Monday, August 30, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Online gambling banned in South Africa
Online gambling banned in South Africa
KARABO KEEPILE | JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Aug 25 2010
It is now illegal to gamble using digital products in South Africa, the Gauteng Gambling Board said after a Friday court ruling.
The judgement on the jurisdiction of online gambling transactions in the country was handed down by the North Gauteng High Court on August 20.
This means that online gambling operators in South Africa and players will be in contravention of the law, and according to Business Day, could face a fine of R10-million or 10 years in jail, or both.
According to the Gauteng Gambling Board's head of legal services, Lucky Lukhwareni, online casinos are now liable for prosecution.
"That's why we approached the media to alert them of the judgement which makes online casino operations illegal, and if they continue we will have them arrested and fight for conviction," Lukhwareni said in a media statement.
Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Bookmaker.com Launches New Mobile Platform, The Triple-Double
Bookmaker.com Launches New Mobile Platform, The Triple-Double
Leading Online Betting Site Provides New Features and Improved Usability
San Jose, Costa Rica – Bookmaker.com, the leading online betting site, today announced the launch of its new version of the mobile betting platform which is promised to improve customer’s experience while betting on the go.
The new mobile platform has been branded with the project's internal code name, the Triple-Double, which stands for triple iPhone, Blackberry, and Android compatibility plus double the offer of products with Sports and Racebook. By accessing Bookmaker.com from their phones, mobile users will find 100% browser compatibility.
“After taking into consideration the feedback from our customers, we have implemented changes to improve the usability of the site on any mobile device,” explained Mickey Richardson, Bookmaker.com CEO. “Many users had also requested us to add new sections and that is the reason we worked on the Mobile Racebook service which is up and running now.”
Bookmaker.com customers may access its mobile site with the same account number and password and enjoy of its new interface which also includes a “Last Minute Bets” section for sports.
“To encourage the use of our mobile betting platform, we will soon inform our customers with one of the biggest promotions just at the doors of 2010 football season so stay tuned for the news,” Richardson added.
About Bookmaker.com
Following a legacy of quality in service and renowned bookmaking experience of more than two decades, BookMaker.com is born to aim and serve both professional and recreational players. Always the first sportsbook to post lines, the phrase “Where the Line Originates” will continue attracting the world’s sharpest and biggest players. BookMaker.com provides Safe and Secure sports betting on sporting events, as well as horse racing, online casino games, poker, bingo and mobile betting from any location in the world, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Thus, whether you are betting from your office computer or calling from the comfort of your home you can rest assured our service will be first class and completely confidential.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Purple Lounge Reaches 100,000 Users
Purple Lounge Reaches 100,000 Users
11 August 2010
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Media Corporation plc, a leading AIM quoted media and online gaming Group, is pleased to announce that Purple Lounge limited, www.purple-lounge.com, the Group's wholly owned online poker and casino business, has reached more than a 100,000 registered customers.
When the Group acquired Purple Lounge in October 2009, it had 77,475 registered users and by utilising our online advertising and marketing expertise we have now grown to over 100,000 registered users, an increase of over 29%. During the 10 months prior to the acquisition, registered users only increased by 13% or 8,700.
Furthermore, the conversion to cash depositors on the day of registration is currently running at approximately 32% which is significantly higher than the industry average.
Justin Drummond, Media Corporation's CEO, commented:
"100,000 registered customers is a very significant milestone for Purple Lounge. As a result of Media Corp's online marketing strength, Purple Lounge is adding new customers and affiliates at an accelerated rate and we look forward to providing further updates on the business in the near future."
888 Launches 3D Online Casino
888 Launches 3D Online Casino
11 August 2010
(PRESS RELEASE) -- 888 Holdings, one of the world's largest virtual gaming operators, has unveiled a new three-dimensional instant online casino offering at 888 Casino featuring enhanced high-roller rooms alongside improved versions of blackjack and roulette.
The Gibraltar-based firm stated that it is the first operator to release a three-dimensional instant online casino and that the new site allows players to get even closer to the action in a 'social, stylish and interactive gaming platform'.
"We are extremely proud and excited about this innovative project," said Itai Pazner, Chief Operating Officer for 888.com.
"888.com has always been an online gaming pioneer and this offering revolutionises the way that people can play online. The release of the three-dimensional casino brings players into a real-life gaming experience with customisable avatars adding both personality and depth to further enhance our players' overall gaming experience."
The new three-dimensional offering was designed and developed by London-based software firm Digital Strip Limited and allows players to interact with other competitors' avatars in order to give the site a 'strong social gaming aspect'.
"I am delighted that 888 has chosen to differentiate its product offering by launching Digital Strip's innovative three-dimensional software to deliver a new and exciting product to its customers," said Clive Richards, Chief Executive Officer for Digital Strip.
"With the current buzz about all things three-dimensional, we are sure its three-dimensional casino will excite existing customers, attract new ones and keep 888.com one step ahead of the competition.
eCOGRA Sites Have Less Disputes Report Says
eCOGRA Sites Have Less Disputes Report Says
11 August 2010
LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The independent player protection and standards body eCOGRA has released its latest report on remote gambling disputes handled by the organisation's Fair Gaming Advocate, showing remarkably low levels of player disputes at online gambling sites bearing the eCOGRA Safe and Fair seal of accreditation.
Online gambling sites bearing the seal are the subject to constant monitoring and annual inspections and reviews by the London-based non-profit organisation, now in its seventh year of operations. One of the requirements for accreditation is an operator's commitment to work with eCOGRA in the event of player disputes.
Fair Gaming Advocate Tex Rees reports that over the first half of 2010 there were a total of 376 complaints submitted to eCOGRA, 33 of which were at non-accredited operations over which eCOGRA has no influence, and therefore cannot mediate. A further 56 of the complaints were declared invalid due to insufficient detail, irrelevance, abuse or anonymous origin.
The remaining 287 disputes - 76 percent of the total received - were resolved by the Fair Gaming Advocate normally within 48 hours, with 47 percent settled in favour of the player.
"These numbers are similar, and in fact compare favourably with last year's numbers, despite the fact that eCOGRA now has 11 more accredited venues than last year," Rees reports. "We have actually seen a decrease in dispute mediation requests.
"We can attribute a portion of this drop in disputes to the fact that we have now been working with many of the Seal operations for several years and as a consequence a number of policies and procedures have been developed that translate to less cause for disputes. Our operators are also better equipped and motivated to deal with disputes at the operator level, which results in eCOGRA receiving fewer complaints."
Rees detailed Cash-in (43 percent), Bonus issues (21 percent) and Locked Accounts (21 percent) as the principal causes for dispute, with the number of cash-in complaints easing from last year's 51 percent.
"We dealt with an average of 11.03 disputes a week in the first half of 2010," Rees revealed, adding that this represented an average dispute rate per Seal operation per month of 0.34 disputes - slightly lower than last year's 0.37 disputes.
"This level of performance is satisfactory and well within the standards we have set for our operators," she commented. "Viewed against the very high number of transactions these well established, tier one online gambling venues experience on a daily basis, the number of disputes continues to be remarkably low."
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