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New Jersey's legalization of online gambling is expected to help stabilize Atlantic City's property tax base, but it could also further dampen tourist visits to casinos as gamblers place bets from home instead, Moody's Investors Service said on Friday.

Atlantic City, once a prominent destination for gamblers, lost its ranking as the second-biggest U.S. gaming market, behind Las Vegas, to the neighboring state of Pennsylvania.

The credit rating agency also took a jab at Caesars Entertainment Corp on Friday, cutting its corporate family rating to Caa2 from Caa1.

Moody's also downgraded additional Caesars' debt on Friday. The action affected a total of $15.6 billion of debt, and the outlook is negative.

So far this year the company has continued to see negative gaming revenue trends across most of its major markets, as higher taxes are slicing into customers' discretionary income and derailing a rebound in gaming demand, Moody's said.

Moody's rates Atlantic City's general obligation debt Baa1 with a negative outlook. A spate of bad news has continued to put downward pressure on its credit rating, but for now the outlook and rating are unchanged, Moody's said on Friday.

One potential bright spot has been the state's legalization in February of online gaming for a 10-year trial period.

Under the legislation, computer servers used to host the gaming websites would be housed within Atlantic City's casinos so those casinos could accrue the revenues.

That potential revenue boost would help to stabilize the city's taxable property values, because financial performance is an element of each casino's market and assessment value, Moody's said.

Casinos with improved taxable values would also likely be less able to reduce their tax bills through appeals.

Trump Taj Mahal, for example, has appealed its Atlantic City property taxes every year since 2008, Moody's said.

But the ability to place a bet from home could cause further erosion of Atlantic City gambling tourism, which has been dropping since 2005.

The decline is due to several factors, Moody's said, including new gambling venues in neighboring states, a weak regional economic recovery, high gas prices and a "stubbornly high" state unemployment rate, which was 9.3 percent in February.

Visitors pay hotel taxes and parking fees, which back bonds sold by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.



New Jersey online gaming could cut into tourism - Moody's

As we discussed in an article a few weeks back, the online gambling boom is fast approaching. States like New Jersey and Delaware have made significant inroads towards legalizing it in their regions, and all signs point to more states (or possibly even the federal government) following suit. So, with such massive change coming, what better time to peruse a lengthy infographic on the subject?

Created by Super Data Research, the infographic provides a variety of statistics and triumphs that relate to online gambling. 57% of those who partake, for example, are female, and a little over 28% of players prefer poker to other games like slots and bingo. Additionally, the United States is expected to reign supreme in terms of online gambling revenue well into 2015.

The full infographic can be seen below. [url=www-gamezebo-com/news/2013/04/05/these-online-gambling-stats-will-have-your-head-spinning-faster-roulette-wheel-infographic]These online gambling stats will have your head spinning faster than a roulette wheel [infographic] | Gamezebo[/url]

The online betting Web site Intrade, which gained widespread notice for serving as a predictions platform for elections and non-sports-related events, is facing liquidation because of a $700,000 cash shortfall, a development that comes a month after it halted trading and froze its customer accounts.

Intrade’s director, Ronald Bernstein, said in a statement that the shortfall resulted from unspecified actions by two other parties, whom he did not name. The potential liquidation was first reported late Friday by Business Insider,

“We are now very confident about the reasons which caused the current circumstance of the Company; however, for legal reasons we are not yet at liberty to document them to you,” the statement said. “I can confirm that the company, if it is able, intends to vigorously pursue two substantial monetary claims against two distinct parties for an aggregate amount greater than $3,500,000.”

“If the Company is not able to rectify this cash shortfall position very quickly, the Company will become insolvent and therefore is very likely to go into liquidation,” the statement said.

The 14-year-old company’s Web site functioned as a gambling hub for both professional and amateur investors, letting customers buy and sell contracts tied to the outcome of a future event. It had often been cited for its predictive abilities on matters ranging from the outcomes of American presidential elections to the probability of developments like an Israeli airstrike against Iran.

Last month, the company announced that it had halted trading after auditors found potential financial irregularities involving more than $1.5 million in payments to Intrade’s founder, John Delaney, and other unnamed third parties. Mr. Delaney died in 2011 as he tried to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

That came three months after Intrade shut its Web site to United States residents after the Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a complaint accusing the company of offering contracts outside traditional exchanges and without regulatory approval. The commission also accused the company of filing false forms with regulators.

