Virgin Casino News And Virgin Games News: Virgin Casino To Add 100 New Games In 2010, by Greg Tingle - 26th February 2010

Virgin Casino News And Virgin Games News; Virtual Worlds Coming Up

Media Man reports from the Battle zone

New Games: King Kong, Call of Duty 4, Play Your Cards Right, Monopoly Multiplier

New Brand: AWOMO (A World Of My Own)

Virgin Casino, part of the leading online gaming company - Virgin Games, has announced that it has developed a road map to introduce all the latest casino games in the next twelve months, making it one of the most content rich gaming sites in the UK market.

To help enhance its already strong portfolio, Virgin Casino has taken on a new partner - Playtech company, Gaming Technology Solutions (GTS) - a leading global supplier of gaming solutions for online gaming operations. Playtech provides cutting-edge software to the top operators in the gaming industry, and through the GTS Enhanced Gaming Engine (EdGE) platform, will provide Virgin Casino with access to the best in casino games on the market. Amongst the many exciting games due to be launched this year are Call of Duty 4, Monopoly Multiplier and Play Your Cards Right.

Warren Eloff, Product Manager at Virgin Casino, commented:

"GTS EdGE platform allows us easy access to the best gaming suppliers in the business and partnering with them to help develop our product offering makes perfect sense. We plan to roll out over 100 games this year and among them will be some top brand names, providing our customers with sophisticated and exciting games that they have come to expect from us. With all these new games we will have one of the best casinos available online."

Founded in 2004, Virgin Casino has over 500,000 players and 50 casino games on its site. Via the introduction of a custom built Virgin Games platform in 2008, Virgin Casino seeks to provide its players with the widest possible choice of casino games. Virgin Casino offers games from a growing selection of games producers, including: WagerWorks, Cryptologic, FremantleMedia, Endemol, Dynamite Idea, VS Gaming and Ash Gaming.

To play at Virgin Casino visit www.virgingames.com


Virgin Games To Become Total Gaming Website Portal; A World Of My Own

Virgin Games is expanding into the non-gambling PC games market in a move to transform its brand as a "total gaming" website destination that will also facilitate the company to market the brand in jurisdictions where Virgin's online gambling product is not currently prohibited (eg: most of the Asia Pacific - Australia and the United States).

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A business agreement with tech company Game Domain International (GDI) will give Virgin Games access to 200 plus game titles from approx 70 developers available for easy download with names including Tomb Raider: Legend, Rome: Total War, Fifa Football Manager and Warhammer: Mark of Chaos. These will be offered in addition to Virgin Games' current portfolio of online games.

The new system entitled A World of My Own (AWOMO), aims to deliver online game content quicker than rival download services by allowing users to play the games before they are fully downloaded, in addition to offering pay-per-download or regular subscription payment options. It brings new life into the term, virtual worlds.

Virgin Games chief Simon Burridge has gone on record.

"This will open up a huge long tail of people who are gamers but are not prepared to invest heavily in gaming, and will open up PC games to a rental market that has never been done before. If this takes off it could do for the gaming industry what iTunes did for buying music: no-one buys music from shops anymore, they go online to iTunes."

"This will open up parts of the world where we have previously been excluded, including English-speaking markets such as South Africa or the United States where the Virgin brand is strong. That will also allow the brand greater strength in those markets should they regulate online gambling but that is a benefit rather than a main strategic goal".

AWOMO is currently in beta mode and the companies expect to launch the complete product in the third quarter of this year.

About Virgin Games:

Virgin Games launched in June 2004 and has established itself as one of the leading online gaming websites in the UK. Virgin Games comprises three distinct offerings:

- Virgin Casino, offers content from a range of games suppliers including WagerWorks, Cryptologic, FremantleMedia and Ash Gaming, bringing consumers classic casino games like blackjack and roulette, as well as great feature slots like Monopoly, Rubik's, X-Factor and the highly popular MegaJackpots progressive games, with a jackpot value of over Pounds Sterling 1,500,000

- 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 Virtue Fusion network, offers cash prizes worth thousands of pounds in the progressive jackpots, as well as Virgin prize bingo and a range of unique Virgin Games bingo games.

