Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa

OPA informs WG boss that it intends to take action

It looks as if the Online Players' Association's repeated appeals to World Gaming to assist in securing a fair deal for the players in the recent bonus debacle have fallen on deaf ears. After initially saying that he would personally look into the matter World Gaming boss Michael Aymong is now ignoring OPA emails that chase the issue and ask for WG's definition of bonus abuse.

The definition is central to any examination of individual lockouts by the defaulting casinos to check that these were justified as grounds for disqualification of bonuses and winnings. The anger and frustration of the numerous players involved is being heightened by the defaulting casinos' refusal to communicate with them.

So, if WG continues to ignore OPA emails, and the offending casinos refuse to respond to player emails there is only one road open, and the OPA appears to be taking it.

In a final email to Aymong this week the OPA informed WG that it had no alternative but to take "a wide range of measures to caution and protect its members against further depredations by World Gaming and its defaulting licencees"

What those measures will be is still to be revealed, but it is known that the OPA have had research teams at work looking at the software provider's public company status and shareholders, licencing venues, IGC membership and the nature and ownership of the defaulting casinos themselves.

Look out for intense fireworks on this one soon.

Brief Recap:

World Gaming licencees listed at the foot of this item ran promos which even World Gaming officials regarded as generous, using the advanced bonusing features of the WG version 3 software to do so. Predictably they received an influx of players who accepted the bonus offerings, were welcomed by the casinos, gambled and in many cases lost but in other cases won and then attempted to withdraw their bonuses and winnings. The casinos, apparently recognizing their promo construction as an expensive mistake hastily changed the T&Cs and then locked accounts, in many cases without any explanation and making it impossible for players to withdraw their cash. Adding insult to injury, most of the offending casinos then refused to respond to player demands for explanations and winnings.

In an apparent attempt to defuse the escalating dispute, and possibly conscious that its own reputation was being damaged World Gaming unilaterally returned deposits only to winning players, but not to losers. Aside from the fundamental unfairness of this move, the winning players continue to demand their legitimate rewards for having made wagers and played within the original Terms and Conditions applying at the time of their action.

The following are the casinos allegedly involved in this scandal:

2000onlinecasino.com
Captainscasinos.com
Ubetnetcasino.com
Betpony.com
Clicknwincasino.com
MGMcasinoandsportsbook.com
Greatluckcasino.com
Casino.worldgaming.com

The legislative process continues...

This time of the year would seem quiet without the now almost traditional annual Bob Goodlatte law show, and the inveterate campaigner against internet gambling in the USA is in there pitching his fourth or fifth season!

Last week he managed to get his Bill H.R. 3215, "The Combating Illegal Gambling Reform and Modernization Act, through the House Judiciary Sub-Committee on Crime on a voice vote, albeit with some modifications that included clarifying that individual States would be permitted to regulate gambling on the Internet, provided they could somehow verify the age of the end-user and prevent out-of-state residents from taking part in the games. The bill also includes a provision that exempts Internet service providers (ISPs) from liability if they agree to take down any online gaming sites that use their servers.

This week the Bill went before the full Judiciary Committee and was voted forward on it's long run through the House.

But many of the nation's casinos and most powerful gaming interests strongly oppose the legislation out of concern it could shut them out of the lucrative online business. And there are reservations among other parties that Goodlatte's notorious exceptions for certain gambling interests detract from the fairness of the proposed law.

HR3215 seeks to update the Interstate Wire Act to clarify that it is illegal to use the Internet or other new technologies to operate a gambling business. Under the bill, violators could face fines and up to five years in jail, or both.

But there is still a long road ahead, and it is strewn with pitfalls.

New Jersey ruling adds a new legal threat

Sportsbook owners were shocked at a decision in the New Jersey courts this week which empowered the US government to seize funds from Intercash Financial Services, a New Jersey company acting as a middleman for sports bets placed by Americans on Internet gambling sites operated from offshore locations in Britain. These foreign betting companies enticed US players to their online sites by ensuring them that they could safely place their wagers, outside of the confines of US legislation.

The New Jersey ruling by 3rd Circuit Judge Theodore A. McKee affects British companies and citizens but the law will not apply to them directly. He found that the government had only to prove that the intermediary company in New Jersey was violating State law by promoting gambling.

Intercash Ltd. based on the Isle of Man and American Sports Ltd. located in England had argued that since all wagering transactions took place in England, there was no violation of US law.

Brit betshop nails another key deal

Last week ukbetting.com scored a major coup when it was selected as the sportsbetting element in British Telekom's giant new Got2bet site. This week the news was that the British betting group had added WAP mobile betting to its offerings in a deal giving access to millions of Orange cellphone users in Europe.

The agreement, which is the first of its kind for both parties, will enable Orange customers with WAP-enabled handsets to view the latest odds and place tax-free bets. Prices will be available the day before for most events and users will have the option to deposit or withdraw funds from their account using their mobile phone. ukbetting will initially deliver horseracing betting services, followed by football in time for the World Cup this summer. Betting markets will be rolled out for other sports and major sporting events.

Land-based bingo goes online

Canadian provider dotcom Entertainment Group (DCEG) followed their Victorsbingo.com deal last week with another major land-based customer this, and the announcement that it has provided casino and bingo technology for Palace World Leisure's first venture onto the internet, due to launch as The Palaces.com by the end of this month. DCEG will also provide corporate branding services through Inferno Media, dot com's client-specific marketing division.

The Palaces is owned, managed and operated by Patrick Duffy of Palatial Leisure Limited, owners of some 65 bingo halls throughout Britain. The Palaces will provide a unique, first mover, advantage to Duffy, giving him the ability to cross-promote his land based Bingo business through the Internet, at the same time allowing him to substantially extend his reach.

Recent changes to legislation in the United Kingdom, which will blend land-based Casino and Bingo businesses, provides a unique opportunity to promote an on-line Casino suite.

Taking the progressives business up a gear

Ambitious gamblers around the Internet now have a chance to become instant millionaires following the introduction of the latest Jackpot Madness progressive - a staggering one million dollar cash (not instalments) slot jackpot payout to the player who cracks it on one of sixty Microgaming-powered casinos that have signed on for Major Millions.

They've billed it as the biggest progressive ever to hit the 'Net, and it starts at $250 000 - that is the lowest amount players can win - and runs up to that magic million figure. The new game is a progressive 1 dollar, 3 reel, 3 payline slot and comes hot on the heels of the successful introduction of three other new progressives catering for blackjack, video poker and poker players..

The first Major Millions Millionaire will get an early taste of what true luxury is all about, with an all expenses paid first class trip for two to Monte Carlo. A lavish package will feature four nights at the most exclusive hotel in Monte Carlo, a helicopter ride over the city, $2,000 to play at the best casinos in the world and dinners at Monte Carlo's finest restaurants.

It sets a new benchmark for the competition, but you've got to be in it to win it!

New look for an old campaigner

Blackjack Ballroom.com's quarter of a million players have been lapping up the snazzy new ambience and bonuses at the casino that was back online this week after an extensive revamp incorporating gambler suggestions.

The Microgaming-powered casino had been in successful operation since year 2000 when the owners decided that it was time for a new look and took the opportunity to canvas player opinions in coming up with a new design and improved bonus program.

Manager Franklin Harris says the new BJB still offers the $10 free sign-up bonus as well as giving new players an additional $50 free with their first purchase. And existing players have not been overlooked with a 10% weekend bonus on all $200 purchases.

Harris reports that the site content has been revisited and improved, and that all the quality-end casino services remain in place. He also hinted at future promotions and bonuses, saying "Very soon we'll be launching a new bonus schedule, and we are also looking at expanding the level of ongoing promotions we do with CasinoRewards. I don't want to give anything away, but over the next few months we've got some very exciting new promotions coming".

May 1 is the deadline

Attempts by USA based credit card companies to make the financial dealings of online gamblers harder took a new turn this week with the widely reported view that Mastercard plans to ace out third party providers like PayPal.

