Changes to Microgaming’s Bad Beat Jackpot Pay Off

Bad beat jackpots are becoming increasingly rare in the online casino world, since interest in progressive poker jackpots seems to be dying out. This month, Microgaming attempted to revive interest in bad beat jackpots by making quite a few changes to its network, and they seem to be paying out.

According to PokerFuse, since the new jackpot program was launched, Microgaming has paid out twice in two days. The new format ensures that more players can cash in on the jackpot prize, which will definitely attract more players to Microgaming’s poker network.

“With the introduction of our new Bad Beat Jackpot, we solve the problem of liquidity segmentation seen in other Bad Beat Jackpots, and make the whole promotion accessible to all MPN players,” says Lydia Melton, Microgaming’s Head of Network Games.

The first progressive prize was awarded to a player named TiltShove. They won $450 000 after losing a bad beat while the rest of the table split the remaining $250 000. Two days later, a player who lost four-of-a-kind 2s to four-of-a-kind 6s won a $360 000 bad beat jackpot prize. The qualifying hand for most bad beat jackpots is usually quad 8s, but Microgaming has made it easier for victims of bad beats to cash in on generous prizes.

PokerStars Launches Facebook App

For years, Facebook has been a popular online gaming platform, and online casino developers are finally working their way into the market. This month, PokerStars announced that it would be launching a new play-money poker application on the social network.

PokerStars’ new Facebook application is an extension of the play money offering on its .net website – except this version is outfitted with a wide range social gaming features. These include experience points, bonus prizes and the opportunity to share progress with friends.

All of your favourite PokerStars features will be available as well. You will be able to access a wide range of games include, ring games, tournaments and even Zoom Poker.

It seems that PokerStars has been developing this social gaming application since last November. While it has taken the company quite some time to debut the app, there is still quite a lot of work to be done. It is still in its Beta stage and can only be accessed on Facebook’s online site; the application is not yet available in the Facebook app store.

Facebook has already entered into the world of real-money bingo, and it seems that the social networking site may be keen to launch real-money poker applications. With PokerStars now launching its first-ever social gaming app, the company is well-positioned for entry into Facebook’s real-money online gambling market.

Another Pro Returns to Full Tilt

It has been more than two months since Full Tilt Poker has made its return to the online gambling world, and poker pros seem to be reluctant to reconcile with the operator. It is only recently that world-renowned players are making their return to Full Tilt while the company slowly rebuilds its relationships.

Towards the end of 2012, Phil Ivey returned to playing at Full Tilt Poker. He distanced himself from the online poker operator after Black Friday, like many others – and his recent return has inspired some poker players to begin playing at Full Tilt Poker once again.

Patrick Antonius followed Ivey’s lead last week, signing up to play with Full Tilt Poker online. Since his return, he has lost $200 000. His result resembles Gus Hansen’s, who returned as Full Tilt’s bran ambassador but is losing more than $500 000. Viktor Blum has won $5 million since the beginning of 2013, but lost nearly half of that in just one week.

Phil Ivey remains the most successful pro on Full Tilt Poker. Since he began playing at Full Tilt Poker, he has raked in over $100 000. However, this is still only a small amount, considering Ivey’s lifetime winnings on Full Tilt Poker have topped $19 million.

2013 will be an exciting year for Full Tilt poker and its pros, and we are eager to see who emerges as this year’s winners and losers.

Full Tilt Poker Lawsuit Expanded

Things have gotten even worse for former Full Tilt Poker owners Raymond Bitar and Howard Lederer. A number of charges were brought up against the two men, after Full Tilt Poker was discovered to be operating in the American gambling market illegally – as well as operating as a Ponzi scheme. Now, new charges have been laid against Bitar and Lederer, as the prosecution argues that they have violated the Travel Act 1961.

The Travel Act prohibits the distribution of funds earned illegally via fraudulent business practices. Lederer and Bitar violated the act by transferring funds from the site’s business account to Lederer’s personal account. These funds were not profits earned from Full Tilt’s operators; rather, they were player deposits.

“The funds were used to purchase/pay for real estate, renovations, new home construction costs, furniture, mortgage payments, property taxes, personal pension plans and 401K’s, and various personal vehicles,” reads the complaint.

Last week, Lederer attempted to use a new ruling that poker is a game of skill to have his charges dropped. Unfortunately, this new revelation will only make matters worse for Lederer and his former business partner, as it seems there will be no way for either party to escape these charges.

HTML 5 Supported on All Slots New App

When it comes to playing at online casinos, most Apple users are out of luck. Many of the top online gambling sites run on Flash software and since Apple devices do not run this software, players are left out in the cold. However, Microgaming is looking to change that, beginning with its newest mobile offering from All Slots online casino. The new mobile casino application supports HTML 5, which means that Apple users can play online casino games while on the go.

With more and more internet users purchasing Apple devices, it is increasingly important for online gaming operators to take advantage of this market. While it may be difficult to appeal to Apple users, Microgaming has done its fair share of hard work in figuring it out. Now, the company can expect a lot more traffic, as its new offering will attract a whole new audience.

