While you might know the name Dave “Devilfish” Ulliott, you might not be familiar with his online poker company. Dave is the UK poker player who had earnings of over $5.8 million. So when the news was released in 2005 to much fanfare that he was starting an online poker site, Devilfish Poker, people began expecting big things. So far those things haven’t materialized but the company is expecting a better year in 2011.

However, there was soon trouble. The Kahnawake licensed site didn’t get the UK’s proper approval and the site was restricted from advertising to its niche market. Although the customer base finally grew to 5,000 players in 12 months, the firm had some real economic trouble and lost over £600,000 in 2009 and more than £2m in 2010.

Officials for the company offered several reasons including a troubled financial climate as well as the growing tendency in the online poker market for mergers where bigger firms incorporated smaller ones.

Still, the CEO Paul Barnes is looking forward to the new year being much better for the company. He said recently that the brand has more of a market share now and that he believes it is in a better position to capitalize on the market in general.

Greece is currently one of the few European countries that still has a ban on online gambling. However, the country’s government is changing its mind about things and is now planning on submitting a legislation that would regulate Greece’s online gambling industry and issue licenses to operators.

Like many countries that have recently sought out online gambling legislation, Greece is hoping to boost its economy by regulating the online casino industry. According to Bloomberg.com, the legislation will increase government revenue by €1 billion over the course of three year. After the country’s recent bailout, Greece is now struggling to pay revenue collection to the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

Currently, the worth of Greece’s online gambling industry is estimated at about €4 billion. Over the years, it is expected that the country will recover more and more of that revenue from offshore operators.

This will certainly provide the country will much-needed financial relief. Other countries are also deciding to follow in Greece’s footsteps, as an increasing number of EU member states begin to regulate their online gambling markets.

This year was a big one for the online gambling industry. Dozens of operators stepped up their game as the market became increasingly competitive. 2010 saw many great innovations from a wide range of online casinos, and here are a few of the best brands out there this year.

Betfair really shined this year, winning several awards at this year’s EGR Gaming Awards. The operator has been lauded for its new television gambling technology, which allows players to place bets in real time from their television sets. The system has become extremely popular over the course of the past year, launching Betfair into online gambling fame.

Bet365 also had a great year. While it is one of the lesser known online casino brands, this year saw the company stand out among some of the most renowned names in online gambling. Bet365 has won numerous awards from a wide range of authorities, solidifying it as one of the best performing operators this year.

And, of course, there are the usual top performers. Microgaming and PlayTech continue to be on a financial upswing, steadily recovering from the global recession. The two companies regularly release new games to pique players’ interest, boosting profits for their licensees.

Now that Apple has started allowing users to access to all types of online gambling operators are getting their feet in the door by launching new software that is compatible with Mac devices like the iPad and the iPhone 4G. Betfair and Paddy Power were the first to jump on the gravy train, but now they must make room for one of the biggest names in online gambling: Bwin.

The popular Austrian online gambling operator has stepped onto the mobile gambling scene with a bang. It’s new application, Bwin Live, is already getting rave reviews from critics and players alike. Other mobile gambling applications are being pushed to the wayside and it’s no wonder why.

Bwin is already one of the most popular online gambling operators in the world, so it comes as no surprise that its entrance into the mobile gambling market would be a huge deal. Players who are already registered with Betfair and Paddy Power are making the switch to Bwin’s new application, and it won’t be long before the company has a large portion of the mobile gambling market share.

On Bwin Live, players can place in-game bets, an option which has risen in popularity. They can also take advantage of all of the regular betting options that Bwin has to offer.

Microgaming is a leader in online casino game development, always releasing new games to keep players at its online casinos interested. While the company specializes in casino games like online slots and blackjack, it has now decided to dabble with arcade games.

Now, Microgaming is launching Pachinko, a popular Japanese arcade game. Many online casinos are beginning to offer these types of games and Microgaming is hopping on the bandwagon. Many players have expressed the desire to play more games of skill at online casinos and Pachinko seems to incorporate more skill than slots or other luck-based casino games.

“We’re extremely confident they will prove a hit with players all around the world,” says Mike Hebden, Microgaming’s Head of Casino.

Microgaming is known for constantly releasing new games, so it is likely that we will see plenty of new releases from the company this month. So, keep your eyes peeled!

Greece is the latest country in Europe to consider the option of legalizing, regulating and taxing online gambling. Plans to do so are expected to take place later in the year, and the implementation of a new online gambling law could see the country earn an extra £2 Billion.

“The propensity for gaming in Greece is among the highest in Europe and the world,” said George Christodoulakis, a senior finance ministry official. “This has to do with our temperament and culture … The only thing one can do is set rules,” he said.

