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Lottomatica Group, which plans to be on the technology side of things for Nevada online gaming, received the OK by the Silver State Gaming Control Board on Thursday.
The company now goes to the Gaming Commission later this month to receive a license.
Lottomatica has two units involved in the commercial gaming industry — GTECH and SPIELO International. In addition to lottery technology, the firm is in the slot machine and online poker business. Nevada is looking at poker for entry into Internet gaming.
In addition to Lottomatica, Sartini Synergy Online also heads to the Commission.
The firm has a few casinos in Nevada, but is perhaps better known for its widespread PT’s Tavern chain, which has gaming devices on location. Golden Gaming will enter the online business as an operator through its subsidiary. It could work with a software provider.
Two More Firms Receive Online Gambling OK In Nevada
The company now goes to the Gaming Commission later this month to receive a license.
Lottomatica has two units involved in the commercial gaming industry — GTECH and SPIELO International. In addition to lottery technology, the firm is in the slot machine and online poker business. Nevada is looking at poker for entry into Internet gaming.
In addition to Lottomatica, Sartini Synergy Online also heads to the Commission.
The firm has a few casinos in Nevada, but is perhaps better known for its widespread PT’s Tavern chain, which has gaming devices on location. Golden Gaming will enter the online business as an operator through its subsidiary. It could work with a software provider.
Two More Firms Receive Online Gambling OK In Nevada
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A recent article about Denmark and its opening up of it online gambling market to operators not located in Denmark suggested that everything was going well in that jurisdiction of Scandinavia. Denmark is doing well by all accounts and is happy so far with its decision to liberalize the industry. They even extended the licenses of operators for five years past the original beta one year plan.
Some firms however aren’t that interested in continuing to offer their services in Denmark 888 being the most obvious abstainer. 888, conspicuous by their absence from those wishing to cash in on the privilege decided it wasn’t worth the effort to continue. A spokesperson told GamblingCompliance that Denmark was “not a material market for us” and there were other jurisdictions in which the company would be “better off spending our money to go along with their regulation than Denmark’s.”
This statement sounds like the honeymoon is over in Denmark where some operators are reporting less than stellar earnings since they began to offer gambling options to Danes. Danske Spil still owned and operated by the government is reported to control sixty two percent of the gambling market in the country.
The Danish Gambling Authority’s figures for the first nine months of regulated online gambling business revealed that 23 of the 51 gaming licenses that are spread among 33 operators individually earned gross gaming revenue below 5m DKK that a mere $876k. USD On the flip side of the coin, eight online casino and four sports betting licenses earned over DKK 25m or $4.38m USD, while another 16 licenses fell somewhere in between. The range of earnings says something about the situation the operators face in Denmark, and it is possible that other online gambling operators on the lower end of the scale may rethink their offerings in the jurisdiction. 888 may be the tip of the exit iceberg and the first but not the last to read the writing o the wall in Denmark.
Online Gambling in Denmark Sees Varied Financial Results
Some firms however aren’t that interested in continuing to offer their services in Denmark 888 being the most obvious abstainer. 888, conspicuous by their absence from those wishing to cash in on the privilege decided it wasn’t worth the effort to continue. A spokesperson told GamblingCompliance that Denmark was “not a material market for us” and there were other jurisdictions in which the company would be “better off spending our money to go along with their regulation than Denmark’s.”
This statement sounds like the honeymoon is over in Denmark where some operators are reporting less than stellar earnings since they began to offer gambling options to Danes. Danske Spil still owned and operated by the government is reported to control sixty two percent of the gambling market in the country.
The Danish Gambling Authority’s figures for the first nine months of regulated online gambling business revealed that 23 of the 51 gaming licenses that are spread among 33 operators individually earned gross gaming revenue below 5m DKK that a mere $876k. USD On the flip side of the coin, eight online casino and four sports betting licenses earned over DKK 25m or $4.38m USD, while another 16 licenses fell somewhere in between. The range of earnings says something about the situation the operators face in Denmark, and it is possible that other online gambling operators on the lower end of the scale may rethink their offerings in the jurisdiction. 888 may be the tip of the exit iceberg and the first but not the last to read the writing o the wall in Denmark.
Online Gambling in Denmark Sees Varied Financial Results
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The puzzle pieces are creating a clear picture as to the steps Zynga is taking into its undoubted venture into real money gambling. eGR released a report this morning stating that there are a number of factoids leading to the social gaming operators preparations.
One such is the filing of several patents throughout 2012, 89 patents were filed with 38 acquired from Walker Digital, a software company previously in patent legalities with Zynga.
Zynga’s patent includes one for a wagering machine, central slot machine server with the remaining 51 patents, “believed to be most likely developed in-house, include technology to manage virtual currency and gifting solutions and online multiplayer technology.”
Back in December 2012, Zynga filed a preliminary application to run real-money gambling games in Nevada. The social games developer has hopes that proposed legislation to regulate gaming across the U.S. will open a lucrative real-money market making up for a continuing losses in revenue from its games like “FarmVille.”
Zynga Continuing Preparations for Lucrative Online Gambling Venture | CS Report
One such is the filing of several patents throughout 2012, 89 patents were filed with 38 acquired from Walker Digital, a software company previously in patent legalities with Zynga.
Zynga’s patent includes one for a wagering machine, central slot machine server with the remaining 51 patents, “believed to be most likely developed in-house, include technology to manage virtual currency and gifting solutions and online multiplayer technology.”
Back in December 2012, Zynga filed a preliminary application to run real-money gambling games in Nevada. The social games developer has hopes that proposed legislation to regulate gaming across the U.S. will open a lucrative real-money market making up for a continuing losses in revenue from its games like “FarmVille.”
Zynga Continuing Preparations for Lucrative Online Gambling Venture | CS Report
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Urook Khan was the lucky winner of a $1 million jackpot off a scratch-card lottery ticket; however, new tests show that his death shortly after winning was not natural. Khan died just as he was about to collect his money, there were no signs of trauma and nothing suspicious about it. However, new tests show that he had in fact ingested a lethal amount of cyanide.
The tests are a result of a relative’s campaign for a closer look at his death and a homicide investigation has now been launched.
At an Illinois Lottery ceremony Khan said “winning the lottery means everything to me.” He was planning to put some of the money into businesses and donate some to a children’s hospital.
Khan was issued the cheque for his winnings on July 19th, the day before he died.