Virgin was founded by Sir Richard Branson in 1970 and has grown to become one of the world's most loved, respected and recognizable brands. Virgin has won too many awards and commendations to list, but its fair to say that most parts of the world have been touched by the Branson - Virgin magic, and Virgin Games plans on delivering the fun, quality and value for money that people have grown a custom to with Virgin.

Party hard and play harder at Virgin Games.

References: Virgin Enterprises, Virgin Games, Wikipedia, Poker News Daily, eGaming Review, Google News, Wires, AP, Earth Times, Media Man, Global Gaming Directory, Casino News Media.

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PartyCasino VS Virgin Casino - online "war" between iGaming powerhouses, by Greg Tingle - 25th February 2010

PartyCasino VS Virgin Casino - iGaming and gaming sector heats up - United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Japan, Germany, South America, India, South Africa and beyond

PartyGaming - Asia Pacific - Australian focus, planning on return to United States; Hollywood themed games and tie ins with World Poker Tour owned brand, Asian Poker Tour collaboration, Maintains lead as world's leading online casino brand

Virgin Games - planning on expanding both Gambling and non gambling gaming products; Plans to add over 100 new games within 12 months

Hundreds of game titles are available to play now at both PartyGaming's PartyCasino.com and Richard Branson's VirginCasino.com

Punters take note...PartyCasino.com can be accessed in most of the Asia Pacific including Australia and New Zealand, and hotspot, Tasmania, while Virgin Casino can not currently be accessed in those regions. Both companies are looking to soon be able to offering paid games to the United States, in a race which numerous experts say PartyGaming is winning. PartyGaming also owns and operates the famous World Poker Tour (which is available to American punters).

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PartyCasino.com VS VirginGames.com

Background to the war...

The "war" between igaming rivals PartyCasino.com and Virgin Games heats up further with the news hot off the press that Richard Branson's Virgin Games will be getting more smash hit games including the King Kong slot.

In addition Richard Branson's Virgin Games is planning a non gambling service: A World Of My Own (AWOMO), which will be able to provide gamers with a cutting edgy technology service in basically all parts of the world, including in regions where traditional online gambling is not permitted. The strength of the Virgin brand, combined with Virgin's track record of success in new ventures and technology stack the odds in favour of the launch being a huge success. Virgin and competitor, PartyGaming, also have very strong news media, igaming, political and business connections.

Virgin's AWOMO is currently in beta testing, and is expected to launch the complete product in the third quarter of this year.

PartyGaming is pushing the interactive elements of its gaming with "Live Dealer", "Casino Calendar" and "Avatar" type technologies just around the corner.

The Casinos

Both online casinos are world class. PartyCasino.com has won the Casino News Media Online Casino of the Month title a number of times and Virgin has made the shortlist for the past 3 months. PartyGaming has won a number of eGaming Review awards and commendations over the years including Socially Responsible Operator Of The Year and Operator Of The Year. PartyCasino.com offers rewards program PartyPoints, while Virgin offers V*Points.

The main point of difference for many potential players is that PartyCasino.com accepts Australian players while Virgin currently does not. PartyCasino also offers a wider variety of multi language and multi currency options. Both casinos offer play for free or play for money options.

Jackpots

Party offers Gold Mega Jackpot, The Big One, Marvel Hero Jackpot and Super Hero Jackpot

Virgin offers MegaJackpots, Marvel Hero Jackpot and Super Hero Jackpot

Virgin Enterprises Limited is one of the world's most successful companies as is PartyGaming. PartyGaming is listed on the London Stock Exchange and was established in 1997. Virgin Games was established in 2005 and Virgin Enterprises was founded by Richard Branson in 1970.

If your ready for action, excitement and fun, check out Party and Virgin without delay.

