The major topics under the study are those related to skill gaming, online bingo and fantasy sports. The study is based on the results of a survey of the unique insights and assessments kindly offered by more than 60 industry experts.

The key results of the study are as following:

1.The experts expect the current market size for casual gaming and gambling (skill gaming and online bingo) to be approximately USD 500 million with 8 million registered players playing for cash

2.By 2010 the casual gaming and gambling market is believed to go up to USD 1 billion

3.The experts estimate that there are more than 63 % of the female casual gamers in this male-dominated gambling and gaming industry

4.Approximately 72% of the experts think that a large variety of games is the feature that is absolutely necessary for a successful casual gaming site

5.91% experts believe that Europe will become the most important region for growth

There are several reasons why the industry has started paying more attention to casual gambling. The times the private online gambling industry is coming through are not the easiest ones, they are somewhat are shocking: the US House of Representatives managed to pass an online gambling prohibition bill and it is likely to be passed by the Senate; validity of private betting licenses in Germany was limited by high courts; the FBI arrested the CEO of Online sports book BetonSports.

Of course, casual gambling and gaming have existed for several years already, but now it is in special focus. Female casual gamers are those who are waiting for attractive offers, and the industry has paid little attention to them so far. It is high time to change the target.

As for legislation, it is becoming tougher everywhere. Both state and private lotteries are forced to look for more alternative products to their traditional gambling offers. For example, in accordance with European court decisions, some state lotteries (such as Dutch De Lotto and German WestLotto) now have to decrease their marketing and expansion efforts for sports betting. Casual gaming could be an attractive alternative revenue source for them. Martin Oelbermann, coauthor of the study says: “Especially the legally less problematic skill gaming sector, including online versions of various card and board games, must become a consideration in many strategic discussions at state lotteries as one of the key future growth option”.

For more details of MECN’s study, go to http://www.casual-gaming.mecn.net.

“We’re delighted to announce that we’re now within the Top ten most visited websites” – said Brian Morgan, Cyberslotz. That is proved by the fact that it got its position in the latest quarterly Top Ten Hitwise listing of the UK gambling sites that are ranked by share of visits.

Cyberslotz got its position thanks to a 30 % increase in the number activity, mostly female members aged 18 – 30 enjoying longer playing hours and at the same time chatting via a chat facility online about non-football related topics.

This summer the games like Bondi Bucks and Sunset Dreams offered by Cyberslotz turned out to be very popular. So, players seemed to spend approximately some additional 30 minutes on the top of that regular playing time of 45 minutes. The members of Cyberslotz had a chance to enjoy a great selection of games and bingo chat.

Brand new Harrah’s racetrack encompassing 60 redeveloped acres is a multi-million dollar project, but it is expected that it will bring about one thousand jobs to Chester, Delaware County. Local residents are being hired now. Moreover, the racetrack and the casino are expected to bring about $10 million in revenues for the City, and approximately the same sum for Delaware County.

The new track has already been tested. Harrah’s in Chester is expected to open for harness racing next month. A huge slot parlor is to follow early in 2007. So, they are in a hurry now to finish installation of grandstands infield and construction of parking lots.

Harrah’s expectation is about 10,000 gamblers per day for live racing, simulcast, and the one-armed bandits.

Harrah’s project is sure to be a success.

There is a present for UK gamblers - One Club Casino is said to be launched by One Club Entertainment. Realtime Gaming Software has been chosen by the company as its casino software provider. The software chosen makes a great change at the UK casino market as such platforms as Cryptologic, Microgaming and Playtech are mostly run by casinos.

Having chosen the Realtime Gaming platform, One Club Entertainment have made it possible for UK gamblers to enjoy playing very popular Realtime Gaming progressive slots jackpots as “Midlife Crisis” and “Shopping Spree”.

One Club Casino having stylish graphics, speedy and exciting game, a wide variety of games, is likely to become one of the most popular casino spots on the internet. They claim that they are exclusive, and they prove it offering new players J20 and J450 in bonuses. As for the loyal members, they are offered ongoing promotions.

In the nearest future One Club Casino Entertainment is going to release Online Sports betting, Online Poker and Online Bingo products that are supposed to meet the needs of UK-based gamblers.

The APAT Online Series has recently been launched by the association of The Amateur Poker Association & Tour (“APAT”), PokerStars.com and Poker Player Magazine. What is APAT Online? Actually, it’s a series of 30 International tournaments hosted by PokerStars.com. The first event of the APAT Online Series took place on August 19, and was the English Amateur Poker Open.

All the tournaments, the Australian, European and North American Amateur Poker Opens as well, will take place every 2nd Saturday throughout the Season One, and the five-day “World Series Of Amateur Poker with the list of H.O.R.S.E., Omaha, Stud and Razz events plus a No Limit Hold Em Championship final will be its climax.

