Issue N28, 2010

July 14, 2010

Antigua vs US Online Gambling Dispute Continues

Six years on and it seems that there is no end in sight to the ongoing dispute between the United States and the Caribbean state of Antigua and Barbuda regarding cross border betting services. The head of the twin isle state called on Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to discuss what can be done to address the US’s non-compliance with orders by the World Trade Organization to compensate Antigua for going against regional treaties. The US’s decision to introduce gambling laws in 2004 that blocked Antigua based sites from servicing the US market left a terrible affect on Antigua’s economy.

"Given the debilitating effect of the fiscal and economic crisis on our economy and the apparent disinterest of the United States in dealing decisively with this matter, Antigua and Barbuda may have no other choice but to signal to the WTO that we wish to impose sanctions," said Dr. Baldwin Spencer, the Prime Minister for Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua also said that it was willing to discuss the issue further with the Americans in a bid to reach an agreement and Spencer said that he would be seeking a meeting with President Barack Obama in order to settle the matter.

Five Popular Slotland Games Become Flash

Mac users will be pleased to know that one of the most reputable online casinos has rolled out five of its top games in Flash format. This means that the players don’t need to download the games from Slotland.com in order to enjoy top notch slot entertainment. Instead, all they need to do is access the site and enjoy the proprietary software directly off the browser. The five games that have gone instant are as follows: Jacks or Better, Reel Riot, Golden 8, Reel Riot and Wild Heart.

Slotland is a unique online slot site that offers players around fifteen different slot and video poker games. Players are drawn to the site for its ever growing online progressive jackpot that hits every six weeks to two months on average. One of many online casino players had only good things to say about the site: “I’ve always liked the slots at Slotland. That’s one of the reasons I’ve been playing here practically since the Internet was invented. The new games are the same basic games but the new graphics and sounds are a real treat for the senses. The other reason I stick with Slotland.com is because its customer service is so good. It’s always very prompt and polite when answering questions and there’s never any fuss when you deposit or withdraw.”

Paul the Octopus Shocks Bettors with Correct World Cup Predictions

When it comes to betting on sports, bettors have been known to use a number of methods on which to base their predictions. Some pore over statistics and trends, others use gut instinct and others may even consult mediums. But the strangest method seen so far this World Cup tournament is surely that of Paul the Octopus. This English born cephalopod, who resides at present in an aquarium in Germany, has attracted literally millions of keen World Cup bettors who believe that he has the ability to predict the outcome of a game.

The Paul Effect, as it has come to be known, has taken the world so much by storm that the giant squid is perhaps the most popular animal in the world today. He earned his reputation by correctly predicting the winner in every single one of Germany’s seven World Cup games. This included the totally unexpected win over Uruguay at 3-2, which earned Germany third place in the World Cup tournament. To make his predictions, Paul is presented with two boxes in his giant tank. Each box contains a mussel tidbit and a flag of one of the two countries competing in the match. Paul picks the box that holds the flag of the country that he predicts will win the match.

World Series of Poker Launches Online Poker Academy

Online poker players, who are hoping to advance far in the game with the help of professional teachers, should seek out the new online poker academy that has been recently launched by the World Series of Poker. The beta version of WSOP’s online poker school is already up and running, and allows players access to courses that cover tips and strategies from the ground up. The most important aspect about this is that players can receive instruction from top names in the poker business, including Phil Hellmuth, Annie Duke and Greg Raymer.

“The WSOP Academy Online is unlike any other training site. It gives players a clear training roadmap, with a tested protocol that improves confidence and ensures your game is getting better each time you train,” said poker pro, Phil Hellmuth. “We teach players with real hands from real tournaments with exclusive WSOP content, giving them our first-hand view of every flop, turn and river. This is the place where the next generation will learn to become champions.”