EGamingPulse - e-gaming

Taxi Cab Conversation Swings To Poker

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:44:01 -0700

Taking a London cab has always been something of a safe bet, they hold a far better safety record than their North American counterparts. The traditional design of Londons cabs is recognizable and the welcoming accent of the driver often comforting although usually short on small talk.

This may not be the case the next time you hail a ride at Victoria station. 888.com, one of the worlds most recognizable online gaming brands has advertising with over 350 taxis in Britains largest city and is ready to take this particular marketing campaign to a different level. 888.com believes that word of mouth" advertising, the belief that consumers place more trust in something they hear directly from another person, as opposed to something they learn through the popular media channels, could work very well for their poker brand in particular.

888.com partnered with Taxi Promotions UK and the taxi operators involved are known as ambassador drivers. The word of mouth program is over 10 years old, and has seen cab drivers work as informal representatives for many tourist destinations and even some charities.

Asher Moses is the managing director of Taxi Promotions and said that The average London taxi ride lasts 16 minutes. In a normal day, a driver picks up 40 to 60 fares; multiply that by 10 drivers, for the 888 campaign, and the audience that can be reached is sizable.

Word of mouth media is not new. PQ Media, a research firm in Stamford, Conn., estimates that marketers in the United States alone spent $1.35 billion on word-of-mouth marketing last year, up 38 percent from a year earlier.

Media Giant Fairfax partners with Centrebet.

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Centrebet, the Australian based Online Gaming company announced today that it will be launching a news sports-betting service in partnership with Australian media giant Fairfax.

Targeting the sizeable customer database of Fairfaxs Digital arm, the service will be initially confined to New South Wales. Australian wide roll out will follow successful national regulatory approval.

Targeting horse racing betting, Centrebet has confirmed it hopes to incorporate cell phone betting as soon as possible.

Dial-a-Bet

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Centrebet Set To Offer Cell Phone Wagering

After extensive marketing, online gaming company Centrebet has launched a new mobile cell phone betting service, which it believes will appeal to non-conventional fans and provide a new source of revenue.

The software, the first of its kind in Australia, is free and allows users to check sports updates, live odds and place bets all from their cell-phone or PDA. According to managing director Con Kafataris, they hoped to have half their clients regularly use the software within two years.

We foresee a sizeable revenue improvement over time as a result of the products portability and accessibility, and also as a flow-on from increased acceptance by consumers of other Java-based mobile products.

Kafataris added, We are confident the convenience and ease of use are plus factors that will excite punters, as well as appeal to sports fans who just want to view odds and part of the sporting experience.

Upon news of the successful launch, Centrebets shares rose eight cents to $1.94

Net Entertainment Ready To Listen To Boss?

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Amid news that Swedish company Net Entertainment had made a run at acquiring rival Boss Media, the Finansinspektionen has temporarily suspended trading of both companies shares.

Boss Media CEO Michael Hallen issued an announcement:

As a consequenece of todays trading halt in the Boss Media share, effected on an initiative from Finansinspektionen, the company wish (sic) to announce the following:

"One of the company's larger shareholders was...approached by an interested party announcing its interest to acquire all shares in Boss Media, subject to the larger shareholder's acceptance. During the course of Wednesday afternoon, the larger shareholder declined the offer and has subsequently informed the board and Boss Media management."

Before trading was suspended, stocks of Net Entertainment rose nearly 6 percent, prompting the share trading suspension amid fears of a news leak.

The Finansinspektionen is expected to lift the trade ban later today.

888 Launches Sportsbook to Italian Market

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Noting the dynamic growth and strength of the Italian market, London-based 888 Holdings PLC has kept with its expansionist strategy and launched 888.it, an Italian version of its sportsbook.

888.it will start out relatively small by offering fixed odds initially related to national sporting events, as well as international ones of a pertinent Italian interest, with plans at later stages to add horse racing and skill games, most notably poker.

Italian expansion was made aided by 888s partnership with Cogetech, a local partner and specialist in the Italian marketplace.

Norway to Mirror U.S. Online Gambling Ban

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Responding to public backlash against online gambling, the Norwegian government has announced it is planning to implement a ban on online gambling sometime next year, similar to that recently instituted by the United States, according to a top legal advisor.

Speaking at an Internet gambling conference in Barcelona this week, Rolf Sims, legal advisor to Norways Ministry of Culture, spoke of his countrys efforts as presently on the drawing board, while adding that the anti-gambling community has wind in its sails in his country and that it would be political suicide to suggest legalizing online gambling.

Despite banning slot machines, Norway has continued to see a rise in the number of gambling addicts in its country, resulting in politicians seeking to curry favor with voters by adopting an iron fist approach.

