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