Gambling News
Potential Witness in Whitey Bulger Murder Trial Found Dead
BOSTON -- (Associated Press) - A man who had hoped to testify in the racketeering trial of reputed mobster James "Whitey" Bulger and vocally criticized him has been found dead, authorities said Thursday.
The Commerce Casino in LA to Host Nationally-Televised Heartland Poker Tour
Los Angeles, CA - After awarding over forty million dollars on national TV, Heartland Poker Tour will finally make its way to the world’s largest poker room for a televised event at The Commerce in Los Angeles September 4-23, 2013. The event is part of HPT’s West Coast expansion that will reach from The Commerce in the LA area to Thunder Valley Casino Resort in the Sacramento area. A stop at Club One Casino in Fresno from September 27-October 6th will complete the three-week California tour known as HPT’s Gold Rush Series.
Bitcoin Online Gambling Website SatoshiDice Sells fo $11.47 Million
Dublin-based Bitcoin online gambling website SatoshiDice has sold for126,315 BTC, which at the time of the sale translated into $11.47 million.
SantoshiDice claimes to be “the most popular Bitcoin betting game in the universe”. It was launched just over one year ago by Erik Voorhees, who confirmed the sale Tuesday morning.
“I believe this to be a solid, desirable, and fair outcome for those who have put their trust in S.DICE.”
This is the first major Bitcoin acquisition to date.
‘Casino Royale’ Actor Paul Bhattacharjee Found Dead Near Cliff
British actor Paul Bhattachariee has been found dead near the cliffs of East Sussix, England.
Bhattachariee played the role of a doctor in the James Bond film “Casino Royale” and is also known for appearing in the film “EastEnders” as the character Inzaman Ahmed.
Bhattachariee disappeared from a theatre on July 10.
The 53-year-old Bhattachariee’s death was not being treated by Scotland Yard as suspicious.
- Jordan Bach, Gambling911.com
Churchill Downs Completes Purchase of Oxford Casino in Maine
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — (Associated Press) - Churchill Downs Inc. says it has completed the purchase of the Oxford Casino in western Maine in a deal valued at about $160 million.
The Louisville-based company said Wednesday its acquisition of the casino in Oxford won approval from the Maine Gambling Control Board.
Oxford Casino opened in 2012. The property includes a 25,000-square-foot gaming floor with about 800 slot machines and 22 table games. It also includes a restaurant.
Philly Mobster Anthony ‘Ant’ Staino Sentenced to Eight Years
(Associated Press) - A self-described “CFO” of the Philadelphia mob has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison in a racketeering case.
Fifty-seven-year-old Anthony “Ant” Staino was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Philadelphia to 97 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Americas Cardroom New Online Poker Software Unveiled: Slew of New Features
US-facing Internet poker site Americas Cardroom has completely revamped, enhanced, and re-energized its online poker software. The online poker site today released a major software update, complete with a slew of new features that puts Americas Cardroom in a class of its own.
Red-Faced Reuters Says ‘Ignore Alert on SHFL’: Shares Still Surge
Shares in gaming device manufacturer SHFL surged following news of its acquisition by Bally Technologies.
Reuters News agency was later forced to put out a notice Wednesday advising readers to ignore an overnight warning regarding the potential negatives of this deal, claiming said report was issued off a press release from an unrelated law firm, Robbins Arroyo LLP.
Terrorists Using Online Gambling to Launder Funds Claims FOP President
A Senate Subcommittee hearing early Tuesday to discuss the legalization of real money online gambling also addressed fears over terrorism.
“There are indications that terrorists in Afghanistan have been using online gaming to launder their funds,” said Chuck Canterbury, national director of the Fraternal Order of Police. “There is no legal or regulatory framework for law enforcement to shut down this activity.”
Odds to Win 2013 WSOP Main Event: November Nine
Carrie Stroup here with your odds to win the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event were available for the November Nine.
Senate Hearing on Regulated Online Gambling (Live Video)
You can watch live streaming of the Senate Subcommittee hearing on regulated online gambling here. Starts July 17, 2013 10:15 am EDT.
Witness Testifies in Whitey Bulger Trial: ‘Either Pay Him or Get Killed’
BOSTON (Associated Press) — A businessman testifying in the racketeering trial of reputed gangster James “Whitey” Bulger on Tuesday described terrifying moments in 1982 when, he said, Bulger shoved a machine gun between his legs and threatened to kill him if he didn't pay him $400,000.
Stipulation and Order of Settlement With Respect to Absolute Poker
IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED, ORDERED AND AGREED, by and between Plaintiff United States of America, by its attorney Preet Bharara, United States Attorney, Assistant United States Attorneys, Sharon Cohen Levin, Michael D. Lockard, and Jason H. Cowley, of counsel, and the Absolute Poker Group, by its counsel, Jerry D. Bernstein, Esq., of Blank Rome LLP, that:
Joe Barton Hopes to Have 1 to 2 Dozen Co-Sponsors for Online Poker Bill
Texas Republican Representative Joe Barton said during a conference call Tuesday that he hopes to have between one and two dozen co-sponsors for his online poker bill, introduced last week.
He said he hopes that Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) will allow him to hold a hearing on the bill and a subcommittee markup, but he hasn't received any promises.
Bally Technologies Buys SHFL Entertainment
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) — Bally Technologies said Tuesday that it has agreed to buy fellow gambling equipment maker SHFL Entertainment for about $1.3 billion in cash.
