Online scratch of games are the newest form of online gambling to hit the online casinos and gambling sites. They are quickly becoming as popular as other online casino games like slots, blackjack and poker. Part of this is because they are not a new concept to both novice and regular gamblers.
Instant win scratch cards have been one of the most popular forms of lottery games hosted by state governments. Players enjoy their ease of play, fun themes, and instant results. This is no different to online players. They can often be played while gamblers are waiting for hands and games to play out.
NeoGames is one of the most popular providers of instant win online scratch off games. In fact, they were the first company to exclusively commit themselves to developing the online scratch off games and themes. For almost five years they have been leading the charge and doing it well. They love the instant fun, entertainment, and, of course, winning that comes along with their product. They are also proud of continually coming up with new products.

The newest online instant win scratch off game to come out of NeoGames offers online players two times the fun. The number “7” has always been considered to be lucky. Land based casinos along with online casinos and lotteries have been using 7’s reputation for what seems like forever.
NeoGames is doing the same. Their new online instant win scratch off game is called 7th Heaven. What makes NeoGames 7 themed game different is the chance at multiple wins. Each online instant win scratch off game card features seven games. That is nice, but there is not much of a surprise there. The fun comes in when players realize that they have two chances to win on a single card!
Online instant win scratch off games are making their statement as a popular form of online gambling. More and more online casino and gambling sites are offering them. Thus, NeoGames is giving them more and more games to offer.

To receive an accreditation from a respected expert in your field is a huge advantage for any company. The automobile industry has Motor Trend Magazine awards, the hospitality industry as the AAA Diamond program, on a more serious note colleges and universities can receive national accreditation for the educational programs. For the online casino industry to receive and accreditation from the eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and assurance board. According to their website, ecogra.org, eCOGRA is an independent non-profit organization that oversees fair gaming, player protection, and responsible operator conduct. Receiving a seal from eCOGRA is a major vote of confidence that an online casino company can offer their customers and affiliates.

The most recent online casino affiliate program to receive the eCOGRA Affiliate Trust Seal is Star Partner. In order to be handed the eCOGRA Affiliate Trust Seal an affiliate program must meet pretty high standards set by eCOGRA. They include revenue that is accurately calculated and deductions are correctly allocated, payments are completely and accurately processed, there must be preventative and detective controls to provide accurate and correct linking of players to affiliates, and the meeting of high practice standards for developing, implementing and maintaining program software.

Star Partner is quickly making waves in the online casino and gambling industry. They claim that their Casino Affiliation Network allows “web site affiliates to make money by generating real money players at Star Partners’ partner casinos and poker rooms. They are also quick to claim that they are not an online casino or gambling site. They believe they can make their customers up to a lifetime 35 percent commissions per month with no negative monthly carry overs. The have detailed and transparent reporting. Star Parters also pride themselves on their 24 hour/seven days a week personal customer support. They stress the personal as they know their relationships with their customers are what makes them work. Congratulations Start Partners.

One of the most anticipated events in the online casino industry is the annual International Gaming Expo held in Earls Court, London. This is the convention where online casinos, affiliates, and providers network and show off their products and new ideas. The most anticipated event of the International Gaming Expo is the Fire and Ice Party hosted by Lyceum Media. The party was specifically set up for the online casino industry. Industry insiders were tired of being snubbed at other casino events and decided they needed a gala all to themselves. They also set up to be the envy of the casino party world. Each year, the Fire and Ice party has grown. This year organizers are promising a night of “Bacchanalian Decadence.”

Over the past years Lyceum Media has had some help in the way of sponsorship for the party. This year is no different. Everyone wants to attend Fire and Ice and/or have their name attached to the night dedicated to the online casino industry. Recently Fire and Ice has added another name to the list of sponsors INTRALOT Interactive. INTRALOT Interactive is a subsidiary of INTRALOT Group and partner CyberArts. They will be hosting their first VIP event at the party. Lyceum Media is excited to add new companies to their event. It is, after all, all about the networking…and partying.

This years party, held at the Gilgamesh Bar, is a throwback to the mystic and wild festivals called the Bacchanalia. The Bacchanalia were in honor of the Roman god Bacchus who was the god of wine and revelry. He was the party god. This year his graces go out to the online casino industry. “We have pushed the boundaries this year and unleashed our wild side,” exclaimed Fire and Ice event producer, Jodie Thind. She went on to say to INTRALOT and other sponsors, “A huge thanks on behalf of everyone who will attend goes out to the sponsors.”

