| Boss Media, a software development company, | | | | Flash based poker games have been around for a |
| was founded in 1996. Its first interactive casino, | | | | while but Boss Media's release will allow poker |
| Gold Club, was launched in 1997 and became an | | | | players to log directly into its network via one of |
| instant success. Its initial aim was to operate Gold | | | | the many white label solutions provided by |
| Club Casino, but soon after the online casino | | | | networks such as St Minver Ltd. This provides |
| version was launched, the company received | | | | immediate player liquidity for brands such as |
| many requests from companies interested in | | | | Yahoo and VIP Poker to tap directly into the |
| purchasing Boss Media's software, apparently | | | | network and offers players larger tournaments |
| unrivalled for its tasteful game graphics | | | | and greater variation of payment methods. At |
| astonishingly realistic casino ambience. | | | | any given moment in the day, there are over |
| Boss Media's corporate focus since shifted to the | | | | 1000 people on playing online on the St Minver |
| creation of customised e-gaming systems for | | | | network and its network has become one of the |
| several of the world's largest gaming corporations | | | | largest in Europe. |
| like St Minver Ltd who operate the VIP Poker | | | | Yahoo Poker, has already seen great response to |
| Club amongst many others. Their solutions are | | | | its poker release and it has yet to undergo hard |
| tailored to the unique needs of each client and | | | | launch. The software, behind web based poker is |
| based on innovative casino, poker, bingo and | | | | also very easy to implement and manage, so we |
| lottery applications for multiple digital distribution | | | | could yet be witnessing another poker revolution |
| channels. Boss Media sold its own Internet casino | | | | as operators can reduce their costs by launching a |
| in February 2004 to focus entirely on perfecting | | | | web based poker game as opposed to a |
| the e-gaming solutions it develops for clients. | | | | download version? |
| One of those developments has been the release | | | | Only time will tell if Boss Media's new software will |
| of its new flash based poker game which can be | | | | cause a stir amongst online poker players. |
| seen on sites like Yahoo Poker. The flash version | | | | However, one thing is for sure, poker and the |
| does not require download, and thus has opened | | | | technology driving the games has not slowed |
| up the door to attract many casual poker players, | | | | down and neither has the number of sites being |
| who were perhaps turned off previously by the | | | | launched and players signing up each month. MSN |
| thought of downloading unknown software to | | | | reported recently that over 2 million people play |
| their PC. | | | | poker online each month. Although that figure has |
| The web based product will allow people to play in | | | | taken a hit recently with the prohibition order in |
| shorter bursts, perhaps during their lunch break or | | | | American preventing online gambling transactions, |
| for a quick evening session. | | | | the numbers are thought to be much the same |
| Most companies do not allow their staff to | | | | as the focus for poker sites shifts to Europe. |
| download software or play games at work on | | | | Perhaps now the focus will also shift towards web |
| company time and on company PCs. However, | | | | based poker, as users are becoming more |
| because there is no requirement for download | | | | internet savvy and increasing their need for a |
| with the new flash web-based poker, companies | | | | quick online fix. Certainly web based poker allows |
| will have to move swiftly to block poker site | | | | operators like Yahoo the opportunity to offer a |
| URLs, in order to prevent its staff playing the | | | | poker game that fits into the busy daily routines |
| new web based poker software during spare | | | | of many internet users. |
| moments online at work. | | | | |