Gambling News
Facebook Insider Lockup Ending, Share Impact to be Seen Thursday
On Thursday (August 16, 2012) we will get to see how Wall Street reacts to a deluge of Facebook shares hitting the market following the end of a so-called “lockup period”.
Since the largest social media network went public back in May, the share price has fallen from a peak of $45 to Wednesday’s closing price of $20.74.
Reuters Doris Frankel suggests the stock's slump may actually work in Facebook’s favor this week as insider’s may be less inclined to dump the 271 million shares that are unlocked on Thursday, hopeful of a fast recovery.
Swedish Motorcycle Gang Ties to Alleged Matt Marafioti Online Poker Hacking Scandal
The alleged Matt Marafioti/Samer Rahman online poker account hacking scandal gets more crazy by the day.
Book on Absolute Poker to be Written by Ben Mezrich (Video)
Appearing on CNBC’s “The Squawk Box” Wednesday, author Ben Mezrich revealed he is writing a book about Absolute Poker, an online poker site caught up in a series of indictments last year.
The author of “Bringing Down The House” and “The Accidental Billionaires” sure will have plenty of material to work with. In addition to last year’s indictments that resulted in the ultimate shutdown of Absolute Poker and its sister site, UB.com, the online poker room was once embroiled in an “insider cheating scandal” that would later be profiled by the CBS news magazine show “60 Minutes”.
Online Poker CAP Tables Expanded to Include All Limits at Americas Cardroom
Just one week after introducing CAP tables at low stakes tables in its latest software update, Americas Cardroom has expanded CAP tables to include all limits. CAP tables will be available at low, medium and high-stakes tables, and no software update is needed to access the latest expansion.
Friends Fear Michael Phelps Wants to Become Poker Pro, Will Squander His $45 Mil (Video)
With one of the greatest poker players to ever live, Phil Hellmuth, gushing all over one of the greatest Olympians who has ever lived, Michael Phelps, it’s no wonder the rumor mill is alive with talk that Phelps is preparing to embark on a professional poker career.
Heartland Poker Tour's Annual Mile High Poker Open Promises Mountains of Cash
World Champ Greg “FossilMan” Raymer to Play at Golden Gates Casino & Poker Parlour
Powerball Jackpot Up to $320 Million
Rhode Island is looking to extend its lucky streak while other states residents have the opportunity to take part in one of the biggest Powerball jackpots ever.
Rhode Island state lottery officials say the jackpot for Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing has climbed to $320 million, making it the game’s 4th largest jackpot.
Cantor Gaming Combines Fantasy Football and Gambling
Gambling911.com reported just the other day on how Web-based sportsbooks such as Northbet were starting to enter the Fantasy Football fray. Now comes word that gambling giant Cantor Gaming will be offering its own Fantasy Football variant.
And, yes, there is gambling involved.
Poker Phenom Viktor Blom Ends Sponsorship Deal With PokerStars
Famed Swedish online poker player Viktor “Isildur1” Blom has ended his representation of the world’s largest online poker room, PokerStars, after nearly a two-year relationship.
Record Bad Beat Jackpot Paid Out by Caesars Entertainment in Atlantic City
A bad beat jackpot spread out across five different Atlantic City casinos paid out around $800,000 to 411 poker players Monday, the largest amount in two years since inception of the bad beat jackpot concept. Caesars Entertainment offered the jackpots.
Vice Presidential Hopeful Paul Ryan Meets With Republican Donors at Adelson Property
US Vice Presidential hopeful Paul Ryan has scheduled to meet with deep-pocketed Republican donors at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. That property just happens to be owned by the granddaddy of GOP donors, casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson.
The Wisconsin congressman will meet with members of the Nevada finance team on Tuesday evening - his first such event as part of Mitt Romney's campaign - but members of the media will not be allowed to attend, according to Reuters.
SkyCity Profits Up Nearly 13 Percent on Year
Aug 15 (Reuters) - New Zealand gaming company SkyCity Entertainment Group on Wednesday said its profits for the year rose almost 13 percent on improving revenue.
Sky City, which owns or has interest in four of the country's six casinos and two in Australia, reported a net profit of NZ$138.5 million ($111.7 million) in the 12 months to June 30, up 12.6 percent from NZ$123 million last year.
A Reuters estimate based on three analysts forecast a profit of NZ$142.2 million.
SkyCity announced a final dividend of 8 cents per share, unchanged from a year ago.
Jerry’s Nugget Casino Files for Bankruptcy
NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Associated Press) - A casino that's been a fixture in North Las Vegas since it opened in 1964 has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Jerry's Nugget casino filed papers Monday after efforts to restructure its debt fell through. Chapter 11 protection allows the business to continue operating while coming up with a reorganization plan.
DOJ Help Wanted Ad Looking for Full Tilt Poker Claims Administrator
The DOJ is hiring thanks to Full Tilt Poker.
A Help Wanted ad posted this week is requesting the assistance of an independent Claims Administrator to assist in the facilitation of payments to those owed monies by Full Tilt Poker customers.
Australia Sport Welcomes Proposed Fixing Laws
SYDNEY (Associated Press) Australia's major sporting organizations have thrown their support behind proposed new laws that include penalties of up to 10 years in prison for sports corruption and match-fixing.
The Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports which includes football, cricket, both rugby codes, tennis and Australian Rules football said Tuesday it commends plans by the New South Wales state government to introduce the Crimes Amendment (Cheating at Gambling) Bill 2012.
