Gambling News
WPT Legends of Poker 2012 Final Table Determined
The WPT Legends of Poker 2012 Final Table is ready to go with Josh Hale the chip leader.
Max Steinberg, with 1,020,000 chips, has won $1.1 million in live tournaments to date with his biggest coming at this year’s World Series of Poker Event #33 where he walked away with over $440,000 and his first bracelet.
Jeff Madsen was sitting with 1,030,000 chips. He has won over $3.4 million lifetime and has two bracelets.
Ali Eslami had 2,900,000 chips. He has won $1.1 million in live tournaments to date.
Japanese Pachinko Tycoon Kazuo Okada Sues Wynn Resorts
TOKYO (Associated Press) Japanese pachinko tycoon Kazuo Okada has filed a lawsuit in Tokyo District Court seeking $140 million in damages from casino operator Wynn Resorts.
Universal Entertainment said in a statement Wednesday that it is seeking damages for harm caused to its share price and business due to Wynn's decision to remove Okada as a board member and reclaim the $2.77 billion of shares in the company owned by Okada's company, Universal Entertainment Corp.
888 Poker in Talks With Facebook Regarding ‘Real Money’ Online Poker
888 Poker has begun talking with Facebook, the social media giant, to bring “real money” online poker to jurisdictions where such activity is permitted, a la Great Britain, according to a report on eGaming Review.
The news comes amidst reports that 888 Holdings second quarter costs have put a strain on margins, though the company is realizing a pretax profit of $18.36 million for the half year ended June 30, compared with loss of $22.10 million a year earlier. Revenue advanced 21% to $186.4 million.
Poker Maximus is Back! Carbon Brings Back Popular Online Poker Tournament
Last March, poker players at Carbon Poker thoroughly enjoyed the month long Poker Maximus tournament series and they have been asking for round two. Well, Carbon has obliged as Poker Maximus II starts on September 6th, 2012.
Illinois Governor Quinn Points to ‘Mob’ as Reason for Gambling Expansion Veto
CHICAGO — (Associated Press) - Citing Chicago’s reputation of mobsters and corruption, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed a plan Tuesday to bring casinos to the city and four other areas, leaving irked lawmakers with the task of overruling him.
Poker Pro Ryan Young Remembered on ESPN
ESPN featured an “in memory of” segment on poker pro Ryan Young late Tuesday evening (August 28, 2012) between the hours of 8 pm EDT and 9. The segment is likely to be repeated. It aired during the Republican Convention coverage.
The 2007 WSOP bracelet winner was killed in a car accident in Torrance, California late last month. Few details were known about the crash at that time.
Gambling911.com was one of the first to report on the tragedy after a few other poker pros tweeted about what had transpired.
Warren Buffet Hosts Private Poker Tournament: Corzine Son Makes Final Two Cut
Forbes writer Randall Lane offered up an exclusive look at what it’s like to take part in Warren Buffet’s private poker tournament, the Berkshire Hathaway’s NetJets Poker Invitational. Even the name is intimidating.
The comp features a prize pool of US$500,000, however, Lane claims that invitees are more interested in the bragging rights that come with taking part in such a tournament.
The minimum cost to enter is US$200,000 and there are just 240 seats open to participants.
Zynga Chief Creative Officer Mike Verdu Exits to Start New Gaming Co, Backed by Zynga
Zynga’s Chief Creative Officer Mike Verdu may be on his way out the door, but his new online gaming venture will have backing from none other than….ZYNGA.
Without revealing the name of his new venture, Verdu disclosed that Zynga will be a primary investor.
New Jersey Sports Betting Now Targeted for December: George W. Bush attorney on Board
A move to legalize sports betting in New Jersey for the fall will likely be delayed until December the earliest, mainly a result of the anticipated lengthy licensing process.
Joe Brennan, Jr. of the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association tells Gambling911.com that the state will move right along with the legalization process despite a lawsuit filed against the four professional sports teams and the NCAA to try and prevent this from happening.
BetFred Pays Olympian Sam Oldham Grandma With ‘Bad’ Check
BetFred finally paid British Olympian gymnast Sam Oldham’s grandma. Too bad the check was no good!
Perhaps it was just an honest mistake but Linda Aldred tells Gambling911.com BetFred sent her and Sis two separate checks, neither of which were signed.