Fire and Ice is the party of the year. Hollywood may have its Oscar after parties, and Times Square has thousands of people on New Years Eve, but the online casino industry has Fire and Ice, which just may beat them all.

Four years ago Patti Hart was the chief executive officer for Pinnacle Systems. She decided not to be involved full time with the gambling technology business. She wasn’t retiring completely, though. She took a position on the board of slot machine manufacturing giant, International Game Technology. She stated, herself, that she was not going to work full time again. By now you’ll realize that this is the beginning of this article so, clearly, Ms. Hart’s path was altered. After a board of directors meeting fellow International Gaming Technology board members approached her and offered her the chance to take on another CEO position. She accepted.

It has been a little over eight months, and Patti Hart has made some waves, gained some knowledge and is in the driver’s seat. Even though her resume in the technology field was impressive, as far as gambling goes, she had only made one trip to Las Vegas previous to her IGT appointment. That trip was for a convention. Since becoming CEO, however, she has logged thousands of air miles, learning the ins and outs of IGT. It has made her an international figure as she has been to Canada, Europe, Asia, and of course, crossed the United States. She said the traveling, “…gave me a better understanding of our different business models.” She was keen to state, “The fixed odds wagering business in the United Kingdom is different from the lottery situation in China, which is different from the Las Vegas Strip, which is different from public gaming in Canada.”

Hart is also dealing with a company that is in transition as far as the gambling industry goes. Not only are they coming off some economic problems, which caused some financial restructuring, streamlining, and cost cutting, but the casino providing industry is going through some changes as well. She feels that the slot machine world is moving away from a hardware based industry to software based. She also feels that the worlds of entertainment and technology are colliding. “I have great passions about both.”

She has also become much more acquainted with the Wall Street side of the business and has become attuned to the shareholders. She has also developed a productive relationship with the IGT’s board chairman. She feels the duties of chairman and CEO should be separated and she enjoys working with a partner.

The International Gaming Expo is coming.  From January 26-28, 2010 in Earls Court, London, England the leaders in the gaming, casino, and gambling industry will be together.  While there, they will introduce new concepts and platforms, host seminars, promote existing products, network amongst each other, and may even party a little.  Sounds like fun.  How could it get any better?  Clarion Gaming who organizes the expo has recently announced the official endorsement of the International Gaming Expo by the European Casino Association, an extension from last year.  They have also announced that this extension will stretch over the following two years.

The European Casino Association is working with Clarion Gaming as a partner as opposed to a sponsor.  Their new agreement, which will run until 2012, will solidify that the ECA can continue their own International Casino Conference.  That conference is held on the eve of the International Gaming Expo.  Both parties will be co-promoting and cross marketing each other during their respective gatherings.  This will widen the exposure given to both conferences being held at roughly the same time in the same locale.  It will also include cross marketing at events held by both Clarion Gaming and the ECA through out the year.

The ECA represents over a thousand casinos and their employees spread over 23 countries in Europe.  The are a major group among casino operators in most of the countries that make up the European Union as well as Switzerland and Serbia.  Their close association with a high profile Expo such as the IGE is highly beneficial. The Chairman for the ECA said, “We are delighted to build on our working relationship with Europe’s leading land-based gaming expo.”  He continued, “In doing so, it allows us to further support our members and to achieve our objectives on behalf of our members throughout Europe. Both IGE and the International Casino Conference are pinnacle events for our business and we look forward to January of 2010 and beyond with renewed vigor.”

Clarion agrees.  The Managing Director, Julian Graves stated, “We are naturally delighted to strengthen our association with the ECA and look forward to supporting its membership through the delivery of Europe’s most comprehensive land-based casino exhibition/conference package at Earls Court over the next three years.”

It is no surprise that the online gambling and casino industry is expanding at an alarming rate.  It has truly become a global market. Online casino sites are expanding across the borders, oceans and hemispheres through affiliate and partnership programs.  A player can very easily make a bet on an American football game through a European web site while sit ting in the comfort of their home or hotel suite in Asia.  Companies all over the world are racing to keep up with clients just as wide spread by constantly exploring new markets at home and abroad.  There is much money to be made.

Viet Bet, rated by some to be the number one online gambling site in the southeast Asian country of Vietnam, is no different.  They are developing ties with the eastern European country of Romania.  The vastly growing online gambling market in eastern Europe is a prime prize and Viet Bet is hoping to be another cash cow.  They are offering Romania’s players full service online sports betting in a variety of areas including, European and Asian games, games across the pond in America and local teams.  Viet Bet offers a line for every game plus a unique betting service that only Viet Bet offers.

