Business & Financial
888 Holdings Enters US Online Gambling Market With WMS Gaming Alliance
888 Holdings announced on Monday plans to enter the US online poker market through an alliance with slot machine developer WMS Gaming Alliance. 888 will offer free play poker in the initial stages.
US Prosecutors Still Allege Full Tilt Poker, Ray Bitar Engaged in Ponzi Scheme
An additional indictment was filed against Raymond Bitar, CEO of now defunct Full Tilt Poker, on Monday July 2, 2012 after he voluntarily turned himself in to US authorities.
Bitar has remained at large since April 15, 2011 following charges of money laundering and bank fraud in connection with running what was once the world's second largest online poker room.
Zynga Celebrates 5th Birthday
The social gaming network Zynga is celebrating its 5th birthday – anniversary, whatever you want to call it - today July 2, 2012.
Euro 2012 Boosts Betfair Revenues
By Keith Weir
LONDON, June 29 (Reuters) - The Euro 2012 soccer tournament helped online gambling exchange Betfair to report strong trading on Friday, with the development of mobile apps seen as a driver of future revenue growth.
The online bet-matching company, set up 12 years ago, reported a 15 percent rise in underlying profits (EBITDA) from its core businesses to 92 million pounds ($142.66 million) in the year to April 30. Betfair shares rose 2.8 percent to 755.5p by 0825 GMT.
Macau Gambling Growth Misses Expectations
(Reuters) - Macau's gambling revenue growth rebounded last month from May, though the increase was slower than expected, signaling muted spending in the world's largest gambling destination.
Revenue rose 12.2 percent from a year earlier to 23.3 billion patacas ($2.92 billion) in June, faster than May's 7.3 percent gain, government data showed on Monday. Analysts had expected a 15 percent increase.
Time for Lock to Rock: Poker Site Gets Rid of Bugs, Extends $4000 Bonus Into July
Nobody said it was going to be a seamless transition, one online poker skin practically starting an entirely new network from scratch, especially a skin that brought with it several thousand customers.
Let’s face reality for a moment, even the long established dinosaurs like PokerStars haven’t been immune to software issues and other obstructions. Only a chosen few know how to create and manage a successful online poker network. This is why the Vegas casinos feel the need to team up with established players from the European market.
William Hill Goes to War With Betfair Over Horse Racing Levy
William Hill, England’s biggest bookmaker, wants to force Betfair customers into contributing to a horse racing levy. Betfair prides itself on being the largest betting exchange. Because there is no middleman (a bookmaker) as part of the betting exchange business model, customers of Betfair have thus far been exempt from paying money towards horse racing.
William Hill will plead its case in court over the coming week.
Gambling Company News and Tweets – June 29, 2012 (4 pm EST)
Here is all the latest Twitter chatter related to the gambling sector – poker, sports betting, financials, entertainment, politics and more. Be sure to follow Gambling911.com on TWITTER here to get all the latest updated gambling news as it happens.
Top Current Company News: Ladbrokes
Not The Best Week for Ladbrokes: Profit Warning has Investors Heads Spinning
Ladbrokes shares fell 12 percent on Thursday following a profit warning issued by the company. Profits for Ladbrokes online unit are expected to be half what they were for this period compared to last year. Follow Gambling911.com on Twitter for all the latest Ladbrokes news.
Euro 2012 Huge for Bookmakers: Helps Boost Betfair Profit by 50 Per Cent
Betfair, the world’s largest sports betting exchange, reported a more than 50 per cent jump in pre-tax profit for the 12 months to April 30, mostly a result of heavy beting on the Euro 2012 in recent weeks.
“The European championships have been our biggest sports betting event. More bets have been laid on the Euros with us than for the last World Cup,” Stephen Morana, Betfair’s interim chief executive.
Online Gambling News: Lock Poker Extends 4K Bonus, Battle of Ronin Through July
This is the latest gambling news as published June 29, 2012 during the 11 am EST hour that includes big news regarding Lock Poker’s extension of its uber popular 200 percent signup bonus that pays up to US$4000 into the month of July (2012). Please follow us on Twitter here for up-to-the-minute breaking news.
Additionally, The Battle of Ronin has also been extended.
What exactly is The Battle of Ronin you ask?
Introducing GoldenNuggetPoker.com
Golden Nugget, Inc. and Landry’s, Inc. have announced the launch of the online poker website GoldenNuggetPoker.com in anticipation of the US market opening up for real cash play across a broad range of states including Nevada and Nevada. Online poker became legal in Delaware today (June 28, 2012).
Ladbrokes Share Price Plummets 12 Percent: Weak Margins Cited
Ladbrokes, one of the UK’s largest bookmakers, saw its shares fall almost 12 per cent after issuing a profit warning due to declining revenues in its online business.
From Christopher Thompson of the Financial Times:
Pam Anderson is Back With BamPoker.com
Pam Anderson got into the online poker game a few years back – courtesy of Doyle Brunson - and that lasted about a month as the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed shortly thereafter.
