Gambling Companies
Gambling Companies, Gambling Stocks
Ladbrokes Agrees to Debt Facility With Banks
LONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Ladbrokes, Britain's second-biggest bookmaker, said it had agreed a new five-year, 540 million pounds ($847 million) debt facility with its banks.
Ladbrokes, which has 2,100 betting shops in the UK, on Friday said the new facility would mature in 2016 and replaces its existing 560 million pounds facility that was due to mature in 2013.
The company estimates that the new blended rate of interest for the group will be 7.5 percent in 2012.
Cara de Poker Taken Over by PokerStars
A former iPoker.com network skin, Cara de Poker, has been purchased by the world’s largest online poker room, PokerStars. The following statement was issued:
Facebook Real Money Online Gambling in the UK: Apps Coming Soon?
Facebook, the social networking behemoth, is considering real money online gambling in the United Kingdom?
Those are the latest rumors.
“We’re always in discussions with companies about lots of different ideas, but we don’t comment on future plans or speculation,” a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement issued to ZDNet.com late Wednesday.
Bodog.com Releases New Poker Software: Includes Rabbit Cam
Bodog.com has released its much-anticipated upgraded poker software on Wednesday, the same day the company officially began switching its affiliate partners over to a new platform, Betting Partners.
Bodog anticipates a heavy market push in Europe now that the new software has been released.
Bodog Europe CEO Patrik Selin pretty much admitted back in August that the company’s previous poker software platform just wasn’t up to par with competing networks.
Istadeal Challenges Full Tilt Poker Over Rush Poker Patentability
The Instadeal Poker Network has rolled out its own version of now defunct Full Tilt Poker’s Rush Poker. The innovative concept allows a pool of players to play quickly and to continuously be rushed to a new table upon folding their cards at their previous table.
Microgaming Poker Site 24Poker Disappears Without a Trace
A skin of the Microgaming Poker Network, 24Poker.com, has been shut down, the second Microgaming poker site in the past 48 hours to do so.
24Poker.com did not accept US customers but many worldwide are likely to be affected as the brand received approximately 880 search inquiries per month. That is still a far cry from the 40,000 plus who search for Cake Poker on a monthly basis however so Gambling911.com does not anticipate a massive outcry from the online poker community.
With South Africa Deeming Online Poker Illegal: PiggsPeak Casino and Poker Shut Down
Long established online casino and poker room PiggsPeak has shut down following a court ruling in South Africa that makes online gambling illegal.
The judge's decision states the gambling takes place where the play is, not where the gaming site's servers are physically located.
PiggsPeak and other online casino companies attempted to appeal a ruling by the North Gauteng High Court that declared Internet gambling illegal in the country.
Play Online Poker Free: South Point Poker Site Flourishing
After just over a month of offering folks the opportunity to play online poker for free with a licensed and regulated Las Vegas casino, South Point Poker has seen its website generating plenty of momentum.
Global monthly searches for “South Point Poker” were at 390. These numbers were generated prior to South Point Poker opening its play-for-free site.
The free play model has proven extremely successful – Witness Zynga Poker with its millions of users.
SurebetPoker.com Reviews Mixed Early On
One of the newest proprietary online poker rooms to come out of the post-Black Friday era, SurebetPoker.com, debuted last month promising one of the lowest rakes – 3.5 percent – among Web card rooms. They also landed former UB.com celebrity poker pro, Trishelle Cannatella.
The site has hit a few early road blocks, including some isolated payment processing issues and affiliates of SurebetPoker.com are spamming the hell out of popular poker forums like TwoPlusTwo.com.
Still, SurebetPoker.com has some great things going for it.
Free-to-Play Game of Online Poker Zynga Won’t Offer Cash Games in Near Future
There has been a lot of talk about the world’s largest free-to-play game of online poker Zynga offering cash games once regulation takes place in the United States.
Zynga Poker General Manager Lo Toney has been talking down the prospect in recent days.
In fact, Mr. Toney is adamant Zynga Poker will remain free-to-play, even if legislation ultimately passes that would make cash games legal in the United States.
