Novamedia European Gaming & Lottery Files
Romania
by Rob van der Gaast
Internet Casino operator - Danube Casino (www.danubecasino.com)

Nicolae Sfetcu started some years ago with its own business on Internet, first as a freelancer specialized in web design, translation and Internet marketing and, beginning with last year, he set up his own company, Multimedia SRL. The internet maverick and this year’s award winner of the prestigious ‘Business Initiative Directions, WQC International Star Award, Gold Category Paris 2003’ tells his story in how he started his internet imperium and his internet casino www.danubecasino.com: “The beginning of the history of the Danube Casino can be located long time ago, and it is quite interesting, I think. When I was a student, about twenty years ago, I started to like two games: poker, and bridge. They were very pleasant days those days. During those years I became one of the best specialists in poker and bridge; I have never considered that poker, as well as bridge, are games, because in games you need luck, but for bridge or poker the luck plays a secondary role. I can write many books about the rituals of the nights spent playing these games, with many spectators behind us and that ended every time with a party organized by the winner. It was then when I started not to sleep the nights, and I kept this habit till our days, even if, for different reasons.”

“In those years I became one of the first presidents of a bridge club in Romania, but after I graduated from college I finished playing games, too.”

“I specialized in Internet business services. So, helped by my previous experience in Internet marketing, and being advantaged by the fact that I know very well the psychology of the gamblers, I had some successful marketing campaign for online casinos and affiliates that want to promote their own sponsored links through their websites or advertisements in my own network. I have to tell you that I developed, in time, one of the most complex Romanian integrated network of Internet resources for advertising and dissemination of information, named Teleactivities Network, that includes thousands of websites, web forums, directories and links, mailing lists and newsletters, e-zines, webrings, a.s.o. After such a marketing campaign, it was one of my customer that gave me the idea to imply more directly in the online gambling worlds. I already had my own gambling portal, www.online-casinos.ro. So I thought of starting my own online casino Danube Casino. Why this name? Because all my life I enjoyed the neighborhood of Danube and its beautiful landscapes. You can consider this name as an act of fealty for this river (I dedicated it a whole section in my website for the county where I live, Mehedinti”.

The first Romanian online casino was launched on June 25th, 2003. Danube Casino has as partner Windows Casino, one of the top 10 online casinos in the world, legally licensed and fully insured, certified by Safe Bet and approved by Electronic Gaming Commission. Windows Casino is the winner of numerous international prizes, including Online Gaming Awards 2002, for: Best Video Poker, Best Blackjack, Fairest Casino, Best Promotions, Best Online Casino.

Danube Casino offers over 125 different games (roulette, blackjack, poker, slots, video poker, baccarat, craps, etc.), according to the European and American standards. The gamblers have the possibility, besides the regular prizes, to obtain extra prizes, too, consisting in a trip to Monte Carlo, a brand new Ferrari, or other promotional materials.

In order to be able to play online, first, a deposit in the casino count has to be made. All transactions are in USD. Payments can be made either by credit cards, or through specialized services for the online processing of the money (NETeller, Firepay, Stormpay, Western Union, etc.).

The gamblers that reach the Danube Casino site have the possibility to be informed on the best game ways and strategies, but also learn the rules of the games by appealing to the casino games guides. Multimedia SRL and Windows Casino assure the technical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are specific Romanian laws for gambling, however none makes special references to online gambling.

Interactive Gaming News

Romania's First Online Casino

by Rob van der Gaast

Romania, one of the poorest countries in Europe, entered the Internet gambling space June 25 with the launch of Danube Casino, the nation's first online casino.

The site is the creation of Nicolae Sfetcu, the maverick owner of Multimedia SRL and this year's winner of the prestigious Business Initiative Directions, WQC International Star Award (Gold Category Paris 2003), who was predestined to become the owner of an Internet casino.

Sfetcu developed an affinity for poker and bridge around 20 years ago as a student and became a master at both games. I have never considered that poker, as well as bridge, are games, because in games you need luck," he explained. "For bridge or poker, the luck plays a secondary role."

He became one of the first presidents of a bridge club in Romania. After graduating from college, he specialized in Internet business services.

"Helped by my previous experience in Internet marketing, and being advantaged by the fact that I know very well the psychology of the gamblers, I had some successful marketing campaign for online casinos and affiliates which wanted to promote their own sponsored links through their Web sites or advertisements in my own network," Sfetu said.

