Monthly Archives: January 2018

Veramatic Group bets on R. Franco Digital’s games

Madrid, January 8th 2018 – R. Franco Digital has become one of the main online gaming suppliers for Jokerbet.es, Veramatic Group’s brand new online gaming portal.

Jokerbet.es users will now enjoy more than 15 games developed by R. Franco Group’s online gaming division, including classic in-house hits such as Game of Chronos, Treasures of the Seven Seas and Big Catch, as well as new productions such as Flamy´s Roulette, Bichos and Chapas, inspired by the traditional “penny football” game. But this is just the beginning: R. Franco Digital’s catalogue will continue to grow in 2018, with new titles available soon.

With R. Franco Digital’s services, Jokerbet.es seeks to create a complete, safe and reliable online gaming platform to provide its customers with a full multi-channel experience.

According to Jorge Justicia, Manager, Veramatic Online Gaming: “This agreement was very easy to close for both parties. Both companies have strong land-based heritage and are aware of the challenges, risks and limitations. Having similar philosophies makes understanding each other very easy. At Jokerbet.es we firmly believe that customers look for products similar to the ones they are familiar with, and want to enjoy them at home or elsewhere. The decision to choose R. Franco Digital was very simple, taking into account their origin, and their expertise on the online channel as another important piece in the puzzle.”

Wazdan takes a bite out of the market with the launch of Dracula’s Castle

Monday, January 8, 2018, Malta – Wazdan, the major casino games producer with products covering slots, table games and video poker has deepened their award-winning portfolio with two hot new titles, Dracula’s Castle and Tetri Mania Deluxe, bringing them to a games bank with over 100 casino-friendly titles. This year Wazdan released a number of new features which were warmly received by the online casino community. In these two latest game releases, Dracula’s Castle and Tetri Mania Deluxe, the four features play an important role for providing player comfort and enhancing the player experience while giving important tools to casinos.

Entering Dracula’s Castle takes the bravery of a Jonathan Harker, however, those that do will be richly rewarded by the latest smash release from Wazdan, ‘Dracula’s Castle’, packed with spine-tingling excitement and more than a nod to Bram Stoker’s original 1897 Gothic horror. The new slot game takes place at Dracula’s castle where the 5 reels are filled with sinister, ghostly, and unnatural symbols. These include goblets of blood, Dracula, bewitching Transylvanian concubines, and other themed icons in this multi win-line slot.

It’s hard to forget the young, sadistic, mysterious and threatening concubines. Dark, seductive and hungry, the brides of Dracula appear often in-game to torment players. Some of the symbols in the game have special abilities, such as the blood from the prince of darkness, which take the place of standard game symbols after a win. They introduce an exciting gamble feature to choose the correct goblet filled with blood, the blood from the prince of darkness. This doubles wins in an instant with just one click. Wilds help players out by filling-up the reel to reveal Dracula himself, thereby extending the win.

Keeping apace with market developments, Wazdan has also released Tetri Mania Deluxe, a cool twist on the famous classic retro-game with colourful cubes, players collect the Tetri-block symbols in this 4-reel, multi win-line slot to cash in. Relaunched with an innovative gamble feature that includes more symbols, players get a second chance at winning and even double-winning. There’s also the Tetri Joker, a wild who helps boost balances. With its advanced graphics that run smoothly on phones and tablets, this is a slot that really stands out from the crowd.

Myanmar ministers seek government’s nod on casino operations

Five regional and state chief ministers are throwing their support for the opening of casinos in Myanmar.

The Myanmar Times reported that the ministers from Mandalay, Tanintharyi, Shan, Kayin and Mon have asked Vice President U Henry Van Thio to allow casino operations in hotels in December, as the government officials discussed policies such as excise law, tourism tax, and special visa issuances, among others.

Casino gambling is prohibited in Myanmar under the country’s 1986 Gambling Law but there are many casinos operating illegally in Tanintharyi Region and Shan State, according to the report.

Myanmar Tourism Federation chairman and casino proponent U Yan Win, who was present during the meeting, said the ministers informed Thio that the country was lagging behind its ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) peers in terms of casino investments due to the country’s strict gambling law.

