Playtech May Complicate William Hill Takeover of Sportingbet

LONDON (Reuters) - British bookmaker William Hill has rejected a claim by joint venture partner Playtech that it should share in the benefits of a planned takeover of online gambling group Sportingbet.

The intervention by software group Playtech has complicated a deals seen as pivotal in the overseas expansion of William Hill, Britain's largest bookmaker.

William Hill is spending 454 million pounds to acquire Sportingbet's Australian operations and an option to buy its business in Spain.

Submitted by Reuters on,

7Red Sports Alive and Kicking Despite Reported BetIslands Purchase

A representative for 7Red Sports insists his company has nothing to do with beleaguered BetIsland and it is business as usual.

An individual representing himself as the owner of now defunct BetIslands.com announced earlier in the month that his sportsbook had just purchased 7Red Sports.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on,

Defense Rests in High Profile Philadelphia Mob Trial

PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — They won’t be going home for Christmas, but several accused mobsters appeared upbeat Wednesday as their racketeering trial in Philadelphia nears an end.

Submitted by Associated Press on,

BetCRIS.com Announces Major Acquisition

San Jose, Costa Rica -- BetCRIS.com, one of the leaders in the online gaming industry, announced the acquisition of all BookMaker.eu non-US accounts.

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Submitted by Press Release on,

BetIslands.com, EZ Street and 7RedSports.com to Shut Down: 'Money Man' Pulls Out

SBRForum.com confirmed Tuesday morning what many hard core sports bettors already feared, that BetIslands.com will be shutting down and stiffing its relatively small but high end customer base.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on,

Sports Bettors Fear the Worst as BetIslands Payout Issues Mount

Sports bettors were on edge following reports that tiny BetIslands.com may be on its way to shutting down.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on,

Replacement Checks for TopBet.com Customers Now Arriving

Good news for TopBet.com customers as some have reported the receipt of new replacement checks following a series of payouts that resulted in “insufficient funds” (i.e. checks bouncing).

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Gambling911.com reported earlier in the week that TopBet.com had lost one of its processors, a common industry problem facing US-based players.

Submitted by C Costigan on,

Bwin.party Head Jim Ryan Steps Down

Bwin.party CEO Jim Ryan announced he will be resigning from the world’s largest online gambling firm in January.  Norbert Teufelberger, who acted joint CEO, will assume sole responsibilities for that position.

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Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on,

UK Putting Restraints on Internet Gambling Firms

The United Kingdom, long a hotbed for Internet gambling firms, has drafted a gambling bill that would tighten current regulation.

The bill would require overseas operators to inform the Government about suspicious betting patterns. 

A 2005 bill enabled companies operating in Gibraltar and the Isle of Man to obtain a gambling license from the UK as well as advertise there.  

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on,

Sportsbook Live Traders Needed for Immediate Hire

An online sportsbook with explosive growth is looking to hire between 7-10 more live remote traders immediately. 

These positions are ideal for individual with linesmaking experience.

Here is the ad: 

Submitted by Press Release on,

Top Bet Checks Bouncing Following Loss of Payment Processor

Concerned sports bettors have taken to the message boards complaining of checks issued by online sportsbook Top Bet bouncing (insufficient funds). 

The culprit is a loss of their payment processor, which has also prevented most new depositors from coming on board as well. 

Submitted by C Costigan on,

Help Wanted: Online Gambling Live Betting Traders Needed

Live Betting Traders

A leading online sportsbook is looking to fill several part and full-time Live Trader positions. Both remote (from home) and in-office (Central America) positions are immediately available.

Job description:

Live Traders manage the live in-game odds of various sporting events, while balancing the monetary win/loss exposure.

Necessary skills:

Submitted by Press Release on,

Andy Murray Helps Betfair Smash Record After Slow Football Start

Betfair, the world’s largest betting exchange, revealed on Tuesday that the Wimbledon final was its biggest ever market following reports that the company has gotten off to a slow start with Premier League wagering. 

Betfair.com reports that more than £58 million of bets were taken on the July tennis match in which Murray lost to Roger Federer but ultimately went on to secure his first ever Grand Slam title in New York. 

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on,

Skybook.com Owner Sentenced to 2.5 Years in Prison

A St. Charles, Louisiana man, Anthony Buttitta, 43, has been sentenced to 2.5 years behind bars for tax evasion.  He and his father, Dominic Buttitta, 69, of South Barrington, plead to two felony counts filed against them in U.S. District Court and were sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on,

Terror in Costa Rica as More Earthquake Videos Surface (Video)

San Jose, Costa Rica, is, and has been for over 15 years, the epicenter of online gambling.  Up until recently even PokerStars, the world’s largest “real money” online poker firm, maintained a base there. 

