Issue N7, 2012
February 15, 2012
Microgaming is Best Casino Software Provider
For the second year running, the giant online casino software provider, Microgaming, has won the coveted ‘Best Casino Software’ award at the Gambling Online Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Microgaming is one of the most popular providers of games to the industry, and continuously brings out magnificent titles on a regular basis. Its partner casinos are well-sought out and among the most frequented by online casino fans.
“Microgaming prides itself on being an industry leader and always striving to stay one step ahead in developing casino software, so we are extremely pleased to have won this award,” said Roger Raatgever, the Chief Executive Officer of Microgaming. “We work hard to not only maintain but build on our strengths in the e-gaming sector and the fact that we have won this award again is a testament to our commitment to provide unsurpassable software.”
This is the eighth year that the Gambling Online Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards have been held in order to honour the most influential casino software providers and other groups in the Industry. Players get to pick their favorites and see that they are recognized for their contribution to the world of online gambling.
New Look for Everest Casino
Everest Casino, the Gibraltar licensed online casino, announced that it has undergone a total revamp of its site and will soon by premiering “an exciting new promotion schedule” to celebrate its much awaited facelift. The site said that, in the meantime, new players can take advantage of a generous $200 first time match bonus when they open an account at the online casino for the first time. Everest Casino said that players can also look forward to new games and an excellent loyalty program, dubbed the Crystal Points scheme, which will allow players to exchange points for bonus chips which have no play-through requirements.
Etienne Leroy, who serves as the Casino Director for the casino’s parent group, Everest Gaming Limited said: “EverestCasino.com has always been a trusted and reliable brand where our players are always our top priority.
“With the revamp of the casino we will accommodate the high standards we feel our players and partners deserve,” he said. “With our dedicated and experienced affiliate team and our wide variety of commission plans, we will be providing our affiliate partners with everything they need to achieve success.”
Churchill Downs Buys Bluff Poker
Churchill Downs, the US racing company, which owns the huge horse racing track in Kentucky, is heading in the direction of online poker with the purchase of the information media firm, Bluff Media, which focuses on poker content. Although the terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, it is understood that the entire stock of Bluff Media has been acquired, including its successful websites such as BluffPoker.com and its printed periodical, Bluff Magazine. An executive with Churchill Downs said that the purchase was made “in the event there is a liberalization of state or federal laws with respect to internet poker in the United States.”
Churchill Downs already operates an online site that allows betting on horse racing under US law, and the purchase of Bluff Media should complement its internet portfolio for the time being. It was important for Churchill Downs to stress that Bluff Media has never been involved with real-money online poker gambling, which should place the group in good light if ever it applies for online gambling license from state or federal authorities under new US laws, which haven’t been passed yet. It was also announced that the co-presidents of Bluff Media, Eddy Klein and Eric Morris, will remain on in their current positions.
Hall of Gods Slot Pays out €7.6 Million
One of Net Entertainment's most popular online slot games, Hall of Gods has paid out a staggering sum of cash to one very lucky winner from Sweden. The woman was playing online slots at Unibet Casino when she suddenly found herself the winner of €7.6 million from the game’s progressive jackpot fund. Hall of Gods was released by the casino software provider in 2010 and has been a firm favorite among players at Net Ent powered online casinos.
It was only three weeks ago that Unibet Casino paid out a similar amount - €6.9 million - to a player on the Mega Fortune slot game. “Again we have shown that the jackpots are real and we are ecstatic that another of our Unibet customers has become a millionaire,” said the Chief Executive Officer of Unibet, Henrik Tjarnstrom.
The player herself was so stunned that she could hardly speak after her win. “You read in the papers about people winning big and always wonder what it would be like if it happens to me,” she managed to say. “It’s a dream everyone has, and now I’m living it!”