Media Man and Casino News Media report
An armed gang of masked men raided a casino packed with about 600 guests and made off with hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to Swiss prosecutors.
In a statement, prosecutors in Basel described a scene like an action-film heist:
About 10 men dressed in black arrived in two cars at the Grand Casino near Basel shortly after 4:00 am.
One smashed the front door with a sledgehammer, and the others ran inside with machine guns and pistols, the statement said.
Speaking French, a group of men ordered the guests and employees to the floor, while their accomplices emptied registers in the basement and an upper floor, it said. They could not get into the strong room, despite shooting at the locked door, prosecutors said.
"The criminals fired a number of shots, but luckily no one was hit," said the statement.
It said some guests and one security guard were lightly injured from being hit or stepped on, and that Swiss and French police were trying to track down the men. Swiss police said the men fled the casino quickly, driving away in two silver Audis with French license plates.
A woman who accidentally drove between the two getaway cars and blocked the casino's exit was pulled from her vehicle and beaten, police said. They said it was possible that the men fired a shot at another car during their high-speed escape.
The Grand Casino is located little more than 200 meters from Switzerland's border with France. The men made off with "several hundreds of thousands" of francs, police said.
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Monday, March 29, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
PartyGaming Eyes French With PMU Deal; Global Strategy Sees Punters And Government's Win, by Greg Tingle - 27th March 2010
Websites
PartyCasino.com PartyPoker.com WPTCasino.com WPTPoker.com PartyBingo.com PartyGammon.com PartyBets.com
PartyGaming is aiming to take advantage of the newly regulated online gambling market opening up in France by inking a deal with Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) to provide an online poker offering to the French horse racing betting group.
The deal which is understood to be similar to b2b agreements PartyGaming has signed in Italy and Denmark, enables the company to operate its world famous PartyPoker website – provided it wins a licence in the regulated market – as well as power PMU’s poker offering.
Players on both sites will be brought into one poker liquidity pool.
Jim Ryan, PartyGaming’s chief executive, said the company intended to strike other B2B poker deals in France. "The objective is to have the largest poker liquidity pool in France," he said.
PartyGaming declined to disclose terms of the deal. PMU, which has signed up Paddy Power as its partner in sports betting, last year made turnover of €9.3bn and has 6.5m customers.
Wyn Ellis, analyst with Numis, advised the deal could add £5m to 2011 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation. "Party has a scale that has allowed it put people and resources into multiple markets to allow it to exploit the changing regulatory environment," Mr Ellis said.
Burt Paul Leyland of Collins Stewart said while the deal would give Party a leading place in the French market, it would not obviously drive revenue.
PartyGaming would have to absorb the loss of revenues coming out of France in the unregulated market, he said, adding that, given the proposed tax rates in the new regime, "Party could easily still be a net loser".
Ryan remains upbeat and positive, emphasising revenues coming out of France were small and that the opportunity for PartyGaming to advertise in France was crucial. "I don’t share the view that we can expect ebit margins to shrink," he said.
France plans to open the new market in time for the start of the World Cup in June. Under the new regime, the PMU is protected by regulations that require bets on horse racing to be pari-mutuel, but fixed-odds betting is allowed on sports.
PartyGaming's global strategy continues to take shape. A return to the United States this year, or next, would likely be the firms jackpot, however they continue to make progress in many regions. Other countries that Party are keen to expand into include Australia, India and South America.
The company's amicable settlement with the U.S Government last year, exceeding $100m, is tangible proof of financial stability and willingness to go the extra mile as to adapt to the market, while satisfying crucial legal requirements. Party's financial strength and positive result for the United States coffers has not gone unnoticed by Government bean counters across the globe. Clearly Party have far greater resources and experience than most of their would be competitors. Mainstream brands Virgin (Games) and Sega are also looking to expand internationally, but in the case of Virgin its more of a non gambling product push. In the eyes of most media and gaming analysts, PartyGaming is way ahead of the pack, with only Harrah's Entertainment giving them a real run for their money in the U.S.
Ryan sees a number of mergers and acquisitions on the cards. Industry buzz of late is that Party may be about to secure a deal with a major Canadian based poker tour brand, and such a deal would add to Party's poker tour portfolio headed up by the World Poker Tour.
"With some acquisitions and major B2B deals already under our belt, we plan to do more in 2010 and I believe we are on course to meet our objective of becoming the world's most valuable online gaming company."
PartyCasino.com remains a big hit for Party and its customers, with Hollywood branded games such as the Sinatra slot, Rambo, The Terminator, Mission: Impossible and Saturday Night Fever enjoying record popularity. The deal with Marvel Entertainment also continues to serve Party, its partners and customers well, and let us not forget upcoming Marvel films, Thor and Spider-Man, that will further propel the Hollywood themed games.
Party is also utilizing the strength of other world class non gaming brands to stand out from the pack. This month PartyCasino players have a chance to win a Porsche playing slot games, a promotion most other competitors would die for.
Australians can currently play virtually all PartyGaming brands including PartyCasino.com, PartyPoker.com, WPTCasino.com, WPTPoker.com, PartyBingo.com, PartyGammon.com and PartyBets.com
Shares in PartyGaming rose ½p to finish at 329.3p on Friday.
*The writer has a b2b agreement with a number of PartyGaming brands, as they do with dozens of companies in the gaming, media and entertainment sector.
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PartyGaming is aiming to take advantage of the newly regulated online gambling market opening up in France by inking a deal with Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) to provide an online poker offering to the French horse racing betting group.
The deal which is understood to be similar to b2b agreements PartyGaming has signed in Italy and Denmark, enables the company to operate its world famous PartyPoker website – provided it wins a licence in the regulated market – as well as power PMU’s poker offering.
Players on both sites will be brought into one poker liquidity pool.
Jim Ryan, PartyGaming’s chief executive, said the company intended to strike other B2B poker deals in France. "The objective is to have the largest poker liquidity pool in France," he said.
PartyGaming declined to disclose terms of the deal. PMU, which has signed up Paddy Power as its partner in sports betting, last year made turnover of €9.3bn and has 6.5m customers.
Wyn Ellis, analyst with Numis, advised the deal could add £5m to 2011 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation. "Party has a scale that has allowed it put people and resources into multiple markets to allow it to exploit the changing regulatory environment," Mr Ellis said.
Burt Paul Leyland of Collins Stewart said while the deal would give Party a leading place in the French market, it would not obviously drive revenue.
PartyGaming would have to absorb the loss of revenues coming out of France in the unregulated market, he said, adding that, given the proposed tax rates in the new regime, "Party could easily still be a net loser".
Ryan remains upbeat and positive, emphasising revenues coming out of France were small and that the opportunity for PartyGaming to advertise in France was crucial. "I don’t share the view that we can expect ebit margins to shrink," he said.
France plans to open the new market in time for the start of the World Cup in June. Under the new regime, the PMU is protected by regulations that require bets on horse racing to be pari-mutuel, but fixed-odds betting is allowed on sports.
PartyGaming's global strategy continues to take shape. A return to the United States this year, or next, would likely be the firms jackpot, however they continue to make progress in many regions. Other countries that Party are keen to expand into include Australia, India and South America.
The company's amicable settlement with the U.S Government last year, exceeding $100m, is tangible proof of financial stability and willingness to go the extra mile as to adapt to the market, while satisfying crucial legal requirements. Party's financial strength and positive result for the United States coffers has not gone unnoticed by Government bean counters across the globe. Clearly Party have far greater resources and experience than most of their would be competitors. Mainstream brands Virgin (Games) and Sega are also looking to expand internationally, but in the case of Virgin its more of a non gambling product push. In the eyes of most media and gaming analysts, PartyGaming is way ahead of the pack, with only Harrah's Entertainment giving them a real run for their money in the U.S.
Ryan sees a number of mergers and acquisitions on the cards. Industry buzz of late is that Party may be about to secure a deal with a major Canadian based poker tour brand, and such a deal would add to Party's poker tour portfolio headed up by the World Poker Tour.
"With some acquisitions and major B2B deals already under our belt, we plan to do more in 2010 and I believe we are on course to meet our objective of becoming the world's most valuable online gaming company."
PartyCasino.com remains a big hit for Party and its customers, with Hollywood branded games such as the Sinatra slot, Rambo, The Terminator, Mission: Impossible and Saturday Night Fever enjoying record popularity. The deal with Marvel Entertainment also continues to serve Party, its partners and customers well, and let us not forget upcoming Marvel films, Thor and Spider-Man, that will further propel the Hollywood themed games.
Party is also utilizing the strength of other world class non gaming brands to stand out from the pack. This month PartyCasino players have a chance to win a Porsche playing slot games, a promotion most other competitors would die for.
Australians can currently play virtually all PartyGaming brands including PartyCasino.com, PartyPoker.com, WPTCasino.com, WPTPoker.com, PartyBingo.com, PartyGammon.com and PartyBets.com
Shares in PartyGaming rose ½p to finish at 329.3p on Friday.
*The writer has a b2b agreement with a number of PartyGaming brands, as they do with dozens of companies in the gaming, media and entertainment sector.
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Friday, March 26, 2010
PKR Poker Springfest 2010 - 26th March 2010
It’s time for PKR’s Springfest!
This awesome series kicks off on Friday 26th March lasting almost two weeks with more than $130,000 worth of prizes waiting to be won!
Springfest’s 11 events will be giving players the chance to test their online poker skills in a range of exciting formats which include: Deep stacks, Bounty events, Omaha, Rebuys and Terminators all featuring in this year’s line-up.
In addition to this, the festival will also feature a special PKR Live IV freeroll.
Players that enter at least 6 out of the 11 spring fest events will be able to enter the tournament where three PKR Live IV packages will be up for grabs. These great packages include your ticket, travel to London and expenses!
PKR Marketing Manager Erika Schwartz said, "Springfest is a staple on the PKR calendar and player response is always fantastic. This year’s calendar of events is really exciting, with lots of variation, playable structures and very affordable buy-ins."
You can buy in direct or play satellites in order to take part in the Springfest events, check the PKR lobby for more details.
Be also sure to check out the PKR Casino slots and new sports betting, all part of the unique PKR experience.
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This awesome series kicks off on Friday 26th March lasting almost two weeks with more than $130,000 worth of prizes waiting to be won!
Springfest’s 11 events will be giving players the chance to test their online poker skills in a range of exciting formats which include: Deep stacks, Bounty events, Omaha, Rebuys and Terminators all featuring in this year’s line-up.
In addition to this, the festival will also feature a special PKR Live IV freeroll.
Players that enter at least 6 out of the 11 spring fest events will be able to enter the tournament where three PKR Live IV packages will be up for grabs. These great packages include your ticket, travel to London and expenses!
PKR Marketing Manager Erika Schwartz said, "Springfest is a staple on the PKR calendar and player response is always fantastic. This year’s calendar of events is really exciting, with lots of variation, playable structures and very affordable buy-ins."
You can buy in direct or play satellites in order to take part in the Springfest events, check the PKR lobby for more details.
Be also sure to check out the PKR Casino slots and new sports betting, all part of the unique PKR experience.
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PKR.com
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PartyGaming News - 26th March 2010
PartyGaming Plc (PRTY LN) The U.K. gambling website operator has signed an alliance in online poker with French gambling company Pari Mutuel Urbain. The shares gained 6.1 pence, or 1.9 percent, to 328.8.
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PartyGaming News: PMU signs PartyGaming - 26th March 2010
PMU signs PartyGaming to launch online poker in France
PartyGaming, the world’s leading listed online gaming company, today announces that it has signed a multi-year, exclusive deal to provide an online poker service for the French market to PMU.
Founded in 1891, PMU is France’s pari-mutual horse racing company and is the largest horse race betting organisation in Europe. PMU recently announced its twelfth year of consecutive growth, with turnover of €9.3 billion, of which €660 million was generated from the www.PMU.fr betting website and a gross profit of €2.2 billion in 2009. PMU has more than 6.5 million customers in France using 10,000 retail outlets.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will co-operate to create a PMU-branded online poker service based upon PartyGaming’s own market-leading poker software that will be integrated into PMU’s own player account systems. This service will be available when both PartyGaming and PMU have obtained the required French licences. The PMU poker service will also provide access for players to the shared player liquidity on PartyGaming’s French poker network that will include www.partypoker.fr.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of PartyGaming, said:
“Today’s agreement with PMU is consistent with our stated strategy of securing a small number of high value partners in regulated markets. PMU is widely recognised as one of Europe’s leading betting businesses and we look forward to providing them with a world class poker service.”
PartyGaming is regulated and licensed by the Government of Gibraltar and by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and it is also certified as a responsible gaming operator by GamCare, the leading UK authority on the provision of advice, practical help, support and counselling in addressing the social impact of gambling.
PartyGaming’s shares are also a constituent member of the FTSE4Good Index Series, which enables investors to identify companies that meet globally recognised corporate responsibility standards.
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PartyGaming, the world’s leading listed online gaming company, today announces that it has signed a multi-year, exclusive deal to provide an online poker service for the French market to PMU.
Founded in 1891, PMU is France’s pari-mutual horse racing company and is the largest horse race betting organisation in Europe. PMU recently announced its twelfth year of consecutive growth, with turnover of €9.3 billion, of which €660 million was generated from the www.PMU.fr betting website and a gross profit of €2.2 billion in 2009. PMU has more than 6.5 million customers in France using 10,000 retail outlets.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will co-operate to create a PMU-branded online poker service based upon PartyGaming’s own market-leading poker software that will be integrated into PMU’s own player account systems. This service will be available when both PartyGaming and PMU have obtained the required French licences. The PMU poker service will also provide access for players to the shared player liquidity on PartyGaming’s French poker network that will include www.partypoker.fr.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of PartyGaming, said:
“Today’s agreement with PMU is consistent with our stated strategy of securing a small number of high value partners in regulated markets. PMU is widely recognised as one of Europe’s leading betting businesses and we look forward to providing them with a world class poker service.”
PartyGaming is regulated and licensed by the Government of Gibraltar and by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and it is also certified as a responsible gaming operator by GamCare, the leading UK authority on the provision of advice, practical help, support and counselling in addressing the social impact of gambling.
PartyGaming’s shares are also a constituent member of the FTSE4Good Index Series, which enables investors to identify companies that meet globally recognised corporate responsibility standards.
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Wednesday, March 24, 2010
PartyPoker Women's World Open IV Underway - 23rd March 2010
London – The PartyPoker.com Women’s World Open IV is underway in London today, running from the 23rd – 24th March 2010.
To keep up to date with the latest news see PartyPoker.com
Play is expected to run until midnight tonight.