“BetFred say they send out plenty of cheques (so) it is no unusual for an odd one to go unsigned,” Ms. Aldred said. “Strange that two in the same dispute happen not to have been signed.”
Attorney Who Represented George W. Bush to Fight for Sports Betting in New Jersey
Theodore Olson, an attorney best known for representing former US President George W. Bush in the contested 2000 presidential election, has signed on to assist New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in that state’s fight to legalize sports betting.
All four professional sports leagues and the NCAA filed a lawsuit against the state earlier this month in an attempt to prevent New Jersey from moving forward with its efforts.
Olson, who also assisted in overturning California’s ban on same-sex marriage, filed papers in a federal court on Monday to join the Christie legal team.
Last Man Standing Program Brought Back to Online Poker Room Carbon Poker
After the tremendous success and popularity of the Last Man Standing program at Carbon Poker earlier this year, they’ve decided to bring it back for the month of September. This time around there is over $32,000 in cash prizes for players to win as their poker endurance will be tested for the entire month.
Judge Weinstein’s Ruling on Poker as ‘Game of Skill’ Could Spark Resurgence Online
Last week’s ruling by New York Supreme Court Judge Jack Weinstein that poker is a “game of skill” and not “one of chance” has many believing an online poker resurgence is on its way. So-called “games of chance” were previously prosecuted under a law used to eradicate organized crime.
In making his decision, Judge Weinstein relied extensively on the findings of a defense expert who analyzed online poker games.
No Casino in Chicago as Illinois Governor Rejects Gambling Expansion Plan
By SOPHIA TAREEN
CHICAGO (Associated Press) - Gov. Pat Quinn has rejected a plan to expand gambling in Illinois, including a land-based casino in Chicago.
The Democrat announced his veto Tuesday, saying the proposed bill lacked sufficient regulatory oversight.
The bill proposed five new casinos, including the Chicago facility and four more on riverboats.
Illinois Governor Must Decide Today on Gambling Expansion, Chicago Casino
CHICAGO • (Associated Press) - Gov. Pat Quinn will announce Tuesday the fate of a proposal to expand gambling in Illinois, including a new land-based casino in Chicago, weighing ethical and social concerns against the possibility of bringing a jackpot of jobs and revenue to the state.
With two of his predecessors in prison, the Chicago Democrat has made it clear he must preserve his political integrity in the plan, which also proposes establishing four new riverboat casinos and allowing slot machines at racetracks.
Schleswig-Holstein Awards More Online Gambling Licenses
The Northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein this week has awarded 4 more online gambling licenses, bringing the number thus far to approximately a dozen.
Those licensed this week include 888, Admiral Sportswetten (Rettingen), Admiral Sportwetten (Gumpoldskirchen in Austria) and Cashpoint Malta Ltd (Malta).
PokerAce.com Launches as Newest Online Poker Network: Targets Asian Players
A new online poker network emerged this past week, which looks to target the Asian poker playing market. PokerAce.com has launched with a bang, offering up the likes of World Series of Poker Main Event champion Joe Hachem and JC Tran as its spokespersons. The company has developed its own proprietary card room and will license to other “skins” using a model similar to that of Merge Gaming and iPoker.
Alabama Casino Lobbyist, Legislator Head to Prison for Gambling Vote Selling Scheme
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — (Associated Press) - A casino lobbyist and a former legislator who pleaded guilty in Alabama's gambling corruption case are now in federal prison.
A spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons said lobbyist Jarrod Massey reported Monday to the minimum-security prison camp at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. Former state Rep. Terry Spicer of Elba reported to the minimum-security prison camp in Marion, Ill.
Online Sportsbook Seeing Nice Spike Ahead of NFL, College Football Betting
The boutique online sportsbook, Northbet, tells Gambling911.com they are already seeing some decent traffic coming in ahead of the upcoming College Football and NFL betting season, economy aside.
“The economy is always a factor, but we don't expect it to be any different than the past 2 years,” a Northbet representative tells Gambling911.com. The company is heading into its third College Football and NFL betting season.
Fifth Street Gaming Takes Over Casinos at Gold Spike and Siegel Slots in Vegas
(Associated Press) - Fifth Street Gaming says it is taking over gambling operations at two Las Vegas hotels, the Gold Spike and Siegel Slots and Suites.
