Branded Titles Leading the Way

Microgaming has been fond of releasing branded titles in the past. The software company led the way for this niche, developing the first Tomb Raider game to coincide with the release of the film. Since then it has created a number of branded games, including the ever popular Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring slot. Whilst an update to this title was made last year, fans remain eager to see the next two installments. Meanwhile, Microgaming also revealed Immortal Romance in 2011, highlighting that it was the first in a title of games which would be released over the coming years. And now the firm has said that they have made a new licensing agreement with DC Entertainment.

Comic Titles for Microgaming

DC Entertainment is the leading powerhouse behind many super action heroes’, and is one of the most popular publishers of comic books featuring action hero stars. DC Comics leading star is Batman, a hero who has spawned multiple books and movies. A new agreement will see Microgaming able to develop a series of groundbreaking Batman titles, bringing the player into the realm of Arkam City whilst playing slots. First seen in 1939, Batman has become a character who is recognized around the world. DC Comics feature the superhero in 15 monthly comics which are distributed to million of fans in more than 60 countries.

Batman Series to Enthrall

Under the new agreement, Microgaming will be able to create two new slots based on the movies The Dark Night and The Dark Night Rises. Utilizing characters, themes and animation from both of the motion pictures, players and fans of the superhero will be able to enjoy a thrilling ride as they participate in the slot and have the chance to win big. Released in 2008, The Dark Night was a huge success for fans, being the third largest grossing movie in America’s history with more than $500 million made domestically. The next film, The Dark Night Rises, will be released on July 20^th, 2012 and star Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne. It is expected that the launch of the first slot, The Dark Night, will be carefully scheduled with the release of The Dark Night Rises, with the second in the series appearing during 2013.

Talking of the new agreement and the opportunities that it would bring, Microgaming’s chief executive officer, Roger Raatgever, explained that Batman continues to be one of the most famous movie characters in the world. He added that it was a huge achievement for the firm to be able to produce a series of gaming titles with the internationally recognized Batman brand, and that with leading technology and groundbreaking software advances, Microgaming would bring fans an entirely new way to enjoy Bruce Wayne and his story.

Live Dealer Enhancement

In addition to the latest news regarding the DC Entertainment agreement and the upcoming Batman titles, Microgaming also revealed that they were to enhance their live dealer options, allowing gamers to have a better enjoyment of this experience. Live dealing has become popular around the world, as online gambling venues look to offer an alternative to virtual gambling. In a bid to stay ahead of the pack, Microgaming said that a new ‘Diamond Edition’ of their Live Dealer games was to be launched, providing players with a better casino experience from home and access to more, real time multi-player options.

Diamond Edition Upgrades

Microgaming’s current Live Dealer package already offers premium live dealing for players, with gamblers able to utilize High Definition video streaming for maximum enjoyment. However, the company expressed that their new Diamond Edition stepped up the mark even more, offering players the ultimate experience in live, online gambling. One new feature is that the Diamond Edition will offer even more statistics than previous editions, allowing players to make predictions and track outcomes with far more analyzed information. Current features, including a multi-language facility and stand-alone multi-window games, will also be available so that players can stay organized even if they have multiple live games going on in different nations and localities around the world.

Of some importance to players will be the addition of a new game to the Diamond Edition, with gamblers now able to enjoy a multiplayer roulette option. Players will be able to watch the game in real time, including seeing other players bets placed on the table whilst their own game continues. The game was added after Microgaming live dealer gamblers flocked to multi-player options, indicating that there is great demand to have a sense of community whether playing against dealers or other gamblers.

Increasing Multi-Player Trend

In a statement release by Microgaming, the software company that there had been increased demand for live multi-player options which allowed a number of people to gamble at once. Keen to ensure that players have the best gambling experience possible, Microgaming developed the new Diamond Edition, providing an upgrade to previous options. In the past 12 months alone, 16 Microgaming clients have incorporated live dealing into their venues, indicating that the market is large, creditable and continues to grow. One such online establishment is the Royal Vegas casino, with the venue offering Microgaming’s live dealer platform to thousands of players around the world. With the Diamond Edition to launch, Royal Vegas said that they were excited to start offering the multi-player roulette option to players, indicating that it was more than likely that the live dealer upgrade would be a huge hit with players around the planet.