At the time no autopsy was carried out and his death was ruled a result of the narrowing and hardening of coronary arteries. Cyanide can be inhaled, swallowed or injected, it is fairly difficult to obtain but can kill in less than five minutes.
Chicago Police Department spokeswoman Melissa Stratton said that the department are now investigating the death and that detectives are working closely with the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The tests are a result of a relative’s campaign for a closer look at his death and a homicide investigation has now been launched.
At an Illinois Lottery ceremony Khan said “winning the lottery means everything to me.” He was planning to put some of the money into businesses and donate some to a children’s hospital.
Khan was issued the cheque for his winnings on July 19th, the day before he died.
At the time no autopsy was carried out and his death was ruled a result of the narrowing and hardening of coronary arteries. Cyanide can be inhaled, swallowed or injected, it is fairly difficult to obtain but can kill in less than five minutes.
Chicago Police Department spokeswoman Melissa Stratton said that the department are now investigating the death and that detectives are working closely with the Medical Examiner’s Office.
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Gov. Chris Christie, who vetoed an online gambling bill in early 2012, has not signaled whether he plans to sign or veto a similar measure that passed the Legislature on Dec. 17. The Republican governor has until Feb. 3 to sign or reject the measure.
The new bill (S. 1565), like the previous version, would authorize only brick-and-mortar casino operators in Atlantic City to operate online versions of their games, and would permit residents of other states to play if the state attorney general determined this would not contravene federal law. The bill states that servers for Internet gaming products must reside inside Atlantic City's casinos.
State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), lead sponsor of the bill, voiced hopes that New Jersey could launch online gaming before May 1.
Last year, Christie endorsed online gambling in theory, but objected to certain provisions in the original bill, which he said could result in online casinos springing up statewide.
The new bill (S. 1565), like the previous version, would authorize only brick-and-mortar casino operators in Atlantic City to operate online versions of their games, and would permit residents of other states to play if the state attorney general determined this would not contravene federal law. The bill states that servers for Internet gaming products must reside inside Atlantic City's casinos.
State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), lead sponsor of the bill, voiced hopes that New Jersey could launch online gaming before May 1.
Last year, Christie endorsed online gambling in theory, but objected to certain provisions in the original bill, which he said could result in online casinos springing up statewide.
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You can’t bet real money online, but you can play simulated casino games on your smartphone for “fun”. If the law changes, researchers are concerned it may have impacts on how we gamble online. Smartphones: they can do just about anything. But it’s their potential to act as casinos, bookmakers and even the humble bingo caller that’s got gambling researchers betting on trouble.
For the moment it’s pretty hard to gamble real money online — bookies, of course, are legal, but current legislation forbids online casinos from operating in Australia. That means games like blackjack, roulette and poker are technically not available to local internet players — although savvy operators can find their way to an overseas casino.
The ban also extends to mobile smartphones. But that hasn’t halted the surge in gambling-themed games being offered in the iTunes and Android application stores. Slotomania, Bingo Bash and Poker by Zynga are just some of the gambling games to rise to the top of the download charts.
Social media too has seen huge growth in “free” betting games, with games such as DoubleDown Casino, Mirrorball Slots and Bingo Blitz boasting millions of players on Facebook. Sally Gainsbury, a postdoctoral research fellow at Southern Cross University’s Centre for Gambling Education and Research, has been surveying people who gamble using the internet, mobile phones and digital TV. She reckons social media and smartphones are a major growth area.
Gainsbury says many of these games offer a “freemium” experience, meaning the app is free but players can fork out real money for extended features, bonus levels and more fake coins to play with. ”It really is a training, or priming, for real money gambling , which can then obviously end up with serious problems for when people spend more money than they can afford,” she said.
In Slotomania, for example, a new player starts off with 200 coins, which can disappear not long after signing up. To keep you playing Slotomania offers the chance to buy more coins with real money. The most popular in-app Slotomania purchase on iTunes is 18,000 coins, which costs $10.49. Essentially it’s paying to gamble for “fun”, without the opportunity of a pay-off.
Charles Livingstone, from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University, is concerned games like Slotomania may be played by kids. He says kids with access to their parent’s credit card could get hooked on the game and easily buy the in-app purchases.
Slotomania — which was the top grossing iTunes app of 2012 — says it’s intended for players over 21, but is actually rated for ages 12+ in the iTunes app store with “frequent/intense simulated gambling”.
“Should a 12-year-old be playing a slot machine, would you allow 12-year-olds into a casino? This is crazy stuff,” Livingstone told Crikey. “To all intents and purposes, it is gambling. The fact that you don’t win money is neither here nor there because it costs you money to keep using it.”
Gainsbury also has concerns with the unrealistic odds offered by these games, which may be more skewed in favour of the player than real-life gambling. People who win big on Facebook may not do so well at the local RSL.
“They’re actually manipulated to encourage people to win, so that they enjoy the games,” Gainsbury told Crikey. “They’re supposed to be fun and entertaining, but they really misrepresent what gambling actually involves.”
Despite the regulatory issues, the global race to cash in on smartphone and social media gambling has already begun. According to Juniper Research, global annual betting through mobile handsets and tablets will top $100 billion by 2017, up from just under $20 billion last year.
In the UK, Facebook has teamed with online casino giant 888 (its poker game is fronted by Shane Warne) to offer real-money gambling on the social media network. That move follows the launch of Facebook’s first real-money betting game Bingo Friendzy in August, which offers bingo and slot machine gambling to those in the UK.
There are moves in the US to also allow online social casino games, with app market leader Zynga (Farmville and Mafia Wars) applying for a gambling license in Nevada. Crucially, all have cited the importance of the social aspect of these games as the reason for their interest.
Gainsbury doesn’t think Australians will be able to gamble real cash on Facebook or smartphones any time soon. But if there is a move to legalise, companies already offering simulated casino games are in the box seat. ”For a young person if they’re used to playing a free play game with a particular operator you’re much more likely to go on and play the real-money game with the same operator,” she said.
The Interactive Gaming Act is currently under review, with one likely change being the approval of online poker. The interim report has noted the issues surrounding social media and smartphone gambling, as well as the “free-to-play” simulation games.
“The regulation is completely out of step with the current reality on internet gambling,” said Gainsbury. “It was created in 2001, which is just a lifetime ago in terms of where internet gambling was then.”
