Gambling
Floyd Mayweather Called Out by Reno Gold for $3 Million Michigan Bet
As Gambling911.com and other media outlets reported on Thursday, boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is rumored to have placed a $3 million bet on his beloved Michigan Wolverines in their game against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday. Michigan only needs to cover the 14 point spread currently available at online books the likes of BetOnline.
Some Mississippi Gulf Coast Casinos Reopen After Hurricane Isaac
BILOXI — (Associated Press) - Some of the 12 casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast started reopening Thursday, just over a day after the most severe weather from Hurricane Isaac pushed through the area.
The two casinos in Hancock County closed Monday, and the 10 in Harrison County were ordered to close Tuesday as Isaac was still in the Gulf of Mexico.
Floyd Mayweather Reportedly Places $3 Million Bet on Michigan to Beat Alabama
Reports Surfaced Thursday that boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. has placed a $3 million bet on the Michigan Wolverines to beat the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday.
That’s a bold move considering most gamblers seem to be backing the Crimson Tide, although Bookmaker.eu customers are on Alabama at just a 55 percent clip. The line on this game is Michigan +14.
Mayweather is a Grand Rapids native, which could have played a factor in this impressive wager.
FBI Files on Joe Paterno Reveals Fear of Organized Crime and Gambling Threats
FBI files on Penn State’s long time former football coach, the late Joe Paterno, make no mention of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, who was sentenced in a child abuse case this summer. They do, however, point to the theory that organized criminal factions with gambling interests may have been threatening the head coach and his staff during the late 1970’s and early 80’s via a series of letters.
New Maine Casino Nets a Whopping $10 Million in First Two Months
By CLARKE CANFIELD
PORTLAND, Maine (Associated Press) — Maine’s newest casino had revenues of nearly $10 million in its first two months of operation, while revenues at the state’s other casino in Bangor have fallen since the new casino opened.
Oxford Casino opened June 5 in the western Maine town of Oxford and had net revenues — the amount lost by gamblers — of $9.8 million in June and July combined. It paid nearly $4.1 million in taxes, according to the Maine Gambling Control Board.
Saskatchewan Looks to Host Online Gambling Through GEOBet
The GEObet Gambling Network is pleased to announce that it is currently exploring opportunities with Saskatchewan First Nations to develop an online gaming solution that will extend the reach of the Saskatchewan First Nation Gaming network operated in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.
GEObet has made several presentations, including to the recent Special Indian Gaming Assembly in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. All parties are confident that agreements will meet and exceed Saskatchewan First Nations’ expectations of igaming.
Jim Rome ‘Imposter’ Acting as Spokesperson for Fantasy Football Website FanDuel
DeadSpin.com is reporting that the popular Fantasy Football website FanDuel has begun to use a Jim Rome “imposter” as a spokesperson for the company.
The DeadSpin.com site points to an ad that actually has been running during Jim Rome’s sports talk program.
From DeadSpin:
British Olympian Gymnast Sam Oldham’s Granny Finally has Cashed Her BetFred Checks
After a long and unnecessary ordeal, the grandmother of Great Britain Olympian bronze medal gymnast Sam Oldham finally has cash in hand for the entire €1000 owed to her by bookmaker BetFred.
You might recall that BetFred initially refused to pay Linda Aldred, 66, her £1000 winnings on a £5 bet that her grandson Sam would win an Olympic medal. BetFred claimed the bet was on an individual medal and that the team, not Sam specifically, won the bronze. Great Britain won its first Olympic medal in 100 years.
Illinois Governor Quinn Points to ‘Mob’ as Reason for Gambling Expansion Veto
CHICAGO — (Associated Press) - Citing Chicago’s reputation of mobsters and corruption, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed a plan Tuesday to bring casinos to the city and four other areas, leaving irked lawmakers with the task of overruling him.
New Jersey Sports Betting Now Targeted for December: George W. Bush attorney on Board
A move to legalize sports betting in New Jersey for the fall will likely be delayed until December the earliest, mainly a result of the anticipated lengthy licensing process.
Joe Brennan, Jr. of the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association tells Gambling911.com that the state will move right along with the legalization process despite a lawsuit filed against the four professional sports teams and the NCAA to try and prevent this from happening.
