Gambling
Christie Appeals New Jersey Sports Betting Ban Ruling
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a 22-year-old federal law that prohibits legalized betting on sports.
The state filed its appeal last week. It was only made public on Tuesday (February 18, 2014).
‘Love Is Love’ $50k Same Sex Wedding Giveaway Offered at Caesars
Caesars Entertainment in Atlantic City is celebrating same sex marriages with a “Love Is Love” $50,000 same sex wedding giveaway.
From the bachelor or bachelorette party all the way through to the "I Do's", this package features the best of the best in Atlantic City.
One lucky couple will receive a lavish wedding, valued at $50,000, for 100 invited guests complete with a cocktail hour, dinner, custom cake designed by celebri-chef Deb Pellegrino, photographers, flowers, entertainment, luxury accommodations, Bachelor & Bachelorette parties, and more!
Man Behind the Curtain of IGT Shakeup Now Looks to Pull Strings at Bwin.Party
For long time readers of Gambling911.com this may all seem like déjà vu. It was reported Tuesday that an activist investor could be looking to shake things up at online gambling giant Bwin.Party.
Breakup of Bwin.Party Possible With Activist Fund Taking Stake in Company
The Financial Times of London is reporting that a New York-based activist hedge fund will be taking a stake in struggling Bwin.Party.
SpringOwl, which is managed by the activist fund Cumberland Associates, has “agreed in principle” to purchase around 6.1 per cent of Bwin.Party from the group’s founders, Ruth Parasol and Russ Deleon.
As part of the deal, SpringOwl will have the right to appoint one director to the board.
Another Man With Ties to Legends Sports Gambling Ring Plead Guilty
Timothy Robillard, 44, pleaded guilty Monday to one felony charge of running an illegal gambling operation. The former Albany, New York corrections officer faces a year of conditional discharge and a $25,000 forfeiture of profits when sentenced in April.
Online Gambling Gold Rush: Adelson was Once Poised to Operate Web Casino
In a 2007 piece appearing in the San Francisco Chronicle, Thomas Somach wrote extensively on the potential for an Internet Gambling gold rush in the US where land-based casinos and even the likes of Disney could get into the fray.
China to Crack Down on Vices Including Gambling, Prostitution
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s government told police across the country to get tough on prostitution, gambling and drugs following an expose in the “sin city” of Dongguan, where a crackdown on prostitution led to the detention of nearly 1,000 people this month.
The announcement, on the Ministry of Public Security’s official website late on Monday, said investigations had begun in several provinces, and police had broken up 73 vice rings and closed down 2410 prostitution and gambling dens over the past week.
Sands Casino Websites Finally Restored Following Hacking
(Associated Press) - Casino giant Las Vegas Sands Corp. has restored its websites a week after they were hacked.
The Las Vegas-based company pulled down its sites Feb. 13 after hackers defaced them with images condemning comments CEO Sheldon Adelson had made about using nuclear weapons on Iran.
Sands restored the websites Monday afternoon. Spokesman Ron Reese says the company first became aware of the hacking on Feb. 12, when company email went down.
Cell Phones May Boost Internet Gambling in New Jersey
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – (Associated Press) - Internet gambling analysts and casino executives say the increased use of cellphones to place bets could accelerate the growth of the nascent industry in the state.
“Mobile applications will play an enormous piece of the puzzle in online wagering, which is why we are so positive and see so much upside in months ahead,” said Joe Lupo, senior vice president of the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, which began offering gambling Monday over Android cellphones on 3G and 4G networks.
New Jersey Online Gambling Expected to Triple in 2014
The Daily Record of New Jersey describes how that state’s new online gambling sector is expected to triple by year’s end.
Sands Casino Websites Back Up But Slow to Access
Days after a hacking of its various corporate websites, Sands Casino was back up and operational on the Web Saturday evening. Still, the sites were slow to access at times.
The access time had some initial telltale signs of a Denial of Access (DoS) attack though the slow downloads were more likely attributed to routine maintenance.
A DoS attack sends pockets of useless traffic from compromised servers to a website, thus crippling load ability.
Former Atlantic City Mayor Claims Caesars ‘Meddling in Atlantic Club Future’
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) — A state senator says the company that bought the former Atlantic Club Casino Hotel wants to make sure it never reopens as a casino.
James Whelan, a former mayor of Atlantic City, wrote this week to New Jersey casino regulators complaining about what he says are attempts by Caesars Entertainment to prevent a future buyer from operating the property as a casino. He said the company is seeking a deed restriction to be part of any future sale of the property dictating that it cannot be used as a casino again.
Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal on the Internet Gambling Jihad: ‘Bad for America’
Current Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is on a crusade against Internet gambling. His state was one of a handful that cracked down hard on the industry in recent years, prior to his election (arrest warrant issued against a board member of Sportingbet – remember this one?)
New Jersey Approves Revel Co-Owners to Operate Casino
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) — New Jersey casino regulators gave final approval Wednesday to an investment firm to be the largest owner of Revel Casino Hotel.
The state Casino Control Commission granted final approval to Chatham Asset Management, a hedge fund that is part of a lender group that emerged with an ownership stake in Revel following its bankruptcy last year. Chatham owns 28 percent of Revel.
