Norwegian authorities are about to put an end to the way volunteer organizations and charities make money, – operating slot machines if to be exact. The Norwegian state has declared monopoly on all slot machines. As a result, all the slot machines belonging to humanitarian organizations, sporting clubs, and volunteer groups are to be removed until the first of July.

Norway, with the population of 4.6 million, had approximately 18,500 slot machines across the country. And growing addiction served as the cause for such a decision. 1.5% of Norwegian population is considered to be addicted to gambling, while 133,000 are thought to be in the risk zone. It’s become known that “the average gambling addict in Norway spends 5,000 euros (6,700 dollars) a year on gaming”. It’s ridiculous but one of the main sources of income for charities was slot machines, but it contradicts morality.

The slot machines belonging to charities are to be removed before the 1st of July, but at the same time the charities and volunteer groups will share a portion of the revenues generated by the state’s machines.

The biggest party of this year’s WSOP will be co-held by PlayersOnly.com and Bluff Magazine at the Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club, the biggest strip club in Vegas, on Thursday, July 5th – the night before the WSOP Final Tournament begins.

They expect such players to be present as David Williams, Robert Williamson, Antonio Esfandari, Phil Laak, Jennifer Tilly, Phil Gordon, Gus Hansen, Eric Lindgren and Mike Mizerachi.

If you are a PlayersOnly.com player, you are welcome to attend the party. Registered players can find their invitations at www.playersonly.com/bluff-las-vegas. The principal there is first-come-first-served. Those being not registered can pick up invitations at www.playersonly.com/join.php.

David Harding, William Hill’s current CEO, is leaving the company at the end of 2007.

Harding’s career in William Hill started seven years ago. With his help the company’s share price increased, and it made up over twice its original value.

William Hill’s total value is currently at a massive Ј2.13 Billion. When the news about Harding’s leaving became known, Will Hill’s shares dropped 3.5 pence. Despite it the company is pleased with their financial assessment for 2007. All their ventures are expected to bring earnings.

On the other hand, Harding was a bit controversial, and William Hill perhaps does not want controversy. Who knows, perhaps it is better that “Harding is moving on”.

Hardly any city can compete with London in the diversity of games available there. Bluff Europe, poker magazine, has named the English capital “the top city on the continent for poker action”. London gets the greatest number of big money tournaments.

The city has turned into European Las Vegas.

Moreover, the WSOP is known to come to London this autumn and the capital’s casinos will host the European Poker Tour and the Grosvenor Poker Tour Grand Final.

There are 24 operating casinos and a great number of card rooms. There is something to choose from!

According to the decision of a lower court in Tel Aviv, companies operating gambling websites that are accessible for Israelis are breaking the law. That concerns all the sites, even those run and registered abroad. This decision has been upheld by a District Court.

Englishman Michael Carlton, Chief Executive Officer of the Victor Chandler Casino website, was questioned by the Bat Yam fraud squad. He is under the suspicion of “illegally running gambling operations in Israel along with investigations regarding sports betting involving events in which Israeli teams participated”.

No charges were filed. Though, Carlton was under house arrest. Deposit of $70,000 served as a guarantee and a condition to leave the country.

It must be admitted that Victor Chandler is considered to be one of the most popular gambling companies operating in Israel. More than $16 million in winnings are paid annually to Israelis.

The question is whether gambling via an international site is a crime? Take into the consideration that the company is not Israeli.

Online gamblers will be pleased to find out that Internet guide Casino-Britain.co.uk has been recently improved. Now, it’s much easier to find top sites that offer quality games such as roulette, blackjack, bingo, poker, etc.

The guide doesn’t only show secure, safe and fun online casinos, bingo and poker sites belonging to the leading names of the industry, but it also shows bonuses relating to the top listed sites at www.casino-britain.co.uk/casinobonuses.

Even the beginners can find some useful information such as basic general rules for the most popular online casino games like Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha, five and seven-stud, blackjack, roulette, craps, bingo and baccarat.

Casino-Britain.co.uk also provides players with a history of games, their origin, glossary and the latest promotions and bonuses offered by UK online casinos, poker, bingo and other gambling sites.

Bingo has always been very popular in Britain. Now, London bingo fans have got an opportunity to try it in an electronic variant. The fully-electronic bingo club has been recently opened in London. Bu the way, it is the first club of its kind in the UK. Traditional paper bingo tickets are replaced with 582 personal hand-held terminals.

Thanks to this innovation. The game is represented in a more contemporary manner. Moreover, players have got a greater choice of what they spend during a bingo night out.

There are more and more new players who like the electronic variant of bingo. They have even taken into consideration the recently introduced smoking ban: 20 more of the portable terminals will also be available to players in the external smoking area.

PlayersOnly.com”s $150K WSOP Giveaways campaign is coming to its end while the WSOP main event is about to start. There’ve been already 11 PO’s satellite tournaments. The last one will be held next Sunday night. It’s players’ last chance to place bids in the Low Bid Auction. The final weekend’s bids are expected to be very heavy, and the winner is going to get a great deal.

Any registered player can place as many bids as he wants at www.playersonly.com/bidWSOP or by cell phone text but only until midnight Sunday.

Speaking about WSOP satellite tournaments held every Sunday since April, their weekly winners were awarded with $12K prize packages. Lots of winners of WSOP prize packages, it must be noted, would rather have cash in their pockets than risk it at the WSOP. Though PlayersOnly.com’s very first WSOP satellite tournament winner will take part in the main event.

Last tournament players-to-be can buy-in for 100 dollars or win a qualifying tournament held 2 times a day. For more details go to www.playersonly.com/poker/wsop.php.

The WSOP main event will take place in Las Vegas July 6-17 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas

A new deal has recently taken place: US equity firm Fortress Investment Group LLC and other investors agreed to pay $6.1 billion for Penn National Gaming (Pen National operates 18 casinos and horse racing tracks). They expect the deal to be completed before June 15, 2008. If it does not happen the per-share purchase price will rise by 1.49 cents per day. The per-share price reached $67 – it’s 31% over the expected price. Moreover, the deal also includes $2.8 billion in assumed debt.

Fortress Investment Group LLC has rivals: Boyd Gaming Corp. and Ameristar Casinos Inc. trade at multiples around 25 times projected earnings. It goes without saying, at that multiple (nearly 35 times projected earnings) there could not be another buyer but Fortress.

“Lazard advised Penn National, and Deutsche Bank and Wachovia are serving as advisers and financial sources to Fortress”.
“Two U.S. senators introduced legislation on Thursday to tax investment firms such as Fortress like corporations, making them pay a rate of up to 35 percent versus the 15 percent rate now paid by partners. Fortress and private equity firm Blackstone Group LP, with its own IPO pending, could be exempt from the new code for 5 years”.

Thanks to the opening of the iGaming Academy of Learning in Malta gambling industry leaders will be able to develop professionally. Training and sufficient knowledge will be provided for entry level to managerial.
The iGaming Academy of Learning is believed to be a success. Specialist trainers will definitely contribute to its success.
The courses offered by the Academy are various: poker-workshops, casino modules and responsible gaming. There is also a professional development course that includes such topics as igaming recruitment & selection, igaming customer service, payment solutions and affiliate marketing and some others.