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Archive for April, 2010

Tzyetkoff Faced with Charges of Fraud

Friday, April 30th, 2010

There is a huge amount of growth in the world of online gambling. Many opponents of legalizing online gambling believe that the main problem with the issue is the growth in crime, corruption and addiction. If communities aren’t ready to handle the added cost of protecting consumers, this could lead to a growth in financial disasters, foreclosures, repossessions and loss of overall well-being for millions of in-danger citizens. Though there is no research to prove that the legalization of gambling will increase crime, there has been a notable increase in illegal activity as of late.

Recently, Australian payment processor Daniel Tzyetkoff was indicted. The charges allege that he was illegally processing payments that totaled to well over $500 million. In the past year, that amount was accumulated via processing for online gambling operators. Tzyetkoff opened bank accounts throughout the financial world and used them to pay off online gamers. Charges include gambling conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering. Tzyetkoff was in the midst of many illegal activities and those are going to be brought to light in upcoming months of investigation. There is also a long line of evidence against the defendant that have yet to be released.

The landmark change with these charges comes from the fact that for the first time the charges were a direct delineation from the UIGEA of 2006. The UIGEA was a bill written that was supposed to police and stop online gambling. For the most part the bill was unable to do anything of real value for the market. In fact, it failed to stop gambling and pushed many online gamers to work with offshore companies instead. The US ended up losing millions of dollars in revenue thanks to the UIGEA’s shortcomings. The Tzyetkoff case was framed directly as a result of the bill though and this is the first time the legislation proved to be effective.
Now that the world is moving closer to legalizing and regulating online gambling, it will be interesting to watch the developments of not only the UIGEA, but additional amendments and legislation. Leaders everywhere are well on the road to writing new rules and regulations for online gambling and time will tell whether or not it is immediately effective. If not, legislators will have to return to the drawing board and rewrite their gambling legislation.

Earth Day a Success with Online Promotions

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Earth Day was celebrated this past April 22nd and it was a success. The goal of the day is to bring awareness to conservation efforts and to increase them for the sake of saving resources. Everyone got in on the day to encourage change and that includes the online world of gaming. The casino Online Vegas put together a freeroll slots tournament for all slots lovers to enjoy. The tournament went on for a full 24-hour day and it was free to enter. The best thing about it was that there was a guaranteed prize pool of $2,500 that was to be shared by the top players who ended up making the leaderboard through their play. The game played was Love Bugs, which is an already popular slots game.

The Earth Day fun didn’t stop with the tournament though, there was more celebration immediately after it. The same casino offered an additional two tournaments with prize pools of $30,000 and $50,000 each. A lot of the pay was paid out to players in the form of credits and comp points. Though it wasn’t necessarily cash that players walked away with, it still benefited them because comp points are a much-sought after benefit of online gaming. Sometimes they can equate to even more of an advantage that a straight $50 payout would.

Both tournaments were celebrations and support for the Earth Day event. It is interesting to see how online gaming is so closely following the world of events we work in. For example, almost every month you will find tournaments that are built around dates. New Year’s Day, Easter Day, The Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas are all US days when casinos build promotions. In addition, expect to find specials for summer, sinter, fall and spring. Almost every change in the world dictates an online company that is tasked with making promotions for players. If you are a fan of gaming, be sure to keep an eye on event calendars. This is the best way to keep up to date on what is happening in the world of online casinos. You can also sign up for various casinos’ newsletters. That way their special promotions can be delivered to you automatically. This is the best way to never miss out on the huge amount of specials that casinos today offer.

Three Progressive Slots Offer Huge Money

Friday, April 30th, 2010

A few years ago slots were considered to be low-paying games. They offered a lot of fun gaming, but rarely did they pay out top dollars. Things are changing quickly in the world of slots though. This past month three progressive jackpot slots rose above the 2.5 million level in payout. That is a huge number for slots. The games are Mega Jackpots, Mega Moolah and Beach Life. Of course if you have been gaming for a while then you know the name Mega Moolah. This game has been around for a while and has four different games linked to it: Mega Moolah, 5-Reel Drive, Isis and Summertime. The game has proven its worth over the past few years and one winner after another has taken a huge payout. Not to mention that the game itself is one of the finest quality and best orchestrated games available today. The bonus round, the symbols and the multipliers are all built for players to win big. Millions of players have partaken in the game’s offerings and it is showing no signs of waning.

