by Becca Cobb

With Africa becoming the next giant epicentre for business, Alliance Media is looking to capture the advertising market as more and more national chains and global corporations enter various African markets.

Established in 1997, Alliance Media is a leader in outdoor and airport advertising in Africa. It operates with the goal to pioneer and the lead the production of the outdoor media industry. In its 16-year history, Alliance Media has been able to capture the widest coverage within the African continent with more than 25,000 of the most targeted and visible billboards in the continent.

At the present time, there are more than four-dozen airports under its management. With this enormous sum, it is now making Alliance Media one of the most experienced airport advertising firms in the region. Over the years, it has grown its operations to 23 countries, including Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Mozambique and elsewhere.

The products and services offered to Alliance Media are marketed toward international brands, national companies, single stores and local businesses. Its other advertising products consist of outdoor billboards and out-of-home advertising options (street advertising, mall media advertising, etc.). Essentially, the primary goal for Alliance Media is to guarantee to its clientele that their brands will be viewed all over their respective markets.

Alliance Media has become crucial for the marketing realm for leading brands. Its success has been produced due to its philosophy of giving its clientele maximum brand exposure and generate buzz and awareness for these brands.

Aside from offering brand exposure, its other philosophy is to work one-on-one with clients. With several offices across Africa, Alliance Media operates with a comprehensive understanding of its clients’ needs as well as the exact market and advertising site. As it works with this information, a personalized campaign is established and designed to meet the clients’ budget.

A major reason for its achievements is its perception and understanding of the African region.  It has a tremendous amount of personal experience within this continent and has a deep insight of the local market demographics and the socio-economic backdrop. Recently, it commemorated the 19^th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda.

With its dedication to the growth of Africa’s economies, Alliance Media was awarded the European Union Award for Innovative Media and PMR award for the “Best Outdoor Advertising Company.”  Alliance Media was recently awarded a Superbrand Status by Superbrands, the world’s largest independent arbiter of branding.  It also received the award for its billboard and airport advertising activities in the East African region.

Another aspect that Alliance Media is product of is its various records.  It was recently proud to announce that it beat its own record by installing Zambia’s biggest billboard for MTN, the largest mobile provider in Africa.  The billboard is 8m by 85m and is situated in a strategic site in the heart of Zambia’s capital city of Lusaka.

“This premium billboard is very much in line with our reputation for being the market leader in Zambia and Africa at large,” said Greg Benatar, Alliance Media group sales and marketing director, in a news release.Alliance Media is product of is its various records.  It was recently proud to announce that it beat its own record by installing Zambia’s biggest billboard for MTN, the largest mobile provider in Africa.  The billboard is 8m by 85m and is situated in a strategic site in the heart of Zambia’s capital city of Lusaka.

When looking back at Alliance Media’s growth, much of its accomplishments and be recognized by its dedication to its customers, its involvement in the community and its long-term partnerships with airport authorities, municipalities and private landlords.

by Bill Richards

In different areas of the United States, there have been various reports over the past year of Internet outages. The latest incident occurred this week when CenturyLink’s Internet service core routers failed and left a million subscribers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, Kansas and elsewhere without access to the Internet for up to nine hours.

What this might indicate is that some Internet infrastructures are becoming overused, consume an excessive amount of energy and may even be out-dated. According to recent studies, Internet traffic has grown by as much as 50 percent in the U.S. in the last decade, while it is projected to quadruple by 2014.

“There will be nearly three networked devices per capita in 2016, up from over one networked device per capita in 2011. Driven in part by the increase in devices and the capabilities of those devices, IP traffic per capita will reach 15 gigabytes per capita in 2016, up from 4 gigabytes per capita in 2011,” the Cisco report stated.

With a base of 2.5 billion Internet users – a third of the world’s population – private firms have to begin investing in their systems to ensure access to the Internet is possible. This requires businesses to adapt to a marketplace, while firms offering these very Internet services have to adapt as well.

One company that is not only adapting, but also thriving is InfoRelay Online Systems Inc., a national colocation provider that has a clientele base of approximately 230 in the U.S. alone. The Herndon, Virginia based firm offers many products and services that enhance companies’ online capabilities. A glimpse of its services include [data center and managed IT solutions like] information security, cloud storage, [colocation,] [managed server hosting], data protection and desktop recovery.

