Gambling News
Maryland Governor O'Malley Calls for Special Session in August re Gambling Expansion
By BRIAN WITTE
Associated Press
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Gov. Martin O'Malley has called for a special session to expand gambling in Maryland to begin in about two weeks.
O'Malley said at a news conference Friday in Annapolis with House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller that the session will begin on Aug 9. O'Malley says expanded gambling will create more revenue and jobs for the state.
Paddy Power ‘London Olympic-like’ Ad Can Stay: Locog Furious!
Online gambling houses are not permitted to advertise or associate themselves in any way with the London Olympics, but that didn’t stop the creative folks over at Paddy Power, the UK’s third largest bookmaker, from trying.
The advert, featured prominently at London, England train stations, proclaimed that Paddy Power was “The Official Sponsor of The Largest Athletics Event in London This Year”
Genting Singapore Shares Fall to 2-Year Low
(Reuters) - Shares of Genting Singapore GENS.SI fell as much as 2.3 percent to its lowest in nearly two years, after rival Las Vegas Sands' LVS.N second-quarter earnings miss raised concerns over the Singapore casino operator's results.
By 0222 GMT, Genting shares were 1.6 percent lower at S$1.26, with 30.2 million shares changing hands, compared to its full-day average volume of 35.2 million shares over the last five sessions.
Beth Shak Goes on ‘The View’ and Full Tilt Poker Questions Are Out of Bounds
America had a chance this week at hearing some insight into the Full Tilt Poker fiasco from an insider, but the clueless women of "The View" TV show dropped the ball and instead focused exclusively on footwear.
Defendant in ‘Black Friday’ Online Poker Case Gets 3 Years Prison Sentence
A defendant involved in processing millions of dollars in payments for three online poker rooms in the US has been sentenced to three years prison.
Ira Rubin pleaded guilty in January to money laundering, bank fraud and other gambling offenses. He faced up to 55 years in prison, however, prosecutors recommended 18 to 24 months.
Rubin was indicted along with 10 others in April 2011. Four of those named in the indictment still remain at large.
Tribes Want Federal Government to Stop States From Legalizing Online Gambling
WASHINGTON — (Associated Press) - With some states readying to start online gambling, Native American tribal leaders are calling on the federal government to step in as it did with brick-and-mortar gambling and establish regulations that ensure tribes get a piece of the action without having their revenue taxed and their sovereignty compromised.
Friday Decision Likely on Maryland Special Session to Talk Gambling Expansion
ANNAPOLIS — (Associated Press) - A spokeswoman for Gov. Martin O’Malley says a formal announcement on whether a special session will be held in Maryland to expand gambling is likely to be made on Friday.
Raquel Guillory declined to say definitively on Thursday whether a special session will be held next month. She says details are still being worked out.
On Wednesday, House Speaker Michael Busch met with House Democratic leaders to tell them to be prepared for a special session because he believes the governor will call one.
Eight Analysts Cut Price Target on Zynga as Texas Hold’em Poker Maker Sees Sharp Decline
Zynga witnessed a 42 percent drop in its share price following less-than-rosy news about the company’s future. This has prompted eight different analysts to cut their target price on the maker of popular games such as “Farmville” and “Texas Hold’em Poker”. Of the 24 who follow the company, only give have a ‘buy’ rating on the stock with an average price target set at US$5.
First Online Poker Sites Expected to be Operating in Nevada Within 90 Days
Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Mark Lipparelli told the Las Vegas Review Journal Thursday (July 26, 2012) that the first licensed online poker rooms could be operating within that state in 60 to 90 days.
Record Number of PokerStars Qualifiers Set for European Poker Tour Season 9 in Barcelona
LONDON, UK – July 26, 2012 – PokerStars, the world’s largest poker site, today said a record number of players will qualify online for seats to the European Poker Tour Main Event in Barcelona next month. An expected 300 players will win their seats online, nearly 130 more than last year.
Players can learn more about how to qualify and to register for tournaments here: http://psta.rs/EPT.
Chris Christie Continues to be Adamant: Casino Gambling in Atlantic City Only
Lawmakers in New Jersey want casino gambling a little closer to home for the millions of people who populate the northern portion of that state. Governor Chris Christie continues to lay down the law, insisting only Atlantic City will play host to casinos there.
Christie’s plan includes a $20 million “Do AC” marketing campaign, tax breaks for developers and state oversight of policing and cleanup, Terrence Dopp of Bloomberg News writes.
Las Vegas Sands Sees Huge 35 Percent 3rd Quarter Plunge
LAS VEGAS — (Associated Press) - Las Vegas Sands Corp. said Wednesday that second-quarter profit tumbled by 35 percent as the casino operator’s table winnings fell at home and in Asia.
Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson said the results didn’t meet his expectations. They didn’t meet Wall Street’s, either.
Shares of Las Vegas Sands fell 88 cents, or 2.3 percent, to end regular trading at $37.51. After more than an hour of extended trading after the results came out, the shares had lost another $2.47, or 6.6 percent, to $35.04.
Zynga CEO Confirms Real Money Online Poker in 2013 During Conference Call
Following a late afternoon collapse of Zynga’s share price Wednesday, CEO Mark Pincus confirmed reports featured on Gambling911.com earlier in the week that the company will be offering “real money” online poker in the first half of 2013.
