Casino Rewards inherits Grand Mondial, Quatro and Casino Share
February 10, 2011
Grand Mondial Casino, Casino Share and Quatro Casino recently joined the Casino Rewards Network of casino in a publicised move with such a positive PR spin that even Max Clifford would be a little envious of if he cared…
As with everything though, there is a story behind the story and we’ve done some research into what really prompted the sudden move in order to bring you all the latest details. The fact of the matter is that the group operating the aforementioned casinos has been in trouble for some time, and after months of losing money, the investors lost patience and pulled the plug on the operation which resulted in 85 staff members being retrenched without notice.
Casinorewards is Microgaming’s “go to” group when it comes to taking over failed casino brands, and their portfolio currently encompasses 19 other online casinos, by far the largest number operated by any Microgaming group. Grand Mondial, Casino Share and Quatro Casinos have now also been transferred to the group which will continue with their operation.
While those who have promoted these brands have been left in the lurch when it comes to payments for advertisements that have been run, players can expect to continue to play and receive service from these casinos as usual. We do however caution existing players that you will have to live with enormous amounts of e-mail spam from the Casinorewards group as they attempt to “cross promote” their number of other casinos and various promotions to you.
The group is also not one of the top Microgaming providers from a players perspective as the don’t offer prompt payouts like some others do and there are long pending periods for cashouts which are often limited on wins exceeding five times the amount deposited, making patience a “must” when getting your money back. Other concerns from previously aired grievances include difficulty in redeeming rewards points and having issues with bonus terms and conditions.
So if you’ve been a loyal fan of Grand Mondial Casino or any others in the former “Playshare” group, then please proceed with caution. Alternatively, play at one of our highly recommended online casinos to ensure that you continue to have good casino fun without the issues.
UK crackdown on foreign online gambling operators
January 20, 2011
Online gambling was officially legalized in 2005 in the United Kingdom when Labour’s controversial Gambling Act was legislated, but recent concern over millions becoming addicted to gambling has prompted Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt to launch a dramatic crackdown which will prevent companies not operating in the UK to halt advertising campaigns. According to sources, Hunt is also considering a ban on the use of credit card payments to fund online casino and gambling player accounts, which will ensure that people no longer risk money they do not have.
This sentiment is echoed by senior government officials who are said to be concerned about the explosion of internet gambling advertising since Labour relaxed the gambling laws. It is sure that if enforced, these policies will drive thousands of foreign operators out of the British online gambling and casino markets altogether, but the government has cited concerns over the welfare of UK citizens for the proposed actions and is making every effort to protect the public from gambling operations that do not meet the required UK standards but have profited from Labour’s soft approach to internet gambling.
Under the current Gambling Act, any organisation that holds a licence for online gaming in the UK is subject to regulation and stringent measures which have been put into place to prevent children from playing highly addictive casino games. However, only operators who are based in Britain are required to be licensed by the Gambling Commission. This means that countries on Britain’s white list (including the Isle of Man, Alderney, Antigua and Tasmania) and those across Europe are able to advertise their services without being subject to any regulation.
According to statistics, consumers in the UK have spent in excess of £2.5 billion on internet and telephone gambling, and less than a quarter of this figure was generated by operators licensed by the British Gambling Commission. A government source stated that it is believed that UK consumers aren’t being as well protected as they could be and while this may be true, the alternative and more likely government concern could be the loss of tax revenues on the billions spent at offshore properties.
The concern has been shared by other European countries including France and Italy which have recently introduced licensing and taxation for companies based in their own countries rather than those abroad and others like Spain and Greece look set to follow suit in the near future.
Should Jeremy Hunt succeed in overhauling the current Gambling legislation so that all internet and telephone gambling is fully regulated, any casino or sportsbook company operating within the UK market be subject to licensing and regulation by the Gambling Commission and will be subject to operation within the full provisions of the law.
