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Archive for May, 2010

Aztec Casino Offers Premiere Gaming

Monday, May 10th, 2010

If you are looking for a new online casino, check out the new Aztec Casino. It is one of the newest entrants into the market and is already making waves with its promotions and bonuses. Remember that the best thing to do with online gaming is to look for casinos that have a track record of success. The market of online gambling has been around long enough now that there are a wide range of casinos that have stood the test of time. They have served millions of online players and built up great reputations for reliability and honesty in the market. One casino like this is Aztec Casino. If you have any interest in the ancient culture, this may be the perfect casino to test out.

Aztec Casino is of course built around that theme. That gives designers a lot to work with in terms of rich graphics and backgrounds along with integrated sound. The casino itself has been around since 2008 but in those short two years it’s made huge strides. It has over eighty different games to pick from and that means everything from slots to table games to card games. There are 3- and 5-reel slots to look at and a wide range of themes and wager requirements. You can find multi-line slots and the more traditional ones to partake in.

The best thing about Aztec Casino is its quality gaming. It’s run by Top Game software. This is one of the premiere gaming developers and is known for the quality graphic capabilities. They are also user-friendly so if you are new to the gaming world, you won’t have a difficult discerning what to do to set up your account, work with games and then manage your funds. If you are an avid player you still will love the convenience, but have plenty of games to keep you busy. For any new player, you can combine start-up bonuses to get to a grand bonus of $3,333. That’s great news for any player who wants something extra. If you are looking for a new casino, test out Aztec Casino and see what a great casino it has become in just three short years.

Ladbrokes Makes Considerable Changes after Legal Battle

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

For a considerable amount of time now gaming giant Ladbrokes and HMRC, or Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, have been in litigation over online casino gambling. This is not the first time online casino gambling has started problems. After all, it is a newer entrant into the market and regulations are still being put into place. There has been a tremendous amount of growing pains when it comes to the market and by no means are those over.

The issue between Ladbrokes and HMRC was primarily a taxation issue and the HMRC stated that it did not receive the full amount it was supposed to in revenue back in 2007. In the end, it walked away with £80-million. In addition to the money transferred, there was a bit of a shake up on the management team of Ladbrokes. While Chris Bell was the CEO for more than a few successful years, Richard Glynn was put into the position. The inner details of why the changes was made were not released, but it is a curious time for the company as Bell was a staple in the company for years.
Though it was an unexpected change, it may prove to be lucrative. In the past few weeks the stock value of Ladbrokes has increased. In fact, the company saw more than a 3% increase over the past few weeks. That is great news since Ladbrokes, like most other online casino companies has suffered greatly due to the recession and people’s lack of spending over the past few months. With a new CEO and a long standing litigation over, the company is looking forward to success. Most likely the company will rally quickly as Ladbrokes is a leader in the industry of online and land-based gambling. It has been around for decades and weathered many changes in the market only to continuously come out on top. Only time will tell what the company does in the future, but most likely in a few months the lawsuit and the change in management officials will be nothing more than an additional entry into the company’s lush history.

The EU Fights for Regulation of Online Gambling

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

The European Union is fighting for the cause of online gambling. There are still a handful of small countries that are not regulating online gambling. The problem is that this opens the door to fraud and other illegal activities for companies to be bringing to the market. It threatens the safety of players worldwide too. Many players who aren’t as savvy may be wooed by companies offering outstanding deals and specials. Once they are drawn in and deposit their money, any number of them lose money or even worse, their identities. Without regulation, online gambling is a sure fire way of putting people in dangerous situations.

The EU, or European Union, is trying to coerce every member state into adopting the same rules it has come up with in terms of regulation when it comes to gambling. A recent report showed that over the next two years, there should be an overwhelming growth of 42% in the world of online gambling. That adds up to about $30 billion in additional revenue for the world to divvy up. With an already depressed financial state, few countries can pass up the millions of dollars in additional revenue they can bring in by regulating online gambling and land-based gambling properly. Accounting group KPMG advises countries on finances throughout the world and they recently release statements requesting that countries regulate the gambling market. It is their desire to make regulation of gambling—both online and at land-based locations—a priority in the world today.

