William Hill has been tackling the gambling market this year, and they have not finished making a name for themselves. Recently they have paired up with numerous partners to help grow their brand and expand their network throughout the globe.

The online market is securely wrapped in the fingers of William Hill as they have recently paired with banking transaction companies and innovative developers for online gaming in an attempt to continually innovate and expand the ideas for online players.

Now William Hill has tackled yet another giant by becoming the official sponsor for La Vuelta A Espana 2009. This event pulls away from the traditional gambling market and moves to one of the top bicycle races around Spain.

“This is a tremendous honour for WilliamHill.com,” said Ricardo Carioni, Spanish Territory Manager for WilliamHill.com.

The new event sponsored by William Hill is one of the top three bicycle races. It stands in great company with the Tour de France, and the Giro D’Italia. “We understand and respect the history of La Vuelta and, more particularly, the passion that it ignites within the cycling community. The coverage of La Vuelta is far reaching and provides for strong brand visibility across multiple television networks right across Europe for three solid weeks.”

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel is preparing for its Grand Opening of their premier golf club. On September 1 of this year, the Sequoyah National Golf Club will launch its newly designed course. This course was designed by Robert Trent Jones II and Notah Begay III both professionals when it comes to dealing with innovative design and functionality in a golf course. This course will be an 18 hole par 72 and will be owned and managed by Cherokee Indian tribe and Troon Golf.

The Cherokee Casino golf course will feature a great Smoky Mountain national Park with fantastic panoramic views for golfers to take in the sights of the Cherokee Indian tribe. This land of the Cherokee Indians call home has been preserved so that tourists arrive and enjoy the golf course can also enjoy the native landscapes.

As a subdivision of Harrah’s entertainment which includes Harrah’s casino and hotel’s, Harrah’s Cherokee resort will allow their guests have access to all these amenities provided by the resort. Guests can use their rewards credits to gain access to the Sequoyah National golf course and VIP guests will be offered numerous promotions to allow them access. One promotion will include monthly offers for two rounds of golf as a way to thank guests for their loyalty. Currently the rates are set at $85 for week $810 for weekend.

As online companies continue to grow, stiff competition and performance are what keep the top companies ahead of the rest. Lately we have seen many executive changes in online casino market and now we’re witnessing another change, but this time with an online payment company. Neovia began restructuring as they added the new president and chief executive officer, Mark Mayhew. This change will take place as of September of this year and will put him in a position to oversee all subsidiaries of Neovia. This will include: Neteller, Netbanx, Net+, and 1-Pay.

The former chief executive officer, Ron Martin released himself of his executive position for the online transaction companies. His reasons for leaving were personal and his job was completed by the end of May.

Mayhew has an extensive resume in the financial field and now will apply these techniques that made him a strong leader and executive to the newest branch of banking, online transactions. His former places of employment included Head of U.K. Consumer Banking at Morgan Stanley and the leader of CIMS, and most recently Chief Executive Officer of Debrett’s Ltd.

“Mark is a very accomplished executive and his proven credentials in strategy formulation, operational development, and Plc governance, coupled with his deep financial services and payments expertise, uniquely qualify him to lead Neovia at this exciting time.”

Meyhew stated, “The company has a strong track record and also an eventful history, but I am excited by the opportunity to drive Neovia’s next phase of growth, building on the Group’s vision to deliver bold payment solutions to selected e-commerce communities.”

PartyGaming Chief Executive Officer, Jim Ryan, has spoken out about the future of online casino gambling. Following the gaming executive summit in Madrid, Ryan stated that the media giants and monopolies are being created in online gambling circuit are soon going to take over as a bully smaller companies into joining or folding. Recently we have seen many large gambling firms join in partnerships to increase their strength as online gambling providers.

With very little government regulation at this time, many casinos are expanding to the point where they are dominating entire cities and sometimes even entire countries. A causing a stir in the online casino industry are Google and Yahoo. These two online companies have the power to increase certain potential as well as providing entertainment to online games and portals. As they continue to grow and expand on technology, these companies are dominating the Internet and taking with them all the small businesses and industries that are new to the Internet.

Currently we have seen online gambling companies expand to the point where there revenues generated allows them to create large payouts jackpots in each promotions in order to draw in new gamblers. Smaller companies cannot compete with this as they do not have the capital to constantly market and promote themselves. Many companies are joining hands with large online firms such as intra-lot in order to create the highest marketing potential. However the same story goes, those with the money are able to pay for bigger companies assistance.

