Casino Watch - October

13 September 2007

Carmen Media Launches I-Casino in Germany

Online gaming company Carmen Media has launched an online casino in Germany offering a 60,000 euro jackpot to players for the low stake of 0.01 to 0.49 euros. Powered by Microgaming, 49JackpotCity launched on Aug. 20 and offers more that 30 casino games, including progressives, video poker and slots.

Mansion Denies Shutdown Rumors

Gibraltar-based operator Mansion has denied rumors that it would be shutting down its betting exchange in the near future. In February, the company closed its sports-betting business and, last week, moved its casino products to the Playtech platform, which will supply a suite of over 90 casino games for Mansion.

Svenska Spel Withdraws Online Casino App

Svenska Spel has reportedly withdrawn its application for an online casino and stopped development on new gambling products amid growing criticism--both domestically and internationally. "We do not think it is realistic to get an approval from the government at this time and hence we have withdrawn this application," said Svenska Chief Executive Jesper Kärrbrink. "What we can do is to continue developing the games we have, but any new development will not take place."

InterCasino, Poker Brands Relocate to Malta

Dutch Antilles emigrants InterCasino and InterPoker have been granted online gaming licenses to operate from Malta. Presumably, the brands, owned by London-based OIGE N.V., are seeking domicile within the European Economic Area to gain access to the British I-gaming market--what the company called "operational advantages." "We have done this to ensure that all our customers are able to enjoy playing at InterPoker in full knowledge that their game play will be with the premier European gaming license jurisdiction," said InterCasino Spokesman Peter Marcus.

New (and Old) Payment Option for US Players

Online gambling site PokerStars.com, still serving U.S. players, will return the eCheck instant deposit service to its American clientele. The service would require qualifying customers to provide PokerStars with specific banking information so that the money can be taken directly from a specified checking account via electronic fund transfer. However, the minimum amount that can be transferred via eCheck is $25, and there is a $600 maximum within a 24 hour, seven-day period, plus a $2,000 maximum within 30 days.

24hPoker, Epicure Venture to Merge under One Brand

Swedish poker operators 24hPoker and Epicure Venture have signed a letter of intent, whereby the two companies will merge under one brand. The new company, which has yet to be named, will be responsible for the operation 24hPoker.com, Martinspoker.com and Staffpoker.com--all three of which will remain on the 24hNetwork. "We have seen major changes in the attitude of 24hNetwork in the past three to five months," said Martinspoker.com chief executive Claus Nielsen. "We feel that the vision of 24hNetwork to focus on the online gaming solution supplier market along with any plans of international expansion is something that we are certain will benefit our company's future."

Dutch Government Selects Holland Casino to Offer I-Poker

Beginning Jan. 1, 2008, the Dutch government will only allow Internet poker via the Web site of the Dutch casino monopoly, Holland Casino. Justice Minster Hirsch Ballin opined that the state can regulate poker in this manner. The Dutch Poker Association, however, is of a different view. The association counted more than 1 million active poker players in the Netherlands, and it expects foreign poker operators to fill a sizeable vacuum. Above that, the Dutch gaming board advised Ballin to legalize poker up to a certain betting limit, but that proposal was pushed aside immediately by the Christian Party minister, who is afraid that liberalizing the I-poker market could lead to an increase in new poker players.

CryptoLogic Launches Casino on WPT Web Site

Toronto-based software developer CryptoLogic has launched a new Vegas-style casino brand on the World Poker Tour (WPT) gaming site. CryptoLogic and WPT Enterprises have signed an agreement through which WagerLogic, CryptoLogic's wholly-owned subsidiary, would be the sole software supplier of the new casino offering.