Crown Casino Europe, a brand new online casino powered by Playtech casino software, is successfully launched earlier this month and is well received around the world by the Internet gambling industry.

Created by the same company that has made Europe Casino, the new Crown Casino Europa already demonstrated a great success. Many online players have moved to Crown Casino so they can play at their online casino of their choice. Crown Casino offers over 140 casino online games including blackjack, baccarat, video poker, roulette and slot-machines. Crown online casino offers licensed Playtech products, including the Hulk and Iron Man. But also new casino games such as the very popular Gladiator slotmachine. Besides the known range of online casino games, Crown offers a range of unique online casino games like various variations of blackjack and virtual horse racing. The site has also added some live croupiers making it so you can play your favourite casino games live, so you will be even closer to the real experience.

Online casino software developer, Microgaming has announced that they have concluded an agreement with land-based casino and sports betting operator international BalkanBet limited, under conditions of the contract, Microgaming will add the online sports betting site BalkanBet.com to their portfolio.

The online casino site is one of the latest in a long list of customers who use Microgaming software. Because the Microgaming network is so large and has many famous poker sites under her name like SpinPalacePoker.com, Roxy Poker and Unibet, BalkanBet certainly is in safe hands. A statement from the Microgaming Poker Network said: “The move would serve to expand its online casino offering and capitalise further on the significant growth potential of the Balkan gaming market.” Martin Simeonov, CEO of BalkanBet said: “The development of our online offering is a key part of our growth strategy. With Microgaming on board, we are able to deliver a market-leading casino online product to our sportsbook players. This partnership will enable us to cement our position as a key player in the Balkan online gaming market.” The announcement is just one of many in a month that had many exciting developments for Microgaming, including some innovative changes in their poker offerings and new measures to avoid data mining on the sites.

French casino gambling companies have joined forces to sue 14 online casino operators for violating the French gambling law by accepting bets from the French people. The three companies, Barriere, Joagroupe and Tranchant ask the Criminal Court in Paris to block licensing for online casino operators for a period of 2 years.

Certain statements in online casino gambling cases by the European Court of Justice indicated that member states of the EU may block Internet gambling operators under special circumstances. The French casino owners want oversees online casino companies to be punished, when they wish to obtain a license when the French gambling market is liberalized, for operating an online casino while the market was still closed. Among the operators in violation, are very well known internet casino groups such as Sportingbet, Bwin and Unibet. The online casinos are expected to argue the indictment against them by saying that the French government had no jurisdiction over the freedom of services, as guaranteed by the EU trade treaty. The French casinos will say that the internet gambling companies disrupted a routine and legitimate system for the liberalization of the gambling market, because they have refused to wait patiently or properly requested a license.

The indictment comes not even 2 weeks after we were able to report that Yves Bot, Advocate-General of the European Court of Justice, stated an opinion against the German online casino ban and said that EU countries must comply with EU legislation.

The biggest online casino software developer in the world, Microgaming has announced that later this year they will release a sequel to the ultra successful online slot machine Thunderstruck. Thunderstruck is an iconic game in the Microgaming casinos and is one of the slotmachines used in the free Microgaming tournaments.

Microgaming is a favourite among online casino players, and the development team has worked non-stop on a Thunderstruck sequel to create an experience that tops the previous Thunderstruck. Some decisions are taken to be faithful to the essence and personality of the game. The experience of the players is raised to a new level with the beautiful hand-painted icons, a wonderful soundtrack and a series of casino bonus games which attracts a broad audience of internet casino players. In addition, the game is playable in high resolution of 1024 x 768, which optimizes the experience. The latest upgrade allows players to play several casino games simultaneously in different tabs. This makes the experience more personal for the player, because he no longer needs to switch games but his establish priorities themselves.

Raatgever Roger, Director of Microgaming said: “We are truly excited about the release of the sequel to the hugely popular Thunderstruck Video Slot machine. The quality of graphics and special features are already looking out of this world! We are extremely proud of the brands that we have developed ourselves; Thunderstruck is a prime example of this. The game will contain unrivalled graphics, innovative game play and the best possible user experience, with an optimal screen resolution of 1024 x 768. We expect to see the same level of success from the sequel as we did from the original.”

Microgaming’s Thunderstruck 2 is expected to be released by the end of the year. The game is received enthusiastically by the internet gaming industry.

Lottery players had the day of their lives last Sunday as the two national games, Powerball and Mega Millions started selling their lottery tickets in the same states. The action will likely increase revenues for money eager states and increase the size of the jackpot.

Critics say its a new attempt by the government to push an addictive product to people who can afford it, especially problem gamblers. Before the agreement by lottery owners in Oktober of 2009, Mega Millions and Powerball were sold separately in states. A lottery player could either buy a Mega Millions ticket in his/ her state or a Powerball ticket but never both, this caused many lottery players to take the gamble outside their own state and buy their lottery ticket across state lines.

Jodie Winnett, director of the Illinois Lottery said: “It’s going to be great for players who are looking for a dollar and a dream.” Of the 33 jurisdictions where Powerball is played, 32 now sell Mega Millions tickets and in 10 of the 12 states where Mega Millions has been played are now selling Powerball tickets also. By the end of the year, all 45 states that have lotteries in the US will have both Mega Millions and Powerball lotteries. Lottery directors are hoping the mix state lottery will create the first ever national lottery.

The head of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), Nan Yong is discharged from his job. Allegations of matchfixing sparked an investigation into the troubled sport of China, after being questioned by police Nan Yong, was taken away.

