Playtech Joins British Trade Association for Gambling
In preparation for its imminent floatation on the London Alternative Investment Market, gaming software firm Playtech has announced it has taken out membership with the Remote Gambling Association.
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Industry Analysts Predict PokerStars Will Float
Online poker company Poker Stars is keeping everyone guessing. Will the firm float, sell or continue as it is? According to recent reports, the company has hired leading London stockbroker NM Rothschild to assist with the decision.
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Bet Internet Appoints New Financial Controller
A statement from sports betting firm Bet Internet has confirmed the appointment of Damon Waddington. Waddington joins the firm’s management team as Financial Controller after a distinguished tenure with Fortis Bank.
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Israeli Dentist Joins Management Board of 888 Holdings
Reports in British business media publications this week suggest that online casino firm 888 Holdings will soon be adding one of its original shareholders to its management team. Aharon Shaked, a former dentist and founding member of the gaming empire, will join his brother Avi Shaked on the board.
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Canadian Gaming Firm Acquires Rival
The latest acquisition for Canadian gaming firm FUN Technologies is none other than its main competitor World Winner.com. Reported to be worth $23 million, the deal gives FUN Technologies access to World Winner’s 14 million registered casino players.
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Poker Fans Gear Up for World Poker Tour Final
News surrounding the World Poker Tour Final has just been released. The grand finale of Bellagio’s 2006 4th Annual Five-Star World Poker Classic is scheduled to be held on April 18th after two weeks of non-stop no-limit hold’em poker action.
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Internet Usage Lowers Productivity of U.S. Office Workers
An American internet consultancy firm has recently revealed that internet usage is the number one reason behind low productivity levels amongst U.S. employees. The 2005 Internet Usage Study by Burstek Internet Consultants surveyed 10,688 participants across the U.S. and highlighted key issues associated with internet usage, including security risks, legal liability and lost productivity.
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Blackberry Cellphone Owners Gain Access to Mobile Poker
A new product has been released by MGN Technologies to complement the Blackberry 8700 Series cellphone range. “Gold Mobile Texas Hold’em” has been specifically designed for poker fans who wish to play their favorite game over their mobile phones.
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Ladbrokes and Golden Palace Purchase Mahjong Mania
A new deal between software firm Dynasty Gaming and Golden Palace online casino group will bring Mahjong Mania to casino fans. Ladbrokes has also recently signed a deal for the software firm’s mahjong product.
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Online Poker Tournament Earns Teenager One Hundred Grand
A young online poker fan aged just 19 recently won $100,000 in an online poker tournament. ‘Soderlind’ from Sweden beat off rivals in six consecutive final tables to pocket the grand prize and the title of Fort Knox Sit N’Go tournament champion.
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Caribbean Nation Hosts Money Laundering Workshop
Money laundering and other forms of criminal activity associated with the online gambling industry are the focus of a special conference this week in Antigua and Barbuda. The Caribbean nation is hosting a regional gathering of internet gaming operators to address the issues by providing a training workshop.
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Georgia Student Becomes Next European Poker Tour Champion
American political science student Jeff Williams is the latest winner of the European Poker Tour championship. The 19-year-old from Georgia University defeated 297 other poker fans, among them professional poker stars Carlos Mortensen, Joe Hachem and Greg Raymer, to win a total prize of 900,000 euro.
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'Poker Night Live' Comes to Scandinavian TV
The decision to launch popular poker series ‘Poker Night Live’ on Scandinavian television networks is expected to generate thousands of new fans for online casino firm Pokerzone. Over six million homes will have access to the show, which has proved to be the most successful poker show in the UK and the U.S.
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Swedish Software Developer's Mysterious Origins
The origin of DQE, a Swedish software developer powering one of the latest online casino groups to join the competitive online poker industry, is creating mystery and speculation amongst industry analysts. The Costa Rican based gambling firm is powered by a firm whose parent company is based in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
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Forrest Winner of Second Annual National Heads Up Poker Championship
New poker champ Ted Forrest is the latest winner of the Annual National Heads Up Poker Championship. After winning the title in a nail-biting finish, Forrest left Caesars Palace in Las Vegas with $500,000 in prize money.
