Category Archives: News

Deconstructing Casino Bonuses: Are They For Real?

Being on the right side of the fence is often a much desired but seldom overlooked aspect of online gambling. Casino bonuses pose one such prospect where most online gamblers fail to tell the genuine bonuses from the questionable ones.

That’s why, a little deconstruction of casino bonuses is in order.

Casino bonuses

Why do online casinos offer bonuses?

In the simples of terms, casino bonuses are marketing tools. They are not at all unlike the offers we come across everyday at online shopping websites or even, departmental stores. Casinos offer bonuses to make sure that they ‘acquire’ new players. Quite logically, that’s where their revenues come from.

Are all casino bonuses shams?

Definitely not. Casinos bonuses, in most cases, are real. It’s just that many players misunderstand what they are signing up for and hence, at times, feel a tad confused. Some of the commonest casino bonus terms are:

Match bonuses

Match bonuses are the bonuses offered as ‘matches’ to the deposits you make to your casino wallet.

Match percentage

Match percentage is the percentage at which your deposits will be matched by the casinos. These percentages can range from anywhere between 50% and 400%.

Match cap

Match cap is the upper limit for the ‘match bonuses’. Once this limit is reached, new bonuses cannot be availed by the player.

  1. Free spins

Free spins bonuses are offered by casinos to ensure that new players can try out a few rounds of games.

Fresh Horizons: New Games

Just as it is absolutely brilliantly to note the continued growth and appreciation of many of the world’s most traditional gaming formats, there is revel to be had also when looking more densely at the present and indeed the future.

New casino Games

The internet age has ushered in an entirely new range of possibilities as far as games development is concerned. Sure, there has been a pretty consistent population of video gaming consoles in the land-based casino business for the past few decades (or maybe even longer?) – though in comparison to what is offered online now, and as a result via the in-casino machines in this day and age, they were clunky, unfriendly old things.

Perhaps most evident since the online platforms started to weigh up to the traditional land based casino format, is the unprecedented rise in popularity of slots games, or ‘pokies’ as they are referred to by our friends in Australia.

At first, these consoles were pretty slow off of the mark. Looking back, it is rather easy to see why. After all who is going to trust their hard earned cash in the hands of a virtual bot? The bug-trap theory was rampant within the first few generations of online slot gambling. However, time does heal all things and soon enough a trusting relationship was built between the increasingly competent (and impressive) games development firms and their increasingly open consumer base.

New video slots are put out there almost every single day of the year. The demand for them seems to be never ending, and the turnover they are noting for the industry as a combined entity is astronomical.

Grand Mondial Casino

It’s very rare for a new online casino to possess a reputation which is truly beyond its age. It’s also very rare for a new online casino to have already carved out its own place in the vast and highly competitive landscape that is online gaming, this early on its existence.

Yet, Grand Mondial Casino appears to be legitimate living proof that both of these seemingly impossible feats are in fact possible in an industry which everyday becomes home to more and more hopeful big players!

Grand Mondial Casino has established a good reputation through the years

One way to quickly assess the salt of any online casino is by taking a look at the bonus and promotional offers it has available. Like most online gambling forums, the Grand Mondial offers a highly attractive rolling range of bonus offers which are intended not only to entice new players into the realm, but keep them content once they are in there. However, upon scanning over the facts and figures on the Grand Mondial homepage, it very quickly becomes apparent that these guys aren’t messing about.

With a welcoming bonus offer which magnifies initial deposits by 400%, there is very little question at all as to why this casino has come so far in such little time.

As for the games on offer, all of the usual suspects are well represented here. With traditional table games sitting alongside some of the modern sensations doing the rounds these days, the casino provides a very worthwhile platform for gamers of all generations, tendencies and tastes.

What’s more than all of this is that by all accounts the team behind the website are extremely capable when it comes to dealing with their clients’ requests, not that many issues will arise given the state of the art software Grand Mondial employs on all fronts.

Diddy and Mark Wahlberg Place Bets on Mayweather and Pacquiao

The mega fight between boxers Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao that is scheduled for 2nd May 2015 in Las Vegas has been attracting top bets from celebrities. Rapper Diddy and Mark Wahlberg during a much publicised discussion together bet $250,000 on the fight between Floyd and Manny which initially started at $100,000. The surprising part is that even rapper 50 Cents has made a public announcement that he will be betting $1.6 million on Floyd Mayweather. Diddy is confident that his friend, Mark Wahlberg, will lose as Mayweather has rarely lost a fight and he will make money in this deal.

The most popular Vegas mega fight

Diddy and Mark WahlbergThis mega fight between both champions is set to break revenue records this year as five top sponsors have already contributed amounts totalling $13.2 million on the fight – three times more than the last highest paid fight. Beer maker Tecate has already paid $5.6 million to be recognized as the official beer brand of this fight. Tecate beat Corona’s bet of $5.2 million to have its brand displayed on the ring mat at the centre the firm. Demand for merchandise representing both contestants like t-shirts, boxing gloves, caps, jackets and figurines have shot up by nearly 10 times.