Great Griffin

One of the most previewed Microgaming titles, and a slot which is already expected to be very popular, is the new Great Griffin. Griffin’s are mythological creatures, with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion, which have been respected throughout the ages. Set in an ancient medieval castle, Great Griffin has beautiful illustrations and reels which offer symbols depicting spell books, magic crystals, mysterious plants and potion flasks. The mighty griffin also appears, along with the hooded lady of the castle. Whilst the illustrations are beautiful, Micrograming has also provided some fantastic animations, with one in particular showing the griffin flying throughout the reels and using its razor sharp claws to scratch off random symbols.

Griffin Payouts

Alongside the great new animations and gaming of the new title, you’ll have some chances to win big on Great Griffin. Four rows of symbols offer a total of 50 paylines, with the main game giving a maximum reward of 50,000 coins. In addition, a free spins bonus provides the opportunity to multiply winnings by 10 times, meaning that you could win up to 750,000 coins. Another bonus is also available, with the hooded lady initiating the Pick Me Bonus when she appears on 2, 3 and 4. In this round, you pick one symbol to win all the bonuses, one prize, or the chance to pick again. Meanwhile, if the hooded lady lands on 3, 4 and 5, the free spins are initiated. Here, there are several options, and you can pick 5 spins with a multiplier of 10, 10 spins with a multiplier of 5, or 15 spins with a multiplier of 3. Whilst free spins can be retriggered, there is also the ability to have the Pick Me Bonus initiated whilst you’re using free spins, with the Great Griffin applying multipliers to the bonus round wins in this case.

Great Griffin Availability

As Microgaming’s new titles are rolled out in February, many websites will be able to utilize the new games. Many are holding Great Griffin in high esteem, predicting that it will be a popular game in 2012 because of its use of varying winning combinations, including Free Spins, Wilds, Extra Wilds, Multipliers and Scatters. And, with all Fortune Lounge casinos including 7 Sultans, Vegas Villa and Platinum Play all offering the game, its availability will be wide.

New Atomic 8s Power Spins

In addition to Great Griffin, Microgaming will also be unveiling Atomic 8s Power Spins. The title is a rework of Microgaming’s popular Sonic 7s which utilized a Power Spins feature, and is likely to see new and old fans alike, flock to the game for a chance to win. Like the classic Sonic 7s, Microgaming’s new slot utilizes the classic three reel slot for its gaming genre. However, icons have been altered so, unlike Sonic 7s where the classic bells, bars and cherries are colored with a cold blue, they have their natural colors to grip gamers more easily. Another important change, and an obvious one to make, is that the 7s have been replaced with 8s for a novel twist.

Simple Slot Play for Atomic 8s

Unlike many of the modern slots, which can be confusing to play due to the large numbers of icons, animations and win options, Atomic 8s is very easy to play. Whilst many modern fans have been lured by the newer titles and their glitz and glamour, if you prefer the older and more traditional reels, Atomic 8s Power Slots is ideal. There are only nine paylines in Atomic 8s however, with scatter and line payouts available after every spin providing a game which will be a welcome change from titles with constant bonus round and free spin distractions.

Atomic 8s Symbols

Most of the symbols keep to traditional influences in Atomic 8s, and the title’s own logo acts as the wildcard symbol. It substitutes itself for other symbols, and can appear on any reel, therefore offering you the opportunity to gain payouts whenever it appears. In addition, the Atomic 8s symbol offers its own line payout, and if you get five logos in a row you can get 8,000 coins. Meanwhile, the scatter symbol is provided by the Radioactive image. When five symbols appear on the reels in any placement, 300 coins are won which are multiplied by the total bet.

Power Spins Substitute Bonus Games

Though Atomic 8s has nothing in the way of bonus games or free spins, it does have a Power Spins mode. This can more than make up for the absence of the more modern slot additions, providing you with a great chance to win big. Not an automatic feature, you must actively choose this option when you place your bets; a decision which then enables all paylines and initiates an additional wager which is the sum of 3 times the original line bet. Following the popular principle of Sonic 7s, where using the Power Spins options changed wild symbols into multipliers of 2, Atomic 8s sees the same payouts provided. However, symbols can be aligned both left to right, and right to left, offering you the double the chances to get a winning combination.

