Online Casino Edition – Casino News News about online casinos and gambling

June 27, 2011

Hill And Downs Partnership—A Breakthrough

Filed under: Casino — Tags: , — OCE News @ 12:00 am

Alliances and partnerships have always been of prime importance in the online gambling space. The prime objective of alliances has been to enhance the online betting experience for gamblers across the world. Such associations provide more accomplished platforms for the players to access with ease. Most often such associations do have a specific event or a tournament as the prime objective. Companies set out to maximize their gains and strike partnership deals accordingly. One such event of repute is the Investec Derby Festival which witnesses heavy betting. Two large corporate entities have struck a unique deal to enhance the experience surrounding this festival by providing betting services involving the event.

These are William Hill, the bookmaker of high repute, and the Epsom down Racecourse. Both entities display an avid interest in casino gambling as well as online gambling escapades. The agreement has been established for a long tenure of five years. It promises to extend a betting platform which is accomplished enough to target multiple gaming channels.

The Premise

Reportedly, this historic venture is not the result of current proceedings. The discussions for the same were initiated in 2010. It has taken almost a year to strike a five-year long contract between these two. The Officials of William Hill also stated that the phenomenal success of the Investec Derby Festival last year has also acted as a catalyst for this deal. Last year, as many as 125,000 people participated in the Investec Derby Festival, which was an unprecedented surge in demand. Moreover, the event naturally attracted plenty of media attention and the coverage received was high class. All in all, the Investec Derby Festival emerged as one of the most coveted events to be associated with in terms of revenues and image enhancement.

The Projections

Both William Hill and Epsom Downs are extremely positive about the outcomes of this deal. Rupert Trevelyan, the Racecourse Managing Director of Epsom Downs, has been particularly delighted about the association. He has been quoted expressing his joy. He was happy about the fact that the betting interface for the most popular racing festival of the UK will be maintained and created by William Hill. William Hill is reportedly known as “The Home of Betting” and is undoubtedly one of the most successful betting operations providers in the United Kingdom and also the whole world.

Ralph Topping, the CEO of William Hill Plc, has also expressed immense confidence on this partnership deal. He emphasized the importance of an event like the Investec Derby Festival as the biggest racing event in the country. He also explained that the deal would go a long way in improving the revenues of both the firms and will enhance the possibility of wagering online too.

What it Means

As a result of this deal, most of the betting can now take place on www.theroadtothederby.co.uk which is a brand-new microsite. The site will also provide expert analysis and news coverage. Videos pertaining to the Investec Derby Festival will also be showcased. Also, people can bet through the newly formulated iPhone app. This app will be fully equipped to provide race cards, odds analysis, and feedback. The App can be obtained from the Apple’s App Store Outlets.

June 25, 2011

The Lancet Study—An Eye-Opener

Filed under: Casino — Tags: , — OCE News @ 12:00 am

Online gambling has been around for quite some time now. Since their inception, they have always been under scrutiny. Considering the fact online gambling made its foray into the internet gaming space as a fresh concept, every aspect of it has been evaluated several times over. The most important aspects include the pursuance of fair practices, the psychological impact of online gambling on young minds, and also the impact it is likely to have on the economies which have embraced it into their system.

The debates normally stem from the ready accessibility of these games and the extent to which they are being pursued. Recently, a research paper has been published by The Lancet, which is a medical journal of high repute. The research paper has been extensively written about in Canadian newspapers. Globe and Mail which is a popular Canadian daily has gone ahead and analyzed the findings put forth by this study. It has stated that these could be of immense importance to national governments of countries which have avidly pursued the online casino trail.

The Premise

The research paper has been drafted on a pretty grave premise. Most financially challenged governments have become increasingly dependent on revenues generated through gambling practices. This is despite the fact that they have now raised stakes on gambling issues for the public.

Administrations with a more responsible approach are finding it increasingly difficult to scale the learning curve. This is specifically because the world they operate in is offering more and more access to wagering than has ever been. Keeping the given scenario is perspective, The Lancet report attempts at assessing the real problems associated with gambling and how they can be counteracted by effective remedies.

The Findings

The Study was pioneered by Dr. David Hodgins who is a certified clinical professor of psychology in the University of Calgary. He has stated in his report that the effects of compulsive gambling on players and their families can sometimes be thoroughly devastating. As per the figures put forth in his study, one in every 100 gamblers does develop addiction problems especially in the online casinos of United States and Canada. Hong Kong has a more severe problem with one in 20 players developing an addiction. Norwegians are better off with one in 500 gamblers being affected with an addiction problem.