Gainsbury, who sent a submission to the review, believes there isn’t a lot of political will to move on online gambling. She thinks the government was spooked by the politically damaging pokies campaign, and doesn’t want to pick any more fights with powerful lobby groups.
Livingstone says games like Slotomania are pretty much unregulated — the sudden convergence of gambling and social media could cause major problems.
“The danger in my mind is it becomes very difficult, particularly for young people, to discriminate between what is simply a bit of fun and something that can end up costing quite a lot of money,” he said. ”In a sense this is grooming them for real-world gambling where they will lose
For the moment it’s pretty hard to gamble real money online — bookies, of course, are legal, but current legislation forbids online casinos from operating in Australia. That means games like blackjack, roulette and poker are technically not available to local internet players — although savvy operators can find their way to an overseas casino.
The ban also extends to mobile smartphones. But that hasn’t halted the surge in gambling-themed games being offered in the iTunes and Android application stores. Slotomania, Bingo Bash and Poker by Zynga are just some of the gambling games to rise to the top of the download charts.
Social media too has seen huge growth in “free” betting games, with games such as DoubleDown Casino, Mirrorball Slots and Bingo Blitz boasting millions of players on Facebook. Sally Gainsbury, a postdoctoral research fellow at Southern Cross University’s Centre for Gambling Education and Research, has been surveying people who gamble using the internet, mobile phones and digital TV. She reckons social media and smartphones are a major growth area.
Gainsbury says many of these games offer a “freemium” experience, meaning the app is free but players can fork out real money for extended features, bonus levels and more fake coins to play with. ”It really is a training, or priming, for real money gambling , which can then obviously end up with serious problems for when people spend more money than they can afford,” she said.
In Slotomania, for example, a new player starts off with 200 coins, which can disappear not long after signing up. To keep you playing Slotomania offers the chance to buy more coins with real money. The most popular in-app Slotomania purchase on iTunes is 18,000 coins, which costs $10.49. Essentially it’s paying to gamble for “fun”, without the opportunity of a pay-off.
Charles Livingstone, from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University, is concerned games like Slotomania may be played by kids. He says kids with access to their parent’s credit card could get hooked on the game and easily buy the in-app purchases.
Slotomania — which was the top grossing iTunes app of 2012 — says it’s intended for players over 21, but is actually rated for ages 12+ in the iTunes app store with “frequent/intense simulated gambling”.
“Should a 12-year-old be playing a slot machine, would you allow 12-year-olds into a casino? This is crazy stuff,” Livingstone told Crikey. “To all intents and purposes, it is gambling. The fact that you don’t win money is neither here nor there because it costs you money to keep using it.”
Gainsbury also has concerns with the unrealistic odds offered by these games, which may be more skewed in favour of the player than real-life gambling. People who win big on Facebook may not do so well at the local RSL.
“They’re actually manipulated to encourage people to win, so that they enjoy the games,” Gainsbury told Crikey. “They’re supposed to be fun and entertaining, but they really misrepresent what gambling actually involves.”
Despite the regulatory issues, the global race to cash in on smartphone and social media gambling has already begun. According to Juniper Research, global annual betting through mobile handsets and tablets will top $100 billion by 2017, up from just under $20 billion last year.
In the UK, Facebook has teamed with online casino giant 888 (its poker game is fronted by Shane Warne) to offer real-money gambling on the social media network. That move follows the launch of Facebook’s first real-money betting game Bingo Friendzy in August, which offers bingo and slot machine gambling to those in the UK.
There are moves in the US to also allow online social casino games, with app market leader Zynga (Farmville and Mafia Wars) applying for a gambling license in Nevada. Crucially, all have cited the importance of the social aspect of these games as the reason for their interest.
Gainsbury doesn’t think Australians will be able to gamble real cash on Facebook or smartphones any time soon. But if there is a move to legalise, companies already offering simulated casino games are in the box seat. ”For a young person if they’re used to playing a free play game with a particular operator you’re much more likely to go on and play the real-money game with the same operator,” she said.
The Interactive Gaming Act is currently under review, with one likely change being the approval of online poker. The interim report has noted the issues surrounding social media and smartphone gambling, as well as the “free-to-play” simulation games.
“The regulation is completely out of step with the current reality on internet gambling,” said Gainsbury. “It was created in 2001, which is just a lifetime ago in terms of where internet gambling was then.”
Gainsbury, who sent a submission to the review, believes there isn’t a lot of political will to move on online gambling. She thinks the government was spooked by the politically damaging pokies campaign, and doesn’t want to pick any more fights with powerful lobby groups.
Livingstone says games like Slotomania are pretty much unregulated — the sudden convergence of gambling and social media could cause major problems.
“The danger in my mind is it becomes very difficult, particularly for young people, to discriminate between what is simply a bit of fun and something that can end up costing quite a lot of money,” he said. ”In a sense this is grooming them for real-world gambling where they will lose
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AMY Winehouse could take a posthumous Brit Award after being shortlisted for the best British female award against acts such as Emeli Sande.
The late star – who died 17 months ago – previously took the title in 2007 on the back of her massive 'Back To Black' album.
Sande, Mumford And Sons and Mercury Prize-winners Alt-J lead the nominations for next month's Brits, competing for three awards each.
Muse, Plan B, Rita Ora, Coldplay and Olly Murs are among eight acts with two nominations apiece.
Veteran stars the Rolling Stones have been nominated for best live act – the first time they have been in the running for a Brit for 17 years.
And it is the first time they have been shortlisted for anything other than best video since the very first Brit Awards in 1977, when they competed for best group, losing out to the long defunct Beatles.
The big award of the night – best album – will be fought between Sande's 'Our Version Of Events', Alt-J's 'An Awesome Wave', the Mumford release 'Babel' and Plan B's 'Ill Manors'.
Paloma Faith is also up for the title for her second album, 'Fall To Grace'.
The late star – who died 17 months ago – previously took the title in 2007 on the back of her massive 'Back To Black' album.
Sande, Mumford And Sons and Mercury Prize-winners Alt-J lead the nominations for next month's Brits, competing for three awards each.
Muse, Plan B, Rita Ora, Coldplay and Olly Murs are among eight acts with two nominations apiece.
Veteran stars the Rolling Stones have been nominated for best live act – the first time they have been in the running for a Brit for 17 years.
And it is the first time they have been shortlisted for anything other than best video since the very first Brit Awards in 1977, when they competed for best group, losing out to the long defunct Beatles.