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San Jose is an epicenter for something else.....EARTHQUAKES!

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on,

Costa Rica Earthquake Causes Significant Damage: Online Gambling Businesses Fine

The hub for several dozen online gambling businesses, San Jose, Costa Rica, was spared any significant damage from Wednesday’s 7.6 magnitude earthquake just 100 miles to the west.

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Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on,

7.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Online Gambling Hub of San Jose, Costa Rica

A 7.9 magnitude earthquake has hit the online gambling hub of San Jose, Costa Rica, one of the worst quakes in some time.  The earthquake hit at 14:42 UTC, just before 9 am local and 11 am EDT.

The quake was not directly located in the San Jose region where most online gambling companies are set up.  Employees were rattled by the event as one of the biggest weekend’s in online sports betting is about to kick off. 

Nearby Cities

Submitted by C Costigan on,

David Gzesh Confirms Sale of Seized Online Gambling Domains

Michael H. Berkens of TheDomains.com has confirmed that attorney David Gzesh purchased and put up for sale online gambling domain names previously seized by US authorities.

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Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on,

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.

Submitted by C Costigan on,

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

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on,

Heritage Sportsbook Joins the Winning Poker Network: First Time to Offer Online Poker

One of the oldest online sportsbooks, the member referral Heritage Sports, has just joined the Winning Poker Network.  A number of top sportsbooks utilize the network including Bookmaker.com, BetDSI.com, betCRIS.com and 5Dimes.  Americas Cardroom is Winning Poker Network’s marquee brand. 

Submitted by Ace King on,

Congressman John Tierney May Face Ethics Probe in Connection to ‘Bookie-Gate’

Eight-term Massachusetts Congressman John Tierney continues to fight for his political career after it was revealed that three nonpartisan open-government groups want the Democrat investigated by the House Committee on Ethics.

Tierney is accused of failing to publicly disclose more than $200,000 that his wife received while managing a bank account with money that came from her brother’s ­illegal gambling business.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on,

‘Kite Marks’ for Online Gambling Could Encourage Operators to Obtain License in UK

Regulators in the United Kingdom have proposed using a “kite-marking system” as a means of encouraging operators to seek regulation there.

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Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on,

Mass Congressman John F. Tierney Under Fire for Dining at Antiguan Bookie’s Home

“Dinner at my wife’s brother’s house. I don’t think that people would think that’s extraordinary,” Massachusetts Congressman John F. Tierney said at a recent news conference.

That is unless your brother-in-law just happens to be Bobby Eremian, one of the first men to set up an offshore sports betting company on the island of Antigua where Tierney and his wife were invited guests. 

Submitted by C Costigan on,

BetED.com Head Gets 2 Years Probation in ‘Blue Monday’ Online Gambling Conviction

Darren Wright, the 43-year-old head of now defunct online gambling outfit BetED.com, has been given two years probation for his role in running the establishment.

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Wright was charged with bank fraud and aiding and abetting in regard to running an illegal gambling operation.

Submitted by C Costigan on,

Bookmakers May Become Extinct Like the Dinosaurs

The Ice Age killed off the dinosaurs and it appears the Internet may soon kill off the bookmakers. 

What is widely considered the second oldest industry in the world after prostitution, bookies throughout Ireland have had to contend with the Internet and turnover numbers that have seen a massive 19 per cent decline during the first half of 2012. 

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on,

Defendant in ‘Blue Monday’ Online Gambling Indictment Sentencing Sealed

No word yet on the fate of Darren Wright, the 43-year-old head of defunct online gambling company BetED.com and ThrillX.

Wright was caught up in a sting operation organized by the US Attorneys Office in Baltimore resulting in charges of money laundering and aiding and abetting of an online gambling business back in May of last year.  The investigation took place over a nearly two-year period. 

Submitted by C Costigan on,

BetED.com Head Darren Wright Arraigned Monday

A defendant caught up in a Maryland US Attorney online gambling sting operation has been arraigned.  Update:  Sentencing was under seal.   

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Submitted by C Costigan on,

Big Boss at Paddy Power Appears on ‘Undercover Boss’

Soon-to-be Head of Operations for Ireland’s biggest bookmaker Paddy Power, William Reeves, is currently appearing on tonight’s episode of “Undercover Boss”, airing in the UK. 

Submitted by Jordan Bach on,

888 Poker, Casino Revenue Stun Investors: Share Price Rises 14 Per Cent

The week ended solid for 888 Holdings, parent company of the world’s 4th largest online poker venture, 888Poker.com. 

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Stocks sored up 14 per cent on news that company profits were “materially ahead”, due in part to a strong presence in the Spain market.

The firm is now the second-biggest player in the Spanish poker market after PokerStars.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on,