Online Casino Gambling

It has been revealed that the progressive jackpot slot title Beach Life and new online slot game Great Griffin have both noted large wins in the month of February. Whilst Beach Life’s total has been edging higher for some time now, totaling more than eight million, Great Griffin has been highlighted in a number of promotions in an attempt to bring players to this new and enjoyable Microgaming title.

Beach Life Pays Out Over Eight Million

Progressive jackpots are one of the best ways to win instant millions. With many games feeding into one top jackpot, players have the chance to win huge amounts of money and become millionaires within seconds. In February this was the case for one lucky player whose details are yet to be revealed, but who won 8,211,488 million. Beach Life’s total progressive jackpot has been rising for sometime now, passing the eight million mark and quickly rising above its reset value of 50,000 credits. With Valentines only just around the corner, it was won on February 12^th, with the player getting the very lucrative payout after five sun icons in the 20^th payline were noted.

A Change in Statistics

For players who like to follow the statistics of certain progressive jackpots to assess their chances of winning, the latest win has significantly changed Beach Life’s average figures. With the scale of the latest win, the average payout according to the past five wins now stands at 2.6 million. Meanwhile, the period between wins has also increased from 163 days to 281 days. However, over the last four years Beach Life’s payouts have ranged from 200,000 to the recent 8,200,000, making winnings of the popular progressive jackpot title highly erratic.

Previous Memorable Hits

Whilst the details of the latest player to win have yet to be released, one of Beach Life’s most memorable hits came back in August 2008 when Sylvia P won at Joyland Casino just three weeks after signing up to the online venue. Playing from home, Canada based Sylvia was talking to her brother Henry on the phone whilst playing when she hit the jackpot for four million. At the time, she revealed that players should never lose hope, and should keep their dreams alive that one day they’ll appear in Beach Life’s hall of fame. And it seems that in 2012, one lucky player will do just this.

Great Griffin Player Scores High Payout

Meanwhile, may it may be nowhere near the eight million mark, one lucky player has won €24,531 on new Microgaming title Great Griffin. The slot was only released earlier this month, but has attracted many new fans because of the promotions offering free plays and credit. A number of players have already noted small payouts at Roxy Palace this month when playing Great Griffin, but with the latest €24,000 win, it seems that the title is set to see continued success for the months ahead.

A Great Fantasy Game

Aside from the promotional incentives, Great Griffin has proved particularly attractive to players because of its immersive game play. Set in the fantasy genre, the reel icons of this game include herbs, potions and a sorceress; all creating an ambiance of magic and mystery for this slot. The griffin, a creature which is half lion and half eagle, is the wild symbol and offers double payouts, with images of a baby griffin hatching from an egg and other with the beautiful bird clutching an egg. When players get the chance to see the Griffin Wild Bonus, the bird flies across the screen and randomly changes a number of the symbols into wild icons.

The Great Griffin logo symbol meanwhile acts as the scatter symbol, and starts a free spins round where players have three options, each of which offers a number of spins and a multiplier. The higher the multiplier, the less free spins a player gets, but all options have a great chance of getting a lucrative win. Finally, with 50paylines, four symbol rows, and a Pick Me bonus to multiply bets by a possible 150 times, Great Griffin has a wide number of ways to win.

Further Fantasy Wins for February

In addition to Roxy Palace’s large win on Great Griffin, the online casino also noted a number of large payouts on fantasy titles such as Goblins Gold, Lucky Charmer and Immortal Romance. Immortal Romance has turned out to be a very popular Microgaming which intertwines the lives of four main characters and is set to see future sequels. Goblins Gold however is not an often played fantasy game. This fantasy only offers three reels, causing many players to avoid it for titles with four reels which also include bonus features. In Goblins Gold, the wild symbol is the goblin itself, and there is a jackpot payout of 3,000 coins. There are also the normal three reel single, double and triple bars in addition to a lantern and a bag of gold.

The final game which also made Roxy Palace’s winners list was Lucky Charmer. This too is a slot not often played and is a surprise mention on the leader board. The game takes place in India, with the main character being a snake charmer. Reel icons include a king cobra, red hot chilies and cobras. A bonus round is also included, with players selecting a flute for the charmer to play, at which point he then strikes up the instrument to open one of snake baskets and reveal the extra bonus credits.

Popular February Play

Whilst February may have been the month of love for many people, with couples celebrating Valentine’s Day on February 14^th, for gamblers around the world it proved to be a lucrative start to the year. Both the wins at Roxy Palace and Beach Life’s progressive jackpot payout have proved that there is a lot of money to be won from online slots venues in the months ahead. And, for players lucky enough to snag a progressive jackpot payment, they could be made instant millionaires.

With February creeping ever closer, many people are getting excited about the prospect of the new round of online slots from Microgaming which are due to be released. One of the leading suppliers of slots, Microgaming will be debuting new titles from February 8^th, offering the chance for you to enjoy a whole variety of new games in the coming months. And, though the games have not yet been released, there are already many online casinos which are offering previews.

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.

Virgin Casino Online has revealed its latest Microgaming slot which is now available on the QuickFire software. Germinator, whilst being released last year, was not available in Microgaming’s download software. However, QuickFire has now picked up this unusual game, offering those at Virgin Casino the chance to play.