In other words, InfoRelay focuses on offering a [comprehensive] Internet service for all entities as well as government agencies and departments. InfoRelay operates its four primary network areas in the states of California and Virginia. Its bandwidth is allocated through its alternative data centers in the states of [Virginia, California, Florida, New York, ]Texas and Illinois. It is also distributed in municipalities across Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Japan.

InfoRelay’s structure of organized documentation, advanced operational procedures, effective internal policies and improved concept leadership has led it to establish a system that is fully efficient, functional and operational for its clients.

Russell Weiss is the founder of InfoRelay, which was started at the beginning of the dot-com explosion in 1995. First opening its doors in New Jersey, it later expanded and moved its headquarters to Virginia due to unprecedented growth.

What makes InfoRelay truly exceptional is that it first worked with a single T1 line. More than a year later, it then transitioned into producing its own multi-gigabit redundant BGP network that is supported by Cisco routers. In fact, InfoRelay’s network is controlled in the same location as many of the Fortune 500 enterprises, including Yahoo!, Amazon and IBM.

For the past 10 years or so, InfoRelay has posted tremendous growth numbers and by doing so has attracted publicity because of its partnerships and associations with industry enterprises and leaders.

InfoRelay was named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private American companies. The company’s vast growth is a direct result of its three-year revenue growth of 143 percent, or approximately $3 million, with just 22 employees, up from 10 employees three years before.

by Becca Cobb

“When I see the city from my window – no, I don’t feel how small I am – but I feel that if a war came to threaten this, I would like to throw myself into space, over the city, and protect these buildings with my body,” wrote Ayn Rand on New York City in the bestselling novel “Fountainhead.”

New York City is the stuff dreams are made of. A city like no other, filled with people who have varying interests from the other, it has become the depiction of everything that is wonderful in our world today.

Taking a trip to the Big Apple? Consider yourself lucky if you’re traveling to one of the greatest cities in the world. The City That Never Sleeps has every sight and sound anyone could ask for: museums, jazz clubs, vintage spots depicted in motion pictures, hotels, old cinema houses and much, much more.

From Manhattan to Brooklyn to the Bronx to Harlem, New York City has it all. Although it would be grand if visitors could keep their eyes open 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the Empire City, you do actually need to sleep, unfortunately. Everywhere you go there are countless hotels with hefty price tags and pocketbooks not filled with so much cash.

Whether you are in town on business or you’re just visiting, NewYorkStay.com has a variety of long- and short-term accommodations to make your stay that much better. It maintains numerous living quarters, including five-star hotels, furnished-apartment rentals, bed and breakfast inns, self-catering apartments, hostels and others. The website has a huge catalogue of exclusive New York accommodations and vacation rentals.

The Capital of the World has a lot of visitors each day, week and month. There are approximately one million visitors every single week in the large city, which means a high demand for somewhere to stay. For the past decade, NewYorkStay.com has been getting the best of the best properties for those tourists, globetrotters, businessmen and anyone else staying in New York City.

Each property listed on NewYorkStay.com has been personally visited by the experienced and dedicated staff members so they know what to recommend for your personalized needs. The listings provide complete details and necessary information to make the choices clear. Rates are automatically calculated and may include discounts or last-minute changes by the property owner(s).

By using NewYorkStay.com, users can have several advantages: the best rates, the best selections, no hidden costs, surprises or conditions and a secure online booking method with your Visa, MasterCard, PayPal and bank transfer.

Of course, the benefits don’t stop there. NewYorkStay.com allows its customers to travel in style and can make necessary arrangements, such as booking tickets for a concert, museum tour or theater attraction, airport pickup, a reservation for a romantic dinner at a fantastic restaurant and taxi lifts.

Browse through its featured properties, check its last-minute deals or undergo a customized search by typing in your check-in/check-out date and the number of guests. You can also get assistance through its live help function.

NewYorkStay.com has been featured in the New York Times, the National Geographic, Easy Jet Traveller and Let’s Go with Ryanair. It also has a social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube. The website is a member of World Escape, Trip Advisor, VRMA, D&B, SABA and the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA).

