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Bodog Seeking U.K. Licensing

And you thought Calvin Ayre had retired?

September 25, 2008 (InfoPowa News) -- Bodog group's high-profile founder Calvin Ayre, who announced his retirement mere months ago as Bodog's North American processing and branding difficulties mounted, was back in the news in Europe this week.

The U.K. newspaper The Guardian reported that Bodog has applied for an operating licence for the U.K. despite allegations that its substantial activities in the U.S. are criminal ... and the article included an interview with whom the newspaper described as "Bodog's founder and boss, Calvin Ayre."

Ayre rejected the U.S. allegations, saying: "We have licences from sovereign governments to do what we do -- that's how it works on every other industry on the planet." He did, however, admit that Bodog took bets from U.S. customers, but claimed the company did not "operate" there.

Ayre told The Guardian that U.K. licences would not necessarily be used to take British bets. He pointed out that Bodog already had an Antiguan licence, which it is using to establish a foothold in Europe.

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Battle for WWE Unforgiven Prize Package Heats Up at UltimateBet

Press Release

1st August 2008

Popular online poker site opens contest for WWE Unforgiven prize package to residents of Canada

Miami, FL (PRWeb) August 1, 2008 -- If the online poker tables at UltimateBet seem a little more intense this month, you're not imagining things. Leading online poker site UltimateBet.net today announced the launch of free WWE Unforgiven online qualifiers where Texas Hold'em fans can battle their way to WWE Unforgiven this September by winning a series of online poker tournaments.

Players are invited to sign up for a free UltimateBet.net account and enter a free qualifier, running daily for residents of Canada, to make their way to the final event. The champion of the online Texas Hold'em winner-take-all match on August 24, 2008 will win the ultimate WWE Unforgiven prize package that includes:

• Return airfare to Cleveland, Ohio for two (2)
• Hotel accommodations for two (2)
• $500 CDN spending money for food & miscellaneous items
• Two (2) premium floor seats to WWE Unforgiven
• Meet & Greet with WWE Superstar
• Two (2) replica WWE Championship belts
• Two (2) WWE Unforgiven Pay Per View Chairs
• Framed WWE Unforgiven poster

As the official sponsor of WWE Unforgiven in Canada, UltimateBet.net is continuing its strong history of awarding players with trips to WWE events. On March 2nd, the online poker site gave away an all-inclusive trip for two to WWE Wrestlemania XXIV in Orlando through a similar online poker contest.

Qualifiers are now live at UltimateBet.net and run until Saturday, August 23rd. The WWE Unforgiven promotion is only open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec, who are 18 years of age and older. WWE Unforgiven takes place on September 7, 2008. Full details on UltimateBet.net's free WWE Unforgiven qualifiers are available at UltimateBet.net.

About UltimateBet.net
Designed with the assistance of the best poker players in the world -- Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke -- UltimateBet.net provides the best free poker games available on the net. Players can download the free poker software, play in free ring games and tournaments and get tips from these pros to learn the sport or to enhance their playing strategy. UltimateBet.net currently has more than 2 million registered players.

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PKR.com is the Hotshot - Intergaming - 26th September 2008

PKR.com is celebrating after winning the Hotshot Operator of the Year at the 2008 eGaming Review Awards.

The Hotshot Operator of the Year award is reserved for the online gaming operator which has had the biggest impact in 2007/2008 and shown the greatest promise for the future on a global scale.

The next-gen site secured the most votes to beat rivals Everest, Betsson and Betclick to the coveted prize. The award crowns a truly successful year and cements PKR.com as a major player in the online gaming industry.

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PKR scoops industry award - 23rd September 2008

LONDON, England -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- PKR.com is celebrating after winning the Hotshot Operator of the Year at the 2008 eGaming Review Awards.

The Hotshot Operator of the Year award is reserved for the online gaming operator which has had the biggest impact in 2007/2008 and shown the greatest promise for the future on a global scale. The next-gen site secured the most votes to beat rivals Everest, Betsson and Betclick to the coveted prize. The award crowns a truly successful year and cements PKR.com as a major player in the online gaming industry.

PKR.com also received an honourable commendation in the Poker Operator of the Year category. The other nominees were industry stalwarts Party Gaming, Everest and 888.com, and the commendation alone is testament to PKR.com's incredible achievement in a short period of time.

CEO Malcolm Graham said, "We are absolutely delighted with the award which not only considers our accomplishments over the last year, but also reflects our potential for the future. The honourable commendation capped off a great evening and we feel privileged to receive special mention and be recognised as such a big player in the online poker sector."

About the eGaming Review Awards

The eGaming Review Awards are the best recognised and most prestigious online gaming awards in the UK. Adjudicated by an independent panel of industry experts the awards are designed to distinguish the best businesses in the sector.

The fourth annual eGaming Review Awards ceremony took place on 19th September in Park Lane's Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

About PKR

PKR is a revolutionary new concept in online poker that has changed the way that online poker is played.

Featuring stunning real-time 3D graphics and a uniquely engaging and immersive gaming system, PKR brings an unparalleled and previously unseen level of realism to online poker.

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In Poker World Series, a Novice Flirts With Glory, By Joe Drape - The New York Times - 11th July 2005

LAS VEGAS, July 10 - Last March, Josh Baer sat before a glowing computer screen in his apartment in Bloomfield, N.J., and let tears roll down his cheeks. For a $160 buy-in, and after three hours of carefully calculated mouse clicks, Mr. Baer, then a theater major at Montclair State University, had achieved a dream: He had defeated 80 other online players in no-limit Texas Hold'em, earning a trip here and a seat worth $10,000 in the main event of the 36th World Series of Poker.

As Mr. Baer, 26, shuffled into the Rio Hotel and Casino on Saturday morning with the headphones of his iPod draped around his neck and a backpack loaded with Gummy Worms and Raisinets, he was focused on his mission to play smart, survive 15 hours of poker and advance out of the first round. It was too early to think about reaching the tournament's final table on Friday, with its $1 million guarantee and $7.5 million first-place check.

As he took his seat at Table 142 amid a symphony of riffling chips, however, Mr. Baer was thunderstruck by the odds he faced even before a single card had hit the felt. He was one of 5,600 players hoping to rake in a life-changing pot this weekend and wear the coveted gold bracelet given to the winner.

"I feel so small," he said.

He was not alone. Into Sunday morning, Mr. Baer and his rivals would see their chips ebb and flow as their imagined fortunes rose and fell at the turn of a single card.

While 300 players in this record-breaking field were professionals, the rest looked like a cross-section of America. They included the celebrated - like the actors Tobey Maguire and Jennifer Tilly and the golfer Rocco Mediate - and the everyday people - truck drivers, housewives and college students.

Like Mr. Baer, nearly half had won their seats for far less than the $10,000 buy-in at tournaments on Internet poker sites, which last year surpassed more than $1 billion in revenue.

Every player has visions of becoming the next Greg Raymer, the Connecticut patent lawyer who won the 2004 championship and the $5 million that came with it after gaining entry into the World Series by winning the same online tournament as Mr. Baer.

Their patron saint, however, is Chris Moneymaker, 29, who in 2003 was an accountant and amateur poker player who parlayed a $40 online entry fee into a $2.5 million windfall.

"I am the poster child for online poker," said Mr. Moneymaker, who was eliminated in the second round Sunday. "Amateurs and people who never even played the game watched me on television and figured, 'Hey, I can do that.' And they're right."

Mr. Moneymaker is widely credited with transforming a nearly two-century-old pastime played from frontier saloons to modern kitchen tables into a recent cultural phenomenon. Mr. Moneymaker, a young Tennessean in mirrored sunglasses who bluffed and bulldozed seasoned gamblers like Johnny Chan and Sam Farha, entranced viewers who watched the World Series on ESPN.

In 2003, Mr. Moneymaker faced a comparatively compact field of 839 players, and televised poker was not ubiquitous like it is now, with hundreds of hours shown on network and cable television. Among those watching the 2003 tournament was Mr. Baer, who was studying at Montclair State (he graduated in May) and spending an increasing number of hours online learning the nuances of no-limit Texas Hold'em, a game in which each player receives two cards and then bets progressively over the next five common cards on the table: three cards known as "the flop," a fourth known as "the turn" and the fifth, "the river."

Watching Mr. Moneymaker, Baer decided to set his sights on the World Series of Poker, and he began spending up to 10 hours a day online, playing millions of hands and using computer programs to analyze and explain the mathematical probabilities that can determine a winning hand.

