Australians lose $12 Billion per year on Pokies
November 9, 2009
Australians lose $12 Billion per year on Pokies
The pokie craze has taken Australia by storm. It is estimated that about 15% of Australians gamble regularly and, of this group, 5% of them play the pokies at least once per week. Losses on the pokies total to an astounding $12 Billion per annum. Statistics published by the Productivity Commission reveal that 15% of those Australians who gamble regularly suffer from problmen gambling, while another 15% are at “moderate risk” of becoming problem gamblers.
So, if these stats are correct, then what about the other 70% of Australians who gamble? Well, the Commission doesn’t clearly state how much this group spends or how much they do or don’t contribute to problem gambling. What it does state is that it recommends lowering the “intensity of play” on the pokies to limit the amount money a gambler could lose on these machines. They recommend that the bet limit be restricted to $1 per button push. This would reduce the maximum losses on one machine from $1200 to $120 and Players would only be allowed to play $20 at a time into one machine. It is perceived that this action could help reduce problem gambling by 10% and generate at least $450 Million per year.
With this new regulated type of gambling in place, the Commission hopes to branch over to online gambling; not because of the potential earnings that could come from this market but, instead, because of the “dangers to the gambler of a growing unregulated international industry”. According to the Commission, this action could help save the 4% of online gamblers from this unregulated form of gambling, which allows betting “24 hours a day, allows credit betting, has no intrinsic restrictions on bets size”. government hopes to recapture the 4% of gamblers who have made online gambling their preferred choice of wagering. Hence, they are appealing the the Australian government to allow online gambling if there is a strict focus on protecting the gambler from possible addiction issues.
Sounds to us like the Commission has good foresight. They understand that the $700 Million that Australians spend per year on online gambling could very well go into their economy, especially in these recessive times, and their angle is to “disguise” their concern for problem gambling with a pretty gift wrapper and bow by recommending a reduction in bet amounts. Forgive us for being cynical but online gambling is here to stay! It’s your money, so you should be able to spend it the way that you want to and online casinos give you that freedom and that luxury.
Play in Australian dollars at this casino and win as much as you want!
Beware of max. payouts
July 21, 2009
There are a few things that are so attractive as Jackpots and large amounts of even progressive jackpots. We all would like to be on the winning side of this one. Many online casinos have progressive jackpots on various games, and are not only limited to only slots or roulette.
Amounts that are paid out are different from casino to casino. There is in some cases a cap on daily and weekly withdrawals. This is to say, if your winnings are higher than the limit allowed, it will pay out over a few weeks. Most of these regulations apply with Playtech and RTG (Real Time Gaming). For instance: Joyland Casino has a cap of $9000 per month. Should you win $12 000, you will receive it over a period of 2 months. The same rule does not always apply as in the case of Microgaming software. Ensure you have read the casinos terms and conditions.
And this goes for registration, as well as cash-outs. It will appear in the casino’s term and conditions. Should your winnings fall in line with terms and conditions, you should not encounter a problem. We normally read the T&C only upon winning, and then are very sad when we can’t cash out all our winnings. It’s important for you, the player, to understand how the casino operates and software in use by a particular casino. Various versions of software are in existence and the operator modifies to fit in with their T&C.
We aim to advise you before registering at a casino to read and familiarise yourself with these T&C, not because we want to prescribed to you, but because we want to illuminate disappointment. And why do you think you neglect to understand this concept? Well, it is that we don’t think that winning the jackpot “will happen to me”. On the other hand, many reports did come through that winnings are paid out within days of winning the Jackpots with Microgaming. Make sure the casino is legit and the software can allow payouts and fall within the T&C. See here!
Casinos are regulated by licensed agreements. Make sure the casino is not black listed before you part with your hard earned cash. Don’t be fooled by big payouts and bonuses till you are sure. Here at www.amuse.co.za, we do the research on casinos and software for you to be sure that what we suggest is factual, and casinos you can trust and credible in both the info and referrals. Casinos we have tested are: EuroGrand, 32Vegas Casino, Spin Palace, Europa Casino and many more.
So, never think it cannot happen to you! It can and will. When it does, be aware off the pitfalls.
We at AMUSE aim to please!
Canadian Company launches BetStopper
July 21, 2009
We live in a world today where the Internet connects us to everything and anything. This is not about what’s good or bad, but an article about responsible parenting. These days, children are well educated on technology and internet. It is our job as parents to protect them from harmful access to sites meant for over 18’s. This is a standard rule on gambling sites and children are creative when left with access to the World Wide Web.
How can this be? It just is a fact, as they have access to your internet; learn at school in computer science as well as from parent’s example’s. Technology is here to stay and can only get better and wider. We are well aware that teenagers are being victimised by online predators, but the same goes for online gambling. The difference is that gambling sites that are licensed do advertise for 18+ only. Children are very resourceful and can easily enter wrong dates to short-cut the screening by casinos.