Evenly matched fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao

Fans of both players are eagerly awaiting the fight and expensive tickets did not deter them from snapping them up within days. Online sportsbook Bovada has listed Mayweather as a top favourite of more than 210 followers while Pacquiao also has a large number of supporters. This fight is expected to give a boost of more than $ 1 billion to the Las Vegas economy as around 300,000 fans are likely to travel to Nevada city just to have a glimpse of their favourite star players.

Big Time Boxing Match Equals Big Payday for Hollywood and Vegas

The Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather created a buzz in the boxing community.

The boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather provided a much-needed jolt of energy to the boxing community. The match, considered by many to be the most important boxing bout of this era, has also provided the casino industries in Las Vegas and Hollwood with a plenty of additional revenue, too.

MGM Grand Hotel & Casino’s Big Payday

The MGM’s public relations team released a report indicating that room prices for fight weekend were $750 more than room prices on an average night. The fight was held at the MGM Grand, where standard rooms eventually reached prices of $1,600 on the night of the fight. Prices for a standard room at the MGM Grand are $270 per night.

MGM Grand, in conjunction with the fight promoters, settled on a price of $100,000 for a ringside ticket to the fight. Tickets for nosebleed seats reached upwards of $4,600. The purse for the fight was estimated at over $300 million.

Hollywood’s Casinos Also Benefit from Fight Night

Las Vegas-based casinos and hotels were not the only businesses that benefited from the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. Native American-owned casinos in Hollywood and San Diego also received plenty of action on fight night as well.

For example, the Morongo Casino advertised that they were holding a pay-per-view viewing party on their casino floor. The Morongo charged $75 to watch the fight on their biggest screen. The casino’s hotel rooms were completely sold out during the weekend of the fight.

Phil Cooper, a marketing director with Morongo Casino, says the excitement and anticipation for the boxing match was similar to the excitement the casino sees for the Super Bowl. A restaurant cleaning owner in Hollywood compared the boxing match to the Rose Bowl.

Gambling Business Group Supports ICE 2015

The Gambling Business Group (GBG) is supporting the ICE exhibition, which will be starting from February 3 to 5, 2015 at the ExCel Centre in London. It is big news as GBG, which was formed just six months ago in July 2014 can count among its members people from top gaming organisations. Not only this, but GBG also represents a wide spectrum of the UK gaming industry such as the Pub, LBO, FEC, Bingo and the Casino industry.

 

ICE exhibition 2015

 Significance of the GBG support

ICE is a big event, which brings eminent personalities from the gaming industry from the world over under one roof. Several GBG members participate in ICE as exhibitors and many others visit the exhibition as buyers. This ICE event is a networking and showcasing grounds in favour of the UK gaming.

ICE is the perfect platform for GBG employees and members to network with the local and international gaming professionals, innovators and thought leaders. With Peter Hannibal at its helm as the CEO, GBG along with its members and partners hope to discuss challenges facing the gaming industry with policymakers and politicians and also present the best of the products offered by the industry.

 

Significance of ICE event

The managing director of ICE, Julian Graves has welcomed this show of strength from the GBG. The main agenda of ICE no doubt, is the new product launches by hundreds of exhibitors; he accepts that ICE is also a huge networking and meeting ground for gaming industry professionals and they welcome it wholeheartedly.

With more than 500 exhibitors and thousands of gaming industry professionals gathered together for ICE Totally Gaming 2015, the GBG support and presence can only add to the significance of such exhibitions and conferences.

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg as a Gambler

The famous 1974 movie ‘The Gambler’ is back on the big screen with a new cast Mark Wahlberg plays the lead this time and can be clearly seen having lost quite a few pounds for the role.

The plot

After having written one novel, Wahlberg starts his life afresh as a college professor. Hailing from a wealthy family and inheriting nothing, he lives a quiet life. However, he gets addicted to gambling and in a big way. His character Jim Bennett is under heavy debt due to his addiction and owes money to Korean mobsters and loansharks. Though he is in a bad place, he receives no sympathy from other characters as he himself is responsible for all of his problems. He ends up putting himself as collateral when he figures out that there is no way to get out of the mountains of gambling debt.

Performances and comparisons

A remake is bound to be compared with its predecessor and here too it is inevitable. The 2014 version appears like a good treat for the fans of the older version. However, the film fails to recreate the magic of the 1974 version.

As far as the performances of the actors go, the supporting cast comes off better than Wahlberg’s portrayal of the main character. Just as the characters didn’t have sympathy for him; the viewers will also have little or no sympathy for Jim Bennett. Even though Mark Wahlberg lost close to 60 pounds for the role, it seems to have gone in vain. He mentioned being on a diet of just almond milk for six weeks, while continuing his workout regime and hours of daily work.

Wahlberg is known for his performances in films like ‘the Fighter’. However, this one slightly missed the mark. Shot in Los Angeles, the cinematography is quite good, especially in outdoor scenes. Under the direction of Karel Reisz, the movie has quite a few good scenes like the blackjack one. The writer James Toback has done a good job and the score by Theo Green and Jon Brion is fine too.