KPMG realizes the value of increased taxation on gambling and how that is the key to bringing more money into the world economy. Many online casinos have been putting time into avoiding taxation increases. Unfortunately, as rules are shored up this may become increasingly impossible. For example, for a casino company to set up in the UK, it has to have the proper licensing. That license, of course, comes along with a licensing fee that needs to be renewed periodically. This is another way, in addition to taxation, countries benefit from regulation and increased gambling. Hopefully, other countries will take cues from the UK and begin with the same regulation process. It promises to bring in much-needed cash and protect citizens who want to partake in the hobby.

Credit Card Companies Fight for Online Transactions

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Since the UIGEA of 2006 credit card companies have been closely watching their moves regarding online gambling. The problem with the bill was that it put the major responsibility of watching and have decided to flag online activity to the credit card companies. In turn, they realized that the added cost was a hefty one. It takes manpower to flag every transaction that is affiliated with online gambling. Due to the added cost, many credit card companies decided to just completely deny any activity that was even slightly associated with gambling. Unfortunately, activities that were legal were also thrown in to the mix—lotteries and other gambling activity that should not have been approved—were denied.
Credit card companies shied away from allowing any type of gambling activities because they were afraid of the huge penalties that could be incurred due to illegal activities. Namely MasterCard has been the top staunch regulator of online gambling. Recently the company announced that it would be blocking all activities that were even slightly affiliated with online gambling. The repercussion is that MasterCard holders may not have access to their funds if they want to gamble online. MasterCard is trying to limit gambling activity because historically they lead to other defaulting activities like over-limit charges and late payments. These additional costs are a heavy burden for credit card companies to carry.

Online casinos are working overtime to find a way around the denial of transactions moving through credit card companies. There are already a wide range of e-walled solutions available and running on the market today. There are also online checking systems that allow for gambling transactions to be managed. GoCasino and BoDog are two casinos that are even offering specials to their customers who don’t try to use credit cards for their transactions. It’s a costly method, so the casinos are offering bonuses for people willing to sign up for other more cost efficient methods of handling their various monthly transactions. MasterCard still has other procedures coming into the mix and in coming months players should see an entirely different battery of offerings by various online casino companies.

Stranded Consumers Mean Big Money for Casino Operators

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

The world is full of natural disasters as of late. It’s difficult to ignore the fact that more and more disasters are happening throughout the world. Though some of the repercussions of tragedy are evident, others are coming to light over time. One offshoot of the problems is the increase in online gambling. The reason for this? More people than ever are being stranded.

It may sound odd, but people who are stranded is proving to provide an advantage to casino operators. Many airports, pubs, bars and other social gathering areas have slots and table games. The past problem has been a lack of visitors who stop by to use them. Now that disasters are happening more frequently, people are having time to waste. That means that they are looking for things to do on the down time. Whether is it a flight or a delayed train—people need to look for pastimes. Slots and other forms of table gaming are once again proving their worth. And that’s great news for casino operators.

Since the beginning of the recession casino operators have been in trouble. The unemployment rate soared and put people in difficult financial positions. Most discretionary funds were dried up or had to be rechanneled into paying bills. That meant that casino gambling was completely eliminated by most Americans. A lot of casinos shut down and others had to completely reevaluate their budgets. Now that the recession is over, there is a considerable increase in gambling once again. Land-based casinos are seeing more people coming through their doors and so are locations that have slots and table game gambling.

One of the most recent contributors to an increase in gambling is Iceland’s volcanic ash issue. The ash has made flying so difficult that many planes have been grounded. Though that is bad news for the airline industry, it’s great news for casino operators who have been swift to move in and offer a great pastime for those consumers. Not only are gambling kiosk owners elated, but so are companies that offer mobile gaming. They too are benefiting from consumers who need something to do. Nothing is simpler than to log onto a secure internet website and enjoy a few hours of gambling.

