Realtime Gaming seems to be furiously taking up the slack in the American online gambling market. Throughout the year new online casinos powered by Realtime Gaming have regularly come up. The latest to hit the Internet is Pure Vegas online casino. That Pure Vegas is targeting the American player is evident from its byline “The American Online Casino”.

Pure Vegas online casino is owned and operated by Morenet Limited of British Virgin Islands. It is licensed in the online gambling jurisdiction of Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles. The Random Number Generator that is the heart of the gaming software has been statistically tested by the international independent agency Technical Systems Testing and has been found fair and unbiased. The sensitive personal and financial information is maintained in a secure environment using the high-end RSA public/private key encryption mechanisms. Responsible Gambling concerns have been addressed through a self check questionnaire and links to organizations providing assistance to problem gamblers. Therefore Pure Vegas online casino provides a perfect environment for online gaming in all respects.

The highlight of Pure Vegas online casino is the $2400 welcome bonus that is spread over the first three deposits. Each deposit offers a 100% match bonus subject to a maximum of $800. A minimum deposit of $25 is required to avail of this bonus. Another reason why this bonus is bound to be popular is that the wagering requirements are only 15 times the deposit and bonus. New players who willing to meet the entire wagering requirements on either blackjack or slots can choose from two other exciting options. The Blackjack Special bonus is a 100% match bonus on the first two deposits. Each bonus is limited to $1000, making a total of $2000. The Slots Special bonus is a 200% match bonus on the first two deposits. Each bonus is limited to $1200, making a total of $2400. A number of reload bonuses are also on offer.

The software is available in both the download and the instant play version. The download version offers the complete range of Realtime Gaming online casino games. The table games include blackjack, baccarat, craps and roulette. A number of video poker variants are available. However the best at Pure Vegas online casino is reserved for slots. The graphics and feature rich slots from the Real Series are popular at all Realtime Gaming online casinos. Their special feature is the random jackpot that can be hit on any spin without having any stated alignment of symbols on the reels. Some high payout progressive jackpots like Aztec’s Millions can be played at Pure Vegas online casino.

Pure Vegas online casino offers all the administrative facilities required for great Internet gambling such as banking interface and customer support. It is bound to be a big hit with American online players.

This weekend Blackjack Ballroom online casino invites its members to enjoy The High Life and earn rewards as well. This promotion will run on November 7 and November 8. From the players who wager on The High Life slot game on these two days, 10 lucky names will be drawn on each day and the players will receive $100 in the casino accounts. Players will need to make a deposit of $20 in order to qualify. The High Life slot game has symbols like Sports Car, Mansion, Champagne, Cigar, Diamonds and a Luxury Yacht. It was the first slot game to have a free spins bonus round and so is a part of history as well.

The next promotion at Blackjack Ballroom online casino runs for a slightly longer duration. It starts on November 7 and ends on November 12. The online slot game chosen for this promotion is Fat Lady Sings. On each day of the promotion the top 5 wagerers of that day on Fat Lady Sings will receive $100 in their casino account. In order to qualify for this promotion players have to make a deposit of at least $20 in their casino accounts during the promotion period. Fat Lady Sings is an audio visual delight and must be played with the sound options enabled. The Mask scatter symbols trigger a fantastic bonus round. First the three fat ladies sing so as to decide the parameters of the free spins. Then the player can take the given number of free spins at the given multiplier along with the given bonus credits.

November is the month of Halloween and the final promotion at Blackjack Ballroom online casino will run all month long. It has begun on November 1 and will run till November 30. A Halloween themed online slot game has been chosen for the promotion. This is Boogie Monsters. This is another slot game with great audio visuals. The background music is very retro and the monsters exhibit some amazing animations. There are two scatter symbols that trigger two separate bonus rounds. Blackjack Ballroom online casino is offering treats all month long through this promotion. Players who wager on the Boogie Monsters slot game during the promotion period will receive double loyalty points. In order to be eligible for the treats players have to deposit at least $100 during the promotion period.

Blackjack Ballroom is a leading brand of the Casino Rewards group of online casinos. It is powered by Microgaming and offers over 400 excellent casino games. It is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and carries eCOGRA’s “Safe & Fair” seal.

