Full Tilt Poker Announces "Race For Bracelets" and the “Return of the Reload Bonus”

Friday, May 13th, 2005

Online poker’s fastest growing site offers new ways to qualify for the biggest poker tournament in history

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 13, 2005 – The World Series of Poker preliminary events start in just a few weeks, and Full Tilt Poker wants to make sure no one misses their chance to win an entry into the biggest event in poker history.

To ensure that players' accounts are locked and loaded for all World Series of Poker qualifying tournaments, Full Tilt Poker announces the "Return of the Reload Bonus" through May 31st, 2005. For a limited time, www.fulltiltpoker.com will match 50% of a player’s first reload, up to $300. New players will receive a 100% signup bonus, up to $600.

Full Tilt Poker players interested in playing in the World Series of Poker can use their money to enter a series of "Race For Bracelets"™ tournaments. Running each weekday, these tournaments provide winners with World Series of Poker chips redeemable for entry into any of the WSOP's $1,500 tournaments, along with $500 in spending money.

For players more interested in the World Series of Poker Main Event, Full Tilt Poker offers a variety of ways to win an entry, including a weekly WSOP Main Event Guarantee tournament, a 30 Seat WSOP Main Event Guarantee tournament, and the biggest "Freeroll" tournament in the history of online poker.

Online poker players who earn 10,000 Full Tilt Points in Full Tilt Poker’s cash games by midnight on June 10th will be automatically entered into the $120,000 VIP 10 Seat WSOP Freeroll tournament, where Full Tilt Poker will give away a minimum of 10 seats to the Main Event.

With these unprecedented promotions, www.fulltiltpoker.com is the best online poker site for players who want to win their way into poker’s biggest tournament.

About Full Tilt Poker
Full Tilt Poker™ software was developed by TiltWare LLC, a software development and licensing company based in Los Angeles, California and licensed to Kolyma Corporation, A.V.V. which is regulated and licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in Canada. “Team Full Tilt,” is a select group of the world’s finest professional poker players, including Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Erick Lindgren, Erik Seidel, Andy Bloch, Phil Gordon (Co-host, Celebrity Poker Showdown,) Clonie Gowen, John Juanda, Jennifer Harman and others. With innovative graphics, superior customer service and a safe, secure interface, the software is geared to enhance and personalize the online poker experience. Users of all skill levels can download the software at www.fulltiltpoker.com and can play for fun or for real money where online games of skill are permitted by law.

Contact:
Michele Clayborne
EMC-PR (care of Full Tilt Poker)
310-451-1152

PartyGaming fuels IPO talk as names new chairman

Thursday, May 12th, 2005

By Pete Harrison
Reuters

LONDON, May 12 (Reuters) - The world's biggest online poker company, PartyGaming, fuelled speculation it was nearing one of London's largest initial public offerings in five years by adding two high-profile executives to its board on Thursday.

PartyGaming said it had appointed Michael Jackson, currently chairman of Sage Group (SGE.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , as non-executive chairman and Brian Larcombe, former chief executive of 3i Group (III.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , as its non-executive deputy chairman.

"To me that says game on for an IPO," said analyst Robin Chhabra at Evolution Securities. "If you weren't going to list, why would you hire two city-friendly people like Michael Jackson and Brian Larcombe?"

Chief Executive Richard Segal told Reuters: "The strategic review has been completed and we are considering the conclusions of that. Our decision will be made sooner rather than later. This is a company that has always been in a hurry."

Chhabra estimated the market value of the overall company at around $10 billion, a figure backed up by other industry sources. That would make it the biggest London offering since Dimension Data (DDT.L: Quote, Profile, Research) floated for around 6 billion pounds ($11.3 billion) in July 2000.

Further evidence that PartyGaming aims to float was seen in its announcement on Thursday that its revenue had quadrupled in 2004 to $602 million.

"There's no need for a private company like this to reveal those numbers unless they're thinking of going for an IPO," said Chhabra.

The online gaming industry has boomed in the last year, helped by better broadband access and the convenience of playing at home.

"Many a high street retailer would be very envious of our like-for-like sales growth," said Segal. "We are talking about quadrupling 2004 over 2003 in terms of top-line growth."

Other companies exposed to the industry have also boomed.

Shares in Sportingbet (SBT.L: Quote, Profile, Research) have nearly trebled in the last year to value the owner of the Paradise Poker site at 900 million pounds.

