29 January 2014
The Best and Worst of 2013
The only awards that matter…
It’s been one hell of a year – and these are the awards to prove it.
Best Casino of 2013 – US Friendly
Best Casino of 2013 – Global
Worst Casino of 2013
Best Casino Group – Global
Best Casino Group – US Friendly
Worst Casino Group
Best New Casino of 2013
Best Player Experience 2013
Worst Player Experience 2013
Worst Affiliate Experience of 2013
Ted Loh Humanitarian Award
Evil Marketing Award of 2013
Faceplant 2013
Best Customer Service 2013
Worst Customer Service 2013
Best Gaming Experience Award
Sitting on One’s Hands Award
Fourth Point of Contact Award
Head in the Sand Award
Stupidest Named Casino
Best Affiliate Program 2013
Most Annoying Affiliate Program 2013
Best Casino Manager of 2013
Worst Casino Manager of 2013
Biggest Disappointment of 2013
The Most Annoying Forum Member
Forum Highlight of the Year
Casino Representative of the Year
The Stupidest Casino Trick
The Best Warning Robot of 2013
Fan Mail of 2013 Award
The Evil Player Award
In Memoriam
18 March 2014
ICE 2014 – London
Better late than never…
Yeah, I know. Some of you are wondering what the hell happened to me. “Where’s the London report? you were in London for the International Casino Exhibition and the London Affiliate Conference, but nary a word!” Well, as soon as I returned from my UK excursion, I vanished for a while – off of the radar so to speak tending to family business, and entertaining guests. Then when that phase was over, we changed servers at Casinomeister to enable us to bring you more new and improved rants from me and my minions, and of course our teeming membership. Yes, the forum is pegged to become even a better, smarter place. Just wait ‘n see.
But in the meantime, let me get on with my story…London.
Each year at this time, well actually in late January/early February, I embark on my pilgrimage to London. For you Einsteins who haven’t figured it out yet, it’s one of my favorite spots on this planet…even beats Waikiki beach. The city bustle beneath its monuments and centuries of human art and strife is unprecedented. Some say “Well Paris is just as old and has just as much history.” Paris didn’t give us the Beatles, the Clash, Dickens or Shakespeare. I’ve been to Paris, and Paris is no London.
Max Drayman, the complaints manager at Casinomeister – who oversees the PABs and other important stuff, met up right away and headed out to the Sherlock Holmes Pub which is virtually across the street from our hotel. This pub is a gem – laid back and “gemütlich” – this is one of those German words that has no direct translation in English. It means cosy with a warm pleasant feeling (to the soul – not temperature). That’s a true pub feeling, and the Sherlock Holmes pub lives up to its “gemütlichkeit”. It was here that we indulged in a couple of pints and went over our notes on what we were trying to accomplish for this trip. Fortunately for us, there were no real pressing player issues or major meltdowns – perhaps a first for us – and so we made a toast to just enjoy the trip as well as we could. Pubs ‘n all.
That evening, we had a delightful meal at The Don on Swithins Lane off of Cannon Street (love the names). Thanks to Micki Oster, we were invited along with Sue Schneider, and a handful of other industry folk who we meet quite frequently with. I had the wild mushroom risotto, and west coast halibut – totally excellent.
One thing that I should mention at this point was that I looked a bit different this year, instead of the usual silky smooth charming me, I had about eight weeks of a somewhat massive beard goin’ on. Yes, the meister had gone “dude-like”, and either you loved it or you hated it. Sue Schneider loved it; Micki hated it. And this set the tone of “beard-talk” for the rest of the trip.
Voice from the past – ICE 2003
The first thing I noticed on “the tube” were Casino-on-net banner ads. If they can’t get you in cyberspace, they will get you in normal space. In fact, they were all over the place – some were bigger than life, sprawling five meters high three meters wide and spread on the wall opposite from where you stand waiting for the subway train. Interestingly enough – they didn’t promise big winnings or bonuses like their cyber counter parts, but just a statement to join their 4 million members in the poker room for example. And where was the competition? I’m sure some of the big British land based casinos have the funds to launch a counter ad campaign, but there were none in sight. Very strange–I find this puzzling.
The ICE
The first day of the ICE was somewhat problematic, since there was a Tube strike going on that was affecting the London Underground. For those who don’t know, the ICE is now held on the outskirts of proper London – a location named “Docklands” which lives up to the imagery it conjures up. Fortunately for Max and me, the trains that we needed were just slightly delayed for about 15 minutes that morning. No biggy. It took us less than an hour to arrive there from Trafalgar Square.
Upon our arrival at the Excell, we realized that it was even more massive than 2013’s event. You have to really “hoof” it just to make one full circuit around the exhibition hall. Some of the booths are obscenely big – Playtech’s included a London Transit bus and a quaint sidewalk cafe. Photographic proof here. As we made our way around, we discussed some of the current player issues, specifically some of the recent player fraud schemes – which you can fully “bone up” on here and here.
On with the expo floor: Max and I spoke with a detective from the Metropolitan Police Force who had a booth for the first time. He was one of the heads of the Gaming Unit Fraud Squad – specializing more in organized and economic crimes. We briefly discussed player fraud and other cyber crimes. If was good making contact with the constable (who had a beard a bit more awesomer than mine), since cyber crime has been a topic of late.
There was a major bust in 2013 that resulted in two DDOS extortionists being thrown into the slammer for a bit more than 4 years. Seriously, boo-freaking-hoo for them. I have good reason to suspect that they were the same douchebags who launched a DDOS attack on Casinomeister in 2010. And my sources tell me that these two a-holes are directly connected to a rogue casino group – one that you will find in our Rogue Pit. I’m not mentioning names, but just don’t patronize casinos listed here.
Roaming the expo: one oddity was a relatively large booth from Topgame – odd since booths are quite expensive and Top Game hasn’t been doing so well. Even with their ongoing dispute with Rome Casino, they have found the need to display their wares at the ICE with a free booze bar to boot. I guess there are always a surprise or two at the ICE.
Voice from the past – ICE 2008
We also met briefly with Andrew Beveridge and Tex Reese from eCOGRA who have been instrumental on making great strides for players. It’s a shame that there are still some individuals who have knee-jerk opinions about organizations that step forth to better this industry for the player. eCOGRA has done a hell of a lot of work, and they really make a difference for casino operator accountability.
The rest of the afternoon was a blur in a sea of people and casino booths. One impressive item – the new Lara Croft: Tomb Raider game due out from Microgaming soon. The graphics are absolutely awesome, and the bonus rounds bring online slots to another level. Hell, who needs land based slots when you have slots like these. When it’s launched, you’ll see what I mean.
