Gold Mega Jackpot Now At $1.88 Million!
18th May 2009 -- http://www.partycasino.com is the world’s largest online casino and it has just got even bigger with 13 new games added! The headline act of the release is Sinatra, a musical slot tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes.
With rights acquired from Frank Sinatra Enterprises (FSE), a joint venture of the Sinatra Estate and Warner Music Group, the Sinatra Slot was developed in-house and is a five-reel, 20 line slot game with a Sinatra Big Band feature. Play through the three ages of Frank in Hollywood, Las Vegas and New York, collecting and writing big band tunes on the way. The game features an accumulating bonus trigger; collect a Treble Clef for each reel to build up a Sinatra track at the top of the screen. Complete the track to see Frank sing a classic track and then get a chance to write your own number in the Big Band Bonus feature. The minimum bet is $0.01 and maximum is $1,000.
A PartyCasino.com spokesman said: “Sinatra is top of the bill of our latest release and we encourage players to embrace the musical interactivity of this great new game. We’re also delighted to add 12 new others including the classic Dolphin Reef, the Fantastic Four and Hulk themed games.”
As well as the swinging slot Sinatra, PartyCasino.com has further increased its portfolio. Cryptologic licensed The Fantastic Four and The Hulk: Ultimate Revenge has joined the platform. This release also includes the launch of a new progressive jackpot suite, the Marvel Jackpot, consisting of three tiers. This jackpot can be won by players of the Marvel Slot games and sits alongside our existing Gold and Ca$hFla$h Jackpots. NextGen have supplied City of Gold, Cherry Blossoms, Dr Love, California Gold, Coral Cash, Beat the Bank, Dolphin Reef, 20,000 Leagues, Birds of Paradise and Speed Demon.
The Gold Mega Jackpot at http://www.partycasino.com has passed its record level and is still growing and waiting to be hit! To break the record, the Gold Mega Jackpot had to surpass the staggering $1,571,974 paid out to one player on the 8th October 2006. It currently stands at just over $1,888,000! Gold Mega Jackpot games on PartyCasino.com include The Godfather, Super Star, Super Joker, Super Fortune Wheel, Super Mystic and Mega Fortune Wheel. PartyCasino.com offers over 60 games and pays out over $10 million EVERY DAY to players and continues to expand rapidly. Highlights include film themed slots such as Mission:Impossible, The Terminator, Top Gun, Saturday Night Fever, Gone with the Wind and Rambo.
PartyGaming Plc is the world’s leading listed online gaming company. Founded in 1997, the Group is a constituent of the FTSE 250 share index and the FTSE4Good Index Series, which measures the performance of companies that meet globally recognised corporate responsibility standards. PartyGaming’s shares are listed on The London Stock Exchange under the ticker: PRTY. PartyGaming’s principal brands are: PartyPoker.com, PartyCasino.com, EmpirePoker.com, PartyBingo.com, PartyGammon.com, PartyBets.com, PartyMarkets.com and Gamebookers.com.
PartyGaming is regulated and licensed by the Government of Gibraltar and is certified by GamCare as a responsible gaming operator. For more information, please visit http://www.partygaming.com
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Monday, May 18, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Virgin Casino Promotions
The Virgin brand is one of the most famous in the world and is present in several different markets including, travel, telecoms and TV. They have recently entered the gaming market and now operate poker, bingo and casino games online.
Virgin Casino has quickly become one of the UK's leading online casino sites and is currently holding some excellent promotions and special offers. Here's a look at some of the best deal taking place at the site:
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Win tickets for the Royal Ascot - Wager £500 on your three favourite games to gain entry to the draw for this excellent prize! The tickets include a 4 course dinner and the full VIP treatment!
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Virgin Casino has quickly become one of the UK's leading online casino sites and is currently holding some excellent promotions and special offers. Here's a look at some of the best deal taking place at the site:
100% Welcome Bonus - You can't beat a cash match on first deposits, so make sure you don't miss out on this excellent deal!
Win tickets for the Royal Ascot - Wager £500 on your three favourite games to gain entry to the draw for this excellent prize! The tickets include a 4 course dinner and the full VIP treatment!
Monday Mania - Simply deposit £10 any time on a May Monday, and you will receive a free £10! Simply log in, go to my account, register a bonus, enter the code 'mania' and click the register button! Then deposit £10 and you will get your free tenner!
Terrific Tuesdays - Earn back 20% of your losses every week with this excellent deal. Follow the same instructions as above but enter the bonus code 'terrific'.
Subscribe to the Virgin Casino newsletter to gain entry to the weekend whopper promo's which are simply unmissable!
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Battle Brewing Over Dutch Treatment Of Betfair, by Earl Burton - Poker News Daily - 15th May 2009
The continuing battle over the online gaming and poker world isn’t limited to the United States alone. While at the same time being progressive in the regulation and taxation of the industry is accepted by some countries in Europe, other nations still are attempting to prohibit their citizens from participating in online poker and casino games. A recent article in the London Telegraph highlights this issue once again.
In a story from the Telegraph from earlier this week, Charlie McCreevy – the European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, which has vehemently monitored the online gaming industry across European borders – has threatened the Netherlands government for their tactics regarding the online gaming company Betfair. McCreevy believes that the Dutch nation is unfairly preventing Betfair from accepting action from the country for what he calls “protectionist” reasons. He has threatened to take his legal action all the way to the European Court of Justice, which is the judicial arm of the European Union.
The Telegraph article quotes Commissioner McCreevy as stating, “We believe the Dutch are in direct contravention of the rules of the internal markets and will be investigating the matter. The state has adopted a very protectionist approach to all forms of gambling.”
Betfair has been taking their own approach to affecting the laws of the Dutch government. Last week, the company filed a lawsuit against the Dutch Ministry of Justice that accused the Netherlands of blocking Betfair action in a “desperate move” to protect the position of De Lotto, the state gaming monopoly. Betfair claims it is allowed to accept bets from citizens of the Netherlands because it is a licensed operator in Europe and because Dutch residents are allowed to bet online with the governmentally operated lottery.
The Dutch, on the other hand, have claimed that it is illegal for the country’s banks to accept such betting action because Dutch laws do not allow for the licensing or operation of Internet gambling companies.
Commissioner McCreevy has been one of the people at the forefront of pushing for cohesive Internet gaming rights across the European continent. In the Telegraph article, he is quoted as saying, “We announced last year that at least ten of our member states were in contravention of internal market rules on gambling. While many members have engaged, the Dutch has completely failed to. There has been no progress at all.”
A look back at the tumultuous nature of online gaming and poker reveals that there is a tremendous uphill battle at stake for the online gaming and poker industry throughout the world. Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank is attempting to push legislation through the halls of Congress that would introduce regulation and taxation into the American landscape and halt the UIGEA, which was passed in 2006. Europe, however, is still wrestling with the issue.
While regulation has been accepted in some countries such as England, other countries have attempted to nationalize the operations for the benefit of their own countries and prevent the freedom of trade in online gaming. Nations such as France, Sweden, Germany, Denmark and Spain have been the major players in this nationalization effort, but some of those countries have changed their minds in the face of potential penalties or restrictions by the European Union through the Treaty of Commerce that all member nations have signed. In March, however, the EU admitted that they were unable to come to a comprehensive agreement regarding the streamlining of access to internet gaming across the continent. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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In a story from the Telegraph from earlier this week, Charlie McCreevy – the European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, which has vehemently monitored the online gaming industry across European borders – has threatened the Netherlands government for their tactics regarding the online gaming company Betfair. McCreevy believes that the Dutch nation is unfairly preventing Betfair from accepting action from the country for what he calls “protectionist” reasons. He has threatened to take his legal action all the way to the European Court of Justice, which is the judicial arm of the European Union.
The Telegraph article quotes Commissioner McCreevy as stating, “We believe the Dutch are in direct contravention of the rules of the internal markets and will be investigating the matter. The state has adopted a very protectionist approach to all forms of gambling.”
Betfair has been taking their own approach to affecting the laws of the Dutch government. Last week, the company filed a lawsuit against the Dutch Ministry of Justice that accused the Netherlands of blocking Betfair action in a “desperate move” to protect the position of De Lotto, the state gaming monopoly. Betfair claims it is allowed to accept bets from citizens of the Netherlands because it is a licensed operator in Europe and because Dutch residents are allowed to bet online with the governmentally operated lottery.
The Dutch, on the other hand, have claimed that it is illegal for the country’s banks to accept such betting action because Dutch laws do not allow for the licensing or operation of Internet gambling companies.
Commissioner McCreevy has been one of the people at the forefront of pushing for cohesive Internet gaming rights across the European continent. In the Telegraph article, he is quoted as saying, “We announced last year that at least ten of our member states were in contravention of internal market rules on gambling. While many members have engaged, the Dutch has completely failed to. There has been no progress at all.”
A look back at the tumultuous nature of online gaming and poker reveals that there is a tremendous uphill battle at stake for the online gaming and poker industry throughout the world. Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank is attempting to push legislation through the halls of Congress that would introduce regulation and taxation into the American landscape and halt the UIGEA, which was passed in 2006. Europe, however, is still wrestling with the issue.
While regulation has been accepted in some countries such as England, other countries have attempted to nationalize the operations for the benefit of their own countries and prevent the freedom of trade in online gaming. Nations such as France, Sweden, Germany, Denmark and Spain have been the major players in this nationalization effort, but some of those countries have changed their minds in the face of potential penalties or restrictions by the European Union through the Treaty of Commerce that all member nations have signed. In March, however, the EU admitted that they were unable to come to a comprehensive agreement regarding the streamlining of access to internet gaming across the continent. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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Thursday, May 14, 2009
Classic Slots Online - Most Popular Classic Slot Games
The Classic Slots Online, Casino News Media and Media Man Australia team have compiled data from years of experience and involvement in news media, publicity, internet and igaming fields and have found that the following are believed to be the most popular online slots released by Virgin Games:
Cleopatra
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Cluedo
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Virgin's Branson Supports The Prince Of Wales 'Frog' Campaign - Virgin Poker
Today (11th May 2009) Richard Branson pledged his support for the Prince of Wales “Frog” Campaign. Richard stated “As you all know, for many years I have been concerned with climate change and its impact. The plight of the world’s rainforests is a massive influence on this and perhaps the single most important factor in protecting our environment – that is why I have served on the steering group for this project.
“I will use my speeches and contacts to reinforce his message. The Prince is looking for public support across the globe by seeking millions of sign ups for his web based petition.”
Simon Burridge CEO of Virgin Games (poker, casino and bingo games) commented “This is another great initiative by Richard and The Prince of Wales. They are setting the standard when it comes to campaigning on climate change. Virgin Games is thrilled to be a part of helping bring awareness of the devastation that it’s having to rainforests all over the world.”
To find out more and get involved with the The Princes Rainforest Project please go to www.rainforestsos.org and pledge your support to saving the worlds rainforests.
About Virgin Games Virgin Games, a subsidiary of Virgin.com Ltd, launched in June 2004 and has quickly established itself as one of the leading gaming websites in the UK. Virgin Games comprises three distinct entertainment offerings, giving consumers the chance to play their favourite online games the Virgin way:
Virgin Casino, part of the Wagerworks network, provides a taste of Vegas online, with classic casino offerings like blackjack and roulette, as well as popular feature slots like Elvis, Cleopatra and Vegas, Baby!
Virgin Poker, offers a huge array of games and content for beginners through to experienced pros – as well as the most generous loyalty scheme in the industry. The successful Virgin Poker Festivals, which take place in casinos around the UK throughout the year, now allow gamers to experience the fun of Virgin Poker offline too.
Virgin Bingo offers cash prizes worth thousands of pounds in the progressive jackpots, as well as regular promotions and an unrivalled loyalty scheme.
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“I will use my speeches and contacts to reinforce his message. The Prince is looking for public support across the globe by seeking millions of sign ups for his web based petition.”
Simon Burridge CEO of Virgin Games (poker, casino and bingo games) commented “This is another great initiative by Richard and The Prince of Wales. They are setting the standard when it comes to campaigning on climate change. Virgin Games is thrilled to be a part of helping bring awareness of the devastation that it’s having to rainforests all over the world.”
To find out more and get involved with the The Princes Rainforest Project please go to www.rainforestsos.org and pledge your support to saving the worlds rainforests.
About Virgin Games Virgin Games, a subsidiary of Virgin.com Ltd, launched in June 2004 and has quickly established itself as one of the leading gaming websites in the UK. Virgin Games comprises three distinct entertainment offerings, giving consumers the chance to play their favourite online games the Virgin way:
Virgin Casino, part of the Wagerworks network, provides a taste of Vegas online, with classic casino offerings like blackjack and roulette, as well as popular feature slots like Elvis, Cleopatra and Vegas, Baby!
Virgin Poker, offers a huge array of games and content for beginners through to experienced pros – as well as the most generous loyalty scheme in the industry. The successful Virgin Poker Festivals, which take place in casinos around the UK throughout the year, now allow gamers to experience the fun of Virgin Poker offline too.
Virgin Bingo offers cash prizes worth thousands of pounds in the progressive jackpots, as well as regular promotions and an unrivalled loyalty scheme.
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Monday, May 11, 2009
Betfair goes to court over Dutch bank ban - 11th May 2009
One of Britain's biggest betting companies is taking the Dutch Government to court over its attempt to block Dutch banks from processing the payment of bets made over the internet.
Betfair, the betting exchange operator, which has been seeking a Dutch licence since 2004, described actions by the Ministry of Justice as "a desperate move" to protect the position of De Lotto, the Dutch state monopoly.
The ministry recently wrote to domestic banks claiming that, because Dutch laws did not allow for the licensing of internet gambling companies, it was "inappropriate for banks to provide facilities to the providers of illegal games of chance".