The big award of the night – best album – will be fought between Sande's 'Our Version Of Events', Alt-J's 'An Awesome Wave', the Mumford release 'Babel' and Plan B's 'Ill Manors'.
Paloma Faith is also up for the title for her second album, 'Fall To Grace'.
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2006/12/07
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29893
OLG continues to apply research from independent experts and organizations to its responsible gambling program.
One organization is GamRes, which investigates and applies the psychology of gambling behaviour to develop responsible gambling tools. Collaborating with a network of gambling experts around the world, the organization brings the latest research to its clients.
“Canada and the Scandinavian countries are world leaders in willingness to develop and apply cutting-edge research into their responsible gambling operations,” says GamRes president, Dr. Richard Wood, a chartered psychologist who specializes in studying gaming behaviour.
“Research not only helps us to better treat problem gambling, it aids the design of responsible games. For example, it helps us to recognize and minimize potential game-related-risks for more vulnerable players, while still maintaining a healthy level of fun and excitement for all players.”
As part of its online Internet gaming offerings, OLG plans to offer direct access to GamTalk, a free online support service developed by Dr. Wood, to provide support to anyone who has gambling-related issues.
“GamTalk is a non-profit service that is sponsored by a number of provincial operators, including OLG, and it allows people to make use of a peer support group at any time,” Dr. Wood says. “It’s easy to access, particularly for those already involved in online gambling, and its anonymity reduces the stigma associated with seeking help for a gambling problem. In the future, online services are going to play a much larger role in problem gambling prevention and support.”
Applying research to responsible gaming | Modernizing Gaming | National Post
One organization is GamRes, which investigates and applies the psychology of gambling behaviour to develop responsible gambling tools. Collaborating with a network of gambling experts around the world, the organization brings the latest research to its clients.
“Canada and the Scandinavian countries are world leaders in willingness to develop and apply cutting-edge research into their responsible gambling operations,” says GamRes president, Dr. Richard Wood, a chartered psychologist who specializes in studying gaming behaviour.
“Research not only helps us to better treat problem gambling, it aids the design of responsible games. For example, it helps us to recognize and minimize potential game-related-risks for more vulnerable players, while still maintaining a healthy level of fun and excitement for all players.”
As part of its online Internet gaming offerings, OLG plans to offer direct access to GamTalk, a free online support service developed by Dr. Wood, to provide support to anyone who has gambling-related issues.
“GamTalk is a non-profit service that is sponsored by a number of provincial operators, including OLG, and it allows people to make use of a peer support group at any time,” Dr. Wood says. “It’s easy to access, particularly for those already involved in online gambling, and its anonymity reduces the stigma associated with seeking help for a gambling problem. In the future, online services are going to play a much larger role in problem gambling prevention and support.”
Applying research to responsible gaming | Modernizing Gaming | National Post
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Looking back at 2012, the unpredictable events that transpired continue to redefine the mobile software landscape. Facebook confronted a tumultuous aftermath from wide-eyed retail investors speculating after the greatly anticipated IPO; yet Facebook acquired Instagram shortly thereafter, further disorienting tech valuations. Zynga's rapid growth stalled as monetization didn't keep pace with user adoption expectations. Google brought the world a new line of tablets and reinserted its presence in iOS. Apple faced mounting criticism of a dry innovation pipeline, yet released the iPad Mini to further delight users' insatiable appetite for new devices with overlapping features -- a paradox countered with strong retail sales. Yet, firmly in the backdrop of a U.S. economy struggling to pull itself out of mounting debt and changing consumer spending patterns, the pace of innovation is accelerating.
With this in mind, here are four predictions that will shape the mobile economy in 2013 onward.
Mobile Gaming Grows and Goes Back to its Roots with Casino Games
Mobile gaming is alive and well. When you do it right, it's predictable and ROI positive -- mirroring Hollywood franchise films. Releasing four versions of Angry Birds is no fluke, and neither is the $873 million that the seven Saw films grossed. While we've witnessed big players like Zynga struggle to capture and monetize users at the pace Wall Street expected, developers continue to innovate in mobile gaming.
There is no better place to observe the fruits of innovation than in mobile casino gaming. According to Juniper Research, mobile gambling will grow to be a $100 billion business worldwide by 2017, driven by a surge in social-website gambling and legalization in key U.S. states. New rulings to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, and WIRE Act, have shifted the ground to unlock new models for chance-based games, as states look to capitalize on tax revenue and local investment.
Promising numbers like these have inspired Zynga to double-down efforts into online gambling. Small studios, like BitRhymes, whose casino game titles stay in the top 10 grossing list on iOS and Android, have also managed to carve out a successful niche for themselves in this area.
Other examples include Betable, an online-gambling startup whose platform is already being used by several social game developers, and Hatch's own venture, CashPlay, which has seen promising early traction among gamers and development platform customers. I will wager that mobile, chance-based games will follow users from the slot machine to their slick mobile apps in users' hands, as states seek to fill their treasury coffers and developers embrace proven games that users love to play.
App Development Enters Main Street
Welcome to the democratization of software development, where building mobile apps will become mainstream. SaaS app development services are no longer reserved for tech companies and publishers with extensive capital to spend on design, development and maintenance. Look for local corner cafés to offer their own branded apps, and freelance artists, bloggers and designers using the iPad to promote their portfolios. And that's just the beginning. The long tail of immersive apps empowering individual content creators, small businesses and multimedia enterprises to market or monetize their services is growing rapidly.
The emergence of accessible, low-cost development alternatives has opened doors for the masses to build mobile apps. Kleverbeast addresses this emerging demand by empowering people to quickly and easily create beautiful iOS and Android apps without typing a single line of code. The cost of app development has been historically prohibitive for many small businesses and content creators, and has even been a distraction for large organizations whose core competency is not technology but the creation of unique and marketable content.
As app development services proliferate, consumers and businesses alike can expand beyond the reliance on SEO and conventional mobile user acquisition tactics to tap into mobile app stores and the next generation users that increasingly rely on that channel for discovery.
Funding Startups Will Become Rationale (Again)
Funding quality companies has always experienced periods of wavering discipline, as angel investors with relaxed investment criteria enter in droves to participate in a tech hype cycle. Mobile is no different. Many startups will unravel, unable to secure additional financing, because some of these deals should never have been seeded at inception. The dearth of capital leads to funneling investment dollars into quality startups, and consequently, carnage among companies that lack sustainable competitive advantages, talented teams or noteworthy market traction.