Make your dreams of a grand old time in The City of Dreams a reality. Take a stroll through Central Park, get a ride in a horse & buggy, head over to Birdland and experience the moment of hanging out at Times Square. End it all by getting some shut eye in a comfortable, inexpensive and nice living space.

By Becca Cobb

The pharmaceutical industry has dramatically changed over the last several decades. Instead of a simple visit to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription, companies are making investments to ensure that patients choose their brand over the others.

In order to guarantee complete customer satisfaction, private firms in the pharmaceutical industry are making serious investments and are seeking the best marketing firms to complete these aspirations. One such company has been assisting the sector with these duties and has transformed the industry in different ways.

PSKW is a Bedminster, New Jersey-based organization that aids pharmaceutical companies initiate customer loyalty to their brands through the means of marketing, incentive programs, technology, advanced data analysis and reporting, communications services and customer support.

Opening its doors in 2005 with the merger of Touchstone Rx and KWS & Associates, PSKW has produced a number of solutions to aid its clients garner patients and maintain their patients on therapy.

Some of the tools utilized include innovative co-pay assistance cards, free trial offers through specialty and retail pharmacies, promotions through mobile devices and automatic point of sale couponing (Universal Pharmacy). Essentially, its digital relationship tools can increase sales for brands.

The co-pay offer consists of coupons that can be tracked and monitored as its reimbursement is observed. Through this process, PSKW can report to the pharmaceutical client as to how well the initiative is performing and how it is affecting the market levels.

This program has produced approximately 1,500 co-pay programs for 200 pharmaceutical brands and is comprised of flexible cards, coupons and vouchers. Each co-pay platform can be used via email, mobile phone, website, ePrescriptions, text and Universal Pharmacy. These can be delivered in one of four ways: a representative delivers the card to the patient’s physician; it is mailed to the patient’s doctor, delivered to the patient directly or mailed to the patient.

According to PSKW, the co-pay initiative can offer a variety of features for patients, such as education, communication and even healthcare engagement.

It was announced in a press release earlier this month that PSKW and MD Mindset were teaming up to deliver a unique system of co-pay assistance program analytics to the pharmaceutical sector in the United States.

“As the innovation driver in biopharma loyalty relationship marketing, PSKW has built its reputation on working hand-in-hand with clients to ensure that they use the right offer and channels,” said Robert Prevdi, CEO of PSKW and co-founder. “PSKW evaluates progress against objectives, understands the impact of client programs, and gains insights to help optimize future initiatives. The collaboration we’re announcing today will enable us to expand our ability to serve clients in new and meaningful ways.”

The details confirmed include combined promotions and joint-service offerings to its clientele.

Listed on Inc. 5000, PSKW has a workforce of 65 and has posted a three-year growth of 472 percent, or approximately $300 million. The firm’s management consists of industry experts, including Robert Previdi, CEO and co-founder; Steve Freeman, president; Larry Buzbee, president; Chris Dowd, senior vice president; and Darlene Baker, VP of operations.

by Ian Innes

For quite some time now, two-thirds of the United States economy has been consumer-based. The marketplace is vast and as consumers become more frugal with their funds, especially since the economic decline for the past several years, companies are vying for their business.

One such method of attracting a larger clientele are customer rewards programs. All companies – corporations, small businesses, finance and retail – are implementing loyalty appreciation to entice consumers to patron their store or business. Who doesn’t love to be treated to something special for just buying an item?

There are a variety of ways to make customers feel exceptional. For small businesses, it can be as simple as sending a thank you note through Facebook and Twitter or free shipping on any amount. For corporations, it may be a free product with a $75 purchase or a heads up on an upcoming promotion or sale.

As businesses spend more than $2 billion annually on loyalty programs, experts encourage these entities to focus on consumers that are actual registrants. “They’re probably worth five or six times more than everyone else, the other 90 percent,” says Bob Konsewicz, a strategic consultant for Maritz Loyalty, which has worked with AT&T, Bank of America and General Motors, in an interview with the business news outlet. “When you design those programs, you really want to design it for your best customers.”