According to USA Today and CNN.com, a new rule by MasterCard blocking merchants from accepting credit card payments through third parties could hurt Internet merchants. Speaking to USA Today, Gartner analyst Avivah Litan said. "Unless a settlement is reached, on May 1 Internet merchants and other firms that rely on third-party billing could miss out on sales via the USA's No. 2 online credit card. And MasterCard holders could have a harder time using their cards at many sites that use PayPal and similar services".

"The change is likely aimed at porn and gaming sites that have higher occurrences of credit card fraud and identity theft, Litan says. One in 20 online consumers were victimized by credit card fraud last year, she says.

MasterCard is apparently changing the rule that allows online retailers to accept credit card payments through such popular services as PayPal, to protect financial institutions and card holders from fraud and identity theft, CNN reported. "According to MasterCard, its 15,000 members, such as banks and credit unions, won't be able to process credit card transactions using third-party services such as PayPal.

The reason for the change, says MasterCard spokesman Alex Lau, is to protect financial institutions and card holders from fraud and identity theft.

The biggest third-party system is PayPal, with about 13 million registered users, most of which are small Internet merchants. According to the report in USA Today, PayPal is working hard to get an exemption. PayPal spokesman Vince Sollitto says PayPal is "hopeful and confident" it will come to new terms with MasterCard. Visa says it still accepts PayPal. American Express still accepts PayPal and one other service.

The impact of these third party measures is spreading - as we went to press several casinos were emailing players to inform them that Firepay was no longer able to accept Visa credit card funding for accounts.

New jurisdiction expected soon

With the most modern and developed technical and financial infrastructure on the African continent, it is surprising that South Africa has not created a genuine internet casino licencing jurisdiction before now, given the government's enlightened approach to land casino operations.

Perhaps making up for lost time and opportunities this week, Minister of Trade and Industry Alec Irwin gave a speech at the second South African gambling conference in Sun City, where he said there was a need to review gambling policy, given the experience gained so far and the fast changing market environment. And he believed that the government had to look at creating an enabling environment for Internet gambling.

"We now face the fluidity of Internet gambling." he said. "We are of the view that a well-regulated and reputable environment is the objective, rather than attempts to prohibit or allow a free for all."

But did they discuss all those owed players?

World Gaming were so pleased with themselves that they issued a press release after the first of a planned annual licencee conference, held last week in the rather spiffy skiing resort of Whistler up there in Canada.

Amidst all the corporate hubris was the objective of the conference : to bring management and licencees together to "map the future and discuss the I-gaming industry"

We have to wonder if that included an even cursory look at the ongoing bonus dispute in which so many players have been prejudiced by several World Gaming licencees - they may even have been at the conference and communicating which is more than they are doing with the aggrieved players. And we would say that definitely has potential to impact the future.

The software company introduced its next generation gaming platform dubbed Back Office, planned as a complete product and services gaming platform for all World Gaming products. In optimistic mood, CEO Michael Aymong introduced the system, saying ``Since our focus remains on business fortification (sic), the development of Back Office will solidify our network of gaming destinations and more players than ever will have access to our comprehensive suite of games.''

Well, according to WG the licencees loved the stuff, but we're not too sure about that last part if these guys don't get their act together on fair treatment for their customers.

The four-day conference featured presentations and discussions between World Gaming management, software developers and licensees to "share critical information, successes and challenges related to the I-gaming industry." The conference program also focused on developments in Licensee Relations, Customer Service, fraud and surveillance technologies.

The release mentions a representative of e-Marketing Asia, a consultancy specializing in Internet marketing to Asian markets. Those who really are in the know tell us that that is an interesting choice for a thrust into Asia - and not necessarily the hottest one...

New survey shows the North is rockin'

Business Week carried a bullish story this week that all over Europe, Internet savvy people are visiting gambling sites in record numbers, helping online betting become one of the fastest-growing businesses on the Net.

According to the writer, the British research company Schema says that Europeans this year will bet more than $3.7 billion online, vs. about $139 billion in traditional venues. But by 2005, Schema says, that figure could climb to nearly $15.5 billion.

Europe is said to be unique regarding the positive attitude of several governments, especially Britain's when it comes to e-gambling. Coupled with fast-growing residential Internet and broadband penetration, that tolerance is turning Europe into today's e-gambling hot spot.

Schema figures 84% of e-betting this year will take place over the conventional Web, but by 2005, nearly a third of it will happen via mobile phones or interactive TV. Money from such services is manna for wireless operators, who face sagging average revenues per customer and need sexy new services to drive demand for their expensive new 3G networks.

Europe's interactive-TV companies are in a similar position and several are in financial crisis. They're looking for `killer apps,’ and some are already turning to gambling. The story gives French examples in the horse race bet sector and revelas that since the services were launched in year 2000, some 70,000 punters have signed up and spent more than $92 million at the virtual track. Similar satellite-TV services are on tap in Sweden, Italy, and Portugal.

Britain is applauded as having the most liberal approach and `could shortly offer the best environment for Got2bet companies in the world,’ says Merrill Lynch & Co. analyst Andrew Burnett.

One international problem is fraud. In the U.S., banks and credit-card companies increasingly refuse to process transactions from e-casinos and are making life increasingly difficult for the online gambler, but the story concludes "No matter what happens, entrepreneurs will likely find ways around the roadblocks…"

Catchy name, little integrity

The USA Security Exchange Commission (SEC) has lowered the boom on a penny stock Got2bet company notorious for its hype press releases.

Announcing that it is taking emergency federal civil action against The Gaming Factory, Inc.the SEC said this week that it was going after the Panamanian corporation, together with The Gaming Factory, Inc., a Florida corporation, Richard Onorato, TGF's president and Victor Selenow, a TGF sales representative in connection with an alleged fraudulent unregistered offering.

TGF operates an Internet website that offers casino gaming and sports wagering (Mr. Sportsbook). On April 15, 2002, the Honorable Donald M. Middlebrooks, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida issued a temporary restraining order and froze the TGF assets to halt the alleged on-going fraudulent unregistered offering of securities by TGF, Onorato and Selenow. The Court also entered an order appointing a Receiver over TGF.

According to the SEC's complaint, TGF, Onorato and Selenow have been offering and selling securities from offices located in West Palm Beach, Florida. The complaint alleges that, unbeknownst to investors, TGF and Onorato paid its sales representatives commissions ranging from 13% to 18% of the money raised.

The SEC further alleges that TGF, Onorato and Selenow, among other things,misled the public about TGF's licenses with the Panamanian government, the safety and security of the investment, and TGF's current profitability. But that's not all, as the marketers say in an entirely different context - the SEC is also going for disgorgement of ill-gotten profits and a civil money penalty against Onorato and Selenow.

And these guys run a casino!!!?? Bring on regulation. Soon.

Intercasino weekend successes

Online poker player "Shawn" has been added to the mega-jackpot winners roll of honor this week after taking home $79,162 from Cryptologic-powered Intercasino. Playing the "Super Jackpot" video poker game, Shawn's win came from a simple 5-coin bet and the coveted royal flush, making him the game's largest-ever progressive poker player.

Luckily for player "Jess", Shawn's time in the sun was short lived. Within 24 hours of Shawn's jackpot, his victory was trumped by more than $70,000 when Jess aced the jackpot for a $149,986 win on the "Rags To Riches" progressive.

All in a weekend at one casino.

But it didn't end there. Over at the Microgaming-powered casino Jackpot City a record win was brewing on the newly introduced progressive Cyberstud, and a European car sales manager called LasseS was the cause of it!

He cleaned up to the very happy tune of just over $357,000 and within days the progressive had re-accrued past the 60,000 dollar mark and is still going strong. Lasse has some pretty exotic ideas on spending his windfall - they include a top of the range new car and a trip to the USA to see if he can buy himself a ride in a fighter jet. And he intends to do some more disciplined gambling too.

New software for sportsbooks

Turnkey casino supplier IQ-Ludorum, launched IQ-Racing 1.0 software this week as an integrated sportsbook system for wagering on thoroughbred, harness and greyhound races.

