Issue N10, 2008
March 6, 2008
Net Entertainment Unveils New Online Casino
Bet-At-Home.com, one of Europe’s primary gambling operators, has announced that it will be partnering with Net Entertainment to create a new online casino service. The new site will replace Bet-At-Home’s current casino offerings, presently powered by Chartwell Technologies. Bet-At-Home.com, an Austrian company, has over one million registered players who are attracted to the site’s lucrative poker and sportsbetting offerings. The company had a betting turnover of over $700-million last year.
Net Entertaintment’s CasinoModule is considered one of the best online casino suites in the gambling industry. Franz Omer, CEO for Bet-at-Home.com said: “Our casino company has been looking for a new casino solution for some time and after reviewing Net Entertainment's CasinoModule, there was very little debate as to who would be our long-term casino partner.”
In response, Johan Ohman, CEO for Net Entertainment said: “The deal with Bet-At-Home.com is a milestone for Net Entertainment and I am very pleased that that they selected us to provide them with their new casino. I am convinced that the partnership with Bet-At-Home.com is going to be very successful for both parties.”
The new site is due to be launched in the second quarter of the year.
Online Slots Player Hits Three Consecutive Jackpots
One of the most popular aspects of the slots industry is no doubt the jackpot offerings at many online casino sites. While some players are happy to stick to other games, most – at one time or another – will try their luck playing exciting slot machines, in the hope that they will walk off with a big win. It was all cheers at Riverbelle.com, a Microgaming online casino this week when one lucky player beat the odds and won not one, not two, but THREE jackpots – all within a space of 48 hours!
HeinigerJ, a Swiss poker fan, found himself nearly $100,000 richer after his amazing streak of luck at the online casino. His first win was at the Boogie Monster Bonus slot, where he banked a $21,600 total. Soon after that, he played the Grand Circus bonus slot and won another $54,040. A few spins on the Jellyfish Jaunt sealed the deal, when HeinigerJ won another $21,250.
The lucky player, who plans to spend part of his earnings on a state-of-the-art television system, as well as a much dreamed-about vacation to Las Vegas,said about his winnings: “'My luck must have been written in the stars. I've won in the past but to score three such big wins in less than 48 hours was simply amazing”.
2007 Report: eCOGRA Favors Players
The eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) industry watchdog group has released its annual report for 2007, showing just how effective this organization’s dispute resolution service really is. It was shown that out of all the complaints received about online casinos last year, eCOGRA settled the dispute in favor of the player 68% of the time. All in all, just under 800 complaints were received during the course of 2007 – an increase from the previous year – with all but 45 considered valid disputes. A further 93 complaints dealt with online casinos that were not part of eCOGRA’s group of 120 sites that carry its Fair and Safe Seal of Approval.
Tex Rees, speaking for eCOGRA said: “Resolutions in favor of the player reached 68 percent and there appears to have been fewer ‘chancers’ submitting questionable complaints in 2007. I suspect that this is because there is a greater awareness that complaints will be thoroughly investigated in pursuit of a fair and unbiased resolution.” He was quick to reassure that the increase in the number of complaints was simply a result of players being made more aware of the organization’s mediation services and the fact that all complaints are responded to, on average, in less than 72 hours.
“It is very reassuring to note that the average number of valid disputes received per approved site per month remains particularly low at 0.44 percent. This is a clear indication that the approved operators, together with eCOGRA, are being effective in meeting the need for fair gaming, player protection and responsible operator behavior,” said Rees.
‘Mind-Reading’ Headset Wows Online Gambling Industry
Emotiv, a neuro-engineering company, has created a gadget that is set to change the face of online gambling. The Epoc headset will essentially ‘read the minds’ of players, transmitting emotions based on the player’s mental pulses, to an on-screen avatar. The headset will be able to understand basic commands such as ‘drop’ or ‘lift’ and is even able to read certain facial expressions that will be reflected on the player’s virtual online personality.
Explaining how the Epoc headset works, the president for Emotiv, Tan Le, said: “It picks up electrical activity from the brain and sends wireless signals to a computer. It allows the user to manipulate a game or virtual environment naturally and intuitively.” The Epoc is due to go on sale later this year.