Now Pamela Anderson is back with BamPoker.com, part of the Facebook social gaming market.
Social casino games are reportedly played by 13 percent of all gamers.
Shuffle Master Terminates Deal With Ongame Poker
(Market Watch) - Shuffle Master, Inc. (nasdaq global select market:SHFL) ("Shuffle Master" or the "Company") today announced that after careful consideration it has decided not to proceed with the acquisition of Ongame Network Limited.
Microgaming Terminates Contract with 5050Poker: Issues Statement
As Gambling911.com reported last week, 5050Poker and Microgaming have severed ties, yet oddly enough the 5050Poker site remains up and running with the Microgaming logo appearing at the bottom.
Hollywood Poker Closes but Players Funds Appear Safe at RedKings.com
Another one bites the dust as Hollywood Poker has shut its doors for good. But unlike Purple Lounge Poker Room and Casino, which abruptly shut down last month leaving players high and dry, customer funds at Hollywood will be transferred over to RedKings.com.
Microgaming Poker Network to Introduce True Value Rake Allocation
The Microgaming Poker Network has announced plans to introduce a new rake structure beginning July 1, 2012.
Sprint Poker Goes Live at Bet365
Sprint Poker, a fast fold poker platform being offered by Bet365, is the first to go live using Playtech’s Speed Hold’em.
The new product was expected to debut in July but Bet365 apparently decided it did not want to wait that long.
Speed Hold’em mimics the popular model based on the now defunct Rush Poker, which allows quick fold pre-flop and easy transfer to a new table.
Nevada Gives Final Approval to William Hill, Others
The Nevada Gaming Commission has officially granted licenses to William Hill, Bally Technologies and International Game Technology to operate online gambling and, in the case of Hill, sports betting operations within the Silver State.
Tennis Star Rafael Nadal Becomes a PokerStars Spokesperson
Olympic gold medallist and multiple Grand Slam tennis champion Rafael Nadal has joined PokerStars, lending his support to the world’s largest online poker site and inviting sports fans to join him in playing the popular game of poker.
Intertops.com Stops Accepting New US Players Unless Invited
While no official statement has been released by Intertops.com, the oldest online gambling site in the world has stopped accepting new US registrants for the time being in all spaces unless invited by other players. This includes sports betting, poker and its online casino.
The decision appears to have been made without much notice as only yesterday the following tweet was made by Intertops:
Fertitta Interactive LLC to Release its Real Money Online Poker Site Ultimate Poker
Fertitta Entertainment, owners of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, have announced they are ready to unveil their “real money” and social gaming online poker site, Ultimate Poker, by week’s end.
But there’s a catch.
Intertops Stops Accepting New US Players
Intertops.com, which recently became part of the newly branded Revolution Network, has stopped taking new US customers at this time.
Details of this decision were not immediately known.
Upon attempting to sign up from within the United States, the following message appears.
Thank you for your interest in Intertops! Unfortunately, we are unable to accept new customers from your country or region at this time.If you believe you received this message in error please contact our customer support team.
5050 Poker Closed Following Microgaming Network Rule Change
Microgaming online poker room 5050 Poker closed its doors. They have cited a network policy change that limits two tables per player for the shutdown.
Speed Hold’em is Playtech’s New Fast Folding Online Poker Game
Playtech, parent company to the iPoker Network, is set to debut its own fast folding online poker game, Speed Hold’em.
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Facebook to Allow app Developers to Charge for Subscriptions
NEW YORK, N.Y. – (Associated Press) - Facebook is letting app developers charge subscription fees, in addition to existing one-time payments, for games and other applications on its site.
Facebook Inc. said on its developer blog Tuesday that the subscription feature will be available in July. The changes open up a new revenue stream for developers as well as for Facebook, which takes a 30 per cent cut from all payments on its site.
Cake Poker $100k Tournament Hosted 748 Players
Cake Poker hosted its $100k GTD ($109) Sunday at 8 pm GMT. This past Sunday’s event featured 748 players with a serious overlay value and ended up awarding $18,750 to a player by the name of “makkar”.
Sunday's $65K GTD Super Stack ($530) also offered an overlay with 98
players, awarding $17,875 to player with the handle “Suvaline.4”.
Churchill Downs Looking for Acquisitions
By BRUCE SCHREINER, Associated Press –
The track also has dabbled with night racing since 2009. Attendance for the 15 night racing events since that time has averaged 26,000 fans, more than three times the attendance on equivalent days, the company said.
Night racing features music and other fan-friendly offerings along with racing.
"While the broad thoroughbred racing industry may be in decline, there is still a growing, profitable market for top-flight racing combined with entertainment," Evans said.
More Delays in UB.com Exec Brent Beckley Sentencing
As reported by PokerFuse.com, attorneys representing an executive from UB.com are seeking to delay sentencing of their client even further.
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