The release will enable client sportsbooks to offer their clients a broad range of gaming services with single account convenience, across the full breadth of digital media. It supports a live feed to deliver all of the latest racing data as well as a facility to support pari-mutuel style wagering. IQ-L's company results have been less than sparkling lately, but the company appears confident that the new product will open up more wagering opportunities for sportsbooks based on the hundreds of races that take place each day around the world. The system is compatible with EPoS (Electronic Point of Sale) systems and that means it can be used with touch screen terminals in betting shops and at race tracks in addition to the traditional internet application.

World Wide Tele Sports (WWTS), a pioneer in offshore sports betting is the first client to install the new system. Sportingbet in Europe (but not yet the USA) is also installing.

Singular week

That slowdown in new casinos coming online continues, and from the current small crop all we could find to comment on this week was a World Gaming-powered operation called 1800 Sportsbook.com. Fitted with the version 2 software and all the usual WG facilities this comes on a clean, professional looking site that is pleasant and easy to use. Players will be familiar with the WG download and java games that are getting a bit long in the tooth now, but then there is rarely a hassle in getting paid from these standard and rather unexciting sites. The usual low ten percenter bonus on signups is available.

Real Time Gaming still in the headlights

Other than World Gaming's somewhat more recent travails, Real Time Gaming remains the chief cause for concern, and players are once again cautioned to be extremely careful in visiting any site using this software.

Several cases came to notice this week in which RTG is apparently attempting to get aggrieved players to accept considerably lower amounts than they are due. This follows their "fifty percent only" offers to TCO players.

Added to the long waits and general messing around, players have suffered at the hands of the various casinos that have either gone belly-up or are clearly in trouble, this further attempt to cheapskate gamblers who are legitimately owed is disgraceful and constitutes yet another blemish on RTG's already soiled reputation.

They are not communicating with players, and their general handling of these payout crises is appalling.

The May 2002 issue of influential gambling print magazine Casino Player had some kind things to say under the headline "Watching Your Back - and More" about the Online Players Association and CasinoGazette webcasts when it appeared in the bookshops this week.

Like the following:

"The OPA is run by a group of Got2bet professionals whose goal it is to act as an advocate for online casino players. Before becoming a member, players need to accept and adhere to the OPA’s "Players Code of Ethics." This is a unique approach because the site is holding the players – not operators – to certain standards here. By agreeing to be a member, OPA participants agree to, among other things, abide by each online casino’s published set of rules. The advantage of membership is access to the site’s newsletter and the ability to convey to an online casino that you are an OPA member, to receive enhanced customer service. Most importantly, members are able to file legitimate disputes with the OPA against cheating online casinos, and the OPA uses its clout to step in and mediate. On the other end of the spectrum, the OPA also has a list of approved casinos, those that are, according to the OPA, committed to providing a safer and secure gaming environment, and that’s always a good thing.

"Even if you choose not to join, there’s plenty of pertinent and valuable information available here. We particularly liked the site’s "Excuses Used" page. Here, online gamblers can view a nice listing of (mostly bogus) excuses used by (mostly shady) online casinos to delay payment of winnings or not pay at all. But clearly, the coolest thing about this site is its gambling webcasts. With a free Real Player (www.real.com), online gamblers can listen to a variety of shows produced weekly that are of surprisingly high production quality. The topics of the shows vary, but the general scope of them are in line with the OPA’s role as a player advocate. Users can listen in for news and updates on pending online casino disputes and problems, but these broadcasts also report on plenty of positive things within the Got2bet world. Overall, they are very, very informative, so check this site out soon."

CasinoGazette is already reporting a significant upsurge in site visits.

Latest slot from Diamond Games

The first in a new line of exciting 5-reel 9-line slots with dynamic second screen bonus game feature was introduced this week by Diamond Games and is branded Monkey Money. The game was simultaneously released in both java and download formats.

The slot features high quality, immersive graphics and an easy to use interface with a fully interactive video game for added excitement. Players can choose from wagers in denominations of 5c, 10c, 25c & $1, and one account gives access to both the download and JAVA versions.

Diamond says that more five reelers will be launched in coming weeks - each with different logic, theme and bonus feature game-within-a-game. Players can find the first operational samples at Black Dog Casino.com.

Just where does the software provider's responsibility end?

By now everyone in the industry knows about the row between players and World Gaming casino licencees, but to recap briefly:

World Gaming licencees listed at the foot of this article ran promos which even World Gaming officials regarded as generous, using the advanced bonusing features of the WG version 3 software to do so. Predictably they received an influx of players who accepted the bonus offerings, were welcomed by the casinos, gambled and in many cases lost but in other cases won and then attempted to withdraw their bonuses and winnings. The casinos, apparently recognizing their almost suicidal promo construction as an expensive mistake hastily changed the T&Cs and then locked accounts, in many cases without any explanation and making it impossible for players to withdraw their cash. Adding insult to injury, most of the offending casinos then refused to respond to player emails demanding explanations and winnings.

Attempting to defuse the escalating dispute, and possibly conscious that its own reputation was being damaged World Gaming unilaterally returned deposits only to winning players, but not to losers. Aside from the fundamental unfairness of this move, the winning players continue to demand their legitimate rewards for having made wagers and played within the original Terms and Conditions applying at the time of their action.

The Online Players' Association has entered the fray and is currently in correspondence with the chief exec at World Gaming, Michael Aymong who has promised that he will personally investigate the matter. Clearly there has to be a time limit on such an investigation as the dispute has been running for some weeks now.

So where does the software provider's responsibility end? Many observers point out that software companies cannot simply wash their hands of disputes like this in an unregulated industry - especially respectable public companies with future ambitions in the industry like World Gaming.

The argument is that such companies need to protect their own reputations as well as player safety by properly screening prospective licencees for previous criminal or business failures and financial probity.

They are in a position to demand that licencees using their software insure player accounts or put funds into contingency accounts held independently. To protect not only the player and the licencee but also their own name, the providers should ensure that licencees are properly briefed in the management of the casino to avoid costly failures for everyone.

But the most persuasive argument of all is that the software provider has the ultimate leverage over licencees who do not operate their casinos honestly and efficiently - it can suspend their operations unilaterally.

The present dispute has still not played out, but several commentators have pointed out that other reputable software providers such as Microgaming, Cryptologic, Casino On Net and even to some extent the much-maligned Real Time Gaming company have stepped up to meet their obligations and that World Gaming is unlikely to escape doing the same.

And with the OPA now involved, the recently claimed better player sensitivity at the Antiguan licencing authority is likely to be tested, too.

The following are the casinos allegedly involved in this scandal:

2000onlinecasino.com
Captainscasinos.com
Ubetnetcasino.com
Betpony.com
Clicknwincasino.com
MGMcasinoandsportsbook.com
Greatluckcasino.com
Casino.worldgaming.com

OPA membership revoked due to Golden Palace deal.

It was not a good week for Aspinalls Online, the British gambling group that has just conceded a spectacular sterling 38 million failure in it's Got2bet adventure begun only ten months ago. In addition to wide media coverage of its shortcomings, the group fell foul of the Online Players' Association over its decision to appoint Golden Palace to manage its online casinos.

After unsuccessfully warning Aspinalls on the questionable activities of Golden Palace and its owners in the past, the OPA formally pulled the membership of the Aspinalls group in a letter advising, "In addition to a history of unresponsiveness with respect to players' concerns, certain of the Golden Palace founders and principals still with the group have conviction histories for telemarketing fraud with respect to offering lottery prizes over the phone to elderly victims. This is matter of public record.

"We consider this to be too detrimental to player safety and the reputation of the industry as a whole."

Although it is sad to see a group like Aspinalls deprived of OPA membership it is clearly the only course that the Association could take in this matter, as Golden Palace is a pioneer on the OPA NOT RECOMMENDED list.

