Florida Senate Moves Forward With Plan to Ban Sweepstakes Gambling
April 17th, 2013 by Site Admin
The Florida Senate’s Rules Committee has passed a bill earlier today that would ban internet cafes. The new legislation has been referred to the full Senate. The Senate could approve the bill by the end of the week. The new bill is very similar to a version that the House passed a week ago. Both bills would prohibit any business from operating an electronic slot machine that offers prizes worth over 75 cents. This limitation would force every internet café in the state to shut down.
Some retailers have circumvented the state’s gambling laws by providing electronic slot machines in their places of business. Lawmakers are working to eliminate various storefront gambling operations.
The issue was first raised over a year ago, but lawmakers have a higher sense of urgency after a recent scandal involving the Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll and a number of workers with the Allied Veteran Group. Carroll has since resigned from her position and nearly 60 other people were indicted.
Online gaming advocates are concerned that this new bill would deter Florida lawmakers from passing a future bill that would legalize online poker. The bill doesn’t specifically mention online gaming, but it broadly defines slot machines as any electronic device used for gambling purposes. Experts warn that this definition could be extended to cover computers and mobile devices accessing online gaming sites.
Senior groups are also opposed to the new bill. They have called for lobbyists to attend a protest in the state capital. They hope that they can encourage lawmakers to make an exception for arcades that are built specifically for their demographic.
Gambling Fans in Ontario Will Soon Be Able to Play from their Homes
April 15th, 2013 by Site Admin
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) recently confirmed that it has chosen a vendor to operate it’s internet gambling program. This announcement is great news for all the online gambling fans and players in Ontario as they will now be able to play their favorite games from the comfort of their own homes.
The announcement from OLG confirmed that the online program will be set up in phases and the entire process should be completed before the end of the year. The online program will make popular games such as online blackjack and online poker available to the residents of Ontario.
In a statement, Rod Phillips, president and CEO of OLG said “The move into internet gaming is an exciting step in OLG’s modernization. The vendor who bagged the contract to build and operate the internet gambling program is Spielo G2, a company based in the UK.
The company will start rolling out its program at the earliest and those phases will include bingo, sports wagering, online poker and also the release of a number of other new products. Phillips went on to say that Spielo G2 wan a proven and experienced company that would enable OLG to offer an interactive gaming experience to its citizens that will be secure and enjoyable.
Soaring Eagle to Launch Free Play Online Casino
April 12th, 2013 by Site Admin
Soaring Eagle Casino has planned to launch a free play online gambling site this summer and has decided to convert it into a real money product only after the US federal government legalizes online gambling.
Soaring Eagle Casino’s new online casino will be used for entertainment and marketing only. Raul Venegas, director (marketing) of Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort, said that online gambling is illegal in the US, owing to which the casino does not intend to offer real money gambling online.
Stressing that the new free play casino will be used for marketing purposes alone, he pointed out that several casino companies are launching similar products. The new online casino will be powered by Aristocrat Technologies software and offer games such as Jacks or Better, Blackjack Pro, Roulette, Keno, and Hi-lo Solitaire. According to Aristocrat, Soaring Eagle will use its online casino to enroll members for its land-based casino, and land casino players can use the online casino to check their balance.
The online casino will enable the land casino to analyze the activities of its customers both at the online casino and the land casino. Soaring Eagle Casino will then use this information to make offers customized to suit the requirements of individual players.
Toronto Casino Faces Opposition from Toronto Workers’ Union
April 10th, 2013 by Site Admin
Casino operators in Toronto are set to face stiff opposition from CUPE Local 79 who have decided to voice their opposition against all Casinos. Based on stats from CUPE Local 79 more than 67% of its members were against the idea of having Casinos in Toronto.
CUPE Local 79 plays an influential role in Toronto by providing a number of services to the community. Hence, local authorities will take the views of the group seriously. In a statement, CUPE Local 79 President Tim Maguire said “CUPE Local 79 is concerned about a casino’s negative impacts on Toronto communities. Our members are front-line community workers in a city that’s already struggling under a social infrastructure deficit. We are worried that the social impacts of a casino could overwhelm Toronto’s already strained social support system. We’ve seen no convincing arguments to prove a casino will provide a net benefit for Toronto communities.”
One of the main reasons as to why the group opposes the introduction of Casinos in Toronto, is because it believes that it will have a direct affect on both poverty and crime. Over 81% of its members said that poverty would be a direct result as members of the community would lose money in the Casino and 82% said that crime rates will increase due to frequent losses of the Casino’s patrons.
Nevada’s Approves First Online Gambling License
April 8th, 2013 by Site Admin
A few days back, the state of Nevada confirmed that it had approved its first even online license to 888, a U.K. company which means it is not authorized to officially operate a number of online poker games in the state. This move is seen as a positive step by the online community as it will slowly bring back online gambling to America.
It was way back in 2006, when the online gaming industry was banned in the United States and anyone found playing online poker could be booked under a felony act, depending on which state they were from and what law was currently in place.
Now, the nation is looking to form a new federal legislation that would result in a different set of rules being established that would govern online gambling all across the nation. The online gambling industry is huge and the amount of revenue that it can generate is extremely high. Hence, a lot of the gambling providers are eagerly waiting to see how America will formulate its policies with regards to online gambling.
In the coming weeks, other states across the nation, will release information with regards to their stance and legislation being passed on the online gaming community.
