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Financial Betting
Markets Here you will find articles on financial betting markets, online gambling company and casino stock news, how the economy and gambling industries c0-exist and so much more. April 16, 2008
BetCRIS.com Posts Odds on How High Prices Will Climb Thus far 2008 has shown record prices of gold, oil and gas, and the system shows no signs of slowing. Gasoline, oil and gold have had a historical relationship and as oil prices continue to increase, so will gold and gasoline. As the second half of April begins and the U.S. moves ahead into the second quarter, BetCRIS.com posted odds as to how high the three most common themes in the news will climb by the end of the month and year. Will gas prices reach $5 in 2008? Yes – 6/4 No – 1/5 Gold by ounce price by the end of April Between $964 and $1026 – 6/4 Between $1026 and $1088 – 3/1 Between $1088 and $1150 – 2/1 Between $1150 and $1244 – 2/1 Over $1244 - 2/1 Under $964 – 1/5 Will the price of oil reach $115 per barrel in April? Yes – 4/5 No – 2/9 “We’ve been watching the prices of these three commodities steadily rise for months,” stated Spokesperson for BetCRIS.com, Esteban Siles. “Though the constant rising costs add strain to an already struggling economy, they do make for some interesting odds.”
 MGM
Job Cuts Signal
Economic RecessionThe gaming industry is widely considered "recession proof". Don't tell that to the folks at MGM. MGM Mirage claims they cut approximately 400 management jobs based on a plan devised last August in the wake of a slowing economy. The job cuts were implemented only this week.
The layoffs,
expected to save the
company $75.0
million annually,
were concentrated in
Las Vegas at
middle-level
corporate managers.
No further jobs cuts
are planned unless
economic conditions
get significantly
worse, the company
said. .....Ladbrokes Plc (LAD LN) added 12 pence, or 3.8 percent, to 325.25. Europe's biggest publicly traded bookmaker said its Spanish joint venture with Cirsa Corp. obtained a sports-betting license for Madrid.
April 8, 2008  Burger
King Banned in Costa
Rica
For the average bookie living in Costa Rica - hub of the billion dollar online gambling industry - Burger King makes up a vital part of daily dietary needs. For a while though it appeared as if the Burger King might actually be banned in the peaceful Central American nation. In the past, bookmakers have actually offered betting odds on whether the Burger King will score a touchdown as part of a slew of Super Bowl props. Now he is no more. Well, the King is not exactly going down without a fight. Read More
April 7, 2008 888 Rosy 2007: William Hill Makes Inroads Into Spain: Rousso Drops Out Online gambling company 888 Holdings is predicted to report profits of $45.3m to $47.4m for 2007. ....The joint venture between Codere and William Hill has obtained the first betting shop licence issued by the autonomous government of Madrid, with Ladbrokes and Cirsa expected to be granted the second within days. According to Ladbrokes/Cirsa’s CEO, the success of Madrid’s emerging sports betting regime is likely to determine how many other regions in Spain legislate for the activity. ....Lee Rousso, the Washington State attorney who is currently battling the state’s harsh online gambling law through the courts, is no longer running for Governor there, CardPlayer.com reported last week.
Rousso dropped out
after a United
States Supreme Court
ruling forced
changes to
Washington State’s
election law. When
Rousso filed, the
election rules sent
one person from each
party’s primary to
the main election.
Rousso was counting
on attracting
“crossover” voters
from the Republican
party who were angry
with
Christine Gregoire’s
policies related to
online poker, making
the activity and all
online gambling
activity a Class C
felony for
Washington citizens.
But since the March
ruling, election
rules changed the
primary to a
“top-two” format,
meaning the top-two
vote getters,
regardless of their
party affiliations,
now advance to the
general election.
Asian Online Gambling Still Presents a Road Block
Communication, currency differences, cultural differences, trust...all factors that have forced even the best online gambling brands to rethink their Asian strategies. Bodog Life was supposed to be taking the lead in Asia. The company's founder, Calvin Ayre, implied this week that nobody should be holding their collective breaths. While not yet ready to bow-wow out of the Asian market, Ayre is taking a more careful and calculated approach. "Bodog does not have any Asian plans at this time. We are only studying the market," Ayre told Gambling911.