The 24 player $3,000 buy-in tournament features a total prize pool of $72,000 and a six-seat final table. The top two players from each of the three deep-stacked eight handed heats carry their chips through to the final table. Starting stacks for the heats are 200,000, with blinds starting at 1,000/2,000. Taking part are Team PartyPoker.com’s Kara Scott, who will also spend time in the commentary box, plus and the one and only Annette Obrestad. Joining them are Women’s World Open III winner Aisling Collins and last year’s runner-up, Kim Wooka from Japan. Other confirmations include Laurence Grondin, Maria Demetriou, Christine Klecz, Pippa Flanders and season two winner Soraya Homam.
Commentary will be provided by Jesse May, who will be joined by both Annette Obrestad and Kara Scott in the booth. Presenting duties will be shared between the glamorous pairing of Kara Scott and Tatjana Pasalic. Coverage of the Matchroom Sport organised event will first be broadcast on Five in the UK later this year and then distributed internationally.
Websites
PartyPoker.com
PartyCasino.com
Profiles
PartyPoker.com
PartyCasino.com
PartyGaming
To keep up to date with the latest news see PartyPoker.com
Play is expected to run until midnight tonight.
The 24 player $3,000 buy-in tournament features a total prize pool of $72,000 and a six-seat final table. The top two players from each of the three deep-stacked eight handed heats carry their chips through to the final table. Starting stacks for the heats are 200,000, with blinds starting at 1,000/2,000. Taking part are Team PartyPoker.com’s Kara Scott, who will also spend time in the commentary box, plus and the one and only Annette Obrestad. Joining them are Women’s World Open III winner Aisling Collins and last year’s runner-up, Kim Wooka from Japan. Other confirmations include Laurence Grondin, Maria Demetriou, Christine Klecz, Pippa Flanders and season two winner Soraya Homam.
Commentary will be provided by Jesse May, who will be joined by both Annette Obrestad and Kara Scott in the booth. Presenting duties will be shared between the glamorous pairing of Kara Scott and Tatjana Pasalic. Coverage of the Matchroom Sport organised event will first be broadcast on Five in the UK later this year and then distributed internationally.
Websites
PartyPoker.com
PartyCasino.com
Profiles
PartyPoker.com
PartyCasino.com
PartyGaming
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Poker Named An Official Sport in Lithuania
On March 20, the official ruling body of Lithuanian sports, the Department of Physical Education and Sports issued an official decree recognizing the Lithuanian Sports Poker Federation as an official sports federation, opening the doors for further development of poker as a sport in Lithuania.
This recognition is extremely important because it will allow the LSPF to organize noncommercial poker tournaments outside of casinos in Lithuania. This is sure to boost poker's popularity in the country.
“This is extremely important step in our work,” Andrius Tapinas, president of the Lithuanian Sport Poker Federation, said. “We are receiving congratulations from many of our colleagues abroad and I know that we are breaking thick ice with our progress for similar international initiatives.”
This recognition is extremely important because it will allow the LSPF to organize noncommercial poker tournaments outside of casinos in Lithuania. This is sure to boost poker's popularity in the country.
“This is extremely important step in our work,” Andrius Tapinas, president of the Lithuanian Sport Poker Federation, said. “We are receiving congratulations from many of our colleagues abroad and I know that we are breaking thick ice with our progress for similar international initiatives.”
Friday, March 19, 2010
Virgin Games calls UK creative review - 18th March 2010
LONDON - Virgin Games is on the hunt for an agency to handle its UK advertising business
The successful shop will be responsible for helping to relaunch the Virgin Games brand, in an effort to help it gain greater market share.
Virgin Games does not have a retained ad agency. It previously used Lean Mean Fighting Machine for digital work, but parted company with the agency at the end of 2008.
During its time on the account, LMFM created award-winning campaigns, including a digital push launched to coincide with the weekly Big Brother nominations that promoted Virgin Games' betting service. It won a gold Cyber Lion at Cannes in 2008.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Virgin Games was preparing to move into the non-gambling PC games market, after signing a deal with Game Domain International.
* VirginCasino.com does not currently accept Australian or U.S players. See World Casino Directory
The successful shop will be responsible for helping to relaunch the Virgin Games brand, in an effort to help it gain greater market share.
Virgin Games does not have a retained ad agency. It previously used Lean Mean Fighting Machine for digital work, but parted company with the agency at the end of 2008.
During its time on the account, LMFM created award-winning campaigns, including a digital push launched to coincide with the weekly Big Brother nominations that promoted Virgin Games' betting service. It won a gold Cyber Lion at Cannes in 2008.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Virgin Games was preparing to move into the non-gambling PC games market, after signing a deal with Game Domain International.
* VirginCasino.com does not currently accept Australian or U.S players. See World Casino Directory
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Virgin New Games: Hole In The Wall, Call Of Duty, Thor, King Kong and more - March 2010
Virgin New Games
Hole In The Wall, Call Of Duty, Thor, King Kong and more.
Sorry, no U.S or Australian players. See World Casino Directory
Website
VirginCasino.com
Hole In The Wall, Call Of Duty, Thor, King Kong and more.
Sorry, no U.S or Australian players. See World Casino Directory
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VirginCasino.com
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Poker News Media: Police: Suspect in poker heist released
BERLIN — Berlin police said Saturday they had released a man previously suspected of taking part in the storming last weekend of a poker tournament in which armed robbers made off with euro240,000 ($328,000) in jackpot money.
A spokeswoman for Berlin police — who did not give her name in keeping with department policy — said the suspect had been set free due to a lack of evidence. The suspect, who was detained late Friday, denied throughout several hours in questioning having taken part in the heist at the Grand Hyatt hotel in the capital.
Police declined to identify the man or give any further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
German authorities have been hunting for four suspects who, armed with guns and machetes, stormed the poker tournament in broad daylight last Saturday in downtown Berlin, stunning the participants and the audience.
Images of the masked men were captured on surveillance cameras.
According to the European Poker tour, the jackpot for the tournament stood at euro 1 million ($1.36 million).
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A spokeswoman for Berlin police — who did not give her name in keeping with department policy — said the suspect had been set free due to a lack of evidence. The suspect, who was detained late Friday, denied throughout several hours in questioning having taken part in the heist at the Grand Hyatt hotel in the capital.
Police declined to identify the man or give any further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
German authorities have been hunting for four suspects who, armed with guns and machetes, stormed the poker tournament in broad daylight last Saturday in downtown Berlin, stunning the participants and the audience.
Images of the masked men were captured on surveillance cameras.
According to the European Poker tour, the jackpot for the tournament stood at euro 1 million ($1.36 million).
Website Network
Poker News Media
Casino News Media
Casino News Media.net
Global Gaming Directory
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Virgin Casino Adds Thor, Amazon Wild, King Kong, Call of Duty 4 Slot Games and more; Richard Branson planning international expansion - March 2010
Virgin Casino Adds Thor, Amazon Wild, King Kong, Call of Duty 4 Slot Games and more; Richard Branson planning international expansion
Richard Branson's VirginCasino.com continues to put out a world class product and service and this month is tipped to make the finals of the Media Man, Casino News Media and Global Gaming Directory Online Casino Of The Month Awards.
The Online Slot Games:
Thor
The Mighty Thor of Nordic mythology and & the Marvel universe is presented in this 9 line video slot. Win up to 4,000 times your bet. As Marvel icon Stan Lee says, Excelsior!
King Kong
Experience the fury and excitement as King Kong takes on New York City. Play 1 to 25 lines and go bananas over the wild bonus!
Amazon Wild
Exciting Aztec action awaits you in Amazon Wild – the 100 line slot!
Call of Duty 4
Fill your enemy so full of lead you'll have to use him as a pencil instead in this famous title slot!
Promotion
Win up to £500 in bonus cash at Virgin Casino.
Collect exclusive V*Points which can be used on a wide variety of Virgin Group goods and services.
Sorry no U.S or Australian players. See World Casino Directory.
The late news... AWOMO (A World Of My Own) games portal to offer non gambling games on global scale. Virgin Games have teamed up with GDI (Game Domain International). More details here in the coming days and weeks.
Website
VirginCasino.com
Richard Branson's VirginCasino.com continues to put out a world class product and service and this month is tipped to make the finals of the Media Man, Casino News Media and Global Gaming Directory Online Casino Of The Month Awards.
The Online Slot Games:
Thor
The Mighty Thor of Nordic mythology and & the Marvel universe is presented in this 9 line video slot. Win up to 4,000 times your bet. As Marvel icon Stan Lee says, Excelsior!
King Kong
Experience the fury and excitement as King Kong takes on New York City. Play 1 to 25 lines and go bananas over the wild bonus!
Amazon Wild
Exciting Aztec action awaits you in Amazon Wild – the 100 line slot!
Call of Duty 4
Fill your enemy so full of lead you'll have to use him as a pencil instead in this famous title slot!
Promotion
Win up to £500 in bonus cash at Virgin Casino.
Collect exclusive V*Points which can be used on a wide variety of Virgin Group goods and services.
Sorry no U.S or Australian players. See World Casino Directory.
The late news... AWOMO (A World Of My Own) games portal to offer non gambling games on global scale. Virgin Games have teamed up with GDI (Game Domain International). More details here in the coming days and weeks.
Website
VirginCasino.com
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Poker Babes: Maxim Men's Magazine Top 20 For 2010
Men's magazine Maxim have released their 20 hottest poker babes.
The list mainly consists of Hollywood celebs who have had minor poker involvement such as charity tournaments, however there are a handful of poker babes who can also play well, and even a couple of champions!
Vanessa Rousso enjoyed a win at the EPT Grand Final High Rollers and was runner-up at the NBC National HU Championship and has made 11 final table appearances. Her total tournament cashes are 2.5 million dollars.
Jennifer Tilly and Shannon Elizabeth are two celebrities known also as passionate players. Jenn has a WSOP bracelet and both have made the semifinals at the NBC National HU Championship.
Tiffany Michelle's biggest brag is 17th place and $334,000 at the World Series of Poker 2008 Main Event.
Us, we like Kara Scott from PartyPoker.com and remain very high on Paris Hilton, Jenny McCarthy and Pam Anderson.
Cameron Diaz
Heather Graham
Jenna Fischer
Jennie Garth
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Tilly
Jenny McCarthy
Joanna Krupa
Lacey Chabert
Laura Prepon
Mena Suvari
Odette Yustman
Pamela Anderson
Rosario Dawson
Sarah Silverman
Serinda Swan
Shannon Elizabeth
Tiffany Michelle
Traci Bingham
Vanessa Rousso
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The list mainly consists of Hollywood celebs who have had minor poker involvement such as charity tournaments, however there are a handful of poker babes who can also play well, and even a couple of champions!
Vanessa Rousso enjoyed a win at the EPT Grand Final High Rollers and was runner-up at the NBC National HU Championship and has made 11 final table appearances. Her total tournament cashes are 2.5 million dollars.
Jennifer Tilly and Shannon Elizabeth are two celebrities known also as passionate players. Jenn has a WSOP bracelet and both have made the semifinals at the NBC National HU Championship.
Tiffany Michelle's biggest brag is 17th place and $334,000 at the World Series of Poker 2008 Main Event.
Us, we like Kara Scott from PartyPoker.com and remain very high on Paris Hilton, Jenny McCarthy and Pam Anderson.
Cameron Diaz
Heather Graham
Jenna Fischer
Jennie Garth
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Tilly
Jenny McCarthy
Joanna Krupa
Lacey Chabert
Laura Prepon
Mena Suvari
Odette Yustman
Pamela Anderson
Rosario Dawson
Sarah Silverman
Serinda Swan
Shannon Elizabeth
Tiffany Michelle
Traci Bingham
Vanessa Rousso
Profiles
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Casino Babes
Babes
Poker
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Australian Sports Entertainment
Sports Entertainment News
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Tuesday, March 09, 2010
PartyGaming News: PartyCasino and WPT Casino Get New Online Slot Games: Rubiks Slot, Slotbox, Sands Of Fortune, Beat the Bank and more - March 2010
PartyCasino.com and WPTCasino.com, both owned and operated by PartyGaming, have just released some great new online slot games.
New players can get up to $500 bonus.
Play for free or play for money. Multi language and multi currency. The casinos offer the exclusive PartyGaming PartyPoints rewards system providing players with world class rewards and bonuses.
Rubiks Slot
Rubiks game is a fixed odds game based on the popular Rubik’s Cube® Puzzle. The player selects the stake and then presses the Play button and gets wins based on how many lines and/or sides get completed on the 3 visible sides after the cube is automatically rotated several times. All wins are paid as per the paytable. Rubik's game also introduces Free Plays. Free Plays is triggered when all six letters in the Rubik's logo are highlighted, in which the player is awarded free plays and extra cubes.
Slotbox
Line up a fortune in Slotblox. Take a classic, line-building puzzle game, remove the stress and add plenty of chances to win lots of cash. That’s Slotblox.
Slotblox couldn’t be simpler. When you start playing different shaped blocks fall down the screen into your game grid. Don’t worry about controlling the blocks, the game does that for you.
You can build your way to big money when these blocks create cash-winning lines. Winning lines then disappear, creating more space in the grid and giving your further chances to win.
Get a winning line with the special ‘magic’ blocks and you’ll trigger the free plays feature where’s there’s double money to be won.
See if a fortune’s about to fall your way.
Sands Of Fortune
Sands of Fortune is a five-reel, nine-paylines slot game with a bonus feature game that gives you the chance to win extra prizes. Random number of picks of up to 5 is awarded. You get to select any 1 door in each pick to reveal a prize. 3 or more BONUS symbols appear anywhere in view triggers the bonus feature.
Beat the Bank
Beat the bank is a five-reel, twenty-paylines slot game with a 'free game' and a ‘Beat The Bank’ feature. The Free Games Feature is triggered when Thief appears any where on reels 2, 3 and 4 at the same time. 15 free games are awarded, during which all prizes are tripled, except for Beat The Bank feature win, even though it is triggered during Free Spins. The feature can be retriggered when Thief appears any where on reels 2, 3 and 4 at the same time. The Beat The Bank Feature is awarded when 3 or more Scattered Safe occur anywhere.
Thief appears on Reels 2, 3 and 4 only and substitutes for all other symbols except Scattered Safe.
PartyCasino.com is a multi time Casino News Media - Media Man - Global Gaming Directory Online Casino Of The Month winner and WPTCasino.com is a Casino News Media - Media Man - Global Gaming Directory Online Casino finalist.
PartyGaming is widely regarded as the world's leading igaming company. They are listed on the London Stock Exchange and were established in 1997.
Websites
PartyCasino.com
WPTCasino.com
New players can get up to $500 bonus.
