Gambling News
Poker News: Zynga Shares Up 6.1 Percent on News of ‘Real Money’ Play: Reid i-Poker Insertion Plan
The world’s largest online poker room, Zynga, witnessed a 6.1 percent surge in its share price on Friday following news it was in talks with another party to provide a “real money play” platform. Zynga, which also produces popular games like Farmville, is currently free to play on Facebook.
Zynga already claims to have some 30 million monthly users.
A statement released by the company on Friday read:
PartyPoker.com, Moneybookers Named in MegaUpload Piracy Indictment
For an industry rattled by US Justice Department domain seizures in recent years, it may not have been too much of a shock seeing PartyPoker.com mentioned as part of the much publicized indictment of video and image hosting website, Megaupload.com. The site was taken down by US authorities on Thursday with principles in the company charged with conspiracy.
Poker News: Zynga in Talks to Offer ‘Real Money’ Poker, MSNBC on UB.com Player Plight
Here is a recap of poker news headlines as we head into the Friday afternoon hours January 20, 2012. Among the headlines, the mainstream press is now taking notice of a lawsuit filed against UB.com while Zynga confirmed it is in conversations with other parties to offer “real money” online poker.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Postpones Vote on Antipiracy Bill
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has delayed vote on a controversial antipiracy bill originally set for consideration this coming Tuesday.
A massive protest by hundreds of Internet websites including Wikipedia, Reddit.com and Google resulted in a number of the bill’s co-sponsors bailing on Wednesday.
Reid did not offer an explanation for the delay.
The Senate Majority Leader said he still hopes a compromise can be reached "in the coming weeks."
Poker News: Tom Dwan ‘Australia’ Photo With Girlfriend Emerges
Here is a recap of poker news headlines as we head into Friday January 20, 2012 (This is the overnight/early AM edition). Tom Dwan, who has maintained a low profile of late following the Full Tilt Poker debacle, has been spotted near the Aussie Millions. We’re assuming he’s going to be playing. Let’s get started.
Card Player Magazine Publisher, Poker Pro Barry Shulman Leaves on Half Million Dollar Cruise
Oh, how the other half lives!
Or in this case, the top 1 per cent!
Card Player magazine publisher and poker pro Barry Shulman, who last year dropped $200,000 for a 61-day, Mediterranean Sea cruise on a luxury cruise ship, is at it again.
This time he's on a 94-day, Pacific Ocean cruise on the same ship.
And if, like his cruise last year aboard the Crystal Cruise Lines ship Serenity, he's shelling out big bucks for the ship's priciest stateroom, he's paying a whopping $250,000 for this year's cruise!
Anonymous Takes Down FBI Website
Reacting to news of a US Justice Department indictment against streaming upload site magaupload along with the website’s seizure, the hactivist group Anonymous has taken down none other than the US Justice Department website.
Online Poker VIP Program: Cashback, $10K Freerolls and More
For anyone looking for a fantastic online poker VIP program, look no further than Carbon Poker, which accepts players from across the globe including North America.
Power Struggle at Wynn: Another Ugly Divorce Battle
Have you all been following the power struggle at Wynn Resorts Inc?
It seems their largest shareholder, Japanese pachinko mogul Kazuo Okada, recently nominated up to four people to the board of the U.S. casino company. He is currently suing founder Steve Wynn and accuses the Vegas casino titan of blocking access to records related to his investment in the company as well as objecting to an “inappropriate” $135 million company donation to the University of Macau.
Ladbrokes Buys Stakes in US-Based Stadium Technology Group
One of the United Kingdom’s largest bookmakers has bought a 65 per cent stake in US-based Stadium Technology Group, which specializes in sports betting technology and is used by a number of Las Vegas sportsbooks.
“The size of the US market and potential for positive regulatory change in the coming years make it a sensible place to establish a presence,” said Richard Glynn, Ladbrokes’ chief executive. “Stadium Technology is already one of the key software suppliers to casinos in Nevada and Delaware and it has the potential to expand.”
Newt Gingrich Ex ‘Open Marriage’ Claims, Rick Perry Out and the Latest South Carolina Primary Odds
Appearing on ABC’s ‘Nightline’, GOP US Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich’s ex wife claimed the candidate desired an “open marriage”. The network released excerpts from the previously recorded show scheduled for airing Thursday night at 11:30 pm EST.
Marianne Gingrich said her ex conducted his affair with current wife Callista "in my bedroom in our apartment in Washington."
"He always called me at night and always ended with `I love you,' " she said. "Well, she was listening."
Poker News: DOJ Unlikely to Change Recent Stance on Internet Poker: ACR 1-3 Day Payouts
Here is a recap of today’s poker news for January 19, 2012 (AM/Early Afternoon Edition) including I. Nelson Rose’s insistence that the Department of Justice will remain firm with its latest stance on Internet poker and how states should have little concern jumping into the fray.
Harry Reid: ‘We Cannot Have a Series of Laws Around the Country Related to Gambling’
Following an appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press” this past Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was confronted by Tony Batt of GamblingCompliance.com. Reid told Batt that a recent change in stance by the US Department of Justice should help push to get federal legislation through that legalizes online poker.
“It’ll give us an incentive to get something done,” Reid told Batt as he departed the studios.
Internet Service Providers Will Not Have to Block Online Gambling Sites in Germany
The Administrative Court of Düsseldorf on Wednesday ruled that an Internet Service Provider (ISP) was not obligated to block an online gambling site even if the website in question was an unlicensed, unregulated foreign entity.