It urged the directors of the banks to terminate all relationships with internet gambling operators "within a reasonable timeframe".
Betfair maintains that it is entitled to accept bets from The Netherlands because Dutch residents are allowed to bet online with De Lotto and because it is a licensed operator in the EU, with licences in Britain and Malta.
Betfair managing director Mark Davies said the ministry's actions "fly in the face of the EU principles of open and fair competition", serving to protect De Lotto and keeping prices high.
The lawsuit by Betfair, which has also made a formal complaint to the European Commission, is the latest salvo in a battle over internet gambling in the EU. Ladbrokes has challenged several governments, including that of the Netherlands, and the EC itself has issued proceedings against the Dutch Government.
Betfair said the timing of the letters to the Dutch banks was "questionable" given that the European Court of Justice, to which cases involving Betfair and Ladbrokes had been referred, had yet to rule on the compatibility of the Dutch Betting & Gaming Act with EU law.
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Betfair, the betting exchange operator, which has been seeking a Dutch licence since 2004, described actions by the Ministry of Justice as "a desperate move" to protect the position of De Lotto, the Dutch state monopoly.
The ministry recently wrote to domestic banks claiming that, because Dutch laws did not allow for the licensing of internet gambling companies, it was "inappropriate for banks to provide facilities to the providers of illegal games of chance".
It urged the directors of the banks to terminate all relationships with internet gambling operators "within a reasonable timeframe".
Betfair maintains that it is entitled to accept bets from The Netherlands because Dutch residents are allowed to bet online with De Lotto and because it is a licensed operator in the EU, with licences in Britain and Malta.
Betfair managing director Mark Davies said the ministry's actions "fly in the face of the EU principles of open and fair competition", serving to protect De Lotto and keeping prices high.
The lawsuit by Betfair, which has also made a formal complaint to the European Commission, is the latest salvo in a battle over internet gambling in the EU. Ladbrokes has challenged several governments, including that of the Netherlands, and the EC itself has issued proceedings against the Dutch Government.
Betfair said the timing of the letters to the Dutch banks was "questionable" given that the European Court of Justice, to which cases involving Betfair and Ladbrokes had been referred, had yet to rule on the compatibility of the Dutch Betting & Gaming Act with EU law.
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Friday, May 08, 2009
European Union to Probe Dutch Online Gambling Ban - Gambling911 - 8th May 2009
The Netherlands has been fertile ground for hosting a series of affiliate conferences geared towards the online gambling community. But the Dutch Government over the past year has begun cracking down on the activity itself, taking a stance similar to that of the United States. Known for its tolerance of prostitution and pot, Holland wants to protect its own state run casino - the Holland Casino.
The European Union, expressing discord with America for its stance on Internet gambling, is beginning to realize they must first harness their own. Holland is a member of the European Union.
The EU has initiated an investigation into Dutch efforts to stop banks processing payments for online betting services, the Telegraaf reported on Friday.
'The European Commissioner has asked the appropriate services to start an investigation into the banking blockade,' a spokesman for commissioner Charlie McCreevy told the Telegraaf. 'As far as we are aware, the Netherlands is the only country in Europe to do such a thing.'
Holland's justice ministry ordered banks to stop accepting transactions for Internet gambling services or face potential legal action.
A survey in January said the Dutch are spending €450m a year on illegal internet gambling.
Yesterday, British online betting group Betfair said it was taking legal action. (Credit: Gambling911)
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The European Union, expressing discord with America for its stance on Internet gambling, is beginning to realize they must first harness their own. Holland is a member of the European Union.
The EU has initiated an investigation into Dutch efforts to stop banks processing payments for online betting services, the Telegraaf reported on Friday.
'The European Commissioner has asked the appropriate services to start an investigation into the banking blockade,' a spokesman for commissioner Charlie McCreevy told the Telegraaf. 'As far as we are aware, the Netherlands is the only country in Europe to do such a thing.'
Holland's justice ministry ordered banks to stop accepting transactions for Internet gambling services or face potential legal action.
A survey in January said the Dutch are spending €450m a year on illegal internet gambling.
Yesterday, British online betting group Betfair said it was taking legal action. (Credit: Gambling911)
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Thursday, May 07, 2009
Party Poker Releases Dates for Sports Stars Challenge IV, by Brett Collson - Poker News Daily - 7th May 2009
Party Poker has released the dates for its PartyPoker.com Sports Stars Challenge IV, one of the most popular televised poker tournaments in Europe. The event will run from May 29-June 1 and will feature some of the world’s biggest sports stars, both past and present, taking their seats at the table in hopes of becoming a poker champion.
The Sports Stars Challenge IV will include some of the world’s best in motorsports, golf, boxing, rugby and darts. There will also be an online qualifier added to the field for the first time ever. The number of heats will increase from six to seven, with the winner of each of the seven heats advancing to the final table to battle it out until one of them walks away with the title. The overall winner receives £20,000 with second getting £10,000 and third receiving £5,000.
The motorsport table will feature Italian F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella, while the golf heat will include both 2008 European Ryder Cup team member Graeme McDowell and Jean Van Der Velde. European football’s list of legends includes former Holland captain Frank De Boer, French World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf, Germany’s European Championship winner Thomas Helmer, Romania’s Florin Radiciou and Denmark and Liverpool legend Jan Molby.
Germany’s former unbeaten World Champion Sven Ottke will headline the boxing heat. He will be joined by Northern Ireland’s Commonwealth heavyweight and Prizefighter champion Martin Rogan and Poland’s female boxing champ Agnieska Rylik. The rugby heat will feature union’s former France and Wasps captain Raphael Ibanez and Australian league star Brad Drew, while the darts heat will pit legend Phil Taylor against Russia’s ladies champ Anastasia Dobromyslova.
PartyPoker.com players also had the chance to win a seat through a freeroll in the sports heat of their choice. The sports are European football (two heats), rugby (union and league combined), motorsport, boxing, darts and golf. Two online qualifiers will join each heat.
“We offered freerolls to win a seat in the event on the site”, a spokesperson for Party Poker said, “but the places were snapped up so quickly that we were loath to promote it too much to save the disappointment of players. This is a once in a lifetime experience for a select group to take to the felt with their sporting heroes. The overall lineup is the most diverse and international in the event’s history and more star participant names will be released in the near future.”
For the fourth consecutive year the event will be run by Matchroom Sport, a promotions company founded by English entrepreneur Barry Hearn. Matchroom Sport is typically involved in snooker and boxing events for the most part, but Hearn is thrilled to be involved in the Sports Stars challenge again.
“This is the poker event that the sporting world looks forward to and we have some great international names and great poker players competing for the trophy, big prize money and the ultimate bragging rights”, Hearn said. “We’re particularly excited to introduce the online element and the motorsport and golf heats this year.”
Past winners of Sports Stars Challenge are rugby union star Austin Healey, Irish snooker champion Ken Doherty, and television presenter Kara Scott, who won £20,000 last year after defeating Manchester United football legend Norman Whiteside heads-up. There is no presenter heat in the new format this year.
Coverage of the event will be aired in the UK later this year on Sky Sports and then distributed internationally. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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The Sports Stars Challenge IV will include some of the world’s best in motorsports, golf, boxing, rugby and darts. There will also be an online qualifier added to the field for the first time ever. The number of heats will increase from six to seven, with the winner of each of the seven heats advancing to the final table to battle it out until one of them walks away with the title. The overall winner receives £20,000 with second getting £10,000 and third receiving £5,000.
The motorsport table will feature Italian F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella, while the golf heat will include both 2008 European Ryder Cup team member Graeme McDowell and Jean Van Der Velde. European football’s list of legends includes former Holland captain Frank De Boer, French World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf, Germany’s European Championship winner Thomas Helmer, Romania’s Florin Radiciou and Denmark and Liverpool legend Jan Molby.
Germany’s former unbeaten World Champion Sven Ottke will headline the boxing heat. He will be joined by Northern Ireland’s Commonwealth heavyweight and Prizefighter champion Martin Rogan and Poland’s female boxing champ Agnieska Rylik. The rugby heat will feature union’s former France and Wasps captain Raphael Ibanez and Australian league star Brad Drew, while the darts heat will pit legend Phil Taylor against Russia’s ladies champ Anastasia Dobromyslova.
PartyPoker.com players also had the chance to win a seat through a freeroll in the sports heat of their choice. The sports are European football (two heats), rugby (union and league combined), motorsport, boxing, darts and golf. Two online qualifiers will join each heat.
“We offered freerolls to win a seat in the event on the site”, a spokesperson for Party Poker said, “but the places were snapped up so quickly that we were loath to promote it too much to save the disappointment of players. This is a once in a lifetime experience for a select group to take to the felt with their sporting heroes. The overall lineup is the most diverse and international in the event’s history and more star participant names will be released in the near future.”
For the fourth consecutive year the event will be run by Matchroom Sport, a promotions company founded by English entrepreneur Barry Hearn. Matchroom Sport is typically involved in snooker and boxing events for the most part, but Hearn is thrilled to be involved in the Sports Stars challenge again.
“This is the poker event that the sporting world looks forward to and we have some great international names and great poker players competing for the trophy, big prize money and the ultimate bragging rights”, Hearn said. “We’re particularly excited to introduce the online element and the motorsport and golf heats this year.”
Past winners of Sports Stars Challenge are rugby union star Austin Healey, Irish snooker champion Ken Doherty, and television presenter Kara Scott, who won £20,000 last year after defeating Manchester United football legend Norman Whiteside heads-up. There is no presenter heat in the new format this year.
Coverage of the event will be aired in the UK later this year on Sky Sports and then distributed internationally. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Swiss To Offer Online Gambling Licenses - iGaming Business - 5th May 2009
In Switzerland, the Government has announced plans to liberalise its online gambling market by offering operators a limited number of licenses while keeping a ban on wagers placed through telephone and interactive television.
The proposals are the idea of the Justice Ministry in response to the increasing number of illegal online money games but any changes would be subject to the approval of the Swiss Parliament.
The plan would also tighten measures against other forms of illegal gambling, which could see the Swiss run afoul of the European Commission for seeming to give preferential treatment to locally licensed providers over those based in other Member States.
According to an article from news portal SwissInfo.ch, new forms of gambling in Switzerland could see the Government generate tax revenues of up to $22 million a year.
The Swiss decision comes hard on the heels of Denmark’s announcement last week that it would be presenting proposals that would, if passed, end the 60-year gaming monopoly of the State-owned Danske Spil organisation. (Credit: iGaming Business)
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The proposals are the idea of the Justice Ministry in response to the increasing number of illegal online money games but any changes would be subject to the approval of the Swiss Parliament.
The plan would also tighten measures against other forms of illegal gambling, which could see the Swiss run afoul of the European Commission for seeming to give preferential treatment to locally licensed providers over those based in other Member States.
According to an article from news portal SwissInfo.ch, new forms of gambling in Switzerland could see the Government generate tax revenues of up to $22 million a year.
The Swiss decision comes hard on the heels of Denmark’s announcement last week that it would be presenting proposals that would, if passed, end the 60-year gaming monopoly of the State-owned Danske Spil organisation. (Credit: iGaming Business)
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Online poker: Five card clicks, by Rob Sharp - The Independent - 6th May 2009
Virtual casinos bring the game right to your laptop. As The Independent launches its own poker league, Rob Sharp discovers why online gambling is becoming an even bigger deal
In a dusty room that has never seen the light of day, a concerned-looking man sits nervously behind a computer screen. He takes a moment to assess another man, who sits at a terminal nearby. They are locked into an anxious battle of wills. The first man looks his opponent slowly up and down, before quietly clicking on the computer mouse beside him.The two men are showcasing Virgin Poker, Virgin’s online poker gaming website, at Aspers, a casino in central Newcastle.
There are few things that would tempt out journalists on such a drab day in the North East, but online poker is big business. One million people gamble using the controversial card game in the UK each year, part of a global industry worth over £1bn. By logging on to virgingames.com or PokerStars.com competitors can emulate their poker-playing heroes from the comfort of their bedrooms. An increase in the tax on poker profits from 15 to 50 per cent, announced in last month’s Budget, will clip the wings of traditional poker operators. But many online poker companies, including Virgin Poker, are based offshore and are thus exempt.
While encouraging people to gamble responsibly, today The Independent, in a joint venture with Virgin Poker, launches its own poker league via independent.co.uk. “Nowadays there are over half a million regular online poker players logging on and playing,” says Joe Legge, poker product manager at Virgin Games. “For some, it’s their profession but for most it’s a form of entertainment that is mentally stimulating and doesn’t have to involve risking a lot of money. The Independent’s poker league is a great extension of our commitment to the social side of poker playing. ”Steph Boyd, from Darvel near Glasgow, known simply by the gaming moniker of “mole man”, is one of the people who relies on poker playing online for his entire income, not just for entertainment.
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In 2006, his first year of professional play, he claims to have made £1.5m. “It’s a great lifestyle, it’s a great job,” he says, sat at a traditional poker table close to the online gamers in Newcastle. “To be honest, there are not a lot of other jobs I could do. Before I turned professional I worked as a fitness instructor, but then I made a serious amount of money in a very short space of time.” Three years ago, he created a bank account and deposited into it £1,000 to fund his poker. Soon he was able to regularly withdraw a monthly salary of £200. Before long he gave up his job to turn to poker full-time. Needless to say, for every poker tale of rags to riches there is another ending in ruin.
Former mayor Jayne Yeomans was jailed last month for stealing almost £65,000 to fund her online poker addiction. In an effort to cover her tracks, the 49-year-old forged her husband’s signature and remortgaged their house to raise £25,000 to pay some of it back. Kara Scott, who hosts the television coverage online of the PokerStars European Poker tour, plays at least three hours of online poker a day. She thinks cases such as Yeomans’ are not representative and give a misleading impression of the world of online poker players. “I think there are people out there with really addictive personalities who get addicted to anything,” she says. “Some people are always going to take it too far.
