RSS 2.0 FeedSpace Invaders Is Back
Sun, May 13, 2012
Britain’s Fremantle has acquired the rights to the iconic arcade game Space Invaders. A themed online slot game will be following shortly, available to British and European players.
Vol. 10 • No. 19 • May 14, 2012 - Print This Issue
ONLINE GAMING Archive
Some California Tribes Oppose Online Poker Bill
Sun, May 13, 2012
Some of the most powerful gaming tribes in California have come out against a proposal that would legalize online poker in the Golden State.
Florida Commish: Ban Internet Cafes
Sun, May 13, 2012
Orange County, Florida, will ask its voters to prohibit the storefront casinos when they go to the polls in November.
IGT Releases ‘American Idol’ for Facebook
Sun, May 13, 2012
Through its Double Down Interactive casino, IGT is releasing one of its most popular casino titles, “American Idol,” for the DoubleDown Casino on Facebook.
William Hill, Score Media Form Partnership
Sun, May 13, 2012
Under a new partnership agreement, customers of William Hill sorts books will be able to use mobile devices to bet on sporting events using the Score Media live betting application.
California Tribe Teams With bwin.party on Online Poker
Sun, May 13, 2012
Online gaming company bwin.party digital entertainment plc has entered an agreement with the United Auburn Indian Community—which runs California’s Thunder Valley Casino Resort—to provide online poker services should internet wagering be approved in the state. Co-CEO Jim Ryan (l.) believes California’s population will give the tribal site an edge.
New Jersey Online Gaming Bill Moves Toward Vote
Sun, May 13, 2012
A state Assembly committee last week approved a bill that would legalize online gaming within the state of New Jersey. This follows a Senate panel doing the same and positions the bill for full votes in both houses of the legislature. But a pending feud between the bill’s sponsor and Governor Chris Christie (l.) may derail the entire thing.
MGM’s Murren Eyes State-by-State Legalization
Sun, May 13, 2012
Calling his approach “pragmatic,” MGM Resorts Chairman and CEO James Murren says his company is considering how to enter the online gaming industry in individual states, rather than through federal legislation, which he would prefer.
WMS Teams with Groupe Partouche for Belgium Online Site
Sun, May 06, 2012
WMS Industries has struck a deal with Groupe Partouche to host their online casino site in Belgium. WMS will offer its iGaming technology and platform under the Casino Knokke brand.
Tapie Planning New Poker Site
Sun, May 06, 2012
Its bid to buy Full Tilt Poker in tatters, France’s Group Bernard Tapie now plans to launch its own online poker operation. In a parting shot, though, the group has reached out to FTP employees to join it in the new venture.
Online Gaming Site Purple Lounge Disappears
Sun, May 06, 2012
Demonstrating yet again that online gaming is not a venture that is free of risks, the once-popular online casino, Purple Lounge, closed last week without warning and without assurances that deposits of players would be returned.
No Word on PokerStars-Full Tilt Merger
Sun, May 06, 2012
With more than a week passing since rumors of a purchase of Full Tilt Poker by PokerStars, few facts have emerged as officials of PokerStars apparently do their due diligence and continue to negotiate with the U.S. Department of Justice.
States and Feds Square Off Over Online Gaming
Sun, May 06, 2012
As several states move forward in the process of legalizing online gaming, a newspaper reports that Senators Harry Reid (L.) and Jon Kyl are working together to circumvent those efforts and authorize federally approved online poker.
Editorial: Michigan Stomps Competition
Sat, Apr 28, 2012
An editorial on a gambling web site said the state of Michigan has shut down an online sweepstakes operating within its borders. State agencies, the editorial said, “all ganged up on the operators as if it was a hunt for Osama Bin Laden.”
Betsson to Acquire Nordicbet
Sat, Apr 28, 2012
Online gaming operator Betsson announced it will acquire Nordic Gaming Group, which owns the brands NordicBet, Tobet and Triobet.
Centrebet Consolidates Systems
Sat, Apr 28, 2012
Online gaming operator Centrebet is overhauling its website and network in the wake of its takeover by rival wagering operator Sportingbet.
Playtech to Enter Social Gaming
Sat, Apr 28, 2012
Playtech plans to take its online gaming software to the social gaming arena with the purchase of $150.5 million on undisclosed B2B assets.
