Party Growth Continues -- PartyGaming reported Friday that it had signed a record number of new poker players in the fourth quarter of 2005. The company's poker room, PartyPoker.com, signed up over 229,000 new players, nearly a third of them from outside the United States, and sales rose 65 percent to $320 million in the same period.
Microsoft Bingo -- Microsoft Network UK has launched MSN Bingo using technology by Internet bingo solutions provider Parlay Entertainment. Hosted by Euro Gaming Limited Group's Bingos.co.uk platform, players can access MSN Bingo through the games section of uk.msn.com.
Three Card Poker -- Vegas-style casino Aces.com is now offering three-card poker, which is actually two games in one. "PairPlus," is a simple game in which players are dealt three cards and are paid according to their value. In "Ante and Play," after viewing their three cards, players can either raise by putting an equal bet on play, or fold and lose the ante bet. Players can bet on either one or both, and in different amounts.
Wagering Network -- Canada-based Blackout Communications Inc. , a new digital media entertainment company specializing in digital television, video-on-demand, pay-per-view, radio, Internet and print media, has acquired a 20 percent stake in another new specialty digital network called The Wagering Network for an undisclosed amount of stock and cash. The Wagering Network is a 24-hour specialty channel targeted at giving sports wagering fans in Canada a source for all their wagering and betting needs, such as lines on every sporting event around the world.
CasinoRoom.com -- Safepay Internacional S.R.L., the Costa Rica-based owner and operator of CasinoRoom.com, announced Thursday the launch of several new online slots and casino games including Casino Hold'em, a version of Texas Hold'em that combines the poker game with a fast-paced casino experience. "Casino Hold'em bridges the gap between online casino and poker by capturing the thrill and excitement of Texas Hold'em without the hassle of having to wait around for a good game to start," said Robert Gustavsson, spokesperson for CasinoRoom.com.