Monthly Archives: February 2017

Chris Christie vetoes Trump Taj Mahal casino closure legislation

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has vetoed legislation that he claims is unfair to billionaire Carl Icahn’s hopes of reviving Atlantic City’s Trump Taj Mahal casino.

On Monday, Christie (pictured left) signed 14 bills into law, while vetoing five others, including one passed last December that imposes a five-year gaming license suspension on any casino owner who shut an Atlantic City gaming venue after January 2016.

Icahn (pictured right), who acquired the Taj in 2014 after its previous owners filed for bankruptcy, shuttered the property in October 2016, claiming he saw “no path to profitability” for the casino. The closure followed two years of strife with the property’s unionized workforce, who refused to accept Icahn’s demands to surrender certain health and pension benefits.

Workers accused Icahn of planning to reopen the property with a non-union workforce, prompting legislators to draft and approve their anti-closure bill, which they claimed was designed to encourage owners to keep properties open but also to prevent owners from “sitting on” licenses.

CrownBet invades Tabcorp’s turf via Clubs NSW online betting deal

Australian online sports betting operator CrownBet has reportedly taken a bite out of Tabcorp’s in-venue betting monopoly by scooping an official digital wagering partnership with Clubs NSW.

On Monday, multiple Australian media outlets reported that CrownBet, the online betting arm of casino operator Crown Resorts, had inked a 10-year deal to provide a bespoke online betting app for use in NSW venues, whose operators will earn commission on digital wagers made within their walls. The deal, which hasn’t been officially announced, could be confirmed as early as Tuesday.

While Clubs NSW’s 1,350 members won’t be forced to sign up with CrownBet, the majority are expected to accept the CrownBet service, as club operators have long expressed annoyance with the fees Tabcorp charged to host TAB outlets.

The deal will reportedly allow NSW venue operators the option of continuing to offer traditional TAB wagering services but CrownBet will be allowed to install cash redemption machines in the clubs that allow punters to claim betting winnings in cash. Previously, collecting online winnings required punters to transfer winnings to their personal bank accounts.

eSports YouTube stars plead guilty to offering illegal gambling

An eSports YouTube star and his business partner have pled guilty to illegal gambling activity in the UK, marking the first successful prosecutions of eSports gambling.

On Monday, BBC News reported that Craig Douglas (pictured, inset) and his business partner Dylan Rigby had withdrawn their not guilty pleas and admitted their roles in encouraging eSports players to bet virtual currency known as FIFA Coins on eSports betting site FUTGalaxy, which offers random slots or lottery games.

Last September, the UK Gambling Commission commenced legal proceedings against Douglas and Rigby, accusing them of promoting a lottery and advertising unlawful gambling via their YouTube videos. Douglas, who operated on YouTube under the screen name Nepenthez, had over 1.3m subscribers, many of whom were below the legal age for gambling in the UK.

In October, the pair entered not guilty pleas and Monday’s hearing was expected to be the start of a week-long hearing. Instead, Douglas pled guilty to providing facilities for gambling without a UK gambling license and promoting unlawful gambling. Rigby, who reportedly had a greater role in running the FUTGalaxy site, pled guilty to two charges of operating without a gambling license and a charge of promoting unlawful gambling.

NetEnt to demonstrate leadership in tech and innovation at ICE Totally Gaming 2017

NetEnt, leading developer of exciting world-class digital casino games, will underline its pioneer status at ICE 2017 with a presentation of its latest developments within virtual reality (VR) and live casino.

Visitors to Stand N3-242 will see and experience the innovations, straight from the company’s development labs.

The rapidly-emerging VR market is a high-growth area into which NetEnt is well positioned to lead its customers. The premium supplier will share news and showcase the progress it has made since revealing its praised proof-of-concept prototype 12 months ago.

NetEnt will also reveal new additions to its innovative live casino offering. Having committed to developing its mobile live casino product in collaboration with players, the result is an incredible experience that truly pushes the boundaries, and is the most immersive product for mobile on the igaming market today. The company is pleased to announce that its Live mobile offering is growing with a new Common Draw Black Jack game that will launch on March 27.

Two gaming giants join forces: Quickfire, powered by Microgaming, signs content agreement with PokerStars

ISLE OF MAN – Following the signing of a landmark agreement, PokerStars, an Amaya Inc. (NASDAQ: AYA; TSX: AYA) brand, will be taking Microgaming’s industry leading casino and mobile content live in 2017, via the Quickfire platform.

Both companies, headquartered in the Isle of Man, enjoy reputations as market leaders in their respective fields. Since launching in 2001, PokerStars has established itself as the world’s largest and most popular online poker site, with more than 108 million registered members and 165 million hands dealt. While Microgaming, since its inception in the ‘90s, has become the chief provider of online gaming software to the industry, supplying over 600 gaming sites with content worldwide.

Although synonymous with poker, PokerStars decision to diversify into PokerStars Casino has enabled the two businesses to join forces and work together. Through this deal, PokerStars Casino, the world’s fastest growing online casino, will integrate with the Quickfire platform, gaining access to Microgaming’s top-class portfolio, comprising hundreds of slots including branded content, as well as jackpot games that link to the world’s largest progressive jackpot network.

