Gambling News
Sheldon Adelson Pumping Another $10 Million Into Newt Gingrich Campaign
CBS News has learned that billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson is pumping yet another $10 million into GOP Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich’s faltering campaign.
Maine May Not Have Been a Win for Romney
It is beginning to look like yet another state got it wrong in the Republican primaries/caucuses.
First it was Iowa where one time Senator Rick Santorum was the eventual winner after several days of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney being touted as the victor. Now we have Maine where it appears Texas Congressman Ron Paul may have beat out Romney.
Harry Reid: ‘No Internet Poker in Payroll Tax Extension Bill’
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Thursday put an end to rumors that a measure to legalize Internet poker might be attached to a Payroll Tax Extensions bill.
He declared Thursday that the bill does not contain any such Internet poker attachment.
From the Las Vegas Review Journal:
As details of the payroll tax bill were being unfurled, Reid, the Senate majority leader from Nevada, said online poker was not in there.
He did not elaborate on a quick comment made to a reporter as he entered a Senate elevator.
Poker Pro Jason Somerville: ‘I’m Gay!’
Jason Somerville has become the first high-profile professional male poker player to admit he is gay.
Writing this week in his blog at http://jcarver.badbeatscrew.com, Somerville, 24, of Stony Brook, New York, USA, states: "I always knew I wasn't straight, but I never spoke a word of it...And here we are now, writing this post...Open in my personal life, in an amazing relationship that means a great deal to me, and bottom line, I’m honestly happier now than I’ve ever been."
Belgium Brutal Clampdown on Internet Gambling: Players to Face Fines of €25,000
Belgium is the latest country to clamp down on unlicensed Internet gambling operations, some of which are now appearing on a blacklist.
Operators stand to pay fines from €100 to €100,000 while players could be fined as much as €25,000. Players must check to determine if a website is licensed or else face a visit from local police, who will have access to the nation’s blacklist.
Jason Mercier Overtakes Erik Seidel on 2012 Global Poker Index
Who’s the best poker player thus far in 2012? The honor now goes to Jason Mercier, who managed to overtake Erik Seidel on the 2012 Global Poker Index.
From PokerNewsDaily.com:
New Harry Reid Cyber-Security Bill a Likely Vehicle for Internet Poker
After two controversial Internet piracy bills were shelved last month, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is back with a revised bill that could potentially include an amendment to strengthen the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) while legalizing Internet poker. Gambling911.com should stress that there is no confirmation of such plans to tie the two bills at this early stage. That may all change shortly.
Ladbrokes Punters Bet £13 billion in 2011: Poker Revenues Down 25 Percent
Ladbrokes reported strong returns for 2011 with punters staking £13 billion in 2011 and profit per shot increased 6.9 percent over 2010.
Gaming machines drew almost £10.5 billion, up 13.7% on a year earlier while over-the-counter betting enjoyed £2.5 billion in bets placed.
Alabama Casino Exec Apologizes for ‘Breasts Exposure’ Bonus
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A casino developer who has pleaded guilty to offering bribes to legislators testified Wednesday he was joking when he proposed having his female lobbyist expose her breasts to a state senator for his vote for a pro-gambling bill.
New Hampshire Amendment Allows for Four Casinos
CONCORD, N.H. — (Associated Press) - New Hampshire gambling proponents are doubling down in an effort to avoid potentially losing revenue to Massachusetts.
Amendments to a bill in the New Hampshire House to legalize gambling include licensing four casinos with 14,000 slot machines and 420 table games, as well as lowering the business tax.
Carbon Poker Largest Guaranteed Online Poker Tournament Increases From $100k to $125k
Carbon Poker has announced that its largest guarantee online poker tournament will be increasing from $100K to $125 this weekend. Get full deals at Carbon Poker here.
125 Seats to $1125k
Zynga Stocks Fall After 4th Quarter Disappointment
NEW YORK (AP) — Investors sold off shares of Zynga on Wednesday after the company behind the most popular Facebook games fell shy of high expectations for its first earnings report as a publicly traded company.
Zynga Inc. of "FarmVille" and "CastleVille" fame reported better fourth-quarter results than what Wall Street was expecting, at least according to the average estimate compiled by FactSet. But Barclays analyst Mark May said the results fell short of some recent, more bullish expectations.
PokerAddict.net Warning: Do Not Deposit on Everleaf Poker Network
PokerAddict.net is the latest industry news site to blast the Everleaf Gaming poker network for its sudden withdrawal from the U.S. market, suggesting it has more to do with liquidity issues than with a seizure of funds confirmed this past October.
Manny Pacquiao to Retire? Finds God, Stops Gambling
The long awaited Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fight may never happen after Manny Pacquiao has revealed his newfound faith may lead him to retire from boxing, though he hasn’t come out directly and used the “R” word.
Everleaf Poker Should Never Have Been Allowing Washington State Citizens to Play
We have finally learned after days of speculation that Everleaf Poker’s woes come from transmitting funds for online poker to and from the state of Washington. It is the only state in the U.S. to make playing Internet poker a Class C felony and has done so since 2009 when the investigation into a payment processor utilized by Everleaf had commenced.
Title 18 U.S.C 1084(b) was cited in the seizure affidavit issued by the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.