Beach life is another premiere game. This one is coming in second place in terms of payout. However it should be noted that the game’s popularity is growing at such a high rate that experts predict it will take over the number one slot spot any day now. This game is one where the maximum bet is only $10, so any bankroll should fit well with it. Of course you have to wager the maximum to be eligible for the progressive jackpot, but that is standard in the industry.

Finally, there is Mega Jackpot. This game has given out about 2.5 million pounds over the course of its operations. The game is focused in the UK and is open to any player located in the UK. The games linked to this network are Monopoly, Pass Go Bonus and Cleopatra. All three games offer premiere gaming and you should be able to switch among them for some real variety. The payouts are top-notch so you could get lucky and walk away with a life-changing amount of cash.

Quebec Passes Laws to Legalize Online Gambling

Friday, April 30th, 2010

There are major developments going on in the world of online gambling. All over the world legislators are working to come up with laws that allow online gambling to benefit them financially. With difficult budgets and problems with huge deficits, countries are worried that there are few ways of managing. One of the most viable options is for legislators to introduce online gambling and use the tax-revenue dollars as a means of generating cash.

Now the province of Quebec is entering in to the debate as the government has just approved the lottery commission to come up with online gambling companies that include sports betting and poker. Again the impetus is a faltering economy. Quebec, like other countries, is worried about its finances. The finance minister Raymond Bachand said that bringing in legalized gambling is the best way to overcome the difficult economy. Lotto-Quebec is the first company that will host an online poker website. Residents of Quebec are the only ones who will be able to utilize the website but it will be a good chance for the province to find out whether or not gambling will work. The hardest part will be the implementation and now that the legislation is there, it will be interesting to watch the market.
The biggest alteration to the websites will be that they will integrate safeguard programs that will offer addiction resources. This is the new wave of online gambling. Companies are now focusing on protecting players by offering toll-free numbers, local offices and meeting places for Gamblers Anonymous.

Opponents of gambling have stated that their main concern is that the proper safeguards won’t be built into the system to handle gambling addictions. Because of their criticism, a lot of companies are focusing on creating management sectors fo the business that are structured to help the most vulnerable players. These sectors of the websites are solely for protecting visitors who feel they are either prone to addiction, or addicted to online gambling. The hope is that legislators who are against legalizing gambling will see the pains companies are taking with their own business models and change their minds. The added support for legalizing and regulating online gambling may be what pushes more jurisdictions to allot for the hobby’s legalizaiton.

Bodog Looks for the Next Premiere Female Poker Player

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

For years now poker has been a mainstay in the gambling world. Since the rise of online gambling, it has taken off as an industry. Take the WSOP for example— it initially began as a small tournament of a handful of players who loved the game. They came together about thirty years ago and created the event. In the beginning it was little more than a yearly get-together that offered aficionados the chance to capitalize on their beloved hobby. Now, the WSOP is a huge worldwide event that sees thousands of players vying for the big payouts and the much-coveted WSOP bracelet. In fact, the bracelet is looked at as more valuable than the money with some players. The big winner last year walked away with well over $7 million dollars. That’s no small feat for a game that had such humble beginnings!

The poker industry is continuing its growth and Bodog.com is one company that is looking for new ways to define the market. The company is hosting a search for great women poker players along the lines of Annie Duke and Kathy Liebert. The company is hosting an event that is calling on women poker players to join in on the fun. There is the opportunity for them to be sponsored and move into the world of professional poker play, not to mention the chance at a big payout and worldwide fame. The Bodog.com casino is noted for its gaming prowess and now calling on women to come to join the male-dominated activity.

Bodog.com has been around for a while and knows full well how to build outstanding tournaments and gaming bonuses. The company has one of the best reputations around for great gaming. If you are a woman and want to join the fun, go to the casino website. You can always test your luck first at any of the many special bonuses the company gives to players. If you check in now you can take advantage of their start-up bonus and join in on the VIP bonus too. Combined these bonuses will bring you a lot of extras and you should enjoy the gaming fun the company has to offer.