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PartyGaming rise, broker ups to "buy" - 18th February 2010

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Shares in online gambling group PartyGaming add 2.1 percent after Oriel Securities raises its recommendation on the firm to "buy" from "hold", saying it looks undervalued, citing its growth potential.

The broker says based on its forecasts of $158 million of EBITDA in 2010, the shares are trading on an adjusted price earnings ratio of 13.2 times and 8.7 times EBITDA.

"This is an undemanding rating for a growth stock which is active in entering new regions," it says.

"The group is also well positioned to participate in the consolidation of the online gaming sector with clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice and around $120 million of cash resources to pursue M&A opportunities."

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Virgin Casino to Significantly Expand Games Portfolio in 2010

Virgin Casino to Significantly Expand Games Portfolio in 2010

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - Virgin Casino, part of the leading online gaming company - Virgin Games, has today announced that it has developed a road map to introduce all the latest casino games in the next twelve months, making it one of the most content rich gaming sites in the UK market.

To help enhance its already strong portfolio, Virgin Casino has taken on a new partner - Playtech company, Gaming Technology Solutions (GTS) - a leading global supplier of gaming solutions for online gaming operations. Playtech provides cutting-edge software to the top operators in the gaming industry, and through the GTS Enhanced Gaming Engine (EdGE) platform, will provide Virgin Casino with access to the best in breed casino games on the market. Amongst the many exciting games due to be launched this year are Call of Duty 4, Monopoly Multiplier and Play Your Cards Right.

Warren Eloff, Product Manager at Virgin Casino, commented "GTS EdGE platform allows us easy access to the best gaming suppliers in the business and partnering with them to help develop our product offering makes perfect sense. We plan to roll out over 100 games this year and among them will be some top brand names, providing our customers with sophisticated and exciting games that they have come to expect from us. With all these new games we will have one of the best casinos available online."

Founded in 2004, Virgin Casino has over 500,000 players and 50 casino games on its site. Through the introduction of a custom built Virgin Games platform in 2008, Virgin Casino seeks to provide its players with the widest possible choice of casino games. Virgin Casino offers games from a growing selection of games producers, including: WagerWorks, Cryptologic, Freemantle, Endemol, Dynamite Idea, VS Gaming and Ash Gaming.

To play at Virgin Casino visit VirginGames.com

About Virgin Games

Virgin Games launched in June 2004 and has established itself as one of the leading online gaming websites in the UK. Virgin Games comprises three distinct offerings

- Virgin Casino, offers content from a range of games suppliers including WagerWorks, Cryptologic, Freemantle and Ash Gaming, bringing consumers classic casino games like blackjack and roulette, as well as great feature slots like Monopoly, Rubik's, X-Factor and the highly popular MegaJackpots progressive games, with a jackpot value of over Pounds Sterling 1,500,000

- 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 Virtue Fusion network, offers cash prizes worth thousands of pounds in the progressive jackpots, as well as Virgin prize bingo and a range of unique Virgin Games bingo games.

*Sorry, no U.S or Australian players. See World Casino Directory.

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Cyber attacks against Australia 'will continue' - 12th February 2010

An activist group that temporarily blocked access to key Australian government websites plans to continue its cyber attacks, the BBC has learned.

The group, known as Anonymous, was protesting against the Australian government's proposals to apply filters to the internet in the country.

A man claiming to be a representative of the group said that around 500 people were involved in the attack.

The method they are using is known as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS).

DDoS is illegal in many countries including the United Kingdom. There is no indication that the attack was carried out from within Britain. DDoS attacks typically call on machines in many different nations, making them hard to trace.

The sites were intermittently blocked on 10 and 11 February. The action has been condemned by various bodies including the Systems Administrators Guild of Australia (SAGE-AU) and Electronic Frontiers Australia.

"All it takes is a few people to basically send junk traffic to their websites which is causing them to be offline," the man, calling himself Coldblood, told BBC News.
"The people who are currently attacking (the government websites) are planning to keep doing it. It will probably keep happening until either they get bored or it gets sorted out."

The sites are currently back online but the domains of individual politicians, including that of Stephen Conroy (minister for broadband, communications and the digital economy), were among those targeted.

