Online Casino Gambling

Toward the end of 2010, leading online gaming software provider Cryptologic reported a major decline in financial performance in addition to operational problems. As a result, the online gambling industry was put on alert as these announcements developed. However, Cryptologic recently announced the results of its financial performance from the second quarter of 2011. Although there has been no magical recovery, those with a vested interest in the provider will be relieved.

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.

Leading online payment solutions provider, Neteller, revamped its website around June 2011. The extensiveness of the makeover is now being realized by Neteller users. The company has been explaining the many changes made to the site and how to utilize the features. The most recent emails have discussed customer support and account information.

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.

Developed by Microgaming, QuickFire is a software platform with the goal of providing its operators with online casino games offered by other software developers. The platform is described as being versatile and hassle-free for all parties. The greatest advantage is the seamless integration across all platforms including poker rooms, live dealer casinos, mobile casinos, bingo halls and online casinos. Until this moment, QuickFire only offered Microgaming casino games.

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.

Top Trumps Celebs is a new slot game recently released by Playtech, a leading online gaming software developer. This game is slightly different than other slot games in that it is played with cards featuring sport and entertainment celebrities. Playtech previously released two other versions that were based on soccer, released in time for the 2010 World Cup.

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.

Roxy Palace recently went live with a set of online slot games, one of which is entitled, “Eagle’s Wings.” This American-themed game features the snowcapped Rocky Mountains blended with the forests which are home to the Bald Eagle. In the waters below this scenic natural beauty live salmon, the primary source of food for the eagle. Eagle’s Wings has captured this beautiful landscape in full detail.

There are many symbols found in the game which include:

• Eagle close up
• Flying eagle
• Eagles in their nest
• Salmon
• Eagles wings
• Lucky eagle coin

There are three symbols for the eagle, the close up version, the eagle flying in the sky and eagles living in their nest. Mixed into the various symbols that are representative of Mother Nature are high value cards ranging from Ace to Jack. The animations of the thematic symbols are quite interesting. The background is animated as well to make the player feel as if they are out in the wilderness. For instance, the salmon jump and the eagle fly across the blue sky.

Furthermore, the eagle’s wings icon represents the wild symbol which helps make winning combinations and doubling the payouts. The eagle’s wings symbol will appear stacked on the reels, often in combinations of two and three. Five logos on an active payline will result in the release of the highest fixed jackpot, 1,000 coins.

The scatter symbol is represented by the lucky eagle coin which is crafted in tribal-style. Three or more of these symbols activate the bonus game, Lucky Eagle. This game requires players to select coins which uncover the number of free spins. The most possible free spins in the bonus game is 60, at triple payouts. Therefore, the maximum payout is 15,000 coins.

The game boasts 25 total paylines with a coin denomination ranging from 0.01 to 0.25 and 5 coins per payline. Also, Eagle’s Wings features two modes: Regular and Expert. The only difference is Expert Mode delivers an auto play function.

Roxy Palace is powered by industry-leading online gaming software developer Microgaming. The casino carries the Safe and Fair seal due to eCOGRA approval. At this moment, Roxy Palace is offering a unique welcome bonus with a maximum match of $1,250 for the first six deposits. The fifth deposit releases 120 free spins which carry a value of $600. Stop by the casino today to enjoy Eagle’s Wings and generate a nice welcome bonus.

Egyptian-themed slot games are currently extremely popular in the online gaming world. Almost every online casino software developer has released an Egyptian-themed slot game. Unfortunately, the majority of these games are practically clones of one another. However, Fortune of the Pharaohs differentiates itself from the competition by being a 3D slot game resulting in more realistic graphics.

The introductory clip in the game begins with the statement, “When you try to conquer history the price you could pay might be too high.” At this point, one of the two Arabs on the screen drops dead as mournful music plays in the background. This definitely sets the stage for a different type of Egyptian-themed slot game.

The reels are set amongst the background of the Luxor monument. The regular symbols include:

• Scarab
• Camel
• Papyrus
• Hieroglyphic

There are also a multitude of special symbols that provide additional actions.  For instance, the mummy acts as the wild symbol and the Arab is the Click Me icon. Additionally, the coffin is representative of the scatter symbol while the scorpion equates to the free spins game. Finally; Seth, The God of Darkness represents the bonus symbol.

One of the greatest advantages of Fortune of the Pharaohs is the game is feature-rich. The Click Me characteristic was recently introduced by Rival Gaming among its 3D slot series. This feature can be activated by acquiring three or more Click Me symbols on any of the reels. During this feature, players click on these symbols to accumulate bonus prizes. The free spins feature is triggered by the scorpion symbol