EU Ministers Discuss Online Casino Gambling

Written by John on 8:59 PM

The European Union consists of 27 nations each with their divergent views on online gambling. 7 nations have banned online gambling, 13 nations allow free private enterprise, 6 nations have state-owned monopolies and 1 nation has licensed a private monopoly. While land based gambling can be dealt with nationally, online gambling cannot because of easy cross border access to online grand casino. It is a sensitive issue in many countries because it involves tax revenues and national traditions. However the EU supports free movements of goods and services between its nation states and therefore is pressing for reaching a common consensus on this issue.

The draft document to be placed before the meeting states, “While the legal frameworks differ, there are significant similarities in the member states’ objectives as regards gambling and betting.” The common ground covers issues like fighting money laundering, fraud and corruption; preventing underage and problem gambling; a possible cap on individual payouts and the elimination of double taxation.

The differing legal framework is the barrier that will be difficult to surmount. The nations that have monopolistic institutions are not only unwilling to open the gambling sector to local private enterprise but are also framing laws to keep out online casino from other countries. The nations that have a liberalized online gambling regime are pushing the other nations to open up their markets.

France, which has a state licensed monopoly, is under pressure from the European Commission to liberalize its online gambling regime in a phased but time bound manner. However France currently holds the EU presidency and is therefore chairing the meeting of EU Ministers on online gambling. France is advocating regulation of the multi billion dollar online gambling industry through a common EU bloc policy. It is believed to have obtained the support of a dozen EU countries. This move is strongly being opposed by Britain and Malta who favor self-regulation by the industry. They are of the opinion that France is using this forum to hold on to the monopolistic online gambling regime it currently enjoys at casino tables. Malta is an online gaming jurisdiction that licenses online gaming operations and it is in the interest of its licensees that the European national monopolies are done away with. read more....

Article Source: Casino LaunchPad

Strategic security cuts back online casino crime

Written by John on 8:52 PM

A new report claims that there is a dramatic decrease in 2008 of online casino crime. The investigation was into offshore gaming and proves that online casinos are safer and more than ever secure.

Investigators of the report studied network traffic at 5 of the largest only gambling venues in the world. Many of the gamble casino that took part in the study were all UK-based, publicly traded companies.

The past has revealed online casinos as continual targets for computer hackers across the globe. In on instance a large sport gambling operation was overtaken by hackers the week before Superbowl whereby the hackers insisted they be paid millions in ransom before they would take over control.

Heightened awareness of computer security and increased spending on security infrastructure are the reasons of overall improvement according to Cyber-Investigators. Specific reasons include limiting physical access to computer servers to only a few individuals; money spent on hardware mechanisms that impose strict security layers; programming strategies that make online play casino games more dependable.

Article Source: OnlineCasino News

Poker Hall of Fame announces 2008 inductees

Written by John on 3:32 AM

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -– The Poker Hall of Fame has announced its 2008 Class, and what a class it is.

Duane "Dewey" Tomko, a three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, a two-time Main Event runner-up, and the holder of the longest consecutive Main Event participation record (35 years) will become poker's newest Hall of Fame member.

Tomko will enter alongside Henry Orenstein, a Holocaust survivor who won the 1996 World Series of Poker Seven-Card Stud Championship and also cashed twice in the Main Event, including a final table finish at the 1995 World Series of Poker Main Event.

Orenstein perhaps is better known for his real occupation – an inventor – holding more than 100 patents, including those for Sesame Street toys, Snoopy toys, the Transformers and U.S. Patent 5,451,054, which gave Orenstein the exclusive right to detect and display hole cards in poker games.

It was this patent, known today as the "Hole Card Cam" or "Hole Cam" which made poker a made-for-TV attraction, creating an estimated 150,000 jobs worldwide, spurring the meteoric rise of poker and helping popularize the game to heights never before seen in its long history.

Orenstein and Tomko will be enshrined on Sunday, November 9 at the Penn & Teller Theater at the Rio All-Suites® Hotel & Casino Gambling in Las Vegas during the finale of the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event championship. ESPN will show portions of the ceremony during their November 11 telecast.