New Live Games Platform & Dealers
January 17, 2011
Playtech powered casinos have always been known for their exciting live casino games, so it’s no surprise that there has been massive excitement in response to Euro Partners recent announcement of the addition of new live dealers to their newly updated live dealer casino games.
In an effort to offer players the most realistic casino experience possible, casinos in the Euro Partners group recently released a new live gaming platform. According to company representatives, “Europa Casino, Casino Tropez and Titan Casino’s Live Casino Games facilities have been fully renovated and now feature improved lighting for increased clarity, better camera angles for an improved view of the live action, as well as a new overall casino layout (including table positioning) for improved game flow”.
However, they add that the most noteworthy improvement is the addition of the new first-rate, highly experienced live dealers who are top of the game and provide the best service in the industry and add to the realistic feel of the live casino games.
Marc Kenigsberg, VP of Marketing for the Euro Partners group stated that “Online casino players have always enjoyed playing Live Games. It’s the perfect way to capture the thrill of land-based casino gambling from the comfort of home. Now, we’ve upped the ante and made the experience even better, delivering a higher quality gaming environment and even classier, more attractive, professional live dealers. Online gaming doesn’t get any better than our Live Games casinos.”
The group plans to release more new live dealer casino game variations in the years to come, so the excitement is sure to continue for some time but don’t delay, check out the new live dealer games now.
Playtech licensing and ready to go in 2011!
January 3, 2011
Playtech has long been one of the online casino industry’s leading software providers, and with strong third quarter results in 2010 and solid plans for growth and expansion in 2011 it’s safe to say they will retain their illustrious reputation for another year.
According to Wor Meizer, the CEO of Playtech, the group will continue to provide outstanding software to their existing casino partners but will also be broadening their focus to include local operators and former monopolies in newly regulated online casino markets including France and Italy. Both countries have recently regulated their online casino markets which, like the UK’s regime, are expected to mature and grow in the coming years. The group is also in discussions with other countries regarding licensing which should be awarded this year.
To date, Playtech has 10 new licenses lined up for its online poker network as well as bingo and casino games, which is sure to see figures up from it’s strong revenues in the last 2 quarters of 2010 which experienced an average of 30% growth on those of 2009.
Playtech powered properties like Europa Casino and EuroGrand Online Casino are set to remain firm player favourites in 2011 and are already reporting large volumes of traffic and some significant winners just 3 days into the New Year. You could be next so play today!
Christmas is the time for winning at Spin Palace!
December 24, 2010
Christmas is really the time for winning at Spin Palace Online Casino! The month of December has seen over 300 winners to date, with winnings ranging from $4000 to $221,000 and the month’s not over yet!
Of the over 300 winners, many of the winning figures came from the new and very popular Thunderstruck II, Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring slots and the new Christmas themed Santa’s Wild Ride video slot as well as seasoned favourites Burning Desire, Avalon and Reel Gems online slots. The majority of table game payouts were made on European and French Roulette Gold variations as well as High Limit Baccarat.
Not only does Microgaming powered Spin Palace Casino make more winners more often, it also has one of the best all round online casinos offerings on the net with a $1000 bonus for new players, loyalty points and ongoing bonuses for existing players as well as regularly launched new games and a jam packed promotional calendar that currently includes the Great Gift Giveaway promotion, Christmas Cracker tournaments and more.
So if you’re looking for an extra special Christmas Casino treat this year, then visit Spin Palace now!
Ladbrokes and 888 in takeover talks
December 22, 2010
It has been confirmed that talks are currently underway between UK betting giant Ladbrokes and the 888 casino and betting group with regard to a potential £240m takeover bid that sent 888 share prices soaring this week.
Ladbrokes, which is currently headed up by CEO Richard Glynn, and has huge prominence offline, is reported to be eager to expand its already successful online operations to achieve growth targets set by the organisation.
While 888 did not pay dividends in August of this year, citing the need the remain liquid in a weak economy and the effects of the decline in bets after the World Cup soccer event ended, 888 shares rose by 18% to 58p this week, while Ladbrokes stock closed down by 1.2 % at 126p.
