Business & Financial

Nevada Casino Revenue Down 4 Percent in August

State officials say Nevada gambling revenue was down nearly 4% in August compared with a year earlier, largely due to a drop in winnings on the Las Vegas Strip.

Nevada Gaming Control Board officials said Friday that casinos brought in $920 million in August, down from $955 million a year ago.

Revenue on the Las Vegas Strip was down 6% year-over-year to $553 million, while downtown revenue went up 4% to $35 million.

Reno gambling revenues were down 2% to $53 million.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Sep/26/2014

Star Fantasy Reacts to HBO’s ‘Real Sports’ Piece About Daily Fantasy Sports

If you’re like us, you tuned in to watch Carl Quintanella’s portrayal of the daily fantasy sports industry on Tuesday’s Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel.  According to the FSTA, 41 million people played fantasy sports last year in the USA alone. It should come as no surprise that our burgeoning industry is capturing the curiosity of the media.

Submitted by Press Release on, Sep/26/2014

Former Ultimate Poker Pro William Reynolds Trashes Company on Twitter

A former pro for the first US-regulated online poker site, Ultimate Poker, took to Twitter to bash the company after it pulled out of the New Jersey market.

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, Sep/26/2014

The Last Thoroughbred Race Track in New England Shuts Down

BOSTON (Associated Press) — Massachusetts gambling regulators say they'll entertain proposals from anyone interested in keeping the thoroughbred racing industry alive at Suffolks Downs after New England's last remaining track closes.

The annual deadline for state racing licenses is still Oct.1, but the Massachusetts Gaming Commission said Thursday that it will accept "placeholder" plans that need more time to be developed.

The panel also said it will find ways to assist affected workers, including possibly re-directing money designated to boost race prizes.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Sep/25/2014

Globe and Mail: David Baazov Positioned to Rule the Online Poker World

Few have heard of David Baazov, yet he’s about to become the head of the world’s largest online poker firms.

Submitted by Patrick Flanigan on, Sep/25/2014

PokerStars Terminating Affiliate Agreements

If you are an affiliate of the world’s largest online poker site, PokerStars.com, it appears you won’t be for much longer.  The company has begun terminating affiliate contracts.  Whether this will affect everybody remains to be seen.

PokerStars was purchased by Amaya Gaming over the summer and it was widely rumored then that major changes would be on the horizon, some of which would adversely affect business relations.

Submitted by Ace King on, Sep/25/2014

Inside PokerStars – A Look at the Inner Workings of the World’s Largest Poker Site

PokerStars.com has introduced a new series entitled “Inside Poker Stars” where we actually get a glimpse of the inner workings of the world’s largest online poker site.

The site services a total of 63 million registered users, the vast majority of whom play for real money, though the site also offers a free-to-play platform.

The company has also dealt more than 110 billion hands since it first came online a day that will forever live in infamy – September 11, 2011.

Submitted by Ace King on, Sep/25/2014

Ladbrokes Leaves Canada

The UK’s second largest online bookmaker, Ladbrokes, will be exiting the Canadian market, much to the dismay of Canadians.

Customers in Canada have 30 days to withdraw from their accounts as of September 24, 2014.

Ladbrokes apparently feared that their operating in Canada was considered “a grey area” withr egulators restricting online betting services to registered provincial lottery corporations in some provinces such as British Columbia.

Ladbrokes market share in Canada represented less than 0.5% of its business.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Sep/25/2014

Bitcoin Set to Revolutionize Online Gambling

The average price of Bitcoin has settled in between $400 and $500 without the extreme upswings and downswings we witnessed earlier in the year, suggesting stabilization of the anonymous online currency.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Sep/25/2014

‘Barefoot’ Exec at New York Investment Firm Pleads Guilty to Inside Trading

Michael Lucarelli, who was mocked on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show after running away barefoot from photographers last month, has plead guilty to one count of securities fraud for inside trading.  He will be sentenced in January and faces up to 20 years prison time.