It was hardly a delusional ambition, especially in large tournament play, because luck and nerve often offset skill when cards are landing in front of the nine players at every table. Sports bookies here, known for their handicapping acumen, made Phil Ivey, considered among the best professional players in the world, the tournament favorite - but at tepid odds of 400-1.

If poker's runaway popularity has a downside, it is felt most by the professionals who make their living around a card table. Bobby Baldwin won the 1978 World Series no-limit Texas Hold'em title by besting 41 other card sharks who anted up their own $10,000.

As chief executive officer of Mirage Resorts, however, Mr. Baldwin said he understood that what was good for the industry was tough on his friends.

"There are very, very good amateur players," Mr. Baldwin said. "And when you have 6,000 players, the odds for the pros get watered down. When you're playing a hand, you have to make all sorts of assumptions on very little information. Over a course of a week, facing wave after wave of new faces, it gets tough to be right all the time."

Mr. Mediate, for example, is ranked 32nd on the PGA Tour but rates himself no better than a "14 handicap" in no-limit Texas Hold'em, which he started playing just eight months ago. Still, before play began Sunday, he was in the top third of the players, with $33,825 in chips.

"It's conceivable that I can run through this field of the very best players in the world and win the whole thing," Mr. Mediate said. "But in golf, I could take one of these guys out on the Sunday round of the U.S. Open, and they would have absolutely no chance. I have control of my golf game. They do not. And that's what makes the tournament here so appealing."

Richard Baer, Josh's father, understands, or at least hopes, that a seat at the World Series of Poker is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A dentist from New Jersey, Dr. Baer is wary of his son's immersion in poker; he tolerated it when Josh was working toward his college degree, even taking him out for a celebratory dinner when he earned his way into the tournament.

"I regard it as a hobby, not a potential occupation," Richard Baer said in a telephone interview. "I want him to keep it in perspective and enjoy the experience. I really admire his focus, but after this is all over, I want him to use that focus to find a regular line of work."

In the days before Josh Baer sat down at the tournament table, his father would have been proud of his son. He was focused on and enjoying his trip to the World Series. Mr. Baer was determined not to be "dead money," the term pros bestow on weak players. Most nights, he was in bed early in his hotel room at Treasure Island, which he shared with his brother, Matt, and four friends. Mr. Baer's room was free because he had agreed to wear a shirt promoting PokerStars.com, the Internet site where he won his $10,000 buy-in and another $1,000 in traveling money.

If there are any sure-fire winners at the World Series of Poker in recent years, it has been the Internet poker sites. Mr. Raymer and Mr. Moneymaker emerged from PokerStars.com tournaments, and the odds are favorable that this year's champion will be wearing the company's logo. It provided the buy-in fee and accommodations for 1,116 participants, or nearly 20 percent of the field.

But the company had already provided Mr. Baer with another transcendent moment: a 10-minute conversation with Mr. Raymer and Mr. Moneymaker at a pretournament reception.

"They were nice and encouraging," he said. "I even got my picture taken with them on my cellphone. Unfortunately, I snapped it shut before I stored the photograph."

For nearly nine hours, Mr. Baer played "tight poker." He folded hand after unsuitable hand, attacked when he had winning cards and kept his stack of chips in the $9,000 to $13,000 range. As the clock approached 9 p.m. on Saturday, he was dealt two hands in the span of 15 minutes that the probabilities, his competitors' body language and his guts told him were unbeatable.

In the first, he was holding an Ace and a King against a tablemate's Ace and Queen. With the flop came another Ace, and what the probabilities said was an 87 percent chance for Mr. Baer to win. He had $7,000 worth of chips in the post when, on the turn, a queen hit the table. It was the only card that could beat him.

On the next hand, he pushed his entire stack of chips into the middle of the table. The dealer called out, "All-in," which is a spine-tingling moment for every no-limit Texas Hold'em player and a clarion call for the television cameras and spectators to pay attention. On cue, the ESPN crew arrived at table 142 just in case Mr. Baer made it to the finals and turned out to be the next Greg Raymer or Chris Moneymaker.

Mr. Baer was holding a pair of Queens against what he guessed correctly was a King and a Queen. Again, the probabilities said he had a 70 percent chance of success. But the dealer then turned over a King and two 9's, giving Mr. Baer and his opponent two pairs. Unfortunately, his rival's Kings outranked his Queens.

Josh Baer's World Series was over. He was in good company - the former champions Doyle Brunson and Phil Hellmuth and a raft of other professionals had also been eliminated. Mr. Baer shook hands with everyone at the table, and this time the tears welling up inside him were not from joy. It took him until Sunday to put poker and the big-time tournament in perspective.

"I'll definitely be back," he said. "But I also know it's time to look for a job."

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High stakes poker - 175 feet up - The Times Online - 18th September 2008

Dominic Wells reports on a unique poker game, 45 metres above the city streets

With the second World Series of Poker Europe starting at London’s Empire Casino tomorrow, with a first prize of £1 million, the game retains that dangerous James Bond cachet.

As proof of that. And as a prelude to the World Series, the world’s first ever aerial tournament was held, swinging from a crane 45 metres above the ground in the same place that David Blaine once hung his Perspex box. I was one of the select few brave enough, or foolish enough, to take up the challenge.

The day started badly as it took an hour longer to set up than expected. An hour of heightening anticipation or, to put it less euphemistically, sheer naked terror. The celebrity dealer arrived, 23-year-old John Tabatabai, who was runner-up at last year’s WSOP Europe. “That?” he exclaimed disbelievingly on seeing the table. “Where’s the floor?”

There isn’t one: players’ legs were to dangle over the void. As if on cue, a truck arrived with a timely special delivery - two Portaloos.

Next, all the players were strapped into their chairs. For safety reasons, they said, but it could equally have been in case we experienced second thoughts. And then we were off, up, up and away, until we were level with the top of London’s City Hall, and looking out over Tower Bridge.

It felt for all the world as if we were playing at some sinister game hosted by Ernst Blofeld, and the first person to be knocked out would be tipped backwards into the Thames. Then we discovered that the chairs really did tip backwards at the push of a lever, and swivel, too. Now my poker face is as good as any man’s, but it was broadcasting “Get me out of here” as surely as if it was stencilled on my forehead. And that’s when the crane operator decided to make the whole table spin in slow pirouettes.

Before the bright sparks at Betfair.com thought of converting it for poker, this special table, made in Belgium, was used for mid-air banquets. God knows how anyone kept the food down.

In the circumstances, the poker itself was almost an irrelevance, though a welcome distraction. Betting or “blind” levels went up too fast, rather like the table itself, to make for a skilful game - or, at least, that was my excuse.

High-stakes poker is all very well, but high-wire poker may not catch on. How are you supposed to be able to tell whether an opponent is shaking because they have a monster hand, or because they’re terrified of heights? I’ll stick to playing on terra firma, where the ground is firmer and there’s a good deal less terror.

Greg Tingle comment

The World Series of Poker wants to be seen as more than just another poker tournament and that's achieved it. It's not a typical publicity stunt, but typical doesn't usually get the job done anymore I can tell you from my role as a media analyst. Let's see what Virgin and PKR does next to counter.

Greg Tingle, Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

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GTA Addresses Federal Senators - Media Release - 12th September 2008

Gaming Machine manufacturers today called for a new approach to the development of research and regulations controlling the gaming industry in Australia.

Addressing the Senate Community Affairs Committee Public Hearing today in Sydney, Ross Ferrar, Chief Executive of the Gaming Technologies Association, stated that Australia’s gaming jurisdictions are widely regarded as the most regulated in the world.

“The companies which manufacture gaming machines work in a highly regulated and strenuously audited, total compliance environment,” Mr Ferrar stated.

“No gaming machine products enter the marketplace in Australia without undergoing comprehensive testing and technical review.”

“We have no complaint about the level of Government scrutiny to which our members are subjected. On the contrary, we believe that these high standards are important and that we can very confidently state that this industry operates with great probity and integrity.”

Mr Ferrar stated that much of what is described as “Harm Minimisation strategy” in the various Australian jurisdictions has not actually achieved anything positive. He said that many of the measures introduced in the late 1990s and early this century around Australia were not based on real evidence and as a result, have subsequently been proven to be useless.

“Australians deserve better than this. They deserve policy which will provide help if and when it’s needed – and leave the rest of the Australian public to enjoy a legitimate, legal form of entertainment.”