APAT members from different countries and different nationalities are able to take part in APAT Online Series tournaments. The players in each event will begin with 5,000 chips what will show great value of a $20 + $2 buy-in. all that cannot but encourage a very creative play.

Being one of the nine best players in each APAT Online Series event, you’ll get tournament ranking points. In case you have got the highest point scorer from APAT Live and Online Series events, you’ll be a winner of a PokerStars.com Caribbean Adventure World Poker Tour entry Package and the owner of the unbelievable title of APAT Player of the Year.

For more details about APAT Online Series schedule, go to www.apat.com or to the “Special” section of the “Tourney” Lobby at PokerStars.com.

The membership can be purchased through www.apat.com. Find more information about APAT Online Series.

If you are an online player, you obviously need a powerful tool to find answers, information and links to the games you are interested in. GamBlingDoctor.com is that search engine helping you to locate the best online and software games in any category: Craps, Blackjack, Roulette, Video Poker, Casinos, Slots, etc. Moreover, GamBlingDoctor.com will provide you with information, latest news, reviews, tips about casinos, poker and all casino gaming. Besides, you will be offered to download Casino and Poker software free of charge.

So, what will you choose: browsing Internet in search of gaming sites or just one tool that presents the list of the best gaming sites? “Often people are relying on various pages of links to find gaming sites. You don’t have to click through those pages very long before your computer is filled with viruses and ad ware. GamBlingDoctor.com lets you bypass all that to quickly get to the gaming you enjoy,” said Jake Hammond, V.P of parent company gRock Media Group, Inc.

GamBlingDoctor.com was launched in 2001, and since that time a number of other search engines serving different interests of specialized markets have been launched by the parent company. Hammond says that “finding just what you want, tailored exactly to your tastes and interests is exactly what the Internet does so very well”… and to find the sites you’re looking for, you need a high-power, specialized search engine that can zero in on the right results”.

Certainly, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the number one tournament which is too grand to be held online. It is played in Las Vegas. Thus, the world gets the best poker player. Naturally, all online players wish they were participants of this fabulous tournament.

This year WSOP took part in Bellagio Casino and Resort on July, 28.  And Jamie Gold, being online casino sponsored, became a final winner. He took the grand prize of $12 million, and thanks to his online casino sponsorship $ 12 million became his pure profit. In fact, until recently he was considered a poker professional, but now it’s obvious he has greatly improved his skills.

It’s a well known fact online casino sites sponsor WSOP and WPT (World Poker Tour) players either via satellite tournaments or via straight out contracted sponsorships. But in any case, sponsoring winning tournament players brings profit, fame, wide advertising to either side. This statement exactly reflects what happens to Jamie Gold and his sponsor.

There is no secret that the majority of online casino players are Americans. They are a significant part an online gambling society. What we can observe now is the probability of banning online casino in the USA as the US is working towards it. Certainly, online casino operators will be negatively effected, but about American players?

Can you imagine the situation when you are not able to improve your poker playing skills, to bet on the Emmy Awards, few online casinos offer their services for free? So, you can’t enjoy gambling at home, and all that may happen because America is trying to ban online casino.

There is a solution to the problem. Who represents your interest in the Senate? – Your Senator. Let your Senator know what you feel about online gambling. Write him a letter before online casinos become illegal in the US. Senators should make a right decision. Your opinion is important. Use your chance to help solve the problem, and your casino entertainment won’t be limited.

Jeff Fuller is known to have been named CEO of MonkeyBet.com, a leading destination for online poker, sports betting and online casino gambling. He will report directly to the Blue Note Gaming Board, a leading UK consortium.

Mr. Fuller commenced his gaming career in Las Vegas in 1982. He joined MonkeyBet in 2004. His great experience in the land based gaming market could not but be a merit. Mr. Fuller has been employed as the firm’s Senior Vice President of Business Development for two years already.

Mr. Fuller commented: “I am 100% confident that we will continue our growth and success in online casino gambling, online poker and sports betting. Our affiliate program is getting stronger every day, and we have done more for our loyal customers than any other site on the web. People will say our name in the same breath as sites such as Pacific Poker within another year. I am obviously ecstatic with the board’s decision”.

The whole poker world is wondering when the Intercasino Millionaire’s Club progressive jackpot is going to hit, as it has already surpassed the $ 4 million mark what makes it one of the greatest land based progressives and even some state lotteries. Growing with the average speed of $35,000 a day, it first passed the $ 2 million mark, then the $ 3 million mark, and now it has crossed the $ 4 million mark. The question is if it is going to grow.

No wonder, the casino (Intercasino.com) is experiencing at the moment record wagers on the Millionaire’s Club 9 line progressive slot.
By the way, in December 2005 the player hit the jackpot for $ 1,768,563.00. That was the highest payout on Millionaire’s Club.