casino online

British Columbia Lottery Corporation announced on 20th August 2009 it would launch online gaming sites in order to generate an income of not less than $ 100 million per year.

The  games offered by the Canadian company, such as blackjack, roulette and poker would be available on its website PlayNow from March 2010. If the project is fulfilled, there would be a first on the North-American continent, where online casinos have been banished so far.

“This is not really an innovative project, but if it was officially legalized by a north-american government, it would be indeed a great innovation”, said Bill Thompson, Professor of public law at the University of Nevada.

The Lottery hopes to get its part of the $ 87 million amount spent by residents of British Columbia on offshore sites. Michael Graydon, the Lottery Corporation CEO, stated: “Rather than let all that money slip away in some tax-paradises like Antigua, we seek to benefit from the opportunity that is giving to us to bring this money back in the country”.

Unfortunately for the company, this comes after a controversial statement made on 17th August, by which it was announced that the weekly limit on PlayNow deposits could be established between $ 120 and $10 000.

Some politicians ans especially those from Social Democratic Party, didn’t hesitate to strongly criticize the decision, which “was made without taking into consideration people with addiction problems”. But the Lottery responded to these attacks, stating that a security system would be put in place to prevent customers from depositing money in their accounts before 24 hours from another deposit.

If the proposal is approved, this could be a gateway for the introduction of online casinos in the United States.

In an attempt to overturn The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, widely known as UIGEA, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez has introduced a bill meant to set up the framework for online poker and other games of skill. “Internet Poker and Games of Skill Regulation, Protection and Enforcement Act” focuses mostly on the games where the outcome is determined by the player’s skills and not on the whole field of internet gambling. Besides poker, the other games cited in the bill are bridge, mahjong, backgammon and chess. The specific element that distinguishes these games from other gaming experiences is the little influence the chance has in the final results.

Menendez explains his particular consideration for poker by the significance of this game among Americans spare-time activities throughout their history: “Poker is part of the cultural and recreational fabric of the United States and has been since the founding days of the United States. United States poker aficionados have included presidents, judges, and statesmen.”

According to the proposed bill, the Treasury Department will the institution in charge to make the financial examination of all the applicants. This will reject any person or company that has been accused for any kind of gambling or financial violation. The bill also establishes the security control features that gambling websites will have to include: payment fraud protection and money laundering prevention, age limit policy, residence verification. The compulsive gambling behaviour is another topic of the law. The online casinos and other gaming rooms are obliged to monitor these habits if they want to keep their license. An opt out right for any state or Indian tribe wishing to ban online gambling in their jurisdiction, is equally specified in the text of the bill.

In a tough economic context, Playtech, the leading developer of online casino has not been spared  the financial storm that shook all economic fields. The online gambling environment is also suffering from the slump and this is obvious in the stock market prices. Thus, Teddy Sagi group saw its shares falter. The software designer annual stock profit will be lower than estimated. Playtech shares have fallen by 25% of its value.

This disturbing findings are partly explained by the unfavorable environment for gaming, either live or online. In addition, the stock price collapse comes from the Playtech joint venture with the bookmaker William Hill Online. Despite the latest figures, Playtech has seen its shares price growing during the first half of 2009. However, the forecast for the end of the year are not so optimistic. Analysts say the results should be between 49 and 52 million euros instead of 55 million euros expected.

These gloomy financial expectations are unprecedented for Playetch. The company is a leader on its market and develops software for online casinos, poker rooms and sporting bet sites. It provides the software of online casinos and poker sites as that of Euro Partners Group – Casino Tropez, Casino Bellini, Vegas Red, Titan Poker, Affiliates United, with Prestige Casino and 32 Vegas, Party Gaming, Las Vegas Casino, Swiss Casino, Casino MagicBox, Poker770.

Following a complaint filed by the Remote Gambling Association (RGA), the European Commission presented its critical report on the “Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act” in the United States. The least we can say is that Brussels gives right to international association and dares to call the law “contrary to free trade rules”. It must be said that the UIGEA concerns particularly gambling operation based in Europe. So, the struggle goes on…

Mid-June, the “Guardian of the UE Treaties” published a report on U.S. laws on online gambling and its hardening provisions for European companies. The report is the result of an one-year investigation conducted in U.S. The object of the investigation was not only the current law, but also its reform and the effects it would have on online games suppliers.