Other beneficiaries have included CryptoLogic (CRY.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) (CRYP.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , a software developer for Internet gaming which beat market forecasts on Wednesday with a 27 percent increase in first-quarter profit.

London is fast becoming the de facto listing centre for Internet gambling companies, partly because online gaming is strictly regulated in the United States but welcomed in Britain, even though most players are in the States.

Other possible listings include Cassava Enterprises, the owner of 888.com and one of the world's biggest Internet gambling groups, valued at around $1.6 billion.

Youbet Sets Records for Kentucky Derby Handle and Advanced Deposits

Thursday, May 12th, 2005

Churchill Downs Handle Advances 19%; Deposits up 28%

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Youbet.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:UBET), a leading online wagering company and the largest provider of Internet horse racing content in the United States, said today that during this past Saturday's Kentucky Derby the company set new records for daily handle and customer deposits. Youbet.com is an official online wagering platform of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.

Youbet said it handled approximately $4.2 million in wagers on Saturday, May 7 including the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby. The day's handle, which was the highest single-day total in the Company's history, was 15% higher than on the same race day last year. Of the total, Youbet contributed $2.6 million to Churchill Downs pari-mutuel pools for the day, a 19% increase over the previous year.

Youbet CEO Charles F. Champion said that the day's performance was another triumph for Youbet marketing. He noted that while Youbet's Churchill Downs wagering level improved 19% over 2004, handle at the Derby track from all sources this year was up only 9%.

"There is a natural lift in activity that helps everyone in the industry because it is the Triple Crown season," Champion asserted, "but we appear to be outpacing the industry in developing new sources of handle. That's attributable to the quality of our Internet and telephone offerings as well as our ability to find and nurture new customer relationships."

Champion said that the race day totals also were indicative of Youbet's growing popularity among racing fans.

"Our site is becoming a destination for people who get caught up in the excitement of the Triple Crown and who want to participate in the action even though they can't be there in person," he said. "More than 98% of our handle for the Derby came from markets 25 miles or more from Churchill Downs. In that sense, with live race video, wagers at track odds and instant replays, Youbet.com really is the next best thing to being there."

In addition to record handle, Youbet processed a record $1.4 million in customer deposits on race day, 28% higher than last year. For the week leading up to Derby day this year, deposits were up 18% compared to the same week in 2004. On Derby day, Youbet served more than 9,200 concurrent users.

After a one-year hiatus during which Magna Entertainment Corp. restricted its non-California track signals, Youbet once again will carry this year's Preakness Stakes. The second leg of the Triple Crown will be run on Saturday, May 21 at Pimlico Race Course in Maryland, a Magna track. Youbet also carries the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 11.

Youbet.com is the largest Internet provider of thoroughbred, quarter horse and harness racing content in the United States as measured by handle data published by the Oregon Racing Commission. Members can watch and, in most states, wager on the widest variety of horse racing content available via Youbet.com's website. Members enjoy features that include commingled track pools, live audio/video, up-to-the-minute track information, real-time wagering information, phone wagering, race replays, simultaneous multi-race viewing and value-added handicapping products. Youbet.com is the horse race video source for ESPN.com's patented ESPN Motion. The company is also the exclusive provider of horse racing content for CBS SportsLine.com.

Youbet.com operates TotalAccess(SM), an Oregon-based hub for the acceptance and placement of wagers. More information on Youbet.com can be found at www.youbet.com.

FUN Technologies' SkillJam expands into Chinese skill-gaming market

Wednesday, May 11th, 2005

LONDON, England - FUN Technologies plc ("FUN" or "the Company"), a leading provider of person-to-person skill gaming, exchange-betting technology and online sports information, announced today that its subsidiary, SkillJam Technologies Corporation ("SkillJam") has entered into a Web Development and Marketing Agreement with SINA.com Online ("SINA U.S."), the U.S. subsidiary of SINA Corporation, under which SINA U.S. will undertake the localization of certain web pages of the SkillJam website into Chinese, as well as the promotion of selected games targeting global Chinese online users.

SINA Corporation is a leading online media company and value-added information service provider for China and for Chinese communities worldwide. With a recognized Internet brand in China, SINA Corporation has established a network of localized web sites that target Greater China and overseas Chinese communities, with over 100 million registered users.

SkillJam, a subsidiary of FUN, is a multi-channel provider of skill-gaming technology and solutions. SkillJam develops and distributes private-label gaming solutions for a broad network of partner destination sites in the U.S. and abroad, including AOL, MSN's Zone.com and Disney's Go.com.

