Sega Casino Branded Games

Sega Gaming has purchased a set of branded online casino games from CTXM, a casino game developer from Latvia. The site is already using the Playtech platform and the full suite of online casino games which come as standard with any new licensee to the popular brand.

Sega is now aggressively developing unique games based around the popular characters in their video games. Some branded games have already been developed by Playtech, but they are also branching out to other games developers for their new games.

Sega Casino will have traditional games in addition to branded video slots. It has been revealed that they have developed a video slot called, ‘house of the dead’ that’s based on a video game which was later made into a film.

Udy Yosha, CEO of CTXM, said: “We are very proud to work with the founders of the gaming industry. Being a game developer ourselves, we believe that together with SEGA Games’ unique IP, we will be able to add another dimension to their online games. We feel privileged to cooperate with SEGA Games.”

Many other video games developers are expected to enter the online gambling market when it has been regulated over in the United States. Sega has decided to enter the market early in order to place a strong footing in the market.

Tuesdays are Twice as Nice as 32Red Rolls out the Rubies

To keep things interesting, 32Red switches the Ruby Tuesday games every month. There is no limit to the amount of Red Ruby reward points a player can earn.

The Red Ruby reward points can be redeemed at any time in units of 1,000 and the cash is then added to your bonus balance.

This month, all the featured Ruby Tuesday games are slots. First up is one of the newest games on the 32Red roster: Hellboy. This 5 reel, 20 pay line slot featured artwork straight from the comic book and all the characters from the very popular Hellboy franchise. Players can expect to receive double the amount of Red Ruby reward points.

There is a Nordic theme to most of the games this month. Next up is Arctic Fortune, a Viking-themed slot with jackpots running as high as £100,000.  Keeping it Celtic is Thunderstruck – another sword and sorcery styled slot with double Red Ruby Rewards.

The month’s final Ruby Tuesday game at 32Red is Robot Butler which has absolutely no Nordic connection whatsoever but is a five reel slot with a potential jackpot worth a staggering 100,000 coins.

Last Chance to Supersize at Circus Casino

Circus Casino is offering its players the chance to win the ultimate home entertainment package which includes a 50” high definition television, a 5.1 surround sound set up, and a PlayStation 3 which features a built in Blu Ray players.

The set up will allow players at Circus Casino online to enjoy realistic movies with audio from six speakers – two front, two rear, a central vocal speaker, and – of course – earth shattering bass from the subwoofer.

There is only one first prize package but there are also five runners up prizes of PlayStation 3's.

To win this amazing home entertainment system, all players at the Circus Casino have to do is earn comp points playing real money games on either the instant play or download version of Circus Casino.

For every 100 points a player earns, he or she will receive one entry into the prize draw which takes place before February 17. The more you play – the more chances you will have to win this amazing prize.

Hurry up though! The closing date for entries is Valentine’s Day on February 14. Enjoy some online blackjack, video poker, progressive slots, or more for your chance to super size you television set and enjoy a bigger night in courtesy of Circus Casino.

Little sign of Loto Quebec – Kahnawake cooperation in online gambling venture

The positive news last week that Loto Quebec is to venture into online gambling with other Canadian provinces following Quebec government approval has to some extent been clouded by developments that indicate there has been little synergy on Internet gambling in the province.

The Kahnawake Mohawk tribe’s extensive and ultra-modern hosting and regulatory facilities lie within a 30 minute drive from Montreal, and yet judging by a recent statement from the Kahnawake there appears to have been little if any collaboration between Loto Quebec, the provincial government and the sovereign First Nation regulatory jurisdiction, which has recently been the subject of a substantial revamp.

In a statement this week the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake responded to the Loto Quebec moves, commenting that these come 12 years after the Indian nation’s entry into the online gambling industry and complaining that Quebec finance minister Barchand’s comments on making the Loto Quebec announcement, and those attributed to him in the media, seem to imply that the Loto-Quebec initiative will negatively impact Kahnawake and the initiatives it has taken in the online gaming industry.

“I think Quebec believes that it is going to take the online gaming industry by storm,” MCK Gaming Portfolio Chief John Dee Delormier said in the Kahnawake statement.

“That is certainly not the case. They are entering an already established market and are only offering their games to a limited player base. It is a recipe for disaster for them.

“At no time did they consult us on what they were doing,” Delormier continued, “and maybe they should have asked for help, because their short-sighted view on e-gaming will end up with egg on their face.”