Currently, the country’s illegal online gambling market is worth £4 Billion. It seems to be a huge waste for Greece’s government, as it is losing out on millions of tax dollars. The Finance Ministry estimates that it could obtain at least half of the current online gambling business, raking in an impressive £2 Billion that the country is in dire need of.

Greece is currently suffering from a detrimental recession, which has been taking place for quite some time. Online gambling would be exactly what the country needs to pull itself out of its financial rut. However, as is the case with most countries considering online gambling, there is a great deal of opposition. It will be interesting to see how this legislation develops in the future.

Five years ago, if you had told someone that online gambling was a safe and secure way to play casino games for real cash, you would have been laughed at. But, over the years, online casino operators and developers have been working hard to improve the quality of the security systems at online casinos. While their aim was to make existing customers feel safer, they did not expect the influx of new players that would result from the application of new security measures.

According to Brian Wright of the Remote Gambling Association, the earlier years of online gambling saw a great deal of unease, as people were skeptical about the level of security. Today, however, he believes that online casino players are no longer as worried so much about their finances being at risk

Every online casino operators strives to earn certification from regulators, who are dedicated to ensuring that all players at the online gambling destination are treated fairly. Additionally, casinos undergo regular audits, during which their security systems are tested for reliability.

Today, it is almost unheard of for players to experience any sort of security issues. In fact, many players believe it is safer to gamble online than in land-based casinos, where they become vulnerable to man-made problems like deck fixing.

Thanks to the New Reward Plan at Party Casino, they’ve upped their game considerably. The new reward plan brings ‘better and more’ to the table, from better reward levels, to more cash, to even more bonus options. This is not a limited promotion, and is available to all players.

The Party Casino Reward Plan was constructed on user-feedback, and it was taken to heart as the result is awesome promotions and bonuses, as well as players being able to earn rewards in a variety of ways. Another added bonus is that players will now be able to see how their Party Points are racking up, and where they are from.

Earning Party Points is easy! Just play your favorite game, or one of the promotional games to start collecting. Certain games will reward more points, so be aware of that when you start collecting. The more points you have, the better the prize you can get! Players can go to the Party Casino store to redeem their points for tournament entries, gift certificates, and even cash in those points!

It pays to play at Party Casino. The New Reward Plan rewards high ranking players the Palladium Elite title, where at this level, players have the option of redeeming 100 Party Points for $20! This is unlimited, not a one time promotion!

Play today to reap the benefits of this new reward plan!

How does an African Safari trip sound? How about a jackpot prize of $10,000? Have I got your attention yet? Well, Jackpot City certainly has mine! The Belle Rock Entertainment company just announced it’s latest promotion, an African Safari trip to the Palace at the Lost City hotel in South Africa. The promotion started April 21st, and will come to an end on May 30th.

Vacation giveaways have started to gain popularity amongst online casinos in the last little while. With InterCasino’s Space Race about to end, the African Safari trip being offered by Jackpot City will be the coveted prize to be won.

To enter this thrilling tournament, log in and simply wager 100 credits. For every 100 credits wagered at JackpotCity Casino, 1 entry will be submitted into the draw per player. If you don’t have an account, create one now. One entry is all it takes to be in the running for this spectacular vacation getaway. Obviously the more entries you have, the better your odds. With an uncapped draw box, you can submit as many entries as you want.

For those seeking adventure in Africa, this is a fantastic prize! For those not into going to Africa, the winner gets a rare opportunity to actually opt for the cash instead. Either or, it’s all about what the winner wants.

InterCasino launched off the month of March with the super cool Space Race, which many of you have heard about. The contest spans 13 weeks, and will be finishing the end of May. The biggest and best prize would be the trip to outer space, which will be awarded to a randomly drawn star entry. The winner will be announced by June 1st, and will be trained and prepared for this unforgettable experience.

The great thing about the Space Race is there won’t just be one winner, as there are many prizes to be won. Every star entry is essentially a raffle ticket, so the more you have, the greater your odds of winning. That being said, in order to enter more entries, you have to accumulate more Stars by playing at InterCasino, and every wager will bring you one step closer to zero gravity. At the end of the Space Race, the top 10 Star Collectors will win a share of a £100,000 pot, with first place receiving £50,000, second place receiving £15,000, and third receiving £10,000.

So a grand prize trip to space, and a £100,000 pot to be divvied up amongst the top 10 Star Collectors. Sounds good, right? Well, that is not all that’s up for grabs! Every week, the top ten Star Collectors share over £10,000 in cash prizes, with the top prize being £5,000!

Did I mention the fantastic holiday prizes that are awarded every week? This week’s prize is an all inclusive 3 day VIP trip for 2 to watch the 2010 Ryder Cup in Cardiff. Next week’s prize is a trip to Sin City, and tickets to see U2 live.