Play for free or play for money. Multi language and multi currency. The casinos offer the exclusive PartyGaming PartyPoints rewards system providing players with world class rewards and bonuses.
Rubiks Slot
Rubiks game is a fixed odds game based on the popular Rubik’s Cube® Puzzle. The player selects the stake and then presses the Play button and gets wins based on how many lines and/or sides get completed on the 3 visible sides after the cube is automatically rotated several times. All wins are paid as per the paytable. Rubik's game also introduces Free Plays. Free Plays is triggered when all six letters in the Rubik's logo are highlighted, in which the player is awarded free plays and extra cubes.
Slotbox
Line up a fortune in Slotblox. Take a classic, line-building puzzle game, remove the stress and add plenty of chances to win lots of cash. That’s Slotblox.
Slotblox couldn’t be simpler. When you start playing different shaped blocks fall down the screen into your game grid. Don’t worry about controlling the blocks, the game does that for you.
You can build your way to big money when these blocks create cash-winning lines. Winning lines then disappear, creating more space in the grid and giving your further chances to win.
Get a winning line with the special ‘magic’ blocks and you’ll trigger the free plays feature where’s there’s double money to be won.
See if a fortune’s about to fall your way.
Sands Of Fortune
Sands of Fortune is a five-reel, nine-paylines slot game with a bonus feature game that gives you the chance to win extra prizes. Random number of picks of up to 5 is awarded. You get to select any 1 door in each pick to reveal a prize. 3 or more BONUS symbols appear anywhere in view triggers the bonus feature.
Beat the Bank
Beat the bank is a five-reel, twenty-paylines slot game with a 'free game' and a ‘Beat The Bank’ feature. The Free Games Feature is triggered when Thief appears any where on reels 2, 3 and 4 at the same time. 15 free games are awarded, during which all prizes are tripled, except for Beat The Bank feature win, even though it is triggered during Free Spins. The feature can be retriggered when Thief appears any where on reels 2, 3 and 4 at the same time. The Beat The Bank Feature is awarded when 3 or more Scattered Safe occur anywhere.
Thief appears on Reels 2, 3 and 4 only and substitutes for all other symbols except Scattered Safe.
PartyCasino.com is a multi time Casino News Media - Media Man - Global Gaming Directory Online Casino Of The Month winner and WPTCasino.com is a Casino News Media - Media Man - Global Gaming Directory Online Casino finalist.
PartyGaming is widely regarded as the world's leading igaming company. They are listed on the London Stock Exchange and were established in 1997.
Websites
PartyCasino.com
WPTCasino.com
Monday, March 08, 2010
Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment Launch Bingo Website - 8th March 2010
LAS VEGAS/LONDON, U.K., - Harrah's Interactive Entertainment, Inc. , a subsidiary of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., today officially launches Caesars Bingo Online available to UK residents only at www.caesarsbingo.com
The new Caesars Bingo site will offer the UK's only Las Vegas Bingo with a full complement of casino games including exciting slots, roulette, blackjack and baccarat. Caesars Bingo Online will use the latest Gamesys technology to provide a best in class game platform, branded by the world's largest gaming company. UK residents can now play the new browser-based online gaming product at www.caesarsbingo.com. Both free-to-play and real money play options are available.
"We're thrilled to bring one of the world's most renowned gaming brands to UK residents with Caesars Bingo Online," said HIE CEO Mitch Garber. "CaesarsBingo.com will bring players the fun and excitement found in our casinos in addition to offering exclusive Caesars Palace Las Vegas prize packages."
Gamesys will provide a highly advanced, innovative software platform to power Caesars Bingo Online, along with gaming operations, customer service and payment solutions.
"Harrah's and Gamesys has to be a dream relationship," explains Gamesys founder and CEO Noel Hayden. "Caesars is one of the most prestigious and famous brands in Las Vegas and Gamesys is well known for its innovative technology and games. We're understandably extremely happy to be launching one of the UK's most exciting Bingo sites."
Founded in 2001, Gamesys is one of the UK's foremost private companies, having been named in the prestigious Microsoft/Sunday Times Tech Track 100, which identifies the fastest-growing private technology companies. In 2006, Gamesys ranked 1st on this list, and has remained on the list every year since. It owns Jackpotjoy, the UK's most popular entertainment brand. In addition, its bingo product has won the Bingo Operator of the Year Award from eGaming Review.
Caesars Bingo Online will offer terrific prizes, jackpots, bonuses and promotions. From trips to the famed Empire Casino in London, to all-expense paid trips to the iconic Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, players playing on Caesars Bingo Online will enjoy a wide variety and unique offerings only found on this site.
Caesars Bingo Online brings the customer service excellence, technological expertise and the unparalleled integrity of Harrah's Entertainment into the online world. CaesarsBingo.com is committed to providing the bingo and casino entertainment quality and value expected from any of Harrah's Entertainment resorts. In addition to this commitment for our online guests, CaesarsBingo.com is dedicated to ensuring the utmost level of trust and internet security available in online gaming.
This is not the first time Harrah's has been involved in the UK market. Harrah's hosts the annual World Series of Poker Europe, now entering its fourth year, held each September in London at the Empire Casino. In addition, Harrah's owns London Clubs International, Inc. (LCI), a series of 10 casinos throughout the United Kingdom.
ABOUT HARRAH'S INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (HIE)
Harrah's Entertainment launched a new subsidiary, Harrah's Interactive Entertainment (HIE) in May of 2009, to manage the global growth of its World Series of Poker brand and explore the use of interactive gaming technologies to expand the reach of Harrah's brands globally, starting in Europe. HIE will be utilized to develop new opportunities to strengthen and grow Harrah's customer base. HIE offers both free-to-play and real money gaming to UK residents under the WSOP.com, CaesarsBingo.com and CaesarsCasino.com brand names.
HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, more than 70 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions, and now owns or manages casinos on four continents. The Company's properties operate primarily under the Harrah's®, Caesars® and Horseshoe® brand names; Harrah's also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos and the World Series of Poker®. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. For more information, please visit www.harrahs.com
ABOUT THE GAMESYS GROUP
The Gamesys Group was founded by Noel Hayden in April 2001 with a small team of developers. After eight years, the Group's leading brand Jackpotjoy.com has built an audience of over 3,000,000 members and pays out in excess of £90 million every month. In 2008 Gamesys formed a highly successful partnership with News International to re-launch two premier gaming bingo brands, Sun Bingo and News of the World Bingo. The success of Jackpotjoy.com and Sun Bingo has established the Gamesys Group as one of the UK's leading online gaming businesses. This outstanding commercial achievement reflects both the company's capacity for sustainable growth and its remarkable resilience even during sustained periods of financial instability. Caesars Bingo Online is licensed and operated by Entertaining Play Limited. Entertaining Play Limited, a subsidiary of Gamesys, regulated by the Gibraltar Licensing Authority under the provisions of the Gibraltar Gambling Ordinance.
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The new Caesars Bingo site will offer the UK's only Las Vegas Bingo with a full complement of casino games including exciting slots, roulette, blackjack and baccarat. Caesars Bingo Online will use the latest Gamesys technology to provide a best in class game platform, branded by the world's largest gaming company. UK residents can now play the new browser-based online gaming product at www.caesarsbingo.com. Both free-to-play and real money play options are available.
"We're thrilled to bring one of the world's most renowned gaming brands to UK residents with Caesars Bingo Online," said HIE CEO Mitch Garber. "CaesarsBingo.com will bring players the fun and excitement found in our casinos in addition to offering exclusive Caesars Palace Las Vegas prize packages."
Gamesys will provide a highly advanced, innovative software platform to power Caesars Bingo Online, along with gaming operations, customer service and payment solutions.
"Harrah's and Gamesys has to be a dream relationship," explains Gamesys founder and CEO Noel Hayden. "Caesars is one of the most prestigious and famous brands in Las Vegas and Gamesys is well known for its innovative technology and games. We're understandably extremely happy to be launching one of the UK's most exciting Bingo sites."
Founded in 2001, Gamesys is one of the UK's foremost private companies, having been named in the prestigious Microsoft/Sunday Times Tech Track 100, which identifies the fastest-growing private technology companies. In 2006, Gamesys ranked 1st on this list, and has remained on the list every year since. It owns Jackpotjoy, the UK's most popular entertainment brand. In addition, its bingo product has won the Bingo Operator of the Year Award from eGaming Review.
Caesars Bingo Online will offer terrific prizes, jackpots, bonuses and promotions. From trips to the famed Empire Casino in London, to all-expense paid trips to the iconic Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, players playing on Caesars Bingo Online will enjoy a wide variety and unique offerings only found on this site.
Caesars Bingo Online brings the customer service excellence, technological expertise and the unparalleled integrity of Harrah's Entertainment into the online world. CaesarsBingo.com is committed to providing the bingo and casino entertainment quality and value expected from any of Harrah's Entertainment resorts. In addition to this commitment for our online guests, CaesarsBingo.com is dedicated to ensuring the utmost level of trust and internet security available in online gaming.
This is not the first time Harrah's has been involved in the UK market. Harrah's hosts the annual World Series of Poker Europe, now entering its fourth year, held each September in London at the Empire Casino. In addition, Harrah's owns London Clubs International, Inc. (LCI), a series of 10 casinos throughout the United Kingdom.
ABOUT HARRAH'S INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (HIE)
Harrah's Entertainment launched a new subsidiary, Harrah's Interactive Entertainment (HIE) in May of 2009, to manage the global growth of its World Series of Poker brand and explore the use of interactive gaming technologies to expand the reach of Harrah's brands globally, starting in Europe. HIE will be utilized to develop new opportunities to strengthen and grow Harrah's customer base. HIE offers both free-to-play and real money gaming to UK residents under the WSOP.com, CaesarsBingo.com and CaesarsCasino.com brand names.
HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, more than 70 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions, and now owns or manages casinos on four continents. The Company's properties operate primarily under the Harrah's®, Caesars® and Horseshoe® brand names; Harrah's also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos and the World Series of Poker®. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. For more information, please visit www.harrahs.com
ABOUT THE GAMESYS GROUP
The Gamesys Group was founded by Noel Hayden in April 2001 with a small team of developers. After eight years, the Group's leading brand Jackpotjoy.com has built an audience of over 3,000,000 members and pays out in excess of £90 million every month. In 2008 Gamesys formed a highly successful partnership with News International to re-launch two premier gaming bingo brands, Sun Bingo and News of the World Bingo. The success of Jackpotjoy.com and Sun Bingo has established the Gamesys Group as one of the UK's leading online gaming businesses. This outstanding commercial achievement reflects both the company's capacity for sustainable growth and its remarkable resilience even during sustained periods of financial instability. Caesars Bingo Online is licensed and operated by Entertaining Play Limited. Entertaining Play Limited, a subsidiary of Gamesys, regulated by the Gibraltar Licensing Authority under the provisions of the Gibraltar Gambling Ordinance.
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News
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PartyGaming News: PDMR Shareholding
PDMR Shareholding - 5th March 2010
Websites
PartyCasino.com PartyPoker.com PartyBingo.com PartyBets.com PartyGammon.com
World Poker Tour WTP Casino Gamebookers.com
Notification of Transactions of Directors, Persons Discharging Managerial Responsibility or Connected Persons
In accordance with PartyGaming’s long-term incentive plans for Executive Directors, the following awards over the Company’s ordinary shares of 0.015 pence each (“Shares”) have today been granted under the PartyGaming Plc Executive Share Option Plan (“ESOP”) to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Group Finance Director.
Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, has been awarded an option over 250,000 Shares and Martin Weigold, Group Finance Director, has been awarded an option over 200,000 Shares. These options vest subject to the growth in the Company’s Clean Earnings per Share over the three-year period 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012. The threshold for vesting, at which 25% will vest, will be 5% Clean EPS annual growth over the three-year period, rising on a straight-line basis to 100% vesting if annual Clean EPS growth equals or exceeds 15% over the period.
Each option is exercisable at 310.10 pence per Share and has been awarded at nil-cost. Unless exercised following the satisfaction of the aforementioned performance condition, these options will lapse on 5 March 2020.
This is the third award to be granted under the ESOP to Mr Ryan. The first grant was made in October 2008 over 645,100 Shares and the second award was made in April 2009 over 125,000 Shares. This is the fourth award granted under the ESOP to Mr Weigold. The first award was made in May 2007 over 88,360 Shares, the second award was made in March 2008 over 171,402 Shares and the third award was made in April 2009 over 337,500 Shares.
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Websites
PartyCasino.com PartyPoker.com PartyBingo.com PartyBets.com PartyGammon.com
World Poker Tour WTP Casino Gamebookers.com
Notification of Transactions of Directors, Persons Discharging Managerial Responsibility or Connected Persons
In accordance with PartyGaming’s long-term incentive plans for Executive Directors, the following awards over the Company’s ordinary shares of 0.015 pence each (“Shares”) have today been granted under the PartyGaming Plc Executive Share Option Plan (“ESOP”) to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Group Finance Director.
Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, has been awarded an option over 250,000 Shares and Martin Weigold, Group Finance Director, has been awarded an option over 200,000 Shares. These options vest subject to the growth in the Company’s Clean Earnings per Share over the three-year period 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012. The threshold for vesting, at which 25% will vest, will be 5% Clean EPS annual growth over the three-year period, rising on a straight-line basis to 100% vesting if annual Clean EPS growth equals or exceeds 15% over the period.
Each option is exercisable at 310.10 pence per Share and has been awarded at nil-cost. Unless exercised following the satisfaction of the aforementioned performance condition, these options will lapse on 5 March 2020.
This is the third award to be granted under the ESOP to Mr Ryan. The first grant was made in October 2008 over 645,100 Shares and the second award was made in April 2009 over 125,000 Shares. This is the fourth award granted under the ESOP to Mr Weigold. The first award was made in May 2007 over 88,360 Shares, the second award was made in March 2008 over 171,402 Shares and the third award was made in April 2009 over 337,500 Shares.
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Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Asia
Media Man Australia
Global Gaming Directory
Global Gaming Directory.net
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Casino News Media
Casino News Media.net
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Tiger Woods Turns Down $75 Million Offer From Paddy Power Poker; Online Poker And Gambling Firms Looking For Celeb Edge, by Greg Tingle - 7th March 10
Media Man reports it's been a big year for The Tiger, and an equally huge year for the online poker and gambling sector.
Tiger Woods has just turned down a $75 million sponsorship offer from the online firm Paddy Power.
Paddy Power enjoys a strong position in the Irish sector and has aspirations to kick big goals in a number of overseas regions.
Various news sources and wires such as TMZ and Poker News Daily report "Tiger Woods just blew off a $75 million endorsement offer from an Irish gambling company – and that is how you know you’re rich." It was a long term deal, but tiger has recently made it clear what his major priorities are.
