SCOOP returns this weekend – Online Casino News

Isle Of Man-licensed PokerStars.com, one of the world’s largest online poker rooms, has announced that the second annual Spring Championship Of Online Poker (SCOOP) will begin this Sunday.

PokerStars.com awarded over $40 million in cash over the course of 22 events last year with the SCOOP’s trio of main events featuring buy-ins of $100, $1,000 and $10,000 being won by online competitor ‘JannotLapin’ followed by Team Poker Stars professionals JC Alvarado and Jude Ainsworth.

This year, the SCOOP will be even bigger with 38 events featuring buy-ins ranging from $5.50 to $25,500 and festivities are set to commence on May 3 with a six-handed tournament and a two-day no-limit hold’em tournament. Over the following weeks, PokerStars.com will offer at least two daily tournaments before ending with a two-day main event from five o’clock in the afternoon New York time on May 16.

“The amount of competition available is just incredible and this year’s SCOOP schedule should provide at least a little bit of something interesting for all players no matter what game they prefer or at what stakes level they’re most comfortable,” said Bryan Slick from PokerStars.com.

“In terms of buzz, of course the high-stakes main event is generating a lot of excitement due to its five million dollar guarantee and the fact that we’re guaranteeing one million dollars to the tournament champion. Someone’s life is going to change at the conclusion of that event and others and that’s really exciting.”

This year’s SCOOP will also feature new events including the Ante Up tournament in which the blinds will remain the same while antes increase alongside a turbo fixed-limit hold’em event. PokerStars.com revealed that there will be 20 no-limit hold’em events including heads-up, re-buy, shootout and four-handed play competitions. In addition, fans of mixed games will be able to enjoy stud, Badugi, Omaha, triple draw, horse, stud high-low, razz and eight-game tournaments.  

Clegg election odds shorten – Online Casino News

In the UK, the odds on the Liberal Democrats winning the most seats in the upcoming general election have dramatically fallen following party leader Nick Clegg’s performance in a pair of recent televised debates.

Last week, the Liberal Democrats were listed at odds of 80/1 by ExtraBet.com to win the most seats in the May 6 election but this has now fallen with WilliamHill.com showing 11/1.

Only slightly longer, Coaral.co.uk is offering odds of 12/1 that the Liberal Democrats will become the next ruling party while StanJames.com, SkyBet.com, BetFred.com, PaddyPower.com and StanJames.com show them at 14/1.

The Liberal Democrats last held power in 1922 but ToteSport.com, BoyleSports.com, Ladbrokes.com and VictorChandler.com are offering 16 /1 on success in 2010 while 888.com and BlueSq.com have them at 18/1.

At the far end of the spectrum, SportingBet.com is going with odds of 22/1 that 43-year-old Clegg will become the UK’s next Prime Minister while WBX.com and BetDaq.com show 30/1 with Betfair at 33/1.

The front-runner for next month’s election remains David Cameron from the Conservative Party with BoyleSports.com and SportingBet.com offering odds of 1/5 on a blue majority in the next Parliament.

The Conservative Party has been out of power since 1997 and is counting on 43-year-old Cameron to help it win a majority of the 650 seats on offer in the House Of Commons. Bettors can get odds of 2/9 from Expekt.com, SkyBet.com and Bwin.com on the ‘Tories’ being the majority party come May 7 while WBX.com shows 23/100 followed by BetFred.com, Bet365.com, VictorChandler.com, StanJames.com, BetDaq.com, BlueSq.com, 888Sport.com, Bodog.com, Coral.co.uk, Betfair.com and Ladbrokes.com with 1/4.  

Mega Moolah Jackpot A Gem For Microgaming Players – 04-28-10

April 28 – Since its launch in November 2006, the game has paid out over 44 million Euros across all four jackpot levels, Mega, Major, Maxi and Mini. The Mega Moolah jackpot has been hit five times over 12.3 million Euro. The biggest single payment was a staggering 6.37 million Euros.

Over 20 million Euros has been paid out to over a quarter of a million players on the Maxi level jackpot alone, and the Major Millions MegaSpin jackpot was hit recently, with Ladbrokes player ‘Arthur M’ winning over 310,000 Euros; again paid out in a single payment.

Microgaming progressive jackpot have paid out a combined total of an enormous 276 million Euros.

The jackpot is paid in the currency that it is played in. Mega Moolah has four jackpot levels: Mega , which pays out a top prize of at least a 1,000,000; Major, which starts at 10,000; followed by Maxi which starts at 100. The Mini Moolah starts at 10. This four levels jackpot system is unique. The smaller jackpots are paid out much more frequently than is found with other progressive jackpots; so it’s not just big winners who benefit.