Look For Security When Picking A New Casino Online

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

One thing that online gaming has brought is a new need for security. Remember that for the most part, the online world is anonymous. That means that a company can set up, take your money and then disappear at any time without paying out what it promised. In particular with the global market, it is easy for unscrupulous operators to set up shop and then disappear into the night. A lot of operators are set up offshore and tracking is virtually impossible. Of course the issue has not fallen on deaf ears. Watchdog organizations came together quickly to come up with safeguarding applications to protect new players.

Now that the market has had a few years to develop, there are a lot of new strides in the industry of internet safety. Player Verify is a new company that is now entering the market and it is promising to be premiere in safeguarding players. The application targets companies though—it promises to limit the number of casinos players can sign up for. That, in turn, should shore up rules and safety protocols for avoiding identity theft. What thieves have done in the recent past is steal identities and then open up accounts at online casinos. The danger is that people who have their identities stolen, are then used by thieves as new users. They bet with people’s funds and then disappear.

For the most part Player Verify is a tool used by online casinos to protect themselves, but there is still an advantage to players. Players, who are working with casinos that use the tool, know that their identities are being protected. One of the biggest things to look for when picking a new online casino is the amount of security it has to offer. Again—playing game online is not always carefree. Be sure you do a security check of the tools each casino uses. You want to make sure there is top-notch security encryption and additional security in terms of your information. Be sure to read through forums and see what casinos are the best ones to trust and what issues an individual casino has had in the past. See how they have resolved it, if they have and then consider how many people have issued complaints on the same issue. You want to pick a casino where all your information is going to be protected at.

Check Out Big Companies for Big Bonuses

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

If you have been a fan of online gaming for any amount of time, most likely you have heard of Rival Gaming. Rival is a company that first began back in 2006 and over the short lifespan of the company, it has managed to build itself up as a leader. The company provides software for a wide range of online casinos and that includes the gaming applications and the backend utilities. The past has proven lucrative to the company and they are building a great set of casinos that serve thousands of online players. The company just announced that it is going to release another gaming casino website. The company is introducing Supreme Play, a division based in Curacao.

This new division is an extension, meant to further brand the company and spread its name to an even bigger market. For anyone looking to test out a new casino, this could be the best time to take advantage of the new addition to the Rival Gaming family. Right now, the casino is offering a $22 no-deposit bonus for every player who signs onto the casino in the next few weeks. There is also a welcome-bonus of $888. Of course there are some regulations to this bonus, but overall there should be no problems with signing up for it. Check out the casino and see how much it has to offer. Remember that when it comes to online gaming, you want to look for casinos that offer you the best bonuses and specials to supplement your gaming. By bringing some great bonus features, you should be able to increase your credits.

In addition, a good casino will offer you some VIP bonus potential. Every time you play, you should be earning extra points to enjoy. Those points eventually will translate into additional spins, games, merchandise and even cash. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of each one of these bonuses, but remember that there are a lot out there. Rival gaming is one of the biggest software providers in the world of online gaming, so most likely it should be offering some of the best bonuses you will find in the online market today.

Check Out new Mobile Gaming Platform

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

The industry of gaming has grown tremendously over the years. Thanks to technology, the industry is being fueled at exponential rates. If you visited online casinos a few years back and now visit again, you can immediately see the changes that have been made. One newer development was begun due to the Smart Phones. The iPhone and various other Smart Phones enable casino companies to move into a new market—mobile gaming. Though it is relatively new, mobile gaming is taking off already. Thousands of users are signing up to it and playing while they are traveling. It’s a great way to past time if they are not around a “real” land-based casino.

Kerching.com is an online casino that is moving into the world of mobile gaming. Now, thanks to the company, you can play Rainbow Riches, or Pots of Gold as it is also branded, on the go via your smart phone. IPhones and iPod Touch handsets both can accommodate the games. All you have to do to have access is to go to the Kerching.com website and download the mobile application for gaming. Just like signing up for an account, downloading and setting up your mobile app is very quick and very simple. Any newer gamer should not have problems setting things up and partaking in the newer industry of mobile gaming.

