Based on the opinion that online gaming has ruined the online environment and doesn’t do anything good for the moral and physical growth of the young people, Chinese authorities have launched a raw of strict measures the aim of which is to make the Internet environment purer.

Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong are the focal points, as the government should clamp down on the online games involving betting and gambling. As a result online game service providers will be strictly and closely supervised. It is forbidden for them to exchange “virtual money” with real currency and to launder money.

Last year proved to be very strict in this respect, as the police had 347,000 gambling cases that involved as many as 1.099 million people.

Canadian players’ deposits will not longer be accepted by VIP.com, the online casino, and its VIP Profits merchants, but they will have access to their accounts and will be able to use their funds until April 1, 2007. After that the accounts will be closed, but all the remaining funds will be refunded to the customers.

Canadian players are not the only ones whose deposits are not taken. The deposits from the US are not accepted either.

Recently, the company has closed down telephone betting – the business which is unprofitable from their point of view. And having stopped registrations from the USA and Canada because of the legal uncertainty, they claim they are able to provide their clients with the best service ever.

A possible takeover bid is still being discussed between Ladbrokes and online casino 888, but the current situation in the US affects the negotiations.

After the rise of the annual pre-tax profit that made up £669.8 million for the year ending 31 December 2006, Ladbrokes is ready to expand its business. If to compare, the last year’s pre-tax profit totaled £394,0 million. The amount won from gamblers rose from 9.9% to £1 billion. It’s a very significant increase that put Ladbrokes in a very favorable position.

Thanks to the year of 2006 Ladbrokes has become a leading, standalone betting and gaming company on the market.

There are going to be some changes in licensing and regulation of the online gambling industry in the UK. What is being planned is a new tax called Remote Gaming Duty. The tax is expected to be as low as 2% what will make possible for companies to get a UK license and go on operating overseas. The thing is that many UK gambling companies like 888 Holdings and PartyPoker are based in Gibraltar and other offshore places. So, the government was looking for the way to tax them.

The companies will be able to relocate to the UK in September. They’ll get a license under the Gambling Act. But still companies refuse to relocate to the UK if they have to pay the same tax as the brick-and-mortar casinos do, and it makes up to 40 % depending on the size.

Ladbrokes taking into consideration government’s plans, especially what concerns the 2% tax, has nothing against signing up for a UK license.

Skill 4 Prizes, a games content provides with more than 20 years experience, has signed an agreement with Finsoft, a sportsbook and gaming platform provider. According to the agreement Skill 4 Prizes content will be provided as a part of Finsoft’s Final Gaming Portfolio.

Having thoroughly studied the market, Skill 4 Prizes has launched a series of games – Internet based Skill/Fixed Odds Hybrid games termed eSWP’s. What makes the games different is the skill element they feature. So, the best player has a better chance to win bigger money. The cash wins are instant. The games are played against the house.
The release of the first game is being planned before mid-2007.

The fact is that safe, secure, fun format Skill 4 Prizes developed, will provide a greater future and better opportunities within the Internet gambling market.

The World Series of Poker launched by Harah’s Entertainment will take place in London September 6 – 16, 2007. The casinos where the event will take place have been defined as well. They are Fifty, Leicester Square and the Sportsman – all operated by London Clubs International.

Actually it is the first time the tournament is going to take place outside of Las Vegas. No doubt, it will definitely have its own style, identity and flair, but it will remain true to all the best traditions of the WSOP.

Not only European players will be able to take part in the event, but also the players from all over the world. The inaugural WSOP Europe begins on September 6 with a three-day, £2,500 (approximately $4,900) H.O.R.S.E. event taking place at LCI’s newest casino in Leicester Square, the opening is in April 2007. Besides, the Leicester Square casino will alsohost a two-day, £5,000 (approximately $9,800) Pot-Limit Omaha tournament that starts on September 8. The WSOP Europe Main Event will be run on September 10. It is going to be a six-day, £10,000 (approximately $19,600 U.S.) event. As for No-Limit Texas Hold’Em Championship, it will begin at LCI’s Leicester Square, The Sportsman and Fifty.

The 2007 Online Rummy World Championship is reported to be hosted by GameAccount.com – skills game site. The Championship will take place in summer, and its prize fund will be revealed within the following next weeks.

The game has got its popularity thanks to its revival in the movie Goldfinger with James Bond’s participation. More over, legendary WSOP Champion Stu Ungar used it as a practice ground.

The game is very easy and can be mastered within 90 seconds. So, GameAccount.com offering the game to its clients has become the first global site to meet the needs of both professional and amateur players. The stakes in the game vary from £1 to £1,000 per game what means that lots of money change their hands between the clientele of GameAccount.com – fans of gin.

Everest Casino, a very popular online casino, offers a great variety of high-tech video slot machines. Space Ace is one of them. Fast play, large prizes for all the players, its science fiction appeal are the features that make it different from the others. More over, its bonus rounds allow the players to earn free spins and the chance to double or even quadruple their prize funds.

Thus, a player has recently won a $31,850 cash prize in a single pull on Space Ace online video slot machine. This fact cannot but attract lots of players.

Everest Casino updates its slot machines all the time. That brings pleasure, new experience and excitement to every player.

Harrah’s Entertainment, the world’s biggest casino operator, is looking forward to expanding in Europe. Having purchased London Clubs International for US$530 million, they would like to run a huge in UK terms “super casino” in Manchester. It is going to be Britain’s first Vegas-style casino with 5,000 square meters of gaming space, 1,250 slot machines and 2,700 workers.

It is a very ambitious project, and it has to be economically sensible. So, Harrah’s Entertainment should be really wary.

Besides, there is a number of rivals who would like to invest huge sums of money into the project. Thus, Las Vegas Sands would like to build a US$760 million casino resort in Manchester, while Kerzner International, Bahamas-based operator, is ready to invest US$500 million.

In any case, sixteen smaller casinos planned in Britain represent a great opportunity for casino operators.

Texas Hold’em  State Finals tournament took place in January 27 at Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel in Morton, MN. The event was hosted by the World Poker Store Inc. and The Bar Poker League. There were more than 1000 people, both players and spectators, present there. The players were able to qualify for the tournament within 6 months at local casinos throughout the state of Minnesota by accumulating points.

The prizes awarded at the tournament varied, but the WSOP Main Event Seat grand prize was the $10,000 with the airfare to Las Vegas and accommodation for the World Series of Poker that is to take place in July.

The number of members of the Bar Poker League is constantly increasing, and at the moment there are more than 17,000 of them. What attracts people is the possibility to spend their time with friends and an opportunity to win great prizes.

The World Poker Store operating four retail locations in Minnesota at Southdale Centre, Rosedale Centre, Northtown Mall and Crossroads Center in St. Cloud offers a great range of things for entertainment: Texas Hold ’em tables, Casino Quality Chips, DVDs, Books, Apparel and Tour Pro Collectibles, etc. Having The Bar Poker League as a Patner, the company hosts more than 100 free weekly Texas Hold’em tournaments at bars and restaurants in Minnesota. At the same time the World Poker Store partners with local charities what adds a huge value to the company.