Time was fleeting, and we had a liquid lunch appointment with the iNetBet guys at The Shard which was absolutely fabulous. Viewpoint photos here. Again, a major topic was about player fraud. Big surprise? I think not. These guys have seen a lot of it. Just at press time they informed me of a player who charged back all of his deposits after he had collected his winnings of $1950 (you can read about it here). What a scumbag.
And as the day progressed, it was time to bid farewell, and make it back to the Meister Meeting in at Waxy O’Conners in Leicester Square. Traffic was a bitch (remember Tube strike), but we made it there only a few minutes late. And like last year, it was meisterly delicious! A fine example of gemütlichkeit. The two band members of the local Bible Code Sundays were rockin’ it as always with bare bones Irish drinking tunes. The food was marvelous, and I had to reopen the bar for a smattering of members who didn’t want to leave – well, who would want to leave if there was free booze.
Funny thing, looking at the bill afterwards, someone had actually ordered a Heineken. Bleh!
But as always, it’s always a big treat to meet up with forum members, casino reps, and the usual suspects. Thanks Club World Casinos for sponsoring this. Next year we’re going to have a big surprise – so, mark your calendars for February 3rd 2015. It’s going to be another come-as-you-are meisterly get-together.
It was a great night. A few of us meandered off to the traditional Chinese dinner at the Joy King Lau restaurant around the corner. They have deep fried tofu that is 50 shades of awesomeness. Well worth the trip to London to just munch away on this after a few pints. My dearest reader, you must add the deep fried tofu to your bucket list.
Voice from the past – ICE 2007
Another highlight that afternoon was the Meister Meeting back at the Atlas. Here a number of forum members met – some for the first time, and it was a true highlight of my London tour. Kasino King graced us with his presence. He had thoughtfully created bottle openers for many of us – with our little icons on one side and Kasino King on the other. If you missed meeting us there, you missed out on a pretty cool gathering – and key ring. Check them out here. Really an excellent gift – a big public thanks!
The following day was day 2 of the ICE. It was almost a blurry-eyed-more-of-the-same – yet one of the more upbeat and positive moments was our meeting the administration of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Over the past several years, the KGC has made massive improvements in their procedures and protocols. And in this time and space I can honestly say with no holds barred, the KGC is the most player focused and responsive licensing agency – period. As Max succinctly mentions here (in his blog):
…continuing under the inspired guidance of Chairman Dean Montour, the KGC remains the one regulator in this business to set the bar high enough that it actually matters, and makes a difference, to players. Their process has real teeth — they can pull the plug on an operator if needs be — and they’ve got enough licencees that they’re not desperate to please (and collect the fees from) each and every one of them. So it was a pleasure to hear the annual KGC Player Complaints Report unfold, proof again of a finely crafted, well-tuned and effective process. Hats off (again!) to Dean, General Counsel Murray Marshall and Complaints Officer Micki Oster for a tough job admirably done.What other licensing jurisdiction publishes their player dispute summary? You can find theirs here and here. They are also fully transparent when it comes to player exclusions. This is all documented here. If you are an operator, you may want to look into what the KGC can offer you. This is no rubber stamp licensing – this is for real.
Well it was time to head out and grab some pints at the Ship & Shovel pub by Charing Cross – as we do each year, with the folks from Sports InterAction This is another one of our yearly pilgrimages. Some people choose spiritual pilgrimages to places like Mecca or the Vatican – Max and I, we choose pubs in London.
It was gemütlich – crowded, but it’s always a great crowd there. We chatted about a number of topics, and the talk turned to translated versions of websites. I have worked in the translation business before back in the very early days of the Internet. I also had a Chinese version of Casinomeister (launched in 2008) – a site that has been mothballed due to lack of a good translator. But I’m seriously considering relaunching the Casinomeister Chinese site. So for you Chinese punters, hang tight. You’ll be the first to know if and when it goes live again.
From there, Max and I meandered to our annual 32Red concursion – always a great meal, this time in the posh Galvin at Windows at Park Lane. It was swanky, and the restaurant hosts were amicable towards ruffians such as us. The restaurant has some of the best views in London – in fact you can see right into the Queen’s garden (unfortunately it was night as we couldn’t see diddly squat). The service team was impeccable and the food pretty decent. For the first time I could recollect, I ordered mutton – just to have it.
As we are well aware, 32Red has been going strong since their launch 2002, and we discussed the careful observance that they finally have some strong competition for Casino of the Year. The 2013 Casinomeister Awards ran very close – with the Best Casino up for a vote by the Casinomeister Advisory Group. Next year should be interesting – will 32Red pull it off again? We’ll see.
The following day was day three of the tube strike and some trains were just not running – period. So this afforded me and Max the time to stroll for miles throughout the city, chit chatting along the way. At least it wasn’t raining…most of the time.
This was also the first day of the London Affiliate Conference which was being held at Earls Court. This was a pleasurable divert from the dreary Docklands – Earls Court is much more central and is surrounded by shops, residential areas, and most importantly, pubs and places to eat.
But before the conference, Greedygirl, Max and I were scheduled to meet up with the General Manager of the Virtual Casino group/Ace revenue casinos. We meet up at least once a year or so to go over player issues, or anything else that matters.
Presently, we’re in the process of moving the Virtual Casino group out of the rogue section mainly because things have changed over the years – changed for the better. Simply put, there are very few complaints – hardly any for that matter. Max and I (and a number of others) have been monitoring them closely for the past several years, and so far they are doing everything right. During our lunch meeting, Max brought up a question: “Why, now? Why is it so important to get out of the Rogue Pit?” Their GM gave us a frank answer, that they were tired of being the bad guys, that they weren’t unethical as a lot of people claim them to be, and from what I’ve seen – they’re right.
And maybe I should make it perfectly clear – it was my idea to give them a shot at getting out of the pit. They never asked me – I just felt that having them listed as “rogue” when it wasn’t entirely acurate was exemplifying stagnation of the rogue pit. It needed to be updated and be current.
Over the years, I’ve seen some really bad scams and downright flagrant player rip-offs which would make anything that these guys may have done pale in comparison. The Virtual group may have been guilty of misguided management, some seriously bad screw ups, and some (really) bad promos in the past. But when things were broken, they fixed them. I’ve come under a lot of fire since I’ve made the decision to give them another chance. I figured “Why not?” since giving people a chance to improve does one thing – the motivation to do the right thing. So far, that’s what has been going on.
The bottom line is that there are some casinos that have done far worst things than the Virtual Casino group even imagined, and quite a few folks don’t have any problem patronizing or promoting them. Go figure.
