Issue N22, 2010
June 2, 2010
Microgaming Releases New Games
Software giant, Microgaming, announced this week that is has released three brand new games to its portfolio, meaning players can catch up with Voila!, Soccer Safari and High Speed Poker at top online casinos such as 32 Red Casino in the network already.
Voila! takes players on a Paris adventure and incorporates the sights and sounds of this delightful city. Microgaming's graphics and sound features make this game extra special, while the 243 different ways of winning should definitely appeal to players hoping to make some extra cash.
Soccer Safari was released by Microgaming to coincide with the World Cup tournament that is set to begin in South Africa this month, and the game manages to encapsulate the excitement and challenges of this major soccer tournament. Soccer Safari has super features, such as free spins, wild symbols, multipliers, bonus rounds and fantastic graphics that make you feel part of the action.
Finally, High Speed Poker is a fast, 3 Card Poker game that forms part of the Gold Series.
Slots .com Domain Name Snapped up by Bodog
Calvin Ayre, the Canadian founder of Bodog gambling group, confirmed this week that he is the proud owner of the Slots.com domain name. There has been speculation about which individual paid over $5.5 million for the domain name, and it was not surprising to discover that it was the billionaire entrepreneur himself, who apparently saw incredible potential in owning such a site. Ayre has big plans to turn the Slots .com domain into one that truly realizes the potential of such a popular form of entertainment, and he believes that the price he paid was fair, considering that the Casino.com domain name came with a $5.5 million price tag in 2003.
“After Casino .com, we feel that Slots .com is the best gaming domain in the world. Bigger even than Poker.com because there are no strong brands in this space and slots are far more universal than poker. Just look at the amount of space a casino devotes to slots over poker, added to which it’s simple to spell and easy to remember,” said Ayre.
He also added: “Slots .com will work for us on a number of levels, not least in generating global traffic to our Bodog branded properties but also to form a number of other targeted websites including one that will be created by and for the female gambler.”
UIGEA Comes into Effect
The June 1st deadline came and went in the United States, and as such, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was finally officially implemented. But while many feared that this date would come, some are actually happy that it did. Gambling analysts agree that the perfect way to show legislators that online gambling is here to stay is to allow them to implement some of the toughest prohibition laws in history and then let them see for themselves that this form of entertainment still continues under their noses. The only way to go, say these gambling proponents, is to introduce a legalized and regulated online gambling industry into the country.
Many online gambling sites didn’t even bother to make an announcement about the UIGEA. Only one or two said that they would not be accepted US players anymore, while more than this announced that they would continue to accept players from North America. But the vast majority did not even believe that the UIGEA’s implementation date warranted any form of attention whatsoever, leading many to declare that June 1st, 2010, was a regular day in every sense of the word.
Costa Bingo Extends Deal with Dragonfish
One of the most popular online bingo sites in the world, Costa Bingo, announced that it has extended its contract with the business-to-business division of 888 Plc, Dragonfish, for another three years. Until now, Dragonfish has supplied the games and software to Costa Bingo, making it the success that it is today.
“Dragonfish has provided us with an excellent software platform and great operational support,” said Richard Skelhorn, Chief Executive Officer of Costa Bingo. “This has allowed us to focus our skills on player acquisition, which has been really important to the business over the last ten months. We are really pleased with the first year's growth to date, and will continue to invest in the Costa Bingo brand, and look forward to launching new rooms on the Dragonfish platform this year.”
“Costa has blazed a trail over the past year and shown what is still achievable in the maturing UK bingo market, and we have worked hard with them to adapt our software to deliver some highly innovative customer acquisition and retention activities,” said Dragonfish Managing Director Gabi Campos. “They are committing a substantial marketing investment and we look forward to helping Richard and his team grow the Costa bingo business further over the coming years.”