Gambling News
888 Strong End to 2011
(Reuters) - British online gaming company 888 Holdings Plc. said it expects core profit for 2011 to be significantly above market expectations, aided by strength in its casino and poker businesses.
Cash-strapped Britons are staying at home more, watching TV and gambling online, updates from consumer-facing companies showed, as fears grow that the UK will slip back into recession.
The company, which operates 888 casino, poker, sport and bingo brands, said on Monday it would invest in several newly-regulated markets across Europe.
Shufflemaster, OpenBet Apply for Nevada Online Poker License
CardPlayer.com is reporting that Shufflemaster, the global supplier of automatic card shufflers, slot machines and, more importantly, wireless gaming solutions, has applied for a license to operate an online poker venture in the state of Nevada.
Nevada is set to begin allowing intrastate online poker as early as February ahead of potential federal legislation.
Zynga Stock Market Debut a Disappointment
Online game-maker Zynga raised an amazing $1 billion in the single biggest Internet IPO since Google in 2004. The company made its stock market debut on Friday with results essentially flat.
After rising 10 percent above the $10 offering price, it fell to as low as $9.50, then recovered to around its original $10.
From Time.com:
Online Poker Felon Bill Sponsor Senator Marquerite Prentice May be Gerrymandered Out
A Washington State Senator, Marguerite Prentice, may lose her seat due to so-called gerrymandering. Prentice helped co-sponsor a controversial bill that made playing online poker in the state a Class C felony with the punishment comparable to that of a multiple drunk driving offender and child molester. Washington is the only state that criminalizes actual online gamblers.
The Seattle Times noted that Prentice, a Democrat, will have to compete with other Democrats to remain in the legislature.
Xmas Gifts We’d Like to See for Poker Players, Online Gambling Folks, Politicians More…
With Christmas just around the corner, Gambling911.com takes this opportunity to tell you what Christmas gifts we'd like to give to some of our friends in the gambling industry.
To Full Tilt Poker part-owners Howard "The Professor" Lederer and Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, who've been accused by the U.S. government of running a ponzi scheme: A "Get out of Jail Free" card.
To Full Tilt Poker part-owner Phil "Poison" Ivey, who's now suing Full Tilt Poker: A copy of the best-selling book "How to Sue Yourself."
Nevada May Have Enough of a Player Pool to Support Intrastate Online Poker
Director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, David Schwartz, told CardPlayer.com Friday that he believed Nevada would be one of those states that could support legalized online poker at the intrastate level.
Former Bermuda Premier’s Son, Celebrity Poker Tournament Organizer Sentenced
A physician and son of the former Premier of Bermuda was sentenced this week to serve up to 17 years in prison.
New Jersey Drops Online Gambling Provision From Sports Betting Bill
(Associated Press) - Lawmakers have dropped provisions in a proposed sports betting law that would have let state residents place bets from their home computers or smartphones.
Sponsors said the changes were necessary to keep Gov. Chris Christie from vetoing the bill like he did with a measure in March that would have made New Jersey the first to approve in-state online gambling.
The bill would still let people bet on sports at Atlantic City casinos and horse tracks around the state.
Ron Paul Iowa Ads: We Got ‘Em (Video)
Ron Paul is going strong in Iowa and many believe he can take that state in its Caucus a few weeks from now.
His ads are slick and they are airing virtually nonstop throughout Iowa.
From the Washington Post:
38 Operators Granted Danish Gaming Licenses
A total of 38 operators have been granted online gambling licenses in Denmark.
The nation was one of the first to embrace Internet casino gaming during the late 1990’s and is home to some of the most successful poker pros.
PokerStars, Bwin, 888, Betfair and Unibet have all made the cut.
The new regulatory framework goes into effect January 1.
Government Spending Bill: Chances of Online Poker Attachment Slim
The much talked about Government Spending Bill that would allow the US Government to continue running into 2012 has been suggested as something a measure to legalize Internet poker could latch onto.
Texas Republican Congressman Joe Barton in his own words last week:
“There’s going be an omnibus bill of some sort of in the next 3 weeks with a continued resolution to fund the government through next September. This bill could be a component of that if there are revenues in the bill,” said the Congressman.