The enshrinement and WSOP final table play are open and free to the public. Seating is available on a first come, first serve basis.

The Poker Hall of Fame, established in 1979, was acquired by Harrah's Entertainment along with the World Series of Poker in 2004. Though the Hall of Fame is virtual in nature, its membership includes poker's most influential online gambling players and other important contributors to the game. With Orenstein and Tomko, there are 16 living members.

The main criteria for the Poker Hall of Fame is as follows:

* A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition
* Played for high stakes
* Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
* Stood the test of time
* Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.

The entire list of 37 Poker Hall of Fame members includes (alphabetical with year of induction in parenthesis):

* Tom Abdo (1982)
* Crandell Addington (2005)
* Bobby Baldwin (2003)
* Billy Baxter (2006)
* Lyle Berman (2002)
* Joe Bernstein (1983)
* Benny Binion (1990)
* Jack Binion (2005)
* Bill Boyd (1981)
* Doyle Brunson (1988)
* Johnny Chan (2002)
* T.J. Cloutier (2006)
* Nick "The Greek" Dandolos (1979)
* Barbara Enright (2007)
* Fred "Sarge" Ferris (1989)
* T "Blondie" Forbes (1980)
* Henry Green (1986)
* Murph Harrold (1984)
* Phil "Poker Brat" Hellmuth (2007)
* James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok (1979)
* Red Hodges (1985)
* Edmond Hoyle (1979)
* Berry Johnston (2004)
* Jack Keller (1993)
* Felton "Corky" McCorquodale (1979)
* Roger Moore (1997)
* Johnny Moss (1979)
* Henry Orenstein (2008)
* Walter Clyde "Puggy" Pearson (1987)
* Julius Oral "Little Man" Popwell (1996)
* Thomas Austin "Amarillo Slim" Preston (1992)
* David "Chip" Reese (1991)
* Jack "Treetop" Straus (1988)
* Duane "Dewey" Tomko (2008)

Poker Hall of Fame announces 2008 inductees

Written by John on 3:32 AM

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -– The Poker Hall of Fame has announced its 2008 Class, and what a class it is.

Duane "Dewey" Tomko, a three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, a two-time Main Event runner-up, and the holder of the longest consecutive Main Event participation record (35 years) will become poker's newest Hall of Fame member.

Tomko will enter alongside Henry Orenstein, a Holocaust survivor who won the 1996 World Series of Poker Seven-Card Stud Championship and also cashed twice in the Main Event, including a final table finish at the 1995 World Series of Poker Main Event.

Orenstein perhaps is better known for his real occupation – an inventor – holding more than 100 patents, including those for Sesame Street toys, Snoopy toys, the Transformers and U.S. Patent 5,451,054, which gave Orenstein the exclusive right to detect and display hole cards in poker games.

It was this patent, known today as the "Hole Card Cam" or "Hole Cam" which made poker a made-for-TV attraction, creating an estimated 150,000 jobs worldwide, spurring the meteoric rise of poker and helping popularize the game to heights never before seen in its long history.

Orenstein and Tomko will be enshrined on Sunday, November 9 at the Penn & Teller Theater at the Rio All-Suites® Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas during the finale of the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event championship. ESPN will show portions of the ceremony during their November 11 telecast.

The enshrinement and WSOP final table play are open and free to the public. Seating is available on a first come, first serve basis.

The Poker Hall of Fame, established in 1979, was acquired by Harrah's Entertainment along with the World Series of Poker in 2004. Though the Hall of Fame is virtual in nature, its membership includes poker's most influential players and other important contributors to the game. With Orenstein and Tomko, there are 16 living members.

The main criteria for the Poker Hall of Fame is as follows:

* A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition
* Played for high stakes
* Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
* Stood the test of time
* Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.

