DoubleDown Casino

Verizon’s Android smartphone subscribers will have many more games to chose from.

American fans of mobile casino games will have a whole new range of entertaining titles to look forward to, with the impending addition of IGT’s DoubleDown Casino to Playphone’s network.

DoubleDown Casino, acquired by IGT in 2012, is a free, social gaming platform, reportedly serving 6 million players. Playphone is a leading mobile social gaming network, providing the Games Portal app for mobile network operator Verizon.

Games Portal comes loaded unto Verizon’s Android phones and offers a large number of free games, including mobile blackjack, sports and arcade games, and dozens of other categories.

“Gamers love playing casino games and DoubleDown Casino is the world’s most popular social gaming casino. It’s a natural fit,” said Playphone CEO Ron Czerny.

IGT also hopes for a natural fit, as an increasing number of players access DoubleDown from their smartphones. “By partnering with PlayPhone we’re creating frictionless access to game play in the DoubleDown Casino for our players,” claimed John Clelland, the company’s VP of Global Marketing.

He also elaborated on further benefits stemming from integration. “Players can invite friends; engage in tournaments; see where they land on the leaderboard; as well as send gifts and through the PlayPhone app. They will be able to see what games their friends are playing and be able to join in as PlayPhone integrates social features throughout the entire gaming experience,” said Clelland.

For now DoubleDown adds to the number of Android casinos out there, it is nevertheless a sensible move considering the popularity of this particular operating system.

Oppo Find 7

Fresh information about the upcoming new Oppo Find device shed light on the flagship suggesting its possible release date.

The upcoming new gen Oppo Find will not be called Find 6 as many have expected, instead, the Chinese manufacturer has chosen to call their new flagship – Find 7. According to one eager mobile casino gambling news source, the device is supposed to hit the shelves in mid-September this year. The reasons behind the phonemaker skipping a number are unclear, and we don’t think guessing them is a fun pastime anyway.

Previous rumors about the specs have been confirmed once again, and it looks like the new Android casino monster will indeed have a whopping 4,000mAh battery, while remaining only 9.9mm thick. By doing that, Oppo will catch up to Huawei Ascend Mate, a 6-inch device with the largest smartphone battery to date.

Other specifications of the mobile casino games tamer include a 5-inch, 1080p screen, and the very latest Snapdragon 800 chipset. The rear camera is said to be a 13MP unit, while the front snapper is a decent 8MP. The device will also sport 2GB or RAM, and NFC connectivity.

With such a detailed description of the smartphone, our guess is that the phone will soon leave the rumorland and will be officially announced. We’d like to know the more exact release date information, and naturally how much such a beauty can cost, however in case of Oppo, the pricing is quite mild compared to the competition.

BetInternet

Sportsbook becomes first client for Quickfire Poker.

Online and mobile gaming software provider Microgaming has added a new game to its widely used Quickfire platform, as well as the first customer, with the signing of sportsbook BetInternet.

BetInternet, a Webis Holdings site, primarily offers web-based and mobile sports betting, but its site also offers casino games.

“Although betting on sports is the primary activity for BetInternet customers, we know that our customers also like the occasional hand at a poker table and the addition of Quickfire Poker will mean that they are now able to do this through their single wallet betting account at BetInternet,” emphasized Webis MD, Garry Knowles.

BetInternet poker players will no doubt like the fact that they will play on the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN), with an impressive variety of games, from Texas hold’em to Omaha Hi-Lo. Furthermore, they will also have access to all the MPN tournaments.

Microgaming’s Quickfire platform offers over 400 online and mobile casino games to gambling operators, which also include slots, bingo and table games.

BetInternet already uses Quickfire, featuring among other things several progressive jackpot slots from Microgaming, as well as various forms of online blackjack.

“We are very pleased to be adding to our existing Quickfire live dealer and games products. Having such an established and recognised provider of gaming software as Microgaming as our partner gives our customers access to the best gaming and entertainment products available in the online gaming sector,” said Garry Knowles.

“Quickfire provides an excellent solution for sportsbook and casino operators looking to supplement their gaming portfolio with poker. We are delighted that BetInternet is the first operator to go live with Quickfire Poker,” enthused Microgaming spokesperson, Ashley Sandyford-Sykes.

