Betsson Acquires Nordicbet

Betsson AB (publ) today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire substantial parts of the business of Nordic Gaming Group plc, which is the owner of the NordicBet, TrioBet and Tobet gaming operations. Once the transaction is approved by competent regulatory bodies, the acquisition will be finalized in the end of second quarter 2012.

Betsson is one of the largest Scandinavian online gambling firms offering a wide range of first-class online gambling products and games in a safe and user-friendly gaming environment.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on,

EU Commission Online Gambling Manifesto Too Little, Too Late

While the European Gaming and Betting Association has published a manifesto for a sustainable EU policy for online gambling, countries like Belgium and the Netherlands continue to engage in their own policy of quashing foreign competition, including that from neighboring European Union countries.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on,

Internet Gambling, Horse Racing Regulated Simulcasting on Agenda in Massachusetts

By STEVE LeBLANC, The Associated Press

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is pressing lawmakers and Gov. Deval Patrick to push back a key deadline for the panel to take over the regulation of horse racing and simulcasting, saying the expanded duties will make it harder to get new casinos up and running.

Commission chairman Steven Crosby said Tuesday that the panel will meet the May 20 takeover deadline if needed, but said delaying the change makes more sense for the state.

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Sid Rosenberg Fired Following DUI Arrest

Radio personality Sid Rosenberg has been fired following an arrest for DUI in Hollywood, Florida earlier in the month.

WQAM program director Lee Feldman confirmed to a local television station that the controversial host had been terminated

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Income Access Network Launches Kaffiliation and Sklots.com

Income Access network, one of the top online affiliate programs in the world and one that caters to the online gambling sector, has launched its newest affiliate platform - Kaffiliation!

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LowVig.com announces the acquisition of online sportsbook Bet Vegas Vic

Reduced-juice sportsbook welcomes their newest members with unrivaled sports betting value and generous rebates

On Monday morning reduced juice sportsbook LowVig.com finalized the acquisition of competitor BetVegasVic.com.

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All of North Dakota’s Property Tax Could Have Been Paid for by Online Gambling

North Dakota Representative Jim Kasper was the first politician to conceive of the idea to legalize and operate online gambling sites from a US state back in 2005. 

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His state missed out on a golden opportunity. 

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on,

New Jersey Internet Gambling Should be Set for Fall

A vote to legalize online gambling in New Jersey will take place in the state’s senate on May 31.  The delay will push back the start of legalized Internet gambling in the Garden State somewhat, but the bill’s sponsor, Raymond Lesniak, still anticipates a fall starting date.

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Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on,

Online Gambling Film ‘Runner, Runner’ Will Star Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake

A film that delves into the world of online gambling, “Runner, Runner”, will star two big names, Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake.

“The Lincoln Lawyer” director Brad Furman will head up the project.

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‘Deal or No Deal’ Dealt Lifeline From Gambling Ban

Regulators have saved one of Great Britain’s beloved quiz shows “Deal or No Deal” by backing off of imposing gambling restrictions on it and other similar shows. 

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Submitted by Jordan Bach on,

Hollywood Casino Columbus Hiring 600 Dealers

Calling all dealers in and around the Columbus, Ohio area.  There are job openings for 600 dealers at the Hollywood Casino in Columbus.  Full time and part time employment opportunities are available. 

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on,

Vegas Priest Who Siphoned $650k to Support Video Poker Habit Will Begin Prison Term

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Roman Catholic priest from Las Vegas was due to surrender Friday at a federal prison in Texas to begin serving three years and one month for siphoning $650,000 from his northwest Las Vegas parish to support a video poker and casino gambling habit.

Monsignor Kevin McAuliffe, 59, planned to turn himself in as required at the low-security La Tuna correctional institution in the Texas-New Mexico border town of Anthony, defense attorney Margaret Stanish told The Associated Press.

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Joe Brennan Jr: ‘I’m Not Anti-Federal But (Federal Online Gambling) Just Not in the Cards' (Video)

Appearing on the popular Quadjacks.com radio show this week, Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association head Joe Brennan, Jr. wants everyone to know that legalizing online gambling in New Jersey is moving full steam ahead.

Brennan is an advocate for state rights, but insists he has nothing against federal legislation.  He just doesn’t see it happening any time soon.

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NFL Lifts Ban on Casino Ads for Two Years

The National Football League on Thursday announced it will lift a ban on teams advertising at casinos for a two year period.

This was taken from ProFootball Talk’s Mike Florio:

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on,

Washington Post: Gambling’s ‘Unholy’ Grip in the State of Maryland

First it was the US Attorney’s Office in Maryland setting up a phony payment solutions company then spending the nearly two years worth of seized funds on brand new police cars for Anne Arundel County, now state politicians have come under fire for allegedly holding “spending hostage to the gaming industry’s interests”, claims the W

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Israel’s ‘China’ Approach to Online Gambling Fails

They are supposed to be the most democratic country in the Middle East, yet Israel’s stance on Internet gambling over the past two years has been akin to that of China, or worse, the United States.

