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Events vie for attendees' attention as London gaming expo nears
Diaries are fast filling up for delegates to IGE, the International Gaming Expo which runs 26-28 January at Earls Court in London, and the International Gaming Awards held on the eve of the show.
IGE organiser Clarion Gaming - which also produces the ATEI, ICEi and Betting Show events running simultaneously - will next year launch a new party for IGE attendees at the Orchid nightclub.
Operators rush for poker licences as France opens up online gaming
The law passed mid-October that will open up French online betting to the private sector is expected to grow the market by nearly 500 percent. The new legislation, which should take effect in the summer of 2010, for the first time will allow companies other than two state-owned operators to run online poker as well as sports and racing betting. And more than three quarters of the operators surveyed in a study by consultants MECN and law firm Ulys are hoping to obtain a French poker licence.
Sheraton casino PR's biggest
The largest casino in Puerto Rico has opened in Sheraton's newest property. The 20,000-square-foot facility at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel, based around a circular bar and entertainment area, is a 24-hour operation with 16 table games and 448 slots including multidenominational units.
Hem upgrades to Bingo 2.2 as Gtech plans liquidity boost
Sweden's online operator Hem Bingo has become the first to upgrade to the Bingo 2.2 system from Gtech's G2 division.
The software supports multiple currencies, linked games, and a set of multi-lingual mini-games shown in the main bingo window. These include progressive slots, table games, video poker and scratch-cards.
Gaming charity warns: "Donate or be shamed"
Britain's Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RIGT) has relaunched as The Great Foundation with a pledge to aggressively pursue funding from all sectors that benefit from gambling.
The Great Foundation - with Great standing for Gambling Research, Education and Treatment - will research the extent and causes of problem gambling, as well as paying for treatment of affected individuals and funding educational programmes to encourage responsible gambling.
Realistic roulette
Euroblock says its Star Roulette multiplayer game is aimed toward "more price-sensitive markets". Featuring a real casino roulette wheel with automatic ball blow-out, the game has six or eight play stations built in, each with a 19-inch or 15.4-inch LCD touchscreen.
Entergaming takes WagerWorks content
British game content provider WagerWorks has added online sports betting and casino operator Entergaming to its client roster. Entergaming joins high-profile names including Bet365, Betfair, Ladbrokes, Quicksilver and Virgin in offering its customers games from WagerWorks, which also supplies content for mobile and interactive TV platforms.
People...
IT specialist Hermes SoftLab has named Matt Webb as Sales Manager for Gaming. Webb, who previously worked for a payment solutions firm and for Chartwell Games, will be based in London and work with clients throughout Europe.
Tango time
Magic Dreams's new multireel game Ultimate Tango is available on the firm's upright Ego and slant-top 500 cabinets. Featuring 40 lines in a 5x4 layout, the game uses a Tanguera - an Argentinian Spanish term for a female tango dancer - as a wild symbol.
Caesars Palace News in brief dealers protest slow progress of union talks
Dealers at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas have protested against the failure of casino owner Harrah's Entertainment and their union, the Transport Workers Union of America, to reach a contract agreement.
Although it is nearly two years since the dealers - along with workers at Wynn Las Vegas - voted to be represented by the union, no pact has been reached.
Microgaming extends network as player scores record win
Microgaming has added two more online services to its poker network - 5050Poker and Mansion88.
Mattias Eriksson, CEO of 5050Poker, said: "Our players wanted the chance to play against a truly global opposition on a platform that offered improved game and tournament selection as well as greater liquidity."
News in brief
The end is nigh
The deadline to submit nominations for January's International Gaming Awards has been extended to 28 October. Make nominations or book tickets for the London event at www.gamingawards.Com
Innovative's Smart Payout cash recycler handles up to 80 different denominations
Innovative Technology's new Smart Payout device can accept and dispense up to 80 different denominations - a feature which the firm says distinguishes it from most cash recyclers.
"Most of the recycler units currently on the market can accept multidenomination notes but can only pay out one or two small denominations," said Aidan Towey, Innovative's Managing Director.
Genting orders terminals from Inspired
A further ten of Genting's UK casinos are to install multi-win roulette terminals from server-based gaming specialists Inspired Gaming Group.