Voice from the past – ICE 2005
Thursday, the last day of the ICE proved to be an effective and very satisfying day for me. Ted Loh and I met with the General Manager of the Virtual Casino group at length and gave him an ear to some of the future projects that Virtual is undertaking. It’s been a difficult road for Virtual. A few years ago, they were known as one of the most notorious casino groups, in fact they had won the award for “Worst Casino Group” of 2001 at Casinomeister. But after meeting with the operator last year, he vowed to get Virtual back on track and to provide fair and proper treatment to the player; no more dodginess in other words. And so far, so good (comparatively speaking). This year I gave them credit for making some big improvements on this front; they were acknowledged in the Best and Worst of 2004 in the Player Improvement Awards section.
Onward to the LAC:
On entering the conference and exhibition hall, one dons a badge which indicates whether or not you are an affiliate or an operator. Affiliate tags are magnets to over-enthusiastic sales reps who scour the exhibition hall – scrounging up as many affiliate leads as possible. Max and I come to the LAC to meet up with operators or affiliate managers, some aspiring to get in the Baptism by Fire section – others hoping to discuss any current player issue or kick around ideas for the betterment of the player community/playing field. You want to watch my eyes glazing over? Give me a sales pitch on “binary options” and I’ll be checking out in no time.
So giggling like school girls, Max and I stashed away our badges and did the obligatory excursion of the exhibition hall. When approached by bright eyed sales reps, we’d just hold up our hands to imply a pause and say, “Sorry, we’re operators,” and go on our cheeky way.
The beard: I’ve been coming to these conferences for well over a decade, and since I have a rather high profile I’m easily recognizable. Not so this tour. The beard was a refreshing cloak of anonymity. But for some people, after a double take – they identified the bearded one.
The Paddy Power Guinness Bar gathering point has become an oasis of sorts, and it allowed us to partake in a few meetings – some planned, some fortuitous, some uncomfortably awkward.
One interesting conversation was with a bloke with an American accent who was working out of Israel. He was pushing “binary options” but I told him that it wasn’t my cup ‘o java, and that I was thoroughly disinterested. He was cool with this, but then he began talking about some of the other things he’s done. When he mentioned a well known rogue operation, my ears perked up. He said he had nothing to do with the management of this rogue outfit (he was involved in other ways), but was totally convinced that they were real crooks. He didn’t need to persuade me – I had already been indoctrinated into this opinion years ago. He explained to me how the owner had thrown (or had a guy thrown) out of a window of all things. I explained to him that it didn’t surprise me in the least, and that I was aware of a number of non-casino related scams this guy was perpetrating. I’m looking forward to the day when this guy is shut down for good. In the meantime, players (and affiliates) should familiarize themselves with the Rogue Pit and the current awards. If you stick to the Accredited Casinos, you will eventually undermine those who are the antithesis of ethical behavior.
Moving on – other highlights of the LAC:
- You should be seeing some US based operations joining the Accredited section shortly. We’re just waiting for the paperwork to go through and it’ll be a “go”.
- Met with the CasinoLuck folks, and they’ve entered the Baptism by Fire section. So far – so good.
- Same with bgo Casino. They’ve entered the Baptism by Fire section as well.
- It was freakin’ crowded, but the venue was much better than last year’s – plenty of room to move around, and there was plenty of food and drink to keep you there and focused. The participating affy programs have strategically introduced free food (I mean pizza and sandwiches, not just bowls of breathmints), and this keeps the patrons there. Instead of having to search for a nearby luncheon establishment, one can chow down for free at the conference. Thanks Ihre Consulting (Pizza), and um…some nice stand near Paddy Power that was handing out free sandwiches.
- There were probably more than 4000 delegates there – which is really phenomenal. Years ago it was in the hundreds. It can be quite invigorating to witness a blossoming industry – but at the same time it is a bit discouraging to bump into so many clueless marketing peeps – oblivious to player issues, needs, and expectations. It’s all about the traffic and the money.
That evening, Simmo! invited a few of us to dinner at the Chettinad Restaurant on Percy Street. This is just around the corner from the St. Giles where I used to stay about a decade ago. Ted Loh and I stayed there, and there are fond memories lurking around most corners of Tottenham Court and Oxford street. One thing that has changed was the missing Internet cafe. Back in the day, this is what you used in order to get online and check the forum or read emails. One selling point of the St. Giles was that there was one right across the street. It’s gone now, but now we have the Internet in our pockets.
The Chettinad Restaurant is a real hidden gem. From the outside, it looked rather inconspicuous – not much going on and rather empty. But it soon filled up, and the food was fantastic – currylicious. The service: friendly and accommodating; we will definitely be going back there again. Thanks Ian for a very pleasant evening.
Capping off the LAC, we met up with The Pogg who operates the portal The Players’ Online Gambling Guide. He’s been trying to get his complaints mediation service off the ground – but it’s a rather frustrating task. It’s tough being lied to by unscrupulous players – or when you get the “speak to the hand” response (or non-response) from aloof casino operators. One can only hope to clear up misunderstandings between player and operator, but the majority of the time you are dealing with dickheads from either side of the fence. I wish him luck with his benevolent endeavour.
It was only befitting to end our LAC tour by hanging out at the Atlas Pub. This pub was a serendipitous discovery years ago when I was first attending the ICE that was traditionally held at Earls court. It was the venue for the first couple of Meister Meetings, and has always found a soft spot in my sentimental gemütlich heart.
That evening was spent hanging out at the Hippodrome with the usual suspects…and a few more. One thing about the Hypodrome, the mens’ room looks out over Leicester Square’s Cranbourn street. You can wave at passersby while you whizz – and they can wave back because they can see you too. Brilliant.
The following day, I met up with one of the administrators of Rival – a casino software company that has butted heads with me a couple of times in the past. We came to an understanding that things are cool between us, and that they would monitor the forum, and that I could approach them if there are any issues with their licensees. So I take this as good news and am happy that they have opened this door for us.
I also met up with one of the owners of Sunsetslots who explained what had happened with their marketing guy – the one who went rogue in January using an illegally procured database. This caused them to be removed from the Baptism by Fire section. At the moment, I’m still not comfortable on bringing them back on. We’ll see what the future brings us.
And finally, the last dinner of the tour – Intertops and Club World invited a choice bunch of industry folk, affiliates, friends, and concubines. It was a fantastically presented cuisine – what more could you expect from The Ivy, and from the operators of these two outstanding enterprises. Thanks guys!
