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WTO ANNOUNCES DEADLINE FOR USA COMPLIANCE
April 2006 is the final date
Associated Press reported this week that the United States has until April 2006 to comply with a WTO ruling on US restrictions on cross-border gaming on the Internet.
Quoting a World Trade Organisation official announcement on the issue, which has been running since March 2003 the report reveals that the global trade referee is allowing Washington enough time to adapt its legislation to comply with its ruling, which was issued in April, 2005.
At the conclusion of the WTO-arbitrated dispute, the US was given a "reasonable period of time" for Washington to adapt its legislation in line with the ruling, which was issued in April this year after the island state of Antigua and Barbuda brought the US before the 148-nation WTO.
Antigua argued in its complaint that US prohibitions were harming its online gaming business, which is aimed at reducing the island's economic dependence on tourism. The island, with a population of about 68,000, is a centre for offshore Internet gaming operations, attracting large numbers of US residents to its virtual casino-style games and betting services.
US officials contended Internet gambling is illegal if it involves activity on US soil, and have vowed to prosecute those involved in the practice.
Both sides claimed victory in the dispute.
In its ruling, the WTO accepted that prohibitions in some US states on cross-border gaming were valid and agreed with Washington's argument that some federal laws could "protect public morals or maintain public order."
However, the appeals panel ruled that the United States had not been able to show that US laws on horse-racing bets were applied equitably to foreign and domestic online betting suppliers, a key condition of global trade rules.
Antigua has said it expects changes in US rules to unlock opportunities to advertise online gaming products on US Internet sites or media without the threat of legal action by authorities. There have thus far been no prosecutions against advertising media despite widespread "advisories" from the US Department of Justice, which is itself embroiled in litigation with Casino City on the issue.
Trade partners who fail to implement WTO rulings often find themselves hit by sanctions, usually in the form of extra tariffs on their exports.
WTO TURNED DOWN TIMEFRAME PROPOSED BY USA TO MAKE CHANGES
WTO arbitrator says time given is sufficient
The World Trade Organisation's recent action (see InfoPowa report last week) in giving the United States just under a year to get its house in order regarding Internet gambling came after attempts by the federal authorities to gain more time.
Washington has until next April to comply with a ruling about US restrictions on cross border gaming on the Internet, a WTO arbitrator ruled last week.
The arbitrator, Claus-Dieter Ehlermann, set the “reasonable period of time” for the US to adapt its legislation in line with the WTO ruling, which was issued in April this year after the Antiguan government brought the USA before the global trade referee to argue interference in Internet gaming by the federal government.
The US had argued that it would need a minimum of 15 months to implement the recommendations, citing a lengthy and complicated legislative process.
Ehlermann said the reasons given did not “suffice to discharge the United States’ burden of persuading me that 15 months would be a reasonable period of time for implementation in this dispute, particularly given the acknowledged flexibility in the United States legislative process.”
Had Washington’s request been granted, the US would have had until the end of July 2006, instead of 3 April 2006, to implement the recommendations.
“I am pleased to see that the arbitrator has decided in favour of our cogent arguments that the shortest possible time period be given to the US to implement the recommendations,” Dr Errol Cort, the finance and economy minister for Antugua and Barbuda who also has overall responsibility for this issue, said.
“We believe that in his decision to grant the US a time period of eleven months and two weeks from the date of the adoption of the WTO’s Appellate Body Report, or approximately eight months from today’s date, the arbitrator has sent a clear message to the US that it is expected to comply fully with the recommendations and rulings of the DSB (Dispute Settlement Body,) and to do so within a clearly defined timeframe” he added.
“Ideally, we would have preferred even a shorter timeframe,” Mark Mendel, Antigua & Barbuda’s legal adviser said.
“At the end of day, in this case, April 3, 2006, we hope that the US will present to the Appellate Body, a comprehensive plan on how it intends to grant full market access to our gaming operators,” Ms. Kaye MacDonald, Antigua's director of gaming said.
“Before anyone forgets, this after all, is the primary reason we brought the case to the WTO in the first place,” she added.
US officials contended Internet gambling is illegal if it involves activity on US soil, and have vowed to prosecute those involved in the practice.
Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation to the WTO will now have to ensure that the US regularly informs the meetings of the DSB on steps it is taking, to implement the recommendations and rulings of the Appellate Body, the Antigua government said in a statement this week.
RED LETTER AUGUST FOR TRIDENT CASINOS
More awards, great new video poker and slots with rewarding bonuses.