Web filters

Anonymous is protesting against Australia's plan to apply a country-wide filter to block certain content in 2011.

The Australian government has said that trials have shown the filtering technology to be 100% effective in preventing access to designated sites.

The banned sites would be selected by an independent classifications body guided by public complaints, Senator Conroy has said.

He said the aim of the filter is to make the internet a safer place for Australian children.

Speaking to the BBC, Coldblood said that the activists did not support the creation of illegal content but that banning it would not tackle the issue.

"If something is illegal which is done on the internet the government should try and prosecute them," he said.

"If they ban it it will just appear somewhere again. What they really need to do is go after the people who are making this content."

The group consists of "a few thousand people" based all over the world Coldblood said.

They staged cyber attacks on Iran following the election protests and have publicly protested against the Scientology movement.

This was sparked after the Church of Scientology requested the removal of a clip from YouTube featuring Hollywood actor Tom Cruise.

"One of our main missions is against censorship on the internet," said Coldblood.

The group had not had any direct contact with the Australian government, he added.

SAGE-AU said the attack was "the wrong way to express disagreement with the proposed law."

"The impact of DOS attacks is frequently felt less by government agencies than by system administrators, many of them SAGE-AU members, who are responsible for managing websites and servers," continues a statement on its website.

YouTube in Australia

Senator Conroy has also contacted Google requesting that the company begins to filter YouTube content in the country.

Google says that while it complies with the laws of the individual countries in which it has a presence, it would only investigate and consider removing content after receiving a "valid legal request" about something already posted on the site.

"We first check that the request meets both the letter and spirit of the law, and we will seek to narrow it if the request is overly broad," said a spokesperson.

"YouTube is a platform for free expression. We have clear policies about what is allowed and not allowed on the site." (Credit: BBC)

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Minister in 'secret' snow meeting with mogul - Sunday Herald Sun - 13 February 2010

Minister meets billionaire Kerry Stokes in the USA

Stokes owns Channel 7

Later announced huge benefits for networks

COMMUNICATIONS Minister Stephen Conroy held a secret meeting and went snow-skiing with Seven's billionaire owner Kerry Stokes at a ritzy American resort only weeks before handing over a $250 million gift to Australia's free-to-air TV networks.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal that Senator Conroy - a skiing and snowboarding fanatic - met Mr Stokes in Vail, Colorado, in January, while the Government was considering pleas from the free-to-air industry to cut their licence fees.

*Read the article here

McMahon: WWE Network Expected To Launch in Mid 2011 - 11th February 2010

Proposed Network To Help Promote `Raw,' `SmackDown' Properties

World Wrestling Entertainment is looking to jump into the cable network ring with a proposed network that the pro grappling outfit expects to launch in the next 18 months, according to WWE chairman Vince McMahon.

McMahon, speaking Thursday morning during the company's 2009 fourth-quarter earnings call, said it has been doing "a great deal of due diligence" toward creating a WWE cable network that would presumably offer live and library content.

"I would hope a year-and-a-half from now we would be up and running," McMahon said. "We think there is a tremendous opportunity for us out there and quite frankly if things happen as we hope they will happen it will be a really big game changer for the WWE."

The proposed network would not infringe on the WWE's current cable and broadcast shows, including USA Network's WWE Monday Night Raw and MyNetworkTV's SmackDown , but instead could be used as a marketing tool for those shows.

"We are unique in that what's good for the WWE is good for all our television partners as far as promotion and things of that nature," he said. "The new network could tie in and be adjacent to some of those shows and quite frankly our own network can enhance Raw and SmackDown. It would really be a win-win across the board for our television partners, as well as for us." (Credit: World Wrestling Entertainment, MultiChannel News, Wires)

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Australia Internet Censorship Issue at Breaking Point, by Greg Tingle - 11th February 2010

Special contributor to the Gambling911.com website, Greg Tingle, looks at the continuing uproar over censorship attempts in Australia as they apply to the Internet and ultimately online gambling websites, some of which appeared on a much publicized "black list" some months ago.

