Gambling News
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.
Marvin Rettenmaier WPT Cypress Classic Win Historic
With his win at the 2012 WPT Cypress Classic this week, poker pro Marvin Rettenmaier has made history.
Rettenmaier won the WPT Championship in May to end Season X and, with his victory in the WPT Cyprus Classic to kick off Season XI, becomes the first player to win back-to-back tournaments in the history of the WPT, Poker News Daily noted.
PokerStrategy Sues Full Tilt Poker, Pocket Kings for $1.2 Million
eGaming Review Magazine this week revealed that the online poker portal, PokerStrategy.com, has sued Full Tilt Poker for $1.2 million claiming unpaid ad revenue.
MGM Posts 2nd Quarter Loss, but Revenue Surges 29 Percent
(Associated Press) - MGM Resorts International on Tuesday posted a second-quarter loss double what Wall Street was expecting, but revenue surged 29 percent on gambling and hotel room gains.
Shares rose 12 cents to $9.38 as the market opened.
The Las Vegas company, which runs the MGM Grand, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay and other properties, lost $145.5 million, or 30 cents per share, compared with a year-ago profit of $3.44 billion, or $6.22 per share.
12 Seats to Punta Cana Guaranted on Sunday August 12th
The big US airlines might want to start adding more flights to Punta Cana this October. Americas Cardroom is handing out 12 more Punta Cana Poker Classic packages worth $5,000 apiece this Sunday (August 12), offering winners the poker vacation of a lifetime at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
California Online Poker Bill Near Dead
Don’t bet on Internet poker in California. A bill to regulate the activity is about to die a quick death in the California legislature. The man who helped draft the measure has said it himself.
Co-sponsor of the bill, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg had this to offer: "Three-to-one odds that that bill has a 50 percent chance of passage. And I would bet the under."
NFL Okay With Female Replacement Official Shannon Eastin Past Participation in WSOP
No worries for NFL replacement official Shannon Eastin in regard to her World Series of Poker back in 2007.
Maryland Lawmakers Gather in 2nd Special Session to Consider Gambling, Pit Bulls
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — (Associated Press) - Maryland lawmakers convened for the year’s second special session Thursday to consider a significant expansion of gambling in the state to raise more revenue and create jobs.
The measure, which is tailored to make Maryland more competitive with neighboring states with a larger variety of gambling options, would allow table games like craps and a new casino in Prince George’s County near the nation’s capital.
Foxwoods CEO Sees Business Shift
HARTFORD, Conn. (Associated Press) — Increased gambling competition is forcing the largest casino in the Western Hemisphere to shift its business to include more non-gambling enterprises such as retail and conferences, the chief executive of Foxwoods Resort Casino said Thursday.
Scott Butera, CEO of the Indian-run casino, said in an interview with The Associated Press that Foxwoods anticipated the success of New York's Aqueduct Racetrack "racino."
"We planned for the effects of Aqueduct," Butera said.
Record $1.13 Billion Bet at Aqueduct Racetrack in July
(Associated Press) - More than a billion dollars bet by nearly a million customers last month is the latest evidence that the “racino” at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York City is capitalizing on its prime location and drawing dollars and gamblers from neighboring states’ casinos.
Clinkville: Facebook Online Poker Players Ask for Leniency, Face 7 Months in Prison
11 poker players in Jakarta, Indonesia have been charged with playing online poker via Facebook, with each facing up to 7 months behind bars for their crime.
Online chips were transferred during the commission of the crime. The chips are deemed to be “virtual cash” since Facebook does not permit real money gambling in Indonesia.
The seven poker players were identified as: Kesuma Wijaya Sidauruk; M Nasir, aka Aldo; Eman, aka Liang Sun; Hendry, aka A Hen; Haris Pratama Putra; A Seng, aka M. Ikhsan; and M. Zulfikar.
Shannon Eastin World Series of Poker Past: NFL Officials Prohibited From Gambling
The National Football League apparently has a zero tolerance policy as it relates to officials gambling.
Shannon Eastin is to become the first female to officiate an NFL game Thursday night when the Packers meet the Chargers for the start of preseason play. Eastin will serve as a replacement official.
NFL Replacement Official Shannon Eastin Poker Past Comes Back to Haunt Her
Breaking overnight news: National Football League replacement official Shannon Eastin has come under scrutiny for having played in the 2007 World Series of Poker, NBC Sports revealed late Wednesday.
Absolute Poker Liquidation Confirmed by Kahnawake
Claims of ownership interest in Absolute Poker parent company Blanca need to be settled prior to the distribution of liquidated assets, PokerFuse.com was reporting on Wednesday.
Moody’s Investment Service Backs Mohegan Sun Purchase of Resorts Casino Hotel
HARTFORD, Conn. – (Associated Press) - A ratings agency says the deal in which Connecticut-based Mohegan Sun casino operators will manage Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City could boost the Mohegan tribal authority's management venture.
Moody's Investors Service said Wednesday that to the extent the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority can improve the performance at Resorts and develop a successful track record in Atlantic City's challenging market, the deal could result in more management contract opportunities.
South Point Casino Receives Tentative Approval for ‘Real Money’ Internet Poker
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) - Nevada state gambling regulators have given tentative approval for a casino's plan to operate an Internet poker website accessible only within Nevada boundaries.
The state Gaming Control Board in Carson City gave conditional approval Wednesday for the South Point casino to conduct interactive gambling.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that if the Nevada Gaming Commission gives the OK on Aug. 23, the casino owned by Michael Gaughan would be the first licensed for interactive gambling.