US Attorney Still Bowing to Full Tilt Poker, Pixie Dust Fairies
We at Gambling911.com simply cannot take it any more and apparently neither can much of the rest of the online poker sector.
After months of reporting that a white knight had come to the rescue of Full Tilt Poker players who have been waiting upwards of nine months to get paid and how that white knight was supposedly going to set the US Feds straight by entering into some type of deal to ensure players get paid as two of its executives remain on the lam, the industry is finally coming to its senses and refraining from publication of such banter.
Funds Seized From Players Leaving PokerStars Caribbean Adventure
Three American players had their poker winnings seized by authorities in the Bahamas as they were leaving the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) 2012 this week.
Poker News: Phil Galfond Wins $400K in Less Than 7 Days, Maine Looks at Internet Poker
Here is a recap of today’s poker news for January 18, 2012 evening edition including Phil Galfond’s big week and Maine becoming the latest state to explore legalizing online poker.
Forbes: Online Poker Would be Huge for Zynga
Forbes.com published a report Wednesday afternoon suggesting that legalized online gambling, specifically online poker, would be huge for Zynga. Its free Texas Hold’em product is the biggest in the world.
Following its Initial Public Offering just a few weeks ago, Zynga’s stock performance has failed to impress.
What is Going on at PokerStars? Company Parts Ways with EPT CEO John Duthie
Yet another high ranking executive from the world’s largest real cash online poker firm, PokerStars, has left the company. This time it’s European Poker Tour CEO John Duthie.
His successor has already been announced as EPT President Edgar Stuchly.
PPN Poker Returns After Leaving Players in Limbo for Four Months
There appears to be some good news involving Chuck Kidd’s Poker Pros Network (PPN). After announcing more than four months ago it would be leaving the Cake Poker Network, PPN stopped accepting players and stopped paying them as well. PPN Poker claimed it was in the middle of creating its own website/network.
PokerStars Assembles Panel to Meet With Disgruntled Players: CEO Exit Still a Mystery
You can’ fault PokerStars, the world’s largest real money poker room, for at least trying. It was for Stars probably the worst two weeks they’ve had from a public relations standpoint since the company’s founder was indicted for money laundering and bank fraud back in April of last year.
News broke earlier in the month that players were organizing a mass protest of the website after Stars changed its rake structure (switched to a weighted-contributed method) and rewards program. PokerStars responded by banning the protesters from playing.
Online Poker Traffic Stagnant for Week
Following a huge increase in online poker traffic last week, there was virtually zero growth during mid-January.
PokerScout.com reported a 0.1 percent net decrease. The good news, among the top 10 sites and networks, advancers outnumbered decliners seven to three.
Merge Gaming Network gained 3 percent for the week as its bad beat jackpot rose to more than $1 million.
Microgaming.fr moved up to ninth place ahead of PokerStars.fr.
Iowa Multi-State Online Poker: Could Combine Players With Nevada, Washington DC
Iowa lawmakers were discussing the possibility of legalizing online poker as part of a multi-state platform that would tap into the populations of other states considering the option such as Nevada and the District of Columbia.
Senate Leader Harry Reid Back Working With Jon Kyl on Internet Poker Bill
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada on Sunday said December 23’s legal opinion by the Department of Justice will accelerate efforts in Congress to pass a bill authorizing federal regulation of Internet poker, according to subscription-based GamblingCompliance.com.
Reid said he is working with Arizona Republican Senator Jon Kyl and that they “are making progress”.
Another Black Friday Defendant, Ira Rubin, to Plead Guilty
Ira Rubin, a defendant in the April 15, 2011 “Black Friday” sweeping indictments of online poker operators, is set to plead guilty, according to Bloomberg News. A Manhattan federal court clerk advised the news source.
Jonathan Duhamel Beaten Up Again!
2010 World Series of Poker champ Jonathan Duhamel can’t seem to stay out of the press these days.
Just days before Christmas, Duhamel became the victim of a brazen home invasion allegedly orchestrated by his ex-girlfriend. She and three other individuals were eventually apprehended.
Duhamel left his home base of Montreal to take part in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure and managed to win a few hundred thousand dollars in side events.
Federal RICO Complaint Filed Against UB.com
Eight high stakes poker players are named as plaintiffs in a federal RICO complaint against UB.com (formerly UltimateBet), claiming the company stole $20 million by exploiting security flaws. Players were allowed to see others hole cards, the complaint alleges.
Gabi Campos: The PokerStars CEO That Wasn't
PokerStars late Monday confirmed that its CEO for nearly two years, Gabi Campos, has jumped ship following the exodus of a handful of other executives and poker pros who were part of the world’s largest online poker firm.
Officials from the company issued the following statement to the news media late Monday after reports first surfaced on Pokerati.com:
Turmoil at PokerStars as CEO is Out
Gabi Campos is out as CEO of PokerStars. Campos joined the world’s largest real cash online poker company in 2010.
Lawmakers: Act Now or Never to Legalize Online Poker at Federal Level
With a handful of states already announcing their intentions to begin offering online poker to residents and the potential for multi-state pacts, Poker Players Alliance (PPA) President John Pappas has sent out an urgent plea to lawmakers in Congress.
“The writing is on the wall. The states are going to do this,” John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, told Politico this past week. “The first three or four months of the year is going to be pretty important for Congress to act.”
