Uno tiende a asumir que porque un sector sea muy competitivo y esté enfocado a internet todos los actores del sector tienen claras las prioridades básicas como que sus webs estén optimizadas para buscadores, o sean sencillas de navegar (que tengan una buena usabilidad). Nada más lejos de la realidad. De las que yo considero las mejores/mayores/más reconocibles casas de apuestas en España, ninguna cumple con estos dos axiomas básicos:

1- Betfair, page rank 6, bastante bueno. Su problema es que es muy difícil de utilizar para los usuarios primerizos. Es necesario aprender a utilizarla correctamente antes de lanzarse a hacer experimientos.
2- Bwin, ni siquiera tiene page rank (!), se gastan 5 millones anuales en la camiseta del Real Madrid pero no son capaces de pagar 20k a un universitario que se la optimice para buscadores… Muy buena usabilidad, un mandril podría apostar sin grandes dificultades.
3- Miapuesta, page rank 3, usabilidad media. La marca “española” de sportingbet no destaca en ninguno de los dos ámbitos.
4- 888sport.com, esta es muy curiosa. Aún no sé si son idiotas o unos genios. Teniendo una buena página con un dominio genial (888.com) y un page rank de 6, compran el dominio 888sport para separarlo de su web, hacer que se abra en un pop up al clicar en la pestaña sports de la home (con lo que le molan a todo el mundo los pop ups), y reducir el rank de su web de apuestas deportivas a 4. Estos además tienen el problema de que les va la marcha, al cerrar su web también te lanzan otro pop up camuflado de confirmación de cierre que si aceptas te lleva a su producto de póquer. Intrusivo y pegajoso hasta más no poder.

En resumen, que exceptuando el caso de Betfair, ya que su producto es intrínsecamente distinto a los demás y mucho más complejo, con que una sola casa de apuestas naciese con vocación de ser la mejor para el usuario lo tendría bastante fácil para crear un producto mejor que los que hoy lideran el mercado.

By Simon Collins, Director, Cashcade Ltd.

Probability, a mobile gaming specialist based in London, has claimed it has moved into profitable territory with interim first-half results showing pre-tax profits of $273,053, following a pre-tax loss of $962,152 last year.

Probability stated net gaming revenues rose 117 percent while its net cash was listed at $4.11 million, up from last year’s $1.64 million. The mobile casino, bingo and slots game operator revealed that it now has over 400,000 customers for its Lady Luck mobile gaming service.  Also, the company provides white label services to partners, including Rank under the guise of Blue Square, Mecca and The Sun Newspaper and News Of The World.

The company gained prominence in 2008 when Michael Spencer made his latest foray into the gambling sector, investing £1.7m for a 15.8 per cent stake in Probability, through his holding company IPGL, by subscribing to a private placing of 3.3 million shares at 50p each. Spencer said at the time: “I am confident Probability can be a major player in one of the most exciting growth areas in the gaming arena over the next decade.” A director at IPGL said: “The vast majority of our investments are in financial services, but gaming is always of interest.” The stake joins doof.com and TurfTrax in Mr Spencer’s portfolio of gambling interests.

(Doof is a social gaming network for customers wanting to play games against each other for points rather than money. TurfTrax is hoping to provide the next generation of gambling on horse racing. The group has produced a chip put in the horses’ saddle to monitor the positions and performance during the race. The company wants to use the split-second data to allow punters to bet as the race unfolds.)

The £1.7m investment theoretically values Probability at just over £10m so the company is relatively small beer when compared with the likes of Party Gaming and 888.com.  Clearly, this sector may start to show some promise in the future.  However, unlike the internet with the dominance of MS Explorer, it would seem to be a complicated channel with variable handsets browsers and formats to overcome.

If developers in this sector can keep on top of their development costs it could prove to be a winner. One has to ask is mobile gaming ready to come of age?

thailand is going japanese , they are using the ”touch-go” sensor for every transaction, no shuffling coins, or exact change or “excuse me mr, we do not accept scottish money” “its our company policy not to accept £50 pound notes” or “do you have smaller denomination, we might not have enough change for £20″ or ringgt.

the need for speed

cheating ”tao-keh neoh” (aunty boss) VS mr. i-look-stupid-but-i-am-a-genuis

teenagers these days, sigh*

the only thing bad is if you lost your card, people will be teeetttttt-ing/titttt-ing (the noise that indicator lahhh) with your account money away,

one other bad thing is well, privacy, there is too much transparency, no cash world is bad if this turn so popular, every transaction in the world will go electronically, there’s a record for everything, not good if you’re a criminal
“You’re innocient my ass !! Mr byson, it seems that there’s a transaction between you and a armsdealer in beirut” 
or a pervert “hun, i thought you dont subscribe to playboy or penthouse anymore”
or gamblers ” dad, mom just packup and left just now, she saw the casino-online, 888.com, transactions in the monthly statements”

but of course the smartcard needs to be ‘reloaded’ something like top-up handphone credit thing
here’s one last one with a different tone to it, it will make you smile

i thought the last thai cashier looks cute, except that she sounds a little ”frust” when she remind him of the reward points like  ” sien la….. Oii, you already forget meh? you got reward points mah.. aiyo lidat, also need people to say” [malaysian english] btw, the dog’s acting also quite good.

888.com in partnership with Shane Warne is giving away the opportunity to attend the 2008 World Series of Poker which will be held in Las Vegas . As the current captain of the 888 poker Australian Poker Team, Shane Warne will of course be competing in the Tournament. The lucky contestant is entitled to 5 star Vegas accommodation, fly over with Shane Warne and a whopping $2,000 to spend and use in the tournament. The winner also receives passage to 888’s special party at the Dal Toro Ristorante – Lamborghini Las Vegas, hosted by Shane Warne.

To become a hopeful all you have to do is participate in daily Shane Warne WSOP free rolls and pre qualifiers, but hurry as the final takes place on June 14th.

888.com is proud to combine two great Australian passions of Cricket and Poker in this exciting promotion. May the best man win! To find out more about the event visit Shane Warne at 888.com.