The awards come from the respected gambling publication Strictly Slots and include first prizes for Best Video Poker and Slot Tournaments, together with third placing for Best Online Casino For Slots, Best Sign Up Bonus and Best Customer Service from a group. The latter includes Trident Poker in its accolade.
Trident spokesman Scott Gaines said that awards from major publications like Strictly Slots were motivational for Trident staff, and were always received with enthusiasm. "The Trident people behind the scenes in the Support, Technical and Accounting departments always get a big charge out of significant medals, despite the many we have earned from different entities over the years," he said.
Gaines went on to link the new games for August with the latest awards. "One of the reasons for Trident's success is that we constantly keep our games fresh and entertaining, and this year that has meant launching 4 new games every month."
This month's flagship, the Chain Mail 5 reel, 20 payline video slot will give hours of entertainment and open many doors of bonus opportunity as it presents several exciting new concepts in slot rewards for the first time.
With Wild and Scatter symbols complemented by a brand new bonus feature that can bring royal reward or be stopped dead in its tracks by the angry Uncle Mordread, Chain Mail is full of the twists and turns of Fortune.
The brightly coloured graphics feature a zany mix of medieval icons and modern elements such designed to intrigue and amuse, and the maximum jackpot in currency on the base game is an appealing $15 000 (30 000 coins)
The popularity of the recently introduced Golden Goose bonusing program is the basis for the fourth video slot game in this imaginative bonusing series, branded Crazy Chameleons. This is a 5 reel, 10 coin, 20 payline with an additional 5 coins for the special and very generous bonus feature. Red and green chameleons trigger Wild and Scatter rewards teamed with the optional Golden Goose bonus program.
With a carefree, bright and breezy seaside holiday vibe that uses surfboards, suntans and seagulls interspersed with those winning chameleons the game has an entertaining theme. The base game has a generous maximum jackpot of $5 000 coins or 10 000 in currency, however once the Golden Goose feature is selected by the player, 250 coins come into play which with free spins can yield a jackpot of 300 000 coins or $60 000 in currency.
Video players have not been overlooked this month as the latest in the popular 50 Play Power Poker series, Deuces Wild debuts.
With big jackpots that pay up to $50 000, the Deuces in the deck are wild and substitute for any card to complete a winning hand. Deuces Wild operates on the facilities-rich Viper software platform, where in addition to autohold, the analyzer tables give guidance on current odds and cover permutations to help gamblers make the right decision. Razor sharp, clean and lean graphics allied to generous pay tables, ensure that this new 50 Play game will feature high on the play lists of most VP fans.
August's final game is truly Out of Africa. Branded Bush Telegraph, this 5 reel, 15 payline video slot duplicates the fast play and thrilling, big free spins bonus and reward features of Tomb Raider, presented in a uniquely African setting that captures the vibrancy, colour and exotic wildlife of the jungle.
With the right combinations, a maximum jackpot of $37 500 can be achieved, and with the free spin x 3 multiplier feature that reward can soar to $112 500.
PROGRESSIVE APPROACH TO INTERACTIVE GAMING IN THE LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD
In New Zealand, significant future potential for the industry
Computer World reported this week that New Zealanders could be legally playing interactive gambling games from home within a year, with the blessing of New Zealand Lotteries following a recent agreement.
The lottery inked a deal with US-based provider Gtech that includes the future introduction of new products, including "remote interactive gaming", or RIG.
"Where RIG has been offered overseas, it has often been provided over the internet as well as through dedicated networks," Lotteries spokeswoman Helen Morgan-Banda is quoted as saying. "Whether it is offered over the internet here (in New Zealand) will be the subject of further negotiation, but we have the legal right to offer interactive gaming, under the Gambling Act."
It could be the start of some exciting industry developments in the Land of the Long White Cloud.
CASSAVA IPO SPECULATION HOTS UP
UK media full of speculative reports on London listing next week
Reuters and other reports on the public listing of Cassava Enterprises permeated the UK media this week as speculation continued (see previous InfoPowa reports) that the major Internet gambling operator was planning a GBP 700 million flotation late next week.
Cassava subsidiary 888.com, the world’s largest internet casino operator in terms of visitor numbers with 20 million registered player accounts is reportedly aiming to make its debut in London next Thursday. Listing experts HSBC bank has been advising the companys management.
According to the Financial Times in London, a listing would value 888.com at more than GBP 700 million, marking a major windfall for the two Israeli families that control some 90 percent of the firm. Avi and Aharon Shaked are said to own about 70 percent of the company in a family trust, with the Ben-Yitzhak family holding around 20 percent.