Norways actions are being closely monitored by the European Union, which is itself trying to de-regulate and open up online gambling among its member nations. While Norway is not a member nation, it is a part of the European Economic Area.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA) was recently put into place in the United States and effectively outlaws online gambling by making it illegal for banks and other financial institutions to process transactions destined for gambling purposes.

Credit Card Companies Lobby Hard For Online Gambling

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

According to recently released disclosure forms, Visa USA Inc., the US-based division of Visa Inc. spent almost $2.7 million in the first six months of 2007 lobbying the federal government, while New Yorkbased MasterCard Inc. spent roughly $880,000 in the same period.

Visa lobbied the Federal Reserve, Federal Trade Commission, as well as the Treasury department, to name a few agencies. For its part, besides Congress, MasterCard contacted the Treasury and Justice departments.

Visa, the leading credit card in the United States, lobbied on the issues of identity theft and data security, while MasterCard lobbied on the side of financial literacy, data security, online prescription drugs, microchip technology and interchange fees. Both companies lobbied extensively on the federal governments Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which made it illegal for credit cards or other financial institutions to process transactions for online wagering.

San Francisco-based Visa USA Inc. filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering early next year, making it the last of the four major credit card companies in the United States to go public.

Paddy Power World Cup Rugby Foray Falls Flat

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Irelands Rugby World Cup campaign is not proceeding as its supporters may have liked, but the Emerald Isles national squad is not the only green team who has not lived up to expectations.

Paddy Power, an Irish Bookmaker, entered into an agreement to sponsor the cash-strapped Tongan national rugby team, reportedly for a five-figure sum. The deal comes with several provisions, one being that Tongan player Epi Taione change his name by deed pole to Paddy Power before the World Cup kicked off. Taione, or Power as he is now known, did so. However the International Rugby Board (IRB) would not accept this and refused to amend his entry.

The Tongans were set to take to the field against England on Friday with their hair dyed green as part of their agreement with the bookmaker. However the IRB said that this would constitute advertising and has ordered Tonga to not to go ahead.

If Tonga beat England, they will secure their very first World Cup quarter-final place and send England, the defending champions out of the competition.

Tongan captain Nili Latu, whose team are among world rugby's lesser sides in funding said: "I just do not get the ruling,"

Bush Government Asks Court To Dismiss Online Gaming Industry Challenge

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

For the second time in a year the Bush administration has asked US District Judge Mary Cooper to throw out a legal challenge by the online gaming industry of its 2006 gambling law. Papers filed in Newarks Federal Court by the Justice Department claim that the online gambling industry has no right to bring their case, as their arguments are based on rank speculation and premature conclusions, seeing as how the law has yet to be implemented.

The law being challenged by the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMega), which represents the online gaming industry, has met stiff resistance. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act makes it illegal for banks or other financial institutions to process transactions that are used to make online bets.

iMega has stated that if the law is to be enforced, many of its members would face imminent financial ruin. With estimated global revenue of $144US billion, the stakes are sky-high, according to an iMega representative, who questioned the constitutionality of the governments legislation.

The action of gambling in private on the Internet is protected by First Amendment privacy concerns, according to the lawsuit, which also states that the governments actions violate privacy rights of online gamblers and website operators.

The act would also criminalize activity by companies that operate legally in their home countries, such as Antigua and Barbuda.

Judge Cooper is set to hear arguments on September 26th.

Belgian Government Files Complaint Against Unibet

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Belgians national Gaming Commission has filed a complaint against gambling giant Unibet for the sites bet on which date a new government will be formed.

Unibet risks a fine of 100,000 EUR as well as a suspension ranging from 6 months to 5 years. Its lawyers however point out that their action was legal in every other European nation and EU treaties mean Belgium must go along as well, and has no plans to stop the bet.

The Gaming Commission contends that betting on events is illegal, with only sporting events and horse racing as exceptions.

U.K. Online Gambler Numbers Rise to 3.5 Million

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

An official report on gambling trends in the U.K. commissioned by the Gambling Commission, has revealed that the number of online bettors has skyrocketed to 3.5 Million people who regularly gamble online, a six fold increase in just five years.

Around seven percent of those, or roughly a quarter of a million, are considered problem gamblers, meaning their personal life is affected by their online gambling addiction.

As a result, the government is mulling over the option of forcing online gaming companies to pay an addict tax, with all proceeds going to help treat problem gamblers. Under the current legislation, companies are not forced, but make voluntary financial commitments of their own deciding.

While the results show that problem gambling still only affects a small minority of people, it remains a serious issue, and one which must be addressed, according to Culture Minister Gerry Sutcliffe. I have therefore asked the Gambling Commission to review the current voluntary arrangements for industry funding of gambling research, treatment and public education. The gambling industry has a responsibility to make the right level of funding available to treat those who are harmed by its products.

