Kindergarten children are being targeted by internet gambling websites exploiting a legal loophole that could turn every street corner, convenience store or library with a computer in NSW into a de facto bookie.
Tech-savvy kids as young as five are in the cross-hares of on-line gambling companies that say it is only a matter of time before they grow up and become a major revenue stream.
The Northern Territory based Centrebet and Betezy have approached ClubsNSW to fund and install PC gambling terminals across the state's 1400 clubs - providing Clubs millions dollars worth of commissions in return.
"As the younger generation is IT minded with even kindergarten children being taught keyboard skills, it really not a matter of if you go down this path to generate revenue from your members but when," Betezy managing director Vince McDonald said in an email to Clubs NSW.
It would bypass over 200 laws introduced to restrict gambling in NSW and anti-gambling groups fear could open the flood gates for at any public place with a PC and internet connection to be used as a new age TAB.
"We wouldn't allow drugs and alcohol in a local library or on every street corner but this is what could happen with this internet gambling proposal," Gambling Impact Society chair Kate Roberts said.
Under the plan, Centrebet and Betezy would provide the computers and internet access to the club free of charge and in return the homepage would be set to their websites.
There could also be associated promotions, with Centerbet offering clubs members $100 worth of free bets if they signed up to a new account with a credit card.
The commissions would be based on the amount gambled through the terminals, with Betezy offering clubs a staggering 50 per cent of profits while none of the losses - raising endless rivers of revenue for the cash-strapped clubs.
Because the websites are based in the Northern Territory, NSWs responsible gambling laws would not apply and it would also circumvent exclusivity licences the TAB has to be the sole provider of gambling outlets in the states clubs.
In an emails obtained by The Daily Telegraph, Betezys managing director Vince McDonald said they would provide $3 million worth of software to establish Clubbet.com
"What I am offering is an opportunity to greatly boost your clubs profits at no expense,"Mr McDonald said.
"To maximise an early return for you it would be in both our interests to get this on air quickly. We need only two weeks once a decision is made."
In a separate email, Centrebet's business development manager Peter Staunton told Clubs NSW they could provide commissions far greater than the TAB with the new model.
While the AHA denies they have been approached with the offer it is understood the internet gambling companies also want to expand to pubs and hotels, with Betezy already operating a Tezax Hold em poker website for poker groups who play in hotels.
"We have put together a proposal based on Clubs NSW and its member Clubs receiving both sign up and on-going commissions for sports bets placed by Club members via the internet or by using our new mobile phone betting application," Mr Staunton said in the email.
Clubs NSW chief David Costello rejected both Centrebet and Betezys proposals despite the financial lifeline it offered to struggling clubs.
"Every computer and mobile phone in Australia is today a target for internet gambling operations," Mr Costello said.
"Despite the financial incentive it offered, we felt that someone needed to take a stand against these cyber casinos.
"If politicians like Senators Fielding and Xenophon are genuine in wanting to further reduce problem gambling, then they should be joining forces with clubs in calling for a complete overhaul of the laws governing internet gambling."
Centrebet marketing Manager Mick Robbins said the recent Betfair High Court case challenged restrictions on them advertising and promoting in NSW.
"We're taking a good hard look at the whole sports and racing betting category and looking at the best opportunities now that it looks like the industry is being transformed," he said.
"Pubs and clubs and those sorts of places we would look at."
NSW Gaming Minister Kevin Greene is awaiting the results of a Federal Court case and a review into internet wagering being conducted by Alan Cameron.
"I'm not convinced our communities want or need more or different means to place a bet," Mr Greene said.
Greg Tingle comment
The internet gaming sites need to be closely monitored by both the Australian state and federal government in a collaborative approach. Many business sectors have the lucrative youth market well in mind, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that the gaming and online casino sector is also looking to cater to their needs also. Many online gaming and casino websites already have a free and a play for money option, so it looks like the campaigning is already well on the way.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Technology News
Monday, September 29, 2008
Digital lessons from a Google exec, a casino mogul, Darwin and a tortoise - The Australian - 24th September 2008
Wires and Lights in a Box
Vickey Williams - Strange things happen in Vegas every day so it wasn’t weird at all to hear a casino mogul and a Google executive advise newspaper editors on the evolution of their industry.
...
Richard Gingras, a senior adviser at Google who has spent the last year studying the online giant’s relationship with and impact on the news industry, won over what could have been a prickly crowd by stating the obvious. “Google will impact the evolution of news whether it does anything or not,” he said. “Better to impact it in a positive way.”
...
