€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.
The Fellowship of the Ring slot launching in September
August 10, 2010
J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy is undeniably one of the most famous literary works ever written which has not only enjoyed success in their novel form but also cinematically and now it seems, this work is translating into some of the most exciting online slots the casino world has seen.
Last year a number of Microgaming powered casinos launched the first in the series of The Lord of the Rings slot game which experienced overwhelming success and this year, September will see the launch of the subsequent release, The Fellowship of the Ring slot at casinos like Roxy Palace.
In this version you’ll be reunited with Frodo, Aragon, Arwen, Legolas and Gimli as well as all of your other favourites in yet another epic adventure which takes place in the form of a 5 reel, 243 symbol combination slot which allows you to win in so many more ways and features not only High Definition clips from the movie but also Cinematic Free spins and that is just the beginning…
The Lord of the Rings symbol is Wild and stacked on the reels, increasing your chances to make more winning combinations and the formidable Eye of Sauron symbol landing anywhere on reel 3 will expand across the entire reel making it Wild and able to substitute for all symbols except the scatters.
Make sure you look out for “The Precious” (The Ring) scatter symbol on the reels as it will trigger the Free Spins feature wherein random reels are turned Wild and the Wild reel will then substitute for all symbols except the scatter Ring. Free Spins are re-triggered for even more action. And also make sure you bet max to stand in line to win the 8000 coin jackpot!
This slot is sure to be as popular as its predecessor so don’t miss out on its launch at Roxy Palace in the month to come. In the meantime though, click here to play the original The Lord of the Rings slot.
House approves U.S online gambling regulation bill
July 30, 2010
A bill to license and regulate online gambling in the United States received a 41-22-1 vote of approval by the Financial Services committee on Wednesday of this week.
This decision was largely influenced by Republican John Campbell and Democrat Brad Sherman who have both played a significant role in amending the bill and ensuring its passage.
According to the amendment authored by Campell, all online gambling facilities targeting United States would require licenses. The amendment also call for additional protections for players by requiring the game odds for each casino game to be posted visibly, and loss limits to be imposed in addition to age and location verification.
Sherman’s further amendments ensure that gambling companies requiring licenses would have to hold a majority of their business in the U.S, furthermore, managers and owners of online gambling companies who had deliberately evaded or violated U.S. law regarding online gambling will not be able to obtain licenses.
This bill however does have a few processes to clear before it becomes law. Firstly, the full House needs to vote on it which seems unlikely before the House’s August break on the 9th of August 2010 begins. This mean that the bill will have to pass a full floor vote between September 7th and October 8th 2010 before the November Congress sessions. So in order for a vote to even occur the Democratic leadership in the House, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), will need to schedule it.
Should the House pass the bill, it will then be moved up to the Senate and if it is passed by the Senate it will need to be signed by President Obama. If all of this does not happen before this year’s legislative session, the process will have to begin from scratch in 2011 when the composition of both the House and Senate will be different.
So while this is a very positive step for US casino players, it is a tentative one that is not being celebrated too widely just yet.
Putting Game Design in Casinos hands
July 13, 2010
If I could design a casino game…
Just the thought of ever doing that makes any gambling enthusiast’s mind race and pulse quicken at the prospect. Now image running at a casino for years but having no control over the games you are able to offer and the prospect of having the design option is even more exciting. And while it may seem like a pipe dream, that prospect may soon become a reality for casino staff and any budding entrepeneur who wishes to give it a go if Meta Games Universal has anything to do with it.
While most brick and mortar and online casinos are dependant on software companies and game manufacturers for the design and production fo their game offerings, Mega Game Universal is proposing a “Create your own casino game” program and has alreday launched a platform in beta version and promises casino providers and operators the opportunity to create professional casino games without the need for experienced programming staff.
The UK based company does admit that the product may be controversial given that it would cut out mainstream software giants like Microgaming, RTG, Cryptologic and Playtech, but the benefits would be endless, for example lower licensing fees which would mean bigger profits for casinos, some of which would probably be spent on retaining players (more bonuses anyone?). Not to mention the fact that each casino would have a unique portfolio of games, giving it a unique selling point which just isn’t present within the generic portfolio of games offered to casinos by the various providers. And even when software providers or casinos have deals with other brands like Marvel or DC comics, not only are the themes similar but the game carry additional licensing expenses.
Full copyrights and protection are still pending however a company spokesperson recently stated that this kind of package would give users everything they’d need to produce their own games and the various tools and applications would be available for download from a website. The option to re-brand individually produced games will also be available which is another plus for casinos.
If all goes as it should, Cargo F, (Meta Game Universal will be known for the programming option) will revolutionise the casino industry as we know and will probably lead to more player benefits than ever before…so watch this space!
Finding Online Casinos with Google TV
June 5, 2010
Google has always been a gamblers best friend when it comes to finding online casinos and advice on every aspect of online gambling. Last week the internet search authority announced that it would be expanding into the world of television in partnership with Sony and Logitech with the launch of the Google TV feature, which means that finding the best online casinos on the internet will be that much easier and a whole lot more fun!