U.S. Secret Service Targeted Everleaf Poker Payment Processor in Washington State
The news website Diamond Flush Poker confirmed that the U.S. Secret Service field office out of Seattle, Washington had been monitoring a payment processor utilized by Everleaf Poker since early 2009.
The Seattle entry into the investigation into online gambling payment processors is nothing new.
Nevada Casino Tax Hike Would Result in 7500 Lost Jobs
(AP) CARSON CITY, Nev. — An initiative to raise the top tax rate on Nevada's highest earning casinos is not economically sustainable by the industry and would lead to thousands of direct and indirect job losses, according to one gambling analyst who called the proposal a "wolf in sheep's clothing."
"We estimate the gaming tax increase would result in 7,500 or more lost jobs in Nevada, a notable step backward," Bill Lerner of Union Gaming Group said in a client's note.
Nevada leads the nation in unemployment, bankruptcies and foreclosures.
Bingo Slot Machine Hybrid Slingo Announced by Zynga for Facebook
Zynga has licensed the rights to make Zynga Slingo, a Bingo slot machine hybrid, which will bring the game to Facebook effective immediately, Wednesday February 15, 2012.
Lock Poker Welcomes Two New Pros: Jason Lee and Tim West
Lock Poker is thrilled to announce the new additions to their LockPRO ELITE team: Jason Lee and Tim West.
Jason spent his College years at the University of Florida, He stumbled upon the game of poker when he stopped by a group of friend's home game. Describing himself as "horrendous" at the time, Jason quickly fell in love with the game and became engulfed in the study of the game. Through hard work, long nights and some help from friends, he quickly found himself among the upper ranks of online poker professionals. The rest is history.
Everleaf Poker Down a Mere 12 Percent After U.S. Market Pullout
The Everleaf Gaming Network has seen just a 12 percent drop off in its overall traffic in the past week after shutting out U.S. players according to PokerScout.com.
The small online poker network appears to be relying heavily on its acquisition of an Italian player pool last year.
Witness Asked to Expose Her Breasts to Alabama Casino Lobbyist in Corruption Probe
A witness for a high profile Alabama political gambling corruption case wept after hearing a taped phone call of her casino owner client suggesting she expose her breasts to win a senator’s vote on gambling legislation.
It’s all tied to allegations of “vote buying” as a means of getting pro-gambling legislation in the state to pass.
Jennifer Pouncy testified Tuesday in the trial of former Sen. Jim Preuitt, two other present and former senators, as well as three other individuals associated with casinos.
High Stakes Online Poker Player Doncarignano Biggest Winner of the Weekend
Pocketing $120,000 this weekend playing high stakes online poker was a player by the name of Doncarignano. He had the biggest take of the weekend and HighStakesDB.com explains how it all went down:
PPA Director: ‘Payroll Tax Extension Bill Probably Not Right Vehicle for Internet Poker’
A lot of excitement is building in the online poker community with news that a Payroll Tax Extension bill could be passed within the week. There has been much speculation that Senate Leader Harry Reid and Arizona Republican Senator Jon Kyl might attempt to attach an amendment to legalize Web poker by strengthening current prohibition, The Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
Zynga to Post 4Q results
(Associated Press) - Zynga will show whether it was able to further boost its rapidly growing number of followers, as well as its profit and revenue as a publicly traded company, when the online game maker reports fourth-quarter results Tuesday.
It will be Zynga's first quarterly report since going public in December. Analysts, on average, expect the San-Francisco company to post earnings of 3 cents per share on revenue of $302.1 million, according to a poll by FactSet.
Payroll Tax Extension Measure Could be Voted on This Week: Internet Poker Inclusion?
A measure to extend payroll tax cuts through to the end of 2012 is expected to be voted on this week. Those in the online poker sector are eyeing this bill as one that could contain an amendment legalizing Web poker in the U.S.
Tax Free Online Poker for Finland and Sweden
In an effort to offer tax free online poker to players in both Finland and Sweden, PokerStars has opened up an office in the online gambling Mecca of Malta while launching a new domain name, PokerStars.eu.
1 Billion Dollar Lotto Jackpots Possible
Lottery ticket sales continue to skyrocket with the third largest prize given away this past Saturday and now there is talk that jackpots could start hitting between $500 million and $1 billion.
Radio Host Sid Rosenberg Allegedly Owes Over $44k to Online Sportsbook
A representative of a small Costa Rican-based online sportsbook, 1BetVegas.com, is contending that WQAM-560 AM afternoon host Sid Rosenberg owes the shop $44,500 in gambling debts.
Minted Poker Rep Back Pedals on Funds ‘Seizure’ Claims
Following a rather abrupt exit of the Everleaf Gaming Network from the U.S. poker market and subsequent announcement by one of its online card room representatives that the U.S. Government had seized funds, that very same rep now claims the aforementioned seizure never happened. More so, he denies ever making such an assertion despite the post being made by him on a public forum.
Miccosukee Indians Blame Attorney for $25.5 Million Tax Woes
The Miccosukee Indians are blaming their former attorney, Dexter Lehtinen, for the tribe owing $25.8 million in back taxes.
Over 100 Miccosukee Indians owe the federal government in back taxes, penalties and interest on income the tribe dispersed from gambling profits at its West Miami-Dade casino operation, according to the Miami Herald.
The tribe claims that Lehtinen provided them with “faulty advice” on personal income-tax disputes, causing the tribe and its members to incur “outrageous interest and penalties.”