Many fresh angels have assumed greater risk than is commensurate with their early ownership and anticipated upside. Some of these investors won't have the capital to diversify their portfolios or participate in follow-up rounds of financing. The result is not a Series A crunch, but rather, a magnifying glass on rational investing, often led by institutional investors. The capital bottleneck at the Series A is simply an artificial result of the glut of capital available at the seed stage. According to a recent study by CB Insights, somewhere between 1,000 and 4,000 startups that recently received more than $1 billion combined in seed stage funding are projected to fall off investors' radar in subsequent rounds. CB attributes this to the "natural selection process."
Fresh angels, hungry to keep up with the Joneses and raise their social capital, may be investing for the wrong reasons. As these lessons are learned, angel investing will swing back to rational levels. In the process, aqui-hires will become increasingly commonplace, as startups unable to secure Series A financing, will seek earlier exits and distribu
With this in mind, here are four predictions that will shape the mobile economy in 2013 onward.
Mobile Gaming Grows and Goes Back to its Roots with Casino Games
Mobile gaming is alive and well. When you do it right, it's predictable and ROI positive -- mirroring Hollywood franchise films. Releasing four versions of Angry Birds is no fluke, and neither is the $873 million that the seven Saw films grossed. While we've witnessed big players like Zynga struggle to capture and monetize users at the pace Wall Street expected, developers continue to innovate in mobile gaming.
There is no better place to observe the fruits of innovation than in mobile casino gaming. According to Juniper Research, mobile gambling will grow to be a $100 billion business worldwide by 2017, driven by a surge in social-website gambling and legalization in key U.S. states. New rulings to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, and WIRE Act, have shifted the ground to unlock new models for chance-based games, as states look to capitalize on tax revenue and local investment.
Promising numbers like these have inspired Zynga to double-down efforts into online gambling. Small studios, like BitRhymes, whose casino game titles stay in the top 10 grossing list on iOS and Android, have also managed to carve out a successful niche for themselves in this area.
Other examples include Betable, an online-gambling startup whose platform is already being used by several social game developers, and Hatch's own venture, CashPlay, which has seen promising early traction among gamers and development platform customers. I will wager that mobile, chance-based games will follow users from the slot machine to their slick mobile apps in users' hands, as states seek to fill their treasury coffers and developers embrace proven games that users love to play.
App Development Enters Main Street
Welcome to the democratization of software development, where building mobile apps will become mainstream. SaaS app development services are no longer reserved for tech companies and publishers with extensive capital to spend on design, development and maintenance. Look for local corner cafés to offer their own branded apps, and freelance artists, bloggers and designers using the iPad to promote their portfolios. And that's just the beginning. The long tail of immersive apps empowering individual content creators, small businesses and multimedia enterprises to market or monetize their services is growing rapidly.
The emergence of accessible, low-cost development alternatives has opened doors for the masses to build mobile apps. Kleverbeast addresses this emerging demand by empowering people to quickly and easily create beautiful iOS and Android apps without typing a single line of code. The cost of app development has been historically prohibitive for many small businesses and content creators, and has even been a distraction for large organizations whose core competency is not technology but the creation of unique and marketable content.
As app development services proliferate, consumers and businesses alike can expand beyond the reliance on SEO and conventional mobile user acquisition tactics to tap into mobile app stores and the next generation users that increasingly rely on that channel for discovery.
Funding Startups Will Become Rationale (Again)
Funding quality companies has always experienced periods of wavering discipline, as angel investors with relaxed investment criteria enter in droves to participate in a tech hype cycle. Mobile is no different. Many startups will unravel, unable to secure additional financing, because some of these deals should never have been seeded at inception. The dearth of capital leads to funneling investment dollars into quality startups, and consequently, carnage among companies that lack sustainable competitive advantages, talented teams or noteworthy market traction.
Many fresh angels have assumed greater risk than is commensurate with their early ownership and anticipated upside. Some of these investors won't have the capital to diversify their portfolios or participate in follow-up rounds of financing. The result is not a Series A crunch, but rather, a magnifying glass on rational investing, often led by institutional investors. The capital bottleneck at the Series A is simply an artificial result of the glut of capital available at the seed stage. According to a recent study by CB Insights, somewhere between 1,000 and 4,000 startups that recently received more than $1 billion combined in seed stage funding are projected to fall off investors' radar in subsequent rounds. CB attributes this to the "natural selection process."
Fresh angels, hungry to keep up with the Joneses and raise their social capital, may be investing for the wrong reasons. As these lessons are learned, angel investing will swing back to rational levels. In the process, aqui-hires will become increasingly commonplace, as startups unable to secure Series A financing, will seek earlier exits and distribu
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Quentin Tarantino's latest film "Django Unchained," nominated Thursday for three Oscars, bears the director's trademark: it is rife with violence. In an interview to promote the film, Krishnan Guru-Murthy of Britain's Channel 4 News attempts to ask Tarantino about what link there might be between violence in films and the proliferation of real-life violence -- and Tarantino wasn't having it.
"Why are you so sure that there's no link between enjoying movie violence and enjoying real violence?" Guru-Murthy asked Tarantino.
"Don't ask me a question like that -- I'm not biting," Tarantino responded. "I refuse your question."
"Why?"
"Because I refuse your question," Tarantino repeated. "I'm not your slave and you're not my master. You can't make me dance to your tune. I'm not a monkey."
Ever persistent, Guru-Murthy pressed the issue, until Tarantino decided it was time to put an end to the line of questioning. "I'm here to sell my movie. This is a commercial for my movie, make no mistake. I don't want to talk about the implications of violence ... I've said everything I have to say about it. If anyone cares what I have to say they can Google me ... I haven't changed my opinion one iota ... and I am shutting your butt down!"
And yet Guru-Murthy still pressed on about the relationship between violence in films and in society. And again, Tarantino fought back.
"It's none of your damn business what I think about that!" he exclaimed. Guru-Murthy, again: "Well, it's my job to ask you why you think that because ..." And for the final time, Tarantino said, "And I'm saying no! And I'm shutting you down."
Before things got heated, however, Tarantino was very comfortable parsing out the types of violence he chose to portray in "Django Unchained."
"Why do you like making violent movies?" Guru-Murthy asked.