The entire list of 37 Poker Hall of Fame members includes (alphabetical with year of induction in parenthesis):

* Tom Abdo (1982)
* Crandell Addington (2005)
* Bobby Baldwin (2003)
* Billy Baxter (2006)
* Lyle Berman (2002)
* Joe Bernstein (1983)
* Benny Binion (1990)
* Jack Binion (2005)
* Bill Boyd (1981)
* Doyle Brunson (1988)
* Johnny Chan (2002)
* T.J. Cloutier (2006)
* Nick "The Greek" Dandolos (1979)
* Barbara Enright (2007)
* Fred "Sarge" Ferris (1989)
* T "Blondie" Forbes (1980)
* Henry Green (1986)
* Murph Harrold (1984)
* Phil "Poker Brat" Hellmuth (2007)
* James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok (1979)
* Red Hodges (1985)
* Edmond Hoyle (1979)
* Berry Johnston (2004)
* Jack Keller (1993)
* Felton "Corky" McCorquodale (1979)
* Roger Moore (1997)
* Johnny Moss (1979)
* Henry Orenstein (2008)
* Walter Clyde "Puggy" Pearson (1987)
* Julius Oral "Little Man" Popwell (1996)
* Thomas Austin "Amarillo Slim" Preston (1992)
* David "Chip" Reese (1991)
* Jack "Treetop" Straus (1988)
* Duane "Dewey" Tomko (2008)

Gambling beyond Nevada: Eyeing markets and taking chances

Written by John on 9:09 PM

by Howard Stutz

Las Vegas Gaming Wire

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Amid collapsing credit markets and sinking stock prices, gaming industry leaders are looking for any piece of positive news. They hope voters in five states will give them a reason to smile come Nov. 4.

Voters in Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Missouri and Ohio are evaluating gaming expansion or changes to existing gaming laws. The measures, different in size and scope, have a common thread: increased gaming opportunities in exchange for the potential of increased tax dollars.

"When revenues decline, jurisdictions look to gaming as a new or additional funding source," said Deutsche Bank gaming analyst Bill Lerner, who thought several of the ballot initiatives stood a favorable chance of passing. "In tough economic times, gaming expansion often becomes much more probable."

The measures don't carry the magnitude of recent elections in California and Pennsylvania, where voters approved thousands of new slot machines and massive casinos earlier in the decade.

Still, the potential spread of legalized gambling into new markets or increasing opportunities in existing jurisdictions are viewed as forward steps by an industry that has been rocked with delayed or canceled projects, reduced revenues, and financial stability questions for much of the past 12 months.

"Any specific measure or proposal is something from which we can all directly benefit," said Chuck Brooke, the senior vice president of government affairs for International Game Technology.

The slot machine maker supports a ballot question in Maryland that would legalize slot machine parlors in five in-state locations, authorizing up to 15,000 slot machines.

"It's a state that could become a new source of revenue and a significant market," Brooke said. "Obviously, that's a place where we are interested in the outcome."

Maryland is the only state asking voters whether they want to approve gambling for the first time. The ballot question has attracted the interest of the slot machine industry. The Las Vegas-based Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, a trade organization, donated $100,000 to the pro-gambling campaign in Maryland.

"One of our organization's missions is to identify opportunities for our members," association executive director Marcus Prater said. "In this particular year, there are not that many. But we're active in Maryland because it's an expansion opportunity that stands a good chance of passing."

Two Las Vegas-based online casino operators, Ameristar Casinos and Pinnacle Entertainment, stand to benefit if voters in Colorado and Missouri decide they want to make gaming more freewheeling by increasing wagering limits or eliminating loss limits.

The issue in Colorado would let casinos increase the wagering limit from $5 to up to $100, add craps and roulette tables, and stay open 24 hours. In Missouri, casinos want to eliminate a loss limit that keeps gamblers from betting more than $500 during a two-hour period. The casinos are willing to accept a 1 percentage point increase in the gaming tax and cap the number of state casinos at 13.

In Colorado and Missouri, additional taxes on gaming revenues that would be generated if both measures pass would be directed toward public education budgets.

Mack Bradley, a spokesman for Pinnacle Entertainment in St. Louis, said the state's loss-limit rule has become antiquated in the 16 years that gaming has been legalized in Missouri. Also, the potential of increased competition from across the boarder with legalized gaming in Kansas, necessitates the liberalization.

Pinnacle opened the $507 million Lumiere Place in downtown St. Louis last December and is building a $500 million hotel-casino in suburban St. Louis that is expected to open next year. Bradley said the company needs to protect its investment.