The juridical battle on American gaming market involves another powerful organization, which has the right to punish its disobedient members. This is the World Trade Organization; both U.S. and Eu member states adhered to its agreements. On the European ground, UE may reprove its members claiming the violation of Treaties’ provisions such as the freedom to provide services within its territory. As for the U.S., the European Commission only could call the international agreements. Thus, the EC claims that U.S. measures impede free trade and are contrary to the WTO rules. At the same time, the report suggests they can resolve the disagreement by negotiating with the new administration.

“Online gambling is a complex and critical issue, and we don’t want to dictate to the United States the method for regulating the market” the Commissioner of the Chamber of Commerce said. “However, the United States must comply with WTO rules. I hope we will be able to find an amicable solution”.

The report approached, of course, the alarmist claim of the Remote Gambling Association. Filed on 11th March 2008, it stated that the UIGEA denies access to foreign funds and discriminates radically all foreigners wishing to play or wager in the United States. Nevertheless, in 2006, the most of the European companies decided to act on their own and left the U.S. market. But they still suffer from lawsuits for their past activities on this market. Therefore, the report also concludes that the prosecutions are not legally justified and they are discriminatory.

The European Commission now seeks a solution consistent with international agreements through a dialogue with American administration.

On June 9th, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs made an important announcement: the Government was “hoping” to work with China’s neighbors for more effective border controls and notably for putting a limit on the gambling development along its borders.

According to recent reports, several citizens of the northern province of Shanxi have been kidnapped and held in wait for a ransom, after being lured to casinos located in Myanmar (ex Burma) and the Yunnan Province.

“The Chinse Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked our embassy in Myanmar to verify this information, and requested the Government of Myanmar to investigate the matter and to take measures to ensure freedom and security of Chinese citizens”, spokesman Qin Gand said.

In China, casinos and games like poker, blackjack, slot machines or bingo, are prohibited. Nevertheless, the Chinese Government is forced to accept the extraordinary growth of gambling industry in the independent Province of Macau. In this part of Asia, Macau is the gaming capital, a paradise for both players and investors.

The online casino field doesn’t submit to a better regime. Online casinos are also prohibited in China; moreover, as from July 1st, all personal computers sold in China will be endowed with software blocking web surfers’ access to gambling sites and other sites designated by the authorities.

Strengthened after the merger with Playetch, the British company William Hill continues its advance in Europe, by launching a French version of its site, modernised and with some new improvements. The story of the English bookmaker goes back to the interwar period, when William Hill created a society for sports betting. This society recently became the first betting company in UK, ahead of its number one competitor Ladbrokes.

Meanwhile, it has developed by offering on its website casino games in addition to sports betting. Its reputation increased when the company proposed William Hill Poker Grand Prix, a show broadcast since 2006 on the British channel SkySports.

William Hill and Playetch merged on January 2009, on the basis of a contract for a period of 5 years. This allows Playetch to own 29% stake in the new entity created by the project “William Hill On-line”. This transaction, having amounted $250 million, is a boon for William Hill, because since then profits are steadily increasing.

In view of the forthcoming opening of the French market, the site has benefited from a makeover and has been integrally translated into French. Thus, the site has undergone some revisions of graphics and ergonomics.

Many tournaments will be available each day for all the members of IPOKER network. Sit’n Go’s, freerolls and many other tournaments will be offered on a regular basis.

The World Series of Poker greet each year the biggest players in the world. This year, the series looks again explosive. From May 27th to July 15th, Las Vegas will celebrate the 40th anniversary of this prestigious tournament series that continue to crown legends of poker.

These world championships of poker are held annually in the gambling capital of the world, cover all variations of poker and offer honourable titles, including “the world champion of the year” one. In 2008, it was the very young Dane Peter Eastgate who won the Main Event – the main attraction of the Series.

The huge Main Event opens on July 3rd, with no fewer than four “Day 1″. 13 days of intensive competition between the best Texas Hold’em players will shape the final table that will take place in early November. Approximately 10.000 players will be expected to attend the event (including some having been qualified through online casino). With a €10.000 buy-in, a tremendous amount could “collapse” on the winner.