This agreement signifies new product offerings and channels for skill-gamers, as well as increased liquidity for both SkillJam and its customers. To encourage new member registration, SkillJam will offer free entry into selected skill-gaming tournaments as well as prizes such as pre-paid phone cards, for both early-bird registrants and tournament winners. The promotion will focus initially on the North American Chinese-speaking market with potential plans to also expand into the greater China market.

Lorne Abony, the CEO of FUN, said, "Our agreement with SINA U.S. demonstrates our stated commitment to worldwide expansion. The Chinese online gaming market is growing extremely quickly, and we're proud to work with an established, market-leading partner like SINA U.S. to help stimulate that development."

For more information, contact:

Alex Mackey, Catullus Consulting
+44 (0)207 736 2938

Tracey Irwin, Director of Communications
+1 416 840 0450

About FUN Technologies plc

FUN Technologies plc (formerly "CES Software plc" or "CES") is a leading provider of person-to-person skill gaming, exchange-betting technology and online sports information. FUN's strategy is to provide its cutting-edge, person-to-person gaming systems to top, licensed distribution partners in regulated markets around the world. FUN is a public company, incorporated in England and Wales, and is listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol "FUN".

Nevada Bill Would Authorize Wireless Gaming at Casinos

Wednesday, May 11th, 2005

Nevada is once again taking the lead among U.S. states in welcoming the merging of technology and the gambling industry. The state's Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing for May 11 to discuss a General Assembly bill that would allow wireless gambling in licensed casinos in the state.

If the bill passes in the Senate, Nevada would become the first state to give legislative approval to a system that enables licensed operators to offer wireless gaming products in public areas of their facilities.

The legislature passed a bill in 2001 that created a scheme for regulating Internet gambling. The law included language, however, mandating that the system couldn't be established until it is approved by the federal government. The Department of Justice never signed off on the concept and even informed the state that proceeding with Internet gambling would violate the Federal Wire Act.

The latest bill, AB 471, focuses on the use of mobile gaming devices that could be used while visitors are on the casino premises. It would only allow the activity in public areas of establishments holding non-restricted gaming license and operating at least 100 slot machines, along with at least one other game.

The bill passed in the General Assembly on 41-0 vote, and if it becomes law, casino visitors would be able to "check out" PDAs or similarly connected devices enabling them to gambling while roaming the casino properties.

The activity would be limited to the use of a device that "allows a person to transmit information to a computer to assist in the placing of a bet or wager and corresponding information related to the display of the game, game outcomes or other similar information."

Other clauses of the bill would increase the number of members on the Off-Track Pari-Mutuel Wagering Committee and establish a penalty for any operator that violates the regulations for mobile gaming.

AB 471 had no main sponsor in the General Assembly. The Judiciary Committee is listed as the bill's sponsor, and the chair of the committee, Bernie Anderson, said the bill was created after gambling operators expressed a desire to see mobile systems in use in their Nevada facilities.

One company that could benefit if the concept is approved is Louisiana-based Diamond I, Inc., which has developed a wireless casino platform deployable at land-based casinos. The system, "WiFiCasino GS," creates a secure wireless PDA-based gambling and media network designed for Vegas-style casinos and resorts. It enables patrons to gamble anywhere on casino premises (as permitted), including poolside, in their rooms, restaurants and at the bar.

Users can also access the Internet, obtain resort information, order drinks, access concierge services and take advantage of any other service the resort wants to offer guests via WiFi.

Diamond I's president, David Loflin, said he's confident the bill be will passed in the full Senate and signed into law during the current legislative session.

"We are extremely excited that the Assembly unanimously approved this new bill," Loflin said. "It will really open the door for us to get our WifiCasino GS licensed in Nevada, and we intend to continue our lobbying efforts until the bill is signed into law."

If the bill is approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee at its May 11 meeting, it could be sent to the full Senate within days for a full vote. The law would go into affect immediately, but the Nevada Gaming Commission would then be tasked with drafting the exact regulations for mobile gaming and with approving specific platforms like that of Diamond I.

Bluff Poker Tour: First International Online Poker Tour

Wednesday, May 11th, 2005

BLUFF POKER TOUR: FIRST INTERNATIONAL ONLINE POKER TOUR

Bluff Magazine, the world's leading poker publication, has announced the Bluff Poker Tour (BPT); the world's first international virtual poker tour. Participants of the Bluff Poker Tour compete in weekly tournaments at official BPT tour stops across the web.

