Social Responsibility at biggest show on Earth; ICE 2018

The gaming industry's most important trade show will get underway in London next week when ICE Totally Gaming opens at ExCeL London on Tuesday, 6 February 2018. ICE represents all sectors of the online and land-based gaming industry under one roof. In a nutshell, ICE is a meeting place, marketplace, provides educational and debating forums, and has become an important networking and social event for the entire industry. It is the meeting point for the world gaming industry. The show grows year by year and about 30,000 delegates, exhibitors, and visitors will converge on London from 60 different jurisdictions and 150 different countries worldwide. Over 8,500 operators are expected at this year's show. It's a busy time in London with Gambling Insider's Global Gaming Awards London happening the night before the big show kicks off and the London Affiliate Conference opening at ExCel on the 7th. Industry heavyweights like Scientific Games will be on hand as will start-ups and boutique developers. Seventeen start-ups will participate in the Pitch ICE competition including sports betting, Bitcoin, social gaming, and daily fantasy sports innovators. One of those companies is Bethereum - a blockchain-powered social betting platform that used ethereum Smart Contracts. Other up and coming concerns include Beer League; Betonbot; Bookee; BotGaming; Chalkline Sports; ChopsticksInTheApps; DFS Italia; Mutuel Play Ltd; Performance Predictions; Players Vote; Puurl; Reality Races; ScoreFair; Social Bets; Spotcoin; and, STATZUP. Operator accountability and social responsibility always play a large part in the show. One panel debate will address the use of KYC (know your customer) data to identify problem gamblers. UK-facing providers need to be on top of the Gambling Commission's three-year strategy to identify those who may not be playing for fun and to help manage the risk. GBG data intelligence specialists Head of Gaming, Peter Murray told Totally Gaming: "Responsible gambling is firmly at the top of the Commission’s agenda for the foreseeable future. It’s crucial that operators have full visibility and understanding of the tools that are available to them and how they can be combined to help support compliance with new, evolving regulations." The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) will celebrate their two-decade anniversary at this year's event. The GSA estimates that 70% of companies that supply the global gaming industry have been, or are currently involved in the organization. The company's standards are applied around the world. European and US staff will be representing the GSA. GSA President Peter DeRaedt, said: "Over the past 20 years, more than 1,600 volunteers from over 190 companies have contributed their expertise to create 15 GSA standards in nine committees. Their commitment is a testament to the power of collaboration. Our standards create the framework for innovation and reflect the combined knowledge and expertise of our members and the industry," according to a Monday press release (PDF). The All-in Diversity Project will also be taking note of progress in exhibition quality. Although most decision makers in the industry are men, there are ways to draw them to booths without objectifying any gender, as had been the practice of some companies in the past using 'showgirls' to draw in a crowd. The Gambling Commission has been clear, that although there is no statutory requirement mentioning diversity, they do look at it, especially in the roles of corporate governance. Sessions organized by Global Gaming Women focusing on diversity and inclusion will feature on Wednesday. For more about this year's event please visit ICE 2018 at https://www.icetotallygaming.com

Put Your Hands Together for the New WCasino Rep

We just recently posted a full review on the newly launched WCasino, and we are stoked to provide our members with one additional advantage. The site has officially lent the forum a form of direct casino support, meaning that you can now conveniently send along your comments, inquiries, or concerns regarding your experiences at the casino, directly from your LCB account! The rep signed on last Friday, giving a summary of the casino’s features, stating, it “offers the best experience accompanied by exclusive service available 24 hours a day. With us you will find the mix between entertainment and obtaining money with ease. Each of our sections are designed for you to experience the best in gaming from your Smart-phone or computer, wherever you are.”

Currently, the site is offering newbies an exclusive welcome offer. Those signing up for the first time can make a minimum deposit to receive a bonus on up to $2000. Be sure to use the bonus code, WELCOME1ST. A 30X wagering requirement applies, and the promo is valid only through February 30th. There is also an opportunity for new members to claim free spins, as well as an exclusive poker bonus. Create an account in the WPoker app to qualify for a double recharge.

A rewards program furthers the chance to earn benefits. WPoints can be claimed based on real money play on the site’s games. Once enough points have been accumulated, they can be exchanged for real money. For every $10 spent, 1 point is awarded, and every 50 points accumulated is eligible for a $1 conversion.

In addition to standard casino games, the Spanish language-oriented site, also delivers divisions for live casino games, poker, sports, virtual sports, and live betting.

To send the new rep a comment or inquiry, head to their user profile page, and select the ‘Message’ option.

Magic in the Garden of Eden

Basseterre, the capitol of St. Kitts in the Caribbean's Leeward Islands, is a charming city with French architecture, coconut palm trees, cannons, ancient museums and bustling hard-working people who greet each day with a smile.

There is a pizza parlor that makes, frankly, the best pizza I have ever eaten. It is located about two blocks from the pink palace that houses the governmental headquarters. That is where the Prime Minister and his Ministers have their officers.

I worked as editor of The Observer, a weekly newspaper that served the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, for two years before my work permit expired. My publisher was Kenneth Williams, a native of Trinidad who prided himself on printing a politically independent newspaper that kept locals as well as tourists informed on island and world events.