Thankfully, there are organisations out there [such as GamCare.org.uk] you can get in touch with. And with most online poker sites you can select the option to deny yourself. You effectively tell the site about your problem and they will block you for six months or a year so that you can’t get back on.” As a condition of handing out poker licenses, the British government’s Gambling Commission insists poker companies encourage socially responsible gambling. Operators must verify people’s ages before allowing them to play (in the UK players must be 18 or over) and provide as much information about socially responsible gambling on their websites as possible.
Players are encouraged to contact a charity such as GamCare if they feel they have an unhealthy interest in online gambling (or are using it to escape from their problems, become restless when they are not playing, or continually try to stop but can’t). Virgin Games is licenced and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, the Channel Islands’ own regulatory body for poker. Boyd is confident that for him, gambling is only a positive thing, and that he has found a way of making his online habit work for him. “My priorities are my wife and three kids. I have luckily been able to buy a new house and that is a great thing to have at my stage in life. My online poker playing is a wee bit of fun.
So far, it has been very good to me. It just seems to be common sense for me to keep going. My wife went to university three years ago and hopes to start a new job in finance. All in all, she has been very supportive.” Playing at home also has advantages for Scott. “I can see how coming to somewhere like Newcastle to compete in a traditional poker tournament with lots of burly men might be intimidating to some women,” she says. “That fear is definitely circumnavigated by playing online. And you do get a few men who do some really inappropriate things. Yesterday there was a drunk man among the crowd of people asking for my autograph. He asked me to autograph his penis. I said no. What I should have said is, ‘Do you want me to initial it?’”
Poker people: Winners and losers
* Chris Moneymaker, an American accountant, won a seat at the 2003 World Series of Poker after playing a satellite tournament in the PokerStars online poker room. It cost him $39 to enter the first game; he ended up netting the $2.5m first prize at the global tournament. “It's a contentious issue whether poker is actually gambling,” he says.
* Zachary Gruneberg, a 19-year-old player from Pennsylvania, dropped out of university last month to pursue a career as a professional poker player. In January he won $250,000 at Australia’s 2009 Aussie Millions Poker Championship. He’s too young to gamble legally in the US, so instead, he spends his time playing online. “There'd be days where I'd play 10-plus hours of poker online at school,” he says. “While you're playing, you can do so much other stuff. You can watch a TV show, talk to your friends, be on Facebook. It's all about multi-tasking.”
* Roy ‘the Boy’ Brindley, born in Dorking, Surrey, left a career training greyhounds to win £1m in online poker over an eight-year period. In his autobiography, ‘Life’s a Gamble’, he admits that gambling addiction has rendered him homeless at points in his life. Nevertheless: “To me, it’s massively satisfying. I was never good at sports and was 30 when I discovered a game that I could win at,” he says.
* Christopher Proudfoot, a finance controller, siphoned £1m of his employer’s money into his bank account between December 2004 and January 2008 to fund his habit. The 28-year-old fraudster, who now lives with his parents in Inverness, pleaded guilty in February to embezzling the cash. “The problem with some of these sites is when you win big they have their own way of getting it back,” he says. “When you’ve won a fair amount of money you can’t easily get it back. They don’t let you withdraw without letting everyone you are playing with no, so you carry on competing.” (Credit: The Independent)
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In a dusty room that has never seen the light of day, a concerned-looking man sits nervously behind a computer screen. He takes a moment to assess another man, who sits at a terminal nearby. They are locked into an anxious battle of wills. The first man looks his opponent slowly up and down, before quietly clicking on the computer mouse beside him.The two men are showcasing Virgin Poker, Virgin’s online poker gaming website, at Aspers, a casino in central Newcastle.
There are few things that would tempt out journalists on such a drab day in the North East, but online poker is big business. One million people gamble using the controversial card game in the UK each year, part of a global industry worth over £1bn. By logging on to virgingames.com or PokerStars.com competitors can emulate their poker-playing heroes from the comfort of their bedrooms. An increase in the tax on poker profits from 15 to 50 per cent, announced in last month’s Budget, will clip the wings of traditional poker operators. But many online poker companies, including Virgin Poker, are based offshore and are thus exempt.
While encouraging people to gamble responsibly, today The Independent, in a joint venture with Virgin Poker, launches its own poker league via independent.co.uk. “Nowadays there are over half a million regular online poker players logging on and playing,” says Joe Legge, poker product manager at Virgin Games. “For some, it’s their profession but for most it’s a form of entertainment that is mentally stimulating and doesn’t have to involve risking a lot of money. The Independent’s poker league is a great extension of our commitment to the social side of poker playing. ”Steph Boyd, from Darvel near Glasgow, known simply by the gaming moniker of “mole man”, is one of the people who relies on poker playing online for his entire income, not just for entertainment.
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In 2006, his first year of professional play, he claims to have made £1.5m. “It’s a great lifestyle, it’s a great job,” he says, sat at a traditional poker table close to the online gamers in Newcastle. “To be honest, there are not a lot of other jobs I could do. Before I turned professional I worked as a fitness instructor, but then I made a serious amount of money in a very short space of time.” Three years ago, he created a bank account and deposited into it £1,000 to fund his poker. Soon he was able to regularly withdraw a monthly salary of £200. Before long he gave up his job to turn to poker full-time. Needless to say, for every poker tale of rags to riches there is another ending in ruin.
Former mayor Jayne Yeomans was jailed last month for stealing almost £65,000 to fund her online poker addiction. In an effort to cover her tracks, the 49-year-old forged her husband’s signature and remortgaged their house to raise £25,000 to pay some of it back. Kara Scott, who hosts the television coverage online of the PokerStars European Poker tour, plays at least three hours of online poker a day. She thinks cases such as Yeomans’ are not representative and give a misleading impression of the world of online poker players. “I think there are people out there with really addictive personalities who get addicted to anything,” she says. “Some people are always going to take it too far.
Thankfully, there are organisations out there [such as GamCare.org.uk] you can get in touch with. And with most online poker sites you can select the option to deny yourself. You effectively tell the site about your problem and they will block you for six months or a year so that you can’t get back on.” As a condition of handing out poker licenses, the British government’s Gambling Commission insists poker companies encourage socially responsible gambling. Operators must verify people’s ages before allowing them to play (in the UK players must be 18 or over) and provide as much information about socially responsible gambling on their websites as possible.
Players are encouraged to contact a charity such as GamCare if they feel they have an unhealthy interest in online gambling (or are using it to escape from their problems, become restless when they are not playing, or continually try to stop but can’t). Virgin Games is licenced and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, the Channel Islands’ own regulatory body for poker. Boyd is confident that for him, gambling is only a positive thing, and that he has found a way of making his online habit work for him. “My priorities are my wife and three kids. I have luckily been able to buy a new house and that is a great thing to have at my stage in life. My online poker playing is a wee bit of fun.
So far, it has been very good to me. It just seems to be common sense for me to keep going. My wife went to university three years ago and hopes to start a new job in finance. All in all, she has been very supportive.” Playing at home also has advantages for Scott. “I can see how coming to somewhere like Newcastle to compete in a traditional poker tournament with lots of burly men might be intimidating to some women,” she says. “That fear is definitely circumnavigated by playing online. And you do get a few men who do some really inappropriate things. Yesterday there was a drunk man among the crowd of people asking for my autograph. He asked me to autograph his penis. I said no. What I should have said is, ‘Do you want me to initial it?’”
Poker people: Winners and losers
* Chris Moneymaker, an American accountant, won a seat at the 2003 World Series of Poker after playing a satellite tournament in the PokerStars online poker room. It cost him $39 to enter the first game; he ended up netting the $2.5m first prize at the global tournament. “It's a contentious issue whether poker is actually gambling,” he says.
* Zachary Gruneberg, a 19-year-old player from Pennsylvania, dropped out of university last month to pursue a career as a professional poker player. In January he won $250,000 at Australia’s 2009 Aussie Millions Poker Championship. He’s too young to gamble legally in the US, so instead, he spends his time playing online. “There'd be days where I'd play 10-plus hours of poker online at school,” he says. “While you're playing, you can do so much other stuff. You can watch a TV show, talk to your friends, be on Facebook. It's all about multi-tasking.”
* Roy ‘the Boy’ Brindley, born in Dorking, Surrey, left a career training greyhounds to win £1m in online poker over an eight-year period. In his autobiography, ‘Life’s a Gamble’, he admits that gambling addiction has rendered him homeless at points in his life. Nevertheless: “To me, it’s massively satisfying. I was never good at sports and was 30 when I discovered a game that I could win at,” he says.
* Christopher Proudfoot, a finance controller, siphoned £1m of his employer’s money into his bank account between December 2004 and January 2008 to fund his habit. The 28-year-old fraudster, who now lives with his parents in Inverness, pleaded guilty in February to embezzling the cash. “The problem with some of these sites is when you win big they have their own way of getting it back,” he says. “When you’ve won a fair amount of money you can’t easily get it back. They don’t let you withdraw without letting everyone you are playing with no, so you carry on competing.” (Credit: The Independent)
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Sunday, May 03, 2009
Poker in the Park III Announced for August 13th & 14th
Europe's largest poker festival returns to London's Leicester Square this summer
April 8, 2009 (London, UK) -- Europe's largest free poker festival, Poker in the Park, will return to the middle of Leicester Square Park this summer. The third incarnation of consumer poker fair will take place on Thursday & Friday, August 13th and 14th.
This year promises to be even bigger and better than last year, with plenty of free live poker tournaments on offer, as well as live lectures and autograph signings from big name pros, plus all manner of discounted poker merchandise on sale.
Last year 10,000 people swarmed into the marquees in Leicester Square to play poker for free and listen to talks from the pros, including Devilfish, Neil Channing, Ian Frazer, Marc Goodwin, Paul Jackson and Nik Persaud. This year promises more big name players and exhibitions from some of the most exciting brands in the poker industry.
Bluff Europe's Editor-in-Chief Michael Caselli said, "Poker in the Park is about bringing poker enthusiasts from all over the UK together to meet their poker heroes, improve their play and play poker absolutely free with other lovers of the game from all around the nation."
###
Companies interested in sponsoring the event should contact:
Ed Whittington
Lyceum Publishing
Ed.whittngton@lyceumpublishing.com
+44 (0) 207 828 6988
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April 8, 2009 (London, UK) -- Europe's largest free poker festival, Poker in the Park, will return to the middle of Leicester Square Park this summer. The third incarnation of consumer poker fair will take place on Thursday & Friday, August 13th and 14th.
This year promises to be even bigger and better than last year, with plenty of free live poker tournaments on offer, as well as live lectures and autograph signings from big name pros, plus all manner of discounted poker merchandise on sale.
Last year 10,000 people swarmed into the marquees in Leicester Square to play poker for free and listen to talks from the pros, including Devilfish, Neil Channing, Ian Frazer, Marc Goodwin, Paul Jackson and Nik Persaud. This year promises more big name players and exhibitions from some of the most exciting brands in the poker industry.
Bluff Europe's Editor-in-Chief Michael Caselli said, "Poker in the Park is about bringing poker enthusiasts from all over the UK together to meet their poker heroes, improve their play and play poker absolutely free with other lovers of the game from all around the nation."
###
Companies interested in sponsoring the event should contact:
Ed Whittington
Lyceum Publishing
Ed.whittngton@lyceumpublishing.com
+44 (0) 207 828 6988
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Thursday, April 30, 2009
Levy threat to overseas gambling groups, by Roger Blitz - Financial Times - 30th April 2009
Overseas-based gambling operators face having to pay millions of pounds in levies to support horseracing and research into gambling addiction, under new regulations being considered by ministers.
MPs have complained about the unfairness of British-based operators paying such levies while operators licensed offshore are allowed to advertise their products in the UK, yet pay nothing.
The view is shared by UK-based bookmakers who this week agreed to a further year of contributions to the Horserace Betting Levy, amounting to 10 per cent of their gross profits and adding up to about £100m ($148m).
Gerry Sutcliffe, sports minister, will announce on Thursday a review by the Gambling Commission and civil servants aimed at creating a fairer system of payments and “a more level playing field between British businesses and their overseas counterparts”.
As well as contributing to the horseracing levy, companies that have offshore servers such as PartyGaming, 888, Sportingbet and Betfair could be expected to help pay for regulating the industry and the treatment of problem gambling.
But the review faces complex issues, such as whether it would be possible to distinguish between the profits offshore companies make from UK and non-UK punters in order to determine the levy.
Mr Sutcliffe said the remit would also look into issues such as allegations of match fixing and what gambling operators are doing to preserve the integrity of sport.
He has already beefed up the commission’s investigations into betting irregularities by bringing in outside experts from sport, the betting industry and the police.
The commission and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will also review the controls introduced in the 2005 Gambling Act that created a regulated market for online operators.
Since September 2007, companies licensed in UK-recognised licensing jurisdictions such as Alderney, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man have been allowed to advertise under regulations policed by the commission.
MPs have been pressing ministers to explain why vast amounts of the £1.4bn generated by online gambling in the UK goes abroad.
Mr Sutcliffe said the Gambling Act, though freeing up the industry, was aimed at protecting consumers.
“We have taken steps in the right direction, but technology is changing and attitudes are changing,” he said.
Mr Sutcliffe said he recognised that Britain’s gaming taxation regime discouraged operators from basing their servers in the UK, but the issue was one for the Treasury to examine. (Credit: Financial Times)
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MPs have complained about the unfairness of British-based operators paying such levies while operators licensed offshore are allowed to advertise their products in the UK, yet pay nothing.
The view is shared by UK-based bookmakers who this week agreed to a further year of contributions to the Horserace Betting Levy, amounting to 10 per cent of their gross profits and adding up to about £100m ($148m).