“Lots of times the question is: What’s the standard for our website? Is it ‘Just put it online and it doesn’t matter’? Or is the expectation of the online delivery of our paper the same as print,” that is, providing a robust, quality experience for the consumer?
Will Sullivan, interactive director of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, said the speed of the transition to a day where online staff are looked at as holding the keys to a newspaper’s future may have left other things unsaid. “At the start, they were made to feel like a production department. So change the expectations.”
Read ‘Digital lessons from a Google exec, a casino mogul, Darwin and a tortoise’ at Readership Institute.
Greg Tingle comment
We are all in the communications, people and advertising business, whether it’s officially Google, a casino, or another type of business. It was News Corp’s own Rupert Murdoch who went on record with, “Big will not beat slow anymore, it will be the fast beating the slow”. Google used to be a very small operation run by a couple of guys out of a garage. Via evolution, being quick to capitalize, positive word of mouth, online buzz and a solid advertising based business model, they became huge. Now they even have Google News, and they move at the speed of news most of the time. Switched on casinos are also moving into the online casino world and also providing online casino news media updates. It’s about content, relevance and engaging with the audience, online or not.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Casino News Media
Vickey Williams - Strange things happen in Vegas every day so it wasn’t weird at all to hear a casino mogul and a Google executive advise newspaper editors on the evolution of their industry.
...
Richard Gingras, a senior adviser at Google who has spent the last year studying the online giant’s relationship with and impact on the news industry, won over what could have been a prickly crowd by stating the obvious. “Google will impact the evolution of news whether it does anything or not,” he said. “Better to impact it in a positive way.”
...
“Lots of times the question is: What’s the standard for our website? Is it ‘Just put it online and it doesn’t matter’? Or is the expectation of the online delivery of our paper the same as print,” that is, providing a robust, quality experience for the consumer?
Will Sullivan, interactive director of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, said the speed of the transition to a day where online staff are looked at as holding the keys to a newspaper’s future may have left other things unsaid. “At the start, they were made to feel like a production department. So change the expectations.”
Read ‘Digital lessons from a Google exec, a casino mogul, Darwin and a tortoise’ at Readership Institute.
Greg Tingle comment
We are all in the communications, people and advertising business, whether it’s officially Google, a casino, or another type of business. It was News Corp’s own Rupert Murdoch who went on record with, “Big will not beat slow anymore, it will be the fast beating the slow”. Google used to be a very small operation run by a couple of guys out of a garage. Via evolution, being quick to capitalize, positive word of mouth, online buzz and a solid advertising based business model, they became huge. Now they even have Google News, and they move at the speed of news most of the time. Switched on casinos are also moving into the online casino world and also providing online casino news media updates. It’s about content, relevance and engaging with the audience, online or not.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Casino News Media
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Zavvi claims game sales will overtake DVDs within the year, apparently, by Adam Hartley - Tech Radar - 19th September 2008
High street entertainment specialist Zavvi (formerly Virgin Megastores) has claimed that the revenue it makes from video games could well overtake that made by DVD sales within the year.
CEO Simon Douglas also bullishly claimed that Zavvi's game offering rivals the range available at GAME.
"DVD still leads the way but games are catching up quickly," Douglas told MCV.
Games to eclipse DVDs
"It is possible that games will eclipse DVD in a year, although if Blu-ray progresses as the industry expects, then it's maybe difficult for games to catch DVD in total. But it's a nice battle to have to worry about."
Zavvi is looking to increase its gaming space, following "growth has been nothing short of phenomenal," according to the CEO, who added that they were a "little bit stunned by our performance."
TechRadar reported earlier this week that UK retailers are confident that there should be no Nintendo Wii shortages this coming Christmas.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Games
Gaming
CEO Simon Douglas also bullishly claimed that Zavvi's game offering rivals the range available at GAME.
"DVD still leads the way but games are catching up quickly," Douglas told MCV.
Games to eclipse DVDs
"It is possible that games will eclipse DVD in a year, although if Blu-ray progresses as the industry expects, then it's maybe difficult for games to catch DVD in total. But it's a nice battle to have to worry about."
Zavvi is looking to increase its gaming space, following "growth has been nothing short of phenomenal," according to the CEO, who added that they were a "little bit stunned by our performance."
TechRadar reported earlier this week that UK retailers are confident that there should be no Nintendo Wii shortages this coming Christmas.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Games
Gaming
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Former Virgin managers celebrate bumper first year of Zavvi, by Terry Macalister - The Guardian - 16th September 2008
· New focus on video and games hailed as success
· Online sales up 148% but music's decline continues
The management buyout team that acquired Virgin Megastores and rebranded it as Zavvi has had a successful first year with like-for-like shop sales up 10% and online business rising 148% despite the slowdown in retail spending.