One of my favorite past times in St. Kitts was to wander through the narrow twisting streets. I would pass fruit vendors selling anything from mangoes to passion fruit and sea grapes. There were open-shuttered bars where you could buy a bottle of Carib or Heineken's Beer for the equivalent of .85 cents U.S. And there would always be island food -- roast pork, black beans, plantains, rice and whatever else the cook could conjure.

My days were spent assigning reporters to stories and to interviewing Ministers on the various projects they were involved in to improve the lives of the people. I spent my evenings at the island bars and restaurants and visited the Marriott Hotel's Jack Tar Casino two or three times a week.

There I would play blackjack, video poker or live poker. My foes at the table included business owners, sugar cane laborers and police officers who took their poker seriously.

One of the players was a smiling black man who was a native of St. Kitts. Jerome was a muscular individual who wore a gold cross around his neck. He was a regular reader of The Observer and told me he liked my by-lined stories.

I asked him what he did for a living. He smiled and said, 'I grow plants in my Garden of Eden.'

Really, I said?

'God actually grows the plants but I tend to them to benefit humanity,' he said. 'If you would like, I could show you my garden. You may even be interested in writing a story about it.'

He gave me instructions on how to find the place. The next morning, I walked from the newspaper office and found my way to Jerome's Garden of Eden.

He lived in a small one-bedroom house on the property. There were over 100 different plants in the well-attended garden, including the digitalis plant. My father had suffered a heart attack and was taking digitalis pills for his condition.

'The pills are made from this plant,' Jerome said. He produced a book and showed me the scientific names of all the plants growing in his garden. I borrowed the book and write a story about the Garden of Eden.

One of the plants was used to make Noni, a healthy drink made from the Noni tree. It is packed with anti-oxidants and is used to treat inflamed joints as well as heart disease. The drink was a bit harsh but tasted like grape juice.

I kidded him. 'What about the Blessed Herb?' I asked. 'Do you grow that?'

He gave me a serious look. 'Of course,' he said. 'I am Rastafarian and I believe in the spiritual as well as the healing qualities of Ganja.'

I wrote an article about the Garden of Eden. It is a special place of peace, good health and good karma. If you are ever lucky enough to make it to St. Kitts, be sure to visit the place. It will be a rewarding journey.

Online Poker's 20th Anniversary

January 1, 2018 is the 20th anniversary of online poker, ever since Planet Poker became the very first virtual card room to host real-money games. Planet Poker ran online poker games at approximately nine months before the film Rounders launched in movie theaters. If you have played at Planet Poker in the past, you will surely feel those nostalgic, and for sure you have been one of those who patiently played online poker via dial-up modems! Planet Poker was the very first virtual card room to a[...]

Iron Dog Studio Products Available On Quickfire Platform

Award-winning gambling platform from Microgaming, Quickfire, now features an entire slots collection from Iron Dog Studio, daughter company of 1X2 Network. The agreement includes smash hit titles like Neon Jungle, Blood Queen and Cherry Blast, whereas the software provider announces new editions by the end of March. Among the anticipated releases is also Rainbow Wilds, the company’s long awaited addition to various casino offerings.

Since the entire gaming platform is powered by Microgaming, which started a partnership with 1X2 back in 2015, the new expansion will include an RGS to RGS integration and ETI layer. To put it differently, more than 700 worldwide brands, operators and partners will have exclusive access to Iron Dog Studio’s portfolio.

According to Kevin Reid, CCO at 1x2 Network, the agreement with thriving iGaming suppliers is a successful continuation of growth and a strong acknowledgement from esteemed brands such as Microgaming. The supplier recently announced a new slot edition of Playboy, which is to launch on March 7th. Its live version will represent the first branded live dealer game in the world!

Furthermore, adding innovative development achievements to the platform will strengthen the interconnection between partnering companies, whose content represents an astonishing addition to the industry. Quickfire offers instant access to a large portion of premium casino games, which are available on every device.

In conclusion, the platform is extremely popular thanks to its progressive jackpot network, easy integration and a selection of contemporary games with intelligent design. Provider specializes in casino, poker, bingo, live dealer and mini games, whereas Iron Dog Studio carries a large database of players and unique content – a commodity rarely seen for startups.

Source:

“Iron Dog Studio Live on Mirogaming's QUickfire Platform”, irondogstudio.com, January 26, 2018.

Aspire Global’s Karamba goes live with SBTech sportsbook

In a move that will see the expansion of its range of igaming products, online casino and white label solutions provider Aspire Global recently penned a deal with SBTech that will see the 2017 SBC Awards winner of the "Sportsbook Supplier of the Year" initially go live with its flagship Karamba brand. The Malta-based group is now live with its UK-facing online casino Karamba, and as complement to its existing offering of live casino, slots, table games, scratch and instant games, will now offer SBTech’s acclaimed sportsbook. Chief Executive Officer for Aspire Global Tsachi Maimon, commented: “We are thrilled to add this new and engaging vertical to our solution, and are confident that the collaboration with SBTech will be a successful venture for both parties. The decision to choose SBTech as our sportsbook provider was based on its ability to adjust its product offering to our unique solution and the needs of our operators. This partnership will enhance the diversity of our offering to our partners and will continue the positive trend of growth experienced over the past few years,” according to the press release. Also commenting on the collaboration, Chief Executive Officer for SBTech Richard Carter, added: “This launch confirms SBTech’s position as the leading supplier of sports betting solutions for the sector’s top operators. We’re anticipating significant growth for all of Aspire Global’s partners, thanks to our expertise in deploying flexible trading and content solutions, with unique focus on cross-selling from casino to sports.” Up to now, Aspire Global’s focus has been on offering a full online casino solution to white label clients and operators. The addition of the market-leading sportsbook from SBTech will allow it to increase revenues for its operators and widen its product offering. Just recently, SBTech entered into a strategic partnership with GameAccount Network in anticipation of a positive outcome to the Christie v NCAA case currently being considered by the United States Supreme Court.