In other celeb - poker news, five-time NBA champion Dennis Rodman has signed with Cake Poker Network site Only Poker. Rodman is managed by Prince Marketing Group, as is fellow NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson, wrestling legend Hulk Hogan and boxing legend Smokin' Joe Frazier.
PartyGaming's PartyPoker.com is said to be delighted with their poker celeb and pro signings including Aussie's Stewart Scott and Tony G, Canadian-Brit Kara Scott, German Dragan Galic and Italian football living legend, Francesco Totti.
Mike Sexton, Poker Hall of Famer remains the face of Party's World Poker Tour, which PartyGaming purchased last year.
PartyPoker is not currently accepting American players, but is taking on Aussies. PokerStars continues to accept Americans, Canadians, Aussies, and just about anyone else, as does PKR Poker.
Media Man can report that PartyGaming an a number of other online poker and gaming brands have their eyes and ears open to sign the right celebs and celebrity poker and sports starts as the high stakes business of online poker and casino continues.
These developments come as many governments of the world are considering fully regulating the online poker and casino industry.
Website Network
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Australian Sports Entertainment
Sports Entertainment News
Global Gaming Directory
Tiger Woods has just turned down a $75 million sponsorship offer from the online firm Paddy Power.
Paddy Power enjoys a strong position in the Irish sector and has aspirations to kick big goals in a number of overseas regions.
Various news sources and wires such as TMZ and Poker News Daily report "Tiger Woods just blew off a $75 million endorsement offer from an Irish gambling company – and that is how you know you’re rich." It was a long term deal, but tiger has recently made it clear what his major priorities are.
In other celeb - poker news, five-time NBA champion Dennis Rodman has signed with Cake Poker Network site Only Poker. Rodman is managed by Prince Marketing Group, as is fellow NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson, wrestling legend Hulk Hogan and boxing legend Smokin' Joe Frazier.
PartyGaming's PartyPoker.com is said to be delighted with their poker celeb and pro signings including Aussie's Stewart Scott and Tony G, Canadian-Brit Kara Scott, German Dragan Galic and Italian football living legend, Francesco Totti.
Mike Sexton, Poker Hall of Famer remains the face of Party's World Poker Tour, which PartyGaming purchased last year.
PartyPoker is not currently accepting American players, but is taking on Aussies. PokerStars continues to accept Americans, Canadians, Aussies, and just about anyone else, as does PKR Poker.
Media Man can report that PartyGaming an a number of other online poker and gaming brands have their eyes and ears open to sign the right celebs and celebrity poker and sports starts as the high stakes business of online poker and casino continues.
These developments come as many governments of the world are considering fully regulating the online poker and casino industry.
Website Network
Poker News Media
Media Man International
Casino News Media
Australian Sports Entertainment
Sports Entertainment News
Global Gaming Directory
Friday, March 05, 2010
Virgin Games seeks investors for marketing and international development, by Greg Tingle - 6th March 2010
It's been a huge news week for Richard Branson's Virgin Games.
Reports from various media outlets including eGaming Review, Gambling911, Casino News Media and various wires reveal that Virgin Games are on the lookout for external investors to help facilitate entering new markets and increase marketing spend.
The Virgin powerhouse is seriously considering entering markets such as France, Spain and South Africa where online gambling is regulated. In addition Virgin Games are eyeing off California and Florida where the legalization of intrastate online gambling has been proposed and is a hot subject in political and media rounds.
The online gaming brand is part of the AWOMO (A World Of My Own) push and is also seeking investors to increase marketing in established markets after the completion of its platform build which has been ramping up since 2007. The company is seeing increased player sign ups to both AWOMO and other Virgin Games brands such as VirginCasino.com and with dozens of new games being added its massive growth comes as no surprise.
Virgin boss Simon Burridge explains, "We do a lot of successful marketing and want to do more of it, but we can’t always throw appropriate sums behind it. We are limited in the profile that we can generate on our own behalf and with so many operators and markets opening up at the same time, we are going to need some cash."
Virgin Games is also expanding beyond online gambling to become a "total gaming destination" via its business arrangement with GDI (Game Domain International) offering 200 plus titles to download. This strategy could likely see Virgin Games move its non-gambling products in geo markets ahead of future legalisation of online gambling.
"Going into new markets is going to require a new advertising budget, and the amounts of money that Bwin and others have been spending would be impossible for us to match," Mr Burridge said. Every new market will require £5-10m of investment he forecasts. PartyGaming currently looks to have the lead on Virgin Games developing igaming business in Australia and the United States, however situations can change very quickly in the gaming sector, evidenced by Virgin releasing almost two dozen new casino games in the past few months.
VirginCasino.com has just released Amazon Wild and at AWOMO be on the lookout for Total War, Tomb Raider: Legend, Fifa Football Manager and Warhammer: Mark of Chaos.
Virgin Games strongest market is in the UK including much of Europe.
Americans and Australians seeking to participate in online gambling are advised to see the Media Man International World Casino Directory and Global Gaming Directory.
Media Man's Virgin Worlds Media will be providing more updates on the exciting developments at Virgin and GDI as more details come to light.
*The writer has a b2b agreement with a number of brands in the Virgin Enterprises Limited group, as they do with dozens of companies in the gaming, igaming, media and entertainment sector.
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Virtual Worlds Media
Reports from various media outlets including eGaming Review, Gambling911, Casino News Media and various wires reveal that Virgin Games are on the lookout for external investors to help facilitate entering new markets and increase marketing spend.
The Virgin powerhouse is seriously considering entering markets such as France, Spain and South Africa where online gambling is regulated. In addition Virgin Games are eyeing off California and Florida where the legalization of intrastate online gambling has been proposed and is a hot subject in political and media rounds.
The online gaming brand is part of the AWOMO (A World Of My Own) push and is also seeking investors to increase marketing in established markets after the completion of its platform build which has been ramping up since 2007. The company is seeing increased player sign ups to both AWOMO and other Virgin Games brands such as VirginCasino.com and with dozens of new games being added its massive growth comes as no surprise.
Virgin boss Simon Burridge explains, "We do a lot of successful marketing and want to do more of it, but we can’t always throw appropriate sums behind it. We are limited in the profile that we can generate on our own behalf and with so many operators and markets opening up at the same time, we are going to need some cash."
Virgin Games is also expanding beyond online gambling to become a "total gaming destination" via its business arrangement with GDI (Game Domain International) offering 200 plus titles to download. This strategy could likely see Virgin Games move its non-gambling products in geo markets ahead of future legalisation of online gambling.
"Going into new markets is going to require a new advertising budget, and the amounts of money that Bwin and others have been spending would be impossible for us to match," Mr Burridge said. Every new market will require £5-10m of investment he forecasts. PartyGaming currently looks to have the lead on Virgin Games developing igaming business in Australia and the United States, however situations can change very quickly in the gaming sector, evidenced by Virgin releasing almost two dozen new casino games in the past few months.
VirginCasino.com has just released Amazon Wild and at AWOMO be on the lookout for Total War, Tomb Raider: Legend, Fifa Football Manager and Warhammer: Mark of Chaos.
Virgin Games strongest market is in the UK including much of Europe.
Americans and Australians seeking to participate in online gambling are advised to see the Media Man International World Casino Directory and Global Gaming Directory.
Media Man's Virgin Worlds Media will be providing more updates on the exciting developments at Virgin and GDI as more details come to light.
*The writer has a b2b agreement with a number of brands in the Virgin Enterprises Limited group, as they do with dozens of companies in the gaming, igaming, media and entertainment sector.
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Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
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Casino News Media.net
Global Gaming Directory
Global Gaming Directory.net
Virtual Worlds Media
PartyGaming still in M&A talks - 4th March 2010
Online gambling group PartyGaming said it remained in talks over potential deal opportunities and was optimistic about a possible return to the U.S. as its 2009 earnings beat expectations.
"We are certainly in discussions with a few parties on a number of different opportunities," Chief Executive Jim Ryan told reporters on a conference call on Thursday.
However, he stressed that talks remained at a preliminary stage and declined to comment on the size or identity of the companies PartyGaming is talking to.
Analysts say the online gaming industry is fragmented and rife for consolidation and PartyGaming has been linked to a possible merger with Austria's bwin.
"There are a list of suspects who one would expect us to be talking to given that our focus is consolidating the online gaming sector," Ryan said.
PartyGaming said earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from continuing operations fell to $135 million (90 million pounds) from $144.2 million the year before, reflecting a decline in poker revenues.
That was ahead of the consensus forecast of $133.3 million, according to a poll of analysts supplied by the company.
PartyGaming's poker revenues have been hit by competition from online gaming businesses which continue to offer services to U.S.-based players despite the industry being made illegal in that country in 2006.
Ryan said he was encouraged by recent moves in the U.S. to overturn the legislation. U.S. congressmen Barney Frank and Jim McDermott are attempting to push through a new bill to regulate the industry. They argue that, if it was introduced, it would generate tax revenues of about $42 billion over ten years.
PartyGaming has already reached agreement with U.S. authorities which will protect it from being prosecuted over its past activities there.
Ryan said the settlement will make it easier for PartyGaming to re-enter the U.S. market and also clears the way for it to engage in M&A activity.
"We are talking to a number of U.S. entities about doing business with them when the U.S. market regulates. It's positioned us for growth from an M&A perspective and, from an operational perspective, I think it's our ticket back into the United States."
Other operators such as 888 and Sportingbet have yet to reach a deal with the Department of Justice.
Ryan said he thinks the U.S. is moving closer to re-opening to online gaming companies.
"We're hearing rumours that we're going to get support from the land-based operators for online gaming so it seems like momentum is building," he said, adding it was "not impossible" new legislation could be introduced this year.
Shares in PartyGaming, which have risen by 17 percent in the last 3 months, were up 0.13 percent to 303.4 pence at 1106 GMT.
"PartyGaming is remarkably well prepared for a whole variety of changes. Although there is no new information on a possible game-changing acquisition, we believe it is more likely than not," said Numis analyst Wyn Ellis.
"We are certainly in discussions with a few parties on a number of different opportunities," Chief Executive Jim Ryan told reporters on a conference call on Thursday.
However, he stressed that talks remained at a preliminary stage and declined to comment on the size or identity of the companies PartyGaming is talking to.
Analysts say the online gaming industry is fragmented and rife for consolidation and PartyGaming has been linked to a possible merger with Austria's bwin.
"There are a list of suspects who one would expect us to be talking to given that our focus is consolidating the online gaming sector," Ryan said.
PartyGaming said earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from continuing operations fell to $135 million (90 million pounds) from $144.2 million the year before, reflecting a decline in poker revenues.
That was ahead of the consensus forecast of $133.3 million, according to a poll of analysts supplied by the company.
PartyGaming's poker revenues have been hit by competition from online gaming businesses which continue to offer services to U.S.-based players despite the industry being made illegal in that country in 2006.
Ryan said he was encouraged by recent moves in the U.S. to overturn the legislation. U.S. congressmen Barney Frank and Jim McDermott are attempting to push through a new bill to regulate the industry. They argue that, if it was introduced, it would generate tax revenues of about $42 billion over ten years.
PartyGaming has already reached agreement with U.S. authorities which will protect it from being prosecuted over its past activities there.
Ryan said the settlement will make it easier for PartyGaming to re-enter the U.S. market and also clears the way for it to engage in M&A activity.
"We are talking to a number of U.S. entities about doing business with them when the U.S. market regulates. It's positioned us for growth from an M&A perspective and, from an operational perspective, I think it's our ticket back into the United States."
Other operators such as 888 and Sportingbet have yet to reach a deal with the Department of Justice.
Ryan said he thinks the U.S. is moving closer to re-opening to online gaming companies.
"We're hearing rumours that we're going to get support from the land-based operators for online gaming so it seems like momentum is building," he said, adding it was "not impossible" new legislation could be introduced this year.
Shares in PartyGaming, which have risen by 17 percent in the last 3 months, were up 0.13 percent to 303.4 pence at 1106 GMT.
"PartyGaming is remarkably well prepared for a whole variety of changes. Although there is no new information on a possible game-changing acquisition, we believe it is more likely than not," said Numis analyst Wyn Ellis.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
PartyCasino Casino Conquest promotion
Casino Conquest Promotion
Website
PartyCasino.com
Huge cash rewards when you prove yourself in the Casino Conquest
Starts: 00:00 ET, 3rd March
Ends: 23:59 ET, 14th March
In the Casino Conquest, we give away thousands in cash to players who rank on our two leader boards. The first board is worth over $35,000 and is for regular players and the second, for our Palladium Lounge VIPs, is worth more than $65,000. That's a total of over $100,000 in prize money.
Here's how Casino Conquest works
All the PartyPoints you collect during a Casino Conquest day will count towards your leader board placing. The higher you climb on our leader board, the more cash you'll get. Just keep playing our fabulous games like our big-money jackpot slots to reach the more rewarding prizes.
If you’re one of our VIPs, take a look at the Casino Conquest Palladium Lounge leader board to see how much you could win.
Anyone can reign supreme in the Casino Conquest: all you’ve got to do is opt-in to the promotion from 3rd March and play your favourite games.
Website
PartyCasino.com
Website
PartyCasino.com
Huge cash rewards when you prove yourself in the Casino Conquest
Starts: 00:00 ET, 3rd March
Ends: 23:59 ET, 14th March
In the Casino Conquest, we give away thousands in cash to players who rank on our two leader boards. The first board is worth over $35,000 and is for regular players and the second, for our Palladium Lounge VIPs, is worth more than $65,000. That's a total of over $100,000 in prize money.
Here's how Casino Conquest works
All the PartyPoints you collect during a Casino Conquest day will count towards your leader board placing. The higher you climb on our leader board, the more cash you'll get. Just keep playing our fabulous games like our big-money jackpot slots to reach the more rewarding prizes.
If you’re one of our VIPs, take a look at the Casino Conquest Palladium Lounge leader board to see how much you could win.
Anyone can reign supreme in the Casino Conquest: all you’ve got to do is opt-in to the promotion from 3rd March and play your favourite games.
Website
PartyCasino.com
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
PartyPoker, World Poker Tour and PartyGaming News, by Greg Tingle - March 2010
Websites
PartyPoker.com World Poker Tour website WTP Casino website Club WPT PartyCasino.com
PartyGaming's PartyPoker and World Poker Tour brands Huge News And Promotions Month
WSOP Qualifiers Underway At PartyPoker
Gibraltar – 3rd March 2010 PartyPoker.com is giving its customers the chance to play at the World Series of Poker® in Las Vegas for free. That’s right: win a $14,000 WSOP® package to the most famous poker event on the planet for absolutely nothing!
