Sportsbook News
Schillinger had Questionable Past: Was Fugitive Right Up to ‘Suicide’
World Sports Exchange founder Steve Schillinger came under fire early on in his offshore gambling days. This past weekend, one of online gambling’s pioneers was found dead in his Antigua condo, shot in the head, in a story first broken by Gambling911.com on Monday morning.
Will BuddyBet be the Next Social Online Gambling Phenom
Social gambling website BuddyBet has secured $3 million in funding from private investors.
BuddyBet lets buddies play against one another as opposed to playing against the actual website or a bookmaker. The site itself focuses exclusively on sports betting but will move into other sectors in the coming months.
VentureBeat.com explains the BuddyBet concept:
Foul Play Not Ruled Out in Shooting Death of WSEX.com Founder Steve Schillinger
Homicide detectives on the Caribbean island of Antigua have not ruled out homicide in the shooting death of World Sports Exchange (WSEX.com) founder Steve Schillinger.
The 60-year-old businessman was found dead in his Darkroom Beach condominium late Friday. He had been shot in the head with a .380 pistol.
Foxwoods Inks Deal With GameAccount
Foxwoods parent company, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, has inked a partnership deal with GameAccount Network as a means of pursuing legalized online gambling in the US.
Initially, the site will offer play-for-fun Web gambling. Other operators could ultimately join the Foxwoods network.
Legends Sports Defendant Spiros Athanas Helped Police Solve Brutal Murder
A man indicted for his alleged role in a massive sports betting ring actually helped US authorities capture a vicious killer, Gambling911.com can reveal.
WSEX Founder Shoots Self in Head: Commits Suicide
World Sports Exchange founder Steve Shillinger killed himself late Saturday, it was learned by Gambling911.com.
The company he founded was forced to shut down this past week as it was insolvent.
Shillinger shot himself in the head.
It was not immediately clear if the other two founders of WSEX.com, Hayden Ware and Jay Cohen, still had access to player funds.
The Legends Sports WagerWeb Bailout Explained
A number of Gambling911.com readers have inquired as to the nature of a 5-time rollover requirement in order to withdraw funds from their Legends Sports betting accounts, which are now in the process of being transferred over to WagerWeb. Good news, WagerWeb has informed Gambling911 that the rollver requirement is now 5 times (not 10).
Bet365 Family Coates Become Britain’s First Gambling Billionaires
Congratulations to Peter Coates, 75, his daughter Denise, 45, and son John, 43. The Coates family are about to become Great Britain’s first billionaires of gambling.
The elder Coates started Bet365 while his daughter is widely credited for building the brand’s online presence.
WagerWeb Takes Over Legends Sports Accounts: 5 X Rollover Required
Not exactly the most attractive deal in the world but WagerWeb.com is a good book and the situation could be far worse all things considered. They have informed Gambling911.com that the rollover requirement for the Legends bailout is 5 x as opposed to the previously reported 10 x. Good news for Legends customers indeed.
Legends Sports to Shut Down: Will Transfer Accounts to Other Book
Exactly one week after indictments were handed down against 34 individuals tied to Panama-based Legends Sports, that long established sportsbook has made the decision to shut down.
Legends alerted customers via email that they were in talks with another top online sportsbook to have all accounts transferred.
Spiros ‘The Greek’ Athanas Released on $1 Million Bond
One of online sports betting’s most legendary bookmakers, Spiros “The Greek” Athanas, has been released on $1 million bond according to court documents.
Athanas, one of 34 charged last Wednesday in connection to his alleged role in a multi-billion dollar sports betting ring, turned himself in two days later.
Vegas Refunds Celtics-Pacers Season Win Total Bets
In light of Monday’s tragic terrorist bombings at the Boston Marathon, Las Vegas sportsbooks have decided to refund all Celtics/Pacers season win total bets, according to Randy J. Bell of Pregame.com. It was not immediately clear if online sportsbooks would follow suit.
Guns, Online Gambling Ensure Bitcoin Staying Power
As long as online gambling remains on the fringe of legality in nations across the globe, Bitcoin should emerge as a viable alternative currency for the industry as more operators come to embrace it.
And then there are guns.
With US efforts to curb gun sales through expansion of background checks, Bitcoin suddenly becomes more attractive to gun sellers and buyers.
Winklevoss Twins Own 1 Percent of All Bitcoins: $1.3 Billion
The virtual currency Bitcoin may have lost nearly 75 percent of its value in recent days, remarkably bringing it back to last month’s levels, but that hasn’t stopped the Winklevoss twins from owning 1 percent of Bitcoin, equivalent to $1.3 billion.
Business as Un-Usual: Legends Sports Still Paying Out Within Hours
While no official statement has been issued by the betting company following Wednesday’s shocking wave of indictments by US law enforcement, a few customers of Legends.com (also found at www.legends.eu) have reported payouts within just a matter of hours on Thursday.
