01.30.2009 | 8:19 am | Poker
As the brand name which is the World Series of Poker continues to go from strength to strength it would appear that the record-breaking publicity which the event has attracted has led to a substantial increase in poker tours around the world. It seems as though each and every month brings in new poker tournament with many touring the world in a bid to increase their profile and attract “free” media attention. At the moment it appears as though Asia and the likes of Australia are the preferred location for such poker tour tournaments with these hotbeds of poker enthusiasts offering the perfect climate for success.
At a time when many industries around the world are suffering due to the economic downturn it would appear that demand for poker tours, often attracting substantial prize fund, has never been higher. Many believe that the massive publicity created by the World Series of Poker 2008 event has been the catalyst for the substantial rise in poker two is and the ever increasing amounts of money on offer. How long this initial burst of enthusiasm the last remains to be seen but sponsors and marketing agents seem to see poker tours as the perfect way to attract the attention of the online and off-line poker playing community.
This interest in poker tours is set to increase further as we approach the kick-off of the World Series of Poker 2009 which will be a little different from previous years. However, while the organisers may have tweaked with some of the playing formats they have increased their exposure to the TV market with the final table set to take place later in the year, and recorded for TV, as you saw for the first time in 2008. The value of the World Series of Poker brand should not be underestimated but all the longer the worldwide recession drags on the more chance that sponsorship income could come under pressure.
01.29.2009 | 8:21 am | Poker
As the online poker industry becomes ever more crowded and competitive there is a need to ensure that each potentially successful site offers something a little different from the norm. As a consequence, a number of poker sites have started to employ the services of real poker dealers who are visible when the game is in play and deal the hands for those involved. However, is this really something which will appeal to the masses and differentiate a poker site with a real dealer from one with a cyber dealer?
Research has shown that while the vast majority of poker players believe that poker sites are perfectly fair in their dealings, some poker players have suggested the lack of a human touch is something which has stopped them moving from the off-line arena to the online arena. There is some debate as to how large this area of the poker community actually is and whether it is something which could serve a niche market or a larger market.
One issue which the online poker companies have is the fact that an online poker dealer would obviously incur greater costs than a cyber poker dealer and whether this increased cost is recoverable via increased activity on the site is debatable. It does however show that the poker industry, and especially the online poker industry, is always looking for ways to differentiate different sites from the mass market.
The poker community is like any other online community in that word of any useful and interesting websites will spread like wildfire among friends and family often reducing the requirement for substantial marketing and promotional campaign. The jury would still appear to be out on whether online poker dealers have a place in the mainstream market or offer more of a niche play but for those who require the human touch maybe this is exactly what they were after.
01.28.2009 | 8:24 am | gambling
While there is no doubt that the iPhone has been the most successful mobile phone of all time there are many who are now suggesting it has the potential to unlock the key to the mobile gambling market of the future. It appears that the power of the iPhone has attracted the attention of online gambling platform providers who are looking for an entry point into the mobile gambling market via a product which can support and enhance the online gambling experience.
Of late we have seen such well-known names in the casino sector as Ladbrokes Casino offering access to a whole range of mobile casino games with security now at record highs and the reliability factor showing significant improvement over the last few months. But can mobile gambling ever compete with the more traditional laptop/computer-based market?
There have been many markets in the gambling arena which have managed to move online including slots as well as more traditional poker and casino sites. Slots are a perfect example of a gambling experience which many suggested would not make it to the online market when in fact this exposure has taken the sector to a different level. We are now regularly seeing jackpots of $1 million and in fact the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot currently stands at $5 million with a life changing win awaiting one player!
There is no doubt that the mobile gambling market is slightly different to the more traditional online gambling market but mobile phones of today are becoming more like mobile computers than handsets. As a consequence, the ability to include a vast array of computing services and computing power in the likes of the iPhone has the potential to unlock a seriously lucrative mobile gambling market. How long this will take and whether the iPhone will actually unlock the door remains to be seen, but the scene is set for a substantial increase in mobile gambling income in the coming months and years.
01.27.2009 | 9:09 am | casinos
As the US casino industry continues to struggle due to reduced visitor numbers and the general economic downturn hitting the country, there are concerns that local authority budgets in many states of America could be under pressure. It has long been known that a great number of US local authorities depend upon income from casino operations to bolster their local budgets which are required to fund local public services. Will the ongoing economic downturn, and the struggling casino industry, have a serious impact upon public services across America?
It may not be widely known but the taxation system and licensing system with regards to the US casino industry is a severe as any in the world. Local authorities are taking literally hundreds of millions of dollars a year in income and taxation from a variety of casino operations across the country. This is perhaps one reason why the religious based political parties in the US, who have constantly criticised the growing gambling culture, have been unsuccessful in their attempts to knock the industry off course.