PartyPoker.com has just introduced a comprehensive range of qualifiers for the showpiece in Las Vegas, starting with irresistible daily freerolls. The qualifiers are online now and run until 13th June. The main $700+$50 satellites take place every Friday at 18.00ET and Sunday at 15.35ET, where one in 20 players will win a $14,000 WSOP package.
A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “A comprehensive schedule of qualifiers for packages are now online. PartyPoker.com is offering more seriously cost effective ways to qualify for the WSOP than ever before. It doesn’t get much better than winning a package for absolutely nothing!”
All winners will be rewarded with a prize package worth $14,000. Each package includes:
$10,000 WSOP® main event buy-in
$2,000 spending money
Hotel accommodation and hospitality
All package winners will also be invited to join our exclusive WSOP® poker seminar when they get to Vegas. If they attend, they’ll receive expert advice, tuition and tips from Team Party, which includes successful players like Mike Sexton, Tony G, Kara Scott, Ian Frazer and other top pros.
Please note:
The main event at WSOP® 2010 will run from 5th to 17th July and be held in Las Vegas, USA
Players must be at least 21 years of age in order to be able to play at the WSOP®
Prize packages are non transferable and no cash alternative is available. By playing for and winning one of our WSOP® packages you declare that you are able to travel to the event in question, including being able to obtain any and all documents required for travel to that destination
The PartyPoker.com poker seminar will be attended by at least one of PartyPoker.com’s Team Party group of professional players; attendance will be finalised closer to the date of the WSOP® depending on the pros’ individual schedules
Please see our standard promotional terms and conditions
“World Series of Poker”® and “WSOP”® are registered trade marks of Harrah’s License Company LLC. No license, affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement is claimed, or should be inferred from the use of these trademarks here. PartyGaming is not licensed by or otherwise affiliated with Harrah’s License Company LLC or the World Series of Poker® in any way.
PartyPoker Signs Italian Football Star Francesco Totti
PartyPoker has just enhanced its presence in the Italian online poker market after signing AS Roma captain and national football legend Francesco Totti to represent the famed poker site.
The Italian World Cup-winning footballer started playing for Roma’s senior side at the age of sixteen, and with 188 goals to his credit has now become the number-one goalscorer and most capped player in the club’s history. The 33 year-old Italy striker officially retired from international games on 20 July 2007 in order to concentrate his efforts with Roma but has since signalled he would be prepared to play at the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa, should he be needed.
As an official PartyPoker representative, Totti’s duties will include taking part in various advertising campaigns to promote the site, as well making celebrity appearances at PartyPoker.it online tournaments.
Following the news of his signing with PartyPoker, Francesco Totti said: “I have faced many challenges in my career and I always apply myself with skill, intelligence, loyalty and passion. You need all these abilities for poker and it is also a game that excites me and is a lot of fun. Thanks to PartyPoker.it, I am able to combine my passion for sport and the challenge of poker.”
PartyPoker seemed delighted with their new signing, and a PartyPoker spokesman commented: “We expect Totti to become the most capped player and number one goalscorer in our history. He is one of the greatest football players of his generation - the question is now will he be one of the greatest poker players of his generation too? What Totti strives for he normally succeeds in achieving! He is a huge signing.”
PartyPoker is a relative new comer to sponsoring professionals however has since made up for lost time, and has recently added poker pros Dragan Galic, Mike Sexton, Kara Scott, Tony G, Ian Frazer, Felipe “Mojave” Ramos, Bodo Sbrzesny and Remy Biechel to Team PartyPoker.
World Poker Tour Rake Race
$23,000 WPT Race on PartyPoker Top spot in the WPT Race Final awards a spectacular package to the WPT Grand Prix de Paris, from May 8 through 13 on the Champs Élysées at the Aviation Club de France!
The Gladiator
Gladiator promotion returns to PartyPoker. This time, the festivities run from March 3rd to April 1st and up to $7,500 in cold hard cash is on the line. The Gladiator’s payouts are based on the number of PartyPoints you rack up during the promotion on a daily basis. Accumulate 10 PartyPoints during just five days of the promotional period and you’ll gain entry into a high-stakes $10,000 freeroll. Players who earn 2,000 points for 25 days will be living the high life to the tune of a $7,500 cash prize.
There are $15,000 and $25,000 freerolls – both capped at 10,000 players – that will be held during the Gladiator promotion. Also up for grabs is a $12,500 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event package. Players who earn 2,000 points every day during the 30-day promotional event will jet set their way to Las Vegas to compete in the 2010 WSOP Main Event. The $12,500 package includes the tournament’s $10,000 buy-in, $1,000 in spending money, and hotel accommodation.
Points don’t have to be earned on consecutive days, so earn them at your leisure while you face off in the Coliseum against the Gladiator. PartyPoker’s website explains, “For example, if you earn 10 points every day for 10 days, take five days off, and then earn 10 points on 10 more days of the promotion, you’ll get the prize for earning 10 points on 20 days.” That feat would be worth $15 and comes your way as a cash prize courtesy of PartyPoker. You can log into your PartyPoker account to check your progress as the month continues.
Now, it’s time to explain the fine print. First, the Gladiator is an opt-in promotion. Players who win the WSOP package can exchange it for $10,000 in cash and those who head to Las Vegas are obligated to don PartyPoker gear while playing in the Main Event. Last year, PokerStars pro Joe jcada99 Cada banked a healthy $8.5 million after winning the Main Event, outlasting Maryland woodsman Darvin Moon heads-up.
PartyPoker, which does not currently accept players from the United States, is looking forward to the third running of its popular points-based contest: “The Gladiator is back and the rewards are greater than ever before. This promotion is about spreading play over a period of time for maximus rewards! It is simple and offers great value and we encourage players to challenge themselves and take a closer look.” During the Gladiator’s last running, Crown Casino Aussie Millions prize packages were up for grabs.
The Gladiator - more details
PartyPoker has announced the triumphant return of ‘The Gladiator’ and for one month only the popular online poker site will become a coliseum! As part of the promotion players can earn up to $7,500 in addition to WSOP (World Series of Poker) main event packages.
From 3rd March until 1st April who reaches the minimum target of 10 party points for five days will be able to claim entry into a $10,000 free roll. The more days a player wins points over the larger the prize will be, up to $7,500 cash!
Those most dedicated PartyPoker fans will be rewarded the most. For example if you earn 2,000 points everyday for the full 30 days, you’ll secure yourself a $12,500 WSOP Main Event package which includes: the buy-in, hotel, hospitality and spending money!
A PartyPoker spokesman said: “The Gladiator is back and the rewards are greater than ever before. This promotion is about spreading play over a period of time for maximus rewards! It is simple and offers great value and we encourage players to challenge themselves and take a closer look.”
What’s also ultra impressive is that players don’t even need to earn points on consecutive days to win big prizes. The site will simply count up the number of days targets have been made during the promotion. You can keep track of how many points you’ve picked up so far in ‘The Gladiator’ promotion by checking your Party Account. Points are not removed from player accounts after the promotion either; they all count towards Palladium Lounge targets.
Monthly Million
Also returning to PartyPoker is the Monthly Million, which will play out this Sunday, March 7th. The Monthly Million attracted a starting grid of 1,584 players in February, which means that it fell about $50,000 short of its $1 million guarantee. The tournament takes place on the first Sunday of every month.
Players receive a starting stack of 20,000 chips in the Monthly Million and the price of poker goes up every 20 minutes. Antes kick in during the sixth level of play, when the blinds are 250-500. Qualifiers for the Monthly Million are taking place continuously on PartyPoker and you can win your way in for as little as $1.
David Benyamine Wins PartyPoker Premier League IV - February 2010
Frenchman David Benyamine took down the fourth PartyPoker Premier League title, defeating embattled pro Luke “Full_Flush” Schwartz heads-up. Benyamine earned $476,000!
Team PokerStars Pro member Daniel Negreanu and Full Tilt's Roland de Wolfe qualified via heads-up matches for the six-handed final table. Negreanu outlasted J.C. Tran in his heads-up encounter, while de Wolfe bested PartyPoker pro Ian Frazer. At the final table, each player began with 10,000 chips for every point they had accrued during Premier League play. Consequently, Unabomber Poker frontman Phil Laak lead over the rest of the field with 480,000 chips, 100,000 ahead of Benyamine’s second place stack of 380,000.
After bleeding chips at the final table, however, including running a set into Negreanu’s flush, Laak was the first casualty. He called all-in pre-flop with pocket tens and was up against Benyamine’s A-K. An old fashioned race would determine the winner of the 300,000-chip pot and the flop came Q-4-2, keeping Laak’s wired pair in front. However, Benyamine spiked an ace on the turn to pull away for good.
Shortly thereafter, de Wolfe departed in fifth place from the PartyPoker Premier League IV final table. He committed his final 240,000 chips with A-J offsuit pre-flop and Negreanu came along with pocket nines. The flop came down K-9-3, giving Negreanu a set, and a seven on the turn left de Wolfe drawing dead. A meaningless ace hit on the river and de Wolfe exited stage right. The hand moved Negreanu into the chip lead with four players remaining.
Negreanu then ran pocket sevens into Schwartz’s pocket kings to drop down to 131,000 in chips. He’d hit the rail after pushing with Q-5 of clubs on a board of K-9-Q with two clubs. Benyamine called with K-9 for top two pair and the turn was another king, giving Benyamine the win in the hand with a boat. Negreanu took fourth place in the Premier League, which emanated from the M Casino in Vegas.
Third place went to the lone online qualifier, Giovanni Safina. The Italian put his money in ahead, as his A-7 was well in front of the K-3 of Schwartz. With the latter in a gambling mood, the flop came 5-Q-6, keeping Safina out in front. The turn was a jack, leaving Schwartz drawing to a king or three on the river. Sure enough, a three peeled off, sending Safina out and setting up a heads-up showdown between Benyamine and Schwartz. The latter entered as better than a 2:1 chip leader.
Benyamine doubled up early with K-10 against K-7 to climb back into the running. On the final hand, the money went into the center with Benyamine holding Q-8 against Schwartz’s Q-2 on a flop of Q-5-3. Schwartz pushed all-in and Benyamine tanked before finally making the call, leading to an eruption from the youngster. According to coverage found on PokerNews, Schwartz commented, "Why'd you slow roll? That's an easy call." The board filled out 7-6 and Benyamine took down the Premier League title.
Payouts were given for Premier League points and final table finishing position. Accordingly, the final PartyPoker Premier League IV shook out as follows:
1. David Benyamine - $476,000
2. Luke "Full_Flush" Schwartz - $258,000
3. Giovanni Safina - $158,000
4. Daniel Negreanu - $132,000
5. Roland de Wolfe - $114,000
6. Phil Laak - $146,000
7. Ian Frazer - $52,000
8. J.C. Tran - $40,000
9. Phil Hellmuth - $38,000
10. Yevgeniy "Jovial Gent" Timoshenko - $32,000
11. Vanessa Rousso - $32,000
12. Tony G - $22,000
Following his win in the unique tournament series, Benyamine told Matchroom Sport organizers, “It feels really good winning a title; I’m still not used to doing it. The whole time, I never thought about winning. I just wanted to do what I thought was right. I know people always say that when they win, but it’s true.”
PartyGaming
PartyGaming is the parent company of World Poker Tour which they purchased last financial year.
PartyGaming is widely regarded as the world's most successful igaming company and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The company was established in 1997. PartyGaming's brands including PartyPoker, World Poker Tour and PartyCasino has won a number of industry awards and commendations from entities such as eGaming Review, Gambling Online Magazine, Casino News Media, Poker News Media and Media Man.
Websites
PartyPoker.com World Poker Tour website WTP Casino website Club WPT PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com World Poker Tour website WTP Casino website Club WPT PartyCasino.com
PartyGaming's PartyPoker and World Poker Tour brands Huge News And Promotions Month
WSOP Qualifiers Underway At PartyPoker
Gibraltar – 3rd March 2010 PartyPoker.com is giving its customers the chance to play at the World Series of Poker® in Las Vegas for free. That’s right: win a $14,000 WSOP® package to the most famous poker event on the planet for absolutely nothing!
PartyPoker.com has just introduced a comprehensive range of qualifiers for the showpiece in Las Vegas, starting with irresistible daily freerolls. The qualifiers are online now and run until 13th June. The main $700+$50 satellites take place every Friday at 18.00ET and Sunday at 15.35ET, where one in 20 players will win a $14,000 WSOP package.
A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “A comprehensive schedule of qualifiers for packages are now online. PartyPoker.com is offering more seriously cost effective ways to qualify for the WSOP than ever before. It doesn’t get much better than winning a package for absolutely nothing!”
All winners will be rewarded with a prize package worth $14,000. Each package includes:
$10,000 WSOP® main event buy-in
$2,000 spending money
Hotel accommodation and hospitality
All package winners will also be invited to join our exclusive WSOP® poker seminar when they get to Vegas. If they attend, they’ll receive expert advice, tuition and tips from Team Party, which includes successful players like Mike Sexton, Tony G, Kara Scott, Ian Frazer and other top pros.
Please note:
The main event at WSOP® 2010 will run from 5th to 17th July and be held in Las Vegas, USA
Players must be at least 21 years of age in order to be able to play at the WSOP®
Prize packages are non transferable and no cash alternative is available. By playing for and winning one of our WSOP® packages you declare that you are able to travel to the event in question, including being able to obtain any and all documents required for travel to that destination
The PartyPoker.com poker seminar will be attended by at least one of PartyPoker.com’s Team Party group of professional players; attendance will be finalised closer to the date of the WSOP® depending on the pros’ individual schedules
Please see our standard promotional terms and conditions
“World Series of Poker”® and “WSOP”® are registered trade marks of Harrah’s License Company LLC. No license, affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement is claimed, or should be inferred from the use of these trademarks here. PartyGaming is not licensed by or otherwise affiliated with Harrah’s License Company LLC or the World Series of Poker® in any way.
PartyPoker Signs Italian Football Star Francesco Totti
PartyPoker has just enhanced its presence in the Italian online poker market after signing AS Roma captain and national football legend Francesco Totti to represent the famed poker site.
The Italian World Cup-winning footballer started playing for Roma’s senior side at the age of sixteen, and with 188 goals to his credit has now become the number-one goalscorer and most capped player in the club’s history. The 33 year-old Italy striker officially retired from international games on 20 July 2007 in order to concentrate his efforts with Roma but has since signalled he would be prepared to play at the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa, should he be needed.
As an official PartyPoker representative, Totti’s duties will include taking part in various advertising campaigns to promote the site, as well making celebrity appearances at PartyPoker.it online tournaments.