Atomic 8s Availability

Like Great Griffin, Atomic 8s will not be available until the first week in February. At this time, it become available at a wide range of Microgaming online casinos, with February 8^th seeing it released at venues such as Gaming Club, Golden Riviera, Mummy’s Gold and 7 Sultans.

Practicing Online Craps

In a similar way to practicing games before playing them for money in the real world, it’s a good idea to take some time and ensure that you know how to play craps in the online environment. To do this you often won’t have to download software, and many websites will offer the ability to play free games online with no real cash deposits. This gives you the chance to hone your skills and play with a variety of casinos software, ensuring that you find a system which you find easy and enjoyable to use. However, if you aren’t downloading software to play you must ensure that your browser software is upgraded to the last versions, as old versions of Flash and other gaming software could cause your game to malfunction or crash halfway through. Alternatively if may not load at all.

Download Specific Software

Once you’ve had a chance to play across a range of platforms, establish your game and find software which you enjoy playing with, you can download the correct software needed to play for real money. Most casinos have a specific software package that they require you to download before you can start depositing cash and playing for the big bucks. Such software is very easy to download and install, meaning that you don’t need to be a computer expert to sign up.

Enjoying Online Craps

Online craps is a very enjoyable game and you’ll be able to use a variety of established and well known casinos to play. For practicing, or playing on computers which aren’t your own, ensuring browser software is up to date will allow you to play through the web itself. And when you’re ready to start really earning a craps income, downloading website specific software will allow you to push your craps career in a positive direction.

Scratch Card Game Weed Whacker

For players who love scratch cards and want a horticultural twist to their game, Weed Whacker is the ideal option. Set in an overgrown garden, players use their mouse to operate a mower around the screens six sections. Each section, once mowed over, reveals a multiplier between one and 80. If players gain three or more equal multipliers their bet is paid out depending on the matching multipliers seen. Wagers range from $0.05 to $10, and for players who don’t want to necessarily mow each section, an instant reveal button is available.

Card Game Casino War

For gamblers who love card games, Top Game’s newest title is Casino War; a table based game where players bet against a dealer in an ante wager system. Set on an elegant table with a range of coin denominations and a cigar, a six deck shoe is used to deal cards. The ace is the highest ranking card in the game, whilst variations in suit don’t affect game play. Both dealer and player are a dealt a card after placing an ante wager of between $1 and $100 and an optional tie bet. If the dealer has the higher card the ante wager is lost, whereas if players find themselves with the highest value then even money on the ante wager is paid out. However, if the two cards are equal and the tie bet has been utilized, players receive a payout of 10 to 1 and the game progresses into part two.

Casino War’s Second Stage

If a player has a successful round they can either surrender, where they see half of their ante wager returned, or place another bet of the same sum as the ante wager. If this option is chosen, three cards are burned from the dealer and then a card is dealt to both himself and the player. A lower card sees players lose both wagers, whilst an equal or higher card results in a payout determined on the additional wager.

With Top Game being a popular casino, the new games will be welcomed. And with each offering a new variety, players of both scratch and card games will be pleasantly surprised.

Microgaming Set for Spanish Market

Isle of Man based Microgaming released a statement revealing that it is to team up with leading Spanish online casino CIRSA. With Spain on the brink of legalizing a variety of online gambling practices, CIRSA is said to have opted for Microgaming as its software provider due to the innovative gaming content and high quality performance that titles provide. The leading programmer will provide bingo, poker and casino software to the Spanish venue in addition to administrative services, allowing CIRSA to provide a top quality and fully rounded gambling experience for online players.

Danish Acquisitions by Sportingbet Plc

Meanwhile, Sportingbet Plc has announced that is has made an agreement to acquire Scandic Bookmakers Limited and Danbook Limited. The online gaming and sports betting group made the conditional agreement for the acquisition of Danbook and Scandic to offer their customers a wider variety of casino, poker, gaming and online fixed odds spots betting.

