Software Developer Executives Arrested in Connection with ‘Online Gambling Scheme’
Several executives from a Fort Worth, Texas software development company have been arrested Friday and charged with money laundering, felony gambling and organized criminal activity.
The company, HEST Technologies, claims to develop promotional systems for sweepstakes cafes, Internet cafes and nonprofit organizations.
Authorities allege the company's "sweepstakes" systems constitute illegal gambling devices by claiming to sell a lawful service as a means to induce people into gambling.
Facebook Shares Hit Another All Time Low
By Alexei Oreskovic
(Reuters) - Facebook Inc (FB.O) shares sank as much 4.3 percent on Friday to set a new low, a day after early investors got the green light to sell for the first time.
More than 270 million shares owned by the early investors became available for trade on Thursday after a 3-month curb on sales ended. That's more than one-half the 421 million shares sold in its initial public offering on May 18. [ID:nL2E8JG39E]
Steve O’Dwyer Leads at EPT Barcelona €50,000 Super High Roller 2012
America pro Steve O’Dwyer is leading the EPT Barcelona €50,000 Super High Roller with 36 players remaining from the 54 who started the day. After eight levels of play, O’Dwyer was in good shape with a massive chip stack of 1,249,000, almost double his next rival, fellow American Erik Seidel. O’Dwyer, who hails from Pennsylvania, had a stonking year during last year’s EPT season, including runner-up finishes in the EPT London Main Event and the EPT Campione €10,000 event.
Facebook Freeroll: 4 Packages to Punta Cana Poker Classic Guaranteed Sunday
August 19, 2012 Americas Cardroom customers can take part in a massive Facebook Freeroll online poker tournament. The reward will be one of four free entries into the magnificent Punta Cana Poker Classic this coming November.
Jake Gyllenhaal to Star in Latest Gambling Flick ‘Mississippi Grind’
Hollywood star Jake Gyllenhaal is getting set to film the latest gambling themed film, “Mississippi Grind”.
The directing duo of Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden are behind the project. Both previously directed Ryan Gosling to a best actor Oscar nomination for “Half Nelson”.
Hollywood Reporter provided a description of the upcoming film:
Friends: ‘All Michael Phelps Thinks About is Gambling’
Friends of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps claim the record gold medal winner “only thinks about gambling” these days, more specifically about playing poker.
Gambling911.com just the other day featured a report on Phelps desire to become a poker pro.
Zynga Poker Coming to Nokia Asha Touch Devices
Nokia today announced they will bring Zynga Inc.'s global hit games, Draw Something and Zynga Poker, to Nokia Asha Touch devices in Q3 2012 as part of their partnership announced earlier this summer. Nokia Asha Touch users can soon challenge their friends to a round of the popular social drawing and guessing game, or enjoy their own virtual poker match. Zynga's Draw Something and Zynga Poker will both be free to download from the Nokia Store.
Chicago is Latest Site for a Reality Pawn Show
Chicago, previously known for the likes of Al Capone, Michael Jordan and Steve Bartman, is the latest locale for a reality TV show about a family-owned pawn shop.
First came the History Channel's "Pawn Stars," about day-to-day goings-on at a Las Vegas pawn shop.
The show was so successful--it's History's top-rated program--that rival network truTV ripped off the idea and created "Hardcore Pawn," about the daily antics at a Detroit pawn shop (it's truTv's top-rated show).
Estrellas Poker Tour Barcelona 2012 Beats All Records With Total Prize Pool €1,004,920
The Estrellas Poker Tour 2012 continued today as an astonishing 664 players started on day 1b, of which 41 qualified online with PokerStars.com. Casino Barcelona plays host to this event, and for its first time in the Catalan capital, the tour has broken all the previous records: - A total of 1036 players which makes Estrellas Poker Tour Barcelona the biggest poker tournament ever organised in Spain and the second biggest PokerStars.com European regional tournament of all time.
Jackson County Casino in Cherokee, North Carolina Begins Offering Live Games
As part of a compact that gives the state a portion of revenues from new live games, the Harrah’s owned Jackson County Casino began offering live blackjack at 12 tables this past Wednesday.
The 15-year-old casino on Cherokee Tribal land had previously only offered electronic variations of casino games.
Facebook Hits New Low as IPO Lock-Up Ends
SAN FRANCISCO – (Associated Press) - Facebook's stock plunged to a new low Thursday after the expiration of a ban that had prevented some early investors and insiders from dumping millions of additional shares they own in the social-networking leader.
Howard Lederer Parties it Up in Las Vegas as DOJ Now ‘Flush With Full Tilt Poker Money’
Wendeen H. Eolis of Poker Player Newspaper was the first to reveal that great news was on tap for those owed monies by Full Tilt Poker. She’s proven to be an excellent resource for the poker community.
On Thursday, Ms. Eolis reveals that the “face behind Full Tilt Poker” over the past several years, Howard Lederer, was seen partying it up in Las Vegas after the deal was made official.
English Poker Open 2012 Online Qualifiers Continue Into September at Cake
Cake Poker has announced a series of online qualifiers for the English Poker Open 2012 that will go straight into September.
The prize consists of a guaranteed seat to the live tournament along with a generous travel and accommodation allowance, totaling $5000.