The Asian market thus far has proven elusive. Ayre has met with everyone from software providers to payment processors. None have impressed thus far. This does not bode well with one enterprising company that has been watching Bodog's every move closely. "We are especially interested in live dealer software coupled with the Asian market," said one investor in an online casino company who clearly stated his group would wait on a familiar Western company like Bodog to make the first move. Internet gambling conferences held in Macau in recent months have only added to the confusion. "Western operators were not treated warmly," a journalist sent to cover one of these affairs reported back. Furthermore, Marc Lesnick's Casino Affiliate Convention in Amsterdam is practically devoid of any Asian operators. It's not just the cultural divide but the legal ramifications. The Chinese and Thai Governments have been cracking down severely on Internet gambling operators over the past few weeks. There is some good news revolving around this untapped market. Analyst Jon Tarasewicz of Deutsche Bank maintains his "buy" rating on Playtech Ltd, citing that software firm's introduction of an Asian P2P gaming platform in just a matter of days.
Online Gambling and Other "Sin" Stocks Good Investments During Recession
Smoking, drinking, gambling, sex: These are all "indulgences" that may actually increase during times of recession. Hence, one should consider investing in stocks such as MGM and the Altria Group, Inc, a spinoff of Philip Morris International. Likewise, online gambling stocks should become hot again after weathering the storm that was a measure in late 2006 to force these publicly traded firms out of the US market. Private online gambling companies remain. Some hot stocks in this sector (Note: Gambling911.com is not an "investment analyst"): Sportingbet - Chairman Peter Dicks lifted his stake in the online betting company by more than half on Thursday, spending nearly £50,000 on shares. He took 119,000 shares at 38.5p each, taking his holding to 339,440 shares. Many of you might re
Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs Odds Get Shorter
 The next bank to go under? Oddsmakers have shortened Lehman Brothers down to 7/4 odds ($7 paid out to every $4 bet). Goldman Sachs remained at 3/1 odds ($3 paid out for every $1 bet). These odds - courtesy of Bodog Life came out immediately following news that Lehman Brothers had better-than-expected earnings and repeated assurances of financial strength. Lehman's shares lost more than a fifth of their value last week and were down another 2.6% recently in post-market trading after the announcement. Options traders placed heavy bets last week that the declines would continue. On Monday, Lehman said Monday it will try to sell up to 3.45 million shares of convertible preferred stock. The aim is to raise funds now while delaying the pain for current shareholders, whose holdings will be diluted when the preferred stock converts into common stock at a later date.
Lehman Chief
Financial Officer
Erin Callan
acknowledged the
difficult market
conditions in a
release Monday. The
bank will use the
funds to reduce
borrowings and
bolster its capital
base, she said. The firm also claimed this weekend to have been defrauded of more than $355 million in transactions that it suspects were carried out by two employees at the Japanese trading house Marubeni, and will sue to recoup the money, Lehman officials said Sunday.
Lehman provided the
money to a unit of
LTT Bio-Pharma,
according to company
officials who spoke
on condition of
anonymity, citing
the sensitivity of
the case.