OPAP Tenders for Contract

In Greece, ahead of the planned potential regulation for the online casino industry, the state owned gambling monopoly OPAP has revealed that it is opening its contract to software providers. Whilst they have held a contract with Intralot for some time, OPAP are keen to avoid criticism, and so when the current contract comes to an end in 2012, will be seeking bids from other groups. Whilst Intralot is expected to make a competitive bid in an attempt to gain renewal, both Scientific Games Crop and GTECH are thought to offer possible alternatives. The final supplier will be chosen within the upcoming two months, with OPAP’s future strategy and online expansion into online betting and video lotto crucial on the provider it chooses. And with the potential legalization of online gambling in Europe extensive, there is likely to be much media focus over the next few months.

Using Analyzing Software

There are many benefits to using software to analyze your poker actions, and it can be of particular help when you’re starting out in the game. At this level you may be making mistakes without even realizing, and software will be able to pick up on hands where you missed vital opportunities to get ahead. Therefore, it is a great idea to use specific software on the market, highlighting both your strong points and weaknesses to make your game as successful as possible.

Poker Tracker

One of the most widely used poker analyzing software programs is Poker Tracker, the online tool which helps spot important points of your game. You can often utilize free trials of the software, enabling you to use the program and get instant results without having to pay out. And if you’re intending on playing a lot of online poker, the free trial periods may be sufficient to get most of the errors out of your strategy. Whether you win or lose, staying positive and using Poker Tracker to analyze your game can work wonders. Which strategies are working and which aren’t? Where have your greatest losses and wins been noted, and what was your strategy involved during those games? After taking notes of important points, play another game using your new knowledge and see if strategy changes have helped.

Software for All

Whether you’re a novice or a professional moving into the online sector, using software such as Poker Tracker can have great results. And if you want to be the very best poker player you can be, using analytics will help you win more games.

Financial Results for the Second Quarter

The financial results for the quarter ending June 30^th, 2011 highlight an increase in revenue to $7 million from $6 million in the first quarter. However, the total expenses remained consistent at $6.5 million. Therefore, income prior to tax is $0.5 million compared to a loss in the first quarter. The company made an announcement that the Board of Directors is pleased with the performance and will continue to focus on improving revenues in the future while decreasing costs.

Small Reasons for the Increase in Revenue

The company further reported the reasons for an increase in revenue. Although small, there was a reduction in liabilities from the previous quarter as a result of a dispute with a supplier. Also, there was an upsurge in revenue from branded games. During the second quarter, six new branded slot games went live for a total of 185 revenue-generating online games. However, there was a loss in revenue from online poker.

Progressive Jackpot Win

Another highpoint from the second quarter was a progressive jackpot win of $4.2 million at Sky Vegas online casino. The result was a decreased provision for jackpot wins but also a decrease in cash and cash equivalents. Cryptologic directly pays out any progressive jackpot wins to avoid a player-casino dispute.

Update on Commercial Agreements

The financial announcement also gave an update on commercial agreements. Cryptologic has signed a binding agreement with a specific game supplier to continue their business relationship. However, the disagreement between the brand licensor and Cryptologic continues to be unresolved. Therefore, the online gambling community is anxious to learn the results of the review being conducted by Deloitte Corporate Finance which is ongoing.

Cryptologic appears to be making significant improvements from where it was several months ago. As it continues to release games and improve its financial results, the online gambling industry is following closely. Hopefully in the future, Cryptologic will revert back to the game-releasing, financial online gaming powerhouse it once was.

Customer Support Tab

The Neteller website now features a tab attached to the eWallet function that provides online players with access to all customer support departments. For online gamblers, the first click should be to Online Help. This will immediately transport users to a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which is the quickest way to find the answer. Also within the section is a link to a YouTube video that entails how to use FAQ.

Contacting Customer Support

If the information required cannot be found, users are directed to contact customer support via email. This can be sent through the web form. The provider also lists a telephone number but long distance charges will apply and identification is required. There is another phone number for lost Neteller cards. Furthermore, there are links to social networking platforms which allow direct interaction with Neteller personnel and users.

