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Archive for October, 2010

Russian Spy Chapman Creates Her Own iPhone App

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

One of the things that is changing in the market is the ability to capitalize on successful promotion. Just look at the Jersey Shore kids—they have no viable talent, but have catapulted themselves into fame. So have other notable figures in the world of entertainment: Paris Hilton, the Kardashians and the OC characters. They all have no real talent, but have managed to parlay their visibility into a “job” of sorts that brings in millions of dollars for them. The same thing it seems is happening with the Russian spy Anna Chapman. Chapman you will recall was a spy who recently was arrested and sent back to her country. She was intriguing because she was a woman and she was close to what movies write about—that pretty, spy who took her tasks to the end through covert and secretive operations. Now she is too capitalizing on her “fame.” She recently announced that she will be releasing an iPhone application for online gamblers who love to play poker.

Chapman’s application for iPhones was developed by Zeda, Inc and it’s named “Poker with Anna Chapman.” The purpose of course is to pit players against her as they try to play for big prizes in the game. If you download the application you can play two different styles of poker with the spy: 5-card draw and Texas Hold’em. Both styles are highly popular in the market and millions of gamers play the games to win big. The unique thing about this application is that Chapman shares her own voice with gamers, offering various reflections on the game and her own professional opinion on your moves. It is an interactive game where she plays not only with moves, but also with verbalized responses. From the application you can connect to Chapman’s Facebook page, her Twitter page and her personal photo directory. You also can get updates on her personal life now that she is back in her home country. If you manage to win a few games, you will be able to get to know Chapman even more. The games offer winners the chance to be privy to her personal photos of shopping, partying and daily life. If you are a fan of the “spy lifestyle” then you should test your own luck at the game and see what you can do. Any poker lover should love this new iPhone app.

The 9th Annual European iGaming Congress and Expo

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

If you are in search of new gambling products and what is coming into the market in coming months, then consider visiting a gambling expo. These are large events that feature the latest products and services to be brought into the market. It isn’t without a lot of care and concern that companies prepare their booths at these expos. They are a lot like cooking expos or car expos in that manufacturers and developers put together the best they have to offer. This is where developers are quick to shine a light on what they are bringing to the market that is both unique and exciting for all parties involved. It could be new software or a new technological advancement; it could be a new style of game or a new bonus capability. Whatever it is, gamers and the industry get excited when they hear about what is out there and what they have a chance at experiencing. It is always exciting to see how far the market is being pushed by developers. One such recent expo was the 9th Annual European iGaming Congress and Expo. If this was a sign of where the market is going, then every gamer should be jumping for joy over the possibilities of the future.

The expo was a sign of good things to come. It was held at Bella Center in Copenhagen Denmark. The purpose was to showcase trends in the gambling market that are most likely going to move with the market and continue to shape it as years come. Its major draw for industry companies is to provide them with products that will help them to build their overall gaming clientele list. They can use the newest and most innovative products and services for gamers. Not only to keep avid gamers in their casinos, but also to help attract new gamers who are just entering the market. The products introduced at an expo like this one are indicative of where the market is going and can show you with certainty where it is moving. For example, at the Bella Denter’s European iGaming Congress and Expo, it was evident that gamers want more customizable options with their online gambling. They want to have special buttons that let them alter small elements of the game. This is exactly what the market is responding with in coming months.

