Kentucky, Indiana Looking at Internet Gambling Options Though Odds Against It
In a report filed by Grace Schneider of the Louisville Courier it was revealed that both Kentucky and Indiana may be interested in legalizing online gambling, albeit she notes, it won’t be any time soon.
“Our job right now is to look at what the options can be,” said Arch Gleason, the Kentucky Lottery’s president.
Ayre Don’t Care: Bovada, Bodog Say Business as Usual
Following an indictment against Bodog founder Calvin Ayre Tuesday after a year’s long investigation into online sports betting, Ayre told his own self-named news website his life won’t be impacted.
Bodog, Calvin Ayre, et al. Indictment (Full Court Document)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA :
v.
BODOG ENTERTAINMENT GROUP S.A., d/b/a BODOG.com, CALVIN AYRE, JAMES PHILIP,
DAVID FERGUSON, and DERRICK MALONEY,
Defendants.
Bodog Founder Calvin Ayre Indicted
Federal prosecutors in Baltimore on Tuesday unsealed an indictment against Calvin Ayre following the seizure of the Bodog.com domain name late Monday night. Ayre was profiled in the cover story of the Forbes Billionaire issue.
A press release was expected by the US Attorney’s Office out of Maryland shortly.
Defendants in Hellinger Case to Reach Plea Agreement Tuesday
Gambling911.com has learned that defendants in an online gambling case dating back to 2005 are set to enter pleas on Tuesday.
The US Attorney’s Office in Eastern Pennsylvania charged Don Hellinger and four other men with illegal distribution of over $40 million in Internet gambling winnings during the years 2005 and 2006 through a money transfer company, Payment Processing, Inc. Hellinger was also alleged to have been involved in mail fraud.
Bodog.com Domain Seizure ‘Dog’ Years in the Making
The sudden seizure of the Bodog.com domain name late Monday night was not so sudden, Gambling911.com can reveal, nor was it exactly easy to achieve.
The US Attorney’s Office in Maryland, which was responsible for a series of online gambling company domain seizures last May, had been probing Bodog and the company’s colorful founder, Calvin Ayre, since 2003.
Japan Considers Legalizing Gambling
For the first time, Japan is looking to possibly legalize gambling.
Casino gambling would "help promote tourism, encourage business, create jobs, and boost local development," Takeshi Iwaya, a lawmaker from the biggest opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party, told the Wall Street Journal this week. "Neighboring areas are contemplating similar plans, so if we don't hurry, we may risk missing out on a big opportunity."
Maryland US Attorney Wraps Up Investigation Into Bodog.com: Seizes Domain
The Maryland US Attorney’s has concluded its years long investigation into Bodog.com with the seizure of its domain name. Rumors have been swirling for months that former executives from the company were to be indicted. A press release was expected from the agency on Tuesday.
Lucky Marine Turns a Penny Slot Into $2.8 Million Win
Cpl. Alexander Degenhardt learned he was accepted as a bone marrow donor to an anonymous patient just days before hitting a $2.8 million progressive slot machine back on February 19 at the Bellagio.
The US Marine told the Las Vegas Sun: ““They asked me if I was sure I wanted to go through with it, because it’s kind of painful, but what’s a little pain if it will save someone’s life?”
He admits the good karma may have paid off.
US Government Responds to Hellinger Case Motion to Continue
The US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Friday responded to defendant Jami Pearlman’s Motion to Continue and Sever the March 12, 2012 trial whereby he and five other individuals are charged with illegally processing payments for various online gambling companies during a period from January 2005 to February 2006.
Another Bitter Divorce for Steve Wynn: Okada Ousted
(Associated Press) - Billionaire Steve Wynn stepped up the feud with his former business partner Kazuo Okada on Friday by removing the Japanese tycoon from the board of his Macau casino company.
Wynn Macau's board voted to remove Okada following allegations he made improper payments to Asian gambling regulators, a violation of U.S. anti-corruption laws.
Wynn Macau said its board "resolved" to remove Okada as a non-executive director immediately because it was in the "best interests" of the company.
William Hill Eyes US Entry
William Hill on Friday announced its expansion plans, and they include the lucrative US market.
"Nevada is a land-based opportunity and we will see what happens in the US thereafter. But we first of all have to get these licenses and we expect that to happen some time this year," Hill CEO Ralph Topping said.
i-Gaming North America 2012 Conference to Take Place March 4-6
Everybody with even the slightest interest in the potential for legalized Internet gambling in North America will be in attendance at the first ever i-Gaming North America 2012 Conference, being held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas March 4 thru 6.
i-Gaming North America describes itself as the first networking and educational event designed to introduce the land-based gaming businesses of North America to the global iGaming industry.
Speakers include:
Alexandra Berzon, Reporter, Wall Street Journal
Mississippi House Bill 1373 Looks to Legalize Internet Gambling, Poker
Mississippi has become the latest state to introduce a measure that would legalize online gambling including poker within its borders.
Mississippi House Bill 1373, also called the Mississippi Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2012, was filed by Rep. Bobby Moak.
Any company looking to obtain a license must apply with the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Application fees are a minimum of $200,000.
The measure is packed full of provisions that include allowing of deposits by either cash, check, money order or credit cards.
BetDSI.com Casino Player Hits $23,000 on Progressive Caribbean Stud Poker Jackpot
A player, who is being identified as Carter M. in order to protect him from family members and friends looking to borrow money, managed to hit $23,000 yesterday on BetDSI.com’s Progressive Caribbean Stud Poker Jackpot.
He only played $4 total on 7 hands before cashing in for the $23,000.