Lucky Player Wins $50,000 Playing Blackjack Supreme Scratch Card
April 5th, 2013 by Site Admin
Barbara Blanchfield, a barista at Starbucks in Rocky Hill, West Hartford, won a large sum of $50,000 when she was playing an instant game called Blackjack Supreme after work.
Blanchfield visited the headquarters of the CT Lottery, located in Rocky Hill, overcome with excitement and told them that she had purchased some scratch cards after work and won a large prize of $50,000.
Blanchfield had purchased a scratch card called Blackjack Supreme and happened to reveal a winning hand on it. Much to her shock, this winning hand was associated with a prize of $50,000, one of the largest prizes the game gives away. Stating that she simply could not believe her eyes, Blanchfield said that she had never won such a large prize before.
Blanchfield, however, had a pay a major part of her prize as taxes. Her total prize, after deducting taxes, came up to $34,151 and she was ecstatic when she got the check from the lottery officers. She said that she doesn’t know what to do with the money, adding that she might go shopping.
Fairlawn Package Store, which sold the winning scratch card to Blanchfield, will receive a bonus prize of $500 from CT Lottery.
Blanchfield, however, had a pay a major part of her prize as taxes. Her total prize, after deducting taxes, came up to $34,151 and she was ecstatic when she got the check from the lottery officers. She said that she doesn’t know what to do with the money, adding that she might go shopping.
Fairlawn Package Store, which sold the winning scratch card to Blanchfield, will receive a bonus prize of $500 from CT Lottery.
Lucky Eagle Casino funds Native American medical clinic
April 2nd, 2013 by Site Admin
While the law makers in Texas have always been against online gambling, the Mexican
border has seen a lot of activity the past few months as a small casino operation has been gaining a lot of popularity as it has helped one of the native American tribes win in a big way.
The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas opens its doors twice a week and turns itself
into a health clinic, providing medical assistance to thousands of individuals who are
unable to afford treatment. patients. People like Koki Alizondo often cannot afford
treatment.
These charges are borne by the tribe who earns its revenue from the Lucky Eagle Casino,
which is situated on the southern edge of Maverick County, just outside Eagle Pass which
is a few feet away from the Rio Grande.
The Casino has been directly responsible for generating revenue that has in turn helped
the local tribe with medical and educational funding. The Casino has plans to expand
and double its size in the coming months. The Lucky Eagle is able to operate because of
federal rules. None of the profits from the Lucky Eagle goes to the State of Texas, since it registered as an Indian casino.
The Yaskawa Motoman Deals Blackjack
April 2nd, 2013 by Site Admin
The Automate 2013 show in Chicago is a celebration of robotic innovation and automation. While technology has been increasingly allowing for robots to be capable of nearly any range of human tasks, it’s hardly surprising when the next greatest new toy comes along. In that sense, hearing about a robot that can deal cards may not sound remarkable, however as details about the remarkable Motoman begin to emerge, you may soon see how this impressive robot is taking automated functionality to new heights.
The Yaskawa Motoman can actually read the cards dealt, while making complex decisions based on the rules of blackjack. If this is nothing short of amazing, we don’t know what is.
When watching the Motoman in action, you may think you’re actually looking at a space age robot straight out of a science fiction movie, however it becomes clear that dealing is actually a fairly complex process that utilizes many motor functions in what, for humans, is essentially effortless. Reconstructing this level of functionality in a robot is simply impressive no matter how you look at it. For the time being, it does not seem that these robots will be functional enough, nor affordable enough to endanger the jobs of seasoned blackjack dealers.
Blackjack Variant: Blackjack Switch
March 28th, 2013 by Site Admin
Blackjack has been a go-to casino game for quite some time, and is one of the most popular and easily recognizable table games. People of all skill levels love the game, and while the original game has become quite familiar, there is a new variant making a name for itself, called Blackjack Switch.
The main difference between ‘Switch’ and regular blackjack, is that the new version labels all non-busted hands by players as a push if the dealer actually busts with a 22. This means, players will be put at a slight disadvantage, however there is an additional component of the new version to help make up for this.
The players are allowed to switch to an additional card that is dealt, making it much easier for players to significantly strengthen their hands. Of course, with these nuances, completely new strategies will have to be employed in order to fully maximize payback.
Casinos are hoping to increase odds in favor of the house, by introducing these new elements to the familiar game, to keep even the most number-driven strategists on their toes having to adapt. It remains to be seen how long it will take before most, if not all Blackjack players learn the appropriate strategies and take away the house edge.
Blackjack Players Can Soon Start To Use Neteller Again
March 26th, 2013 by Site Admin
Optimal payments which earlier operated under the name of Neteller has decided to re-enter the American market. The company had built itself a strong reputation in the nation and was one of the prominent payment processing providers until 2006, when it had to wind up its operations due to the strict anti-gambling stance in the US and also due to the large fine that was imposed, rendering a shutdown of all further operations.
However, during the last decade the company has concentrated on Europe and Asia and established a strong presence. Optimal Payments have expanded its operations mainly because of Netbanx, its online transaction processing business and Neteller, the e-wallet provider.
In a statement to FT, Optimal CEO Joel Leonoff remarked on company prospects by saying “We have great growth in all facets of our business” and that statement can be backed up by the numbers which show that 2012 revenues have increased by nearly 40% to USD 179 million.
A recent announcement confirms that Optimal has started to re-launch its operations in America by entering into an agreement with the online division of Caesars Entertainment – Nevada and has plans to expand into other states where blackjack and online gambling are legal. This means that if things go per plan, all online poker and blackjack players will soon have access to Neteller right from the start.