Gerry Sutcliffe, sports minister, will announce on Thursday a review by the Gambling Commission and civil servants aimed at creating a fairer system of payments and “a more level playing field between British businesses and their overseas counterparts”.
As well as contributing to the horseracing levy, companies that have offshore servers such as PartyGaming, 888, Sportingbet and Betfair could be expected to help pay for regulating the industry and the treatment of problem gambling.
But the review faces complex issues, such as whether it would be possible to distinguish between the profits offshore companies make from UK and non-UK punters in order to determine the levy.
Mr Sutcliffe said the remit would also look into issues such as allegations of match fixing and what gambling operators are doing to preserve the integrity of sport.
He has already beefed up the commission’s investigations into betting irregularities by bringing in outside experts from sport, the betting industry and the police.
The commission and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will also review the controls introduced in the 2005 Gambling Act that created a regulated market for online operators.
Since September 2007, companies licensed in UK-recognised licensing jurisdictions such as Alderney, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man have been allowed to advertise under regulations policed by the commission.
MPs have been pressing ministers to explain why vast amounts of the £1.4bn generated by online gambling in the UK goes abroad.
Mr Sutcliffe said the Gambling Act, though freeing up the industry, was aimed at protecting consumers.
“We have taken steps in the right direction, but technology is changing and attitudes are changing,” he said.
Mr Sutcliffe said he recognised that Britain’s gaming taxation regime discouraged operators from basing their servers in the UK, but the issue was one for the Treasury to examine. (Credit: Financial Times)
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Poker fan Pete indulges in horseplay - The Shields Gazette - 30th April 2009
A Boldon man turned up to a North East poker festival dressed as a Grand National runner.
Pete Turner, 32, from East Boldon, made up in laughs what he lacked in poker luck – going out in the fifth level.
It was the second time the Virgin Poker festival has came to Newcastle, and saw both amateur and professional players competing for a slice of the £30,000 prize pot.
One group of players from South Shields turned up in full Newcastle United football strips, hoping their luck would change after the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.
However it was Ross Jarvis, 24, from London, who entered the last table with the most chips, and maintained his lead throughout the final leg, winning the Virgin Poker festival title and the top prize of £7,000.
Joe Legge, Poker Manager for Virgin Poker, said: "It was great to return to Aspers Casino for a second time and bring the fun of the Virgin Games experience to the people of North East England."
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Pete Turner, 32, from East Boldon, made up in laughs what he lacked in poker luck – going out in the fifth level.
It was the second time the Virgin Poker festival has came to Newcastle, and saw both amateur and professional players competing for a slice of the £30,000 prize pot.
One group of players from South Shields turned up in full Newcastle United football strips, hoping their luck would change after the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.
However it was Ross Jarvis, 24, from London, who entered the last table with the most chips, and maintained his lead throughout the final leg, winning the Virgin Poker festival title and the top prize of £7,000.
Joe Legge, Poker Manager for Virgin Poker, said: "It was great to return to Aspers Casino for a second time and bring the fun of the Virgin Games experience to the people of North East England."
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
PartyGaming executives are wealthiest online gambling entrepreneurs according to The Rich List
The Sunday Times internet rich list has revealed that four PartyGaming executives feature in the listing of the top 10 richest online business people.
The annual Rich List of Britain’s 1,000 wealthiest people was published yesterday and includes individuals and families who were born out of the UK but who predominantly work or live in Britain.
Online gaming executives featured heavily on the list, with PartyGaming founders Russ De Leon and Ruth Parasol ranking second place on the internet list with £700 million. Anurag Dikshit, group operations director for the company was third on the list with £559 million with marketing director Vikrant Bhargava was in ninth place with £230 million.
Founders of the Bet365 company Peter Coates and his daughter Denise were sixth on the list with an estimated £400 million each, with Betfair having three of their executives featuring in the top 20; founder Ed Wray was number 11 with £190 million, Andrew Black was 12th with £185 million and Rich Koch, equity investment manager, was 17th with £129 million.
However, the list was topped by founder and owner of the internet securities dealer CMC, Peter Cruddas, with an estimated wealth of £1 billion.
The recession also played a role in the listing this year, with the economic slowdown causing a total of £155 billion to be missing from the list compared to last year, which is the biggest fall since the richest online business people list was first compiled 21 years ago.
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The annual Rich List of Britain’s 1,000 wealthiest people was published yesterday and includes individuals and families who were born out of the UK but who predominantly work or live in Britain.
Online gaming executives featured heavily on the list, with PartyGaming founders Russ De Leon and Ruth Parasol ranking second place on the internet list with £700 million. Anurag Dikshit, group operations director for the company was third on the list with £559 million with marketing director Vikrant Bhargava was in ninth place with £230 million.
Founders of the Bet365 company Peter Coates and his daughter Denise were sixth on the list with an estimated £400 million each, with Betfair having three of their executives featuring in the top 20; founder Ed Wray was number 11 with £190 million, Andrew Black was 12th with £185 million and Rich Koch, equity investment manager, was 17th with £129 million.
However, the list was topped by founder and owner of the internet securities dealer CMC, Peter Cruddas, with an estimated wealth of £1 billion.
The recession also played a role in the listing this year, with the economic slowdown causing a total of £155 billion to be missing from the list compared to last year, which is the biggest fall since the richest online business people list was first compiled 21 years ago.
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
A New Chance for Online Gambling in the U.S., By Eric Pfanner - The New York Times - 26th April 2009
PARIS — Is online gambling coming in from the cold?
When the U.S. Congress cracked down on Internet betting in 2006, the big, publicly traded European companies that had dominated the business closed up shop in the United States. Growth in the booming industry shifted away from these companies, once the darlings of the stock market, to private operators in offshore locations like Antigua and the Isle of Man.
But now, executives of some of the European companies whisper excitedly that they may soon get a second chance in the United States. Meanwhile, a number of European countries that have long maintained barriers are moving, under pressure from regulators, to legalize, and tax, online gambling.
“There’s still a lot of gambling going on, where there’s no revenue coming in to the governments,” said Gavin Kelleher, an analyst at the research firm H2 Gambling Capital in Ireland. “They realize they could use the revenue.”
The biggest potential change would be in the United States, where, perhaps within days, Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, is expected to introduce legislation aimed at overturning the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
“He supports the repeal and wants to move forward on it,” said Steve Adamske, communications director for the House Financial Services Committee, of which Mr. Frank is chairman.
Mr. Frank tried and failed to do so once before, in 2007. But advocates of liberalization think they might get a friendlier hearing in Washington this time around. President Barack Obama, they note, boasted of his poker prowess during the election campaign. And the Democrats, who are seen as less hostile to Internet gambling than the Republicans, have tightened their grip on Congress.
A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers says the U.S. government could raise more than $50 billion over 10 years from taxes on legalized online gambling.
“I’d be amazed if it didn’t happen over the next two or three years,” said Clive Hawkswood, chief executive of the Remote Gambling Association, a trade group based in London. “It’s just a question of what exactly the regulations will say.”
Some analysts say that may be getting a little bit ahead of the game. Opponents of a repeal, including the Christian Coalition of America and the National Football League, have vowed to fight any new effort to end the ban.
Michele Combs, a spokeswoman for the Christian Coalition, said the group was gearing up for a “massive campaign” of letter-writing and lobbying to try to prevent any loosening of the law.
“We’re not saying people shouldn’t go to Las Vegas,” she said. “But when it’s in your home, it’s too easy. It breaks up families.”
U.S. sports leagues, meanwhile, worry that the ease of online betting increases the chances of game-fixing. Even the most bullish advocates of online gambling acknowledge that Internet sports betting — as opposed to poker or casino games — is highly unlikely to be legalized.
“There’s a better chance now for some sort of gaming legislation to be approved,” said Nick Batram, an analyst at KBC Peel Hunt, a brokerage firm in London. “But it took longer than expected to put anti-gaming legislation in place, and it will probably will take longer than expected to remove it.”
Since the 2006 law was passed, North America, once the biggest market, has been passed by Europe and Asia, according to figures from H2 Gambling Capital. The law makes it illegal for financial institutions to handle payments to online gambling sites. But enough people have found ways around it, some by using overseas payment processors, to ensure that online gambling remains a thriving business. H2 says online gambling generated revenue of $6 billion last year in North America, more than a quarter the global total of $22.6 billion, up from $17.6 billion in 2006.
Pulling out of the United States cost PartyGaming about three-quarters of its business. Its position as the biggest online poker provider has been taken over by PokerStars, a privately held operator based on the Isle of Man.
This month, PartyGaming agreed to a $105 million settlement with the U.S. attorney’s office in New York, involving the period before 2006, when it acknowledged that its activities had been “contrary to certain U.S. laws.” In turn, the U.S. authorities agreed not to prosecute the company, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, or its executives.
The agreement fueled speculation that PartyGaming might be trying to position itself for a return to the U.S. market, if online gambling were legalized.
Analysts say one possibility for European companies like PartyGaming, should the ban be lifted, would be to form partnerships with American casino operators. That would allow the European companies to share their online expertise. Operating alone, they might struggle to obtain licenses, given their history of run-ins with U.S. law enforcement, analysts said.
“It’s my feeling that even if the market were opened up, the U.S. government, in a palatable way, would probably find a way to give local companies a favorable position,” Mr. Batram said.
So far, Las Vegas executives have maintained a cautious stance about legalization of online gambling. Steve Wynn, chief executive of Wynn Resorts, said in an e-mail message that he thought it would be “impossible to regulate.”
“Even though it would be a benefit to our company, we are strongly opposed,” he said.
But speculation that Las Vegas casino operators were looking into the possibilities was fueled by recent reports that Harrah’s Entertainment, which owns Caesars Palace and other casinos, recently hired Mitch Garber, former chief executive of PartyGaming, for an unspecified role. Harrah’s did not return calls.
Mr. Ryan said that PartyGaming planned to focus on acquisition opportunities to increase its market share in Europe and elsewhere, something that was difficult as long as investors were worried about the U.S. litigation. “We think Mr. Frank’s efforts are quite meaningful to the sector,” he said.
Several other online gambling companies whose shares are traded in London, including 888 Holdings and Sportingbet, are still in talks with the U.S. Justice Department. Analysts expect them, along with companies like Bwin International, whose stock is traded in Vienna, to be involved in a round of consolidation in the industry — along with a possible eventual move back into the United States.
As they await developments in Washington, online gambling companies are looking for growth in Europe and Asia. Under pressure from regulators in Brussels, several European Union members, including France, Italy, Spain and Denmark, have been moving to legalize some kinds of online gambling, turning it into a regulated and taxed business. Britain was the first big European country to do so, in 2005.
Other countries, like Germany, Greece and the Netherlands, continue to hold out, though, in what the European Commission sees as an effort to protect government-sponsored gambling monopolies from private competition.
The commission in March published a report arguing that the United States was violating World Trade Organization rules by keeping out European online gambling companies, given that online betting on horse racing is permitted in the United States. But the commission said that it favored negotiations, rather than legal action, to end the dispute.
Also in March, however, the European Parliament adopted a separate measure supporting the right of individual E.U. member states to make their own rules on online gambling.
“It’s interesting that the European Commission is telling the U.S. it’s persecuting European companies when it can’t even get its own house sorted out,” Mr. Batram said.
(Credit: The New York Times)
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When the U.S. Congress cracked down on Internet betting in 2006, the big, publicly traded European companies that had dominated the business closed up shop in the United States. Growth in the booming industry shifted away from these companies, once the darlings of the stock market, to private operators in offshore locations like Antigua and the Isle of Man.
But now, executives of some of the European companies whisper excitedly that they may soon get a second chance in the United States. Meanwhile, a number of European countries that have long maintained barriers are moving, under pressure from regulators, to legalize, and tax, online gambling.
“There’s still a lot of gambling going on, where there’s no revenue coming in to the governments,” said Gavin Kelleher, an analyst at the research firm H2 Gambling Capital in Ireland. “They realize they could use the revenue.”
The biggest potential change would be in the United States, where, perhaps within days, Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, is expected to introduce legislation aimed at overturning the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
“He supports the repeal and wants to move forward on it,” said Steve Adamske, communications director for the House Financial Services Committee, of which Mr. Frank is chairman.
Mr. Frank tried and failed to do so once before, in 2007. But advocates of liberalization think they might get a friendlier hearing in Washington this time around. President Barack Obama, they note, boasted of his poker prowess during the election campaign. And the Democrats, who are seen as less hostile to Internet gambling than the Republicans, have tightened their grip on Congress.
A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers says the U.S. government could raise more than $50 billion over 10 years from taxes on legalized online gambling.
“I’d be amazed if it didn’t happen over the next two or three years,” said Clive Hawkswood, chief executive of the Remote Gambling Association, a trade group based in London. “It’s just a question of what exactly the regulations will say.”
Some analysts say that may be getting a little bit ahead of the game. Opponents of a repeal, including the Christian Coalition of America and the National Football League, have vowed to fight any new effort to end the ban.
Michele Combs, a spokeswoman for the Christian Coalition, said the group was gearing up for a “massive campaign” of letter-writing and lobbying to try to prevent any loosening of the law.
“We’re not saying people shouldn’t go to Las Vegas,” she said. “But when it’s in your home, it’s too easy. It breaks up families.”
U.S. sports leagues, meanwhile, worry that the ease of online betting increases the chances of game-fixing. Even the most bullish advocates of online gambling acknowledge that Internet sports betting — as opposed to poker or casino games — is highly unlikely to be legalized.
“There’s a better chance now for some sort of gaming legislation to be approved,” said Nick Batram, an analyst at KBC Peel Hunt, a brokerage firm in London. “But it took longer than expected to put anti-gaming legislation in place, and it will probably will take longer than expected to remove it.”