Gibraltar-based 888.com, which operates Casino-on-Net, Reef Club Casino and Pacific Poker generates significant revenues through its well-established and highly successful operations in the online casino and poker sector.
Cassava has remained tight-lipped on the speculative reportage.
Late last week a report in Britain's Sunday Express newspaper suggested that Cassava was considering making a bid for its rival PokerStars, but again the company declined to comment.
CASINO CAUTIONS
Joyland dispute rolls on
Last week InfoPowa reported on the Playtech-powered Joyland Casino dispute, in which an over-generous comp point offer, apparently as a result of an error by casino staff led to some very questionable winnings disqualifications. It is thought that many players were affected by the casino's unilateral action in merely returning deposits, and the leading message boards were red hot with irate condemnations. The casino exacerbated the issue by bad communications and altering transaction log entries.
This week, the furore showed little sign of cooling down, and Joyland made an appearance with a statement offering to review any complaint re-submitted to it by aggrieved players. A number of players had not taken up comp point offers, yet had been penalised and several of these submitted their appeals. In at least one case, winnings were reinstated, but this did little to retrieve the situation, and complaints were being made to independent mediators as we went to press this week.
The incident showed up shortcomings in Playtech's new disputes channel which will need to be addressed, and Joyland faces almost universal condemnation for its handling of the situation, which is widely seen as a case of an online casino trying to make its players pay for an in-house error.
ANOTHER INNOVATION FROM PADDY POWER
"Squares" launch will bring novel numbers game to the public
Irish betting group Paddy Power has teamed with Dynamite Idea and Orbis Technology to launch a new betting game branded ‘Squares'.
Players must draw six balls from a grid containing 36, on which a variety of bets can then be made. The game features multiple betting options, odds or evens, positions on the grid, combined value of the numbers selected, higher or lower and predicting whether a sequence of six will be drawn or not.
Simon Caddy of Dynamite Idea said, “We first developed Squares three years ago and this new on demand version has evolved. Squares remains a top performer as a simple game with diverse bet options.”
Paddy Power offers a selection of innovative new games from the same supplier, all of which have proved to be popular with the playing community.
FORTUNE LOUNGE FIGHTS AFFILIATE SPAM
Following the Spamhaus mess, a move to stop irregular conduct
The dangers of unquestioned acceptance of anonymous "spam-police" complaints was illustrated recently when the large Fortune Lounge group of online casinos had to endure an expensive suspension offline by domain registrar GoDaddy, allegedly on complaints of spamming by the unofficial spam monitor SpamHaus, an anonymous organisation that is remarkably hard to contact.
Early reports suggest that GoDaddy acted without first contacting FL with the complaints. FL outsources its email marketing, awarding the contract on warranties against spamming by the contractor.
This week the incident had a sequel, as the FL affiliate arm, Fortune Affiliates circulated prominent portals, asking them to assist it in stamping out irresponsible affiliate-generated spam by reporting it. The FA circular said the following:
"Recently there have been spam reports concerning Fortune Lounge casinos - some of the affiliates have been implementing spam campaigns.
Fortune Affiliates would like to streamline the complaints process by having all spam mails received by players and attributed to Fortune Lounge operations to be forwarded to this email address:
Spam@FortuneAffiliates.com
This includes the following properties:
7Sultans Casino
Desert Dollar Casino
Fortune Room Casino
Havana Club Casino
Platinum Play Casino
Royal Vegas Casino
Vegas Palms Casino
Vegas Towers Casino
Vegas Villa Casino
7Sultans Poker Room
Royal Vegas Poker Room
The circular does not elaborate on what FA intends to do with affiliates who continue to send uninvited and unwelcome spam to players, but management's mood after having their sites taken down in the last incident is unlikely to be lenient.
WATCH OUT FOR WORLD PLAYER
New online gambling magazine due next month
One of the larger online casino operators, the Fortune Lounge group has a treat in mind for online gamblers starting 1st September - the launch of a magazine dedicated to the fun and lifestyle of online gambling.
Titled World Player, the publication will be delivered by mail to registered players of Fortune Lounge’s online casinos and will be available at a select number of casino resorts in Las Vegas.
World Player will help Internet gamblers keep track of personalities, happenings and lifestyle trends relevant to this form of entertainment and the editorial team promise that it will be packed with everything and anything. It is laced with trendy sections like fashion, sport, stylish new gadgets, celebrities and spas and has all the qualities that make up the 'high life'.