The great thing about the new Kerching.com game is that it already has a great reputation for outstanding graphics. Developers worked overtime on translating the game to the mobile platform. You will need a handset to watch your bankroll and play the game, but it will be well worth it once you download the game to your phone. The casino chose the Rainbow Riches Pots of Gold game because it already has proven itself in the market. Kerching.com has hundreds of happy players who have already spend hours with the game and won. It is now coming in to the mobile market with a great reputation and a great history of performance. If you are looking for another gaming option, then test out the mobile application. It will be well worth your time to see what the hype of mobile gaming is about.

Alabama Looks for Gambling Expansion

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Ron Sparks, Agriculture Commissioner in Alabama, has been a strong supporter of bringing gambling into the state. He has been instrumental in gambling being received as a viable way for the state to increase money-generating activities in the state. Sparks is looking to become the next governor of the state and is stating that he will hold hard on the possibility of gambling expansion if he is elected into office. He believes that to turn the economy around, states have to look at regulating and legalizing gambling and incorporating it into the monthly budget.

Sparks also stated that if the general gaming is accepted by the state, then he will be the one to push it further. So far voting polls have shown that the resident of the state positively look at gambling as a means of bringing in revenue. They also are excited about the job possibilities added gambling brings to the market. Again—Alabama is a state that was hurt by the recession. Jobs were eliminated and thousands of people in the state lost their jobs. Like the rest of the country, Alabama suffered due to the economic downturn and that means that now it has a long way to go in terms of recovery. Sparks believes that with his leadership skill, he will be able to bring the state to a new level of success.

When it comes to the other candidates for governor, many are also bringing up the issue of gambling. They are drawing the lines up against each other and making gambling a central issue. On one hand some legislators believe that without gambling there are few ways of bringing in revenue. Video gambling has proven to be lucrative in other markets. Even in Las Vegas a recent study showed that video gambling brings in about 60% of the revenues within the casinos in the area. For the most part, video slots and slots in general have proven their worth over the years. If Sparks has his way, he will be the next leader in the state of Alabama to bring gambling to the foreground and then rely on it to sustain current budget plans. Without something being done, more programs will have to be eliminated or shored back drastically in the future.

New Orleans Sees a Growth in Gambling

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

The city of New Orleans, Louisiana was hit with a disaster a few years ago. It was 2005 when the city was hit by Hurricane Katrina. The aftermath of the storm wreaked havoc on the city and parts of it have yet to recover. It was the levied wall that protected the city that broke and opened the door for the devastation throughout the area. Hurricane Katrina first became known three days prior to its actual invasion on the city. Though some announcements were made, little was done to aid people in evacuating the city. The city’s officials issued a “countra-flow” strategy, in which people were ushered out. Over one-million people were brought out of the city but 20% stayed behind. It was this last 20% that felt the overwhelming strain of Hurricane Katrina.

In the three years since the disaster, New Orleans has seen some improvement and recovery, however it will take more time to completely turn things around. Some good news happened in terms of the city’s recovery. A recent poll done by Portfolio.com showed that the city of New Orleans is number two in terms of the best gambling in the country. That is a huge victory for the city due to its recent past. It also means that the city is setting itself up for an additional growth and more revenue streams. Officials of the state are excited because they have worked hard to come up with a business model for the city that focuses on recovery. The culture, food and drink are all custom built to the city. Now, officials are pushing the industry of gambling to new heights, hoping that it will not only help to turn things around even more, but also bring in revenues to be used for recovery in the future. There are still displaced residents who need financial assistance to return to their old ways of life. It is going to take more time and more effort from legislators and the various industries alive in the city to turn things around even more. With gambling on its way on an increase in revenue, it is a good sign that the market for New Orleans is going to turnaround for the better.