To sweeten the deal Viet Bet is offering their affiliates a high revenue share, and top c ommissions along with special bonuses when joining.  They provide a broad range of gaming products to help promote, and top notch technology in tracking services.  Viet Bet is also offering it’s online customers and affiliates a high level of customer service.  WIth their online customer base expanding they offer their support in three languages, English, Chinese as well as Vietnamese.

Bank of America has not been accepting of the terms of the financing for the Fontainebleau Casino resort. Currently the $2.9 billion project located on Las Vegas Blvd. has been met with financial challenges, therefore not appearing to be a solid investment on the part of Bank of America.

The Fontainebleau resort was denied a judgment against Bank of America on August 25 as the banks and loan companies canceled $656 million is to be appropriated for construction of the Casino resort. Had Fontainebleau succeeded in their court battle, these banks would’ve been forced to uphold the loans so that the last 30% of construction to be completed.

Since the judgment, there has been a loss of funding for the project and construction has come to a complete stop. The judge suggested that the Casino resort and banks go through mediation in order to resolve their issues, however the two sides were left with a stalemate.

At this point in the process, the best case scenario would be to sell off the property and let another company struggle with the finances to complete the Fontainebleau Casino resort.

The realistic aspect of this sale according to Fontainebleau will be that he’ll be many hurdles to cross before financing will be accepted, the construction completed in the resort ready to be opened. Although this would be a best case scenario for the company, the purchaser would have to go through a lot of paperwork and red tape just push the process through.

As casinos continue to struggle in this economy, the chances of obtaining a financial loan grow more slim as finances continued to dry up. Since many investors are still attached to the project, they would be offered the first opportunity to create a reorganization plan, then the final say would come through the bankruptcy courts.

According to Jan Jones, Harrah’s entertainment’s position on the matter is simply stated, “Taking advantage of good economic opportunities is always in the company’s best interest.”

The long-term casino investments will be beneficial to the company as long as they find a way to pull themselves out of their massive debt at the same time. Acquiring other casinos that currently are losing money could however add to the expanding debt, therefore not making a lucrative offer.

According to sources including Union Gaming Group analyst Bill Lerner, Harrah’s current financial situation is not an indication that the company is not growing strong. The high debt load is being suffered by many casinos throughout the industry. It is believed however that these purchases are beneficial for the long-term growth of the company and therefore a smart investment at this time.

The amount of liquidity that Harrah’s Casino and resort currently maintains is most likely higher than the industry believes and better structured than their billions of dollars of debt would disclose. As many of their loans will not mature within the next year, this liquidity allows the casinos the opportunity to use their purchased power now as an investment for the future.

The irony of this situation is that Harrah’s Casino resorts have been struggling financially this year with avoiding complete bankruptcy, and yet they still find the liquidity to purchase more casinos. The offering of new notes to its investors with later maturity dates have helped alleviate the pressure that the debt would otherwise cause.

Through cost-effective reduction as well as restructuring of the Casino resorts, Harrah’s has been able to knock down nearly 20% of its debt within this year. A solid infrastructure of the casino company shows their ability to manage large amounts of revenue and balance them with large amounts of debt. Harrah’s will continue to look for opportunities for growth in order to build a stronger future.

2008 saw the beginning of the decline in the economy as the weekend numbers showed occupancy in casino hotels at 80.8% for the weekend of Labor Day. This was already a significant loss from the 93.5% occupancy the year before. As the recession continued to hit, the Las Vegas hotel and casino occupancy rate has been on a steady decline.

After two years of a declining economy better than affecting the casinos, Las Vegas strip casino operators and owners are hoping the 2009 will show a spark of light in the tourism market.

In the past three months tourism has been down nearly 7% in comparison to the first half of 2008. Room rates at hotels and casinos are a bargain for tourists however they are negatively impacting the land-based casinos. In 2008 hotel rates were nearly 26.8% higher than they are currently. Gaming revenues for the casinos are also down 14.7% as many tourists to book rooms in the hotels in order to have them gambling at the tables.

According to the casino owners and operators tourism is starting to back on track comes to weekend occupancy, however the challenge still lies with bringing customers to the hotel casinos during the week.

Even though business is picking up within the casinos, players are not spending as much as they had in the past due to the tight economy. At the beginning of the millennium, people have more money to spend and were a little more loose with how they spent it.

Some hotel casinos such as the Las Vegas Sands Corp. are expecting large crowds this weekend and plenty of revenue to get them back on track. Ron Reese of the Las Vegas Sands Corp. stated that with the opening of college football season and the beautiful weather that they are experiencing, they are hoping to see more gamblers on the strip in Las Vegas.