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Gambling News From
Gambling911.com Here you will find all the latest gambling news from around the world with a special focus on the global online gambling market. Ron Paul, Barney Frank Question How "National Security" and Online Gambling Coincide
A letter from Congressmen Barney Frank and Ron Paul has surfaced requesting details of the trade agreement brokered between the US and the EU related to a decision involving online gambling. They are questioning why the US government has cited national security as a reason not to reveal anything further of the deal. Last year the World Trade Organization ruled in favor of tiny Antigua in its case against the United States. Antigua argued that actions taken by the US Government pertaining to a measure banning some forms of online gambling while protecting the powerful horse racing industry compromised the Caribbean nation's ability to trade freely. Online gambling had become Antigua's biggest industry over the last decade. Ron Paul and Barney Frank have contacted Susan Schwab requesting the details of a trade agreement between the United States and the European Union, according to a report on Poker Pages. Both Congressmen have proposed legalizing Internet gambling, especially online poker.
"Press reports
have indicated that
new trade
opportunities will
be provided in the
postal and courier,
research and
development, storage
and warehouse, and
testing and analysis
sectors, but no
dollar amount has
been attached to
these new
concessions, and
very few specifics
have been provided."
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 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. CAC Amsterdam Now Biggest European i-Gaming Event
Posted Mar
30
2008 10:57 pm by
Payton O'Brien
The numbers don't lie. With Over 1000 people pre-registered to attend this upcoming week's Casino Affiliate Convention (CAC) in Amsterdam, the event has now become the biggest single i-Gaming conference in the industry. "Again I am wrong and you were right," declared CAC organizer, Marc Lesnick, who credited Gambling911.com Publisher, Christopher Costigan, with correctly predicting that his Casino Affiliate Convention would overtake other online gambling sector conferences. Clarion Gaming, the Sue Schneider founded conference firm that puts on shows such as EIG Barcelona and GIGSE, has begun focusing more intently on executives-only type conferences, in essence excluding those in a position to generate revenue for these firms, the affiliates. It is believed that last fall's EIG attracted somewhere between 600 to 800 attendees, making it the second largest i-Gaming conference.
"The biggest supper-affiliates in online gaming are coming to Amsterdam," an unusually jubilant Lesnick told Gambling911.com late Sunday. "Some are super affiliates that NEVER attended a CAC event in the past. Last year, we had 500 affiliates...About 30% to 40% were superaffiliates."
Between 175 to 250
super affiliates are
projected to be in
attendance, a 20%
increase from the
previous year. A number of Gambling911.com sponsors - with excellent reputations for their online poker affiliate programs - will be attending this year's CAC. Among them: Chipleader, Chili Poker and Grand Prive. Affiliates attending CAC Amsterdam are free to contact us at CCostigan@CostiganMedia.com to arrange meetings with these websites. Gambling911.com will be covering CAC Amsterdam throughout the entire week. Please join us for all the latest news.
Costa Rican Hookers Squeal in and Out of Bed
Posted Mar
30
2008 10:06 pm by
Payton O'Brien
As far as hookers go, those residing in the peaceful online gambling haven of Costa Rica are among the most social and friendly. But like all "friendly" girls, they are bound to talk. Hookers have headlined the news throughout the month of March. Whether it was the disgraced former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer and his hooker Ashley Dupre or Formula One Motor Racing Chief Max Mosley Sick Nazi Orgy With Five Hookers, there is no mistaken the world's oldest profession is here to stay (so is the world's second oldest profession - bookmaker - for that matter). Two weeks ago, Gambling911.com provided an exclusive report on how one out of every five online gambling operators living in Costa Rica has ended up marrying a hooker. The one's who don't are often subjected to ridicule, Gambling911.com can report exclusively.
