Certainly, it’s also a big-time event for betting site operators and affiliate partner brands. Without affiliates, many online casinos simply wouldn’t have much to show for. Since the gaming industry is one of the most competitive on the World Wide Web, it takes extensive affiliate relations and partnerships to drive up as much traffic necessary for operators to remain competitive and stay in business.

In Europe especially, where online gambling is increasingly being liberalized, affiliates are in high demand. As such, CAC Amsterdam has consistently churned out the largest attendance of European affiliates. And according to CAC’s organizer, Marc Lesnick, there has been a sudden influx of affiliate registration sign-ups recently. Perhaps the word is getting out that attendance is free for sponsored affiliates – many of whom have all of their expenses paid by eager online casinos seeking to start up a profitable business relationship.

For those affiliates who are indeed paying their way to attend, it is well worth doing so. There are more conferences, networking events, talkbacks and industry panels than one could even possibly find the time to attend. Included on this year’s agenda are the popular Black Hat/White Hat SEO panel, country specific affiliate programs, and the most popular of all – beer panel talkback (free beer for all affiliates). In short, anything that pertains to helping affiliates with advanced level Web traffic needs will be front and center.

The European Union received laws for online casino industry from Belgium, which have been recently reviewed by the EU, and finally found to be much in violation. According to the EU, there are some specific areas in which Belgium violates its laws. Belgium is making attempts to make their online service providers prevent the access into online casino sites, just like France previously did. The European Commission found this to be violating the current trade agreements. They made a statement that Belgium shouldn’t have this law.

Yet the Belgium online casino laws have not been adopted because of the need to get the approval of the EU first. Still, the EU stated from their part that in the case of adopting these laws without EU approval, they will be forced to take action against this country and fine them. This procedure has already been applied with France and the US.

The European Union gave time to the US to fix the online gambling laws in such a way that they would be in the full accordance with the trade agreements, but the US ignored it. The US government didn’t want to do anything because of the economic recession, which is felt to be more crucial and painful problem than an improper trade law which regards online gambling industry. Still, if the US doesn’t comply in the nearest future they’ll be fined for the unfair legislation. Barney Frank is the one who tries to bring about changes in laws in favour of online casinos.

One of the first online casinos to pick up mobile Thunderstruck is the UK based Ladbrokes Casino (poised to launch the game later this month). With this latest addition, Ladbrokes now boasts fifteen different games in their mobile casino (every game that Spin3 has developed), which in the mobile gaming sector, is a diverse lineup. The slots alone could very keep the most active of players busy.

Thunderstruck now takes a seat next to the other top performing Microgaming slots gone mobile, including Major Millions, Fruit Fiesta, Treasure Nile and Tomb Raider. In short, Thunderstruck if a 5-reel, 9-payline bonus video slot offering free spins and a gamble feature. It will take up to forty-five coins (making the betting scale as diverse as they come), and will multiply payouts when multiple “Thor” symbols (that’s the blonde-headed Viking) are hit on a single payline and act as a Wild.

Spin3’s Matti Zinder said he is confident Thunderstruck will prove to be a popular mobile video slot due to its success as a standard online casino slot, not to mention the fact that video slots in general make for excellent mobile games. They are fast and simple to play – and that’s the way to go in the mobile gaming world.

On another note, Spin3 has also updated it’s GameWire platform so that it is compatible with yet another Smartphone – the BlackBerry (version 4.3 or advanced). Already supporting just about every cell phone make and model currently in use (including the iPhone), Spin3 has shown a strong commitment to the Smartphone sector. They have further diversified their platform by making it available in nine different languages and supporting geo-specific payment systems. UK Vodafone customers can even purchase online casino credits via their phone bill.

If you want to get to know Spin3’s mobile casino games, they can be played for free at leading licensees – All Slots Casino, Platinum Play and 32Red. Or, if you happen to be in London from January 27-29, 2009, you can visit their exhibition demo at the International Gaming Expo.

However, with online gambling now regulated in Britain under the UK Gambling Act 2005, PayPal UK has begun allowing transactions at internet betting sites once again. The latest PayPal online casino to accept transactions is none other than one of the highest rated Euro and UK online casinos in business today: 32 Red. As announced in a recent press release, 32Red Operations Director, Pat Harrison, said that in keeping with the company’s mission to make online gambling as simple and convenient as possible, they would be upgrading their cashier services to turn 32Red into a PayPal online casino.

Harrison expressed his confidence in the services of PayPal, stating that players will be able to make deposits and withdrawals easier than ever before, thus attracting a whole new demographic of players searching for a legitimate and reliable PayPal online casino.

