Antigua Expects a Big Windfall

12 December 2007

Antigua and Barbuda General attorney Mark Mendel ahead of the ruling told Reuters “We feel pretty confident about our case, to be honest. We really feel like we have the upper hand here” . In 2005 the World Trade Organization ruled that only US based companies could provide online horse racing gambling services. This Antigua say discriminates heavily against them. The US argue that as a result of this loss of earnings they should be entitled to a mere $500,000.
Antigua came to rely heavily on its income from gambling after their tourist industry started flagging. They are now asking the US for permission to have other trade bans removed. For instance they’d like to have copyright protection from US music and films taken away to be able to sell to this market as well as to other areas of the world.

This in fact is what they are asking of the US in the ruling, in the form of a “cross retaliation” of $3.44 billion.
Mendel said. “I think we provided plenty of proof to justify our figure ... We feel pretty confident it should be a high number,” “I think there’s no doubt that we’re going to get the ability to cross-retaliate.” Since the enforcement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act the US have made it illegal for financial institutions to pay money into gambling sites.
Bush further stoked the fire by backing out of World Trade gaming agreements he had committed to in 1994.

This has so angered the European countries that have been locked out of the lucrative US gambling market, that they have urged the EU to go for a staggering $100 billion in compensation. The outcome of Antigua’s case is a key one, not only for the huge amount of money at stake, but also could shape the American’s future gambling laws in relation to the rest of the world.

Players of two online casinos have noticed recently that they are re-directed from their desired destinations to a third.

Trying to visit Trident Lounge and Vegas USA, both from the Trident Entertainment online casino group, has resulted in arriving at King Neptune's Casino. Players have started inquiring about the practice, and soon after a memo was released that explained the matter. The official memo, released by Carmen Media, confirmed the merger, and explained both brands will be consolidated into the third, flagship brand. Instead they remain neither here nor there, stuck with a slowly dying brand.

Players have also complained about the late notice' the memo was released only after their inquiries on the matter. Affiliates, in the meantime, were assured they will receive the same compensation for directing players to any of the sites.

The two casinos no longer accept new players. Existing players have complained about the move. Many would have preferred being transferred, accounts and all, to the new brand and the old brands to have shut down.

8 December 2007

Mansion Casino yesterday announced the launch of a newly designed website which allows casino players to go directly to their chosen destination without having to first navigate through the Mansion central portal. Under new CEO Guy Gussarsky, Mansion looks increasingly determined to take its rightful place at the top of the gaming industry this year. Gussarsky has overseen some bold but needed moves at Mansion, moving Mansion Casino onto the industry-leading Playtech software as well as migrating Mansion Poker onto the popular OnGame network. "An enormous part of the MANSION brand's strength lies in its ability to evolve and meet the ever-changing needs and expectations of our growing international Membership. We remain focused on providing our players with the ultimate player-friendly online gaming experience, at the same time as building for the future," says Gussarsky.

The new Mansion websites (Mansion Poker also got a new portal) were much needed at Mansion. The revamped system features "improved navigation and uniformity to ensure the web pages work in intuitive ways". Interested in taking a look, this reporter tested out the new websites and was impressed, giving the new Mansion Casino website an official and technical rating of Two Thumbs Up (out of a maximum of two).

The online gaming industry is awash with rumor and speculation in regards to PartyGaming's prospects after the company announced CEO Mitch Garber has cancelled a planned sale of shares. Garber also said he would not be unloading any more of his PartyGaming shares this year. Garber has come under heavy criticism from investors this year for twice selling a large percentage of his PartyGaming holdings. In March of this year, PartyGaming released a statement announcing that Garber planned to sell shares at the end of each calendar quarter. No reasons were given for the decision, leading many investors to angrily question why Garber was selling shares in a company for which he is the CEO, accusing him of lacking faith in his own company's prospects. Garber sold 4.3 million shares in June around the 39p mark and another 5 million shares in September when the SP dropped to 24p. Garber has come under heavy criticism from investors this year for twice selling a large percentage of his PartyGaming holdings.

In March of this year, PartyGaming released a statement announcing that Garber planned to sell shares at the end of each calendar quarter. No reasons were given for the decision, leading many investors to angrily question why Garber was selling shares in a company for which he is the CEO, accusing him of lacking faith in his own company's prospects. Garber sold 4.3 million shares in June around the 39p mark and another 5 million shares in September when the SP dropped to 24p. Last week, PartyGaming announced Garber would be selling no more shares leading some analysts to question whether he has finally bowed to investor pressure or if, perhaps, there is good news for PartyGaming on the horizon. PartyGaming is the parent company of Party Casino and Party Poker. The company withdrew from the US market when the UIGEA was passed last year. Rumors have abounded all year that PartyGaming would be bought out by a private-equity firm and taken back into the US market.

Titan Poker challenges you to make your way to our online World Challenge Main Event this December.Only 50 players will compete for a chance to win a Porshe Cayman S Sport Car or a share of $50,000 and for the title of Titan Poker orld Champion.

The Titan Poker World Challenge Main Event Tournament will be staged online at the end of December 2007 (date to be announced), is limited to 50 player only, and all 50 will finish the money!

To win your seat at the World Challenge Main Event, you must qualify at our World Challenge Satellite Tournaments as described below. Finish at the top of your countrymen in a country-specific league, and you've made your way to the Regionals. Finish at the top of your Regional league, and your seat at the Main Event is guaranteed.

First Stage: Country Qualifiers

Thirty Country Qualifier leagues, representing different countries, will hold weekly $5+$0.50 buy-in tournaments. League standings show which players are in the running for seats at the Regionals. Country Qualifiers will take place over 12 weeks between July 1 – September 30, 2007. Top players will advance to theRegional Leagues. All tournaments award Cash Prizes according to Titan Poker's basic payout structure.

How points are awarded at country qualifiers:

During the month of September, Points awarded at the weekly league tournaments are doubled!

First place at each weekly country league tournament will receive 40 Points; second place will receive 34 Points; 3rd place 30 Points; 4th place 26 Points; 5th place 24 Points; 6th place 22 Points; and so on down to 16th place which will get 2 Points. All players in each tournament will receive TWO Points for participating. Country league standings will be updated within 72 hours after each weekly tournament.

If you didn't achieve a good place in the standings during July and August, this is your chance to catch up with the leaders! If you are ranked in the top of your league, you will need to fight hard during September to keep your place!

Second Stage: Regional Qualifiers

The top players at the Country Qualifiers advance to Ten Regional Qualifier Leagues, each staging weekly $10 + $1 qualifying tournaments over a ten-week period, October 1 – December 10, 2007. ONLY players who qualify at the Country Qualifiers are eligible to participate in the Regional Qualifier tournaments. All tournaments award Cash Prizes according to Titan Poker's basic payout structure.

FIVE seats to the Main Event will be awarded by each Regional Qualifier League.

ONLY 50 PLAYERS WILL QUALIFY FOR THE MAIN EVENT, AND ALL WILL WIN HUGE PRIZES!

The winner of the World Challenge Main Event will have the option to accept the Porsche Cayman S sports car or $100,000 in cash. Titan Poker will do its utmost to supply the winner with the Porsche car, but if this is impossible, a $100,000 cash prize will be awarded.

www.titanpoker.com