Gambling News
Almost Paradise: Poker Site Sees Sharp 33 Percent Decline
Paradise Poker, once among the top three largest Internet card rooms in the world, witnessed a sharp decline in revenues of 33 percent in the first 6 months of its financial year to end January 2012.
The company, which is owned by sports betting powerhouse Sportingbet Plc, called the current poker market conditions “challenging”.
Poker makes up 6.0 percent of gross gaming revenue.
Sportingbet overall recorded a loss for the period.
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.
2012 WPT LA Poker Classic Down to 18: Noah Schwartz Leads
The 2012 WPT LA Poker Classic was down to 18 players having had 549 entrants.
Noah Schwartz leads the pack with 1,770,000 chips while Dan Kelly follows with 1,749,000. Schwartz has won close to $2 million in live poker tournaments to date.
Canadian Jason Somerville continues to go strong in 7th place heading into Wednesday.
David Sands, World Series of Poker Main Event winner Joe Hachem and Sorel Mizzi are other big names still hanging in there and looking to make the final table.
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.
Black Friday Defendant Ryan Lang Pleads Guilty
(Associated Press) - NEW YORK — A Canadian citizen pleaded guilty to U.S. conspiracy charges Tuesday in connection with an investigation of Internet poker gambling that shut down the three largest online poker companies in the United States.
Ryan Lang, 37, entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, saying he served as a middleman between poker companies and brokers who tricked banks into processing money for the gambling businesses.
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.
: : CRIMINAL NO. : (Conducting gambling business, : 18 U.S.C. §1955; Money : laundering conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. : §1956(h); Aiding and : abetting, 18 U.S.C. §2; : Forfeiture, 18 U.S.C. : §§982(a)(1) and 1955(d)). :
...ooo0ooo... INDICTMENT COUNT ONE (Conducting gambling business)
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.
Rod Rosenstein, the U.S. Attorney in Baltimore, indicted Ayre and three other men, James Philip, David Ferguson and Derrick Maloney. The company, Bodog Entertainment Group, is also under indictment and its domain name has been seized by federal prosecutors.
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.
Poker After Dark Returning March 5
“Poker After Dark” is set to return March 5 with 24 previously unaired episodes.
Four weeks of episodes that were taped primarily in December 2010 will be shown on the new NBC Sports Network (currently Versus).
“Poker After Dark” was previously sponsored by the now defunct Full Tilt Poker.
The shows were produced by Poker PROductions, which sent out the following tweet on Monday:
PokerStars Introduces Zoom Poker to Fill Void Left by Rush Poker
Following Full Tilt Poker’s shut down last year, its Rush Poker product vanished as well. Now PokerStars is stepping up to the plate with its own fast-paced game, Zoom Poker.
Presently, the Zoom Poker product is only available for play money.
Zoom Poker player can see an average of 200 hands per hour with a “fast fold” option.
So far players have been able to join 4 playerpools at once with the average actually recorded at between 200 and 280 hands/hour.
Matt Glantz: ‘Inevitable That Bernard Tapie Will be Backing Out (of Full Tilt Poker Deal)
Poker pro Matt Glantz provided his gloomy assessment of the future of Full Tilt Poker and those supposed white knights out of France, Groupe Bernard Tapie.
“Unfortunately, I feel based on their recent actions, I believe it is inevitable that Tapie will be backing out. It looks to me that for whatever reason, they have no real interest in acquiring FTP. The reasons why they are hanging around giving the illusion that they are still interested are unclear.”
California Pushes Forward With Internet Poker Bill
The state of California, which is the 8th largest economy in the world, will decide if Internet poker for real money play is to be legalized very shortly following the introduction of SB1463.
The bill was introduced by State Senator Roderick Wright this past week.
Phil Ivey ‘Bubble Boy’ at 2012 LA Poker Classic
With the 2012 LA Poker Classic field dwindling down to 54, Phil Ivey found himself exiting as the “Bubble Boy”, failing to make the cash cut.
In total, 549 players entered the tournament in hopes of winning the $1,370,240 first place prize.
Other notables knocked out Sunday included the likes of Phil Hellmuth, Vanessa Rousso, Erick Lindgren, Jennifer Harman, Barry Greenstein and Liv Boeree.
Cake Poker Announces $100,000 Points Race
This March popular online poker site, Cake Poker is rewarding players with a $100,000 Points Race while providing depositors with a 100% Reload Bonus.
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.
Mickey Petersen Wins EPT Copenhagen 2012
PokerStars Team Online’s Mickey Petersen has won EPT Copenhagen for 2,515,000 Danish Kroner (approx. €340,000) after a six-hour heads-up battle against Belgian Team PokerStars Pro Pierre Neuville, his elder by some 47 years.
The young Dane’s victory at Casino Copenhagen – his first major live result - also earned him a stunning bracelet worth more than €10,000 from the Official EPT Season 8 Bracelet Sponsor Shamballa Jewels.
Phil Ivey Returns to US Play With LA Poker Classic: Finishes Day Strong
With the prize pool set at the 2012 LA Poker Classic, Phil Ivey made his debut after more than a year’s absence playing in US tournaments. Ivey has suffered through a tumultuous divorce both from his wife and former employer, the now defunct Full Tilt Poker.
Oscar Odds 2012: Best Original Score
Oscar odds for 2012 Best Original Score had Ludovic Bource as the -1000 favorite for “The Artist”. Betting on more competitively priced Oscar categories can be found at WagerWeb.com here.
Oscar Odds for the Best Picture 2012: The Artist a Near Lock
The Oscar odds for Best Picture 2012 looked at first to be competitive but “The Artist” is now running away with all the betting action and comes in as the steep -1500 favorite, essentially making it a ‘lock’. Oscar gamblers need not despair as categories such as Best Actor and Best Actress feature competitive pricing/payout odds (with nominal risk). WagerWeb.com was offering odds on all 2012 Oscar categories here.
Vanessa Selbst Wins 2012 LAPC $5000 Tournament
One of the premier female poker pros, Vanessa Selbst, has won the 2012 LAPC $5000 Tournament, beating out 97 other players.
The win netted Selbst $140,295. To date, her live tournament winnings exceed $4.7 million. She has had 34 cashes and 7 first place finishes including last April’s $450,000 payday at the PokerStars NAPT Mohegan Sun Season 2 Main Event.
Las Vegas Odds on the Oscars: Betting is Still Only Allowed Online
While online gambling sites like WagerWeb.com will be offering betting on just about every 2012 Oscars category, you won’t find odds in Las Vegas.
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.
Bally Technologies to Enter US Online Poker Industry: Acquires Chili Poker Platform
Bally Technologies announced Thursday it had acquired the popular Chili Poker software platform, giving it a major edge as online poker becomes legalized in the US during the next couple of months.
The transaction, however, does not mean Bally wants to launch it own Internet gaming website, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.
US-Facing Online Poker Room Enjoys Accolades for ‘Fastest Payouts’: Sees Massive Growth
You’ve come a long way Baby! Americas Cardroom back in its heyday was considered the red-headed step child in a field of far more advanced online poker rooms like PokerStars and PartyPoker. Today, not only has the software vastly improved, so too have the promotions, the customer service and the all-important payouts. In fact, Americas Cardroom is being praised as offering the “fastest payouts” of any US-facing online poker room today.
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