The fact of the matter is that there are only some 75 internet betting sites that currently accept PayPal UK. All things considered, 32Red now becomes one of the top “go-to” PayPal online casinos. There is no denying 32Red’s amazing track record as one of the best online casinos period. eCOGRA approved, and with numerous accolades under their belt, including “Best Customer Service” and “Best Online Casino” from reputable gambling portals, online trade journals and watchdogs like CasinoMeister, 32 Red needs no further validation.

Another great aspect of 32Red is their transparency. Becoming a PayPal online casino only helps in this regard even more. PayPal is a highly secure and transparent payment method providing account holders with audit trails that include dates and time of all withdrawals and deposits. Instant deposits can be accepted via several sources, including Mastercard, Maestro, Visa, Visa Electron, Solo and Direct Debit. The same is true with withdrawals, which can even be processed directly back into bank checking and savings accounts. Furthermore, all transactions are free of charge.

If you would like to make a deposit with a PayPal online casino, 32Red is definitely OCS’s top choice. Simply open a free account with 32Red and follow the instructions within the cashier of the software platform to make your first deposit with PayPal.

A press release from the casino claims that the two major online casino wins occurred three months apart and raked in almost Euro 3 000 000 in prize money for the lucky slots enthusiast.

A company spokesman said that winning two progressive jackpots is statistically not far short of impossible. For the sake of comparison, the probability of being struck by lighting is 576 000 to 1; and that of dating a supermodel 88 000 to 1. Hitting a progressive jackpot is apparently not much easier than either.

Renee Pascal, the casino’s manager, says: “This is the first and most likely the last time that Europa Casino will twice produce the same winner on a single progressive slots game. We’re quite literally as astounded as the player who won the jackpot – it’s incredible.”

The payment of these large amounts will be watched with interest by the industry following recent scandals (see previous InfoPowa reports) in which certain Playtech-powered online casinos have been accused of slow-paying major progressive jackpot wins in instalments instead of in one large tranche as is the case with veteran companies such as Microgaming and Cryptologic.

Among the casinos that have been listed as having predatory T&Cs permitting payment of progressives by instalments are:

32Vegas

Better Casino

Cameo Casino

Carnaval Casino

Casino Del Rio

Casino Europa

Casino Tropez

EuroGrand

Golden Palace Casino

Grand Play Casino

Majestic Comet

Playgate Casino

William Hill Casino

Player advocates are of the view that anything short of full payment in one tranche is unfair when it comes to progressives. This is because jackpots are paid from a pool fed by players at a number of networked casinos, and the casino where the jackpot is won receives access to those monies immediately and completely upon the jackpot being hit.

Europa Casino has been asked to confirm their payment policy, although to date no response has been received.

The first newsworthy jackpot to hit was on the Rival Gaming progressive jackpot network. Specifically, it was for the tune of just over $8,000 and was procured on the Major Moolah progressive slots. If this name sounds familiar, that’s because it is. One of the most popular progressive jackpots of all time is called “Major Millions”. A close second, in terms of popularity, is “Mega Moolah”. The only “catch” for these games, however, is that they are only available at Microgaming powered online casinos. And Microgaming, as we all know, does not accept bets from U.S. players.

While Rival’s progressive network is not as large as Microgaming, or Playtech for that matter, there is no denying it’s rapid growth over the last two years. Seeing even more growth is probably the top player in the U.S. market right now – Real Time Gaming. As to be expected, an RTG powered online casino was home to another big progressive jackpot over the July Fourth weekend.

Paying out nearly $32,000 on the Let Em Ride online poker game, this was one jackpot that caught the attention of players even outside the U.S. It was hit at none other than the highly rated Cherry Red Casino, which is giving away some serious casino welcome bonuses right now. Read the OCS Cherry Red Casino Review for more information on that.

Another round of recent jackpots worth reporting on, took place over the course of just three days late last month. Helping confirm the notion that slots often hit in streaks, amazingly enough, one lucky player took home over $240,000 with three big payouts on the Living In Luxury online slot machine. No doubt this player, referred to as Susan H., has the choice of living in luxury now. While the prospects of hitting three jackpots totaling $240,000 in just three days is a huge surprise, it wasn’t nearly a surprise that it all went down at the Fortune Lounge Group’s European facing Platinum Play Casino.

$100 Lucky People Bonus gives the start to the lucky promotions. $100 Lucky People Bonus is the first-deposit bonus made at the casino cashier on March 11or before this day. $100 Lucky People Bonus will be equal to fifty percent of the deposit subject to the max limit of $100. To redeem the bonus players should use the special coupon code “LUCKYPEOPLE”. Obviously the VIP players have got a better deal. Their Lucky People Bonus limit is higher at $200. To use this offer and get their benefit the VIP-clients should login to their VIP account.