Record Breaking £80-100 Million Bet on London Olympics
The final tallies are out and the big winners at this year’s London Olympics was not the athletes but rather the online bookmakers.
An estimated £80-100 Million is believed to have been wagered on the London Olympics, according to Sporting Index. Initial forecasts called for somewhere between £20-£40m.
Chuck Blount on Legalized Internet Poker in the US: ‘Reason For Hope’
Since Gambling911.com first broke the story that PokerStars had reached a deal with the US Government to pay back players owed by Full Tilt Poker as part of an acquisition of its one time rival, some skeptics have expressed concerns over whether US players will actually see their monies.
Nevada Regulators Investigating Sheldon Adelson’s Sands Corp re Bribery Charges
Nevada gaming regulators are reportedly looking into whether Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp broke stringent bribery laws through its dealings in the Asian gambling Mecca of Macau.
14 Online Poker Players Win Way Into Punta Cana Poker Classic
Someone might want to tell the spa at Hard Rock Casino and Hotel in Punta Cana to hire more masseuses. Another 14 online poker players from Americas Cardroom are heading to the 5-star resort in Dominican Republic after securing their $5,000 all-inclusive package on Sunday through the online poker site's 12-package guaranteed tournament.
Maryland Senate Passes Prince George’s County Maryland Expansion Measure
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Associated Press) Members of the Maryland House of Delegates are starting to define proposed changes to a measure to expand gambling in the state.
Baltimore lawmakers met Monday morning to discuss amendments.
They are concerned about when a Prince George's County casino could open.
A bill approved by the Senate says the casino could open July 1, 2016 or 30 months after a casino opens in Baltimore in 2014. Baltimore lawmakers want to specify opening at 30 months after the Baltimore casino opens.
PokerStars to Deal Its 85 Billionth Hand This Week
PokerStars is back on the Road to 100 Billion this week, as the site’s 85-billionth hand is set to be dealt in the next seven days. Every five billion hands, PokerStars celebrates by awarding players cash prizes for being dealt into every millionth hand in the run up to the big milestone.
High Stakes Poker Playing Monks Fined Two Million Won
SEOUL — (AFP) - A South Korean court said Friday it has fined two Buddhist monks for illegal gambling, after video footage of their high-stakes poker game sparked a scandal in religious circles.
The Seoul Central District Court Thursday fined the monks from the Jogye Order, the country's largest Buddhist order, two million won ($1,775) each.
"The court only ordered fines because they showed remorse for what they had done," a court spokeswoman told AFP.
Poker Phenom Gus Hansen Up $548k in PLO Over Past Weekend
In a mere 48 hour period this past weekend, Danish poker pro Gus Hansen managed to go up $548k in PLO with his return to the high stakes online tables.
From HighStakesDB.com:
Paul Ryan and Online Gambling: When it Was Time to Put Up, He Shut Up
Mitt Romney on Saturday tapped Paul Ryan, a seven-term congressman from Wisconsin, to be his Vice Presidential running mate on the Republican ticket.
Times of Trenton Editorial: New Jersey High Stake Wager on Sports Betting May Pay Off
The Times of Trenton Editorial staff offered their take on Tuesday’s not-so-shocking lawsuit filed by the four professional sports leagues and NCAA that attempts to stop the state of New Jersey from allowing legalized sports betting.
If New Jersey prevails, visitors to the state’s casinos and racetracks will be able to place bets on professional games, as well as college contests that are played outside the state and don’t involve New Jersey teams.
Former Full Tilt Poker Patsy Michele Clayborne Says She’s No ‘Sybil’
One time lackey for Full Tilt Poker, Michele Clayborne, insists she never posted on public message boards as a man in an effort to cover up the mess transpiring at her former employer.
Immediately following the indictments of Full Tilt Poker executives on April 15, 2012, an individual using the handle “FTPDoug” took to the posting forums insisting all was well at FTP.
All was not okay at Full Tilt Poker, however, and “FTPDoug” was immediately called out as Ms. Clayborne by some.
Delegate Wants Legislative Oversight On Gambling in Maryland
(Associated Press) - A Maryland lawmaker said Saturday he will propose changing a measure to create a joint House and Senate panel to oversee gambling.
Delegate Eric Luedtke, D-Montgomery, indicated his plans during a meeting with about a dozen members of the House of Delegates. Luedtke said he will submit the proposal on Monday, when delegates come back to work during a special session.
Paul Ryan was 10 to 1 Long Shot to be Chosen Romney Running Mate in Veepstakes
Back in April, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan was listed at 10-1 odds of being chosen as GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s running mate. Ahead of Ryan at Sportsbook.com, Marco Rubio at 3/1, Rob Portman at 5/1 and Chris Christie at 8/1.
PartyPoker Launches FastForward Fast Fold Poker Game Platform
PartyPoker, the world’s third largest online poker room, is the latest to offer its very own fast fold poker game, FastForward.
FastForward follows in the footsteps of PokerStars Zoom and iPoker’s Speed Hold’em.
Maryland Senate Gives Preliminary OK to Gambling Bill
Brian White, Associated Press
The Maryland Senate gave preliminary approval to expanding gambling to allow table games like blackjack and a new casino near the nation's capital.
The Senate, which took a recess on Friday until 6 p.m., planned to take a vote in the evening.
Senators spent much of the afternoon rejecting amendments, including one that would have lifted a provision in the bill to ban political contributions from casino owners.
