 - Belle Rock Entertainment launches multiplayer slots tournament

GIBRALTAR -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Online slots players are in for hours of free fun when gaming giant, Belle Rock Entertainment, launches its first multiplayer slots tournament at two of its online casinos later this week. Aimed specifically at beginners, the US$30 000 Adventure Slots Tournament will be hosted at JackpotCity.com and River Belle Online Casino and will run from, Friday 9 May until Saturday 31 May 2008.

"Multiplayer Slots Tournaments sounds quite daunting, but our event is specifically designed to cater for inexperienced players," said Tim Johnson, Chairman of Belle Rock Entertainment. "Online slots are popular with beginners and we wanted to share the excitement of a Multiplayer Tournament with them. As this is a free tournament there are no barriers to entry and players are in for hours of fun and good winnings as the ultimate winner could walk away with US$10 000 without having to spend a sent."

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4/20/08 - American Players Have Easy Access To Legal Sites

A list of online casinos still accepting US players has been published by PressMyBet.com, allowing those Americans frustrated at the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act to seek out their riches legally.

The Act, passed in October 2006, prevents US players from accessing many online gambling sites, most prolifically PartyGaming, whose shares plummeted in the aftermath.


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4/15/08 - Exec doesn't expect online ban to be lifted soon

WASHINGTON, DC -- Although he supports congressional efforts to roll back the Internet gambling ban, the vice president of a poker Web site on Monday said he is skeptical that will happen in the near future.

"I don't want to be a naysayer, but things move very, very slowly in Congress," said Jay Lakin, vice president of Poker Source Online, which is headquartered near San Jose, Costa Rica.

Lakin said he is taking a "wait and see attitude" about a bill introduced last week by Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Ron Paul, R-Texas, that would prevent the Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve from proposing regulations to enforce the 2006 ban.
 

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4/14/08 - Official moves to block bet regulations

WASHINGTON -- Regulations to enforce an Internet gambling ban would be blocked under a bill introduced this week by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.

"These regulations are impossible to implement without placing a significant burden on the payments system and financial institutions," Frank said in a statement on Friday.

Frank's bill, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, was introduced Thursday and would prohibit the Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve from proposing regulations to enforce the Internet gambling ban enacted in 2006.
 

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4/3/08 - News analysis of Wednesday's hearing on UIGEA regulations

Let's be perfectly clear here. Wednesday's congressional hearing on the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act's (UGIEA) regulations exposed the anti-online gambling law as poorly constructed and nearly impossible to enforce. But it did not kill it by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, Congress sent regulators back to the drawing board with the hopes that they could clean up the enforcement mess that the UIGEA has created.

Read entire article here.

 

4/3/08 - Experts testify online ban won't work

WASHINGTON, DC -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Expert testimony to Congress today offered further evidence that the ban on Internet gambling won't work. Witnesses unanimously agreed that U.S. financial service companies would face serious regulatory burdens in attempting to enforce the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA), a law that is not likely to stop millions of Americans from gambling online.

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4/1/08 - Slots Site Launches Fundraising Site for African Aid Project

Two years ago, Slotland.com told their thousands of regular community members that they'd committed to funding an essential development project in Malawi, Africa. A small group of dedicated aid workers asked them for help and they couldn't say no. The overwhelming support of the Slotland.com online community has inspired Slotland.com to continue funding the project and to expand the scope.

Read all about it here.

 

 

3/5/08 - Judge Rules in Favor of iMEGA Online Gambling Challenge

This story is still developing. Gambling911.com is on top of this story as the news broke at 12:15 pm EST Thursday.

The Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) today applauded the decision by Judge Mary L. Cooper, of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, granting iMEGA the standing to pursue a challenge of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). This is a significant victory for iMEGA in the case of iMEGA v. Gonzales, et al.

“Granting iMEGA standing is a major victory any way you look at it,” said Eric M. Bernstein, Esq., attorney for iMEGA. “Judge Cooper’s ruling holds that, even with the passage of UIGEA, online gambling is only illegal in states where a statute specifically says it is.”

“iMEGA is very pleased that the Court recognized our standing and the weaknesses in UIGEA” said Joe Brennan Jr., the chairman of iMEGA. “Judge Cooper found that banks, credit card companies and other payment system instruments are exempt from criminal sanctions under UIGEA, significantly undercutting UIGEA’s enforcement mechanism. Her ruling echoes the growing consensus of opinion that UIGEA is a fundamentally flawed statute.”
 

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2/20/08 - US Congress Failure To Act Proves Expensive

The US Department of Justice has turned a minor legal problem limited to interstate horseracing into a major headache on all aspects of remote wagering including purely intrastate betting on horseracing, dog racing and possibly poker.

This is the opinion of Nelson Rose, Professor of Law at California’s Whittier Law School and founder of GamblingAndTheLaw.com, who stated that a decision against the US by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) treaty was not that bad but had been made worse by the American’s unwillingness to change.

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2/20/08 - World Gaming ready to be launched

TORONTO, Ontario -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- World Gaming today announced the imminent launch of WorldGaming.com, the premier online destination for console gamers from around the world to network and challenge one another in tournaments for REAL money. Currently, gamers can sign up at worldgaming.com for a chance to participate in the site's closed beta, as well as an opportunity to win up to $50,000 in cash and prizes!

