PAYDAY Citadel Commerce Corporation, a subsidiary of ESI Entertainment Systems Inc., announced on Tuesday that it began using its payment solution, Instant Internet Banking, to process payments for 888 Holdings, the owner and operator of 888.com.
The payment offers international consumers a secure purchasing method using an Internet bank account. Customers can use their own Internet Banking System to pay Citadel directly.
"We have been testing Citadel's Instant Internet Bank Transfers with some of our V.I.P. customers, and they have found the system to be very effective and easy to use,” said Gigi Levy, chief executive of 888.com, in a prepared statement. "We expect to continue to expand the rollout to more of our V.I.P.s in additional countries, and we have initiated efforts to fully integrate Instant Internet Banking into our main cashier pages.”
BANNED The United Kingdom’s Advertising Standards Authority, or ASA, has banned a PKR TV advertisement.
According to ASA’s Web site, the online poker site’s advertisement was “irresponsible because it glamorized the risks involved in gambling and implied it was possible to win against the odds,” it appealed to the youth and was likely “to exploit their aspirations and credulity,” and it suggested “that gambling was a way to gain recognition or admiration.”
The ad featured computer-generated players around a table in a virtual poker room and focused on a well-dressed gentleman. “I’ve come in over the top of pot-sized raises with middle pair, bluffed under the gun with four runners behind me, folded pocket Kings on a hunch. I’ve survived bad beats, sick draws and cold decks,” said a voiceover while the man pushed a stack of chips to the center of the table.
“And I’ve played through fields of thousands to make the final table. Here I come,” the voiceover continued as the man laughed.
Although PKR argued that the ad used terminology unlikely to be understood by young people and therefore could not appeal or exploit them, ASA said the terminology was not likely to be understood by the masses but gave the impression that it “was acceptable to take risks ‘on a hunch.’ ”
THE BINGO BILL A California bill, SB 1369, was pushed through the Legislature to the state’s governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Backed by Jim Battin, a Republican senator, and Gil Cedilo, a Democratic senator, the bill allows state charities to conduct Remote Caller Bingo, or bingo games conducted online, while banning smaller charities from raising funds through electronic bingo machines.
Claiming smaller, community-based charities could suffer if the bill is passed, California Charity Bingo Association released a statement condemning it.
"We are now urging the Governor to take a closer look at SB 1369 and realize that in their haste, legislative sponsors left loopholes that could have disastrous and far-reaching consequences not just for small charities, but for all Californians for a long time," said Ravi Mehta, member of the California Charity Bingo Association, in the statement.
LAUNCHING Inspired Gaming Group has announced it will unveil new and exclusive B2, B3 and C content at The Betting Show 2008, and additional B2 and B3 content will be launched prior to the show.
The game machine provider will also use the show to relaunch its licensed betting office brand, Leisure Link, as Inspired Gaming Group.
“Our presence at The Betting Show this year is strategically important for our business,” said Luke Alvarez, co-chief executive of Inspired, in a prepared statement. “We already supply 41 percent of the market, but we are really excited about the independent LBO opportunity as we want to offer them the same great Rainmaker machines that we do to the bigger players.”
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