Gambling News
China Jails 68 People in Online Gambling Bust: Up to Nine Years Prison Time
(Reuters) - China has jailed 68 people for up to nine years for online gambling, state media said on Friday, making it the country's largest such bust of a ring, which was valued at $78 billion.
The group operated in the southern province of Guangdong via overseas gambling websites between March 2008 and April 2013, using the sites to lure bettors and take commissions, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Ex-Mob Boss Son Convicted in Looting of Company
Camden, N.J. – (Associated Press) - The son of a former Philadelphia mob boss and another reputed mob associate were convicted Thursday of federal fraud charges for taking over a Texas-based mortgage company and then plundering its assets to buy homes, luxury cars, a plane and a yacht.
Odds to Win the 2014 Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest: Total Prop Bets
Carrie Stroup here with your odds to win the 2014 Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest for both the men and the women, all courtesy of Sportsbook.com. Place your 1st bet, get your 2nd bet for free.
Fixed World Cup Game Doubted
FIFA has cast doubts on allegations made by a German magazine that a World Cup group game between Cameroon and Croatia had been fixed.
FIFA is demanding that Der Spiegel provide details of all its conversations with convicted match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal to prove the June 18 game had been fixed. Cameroon lost 4-0.
Phil Ivey Responds to Borgata Cheating Allegations: ‘Was All Skill’
Poker pro Phil Ivey is looking to have a lawsuit filed against him by the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City dismissed. The Borgata alleges that Ivey and a companion cheated the casino out of nearly $12 million while playing baccarat.
One Drop Winner Daniel Colman Aloof, Won’t Promote Poker
Immediately following 23-year-old Daniel Colman’s Big One for One Drop $15 million plus win early Tuesday, the Boston poker player ran off and refused to talk to any media.
Colman fled the World Series of Poker host casino, the Rio, within five minutes.
His handlers claimed Colman “was not interested in promoting poker”.
From the Las Vegas Sun:
Aria Ordered to Pay $100k for Barring Agents
LAS VEGAS – (Associated Press) - A Las Vegas Strip casino has agreed to pay $100,000 to settle allegations that a supervisor shooed away state agents who were watching a high-stakes roulette table, even though state law requires all gambling to be open to the public.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board released the proposed settlement with Aria Las Vegas this week. The agreement must be approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission.
Poker Pro Chad Brown Passes Away at Age 52
Following a long bout with cancer, poker pro Chad Brown has passed away at the age of 52.
Brown died at 1:15 am Wednesday morning at Calvary Hospital Hospice in the Bronx, New York.
Daniel Negreanu Now All Time Top Money Earner in Poker: $8 Mil Loser at One Drop
Regardless of where he finished at this year’s World Series of Poker Big One for One Drop, Daniel Negreanu had become the biggest money earner of all time in poker.
Latin Series of Poker Rebrands as Latin Poker Series Following WSOP Dispute
San Jose, Costa Rica – As most of the poker world focuses their attention on Las Vegas for the world's richest poker tournament, the guys behind the World Series of Poker have turned their attention to south of the United States. In response to a claim by the WSOP that LSOP is infringing on its copyright with its use of 'Series of Poker', LSOP management have opted to rebrand as the Latin Poker Series (LPS).
Paris Hilton Ex Rick Salomon Leads Big One for One Drop
Rick Salomon, perhaps known best for starring in that infamous sex tape with one time girlfriend Paris Hilton, lead with chips heading into the finale of the 2014 Big One for One Drop.
Macau Revenue Dips: First Decline in More Than Four Years
(Reuters) - Gambling revenue in Macau fell 3.7 percent in June on an annual basis, the first decline in more than four years, with analysts saying the soccer World Cup had diverted gamblers and their hefty bets away from the world's largest casino hub.
The southern Chinese territory of Macau, a special administrative region, like neighbouring Hong Kong, is the only place in the country casino gambling is legal.
Man Convicted of Shooting Player Over $5 Poker Hand
A North Carolina man has been convicted and sentenced to serve up to 60 months behind bars for shooting a fellow poker player over a $5 hand.
Prentice Reaves was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury by a Columbus County jury on Tuesday.
The incident began as a friendly poker game and quickly turned violent.
Sam Trickett, Antonio Esfandiari Look to Repeat Their One Drop Success
Heading into Monday of the first day of the $1 million buy-in Big One For One Drop Sam Trickett and Antonio Esfandiari were among the top three chip leaders with Tom Hall leading the pack.
Esfandiari and Trickett finished 1st and 2nd at the inaugural Big One for One Drop two years ago. Both walked away with a huge payday. Esfandiari took home $18,346,673 while Trickett took home $10,112,001 as the loser. This event, which featured 42 entries, will pay less to the winner than the first year’s One Drop, $15,306,668.
Primary School Teacher Blows Away £60,000 on Internet Gambling
Women find online gambling more attractive than drugs and sex according to a report filed by the Daily Mail.
Jenny Murray is a primary school teacher profiled in the Daily Mail report. She blew away a whopping £60,000 accessing online gambling websites and, to this day, is £18,000 in debt.
From the Daily Mail:
Poker Pro Johannes Strassmann Body Found in River
A 29-year-old professional poker player from Germany who went missing June 21 has been found dead.
Slovenian police confirmed that a body found in the Ljublijianica River this past Friday is that of Johannes Strassmann.
The poker pro had been visiting some fellow players. He went missing after a trip to the town of Ljubljana.
Atlantic City's Competition Forces Makeover
In the old days, Atlantic City had legal gaming to itself on the Atlantic Seaboard and in typical fashion people thought that would always be the case. But casinos owned by Native Americans opened.