Following the news of his signing with PartyPoker, Francesco Totti said: “I have faced many challenges in my career and I always apply myself with skill, intelligence, loyalty and passion. You need all these abilities for poker and it is also a game that excites me and is a lot of fun. Thanks to PartyPoker.it, I am able to combine my passion for sport and the challenge of poker.”
PartyPoker seemed delighted with their new signing, and a PartyPoker spokesman commented: “We expect Totti to become the most capped player and number one goalscorer in our history. He is one of the greatest football players of his generation - the question is now will he be one of the greatest poker players of his generation too? What Totti strives for he normally succeeds in achieving! He is a huge signing.”
PartyPoker is a relative new comer to sponsoring professionals however has since made up for lost time, and has recently added poker pros Dragan Galic, Mike Sexton, Kara Scott, Tony G, Ian Frazer, Felipe “Mojave” Ramos, Bodo Sbrzesny and Remy Biechel to Team PartyPoker.
World Poker Tour Rake Race
$23,000 WPT Race on PartyPoker Top spot in the WPT Race Final awards a spectacular package to the WPT Grand Prix de Paris, from May 8 through 13 on the Champs Élysées at the Aviation Club de France!
The Gladiator
Gladiator promotion returns to PartyPoker. This time, the festivities run from March 3rd to April 1st and up to $7,500 in cold hard cash is on the line. The Gladiator’s payouts are based on the number of PartyPoints you rack up during the promotion on a daily basis. Accumulate 10 PartyPoints during just five days of the promotional period and you’ll gain entry into a high-stakes $10,000 freeroll. Players who earn 2,000 points for 25 days will be living the high life to the tune of a $7,500 cash prize.
There are $15,000 and $25,000 freerolls – both capped at 10,000 players – that will be held during the Gladiator promotion. Also up for grabs is a $12,500 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event package. Players who earn 2,000 points every day during the 30-day promotional event will jet set their way to Las Vegas to compete in the 2010 WSOP Main Event. The $12,500 package includes the tournament’s $10,000 buy-in, $1,000 in spending money, and hotel accommodation.
Points don’t have to be earned on consecutive days, so earn them at your leisure while you face off in the Coliseum against the Gladiator. PartyPoker’s website explains, “For example, if you earn 10 points every day for 10 days, take five days off, and then earn 10 points on 10 more days of the promotion, you’ll get the prize for earning 10 points on 20 days.” That feat would be worth $15 and comes your way as a cash prize courtesy of PartyPoker. You can log into your PartyPoker account to check your progress as the month continues.
Now, it’s time to explain the fine print. First, the Gladiator is an opt-in promotion. Players who win the WSOP package can exchange it for $10,000 in cash and those who head to Las Vegas are obligated to don PartyPoker gear while playing in the Main Event. Last year, PokerStars pro Joe jcada99 Cada banked a healthy $8.5 million after winning the Main Event, outlasting Maryland woodsman Darvin Moon heads-up.
PartyPoker, which does not currently accept players from the United States, is looking forward to the third running of its popular points-based contest: “The Gladiator is back and the rewards are greater than ever before. This promotion is about spreading play over a period of time for maximus rewards! It is simple and offers great value and we encourage players to challenge themselves and take a closer look.” During the Gladiator’s last running, Crown Casino Aussie Millions prize packages were up for grabs.
The Gladiator - more details
PartyPoker has announced the triumphant return of ‘The Gladiator’ and for one month only the popular online poker site will become a coliseum! As part of the promotion players can earn up to $7,500 in addition to WSOP (World Series of Poker) main event packages.
From 3rd March until 1st April who reaches the minimum target of 10 party points for five days will be able to claim entry into a $10,000 free roll. The more days a player wins points over the larger the prize will be, up to $7,500 cash!
Those most dedicated PartyPoker fans will be rewarded the most. For example if you earn 2,000 points everyday for the full 30 days, you’ll secure yourself a $12,500 WSOP Main Event package which includes: the buy-in, hotel, hospitality and spending money!
A PartyPoker spokesman said: “The Gladiator is back and the rewards are greater than ever before. This promotion is about spreading play over a period of time for maximus rewards! It is simple and offers great value and we encourage players to challenge themselves and take a closer look.”
What’s also ultra impressive is that players don’t even need to earn points on consecutive days to win big prizes. The site will simply count up the number of days targets have been made during the promotion. You can keep track of how many points you’ve picked up so far in ‘The Gladiator’ promotion by checking your Party Account. Points are not removed from player accounts after the promotion either; they all count towards Palladium Lounge targets.
Monthly Million
Also returning to PartyPoker is the Monthly Million, which will play out this Sunday, March 7th. The Monthly Million attracted a starting grid of 1,584 players in February, which means that it fell about $50,000 short of its $1 million guarantee. The tournament takes place on the first Sunday of every month.
Players receive a starting stack of 20,000 chips in the Monthly Million and the price of poker goes up every 20 minutes. Antes kick in during the sixth level of play, when the blinds are 250-500. Qualifiers for the Monthly Million are taking place continuously on PartyPoker and you can win your way in for as little as $1.
David Benyamine Wins PartyPoker Premier League IV - February 2010
Frenchman David Benyamine took down the fourth PartyPoker Premier League title, defeating embattled pro Luke “Full_Flush” Schwartz heads-up. Benyamine earned $476,000!
Team PokerStars Pro member Daniel Negreanu and Full Tilt's Roland de Wolfe qualified via heads-up matches for the six-handed final table. Negreanu outlasted J.C. Tran in his heads-up encounter, while de Wolfe bested PartyPoker pro Ian Frazer. At the final table, each player began with 10,000 chips for every point they had accrued during Premier League play. Consequently, Unabomber Poker frontman Phil Laak lead over the rest of the field with 480,000 chips, 100,000 ahead of Benyamine’s second place stack of 380,000.
After bleeding chips at the final table, however, including running a set into Negreanu’s flush, Laak was the first casualty. He called all-in pre-flop with pocket tens and was up against Benyamine’s A-K. An old fashioned race would determine the winner of the 300,000-chip pot and the flop came Q-4-2, keeping Laak’s wired pair in front. However, Benyamine spiked an ace on the turn to pull away for good.
Shortly thereafter, de Wolfe departed in fifth place from the PartyPoker Premier League IV final table. He committed his final 240,000 chips with A-J offsuit pre-flop and Negreanu came along with pocket nines. The flop came down K-9-3, giving Negreanu a set, and a seven on the turn left de Wolfe drawing dead. A meaningless ace hit on the river and de Wolfe exited stage right. The hand moved Negreanu into the chip lead with four players remaining.
Negreanu then ran pocket sevens into Schwartz’s pocket kings to drop down to 131,000 in chips. He’d hit the rail after pushing with Q-5 of clubs on a board of K-9-Q with two clubs. Benyamine called with K-9 for top two pair and the turn was another king, giving Benyamine the win in the hand with a boat. Negreanu took fourth place in the Premier League, which emanated from the M Casino in Vegas.
Third place went to the lone online qualifier, Giovanni Safina. The Italian put his money in ahead, as his A-7 was well in front of the K-3 of Schwartz. With the latter in a gambling mood, the flop came 5-Q-6, keeping Safina out in front. The turn was a jack, leaving Schwartz drawing to a king or three on the river. Sure enough, a three peeled off, sending Safina out and setting up a heads-up showdown between Benyamine and Schwartz. The latter entered as better than a 2:1 chip leader.
Benyamine doubled up early with K-10 against K-7 to climb back into the running. On the final hand, the money went into the center with Benyamine holding Q-8 against Schwartz’s Q-2 on a flop of Q-5-3. Schwartz pushed all-in and Benyamine tanked before finally making the call, leading to an eruption from the youngster. According to coverage found on PokerNews, Schwartz commented, "Why'd you slow roll? That's an easy call." The board filled out 7-6 and Benyamine took down the Premier League title.
Payouts were given for Premier League points and final table finishing position. Accordingly, the final PartyPoker Premier League IV shook out as follows:
1. David Benyamine - $476,000
2. Luke "Full_Flush" Schwartz - $258,000
3. Giovanni Safina - $158,000
4. Daniel Negreanu - $132,000
5. Roland de Wolfe - $114,000
6. Phil Laak - $146,000
7. Ian Frazer - $52,000
8. J.C. Tran - $40,000
9. Phil Hellmuth - $38,000
10. Yevgeniy "Jovial Gent" Timoshenko - $32,000
11. Vanessa Rousso - $32,000
12. Tony G - $22,000
Following his win in the unique tournament series, Benyamine told Matchroom Sport organizers, “It feels really good winning a title; I’m still not used to doing it. The whole time, I never thought about winning. I just wanted to do what I thought was right. I know people always say that when they win, but it’s true.”
PartyGaming
PartyGaming is the parent company of World Poker Tour which they purchased last financial year.
PartyGaming is widely regarded as the world's most successful igaming company and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The company was established in 1997. PartyGaming's brands including PartyPoker, World Poker Tour and PartyCasino has won a number of industry awards and commendations from entities such as eGaming Review, Gambling Online Magazine, Casino News Media, Poker News Media and Media Man.
Websites
PartyPoker.com World Poker Tour website WTP Casino website Club WPT PartyCasino.com
Virgin Casino Gets King Kong, Amazon Wild, Beat the Bank and Call of Duty 4 Online Slot Games
Virgin Casino Gets King Kong, Amazon Wild, Beat the Bank and Call of Duty 4 Online Slot Games.
Website
VirginCasino.com
*Sorry, no U.S or Australian players. See World Casino Directory
Website Network
Media Man
Global Gaming Directory
Global Gaming Directory.net
Casino News Media
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Tuesday, March 02, 2010
CryptoLogic Announces Full Year 2009 Results
CryptoLogic, a global developer of branded online betting games and Internet casino software, today announced its financial results for the three months and full year ended December 31, 2009.
Full-year 2009 summary:
-- Revenue decreased to $39.8 million (2008: $61.5 million) reflecting
lower wagering activity across the industry, adverse currency factors,
and a reduced contribution from a key licensee
-- Net loss of $35.5 million (2008: $32.7 million), reflecting $24.8
million non-recurring charges for asset impairments and restructuring to
align the company's costs with its revenue base.
-- Total annual recurring cost base, which comprises operating, general and
administrative, finance and amortization expenses, reduced by $20.6
million to $55.0 million
-- Merged poker network with that of GTECH Corporation eliminating costs of
a standalone business
-- Branded games revenue increased to $2.8 million (2008: $0.3 million),
accounting for 7.1% of total revenue (2008: 0.5%) despite slower-than-
anticipated roll-out by licensees
-- Total licensee base expanded by 20 to more than 30 leading Internet
gaming operators including Betfair, Sportingbet, totesport and Virgin
Games
-- Signed deals with DC Comics, a division of Warner Bros., to develop
betting games featuring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman; and with
Paramount Digital Entertainment for games based on 20 movies including
Braveheart, Forrest Gump and Ghost
-- Diluted loss per share of $2.78 (2008: $2.55 diluted loss per share)
-- Total dividend for the year amounted to $1.4 million (2008: $5.4
million), no dividend was declared in Q4 2009
Fourth quarter 2009 highlights:
-- Branded games revenue rose 51.7% sequentially to $1.2 million
-- Doubled the number of branded games in production to 66 from 33 in Q3
2009
-- Major relaunch and investment in virtual casino lobby to enhance long
term revenue opportunities
-- Cyprus office to relocate to Malta in line with the company's plan to
streamline operations
-- Signed three major licensees for branded games - BetClic, Rank
Interactive and UniBet
-- Launched first games based on Batman and Wonder Woman as well as Monkeys
to Mars, Triple Action Hold'em and Aces and Faces
2010 Outlook:
-- Improved revenue from hosted casino as new licensees go live and
existing licensees benefit from investment in major rebranding, a new
lobby and advertising initiatives
-- Branded games continue to gain momentum with the annual run rate
currently at $5 million as more games come on stream
-- Number of new branded games launched by licensees to date and generating
revenues currently at 74, with a backlog of approximately 125 games
-- Costs expected to reduce further in 2010 as additional measures are
implemented to manage overheads
Brian Hadfield, CryptoLogic's President and CEO said: "2009 was a tough year as a number of adverse factors including a global economic downturn overshadowed the company's progress in implementing its innovative new strategy to reduce costs and return to growth.
We have entered 2010 in better shape with a substantially reduced cost base that will continue to be managed tightly. At the same time, new business momentum remains encouraging as branded games continue to roll out and hosted casino licensees implement new initiatives. With new licensing activity staying strong and the overall online casino/gaming market showing some improvement, we look to the year with cautious optimism."
Investor/analyst conference call
CryptoLogic will hold a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. GMT) to update investors on the company's progress. The details of the call are as follows:
Toll Free North America: 1-800-766-6630
Toll Free UK: 00 800-4222-8835
Toll Free International (Country Code) 800-4222-8835
Toronto Dial-In Number: 416-340-8410
To participate, please call five to ten minutes prior to the 8:30 a.m EST / 1:30 p.m GMT start of the teleconference. This conference call will be recorded and available for replay approximately one hour after the completion of the call, up until midnight (EST) March 9, 2010. To listen to the replay, please dial 416-695-5800 or for North America only 1-800-408-3053, passcode 6122324#. A transcript of the call will also be made available on CryptoLogic's website at www.cryptologic.com under Investor Information.
Webcast
To access the live audio webcast, please go to www.cryptologic.com and click on Investor Information/Events, or http://events.digitalmedia.telus.com/cryptologic/030110/index.php prior to 8:30 a.m. EST/1:30 p.m. GMT Windows Media Player is required to listen to the webcast. If you do not have the player, a free download is available at www.microsoft.com. A rebroadcast of the webcast will be available for 120 days.
Overview
2009 was a difficult year for CryptoLogic as the company implemented its innovative new strategy to return to profitability and long term growth against the backdrop of a severe global economic downturn, which blunted the solid progress made by the company to improve its long term performance.
The total annual recurring cost base, consisting of operating, G&A, finance and amortization was reduced by $20.6 million or 27.3% to $55.0 million for the year, partly reflecting a decline in the total workforce to 211 from 276 in 2008 and 310 in 2007. At the same time, new business activity remained strong with more than 30 licensees on CryptoLogic's roster, including two full hosted casino customers' wins during the year. The company also achieved four consecutive quarters of revenue growth from branded games licensed and launched by some of the world's leading online gaming operators such as 888.com, Betfair, BskyB, PartyGaming, Sportingbet and Unibet.
