Gambling

Billionaire Who Blew Millions Gambling Blames the Devil: Won’t Pay Casino

A billionaire who gambled away £2million at London’s Ritz Casino is now refusing to pay his debt, claiming the devil made him do it.

The 52-year-old business mogul Safa Abdulla Al Geabury made that claim to a psychiatrist and it was presented to the High Court.

The frenzied gambling spree occurred in February of last year.  Mr. Al Geabury claims the urge to gamble was as if he had been possessed and that the casino should have stopped him instead of continuing to offer a £5million credit line.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jun/29/2015

Macau Gambling Junket Operator Accused in Money Laundering Probe

(Reuters) - A storied Macau junket operator, who has been the focus of a lengthy police investigation, has been accused of laundering HKD1.8 billion (USD232 million) through bank accounts in Hong Kong, according to court documents released this week.

Cheung Chi-tai, a former major shareholder of one of Macau's biggest junket operators the Neptune Group, is facing three separate charges of money laundering.

In November last year, the Hong Kong police launched a money-laundering investigation related to Cheung and had frozen his assets.

Submitted by Reuters on, Jun/27/2015

Nintendo Steps Back Into eSports Space

(Gambling911.com Sports Wire) – Nintendo was among the first gaming companies to embrace eSports back in 1990.  This is when Nintendo introduced the Nintendo World Championships.  Soon after, the company abandoned that market.  But eSports is more than ready for primetime this go-around and Nintendo has jumped back on the bandwagon effective last year.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jun/26/2015

DraftKings Loses Disney: Looking to Raise Another $250 Million

(Gambling911.com Fantasy Sports Wire) – DraftKings.com, the Boston-based Daily Fantasy Sports company considered second largest in the world, has entered into a lucrative marketing deal with ESPN, however, that sports channel’s parent company, Disney, has opted not to invest in the company.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jun/26/2015

RAWA Online Gambling Prohibition Bills Gains Little Traction in Congress

(Gambling911.com News Wire) – South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Utah Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz this week introduced legislation that would ultimately ban most forms of Web gambling at the federal level.  But their bill has failed to gain much traction in either chamber of the U.S. Congress.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Jun/26/2015

Does your Pay Per Head Site Keep You on Hold?

Maybe we need to explore the lingo a little, for purposes of this conversation. When you are "on hold," that means there is some kind of logistical or technical holdup that is keeping you from moving forward. The people from Premier Per Head are very familiar with the horror stories. 

Submitted by Matt Skinner on, Jun/25/2015

Rep. Barton introduces Internet Poker Freedom Act

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) introduced H.R. 2888, the Internet Poker Freedom Act of 2015 Thursday morning. The legislation licenses and regulates internet poker and seeks to restore the rights of people to play the “all-American” game, while at the same time protecting them from fraud. H.R. 2888 also mandates the implementation of technology that prohibits underage players, provides aid for problem gamblers, and preserves state’s rights.

Rep. Barton issued the following statement about the Internet Poker Freedom Act of 2015:

Submitted by Guest on, Jun/25/2015

Ron Paul Blasts RAWA Author in Own Home Town Paper: 'Worst Offender'

Writing an opt-in piece for the Salt Lake Tribune, former US Congressman Ron Paul has ripped Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz for what he sees as an attack on Internet commerce.  Dr. Paul also makes mention of a bill Chaffetz co-authored that looks to ban online gambling in the U.S. The Republican Utah Congressman introduced that measure yesterday along with its co-author, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Jun/25/2015

FantasyAces World Baseball Championship Final Close to Filling Up

(Gambling911.com Fantasy Sports Wire) - 13 of 20 slots have filled up for this year’s FantasyAces World Baseball Championship Final Saturday August 15 at 7:05 pm EST.  This one requires a $15,000 fee with first place taking home $100,000 and 2nd place gets $50,000.

Submitted by Mary Montgomery on, Jun/25/2015

Amaya Silent Over Insider Trading Investigation at Annual Meeting

MONTREAL – (Canadian Press) - Although Amaya is at the centre of an insider trading investigation of a US$4.9 billion acquisition, you wouldn't know it at the online gaming company's annual meeting Monday.

The subject was not broached by management and no shareholder raised a question about it to its chairman and CEO David Baazov, who is among those being investigated by Quebec's securities regulator.

Baazov later told reporters that the investigation makes great headlines but hasn't spooked investors or distracted Amaya officials.