The decision to concentrate more on electronic games and films paid off as the overall improvement came against the backcloth of an 18% slump in sales of music.
"We are delighted with our first year of trading," said Simon Douglas, the company's chief executive. "We have achieved a lot and have come a long way as both a business and a brand. But we are not complacent as there is still a lot to do to build on our first successful year of trading in what is becoming a challenging economic climate."
Sir Richard Branson handed over the Virgin Megastore chain of 125 outlets in the UK and Ireland 12 months ago after it ran up a series of losses. The sale, for a nominal sum, marked the final retreat of the hippy-turned-billionaire from an industry on which he had made such a large impact since entering it 35 years ago.
Megastore managing director Douglas and his finance director, Steve Peckham, believed the business and its 2,500 staff had a sound future - as long as it concentrated on the growing games market rather than a music sector hit by illegal downloads and consumers turning to other forms of entertainment.
Under the terms of the purchase they were not allowed to use the Virgin name, so the MBO team opted for the much derided Zavvi label that was meant to reflect its new emphasis on a wider group of products and appeal more to the new iPod generation.
The privately owned company has given no financial figures but Freddie George, retail analyst with the stockbroker Seymour Pierce, said he was impressed by the sales.
"Virgin Megastores had whacking losses and some of these figures [from Zavvi] look pretty good when compared with HMV and others," he said.
There were no firm numbers for games sales but Zavvi said they remained "strong" and now account for 30% of group sales. Douglas predicted they would soon challenge DVD as the company's lead format.
Neither were there any figures for total film turnover during the past 12 months but the company said there had been a 300% increase in sales of the new high-definition video carrier Blu-ray.
The company said its music division had suffered from legal and illegal downloading, and a poor Christmas and summer release schedule, but new music from Oasis, Kaiser Chiefs and Eminem scheduled for this autumn should help.
"Music sales across the industry have suffered during 2008, but the release schedule for Christmas represents one of the best release schedules for a number of years and Zavvi is in an ideal position to capitalise on this," Douglas said.
Zavvi has also expanded into areas such as T-shirts and books, and has fitted out 50 stores with dedicated display units, and seen sales of these items pushed up by nearly 50%.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Games
Music
Technology News
· Online sales up 148% but music's decline continues
The management buyout team that acquired Virgin Megastores and rebranded it as Zavvi has had a successful first year with like-for-like shop sales up 10% and online business rising 148% despite the slowdown in retail spending.
The decision to concentrate more on electronic games and films paid off as the overall improvement came against the backcloth of an 18% slump in sales of music.
"We are delighted with our first year of trading," said Simon Douglas, the company's chief executive. "We have achieved a lot and have come a long way as both a business and a brand. But we are not complacent as there is still a lot to do to build on our first successful year of trading in what is becoming a challenging economic climate."
Sir Richard Branson handed over the Virgin Megastore chain of 125 outlets in the UK and Ireland 12 months ago after it ran up a series of losses. The sale, for a nominal sum, marked the final retreat of the hippy-turned-billionaire from an industry on which he had made such a large impact since entering it 35 years ago.
Megastore managing director Douglas and his finance director, Steve Peckham, believed the business and its 2,500 staff had a sound future - as long as it concentrated on the growing games market rather than a music sector hit by illegal downloads and consumers turning to other forms of entertainment.
Under the terms of the purchase they were not allowed to use the Virgin name, so the MBO team opted for the much derided Zavvi label that was meant to reflect its new emphasis on a wider group of products and appeal more to the new iPod generation.
The privately owned company has given no financial figures but Freddie George, retail analyst with the stockbroker Seymour Pierce, said he was impressed by the sales.
"Virgin Megastores had whacking losses and some of these figures [from Zavvi] look pretty good when compared with HMV and others," he said.
There were no firm numbers for games sales but Zavvi said they remained "strong" and now account for 30% of group sales. Douglas predicted they would soon challenge DVD as the company's lead format.
Neither were there any figures for total film turnover during the past 12 months but the company said there had been a 300% increase in sales of the new high-definition video carrier Blu-ray.
The company said its music division had suffered from legal and illegal downloading, and a poor Christmas and summer release schedule, but new music from Oasis, Kaiser Chiefs and Eminem scheduled for this autumn should help.
"Music sales across the industry have suffered during 2008, but the release schedule for Christmas represents one of the best release schedules for a number of years and Zavvi is in an ideal position to capitalise on this," Douglas said.
