Gaming and Casino Industrial News 15.1.2009 all over the world

15.01.2009, Lesen Sie hier den Bericht über «Gaming and Casino Industrial News all over the World».

Online Casino Producer Chartwell Appoints Richardson
An old hand returns in a new position @ Chartwell

The Canadian online casino gambling software provider Chartwell Technology Inc. has announced the return to the ranks as Chief Executive Officer of Lee Richardson. The experienced online gambling industry executive left his position as CEO of Chartwell Games in 2007, and returns to oversee the expanded international operations of Chartwell Games International Limited , including wider client services and operations, marketing, sales and business development functions.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Lee Richardson back to the Chartwell team” said Dave Acorn, Chief Operating Officer of Chartwell Technology Inc.

“As we focus on the rollout of our new products and expanded online casino client services, Lee’s extensive industry background, solid reputation and proven leadership skills will be a tremendous asset in building Chartwell's presence and will help develop new market areas for our unique business model and technology. He will also provide proven leadership to all our international staff in Malta, London and Singapore. With our expanded European presence we will now be able to fully utilize Lee’s skills and experience.”

Lee Richardson said he was very excited to be rejoining Chartwell at an important stage in its expansion. "The online casino gambling area is a fast-moving industry, and I intend to see that Chartwell, with its first-class people, products and services, gets more than its share of that growth.”

Lee Richardson holds an MBA from the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow) and is a Fellow of the UK Chartered Institute of Marketing. His extensive industry experience includes his previous positions as Chief Operating Officer of Coral Eurobet, Managing Director of Totalbet.com, Managing Director of Tote Direct and Marketing Director of the British Horseracing Board.

He will report to directly to Dave Acorn, and will be based in Europe.

Richardson replaces Jim Godsell, who will leave the company to pursue other opportunities after two years in the post.

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Online Casino Slot Mega Moolan @5M
New record online casino jackpot win in sight

Almost a year back, one lucky online casino player turned a 25 cent stake into a win of over $5 million at Blackjack Ballroom Casino, an achievement made possible by lots of luck, wagers and the use of big-win progressive jackpot online slots like Microgaming's Mega Moolah and Cashalot.

The news this week is that a new record could be in sight as Mega Moolah Progressive game has broken through the five million level, setting the scene for that unique confluence of luck, wagers and spins that could deliver another massive jackpot win to some still unsuspecting Internet gambler.

The aptly named 5 reel slot games Mega Moolah and King Cashalot prize pools have been growing rapidly over the past eight months with the liklihood that the King Cashalot record payout of GBP1 218 306 and $5 000 000 on Mega Moolah could be due again at online venues like Ladbrokes Casino or All Slots Casino

A Ladbrokes Casino spokesperson said this week: "It's only a matter of time before someone hits the jackpot. Both of the payouts are huge and will be a welcome windfall to tackle 2009. Both titles offer enthralling gaming experiences and are two of the most varied and exciting offerings within the Ladbrokes Casino suite of games."

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Thunderstruck Slot Now On Mobile
Ladbrokes first to take aboard Spin3's mobile version of a fave Internet slot

Mobile gambling provider Spin3 has added the popular Thunderstruck five reel online casino slot to its mobile games inventory, with Ladbrokes set to launch the new mobile offering within the next few days, followed by other licensees. The game brings to 15 the number of mobile games available from Spin3 and its associate Microgaming.

Matti Zinder, Head of Spin3, says: "Slots are perfectly suited to the mobile platform because they are quick and simple to play. Thunderstruck has been hugely popular online and is now set to take the mobile world by storm."

Following the success of Spin3's other slot titles, Thunderstruck boasts eye-catching graphics and operates a five reel, nine payline and forty-five coin slot machine. The game includes two bonus features; Free Spin and Gamble, and joins other branded slot games such as Tomb Raider, Pub Fruity and the progressive-play Major Millions, all available though Spin3's GameWire system.

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Hop-On Showcases New Gambling Software
Company selects 2009 International CES in Las Vegas to demonstrate new technology, but reports Android platform delays

Interactive technology provider Hop-On has made good on its promise last year to launch interactive gambling software (see previous Online-Casinos.com/InfoPowa report), demonstrating a Live, Interactive Gaming in Real Time product during the 2009 International CES in Las Vegas this weekend.

Exhibiting under the "WebCasinos.com" banner, Hop-On, the company hinted at hassles with the Android platform when president and CEO Peter Michaels, said: "We will be showcasing our Interactive Gaming software. The focus will be on the software, as we could not get the Flash to work at its best on the Android platform yet, and Java does not provide the quality that I am looking for.