According to Hodgins the 24-hour accessibility provided by the internet has somehow complicated the problems like underage gambling. Science and technological solutions should be innovated to manage them. He also states that almost one in ten gamblers actually seek therapy. Cognitive behavioral techniques can be used to manage the problem effectively. Simple questionnaires are helpful in unraveling hidden causes and seeking solutions.

The Counter Impact

There have been skeptics like Bill Greyer who have stated that there is indeed no need to spend resources on a study which deals with previously known facts. He commented that people at large were aware of the repercussions of gambling. The money instead should be spent on setting up corrective measures for those affected rather than publishing useless research papers.

June 23, 2011

Cozy Games Gamble Pays Off

Filed under: Casino — Tags: , — OCE News @ 12:00 am

Cozy Games is a popular name in the online gambling space and has been particularly known for its innovative approaches. Since its inception in 2005, it has introduced several online gaming technologies, which have been popular through the years. Cozy Games was a brainchild of several experienced veterans hailing from the gaming industry. The experience they carried has been pumped into creating some of the most amazing variants. They boast of a continually evolving product portfolio that allows the operators to have the best of choices.

Cozy Games is also known for its numerous partnerships and alliances that have been established with world famous gaming companies over the years. Products provided by Cozy Games include network-based jackpot games, a wide choice of bingo games, table games, scratch cards, videos, and classic slots. Creating cutting-edge customized gaming solutions is clearly the USP of Cozy Games.

Purpose of the Contract

In the recent past, Cozy Games has expanded its operations in the markets of South East Asia. As part of the expansion plan, it has struck an agreement with MatchMove Games, which is a portal dedicated for social and casual gaming. As a result of this agreement, Cozy Games online casinos and internet bingo versions will now be accessible on the MatchMove website. This collaboration is a well-contrived one. The idea behind the alliance with MatchMove was to concentrate on its target market where these social gaming products have gained immense popularity. So much so that there are almost half a billion users who actively participate in the bingo portfolio range, and they all hail from diverse age groups.

The Cozy Games Perspective

The management of CozyGames.com is particularly pleased with this alliance and is extremely positive about the results. Cozy Games business development manager, Jaydeep Chakravartty, has expressed his pleasure and is proud that his company has been associated with MatchMove, which is a proven entity in social and casual gaming, especially in South East Asia. Both Cozy Games and MatchMove are looking forward to maintain a profitable working equation together and are keen to take it from strength to strength.

The MatchMove Perspective

Just like Cozy Games, MatchMove is also equally gung ho about this coveted contract that would allow it to offer social games formulated by Cozy. It is especially excited about the two landmark games, City Bingo and the very alluring City Farm, which can now be a part of its offerings. These games have catapulted to fame since they premiered on Facebook last year. This social networking platform has worked wonders for these games. The popularity of these games was such that almost two million people were accessing these games on Facebook at one point in time.

Expressing his ideas, MatchMoveGames.com Vice President Nate Wang stated that his company has always been in pursuit of top-class games, which promise a great gaming experience to its users. Cozy Games has proved to be the ideal partner for MatchMove by providing some very impressive gaming formats. In addition, the popularity these games enjoy amongst online gamers of South East Asia has made them particularly enthusiastic about the deal.

All in all, this association seems like an immensely profitable one from the operators’ as well as the players’ perspective. In matching business moves with MatchMove, Cozy Games has made a huge business gamble that is certain to pay off both companies in the long run.

June 21, 2011

Ecogra Certification For “Responsible” Gambling

Filed under: Casino — Tags: , — OCE News @ 12:00 am

Online casinos have always been tested on various standards to prove themselves as safe and secure gaming interfaces. Since the gaming process involves the transaction of real money, such standards and certifications are indeed relevant. eCOGRA is one such certification authority that protects online casinos by designating a standard for them. These standards need to be adhered to by online casinos in order to be provided with the eCOGRA seal. The seal signifies that the practices undertaken by the operator have been approved by the institution. 154 online casinos have been awarded the seal so far. It uses a GAP or a General Accepted Practices system that helps in providing guidelines on the basis of which gambling sites can be chosen for awarding the seal.

General Accepted Practices Outline

In keeping with the relentless efforts displayed by online casinos to promote themselves as epitomes of integrity, eCOGRA has upgraded its General Accepted Practices with the aim of enhancing the safety quotient of the online gambling space.