GameAccount Network to power Ocean Resort Casino online offerings

After last week inking a strategic partnership for the United States with sportsbetting solutions innovator SBTech, British online gaming software supplier GameAccount Network has now revealed the signing of a multi-year deal with the new owner of the coming Ocean Resort Casino. Previously known as TEN Atlantic City until it was sold for $200 million earlier this month to an entity known as AC Ocean Walk LLC and renamed, the 1,399-room Ocean Resort Casino expects to re-open for business in the summer complete with a casino featuring some 2,000 slots as well as approximately 100 gaming tables. To complement this casino, the Atlantic City property additionally intends to offer real-money online gaming and sportsbetting utilizing the New Jersey-licensed platform from GameAccount Network while moreover integrating these propositions with its on-site rewards program via the London-based firm’s Patent3 innovation. “This new Internet gaming destination is currently expected to launch in [the first half of] 2018 and will contribute materially to GameAccount Network’s revenues and earnings in [the second half of] 2018,” read a Tuesday statement from GameAccount Network. “Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is the substantial casino property formerly known as TEN Atlantic City/Revel Casino Hotel Atlantic City.” GameAccount Network also stated that it intends to release its financial results for the twelve months to the end of December on March 29 and expects these to have benefitted from the signing of four more clients for its United States-facing Simulated Gaming offering. It declared that this innovation is now utilized by twelve casinos across the country and accounts for over $8 billion in annual land-based gaming revenues. “GameAccount Network’s United States-facing Simulated Gaming business continued to benefit from the launch of several new United States casino operator clients in 2017 including Ocean Resort Casino, Chickasaw Nation’s WinStar World Casino, MGM’s The Borgata, Oneida Nation’s Turning Stone and Station Casinos,” read the statement from GameAccount Network.

Future Gambling Location Resorts World Catskills Employs Upstate New York Businesses for Construction

The State of New York is soon going to have its brand new gambling location which goes by the name of Resorts World Catskills. The new casino venue is expected to bring the Las Vegas spirit to the region and introduce a new level of proficiency when it comes to the gambling field in Upstate […]

The post Future Gambling Location Resorts World Catskills Employs Upstate New York Businesses for Construction appeared first on CasinoGamesPro.com.

Philipp Gruissem joins partypoker

Philipp Gruissem, German professional poker player, began playing live poker 9 years ago and has been competing at the highest level ever since. Gruissem has won many high roller and super high roller titles including his biggest live tournament cash, the 2014 Monte Carlo €25,000 High Roller event, where he took home $1,378,059. Phil also went on to win the same event in 2017 for almost $530,000. His live earnings now stand at over $11 million. Gruissem read his first poker book and sta[...]

BetSoft's Novelties Coming To ICE Totally Gaming

Our regular readers and fellow LCB'ers already know that the annual ICE Totally Gaming conference and exhibition will be held from February 6th to 8th in London – we've covered this bit of info in previous news. What we have to share with you today is that the world-famous developer BetSoft Gaming Limited will be making their appearance at the event, at stand, S3-312.

There, BetSoft, who is renowned for delivering high-quality content to the most popular online casinos around the world, will be debuting some of their latest innovations and inventive solutions. Some of the content that will be making its official debut include the Egyptian-themed, Legend of the Nile video slot, utilizing the cutting-edge Shift platform as well as the Sugar Pop sequel.

Legend of the Nile promises unparalleled graphics, as the developer has been cited commenting that it will come with, “beautifully rendered scenery.” We can also expect to see “revolutionary game mechanics, a great example of how form and function work hand in hand.” What this means exactly, remains to be seen, but we're impatient to find out. What we can also expect to see for the first time is the new trail system that lets players “collect Gods during play,” in order to gain special awards.

Sugar Pop video slot will receive its long-awaited sequel – Sugar Pop 2: Double Dipped. It will boast new features such as the Candy Bomb event, Sweet Hammer and Jelly Bean Cannon.

Another thing that could make its debut during the London event is the announced “evolutionary gaming technology that will open the industry up to entirely new demographics.”

Prior to BetSoft’s spot at this year’s ICE event, the company's Chief Technology Officer Dan Cooper said: “BetSoft [Gaming Limited] believes in a game’s flow; the way the mathematics function, the sounds and animations, the speed in which things happen and the order in which things happen. All of these various elements play a synergistic part in the creation of a game. The closer to perfection each element becomes, the better the resulting game performance can be.”

Source:

“BetSoft Gaming Limited coming to ICE Totally Gaming”, Morgan Adam, worldcasinodirectory.com, January 28, 2018.