BetFred Pays Olympian Sam Oldham Grandma With ‘Bad’ Check
BetFred finally paid British Olympian gymnast Sam Oldham’s grandma. Too bad the check was no good!
Perhaps it was just an honest mistake but Linda Aldred tells Gambling911.com BetFred sent her and Sis two separate checks, neither of which were signed.
“BetFred say they send out plenty of cheques (so) it is no unusual for an odd one to go unsigned,” Ms. Aldred said. “Strange that two in the same dispute happen not to have been signed.”
Attorney Who Represented George W. Bush to Fight for Sports Betting in New Jersey
Theodore Olson, an attorney best known for representing former US President George W. Bush in the contested 2000 presidential election, has signed on to assist New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in that state’s fight to legalize sports betting.
All four professional sports leagues and the NCAA filed a lawsuit against the state earlier this month in an attempt to prevent New Jersey from moving forward with its efforts.
Olson, who also assisted in overturning California’s ban on same-sex marriage, filed papers in a federal court on Monday to join the Christie legal team.
No Casino in Chicago as Illinois Governor Rejects Gambling Expansion Plan
By SOPHIA TAREEN
CHICAGO (Associated Press) - Gov. Pat Quinn has rejected a plan to expand gambling in Illinois, including a land-based casino in Chicago.
The Democrat announced his veto Tuesday, saying the proposed bill lacked sufficient regulatory oversight.
The bill proposed five new casinos, including the Chicago facility and four more on riverboats.
Illinois Governor Must Decide Today on Gambling Expansion, Chicago Casino
CHICAGO • (Associated Press) - Gov. Pat Quinn will announce Tuesday the fate of a proposal to expand gambling in Illinois, including a new land-based casino in Chicago, weighing ethical and social concerns against the possibility of bringing a jackpot of jobs and revenue to the state.
With two of his predecessors in prison, the Chicago Democrat has made it clear he must preserve his political integrity in the plan, which also proposes establishing four new riverboat casinos and allowing slot machines at racetracks.
Schleswig-Holstein Awards More Online Gambling Licenses
The Northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein this week has awarded 4 more online gambling licenses, bringing the number thus far to approximately a dozen.
Those licensed this week include 888, Admiral Sportswetten (Rettingen), Admiral Sportwetten (Gumpoldskirchen in Austria) and Cashpoint Malta Ltd (Malta).
Alabama Casino Lobbyist, Legislator Head to Prison for Gambling Vote Selling Scheme
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — (Associated Press) - A casino lobbyist and a former legislator who pleaded guilty in Alabama's gambling corruption case are now in federal prison.
A spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons said lobbyist Jarrod Massey reported Monday to the minimum-security prison camp at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. Former state Rep. Terry Spicer of Elba reported to the minimum-security prison camp in Marion, Ill.
Online Sportsbook Seeing Nice Spike Ahead of NFL, College Football Betting
The boutique online sportsbook, Northbet, tells Gambling911.com they are already seeing some decent traffic coming in ahead of the upcoming College Football and NFL betting season, economy aside.
“The economy is always a factor, but we don't expect it to be any different than the past 2 years,” a Northbet representative tells Gambling911.com. The company is heading into its third College Football and NFL betting season.
Fifth Street Gaming Takes Over Casinos at Gold Spike and Siegel Slots in Vegas
(Associated Press) - Fifth Street Gaming says it is taking over gambling operations at two Las Vegas hotels, the Gold Spike and Siegel Slots and Suites.
Both hotels are properties of the Siegel Group, which owns several boutique hotels, apartment complexes and other developments.
The contracts announced Monday are subject to approval by gambling regulators. Terms weren't disclosed.
Golden Route Operations currently operates gambling at the two properties.
Poker Pro Nancy Todd Attempt to Gain Control Over Arkansas Casinos Fails
Professional poker player Nancy Todd has lost her fight to gain exclusive operating rights to Arkansas casinos on Monday.
Illinois Governor Won’t Say If He Plans to Sign Gambling Legislation
CAROL STREAM, Ill. (Associated Press) - Gov. Pat Quinn isn't giving any hints about what he'll do with a gambling bill that Illinois lawmakers sent to his desk.
Tuesday is the deadline for Quinn to take action on legislation that would establish five new casinos in the state, including one in Chicago. It would also allow slot machines at horse racing tracks.
