Showing results for: ""
A new study by Swinburne University journalism students has found that gambling taxes are set to bring the Victorian state government more than $74 million in extra revenue in 2010/11. The students, who conducted the study in a joint project with online political magazine Crikey, made the findings after scrutinizing more than 200 annual reports of state government departments and statutory authorities. Hefty Tax Revenue The projected figure of $74 million is up 4.5% on the figures from 2008/09. The figure was published in a state government report in which it was also said that gambling taxes accounted for around 10% of Victoria's tax revenue. The report labeled the surprisingly high figure as "partly problematic," noting that a high proportion of it was made from gambling addicts. The report went on to say that because the government was profiting from gambling taxes, it took away incentives to introduce ways to reduce the rate of problem gambling. Gambling Tradition Victoria has traditionally relied heavily on gambling taxes, even when compared to other states. In 2005/06, gambling taxes accounted for 13.4% of total tax revenue in Victoria, which was equal with the figure in South Australia and more than the figure in the other four states. In the same period, state and territory government collected around $4.7 billion in gambling taxes.
Loto Quebec, the official lottery agency of Canada's second most populous province, is set to launch a new online casino on December 1, just in time for the busy holiday season. The new casino espacejeux, which follows in the footsteps of the online casino established recently by the British Columbia Lottery Corp., aims to provide Quebec residents with a responsible alternative to the more than 2,000 plus gambling sites they already have to choose from on the web. The casino will initially offer slots, blackjack, roulette and other casino games. Online Gambling in Canada Online gambling is a $1 billion-per-year industry in Canada, so the new casino will no doubt also raise much needed revenue for the provincial government. The goal, according to Loto-Quebec CEO Alain Cousineau, is to raise more than $50 million in revenues each year. In July, British Columbia became the first Canadian province to run an online casino when its lottery agency launched the expanded version of its playnow site, which at the time had 140,000 registered members. Ontario and Prince Edward Island have also announced their intentions to follow the British Columbian example, although some provinces remain against the idea, most notably Manitoba and Nova Scotia.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. is planning to follow the lead of its Quebec and British Columbia counterparts and launch its own website in the near future. Despite the criticism faced by Loto-Quebec over its recent venture, Ontario's provincial gaming monopoly looks increasingly likely to make a similar move that would see it capture a share of the estimated $400 million Ontarians spend each year on offshore Internet gaming sites. Protecting Players The news comes as OLG last week confirmed its commitment to responsible gambling by announcing that it will install facial recognition systems at all 27 of its land-based establishment in 2011, according to local news reports. This increased commitment to tackling problem gambling hasn't stopped criticism from growing in neighboring Quebec, where anti-gambling advocates are calling for a boycott of the province's new online casino. Keep It Legal A spokeswoman for Loto-Quebec slammed the critics, saying the boycott campaign would merely drive gamblers back to illegal sites that do nothing to encourage responsible gambling. The new website, espacejeux, was launched on December 1 with the aim of providing a responsible alternative to the more than 2,000 plus gambling sites Quebec residents can choose from on the web. Espacejeux.com is currently offering slots, blackjack, roulette and other casino games to residents of the province only.
If this past year is anything to go by, EUcasino will continue to expand on its quick success, which has been built on a foundation of offering customers exactly what they want rather than just offering them everything. VIP Program This policy has been highlighted by the recent launch of a new VIP program, which guarantees loyal customers of the online casino instant cash back on every bet placed as well as bonuses amounting to a maximum of $500 each month. Available to all EUcasino members, there are five different levels to the lounge, all of which can be attained by displaying customer loyalty and each of which varies in terms of how many points one can earn. Exclusive Features The small but strong games selection is another aspect of the policy that customers have warmed to. Powered by SkillOnNet, a leading online gaming software company, EUcasino offers many exclusive casino games that cannot be found at any other online casino. With a focus on customer service, it goes without saying that this is one online casino with a commitment to responsible gambling. EUcasino has been certified by iTech Labs as complying with the best practice standards in its Random Number Generator. Of course support staff are on hold 24 hours a day, seven a week, and customers can use all the usual payment options, including credit cards and several e-wallets.