We are not suggesting that you have no control, but the truth is that we are mostly not aware that children are fast learners and have access to your information. Compare this to Identity fraud. It is done to people who have not even met these criminals, but they get away with it. So can your children. At www.betstopper.ca, you can be responsible to install the software to protect your children.
The tool is also helpful to people who has an addiction problem or compulsive behaviour to gambling. Our job is done when you know that this is done today and could also be happening to you and your children. Rather be safe than sorry! Protect the ones you love and care for them by ensuring you and or your family are not a statistic! We aim to please and amuse, so please visit www.betstopper.ca for the quick and easy download.
Big winner at new Intertops Red Casino
July 1, 2009
News:
And who said you will only loose at online casinos? Just yesterday, I wrote a review on Intertops Red Casino, and found in the news today that a player has won at this casino! How’s that for coincidence?
The player known as Christopher T won a whopping $200,090 playing the T-Rex slot machine. To top it all, it was not even a progressive jackpot that he won. The RED casino was launched just over a month ago due to US legislation but at Intertops Red Casino, all USA players are welcome.
The winner said: “I decided to take a break and after a while I wanted to continue my winning streak. At the end of my play I had accumulated $200,090!” He now wants to travel to Washington and go see the dinosaurs at the Smithsonian.
This slot machine is a 25 payline 5 reel machine called the T-Rex. It is one of many new slot machines you can choose from at Intertops Red Casino. On offer is many dozens more with video poker, multi hand video poker, Aztec’s millions slots and Cleopatra’s Gold! There are many progressive jackpots to choose from and the most favourite currently is the Jackpot Pinatas with over $1.3 million!
With more than 300 instant games to choose from, the casino is living up to its Mother casino’s reputation with fast, reliable and easy hassle-free deposits and withdrawals. They offer excellence in serving you through their 24/7 agents operating customer service.
Visit Intertops Red Casino
Biggest Online Casino Progressive Jackpot:
May 14, 2009
Mega Moolah slots had a progressive jackpot winner this past week for €6.3 million at River Belle Online Casino! It is the largest progressive jackpot won in the history of online casinos. Last year’s progressive jackpot was €5.5 million.
The winner, Georgios M is a 36 year old father and husband, and a business owner from Greek decent. He said in his own words that he could not believe it when his computer announced the enormous winnings. The casino support line had to confirm his winnings and calm him down, before he believed it! And that from a €5 spin? His winnings will be paid in cash by Microgaming Progressive Network.
The chairman of River Belle’s parent Belle Rock Entertainment, Tim Johnson had this to say: “We at Belle Rock Entertainment take the utmost pleasure in seeing our players win life-changing jackpots. It is an amazing accomplishment that for a single bet of €5 a valued long time River Belle player walked away with the largest online jackpot ever won. Well done and enjoy your winnings Georgios.”
So, don’t think it can never happen to you. Georgios also thought that that online jackpot’s is to lure one in to play, and that few ever win. But as we can see, it pays to play at online casinos! Just make sure you play at licensed accredited casinos!
South Africa will regulate online gambling
April 27, 2009
South Africa is going a new and very interesting way to regulate online casinos.
According to the CEO of the National Gambling Board (NGB), Thembi Moja, the local online gambling market will finally be regulated in a couple of months after years of debates.
10 licences will be granted to operate an online casino in South Africa. The gaming servers of the operators must be in South Africa. The process of who can apply and who might be able to run an online casino legally in SA is not decided yet to our knowledge. One can hope it will be a fair process and no corrupt elements will be part of it.
What makes the South African approach different compare to any other countries is the tight regulations of financial transaction.Every player needs to have a dedicated gambling account with any SA bank and this account can only be funded by credit card. The Reserve Bank will monitor these accounts together with the banks and a maximum balance of R20.000 will be allowed.
The Internet Gambling Tax Bill provides for a 6% tax of the gross gaming revenue. Take into consideration the local online gambling markets is estimated to already be between R400 Million to 1 Billion, this gambling tax will bring the state a substantial amount of money.
It is another try from a country to make money from internet gambling through regulations, but the problem remains the same. The Internet doesn’t have borders. The reality is that a SA operator will have the benefit to market his products on TV, newspapers and any website in South Africa, but has a huge disadvantage to most other global operating online gambling company. These organizations are set up in a way that they pay next to no taxes and the will have automatically more money to spend of marketing and player retention.
Why should a South African go through the hassle of opening a gambling account? A simple Google search will offer him tons of casino better offers and maybe even better service. What happens if you win R100.000 in a SA online casino? You are only allowed to have R20.000 in you gambling account?
The fact of the matter is, before we don’t have a global set of internet laws and regulations, countries will always say: We must fight illegal online gambling and online casino operators will always say: These countries are fighting us, we never even consider moving our operations there and start paying taxes.
South Africa releases the Interactive Gambling Tax Bill 2008
April 26, 2009
In 2006 the National Gambling Board in South Africa released a report outlining the necessity for legalizing online gambling in South Africa; highlighting the fact that land-based gambling and online sports betting were already existent. In response the South African government tripled their efforts to get the ball rolling on this project and to ensure that effective regulations (especially in the form of control systems geared at identifying problem gambling, money laundering, and other criminal activities) were put in place.