Jesse Ventura Could Run for President
Former professional wrestler turned Governor of Minnesota, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, could be announcing a run for President of the United States. The insinuation was made during promos for Ventura's upcoming appearance on Tuesday night's Larry King Live. That promo states that Ventura is furious over what is currently transpiring and could jump into the race. Then again, he may just be coming on to promote his new book: "Don't Start the Revolution Without Me" Ventura ran for Governor of Minnesota in 1998 as the nominee for the Reform Party of Minnesota (he later joined the Independence Party of Minnesota when it broke from its association with the Reform Party of the United States of America). His campaign consisted of a combination of aggressive grassroots events and original television spots, designed by quirky adman Bill Hillsman, using the phrase "Don't vote for politics as usual." He spent considerably less than his opponents (about $600,000), and is widely regarded as one of the first candidates to effectively use the Internet as a medium of reaching out to voters in a political campaign. He won the election in November 1998, narrowly (and unexpectedly) defeating the major-party candidates: St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman (Republican) and Minnesota Attorney General Hubert H. "Skip" Humphrey III (Democratic-Farmer-Labor). Ventura went on to gain the highest approval rating of any governor in Minnesota history, with some polls ranking his public approval as high as 73 percent in 1999. In recent years, Ventura has served as a spokesperson for the online sports betting website BetUS.com
Jessica Cutler The Latest Call Girl Tied to Eliot Spitzer
Posted Mar 28, 2008
8:38 am EST by
Gambling911.com News
Wire
The paper points out how a former Senate aide who scandalously blogged about sleeping with Washington, DC's elite for cash - and later posed nude for Playboy - is among the inner circle of a Manhattan call-girl ring that counted Eliot Spitzer as a client. Four years after her blog "Washingtonienne" shocked the Capitol with salacious details of sex with married sugar daddies, Jessica Cutler has re-appeared as a "model" on alleged madam Kristin "Billie" Davis' Web site. Jessica Cutler photos appear on the Madame's website. Cutler wrote "The Washingtonienne: A Novel," and appeared nude on Playboy's Web site in 2004. On March 10, 2008, The New York Times reported that Spitzer had previously patronized a high-priced prostitution service called Emperors Club VIP and patronized with a $1,000-an-hour call girl. He subsequently stepped down as Governor.
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. Spitzer Linked to Second Prostitution Ring: Wicked Models
Posted Mar 27, 2008
12:12 pm EST by
Gambling911.com News
Wire
The New York Post is reporting that disgraced former New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer has been linked to yet another prostitution ring, Wicked Models. That ring was busted by police on Tuesday along with its busty madame, Ms. Kristin "Billie" Davis, described as a "busty bottle blonde" working toward her master's degree in psychology. Davis, 32, was in court Tuesday to plead not guilty to money laundering and promoting prostitution. She was deemed a flight risk and held on $2-million bail. A source told the New York Post that Spitzer hired Davis personally for his trysts. Spitzer was notorious for going after prostitution rings and online gambling establishments during his time as District Attorney. ----
Former Royal Sports Boss Misdiagnosed With Terminal Lung Cancer
Posted Mar 27, 2008
12:12 pm EST by
Gambling911.com News
Wire
Bed ridden for months and told he only had a short time to live, the former CEO of Royal Sports, Roberto Castigliani (seen in photo on the right), is only now starting to get his life in order, promising to travel more and revamp his Gambling911.com emulated gambling news portal TheOnlineWire. Castigliani, most notorious perhaps for starring in a home made sex video back when he was healthy and full of hybrid vigor, was told by doctors late last year he had only a few months to live. They misdiagnosed the early 40's stud with lung cancer. "It was emphysema!" Castigliani has since discovered. Having fallen into a deep depression, he once mustered up enough strength to attend a Bodog Life function in London, where he currently resides with his family. "It was the only event he (Roberto) attended over the last eight months," a source tells Gambling911. Now, learning he has a few more years to live as opposed to just a few more months, Roberto is talking about the ultimate adventure - Asia. "I want to go out and see your boss," Castigliani said in jest, referring to Bodog founder, Calvin Ayre, who has been living in an undisclosed location somewhere on the Asian continent. Ayre has no plans to fly him out though. Emphysema is an irreversible degenerative condition. Following doctors instructions, Castiglioni can live to be 100. Failure to do so, the life expectancy for an Emphysema patient is generally less than 3 years. Roberto, who would routinely smoke 10 packs of cigarettes a day prior to the diagnosis, is well on his way to a full recovery. No matter how long you have been smoking, quitting will immediately begin to improve your health, doctors have stated. He is likely to improve healthwise by as much as 85 percent over the next 12 months. Advise from your friends at Gambling911.com: Sleep in an oxygen tent; take a long walk everyday (about 6 miles round trip); have a garden to keep from boredom; try to spend no more than two hours a day on the computer as eye strain could affect lung function; sing in the church choir; have sex at least twice a week (three times a week if it lasts less than two minutes); drink one cup of 100 percetn aloe vera juice every morning as this will help to heal those internal organs. And of course, stop smoking.