"Our product is top notch, and gamers want the most life-like, realistic experience and I am not willing to give them anything less. Our software will run on Flash, we just need a bit more time to perfect the codes and sharpen the images.

"At this particular (CES) event, the software is what people are interested in anyways and it would do a real injustice to our product to display our software through the Android platform without it working at its best.

"Once we complete the Android OS, we will be going after the Apple OS and Windows OS for cell phones. The Live Interaction, the Real-Time gaming and the ability to chat with other bettors on-line while getting your cards from a live dealer will be what our software is all about!"

Hop-On will soon be licensing its Mobile Gaming Software in Europe, where gaming is legal, secure and regulated. New 3G wireless technologies and phones will play a big role in the growth of mobile gaming by making it more convenient and secure, the company predicts.

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Atlantic City Land Casinos Battling
Revenue continues to fall off in New Jersey....Indiana, too

Atlantic City's revenues continued to fall in December, according to the latest statistics from New Jersey, with the gambling centre's 11 land casinos showing an accelerated decline over the previous year. The casinos won $302 million from gamblers in December, down 18.7 percent, exceeding the 15.1 percent decline set in September.

Throughout 2008, Atlantic City's casinos won 7.6 percent less from gamblers than they had in 2007, and prior to that, casino revenue had increased every year since gambling was legalised in the area back in 1978.

Joseph Weinert, senior vice president of consultants Spectrum Gaming Group commented: "Over the last two years, about $600 million in gross gaming revenue has disappeared from Atlantic City." He added that 3 300 casino jobs had been the human cost of the two year decline.

Gambling commission officials attributed the adverse results to a number of factors, including the nation's serious economic woes, growing competition in neighbouring states and smoking bans.

Atlantic City's decline coincided with the opening of slots parlours in Pennsylvania and New York that have siphoned away gamblers. Slot machine revenue fell 9.6 percent to $3.13 billion, and table games brought in $1.41 billion, down 3 percent.

Only one casino — Harrah's Resort Atlantic City — showed an increase for the year; its revenue rose 4.9 percent.

The two biggest declines were posted by casinos owned by Colony Capital, the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort at 18.3 percent and Resorts Atlantic City at 16.3 percent.

The news from Indiana is not much brighter, thanks to the prohibitively high gasoline prices last summer, and the impact of the recession.

Statewide figures released last week by the Indiana Gaming Commission showed revenues at Indiana's 11 full-service casinos fell 8 percent to about $2.5 billion last year, compared with $2.7 billion in 2007, while admissions fell 6 percent. It was the first time that statewide revenues and attendance for the full-service casinos have fallen from the previous year, contradicting the conventional wisdom that casinos were recession proof.

Adding to revenues, which totalled $2.67 billion throughout 2008, was the introduction in June last year of slot machines at Indiana's two horseracing tracks. Slot machines at the two horse tracks, Hoosier Park near Anderson and Indiana Downs in Shelbyville brought in nearly $195 million through December.

Mike Smith, president of the Casino Association of Indiana, said: "Obviously the economy has taken a big toll on Indiana casinos. It's taken two more casinos to do the same amount of business that 11 casinos did."

The Courier-Journal of Louisville reported that Horseshoe Southern Indiana, formerly Caesars Indiana, saw its gross revenues decline 9 percent in 2008, while admissions sank by 12 percent. The Harrison County boat drew nearly 367 000 fewer visits from patrons in 2008. The newspaper reported that analysts and gambling executives have opined that the recession has hit all forms of legalised gambling, including horse racing and some state lotteries.

Über Glücksspiele Las Vegas - Gambling in Las Vegas:

Las Vegas liegt im Westen der USA im Bundesstaat Nevada und ist das Glücksspiel-Paradies von Amerika.

Las Vegas hat rund 100 Spielcasinos. Im Bundesstaat Nevada sind sogar über 300 Spielcasinos registriert. Die grössten Casinos sind das Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Venetian / Palazzo, Wynn / Encore, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay.

Weitere bekannte Casinos sind das Mirage, frühere Heimat von Siegfried und Roy, das Luxor in Form einer Pyramide oder das Casino Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, in welchem jährlich die Pokerweltmeisterschaft (World Series of Poker WSOP) durchgeführt wird.

Die bekanntesten zwei Strassen sind der Las Vegas Boulevard, welcher auch als Las Vegas Strip bezeichnet wird. Daneben ist die Fremont Street eine gut besuchte Casino-Meile, wo beispielsweise das legendäre Casino Binion's (vormals Binion's Horseshoe) seine Spiele anbietet.

Las Vegas erstreckt sich über eine Fläche von 340 km2 und hat rund 650'000 Einwohner.

--- Ende Artikel / Pressemitteilung Gaming and Casino Industrial News 15.1.2009 all over the world ---


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