Full Tilt Poker Continues to Find Sponsors

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

The growth of poker in the gambling market has been a thing of beauty for gaming companies. It is working just like it should be—bringing in thousands of new players every month and bringing in added millions along with them. The most intriguing thing about the game is that is the perfect combination of skill and luck. Sure there is an element of luck—if you don’t have the right cards you are going to have a hard time coming up with a win, but you can still work with a hand. If you have a good strategy, you can sometimes overcome a naturally bad hand. You can still parlay it into a valuable winning game. This is why so many gamblers love the game. Plus add to the basic set up the fact that the games have a wide variety of different styles to enjoy and you won’t easily get bored with the game possibilities that are out there.
With all the game of poker has to offer, it also has to work hard to continue to bring in new gamers. One of the strategic ways it does this is via online and public endorsements. Most companies today have worked their way well into the mainstream market’s acceptance. It was not too long ago when gambling was still considered to be an underground activity that took a lot of money to play. High rollers, entertainers and other famous and wealthy people partook in the hobby, but few others dared. Today’s market has opened up that exclusivity to a long list of gamers who can reasonably find affordable games to enjoy. Now it is endorsement deals that are helping the world of gambling companies to find that greater market. Full Tilt Poker is an example of a casino that is using endorsements to its advantage. The company has so far signed many lucrative deals with sports stars. Their most recent is James Blake a top notch professional tennis player. His joining the team is proving to be a great deal because it is helping with advertising potential. Expect more and more poker-related companies to start moving into the market of endorsements. They know how large the market is and want to spread the word on what to gamers can expect and get via the market as vastly as possible.

Gaming Company Success- Part 2

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

• Hold premiere tournaments. Tournaments are the new wave of online casinos and for good reason. Not only does a good casino offer you a great potential payout, but they are also highly affordable to any gamer. If you love fast-paced play, then they have that added benefit. Tournaments are much more cost effective than regular play. Consider that to wager for one hour at a blackjack table could be well over $100 if you are at a moderate-priced table. On the other hand, playing in a touranment could cost $20, but you get enough credits to last you throughout three hours of play. Overall touranments are the way to get the most for your money.

This may seem like a tall order, but in today’s market it really isn’t. Gamers today are more experienced than ever before and to gain their loyalties, a company has to keep things fresh. Some games have a shorter shelf life than others so gaming companies have to work closely with developers to make sure that they are building the best games for the public. Remember that also as games continue to enter the market, gamers are getting more and more sophisticated– they know how to find the best games and will quickly pass up games that are not up to par. There are enough options in the market that no gamer has to settle for a low quality game anymore. Rather, he or she can easily do a search to find a better game.

Also– many casinos are offering the “free play” option to gamers. This is a great way for them to continue to wager, but with no risk. They can play and figure out if the game is to their liking before ever having to wager real money. Plus casinos also offer start up bonuses to help encourage gamers to participate in new games while still taking on no risk themselves. Overall the gambing market today is getting better and better. Companies are pushing to meet with the demands of the market because they know that they have to. Competition is fierce and if gaming companies cannot keep up, they are going to naturally be filtered out of the market.

Gaming Company Success- Part 1

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

It is no secret that gambling is competitive. Just look at the companies that are making waves in the market and you are going to see ones that do a few things well:

• Introduce new games consistently. A good online company releases new games every few months. It may take some doing to work with online gambling software companies, but it is necessary to keep people coming back. Even companies that focus on one type of gambling game still normally offer at least a few games of other styles. For example, Slotland.com is one of the biggest slots gaming websites around, but you still can browse and find more than a few other table games to enjoy.
• Bring new bonuses to the market. New bonuses are the best ways to attract gamers. Bonuses can come in the form of referral bonuses, start-up bonuses or tournament bonuses. There are no limits to what a casino can create for its public. This is a great way to keep customers coming back too because it gives them something extra for their trouble. No one can turn down a good casino bonus if it means a few more hours of play and potentially more chances to walk away a winner.
• Push payouts higher and higher. Jackpots are also reaching new heights. No longer do casinos just stick to the hundred-dollar payouts here and there. It isn’t uncommon in today’s market to see payouts well into the thousands. This is a sign of how expansive the world of gambling has become. Nowhere else is it quite as easy to play for a life-changing amount of cash. Online gaming companies are sticking to the “Offer more/get more” philosophy of gambling.
• Have great VIP programs. VIP programs grow with gamers. As you continue to wager more, you move up on the levels of the program. Most programs are tiered with at least five different levels. For example, you could start off at the “silver” level—in this one you earn 1 point for every $20 you wager. If you reach 100 points though, then you move to the “gold” level where you earn back 1 point for every $15 wagered. It is a great way to get more back for your money.