Pennsylvania approved gaming and gave Philly-area gamblers a choice of staying on their side of the river or paying a toll to ride across New Jersey to a town many people don't think is safe. They have gaming to the south too.
Gambling911.com World Exclusive: Man to Sue Jay Cohen for Money Owed by WSEX
A man who is owed nearly $70,000 by now-defunct online sportsbook World Sports Exchange tells Gambling911.com in a world exclusive interview that he intends to sue World Sports Exchange former co-owner Jay Cohen for the owed funds.
Phil Ivey Claims 10th World Series of Poker Bracelet: Tied for Second All-Time
Phil Ivey has claimed his 10th World Series of Poker bracelet and is tied for 10th all-time after Phil Hellmuth with 13. The 38-year-old Las Vegas resident is tied with Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan although one can argue that Ivey’s wins are far more impressive due to the dramatic increase in player fields.
Ivey’s feat was accomplished at the $1,500 buy-in Eight Game Mix tournament in which he also walked away with $167,332. His last three victories have come in mixed game formats.
Luis Suarez Loses Sponsorship Deal With 888 Poker
(Reuters) - Poker brand 888 has cancelled its sponsorship deal with Luis Suarez after the Uruguay striker was banned from all soccer-related activity for four months for biting an opponent during a World Cup match.
Suarez, one of the most talented but controversial players, lit up the English Premier League last season with club side Liverpool and became one of the online gambling company's brand ambassadors only last month.
Famed Showboat Casino in Atlantic City to Shut Down
ATLANTIC CITY (Associated Press) — Casino contraction hit Atlantic City again Friday, as the parent company of the Showboat Casino Hotel announced it will close the Mardi Gras-themed casino on Aug. 31.
Caesars Entertainment told The Associated Press on Friday morning the company will shutter the poorest-performing of its four Atlantic City casinos.
CEO Gary Loveman said in a statement that the “difficult decision” is necessary to protect the rest of its business in Atlantic City, where it currently owns four of the 11 casinos.
Nevada Gaming Revenues Up 8 Percent in May
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) - State officials say Nevada gambling revenue was up 8 percent in May compared with the same month last year.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board reported Friday that the state's casinos brought in $970 million last month. Las Vegas Strip gambling revenue was up 17 percent to $593 million, while downtown revenue was down 8 percent to $39 million.
Reno casino revenue was up 4 percent in May to $52 million, and South Lake Tahoe gambling revenue was up 18 percent to $17 million.
888.com Reviewing Luis Suarez Sponsorship Deal Following Bite Incident
Online gambling firm 888.com is said to be reviewing its sponsorship deal with disgraced footballer Luis Suarez. The payer is accused of biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during a Group stage elimination game that saw Uruguay advance.
On Thursday FIFA ruled that Suarez will undergo a nine-game ban from international play, which includes any remaining games at this year’s World Cup.
Ohio Man Gets 7 Years in Poker Chip Robbery
CANTON, Ohio (Associated Press) — A northeast Ohio man has been sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting his role in the January home-invasion robbery of a professional poker player.
Police in Canton said 25-year-old Christopher Lucius and another man broke into the home and stole $150,000 in casino chips and cash at gunpoint from Jerad Klick.
The (Canton) Repository (http://bit.ly/1ixOTuI ) reports Lucius halted his trial Wednesday to take a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to charges including aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and aggravated theft.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Sheldon Adelson: ‘Don’t Pick on Him’
Speaking to MSNBC’s Chuck Todd, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid came to the defense of casino billionaire and GOP mega donor Sheldon Adelson, this after blasting two other Republican mega donors, Charles and David Koch.
"Sheldon Adelson, don't pick on him," he told NBC's Chuck Todd. "He's not in this for money. He's in this because he has certain ideological views."
That comment has raised eyebrows amongst those in the online gambling sector. While Reid has supported legalizing Web gambling at the federal level, Adelson is staunchly opposed.
The Players Championship 2014 Final Table: John Hennigan Wins
The Players Championship 2014 Final got underway on Thursday at 2 pm PST (5 pm EST).
This event featured a $50,000 buy-in. Ultimately it was John Hennigan who walked away the winner.
The man known as Johnny World was final tabling this event for the second time in a row. After taking 12th in the 2012 PPC, Hennigan finished in third place last year, collecting over $685,000. Hennigan was heads-up for what would have been his third bracelet earlier this summer, but he lost to Ted Gillis in a $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event.
Bwin.Party on Verge of Breaking Up?
The party might be over for Bwin.Party. Rumors surfaced this week that the world’s largest publicly traded online gambling firm is on the verge of breaking up.
The company on Thursday denied it was breaking up or looking for a selling but said it was examining ways to increase shareholder value.
Rochester Area Restaurant Owners Charged With Running Offshore Sportsbook
Three Rochester, New York area men have been indicted on 23 counts for their role in running an offshore sportsbook.
New Jersey Starts Review of PokerStars Buyer Amaya Gaming
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) - New Jersey casino regulators have begun their review of a Canadian company that's buying the PokerStars online gambling website and hoping to get it licensed in Atlantic City by this fall.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement says Amaya Gaming Group has begun submitting documents required for a determination on whether PokerStars can be licensed in New Jersey.
Harrah’s Fined for Underage Drinking in AC
(Associated Press) - Two Atlantic City casinos have been fined a total of $66,000, with the bulk of the fines levied against Harrah's Resort Atlantic City for letting underage patrons gamble and drink.
Harrah's was fined $60,000 by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for five incidents involving patrons ranging in age from 18 to 20. The minimum age for gambling and drinking in New Jersey is 21.
In one instance, Harrah's let a 20-year-old from New York play blackjack even after a security guard checked his ID.