And it was on this note that it was time to be reeled back in and head back home. Even though I had many flattering comments about the beard – Alex Pratt said that I looked like Father Christmas – that I had a friendlier, kinder look – the beard came off before I was picked up at the airport. You see, the woman who means the most to me hated it…and as the adage goes, “Happy wife; happy life.”
Voice from the past – ICE 2004
And this has got to be one of the weirdest jobs in the world; running Casinomeister – but I like it. I find it satisfying when I’m able to help some poor wayward player receive their winnings that they considered lost. I enjoy helping businesses stand out amongst their peers when they do good. And I am intrigued on how some “businesses” assume we are gullible sheep waiting to be herded into some sheppard’s soup.
And I have learned that one must always keep their guard up, be it on a London bus, or at home investigating some errant online casino. There are snakes in the grass; I hope I can continue to cut a clear path.
Photographic proof of the events can be found here.
4 April 2014
WORD FROM THE MEISTER
What a busy week! In case you weren’t aware of this, for the first time ever – a US based casino has come on board at Casinomeister. Sure, they may only be taking bets from our members in New Jersey – but this is a milestone for our US membership. It has taken years for this to happen. Politics still get in the way, but the trickle effect is afoot.
If you are in New Jersey, you can sign up at Borgata Casino and have the chance to experience IGT and Amaya games for the first time online. How awesome is that? Questions? There is an active thread in our forum here.
SPRING CLEANING
Yep, it’s that time of year when we clean up some of the stuff that’s been lying around for awhile – dusting it off and giving it a bit of new life. One of the items that has been polished up a bit is our webmaster newsletter archives located here. These archives date back to 2009 and are full of a lot of useful information for affiliates and affiliate managers. If you happen to fall into one of these categories, you ought to subscribe to the Meister Wire.
CASINOMEISTER’S WEBCAST!!!
Gambling tips – managing your bankroll and accepting your losses.
Check out the new Meister-toons here!!
NEVER BE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD!!Subscribe to our videos here!! You’ll be automatically emailed whenever a video is uploaded!! I guarantee that these videos will make you a smarter, better person.
ACCREDITED CASINOS
Top rated Casinos at Casinomeister: these casinos are some of the top scorers via our ratings scheme. Check them out!
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Guts – CM Score – 9.3
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And now for the humor…
A vacationing penguin is driving through Arizona and sees that the car’s oil-pressure light is on. He gets out to look and sees oil dripping out of the motor. He drives to the nearest town and stops at the first gas station.
After dropping the car off, the penguin goes for a walk around town. He sees an ice cream shop, and being a penguin in Arizona, decides that something cold would really hit the spot. He gets a big dish of vanilla ice cream and sits down to eat. Having no hands, he makes a real mess trying to eat with his little flippers. After finishing his ice cream, he goes back to the gas station and asks the mechanic if he’s found the problem.
The mechanic looks up from the engine and says, “It looks like you’ve blown a seal.”
“No, no,” the penguin replies, wiping his mouth, “it’s just ice cream.”
ha ha ha
2 May 2014
WORD FROM THE MEISTER
It’s May already?
C’mon father-time, give me a freaking break! Don’t tell me 2014 is nearly half over. It seems as though it’s only just begun. And as always, the machinations behind Casinomeister keep on churning – big wheel keep on turning. <grin>
Anyway, some new stuff going on – especially in our forum. A couple of issues that you may find of interest:
£1000 Free – Absolutely No Risk!!! Oh really? Well, me thinks there is something a little wonky about that offer. Check it out here.
Prime Slots Misleading Bonus Terms What’s up with that? Is it PAB material? Yes! Check it out here.
Questions re: New Jersey Online Casinos Who is eligible to play at an online casino based in New Jersey? Plan on visiting the Garden State? Then you need to read this thread located here: here.
Like Casinomeister!! Yep, there are still quite a few of you who are not following Casinomeister on Facebook. For shame! I use the Casinomeister fan page to post announcements, updates, and a few anecdotal funny ha ha’s that aren’t published elsewhere. So please check it out and click “Like” here. Thanks!
CASINOMEISTER’S WEBCAST!!!
Just uploaded! My review on Borgata Online Casino which is currently in the Baptism by Fire section.
All this and more here!!
NEVER BE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD!! Subscribe to our videos here!! You’ll be automatically emailed whenever a video is uploaded!! I guarantee that these videos will make you a smarter, better person.
ACCREDITED CASINOS
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And now for the humor…
A teacher asks her class, “If there are 5 birds sitting on a fence and you shoot one of them, how many will be left?” She calls on little Johnny.
He replies, “None, they will all fly away with the first gunshot.”
The teacher replies, “The correct answer is 4, but I like your thinking.”
Then little Johnny says, “I have a question for YOU. There are 3 women sitting on a bench having ice cream: One is delicately licking the sides of the triple scoop of ice cream. The second is gobbling down the top and sucking the cone. The third is biting off the top of the ice cream. Which one is married?”
The teacher, blushing a great deal, replied, “Well, I suppose the one that’s gobbled down the top and sucked the cone.”
To which Little Johnny replied, “The correct answer is ‘the one with the wedding ring on’, but I like your thinking.”
ha ha ha
PERSONAL ATTACK LAUNCHED ON INTERNET GAMBLING INVESTOR
Playtech’s principal shareholder attacked over past history and involvement in FOBTs
Teddy Sagi, the forty-two year old Israeli billionaire and main shareholder in the Playtech online gambling technology empire was the target of a highly personal attack published by the UK newspaper The Daily Mail Saturday.
The Mail is well known for its anti-gambling crusades and in particular its vehement opposition to the Fixed Odds Betting Terminals available in retail betting shops throughout Britain, and its ad hominem attack on Sagi appears to have been triggered by his involvement in that sector of the industry, which the Mail frequently characterises as the “crack cocaine of gambling.”
The article makes much of his playboy lifestyle, appetite for risk and relationships with beautiful women, and recalls aspects of his history that it suggests are questionable, for example:
- His association with FOBTs through Playtech, which the Mail alleges is the software developer and supplier for the “…majority of software used by High Street bookmakers where people, often from the most deprived areas, pump billions of pounds a year into the machines.”
- Expanding the FOBT experience to mobile and online gambling; the article claims: “Teddy Sagi’s company Playtech unashamedly states its software can help bookmakers ‘manage your players throughout the player’s life-cycle, describing how a gambler can play on a machine in a betting shop, and then ‘when he is ready to move on, he can continue the game on his smartphone and tablet device in the comfort of his own home’.
