Archive for the Gambling News category.
August 19, 2010
If you fancy a trip over the pond for the prestigious DoylesRoom English poker open, you can give yourself the chance to win an attractive package including a buy in and assistance with travel and accommodation.
Poker’s next big tournament, the English Poker Open, takes place in London, from September 11 to 14 and DoylesRoom wants the Mayfair Casino, Piccadilly Circus and London’s busiest pubs to look like a DoylesRoom.com convention. So DoylesRoom has launched satellites from as low as $3 to help as many DoylesRoom players as possible jump across the pond and into the tournament.
The English Poker Package includes: One $5,350 seat ($5,000 + $350 Euro EPO Main Event buy-in) and $1,650 cash allowance to cover travel and accommodations. For every 28 players in the final online poker tournament, one $7,000 English Poker Open package will be awarded.
August 12, 2010
The Gambling Commission was set up in Great Britain under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate the majority of commercial gambling within its island borders. It is an independent, non-department public body that is funded mostly by the fees paid by those applying for gaming licences.
The organisation is based in Birmingham and has over 200 employees that work across England, Scotland and Wales ensuring that all gambling premises and those involved in gambling are complying with the commission’s regulations.
Those regulations are drawn up by the commission and are named the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP).
As well as drawing up the conditions and codes of practice which gambling operators must follow, the commission also works with local authorities and other key stakeholders offering advice and information. These stakeholders are the ones responsible for granting gambling operators permits and premises licences for venues not normally used for gambling.
The commission advises the stakeholders on such issues as the manner in which gambling is carried out, the effects of gambling and the regulation of gambling.
Keeping crime out of gambling is a key objective for the commission, and they work closely with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and local law enforcement. If any illegal activity is detected, the commission has the power to withdraw licences and to initiate criminal proceedings.
Gambling in Great Britain needs to be licensed even if it is your local church tombola stall or raffle ticket draw. If you are unsure if you require a licence or not, then visit the commission’s website at www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk for more information.
August 10, 2010
Legislation which could affect thousands of online poker players in the U.S. may, or may not be nearer. With news over the last week regarding the latest legislative victory for Barney Frank’s pro-online poker legislation, a lot of players are wondering how close the US actually is to regulating online poker. It is now believed that the short answer to the question is, yes it could be closer than many people think.
But there could be a long answer which may or may not please and that is that a variety of developments this summer have left us feeling that online poker has the best shot of getting regulated in the US that the industry has had in quite some time. Most sober-minded people had a fairly tame reaction to the news last week that Frank’s bill got out of committee. This was a crucial step of course but a long and difficult legislative road lies ahead, possibly as long as a year.
August 05, 2010
Like many other online casinos 888 Holdings is glad to see the end of the world Cup as trading during July returned to historical seasonal patterns. It is noted that online poker players have returned and there has been an increase in first time depositors in Casino and Poker compared to June 2010. 888’s Dragonfish division has also signed an agreement with Micrograme S.p.A. for the provision of a casino product to the Italian gaming market, which is a small positive for the group.”
This important deal entails Dragonfish, 888’s B2B unit, to provide a fully localised product with a broad range of games, both flash and download, including video slots, video poker, table games, branded games and a selection of Quickplay instant games such as virtual sport. Microgame is Italy’s leading remote gaming service provider with more than 1.7m customer accounts in poker and sports betting.
July 26, 2010
One of the main reasons individuals participate in financial spread betting is because the profits are specifically free of capital gains tax, regardless of the trader’s personal circumstances. Not to mention, financial spread betting is also exempt from income tax for individuals who can prove they have other sources of income on which they support themselves, rather than relying on the income of the betting itself. In spread betting the only way an individual is required to pay taxes is if they are relying solely on the profits from their financial spread betting.
The downside to financial spread betting is the lack of protection most spread betting companies provide their bettors. As a result, according to an article posted in The Times in April 2009, out of the approximately 30,000 financial spread betting accounts which were opened that year, almost 15% of the participants developed serious psychological problems as a result of losses. In addition, a case study from Cass Business School showed that only one in five individuals participating in financial spread betting actually end up coming out ahead. Although financial spread betting is strictly regulated by the Financial Services Authority the lack of protection for individuals who have lost significant amounts of money has resulted in serious suicidal tendencies in some of those who have lost millions betting against companies that went under during the recession.
While it is true that it is possible to make a massive fortune through financial spread betting, the odds are such that the risks associated are just as large.
July 14, 2010
Intercasino is a Gibraltar based gaming company who run a range of online games including blackjack, roulette and card games. Due to their responsible gaming policy there are set limits on how much money you can transfer and have in your account at any one time. Intercasino has limits of between a minimum of £10 and the maximum of £1000.
Gamers can play using Euros, Sterling or American dollars and as with all reputable gaming sites it is safe and secure, so you can transfer funds as you require them with complete peace of mind. Before joining and using real money there are trial games available for you to play and there are also over 80 instant games to try. New games are being added all the time so there is always something new to try.