In its statment Friday, the company asked for “forebearance” from its remaining account holders so that it could resume “limited operations” as it tries to sort out its finances and recover money through its claims.

“If sufficient forbearance has not been achieved, it seems extremely likely that the Company will be forced into liquidation,” the company said.




www-nytimes-com/2013/04/07/business/online-betting-site-intrade-faces-liquidation-html?_r=0

The Rock triumphantly stood on the turnbuckles, his right arm stretched toward the Miami sky in victory as 78,000 wrestling fans went wild for their returning action star in his WrestleMania homecoming.

John Cena sat crestfallen on the ramp, nodding his head at his opponent, as the face of World Wrestling Entertainment faced the music -- or at least listened to it as The Rock's theme song blared in the stadium -- that he was pinned in the biggest match of his career.

WrestleMania 28's final emotional scene may as well have been ripped from the pages of a Hollywood script.

Well, you know what we mean.

Just like in Hollywood, there must be a rematch. It's time to break out the pyro and do it again.

For three decades, the WWE has billed WrestleMania as the Super Bowl of sports entertainment. For now, the annual extravaganza will at least take place at the site of next year's Super Bowl.

Toss away the brackets. Who says only college basketball has a bear hug on March Madness?

Much like the NCAA tournament is advertised as the road to the national championship, the WWE has billed the last month as the Road to WrestleMania, but instead of slam dunks and Final Fours, it's body slams and figure fours.

It all leads to WrestleMania 29 on Sunday and a sold-out crowd of 75,000-plus at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Don't expect to find WWE champion Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson vs. John Cena on too many office pools, even if it's the No. 1 seed -- make that, the main event -- at World Wrestling Entertainment's showcase event.

"It's the biggest market in the world," Johnson said, "and it's the biggest WrestleMania of all time."

Those are some 24-inch-python-sized expectations from an event known for Hulk Hogan's bodyslam of Andre the Giant, Shawn Michaels superkicking Ric Flair into retirement, Randy Savage holding open the ropes for Miss Elizabeth, Mike Tyson counting the 1-2-3 for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

The current crop of good guys and anti-heroes try and top it Sunday.

"Does it get old for me? Absolutely not," 7-foot-1, 450-pound WrestleMania veteran The Big Show said. "I still get butterflies in my stomach every time my music hits."

Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar returns to WrestleMania for the first time since 2004 when he wrestles "Triple H" Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Helmsley must retire with a loss. Performing in tribute following the recent death of William "Paul Bearer" Moody, The Undertaker puts his 20-0 undefeated streak at WrestleMania on the line against C.M. Punk. Punk, the Chicago-made superstar, is arguably the WWE's biggest star and was the longest-reigning WWE champion of the last 20 years before he lost the belt to The Rock at the Royal Rumble in January.

WrestleMania isn't the wildest spectacle going simply because of the super-sized matches. Sean "Diddy" Combs will perform a medley of songs and the band Living Colour will play their hit, and Punk's theme song, "Cult of Personality," for his ring entrance. Donald Trump, Snooki and Jimmy Fallon are among the celebrities serving as WrestleMania social media ambassadors.

Trump, the reality show star and billionaire businessman, has WrestleMania roots back to the 1980s. The Donald had front-row seats when Trump Plaza hosted the fourth and fifth Wrestlemania. Trump helped shave McMahon's head in a "Battle of the Billionaires" scrum in 2007. For all his support -- and for once taking a Stone Cold Stunner as punishment -- Trump will be inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame.

C'mon, you didn't think the WWE wouldn't have a Hall of Fame, right?

There's no physical structure or bronzed plaques of giants and junkyard dogs, but some of the company's greatest stars will be honored Saturday night at a sold-out Madison Square Garden. Hardcore legend Mick Foley, who launched off a steel cage while helping launch the WWE into a mainstream phenomenon in the late 1990s, headlines a class that includes 1970s champs Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund. The ceremony will air Tuesday night on the USA Network.

With WWE saluting its past, and relying on part-timers like Undertaker and Lesnar to headline the card, Johnson hoped a touch of that greatness rubbed off on today's future stars.

"For the guys in the locker room, it has to be more than just, 'I'm ready to carry the company,' " Johnson said. "It has to be, 'I'm ready to carry the company and then I'm ready to carry the company to places it's never been.' That's hard to do considering the precedent that's already been set."

It's no wonder cities now bid for WrestleMania the same way they would for other major sporting events.