Barcelona to Welcome Second Edition of Live Gaming Summit in April

The international gaming industry has scheduled a second annual meeting which will give enthusiasts the opportunity to network and socialize with like-minded people in the field. The second edition of the Live Gaming Summit is going to take place on 26th April this year. As for the location, it is a well-known venue which has […]

The post Barcelona to Welcome Second Edition of Live Gaming Summit in April appeared first on CasinoGamesPro.com.

888poker announces Location Stops for its 2018 LIVE Tour

888poker reveals to players their location stops comprising its 2018 888poker LIVE tour, starting with London and concluding the year in Lisbon. According to 888poker's eMagazine, there are a total of eight stops. The year's events starts off with their 888LIVE 2018 Kickoff, a £120,000 guaranteed tournament in which the buy-in is £440, scheduled to take place at Aspers Casino in London from February 8 to 11. After London, the tour then heads off to Bucharest and from February 28 to[...]

Bitcoin Cash Games Launched

The world of cryptocurrencies just got another huge boost within the online gambling industry. Bitcoin.com, the number one info portal for all things Bitcoin, has had their own casino gaming platform called Bitcoin Games for a while now – it was launched in September 2017. Now, it's been significantly enhanced and broadened in that it also has a gaming portal that uses Bitcoin Cash (BCH). The sheer lightweight nature of BCH which makes transactions way faster and less expensive will make many players happy to hear this news.

BCH Games – much like its parent domain - requires no registration (so you can play anonymously if you prefer), has an expected RTP of 99%, provably fair games and instant payouts! Look forward to choosing between a hefty selection of games, too, as players are faced with a gaming catalogue containing video poker, Blackjack, Craps, Keno, Roulette, Dice and, of course, a slice of slot games for your spinning pleasure. Each game can yield instant high-stake jackpots, so it's not just fun and using revolutionary monetary technology – it can also get pretty fruitful.

Explaining the provability of their games, the portal states as follows: “The reason that we can guarantee provably fair gaming is that your web browser supplies a random number that we must incorporate into the random number generator in a provably consistent way (…) Our server first shuffles the deck, and your computer then gives us a random number that we must use to repeatedly cut the deck. Since our servers do not know what random number your computer will send, we have no way of knowing how the shuffle will look in the end.”

The games are open for players all around the world, “except for the US and few other destinations,” due to regulation restrictions. However, the portal goes on to explain that, “US residents can still play the games with test credit.”

Bitcoin Games, launched in fall of 2017, was envisioned as an, “ultimate destination for playing classic casino games with Bitcoin,” that harks back to the days of old and classic game consoles, which is somewhat stated with the very elemental looks of the website. You can easily switch between Bitcoin Games and BCH Games platforms with a clearly visible dropdown menu at the top-left side of the page.

What do you think of the new platform? Will you be using it or are you just glad that further recognition has been given throughout the gambling industry mechanisms? Shout it out in the comments below...

Source:

“Bitcoin Cash Games Arrives – Play Your Favorites Faster With BCH”, bitcoin.com, January 25, 2018.

Partypoker Powerfest in full swing

Since January 21st, online poker players have been logging on at partypoker to take part in the 7th edition of Powerfest. The poker festival is one of the most popular on offer by partypoker, this time around offering 147 tournament events with $15 million in guaranteed prize money up for grabs. The action continues through February 4th, providing players with plenty of events to enjoy. Powerfest fits players of every bankroll as there are Low, Medium and High tier tournaments provided. The events in the Medium category will have buy-ins 10x the amount of the Low events. The events in the High category will have buy-ins 10x the Medium events. Players can choose to compete for the lesser buy-in, go for mid-range or on the high end, even a mix of them all! Players will find something on the schedule each day in each category. February 4th marks the final day of Powerfest with three events set to offer a $1 million in guaranteed prize money. Players can take part in the Main Event, scheduled for the 4th, offering a buy-in of just $215. This is the Medium option. Players can opt to compete in the Low Main Event for $22 or the High Main Event for $2,100. During Powerfest, party has been providing leaderboard competitions. As players compete in Powerfest events, they earn points based on finishes. The better the tournament finish, the more points earned. Leaderboards are on offer for the Low, Medium and High events. Partypoker will be providing $170,000 in prizes to the top 150 players on each leaderboard. Today, players will find a host of events on the schedule, in Low, Medium and High categories. Take part in Event # 24, a $25K guaranteed No-Limit Hold’em event with a $22 buy-in or go for the higher event, the $200k guaranteed event with a $215 buy-in. Additional tournament types on offer today include the Title Fight Special Edition, PKO and Turbo Pot Limit Omaha events, and more. Powerfest continues through February 4th, so there is still plenty of time for players to get in on the online poker action!

Win Up To $5,000 At Liberty Slots & Lincoln Casino

A week of extraordinary offers and tournaments are instore at two of the most popular online casinos, followed by monthly specials and staggering cash prizes! If you fancy additional spins, reload bonuses and relatively small wagering, navigate to Liberty Slots or Lincoln Casino and choose between this week’s favorite deals.

Whether you seek good deposit boosts or additional rounds on favored slots, Lincoln has got you covered. To get things started, place a symbolic deposit upon login and use the promo code, LCCWSPIN, for an extra 20 spins on Cash Cow. Of course, the party does not end there. Get an additional 40 rounds on Dynasty by using the promo code, LCDXV54, and play from January 22nd to January 29th - winnings can reach up to 5,000X the initial bet!