SHFL shares shot up up 21.6% in trading on Tuesday, and Bally's shares were up 6.3%.
Bally says the addition of SHFL will complement its existing product portfolio, while also providing new access to land-based and online table games markets around the world.
Philly Mob Boss is Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison
A Philadelphia mob boss has been sentenced to 137 months behind bars.
Total Gambling Revenue Flat for Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — Total gambling revenue at the state's 11 casinos was flat for the fiscal year that just ended, but gross revenue from table games grew 7.4 percent on the strength of continued strong growth at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and the first full year of play at Valley Forge Casino Resort, according to annual figures released by state regulators Tuesday.
Full Tilt Poker Casino Games, C$1 Million Guaranteed at Montreal Festival
Full Tilt Poker has confirmed it will be expanding into online casino games.
Full Tilt Poker, owned by the Rational Group and a sister site of PokerStars, issued a statement to PokerFuse.com Tuesday.
Wayne Root: NFL Should Worry About Murder and Thugs, Not Sports Betting
2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate and sports handicapper, Wayne Allyn Root, talks the NFL’s REAL PROBLEMS…and they aren’t SPORTS BETTING. Be sure to check out Wayne's site www.rootforamerica.com
Introducing Your WSOP November Nine 2013
From the vast sea of 6,353 hopefuls that began a once-a-year voyage costing $10,000, just nine survivors remain to vie for riches, fame, and the realization of every poker player's dream--the Main Event bracelet.
These nine are now destined to become this year's most celebrated and scrutinized group of poker players. They are the nine finalists of the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event, otherwise known as the November Nine.
A Look at The 2013 WSOP Main Event Top 20
Poker players from the USA made up the brunt of those who remained in this year’s World Series of Poker Main Event, but a number of other nations were well represented.
Canadian Marc McLaughlin led with the largest number of chips at press time. He was one of two players from Canada still remaining, the other being Alexander Livingston. While Brazil had Bruno Kawauti, he is also listed occasionally as coming to us from Canada.
World Series of Poker Final Table to be Determined
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) - As the sun began to set over the Rio casino in Las Vegas, a weary group of card sharks approached the midway point of the last day in the contest for a place at the World Series of Poker's final table.
Fewer than a dozen eliminations stood between the remaining players in the world's biggest no-limit Texas Hold `em competition Monday evening and a ticket for a November finale worth $8.4 million for the winner.
Men in hoodies and sunglasses played amid the blue and red lights of an ESPN set crafted within the Rio hotel-casino off the Strip.
Genovese Crime Family has Ties to Costa Rica-Based BetEagle.com Say Prosecutors
A complaint unsealed in a Newark, New Jersey federal court early Monday morning (July 15, 2013) alleges that long established BetEagle.com out of Costa Rica has ties to organized crime figures residing within the USA.
PokerStars Lifelong Ban of Player 'Jama-dharma’ for Buttoning
The world’s largest real money online poker room has banned a player for life after accusing him of a practice known as “buttoning”.
The player, known by the handle of ‘Jama-dharma’, is accused of sitting at an empty table and waiting for it to fill up before quitting said table in advance of the big blinds. “Buttoning” also entails an individual being able to play games for free as they never paid for mandatory antes.
PokerStars had issued a prior written warning to ‘Jama-dharma’.
27 Players Remain at 2013 WSOP: Last Lady Sitting is Out
Day Six of the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event is in the books and just 27 players remain in the running for a seat at the final table after beginning the day with 68 hopefuls just eight hours earlier.
Here are some of the daily highlights:
The Chip Leader
Senate Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Legalized Internet Gambling July 17
A Senate Subcommittee has scheduled a hearing for this coming Wednesday pertaining to the legalization of Internet gambling in the USA.
The Expansion of Internet Gambling: Assessing Consumer Protection Concerns Jul 17 2013 10:00 AM ET Russell Senate Office Building – 253 –
There will be live streaming of this hearing on the Net.
This news follows the announcement that Texas Congressman Joe Barton, a Republican, has introduced his own bill to legalize online gambling at the federal level.
- Patrick Flanagan, Gambling911.com
JC Tran Among Chip Leaders at 2013 WSOP: Glazier Makes Big Move
Big name pro JC Tran was among the top 3 chip leaders early in the evening Sunday as the last woman standing was on the ropes, though we had some good news just for Jackie Glazier as this was going to press.
The WSOP tweeted:
.@JackieGlazier's Main Event hopes still alive as she doubles through Jack Amyx when her JJ bests his AK.
Glazier, though, was near the bottom of the chip count with just 37 left. And just moments before this went to press, Glazier shot up into the top 25
Dan Bilzerian Loses $3.1 Million in a Single Night Shooting Dice and Playing Poker
Poker pro Dan Bilzerian tweeted that he was “kinda bummed” after losing $3.1 million Saturday night shooting dice and playing poker while visiting Los Angeles for the weekend.
Bilzerian claimed to hate tourneys and, as such, declined playing at this year’s World Series of Poker.
"I'd rather discuss a girls modeling career than play the WSOP," he tweeted last week.
Lock Poker News Gets Nearly 7000 Likes in Under 12 Hours
News that Lock Poker had gotten its Neteller payouts caught up almost completely had many in the Facebook community ecstatic.
Appeals Court Finds IRS Can’t Tax Some Gambling Winnings
In a ground breaking decision that should make many gamblers living in the USA smile, an Appeals Court has ruled that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cannot tax types of gambling winnings. There is, however, an emphasis on the word “living”.