Where do retailers, manufacturers and entertainers turn to? It’s simple: a firm like Loyaltyworks.

Loyaltyworks is located in Atlanta, Georgia and was established more than 30 years ago to develop, produce and manage incentive, reward and loyalty programs. With the idea to generate more sales, revenues and profits, businesses can tell a success story.

It provides solutions that construct relationships between employees and customers, while also increasing profits and revenues. One often overlooked element is encouraging desired consumer behaviors with rewards.  Indeed, customer loyalty plans do a lot more than increase your bottom line. They also lead to more customer insights, enhanced affiliations with channel partners and create adoptions of new products.

One way of achieving all of these aspirations is by employing the RewardTrax reward platform, a cost-effect and large innovation in the loyalty rewards industry. In general, Loyaltyworks issues imperative solutions in such a competitive industry, including as sales team motivation, corporate wellness and channel sales and marketing. The points-based incentive scheme is supported using intense program management, in-depth analytics, client communications and advanced online technology.

The company’s workforce is comprised of 70 employees. Each of whom works directly with many industry sectors: agriculture, entertainment, finance, manufacturing, real estate, retail, transportation and pharmaceutical. Like the company says on its website, it has clients in all shapes and sizes.

An important feature that the website maintains is its news blog that gives out tips and tricks for businesses. Some of the topics have been how to communicate with employees, how to engage with the X and Y generations and why and how certain rewards programs fail. Loyaltyworks can be located on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Global Met Coal Corporation is looking to gain substantial ground after industry and media reports have shown growth and high demand in coal. The Vancouver, British Columbia-based company is an exploration and development firm that focuses on the purchase of highly developed stage properties and particularly on methodically discovered metallurgical coal projects.

Originally named as the Global Uranium Corporation, it revised its appellation in October 2011.

The company explains on its website that it has released a Letter of Intent. Furthermore, it has appeared to be interested in acquiring mining institutions, coal mines and surface and mining rights in the Asian nation of Mongolia, the state of Alabama, Australia and elsewhere around the continent of North America.

Pictures can even be viewed of Global Met Coal representatives surveying and studying the Mongolian land two years ago.

The World Coal Association (WCA) published a report that provides a picture of the world’s energy situation and how much coal is a part of it. According to the study, coal gives nearly one-third of all the globe’s energy needs and produces almost half (42 percent) of our electricity demands. With both such large figures, Global Met Coal could gather a share.

Over the past few years, there has been a strong push for forms of renewable energy and protests have not waivered against Alberta’s oilsands development and the Keystone XL pipeline. For those concerned about the environment, this could prove a disaster since markets have indicated that coal, which is considered more dangerous than the oilsands, is taking back its market share in the energy sector.

Genscape’s Generation Fuel Monitoring Service report showed that coal-fired power generation rose close to one-quarter (21 percent) in the month of March. Meanwhile, natural gas fired generation fell 11 percent and renewable energy generation dropped 14 percent. Electricity demand increased two percent.

“April 2012 was the first time in history that natural gas fired electricity generation was as high as coal fired electricity generation, however as gas prices have recently reached $4.00/MMBtu the economics behind fuel switching are dramatically different than last year,” stated Genscape analyst Stephen Maestranzi in the media release. “At this point last year, natural gas was economically competitive with nearly every delivered coal – even low cost Powder River Basin coal. Now only higher heat content coal delivered to the Southeast US remains out of the money.”

With an experienced team of professionals over at Global Met Coal, advances could very well be made and revenues may soar if the trend in coal persists. The Board of Directors and management consist of George W. Heard, chairman, CEO, president and director; Chester Shynkary, director; Ann Fehr, CFO; Jacqueline Collins, corporate secretary; and Stuart Tennant, director. The company trades on both the Toronto Stock Exchange’s (TSX) Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “GMZ” and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “B1H.”

Earlier this year, a study by BankRate.com found that one-quarter of Americans has more credit card debt than personal savings. The study concluded that not only is debt an issue for the federal government but also for millions of households across the country.

Credit card debt is a troubling problem for consumers. The latest Federal Reserve data found that total credit card debt stands at roughly $793 billion, which is surprisingly down from the $1 trillion mark from the past couple of years. Recent reports have found that young people are more indebted than their older counterparts.