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BingoTek and MicroGaming offer Bingo for the Future
A new deal between BingoTek and top online casino gaming software provider MicroGaming has drawn attention due to the involvement of one of the industry’s first pioneers. Graeme Levin, a previous owner of internet gambling portal Gambling.com, currently owns BingoTek and is keen to introduce a new generation of online bingo products into the gaming market.
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Richard Kilsby joins 888 Holdings
888 Holdings, the owner and operator of one of the world’s largest online casinos 888.com, has recently announced the appointment of Richard Kilsby as non-executive chairman. Kilsby replaces Marie Stevens who has resigned from the company.
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Sports Betting Site Supports National Problem Gambling Awareness Week
With the gaming industry’s focus on National Problem Gambling Awareness week currently being held in the U.S., major sports betting site Bet On Sports has issued a statement reaffirming the company’s support for new ways in which to combat gambling addiction and underage gambling.
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Ex-Playtech Founder's New Online Casino Venture
Freddi Robinson, ex-founder of online casino gaming software firm Playtech, has rejoined the online gaming industry with a new venture targeting Central and Eastern Europe. The Israeli millionaire lost millions when he prematurely sold his shares in Playtech four years before the online casino boom.
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Paddy Power Increases Online Betting Activity
The decreasing fortunes of Irish bookmaker Paddy Power have turned around in the last 12 months, with the company’s online operations proving to be the most significant area of growth. While revenues for the firm’s traditional betting operations fell over 2005, its online activities contributed for 56 percent of its total profit.
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32Red Optimistic on Online Gambling Future
Online casino and online poker firm 32Red reported strong growth recently from its online gaming operations in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The Trafalgar-owned business gained 82 percent of its revenue from the local market, with the remainder coming from Scandinavian countries.
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King Solomons Increases Gaming Portfolio
King Solomons Online Casino Group has confirmed its purchase of Tony Friedman’s Windows Online Casino Group. The casinos group, powered by Real Time Gaming, is currently integrating the new firm’s portfolio into its existing management policies.
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Harris Interactive Study Indicates Strong Growth
A new survey conducted by eMarketer and Harris Interactive has echoed the findings of similar studies on the online gambling industry. Among the findings was the fact that revenues in 2005 reached $10.9 billion USD, compared to the previous year’s total of $8.5 billion.
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SportingBet Chief Denies Rumors
Recent rumors that SportingBet chief Nigel Payne plans to leave his position at the gambling firm have been strongly denied. Payne was forced to publicly reiterate his commitment to the company after fears arose that the rumors could adversely affect the share price.
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Real Time Gaming Launches Six New Slots
Six new slots games from software firm Real Time Gaming were launched at the International Casino Exhibition in London recently. Now online slots fans can access the new games at RTG’s major licensees for a chance to win on every spin.
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Leal Wages War on Online Gambling in Ontario
Despite the substantial taxation revenues the Ontario government earns from gambling operators, some Canadian lawmakers are determined to fight against the industry. Liberal MPP Jeff Leal has recently introduced a bill that seeks to ban online casino advertisements in the province, citing support from the Center for Addiction and Mental Health.
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New Role at Magna Entertainment Raises Eyebrows
A controversial appointment at Magna Entertainment has some industry insiders concerned that it could be viewed as hypocrisy. Joe De Francis’ new role at the online horse-betting firm was announced just weeks before the U.S. government is required to defend its anti-gambling policies at the World Trade Organization. 
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Student Poker Tour Reaches United Kingdom
University students in the United Kingdom have been quick to embrace the poker craze currently sweeping American college campuses. In the latest move to market poker products to students, poker site PokerRoom.com has announced plans to launch the first British nationwide Student Poker Tour.
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