Wei Di, the former director of water sports will replace Nan Yong as director of the CFA. Vice minister van sport, Cui Dalin said in an interview at a press conference: “We firmly support the police’s crackdown on the criminal activities of illegally manipulating games and soccer gambling. Anyone involved in soccer that commits these crimes will be seriously punished.” Vice president Yang Yimin, who has also lost his job was taken into custody together with Nan Yong and also Zhang Jianqiang, the CFA’s head of women’s soccer. The suspects were asked to clear up a few facts in some high-profile cases of soccer betting and manipulating the outcome of domestic soccer league games by bribing game officials. Nan Yong was best known for organising the women’s World Cup finals in China in 2007. Last year he also replaced the ridiculed Xie Yalong last year. Over 20 officials, players and club managers have been arrested in the past two months on suspicion of match-fixing or illegal gambling. The investigation into the scandal led to more than 200 games in more then 20 country’s being investigated and already more than 25 people are arrested for suspect illegal gambling.

Bob Riley, Governor of Alabama and fanatic opponent of legal gambling, finds himself once again in a bind as the head of his special anti-gambling task force resigned after it became public he won £1400 in a Mississippi casino.

It seems even the closest allies in Governor Riley’s battle against gambling love the game so much they cannot stay out of the casino. David Barber, head of the anti-gambling task force has resigned from his position because the impropriety of his decision. Riley’s campaign became a debate both on morality as well as on legality in the minds of the people, while the governor persisted Alabama wouldn’t tolerate even the simple e-bingo games found in other places. In an written explanation to Riley, Barber wrote: “While my actions were in full compliance with the law, I am convinced that the forces that operate illegal casinos in Alabama will focus on my actions as part of their continuing effort to smear you and your task force.” A lot has been said about governors Rileys ties to Indian casinos in neighbour states, because Riley was mentioned by a former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, saying Riley would never allow gambling in Alabama. One of Riley’s assistants has worked with Abramoff, who is now convicted for his felony, and rumours have it that Riley received huge campaign funds from the casinos. David Barbers resignation came on the same day that the Alabama Supreme Court overturned a judge’s order that banned the task force from raiding electronic bingo operations.

One of the larger sportbooks in the world, bwin has assigned the former member of Boss Media, Peter Bertilsson, as the new Managing Director of poker subsidiary bwin Games AB, as the company looks to reorganise its poker business and create a B2B offering to exist alongside its successful customer business.

Peter Bertilsson was Managing Director of Boss Media from 2001 to 2006, and has more than fifteen years experience in the online gambling industry. Norbert Teufelberger, Co-CEO of bwin said: “We have convinced a true veteran of internet casino gambling B2B business to take the challenge leading this business unit. As the market environment changes in the fast moving online gambling industry, the B2B capabilities will be key for USA and Asia but also for riding the regulation wave in Europe.” Bwin said they will continue to focus on its B2C poker product alongside its core sports betting offering, they added that the appointment of Bertilsson will strengthen its B2B offerings. Teufelberger added: “To carve out a distinct and strategic B2B unit is the order of the day. It is time to evaluate, complete and enhance the product portfolio to prepare for the future.” Bertilsson will follow in Carl Klingberg’s footsteps as Managing Director of Bwin Games. Bertilsson said: “I am very happy to take this opportunity, there have never been greater opportunities within the gambling industry than right now and bwin has a very strong position to make these opportunities happen.” Bwin is following the example of the market leaders, PartyGaming and 888 both enjoy a well established B2B division and lucrative partnerships such as 888’s B2B deal with Harrah’s Interactive and PartyGaming’s recently announced exclusive contract with Denmark’s Danske Spil.

As a result of steady growth at CryptoLogic, an innovative provider of Internet gambling, they had to expand its payment processing capabilities. The expansion is needed to support their card processing requirements in a growing customer base.

To that end, online gambling provider CryptoLogic has closed a three-year deal with payment processor Realex Payments. Realex will provide its services to offer more functionality and additional capacity for CryptoLogic. Under terms of the agreement, Realex will provide payment processing in the Cryptologic network. They will handle a variety of currencies, regions and types of cards, so they act as a gateway service for its partners, most of which are online casinos. The agreement provides CryptoLogic with significant improvements of their technical infrastructure to support future growth plans and requirements on safety and reliability in the betting industry.

Kieron Nolan, Finance Director at casino provider CryptoLogic commented on the agreement and said: “Realex was able to implement the solution quickly and efficiently, meeting our demands in the time-frame required. As well as providing an impressive cost-effective solution, Realex offered a high level of support and consultancy. Compared with other solutions on the market, Realex Payments technology and operational approach is far more advanced, modern and fitting to our needs.”

In the US state of Texas 176 people including 15 children have been arrested for involvement into an illegal cock fighting betting ring or animal cruelty. Cock fighting is a criminal act in 39 states and a misdemeanor in the other 11 states.

The children arrested where between the ages of  7 to 15 and where watching the cockfights with their parents. Even though cockfighting is a criminal act in the US, it is one of the most popular illegal forms of gambling in the country. Supporters of cockfighting say it is a sport based on the natural behaviour of the animal, but opponents like the Humane Society say its is brutal and cruel and has nothing to do with sport. Owners of the birds of the feed their birds steroids or other supplements, to make the animal more aggressive. Sometimes owners will attach razors to the animals feet, to ensure a deadly outcome of the fight. Authorities say that besides 115 roosters, police found illegal drugs at the site. Marijuana, cocaine and other drugs where found on the premises, police also took in evidence on the cockfighting ring. Magazines razors and dead roosters where also found. 2010 Starts with the continuation of the gambling crackdown, although we too think cockfighting is a cruel act.