Gambling
Online Gambling Pioneer Sentenced to Three Years Probation
Bill Scott, the founder of once powerful World Wide Tele Sports, has been sentenced to three years of probation for violating the US Wire Act and money laundering. Scott also had to forfeit $6,786,934.65 from various US bank accounts.
Need for Online Gambling in NJ Intensifies: PA Bumps Atlantic City
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie may have more of an incentive to sign a bill legalizing online gambling in his state as numbers showed Wednesday that Pennsylvania for the first time has bumped Atlantic City out of the number two US gambling destination after Las Vegas.
Bookmaker Coral Reluctantly Pays Winning 485-1 Long Shot Bet
One of the UK’s biggest bookmakers, Coral, has reportedly resolved a dispute over payment of a 485-1 long shot wager.
Lance Armstrong Cost Bookmakers, Bettors Untold Amounts
Lance Armstrong’s seven consecutive Tour de France title “wins” cost bookmakers and bettors alike hundreds of thousands of dollars, though the exact figure may never be known.
11 Companies Vying for Massachusetts Gambling Establishments
BOSTON (Associated Press) -- Eleven firms hoping to compete for licenses for resort casinos or a slots parlor filed initial applications and non-refundable $400,000 application fees before a Tuesday deadline, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission announced.
Four groups waited until the final day to submit applications, joining seven others that had previously filed.
A surprise last-minute entry was PPE Casino Resorts, affiliated with the principals of Baltimore-based Cordish Cos. The firm had not publicly expressed interest in Massachusetts before.
PokerStars One Step Closer to Buying Atlantic City Casino
ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey — (Associated Press) - An Internet gambling company wants to buy Atlantic City's Atlantic Club, and says it's ready to pump money into the brick-and-mortar casino to help prop up the seaside gambling resort.
Rational Group US Holdings, the parent company of PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, is asking New Jersey casino regulators for permission to buy the Atlantic Club for an undisclosed amount.
The proposed deal will be scrutinized closely.
Study Finds Big Mac Consumption Linked to Gambling
A new study has found that those who eat a significant number of Big Macs and other salty foods may be more prone to gambling.
Florida Lawmakers to do Comprehensive Gambling Review
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Associated Press) — The chairman of the Senate Gaming Committee says the Florida Legislature will conduct a comprehensive review of all forms of gambling.
Sen. Garrett Richter, a Naples Republican, said the objective over the next two years will be to determine how gambling regulations and revenues benefit Floridians before changes are made.
Richter said that in the past, gambling legislation was passed without knowing the effect it would have.
Miami Youth Football Team Wins Championship Amidst Gambling Scandal
The Miami Gardens Bulldogs Youth Football team won the Orange Bowl YFA title last week despite being embroiled in a gambling scandal. The Bulldogs beat the West Miramar Patriots by a final score of 38-14.
Online Gambling Ally New Jersey State Sen. Raymond Lesniak to Run Again
New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak confirmed Monday he will be running again for his Democratic seat.
Lesniak is among the most ardent supporters of legalized online gambling in the state and has been instrumental in getting a bill passed that would also legalize sports betting in Atlantic City casinos.
He will continue to make this one of his top priorities moving forward.
Mohegan Sun Will Apply for Palmer Casino
BOSTON (Associated Press) - The owners of the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut have found a new financial backer and are expected to apply to the state's gambling commission to build a resort in Palmer.
Mitchell Etess, chief executive of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, tells The Boston Globe the company has struck a partnership with New York investment group, Brigade Capital Management, to bankroll the development and will file its application on Monday.
Harry Reid Denies Attempting to Derail Investigation of Online Gambling Figure
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid denied any involvement in an alleged effort to help derail a federal investigation into Jeremy Johnson’s Utah businesses. Johnson was a central figure at the SunFirst Bank of Utah that helped process funds for online poker firms Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars. Each of these businesses were later named in an indictment filed April 15, 2011, a day commonly known within the Web poker community as “Black Friday”.
Palms Casino in Vegas Caught Up in Drug, Prostitution Sting
LAS VEGAS -- Gambling regulators are fining the Palms casino in Las Vegas $1 million after nightclub employees provided undercover agents with prostitutes and drugs, including cocaine and prescription painkillers.
Michigan Governor Vetoes Gambling Expansion Bill
LANSING (Associated Press) -- A bill that would have allowed more gambling at Michigan race tracks has died without Gov. Rick Snyder's signature.
Snyder effectively vetoed House Bill 5546 by taking no action. It would have added slot machine-like games at struggling horse tracks in Hazel Park, Mount Pleasant, Swartz Creek and Northville.
Spokesman Caleb Buhs says the bill wasn't signed because it clashes with the state Constitution and is probably illegal. A 2004 amendment requires voter approval for new gambling.
Atlantic City Revenue Expected to See Decline
(Associated Press) - For six years now, Atlantic City's casinos have been taking a beating from gambling halls popping up in neighboring states.
Figures due out Thursday afternoon will show just how far New Jersey's casinos fell in 2012.
Atlantic City's casino revenues have fallen from a high of $5.2 billion in 2006 to $3.3 billion in 2011. The 2012 figures are expected to be lower than that.
Nevada Gambling Revenue Way Down in November
CARSON CITY, Nev. (Associated Press) -- Nevada state gambling revenues have dipped, with officials reporting that casinos won 11 percent less in November compared with the same month a year ago.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board reported Thursday that casinos won about $783 million for the month, and the state collected nearly $46 million based on that amount.