In the Weekend Raffle 60 lucky people are offered $60. Players have the time to deposit and bet in-between the 5th of March, on Friday, and 7th of March, on Sunday, this way they’ll be eligible for the lucky draw. In the Weekend Raffle 60 names of winners will be drawn and each of them will get $60. On Monday the winners will get the information on their e-mail.

Another promotion gaining great popularity at Jackpot Capital is the Facebook Special promotion. In March the players need to write about the luckiest event which has ever happened to them. From the whole amount of lucky stories posted on the Jackpot Capital Facebook Page, three stories will be chosen by the casino randomly. On March 17all three writers will be granted a $100 no-deposit bonus.

Jackpot Capital online casino players really look forward to read the announcement on those games where they can surely claim to get the double loyalty points. Each month 2 of the most popular games are announced by the casino as the Games of the Month. In March Jackpot Capital online casino has listed 3 games as the Games of the Month. Supporting the theme of luck, one of these games is called Lucky 8’s. Lucky 8’s is a scratch card game which has the plenty of lucky symbols, for instance, horseshoes and four leaf clovers. However, the top prize is reserved for the gold pot. So, having revealed the Lucky 8 symbol, the players instantly win the whole package of prizes. The latest online slot game offered by Jackpot Capital is Golden Lotus. In this Oriental-themed video slot white and golden lotuses promise the massive payouts. And the last game that keeps its popularity is called Jackpot Cleopatra’s Gold. This video slot has borrowed its theme from the Egyptian Pyramids and time of Cleopatra.

Jackpot Capital online casino is based on the RTG software platform. It is licensed in the Cyprus gambling jurisdiction.

Although the decision to regulate was widely favored, it didn’t go by without some intense scrutiny and debate. The chief concern of those voicing caution, whether playing Devil’s advocate or not, was in regards to illegal gambling activities, which have apparently spiked in the land-based gambling sector. Demanding that strict laws must be mandated in order to combat and dissuade illegal online gambling activities, legislators have introduced provisions for imposing fines and imprisonment.

Gaming and financial operators that accept bets on behalf of unlicensed operators could receive between six month and three years in prison, while licensed online casinos could face three months to a year plus up to $5,000 in fines for illegally collecting online wagers.

On the other hand, legislators have sought to provide guidelines that are appealing for top-tier online betting operators to open shop in Italy. These included a nine-year concession for online bingo costing $50,000 plus the value added tax, and sports betting/skill gaming servicing options costing $300,000 plus value added tax. A reduced tax rate based on margin, rather than turnover, has been introduced. Compared to other regulatory jurisdictions, these numbers are reasonable and should certainly attract operators looking to tap into the lucrative Italian online gambling market.

Revenues generated by taxes and licensing fees are expected to exceed $500 million annually. The majority of these funds will be earmarked to help reconstruction efforts in the earthquake ravaged Abruzzo area – a great example of the good that can come from the regulation of a multi-billion euro industry.

While this might sound like a nice tribute to the King of Pop, whose status has now transcended that of the living legend, the question remains whether this is really a tribute or just another promotion gimmick. Golden Casino is the U.S. facing sister site of the famous Golden Palace Casino, whose marketing tactics and promotions over the years have been nothing short of outrageous. Remember the online casino that bought the infamous Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich? That was Golden Palace. Does the Pope Mobile sound familiar? You can thank Golden Palace for that one too.

Golden Palace has accumulated so much stuff over the years, they now have their own museum of oddities that will be sure to leave a legacy of its own, albeit in the vein of National Enquirer news magazine. Therefore, it’s understandable to question the motives of Golden Casino, who simply can’t entirely separate themselves from the antics of the Golden Palace line. But, to capitalize on the death of Michael Jackson? Sure, I wouldn’t throw it past some people – who are no doubt capitalizing this very moment. Hosting an online slots tournament, which in itself is a lucrative thing already, might be pushing the line.

The only way Golden Casino can truly make this into a “tribute” or even, a memorial, is by donating proceeds of the tournament to a worthy cause supported by Michael Jackson himself. Of course, to entice players, a guaranteed jackpot will be offered, which will apparently be worth $15,000 total, with $5,100 going to the first place finisher and the top 200 players receiving a share of the jackpot. Fittingly enough, the “Reel Deal” slot machine will be the vehicle for the tournament. Other details will be coming out soon.