Submitted by Canadian Press on, Jun/24/2015

Man Arrested for Urinating in Slot Machine Same Time ‘Slot Crapper” Caught on Cam

A 53-year-old Manalapan, New Jersey man has been identified as the individual caught urinating inside the coin tray of a slot machine.

The incident took place at the Parx Casino in Bensalem, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  William Robert Compton was also charged with resisting arrest.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jun/24/2015

Elderly Mobster Sent Back to Prison for Meeting With Gangster Pals

(Gambling911.com News Wire) – A Brooklyn federal judge has sentenced Jack Palazzolo, 77, to a year and a day behind bars after meeting with fellow mobsters when he was ordered not to as part of his probation arrangement. 

“The court is extremely concerned about the behavior that brings us to this day,” Judge Nicholas Garaufis said in a lecture to the geriatric mobster. “It’s rather astonishing that a person in your medical condition, Mr. Palazzolo, would be engaged in meeting with persons who are maybe involved in organized criminal activities.”

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jun/23/2015

Seven Arrested in Match Fixing Scheme

(Reuters) - Catania football club president Antonino Pulvirenti and six others were arrested on Tuesday (Wednesday NZT) on suspicion of fixing matches this year to keep the club from being relegated from Serie B, Italy's second division, investigators said.

Those arrested including Pulvirenti, who also owns dozens of supermarkets and an airline, are accused of sporting fraud and match-fixing, Catania police said in a statement.

Submitted by Reuters on, Jun/23/2015

Holy Sh*t: Shameless Gambler Defecates at the Slot Machines…. Twice

(Gambling911.com News Wire) – A shameless UK gambler was caught by security cameras defecating on the floor in front of the slot Machine arcade.  And as if that weren’t enough, he did number two twice.

As he gambles away, he clearly becomes agitated and begins making the trademark movements of someone desperate for a number two.

Before long, it all becomes too much for him, so he drops his trousers, squats in a corner of the room and indulges in a public poo.

He goes back to gambling but, repugnantly, he isn't quite finished.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jun/23/2015

BukBuk.com Next Generation Daily Fantasy Site to Debut August 1: $250K Giveaway

Referring to itself as the “next generation gaming with more transparency, more controls, and more ways to monetize your fantasy sports experience than ever before,” a new Daily Fantasy Sports site BukBuk.com is set to debut August 1, 2015.  BukBuk.com will also be giving away $250,000 to coincide with its launch.

Bukbuk says it has pre-registered in excess of 15,000 active daily fantasy players to assist in beta testing the system.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jun/22/2015

Former NHL Player Pleads Guilty in Wagering Case

A former Buffalo Sabre player, Nathan Paetsch, has plead guilty Monday in a U.S. District Court in Rochester to transmitting wagering information and structuring transactions in such a way to evade reporting requirements.  He had been facing up to seven years in prison.

Per the plea agreement, Paetsch will serve probation that involves eight months of home confinement and 400 hours of community service.  Paetsch has also agreed to forfeit assets such as a $76,941 BMW X5 and $265,000 cash.

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, Jun/22/2015

Hidden Notebook Reveals Pete Rose Gambled on Baseball as a Player Too

(Gambling911.com News Wire) – Shocking revelations surfaced on Monday that disgraced former Major League Baseball player turned manager, Pete Rose, not only bet on Baseball as a manager but also did so as a player.

Submitted by Don Shapiro on, Jun/22/2015

eSports Online Gambling Site Unikrn About to Close on ‘Major’ 2nd Round of Funding

Speaking to SBC News Sam Cooke on Monday, Rahul Sood, co-founder of eSports online gambling site Unikrn, revealed his firm is about to receive another round of secured funding.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jun/22/2015

Firefighter Sues Drug Companies: Claims Medication Made Her Gamble

ANDERSON, Ind. (Associated Press) — A former Indianapolis firefighter is suing two drug companies in federal court, saying they knew a medication she was prescribed could cause compulsive gambling but failed to act.

