Following its take-over of EOL and IOG assets last week, online gambling giant PartyGaming, operator of such well known online gambling sites as PartyPoker.com and PartyCasino.com, signed a 4-year licensing contract with Playtech, leading online gambling software provider, in order to retain Playtech as the exclusive software engine provider for all its newly purchased online properties, including EnterCasino.com, ClubDice.com, and MagixBoxCasino.com (previously operated by EOL and Intercontinental).

Vip.com today announced that they're about to launch 14 re-designed table games, 3 new Real-Series video slots (Crystal Waters, Enchanted Garden and Treasure Chamber) and 10 new Flash games in their casino. This appears to be the new RealTime Gaming software package update, but it did not appear in many RTG casinos so far.

Recent speculations of imminent PartyGaming takeover of Empire Online turned out to be true. The online gambling giant today announced that it acquires both Empire Online Limited and Intercontinental Online Gaming for US$66,3 million in stock shares. This will give PartyGaming control over well known Playtech-powered online casino, poker room, and bingo brands previously operated by EOL (Club Dice Casino, Carnival Casino, Enter Casino and Noble Poker) and IOG (Magicbox Casino, Casino King, Swiss Casino, Casino Las Vegas, 50 Stars Casino, Fair Poker, Miss Bingo) that are expected to generate over US$8,5 million in profits in 2007. Read the full article for official press release.

Playtech, the popular online gambling platform provider, announced a five year software licensing deal with China's leading gaming group: Sino Strategic International. Under the agreement Playtech and SSI will be the first major distributor and promoter of Texas Hold'em Poker in the Chinese market. Following the launch of the poker product in the coming months, SSI expects to launch a selection of Playtech powered P2P Chinese tournament games through selected SSI outlets in China in the first half of 2007 after a testing, approval and implementation period. There are further plans to offer games played more commonly in China, such as mahjong, Do Di Zhu, Cho Da Di and To La Ji.

Microgaming informs that they've released a new online casino games software package to their licensees. The new releases package includes a brand new 50-hand All Aces video poker game, as well as three new video slots games (Summertime, Twin Samurai, Glory of Rome), featuring sharp graphics and large payouts.

Last but not least, blackjack fans will appreciate the new Blackjack Multi-hand Gold Series release, included in this package. It includes Multi-hand Atlantic City Blackjack Gold, Multi-hand European Blackjack Gold, Multi-hand Vegas Downtown Blackjack Gold, Multi-hand Vegas Strip Blackjack Gold, and Multi-hand Classic Blackjack Gold. Watch out for these games to arrive shortly at your favorite Microgaming Viper casino!

Microgaming, the popular online casino software provider sends news that it has released a new software feature to its casino licensees. Live dealers should currently be available at select casinos for Baccarat, future releases of the software are expected to include Roulette, SicBo, Fan Tan and many more games.

Available 24hrs a day, seven days a week, a video feed of the dealer is displayed on screen, more closely simulating the land-based casino environment. As the dealer deals a card from the shoe, it is identified immediately via a sensor, with the physical card being placed on the dealer’s table and an icon of the card being displayed on the player’s screen.

Race Track Casino today announced that they're stopping all their operations. According to the operators, they had to close the casino "due to the new legislation banning online gaming companies from accepting bets by US players... since most of our players are US residents". All customer accounts and vip points have been transfered to Racetrack's sister casino: CityClub Casino, which "features the same games, from progressive slots to video poker and all the other games you played at Race Track Casino".

Today, on Friday the Thirteenth of October 2006, American President George W. Bush signed the final revision of "Safe Ports Act", earlier already approved in both senate and house of representatives. "Safe Ports Act" includes a subsection entitled "Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006", which effectively bans online gambling in the USA, bringing it back into the sad era of Prohibition. While players will not face criminal charges, online gambling operators and financial institutions providing services to them will be. Read the full article for full version of the bill.

Microgaming, the popular online gambling software provider, sends a word that they've just released a new online casino game package to their casino licensees. The package includes a brand new 3-reel slot machine called Jungle 7s, which allows up to 15,000 coins jackpot win, and has a multiplier feature which could drive the winnings even further. Another classic slots release is Legacy, a 3-reel 5-payline slot machine that can net up to $60,000, before multipliers and wilds, which can quadruple the maximum win amount.

Chocolate Factory is a 5-reel 9-payline slot machine, also included in this release. Furthermore, the new Blackjack Gold Series 3 package is included in this release, which features Super Fun 21 Blackjack Gold, Spanish 21 Blackjack Gold. Pontoon Gold, and Double Exposure Blackjack Gold. Keep an eye out for these games in your favorite Microgaming casino!

Sportingbet today announced that its chairman, Peter Dicks (arrested last week at the JFK Airpost in the USA on charges related to the USA Phone Gambling Act), "was granted an extension to his bail permitting him to return to the United Kingdom. Further, today's hearing has been adjourned until 28 September 2006 after New York Governor George Pataki's office withdrew a governor's warrant necessary to transfer Mr Dicks to the State of Louisiana.". Right after his release he resigned from his position, just like BetOnSports CEO did several weeks ago in simiilar situation. Reuters reports a 25% increase in SportingBet's shares value.

BetByInternet online sportsbook, casino, horsebook and poker room today announced that it's leaving the WorldGaming software platform, for the BLR Caribbean Technologies software package. "The casino package is very realistic and colorful. The horse wagering software is real-time and offers many different types of horse betting styles to include win, place, show, exacta, trifecta and more. The sports betting software includes sports betting styles such as parlay, if bets, action bets and straight wagers. Sports parlays can be combined in multi-sports." The redesigned site was launched today. Read the full article for the full press release.

As the latest sign of things yet to come amid the US Department of Justice crackdown on online gambling, Purple Lounge casino/poker room sends word that they're pulling out of the American market. "Until the existing legislation is clarified, Purple Lounge will no longer take customers, bets or poker rake from any player resident within the United States of America. Any US player who holds a Purple Lounge account with a current balance will be able to withdraw their money over the next 14 days. Affiliate payments will be made the first of the month as usual". Read the full article for the full public annoucement...

eCOGRA, the independent standards authority of the online gaming industry, in association with Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nevada, is currently conducting a survey within the online gambling community. Results of the "eCOGRA Global Online Gaming Report" are due to be released to the public in January, 2007. Read full article for more or follow the related link to take part in the survey.

Several weeks ago West Ham United terminated their contract with Cpays.com casino group which enabled the latter to operate the branded online casino HammersCasino.com (now defunct). There is now a new development to this story: the famous UK Premiership Club chooses Pinnacle Casino for branded casino games, for an exclusive three-year period. Blue Chip Games will design a dedicated gaming section at the club's homepage at WHUFC.com. Read the full news for the press article.

Fortune Lounge is the latest online casino group to adopt the new Microgaming bonus system. A player's total balance will now be divided into a Cash Balance and a Bonus Balance. While the player's balance in their Cash Balance account can be withdrawn at anytime, the balance in the Bonus Account cannot be withdrawn. Instead, these funds become available as they are transferred from the Bonus Account to the Cash Account in $10 intervals as the player meets the play-through requirements on a bonus. Furthermore, from now on it's possible to see the remaining wagering requirements at all times.