09.25.2008 | 5:25 am | gambling
Recently the UK based online gaming industry review site OnlineGaming4U.co.uk has predicted very strong growth for the UK online gambling industry over the next few years. It is thought that this is a direct result of more favourable gambling legislation in the UK and the continued growth of the Internet.
The casino review site said that less strict restrictions on advertising gambling coupled with the increasing availability of fast, reliable broadband connections will mean an increase in customer numbers for the online gaming industry – set to increase competition between casinos whilst providing steady industry-wide growth over the coming years.
Dave England, a spokesperson from the site, believes the industry will benefit from relaxed advertising laws and the continued rapid growth of broadband Internet access across the UK, saying today that “Since the latest gambling legislation was introduced, the industry in the UK has seen a dramatic rise in value and traffic. Online casinos based in the UK are performing well, and the competition between them is hotting up, resulting in better offers and sign-up bonuses for customers… With broadband Internet access becoming almost universally available over the last few years, online gambling in the UK has enjoyed steady growth, and we predict this will continue for the foreseeable future. The only difficulty now for consumers lies in choosing the best online casinos, and finding the best welcome bonuses available.”
The Gambling Act 2005 introduced reform to UK gambling, including allowing casinos to advertise, albeit within certain guidelines, which it is thought will have a significant impact on the popularity of online gambling by making it more widely accessible to the public.
The availability of broadband Internet in the UK over the last five years has grown dramatically, and has led to a more technologically advanced customer base. It is thought that as awareness of online gaming naturally increases, the industry will enjoy strong, stable growth in terms of both sales and traffic.
09.10.2008 | 9:22 pm | News, gambling
It was announced yesterday that the leading American online gambling marketing company, Cognitive Powers Inc., is about to release a new mobile application which will enable Blackberry users to view betting odds ‘on –the-go’.
The software, entitled BBSportsLines, will allow Blackberries to display the latest, most up to date betting odds on a variety of sporting events, making gambling and betting easier and more accessible for those constantly on the move. It is thought this will boost gambling figures as a whole due to the ease by which these potential customers will be able to weigh up the odds.
Even better, the North-Carolina based company is offering this service for free alongside other mobile applications, and the company is optimistic about the future of the new scheme – “Now blackberry users can see the odds on the game while sitting in the stands, waiting at the airport or talking around the water cooler at work,†said Matt Lochansky, owner of Creedmoor-based Cognitive Powers, adding that “it is designed as an entertaining tool for sports enthusiastsâ€.
The system will be based on a leading offshore provider of betting odds, and can then be uploaded to a mobile device on request. Although the data will only be sent on demand, the firm recommend that users have an unlimited data plan. It is said that the company will provide odds on sports ranging from traditional American sports like baseball, American football and soccer to less popular games such as rugby.
It is thought that the new tool will help to boost revenue for the gambling industry after its sharp decline as a result of the recent recession.
09.9.2008 | 9:20 pm | Poker, News
It was announced yesterday that the leading online poker provider, PokerStars.com, is about to release a licensed version of its Mac poker software which can be downloaded from the end of September onwards. The company, which is based in the Isle of Man, has developed this software just in time for the start of the seventh edition of its World Championship of Online Poker. It is hoped that this move will increase the number of players in this tournament – the highest earner for PokerStars in its annual calendar. This is because the provision of a Mac version of the software will open the tournament to those with Apple computers.
It has been said by industry analysts that Macintosh has been constantly improving as a gaming platform for four years now, and PokerStars has been developing the new compatible software for the past year in order to make its services more accessible. A member of Team PokerStars, Australian champion Joe Hachem, said yesterday that “This is a great addition for both PokerStars.com and the poker playing audience…This will allow Mac users to experience the world’s largest online poker site without third-party applications. I know a lot of the actors and musicians I coach via PokerStars.com will appreciate its release as the creative community use Macs before any other computerâ€. It is clear that many users will therefore benefit from this move.
However PokerStars is not the first online gambling site to use Mac-based software – the Ongame-powered PokerRoom.com was the first to embrace this technology, while PartyGaming.com is currently running a beta test. In addition, ParadisePoker.com, AbsolutePoker.com and SunPoker.com offer Mac-compatible web-based versions of their software. This means that PokerStars is set to join some illustrious online gaming sites, hopefully increasing its popularity and revenue.
09.8.2008 | 3:16 am | News, casinos
As news flows through that US mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac have been affectively taken over by the government it seems that there is another way to make ends meet in the current recession. Casino frauds have been on the increase for some time with more sophisticated equipment now available which has seen a number of gangs bag some very large wins. So are the casinos winning the fight?
A look at the most recent of casino frauds will show you that the likes of the FBI are now involved in a number of investigations as the crooks become slicker and organised crime gangs target the sector. Even the prospect of spending years in jail for being involved in an attempted or actual casino fraud project has not deterred the hardest and most determined of crooks. Thankfully, online protection systems have kept online casino frauds down to a minimum although there have been the odd one or two internal rackets which have been discovered – thankfully not at any of the recognised and more mainstream sites.
Online casino have also been knocked by those who do not quite understand the safety systems in place but after recent events they have been shown to be more secure than many offline casinos. That is not to say that any system, casino or site is impregnable but the chances of being caught up in an online casino fraud are near zero.
It will be interesting to see what new and inventive security systems the offline casinos bring in after the discovery of a number of high profile frauds. They have literally spent millions in the past but money is a little tighter at the moment due in the main to the shaky worldwide economy.
09.5.2008 | 4:34 am | Poker, News, Poker Stars, casinos
As we near the final table of WSOP 2008 the tension is starting to mount and the money is starting to flow on who will pick up the prize this year. A quick look at the betting exchanges will show you that there is a very small band of the final 9 whom gamblers think are in with a chance but could it all change when the event begins?
As a taster here is a list of the betting exchange odds for each of the players left at the final table of the main even WSOP 2008 :-
Dennis Phillips 9/2
Craig Marquis 12/1
Ylon Schwartz 9/1
Scott Montgomery 11/2
Darus Suharto 12/1
David Rheem 11/1
Ivan Demidov 9/2
Kelly Kim 39/1
Peter Eastgate 11/2
The odds would suggest that the likes of Dennis Phillips, Ivan Demidov, Peter Eastgate and Scott Montgomery are in the driving seat but is it really that clear? Or will we see one of the so called outsiders sneak in and grab the pot?
The beauty of poker is that fact that it can change from hand to hand and results can literally turn the betting on its head in a matter of minutes. While all of the players at the final table know what they can do and how to play the game, playing the final table at the main WSOP event can be daunting for even the most hardened professional.
How easy must it be to let your heart rule your head, to feel you heart pumping and make the wrong move or fall for a well disguised bluff?
Life in the world of poker is never straight forward and while those carrying big chip stacks to the final table have the cutting edge at the moment, this can all change very very quickly.
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