But besides this Main Event, the world of poker has eyes fixed on the first major tournament to be held. For the 40th anniversary of the WSOP, a €40.000 buy-in tournament is set to open May 28th. This can be considered a precaution method of the organizer: Harrah’s Entertainement, aware that the level of the Main Event is very uncertain, inaugurates an event reserved for professionals. In fact, only champions can afford the very expensive ticket and the 300 seats available will boost the prize pool at € 10 million. In recent years, many players still unknown came in the spotlight, like the title holder, Peter Eastgate. At 22, the young Dane excelled especially online before winning in Vegas.

The pros will have another challenge to take: win the maximum of gains by finishing in paid places of the 50 tournaments offered. Scotty Nguyen, crowned “the Prince of the poker” after his performance in 1998, has promised to stop if he doesn’t pick up at least $ 4 million. For purists, the Event which will crown the true poker master, is the HORSE event. It combines 5 variations of poker and has the capability to test the highest skills.

The global financial crisis and the economic downturn keep on striking hard even the French game industry. In addition to American groups like Harrah’s Entertainment, which have been heavily affected by the decline in sales of gaming rooms, a prestigious group from Europe also announces loss of income. The group in question is Barrière, whose officials reported publicly a fall of their profit. After a fall of 15% of their activity in 2008, since the beginning of this year until now, the first French group, in terms of gross gaming revenue, evoke a decline of 12% of its turnover. The information was provided by Dominique Desseigne, the chief of the Supervisory Board. The total turnover of 1.2 billion euros achieved in 2008 risks not to be reached this year. As for the Partouche Group, the main challenger of Barrière and one of the leaders of the industry, this announced its first loss of 8.5 million in 2008.

However, besides gambling, Barrière has a fairly diversified business. Apart from its 35 casinos in France, the group is also the owner of sixteen luxury hotels and more than one hundred restaurants. Thus, to cope with the crisis, the company announced that no recruitment of staff would be made to replace the previous departures. In casinos, apart from the fall in income of games such as poker, the slot machines have also turned down. The opening of the gambling market in France, from 1st January 2010, as announced in the draft, provides more optimism for online casino operators.

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The generous endowment of this tournament, combined with a deposit bonus, allow you to boost your bankroll from the beginning and to make a convenient start on Titan Poker. Download the Titan Poker software, create your own account, make your first deposit and you may collect your bonus. Three days after your initial deposit, you will receive tokens, which are valid for 3 months. So enjoy, because it would be a pity not to benefit of this unique opportunity! In fact, these tokens will be yours tickets for a moneymaking journey. Therefore, use these incentives for exercising and prepare you for the next challenge: the New Depositors Freeroll Satellites.

To reach the grand monthly final, all you have to do, as new member of the poker community, is to participate in the weekly freeroll tournaments organised under the name New Depositors Freeroll Satellites. These tournaments run every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 20h. They allow you to compete against players from around the world.

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Rumours on the possible arrival of Harrah’s Entertainment group on the online gambling market were eventually confirmed. Such an expansion for this prestigious group organizing the largest series of poker tournaments in the world – the WSOP- could prove particularly gainful. The decision is also significant for anticipating somehow the much awaited regularization of online casinos in USA. With a new administration at Washington, the legalization is from now on only a matter of time and Harrah’s casinos will be among the “conquerors” of the virtual. Therefore, they started to provide themselves with the means for dealing with the challenges once the U.S. market will reopen.

The former CEO of PartyGaming has therefore been chosen as the leader of Harrah’s new department. From the beginning, hiring Garber was meant to set up the arrival of Harrah’s on the market of online poker. Garber previously served as CEO of PartyGaming after the company had been drawn out of the U.S. market, following the guidelines of the UIGEA. Garber managed to keep his company afloat, despite a considerable loss of income, and his intensive experience in the industry of online gambling is a rich asset for Harrah’s in its attempt to conquer a new market.

PartyGaming, which has plead guilty to having illegally provided online gambling services in U.S. and accepted to pay a colossal $ 105 million penalty, is now back in the good graces of the U.S government and, in the event that the Republicam Barney Frank succeeded in imposing a legislation favorable to the online casino industry, Garber would be in the ideal position to negotiate with the government the entry in this market of the prestigious Harrah’s Entertainment.

Gary Loveman, chairman of the Harrah’s, has never hidden his desire to see the online gambling legalized and regulated in U.S. However, the news that Harrah’s is about to launch an online version of its casinos has been welcomed by many in the industry. With a strong image and an excellent notoriety, the use of the “WSOP” label will allow Harrah’s to reach and occupy a dominant position in the field.