Issue N26, 2011

July 14, 2011

Double Win on Great Blue Slot Game

There aren’t many people who can claim a considerable jackpot win at an online casino, and even less who can claim to have won twice on the same online slot game. But that is what happened to a man from London who hit nearly £100,000 in winnings on the Great Blue slot game at the popular King Solomon's online casino this month. The man first won £43,500 on the game after trying his luck at the Playtech powered online casino. Instead of going home with the winnings and celebrating, however, the unnamed player decided to go back to Great Blue and try his luck once more this week. As such, he banked a further £52,570 over the weekend, after he managed to get far with the game’s bonus features. He lined up five wild symbols to take home a significant sum, before hitting three stacked wilds, landing four scatter symbols and enjoying success through the game’s free spins feature.

“After his last big win, the Londoner decided that no other game would apparently do and has been diligently playing on Great Blue, which as it happens did prove to be the right decision,” read a statement by King Solomon’s online casino.

Three New Sponsors for US Online Gambling Bill

Three more people have added their support to Joe Barton’s efforts to introduce legalized and regulated online gambling in the United States. Barton’s Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection and Strengthening UIGEA Act, aka HR2366, was introduced last month through the Energy and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives, and is seen as the only hope to see changes in the online gambling and poker industries in the United States at present. Barton, himself a Republican, has managed to garner the support of die-hard Democrats, including Barney Frank who has fought for years to see the UIGEA overturned. This week it was announced that three more politicians will co-sponsor the bill, namely Jim Moran, Jared Polis and Rob Andrews.

Barton’s efforts were dealt a blow last week after the American Gaming Association revealed that it would not be supporting the bill, although the Poker Players’ Alliance said that it would give him the backing he requires. “Congressman Barton’s bill aims to bring clarity to the law, while implementing tough consumer protections and providing a mechanism for the Federal and state governments to collect billions of dollars in revenue,” said the chairman of the PPA, Alfonse D’Amato.

Boss Media’s Malta License Not Revoked

This week, the online gambling industry was shocked to hear rumors that the industry giant, Boss Media had its operating license revoked by the Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority. However, it was soon confirmed that these were false rumors being spread across the internet and that Boss Media’s license has not been revoked. The speculation led the Gaming Authority in Malta to post a special notification, confirming that GTechG2’s Boss Media was still very much part of the LGA and continued to meet all the high standards required by the gambling authority to maintain its license. The statement read: “The Lotteries and Gaming Authority (Malta) categorically denies the allegations published on an internet website in relation to LGA withdrawing the Gaming License held by Boss Media Network.”  

“The Authority would also like to clarify that the article makes reference to a certain Ivan Goncearuc as LGA Commissioner,” continued the statement. “Ivan Goncearuc is a fictitious official, and is not and never was an employee of the Authority, and it reserves all the rights pertinent to it at law.” The statement caused a lot of relief across the industry, considering that Boss Media is such an important and influential fixture.

12Bet to Sponsor Wigan Football Club

Another online sportsbetting group has entered into a lucrative sponsorship deal with a top English football club. This time, 12BET announced that it will act as the official sponsor for Premier League Wigan Athletic Football Club, effective July 1, 2011. The betting group’s logo will appear on the team’s shirts and training gear for the next two seasons at least. The deal also makes conditions for the option of a third season.

The Chief Executive Officer of 12BET, Rory Anderson said that he was delighted to join forces with Wigan Athletic, “a sponsorship that will give us great exposure both in the UK and globally, providing the perfect platform to promote our core proposition: in play football betting.” Anderson said that he had always been impressed with Wigan’s ethos associated with loyalty, commitment and team spirit, “values that sit closely with our own.” He said that 12BET looks forward to work closely with Wigan FC and its supporters in order to make this partnership a success.

The lucrative shirt sponsorship is just one of a number of similar deals signed ahead of the next football season.