WorldGaming.com users will be able to meet and compete on all of today's top consoles (Sony PlayStation® 2, Sony PLAYSTATION® 3, Microsoft Xbox™, and Microsoft Xbox 360™). At launch, WorldGaming.com will offer one-on-one challenges and multiplayer tournaments in a variety of games across multiple genres, from first-person shooters like Halo 3 and Resistance: Fall of Man, to the most popular sports titles, including Madden '08, NBA Live, FIFA Soccer and many more – with new titles added regularly.

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2/19/08 - Casino Rewards wins CAP award

LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Casino Rewards/Rewards Affiliates is still proving to be the most trusted and respected casino affiliate program in the industry, walking away with the CAP Awards' Best Casino Affiliate Program at the prestigious black tie event at the Olympia Conference Centre in London last month.

Affiliate programmes from all over the world were nominated in 14 categories. Casino Rewards/Rewards Affiliates was recognized for its efforts in building long-term, profitable relationships for all affiliates, with competitive commissions, prompt payouts, excellent reporting/stat information and a team of helpful staff providing personal levels of support.

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2/15/08 - 32Red Mega Moolah jackpot hits £5 million mark

(PRESS RELEASE) -- 32Red has announced that the Mega Moolah jackpot has hit the £5 million mark early at their casino, having promised to make up the difference until the jackpot is won. This news arrives just days after they were awarded their fifth consecutive Best Casino award from the independent casino watchdog, Casinomeister.

32Red is the UK's leading online casino and specialises in providing first-class support, employing and expanding cutting-edge technology and producing leading acquisition and retention offers. Company CEO, Ed Ware commented, "In 2008 we're planning to expand our online gaming portfolio whilst doing what we do best: rewarding our loyal customers."

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2/1/08 - Safe Bet: IRS Won't Get Gambling Winnings

Picked the Super Bowl winner yet? As the game nears, millions of Americans are choosing, and betting on, their favorite to take home the Vince Lombardi Trophy this year.

Many are just friendly wagers -- a dollar in the office pool or a good-natured bet with the neighbor who's jumped on that overcrowded Patriots' bandwagon.

But other football fans are taking the game more seriously and handing over big bucks to bookmakers, both legal and not-so-legal. All these Super Bowl wagers spotlight a persistent Internal Revenue Service problem: tracking and taxing gambling winnings.

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1/31/08 - Regulating Internet Gambling Would Generate Billions in New Revenue for Critical Government Programs

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new tax revenue analysis announced by Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) estimates that regulating Internet gambling would generate between $8.7 billion to $42.8 billion in federal revenues over its first ten years. The findings of the analysis, prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers, were provided to all Members of Congress by McDermott earlier this week.

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1/25/08 - Online Progressives Awarding Nearly $16m

Online gambling software and games developer Microgaming has revealed that the total prize pool for its Progressive Jackpot Network has passed the $15.5 million mark.

A pioneer in online gambling progressives, Microgaming stated that the prize pool for its Mega Moolah game is inching closer to ten million dollars while three other progressives are nearing two million dollars each.


Microgaming’s Progressives Jackpot Network has paid out over $224 million since it began in November of 2006, turning eleven people into millionaires with more to follow soon.
 

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1/25/08 - UK Responds Favourably To "Whitelisting" Lobby

Minister of Finance Dr. Errol Cort is reporting “favourable” news following a meeting with the United Kingdom (UK) Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe on Antigua and Barbuda’s “whitelisting” application.

Approval of the application would have given remote gaming operators in Antigua and Barbuda permission to advertise their services to consumers in the UK.

But Antigua and Barbuda’s application has not yet been approved.

Dr. Cort led a high level delegation to a meeting with Sutcliffe yesterday to discuss the country's application to the Gambling Commission for “whitelisting” under the UK’s recent gambling legislation.
 

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1/22/08 - Jackpot Factory, BrightShare win awards

Jackpot Factory and BrightShare Take Home Top Online Casino Awards Online casino watchdog Casinomeister confers "Best Casino Group" to the Jackpot Factory and "Best Affiliate Program" to BrightShare
KAHNAWAKE, Quebec -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Jackpot Factory, a leading online casino group known for first-rate customer support and a wealth of games, and BrightShare, the Jackpot Factory's exclusive affiliate network program, announced that they have successfully capped off another great year and received the top accolades in their respective fields at the Casinomeister's annual Meister Awards.

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1/12/08 - WinnerOnline 2007 Year in Review Part I

New Year’s has come and gone and the holiday season is officially over so what better time to take a look at what transpired over the past 365-something days.

January

As 2007 started off, Italy seemed to have a change of heart from its anti-foreign gaming company stance when big name companies Ladbrokes and William Hill were granted licenses to accept bets from Italian customers.

Favored by a TD prior to the game, the Ohio State Buckeyes laid an egg on the national stage as they were upset in a 41-14 blowout loss to Florida in the NCAA’s BCS championship game.

BetonSports continued to show what a classy outfit it was as it failed to appear for an arraignment hearing in a St. Louis court. The company would eventually enter a Not Guilty plea.

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