Andrew Clucas, Director of Quickfire at Microgaming, comments: “Signing a major industry name like PokerStars is always exciting for the Quickfire team and wider Microgaming business. With their offices only a stone throw away from ours, it’s great to be working closely with PokerStars through a content agreement that will bring our range of games to their millions of players across the globe.”

Two gaming giants join forces: Quickfire, powered by Microgaming, signs content agreement with PokerStars

ISLE OF MAN – Following the signing of a landmark agreement, PokerStars, an Amaya Inc. (NASDAQ: AYA; TSX: AYA) brand, will be taking Microgaming’s industry leading casino and mobile content live in 2017, via the Quickfire platform.

Both companies, headquartered in the Isle of Man, enjoy reputations as market leaders in their respective fields. Since launching in 2001, PokerStars has established itself as the world’s largest and most popular online poker site, with more than 108 million registered members and 165 million hands dealt. While Microgaming, since its inception in the ‘90s, has become the chief provider of online gaming software to the industry, supplying over 600 gaming sites with content worldwide.

Although synonymous with poker, PokerStars decision to diversify into PokerStars Casino has enabled the two businesses to join forces and work together. Through this deal, PokerStars Casino, the world’s fastest growing online casino, will integrate with the Quickfire platform, gaining access to Microgaming’s top-class portfolio, comprising hundreds of slots including branded content, as well as jackpot games that link to the world’s largest progressive jackpot network.

Andrew Clucas, Director of Quickfire at Microgaming, comments: “Signing a major industry name like PokerStars is always exciting for the Quickfire team and wider Microgaming business. With their offices only a stone throw away from ours, it’s great to be working closely with PokerStars through a content agreement that will bring our range of games to their millions of players across the globe.”

Nolimit city signs Betit Group deal

Supplier to provide slots to Thrills, SuperLenny, and Kaboo 

Stockholm, 6th February, 2017 – Online casino platform and game developer Nolimit city is on a roll after signing another major deal, this time to supply the Betit Group with its full suite of high definition slots.

Nolimit city’s portfolio of games, which include blockbuster titles Oktoberfest, Space Arcade and Creepy Carnival, will be rolled out across the operator’s roster of flagship online casino brands Thrills, SuperLenny and Kaboo.

Betit is now part of the Gaming Innovation Group (GIG) whose iGaming Cloud Platform will be used to deliver the games. Nolimit’s portfolio is already integrated with the IGC following an earlier, and separate, deal with GIG.

Nolimit city signs Betit Group deal

Supplier to provide slots to Thrills, SuperLenny, and Kaboo 

Stockholm, 6th February, 2017 – Online casino platform and game developer Nolimit city is on a roll after signing another major deal, this time to supply the Betit Group with its full suite of high definition slots.

Nolimit city’s portfolio of games, which include blockbuster titles Oktoberfest, Space Arcade and Creepy Carnival, will be rolled out across the operator’s roster of flagship online casino brands Thrills, SuperLenny and Kaboo.

Betit is now part of the Gaming Innovation Group (GIG) whose iGaming Cloud Platform will be used to deliver the games. Nolimit’s portfolio is already integrated with the IGC following an earlier, and separate, deal with GIG.

Week 24 EPL review: Chelsea end Arsenal’s title hopes

Week 24 of the English Premier League concludes with Chelsea ending the title hopes of Arsenal, Leicester falling closer to the drop zone, and Crystal Palace is in it.

I have a man crush on Antonio Conte.

Apart from the hot Italian mug, beautiful eyes, and sexy baritone voice, he isn’t afraid of diving into his crowd and getting his dandruff scattered. In a world of miserable managers making me want to pull my pubes out with tweezers, he is also light and airy when someone thrusts a mic into his face.

I guess being top of the league by nine points and burying an axe into the skull of one of your major title rivals will produce that type of attitude. Chelsea was superb in their 3-1 demolition of an Arsenal team who have once again failed to roll up their sleeves when the Premier League campaign starts to get dirty. The victory takes them 12-points clear, once again leaving Arsenal with only Champions League qualification hopes.

Week 24 EPL review: Chelsea end Arsenal’s title hopes

Week 24 of the English Premier League concludes with Chelsea ending the title hopes of Arsenal, Leicester falling closer to the drop zone, and Crystal Palace is in it.

I have a man crush on Antonio Conte.

Apart from the hot Italian mug, beautiful eyes, and sexy baritone voice, he isn’t afraid of diving into his crowd and getting his dandruff scattered. In a world of miserable managers making me want to pull my pubes out with tweezers, he is also light and airy when someone thrusts a mic into his face.

I guess being top of the league by nine points and burying an axe into the skull of one of your major title rivals will produce that type of attitude. Chelsea was superb in their 3-1 demolition of an Arsenal team who have once again failed to roll up their sleeves when the Premier League campaign starts to get dirty. The victory takes them 12-points clear, once again leaving Arsenal with only Champions League qualification hopes.