Gambling News
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.
Ontario Gets On Board Online Gambling Bandwagon
The Canadian province of Ontario has announced plans to allow legalized online gambling.
Government officials believe that the industry could bring in $100 million over a five year period.
Other provinces like British Columbia already allow Internet gambling for its residence via the Lottery.
“We want to . . . get this right the first time,” said lottery spokesman Tony Bitonti.
Rob Ferguson of The Toronto Star writes:
Joe Barton Eyes Ominibus Bills Over Next Two Weeks for Online Poker Attachment
The odds may be stacked against him but Texas Republican Joe Barton said his bill to legalize online poker could be attached to one of the ominibus spending bills expected to pass before the end of this month (December 2011).
Speaking before the Digital Gaming and Lottery Policy Summit in Washington, DC this week, Barton offered the following:
Jamie Gold Named Spokesperson of Tropicana Resorts
2006 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Jamie Gold has been named Poker Spokespersona and Ambassador of the newly transformed Tropicana Las Vegas. The casino’s poker room will be named “The Jamie Gold Poker Room” in his honor.
Introducing Oddsfutures.com, the Future of Sports Trading
Oddsfutures.com, the world’s first odds trading exchange, is the ideal way for sports traders to make money on a race - regardless of the result! This is because Oddsfutures.com is a unique marketplace which allows its customers to take advantage of fluctuations in betting patterns, rather than having to purchase a bet and await the outcome of the race.
Apple No Appetite For Texas Hold’em App
Apple has pulled its Texas Hold’em app from the Apple OS Store this week.
Apple’s only official iOS game, “Texas Hold’em” seemingly received little attention from the company with lack of additional development since debuting in 2008.
The “play money” app enjoyed some degree of popularity but has since been crushed by the likes of Zynga.
Antoine Walker Gets 5 Years Probation for Vegas Debt
LAS VEGAS — (Associated Press) - Former NBA star Antoine Walker was sentenced Tuesday to five years of probation and ordered to pay $770,050 in restitution to three Las Vegas casinos after pleading guilty to failing to repay gambling debts.
Walker and his lawyer declined to comment after his brief appearance before Clark County District Court Judge Valorie Vega.
Walker has repaid some of his Las Vegas casino debts since his arrest in July 2009 in Lake Tahoe, where he planned to play in a celebrity golf tournament.
AGCC Commissions Independent Review Into Handling of Full Tilt Poker Debacle
The Alderney Gaming Control Commission (AGCC) has come under intense scrutiny for its handling of the Full Tilt Poker matter, which culminated in a suspension of the one time second largest online poker firm’s license.
The AGCC ordered all media outlets blocked from negotiations during the arduous affair, as such, leading to a lack of transparency.
Obama Won’t Sign Tax Extension Bill With Attachments
Congressman Joe Barton of Texas said on Monday he is okay with his bill to legalize online poker being attached to other pertinent upcoming legislation. President Obama says it won’t happen with the most likely bill to pass this session, the payroll tax extension cut.
President Obama on Wednesday pledged to reject any efforts to tie a payroll tax cut extension to the controversial Keystone XL Oil Pipeline -- or any other "extraneous" issue.
Ron Paul Says Newt Gingrich “Flavor of the Week” (Video)
GOP candidate Congressman Ron Paul of Texas appeared on CNN Wednesday afternoon to discuss Iowa, Donald Trump and more.
During his interview, Paul referred to Newt Gingrich as “the flavor of the month” when asked if he was concerned about the former House Speaker leading in the Iowa polls.
Not that Congressman Paul should be too concerned, some polls have him in 2nd place ahead of Mitt Romney.
It’s Official: Sheldon Adelson Now Opposes Online Poker
The Las Vegas Review-Journal confirmed Wednesday morning that Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman Sheldon Adelson will no longer support legalized online poker at the federal level.
American Gaming Association President Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., confirmed in an email this morning that Adelson visited the lobbying organization's offices Monday, that paper noted.
From the Las Vegas Review Journal:
PokerFuse.com: Anonymous Poker is No Longer Online Poker
The popular PokerFuse.com website offered up its opinion on the controversy surrounding Bodog Poker’s apparently “not-so-anonymous” tables. It’s no longer poker.