Partygaming had to work harder to gain acceptance into the European market of online gambling as it is the top market for casinos online. According to Ryan, “While not ideal, it has been a humbling experience and has forced us to improve our products and offers and to really up our game.”

Ryan then stated, “The world is changing as regulation takes different shape in different markets. But upcoming regulation means new entrants and competition in the market, and I worry less about direct competitors such as those sitting on this panel than I do about government-licensed operators and major media firms targeting their power markets in the future.”

Partygaming launches out of the online casino arena to take on one of the top Poker exhibitions, the World Poker Tournament. This tournament is part of America World Poker Tour Enterprises (WPTE).

Orignially the World Poker Tour Enterprises Incorporated entertained a bid from Gamynia Limited, where it then went through the motions of announcing the sale for a whopping, $9.075 million. The news broke in early August about the Antigua based casino company taking over the tournament.

However, the sale was not finalized as a new bid came in from top online gambling provider, Partygaming, one of the top in the online casino industry. This deal was then finalized, leaving Gamynia out in the dust.

“Buyer has also agreed to pay the company five percent of future gaming and other revenues as described in the purchase agreement from the use of the company’s brands by buyer,” read a statement from WPTE.

“Buyer has guaranteed that the company will receive at least an aggregate of three million dollars during the three years following the close under this future revenue sharing arrangement.”

“For the two-year period following the close, 20 percent of the proceeds from the future revenue sharing arrangement will be placed into an escrow account to settle the company’s indemnification obligations, if any, arising under the purchase agreement and the related ancillary agreements. The amounts deposited into such escrow account shall not be the sole source of recovery for the company’s indemnification obligations to buyer.”

Under these terms, Partygaming, known for their online gambling room, partypoker.com will pay $12.3 million. This figure will include a $1 million advance that will go towards paying Gaymnia for the bail out that occurred in August. As part of the poker deal, PartyGaming will send off 5% of the revenues that are made from the series, the brand and contracts.

Cannery Casinos is taking a new approach to the future by changing around the upper level management. Tom Lettero will now serve as the president of the Casino resort while keeping his position as the Chief Financial Officer.

The Cannery Casino Resort has also brought in an Australian from the casino company, Crown Ltd. Xavier Walsh will take over as the Chief Operating Officer, the position formerly held by Tom Lettero before his shift to president.

These two changes in upper management of the casino resort have resulted in the release of co- Chief Executive Officers William Wortman and Bill Paulos who will now step down. This shift will see Paulos and Wortman removed from the day to day operations of the casino. “This structure allows them to travel and not worry about how the company runs,” Cannery spokesman Tom Willer said. “They’re involved in the strategic decision-making of the properties and the company overall. They’re involved in the strategic direction of the company and the growth and development of Cannery Casino Resorts.”

Lettero has been associated in upper level management positions since 2005 when he first joined Cannery Casinos. “Tom Lettero has been a key player throughout his tenure with (the company) and has played a crucial role in the growth and expansion of the company,” Wortman said in a statement. “We look forward to his continued success at Cannery Casino Resorts.”

Walsh will be responsible for the casinos in North Las Vegas and the Rampart Casino in Summerlin. “Xavier Walsh has the experience and expertise that will make him an excellent fit for the Cannery Casino Resorts family,” Paulos said in a statement. “We are very pleased he has joined our team and look forward to his growth and success within our company.”

Online Gaming company 188Bet is the official betting partner for Chelsea –  England’s Premier League soccer club based in London.  The gaming firm inked a three year deal focused on growing the soccer team’s brand in Asia.  Peter Kenyon, Chelsea’s Chief Executive , said that the “multi-pound deal” would help Chelsea develop its business and went on to say, “Betting is a very large category and we spent over two years looking at the right partner.”

He stated that 188Bet’s “objective in developing its brand is very similar to Chelsea’s. There’s a committed marketing spend to the deal, focused on the Asia and Pacific territories, an area where we want to concentrate some of our international development.”

This isn’t the only big deal that 188Bet has signed recently.  They also formed a similar deal with Aston Villa, another Premier League team.   And shirt sponsorships are in place with Bolton and Wigan, fellow top-flight sides.

188Bet’s Chief Executive Officer, Andy Scott, told Reuters News Agency that, “’Betting and football are so intertwined socially and historically that it’s a great fit.”

He added, “’There is an appetite there because they see this is a genuine strategic partnership whereas in the past betting partners were seen very much as just a commercial sale.  Chelsea’s reach throughout the World will allow 188Bet to fully establish itself throughout the UK and across all key markets.”