Betfair Launches ‘App Cloud’
Sat, Apr 28, 2012
Online bookmaker Betfair’s new service will allow software developers to build their own websites based on the Betfair platform.
GTECH G2 To Help Expand Canada’s Online Market
Sat, Apr 28, 2012
Interactive gaming software and services provider GTECH G2 will partner with the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation in creating an online casino.
More U.K. Women Gambling Online
Sat, Apr 28, 2012
Almost half as many women as men are gambling on the internet in the U.K., according to a privately sponsored survey. But their playing habits differ, the study found. Men tend to gravitate to poker, sports betting and casino-style games. Women prefer slot machines and bingo.
Utah Governor Herbert Leads Opposition on Online Gambling
Sat, Apr 28, 2012
Governor Gary Herbert (l.) has asserted his state’s right to determine its gambling future. The Utah conservative has urged federal lawmakers not to regulate online poker and other forms of internet wagering, saying that the decision should be left up to individual states.
EGBA Seeks Clarity From the EU
Sat, Apr 28, 2012
A trade group representing Europe’s online gambling operators says the EU has a long way to go before the industry is fairly and consistently regulated across all member states. The group has some definite thoughts on how to remedy the situation and has submitted them to the European Commission.
A Bipartisan Approach to Sports Betting in New Jersey
Sat, Apr 28, 2012
Congressmen Frank LoBiondo (l.) and Frank Pallone, Jr. have sent a letter to Members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation urging them to support two separate sports wagering bills. Bills H.R. 3081 and H.R. 3797 would each enact changes in the federal ban on sports betting and allow Atlantic City casinos and state racetracks to accept sports-related wagers.
Evolution to Provide StarGames System
Sun, Apr 22, 2012
Evolution Gaming has agreed to provide its “Live Casino” game services and operation to StarGames, the Malta-based online gaming operator.
Unibet Acquires Bet24 For $17.7 Million
Sun, Apr 22, 2012
Unibet Group will acquire the online gaming company Nordic Betting, trading as Bet24, for $17.7 million. Nordic Betting runs sports and gaming products through its web sites www.bet24.dk and www.bet24.com.
Betting Tsunami Swamps U.K. Sites
Sun, Apr 22, 2012
Betting volumes were so large in Britain and Ireland over Grand National weekend they overwhelmed a number of leading web bookmakers. Ladbrokes, which operates the U.K.’s largest gambling site, was one of them. Some £200 million was wagered on the famed steeplechase.
Manitoba To Launch Online Gaming
Sun, Apr 22, 2012
Manitoba has gotten in step with most of the rest of Canada with plans to launch provincially sponsored internet gambling. The site is scheduled to open next year with poker and casino-style games in partnership with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.
Israeli Court Unblocks Gaming Sites
Sun, Apr 22, 2012
Internet freedom wins a big victory in Israel, where a judge has denied police the power to prevent citizens from accessing foreign gambling websites. The fact that the sites aren’t licensed in Israel was not the issue. At stake, the judge said, was the legal right of Israelis to access any information they choose.
New Jersey Senate to Vote on Online Bill in May
Sun, Apr 22, 2012
The New Jersey Senate is scheduled to vote on a new online gambling bill May 31. The bill would allow casinos in Atlantic City to accept wagers through devices located at their properties, and put the state out in front for implementing online gaming. Governor Chris Christie (l.) reportedly will sign it into law.
One Year On
Sun, Apr 22, 2012
A year after “Black Friday” hasn’t clarified the situation that much. And the size of the U.S. online gaming market has been estimated to be as high as $12 billion. But what impact would state-by-state legalization have on these numbers if the federal government doesn’t act first?
California Mulls Legalizing Internet Poker
Fri, Apr 13, 2012
California has probably the largest population of players of internet poker in the country. A Golden State lawmaker wants to make them contribute to shrinking the state’s deficit by legalizing and then taxing their activity.
GTECH G2 Releases Poker 8.0
Sun, Apr 08, 2012
The U.K.-based subsidiary of Italy’s Lottomatica has launched a full-feature poker client for Mac computers, including all game types and tournaments.
Payments Processor Pleads Guilty in Black Friday Case
Sun, Apr 08, 2012
Informant Daniel Tzvetkoff has delivered his first victim to the Feds, but the former e-commerce whiz kid remains in hiding as the case against Poker Stars, Full Tilt and Absolute Poker continues to unfold
Amaya Gaming to Buy Cryptologic
Sun, Apr 08, 2012
Amaya Gaming Group, a Canadian gaming specialist, will end up with more than 80 percent of shares of Cryptologic, the online casino game developer.