To wrap it up, the casino is throwing a Ground Hog tournament with $2,000 USD in prizes. Win your share or the whole amount by playing the Fat Cat video slot from the industry’s leading development company, Amaya Gaming. This unique offer is available only until February 4th, and it requires a $5 USD buy-in.

At the same time, Liberty is keeping its loyal customers happy with fresh boosts, promotional rounds and a big money tournament. Players can start betting by making a solid deposit, which grants them a promo code, AUSTRALIADAY, and 20 spins on Triple 10X Wild. This tantalizing offer is available from January 26th to January 28th.

Furthermore, enthusiasts can get their hands busy on Dolphin Reef, which brings another 40 spins via special code, LSPHD92. Finally, 25 supplementary spins await everyone who prefer City of Gold, but only after using, LSCGSPIN as code.

Take the opportunity and use all of the casino’s specials before Cleopatra’s Pyramid Month Long tournament winds-up. Available only until January 31st with a $5,000 prize in real cash, it represents a truly grandiose event. Buy-in and rebuy are only $5 USD, so get in line and start exploring the pyramids. Good luck…

Japan's bitFlyer Starts Operations In Europe

One of the leading exchange platforms for digital money in Japan, bitFlyer, has propelled on the old continent after receiving a license to work within the European Union. The trade presently supports BTC/EUR transactions, with an arrangement to include several different digital currencies by the end of the year. Earlier in November 2017, when Bitcoin skyrocketed to $6900+ for the first time, bitFlyer was among the busiest exchanges in the country.

Acquiring a permit to operate in the European Union has made the platform highly flexible, as it now successfully works on three different continents. The organization will be headquartered in Luxembourg as a daughter company, under the name of Bitflyer Europe S.A. Member state of the Benelux Union has issued a Payment Institution permit to the establishment via Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).

The country’s Minister of Finance has proudly welcomed one of the Japan’s most successful startups, whose first transactions in the EU will not include any trading fees. The offer is valid throughout February and it is primarily targeted at high-volume traders.

Further development of the platform is scheduled later this year, when other cryptocurrencies such as Litecoin, Ethereum and Bitcoin Cash will be integrated. Yuzo Kano, bitFlyer’s CEO and founder, said that the regulatory status of all digital assets is fundamental for future transactions and the industry.

As part of the most efficient and profitable exchanges in Japan, the organization currently counts over 1 million users and holds the Japanese Financial Services Agency license. Its operations are widely spread in the United States too, after obtaining permits from 41 states, along with New York. Additionally, BTC transactions via this platform are also available in Illinois, Louisiana, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nevada, and others.

Source:

“Bitflyer Launches in Europe – Now Licensed on Three Continents”, Helms Kevin, bitcoin.com, January 23, 2018.

See Grand Funk Railroad at Apache Casino Hotel

Guests can enjoy the five-member band's collection of hits on 23 March.

Senior management reshuffle at Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited

In Macau, casino operator Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited has reportedly announced a number of planned changes to its senior leadership team including the imminent departure of industry veteran Gabriel Hunterton as President for its City of Dreams Macau property. According to a report from GGRAsia, industry veteran Hunterton was appointed to oversee the Cotai Strip venue a year ago with this role now set to be filled by David Sisk, who currently serves as President for Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited’s nearby Studio City Macau enterprise. In addition, Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited reportedly explained that Geoffry Philip Andres, President for its City of Dreams Manila venue, will take over from Sisk at Studio City Macau while Kevin Benning is to be promoted to the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice-President in the Philippines. “The redeployment of our senior operating management across our integrated resorts is aimed at optimizing our operating excellence,” reportedly read a statement from Lawrence Ho Yau Lung, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited. “We are leveraging on key individuals who all have demonstrated their expertise in managing and delivering strong growth.” GGRAsia moreover reported that November saw Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited record net third-quarter revenues of around $1.38 billion, which represented a year-on-year rise of almost 19.5%, with the firm declaring that this swell had been ‘primarily attributable to higher rolling chip revenues at City of Dreams [Macau] and the commencement of rolling chip operations at Studio City [Macau] in November of 2016’.

New York’s New Casinos Hurt Other Gambling Operators’ Performance

According to a newly-filed analysis, the state of New York saw a sharp increase in its gaming revenue due thanks to three new casinos’ opening in 2017. On the other hand, the new casinos in the state are now blamed for hurting the competition in the region’s gambling market which has already been pretty much […]

The post New York’s New Casinos Hurt Other Gambling Operators’ Performance appeared first on CasinoGamesPro.com.

Slotastic Gives Away 50 Free Spins On Fu Chi

Players are in for a big suprise at Slotastic this month, as the renowned, full-featured gaming platform gets ready to launch Fu Chi video slot from Realtime Gaming. To celebrate the Chinese New Year, the operator is giving away 50 free spins on the new Asian-themed game, but only to real money depositors. The promo runs until February 4th, as well as the additional bonus.

The national holiday is otherwise called the Lunar New Year, and it represents the largest festivity in the country. Since it announces the next season, it is also known as the Spring Festival. Starting on February 16th, and accompanied by the Lantern Festival, 2018 will be the Year of the Dog. It is believed that people who are born in this year will be honest and loyal.

