Gambling News

Police Investigate Website That Lists Gambling Deadbeats

(Reuters) - A bilingual website has been naming and shaming gamblers who allegedly fail to pay Macau casino debts.

The site, Wonderful World, claims it has already helped recover 50 million yuan (HK$63.35 million).

But the police are not sure about its legality and are now compiling an internal report.

The English version features a list of more than 70 people from across China who have allegedly failed to repay debts ranging from thousands to millions of yuan.

Submitted by Reuters on, Aug/29/2013

Blair Hinkle Wins Inaugural Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open: Record Broke

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - Blair Hinkle of Kansas City, Missouri, walked away as the $1.7 million champion of the inaugural Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, held August 8 – 28, 2013 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Submitted by Press Release on, Aug/29/2013

PFA Pledges Full Support for Gambling Chief Gordon Taylor

LONDON (Reuters) - England's Professional Footballers' Association pledged its full support for chief executive Gordon Taylor on Thursday following newspaper allegations that he ran up gambling debts of over 100,000 pounds.

The Sun said that Taylor, who has been in the role since 1981, had gambled four million pounds in 2000 bets over two-and-half years, and owed a now-defunct telephone betting firm just over 100,000 pounds.

Submitted by Reuters on, Aug/29/2013

Americas Cardroom Gets Rid of Bad Beat Jackpots: Replaces With Bigger Promo

Popular online poker site Americas Cardroom is putting an end to bad beats—or at least an end to its Bad Beat Jackpot promotion. Effective September 1st, Americas Cardroom is phasing out the online poker contest that paid players for losing a hand with a pair of eights or better.

Submitted by Press Release on, Aug/29/2013

Maryland Live! Opens New Poker Room to Full House

HANOVER, Md. (AP) - The 52-table poker room at Maryland's largest casino opened Wednesday.

Dealers began shuffling cards at Maryland Live! Casino in Hanover at noon. A grand opening ceremony was held at 11 a.m.

Some people got in line early, waiting over five hours to play their first hand.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Aug/28/2013

Betting Scandal: Gordon Taylor ‘Looked Bewildered, Bruised and Broken’

The Daily Mail is calling it Chief Gordon Taylor’s worst day in his 41 years at the PFA.

The current chief has been caught up in a gambling scandal that could ultimately leave him crippled.

Submitted by Alistair Prescott on, Aug/28/2013

888 Plans Online Gambling Expansion Into California, Florida, New York

With online gambling already legalized in Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware, 888 Holdings has its eyes on bigger fish, some of the most populous states in the US.

888 boss Brian Mattingley signaled moves into potential emerging online gambling markets like California, New York and Florida.

 “There are now nine more states considering [legalising online poker]. California is beyond doubt the biggest prize, and between California, New York, New Jersey and Florida that’s 50pc of the potential market,” Mattingley said.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Aug/28/2013

The Commerce Casino Unveils HPT Championship Belt

Commerce, CA - The champion of Heartland Poker Tour’s upcoming event at The Commerce Casino will take home more than fame and fortune on September 23rd.  The winner of the nationally-televised Main Event in the world’s largest poker room will also score an ornate custom-made belt.  Although similar belts are common in sports like pro wrestling, the belt is a first-of-its-kind for poker in the Unites States.

Submitted by Press Release on, Aug/28/2013

Bond Set for Mississippi Man Charged in Massive Dog Fighting Ring

GULFPORT, Miss. (Associated Press) - Bond has been set at $25,000 for a Biloxi, Miss., man arrested in a federal investigation of dog fighting and gambling.

Ricky Van Le was among 12 people arrested by federal authorities Friday in an investigation into organized dog fighting and gambling in the Southeast. The defendants allegedly conspired to promote and sponsor dog fights and arranged for dogs to be at the fights in several south and east Alabama counties and in Holly Springs, Miss., between 2009 and 2013.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Aug/28/2013

US Government to Get $47.4 Mil From Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp

LOS ANGELES (Associated Press) — Casino operator Las Vegas Sands Corp. has agreed to pay $47.4 million after failing to flag millions of dollars in money transfers made by a gambler linked to drug trafficking.

In return, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles will not seek an indictment against the casino operator, prosecutors said Tuesday.

