Online Gambling News all over the world 31.5.2009

31.05.2009, Online Gambling Now in Illinois USA / Harrah's Online Goes to Montreal / Online Gambling Blocking Software Free / Online Gambling Subconscious Reasoning Measured

Online Gambling Now in Illinois USA
State residents of Illinois USA are now able to wager online. Lawmakers in the State legislature decided that it was a good idea to let people in Illinois place there bets from the comfort of their own homes. Approving a bill which had already advanced through the Senate will let participants bet on horse races at online web sites.

Video gambling machines were legalized throughout the state just a few days previous to the passing of the new bill. The large majority of 87 to 27 passed the new rules and at the same time voted down another proposed piece of legislation, for expansion of existing casinos in Illinois.

State legislators were still not sure as to how the UIGEA Federal ban might affect this online gambling move in the State. New Hampshire and North Dakota have experienced difficulty with the Federal law, when those states online conducted lotteries were curtailed when in fact they were supposed to be exempt from any prohibition.

In the state new online accounts can be established and real money betting can be placed from your own home computer. Losses and gains are enabled from your online gambling account, just as with other online prohibited casinos and card rooms. Those who supported the bill said it will receive significant tax revenues from the new online rules for gambling on the horse races. It is expected the horse racing industry will also benefit from the move with an increase in interest and participation in the sport. $1.5 million doesn't sound like a lot of money these days but that's how much the state thinks it will make in revenue.

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Harrah's Online Goes to Montreal
Montreal, Canada, one of the closest Canadian, cities to the USA also may be the most 'European' of cities in Canada, has been chosen as the new headquarters for Harrah's new Interactive Entertainment division.

Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment (HIE), is still quiet about the decision but according to Poker News it's official. The new HIE Chief Executive Officer Mitch Garber will be familiar with the pace of Montreal because Mr.Garber is from this vibrant city.

Harrah's has mandated Mr.Garber to offer legal and government licensed gambling in the UK and elsewhere and Europe, and to explore opportunities to partner the WSOP and Harrah’s with state-run lotteries and other gambling operations and services. Montreals international flair will give the new division greater freedom to pursue online and land- based marketing opportunities in many other jurisdictions. It was reported that Garber made it part of the agreement he made with Harrah's that Montreal be the headquarters of the new Harrah's Interactive Entertainment division. Garber has started with small core staff for his recently acquired job.

Expansion of the already huge World Series of Poker brand is a goal Mr.Garber has for his staff. He was recently quoted as saying, "There is a hunger for World Series of Poker events, like PGA golf, with events taking place everywhere, whether it is Moscow, Montreal, Rome. Our intent is to deal with government and licensing authorities in every jurisdiction to grow the World Series of Poker."

Seth Palansky, current Communications Director for the WSOP commented, "We believe we have the premier brand in poker. While there’s a lot of competition and a lot of people have done well, the combination of our brand and having the most trusted name in poker makes for a great opportunity, one that we’re looking forward to developing in the months ahead."

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Online Gambling Blocking Software Free
Nova Scotia the Atlantic province in Canada has been toying with the idea of online gambling for a time now. People in the province have been less than receptive to the idea of online gambling. The Chronicle Herald reports that new software that is effective in blocking underage gambling has been developed by an American company commissioned by the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation.

The software said to be the first of its kind in the world will be offered for free. President and CEO of the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation, Marie Mullally said that the software is effective in blocking access to gambling websites. Mullally was quoted in the Chronicle Herald that a study commissioned by the corporation in 2006 found the underaged were gambling online three times as often as adults. In the gaming corporation’s study, 15 percent of 18-year-olds and 19 percent of youths aged 15 to 17 admitted to online gambling. Following the study, the corporation hired an American company to develop software to block online gambling access.

"There was nothing out there, so we invented this," Mullally said. The software branded BetStopper, has been tested by 250 Nova Scotia families, with positive results. It will officially be launched this weekend and distributed at the "We Love Our Children Expo" at Exhibition Park in Halifax.

The program looks for gaming URLs and gaming language within websites. BetStopper is password-protected and parents will receive an email notification immediately if the program is turned off. "It has a heightened or enhanced level of intelligence that allows it to have a 98 percent rate of blocking sites," said, Mullally. BetStopper is password-protected and parents will receive an email notification immediately if the program is turned off. While adults could also use the software to prevent other adults from accessing gaming sites, Mullally said it’s principally intended for parental use.

Founder of the Safe Bet Society, Ken Hanna, said anything parents can do to discourage the underaged from wagering online is a welcome tool. "It’s a step in the right direction," Hanna added, "I think it’s excellent."

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Online Gambling Subconscious Reasoning Measured
Foviance, is a hi-tech researcher that looks into the online user experience. The company has developed specialised technology to identify subconscious decisions made by gamblers. The latest in eye tracking technology called Emotional Engagement Measurement has given the researchers a inside look at the habits and reasons for online gambling decisions.

Foviance, is an expert in customer experience, revealing how subconscious behaviour can be better understood. Focusing primarily on the internet poker site PKR.com research reveals 5 measures of emotional engagement, when using a website. These are cognitive attention, visual attention, emotional attraction, emotional engagement and an ‘apprehension,excitement’ index. A major amount of participant behaviour has been demonstrated by psychologists as irrational and that emotions take over logical thinking.

Catriona Campbell, who is the founder of Foviance, with experience in behavioural psychology, stated, "It is no longer sufficient to create websites which are just easy to use, or have value for money products associated with them. Websites need to appeal to the subconscious; to engage with consumers at an emotional level."

The company with its trademark techniques have shown significant new insights and enables brands to better meet the needs of the market.

"At Foviance we have proven with a number of brands that this holds true for websites. Using our neuro-technology to have a deeper understanding of the emotional facet of the customer experience, we have found we can deliver insight that other methods previously haven’t" said Campbell.

Consultancy Director for Foviance, and author of the white paper, Marty Carroll, stated, "It has helped us understand in more detail the satisfaction and impact something like a ‘hard luck’ or ‘congratulatory’ message may have. The implications for businesses in all sectors are extensive" Focusing primarily on the presentation and structure of online gambling websites Foviance claims that it's findings challenge generally held beliefs in this area. Research findings contradict the view that simpler, less visually-stimulating gaming environments attract ‘serious’ players, suggesting that minimalist, straightforward sites are in fact less emotionally engaging for the participant leading to under stimulation and minimal time spent on the selected site.

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