Former Philadelphia Mayor's Daughter, 15 Others Charged with Running Massive Bookie Biz
Federal prosecutors claim to have broken up a massive bookmaking business based in suburban Philadelphia that spanned beyond state borders into New Jersey, Florida and Costa Rica.
Philadelphia Mob ‘Capo’ Pleads Guilty: Won’t Turn Rat in Joseph Ligambi Trial
A Philadelphia Mob lieutenant, Martin “Marty” Angelina, 50, has plead guilty to racketeering but has refused to cooperate in the fall trial of alleged crime family boss Joseph Ligambi.
Angelina admitted to operating illegal poker machines at the First Ward Republican Club in South Philadelphia and using extortionist tactics to collect a $6700 debt. He faces up to five years in prison as part of the plea deal.
Mobile Gambling Comes to Atlantic City
TRENTON — (Associated Press) - Adults who patronize Atlantic City’s casinos will soon be able to gamble at the pool, in their hotel rooms or while waiting in line at the buffet.
Gov. Chris Christie has signed legislation increasing gambling options to include handheld devices.
Mobile gambling will be restricted to the casino property.
Plans for Maryland Casino Expansion Unveiled
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — (Associated Press) - Casinos could be able to collect more revenue than currently allowed under the long-awaited details of a bill released Tuesday by Gov. Martin O’Malley’s administration ahead of a special session on gambling.
Maryland’s 67 percent tax rate on casinos is considered unusually high. Under the bill, casinos could get a lower tax rate if they buy or lease expensive slot machines instead of the state and, in some cases, to make up for added competition from a new casino site in Prince George’s County.
Mohegan Sun Takes Over Atlantic City Resorts Casino Hotel
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — (Associated Press) - The tribe that owns the Mohegan Sun casino extended its reach in the East on Tuesday by taking over operations of Atlantic City’s oldest casino, planting itself in the region’s gambling mecca as an alternative to luring tourists to its slot machines and poker tables in eastern Connecticut.
PokerListings Battle of Malta to be Hosted by Ravishing Kara Scott
November 22-25 will be yet another poker tournament held in an exotic locale. PokerListings.com’s “Battle of Malta” will feature a €500+50 buy-in, a €150,000 guarantee held at the Portomaso Casino.
Event organizers have also announced that the beautiful poker presenter Kara Scott will be hosting this magnificent event.
New Jersey Sports Betting Moving Forward Despite Lawsuit
Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (imega.org) head Joe Brennan, Jr. tells Gambling911.com that a suit filed Tuesday on behalf of the four professional sports leagues and NCAA will not stop legalized sports betting from moving forward in New Jersey.
“The leagues should not get an injunction since they cannot prove irreparable harm,” Brennan noted, with a sports betting measure expected to be approved in November.
Facebook Friendzy ‘Real Money’ Online Gambling Appears to Target Little Ones
With the “real money” online gambling launch of Bingo & Slots Friendzy on Facebook in Great Britain Tuesday, courtesy of provider Gamesys, mums across the nation have begun condemning the deal.
Indeed, the new app appears to have the look and feel of a child’s game.
"If my child came and asked me for money to play on this, I'd be livid," one mother said, speaking with TechEye.com. "But then I couldn't blame him, it looks like a very simple child's game."
Zokay Entertainment Acquires Global Poker Index
Zokay Entertainment announced today that it has acquired the Global Poker Index (GPI) from Pinnacle Entertainment. The GPI is a patent pending system that ranks the weekly performance of the world’s top 300 live tournament poker players. Since its launch in June of 2011, the entire poker community has embraced the GPI and considers it to be the most respected and well recognized independent ranking system for live tournament poker players worldwide
Poker ‘Psycho’ Matt Marafioti Accused of Trying to Hack Into Fellow Players Accounts
In a shocking development first reported on the popular TwoPlusTwo.com posting forums, poker pro Matt Mafafioti has been accused of conspiring to hack into fellow players accounts with the assistance of another player, Samer Rahman. While these allegations cannot independently be confirmed by Gambling911.com, it should be noted that administrators of the TwoPlusTwo.com website have elected to keep the forum post up.
Real Money Online Gambling Doesn’t Help Facebook as Shares Continue Skid
Facebook Inc. extended its decline through Tuesday (August 7, 2012) with the stock falling 5.5 percent to $20.72 at the closing bell in New York, this despite news that the company would begin offering real money online gambling in the United Kingdom.
The social media giant, which went public in May, is now down 45 percent after peaking at $38 per share.
Brennan Jr on Sports Betting Suit: ‘New Jersey Will Win Against Sports Leagues in a Blowout’
Joe Brennan Jr. of the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association reiterated to Gambling911.com on Tuesday New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak’s remarks that the professional sports leagues and NCAA had “taken the bait” where legalizing sports betting in the Garden State is concerned.
Lesniak on Major League Sports, NCAA NJ Sports Betting Suit: ‘Bring It On’
New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak, who co-sponsored a bill to legalize sports betting in the Garden State, laughed off reports that the four major sports leagues and NCAA had filed a suit to prevent his bill from moving forward.
Breaking News: NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, NCAA Sue New Jersey Over Sports Betting
(Reuters) - U.S. college and professional sports leagues filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to stop New Jersey's plans to legalize sports betting.
The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey says that a law signed in January to allow sports betting at the state's racetracks and at Atlantic City casinos violates a broad federal ban on wagering on sports events.