BETCORP TO USE GAME ACCOUNT SKILL GAMES
Skill game trend continues to attract player attention
The major skill game provider GameAccount has been chosen by the Australian public company Betcorp to power skill gaming additions to subsidiary online sportsbooks, BetWWTS.com and CyberSportsBook.com.
The order is based on the clear trend that the addition of skill games like Backgammon, Gin Rummy and Hi-Lo Solitaire attracts a wider demographic of player, as well as appealing to an already registered core of recreational and serious gamblers.
"Big cash tournaments and P2P skill games like Backgammon resonate with sportsbook clients that visit our site as they are able to wager in a secure environment that offers the opportunity to back themselves to win," said Andy Bell, Head of Casino & Games at Betcorp.
The integrated sites offer the opportunity for CyberSportsBook.com and BetWWTS.com customers to win a share of the more than $2,000,000 worth of monthly winnings paid out within the GameAccount network. This includes a share in the world's biggest skill-based tournament, SuperCash, offering over $36,000 in prize money.
SIR CASHALOT LIVES UP TO HIS NAME
Progressive jackpot has almost reached $900 000
The King Cashalot Jackpot, a progressive slot available at Belle Rock Gaming group casinos reached a player-pulling $882,700.00 this week and could be ready to pop.
The last time it was won at a Belle Rock Gaming casino was back in March this year, with an exciting $618,857.39 jackpot scooped by Debbie T, from California, whilst playing at the River Belle Online Casino.
TOP POKER PROS INVEST IN CARD PLAYER MEDIA
Experience galore for Card Player magazine
Some of poker's most successful players and top Hollywood talent have become investors in the first private equity placement of Card Player Media, publishers of Card Player magazine.
Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, Todd Brunson, Jennifer Harman, and Thomas Keller, along with Hollywood stars Laura Prepon, Danny Masterson, and Chris Masterson have all invested, and will serve as strategic business and media advisors.
"This talented group brings significant poker and media expertise that will be invaluable as we continue to execute our plan of growing the Card Player brand," says Card Player Media, LLC Chairman Barry Shulman. "These strategic advisors will help Card Player greatly expand its reach."
New portal signs 35 000 members in first week
It seems that everything to do with skill gaming, including portals is attractive to the gambling public. This week UK companies Game Trust, Inc. and The Money Gaming Corporation, Ltd. ("TMGC") announced record sign-ups in the first week of operations.
Since launching this week, more than 35,000 players have joined with 125,000 pre-launch sign-ups to play over 40,000 games on MoneyGaming.com, with up to 15 percent of players depositing money and playing cash tournaments.
MoneyGaming.com claims to set new standards of quality in skill gaming with a host of innovative features powered by the Game Trust platform.
TMGC has selected nine hit skill games from the Game Trust catalogue of 45 titles to launch on MoneyGaming.com, such as Multiplayer 8 Ball, Chess and Backgammon. Players enter these skill game tournaments through a new "linear lobby," allowing contestants to easily sort games by prize amounts and other key criteria.
"We have been overwhelmed by the response from players worldwide at the launch of MoneyGaming.com. The level of play and interaction on the site confirms that players are responding to the secure and flexible design of the environment and the superior quality of play on offer," said Liad Shababo, CEO of The Money Gaming Corporation.
The worldwide market for online games will reach $9.8 billion in 2009, representing a 410 percent increase over 2003 revenue of $1.9 billion, according to recent research company projections.
PHANTOM FIBER TO PROVIDE TECHNOLOGY FOR LOTTERY PROJECT
New Media Lottery Services in 5 year technology agreement that includes $2 million jackpots.
Wireless technology specialists Phantom Fiber Corporation has signed a five-year license agreement with News Media Lottery Services Inc., a management firm expert in new applications for the lottery industry. The deal is for Phantom to facilitate the use of lottery games on mobile lottery terminals owned and operated by state governments.
New Media Lottery Services (NMLS) will use the technology to provide state authorised lotteries with all the accounting, distribution, sales and management tools necessary to effectively and efficiently sell lottery products via Mobile, Internet, and Interactive TV devices.
NMLS plans to offer a wide range of video lottery games plus multi-million dollar progressive jackpots in contracted countries across mobile, Internet, and retail channels with jackpots in excess of $2 million per week. Initial mobile plans involve the deployment of mobile lottery terminals powered by Phantom Fiber's Advanced Wireless Platform to capture immediate lottery revenue using NLMS lottery management systems and game products. Mobile lottery terminals will be used in retail and public locations to sell lottery tickets to consumers in a number of select markets.