Fu Chi comes with five reels and amazingly beautiful symbols such as lotus blossoms, money bags and ancient calendars. As one might guess, the Lucky Dog represents the Wild. All winning combinations are doubled when this icon kicks in. Correspondingly, scatters trigger an avalanche of 50 free spins and wins are tripled if no wilds land on the reels during this period. There are also two jackpots available; a minor capped at $250 and a major offering a whopping $1,000 USD as a prize.

New year casino promos are available between January 24th and February 4th, so if you want to grab the bonus, use code, SLOTMANIA, and win up to $555 USD in reload cash. To get fifty free spins on the new title from RTG, place a $25 deposit and use FUCHI50 right afterwards.

Nobody said it would be easy, so prepare yourself for an additional challenge as moderate wagering requirements are mandatory. The good side of it all is that there are no limits on cashouts!

Two more Asian-themed slots from the same supplier will be introduced in February, so stay tuned when new promos for Shanghai Nights and Fantasy Mission Force go live.

The Big Game is Back with New Addition at partypoker MILLIONS Germany

Good news partypoker fans! partypoker is bringing back their highly popular televised high-stakes cash game, The Big Game, and this time with a new feature, the €50/€100 PLO edition, streamed live on February 10 to 12 at Rozvadov, Czech Republic. partypoker's The Big Game is considered as one of the most famous televised cash games in the world, and now it returns next month featuring its first ever Pot Limit Omaha edition. The eight-handed €50/€100 PLO game is schedul[...]

Video Review: Game of Thrones: Fire and Blood slot machine from Aristocrat

The Fire & Blood slot machine is inspired by the seasons three to six of HBO TV series Game of Thrones. To learn more and to check out the sights and sounds of this slot machine, watch our video review.

London Affiliate Conference networking schedule announced

The London Affiliate Conference (LAC) is fast approaching and iGB Affiliate has released a networking schedule for the event that will be held over the course of four days at the ExCeL London beginning February 7, 2018. While the guide is very handy, networking never really stops at LAC. But the schedule points out the main events inside and out of the main conference room where delegates have a chance to meet and mingle with 5,000 others and get to know some of the brightest minds in the industry. Whether you attend the dedicated parties, mingle on the floor, or wind it all up with a drink in the hotel bar, you can always meet someone new or reestablish loose connections with peers on the east side of London. The official opening party will be held at Trade Union. Payment processor for the industry, UPAYCARD will host a networking party at Tropicana Beach Club. The Draft House will be the location to meet up and wind down. Shona ODonnell, head of operations at iGaming Business said: "This is traditionally the busiest time of the year for our industry, but we can’t wait for the London Affiliate Conference to get underway next month. "We have laid on a series of events that will allow delegates to network and unwind at some of London’s most exciting venues," according to press released by iGB Affiliate this week. She added, "It’s an ideal opportunity to spend a week in London with the industry’s most influential individuals." Following is the full networking schedule for LAC 2018. Kick things off with welcoming drinks from 16:00 – 18:00 on Wednesday the 7th. Meet up at Tower Hotel on St. Katharine's Way to exercise your elbow shaking hands and lifting merrymakers. Hugs are allowed. Then from 21:00 until the last call, join in the official LAC opening party at Trade Union, 3 Thomas More Street, St Katharine's & Wapping. On Thursday night from 21:00 until late UPayCard will be holding another official networking party at Tropicana Beach Club. For those unfamiliar with the trendy outpost, take your choice between two themed bars and enjoy the palm trees along with exotics flora. Admission is free to the iGB Affiliate Awards which begin at 21:00 on Friday night, the 9th. Head over to The Brewery at 52 Chiswell Street to accept your award or cheer on your colleagues as delegates celebrate an eventful year in the iGaming business together. Once again, Intertops is sponsoring the Unwind Session from 13:00 – 16:00 on Saturday 10th February 2018. The Draft House will be your venue to finish off the week. Say your goodbyes and exchange any contact info you may have missed or misplaced earlier before catching a plane, train, or driving your auto home. For more information about LAC, please visit: http://www.igbaffiliate.com/events/london-affiliate-conference#networking

PokerStars Championship Cash Challenge (videos)

The PokerStars Festival London continues, with the Main Event looming close and the High Roller playing down to a winner, who will also get to be crowned as the newest Platinum Pass winner. The game will end late in the evening, just right on time when poker fans check on the updates of the Blog to Channel 4, where the most recent episode of the PokerStars Championship Cash Challenge will be on air come 12:05am (technically, Thursday morning). What's this PokerStars Championship Cash Challen[...]

Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood announces LHPO winner

Darryll Fish won the Florida casino's Lucky Hearts Poker Open, taking home over $500,000.

Rozvadov’s King’s Casino to Welcome Spanish Poker Festival Winter Edition

The new year is bringing new riveting poker festivals to the King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic. As the usual location for many poker events, it is going to welcome the winter edition of the Spanish Poker Festival which is returning with larger and more generous guaranteed prize pools and payouts. The official start of […]

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Check Out This Gold Mine of Casino Goodies

This week will see a huge quantity of brand new content arriving at various online casinos. We are bringing you the finest selection of novelties from across the casinosphere as they are happening – such as new games, extra spins, live dealers, new deposit options, special offers... – and all of them are absolutely worth your time.