Was it Hollywood's Elvira who said "All is fair in love and war"? Whatever the case that seems to be the mindset of "Anonymous" who is blasting Australian government websites in protest to the proposed Australian Internet filter also with its bastard cousin, the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) "blacklist".

Welcome "Operational Titstorm".

It's fair to say that some Aussies are bloody pissed off that their endless stream of "vice" such as porn, gaming and other "questionable material" may be cut off thank to the intenet filter cum post Australian election time.

As we know know too well, often when a a government tries to smother and cover up a news story the story becomes bigger. This is a classic example. It's now a red hot international news item and the more Senator Stephen Conroy and his team try to smother it, the more fuel gets added to the fire! The news story is up there with China's "Great Wall Of China" censorship matters, along with human rights, freedom of information, freedom of speech, Hillary Clinton and friends.

One needs little imagination to see that some parallels can be drawn to what will happen in Australian when certain things become illegal... they will go underground, likely get more popular and sought after, however some consumer protection will be lost.

In the igaming industry I would recommend that people stick to brands they know and trust, be it PartyGaming, BetUS, Betfair, Virgin Games and I understand that both Playtech and Microgaming powered online casinos currently have a clean bill of health.

If you're an Aussie reading this, my "spies" tell me that in approx 6 months Australians won't be able to access popular porn sites RedTube and YouPorn (unless they have some sort of whiz bang anti censorship - anti filter device)... something that could well end up on the black market (i.e: pubs and clubs, "mates rates" and items that "fell off the back of a truck"). Over a decade ago when pay TV was introduced to Australians one used to be able to purchase a device to plug into the standard pay TV equipment and get pay TV for free! This allowed consumers to get more variety of channels, unscrambled (and for free)... things could very well end up going in a similar direction for Australian internet users based on recent developments.

News just in... The Australian government is trying to pursue Google to voluntarily censor YouTube videos in Australia. Google have refused the government's request thus far.

Media Man thanks and praises American and Canadian news media and igaming media news websites for bringing the news to the people and we applaud Gambling911 in their fearless commitment to educating and informing the masses on internet censorship and other important matters pertaining to the igaming, betting and political arena.

Australian government spooks and contractors are trying to get the defaced websites back on the air as of the time of writing.

Greg Tingle, Media Man International

http://www.mediamanint.com

Google baulks at Conroy's call to censor YouTube - 11th February 2010

Google says it will not "voluntarily" comply with the government's request that it censor YouTube videos in accordance with broad "refused classification" content rules.

*Read the full article

(Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)

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Foxy Bingo Sweden Uses Virtue Fusion - 9th February 2010

Virtue Fusion, one of the world’s leading developers and licensors of online bingo products, has announced that will supply the Foxy Bingo brand, who is now owned by PartyGaming after a Cashcade take over last year, with its online bingo solution in Sweden.

PartyGaming has chosen Virtue Fusion for the launch of its Swedish facing online bingo site, due to Virtue Fusion’s leading bingo games content, European prize pool liquidity and “speed to market” as key differentiators in their decision making process.

Virtue Fusion Alderney CEO Bob McCulloch said, “This deal is the ultimate quality stamp of approval for Virtue Fusion Alderney, to be selected by one of the biggest players in our industry in PartyGaming and one of the trail blazers in the online bingo industry in Cashcade is extremely satisfying.”

PartyGaming’s Bingo Overseas Marketing and Business Development Manager Michael Brady added, “The Virtue Fusion software enables us to launch in an exciting new market. The Virtue Fusion software combined with our marketing expertise promises to herald a new and profitable chapter in our history. Virtue Fusion Alderney’s fantastic liquidity, combined with the rich quality of their online bingo provision is the big attraction for us. We look forward to working together on Foxy Bingo in Sweden.”

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China plans online gambling crackdown: Could Australia be next to follow?, by Greg Tingle - 9th February 2010

China plans to crack down on the online gaming and gambling industry, including the banks, financial institutions and websites that support it, the Ministry of Public Security advised in a statement posted on its (official) website.