Zavvi has also expanded into areas such as T-shirts and books, and has fitted out 50 stores with dedicated display units, and seen sales of these items pushed up by nearly 50%.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Games
Music
Technology News
Monday, September 15, 2008
Adknowledge Social Advertising lands on Australian shores - Press Release
10th September 2008
Adknowledge, the US-based behavioural targeting firm has launched an Australian operation to host advertising across Facebook’s, Myspace, and Bebo’s 39,000 applications.
Adknowledge's Social Advertising division has announced that it is now serving more than 10 billion ad impressions per month globally and close to 300 million in Australia on social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Friendster and Hi5. These impressions are generated from social applications.
Targeting display, video and text ads within applications advertisers can choose categories such as games, music or dating, as well as user profile information. It will also offer advertisers opportunities to brand applications, through re-skins or sponsorships.
This volume, now more than five times as large as Social Media, its next largest competitor in the space, makes Adknowledge the unrivalled leader in social network advertising.
Recent studies have shown that more than 16% of all online time is spent on Social Networks, which is greater than the amount of time spent on Google. Additionally, social applications engage users for longer than any other activity on social networks such as Facebook.
Adknowledge are able to target and cap campaigns by a users social ID, rather than by IP address or cookies. This means that they are the only network to target users even when they move between the different social platforms.
Adknowledge are launching their social media product in Australia with a Social media Seminar – ‘Advertising 3.0 Bringing Order to the Social Revolution’ – with two dates 30th September Sydney and 2nd October Melbourne. The key note speaker is Brett Brewer, President of Adknowledge, and co-founder of Myspace.
Brett successfully sold Intermix, which launched Myspace, for $673 Million to NewsCorp in October 2005.
Mr. Brewer has been an angel investor in several technology start ups, including video search site, Dabble.com, mobile texting company Frengo.com, mobile social networking site Treemo.com, and RealtyTracker.com. He is either on the board of or a strategic advisor for, all of these companies.
Also speaking at the event is Melanie Ingrey, research director at Nielsen Pacific, and Lachlan Brahe, Managing Director, Emitch.
For more information about Adknowledge or the upcoming Social Media Seminar please contact Markus von der Luehe (MD) on mvonderluehe@adknowledge.com / +61 (0) 2 8235 9471. Interviews with Brett Brewer are available on request.
Website
Adknowledge
Adknowledge, the US-based behavioural targeting firm has launched an Australian operation to host advertising across Facebook’s, Myspace, and Bebo’s 39,000 applications.
Adknowledge's Social Advertising division has announced that it is now serving more than 10 billion ad impressions per month globally and close to 300 million in Australia on social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Friendster and Hi5. These impressions are generated from social applications.
Targeting display, video and text ads within applications advertisers can choose categories such as games, music or dating, as well as user profile information. It will also offer advertisers opportunities to brand applications, through re-skins or sponsorships.
This volume, now more than five times as large as Social Media, its next largest competitor in the space, makes Adknowledge the unrivalled leader in social network advertising.
Recent studies have shown that more than 16% of all online time is spent on Social Networks, which is greater than the amount of time spent on Google. Additionally, social applications engage users for longer than any other activity on social networks such as Facebook.
Adknowledge are able to target and cap campaigns by a users social ID, rather than by IP address or cookies. This means that they are the only network to target users even when they move between the different social platforms.
Adknowledge are launching their social media product in Australia with a Social media Seminar – ‘Advertising 3.0 Bringing Order to the Social Revolution’ – with two dates 30th September Sydney and 2nd October Melbourne. The key note speaker is Brett Brewer, President of Adknowledge, and co-founder of Myspace.
Brett successfully sold Intermix, which launched Myspace, for $673 Million to NewsCorp in October 2005.
Mr. Brewer has been an angel investor in several technology start ups, including video search site, Dabble.com, mobile texting company Frengo.com, mobile social networking site Treemo.com, and RealtyTracker.com. He is either on the board of or a strategic advisor for, all of these companies.
Also speaking at the event is Melanie Ingrey, research director at Nielsen Pacific, and Lachlan Brahe, Managing Director, Emitch.
For more information about Adknowledge or the upcoming Social Media Seminar please contact Markus von der Luehe (MD) on mvonderluehe@adknowledge.com / +61 (0) 2 8235 9471. Interviews with Brett Brewer are available on request.
