Gambling News
MGM Files Trademark Infringement Suit Against Poker Sites
MGM Resorts International has filed suit in the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas this past Thursday against four individuals and two companies related to websites they claim infringe on their own trademarks.
Website domain names that are part of the suit include:
bellagioonlinepoker.com
circuscircuspoker.com
excaliburpoker.com
luxorpoker.com
mandalaybayonlinepoker.com
mgmpoker.com
ariapoker.com
Smaller Payroll Tax Reduction Proposal Could Include Online Poker Provision
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released details of his payroll tax reduction compromise on Monday. While no provisions were mentioned regarding the legalization of Internet poker as a means to help boost the US economy, some believe this measure could offer an opportunity to attach such legislation.
Churchill Downs Increases Its Annual Dividend by 20 Percent
(AP) NEW YORK — Churchill Downs Inc. said Monday it will increase its annual dividend by 20 percent to 60 cents per share.
Five Casino Operators Apply for Licenses to Operate Online Poker Sites in Nevada
Five casino companies have reportedly applied for licenses to operate online poker rooms from the state of Nevada. The state gaming board anticipates licenses to be issued as early as February.
Could Online Poker be on the Agenda as Part of Harry Reid’s Payroll Tax Cut Proposal
With Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid preparing to introduce a proposal Monday as a compromise to extend a popular payroll tax cut, the poker community had its ears perk up, if only for a brief moment.
Reid, who represents the gambling state of Nevada and its casino interests, is reportedly attempting to push through a measure that would legalize online poker as a means of reducing the deficit, creating jobs, and, most importantly, generating millions (if not billions) of dollars in taxable income.
Hells Angels Biker in Court Over Las Vegas Casino Shootout
By SCOTT SONNER
Associated Press
RENO, Nev. (AP) - A California member of the Hells Angels pleaded not guilty Thursday to second-degree murder for his role in the death of his chapter president in a September shootout in a Nevada casino.
Cesar Villagrana of Gilroy also pleaded not guilty to shooting and wounding two members of the rival Vagos motorcycle gang in the melee.
Ladbrokes Agrees to Debt Facility With Banks
LONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Ladbrokes, Britain's second-biggest bookmaker, said it had agreed a new five-year, 540 million pounds ($847 million) debt facility with its banks.
Ladbrokes, which has 2,100 betting shops in the UK, on Friday said the new facility would mature in 2016 and replaces its existing 560 million pounds facility that was due to mature in 2013.
The company estimates that the new blended rate of interest for the group will be 7.5 percent in 2012.
CNN Introduces Intrade.com Monitoring for its Political Power Rankings
CNN on Friday introduced a new weekly segment, Political Power Rankings.
Contributor John Avalon presented the segment while a panel came on to discuss the trending related to the GOP candidates, referencing the betting exchange intrade.com.
Intrade is a prediction market that attempts to act as an indicator of possible outcomes for specified events such as Presidential elections.
So who was on top of the CNN Political Power Rankings?
Iowa Says Online Gambling Will Take in At Least $13 Million for State
Iowa is betting online gambling will help boost that state’s economy. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission will permit a debate by lawmakers next year to determine whether online gambling should be legalized within Iowa’s borders.
March Trial Likely in Connection With Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars “Black Friday” Case
(Associated Press) - NEW YORK — Two men charged in a case that shut down U.S. operations for three Internet poker companies are likely to go on trial in March, a judge told lawyers Thursday.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan listened to arguments that included the question of whether poker can be considered gambling before telling the attorneys for former bank executive John Campos and co-defendant Chad Elie that a March 12 trial was almost certain.
“I think it’s extraordinarily unlikely that the entire indictment will be dismissed,” Kaplan said.
CNN Puts More Pressure on Bachus, Pelosi Regarding Insider Trading and Congress
Following a “60 Minutes” report, CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Thursday night made insider trading and Congress his top story of the evening. The “violators” were none other than former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, current House Speaker John Boehner and Alabama Republican Congressman Spencer Bachus. Mr. Bachus has been one of the biggest advocates for online gambling prohibition and he is also allegedly one of the biggest of the “violators”.
What they did was not illegal but…
From Wikipedia…
Huffington Post: Sports Betting Could Be the Answer for Ailing State Economies
While much of the talk these days is related to how legalizing online poker can help boost state economies as well as help the national deficit through massive gambling tax collections, the Huffington Post on Thursday published a great article about New Jersey’s efforts to legalize sports betting as a means of helping the Garden State recover from its own financial woes.
Herman Cain to Drop Out of US Presidential Race at 45 percent
The prediction markets at intrade.com have GOP US Presidential candidate Herman Cain with odds set at 45 percent of dropping out of the US Presidential race before December 31.
The market has given the former Godfathers Pizza CEO a 1 percent chance of becoming the nominee to represent the Republican party in 2012.
Joran van der Sloot Sues Chilean Government Over Extradition to Peru
Joran van der Sloot, the Dutch man suspected in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in 2005, is suing the Chilean government for more than $13 million, alleging his human rights were violated. Chile extradited Van der Sloot to Peru where he is currently being held for the 2010 murder of Peruvian college student Stephany Flores.
Facebook Real Money Online Gambling in the UK: Apps Coming Soon?
Facebook, the social networking behemoth, is considering real money online gambling in the United Kingdom?
Those are the latest rumors.
“We’re always in discussions with companies about lots of different ideas, but we don’t comment on future plans or speculation,” a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement issued to ZDNet.com late Wednesday.
