Gambling News
Amazon Enters Social Gaming Fray
Amazon.com is the latest company to enter the social gaming sector, though no word yet as to whether the online retailer will introduce poker.
For now, Amazon plans to kick off its social gaming with a product line called “Amazon Game Studios” while introducing a Facebook game titled “Living Classics”.
A company statement was released late Monday.
Facebook Launches Real Money Online Gambling in UK with Bingo Friendzy App
Breaking News 5:45 am EDT: Facebook announced this morning that it will begin to offer real money online gambling to UK residents 18 years and up beginning today, August 7, 2012, via a new Bingo Friendzy
app in conjunction with Gamesys, one of the UK’s largest online gambling operators.
“Gambling is very popular and well regulated in the UK . . . for millions of bingo users it’s already a social experience [so] it makes sense [for us] to offer that as well,” said Julien Codorniou, Facebook’s head of gaming for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Legalized Online Poker in California Faces Long Odds in Final Weeks: Bill Not Likely to Pass
The deadline to get an online poker measure passed in the California legislature is looming.
That August 31 date leaves little wiggle room to pass such legislation that would make the activity legal online within the Golden State.
Betting the NFL on a Tablet Now Possible as Bookmaker Unveils New Website for iPad Users
Bookmaker has unveiled its new tablet website just in time for the 2012 NFL betting season.
A tablet computer is a mobile device larger than a phone, the most popular of which is the Apple iPad.
Connecticut Bookie Pleads Guilty to Alleged Mob Connected Website 44Wager.com
A New Haven bookie, Michael Pepe, 33, has plead guilty in a federal court Monday to two counts of operating an illegal online sports betting business with alleged ties to the Gambino crime family.
Atlantic City Resorts Casino Hotel to be Operated by Mohegan Sun
(Associated Press) - The owners of Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City's first casino, are poised to hand over management to the Indian tribe that operates the Mohegan Sun casinos in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, according to a published report.
Time Warner Buys Bleacher Report
The popular sports content website Bleacher Report has been purchased by Time Warning Inc. for just under $200 million. The Federal Trade Commission approved this deal last week.
Time Warner’s Turner Broadcasting is looking to bolster its online sports exposure along with ad revenue.
Turner had managed ad sales for sister company Time Inc.’s Sports Illustrated but that deal ended last year.
Tiffany Michelle to Host 8th Annual Arizona State Poker Championship Finals
Poker babe and TV personality Tiffany Michelle has been announced as the host of the 8th annual Arizona State Poker Championship Finals.
MGM Resorts Expected to Report 2nd Quarter 2012 Loss
NEW YORK – (Associated Press) - MGM Resorts International is expected to report a quarterly loss on charges related to the dwindling value of some casinos when it releases second-quarter results before the market opens Wednesday.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: How it's dealing with Americans falling desire to spend. The casino and resort operator, in which billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian holds a major stake, has extensive operations in both Las Vegas, where it's based, and the Asian gambling mecca of Macau.
Imprisoned Poker Pro Ernie Scherer III Beats UFC On Fox 4 With 48 Hours Mystery Repeat
The re-airing of a “48 Hours Mystery” episode on the Ernie Scherer III bludgeoning of his parents in 2008 managed to beat “UFC On Fox 4” in the Saturday night ratings.
William Hill Appeals Horse Race Betting Levy
William Hill, the largest bookmaker in the United Kingdom, announced on Monday (August 6, 2012) it was appealing a case in the Court of Appeal that exempts customers of betting exchanges from being liable for paying a horse racing levy.
Hill has specifically cited rival betting exchange Betfair in regard to the exemption.
Bodog Poker Exits Eastern European, Portions of Asian Market
Bodog Poker this weekend announced it was exiting the emerging online poker market of Eastern Europe and portions of Asia.
Wynn to Introduce 6 Max Cash Game August 10, 2012
Wynn Resorts continues to strive for excellence and distinguish themselves from other Las Vegas properties. This becomes apparent with the introduction of 6 Max Cash Games.
A TwoPlusTwo.com posting forum member broke the news:
Indian Tribes More Willing to Back Internet Gambling Though Some are Screwed
Indian Tribes see the writing on the wall. When it comes to Internet gambling, if they can’t beat ‘em, they might as well join them.
Case in point, Washington State’s Tulalip Tribes condemned the idea of legalizing Web gambling just eight months ago. On July 26, the Tulalip Secretary, Glen Gobin, told a Senate panel that tribes "must have equal footing to participate".
Macau Raids Casinos After Deadly Attacks on Guests
Macau police in operation with Chinese and Hong Kong authorities raided a number of casinos and hotels during the late night and early morning hours of August 3 and 4 (Friday and Saturday) in what is being codenamed “Operation Thunderbolt”.
The raid follows a series of murders and attacks targeting tourists. 1300 people have been questioned and 150 of those detained as a result of the investigation.
World’s Top Poker Player Cheers on World’s Top Swimmer: Hellmuth Boost Phelps
The man with the most career World Series of Poker bracelets just got back from cheering on the man with the most career Olympic medals!
