For some online casino players, it's all about the table games. Whether it's online blackjack or online roulette, there's always a great variety to quench their thirst at Kerching. However, Pennsylvania in the US is only just getting its first batch of table games, and expects an increase in the number of people attending casinos in the state by as much as 15 per cent. One casino president called the move "a hallmark".
The future of online casino play could be in the hands of Google after the company confirmed their new Google TV venture. The company is teaming up with Japanese technology behemoth Sony to bring television and the internet closer together, meaning Kerching players can potentially enjoy the best in online slots titles on their big screen TV and in high definition. The companies claim the sets will be ready by the end of the year.
A 26-year-old designer based in Wales has guaranteed a potential £250,000 cash prize to a charity if someone can come up with the last piece of his Monopoly puzzle. Dale Harper needs just one more sticker to complete the McDonalds-Monopoly promotional board game, and will split the full £500,000 winnings with whoever helps him complete the game. "It would be amazing to get the money," he said. "The charity won't know what to do with it."
A man in South Africa has filed a lawsuit against a casino after getting more than he bargained for while playing a slots title. Asogan Naicker was playing on Sunday when the machine he was at exploded, sending a shock through his body. He is now suing for negligence as he believes the casino should have paid his hospital bills for the overnight stay his doctor recommended after examining him. Naicker's attorney has been in touch with the casino.
An Australian woman is taking a casino to court after she saw her $3,600 (£2,043) winnings paid to the wrong person. Marites Martin confessed she is an inexperienced casino player but maintains that the croupier should have known that the money was hers. Ms Martin added that she has since reviewed video footage of the incident and believes it backs up her story. The civil action will now appear before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The world of Dungeons and Dragons is proving to be just as popular in the online gaming arena as it is with online casino players. According to market researchers NPD, the game has become the third most popular online title in the US at the moment, trailing behind only Runescape and the massive World Of Warcraft. The NPD surveyed 19,000 random people and found that 11 per cent of them were playing Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited.
The England World Cup squad will be staying busy in much the same way as Kerching online casino players this summer - by playing Cluedo on Battleship games. Tesco has said the team will be keeping themselves entertained at their Rustenburg hotel with the board games whenever they are away from big matches and the training field. "Games are a great way for the players to build good team spirit," a source told the Daily Star.
The next movie in the Transformers series will feature human relationships more than the previous two, according to lead actor Shia LeBeouf. The star said that the second film "lost its way" by trying to be too bombastic, but added that fans of big explosive special effects will not be disappointed by the new movie. Kerching players can experience their own Transformers action with Transformers Ultimate Payback online slots.
A 60-year-old man who picked up the biggest-ever casino jackpot in Korean casino history has chosen to give his money to a national technological organisation rather than help himself. Ahn Seung-Pil, who won £461,238 in the country's only casino that allows native players access, signed the agreement to donate on Monday and said "I thought it would be more meaningful to use the money for the public good rather than for personal use."
Officials in the US have announced plans to review tax proposals related to online gambling this week. Legalising online casino use in the country, and access to online slots and online card games, could lead to greater tax and revenue possibilities. The United States House Committee on Ways and Means will meet to discuss the manner of May 19th, although any law changes will need to be in compliance with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
The man dubbed 'Mr Casino' in South Africa is coming to the UK. Graham Vass used to be the general manager of the biggest-grossing casino in the Southern Hemisphere, but now he has decided to pack up his chips and move to the UK to run a hotel in the Cotswolds. And why not? The UK has among the most relaxed online casino laws in the world, and can make Mr Vass feel completely at home.
A man has scooped a jackpot prize at an online casino after his gerbil intervened. The player's pet jumped on his keyboard and triggered the top $24,660 (£13,000) win after activating the bonus game during a session on an online slots title. "Timmy loves to sit on my shoulder and watch me play, but he's never jumped onto the keyboard before. He must've sensed something big was going to happen," said the owner.
A man in New York suffered both ends of the luck scale this week after a visit to a casino. Kenneth Lamoree was on top of the world after winning £2,000 at the Verona establishment. However, a house fire at his home hours later saw the prize go up in smoke, as Lamoree left his winnings in his wallet and could not retrieve it from the blaze. Despite the loss, Lamoree will be thanking his lucky stars that neither his fiancée nor three children were hurt.
The online gambling world will change for the better once the Apple iPad is introduced, an industry commentator has claimed. According to Kevin Adams, writing for the Casino Examiner, the device's display makes it perfect for playing online slots, online blackjack and online roulette games. He added that the only problems with programmes he can see are capacity-related, stating "just about any website or application you can find" can be opened on the iPad.
The popularity of online casino games with Oriental themes is being capitalised on by a land-band casino. The US establishment is setting up a playing room with all the trappings you would expect. That means gold and red dragon decorations, for good luck, and other symbols of fortune will be scattered around the area. Officials in the Monroe County region, which is just outside New York City, believe it will help attract more Asian customers.
Most of us know that mobile casino games will play a big part in the future of our favourite pastime. From Rainbow Riches to Monopoly, it seems all of the top slots are going mobile. But there are still some who remain unconvinced about mobile casino gaming. Australian senator Nick Xenaphon has urged caution over apps and mobile games, saying they target young gamers. What do you think about the future of mobile casino gaming?
Following on from our news story on Wednesday about the potential positive implications of more countries allowing online casino play within their borders, we take a closer look at some of the territories where a few games of online blackjack are still a distant dream for players. The UK is lucky to be blessed with liberal online casino laws, but tight legislation is in place in countries such as China, the USA and France.
The World Poker Tour's Main Event contests will be held in London for the first time ever, with a satellite link-up relaying the action around the world. The Palm Beach Casino in the five-star-rated Mayfair Hotel will host the tournament, in which the grand prize winner can gain a seat at the 2011 WPT Championship in Las Vegas. Players will strut their stuff in the former Grand Art Deco Ballroom.
The global online casino industry could grow by around £14.5bn if the pastime is legalised in territories such as the USA, according to a new report. If you throw in sports betting as well, that figure could rise to £28bn by 2015. The study, by gaming trends expert H2 Gambling Capital, showed there would be a range of benefits for players and casinos if changes were made to legislation in key places such as the UK, US and Australia.
Sometimes our players at Kerching like to be reminded of the simpler things in life. Tucked away from the busy city lifestyles our gamers lead is Super Hoot Loot - an online slots title set in the woods with a whole host of woodland characters. There's a jolly fox, a wise owl and a lovely rabbit urging you on and trying to nudge you towards some top payouts. Member ace9255 won a tidy £801.25 recently, so it goes to show that it pays to get back to nature!
The UK will be improving its laws regarding online gambling, a government official has announced. According to Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe, new rules introduced nationwide will results in a more "level playing field" for operators. The measures are thought to be a way of getting more online casino companies to set up in the UK, while making it easier for existing firms to operate. Kerching customers will already be aware of the benefits of an online casino, especially with great online slots titles like Cleopatra and Treasure Of Troy on offer.