A recent Juniper Research report has concluded that mobile gambling revenues will total $19.3 billion by 2009, and will exceed the forecast of $2 billion for 2005. Lotteries will account for the largest portion of revenues totalling $7.9 billion since governments are less troubled about lotteries, as noted by Dr. Windsor Holden from Juniper who concludes that the ubiquitous nature of the lottery culture requires only a small percentage of players to use mobile handsets in order to generate the revenues forecasted for this segment of mobile gambling.
Randy Brownell, COO for New Media Lottery Services Inc. said, " The total addressable international lottery market of $120 billion is wide-open for both our companies to capitalise on the emerging mobile lottery segment with core competences that other competitors cannot even entertain for the foreseeable future."
ASPINALLS PICKS PHANTOM, TOO
Internet arm of gambling firm to go mobile
In the same week that it clinched an agreement to provide technology to a major lottery mobile venture, wireless technology company Phantom Fiber also announced a significant deal to provide mobile gambling power to the well known Aspinalls gambling group.
Aspinalls online casino Aspinalls.com is an established brand set up by Damian Aspinall, heir to the founder of the glamorous land-based Aspinalls of Mayfair, London. The online casino will use Phantom Fiber's advanced wireless platform to deliver mobile wagering to its customers worldwide through a dedicated site branded Aspinalls Mobile Online.com.
The service will offer entertaining casino-style games, which also include features such as mobile banking and mobile account registration for Java-enabled phones, and for mobile devices powered by Microsoft's Windows Mobile PocketPC Phone Edition and Smartphone series, Palm, Symbian, and RIM Blackberry 7000 series. The result is mobile casino support which is compatible with a mobile device market of more than 600 models worldwide."
Damian Aspinall, CEO of the Internet operations of the group said, "Many of our VIP clients have been demanding a mobile product for some time. We feel that 2005 is the right time for Aspinalls.com to enter this new channel and extend its market leadership before the mobile gaming breakout in 2006”.
GETTING TO THE GOLFERS
Party Poker reaches out to 80 000 potential new poker players
The innovative marketing team at Party Poker this week announced a new initiative in collaboration with GPS Industries aimed at promoting an online poker tournament to some 80 000 potential poker players.
GPS is a specialised Wi-Fi wireless and GPS-enabled multimedia communications and management company active on the international golfing scene. Under the pilot program, golfers at 15 golf courses that use GPS Industries' portable handheld and cart-mounted units will receive promotions for the upcoming tournament with Party Poker paying an agreed rate for every player that signs up.
Depending on how successful the pilot venture delivers, there are plans to expand this type of program globally to golf courses worldwide, said Robert C. Silzer, Sr., Chairman, CEO and Director of GPS Industries.
PLAYERS ONLY PROGRESSIVES CURRENTLY OVER THE HALF MILLION MARK
Sportingbet subsidiary expects the big hit soon
The Free Ride Progressive Jackpot at Sportingbet subsidiary PlayersOnly.com soared over the half a million dollars mark this week, prompting speculation from the management team that they were overdue for a big hit from a lucky player.
Until a truly fortunate player hits it, the progressive will continue to grow. As recently as June 2005 the casino had its last big progressive jackpot winner. James L of New Jersey won $285,000.00 playing Bermuda Poker on June 11th. Erik K. won $357,777.00 on March 3rd and many others won $10,000.00 to $100,000.00 jackpots in between.
ONLINE GAMBLING IS ON THE RISE, SAYS RESEARCH COMPANY
60 percent of UK population gambles
Online gambling is on the rise, and increased by 46 percent last year according to ORC’s annual GamblerTrack study, which reveals that 60 percent of the UK population still participates in gambling.
Regarding the trend for major online gambling companies to launch IPOs, the study points out that pessimistic comparisons with the dotcom "bubble" that burst in 2000 are not appropriate.
Online gaming companies are trading at very high price-to-earnings ratios, more commonly reserved for blue chips with an excellent track record. The major difference between the two sectors is that the currently dominant firms such as PartyGaming and Sportingbet, generate healthy earnings returns and have good growth prospects.
However, most analysts concede that the current double digit growth rates are probably unsustainable and this is likely to trigger widespread industry consolidation.