An Unusual Slot

For those wanting to play a slot with a difference, Germinator is ideal. Paylines are constructed in a horizontal and vertical, six by six matrix, resulting in 12 paylines which are all enabled. Players wager one coin for every payline, with the coin size between £0.05 and £2.00. These can be multiplied between 0.2 and 10 times depending on the five different germ symbols which are used throughout the reels.

Alternative Winning Combinations

Unlike other slots where symbols normally have to appear in the first vertical or horizontal position, Germinator offers payouts when three or more germs appear together anywhere on the screen. Payouts are summed by using the multiplier of the germ and the number of symbols that appear in the winning combination. And for those who are extra lucky, if more than one chain is noted, Germinator will pay out for both separate winning combinations.

Extra Payout Features

In addition to Germinator paying out for each winning combination on the reels, it uses an interesting feature where players can gain even more coins. After the initial winning combinations have been paid out the associated symbols explode and disappear, allowing the germs above them to drop down into their place. If new winning combinations are formed more payouts are provided, with the system continuing until there are no more payout possibilities on the reels.

Germinator Medi Bonus

Germinator also has a Medi bonus where, if three of more Capsules are noted on the screen, a bonus game is triggered. At this point players choose a germ symbol which removes all associated symbols from the grid. As with the extra payouts, remaining germs drop into vacant slots, offering possible coin wins. And with this interesting layout, extra payout and bonus payout feature, Germinator will be very attractive for players wanting to explore new slots available at Virgin Casino Online.

One of the world’s leading gambling software providers, Microgaming, has revealed that they are to collaborate with Victor Chandler in bringing casino games to the mobile platform. Using its QuickFire programming, the software group will makes its first forays into the mobile gambling world, with support from leading operator Victor Chandler making the deal a major success.

Current Relationship

The deal between Victor Chandler and Microgaming isn’t the first time that the companies have worked together, with premium titles from the software company complimenting Victor Chandler’s portfolio. Using the flexible QuickFire platform, Victor Chandler is able to provide players with games with out the need for extensive software. This is a vital requirement for mobile gambling, and the relationship will see QuickFire in prime position to offer players using their mobile phones the ultimate scope for gaming. And with sports betting apps already in place, Microgaming games will be the perfect addition.

QuickFire Success

QuickFire has noted considerable success with casinos operating in the online environment, with its system seamlessly being able to integrate with existing and established software. It covers all platforms including live deal, mobile, casino and poker niches in addition to providing more than 250 proven Microgaming games for premium content. Top titles including Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Thundestruck can be found, and with new titles added every month, the portfolio is constantly expanding. Added to this that QuickFire have now begun to offer titles from software developers other than Microgaming, and the attraction of the product is immense.

Mobile Gambling

Whilst e-commerce has taken off considerably, m-commerce is still developing though it is said that 2011 will really see this sector begin to make significant moves. With a huge range of gaming and shopping applications already catering to millions of smartphone users around the word, it is only a matter of time before mobile gambling becomes a very real and lucrative industry. Talking of the significance that QuickFire would have in the mobile gambling arena Victor Chandler’s Head of Mobile, Trulough Lally, explained that the product was a natural supplier for their mobile operations after its integration into the online casino area earlier this year. He added that with the incorporation of QuickFire into their mobile app, consumers would have the best gambling experience available on the smartphone platform.

A prestigious and renowned gambling software provider, Microgaming offers a number of tournaments at its casinos, providing players the chance to indulge in something a little different from the average online experience. Microgaming has recently added Weekend Whopper, Midweek Moolah and Monthly Monster to its roster, and it has been revealed that a number of freeroll smaller prize pools have also now been added, offering even greater choice for online gamblers.

Mad Hatters Good Times

The first new small prize pool tournament brought by Microgaming is the Good Times tournament on slot title Mad Hatters. This prize pool is worth $100 and is shared amongst five top players allowing winnings of $40, $25, $15, $12 and $8. Each event of Good Times has a maximum player number of 500 and runs for a five hour window, with each gambler getting an initial five minutes of wagering time. With a maximum bet of 300 coins and an initial coin stack of 25,000, players indulge in a one round tournament which includes Microgaming’s popular Rebuys and Continue Play options, with each choice having a maximum of ten and five purchases respectively.

Midnight Challenge

Structured in a similar way to Good Times, the Midnight Challenge is run on the Avalon slots title. The coin stack and maximum bets are smaller however, with an initial stack of 12,500 coins and the highest wager being 200 coins. Coin sums for Rebuy and Continue Play options are reduced appropriately.

Easy Money Tournament

Microgaming’s final new small prize pool tournament is Easy Money; a popular gambling option of up to 2,000 players which is played on the Hitman slots title. Whilst the top prize is still $100, the fund is shared between 10 players, giving more opportunities to win. However, winnings are reduced, with the highest payout being $30 and the lowest just $2. Like Microgaming’s other options, the tournament lasts five hours. However there are no Rebuys and up to 50 Continue Play choices, with a stack of 18,000 coins and a maximum wager of 300 coins.

Small Prize Pool Popularity

Microgaming’s new tournaments can be enjoyed at casinos such as Jackpot City, Platinum Play and Spin Palace, offering players the chance to enjoy an engaging experience even if their bankroll isn’t high. And whilst the prizes are small, for leisure gamers, the tournaments are the ideal option.

It has been revealed that European based operators are beginning to line up possible software providers as legalization of online gambling comes close to completion. Countries including Denmark, Greece and Spain all have online casinos readying themselves for approved licenses, with the world’s top software firms noting strong demand from establishments.

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.