However, this dependence to a certain extent upon gambling income has left many US states significantly short of funding in these troubled times. Many people believe this is one of the main reasons why the US government is said to be reconsidering its position in relation to the online gambling ban introduced by George Bush. If, as expected, the US authorities finally decide to legalise online gambling it seems inevitable that they will put themselves forward as a tax collection point for online gambling sites, in exchange for the ability to trade with US customers.
This would put the US at serious odds with the likes of the UK where Gordon Brown has in the past put the country forward as a licensing centre and taxation centre for the industry. However, it would appear that in this David and Goliath battle the US authorities have substantially more firepower and will inevitably take the spoils.
01.26.2009 | 3:37 am | gambling
British tennis ace Andy Murray has this morning bowed out of the Australian tennis open after a disappointing display against Spanish rival Fernando Verdasco. The Spaniard is ranked 15th in the world although Murray has won each of the previous meetings and on paper was a strong favourite to go through today. In the end the Spaniard saw out the game with a 2-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory which was a major shock for many in the tennis world.
While there had been rumours that Andy Murray had been ill over the last few days it would appear that a loss of form and a loss of rhythm halfway through this game was the reason for his loss. Murray took the first set comfortably lost second and powered on to take the third leaving himself in a great position. Initially his opponent had started fairly quietly and Murray made the most of this, powering home a number of awesome returns and showing the form of earlier this month.
Whether it was a mixture of the hot weather, pressure to perform and weakness due to illness Andy Murray lost his way in the middle of this game. However on the plus side, the pressure and expectation on the Scottish tennis sensation has been building for some weeks and despite a number of Murray’s counterparts playing down his chances of victory in the Austrian open, on recent form these expectations seemed fully justified. Strangely enough this defeat will take some pressure off Andy Murray and hopefully allow him to return to his natural game of aggressive and well thought out tactics.
There is no doubt that Andy Murray still represents the best bet Britain has had of a Wimbledon champion over the last 20 years and he enters the tournament later this year with full backing from the British crowd and his Scottish compatriots. Short-term pain long-term gain?
01.23.2009 | 4:39 am | casinos
As the competition between the off-line casino sector and the online industry continues to mount a number of people have been looking at ways in which the off-line casinos encourage you to play longer term. There are many subtle changes to your environment and ways to distract your attention which will keep you at the poker table or the roulette wheel longer than you had anticipated!
Lighting
Have you ever noticed that every time you go to your local casino there is a distinct lack of natural lighting on the casino floor?
The reason behind this common occurrence is the fact that if you have no access to natural lighting it can be very difficult to estimate the time of day and minutes could turn into hours before you know where you are. How many times have you walked out of a casino and been suddenly surprised to see that it is in darkness outside and you have been on the casino floor for hours?
Drinks and food
While the drinks and food services seen in many casinos around the world are presented as complimentary many people believe these are a subtle ploy to ensure you stay on the tables longer and do not lose your concentration. The bottom line is that the more minutes and more hours you spend around the table, with fewer distractions, the more money you are sure to gamble and the more chance that the “house” will be successful.
Crowded casino floors
While the extent to which a casino floor may be crowded with different tables, different games and players walking around can differ from casino to casino the hive of activity can often encourage you to move from table to table. The chances are if you are getting bored with the game you’re playing there will be another game just yards from you which may catch your eye.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that there are a number of subtle ploys to keep you at the casino tables for long as possible but at the end of the day why do people visit casinos in the first place?
01.22.2009 | 4:51 am | casinos
Casino magnate Steve Wynn would appear to be a one-off in the casino sector with plans to open his new “sky casino” on the Las Vegas strip. The casino, named Encore, is set to appeal to the top end of the casino gambling sector but how has he managed to plough on with his massive investment when others around him are pulling back and running short of cash?
Even though Steve Wynn has seen his personal fortune collapse over the last 12 months, due to the significant fall in casino share prices, it would appear that his aims and ambitions remain relatively unchanged. The 2,000 room Encore hotel and casino development cost a total of $2.3 billion to build and is situated opposite the Wynn Las Vegas casino on the Las Vegas strip.
The casino itself is situated on the 63rd floor of the massive hotel and offers five “gaming salons” but there are conditions attached!
To gain entry to the Encore casino you will need to have at least $300,000 “in your pocket” which will allow you access to one of the five casino “gaming salons” where you can play an array of casino games in private. In a move which is seen as contrary to the general casino sector, the casino floor is open plan and the design is such that natural light and outdoor views are very prominent. As we covered in one of our earlier post, many casinos for many years have hidden casino floors away from natural light as a means of “confusing” player’s body clocks.