WPT VIDEO GAME
Famous faces, impressive places and hot poker in new production
WPT Enterprises Inc., the entertainment firm behind the international World Poker Tour franchise, is to enter the video gaming business, competing with imminent poker productions such as Daniel Negreanu's "Stacked".
The group has announced that an impressive list of familiar faces who will appear in the game, which currently has the rather unimaginative working title of WPT2K6. The list includes WPT Champions Erick Lindgren (the 2004 WPT Player of the Year), Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari and Phil "The Unabomber" Laak.
All will be featured prominently in the game together with poker professionals like Evelyn Ng, WPT Chairman of the Board Lyle Berman, celebrity and poker star Mimi Rogers and WPT announcers Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten.
Six major international casinos used at WPT tournaments will feature prominently in the game. The Bicycle Club and the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, Bay 101 in San Jose, the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, the Borgota in Atlantic City and the Aviation Club in Paris, France have all agreed to be represented. Early reports suggest that the virtual replication of the casinos is already being applauded for its accuracy, from the carpeting to the lighting and the décor of each world famous casino.
Poker video gaming is already a competitive arena, with other poker related video games set to come out this Fall. Daniel Negreanu's "Stacked" has yet to hit the streets and Crave Entertainment's "World Championship Poker" featuring Howard Lederer and Activision, is due out too.
It was not all good news from WPT this week. The company said on Monday that it had recorded a second-quarter loss as the costs of putting on its shows and tournaments nearly doubled. Losses totaled $426,000, or 2 cents per share, compared with last year's profit of $887,000, or 6 cents per share. Revenue rose 40 percent to $6.6 million from $4.7 million.
LADBROKES POKER MILLIONS WON BY OUTSIDER
Fave Helen Hells Bells loses out to relative novice
Like many other poker followers, InfoPowa (see earlier reports) thought that Helen "Hells Bells" Chamberlain would walk away from the Ladbrokes Poker Millions this week with the main $1 million prize...but we were wrong.
A little known, 42 year old factory worker called Tony Jones surprised us all by beating “Hell's Bells” in a close-run finale after 5 hours of play. Adding to the magic is the fact that Tony has only been playing poker for 18 months!
The Romford, UK father-of-three kept his cool in a head-to-head showdown with Helen to walk away with the $1million prize. “There is no way I am a poker player," he said. "I came here thinking I was making up the numbers and to win the competition is overwhelming.”
The event was the biggest televised poker tournament in Europe thus far.
NOW LOOK WHAT YOU HAVE STARTED
Rent-a-body the new advertising fad
A certain high-profile online casino that pioneered human tattoo advertising has spawned a new type of agency, it appears - recruiting people to walk around with temporary advertising tattoos plastered on various body parts.
One of Lease Your Body.com's recent recruits, Pittsburgh model and waitress, Sarah Dee has been contracted to wear a temporary tattoo. The logo sits on her forehead and boldly promotes the website Lease Your Body.com. The company hopes to persuade many others to rent out their bodies for advertising tattoos.
"Lease Your Body is a new concept where companies can contract members to advertise their logos," says website creator Alex Fisher. "We are the largest company of this kind with over 2500 members in every major city in the US."
Tattoo wearers can choose the location of the ad and financial rewards ranging from $100 to $5,000 to don a particular logo, depending on its location. The period of the contract is 30 days.
Fisher believes, "This form of advertising will get you attention for the simple reason that people will want to know more instead of wanting to turn the channel."
Sarah Dee comments that she has received a barrage of questions and a multitude of inquisitive looks regarding the tattoo.
It's not just online casinos using the new media, either. Big companies like Toyota and Dunkin' Donuts have been experimenting with the technique.
MORE ON 32 RED LISTING
GBP 25 million in new capital for expansion will be sought
InfoPowa now has more information on the listing of 32 Red parent Trafalgar Gaming reported last week. The company aims to raise some GBP 25 million in new capital next month when it becomes the latest Internet betting company to float in London.
The IPO should be worth GBP 100 million, according to knowledgeable analysts. In contrast to some other recent floats in the sector - most notably PartyGaming, whose four founders pocketed the entire proceeds of the float and cashed in on a percentage of their shares - none of the shareholders will sell their holdings.
Affable 32 Red general manager Ed Ware, who quit his job as head of Ladbrokes' international division in 2000 to set up 32Red.com, has a 36 percent share in the business but is not intending to sell down his stake.
"The float is about raising money to invest in the business and our growth plans, and not about raising money for shareholders," he said.
