Gambling
Bwin.Party Sales Inch Upwards
LONDON - (Reuters) - Bwin.party digital, the world's largest listed online gaming company, said first-quarter revenue edged up and that it expects to be offered a licence to offer online gambling in Germany soon.
The company, which was formed by the merger of Austria's Bwin and PartyGaming last year, on Wednesday said revenue rose 1 percent to 215.9 million euros ($275.8 million) in the three months to the end of March as growth in casino and gaming offset weakness at its poker and bingo businesses. It added that April trade was in line with last year.
Web Cam Online Poker Room in Isle of Man as Safe as a Vegas Casino
This week, Gambling911.com announced the beginning of an exciting new partnership with Camasino.com, a web cam online poker room based in the Isle of Man.
Online Gambling in India Surges: Nation Missing Out on $5 Billion Annually
The Times of India this week reported that India could be missing out on as much as $1.5 billion in lost tax revenue by not regulating online gambling.
The paper cites an expanding middle class and increased Web access across the country.
Bettor Says EOG.com’s John Kelly Owes Him $17k for Baseball
Eye on Gaming (EOG.com) general manager John Kelly owes a California man $16,840 in gambling debts for baseball bets gone bad, Gambling911.com can reveal in an exclusive report!
Kelly, also a sports handicapper and radio host, and based in Las Vegas, came under fire last week when a Los Angeles radio host, Roger Stein, said on air that Kelly was a deadbeat who didn't pay his debts.
MGM to Develop First Online Casino Game by June: Chairman Says Federal Law Not Happening
MGM Resorts International is looking to release its first online casino game next month (June 2012).
Chairman James Murren referred to the game as “Casino Mogul”, however, partners of the firm have not decided on an official name as of yet.
"Internet gaming is here!” Murren declared at the 19th annual Southern Gaming Summit.
Nevada Gambling Revenue Down 10.8 Percent in March
CARSON CITY, Nev. — (Associated Press) - March was an unlucky month for Nevada casinos, when gamblers beat the house more than normal and casino revenues fell 10.9 percent from the same month last year, the Nevada Gaming Control Board reported Thursday.
Casinos won $854.6 million in March, on which the state collected $71.5 million in taxes, a 10.3 percent decline.
But regulators noted a large convention in Las Vegas last year helped boost revenue in March 2011, exaggerating the decline in the recent report.
More Online Gambling Sites Blacklisted in Belgium
The Belgium government has added to its list of blacklisted online gambling sites, including big names like bwin.com, William Hill, betsson.com, betclic.com, stanjames.com, and betfair.com.
Several other Web gambling companies, including the likes of 888.com, have already been blacklisted.
Monks Poker Scandal Leaves South Koreans Speechless
Photos of poker playing monks were aired on South Korea television this week, shocking the nation and leading to offers by senior monks of the sect to resign.
The photos show eight monks from the country’s largest Buddhist sect huddled around a poker game at a hotel in Southwest Korea.
Operation Tran Wreck: Vietnamese Blackjack Cheat Van Thu Tran Profiled on ‘American Greed’
CNBC’s “American Greed” will be airing a segment on Vietnamese Blackjack cheater Van Thu Tran and her gang including husband Phuong Truong.
EOG.com’s John Kelly Denies Radio Report He’s a Deadbeat
Eye on Gambling (EOG.com) general manager John Kelly, accused earlier this week by a Los Angeles radio host of being a deadbeat who "don't pay the bills too good," has denied the allegations, announcing "I plead not guilty to all charges!"
Online Gambling Passes Yet Another Hurdle in New Jersey
Following word this week that Governor Chris Christie may not be so gung ho about online gambling in New Jersey after all, yet another milestone was reached on Thursday.
Radio Host Accuses EOG.com Sports Betting Forum Head John Kelly of Being ‘Deadbeat’
Los Angeles radio host Roger Stein has accused John Kelly, general manager of the sports betting website Eye on Gambling (EOG.com), of being a deadbeat!
"He don't pay the bills too good," Stein said of Kelly.
Bloomberg: Cantor Fitzgerald’s Bid to Become Global Powerhouse of Sports Betting, Online Poker
Bloomberg News on Wednesday published a great read on Lee Amaitis and his goal to turn Cantor Entertainment Technology Inc. into a sports- gambling powerhouse that looks to eventually add online poker to its platform.
Horseshoe Casino in Cleveland Expected to Attract 5 Million Per Year
Rock Gaming executive Nathan Forbes says his firm believes that the Horseshoe Casino in Cleveland will attract around 5 million visitors per year. Rock Gaming is a majority partner in the new venture.
The casino on Public Square will open to the public at 9:30 p.m. on May 14 after an early-evening VIP reception and stay open 24 hours a day, seven days a week thereafter.
Doubt Shed on a Chris Christie About Face Related to Internet Gambling
John Brennan, reporter for the Bergen Record, shrugged off the notion that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has turned his back on legalizing Internet gambling and bringing sports betting to the Garden State.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has Online Gambling ‘Change of Heart’
The Philadelphia Inquirer on Tuesday published a report suggesting that “politics” may be behind New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s “change of heart” as it pertains to legalized online gambling in the Garden State.