Swimmer Phelps Joining Millions with Online Poker Play

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Swimmer Michael Phelps made waves at the Olympics. In fact, he ended up winning fourteen medals and earned the respect of sports fans everywhere due to all he accomplished as an athlete. Now it is being revealed that he has another interest—poker. Phelps recently participated in the Borgata Winter Open as a poker contestant. This is just another sign of how popular the game has become over the years and how many people are interested in playing. Phelps admitted to being a long time fan of the hobby and participating in many online tournaments back in 2008 and 2009. Though other obligations made it impossible to participate in a lot more recent tournaments, he is now back into playing the game and announced his sucess and love for poker.

It was also revealed that Phelps for years has been a staple in online poker play under an anonymous name. He stated recently that he loves the game and playing online is one of the most convenient ways of him playing. He is like a lot of players who find that online gambling is the most flexible hobby with internet capabilities. Though some players are unable to find time to drive to a land-based casino and wait for their favorite game, online options offer a solution. With online gaming anyone with a desktop or laptop and internet access can participate in a wide range of games and enjoy gambling fun. Plus online casinos are getting highly sophisticated in their offerings. Not only are there outstanding start-up bonuses, but players also can find a wide range of VIP bonus programs. That is in addition to the wide range of games available and how they are rotated at casinos throughout any given month.

If you are looking for a good hobby, test your own luck at online gambling. There are a wide range of online tournaments and games that offer you the “real” land-based casino feel. You can participate in the games from the privacy of your own home or any other location where you have internet access. The most fun games are the tournaments and that’s where you are sure to find athletes and celebrities alike. Think about it– the next time you play a game you could be playing against Michael Phelps.

New Survey Show Perception of Online Gambling

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Ipsos Reid is a company that recently held a survey of the American public. The goal was to find out what people’s perception of online gambling is and how they feel about its legalization. Interestingly, the findings were that a lot of Americans and Canadians believe that online gambling is already legalized. Though they may not directly participate in the hobby, they believed that debates were over and people were legally gambling consistently. When it comes to public feel about online gambling, the survey showed that about 49% of those selected believed that online gambling was a positive activity for the countries.

Though the information was interesting, it was hardly a surprise to many involved. Experts know that online gambling is not as negatively perceived as it once was by the American public. In fact most believe that it is a viable option to raising the money needed for governments to continue offering important public programs that are without funding at this time. The recession was a stark reality for millions and they understand how many budget cuts had to happen and how they affected the quality of programs available. Though some legislators are still campaigning that legalizing online gambling would bring crime in mass numbers, the voting public is still doubtful. There is no tangible evidence that online gambling is directly related to crime, corruption or an increase in addictions that are unmanageable. In fact, some legislators are maintaining that though they once may have been against online gambling, the real issue is whether or not the government can build in the proper safeguards into the system. If they can, then many legislators have said that they would change their minds on the issue and vote for gambling’s legalization and regulation.

One of the biggest issues to tackle is the issue of regulation. Many Americans believe that the proper regulation is what is going to bring success with legalizing gambling. Even legislators hold to the same idea. They are pushing hard for an increase in regulations that police activities online and protect all gamers. They also want programs that increase security and protect gamers’ identities and funding information. If these can be sorted out many believe that the question of online gambling will be answered swiftly and easily.

CA Looking to Bring in an Online Gambling Network

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

California is one of those states that is having problems with online gambling legislation. The deficits for the state are huge though and without some gambling allowance, the state is at a loss for generating the additional cash needed to overcome the budget problems. Earlier this year the state’s legislators met to discuss an intrastate online poker network. It was an introduction and an indication of where the state wants to go in terms of gambling in the future. If anyone had the thought that the state would shelf the issue, this proves that they are actively searching for solutions to the problem of implementing an online gambling resolution.