Website
Adknowledge
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Virgin Games named as Pillar Data Systems' 200th Customer
9th August 2007
~ efficiency key reason for choosing Pillar Axiom~
Pillar Data Systems, a leading provider of enterprise network storage systems, today announced Virgin Games as the company's 200th customer. Virgin Games, a wholly-owned trading division of Virgin.com Limited provides a number of online gaming services to users in the UK.
"We were looking for a scalable storage architecture to build a consolidated, environmentally friendly data centre," said Leigh Brazier, technical and operations director, Virgin Games. "With Pillar's Axiom, we will truly be able to hone in on the efficiency initiatives that we have been heavily focusing on. We're looking to partner with vendors who have the same end-game in mind, and Pillar's core values fit perfectly with our environmental focus."
In addition, with the Pillar platform, Virgin Games can achieve up to three times disk utilisation versus industry alternatives. By combining consolidation with maximum utilisation, Pillar's Axiom delivers more performance and capacity while consuming less space and energy than all other midrange disk storage systems on the market today.
Virgin Games is the latest company to look to Pillar to efficiently store their business critical information. Joining Cubist Pharmaceuticals, I/PRO, Las Vegas Review-Journal, LeapFrog, R.L. Polk, SwiftTrade to help meet critical business requirements while lowering the total cost of ownership of their storage environments. Since the Pillar Axiom began shipping just over two years ago, organisations have turned to Pillar Data Systems to seamlessly unite SAN and NAS and deploy multiple tiers of storage on a single, consolidated platform, enabling the utmost in storage efficiency.
"This is a great time to be in the storage industry and a time of significant milestones for Pillar," said Mike Workman, chairman, president and CEO, at Pillar Data Systems. "Having recently reached our two-year anniversary of shipping our Pillar Axiom and now reaching our 200th customer, we're delighted at what we've accomplished. To count Virgin Games to our growing customer roster clearly showcases that our customers recognise the value in how Pillar helps to efficiently simplify, consolidate and save on their storage investments."
For more information about Pillar Data Systems visit: www.pillardata.co.uk
Notes to Editors
About Virgin Games
Virgin Games (http://www.virgingames.com), a subsidiary of Virgin.com Ltd, launched in July 2004 and has quickly established itself as one of the leading gaming websites in the UK. Virgin Games currently comprises four distinct offerings:
Virgin Poker, part of the Boss Media network, offers a huge array of games and content for beginners through to experienced pros - as well as the most generous loyalty scheme in the industry Virgin Bingo, part of the St Minver network, offers cash prizes worth thousands of pounds in the progressive jackpots, as well as featuring regular celebrity guests in the Virgin chatroom Virgin Casino, part of the Wagerworks network, brings consumers classic casino offerings like blackjack and roulette, as well as great feature slots like Monopoly, Cluedo and The Wheel of Fortune Virgin Skill, part of the Fun Technologies network, features over 20 classic skills games to play for free or from as little as 5p
Virgin Games is about more than winning money - it's designed to offer fun and entertainment with all of the games available to play for free as well as for cash. Virgin Games also features an industry leading loyalty scheme which allows players to exchange V Points for Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Miles, Virgin Vouchers or donate money to charity via Virgin Unite.
About Pillar Data Systems
Founded in 2001, Pillar Data Systems develops enterprise network storage systems. The company's Pillar Axiom solution, driven by its innovative policy-based management capabilities, integrates SAN and NAS into a centrally managed storage platform. Pillar Axiom systems consolidate multiple tiers of enterprise network storage into a single, easily managed system capable of scaling to hundreds of terabytes of capacity.
Pillar Data Systems is privately funded by Tako Ventures, LLC, the venture arm of Larry Ellison. The company is headquartered in San Jose.. The EMEA headquarters is in Ireland, with initial operations across Ireland, UK, Germany and France.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Games
Virgin Casino
~ efficiency key reason for choosing Pillar Axiom~
Pillar Data Systems, a leading provider of enterprise network storage systems, today announced Virgin Games as the company's 200th customer. Virgin Games, a wholly-owned trading division of Virgin.com Limited provides a number of online gaming services to users in the UK.
"We were looking for a scalable storage architecture to build a consolidated, environmentally friendly data centre," said Leigh Brazier, technical and operations director, Virgin Games. "With Pillar's Axiom, we will truly be able to hone in on the efficiency initiatives that we have been heavily focusing on. We're looking to partner with vendors who have the same end-game in mind, and Pillar's core values fit perfectly with our environmental focus."
In addition, with the Pillar platform, Virgin Games can achieve up to three times disk utilisation versus industry alternatives. By combining consolidation with maximum utilisation, Pillar's Axiom delivers more performance and capacity while consuming less space and energy than all other midrange disk storage systems on the market today.