To kick things off, we are heading to Slotocash, where Live Dealer games are now available on Instant Play – as opposed to just being available via download before. New live dealer games include Blackjack HD, Backbet Blackjack, European Roulette, American Roulette, Baccarat and Super 6. Simply look for the 'Live Dealer' tab under the left-side menu.

Moving on, Black Diamond, Spartan Slots and Box 24 are now offering UPayCard among their deposit options. The minimum requested deposit for UPayCard is $10 and this option will be restricted to players residing in USA, France, India, Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The trio of sites will also introduce two new video slot games. Pragmatic Play's Chilli Heat is a 3x5 slot with stacked wild symbols and an extra spins mode during which only high value symbols are in play, prompting potentially huge wins! Plus, the special Sizzling Respin round will have you collecting piñatas filled with cash! Presented by Microgaming, Deco Diamond is a five-reel, nine-payline online slot with a classic/retro feel. Diamond wild symbols will trigger a respin mode during which the wilds get locked where they land and respins keep on coming until there are no more diamond symbols left. Players can trigger a 1000X bet maximum win during this game.

Miami Club, Red Stag and Fair Go casinos will be awarding 135 extra spins to their punters! Miami Club is giving away 40 extra spins on Cool Bananas as well as 150% up to $75, plus 50 spins on the same game. Red Stag is giving away 45 extra spins on 20000 Leagues plus 444% up to $888. At Fair Go, you’ll get 50 extra spins on Nova 7s as well as 400% up to $400.

Slotocash, Uptown Aces and Uptown Pokies are giving away huge 350 Spin Packs on some of the new slot games! First you can claim the 100% bonus up to $1000 + 50 extra spins on Bubble Bubble 2 with the use of code, NEWGAMES1. Then, you can continue with a 150% bonus up to $1500 + 100 extra spins on Swindle all the Way with a code, NEWGAMES2. Finally, top it all off with 200 extra spins on Asgard, redeemed with code, 200NEWGAMES.

Last but not least, Slots Capital and Desert Nights are having some hot offers of their own with 100 extra spins on Golden Gorilla and 100% up to $500 on Slots Capital and 20 extra spins on 5 Reel Circus plus a 200% match up to $500.

Another delay hits the opening of Macau’s luxury The 13 hotel

In Macau, local hotel developer The 13 Holdings Limited has reportedly announced that it has again postponed the opening of its The 13 property and does not now expect to begin welcoming guests to the luxury venue until the end of April. Costing approximately $1.6 billion to build, The 13 had originally been due to commence operations on a 65,000 sq ft plot of land near the border between the Cotai and Coloane districts of Macau last July but this deadline was later missed after the developer ran out of usable cash. The 13 Holdings Limited, which was previously known as Louis XIII Holdings Limited until a 2016 name-change, subsequently floated a March 31 opening date as it undertook steps to raise additional funds. According to reports from Asia Gaming Brief and GGRAsia, one of these actions reportedly saw the developer initiate a capital reorganization program that it explained would allow it to save approximately $223.5 million by consolidating shares and reducing exposure. Hong Kong-listed The 13 Holdings Limited has now reportedly declared that it hopes to open The 13 ‘on or before’ April 30 while additionally stating that it already holds all of the necessary non-gaming licenses from the Macau Government Tourism Office. “Additional time was required by both the company and the valuer for the preparation and the due diligence works in respect of the valuation assessment on The 13 hotel project, which resulted in delays in the expected timetable for the rights issue,” reportedly read a statement from The 13 Holdings Limited. “The hotel opening, as at the latest practicable date, is expected to be on or before April 30, 2018.” Regarding rumors that The 13 may one day feature a casino, The 13 Holdings Limited reportedly proclaimed that the authorization to operate any such venue remains ‘subject to the approval of the Macau government’ and, therefore, the likelihood that such an enterprise will open ‘remains an uncertainty’.

Watch Out for The Pros

Basic training in the U.S. Military does strange things to a person. The Army likes to boast that it brings out the best in a young person. Perhaps it does on a physical level. But it can also bring out the worst.

Before I reported for basic training at Ft. Ord, CA. in October 1960, I was not a drinker. They served 3.2 beer at the base and the stress of going through daily military maneuvers, physical training and dealing with officers caused many recruits to turn to alcohol as a temporary way of coping with life.

Our evening hours and weekends were also spent gambling. We had a regular poker and blackjack game in the day room that attracted a lot of action. I wasn't an expert at blackjack or 21, but I knew the rules of the game and I felt I was lucky enough to try my skills against the other players.

One of the blackjack players was Luther, a quiet, solidly built young man who wore glasses. Luther had grown up on a farm in Iowa. He loved physical labor -- he was built as strong as a bull -- and somewhere along the way, he had learned how to play blackjack.

I mean, Luther could play blackjack.

Who knows what was lurking in his mind when he sat down at the table? He could have been counting cards or use a basic strategy. But when he played blackjack, he played to win and he took a lot of money from the other GIs and me during our eight weeks of basic training.

I would joke with him about his abilities and told him I knew he was too honest to cheat. He seemed genuinely hurt by the suspicion that he was cheating.