Since the 2006 law was passed, North America, once the biggest market, has been passed by Europe and Asia, according to figures from H2 Gambling Capital. The law makes it illegal for financial institutions to handle payments to online gambling sites. But enough people have found ways around it, some by using overseas payment processors, to ensure that online gambling remains a thriving business. H2 says online gambling generated revenue of $6 billion last year in North America, more than a quarter the global total of $22.6 billion, up from $17.6 billion in 2006.
Pulling out of the United States cost PartyGaming about three-quarters of its business. Its position as the biggest online poker provider has been taken over by PokerStars, a privately held operator based on the Isle of Man.
This month, PartyGaming agreed to a $105 million settlement with the U.S. attorney’s office in New York, involving the period before 2006, when it acknowledged that its activities had been “contrary to certain U.S. laws.” In turn, the U.S. authorities agreed not to prosecute the company, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, or its executives.
The agreement fueled speculation that PartyGaming might be trying to position itself for a return to the U.S. market, if online gambling were legalized.
Analysts say one possibility for European companies like PartyGaming, should the ban be lifted, would be to form partnerships with American casino operators. That would allow the European companies to share their online expertise. Operating alone, they might struggle to obtain licenses, given their history of run-ins with U.S. law enforcement, analysts said.
“It’s my feeling that even if the market were opened up, the U.S. government, in a palatable way, would probably find a way to give local companies a favorable position,” Mr. Batram said.
So far, Las Vegas executives have maintained a cautious stance about legalization of online gambling. Steve Wynn, chief executive of Wynn Resorts, said in an e-mail message that he thought it would be “impossible to regulate.”
“Even though it would be a benefit to our company, we are strongly opposed,” he said.
But speculation that Las Vegas casino operators were looking into the possibilities was fueled by recent reports that Harrah’s Entertainment, which owns Caesars Palace and other casinos, recently hired Mitch Garber, former chief executive of PartyGaming, for an unspecified role. Harrah’s did not return calls.
Mr. Ryan said that PartyGaming planned to focus on acquisition opportunities to increase its market share in Europe and elsewhere, something that was difficult as long as investors were worried about the U.S. litigation. “We think Mr. Frank’s efforts are quite meaningful to the sector,” he said.
Several other online gambling companies whose shares are traded in London, including 888 Holdings and Sportingbet, are still in talks with the U.S. Justice Department. Analysts expect them, along with companies like Bwin International, whose stock is traded in Vienna, to be involved in a round of consolidation in the industry — along with a possible eventual move back into the United States.
As they await developments in Washington, online gambling companies are looking for growth in Europe and Asia. Under pressure from regulators in Brussels, several European Union members, including France, Italy, Spain and Denmark, have been moving to legalize some kinds of online gambling, turning it into a regulated and taxed business. Britain was the first big European country to do so, in 2005.
Other countries, like Germany, Greece and the Netherlands, continue to hold out, though, in what the European Commission sees as an effort to protect government-sponsored gambling monopolies from private competition.
The commission in March published a report arguing that the United States was violating World Trade Organization rules by keeping out European online gambling companies, given that online betting on horse racing is permitted in the United States. But the commission said that it favored negotiations, rather than legal action, to end the dispute.
Also in March, however, the European Parliament adopted a separate measure supporting the right of individual E.U. member states to make their own rules on online gambling.
“It’s interesting that the European Commission is telling the U.S. it’s persecuting European companies when it can’t even get its own house sorted out,” Mr. Batram said.
(Credit: The New York Times)
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William Hill Intends to Move Jobs Offshore - Gambling911 - 27th April 2009
In a blow to the British government, the number two largest bookmaker, William Hill, has threatened to move approximately 90 jobs in the Internet division offshore.
Bookmakers warned the chancellor, Alistair Darling, before the Budget that increases in gross profits tax on betting would stifle competitiveness, particularly for their online businesses, and force them to consider relocating staff, according to the Financial Times of London.
Last week, Darling increased the GPT on bingo from 15 per cent to 22 per cent.
Ralph Topping, the William Hill chief executive who was part of a bookmakers' delegation to the Treasury last month, has said that "relocation" is a "live issue".
"Do we look at that situation constantly? Yes," Mr Topping told the Financial Times. "Considering how difficult it is to compete against offshore operators, you're never going to rule it out entirely."
William Hill, operator of 2,300 betting shops, employs 15,000 in the UK and other countries.
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Bookmakers warned the chancellor, Alistair Darling, before the Budget that increases in gross profits tax on betting would stifle competitiveness, particularly for their online businesses, and force them to consider relocating staff, according to the Financial Times of London.
Last week, Darling increased the GPT on bingo from 15 per cent to 22 per cent.
Ralph Topping, the William Hill chief executive who was part of a bookmakers' delegation to the Treasury last month, has said that "relocation" is a "live issue".
"Do we look at that situation constantly? Yes," Mr Topping told the Financial Times. "Considering how difficult it is to compete against offshore operators, you're never going to rule it out entirely."
William Hill, operator of 2,300 betting shops, employs 15,000 in the UK and other countries.
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Friday, April 24, 2009
Freeroll For Two Grand Prix De Paris Packages For Just 200 PartyPoints!
Win Two Grand Prix De Paris Packages At PartyPoker.com
200 PartyPoints Equals Entry Into Online Freeroll For Aviation Club Spectacular
22nd April 2009 – http://www.partypoker.com is offering the chance to win two packages for the prestigious Grand Prix de Paris at the Aviation Club through a special online satellite freeroll.
The Grand Prix de Paris takes place at Paris’ legendary home of poker between the 14th – 17th May 2009 and PartyPoker.com is hosting a special online satellite for two packages on Thursday 30th April at 20.00 CEST (19.00 BST, 14.00 EST). All you have to do to qualify is collect 200 PartyPoints between the 22nd – 28th April to take your seat.
A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “The Aviation Club is bang in the heart of Paris and has a rich history as one of Europe’s most famous poker venues. The Grand Prix de Paris has historically attracted a world class line-up and provides a unique poker experience. It is easy to have a shot at winning one of the two packages, all you have to do is earn 200 PartyPoints between 22nd – 28th April to earn entry into the online freeroll.”
Each of the two packages is worth $15,500 and covers the Main Event buy-in of €10,000, five nights’ accommodation at a luxury Paris hotel and $800 spending money. For more information see: http://www.partypoker.com/news/items/apc2009.html
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200 PartyPoints Equals Entry Into Online Freeroll For Aviation Club Spectacular
22nd April 2009 – http://www.partypoker.com is offering the chance to win two packages for the prestigious Grand Prix de Paris at the Aviation Club through a special online satellite freeroll.
The Grand Prix de Paris takes place at Paris’ legendary home of poker between the 14th – 17th May 2009 and PartyPoker.com is hosting a special online satellite for two packages on Thursday 30th April at 20.00 CEST (19.00 BST, 14.00 EST). All you have to do to qualify is collect 200 PartyPoints between the 22nd – 28th April to take your seat.
A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “The Aviation Club is bang in the heart of Paris and has a rich history as one of Europe’s most famous poker venues. The Grand Prix de Paris has historically attracted a world class line-up and provides a unique poker experience. It is easy to have a shot at winning one of the two packages, all you have to do is earn 200 PartyPoints between 22nd – 28th April to earn entry into the online freeroll.”
Each of the two packages is worth $15,500 and covers the Main Event buy-in of €10,000, five nights’ accommodation at a luxury Paris hotel and $800 spending money. For more information see: http://www.partypoker.com/news/items/apc2009.html
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Thursday, April 09, 2009
London Lad Strikes It Lucky!
London, 6th April, 2009 – Following the success of last year’s poker festival in the city, Virgin Poker held its second Newcastle poker event at Aspers Casino over the weekend. Over 200 poker enthusiasts took part in the exciting two-day live tournament setting sights on the impressive prize pot of over £30,000.
Having won a place at the tournament via a €150 buy-in at Virgin Poker, players at the main event took part in a Texas Hold’em No Limit Freezeout extravaganza to compete for their share of the prize pot. Ross Javis, London based journalist who writes for Poker Player magazine was the chip leader as he entered the final table and maintained his lead throughout the final leg securing him the Virgin Poker festival title and the impressive top prize of £7,000. Kris McLackland from Newcastle put up a good fight and walked away with second place prize money of £5,500.
To add a Virgin twist to the tournament, players in the main event were given the chance to knock-out professional poker opponents whose heads carried bounties of fantastic Virgin giveaways. Prizes included Virgin Rally Driving Days & Virgin Hot Air Ballooning.
For those not lucky enough to win a seat in the main tournament, there were a variety of side events on offer to give everyone the opportunity to get involved - regardless of their poker playing abilities. Practice tables offered ‘live play classes’ for less experienced players, whilst a Wii bowling battle for those who still wanted to prove their competitive streak.
Joe Legge, Poker Manager for Virgin Games Poker, said: “It was great to return to Aspers Casino for a second time and bring the fun of the Virgin Games experience to the people of Newcastle. Local residents, poker professionals and the Virgin Games staff entered into the spirit of the weekend and dressed to impress – outfits included, Newcastle football strip, a Las Vegas show girl and another wore a horse’s head to celebrate the Grand National. It’s all slightly crazy but all part of the fun and what makes the festivals such a great experience!’
For further images and information on the Virgin Poker Festivals visit http://www.virgingames.com/poker/festival.aspx
- Ends -
Main Event – Winners
Place Prize Winner
1st £7,000 Ross Jarvis
2nd £5,500 Kris McLackland
3rd £4,000 Andy Edgington
4th £3,000 Brian Clarke
5th £2,500 Richard Potts
6th £2,000 John Crawford
7th £1,500 Krzysztof Zawierucha
8th £1,000 Dave O’Connor
9th £750 Glenn Hopley
10th £400 Simon Kinnaird
Player Bounties - Winners
Player Bounty Winner
Maria Demetriou Guaranteed Entry to a £100K Tourney on Kris MaLackland
Virgingames.com/poker
Shelley Rubenstein Guaranteed Entry to a £100K Tourney on Anthony Cross
Virgingames.com/poker
Kara Scott £150 Virgin Voucher The Mole Nick Kris MaLackland
Wealthall £150 Virgin Voucher
About Virgin Games
Virgin Games, a subsidiary of Virgin.com Ltd, launched in June 2004 and has quickly established itself as one of the leading gaming websites in the UK. Virgin Games comprises three distinct entertainment offerings, giving consumers the chance to play their favourite online games the Virgin way:
• Virgin Casino, part of the Wagerworks network, provides a taste of Vegas online, with classic casino offerings like blackjack and roulette, as well as popular feature slots like Elvis, Cleopatra and Vegas, Baby!
• Virgin Poker, part of the Boss Media network, offers a huge array of games and content for beginners through to experienced pros – as well as the most generous loyalty scheme in the industry. The successful Virgin Poker Festivals, which take place in casinos around the UK throughout the year, now allow gamers to experience the fun of Virgin Poker offline too
• Virgin Bingo, part of the St Minver network, offers cash prizes worth thousands of pounds in the progressive jackpots, as well as regular promotions and an unrivalled loyalty scheme
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Having won a place at the tournament via a €150 buy-in at Virgin Poker, players at the main event took part in a Texas Hold’em No Limit Freezeout extravaganza to compete for their share of the prize pot. Ross Javis, London based journalist who writes for Poker Player magazine was the chip leader as he entered the final table and maintained his lead throughout the final leg securing him the Virgin Poker festival title and the impressive top prize of £7,000. Kris McLackland from Newcastle put up a good fight and walked away with second place prize money of £5,500.
To add a Virgin twist to the tournament, players in the main event were given the chance to knock-out professional poker opponents whose heads carried bounties of fantastic Virgin giveaways. Prizes included Virgin Rally Driving Days & Virgin Hot Air Ballooning.
For those not lucky enough to win a seat in the main tournament, there were a variety of side events on offer to give everyone the opportunity to get involved - regardless of their poker playing abilities. Practice tables offered ‘live play classes’ for less experienced players, whilst a Wii bowling battle for those who still wanted to prove their competitive streak.
Joe Legge, Poker Manager for Virgin Games Poker, said: “It was great to return to Aspers Casino for a second time and bring the fun of the Virgin Games experience to the people of Newcastle. Local residents, poker professionals and the Virgin Games staff entered into the spirit of the weekend and dressed to impress – outfits included, Newcastle football strip, a Las Vegas show girl and another wore a horse’s head to celebrate the Grand National. It’s all slightly crazy but all part of the fun and what makes the festivals such a great experience!’
For further images and information on the Virgin Poker Festivals visit http://www.virgingames.com/poker/festival.aspx
- Ends -
Main Event – Winners
Place Prize Winner
1st £7,000 Ross Jarvis
2nd £5,500 Kris McLackland
3rd £4,000 Andy Edgington
4th £3,000 Brian Clarke
5th £2,500 Richard Potts
6th £2,000 John Crawford
7th £1,500 Krzysztof Zawierucha
8th £1,000 Dave O’Connor
9th £750 Glenn Hopley
10th £400 Simon Kinnaird
Player Bounties - Winners
Player Bounty Winner
Maria Demetriou Guaranteed Entry to a £100K Tourney on Kris MaLackland
Virgingames.com/poker
Shelley Rubenstein Guaranteed Entry to a £100K Tourney on Anthony Cross
Virgingames.com/poker
Kara Scott £150 Virgin Voucher The Mole Nick Kris MaLackland
Wealthall £150 Virgin Voucher
About Virgin Games
Virgin Games, a subsidiary of Virgin.com Ltd, launched in June 2004 and has quickly established itself as one of the leading gaming websites in the UK. Virgin Games comprises three distinct entertainment offerings, giving consumers the chance to play their favourite online games the Virgin way:
• Virgin Casino, part of the Wagerworks network, provides a taste of Vegas online, with classic casino offerings like blackjack and roulette, as well as popular feature slots like Elvis, Cleopatra and Vegas, Baby!