The GTA is pleased that the Government has announced that the Productivity Commission will review its 1999 Report into Australia’s Gambling Industries.

“We believe that this review will reinforce the various analyses that have been conducted by State and Territory Governments in the years since 1999, which have shown a decline in problem gambling in the community,” Mr Ferrar said.

“We hope that this will result in the use of current data on the incidence of problem gambling instead of ten year old statistics.”

Mr Ferrar called for the establishment of a new ongoing national research body funded by federal, state and territory governments to conduct a more comprehensive and objective research program. It should involve operators, manufacturers and related private sector businesses, as well as community and counselling sectors and regulatory authorities.

“This new body should examine all aspects of gaming in Australia, including the effectiveness of current regulatory regimes, harm minimisation strategies, the efficacy of counselling and support services, and possible future features of gaming machines,” Mr Ferrar said at the Senate Committee Hearing.

“There should be evidence-based research on the economic and social impact of gaming in Australia, both positive and negative. And all research should be required to be conducted transparently and objectively.”

“The result would be a body of knowledge in which all stakeholders could have confidence and on which all governments could build policy and regulation to protect and promote the interests of the whole community.”

“We would all be protected from the false opinions and claims of self-interested individuals whose motivations appear to us to lie in seizing a greater share of government expenditure on research for their own personal financial benefit.” Mr Ferrar claimed.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Ross Ferrar 0418 686 075

Garrie Gibson 0417 626 853

GTA hosts and operates the annual Australasian Gaming Expo and the New Zealand Gaming Expo.

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New spin on high-stakes poker, by Clinton Van Der Berg - Business Times - 7th September 2008

Cricket and boxing bad boys Warne and Fenech trade knockout blows across the table

You could never mistake Shane Warne for a fighter.

Tanned, blond and handsome, the cricket pin-up says he wouldn’t have the guts to take a punch anyway.

That he would leave to his mate Jeff Fenech, the hell-raising three-time world champion who would, in turn, never be mistaken for a male model. He has a nose only a boxer’s mum could love and the coarse texture of his face is testament to a life spent eating leather.

You wouldn’t expect them to have much in common, but the two share a reputation for being among the bad boys of Australian sport. Controversy could be Warne’s middle name given his shenanigans over the years.

Fenech’s had his share of nonsense too: he’s been stabbed, shot at and is known to handle himself in bar fights. It’s a habit he shares with good mate Mike Tyson.

Now there’s another bond that connects Warne and Fenech: poker.

It’s an ironic choice for Warne given how he likens the card game to cricket. “You’ve gotta be patient, disciplined ... it’s all about position, how much you bet, how you read people.”

As Freudian slips go, it’s a clanger, but there’s no mistaking Warne’s passion for the game. He was in South Africa this week for the Sun City Million Dollar Poker Tournament — and not just for celebrity value.

He contested the World Series in Las Vegas earlier this year, ending 726th out of 7000 starters.

“I did okay,” he says. “After two 14-hour days, I lasted seven hours into day three, so it was 35 hours at the table. I was really happy.”

Fenech, 44, plays a first-rate hand too. Days before his comeback fight against Azumah Nelson earlier this year, he was up until 4.30am, winning a major poker tournament in Melbourne.

“I needed some sleep for the fight, but I kept doubling up, so it went on until I won. I called people the whole day to tell them. It was more exciting than any fight. I knocked out a lot of guys (in the poker). If that hadn’t happened, I would have used my left hook.”

Warne and Fenech are now in that unfamiliar place all sportsmen occupy: the transitional phase between sport and life largely beyond it. Warne, 39, has quit international cricket, but is clearly energised by the Indian Premier League (his team, the Rajasthan Royals, won the inaugural title), various business interests, his charity foundation and poker.

No more “fat boy” headlines for him either: he’s been exercising for months and, at 87kg, is the picture of good health.

Fenech trains fighters in his own gym and is heavily involved in charity work. He’s obviously enjoying poker, which is as far removed from the blood and guts of the ring as possible. It’s a long way from his days as a rabble-rouser.

“I try and ensure I’m an everyday guy,” says the former three-time world champion who fought with the fury and power of a mini-Tyson.

“But in the late ’80s, early ’90s, I didn’t like myself much. I had too much success, things got to my head. I got a bit carried away, but I quickly changed that. Although I’ve done some great things in boxing, I never thought I was better than anyone else.

“The real heroes are the mums and dads who look after handicapped kids. That’s why I help with the Special Olympics.”

Warne reckons he’s been lucky. He’s pleased how he retired from international cricket — “to walk off with Glenn McGrath was a real honour” — and he can pick and choose how to occupy himself. He has multiple business interests, but it’s poker he can’t get enough of.

He talks animatedly of his approach, with much the same enthusiasm he brought to his leg-spin art. “You’ve just gotta hang in there and maximise when you get a good hand,” says Warne, who was once fined for sending an SMS in the middle of a poker game. “It’s no use having the best hand and everyone folds all the time. You’ve got to find a way to make it work. Also, the beauty of poker is that anyone can play — they can be chairmen, CEOs or car salesmen. The mixture is good fun.”

And the pressure? Warne eats it for breakfast. “A lot of people don’t want the ball to come to them in cricket. I was very lucky: I wanted the ball. That’s in my nature. If there was one run to win, one wicket to get, I wanted the ball in my hand. I’m an aggressive cricketer and I’m an aggressive poker player.”

The other appeal is travel. As the captain of 888.com’s world team, he gets to visit new places and is seldom away from home for more than a week, a welcome change from three month-long cricket tours.

Warne loves the revolution cricket finds itself in, saying the popularity of Twenty20 cricket fits perfectly with our “super-fast culture”. He just wishes the ICC would get its head around IPL cricket and embrace it rather than fight it.

For all that, Warne says international cricket, more particularly Test cricket, must have primacy. “If you ask any top player, what they want is to be regarded as a top Test player. It’s the ultimate test of discipline, fitness, skills, technique and stamina.”

Warne loved his time as captain-coach of the Rajasthan Royals. He took a famously relaxed attitude to the role. Armed with a beer or a cold drink, players typically gathered around the hotel pool to discuss how to construct an over, how to work a batsman or how to read a scenario.

Warne sticks to his belief that coaches are overrated at international level. “Don’t need ’em,” he says. “At that level, it’s all about attitude and the way you think. All that happens in international cricket is your attitude changes. It’s nothing to do with technique. You have b ad days, you have good days — that’s sport. Hopefully if you’ve prepared right and have the right attitude, you’re gonna be okay.”

He’s looking forward to the year-end cricket series between Australia and SA. “I think Australia will do well in the one-day stuff, but the Tests will be very interesting, very exciting.”

If cricket seems in robust health, Fenech paints a dreary picture of boxing. “It’s on the way out,” he says. “It’s all about mixed martial arts in the US. Until someone in boxing makes competitive fights from day one, boxing’s gonna go backwards.”

He cites the example of the upcoming “superfight” between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao, the most exciting fighter in the sport.

“Oscar’s best weight was at light-middle and Manny’s best is featherweight, and they say Manny has a great chance to win. Come on! And they’re paying these guys 20-30-million.

“The last big fight was Oscar against Floyd Mayweather — and neither of them had a mark on their face afterwards. The other day, Australian Billy Dib was carrying on like a fool after beating your guy (Zolani Marali). I felt ashamed for the Aussie — he lost every round. He’s an embarrassment to the sport. Decisions like that turn people off the sport.”

He says he would have loved to fight Brian Mitchell. “I respect him, he was a great fighter. .. but none of them wanted to fight Azumah the way I did.”

Pointing to Warne, he says the reason they’re mates is because “we’re both winners.”

“You reckon?” asks Warne.

“You betcha,” laughs the fighter.

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Playtech throws dice into the television market, by Alistair Osborne - The Telegraph - 3rd September 2008

Playtech, the designer and licensor of software for the gambling industry, unveiled plans to branch into the television market as it posted a strong rise in half-year profits.

The company, whose clients include Paddy Power, Betfred and PartyGaming, said it would use its $1.75m (£987,000) purchase of the assets of MIXTV to launch roulette games on the Sky and Virgin channels.

"It extends our distribution channel, gives us access to additional licensees and allows us to cross-sell to our existing licensees," said Mor Weizer, chief executive. Playtech currently has 60 casino and poker licensees.

Mr Weizer held out the prospect of a vastly bigger acquisition as he was quizzed by analysts over how the group intended to spend the $222m raised in June in a placing at 520p a share.

