Thousands of iGaming Pros Descend on London for Annual Party Week

I’m just back from a wild week in London for the annual gathering of the igaming industry and I gotta tell ya – the people behind the casino and poker sites where you have so much fun are really a fun crowd – and notorious partiers! I suppose it’s because most of them spend most of their time by themselves, at their computers, that these guys were so ready to let their hair down.

I attended some interesting seminar presentations at the Mobile Gambling Summit, ICEi and CAP Euro but, as always, the highlights of the week were the endless parties!

The most extravagant was Lyceum’s Fire&ICE Cabaret. What started seven years ago as a small gathering of internet gambling professionals has grown to the largest igaming social event anywhere. Lyceum keeps getting bigger and bigger venues to accommodate more and more people. This year they booked the ultimate party venue – London’s famous Hippodrome on Leicester Square where live entertainment, a cool venue and amazing burlesque atmospherics were enjoyed by nearly two thousand igaming operators, media and affiliates. Thanks to sponsors Gambling.com, NextGen Gaming and ESL there was amazing live burlesque entertainment and an open bar.

Photos from the party are now posted here on Lyceum Media’s new website.

I was also lucky enough to score a ticket to the second most talked about event of the week, the 1st Annual CAP Awards honouring affiliate webmasters. I don’t think there’s ever been a formal dinner event at an igaming conference but I hope this is the start of a trend! I can confirm that this crowd cleans up real well! I have to put on a tux more often – felt great!

To kick off the CAP Euro conference, Hollywood Poker hosted a party at one of my all time favourite London clubs, the historic Café de Paris just off Piccadilly Circus. CAP Euro wrapped up with a party hosted by Rushmore Casino at posh, modern club in the Westend called Floridita. Both of these parties were organized by Lyceum Media and there will be lots of pics from these events on their site next week.

Backgammon Masters Blackjack Operator Integrates Signature Verification System

Online game provider BackgammonMasters, which features 21 Blackjack, Poker, Perudo and Backgammon gaming software, has fully integrated a new signature verification system for VIP players. Using the patent pending Signature Link system, players can now register with Backgammonmasters.com and sign their name with the ease and convenience of a few movements of the mouse.

Previously, this technology was used exclusively by banks and stores requiring a signature which could only be made in person using a special electronic device. BackgammonMasters has set up the same technological innovation so that new members can easily sign the terms and conditions of the software agreement remotely from the convenience of their own home PC. This method will replace the standard checking of an agreement box.

The recently integrated Signature Link technology will do away with cumbersome paperwork while allowing all the pertinent member information to be organized in one place. This new method of organization is sure to cut back on bureaucratic and unnecessary delays. A BackgammonMasters spokesperson recently commented, “With a huge volume of player traffic coming from many countries around the world, the demand for VIP application forms has increased tenfold. The new Signature Link system is designed to offer the player a faster response time and better overall service. The first phase of implementation will be to service the VIP players and in the second phase normal transactions will be processed using this technology. We plan to first collect feedback from our user-base before adding this feature to our cashier service” he added.

The reason for this new signature verification system is to better protect both the player and the company as well. By identifying themselves, VIP players can gain large rewards, unlike the unidentified players. Currently, an unidentified player that wants to make a large cashier transaction can only do so once they sign and agree to the BackgammonMasters terms and conditions statement electronically. This is done online using email and the website in an automated manner.

BackgammonMasters has added this latest feature in an ongoing effort to maintain the highest standards of monitoring and control systems for the player’s benefit.

Source: OnlineCasinoNews.com

Peers Vote BingoProgram.com ‘Best Bingo Affiliate Program’

CAP Awards 2008 Honours BingoProgram - Frank Tornatore receives the prize on behalf of the affiliate program

BingoProgram.com received the CAP Award for “Best Bingo Affiliate Program” at the black-tie awards ceremony in London last week during the CAP Euro affiliates conference. The award was received by Frank Tornatore - the dynamic personality behind Bingo Program for the ongoing support and expert advice that he gives to the webmasters in his program.

“Affiliates trust Frank’s advice,” said CAP Awards organizer Alex Pratt. “He’s got the inside scoop on the best bingo and gaming sites, and he’s happy to share his knowledge.”

A veteran in the business and a successful affiliate operator himself for many years, Tornatore guides affiliates to the best gaming and bingo sites through one-on-one consultation and through his widely read blog, franktornatore.com.

“The secret in this business is knowing who to partner with,” said Tornatore. “The bingo sites we represent are the best in the business – best games software, best stats and reporting, best conversion rates. I don’t know that I deserve an award just for introducing affiliates to someone they can trust but I certainly appreciate the recognitionon behalf of BingoProgram!”

One of the market leaders in converting visitors to players, Bingo Program is the Affiliate Program for Bingos.co.uk, BingoFriends.com, CasinoJoker.com, EuroBingo.com, ElBingo.com. Tornatore has partnered with thousands of webmasters from all around the world, providing unparalleled management systems, marketing tools and advanced affiliate programs. The Bingo Program team is integrated by several qualified work groups including designers, programmers, marketing and affiliate managers, and customer service agents, all working to help webmasters get the most from their traffic.

Winners of the first annual CAP Awards were nominated and voted on by fellow affiliates. Awards were also presented to the Best Poker, Casino, Sportsbetting and Skill Gaming Affiliates and Affiliate Programs as well as the Best Payment System and Best Overall Affiliate and Best Overall Affiliate Program.

Source: OnlineCasinoNews.com