Ron VanDeVeen, the senior vice president for events and guest experiences for MetLife Stadium, said stadium officials made a WrestleMania pitch to WWE officials in 2009.

"We always want to see if the economics can work, if the stadium can make money, and see what it means to the region," he said. "This one's up there with the best of them."

The stadium ditched the Giants and Jets apparel and converted its main merchandise store to WWE gear. He said about 230 fans were in line when the store opened Thursday.

"Every seat that's available sold out," he said. "Every seat available for the Super Bowl will sell out. It think it's a huge economic impact."

After holding last year's event in Miami, the WWE has the same weather concerns as the NFL does about its winter Super Bowl. Fans better bundle up in their 'Mania hoodies. Temperatures are expected to dip into the low 40s late into the card.

"I want snow. I want Lambeau Field conditions so we can get that weird voiceover and everything's in slow motion," Cena said. "That would be a hell of a day. It would be cold and tough for everybody, but I think it would make it fantastic. The fans will stay warm. Shirtless Cena freezes."

Like the Final Four, the event has outgrown arenas and WWE made the full-time shift to f

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TrustScore Adds Safety to Online Gambling Web Sites

While Delaware, New Jersey and Nevada have had no qualms declaring their support for the development of online gambling industries, other states remain quite undecided. In some cases, a number of US states have taken the complete opposite direction and have made it a point of opting out on any type of legalized online poker and gambling regime, be it on a state or federal level.

In Illinois, the governor, Pat Quinn is still umming and awwing about a new gaming bill which has the potential of introducing limited online gambling entertainment to the state, among other things, while in Iowa, support has been declared but no legislation has passed as yet. California is still struggling to pass a bill that will finally put online poker on the map, something which has been a number of years in the making, but seems to always hit one obstacle or another.

Among several US states, there is growing call to make a stand against online gambling. Kansas is teetering on the brink of passing a law that would ban online gambling and repeal the law to allow slot machines at racing tracks. A proposed amendment to New Mexico’s current gambling contract with the Navajo Indian Nation could also see a ban on internet gambling activities. ”This provision was intended to discourage the adoption of Internet gaming in the state while ensuring that, if it was adopted, revenue sharing continues in light of any new benefit or detriment to the Navajo Nation,” said a spokesman for New Mexico governor, Susana Martinez.

Utah is another state which has made its stand on internet gambling very clear: If online gambling laws are ever passed on a federal level, the state will not be a part of it in any shape or form and will opt out.



Many States Still Undecided About Online Gambling

Kevin Ware, Lousville Cardinals guard suffered a major injury during his team’s recent March Madness game against Duke. Ware had a terribly unlucky jump which ended with him snapping his right leg and his tibia protruding through his skin. Immediate medical attention was given and Ware was carted off the court and straight to hospital while teammates and fans watched in shock.

Wade’s injury is now widely considered to be one of the worst sport accidents ever recorded on live TV.

Social media platforms burst into action almost immediately, with Kevin Ware’s name and #prayforware becoming widespread on Twitter and other micro blogging sites.

A few days after the injury Ware updated his fans and well-wishers through posting regularly on his Twitter account. The support for the Louisville player reached incredible highs with thousands of new followers every day.

Ware posted an inspirational picture of himself on crutches just a couple of days after his accident becoming an instant icon for this year’s March Madness.

Ware is expected to make a full recovery and return to the court in Louisville colours next season.

Officials are at work building a system that would allow online betting through the state’s casinos, but for nearly a decade it’s been legal in New Jersey to log onto a computer or pick up the telephone and place a bet on a horse.

The state’s existing “account wagering” system for horse racing offers the ease and convenience that’s increasingly in demand among bettors, especially the high rollers coveted by the gambling industry. People who want, say, to place a bet from their living room on a race at The Meadowlands Racetrack or even on next month’s Kentucky Derby simply need to set up an account that is drawn upon with each bet and then replenished. Think E-ZPass, but with a chance of a payoff each time you cross the Walt Whitman Bridge.

The system has been a relatively small but growing part of legal gambling in New Jersey. First started as a means of preserving the horse racing industry, it caters to the growing number of bettors who don’t want to travel to a racetrack, casino or even an off-track wagering parlor. Almost $100 million was wagered online and by phone last year in New Jersey, about 15 percent of the total amount bet in the state on horse racing. That amount has increased steadily over the years; in 2007, just $76.6 million was bet through the system.