Playtech said it was undertaking due diligence on an un-named marketing company, with which it already works. Mr Weizer said any deal would be "significant" and "earnings accretive".

Total revenues jumped 85pc to $81.4m, with casino income up 78pc to $58m and poker rising 109pc to $22m. Pre-tax profits increased from $26.1m to $37.9m.

Mr Weizer said part of Playtech's growth would come from quickly establishing a position in newly regulated markets, such as Italy, where the group has struck licensing deals with the two biggest gambling companies - SNAI and SISAL.

Playtech is closely following regulatory developments in other countries, including Spain, France, Poland and South Africa.

The dividend jumped from 6.1 cents to 12 cents. The shares rose 6½ to 541½p.

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Virgin's poker phase, by Mark Tran - The Guardian - 25th November 2005

As news reaches us that Richard Branson is joining the card table, Mark Tran asks Virgin Poker to show its hand

If internet gambling is like the wild west, then Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Poker is the latest cowboy to swagger into the saloon.

Virgin Poker, relaunched this week - complete with a poker party at Sir Richard Branson's home in Holland Park - admits it is a latecomer to internet gaming. But it is banking on the full resources of the Branson business empire to ensure its success.

"Virgin Poker will use the resources of sister companies throughout the Virgin group to add new value to our players' experience," Simon Burridge, the chief executive of Virgin Games, told reporters and poker enthusiasts wedged tightly into a marquee in Sir Richard's garden.

After that pitch, followed by champagne and superior canapes - spoonfuls of risotto, miniature pails of fish and chips, lamb meatballs, salmon on toast and cubes of deep fried camembert - the guests took their allocated seats to play Texas Hold'em.

The last man and woman standing from about 50 players would win a weekend to Sir Richard's new digs in Marrakech. Guardian Unlimited unfortunately made a very early exit, its pair of sevens and kings going down to a flush.

Although a relative tiddler in the online poker world, Virgin Poker believes it will shake things up thanks to benefits available from the company's other business. Players will be able to accumulate Virgin air miles and loyalty points that can be cashed in for Virgin products. There will be also prizes such as Virgin flights and weekend trips to the entrepreneur's Marrakech home.

The site will include blogs by players, poker writers and enthusiasts, and a poker school that includes live online tutorials to take newcomers through the basics of the game. Virgin Poker is particularly keen to attract people who have never played before - poker virgins - by emphasising the light-hearted side of the game.

"We want to make poker accessible," said Joshua Morris, a product marketing manager. "There will be no intimidation factor as we are going after the mass market."

But the site will not be open to US players as Virgin does not want to leave itself open to any legislation that might ban online gambling. The company says its software will block users from the US. Despite staying out of a potentially huge market, Virgin Poker believes there will be plenty of takers in the UK and the rest of Europe.

Virgin Group brushes aside notions that it may have missed the boat on internet poker, currently dominated by PartyGaming, owner of Party Poker, the world's largest poker site. PartyGaming, based in Gibraltar, made its debut on the London Stock Exchange in June, when it was valued at £4.64bn, the biggest UK debut in five years.

But PartyGaming shares dropped by almost a third in September after it warned future market growth could slow. That setback has prompted commentators to say that the internet poker bubble has burst. Even so, revenues at PartyGaming soared in the first six months of 2005. Revenues soared to $437.4m (£237.7m), from $241.5m a year ago, while profits rose to $186.3m from $146.6m.

With those kinds of numbers it is no wonder that Sir Richard, the billionaire with a sideline in ballooning, wants to join the saloon.

Virgin plans to have Virgin Poker on its trains and planes - the discount airline Ryanair also has plans for in-flight gambling - to make the most of a captive audience - although there will be loss limits.

As one Virgin executive said: "We don't want anyone landing in Las Vegas down £25,000. It's not a great way to start a holiday."

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Virgin Poker launches Facebook poker app, by Darren Davidson Brand Republic - 25th February 2008

LONDON - Virgin Poker has developed a Facebook application which allows users to play Texas Hold'em for free.

The application has been developed by Virgin Poker in partnership with Playzu, the online poker company.

Facebook users can join a table of six and play for points, with every winning hand counting towards a place on a leader board.

The top 25 players every day will be invited to take part in a free weekly tournament via a unique sign-up code. The weekly tournament offers prizes from other Virgin brands such as Virgin Atlantic Air Miles.

Simon Burridge, chief executive of Virgin Games, said: "With social networking now a fundamental part of our players' lives, Facebook's focus on entertainment and community provides the perfect opportunity to bring the fun and social element of Virgin Poker to a new market."

The application gives users the ability to create their own avatar in the games, with accessories ranging from cigars and hats to tattoos and glasses.

There are also comedy video clips integrated into the application, which can be played when users are waiting for a hand to be played, and users can set up a private "invite only" game with other Facebook members.

Darius Ziatabari, Playzu founder, said the company would continue to add features to the application to improve the user experience: "We are poker players at heart and want people to have the most fun possible without having to pay for it."

The moves comes as big advertisers begin to incorporate Facebook, which has 8.5m UK users according to Nielsen Online, into their marketing plans.

Earlier this month, Mars launched a voucher scheme on the social networking site enabling users to collect vouchers for the confectionery brand, and last week Marmite launched a branded group.

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Aristocrat switches its US leadership - Fairfax - 12th September 2008

Poker machine maker Aristocrat Leisure has appointed a new head in North America, replacing its previous boss with its head of European, Middle Eastern and African operations, Nick Khin.

Aristocrat said that Tim Parrott, the incumbent president and chief executive Officer of its American operations, had left the business after two years with Aristocrat's executive team.

The company said Mr Khin had driven Aristocrat's expansion into new markets, particularly Spain where the company will be launching its new casino style arcade games later this month.

"The EMEA region has reported record revenue (up over 50 per cent) and profitability (up 140 per cent) over the past two years, with the company significantly increasing its overall market share and presence in the region," Aristocrat said in a statement.

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Virgin’s Affiliate Programme Short-Listed - 4th September 2008

Online casino VirginGames.com has been short-listed for the Affiliate Programme of the Year distinction at the fourth annual eGaming Review Industry Awards.

The Awards are considered one of the premier online gaming events of the year and are judged by an independent panel consisting of some of the most experienced practitioners from every segment of the sector. This year there are 18 distinctions up for grabs with the final winners announced on September 19 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.

The first time it has every been nominated for the Affiliate Programme of the Year award, VirginGames.com is one of only four companies short-listed and nominees are judged on innovation, creativeness, marketing strategy and overall effectiveness.

“We’re delighted to have made it to the final table of the 2008 eGaming Awards,” said Pierrick Leveque, Head of Affiliates for VirginGames.com.

“It is an honour to be short-listed in the Best Affiliate Programme of the Year category alongside Everest, Centrebet and Ladbrokes.

“More importantly, it is a testimony to the quality and commitment of the affiliates who have decided to partner with us since we launched last year. We work hard to ensure our affiliate operations match VirginGames.com’s reputation as an online gaming operator. In that regard, our presence in this year’s shortlist is very uplifting.”

VirginGames.com recently voted the Best Gaming Affiliate Programme prize at the affiliate marketing industry’s a4u Awards 2008, the most prestigious affiliate awards ceremony in the UK.

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Jamie Gold Announced as Keynote Speaker for CAP Euro Barcelona

IRVINE, CA – September 3, 2008 – CasinoAffiliatePrograms.com (CAP), a leading online marketing resource and community website for Internet casino affiliates, has announced that 2006 World Series of Poker Champion Jamie Gold is to be the keynote speaker for CAP Euro: Barcelona, its upcoming international four-day industry conference.

In addition to delivering the conference’s key note speech on Saturday, September 27, Gold will also be running an exclusive poker coaching session for the Affiliate Series of Poker (ASOP) qualifiers and an autograph signing session. The winner of the biggest pot ever in WSOP history, Mr. Gold is also a television producer and talent agent. He will be at Cap Euro: Barcelona for all three days of the conference.

'There's no doubt that the explosion of poker around the world is directly connected to the emergence and phenomenal success of online poker,” Mr. Gold commented. “As well as making the game far more accessible, it has taken poker to entirely new levels, has fuelled worldwide exposure through mainstream TV sponsorship, and along the way provided tutorage of game play and strategy.