Bingo software gets certified

With all the unjustified allegations of "rigged" gambling software bandied about every day on the internet you would think that independent certification would be a priority for both software providers and casino owners, yet strangely that does not seem to be the general case outside of operations like Lasseters.com. Cryptologic has invested significant funds in a quest for Australian-standard certification but there appear to be few other cases of note.

This week a bingo software provider came to the fore with certificates from an independent gaming laboratory on its software. Jenosys Technologies Inc. has received certification by Gaming Laboratories International Inc. using the GLI-15 standard for electronic bingo and keno systems. The GLI-15 standard is increasingly being adopted as the industry standard by state regulatory bodies throughout the USA, eliminating the need for individual gaming jurisdictions to develop their own standards or to independently test gaming systems entering their jurisdiction. GLI-15 certification allows gaming manufacturers to more rapidly enter markets where the GLI standard has been adopted.

Gaming Laboratories International, Inc. provides gaming devices and systems testing worldwide, with seven offices located on four continents working with more than 360 jurisdictions. GLI also serves as an independent consultant to governments on development of rules and regulations and technical specifications relating to casino gaming.

It certainly sounds like a system worthy of enquiry by operational gambling companies and licencing jurisdictions alike in the interest of reassuring the players.

New software release from World Gaming

World Gaming reckons that half of the players using their software on a diversity of casinos prefer no-download instant play, says chief operations exec Rodney Davis, and the company is catering for that with the addition of Java technology craps and roulette games to their version 3 no download software this week.

The new games come on the heels of a major release of Asian language Java games by the company in February this year.

"We are committed to broadening our game and language offerings with an eye to customer retention and extended market reach for our licensees,'' says Davis, interim COO and CFO of World Gaming. "With the addition of craps and roulette, we would expect to see extended play and new players on our licensees' sites."

ISP site will have a major Got2bet component

Exciting news from the big business sector this week is that ISP and telecommunications giant British Telecom (BT) is to launch a comprehensive internet gambling element to it's operations, partnering with several leading companies to do so. The BT audience is numbered in the tens of millions, making this a very promising venture for all involved.

BTopenworld.com will offer sportsbook action through UKbetting.com, casino games through Sun Online and Station casinos like Casino Atlantis, bingo from Rank.com and SMS access to the British National and other lotteries.

BT have big plans for further enhancements to the site, which will also offer news and betting odds on a host of sports.

King Neptunes off to a flying restart on the progressives

It looks as if Lady Luck was at the head of the line when the new and improved King Neptunes casino re-launched this week - there was a seriously large progressives win in the first three days of operations.

Deborah L. was the lucky player who hit a huge $99,497.87 jackpot on the popular Jackpot Madness progressive game, Treasure Nile. Deborah joined the casino in January and returned to play with King Neptune's $50 Welcome Back Bonus.

"I played on the $50.00 free credits and then funded my account with $450.00". she reports. "After approximately 2-3 hours of going up and down, I hit the Treasure Nile progressive. At first, I couldn't believe it. I left the screen as it was and woke up my roommate to show her. I wasn't able to get any sleep for another 12 hours!"

Deborah plans to use the funds to make donations to a couple of local charities, buy a newer car and place a down payment on a house. WTG, Deborah!

New director "has what it takes"

The days of a rather laid-back Antiguan regulating authority are past, it appears. We have previously reported on the efforts by new director of gaming Ron McGinley to reassure the industry that he is serious about regulation, and this week a story in The Prescription seems to confirm this.

The writer of the article reported on the demise of an Antiguan-licenced sportsbook under questionable circumstances and quoted a statement from McGinley that criminal charges were under consideration because "Antigua considers it a crime to take a bet from someone without having the ability to pay out." Three cheers for that statement alone!

Maginley informed the author that players who e-mail him about their current situation, including account numbers, details, etc, will be placed at the front of the line when it comes to divvying up what money can be extracted from the offending sportsbook, indicating a welcome willingness by the authorities to get involved.

The Prescription found Maginley to be "bright, eager, and sensible when it comes to the future of on-line gaming. He is reportedly pro active in every sense of the word and plans to make Antigua the No. 1 offshore gaming establishment." He is apparently realistic enough to accept that Antigua has currently fallen as low as No. 3, behind Australia and possibly Costa Rica as a regulatory body and needs to go up a gear. Has he studied the Isle of Man btw!

The article concludes that "this man has what it takes to restore Antigua to the front of all other countries when it comes to offshore gambling. Unfortunately for Hadeed, it became clear to me that he will be punished by an Antigua government that will set an example in this case, if for no other reason than to deter others".

Maginley can be emailed at: director@antiguagaming.gov.ag

Sixty grand in recoveries this week alone.

Many other complaints continue to come in to the OPA Complaints Section, and the turnaround average remains good, although some issues such as the WG affair, RTG's continued hassle with the players and VegasUSA are taking longer and have become "class actions" with the prospect of major consumer actions ahead.

It is of interest to note that legitimate monies due to players to the value of US$ 60 000 have been recovered this week alone by the Complaints Section - a great job.

Latest Nielsen-NetRatings stats

Search engines remain a critically important element in the marketing mix - and they're fun to use for everything else too, so here for your delectation is the latest Top Five list from Nielsen-NetRatings:

Yahoo stays top of the heap with an incredible 35.2 million unique visitors in February who spent an average 9 minutes on the site. MSN is "only" three million back at 32.3 million who spend an average of 8.5 minutes there. Quaintly named Google boasts 27.4 million visitors but they clearly have something special because the average time on site is way ahead of everyone else at 26.5 minutes, whilst AOL has 24.3 million visitors who linger for around ten and a half minutes. Bringing up the rear is Ask Jeeves at a still very respectable 11.2 million visitors spending an average of 11 minutes per visit.

About Asian Got2bet....

This looks like a "must do" conference for everyone interested in going after the Asian market - and that's just about everyone we know!

Asian Got2bet is scheduled for June 18 and 19 this year in the very congenial surroundings of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Macau - with Hong Kong a mere hydrofoil ride away for added extracurricular interest.

Not that attendees will have much time during an action-packed program that seems to cover every facet of the Got2bet business as applied to the vast Asian market sector. The Interactive Gaming Council will be there, along with many other well known names so this one should go in the diary now.

"Return of deposits" not credible

The Online Players' Association involved itself in the fast escalating World Gaming crisis this week after being "inundated with player complaints involving significant amounts of money in unfairly disqualified bonuses and winnings" according to an OPA insider.

The source revealed that early in the week the OPA communicated directly with Michael Aymong, Chief Executive Officer and President of World Gaming after the company started returning deposits only to players attempting to cashout, telling them that the issue of bonuses and winnings was the responsibility of the individual casinos involved.

"The letter advised Mr. Aymong that this was not a credible solution and that World Gaming should not walk away from a situation where it has the real and practical power to leverage a just outcome by its licencees, especially now that some of them are ignoring player emails", our informant told us. "It appealed to WG as a respectable public company to do the right thing, but also pointed out that this issue has been running for over a month now and needs urgent and direct attention if World Gaming is to avoid collateral damage as a consequence of this unfair treatment of players".

We are informed that the OPA has already carried out a research and planning program in preparation for further consumer actions should these prove necessary, but as we went to press a response from World Gaming CEO Michael Aymong had just been received and the OPA was seeking clarity on WG's definition of "bonus abuse" and on whether losing players in the promo had also had their deposits returned.

World Gaming spokesmen have blamed their operators, claiming that the crisis arose as a result of inexperienced or incompetent operators misapplying the sophisticated version 3 World Gaming software in regard to bonus requirements.

Consequently, the casinos offered overly generous promotions which players were quick to accept, in many cases depositing and wagering large sums of money. Despite playing well within the promo rules published by the casinos, many players were denied their bonuses and winnings and lockouts took place when the casinos discovered what was clearly an expensive management error.

The casinos themselves have retreated into silence, ignoring player emails.

Player happy with compensation

A casino that did "do the right thing" this week was 49-er, a sister casino to Sands of the Caribbean and 1 On 1 in the CCMH Limited group out of Antigua.