- Accuses Sagi of a past involvement in pornography through his 1999 (the same year that he founded Playtech) investment in Unlimited9, a company that was allegedly involved in setting up porn sites. Seven years later Unlimited9 was valued at GBP 550 million when it floated on the London Stock Exchange, making Sagi – then in his early thirties – a wealthy man.
- The writer of the piece, Steven Bird, claims that Sagi is “…a convicted criminal who comes from a family with a murderous past,” going on to reveal that in 1994 at age 22 Sagi was arrested with seven other businessmen on suspicion of insider trading. They were charged with buying and then manipulating the value of stock in a widespread banking fraud. Sagi, the Mail claims, admitted grave deceit, bribery and insider trading, and was jailed for nine months. Bird also alleges that Sagi’s brother Ronen was involved in a violent crime.
- Today, Sagi is estimated to be worth more than GBP 1 billion; has a wide spread of interests including investments in UK bookmaking firms; homes in Knightsbridge, Cyprus, Berlin, Israel and the U.S., and recently bought a Bombardier luxury private jet.
- In one of his recent deals, Sagi spent GBP 400 million to buy London’s iconic Camden Market.
- He had a child, now aged eight, with a former beauty queen, and is now seeing a former Miss Israel, with whom he’s had a second child.
Bird quotes an unnamed Sagi associate as saying: “He likes to have fun. He likes the good life. He takes long holidays and likes to spend his leisure time watching football or films. He enjoys playing the piano and ping pong.”
Sagi was not available for interview when Bird attempted to talk to him, and the article carries only the conclusions reached by its author.
Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa
More news here.
18 June 2014
WORD FROM THE MEISTER
Busy bees we be.
Yep, another month goes by and here’s another newsletter. We had brief pause in producing this awesome cyper-bulletin when the site was hacked two weeks ago, and I needed time to patch up the holes. There are still some indexed links that are not working from either search engines or other sites, but don’t be alarmed – the content is still there. You just might have to for it. Nevertheless, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. And at the moment, we’re pretty damn strong.
What about the hackers? Well, we’re under the opinion that it was targeted at Casinomeister, and yes it’s being investigated. We may have the results tomorrow; we may not have them for a few weeks. Whatever the case may be, the proper authorities will be involved. Hacking sites is a cyber-crime, and it doesn’t make any difference where these douchebags hide; they will be uncovered, shamed, and dealt with.
Cyber-crime has been a topic of late at Casinomeister. It seems that a number of affiliates think it’s perfectly ok to violate trademarked intellectual property, for instance the term Casinomeister®. This is trademarked and protected in the US, the 28 EU states, the Russian Federation, and pending in Australia. In the past, when dodgy affiliates would snag up a casinomeister domain and post banners, it would only take a quick email to the appropriate affiliate manager and that affiliate would find his account either closed, or he would receive a severe reprimand. I would make an attempt to contact the webmaster as well. But it’s par for the course for these crooks to hide their contact info, and protect their sites with private registrations.
Anyway, last month Aussiecasinomeister.com appeared on the radar. Wagershare, Fortune Affiliates, and Referback properties were listed on this faux Casinomeister pokie site. There was no way to contact the webmaster, so I contacted the respected affiliate managers. And lo and behold, I received an astonishing response – they were willing to contact the webmaster on my behalf, but they were not going to take any action citing that their legal department didn’t see this as a breach of my trademark.
Oh really?
The worst was the response from my affiliate manager at Wagershare. He simply referred me to WIPO. That was some response after having a professional relationship with this company for nearly 13 years. In fact, from that point they refused to discuss this via email. They wanted to talk about it over the phone. In my opinion, there was nothing to discuss; they were/are enabling Intellectual Property larcenists. Wagershare (as all Digimedia properties) has a term:
6.4 – WE MAY TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT IF WE DETERMINE (IN OUR SOLE DISCRETION) THAT YOUR SITE IS UNSUITABLE.
Any form of traffic that is generated from any medium that is aimed at children, promotes violence, promotes discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age, promotes illegal activities, or violates intellectual property rights, or are otherwise considered by Us to bring WagerShare.com or Our Merchants into disrepute or prejudice the interests of WagerShare.com or Our Merchants in any way is considered unsuitable and constitutes a breach of agreement.I bet you if that affiliate had child-porn on the site, they would have closed his account immediately.
Anyway, I thought long and hard about it and I felt that if they were not treating this with any sense of urgency (as a true partner would) and it was affront to the Casinomeister philosophy on how affiliate programs treat their affiliates. I couldn’t find any reason to keep them in the accredited section, so I have removed them and placed them in the reservation.
The affiliate managers at Referback and Fortune Affiliates were a bit more empathetic – but disappointingly, they weren’t able to really do much. So I took matters in my own hands, and referred my lawyer to the offending webmaster. Endgame: aussiecasinomeister.com is now mine.
And so are a few others that were pointed out in this thread.
Trademark infringement is a cyber-crime. Don’t do it – and don’t enable it.
Like Casinomeister!! Yep, there are still quite a few of you who are not following Casinomeister on Facebook. For shame! I use the Casinomeister fan page to post announcements, updates, and a few anecdotal funny ha ha’s that aren’t published elsewhere. So please check it out and click “Like” here. Thanks!
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And now for the humor…
Three priests were in a train station on their way home to Pittsburgh. Behind the ticket counter was a very sexy, shapely, well endowed woman wearing a very tight sweater. She made the three priests very nervous so they drew straws to determine who would get the tickets. The first priest approached the window.. “Young lady, I would like three pickets to titsburg.” He completely lost his composure and fled.
The second priest goes to the window. “Young lady, I would like three tickets to Pittsburgh and I would like the change in nipples and dimes.” Mortified, he too fled.
The third priest moves to the window. “Young lady, I would like three tickets to Pittsburgh and I would like the change in nickels and dimes. And, I must say, if you insist on dressing like that, when you get to the pearly gates, St. Finger is going to shake his Peter at you.
ha ha ha
29 August 2014
WORD FROM THE MEISTER
I’m back…
…finally. And nearly caught up with the day to day housekeeping stuff – ready to roll up my sleeves and grab the “bull by the horns” in the Rogue Section. Yank them around a little since that section needs some serious upkeep. And then I’ll be delving into the Accredited Casino section, updating the casino groups and other points of interest. There have been some significant changes lately.
There is also a wish list in the forum that you are welcome to chime in on. That’s located here. One thing that has been fixed/improved is the search function. I’ve implemented a special script that includes not only the forum, but the entire website to include the Rogue Section, the News section, and all of the Newsletters when making a search. It’s awesome – really. Give it spin or two.