The MCK said that it is disappointing that Quebec “…fails to understand, or deliberately ignores, the opportunities for synergy between Loto-Quebec and Kahnawake.

“Loto-Quebec’s online gambling operation could be hosted from Mohawk Internet Technologies. The Regie could work with the Kahnawake Gaming Commission to harmonise their regulations concerning online gaming,” the statement points out, additionally drawing attention to the pledges that Quebec made to Kahnawake in the October 15, 1998 “Statement of Understanding and Mutual Respect.”

This statement says in part, “Kahnawake and Quebec further agree to participate as partners in some of Kahnawake’s economic development ventures. Quebec also agrees to develop financial and fiscal arrangements that would provide for Kahnawake’s long term economic stability.”

In June 2009 Quebec Premier Jean Charest and MCK Grand Chief Michael Delisle Jr., signed a further “Statement of Understanding and Mutual Respect” that was designed to improve intergovernmental relations and establish economic partnerships between Kahnawake and Quebec.

The Kahnawake statement continues: “Quebec has authorised Loto-Quebec to offer online gambling, meaning it will become yet another online gaming operator offering casino, poker and other games of chance – making it a competitor of long-established online gaming operators such as PokerStars, Party Gaming, Full Tilt Poker and Ultimate Bet.

“Many of these operators are licensed by and operate from jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man, Gibraltar and Alberney as well as Kahnawake.

“It is difficult to understand how Loto-Quebec’s late and limited entry into the market will negatively affect – let alone “cannibalise” – these sites.”

The MCK also points out that Kahnawake does not, nor has it ever, offered online gambling itself. Since 1999, the tribal enclave has hosted online gaming operators through MIT – its world class internet service provider and data centre. Kahnawake has also regulated third-party online gaming operators through the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

“Quebec Finance Minister Bachand’s comments are a clear indication that Quebec does not have any understanding in relation to Kahnawake’s role in internet gaming,” KGC Chairman Dean Montour said.

“Unlike Quebec, Kahnawake is not – nor will be – an internet gaming operator. By means of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, Kahnawake is considered a leader and world-class regulator for online gaming. In addition, Kahnawake has a ’state-of-the-art’ hosting facility for third party i-gaming operators at Mohawk Internet Technologies. As a result, Loto-Quebec’s announcement will have minimal impact on Kahnawake.

“Given his limited knowledge and understanding, it is disappointing that Mr. Bachand has chosen to use language such as ‘cannibalise,’
‘underground economy,’ and “illegal gambling” in his assessment of the existing i-gaming industy,” Montour continued. “Despite this position, the KGC has always maintained an ‘open door’ policy in regards to any further discussion with Quebec in regards to internet gaming.”

Through this new initiative Quebec is also going to be both an online gaming operator and a regulator, the Kahnawake statement claims – through the Regies des alcools, des courses et des jeux. This environment of “self-regulation” is a position that Kahnawake, and most other jurisdictions in the world, have avoided to maintain transparency, fairness and integrity to all players, the statement continues.

“Over the past 12 years, Kahnawake’s participation in the online gaming industry has generated more employment, highly skilled training opportunities, fiscal advantages and positive global recognition than any other economic development venture in Kahnawake’s history,” the MCK’s statement concludes.

“Now that Quebec has decided to ‘legalise’ online gaming for its purposes, it has a perfect opportunity to ‘participate as partners’ with Kahnawake to advance this developing industry.

“Instead, Quebec has chosen to continue its implicit demonisation of Kahnawake. This is truly disappointing and, unless Quebec reconsiders its position, will certainly colour the relations that Kahnawake and Quebec seek to maintain in other areas.”

Probability reports 8% drop in Q3 revenue

Probability plc, the UK mobile gaming technology specialist reported in a trading update this week that that its latest Q3 performance displayed a quarter-on-quarter drop in net gaming revenues of 8% to £1.13 million.

Management attributed the easing to “higher withdrawals running up to Christmas” while the number of new registered players for the quarter fell by just over three percent to 47,089.

Probability had net cash and equivalents of £1.91 million – down from £1.96 million at the conclusion of its second quarter.

The company’s star game was the new X Factor branded slot title, which attracted over £2.5 million in wagers during the period when interest was especially high due to the screening of the live shows.

Charles Cohen, the chief executive at Probability said: “As we expected, net gaming revenues were slightly lower than the previous quarter as players cashed in their winnings in November to finance their Christmas expenditure. “We were buoyed by the success of the X Factor slots game toward the end of the quarter, which saw significant traction through December as the live televised finals progressed.