1,400% hike proposed for casino entry fees in the Philippines

State-run National Tax Research Center (NTRC) is pushing for a 1,400 percent increase on Philippine casino entrance fees to dissuade low-income earners from gambling and help shore up government revenues.

At present, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) collects an entrance fee—known as qualifying fee—of PHP100 (US$1.99) from those who enter the casinos. The fee was the original rate since the state regulator started the scheme in 1993.

If the government considers the proposal of the NTRC, the qualifying fee will soon range from P500 (US$9.97) to PHP1,500 (US$29.91) as the agency factors in the inflation, according to The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The NTRC pointed out in its report titled, “Proposed Imposition of Casino Entrance Fee,” that the collections of qualifying fees dropped in recent years, citing the data provided by the state regulator. The NTRC is a unit of the Philippines’ Department of Finance.

Sci Games wraps up $630M NYX takeover

U.S. gaming technology provider Scientific Games Corp. has finalized its US$630 million acquisition of online gambling platform and software supplier NYX Gaming Group.

Sci Games’ announcement came more than two weeks after NYX shareholders overwhelmingly approved the takeover, which NYX CEO Matt Davey described as “a win-win for both companies and our collective shareholders.” About 99.6% of NYX shareholders voted ‘yea’ to the acquisition in December.

In a statement, Sci Games announced that NYX ordinary shares will be delisted from Toronto TSX Venture Exchange on or before January 10, 2018, following the completion of the acquisition.

Kevin Sheehan, chief executive officer and president of Sci Games, pointed out that the completion of NYX acquisition will put the company in a perfect position “to capitalize on future regulatory developments in real-money wagering and sports betting by adding NYX’s industry-leading OpenBet Sportsbook.”

Benjie Cherniak: International regulated operators in the US will not disappear overnight

In this interview with CalvinAyre.com’s Becky Liggero, Benjie Cherniak of Don Best Sports weighs in on the impact of New Jersey’s Supreme Court petition on the US sports betting market.

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The countdown is on for Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure 2018

Over 300 PokerStars qualifiers, 5 PSPC Platinum Passes, $50K in Player Giveaways and more as PCA returns on January 6

ONCHAN, Isle of Man – January 05, 2018 – PokerStars is keeping its foot firmly on the pedal in 2018 with the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) kicking-off in the Bahamas this weekend. The PokerStars-sponsored event is one of the most prestigious this year with hundreds of players from across the globe converging on the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and millions in prize money to be won. The PCA runs January 6-14, 2018.

PCA PLATINUM PASSES

Five PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) Platinum Passes, worth a total of $150,000, will be up for grabs during the event. The five people who will win a pass are:

Global Poker Index 2017 POY Awards: Mateos and Bicknell take top honours

The points are in. Eric Danis has put his calculator down. We have the results of the 2017 Global Poker Index Player of the Year awards, and there are pats on the back for the likes of Adrian Mateos, Kristen Bicknell, and Felipe Ramos.

The Global Poker Index (GPI) World #1, Adrian Mateos, added another title to his every expanding CV when the poker rankings authority named him the 2017 Player of the Year (POY).

Mateos, who replaced Bryn Kenney as the most prolific poker player in the world a few weeks before Santa got his sleigh out of the garage, managed to pip the New Yorker to the title of POY thanks to a late flurry of results. Card Player Magazine also heralded Mateos as their POY, making him the first European to ever win the award.

The Spanish star cashed 37 times earning $5,881,228 in the process. Only six people won more. It’s his best tally since he began racking up results in 2012, and more than double last year’s previous best of $2,499,220.

Phil Galfond: An entirely different kettle of shark

Lee Davy sits down with Phil Galfond, the owner of three separate businesses, and one of the most sterling poker players on the planet, to talk about all things life.

When you think of poker and anthropomorphism, you tend to think about dogs chugging on cigars. Not me. I think about Phil Galfond. The ultimate predator. A shark. A man who has earned so much money competing at the top of the line he wouldn’t look out of place in Sotheby’s, gloved hand in the air, hoping to buy one of Coolidge’s classics.

It’s the way Galfond goes about his business that I respect. Some people prefer a ‘club the baby seals’ approach to the game. Galfond is a different kettle of shark. He prefers straight up dissection. The man approaches poker at the cellular level. His approach to the game is microscopic, and it’s allowed him to become the foremost poker coach in the world and owner of an online poker training site that snorts fire.