Gay Poker Players Head Into The Closet With New Shirt Line
High profile gay poker players the likes of Jason Somerville and Vanessa Selbst have increased interest in the game within the LGBT community.
And now there’s a merchandise line that is looking to capitalize on this trend.
It’s Poker Pride!
Zynga Earnings Miss: Las Vegas Sands Falls Short Too
Zynga, which runs the world’s biggest free-to-play online poker room, slashed its outlook after trading.
How About a Temporary Casino at Meadowlands for Super Bowl
Despite New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s assertions that he will not support any casinos within the state outside of Atlantic City, a proposal was tossed around Wednesday suggesting a “temporary casino” at the Meadowlands for the Super Bowl in 2015.
Some are calling it a “pop up” casino.
Center Stage Casino in Alabama Raided
(Associated Press) - State and local law enforcement have raided Center Stage casino near Dothan and seized several hundred machines.
State Attorney General Luther Strange announced that his office worked with the Houston County sheriff and district attorney to serve a search warrant Wednesday morning that resulted from an ongoing investigation of illegal gambling.
Pendula: ‘If Zynga Stock Gets Nailed, I Intend to Add Aggressively to My Position’
All eyes are on Zynga later this afternoon (July 25, 2012) as that popular social gaming firm is set to release its financials.
ISPT the Biggest Tournament Ever: Michael Mizrachi Rep for Bernard Tapie New Venture (Video)
The International Stadium Poker Tour is a poker tournament that is slated to take place every year in a world-famous stadium with the 2013 event slated to take place a Wembley.
It claims to be the biggest poker tournament in the world consisting of 30,000 players, a prizepool of 20 m€ and is broadcasted on the Television in more than 28 countries.
The name behind the venture is one many online poker players – especially those screwed out of their funds by Full Tilt Poker – might be familiar with. That would be Bernard Tapie and his son, Laurent.
June Gambling Revenue Flat in Mississippi
JACKSON, Miss. (Associated Press) - Mississippi's casino revenues were basically flat in June, as a recovery at gambling halls along the Mississippi River barely made up for losses on the Gulf Coast.
Overall revenue rose less than 1 percent from June 2011, to $186.9 million, according to Mississippi Department of Revenue figures released Tuesday. Statewide revenue was basically flat with May, down less than $150,000.
In June, the 12 coastal casinos won a total of $89.9 million from gamblers, down 4.3 percent from the $94 million that they won in June 2011.
Alderney Gambling Control Commission to Require Segregated Funds, Monthly Reports
Following the Full Tilt Poker fallout from this past year, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission is looking to help repair its image by revising its licensing policy.
From PokerFuse.com:
Zynga Earnings May Surprise Wednesday: Investors Eagerly Await Las Vegas Sands Numbers
Wednesday July 25, 2012 will be a big day in the world of gambling stocks as investors eagerly await earnings reports from both Zynga and the Las Vegas Sands.
Bookies Offer Odds on UFO Sightings, Torch Bearer Tripping at London Olympics
The bookies are getting especially creative with the upcoming London Olympics, offering odds on just about everything under the sun including whether there will be a UFO sighting during the opening ceremony and if the torch bearer trips while attempting to light the flame.
Gambling Sector Anxiously Awaiting Las Vegas Sands 2012 Q2 Earnings Wednesday
Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands (LVS) earnings report for 2012 Q2 was to come out on Wednesday, expected after the market closes.
Early forecasts from Wall Street call for an 11 percent increase in earnings per share, to 60 cents while revenue is expected to jump almost 19 percent for $2.783 billion.
'Poker Princess' Molly Bloom has Memoir Deal
NEW YORK (Associated Press) — Molly Bloom, who ran high-stakes, exclusive poker games involving some of Hollywood's biggest names, playboys and sports stars, will have a memoir coming out next year.
Feds Say Georgia Casino Boat Allowed Illegal Gambling
Russ Bynum, Associated Press
SAVANNAH, Ga. -- (Associated Press) - Federal prosecutors say the owners of a Savannah-based casino boat owe the government nearly $7 million earned from illegal gambling in state waters off Georgia and South Carolina.
An indictment unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court charges the general manager of Diamond Casino and two of his boat captains with operating an illegal gambling business. Prosecutors say Diamond Casino's cruise boat routinely allowed gambling in state waters between July 2010 and last November.
Online Poker Movie ‘Runner Runner’ Filming Throughout San Juan, Puerto Rico
Gambling911.com is here in beautiful San Juan, Puerto Rico where “Runner Runner” has begun filming in locations throughout the island.
Zynga to Report Earnings on Wednesday: Online Poker Could Provide Big Boost
Yesterday, Gambling911.com reported on how Zynga was already in the process of negotiating “real money” platforms for its uber popular Texas Hold’em online poker game. On Wednesday (July 25, 2012), the company is set to report earnings.
‘Kite Marks’ for Online Gambling Could Encourage Operators to Obtain License in UK
Regulators in the United Kingdom have proposed using a “kite-marking system” as a means of encouraging operators to seek regulation there.
Richard Tisei Could Become First Openly Gay Republican in Congress With Tierney Loss
One of the more interesting outcomes of a John Tierney loss in Massachusetts could be that the first ever openly gay Republican gets elected to Congress. And Tierney’s job is far from secure following ongoing allegations he knew of his two brother-in-laws “illegal” gambling business based in Antigua.