In a recently-issued press release, the chief executive officer of eCOGRA, T. Andrew Beveridge, has stated that the upgradations are aimed towards improving and standardizing the online gaming experience. It has been brought forth to keep up with the fresh guidelines issued by the CEN or the Responsible Remote Gambling Measures and the European Committee for Standardization.

The changes have been brought forth so that eCOGRA can find itself on the same page as the other online gambling regulatory authorities of the globe.

The upgrades are in complete conformation with the single standard that has been developed for the European online gambling markets. Beveridge also stated that the fresh changes that have been introduced would also act as a commitment reference point that would help operators to meet their requirements. The whole idea behind this upgradation is to bring all regulatory norms under a single comprehensive platform. Post this, online casinos would definitely become a safer place for gambling escapades.

The Preamble for New Changes

The preamble to the change was the formulation of the CEN or the Responsible Remote Gambling Measures, which was carried out at the CEN workshop agreement held a few months ago. These changes have come in line due to the fact that the European gambling markets have become increasingly competitive. Therefore, strict regulatory guidelines have become mandatory for fair functioning of these platforms. The Responsible Remote Gambling Measures will act as guidelines for the same.

Upgradation Areas

The eCOGRA press release has specified nine individual areas in which these upgradations have taken place. These areas pertain to online gambling practices governed by the General Accepted Practices propounded by eCOGRA. They include protection of vulnerable customers, fighting fraud, the prevention of underage gambling, privacy protection, accurate customer payments, fair gaming, responsible marketing, creating a safe operating environment, and enhancing customer satisfaction.

The new set of General Accepted Practices comprises a list of 134 fresh requirements under all the above nine headings. These were jointly decided upon by representatives from the industry, criminology and addiction academics, stakeholders, experts, and players. There were extended deliberations amongst these diverse groups. Subsequently, their individual perspectives were taken into reckoning before arriving at this set of freshly drafted norms. A best possible balance was arrived upon. All these efforts are bound to bear fruit in terms of enriching the online gambling experience manifold. eCOGRA guidelines ensure that gambling at online casinos is transparent and above board and has set in place elaborate regulations on how the business should be conducted.

June 13, 2011

Internet Gambling Sites Seized By US Department Of Justice

Filed under: Casino — Tags: , — OCE News @ 12:00 am

On Monday, May 23, 2011, 11 bank accounts based in North Carolina, Charlotte, Panama, Malta, the Netherlands, and Portugal were seized. In addition, ten domain names which are connected to online gambling sites were also taken over. These included Funtimebingo.com, Bookmaker.com, 2Betsdi.com, Goldenarchcasino.com, Truepoker.com, Beted.com, Betmaker.com, and Betehorse.com. Now, if anybody tries to gain access to these websites, they will be greeted by a banner which states that these sites have been seized.

The Announcement

The announcement over these seizures was made be Rod J. Rosenstein, US Attorney for the District of Maryland. He stated that “It is illegal for Internet gambling enterprises to do business in Maryland, regardless of where the website operator is located. We cannot allow foreign website operators to flout the law simply because their headquarters are based outside the country.”

William Winter, Special Agent in Charge of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations in Baltimore, added that the indictments were due to the extensive undercover work carried out by his agents along with other law enforcement organizations based in Maryland. He went on to say that most of the time the money made from illegal online gambling was used in organized crimes and in other forms of criminal activities. The ICE will continue to crack down on this illegal activity in order to bring an end to this form of financial crime, whether within the USA or abroad.

Those Involved

ThrillX is a registered company located within British Columbia, Canada. It has an office in Vancouver and also further afield in San Jose, Costa Rica. It functions as a software solutions provider for online sports book and casinos. BMX Entertainment is located in Limassol, Cyprus, and provides online sports betting for six websites.

These companies have been charged with providing illegal online sports betting. They are run from outside the USA, but most of the players are based in the country. A main issue is that for funds to move to and from the gamblers, they need to use the US banking system, known as payment processors.

Payment Processors

In general, an online gambling operator tells the payment processor to take the money from a player in the USA which can then be used as wagers. The money is then moved into a bank located offshore. The operator then transfers money, either as a wire transfer or a check, from a foreign bank and to the payment processor. The payment processor then gives the winnings out to the appropriate players.

Seizure warrants were used against an undercover payment processor company known as Linwood Payment Solutions. The company is thought to have been processing gambling transactions since 2009 for a number of gambling organizations.

The defendants involved in the case will face up to five years imprisonment. They will be charged with running an illegal gambling organization. A maximum of 20 years will be afforded to those charged with money laundering.

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