Steve Wynn Wins $7.5 Million Defamation Suit Against Joe Francis
It’s been an ugly back and forth battle but casino magnate Steve Wynn has come out on top in a very big way, winning his $7.5 million defamation lawsuit against “Girls Gone Wild” founder Joe Francis.
The suit was filed following Francis’ proclamation that Wynn “deceived his high-end customers”.
MGM CEO: “Very Confident” Online Gambling Laws Would Pass on the Federal Level
Appearing on CNBC Wednesday evening, MGM CEO Jim Murren said he was “very confident” online gambling laws would pass on the federal level soon.
Murren added that, if such legislation fails to pass on the federal level, we will likely see the industry develop on a state-by-state basis.
MGM has teamed up with the largest real money online gambling company, bwin.party. Murren admitted that bwin.party might have to enter the US market at the state level first.
Online Gambling Affiliate Leader Honored by Obama
Warren Jolly, Head of Affiliate Media, was one of several honored by US President Barack Obama on Monday for his achievements as a young entrepreneur. Jolly was one of the pioneers in the online gambling affiliate realm.
Japanese Gambling Tycoon Bribed Filipinos: US Suit
(AFP) - WASHINGTON — Japanese gambling tycoon Kazuo Okada was accused Tuesday in a US lawsuit of paying off Philippine regulators and cheating his powerful Las Vegas partner.
Wynn Resorts said Okada, Japan's pachinko king and a director of Wynn, went behind the company's back to develop business for his own Universal Entertainment group in the Philippines and broke US laws on foreign bribery, the lawsuit alleges.
All The Seediness You’ve Been Missing During Alabama ‘Vote Buying’ Gambling Trial
The trial continues in Alabama for defendants accused in a high profile political “vote buying” case tied to gambling expansion in the state. Some of the testimony has been nothing short of “movie” material, not to mention the “out of court” antics such as one of the defendants mysteriously dying a day before the trial was set to start. You can’t write this script.
WagerWeb.com Online Sportsbook, Casino Joins the Gambling911.com Family
Gambling911.com is thrilled to announce the return of WagerWeb.com to its portfolio of fine online sportsbooks just in time for March Madness.
Paris Hilton Wins $30k Gambling in Vegas on 30th Birthday
(PTI) - Socialite Paris Hilton had extra reason to celebrate during her birthday trip to Las Vegas after winning USD 30,000 on a game of blackjack.
The heiress jetted off to Sin City with her family to mark her turning 31 on February 17, and Hilton won the lump sum when they headed out to the Wynn casino for the evening.
In a series of posts on her Twitter page, she writes, "Just won 30k playing blackjack at Wynn Las Vegas! Yes! Birthday girl's luck! I love gambling!
Over 200 Sports Fixing Probes in Last Four Years
The Daily Star this weekend reports that there were over 200 sports match fixing probes in the United Kingdom in just the last four years.
From The Daily Star:
Of 210 cases probed by the Gambling Commission since September 2007 nearly all have been over sporting fixtures.
And the majority involve football, horse racing, tennis and snooker.
But they also show that very few cases ever get to court.
Belgium Brutal Clampdown on Internet Gambling: Players to Face Fines of €25,000
Belgium is the latest country to clamp down on unlicensed Internet gambling operations, some of which are now appearing on a blacklist.
Ladbrokes Punters Bet £13 billion in 2011: Poker Revenues Down 25 Percent
Ladbrokes reported strong returns for 2011 with punters staking £13 billion in 2011 and profit per shot increased 6.9 percent over 2010.
Gaming machines drew almost £10.5 billion, up 13.7% on a year earlier while over-the-counter betting enjoyed £2.5 billion in bets placed.
Alabama Casino Exec Apologizes for ‘Breasts Exposure’ Bonus
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A casino developer who has pleaded guilty to offering bribes to legislators testified Wednesday he was joking when he proposed having his female lobbyist expose her breasts to a state senator for his vote for a pro-gambling bill.
New Hampshire Amendment Allows for Four Casinos
CONCORD, N.H. — (Associated Press) - New Hampshire gambling proponents are doubling down in an effort to avoid potentially losing revenue to Massachusetts.
Amendments to a bill in the New Hampshire House to legalize gambling include licensing four casinos with 14,000 slot machines and 420 table games, as well as lowering the business tax.
Nevada Casino Tax Hike Would Result in 7500 Lost Jobs
(AP) CARSON CITY, Nev. — An initiative to raise the top tax rate on Nevada's highest earning casinos is not economically sustainable by the industry and would lead to thousands of direct and indirect job losses, according to one gambling analyst who called the proposal a "wolf in sheep's clothing."
"We estimate the gaming tax increase would result in 7,500 or more lost jobs in Nevada, a notable step backward," Bill Lerner of Union Gaming Group said in a client's note.
Nevada leads the nation in unemployment, bankruptcies and foreclosures.
Bingo Slot Machine Hybrid Slingo Announced by Zynga for Facebook
Zynga has licensed the rights to make Zynga Slingo, a Bingo slot machine hybrid, which will bring the game to Facebook effective immediately, Wednesday February 15, 2012.
Witness Asked to Expose Her Breasts to Alabama Casino Lobbyist in Corruption Probe
A witness for a high profile Alabama political gambling corruption case wept after hearing a taped phone call of her casino owner client suggesting she expose her breasts to win a senator’s vote on gambling legislation.
It’s all tied to allegations of “vote buying” as a means of getting pro-gambling legislation in the state to pass.
Jennifer Pouncy testified Tuesday in the trial of former Sen. Jim Preuitt, two other present and former senators, as well as three other individuals associated with casinos.