Kathryn Gillette is representing herself in the lawsuit that seeks $42 million in damages from Ridgefield, Connecticut-based Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and New York-based Pfizer Inc. The lawsuit was filed June 11 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jun/22/2015

Latitude360.com Becomes First Chain of Fantasy Sports Restaurants: Buys PlayMLF

Today, Latitude360 (LATX) (www.latitude360.com), the “ultimate upscale multi-dimensional entertainment eatery,” continues to embark on a nationwide expansion by acquiring Major League Fantasy (MLF) (

Submitted by Press Release on, Jun/22/2015

Paper Wants ‘Insane’ Indicted ‘Sports Tout to the Stars’ Secret Defense Unsealed

Indicted sports betting tout, Adam Meyer, reportedly has a secret he does not want revealed and the Court will maintain this secrecy, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jun/22/2015

Bwin.Party Sells World Poker Tour to Ourgame for $35 Million

(Gambling911.com News Wire) – Struggling Bwin.Party has sold its tournament arm, World Poker Tour, to Ourgame for US$35 million, Rueters revealed on Monday.  The sale was classified as debt free and payable in cash.

Ourgame is a Hong Kong-listed social gaming company with interests across Asia and a market capitalisation of approximately HK$5.7 billion (US$733m).

Under the terms of the transaction, bwin.party will continue to sponsor various WPT events and television shows in both the United States and Europe until 31 December 2016.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jun/22/2015

Kahnawake Indians to Take Control of Sports Interaction Amidst Political Torpor

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake earlier this month announced its intention to begin operating its first online gambling licensee, Sports Interaction.  That company was originally founded in Dublin, Ireland and operated for a brief period in the Dominican Republic before relocating to the Kahnawake Reserve in Quebec, Canada. 

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jun/21/2015

NBA Assistant General Counsel: Gambling is More Accepted Today

In an article appearing in today’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, NBA officials have conceded it is only a matter of time before sports betting becomes legalized in most US states. 

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Jun/21/2015

Two NYC Police Officers Attacked, Injured Trying to Break Up Gambling Party

(Gambling911.com News Wire) - Three individuals were arrested in the Bronx on charges of felony assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct after attacking two police officers early Saturday morning. 

The attack occurred at an illegal gambling party.  Police responded just before 1 am to break up the event.  Upon their arrival, they saw three men gambling and drinking open bottles of Hennessy.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jun/20/2015

SidePrize.com The Answer to Both Traditional and Daily Fantasy Linkage

With the launch of Atlanta-based SidePrize last week, there is now a way for players to enjoy both worlds of Fantasy Sports: Traditional and Daily.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jun/20/2015

Clinton Portis Facing Six-Figure Tax and Gambling Debts

(Gambling911.com News Wire) - Former NFL running back Clinton Portis is facing a serious tax fine and potentially jail time should he fail to enter into an installment agreement with the IRS.  Portis allegedly failed to pay $401,432.18 in federal income taxes in 2006, and he allegedly failed to pay $57,187.61 in federal income taxes in 2010.

The colorful one-time Redskins player also allegedly incurred a debt to the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas of $287,178.56 last month.  That’s not exactly going to help with paying off these tax fines.

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, Jun/19/2015

Daily Fantasy Sports Businesses Must Be Classified as Gambling Sites in UK

(Gambling911.com Fantasy Sports Wire) - An interesting dilemma has arisen with news that Daily Fantasy Sports powerhouse DraftKings recently submitted an application with the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.  Their intent was not immediately known but the presumption is that DraftKings will one day like to be regulated in the United Kingdom. After all, rival FanDuel.com was actually founded in the UK.

But this is an industry that is working hard to present itself as providing an activity not deemed to be gambling.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jun/19/2015

Bo Jackson to Host Home Run Derby for FanDuel Fantasy Sports Players

(Gambling911.com Fantasy Sports News Wire) – 1989 All-star outfielder and 1990 Pro Bowl running back Bo Jackson is set to host a home run derby in Las Vegas for 90 lucky FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball players.

The derby is a prelude to the $1 million World Fantasy Baseball Championship, which FanDuel, the world’s largest Daily Fantasy Sports site, will be hosting at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Hotel and Casino August 22.

Jackson is expected to hand out the check to the winner at the conclusion of the event. – Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jun/19/2015

UGA Bookies Are Finance, Economics Majors: Felony Warrants Issued in Athens

(Gambling911 News Wire) – Two University of Georgia students have been charged with running a lucrative commercial bookie business on the campus.  Authorities issued felony warrants following an investigation that started in November when UGA police received a hot tip.

Named in the warrants are Max Richard Braun, 22, and Brad Kirschner, 21, neither of whom were arrested as of Friday morning.  Braun is also wanted for alleged cocaine possession.

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, Jun/19/2015

Breaking News