According to Mike Hebden, Head of Casino, Microgaming: "We have been delighted by the success of Mega Moolah since its launch and its unique design and in–game features have proved tremendously popular with a wide range of players. Innovation has always been at the heart of what we do and we are committed to providing market leading software that continues to engage with players and push the boundaries of what a progressive slot can do."

Check out our Microgaming Casinos where you can play Mega Moolah.

NeoGames latest scratchcard offerings – Online Casino News

Leading electronic scratchcard provider NeoGames International Limited has announced the launch of a pair of new online games, Spy Comics and Master Mix.

Malta-based NeoGames is the firm behind popular scratchcard websites Scratch2Cash and Hopa.com and revealed that the new pair have been localised and translated into 18 languages to meet the needs of its global client base.

Spy Comics is a traditional game based on the authentic styling and feel of the established offline version with NeoGames stating that the new title enhances its extensive platform of scratch and instant-win contests in addition to serving as an additional offering to its partners’ local brands.

For its part, Master Mix was inspired by the offline Mastermind game and is NeoGames’ first ten-line scratchcard title. It consists of ten separate rows with each containing four balls and challenges players to match one selected row to that produced by the dealer.  

Premiere for new online casino – Online Casino News

A new Malta-licensed online casino has launched at Jackpot-Games.com offering over 80 instant-play titles including 25 video slot games and eight jackpot slots alongside blackjack, roulette and video poker.

The new online casino is powered by software from Swedish firm Net Entertainment and is also set to offer players virtual horseracing, bingo, keno and games based on Texas hold’em.

“We’ve brought together a team of gaming professionals to build a new and exciting casino product to rival any,” said Ramon Azzopardi, Casino Manager for Jackpot-Games.com.

“Players will experience first-class games and bonuses that will entertain and reward throughout a player’s time at the casino.”

Using cutting-edge Flash-based technology, Azzopardi stated that Jackpot-Games.com is able to embed entertainment throughout the new site to offer games in just one click and make it ‘a truly seamless casino experience’.

“We’re confident Jackpot-Games.com will be the first choice casino for Net Entertainment players,” said Azzopardi.

“The focus is very much on complete entertainment with promotions designed to reward instantly, fairly and indefinitely including a double-your-money sign-up bonus, loyalty points, a monthly refill bonus and more,” said Aaron O’Sullivan, Marketing Manager for Jackpot-Games.com.

“With new, exciting products on the way too, players can be assured of a varied and always fresh casino experience with real edge at Jackpot-Games.com.”  

Slots.com auction set for next week – Online Casino News

It has been confirmed that one of the most eagerly awaited domain name auctions will take place next Wednesday 28th April 2010. The Slots.com domain is on offer with those groups interested in getting hold of what could be a potentially very lucrative name having until this Friday to register their interest.

Organisers of the auction haven’t revealed how much they expect to make from the sale but the Poker.org domain name, which was sold earlier this year, went for $1m.  

FTOPS XVI is underway – Online Casino News

The 16th edition of the Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS) from FullTiltPoker.com began on Friday and is promising to pay out a total of $18 million in prizes spread over 30 events.

FTOPS is one of the world’s largest recurring online poker tournament series and its previous instalment awarded $17 million in total prize money spread across 27 events running from February 10 to 24.

Alderney-licensed FullTiltPoker.com stated that FTOPS XVI will run until May 2 while the subsequent Mini FTOPS tournament is scheduled to start on May 7 before finishing nine days later.

FTOPS XVI is featuring a wide variety of tournament types including shoot-out, knock-out, turbo and super turbo events while every competition is set to be hosted by a Full Tilt Poker pro. There will be a two-day game beginning on May 1 promising a guaranteed prize pool of two million dollars while the main event will feature a pot containing three million dollars.

In addition, four other events guaranteeing at least one million dollars in total prizes have been scheduled including tonight’s $1,060 buy-in no-limit hold’em six-max event from nine o’clock New York time.

The tournament series is also offering a tournament leaderboard challenge with the overall top finisher set to win a custom-made avatar. In addition, the victor will receive their buy-ins for every event at FTOPS XVII with the exception of the two-day competition.  

Gambling Planet News Briefs 23 April 2010

Wynn May Move HQ from Vegas to Macau In an interview designed to promote the opening of the new Encore Macau casino resort, Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn said that he would consider moving his company headquarters from Las Vegas to the Chinese territory. He also said that he would look at establishing a third mega-resort in the fast-growing gambling mecca.

Wynn Resorts owns the Wynn Las Vegas and the Encore on the famous Las Vegas Strip, as well as the Wynn Macau and the recently opened Encore Macau. With the struggling economy in Sin City, the company currently earns more revenue in Macau than in its own US hometown, which may have prompted Wynn’s remarks.