In the meeting were thirty-five experts in the field and each one was asked to voice their opinion on the issue and cite the pros and cons. The overall decision was that online gambling should be addressed conservatively at the beginning. Legislators believe that it is unrealistic for communities to believe that immediate implementation of the hobby can occur. Rather, it will take time to truly utilize online gaming as a means of bringing in tax-revenue dollars.

One entity offering aid is the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. The tribal leaders are offering answers and hoping that their involvement can help speed up the process. The tribe would like to be instrumental in the development of an online gambling network that would be introduced in conjunction with their own expansion efforts. They want to bring in a number of land-based casinos throughout the state. The Morongo Band of Mission Indians wants to get in from the ground floor with their own ideas about online wagering. Unfortunately for the tribe there is a lot of opposition. Other tribes in the area maintain that allowing the Morongo Tribe to go forward with their initiative would shut them out of the gambling world. Many other tribes also have land-based casinos in the state and feel that the acceptance of the proposal would create a monopoly of the market. Recent research shows that California could potentially bring in upwards of $600 million over the next 5 years if they approve online gambling within the state.

Seniors’ Friendly Gambling Games in Idaho Shut Down

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Part of the controversy of online gambling is the potential rise in crime. Many legislators are worried that the increase of online gambling will bring problems for the communities that they are ill equipped to manage. One issue occurred recently involving elderly citizens participating in gatherings at the Twin Falls Senior Center in the state of Idaho. It all began with an innocuous poker game played by citizens in their retirement years. Mostly it was another social gathering in which the gamers were able to socialize and have some fun. Unfortunately, they were quickly thwarted in their activities by local police.

The senior citizens came to the Twin Falls Senior Center with $20 to enter the game. It has happened for months now and was a welcomed change in the normal ritual. The growing popularity of the game may have been what eventually brought about its demise. The reality is that gambling in the state of Idaho is illegal and that includes small games held at senior centers. Fortunately the seniors were given the opportunity to change their ways by heeding the warning given to them by the local police department. Many weren’t happy about the change though.

The seniors participating saw the games as a dual advantage. First, they were able to get out of their homes and socialize. The activity is exciting and allowed them a change from their normal routine. Secondly, it also allowed them to reap the benefits of wagering and winning. The $20 buy-in created a good pot and the lucky winners walked away with a great payout of additional money for the week. Many tried to argue with local police stating that the game was merely a “friendly” one, but the law is the law. Idaho statues hold that gambling is defined as any money-generating risk that involves crediting anything of value to players. Though the seniors had been participating in the games for over five years, an anonymous tip was their eventual downfall. It will be sorely missed by the participants, but the law dictates that they need to cease and desist with their games until Idaho law changes.

Grudzien Steps Down from StoxPoker Company

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

One of the issues with a growth in online gambling is the rise in crime. It’s no secret that a lot of opponents of legalizing online gambling are worried that the activity naturally brings a rise in money laundering, crime, corruption and addictions. They believe that countries are not prepared to handle the issues due to a lack of funding earmarked for additional policing agencies. Many legislators are against legalizing gambling but state that if the necessary safeguards were possible and in place, they may change their minds and open the door for gambling online.

One controversial company is StoxPoker.com. The website’s owner Nick Grudzien has been accused of mismanaging finances for players. The website is a well-known training website for gamblers all over the globe. With this issue, many players have left the business in search of a more reliable website to meet their gambling needs. To save the company Grudzien has stepped down as head of the company. His hope is that without his controversial activities, the company will be able to rectify itself and once again gain the good graces of gamers who left.

Despite the changes the company has had, there were plans to affiliate with CardRunners.com. The merger is scheduled to still happen as planned. Operators of each casino are hoping that the merger of the two poker giants will take the focus off of alleged illegal activities that have plagued the company’s owner for some time now. Prior to the release of the issues, the company stated its intention of merging together. There was a large promotional and advertising plan put together to cap off the festivities. It included a wide range of bonuses and specials for existing customers and for new customers to join the casino. Now that there is some trouble in the market for the company, operators still plan on going full thrust with their former plan. It is a difficult time for StoxPoker.com and only time will tell whether or not the company will be able to truly recover from the problems it has endured. Grudzien is hoping with his detachment from the actual company, the public perception of the company will once again be able to return to a positive one.