The campaign will "concentrate on investigating major and important cases of online gambling, knock out domestic and foreign groups that organize online gambling, and severely punish the criminal elements".

The so called "crackdown", to be conducted in the February - August period, was agreed to by eight (lucky in many parts of Asia) government bodies including the Supreme Court, Propaganda bureau, the Central Bank and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Gambling in its traditional form was banned in mainland China after the Communist takeover in 1949, the exceptions being two state lotteries... one run by the sports ministry to fund the building of facilities. Experts point out that this could be seen as a monopoly, and even boarding on racism of sorts in the business sector, as gaming and gambling is a world wide industry, these days the internet being the preferred global medium.

Underground casinos, overseas conglomerates and illegal syndicates have sprung up to fill the gap.

The statement said it will severely punish those who run underground banks and third-party payment platforms that provide banking services needed for gambling. As in pornography crackdowns, website operators will also be targeted.

The move is the latest in a series of curbs on the country's relatively free-wheeling online world, one of the few arenas for people from across China to interact in large groups, share information and criticize the government.

A long-running anti-pornography drive has netted many sites with politically sensitive or even simply user-generated content, in what many see as an effort by the Chinese government to reassert control over new media.

Widespread protests in Iran after a contested presidential election alerted Beijing to the potential for protesters and dissidents to use social media to spread their message.

China has banned Google's YouTube since March 2009, when a Tibetan exile film documenting the injuries and death of a Tibetan protester was published on the video sharing site. The government began blocking Twitter, Flickr and Facebook last summer.

Media and gaming analyists advise that this latest news is a "non coincidence" and "strategic" relating to U.S giant Google accusing China of cyber terrorism and of course internet censorship. In addition the internet, gaming and political world ponders what effect these developments may have down under in Australia, as Senator Stephen Conroy still plans to introduce the internet filters (along with "internet blacklist") after the next Australian election. The news also comes as documentary "Casino Jack and the United States of Money" attracts substantial mainstream press. The documentary focuses on the relationship between politics, lobbying, money and strong Native American casino themes.

Macau remains the regions hotspot for legal gambling, where recently Australian casino king James Packer has seen his Melco-Crown Entertainment City Of Dreams, Macau, achieve recent profits and visitors, a development that insiders are calling the gambling "comeback of the decade". Asian gambling tsar Stanley Ho will be looking for some of Packer's recent good fortune as Ho is said to be struggling to regain his full health since suffering a stroke and undergoing brain surgery last August. Media and gaming commentators remain divided as to the current health Status of Ho. Macau's casino district has borrowed one page out of Vegas' book... they now have a Cotai Strip (but it is unclear if they are legal or illegal strip clubs in downtown Cotai). What is known however is that when things become "illegal" they go underground and usually become more popular and profitable.

Numerous high profile American, European and Australian media and internet companies have been seen to be pro actively targeting Asia in recent years and insiders suspect that this has raised the ire of the Chinese government. Macau remains the regions casino and gambling hotspot (where gambling is legal).

In a strategic move Australian founded Media Man today launched MediaMan.Asia to coincide with the Chinese crackdown on media, entertainment, internet and gaming. Media Man did not pursue .hk, .tw, .mo or .ch domain names as they prefered the more global nature of a .asia. Technically Australia is part of the Asia Pacific according to sources such as Wikipedia, Websters and The World Atlas. Internet portals and publishers, World Casino Directory and Global Gaming Directory, competitors of sorts, are monitoring the developments closely.

*The writer is the founder and director of Media Man, primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. http://www.mediamanint.com

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited

*The writer is a special contributor for Gambling911

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Punter boosts gaming firm's profits

A punter who pumped almost half of a £3.1m jackpot win back into slot machine games has helped to boost the revenues of online betting firm PartyGaming.

The anonymous player scooped the roll-over prize on PartyCasino after it overhauled jackpot rules earlier in the year to tempt in punters with bigger payouts.