“December trading all round was very encouraging with record bets taken and net gaming revenues 30% higher than November, which followed a strong month in October. “We were very pleased that the new server capacity in which we have invested was online in time for this busy period and ensured that our systems performed well, giving players a great experience and handling a record number of mobile bets.”

Probability also released an update on its investment programme revealing that it has “been largely completed and is already starting to have a beneficial effect on revenues and margins”. The plan will enable the firm to expand with “greater speed and in more ways than would otherwise have been possible.”

“Our plans were accelerated following changes in the market environment, which have opened considerable new opportunities for us,” read a statement from Probability.

“In particular, the uptake of the iPhone and the Google Android platforms have shifted consumer expectations of mobile services generally and significantly improved the prospects for mobile gambling.

“Our newly created higher margin business-to-business division is also experiencing strong demand from eGaming businesses and online sports books for a ‘white-label’ offering from Probability to allow them to address these opportunities themselves,” Cohen concluded.

Tribal business alliance fights California poker proposal

The conferences and lobbying among tribal gambling groups – some for and others against legalising poker in California to close state budgetary gaps – has triggered some opposition from the California Tribal Business Alliance, which this week released the results of an independent study claiming that potential revenues may have been overstated.

The study was conducted by Mike Genest, the former Director of the California Department of Finance, who in a seven-page letter estimates the revenue that California could derive from a proposal that is currently being discussed in the legislature to license and tax intrastate, internet poker.

The essence of Genest’s letter is in the following excerpt: “The proposal would result in an annual General Fund revenue reduction of $365 million, partially offset by an annual increase in revenue of up to $50 million and by an unknown, but probably not substantial increase in personal income tax collections.”

Playing off Genest’s opinion, CTBA chairwoman Leslie Lohse released a statement saying: “The proponents of this proposal to legalise internet poker in California are touting it as a major solution to our state’s budget crisis.

“It was important to bring in a neutral third party to analyse the viability of this proposal as a revenue resource. I think the results clearly show the state needs to research some more feasible solutions.”

Alison Harvey, executive director of the Association added that the monopoly poker initiative launched earlier by the Morongo band of Indians and certain card room companies is also is likely to siphon $365 million a year out of the state’s general fund if tribes operating Indian casinos under 2004 and 2004 gaming compacts invoke the exclusivity clause.

“And that’s in a down economy,’’ Harvey said.

Patrick Dornison, a spokesman for the Morongo, responded by calling the report a “politically motivated” document, saying it was “cobbled together at the last minute with the intention of negatively influencing the Senate hearing next week on Internet poker.’’

Dorison took exception to the California Tribal Business Alliance stance. It assumes that people will continue to play illegal, offshore sites, thereby, decreasing potential revenue to California, he said.

“Perhaps the (alliance) should keep up on current events,’’ he said, noting a crackdown by Mastercard and Visa on the use of their cards on offshore sites would leave poker players in the United States unable to play.

“This goes to what we have said all along that California needs a regulated intrastate game that will offer consumers protection from unscrupulous operators and maximize revenue to the state,’’ Dorinson said.

The California Tribal Business Alliance projected, as part of the study, that the total gross gambling yield attributed to Internet poker played anywhere in the world from terminals in California in 2011 will be $536 million.

“If all players moved to the proposed new, single-licensed entity’s site, and continued to play at the same level, a 10% fee would generate $53.6 million,” Genest’s report said.

In August of 2009, a plan was proposed to legalise and tax intrastate poker in California, but no legislator would author the legislation. The proposal has returned and the Senate Governmental Organization Committee will take up the issue of internet poker next week on February 9.

Genest’s report is available online in pdf format here.

The California Tribal Business Alliance consists of California Indian tribes interested in developing partnerships and coalitions with like-minded governments and with business entities in California, with the intent to build productive alliances based on mutual respect and cooperation.

The CTBA members are the Jackson Rancheria of Miwuk Indians, the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians, Pala Band of Mission Indians, the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, the United Auburn Indian Community, and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians.

Visa joins Mastercard in clampdown piling on the agony for U.S players

The giant Visa card processing conglomerate has joined Mastercard in clamping down on Internet gambling transactions, according to growing reportage in the US media. Although the implementation of the UIGEA regulations has been delayed to June 2010, the e-processing companies seem intent on halting the allegedly widespread practice of operators cloaking online gambling transactions by coding them as other forms of ecommerce.

