In an update to the story in which gaming giant Rank persuaded the VAT and Duties Tribunal that Her Majesty’s Revenue & Custom`s practice of charging VAT on interval bingo games was against European law, the Treasury is being accused of delaying tactics over the case.

The previous ruling in favour of Rank’s argument against VAT on some versions of interval bingo was related to the games played during intervals between sessions of a main stage land bingo game (also known as mechanised cash bingo, or cashline).

Rank successfully argued that the charging of VAT on some versions of interval bingo was in breach of the current European principle of fiscal neutrality. If upheld, the ruling could translate into a possible £100 million windfall for bingo operators.

However, the Treasury delayed an appeal against the ruling till the last moment, thus prolonging the case at a time when land bingo operators need all the breaks they can get.

CryptoLogic, a Dublin-based online gaming and online bingo games software developer, has released a new set of games, one featuring a Marvel Comics super hero theme and the other 4 deck multi hand video blackjack.

The new set of games does not include any new bingo online themes, though CryptoLogic continues to be a popular choice amongst many online bingo operators and online bingo halls.

“At CryptoLogic, we know there are two critical elements to online gaming success: give players a compelling experience with a game or character they know, or design a fresh take on a familiar concept,” said CrytoLogic CEO Brian Hadfield.

He added: “Our relationship with Marvel has enabled us to create and deliver some of the most memorable online slots with some of the world’s most recognized characters. Coupled with our patent-pending gaming innovations, CryptoLogic has aggressively positioned itself as a leader in this highly competitive space.”

Written for Eyes Down Bingo by Greg - Your Bingo UK source

The online/interactive part of 2009’s International Casino Exhibition (ICEi) is to be expanded by as much as 40% to cater for the growing demand by the remote gaming industry, according to the event organizers Clarion Gaming.
The 2009 ICEi show will take place from January 27–29 at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London and will feature many online bingo exhibits. The 2008 ICEi was a record breaking event with 69 exhibitors coming from 20 different jurisdictions.

Anthony Medica, Sales Executive responsible for ICEi at Clarion Gaming commented on the upcoming 2009 event saying: “2008 was a record-breaking year on a number of fronts. The final attendance figures confirmed that 2 861 unique i-gaming professionals drawn from 68 jurisdictions made the journey to London, a year-on-year increase of 21.2 percent. These factors contributed massively to generating what was a universally positive response from all of our various stakeholders.

“The international remote gaming community continues to see ICEi as its exhibition of preference and demand for the additional space is strong with all indicators pointing to there being another great show in 2009,”
The growth in bingo online games ensures the sector will enjoy a strong presence at the 2009 ICEi event with many online bingo operators and online bingo games software developers expected to attend.

Support for Barney Frank’s attack on the current Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) has been coming from the US banking industry according to and article in The Hill, a Washington DC publication.
US Treasury officials have admitted that drafting the regulations for UIGEA are proving problematic and are being made more difficult by the strong opposition of the financial industry that will be required by UIGEA to act as policeman for the US government.

“I don’t know what can be done or will be done legislatively, but we certainly appreciate the interest,” said American Bankers Association lobbyist Floyd Stoner, of Frank’s new andti-UIGEA legislation.

“While I do disagree with the underlying objective of the act (UIGEA), I believe that even those who agree with it ought to be concerned about the regulations’ impact,” Frank said in a statement. He has consistently argued that UIGEA’s proposed regulations are “…impossible to implement without placing a significant burden on the payments system and financial institutions.”

Non-US online bingo games operators and online bingo halls were badly hit by the implementation of UIGEA in late 2006 which seeks to disrupt financial transactions between online bingo operators and US customers who want to play online bingo.  A successful change in favour of Frank’s new IGREA legislation would see online bingo operators able to return to the world’s most lucrative online gaming market.

Media speculation that the French gambling market is about to be opened to allow EU-based companies to operate there has been confirmed by a report that French Budget Minister Eric Woerth said the government is aiming for a “controlled opening” of the market by 2009 or 2010.
Woerth gave his view to France’s newspaper Le Parisien. He went on to further say that future private gambling operators will be licensed under French regulations and subject to the same regulations that govern the current gambling monopoly Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU).

The report is welcome news to the online bingo games industry which has been denied access to the French market under the current regime. Online bingo halls and online bingo operators can now look forward to building a market in what was once a closed industry.

Woerth said he expects plans for the liberalizing of the market to be completed this year and a test phase to be launched in 2009 or 2010.

Written for Eyes Down Bingo by Anthea - Your Online Bingo Blog

Its well documented that the major players in the UK Bingo industry have looked to make their online bingo prescence felt . They include Gala Bingo and Mecca Bingo . Gala Bingo are reportedly in the midst of selling a land based bingo club in Nuneaton as they prefer to concentrate on thier bigger Bingo Halls. That leaves the good people of Nuneaton with the simple choice of either going to a bigger town or converting to online bingo .

Online bingo has become exceptionally profitable and has become very big business. Bingo groups are in the midst of a bingo marketing blitz with Sharon Osbourne appearing for Gala Bingo and the delectable Jordan posing for Foxy Bingo . I wonder when were going to get a male figure like David Beckham advertising a Bingo room . Wink Bingo thats an idea for you . Bingo rooms are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are determined to mirror land based bingo halls by appealing to the social nature of bingo .

The latest online bingo room - Wink Bingo offers its bingo players a lot of bingo social networking features and has purposefully built this into their bingo site. Socializing at Bingo plays an important role in what makes Bingo Fun.

Looking at the different Bingo promotions and incentives for players is a bit of an eye opener as well . The bingo rooms that are far away and above in terms of generosity appear to be the Bridgend Software group . This is the software offering that is owned and run by the 888 Group .

In their Bingo Rooms you are offered a 100% Sign Up Bonus and a 50% bonus on each and every single subsequent purchase up to a maximum of £100 . This certainly is ensuring that your Bingo buck stretches a lot further. EyedDownBingo will be conducting an extensive study re the promotions at the different bingo operators and will publish this for your veiwing.

Well i think thats all for today,we are working on bringing all of our subscribers a very special offer from a online bingo room so keep your eyesdown on this bingo blog as this bingo special is heading your way on Monday