Initially, 11 games will be available on the new mobile gambling application. Slots like Tomb Raider and Thunderstruck can be played from iPads and iPhones while table games like blackjack and roulette are also available. As time goes on, Microgaming will release even more gaming options for iPad and iPhone users.

$300K Weekend Celebration at Bet365

Bet365 is known mostly for its sportsbetting and online casino activities; however, the operator also provides a great online bingo website. This weekend, Bet365 is celebrating the start of the London Olympics with a $300K winning weekend party.

Bingo is not the most profitable online casino game, as the buy-ins and payouts are known for being relatively modest. However, Bet365 is giving players from New Zealand and around the world the chance to win huge jackpot prizes from July 27 to July 30.

There are plenty of great prizes up for grabs. A 7-cent ticket could earn you a prize worth $750 while a 75-cent ticket could win you $4500! There is also a generous $7500 bingo game available in the Lynx online bingo room at Bet365.

This is one of the most exciting online bingo events we’ve seen recently. So, if you’re an online bingo fan, now would be the perfect time to sign up to Bet365 Bingo. The site offers a wide range of games including, 75-ball, 90-ball and even 80-ball online bingo.

Grand Reef Offers Happy Hour Promos

Grand Reef is one of the few online gambling websites targeted at New Zealand players. It offers players the unique experience of playing only the best online pokies and casino games, selected with the average Kiwi player in mind. The casino is also known for offering up generous promotions for players across the country.

One of Grand Reef’s most popular promotions is its Happy Hour bonus scheme. During happy hours, the online casino operator offers players generous bonuses. Before each Happy Hour, you will be informed of the prize amount being given away, so you can choose whether or not it is worth it to enter.

To enter into the promotion, simply deposit $25 during the promotional period. You will be informed by the casino when each Happy Hour begins, so you can take fully take advantage. After you have made your deposit, the bonus amount is immediately credited to your account!

It is one of the easiest online casino promotions to take part in! So, keep an eye our for the next Happy Hour at Grand Reef online casino.

Party Casino offers Football Fever Promotion

When it comes to online casinos, Party Casino is one of the most inventive when it comes to thinking up bonuses and promotions. To celebrate this year’s exciting Euro Cup football tournament, the casino operator has launched a Football Fever promotion, which aims to provide players with generous cash prizes for the entire length of the tournament.

Until July 2, players can earn extra comp points by opting in to the promotion. As they climb the promotion’s levels, they earn even more comp points. At the end of the promotional period, players can earn up to $500 based on their comp points. High rollers can earn even more with $2500 being their top prize.

Players also have the chance to search for hidden bonuses while games Euro Cup games are taking place. By playing different games, players can ‘search’ for prizes. Once found, they are automatically credited to your account so you can continue seeking out generous awards.

This promotion is highly recommended by Party Casino players. It does not require players to meet specific criteria or fulfil any additional requirements, so it is perfect opportunity for players to earn bonus cash and promotional prizes.

Bet365 Launches Euro Promotion

When major sporting events take place, online casinos view this as an opportunity to launch great promotions and award players with cash prizes. Being a popular online betting website, Bet365 is well-versed in thinking up creative promotions that target a wide range of players. In honour of the Euro 2012 football tournament, Bet365 has launched a promotion that not only benefits punters but also online casino players.

The Euro 2012 promotion at Bet365 provides players with the chance to earn a 25% match bonus during certain matches. Before, during and after particular matches, players are encouraged to deposit funds in order to obtain a cash bonus worth up to $250. It is a unique way to get players to deposit funds and keep them playing during special events that might otherwise distract them from playing online casino games.

In order to win, keep an eye out on Bet365’s website. When the window opens, players should deposit their desired amount of funds and enter the bonus code BOOST. An additional 25% of their deposit will be added to their account, and it can be used to play Bet365’s online casino games or wager on sports.

Lakshmi’s Gold Pulled From Online Casinos

Almost immediately after releasing Lakshmi’s Gold online slots, PlayTech received word that the Hindu community was very upset with the game. Depicting various Hindu gods, Lakshmi’s Gold was considered to be disrespectful and insulting to Hindus. Now, after just one week of controversy, PlayTech has removed the game from its online casinos.

Rajan Zed, a famous Hindu leader, was the first to speak out against the game. He stated that it was insulting to depict deities in such a way, insulting those who believe in these Gods. Zed led the campaign to have the game removed from online casinos, and has become pleased to discover that PlayTech abided by the community’s wishes.

As of today, Lakshmi’s Gold is no longer available at online casinos powered by PlayTech. However, PlayTech has yet to issue an apology to the community. It seems as though it is unlikely that the company will be doing so; if PlayTech had planned on apologizing, it likely would have done so while recalling the game. Rajan Zed states the recall is a step in the right direction, but is not happy that the company has not apologized.