Gambling
Atlantic City Making ‘Painful Shift’ Away From Gambling
(Associated Press) - Atlantic City's mayor says his city is in the midst of a painful transition from a gambling-centric resort to one where betting is only one of many things to do.
Mayor Don Guardian says he believes top elected officials still strongly support his city, and will give it the full five-year turnaround time that Gov. Chris Christie promised before considering expanding gambling to the northern New Jersey Meadowlands and elsewhere.
Moldea: ‘No Fewer Than 26 Past and Present NFL Team Owners had Ties to Mafia’
MediaBistro.com reveals that five eBooks have been selected as part of an ongoing series curated for Open Road Integrated Media by NYU Professor of Media Studies Mark Crispin Miller.
Among those titles, Dan E. Moldea’s “Interference”.
Missouri Bookies: St. Louis, Columbia, Texas County, Shannon County More
No matter where you are located in the Show Me State of Missouri, local bookies are only a stone’s throw away. You just have to know how to find them.
Former Rep. Connie Mack Added to Adelson Arsenal
Former Rep. Connie Mack has been brought on to help lobby in favor of a bill to ban online gambling across the USA.
Mack, who lost his Congressional seat in 2012, will lobby on behalf of Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Adelson has been on a crusade to abolish Internet gambling for the better part of a year now. The GOP mega-donor had his lobbyists help draft anti-online gambling legislation introduced by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) earlier in the year.
Maryland Casinos See 8.4 Percent Increase in Gambling
(Associated Press) - Maryland's casinos are reporting gambling revenue of $72 Million for the month of June, up 8.4 percent from the same period last year.
Numbers released this week by the state Lottery and Gaming Control Agency show that the Maryland Live casino near Arundel Mills mall accounted for $56.5 million of the total, an increase of 10 percent from last June.
Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Cumberland reported the largest year-over-year increase, with gambling revenue up 50 percent compared to last June.
Bookies in the Topeka, Manhattan, Kansas Area
Bookies can be found throughout the Manhattan and Topeka region of Kansas thanks to the hardcore sports fans backing local Kansas State University, home of the Wildcats. USA Today has pegged Kansas State to be one of the top 25 football programs in the nation for 2014, thus making the demand for Price Per Head outsourcing that much more important.
Nahmad Partied Hard Before Jail Stint: Had Role in Russian Mafia Gambling Ring
The New York Post this weekend reported that art gallery owner Helly Nahmad was spotted partying with the likes of magician David Blaine and other big name celebrities the weeks leading up to his 366 day jail sentence.
Online Gambling Operators in France Detained for Running Illegal Bitcoin Exchange
TOULOUSE, France – (Reuters) - French police have dismantled an illegal Bitcoin exchange and seized 388 virtual currency units worth some 200,000 euros ($272,800) in the first such operation in Europe, a public prosecutor said on Monday.
Breaking News: Amaya Considers London, New York for Secondary Listing
(Reuters) - Canada's Amaya Gaming Group Inc is working towards a secondary listing, either in London or in New York, the online gambling company's head told the Times on Saturday.
The company was weighing the benefits of a dual listing, but had not finalised which city it would be in, the daily quoted Chief Executive David Baazov as saying.
Amaya Gaming could not immediately be reached for a comment outside of regular business hours.
EU Wants Health Warning for Online Gambling Advertisements
BRUSSELS – (Reuters) - The European Commission will urge countries to demand that online gambling advertisements display warning messages like cigarette packets, according to a draft document seen by Reuters.
The EU executive will make its recommendation to improve controls of the 10.5 billion-euro ($14.3 billion) online gambling industry next week, focusing on advertisements to tackle compulsive gambling.
Russia to Open Up Sochi, Crimea for Gambling: Easing Online Poker Restrictions
Russia has announced plans to ease restrictions on Internet gambling while opening up Sochi and the Crimea for land-based casinos.
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.
How Regulated Gambling Can Boost the Economy
In recent years, there has been a lot of focus on the potential impacts of a legalised worldwide gambling market. As more and more countries and U.S. states start to regulate the market to their residents, there have been calls from both critics and supporters of its possible effects.
One major argument for supporters is the major boost real-money gaming can provide to the economy. Since back in 1850, when gambling was legalised in Macau, governments have been reaping the benefits of a licensed gaming industry.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Verdict Upheld Against ‘Girls Gone Wild’ Founder in Wynn Slander Suit
LOS ANGELES (Associated Press) — An appellate court on Monday upheld a $19 million judgment against "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis in a slander case filed over his claims that casino mogul Steve Wynn had threatened to kill him.
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The California 2nd District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles found no basis to overturn the judgment or order a new trial, and the justices also left in place an injunction barring Francis from repeating the claims.
Macau Authorities Bust US$645 Million World Cup Betting Ring
Authorities in Macau have arrested 22 individuals in connection with a worldwide US$645 million FIFA World Cup betting syndicate. This is believed to be the biggest raid ever on a sports betting ring in the Chinese gambling enclave.
According to CNN, the illegal enterprise utilized three hotel rooms to take both Internet and phone wagers with one gambler placing a US$5 million bet.
Supreme Court Will Allow Ban on Sports Betting to Remain in New Jersey
WASHINGTON (Associated Press) — The Supreme Court on Monday left in place a ban on sports gambling in New Jersey, rebuffing an attempt to bring betting on professional and college sporting events to Atlantic City casinos and the state's racetracks.
The justices did not comment in letting stand lower court rulings that struck down New Jersey's sports betting law because it conflicts with a federal law that that allows state-sanctioned sports gambling only in Nevada and three other states.
Pope Francis Denounces, Ex-Communicates Italian Mafia: Could Become Target
In the strongest language ever to come from the Vatican against Italy’s powerful and often brutal Mafia, Pope Francis denounced the criminal enterprise and ex-communicated all Mafia members this weekend.