"More people play poker online then they do in Las Vegas and California combined," said Jeff Markley, VP of Online Operations for Bluff Media. "With the Bluff Poker Tour, we've tapped into the venues that they play at most and arranged a unique mix of virtual poker combined with the tangible anchor of America's favorite poker magazine."

The Bluff Poker Tour's weekly online poker tournaments are all No Limit Hold'em events and allow players to be ranked online as they are in terrestrial poker. The Bluff Poker Tour also allows players a chance to compete with heavyweight poker muscle like tour host, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, who will be playing in many of the upcoming BPT tournaments. Players who go head to head with Mizrachi have a chance to win an additional bounty should they be lucky or skillful to felt The Grinder.

Top players at the end of the season will qualify for the BPT Championship Tournament. The BPT Champion will receive buy-in to three World Poker Tour tournaments.

"It is our goal to offer the poker enthusiast the type of excitement normally reserved for those fortunate enough to quit work and join the tour," said Jeff. "By making the BPT an online tournament, we've made professional quality tournament poker available to everyone. And by placing the winner of our online tour into three World Poker Tour events, we will give them the opportunity to live the life of a poker pro without having to give up the lives they have."

To participate in, or view more information about the Bluff Poker Tour, visit http://www.bluffpokertour.com

About Bluff Magazine (www.bluffmagazine.com):

Bluff Magazine is America's Largest Poker Magazine with 225,000 copies printed and distributed nationwide. Bluff's 125,000 newsstand copies and 100,000 event and location copies gets Bluff into the hands of any poker enthusiasts eager to keep up with the fast-paced modern poker lifestyle.

Contacts

Lyceum Media on behalf of Bluff
Jodie Thind
+44 (0) 207 828 2244
jodie@lyceummedia.com
or
Bluff Media
Eric Morris
Publisher
+1 (678) 528-0379
eric@bluffmedia.com

Indy 500 Gears Up In May

Tuesday, May 10th, 2005

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The "Greatest Spectacle in Racing," the Indy 500 has been held every year since 1946. And this year is no different. The tradition continues this Memorial Day weekend with the 89th annual Indy 500.

Radio News Feature

You can reach the story directly by going to

http://www.newstream.com/home.aspx?story=30447

This multimedia news story is for free and unrestricted use on your news information site (and for print or broadcast too). Visit http://www.newstream.com to download video, audio, text, graphics and photos.

If you have any questions about the story, or about Newstream.com, please write to us at info@newstream.com.

Gaming Transactions Inc. Announces Partnership with DPMG

Monday, May 9th, 2005

DPMG Network to Feature Keno.com

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2005--Gaming Transactions Inc. (Pink Sheets:GGTS - News), a leading provider of online gaming portal management, is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement with DPMG.COM Inc. (DPMG), which shall be used to drive traffic to its flagship site, Keno.com.

DPMG is a world leader in Internet Business Development, and markets a network of sites that receive millions of unique visitors every month. Web traffic will be driven to Keno.com by use of online media and advertising that will be featured on DPMG's individual websites based in Europe and North America.

More information on DPMG may be found at www.DPMG.com.

Keno, the game, is one of the highest-grossing products for many North American public gaming corporations and continues to grow yearly. Easy to play, quick, and profitable, Keno has become a favorite to gamblers who want the excitement of a lottery draw without having to wait for a weekly offering.

After years of escalating growth, online gambling is poised for its biggest year. IGaming will rake in nearly $10 billion in revenue this year, up 40% from 2004. In 1996, when IGaming was in its infancy, the industry collected $30 million, says researcher Christiansen Capital Advisors.

Patrick Smyth, CEO of Gaming Transactions Inc., commented, "We are very excited about working with DPMG and increasing traffic to our sites. Keno's popularity is undeniable. Little bouncing balls, great odds and easy rules make Keno great fun and perfect online entertainment."

About the Company

Gaming Transactions Inc. is a developer and provider of online games and services for the online entertainment and gaming industries. The Company's central licensed games portal, www.keno.com, is a destination online gambling property where players may participate in a number of gambling and online gaming fixtures.

