Gambling

Kahnawake Gaming Commission: No Addressing the Status of Absolute Poker, UB.com (Video)

General Counsel not asked about Absolute Poker payment status nor does he bring it up

SBR newswoman Natalie Rydström interviews Murray Marshall, General Counsel for the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Since 1999, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission has been the licensing and regulatory authority for Canadian interactive gaming companies. Mr. Marshall discusses in detail how the KGC operates.

What many people want to know is “What’s the status of UB.com and Absolute Poker”?

Submitted by C Costigan on, Jul/16/2012

Casinos in the Meadowlands Unlikely Any Time Soon

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has been adamant that he does not want casinos anywhere outside of Atlantic City.  Nevertheless, a state Assembly committee will convene at the Meadowlands Racetrack next week to discuss the potential of casino gambling in North Jersey.   

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Jul/13/2012

Las Vegas Visitation Up, Gambling Down

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Las Vegas saw slightly more visitors this May compared with the same month last year, although gambling was down more than 10 percent in Clark County.

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The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority says about 3.5 million visitors came to Las Vegas in May. That's 2.4 percent up from the same month last year, when 3.4 million people visited Sin City.

Submitted by Guest on, Jul/13/2012

Ladbrokes Slashes Odds on Heathrow passport Queues During Olympics

(Reuters) - Queuing and gambling, two popular pastimes in Britain, will be especially prominent during the looming London Olympics, starting at Heathrow Airport's arrival terminals it appears.

The slow pace of immigration checks has come under fire as Olympic officials and athletes begin arriving for the two-week Games and a leading bookmaker has already made it a racing certainty that an hour-long wait will be experienced.

Submitted by Guest on, Jul/13/2012

Paddy Power Passes Preliminary Review to Operate Online Gambling Site in Nevada

While it is yet to name a potential business partner from the US, the United Kingdom’s third largest bookmaker, Paddy Power, was granted a preliminary finding of suitability to operate in Nevada by state gaming regulators Wednesday.

"The U.S. is a key potential new market for us," Paddy Power Chief Executive Officer Patrick Kennedy said on Wednesday.   "We're looking at all opportunities in the U.S., but our expertise is in online gaming.  That's obviously what we're looking at doing in Nevada and in other states."

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jul/12/2012

Phil Ivey Divorce Settlement Fuels Nevada Supreme Court Arguments

CARSON CITY, Nev. — (Associated Press) - Poker pro Phil Ivey’s divorce case has the Nevada Supreme Court considering whether judges should oversee cases involving people from whom they’ve accepted campaign contributions.

The state high court heard 45 minutes of arguments Tuesday in Carson City on a lawsuit by Ivey’s ex-wife, Luciaetta Ivey, alleging decisions by a Family Court judge who handled the couple’s divorce were tainted by a $5,000 campaign donation.

Submitted by Guest on, Jul/12/2012

Texas Online Poker Payment Processor Agrees to Forfeit $6m

A Texas-based online poker payment processor indicted April 15, 2011 has agreed to forfeit $5 million.

LST Financial of San Antonio and managing director Gregory Colton also promised "not to knowingly provide, either directly or indirectly, payment processing services for Internet gambling, including Internet poker”.

The company claims it was duped into processing the payments by three online poker rooms that were also charged at the time, including PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and UB.com.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jul/12/2012

Russia Sweetens the pot for Global Gambling Giants

* Vladivostok casino zone offering near zero tax rate

* First phase scheduled for 2016 completion

* Up to 12 casino-resorts anticipated for region

* Revenues forecast at $2 billion to $7 billion

By Farah Master

HONG KONG, July 12 (Reuters) - A Russian territory hoping to lure global casino titans to set up large-scale resorts has unveiled initial guidelines that offer companies more lucrative terms than Macau and Singapore, intensifying the race to secure investments in Asia's expanding gambling industry.

Submitted by Guest on, Jul/12/2012

PokerStars Full Tilt Poker Deal Still On Despite Rumors to the Contrary

PokerStars Head of Corporate Communications, Andrew Feldman, shot down rumors Wednesday that the company had backed out of a deal to purchase the assets of shuttered Full Tilt Poker.  Stars was widely expected to pay back monies owed to players of the one time second largest online poker company in the world. 

