Gaming News all over the world

18.09.2008, Lesen Sie hier den Bericht über «Gaming News all over the world».

U.K. online gaming industry expected to grow
LONDON -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Online gaming industry review site OnlineGaming4U.co.uk (www.onlinegaming4u.co.uk) has today predicted strong growth for the UK online gambling industry over the next few years, as a result of more favourable gambling legislation and the continued growth of the Internet.

The casino review site suggested that less stringent restrictions on advertising gambling coupled with the increasing availability of fast, reliable broadband connections will mean an increase in customer numbers for the gaming industry, which will increase competition between casinos whilst providing steady industry-wide growth over the coming years.

Dave England, a spokesperson from OnlineGaming4U.co.uk (www.onlinegaming4u.co.uk), believes the industry will benefit from relaxed advertising laws and the continued rapid growth of broadband Internet access across the UK.

"Since the latest gambling legislation was introduced, the industry in the UK has seen a dramatic rise in value and traffic. Online casinos based in the UK are performing well, and the competition between them is hotting up, resulting in better offers and sign-up bonuses for customers."

"With broadband Internet access becoming almost universally available over the last few years, online gambling in the UK has enjoyed steady growth, and we predict this will continue for the foreseeable future. The only difficulty now for consumers lies in choosing the best online casinos, and finding the best welcome bonuses available."

The Gambling Act 2005 introduced sweeping reform to UK gambling, including allowing casinos to advertise, albeit within certain guidelines, which it is thought will have a significant impact on the popularity of online gambling.

The availability of broadband Internet in the UK over the last five years has grown dramatically, and has led to an increasingly Internet-savvy customer base. It is projected that as consumer awareness of online gaming naturally increases, the industry will enjoy strong, stable growth in terms of both sales and traffic.

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Casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson aims to invest in India
The billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson reportedly met with Indian trade and tourism ministers on his way to Macau for the opening of the Four Seasons Hotel. Macau and Singapore are not the final destinations for Las Vegas Sands in Asia, he said. "We would like to build a Cotai Strip in India,” he says.

In Macau, Adelson told an Indian reporter, "You could have the equivalent of Las Vegas. If your government wants to invite us there, we would be happy to commit USD 12 billion - USD 14 billion.” But India isn't the only Asian market being eyed by LVS.

According to a report from China Economic News Service, the developer is also looking at the possibility of a casino on Taiwan. William Weidner, president of LVS, told the Chinese-language Economic Daily News that his company is exploring the opportunity to establish a casino in the city of Taipei or Kaohsiung - if and when the government allows casinos on the island nation.

The Taiwan legislature has rejected several attempts to create a casino industry but is scheduled to again address the subject by the end of this year. However, the front- runner among possible locations for initial casino development is the offshore islands of Penghu, not major cities like Taipei.

Weidner said that LVS is not interested in developing a casino resort on the islands. The company once had plans to build there, but things went awry in 2000 when promised political support vanished. Instead, LVS took its money to Macau and built the Venetian. He believes that the best site for a casino on Taiwan is someplace with a large population and good transportation, meaning a major city like Taipei or Kaohsiung.

In typical Vegas style, Adelson is not worried about over-development. "We would like to build a Cotai Strip in India that would not affect Macau whatsoever. As a matter of fact, the market in India with 1.1 billion people would justify more than one Cotai Strip,” he told reporters.

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Wynn Resorts extends contract with chief executive Steve Wynn until October 2020
Las Vegas (AP) -- Billionaire chief executive Steve Wynn has agreed to a contract extension with Wynn Resorts Ltd. that keeps him at the casino company until October 2020.

The company disclosed the extension in a filing Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing says Wynn and the company agreed to the extension on Thursday.

Wynn is 66 years old; he would be 78 when the contract ends.

Wynn received USD 11.2 million in compensation from the company last year, including USD 3.2 million in salary, USD 7.5 million in non-equity incentive plan compensation and about USD 573,000 in other compensation, mostly for personal use of company aircraft.

Wynn's total compensation totaled USD 10 million in 2006, according to a proxy statement filed with the SEC.

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Vegas Red Casino to give away free beer for a year
PRESS RELEASE -- Vegas Red online casino is running a special promotion coinciding with the popular German holiday Oktoberfest, which starts later this month in Munich and is celebrated by beer lovers worldwide. The unique promotion will run from September 15th to October 8th, and will grant one lucky winner a year's supply of free beer delivered to his or her home.

Every deposit counts during this fun online competition, and every member is eligible to enter. In addition to the grand prize of a year's supply of beer, there will also be Second and Third prizes worth bundles of "Oktobercash".

Casino Manager Sarah Banks reveled: "This one-of-a-kind giveaway is sure to thrill our members. We asked ourselves what better way to celebrate one of the happiest occasions of the summer. After all - who doesn't like free beer? Fun promotions like these are why our members love to party at Vegas Red!"