At an unrelated event in suburban Chicago on Monday, Quinn said he spent the weekend reading the bill and he'll announce his decision Tuesday. He declined to say if he'd arrived at a decision.
Shuttered Moore Games to Resume Payments to Poker Players
Good news is here as Moore Games has announced it will begin paying back customers after the online poker room was forced to shut down.
The former iPoker Network skin claims that it has received funds from the network to begin the payout process.
As reported by PokerFuse.com Monday:
Under China's Watch, Macau Won't Return to 'Gangster's Paradise'
(Reuters) - Three murders, hammer-wielding heavies, and a high-profile police swoop have raised concerns that Macau, the world's casino capital, may be backsliding to the bad old days of the late-1990s. And that's even before ex-triad boss "Broken Tooth" ends a 15-year jail sentence in December.
All this at a time when China's economy, the world's second-biggest, is growing more slowly - hitting gambling revenue and possibly making junket operators, who collect gambling debts in exchange for commission from casinos, more aggressive.
Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Allegedly Tied to Organized Crime Figure
Reuters was reporting late Sunday that the Las Vegas Sands had allowed a man identified by the US Senate as an “organized crime figure” to move US$100k in gambling credit from the Sheldon Adelson managed Sands to one of its Macau-based casinos.
Documentation of this alleged incident emerged in the wake of a lawsuit filed by a former Sands employee who previously claimed prostitution was permitted on the Sands Macau property.
From Rueters:
Fired CFO of Philly Archdiocese gets 2-7 Years in $900k Theft for Gambling Addiction
PHILADELPHIA — (Associated Press) - A finance executive who linked her $900,000 embezzlement from the Philadelphia archdiocese to the church’s sex-abuse scandal was sentenced Friday to two to seven years in prison.
Anita Guzzardi, 42, said she succumbed to gambling and shopping addictions after feeling betrayed by the church over the priest sex-abuse scandal.Guzzardi had worked at the Roman Catholic archdiocese since she was 20, and was making $124,000 a year as chief financial officer when she was fired last year.
Gambling Expansion Referendums on Ballots in Both Rhode Island and Oregon
Both Rhode Island and Oregon will let voters decide on proposed gambling expansion in their respective states.
In both matters, powerful Tribal casino operators are in staunch opposition.
New Leads in Brutal Murder of Wealthy Gambler’s Wife
A grand jury has revealed that new leads have come out in an investigation of the brutal beating death of Julie Mitchell, 34, the wife of a wealthy Oklahoma City gambler.
Grand jurors reported they are “optimistic that this case will ultimately be solved.”
BetFred Pays Out on Sam Oldham’s Granny Olympic Bet Following Public Outcry
BetFred advised Gambling911.com late Thursday it had decided to pay out on an Olympic bet placed by the grandmother of Olympic gymnast Sam Oldham, ending a brief - albeit ugly - chapter in the company’s history.
The British bookmaker had endured extensive negative press over a 48 hour period after it was learned they had refused to honor a bet placed by Oldham’s grandma, Linda Aldred, that would have paid out £1000.
Twitter Followers Have Beef With BetFred Over ‘Void’ Granny Bet: Firm Responds
Late Thursday, British bookmaker BetFred, run by multi-millionaire Fred Done, refused to budge in regard to paying the grandmother of Olympic swimmer Sam Oldham. Many across the nation – and the world for that matter – have taken to Twitter to voice their outrage and hopefully pressure BetFred into doing what they believe to be the right thing.
Player Verify Applies for Nevada Online Gambling License
Online poker sites in Nevada have 30 days after a player registers to collect detailed identifying information about that player. The policy is known as Know Your Customer, or KYC, and it can be especially problematic for gambling sites that lack the verification tools to properly conduct KYC activities. But with Player Verify’s recent application for a Nevada online poker service provider license, KYC will soon become simple and accurate for Nevada-based online poker companies.
Pay Grandma BetFred! Bookie Berated in London Press
The headlines these past 24 hours have been jarring.
From the Daily Express: I’ve Won 200-1 Bet on My Grandson at Olympics….But Bookies Won’t Pay Up
From the San Francisco Chronicle: British Bookmakers Won’t Pay Out Grandmother’s Winning Bet