Gambling
You Can Now Use Your Prepaid Debit Cards in Nevada Casino Slots
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) - Prepaid debit cards tied to a casino customer's rewards account have been approved for wagering on slot machines in Nevada.
The Nevada Gaming Commission voted 4-0 Thursday to approve amendments in state regulations, paving the way for the use of the cards.
The action was taken with the support of several major gambling companies and Sightline Payments, a Las Vegas-based payment processing business, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
The parent Nevada Gaming Control Board must approve the technology before the cards can be used.
Kentucky Court Overturns Seizures of Online Gambling Domain Names
A Kentucky Appeals court ruled Friday (February 21, 2014) that the state cannot seize 132 online gambling domain names. The court determined that a trade organization, the Interactive Gaming Council, can step into the 6-year-old case and represent operators of named websites. An earlier ruling declared that trade organizations such as IGC and the now defunct Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) lacked standing.
Pay Per Head Tool ‘Push Button Player Analysis’ Helps Determine Player Behavior
Casinos More Likely to Outsource Security to Private Companies
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) — When Springfield, Mass. needed to choose who would build its first casino, the city hired an outside adviser to help with the process.
The consulting firm Shefsky & Froelich recommended that the deal go to MGM Resorts International. At the same time, the consulting firm was also working as a registered lobbyist in Illinois for MGM Resorts.
Federal Bill Outlawing All Online Gambling Except Poker to be Introduced in March
U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-Nevada) said he anticipates new federal legislation banning all forms of online gambling except poker to be introduced in the coming months. Such a measure would ban Internet sports betting and online casinos, the later of which are currently permitted in the state of New Jersey.
Heller and others in Congress have attempted to pass similar legislation in recent years without any success.
North vs. South in New Jersey Gambling Expansion Debate
North New Jersey lawmakers want a casino in the Meadowlands, just a minutes drive away from Manhattan (barring rush hour). South Jersey lawmakers want gambling to be inclusive to Atlantic City.
Lawmakers Mull Idea of Having Casino in Meadowlands, Minutes From Manhattan
TRENTON, N.J. — (Associated Press) - Some New Jersey lawmakers want to study whether casino gambling should be expanded to the Meadowlands sports complex in East Rutherford.
A state Assembly committee is scheduled to discuss a bill Thursday that would create a commission to study the issue. But the committee isn’t expected to vote on the measure.
Casino gambling expansion proposals have been hotly opposed by southern New Jersey lawmakers. They fear it would destroy the already-struggling Atlantic City casino market.
Full Tilt Poker Defendant Ira Rubin ‘Faulty’ Indictment Claim Denied by Judge
A U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit judge on Wednesday rejected Ira Rubin's claim that his indictment was faulty because the conduct he was charged with was not a crime under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA).
Sands Bethlehem was Main Target of Last Week’s Hacking
LAS VEGAS - (Associated Press) -- Casino giant Las Vegas Sands Corp. said Tuesday that hacking into their websites and internal systems last week went deeper than the company had previously known.
All of the Las Vegas-based company's sites were down for six days after hackers posted images apparently condemning comments CEO Sheldon Adelson made about using nuclear weapons on Iran.
Sands said hackers crashed its email system and stole employees' Social Security numbers.
Can I Play Online Casino Games in My New Jersey Hotel Room: PartyGaming, Virgin
So I am sitting in my hotel room here in New Jersey, back from a conference, wishing I could get to New York City or Philadelphia and this ad pops up on television for PartyGaming. “Wow!” I’m thinking to myself. “I can actually be playing online casino games right here in my hotel room before dinner?”
“Oh wait! I don’t see ads for PartyGaming on TV in my home town so this might just be a New Jersey/New York thing.”
Sands Hackers Got Customer Credit Card Info, Passwords for Slot Machine Systems
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) — Casino giant Las Vegas Sands Corp. said Tuesday that hacking into their websites and internal systems last week went deeper than the company had previously known.
Christie Appeals New Jersey Sports Betting Ban Ruling
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a 22-year-old federal law that prohibits legalized betting on sports.
The state filed its appeal last week. It was only made public on Tuesday (February 18, 2014).
‘Love Is Love’ $50k Same Sex Wedding Giveaway Offered at Caesars
Caesars Entertainment in Atlantic City is celebrating same sex marriages with a “Love Is Love” $50,000 same sex wedding giveaway.
From the bachelor or bachelorette party all the way through to the "I Do's", this package features the best of the best in Atlantic City.
One lucky couple will receive a lavish wedding, valued at $50,000, for 100 invited guests complete with a cocktail hour, dinner, custom cake designed by celebri-chef Deb Pellegrino, photographers, flowers, entertainment, luxury accommodations, Bachelor & Bachelorette parties, and more!
Man Behind the Curtain of IGT Shakeup Now Looks to Pull Strings at Bwin.Party
For long time readers of Gambling911.com this may all seem like déjà vu. It was reported Tuesday that an activist investor could be looking to shake things up at online gambling giant Bwin.Party.
Breakup of Bwin.Party Possible With Activist Fund Taking Stake in Company
The Financial Times of London is reporting that a New York-based activist hedge fund will be taking a stake in struggling Bwin.Party.
SpringOwl, which is managed by the activist fund Cumberland Associates, has “agreed in principle” to purchase around 6.1 per cent of Bwin.Party from the group’s founders, Ruth Parasol and Russ Deleon.