This tweet appeared late Wednesday: 

Andrew Feldman @AFeldmanESPN

The Head of Corp Communications for @PokerStars @erichollreiser says the Twitter rumors of PS folding on the FTP deal is "false"

Submitted by C Costigan on, Jul/11/2012

Liquidator Appointed for Purple Lounge Online Poker Room, Casino

The parent company of shuttered online poker and casino site Purple Lounge has appointed a liquidator, the UK firm of Chartered Accountants, Baker Tilly Restructuring and Recovery LLP.  A creditors meeting will be held July 23. 

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Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jul/11/2012

Facebook Introduces New Game ‘Hotel Casino’

There has been much discussion this week over Facebook apps like Zynga’s Farmville and Texas Hold’em Poker offering real money play down the road.  Add Hotel Casino to that list as it seems custom made for such a platform.

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Hotel Casino is Facebook’s newest game, described as “allowing players to manage their own hotel casino, and play each other at their favorite casino games for simulated bets and rewards”.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jul/11/2012

MGM Resorts Asks Mass. Casino Panel to Reconsider 2-step Bidding Process

BOSTON — (Associated Press) - MGM Resorts has asked the state's new gambling commission to reconsider its proposal to prequalify potential bidders for casino licenses in Massachusetts.

The Las Vegas company said in a letter released by the panel on Tuesday that the two-step process would unnecessarily slow the bidding process and waste time and resources.

Submitted by Guest on, Jul/11/2012

DOJ Asks for Leniency for Absolute Poker Executive

The US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York have requested a reduced sentenced for an executive of Absolute Poker who they say has been fully cooperative following charges of money laundering and bank fraud in April 2011. 

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Brent Beckley’s sentencing has been postponed on a number of occasions already.  Beckley acted as an executive for both Absolute Poker and UB.com. 

Submitted by C Costigan on, Jul/10/2012

Howard Lederer, PokerStars File For Motion to Dismiss in Online Poker Complaint

The US Government contends the man most associated with disgraced Full Tilt Poker, Howard Lederer, had been involved in an elaborate ponzi scheme.  Last week, US authorities arrested Full Tilt CEO Raymond Bitar, who was indicted for money laundering and bank fraud last year.  They slapped a superseding indictment upon Bitar immediately following his arrest, charging he too was involved in a ponzi scheme to defraud customers. 

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Submitted by C Costigan on, Jul/10/2012

Revel Ranks 8th of 12 Atlantic City Casinos 3rd Month in a Row

By Wayne Parry on July 10, 2012

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Three 8s is a lousy poker hand, and it's an equally inauspicious way to launch a casino.

Yet that's exactly what Revel has to show for itself after three months of operation, ranking 8th out of Atlantic City's 12 casinos in terms of gambling revenue in each of those months.

New Jersey's newest casino took in $14.9 million in June, up $1 million since May, when it took in $13.9 million. In April, its first month of operation, it won $13.4 million.

Submitted by Guest on, Jul/10/2012

Gambling Company News and Tweets – July 10, 2012 (3 pm EST)

Here is all the latest Twitter chatter related to the gambling sector – poker, sports betting, financials, entertainment, politics and more.  Be sure to follow Gambling911.com on TWITTER here to get all the latest updated gambling news as it happens. 

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Top Current Company News:  Bwin Euro 2012 results, Betable.com, Zynga

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jul/10/2012

So Just Who Are The 5 Supporting Ray Bitar: Poker Boss Backers Should be Exposed

It came to light Monday night that Full Tilt Poker disgraced CEO Raymond Bitar was released after posting $2 million in cash and property to secure his $2.5 million bond.  This included a warehouse owned by the one-time Internet poker kingpin.

None of this was entirely surprising.  Immediately following his arrest at New York’s JFK Airport last week, a judge had indicated Bitar would be allowed out on bail. 

Submitted by C Costigan on, Jul/09/2012

Full Tilt Poker CEO Ray Bitar Released From Prison

The disgraced CEO of shuttered online poker company Full Tilt Poker has been released from prison after surrendering to law enforcement in the US last week. 

Raymond Bitar was freed on $2.5 million bond only after agreeing to post $2 million in property to ensure he returns to U.S. District Court in Manhattan when prompted to do so.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Jul/09/2012

Betable Wants to Revolutionize Online Gambling Industry, Bring Real Money to Social Gaming

Betable introduced the world's first real-money gaming platform and announced its private beta developer program on Monday with Founder and CEO Christopher Griffin slated to appear on a panel Tuesday (July 10) at VentureBeat's GamesBeat 2012 titled "Social Casino Games" at 2:30 p.m. PST.  (read more on the Betable blog here)

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Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jul/09/2012

Federal Online Poker Measure Could be Voted on This Month

It’s not dead yet, so says Texas Republican Congressman Joe Barton.  A measure to legalize online poker federally in the US could be voted on this month (July 2012).

