Miscellaneous Online Gambling News & Info

Chartwell Tech recently released its new and improved version of poker software, which is available on the Poker Nexus site.

MGS-powered Big Dollar Casino, late of the Liberty Entertainment group with South Beach Palace Casino has resurfaced under new ownership of the Ashanti Limited media group, about which very little is known. Day to day management has been taken on by the Grande Prive - Brandbox group.

Strong rumours abound that Brian Woods has sold off his Black Widow Casino, Sterling House Casino and Grand Banks Casino after trying to do so for some time. The new owners are not at present known, but it is understood that the intention is to remain with Playtech software.

Isle of Man registered Gaming Ventures plc has been set up by softwarte developer Zone4Play to market to all comers a new blackjack tournament software system through two new companies: Get21 Ltd and RNG Gaming Limited.

Paddy Poker.com has contracted Canadian software developer and bingo specialist Parlay Entertainment to provide its new bingo games, which will be available on Parlay's The Bingo Network.

Tiltware LLC has moved its Full Tilt Poker software and head office facilities to Dublin, crteating 200 new jobs in Ireland.

World Poker Tour Enterprises is to partner with UK company 3G-Scene in providing mobile poker facilities.

Playboy Enterprises has chosen Cryptologic-Wagerlogic to provide its poker software on a new site to be managed by Curacao registered subsidiary Oceana Caribe Licensing NV.

Alistair Assheton's Leisure and Gaming group has acquired Betshop.com.

RTG has launched 5 new slot games this (August) month; Penguin Power, Achilles, Paradise Dreams, Alladins Wishes and Paris Beauty.

Pokerchamps, recently taken over by Betfair is turning away US players to comply with Betfair policies on the issue.

Betcorp has taken over Oasis Casino.com which reopened with proprietary software in late July. Excluded from the takeover deal was a $150 000 debt to a player who is still trying to recover his money.

e-Cash processor ODF (Online Demand Funds) closed its doors in August 2006.

Christchurch Casinos owned and Playtech powered FastWin Casino is adding three new ways for players to widen their game choice with the launch of Lotto Madness, Ugga Bugga and 50 line Jacks or Better.

For the second time in the past three months Mentor Gaming has released new games, announcing the availability of 54 online slot games at licensee sites. The new online slot machines from Mentor Gaming will feature 3 and 5 reels with full screen option and advanced 3D technology.

BLUEGENIEGAMING, a new casino and poker group operating out of Costa Rica on as yet unknown software was due to launch 3rd quarter 2006 but has not to date done so. The company has been hiring experienced personnel including Robert Evans, who was formerly the head man at Nine.com until it was taken over by Leisure and Gaming plc earlier this year. Evans has been appointed as senior vice president and chief marketing officer, effective Sept 18 and reporting direct to the CEO at Blue Genie, Robert Moran. BlueGenie expects to launch with casino and poker products, followed by a bingo product in the second quarter of 2007 "...pending completion of funding and a favourable internet gaming prohibition vote now heading to the Senate.

Winward Casino.com is building up its gambling suite with the addition of 20 new games from the Net Entertainment company, says manager Jon Ramsay. This operation is interesting in that it uses three different software types - mobile gaming through Phantom Fiber, and games from Parlay Entertainment and Net Entertainment, all integrated into one administrative system. Players can get a special 100 percent bonus for playing the new games, capped at a generous $500, and the choice includes: Multi-Hand Video Poker, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, Baccarat, Casino Hold 'Em, Caribbean Poker, 5 new video slots and 6 new VP games offering both 10 and 5 hand play.

Betting exchange and poker room BetonBet, citing conflict possibilities after Ongame was acquired by Bwin, moved over to the Microgaming Poker Network in July. The move to Microgaming allows BetOnBet players to take advantage of one of the most aggressive tournament schedules on the Web - featuring satellites to some of the best land based tournaments in the world, as well as the guaranteed 24 hour action offered through access to thousands of additional players from over 40 card rooms worldwide.

Aces.com, an online gambling site acquired by the UK's Sportingbet public company in 2001 has been given a site revamp and a new suite of the latest Flash no-download games. The new gambling suite includes favourites like Blackjack, Black Jack Super 7, Free Ride and American Roulette. Black Jack Super 7 gives players the option of placing a side bet on whether or not a seven will be dealt. Free Ride is a casino card game based on stud poker - players are dealt three cards face up and two face down. Ace.com's Free Ride features a giant progressive jackpot which was recently hit for nearly half a million dollars and has already regenerated to well over $175 000.

Microgaming's mobile casino associate, Spin3 has clinched an important deal with Singapore based entertainment content aggregator WooWorld, which has selected Spin3's play-for-fun SpinFone system to offer the first mobile gaming competition in Singapore. Mobile gamers will be able to download WooWorld's WowBoss casino games via premium SMS and compete for the highest scores to win prizes like iPod Shuffles, digital cameras, Swatch watches and shopping vouchers.

UK Betting and sister Totalbet have changed software from Chartwell Tech to Playtech.

The latest slot released at Money-Casino has a Circus Side Show theme and is branded accordingly. The new game is a themed five reel 15-liner designed as a quaint side show stage featuring a troupe of curious performers such as the bearded lady, the sword swallower, lizardman, and others. Circus Side Show is not just about strange folks, however. It includes bonus features as detailed in such as the Side Show bonus game, Scatter Pay that can pay up to 500, and 5 Wild Symbols that pay up to 10,000.

Online sportsbetting and gaming operator Interactive Gaming Holdings Plc went live recently with its latest venue, the OpenBet Casino offering which is available on the Premier Bet website, giving users access to a selection of no-download games from the UK based Orbis provider. Orbis claims that the new system is one of the most comprehensive gaming platforms available on the market. A full range of casino games are on offer, including a variety of card games and multi-reel slots. The Flash games include the unique Bonus bar feature, allowing players to keep track of their bonus points, as well as animated graphics and realistic sound effects. Fully integrated within the existing Premier Bet website, the casino enables customers to benefit from a single user account which offers seamless transition between casino games and the extensive traditional betting activities on the site.

UKBetting and Totalbet have teamed up with UK games provider specialists Electracade to launch a brand new online version of Roulette, which will operate on the Orbis OpenBet platform. Features of the game will include: Photo realistic, 3D game wheel; Over 12,000 unique 'real life' motion, captured in outstandingly precise animations; 'real life' ball drop sound sampling; original game layout ensuring ease of use.

The Canadian turnkey poker and casino provider Excapsa has partnered with wireless technology provider Phantom Fiber to offer a mobile gaming service to customers. This new distribution method for the Excapsa poker product integrates a shared eWallet with the provider's other games and is available across global communications networks to mobile users on over 1 000 wireless devices including mobile phones and PDA's. Excapsa licensee brand UltimateBet is the first to enjoy the benefits of the branded mobile solution enabling their customers to experience the new technology while integrating directly into the Excapsa gaming network. Incorporating a branded mobile solution allows Excapsa's licensees to tap further into the estimated $11.9 billion global gaming market and reach targeted European markets for expansion. A company spokesman said this will become a key differentiator among online gaming competitors as mobile gaming becomes more widely used. Excapsa's wholly owned licensing subsidiary, Game Theory Limited, has signed a 5-year partnership deal with Phantom Fiber to launch the mobile platform. The Phantom Fiber technology allows Excapsa to integrate its gaming network with global mobile communication networks securely and instantly using over 1 000 different mobile phone models.