Part two coming next.

French Laws on Gambling Up for Debate

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

Many countries are still playing with taxation laws when it comes to wagering. There isn’t anything totally written in stone as of yet and countries are writing their own laws. Some are proving to be more acceptable than others though. France is a country that is having some problems with its taxation laws. Legislators were recently charged with coming up with viable laws for taxing gambling companies within the borders, but they are now under criticism for creating taxation that is too high for the internet gambling world to support. Many industry insiders are bringing up issues to the French government that state its too-high tax laws along with its too-low returns for gaming companies. In fact at the recent Monte Carlo for Monaco iGaming conference 888.com’s CEO David Zerah stated just that—he believes that French laws could hurt the gaming market and even keep some gaming companies from trying to set up shop in France altogether.

The biggest problem, Zerah stated, is that French officials wrote laws that purposefully are too difficult and will keep gaming companies from joining the French online network. Other executives at the conference agreed with Zerah’s assessment. They too believe that France is setting itself up for disaster on the issue and is going to be hard pressed to find gaming companies that want to venture into their borders. With little returns, why should they? They have so many other options that keep them going financially so much easier. Gaming companies have the chance to be picky these days—just like gamers do. There are enough options in the market that if a bad option presents itself, they don’t have to “live with it” like other industries may. Gaming companies work hard to cut corners because they know that costly licensing and taxation can considerably eat away at their own profits and stifle them from growth. The last thing they want is to create huge followings, bring in billions, but have to contribute enormous amounts of that money directly to just keeping their virtual doors open in one country. They can easily pass up housing themselves in the French market and work out of other countries if things get too difficult. The French government has been warned.

Tip24 Lotto Resurfaces in German Market

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

Tip24.com is a German lottery company that has seen success in past days, but has not maintained that level of success in the most recent years. The company has fallen by the wayside in terms of building its market and continuing to build up its own brand. That isn’t the end of its story though. Now the company’s executives are looking to once again focus on its growth and reintroduce it to the market for the purpose of revenue and growth. The European Court of Justice recently freed up the market of gambling and that is opening the door to a lot of pending growth for companies that were stifled before. That is exactly where Tip24.com is at. The website wants to regroup and come back into the market as hopefully a large player.

The goal of Tip24.com is to form strong affiliate ties with various other lottery companies in Germany. They want to network with partners who already have lottery companies and lean into the market that way. It may be difficult because they have been underperforming for so long and put on the backburner. They are going to have to find companies that see their customer base as valuable enough to try to work with. They also have to bring the necessary funds to the table for development, along with the right lottery games that will attract the new market. These are all tall orders for a company that is not operating at its potential and hasn’t been for months now. Chief Executive Officer Hans Cornehl said that reestablishing the business in Germany may help to not only introduce them successfully to the market, but to also help them come up with a long list of positive changes as a result of that. They are hoping that the market is still there. It’s no secret that lottery numbers are up for countries. The lottery remains one of the most popular activities that gamers take on and they consistently purchase tickets. The bigger the payout, the more customers jump at the chance to win. If Tip24.com is able to capitalize on what other companies are doing, they could enter the market with a lot of success and continue to grow this time.

Endemol Creates New Games with the Help of 888.com

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

The world of online gambling is growing and expanding into different markets. Right now the entertainment industry is one segment of the market that is pushing for more gambling possibilities. There already are shows built with poker-themes to them and there are entertainment companies that broadcast high-profile gambling games like the World Series of Poker, or WSOP. Entertainment executives already know how popular gambling is and how it is growing in the market exponentially. They are capitalizing on that popularity and hoping to bring in more revenue as a result of their affiliations with it. Endemol is a company that is the basis of such online brands as the show “Big Brother” and “Deal or No Deal.” The company has been highly successful with its shows and brought in billions as a result. Now it is moving into the world of gambling. The company just announced that it is creating a division that will be focusing on developing gambling as part of their business model. The games that they will offer are going to follow closely with the popularity they have already experienced with television shows currently airing.