German States Sign New Gambling Law
(Reuters) - Fifteen of Germany's 16 federal states gave their approval on Thursday (December 15) to a new gambling law which will open up 20 sports betting licences and introduce a 5 percent gambling sales tax.
State premier Peter Harry Carstensen of Schleswig-Holstein, the only state not to add its signature to the new law, told reporters it would still need approval from the European Commission.
But another premier, Reiner Haseloff of Saxony-Anhalt, said the approval of Brussels was expected.
Jajajeet Chiba: Bovada = Stupada
I have been trying….oh have I been trying….to make some sense of the new Bodog.com rebranding to Bovada.lv. I even resorted to some heavy hookah smoking last evening to no avail.
What’s in a name?
Mine, Jagajeet Chiba, means “One Who Has Conquered the Earth”. Betcha didn’t know that.
My wife, Sadhvi, her name means “Chaste, Virtuous, Honest and Noble to Her Husband”.
Bovada?
I think there might have been a female sacred cow living up the street from me back in my native India with that name.
Public Policy Polling Has Ron Paul One Percentage Point Behind Gingrich
Most of the national polls have GOP candidate Ron Paul tied with Mitt Romney in the Iowa Caucus but at least one poll now has Paul closing in on Newt Gingrich.
The long time Texas Congressman is coming in one point behind Gingrich the Public Policy Polling.
Berlin Poker Bandit Organizer Sentenced
After a long-lasting trial the organizer of the so-called poker robbery in Berlin has been convicted to six years and four months in jail for armed robbery and assault. Yesterday the district court in Berlin found the 30yo guilty of hiring the executing robbers by a relative, instructing them, driving the getaway car and splitting the loot. During the robbery on the poker tournament in a luxury hotel in March 2010 242.000€ had been captured.
Hellinger Online Gambling Trial On Hold
The trial for Magazine Publisher and online gambling payment processor Don Hellinger has been put on hold with a yet-to-be-determined new date. The trial was originally set to begin January 3, 2012.
Hellinger processed online gambling payments for a number of prominent i-Gaming ventures during the period 2005-2006 including now-defunct BetOnSports.com and Bodog.com, which has since become Bovada.lv.
Ron Paul Can Win Iowa (Video)
Don’t look now but GOP candidate Ron Paul is gaining on Newt Gingrich and has passed by Mitt Romney in some recent Iowa caucus polls.
The mainstream media is starting to hint at a Ron Paul upset.
The Texas Congressman, who has not only supported legalizing online gambling in the US, but has co-sponsored bills with the likes of Democrat Barney Frank, is considered the dream candidate for those in the poker community.
No More Bodog.com in US: Hello Bovada.lv
In with Bovada.lv and out with Bodog.com.
Bodog.com has stopped accepting US customers as of Wednesday December 14, 2011.
While the company planned to pull the Bodog.com and .eu domain names from US reach while offering a rebranding alternative, the move comes a bit sooner than previously expected.
Bodog Poker Traffic Drops Off 9.3 Percent?
Bodog.com unveiled its “anonymous” software two weeks ago with one of the objectives being to prevent traffic monitoring websites from so-called “data mining”.
The most popular of those monitoring websites, PokerScout.com, reported that Bodog Poker’s traffic fell nearly 10 percent (9.3 percent) in the past week. The irony in all of this is that such a drop off seems to indicate the “anonymous” software is just that….anonymous.
Unibet Leaves Spain as Nation Begins Segregating Online Poker Market in Spain
The popular European online bookmaker Unibet has opted to exit the Spanish market as that nation begins segregating its Internet poker market. Unibet advised its affiliate marketers of the company’s decision last week.
A message to affiliates read as follows:
The majority of the Spanish banners/text links in your affiliate account will be de-activated on the 14th of December 2011. However, we will keep the best performing banners/text links active and re-direct these to the Brasilian website as of 14th of December 2011.
Zynga Tops Daily Average Users on Facebook With CityVille, Texas HoldEm Free Poker
AppData reported on Tuesday that Zynga titles topped the Daily Average Users of Facebook. Probably no surprise, but the amount of users is staggering.