Both hotels are properties of the Siegel Group, which owns several boutique hotels, apartment complexes and other developments.
The contracts announced Monday are subject to approval by gambling regulators. Terms weren't disclosed.
Golden Route Operations currently operates gambling at the two properties.
Everest Poker to Join iPoker Network
Everest Poker is doing away with its own proprietary online poker software to join the world’s second largest network, iPoker.
The move comes at a time of slumping traffic over the past six months that has resulted in a 30 to 40 percent decline in cash game action.
Poker Pro Nancy Todd Attempt to Gain Control Over Arkansas Casinos Fails
Professional poker player Nancy Todd has lost her fight to gain exclusive operating rights to Arkansas casinos on Monday.
Illinois Governor Won’t Say If He Plans to Sign Gambling Legislation
CAROL STREAM, Ill. (Associated Press) - Gov. Pat Quinn isn't giving any hints about what he'll do with a gambling bill that Illinois lawmakers sent to his desk.
Tuesday is the deadline for Quinn to take action on legislation that would establish five new casinos in the state, including one in Chicago. It would also allow slot machines at horse racing tracks.
At an unrelated event in suburban Chicago on Monday, Quinn said he spent the weekend reading the bill and he'll announce his decision Tuesday. He declined to say if he'd arrived at a decision.
Shuttered Moore Games to Resume Payments to Poker Players
Good news is here as Moore Games has announced it will begin paying back customers after the online poker room was forced to shut down.
The former iPoker Network skin claims that it has received funds from the network to begin the payout process.
As reported by PokerFuse.com Monday:
Bid Farewell My Pretty! eBay Bans Gambling Spell Potions
The online auction site eBay on Monday announced it will no longer be permitting the sale of magic potions, one of which claims to help individuals win at gambling.
“Windfall Money Riches Fortune Gambling Good Luck Spell” ($8.99) has been cut along with “magical demon destroyer potion” ($51), “powerful female succubus lover spell” ($24.99) and a number of voodoo dolls.
eBay SPELLed it out in plain English, releasing this statement regarding the policy decision:
84 Players Remain at World Poker Tour Legends of Poker 2012: Jonathan Aguiar Survives
There were 84 players left after Day 2 of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Legends of Poker at the Bicycle, including pro Jonathan Aguiar, who had gotten into a brawl Friday afternoon with fellow pro Matt Marafioti.
Under China's Watch, Macau Won't Return to 'Gangster's Paradise'
(Reuters) - Three murders, hammer-wielding heavies, and a high-profile police swoop have raised concerns that Macau, the world's casino capital, may be backsliding to the bad old days of the late-1990s. And that's even before ex-triad boss "Broken Tooth" ends a 15-year jail sentence in December.
All this at a time when China's economy, the world's second-biggest, is growing more slowly - hitting gambling revenue and possibly making junket operators, who collect gambling debts in exchange for commission from casinos, more aggressive.
Galaxy's H1 Net Profit Jumps Ninefold on New Casino
HONG KONG - (Reuters) - Macau casino operator Galaxy Entertainment, posted a ninefold increase in first-half net profit, beating expectations as its new casino cashed in on a steady flow of Chinese visitors keen to try their luck in the world's largest gambling destination.
Although China's economic slowdown is threatening to rein in the flow of visitors that made Macau one of the fastest-growing economies in 2011, Galaxy is seen as better positioned than most rivals as its new casino benefits from high traffic on Macau's glitzy Cotai strip.
Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Allegedly Tied to Organized Crime Figure
Reuters was reporting late Sunday that the Las Vegas Sands had allowed a man identified by the US Senate as an “organized crime figure” to move US$100k in gambling credit from the Sheldon Adelson managed Sands to one of its Macau-based casinos.
Documentation of this alleged incident emerged in the wake of a lawsuit filed by a former Sands employee who previously claimed prostitution was permitted on the Sands Macau property.
From Rueters:
Poker Pro Jonathan Aguiar Seeks Restraining Order Against Matt Marafioti After Bicycle Brawl
Jonathan Aguiar wants a restraining order against Matt Marafioti following Friday night’s brawl during the WPT Legends Tournament at the Bicycle
He tweeted:
Been told that if I got a restraining order against Matt he wouldn't be able to play any tournaments I play, is that a thing?