The popular and highly respected company is on course to see its profits treble over the next 12 months, rising from about GBP 2 million this year to GBP 6 million in 2006, projected to GBP 12 million by 2007.
"We have come to the point where we can carry on growing organically or we can try to accelerate things. We decided we wanted to get out there and float," Ware said.
Investor roadshows for the float will begin in the next two weeks, with the issue of new shares expected early next month.
BIG BINGO PLANS FROM WORLD ENTERTAINMENT
Media 5 gets the contract for mobile promotions
Vancouver-based World Entertainment Corp., seems to have some big plans for mobile bingo via the Internet, judging by an agreement it has just signed with Media5, LLC.
The latter has been enagaged to develop and promote bingo-related interactive mobile marketing, entertainment, and information services and products and in building and developing a community of mobile users.
The total value of the global mobile games market is expected to reach nearly US$ 5.6 billion in 2005 according to Jupiter Research. By 2009, mobile gaming services in the US alone are expected to generate $1.8 billion annually from close to 200 million wireless subscribers according to the Mobile Consumer Data & Multimedia Services.
Louis Dion, President and founder of World Entertainment says: "With the content, prizes, marketing, advertising sponsors, and promoting the mobile services and products through our website World Bingo League.com, this is absolutely exciting!"
Recently rebranded group commissions VS Gaming for content
Costa Rica-based sportsbook operator Nine.com plans to launch a range of soft games through a deal with UK software firm VS Gaming.
Robert Evans, president of Nine.com, said the games were a vital part of the recently launched re-branded site. “To our customers a virtual race can be as enjoyable as a real event and these products complement our core sports betting,” he said.
VS Gaming provides soft games and mobile solutions to a range of egaming operators including the major European betting group and public company BetandWin.
SKILL GAMES WORLDWINNER PARTNERS WITH UNITED ONLINE
31 million visitors to be accessed.
US skill gaming company WorldWinner has partnered with United Online’s properties, including Juno, NetZero and Classmates.com to extend its reach.
It is claimed that the sites collectively reach around 20 percent of the total Internet population. "Partnering with United Online dramatically extends WorldWinner’s reach to nearly 31 million unique visitors," Stephen Killeen, president and chief executive of WorldWinner, claims.
GOOD BUSINESS FOR E-CASH PROCESSOR
Profits double as poker boom continues
E-Cash processor and e-wallet company Firepay has experienced massive growth and is making a substantial contribution to Canadian parent company Fireone, which has seen first-half profits double.
The firm, which listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market in June, posted a pre-tax profit of US$13.3 milllion in the first half of 2005.
The majority of the firm’s revenues, 84 percent, come from the US where credit-card payments continue to present difficulties to operators.
Many issuing banks continue to block egaming transactions, which has forced consumer to use ewallets such as Firepay and NETeller.
Fireone makes 90 percent of its profits from its Firepay ewallet, despite nearly 40 percent of its transaction volume coming from credit card processing.
Firepay recently introduced a guaranteed payment option for merchants, which has led to an increase in revenues.
The value of Fireone shares has doubled since listing in June, echoing the success of rival firm Isle of Man-based NETeller.
Mitch Garber, executive chairman, said he expected revenues of US$32.5 million to be exceeded in the remainder of the year. “We anticipate further opportunities resulting from future expansion into new geographical markets and from the ongoing additions to features and functions of our Firepay wallet offering,” Garber said.
UNIBET QUARTERLY PROFITS DOUBLE
Strongest month yet for poker, and a major takeover
Scandinavian sportsbook operator Unibet posted much-improved quarterly earnings this week, with profits doubling thanks in part to strong growth in its poker room.
The company reported a post-tax profit of GBP 2.8 million, a jump of 100 percent on the same period last year and a rise of 12 percent on the previous month.
A bad run of football results in the first quarter saw Unibet’s profits fall and its sport-betting margin fall to 4.2 percent.
However, the firm recovered in the second quarter with a gross win in its sports-betting wing of GBP 4.5 million at a margin of 8.2 percent.
Total gross win for the three months ending June 2005 was GBP 9.2 million, with gaming continuing to be a strong source of revenue.
Unibet owns a 50 percent stake in poker operator B2B poker and revealed that June was its strongest yet month for poker.
B2B's televised tournament, Pokermiljonen was broadcast in Sweden during April and the company added 24,000 new poker customers during the quarter.
Online casino gaming was another strong revenue generator for the company, with its online casino reporting an average of 2,000 customers a day.