In the world of online gaming kings, bet365 Casino pulls ahead of the pack. This premier casino offers technologically advanced software with some of the hottest gaming features. These include customized language options for Canada's multicultural players. Additionally there are multi-currency options in both US$ or CAD$. In fact the range of deposit options spans the entire currency exchange. In terms of payment processing methods, the playing fields are wide open. Online deposits can be made via the following payment methods: Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Neteller, MoneyBookers, PayPal, Click2Pay, Ukash and Money Transfer. And with such diversity in the payments processing realm, players will find the experience at bet365 perfectly tailored to their individual needs. All transactions are 100% safe & secure guaranteed as bet365 Casino makes use of the highest encryption protocols in the industry. Top Gaming Options Online casino players at bet365 can use their one-wallet account to access multiple gaming platforms. These include bingo, financials, in-play, poker and sports gaming options. And with the crème de la crème of gaming offerings such as Rocky, Blackjack, Santa Surprise, European Roulette, X-Men, Desert Treasure, Frankie Dettori's Magic 7 and more - it's a welcome toast to 2011. The range of instant-play games includes live-dealer, video poker, slots, games & keno, card games and table games. The top progressive games are Gold Rally and Beach Life - each offering hundreds of thousands of CAD$ in cash prizes. An enticing promotional offer is the $6k Bonus Bundle where players can claim up to four 20% deposit bonuses weekly (4 x $400 per week).
All Slots online casino has shown why it is one of the most dynamic gaming portals on the web, launching another four new games in February. Rhyming Reels: Queen of Hearts is a slot for the young at heart, based on a nursery thyme theme. Throw in 2,400,000 coins maximum winning and you have yourself a winner. The Queen of Hearts logo is Wild and doubles all wins when it appear on the slot machine's 5 reels. Other winning symbols include the knave, serving maids, jam tarts and oven gloves. Sneak-a-Peek: Planet Exotica is a cheeky 5-reel, 15-payline online slot game with a strip club theme. Yes, strippers and sexy music. Complete with all the usual free spins, bonus games and online jackpots, symbols include five exotic space babes as well as the bouncer, bartender, valet parking, cash and cocktail. Ruby of the Nile is an Egyptian-themed 5-reel, 20-payline slot with big payout potential. (All Slots hit the Egypt-nail on the head with this timely release.) There are two wild icons, four scatters and up to 20 Free Spins opportunities in this game. Multi-Wheel Roulette is the last game to be released: a roulette game that allows players to bet on up to eight wheels simultaneously. The graphics, and the mere concept of this game are revolutionary and cannot be exaggerated. Part of the Microgaming Gold Series of games that also includes many poker and blackjack variations, this game comes with realistic graphics and improved sound effects.
Iron Man 2 is another release in the Marvels Comics series from online gaming software developer Playtech, following on from the success of its predecessor with more explosions, powerful sound effects and mind-blowing animation. A 5-reel, 25-payline video slot, this game has a deposit range of $0.01 to $5, with the potential to win up to $500k via four levels of randomly-activated jackpots- Power, Extra Power, Super Power and Ultimate Power. Six different Iron Man symbols feature in this slot game, along with three characters from the movie - Natalie Rushman, Ivan Vanko and Tony Stark. The American Eagle logo acts as Wild and offers the opportunity for the maximum payout. The Free Spins round is activated when two or more Iron Man 2 logos appear anywhere on the reels, with players allowed up to 10 free spins in this round. Iron Man 2 includes several unique features, including the fixed payline that guarantees all 25 paylines are constantly active. Stacked symbols appear even more frequently than in the original Iron Man slot, while the Iron Man reactor - an extra wild on the third - appears in all bonus games. Play Iron Man 2 today at bet365 Casino and other Playtech casinos.