Virgin Games is the latest company to look to Pillar to efficiently store their business critical information. Joining Cubist Pharmaceuticals, I/PRO, Las Vegas Review-Journal, LeapFrog, R.L. Polk, SwiftTrade to help meet critical business requirements while lowering the total cost of ownership of their storage environments. Since the Pillar Axiom began shipping just over two years ago, organisations have turned to Pillar Data Systems to seamlessly unite SAN and NAS and deploy multiple tiers of storage on a single, consolidated platform, enabling the utmost in storage efficiency.
"This is a great time to be in the storage industry and a time of significant milestones for Pillar," said Mike Workman, chairman, president and CEO, at Pillar Data Systems. "Having recently reached our two-year anniversary of shipping our Pillar Axiom and now reaching our 200th customer, we're delighted at what we've accomplished. To count Virgin Games to our growing customer roster clearly showcases that our customers recognise the value in how Pillar helps to efficiently simplify, consolidate and save on their storage investments."
For more information about Pillar Data Systems visit: www.pillardata.co.uk
Notes to Editors
About Virgin Games
Virgin Games (http://www.virgingames.com), a subsidiary of Virgin.com Ltd, launched in July 2004 and has quickly established itself as one of the leading gaming websites in the UK. Virgin Games currently comprises four distinct offerings:
Virgin Poker, part of the Boss Media network, offers a huge array of games and content for beginners through to experienced pros - as well as the most generous loyalty scheme in the industry Virgin Bingo, part of the St Minver network, offers cash prizes worth thousands of pounds in the progressive jackpots, as well as featuring regular celebrity guests in the Virgin chatroom Virgin Casino, part of the Wagerworks network, brings consumers classic casino offerings like blackjack and roulette, as well as great feature slots like Monopoly, Cluedo and The Wheel of Fortune Virgin Skill, part of the Fun Technologies network, features over 20 classic skills games to play for free or from as little as 5p
Virgin Games is about more than winning money - it's designed to offer fun and entertainment with all of the games available to play for free as well as for cash. Virgin Games also features an industry leading loyalty scheme which allows players to exchange V Points for Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Miles, Virgin Vouchers or donate money to charity via Virgin Unite.
About Pillar Data Systems
Founded in 2001, Pillar Data Systems develops enterprise network storage systems. The company's Pillar Axiom solution, driven by its innovative policy-based management capabilities, integrates SAN and NAS into a centrally managed storage platform. Pillar Axiom systems consolidate multiple tiers of enterprise network storage into a single, easily managed system capable of scaling to hundreds of terabytes of capacity.
Pillar Data Systems is privately funded by Tako Ventures, LLC, the venture arm of Larry Ellison. The company is headquartered in San Jose.. The EMEA headquarters is in Ireland, with initial operations across Ireland, UK, Germany and France.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Games
Virgin Casino
Virgin Poker launches Facebook poker app, by Darren Davidson Brand Republic - 25th February 2008
LONDON - Virgin Poker has developed a Facebook application which allows users to play Texas Hold'em for free.
The application has been developed by Virgin Poker in partnership with Playzu, the online poker company.
Facebook users can join a table of six and play for points, with every winning hand counting towards a place on a leader board.
The top 25 players every day will be invited to take part in a free weekly tournament via a unique sign-up code. The weekly tournament offers prizes from other Virgin brands such as Virgin Atlantic Air Miles.
Simon Burridge, chief executive of Virgin Games, said: "With social networking now a fundamental part of our players' lives, Facebook's focus on entertainment and community provides the perfect opportunity to bring the fun and social element of Virgin Poker to a new market."
The application gives users the ability to create their own avatar in the games, with accessories ranging from cigars and hats to tattoos and glasses.
There are also comedy video clips integrated into the application, which can be played when users are waiting for a hand to be played, and users can set up a private "invite only" game with other Facebook members.
Darius Ziatabari, Playzu founder, said the company would continue to add features to the application to improve the user experience: "We are poker players at heart and want people to have the most fun possible without having to pay for it."
The moves comes as big advertisers begin to incorporate Facebook, which has 8.5m UK users according to Nielsen Online, into their marketing plans.
Earlier this month, Mars launched a voucher scheme on the social networking site enabling users to collect vouchers for the confectionery brand, and last week Marmite launched a branded group.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Poker
Virgin Games
Virgin Casino
Poker
Poker and Casino News
Casino News Media
The application has been developed by Virgin Poker in partnership with Playzu, the online poker company.