The recycled winnings helped the company push up fourth-quarter revenues 32%, while the sports betting business gained from a higher number of draws after a historic low at the start of the Premier League football season.

The PartyPoker owner said all four of its divisions - poker, casino games, bingo and sports betting - showed growth in the three months to December 31 as revenues jumped by almost a third to £87.2 million over a year earlier.

Shares rose 3% on Wednesday as the firm said underlying earnings for 2009 as a whole would be "slightly ahead" of board expectations.

The fourth quarter is traditionally better for the online gaming sites due to poorer weather but the firm added that casino and sports betting revenues had been "particularly strong".

The group's PartyPoker website - which had 438,000 active players during the three months to December - now boasts the biggest pool of players behind PokerStars and Full Tilt.

The business is also eyeing growth opportunities in Europe this year as well as potential acquisitions and mergers. The company was reported in December to be in talks over a potential merger with Austrian rival Bwin, which would create a £2 billion internet gaming giant.

Chief executive Jim Ryan said: "With some of the world's largest gaming sites in poker, casino and bingo, and opportunities to further consolidate the online gaming sector, we are confident about our future prospects."

Investec analyst Matthew Gerard said: "An increasing focus on casino and bingo will drive robust revenue growth."

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Net piracy fight takes body blow, by Asher Moses - 5th February 2010

Hollywood studios and record labels are being forced to go back to the drawing board to come up with a new way of combating online piracy after the Federal Court ruled that internet service providers are not required to police copyright infringement on their networks.

The music industry says it may have no choice but to sue individuals for illegal file sharing unless the federal government intervenes with a solution to its piracy woes.

All the major film studios sued iiNet in an effort to force the internet service provider to warn and even disconnect customers who repeatedly download movies illegally.

It was the first case of its kind in the world and the first time an Australian trial had been covered live on Twitter.

In a landmark judgment handed down yesterday morning, Justice Dennis Cowdroy rejected the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft's claim that iiNet ''authorised'' its customers' copyright infringement by failing to act on thousands of infringement notices sent to it by AFACT.

Justice Cowdroy found iiNet had done no more than provide an internet service to its users. He said iiNet did not have control over its customers' use of the BitTorrentfile-sharing software, which customers used to infringe the studios' copyright.

He said: ''iiNet is not responsible if an iiNet user uses that system to bring about copyright infringement … the law recognises no positive obligation on any person to protect the copyright of another.''

Tony Joyner, a partner in the technology and IT group at law firm Freehills, said he was particularly interested in the government's response because the online piracy issues raised by the studios at the trial remained a ''very big and real problem''.

''Everything iiNet says is rational,'' he said. ''They're saying we're just a simple conduit and if people are doing bad things it's not up to us to be the police. The studios are also being very rational and saying it's happening on your turf, so we need you to do something.''

The case, while brought by the film studios, also has a big impact on the music industry, which was hoping for a precedent it could use to force ISPs to co-operate on reducing online piracy. Sabiene Heindl, general manager of the music industry's anti-piracy arm, Music Industry Piracy Investigations, said: ''Today's Federal Court decision suggests that copyright owners broadly may have no choice but to sue individuals for illegal file-sharing. This would be a most unfortunate outcome.''

AFACT executive director Neil Gane said he had 21 days to decide whether to appeal. The studios would now increase their lobbying of the government to change the law to force ISPs to be liable for the downloading habits of customers.

''We are confident that the government will not support a policy outcome which allows for the copyright infringement to continue unabated,'' he said.

Freehills' Mr Joyner said: ''I think the only way there won't be a legislative response is if … an appeal will occur and has some chance of succeeding relatively quickly.''

In July last year, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said he was awaiting the outcome of the iiNet case before deciding whether there was a need for legislative change. Yesterday, his spokeswoman said the government would examine the decision before making any further comment.

Senator Conroy had appeared to be on the side of the studios, saying at a conference in April last year that iiNet's defence in the case ''belongs in a Yes Minister episode''. (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)