Gambling News
UK Opposition Weighs Betting Levy to Fund Grassroots Sport
(Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party is considering imposing a new levy on online betting and Premier League TV income to support measures to encourage more people to take part in sport, it said on Thursday.
Boosting the number of Britons who play sport regularly was one of the aims of the 2012 London Olympics, but the results have been patchy two years on.
Paddy Power Yanks Odds on ‘Simpsons’ Krusty The Clown Season 26 Death
Controversial – and some would say ingenious – Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has removed odds on which “Simpsons” character will be killed off at the start of Season 26.
The show's executive producer Al Jean has been hinting at the killing off of a primary "Simpsons" character, though few believe it will be one of the Simpsons themselves.
Showboat Casino Employees Protest Closing
ATLANTIC CITY – (Associated Press) - Chanting “Keep Showboat open,” hundreds of casino workers and supporters staged a noisy, enthusiastic protest Thursday night on the Atlantic City Boardwalk aimed at getting the owners of the Showboat Casino Hotel to reverse their decision to close it next month.
More than 400 protesters marched from a small park near the Boardwalk to Caesars Atlantic City, where a small group met with a labor attorney for the parent company that owns both casinos.
Americas Cardroom Launches Satellite Schedule for $1 Million Guaranteed
As if a $1 million guaranteed poker tournament for US players wasn't newsworthy enough, Americas Cardroom is making even more noise by announcing that players can get into the tournament for free. The online poker site today released its satellite schedule for Winning Millions, a $1 Million poker tournament set to get underway on December 14th. The satellite schedule includes two freerolls per day.
Dan Bilzerian on Howard Stern Show: Talks Gambling, Guns and P****
Appearing on the Howard Stern Radio Show Wednesday morning, poker pro and Instagram sensation Dan Bilzerian made for quite the lively interview.
Stern opened by stating that “everyone told me I should have him (Bilzerian) on” and that he is a “big hit on Instagram because his whole Instagram account is about gambling, guns and p****”.
5Dimes Becomes Latest Online Sportsbook to Accept Bitcoin
Popular 5Dimes.com, a US-facing online sportsbook, has become the latest to embrace the anonymous digital currency bitcoin.
5Dimes began accepting bitcoin deposits early this month but withdrawals via this method will be unavailable for the foreseeable future.
Bitcoin will be converted into US currency at the time of deposit as, as such, customers will not be exposed to fluctuations in bitcoin’s exchange rate.
Over the past month, bitcoin has traded slightly above $600 on average across the various exchanges.
Matchbook.com Exits Canada Market for Unknown Reasons
Canadian customers of the sports betting exchange Matchbook.com have been advised that they must withdraw all funds from their accounts by August 22 (2014).
The decision was made on Wednesday (July 23) to exit the Canadian market though rumors began swirling earlier in the week. A reason for the departure was not immediately known.
Revel Casino has Six Potential Buyers: May Avert Closure
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) - Atlantic City's mayor said Wednesday there are six potential buyers for the Revel Casino Hotel, which is up for sale next month at a bankruptcy auction.
Don Guardian also said his administration has been in talks with the current owners of the former Atlantic Club casino about selling it to a new buyer.
Satoshi Poker Closes: Players Migrated to BurnTurn Amidst ‘Blame Game’
Satoshi Poker unceremoniously shut its doors after just over one year in business and it has done so amidst much finger pointing.
One of the first bitcoin-only poker sites, Satoshi sold to new owners last month, however, this group plans to abandon the Satoshi Poker software in favor of their own including the migration of all remaining players to BurnTurn.com, a soon-to-open online poker room.
Fuggedaboutit Jason Ader: Four Reasons Why Vegas Won’t Get an MLS Team
As reported by Gambling911.com during the early morning hours of Wednesday, Bwin.party activist investor Jason Ader has announced his plans to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Sin City.
Mississippi Gambling Revenue Steady After Harrah’s Closure
JACKSON, Miss. (Associated Press) - Gambling revenues tumbled in Mississippi's river region in the first month after Harrah's Tunica Hotel & Casino closed, but the trend didn't worsen much. Meanwhile, Gulf Coast casinos posted their best June in years.
State figures show casinos statewide won $174 million from gamblers in June, up less than 1 percent from June 2013.
The 18 river casinos won $78.7 million, down 12 percent from a year earlier. The 12 coastal casinos won $95.7 million, up 13 percent from June 2013.
’Girls Gone Wild’ Founder Joe Francis Slapped With $5k Daily Fine
The founder of the raucous and salacious DVD franchise “Girls Gone Wild” has been ordered to pay a $5000 fine each day he fails to return two luxury automobiles.
Joe Francis claims he no longer has the vehicles and that they were taken by an angry Mexican businessman.
NFL Launches Pay-for-Play Fantasy Sports Leagues
The National Football League (NFL) has become the first of the North American professional sports leagues to launch a pay-for-play fantasy sports League.
The fantasy gambling concept, legal under federal law, will become available in 43 states.
Entrance fees will vary from $4.99 to $124.99 with prizes that include top-of-the-line sports memorabilia.
Professional Sports Bettor Billy Walters Auctions Off Sprawling Estate
One of the world’s most famous sports bettors, Billy Walters, is auctioning off his 21,000 square-foot home in Rancho Santa Fe, California next month without a reserve price.
The home, located at 5425 Los Mirlitos, features seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, three half bathrooms, a tennis court, putting green and, of course, a swimming pool. It had previously been listed at just shy of $20 million.
Two Suspects Wanted in Armed Heist of Atlantic City Casino
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J (Associated Press) - Police are seeking two masked suspects who robbed an Atlantic City casino at gunpoint and made off with more than $180,000.
The heist occurred Monday morning at Caesars Atlantic City.