"When voters approved gaming, there were just a handful of casinos in Iowa and Illinois," Bradley said. "Now, there are more than 100 casinos and gambling is in every state bordering us. This measure evens the playing field for casinos in Missouri."

Pinnacle and Ameristar, which operates casinos in Kansas City, Mo., and the St. Louis suburb of St. Charles, Mo., have funded much of the $2.1 million raised by Missouri's Yes on A campaign.

For Ameristar, which also operates a casino Black Hawk, Colo., making gaming more wide-open in Colorado and Missouri would benefit the company's bottom line. The company's Missouri properties account for roughly 42 percent of Ameristar's annual revenues and cash flow.

Troy Stremming, Ameristar's chief government affairs officer who is based in Kansas City, said tying the elimination of a loss limit in Missouri with a gaming tax increase -- estimates are the additional gaming revenues would generate $130 million annually for public education -- gives voters a reason to support the initiative.

"There have been legislative efforts to eliminate the betting limits, but this is the first time it's in the hands of the voters," Stremming said. "It's all about getting the message out and making sure voters understand the issue and that money will go to public education."

Macquarie Capital gaming analyst Joel Simkins said passage of the two ballot measures could easily increase the per-share value of Ameristar's stock, anywhere from 29 percent to 40 percent. The company, he said, is viewed as a potential acquisition target.

"If these measures pass, it will make Ameristar a more attractive takeover candidate," Simkins said in a note to investors. "Favorable legislative changes could provide a springboard for incremental property growth."

Maine and Ohio have single casino approval issues that are backed by individual casino operators. Las Vegas-based Olympia Gaming recently signed on to push the Maine issue. A favorable vote could result in a $100 million casino and resort in western Maine. Minnesota-based Lakes Entertainment is backing a casino in southwestern Ohio that could result a $600 million resort about 60 miles north of Cincinnati.

Justin Sebastiano, a MorganJoseph gaming analyst, said single casino issues benefit one gaming operator, in Ohio's case, Lakes Entertainment.

In a note to investors, Sebastiano said approval of the casino would be a large boost for Lakes, since the resort would draw customers from Cincinnati and other large Ohio metropolitan areas. However, he expects companies such as Pinnacle, Penn National Gaming and Hyatt, which operate casinos in Northern Indiana that draw customers from Cincinnati, to fight the referendum.

"(An) Ohio casino would be a game-changer for Lakes," Sebastiano told investors. "We calculate the Ohio casino would generate roughly $140 million in (cash flow) in year one."

Slot machine makers have to stay somewhat neutral when competing casino operators are on two sides of a ballot referendum. However, they believe that any expansion opportunities benefit gaming as a whole.

"The vote in Colorado doesn't directly affect us," Brooke said. "But an issue that makes a casino more profitable means more money to the bottom line for capital expenditures, such as new slot machines."

Bally Technologies Chief Operating Officer Gavin Isaacs said the slot machine developer is an "interested observer" in jurisdiction expansion. Maryland, he said, is the best opportunity for gambling equipment makers since February, when California residents voted to allow several Indian casinos to add 17,000 slot machines, increasing the nation's largest Indian gaming market by 27 percent.

Isaacs was cautiously optimistic that the Maryland measure would be approved.

"Anything that promotes our customers' business helps us," Isaacs said. "Every four years we see these ballot issues pop up. We watch them very carefully."

Source: http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/

NTRA health and safety reforms outlined

Written by John on 4:46 AM

NEW YORK -- As reported by Blood horse: "The National Thoroughbred Racing Association officially unveiled series of equine health and safety reforms Oct. 15 that will be overseen by an independent monitor.

"...The reforms, which largely stemmed from the breakdown of the filly Eight Belles as she galloped out after the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) at Churchill Downs in May, are uniform medication rules for each state; a ban on steroids in racing; out-of-competition testing for blood-doping agents; uniform penalties for drug infractions; mandatory on-track and non-racing injury reporting; mandatory installation of an inner safety rail at tracks; mandatory pre- and post-race testing; and implementation of placement programs for Thoroughbreds that can no longer compete.