But how long any of this lasts is anyone’s guess. Revel is considering selling itself or making a second bankruptcy filing.
Sands Hacked Casino Page Now Features Images: Still Reports Record Profits
Four days after Sands Las Vegas casino websites were hacked into, the respective sites for nine different properties are yet to be operating in full capacity.
Stanley Ho's SJM Makes Fresh Start With New Macau Casino
(Reuters) - Macau gambling kingpin Stanley Ho helped put the former Portuguese colony on the map 40 years ago with the fluorescent, onion-shaped Casino Lisboa. Now, the pioneer of old Macau is creating a new landmark - a $3.9 billion resort that will be one of the final projects to open on China's booming Las Vegas-style Cotai strip.
Regulators Still Unsure if Sands, Venetian Guest Credit Card Info Compromised
LAS VEGAS – (Associated Press) - A Nevada gambling regulator said Thursday afternoon that it's unclear whether the hackers who knocked down all of Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s websites for three days and counting had stolen patron data, including credit card information.
NJ Online Gambling Operators Hamstrung by Credit Card Authorization Problems
The Financial Times on Thursday noted that New Jersey may not be living up to expectations where its burgeoning online gambling industry is concerned. The main obstacle: getting through the signup process, and that includes getting money on the respective websites.
From the Financial Times:
But operators are hamstrung by teething problems that include getting credit card companies to process deposits and the slow process of website registration.
FBI Confirms Probe of Sands Website Hackings: Credit Card Breach a Concern
Day 3 of the Las Vegas Sands casino websites remaining down following a corporate-wide hacking and it was still unclear as to whether customer credit card information could have been compromised.
At the time of the hacking, employee social security numbers were seen scrolling across the breached website.
CAN’T-Bet: Canbet Freezes $300k: Punters Issue Death Threats, File Lawsuits
Once among the most prestigious Australian online bookmakers, Canbet is now finding itself mired in scandal after freezing approximately $300,000 in player funds.
The reason: Financial restructuring, a gentle way of saying the company is having financial problems.
New Jersey Online Gambling Revenue Numbers Released: 28 Percent Increase
Internet gaming win for January 2014 increased 28% from the $7.4 million reported in December 2013.
As of January 31, 2014, 197,782 Internet gaming accounts have been created since the beginning of soft play on November 21, 2013.
Based upon filings with the Division of Gaming Enforcement, total gaming win from the casino hotels and Internet gaming operations totaled $195.7 million in January 2014,compared to $205.2 million in casino win last January.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
Former Full Tilt Poker Operative ‘Malpractice’ Claim Against Attorney Thrown Out
A Nevada district court has thrown out a claim against noted online gambling industry attorney Jeff Ifrah by which a former client asserted “malpractice”.
Chad Elie, a convicted online poker payment processor who was among those indicted during a sweeping crackdown on the industry April 15, 2011, alleged last April that Ifrah gave him misleading professional advice so that he could continue making millions of dollars in commission.
Rabcat Releases Castle Builder to the International Gaming Community
Austria - Rabcat is announcing the worldwide launch of its most innovative and successful real-money game yet, Castle BuilderTM.
Foxwoods Introduces Online Gambling Platform in Connecticut
A new online gambling platform has been introduced at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut, but with one catch……you won’t be able to play for real money.
Instead the concept will allow individuals to win discounts to the hotel and casino.
From the Hartford Courant:
Lawyer in Allied Veterans Gambling Case Sentenced: Faces Dozens of Years Jail time
SANFORD, Fla. (Associated Press) - An attorney for a veterans group that prosecutors say was a $300 million gambling operation is being sentenced for his conviction on 103 counts.
Kelly Mathis faces dozens of years in prison during his sentencing hearing Wednesday.
Las Vegas Sands Not Saying If Customer Credit Card Info Compromised (Video)
Las Vegas Sands officials were not responding to inquiries related to customer credit card information following a hacking of its corporate websites Tuesday that continued to leave its digital services in disarray 36 hours later. The site remained out of commission heading into Thursday.
Sands Casino Sites Still Down After Hacking: Social Security Numbers Posted
The Sands Las Vegas casino property websites were down throughout the day Tuesday following what appeared to be a website hacking. At one point during the early part of the day it was reported that staff and executive social security numbers were scrolling on the compromised sites.
US, Italian Authorities Arrest 17 Gambino Crime Family Operatives in Massive Sting
(Associated Press) - U.S. and Italian authorities said Tuesday they had broken up a new heroin-and cocaine-trafficking ring coordinated by Italy's powerful 'ndrangheta organized crime syndicate and New York City's Gambino crime family. Seventeen people were arrested in Italy and another seven in New York, officials said.
Have Sheldon Adelson’s Sands Casino Websites Been Hacked (Update)
While billionaire casino magnate and mega GOP donor Sheldon Adelson has gone on the attack against legalizing Web gambling in the US, he may want to focus on keeping his own casino sites up and running.
Match Fixing Probe Finds ICC Chairman Son-In-Law Guilty
NEW DELHI — (Associated Press) - The son-in-law of Indian cricket board boss and ICC chairman-designate Narainswamy Srinivasan has been found guilty of passing on information to illegal bookmakers by a committee investigating match fixing in the Indian Premier League.