Ladbrokes, BetDSI.com Demonstrate Importance of Mobile Betting, Live Wagering
Ladbokes this week launched a live streaming of AtTheRaces live coverage of British and Irish horse races in an effort to expand on its vital mobile betting platform. iPhone users can currently access while the product will ultimately be available to Android and other mobile platforms.
Richard Ames, Ladbrokes managing director, products, commented: "Mobile betting is growing rapidly and Ladbrokes customers have a leading range of services. We continue to develop it and aim to make it the first choice for mobile betting and gaming customers."
Switch Poker Becomes First Bitcoin Poker Room
Mobile poker operator Switch Poker became the first to offer Bitcoin as a payment solution for players. Switch Poker does not currently accept US customers. The online poker room also promotes itself as being the first room compatible on just about every browser for iPhone, iPads, iPods and more.
Sky Bet, Other British Bookmakers Slaughtered After This Week’s Premier League Action
Sky Bet bookmakers were left reeling after a week where all of the Premier League favourites walked off victorious.
It was the “worst day in their sports betting history” according to a company statement.
Sky Bet paid out to thousands at 7/1 with Manchester City, Southampton, Charlton and Southend all winning.
Sky Bet's Head of Football Trading Sandro Di Michele said: "Pretty much everything that could of gone wrong for us today did, with the 'What If' market just one of our enhanced accumulators to have come in.
Online Poker Traffic Flat Lines This Week
Online poker traffic for the week dropped a mere 0.2 percent according to PokerScout.com.
PokerStars was among three sites in the top 10 that witnessed a slight gain, increasing its traffic by 2.5 percent after a sharp decline last week. Stars up and down traffic has been attributed to big time promotions in recent weeks. This week the poker site is celebrating 10th anniversary with freerolls and a $10 deposit bonus.
Meanwhile, PokerStars French website continued surpassing its Italian version.
CNN on Full Tilt Poker Shutdown: Did Poker Ponzi Steal My Rent? (Video)
With the Super Committee deficit-reduction failure drawing added viewers to CNN’s afternoon programming, the news network’s special look at how much money was lost by US poker players on Full Tilt Poker managed to garner additional attention, not to mention scaring off more potential poker players.
“A popular online gambling website shut down by the US Feds. Just how much money was lost by players?” a teaser asks.
While the shutdown occurred back in April, CNN continued to broadcast its segment throughout the afternoon hours.
Zynga Mobile No Match for Angry Birds…Yet
While Zynga, along with its online poker product, remains the biggest social games provider on Facebook, it is far behind where mobile gaming is concerned. Angry Birds currently holds the title there for “Most Popular” game platform.
Zynga has some 227 million monthly users.
From the Guardian Online:
World Wide Wagering Does Not Suspend Use of Alleged Rigged Online Casino Software (Correction)
A Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report last week claimed BLR Technologies offered rigged online casino software to its operators.
Tests studied as part of the article demonstrated that the BLR online casino software could be rigged.
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review piece, “the software by BLR Technologies, based in Costa Rica, detects a player's bet and increases the chances of a losing roll”.
Full Tilt Poker Customers Would Likely Get Deposits Back Should Deal Go Through
Customers of Full Tilt Poker owed monies since April 15 wait with baited breath as a reported settlement has taken place between the US Justice Department and Groupe Bernard Tapie, the entity looking to acquire Full Tilt Poker. On June 29 the company had its license to operate pulled after it failed to prove the business had sufficient funds on hand to pay players. Two executives of the company were indicted on April 15, charged with money laundering and bank fraud. Three other stakeholders in FTP were accused by the US Government of running an elaborate ponzi scheme. It is interesting
DOJ Spokesperson Denies Full Tilt Poker, Groupe Bernard Tapie Deal for $80m
A DOJ spokesperson, Carly Sullivan responded to a CNN report that was quickly pulled off its site regarding a DOJ deal to allow Groupe Bernard Tapie’s acquisition of Full Tilt Poker: “We have no comment and do not confirm or deny a deal.”
Full Tilt Poker itself later issued a statement that an “agreement between Groupe Bernard Tapie and the Department of Justice have been finalized”, however, FTP has released “misleading” statements in the past.