"The reforms were approved by the NTRA board of directors in September. Fifty-four racetracks, horsemen's groups, and other organizations have signed on, with more expected. Members must sign the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance Pledge,

"...The NTRA plans to address wagering security as the alliance expands, and also will seek involvement by the Quarter Horse and Standard bred industries..."

Source: http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/
For more news visit online casino website.

Number of visitors to Las Vegas falls 4.3 percent

Written by John on 2:55 AM

By Our Partners at the Las Vegas Sun

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- The number of visitors to Las Vegas casino dropped 4.3 percent in August compared to a year ago.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported today that 3,211,209 people visited the city in August. That's down from 3,353,997 visitors in August 2007.

The LVCVA said 26,338,751 people have visited the city so far this year, which is down 1.5 percent from 2007.

Convention attendance dropped 22.3 percent in August compared to a year ago, while the number of conventions dropped about 7 percent.

The economic impact of those conventions dropped almost 24 percent in the past year, from more than $1 billion a year ago to about $777 million in August.

Hotel occupancy and rates also took a drop. The LVCVA reported that total occupancy in Las Vegas dropped from 91.2 percent a year ago to 88.3 percent in August. The average room rate plunged more than 15 percent, from $126.38 to $107.01.

Gaming revenue is down 9.4 percent in Clark County and 7.4 percent on the Strip.

Airline traffic is down about 10 percent, while vehicle traffic on Interstate 15 at the California border is down 5.5 percent from a year ago.

Outside of Las Vegas online casino, visitor volume dropped 1.6 percent in Laughlin and 3.2 percent in Mesquite in the past year, the LVCVA said.


Source: http://www.casinocitytimes.com/

Analyze Online Casino Before You Sign In

Written by John on 5:52 AM

Play became statesman popular with the supply of new technology and Cyberspace. This paved the way for online vice which makes statesman soothing for vice lovers to recreation the games within the amenities of residence. Chit the casino games offered and position and conditions page before you superior an online card to chance. With the popularity of online play, writer online casinos came. This exaggerated the symbol of online stalker who waits at their hideouts to individual. Also there are trusted online casinos in the net hence ensure on the license of the online casino that you superior to diversion with.

On searching for the online casino your staleness be really aware and pay work to every arc minute discourse of the respected sites to avoid any improper conditions. The vast numbers of online casinos on the World Comprehensive Web egests difficulties to a new contestant to select the advisable online casino suited for them and to describe the phony or unfaithful online casinos. Many present regularize the older player finds effort in selecting the favorable online casino. So to sight with many situations umpteen casino guides are forthcoming on the net which book as cards directory. This provides the complete details of online casinos.

Entropy roughly the blacklisted casinos can also be obtained which give avert you from playing in those casinos. The directory also gives info regarding unsurpassable payout; unsurpassed incentive and the advisable casino updated every period or sometimes every week. The players are allowed to ask any suggestions or apprise from friends who pair game and also a steady casino participant. Sure skilled players transfer their experiences and tips on the net on communication boards and online queries. These leave be accommodative to the new players and so they can take it from those sections on the website.

It is not sure that all online casinos have the certificate which determines the legality of the online cards. The authenticity of the online casinos can be assessed from its honors, provide, pay out percent and having instrument. Another great cipher that specifies the trustiness of the online casino is the software that manages the casino system and its working. The online casino that is linked with any land-based cards is also metrical to be trustworthy. Before selecting an online casino to role play the occupation feature the status and conditions attendant. It consists of all the position and conditions of the respected casino, their casino games, the conditions of bonuses offered and their separate promotions.

These should be checked before playing with these online casinos cards since if you do not see these conditions you gift be not aware of the concealed conditions that are specified in this attainder. These conditions may be or may not be concordant to you, so to essay all these you should definitely indicate this activity. Also ascertain the transactional methods accessible and seem at the time-period for the win. New players should ever try the extricated games rank to inform and then initiate the genuine witticism with change.

What makes a great casino?

Written by John on 3:55 AM

Are you a regular online casino player? Then make your decisions on the basis of the following.

• Location: How the location of a casino situated?

• Number of tables: How many tables are put up by the casino for its players?