“In short, it has turned the back-room game into front-room entertainment and, more importantly, a seemingly recession-proof global industry. And as the one lucky enough to receive the biggest payout in history, it would be remiss of me not to mention the dramatic effect online poker has had on building the number of major tournaments, players and, of course, prize money!

“It's indeed an honor to follow the legend, Doyle Brunson, in being the key note speaker at this year's CAP Euro convention. I look forward to participating in discussions on how to maintain online poker's momentum — and to personally thank all of you for helping make poker the global success it is today.'

“We’re extremely honored and excited for to bring Jamie Gold, an absolute legend in the world of poker, to all our associates at this year’s CAP Euro Barcelona,” added Lou Fabiano, founder and president of CasinoAffiliatePrograms.com. “There’s no doubt that his presence will only add to CAP Euro’s status as the premier affiliate marketing conference for the online gaming industry.”

To view a complete list of events and sessions planned for this year’s CAP Euro: Barcelona, please visit http://www.capeuro.com/schedule

About CAP Euro:

One of Internet gaming’s most celebrated events, CAP Euro is a four-day trade show organized by CasinoAffiliatePrograms.com and iGaming Business to bring together the top names in the iGaming affiliate marketing community. The fourth such conference organized by CAP and iGaming Business, CAP Euro: Barcelona is shaping up to be the biggest CAP Euro event yet. So far, more than 50 exhibitors from all corners of the globe have signed up for the conference, with many of the industry’s brightest stars among them. For more information on CAP Euro: Barcelona, please visit www.capeuro.com

About iGaming Business:

iGaming Business is the leading trade publication in the interactive gaming sector. Its comprehensive editorial covers existing and emergent technologies, events and progressions in the iGaming industry. Read by more than 7,000 gaming professionals, iGaming Business is the most widely read publication in the sector.

About CasinoAffiliatePrograms.com:

CasinoAffiliatePrograms.com is the largest and longest-running online gaming affiliate resource, featuring an active community forum, chat rooms, affiliate marketing tools, industry news/articles, scam alerts and a rigorous and distinguished certification process for online casino affiliate programs. For more information, please visit http://www.casinoaffiliateprograms.com

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BlackJack Extreme™ Licensing Now Available through Swiss Gaming Corporation

Press Release
26th August 2008


USA – Switzerland: BJX Entertainment (BJX) and SGC officials announced today that the company has selected Swiss Gaming Corporation (SGC) to help bring their revolutionary new game, BlackJack eXtreme™ into the global Gaming Industry.

Invented for television, BJX is a new method of playing blackjack at the poker table. It is a player vs. player game and the casino takes no risk. Several key features of the new game include allowing the player/dealer to choose which card the table sees, allowing players to raise their original bets up to all-in and then receive as many cards as needed to improve the hand, and the player/dealer is allowed to surrender to the table.

“We are delighted to work with BJX to bring this innovative product into the Gaming Industry,” said René Lindsen, chief executive officer of Swiss Gaming Corporation. “Like hold’em, this totally new game seems deceptively simple until you actually play the game – then you see that each hand is a unique situation. The explosive growth of poker indicates that social or community gaming attracts new players and offers a fresh attraction which brings regular visitors back more frequently.”

“The broad scope of Swiss Gaming Corporation’s operations make them ideal to represent us in multiple markets,” said Mark Koetting, CEO of BJX, “BlackJack eXtreme can be played on any poker table, Internet or electronic platform which currently offers Texas hold’em. Our goal is to increase profitability for gaming companies by increasing the productivity of their current investment.”

“René Lindsen has more than 20 years of experience in the international leisure and gaming industry, through the ranks over the years from a dealer to general manager. He opened and ran several Switzerland casinos. His reputation, relationships and expertise will be a valued addition to our global team.”

Lindsen will also represent the television production licensing in addition to the casino and online licensing. BlackJack eXtreme uses hole cards to increase the challenge and enables card counting by using two decks and showing every card dealt at the end of each hand. TV audiences will be shown the hole cards and a running count will be displayed onscreen.

“Bad beats and elegant strategy will keep viewers riveted to their screens,” states David Thomas, CCO of BJX, “and we will pit poker pros against card counting pros. We expect emotional fireworks at our TV tournaments. We’re betting that like poker, once viewers discover the game, they will want to play it themselves.”


ABOUT SWISS GAMING CORPORATION

Founded in 2006, Swiss Gaming Corporation manages and advises casinos on strategic development, realizing concepts, capital projects and reorganizations plans. With more than 20 years of international experience in all aspects and departments of the casino industry, Swiss Gaming executives have vast experience in a wide range of disciplines, including hospitality and casino management, financial structuring, urban and strategic planning, demographic analysis, geography, economics and transportation planning. Swiss Gaming Corporation employees operate in modern casinos and have helped establish the quality standards of casinos in Holland, Switzerland and Suriname. Swiss Gaming produces a popular monthly newsletter that reaches subscribers across the globe. For more information, please visit www.swissgamingcorporation.com or contact rlindsen@swissgamingcorporation.com


ABOUT BJX ENTERTAINMENT, LLC

The company was founded by Internet marketing pro Mark Koetting and movie producer David C. Thomas to develop a way to make blackjack interesting to watch. Mark immediately grasped the potential for internet play and the resulting game, BlackJack eXtreme was tested and tweaked for months to achieve a completely new game. A demonstration version of the game, and more information is available at www.playBJX.com

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Virgin Games Affiliates Shortlisted for eGaming Awards 2008

Press Release
London, 3rd September 2008

London, 3rd September 2008 – Virgin Games (www.virgingames.com) has been shortlisted for the affiliate program of the year award at the eGaming Review Industry Awards. The awards, now in their 4th year, are judged by an independent panel consisting of some of the most experienced practitioners across the sector and are established as the premier online gaming event of the year. The winner will be announced at the eGaming Review Industry Award ceremony on Friday 19th September at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

The eGaming Industry Review Awards reward excellence and innovation within the online gaming industry with 18 prestigious awards up for grabs. Up for the affiliate program of the year award for the first time, Virgin Games is one of only four companies to be shortlisted, where nominees were judged on innovation, creativeness, marketing strategy and overall effectiveness.

Pierrick Leveque, Head of Affiliates, Virgin Games, commented:

“We’re delighted to have made it to the final table of the 2008 eGaming Awards. It is an honour to be shortlisted in the “Best Affiliate Program” category alongside Everest, Centrebet and Ladbrokes. More importantly, it is a testimony to the quality and commitment of the affiliates who have decided to partner with us since we launched last year. We work hard to ensure our Affiliate operations match Virgin Games’ reputation as an online gaming operator. In that regard, our presence in this year’s shortlist is very uplifting. We are looking forward to the results of the Awards on the 19th of September.”

Virgin Games was recently voted ‘Best Gaming Affiliate Programme’ at the affiliate marketing industry’s a4uAwards 2008 - the most prestigious affiliate awards ceremony in the UK.

The Virgin Games’ Affiliate program is run by Virgin Games, a wholly owned subsidiary of Virgin.com Ltd. Virgin Games Affiliates has been in operation since 2005, and offers affiliates the reporting and marketing tools they need in order to promote Virgin Games services efficiently and effectively.

For more information on the eGaming Review Industry Awards, visit: http://www.egrmagazine.com/about/awards.html

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3 Wheel Roulette™, now available at Virgin Casino - Press Release - 30th August 2008

Roulette, the most popular casino game in Europe, just got three times better.

Our 3 Wheel Roulette™ offers you 3 times the excitement and 3 times the chance to win on every spin.

Not only have we tripled the action, we have also supercharged your award potential with our new Colour Up Bonus™. Based on the combination of the final numbers from the 3 wheels, a single Colour Up Bonus bet makes you eligible for a half dozen different awards including 100x and even 1000x pays.

Game specifications

• 3 wheels gives the player 3 times the excitement
• Colour Up Bonus™ bet offers awards of up to 1000x
• Enjoy ultra-realistic ball movement based upon motion capture of actual roulette wheels
• Turbo play mode option to accelerate the pace and excitement
• Faster play when players rebet and spin with a single click

Game Features

• Three wheels spin simultaneously giving the player three outcomes on a single spin
• Exciting anticipation for outer wheel outcomes similar to a Big Six money wheel
• Colour Up Bonus™ offers six payouts from 1x up to 1000x

Top Bonus Award

• Players can win up to 1000x (currency units) by betting on the Colour Up Bonus™. All standard single-zero roulette pays also apply.