As part of the deal, SpringOwl will have the right to appoint one director to the board.
Another Man With Ties to Legends Sports Gambling Ring Plead Guilty
Timothy Robillard, 44, pleaded guilty Monday to one felony charge of running an illegal gambling operation. The former Albany, New York corrections officer faces a year of conditional discharge and a $25,000 forfeiture of profits when sentenced in April.
Online Gambling Gold Rush: Adelson was Once Poised to Operate Web Casino
In a 2007 piece appearing in the San Francisco Chronicle, Thomas Somach wrote extensively on the potential for an Internet Gambling gold rush in the US where land-based casinos and even the likes of Disney could get into the fray.
China to Crack Down on Vices Including Gambling, Prostitution
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s government told police across the country to get tough on prostitution, gambling and drugs following an expose in the “sin city” of Dongguan, where a crackdown on prostitution led to the detention of nearly 1,000 people this month.
The announcement, on the Ministry of Public Security’s official website late on Monday, said investigations had begun in several provinces, and police had broken up 73 vice rings and closed down 2410 prostitution and gambling dens over the past week.
Sands Casino Websites Finally Restored Following Hacking
(Associated Press) - Casino giant Las Vegas Sands Corp. has restored its websites a week after they were hacked.
The Las Vegas-based company pulled down its sites Feb. 13 after hackers defaced them with images condemning comments CEO Sheldon Adelson had made about using nuclear weapons on Iran.
Sands restored the websites Monday afternoon. Spokesman Ron Reese says the company first became aware of the hacking on Feb. 12, when company email went down.
Cell Phones May Boost Internet Gambling in New Jersey
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – (Associated Press) - Internet gambling analysts and casino executives say the increased use of cellphones to place bets could accelerate the growth of the nascent industry in the state.
“Mobile applications will play an enormous piece of the puzzle in online wagering, which is why we are so positive and see so much upside in months ahead,” said Joe Lupo, senior vice president of the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, which began offering gambling Monday over Android cellphones on 3G and 4G networks.
New Jersey Online Gambling Expected to Triple in 2014
The Daily Record of New Jersey describes how that state’s new online gambling sector is expected to triple by year’s end.
Sands Casino Websites Back Up But Slow to Access
Days after a hacking of its various corporate websites, Sands Casino was back up and operational on the Web Saturday evening. Still, the sites were slow to access at times.
The access time had some initial telltale signs of a Denial of Access (DoS) attack though the slow downloads were more likely attributed to routine maintenance.
A DoS attack sends pockets of useless traffic from compromised servers to a website, thus crippling load ability.
Former Atlantic City Mayor Claims Caesars ‘Meddling in Atlantic Club Future’
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) — A state senator says the company that bought the former Atlantic Club Casino Hotel wants to make sure it never reopens as a casino.
James Whelan, a former mayor of Atlantic City, wrote this week to New Jersey casino regulators complaining about what he says are attempts by Caesars Entertainment to prevent a future buyer from operating the property as a casino. He said the company is seeking a deed restriction to be part of any future sale of the property dictating that it cannot be used as a casino again.
Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal on the Internet Gambling Jihad: ‘Bad for America’
Current Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is on a crusade against Internet gambling. His state was one of a handful that cracked down hard on the industry in recent years, prior to his election (arrest warrant issued against a board member of Sportingbet – remember this one?)
New Jersey Approves Revel Co-Owners to Operate Casino
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) — New Jersey casino regulators gave final approval Wednesday to an investment firm to be the largest owner of Revel Casino Hotel.
The state Casino Control Commission granted final approval to Chatham Asset Management, a hedge fund that is part of a lender group that emerged with an ownership stake in Revel following its bankruptcy last year. Chatham owns 28 percent of Revel.
But how long any of this lasts is anyone’s guess. Revel is considering selling itself or making a second bankruptcy filing.
Sands Hacked Casino Page Now Features Images: Still Reports Record Profits
Four days after Sands Las Vegas casino websites were hacked into, the respective sites for nine different properties are yet to be operating in full capacity.
Stanley Ho's SJM Makes Fresh Start With New Macau Casino
(Reuters) - Macau gambling kingpin Stanley Ho helped put the former Portuguese colony on the map 40 years ago with the fluorescent, onion-shaped Casino Lisboa. Now, the pioneer of old Macau is creating a new landmark - a $3.9 billion resort that will be one of the final projects to open on China's booming Las Vegas-style Cotai strip.
Regulators Still Unsure if Sands, Venetian Guest Credit Card Info Compromised
LAS VEGAS – (Associated Press) - A Nevada gambling regulator said Thursday afternoon that it's unclear whether the hackers who knocked down all of Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s websites for three days and counting had stolen patron data, including credit card information.
NJ Online Gambling Operators Hamstrung by Credit Card Authorization Problems
The Financial Times on Thursday noted that New Jersey may not be living up to expectations where its burgeoning online gambling industry is concerned. The main obstacle: getting through the signup process, and that includes getting money on the respective websites.
From the Financial Times:
But operators are hamstrung by teething problems that include getting credit card companies to process deposits and the slow process of website registration.
FBI Confirms Probe of Sands Website Hackings: Credit Card Breach a Concern
Day 3 of the Las Vegas Sands casino websites remaining down following a corporate-wide hacking and it was still unclear as to whether customer credit card information could have been compromised.
At the time of the hacking, employee social security numbers were seen scrolling across the breached website.
