2008 was another pretty tumultuous year for the online casino industry so it is little surprise that 2009 started rather quietly. Online Gambling Insider looks at what's new in online gambling in January 2009.

The 25th Exhibition will be the only time in 2009 to have the unique experience to see the artistic abilities of members from the Firearms Engravers Guild of America and the American Custom Gunmakers Guild displayed under one roof. The Firearms Engravers & Gunmakers Exhibition (www.FEGA.com) will include museum quality American custom pieces valued at $5,000 to $500,000 or more. More of an art display, commissioned works include pieces that have been shown in special museum exhibits as examples of fine modern custom guns. January 23-25, Reno, NV Silver Legacy Resort Exposition Hall.

Betfair predicts who will win the Super Bowl, Election Results etc. based on actual Betfair betting markets. These markets, in which thousands of Betfair's 2 million registered users are betting against each other, form an accurate prediction relating to a particular outcome.

Online poker spotlight shifts entirely to UltimateBet this weekend as leading online poker site puts more than $1 million on the line. Sunday, January 18 will see UB players compete for a Guaranteed $1 Million in the UBOC Championship Main Event, and for one of five pairs of tickets to attend this year's Super Bowl.

Live-Site Inc., based in Newport Beach, Calif., has opened a new headquarters in Henderson, Nevada, and is offering a free 800-FRAUD hotline service for businesses of all sizes.

Dozens of Slotland players found an extra $500 to $15,000 deposited in their accounts this month as part of two annual bonus prize programs. Slotland.com gave away a total of $68,500 in free bonus draw prize money in 2008 and vows to do the same again in 2009. In random draws, the slots and video poker site will give away another $13,200 in prize money this year. And another $55,500 will once again be divided up among the casino's top depositors.

Ever since it burst onto the scene last year with an unheard of $1800 deposit bonus and $21K blackjack tournaments, Lucky18Casino has been turning online casino players' heads. In its February issue, Britain's popular poker magazine, Bluff Europe, recognizes the casino's maverick character and names it the "Break Out Casino of the Year."

DominoChamp launches an U.S. legal gaming web site and nationwide television show based on the game of dominoes.

Excellent customer service, exclusive games, and software quality top list of reasons why the fans themselves voted Imperial Casino to be one of the best in Japan.

Leading online poker room Titan Poker will stage its biggest ever tournament in March with a huge $2,500,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool.

Jadestone Networks, the Nordic based online games owner and operator, today announced that its GamArena skill games - available through bwin Italy - are the first cash skill games to be legally offered in the Italian market.

BeerPagers crank-up the fun at parties, game days, poker nights, barbecues and other get-togethers with family and friends. These unique electronic drink holders have fun sounds and flashing lights that can be activated by remote-control from up to 60 feet way to liven things up at the push of a button. There are BeerPagers for all occasions. See them all in action online at http://www.BeerPager.com.

CelebPoker.com has just launched a flash-only version of their award winning online poker software, allowing players to play from anywhere, on PC, MAC or linux PC.

There's no better feeling than winning a freeroll. With no cost to enter, taking home money from a free poker tournament is icing on the cake. Recently, PokerSource.com announced its slate of freerolls to kick off the 2009 calendar year.

Empire Marketing has announced the launch of the gambling affiliate industries only year round trade show. In 2009 the Virtual Affiliate Expo is positioned to become the largest and most visited trade in the gambling affiliate marketplace.

InventHelp®, America's largest inventor service company, announces that three of its clients, inventors from Lowell, Mass., have patented a game that pits players against each other in a race to accumulate a predetermined amount of points or uncover an instant win card.

Few online poker rooms can match the accessibility and security granted to players by DIRECTebanking, and now the popular service is available to Everest Poker players in Germany, Austria & Switzerland.

Michael Hemphill of mailing service CSG Direct, Inc. has invented a cutting edge direct mail tracking system that allows users to monitor mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service online, in real-time.

Guests queuing up to use boarding pass kiosks from Flyte Systems

Ladbrokescasino.com is bracing itself for a record payout as two of their online slot machine jackpots reach a record high.

Clipper Windpower, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation ( "Colville") to pursue joint wind energy development activities within the Colville Reservation in Washington State.

Innovative new solution targets the unique aspects of measuring and improving employee engagement in the gaming industry

Visitors to the Midwest Gaming & Travel website as well as readers of the monthly consumer magazine will cast their votes in a variety of gaming and hospitality categories, based on their experiences in casinos and casino hotels during the preceding 12 months. Winners will be announced in the June 2009 issue with winners of prominent gaming and hospitality categories also released on cable television stations, social networking internet sites and in daily and regional newspapers across America's Heartland.

Josef Tokgzoglu from Germany and Francoise Buchet from France each won €20,000 on Scratch2Cash's popular games.

Always listening, Slotland.com has incorporated player feedback in a new and improved version of one of their most popular games, Four Cast. The game has been re-worked to enable players to make it through four rounds for each game. Maximum payout has been increased as well and players can now win up to 100X their wager if they are able to predict the suit and value of all four cards dealt by the video poker style dealer.

Macau.com is offering a limited number of hotel rooms in Hong Kong from just USD8 each.

Industry Leader Gains 250+ New Customers in Q4 '08, Doubles Office Space

The December BKJK Bowl Monthly Final at Lucky18Casino.com was yet another battle to the finish for a place at the $21,000 BKJK Bowl Grand Final coming up during Super Bowl week. Five more online blackjack players advanced to the $21K Final, January 28 at 6 p.m. GMT/10 p.m. EST. Players can still win seats or just buy-in for the $21,000 BKJK Bowl Final, January 28th.

Online Casino Vegas Red offers its players a novel application called "My Speedy Alert" that keeps them on track of all promotions & news at VegasRed.com without being logged into the Casino.

The only million dollar progressive jackpot available to US online casino players is still waiting to be won at JackpotCapital.com where two other progressive jackpots are also approaching a million dollars.