Speaking of spinning – the Casinomeister Slots have been relaunched. You should give them a try since they have been revamped from their 2009 original. You can find these slots here:
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And now for the humor…
During a visit to the mental asylum, a visitor asked the Director what the criterion was which defined whether or not a patient should be institutionalized.
“Well,” said the Director, “we fill up a bathtub, and then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub.”
“Oh, I understand,” said the visitor. “A normal person would use the bucket because it’s bigger than the spoon or the teacup.”
“No.” said the Director, “A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?”
ha ha ha
26 September 2014
It’s Vegas baby…
Yep, it’s the annual G2E next week (Global Gaming Expo) which I’ve attended nearly each and every year since 2001. This is a massive event which covers just about everything casino related online and offline. There is more offline presence there since the US has traditionally been online casino unfriendly, but nevertheless – there is a lot to gain by being there.
Traditionally, the importance of attending the G2E was to gather information about offline casino games that might be duplicated online. Now that most if not all the major software companies offer their games online, it’s become more of a challenge to report on something you haven’t seen yet – or something that is not yet being done online. But I’ll try. In fact, if you any questions you’d like me to pose to one of the big software vendors (IGT, Bally, WMS, etc.) post them here in this thread. I’ll be monitoring the forum over the week and I’ll do my best to get any answers for you.
Changes for UK players. If you haven’t heard yet, many casinos are closing their doors to UK players due to the new regulations coming in force in a month or so (the date has been pushed up to 1 November). Nevertheless, if you are player in the UK here is the list of Accredited Casinos that are either licensed in the UK or have submitted their application for a UK license.
If you are curious whether or not the casinos you are playing at are either filing for a license, or are already licensed, please check out the UKGC site here.
At the moment, it looks like a majority of the downloadable MGS casinos are out (except for 32Red Plc group, Roxy Palace Group, and Betway). Many of the RTG casinos are bailing as well – mostly those that have offices in the UK.
To keep up with who’s in and who’s out, please subscribe to this thread here: Leaving UK market e-mail correspondence thread. This is a collection of the casinos that are leaving the UK market.
CASINOMEISTER’S FORUM
Speaking of which…
This is definitely the thread of the week – if not the month. Create your own online casino meme: you can check it out here. For fun: Online Casino Memes. Here you can create you own meme and post it in this thread. Some are pretty damn funny, sardonic, and sarcastic/ironic.
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And now for the humor…
A man walked into his doctor’s office on Friday and asked for a double dose of Viagra.
“What do you need it for?”, the doctor asked.
“Well, my ex wife is coming over tonight, my girlfriend is coming over Saturday and my wife gets home from her business trip on Sunday”, he replied.
On Monday, the man walks into the doctor’s office with his right arm in a sling.
“What happened?” asked the doctor.
“Nobody showed up” said the man
ha ha ha
Thanks BingoT
17 October 2014
WORD FROM THE MEISTER
It’s conference time…
Yep – it’s that time of the year when I am up and about. I have three conferences ahead of me in the next four weeks. Why is this important to you? Well, I’ll be possibly meeting people that you may have questions for – like software providers, licensors, casino operators, fellow webmasters – and possibly some casino riff-raff. For each conference, I’ll post a thread in the forum so that you can pose a question or two. Hopefully all your queries will be answered in a timely and positive manner.
And yes, I’ve just recuperated from the Vegas trip which was once again, an awesome trip. Check out my experience in this week’s webcast (scroll down a little). Thanks to Affiliate Edge who sponsored the Casino Dive crawl for about 22 of us miscreants and jovial jocularists. I’ll be writing more about this when I return in about two weeks. You won’t want to miss that. But check out the video for some picts. 
Player Cautionary: I just want to bring to your attention that most online casinos forbid players to access their casinos/websites via VPNs. The reasons for this are multi-fold – but mainly to keep people from forbidden jurisdictions from flying under the radar which can jeopardize their licensing agreements. So simply put – do not use a VPN or other IP cloaking device. We had an issue this week where a member had his winnings confiscated because of this, and the casino was in the right to do so. Please don’t do it.
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And now for the humor…
911
A couple of Texas hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn’t seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head.
The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls 911. He gasps to the operator, “My friend is dead! What can I do?”
The operator, in a calm soothing voice says, “Just take it easy. I can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.”
There is a silence, then a shot is heard…..
The hunter says, “OK, now what?”
ha ha ha
Thanks Suzecat
31 October 2014
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Casinomeister’s Three Tales of Terror
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19 November 2014
WORD FROM THE MEISTER
Fall Conference Report…
Talk about a whirlwind tour. This past weekend marked the first time I was not preparing to go somewhere for quite a while. It seems I’ve been on the road since the end of September when Max and I participated in grand fashion at the Oktoberfest in Munich (you would have been proud). I was then off to Vegas a week later for the G2E, and then hung out in California for a few days, and then back here for a brief breather. Then it was the EIG in Berlin – straight from there to Barcelona for the BAC, and then another quick break to do the Halloween webcast and mow the lawn (for the last time this year), and then off to Malta for the MiGS.
Is your head spinning yet?
So yeah, I’ve been busy. And normally I do an extensive report for each conference I attend – but this time, I’m going to be hitting on the highlights so as not to overwhelm the senses (yours I mean) and keep you engaged as a reader.
Ready – steady – go
So where do I start? Chilling in Barcelona – sharing a beer or two with Max by La Rambla in Barcelona? Well I could, but that beer will have to wait, let’s begin with the EIG in Berlin which was only two days prior to that beer.
Berlin – the second time I’ve been there since the wall came down. I was stationed in Germany as an American GI (combat engineers), and was there (West Germany) when the Iron Curtain collapsed. It was a strange human event: one day there was the communist horde on the other side of the border, the ones we were sworn to destroy if they aggressed against the western forces – the next day everyone is full of peace and love welcoming the East Germans into their hearts and homes like nothing was wrong at all. Odd times.
But that was years ago – now is now, and now the EIG is being held there.
Berlin is still an unusual place – totally cosmopolitan and progressive in some areas, and here and there is “shanty town”. There is no other city like this in Germany – at least that I know of; which of course makes Berlin truly unique.
It was my birthday, and I was a bit bummed that I wasn’t at home enjoying it with my family, but I met some dear friends who treated me to a fabulous meal at Borchardt – a fitting place to enjoy one’s birthday. What an awesome treat. Thanks!
Back to the EIG: I was a bit disappointed with the EIG this year. It seemed a bit smaller and it was in the boonies – relatively speaking. Sure, there was a shuttle bus to take delegates from the hotels to the event – but there was nothing around the venue if you wanted to grab a bite to eat. And that was the major downside – there was virtually no food.