Overnight and Weekend Binary Options Funded By Bitcoin Announced at Digibookie
Wholesale sports and financial bookmaker, Digibookie, announced today that it will be offering overnight binary options on all major financial stocks, commodities, and indices to accounts funded by the hot new digital currency, Bitcoin. Until now, Digibookie has catered exclusively to retail credit bookmakers and binary options brokers across the globe. The retail investors have embraced the binary options revolution in a big way.
Tower Poker Moves to Cake Poker Network: Still Will Not Accept US Customers
Pro-friendly Tower Poker, owned by TowerGaming, has made the move to the Cake Poker Network from Ongame. While Cake Poker accepts US customers, Tower Poker will not be permitting players from the US.
Tower has a reputation for permitting unlimited reload bonuses and VIP promotions while accommodating more high-end players. In recent months, Ongame has focused more heavily on a recreational player base.
Online Poker Traffic Crashes Nearly 8 Percent
The world’s online poker traffic fell a staggering 8 percent this week following the conclusion of PokerStars 70 billionth hand promotion. That site witnessed a remarkable 22 percent rise in overall traffic last week, which helped boost the industry overall to a 12.5 percent rise.
Nevada to Begin Granting Internet Poker Licenses
Nevada’s state Gaming Control Board will begin issuing licenses for operation of Internet poker sites beginning in February. The licenses would be granted much faster for those casino firms already holding a gaming license in the state.
Once granted a license, companies would only be permitted to offer online poker within the state’s boundaries in specified settings such as in the casinos and racetracks themselves.
Caesar’s Head Gary Loveman: “$5 Billion From Internet Poker in US a Conservative Figure”
Caesars Entertainment Corp. Chairman Gary Loveman, speaking during the company's third-quarter earnings conference call with analysts, said he believed his casino operation would have an Internet poker site up and running within 12 to 14 months of legislation passing in the US. He also balked at the idea that the industry would take in a mere $5 billion.
Betfair Poaches Paddy Power Second-in-Command
The world’s largest betting exchange announced Thursday it has hired away Breon Corcoran from rival Paddy Power to become its new CEO. Corcoran replaces David Yu.
The Financial Times of London reported that Corcoran’s Paddy Power contract was understood to have had a six-month notice period, with a non-compete clause for two-and-a-half months. As such, Corcoran is said to be on “gardening leave” until August.
XBingo Quickly Rockets As Mandalay’s Busiest Bingo Website
Knocking CostaBingo off the pole position is an incredible feat for a brand launched in June this year as CostaBingo has been well established for over two years and was positioned as having an 8% UK market share in a recent industry report.
Bwin.party Shares Stable: Benefit Heavily From Full Tilt Poker Closure
Bwin.party reported a year-on-year revenue growth of 3 percent in the third quarter, benefiting from the abrupt closure of what had been the world’s second largest online poker firm, Full Tilt Poker.
According to Sharecast.com, third quarter pro-forma revenue of €201.1m was up from €194.7m in the third quarter of last year, ahead of the €194m Panmure Gordon had been predicting, and up 9% on the second quarter.
Black Friday Bank Shut Down
A bank implicated in the processing of funds for three of the world’s largest online poker rooms last April 15 has finally been shut down.
SunFirst Bank in Saint George, Utah, was closed down by US Feds at the close of last week. It is the 87th bank of 2011 to fail.
The US Justice Department alleges that Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and UB.com enticed officials of SunFirst to disguise online poker transactions as dog food and golf balls. Executives of the three online poker companies were charged with money laundering and bank fraud as a result.
South Point Poker Joins The Gambling911.com Family
In case you haven’t seen their banners flashing all over the site, we at Gambling911.com would like to officially welcome South Point Poker on board as the first Las Vegas Internet poker room.
“We are very thrilled to have them on board,” noted Payton O’Brien, Senior Editor of the Gambling911.com website. “Their entry ushers in a new era of legalized US-based casinos now offering online poker rooms.”
For now, the site will be free-to-play, however, the incentives are enormous.
MGM Head: “Positive Momentum in Congress Toward Passing Online Poker Bill”
In an interview with the Las Vegas Review Journal, MGM Resorts Chairman, Jim Murren, expressed his strong belief that the US Congress will get a bill passed to legalize online poker in the very near future.
"We think there is positive momentum in Congress toward passing a bill," MGM Resorts Chairman Jim Murren said. "It's time for the federal government to address this issue."