Visit the 3 Wheel Roulette™ game page for more information.

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The Road to Vegas starts here - Press Release - 21st August 2008

Though the 2008 World Series of Poker is over for all but a golden few, PKR.com is looking to the future as it announces of one of the biggest World Series giveaways ever seen. Starting September 15, 2008, the new ‘Road to Vegas’ promotion promises 33 weeks of freeroll action with winners claiming seats to the 2009 WSOP.

Featuring an industry first ‘one a week, every week’ format, the ‘Road to Vegas’ will give players the chance to win a different World Series package every week. With a total of $200,000 in packages up for grabs, the groundbreaking move puts PKR.com players in pole position to book their places in World Series events ranging from $1,500 buy-in tournaments to the $10,000 Championships.

At least 33 dream packages will be available through the weekly freerolls running at PKR.com. Players will be required to qualify for each weekly freeroll, with qualifying criteria changing from week to week. This innovative format means that serious players can target specific bracelet events, while players of varying bankrolls and ability are also offered a realistic chance to ‘viva Las Vegas’.

Marketing Director Simon Prodger added, “This is by far the biggest promotion ever offered by PKR.com and one of the largest World Series promotions in online poker history. Our ‘one a week, every week’ format opens the door for all players and we’d love nothing more than to be celebrating a PKR bracelet winner come next summer.”


Q&A with PKR Marketing Director Simon Prodger

Do all packages include a travel and accommodation allowance?
"Yes, each package includes $1,500 for travel and accommodation expenses. Packages for the Main Event come with a $2,500 allowance."

Can any PKR player enter?
"Absolutely, this isn’t limited to just real money players or high rollers – every single PKR player will have the chance to win a seat at the 2009 World Series. The only thing we have to stipulate is that players must be aged over 21 by the time their chosen event starts."

How many people will be in each week’s qualifying freeroll?
"The number of people in each week’s qualifying freeroll will vary depending on the value of the package that’s up for grabs. For example, freerolls for packages at the lower end of the spectrum will have around 20 runners, while those for Main Event and Championship packages will have no more than 50 runners. We think this balance offers great value for everyone."

What sort of things will I have to do to qualify for that freeroll?
"It will largely depend on the package that’s up for grabs that week. For example, if we’re offering the chance to win a Pot Limit Omaha package, the qualifying criteria for that week will be based around Pot Limit Omaha play and so on. Each week will feature something different, from PKR point races to tournament ranking results, high hand jackpots to community participation.

There will also be freerolls to get into the weekly finals so that everyone gets a shot regardless."

Why have you decided to change the criteria every week?
"There are two main reasons behind changing the qualifying criteria each week; one is to keep the promotion fresh and interesting. But the second, equally as important factor is our desire to offer every player – regardless of ability, experience or budget – the chance to win a trip to the WSOP and represent Team PKR."

Where will I be able to find details for each week?
"Details of each week’s package and qualifying criteria will be made available on the PKR website."

Can I choose the event I play in?
"If there are multiple events that correspond to the package won, then absolutely. For example, players winning a package to play in a $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event can choose which $1,500 NLHE they play in. The only exception will be for players who win a seat at a Championship event, as these are one-offs."

How can you offer packages when the 2009 World Series schedule hasn’t been announced yet?
"Obviously we’re assuming that the 2009 schedule will feature a similar mix of events as the 2008 World Series. Should there be any material changes, we’ll look to amend the packages offered accordingly."

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Yevgeniy Timoshenko Wins Historic APT Macau! - 31st August 2008

MACAU, China, August 31 /PRNewswire/ --

- The Game of Poker Makes Giant Leap in Asia

20-year-old Yevgeniy Timoshenko, a highly rated player from the United States of Ukrainian descent tonight made history by winning the APT Macau, Asia's largest guaranteed tournament at the glamourous Galaxy StarWorld. 257 players from over 40 countries lined-up for a GUARANTEED prize pool of US$1.5 million and GUARANTEED first prize of US$500,000 - a landmark for the development of poker in Asia.

Timoshenko was first for US$500,00 and Joon Hee Yeah from South Korea finished second and won US$250,000. In third place was Rober Karlian from Thailand, who won US$126,000 and Casey Kastle from the United States finished fourth. In fifth was Julio Diaz from Spain, sixth was Quang Nguyen from Vietnam, who won US$52,000 and seventh Chong Wing Cheong from Hong Kong who won US$37,500. Eighth place went to Michael Pedley of Australia. These players triumphed in a field which featured some of the greatest names in the game including the legendary Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Todd Brunson, Liz Lieu, J.C Tran, Kenny Tran, John Juanda, Nam Le, Quinn Do, Steve Sung, David 'Chino' Rheems and APT Manila champion David Saab. The event, which run from the 27th - 31st May was opened by legendary host of the 1970 World Series of Poker (R) Jack Binion. Coverage of the event will be seen on television around the world.

Chris Parker, CEO of the Asian Poker Tour congratulated the ecstatic winner Timoshenko at a wildly colourful closing ceremony. He then made a draw that gave away one free seat to the next event for one lucky player who had pre-registered for the tournament on official website http://www.asianpt.com

One massive spin-off of hosting the landmark event is record numbers in the APT sponsored poker room at the Galaxy StarWorld. The stampede of players to Macau has resulted in the addition of eight more tables. Six new state of the art shuffling machines have been added to cope with the demand and the players have raved about eight air purifying units that pump through the packed poker room. The room was officially opened on Tuesday.

Tom Hall, CEO of AsianLogic said: "Adding eight tables to the APT poker room may not sound like a big move to the well established western poker community but you have to remember that this is Macau where baccarat is king. Poker is in its infancy - this is a significant step forward and further evidence of the growth and potential in this market."

ABOUT ASIAN POKER TOUR (APT)
The Asian Poker Tour (APT) is Asia's biggest and original poker tour. The Tour was recently acquired by AsianLogic (AIM:ALOG). Joining the stars are players from all over the world who won seats to the event by qualifying through online satellites at www.PartyPoker.com, DafaPoker, PKR, Titan Poker, Bodog, JBet Poker, Virgin Poker, PaddyPowerPoker and Poker Trillion

ABOUT ASIANLOGIC (ALOG)
AsianLogic is a leading online and land-based gaming company focusing on the Asia-Pacific markets. The Company is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM: ALOG). AsianLogic owns and operates eight online casino brands and two online poker rooms as well as land-based sportsbook operations through its MegaSportsWorld brand. It is a specialist in Asia-specific games such as Mahjong, Cho-Da-Di, Do-Di-Zhu and 13 Card Poker. The Company owns and operates the Asian Poker Tour. The Company also maintains a corporate advisory team specialising in the gaming sector which is an active investor in gaming-related businesses as well as providing consultancy and analytical services. AsianLogic enjoys strong commercial relationships with leading gaming providers including Playtech, ID Games and LVS. Founded as ESL in 2002, AsianLogic employs over 300 employees, the majority of whom are based in the Philippines.

World Series of Poker"(R) and "WSOP"(R) are registered trade marks of Harrah's License Company LLC. No license, affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement is claimed, or should be inferred from the use of these trademarks here. AsianLogic is not licensed by or otherwise affiliated with Harrah's License Company LLC or the World Series of Poker(R), in any way.

For more information, please contact: Warren Lush, Asian Poker Tour, +34-656236600, warrenl@partygaming.com ; Melissa Ross, Lyceum Media, +44(0)207-953-4026, Melissa@lyceummedia.com .

For more information, please contact: Warren Lush, Asian Poker Tour, +34-656236600, warrenl@partygaming.com ; Melissa Ross, Lyceum Media, +44(0)207-953-4026, Melissa@lyceummedia.com

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eGaming Review Announces Shortlist for Affiliate Program of the Year

Montreal, QC (PRWEB) August 29, 2008 – Two Income Access (http://www.incomeaccess.com) partners have been been shortlisted for the eGaming Review Awards 2008. Both Centrebet and Ladbrokes are in the running to win Affiliate Program of the Year. This category will recognize the most resourceful and forward-thinking affiliate team in iGaming.

Ladbrokes is just one of the well-respected gaming brands that Income Access works with. Part of the Income Access affiliate network, Ladbrokes has been named to eGaming Review's "Power50", a list of eGaming brands that have shown particular strength and innovation over the last 12 months.