I’ve attended the EIG each year since 2003, and each year there was catering laid on. Most times the food was exceptional – this year, nothing. Sure, one could stand in line for an hour to get a burger at the one-and-only fast food joint in the conference hall, or pay €3.50 for a pair of boiled hot dogs (not Bratwurst mind you) and half a roll (not a Brötchen) at the Microgaming stand. I don’t mean to snivel, but it’s a major oversight if you ask me – especially with the price that the delegates pay. You need to feed the troops – so to say. You don’t want the delegates to be drinking on empty stomachs – and from what I heard, there were plenty of outrageously sloshed folks at the event hotel late in the evening.
Three reasons to live in Germany: The Beer, the women, and the food; – the land of Schnitzel, Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, Currywurst, Frikadella, Potato pancakes, and delicious salads. These were everywhere except at the EIG.
I was hoping to meet up with some of the regular folks I normally meet at the EIG conference – WMS didn’t have any reps there,Microgaming only had a meeting place – no new games preview, the UK Gaming Commission didn’t have a presence. That was disappointing since I have a number of questions for these guys. NetEnt had a decent stand, but no new games are scheduled until next month (Universal’s “The Invisible Man” yeah!). So there was not much to do but mingle around.
I did have the chance to meet up with Karolina – the magnificent casino manager from Club World. She is really on top of everything, and has been doing an excellent job since she came on board. Kudos to her.
My photos of the EIG and Berlin, here.
Heading to Barcelona: Berlin may be an awesome place, but the Tegel airport is probably the worst airport I’ve been to – and believe me, I’ve been to a lot. It was like stepping back to the 1970’s – not that the 70’s were bad, but not much has changed at this airport since the 1970’s. I had enough time to visit the Lufthansa Business Lounge – what crap. No food (or not much of any) again – and it was dingy and just not lounge-like. So I left to join the cattle down below – hell, I hadn’t even been through security yet.
The terminal was something out of a bad movie. A huge mass of stressed out people, no order whatsoever, all bottlenecking through one turnstile overwatched by some inattentive sad-sack who was checking boarding passes – no passports; I could have been anybody.
This took awhile – and then finally I emerged ready to get through security – which I absolutely abhor. There is no better example of a lock-step mode of the human mind but in airport security. And the douchebags here prove my point.
I had my carry-on, emptied the electronic items in separate plastic trays, and my briefcase in the other. The seemingly jokingly amusing security guy asked me if I had liquids, I said yes, and placed them into the tray: shaving cream, toothpaste, aftershave lotions, and other small miscellaneous liquid items. He then asked if I had a plastic bag. I said no – I didn’t need one. And that’s when his arrogance and power trip kicked in. “You can either leave the airport, or go buy a plastic bag in the giftshop, and get back in line.” I honestly thought he was kidding – and snickered at first. But he wasn’t kidding – he was just being a dick.
“So I guess I’ve got to throw all this away into the trash?”
“That’s up to you,” he replied.
No it’s up to you – you dick, I thought. But I decided not to argue, and be the good little obedient plebeian, and dumped €20 worth of toiletries into the bin – all the while picturing this a-hole goose-marching on the way to work. Ein, zwei, drei, vier…clomp, clomp, clomp.
Barcelona Affiliate Conference 2014
Well, now it’s time for that beer with Max. We met at our hotel – the Hotel Colon which is my yearly haunt. It’s directly across from the Barcelona Cathedral in the heart of the old gothic quarter of the city. Some of the best tapas can be found along the winding alley ways and quaint thoroughfares. We found ourselves plunked down at Teima Tapas on Plaça de Sant Josep Oriol. The paella was probably mediocre, but at that moment in time – it was incredibly savory. And we had our beers and discussed what we were to deal with during this trip.
Here was the plan and its results:
We were to meet up with the CEO from EGO affiliates – which includes SlotsMagic – there was an issue about the slowness of their games, but it turned out it was the supplier (WMS) and not from their servers. They solidified their commitment to be a great Accredited Casino – passed the Baptism by Fire.
Met with Star Partners and they are putting together a exclusive tournament for Casinomeister members. Keep your eyes open for an announcement for this.
We met up with the reps from GoWild casino – remember them? They were once accredited but fell to the wayside (in other words removed from the site) for some dodgy bonus terms. Well, they have since removed these terms and have expressed the desire to come back on board. We agreed that a fast tracked Baptism by Fire process would be appropriate. You should see them there sometime this week.
Progress with MetroPlay – they too fell along the wayside – in fact failing their BBF by becoming disorganized and unresponsive to a player’s PAB. Well, we cleared up the issue, and they will be giving it another go. Stay tuned to the BBF section for them too.
We met up with the reps from Casino Saga. It’s a brilliant and novel idea (casino) where you earn points by playing games (NetEnt) and advance from one part of an imaginary island to another. The goal is to snatch a crown that’s been stolen by some dragon and return it to its rightful owner – the king of “Sagaland”. Fantastic graphics and engaging perils along the way. You should check them out when they get to the BBF this week.
Side note: I ran into an operator of one of the roguish bunch of casinos out there. He was semi-inebriated and sarcastically asked me what my favorite casino was, and requested that I would place his casino on the front page of Casinomeister. Pathetic…such class.
Moving on. One thing that was truly annoying was the hard-sell one gets upon entering the exhibition hall at the BAC. Like piranhas, these salespeople are abrupt – interrupt conversations and try to convince you that binary options have something to do with casino gambling. Rubbish – get out of my face.
Once again the Paddy Power stand became the focal point for meetings and casual chit chat. Thanks again to the Paddy Power team to host such a great venue within a venue.
One thing that is awesome about Barcelona, is the amount of art that is prevalent, and its architecture. We went to the Casa Batlló, a house designed by Antoni Gaudí, and if you ever have a chance to check this out – it’s a must see. Built in 1906, it’s thematic in nature – undersea via Jules Verne – and is visually mesmerizing.
The Barcelona conference came and went – some of it like a blur, but at other times like time stood still: dinner at Moritz Brewery thanks to Affiliate Republik and VideoSlots. After conference chill-out meetup at the Bambuu Beach Bar at the beach. It was an awesome day – I was in shorts and flip-flops. Thanks to Intertops – it was a fantastic wind-down for an eventful week.
A big thanks to all of the sponsors and especially iGB Affiliates for organizing a bang-up show. Good going!
My Barcelona photos can be found here.
Insert Halloween and a week of catch-up.