Police on Hunt for Londonderry Armed Robber Who Entered Bookmaker Brandishing Baton
Police in Londonderry want the public’s assistance in finding an armed robber who reportedly entered a Blucher Street area bookmaker brandishing a baton.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Shortly after 5.40pm a man, carrying a baton entered the premises and demanded money from a member of staff.
“The man smashed a number of television screens in the premises before making off empty handed. No-one was injured during the incident. The man is described as being approximately 5’8” tall and wearing a black jacket and blue jeans.
Pinnacle Entertainment Granted Approval to Open New Baton Rouge Riverboat Casino
Baton Rouge, La. — (Associated Press) - Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. has received approval from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to open its new $368 million Baton Rouge casino on Aug. 29, if the riverboat passes a safety inspection.
Montana Man Charged With Running Internet Gambling Website
BILLINGS, Mont. (Associated Press) A man with a 2003 conviction for running an illegal bookmaking business out of a Billings card room is now charged with helping people access an illegal Internet gambling site.
The Billings Gazette reports John Fischer pleaded not guilty Monday to a felony charge of operating an illegal gambling enterprise.
Maryland Governor Signs Measure Expanding Gambling
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Associated Press) — Gov. Martin O'Malley has had misgivings over the years about raising money for the state of Maryland through gambling, and while he had hoped he would only need to ask voters once whether to allow an expansion, he has decided he needs to do it again.
Former Mobster Claims Gambino Crime Family Ties to Jerry Sandusky, Other Child Porn Deviants
A one time child associate of the Mob claims that sick photos depicting child sexual encounters with older men were once developed at a photo studio used as a front by the Gambino Crime Family.
Zynga Adds Real Money Gambling: Spends $75k on Lobbying Efforts
The Wall Street Journal late Wednesday reported that Zynga, the publicly traded social gaming behemoth, has spent upwards of $75,000 lobbying in the United States to legalize online gambling. The primary focus up to this point appears to be in the state of California, where a current measure to legalize Web poker in the Golden State is expected to die by month’s end.
Bwin Signs Three-Year Deal With Football Club Manchester United
The world’s largest online sports betting firm, Bwin, confirmed on Thursday that it has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with England Premier League football club Manchester United for an undisclosed amount.
Estrellas Poker Tour in Barcelona had 135 Players Remaining
The Estrellas Poker Tour is once again underway, this time in Catalunya, where Casino Barcelona plays host to the last event of the season. The €1,000 + €100 main event takes place from the 15th to 19th of August. On Wednesday’s day 1a, a record-breaking number of 372 players began their tournament, including 65 who qualified online at PokerStars.com.
When play concluded for the day, after nine levels of play, there were 135 players remaining.
Facebook Insider Lockup Ending, Share Impact to be Seen Thursday
On Thursday (August 16, 2012) we will get to see how Wall Street reacts to a deluge of Facebook shares hitting the market following the end of a so-called “lockup period”.
Since the largest social media network went public back in May, the share price has fallen from a peak of $45 to Wednesday’s closing price of $20.74.
Reuters Doris Frankel suggests the stock's slump may actually work in Facebook’s favor this week as insider’s may be less inclined to dump the 271 million shares that are unlocked on Thursday, hopeful of a fast recovery.
Swedish Motorcycle Gang Ties to Alleged Matt Marafioti Online Poker Hacking Scandal
The alleged Matt Marafioti/Samer Rahman online poker account hacking scandal gets more crazy by the day.
Book on Absolute Poker to be Written by Ben Mezrich (Video)
Appearing on CNBC’s “The Squawk Box” Wednesday, author Ben Mezrich revealed he is writing a book about Absolute Poker, an online poker site caught up in a series of indictments last year.
Online Poker CAP Tables Expanded to Include All Limits at Americas Cardroom
Just one week after introducing CAP tables at low stakes tables in its latest software update, Americas Cardroom has expanded CAP tables to include all limits. CAP tables will be available at low, medium and high-stakes tables, and no software update is needed to access the latest expansion.
Friends Fear Michael Phelps Wants to Become Poker Pro, Will Squander His $45 Mil (Video)
With one of the greatest poker players to ever live, Phil Hellmuth, gushing all over one of the greatest Olympians who has ever lived, Michael Phelps, it’s no wonder the rumor mill is alive with talk that Phelps is preparing to embark on a professional poker career.
Heartland Poker Tour's Annual Mile High Poker Open Promises Mountains of Cash
World Champ Greg “FossilMan” Raymer to Play at Golden Gates Casino & Poker Parlour
Powerball Jackpot Up to $320 Million
Rhode Island is looking to extend its lucky streak while other states residents have the opportunity to take part in one of the biggest Powerball jackpots ever.
Rhode Island state lottery officials say the jackpot for Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing has climbed to $320 million, making it the game’s 4th largest jackpot.
Cantor Gaming Combines Fantasy Football and Gambling
Gambling911.com reported just the other day on how Web-based sportsbooks such as Northbet were starting to enter the Fantasy Football fray. Now comes word that gambling giant Cantor Gaming will be offering its own Fantasy Football variant.
And, yes, there is gambling involved.
Poker Phenom Viktor Blom Ends Sponsorship Deal With PokerStars
Famed Swedish online poker player Viktor “Isildur1” Blom has ended his representation of the world’s largest online poker room, PokerStars, after nearly a two-year relationship.