However, the positive underlying picture was more than offset by a number of adverse factors including challenging economic conditions that significantly reduced wagering volumes across the industry and contributed to lower hosted Internet casino and poker revenues at CryptoLogic. In addition, the results were impacted by the strength of the US dollar against the euro and the British pound, accounting for a $3.7 million decline in reported revenues in 2009. Excluding the currency factors, total revenues fell by 29.2% for the year.
As announced previously, the company incurred a $24.8million charge against the carrying value of its assets, together with costs relating to restructuring initiatives in Q4 2009 to lower operating expenses.
Restructuring for growth
The company executed a major restructuring of the business in 2009 aimed at focusing on its strengths as a developer and licensor of content-rich branded online betting games and the provision of hosted virtual casino rooms and associated services for Internet gaming operators worldwide.
In March 2009, the company completed the merger of its poker business with GTECH Corporation's Boss Media subsidiary, thereby eliminating the costs of a standalone network while improving poker room liquidity for players This move, together with a rationalisation of IT infrastructure and operational centres, contributed to a reduction in operating expense by 28.4% or $15.8 million to $39.9 million in 2009 (2008: $55.6 million), significantly ahead of management's expectations.
Approximately $8.3 million of the savings came from headcount related expenses, about $2.6 million from infrastructure and facilities downsizing including a cut in server costs and about $4.9 million in operational savings across the business. The total number of operational data centres was cut from 11 to five.
Management expects operating costs to decrease further in 2010 through new initiatives being implemented to streamline operations and lower overall employee expenses. The company today announced the integration of its Cyprus office with its existing operations in Malta, which is a major EU jurisdiction for the online gaming industry and the primary licensing authority for CryptoLogic. Malta is fully committed to supporting the industry with investment in additional infrastructure. As a result, the relocation, which is to be completed later this year, will enhance our customer service and back office capability where many of CryptoLogic's licensees already have a major presence. Staff based in Cyprus are being offered the opportunity to relocate to Malta.
New customer signings and branded games drive revenue
CryptoLogic significantly increased its customer acquisition activities in 2009 as part of its 'build-once-license often' business model to leverage its strong position as an innovator and creator of branded online betting games. The company signed 20 new multiyear licensing deals during 2009 compared with 10 in 2008, taking the total licensee base to more than 30. Two of the deals were for full casino hosting contracts with The Gaming Network and BetSafe.com. The remainder involved licensing of CryptoLogic's award-winning branded casino and casual games to many leading operators including Bet24, GalaCoral, Paddy Power, Rank Interactive, totesport, Victor Chandler Group and Virgin Games.
Hosted Internet Casino
Revenue from hosted casino decreased 28.4% to $30 million for the year (2008: $41.8 million) reflecting the impact of the economic downturn on wagering volumes and the previously reported transition of two licensees. Hosted casino remains a key element in our strategy. As highlighted above with the signing of two full casino licensees. In addition, the company invested in the development of a new, user-friendly casino lobby; the addition of a new credit card processor; new payment options; the launch of 47 new games and assisted a major licensee in the repositioning of its brand and the development of a new advertising campaign. The revenue benefits will accrue from 2010.
Branded Games
Branded games revenues rose to $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 (2008: $0.3 million), accounting for 7.1% of total revenue in 2009 (2008: 0.5%). During the year, the number of games launched by licensees increased steadily from 3 to 66 at the end of the 2009. The majority of these games went live in the second half of the year including 20 games in third quarter and 33 games in the fourth quarter.
Although branded games revenue increased four quarters in a row, the growth rate was held back by a slower than expected roll-out by some licensees. The company expects branded game revenue to increase in 2010 as it benefits from a full year of revenue on games delivered in 2009 and from more games due to be launched from around a further 125 contracted by licensees.
In early 2009, CryptoLogic expanded its portfolio of branded content by signing an exclusive agreement with DC Comics, a division of Warner Bros., Digital Distribution and DC Comics to bring characters such as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman to Internet casinos. This was followed by a deal giving CryptoLogic exclusive rights to offer online slot games based on more than 20 of Paramount Pictures' feature films titles including Braveheart, Forrest Gump, Beowulf and Beverly Hills Cop.
Investing in E-gaming innovation
New games development activity remained strong with 47 new games released during 2009. Following the agreement with DC Comics, a division of Warner Bros., in October 2009 CryptoLogic launched the first games based on comic heroes Batman and Wonder Woman, further enhancing CryptoLogic's unique offering for its customers, allowing it to expand its licensees for both Internet Casino and branded games.
Batman battles The Joker in the internet world's first and only Batman slot machine. This groundbreaking 50-line game features stacked wilds and a Batman re-spin feature where all prizes are doubled as three free spins are played with one reel completely wild. Armed with a Batarang, players fight through the inmates of Arkham Asylum to stop The Joker, earning cash prizes.
During the year CryptoLogic brought out a slot version of Jenga, one of the world's most popular board games, developed by its Centre for Innovation in record time. Other games launched included Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Street Fighter IV, Savannah Sunrise, Buccaneers' Bounty and Cleo Queen of Egypt. The Centre continues to play a major role in the creation of new games offering high entertainment value to players. Building on its success with Jenga, it developed a portfolio of new games including a new table game called Triple Action Hold'Em; and a video poker game, Aces and Faces.
In addition, the company is actively developing gaming content tailored for the rapidly expanding mobile Internet, social networking and 3-D environments. It anticipates launching its first 3-D games in Q2 2010.
Financial performance
Total Revenue:
Revenue in the fourth quarter was $9.9 million, a decrease of 12.6% as compared with the same period in the prior year (Q4 2008: $11.4 million). Compared with the previous quarter, revenue was up by almost 3.5%.
Internet casino revenue increased 17.4% to $8.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 when compared to the same period in the prior year (Q4 2008: $7.5 million). Internet casino revenue, when compared to Q3 2009 increased by 23.2% due primarily to a revision of our estimate to discharge future jackpot payouts of $0.8 million, a non recurring $0.8 million benefit associated with the resolution of a commercial matter, which was initially recorded in other revenue in the third quarter but reclassified to casino revenue to be consistent with prior presentation of similar items. The U.S. dollar was relatively weak during the quarter which increased revenue by $0.4 million. Offsetting this increase was a decrease in revenue at one of the company's major licensees.
Q4 2009 Internet poker revenue decreased 79.7% to $0.5 million (Q4 2008: $2.7 million). The decrease in Internet poker revenue was primarily due to the transition of the poker network to GTECH, which reduced the number of the company's poker licensees, fees paid to GTECH, and a decline in the overall poker industry. Internet poker revenue increased by 8.4% when compared to Q3 2009 as the company optimizes the GTECH environment.
Branded games revenue was $1.2 million for the three month period ended December 31, 2009 (2008: $0.3 million). During the quarter, the company's branded games revenue increased by 51.7% sequentially as the number of revenue producing games increased from 33 to 66 games. The majority of the games delivered were late in the fourth quarter. The company expects branded game revenue to increase in 2010 as it benefits from a full year of revenue on games delivered in 2009 and increases the number of revenue producing games.
Operating Expense
Q4 2009 operating expense was $12.6 million. (Q4 2008: $13.3 million) Included in the operating expense for the quarter was a $1.5 million investment in a major relaunch of a virtual casino lobby for the company's major licensees and asset impairments of $1.7 million associated with the company's comprehensive balance sheet review brought on by the difficult macroeconomic conditions. After normalizing for the two non recurring items, operating expense was $9.3 million roughly flat when compared to Q3 2009. Operating expenses were impacted by increased investment in software development capability in lower cost jurisdictions, primarily in Eastern Europe and increased marketing program related costs.
General and Administrative Expense
In Q4 2009, G&A expense was $2.5 million. (Q4 2008: $3.7 million). G&A expense in Q3 2009 was $2.4 million. G&A expense increased 4.0% when compared to the previous quarter due to increased professional fees associated with our annual audit and compliance with Sarbanes Oxley off set in part by decreased consulting fees associated with the protection of our intellectual property.
Asset Impairments
The company regularly reviews its assets for impairment. During Q4 2009, the company completed its review of its long term investments and noted various indicators of impairment including significant financial difficulty, restructuring activities and limited ability to operate a profitable business in the short and medium term. Consequently, the company determined that the carrying value of its long term investments in Mobilebus, Mikoishi, Jingle and 568 Inc. were greater than their respected fair values resulting in an impairment charge of $2.3 million. The company also reviewed certain software development projects as a result of difficult macro-economic conditions and a decline in expected future revenues, which resulted in an impairment charge of $2.7 million.
Reorganization Charges
The company expanded its reorganization plan initially announced in 2008, due to continued unfavorable macroeconomic conditions and will outsource additional technology infrastructure activities, consolidate more of its data centre operations, and migrate additional functions to lower cost jurisdictions resulting in further reduction in headcount and a reduction of its leased office space in both Canada and Cyprus. Reorganization expense recorded in 2009 was $7.1 million and comprises consulting fees required to execute the plan of $1.1 million, severance of $1.1 million, lease termination costs associated with the office space in Canada of $1.8 million and associated asset impairments of $3.1 million. The company expects cash outlays of $3.0 million, primarily on lease termination costs in Toronto and employee severance, to fully execute the restructuring plan.
Earnings and Earnings per Diluted Share:
The company recorded a loss of $24.8 million for the quarter ($1.97 per fully diluted share), due primarily to $19.9 million in non-recurring charges for reorganization of our business, impairments of goodwill and other asset impairments.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow:
At December 31, 2009, CryptoLogic ended the year with $23.7 million of net cash (comprising cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and security deposits) or $1.71 per diluted share (December 31, 2008: $43.8 million or $3.15 per diluted share). The decrease in net cash of $20.1 million is primarily due to cash impact of operating losses ($10.2 million), dividends paid ($1.4 million), increase in prepaid assets ($2.6 million) due primarily to payments to royalty providers including DC Comics, Marvel and Paramount offset by amortization, increase in accounts receivable ($1.8 million) due primarily to the outsourcing of the poker network and the increase in branded games which each have a one month delay in cash settlement and decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities ($5.2 million) due to decrease in activity consistent with a cost reduction plan and the capital expenditures ($0.4 million), investments in Asia ($0.5 million). These decreases are offset by net tax refunds of $2.0m. CryptoLogic continues to be debt free.
CryptoLogic's working capital at December 31, 2009 was $26.5 million or $1.91 per diluted share (December 31, 2008: $41.2 million or $2.97 per diluted share).
2010 Outlook:
-- Improved revenue from hosted casino as new licensees go live and
existing licensees benefit from investment in major rebranding, a new
lobby and advertising initiatives
-- Branded games continue to gain momentum with the annual run rate
currently at $5 million as more games come on stream
-- Number of new branded games launched by licensees to date and generating
revenues currently at 74, with a backlog of approximately 125 games
-- Costs expected to reduce further in 2010 as additional measures are
implemented to manage overheads
CryptoLogic will hold its annual general meeting in Dublin on May 17, 2010.
CRYPTOLOGIC FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT DISCLAIMER:
Statements in this press release, which are not historical are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on certain factors and assumptions including expected growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities, foreign exchange rates and effective income tax rates. While the company considers these factors and assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, risks associated with the company's financial condition, prospects and opportunities, legal risks associated with Internet gaming and risks of governmental legislation and regulation, risks associated with market acceptance and technological changes, risks associated with dependence on licensees and key licensees, risks relating to international operations, risks associated with competition and other risks detailed in the company's filings with securities regulatory authorities. These risks may cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are given only as at the date of this release and the company disclaims any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.
About CryptoLogic(R) (www.cryptologic.com)
Focused on integrity and innovation, CryptoLogic Limited is a leading public developer and supplier of Internet gaming software. With more than 300 games, CryptoLogic has one of the most comprehensive casino suites on the Internet, with award-winning games featuring some of the world's most famous action and entertainment characters. The company's licensees include many top Internet gaming brands, including the "big four" international operators. CryptoLogic's leadership in regulatory compliance makes it one of the few companies with gaming software certified to strict standards similar to land-based gaming. WagerLogic(R) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CryptoLogic, is responsible for the licensing of gaming software and services to blue-chip customers that offer their games to non-U.S. based players around the world. For information on WagerLogic, please visit www.wagerlogic.com.
CryptoLogic's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (CRY, CXY), the NASDAQ Global Select Market (CRYP) and the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange (CRP).
SOURCE: CryptoLogic Limited
Full-year 2009 summary:
-- Revenue decreased to $39.8 million (2008: $61.5 million) reflecting
lower wagering activity across the industry, adverse currency factors,
and a reduced contribution from a key licensee
-- Net loss of $35.5 million (2008: $32.7 million), reflecting $24.8
million non-recurring charges for asset impairments and restructuring to
align the company's costs with its revenue base.
-- Total annual recurring cost base, which comprises operating, general and
administrative, finance and amortization expenses, reduced by $20.6
million to $55.0 million
-- Merged poker network with that of GTECH Corporation eliminating costs of
a standalone business
-- Branded games revenue increased to $2.8 million (2008: $0.3 million),
accounting for 7.1% of total revenue (2008: 0.5%) despite slower-than-
anticipated roll-out by licensees
-- Total licensee base expanded by 20 to more than 30 leading Internet
gaming operators including Betfair, Sportingbet, totesport and Virgin
Games
-- Signed deals with DC Comics, a division of Warner Bros., to develop
betting games featuring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman; and with
Paramount Digital Entertainment for games based on 20 movies including
Braveheart, Forrest Gump and Ghost
-- Diluted loss per share of $2.78 (2008: $2.55 diluted loss per share)
-- Total dividend for the year amounted to $1.4 million (2008: $5.4
million), no dividend was declared in Q4 2009
Fourth quarter 2009 highlights:
-- Branded games revenue rose 51.7% sequentially to $1.2 million
-- Doubled the number of branded games in production to 66 from 33 in Q3
2009
-- Major relaunch and investment in virtual casino lobby to enhance long
term revenue opportunities
-- Cyprus office to relocate to Malta in line with the company's plan to
streamline operations
-- Signed three major licensees for branded games - BetClic, Rank
Interactive and UniBet
-- Launched first games based on Batman and Wonder Woman as well as Monkeys
to Mars, Triple Action Hold'em and Aces and Faces
2010 Outlook:
-- Improved revenue from hosted casino as new licensees go live and
existing licensees benefit from investment in major rebranding, a new
lobby and advertising initiatives
-- Branded games continue to gain momentum with the annual run rate
currently at $5 million as more games come on stream
-- Number of new branded games launched by licensees to date and generating
revenues currently at 74, with a backlog of approximately 125 games
-- Costs expected to reduce further in 2010 as additional measures are
implemented to manage overheads
Brian Hadfield, CryptoLogic's President and CEO said: "2009 was a tough year as a number of adverse factors including a global economic downturn overshadowed the company's progress in implementing its innovative new strategy to reduce costs and return to growth.