Across Canada, bet365 Casino is revered for its gaming prowess. And with the inclusion of King Kong video slot into the mix, players are having a field day. Such is the nature of gaming at this popular online casino that dollars aplenty are piling up. Kong has affectionately been dubbed the 8th Wonder of the World and for players from North America this means that there's plenty of cash to be won and an audio-visual masterpiece to be enjoyed. Kong features 5 spinning reels and 20 paylines of ape-sized gaming madness. It's not a progressive jackpot game, but players can enjoy up to 3,000 coins in payouts. There are wild & scatter symbols, bonuses and re-spins available in this game - it's the crème de la crème of featured attractions and it's available this week! Topnotch Games to Enjoy Whatever your fancy, you'll find it at bet365 Casino. That's because this online gaming operator is powered by Playtech - a world-class gaming powerhouse. Among others, Canadians will enjoy Keno, live-dealer games, video poker, craps, slots, blackjack and other games. As part of the Playtech network, progressive jackpot games at bet365 Casino provide millions of CAD$ in jackpot winnings. Players can enjoy multiplayer games & huge jackpots at every turn. Here are some of the most popular gaming titles: Blade - This Marvel Superhero is the ideal hybrid, both daywalker and nightwalker Gladiator - The iconic hero of Rome returns in a blazing game of guts and glory X-Men - The superheroes are back, Storm, Professor, Wolverine and company Iron Man - Tony Stark brings Iron Man to life with mega cash prizes to boot Jungle Boogie - Fancy a walk on the wild side with baskets of cash? Funky Monkey - Everyone loves this cute monkey-faced little critter and his cash Beach Life - Progressive jackpots don't get much better than this summer wonder Haunted House - Prepare to be scared but take comfort in the cash on offer Ultimate Fighters - High-flying kicks and punches with jackpots aplenty Canadian Players Sign Up Incentives Canadia
Canada is fast assuming the proportions of a major gaming destination for players the world over. And with so many top-class casinos and slots venues adorning the landscape, players are able to partake in big-jackpot gaming with lots of variety. Responsible Gaming Practices The consumer watchdog protection mechanism - the Responsible Gambling Council - has instituted a series of checks and balances to ensure that Canadian gambling operators are meeting the stringent standards it has set out. The Toronto-based organization is headed by Jon Kelly. This non-profit company has been maintaining world-class standards for Canada's casinos for almost 30 years. All casinos and slots venues across Canada wishing to apply for accreditation will first have to be reviewed and approved by the RGC. This process takes anywhere from 4 - 6 months to complete. Requirements for Gambling Operators in Canada Accreditation requires a score of 70% minimum Canadian Gambling Laws must approve the RGCs work Accreditation is only valid for 3 years Losing Points is Easy Casinos and gambling dens with free alcohol and 24/7 ATMs will lose points as these are irresponsible gaming operators. It's also vital that responsible gaming messages are placed on machines. Quality Gaming Online Top drawer gaming operators across Canada include the likes of Maple Casino, Europa Casino and EUcasino. On the poker front, Canadians love Titan Poker and CoolHand Poker.
With all four series in the conference semi-finals round already underway, the Vancouver Canucks lead the seven other remaining teams in the betting odds for the NHL Stanley Cup winner. NHL Playoffs Betting Preview The Canucks, who claimed the Presidents' Trophy after finishing the regular season with the best record in the NHL, are a firm 1/2 favorite at 888Sport online sportsbook to defeat the Nashville Predators, 8/5, in their best-of-seven series and advance to the Western Conference finals. The winner of that series will face the winner of contest between the San Jose Sharks, 1/4 to advance, and the Detroit Red Wings, 3/1. In the east, number one seed the Washington Capitals has started their semi-final series disastrously, trailing the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 in their best-of-seven playoff. As a result, the Capitals were out to 5/2 underdog status leading into Tuesday night's all-important third game, while Tampa Bay has firmed to 3/10. In the other Eastern Conference matchup, the Boston Bruins, 2/13, look certain to breeze by the Philadelphia Flyers, 21/5, after starting that series with two straight wins. Stanley Cup Betting Odds Vancouver looks like the team to beat, and online sportsbook William Hill currently has the Stanley Cup odds looking like this: Vancouver, 11/4 San Jose, 3/1 Boston, 7/2 Tampa Bay, 5/1 Washington, 10/1 Detroit, 10/1 Nashville, 12/1 Philadelphia, 28/1
Blackjack
Roulette
Slots
Video Poker
Baccarat
Poker
