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.

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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.

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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."

Playtech launches French iPoker Network

Playtech launches French iPoker Network 

21/07/2010

Suzie Neuwirth

Playtech has launched its iPoker Network in France, with Chilipoker the first operator to launch on the network. 

French regulator ARJEL has so far given out out 11 licenses to online poker operators, including Chilipoker, Bwin, Everest, PartyPoker, BetClic, PokerStars and Winamax. 

Additional licensees will be added to Playtech's new French network in the coming months, including French land-based casino groups, JOA, Groupe Tranchant and Casino du Golfe. JOA and Casino du Golfe have submitted applications for a French licence to ARJEL.

888/Microgaming’s joint poker network also gained a French licence recently and will be following iPoker Network in targeting the French market.

Chiligaming already has a partnership with the French group Iliad, which operates the French internet service provider (ISP), Free.

Alex Dreyfus, chief executive of Chiligaming, said: “Chilipoker is very proud to have been the first iPoker licensee in France and is working actively with Playtech to make iPoker France have the biggest liquidity. Because of our poker expertise and knowledge of the French market, Chilipoker will launch a B2B poker offering very soon.”

Playtech chief executive Mor Weizer said he was “delighted” to announce the launch of the French iPoker network. “I am confident that it will develop to become one of the leading liquid networks in France. As the market expands in its regulated form, France has the potential to become a very substantial local market,” he said.

Major Playtech licensees such as TitanBet are however yet to announce their launch in the newly regulated French egaming market.