"It's like asking Judd Apatow 'Why do you like making comedies?' ... I think it's good cinema. I consider it good cinema," Tarantino said. "There's two types of violence (in 'Django'). There's the brutality of the violence in the day, put upon the slaves during the time, that hasn't been dealt with in America to the extent I deal with it. There was two holocausts in America, this is one of them. Then there's a cathartic violence of 'Django' paying back blood for blood."
Quentin Tarantino shuts down interviewer over questioning about violence - NBC News Entertainment
"Why are you so sure that there's no link between enjoying movie violence and enjoying real violence?" Guru-Murthy asked Tarantino.
"Don't ask me a question like that -- I'm not biting," Tarantino responded. "I refuse your question."
"Why?"
"Because I refuse your question," Tarantino repeated. "I'm not your slave and you're not my master. You can't make me dance to your tune. I'm not a monkey."
Ever persistent, Guru-Murthy pressed the issue, until Tarantino decided it was time to put an end to the line of questioning. "I'm here to sell my movie. This is a commercial for my movie, make no mistake. I don't want to talk about the implications of violence ... I've said everything I have to say about it. If anyone cares what I have to say they can Google me ... I haven't changed my opinion one iota ... and I am shutting your butt down!"
And yet Guru-Murthy still pressed on about the relationship between violence in films and in society. And again, Tarantino fought back.
"It's none of your damn business what I think about that!" he exclaimed. Guru-Murthy, again: "Well, it's my job to ask you why you think that because ..." And for the final time, Tarantino said, "And I'm saying no! And I'm shutting you down."
Before things got heated, however, Tarantino was very comfortable parsing out the types of violence he chose to portray in "Django Unchained."
"Why do you like making violent movies?" Guru-Murthy asked.
"It's like asking Judd Apatow 'Why do you like making comedies?' ... I think it's good cinema. I consider it good cinema," Tarantino said. "There's two types of violence (in 'Django'). There's the brutality of the violence in the day, put upon the slaves during the time, that hasn't been dealt with in America to the extent I deal with it. There was two holocausts in America, this is one of them. Then there's a cathartic violence of 'Django' paying back blood for blood."
Quentin Tarantino shuts down interviewer over questioning about violence - NBC News Entertainment
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A recent article in Canada’s capital newspaper the Ottawa Citizen headline read, “The Glamour of gambling seduces young people, too” Well no kidding when you look at target marketing and where the advertizing dollars are spent it’s no wonder the youth of today are enamoured by gambling especially online.
We are living in cell phone world replete with some much entertainment from every corner that it would be hard to avoid some form of gambling. Current studies at various noted institutions around the globe are focusing on gambling and its affect on today’s vulnerable youth. Studies are revealing that gambling addiction associated with internet addiction is considered the fastest growing problem among the young demographic and especially young males. A noted University in Montreal, McGill has the most recent info regarding the issue easily obtained at the McGill's International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High Risk Behaviour: youthgambling-com web site.
Youth today are exposed to gambling through the television in adverts for lotteries on the internet through promotions for gambling sites that are free to play and their parents and grandparents who buy lottery tickets as stocking stuffers of birthday gifts. Researchers have determined the young people of today are exposed to gambling in more ways than one would normally think and are indeed being attracted to the imagined riches taking a chance could bring.
Gail Beck, an Ottawa MD, and Director of Youth Outpatient Psychiatry at the Royal commented in the article. ‘We tend to believe that gambling is somehow "restricted" to those over a certain age, even though online gaming and even casinos are very accessible’. She stated in the article that youth had told her that casinos are welcoming for those youth looking for a place to feel comfortable and it is easy to “zone out” with slots and other online games. The chance to escape and to "win big" is ever present online. Social gambling will bring added risks for the youth of tomorrow, something that is sure to have researchers and parents looking for answers.
Youth Attracted to Online Casino Comfort Zone
We are living in cell phone world replete with some much entertainment from every corner that it would be hard to avoid some form of gambling. Current studies at various noted institutions around the globe are focusing on gambling and its affect on today’s vulnerable youth. Studies are revealing that gambling addiction associated with internet addiction is considered the fastest growing problem among the young demographic and especially young males. A noted University in Montreal, McGill has the most recent info regarding the issue easily obtained at the McGill's International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High Risk Behaviour: youthgambling-com web site.
Youth today are exposed to gambling through the television in adverts for lotteries on the internet through promotions for gambling sites that are free to play and their parents and grandparents who buy lottery tickets as stocking stuffers of birthday gifts. Researchers have determined the young people of today are exposed to gambling in more ways than one would normally think and are indeed being attracted to the imagined riches taking a chance could bring.
Gail Beck, an Ottawa MD, and Director of Youth Outpatient Psychiatry at the Royal commented in the article. ‘We tend to believe that gambling is somehow "restricted" to those over a certain age, even though online gaming and even casinos are very accessible’. She stated in the article that youth had told her that casinos are welcoming for those youth looking for a place to feel comfortable and it is easy to “zone out” with slots and other online games. The chance to escape and to "win big" is ever present online. Social gambling will bring added risks for the youth of tomorrow, something that is sure to have researchers and parents looking for answers.
Youth Attracted to Online Casino Comfort Zone
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Daniel Negreanu is one of poker’s most successful players having notched up a huge $16,340,578 from live tournament, as well as 4 WSOP and 2 WPT titles. As well as having a net fortune estimated at $50 million, Negreanu also has a personal history of philanthropy and supports many charities and good causes.
The 38 year old was married once briefly between August 2005 and November 2007 to Lori Lin Weber but later separated. Since then, the Canadian pro has been enjoying bachelorhood and has been linked to many attractive women over the years, including Miss Earth Hungary 2008.
However, love still seems to have eluded Daniel, who confessed recently that his last serious girlfriend ended up cheating on him. Therefore, for a self-confessed lover of reality TV, the chance to appear on Bravo’s “The Millionaire Matchmaker,” was too good an opportunity to miss.
The poker pro made his appearance on the show on Thursday night, January 10th, although the actual show was apparently recorded last spring. After narrowing down the field of beautiful girls to a blonde called Lindsay, Negreanu took her out on a date in his native Las Vegas where they pair ended up hitting it off.
According to Millionaire’s Club Director of Operations Destin Pfaff, Negreanu is sweet, funny and listens. He also proved the “real deal” on the show and as Pfaff wrote on his blog: “All the girls wanted him. Ultimately he chose wisely and picked Lindsay, the cutest and most genuine of the bunch. He took her out on a great date and they’re still seeing each other! It’s just a matter of time before they start dealing out little babies!”