Please visit www.gamingtransactions.com. The Game is Here.(TM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Gaming Transactions Inc.
Brent O'Connor
416-628-1005 (Toronto)
646-403-8169 (New York)
brent@gamingtransactions.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Gaming Transactions Inc

CYOP Launches New Poker Licensing Site; Redfeltsoftware.com Key to Business Development Strategy

Monday, May 9th, 2005

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CYOP Systems International Inc. (OTCBB:CYOS), a leading provider of online gaming software, is pleased to announce that it has launched www.redfeltsoftware.com through a newly formed United Kingdom Company, Red Felt Software Ltd, that will be organized as a wholly-owned subsidiary of CYOP Systems International Inc.

With Red Felt Software Ltd., the Company will pursue in the iGaming market place turnkey licensing opportunities for enterprises wishing to enter and capitalize in this market space. The United Kingdom is being recognized as a jurisdiction embracing and regulating this sector.

Red Felt Poker is a simple turnkey poker gaming system that can be easily deployed by any webmaster or administrator. The Company also provides the necessary management experience and support to our licensees and their customers.

More than 200 online poker sites collectively are generating about $2 billion a year in revenues, equal to 40% of last year's $5 billion in gambling revenues from all of the Las Vegas "Strip." An estimated 1.7 million players are active online, meaning they've played in the past six months, according to an MECN.net survey.

Mitch White, CEO of CYOP, commented that, "Red Felt's Software Licensing model is simplicity in design. The focus is to allow the licensor our partner to focus on growing their business, generating traffic, opening accounts and looking after their community of members. Let us take care of everything else efficiently and economically. Our business model is predicated on working with portals and experienced operators who are looking to become active partners with us."

About CYOP

CYOP is a developer and provider of online skill-games, poker and services for the online gaming industry. CrediPlay, CYOP's licensed application, is an online transaction platform that is based on charging a fee for each game played over the Internet. CYOP's central games portal, www.skillarcade.com, features virtual games where people play popular skill games against other players and compete in tournaments to win real money prizes.

For more information please visit www.cyopsystems.com.

Contacts

CYOP Systems International Inc.
Patrick Smyth, 310-248-4860
Patrick@cyop.org

Kentucky Derby 131 Shatters Wagering Records, Sets North American Standard

Sunday, May 8th, 2005

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs that was already notable for one of the biggest upsets in the history of the "Run for the Roses" also included the shattering of on-track and off-track wagering records and saw the Kentucky Derby become the first individual race in U.S. racing to attract total betting of more than $100 million.

A crowd of 156,435 -- the second largest attendance in Kentucky Derby history -- saw Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss' homebred Giacomo win America's greatest race at odds of 50-1. On-track betting on the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby totaled $10,055,508 and off-track wagering soared to $93,270,002. The combined Kentucky Derby betting total of $103,325,518 marked the first time that more than $100 million had been wagered on a single race at a North American track.

Total betting from all sources on the track's 12-race Derby Day program totaled $155,133,631, which established a North American record for a single racing program. This year's total reflected an increase of nearly nine percent from previous record of $142,848,289 recorded in 2004.

The Derby Day crowd in attendance at Churchill Downs wagered $22,117,166 on the entire 12-race program, an increase of nearly 15 percent from last year's on-track total of $19,246,210. The previous on-track record of $20,639,221 in Derby Day betting was established in 2003.

Off-track wagering on the complete Churchill Downs program rose to a record $133,016,465, which was a gain of nearly eight percent from the previous record total of $123,602,079 established in 2004.

The brisk business at the track on Kentucky Derby Day capped off the most successful Derby Weekend in the track's history. One day earlier, the track established new marks for attendance and on-track wagering for the Kentucky Oaks. The renewals of Churchill Downs' signature races were the first since the historic track completed its $121 million renovation in April.

A crowd of 111,243 attended Friday's 11-race Kentucky Oaks Day card, which topped the previous record of 106,156 established in 2000. The Oaks Day attendance was an increase of 13 percent from last year's attendance total of 98,445 and it marked the sixth time in seven years that attendance for the event had topped 100,000.

On-track wagering for the Oaks Day totaled $12,065,134, which eclipsed the previous mark of $11,251,063 set in 2003. The total betting for the day rose 9.4 percent over last year's total of $11,015,102. Wagering from all-sources on Oaks Day was $31,159,328, a slight decline of 1.3 percent from last year's total of $31,570,827.

Combined attendance for this year's Kentucky Derby and Oaks programs was 267,678. The previous high for the two days of racing was 259,360 in 2000.

Contacts

Churchill Downs Incorporated
John Asher, 502-636-4586 (Office)
or 502-494-3626 (Mobile)
johna@kyderby.com