The past few weeks have delivered a treasure chest full of great new games from the online gambling industry's major gambling software developers and providers, boosting once again the wide choices available to online gamblers.
Themes abound in the dominant slot releases, and the intense competition between online casinos using rival software packages has ensured that paytables and bonus features remain only tight enough to make commercial sense.
Virtue Fusion launched its Nordic mythology themed Thor's Thunder, a 5 reel/20 payline slot, whilst Cryptologic followed previous practice in launching a package of new offerings that included Area 21, Cleo Queen of Egypt, Street Fighter IV and Savannah Sunrise.
Cryptologic released three new games in the first quarter of 2009, and an impressive 13 in the second quarter, including a slots version of the popular board game Jenga.
Proprietary software-powered Mr. Green online casino - an enterprise founded by two of the Betsson innovators - launched a new fantasy medieval themed slot titled Once Upon a Time, and Costa Rica-based Real Time Gaming came out with the orient-themed Year of Fortune and the historically-based Roman Empire slots. Also from RTG, King of Swing is inspired by the game of golf, and there's the new Casino Cash - a Keno Chinese style game to give punters a change of scene.
Microgaming maintained the pressure created by its established four-games-a-month release schedule, with the latest offerings including the ancient Egypt-themed version of the progressive slot Mega Moolah Isis, frozen wilderness wild animal offering Silver Fang, the rock 'n roll slot Get Rocked and WealthSpa - themed on the good life.
Arch-rival Playtech pumped out, or is about to, an impressive range of slots based on its licensing deal with Marvel and featuring super-heroes in games like Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, X-Men, Blade, Daredevil, Fantastic Four, Ghost Rider and its innovative new Multi-Mystery Jackpot slot is due for release soon.
Gibraltar-based 888.com, which has partnered with a number of games producers to increase the diversity of its gaming offering, boosted side game interest in its bingo activities with a slew of new slots, scatchcards, fruit machines and table games - 17 in all this year.
Members of the proprietary-powered online 3D poker room PKR were treated to a new Jacks or Better video poker game, the Cereus Internet poker network launched a new 7 Deuce version of Texas Hold 'Em and Gigamedia's Grand Virtual developers came out with their first autoplay equipped slot - Rocket Riches.
Slotland entered the fray with its new Reel Riot slot, whilst subsidiary 3D site WinADay launched Deuces Wild video poker and Rival Software offered players new i-slots in the shape of 007-Bond lookalike Spy Game and a 3 reel single pay-line slot branded Bust A Vault.
Vegas Technology remained highly competitive with releases that included an Idols Show-based Karoake Cash, a stunning 5 reeler titled Dynasty and themed on Dynasty Warriors and an interesting 5 reel, no payline medieval themed game branded The Grail Maiden.
GTech G2's subsidiary Boss Media's X-Factor Steps to Stardom was cannily released to coincide with the launch of the similarly titled television show in the UK, and GTS recently announced the launch of new games for the Gala Coral group in the UK.
On the mobile gambling front recently, Probability plc has widened the Orbis Technology range of games by some 30 offerings in a partnership deal, with major upcoming launches slated to include Battleship and a number of X-Factor slot releases. Both companies have been active, along with Cryptologic, GTS and 888.com in teaming with other companies on cross-platform deals.
Online lottery action has been similarly dynamic, with the Hong Kong based VODone Limited announcing the implementation of its Electronic Lottery Drawing System on the new Chinese-facing Constant Lottery, and in the US most of the National Football League's top teams have partnered with various state lotteries in very lucrative scratchcard betting deals.
Scratchcard fans have also seen several new games from the Malta-based Neogames developer, including Mr. Joker, and the company has signed up with a number of lottery clients to provide its range of 40 games.
Online players will have plenty more games to look forward to in the remaining months of 2009, according to company spokesmen at the main software providers, showcasing yet again the resilience, innovative and dynamic nature of the business.
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