FirePay is a popular e-wallet at online casinos. It is owned by the Optimal Group Inc. of Canada. FirePay has reportedly paid out $19.2 million to the New York District Attorney (NYDA) as a settlement of charges against it according to the Reuters news agency. This highlights that despite all the moves and noises being made against the UIGEA, the legal machinery in the United States is firm on proceeding against online gambling.

The scenario with FirePay is very similar to that of Neteller or Party Gaming. After the UIGEA was enacted in October 2006 FirePay withdrew from the United States online gambling market. However, in 2007 the state of New York began to pursue the earlier transactions of FirePay, even before the UIGEA went into law. The NYDA totaled the wagers placed by citizens of New York State between 2004 and 2006 and came up with $19.2 million, which FirePay paid in order to arrive at a settlement. This was the amount already seized by the NYDA, which FirePay agreed to forfeit. A statement from Optimal read that the amount was “disgorgement of property involved in and proceeds received from the payment processing services that were provided by the company’s subsidiaries to Internet gambling merchants in relation to U.S. customers of such merchants.” The figures for financial transactions across the United States were even greater. A statement by the NYDA said, “Optimal, operating an electronic wallet called FirePay, processed more than $2 billion worth of illegal gambling transactions for United States customers.”

The advantage to FirePay is that the settlement clears it of any criminal wrongdoing. The bad news for the online gambling industry is that as a part of the settlement FirePay has had to attest that the online gambling operators using its services knew that they were engaging in illegal activities. Therefore it is expected that a fresh round of prosecutions will be mounted by the NYDA and more funds will be seized. This has resulted in many online casinos, online poker rooms and online sports books not accepting players from New York as customers. However this would only prevent future liabilities from accruing. The NYDA is targeting transactions carried out in and before 2006 and nothing can be done about that.

The states of Kentucky and Louisiana have also been pursuing financial transactions processing the payments of online casino operators. With the settlement with FirePay New York State has surged ahead in the race for procuring the most revenue from online gambling operators functioning in the United States market. Unless the proposed anti-UIGEA bills get converted to laws really soon there is little respite likely from the ongoing prosecutions.

Lucky Nugget online casino has introduced a new online slots tournament for November 2009. It is called the Win & Spin Slots Tournament because the winners of the tournament get to spin the Winner’s Wheel for huge prizes. The Win & Spin Slots Tournament is a weekly event. The first week’s event is drawing to a close but there are three to follow. The second event begins on November 12.

Each weekly tournament proceeds as follows. The entry is free but players have to hold real money accounts at Lucky Nugget online casino. From Thursdays to Sundays players can log in to their accounts and select the Win & Spin Slots Tournament from the Tournaments Tab and start playing. Players are initially given five minutes for increasing their chip balance without any entry fee but can buy additional five minutes for $3. Only a limited number of add-ons are allowed. Players can participate only once every day. The top five players on each of the four days will move to the second stage. On Mondays Lucky Nugget online casino will intimate the winners by e-mail. These winners will get to spin the Winner’s Wheel on Mondays and Tuesdays. The prizes include loyalty points, casino credits, electronics and gift cards to the value of $5,000 per week. Lucky Nugget online casino will be shelling out $20,000 in tournament winnings over the entire month.

The tournament dates for the second week are from November 12 to November 15. The winners will spin the Winner’s Wheel on November 16 and 17. The tournament dates for the third week are from November 19 to November 22. The winners will spin the Winner’s Wheel on November 23 and 24. The tournament dates for the fourth week are from November 26 to November 29. The winners will spin the Winner’s Wheel on November 30 and December 1.

The Match Your Numbers promotion is also running at Lucky Nugget online casino. The player’s account number is his lottery ticket number. Seven numbers are drawn by the casino from Mondays to Thursdays and the bonus number is drawn on Fridays. The numbers drawn Monday to Thursday can randomly appear on the lottery ticket. However, the bonus number should be the last number on the ticket. For getting 7 numbers and the bonus number the player wins the prize pot that starts with $1,000. For getting any 7 numbers the player wins 10,000 loyalty points, for getting any 6 numbers the player wins free spins worth 50, for getting any 5 numbers the player wins 25 casino credits and for getting any 4 numbers the player wins 5 casino credits.