Former Star Quarterback, Gambling Addict Art Schlichter Sentenced to 10 Years
One time Ohio State University football star Art Schlichter has been sentenced to 10 years, seven months in prison for fleecing more than 50 people out of millions of dollars in a sports-ticket scheme. Schlichter, 52, was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2.2 million.
Betfair Wins German Online Gambling License
(Reuters) - The first licences to offer online gambling in Germany have been awarded, with British online betting firm Betfair benefiting from the state of Schleswig Holstein's liberalised gambling rules.
The northern state, whose centre-right coalition government voted in favour of relaxing its gambling laws in September, said on Thursday that it had awarded three licences valid to 2018 - one to Betfair for sports betting, one to Germany's Jaxx AG and one to the state lottery.
Mass Gambling Commission Hires Executive Once Accused of Sexual Assault of Young Boy
The state of Massachusetts is moving right along in its quest to expand legalized gambling, including on the Web. But a recent hire by the state Gambling Commission has certainly raised some eyebrows.
Online Gambling Zealot Spencer Cleared in ‘Insider Trading’ Probe
Alabama GOP Representative Spencer Bachus was cleared of wrongdoing in a Congressional “insider trading” probe.
The investigation followed a “60 Minutes” segment where Bachus was said to have been engaging in insider trading and improperly profiting from the 2008 market meltdown.
The Office of Congressional Ethics unanimously dismissed all of the potential charges.
Playtech Drops Plans for Acquisitions
(Reuters) - Gaming software group Playtech said first quarter revenues doubled, helped by strong growth at its casino business, and that plans to shift its listing to London's main market were progressing well.
However, the group added that it was dropping plans to buy some social gaming assets owned by founder and Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi, and would instead enter software license agreements.
Its plans for a deal with its top shareholder - Sagi still owns 48 percent of the company - were announced in April.
iPoker Revenues Down in 1st Quarter Despite Gaining Number 2 Spot
While the iPoker Network has overtaken PartyPoker as the second most trafficked online poker room in the world over the past month, its 1st quarter revenues fell slightly. iPoker is owned by Israeli-based Playtech.
The poker business made €5.3 million compared to to €5.7 during the same period last year.
Its online casino arm witnessed a 104 percent increase however.
IGT Poker Suffering the Blues in Wake of Purple Lounge Sudden Shutdown
The abrupt shutdown of the Purple Lounge online casino and poker room has left the IGT Poker Network in a quagmire.
IGT Poker (formerly Entraction Network) lost 8 percent of its traffic for the week, according to the traffic monitoring website of PokerScout.com.
Caesars Sees Deep 1st Quarter Losses
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Casino operator Caesars Entertainment Corp. said Tuesday that its first-quarter net loss widened as the company faced costs from a previously halted property development in Mississippi.
The net loss for the quarter ended March 31 widened to $280.6 million, or $2.24 per share, from a loss of $147.5 million, or $1.18 per share.
Income from operations fell 65 percent $138 million, mainly due to the $172 million charge related to the halted Biloxi, Miss., project That was partly offset by a gain of $45.8 million from paying down debt early.
MSN Money: Online Gambling Could Take Zynga to the Next Level
This week it was revealed that Zynga’s monthly active user base had expanded to 292 million, up 24 percent from this time last year, while revenues climbed 32 percent year over year to $321 million.
But the real future of Zynga could be tied into the legality of online gambling.
Antigua, USA Play ‘Blame Game’ in Online Gambling Dispute
In a letter presented to the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) last week, Antigua accused the US Government of failing to “observe its international obligations in good faith and with due consideration for the rights of Antigua & Barbuda” as it relates to the island nation’s online gambling industry.
Horse Racing Gambling Bill Passes in Minnesota House: More Poker Tables, Higher Limits
Minnesota lawmakers on Monday passed a bill in the House that would allow for more poker tables at horse racing tracks along with higher limits while giving tribal casinos access to racing simulcasts.
The bill, which surfaced over the weekend, passed with a vote of 97-34.
The bill's passage marks a rare moment of unity among the American Indian tribes and race track owners, who have long split over state gambling policy, according to the Associated Press.
Public ‘Misled’ Over New York Racing Association Overcharges
The Racing and Wagering Board on Monday released a report that paints New York Racing Association President Charles Hayward as “willfully allowing the take-out violation to continue after it was brought to the NYRA’s attention”.
Purple Lounge Online Poker, Casino Abrupt Weekend Closure Follows Salacious Florida Arrest
No word yet on the reasons behind the abrupt closure of UK-based Purple Lounge, an online poker room and casino operated by Media Corporation (not to be confused with the Rupert Murdock publishing empire). Customers were not provided with any prior warning as to the shutdown. Players had experienced slow payouts in recent months despite Purple Lounge’s operation within a mostly Web poker-friendly environment. Purple Lounge had not accepted business from US players.
Two Alleged Mobsters Captured in Newark: Operated Illegal Gambling Business
Two alleged members of a Philadelphia organized crime syndicate have been arrested in Newark, New Jersey.
Joseph Licata, 70, of Florham Park, and Louis Fazzini, 45, of Caldwell, were apprehended on Thursday and charged with racketeering.