The company is currently planning to expand its influence in Spain, CEO Peter Nylander says.
Unibet followed the announcement of its successfl quarter with the news that has bought Malta-based sportsbook MrBookmaker for US$ 136.3 million.
MrBookmaker is a significant player in the growing French gambling sector, which was recently named as the most active online gambling country in Europe by Nielsen//NetRatings.
The firm, owned by management and Belgian venture capital funds, posted a 2004 turnover of US$59.2 million, with gross winnings of US$10.7 million and an operating profit of US$5 million. The company has also experienced strong growth in the first half of 2005 with turnover up at US$51.1 million, a gross win of US$11.2 million and an operating profit of US$5.8 million at the half way mark.
32,000 active sports-betting customers will join Unibet’s database as a reslt of the takeover. MrBookmaker also offers casino gaming, using the same NetEtertainment software as Unibet, but has yet to launch a poker room.
The deal agreement specifies an upfront payment of US$40 million in cash, US$40 million in loan notes and 2.4 million shares in Unibet.
The present management at MrBookmaker’s will take up senior positions in Unibet.
THE INTERNET AT WORK
Private usage can add up to significant time losses for employers
How much time do you spend at work on non-business activities like personal emailing, instant messaging, web surfing and....online gambling?
That's a question that prompted a company called Accountstemps to commission a survey recently, which found that on average, employees spend 56 minutes each day doing their own thing.
The Victoria Advocate reports that the survey was carried out across 150 senior executives in a variety of industries as part of the financial staffing company's workplace trends research.
The numbers are shocking when those 56 minutes are projected over time, a company spokesman said. 56 minutes a day translates into just under 19 hours a month, and 228 hours a year, or 28.5 work days each year lost to personal Internet use. Per employee.
Most companies have now adopted some sort of e-mail and Web use policy for employees, the survey found. Violation of such policies carries consequences ranging from verbal warnings to termination.
The majority of companies don't mind the occasional private e-mail or even appropriate use of the Web, especially during a lunch break or before and after work, but what a businesses defines as appropriate use can vary greatly.
In most cases limits are imposed, and employees are forbidden to access sexually explicit material, any sort of gambling or activities that would require an excessive amount of bandwidth, such as downloading a movie. Educational usage, especially on company relevant subjects is usually encouraged if it is disciplined and focused.
Some companies took a draconian approach to personal emails, imposing bans and reserving the right to inspect and read all emails sent or received using the system, however most took a lenient view providing the privelege was not abused, productivity didn't suffer and clients were effectively served.
The Accountsemps survey found that 65 percent of firms monitor employee Internet activity very closely. Only 4 percent said such activity wasn't monitored. The majority of people did not know that technology makes it possible to maintain a permanent record of their personal e-mail and Internet usage at work without them being aware of it.
The study showed that most companies are taking extra measures to make employees conscious of what policies are in place, and how they are monitored.
Accountemps offered some advice to employees with Internet access in the office.
Instant messages are almost always inappropriate.
Don't write anything in an e-mail you don't want your boss to read.
Avoid checking your personal e-mail account.
And above all else employees should remember: "If you have to pause to consider if your activity is inappropriate, it probably is."
MORE MALAY GAMBLING MALAISE
These gambling debts are tough to recover
From the land gambling industry comes the story of a Malaysian socialite with too much money (or maybe not enough) and too little sense.
The divorced wife of a member of local royalty, Datin Arina Abdullah, lost a cool GBP 2 million at London's Ritz Club casino last year, and is being sought by yet another London casino for a further GBP 1 million debt.
Early this year, Grosvenor Casino Ltd sued Abdullah in the London High Court to recover the sum after she went on a gambling spree in London last August brandishing a credit guarantee from a Malaysian bank, reports the Malay Mail.
She lost the money on roulette, blackjack and stud poker in a single night having issued several cheques to the casino that bounced.
The casino also sued a Malaysian bank — which had guaranteed her credit through a reference letter — to recover the debt, and it is believed that the bank is trying to negotiate an out-of-court settlement for a third of the value of the debt.
Grosvenor Casinos is owned by Rank Group Plc. It has 33 casinos in Britain.
The Malay Mail also reported last November that Abdullah, who was divorced from her husband in 2002, lost GBP 2 million at the casino.
The club granted her a GBP 1 million cheque-cashing facility on her first visit to the casino but Arina lost all the money in a single night.
She returned two weeks later and asked for another GBP 1 million and lost GBP 976,000
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