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And while the US has been seizing Internet domain names, Israel has taken things one step further by blocking its citizens from accessing online gambling domains.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on,

Sid Rosenberg Found Drunk Behind Wheel in Fetal Position

Back in February Gambling911.com reported on how South Florida sports radio host Sid Rosenberg was accused of owing an offshore sportsbook $44,000.  Now comes word of Rosenberg’s arrest for DUI last week.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on,

Tribes Hold the Cards in California Online Poker Effort: New Jersey Racing to be First

The odds of New Jersey legalizing online poker first is much greater than California doing so and the San Francisco Chronicle’s Demian Bulwa does a superb job of laying out the reason why.

Bulwa doesn’t draw comparisons between the two states but rather offers the various obstacles standing in the way of California's efforts.

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Commission Junction Drops Covers Experts: The Casualties of War

The sports handicapping “war” shows no letup even if both sides seem a bit apprehensive in terms of releasing critical information.

It began when Management sources within PreGame.com advised Gambling911.com that rival Covers had provided its handicappers with an ultimatum heading into this year’s March Madness:  “Leave Pregame or leave us”.   

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US Owes Antigua $120 Million in Damages Over WTO Online Gambling Dispute

In 2007 The World Trade Organization (WTO) demanded the United States government pay restitution to the tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua after the later won a judgment against Uncle Sam.  Antigua essentially accused the USA back then of protectionism and engaging in unfair competitive practices as it pertained to the Caribbean nation’s role in regulating what is now a multi-billion dollar online gambling industry.

Submitted by C Costigan on,

Nevada Gambling Revenues Up 5.7 Percent in February: Online Poker Traffic Sees Gain

Good news for both the Las Vegas gambling and online poker sectors as both reported gains. 

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Gaming Control Board officials announced on Tuesday that Nevada gambling revenues were up 5.7 percent with Las Vegas Strip casinos seeing a 3.3 percent surge. 

Overall revenue generated included $932 million in the state and $531 million from the Vegas Strip casinos. 

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on,

Inquirer: Odds Improve for Atlantic City Internet Gambling

The Philadelphia Inquirer on Tuesday featured an article on the prospects of Internet gambling in Atlantic City.

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Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on,

Instant Banking for Online Gambling Could Return to US Soon

There may be a new payment processor in town for those in the US online gambling community.

ADI-News.com has reported on the merger of two big name payment processors, Mazooma and BigPoint

From ADI-News.com:

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on,

Maryland Now Allows Gambling on Fantasy Sports: Life Behind Bars for Booking NFL Games

As Bodog Founder Calvin Ayre, 50, faces more than 25 years behind prison for running one of the largest online sports betting enterprises and targeting residents of Maryland, that state has just begun allowing wagers on fantasy sports.  Exceptional timing!!!  We can't make this stuff up even if we tried. 

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Will Online Gambling Really Discourage People From Visiting Atlantic City?

An opinion piece in the Bergen Record suggests that the legalization of online gambling in the state of New Jersey (looking more inevitable by the day) may do more harm than good.  In particular, online gambling could serve to actually discourage people from visiting Atlantic City.

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Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on,

Jenny Woo Odds on Having a ‘Black Friday’ Baby: NBA Futures 2012 (Video)

In her final installment of DonBestTV.com before her maternity leave, Gambling911.com’s Senior International Correspondent Jenny Woo talks about odds of her having Baby Lily before or after the infamous April 15 date of “Black Friday”.  

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Former Bookie Smothered in Bed: Wife and Daughter Sentenced to Life

The wife and daughter of a retired bookmaker, Don Banfield, have been found guilty of smothering the man to death for his insurance money. 

Former tax inspector Shirley Banfield, 64, and her daughter Lynette, 40, admitted to two charges of conspiracy to defraud and charges of forgery as well as the perverting of course of justice, though they denied murdering Banfield 11 years ago. 

The pair pocketed more than £120,000, some of which went into the purchase of their Canterbury, England home.   

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on,

Manitoba Launches Online Gambling Venture

BCLC set off on a new course for its online business today, announcing that it is partnering with Manitoba Lotteries to provide online gambling to Manitobans.

"We launched online gaming in British Columbia to provide a secure and legal option for people who play online and to keep revenues in the province that otherwise would be going to illegal gambling sites," said the Honourable Rich Coleman, Minister Responsible for BCLC. "We are pleased to share our expertise with Manitoba to strengthen regulated online gambling in Canada."

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Spring Cleaning at Cryptologic as Amaya Gaming Takes Over: Shares to be Delisted

With Amaya Gaming assuming 81 percent of troubled Cryptologic’s issued shares, CEO David Gayagan has resigned as has CFO Huw Spiers, general counsel Nick Catros and two other board members. 

Amaya CEO/President David Baazoy is slated to take over Gavagan’s position effective immediately.

Cryptologic, once the leader in online gambling software, has lost its competitive edge in recent years as a result of mismanagement and executive in-fighting. 

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on,

ScAYREy Fact: Bodog Founder’s Attorney Slotnick had Not Lost a Case in 12 Years

News of Bodog founder Calvin Ayre hiring the father-son tandem of Barry and Stuart Slotnick to represent him in a criminal case filed by the US Attorney’s Office in Maryland might not have resonated throughout the industry the way it should have.  Hardly any industry media outside of Gambling911.com really reported on this story. 

Submitted by C Costigan on,