Nevada Regulators: Speed Online Gaming
Sun, Apr 08, 2012
The Nevada Gaming Policy Committee urges lawmakers to move ahead and license online poker. The Silver State could have the games up and running by June.
Will Wynn Play with Zynga?
Sun, Apr 08, 2012
The online gaming developer, a hit on Facebook with games like Farmville and Cityville, wants to play with the big guys, and with real dollars. And Wynn Resorts wants a social gambling game, so it could be a match made in heaven.
Caesars Sells Part of Interactive Group
Sun, Apr 08, 2012
Rock Gaming, a partner with Caesars in two soon-to-open casinos in Ohio, and controlled by Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert (l.), has purchased half of Caesars Interactive, the company’s online subsidiary, for $60.8 million.
Online Gambling Bill Passes New Jersey Senate Committee
Sun, Apr 08, 2012
New Jersey is pushing ahead to become an epicenter for online wagering as a bill to establish internet poker and other table games has passed a Senate committee. Sponsored by Senator Ray Lesniak, the bill would allow casinos in Atlantic City to take bets from established customers through online games. The new legislation is backed by Governor Chris Christie (l.), who vetoed a similar proposal last March.
The Innovation Group Releases 2012 iGaming White Paper Update
Mon, Apr 02, 2012
Groundbreaking study summarizes most extensive research to date regarding overlap between free play, real money and land-based players, inducement & player development strategies, specific impacts on lotteries and other key topics specific to online gaming in the U.S. Copies will be available at the Innovation Group booth at this week’s Indian Gaming 2012 Trade Show (NIGA).
Florida’s Internet Cafes Challenge Ban
Sat, Mar 31, 2012
A Florida county outlaws the gambling parlors, but enforcement has been negligible. As the state considers whether to ban or regulate the cafes, lawyers plot their strategy.
California’s Online Poker Bill Heading Toward Debate
Sat, Mar 31, 2012
Lawmakers appear ready to make a concerted effort to pass some sort of bill legalizing online poker in California, despite strong opposition, including several Indian gaming tribes. A bill could be voted out of committee as early as April.
Utah Says No To Online Poker , Present & Future
Sat, Mar 31, 2012
Utah Governor Gary Herbert has signed a law that makes playing online poker a misdemeanor, subject to a fine and jail time. The bill goes a step farther and removes the whole state from any future nationwide online gambling legalization and regulation.
WMS Files for Nevada Online License
Sat, Mar 31, 2012
WMS Gaming has filed for a license with the Nevada Gaming Control Board to provide online gaming content and systems for the state’s intrastate online casinos.
Illinois Is First To Offer Online Lottery Tix
Sat, Mar 31, 2012
As part of a multi-year pilot program, residents of Illinois, at least 18 years of age, may now purchase Mega Millions and Lottery tickets online. The state anticipates earning up to $59 million in new annual revenue by attracting players with prizes of $100 million or more.
Alderney Publishes Full Tilt Report
Sat, Mar 31, 2012
The gambling commission of online gaming licensing jurisdiction Alderney has published the independent review on its own actions associated with the Full Tilt Poker affair.
Kentucky Judge Upholds Domain Forfeitures
Sat, Mar 31, 2012
The judge in the civil lawsuit brought against online gambling firms by the commonwealth of Kentucky has ordered that 132 domain names of former online casinos be forfeited.
Nevada Looks at Internet Gaming
Sat, Mar 31, 2012
Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval (l.) says the state must assess the growing presence of online games. He has asked for a report by the end of the summer.
888 Casino Offers New Online Platform
Sun, Mar 25, 2012
Online casino games company 888 Casino has introduced a new platform that would allow players to “personalize” their gaming experience
Maine Considers Online Lottery Bill
Sun, Mar 25, 2012
Joining other states around the country, Maine is looking at a new bill to allow for state lottery sales over the internet. LD 1880 will be vetted in a public hearing this week as Maine looks to put in place an online lottery system
Ladbrokes Goes With Sky IQ
Sun, Mar 25, 2012
Ladbrokes has partnered with marketing solutions provider Sky IQ to maximize the effectiveness of its advertising and marketing spend.