888 and Betfair Misleading Advertisements

The latest 888.com television advertisement and a Betfair internet e-mail promotion campaign were investigated by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) and both were found to ambiguous. Both these internet casinos were informed not to show these offending adverts again since it left their players confused and disgruntled.

888. com’s advert guaranteed players the following; “£8,888,888 could be yours, only at 888.com. Receive eight spins completely free. No deposit. No charge,” save for 888.com never informed players that they had to wager a fixed amount of cash before they could withdraw their winnings, the ASA found. Since then it has received one complaint.

In total Betfair has received ten complaints subsequent an e-mail outlining its ‘Happy Hour’ promotion as well as a 50% reload bonus advertised on its website. Two players complained the moment their happy hour bonuses were taken away. Seven more players complained pertaining to the reload bonus- one player was told to credit his account after taking advantage of the latter.

A new proposal has been put forward for a state treaty on internet gambling by the German Olympic Sports Confederation, Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund (DOSB). Within the parameters of the dual model projected, the country’s state lottery monopoly would stay put – although with a stronger emphasis on player protection and anti-fraud methods in place.

Centrebet’s net profits for the first half of 2010/11 dropped by more than 70% to AU$1.84m, after a AU$1.9m increase in marketing spend in comparison to the same period in 2009/10. Managing director Michael McRitchie, of the Aussie bookmaker said he anticipates positive results of the increased marketing spend for the six months ending on the 31^st of December 2010 when the company issues its second half figures.

A new internet casino game, Créatio has just been introduced by La Francaise des Jeux. The central theme of the game is based on the four elements; players will spin separate wheels for earth, wind, fire and water.

The European Poker Tour’s Grand Finale would be held in Spain at the Casino Gran Madrid for the first time; since it was held for the last six years at Monaco’s Casino de Monte Carlo. Ever since the Spanish draft gaming bill received the go-ahead last month, there has been movement towards the Casino Gran Madrid entering the internet gaming market teaming up with provider MediaTech Solutions.