The deal, finalized late Monday, also brings the government's criminal investigation to a close, but requires Las Vegas Sands to boost its efforts to monitor suspicious financial transactions for the next two years.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Aug/28/2013

Delaware Rolls Out Online Gambling

The US state of Delaware rolled out its free online casino gaming platform Wednesday ahead of its planned October launch of real money online gambling.

"This first phase will allow us to really get the players acclimated to the virtual world in a legalized environment," said Tom Cook, Delaware's secretary of finance.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Aug/28/2013

Steven Silverman Wins First Ever Alpha8 $100k Event

Steven Silverman has won the inaugural Alpha8 $100,000 event and the grand prize of $891,660.

Silverman has been on a huge roll of late, recently winning the 2013 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final back in May and the $1,112,322 cash prize.  The poker pro has accumulated just over $3 million in live tournaments, including this week’s Alpha8 win.

JC Tran finished 2nd at the Seminole Hard Rock event.

Submitted by Press Release on, Aug/28/2013

Justin Bonomo Makes Final Table of 2013 Hard Rock Poker Open Main Event

Poker pro Justin Bonomo has made the final table of the 2013 Hard Rock Poker Open Main Event in Hollywood, Florida.

Bonomo is a successful poker player who has won nearly $6.9 million in his live tournament career.

Submitted by Patrick Flanigan on, Aug/27/2013

Poker Pro Prahlad Friedman Divorce: Who Will Get the Party Mansion

Poker pro Prahlad Friedman and Dee Luong Friedman are getting a divorce.

According to TMZ.com, Dee filed for divorce on grounds of irreconcilable differences. 

While the two do not have any children, they do have a 4200 square foot estate in the cliffs of Malibu just miles from the beach.

The couple separated back in April and it was not immediately clear who remained living in the mansion. 

Submitted by Patrick Flanigan on, Aug/27/2013

Footballer Union Chief Gordon Taylor Wagered £4million in Under 3 Years Says Sun

In a London Sun shock report, it has been revealed that PFA boss Gordon Taylor wagered 
£4million on 2,000 bets in 30 months.

At the same time, he warned players of the perils of betting.

The exclusive report was unveiled during the early morning hours Wednesday.

Submitted by Alistair Prescott on, Aug/27/2013

Poker Pro Robert Hoff Passes Away Unexpectedly

Poker player Robert “Bobby” Hoff has passed away unexpectedly at the age of 73.

He was a regular fixture on the poker scene with the likes of Doyle Brunson and Brian “Sailor” Roberts.

Hoff was best known for his 2nd place finish at the 1979 World Series of Poker.

80-year-old poker icon Doyle Brunson expressed his condolences via Twitter.

Submitted by Ace King on, Aug/27/2013

Report: Billie Jean King’s ‘Battle of the Sexes’ Win Rigged Due to Mob Gambling Debt

A report surfaced Tuesday that Billie Jean King’s “Battle of the Sexes” win in 1973 may have been fixed. 

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Aug/27/2013

Scores Strip Club Opening Inside Atlantic City Taj Mahal Casino

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – (Associated Press) - What if, after seven years of plunging casino revenues and fleeing customers, Atlantic City's real problem was this: People are wearing too much clothing?

Scores, the famous New York strip club, will open a satellite establishment inside the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort next month -- the first strip club inside an Atlantic City casino in the 35 years of legal gambling here.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Aug/26/2013

CNBC: ‘Seismic Shift’ Coming for UK Bookmakers as Government Imposes Tax

CNBC on Monday reported that UK-based bookmakers and other online gambling websites will be scrambling to move into the Asian and Australian markets following news that Great Britain plans to impose a 15 per cent levy on remote betting firms. 

This will hit major U.K. bookmakers like William Hill and Ladbrokes, which operate from Gibraltar, where taxes are currently levied at 1 per cent and capped at £425,000, CNBC notes.

Smaller bookmakers are likely to be forced out of the market.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Aug/26/2013

21 Players Remain at Hard Rock Poker Open

David “Doc” Sands was among the big names still alive at the 2013 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open in Hollywood, Florida.