Bad News for Online Gambling: Foe Maxine Waters to Replace Supporter Barney Frank
Bad news for bettors!
It could be rocky Waters ahead!
U.S. Congressman Barney Frank made news this week when he announced he won't seek re-election and will retire at the end of his current two-year term, which expires on December 31, 2012.
The news was of particular interest to those in the online gambling community, as Frank has been the leading proponent among elected government officials for the legalization of online gambling in the U.S.
He wasn't just a proponent though.
Joe Barton on Legalized Internet Poker in the US: “I Think We Have the Votes”
Texas Republican Congressman Joe Barton believes his bill to legalize and fully regulate (not to mention tax) Internet poker in the United States will likely come to fruition by next summer, which, if you are able to keep up with the time, is just about 6 months away.
From Poker News Report:
Google, Facebook Ordered to Delist Over 700 Domain Names
In a move that has sent chills throughout many industries, including the online gambling sector, a federal judge out of Nevada has ordered the seizure of over 700 domain names related to counterfeit products in addition to demanding that Google, Facebook, Bing and Twitter delist the named websites.
“So are they (the US Government) going to seize eBay.com’s domain too since they sell ‘fake’ Chanel products,” asked one individual upon being informed of the seizures.
It could very well happen.
Bodog.com Releases New Poker Software: Includes Rabbit Cam
Bodog.com has released its much-anticipated upgraded poker software on Wednesday, the same day the company officially began switching its affiliate partners over to a new platform, Betting Partners.
Bodog anticipates a heavy market push in Europe now that the new software has been released.
Bodog Europe CEO Patrik Selin pretty much admitted back in August that the company’s previous poker software platform just wasn’t up to par with competing networks.
Seven of Top 10 Online Poker Sites Lose Ground Last Week
It wasn’t the best week for the global online poker market as traffic rose a meager 1 percent. Most of the rise came at PokerStars while seven of the other top 10 online poker sites lost some ground.
PokerStars is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary with a series of special offerings. That site’s traffic rose 4 percent.
Istadeal Challenges Full Tilt Poker Over Rush Poker Patentability
The Instadeal Poker Network has rolled out its own version of now defunct Full Tilt Poker’s Rush Poker. The innovative concept allows a pool of players to play quickly and to continuously be rushed to a new table upon folding their cards at their previous table.
Sources: Jon Kyl Adamant About Getting UIGEA Retooled
Sources within the online gambling community have advised Gambling911.com that outgoing Arizona Republican Senator Jon Kyl is working hard to re-enforce his Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) through amended legislation that would help loosen the grip over licensed online poker sites in the US.
“A lot of his constituents were not pleased with what Kyl did in 2006,” our source tells us.
December Bills Could Create Opportunity for Internet Poker Measure
Lawmakers may be planning to attach online poker legislation to upcoming bills, more specifically an omnibus appropriations bill that needs to be passed by December 16.
It’s déjà vu perhaps, harping back to last December when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid worked feverishly to get his own online poker bill passed by year’s end. That never happened. This year, there is more momentum.
The New York Post earlier in the month reported that Reid and one time industry nemesis Arizona Republican Senator Jon Kyl were co-authoring a bill to legalize Internet poker.
Microgaming Poker Site 24Poker Disappears Without a Trace
A skin of the Microgaming Poker Network, 24Poker.com, has been shut down, the second Microgaming poker site in the past 48 hours to do so.
24Poker.com did not accept US customers but many worldwide are likely to be affected as the brand received approximately 880 search inquiries per month. That is still a far cry from the 40,000 plus who search for Cake Poker on a monthly basis however so Gambling911.com does not anticipate a massive outcry from the online poker community.
Toby Maguire, Gabe Kaplan, Others Settle High Stakes Hollywood Poker Games Lawsuit
Actor Toby Maguire and Gabe Kaplan have reportedly reached a settlement agreement in a highly publicized lawsuit involving high stakes Hollywood poker games.
Barney Frank Won’t Run for Reelection: Online Poker Sector Must Act Fast
The online poker and gambling industry as a whole is about to lose one of its greatest allies as Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank has announced he will not be running for reelection in 2012.
With South Africa Deeming Online Poker Illegal: PiggsPeak Casino and Poker Shut Down
Long established online casino and poker room PiggsPeak has shut down following a court ruling in South Africa that makes online gambling illegal.
The judge's decision states the gambling takes place where the play is, not where the gaming site's servers are physically located.
PiggsPeak and other online casino companies attempted to appeal a ruling by the North Gauteng High Court that declared Internet gambling illegal in the country.
Las Vegas Airport: New Gateway to Asia
Las Vegas tourism officials are betting that a new air terminal will offer a new route for air passengers to connect between the US and Asia.
A new terminal will make its debut in June and connect international passengers through six gates. Customs will be able to process 2,200 passengers per hour,
"We see Las Vegas not just as an origin and destination point, but also as another hub for us," John Jackson III, vice president of passenger marketing and sales for Korean Air's Americas region, says to AP.
Spain Regulates Online Poker: A Breakdown
PokerStrategy.com as always has provided its readers with a fantastic analysis of what Spanish regulation of online poker means to players.
Belgium Online Gambling Blacklist Likely to Feature Bwin
Belgium has announced plans to incorporate a so-called “blacklist of online gambling websites”, a move that is seen as shocking in most industry circles.
Belgium’s biggest city of Brussels is considered the de facto capital of the European Union. The EU has worked hard to abolish individual nation prohibition of Internet gambling within its membership organization, even going as far as to condemn the United States for its position against Web gambling.