You may recall we have been following this story for the past two weeks and that it involved a software error which popped the "you have won" informative panel on the $100 000 Break The Bank freebie competition available on many Cryptologic powered sites.

The snag was that the Danish player involved hadn't! Broke the bank, that is. After a bad start with a totally inadequate offer of compensation from the casino, the player asked for OPA help and a technical investigation was launched. This was followed by negotiations which ended in a settlement that fully satisfied the player. The standard non-disclosure agreement common to these solutions has been a condition of the settlement so unfortunately we can't reveal the amount involved, but congratulations to the player for standing up for his rights, and well done 49-er for seeing him right!

An old favourite returns, bigger, better and with a new top management

Many players welcomed the positive news this week of the return of King Neptune's Casino.com. It's been worth the wait since it closed for revamp and ownership changes at the end of January this year, with more games and a slicker, brighter appearance.

But what will bring experienced players to the site in numbers is the news that the top executive there is Micki Oster, late of Sunny Group where she built a formidable reputation for ace customer service, integrity and fast payouts and became one of the most respected casino managers in the business.

Trident Entertainment Group are the new owners, with an updated Flash and download gaming suite from Microgaming that boasts 53 games on an ultra-fast download that is typically sub-five minutes. All the current faves are there including all nine Jackpot Madness progressives, and the whole range of support facilities are still available. And there's a cool $50 re-launch bonus.

Jackpot Madness breaches another internet record

The nine progressives run by sixty Microgaming powered internet casinos have cruised through the $60 million level in payouts. Last month’s successful launch of the latest three games pushed the payout total to the all-time record.

Since debuting only a month ago there have already been twelve wins on Triple Sevens Progressive, Jackpot Deuces Progressive Video Poker and Cyberstud Progressive Poker. Jackpot Deuces is currently offering the highest jackpot at a remarkable $396 000 and Cyberstud Progressive Poker fans are chasing $275 000.

The landmark win that pushed the payout total over sixty million was Marka H’s $49,447.79 jackpot on Jackpot Deuces at The Gaming Club on April 8th. Marka is not only an accountant and grandmother but also a very lucky player, because she has won four progressive jackpots previously - a grand total of $191,024.55

Good things coming from Gaming Insight

British online casino supplier, Gaming Insight fresh from raising an additional sterling 1 million (US$ 1.4 million) on the London stock market announced some interesting forthcoming attractions this week.

The company has been contracted by superchef Marco Pierre White's Mirabelle restaurant and The Stork Rooms to provide online casinos for the delectation of its upmarket clientele and the gambling public in general. The new casinos are to be launched in the near future but the rather basic temporary sites are already gathering emails of future players . Gaming Insight's online casinos operation earlier struck a deal to run internet operator AltaVista's gaming site,to be called Dicehouse.com, too. AltaVista is a popular Internet search network with 3.4 million UK users and over 20 million European users each month and has high hopes for an internet gambling venture.

Opportunity knocks for someone...

European passengers aboard the budget airline Ryanair will soon be able to while away their flight time with casino games if the head man there gets his way. And the action will help the airline to either cut ticket prices or offer free flights.

Ryanair is reportedly planning to offer free flights by setting up "casinos in the sky" and chief executive Michael O'Leary plans to introduce in-flight entertainment to subsidise the cost.

He told the British publication The Daily Record "We are currently talking to Boeing about in-flight entertainment where passengers will swipe through a credit card and pay, for example, a pound to watch children's cartoons or a football match. We are also planning to introduce gambling - like Las Vegas slot machines but with a limited jackpot."

The affiliate managers for a string of quality end casinos this week announced a new reward scheme that they claim will substantially increase the income of those channeling players to their casinos.

Instead of offering a set of scaled returns, CasinoRewards now offers a flat 35% Revenue Share Plan - presumably with no minimum threshhold.

Brent Smith of CasinoRewards explains:
"In the past we used the same model that our competitors use today - an affiliate website would receive a percentage of referred player revenue based on the volume of purchases made by those players. Though most affiliate programs advertised a 35% return, the reality was that unless a website could generate over $30,000 worth of monthly purchases they would receive a far smaller share."

Smith goes on to quote detailed numbers showing the benefits of his new scheme, and concludes: "Some of our competition is advertising up to 45% returns, but if you look at the fine print you will find that the affiliate website needs to generate over $50,000 in purchases to achieve this. We feel this is simply unfair to affiliates - it's an unrealistic figure and it doesn't address the needs of smaller affiliates."

Smith handles the affiliate action for Golden Tiger, Blackjack Ballroom, Virtual City, Strike It Lucky and Zodiac Casinos.

Analysts say many will not survive

Top reading material for anyone interested in Got2bet this week was an incisive article in The Observer that predicted major commercial rewards ahead but also a massive industry shakeout that will see the demise of many small, underfunded casino operations.

Reporting that internet gambling is now second only to the dubious porno business in in internet turnover the article says that many investors and operators have nevertheless severely burned their fingers in the market, and that the promise of easy money has evaporated. 'It's very easy to set up an online casino, but it's increasingly difficult to make money out of it,' it quotes Iain Wilkie, hospitality and leisure partner at consultant Ernst & Young as saying. Even established names have been hurt, according to The Observer. The owner of Harrods, Mohamed al-Fayed, set up an online casino, Harrods.com. But the value of shares in Gaming Insight, the company that powers the site and in which Harrods Online holds a stake, has fallen from 25p last June to around 6p now, despite the company announcing that profits were up by 300 per cent to more than £12 million in the 18 months to 31 December last year.

Last week it was the turn of Damian Aspinall, son of the zookeeper and casinos magnate John Aspinall, to experience a reality check. His internet firm, the AIM-listed Aspinalls Online, admitted that a Bermuda-based online casino business it bought for more than £30m less than a year ago, was worthless. In addition, the firm is to subcontract the management of its two online casinos to an outside operator. It all adds up to an ignominious fall from grace for one of the most famous names in casinos.

The article estimates that the industry worldwide produced revenues of $4.6 billion last year, and is predicted to be worth more than $125bn by 2015. But, it says it is undergoing massive turbulence as the stronger players with the brands begin to assert themselves.

"The smaller, opportunistic guys in places like Antigua or Costa Rica may have done well at first but most will be history," Wilkie says. Many have already had little choice but to close for good. US credit card firms and banks, worried about the rising levels of fraud, have taken to blocking transactions with the offshore firms, effectively cutting off their business.

According to gambling experts interviewed by The Observer, the industry is on the cusp of a massive shake-out and within the next two years only a fraction of the current Got2bet firms will exist. Analysts at investment bank Merrill Lynch remark notably that this year, for the first time since they began following the business about five years ago, the number of Got2bet sites dropped. It is thought that a year ago there were some 1,800 sites.

The trickle of casualties is likely to become a flood once the US grants Got2bet licences, which will effectively signal the death of the smaller sites. The industry is divided about exactly when the US will give the green light to Got2bet, but most agree it will happen.

Recognition and regulation by the authorities is now the holy grail for the industry's biggest players, which seek to migrate punters from the internet to other forms of new media.

'The internet is just the first step. The majority of betting in the future will be entertainment and sporting-led, through interactive TV or over mobile phones,' Wilkie said.

According to analysts at the research firm Sportbusiness.com, by 2015 more than 80 per cent of the industry's revenue will come from sports betting, and the race is on to build global, multi-currency, multi-lingual operations that can exploit huge economies of scale. Firms that target just one country stand little chance of survival.

Latest move in the Sunny vs Microgaming wrangle

The dispute over access to the servers hosted by the Mohawk Internet Technologies in the Canadian First Nation enclave near Montreal entered another phase this week with the announcement by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission that it is to appoint an "independent third party" to review the situation and make recommendations.

The KGC says it has mandated Frank Catania and the National Fraud Center (NFC) to investigate and evaluate allegations "concerning Sunny Group, Inc's disconnection from the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake."

According to KGC Chairman Alan Goodleaf, Catania will compile, evaluate and report NFC's investigative finding to the KGC to enable it to "take whatever measures may be appropriate."