Account Summary Tab

Additionally, the new site conveniently places the most important account information in a single area known as the Account Summary tab. Located on the left side of the menu, the tab displays the account balance, status (verified or unverified), number, level, current, type (business or personal) and the most recent sign-in.

Features Progress Bar

Additionally, the area displays a progress bar with the variety of features on the site the user has utilized which include deposits, verification, Net+ Prepaid MasterCard and referring a friend. Therefore, users that are not aware of the many features will be able to see them each time they log in. Also, it is excellent motivation to try all the functions offered by the company which are immediately available at the new website.

Most of these changes come as suggestions by the account holders. Neteller always take the time to acquire feedback from its customers. This extra care is the reason Neteller is the leading online payment processor in the industry. As users continue to generate ideas and requirements for the site, Neteller will only improve its service keeping it at the top. Many other payment processors should mimic this idea to improve their functionality and grow their customer base.

An Announcement from Microgaming

In a press release from Microgaming’s headquarters at the Isle of Man, the provider announced that the QuickFire platform will now deliver NextGen Gaming and Genesis Gaming of Australia with gaming content. The new games presented by these two companies will cover 200 top-performing casino titles including Drone Wars (Genesis Gaming), Mad Mad Monkey (NextGen Gaming) and 300 Shields (NextGen Gaming).

A Statement from QuickFire

A Spokesperson for QuickFire said the entire organization is excited to be able to extend their product to include additional casino content. There is a large growing demand from operators wanting to add the QuickFire platform to their systems for increased compatibility. Also, there is a high demand for software developers wanting to offer their games through the infrastructure. Due to the ease-of-use and growth opportunities, this is an excellent chance for suppliers to expand.

Genesis Gaming Comments

The CEO at Genesis Gaming discussed their latest game, Drone Wars, stating that it will be offered exclusively through QuickFire. The game was created as a response to the growing popularity of vintage sci-fi action games. Drone Wars allows players to selected two space mission types in the bonus game. Both choices offer an interactive gaming experience.

NexGen Gaming Comments

The CEO from NextGen Gaming made a similar statement that he was also delighted to be offering 20 games through the QuickFire platform. He further said that the process of integrating complex bonus features into QuickFire has been quick and simple. NetGen Gaming hopes to continue release games through the software in the future.

This appears to be a win-win situation for all parties involved. Microgaming is expanding its portfolio by allowing third-party suppliers to add games to their software. Meanwhile, the two new software suppliers are excited to reach new markets using QuickFire. The platform is an excellent method of expanding current offerings by Microgaming and has caught on with many online software developers. Expect many new games in the future.

Celebrity Symbols

The symbols in the game consist of high value cards and celebrities. Players are given the option of selecting which celebrities they would like to see on the reels. The wild symbol is represented by the most famous celebrities on the list with the default being Elvis. Other options include, James Dean, Brad Pitt and Madonna. This icon awards a maximum of 10,000 coins if hit.

Selectable celebrities that act as regular symbols include, Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, Leonardo Di Caprio, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Liz Hurley and Beyonce. The icons feature high resolution photographs for the celebrity ensuring all players will be able to view their Hollywood favorites.

A Lack of Animation

One downside to this game is the entire lack of animation. Playtech assumed that the large number of celebrity photographs on the screen is enough to keep the adrenaline pumping. The red carpet is the bonus symbol which is triggered when the icon appears on the first and last reels.

The Bonus Game

In the bonus game, sixteen celebrities appear on the red carpet and the player must select three celebrities who will uncover the associated cash prizes. At random, any celebrity could unveil the Extra Pick with an associated cash prize which allows the player to select an additional choice.

The Free Spins Round

Top Trumps Celebs also boasts a free spins round which is activated by hitting three Top Trumps symbols on any of the reels. The Red Carpet bonus game cannot be triggered but the free spins round can be reactivated an unlimited number of times. Furthermore, the game has the Playtech Gamble feature which allows players to stake their winnings in a double or nothing game. The player must select the color of the next card to win.

Top Trumps Celebs is currently available at all Playtech-powered online casinos. This new slot game is innovative and fun. However, the lack of animation leaves something missing. Stop by one of many Playtech casinos to participate.