21 players remain with Mukul Pahuja leading the pack. Pahuja has $375,900 in total winnings on the live circuit.  The New York State native also has 38 cashes.

Submitted by Patrick Flanigan on, Aug/26/2013

Allied Veterans Lawyer Wants Charges Tossed

SANFORD, Fla. (Associated Press) - A Jacksonville attorney who prosecutors claim was the mastermind of a veterans' charity that actually was a $300 million gambling operation was in court asking that some of his criminal charges be tossed out.

Kelly Mathis was in a Seminole County courtroom Monday, trying to convince a Florida judge to dismiss money laundering charges he faces.

Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester didn't immediately rule.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Aug/26/2013

Victoryland Case Gets New Judge

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (Associated Press) -- A new judge has been assigned to the case involving the state attorney general's seizure of electronic gambling machines and cash from VictoryLand casino in Shorter.

Circuit Judge Tom Young has appointed Circuit Judge Ray Martin to replace him in the Macon County case.

The Alabama Supreme Court ordered Young to step aside from the case Friday because he made disparaging remarks about the state's "attempts to enforce Alabama's gambling laws against VictoryLand."

Submitted by Associated Press on, Aug/26/2013

12 Arrested in Multi-State Gambling Dog Fighting Ring

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Associated Press) — A federal and state investigation into dog fighting and gambling has resulted in the arrest of 12 people from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas.

U.S. Attorney George Beck said Monday the 12 are charged with conducting an illegal gambling business and multiple dog fighting charges, including promoting dog fights. Additional defendants are being sought.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Aug/26/2013

More Arrests Possible in Billion Dollar Sports Betting Case Tied to Legends

A promised superseding indictment by the US Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma related to a billion dollar sports betting ring was expected to be handed down in the coming days, quite possibly in conjunction with the start of the 2013 NCAA College Football season by week’s end.

Thirty-four individuals and 23 entities from across the US and the country of Panama have already been indicted.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Aug/26/2013

Governor Chris Christie: ‘New Jersey Will Win Sports Betting Case’

Sitting in as a special co-host on the “Boomer and Carton in the Morning” show in New York Monday morning, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie proclaimed that his state will win its case against the professional sports leagues in their effort to prevent sports betting in NJ.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Aug/26/2013

European Poker Tour Awards Half a Billion Euros to Players in First Nine Seasons

ONCHAN, Isle of Man – As the European Poker Tour gears up for the start of its tenth season in Barcelona next week, EPT President Edgar Stuchly revealed today that the EPT is on the brink of a major milestone having paid out almost half a billion euros – €499,908,225 – in tournament prizes to players in just nine years. 

Submitted by Press Release on, Aug/26/2013

High Stake Poker Players Accept Plea Deals in Russian Mob Gambling Probe

Two high stakes poker players have plead guilty to reduced charges in connection to a gambling ring bust that allegedly has ties to the Russian Mob.

Justin Smith, 25, and Edwin Ting, 41, have plead guilty to running an Internet gambling business.  They are two of 34 individuals charged.

Two other men plead guilty earlier in the week.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Aug/25/2013

Hollywood Police: Chino Rheem Not Likely to Be Arrested at Hard Rock Poker Open

The Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open $10 Million Guarantee Championship event continues into Day 3 with one of poker’s bad boys among the top 10 chip leaders.

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The bad boy in question would be David "Chino" Rheem.

Submitted by Ace King on, Aug/25/2013

Online Gambling Accounts for More Than Half of Bitcoin Transactions

Bitcoin is becoming big business in the world of online gambling.  Earlier in the month, Gambling911.com reported that one of its ad sponsors, SportsBettingOnline.com, had become the first online sportsbook that was not bitcoin exclusive to begin offering the anonymous digital currency. 

Submitted by Alejandro Botticelli on, Aug/25/2013

First Ever 100 Percent Online Poker Reload Bonus Offered at the New WinCake.com

Win Cake is running its very first 100% Reload Bonus today (August 24, 2013) through Monday (August 26, 2013, midnight GMT).

This gives players a bonus of up to $500 cash, and of course, with their new Casino FPPs the opportunity to earn those funds will come even faster by playing blackjack, slots, video poker or Casino Holdem.

Submitted by Payton on, Aug/24/2013

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