Zynga’s CityVille pulled in a whopping 10 million per day while other titles such as Farmville and the free online poker game Texas HoldEm Poker also topped the list.
Zynga is about to launch its Initial Public Offering in the coming weeks.
CNBC reported that a Sterne Agee analyst has placed a "sell" rating on social network game maker before the stock ever begins trading.
Ongame Sale Unlikely to be Finalised by Year’s End
LONDON (SHARECAST) – Online gaming company Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment has reported a 'solid' performance since September, with its core margin for the full year set to be between 22% and 24%.
However, investors were disappointed by news that the sale of Ongame B2B is unlikely to be finalised before the end of the year despite being at an "advanced stage".
The firm said revenue performance since the end of September has been in-line with management's expectations and it remains on-track to deliver around €40m of annualised synergies in 2012 and €65m in 2013.
Eastern PA Online Gambling Cold Case Gets Hotter as Trial Set for January 3
An online gambling payment processing case is reportedly set to go to trial on January 3, though a delay is possible.
The US Attorney’s Office in Eastern Pennsylvania case involves processing for companies during the years 2005 and 2006, including the now defunct BetOnSports.com. Companies that are still in existence today are also mentioned in the complaint, including Bodog.com, though they are not named as one of the defendants.
Game of Skill: Success Rate of Poker Players Matches That of Top Baseball Teams
Poker pros love Freakonomics and a recent finding that appeared on James McManus’s Grantland.com seemingly supports the argument that poker is indeed a “game of skill” through a comparison with Major League Baseball.
Somach: Romney Wouldn’t Be First Gambling President
Much fuss is being made about Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's offer to bet fellow contender Rick Perry $10,000 during a live televised debate this past weekend.
Poker Players Call for Boycott The Venetian Hotel, Casino and Other Sheldon Adelson Properties
Following word last week that Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman Sheldon Adelson announced he is opposed to current legislation that would allow for regulated online poker in the United States, some in the poker playing community have called for an all-out boycott of Adelson’s casino properties, including the famed Venetian on the Las Vegas Strip.
"Since Sheldon Adelson is lobbying against Internet poker, I will no longer play at The Venetian poker room," a player wrote on the TwoPlusTwo.com message board. "I suggest if you care about the issue, that you also boycott the room."
Miami Casino Won’t be the World’s Largest
It will be enormous, but not the world’s largest casino as previously suggested. Casino giant Genting plans to build a sprawling casino complex in downtown Miami but the perceived enormity of the project has raised some concerns.
“That’s simply false,’’ Christian Goode, Genting’s top Florida executive said during a panel discussion where the casino was referred to as the ‘largest casino on the planet’. “It’s not even close to being the largest.”
Fellow Mormon Jon Huntsman Mocks Mitt Romney $10K Bet in Latest Campaign Ad (Video)
GOP candidate for US President and former Utah Governor, Jon Huntsman, was quick to release an ad mocking Mitt Romney’s $10K bet offer to Texas Governor Rick Perry.
Like Romney, Huntsman is a Mormon. And like Romney, Huntsman is not supposed to gamble based on Mormon doctrine.
Romney Flip Flops on 10K Bet
US Presidential candidate Mitt Romney stirred up controversy Saturday evening during a nationally televised GOP debate by offering to bet fellow candidate Rick Perry $10,000 over his assertion that the former Massachusetts Governor had broadly supported requiring individuals to have health insurance.
“I’ll bet you 10,000 bucks,” Romney said, denying Perry’s claims.
Perry replied, “I’m not in the betting business.”
By late Sunday, Romney tried to laugh off the bet.
Mormons and Gambling: The Mitt Romney $10,000 Bet
One of the most searched terms coming to the Gambling911.com website during the overnight hours of Saturday and early morning Sunday: “Mormons and Gambling”. The flurry occurred following Saturday evening’s GOP debate on ABC where US Presidential candidate and Mormon Mitt Romney challenged fellow candidate Texas Governor Rick Perry to a $10,000 bet over the assertion that Romney had broadly supported requiring individuals to have health insurance.