Galaxy Note III

The Samsung Galaxy Note III is expected to be announced sometime in September, but rumors are already in full swing.

Various sources agree that the Samsung Galaxy Note III will be officially announced in September, and already, several months in advance, the rumors about the mobile casino gambling phablet are intensifying. The latest is speculating on the resolution of the upcoming device’s main camera.

After the first images of the alleged Note III camera have hit the internet, the sheer amount of rumors about the upcoming Android casino device has quadrupled. The leaked photos were of 2322×4128 pixel resolution, which means the camera that took them features a 13MP sensor and the images were shot in 16:9 mode.

Well, this is the sensor from the current flagship – S4, meaning that Samsung’s tradition of equipping their phablets and flagship smartphones with the identical cameras is still alive. According to the EXIF information, the Note III will sport the same f/2.2 aperture and 31mm lens as the Galaxy S4. This is quite understandable considering the amazing performance of the 13MP sensor and the lens combination, and while something is this good, what’s the point of changing it?

However, the Galaxy Note III release date is still very far away, and things may very well change in the meantime, and don’t forget that all this info is still in the speculations area. But judging by the extremely high quality of the photos the S4 takes, it’s highly unlikely that the Note III will be offering less in this department, when it’s released.

HTC Desire 200

HTC is rumored to be working on Desire 200 – an affordable Android device sporting pretty decent specification.

While the main focus at HTC may be on the flagship Android casino tamer – One, and its upcoming siblings, the Taiwanese company doesn’t seem to be forgetting about mid-range and budget devices as well. The next “small” thing from HTC is rumored to be the Desire 200 – a tiny smartphone with acceptable features.

The design of the HTC Desire 200 reminds us of the One itself, while bottom controls are similar to any other recent HTC smartphone, and the back is reminiscent of the Desire C. In any case, such similarities are actually benefiting customers, allowing the manufacturer to keep the cost of mobile casino tamers low.

As for the specifications of the HTC Desire 200, it will sport a 3.5 inch LCD screen with 320×480 resolution, a 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of internal space with microSD card slot installed for further extension. The specs may not be too much, but they are enough to run mobile casino games smoothly and keep the device affordable.

Further features include a 1,400mAh battery source, and judging by the leaked photos the HTC Desire 200 is running Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich, but it’s highly unlikely the final OS will be older than 4.1. Unfortunately, the current information doesn’t give any hint about the smartphone’s planned availability or pricing policy.

5.7-inch iPhone

While most of iPhone rumors are now concentrating on the next generation smartphone, there’s also words about possible larger devices.

A recent report from Reuters is saying the Cupertino company is seriously considering making iPhone mobile casino tamers with larger displays. To be more specific: 4.7 and 5.7-inch screen devices, which may come as early as next year. And, of course, there’s again talk about a cheaper devices as well.

So far, Apple hasn’t commented on the possibility of larger iPhone mobile gambling devices, but we have no reason to doubt a source such as Reuters. Especially when all Apple competitors are already making large-screen smartphone, it seems only logical Tim Cook and go will jump on to wagon as well.

Currently, Apple is fighting a wealth of battles against competing 4.7 – 5 inch smartphones, and their previous move (iPhone 5) away from the 3.5 inch format has shown that the company is considering alternatives.

As for the “cheap iPhone” this speculation is already over a year old. Indeed Apple is considering launching such a device, possibly in a plastic body, to address growing competition from Android side. However, it’s yet to be revealed what comes first: a new gen iPhone or this cheaper alternative. Some sources put the price for the plastic mobile casino tamer at around $100, which will make it a quite competitive alternative to numerous mid-range droids.

Further rumors are suggesting that if Apple didn’t already start testing the iPhone 5S and the cheap device, it will do so in the very near future. Thus making a September launch a pretty plausible date.

Galaxy S4 Active

AT&T has just officially revealed that it will be the exclusive carrier for Samsung Galaxy S4 Active in the USA.

The much-anticipated rugged mobile casino tamer comes with IP67-certification and is dust and waterproof. Pre-orders for the device have already started at AT&T, and the first units to hit the shelves (both online and offline) are expected on June 21. The initial pricing is set at $200 with a 2-year deal.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active will land at AT&T stores in two colors: urban gray and dive blue, while the bright orange flare color is sadly unavailable (so far).