But the system has suffered from a lack of public awareness. According to a poll commissioned in 2010 by a group lobbying for the expansion of online gambling, only 10 percent of New Jerseyans thought it was legal to gamble on horses online, and 35 percent believed it was illegal.

Users of the system tout its simplicity. State residents 18 years and older can log on to 4njbets-com from a home computer or mobile device. After providing a Social Security number and verification of residency, bettors can get started by placing a minimum of $25 into their account. There is no service fee, and online bets can be placed for races at any of 150 tracks around the country. Former Meadowlands Racetrack announcer and track handicapper Dave Brower said he signed up for account wagering “from Day One.”

“I’ve found it tremendously convenient and easy to use, and I think once most people pulled the trigger, they found the same thing,” Brower said. “Then what made it more popular was the advent of racing channels such as TVG or HRTV, so that you could sit on your couch and watch the race live or on a slight tape delay.”

Brower said that in many of the 20 or so states that offer account wagering, bettors can choose from a variety of systems. But New Jersey residents must use 4njbets-com. TVG, which recently took over day-to-day operation of the system, is offering a $100 bonus for new customers who bet at least $200 in their first 30 days on the site.

The system is not without problems, however. News emerged this year that the state Sports and Exposition Authority had allowed a prominent horseman from Teaneck, Ahmed Zayat, to owe them $286,000 for several months after making a series of large bets on thoroughbred races even though his online account did not have sufficient revenues to cover potential losses. State law prohibits gamblers from wagering more money than is in their account.

The existence of the debt — cited in a lawsuit by Freehold Raceway, a partner in the state’s account-wagering system — is apparently the focus of an investigation by the state Racing Commission, according to state officials who confirmed that an investigation was under way but would not discuss anything about it. Sports Authority officials did say Zayat has repaid the debt.



www-thedailyjournal-com/article/20130407/NEWS01/304070007/Legal-online-betting-already-happening-NJ

The governor’s office in Oklahomo expressed its satisfaction with the news that two tribes, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, had agreed to settle an ongoing dispute with the state to take down a controversial online gaming site that has been up and running for several months.

The site was run by the tribes from Concho, who believed that their contract with the state allowed them to offer online gaming as well. The state, however, believed that online gaming was not part of the deal. The state opted not to fine the tribes for violating gambling treaties as they believed that the sites were put up in good faith.

After sitting down to talks with the Governor’s office, it was announced that the tribes were not aware that they were not allowed to offer internet gaming in Oklahoma or anywhere in the United States. “It was a misunderstanding,” said Governor Mary Fallin’s general counsel, Steve Mullins. “They came to the table, and they worked with us until we could get it resolved. They’ve been good partners on that.”

It was decided that the tribes would be allowed to operate an online gambling site outside the United States, but they would still be obligated to pay fees to the state based on revenues generated.

“Internet gaming is improper in Oklahoma,” Mullins said. “We basically are saying we will not expand gaming in Oklahoma on the Internet.”

The tribes are now seeking to take their plans to establish an international online betting site one step further very soon. A spokesperson for the tribes, Lisa Liebl said: “The Tribes plan to bring this exciting new product to the international market in the very near future.”

The agreement reached with the tribes also applies to contracts withother tribes in Oklahoma.





Oklahoma Tribes Agree to Halt Online Gaming Sites

Figures detailing the state of gaming industry for the last quarter of 2012 in Spain paint an optimistic picture following the more stilted figures of Q3 when the industry almost halted entirely. Many believe the poor performance of Q3 reflects the unprecedented high in Spanish unemployment figures.

In the last quarter of 2012, Spain showed a 41% increase in gross gambling revenue with online tournaments increasing to 21% while online gambling going up an impressive 17% reaching €17.4 million.

The 2012 figures were eagerly anticipated as they give the first impression of the industry following an all-encompassing legal overhaul culminating in the 1 June 2012 National Gaming Regulations.

The Spanish government realised the necessity to regulate the gaming industry with special attention given to the online sector. The result of the overhaul was fairly extensive with the new legislation limiting stakes at €10 while gaming operators are taxed a substantial 25%.

In addition, online players are also suffering higher income taxes and VAT though it is almost impossible for the authorities to track these.

A number of large companies were granted operating licences including William Hill, Sportingbet and 888.



Spain

French indie-pop act Phoenix returned as musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" to perform songs from their forthcoming new album "Bankrupt!", set to be released on April 26. The band first guested on the hit TV show back in 2009 to promote their fourth studio album "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix".