A law enforcement flier obtained by The Press of Atlantic City says the suspects fled in a car with two plastic boxes containing more than $180,000 in cash.
Police are not releasing any details.
Bwin Activist Investor Jason Ader Wants to Bring Major League Soccer Team to Vegas
An activist investor at one of the world’s largest online gambling firms Bwin.party is floating the idea of bringing a Major League Soccer team to the gambling Mecca of Las Vegas.
Can You Believe This? Manhunt Follows Gambler’s False Stabbing Claim
A man who fell on a can and slit himself outside a South Wales bookmaker appeared in court where a judge decided his fate.
No, tripping over a can is not a crime.
Calling 999 to say you were stabbed is.
Poker Pro Daniel Negreanu Turns 40 in Style: Party at the Cosmopolitan
If you happen to be in Vegas this weekend, be sure to check out the Marquee Day Club Friday and the night club on Saturday to come celebrate the 40th birthday of poker icon Daniel Negreanu.
All are invited including Gambling911.com readers!
According to PokerStrategy.com, the pre-party will take place Friday at the Day Club, complete with pool and drones that deliver champagne.
Vanek Cooperating With Feds in Gambling Probe
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – (Associated Press) - Minnesota Wild left wing Thomas Vanek says he's cooperating with federal authorities conducting an investigation in Rochester.
Local media report that Vanek was at the federal courthouse in Rochester to speak with officials.While they wouldn't comment specifically what Vanek is helping with, multiple sources say the case involves a federal gambling probe.
Vanek recently signed a 3-year deal with the Minnesota Wild.
William and Kate Expecting Again? Bookie Suspends Betting as George Turns One
British bookmaker Coral has suspended wagering on whether Prince William and his wife Kate are about to announce the arrival of a second royal sibling for one-year-old Prince George.
Coral halted all bets last week ahead of George’s first birthday.
EU Issues New ‘Flawed’ Regulations for Online Gambling
The European Union has issued new regulations for online gambling in a quest to "safeguard health and minimise the eventual economic harm" suffered by the punters.
The EU wants to provide punters with the ability to set their own spending limits, minimize minors exposure to gambling ads and institute health warnings on said advertisements.
Declan Lynch of the Independent suggests these new regulations are flawed.
9 Biggest Screw-ups in Bitcoin History
With more and more online gambling sites popping up that incorporate the anonymous digital currency bitcoin, CoinDesk.com featured an interesting piece Monday that unveils nine of the biggest screw-ups in bitcoin’s short – and some would say shaky – history.
As you can see, these aren’t just simple screw-ups.
NHL Player Thomas Vanek Tied to Gambling Investigation
(CSNPhilly.com/Associated Press) - Minnesota Wild forward Thomas Vanek has been connected to a federal gambling investigation, according to Rochester's News10NBC (via ProHockeyTalk).
Turkey Has Blocked 110 Online Gambling Websites Over Past Five Years
Turkey has claimed success in the blocking of 110 illegal online gambling websites over the past five years according to that nation’s telecommunications authority on Monday.
The National Lottery and Turkey’s telecommunications authority have joined forces to prevent access to the unlicensed sites.
Turkey had once been among the most lucrative online gambling jurisdictions, serving a number of big name European bookmakers prior to the government action. Most of these bookmakers have since stopped accepting customers from Turkey.
Online Gambling Ads Popping Up on Purported MH17 Crash Victim Facebook Pages
Scammers wasted no time in their attempt to cash in on the unfortunate victims of Malaysia Flight MH17, which crashed Thursday over the Ukraine after reportedly being shot down by a missile. All 298 passengers, most of them Dutch, were killed in the crash.
From the London Telegraph:
2007 WSOP Main Event Champion Jerry Yang Watch Selling for $787k on eBay
A watch awarded to 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jerry Yang is apparently up for auction on eBay, according to a listing recently discovered by poker media outlets.
Yang lost his bracelet and other prized possessions as part of an IRS seizure for failing to pay taxes.
The listing appears below and the bids were currently coming in at $787k.
Disgraced Ex-Utah AG John Swallow Court Dates Set: Ties to Poker’s ‘Black Friday’
Former Attorneys General John Swallow and Mark Shurtleff are due to appear in court on on July 22 and 30, respectively, after the two men were charged last week with racketeering following a sweeping public corruption investigation.
Swallow faces 11 felonies and two misdemeanors, including a pattern of unlawful activity, receiving or soliciting a bribe, evidence tampering and making false statements.
One of Nevada Gambling Regulators Most Wanted Fugitives Arrested in PA
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (Associated Press) - One of the fugitives most wanted by Nevada gambling regulators has been arrested across the country at a Pennsylvania casino.
The Express-Times reports 40-year-old Jubreal Chahine was spotted Saturday afternoon at the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem.
State police took Chahine into custody without incident after being alerted by Sands employees.
Mounting Gambling Debts Provide Motive for Indianapolis Deadly Explosion
INDIANAPOLIS (Associated Press) — Prosecutors have filed court documents indicating that mounting gambling and credit card debt were the motive behind a deadly explosion that devastated an Indianapolis neighborhood in 2012.
Monserrate Shirley, her then-boyfriend Mark Leonard and his brother, Bob Leonard, face charges of murder, arson and conspiracy to commit arson in the Nov. 10, 2012, blast that killed two of Shirley’s neighbors and wrecked dozens of houses in the Richmond Hill subdivision on the city’s far south side.
Hallucinogenic Drugs Likely Led to Poker Pro’s Death
An autopsy has revealed that hallucinogenic drugs were found in the system of 29-year-old German professional poker player Johannes Strassmann.
Slovenian police confirmed that a body found in the Ljublijianica River last week was that of Strassmann. The poker pro had been visiting some fellow players. He went missing after a trip to the town of Ljubljana.