The company is introducing Endemol Games to the market and its goal is to center on developing a branding capability in the world of gambling. The company has already joined forces with other prominent gambling companies like 888.com. Of course 888 is a premiere gaming company and looking to expand its own business franchise. The joint venture with Endemol could be the answer to its border issues—888 was instrumental already in allowing the company to move into the Italian market of gambling. Right now the companies are working on developing more branded games that can help to elevate their name in every market of entertainment including television and gaming. It may take some time to push them to the brink of being a premiere company in gambling, but most likely they are going to do it. The company already has the funds to make the necessary growth spurts into the gambling market. All they need is premiere games and 888.com already has that. The development should be relatively simple as the two companies put their collective heads together.

iMEGA Challenges US Circuit Court Ruling

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

In the world of gambling there are lawsuits after lawsuits rising up. The market is a billion-dollar one and all parties set to benefit are putting the most into their efforts. They know that if they win a battle to continue operating their gambling websites, they are in a prime position for earning millions of dollars. It is a great time for the market and the growth is huge. This is making everything more competitive than ever. Gaming companies are ready to keep on fighting for their piece of the gaming pie. Now it is iMEGA that is looking to legal action against the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, or PASPA. iMEGA of course stands for Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association. The problem for iMEGA is that the US Department of Justice just made a ruling that prohibits sports betting from expanding in state-regulated gaming arenas. This could potentially infringe on the profits online gaming companies can make.

iMEGA is ready to fight for a change in legislation. The company filed a petition with the US Circuit Court recently. So far there are only four states that allow sports wagering—Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Delaware. This is the problem and what is fueling the iMEGA executives to question the ruling. It isn’t straight across the board for all states involved. It is one of those things that is in question. There are no uniform rules as of yet and that is being called into question. Senator Raymond Lesniak of New Jersey and Senate President Stephen Sweeney are also on board with the issue. They too believe that some uniform legislation has to be instituted for the sports wagering world. They believe that it isn’t fair for states to limit sports betting to just a select few states and let other states write their own rules regarding the issue. If the bill is passed though it would make it next to impossible for online casinos to work within states that deny sports wagering. Only time will tell what happens with the laws and how they change for the market. it is a long standing issue though for gamers to find the right balance of sports wagering laws and regulations that work for gamblers.

Social Networking Introduced by Yazino.com

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

So you are a fan of social networking and casino gaming? Did you ever wonder what to do with the dual likes? Now there is an easier way to do both. The new website Yazino.com is entering the market and it takes on a Facebook-like organization. The added benefit though is that the company is also building itself up on the gambling market. it is offering various gambling games to anyone who signs in. This is a new trend in the market—gaming companies are pushing for chat options with their websites. If you go to a bigger casino, you are going to find a side option to open a chat window. Here you can share information on the website, the game, players or other websites. It works just like a chat on Facebook in that you can minimize the screen or maximize it. Overall social networking is a great way to keep up with the market and what is happening. It can help anyone come to the best casino bonuses too and make sure they know where to go for the best games. Though casinos spend millions of dollars in promotion and advertising, word of mouth is still a huge benefit to gaming companies that want to spread the word on what they have to offer that is better than their competitors.

Yazino.com is a social network that recently introduced its own casino where gamers can play Texas Hold’em poker, roulette, slot games and blackjack. It is a great way for them to combine both the social aspect of online interactions and premiere games to enjoy. If you look at the website you are going to be able to choose the social networking option, the casino option or both. It is a great way to enter the market with ease. You can talk to other gamers on the system and find out where the best games are and which ones need work almost immediately. It can help any gamer cut through the red tape of having to find the best games themselves through trial and error. Overall this may be the new wave of social networking—expect to see more websites allow for gambling right from their online locations.