The Android casino device sports a 5-inch 1080p screen (LCD in the place of SuperAMOLED found in the S4 flagship). The smartphone is powered by a Snapdragon 600 chipset with quad-core Krait 300 processor, clocked at 1.9GHz.

Further features of the mobile casino games monster include super-fast LTE connectivity, which will certainly take full advantage of the extensive AT&T coverage. The camera of the S4 Active has been downgraded to 8MP instead of the 13MP unit in the original S4.

The Galaxy S4 Active will come with the same IR blaster for TV control found in the S4, SAFE certification for business users, Air Gestures, and a bunch of other interesting features we’ve already learned to love in the S4 flagship device.

HTC One Mini

Rumors and leaks on the HTC One Mini keep providing new information about the much-anticipated device.

While the HTC One Mini is yet to be officially announced, there’s little doubt that the device will soon become a reality. The latest leaked photo depicts the Android casino tamer next to the original HTC One in a matching color.

As for the specifications of the upcoming mobile casino tool: the rumors so far suggest that it will come with a 4.3 inch screen probably with 720p resolution. The smartphone is said to be powered by a 1.4GHz dual-core CPU – most probably the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400. The Mini will retain the big brother’s Zoe media capturing and sharing capabilities up to 1080p videos.

The HTC One Mini is also rumored to be running on the very latest Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with HTC’s proprietary Sense OS. Just as the original device, the Mini mobile casino games monster will sport the amazing aluminum body, but will come with a plastic bezel around it and no IR remote (according to the latest picture).

The Taiwanese manufacturer will definitely use the success of the One to boost sales of other similar devices, including the Mini and a possible rugged sibling. The HTC One Mini is supposed to be officially announced sometime in Q3 this year. Keep checking back for our updates as we will monitor the news and share the latest information with our faithful readers.

Huawei P6

Huawei Ascend P6 rumors keep flowing in, the latest delivering full list of the smartphone’s specifications.

While the Huawei Ascend P6 is still not announced officially, the multitude of rumors and speculations suggest that the upcoming Android casino tamer is moving closer to reality. The latest leak showcased some internal documents revealing full list of specifications.

The Ascend P6 is said to be powered by a quad-core 1.5GHz K3V2+ Huawei’s proprietary chipset, featuring a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, and Intel XMM6260 modem. Other features of the mobile casino monster include an 8MP back panel snapper with 1080p video capabilities, and a 5MP front facing unit with 720p video recording option.

The upcoming mobile casino games tool will also sport 2GB of RAM, a 4.7-inch screen with 720p resolution, a 2,000mAh battery and Bluetooth 3.0. The device will be running on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out-of-the-box. The smartphone is supposed to be measuring 132.7×65.5×6.5mm and will weigh only 120g.

The Huawei Ascend P6 is expected to be officially announced on June 18, when the Huawei press event is scheduled. Tune back in to see what other surprises might come up during the Huawei event, as we will be covering it fully.

Sheriff Gambing SMART

Two games mark the launch of a new 3D mobile suite.

3D online and mobile casino software developer Sheriff Gaming has released two new titles to be played on portable devices.

The Amsterdam Masterplan and Spartania are the first two mobile slots to be released under the company’s SMART brand.

Speaking about the company’s SMART strategy, Sheriff Gaming Sales Manager Eric Roskamp said that “our mobile game roll-out is a landmark opportunity for Sheriff Gaming to bring its unique three-dimensional content to a mass market. This year alone we are aiming to launch between ten to 15 slot games and five table games that operators can promote to their players via mobile and personal computers.”

“We are really excited to have the technology to promote our games across multiple channels and in more than 20 different languages and this announcement undoubtedly reiterates Sheriff Gaming’s reputation as the gaming industry’s leading light in three-dimensional mobile games development,” added Roskamp.

These games have been remade in HTML5 to allow fast downloading onto any mobile platform, including iPhones and Android devices.

According to the company, “to ensure the optimum gaming experience, Sheriff Gaming has redesigned the games to work perfectly on all these devices by adapting them to take into account the different resolutions, touch interface and smaller screens.”

“The games have also been made a lot smaller in file size to allow for a faster downloads,” claims the statement.