Server "Wire Taps" Help Bring Down Gambling Rings in NJ, Elsewhere
"They (the investigators) can actually go in and monitor every transaction made by agents (placing bets) just as they would with phone taps, only easier," a source told Gambling911.com. Presently, there are several ongoing investigations into similar groups that offer Web bets, Gambling911 has learned. Nonetheless, this is not your typical online gambling initiative. Stateside credit bookies typically utilize offshore wire rooms to manage their businesses. A website is often provided to make wagers more seamless. Server wire tapping allows for everything from monitoring of emails to the analyzing in real time of bets being placed via agents over the Web. "They (law enforcement) get everything and it is fully documented," our source said. The technology is relatively new as it applies to gambling matters, but is proving lucrative and cuts down on overall investigation time. New Jersey authorities this week rounded up 42 people in connection with a gambling and drug ring allegedly run by the Genovese organized crime family. Some of those arrested worked for the New Jersey public school system as administrators. It is unclear if similar measures were employed to nab the outsourced web designer working for an online sports betting site located in the Caribbean. That individual is facing up to 25 years prison time for alleged possession of child pornography.
US Government to Settle Online Gambling Dispute With Antigua Next Week
According to Mark
Mendel, Antigua and
Barbuda’s attorney
in its World Trade
Organisation (WTO)
dispute, the US is
scheduled to put
forward a proposal
for the settlement
of both aspects of
the trade dispute by
next Monday. Mendel revealed that despite the controversial US$21 million in sanctions against the US awarded by a WTO Dispute Settlement Body arbitrator last December, the pending proposal is expected to address aspects of the trade dispute which dealt with the United States’ failure to comply with the WTO’s ruling on access for Internet gaming operators. The news comes as Internet trade organization, iMEGA.org reiterated Wednesday evening it will be filing an appeal in the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia "very shortly". On March 6, iMEGA was granted "standing" to file the appeal to stop policy enforcement of an Internet gambling prohibition law passed down in late 2006.
US Government to Settle Online Gambling Dispute With Antigua Next Week
According to Mark
Mendel, Antigua and
Barbuda’s attorney
in its World Trade
Organisation (WTO)
dispute, the US is
scheduled to put
forward a proposal
for the settlement
of both aspects of
the trade dispute by
next Monday. Mendel revealed that despite the controversial US$21 million in sanctions against the US awarded by a WTO Dispute Settlement Body arbitrator last December, the pending proposal is expected to address aspects of the trade dispute which dealt with the United States’ failure to comply with the WTO’s ruling on access for Internet gaming operators. The news comes as Internet trade organization, iMEGA.org reiterated Wednesday evening it will be filing an appeal in the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia "very shortly". On March 6, iMEGA was granted "standing" to file the appeal to stop policy enforcement of an Internet gambling prohibition law passed down in late 2006. Movie "21": Gambling911.com Sits Down With Inspiration for the Story Jeff Ma
Jim Sturgess plays the character based on Jeff Ma in the film adaptation "21". Gambling911.com's own Anna Casada had a chance to sit down with Jeff Ma this week to discuss the film, which opens Friday March 28, 2008, and has been getting plenty of buzz and promotional exposure during some of television's highest rated shows.
