Online Gambling News and Promotions

In an unprecedented move, Everest Poker announced today that it will match total World Series of Poker winnings by its players at the Main Event this June, and will distribute that exact amount to any player that qualifies for the tournament through Everest poker.

The way the bonus works is simple: At WSOP, Everest Poker will match the Main Event winnings of its qualified players up to $1,000,000, and share that amount with all those who qualified for WSOP through Everest Poker. Even if a player busts out in the first hour, they will still remain eligible for the bonus. Based on last year’s figures that would mean all 62 Everest Poker players – regardless of how quickly they were kicked out – would have netted $20,000 each.

There are many ways players can qualify for the biggest prize in world sport (over $9,000,000 last year) but only with an official WSOP sponsor, Everest Poker, could a player go home richer even if they lose.

“Our aim last year, our first as sponsor, was to encourage more European players than ever before to go to the WSOP, which we did,” said Everest Poker spokesman Ed Pownall. “This year we want to reward that loyalty by offering a knock-out reason to qualify with us. This bonus gives everybody hope of winning something even of they are out early on and it will also give an added sense of camaraderie to all those qualified with us.”

Players can qualify for the WSOP Main Event through Everest Poker for as little as $3.

Paddypowerpoker will broadcast the World Famous Irish Open live via web stream. Coverage begins at start of play on Friday the 10th of April and will conclude with presentation of the champion’s trophy on Monday, April 13th.

With the players of the highest calibre in attendance – Jamie Gold, Marty Smyth, Niall Channing and their own Ciaran O’Leary to name a few – they are guaranteed a spectacular couple of days!

Here is the sum up of the key benefits:

All ambiguity now removed:
• Single merit point earning band
• Fewer and better VIP levels
• Transparent and simple-to-understand rewards

Much better rewards:
• Cash and token rewards based on total Merit Points only
• Up to $150,000 cash reward!
• Superb VIP rewards when players are upgraded
• Luxury holidays to win and special VIP Account Manager service

Seamless:
• Players keep their old points – converted into the same value in the new system
• No need to do anything except play! They’ve made sure old points have provided players a head start in the new system
• Easier VIP levels – now Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – something everybody can relate to

As you will see there are 3 stages indicated:
1. Play Your Game – explains how merit points are earned, where they can be viewed and at what rate they are paid. N.B. Merit points are earned at the same rate for all VIP levels.

2. Earn Merit Points – Explains that higher VIP’s get better rewards for their merit points (rather than earning them faster as before), also shows what benefits each VIP level (Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum) can earn each month and how many MP’s they needed to have earned the previous month to attain each level. The page also includes a brief description of their ‘Diamond Club’, for the very special chosen few.

3. Get Your Rewards – At present customers can convert MP’s into either tourney tokens or cash (plans are in place to offer prizes, land based buy ins, etc). As you will see this is dependent on VIP level and the more they convert the better rate they get (encouraging them to hold on to their MP’s for longer). To claim their prize they click on the ‘Claim Now’ icon, they then complete a form and submit it for processing by our VIP team. Each account can only claim one prize per month.

The bet365 VIP program is truly unique in that it rewards activity and loyalty without punishing players for taking a break in their game for some well-deserved rest. Players can choose their own reward from our REWARDS TABLE (go to VIP Scheme and then Get your rewards section). The more points they cash in, the higher value they have per point and the better reward they get. Points are valid for 12 months from accumulation date so they can play at their own pace and choose their reward when they like.

For all straight rakeback % addicts, bet365 want to precise the following:
1. Bet365 don’t give back as much as many other rooms but the do smart, targeted marketing and as such are much more efficient than many others. They do not offer rakeback or reload bonuses that act as rakeback.

2. Players come to them when they want strong promotions (example: million dollar mission from February 2009 etc) in an environment where they find great customer service and variety of offers

3. They have introduced the new VIP system just because reloads were acting as month-to-month stimulants that kept players for short time periods. This VIP program rewards loyalty and commitment which is what they’re after.

What is happening at Virgin Games?

Virgin Games is historically a marketing company that has promoted gaming services from three different gaming operators (Wagerworks for Casino, Boss Media for Poker and St Minver for Bingo).

They have made the big jump Last November when they officially became an operating company in their own right. That’s when Virgin Poker was added to their new shiny single account/single wallet system.

This is now Virgin Casino’s turn. Now all Virgin Casino players are be able to switch seamlessly between Virgin Poker and Virgin Casino play, using the same wallet and same Virgin Games account and qualifying for common bonuses.

The circle will be completed in May, when Virgin Bingo joins the party. At this stage Virgin Bingo remains independent from the rest.

What does it mean for the players?

Becoming an operating company not only means Virgin Casino customer are now helped by their new in-house call centre, it also means Virgin Games owns and manages player databases and payment processing systems.

Improved customer experience

Customer service is at the core of the Virgin philosophy. Up to now, this part of the Virgin Casino support business has been in the capable hands of Wagerworks, but the time has now come to get the hands dirty and leverage what Virgin is best known for. Virgin Games’ plan is simple: inject Virgin’s tradition of great customer care to the world of online gaming, and make sure their visitors are welcomed, entertained and supported the way they deserve to be.

Centralized, owned and managed player database

Each of their gaming products has required individual registration. Until now it was hard for players to browse seamlessly through game offerings. This is about to change. No more Virgin Casino, Virgin Poker or Virgin Bingo players, they’re building a happy home where all of their players will become Virgin Games players, regardless of their game-play preferences. Once all their products are integrated, new players will only need to register once, after which they will have access to their full library of games. Whether they prefer slot games, multi-table poker or a quick game of bingo, they’ll only ever be a few clicks away from thrilling entertainment.

Centralized, owned and managed new single wallet

Imagine owning three different wallets for your shopping: one to buy bread, one for vegetables, and a third one for milk. Doesn’t make much sense, does it? Not to worry: as Bob the builder would put it, their single wallet will fix this! Under the new system, all deposits, awarded bonuses and winnings – regardless of the type of game played – will be safely stored in the new Virgin Games single wallet, which will allow players to use their funds wherever they want, whenever they want. Just like in real life, only without the queue at the supermarket checkout.