Catania is a former lawyer and gaming regulator who advised Kahnawake in the setup of their regulatory jurisdiction under the sovereignty they claim due to their First Nation status in Canada.

Meanwhile, Sunny officials are quoted in a South African newspaper story reporting on the dispute with Microgaming that they are seeking legal remedies as the freezing of their servers is denying them the balances of some 20 000 players, preventing payment. Sunny says that it is deeply concerned because it has a solid reputation for paying out it's players and the current situation is delaying this in respect of some ten percent of it's over 200 000 regular clients. Interestingly the casino group revealed that its turnover last year was over a quarter of a billion US dollars.

Another Euro-jurisdiction with teeth

The island of Alderney, with killer geographical positioning in the English Channel this week announced that it has completed infrastructural arrangements and is now offering Got2bet licences.

If you think this is another of those Belize or Costa Rican flags of convenience, think again. Ilona Soane-Sands, States of Alderney marketing manager tells us that they are in competition with the Isle of Man and that if anything their licencing requirements in terms of security deposits, personnel vetting, software checks and ongoing supervision are more stringent.

They're off to a flying start too, with the news that the Alderney Gambling Control Commission has approved licences for three serious future Got2bet outfits, Littlewoods Leisure, Ritz Interactive and online casino developer of note Wagerworks.

Littlewoods Leisure intends to launch its own Cryptologic-powered online casino through its Isle of Man licence and hold the Alderney licence for potential partnerships with third-party companies. Ritz Interactive is a subsidiary of The Ritz Club, based in The Ritz Hotel in London.

Maxed royalties and cheaper upfront from new turnkey provider

A name creating ripples in the industry recently is iChance-Futurebet who have just snaffled Black Rhino Casino and, we're reliably informed Global Interactive away from World Gaming.

Claiming that it offers everything the Big Four providers do, iChance markets its full-on internet casino package through an outfit called World Wide Support Systems based in the very pleasant city of Vancouver up there in the GWN. WWSS says that they have the jump on the more established providers with red-hot technology and two important commercial advantages - maxed royalties and lower upfront payments.

Telling "The Prescription" gambling 'zene this week that the usual heavyweights are charging upfronts in the region of US$ 300 000 or more with royalties typically in the twenty-five to thirty percent a month with no end limit, a spokesman for WWSS revealed that his company will do an equivalent job for US $100 000 upfront and a fifteen percent royalty - and here's the kicker - maxed at US $75 000 per month. In other words once the client has paid 75 Gs each month in royalties levied at 15 percent of NGR that charge ceases, potentially saving the operator significant amounts of money every month if the venture is well run.

WWSS are targeting new industry entrants, existing operators and land-based casino owners with internet ambitions and in addition to full turnkey packages they are offering modular packages customised to individual needs and pockets.

Now they're offering half what is due

We're getting pretty frustrated by the ongoing complaints regarding the lack of communication and continued hassles being experienced by players at Real Time Gaming-powered casinos. You can sense the player irritation and distrust under the continual bombardment of stories about bogus disqualifications on bonuses, way late or never payouts, bad client service, failing casinos and so on. Ad nauseum. It must be discouraging for the honest RTG licencees and one has to wonder why they are not exerting more pressure on the software provider to sort out the manifold hassles by which it is besieged.

This week it was the turn of the incredibly long-suffering and patient players who are owed money by the failed operation The Casino Online (TCO) that RTG closed down some time back.

After months of being jerked around, gamblers received emails from RTG this week offering them a paltry fifty percent of the monies owed to them by TCO, conditional on their releasing RTG from all future obligations. RTG clearly wants to wash its hands of this one.

The email identified the site Grandmastersports.com as belonging to the decamped owner of TCO whom they did not identify but suggested that players might like to try for the other fifty percent there. You may recall that TCO was accused by RTG of using TCO monies to set up and operate Grandmastersports.com. Instead of paying their players.

It is very noticeable that RTG have yet again failed to comment or elaborate on their customary site boilerplate copy that promises the gullible and the innocent that the operation is "Legally licenced and insured". This is text composed, supplied, and hosted under RTG's control. It continues on current sites and new sites, and in our view they should be expected to honour it.

We have asked RTG for an explanation regarding the "insured" aspect and we know many others have as well - but it is a question they continually side-step and we have grave suspicions.

And why have they not identified the TCO crook by name?

..trouble

World Gaming Operations head honcho Liam Gillen had a busy return to office after the Easter weekend to find a large number of player complaints referred by the OPA. The complaints stemmed from highly questionable bonus disqualification actions by five online casinos using the latest version 3 World Gaming software. OPA's Mike Craig has interviewed Gillen at : http://www.modeo.demon.co.uk/OPAWORLD.ram and we would recommend that you listen to his helpful explanation of how this crisis came about.

Essentially, the casinos involved are new licensees who set the sophisticated bonusing section of the WG casino software incorrectly for crediting the bonus playthrough and were offering bonuses that were way too generous. The result was a large influx of players who had wised up to the positive possibilities "...in about thirty minutes" Many of them made large deposits. Nevertheless, for the most part they played well within the rules set by the casino and that means that bonuses and winnings must be honored and that a "only deposits returned" scenario is not an acceptable solution should that be on the agenda of WG or the casinos.

Gillen is trying to sort out the mess on a "case by case" basis and players will be contacted individually with the OPA kept in the loop. Gillen points out that the individual casinos concerned, which OPA will identify when known will make the final decision on the payouts because at the end of the day it is their money and their decision. It is also obvious that yet again inexperienced casino managements have landed in a mess or trouble and badly need educating.

Should the casinos try for a return of deposits only where players have gambled within the T&Cs in force at the time, expect a major row.

We thought this was an April Fool's Day hoax at first...

We really did, because we could not imagine that a land-based, experienced casino owner doing its "due diligence" could have missed the rather checkered background of its new partner.

What are we talking about? The announcement that Aspinalls is to outsource its faltering Got2bet operations to the owners of the much-criticized Golden Palace group.

Aspinalls Online Limited announced this week that it has signed a deal under which it plans to outsource the management of the company's online casino operations to Golden Palace, in exchange for a revenue share agreement. The trusted B&M company said it has incurred substantial losses in establishing and operating its own on-line gaming business.

The formal agreements are expected to run for an initial period of 30 months and will grant Golden Palace the exclusive right, under license, to promote the Aspinalls name within the online gaming environment.

On completion of the formal agreements and full transfer of the operation of the websites to Golden Palace, the company will wind down its existing on-line business. This action will reduce the cash available to the company to approximately 600,000 stg, but the anticipated release by the company's operating subsidiaries of gaming deposits and reserves should increase available cash to approximately 1 mln stg over the next few months, it said.

Aspinalls casinos have enjoyed the status of OPA-approval, and this could now be in jeopardy.

Sunny Group and Microgaming face up

The sudden and aggressive confrontation between Big Four turnkey provider Microgaming and casino owners Sunny Group stole the news this week, surpassing even interest in the new Brit gambling laws.

Sunny Group threw the first punch with a news release that announced the end of their gambling software relationship "...after being unable to resolve concerns in relation to the percentage associated with its Microgaming software". Microgaming riposted with a denial of Sunny allegations and pointed out that in fact it had terminated the relationship due to licence payment arrears.

Assuring players that it was deeply concerned about the fairness and honesty of their treatment the Sunny release went on to chronicle serious commercial and ethical differences with Microgaming that surrounded:

Doubts Sunny has on the Random Number Generator at the heart of the Microgaming gambling software system used by Sunny casinos; concern regarding undelivered Price Waterhouse Coopers monthly percentage payout audits for December last year; disquiet at new agreements presented to them by Microgaming that included sweeping freedom from liability provisions; alleged tampering with Sunny client accounts and disappointment that Microgaming owner Martin Moshal was apparently reluctant to speak directly to Sunny.