• Virgin Poker, part of the Boss Media network, offers a huge array of games and content for beginners through to experienced pros – as well as the most generous loyalty scheme in the industry. The successful Virgin Poker Festivals, which take place in casinos around the UK throughout the year, now allow gamers to experience the fun of Virgin Poker offline too
• Virgin Bingo, part of the St Minver network, offers cash prizes worth thousands of pounds in the progressive jackpots, as well as regular promotions and an unrivalled loyalty scheme
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Wednesday, April 08, 2009
PartyGaming pays $105m to avoid US prosecution, by James Thompson - The Independent - 8th April 2009
Online poker firm PartyGaming yesterday vowed to go on the acquisition trail after it finally settled a legal dispute with US authorities that could eventually pave the way for it to return to the world's most lucrative market.
The settlement, which follows a two-year legal battle, means PartyGaming will not be prosecuted for providing "real money" internet gambling services for nine years prior to US legislation banning the activity in October 2006. However, PartyGaming has agreed to pay a penalty of $105m (£72m) in instalments over three and a half years. The verdict sent shares in PartyGaming soaring by 31p, or 14.16 per cent, to 250p yesterday. It also lifted rival online gaming companies, with 888 Holdings up by 7.8 per cent and Sportingbet higher by 13.25 per cent.
Jim Ryan, the chief executive of PartyGaming, said the settlement removed the uncertainty over its strategy and will help it secure financing to fund acquisitions. "We can now look at merger and acquisition opportunities and have access to capital markets," he said, though he declined to name takeover targets.
Mr Ryan believes PartyGaming will be well placed if, and when, the US authorities overturn legislation that prohibits online gambling.
PartyGaming will pay the first instalment of the $105m forfeiture on 10 April and the final payment is due on 30 September 2012. The company exited the US market after the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act came into force on 13 October 2006, effectively banning its business.
Nick Batram, the analyst at KBC Peel Hunt, said the size and payment structure of the settlement was "better than we expected". He added: "The settlement with the DoJ [Department of Justice] should mark a point of inflection for the group which can now look forward without being anchored by the past."
The settlement overshadowed PartyGaming's subdued first-quarter trading update. For the three months to 31 March 2009, group revenue fell by 22 per cent to $100.1m. Its poker revenues tumbled to $53.6m from $80.7m, as it faced new US entrants in Europe and foreign currency movements. (Credit: The Independent)
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The settlement, which follows a two-year legal battle, means PartyGaming will not be prosecuted for providing "real money" internet gambling services for nine years prior to US legislation banning the activity in October 2006. However, PartyGaming has agreed to pay a penalty of $105m (£72m) in instalments over three and a half years. The verdict sent shares in PartyGaming soaring by 31p, or 14.16 per cent, to 250p yesterday. It also lifted rival online gaming companies, with 888 Holdings up by 7.8 per cent and Sportingbet higher by 13.25 per cent.
Jim Ryan, the chief executive of PartyGaming, said the settlement removed the uncertainty over its strategy and will help it secure financing to fund acquisitions. "We can now look at merger and acquisition opportunities and have access to capital markets," he said, though he declined to name takeover targets.
Mr Ryan believes PartyGaming will be well placed if, and when, the US authorities overturn legislation that prohibits online gambling.
PartyGaming will pay the first instalment of the $105m forfeiture on 10 April and the final payment is due on 30 September 2012. The company exited the US market after the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act came into force on 13 October 2006, effectively banning its business.
Nick Batram, the analyst at KBC Peel Hunt, said the size and payment structure of the settlement was "better than we expected". He added: "The settlement with the DoJ [Department of Justice] should mark a point of inflection for the group which can now look forward without being anchored by the past."
The settlement overshadowed PartyGaming's subdued first-quarter trading update. For the three months to 31 March 2009, group revenue fell by 22 per cent to $100.1m. Its poker revenues tumbled to $53.6m from $80.7m, as it faced new US entrants in Europe and foreign currency movements. (Credit: The Independent)
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PartyGaming goes straight, by Jeremy Warne - The Independent - 8th April 2009
Outlook
PartyGaming was the biggest of a slew of online betting sites that floated on the London stock market four or five years back. What made these IPOs odd, to put it mildly, was that they were based on a largely illegal activity – namely that online betting was against the law in its biggest market, the United States.
I exaggerate only a little, but it would scarcely have been more ridiculous had the Medellin drugs cartel tried to float on the LSE. Ridiculous maybe, but that didn't stop investors lapping them up. Predictably, the vendors and sponsors cleaned up, and once the US authorities decided to enforce the law, the investors lost their shirts.
Yesterday, PartyGaming settled all outstanding claims with the US Department of Justice by agreeing to pay a $105m fine. Unfortunately for the company, this doesn't allow it to resume taking bets in the United States, where online gaming remains illegal. But it does remove a big uncertainty, which ought in time to allow renewed access to equity and debt markets so the company can begin the process of consolidating this still-fragmented industry.
PartyGaming hopes it should also stand the company in good stead should the US decide to change the law and allow regulated online gaming.
This is not altogether impossible at some stage in the next few years. In the search for new sources of income, some of the big physical gaming groups in the US are dropping their objections to the genre. Some privately owned poker sites, such as Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars, still operate illegally in the US, and as a result have cleaned up in the online poker market.
But they take massive risks by doing so. Is a bright new future dawning for PartyGaming? Well, some sort of a future anyway. But it seems deeply unlikely this one-time FTSE 100 stock will ever again achieve the heroic valuation it was floated at when it still had the vast US market largely to itself. (Credit: The Independent)
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PartyGaming was the biggest of a slew of online betting sites that floated on the London stock market four or five years back. What made these IPOs odd, to put it mildly, was that they were based on a largely illegal activity – namely that online betting was against the law in its biggest market, the United States.
I exaggerate only a little, but it would scarcely have been more ridiculous had the Medellin drugs cartel tried to float on the LSE. Ridiculous maybe, but that didn't stop investors lapping them up. Predictably, the vendors and sponsors cleaned up, and once the US authorities decided to enforce the law, the investors lost their shirts.
Yesterday, PartyGaming settled all outstanding claims with the US Department of Justice by agreeing to pay a $105m fine. Unfortunately for the company, this doesn't allow it to resume taking bets in the United States, where online gaming remains illegal. But it does remove a big uncertainty, which ought in time to allow renewed access to equity and debt markets so the company can begin the process of consolidating this still-fragmented industry.
PartyGaming hopes it should also stand the company in good stead should the US decide to change the law and allow regulated online gaming.
This is not altogether impossible at some stage in the next few years. In the search for new sources of income, some of the big physical gaming groups in the US are dropping their objections to the genre. Some privately owned poker sites, such as Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars, still operate illegally in the US, and as a result have cleaned up in the online poker market.
But they take massive risks by doing so. Is a bright new future dawning for PartyGaming? Well, some sort of a future anyway. But it seems deeply unlikely this one-time FTSE 100 stock will ever again achieve the heroic valuation it was floated at when it still had the vast US market largely to itself. (Credit: The Independent)
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Tuesday, April 07, 2009
NetPlay Acquire Virgin Gaming product - 7th April 2009
Net Play TV are one of the largest television gaming brands in the world offering interactive and live games to thousands. Thy also own and operate internet casino and bingo sites including, supercasino.com and bingos.com.
The company have recently brought the Challenge Jackpot brand from Virgin Games for the price of £2 million. Net play will operate and manage the new TV channel which is aired 24/7 on Sky, Virgin Media and also on other channels such as Bravo.
Challenge Jackpot took a total of £14.5m bets in March and made a gross profit margin of around £500,000.
Martin Higginson NetPlay's chief executive, said: “The combination of the established Challenge Jackpot brand with our vision for converged gaming solutions will be a powerful force. From our perspective, it allows us to offer gaming services to a new set of customers, thus broadening our demographic reach considerably.”
Managing director of Virgin Media Television, Jonathan Webb, said in a statement, “I'm delighted that NetPlay TV will be building on the work of Two Way Gaming in establishing Challenge Jackpot in the market. NetPlay TV's expertise in convergent gaming fits with our ambition to totally integrate the gaming experience between internet, TV and mobile.”
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The company have recently brought the Challenge Jackpot brand from Virgin Games for the price of £2 million. Net play will operate and manage the new TV channel which is aired 24/7 on Sky, Virgin Media and also on other channels such as Bravo.
Challenge Jackpot took a total of £14.5m bets in March and made a gross profit margin of around £500,000.
Martin Higginson NetPlay's chief executive, said: “The combination of the established Challenge Jackpot brand with our vision for converged gaming solutions will be a powerful force. From our perspective, it allows us to offer gaming services to a new set of customers, thus broadening our demographic reach considerably.”
Managing director of Virgin Media Television, Jonathan Webb, said in a statement, “I'm delighted that NetPlay TV will be building on the work of Two Way Gaming in establishing Challenge Jackpot in the market. NetPlay TV's expertise in convergent gaming fits with our ambition to totally integrate the gaming experience between internet, TV and mobile.”
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PartyGaming agrees deal with US - 7th April 2009
PartyGaming has entered into a Non-Prosecution Agreement with the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
Under the terms of the Non-Prosecution Agreement, the USAO will not prosecute PartyGaming or any of its subsidiaries for providing internet gambling services to customers in the US prior to the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006.
As part of the agreement, the company has accepted a Statement of Facts regarding its business activities prior to the enactment of the UIGEA and has agreed to pay $105m, in semi-annual instalments over a period ending on September 30, 2012. Such payments will be made from the group’s existing financial resources.
“The agreement with the US authorities will be welcomed by the majority of those in the online industry as a break from the past with the opportunity now to move forward," said Warwick Bartlett, chief executive of Global Betting and Gaming Consultants.
“Some operators, however, will have misgivings. The admission of guilt is unlikely to rest easy with the 'Brit' companies who have traded from a country where gambling is entirely legal. As far as they are concerned, they have never done anything wrong.
“There is also a measure of hypocrisy at play - on the one hand the US has heaped a heavy fine on PartyGaming and yet sometime this year Congressman Frank will lay a Bill down that could lead to legalisation of online poker. So the sinners have been found guilty and redeemed, all in one year.
“The moot question is that after all of this will the UK-listed companies be granted US licences in the future? The US the land of the free? It is if you are American."
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Under the terms of the Non-Prosecution Agreement, the USAO will not prosecute PartyGaming or any of its subsidiaries for providing internet gambling services to customers in the US prior to the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006.
As part of the agreement, the company has accepted a Statement of Facts regarding its business activities prior to the enactment of the UIGEA and has agreed to pay $105m, in semi-annual instalments over a period ending on September 30, 2012. Such payments will be made from the group’s existing financial resources.
“The agreement with the US authorities will be welcomed by the majority of those in the online industry as a break from the past with the opportunity now to move forward," said Warwick Bartlett, chief executive of Global Betting and Gaming Consultants.
“Some operators, however, will have misgivings. The admission of guilt is unlikely to rest easy with the 'Brit' companies who have traded from a country where gambling is entirely legal. As far as they are concerned, they have never done anything wrong.
“There is also a measure of hypocrisy at play - on the one hand the US has heaped a heavy fine on PartyGaming and yet sometime this year Congressman Frank will lay a Bill down that could lead to legalisation of online poker. So the sinners have been found guilty and redeemed, all in one year.
“The moot question is that after all of this will the UK-listed companies be granted US licences in the future? The US the land of the free? It is if you are American."
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Saturday, April 04, 2009
Packer wins Cardiff casino bid, by Colin Kruger - The Sydney Morning Herald - 13th July 2005
Kerry Packer's foray into the British gambling market appears to be back on track with the announcement that his consortium has been chosen to operate a casino proposed as part of a £700 million ($1.64 billion) sports village project in Wales.
Cardiff Council in South Wales said that Aspers - a subsidiary of Mr Packer's joint venture with British casino operator Damian Aspinall - had been chosen to operate the proposed casino after a year-long tender process for which there were 11 applicants.
"This is an important step. The appointment of a casino operator will trigger a huge investment in the city," Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman said.
The announcement is the first major development by Aspers since the watering-down earlier this year of proposed changes to UK gambling laws that were expected to liberalise the market.
British reports have estimated that the Cardiff casino will cost between £150 million and £200 million to develop.
The overall Cardiff project is expected to include two luxury hotels, a 4000-seat indoor arena, and bars and restaurants as well as a health and fitness centre.
"This will enable us to provide the most exciting sporting facilities in Europe right here in Cardiff Bay. The casino will be part of an entertainment complex with something for everyone," Mr Berman said.
The proposal is one of a number of developments on the cards for Mr Packer's private family vehicle, Consolidated Press Holdings, and the Aspinall family. These include a £50 million casino development in the British Midlands.
The partners expect to open their Newcastle complex, The Gate, this year, and Salubrious Place in Swansea as early as 2006.
"We'd just like to be a player in this market, and if it so happens that we end up being one of the biggest and the best, then all the better," CPH's Andrew MacDonald said last September.
All of the projects are being handled through the Aspinall Packer Group, which owns Aspers. It is understood that CPH has a 35 per cent stake in APG.
But the council has admitted there is no certainty that the Cardiff casino will go ahead.
The Packer/Aspinall consortium will join the council in lobbying the Welsh Government for the green light to build the casino.
The Packer family already has considerable gambling interests through its publicly listed Publishing & Broadcasting, which owns Crown Casino in Melbourne and Perth casino operator Burswood.
PBL has also announced investments in Macau as part of its joint venture with Stanley Ho's Melco International and it is pursuing other opportunities in Asia, including casinos in Singapore.