Now two years later online gambling is one step away from being legalized in South Africa and the government is now on the verge of tapping into the millions of dollars in tax revenue the industry generates.
South Africa’s Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel, has released for comment the Interactive Gambling Tax Bill, a special tax law on interactive gambling, which will impose a 6% tax on gross gambling revenue from internet gambling.
The tax is provided for in the National Gambling Amendment Bill, an amendment to the National Gambling Act, which did not provide for legalized interactive gambling. The amendment, therefore, allows for online gambling, which will be strictly regulated and monitored.
Several gambling operations in South Africa are waiting in the wings for the passing of the Interactive Gambling Tax Bill. One such operation is Betting World, a sportsbetting site, which intends to add online Poker to its gambling offering. Other smaller gambling sites will also benefit from the anticipated influx of new Players who will now take comfort in knowing that they can bet online without any hassles.
The Interactive Gambling Tax Bill will be tabled in Parliament during the first half of 2009. Comments on the legislative proposals must be sent to the Treasury before March 1, 2009.
The full text of the Bill can be found on the Treasury’s website.
Another record year for Macau (Las Vegas of China) even though we are in a recession!
April 26, 2009
Macau gaming revenues reached record highs before the recession hit late in 2008, as reported by The Xinhau News Agency. Reported US$13.7 during 2008 with year on year increases of average 31%!
Statistics released from the Special Administrative Region (SAR), Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, the only place in China where gambling is legal, reported gaming revenues of 45.7% over 2007.
Tycoon, Stanley Ho’s company SJM, was the market leader last year followed by US gaming operators in second and third positions. Macau gaming revenues dropped by 7% year on year for the last few years. The world recession is felt as the industry slowed down from September 2008 and dropped by 3.5% in total.
Pitfalls for South Africans
April 26, 2009
Online Casino gaming is plenty of entertainment if you love to be at home and tour the world’s casinos online. There is so much to AMUSE yourself with and so many to pick and choose from. The only snag in this is that, as a South African, I am rejected at many many casinos because of my SA nationality! At first I thought it is just a small problem with one casino, but as I went through my list of casinos, I was rejected at almost 95% of them.
True to my style, I did not succumb to their rejection and started sending e-mails to the administrators/customer service departments. This was my e-mail to them:
“Hi there, I came across your casino site via internet, and was interested to play as you opening bonus is really attractive. Upon registration, my account could not be activated due to the fact that I live in South Africa. I do not understand this, as we have no Laws outlawing gambling! Can you please tell me what the problem is, as I do not accept rejection with regards to this matter! Hoping to hear from you soon!”
And so the replies started pouring in:
“Thank you for your email and interest that you have in …… but due to the following reasons we do not accept any players based in South Africa. Firstly our software cannot be supported if you are based in South Africa as it is not setup for IP addresses registered in S.A. Also our Gaming provider which is Micro Gaming will not be able to provide you with the support required once a casino account is registered. We do appreciate your feedback and hope that we will be able to make the casino available in South Africa soon.”
Now I ask…is this discrimination or just bad luck? Why have an internet casino on the www and exclude SA? So, in the end I had no choice to only play with online casinos that are South African friendly! Even if the writers of the response email do decide to allow SA to play in a few years from now, I will not join them. Their loss in my opinion!
The purpose of posting this you think? To inform you of the pitfalls out there in the online gaming world and what you can expect. Now, as I went through the time of downloading the software, and provided them with all my details, do I receive a refund on my MB used to download useless software? No, this is what you loose! And to make matters worse, now I receive spam from them as they are now in possession of my e-mail address and details! Sounds like complaining, but this is the reality and I want you to be aware of what is going on out there!
On AMUSE, we will post SA friendly casino sites for you to visit and that you can trust. This will save you time and software downloads in MB, as it is costing you to install it.
Go and amuse yourself and have loads of fun - http://www.thegameoftheirlives.com/
R300 Million Jackpot Winner
April 15, 2009
A 38 old mom of four has won an unbelievable 330 Million Rand ($33 Million) at a casino in Reno on Easter Sunday. This is one of this amazing stories. A friend of her has convinced her to go to the casino. She actually wanted to enjoy Eater Monday with her four kids. Her husband offered her to have some play time with them and she decided to join her friend.
She started playing and not even after 15 minutes he hit the Megabucks Jackpot at Sparks Casino. This is the second biggest Jackpot ever won in a Casino $39 Million in March 2003 in Las Vegas at the Excalibur Casino.
She will definitely have enough money to put her kids through University, buy a nice house, go on an extended holiday and can still live comfortably from the interest. How one spin at a progressive slot can change your life.
Not online B&M casinos offer big jackpots. You can also win millions playing in an online casino. The bigges online Jackpot you can win at the moment at Spin Palace Casino. The Mega Moolah progressive jackpot slot is at over 6 Million. Make sure you play in UK Pounds or Euro, but not in Rand. The winner will receive the money in the currency he or she plays.
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