We have entered 2010 in better shape with a substantially reduced cost base that will continue to be managed tightly. At the same time, new business momentum remains encouraging as branded games continue to roll out and hosted casino licensees implement new initiatives. With new licensing activity staying strong and the overall online casino/gaming market showing some improvement, we look to the year with cautious optimism."
Investor/analyst conference call
CryptoLogic will hold a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. GMT) to update investors on the company's progress. The details of the call are as follows:
Toll Free North America: 1-800-766-6630
Toll Free UK: 00 800-4222-8835
Toll Free International (Country Code) 800-4222-8835
Toronto Dial-In Number: 416-340-8410
To participate, please call five to ten minutes prior to the 8:30 a.m EST / 1:30 p.m GMT start of the teleconference. This conference call will be recorded and available for replay approximately one hour after the completion of the call, up until midnight (EST) March 9, 2010. To listen to the replay, please dial 416-695-5800 or for North America only 1-800-408-3053, passcode 6122324#. A transcript of the call will also be made available on CryptoLogic's website at www.cryptologic.com under Investor Information.
Webcast
To access the live audio webcast, please go to www.cryptologic.com and click on Investor Information/Events, or http://events.digitalmedia.telus.com/cryptologic/030110/index.php prior to 8:30 a.m. EST/1:30 p.m. GMT Windows Media Player is required to listen to the webcast. If you do not have the player, a free download is available at www.microsoft.com. A rebroadcast of the webcast will be available for 120 days.
Overview
2009 was a difficult year for CryptoLogic as the company implemented its innovative new strategy to return to profitability and long term growth against the backdrop of a severe global economic downturn, which blunted the solid progress made by the company to improve its long term performance.
The total annual recurring cost base, consisting of operating, G&A, finance and amortization was reduced by $20.6 million or 27.3% to $55.0 million for the year, partly reflecting a decline in the total workforce to 211 from 276 in 2008 and 310 in 2007. At the same time, new business activity remained strong with more than 30 licensees on CryptoLogic's roster, including two full hosted casino customers' wins during the year. The company also achieved four consecutive quarters of revenue growth from branded games licensed and launched by some of the world's leading online gaming operators such as 888.com, Betfair, BskyB, PartyGaming, Sportingbet and Unibet.
However, the positive underlying picture was more than offset by a number of adverse factors including challenging economic conditions that significantly reduced wagering volumes across the industry and contributed to lower hosted Internet casino and poker revenues at CryptoLogic. In addition, the results were impacted by the strength of the US dollar against the euro and the British pound, accounting for a $3.7 million decline in reported revenues in 2009. Excluding the currency factors, total revenues fell by 29.2% for the year.
As announced previously, the company incurred a $24.8million charge against the carrying value of its assets, together with costs relating to restructuring initiatives in Q4 2009 to lower operating expenses.
Restructuring for growth
The company executed a major restructuring of the business in 2009 aimed at focusing on its strengths as a developer and licensor of content-rich branded online betting games and the provision of hosted virtual casino rooms and associated services for Internet gaming operators worldwide.
In March 2009, the company completed the merger of its poker business with GTECH Corporation's Boss Media subsidiary, thereby eliminating the costs of a standalone network while improving poker room liquidity for players This move, together with a rationalisation of IT infrastructure and operational centres, contributed to a reduction in operating expense by 28.4% or $15.8 million to $39.9 million in 2009 (2008: $55.6 million), significantly ahead of management's expectations.
Approximately $8.3 million of the savings came from headcount related expenses, about $2.6 million from infrastructure and facilities downsizing including a cut in server costs and about $4.9 million in operational savings across the business. The total number of operational data centres was cut from 11 to five.
Management expects operating costs to decrease further in 2010 through new initiatives being implemented to streamline operations and lower overall employee expenses. The company today announced the integration of its Cyprus office with its existing operations in Malta, which is a major EU jurisdiction for the online gaming industry and the primary licensing authority for CryptoLogic. Malta is fully committed to supporting the industry with investment in additional infrastructure. As a result, the relocation, which is to be completed later this year, will enhance our customer service and back office capability where many of CryptoLogic's licensees already have a major presence. Staff based in Cyprus are being offered the opportunity to relocate to Malta.
New customer signings and branded games drive revenue
CryptoLogic significantly increased its customer acquisition activities in 2009 as part of its 'build-once-license often' business model to leverage its strong position as an innovator and creator of branded online betting games. The company signed 20 new multiyear licensing deals during 2009 compared with 10 in 2008, taking the total licensee base to more than 30. Two of the deals were for full casino hosting contracts with The Gaming Network and BetSafe.com. The remainder involved licensing of CryptoLogic's award-winning branded casino and casual games to many leading operators including Bet24, GalaCoral, Paddy Power, Rank Interactive, totesport, Victor Chandler Group and Virgin Games.
Hosted Internet Casino
Revenue from hosted casino decreased 28.4% to $30 million for the year (2008: $41.8 million) reflecting the impact of the economic downturn on wagering volumes and the previously reported transition of two licensees. Hosted casino remains a key element in our strategy. As highlighted above with the signing of two full casino licensees. In addition, the company invested in the development of a new, user-friendly casino lobby; the addition of a new credit card processor; new payment options; the launch of 47 new games and assisted a major licensee in the repositioning of its brand and the development of a new advertising campaign. The revenue benefits will accrue from 2010.
Branded Games
Branded games revenues rose to $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 (2008: $0.3 million), accounting for 7.1% of total revenue in 2009 (2008: 0.5%). During the year, the number of games launched by licensees increased steadily from 3 to 66 at the end of the 2009. The majority of these games went live in the second half of the year including 20 games in third quarter and 33 games in the fourth quarter.
Although branded games revenue increased four quarters in a row, the growth rate was held back by a slower than expected roll-out by some licensees. The company expects branded game revenue to increase in 2010 as it benefits from a full year of revenue on games delivered in 2009 and from more games due to be launched from around a further 125 contracted by licensees.
In early 2009, CryptoLogic expanded its portfolio of branded content by signing an exclusive agreement with DC Comics, a division of Warner Bros., Digital Distribution and DC Comics to bring characters such as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman to Internet casinos. This was followed by a deal giving CryptoLogic exclusive rights to offer online slot games based on more than 20 of Paramount Pictures' feature films titles including Braveheart, Forrest Gump, Beowulf and Beverly Hills Cop.
Investing in E-gaming innovation
New games development activity remained strong with 47 new games released during 2009. Following the agreement with DC Comics, a division of Warner Bros., in October 2009 CryptoLogic launched the first games based on comic heroes Batman and Wonder Woman, further enhancing CryptoLogic's unique offering for its customers, allowing it to expand its licensees for both Internet Casino and branded games.
Batman battles The Joker in the internet world's first and only Batman slot machine. This groundbreaking 50-line game features stacked wilds and a Batman re-spin feature where all prizes are doubled as three free spins are played with one reel completely wild. Armed with a Batarang, players fight through the inmates of Arkham Asylum to stop The Joker, earning cash prizes.
During the year CryptoLogic brought out a slot version of Jenga, one of the world's most popular board games, developed by its Centre for Innovation in record time. Other games launched included Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Street Fighter IV, Savannah Sunrise, Buccaneers' Bounty and Cleo Queen of Egypt. The Centre continues to play a major role in the creation of new games offering high entertainment value to players. Building on its success with Jenga, it developed a portfolio of new games including a new table game called Triple Action Hold'Em; and a video poker game, Aces and Faces.
In addition, the company is actively developing gaming content tailored for the rapidly expanding mobile Internet, social networking and 3-D environments. It anticipates launching its first 3-D games in Q2 2010.
Financial performance
Total Revenue:
Revenue in the fourth quarter was $9.9 million, a decrease of 12.6% as compared with the same period in the prior year (Q4 2008: $11.4 million). Compared with the previous quarter, revenue was up by almost 3.5%.
Internet casino revenue increased 17.4% to $8.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 when compared to the same period in the prior year (Q4 2008: $7.5 million). Internet casino revenue, when compared to Q3 2009 increased by 23.2% due primarily to a revision of our estimate to discharge future jackpot payouts of $0.8 million, a non recurring $0.8 million benefit associated with the resolution of a commercial matter, which was initially recorded in other revenue in the third quarter but reclassified to casino revenue to be consistent with prior presentation of similar items. The U.S. dollar was relatively weak during the quarter which increased revenue by $0.4 million. Offsetting this increase was a decrease in revenue at one of the company's major licensees.
Q4 2009 Internet poker revenue decreased 79.7% to $0.5 million (Q4 2008: $2.7 million). The decrease in Internet poker revenue was primarily due to the transition of the poker network to GTECH, which reduced the number of the company's poker licensees, fees paid to GTECH, and a decline in the overall poker industry. Internet poker revenue increased by 8.4% when compared to Q3 2009 as the company optimizes the GTECH environment.
Branded games revenue was $1.2 million for the three month period ended December 31, 2009 (2008: $0.3 million). During the quarter, the company's branded games revenue increased by 51.7% sequentially as the number of revenue producing games increased from 33 to 66 games. The majority of the games delivered were late in the fourth quarter. The company expects branded game revenue to increase in 2010 as it benefits from a full year of revenue on games delivered in 2009 and increases the number of revenue producing games.
Operating Expense
Q4 2009 operating expense was $12.6 million. (Q4 2008: $13.3 million) Included in the operating expense for the quarter was a $1.5 million investment in a major relaunch of a virtual casino lobby for the company's major licensees and asset impairments of $1.7 million associated with the company's comprehensive balance sheet review brought on by the difficult macroeconomic conditions. After normalizing for the two non recurring items, operating expense was $9.3 million roughly flat when compared to Q3 2009. Operating expenses were impacted by increased investment in software development capability in lower cost jurisdictions, primarily in Eastern Europe and increased marketing program related costs.
General and Administrative Expense
In Q4 2009, G&A expense was $2.5 million. (Q4 2008: $3.7 million). G&A expense in Q3 2009 was $2.4 million. G&A expense increased 4.0% when compared to the previous quarter due to increased professional fees associated with our annual audit and compliance with Sarbanes Oxley off set in part by decreased consulting fees associated with the protection of our intellectual property.
Asset Impairments
The company regularly reviews its assets for impairment. During Q4 2009, the company completed its review of its long term investments and noted various indicators of impairment including significant financial difficulty, restructuring activities and limited ability to operate a profitable business in the short and medium term. Consequently, the company determined that the carrying value of its long term investments in Mobilebus, Mikoishi, Jingle and 568 Inc. were greater than their respected fair values resulting in an impairment charge of $2.3 million. The company also reviewed certain software development projects as a result of difficult macro-economic conditions and a decline in expected future revenues, which resulted in an impairment charge of $2.7 million.
Reorganization Charges
The company expanded its reorganization plan initially announced in 2008, due to continued unfavorable macroeconomic conditions and will outsource additional technology infrastructure activities, consolidate more of its data centre operations, and migrate additional functions to lower cost jurisdictions resulting in further reduction in headcount and a reduction of its leased office space in both Canada and Cyprus. Reorganization expense recorded in 2009 was $7.1 million and comprises consulting fees required to execute the plan of $1.1 million, severance of $1.1 million, lease termination costs associated with the office space in Canada of $1.8 million and associated asset impairments of $3.1 million. The company expects cash outlays of $3.0 million, primarily on lease termination costs in Toronto and employee severance, to fully execute the restructuring plan.
Earnings and Earnings per Diluted Share:
The company recorded a loss of $24.8 million for the quarter ($1.97 per fully diluted share), due primarily to $19.9 million in non-recurring charges for reorganization of our business, impairments of goodwill and other asset impairments.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow:
At December 31, 2009, CryptoLogic ended the year with $23.7 million of net cash (comprising cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and security deposits) or $1.71 per diluted share (December 31, 2008: $43.8 million or $3.15 per diluted share). The decrease in net cash of $20.1 million is primarily due to cash impact of operating losses ($10.2 million), dividends paid ($1.4 million), increase in prepaid assets ($2.6 million) due primarily to payments to royalty providers including DC Comics, Marvel and Paramount offset by amortization, increase in accounts receivable ($1.8 million) due primarily to the outsourcing of the poker network and the increase in branded games which each have a one month delay in cash settlement and decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities ($5.2 million) due to decrease in activity consistent with a cost reduction plan and the capital expenditures ($0.4 million), investments in Asia ($0.5 million). These decreases are offset by net tax refunds of $2.0m. CryptoLogic continues to be debt free.
CryptoLogic's working capital at December 31, 2009 was $26.5 million or $1.91 per diluted share (December 31, 2008: $41.2 million or $2.97 per diluted share).
2010 Outlook:
-- Improved revenue from hosted casino as new licensees go live and
existing licensees benefit from investment in major rebranding, a new
lobby and advertising initiatives
-- Branded games continue to gain momentum with the annual run rate
currently at $5 million as more games come on stream
-- Number of new branded games launched by licensees to date and generating
revenues currently at 74, with a backlog of approximately 125 games
-- Costs expected to reduce further in 2010 as additional measures are
implemented to manage overheads
CryptoLogic will hold its annual general meeting in Dublin on May 17, 2010.
CRYPTOLOGIC FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT DISCLAIMER:
Statements in this press release, which are not historical are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on certain factors and assumptions including expected growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities, foreign exchange rates and effective income tax rates. While the company considers these factors and assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, risks associated with the company's financial condition, prospects and opportunities, legal risks associated with Internet gaming and risks of governmental legislation and regulation, risks associated with market acceptance and technological changes, risks associated with dependence on licensees and key licensees, risks relating to international operations, risks associated with competition and other risks detailed in the company's filings with securities regulatory authorities. These risks may cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are given only as at the date of this release and the company disclaims any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.
About CryptoLogic(R) (www.cryptologic.com)
Focused on integrity and innovation, CryptoLogic Limited is a leading public developer and supplier of Internet gaming software. With more than 300 games, CryptoLogic has one of the most comprehensive casino suites on the Internet, with award-winning games featuring some of the world's most famous action and entertainment characters. The company's licensees include many top Internet gaming brands, including the "big four" international operators. CryptoLogic's leadership in regulatory compliance makes it one of the few companies with gaming software certified to strict standards similar to land-based gaming. WagerLogic(R) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CryptoLogic, is responsible for the licensing of gaming software and services to blue-chip customers that offer their games to non-U.S. based players around the world. For information on WagerLogic, please visit www.wagerlogic.com.
CryptoLogic's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (CRY, CXY), the NASDAQ Global Select Market (CRYP) and the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange (CRP).
SOURCE: CryptoLogic Limited
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