There are over 300 games available for play, from roulette to blackjack as well as variations of all the usual games; Marvel slots and video poker are just two of them. All the games are explained and there is also an online help line to provide you with 24 hour assistance.
As an incentive to play the company gives bonuses when joining as well as when deposits are made. Once you are a member you are eligible to receive bonuses as well as win holidays and other prizes. If you are lucky enough to be a winner then your winnings can be withdrawn using one of the various banking options including Neteller and click2pay.
June 23, 2010
Gambling is defined as the wagering of something of material value or money on some type of event that has an uncertain outcome. The purpose is to win additional material goods and/or money. It is fairly common in gambling for the outcome of the event to be witnessed within a short period of time. Where gambling is concerned, the term “gaming” often refers to a wagering activity that is permitted by law.
It has been documented that gambling dates back to ancient times and at some point in history, there has been evidence to show that most cultures have supported it in a variety of different forms. Dating as far back as 2,300 BC, evidence of gambling has been found at various sites in China. In Egypt, a pair of dice made from ivory was found, believed to have been made somewhere around 1,500 BC.
Writings on a tablet, found within one of the pyramids of Giza in Egypt, spoke of gambling. It is also documented that the ancient people of Greece, India, and Rome also practiced some different gambling forms. Gambling has also played a significant role in certain country’s histories. For instance, King Olaf of Norway and King Olaf of Sweden reportedly got together in order to gamble for the rights to the district of Hising.
Finally, England’s King Henry VIII banned gambling when he discovered that his military troops were spending more time wagering instead of attending to their duties and responsibilities. However, by the Middle Ages, gambling had grown to be quite a popular activity.
June 17, 2010
Like many things, when done in moderation gambling can be fun and entertaining. But gambling is also one of those activities that can be addictive, and like alcoholism or smoking it can be destructive. It was not too long ago that betting companies and other gambling providers had no recognised or legal responsibility towards the care of those who gambled – be it online gambling, sports betting, bingo, casinos, etc. – but with the more recent, major deregulation of gambling in the UK, gambling providers now have a legal duty of care, or “Social Responsibility”, towards their customers.
Staff are now taught to look for certain signs that someone may have problems with gambling, and they are also coached on how to discreetly approach someone and let them know what their options are if they are having personal issues with gambling.
In any gambling location you will now see mandatory notices and literature about Social Responsibility. These are free to take and to look at, and they provide the gambler with useful information with regards to gambling and the risks. Customers have the option, if they feel it necessary, to self-exclude themselves from a gambling location for a period of six-months, which can be reviewed after this period ends and continued if need be. In addition to the help and information available from gambling locations and betting sites, gamblers can visit the GamCare site www.gamcare.com. GamCare provides information, advice, and support to anyone who thinks, or knows, they have a gambling problem.
May 25, 2010
Established in 1934 in Wood Green, a North London suburb, William Hill plc is now one of the UK’s largest bookmaking companies. It is currently listed on the London Stock Exchange and is also a member of the FTSE 250 Index. Although it was originally founded by William Hill, the company changed hands a number of times prior to 1971 when it was acquired by Sears Holdings. In 1997 Nomura, a Japanese investment bank, proposed a £700 million leveraged buyout.
Today, William Hill bookmakers operate in both Ireland and the UK offering wagering by telephone and over the internet as well as at their bookmaking shops. Company revenues listed at the end of 2009 were listed as just under £1 billion and like Ladbrokes of London, they now employ some 15,000 people. Additionally, their net profits topped the £81 million mark and their operating income was over £250 million.
In recent years, their internet division has witnessed the greatest growth despite the fact that their gambling shops process nearly 890,000 betting slips on a daily basis. In addition to the internet sportsbook operations, William Hill also offers their clientele other casino games and skill games, as well as online bingo and poker.
This past year (2009) saw William Hill move their fixed-odds and online divisions outside of the UK to Gibraltar for the purposes of avoiding taxes on those two operations. In any event, the company is one of the largest bookmaking companies in Europe and the largest in the United Kingdom.
March 23, 2010
Tote betting is a unique form of sports betting that is only available in Britain, and only available through the bookmaker known as The Tote, or the Horserace Totalisator Board. They are an official British bookmaker with close to 600 betting shops and locations located on the 60 racecourses throughout Britain, as well as operating call centres and internet betting sites. There are a variety of tote bets available, but the most common is the pari-mutuel betting on horse races, as they are the only company in the UK allowed to offer this form of bet.
Tote betting is one of the easiest ways for newcomers to get involved in sports betting, because the availability and relatively low risk of betting pools allows for novices to get their feet wet without really risking anything. The popularity of tote betting is largely due to this factor, not to mention most of their locations are right next to the bars and restaurants of the race tracks, making it impossible for anyone to miss them. It is incredibly simple as well, and all you do is tell the cashier which horse you are looking to back, hand over your money, and wait for the outcome. If your bet wins, you share your money with everyone else in the pool.
The payout for tote betting is less than it is with traditional sports betting because you are sharing your winnings with individuals in a pool. However, the risks are also much lower, which means it is a safer form of sports betting perfect for novices.