Issue N8, 2008
February 21, 2008
CryptoLogic Grabs Third Consecutive Title
Thousands of online gambling players voted once again this year for the title of Top Casino Software to go to CryptoLogic. For the third year in a row, Online Gambling Magazine gave the title to the Toronto-based company for delivering what many widely believe to be the best casino software in the industry. Working through its subsidiary, WaterLogic, the company manages time and time again to deliver software that is innovative, unique and graphically rich.
The President and CEO of CryptoLogic, Mr. Javaid Aziz said in response to the award: “CryptoLogic has always focused on delivering the ultimate online entertainment experience to players around the world and to receive this kind of validation means our strategy is paying off.”
The company regularly stuns the online gambling world with software that is simply a cut above the rest. From the first online version of multi hand video blackjack to casino versions of popular games such as Bejeweled and Jewel Quest, CrytoLogic manages to impress each time. Javaid Aziz summed it up: “With our ground-breaking innovation and partnerships with the world’s biggest gaming and entertainment brands, we’re exceeding the needs of today’s online players and this translates into more satisfied players on our customers’ sites,” he said.
eCOGRA Suspends Accreditation to Six Online Casino Sites
The online casino watchdog group, eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance), has announced that it has suspended its accreditations to six online gambling sites after they were shown to fail to comply with the group’s Generally Accepted Principles. Following a routine check by eCOGRA’s service staff, it was found that six sites in the Casino Action group failed to maintain many of the requirements demanded by eCOGRA for the right to carry its prestigious Safe and Fair Seal. The sites involved are: UKCasinoClub.com, MusicHallCasino.com, GoldenReefCasino.com, iBigCasino.com, ChallengeCasino.com and NostalgiaCasino.com.
This is only the second time in five years that eCOGRA has revoked its accreditations. The first time was when the group suspended its Safe and Fair Seal to sites in the Jackpot Factory group after suspicions of irregular search optimization activities. It was only after the group paid a hefty fine and dealt with the issues, that they were reinstated.
The suspension of the watchdog group’s seal is seen as a hefty blow to casino sites, which use this honor to attract gamblers to a fair and secure gambling environment. eCOGRA is one of the only groups that maintains strict industry standards that is enforced with regular inspection and monitoring. The management staff of all six online sites have been informed of the group’s decision and have been invited to comment.
Net Entertainment Signs Deal with Mystery Operator
Net Entertainment, one of the top European software providers, has achieved a strong grip in the bourgeoning online bingo market in Sweden, after it was announced that it has signed a lucrative deal with a mystery operator. The Swedish operator, which is rumored to have a significant number of registered players on its customer base and is in the process of applying for an operating license from Malta, prefers to remain anonymous at this stage of the deal.
The Chief Executive Officer of Net Entertainment, Mr. Johan Ohman, is said to be delighted with the new deal. “Operators are more careful and thorough when choosing software suppliers nowadays and the fact that we managed to sign this agreement in fierce competition is a proof of the high quality of our product,” he said. Net Entertainment will provide the mystery operator with its successful core product, the CasinoModule – a complete, customizable gaming platform that incorporates everything needed to run a successful site.
Unconfirmed: US Authorities Begin Enquiries into Party Gaming Activities
Industry rumors were flying this week over the fact that US authorities have begun enquiries into the pre-UIGEA activities of one of the world’s biggest casino companies, Party Gaming. This follows months of discussions between the US Department of Justice and company representatives over the company’s role in the industry before the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed in 2006.
Party Gaming was dealt a serious blow when the act became law and, as a publicly listed company, was forced to pull out from the US market and seek other options. However, it did not take long to bounce back and has already established itself firmly in the wider global market. Last year, the CEO of Party Gaming, Mitch Garber said: “The passage of UIGEA was a blow to our business for sure but....our group has absorbed and now recovered from this incident. PartyGaming.com is no longer a poker-led, US-dependent and one language gaming operator. We are rapidly becoming a multi-lingual and multi-currency non-US company.”
It is feared that the US authorities may eventually choose to bring charges against Party Gaming and its four founding members, Anurag Dikshit, Vikrant Bhargava, Ruth Parasol and her husband, Russ DeLeon, for what is considered illegal gambling activities before the UIGEA was passed.