The UK venture has been in play for several years and stems back to Mr Packer's relationship with the late John Aspinall, who was credited with founding Britain's gambling industry in the 1960s with his Mayfair gaming club. His son Damian now runs the business that includes the Mayfair club and Aspinall's online casino. (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
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Cardiff Council in South Wales said that Aspers - a subsidiary of Mr Packer's joint venture with British casino operator Damian Aspinall - had been chosen to operate the proposed casino after a year-long tender process for which there were 11 applicants.
"This is an important step. The appointment of a casino operator will trigger a huge investment in the city," Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman said.
The announcement is the first major development by Aspers since the watering-down earlier this year of proposed changes to UK gambling laws that were expected to liberalise the market.
British reports have estimated that the Cardiff casino will cost between £150 million and £200 million to develop.
The overall Cardiff project is expected to include two luxury hotels, a 4000-seat indoor arena, and bars and restaurants as well as a health and fitness centre.
"This will enable us to provide the most exciting sporting facilities in Europe right here in Cardiff Bay. The casino will be part of an entertainment complex with something for everyone," Mr Berman said.
The proposal is one of a number of developments on the cards for Mr Packer's private family vehicle, Consolidated Press Holdings, and the Aspinall family. These include a £50 million casino development in the British Midlands.
The partners expect to open their Newcastle complex, The Gate, this year, and Salubrious Place in Swansea as early as 2006.
"We'd just like to be a player in this market, and if it so happens that we end up being one of the biggest and the best, then all the better," CPH's Andrew MacDonald said last September.
All of the projects are being handled through the Aspinall Packer Group, which owns Aspers. It is understood that CPH has a 35 per cent stake in APG.
But the council has admitted there is no certainty that the Cardiff casino will go ahead.
The Packer/Aspinall consortium will join the council in lobbying the Welsh Government for the green light to build the casino.
The Packer family already has considerable gambling interests through its publicly listed Publishing & Broadcasting, which owns Crown Casino in Melbourne and Perth casino operator Burswood.
PBL has also announced investments in Macau as part of its joint venture with Stanley Ho's Melco International and it is pursuing other opportunities in Asia, including casinos in Singapore.
The UK venture has been in play for several years and stems back to Mr Packer's relationship with the late John Aspinall, who was credited with founding Britain's gambling industry in the 1960s with his Mayfair gaming club. His son Damian now runs the business that includes the Mayfair club and Aspinall's online casino. (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
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Friday, April 03, 2009
William Hill launches experiential campaign ahead of Grand National - Marketing Magazine - 3rd April 2009
LONDON - William Hill, the UK's largest high street bookmaker, is running an in-shop and experiential drive ahead of the 2009 Grand National which takes place on 4 April.
William Hill's retail agency, Billington Cartmell, has devised ‘hit squad' activity for key areas of London, with promotional staff targeting tube and train stations, offices and local businesses, encouraging them to run office sweepstakes and bet with William Hill.
The will also be Grand National posters the bookmaker's 2300 outlets throughout the UK and Ireland.
The agency has also created an advertorial in Sport magazine, raising awareness of running office sweepstake with William Hill. (Credit: Marketing Magazine)
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William Hill's retail agency, Billington Cartmell, has devised ‘hit squad' activity for key areas of London, with promotional staff targeting tube and train stations, offices and local businesses, encouraging them to run office sweepstakes and bet with William Hill.
The will also be Grand National posters the bookmaker's 2300 outlets throughout the UK and Ireland.
The agency has also created an advertorial in Sport magazine, raising awareness of running office sweepstake with William Hill. (Credit: Marketing Magazine)
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William Hill in deal with Playtech to expand online gaming operation, by James Thompson - The Independent - 21st October 2008
The bookmaker William Hill is acquiring parts of Playtech, the software maker, to create Europe's biggest online gaming and sports betting company.
The revelation came as William Hill said the deteriorating consumer downturn had not yet hit its recent growth, which has been boosted by Hull City's surprisingly strong start to the Premier League football season.
William Hill is acquiring an affiliate marketing business, customer services operation, gaming brands and websites from Playtech, the online gaming software provider listed on the Alternative Investment market. The bookmaker has also signed a five-year software licence agreement with Playtech for poker and casino, with the option to move into other product areas.
Ralph Topping, William Hill's chief executive, described the "deferred acquisition" as a "transformational step". He added: "It makes us Europe's number one [online] sports and gaming provider measured by profitability."
The combination of its current operations with Playtech's assets will create a new entity, William Hill Online, which William Hill will control and operate as a subsidiary.
For the year to 31 December 2008, on a pro forma basis, William Hill Online is expected to deliver net revenues of £190m and earnings before interest, tax and amortisation of £75m. William Hill is giving Playtech a 29 per cent stake in William Hill Online, but the bookmaker has an option to acquire its shareholding in four to six years' time.
For the 15 weeks ending 14 October, William Hill posted a 9 per cent uplift in total gross wins, the difference between the amount it has won and punters have lost. The overall performance was boosted by an over-the-counter 7 per cent increase in gross wins, largely driven by favourable sporting results.
Mr Topping said that it had made a killing on recent wins by Hull City, who are third in the Premier League, over Arsenal, West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur. He added: "We will perhaps be hit [by the consumer downturn] at some time, but I don't think it will be in 2008."
As of September 2008, William Hill's net debt was £1,031.5m, a reduction of £27.4m from the position on 1 July 2008. Shares in William Hill rose by 14 per cent, or 23p, to 189.5p, one of its steepest gains in six years.
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The revelation came as William Hill said the deteriorating consumer downturn had not yet hit its recent growth, which has been boosted by Hull City's surprisingly strong start to the Premier League football season.
William Hill is acquiring an affiliate marketing business, customer services operation, gaming brands and websites from Playtech, the online gaming software provider listed on the Alternative Investment market. The bookmaker has also signed a five-year software licence agreement with Playtech for poker and casino, with the option to move into other product areas.
Ralph Topping, William Hill's chief executive, described the "deferred acquisition" as a "transformational step". He added: "It makes us Europe's number one [online] sports and gaming provider measured by profitability."
The combination of its current operations with Playtech's assets will create a new entity, William Hill Online, which William Hill will control and operate as a subsidiary.
For the year to 31 December 2008, on a pro forma basis, William Hill Online is expected to deliver net revenues of £190m and earnings before interest, tax and amortisation of £75m. William Hill is giving Playtech a 29 per cent stake in William Hill Online, but the bookmaker has an option to acquire its shareholding in four to six years' time.
For the 15 weeks ending 14 October, William Hill posted a 9 per cent uplift in total gross wins, the difference between the amount it has won and punters have lost. The overall performance was boosted by an over-the-counter 7 per cent increase in gross wins, largely driven by favourable sporting results.
Mr Topping said that it had made a killing on recent wins by Hull City, who are third in the Premier League, over Arsenal, West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur. He added: "We will perhaps be hit [by the consumer downturn] at some time, but I don't think it will be in 2008."
As of September 2008, William Hill's net debt was £1,031.5m, a reduction of £27.4m from the position on 1 July 2008. Shares in William Hill rose by 14 per cent, or 23p, to 189.5p, one of its steepest gains in six years.
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Wednesday, April 01, 2009
More iGaming Ads Banned in U.K.
Online bingo advertisements allegedly "appeal to children", per Advertising Standards Authority
April 1, 2009 (CAP Newswire) -- Continuing to dictate the supposed moral authority of the United Kingdom at the expense of Internet business, the U.K.’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ordered Tombola Bingo to remove two of its advertisements from circulation, a number of media sources have reported this week.
According to Bingo.org, the popular bingo site is under orders to remove its ads because of complaints issued by just one citizen -- a situation that, while seemingly unfair, is sadly not unique regarding the ASA.
“ASA maintained that the Tombola Bingo ads, which featured a funfair scene and roller coaster ride, as well as a hot air balloon and a battleship, appealed to children and youngsters and therefore went against the regulations set in place by the UK Gambling Commission,” states the article.
Tombola Bingo is arguing that the ads simply reflect its new bingo game offerings, with a fun attitude that “acted as a metaphor for the online bingo experience and which would attract new bingo players but not attract a younger audience”.
Unfortunately, that argument is not likely to sway the staunchly authoritarian ASA.
Read the original report at Bingo.org here
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April 1, 2009 (CAP Newswire) -- Continuing to dictate the supposed moral authority of the United Kingdom at the expense of Internet business, the U.K.’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ordered Tombola Bingo to remove two of its advertisements from circulation, a number of media sources have reported this week.
According to Bingo.org, the popular bingo site is under orders to remove its ads because of complaints issued by just one citizen -- a situation that, while seemingly unfair, is sadly not unique regarding the ASA.
“ASA maintained that the Tombola Bingo ads, which featured a funfair scene and roller coaster ride, as well as a hot air balloon and a battleship, appealed to children and youngsters and therefore went against the regulations set in place by the UK Gambling Commission,” states the article.
Tombola Bingo is arguing that the ads simply reflect its new bingo game offerings, with a fun attitude that “acted as a metaphor for the online bingo experience and which would attract new bingo players but not attract a younger audience”.
Unfortunately, that argument is not likely to sway the staunchly authoritarian ASA.
Read the original report at Bingo.org here
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Saturday, March 28, 2009
WTO Rules Breached by Online Gambling Laws in US
27th March 2009
According to a new report from Bloomberg, the news and industry information specialist, the US ‘crackdown’ on European online gambling companies is against WTO rules.
The European Union supposedly began its investigation back in March 2008, after a number of complaints were made by European online gambling companies. The commission discovered that regulations put in place by the US, allowed US firms to operate more freely and obstructed European companies.
The regulations by the US are illegal under World Trade Organisation rules and give the EU good grounds to mount a challenge.
Such companies as PartyGaming and Sportingbet have been affected and were two of the businesses to complain to the EU.
Despite having a ‘good case’, the EU are hoping to use this leverage to reach a negotiated solution, rather than moving forward with litigation.
Clive Hawkswood, the chief executive of the Remote Gambling Association, said, “If the US can give the EU some assurances it will no longer take action, then we’d be very happy.”
EU Trade Commissioner, Catherine Ashton later said, “It is for the U.S. to decide how best to regulate Internet gambling in its market, but this must be done in a way that fully respects WTO obligations.”
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According to a new report from Bloomberg, the news and industry information specialist, the US ‘crackdown’ on European online gambling companies is against WTO rules.
The European Union supposedly began its investigation back in March 2008, after a number of complaints were made by European online gambling companies. The commission discovered that regulations put in place by the US, allowed US firms to operate more freely and obstructed European companies.
The regulations by the US are illegal under World Trade Organisation rules and give the EU good grounds to mount a challenge.
Such companies as PartyGaming and Sportingbet have been affected and were two of the businesses to complain to the EU.
Despite having a ‘good case’, the EU are hoping to use this leverage to reach a negotiated solution, rather than moving forward with litigation.
Clive Hawkswood, the chief executive of the Remote Gambling Association, said, “If the US can give the EU some assurances it will no longer take action, then we’d be very happy.”
EU Trade Commissioner, Catherine Ashton later said, “It is for the U.S. to decide how best to regulate Internet gambling in its market, but this must be done in a way that fully respects WTO obligations.”
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Friday, March 27, 2009
European Commission Finds U.S. in Violation of Trade Agreements, by Dan Cypra - Poker News Daily - 27th March 2009
Last March, the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) learned that its complaint filed with the European Commission would be acted on. The complaint stems from the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006, which the RGA charges unfairly discriminates against foreign operators. On Thursday, the European Commission released its preliminary report.
The Commission agreed with the RGA (and many other industry organizations) that the United States is in violation because "the treatment of foreign Internet gambling operators by the U.S. under existing domestic law constitutes a barrier to market access for European companies and is inconsistent with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules," according to a press release on Friday from the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative (SSIGI).
The complaint charges that the United States approves of domestic internet gambling, specifically wagering on horse racing, but shuts out international operators. One such domestic site, TwinSpires.com, has been called into question in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, where Governor Steve Beshear and Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown are engaged in legal action to force the forfeiture of 141 internet gambling domain names. On the national level, the SSIGI has watched as Party Gaming Co-Founder Anurag Dikshit admitted to violating the UIGEA and Wire Act of 1961 in a New York court room. Dikshit agreed to hand over a $300 million fine in three installments and risks up to two years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for December of 2010.
SSIGI spokesperson Jeff Sandman commented, "“The European Commission investigation further highlights the need for the Obama Administration and Congress to regulate Internet gambling not only to protect consumers, but in order to restore integrity to the international trade system. The Obama Administration should seek to forge a new direction on Internet gambling, rather than keeping in place a protectionist trade policy that hypocritically discriminates against foreign online gambling operators.” A recent study released by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that up to $52 billion could be raised over a 10 year period by taxing and regulating internet gambling in the United States.
E.U. Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton gave her take on the next steps: “It is for the U.S. to decide how best to regulate Internet gambling in its market, but this must be done in a way that fully respects WTO obligations. I am hopeful that we can find a swift, negotiated solution to this issue." Last September, E.U. trade officials arrived in the U.S. on a two week fact finding mission, culminating in Friday's report. The RGA's initial complaint was originally lodged in December of 2007.
Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) was slated to introduce internet gambling legislation in March in the United States. However, with just four days remaining in the month, no bill has been introduced. Frank, who is the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has been preoccupied with one of the worst economic climates in the history of the United States. His previous bill to regulate and tax the industry was HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. The bill, which was introduced in 2007, did not see time on the House floor during the 110th Congress and therefore must be reintroduced for consideration.
The RGA's members include a veritable “who's who” of European internet gambling operators including Betfair, CryptoLogic, Ladbrokes, Microgaming, Playtech, Paddy Power, Party Gaming, and William Hill. The London-based organization is headed by Clive Hawkswood. The SSIGI is based in Washington, D.C.