While there is no certainty that these discussions will ultimately lead to an offer being made for 888, investors still seem positive and eagerly await further announcements on the progression of the talks.
Should Ladbrokes, which currently operates over 2,700 betting shops in fact acquire 888, this would represent yet another move towards the current consolidation trend taking place within gaming industry which also saw PartyGaming and Bwin merging August of this year.
This is not the first time that Ladbrokes and 888 have held talks concerning a possible takeover. Four years ago both parties met on the issue but discussions were aborted due to Ladbrokes’ concerns over the threat of possible retrospective legal action against 888 due to its activities in the US prior to the industry being outlawed in 2006. Unlike rivals Sportingbet and PartyGaming, the 888 group has yet to strike a deal with US authorities to grant the company immunity from prosecution.
According to brokers in the know, this fact could yet ensure that the most recent talks between the two companies remain fruitless. Only time will tell… so watch this space!
Jackpot City Mobile Casino now on iPad
November 22, 2010
Mobile computing has exploded over the last few years with people accessing the internet and making use of numerous mobile applications on their new generation smart phones, making Blackberry’s and iPhones top sellers. More recently the iPad has become a popular “must have” for the techno conscious. In fact, the iPad is so popular that it sold 3 million devices in the first 80 days after its launch in April 2010 and has been changing the way users browse the web, play games, listen to music and read books and articles.
This kind of revolution has not gone unnoticed on the online casino front as Jackpot City Casino’s recently launched iPad Centric Software on it’s Mobile Casino platform indicates. This specially developed free casino software maximises the iPad’s innovative touch screen technology and delivers the ultimate mobile casino experience, allowing iPad users to “play on the go” anywhere, anytime.
The casino has made a number of their high quality mobile casino games available on the iPad application and players can enjoy a variety of games like the Tombraider and MegaMoolah slots, a variety of Roulette and Blackjack games as well as Classic Baccarat to name but a few.
So if you’re fortunate enough to be on the cutting edge of technology’s latest developments, then why not grab your iPad while you’re on the go and check out Jackpot City Casino now.
€200,000 Jackpot win at Casino Club
October 11, 2010
Just two hours after the introduction of the increased jackpot of €200,000 on the popular Jackpot Poker Video Poker machine it was hit by a UK based player known only as “Gavin” at Casino Club.
Betting the maximum on each hand, Gavin only played 55 rounds before hitting the massive jackpot of €235,716! After receiving a hand consisting of the King, Queen and Jack of spades, a 3 of hearts and 6 of diamonds, Gavin held only the King and Queen. With these two cards held, the next hand was a Royal Flush and he won the jackpot. Check out the screen summary below:
When contacted by a Casino Club customer service representative, Gavin stated: “I am so happy and I still can’t believe it. Tonight, I’m just going to celebrate by having a big party!”
This is not the only jackpot up for grabs at the casino though, currently the Aladdin’s Lamp Jackpot stands at a whopping €2 million! There are also numerous other jackpot games on offer, so visit Casino Club today and you could be their next winner.
Online Casino Regulation better than Prohibition
October 1, 2010
The past few years have been fraught with market changes in the online casino industry with some governments attempting to ban online gambling citing it as “unsafe” for their citizens but whether this is the actual concern or not really does come into question. The more obvious explanation for the proposed bans are due to the fact that online casinos often take potential tax dollars offshore.
Rather than attempting to ban online casinos and gambling, European governments have begun to open their countries to these activities, a trend which has been particularly prevalent in the last few months. In fact, Microgaming’s CEO Roger Raatgever recently mentioned the increased opportunities that the company was being exposed to due to European countries changing their policies and regulations.