Lucky Nugget online casino is a leading brand of the Belle Rock group. It is powered by Microgaming and licensed by the Government of Gibraltar.

William Hill plc with online casino games stayed true to its recent trading update in releasing its third quarter numbers this week, recording a 3 percent drop in revenues in a tough quarter.

However, the year-to-date numbers are up 3 percent, and analysts expect the company to meet market expectations on its full year results.

The news gave the share price a fillip, peaking at 9 percent at one point.

In common with other bookies, William Hill has had an uncomfortable quarter thanks to gambler-friendly football results, but the company reports that retail betting volumes have been good since the football season started in mid-August, with many winners re-betting their credit balances. The group’s online gambling interests in William Hill Online, especially on sportsbetting, have also been strong performers.

William Hill spokesmen said football margins had returned to being in line with usual trends in the latter part of September and October. Horseracing results were unfavourable in July and August but some recovery was seen in September.

Over-the-counter gross win was down 21 percent in the third quarter, however over-the counter turnover improved, being down only 4 percent, compared with an 11 percent fall in the first six months.

Revenue from gaming machines rose by 4 percent.

The company reiterates that it has embarked on a programme of cost-cutting initiatives, including moving its online sports betting and gaming operations from Britain to Gibraltar, which it expects will save around GBP 4 million in 2009 and GBP 10 million in 2010.

Net revenue from William Hill Online rose an impressive 56 percent in Q3, and by 2 percent on a pro-forma basis. Sportsbook net revenue fell 36 percent compared with Q3: 2008 despite overall turnover from the sportsbook in the third quarter increasing 40 percent. The company posted a net revenue margin of 3.2 percent, over 50 percent lower that last year’s 7 percent.

WHO’s relationahip with Playtech plc again showed promise, with net revenues from online casino, poker, bingo and skill games soaring by 98 percent from Q3: 2008, in line with management expectations. William Hill chief exec Ralph Topping said that the switch to the Playtech platform was almost complete, paving the way for better results.

“William Hill Online is continuing to make good progress with especially strong growth in sportsbook volumes,” he added. “With the launch of our new Playtech casino before the end of October, integration of our acquisition will be complete.”

It’s cutting things rather fine online casinos, but hopes remain that Congressman Barney Frank’s bid to regulate online gambling in the United States – Bill HR 2267 – will be heard before the current session of Congress closes.

This week the sixty-first sponsor of the bill, US Representative from the 1st Congressional District of Connecticut, John B. Larson, signed up as a supporter of the bill.

Larson’s support follows the latest behind-the-scenes moves which saw 20 politicians on Capitol Hill writing to the Federal Reserve governor and the US Treasury urging them to delay the final implementation of the Unlawful internet gambling Enforcement Act regulations on December 1st until there has been an opportunity to debate and resolve problems already being experienced by financial institutions charged with enforcing the Act.

The ban on casino gambling in the Ukraine, which has followed similarly draconian moves by the Russian government, has seriously damaged the industry in that country, but internet gambling operators are finding Internet-based workarounds in order to survive.

The idea is not new; following the implementation of the Russian ban in July this year, gambling operators in that country found new ways to continue offering what are reported to be popular online gambling facilities.

The Kyiv Post reported this week that operators are increasingly turning to the Internet, using servers outside the Ukraine, to continue offering their services to Ukrainians.

However, there are fears that thwarting the government ban may result in further legislation being passed which might emulate moves elsewhere in the world to either attack the financial structures underpinning Internet transactions, or even impose ISP blocks.

Either way, it appears that further legislative fireworks are likely in Eastern Europe, where some nations have embraced Internet gambling but others take a contrary view.

Andreas Oscarsson, the hugely successful 36-year-old who reportedly made a fortune from affiliate marketing and the information casino gambling site in the online poker sector, was possibly murdered by a professional hitman, his father disclosed in a Swedish television interview recently.