Even though the Federal Reserve has established record-low interest rates in order to urge consumers to spend, it will not remain that way in perpetuity. Central banks from around the world will inevitably increase rates which will lead to an increase in the burden of credit card debt. Indeed, living within your means, using cash instead of plastic and paying off past debts will be the keys to financial survival.

If you’re having difficulty staying afloat there are numerous credit repair agencies in the U.S. that can improve your financial future. MSI Credit Solutions is one of these entities in the growing $10 billion industry.

Located in Frisco, Texas and established in 2006, MSI Credit Solutions has been assisting consumers in restoring their credit scores, creating lines of credit, providing credit assessments and removing things like late payments, collections, foreclosures, bankruptcies and more.

In 2006, Ricardo Mendiola founded MSI Credit Solutions after he encountered someone who worked in the credit repair services industry. His meeting changed his life forever and decided to pay it forward and aid those who needed consultation regarding their credit.

Since being established, the company has registered with the Texas Secretary of State, became 100 percent bonded, operates in compliance with federal and state laws and provides nationwide services. It also made the prestigious Inc. 500 | 5000 fast-growing American private companies.

From 2007 to 2010, the company experienced 284 percent growth by posting revenues of $3.2 million, up from $837,445. It maintains a workforce of 45 employees, up from 35 workers three years prior. The leadership team is comprised of Mendiola, Victor Burgos, Meagan Crow and Vanica Anguiano.

Over the years, it has developed long-term valuable professional relationships with many individuals in numerous industries, such as home repairs, finance, real estate, automobiles and others.

On its website, there are dozens of testimonials from past customers, who have lauded the firm for improving their credit, getting out of debt and living the American Dream by owning a home and having peace of mind.

“MSI Credit helped us get into a new house. We were so stressed out because we couldn’t qualify. In two months, our credit was almost perfect and we bought our dream house. Thank you so much! Great job!” wrote Paul of New York in a testimonial.

“My FICO score has gone up to a 626. I may be naming my first born son after you,” stated Jinger in another testimonial.

You can find MSI Credit Solutions on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

MSI Credit Solutions offers a free consultation and visitors to its website can get started right away by filling in a simple request form. It also publishes weekly blog posts that provide tips, the latest news and even a Harlem Shake. Think of the future and think of your finances and produce that peace of mind.

by Aaron Falk

Pornographic material can be traced back centuries ago. Whether it is in artwork, literature, motion pictures, magazines or on the Internet, pornography is a prevalent aspect in society and has become a generally accepted form of entertainment.

It was concluded last year that close to one-third (30 percent) of all web traffic in the world is porn-related. Some websites generate billions of page views each year, while certain adult content websites stream 1,000 gigabytes (one terabyte) each second. That’s definitely a lot of nudity to absorb.

Indeed, adult content has been a strong business in all different kinds of economies. With the rise of the Internet, it has grown even larger than it did in, let’s say, the latter part of the 20th century. As technology becomes more advanced, the way individuals view adult content may change rather significantly.

Here are four interesting pornography statistics released by Family Safe Media:

- $3,075.64 is spent each second on pornography

- 28,258 Internet users are viewing pornography every second

- 327 Internet users are typing adult search terms into search engines per second

- Every 39 minutes new content of pornographic material is being produced in the U.S.

One company attempts to be at the head of the pack with their innovative website, Newsfilter.org. It launched in 1999, at the peak of the famous dot-com boom, with only two people running the entire organization. Years later, the company now has a 12-person staff with offices in the United States, the Philippines and Cyprus.

With more than 10,000 videos available to choose from, the company has become known for selling and promoting over-the-top adult videos. Some of the content may be viewed as real since most of the content is filmed on a small budget with a simple camcorder. Newsfilter.org specializes in offering shocking videos that encourage visitors to keep coming back on a regular basis.

Essentially, Newsfilter.org maintains a niche of underground material that have been banned on occasion by federal and local authorities in several nations across the globe. Director of Search Marketing, Zack Williamson, noted that some of the agencies were embarrassed when an IMDB link was sent to them.