'I never cheat,' he said quietly. 'Blackjack is just a game I know how to play well. You're not a very good player. I hate to take money from you, but if you insist on playing...' He simply shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes. I smiled and shook my head. We both laughed.

There was a corporal who played in the game who didn't like Luther. He especially didn't like the fact that Luther was taking all the money in the blackjack game.

One Saturday the corporal had been drinking. He sat down at the table and peeled out some folding money. Luther already had a stack of cash in front of him.

'I'm going to carve you a new a--h---,' the corporal snarled, sipping his beer.

Well, he didn't. Luther's skill and the inebriated condition of the corporal spelled disaster and he just started losing like the rest of us. Finally, the corporal couldn't take it any longer. He staggered to his feet and lunged across the table, making a round-house swing at Luther.

Luther's glasses flew off his face, but he rose to his feet and simply wrapped his powerful arms around the corporal, rendering him as helpless as a chicken in the clutches of a butcher.

The corporal flailed his arms but all his efforts were useless. He finally stopped struggling.

'Do you give up?' said Luther quietly. 'I don't want to hurt you.'

'I give up,' the corporal mumbled. Luther released him and he left the day room and returned to his barracks.

When we graduated from basic training, I was given my new orders and waited for a military train to transport me to Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, CA. My assignment would keep me on a Nike-Hercules missile site for the duration of my two years in the Army. I asked Luther where his new assignment would take him.

He shrugged and handed me the assignment sheet.

'Somewhere in the Mideast,' he said. 'Vietnam.'

Genii games for Bede Gaming Limited

Online casino games developer Genii has announced the signing of a deal that will see its full portfolio of 140 high-definition titles made available to remote operators via the platform from fellow British innovator Bede Gaming Limited. London-headquartered Genii stated that the agreement will enable clients of Bede Gaming Limited to enjoy an innovative online games portfolio that ‘incorporates a broad range of genres to cater to players of all types and from any market’ such as its patented Spin16 range. Nick Barr, Sales Director for Genii, which also has offices in Malta and Vietnam, declared that the deal will enable his firm to utilize the online gaming platform from Bede Gaming Limited to ‘deliver innovative and patented content with player engagement and interaction firmly embedded in each game to operators in the gaming market swiftly and easily’. For its part, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne-based Bede Gaming Limited explained that the agreement will assist its ‘industry-leading mobile performance’ as the games from Genii are available to enjoy on ‘all mobile platforms’ including those running the Apple, Android and Windows operating systems as well as via desktop. “This is a great addition to our ever strengthening product,” read a statement from Michael Brady, Chief Executive Officer for Bede Gaming Limited. “Genii will add a new dimension to our offering with its innovative and engaging content while its broad genres ensure there are games to accommodate all player types.”

LeoVegas AB Acquires Assets From IPS

Leading gaming operator, LeoVegas AB, has acquired digital and other related assets of IPS Limited (Intelectual Property & Software), whose annual revenues in 2017 skyrocketed and generated 11.7 million GBP in the last quarter alone. The agreement includes the acquisition of famous brands 21 Casino, Slot Boss, UK Casino and Bet UK with an additional 3.8 million GBP yield.

The purchase will be settled in cash at a price range of 65 million GBP, making LeoVegas’ presence in the UK as an operator considerably bigger. However, the transaction will be carried out by the company’s subsidiary, LeoVegas Gaming Ltd. Marketing services and Rocket 9 Ltd. assets in Newcastle-upon-Tyne are also included in the agreement.

After revenue assessments of all brands, whose income grew by 49% in the last quarter of 2017, the operator decided to conclude business completely in the first months of 2018. Out of all IPS’ annual proceedings, 96% came from the UK, whereby 73% represent mobile statistics.

By acquiring Royal Panda in 2017, LeoVegas inherited a 100 million EUR debt, whereas 40 million must be paid out to a Revolving Credit Facility. The whole amount is to be compensated within 3 years, since the amortisation period begins in April 2019 at 10 million EUR per quarter.

The gaming operator’s CEO, Gustaf Hagman, is thrilled to have conducted a remarkable acquisition and helped the company grow on a global scale. Thanks to a multibrand strategy, both establishments will now work as extensible labels, especially on the regulated UK market. Positioning the establishment further within the iGaming industry will secure a stronghold in this sector and provide an effective customer acquisition exemplary.

As for IPS, whose main strategy is concentrated on digital optimization, including keywords, data-driven analytics and customer acquisition, the deal will effectively increase reach for potential clients and lead to technical and product enhancements.

British Poker Pro Gavin “gavz101” Cochrane Is on a January Online Winning Streak

In the poker world, players can amass an impressive amount of winnings in a short period of time if they happen to be on a winning big and fast. This happens when Lady Luck smiles upon them and grants them with a bunch of good hands which secure them the top positions on the leader […]

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Introducing Breakout Poker

BreakoutPoker.com is a proud partner within the GG Network, one of the top ranked poker networks online. Featuring licensed and regulated poker games and tournaments, along with a mix of special game features and structures, Breakout Poker is proud to accept the BRK coin for both deposits and withdrawals, along with standard international currencies, and most other major cryptocurrencies. Join BreakoutPoker.com today and earn a 200% bonus on your first 3 deposits, for a total of up to $1,000 i[...]