Appearing in an interview in order to encourage persons with knowledge of the murder two months ago to come forward, Oscarsson’s father said that he had been told by police that six shots were fired from a silenced gun to kill his son. He has no idea who may have been behind the murder, which took online casinos place at the family home at Skoftebyns in Trollhättan, Sweden on August 3rd.

Police are still investigating the murder.

As reported by Bloomberg: “Philippine billionaire Andrew Tan and Star Cruises Ltd. today opened their $700 million online gambling Resorts World Manila, which will double the tables in the city and may boost its internet casino revenue more than 120 percent.

“‘Our expectation is this will contribute to earnings within the first year of casino bonuses operations,’ said Kingson Sian, president of Alliance Global Group Inc., the holding company of Tan, the Philippines’ fourth-richest person. The venture will tap Star Cruises’ network of more than 2.5 million customers and will bus in people from outside Manila, he said.

“The casino’s opening in a former air force base is another step in the Philippines’ effort to tap Asia’s gambling boom as it could gain revenue from the region’s high rollers, Macquarie Group Ltd. analysts said. While growth has slowed in Macau, the world’s largest gambling hub.

“…The venture, Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., opened the first floor of a three-level casino at a complex that will include hotels and a shopping mall. Resorts World Manila may earn 21 billion pesos ($430 million) in gambling revenue next year, compared with the city’s 17 billion pesos in 2008, according to Macquarie.

“…Resorts World Manila, located in front of the capital’s new airport terminal, will draw 11.1 million visitors and raise $315 million in gambling taxes over three years, Sian said…”

When the Eastside Cannery opened a year ago today, the cracks in the economy were beginning to show casino games.

But even during the recession in internet gambling, the $250 million hotel-casino on Boulder Highway has been able to attract a loyal customer base, principal owner online casinos Bill Paulos said.

“As we mature as a property, we will certainly grow that niche,” Paulos said. “We are going to continue to flesh out what our customer wants. In times like these, we need to listen to our customers more instead of less.”

The property will have a low-key celebration for the anniversary with free cake and champagne from noon until 6 p.m. today, and from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The property will also have free slot tournaments and free shirts tonight.

The “newness” of the Eastside Cannery has lingered for customers because it is the first new hotel and casino along that stretch of Boulder Highway since Boulder Station opened in 1994. The area includes Sam’s Town and Arizona Charlie’s Boulder.

One of the biggest challenges has been to “cut through” all the promotions offered by both locals competitors and Strip operators trying to lure area residents, owners said.

The current economic atmosphere has led to a consumer’s market in the casino industry, with companies offering room, food and show specials and large discounts.

“There’s no question, it’s tough out there,” Paulos said. “Everybody’s in the same boat. Everybody’s now throwing stuff against the wall hoping something will stick. The consumer now, it’s their market. They can put a calendar on the wall and mark down every special there is at each casino and go to each one.”

The Eastside Cannery is on the Boulder Strip, the third- largest gaming sector by revenue in Nevada.

Gaming revenue in that area was down 2.84 percent for the second quarter ended June 30, and down nearly 10 percent the previous 12 months ended June 30, a report from the Gaming Control Board shows.

The occupancy rates for the 307-room hotel have been “wonderful,” Paulos said, but he added that the average daily room rate has suffered due to pressure from area properties and along the Strip.

“Our (room rates) absolutely have suffered a bit,” Paulos said. “But not nearly as much as I would have thought. We really feel really good about where we are.”

The company is privately owned by a joint venture between Paulos, co-founder William Wortman and Oaktree Capital Management.

The company continues to work on growth plans for the Eastside Cannery, and is finishing plans for a parking garage on the 27-acre site.

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

The future looks good for the Eastside Cannery’s owners, Cannery Casino Resort, Paulos said.

The company recently reduced its debt to $575 million from $860 million using proceeds from a sale of 24.5 percent of the company to Crown Ltd. Crown also paid $50 million to suspend a buyout of Cannery.

Wortman has been out of town this week exploring opportunities for the company to grow, Paulos said.

“That is because of the financial situation we’re in, Bill and I are able to devote most of our time to going out and expanding the brand,” Paulos said.