This month, Newsfilter.org revealed its redesigned website that features a more optimized user experience, an increased spotlight in search engines and different features to make the visit a lot more social. The most important thing is that it has more daily uploads and sharing options.

These are only some of the reasons why the company continues to post a high number of visitors each month and generates a large sum of revenues. Be sure to take a gander over to Newsfilter.org for all of your adult content needs.

by Aaron Falk 

Do you know any of the best poker websites? If not, perhaps you should head on over to PokerSites.com to find out the good and not so good poker attractions on the Internet. Whether you’re a pro, an intermediate player or a novice, becoming accustomed to the different options available in the world of poker is important.

Launched in 2001, PokerSites.com has become the venue for ardent poker enthusiasts to learn about and contrast the assortment of poker websites to engage at. There are hundreds of poker websites to choose from so it can be rather hard to distinguish the best ones with the unexciting poker establishments.

Believed to be one of the largest poker websites directories in the world at the present time, PokerSites.com has put forward a number features and functions that can help you find out important pieces of information about the various poker websites. In order to distinguish all of them, it lists the benefits, the bonuses offered (in both percentages and in dollars), the link and detailed reviews.

Every poker website can be located using its categories of top lists, deposit methods, networks, country, comparisons, currency, site traffic and site reviews.

Operators of PokerSites.com track more than 100 websites, utilize about 125 features to compare and have more than $10,000 in bonus money. The four-member staff, which is comprised of industry experts and seasoned veterans, works closely with the employees at the poker websites that it highlights. The team (Greg Shaun, Kaycee James, Brian Corlisse and Jason Charles) also continues to be active in the online community and observes the feedback and other reviews.

When each visitor first enters the website, PokerSites.com showcases a ranking system for the websites located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. It determines the ranking system using a number of factors, including safety and security, banking options, game selections, bonuses and promotions and software.

Each employee uses a comprehensive research and analysis process, such as researching and studying the poker website’s details (terms and conditions, promotions, privacy policy), downloading each poker client and producing accounts to test with, making sure all the websites have secure random number generators and other elements.

“In an effort to provide the best online resource for online poker sites we are always digging deeper into the poker sites listed on our site and evaluating them on other criteria and categories,” the website states. “From deposit options to no download poker clients, we are always looking for different ways to rate our list of online poker sites.”

Aside from the technical aspects, it also has a section that has the latest industry news and blog posts that showcase a number of topics regarding Poker. The newest feature that appears is its video and user reviews. If you want to contact them using social media, PokerSites.com has a presence on Facebook and Twitter.

At the time of this writing, the top ranked websites in their respective countries are 888 Poker (Australia, 4.83/5), 888 Poker (Canada, 4.79/5), Bovada (U.S., 4.77/5) and 888 Poker (United Kingdom, 4.78/5).

For the past 12 years, PokerSites.com players have cashed in more than $6.48 million in bonus money. Each person can do this by simply clicking on one of its many recommended sites, hitting “PLAY NOW” and downloading the software and registering an account, depositing funds and receiving their bonuses.

by Ian Innes

Let’s face it. Not all of us are or will become the Cincinnati Kid, Ida Summers or Edward Thorp. That alone shouldn’t stop a person from entering the exciting world of gambling, even if it is in the comfort of your own home (and you’re in your pajamas).

Since the dot-com expansion, online gambling has grown in popularity and revenues. According to various estimates from different organizations and institutions, online gambling has morphed into a $30 billion industry with millions of players around the world.

The industry has significantly increased in profits as well as innovation since its foundation in 1998. The latest study found that there were roughly 1,200 online gambling websites that provide various games, whether it’s just for fun or for money. Things like poker, bingo, mobile gaming, sports betting and much more are easy to find and easy to access, but how can one discover the top websites?

Casino.org has become one of the top websites to visit when it comes to directories of safe, secure and trustworthy gambling venues. Opened its doors in 1995, the directory has produced a long list of the best online casinos today. The catalogue includes helpful information, such as the best welcome bonuses, the percentage of payout, reviews and the website’s location.

Another feature the company maintains is a section for the latest casino news and blog posts that provide tips and other important information, like the newest websites available in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and other nations.