Malta i-Gaming Seminar
This was my first year at the MiGS – in fact, the first time in Malta – which is rather odd since Malta has a huge presence in iGaming. Malta is home to hundreds of online casinos, and there are scores of businesses from Internet marketing firms, to consultants, to software providers. And I could see why, Malta is an awesome place. It’s steeped in history – going back thousands of years Before the Common Era, and even its modern history is something to dwell on and be amazed about. Plus, it was still warm – November in Europe is not warm, unless you are in Malta.
The MiGS kicked off at the Hilton Hotel, and it reminded me on how the EIG was years ago – focused on content and not so much a parade of booths. We’re here to learn, right? One thing that was evident – the choice of speakers was well planned. I thought I had some yawn-inspiring panel discussions and presentations ahead of me, but I was auspiciously incorrect. The speakers were top-notch, informative and engaging.
One of the panel discussion I found relative to both you the player, and you the operator, was the one about responsible gaming. The panel was headed by Andre Wilsenach from Alderney. The panel discussion members included Stella Dalton from Gamcare, Julian Borg Barthet from NMi, the Honorable Silvia Schembri, Maltese MP, and Jane Palles, Responsible Gaming manager from PaddyPower.
All addicts are problem gamblers, but not all problem gamblers are addicts. And at times, it can be very difficult to determine if an individual is a problem gambler or not. This is a challenge for the industry, and in my opinion a crucial one. Casinos may be deluged with bucketloads of players, but it is the operator’s responsibility to KYC (know your customer) and to make sure that these players are safe from their own personal demons on your watch (speaking to operators). A player depositing €1000 a day may be aloof at his own activity; it may be strictly entertaining for him since he’s Mr. Moneybags. But there are plenty of players out there that €100 may make or break them for the rest of the month. That person has no business gambling with that kind of money. If it affects one’s ability to pay the rent or put shoes on the feet of children, then they should be doing something “entertaining” like watching Netflix instead. If operators are enabling players to gamble, there is a certain amount of encumbrance that these operators inherit.
So according to the panel, the general consensus was that the regulators were doing enough, what needs to happen is that more information needs to be disseminated amongst players, and to ensure players have the correct tools to quit gambling if need be. You can find some methods to quit gambling here. And if you’ve ever considered whether or not you have a problem, here is a tool to check yourself out.
I should also mention that the MP was concerned about the online social habits of young people, and was aware that when they come of age to gamble, they may be more inclined to addiction or problem gambling. So he is in the process of prevention via educating young adults. I believe that this is something that should be done throughout each jurisdiction everywhere.
Another brilliant presenter was Andy Blackburn, co-founder and Director of Search from Gameon, a leading iGaming marketing firm based in the UK and Gibraltar. He discussed the relationship between SEO, SEM (Search Engine Marketing), affiliate marketing and Pay Per Click. Some SEO tips here – and you can apply these to whether you are an affiliate for a casino, Amazon.com, or selling home made candles:
- Identify your top ranking SEO keywords
- Don’t spend on those keywords
- Move that spend to other keywords
- Trace and measure impact
- Do it again – repeat
- Re-evaluate and repeat
Proper branding is also something to keep in check. Many search engines include branding in their algorithms ranking the length of domain name renewals, press releases, news worthy inclusions. Are the brand names appearing in trade show sponsorships? In other words, how are the brands “investing” in the industry?
One example of a branding faux pas: Gambling.com. Back in the day, it had a huge following to include free games, playing with “ludos” (gambling.com’s free chips), a complaint center (Gambling Grumbles) and other odds and ends. When it was sold back in 2004, it was more or less turned into a casino directory. It lost its branding and tanked SEO-wise. Since then, they have revamped the site, but even so – it’s not the same.
So I guess I won’t turn Casinomeister into a directory as planned. Drat!
Acclaimed author Declan Hill gave a captivating talk about match fixing – how it’s rampant, and how it is destined to ruin football as we know it. He presented some hidden camera sting operations involving people who were fixing matches, and it was a convincing argument that it is a very serious issue that hopefully can be squelched with proper licensing and regulation.
The evenings were spent hanging out with the folks from Videoslots, Redbet, and some dear friends. One thing about this industry, there are some really great people involved. And I am grateful to know them.
Did I mention the food at the MiGS? It was held at the Hilton, and the lunch was served in the hotel’s massive airy restaurant. The buffet was one of the best food layouts ever, and I’ve been to a hell of a lot of conferences. The hotel staff even served dessert and coffee – classy.
A few end notes before I sign off: the MiGS was one of the best conferences in recent memory, and I will definitely be back next year. And I especially would like to head back to Malta just to explore the island. The cuisine is fabulous, and the history of the island is especially intriguing.
Kudos to Andy Jones from Aliquantam Gaming, the venerable Sue Schneider, and to all the organizing partners of this event. Truly an excellent show – looking forward to next year’s event.
My photos of the MiGS and Malta are here.
23 December 2014
WORD FROM THE MEISTER
This a short one. The last newsletter of 2014 – it’s been one hell of a year, and I’m getting ready to take a little break and spend time with the family, and perhaps focus on old hobbies – or perhaps a new one. In doing so, I’m wishing you a pleasant holiday season. From Casinomeisterland to you – Happy Holidays!!
Ho ho ho – tis the season to be jolly!! And who has been naughty and who has been nice?
https://youtube.com/watch?v=EYAuPOlJIoE%3Frel%3D0%26controls%3D0%26showinfo%3D0%26enablejsapi%3D1
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And now for the humor……
You Know You’ve Had Too Much Christmas Cheer When…
1. You notice your tie sticking out of your fly.
2. Someone uses your tongue for a coaster.
3. You start kissing the portraits on the wall.
4. You see your underwear hanging from the chandelier.
5. You have to hold on to the floor to keep from sliding off.
6. You strike a match and light your nose.
7. You take off your shoes and wade in the potato salad.
8. You hear someone say, “Call a priest!”
9. You hear a duck quacking and it’s you.
10. You complain about the small bathroom after emerging from the closet.
11. You refill your glass from the fish bowl.
12. You tell everyone you have to go home… and the party’s at your place.
13. You ask for another ice cube and put it in your pocket.
14. You yawn at the biggest bore in the room… and realize you’re in front of the hall mirror.
15. You pick up a roll, and butter your watch.
16. You suggest everyone stand and sing the national budget.
17. You’re at the dinner table and you ask the hostess to pass a bedpan.
18. You take out your handkerchief and blow your ear.
19. You tell your best joke to the rubber plant.
20. You realize you’re the only one under the coffee table.
ha ha ha (hic!)