As mentioned earlier the show was recorded last spring and as far as I’m aware there hasn’t been any mention of the couple in public. Is Daniel simply playing his cards close to his chest or is there romance still blossoming? Regardless Negreanu seems to have had a good time on the show and came off as genuine and good hearted.
Daniel Negreanu Finds Romance On Dating Show
The 38 year old was married once briefly between August 2005 and November 2007 to Lori Lin Weber but later separated. Since then, the Canadian pro has been enjoying bachelorhood and has been linked to many attractive women over the years, including Miss Earth Hungary 2008.
However, love still seems to have eluded Daniel, who confessed recently that his last serious girlfriend ended up cheating on him. Therefore, for a self-confessed lover of reality TV, the chance to appear on Bravo’s “The Millionaire Matchmaker,” was too good an opportunity to miss.
The poker pro made his appearance on the show on Thursday night, January 10th, although the actual show was apparently recorded last spring. After narrowing down the field of beautiful girls to a blonde called Lindsay, Negreanu took her out on a date in his native Las Vegas where they pair ended up hitting it off.
According to Millionaire’s Club Director of Operations Destin Pfaff, Negreanu is sweet, funny and listens. He also proved the “real deal” on the show and as Pfaff wrote on his blog: “All the girls wanted him. Ultimately he chose wisely and picked Lindsay, the cutest and most genuine of the bunch. He took her out on a great date and they’re still seeing each other! It’s just a matter of time before they start dealing out little babies!”
As mentioned earlier the show was recorded last spring and as far as I’m aware there hasn’t been any mention of the couple in public. Is Daniel simply playing his cards close to his chest or is there romance still blossoming? Regardless Negreanu seems to have had a good time on the show and came off as genuine and good hearted.
Daniel Negreanu Finds Romance On Dating Show
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This guide does not aim to be a one-stop to online casino gambling. All aspects of online casino gambling simply cannot be covered by one website. The guide does not offer a magical way to success either, because there is no such thing. But what it does aim to do is to make new players better equipped to make decisions that will increase their chances of having a good time and win at online casinos - poker - sport - bingo and much much more.
Wellcome to Casino Games and Online Gambling Guide by ixgames
Wellcome to Casino Games and Online Gambling Guide by ixgames
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While many of us in other parts of the world do not pay much attention to the political scene in Australia there is a growing movement there that has a conflict of interest when it comes to online gambling. A recent article posted in the World News Australian web page brings to us an interesting subject that involves political contributions from an online gambling investor. An organization called GetUp! launched its website on 1 August 2005. GetUp describes itself as "a new independent political movement to build a progressive Australia" It identifies campaigns based on the interests of its members, which are usually issues such as "social justice, economic fairness and environmental sustainability"
Now the report indicates the group is conflicted over donations made to it by Mr Roger Allen, a major investor in NextGen which is a developer of "massively profitable" online poker and slot machine games. It was confirmed however that GetUp! will continue to accept donations from Mr Allen. He was GetUp's largest individual donor over the last two years with over $100,000 in contributions to the group. NextGen billed itself as "the largest independent developer of games servicing the global market for gambling entertainment ..." and aimed to create "the next wave of player excitement". It was suggested in the article that the group is using double standards and should return the contributions from the developer and apologize to the members.
GetUp's claim that it will conduct some sort of review of its donations process while continuing to take Mr Allen's money is thougt to just be lip service to those who are critical of the process. The Greens which is GetUp's largest political beneficiary - should condemn GetUp's acceptance of these funds. This instance is another example of the confusing and conflicted political scene around online gambling issues in Australia.
Conflict Over Online Gambling Again in Australia
Now the report indicates the group is conflicted over donations made to it by Mr Roger Allen, a major investor in NextGen which is a developer of "massively profitable" online poker and slot machine games. It was confirmed however that GetUp! will continue to accept donations from Mr Allen. He was GetUp's largest individual donor over the last two years with over $100,000 in contributions to the group. NextGen billed itself as "the largest independent developer of games servicing the global market for gambling entertainment ..." and aimed to create "the next wave of player excitement". It was suggested in the article that the group is using double standards and should return the contributions from the developer and apologize to the members.
GetUp's claim that it will conduct some sort of review of its donations process while continuing to take Mr Allen's money is thougt to just be lip service to those who are critical of the process. The Greens which is GetUp's largest political beneficiary - should condemn GetUp's acceptance of these funds. This instance is another example of the confusing and conflicted political scene around online gambling issues in Australia.
Conflict Over Online Gambling Again in Australia
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There are many options for online gambling on the internet but one that continues to gain momentum is the live action available at some casinos. The experience of a real live dealer game over the internet is similar to watching a web cam or skype, the live dealer experience brings things up close and personal.
The interactive sensation has been improved over the last few years with live dealer casinos perfecting their products, and operators introducing everything from new features to better technology, more camera angles, more interaction while not participating, and even more exciting casino backdrops. Online gambling brands such as EuroGrand Casino and bet 365 online casinos have improved their offerings with a wider variety of classic table games such as Live Blackjack, Live Baccarat, Live Roulette, and Live Hold'em, all with more image presence and resolution.
888's new live casino for example is presented by a professional team of at least 50 live dealers, all well turned out in branded clothing and committed to creating a strong relationship with players. Players are demanding increased visitor satisfaction and are looking for the latest in internet technology to provide that. High definition large screen televisions are requiring more interesting content and casinos are doing their best to accommodate. 3D views are becoming increasing available from the online live dealer casinos. Players can switch now from casino and reality and super-reality modes adding variety and spice into the live gambling experience.
Applications are available that create a mobile live dealer casino for android, iPhone and other mobile devices. These applications are some of the most advanced out there in the gambling market place. bet365's Live Dealer App will soon be available in the App store, bringing you Live Baccarat, Live Roulette and Live Blackjack. There are numerous online casinos that offer live dealers and they are all there for you to explore. Check out online-casinos-com for reviews.
Live Dealer Online Casino Action Continues to Marvel
The interactive sensation has been improved over the last few years with live dealer casinos perfecting their products, and operators introducing everything from new features to better technology, more camera angles, more interaction while not participating, and even more exciting casino backdrops. Online gambling brands such as EuroGrand Casino and bet 365 online casinos have improved their offerings with a wider variety of classic table games such as Live Blackjack, Live Baccarat, Live Roulette, and Live Hold'em, all with more image presence and resolution.