Facebook users can join a table of six and play for points, with every winning hand counting towards a place on a leader board.
The top 25 players every day will be invited to take part in a free weekly tournament via a unique sign-up code. The weekly tournament offers prizes from other Virgin brands such as Virgin Atlantic Air Miles.
Simon Burridge, chief executive of Virgin Games, said: "With social networking now a fundamental part of our players' lives, Facebook's focus on entertainment and community provides the perfect opportunity to bring the fun and social element of Virgin Poker to a new market."
The application gives users the ability to create their own avatar in the games, with accessories ranging from cigars and hats to tattoos and glasses.
There are also comedy video clips integrated into the application, which can be played when users are waiting for a hand to be played, and users can set up a private "invite only" game with other Facebook members.
Darius Ziatabari, Playzu founder, said the company would continue to add features to the application to improve the user experience: "We are poker players at heart and want people to have the most fun possible without having to pay for it."
The moves comes as big advertisers begin to incorporate Facebook, which has 8.5m UK users according to Nielsen Online, into their marketing plans.
Earlier this month, Mars launched a voucher scheme on the social networking site enabling users to collect vouchers for the confectionery brand, and last week Marmite launched a branded group.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Poker
Virgin Games
Virgin Casino
Poker
Poker and Casino News
Casino News Media
Virgin’s Affiliate Programme Short-Listed - 4th September 2008
Online casino VirginGames.com has been short-listed for the Affiliate Programme of the Year distinction at the fourth annual eGaming Review Industry Awards.
The Awards are considered one of the premier online gaming events of the year and are judged by an independent panel consisting of some of the most experienced practitioners from every segment of the sector. This year there are 18 distinctions up for grabs with the final winners announced on September 19 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
The first time it has every been nominated for the Affiliate Programme of the Year award, VirginGames.com is one of only four companies short-listed and nominees are judged on innovation, creativeness, marketing strategy and overall effectiveness.
“We’re delighted to have made it to the final table of the 2008 eGaming Awards,” said Pierrick Leveque, Head of Affiliates for VirginGames.com.
“It is an honour to be short-listed in the Best Affiliate Programme of the Year category alongside Everest, Centrebet and Ladbrokes.
“More importantly, it is a testimony to the quality and commitment of the affiliates who have decided to partner with us since we launched last year. We work hard to ensure our affiliate operations match VirginGames.com’s reputation as an online gaming operator. In that regard, our presence in this year’s shortlist is very uplifting.”
VirginGames.com recently voted the Best Gaming Affiliate Programme prize at the affiliate marketing industry’s a4u Awards 2008, the most prestigious affiliate awards ceremony in the UK.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Games
Virgin Casino
Virgin
Richard Branson
Casino Affiliates
Centrebet
Casino News Media
The Awards are considered one of the premier online gaming events of the year and are judged by an independent panel consisting of some of the most experienced practitioners from every segment of the sector. This year there are 18 distinctions up for grabs with the final winners announced on September 19 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
The first time it has every been nominated for the Affiliate Programme of the Year award, VirginGames.com is one of only four companies short-listed and nominees are judged on innovation, creativeness, marketing strategy and overall effectiveness.
“We’re delighted to have made it to the final table of the 2008 eGaming Awards,” said Pierrick Leveque, Head of Affiliates for VirginGames.com.
“It is an honour to be short-listed in the Best Affiliate Programme of the Year category alongside Everest, Centrebet and Ladbrokes.
“More importantly, it is a testimony to the quality and commitment of the affiliates who have decided to partner with us since we launched last year. We work hard to ensure our affiliate operations match VirginGames.com’s reputation as an online gaming operator. In that regard, our presence in this year’s shortlist is very uplifting.”
VirginGames.com recently voted the Best Gaming Affiliate Programme prize at the affiliate marketing industry’s a4u Awards 2008, the most prestigious affiliate awards ceremony in the UK.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Games
Virgin Casino
Virgin
Richard Branson
Casino Affiliates
Centrebet
Casino News Media
Friday, September 12, 2008
Income Access Launches BetweenDrinks.com - 10th September 2008
Income Access, the Montreal-based affiliate marketing management programme, has announced the launch of BetweenDrinks.com, a social networking site for online gambling affiliates.
Currently being tested in its beta format, BetweenDrinks.com has been designed for affiliates, managers and gambling operators with Income Access inviting members of the online gaming community to test the site and offer feedback.
The Canadian firm revealed that the idea for the site came after it realised that members of the affiliate gaming community had nowhere online to match the high-energy conferences they attend.