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“We’ve got the votes in the House if it comes up for a vote,” Barton said.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Jul/09/2012

Macau Gambling Junkets Risk Losing Their Game

Farah Master, Reuters

MACAU (Reuters) - The shadowy companies that bring China's millionaires to the gambling tables of Macau are facing their toughest time since the 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers, and some of the smaller players may soon drop out of the game for good.

Submitted by Guest on, Jul/08/2012

Ghost Wager Will Pay £101,840 With Roger Federer Wimbledon Win

A wager made nine years ago by a man who has since passed away is set to pay out £101,840 should Roger Federer win the Men’s Wimbledon Final on Sunday.

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Nick Newlife bet £1,520 in 2003 that Federer would win seven or more finals.  At the time, the UK’s largest bookmaker William Hill was offering odds of 66/1 with the potential payout today totaling £101,840.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Jul/07/2012

Macau's Melco in $1B Philippine Casino Project

HONG KONG (AP) — Macau gambling company Melco Crown Entertainment is teaming up with the Philippines' richest man to develop a $1 billion casino resort in Manila in a sign of the industry's plans for rapid expansion in Asia.

Melco said late Thursday that it would develop the project with three companies controlled by Philippine tycoon Henry Sy. Melco is jointly controlled by Lawrence Ho, who is the son of Macau casino king Stanley Ho, and James Packer, the son of late Australian media magnate Kerry Packer.

Submitted by Guest on, Jul/06/2012

5050 Poker Players to Just Get 15 Percent Back, If That

Following the abrupt closure of 5050Poker last month, the shuttered online poker company has revealed that affected customers will only be entitled to 15 percent of their funds back, and they’ll be lucky to even get that.

A statement from the company read: 

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jul/06/2012

Gambling Company News and Tweets – July 5, 2012 (Overnight/Morning Edition)

Here is all the latest Twitter chatter related to the gambling sector – poker, sports betting, financials, entertainment, politics and more.  Be sure to follow Gambling911.com on TWITTER here to get all the latest updated gambling news as it happens. 

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Top Current Company News:  Zynga, Betfair

Submitted by Mary Montgomery on, Jul/05/2012

Congressman John Tierney Vows to Stay in Race Following Gambling Allegations

Massachusetts Congressman John Tierney has said he will stay in the race to hold his House seat despite allegations he knew of an “illegal” offshore wagering site that employed his wife Patrice.

Tierney’s wife served as an accountant for her brothers betting company based out of Antigua. 

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Jul/05/2012

Convicted Gambling NBA Ref Now Working for Convicted PA Sports Handicapper

As part of his probation, gambling ref Tim Donaghy is prohibited from associating with known felons.  But that’s exactly what Donaghy was caught doing and now the disgraced ref claims he just didn’t know

It seems he is not the only one.

Submitted by Dan Shapiro on, Jul/05/2012

Visa Restrictions on Gambling Blamed for Macau Slow Down in Growth

After years of accelerated growth, the world’s biggest gambling destination, Macau, witnessed an abrupt slowdown in May.  Part of the blame is now being placed in Visa. 

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A presser put out by the Paragon Report made the claim: 

Submitted by C Costigan on, Jul/04/2012

Ray Bitar Remains Detained After US Magistrate Agrees to $2.5 Mil Bond

The disgraced former CEO of now shuttered Full Tilt Poker, Ray Bitar, remained behind bars on Tuesday after voluntarily turning himself in on Monday.  US law enforcement agents arrested Bitar at New York’s JFK Airport.  

Bitar engaged in what prosecutors described as a “ponzi scheme” though many familiar with the case believe Bitar’s activity was more akin to plain out-and-out theft and does not quite meet the definition of a ponzi scheme.  

Submitted by C Costigan on, Jul/03/2012

Darren Rovell Out at CNBC, Returning to ESPN

Darren Rovell, who has regularly covered the sports and online gambling sector for CNBC during a 6-year stint, will be returning back to his roots at ESPN. 

Rovell’s last day at CNBC was Tuesday (July 3) with a final airing on Thursday.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jul/03/2012

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