Ladbrokes earned a spot in the eGaming Awards shortlist for three reasons: (1) the effective rollout of their affiliate programme across all products; (2) strong signup rates generated by all their affiliate programmes; and (3) a standout product portfolio.

eGaming Review chose Income Access software client Centrebet for the awards shortlist based on their creative and original use of their Australian heritage. Specifically, excellent use of banners and creatives to push this marketing effort out to affiliates and players were what made Centrebet an easy choice for the awards shortlist. Centrebet also appears on eGaming Review's Power50 for 2008.

"The brands that have been nominated for this year's awards are leading names in the marketplace. Their drive and passion has certainly come through in their respective affiliate programmes, making them major earners for affiliates," says Nicky Senyard, CEO of Income Access. "Affiliates respond to these brands because they have devoted the resources necessary to make their programmes successful."

A leading provider of innovative affiliate marketing solutions, Income Access is sponsoring a category at the eGaming Review Awards for the second year in a row. The awards, recognized as the premier online gaming event of the year, have now grown to comprise 19 categories.

2008's Affiliate Program of the Year award will be given out on September 19th, 2008 at Grosvenor House Hotel in London, England. Further information about the eGaming Review Industry Awards can be obtained by contacting Kate Holden via email at k.holden@pageantmedia.com, or by telephone at +44 (0) 207 269 7588. Tickets for the eGaming Review Industry Awards can be purchased at http://www.egrmagazine.com/item/1976.

About Income Access
Since 2002, Income Access (http://www.incomeaccess.com) has provided comprehensive affiliate marketing solutions for the online gaming industry. With an emphasis on developing proactive relationships, Income Access has built partnerships with some of world’s leading gaming operators, and has amassed a network of more than 17,000 affiliates. Through its three tiers of service, Income Access provides merchants and affiliates the tools they need for success in the Bingo, Casino, Mobile, Poker, Soft Games and Sportsbook markets. Income Access supports brands including Ladbrokes, Jackpotjoy, Lasseters and Unibet.

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888.com Poker Open V line-up announced - 29th August 2008

(PRESS RELEASE) -- 888.com, the world's No.1 online casino, has announced the launch of the 888.com Poker Open V, with even more celebrities, poker professionals and online qualifiers battling it out for a place in the final to win a slice of a $648,000 jackpot.

Now in its fifth year, the tournament will be filmed for Sky TV at the Maidstone television studios where filming takes place between October 27th and November 7th, while it airs between January and June 2009, every Tuesday night at 2200 on Sky Sports. The public will have a bird's eye view of the celebrities competing against each other and the 100 other entrants for a place in the final of one of the Europe's biggest televised poker events.

The 108 seats will be filled by 8 celebrities, including Shane Warne and Ronnie O'Sullivan, who will battle it out against 65 poker professionals and 35 888poker online qualifiers from around the world, all eager to claim the prestigious title of the 888.com Poker Open V Champion.

The Sky TV cameras will return to film the event from play-offs through to the final covering the triumphs and disappointments along the way. It makes compulsive and exciting viewing as the winners and losers demonstrate their skills and nerve in front of the TV cameras.

Matt Robinson, Marketing Director for 888.com, said "The 888.com Poker Open Championship is certainly a highlight in the poker calendar. Now in its fifth year, the competition is attracting some of the best players in the world which makes for an even more competitive tournament than last year. The TV cameras will no doubt capture all the excitement and unexpected turns from start to finish."

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Improve your hand with the launch of Three Card 2nd Chance™ on Virgin Casino - Press Release

London, 25 June 2008 - Virgin Casino (www.virgincasino.com) today announced the launch of Three Card 2nd Chance™, offering 3 Card Poker fans the chance to improve their hand and earn up to 35:1 on the lucrative ‘Best Hand Bonus’ side bet.

For gamers of all poker playing abilities, Three Card 2nd Chance is one of the fastest growing Casino games, offering an invigorating, fast-paced game that’s quick to understand and easy to play.

With Three Card 2nd Chance, players have the opportunity to turn a weak hand into a winner, by doubling their initial bet in return for a new hand as they try to beat the Dealer.

There are three ways to play and four ways to win Three Card 2nd Chance. Players can either bet on their three card outcome, try to beat the Dealer, or play both ways at the same time. Not only can players earn up to 6:1 on a three card bet, the lucrative ‘Best Hand Bonus’ side bet offers awards of up to 35:1 based on the highest rank of the strongest final hand - whether that hand is the player’s or the Dealer’s!

As with all Virgin Casino games, players can also earn V*Points – Virgin Games’ loyalty points – every time they play. Offering players the chance to redeem their points for further Virgin rewards, including Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Miles or
cold, hard cash, V*Points can be transferred across Virgin Games portfolio of products, including Virgin Poker and Virgin Bingo.

Premium releases including Cleopatra II™ and Vegas, Baby!™ have already been added to Virgin Casino’s portfolio of games in 2008. Further big IGT names will be added to Virgin Games in the coming months, ensuring a constant stream of new and exciting games to keep players’ adrenalin going.

Virgin Casino launched under the Virgin Games brand in June 2004. The site was refreshed in June 2006, providing players with a greater choice of games and additional means of earning bonus points and rewards.

Three Card 2nd Chance™ is available to play now on www.virgincasino.com

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Too many poker celebrities? by Greg Tingle - 29th August 2008

Is the celebrity poker market becoming overcrowded? For that matter, is the online casino and online poker market flooded with not only too many celebrities, but too many casino and poker brands?

Let's play word - brand - name association...

Richard Branson - Virgin

Calvin Ayre - Bodog (regardless of the fact he sold it to Morris Mohawk Gaming Group)

Shane Warne - 888

Chris Moneymaker - Poker Stars (and World Series of Poker)... ok, Moneymaker was a regular player, with a great name who "made it", but you get the point

Many online casino and poker websites and portals make no secret of the fact that prefer one of two brands. The exception is when they just back one brand like "The Wizrd of Odds" Michael Shackleford public and shameless pushing of Bodog.. tip, it's got more to do with no pop ups appearing on Bodog, especially considering the current legal going ons at Bodog, which are also of course related to Morris Mohawk to some extent.

Brian Balsbaugh, owner of poker talent agency Poker Royalty explains. "Many poker sites have been successful using top professionals by having them provide content for the site. This gives customers a reason to revisit the site to get updates and instructional information from the top names in poker. That’s done through trip reports and ‘Hand of the Week’ kind of articles, as well as offering the ability to interact with the players themselves."

There's a ton of brands out there in the online casino and online poker world, and just as many affiliate programs.

Media Man Australia opens up on some of its affiliates here and here!

So, who are Media Man's top picks for this month?

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Pacific Poker to send players to Poker Open V, by Sarah Polson - 29th August 2008

888 will be bringing together pros, stars and poker players from around the world for the Poker Open V at the end of October.

The tournament is limited to 108 seats which will be filled by eight celebrities, 65 professional poker players and 35 online qualifiers at 888's Pacific Poker online poker site. Those players will have a shot at a piece of a $648,000 prize pool, with $250,000 of that going to the winner.

Formerly known as the U.K. Open, the 888 Poker Open will take place Oct. 27-Nov.7 at the Maidstone television studios. The event will be filmed to be broadcast on SkySports between January and June 2009.

"The 888.com Poker Open Championship is certainly a highlight in the poker calendar. Now in its fifth year, the competition is attracting some of the best players in the world which makes for an even more competitive tournament than last year," said Matt Robinson, 888 marketing director.

"The TV cameras will no doubt capture all the excitement and unexpected turns from start to finish."

Shane Warne and Ronnie O'Sullivan will be two of the celebrities taking to the felt in the event. Some of the poker pros confirmed to play are Andy Black, Roland De Wolf, Richard Ashby, Neil Channing and Jeff Fenech.

Online poker players hoping to join them need to head to Pacific Poker to win a seat. The poker site will be hosting country-specific tournaments each week to battle for spots in a weekly international final.

The national tournaments will take place each Thursday during the seven Thursdays leading up to the 888 Poker Open V. The top five players from each national tournament will move on to a weekly final on the Sunday of that week to compete for an $8,500 prize package to the Poker Open.

The country-specific satellites are as follows:

* Germany: 3:25 p.m.
* France: 3:10 p.m.
* Italy: 3:15 p.m.
* Canada: 9:15 p.m.
* Australia: 7 a.m.
* Netherlands: 3:20 p.m.
* Portugal: 4 p.m.
* Spain: 4:15 p.m.
* Denmark: 3:45 p.m.
* Sweden: 3:35 p.m.
* Rest of the world: 10:00 a.m.