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Cryptologic Signs Up With Anti-Fraud Body
Subsidiary Wagerlogic and licensees to benefit from new deal

The Dublin based online gambling software provider Cryptologic has announced that it has joined a global fraud-fighting community operated by Ethoca Limited. Ethoca will work directly with WagerLogic, the CryptoLogic subsidiary that licenses the company's acclaimed Internet gaming software and services to many of the world's top Internet casino and poker sites.

The agreement provides WagerLogic with the ability to accept more valid player deposits - meaning reduced fraud for its licensees, enhanced protection for its players and increased revenue for the company.

"Our business is built upon the twin pillars of integrity and innovation, and that's why we look for innovative approaches to protect the integrity of our business," said Antony Demetriades, Managing Director of WagerLogic Ltd. "Fighting fraud is both a challenge and an opportunity - for our multi-billion-dollar industry, our customers, our players and our bottom line."

Ethoca is driving collaboration for fraud management in e-commerce and other customer- not-present environments, including phone, fax or mail-order. By securely connecting its members to a collective pool of member-provided payment experience information, Ethoca enables its members to make more informed decisions about their customer transactions in a way that is efficient, effective and ethical, and in a way that is not a competitive threat.

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Oz Sportsbetting Freed Up By Betfair Case
Outdated legislation declared a restraint of trade

Online sportsbetting companies in New South Wales, Australia will be encouraged by the news this week that the successful Betfair case against the Western Australian government in March 2008 is contributing to a general freeing up of the promotional market in Australia.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that NSW online bookies have been contacted by the NSW office of Liquor Racing and Gaming with the information that the government would comply with the ruling of the High Court in the Betfair case earlier this year (see previous Online-Casinos.com/InfoPowa report)

In the ruling the judiciary declared the prohibitive legislation stopping bookies from promoting and advertising in the territory was outdated and constituted a restraint of trade, opening the way for bookies in other states to open up the market.

While Betfair and fellow corporate bookmaker, Sportingbet, combined to take the running and jointly challenge Sections 29 and 30 of the Racing Administration Act in the Federal Court, Centrebet was the first to take advantage of the new situation.

The LRG communication advised recipients that enforcement actions are on hold, advising: "The High Court judgment in Betfair versus State of Western Australia has raised constitutional issues over the validity of Section 30 in its application to interstate wagering operators. Until these issues are resolved, this office will not be initiating any prosecution action under Section 30 for advertising by or on behalf of a wagering operator licensed in an Australian jurisdiction. Should this position change, appropriate warnings will be given to wagering operators and publishers."

The laws referred to in the Betfair-WA judgement protected state-owned gambling companies. Following the ruling, the gambling group Tabcorp successfully applied for a Northern Territory online betting licence that will enable it to compete with several established online betting companies, among them Centrebet.

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Mansion Reports Major Progressive Win
Asian player celebrates a $1.7 million win on Gold Rally

The Asian-facing operations of the Mansion online casino and sportsbetting group, Mansion88.com have reported a major progressives win.

Player TengB (no other details available as yet) hit the Gold Rally progressive jackpot carried by Playtech-powered Mansion88, taking a cash haul of $1 780 087 on August 27th.

Gold Rally is an 8-line Wild West-themed progressive jackpot slot game featuring two interactive bonuses and has paid out over $33 million to date, according to Playtech

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New Internet gambling definition bill up for vote in United States
Among five bills scheduled for a vote this week by the House Financial Services Committee is a new version of the Payment Systems Protection Act introduced September 11 by Representative Barney Frank.

As was its predecessor, that bill is intended to respond to the concerns of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) and many others in the financial services industry that the aspects of a current plan to implement the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) would be difficult, if not impossible, to implement.

Under the Internet gambling law, financial institutions must establish and implement policies and procedures to identify and block restricted Internet gambling transactions, or rely on those established by the payments system.

Frank's bill would direct the US Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve System, in consultation with the US Attorney General, to give format guidance on defining what online gambling transactions. The earlier version of Frank's bill failed in committee by a tie vote this summer.

CUNA continues to support the Frank bill and will send a letter expressing that support. The entity also reiterates its fundamental concern that UIGEA adds to credit unions' already extraordinary burden with heavy policing responsibilities under the Bank Secrecy Act and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) rules.

CUNA warned an increased policing role could interfere with financial institutions' fundamental business to provide financial services to their communities.

Über Glücksspiele in Macau - Gambling in Macao:

Macau (englisch Macao) liegt rund 50 Kilometer westlich von Hongkong und ist das Glücksspiel-Paradies in Asien.

Macau hat rund 40 Spielcasinos. Die grössten Casinos sind The Venetian Macao, MGM Macao, Wynn Macao, Galaxy StarWorld, City of Dreams, Sands Macao, Casino Lisboa.

Neben den riesigen und farbenfrohen Casinobuildings ist eines der Wahrzeichen der Macau Tower (Fernsehturm mit 338 Meter) mit atemberaubenden Ausblicken auf die Stadt.

Macau erstreckt sich über eine Fläche von 115.3 km2 und hat rund 620'000 Einwohner.

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