Is Adelson Now Opposing Online Poker?
It appears as if Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson has decided to do an about face when it comes to online poker legalization in the US.
Jon Ralston of the Las Vegas Sun reported late Tuesday night that Adelson suddenly has become “morally opposed” to online poker after being at the forefront of the push to get the industry legalized in the US over the past few years.
Joe Barton Okay With Online Poker Bill Being Attached to Deficit Spending Measure
There hasn’t been a whole lot of coverage of this week’s Washington, DC Digital Gaming and Lottery Policy Summit, but some of the heaviest hitters connected to online poker are in attendance including our friends at SouthPointPoker.com and the Congressman who has drafted a measure to legalize Internet poker in the US, Texas Republican Joe Barton.
Upon Further Review, Waters May Not Be Against Online Gambling
The gambling Waters may not be as turbulent as originally feared.
California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who twice voted to make it illegal to use credit cards to fund online gambling, now says she would vote differently if the issue arises again in Congress.
Group Pushing Online Poker: “It Won’t Hurt Lottery”
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) - A casino-backed group pushing for federal legislation to make online poker explicitly legal says regulating online card play nationwide won't hurt state lotteries.
Fair Play USA planned to release an analysis on Tuesday that shows no correlation between spikes and dips in the online poker market with play in state lotteries.
The analysis is in response to a report from a rival group that wants state lotteries to be responsible for regulating and taxing Internet gambling if it's ever legalized.
State Casino Legislation: New York, Florida and Massachusetts
Three states are looking to expand casino legislation: New York, Florida and Massachusetts.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo expressed interest in allowing casinos throughout the state.
Report: Bodog Anonymous Security Not So Anonymous (Video)
Following the release of its new upgraded software, the online poker firm Bodog proclaimed it had figured out a way of preventing the so-called “sharks” from viewing critical player data. This week, some members of the online poker community were quick to report that critical data had reportedly been hacked. A video demonstration was released in an effort to support this notion.
From the HH Smithy Blog:
Bachus Proposes “Blind Trust” After Insider Stock Trading Expose
Following a segment on the CBS news magazine “60 Minutes” claiming that Alabama Republican Congressman Spencer Bachus engaged in “insider stock trading” during the height of the financial crisis, Bachus himself has now proposed legislation that would require all members of Congress to place all their stocks, bonds and other securities into a blind trust that would be managed without their consent as long as they are members.
MGM Files Trademark Infringement Suit Against Poker Sites
MGM Resorts International has filed suit in the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas this past Thursday against four individuals and two companies related to websites they claim infringe on their own trademarks.
Website domain names that are part of the suit include:
bellagioonlinepoker.com
circuscircuspoker.com
excaliburpoker.com
luxorpoker.com
mandalaybayonlinepoker.com
mgmpoker.com
ariapoker.com
Smaller Payroll Tax Reduction Proposal Could Include Online Poker Provision
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released details of his payroll tax reduction compromise on Monday. While no provisions were mentioned regarding the legalization of Internet poker as a means to help boost the US economy, some believe this measure could offer an opportunity to attach such legislation.
Churchill Downs Increases Its Annual Dividend by 20 Percent
(AP) NEW YORK — Churchill Downs Inc. said Monday it will increase its annual dividend by 20 percent to 60 cents per share.
Five Casino Operators Apply for Licenses to Operate Online Poker Sites in Nevada
Five casino companies have reportedly applied for licenses to operate online poker rooms from the state of Nevada. The state gaming board anticipates licenses to be issued as early as February.
Could Online Poker be on the Agenda as Part of Harry Reid’s Payroll Tax Cut Proposal
With Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid preparing to introduce a proposal Monday as a compromise to extend a popular payroll tax cut, the poker community had its ears perk up, if only for a brief moment.
Reid, who represents the gambling state of Nevada and its casino interests, is reportedly attempting to push through a measure that would legalize online poker as a means of reducing the deficit, creating jobs, and, most importantly, generating millions (if not billions) of dollars in taxable income.