Price of Gas Won't Go Over $5 in 2008 Say Oddsmakers
 Oddsmakers are so confident that the price of gas will not go over the $5 mark in 2008, they've posted odds of this happening at +200 for a payout of $200 for every $100 bet. The price NOT going over $5 is hardly worth the bet with a -500 line. With so many Hummers popping up here in South Florida, it doesn't seem like there is all that much concern. Gas prices going over $5 in 2008 might actually be a good bet. As the summer driving season approaches, oil analysts can't seem to agree just how much a gallon of gas will cost. Analysts agree that gas prices typically peak around Memorial Day. Gas prices in Miami on April 1 were listed around $3.29. Chicago gas prices were around $3.34. Los Angeles gas prices were hovering around $3.75 at most gas stations aside from Arco, which had prices closer to $3.41 a gallon. New York City gas prices were around $3.25. It should be noted that New Jersey, one of the only state that does not offer self service gas stations, has some of the lowest prices in the nation - $2.99 a gallon. Dallas had prices around $3.14. Seattle gas prices were between $3.29 and $3.69. BetCRIS.com was offering these odds
Online Gambling and Other "Sin" Stocks Good Investments During Recession
Smoking, drinking, gambling, sex: These are all "indulgences" that may actually increase during times of recession. Hence, one should consider investing in stocks such as MGM and the Altria Group, Inc, a spinoff of Philip Morris International. Likewise, online gambling stocks should become hot again after weathering the storm that was a measure in late 2006 to force these publicly traded firms out of the US market. Private online gambling companies remain. Some hot stocks in this sector (Note: Gambling911.com is not an "investment analyst"): Sportingbet - Chairman Peter Dicks lifted his stake in the online betting company by more than half on Thursday, spending nearly £50,000 on shares. He took 119,000 shares at 38.5p each, taking his holding to 339,440 shares. Many of you might recall that Dicks was apprehended in late 2006 en route to the US after the state of Louisiana issued an arrest warrant against him. Another shady figure in the world of trading? Hardly. Dicks is considered an upstanding individual caught in an overzealous web of "protectionism" whereby Louisiana was trying to rid itself of online gambling activity in an attempt to foster its own land-based casino industry, hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. Dicks was held briefly in New York State before then Governor George Pataki decided not to extradite him to Louisiana. An embarrassed Dicks left the company briefly, settled with the State of Louisiana (all charges being dropped we might add), then joined back up with the company he loves. After all Sportingbet has been through, this is one company that is going to rebound nicely. It's all been laid out on the table.
Posted Mar 30 2008
3:37 pm by Alistair
Prescott  If you're looking for a summer full of football then you're in the right place with Sportingbet, offering Euro 2008 betting odds at terrific prices! They will be covering all EURO 2008 games in:play once the action begins but for now you can bet on the Outright Winner and Group Winner markets (go here to start betting) The big question on everyone's mind: Can Germany win its first Euro 2008 since 1996? At 4.50 odds (7/2), they are the favorites, paying €700 for every €200 bet. Read More here
Online Sportsbooks and Poker Rooms That Accept the Euro
Somewhat new to the Euro are Bookmaker.com and Bodog Life. The former takes on numerous other currencies including the Danish Krone, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar. Bodog Life now accepts British pounds. Sportingbet takes most currencies under the sun. They just won't take US customers unfortunately. Bet365 and Chili Poker accept Euros. But once again, no US customers. The US Dollar is losing so much ground against the Euro that some online gambling operators are suggesting their US customers open offshore bank accounts, whether it be to gamble or for other means.
The dollar dropped
the most against the
euro in more than
two years as traders
increased bets the
Federal Reserve will
cut borrowing costs
further to avoid a
recession while the
European Central
Bank holds rates
steady.
Economic Stimulus Package for College Students: Online Poker
College students these days may have a little more money than those of past generations and it's not all about their rich mommies and daddies. Some have been earning it themselves, even as jobs become more scarce and economic woes mount. Hunter Fritz isn't making his money working at McDonalds. The University of Minnesota sophomore plays online poker and wins. Fritz knew he'd arrived on the poker scene last year when he won a tournament that netted him $160,000 in winnings, he told the University paper, adding that he now plays about three hours per day and considers it his job.
Fritz said he'd
rather play online
than at a physical
table because he
enjoys the comfort
of his own home,
prefers to play up
to six tables at
once and thinks
non-online games
progress slowly. That paper spoke to other students, including Marketing Major Ryan Tongen, who plays online poker up to 40 hours a week and takes in a cool six-figure income each year. Needless-to-say, students like Hunter and Ryan won't have to worry too much about paying off college loans the rest of their young adult lives. For these young people, online poker represents a stable industry in an otherwise unstable economy with little sign of recovery over the next several years. PokerPulse.com estimates online poker to generate $2 billion dollars, despite the fact that some politicians and the US Justice Department have condemned the activity.
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Record
Highs for Gas
Prices: How High
Will They Go Ask
Oddsmakers
Posted Mar
31
2008 11:20 pm by
Christopher Costigan
Posted Mar
31
2008 7:15 pm by Jagajeet Chiba
Obviously, most of
the online poker
rooms and sports
betting sites
operating from
Europe or for the
European gambling
will accept the Euro
but there are plenty
of Caribbean based
(and mostly North
American facing)
operations that
could embrace the
European market
better by accepting
the Euro.
"It allows for a lot
of freedom," Fritz
(pictured)
said.