It did not stop there, however. The startling release called for an independent test on the randomness and susceptibility of the Microgaming RNG and a third party audit of the percentage payouts presented recently by PWC. There was also an intriguing reference to a dispute two years back when Microgaming is alleged to have come to a settlement with some of its licencees following suspicions of RNG tampering.

Signalling that the decision to split was final and irrevocable, the Sunny release informed the public that it has selected the Playtech software group to replace Microgaming. Playtech is a Dutch company that offers download games and powers a number of successful online casinos.

Rarely has the industry seen such forthright accusations, and Microgaming was quick to make a controlled response with its own media release, denying all of the Sunny allegations and claiming that it had terminated the agreement because the Sunny Group was "heavily in arrears" on its licence fees, that appropriate notice had been given for the termination and that it had had "no alternative" but to embark on the breakup "with a heavy heart".

Microgaming added that it was doing everything possible to help Sunny by finalising data to pay the players and closed with the comment that it "regrets that the Sunny Group has sought to hide its financial embarrassment in this matter"

Against this background there was a sudden surge of message board and chatroom activity, laced with accusations and counter-accusations that concealed corporate posters as well as upfront posters were at work. Some were caught in their deception by smart regulars on the 'boards, and that did not help their credibility. The intensity of the exchanges surprised many observers, and players were assured by Sunny that the transition to the new software would be fair and painless.

Then Sunny weighed in with another release, alleging that Microgaming had "physically prevented" it gaining access to it's servers in the Mohawk Internet Technology's Khanawake facility in order to secure client information and pay players. The release claimed that a Sunny manager had flown to the facility in order to secure their servers on suspicions that Microgaming was interfering with Sunny client information. The release also contains the intriguing allegation that Microgaming's founder Martin Moshal is a significant online casino operator competing directly with his own licencees - information guaranteed to stir up a hornet's nest of speculation.

Alleging that Microgaming is now refusing to release the servers, or provide information on player balances the new release uses tough language such as "spiteful" and "dishonest" and warns that theft of information on the internet is a serious offence and that commercial damage to Sunny could be considerable - and claimable.

Hot news as we went to press is that The Khanawake Gaming Commission is refusing Sunny access to the servers on the grounds that neither Casino Fortune nor Sunny Group have provided notice to the KGC of their intention to switch software suppliers or leave Kahnawake, as required in the Kahnawake Gaming Commission's regulations.

According to Alan Goodleaf, KGC Chairman, notice to and permission from the KGC is necessary for permit holders to change their control systems, including software suppliers, and/or to terminate their permits for the purpose of relocating from the jurisdiction.

The Khanawake release continued by stating that under the circumstances of the case, the actions taken by MIT to secure the gaming equipment and control systems until direction was received from the KGC, was appropriate. It would have been improper for MIT to allow unauthorized access to anyone including the software provider.

The KGC has now directed that Sunny Group's equipment and control systems be preserved - off-line - on the MIT premises until such time as Sunny Group has provided proper notice to the KGC of its intentions to change its software and/or to relocate from Kahnawake at which time the KGC will take the necessary steps in accordance with its Regulations. Sunny's response is to threaten legal action and report the matter to the Canadian authorities.

The Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake is a large tribal reserve approximately 7 miles from the city of Montreal, Quebec in Canada. It has set up a sizable "server farm" that houses servers for high-tech businesses, including virtual casinos.

The dispute has already been picked up by the wire services and is expected to break into mainstream news media.

Good news for internet gambling too

Like us, you are probably a little dazed by now from the blitz of detailed mainstream media publicity given to the proposed changes to British gambling legislation, so we're just going to give the interesting bit on internet gambling from Gambling Review:

"The Government will legalise the provision of the full range of on-line gambling services by operators based in the UK, including on-line gaming. A kitemark or similar mechanism will be introduced to enable prospective customers to distinguish between those sites that are licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission and those that are not.

"On-line operators will need to meet the same entry standards as those in other gambling sectors, and their operations will be subject to approval and monitoring by the Commission to ensure compliance with regulations. Effective safeguards will be required to prevent children using on-line gambling sites. There will be a separate review of prize and promotional competitions"

Where to tread carefully

One of our highly reliable technical sources warned us about Be The Dealer.com this week. This site is reportedly owned by RTG's Daniel Schultz and other familiar names like Avi Goldman have surfaced too. Same old names keep cropping up, eh? Anyway, the idea is that players can gamble until they reach a stipulated level and then they can opt to become the dealer, sharing profits on each hand with the casino owner. The site is rather brash and hard-sell backed by Cyprus banking. The operator is listed as ADLM Gaming registered in the Netherlands Antilles which we seem to recall is an Israeli company. There is an ecommission seal (top RTG licencee Friedman owns egamingcommission out of Budapest)

That's the background to the site - now more on our warning. It seems that our source had his virus protection up when he downloaded the four game software for Be The Dealer and it nailed a virus called Backdoor.Trojan.dr in the CasinoSetup.exe file. This wasn't the program exe. file, just the setup. Norton couldn't repair it, but advise that it allows remote access to the computer into which it enters.

That was enough to scare us into issuing this warning - "Shields Up, Mr. Spock" if you go near this one!

49erCasino and perhaps by association other Cryptologic powered casinos carrying the Break The Bank competition offering $100 000 rewards are, disappointingly also under the shadow of doubt. We started reporting on it last week, but if you missed that here's a summary.

Player sees those magic matches come up on his PC screen with his account number and realizes that he has finally hit a big one. Like a $100,000 jackpot. "Combination correct you win $100,000. We will be contacting you soon." the lettering across the screen spelled out. But no contact, and when he manages to get through he is told rather off-handedly that it was disqualified as a software glitch and all he gets is a miserable $60.

How would you feel? Judging by the posts flying across the internet not very complimentary about 49-er Casino in particular and Cryptologic in general.

The OPA are on this, and a specialist technical team is studying the casino's explanation and a screenshot from the player. The OPA has also pointed out to the casino that this is a live issue and that they consider that the player appears to have been badly treated.

This one could get interesting and it is hoped that CCMH as owners of 49-er take a more player-sensitive position.

GoodFellows.com were catching it last week for suspending cash-ins for an audit following an overly generous promo. Following intervention by the OPA the casino has resumed normal operations and is now flying right, albeit with really tough wagerthru' conditions to discourage those damned bonus hunters. Whilst we're on the subject we would like to publish a correction in this regard. We were informed at the time by usually very reliable sources (two of them!) that Goodfellows was related to Spin Palace. Marketing staff at Spin Palace have assured us that this is not the case and that they have no connections whatsoever to Good Fellows, and we accept that unreservedly. Spin Palace received a good review from us when it launched earlier this year, and continues to provide good entertainment and reliable payouts.

Real Time Gaming has apparently communicated with Gambling Grumbles at gambling.com recently, although for some inexplicable reason they continue to ignore the increasingly angry unpaid players elsewhere.

Julie at GG writes that late last year TheCasinoOnline (TCO) joined the list of RTG casinos that have closed their doors. Payments to most players at TCO were months behind, and finally all communication simply came to a stand still. It appeared the owner left the players empty handed and without so much as an apology.

The background to the whole RTG debacle is known to all - a number of slow-or-no pay casinos, some which went belly-up and RTG promising to resolve player payment issues. One of those that they said they would deal with was TCO. Now many are beginning to doubt the sincerity of these promises.

According to Gambling Grumbles, Real Time Gaming is still working on the problem, but apparently there have been complications. To sort out the player payments they need the latest records, and those are presumably with the owner. Exacerbating the problem is the fact that it appears the owner may have been milking TCO to sustain another gambling site he owns which uses a different software suite. And because the two sites shared the same credit card merchant account, funds were mixed up. RTG feels that if they simply went ahead and tried to payout the players they would be subsidizing another software provider as well as the decamped owner of TCO.

We think that the players who have been so cruelly stiffed should be the top priority of all involved. If RTG knows who and where TCO's owner is they should name him and shame him and not allow him to continue to manipulate the situation from the shadows of obscurity. And that would give the OPA a chance to tackle him, too.