New Online Casino

SkyBet’s New Online Casino

If you’ve been searching internet gaming portals for reliable and safe online betting sites, then you will be thrilled to know about the many riches in store. As internet gambling sites grow more comprehensive with choices that include live betting, interactive video slots, and ever-increasing progressive slots, players, now more than ever are regaled with high quality options offered by renowned and secure sites.

Soar high with Sky

Well-established and popular gaming company, SkyBet recently launched Sky Casino in affiliation with Playtech games. Building on previous operations in Sky Bingo, run by gaming software provided by Playtech, SkyBet players now have access to a range of latest and hottest casino games.

Everything from table card games to progressive video slots are now available for quick and easy download on to portable and mobile instruments. Marvel-themed slot games like Iron Man 2, Gladiator, Avengers, Halloween Fortune and many more guarantee entertaining and rewarding times.

In addition, the site also offers player the thrill and excitement of live and interactive table card games. Players can now choose to indulge in classic favourites like Roulette, Baccarat, and Blackjack sessions with live dealers that feature impressive featured chat options and professional standards.

Sky is the limit

Current features on Sky Casino enable players to attempt their chosen game at their convenience. Players registered for instant play are given access to all recent web-based applications and browser software that provides easy and unhindered gaming.

Over and above, players will be given the opportunity to consult with and receive premium advice from a trained and professional team of veteran players. You can now explore the many possibilities to increase winnings, and enjoy the excitement of live table games from the comfort of your own home.

Live table games are a secure way to ensure that your bets aren’t subject to random, computer-generated numbers. Playing online live card games will give you the feeling of being in a real casino.

fixed odds betting

Fixed Odds Betting Encourages Gambling?

According to two-thirds of people in Great Britain, it is the fixed odds betting terminals that encourage problem gambling. A Sunday People survey was conducted to reveal that 66 percent believe there are more bookmakers than necessary and another 56 percent say that there needs to be a limit on the maximum that can be gambled at a terminal.
Maximum stakes are currently £100 per spin and that’s leading to people losing a lot of money. The poor boroughs where the fixed odd betting machines (FOBT) are resulted in a loss of £470 million for 2013. In the areas where people could actually afford to play, the loss was only £231 million.

With statistics like this, many believe that the machines were being placed in the poorer areas by bookies for the sole purpose of forming an addiction. The poor areas suffer from a considerable amount of unemployment and therefore people are betting in the hopes of winning so that they can put food on the table.

Due to the amount of gambling that is being done on these FOBTs, it has been called the crack cocaine of the gambling world. Once people get hooked, they cannot walk away, even when they cannot afford to play and take the risk of losing. Once lost, it propels a person to wager again to try and win back what was lost.

The gambling problems are being encouraged by bookies according to many of the people who have been recently polled. The law currently allows for bookies to have a maximum of four of the FOBT machines and that is three more than what any people should be allowed.

More than half of the people who were surveyed believed that bookies placed the machines in poor areas on purpose. Additionally, more than half of the people thought that the spin maximum should be dropped from £100 down to £20.

The Labor Party is backing the Sunday People, who are responsible for pressing the government to put an upper limit of £2 per spin. All of these polls have shown that people have spoken. They don’t want any additional digital casinos. They want control of the ones that are in place.

bookmakers mobile apps

UK Bookmaker Heads To Australia With Mobile App

 

Real-time bets have been available on some sporting events in the United States for years. Bookmakers offer real-time odds and give bettors an opportunity to be better informed and to make wiser decisions.

But now, British bookmaker, Betfred, has set its sights on a new mobile betting service timed to coincide with the 2014 World Cup later this summer in Brazil.

Betfred touts its new app as the hard work of engineers for 18 months. Features of the app include improved navigation, live events and betting highlights to enhance the operation for the user.

While sports bettors will be able to place real-time wagers on matches in this year’s pre-eminent football tournament, Betfred has more ambitious plans. Eventually, bettors will be able to wager on horse racing, specifically for the Spring Racing Carnival in October and November if all goes well.

The full-service web offering should be available as a soft-opening in Australia by mid-June, Betfred’s managing director Luke Brill has said. Brill said it is possible this site will be launches earlier, which will let the company gather feedback from clients.

Because of Australia’s well-regulated gambling industry and because many Aussies have taken a liking to betting on European sports, Brill is confident that the mobile betting option will gain approval. Australians have shown a passion and a taste for online poker, and Betfred hopes to capitalize on satiating Aussies’ online hunger with sports.

Betfred has room to grow and the sky is the limit. With offices in Sydney and Darwin, staffers from the UK will be joining the 15 or so currently in Australia to iron out any issues that might arise.

While gamblers are awaiting anxiously the opportunity for real-time betting, some remain skeptical of Betfred’s sustainability.

One local bookmaker says the market is not big enough to support another player in the Australian gambling market.

Betstar bookmaker and founder Alan Eskander predicts the industry will vie for the next few years for the same dollars, resulting in mergers and the disappearance of various bookmakers.

The highest bookmakers at risk will be the small to midsize ones, similar to Betfred. These bookmakers will be endangered because of a proliferation of regulations and the changing gambling market.

In the meantime, Betfred has bet real-time wagering will be the ticket to growth and profits.