48 Hours Mystery Profiles Ernie Scherer III Murder Case Saturday Night
A repeat of the “48 Hours Mystery” story on poker player Ernie Scherer III murder case airs Saturday evening (August 3, 2012) at 10 pm EDT on CBS.
Scherer III was sentenced for brutally murdering his parents in their Alameda, California home in 2008 in order to obtain an inheritance. The younger Scherer was said to have owed significant gambling debts.
Congressman John Tierney May Face Ethics Probe in Connection to ‘Bookie-Gate’
Eight-term Massachusetts Congressman John Tierney continues to fight for his political career after it was revealed that three nonpartisan open-government groups want the Democrat investigated by the House Committee on Ethics.
Tierney is accused of failing to publicly disclose more than $200,000 that his wife received while managing a bank account with money that came from her brother’s illegal gambling business.
Barry Greenstein to Pay Back Full Tilt Poker Loan
Poker pro Barry Greenstein has agreed to pay back a $400,000 loan made to him by Full Tilt Poker prior to last year’s indictment against company officials and subsequent closure. This past week, the US Government entered into a deal with PokerStars that allows the world’s largest “real money” online poker site to acquire Full Tilt Poker and all its assets.
From PokerNews.com:
More Headaches for Zynga as EA Lawsuit Claims Farmville Game Violates Copyright
NEW YORK — (Associated Press) - Electronic Arts Inc. has sued online game maker Zynga saying that its new game “The Ville” infringes its own game, “The Sims Social.”
EA said Friday that “The Ville” is “unmistakable” in its similarity to “The Sims Social,” which launched more than a year earlier. EA says the games are “largely indistinguishable” to a casual observer.
Illegal Gambling Yet to Target London Olympic Games
(Reuters) - Illegal gambling has not yet targeted sports during the London 2012 Olympics after almost a week of competition, the International Olympic Committee said on Thursday.
The IOC has set up a monitoring system for illegal gambling on the 26 competitions during the July 27-August 12 Games as it seeks to counter the growing threat in professional sports.
The Beast Tops $132k in July: Online Poker Progressive Points Race
It turns out online poker player GiFt oF Gab knows how to talk the talk and walk the walk. The online poker player took control of The Beast leaderboard in July, earning $10,400 in cash for taming The Beast. GiFt oF Gab is one of 501 poker players who shared in The Beast's $132,646 combined cash and tournament prize pool for July.
Allowing Internet Gambling in Maryland Would Ease Opposition
Maryland Live Casino owner David Cordish listed permission to offer Internet gambling as one of the conditions that could persuade him to ease his opposition to a proposed casino in Prince George's County, according to a report in the Baltimore Sun on Friday.
86 Percent of Respondents Would Play ‘Real Money’ Online Poker if Legal in US
A survey conducted by GoldenNuggetPoker.com revealed that 86 percent of its customer base would play online poker for “real money” should the activity become legal in the US.
GoldenNuggetPoker.com currently offers a “free-to-play” platform only.
PokerStars Settlement Great for Everyone Except Bwin.party Investors
While nearly everyone in the poker community seemed elated by news of a settlement between the US Government and PokerStars paving the way for that company to some day re-enter the US market, executives and shareholders at one betting firm may have been cursing out all those involved.
Bwin.party it seems has taken quite a hit by the news in recent days. The company has witnessed a 10 percent decline in its share price over the past three days.
Man Pleads Guilty in Philadelphia Mob Case Involving Gambling
PHILADELPHIA – (Associated Press) - A man charged in a Philadelphia mob case has pleaded guilty in federal court.
Federal prosecutors say 59-year-old Gaeton Lucibello pleaded guilty Thursday to participating in a racketeering conspiracy involving extortion and illegal gambling. Authorities say he admitted that he assisted in shaking down a bookmaker for "street tax" payments and operated two illegal video poker machine businesses.
Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26.
Lawmakers in Maryland Gather for Special Session Next Week to Discuss Internet Gambling
ANNAPOLIS -- (Associated Press) - As the battle for gamblers' dollars intensifies in the mid-Atlantic region, the possibility of developing Internet games in Maryland will be considered when lawmakers gather for a special session next week to expand gambling, the House speaker wrote in a memo.
Courier Mail: Daniel Tzvetkoff Would Have Been Better Off Going to Jail
In a very well written article by Paul Toohey of the Courier Mail, the question is raised as to whether online poker payment processing “Wiz Kid” Daniel Tzvetkoff would have been better off spending a year or two behind bars as opposed to “snitching”.
Maryland Indicts Bodog for Internet Gambling and Now Wants Piece of the Pie, Oh My
For those of you who have been reading the Gambling911.com website in recent days, you may have been following coverage of Maryland’s decision to institute a special session for the sole purpose of expanding its casino industry.
Oh the hypocrisy! It’s so thick you can cut it with a knife. It’s thicker than the smog in my native India.
PokerStars Will Have Tough Time Obtaining License in Nevada
In a report filed by CardPlayer.com’s Brian Pempus this week, it was revealed that PokerStars will have some serious “credibility issues to overcome” should it want to obtain a license to operate an online poker site from the state of Nevada.