The group opened their two-song set for the night with the lead single "Entertainment" which landed on No. 14 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart this week. In the performance, lead singer Thomas Mars, bassist Deck d'Arcy, and guitarists Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz rocked out the Studio H stage as tour members, drummer Thomas Hedlund and keyboardist Robin Coudert, laid the grand arrangements on the synth-heavy new single.

They closed the episode hosted by comedienne Melissa McCarthy with their second offering for the night, the two-track suite "Trying to Be Cool/Drakkar Noir". Effortlessly shifting from the mellow, late-night disco-esque "Trying to be Cool" into the danceable "Drakkar Noir", the crew debuted the new single as "Bankrupt!" release date draws near.

Prior to their "SNL" appearance, Phoenix played the Music Hall of Williamsburg the night before while they were in New York City. They are next slated to headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California during the April 13 & 20 shows along with electronic music group The Postal Service and 1980s' new wave and electronic music group New Order.

Net Entertainment is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange and is based in Sweden since 1968.The firm is called a games developer and is a supplier of online gambling software to major operators in the industry. The 2012 annual report submitted recently has revealed some outstanding results for the company. Some of the achievements published in the annual report are remarkable. The fact that Net Entertainment was named as one of Sweden's 30 best employers for 2012 says a great deal about the firm.

Net Ent said it made a record number of gaming transactions in the 2012 fiscal year making that a 43 percent increase. With an annual growth rate of 32 percent since 2006 has translated into a 23 percent rise in revenue from the previous year. Market share in the European jurisdiction was also marked by a 27 percent increase. The growth can be attributed to it expansion of its deals with major operators. "Net Entertainment continues to reap successes and sign new important operators to its customer base." A spokesperson said.

"With an increasing number of regulations come new opportunities, and Net Entertainment intends to be in the right place at the right time if the conditions are right," the report continued. Italy has become an important customer for Net Ent as well as Paddy Power and Boyles Sport. Net Ent has also signed an agreement with 888 and with Bonza Gaming for Facebook revealing it is already on the surging edge of the social gambling trend that is evolving fast.

Net Entertainment has received final certification for the Danish market."Net Entertainment's market and strategy entail focus on online casino games, a segment that has demonstrated solid growth and profitability," the report explained, "The company is currently one of the world's largest and most successful suppliers within this segment, counting many of the world's largest gaming operators among its customers."



Net Entertainment Grows Online Gambling Customer Base

Florida is in a quandary when it comes to its gambling regulations. The Sunshine State has just gone through a period of adjustment where the politicians are doing back flips to stay clear of the recent scandal involving the Allied Veterans of the World. Recent proposals to outright ban the internet café and its associated venues was met with a positive response. Now the bill which was voted on and approved by the Senate Rules Panel is before Florida Governor Rick Scott. Taking into account the majority vote in favour of HB155 of 36 to 4 the governor says he will review the terms and language of the proposal.

The fear among stake holders is that this bill is a knee jerk reaction to the scandal and the legislation if passed may cause difficulties for online gambling in the future. Governor Scott has the final word for the implementation of any such new laws and he takes that responsibility very seriously. The new legislation uses language that is vague such as slot machine ‘look a likes.’ Although the proposed bill include venues and devises that are not necessarily commercial enterprises those who play poker and go to the casino are concerned. The Allied Veterans group reportedly used $300 million in donated funds to be swallowed up by the owners of the group. The group owned a large percentage of the internet cafes in Florida and the charities for veterans were basically a sham. The cafes offered slot gaming and other gambling options.

The hurried bill sent a strong message to the group but has included some collateral damage in the form of seniors protests organized by the Florida Adult Arcade and Bingo Association in front of local Tallahassee arcades. This measure is aimed at protecting the public against fraud but has left many feeling the funds that could one day be generated by online gambling legalization may be in danger.



Florida Online Gambling Future in Jeopardy

Since the heavy regulation of Black Friday, gambling legislation in the US has prevented the development of a robust online presence of the gaming industry. Now as sanctions and bans are about to slacken following a shift in both state and federal law making, many anticipate a rush to fill this online market void. It looks like the online gambling landscape will be vastly different to one that started to shape up ten years ago.

While back then Internet start-up companies wanted to collaborate with experienced marketers, the current market will most likely be ruled by the online presence of brick and mortar casinos.

However, affiliates are still likely to play a major role in this new online world. For a start, US casinos won’t have the necessary experience for generating a major online footfall which affiliates are more likely to produce.