(Note: All times listed in this article are Pacific Poker Time.)

"Every country has a certain national style when it comes to poker, and each country's Thursday satellite is expected to play out quite differently," said Pacific Poker. "Which only makes the international final on Saturdays that much more exciting."

With only the top five players moving on to the weekly final, that means there will be a one in 60 shot at winning the Poker Open V prize package.

The Saturday finals will take place at 10 a.m. and have the following prizes:

* 1st Place: $8,500 package to the 888 Poker Open V
* 2nd Place: $300+$30 buy-in to another 888 Poker Open V satellite
* 3rd-6th Place: $60+$6 buy-in to the next 888 Poker Open V sub-satellite
* 7th-10th Place: $30+$3 buy-in to the next 888 Poker Open V sub-satellite

That last two weeks the prize pool will change slightly, offering:

* 1st place: $8,500 package to the 888 Poker Open V
* 2nd- 4th place: Seat to our $200 + $20 Monday's $100K guaranteed
* 5th - 10th place: Free $50 + $5 buy-in to the weekly $20K guaranteed

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Eastside Cannery: Opening Night Lures Crowd, By Arnold M. Knightly - Review -Journal - 29th August 2008

Thousands flock to newest competitor on Boulder Strip


There was little sign of the economic slowdown in gaming Thursday night at the opening of the $250 million Eastside Cannery.

Hundreds waited in the stifling heat, some as long as 21/2 hours, for the valley's latest hotel-casino to open to the public at 8 p.m.

Donna Applegate, who arrived at 5:30 p.m., said it was time for a new casino in the area.

She added that as the economy has gotten worse, she believed that locals casinos have been tightening their slots.

"I am hoping the machines are loose," Applegate said. "I want to win, and if I do, I'll be back."

Nearly 30 minutes after the doors opened, a few thousand people had arrived, causing traffic problems in the parking lot and along Boulder Highway.

But not all customers were greeted with open arms.

Families with children and the curious under age 21 were turned away by security unless they were eating in one of the restaurants.

William Wortman, co-owner of Cannery Casino Resorts, said the company built as nice a locals casino as there is in the market for a competitive price.

"We think it brings a new dimension to the east side of town," Wortman said. "We're extremely proud of what we've done here."

Personally, Wortman said, he was most proud that 250 employees from the demolished Nevada Palace made the transition to the new property.

The Eastside Cannery opened its doors on a holiday weekend but in a locals market that has been shaken by high gasoline prices, a mortgage crisis and an uncertain job market.

A question that a lot of the neighboring property owners will be asking today is: How many of the Cannery's customers were ours, and will they come back to us after Thursday night?

A two-hour V.I.P. party before the public opening was attended by many executives from competing gaming companies Boyd Gaming Corp. and Station Casinos, including Stations Chairman and CEO Frank Fertitta III.

Also attending the party were executives and billionaire James Packer from Crown Ltd., the Melbourne, Australia-based gaming company buying Cannery Casino Resorts for $1.8 billion.

Station Casinos spokeswoman Lori Nelson said at the V.I.P. event, "We view the Cannery as competition, and we take competition very seriously."

Station Casinos recently spent $50 million at the nearby Boulder Station renovating various areas, including the buffet, sports book and bingo room. The company will begin a room renovation this fall.

Brian McGill, an analyst for Wachovia Capital Markets who toured the property earlier, said in an investor's note Thursday that he suspects the new property will "take significant share" of customers from Boyd Gaming's Sam's Town, which is next door.

He said he was impressed by "the high quality" of the Eastside Cannery.

"For Boyd (Gaming Corp.), it will be a question of whether the customer base is loyal enough not to give up on the property," McGill wrote. "It remains to be seen whether Boyd will begin to aggressively promote Sam's Town to try to keep its customers."

McGill said the new property should negatively affect Boyd's cash flow, which already is down 8.7 percent at its six locals casinos this year.

Sam's Town accounts for about 23 percent of the company's locals cash flow.

Boyd spokesman Rob Stillwell declined to comment on the Eastside Cannery's opening and its expected impact on his company's properties.

In addition to Sam's Town, the new property joins Arizona Charlie's Boulder and a series of smaller operators along a three-mile stretch of Boulder Highway south of U.S. Highway 95 that was envisioned, at one point, as being a locals Strip.

The Eastside Cannery has 2,187 slot machines and 26 table games on the casino floor.

This is a significant increase from the nearly 485 slots and nine table games that the Nevada Palace, which the Eastside Cannery is replacing, had.

The Eastside Cannery features a 16-story hotel tower with 307 rooms, a 20,000-square-foot ballroom with meeting spaces. The hotel-casino also will have a 450-seat bingo hall, six restaurants, and a pool, spa and sports book.

The new property sits on 27 acres with room for expansion.

The Eastside Cannery is the first major hotel-casino to open on the Boulder Strip, the third largest gaming sector by revenue in Nevada, since Station Casinos opened Boulder Station 14 years ago.

Gaming revenues along the Boulder Strip, which includes Sunset Station in Henderson, decreased 2.44 percent to $903.2 million between July 2007 and June 30.

More recently, revenues dropped 8.24 percent to $214.8 million for the three months ended June 30.

Cannery Casino Resorts was founded by Wortman and casino veteran Bill Paulos. Cannery Casino Resorts also owns the Cannery in North Las Vegas, which opened in 2003, and operates the Rampart Casino at the JW Marriott at Summerlin.

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Asian largest poker tournament to begin today - 29th August 2008

The Asian Poker Tour Macau will begin today with the first card of the main event
following yesterday's welcome reception and satellite tournaments. The event will run from August 27 to 31 and is being held at the StarWorld casino.

The latest development sees a surprise visit by the legendary Jack Binion, host of the first World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe in 1970. Binion and "Godfather of Poker" Doyle Brunson will join tournament director Matt Savage to call "Shuffle Up and Deal" to open the prestigious event.

Yesterday Brunson took part in a book signing, and, after lines and lines of people
queued round the block to meet the legend, he was in no doubt about the significance of his visit. Brunson said, "I have been to so many tournaments and so many places in the world but I have to say I am so impressed with The Asian Poker Tour and Macau. This is the first time I have been here." "I thought Las Vegas was the gambling capital of the world but I was wrong, it feels like coming home."

Member of the "November Nine" on the final table of last year's world series,
Michael "Chino" Rheem, is playing the APT Macau and joins a formidable line-up of
champions and legends.

Chinese-born 10 time world champion bracelet winner and Rounders' film legend Johnny Chan will be in a field that also includes Todd Brunson, Liz Lieu, J.C Tran, Kenny Tran, John Juanda, Nam Le, Quinn Do, Steve Sung, Huck Seed, Mel Judah, Mansour Matloubi and APT Philippines champion David Saab.

All have their eyes on glory and history at Asia's richest tournament. The buy-in for the main event is USD 5300. The event organizers had also extended an open invitation to Olympic megastar and poker nut Michael Phelps. Experts believe that the Vietnamese contingent will be strong and are the ones to watch out for with JC Tran, Kenny Tran, Le, Do and Lieu leading the charge.

The APT Macau is making history by offering USD 1.5 million; the largest guaranteed
prize pool ever to be offered in Asia, with the first prize also guaranteed at USD
500,000. Many of the big names are also expected to take part in an exciting USD 128,079 high stakes cash game on Friday at the StarWorld.

Chris Parker, CEO of the Asian Poker Tour said, "We're delighted that so many world
class names want to be part of the Asian Poker Tour. To have Vegas legends Jack Binion and Doyle Brunson in Macau to kick-off off the tournament is truly significant. Both are pioneers and were around at the start in Vegas and it really says something that they want to mark what we think will herald the start of a poker explosion in Macau."

"With the presence of online qualifiers from around the world too, the Asian Poker Tour has a very bright future. We're proud to make history by holding Asia's biggest guaranteed tournament."

Joining the stars are players from all over the world who have won seats to the event by qualifying through online satellites at PartyPoker.com, DafaPoker, PKR, Titan Poker, Bodog, JBet Poker, Virgin Poker, and Poker Trillion David Saab of Australia won the top prize of USD 280,000 at the first leg of the Asian Poker Tour in Manila on June 1.

He recently finished 46th in the World Series main event, winning USD 135,100, and hopes to add a second APT championship to his poker accomplishments. The APT has also created a special leader board that rewards players who take part in every leg of the tour.

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