This application enabled via special devices will allow viewers to access the internet via their televisions through the Google Chrome web browser. This means that you’ll soon be able to play all of your favourite online casino games on your high definition television. TV accessible gambling is already available in a variety of countries across Europe and most popularly in the United Kingdom, where Netplay, an interactive television gaming company presents their product offering. It is safe to say that if Google TV is a success (and it is very likely to be given Google’s track record), the phenomenon of gambling online via TV sets will spread to millions across the globe.
According to Google, the Google Television devices will be on sale in the United States by this autumn, and will be compatible with both standard and high definition TV sets as well as Blu-ray players. We can’t wait for it to reach us but until then you can still find the best places to play right here at bettingcorp.com
Betstopper.ca puts Online Gambling at Bay for Minors
July 23, 2009
It’s old news that online gambling has been a source of concern for many parents, especially those that don’t gamble, because of the potential risk of access to websites that offer online gambling by their children. Though online sites try their best to prevent minors from registering gambling accounts by implementing their own fraud checks, children who are under the legal age to gamble still manage to infiltrate these fraud barriers. It is advertised that online gambling in Canada is illegal but yet still according to statistics, the number of online gamblers who are minors and online gamblers who are adults are quite staggering. A “2006 DeCode Research Study” shows that 2% of Nova Scotian adults gambled online that year versus 6% of Nova Scotian minors. According to a study called “Internet Gambling Among Youth”, 9% of high-school aged teens and 6% of University students, who are all under the legal age to gamble, do play online for money. Of these minors, 70% reported gambling online on a weekly basis. This includes playing for fun and playing for real.
Betstopper.ca is a content blocking software that parents can install on their home computers to prevent their underage children from accessing gambling websites. It was designed also for the purpose of preventing gambling addiction with the current generation. According to the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation (NSGC), Betstopper.ca was “vigorously tested”, however, they admit that it is still not 100% fool proof because “parents and caregivers are always encouraged to monitor their children’s online activity, regardless of whether they are using any additional tools such as BetStopper”. However, according to a study by “Young Canadians in a Wired World Phase II”, only 13% of children are supervised by a parent when they go online. With these facts in mind, the question still remains is Betstopper effective enough to prevent minors from accessing online gambling websites and preventing problem gambling.
The bottom line is that we want to keep our children safe. If we wouldn’t take our children into a land-based casino, then why would we want them visiting a casino online? Although we realistically cannot monitor our children’s every move, we can try our best to keep them from harm’s way. Betstopper does provide that extra bit of comfort and puts us more at ease when our children are online. So, in a nutshell, it is effective to a point because it does what it was created to do - helps to keep minors out of the way of problem gambling by blocking access to Internet gambling sites and content.
Download the Betstopper software now.
Read more useful information on the latest in the online casino industry.
France imposes new gambling regime
May 19, 2009
The Palais du Luxembourg hosted a conference, which was sponsord by the Government, to discuss the liberalization of France’s gambling market, a venture that is slated to take place starting January 1st 2010. The event was hosted at the Palais du Luxembourg and involved topics such as taxation, addressing problem gambling and problem-gambling-related issues, which was announced would be the responsibility of the state and not of the gambling Operators. Minister Eric Woerth, who is responsible for the liberalization, stated that regulations would be put in place to prevent money laundering and maintain transparency with the Operators’ business transactions. He said that prospective Operators would not be able to ‘influence neither the form nor the timetable for reform’. Disciplinary action will be taken against those Operators who operate without a license, including blocking their website access and access to their financial transactions.
Offshore companies, Unibet included, and local Operators were asked to discontinue their online gambling campaigns, which, Woerth warned, would lead to their demise and, quite possibly, prevent them from acquiring a license when the new regime is at the helm.
In closing he left this message with the attendees, “Restez Calme”, which means “Remain Calm”, as reform is on the way.
€6.3 Million Mega Moolah Progressive Jackpot Winner!!!
May 13, 2009
Coffee: €1. Burger and Fries: €3. A spin on Mega Moulah slot machine €5. Winning the largest online jackpot ever, PRICELESS!
It’s no joke, readers. Someone actually won the €6.3 Million Mega Moolah Progressive Jackpot at River Belle Casino! And with only a €5 bet! Greek Player Georgios M. was in shock when he saw the jackpot appear as a win on his PC screen. The father, husband, and business owner telephoned Riverbelle to confirm his winnings and were told by Staff that he was indeed a lucky winner. Not only that; he will get his payment in one lump sum from the Microgaming Progressive Network. Microgaming is the software provider for River Belle Casino. Said Tim Johnson, CEO of Belle Rock Entertainment, the parent company of River Belle, “It is an amazing accomplishment…enjoy your winnings, Giorgios.” Quite frankly, I don’t think Giorgios really needs anyone to tell him to enjoy that jackpot money. He’s probably made his Christmas list to Santa for the next 20 years.
However you decide on spending your winnings, Giorgios, the entire Team at Bettingcorp is extremely happy for you and wish you all the best.
Riverbelle’s Progressive Jackpot, despite the huge win by Giorgios, still stands at over €2.6 Million. See what else River Belle Casino has in store.