Earlier this month, new regulations and standards were put in place with the implementation of the Gambling Act, which established the Gambling Commission as the regulatory body for all issues gaming.

Conservative opponents, however, are quick to point out the Acts flaws, noting that newer types of gambling such as online poker and casinos are left virtually untouched by the new legislation. states Shadow Culture Minister Jeremy Hunt. Companies registered outside of the U.K. are also now less apt to register within the U.K., and thus follow the new regulations.

According to Hunt, the report is two years too late. All the gambling legislation has now passed through Parliament with little prospect of serious amendment. The horse has well and truly bolted from the gambling stables.

EU Court Rules Against Italy On Horse Racing

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

In a modest victory for the privately owned gaming industry, the European Unions top court ruled on Thursday that Italy was wrong to renew 329 horse racing book licenses without opening up the bid to public tender, Retuers reports.

Before 200, Italy decided to increase the number of betting centers from the then-current number of 329 to 1000. The new centers were put to public bid, while the existing 329 were renewed for six years. By failing to open the 329 centers to bid Italy infringed [upon] the general principle of transparency and the obligation to ensure a sufficient degree of advertising, the EU court stated.

The courts decision sends a clear signal to member states currently offering, or planning to offer, licenses to European gaming and betting operatorsthat these licenses cannot be awarded without a transparent, competitive and fair tendering procedure, according to Sigrid Ligne, the secretary general of the European Gaming and Betting Association, which groups leading gambling operators.

Online Casino Worker Held for Accepting Gambling Café Money

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Yoshiaki Takahashi, 43, of Hanamigawa-ku, Chiba, has been arrested for allegedly accepting kickbacks from a Kyoto internet café owner, with the funds coming from customers who gambled on the casino site Takahashi worked for.

I didnt know the money was part of proceeds from illegal gambling he was quoted as saying to investigators and has since denied the allegations.

Takahashi is accused of receiving 16M yen (roughly $140,760 US) from the Kyoto café operator over five different visits last January.

The casino site owner has been placed on a wanted list according to Japanese officials.

Un-Luck o the Irish is Paddy Powers Windfall

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

It seems the stereotype may not hold true except for bookmaker Paddy Power that is. Citing an unexpected number of favorable sporting event results, the Irish firm saw profits for the first six months of 2007 raise to over 35.4M (Eire), nearly double the 17.5M (Eire) it recorded during the same time in 2006. Even this past July and August have proved fruitful, as bad weather has brought about more sporting upsets. Paddy Power is now projecting a fiscal year profit of 68M (Eire), nearly 6M more than it had forecast in June.

While the summer weather was poor it was nothing compared to the perfect storm experienced by many punters during the first half of 2007 according to Paddy Power chairman Fintan Drury.

Ireland in particular suffered huge home losses, in golf, rugby and football. Even a succession of favored Irish horses were beaten at Ascot, Cheltenham and the Classics. Indeed, Irish horses usually fare particularly well at Cheltenham but this year only pulled out five victories during the full four days.

In golf, Angel Cabrera overcame 100-1 odds to win the US Open, while Zack Johnson won The Masters despite being a 200-1 underdog. When underdogs win big, it usually is good news for sportsbooks, as most betters take favorites.

A normal danger for Gaming companies is that having bettors lose so big may mean many punters will simply give up on gambling. Paddy Power though is recognizant of this fact and as such offers a wider range of special bets such as refunding all bets on a second place finisher at Cheltenham.

Paddy Powers stock rose nearly 5% on Tuesday, closing at 24.10 (Eire)

Centrebet Shares Struggle With Horse Flu

info@egamingpulse.com (news manager) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Citing current ongoing equine influenza outbreak related issues, Centrebet International Limited stocks fell nearly 5% as the company attempts to asses how current horse racing restrictions will affect their bottom line. With restrictions on horse travel being implemented across several states, races have been postponed and others will perhaps have to be cancelled. Assuming no races are to take place in the next month Centrebets profits would dip by nearly $400,000, however improbable that would be acknowledged a company official.

Centrebet anticipates additional greyhound races to pick up much of the slack, as well as a shift to traditional sports betting to make up for the absence of the ponies. The companys international horse racing promotions, primarily in New Zealand, is also expected to contribute.

While this setback is a cause for some concern, Centrebet recently announced an adjusted net profit of $11.8 million for the last fiscal year, nearly $200,000 ahead of its forecast. The company credits strong wagering and gambling growth as well as recent company expansions.

We are pressing our advantage on a number of fronts, including mobile phone betting, the Centrebet Poker and Casino games and our Affiliate Programme according to Managing director Con Kafataris.