888's new live casino for example is presented by a professional team of at least 50 live dealers, all well turned out in branded clothing and committed to creating a strong relationship with players. Players are demanding increased visitor satisfaction and are looking for the latest in internet technology to provide that. High definition large screen televisions are requiring more interesting content and casinos are doing their best to accommodate. 3D views are becoming increasing available from the online live dealer casinos. Players can switch now from casino and reality and super-reality modes adding variety and spice into the live gambling experience.
Applications are available that create a mobile live dealer casino for android, iPhone and other mobile devices. These applications are some of the most advanced out there in the gambling market place. bet365's Live Dealer App will soon be available in the App store, bringing you Live Baccarat, Live Roulette and Live Blackjack. There are numerous online casinos that offer live dealers and they are all there for you to explore. Check out online-casinos-com for reviews.
Live Dealer Online Casino Action Continues to Marvel
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With Republican congressmen dillydallying on approval for $60 billion of assistance to victims of Hurricane Sandy, New Jersey could do worse than use online gambling as an alternative source of funding.
Will NJ pass bill?
New Jersey's state legislature has already approved legislation that would see online casino games, including poker, opened up to residents of the Garden State. The matter is now in the hands of Gov. Chris Christie, who has until February 3 to decide whether to sign or veto the groundbreaking legislation.
Legalized online gambling would provide New Jersey with a much needed revenue increase, according to a 2012 report compiled for the state legislature. Although it admitted the uncertainty in predicting exact figures, there is no doubt that at the very least it would contribute some much-needed relief for the state hit hardest by the superstorm.
Moving ahead in NY
In neighboring New York lawmakers are already getting the point, with the state legislature expected to consider a gambling amendment to the state constitution this year. The amendment was on the agenda before Sandy hit New York City in late October, but the hurricane has given the impetus to move ahead.
As we have seen in the past two years, if President Obama and Congress fail to push through new federal gambling regulations, the states will take responsibility for the matter themselves - and thanks to Sandy, the northeastern states might be the surprise leaders in the online gambling charge.
Could Online Gambling Save New Jersey Economy? - Opinions - Onlinecasinoreports-com
Will NJ pass bill?
New Jersey's state legislature has already approved legislation that would see online casino games, including poker, opened up to residents of the Garden State. The matter is now in the hands of Gov. Chris Christie, who has until February 3 to decide whether to sign or veto the groundbreaking legislation.
Legalized online gambling would provide New Jersey with a much needed revenue increase, according to a 2012 report compiled for the state legislature. Although it admitted the uncertainty in predicting exact figures, there is no doubt that at the very least it would contribute some much-needed relief for the state hit hardest by the superstorm.
Moving ahead in NY
In neighboring New York lawmakers are already getting the point, with the state legislature expected to consider a gambling amendment to the state constitution this year. The amendment was on the agenda before Sandy hit New York City in late October, but the hurricane has given the impetus to move ahead.
As we have seen in the past two years, if President Obama and Congress fail to push through new federal gambling regulations, the states will take responsibility for the matter themselves - and thanks to Sandy, the northeastern states might be the surprise leaders in the online gambling charge.
Could Online Gambling Save New Jersey Economy? - Opinions - Onlinecasinoreports-com
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Jessica Chastain won best drama actress Golden Globe on Sunday for her role as a relentless CIA agent tracking down Osama bin Laden in “Zero Dark Thirty.”
Chastain beat fellow nominees Marion Cotillard in “Rust and Bone,” Helen Mirren in “Hitchcock,” Naomi Watts in “The Impossible” and Rachel Weisz in “The Deep Blue Sea.”
Chastain beat fellow nominees Marion Cotillard in “Rust and Bone,” Helen Mirren in “Hitchcock,” Naomi Watts in “The Impossible” and Rachel Weisz in “The Deep Blue Sea.”
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Hj guys
am Dark :cool: from Asia. I like tournament live nad i like money.
who call money for me 😉
am Dark :cool: from Asia. I like tournament live nad i like money.
who call money for me 😉
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endlessdark wrote:
Hj guys
am Dark :cool: from Asia. I like tournament live nad i like money.
who call money for me 😉
Hello and wellcome 😡
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Total home-entertainment spending in the U.S. inched up 0.23% to $18 billion, according to a report released Tuesday by Digital Entertainment Group, a trade association. The uptick doesn't represent a recovery by any means from the massive losses Hollywood has endured in home entertainment. The once-lucrative business of selling movies for home consumption remains down nearly 20% from its peak in 2004.
Physical movie rentals from brick-and-mortar stores fell 24% last year to $1.22 billion, while spending on rentals from kiosks represented a bright spot, rising 15.6% to $1.9 billion.
Overall sales of packaged video goods—which include Blu-ray discs as well as DVDs—fell 5.8%, but spending on Blu-ray discs rose nearly 10% for the year.
Online spending grew the most, with subscription streaming revenue rising 45.1%, and spending on digital download sales up 35%. Total digital-distribution spending jumped 28%.
Digital distribution accounted for nearly 30% of the domestic home-entertainment market in 2012, up from 19% in 2011.
In an effort to maintain the momentum, the trade group on Tuesday launched an effort to promote UltraViolet, an online movie initiative backed by a consortium of studios that has struggled to catch on with consumers.
The service allows consumers to put movies or TV titles they buy into an online digital library, from which they can stream them over the Web, or download them for viewing on a computer, TV, smartphone or tablet.
The promotion will reward consumers who purchase certain TVs or Blu-ray disc players with free UltraViolet-enabled titles from studios including Sony Corp.'s 6758.TO -0.53% Sony Pictures, News Corp NWSA -0.27% .'s Twentieth Century Fox and Time Warner Inc.'s TWX +2.10% Warner Bros. Purchasers of eligible Blu-ray disc players will receive access to five titles, and those who buy eligible TVs will receive access to 10 titles. News Corp. owns both Fox and The Wall Street Journal.
Electronics manufacturers including LG Electronics Inc., 066570.SE -3.06% Panasonic, 6752.TO 0.00% Royal Philips Electronics NV, PHIA.AE -0.54% Samsung Electronics Co. 005930.SE -0.27% and Toshiba Corp., 6502.TO +2.40% are participating in the effort.