Casino Stocks Lose Value Despite Wynn’s statement, shares in Wynn Resorts, as well as those of others in the casino industry, continue to decline. Wynn Resorts stock fell nearly a full percent last week on the New York Stock Exchange and nearly four percent on the Hong Kong board.

Other major casino companies who saw their stocks fall include Las Vegas Sands, which operates the Venetian (down 4.3%), MGM Mirage (down 3.6%) and Ameristar (down 1%). According to stock market observers, share prices in six out of seven casino firms have dropped.

Liv Boeree Wins EPT San Remo British poker pro Liv Boeree won the €5,000 (US$6,250) buy-in European Poker Tour Main Event in San Remo, Italy, outlasting over 1,200 players on her way to a €1.25 million (US$1.7 million) payday and her first career major title. She defeated young Swedish pro Jakob Carlsson when her pocket fives held up against his ace-six offsuit.

Boeree’s title also signals a milestone for female players as she is the first woman to win an open event on the EPT. Earlier this month, American Vanessa Selbst earned US$750,000 when she won the North American Poker Tour event at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Last month, Annie Duke won US$500,000 at the National Heads-up Championship in Las Vegas.

Women in Poker Hall of Fame Nominations The Women in Poker Hall of Fame is accepting nominations for its Class of 2010. Previously, only members of the Hall’s board could submit names for consideration, but this year they are opening the process to the poker public.

Last year’s inductees included June Field, Jan Fisher and Cyndy Violette. The inaugural class included poker legends such as Marsha Waggoner, Linda Johnson, Susie Isaacs and Barbara Enright.

Online Casino Software Designer Sues Marvel Entertainment Cryptologic, the leading designer of online casino software, had reaped the benefits of an exclusive partnership with Marvel Entertainment, creators of such iconic characters as Iron Man, Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk. The comic book-themed slot machines were among the most popular games in many of the online casinos powered by the Cryptologic engine.

Cryptologic has filed suit against Marvel after the company learned that a Marvel subsidiary, Marvel B.V., granted a license to PlayTech, Cryptologic’s biggest rival. Cryptologic alleges that Marvel breached the exclusivity clause of the agreement and says that the legal action is a "last resort" after the comic book company refused to participate in arbitration.

La Repubblica Ceca liberalizza il gambling a livello locale

Diventa sempre più frenetica la situazione del gambling online nella Repubblica Ceca. Secondo il Parlamento Ceco infatti spetta alle autorità locali regolamentare la liberalizzazione del gambling online, il che pone non pochi problemi.

Eduard Janota, ministro delle finanze, ha dichiarato la sua volontà di militare perché vengano rilasciate delle licenze a livello si amministrazione comunale in modo che quest’ultima venga dotata di maggior poteri in merito alla gestione del gambling online. L’interesse del ministro si concentra in particolare sulle Vlt, che hanno da poco fatto il loro ingresso nei vari paesi dell’Unione, Italia compresa.

Tuttavia, stando a Janota ulteriori riforme ‘lampo’ sarebbero piuttosto improbabili. Il ministro ha infatti aggiunto di voler lavorare a un progetto di legge che regolamenti una volta per tutte il gioco nella repubblica Ceca entro il 2012.

Le Vlt in Europa sono diffuse in circa 10,000 terminali, in maggioranza attivi proprio nella Repubblica Ceca.

Canada Provinces Beating US States To Online Gambling Regulations

Lawmakers around the US are considering varying proposals on how to regulate online gambling in their states. The states in the US, however, are being beaten to the punch from their neighbors to the North.

Loto-Quebec and B.C. Lotteries have both been approved for online gambling offerings, and now the Manitoba government is considering regulating Internet gambling. This week, the government admitted to exploring the online gambling option.

“We’re looking at it, but no decision has been made. There will probably be a decision sometime this year,” said Manitoba Lotteries Minister Steve Ashton. “Clearly this is on the agenda. We’re going to look at it from all angles.”

In Canada, even some of the gambling addiction groups are undecided on the Internet gambling issue. These groups understand that online gambling already exists, and the provinces are not reaping the benefits, but are torn between the social ills that could come from the expanded gambling. Others believe they can do more good if the government ran the Internet gambling site.

“Let’s not put our heads in the sand. It is out there,” said John Brody, CEO of the addictions Foundation of Manitoba, as reported by the QMI agency. “There’s an opportunity to intervene and that can only be done through a government site.”

Meanwhile, in the US, efforts to regulate online gambling have thus far stalled. On a national level, Representative Barney Frank has proposed legislation that would overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which places the burden on financial institutions to stop transactions to and from Internet betting sites.

Rep. Frank has also proposed a separate piece of legislation that would set the wheels in motion for a regulated online gambling industry in the country. The House Financial Services Committee was set to take up the legislation last week, but it was delayed until a later date.