Novamedia European Gaming & Lottery Files – Romania

by Rob van der Gaast

Internet Casino operator – Danube Casino

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: “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. 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.

Source: Novamedia European Gaming & Lottery Files – Romania