Affiliates are also bound to be better at social media sites and content business. As an added bonus, many affiliates have already created holdings of online casino pages and poker rooms which few brick and mortar casinos have thought of in advance.


Affiliates To Shape Online Gambling Market in the US - Online Casino Archives

Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine for president? Sort of.

Broadcast Music Inc. announced Monday that Levine will receive the President’s Award at the 61st annual BMI Pop Awards on May 14.

The event will be held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. It will also honor last year’s top songwriters in pop.

BMI says the 34-year-old Levine was selected for his “outstanding achievements in songwriting and the global impact he has had on pop culture.”

Maroon 5 has released four platinum-plus albums, including last year’s “Overexposed.” The album features hits including “Payphone,” ”One More Night” and “Daylight.”

Levine is also a coach on the hit NBC series “The Voice.”

BMI is a music rights management company that represents more than 500,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers.

Very interesting........

The concept of using Augmented Reality for virtual casino gambling is one that has been discussed for a long time. This is potentially a huge market, not just in the USA where online gambling is still illegal in most states, but poised to change all over the world. This is from my blog at Imersia. With so many gamers and game designers on Geekzone, I thought I might get a few comments from some of you. Is anyone developing gambling games for mobile or considering developing for AR? We're on the fringe at Imersia with our location based infrastructure. We have launched Finga Footy (new update on Android and coming on iOS) and are also close to launching an amazing 3D AR animal game for a client.

Sites like PokerStars have been very active internationally trying to come up with every version of poker they can come up with, for people with zero budget through to those who play multiple games concurrently for a living.

Immersive AR with glasses could be a game changer. It could be just a friendly ‘home’ game with your friends and family, but enabling people who are scattered all over the world to play at the same virtual table. It could be a real plus for those who like a social game where they can make new friends and talk to people as if they were really there. It’ also an opportunity for people who like to trash talk their opponents and try to get them to tilt.

There are many people confined to beds, wheelchairs or are otherwise disabled who might feel like they have a chance to be in the real world without being judged by their looks or circumstances and feel they can join in on an equal basis.

When times are tough, gambling grows. With technologies that are sanctioned and monitored by authorities, there is potential for safety and security, keeping organised crime at bay, collecting taxes (sorry) and also helping people with gambling addictions.

This is a game changer and doesn't necessarily have to take people out of the casinos. Competitions can be run giving people entry into casino tournaments and of course there is potential for new very high bandwidth games for people to play using VR and AR in the casino itself.

Watch this space. It is going to be very exciting and of course not limited to casino type games.

Personally I love poker, currently I'm really getting into Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo. I have never played a Massive Multiplayer Game. I used to love SIMCity and similar games. Now my interest from a professional perspective is location based AR games that can be played on mobile devices including HUD's and headsets and using the camera in the device to add new elements.

Imersia is very keen on collaborating with designers, developers and ad agencies.

According to a report from JackpotCity the outlook for online gambling is remarkably healthy. A representative from the site has cited a forecast from top industry analysts at this year's Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, which predicts huge growth in the US market over the next few years - especially if it can overcome out-dated legalities.

The report found that 61% of survey respondents see the US market exceeding $10 billion over the next several years. The biggest talking point remains the issue of online poker legislation, which 39% believed would pass within two years. A further 28% envisioned legalization of online poker within three to five years.

The results come from the 10th G2E Future Watch survey, an ongoing research project which releases results in conjunction with the annual G2E. This year's survey polled 18 veteran gaming industry executives, regulators and analysts, asking them a series of detailed questions about their projections for the future. Central to the 2012 survey - as has been the case for the past few years - was the question of how likely online gambling is to become fully legal in the US.

And yet only 6% of the experts polled expect US legalization of online poker to happen within the next year. The contention dates back to the 1961 Wire Act, which prohibits gambling 'over wires', a law renounced by one G2E attendee as 'preposterous' to enforce in 2012. The US Dept of Justice under all three administrations in the post-internet age - Clinton, Bush and Obama - have upheld and enforced this law with regard to online gambling. Offshore and foreign casino ventures, as well as the difficult-to-police nature of the web, have colluded to make a mockery of the Wire Act, with a number of contradictory precedents being set in courts across the land during the 21st Century.

In the wake of this year's G2E, the global gaming industry continues to call loudly for the repeal of the 1961 act to bring US law into line with the rest of the world.

Legal precedents: Online Gambling | American Gaming Association