First Casino Industry Virtual Trade Show to be held Thursday - March 27, 2008
Posted Mar 26, 2008
3:19 pm EST by
Gambling911.com News
Wire
Paddy Power a "Buy": 888.com Enters Agreement With NextGen
Posted Mar 26, 2008
9:22 am EST by
Gambling911.com News
Wire
Analyst Liam Igoe of
Goodbody
Stockbrokers
maintains his "buy"
rating on Paddy
Power (PLS). Also...Online gaming company 888 Holdings PLC said it has signed a game development and integration agreement with NextGen Gaming.
The agreement allows
NextGen's most
popular gaming
titles to be made
available to
customers of 888,
and of 888's White
Label partners, as
part of 888's gaming
arena. The games'
content will be
localised to appeal
to the specific
countries that 888
serves worldwide and
should be available
to ustomers from the
third quarter this
year, the company
said.
Calvin Ayre Wants Badly to Come to States for Wedding
An important female component to Calvin Ayre's Bodog online gambling and digital entertainment firm is tying the knot. One minor problem, Ayre might not get there. The wedding, which will take place in New York State, is scheduled for mid July. Ayre is one of several dozen Internet gambling operators who fear their name appears on a "watch list" of "undesirables". The US Justice Department has been cracking down heavily on these firms and their execs over the past two years. Likewise, the state of Louisiana is said to have some dozen sealed arrest warrants out for unidentified online gambling company officials. Still, Calvin Ayre may find a way to appear....perhaps by satellite. Last year, the bubbly billionaire, showed up at his prized recording artist Biff Naked's wedding while half way around the world. He provided a live dedication via satellite television. The bride-to-be is a long standing public relations manager who was proposed to on Christmas Day. This will be a Jewish wedding. The bride's mom has been maintaining a special garden in her back yard to hold the wedding for 25 years now. The wedding ceremony takes place under the chuppah (canopy), a symbol of the home to be built and shared by the couple. It is open on all sides, just as Abraham and Sarah had their tent open all sides to welcome friends and relatives in unconditional hospitality. A giant television screen would be erected over the chuppah that will feature Ayre speaking like an omnipotent figure (Rabbi approval required of course). The 65 inch plasma television will then be given to the newlyweds as a gift. Gambling911.com has suggested the Mitsubishi - Diamond 65" 1080p DLP HDTV for best garden viewing.
In Jewish law, a marriage becomes official when the chatan gives an object of value to the kallah. This is traditionally done with a ring. Gambling911.com has already seen the ring, which is beautiful and belonged to the groom's grandmother. At the conclusion of the wedding, Calvin Ayre will give his blessing by placing a glass on the floor and breaking it with his foot. This marks the conclusion of the ceremony. With shouts of "Mazel Tov," the chatan and kallah are then given an enthusiastic reception from the guests as they leave and fly off to their honeymoon.
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Posted
April 1
2008 11:20 pm by
Christopher Costigan
CAC Amsterdam will
also mark the first
time ever that
PokerStars is
exhibiting at an i-Gaming
conference.
Jessica Cutler is
the latest hooker
made famous by
disgraced former New
York Governor Eliot
Spitzer, the New
York Post has
reported.
"It allows for a lot
of freedom," Fritz
(pictured)
said.
This week's arrests
of several
individuals
associated with a
Northern New
Jersey-based
gambling ring
highlights a new
tool used by law
enforcement - the
actual wire tapping
of servers.
Posted
Mar 26 2008
11:37 pm EST
by Carrie Stroup
Before it was a
movie, "21" was a
book.
"Bringing Down The
House" was the
inside story of six
MIT students who
took Vegas for
millions of dollars.
Among them, Jeff Ma.
New York, NY--March
26,
2007--Ticonderoga
Ventures, Inc.
announces that
Thursday will be the
first-ever virtual
trade show for the
gaming industry. The
virtual business
event is part of the
Casino Affiliate
Convention. It is a
one day online event
that will runs
Thursday (March 27,
2008) from 8:00 AM
EST to 7:00 PM EST.
Two
cups of wine are
used in the wedding
ceremony. The first
cup accompanies the
betrothal blessing,
and after these are
recited, the couple
drinks from the cup.
Ayre will then take
a swig of Absolute
Vodka.