'We felt that people who work in affiliate marketing for iGaming needed their own place where they could interact,' said Nicky Senyard, Chief Executive Officer for Income Access.
'That's why we set out to offer industry members all the interactive functionalities of major social networking sites but with a much more targeted user-base. Everyone has such a great time at industry conferences in cities such as Barcelona and Amsterdam and now the party won't have to end when they get home.'
BetweenDrinks.com offers many of the same features as mass-consumer social networks including the ability to post photos, define friendship details, start and take polls, join groups, chat, post classified advertisements, blog and send messages.
'BetweenDrinks.com will enable them to make new friends, catch up with old ones and make plans for the weekend with the site encouraging friends to touch base and organise the fun things in life; drinks, dinners and parties,' read a statement from Income Access.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Income Access
Casino Affiliates
Social Networking Websites
Currently being tested in its beta format, BetweenDrinks.com has been designed for affiliates, managers and gambling operators with Income Access inviting members of the online gaming community to test the site and offer feedback.
The Canadian firm revealed that the idea for the site came after it realised that members of the affiliate gaming community had nowhere online to match the high-energy conferences they attend.
'We felt that people who work in affiliate marketing for iGaming needed their own place where they could interact,' said Nicky Senyard, Chief Executive Officer for Income Access.
'That's why we set out to offer industry members all the interactive functionalities of major social networking sites but with a much more targeted user-base. Everyone has such a great time at industry conferences in cities such as Barcelona and Amsterdam and now the party won't have to end when they get home.'
BetweenDrinks.com offers many of the same features as mass-consumer social networks including the ability to post photos, define friendship details, start and take polls, join groups, chat, post classified advertisements, blog and send messages.
'BetweenDrinks.com will enable them to make new friends, catch up with old ones and make plans for the weekend with the site encouraging friends to touch base and organise the fun things in life; drinks, dinners and parties,' read a statement from Income Access.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Income Access
Casino Affiliates
Social Networking Websites
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Virgin’s Affiliate Programme Short-Listed - 4th September 2008
Online casino VirginGames.com has been short-listed for the Affiliate Programme of the Year distinction at the fourth annual eGaming Review Industry Awards.
The Awards are considered one of the premier online gaming events of the year and are judged by an independent panel consisting of some of the most experienced practitioners from every segment of the sector. This year there are 18 distinctions up for grabs with the final winners announced on September 19 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
The first time it has every been nominated for the Affiliate Programme of the Year award, VirginGames.com is one of only four companies short-listed and nominees are judged on innovation, creativeness, marketing strategy and overall effectiveness.
“We’re delighted to have made it to the final table of the 2008 eGaming Awards,” said Pierrick Leveque, Head of Affiliates for VirginGames.com.
“It is an honour to be short-listed in the Best Affiliate Programme of the Year category alongside Everest, Centrebet and Ladbrokes.
“More importantly, it is a testimony to the quality and commitment of the affiliates who have decided to partner with us since we launched last year. We work hard to ensure our affiliate operations match VirginGames.com’s reputation as an online gaming operator. In that regard, our presence in this year’s shortlist is very uplifting.”
VirginGames.com recently voted the Best Gaming Affiliate Programme prize at the affiliate marketing industry’s a4u Awards 2008, the most prestigious affiliate awards ceremony in the UK.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Games
Virgin Casino
Casino Affiliates
Poker and Casino News
Casino News Media
The Awards are considered one of the premier online gaming events of the year and are judged by an independent panel consisting of some of the most experienced practitioners from every segment of the sector. This year there are 18 distinctions up for grabs with the final winners announced on September 19 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
The first time it has every been nominated for the Affiliate Programme of the Year award, VirginGames.com is one of only four companies short-listed and nominees are judged on innovation, creativeness, marketing strategy and overall effectiveness.
“We’re delighted to have made it to the final table of the 2008 eGaming Awards,” said Pierrick Leveque, Head of Affiliates for VirginGames.com.
“It is an honour to be short-listed in the Best Affiliate Programme of the Year category alongside Everest, Centrebet and Ladbrokes.
“More importantly, it is a testimony to the quality and commitment of the affiliates who have decided to partner with us since we launched last year. We work hard to ensure our affiliate operations match VirginGames.com’s reputation as an online gaming operator. In that regard, our presence in this year’s shortlist is very uplifting.”
VirginGames.com recently voted the Best Gaming Affiliate Programme prize at the affiliate marketing industry’s a4u Awards 2008, the most prestigious affiliate awards ceremony in the UK.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Games
Virgin Casino
Casino Affiliates
Poker and Casino News
Casino News Media
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