Obviously each country’s government will decide what it deems the best ways to regulate, tax and license online casinos although these will be subject to the EU’s European Commission rulings on what can and cannot be passed as law. In general though, it makes a lot more sense for countries to be progressive in their regulations in of online casinos and benefit from a portion of the income they produce. The problem comes in though when governments become too stringent in their taxation and online casino operators are then unable to run casinos at a profit after software licensing, staffing and taxation overheads, so it really is a matter which warrants careful consideration and communication between both parties.
The United Kingdom has been a pioneer in proving that online casinos can be successfully regulated and beneficial to a country. Regulation, licensing and taxation began in 2009 and has been running relatively smoothly since with licensed online casinos reporting any underhanded business in the industry in order to ensure a safe environment for players as well as promoting and adhering to reasonable gambling rules and strategies for closing accounts which reveal addictive gambling patterns in players.
Commenting on the proposed regulations throughout Europe, Microgaming CEO Roger Raatgever stated that regulatory moves were more progressive because prohibition just leads to unsavoury operations and creates monopolies in countries that only allow state online casinos. The US is currently one of the biggest breaches of fair trade when it comes to online casinos. There have been numerous online casinos operating illegally in the US since the UIGEA law that was passed in 2005 which means that there is absolutely no way to protect players from unsavoury practices which is only achieved through proper regulation.
As a player you should always research online casinos thoroughly, take note of advice on finding reliable online casinos and only play at those licensed in reputable jurisdictions like those promoted here on bettingcorp.com.
Microgaming’s New Tournament Formats
September 21, 2010
Industry software giant Microgaming recently unveiled a number of innovative changes to its popular Slot and Blackjack Tournament schedule that will be on offer at participating Microgaming powered casinos.
These latest developments reflect Microgaming’s commitment to continuously enhance its offering to players by providing casino operators with innovative, cutting edge and exciting tournament formats and products.The latest offering does not disappoint and there are a host of new tournament types which have been designed to inject increased liquidity into the network:
Reloader Tournaments - This kind of Tournament is made up of a single round for a duration of 1 hour with a play time of approximately 5 minutes for a buy in of only $1. Add-Ons are not available, but players are allowed to “reload” for multiple winning opportunities.
This tournament allows for an even playing field, wherein every participant enjoys an equal chance of attaining the top score, with each turn that they take.
Extender Tournaments - These tournaments are score building events which take place in 1 hour and wherein participants are able to build a total score using “Add-Ons” (additional coins and time) to increase their initial base score in a period of $5. The highest accumulated total wins.
Buy in starts at as little as $2 and players are also able to “Re-Buy” into this event and attempt to better their previous score.
Survivor Tournaments - As the name implies, these are multiple round tournaments of 7 minutes per round wherein a percentage of players are eliminated at the end of each round and the highest placed “survivor” takes home the grand prize.
In order to participate, players buy-in to the event with a once off fee and no Add-On’s or Re-Buys are permitted within these tournament types.
One-Shot Tournaments - A One Shot Tournament is sure to get pulses racing as players enjoy only a single attempt to achieve their best possible overall score. This is definitely a fast paced, action packed tournament that is not for the faint hearted and where the winner takes home the grand prize pool.
There are no Add-Ons or Re-Buys offered in this tournament type.
In addition to the new tournament formats, Microgaming has also introduced three major Guaranteed Slot Tournaments: the Monthly Monster, the Midweek Moolah, and the Weekend Whopper. The “Midweek Moolah” and “Weekend Whopper” are both weekly tournaments which run over a period of 3 days and offer $10k in guaranteed prizes. The Monthly Monster however is the premier event of the latest schedule and is a $25k Guaranteed Tournament which runs for a period of one week from the final Monday of each month.
But wait, there’s more…Microgaming will also be introducing “Blackjack Attack” which is a brand new, weekly, $500 guaranteed Blackjack Tournament with multiple rounds wherein the top scoring players progress through the levels.
Microgaming’s new Tournament Schedule launched on the 6th September and is available at your favourite Microgaming powered casino like Golden Riviera now.