• Variety of gambling: How many variety of gambling is opened for players?

• Reputation: What is the reputation of the casinos and its source?

• Food & Drinks: Is the foods are available in the casino? Is it providing by free or lesser rates?

• Floor show: How it is for view?

• Luxury accommodations: Can you bear it or can be adjustable?

• Online facility: After reaching to a casino, you learned that particular casino have online casino facility, Then how you see it.

After all above verification, it seems that millions are engaging a part of casinos worldwide. It is reported that about 51 million people like a group equal to roughly one quarter of the U.S. population visited a casino in the year 2002. From 2001 to 2002, the U.S. gaming industry is rapidly grown from $25.7 billion to $26.5 billion. This is the number of people who visited casinos domestically and also to count online casinos world wide, it cannot be roughly says such a million. That much traffic on the online sites and land based casinos in world wide. People love gambling and its gaming style.

There is more to casinos than just gambling on casinos. Since the early 1960s casinos have started with the supposition that only black jack or roulette might be their main revenue brook. Today, almost all online casinos have numerous and plenty of games. By playing regularly it attracts more income and become a hard-core gambler because they tend to follow the money and don't necessarily need luxury amenities to attract them

Whether your gambling tastes run towards any cities in the world, you're sure to find a suitable one on the list of the World's Best Casinos available on internet searches. Search for the best and most luxurious casino in the world you will get definitely from the internet search engines. All the casinos always prefer high rollers. Nowadays, every casino offers to the public to become member and have many appealing accommodations and entertaining attractions.

All the casinos have great facility to accommodate the most two groups such as the amateur gamblers, and the High rollers. These amateur gamblers are enjoying simple small bets and who are mainly interested in having some fun at the gaming tables. The other groups of the high rollers, those gambling whales who come to gross big money, get the best treatment from the casino and pamper themselves to all the many luxurious benefits that come with being a gambler with a VIP status. Every country have limited rules for the entry and become a member to a casino. The law in London states that in order to enter a casino one must apply for a membership at least 24 hours in advance

How to Play Roulette at Online Casino

Written by John on 2:42 AM

Playing Roulette in an online casino is very similar to playing it in a luxurious gambling establishment. However your chances of winning may depend on the roulette wheel. On UK casino sites you are expected to play with a wheel with one zero. On American casino sites you will find a double zero, which lifts the house advantage.

The object of the Roulette is to make a gamble on what the number a ball will land on when it is spun around a wheel. The wheel is divided into pockets that have a specific number and color. The betting table is a chart that lays out all of the likely individuality of a number that can be stake on. You can bet on whether or not the numeral will be odd or even, whether or not it will be a number that is 12 or under or whether it will land in one of the columns in the casinos roulette desk layout. Each of these bets has specific quantity of payout. The simplest wager is whether or not the ball will land in a red or black pocket on the sweep.

There are two categories of roulette bets: the inside bet and the outside bet. Inside bets are definite numbers that are mapped in the internal area of the roulette table layout. Around the outside of the board lie a figure of other betting options such as gambling on odd or evens or red or black. These outside bets have a minor pay off.

On inside bets, the total of all of the bets that you put money on must be the amount of the table minimum. This means if you are playing casino at a $5 smallest amount table and want to bet on individual numbers, you can bet $1 on each of 5 numbers, or $5 on one number, or any combination as long as your bet on the inside meets the $5 minimum.

Outside bets must the desk minimum. You cannot merge the value of any bets. This means if you want to bet on black and odds, you must position $5 on both bets at a $5 minimum table. Depending on the casino tables that you are playing at, exterior bets are generally not counted towards the total of your within bet.

To play roulette online you must stay for the virtual dealer to request you to place your bets. You must then put down your chips or tokens on the roulette board. More often than not players are designated chip domination in a shade that differentiates them from the other players.

To bet you place your chips around the outer of the table and on the inside of the table using a point and hit it off function. In a real online casinos a box man or trader would do this for you. The dealer will spin the wheel (which puts the ball in play) and following a moment then state 'no more bets'. When the ball comes to a rest, behind chips are composed for the casino and the winning players are paid.