RunItOnce (RIO) is the market leader when it comes to top-notch online training content.

Betsoft Gaming announces partnership with Betaland, includes Betaland.it and Enjoybet.it

Industry visionary Betsoft Gaming have announced that they have signed a partnership deal with Italian operator Betaland. Betaland, targeted toward the strictly regulated Italian market, will be expanding their overall offering on their popular sites betaland.it and enjoybet.it.

The terms of the partnership will allow these two well-known sites to feature Betsoft’s robust AAMS-certified collection of Slots3™ videoslots, including FIRE & STEEL, GIOVANNI’S GEMS and THE ANGLER.

“Betaland is a relatively young operation, but already they are considered to be a prominent and respected force in the Italian iGaming market,” said Francesca Raniolo, Sales Executive with Betsoft Gaming. “We are excited to be working with Betaland, who, after six months online, made it into the Top Ten of Italian online operators. That feat is impressive, and shows that Betaland is on a sure path to success.”

“I am truly satisfied to add Betsoft’s games to our casino offering,” said Michele Sprovieri, Managing Director of Betaland. “With this acquisition of top quality, AAMS-approved videoslots, we now offer one of the largest online casino experiences to our players. I am confident that these wonderful games from Betsoft will greatly improve our site and please our players in the Italian market.”

Imperial Pacific bids goodbye to chairman Mark Brown

Saipan casino operator Imperial Pacific International Holdings (IPI) has bid goodbye to its US chairman Mark Brown.

On Sunday, IPI issued a statement indicating that chairman Brown had stepped down from the board “to pursue other projects close to his family” on the US mainland. The company said Brown’s last day in the chairman’s seat was on December 20.

It’s not known why IPI waited this long before making the announcement. The Saipan Tribune reported that Commonwealth Casino Commission vice-chair Joseph Reyes admitted that IPI had yet to officially inform the commission of Brown’s exit, although he said he expects to receive official word on Monday.

Brown assumed the chairman’s role one year ago this month in a restructuring Brown said at the time was intended to make the company “more efficient.” Until then, Brown had served as IPI’s first and only CEO, a role that was assumed by the company’s COO Kwong Yiu Ling.

Anti-overdose nasal spray could curb problem gambling impulses

Researchers believe a widely-used anti-overdose drug could offer gamblers a real-time antidote to combat problem gambling activity.

On Sunday, Finland media outlet YLE Uutiset reported that the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) wants to study the effect of Naloxone nasal spray (available under the brand name Narcan) on problem gamblers experiencing the urge to indulge.

Naloxone has received a lot of media attention over the past couple years, primarily due to its role in reviving opiate addicts who overdose on heroin, fentanyl or prescription painkillers. The scale of the opiate crisis means Naloxone kits have even been made available to drug users via local pharmacies.

Finnish researchers previously carried out a study of a Naloxone pill treatment that showed some promise in helping problem gamblers, but the pills took an hour or more to kick in, and researchers suspect the nasal spray would provide more immediate benefit.

Connecticut lawmaker may request hearings over costly drawing error

A key Connecticut legislator is saying he may seek to call another round of investigative hearings into the operations of the quasi-public lottery corporation after a botched New Year’s Day raffle drawing excluded 100,000 tickets from any possibility of winning.Connecticut, Error, Technology, Computerized Drawings, Investigation, Government, Raffle, Drawing

Pambazuka lottery suspends Kenya ops to protest new tax

Kenya’s youngest national lottery has suspended its operations to protest the country’s new gambling taxes.

On Sunday, the Pambazuka National Lottery (PNL) announced that its January 7 draw would be its last in Kenya, following the government’s imposition on January 1 of a new uniform 35% tax on all gambling products.

PNL’s parent company Bradley Kenya launched the new lottery in July 2016, but the company said PNL would cease operations until a “sustainable regulatory framework” was established. PNL said lottery winners would have until April 7 to claim their winnings.

The PNL sued the government last October, based on the operator’s belief that the tax was an unconstitutional punishment meted out against a single industry and that President Uhuru Kenyatta had exceeded his authority by signing the tax into law.