Internet security is an important concern for any web user. Online gambling is no different and if visitors are worried about their safety and even being the victim of fraud, Casino.org maintains a logo that is placed on websites. This means, visitors can be assured that the online casino has been reviewed and ranked, which is is performed by a “trusted expert” at Casino.org. What’s also important to know is that it only lists websites with various tested and trustworthy anti-spam and security credentials.

“Since 1995 Casino.org has been trusted by tens of thousands of online casino players around the globe to rate and review online casino sites,” the website states in its description. “They depend on our impartial, clear and well researched advice to find online casino sites that offer a great experience and a fair environment. With Casino.org bookmarked, you can relax in the knowledge that you have access to the best online casino resource on the Internet.”

Financial incentives are a huge part of visiting Casino.org. The company states: “Our readers have won over $5.5 million by playing in online casinos recommended by Casino.org, and that number continues to grow larger every day.”

Various members of the press have featured Casino.org in the news, including Playboy Magazine, the Chicago Tribune, Wired magazine, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, PBS, GQ and a vast list of other news outlets and publications. It also has a social media presence on Facebook and Twitter.

We’re not all gambling enthusiasts. So if you’re not the gambling type and you prefer to not take the risk or you even want to practice before trying your luck at the tables; it offers 52 free games, like slots.

Some of us have the urge to smoke a cigarette at midnight, while others have the craving to order Chinese food at 3 a.m. Another group of people may have the itch to try the slots or enter a game of poker at 1 a.m. With that being said, turn on your computer, type in Casino.org on your web browser and find the best websites with the biggest jackpots and the top gameplay.

by Bill Richards

For centuries, tens of millions of people have played card games. This can be studied by looking at artwork throughout the ages, whether it’s “The Card Players” by 17th century painter Theodor Rombouts, a piece of art showing Mamluk player cards in the 15th century or even a Chinese man playing cards in 1400 A.D. during the Ming Dynasty.

As like any other game, it has evolved and there have been hundreds of different variations. Similar to other games, it has made the transition to the Internet. Since its debut in 1998, the online poker industry has transformed into a $7 billion industry – online gambling revenues in general have generated $25 billion as of 2010.

Some experts speculate that online poker is a much better investment – heck, even better time-killer – than taking a step into the stock market. As the markets continue to be volatile, one constant success since the economic collapse in 2007/2008 has been online poker – as well as other online businesses.

For people looking to interact with fellow card players, there are quite a bit of card forums to access and participate in, including PokerForum.ca, PokerStop.com and CardsChat.com. Each of these forums gives users the opportunity to play in tournaments available online, talk different poker strategies and even discuss topics in general. In the end, poker forums are similar to any other forum on the Internet.

CardsChat.com is considered to be one of the premier card forums for poker aficionados. Established in 2004, the website is a global community that provides a long list of features, information and services. A large share of its audience comes from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands.

Essentially, CardsChat.com publishes a directory of different poker websites located in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world, lists various poker websites that offer sign-up bonuses and other exclusive offers and features a poker hand history converter.

Furthermore, there are a variety of reviews and recommendations for the most reputable and trustworthy poker websites. The forum highlights poker strategies for beginner poker, No Limit Hold’em, Omaha and other poker variants and different kinds of software and tools.

“We provide everything you need to learn how to play, refine, and master one of the world’s most popular card games,” the website states. “[The] CardsChat forum can turn you from an average Joe into a pro in no time at all.”

Since its foundation, CardsChat.com has been profiled in Bloomberg News, Cracked.com, YouTube and the San Francisco Chronicle. At the time of this writing, it has a total number of 95,613 members, more than 1.66 million posts and 151,498 threads. In an era where casino card games “are all the rage nowadays,” card forums have become imperative to understand poker games, to stay up-to-date on the latest in the world of cards and get to know fellow card players.

For the avid social media user, it has a significant presence on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

For many, entering a casino for the first time may appear to be daunting, in particular to a novice player. However, a forum, such as CardsChat.com, can aid beginners in learning the best tips and tricks of the trade from poker veterans. Of course, even seasoned competitors could dust up on their skills and find out something new.

As Paul Newman once said, “If you’re playing a poker game and you look around the table and and can’t tell who the sucker is, it’s you.”