The state's share was down more than 20 percent from the previous year.
November's revenue drop came after two months of climbing win numbers in Nevada.
B.C. Judge Certifies Class-Action Lawsuit Against Lottery Corporation
VANCOUVER – (Canadian Press) - Two problem gamblers who enrolled in a program that barred them from government-run casinos can go ahead with a class-action lawsuit to try to get their winnings back, says a B.C. Supreme Court judge.
In a ruling released Wednesday, Judge John Savage said the proceedings could resolve common issues raised by Michael Lee and Hamidreza Haghdust who argue the British Columbia Lottery Corp. "wrongfully withheld" approximately $42,000 and $35,000 they won, respectively, while participating in the voluntary self-exclusion program.
Lance Armstrong Oprah Winfrey Interview Odds: Confess Pays Even Money
Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has granted Oprah Winfrey a no-holds bar exclusive interview to air January 17, 2013 and the British bookmakers are all over this one.
Ladbrokes was among the first bookmakers to offer odds.
Lottomatica Group and Golden Gaming Receive Nevada Okay for Web Gaming
Two more online gambling firms have received approval to operate in the already saturated Nevada Web gaming sector.
The Lottomatica Group, which runs subsidiaries GTECH and SPIELO, will go before the Nevada Gaming Commission later in the month to obtain their license. The company operates on the technology side of the industry.
Golden Gaming, a subsidiary of Sartini Synergy Online, was also approved by the Commission Wednesday.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
Cuomo to Expand Gambling in New York State With Three New Casinos
ALBANY, N.Y. — (Associated Press) - Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposes that an expansion of gambling in New York begin with three casinos upstate and none in New York City.
The state Legislature is expected this year to consider final passage of an amendment to the state constitution that would allow up to seven Las Vegas-style casinos beyond Indian land. If approved by lawmakers, voters could make a final decision on the amendment in November.
Major in Online Gambling: Jenny Woo Interviews Ray Davies of Isle of Man
I had the chance to sit down with Isle of Man e-Gaming manager, Ray Davies, to talk about the newest e-Gaming program being offered there at the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education starting this month. Read my interview to learn more about this course and who it’s offered to.
Jenny: How long have you been brainstorming on this idea to offer the accredited qualification in e-Gaming program? And what exactly is the course called when someone signs up?
Three Bookies Sentenced to Five Years in Prison: One Shot His Wife
COLUMBIA, SC – (Associated Press) - Three men have been sentenced for their role in a Columbia gambling ring authorities say is connected to a double murder suspect.
U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles says Lanny Ray Gunter was sentenced Tuesday to five months in prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Harry Benenhaley and Ronald Dale Spence were each sentenced to five years probation.
The men pleaded guilty in October to running a gambling operation, taking in thousands of dollars on any given day.
Mystery Solved: Why Parkinson’s Patients Become Compulsive Gamblers
Scientists have learned what turns those with Parkinson’s disease into compulsive gamblers.
It’s all about the drugs.
From Business Insider:
Nevada Lawmakers to Decide on Internet Poker State Compacts
With attempts to pass a federal measure legalizing online poker now deemed a failure, the Nevada Assembly Bill 5 will now look to establish multi-state compacts.
Cabot on New Jersey Internet Gambling: ‘They Are Kidding Themselves’
Attorney and Vice President and Board Member at Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, Anthony Cabot, on Tuesday, cast a pessimistic outlook for legalized Internet gambling in the US while taking a specific swipe at New Jersey.
The Garden State legislatures passed a bill that would make online gambling in New Jersey legal should Governor Chris Christie elect to sign the measure into law.
Internet Gambling: A Threat to Economic and Financial Systems
John Warren Kindt, professor emeritus at the University of Illinois and senior editor to the United States International Gaming Report, warns of Internet gambling’s potential as a threat to economic and financial systems worldwide.
Virgin Games Taken Over by Gamesys: Move Into US Market Possible
Virgin Games announced on Monday it will now be under new ownership effective 29 January. Gamesys has taken over the company after eight years of dedicated services as an online casino, bingo and poker operator.
Affiliates of Virgin Games will be migrated into the Gamesys affiliate program.
Gamesys was founded in 2001 by Noel Hayden, Robin Tombs, Andrew Dixon and four developers. They operate the popular online gambling site Jackpotjoy.
Churchill Advocates Owning Casino in Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Associated Press) — A Churchill Downs official says if expanded gambling is approved in Kentucky, it is important that the company own and operate any casino located in Louisville.
Brett Hale, who is Churchill's senior vice president for corporate and government relations, told The Courier-Journal (http://cjky.it/112vtUk) in a statement on Friday that if another company was allowed to run a casino in the Louisville market "138 years of racing heritage and Kentucky Derby tradition will be put at risk."
Former Detroit Mayor’s Dad Gambled Away $218k: On Trial as Tax Cheat
The father of former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick stands trial for allegedly gambling away approximately $218,000 and underpaying on his taxes. A former IRS agent testified in the trial this week.
The trial returned following a 12-month holiday break.
Kilpatrick reportedly took in more than $2.2 million as a business consultant during his son’s tenure as mayor.
He gambled away much of his money at casinos in both Detroit and Las Vegas.
From The Detroit News:
Convictions Upheld Against Chinese Bankers Who Laundered Money at Casinos
A federal appeals court panel upheld convictions of two former Bank of China managers along with their wives. They are accused of stealing over $480 million from a bank and using a portion of those funds at various Las Vegas casinos.