That network is the Teleactivities Network, which Sfetu says is one of the most complex Romanian integrated network of Internet resources for advertising and dissemination of information. It includes thousands of Web sites, forums, directories, mailing lists, newsletters, e-zines, Web rings and so on.

Within that network was the gambling portal Online-casino.ro, Sfetu's first venture in the gambling space. A customer suggested that he try operating an online casino, and he went on from there to launch Danube Casino.

Sfetu says he's operating legally in Romania because, as he puts it, "There are specific Romanian laws for gambling, however, none makes special references to online gambling. So, I could start without any problem."

Danube Casino is operated through a partnership with Windows Casino, a licensed, insured site that's certified by Safe Bet and approved by the Electronic Gaming Commission.

The new Romanian site offers over 125 different games based on European and American standards. Gamblers can win money as well as special prizes, such as a trip to Monte Carlo or a brand new Ferrari.

The site also features guides explaining game rules and offering strategy tips as well as 24/7 tech support through Multimedia SRL and Windows Casino

All transactions are in U.S. dollar. Payments can be made either by credit cards or through specialized services for the online processing of the money (NETeller, Firepay, Stormpay, Western Union, etc.).

About the Author
Rob van der Gaast has a background in sports journalism, sports marketing, the buying and selling of TV sports rights, and developing creative TV program ideas. After contriving a complete new sports betting concept that is, according him, "an absolute 'Topscorer' in the sports betting look-a-like industry, which is at the end of its life cycle," he went back to his journalistic roots. Now he is a well known gambling research analyst, who contributes to LotteryInsider, Interactive Gaming News, Internet Gambling Report and the (European) Lottery Files.

Full article

Multimedia SRL
Tel./Fax: 0252-314063
Mobil: 0745-526896
E-mail: multimedia@teleactivities.com
Website: http://www.teleactivities.com

PRESS RELEASE

The first Romanian online casino

On the 25th June 2003 the first Romanian online casino was launched, Danube Casino, http://www.danubecasino.com.

Danube Casino has as partner Windows Casino, one of the top 10 online casinos in the world, legally licensed and fully insured, certified by Safe Bet and approved by Electronic Gaming Commission. Windows Casino is the winner of numerous international prizes, including Online Gaming Awards 2002, for: Best Video Poker, Best Blackjack, Fairest Casino, Best Promotions, Best Online Casino.

Danube Casino offers over 125 different games (roulette, blackjack, poker, slots, video poker, baccarat, craps, etc), according to the European and American standards. The gamblers have the possibility, besides the regular prizes, to obtain extra prizes, too, consisting in a trip to Monte Carlo, a brand new Ferrari, or other promotional materials.

In order to be able to play online, first, a deposit in the casino count has to be made. All transactions are in USD. Payments can be made either by credit cards, or through specialized services for the online processing of the money (NETeller, Firepay, Stormpay, Western Union, etc.).

The gamblers that reach the Danube Casino site have the possibility to be informed on the best game ways and strategies, but also learn the rules of the games by appealing to the casino games guides. Multimedia SRL and Windows Casino assure the technical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

About Multimedia SRL:

MultiMedia is a company managed and staffed by business and information technology professionals combining a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and talents
Multimedia SRL was awarded this year with the WQC International Star Award, Gold Category Paris 2003 prize by Business Initiative Directions.
The main activity of the firm consists of Internet services, meaning: Business services (Internet marketing, web design, web hosting, translation, multimedia and desktop publishing, word processing, secretarial, bookkeeping, consulting), IT&C solutions (hardware, software, computer networks, training), virtual stores and e-commerce.

27.06.2003
Nicolae Sfetcu
Administrator
Multimedia SRL

(Our Note: ALFA Ind Electronics is part of MultiMedia SRL)

BID BUSINESS INITIATIVE DIRECTIONS
General Yagiie, 11 - 28020, Madrid, Spain - Tel. + 34 915 97 33 69* - Fax, +34 915 55 56 02


Madrid, March 21, 2003

ALFA IND. ELECTRONICS
Attn. General Manager.
84 Crisan Street, BI.S1 Sc.1 Ap.5
RO-1500 DROBETA TURNU SEVERIN, MEHEDINTI
ROMANIA

Dear Sir:

The International Selection Committee of B.I.D., Business Initiative Directions, made up of a group of companies and prestigious professionals has decided this year, during the 20th Internationa! World Quality Commitment (WQC) Convention in Europe, to present the WQC International Star Award in. the Gold category Paris 2003 to ALFA IND. ELECTRONICS.

..........

Sincerely, A
Jose E. Prieto President