First Ever Online Gambling Affiliate Indicted for Recommending Website
In the first case of its kind, an online gambling affiliate based in the US has been named in an indictment for promoting an online sportsbook by simply recommending them.
Gregory “Patchman” Roberts was among 34 charged in a sweeping investigation into a sports betting operative, Legends Sports, which authorities claim had operatives based in both the US and in Panama. Gambling911.com first broke the story Wednesday afternoon.
Law Enforcement Used Skype Wire Taps in Sports Betting Probe Tied to Legends
Law enforcement utilized wire tapping of Skype conversations in an international offshore gambling probe that resulted in charges against principals of Legends Sports in Panama and others.
Legends Sports: ‘All Players Funds Safe Following OKC Indictment’
The US Justice Department out of Oklahoma City filed a 96-page indictment against one of Central America’s oldest US-facing bookmaking operations. Legends Sports and 34 individuals connected to the lucrative wagering business were charged with running an illegal sports betting ring, a story first broke by Gambling911.com.
57 Charged With Operating Illegal Sports Betting Ring
From FBI Oklahoma Division….It is not immediately known if individuals arrested earlier in the day from Albany, New York were tied to this matter. Both men were charged with their role in an extensive sports betting ring with arrests that were taking place thoughout the country Wednesday. This story is very fluid....
Head man of TheGreek.com also named in indictment.
Breaking News: Sports Betting Agents Being Rounded Up Throughout Florida
Gambling911.com has learned that the Northern District of New York was in the process of rounding up sportsbook agents throughout the state of Florida and elsewhere.
Details were not immediately known, however, the indictments are currently under seal and G911 has been unable to obtain further information.
BetRevolution.com Confiscates Players Funds: Claims ‘Syndicate’ Play
Online sportsbook BetRevolution.com has come under fire in recent days for reportedly confiscating $26,908 from two players citing syndicate betting, according to the website SportsBookReview.com.
According to the SBR site:
NATIXIS Issues ‘Buy’ Rating for Gambling Powerhouse William Hill
NATIXIS reissued a ‘buy’ rating on shares of England’s biggest bookmaker and online gambling firm William Hill with a target price of $7.16 on its stock.
This move follows JPMorgan Chase cutting their price target on shares of William Hill from $7.70 to $7.33 in a research note to investors on March 21st.
Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock.
Ex-Playtech, Asian Logic Man Greg Fermont Joins Bodog Asia
With Bodog Asia growing as both an operator and B2B provider the long search for a COO to join Managing Director, Robert Gustavsson and his team is finally over.
Greg Fermont’s industry experience speaks for itself with stints at Playtech, Asian Logic and most recently Sun City. Greg brings not just gaming knowledge to Bodog Asia but also years of regional experience so vital to success in the area.
RCMP Releases Names of Those Charged in Platinum SB Gambling Probe
As the result of an on-going illegal gaming investigation, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) has charged the following individuals with the offences of Commit a Criminal Offence for the Benefit of a Criminal Organization and Conspiracy to Commit the Indictable Offence of Engage in Bookmaking
Names of Those Arrested in Platinum SB Probe Yet to be Released
Though the RCMP announced it would be identifying those arrested Tuesday March 5, 2013 in connection with a massive bookmaking operation in the Ontario region today, this was yet to occur as of Wednesday evening.
18 More Arrests Made in Connection With Platinum Sportsbook Probe
The RCMP arrested another 18 individuals in connection with an ongoing case tied to Web-based sports betting operator Platinum Sportsbook (or Platinum SB).
RCMP to Release More Info on Platinum Sportsbook in Wake of Super Bowl Raid
The RCMP were expected to release information pertaining to Platinum Sportsbook following a much publicized raid during a Super Bowl party last month.
Online Gambling Web Chat Files: ‘A Phone Call From God Won’t Save You’
Social gaming, this is not. Angry customers have taken to the posting forums to cut and paste online chats with reps from various online gambling sites. Some of the best cut and pasted chats are courtesy of 5Dimes.com customer as the owner of that long-established company loves to “engage” with his clientele on occasion.
Ladbrokes Gaining Ground in Online Gambling
(Reuters) - Ladbrokes, Britain's second-largest bookmaker, expects to see payback this year from a 50 million pound ($77 million investment in an online business that had failed to keep pace with rivals.
While growing numbers of people are gambling via smartphones and tablet computers, Ladbrokes has been hit by delays upgrading its technology. It has lost ground to market leader William Hill in online and faced competition from smaller rivals.
Betmaker Exchange Customers Moved to Bookmaker
Bookmaker has taken over all existing accounts of the US-facing online betting exchange Betmaker, it was announced on Tuesday.
All funds are safe and the transfer of accounts was expected to be seamless.