Lucarelli had served as a director of market intelligence at Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates prior to being charged last month.  

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Sep/24/2014

How Can Gaming Companies use Marketing without Solid Footing in Business Acumen

The gaming field continues to grow and transform - With the insurgence of social media, companies are forced to become increasingly innovative and captivating with their messages to garner attention. Even though the market continues to evolve, there are still some tried and true tactics to utilize in order to succeed in the coming years.

Submitted by Ronn Torossian on, Sep/24/2014

Carl Icahn to the Rescue of the Taj Mahal, Betfair to Remain in NJ

Carl Icahn, who already has interests in one Atlantic City casino, is looking to possibly infuse money into the troubled Trump Taj Mahal, but only under certain conditions

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Sep/24/2014

Apuestas en línea en Chile: Adonde apostar

Apostar en línea, como uno podría esperar, es algo bastante popular en la nación sudamericana de Chile. Si buscas en donde apostar, no busques más, la respuesta es BetCRIS.com, que ofrece sus servicios a todo el mercado Latinoamericano.

Chile, con alrededor de 18 millones de personas, es una de las naciones más habitadas de Suramérica, y uno de los mercados más grandes para BetCRIS.com.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Sep/23/2014

Everleaf Poker Network Owner Charged With Misappropriation of Player Funds

A Maltese court has charged the founders of the now shuttered Everleaf Poker Network with misappropriation of player funds.  The company still owes an undisclosed amount of monies to players.

From PokerSites.com:

Submitted by Ace King on, Sep/23/2014

Casino Closings May Diminish New Jersey's Tourism Economy

(Associated Press) - In retail, it's a numbers game, so whenever Rachel Lewis heard or read that another casino was closing here, she'd get knots in her stomach.

The thought racing through her mind: Fewer casinos means fewer hotels, which equates to fewer tourists at her stores.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Sep/22/2014

Leading Tech Entrepreneurs Name the Isle of Man the Digital Currency Capital of the World

Isle of Man, 22 September 2014 -- A sell-out crowd of over 150 entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, government and private sector representatives from around the world convened for the inaugural Crypto Valley Summit (CVS) on the Isle of Man from Wednesday 17th September through Thursday 18th September to discuss the future of digital currencies.

Submitted by Press Release on, Sep/22/2014

BetButler.com License Revoked by UK: Site Unavailable

In yet another black eye for UK online gambling, BetButler.com has had its licensed revoked in that nation.  As of Saturday morning, the site remained offline, though BetButler.com apparently went out of business last month.

BetOnline

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Sep/20/2014

Breaking News: Ultimate Gaming Exits NJ Market in Wake of Taj Mahal Bankruptcy

LAS VEGAS - Ultimate Gaming announced today that it has terminated its online gaming agreement with Trump Taj Mahal Associates LLC, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.  The agreement was terminated due to multiple breaches by Trump Taj Mahal Associates.  As a result of the termination, Ultimate Gaming will be withdrawing from the New Jersey online gaming market.  Ultimate Gaming will continue to maintain its existing online poker operations in Nevada through UltimatePoker.com.

Submitted by Press Release on, Sep/19/2014

Biggest Rolls-Royce Order Ever Placed: Casino Owner Buys 14 Phantoms for $20 Mil

(Associated Press) - A Hong Kong tycoon has placed the biggest ever order for Rolls-Royce cars, agreeing to buy 30 Phantoms to chauffeur guests at a luxury resort he's building in the global gambling capital of Macau.

Stephen Hung's $20 million purchase surpasses the 14 Phantoms bought by Hong Kong's Peninsula Hotel in 2006. Hung and Rolls-Royce executives signed the deal Tuesday at the company's Goodwood factory in England.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Sep/18/2014

$5 Billion in Bitcoin Fantasy Sports Contests Annually: Victiv.com Joins the Fray

Bitcoin + Daily Fantasy Sports contests could amount to big bucks.  Try $5 billion.