Either way, RTG seems to be playing a strange game and communicating badly, so they remain on our Casino Caution list - and their acceptance of the TCO owner as a licencee clearly sucked!.

No further until the federal situation is clear

If you thought the battle for regulated internet gambling in Vegas was won after last year's State legislative truimph you're in for a disappointment at present.

In a blow to those hoping that Nevada casino companies would be able to tap into the multibillion-dollar Internet gambling business, the State's top gaming regulators said this week that they are unable to proceed with plans to write rules legalizing interstate cyber-gambling. "The question about federal legality remains unanswered," Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander said after hearing a presentation from the state's attorney general's office. "I told the legislators last year that we will not go forward without a green light."

Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rodefer presented his report at a meeting of the Nevada Gaming Commission and said federal laws on the issue are unclear. In terms of a Nevada law passed last year regulators were instructed to find that Internet gambling is legal before they can write rules enabling the State's casinos to accept Web bets.

Barring congressional action or a reversal of a long-standing Department of Justice opinion that interstate Internet casino gambling violates the 1961-vintage Wire Act, Neilander said regulators won't be able to write rules at present.

When Nevada governor Guinn signed AB466 last year, many industry experts thought the new law would allow the state's casinos to capture a large share of the Internet gambling market, a rapidly growing business that experts predict will generate $6.3 billion worldwide by next year. They predicted that strong brand names owned by Strip megaresorts like Caesars Palace, the MGM Grand and Bellagio would quickly capture market share from current Internet casinos operating with little or no regulation from offshore jurisdictions.

Probably frustrated by the delays, two of the State's biggest operators - MGM-Mirage and Station - are preparing to offer Internet casino betting with tough Isle of Man licences, but they have made it clear that they will do nothing to endanger their Vegas land licences.

The last members of the old Starnet team left the World Gaming board in London this week, ending an often tumultous chapter in the software companys history.

The resignations of Fred Hazell as Chairman of the board of directors and Jason Bolduc as a director were announced by CEO Mike Aymong, who will assume the position of Chairman on an interim basis.

Paying the usual corporate compliments, Aymong pointed out that the company was evolving rapidly and that the directorate needed to be in sync with the new direction.

``We are seeking directors who can further establish World Gaming's presence in Europe, as well as accelerate the company's international reach. We expect our board members to bring significant experience and reputation in the areas of Internet gaming, finance, capital markets, law, entertainment, communication, and customer service and retention to their positions.'' he said.

Board changes at turnkey provider

John Copelyn, a senior executive from the South African company Hoskens Consolidated Investments Limited is the new CEO at Online Gaming Systems (OGS).

In a major board reshuffle this week the former CEO and President, Gary Ramos left the company "to pursue his own business interests" and finance man Lawrence P. Tombari was promoted to President of the Company.

HCI is a South Africa-based investment holding company that focuses its activities in telecommunications and information technology, media and broadcasting, interactive gaming and entertainment and financial services.

SunOnline nails another one

SunOnline and the UK technical online publishing house Dennis Interactive inked a cool affiliate deal together this week for the marketing of the impressive Casino Atlantis.com

SunOnline Limited, the operators of Casino Atlantis as the only (IOM) licensed online casino currently operating within the British Isles, announced the strategic partnership deal with Dennis Interactive. Under its terms, the casino and the SunOnline brand will be the exclusive casino partner available on all Dennis Interactive sites providing secure gambling to users. SunOnline will also provide content for all the sites in order to help educate users and introduce the 1.7 million Dennis monthly customers to Got2bet. Links will be provided from pages of the Dennis Interactive sites including; www.maxim-magazine.co.uk, www.autoexpress.co.uk, www.pcpro.co.uk and www.computerbuyer.co.uk which will allow users to click through to a co-branded area for the Casino Atlantis site.

When you're on a roll...

On rare occasions good luck just surrounds you, and if you're sharp enough to realize it the rewards and the satisfaction are the tops. Ask Intercasino player "Barbs" who is still recovering after a truly great winning experience. She rode a poker winning streak through to a $192 000 conclusion this week.

Barb, a self-employed professional with years of online gaming experience knows that when you're hot, you play your streak for all its worth. Her luck began early one weekend morning when she ran into InterCasino manager Ryan Hartley, and one of his famous surprise $100 bonuses.

That $100 freebee proved enough of a push to get the wheels spinning for Barb, who commented that, ``the $100 was enough to make a few critical extra bets''. She decided that the money would be best spent on Let it Ride Poker, her game of choice. Shortly after she hit a four of a kind worth an amazing $12,000.

After a short afternoon break celebrating her $12,000 win, it was back to the casino to see what else Lady Fortune has to offer. And only a few hours later she lucked into the mega-jackpot with a Royal on the Spice Island Progressive Poker game, raking in the mammoth $180,000 jackpot.

Can you think of a better way to end a weekend?

Worth a visit

A little more on offer this week.

We start with GA Casino.com - officially titled Grand Aces Online Casino. This is a well-built site with a substantial feel. It is fitted with IGS software thru' Aquaonline and the download gambling suite features 6 average quality games - single zero Roulette, 2 slots, Craps, VP and BJ. They are offering $100 cash back on the first $100 or more deposit with a wagerthru' commitment of x5 on the bonus and x5 on the deposit. Full tollfree Support and e-cash via Firecash / Firepay / PayPal / Clearchex. There is a loyalty program too. Geisha Lounge Casino is an affiliate. The owners are IEG out of Nassau, Bahamas.

Triple-A-Casino is a rather plain, but intuitive, slick and efficient casino site powered by the Chartwell Technology java software offering 20 games of average quality. There is a full-on Support and comprehensive Euro-denominated e-cash options, together with an RNG certified by the independent test lab BMM International and with an average percentage payout guaranteed to be above 98 per cent. English and German language versions are on offer. The site is built for Simon Bold Ltd Gibraltar, a company in the Bet and Win Interactive Entertainment Group AG which is an Austrian public company boasting a gambling base of over a quarter of a million regular users.

Diamondcasino.com. Quality end, big Microgaming casino with attractive site design and 37 Flash and 42 download quality games that include six progressives. All the usual MGS features of Cashcheck and Playcheck, Support, loyalty program and a wide choice of e-cash options. The bonus structure is tiered up to a max of $100 and a free $15 is offered on sign up with wagerthru' requirements.

Catalonia Casino.com We're reliably informed that his casino is about to launch and is powered by Real Time Gaming. It has an average quality, tropical island themed site with the very nice download games suite of 13 options from RTG. E-Cash is thru' Comp-e-Cash, there is full Support and the owners are the Sky International Casinos B&M group out of Dominica. There is a dead button on the site for what looks like a sister casino called Sol de Plata Casino. Remember that RTG still has issues outstanding and take care.

Players Room Casino.com This was formerly Players Room.com and belonged to the Technologia JPR company using software from Global I/Net. It ran into commercial difficulties and has been purchased by the efficient VIP Services group of Curacao which includes successful Got2bet operations like VIPcasino, Blackjack Player, VIPsoccer and Good As Gold and also manages the Sunny Sportsbook. Although most of their operations use IGW software this casino will stay with the 5 Shockwave games in the Global I/Net range.

Watch out for two cool new Microgaming casinos called Bella Vegas.com and Jackpots-In-A-Flash.com - we'll be reviewing them next week!

This is the best bonus on the 'net - NOT!

Here's an illustration of the need to do a little math to correctly interpret the wording a casino uses to promote its bonus. Consider the following:

"Deposit $25.00 into your account and Cyberspades will match your deposit 100%! You must wager a minimum of $2,000.00 total before cash out is allowed."

But if you do it the numbers way this example represents a x 40 wagerthru' requirement on your deposit and bonus! That must, as several more experienced players hilariously commented this week, be a world record!

Oh yes - and it's restricted to once a month! We're surprised that one player a year gets taken by these draconian Cyberspades T&Cs, but then perhaps it just doesn't add up for a lot of folks.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa