Catch My Bet Launches onto Scene

Posted on May 15, 2012 by JenC

With partnerships and agreements, as well as acquisitions constantly coming up in online gambling is, it hardly a surprising that yet another contract has been signed this week. Nonetheless, it is newsworthy that the new joint venture company, Catch My Bet Ltd, has launched a fresh new product branded as TVCatchUp.com to UK customers. The new Internet casino site offers a range of betting and gaming facilities, compounded with live racing and sports betting events, all available through traditional laptop computers, mobile devices and smartphones, as well as games consoles.

The new brand, Catch My Bet, comes courtesy of TVCatchUp, based out of the UK. Services form a bridge between the online gambling world and television, allowing for free streaming of racism sporting events, as well as the hosting of more traditional online casino games such as poker tour’s. It was developed through a conjunction between TVCatchUp and Graham Martin, the man behind the success known now as Bonne Terre Limited, formally as BSkyB, operating as part of SkyBet.

The new Internet television services will allow for content that was previously limited to streaming on the Internet to be viewed over traditional television channels. Even more, they are being transmitted in a way that does not require the use of the television receiver. The end result is allowing punters and players access to watching some of their best choice programs from channels such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel Five and free to air Sky channels.

According to a statement made by a company spokesperson, the immediate future of CatchMyBet will concentrate primarily on the management of the new channels from their gaming portals. Much of the energy will be spent on establishing good relationships with their customers, providing the best in local customer services. In the future, however other plans include offering future business to business gaming services to other Internet companies looking to outsource their operations. Despite their current success – TVCatchUp claims to have nearly 10 million registered users – the subsidiary claims to have plenty of room to grow, with 100,000 new monthly sign-ups on average.

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Betfair Spices up QR Codes

Posted on May 15, 2012 by JenC

Anyone connected to the modern technology world will have noticed just how frequently QR Codes are being used like names all of the globe, but especially here in the US. That being said, one of the world’s leaders in online gambling, Betfair, and as this week that they will be following up on their successful marketing ploy last year with yet another use of QR Codes.

In 2011, the online betting exchange put QR codes on the back of bikini bottoms of two well known British beach volleyball champions during the games. The result was quite a bit of interest, all of which was redirected to their Internet gambling website when customers and potential players followed the source that the codes. This year yet another QR code relating back to the Betfair website will be placed on the front of the boxer shorts belonging to Irish boxer Eamonn O’Kane.

O’Kane already enjoys sponsorship provided by the Internet gambling group, and his shorts have already been branded with the logo. The addition of the QR code, however, is hope to generate additional interest. According to a report by the publication, The Drum, the unveiling of the boxer shorts will take place this week at the Prizefighter middleweight show hosted in Belfast, conveniently, put on by the Internet gambling group, Betfair. For those fans that scan the QR code appearing on the front side of O’Kane’s shorts, they will find themselves redirected to the boxing betting markets through Betfair’s mobile gaming application.

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UK Department to be Closed?

Posted on May 15, 2012 by JenC

It seems like it is a week for boomers in the online gambling world, as stories are flying related to the UK government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Apparently, there were a number of concerns that the department was to have been closed, claims that are now being denied by a department spokesperson this week. If such claims worked even had a shred of truth, it would heavily affect the European online gambling market, as the Department of Culture, Media and Sport oversees the activities of the UK Gambling Commission.

Understandably, then, the initial rumors caused quite a stir in the European Internet gambling community. So much so, that a number of sources pursued to have their questions answered by the government. The publication Intergame even went so far as to speculate on which government departments could possibly be put in charge of the online gambling industry should the Department of Culture, Media and Sport be disbanded following the conclusion of the London-based Olympics.

Their opinion that the responsibilities might fall to the Home Office or even the Treasury will not be needed, as this week the Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Harriet Harman, called on UK prime minister David Cameron to clarify the matter. Though the government has since stated for the record that they had no intention of disbanding the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, it is a concern has grown large enough for people to pay attention.

The Institute for Economic Affairs put their two cents in as well, falling in favor of shutting down the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, with the claim that the government could save £1.6 billion each year by doing so. If they were saving that amount of money, it would enable the government to make a 2% cut in corporate taxation. Times are busy at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, as their Minister, Jeremy Hunt has had a lot on his plate the last two years, and even now feels the pressure growing following the UK media telephone hacking scandal.

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PlayTech Deals Heat Up

Posted on May 15, 2012 by JenC

Rumors are flying among information sites in the only gambling world this week in relation to one of the biggest companies in the industry, Playtech. According to some reports published on Scoop.it, the software development company has acquired a stake in Zeda Poker. The second brand is a significantly smaller company, a business to consumer social networking site that hosts a number of games powered by Viaden Gaming. It is likely, given the fact that Playtech just concluded negotiations with Viaden in gaining 20 percent of their interest, that the acquisition of Zeda Poker is part of the former contract.

All in all, the deals being made by Playtech all traced back to their pledge to spend €95 million on acquisitions and deals in the social gaming sector of the online gambling world. Other rumors are flying in relation to Playtech conversations with Teddy Sagi’s firms, CTXM and Slots Farm, as well as the decided upon 20 percent stake in Viaden. Conveniently, Sagi is the major shareholder in Playtech.

It all of the rubric agreements come true, the changes will be both CTXM and Viaden will be able to concentrate their energies and software development on the mobile gaming sector as well as social networking games. The contracts themselves are complicated to say the very least, especially given the fact that an announcement was made this week by Playtech that they will not be purchasing the assets outright from major shareholders Sagi, but rather will license the rights.

“Playtech remains committed and excited about the prospects for the impact of entering into the social gaming arena and believes it will aid the company’s growth in the future,” a spokesman said Wednesday. “However, the complexity around the process and timing with respect to the company’s move to the Main Market has influenced this decision. The licence agreement for the social and real money gaming assets will be negotiated on arm’s length terms and will be announced as soon as is reasonably practicable.”

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McKee Speaks to Bulgarian Market

Posted on May 15, 2012 by JenC

An interesting interview was conducted recently by the website, YogoNet this week, as they took an opportunity to pick the brain belonging to Rossi McKee, the founder and one of the honorary members of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Gaming Association. McKee, it turns out, was more than happy to share his opinion, as the site asked about his views on the new gambling laws as they apply to the internet casino world.

The law in all of its detailed glory was released for public review by the Government Gazette at the end of March this year. The new law makes provision for the regulation and growth of online gambling for the first time in Bulgaria, as the nation joins the rest of Europe in embracing the past time. Though the law has been passed, and the management board for the Bulgarian gaming Association established, it will not actually be effective until 1 July this year.

It did not stop McKee from answering openly the questions presented to him. According to the member of the board, any online gambling operator will be able to legally obtain operational license in the nation once the law is activated. That being said, there are a few additional requirements that must be met for offshore companies, including special clauses in relation to their minimum capital and investment properties.

There are limitations to the law, however, including the prohibition of direct advertising for gambling. This clause was included in order to protect underage gamblers from temptation, minimizing exposure to the past time to minors. They did a few things definitively right, such as providing Clear definitions on all forms of gaming, from social networking, to traditional Internet casino games and everything in between.

McKee himself expects that there will be a number of amendments made to the law in the future, likely related to the taxation of online gambling operations. It is his hope that compromise will be able to strike a good balance between acceptable tax revenues and upgrades to create a competitive business environment. The country of Bulgaria itself pass the ball and has been enthusiastic about the changes, hoping that the legalization of online gambling will attract a new, younger customer base. They, like much of Europe, are of the opinion that there is plenty of business to go around that both land-based and Internet gambling operators can flourish.

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Mysterious Deal for Partouche Groupe

Posted on May 14, 2012 by JenC

Yet another deal has been struck this week in the highly active online gambling industry, as the Chicago-based WMS Industries has entered into a contract with the French company Groupe Partouche SA. The pair will be working together in order to provide a fresh new take on internet gambling through a new online casino directed towards the Belgian market. WMS Industries, despite it being an American company, owns the very successful Jackpot Party.com.

But while WMS has already proven themselves successful in operating great online casinos, it is not been released exactly what role Partouche Interactive will be playing in the new partnership. According to a statement released by a WMS spokesperson, it is nonetheless a significant agreement for their company, as it represents the first business to business agreement based on the complete online gambling solution offered by the firm. The solution includes both the software and technology needed, as well as back office, the same complete package that runs the award-winning online casino Jackpot Party.com.

It is likely that the Groupe Partouche is providing easier access to the newly liberalized market, as they already have permission to operate an online casino site in Belgium. The existing domain name falls under the familiar Casino Knokke brand. It is not yet known what the partnership site will be called; it is, however, and that it will boost the diverse selection of WMS’ online slot games in addition to classic casino favorites such as blackjack, video poker, roulette, and even baccarat.

“Groupe Partouche is an ideal launch partner for our comprehensive iGaming B2B solutions,” said Orrin J. Edidin, President of WMS. “We look forward to working collaboratively to create cross-marketing opportunities that will complement their land-based casino operations by providing players with the convenience of playing at home, in addition to playing at the casino. This joint operation marks a significant milestone in the execution of our online gaming strategy and expansion plans.”

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Playtech Looks at CTXM, Slots Farm, Viaden Gaming

Posted on May 14, 2012 by JenC

A number of rumors are flying about this week through the online gambling industry in regards to one of the world’s leaders in software development as it applies to Internet casinos, Playtech. Earlier this year, the company committed to spending €95 million on ” certain B2B real money gaming and B2B social media assets.” While an official statement from the firm has yet to be had by the public at large, there have been a number of unofficial as well as anonymous disclosures that some of the acquisitions in the works include CTXM, Slots Farm and Viaden Gaming.

While they could have just stayed as rumors, the chief executive officer for the online gambling group, Mor Weizer, saw the wisdom in confirming what information he could, making note denials about the deals when questioned this past Friday. While the negotiations are still ongoing, whatever decision they come to will still have to be confirmed and approved by the shareholders. Given the amount of money that is being spent on the acquisitions, the fact that majority shareholders will have to give their okay is not surprising in the least.

According to the newest disclosures, the Internet casino groups CTXM and slot will both be total acquisitions. In terms of biotin, Playtech is looking to buy in to a 20% stake; provided recently made the decision to shut down their Big Casino operation. Additionally, there are a few other rumors continue to fly that suggest that Playtech is holding negotiations as well with an on known number of sports book operators that will allow for partnerships to build social gaming platform content.

“Playtech has been monitoring social gaming activity operated by various companies through social networks and mobile platforms and has been analyzing a number of ways to penetrate the social gaming arena,” the software developer said in its earlier statement. “By completing the intended transaction, Playtech would gain access to a broad range of social gaming platforms and products and believes it would be uniquely positioned as a leading B2B provider with the ability to supply cross platform capabilities for a full suite of products including social casino, poker, bingo and rummy.”

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PASPA Looking to Go Away?

Posted on May 14, 2012 by JenC

Some additional progress is being made in the State of New Jersey this week in regards to gambling laws, even outside of the efforts to legalize internet casinos. It was reported this week that two new proposals have been made in order to attempt to overthrow and nullify the Professional Amateur Sports Protection Act, the law that prohibits sports betting in all of its forms, not only through online gambling, but also in land-based casinos.

It is the PASPA , that has resulted in Atlantic City being able to keep up with the competition presented by the city of Las Vegas. In Nevada, sports betting is legal, allowing casinos a distinct advantage in attracting punters over the East Coast Atlantic City. If legislators are able to see the PASPA overturn, that could go a long way in evening the playing field between two cities in attracting gambling customers from all over the nation.

The two new proposals were presented in joint by Republican Rep. Frank LoBiondo and Democrat Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. the bills have been named HR 3809 New Jersey Betting and Equal Treatment Act of 2012 and HR 3797, Sports Gaming Opportunity Act of 2012, and are quickly gathering the attention of the online gambling can be put the potential that the present with in the US for change. Should one of them pass, New Jersey would be allowed to run their own regulated sports betting system.

As PASPA continues, only three states are able to offer sports betting. Not only is this unfair, the politicians behind the bills have been very clear in their belief that a huge benefit lies in finances of the state sports betting restrictions. The chances of one of the proposals going through a very high, given the fact that New Jersey residents in a survey taken November of 2011 voted by a two to one margin in favor of allowing licensed sports betting within New Jersey. Though Sen. Ray Lesniak’s efforts to overturn the law failed not too long ago, while he focuses on the legalization of online gambling as a whole, others can concentrate smaller world of sports betting specifically.

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Carmen Electra to Rep for Pokerist

Posted on May 14, 2012 by JenC

A new face has been linked to the online gambling community this week, as a babe from the beach makes the bridge to the internet casino world to be a spokesperson for the popular Texas Hold’Em social networking game offered b Pokerist. The agreement made men all around the world happy this week, as Tara Leigh Patrick, better known as Carmen Electra agreed to the partnership. It could be considered an expansion of an existing relationship, as Electra has already hosted several live charity tournaments, and contributed her presence to the launch of the first World Poker Tour branded poker room at the Foxwoods casino a number of years ago.

Electra is best known for her celebrity, though that was gained by a hot run of successful episodes on the television program Baywatch years ago. According to a statement from the online gambling group, the beautiful television star will be virtually represented on their home computer screens, assuring them through the virtual online casino doors and helping them find their way through the sites poker educational facility.

According to the statement by Pokerist, though their name may not yet be one of the largest when it comes to online poker, the offering already attracts some 100,000 users every day, choosing to connect through desktops, laptops, as well as portable mobile devices such as tablets and smart phones. In terms of the social networking world, the only poker game offered by Pokerist is only second to the Zynga poker app. The game is also available through Facebook.

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BoyleSports Looking for Expansion Opportunities

Posted on May 14, 2012 by JenC

Yet another land-based casino operation is looking to expand their online gambling platform, as this week BoyleSports announced his intention to expand their already successful Internet casino operation. According to a report by the Irish Times, the state will was made by the colorful founder and chief executive officer of the group himself, John Boyle, who is known the world over for having launched a successful sports betting business long before it was fashionable.

Boyle spoke to just such a success when he addressed those attending a children’s charity function this week. Coming from nearly nothing, he managed to build a betting business that now generates €1.2 billion every year. At the time of BoyleSports’ launch, the dominator in the industry was that of William Hill. Boyle says that one day Hill called him up and offered him the sale of 15 shops – all of which were land-based at the time.

“I thought, well I’ll have them. The last day we talked they gave me a Euro 500,000 discount [on the price]. The return on that has been 17 percent in three months. That has been another good deal.” Now he looks to expand their online gambling operations, as despite his hesitance, Boyle understands that’s where the industry is going: “I didn’t embrace it. Technology scared me. I’m old school, pen and paper. It’s been a slow learning curve and it’s only now that we’re cracking it.”

Not all of the details of the expansion of yet become available, but Boyle did reveal that a good portion of his existing Internet gambling staff will be focusing their attentions on the Asian market. In the meantime, they are working on developing a localized Internet gambling product that should be launched in time for the next English premier league season. “What they like out there is basketball and football,” Boyle remarked, adding that the project involves the investment of several millions of Euros.

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