Chelsea’s CEO Peter Kenyon said, “Having just concluded a major extension with Samsung, we are delighted to have finalised another significant deal with a leading brand in 188Bet.  Chelsea had a number of companies from this sector bidding to be our official betting partner but 188Bet were the right choice both financially and in terms of its ambitions and aspirations globally.”

Chelsea is rumored to be in the running to win the title for this year’s season after a third place finish last season – seven points behind Manchester United.

Bluff, one of the top gambling magazines in Europe has recently revealed that the Poker in the Park tournament has drawn in a sizable crown of nearly 20, 000. The gambling tournaments took place in London’s Leicester Square where gamblers could come and test their skills as well as learn new ones in the two day exhibition. The tournaments were free and even included tutorials for the up and coming poker enthusiasts.

The gambling exhibition took place from August 13^th through August 14^th and featured sponsors PKR. UniBet also participated in the exhibition by including a Poker Lecture. UniBet is one of the top online casino websites that has been leading the charge in the online casino industry as they continue to bring about new and innovative games and technology.

This year, Unibet brought in some of the top casino Poker Stars to talk to amateurs about the game and skill of poker. One of the featured winners was 2006 World Series of Poker Jamie Gold who talked to crowds and answered questions on both days of the event. Gold even held his own tournament for Charity at the Casino At the Empire on Thursday night.

Other top gambling names showed up to speak at the event, including: Peter Eastgate, Neil Channing, Paul Jackson, Ian Frazer, Nik Persaud, John Tabatabai, Liv Boeree and Alex Rousso. This mix of World Series of Poker Champions and British top Poker Professionals were a great inspiration for the crowds at the exhibition.

Many casino Poker vendors showed up in order to promote their products. Of notable interest to both amateurs and professionals were: Neteller, London Poker Circuit, PokerShopUK.com, GamCare, Blackbelt Poker and London Chess And Bridge. This was the third year that the gambling publication held the Poker in the Park tournaments and will be expected to return next year with more stars and more excitement.

The Boston Globe is reporting that Dorchester, Massachusetts may soon have a casino!  The Bayside Exposition Center in Dorchester is being touted as a potential casino site by the real estate executives that control the property.  Nearby citizens in Warren, Massachusetts have convened groups of town leaders to conduct studies on the potential impact of having a casino in their midst.  Meanwhile, state lawmakers are also convening in private legislative sessions to discuss expanded gambling options for the state.

The Boston Globe goes on to report that, “With gaming back atop the agenda this fall on Beacon Hill, there’s a flurry of activity among casino developers, landowners, politicians, and lobbyists, all of whom are looking ahead to what is likely to be the most friendly climate to date toward bringing casinos, and possibly slot machines, to Massachusetts.”

State senator Stanley Rosenberg, a Democrat from Amherst, was quoted as saying, “Lots and lots of meetings going on, and lots of discussions in the preparatory stage for what looks like the real debate.  We’ve had some good run-ups to this, but this is where the rubber is really going to meet the road.”   Senator Amherst is the State Senate’s point person for casinos and said that multiple options for gambling are being discussed including allowing resort-style casinos only, licensing slot machines for racetracks only, providing slot machines at bars and restaurants, and combinations of all of the above.

The dates for legislative hearings have yet to be set – and exact information about what form those hearings may take is being kept quiet.   But rumors abound that the issue may come up as soon as next month.   Though there does seem to be a “friendlier climate” towards bringing casinos to the state, powerful  opponents of gambling, like former House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi,  are sure to be heard as well.

Companies are claiming to use local domestic labor when dealing with the outcomes of the gambling machines as it has been very difficult to obtain licenses and the sensitivity of the matter is one they prefer to have local control over.

Where the outsourced engineers have excelled is in the creation of the peripherals for the gambling slot machines. These peripherals include such items as graphics and sound, but now the Gaming Control Board wants to put a stop to those who are not properly licensed in order to gain more control over the casino industry.

Casino slot machines have come a long way from the physical three reel machine that stops frequently. Now these games consist of complex graphics and sounds that add to the random selection by computer of the lucky winner. One of the new and false advertising part of casino slots is it can actually display what appears to be a win to an unsuspecting customer, but was clearly a loss from the former casino player.

The lack of control by the Gaming Control Board has caused them to want to take over and enforce further regulations on the casino slot machines. Although many casinos will fight this battle against the Board, they are put in place in order to protect the casino operators as well as the potential players that will sit down at the computerized slot machines. Without licensing, there is no way to regulate a safe gambling experience from player to player.