Fantasy Sports has always seemed like a promising area for Bitcoin acceptance, suggests Kenny Spotz of the CoinTelegraph.com.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Sep/18/2014

Donald Trump: ‘Does Anyone Notice That Atlantic City Lost Its Magic When I Left?’

Donald Trump took to Twitter after one of the casinos in Atlantic City that bore his name closed on Tuesday.

BetOnline

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Sep/17/2014

Chicago Bulls Eye Fantasy Sports Sponsorship: FanDuel, DraftKings Frontrunners

With the National Basketball Association ending its restrictions on Fantasy Sports sponsorship deals last month, the Chicago Bulls expect to jump into the fray in a very big way. 

BetOnline

Submitted by Tyrone Black on, Sep/16/2014

Wynn Resorts Gets Approved for Gambling License

BOSTON — (Associated Press) - Wynn Resorts has won the competition for the lucrative Boston-area casino license, besting rival Mohegan Sun largely on the strength of its $1.6 billion project’s economic development potential.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted 3-to-1 Tuesday to award the license to the Las Vegas casino giant, which wants to turn a former chemical plant site on the Mystic River in Everett into a gleaming casino resort.

A final vote is expected Wednesday after Wynn formally agrees to terms and conditions regulators have stipulated.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Sep/16/2014

Online Gambling Site Betfair Guaranteeing No Scotland Independence

Polls may say the outcome of the Scottish independence vote is too close to call but one UK-based betting shop, Betfair.com,  is already paying out more than 100,000 pounds ($162,000) to customers who backed a "No" vote.

Submitted by Reuters on, Sep/16/2014

G911 World Exclusive: Investigation Into Bwin.Party Stock Trades

An investigation into recent stock trades involving bwin.party, an online betting company, is being conducted, Gambling911.com can reveal in a world exclusive report!

A source tells Gambling911.com that the proper authorities are looking into recent, possibly-suspicious, large purchases of stock by directors of the company.

Submitted by Thomas Somach on, Sep/15/2014

Bookies Make Up Big Time for Patriots Losses: Eagles Icing on Cake

Despite getting crushed by sports bettors who were backing New England to cover against Minnesota, bookies made up for any losses with big wins by the Bears, Browns and Chargers.  In all, the Patriots represented only one of seven teams with heavy lopsided action that favored gamblers.

Submitted by Mary Montgomery on, Sep/15/2014

Wynn, Mohegan Sun Respond to Casino Regulators in Massachusetts

BOSTON (Associated Press) — Wynn Resorts appears to have a strong advantage over Mohegan Sun in the fierce competition for the Boston-area casino license, even as the Las Vegas gambling giant pushes back against some requirements state regulators are seeking to impose if it is to win the license.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Sep/15/2014

3000 Taj Mahal Employees Given Notice They May Lose Jobs

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — (Associated Press) - The owner of the Trump Taj Mahal casino has sent notices to more than 3,100 employees warning it could be shut down in November.

Trump Entertainment Resorts told The Associated Press it filed the notices earlier this week, saying it could close Nov. 13.

The company filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday and threatened to close the Taj Majal if it doesn't get concessions from its unions.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Sep/12/2014

Pinnacle Sports Exits UK Market, Others Force to Lay Off Staff, Close Betting Shops

The United Kingdom government is set to begin enforcing new regulations for online gambling, beginning with a hefty tax increase.

The pending changes and increased taxation will go into effect October 1 though a grace period for application processing is being allowed for those operators based out of Alderney and the Isle of Man.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Sep/12/2014

PokerStars Expected to Enter New Jersey Market by October

New Jersey state Senator Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) is optimistic that the world’s largest real money online poker room, PokerStars, will likely enter the Garden State’s legalized Web poker market in the coming weeks.

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, Sep/12/2014

Breaking News