February 14 – Two popular online casinos, Red Flush Casino and La Vida Casino, have received accreditation from industry watchdog and player protection group, eCOGRA.

The independent group’s Safe and Fair seal was awarded to these sites after they passed extensive on-site inspections, as well as audit processes to examine their financial systems and payout policies.

eCOGRA’s Compliance Committee noted in its report that the two online casinos “have a successful management with well trained, motivated and competent individuals servicing their players.”

“The review was well and comprehensively structured, with full buy-in from management and the staff in attaining certification,” wrote eCOGRA’s Louise Chunnett in her report.

The group will also continue to monitor Red Flush Casino and La Vida Casino, which will follow eCOGRA’s Total Gaming Transaction Review regime for complete transparency and proof of software fairness.

The two online casinos were congratulated by eCOGRA CEO, Andrew Beveridge who said: “This achievement provides internet players at Red Flush and Casino La Vida with an added layer of assurance that the games are fair and the casinos are run on professional lines and to internationally recognized best practice standards.”

Casino manager Alex Roberts said that the sites were proud of their newest accomplishment and glad to be recognized for their ongoing transparency, integrity and satisfactory operating standards.

The eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance provides its Safe and Fair seal to 150 tier one operations that have successfully meet its international requirements.

Online gambling group 888.com has revealed that it will use its sponsorship of a UK Premier League Darts competition this week to unveil its latest in-house developed slot, a 3D product titled Magical Forest (not to be confused with the SGS Universal product “Magic Forest).

The announcement was something of a tease, as no details were released on the new slot other than its 3D presentation and the need for viewing glasses to get the full effect.

Magical Forest will be available on the 888 Games platform, subsequently being released to the wider online casino community.

You might think that, aside from Steelers fans, everyone came away from the Super Bowl happy. After all, the team with the alleged rapist and a plethora of dirty hitters lost. The small-market team led by the humble star quarterback who never had a single bad sound bite during any of the Brett Favre soap operas won. Best of all, it happened in a tense and hard-fought game. If that’s what you thought, you were wrong.

The Super Bowl isn’t only the biggest sporting event and television event in America. It is also the biggest betting event in America. Nevada is one of the few places in the United States where sports betting is legal, so they normally make a lot of money off of the Super Bowl. Thi

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Swedish gambling company Betsson is to enter into a joint venture with G.Matica Srl in Italy. G.Matica is the gaming division of Alma Viva, one of the largest IT companies in Italy, with over 20,000 employees, and the firm holds an online gaming licence for the Italian market.

It operates online through its site Gbet.it, and plans to use its partnership with Betsson to further develop the online business within the Italian market.

A spokesman said this week that the Italian online gambling market is the largest in Europe, with an estimated turnover of €4.8 billion last year and a growth rate of 28% p.a.

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February 6 – The Spanish market has traditionally not been a focus for the Jackpot Factory group, in our opinion one of the best online casinos operators in the world.

The group felts that the lack of reliable online casino payment methods in Spain and other Spanish speaking countries was a problem, but with recent developments, the groups has changed it’s position.

This means that players in Spanish speaking countries are set to experience the world class service offered through All Slots Casino and All Jackpots Casino.

With the release of Transferencia Bancaria Local, players in Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Peru and Chile (and other countries to be added soon) players can now make secure, hassle-free deposits that uses their own online banking interface.

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December 29 – Will the Fantastic Four become the Terrific Trio? That is the question that Marvel Comic Book fans have been asking this weeks since Marvel Comic executive Tom Brevoort hinted that the Fantastic Four will more than likely be losing one of its members in January. 

With fans across the world looking for answer as to which of the fearsome foursome might actually die, the largest most successful sportsbook on the web, BetUS.com stepped up with odds to give some insight.

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The introduction of a more open regulated market in Denmark may have faltered over tax issues raised by land operators, but state gambling monopoly Danske Spil is planning ahead for the advent of the new dispensation.

The company has announced that it is to split its operations into three units in an organisational restructuring aimed at more dedicated focusing.

One division will be tasked with handling the more open market for sports betting, poker and casino; another will continue to target the monopolised market, including lottery, scratch games, horse racing and bingo, and the third division will concern itself with the video lottery terminal sector.

The company has not yet revealed with which software supplier it will engage in regard to the online sports betting, casino and poker operations.

The restructuring will involve management changes that reportedly include the hiring of two managing directors.

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The bad news for Gibraltar-domiciled online gambling operators over the weekend was that the government intends lifting their tax rate from 1% to 10% from next year.

The UK newspaper The Guardian reported the hike, revealing that the local industry employs 2,000 people , or 12% of the workforce, and has helped to insulate the local economy against Spain’s harsh economic climate.

Gibraltar’s low tax rate has attracted many leading online gambling companies to its shores, most recently the internet divisions of Ladbrokes and William Hill, which moved from the UK and its high taxation in order to better compete with offshore rivals.

The Guardian report reveals that in 2009 the Gibraltar government add €12.4 million to its coffers from online gambling company taxes, and that n 2011 his will incease tenfold when the gaming concerns are brought into the same tax regime as other businesses.

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U.S. District Court Judge Nanette Laughrey sentenced six men for their roles in a $3.5 million illegal online sports gambling operation. Bettors were provided with a toll-free number and two website addresses through which wagers were placed using account numbers and passwords, reports the Kansas City Star.

A Costa Rican company managed the phone number and the web server. Sentences handed down were:

Gerlarmo Cammisano (57) of Kansas City – 14 months in prison

Vincent F. Civella (53) of Kansas City – 8 months in prison

Anthony V.Sansone (28), Michael C.Sanasone (31), Michael V.Badalucco (27) – all of Kansas City each received three years probation.

Charles J.

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Heavy snow, freezing temperatures and disrupted road and rail commuter traffic have all been features of the early and unexpectedly bitter UK winter his year, with many seeking entertainment at home in preference to venturing out into the inclement weather.

Online bingo operators could benefit from the news that their land counterparts have been experiencing a serious downturn in attendances at bingo halls, with several venues reporting declines in players as high as 80%.

Clubs in the North-East and Scotland have been hit particularly hard by freezing temperatures while Yorkshire has experienced weather-induced public transport problems.

Media surveys of 50 bingo clubs around the nation found that seven major clubs had closed their doors during the week commencing 29 November with health and safety concerns at the forefront of club managers’ minds.