The European Commission could elect to work out an agreement with the United States directly or seek the intervention of the WTO. The SSIGI even cited U.K. Parliament member David Blunkett, who claimed, "I fully support the call by the E.U. Trade Commissioner, Cathy Ashton, for urgent U.S. action to regularize the trade relationship, respect WTO rules, and to regulate online gambling. This would provide not only fair competition, but protection for individuals and families, and a legal basis on which substantial revenue could be raised at a time of considerable pressure on public finances." The official European Commission report is expected to be released next month.
Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest from the European Commission. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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The Commission agreed with the RGA (and many other industry organizations) that the United States is in violation because "the treatment of foreign Internet gambling operators by the U.S. under existing domestic law constitutes a barrier to market access for European companies and is inconsistent with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules," according to a press release on Friday from the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative (SSIGI).
The complaint charges that the United States approves of domestic internet gambling, specifically wagering on horse racing, but shuts out international operators. One such domestic site, TwinSpires.com, has been called into question in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, where Governor Steve Beshear and Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown are engaged in legal action to force the forfeiture of 141 internet gambling domain names. On the national level, the SSIGI has watched as Party Gaming Co-Founder Anurag Dikshit admitted to violating the UIGEA and Wire Act of 1961 in a New York court room. Dikshit agreed to hand over a $300 million fine in three installments and risks up to two years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for December of 2010.
SSIGI spokesperson Jeff Sandman commented, "“The European Commission investigation further highlights the need for the Obama Administration and Congress to regulate Internet gambling not only to protect consumers, but in order to restore integrity to the international trade system. The Obama Administration should seek to forge a new direction on Internet gambling, rather than keeping in place a protectionist trade policy that hypocritically discriminates against foreign online gambling operators.” A recent study released by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that up to $52 billion could be raised over a 10 year period by taxing and regulating internet gambling in the United States.
E.U. Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton gave her take on the next steps: “It is for the U.S. to decide how best to regulate Internet gambling in its market, but this must be done in a way that fully respects WTO obligations. I am hopeful that we can find a swift, negotiated solution to this issue." Last September, E.U. trade officials arrived in the U.S. on a two week fact finding mission, culminating in Friday's report. The RGA's initial complaint was originally lodged in December of 2007.
Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) was slated to introduce internet gambling legislation in March in the United States. However, with just four days remaining in the month, no bill has been introduced. Frank, who is the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has been preoccupied with one of the worst economic climates in the history of the United States. His previous bill to regulate and tax the industry was HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. The bill, which was introduced in 2007, did not see time on the House floor during the 110th Congress and therefore must be reintroduced for consideration.
The RGA's members include a veritable “who's who” of European internet gambling operators including Betfair, CryptoLogic, Ladbrokes, Microgaming, Playtech, Paddy Power, Party Gaming, and William Hill. The London-based organization is headed by Clive Hawkswood. The SSIGI is based in Washington, D.C.
The European Commission could elect to work out an agreement with the United States directly or seek the intervention of the WTO. The SSIGI even cited U.K. Parliament member David Blunkett, who claimed, "I fully support the call by the E.U. Trade Commissioner, Cathy Ashton, for urgent U.S. action to regularize the trade relationship, respect WTO rules, and to regulate online gambling. This would provide not only fair competition, but protection for individuals and families, and a legal basis on which substantial revenue could be raised at a time of considerable pressure on public finances." The official European Commission report is expected to be released next month.
Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest from the European Commission. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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Sunday, March 22, 2009
Online Bingo TV
Online bingo websites spent over £7million on TV advertising in 2008 according to Nielsen Media Research.
With more than 230 different online bingo sites in the UK, the competition for players’ hearts and minds has become more intense and this trend is borne out by more than £7m spent during 2008.
Leading the spending in 2008 was Foxy Bingo with more than £2.25m spent on TV advertising. The second largest spend was on the new launch of Tombola during 2008, with a spend of £1.75m. Only these two sites spent more than £1m on TV advertising.
Two other sites spent more than £500k; Think Bingo spent more than £750k and Party Bingo spent in excess of £640k. In the £400k+ bracket were Crown Bingo (£427k) and Jackpot Joy (£414k), while the Daily Mail’s 2008 launch of Coffee Break Bingo was backed by a £330k TV campaign. One other bingo site (Littlewoods Bingo) spent more than £100k on TV advertising, spending £193k.
The full list of TV advertisers is completed by seven more online bingo sites which between them spent a further £300,000.
The exact spends according to Nielsen Media Research are as follows;
Foxy Bingo - £2,255,128
Tombola - £1,746,989
Think Bingo - £786,311
Party Bingo - £641,053
Crown Bingo - £427,275
Jackpot Joy - £414,217
Mail Online - £336,786
Littlewoods - £193,925
Bingos - £98,947
Bingo Scotland - £63,370
Love Bingo - £52,070
32 Red Bingo - £39,663
Bingo Palace - £37,435
ScotBingo - £8,390
Mikes Bingo - £4,725
Total £7,106,284
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With more than 230 different online bingo sites in the UK, the competition for players’ hearts and minds has become more intense and this trend is borne out by more than £7m spent during 2008.
Leading the spending in 2008 was Foxy Bingo with more than £2.25m spent on TV advertising. The second largest spend was on the new launch of Tombola during 2008, with a spend of £1.75m. Only these two sites spent more than £1m on TV advertising.
Two other sites spent more than £500k; Think Bingo spent more than £750k and Party Bingo spent in excess of £640k. In the £400k+ bracket were Crown Bingo (£427k) and Jackpot Joy (£414k), while the Daily Mail’s 2008 launch of Coffee Break Bingo was backed by a £330k TV campaign. One other bingo site (Littlewoods Bingo) spent more than £100k on TV advertising, spending £193k.
The full list of TV advertisers is completed by seven more online bingo sites which between them spent a further £300,000.
The exact spends according to Nielsen Media Research are as follows;
Foxy Bingo - £2,255,128
Tombola - £1,746,989
Think Bingo - £786,311
Party Bingo - £641,053
Crown Bingo - £427,275
Jackpot Joy - £414,217
Mail Online - £336,786
Littlewoods - £193,925
Bingos - £98,947
Bingo Scotland - £63,370
Love Bingo - £52,070
32 Red Bingo - £39,663
Bingo Palace - £37,435
ScotBingo - £8,390
Mikes Bingo - £4,725
Total £7,106,284
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Friday, March 20, 2009
Angelina Jolie and Online Casinos Dissed by UK Ad Authority
The ad for the movie "Wanted", featuring Jolie, has joined several online casino advertisements in being pulled from distribution by the Advertising Standards Authority.
The British agency responsible for administering standards for advertising has added actress Angelina Jolie to their humorless list of targets. The ad for the movie "Wanted", featuring Jolie, has joined several online casino advertisements in being pulled from distribution by the Advertising Standards Authority.
The ASA previously made news for ordering a Ladbrokes online gambling commercial barred after a single complaint was registered in a nation of over sixty million. The ad humorously compared gambling to swimming with sharks as a safe way to find excitement.
The ad with Jolie showed her shooting guns while exposing her bare back, which the commission said "could be seen to condone violence by glorifying or glamorizing the use of guns."
The ad also shows Jolie curving the path of bullets with her mind, and shooting into a car while upside down in a car flipping over the first. The commercial clearly displays a humorous and fantastic setting, but the ASA seems to take all scenes literally.
The agency has also banned a Requestabet.com ad which made joking comparison between gambling and investing in the stock market. At the time, one critic declared the ASA correct, saying tongue-in-cheek that the market was no laughing matter and investors were probably angry they hadn't wagered their money instead.
Media analyst Howard Bunker says, "The ASA should probably review the spots for 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith.' After all, they show a husband and wife gleefully trying to kill each other, which may promote domestic violence. And what about Beowulf? Naked Jolie morphing into a monster? Talk about misogynous."
No word was available on whether Parliament had instructed the ASA to get a life.
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The British agency responsible for administering standards for advertising has added actress Angelina Jolie to their humorless list of targets. The ad for the movie "Wanted", featuring Jolie, has joined several online casino advertisements in being pulled from distribution by the Advertising Standards Authority.
The ASA previously made news for ordering a Ladbrokes online gambling commercial barred after a single complaint was registered in a nation of over sixty million. The ad humorously compared gambling to swimming with sharks as a safe way to find excitement.
The ad with Jolie showed her shooting guns while exposing her bare back, which the commission said "could be seen to condone violence by glorifying or glamorizing the use of guns."
The ad also shows Jolie curving the path of bullets with her mind, and shooting into a car while upside down in a car flipping over the first. The commercial clearly displays a humorous and fantastic setting, but the ASA seems to take all scenes literally.
The agency has also banned a Requestabet.com ad which made joking comparison between gambling and investing in the stock market. At the time, one critic declared the ASA correct, saying tongue-in-cheek that the market was no laughing matter and investors were probably angry they hadn't wagered their money instead.
Media analyst Howard Bunker says, "The ASA should probably review the spots for 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith.' After all, they show a husband and wife gleefully trying to kill each other, which may promote domestic violence. And what about Beowulf? Naked Jolie morphing into a monster? Talk about misogynous."
No word was available on whether Parliament had instructed the ASA to get a life.
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Thursday, March 19, 2009
Playtech Acquire betting Software
19th March 2009
Playtech are one of the UK's leading online gaming software providers and have recently acquired a new sports betting software from Player2Players. Famous for their awarding winning internet gaming solutions , Playtech recently merged with William Hill to create William Hill Online.
However both companies will still operate separately. The new sports betting software acquisition will be integrated into their exiting product portfolio. The companies released their financial results for 2008 showing how well they had performed throughout the year.
Total revenue for 2008 was €111.5m, a massive 70% increase on 2007. The brand success has been down to improved results in casino and poker sectors. Playtech's very own Italian network was also launched last week which is expected to perform well in 2009.
Daily earnings in 2009 are already up on average by 8% when compared to the 4th quarter of 2008. William Hill online has also been performing well, with the site now operating a total of 8 different sites.
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Playtech are one of the UK's leading online gaming software providers and have recently acquired a new sports betting software from Player2Players. Famous for their awarding winning internet gaming solutions , Playtech recently merged with William Hill to create William Hill Online.
However both companies will still operate separately. The new sports betting software acquisition will be integrated into their exiting product portfolio. The companies released their financial results for 2008 showing how well they had performed throughout the year.
Total revenue for 2008 was €111.5m, a massive 70% increase on 2007. The brand success has been down to improved results in casino and poker sectors. Playtech's very own Italian network was also launched last week which is expected to perform well in 2009.
Daily earnings in 2009 are already up on average by 8% when compared to the 4th quarter of 2008. William Hill online has also been performing well, with the site now operating a total of 8 different sites.
Media Man Australia Profiles
William Hill
William Hill Casino
Playtech
Playtech News
Casino News
Online Casino News
UK
United Kingdom
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
St. Patrick's Pot Of Gold
Pot of Gold, 16th to 18th March 2009
The casino leprechaun is holding a pot of gold worth $25000 in cash prizes, points and bonuses. He'll be popping up every now and again to give away his gifts so watch out! You could pick up anything from cash prizes to PartyPoints if you spot him.
Simply play at Partycasino.com any time between 16th and 18th March and wait for the leprechaun to make an appearance. You don't have to opt in: just play as normal.
May the luck of the Irish be with you!
Media Man Australia Profiles
PartyCasino.com
Casino News
The casino leprechaun is holding a pot of gold worth $25000 in cash prizes, points and bonuses. He'll be popping up every now and again to give away his gifts so watch out! You could pick up anything from cash prizes to PartyPoints if you spot him.
Simply play at Partycasino.com any time between 16th and 18th March and wait for the leprechaun to make an appearance. You don't have to opt in: just play as normal.
May the luck of the Irish be with you!
Media Man Australia Profiles
PartyCasino.com
Casino News
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Europe's First Major Poker Tournament Of 2009 – The PartyPoker Irish Poker Championship
The first major European tournament of 2009 will take place from January 2-5. The €2,000 buy-in PartyPoker Irish Poker Championship will be hosted at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Galway, Ireland. Coverage of the main event will be televised and distributed internationally.
A wealth of big Irish poker names have already signed up for the event including Noel Furlong, Donnacha O'Dea, Marty Smyth, Padraig Parkinson, Ciaran O'Leary, Premier League II winner Andy Black, Liam Flood and last year's champion Jude Ainsworth. From overseas expect to see Mike Sexton, Kenna James, Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott, Surinder Sunar and 2008 Irish Open Champion Neil Channing.
Ian Langstaff of Winmedia Ireland Ltd, an industry leader in poker tournament coverage, said: "We are delighted to be producing and transmitting coverage of the PartyPoker.com Irish Poker Championship on RTÉ again this year. The fact that RTÉ are transmitting eight episodes of coverage rather than the six they did last year shows the popularity of the IPC."
Media Man Australia Profiles
PartyPoker.com
PartyCasino.com
PartyGaming
Poker News
Casino News
A wealth of big Irish poker names have already signed up for the event including Noel Furlong, Donnacha O'Dea, Marty Smyth, Padraig Parkinson, Ciaran O'Leary, Premier League II winner Andy Black, Liam Flood and last year's champion Jude Ainsworth. From overseas expect to see Mike Sexton, Kenna James, Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott, Surinder Sunar and 2008 Irish Open Champion Neil Channing.
Ian Langstaff of Winmedia Ireland Ltd, an industry leader in poker tournament coverage, said: "We are delighted to be producing and transmitting coverage of the PartyPoker.com Irish Poker Championship on RTÉ again this year. The fact that RTÉ are transmitting eight episodes of coverage rather than the six they did last year shows the popularity of the IPC."
Media Man Australia Profiles
PartyPoker.com
PartyCasino.com
PartyGaming
Poker News
Casino News
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
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