Bet365 Blackjack Bonanza!

Blackjack is by far one of the coolest and most popular games that has players flocking to the world of online gambling. This is probably due to the fact that players can accumulate a very sizeable amount of money with relatively little gambling required.

At bet365 casino it’s now becoming even easier! They are launching its popular Blackjack Bonanza on February 6th with a very generous prize pool of $5,000 awaiting players! The winner of the competition will be taking away a very nice $500!

Players even up to the 200th position could take home cash in this great competition as for every $10 that’s wagered you’ll receive a comp point. Whoever has the most comp points is the winner.

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Bet365’s Casino offering really is great, it’s very clean cut and very well organised, running on Playtech’s software this site really can’t go wrong. There are several different variations of blackjack available to play. New members are entitled to a 100% first deposit match bonus worth up to $200!

Super Bowl XLIV set for Sunday – Online Casino News

The pinnacle game of America’s National Football League (NFL) takes place this Sunday evening from Miami as the Indianapolis Colts meet the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV.

The Colts of the American Football Conference (AFC) are led by veteran quarterback Peyton Manning and have been favourites to win their third Super Bowl title for the entire post-season. After finishing the regular season with 14 triumphs and only two defeats to win the AFC South division, Indianapolis then knocked off the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets in the playoffs to reach the Super Bowl.

Bettors can get odds of 4/9 on the Colts winning Super Bowl XLIV from ToteSport.com, BlueSq.com, VictorChandler.com, 888Sport.com, StanJames.com and ExtraBet.com while Bet365.com, WilliamHill.com, Ladbrokes.com, BetFred.com, SportingBet.com and PaddyPower.com show 10/21.

Slightly longer, BoyleSports.com and BetDaq.com, WBX.com, Coral.co.uk and Betfair.com are offering Indianapolis at odds of 1/2 with Bwin.com going with 18/35.

An AFC team has won the Vince Lombardi Trophy in six out of the last seven seasons and Expekt.com believes this trend will continue by showing the Colts at odds of 11/21 to triumph on Sunday followed by SkyBet.com with 8/15.

This is the first time in their 42-history that the Saints have made it to the NFL’s showpiece fixture and the Louisiana team go into Miami as distinct underdogs. Expekt.com is offering New Orleans at odds of 14/9 to win while ExtraBet.com and Bwin.com show 8/5.

New Orleans are in the National Football Conference (NFC) and finished the regular season with a record of 13 wins and three losses to win the NFC South division. The team is led by experienced quarterback Drew Brees and scored more points during the regular season than any other NFL franchise but is still listed by 888Sport.com, SkyBet.com, Coral.co.uk, BlueSq.com and VictorChandler.com at odds of 13/8 to win the Super Bowl this weekend.

Despite knocking off the much fancied Minnesota Vikings and the defending NFC champion Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs, the Saints are still being listed at odds of 17/10 with SportingBet.com to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy while PaddyPower.com, ToteSport.com, Bet365.com, StanJames.com, Ladbrokes.com and WilliamHill.com are going even longer with 7/4.

For the Saints to win, running back Reggie Bush and the team’s ground game need to be dominant against a Colts defence that allowed a season average 126 yards a game. However, Betfair.com does not see this as likely and is offering odds of 177/100 on a New Orleans triumph followed by BetDaq.com showing 179/100 and BoyleSports.com, WBX.com and BetFred.com with 9/5.  

Online scratchcard sites celebrating the month of Love – Online Casino News

Leading online scratchcard sites Scratch2Cash.com and Hopa.com are giving away over 400 Love Packages this month worth $250 each that will allow winners to create their perfect Valentine’s Day.

The special raffle competition is open to all depositing players and could see the winners spending a day at a spa, sipping champagne, dining like a diva or hitting the stores with a special shopping spree.

All this month, the sites will award one raffle ticket daily to each player that makes a deposit on that specific day. As each day goes by, the number of Love Packages on offer will increase all the way up to 28 on February 28.

The sites will also award a pair of Ultimate Love Packages this month to players that were not lucky enough to win the first time around. The first will be given away on February 9 and entitle the winner to cruise around town in a limousine before being wined and dined at a top restaurant while being photographed like a true superstar with all the glam and glory. In addition, this winner will receive an extra $5,000 in cash to use as they please.

The second Ultimate Love Package will be given away on February 28 and see the winner receive a grand prize of $10,000 deposited directly into their bank account.