While there is no doubt that the Encore casino and hotel has probably opened at the worst possible time it would appear that Steve Wynn and his casino company are more than capable of taking the short-term hit while awaiting the medium to long term gains from the development. Once the sector bounces back there is no doubt that venue such as the Encore casino and hotel will prove very popular.
01.21.2009 | 5:05 am | gambling
As the dust settles on Manchester City’s unsuccessful £100 million gamble to bring football superstar Kaka to the Eastlands Stadium there are serious concerns that the club is looking to run before it can walk. Backed by the billions of dollars of money from the football club’s new owner there have been rumours and counter rumours regarding substantial bids for some of the best players in the world. But what will happen next?
One element which seemed prominent in the Kaka bid is the fact that Manchester City appear inexperienced in dealing with some of Europe’s major clubs. The accusation that AC Milan had “bottled it” is something which could come back to haunt the Manchester City hierarchy. Clubs such as Milan have a history and reputation which goes back many decades and do not appreciate new kids on the block such as Manchester City looking to ride roughshod over them in an attempt to buy their best players.
The Manchester club has also been rocked by Robinho’s decision to leave the Tenerife training camp without permission and return home to Brazil. While the situation seems to have calmed somewhat since his initial departure there are suggestions that he will be fined a massive £320,000 upon his return. At the same time many Manchester City fans are seriously concerned that the club is out of control and lacking a structure prevalent in clubs such as neighbouring Manchester United.
Mark Hughes, the club’s football manager, had been somewhat pushed to the sidelines in the pursuit of Kaka and while he has reaffirmed his blessing for the eventually unsuccessful attempt to sign the superstar, many believe the club’s hierarchy are in control of the club’s transfer policy. If this is the case, it would appear that Mark Hughes is on very rocky ground and his long-term future at the club is in serious doubt.
01.20.2009 | 5:27 am | gambling
The ongoing court case regarding the state of Kentucky’s attempt to gain control of over 140 prominent gambling domain names appears set to go the distance. The judge in the initial case ruled in favour of the state of Kentucky’s attempt to effectively close down a number of prominent online gambling companies but a further appeal by the gambling community has proven successful. However, the case now goes to the highest court in the US, the Supreme Court, where a final verdict should be delivered later this year. What will happen?
This bizarre case involves the state of Kentucky’s attempt to prove that gambling domain names are in effect gambling equipment, in comparison to fruit machines and poker tables, and as such are illegal under state of Kentucky gambling laws. Using this rather strange comparison the state authorities have undergone a relentless pursuit of various online gambling companies and the eventual transfer of ownership of over 140 prominent domain names. Quite what they will do with these domain names, if their case is successful is unclear, but this move has caused serious reverberations within the industry.
The recent appeal ruling suggested that the move has no basis in law and while the poker community and poker companies were celebrating after the announcement, the fight goes on. There is some confusion as to whether the US Supreme Court will in fact favour the local authority, with many politicians in the US against online gambling, or whether this will come down to a purely law-based ruling.
There is some hope that Barack Obama could step into the breach and his love of poker could hopefully assist the battle to retain ownership of the domain names and businesses. This could well be a defining moment for the US poker industry and allow Barack Obama to show his hand at a very early stage!
01.19.2009 | 11:37 pm | gambling
This evening saw Liverpool football club drop more points against fierce rivals Everton in the latest Merseyside derby. The game was finely balanced before Steven Gerard stepped up in the second half with an exquisite shot from outside the box which curled into the bottom right-hand corner of the Everton goal. Many expected this to prompt a goal rush from Liverpool but their Merseyside rivals pulled their sleeves up and began to battle back.
As full-time approached Everton won a corner on the right hand side and an in swinging cross was met by in-form striker Cahill to bag a point for the “toffees” and leave Liverpool wondering what might have been. The loss of two points means that Manchester United remain top of the premiership this evening level on points with Liverpool but with a better goal difference. However, Manchester United now have one game in hand over their Merseyside rivals and Alex Ferguson’s mind games of the last week seem to be working.
While Rafael Benitez has been fairly quiet over the last few days many believe that his ferocious outburst last week has been the catalyst of a loss of form which has seen Liverpool drop four points in the last two games. Over the last few days UK bookmakers have grabbed the headlines as even though Liverpool the top of the table they were still quoted as second favourites at best behind Manchester United. This latest move, which sees Manchester United take top spot, would appear to confirm the thoughts of UK bookmakers regarding the chances of Liverpool bringing home their first premiership title for many years.
While we have only just turned into 2009 many believe that if Manchester United can win the next couple of games they will turn up the heat on their competitors at a time when both Liverpool and Chelsea are going through difficult patches.
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